𝓢𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓮 (𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓸𝓫𝓪𝓴𝓾/𝓑𝓪𝓴𝓾𝓽𝓸𝓭𝓸)

Chapter 4

A lot can be learned in just a week.

For example, Izuku knew that he and his siblings lived in the palace of King Enji, due to his son, Shoto. He was the one who took in their eggs. He seemed nice enough, if a little odd. His habit of randomly shouting was difficult to understand, but humans were strange creatures.

He also learned that Shoto would always hide them away from everyone's view, though he wasn't entirely sure why.

:Please let us come!: Ochako whined as she clung to Shoto's vest. :It's booooring in here!:

"I—have—to—go!" Shoto cried, trying (and failing) to detangle Ochako from his vest. "Please just stay here! People can't know you're here; and you're already starting to get bigger! I need to go to my lessons and I can't take you with me!"

:Ochako!: Tenya scolded from his place on Shoto's desk. :He is clearly in a rush! Let go of him!: His tail thwacked the wood of the desk repeatedly.

:But Tenyaaa~!:

Izuku tuned out the squabbling of his siblings and waddled over to Shoto's leg, standing up on his hind legs and tapping the human's shin. Shoto looked down at him with pained eyes.

"Don't tell me you want to come too. . ."

:Nope!: Izuku chirped, bobbing his head. :Ochako, get down. We can lay on him when he gets back.:

:Fine.: Ochako snorted and let go of Shoto, flapping over to the bed to join Momo and Tsuyu. He turned his head to look at Shoto again.

:See!:

Shoto sighed in what he assumed was relief.

"Thank goodness. Now, I'm off to my lessons, I'll be back later. Stay out of the way of the maids, please." Then he left.

:Why does he want us to hide so badly?: Ochako pouted.

:I'm sure he has his reasons, Ocha,: Tsuyu soothed. Ochako grumbled and curled up for a nap.

Why does he want us to stay hidden?

He scrambled up Shoto's desk chair and leapt onto the desk, nudging papers aside with a claw.

Maybe there's a clue somewhere up here. . .

There wasn't much; a half-finished letter addressed to 'Mother', a couple of books about dragons (He's doing his research, how thoughtful!) and an odd list.

:Momo, can you tell what this is?:

Momo leapt up onto the desk and sidled over, peeking at the list.

:I have no idea. He gets a new one every morning, though.:

He rumbled slightly in discontent; tail twitching behind him. As much as he respected Shoto's decisions, he wanted him to come back so they could pile together.

:We should go look for him!: Ochako chirped, shooting up and jumping off the bed. Tenya squeaked.

:O-Ochako! He's made it very clear—:

:Come onnnn, Tenya! Aren't you at least a little curious?:

Tenya fidgeted in place before sighing.

:Okay, I will admit I've been wondering where he goes. But he told us to stay behind!:

:You never grow if you don't take risks!:

:I agree with Ocha,: Tsuyu chimed in, poking her head out of the basin she liked to nap in. :But we should be careful and avoid humans. Just in case.:

:Then it's settled! Izuku, help me open the door!:

:This is a bad idea,: he grumbled to himself. Still, he hopped down from the desk and waddled over to the door. Ochako flew up to the knob and started jumping on it, finally getting it to go down all the way. He wedged his claws in the crack between door and wall and pulled with all his might.

:We're FREEEE!: Ochako cheered, slipping out of the room. :Now come on, we need to track Shoto!:

:This is a bad idea,: Momo said, shaking her head. But she followed Ochako out of the room as well. Izuku sighed and left the room with Tsuyu. Tenya hesitated, but eventually poked his head out as well.

:So, where should we go first?: Tsuyu asked. Ochako lifted her head, sniffing the air.

:This way!:

Izuku followed his siblings through the halls, ducking behind potted plants or curtains or side tables anytime someone who wasn't Shoto came near. His heart rate jumped every time he caught sight of another human.

My poor nerves. . .

After what felt like forever, Ochako finally paused by a pair of ornate oak doors.

:He went through here! Izuku, help!:

Izuku sighed again and wedged his claws in the door, pulling it open slowly. One by one, he and his siblings slipped inside.

The room was huge and filled with books. The scent of parchment, ink and leather saturated the air, and huge windows scattered throughout the room let in sunlight.

:There!: Momo said suddenly, lifting a claw and pointing. :He's somewhere over there, but he's not alone.:

:Let's go see,: Tsu said. The five dragons snuck over and finally caught sight of Shoto; sitting at a table. There was an older man across from him, holding up a map. The dragons ducked behind a bookcase.

"Well, I think that's enough for today," the older man said. "Don't forget your reading, Your Highness."

"I won't, sir," Shoto replied. The man got up and bowed before leaving the library. Ochako decided to take that as her cue and leapt at Shoto, cooing happily.

:Shoto!:

"What the—?!" Shoto whirled around in his chair and barely managed to catch Ochako. His face paled. "What are you doing here?!"

:We missed you!:

Shoto began looking around frantically, turning an even paler shade when he caught sight of Izuku, Momo, Tenya, and Tsuyu.

"Oh no. . ." He scrambled to his feet and gathered them all up, stuffing them into a leather satchel that had been hidden under his seat. Then he hurried out of the library.

The bag was decidedly uncomfortable. Izuku bounced against the bag and his siblings as it repeatedly hit Shoto's hip.

I knew this was a bad idea.

When they were finally released (well, technically the bag was upended over Shoto's bed, but details), he took the time to stretch out his legs and give himself a good shake to get rid of the residual dizziness. Shoto slumped into his desk chair.

"What were you five doing?!" he groaned. "If someone saw you, we'd get in so much trouble! It's going to be near impossible to keep you from Father's notice anyways!"

Father?

Shoto continued ranting, though it faded into more of a mumble as he got more worked up. He started clutching at his hair.

He shouldn't be doing that, should he?

Izuku jumped onto his lap from the bed and placed his paws on Shoto's chest. When he finally got his attention, he let out a soft trill.

:It's okay, Shoto! We'll be careful!:

It took a minute, but Shoto eventually calmed down enough to tentatively stroke his scales.

"Please don't do that again. I don't want you guys to get hurt."

:We won't,: Izuku promised, shooting a mild glare toward his siblings. :We promise.: