Warrior of the Mind
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As time slowed to a deafening crawl, Izuku warred with his body to move but failed, when all of a sudden a rough push was felt on his back. Instantly he regained his movement and turned around. A smile camem to his face as he looked up at his mentor who stood shaking their head.
“Have you forgotten the lessons I taught you?” Izuku smiled wider yes it was a slightly rude question. But it came from a friend so it makes sense why it was asked. He held out his arms and stepped towards her, excited to see his friend.
“Shimura!” He said but the smile faltered as he realized that her face did not match his. He lowered his arms and stepped back but felt his feet stop in place.
“Have you forgotten to turn off your heart? This is not you.” She scowled, her figure looking bigger than before.
“Wait, I can explain, he’s my friend. I just wanted to…”
“What? Greet the world with open arms? You did that and it led you to having your mind taken over by a fruit. A fruit Izuku, and what if I hadn’t stepped in, what then?”
“But I just wanted to try, I mean why not take the risk?” Izuku asked, almost sheepishly. Shimura stopped and shook her head.
“I see you changing from how I’ve designed you.” She turned around to large expanse of space and waved her hand as the sky became disturbed.
“Have you forgotten your purpose?” She didn’t wait for his answer and continued.
“Let me remind you.”
The sky above them turned quickly into a memory, of Izuku being a young man in his prime, hiding in the woods. A special bow and arrow in his hand as he watched. In the background Shimura could be seen on one of the branches, watching this hunting unfold.
“Goddess of Wisdom, Master of War.” She turned to face him.
“My life has one mission, create the greatest warrior.” She turned back to the memory, smiling as she watched the small brown colored boar run across the forest floor.
It’s golden hooves leaving marks in the mud, the young man watched it carefully before jumping down from the rock he perched himself on. He grabbed out a map and traced the marks, spending time mapping out the boars route.
“I had a challenge, a test of skill. A magic boar only the best could kill.” Shimura remembered watching Izuku grab his two friends and stationing them with ropes and various trapping items.
“One day a boy came for the thrill, a boar whose’s mind rivaled the boar’s own will.”
Izuku shouted to his two friends, his bow and arrow high in the air.
“Let’s go!”
“We can catch it and kill it!” Rody said, holding up his small sword with a smile. Izuku shook his head as he heard the hooves moving again throughout the forest.
“No, I want to trap it.” Izuku said as the boar raced past them.
“Trap it? But if we kill it then we could get an even bigger reward and prize from the Gods..?” Rody said as he eyed the speeding boar.
“No, just trust me. Everyone get into position!” Izuku lowered himself to the ground as Mirio readied his rope, Rody began to cut down various branches onto the ground. The boar rushed past them again, and Izuku held up his hand.
His heart pounding in the silence as the boar ran in a circle, he quietly took out his book and looked at the marks he drew.
The boar changed his running pattern every hour to something different, however Izuku had put his hope on the Boar doing a similar route run but only changing one or two things to throw other hunters of it’s trail.
The boar stopped and back tracked its steps, causing Izuku to smile wide as everything was starting to go to plan. The boar then tried to race backwards only to trip on the various branches and vines on that ground that Rody had cut.
Quickly Mirio jumped and startled the boar, right into a rope tie. Izuku took his bow and aimed for the leaves above the boar, the arrow truck the tree above them as the leaves all fell down making the boar disoriented. It began to squeak and run around faster, however Izuku expected this.
He jumped down and placed the rope down on the ground and fastened it to a tree stump. The boar tripped as Izuku shouted, his friends leaping onto the boar and pinning it down.
Shimura smiled at the young man’s bravery and tenacity.
“Maybe one day he’ll follow me and we’ll make a greater tomorrow.” She watched the memory morph into one of them celebrating their victory and telling others of how they caught the boar.
“Then they’ll see I know he’ll change the world, cause he’s a warrior of the mind.”
She thought back to when she stood before her father and the other Gods explaining her plan.
Her father looked down and shook his head, like sheep the others did the same.
“Do you think that’s a wise idea, letting a man have God like help and power?” He asked the others, who quickly shook their heads no.
Shimura stood before her father’s throne, and faced him head on. In her hand was a glowing orb showing Izuku’s triumphs.
“Maybe one day I’ll reach him and we can build his skills as I teach him…” she smiled and held the orb higher for all in the Throne room to see.
“If there’s a problem, he’ll have the answer. He is a warrior of the mind!” She said, leaving no room for argument.
“I don’t normally involve myself with mortals-“ Shimura scowled at him and looked over at his wife. Why they were still together was beyond her but there was no time for that, he seemed to realize he was treading on dangerous ground and quickly fixed his words.
“I’m still unsure about dealing with this mortal, however you are my daughter and haven’t made an unwise decision as of yet. I’ll test him in my own way when the time comes, but as for now you can train him.” He waved her off, she bowed and left the kingdom pumping a fist in the air.
After the victory Izuku went back to the place where the boar was caught and stood in the middle of the large expanse of forest. His skin buzzed like it did when they were planning to catch the boar, this time however it felt as if he was being watched.
At the risk of being called a crazy man should he come across himself, he looked around.
“Show yourself.” He said lowly, when there was no answer he felt the buzzing on his skin get stronger.
“I know you’re watching me, show yourself.” He said a little louder, Shimura watched under the cloak of darkness of her own making. Still remaining unseen, she stepped into the light and circled him.
