Dungeons And Heroes

My Dream

After resting in the tavern overnight and eating a hearty breakfast, the four explorers set out for another day of adventuring.
"It's a day's journey on horseback," Denki explained, untying his and Tenya's horses. "I can equip these guys with saddles sufficient for two people per horse."
So Tenya and Izuku straddled one, and Denki and Ochaco the other. Eraserhead simply would always appear alongside them.
By late afternoon, they reached Milrun City. "Wow!" Ochaco cried, observing the castle before them in the center of the city. "I've never seen it in person before! I can't believe we're here! This is so exciting!"
     "Marvelous, isn't it?" Denki smiled adoringly. "I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life when I first stepped foot here."
     "So how are we to meet the prince?" Izuku asked, dismounting Tenya's horse.
     "It's easier to get to his brother and sister," Denki winked. "I know all the tricks. Prince Shoto is usually proclaimed busy by the king, and even the servants and guards, but usually he's not. It's easier to get to the elder siblings, and they can get us to their little brother with only a word from us."
      "Sounds complicated," Tenya remarked, tying up his horse. "But I'm in."
     With a quick check over of their crew, and a glance at the familiarity of Denki, they were let in the castle by the guards. It seemed like Denki had to talk to a million people before they were granted access to see Prince Natsuo and Princess Fuyumi.
     A guard accompanied them in the room where they resided. The four entered. The prince was studying some kind of scroll, and the princess was reading a book. The two stood at their entrance. The four bowed low to the ground, in total awe.
     "Rise," Princess Fuyumi said with a wave of her hand. The adventurers looked up to her kind smile. She wore a beautiful, laced gown, but she wore her white hair streaked with red down. She studied Denki. "I know you, don't I? You're one of Shoto's training musketeers. I remember your sparking magic."
     "It's an honor to see you again, Your Glory," Denki bowed again. "I'm sorry to bother you, but we request an urgent meeting with Prince Shoto. These campaigners here wish for him to give them some information for their quest to put an end to the dragon attacks. And, if he wishes, join the campaign."
     Prince Natsuo, brushed back his white hair with his fingers, his eyes glowing with interest. "Oho, father would absolutely hate that. I'm certainly getting you an audience with our brother. He could use some time away. It would be the world to him to be able to get away for a time and be able to do something about that problem himself. Don't you agree, sister?"
     "You said... the king would be angry?" Izuku asked uncertainly.
     "He'd get over himself," Fuyumi assured them. "And we'd cover for his leaving. Plus, if you succeed in the campaign, father would be more happy than not. Here, let me escort you four to the courtyard. Shoto is tending to his horse there.
     "And the guards...?" Ochaco asked nervously.
     "Won't mind," Natsuo said convincingly. "They trust us very much."
"Well, if you can get there safely," Denki bowed and swept his hat off his head in his hand in reverence. "I'm off to my own duties. Good luck, everyone." And with that, he took his leave.
Escorted by the prince and princess, the three traveled to the courtyard to meet the revered prince.
Sure enough, the boy was running his fingers through the mane of his white stallion. He wore a princely jacket, complete with ruffles, giving him a very regal appearance.
"Shoto," Fuyumi addressed, "there's a campaign here to see you. They're wanting you to give them some information for their quest to defeat the dragons."
Shoto cocked his head with interest. "Really?" He turned to the questers, waiting for them to introduce themselves.
"Tenya Iida of Grentown. Knight." Tenya went first with a bow.
"Iida? Like Sir Tensei Iida?" Shoto inquired curiously.
"My brother," Tenya proudly confirmed with a nod.
Ochaco went next. "Ochaco Uraraka of Delto Bluffs. Witch."
Izuku finished. "Izuku Midoriya of Bregburg. Adventurer."
"And you're on a campaign together to stop the dragon attacks. You want me to join?" Shoto put his hands on his hips authoritatively.
"If you would, Your Highness," Izuku murmured with a bow.
"Please," said Shoto, lifting Izuku back up to a standing position by the shoulders. "No honorifics or bows needed. It's just Shoto. If I'm to join you, let's keep this casual, if we could."
"Oh, okay," Izuku said. "Wait a second... we weren't here to ask you to join. But... so... you want to come?"
"Of course I want to come! I've been holed up in the castle forever. But if you didn't come to ask me to join, what did you want from me?"
"We wanted to know if you knew anything about the whereabouts of the One for All," Izuku questioned.
"The One for All, huh?" Shoto pondered the inquiry. "Well, it's somewhere within the Yikap Mountains. It is foretold to be found by a specific adventurer. That adventurer will come across the weapon, and be able to easily wield it, and then success All Knight." Shoto studied the group. "Are any of you aspiring to be that adventurer?"
Tenya and Ochaco looked at Izuku. He blushed in response. "Well... I'm not trying to grow a big ego or anything... but that's always been my dream. Not that I'm expecting it to be me or anything!" he put in hurriedly.
Shoto smiled warmly. "No, that's a good dream to have." He looked down. "Life is really horrible when your biggest dream is to just..." he droned off, about to reveal something he probably wasn't comfortable sharing. Only then did Izuku realize the burn scars on the side of the prince's face. An accident? Or were those given to him? If he had been held up in the castle his whole life, then that would mean...
"Izuku?" Ochaco knocked on his head. "Shoto just said he knows a way out the back that we can leave through. He's coming with us. Were you not listening?"
"Oh, sorry," Izuku apologized. "Just daydreaming."
"Well, let's go then. The volcanic section of the Yikap Mountains should be where the dragons are," Shoto said. "I know a quick way there. Are you all ready?"
"As we'll ever be," Izuku said, adjusting the pack across his back. "Let's go find Katsuki!"