18/01/2022

Thank you to everyone who reviewed! You are the greatest!

A lot of people seemed to have had the thought that cloning is the answer for AFO's problems. While he can physically clone his body, he can't transfer his mind to it. Even if he transferred the quirk AFO, the impression won't be functional enough to take quirks from him. So while he could clone his body, he can't transfer his mind, and the transference quirks Garaki has found so far are temporary.

The Emperor's Dragon
Fledgling 39

"Little Dragon, that file you gave me was so depressing," Ochaco complained as she ate her lunch. It had rained earlier in the day so everything was wet outside, so they were currently sitting inside. There wasn't meant to be any further rain.

"It's only depressing because no one reports the truth," Izuku replied, giving her a challenging look.

Ochaco sighed. She really couldn't argue with that. And she had checked the information Izuku gave her. There were no lies. What she didn't understand is why no one actually reported the truth?

"Why not?" She growled, frustrated. The Hero Native had been seen in Tsu and while he was being hailed for helping several people, the report Izuku had given her illustrated quite clearly how several had been injured by his quirk use. Izuku had given her several websites to research the villain, Blur and what she'd found was disturbing. Blur wasn't a real villain. They were simply desperate yet Native had… It didn't make any sense.

Izuku didn't reply. He didn't have to. They'd had this conversation before. No one reported it because it went against what people wanted to hear. There were some websites that reported the truth. Izuku had given them to Ochaco but they were generally considered the domain of the deranged, those who were quasi-villains themselves.

"Maybe I should become a reporter," Ochaco sighed.

At that, Izuku laughed. "You'd have to write independently if you wanted to write the truth," he told her.

"Maybe not," she immediately changed her mind. She'd looked up tables of comparative pay. Journalists did not earn a lot. Some might be well recognised but that was only the top ones and they earned commensurate with their fame but most were in for a hard slog. She wanted something a little more certain.

She could work with her mum and dad. They were doing comfortably well now and were expanding into larger projects. It was good but she wanted to do something that only she could do. Ochaco wasn't sure what that was. Heroics was still an option but she wouldn't be one of the heroes Izuku gave her information on. Rescue heroes didn't have the types of stats the others did and yet they were still respected.

She wasn't sure.

After hearing all the information she wanted to do something to expose the truth, something to make heroes actually heroes so that…

Ochaco blinked, slowly chewing her rice. If heroes didn't have those types of stats, then Izuku's dad wouldn't have been hurt. But how did she do that?

"Oi! Sympathiser!"

The call broke her out of her thoughts.

She looked over in time to see Izuku sigh before he turned in his chair. From the angle of his head, Ochaco could tell that he wasn't impressed and she suppressed a giggle at the sheer weight of the look. It was a good thing Hitoshi was off today or he would be laughing.

"What is it, Gatarui?" Izuku asked. His voice was soft. He cocked his head slightly and a small smile graced his lips.

Ochaco watched the spider-quirked boy. While it was hard to judge his expression, she thought he was a little taken aback.

Izuku's expression didn't change and he kept his eyes on Gatarui. Ochaco actually saw when the spider quirked teens resolve broke. There was nothing in his expression to signify it but she just knew. Maybe it was the way he held himself.

The spider-quirked boy backed away from the door and Izuku turned back to her.

"How did you do that?" Ochaco demanded, her eyes wide. It had to have been something Izuku did. Except she'd been here the entire time. She was in a position to see both him and Gatarui and he hadn't done anything

"Hmm?" Izuku cocked his head at her but the question was gentle.

"How did you do that?" she repeated her question, gesturing towards the door where Gatarui had stood.

"Oh, that," he said, obviously understanding now. Izuku shrugged. "That's just confidence," he said, picking up his chopsticks and eating a pickle.

"Confidence?" Ochaco demanded.

He nodded. "I simply thought about how I would win the fight. Again," he added with a grin.

She wasn't sure that could be all he'd done.

"All Might does it all the time," Izuku said so softly she almost didn't hear it.

