Disclaimer: I, obviously, do not own My Hero Academia.

I know that if you guys have read my other stuff, you'll probably say something along the lines of, "why the fuck are you starting another fucking story, you haven't finished jackshit yet!" and I'll then question if you are Bakugou in disguise or not… and then I'll do this anyways, because one day I'll die, and I'd rather bounce around than die without at least starting this. Right? No? Oh well.

Well, surprisingly, I don't think I've seen anyone actually start an AU featuring that new ED from the Stain Arc… so hello, it's me, I'm going to do it!

This will probably be a long-ish story, so I hope you guys like a long adventure story! This chapter might be shorter, if only due to the introduction.

Enjoy and remember, take your complaints and throw them in a bucket, and throw them away, because I don't want none of that shit. Constructive tips, however, are pretty good, so I don't mind that.

And away we go!

Chapter 1: Common Feelings

Long ago, in a time where magic ran wild and fantasy was reality, there lived a young boy. Common as he was poor, this boy was as plain as a flower that swayed in the breeze. He was small… and frail, plagued by a illness that spread throughout the land, taking as many lives as it could touch.

Even with his weakened body, his heart beat strongly, and his mind shone bright. Deep within himself, he spent his nights drawing himself as an apprentice to All Might; the most respected knight in all the lands! His dream was a beacon, keeping his path lit, despite the darkness that loomed at the edges of his makeshift trail.

This is the tale of how greatness can come to find those that are willing to go searching… even if your circumstances oppose it. This is the tale of a boy, a sword… and above all else, a never-ending desire to be a hero.

"Izuku! I-Izuku!" A mid-aged woman, short as she was plump, called out over the rolling pastures, her voice carrying through the woods with a delicate echo. She placed her hands on her hips and sighed, doing her best to ward the worry off from her delicate heart.

She scanned the meadow, hoping to see some sign of her little boy, but the grass rolled with the breeze likes ripples in a pond, masking any sign of life within them. The midday sun glimmered high in the sky, but the brilliant golden rays were beginning to fade from sight as unruly clouds reared their dark and ugly heads.

"It's not good to be out during a storm…" she muttered to herself, resisting to urge to cry. She'd cry after she found her son, she reasoned. And scolded him for worrying her. "I-Izuku!", she tried again.

This time, she noticed a rustle in the high-standing wheat plants, causing a her body to stiffen. If that was a wild animal… she would have no way to protect herself…

Her muscles tensed as she warily watched the rapidly shifting weeds, and from the grass, popped a small head, topped with an untamed mass of black hair with green tips. His emerald eyes were innocent, but filled with concern as he emerged fully from within the camouflage of nature.

"Ah!" He said as a smile broke out on his face. "I heard you calling… but I didn't know where!"

"Silly boy…" Inko mumbled, but smiled tearfully nonetheless. "D-do you think about your poor mother when you run away?!"

He frowned, and looked toward the ground guiltily, kicking at the dirt softly. "I'm sorry, mom. I… I just wanted to… explore, I guess."

Inko sighed, this time, placing her hands on her hips as she thought about his behavior lately. He'd been 'exploring' far more frequently as of late, and she didn't need to be a mind-reader as to why.

Recently, one of the local village kids discovered a small artifact out in the woods, and showed it off with tremendous gusto. Of course, all the children and younglings were amazed with the finding… the parents, on the other hand, were not as enthralled. Inko, of course, being an overprotective mother, knew the dangers that artifacts and magic could bring, hence why she agreed with the adults that wanted to confiscate the artifact to protect their little village.

If bandits – or worse, barbarians – heard about the treasure, and thought it held value… there would be nothing they could do to prevent the attack, short of surrendering the treasure, and hoping the invaders left peacefully.

Even after sitting Izuku down, and counseling him on the subject, he was still as eager as a bee seeking out a flower when it came to searching for more treasure.

Really, it worried her… but seeing him running around made her heart genuinely happy.

"Come now, we should head back to the bakery… I left it open, you know!" Izuku's head shot up in surprise.

"W-what, why?! What if someone steals something?!"

Inko smiled softly as her son began to race ahead, kicking up mountains of dirt under his feet as he darted forward, no doubt going to make sure the shop was still standing. She, of course, knew everything was perfectly fine… no one in the village dared to steal, with how fast gossip spread. Honestly, rumors spread faster than actual fires when it came to their village.

She didn't run, but she did pick up her pace ever-so-slightly as to make sure Izuku didn't rush out of her sight again. Seeing him up and running was great… but she didn't dare risk the chance that he'd faint with no one aware of where he was.

"Izuku! Wait up!"

