Chapter 64: Days of Yesteryear
Summary:
Preparations are underway, a lot of them.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Izuku sat outside the holding cell of one of the world's most if not THE most infamous villain of all time. He mentally slapped his cheeks, he wasn't allowed to go into this room with anything less than his A game or his opponent would surely exploit it. Izuku's digging into his family history had given him some interesting results, some were useful, others infuriating, Izuku finally sighed once more before walking into the room.
"Hey Grandpa how's it going?" Izuku gave a wave and a smile to the man as he entered.
All For One audibly groaned. "When I said see you next week, I have to admit I didn't think you'd actually take me up on that offer. Was the hero gig too boring for you? Got tired of gallivanting around like a fool in a costume?"
"Ah c'mon Grandpa, families important to me. I'm sure you'd get that, wouldn't you All for One?" Izuku beamed at the man with the fakest smile a person could imagine.
The small jab was not lost on the villain. "Well aren't you just precious? So tell me, what is the purpose of this little visit? Just here to make fun of this old husk? You've certainly got the spite for it. I'll give you that, probably got it from me."
Izuku's smile fell. "Well I learned from the best, I figured if we're going to talk in circles for an hour might as well make a game of it. Also I wasn't kidding, family is important to me. At the moment the only three I have left are you, my mother, and my 'father'." Izuku took a pause after those air quotes. "Though that's not entirely true is it? You see I took some time to examine our little family tree and I'll be honest, I regret doing that."
All for One took a moment to ponder what possible implications that search could lead to. The boy had a particular way of worming into things he really shouldn't be. Has he been tracking down people who could potentially awaken All For One? "I see."
Izuku watched as gears turned in the man's head, or what remained of it. "It took me quite awhile but with my contacts in the police, as well as my ties to All Might I was able to collect this list." Izuku dropped a manilla folder on the table. "You see I was exceptionally concerned about someone far down the line picking up All For One like I did but then I discovered something else entirely." Izuku pointed to the first name. "Wakayama Manabu: Age: 15, Deceased. Unknown cause of death." Izuku then flipped to the next person. "Egusa Mikio: Age: 15 Deceased. Unknown cause of death." Izuku flipped another page."Nishi Akeno: Age: 15, Deceased. Unknown cause of death." Izuku then paused flipping one last page. "I'm sure your starting to see a pattern here All For One, you let them live long enough to potentially manifest your quirk, then either you or an associate executed them when they didn't, all except this one case." Izuku pointed to the last page. "Ishiki ... Midoriya: Age: 67, Deceased. Cause of death: Natural causes. Now that's a whole can of worms to be opened, why was this woman in particular spared being among the forefront, but the singular most important part about this whole thing?"
All For One was calmly listening to the boy's monologue, he certainly had a flair for the dramatic. "Well, ... go ahead, you've clearly put a ton of work into this, I wouldn't want to ruin your hard work."
"Do you see the name of the man Ishiki Midoriya's daughter married? Haga Monoma. THAT'S RIGHT, I'M FUCKING RELATED TO NEITO MONOMA! HOW THE FUCK DID YOU LET THIS HAPPEN YOU FUCKING TROGLODYTE!?" Izuku screamed out. "Seriously I don't even mind being related to you. BUT HIM, HIM!? THE FUCKERS LIKE MY SECOND COUSIN NOW! THE VERY THOUGHT OF IT MAKES ME WANNA HURL!"
There was silence for several seconds as Izuku's breathing leveled out following his rant. The monster in front of the boy just started madly cackling, the sound invaded his brain from every orifice. Izuku had never heard such a horrifying laughter in all his life.
The laughing continued for almost ten seconds before it finally started to stop. "Izuku Midoriya, if the hero career doesn't work out I think you'd make a decent comedian. All of that research and the most alarming thing to you is that your related to someone you dislike. Truly inspiring. That level of pettiness makes somebody like me proud and I took Nana Shimura's grandson and corrupted him all for a small jab at All Might." All for One let out a few laughs between his declaration. "Ahhhh I needed that, this place is stifling, but you, you do amuse me."
