07/02/2023

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The Emperor's Dragon
Emergence 45 - Keeping All For One Safe

All For One rolled his shoulders back as he lifted his head. With Radar Vision he didn't need to do that but it let the mask settle properly. He always felt good when the mask engaged. He knew it was simply the rush as the drugs flooded his system but it felt freeing. Probably too freeing. The Doctor always seemed exasperated when he used it. He kept reminding him that the helmet was a piece of medical equipment. It was not combat rated. Though the Doctor had added protective plating to the helmet, he was insistent that he would have to be careful not to have it damaged.

So it was best to keep the heroes at a distance. He waited for a time as the rubble settled and then listened for the heroes. Jeanist had done something just before his blast hit.

There were five clustered over to his right, quite close to him- No, they weren't heroes. Ah, the little bugs from earlier. The students… Which meant- Ah, the heroes were further out.

All For One lifted his hands as he identified each hero. He gave a clap for each one he could sense had survived, and for the little bugs who had just been out of range.

"As expected of Number 4, Best Jeanist. I was trying to blast everybody away! But in an instant you controlled everyone's clothes and pulled them out of the way. Your judgment, technique. You've got nerves of steel." It was admirable, in a way, but Jeanist had caught the brunt of his blast. He projected his aura. He'd been doing it already but now he cast it out, not bothering to restrain himself in the slightest.

All For One heard the student's gasp as they struggled to breath. They were young but… Izuku would win against them and this time, they weren't his target. He was doing it to keep the heroes in place as he advanced on Best Jeanist. The Number Four Hero was struggling to push himself upright. Threads were coming off his costume and he was saying something that the top heroes wouldn't be defeated. Really, where did they get their delusions from?

He looked down at the hero. "The strength you possess is the result of considerable training and practical experience," he praised. "Which is a pity. My Little Dragon would like your quirk but it does not suit Tomura's personality," All For One said, as he lifted his hand. A small air cannon should suffice.

He fired and watched as the hero collapsed. All For One took a deep breath as he cast his head towards the students. It sounded like they might vomit. Really, were they learning nothing at school? He wasn't even directing pressure towards them and this was the reaction? Though… Maybe one of them had an interesting quirk? As he turned, several liquid portals opened and All For One paused.

The bar was about five kilometres away, and All Might could cross that in about 15 to 20 seconds. There'd be another second or two for him to realise what happened. Time was limited. He needed to get Tomura away so the copy of him could grow. But there was enough time to reinforce his path.

He looked over to the UA students Tomura had grabbed. While he couldn't be sure, the Todoroki boy was standing away from Bakugou and interestingly could already feel him. Before they could say anything the rest of Tomura's companions appeared. He looked for Kurogiri. As expected the warper was out cold. Whatever Edgeshot had done was effective but he'd have to trust that the hero had been truthful when he said that Kurogiri would wake up. After all, for a hero, killing would not be heroic.

All For One raised one hand as those who had been brought here struggled to rise. "You've failed again, huh, Tomura?" he said softly, but loud enough that he knew the body he would inevitably inhabit would hear. His presence was keeping the UA students here as the spears of his fingers shot out to impale Kurogiri.

He wondered if he should speak to the him in Tomura but decided that he'd be insulted by that. The impression of him knew what it had to do.

He activated Kurogiri's quirk, opening a gate to another safe house. "It doesn't matter if you fail, Tomura, all that matters is that you try again," he said. So long as Tomura kept trying the civilians would see that the system wasn't protecting them. He didn't have to win. He just had to be visible.

"I've brought your comrades, including those two you deemed to be important, but you must go now," he instructed, not needing to gesture towards the gate he'd formed with Kurogiri.

A couple of the team Tomura had assembled took a few tentative steps towards the gate but they paused, waiting for his signal. That was good. It meant they were already showing loyalty to him and Tomura would need that. While it would cost time to get them all through Kurogiri it was worth it. And…

Yes, he was going to have to fight. "Go, Tomura!" He ordered. "Everything is for-" Thankfully he didn't have to finish that lie as All Might whistled through the air.

All For One turned. He could see the approaching hero now.

"I'm gonna make you give everything back, All For One!"

"You're going to kill me again, All Might?" He asked idly as the shockwave emanated around them.

