Little 6 year old Izuku Midoriya followed Katsuki Bakugo and his 'friends' into the local woods of Musutafu, and… Izuku was terrified. The woods were haunted, according to the bigger kids, but that wouldn't matter. Katsuki might not be the boy he used to be, but he was still strong. Unlike Izuku, Katsuki had a quirk. Every drop of sweat the boy released had the potential to explode like nitroglycerin. Izuku by comparison was quirkless, just a small weak curly green haired boy, with nothing special or extraordinary about him. Sure he occasionally saw people that nobody else could out of the corner of his eye, but they were never there when he tried to look… like ghosts.

That wasn't a quirk though, according to his doctor. It was just his imagination. Little Izuku had a dream. He wanted so badly to be a hero someday, but without some kind help a part of him knew that's all it would ever be… a dream. At least he could support his best friend. Katsuki could become the hero they dreamed of being. Izuku just had to keep chasing him.

Izuku had done just that… for the last two years, Izuku was Katsuki's shadow, his constant cheerleader, and sometimes his practice target, but no matter what he kept smiling and chasing… like a lost puppy.

That is until Katsuki was leading them across a log over a small creek and fell. The others just watched in shock, but Izuku rushed to help him. In return Katsuki slapped Izuku's hand aside. After that the others abandoned him, either thinking it would be funny or simply not caring about him.

Izuku walked around as dusk approached, slowly getting lost and stumbling amongst the underbrush. Izuku ended up twisting and injuring his ankle in the dark as he desperately looked for a way to get home, and he began to cry in pain and fear.

As he cried under the light of the moon, he saw a large wolf walk toward him with a fanged skull face. The two just looked at each other for a moment before he heard the wolf speak, "You can see me? You are a truly unique morsel aren't you, human?"

Izuku smiled, he'd heard of animals with quirks before, but never expected to meet one, "Thank you mister wolf. Can you help me? I just want to go home, and I don't think I'd make a good meal."

The wolf chuckled, "Your reishi is powerful, so I'll make you a deal. I don't know where the exit is, but I do have a place where I rest. Survive long enough to heal, and I'll help you find your way home. Die, and what remains is mine to eat? Sound like a deal, human?"

Izuku shrugged, "If I say no, you'll just eat me now and not wait for me to die. You'll do what you want anyway, so I don't have much of a choice. My name is Izuku, by the way. If it matters, I'd like to see my mom at least one more time, so I'll take the deal."

The wolf chuckled, and lifted Izuku up by his shirt as it began to carry him away. As they walked, Izuku heard the wolf's voice in his head, "Call me Lobo, little pup. Fear not, I am a wolf of my word. When you are feeling better, I will help you find your mother." Izuku smiled, despite his situation, Izuku liked Lobo.

Over the next three days the duo spoke. Lobo spoke of a time before 'Full bringers' were so common. When Izuku seemed confused, Lobo snickered and clarified that humans with special powers were called Full bringer's. After that Lobo explained that they used to only occur if someone survived a 'hollow' attack, and Izuku couldn't help asking what those were as well.

Lobo just gave him a toothy grin, "Beings like me. A hungry ghost. I am a Hollow. Did you think my mask was just for looks? I am what remains of a soul that either couldn't move on or had something binding them to this realm. After that a spirit that falls to sadness, loneliness, or simply remains too long is consumed by that darkness, and a hollow is born. I am not the standard hollow though. In fact… if I devoured the power sleeping within you pup… I would no doubt become one of the highest ranks of hollows, but… I am zpvs gbuifs after all."

Izuku gave the wolf an odd look, "I'm sorry Lobo-sensei, but I couldn't understand what you just said."

The wolf hollow laughed, "I suppose you're not ready to know that secret yet, but some day, pup." Instead Lobo moved to allow Izuku to rest against his side. This had become a regular thing at this point, but Izuku still appreciated the small gesture of care. It was oddly comforting to be near the hound, kind of homey.

Lobo told Izuku many other things while they rested in Lobo's den, like about the soul reapers, and more secrets that Izuku could never dream of, but Izuku knew it wouldn't last. His leg was infected, bits of black and green starting to spread, he was getting weaker all the time, but speaking with Lobo... Izuku made peace with his fate. According to Lobo, if he ate Izuku, Lobo would finally become strong enough to evolve again, and that thought made him happy. Izuku might be a Deku, completely useless for most things, but at least he would help at least one person before he was truly gone. He could help his first real friend.

On the third night, Lobo seemed tense. His ears twitching and head constantly on the lookout, but Izuku just smiled, "Don't worry Lobo-sensei. I know it's almost time, and I'm ok with it."

Lobo tilted his head, "What are you talking about, pup?"