The green-haired boy paused, turning around before sheepishly smiling, realizing he'd left his mother behind. She caught up to him after a few extra hurried steps, and they matched their pace in harmony, as if it was a second instinct. He enjoyed the time he spent with her, and he made sure to show it as often as he could. Many of the villagers treated him like he was close to kneeling over, and because of that, he began to feel like a liability… especially when people began to remark that he was worrying his mother to death by running around all the time. Because of that, he slowly closed himself off from the villagers, and retreated into a shell, only speaking when spoken to, and becoming a nervous wreck around people.

His mother, truly, brought out the best in him, and she was no stranger to that fact. Really, she didn't mind having him around all the time. He and her made up the perfect combination… and while she wanted him to meet new people, and make new friends… she wouldn't ever complain about him remaining by her side, and doing everything he could to help keep the bakery afloat.

Especially with the history of the village.

"Oh, there's Mrs. Bakugou…" Izuku said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. Years of careful listening had attuned Inko to hearing her son whenever he mumbled—which was more often than not.

Sure enough, a blond woman sat in her yard, behind the safety of her fence, digging out holes and placing small potatoes into the dirt, before covering them up. She wiped her brow, not minding the dirt that smeared messily across her forehead, before standing up. She looked over, and caught the eye of Inko, before smiling pleasantly.

"Well, if it isn't the Midoriya family. It's rare to see you two out of the bakery," she joked. Inko smiled and laughed lightly, while Izuku smiled softly.

Inko tenderly put her hand on her son's shoulder, despite the slight height difference between the two. She might call him her little boy, but even with his illness, he was still slightly taller than she was. "We decided to take a small stroll… being cooped up is hardly healthy!"

Mitsuki nodded in agreement. "If only I could convince my husband to get out of the fuckin' house!" Inko and Izuku both sweat-dropped as she began screaming mid-sentence, her gaze turned toward the front door, and her formerly tender disposition gone without a trace, leaving the burning fury that only a mother was capable of.

She sighed, and turned back to the duo, her face calm once again, and no trace of the burning anger that she was famous for. "Would you mind if I stopped by later to pick up a meat-pie? The harvest was rather plentiful this time around, so we have some things to trade."

Inko smiled happily. "Of course not! We'll be sure to whip one up when we get back, just stop by whenever, okay?"

The blonde woman smiled in appreciation. "I will. Maybe my good-for-nothing, lazy-ass husband can pick it up, huh?!"

"Oh dear, there she goes again…" Inko mumbled, a nervous smile on her face. Slowly, Inko ushered Izuku away from the enraged woman, who was tossing profanities at her house like rocks at a window. Izuku also had a nervous smile on his face, but once they were out of sight, he glanced back at the house sadly.

It seemed like a lifetime ago, but once upon a time, they'd had a son. Katsuki Bakugou; the pride and joy of the town. Armed with explosion magic and a head for battle, it was almost certain that Katsuki would go on to join the Royal Guard and bring honor to the village. However, four years ago, just after he'd turned 11, a barbarian raid ambushed the Bakugou family while they were traveling from their village to the holy city of Yueii.

Armed, dangerous, and cunning, the barbarians kidnapped Katsuki, maimed his father, and left without a trace. Both parents had been devastated… but hopeful that their son would return. However… there was no trace of him, even after several search parties ventured out from the village, and eventually, the town had come to accept that Katsuki was gone. While everyone knew that silently, Mitsuki held hopes that her son would return one day, she was growing more and more realistic with the days that passed. Her husband, however, hardly left the house, and was hardly even seen, for that matter. Consumed by depression, and his own failure to protect his family, he became a husk of the man he once was.

From that day onward, the villagers did everything possible to protect those within, which involved banning magic artifacts, if at all possible. While it dulled the daily rigors of life, it did keep them safe, and that was more than they could hope for.

"She's doing well… wouldn't you say…?" Izuku asked quietly. He weakly smiled at a man passing by, whom the duo recognized immediately as the town's tailor. The man gave a curt nod, though not unfriendly, and continued on with his business, all the more ignorant. Inko nodded and played back the conversation. Truthfully, it did appear that Mitsuki was doing well... outwardly, that was.

It didn't take a town's size to figure out that everyone knew about the strain that Katsuki's kidnapping had on the Bakugou's marriage. Mitsuki hardly reacted the first few days after her son's kidnapping... but eventually, the depression gave way to the fact that life moved on, with... or without everyone. She would cry from time to time, but never outright break down. It was a tear or two she'd shed, before excusing herself, or becoming enraged and snapping at her own tears. Her mental state wasn't healthy, but then, it had never really been healthy before everything occurred, either.

"She's coping," Inko finally settled with. Subconsciously, she reached for Izuku's hand and gripped it tight, her heart softened as he squeezed in return. Her heart ached for Mitsuki... and Inko herself was a very giving person, but she'd never wish for their roles to be reversed. Izuku was her everything. She'd never give that up. Not for the world. "What we should do for her, is bake her that pie she wanted. I'll let you season the meat, is that fair?"

