"I can't believe this is really it" Uraraka pouted as the travelling trio walked over the town square of a small border village.
"I must apologize, but I need to return to the palace at once" Iida stated on a formal tone. Izuku rolled his eyes, smiling a little. Iida has always been too formal and strict...

None the less he was a good friend who had protected them while travelling through the Elven Kingdom after arriving from Fae where Izuku met Uraraka after meeting with the royal family. He'd tried talking to the leaders of Fae but they weren't willing to help him cease the throne of the Midoriya Kingdom. The princess, Yaoyorozu Momo, had spoken to him afterwards.

She was ripped of her wings at a young age in a terrible raid, which caused her parents to be overprotective and self-conservative. It's why they don't want to help Izuku, yet Momo was very willing to. She actually wanted to train to become a knight herself but her parents didn't let her. They found comfort in each other's stories and became friends.

After leaving the palace, he found Uraraka in a small village. She was going to travel to the Todoroki Kingdom to study advanced magic. For safety reasons they travelled together and actually became friends. They met Iida in the capital of the Elven Kingdom, where Izuku met with the royal family in secret. He didn't have the chance to reconnect with Hatsume Mei but her parents agreed to an alliance when one of the power houses joined as well.

The power houses namely the Dragon Kingdom and Todoroki Empire. That also happened to be the next two kingdoms on his list! So things were working out quite well for now.

"We understand Iida, don't worry" Izuku smiled.
"Come on Uraraka, let's go to the market and get some supplies before getting settled in for the night"
"Until we meet again" Iida said with a small bow before turning around and leaving the other two travellers.
"I'm gonna miss him" Uraraka pouted, clenching her hand around her staff.
"Yeah, me to... But I'm sure we'll meet again some day" Izuku stated, trying to stay positive.

He glanced around the square and market place. It seemed like a caravan had just arrived with new goods. Oh, some magic related stuff as well. That would come in handy for Ochako. The green head on the other hand would be focussed on food and water to make sure they endure the journey to Dragonia, capital of the Dragon Kingdom. Not the most original name but then again, most kingdoms are named after their rulers. So why not name a city after the beasts that dwell there?

"Oh! Look! Music!" Uraraka exclaimed, pulling the banned prince with her. There was a girl with short dark hair singing loudly for all to hear. A boy playing the guitar behind her, his hair a bright yellowish blonde, his eyes the same electrifying colour. The young girl's voice was beautiful, truly breath taking. After their performance was over, a hat went around, collecting the donations from the crowd that had formed around them.

"They were so good! I wish I could sing..." Uraraka sighed, tossing a silver coin into the hat.
"Well, I bet she can't cast gravitational spells" Izuku shrugged, trying to make his compagnon feel better. Ochako rolled her eyes at that but smiled a little none the less. After that they wandered around the market, searching for the best offers and good quality products. The duo stopped at a magic shop, where Uraraka gawked over all the new gadgets.

Izuku's eyes fell upon a bright yellow storm rune stone. Curious, he reached out to pick it up, only to be stopped last minute. He followed the hand that grabbed his wrist and stared into some pissed off indigo eyes.
"That one is not for sale" the young man hissed while snatching the stone away with his other hand.
"I swear, Kami has got to watch his stuff..." he muttered underneath his breath while letting go of Izuku's wrist.

"Oh, I apologize..." the green head whispered, slowly pulling his hand back.
"Oi! Don't scare off my costumers!" the dark haired owner hissed in anger, hitting the younger boy on the head.
"You're lucky I let you and your groupies stay with the caravan for a while so at least behave"
"I wasn't doing anything wrong uncle Shouta, just retrieving Kaminari's rune stone" the purple haired boy answered, holding his hands up in the air in defence. Yet his face stayed unreadable and neutral. The same with this uncle Shouta fella too, actually.

The black haired male turned to face Izuku.
"Can I help you? Interested in another rune stone in our collection?"
"Oh, uh, n-no, I-I uhm I don't really use rune stones..."
"Body magic?" the indigo eyed guy asked, throwing the yellow stone up before catching it again and putting it away in his pocket.