Izuku closed his eyes, "I'm going to die soon, but... at least I won't be a burden on my mom or you anymore. I hope a part of me lingers afterwards though. I don't want you to feel alone after I'm gone, my friend. I know how that feels."

Lobo looked away sadly, "I hope so too. I never wanted to be near anyone else before, except to eat them, but... I wouldn't mind if it was you Pup."

That's when the roof of their little den was torn off by a massive roaring beast. It had six powerful gorilla-like limbs and a similar bone mask to Lobo's, only this one was beaked like a bird.

While Izuku cringed away in weakness and fear, Lobo sprang at the monster. Izuku watched the two fight. It only lasted for a few terrified minutes, but then Lobo crashed into the ground. His mask breaking, and his body starting to fade away.

The other hollow roared in victory, so it didn't hear Lobo speak, "Pup, I'm fading away. Neither of us can beat that thing, but it doesn't deserve the right to eat us. Izuku, I don't know what will happen, but I need you to trust me." Izuku nodded, and Lobo snickered, "I need you to eat a piece of my mask. I don't know what will happen, but it should at least give you enough strength to get away... my pup."

Izuku was trembling with fear, but he did as he was told. Taking a tiny piece, Izuku quickly swallowed it... and he felt his body burn from the inside out. It was excruciating and painful, but he felt something else as well begin to take root. Without thinking his hand reached out and took another piece. Izuku couldn't stop. He felt his insides burn, and his brain screamed for him to stop, but he couldn't. Lobo smiled until his body faded completely, and the last piece of his mask was consumed by Izuku. Then Izuku's form froze, finally noticing that the other hollow had just watched hungrily as Izuku cannibalized his only friend... with a smile.

It watched as a white substance came gushing from Izuku's mouth and began to form a new mask, much like Lobo's, but with a few differences. Lobo's mask had been plain and unadorned, but Izuku's had blue streaks like lightning bolts, and the teeth were crimson, making him look like they were constantly covered in blood. Izuku opened his eyes, revealing black pools with emerald centers, and he let out a sad hungry howling roar making the other hollow take a step back in instinctual fear.

The next moment it was over, Izuku's hands had become boney claws, and the hollows mask was being held in one of them, until the newborn hollow started to devour the mask of the monster that made it's only friend go away. There was no joy or catharsis in this meal for the creature, only regret.

When he was done, Izuku's mask shattered and evaporated into green sparkles leaving a fully healed and exhausted Izuku as he fell forward, with only the haziest of memories of what just happened. The last thing he heard before he blacked out... was Lobo's voice in his head, and the wolf was laughing, "Good job Pup. Congratulations. I think I'll stick around for a while. Teach you how to be the new Lobo de Tormenta, the Storm Wolf."

The next morning, Izuku awoke and felt a wave of emotions crash over him. He seemed perfectly fine physically. His time with Lobo felt like a dream… had it been a dream? Lobo might have been a bit rough around the edges, but he was strong and noble. Never a beast, or cruel like Katsuki had been the last few years. Izuku felt a few tears form at the corner of his eyes. Dream or not, his lupine friend was gone, and he was… "Pup, can you not! I told you before, I'm not going anywhere. Also, did you seriously just describe me as 'rough around the edges'? Seriously, I sacrifice myself to save your life and you toss me under the bus like that. Rude, pup. Very rude."

Izuku fell back in shock, "Lobo-sensei?! You're not dead? Where are you?"

Lobo groaned, "At least that stopped the rain. Ya Pup, still here, and as I told you before. I was dead long before we met, hollow's are ghosts, remember?"

"Does that mean you're possessing me or something?" asked Izuku to the morning air.

Lobo sighed, "No. I'm a part of you now. Honestly, I don't know how. Eating me should have either killed you, or only given me temporary control before I completely faded, but it looks like we're stuck with each other now."

Izuku laughed, "I'm just happy I don't have to say goodbye. I-I'd miss you."

Izuku could feel the wolf roll his eyes, "Ok, none of that. I wouldn't have gone far. With your luck, I wouldn't have needed to wait long for something to kill you. You're too naive to survive too long on your own. So… time for a little truth. I've known how to get out of the woods from day one. If you walk toward the sun for about twenty minutes, you'll be out. Sorry Pup, but a hungry hollow needs to eat too."

Izuku started to walk, "I kind of knew that. Not the way out of course, but that you were lying about not knowing where it was. I forgive you though. Honestly the last three days were the best I've had in years."

Lobo grumbled, "Well talking like this is exhausting, so I'm taking a nap, but te quiero cachorro (I love you pup). I'll be here if you need me." With that Izuku felt Lobo fade back into the darkness of his mind, but something about what he said made Izuku feel warm, even if he had no idea what it had said.

It wasn't until Izuku was about to leave the woods, that Lobo spoke up again, "Before we go, there should be an empty space in that gray tree over there. Grab the stuff in there before we go."

