A/N: Edit finished 4 August 2018. Beta provided by Kylekatarn77.

Chapter 2

Izuku stared at All Might. He blinked, once, twice, and then frowned. "I don't understand. How would I become your successor? I don't have a quirk. Everyone says that you need a quirk to be a hero. I mean, it's not like I can suddenly inherit or be given your quirk."

All Might grinned. "You should not be surprised, Young Midoriya. My quirk was passed down to me by my mentor and to her by another going back to the earliest days of our quirked society. This is a surprise, yes?" Izuku nodded, his mind slugging behind to catch up with what he was being told. "I had no quirk when I received One for All."

"You mean you really were quirkless? That you're telling the truth?" Inko Midoriya asked, setting the tray of cooling tea mugs aside. Izuku's mother was a short, plump woman whose dark green hair her son had inherited. "All Might was born as quirkless as my son?"

"That is correct, Mrs. Midoriya," Nedzu said as Toshinori released his heroic form. The white rodent walked to the tray of mugs and took one. He sipped and nodded. "Toshinori Yagi, best known as the Pro Hero All Might, was born quirkless. He is also the eighth inheritor of a unique quirk we call One for All. We suspect, especially from Mr. Yagi's stories about his mentor, the previous inheritor, that your son will be more powerful than All Might once fully trained." He continued to drink the tea, smiling.

"How?" Izuku blurted, injecting himself back into the conversation. "I've read through hundreds of threads online, all speculating as to what your quirk specifically is but nobody knows." He turned from the others and mumbled, "I would guess from what you said that your some type of transference is part of the quirk. The other part, I'm not sure. If you're more powerful than the seventh person to have One for All, then there must be a compounding component, likely transferring energy from person to person and growing stronger with each generation which would mean that no matter who has it, the next inheritor of One for All will be more powerful – "

As Izuku descended into a mumbling puzzle, Toshinori stood and turned to Inko. "I understand why your son did so well on the test. With a brain like that, he'll be twice the hero I am."

"What?" Both Midoriya's shouted. Toshinori grinned and expanded into his heroic form. He was certain Inko was shocked by how brazen and honest he was, while Izuku would be stunned by the fact the All Might was praising him. Perhaps Young Midoriya even now doubts himself. Being quirkless today is much more difficult, especially for a boy growing up in our world of heroes.

"Although, I must confess that there is a trait integral to being a hero that even the test you took struggles to define and spot: whether you have the heroic spirit! That spirit is the one that drives people to run into burning buildings, to leap in front of traffic to save a life! Every person with the heroic spirit that makes for a true hero always says the same thing: 'I moved without thinking!' You likely remember that phrase from the test. I asked for it to be included, to see how others would react to this…sentiment."

Izuku's fists tightened. "Even with my success on the test, you worry that I don't have the spirit you want to see in your successor, isn't it." He threw his shoulders back and focused on Toshinori's eyes, tears threatening to spill over his own. "I know I can be a great hero. One day we won't have you as our Symbol of Peace. Let me take up your mantle. Train me, please!" He bowed, low and parallel to the ground. His body shook as he waited for a response from Toshinori. No, he remembered, from All Might!

"Which we already know," Nedzu interjected. While Izuku remained in his bow, he looked at the principal in confusion, just like his mother and Toshinori. "Toshinori clearly didn't read the full report about your results beyond what I mentioned about the similarities between your answers or else he would know every question on the test performs several actions at once, all based on the reasoning and justification given by the test taker. There were a variety of psychological tests embedded in the reasoning puzzles. You might not have thought about it, but there was a purpose in asking for your reasoning, both logical and moral. A hero can have a tremendous quirk, yet not have that heroic spark Toshinori spoke of. That, more than questionable quirks and poor training, gets civilians and heroes killed. The fact your test so closely matched All Might – and this does include the more basic psychological aspects tested – is why we are here." He then returned to his tea, which no longer steamed.

"Let us move on then, Nedzu. There's much that we still need to explain to Young Midoriya." Izuku straightened up and felt confidence flood his body at the smile – one that seemed to shout pride, though he wasn't sure why – directed at him. "If you are to inherit One for All, you must be trained. You know well the form I take when I use my quirk. If I did not, the power coursing through me would rip my arms from their sockets and shatter my legs."

"Wait!" Inko interjected. She shook, leaning against a table. "I…I can't let you do that! I won't see my son injured in such a gruesome manner!"

