When the threesome entered Green Village, Dark Shadow shrank down to the size of a large Condor and perched on Fumikage's shoulder. It drew some strange looks, but most people thought it was just a pet. Green Village had no mages or magic. Deku had been travelling around mages for so many weeks, he'd almost forgotten what it was like to breathe air that didn't have some magical aura in it.

But he was nervous about going to his house again. It didn't help that a bunch of people stopped and called to him. "Young Deku!"

"You're finally home!"

"We thought you were dead!"

"You useless piece of sheep dung! Do you know how worried your mother has been?!" The last from a crotchety old lady.

Deku winced. "Maybe I should have written first."

"Well, you do deserve what you get," Ochaco said, "but it'll be fine, you'll see. She'll be happy to see you."

"I too had parents once," Fumikage said.

"Are they dead?" Ochaco asked sadly.

"No, but I cannot go back to them like this. It would bring shame on my family. I am dead to them. I hope they think that," Fumikage said darkly.

They didn't know what to say.

But a throatier voice caught their attention.

"Well, if it isn't Deku the Quester, and who are you? I'm sure you can't be Ochaco."

They turned.

"Tsuyu!" Ochaco cried, rushing forward to give the short, round-faced girl a hug.

art by k_mraz on instagram

"Oh, my goodness! How many years has it been?"

"Too many to remember," Tsuyu replied dryly, "I see you and Deku did find each other... but your party seems a little smaller than I remember. I don't recognize your amalgamated man."

"You can... see him?" Deku asked. Ochaco had put a cloaking spell on his head when they first entered the village.

"I've known Ochaco too long to be fooled by her magic as easily as that," Tsuyu said.

"You see, Deku," Ochaco said sheepishly, "It's a strange rule of magic, that it very often doesn't work well on people who've known you for a long time in your own country. Part of magic is believing in its power... and they don't see you as a threat... but I'm sure no one else will notice."

"I apologize deeply if I alarmed you, Madame," Fumikage said, regretfully.

"I'm not so green I don't know a cursed person when I see one," Tsuyu said very calmly, "I don't suppose you'd be with them if you were any threat, so I wasn't alarmed. Nice bird."

"That's a roc," Ochaco said.

"Oh..." Tsuyu didn't seem fazed by this either.

"But... Tsuyu, you don't live in Green Village.... Why are you here?" Deku was puzzled.

"I'm visiting my family, of course," Tsuyu said, "Why else? The Inn is not so busy this time of year. Less people travel when it's cold, and I left it in the care of one of my maids I employ.... I hope she doesn't burn the palace down while I'm gone, but it's not a very far journey. I intend to catch a wagon ride back with a trader from this village. But you've been the talk of the village since I arrived, Deku. All anyone can tell me about is their missing person. Is it true you left without a word to your mother?"

"It was just so urgent..." Deku said.

"That's just inconsiderate," Tsuyu said, "You'd better find her at once and apologize."

"Deku, you really should," Ochaco said more nicely, "She's bound to hear you're back anyway."

"Uh... okay..." Deku said, "Do you guys want to wait here, or...?"

"I think Ochaco and I have plenty to catch up on," Tsuyu said, "and your friend can join us for some tea at my family's house. You can just come find us once you've done your duty by your mother." Tsuyu sure had a businesslike, no nonsense manner about these things. Deku found it impossible to protest, even though he was nervous to go alone... but Ochaco and Fumikage made no move to argue either and went off with Tsuyu.

Deku squared his shoulders and marched towards his house.

Deku's mom was hanging laundry up outside their house when he walked up the path to their home. Some chickens ran in front of him before he could get there, and the neighbor's sheep started bleeting because they recognized him.

His mother, whose name was Inko, turned to see who it was, and dropped her clothespins. "Deku!" she cried.

[Comment if you forgot his name was Deku in this and not Izuku, because I almost did.]

"Hi, Mom," Deku said weakly.

Inko ran up to him and grabbed him into a tight hug. "My baby! Where have you been? You had me worried sick! Your note didn't say anything! What are you wearing?"

Deku wasn't wearing anything that different, except for his cloak and boots... oh, and his dagger...

"Where did you get a knife?" Inko wasn't giving him a chance to answer, "and you're filthy."

Of course, your mother will always tell you that.

Then she started shaking him. "I can't believe you'd scare me like that! Don't you care how I feel?"

When Deku could finally speak, he began apologizing. "I left in a hurry because it was so urgent.... I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. You weren't home..."

"But what was so important, Deku?" Inko demanded, "We don't know anyone outside this village."

Deku wasn't sure where to start.

Inko stared at him. Then she sighed. "You know what? Let's go inside and have a meal and talk. Just give me a minute to finish this."

"Oh, I'll help..." Deku started picking up clothes.

"Thanks..." Inko still seemed a little angry.... Under the circumstances, that was probably better than he had any right to expect. Deku felt bad. He honestly hadn't given much thought to how his mother felt at all since leaving home. He had purposely stayed away from thinking about it, because it made him feel guilty.

