Before we begin this chapter, I would like to thank The Literary Lord and their friend for making a TVTropes Page for this story completely unprompted! I would also like to thank yufiduspawn for making some excellent fan art for All For Luz, once again, unprompted! You can find it on their Deviantart page under the same username as the one I put here.
And now, with that out of the way, let's jump into the chapter!
[Opening Song: Kyouran Hey Kids! – By: The Oral Cigarettes]
*The sound of a guitar stringing in the background can be heard, along with drums. The scene zooms in on a man standing in a destroyed looking city, fires burning around him as he turns to look back at the camera, a smirk taking up his visage as a lone crimson red eye glows. Following along with the lyrics, he mouths the words*
"Tonight we honour the hero."
*A guitar and a set of drums begin to play wildly, alongside what sounds like a choir in the background matching the beat of the song, as a camera zooms up to a clear blue sky with white fluffy clouds, followed by the title "The Owl House - All For Luz" appears, with the Japanese Kanji " フクロウの家 - すべてはルスのために！ " Underneath it, and in smaller font.*
*The scene slams down to a forest, where in the centre of the woods, Luz stands, looking around, confused and concerned, taking a step back, bumping into a blond-haired girl wearing a white dress (Julia), who looks over at her, with a matching concerned gaze, golden eyes glimmering with worry. As they stare at one another, a large brown-skinned teen (Stanley) wraps both of his arms around them, smiling, catching both of them off guard, all the while a disembodied voice sings the lyrics to the song that's playing*
"No place for stubborn masks, broken by crazy kids"
"So full of lies and chaos are these days we live"
*The scene pans out to where Luz is looking at a large group of kids, who also look scared and confused. Luz breaks away from the hold she is in, before walking toward them, a weary smile on her face. She reaches out to them, but as she does, her hand and arm spark red, which causes her to recoil, stop what's she's doing, and look at her arms, confusion and annoyance taking up her expression. She stares at her hands, specifically the holes in the palms of her hands, before looking up at a military drone, staring at all of them, all the while the same disembodied voice sings*
"The scent of honey from the body in the air"
"So full of flavour, flavour, flavour…"
*The scene abruptly changes as the drums kick in, as does the metal guitar, to a man sitting in front of bunch of screens with a beard and slicked back hair as the lyrics "Just wanna hold your hands" can be heard in the scene, and with each time it's said, a new person takes their place along with a new location. The first time, it's a man dressed in a shirt with suspenders and black slacks, standing with his back facing the camera, the only thing noticeable being blond hair the same shade as the girls as he holds a martini. The second time, however, it changes to the man in the beginning of the opening, sitting in a throne surrounded by darkness.*
*The camera pans up to his face, red eyes gleaming as the guitar plays a little slower and suspenseful, as the man smirks, as he mouths along to the next set of lyrics "Hey people! Let's go back to zero!"*
*The Camera suddenly blasts into his eyes, as a fight scene breaks out between an orange haired boy and Luz, flames sparking off of the boys arm that barely miss her face. She ducks under a follow up punch. Anger flares in her eyes as she goes to punch the boy in the face. Just as the fist is about to connect, the scene shoots to the brown-skinned teen (Stanley) going blow for blow with a silver haired boy in a grey hoodie, who's throwing air slashes at him, that the other tanks as if they're nothing. Finally, it shows the blond girl (Julia) backed into a corner next to a cabin-like structure by another golden-haired guy, his hand having an ominous aura around it. As this entire scene is happening, the disembodied voice continues the song*
"Get crazy - Hey, Kids!"
"And ditch that ego that has held you back,"
"Why struggle pointlessly?"
"Get crazy - Hey, Kids!"
"The search for the place that you cannot return to Whoah, oh!"
*The scene abruptly changes to a solemn looking Camila, who's staring down at family photos, as the spectre of Manny lingers behind her, an almost disappointed look on his face. His spectre disappears in the wind as the front door to their house opens, revealing an old man dressed in priestly attire, looking at her with concern on his face. The scene shifts again to Luz staring out at something, a wooden wall surrounding her, a reflection of what looks to be fire and blood stains everywhere as her pupils dilate. Her brown eyes flickering from red back to brown constantly with the stringing of the guitar, and just as the rest of the scene, the disembodied voice continues the song*
"Get Crazy - Tell me"
"The times are changing as days go by,"
"Always uncomfortable!"