Instinctively Izuku grabbed his enchanted blade. One For All, a weapon that can be wielded even by those who don't posses magic abilities. Although, without the correct training and skill, it could literally tear you apart limp by limp.
"I'm not really a mage..." the emerald eyed boy sighed, scratching the back of his neck.
"B-but my friend here is! Uhm, Uraraka, seen anything you'd like?"

He pulled the girl towards him, glancing between her and the two males behind the stand.
"Ah, a pure blood human are we?" Shinsou chuckled, crossing his arms.
"Where are you from? Those aren't around that often anymore"
"Oh, uh, M-Midoriya Kingdom" Izuku stuttered, making the conversation die out. Yeah, it got a bad reputation due to king Hisashi and his harsh dictatorship. The kingdom even gained the nickname the Dark Lands.

"I'm sorry to hear that... 20% discount on everything" Aizawa said with a trail of sympathy in his voice.
"It's alright, really" Izuku whispered, looking down at the ground. People from his kingdom were pitied and accepted into other communities quickly. Everyone knew of Hisashi's cruel treatment so outsiders were more than willing to help out refugees.
"I'd like this charm please" Ochako said, trying to divert the conversation.

"Of course, good choice. This particular charm was created using pixie dust and-" the dark haired man started explaining the origin and powers to the young mage while Shinsou frowned at Izuku.
"So what's your name?"
"Uhm, I-Izuku! Nice to meet you" the green head smiled.
"Izuku and?" Hitoshi asked, still a little sceptical.

"Toshinori! Izuku Toshinori" he quickly added. This only made Shinsou frown harder.
"You know, Toshinori is the actual last name of sir All Might. If I'm not mistaken, he used to be head of the royal guard in the Midoriya Kingdom, right? And isn't Izuku the name of their prince?"
"I-it's a common n-name-"

"No, it's not" Shinsou stated, inspecting the green head a little closer.
"I was born in the Midoriya Kingdom as well, you see, and it is mandatory to learn about the royal family in elementary"
"I-I know, I was taught t-the same..." Izuku muttered, backing away as Hitoshi moved closer. Before the indigo eyed male could come any closer or say anything more, two others interrupted.

"Hey Shinsou! You never guess how much we made off music today!" a cheery blonde boy exclaimed, flinging his arm around the insomniac while adjusting his hat.
"Oh hi! I saw you in the crowd! Enjoyed the show?"
"Yes! The two of you were amazing" Izuku smiled. Shinsou huffed, grabbing the bright yellow rune stone from his pocket and tossing it to the blonde.

"I told you to put this away. Don't leave it laying around like that"
"Oh there it is! Thank you Shinsou-kun~" Kaminari smiled, poking the dark magic user in his face in a teasing manner.
"Denki" Jirou hissed, pulling him off. Izuku's eyes widened a little and he started stuttering in realisation.
"O-oh! Oh, y-you're...you're l-like that! I-I don't mind t-that or a-anything!"
"Pfft, like this guy cares about your opinion" Kaminari snorted, pointing at Shinsou.
"Anyways, Jirou and I are hitting the bar to celebrate. You coming?"

"Yes... I'll be right there..." the young man said slowly, his eyes never leaving Izuku. It made the boy nervous and jittery. Did this stranger on the market just really discover his true identity? All because he'd grown up in the Midoriya Kingdom? Was he that known by his people? It made him wonder... Had others recognized him but stayed silent? Many questions ran through his mind as the trio left and Uraraka paid Aizawa.

"Are you from the Dark Lands as well sir?" she asked as she handed him the gold piece.
"Oh no, I come from the Todoroki Empire" Shouta clarified.
"But my sister, Hitoshi's mother, married someone living there. Not her smartest decision..."
His face fell a bit and Izuku could already guess what happened. It was something not a lot of people know about the Midoriya Kingdom...

King Hisashi lets his guards raid poor villages who struggle to pay the way too high taxes and uses the people for his own amusement until he's tired of them. He makes them do inhuman things, uses them as slaves, tortures them for fun... He has even set some free on his fenced land to hunt them down for sport! He'd forced Izuku to come with him once, to make a man out of him. Izuku was twelve at the time...

It was a little while before the whole scandal about his mother and All Might was uncovered. The green head sighed, looking away from the pair. Ochako frowned in confusion, glancing between the two.
"Is there something I don't know?"
"It's not important" Izuku said instantly.
"Why don't you go look for an inn to stay the night? I-I still have s-some supplies to buy... We'll meet up for dinner, alright?"