A strong and handsome young man, it’s no wonder he’s brilliant. He would be able to face anything life throws at him, the makings of a great King.
Izuku however stood perfectly still and looking at what he guessed was the person watching him, smirked.
“I can see you.” Shimura immediately gasped and removed her spell, standing in front of him. No mortal should be able to do that, and she knows he has no way of seeing a god who can cloak themselves.
“How can you see through my spell?!” She asked anyway, Izuku laughed.
“I was lying, and you fell for my bluff!” He puffed out his chest, pleased with himself. Shimura shook her head and stood straight placing her arms behind her back. Though she had been watching him for a long time, it was not the time to say that.
“Well done, enlighten me what’s your name?” She circled him once more, however this time Izuku followed her movements.
“You first, and maybe I’ll do the same.” He said coyly, hoping she’ll take the bait. Izuku wasn’t stupid but it was worth a shot, to see if she’d play along.
She was smarter than that.
“Nice try, but two can play this game.” Izuku quickly gave up on the plan, too excited.
“Nah, don’t be modest, I know you’re a goddess. “ he reached in his pocket and took out a small rolled up scroll, on it was a painting of Shimura herself in all her glory when she was being introduced as a goddess to the people.
“So let’s be honest, you are Shimura! Badass in the arena, unmatched, witty and queen of the best strategies we’ve seen.” He said with pride, giving a small bow out of respect.
Shimura tried not to puff out her own chest, it was nice to meet someone with genuine respect and awe for her hard work.
She stood in front of him and stood straighter, commanding attention.
“If you’re looking for a mentor, I’ll make sure your time’s well spent.” She could see them training day and night, him finally becoming the general that stories no, legends would whisper about.
“Sounds like a plan, goddess and man! Bestest of friends..?” He said all to hopefully while raising his hand for a high five. Shimura walked past him, this was not the time for friends. This was the time for preparation and fighting.
“We’ll see how it ends.” She said simply, Izuku high-fived himself pleased he didn’t leave himself hanging.
“Okay.” He said with a smile.
The memory morphed into them training day and night, Shimura trying hard to stay stoic as Izuku made simple mishaps. This was no laughing matter, the people need someone to lead them or they’ll get out of control.
The current King across the sea was nothing but a tyrant, no one dared to cross him. Soon, Izuku would find himself face to face with him and Shimura was determined to make sure he won.
“Maybe one day they’ll follow me and we’ll make a greater tomorrow.” She said lowly, this time to herself.
After the war against Shie and they were safely home, then maybe just maybe, the training could lessen slightly. But there was no time to waste, every night she could hear the screams of those slain just for crossing Shie’s beaches.
“Then they’ll see I know we’ll change the world cause, we are the warriors of the mind.”
Their innocent blood dyed the ocean red, but no more, never again. Then once the people have been avenged, then maybe they will see her and accept her.
The Gods, the people, herself.
“If there’s a problem we’ll have the answer, we are the warriors of the mind.” Shimura wiped the morphing memories away, now facing the current Izuku in the landscape.
“I still intend to make sure you don’t fall behind.” She grabbed the dropped lotus fruit and crushed it. Izuku mumbled and stuttered apologies, looking down at the ground.
“This is no time for apologies, this is time for correction and action. If I wasn’t here, something bad could’ve happened, and what if you couldn’t return to your wife and son then Izuku?” He quickly looked up, the stuttering stopped as he paused.
He has a life waiting back for him, now is not the time for eating fruits and resting. That is something he can do when he’s safely home in his precious love’s arms.
Shimura placed both hands on his shoulders and shook him hard out of his daze.
“Don’t forget that you’re a warrior, of a very special kind!” Izuku quickly snapped out of it and looked at her, the lotus’ effect was now gone thankfully.
“You are a warrior of the mind.” She stepped back and quickly transformed into her original form, that of a large Owl. The Owl perched itself on Izuku’s shoulder, tilting its head while looking at Izuku.
He heard the voice in his head echo.
“Don’t disappoint me.” She said as the Owl took off, its large flapping wings taking the dreamscape with it.
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“Izuku!!!”
Mirio shook his friend’s shoulders hard, the lotus eaters had dispersed leaving only the small one on his shoulder remained.
“Are you okay!?” Mirio shouted.
“Yeah, yeah I’m fine. Come on, we need to get a small group of men together to get food from the cave. “ He petted the small Lotus eater as it drooled on his shoulder. Grabbing Mirio’s hand he pulled him in the opposite direction towards the ships.
“When you bit the fruit did something happen? You just zoned out and looked as if you’ve been possessed.” Mirio asked as he was willingly being dragged. In front of him, Izuku shrugged.
It wasn’t like he could tell his best friend about his mentor. Pretty sure that was against the ‘God/Man Friend rules’ book or something.
“I just got…some new perspective is all.” He said as they sucked under different leaves and branches, Mirio stayed silent the long walk back.
The sun began to set in the sky when they reached the beach. He looked at his men singing and dancing amongst themselves, some were working while others were talking and still some were busy telling stories of their home.
Izuku smiled, his mind clear. One more little journey and they can be home and reunited.
“Friends! Gather your weapons, I’ll need about 50-100 of you, we have possibly found food in a cave!” Rody and the other men cheered loudly as some came off the ship, weapons ready in hand.
“Alright. Let’s go!!”