Izuku did as he was told, but chuckled, "A hollow hiding things in a tree hollow? That's kind of ironic." Lobo let out an annoyed growl, but Izuku could tell the wolf was more embarrassed than actually angry. Inside the tree was a small device that kind of looked like a pez dispenser with a cutesy dog head on top, a small bag of coins, and a glove with a burning skull design on it. Shrugging, Izuku took it all and started his walk home.

As they walked Lobo started teaching Izuku the basics of using their powers starting with the most important concept, controlling their reiatsu or spiritual pressure. Lobo informed Izuku that he had been taking care of it so far, but before he could teach him anything else, Izuku would have to master his control.

To Lobo's shock, Izuku was actually a natural at controlling his energy. In fact he could lower his output so much that if you weren't actively looking for him, Izuku could completely fade into the background. Something about the ease in which Izuku did it served to aggravate the inner hollow, but Izuku didn't know why. Wasn't it normal to have to learn to disappear in order to avoid bullies?

As Izuku got close to the apartment building he lived in he started experimenting with small bits of the energy he could now feel within him only to hear an angry growl from Lobo who chastised him for doing so. According to the wolf, Izuku's body was still adapting and getting used to him and having access to his reiatsu making it incredibly dangerous to do much more than focusing on sensing and controlling its flow as a whole.

Before he even knocked, Izuku could feel the emotional pressure coming from his apartment, and even without a frame of reference Izuku knew it was his mom, terrified and heartbroken. Within moments after knocking on the door it was thrown wide, and Izuku felt himself being hugged hard, and becoming soaked with tears. Izuku was quickly pulled inside the apartment, where his mother, Inko, just seemed to collapse, and held her 'baby boy' for the next five minutes. Once Inko seemed to finally be sure she wasn't dreaming, she started frantically asking questions, and Izuku sheepishly agreed to answer all of them… over lunch. Lobo had tried his best, but three days of only small handfuls of wild berries had left the boy nearly starving.

Lobo helped Izuku come up with a reasonable lie, namely that he got separated from Katsuki by accident, and got lost. Thankfully Inko was too overjoyed by the return of her son to ask too many questions, but Izuku was sure his mom would have plenty later. Izuku stated that his mom could be a lot scarier than the forest hollow was if she wanted, but Lobo just scoffed, "Nobody that absolutely stunning could be dangerous. I'm sure you're just being meek, again."

Izuku froze, "Did you just hit on my mom?" Lobo stayed quiet for a while, but Izuku could feel the wolf desperately trying to think up a lie. Izuku sighed, "Great. I finally make a friend, and he turns out to be a pervert."

"I AM NOT A PERVERT! IT'S NOT MY FAULT YOUR MOM IS HOT! *URG* I'M GOING TO SLEEP! YOU CAN DEAL WITH THE REST ON YOUR OWN," roared Lobo in Izuku's head as he slipped back into the darkness of Izuku's mind. For the rest of the night, Lobo stubbornly refused to resurface, and Inko just curled up on the couch with Izuku to watch a movie. They ended up falling asleep there, comforted by each other's presence.

Over the next few days Izuku's body finished acclimating to his new power. Izuku was now a lot stronger and faster than he had been before, and his senses were greatly improved. Another change was Izuku's insistence to start working out and join a gym. At first Inko was nervous to allow it, but Izuku was so driven. When Inko heard Izuku admit he wanted to get strong enough to never make her cry because of him again it was the final straw.

Now they stood outside a slightly run down dojo called The Battle Fist. Going inside, the place was slightly aged, but it was clean and clearly very loved. Walking up to the counter they expected to find an adult or maybe an older teen working the desk, but instead they found a little girl no older than Izuku with orange hair and teal eyes. When she saw them the little girl smiled widely, "Good morning. Are you here to train?"

Inko couldn't help finding the girl's enthusiasm adorable, so she humored her, "My name is Inko Midoriya. I had a meeting with Kendo-shihan, to discuss my son Izuku getting a few self defense classes and getting to train here, but I have to admit you sounded older on the phone."

The girl giggled, "That must have been my grandpa. He had to step away to take care of something, so I'm watching the dojo for a few minutes. Oh um…" The girl stood up and bowed, "I'm sorry, my name's Itsuka Kendo. I can show you around a bit while you wait, if you want?"

Inko wasn't sure, but one look at Izuku's excited face told her all she needed to know. Inko smiled at the girl, "That would be great. Thank you, Kendo-chan."

Much to both Midoriya's surprise Itsuka grabbed Izuku by the hand, and started leading him around while explaining what everything was and how it was used. The boy blushed at the contact, but was soon caught completely in awe of the new world he was being shown. Through it all Inko followed and watched with a small smile.