One of Tomura's comrades went through Kurogiri and Tomura was pushed towards the opening. Getting Tomura away was essential, though All For One knew that his reputation would be lost if his companions didn't make it, at least some of them. He could rely on the copy of himself taking over Tomura but unless the boy was acting to bring down the heroes in the time it took him to take over, that would delay his schedule.

"You took your time, didn't you?" All For One mocked before generating a shockwave to push All Might off him.

"Tomura, go!" he ordered, turning back to All Might. Even without sight he could see that the man was emotional. It was time to play on that. "You sure took your time getting here, didn't you?" He shook one hand as he turned to All Might. "The bar isn't more than 5 kilometers away from here… It took well over 30 seconds for you to make it. You've gone soft, huh, All Might?"

He suppressed his anger towards Tomura. If the boy had just left, then maybe… But what might have beens were not to be thought of at the moment. Especially not thoughts of Izuku. This would be televised and his Little Dragon would see it and would…

He did not want this son to feel forced into a decision but All Might was going to do that. All For One snarled.

When would the holders of One For All give his family peace?

-ted-

Shouto wasn't sure what was happening any more. Being kidnapped wasn't something that had happened to him before but it was something he'd been briefed on. Everyone told you what to do during the kidnapping, no one told you what to do during a rescue.

When All Might appeared, he unconsciously relaxed only to be pulled elsewhere. It was bad to admit that he had gotten… not comfortable with the villains but at least … he felt he knew what they were doing. He didn't feel safe with them but… he felt a certain kinship with the villain with black hair, though he wanted to know how the man knew about Enji.

The obvious answer was that it was experience. The villain was burned and that could easily have been Enji but… Shouto didn't think that was the answer. The way he asked about him was too personal… too… he didn't know and now was not the time to think about it.

He'd been standing near the back of the bar, and the relief he'd felt when All Might appeared had been quickly extinguished when they'd been pulled away from the bar. Emerging into the night air had been a bit of a shock. It was cold but the physical cold was nothing against the sheer cold presence of a new man. Shouto couldn't tear his eyes away from him.

The villain was powerfully built but wore a suit. It was a very expensive suit. He recognised it because Enji had a few. But… more than the fact that the villain was wearing a suit was what he felt like.

Since he'd been enrolled in UA, he'd become more aware that heroes could project their presence. All Might did it and he now knew his father did it. This villain was doing it as well. Except, where All Might felt comforting and his father… felt… Enji didn't project comfort and reassurance, instead he tried for competent, this man…

Shouto couldn't swallow. He felt… The man felt like a black hole, like all life and hope had disappeared. He felt like… He couldn't describe it. He just knew he didn't want to move. He wanted to go to his knees and gasp but Shouto also knew that any movement would draw the man's attention and he absolutely did not want that.

How did the other villains not feel it? Or maybe they did. They weren't moving that well and… the villain with black hair was unconscious. How did Bakugou not feel it? His classmate was still glaring at everyone.

The villain was doing something, and Shouto couldn't move, not even when the warp gate opened.

Then All Might was there again. Shouto pulled in a strangled gasp of air but his relief was short lived. The villain smacked the Number One Hero away as if he was nothing. All Might disappeared in a crash of buildings. It allowed Shouto to focus on the devastation that was around them. He didn't know where he was but he could see rubble all around. The only explanation that made sense was that the villain had done it.

He didn't want to think about it. Except he couldn't help but think about it. The evidence was all around him.

The villain turned away from where he'd sent All Might, apparently dismissing the Hero. "Tomura," the man said. His voice was rich. Theatric, the type that he had to listen to. "Go," he ordered.

The villain with the hands didn't appear to want to move. "Take your comrades with you and those you have deemed important."

Shouto realised that was him and Bakugou. He tried to shake his head but he couldn't. With All Might gone, all he could feel was the villain and he was…

When he was young, and his father was training him, Enji would use his presence. He would… Shouto couldn't shake his head but the feeling was the same. Enji would use his presence to dominate. This villain was the same but worse. So much worse.

"You failed this time, but you just need to try again," the villain said.

"Teacher," the younger villain said as the others began gathering.

"You just need to try again," the suited villain repeated, as he sent out tendrils towards the still unconscious warper.