"What do you mean?"

He took a few moments to think. "Look at the way All Might, or even Endeavor walk, the way they pose. Especially before they get into a fight. They are confident. They are projecting the image that they can't lose, that you are foolish for even thinking about fighting them.

"But…" Izuku shook his head as he gestured towards her phone. "You've seen what happens when intimidation fails."

It took her a moment to get that, then she remembered the file she'd read last night. "So you're saying their confidence leads to deaths?"

"It's a little more complicated than that," Izuku admitted. "Their confidence is what the public, and the Commission want to see," he explained slowly. "But it does give a false impression of the potential danger. A lot of villains aren't that dangerous. They are only called villains because they used their quirks. If they didn't, they'd just be criminals and the Police would have to pursue them. But even with those who use their quirks, it's often because they are desperate."

Ochaco frowned. Her expression was enough to prompt Izuku to explain.

"You remember the incident in Shinjuku?" He asked.

She remembered that one. It was in the document she'd read last night. Five people had died, and nine more had catastrophic injuries.

"The news said it was a coordinated attack, and it looked that way, but it wasn't," Izuku said. "The guy's quirk just made it seem that way."

"He still attacked though," Ochaco pointed out.

Izuku shook his head. "He was trying to get to the Shinjuku Clinic," he said. "His quirk had been acting up for the past few days, and he needed a booster on the quirk suppressant he had."

"Suppressant?" Ochaco's eyes were wide. You heard about people on suppressants but it was always a rumour.

Izuku nodded. "He needed a booster, and then he was confronted by Endeavor for something and by that stage it was too late. If Endeavor had simply listened to him, instead of making assumptions, he might have then escorted the man to the clinic and made sure he was treated. Except he didn't."

She'd already heard the rest of Izuku's statement in regards to this. It didn't really change. Now the villain was on trial. Endeavor was being hailed as a hero and the Commission looked good. And everything was conveniently swept under the rug, including the fact that sometimes people needed help with their quirks.

Ochaco knew Izuku would call the man the true hero for recognising that he needed help with his quirk and being prepared to take suppressants. She wasn't sure what she felt about that, but she had good control. It wasn't something she really understood but logically, she supposed it was better that he took the suppressants, especially if what happened in Shinjuku was the outcome when they were wearing off.

"They didn't report it that way, because it doesn't look good for the Commission, for Endeavor, or for the public impression of heroes," Izuku said.

Ochaco sighed. She had no idea what could be done about it. She just knew she wanted something done but didn't know what.

"I know it's hard," Izuku told her. She could hear the sympathy in his voice. "But it won't be like this forever," he added.

She gave him a look.

Izuku just smiled softly at her. He was confident and somehow, she felt confident as well. It wouldn't be like this forever but she had no idea what changes would be made. Just that they would be.

It made her feel better and Ochaco returned Izuku's smile.

He was such a good friend.

-ted-

"Do you have an answer for me, my Little Dragon?" All For One asked when Izuku came to him.

"Not definitively," Izuku replied.

At that, All For One hid a smile. "Do you want to discuss it?" he asked.

Izuku nodded. He came over and All For One felt Izuku slide down the side of his chair. He shifted his hand to pat the top of his son's head.

"What are you having trouble with?" Hisashi asked once Izuku was settled.

"Everything."

That was pure teen theatrics.

"My Little Dragon, you will have to be a bit more specific," All For One told him.

At that, his son sighed. "There appears to be a few things you absolutely have to do if you want to take control of a country," Izuku said. "But then there are so many other things that only sometimes have an impact."

"Ah," Hisashi murmured. "What do you have to do?"

"If your country exports, make sure that keeps going. If your country imports, make sure you keep paying those bills," Izuku gave him two points.

"And?" All For One prompted. There were a few more absolutes to his mind that Izuku should have been able to find.

"Absolutely do not involve foreign powers," his son continued. "And assure other foreign powers that the status quo will not change for them. Since Japan is a democracy, you should also try to take control from within the system, and then change it so that you can maintain control," Izuku said. "That also helps you contact the foreign powers and assure them that nothing will change, so there's a plus there."