After a few minutes, Itsuka led Izuku to a punching bag, and showed him how to correctly throw a punch. Izuku nodded along, and on her request he squared up on the bag to give it a try, Itsuka of course standing behind the bag to stabilize it. Izuku gave a few half hearted jabs, but Itsuka pushed him to take it seriously, so he did. Izuku gave the bag one solid mighty punch, and Itsuka was sent back a couple inches and onto her butt. Inko was shocked, Izuku looked ashamed, but Itsuka just bounced back onto her feet as she positively beamed and vibrated with excitement, "That was amazing Mido-kun! You have to join us. With a strength quirk like that you could be a great hero. Please, if you join I promise I'll help you train anytime you want!" Itsuke hadn't noticed she'd grabbed Izuku's hands, but Izuku did and his brain was currently overheating as he did his best impression of a strawberry.

"I quite agree, Itsuka. The boy has a lot of potential," stepping from around a corner came an old man in a black gi. He had mostly graying hair, but a few streaks of vibrant orange were still present in his tied back hair, and though his features gave him a stern disciplined appearance, his eyes were warm and wise.

Itsuka practically pounced on the man, letting go of Izuku's hands and helping him start to come down from his case of brain lock. Itsuka was positively giddy, "Ojii-san, I found one, and he's super strong. He might even be stronger than me when I use Big Fists. Please, Ojii-san! I'll train extra hard, and help clean the dojo an extra day a week, just please let him join."

The older man chuckled, "Calm yourself Itsu. I had every intention of volunteering our services, there is no need to overwork yourself. Now Midoriya-kun what do you-" The man stopped when he noticed how sad and embarrassed the boy looked, and he gave him a concerned look, "What is troubling you young man?"

Izuku kept his face down to hide his shame and embarrassment as he said, "That wasn't my quirk. I'm actually quirkless, Kendo-sensei. I'm sorry, maybe I should-"

But that's when he heard the older man burst into hearty laughter, "You don't say! Well in that case, you really must join us. A quirkless boy will find many difficulties on the road of life, but to hold this much strength already… It would be my pleasure to help you refine that strength. The look in your eye when you threw that punch was all I needed to know in order to see it. How about this, the dojo could use an extra hand, and my little Itsuka here is really the only kid her age around here. If you're willing to volunteer some time to help out I'll waive my usual admission fee. What do you say, young man?"

Izuku seemed stunned, "Ar-are you sure? It really doesn't matter if I'm quirkless?"

The old man knelt to look Izuku in the eye, "Izuku, never let anyone or anything hold you back. The conditions of one's birth are irrelevant. Anyone can become strong if they have the fortitude to endure and the will to succeed." The man smiled, "I'm going to tell you a secret. I used to be quite the hero under my friend Mushi. I had a powerful quirk, and a lot of skill under this black belt of mine, but there was always someone I couldn't beat. She was the greatest rival I ever found, greater than any villain or adversary, and she was quirkless. All the time others would invest into training their quirk, she put into training herself. She was truly amazing."

Izuku seemed enraptured, "What happened to her Kendo-sensei?"

The old master sighed, "She passed a few years ago, but not before giving me the greatest honor of my life, my family. That woman was my wife, and Itsuka's grandmother. After she passed, my late son named his only daughter after her, and I was touched, but the thing I'm most proud of is the fire in her eyes. The same fire that always burned in my Itsuka's eyes." The girl in question had spent most of the story looking away with a heavy blush, but turned and smiled at that. "I don't tell you this only to embarrass my precious Itsu, but also because it proves… you don't need a quirk to be a hero. She was mine, so let me help you shine just as brightly and show the world that you are more than just a quirkless boy, you are a mighty hero."

Izuku straightened his back and bowed deeply, "Yes, Kendo-sensei. I won't disappoint you, I promise." Behind him, Inko nodded her support, and Itsuka seemed to be about to pounce and hug the boy in excitement, but the master stopped her with a stern gaze.

Looking back at Izuku, the master stood and held his arm wide, "Knowing my Istu, you've already seen what we have available, so… what would you like to learn?"

Izuku looked around until he saw what he was looking for, and quick as a flash he dashed to it. With a small smile, Izuku grasped the wooden training sword in his hands and presented it out, "I want to learn to fight bare handed, but if it's not too much trouble… Can you teach me how to use this as well."

The old master laughed loudly, "That's what I wanted to see. Eyes full of fire, and a thirst to not only learn, but push even further. Young Midoriya, I'm going to teach you that, and so much more. Let's get started, then."

Breakdown: Welcome to the first installment of my October special event. In honor of the spooky month, we have a story all about ghosts and monsters… with my usual amount of romance. I hope everyone enjoys, and Shine on beautiful readers. Shine on.