"I'm not going anywhere!" Bakugou shouted, forming explosions on his palms.

The suited villain turned towards him. Shouto wanted to yell that Bakugou should have just shut up but he couldn't say anything. It was all he could do to stand at the force of presence. The villain raised one finger.

"Bring it!" his classmate cried. Shouto didn't know how he sounded so confident. Could he not feel the villain or was he really that confident?

The suited villain flicked one finger.

If All Might had been flung away, Bakugou, despite his bravado, stood no chance. Shouto watched the events in slow motion. Nothing passed through the air but Bakugou was blown back and onto the ground. Whatever the villain had done, it was not as powerful as the blast he'd used to drive All Might away.

"Locomotive corkscrew is enough," he murmured, raising one hand as he appeared to examine his hand.

Then the villain turned towards him.

Shouto couldn't gulp and he couldn't move to hide, no matter how much he wanted to. "Young Todoroki," he said.

If he'd thought just being in the villain's presence was bad, having his attention was worse. There were no features on the mask covering the man's head but somehow Shouto could tell he was being examined. He felt like a louse.

"Ah," the villain seemed to reach some conclusion. "Not quite ready to hear our message. But remember, young Todoroki."

Shouto blinked and the pressure he had been feeling suddenly vanished as the villain turned away, back to his apprentice? Student? He wasn't sure. But… What did the man mean, he had to remember?

He was not going to become a villain!

The suited villain turned to where he had thrown All Might. Shouto could see that the hero was rapidly approaching. The villain with the hand on his face wavered but the other one was firm. "Go but I want you to remember, Tomura, you can still grow so much more!" he said before launching himself into the air to block All Might's punch.

The other villains seemed to wake up with the motion and Shouto saw one of them approach the black-haired villain. He did something and suddenly the man was gone and in his place was a small marble, which was quickly pocketed. That man had a top hat and a mask on. One of the other villains was picking up Bakugou. "We have to. No we don't," that villain said.

Shouto didn't know what to do. He knew he should do something but…

"Todoroki, my boy," All Might said, as he exchanged blows with the suited villain.

The guy with the top hat was approaching him.

"I'm coming!" All Might yelled and even as he said that he moved. The villain who had picked up Bakugou was knocked away and then All Might was headed towards him.

"Oh no, you don't!" The suited villain snarled, and once again his fingers changed. They stabbed into All Might, driving him forward into the ground. "That's why I'm here," he said.

The man with the top hat reached towards him.

He remembered that reach. He wasn't going to be taken again. Not now. Not when he was so confused. All he wanted to do was be left alone.

A wall of ice appeared. It was only ice. Only his ice. He'd seen it many, many times before. It was comforting though and Shouto forced himself to take a deep breath while it felt like he was separated from everyone. He wasn't. He knew that the ice only offered the illusion of that but the moment it brought him was enough for him to regain his bearings.

He couldn't, wouldn't go with the villains. And he had to get Bakugou out of here… If he could do that… Then All Might could go all out.

And then…

No, if All Might was here, then that would be enough. He wasn't Enji. He was the Number One Hero.

But how?

There was no way he could fight all the villains. There were too many, not if he had to drag Bakugou and … there was no way he could fight the main villain. That had to be left to All Might and…

That's what he had to do. He had to get out of here without fighting… and with Bakugou.

Yeah… Easy right.

Not but… Aizawa made it very clear that a hero's job was not easy. They had to make the choices that were right and that wasn't easy. Except right now, it wasn't the choice it was the practical actions. He had no idea what to do.

"Shouto!"

-ted-

So things are beginning to go a bit differently. AFO knows what is going to happen to Tomura but right now, he just needs Tomura to be free so that he can develop in Tomura and potentially take over. So long as Tomura is free and he's alive, then his plan is going well. Obviously things aren't going to be that easy.

Shouto is in that OMG what do I do stage and he knows he was tempted by the villain's message but he also knows that just going with it, is not really what he wants. So at the moment he's confused and just wants to be alone. That's not going to happen but hey, he can wish, and he's got some ice between them and him and... Who called him?

My discord is on this code: TcBnRN7aDn FFN will remove links but you should be able to figure that out. There's a heap of other authors there, so come along and chat to us all!

-ted-

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