Izuku at 15 y/o

Izuku slowly blinked awake, taking in an unfamiliar ceiling - though not completely foreign, as this was Yuki's room. Rolling over, he was met with the exquisite sight of his girlfriend of eight months, ivory tresses splayed across the pillow as she clung to his arm in peaceful slumber, her porcelain skin bare and inviting. A pang of melancholy tightened his chest as he sighed. Today marked the day they would have to end things.

He carefully slipped from her embrace and dressed, determined to make their final moments together special instead of gloomy. First, he would treat her to a proper last breakfast as lovers. In the kitchen, he meticulously prepared a traditional Japanese spread, knowing these homely flavors would soon become a rarity for her.

Tray in hand, he returned to the bedroom, pushing open the door to find Yuki still sleeping soundly, her lithe form bathed in the tender caress of the morning sun. Under different circumstances, he would have gladly rejoined her in bed to indulge in intimate delights. But such yearnings had no place on this bittersweet day. With a gentle hand on her shoulder and a whisper of a kiss on her cheek, he roused her from slumber.

"Wake up, hun. Don't want you missing your flight. I made breakfast," he murmured, drinking in her drowsy beauty. As she slowly blinked awake, he offered a melancholic smile. "Morning."

"Hnn...thanks, Izuku. Morning to you too," she replied wistfully, the sorrow of their imminent parting already weighing heavily. "Not sure this can really be called a 'good' one though..."

She was moving to Spain with her family due to her father's job, the duration uncertain. Despite adamant protests, being a minor left her no choice but to follow. After much discussion, they had decided to end things cleanly today rather than pursue a long-distance relationship.

As she ate in silence, tears trailed down her cheeks. Izuku's heart clenched seeing her anguish - he loathed this as much as she did, if not more. Though fleeting, their romance had blossomed with joy and cherished memories. Rarely had he not beamed with unbridled happiness in her presence. But sometimes, life was cruel like that. He felt his own eyes prickling with unshed tears but blinked them away stubbornly, resolved to be her rock in these final, shattering moments.

'Get your act together, Izuku! You decided to make these last memories a happy one, you can't be crying right now.'

He approached her and enveloped her in a comforting embrace until her tears subsided, thankfully taking no more than a few minutes since she still needed to catch her flight.

They travelled to the airport, Izuku helping to carry her luggage. When the time came for her departure, they shared one final, lingering kiss before bidding each other a sorrowful farewell. Izuku returned home alone, collapsing onto his bed as the floodgates opened, crying himself into an exhausted slumber.

And that's how his first serious relationship ended.

Izuku at 17 y/o

Years had passed since Izuku awakened his powers as an Evoker and learned of magic's existence. He made sure to constantly train and immerse himself in arcane studies. He continued hanging out with his friends, but had undergone quite the transformation - now standing an imposing 7'7" with a muscular build that often prompted bystanders to ask if he was a pro hero, which he denied, attributing it to his "quirk". Thankfully, unlike his middle school days, he became incredibly popular once entering high school.

Though his initial ventures into the dating scene were awkward, that discomfort had mostly subsided. Kinoko, especially, had taken the news of his lack of reciprocation particularly hard, but they managed to mend their friendship. Apparently, Neito had attempted to confess to her during those tumultuous times, only deepening her resentment towards him. Izuku was no longer the naïve youth of five years prior, or so he liked to think. He had been aware of Kinoko's lingering feelings for quite some time, yet an ineffable sense warned that pursuing that path would be a mistake.

With only several months until the UA entrance exam, Izuku found himself at a crossroads - whether to pursue heroism or become a Paladin. He had inquired about potentially doing both, but was informed that becoming a Hero would divide his loyalties between Humanity and Japan, making the dual paths impossible. On its surface, becoming a Paladin seemed the obvious choice, yet it also meant he would need to find another job to earn money to commission his gear, as Paladins received no official wages. Not that monetary gain factored much into his motivations; he still yearned to rescue as many people as possible with a bright smile. But the two callings differed vastly.

Sighing, 'Oh well. I can ponder it later. Ah, shit. Looks like I made a wrong turn again.'

As he backtracked down the tunnel leading home, he detected something slimy slithering behind him. Whipping around, he was greeted by the grotesque sight of someone - no, some thing - comprised entirely of dripping sludge. 'Damn, someone lost big in the genetic lottery.'