"Get Crazy - Hey Kids!"
"But nonetheless our future has begun to fade..!"
*The scene changes to a more frantic battle, this time between the blond-haired boy and Luz, only this time Luz has a more furious expression on her face, and her eyes are red. The blond haired boy slams the ground, creating spikes that Luz dodges, her hand sparks red, as a litany of faces belonging to several people appear behind her like ghosts, a small, venomous grin on her face, her hair raising with the red and black electricity, flames bursting across the forest, matching the same flames from the beginning of the opening, the disembodied voice continuing the song, which nears its end.*
"Get Crazy - Hey Kids!"
"And light up the doors that shut away the past"
"This urge with no release,"
"Get Crazy - Tell me,"
"Is that what you want? Then won't you call my name?"
*The opening ends with Luz, almost responding to the man in the beginning of the opening, mouthing the words "I swear, I respect the hero!" The opening ends with a final guitar riff, the camera flickering and glitching out, showing an empty forest, as it transitions to the start of the episode…*
[Search and Steal – Part 2]
Masha Johnson was what some might call a misfit. That was entirely reasonable, of course, given how they were one of the "lucky" people to receive superpowers. Though, theirs was a little on the strange side, to say the very least. Then again, when one considered that they, quite literally, saw a person walking who looked as if they had turned into stars damned cockroaches, just with human appendages, then maybe their power wasn't all that weird after all?
Masha's power was simple. They gained the ability to summon Tarot Cards out from their wrists. Quite an interesting ability, right? Well, it got weirder. While the cards acted as regular cards, if they so choose, they could tap them and activate a special ability.
For example, The World Tarot card could do two things. If it came out upright, they could teleport to any part of the world they chose. If it came out upside down, for a maximum of 5 seconds, time would stand still. Though, it would cause them to vomit afterward.
They came out randomly unless they did a Tarot reading. Then they came out as fate deemed it. And this wasn't a fate that they could interact with. It was predestined. So much so that if they so much as tried to change the positions the card came up then they would experience a heart attack. This actually happened last week when they first found out they had this power. The only reason why they didn't die was that they had been rushed to the hospital immediately.
So, seeing as they now had access to an infinite number of Tarot Cards, they decided to become a Tarot reader and set themselves up in a comic book shop. And today had been an interesting day. They had just finished doing a Tarot reading for someone, and were paid well over $1,500 for it—so, that was neat. And now, they sat in front of another customer. One that wasn't offering a big payment, but a good payment nonetheless. $50, to be exact.
The customer in question was a woman with thick green glasses, brown skin, and curly brown hair with some white hairs mixed in. She looked as if she were about to fall over from exhaustion, and the sombre expression didn't help things either. She was dressed in a green cardigan, and black, no pocket pants, with a purse over her shoulder.
Masha, on the other hand, had short black hair done up in a pixie bob and was dressed in a black and purple long-sleeved dress that went down to their ankles, completed by a small white ribbon that sat just below their sternum. They had blacker-than-night eyes, and a medium-tan complexion, much like their father.
"So, Camila, was it?" Masha asked, their eyebrow quirked as Camila nodded silently. "Well, for $50 I can give you a basic reading on a close family member. But just know, anything that I draw from my power is guaranteed to happen."
"You're bluffing, right?" Camila asked, her voice deadpan.
"Nope," Masha replied, leaning back in their seat. "Had a heart attack when I tried to change the fate of a customer. Her fate was to die, by the way."
Camila blinked, staring at Masha with a blank expression. "And, who was that person?"
"Some girl named Julia something or another," Masha answered nonchalantly, Camila breathing out a sigh of relief. Did she think that maybe it was the person who she had come to do the reading of today? If so, that probably would've sucked. "So, who do you want me to read the fate of?"
"My daughter, Luz Noceda. I… Fear she's in danger, she was one of the kids who had been kidnapped… I would know, I… I received news of it, and I want to know if she'll be okay. If your power really does do as it says, then… maybe I can sleep better at night knowing about a decision I made recently…." Camila said as Masha nodded.