"Oh...Uhm, yeah, okay..." she sighed, a little disappointed, and slowly walked away.
"So? You escaped them too?" Aizawa asked, leaning back onto one of the sturdy wooden posts of the stand.
"H-his parents..?" Izuku asked quietly, not answering the merchant's question. The dark haired trader slowly shook his head a no, making a cold void fill Izuku.
"I-I'm so sorry..." the green haired boy whispered, looking anywhere but the man in question.

His father had murdered so many innocent people... Took so much lives... No. That man wasn't his father. He will take revenge for the fallen ones. He will be the one to take the life of Hisashi Midoriya.
"You can't change the way the Midoriya's do things... Unfortunately, nobody seems to be able to do a damn thing about it... Every other kingdom just turns a blind eye, acts like it isn't happening"

"I know..." Izuku whispered, clenching his fists.
"Even the heir is on the run... You heard about that? The prince running away from the palace?"
"Yeah... Heard he's on the run for his father" Izuku sighed, looking over the charms and enchanted gem stones of the small shop.
"Wouldn't surprise me if it's just a story to satisfy the people... Missing eyes better than dead" Aizawa sighed.

"Midoriya probably slaughtered him with all the others"
Izuku bit his lip, letting out a shaky breath. Maybe it was better if people thought he'd died...
"Yeah..." the boy whispered, letting his eye wander over a dark red crystal catching his eye.
"Is this a dragon stone?"
"Ah, you've got a good eye" Shouta smiled.
"One of the better qualities if I do say so myself. Forged in the now dormant volcano behind the hills of Dragonia"

"How much?" Izuku asked, carefully picking it up. It would be a great gift for the Dragon King when he went to speak with him... He knew Katsuki Bakugou had to be flattered and eased into conversation and this would certainly help.
"Normally I'd ask about thirty gold pieces for a jewel like that" the trader sighed.
"But you can get it for fifteen"

"Really?" Izuku gasped.
"Sure thing kid" Aizawa said with a small smile.
"I know what it's like to lose it all at a young age... We're all in this together"
"T-thank you"

Meanwhile in the palace of the Fae Kingdom

Princess Momo was training in the courtyard, her swords slicing through the air with almost flawless perfection. Her parents disapproved of her choice to train as a knight and practice the unique two sword style. Let alone her rather revealing armour... Ever since she was ripped of her wings, people have babied her. To rebel against that principle, she would prove to be her own person. A strong woman and princess.

Someone young girls could look up to. She thought back about Izuku's visit. The banned prince stayed for about a week before continuing on his journey. Momo found his story rather sad and found a good friend in him, even if he was younger. She wanted to help the poor boy out, help the people of his kingdom. But her parents... She sighed, sliding her blades back in their place as she heard a servant come near.

"State your business"
"Princess Mei has arrived, my princess"
"Thank you. Tell her to await my presence in the tea room" Yaoyorozu answered politely and with a smile.
"As you wish" the servant reacted, leaving her alone in the courtyard. The Fae princess went to her dressing room, changing into more royal attire to great her fellow royal. A long silk dress and small tiara on her head. With comfortable shoes she left to meet Hatsume Mei.

The elven princess was tinkering with some kind of gadget, as per usual. Momo had never seen her not busy with some kind of tech toy. Always trying to combine technology with magic... Typical Elves.
"Hello Mei"
"Ah, good, you're here. Can you get me a point two screwdriver?" she asked, pulling up her small goggles to look at Yaoyorozu.

The fairy chuckled at that, signing a servant to make sure Hatsume got everything she wanted.
"I'm so happy you could make it! I know you have a busy schedule"
"And I know you are on permanent house arrest so it's my pleasure" she reacted, tinkering a bit more.
"So? Why'd ya wanna meet up? Princess tea party? Complaining about your parents? Oh! Did they finally arrange a suitor for you?"

"No, no, nothing like that... Well, actually a little bit, maybe..." Momo chuckled, scratching her cheek with her index finger.
"Have you, uhm, met prince Izuku? Heir to the Midoriya Kingdom?"
Hatsume halted all movements, blankly looking up at the Fae princess. She slowly put her gadget down, pulling off her goggles.
"So he came to speak to your parents as well..." she whispered.
"Yeah..."