"Damn it! Of all the rotten luck, I stumble upon a hero. But oh well, I'll still take my chances against you over him!" the sludge villain rasped. "You'll make a perfect skin suit to aid my escape!"

"Pfft~ Nah, not really into that kinda scenario. How about a counter-proposal? You surrender without a fuss, be a good little boy, and after you get released, I'll introduce you to some friends. I'm sure I can find one or two with that sorta fetish by then," Izuku chuckled, unfazed. He didn't bother correcting the "hero" misunderstanding because...well, it should be obvious, shouldn't it?

"You vulgar man!" the sludge villain gurgled in outrage as tendrils lashed out towards Izuku, who easily sidestepped each attempt.

Izuku had numerous options to neutralize the villain swiftly, but based on its words, it seemed someone else, likely a pro hero, was already in pursuit. So he opted to simply buy time rather than freezing the villain solid - an action that risked being witnessed and having to explain at the precinct 'Oh no, I didn't actually use my quirk.' He doubted they'd accept that excuse if they're unaware of magic. While he could resist arrest, that seemed a foolish way to needlessly burn bridges and become a fugitive.

CLANG! A manhole cover went soaring as a bulky, blond-haired man burst onto the scene.

"HAVE NO FEAR, CITIZEN! WHY, YOU ASK? BECAUSE I AM HERE!" the newcomer bellowed, and it took Izuku no time at all to recognize his towering idol, ALL MIGHT! It required immense self-control to suppress his inner fanboy at the pro's arrival. Strangely, Izuku found himself pleased to behold someone of comparable height for once, even if All Might was still a few inches shorter.

The sludge villain immediately redirected its focus, lashing out with a tendril to assault ALL MIGHT, who nimbly evaded the strike. As for Izuku, he merely stepped aside, notebooks in hand, anticipating an opportunity to request the legend's autograph.

All Might took two thunderous strides forward before rearing back his fist in a blatantly telegraphed windup.

"TEXAS SMASH!" The pro's battlecry echoed through the tunnel as a devastating wave of pressurized air detonated from his blow, more than enough concussive force to...well, pop the sludge villain, splattering its viscous remains across the vicinity.

ALL MIGHT then produced two soda bottles, presumably from a convenience store sack. 'Ah, that explains the lack of costume,' Izuku mused as the pro uncapped both and began carefully scooping the dissipated villain into contained custody.

"Would you like me to help?" Izuku offered.

"THAT WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU," ALL MIGHT replied, handing him one of the empty bottles.

'Man, he's so freaking cool in person!' Izuku internally gushed.

After securing the last remnants and relinquishing the bottle to ALL MIGHT, Izuku requested a few autographs for him and his friends, which the pro happily provided.

"WELL, I'LL NEED TO GET THIS GUY TO THE POLICE," All Might declared, patting the villain-filled bottle nestled in his pocket. While Izuku recognized the rationale, it did raise some security concerns.

"All Might, please don't take this the wrong way, but are you sure those bottles are secure enough to contain him?" Izuku asked tentatively.

"IT'S ALRIGHT, CITIZEN. IF ANYTHING, IT SHOWS YOU CARE ABOUT PROPERLY DELIVERING THIS VILLAIN TO JUSTICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN, BUT I ASSURE YOU, IT'S QUITE SECURE," ALL MIGHT boomed reassuringly.

"Alright then. Have a great day, ALL MIGHT," Izuku replied. The pro flashed him a signature smile and spiraling gunsmoke before launching himself skyward in a single, earth-shaking bound.

Izuku let out a whistle, "Dang. I'm not exactly lacking in tricks myself, but it would be amazing if I could pull off moves like that too. Or better yet, summon a dragon for aerial transportation." He was nearly certain that if Itsuka caught wind of such fanciful thoughts, he'd be subjected to at least a four-hour diatribe on self-preservation.

Speaking of Itsuka, she had taken up part-time Hunter when she turned 15. She considered enlisting in the military at 18, imagining the weight of a rifle in her hands, the crispness of a salute. But she decided hero training would secure a military position faster, so she set her sights on UA instead.

These days, her schedule was packed, and whenever they found time together, their bodies inevitably intertwined, sweat-slicked skin against sweat-slicked skin. It turned out the petite werewolf had a penchant for pet play - who knew? Playful growls and nips igniting sparks low in Izuku's abdomen.