"What about military force?"

Izuku sighed. "It's doable," he concluded, "but it is also far more likely to have other countries either invading or attempting to re-install the rightful government."

All For One stroked his son's hair to let him know he'd heard. "So what happens if you combine the two? Military power and a take over from within the government?"

Izuku tilted his head back, looking up. "That one is tricky because you have to be on both sides," he pointed out the obvious flaw.

"And if you could be on both sides?" Hisashi pressed.

"Then it's possible," Izuku replied. "And is actually easier," he added. "You can use military power to create an opening that your in the system person can capitalise on. It would be best though if they had predicted some specific trouble so that it would look like they had the solution. That would encourage the government to listen to them, and if they didn't, the government would lose the support of the people, who would follow your person," Izuku said quickly. His references weren't always clear but All For One could follow his logic.

"Is that an option?" Izuku asked.

"I asked you to come up with a plan using any means, so long as they were realistic," All For One reminded his son. "I believe some attacks are realistic," he added. "History gives us enough proof of that."

Izuku nodded. The feel of his hair, moving against his hand was nice. "Then if that is realistic, I think it would be the easiest way, and so long as you were careful with the attacks, it wouldn't lead to other countries getting involved."

All For One smiled. He was pleased Izuku had seen that possibility. Tomura certainly hadn't. While Japan was composed of islands, they were not an island in the world. Outside factors had to be considered. Other countries would not tolerate a change in the status quo, and others would see it as a weakness to exploit. So long as you were aware of the possibility, you could plan for it.

"Very good, my Little Dragon. You've managed to isolate most of the problems, and by implication cover the means."

"But it's not a plan," Izuku objected.

"It's not," he agreed. "But you already know I have a plan, and now that you can see some of the problems, I think you can help me amend it," All For One smiled at his son. "Think about what you know, and what Tomura wants to do."

"Tomura?" He could hear the confusion in Izuku's voice.

"Yes, Tomura. You promised to help him with something, didn't you?"

"Yes. I promised to help him kill All Might, but I can't do that if he has uncle's quirk!" Izuku seemed to realise the contradiction in his promise.

"It's all right," All For One soothed immediately. "I believe All Might will pass on my brother's quirk, and I think I told you, I will also support Tomura in this, but not enough support until I know the quirk is safe."

Izuku nodded and Hisashi heard his sigh of relief. "But what does that suggest to you?" he asked.

"Oh!" Izuku exclaimed. "Tomura leads a military or fighting charge against heroes, and All Might. That becomes the issue to push the government on. Except-" Under Hisashi's hand, he felt Izuku cock his head slightly as he thought. "Who is in government?"

"I think I can find someone," All For One assured his son. He could guarantee someone, several someone's actually, especially once he got a copy of Izuku's little friend's quirk. That was going to be useful.

"You're going to help Tomura with military power too?" Izuku asked.

"I will provide advice," Hisashi agreed. "And, some of the Doctor's experiments are strong. They can be used to fight, where others can't be recruited."

Izuku was silent for a few moments. "What will I be doing?"

"The most important job. You shall be acting for me. Coordinating everyone and giving assistance where it is required. If Tomura needs help, you will be able to provide it, and when the government needs some assistance, you can do it, as well as give them some hints on how to make the world better. I will help you so there is no need to be scared."

"I'm not scared," Izuku interrupted.

"Of course not," All For One agreed and they sat in silence for a few moments.

Izuku broke the silence with a question. "Do you want Tomura to fail?"

That was an interesting question. "I want him to create an environment," Hisashi replied. "I want him to show the weaknesses in the system so that people will be sympathetic to changes."

His son thought about that for a while before nodding. "It could be dangerous, my Little Dragon, being known by all sides, because it is possible that they will turn against you but I think you are strong enough to prevent that, or to face it if it happens. And, being known by all sides will allow Tomura to help you with your promise."