"Mom!" Izuku paused, shocked that he had shouted. Why is it now that I'm so confident? In the face of Kacchan, I'm a coward… He paused in his thinking and glanced at Toshinori. Is it because of All Might? I do want to impress him, but he's already agreed to train me. "Mom, this is what I want. If it means that I risk permanent injury, then I will continue towards my goals. You remember after we found out I was quirkless? There was something I wanted you to say to me, that I wish I had heard from you." He paused to suck in a deep breath. "I wanted you to tell me I could be a hero. All Might is giving me that chance. I have to take it." Tears brimmed at the corners of his eyes. "I want to help people, to be a hero. You've known this for as long as I have."

Inko's eyes became teary, matching her son's. She stared at him for a few moments before the tears fell from her eyes and streaked her cheeks. "If…if that's what you want, Izuku. I want…I want to stop you, but I don't know if I can. You've wanted to be a hero for so long…" She turned to Toshinori. "You must promise me you will do everything in your power – and beyond – to protect my son and teach him. I'm entrusting his future to you."

Blue eyes considered green ones for a moment before Toshinori nodded. "Your wishes will be respected. I would be more concerned if you allowed Izuku to pursue this path without your own concerns. If something happens and you change your mind, please tell me. I've seen too many good friends suffer from terrible injuries to not…warn you.

"However there is more I need to tell both of you." He breathed in, his chest expanding, and then released a cathartic sigh. There was a moment as he hesitated, hand rusting against the bottom of his oversized shirt, before raising his shirt. Both Izuku and Inko were horrified and fascinated by the spiraling purple scar on the left side of Toshinori's chest. "I received this wound three years ago, fighting against a villain considered to be a fairy tale or a nightmare from the past by many Pro Heroes. I barely survived and the surgeries to save my life weakened my respiratory system and have played havoc with most of my other organs. These days, I struggle to hold my heroic form for more than four hours continuously every day. There are times where I can reach and even surpass five, but those are fewer and further between."

"You mean… you can't be dying!" Izuku said, shocked. "You're our Symbol of Peace. What would we do without you?"

Toshinori smiled and released his shirt. He reached out, tentative, and rubbed Izuku's head. The boy flushed, yet some relief spread across his face. "I won't be dying anytime soon. However, I have known for a while now that I will need a successor. I should be able to remain active for the years to come before I must pass along One for All or risk losing it. Nedzu and I, along with the Prime Minister and those he trusts most in a variety of sectors related to heroics, decided to select a candidate now instead of later when I could become desperate."

"How…how bad is it?" Izuku asked; his question loaded with several others that raged inside him. If everyone knew how perilous the strength of the Symbol of Peace is, what would happen? We enjoy the peace and security we have thanks to All Might, but that's because we all assume he's still as strong as he was ten years ago when he first appeared. And that villain that wounded him. Where is he in all of this?

Toshinori opened his mouth, prepared to speak, and then closed it. His scrawny fists tightened and he gritted his teeth.

"We suspected Toshinori will only be capable of holding his heroic form for a few hours daily in five years, and from there it will probably go downhill quickly," Nedzu said, catching onto Toshinori's discomfort. "Recovery Girl knows better than anyone just how long he'll be able to continue as All Might, but we're hoping we can make it until you get your provisional license."

"How early would that be?"

Nedzu considered Izuku for a long moment before replying. "The Provisional Hero License Exam is held at the end of every June and September. You could potentially have it during your first year, although most don't attempt the exam until their second year. Classes take them together, which is the main reason so few attempt as first years."

"That's not much time," Inko Midoriya said, fidgeting. "Do either of you think he could be ready in five years for such a large burden?"

"I have to be," Izuku said, his voice low and nervous. "All Might may no longer be the Symbol we all rely upon by then. I'm to be his successor, the inheritor of his quirk. It's for me to do, mom." His eyes met her. "Believe in me, mom, as I believe in All Might."

A brief moment passed, as Inko's eyes grew wet, tears threating to spill over. After a few moments of holding back, her tears spilt forth and she began crying. She crossed the room faster than most Pro Heroes and pulled Izuku into a tight hug.

"Oh, what did I do to deserve a son like you?" She looked up, her head resting on Izuku's shoulders. "When does he start?"

"Dagobah Municipal Seaside Park. Saturday at seven."

The sun had just risen over Dagobah Municipal Seaside Park when Izuku arrived. The cool waves glowed with a faint green sheen from the light. The beach itself was covered with junk haphazardly stacked by both man and nature, going from as high as his ankles to twice his height. In a cleared area nearest was a teal truck with a long flatbed and Toshinori. The gangly man smiled as the green haired youth approached.