What they shared was definitively "Friends with Benefits." Izuku had bared his heart after their first kiss, but she declined commitment. She wasn't opposed to casual intimacy, she explained, her honeyed words a soothing balm even as they solidified the chasm between them. That was the day Izuku learned why heartbreak's name as such.

He returned home, burying himself in homework, picking at dinner with his mom. At 11pm, restlessness thrummed through him, urging him outdoors. Thinking 'What's the worst that could happen?', he slipped out front, cool night air caressing his skin as he wandered the dimly lit neighborhood until something glistened, catching his eye.

A woman materialized from the shadows. Beautiful, with auburn hair framing a youthful face, a perpetual rosy blush dusting her cheeks. Large, expressive eyes blinked at him from beneath rounded lashes as she gripped a sword, petite 5'1" frame dwarfed by armor. Delicate pointed ears protruded through her tresses.

"Run! It is coming," she gasped, voice taut with panic and shock.

"What is?" Izuku replied, bewildered.

"You must flee," she insisted, desperation edging her tone. "I closed the Gate, but it would not hold for long. If you're here when it emerges, it will kill you. Run!"

Izuku held his ground. "Seriously, what's after you? I can handle myself in a fight."

Terror flooded her eyes. "It's too late. It's here."

A thunderous roar shattered the quiet night, the very earth quaking beneath Izuku's feet. From the swirling depths of a freshly opened portal, an immense, fur-covered minotaur emerged, its colossal form awash in an otherworldly glow. It towered over the surroundings, with eerily glowing red eyes, wicked battle axes clutched in each gigantic hand with blades glinting with lethal intent. Thick cables of muscle rippled beneath its hirsute frame as the creature surveyed this strange new realm, a formidable presence heralded by the resounding clash of steel on steel as its twin axes struck together, shattering the eerie silence.

A 'Minotaur' Lord. Something tough enough to have a decent chance against ALL MIGHT. 'Just great,' he thought. It usually hung out on the other continent, so Izuku never thought he'd find one here. For some reason, he remembered the times when he got into heated debates with Itsuka that they shouldn't be called Minotaurs since none of them were the one inside Minos, making it a misnomer.

"Flee, you fool!" the woman said.

"Mom didn't raise me to run away from danger. And I ain't leaving a cute girl to be eaten by a reject from Dungeons & Dragons."

"It is too powerful for us to fight. Go! I will hold it as long as I can," she said, positioning herself between Izuku and the dairyman.

"Not happening. And you, buddy," Izuku then turned to the 'Minotaur' Lord. "I have nothing against you, but this will suck for you. Deal Cards!" he shouted to fire himself up. The chaos of magic gathered on his right hand, taking the shape of cards.

"Four of a Kind!" He laid down three Eights, a Joker, and a Three of Diamonds. Ice hit the Minotaur squarely in the face. It barely did anything.

'It seems it'll take way more than that.'

"Wait, you are an Evoker? Perhaps not all is lost, after all," the woman said.

"I'm telling you that it's going to be fine," Izuku said with a smile. "We're not going to get killed today."

"I will try to aid you. Do you accept?" She asked.

"Whatever you say, princess. Do your thing," Izuku said, concentrating on avoiding the creature's attacks.

"How did you...? Never mind, it can wait. Magic, I call thee. Cast MAGIC ARMOUR," she said just as the creature's axe was about to hit Izuku.

"Perfect! Keep on going," Izuku said, directing another attack. "FLUSH!" He sent flames thousands of degrees hot toward the Minotaur, but it swung its axe to dissipate the flames.

'The hell!? That's the first time someone did that!' Izuku was so shocked that he almost didn't notice the axe blade aiming for his neck. He avoided it at the last moment, only to be met with a kick, sending him flying into a nearby wall, cracking it. 'Thank the gods for that shield.'

He then grabbed the woman's hand and tried to gain distance. If the creature was chasing her, then it would come to them, this time on their terms.

"It...it is too strong for us. I am truly sorry, brave knight. I should not have gotten you involved in my troubles," she said with a regretful face.

"I'm not done yet. Don't you have any more tricks?" Izuku asked, hopeful for something. Anything to help defeat this monstrosity.