Izuku nodded happily, and Inko felt her proud maternal instincts kick in. He was such an innocent boy... just wanting to do whatever he could to help someone.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of walking (and another scolding as Inko realized how far Izuku had wandered), the two arrived back at their bakery. And, just as Inko had said, it was unlocked and the ovens were still hot and ready to be used. Izuku immediately got to work, carefully grabbing and cutting the meats, whilst adding his favorite dashes of spices. Truly, if there was one thing her son could do, it was cook. She'd debated letting him work at the town's tiny tavern, however, the citizens had collectively agreed to shut it down following the 'kidnapping' to avoid unwanted people in the town.

From his station, Izuku was humming quietly, but Inko thought the noise filled the bakery with plenty of good feelings and vibes. The sweet aroma of bread baking, mixed with the delicate noise of a miniature bubbling caldron, filled with delicious smelling meats, cast a friendly and warm sensation over the bakery, and for the moment, Inko was very, genuinely happy.

She sighed, and found herself hoping the moment never ended.

Fate just smiled at her, and no one was none the wiser...

By the time nighttime rolled around, Izuku was gassed. He slumped into his bed, ignoring the lumps in his mattress, and sighed heavily, but contently. He still felt slightly guilty for making his mother worry, but he wouldn't pretend like he hadn't had fun. Seeing new places... even so close to home... it was such a thrill! He loved exploring, and the prospect of discovering something that no one else had seen was intoxicating. He no longer questioned why people left home in the stories his mother used to tell...

... But he did question how they did so with such ease.

He couldn't imagine the guilt he'd feel if he left his mother for such a long time. Some of those journeys that she'd tell him about sounded like they lasted for years... even longer. She was all he had. She was all he'd ever had. It wasn't like he could just 'poof' back home and see her... once he left, he'd be gone... possibility for a very long time.

His heart ached at the mere thought of it.

With a huff, he rolled to his side, and stared out the window across from him. The stars that typically blinked excitedly in the sky, were hidden behind storm clouds, though the actual storm had yet to begin. The gentle patter of rain echoed on the rooftop above, and small raindrop idly slid down the window, leaving behind a tiny trail of water.

"How does someone decide... their future...?" Izuku whispered. To say he hadn't been thinking about this for awhile would be a lie. Truthfully, every night, he'd lie awake, dozens of thoughts running through his head like a messenger the castles used. Sometimes, they were light-hearted, such as when he'd imagine he was All Knight's new companion. Others... were darker. What would he do if his mother was kidnapped?

Or worse?

Subconsciously, his fingers tightened into a fist. What would he do? Would he set off in search of her?

How would he do that? He had absolutely zero combat experience... he didn't even have a weapon. He couldn't afford a weapon. He didn't even know where to find a weapon.

Slowly, the gears in his mind began turning. He needed a plan... just in case something happened that was dangerous. He needed to learn how to hold, fight, and properly utilize a sword. He already knew certain basics about traveling... his cooking skills were vast, thanks partially to his mother's constant teaching, and she even taught him first-aid, and which natural fruits and plants could be used for salves. His navigation skills weren't perfect, but then, he was also very directional-saavy, and getting lost wasn't easy with marked paths.

The only thing he lacked was combat expertise.

'If only Kacchan were here...' he found himself idly wishing.

He and the blonde-haired child had never been best friends, mostly due to Katsuki's volatile temper and aggressive nature. While Izuku hadn't minded, Katsuki insisted that he not be lumped in the same category as the village children, because he was going to rise above them all. He commonly practiced his magic outside of the town's borders, destroying recently spouted trees, before moving onto some of the thicker, older trees.

Looking back, Izuku wished he'd been there to warn Katsuki... the racket he'd create, paired with his youth, likely only gave the barbarians the idea to kidnap him. Selling someone like that off as a slave at that young was not unheard of. Indentured servitude was commonly practiced at large-scale castles, and royal families often employed either slaves or servants, depending on the type of family they were.

'I hope... he's okay...' Izuku silently wished. The rain began picking up, the gentle tapping of water on the window turning into an angrier, louder pelting, as rain fell from the heavens and coated the land below. Thunder rolled ominously in the distance, as if roaring at the land below it. Izuku pulled his blanket tighter around his body, the thin animal hide sheet providing very little comfort from the rapidly approaching storm.

A slight tickle in his chest instinctively brought his fist to his mouth as he gently coughed and wheezed into his hand, feeling his already waning energy vanish with each individual cough. His eyes grew heavy and his thoughts slowed down, but as the welcomed embrace of darkness overtook the young boy, he made the decision: he was going to discover what it meant to be an explorer.

Firstly, he needed was the right type of sword.