"Once again I find myself wondering why serial killers keep applauding me. First Stain, and now you've done it twice. But anyway with the fun part taken care of." Izuku activated Confession. "Where is Dr. Ujiko's lab?"
All for One simply stared at the boy. "... What, were you expecting me to just tell you?" All for One curiously asked.
"Wha-?" Izuku's face contorted.
All for One noted the confusion on the boy's face. "Oh I see ... hmmm, you just used a quirk didn't you? Hmm let me guess... During my brief stint with Overhaul I got to look through his minions quirks. The man offered to let me take one that would suit me if business relations continued to bear fruit. One in particular did catch my eye, Confession was it?" All for One's faceless smile widened deeply.
'Ugh of course he's got some quirk that blocks mental one's, should've figured ...' The quirk stealer thought to himself. "I suppose that just makes this more interesting, if you just told me everything I wanted to know It'd be a little boring. Also yes your right Grandpa, bet you're wondering what I did to the Shie Haissaikai aren't you?" Izuku huffed.
"While I couldn't care less about that foolish organization, however I am interested in what became of Overhaul's research. His idea to create quirk erasing bullets fascinated me greatly." All for One's smile brightened as he spoke.
"Current events are not to be discussed." The intercom suddenly blared to life.
"Well it seems they don't like you talking about such things Izuku, wouldn't want to get you in trouble with the law now would we?" All for One chuckled.
"That's fine, I more wanted to talk about your dealings with Dr. Ujiko, or should I say Dr. Tsubasa." Izuku countered the man's smile with one of his own.
"Ohhh is it another time for one of your theories?" All for One mockingly asked, but Izuku noted the small frown at the mention of the doctors alias.
"Well less of a theory and more of a I know basically everything but I am quite confused as to why either you or the doctor would do some of the things you did. For example, why me? Why Tsubasa? What did that child do to deserve what happened to him? Are wing quirks really that rare?" Izuku paused before fixing his mask, the lack of Eri's horn made it a tad less snug on his head. The girl currently had rewind under explicit instructions that if the horn started aching she told someone immediately. Izuku needed more quirk space and if the quirk was inactive she couldn't accidentally hurt someone anyway.
"I suppose I should reword that, why were so many of your assets connected to me as a child? Dr. Ujiko personally came to check up on my quirked status. If that wasn't weird enough, the man nomu'd his own grandson. If your wondering DNA testing confirmed that little tidbit of information. All this begs the question why? And were you aware of his actions? It seems like the doctor had some level of autonomy, as unless you were lying earlier, you stated that the project that created me was dropped and the results weren't being followed anymore. However it seems the doctor decided to keep studying the project, and honestly I wonder if he was the one who terminated the children that were born, not you. If he did, that asks even more questions, like why he spared Ishiki Midoriya."
The silence that followed irritated Izuku but it's not like he expected the man to confirm anything he said. Well if he couldn't get the man to comment on anything Izuku might as well rile him up. "Well if you don't want to talk that's fine, although I suppose I should tell you that your flair for the theatrical really over complicated everything. If I was in your shoes I would've killed All Might years ago, and it's not like you particularly care about getting One for All." Izuku stated while watching the man's expressions, a very tiny lilt of his lips hinted that maybe he did want that particular quirk, information for later he supposed.
"I'd ask but your just going to tell me." All for One seemed to deflate slightly. "You know, normally I'd have killed anyone who talks to me the way you do, and if I get out of here I promise you, I'll be doing everything in my power to do just that Grandson." All for One spat.
Ignoring the man Izuku continued. "Well for example instead of creating some multi quirked bioweapon why not just have Shigaraki give All Might a handshake?" Izuku watched as the gears turned in the man's head but continued before he could ask. "You do realize fan meet ups are a thing right? Sure it wouldn't send as much of a message but imagine All Might giving a fan a handshake and poof, hes dust. People would start screaming and sure everybody and their mother would be trying to find Shigaraki but with All Might out of the way, do you even need him anymore? You said it yourself you only chose him because he's related to the seventh user, with All Might dead you could easily just find a different successor or really anything else. Your biggest deterrent would've literally gone up in smoke, leaving you free to work with the doctor to maybe even manage to fix your body."