After they had eaten (and it was nice to have home-cooked food again at his own table), he considered how much to tell her. Would it put her at risk from Monster attacks or bounty hunters if he told her the truth? Or would it put her at more risk not to? Someone could knock on the door, and she could just open it without any preparation at all.... Perhaps it would just be better to tell her.

So he told her about the Hermit and the map and how he'd left home and formed a party.

Inko didn't know if she should believe him or not. It sounded pretty out of the blue for Deku to do anything like this.

But what helped him at this moment was Tsuyu, Ochaco, and Fumikage coming look for him after him being gone for about 2 hours. 

Tsuyu had been able to learn where he lived with no trouble at all, and Ochaco had begun to worry that his mother would be too upset with him to let him leave, so they came up the lane. Deku saw them. "Here they are mom! I'll show you!"

"Deku?" Inko said strangely.

Deku opened the door.

"You have to come in and meet my mom and tell her it's all true!" he cried.

"Pardon me?" Fumikage and Tsuyu both said at once.

"Oh?" Ochaco said more willingly, "I guess we could. Hello ... Mrs. ... uh..."

"Midoriya," Inko said,"And you are?" She was standing in the doorway looking at them strangely.

"I'm Ochaco. I'm a mage," Ochaco said, dropping a light curtsey.

Ochaco basically saved Deku's rear end. She acted like meeting the mother of your quest leader after a few months was something that happened every day. She was nice and polite, and Inko invited them all in to sit down and have a cookie.

Of course they were full from tea, but they took one just to be polite.

Tsuyu was easy going, but no more gracious than she was apt to be at any other time. Hers were simple, country manners. Luckily, Inko was not the judgmental type.

Fumikage just looked nervous. Even though Inko didn't see his monstrous head because of the spell, he felt self-conscious and kept glancing out the window to make sure Dark Shadow was behaving himself and not eating the chickens.

Inko seemed satisfied that they were not crazy people after talking to them, and Ochaco corroborated Deku's story

"But... my baby... the next holder...?" Inko understandably wasn't sure what to make of this. "It can't be.... I mean, Deku's a good boy, dependable, ... but he's not... well, ... trained for anything like that. I could never afford to get him a proper education.... We're simple folk."

Deku felt bad-- that was kind of true.

"Well, he can read," Ochaco said cheerfully.

"Yes, well, our village reverend taught him in exchange for him herding his sheep," Inko said, "Deku has initiative. I won't deny it, but, ... I mean, he's not a warrior... and I've never had any qualms about that. It's so dangerous to go out into the Dark Lands."

"Mom, I survived," Deku said.

"But you had a whole party!" Inko said, "Now you have 4 people!"

"I'm not in the party, ma'am," Tsuyu helped nothing by saying.

"Two other people!" Inko said, "No offense, but just two other people, against those monsters? And it's only getting more dangerous out there. And we have no magic! I'm sorry, Deku, but it seems like pure madness to me."

"But, madame, he has the SOL," Fumikage spoke up.

"I don't see it. Where is it? Can he use it?" Inko said.

Deku looked at his hands. "I... haven't learned how to do it yet."

Inko gave him a look that only a concerned and perturbed mother can give you.

Deku swallowed.

Ochaco sat up straighter. "Mrs. Midoriya, you're worried about Deku because you think he's not ready to do this, but look at what he's done already. He made it through the Dark Lands twice, once on foot, and the other time on a giant bird! Not one person in this village has possibly ever done that, and I didn't know anyone who had back in my city. I've never seen anyone who had so little to begin with, attempt to do something so crazy! And succeed!

"I mean, maybe he's not as highly trained as someone else. But who is when they start out? The point is, he's smart, he can read, he comes up with some good plans and saved our necks a few times on the trip. Besides, people like helping him."

Deku stared at her in amazement.

Ochaco went on. "And he's got me and Fumikage to keep him safe until he learns how to use the SOL, and no one said it was going to happen overnight. We don't know how long it took the 8th to learn. But we're going to find the Hermit and he'll know. So I think we have as good a chance as anyone at succeeding. And... I mean, Deku is the Chosen 9th holder to defeat the Dark Lord.... Isn't that kind of exciting? We'll get to see the beginning of it. How many people get to see that?"

Inko looked at her oddly.

Tsuyu nodded. "I think that's a good way to look at it. My family always says you have to walk before you can run. Deku is just starting out as a holder. But surely, the 8th picked him for a reason."

"At the very least," Fumikage said, "he is willing to give someone like me a chance to help, and I think that is a quality a holder would have.... Whether he is skilled or not, who is to say whether it matters for the SOL?"

Inko started to nod slowly. Finally, she spoke. "I can't say I feel all better just at that. I can't change my feelings at the drop of a hat, but I can see some sense in what all of you are saying."

She smiled finally at them. "And you, Ochaco, I like what you said about my son. It's true... he is smart... and this is a special time.... Perhaps I was not seeing the fuller picture.... Deku, I may not like you being in danger, but, if there's one thing I know, as your mother, it's that we all have our responsibilities."