"Are you ready to begin your training, Young Midoriya?" Izuku nodded and Toshinori held out his hands. "As you can see, I have set up four green flags to mark off a section of the beach for private use. This area is for you and your training. It's quite simple, if strenuous: clear your section of all trash!"

Izuku looked around frantically. The flags were over a hundred meters apart and the beach itself was at least twenty feet from the concrete barriers to where the waves lapped the most recent deposits. "All by myself?"

"Of course!" Toshinori said. With a puff of smoke, he was All Might. Izuku vaguely remembered a brief mention as to why the hero used smoke in more public transformations, but the specifics were lost to him. "We must prepare you for my quirk and the strain it can cause. You remember what I told said in your apartment, correct?"

With a shaky nod, Izuku agreed. "One for All – "

"Not in public, Young Midoriya," All Might said, leaning in. "Just call it 'your quirk' or something similar."

"Uh, as-s I was saying…the quir-irk has the pot-tenti-tial to d-d-destroy my body." He shook, imagining his limbs being blown off his body by anime-styled gushes of blood.

"Exactly! In order to prevent such destruction, we must build you up. That is why we are here. Your training will strengthen your body, increasing your durability and building muscle!"

Izuku nodded and then asked, "And how did it all come here? If it's just a dumping grounds then won't the mess grow faster than I can move it?"

All Might frowned. "I have been told that currents take garbage dumped in the water and deposit it here. Of course, this has been building up for years now, so with dedication and some luck you should be able to finish. And as motivation, I will give you a special prize if you finish in ten months. By doing so, I will pass on my quirk to you. If not, then I will wait until you are thirteen."

A pack of seagulls flew overhead and as they squawked, Izuku considered the mounds and hills of junk. Can I do this is in ten months? Just as the thought crossed his mind, he shook his head. All Might believes I can. He may not say it, but I know he does. Why else would he offer his quirk so soon?

"However, training won't be enough. Sleep and food are important, plus you're still in school!" All Might pulled out a stack of paper, bound with what Izuku feared was duct tape. "This here is my Ten Month American Dream Plan! With it, you should clear your section of beach and be ready to receive my quirk!"

He handed the plan over to Izuku, who scanned it. The boy frowned, flipping through the pages. "Why are parts crossed out?"

"Oh, well, that was once my Make America Great Again Plan, but the tanning beds weren't appropriate for your goals," All Might said, a little flush. "I was in a funk when I developed it a couple years ago. That's also why I threw out page thirteen, but that's a story for when you're older."

With a dumb nod, Izuku accepted the plan. It crinkled when he clenched his fist and grinned at All Might. "Let's begin!"

Toshinori smiled as he arrived at the Seaside Park ten months after Izuku's training began. The morning air was more chilly than crisp, with the sun just poking over the horizon. What potential he has! Even with that concerning period where he overworked himself, Midoriya has surpassed my expectations. Whether I will be passing my quirk on now or in a few years I will find out today. I hope he has succeeded. There was a few times where others had maliciously tossed garbage into the section he has been clearing. Even so, I told both Nedzu and his mother that I would only pass it to him if he makes the deadline.

He stepped onto the stairs leading down the beach and paused. The beach between the four flags he had set up was clear of trash, except for the truck Izuku had been loading so the trash could be properly disposed of. Toshinori grinned and said, "Oh my…oh my…GOODNESS!" With his final word, he expanded into All Might and began towards his pupil.

Standing on the truck, Izuku threw his head back and screamed, fierce and primal. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" It hung in the air as the boy turned to All Might. Through his exhaustion, he grinned.

"I did it, All Might. I finished cleaning my section." The boy's smile faded, his eyes rolled, and he fell from the truck's roof. He landed in All Might's arms, new muscles glinting in the morning light.

"I'm extremely proud of you, Young Midoriya. You've exceeded all of my expectations and even finished cleaning the section I had laid out for you!" He set Izuku down so he could lean against the truck. "I must admit that I feared you wouldn't finish, and for that I'm disappointed in myself." He hung his head and bowed to Izuku. "Forgive me for my oversight."

"There's…there's nothing to forgive, All Might," Izuku said, panting. He pushed away from the truck and stood tall, tears leaking. "All of this was possible because of you…I've been blessed…"

This is all your hard work, Midoriya. "Enough with the tears, Young Midoriya! You have proven yourself and forged the foundations of your future as the inheritor of my power. You earned it, fair and square." He plucked a hair and held it out. "Accept it by swallowing this hair!"

There was a long moment as Izuku stared at All Might blankly. And then he collapsed, face first into the sand as an off colored All Might bobble head washed ashore.