There was silence for quite a few seconds. If All For One had eyes Izuku could swear the man was staring into his soul, it was a noticeably different glare from the usual one furrowed on the man's face. The silence continued as Izuku watched the man's face change between expressions, it was like he couldn't quite determine what he should be feeling and it unnerved Izuku. One of the few times the man let his vulnerabilities visibly show. " ... I'm done with this conversation, guards lead him out."
"What?" Izuku said, visibly startled.
"I said I'm done, leave." All for One added with a not so veily hidden threat.
"All For None leave the room or guards will escort you out by force." The intercom blared once more.
"I'd listen to them, they can be quite cruel. Trust me I would know." All for One added as the door slammed open behind Izuku.
"I'll be back." Izuku gritted his teeth giving one last remark.
"I know you will, I will have an answer for you then." The previous quirk stealer said.
That just left Izuku confused as guards grabbed him and started tugging him out of the room.
Izuku was less than gently shoved out of the interrogation room by the guards, he was greeted by the sight of Present Mic, Aizawa, Toshinori, and Momo.
All Might spoke first. "I don't think I've ever seen someone get under his skin as you just did my boy. I'm actually kind of impressed."
"Yeah yeah I just wanted to shake him up, how was your meeting with Kurogiri? Present Mic, Eraserhead?" Hero names in public, Izuku forced himself not to say Aizawa.
"Could've gone better problem child, he just kept repeating 'I am the servant of Shigaraki Tomura'." Eraserhead lamented.
"To be fair, Plan: Make his childhood friends force him to remember himself felt a little too anime esque Sho." Present Mic added.
"Are you okay None?" Momo finally chimed in, Izuku loved the little nickname she'd given him and hadn't stopped her from using it once. All for None was a tad stifling to say mid combat so he might extend that courtesy to others in the future.
"Yeah, I'm fine Deva, let's get the rest of the quirks I came here for and dip." Izuku had grabbed EMP for Rin, though he might end up giving it to someone else. The boy hadn't looked happy about getting that quirk and Izuku felt fine letting him get the first of the next pickings, after Jirou and Sato of course. The group was led from room to room Izuku taking quirks as they went, Izuku had about 3 slots left after taking EMP with his current quirk loadout, so he grabbed that many. Those being Spider, Paralysis, and Bad Luck, the last one was really interesting to Izuku. Honestly if Warp Gate wasn't so useful Izuku wouldn't sacrifice four slots for it, but seriously the quirk was just that worth it.
A stray thought occured to the boy, why were all quirks so close to being worth the same amount of space? With the exception of Fire Resistance and Molecular manipulation, every other quirk had a similar cost. Was it something to do with genetics? What if a child was born with a quirk their mind couldn't handle? Would they break themselves? Todoroki was actually a pretty good example of that, his dual type quirk took up more space than the average quirk. What exactly determines a quirks 'cost'? Izuku was startled out of his own thoughts when he realized Momo was talking to him. "Sorry I was just thinking, what's up?"
"We were wondering when you were going to portal us back to U.A. young Midoriya." Toshinori chuckled.
"Sorry was just thinking about quirks, my quirk really confuses me but quirks in general are just as confusing really." Izuku huffed.
"How so Problem Child?" Aizawa questioned.
Izuku raised his hand before opening a portal. "What really is a quirk? What determines a person's limit? What determines a quirks cost? Stuff like that."
"Hmm that is an interesting question little listener, any ideas?" Mic stroked his chin.
"Honestly none in the slightest, I don't think there is a certifiable answer but that doesn't mean I won't give up." Izuku smiled at everyone before gesturing they enter the portal before him, the longer he kept one open the quicker it drained him. So the quicker they got through the better.
Momo bumped into Izuku once the others had gone through. "Knowing you you'll figure it out you dork, let's just get back okay?"
"... Okay." Izuku responded hopefully. "Love you too."