"What did your parents say? Were you allowed to see him? How is he doing? How did he look?"
"H-he looked okay, healthy, no injuries" Momo assured her, now sitting down at the table and pouring in some tea for the both of them.
"We were able to talk a little during his stay... I think his goals are very noble, but my parents..."
"They don't want to offer aid, right? Didn't expect anything else from the conservative Fae Kingdom..." Mei muttered, taking her cup and sipping from her tea.

"What about the Elven Kingdom? Land of the Future?" Yaoyorozu asked.
"Well... My parents are willing, for sure, but they don't want to be the first to aline themselves with a rogue prince. They asked him to return when at least one of the power houses had accepted his alliance" Mei sighed, leaning back in her chair.
"Oh? So that means he must be on his way to the Dragon Kingdom or the Todoroki Empire..."

"Dragon Kingdom. It's closer from the Elven Kingdom" Hatsume stated.
"Don't worry, he'll get there safely. I made sure one of my royal guards guided him to the border. Played it off as an old childhood friend since nobody can know who he really is"
"Smart"
"I'm an elf, what did you expect?" she smirked.
"Izuku Midoriya is my future husband after all!"

That statement made Momo choke on her tea and she spit out some. Coughing, she wiped her mouth with a napkin, staring wide eyed at her fellow princess.
"He what?"
"Oh, it's a funny story" Hatsume chuckled.
"You see, when we were little, our parents talked about an arranged marriage to combine the two kingdoms. Izuku and I were actually pretty good friends at the time. It never became official but if this whole ordeal works out I think the plans are back on the table"

"Hmm, yeah, the two of you are the same age and you live in neighbouring kingdoms so it would make sense..." Yaoyorozu whispered, trying to make sense out of the situation.
"But... Is it something you want?"
"What do you mean?" Mei asked confused, tilting her head.
"Do you want to marry prince Izuku Midoriya when he becomes king?" Momo rephrased.

"I mean, are you willing to sacrifice the chance on true love for the sake of your family's status? Taking you don't actually like him that way"
"Oh..." the elven girl breathed.
"Well, progress is worth every sacrifice, it's the elven way"
"I see..." the dark haired fairy whispered, drinking a little more of her tea.

"Biscuit?"

In the small village located on border between the Elven Kingdom and Dragon Kingdom

"Welcome to the local inn, I'm Sero Hanta, here is your key" a dark haired male said.
"One night stay, correct?"
"Yes, two seperate beds" Izuku added, making him nod.
"Of course. Room number 7. Enjoy your stay" Sero said, going back to attend the bar, which was located underneath the inn. The duo thanked him, paid up front, and left for their room.

"Ooh! Where did you get this gem?" Uraraka asked as they arrived in their room. Izuku's bag was dropped on one of the beds and his newly bought dragon stone rolled out. The girl picked it up, examining it in curiosity.
"Bought it at the market today" Izuku shrugged.
"It's an uhm gift f-for a childhood friend I'll meet in the Dragon Kingdom..."
"Oh! I didn't know we were visiting someone!" Uraraka smiled.

"No, you misunderstand" Izuku said, grabbing the stone our of her hands.
"I'm visiting a childhood friend. You... You're not..."
"Oh... I see... Didn't know I wasn't welcome" she muttered, walking over to her side of the room.
"I-I didn't mean to hurt you or shut you out b-but this boy is...well, not so good with people a-and I don't want you getting hurt! He can get violent around strangers"

"What kind of friends did you used to have?" Ochako asked confused and surprised.
"I mean, I get it, you're from the Dark Lands, but still..."
"Yeah, it's hard to grasp how we even became friends in the first place" Izuku chuckled.
"But I'd like you to wait out my visit to him. He's a dangerous man"

Yes, Bakugou Katsuki is a truly dangerous man... The Dragon King none the less... It's been years since Izuku saw him. Their kingdoms are far apart too. All the way up North there is the Midoriya Kingdom and all the way to the South there is the Dragon Kingdom. Unfortunate placement, really. Besides that, the two had been the best of friends when they were little. Hopefully that would play in Izuku's favour right now...