"I am...almost out of energy. That monster has been stalking me since I left the Court," she said.

"You can do this! I believe in you," Izuku told her. He didn't know where this confidence and trust toward her came from, but he knew that together, there was nothing they couldn't take on. Nothing at all.

"Very well. I shall try one last thing. But all I have left is a simple blessing. I fear it shall not be enough... Excalibur, aid me now. Cast BLESS!"

The magic worked! An incredible amount of power coursed through Izuku. His wounds healed, and an awfully strong shield was cast. And Rage. Rage fiery enough to wrap this world in flames.

"What is going on? That is not Bless... I do not know what spell it is, but surely not what I cast," she said, confused.

"Don't ask me. I just play poker. Whatever you did, worked like a charm. I feel like I could arm-wrestle Godzilla right now," Izuku said with a grin on his face. Dairyman's gonna get milked tonight.

They stopped in a rather open area. A park. Izuku was ready for this!

"Magic does not work like this!" she said, clearly confused about what was happening.

"We can worry about the metaphysics later, Princess. I've got some bovine ass to kick!" Izuku told her, now seeing the creature approaching him.

At the distance the two can see the 'Minotaur Lord,' standing menacingly. After looking at them, making sure they won't have the chance to run away, it started walking toward him silently.

"Oh? You're approaching me. Instead of running away, you're coming right to me?" Izuku said, earning a look from the Princess.

"Oh ho! Then come as you like," Izuku said, approaching it.

When they were within each other's reach, the Minotaur swung its left axe. With the force it put into it, the attack wouldn't lose against the Texas Smash Izuku had seen that afternoon. He ducked out of the way and saw its right one swinging from the opposite direction. He dealt the card and played,

"TWO PAIRS!"

Force wrapped around Izuku's arm, and he punched the axe, breaking it to pieces. The creature seemed surprised by this, but Izuku wasn't letting up. He then dealt the cards,

"FULL HOUSE!" He fired off flames hotter than he'd ever released before. The Minotaur tried to dissipate the flames again like last time, only to have no effect. Once the flames reached the creature, they instantly burned it alive.

Izuku stared for a few moments at the corpse in front of him. He would have to call the Hunters about this and have them clean it up.

"We did it. You did it. You have my gratitude, brave knight," the woman said. With the Rage now dissipated from the last attack, Izuku came back to his senses.

"I can't believe we managed to kill...that thing. I was sure we were goners there," he said.

"My Father will be mad with worry for me; I was due hours ago. Forgive me, my knight, but I must leave you," she said. Then something came back to Izuku. A memory of something.

"Is your name Ochaco?" he asked.

"And how would you know that, Sir Knight?" she asked, starting to get wary.

"I...I think I dreamt of you. A memory from beyond waking," Izuku said.

"Perhaps. The Paths lead to strange places. Forgive me, Sir Knight, but I must reach the embassy before my Father calls The Hunt for me," she said, getting ready to leave.

"Goodbye, Ochaco," Izuku said. 'My Love.'

She then left. Alone, he stood at the park, in front of a half-vaporized corpse.

'Who was that girl? It felt like I knew her. Like our souls are meant to be together.'

"Together. Together I don't think there's anything we couldn't do," Izuku said, as if chanting a Promise.

"I better call those guys to dispose of this," he said, pulling out his phone and dialing the number for the Hunter scheduled for today. He gave them his location and described the corpse. They told him he could go home and they'd take care of the rest, so he did.

Izuku didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but for some reason, he had a feeling it was going to be more interesting from now on.


So, The End has finally met The Beginning. That took longer than I expected. 😅 The first part of the prophecy has been fulfilled. Not the only prophecy that will happen in the book either. If you know, you know. Can't wait for some of them.

Also, when I started this fic, I was not sure if I was going to be giving Izuku OFA since in the grand scheme of things, OFA would become a petty boost at most once I started pushing Izuku to his destiny. But then I remembered who set up his destiny in the first place and realized it doesn't make any sense not to have it. So he will have it and be able to use it without drawbacks (because a literal Demi-God couldn't possibly be worse than young Toshinori), but that won't come until a little later. He'll need all of this against what he's gonna be up against.

We're approaching the Entrance Exam next time!

Do make sure to let me know your feedback if you have any and thanks for reading this fic!