After stepping through the portal Izuku handed off the quirks in question, Izuku was quite excited to see the new users of them show them off. After all four people just got a new quirk, though Rin did up getting EMP. On the other hand Izuku was just glad none of his classmates had expressed strange dreams, maybe he wasn't really condemning the dead to roam the void that was the quirk world with Kuroe...
The Morning of the School Festival
Momo's eyes shot open as a cacophony of skyscrapers and cities blinded her, she saw people protesting off in the distance, they carried signs that said we're not monster's, we're human too, we deserve equal rights. The sight greatly confused her but a squeeze to her one good hand calmed her down, she turned noticing the derpy look of her boyfriend's face. "Looks like One for All wants us to see something again, I just want to reiterate how much I hate your quirk." Izuku laughed.
Momo would've smiled back if she had a mouth to do so with, instead she refocused on the changing scenes.
A lone figure with white hair shone in the backdrop, he stood above the masses screaming for equal rights, Momo felt it then and there, that was All for One. How long ago was this dream? The scene suddenly switched again.
"Little brother, what a terrible thing to say. Here I was trying to compromise with you, show you that I'm not as evil as you think I am. Is there anything I could do to open your mind even a little bit?" The figure asked.
"Do you not see the chaos around us? The world can't handle superpowers and the way your using yours, you're just trying to help yourself. So don't preach to me about your good hearted nature." The first user of One for All the pair realized.
"You know I could say the same of you dear brother, trying to force your ideals onto me. Come forward." All for One gestured with his hands and two figures approached from behind him. "You see this man has a quirk that transforms his jaw, his face is slowly being replaced with fangs. He's a rather kind but shy soul who never failed to look after his parents. Even so his parents in question kicked him out, left him to rot on the streets, all because of his gift. His parents thought he was a monster, that he was contagious, that he wasn't even human."
The figure looked to the side as All for One spoke, it did everything to confirm what he said.
"Now we have this man, he does not have a 'superpower', he was attacked one night by a gang of super powered people on his way home. Not only was his stun gun useless but one of his assailants rendered him completely immobile by using her tentacle like hair." All for One pointed to an average looking man with a round face.
The first shot forward as fast he could. "NO! DON'T DO IT! ONCE YOU DO IT THERE'S NO GOING BACK!" He desperately shouted.
The two people in question however put on determined faces, the first the jaw user. "Please."
The round faced man. "Do it."
And with all that All for One moved the jawed man's quirk into the round faced person.
Immediately the previously jaw faced human began to cry tears of joy. "Thank you, thank you so m-much, now I can go back to my parents, they'll love me a-again."
The round faced man giddly extended fangs from his body, he was no longer weak, now he would be the predator.
"Now, now, if I'm ever in trouble, you'll help me won't you?" All for One asked the pair
"Of course!" They both shouted in agreement.
"Good, good, now run along, you have the rest of your lives to enjoy." The pair disappeared as quickly as they appeared. "See now brother? I just fixed two people, am I really as evil as you think I am? If not for me they'd both be cursing their lives but now they're happier than they've ever been. I don't see the world brother, I see people, and I put my power to use for them."
The first user grunted from the strain of running, his weak body unable to keep going. "Coming from you, that's nothing but sophistry. Really what you just did was create two new followers, two more flying monkeys to do your bidding."
"Is there a problem with me seeking to gain from my powers? Especially when I use them to help others? If I didn't both of them would still be wallowing in their own sadness, you can't deny that I just saved them."
Izuku gave a nervous glance to Momo, he'd been doing the same thing really. When she turned and looked at him she simply nodded her head, her eyes seemed to convey the message 'You're nothing like him, don't even try to compare yourselves.'
Izuku took that with a strained smile, the conversation between the pair continued.
"I have the power to restore order to this world, this superhuman world. By denying me dear brother you're denying the people their happiness, so I'll ask again. Which of us is the one trying to force their will on society?" The original quirk stealer said with glee in his eyes.
"YOU CALL TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE'S WEAKNESSES 'BRINGING ORDER'?!" The first flung himself up from the floor determined to charge All for One for real this time. He was only met with a knee to the back as he was put onto the floor by another party.