She looked out the window briefly. "Your father knew that too.... We wanted you to have better things than just this. I never imagined this would be it. It's hard to wrap my head around it... but, I guess, if this is what you've chosen, and the 8th chose you, then it must be right. I want you to have my confidence and not feel you are disappointing me."

Deku was surprised that she had changed her mind so quickly... but then his mom always had been one to see the sense of things if she was presented with evidence.

"I... uh... appreciate that..." he said shakily, "I know it... must have been hard for you alone here."

"I'm all right," Inko said, "I take in washing, and the village takes care of me, too.... Don't worry about me." She got up. "You have to fulfill you role in life, Deku. And I have mine. This life suits me. It doesn't suit you. So, you should go. Go while you can. If you stuck around here any longer, you might get tied down with the cares of village life, and that would hinder you from fulfilling your mission."

She took out handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes bravely. "But if you're going to go back to those awful Dark Lands and face the horrible monster, I insist you take some wool underclothes with you! Winter is coming, and I can see you haven't been dressing properly at all. I swear, for someone so smart with books, you haven't a lick of common sense!"

This turn of conversation embarrassed Deku, but Tsuyu and Ochaco started laughing.

"That's just what my mother say," Tusyu said. "Mine too..." Ochaco said, "I should write her... but it's no use. She can't read anyway."

"Where did you learn to read, Ocahco?" Tsuyu said, "I'm sure you couldn't when we last met."

"I learned it at the guild, so I could take jobs," Ochaco said, "At first I had to do all their chores for them so they'd teach me, but I'm not afraid to clean up after horses and scrub floors." She made a determined face. "I picked it up pretty quickly. At least enough to read signs and maps... maybe not books... But where would I get books anyway?"

"Reading is a useful skill. I wish I could attain to it," Fumikage said remorsefully, "There was a little opportunity in my past life for study."

"Oh, that's nothing. I'll show you what I know," Ochaco offered, "You should be able to read signs and stuff in case we get separated, after all."

"Teach me?" Fumikage looked as though the idea had never occurred to him. "Are you sure...?"

"She sounds pretty sure," Tsuyu spoke, "You should thank a person when they offer to do you a boon, Mister Fumikage. That's just the kind of person Ochaco is."

"I'm glad my son has found such good people to travel with," Inko said, listening to this with satisfaction, "I'm going to pack your things for you, Deku. You didn't take half enough when you left."

"But, mother, I can't carry too much..." Deku began.

"Your winter clothes will do just fine-- and maybe some food..." Inko ignored him.

"Thank goodness she didn't ask about us," Ochaco said quietly.

"She thinks that it's the three of you, so there's no need to worry," Tsuyu said, "but perhaps if you explain the situation it would be easier than lying."

"Honesty is the best policy," Fumikage agreed, "but in cases like these, we must use discretion. We can't go telling everyone we're on a quest..."

"Tsuyu, it's a pity you can't join us," Ochaco said, "Then we'd have a cook."

"No, thank you. Adventuring is not for me," Tsuyu said, "I don't like to travel, and I really don't like monsters (no offense meant, Fumikage). But at least I can offer you a free stay in my inn if you pass through the village again. Take it as a gift towards your training."

"Really? Thanks," Deku said.

After making them stay to supper, and packing Deku more things than he really needed, Inko invited them to spend the night at the cottage, and the two who were used to sleeping inside agreed. Tsuyu went back to her family's home. Fumikage slept outside with his roc and stared at the sky.

The next day it was time to venture into the woods and look for Grandfather Torin.

Inko wished they would stay longer, but she seemed to have accepted that Deku had to go as soon as possible to continue his quest. But she did pull him aside before he left.

"Deku," she said, "I love you.... Please, stay safe out there."

"I'll... try..." Deku said uncertainly.

"Also, I have something else to ask you," Inko said.

"What?" Deku said.

"Is that girl out there going to be my future daughter in law?" Inko asked.

Deku turned bright red. "Who, uh, Ochaco?"

"Yes, Ochaco!" Inko said, waving her finger in his fac,. "She's a nice young lady. I never met a mage before, but I never expected one to be so down to earth. She's a good influence on you. You've always got your head in the clouds, sweetie."

"Oh... uh.... Well, we're not really..." Deku trailed off. What were they exactly?

"Deku, you shouldn't lead a girl on," Inko said reprovingly, "I can tell she fancies you. You like her too, don't you? You shouldn't dawdle. Life's too short for that."

"Oh, well, um..." Deku blushed harder. "Now's not really the time to be thinking of it."

"I don't know what's a better time. You're old enough to be starting a family now," Inko said staunchly, "I was always hoping you'd meet a nice girl in the village, but she's nice too. And I guess you won't be staying around here, so why not? You can't wait for perfection, son. You have to make up your mind to it."

Deku wasn't sure what to say now.

"Well, you better get on your way," Inko sniffed, waving her handkerchief at him, "Eat enough. You've gotten so skinny since I last saw you."

"It's muscle," Deku tried to defend himself.

"Eat!" Inko insisted.