"Dad… I…" Izuku stuttered and while All For One couldn't see he could imagine the blush covering his son's face.

"Hmm?"

"I know I should have competed with Tomura to kill All Might, or at least to bring him before you but I…" he paused again.

"You?" He prompted, hiding his amusement. He was interested in why Izuku had chosen a vendetta against Toxic Chainsaw.

"I just," Izuku sighed. "I knew All Might had injured you and I hate him for that. Heroes are wrong if that's going to be the outcome but Tomura was screaming how he'd kill All Might and then the Hero Public Safety Commission said that the damage in Tsu, had been done by Toxic Chainsaw. Tomura said they needed someone tanky but… I got so angry.

"They acknowledged the damage to Tsu, that there were deaths and everything else and then they say it was the fault of some villain they deem suitably dangerous. They could have acknowledged the truth."

"But if they did that, I'd be called a villain," All For One pointed out to his son.

"I know that," Izuku said and with his sight quirk activated Hisashi could see the way Izuku waved his hands. "But if they acknowledged you then there would have been questions as to why the Heroes were attacking. Toxic Chainsaw took that away and hasn't ever said anything to contradict their lies."

All For One thought about his son's words. The reasoning was interesting and showed that Izuku was still very much interested in the truth. But it was a truth that could be framed. "So if Toxic Chainsaw had said something-?" He left the question at that.

"I would have been pissed with him at the time," Izuku explained, "but would forgive him a bit now. At the time, I know the Commission wouldn't have let him talk."

"He is in Tartarus."

"And several interviews have been given because he was such a major villain All Might fought," Izuku countered. "He said nothing in them."

"And if his answers have been doctored?" He pointed out. If Izuku was going to be motivated by the truth, then it was best that the truth be the truth, framed as he wanted it of course, which meant that the obvious counters had to be dealt with.

"It hasn't. He's taking credit for it."

"The Commission won't let me become public," All For One murmured.

He felt Izuku clench his teeth. "By the time I'm through with Toxic Chainsaw, they won't have a choice," he growled.

All For One chuckled and patted Izuku's head. "I'm sure you will get your chance," he said. With Izuku working both sides, there would be more than enough opportunity, for his desire, and if there wasn't… well, Hisashi was sure his Little Dragon would create an opportunity. His son was like that.

"And I will bring you Uncle's quirk."

"That is the one quirk I cannot take from someone," Hisashi told his son. "It must be given to me and somehow, I don't think All Might will give it to you either," he added. He didn't say anything further. While his Little Dragon's frank admission that he would help Tomura kill All Might was refreshing, he didn't think Izuku was quite ready to accept that convincing All Might, or his successor to give up One For All wasn't likely to be a simple affair. Torture would be involved, and Izuku wasn't quite ready for that.

He would be. All For One had faith that when his son was committed he would see the world as he did, full of opportunities for those who were not tied down by the restrictions others imposed. He was developing but that would take a little more time, and a little more thought on Izuku's behalf. He would come to the realisation himself. He would dislike it for a while, and then he would accept it. Just as he had accepted everything else.

All For One smiled, stroking his son's hair.

It was just a matter of time.

-ted-

I put titles on these chapters in other places. This one is named Educate the Children. I think the reason is obvious. Izuku is educating Ochaco about heroes, taking the shine off the world for her but it's going to be an uphill battle with that. However, he can also educate her about battle techniques. She might not understand them yet, but she'll remember. So even if she doesn't become a villain, she'll at least know how to interpret the posturing she sees in heroes.

And AFO is continuing to educate Izuku. Izuku might not have had a full answer but his father can see that he's tried... and he finds out why Izuku made a promise to Toxic Chainsaw. I almost feel sorry for the man. He just thought he was getting credit for a battle with All Might but he's getting so much more than that. Seriously Toxic Chainsaw, give up the credit! While it's not too late!

My discord is on this code: ZX2R5h2cEm FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out.

-ted-

Loved it? Hated it? Found a spelling mistake? Let me know please!