"Whoa there, he's quite fragile, please don't hurt him too badly." All for One said to the new man. "Sorry about that dear brother, I have a bodyguard now, I've become quite famous these days."
The bodyguard spoke. "I won't forgive anyone who insults my new master, even if you're his blood."
"How tragic it is you poor thing, to be born without a superpower in this day and age. Without power how can one own assert their own ideals? Even still I love you my pathetic young brother, you're my only family after all." All for One cackled madly as the scene transitioned, now the pair sat in an empty storage room.
The first user looked dilapidated as he crawled about. "Aah you're still not eating? You poor thing, you've gotten so thin."
The first spat. "I refuse ... to be manipulated ... by you!"
"Isn't it about time you gave up, you're going to die at this rate you know? I've united the people who wielded power for their own petty crimes and added them to my own faction, I've stabilized this chaotic world. How can what I'm doing be so evil to you? Not only that there was a faction who refused to yield to me, they refused to accept order. They were a rationalist movement, a dangerous existence ... and they were all killed." All for One so giddly said. "And the best part? I didn't even order their execution, my many friends simply saw a danger to me and simply moved to remove that danger. I was happy beyond words. I simply think it and it happens, everyone takes actions on my behalf, it's the stuff of dreams."
"It's just like that world of comic books we read together when we were younger, on that day, way back when." All for One narrowed his eyes.
The younger brother simply gasped before speaking. "You ... only read up to volume 3, but there was more to that story brother. In that world ... controlled by the Demon King. The hero of justice never gave up his struggle and fought through all the pain. In the end, he saved everyone. Villains will always lose when everything is said and done."
All for One having tired of his brothers pointless struggle gripped him by the head. "Fantasy has become reality dear brother! And in reality things don't go like the stories!" All for One forced the newest quirk in his repertoire into his fool of a brother. "And now I'll rewrite the reality where you refuse to bend the knee. I found a superpower that even someone as frail and starving as yourself can handle. Now join me!" All for One screamed causing the dream to shatter.
Momo was breathing heavily, the stress of the dream weighed on her significantly, even Black Whip had started to flair up towards the end. Izuku could feel it writhing about the room, angry but controlled. "Ssshh it's okay Momo, we're safe."
Realization set in and she was no longer in pain as if a quirk was being forced into her. Momo's blood shot eyes scanned the room, thankful when she hadn't destroyed Izuku's room as well. "Sorry Zu."
Izuku lovingly stroked her. "It's okay Mo, you don't have to apologize for anything. I know how One for All is and you could never hurt me." Izuku hid his broken hand behind his body, it'd been the third time it broke since he lost it to Overhaul, no matter what Izuku did he couldn't get the hand to reform to the original durability of a normal human's hand. He might need to study anatomy to fix it for real but in the meantime he certainly didn't need to worry his girlfriend further, the guilt she'd feel if she realized what she'd done. Izuku let out a light grunt as he tapped his hand with his other one while hugging the girl.
"Izu what's wrong?" Momo hadn't misheard that sound, it was a pained grunt, she knew her boyfriend too well.
"Nothing Mo, I just sprained my wrist earlier and sat on it uncomfortably." Izuku showed her the newly restored hand, twirling it in front of her.
"Well sorry about that Izu." She pulled him further into a hug. "Let's go back to sleep okay?"
Glancing at the clock, the quirk stealer couldn't agree more. "That sounds wonderful." He smiled at her brightly.
"Can't break the economy she said, she didn't want to make a rope she said, it'll just be a quick portal to the hardware store and back she said." Izuku grumbled to himself, stupid Momo, stupid creation quirk. "She could've just made me the rope but noooooooooooooooooooooooo, I gotta go to the store to get it because she wanted to sleep in longer." Everyone better appreciate what he's doing for them, using the portal quirk twice before the concert is no doubt going to cost him a small amount of blood. Izuku swore this quirk was going to make him anemic or something, four uses, that's all he got daily before he went over and Recovery Girl said she'd no longer give him transfusions so he could spam the quirk as much as he wanted. Something about permanent injury to his body if he kept doing that, medical hogwash Izuku thought.
So here he was standing out by the hardware store, he opened the portal and shut it just as quickly as he arrived, couldn't risk someone using it to get to his room while he was buying what he needed. Izuku quickly but angrily bought a 50 foot strand of nylon rope, he'd been poached by the special effects team due to his many quirks. It didn't surprise Izuku in the slightest but all that practice he'd put into dancing went to waste and it left a sour taste in his mouth. Oh well he'd just do his job like he practiced, wasted training or not.
"...oney dear that Golden Tips Imperial was simply divine." A tall figure with white hair, a trench coat, a face mask, and glasses exclaimed.
"Indeed darling, I've never had such good tea before in my life." A much shorter figure with pink twintails added.
Huh that's Momo's favourite tea. "Hey is that old building over there a cafe? The name you just said, it's my girlfriends favourite tea. Do you know if they sell it to go? I might pick some up for her."
The taller figure in a trench coat suddenly turned toward Izuku. "You know of Golden Tips Imperial?! So young, yet so worldly, how impressive my boy!"
"Uh no, ... I really only know of it because my girlfriend is really wealthy." Izuku stammered out. 'Why does this voice sound so familiar?'
"Ho Ho! A friend with refined taste, if she found value in you then no doubt ..." 'Huh, why do I recognize this boy?'
The twin Tails girl was screaming in her head, 'GENTLE WE NEED TO LEAVE NOW!' But none of that was displayed on her face. "Darling we're going to be late to our movie let's go." 'Please Gentle take the hint, this isn't someone we should be messing with.'
'Refined taste? An elite friend? That mess of green hair? THIS IS THAT ALL FOR NONE KID!' Gentle was internally screaming now and quickly turned with Labrava. "Haha so it seems, you keep fine company, my lad. I'm glad to know someone else has such refined tastes, but we must be off. It was nice meeting you."
The dots finally connected. "A wake up call for society huh?" Izuku internally chuckled as the pair shook at his declaration. "Look, I really don't want to have to do this but is your big job U.A.?"
"Whatever do you mean young lad?" Gentle quickly tried to throw the boy off his scent but he knew that was unlikely to work.
Izuku remembered his conversation with Nedzu, even the slightest disturbance and their festival was cancelled. "I've seen your video, you know I can respect your motiff. Does that mean I'm going to let you trample all over my friends hard work? Hell no. In the name of the hero in training All for None, you two are under arrest for multiple crimes including but not limited to assault and battery, theft, and evading the police."
Gentle for all his bravado simply pulled off his face mask. "Labrava, start the recording."
Notes:
Before anyone checks the list for those new quirks, I'm purposefully not adding them, you'll find out soon ;)
Current Quirk List
Izuku Midoriya: Kuroe, Breath of Life, Tempo, Ultra Sight, Muscle Augmentation (Renamed to Muscular), Warp Gate, Galeforce, Quirk Enhancer, Confession, Overhaul
Bakugo Katsuki: Explosion, Pyrokinesis
Tenya Iida: Engine, Air Step
Jirou Kyoka: Earphone Jack
Koji Koda: Animal Speak, Voice Throwing.
Mina Ashido: Acid, Liquid Manipulation
Sero Hanta: Tape, Minor Fire Resistance, Fire Breath
Yuga Aoyama: Navel Laser, Photokinesis
Kirishima Ejiro: Hardening, Shunpo
Yaoyorozu Momo: One for All, Creation, Blackwhip
Shinsou Hitoshi: Thunderclap, Brainwashing
Denki Kaminari: Electrification, Lightning Rod
All For One: Unknown
Kurogiri: EMP
Eri: Rewind
Nedzu: High Specs, Silence
Uraraka: Air Cannon
Mirio: Permeation
Sato: Sugar Rush
Eraserhead: Erasure, Super Strength
Setsuna Tokage: Lizard Tail Splitter, Vitality Stealing
Kinoko Komori: Mushroom, Float
Jurota Shishida: Beast, Mute
Quirk Bank: Molecular Manipulation, Minor Regeneration, Zero Gravity, Spider, Paralysis, Bad Luck