It was clear that this Camila woman harboured a lot of guilt for some action she had committed. Hopefully, the cards would be nice to her. And so, Masha breathed in deep and laid their right hand against the table, their wrist exposed.
And then, the cards came out. First, there was The Magician, in the reverse, which didn't spell out anything good. That symbolized manipulation and illusion, and typically it was the person in question who the reading was about that did the manipulating. Only on rare occasions would it be they were the ones being manipulated, and it all depended on context. Context that Masha didn't have.
The second card was The Hierophant, also in the reverse. Unlike The Magician, The Hierophant was a card that, when in reverse, was a good thing. It represented rebellion and subversiveness. It also represented freedom and personal beliefs.
But, when mixed with The Magician in reverse, it could mean a variety of things. And if that was where it ended, then it already painted a bad picture in Masha's mind about this Luz Noceda individual's fate. But, that wasn't the end. The cards kept coming. And the next one changed a lot about Luz's fate.
The Chariot, in the upright position, was the third card. It symbolizes direction, willpower, determination, success, action, and security. All good things, but in combination with the Reversed Magician and Hierophant, it didn't spell out good tidings.
The next card didn't make things any better. It was The Reversed Devil. It represented good things, naturally. Overcoming addiction, independence, and, reclaiming power, detachment, and freedom. Two times, freedom has shown itself. Freedom of what? Well, considering Luz was one of the captured kids, that must've meant that Luz was going to go free from being imprisoned.
That was good, obviously. But then came everything else. Reclamation of power? What power, and whose? Luz's power? But what power did she have? Was it symbolic or literal? Masha didn't know, and it was also concerning.
Then came the one thing that caught Masha completely off guard. The Tower, upright. That… didn't spell out anything good. Intense and sudden change, release, painful loss, tragedy, and revelation. It was sending mixed signals now, and they felt deep inside that The Devil and The Tower were fighting for dominance in the situation. Like two bickering siblings.
In the end, The Tower wound up winning, and it once again made Masha feel extremely nervous about what would happen to Luz. So much so it showed on her face, which didn't seem to put any security in Camila's expression either.
Upright Judgment was next. Reflection, inner calling, reckoning, awakening, rebirth, and absolution. That could mean plenty of different things. It seemed as if, following along with the rest of the reading, Luz was going to either go on a spiritual journey to lead to a rebirth of sorts or a literal rebirth. And with how the cards were playing out, Masha believed it was more toward the literal side.
And finally, the final card, The World, in the upright position. Fulfillment, harmony, completion, integration, travel, and unity. If that didn't spell out to Masha that they were right, then they didn't know what did. A sigh effortlessly passed under Masha's breath, and they turned to look at Camila. They could feel Fate weave itself into the cards, locking them in.
And then, they were granted a glimpse into the near future. Their eyes turned fully black, pupil, iris, and sclera whole.
And it was horrible.
In a vision, it became clear, and it played out in their mind like a movie.
A lake of fire, ash, corpses and charred blood. Fallen trees, pluming smoke, and all of it caused by a lone figure. Hateful, vengeful, anger-filled crimson eyes bore into the person whom they were viewing this future through. They reached their hand out toward the figure in an attempt to beg them to stay away.
And in a flash, the figure rushed toward the person whom Masha was viewing the future through, and for a brief second, they saw a psychotic, malicious, hate-filled smile. A smile that said it all. Behind that smile lurked nothing but death, destruction, and damnation. Anywhere that the figure went, death and despair would follow.
The figure's fist was cocked back to hit the person, and then…!
Nothing.
There was nothing.
The vision skipped to another scene. This time, it was of Gravesfield. Buildings were collapsed, bodies lined the streets and slumped against walls. Two figures fought, one with a sword and a pair of wings, and another with the same crimson-red eyes as before. Masha viewed the vision through the eyes of someone watching on the roof of a building.
All they could do was stare in horror at the death and destruction that was wrought. The ruins of homes once filled with families, the destroyed library, the cut-in-half statue, and the upturned streets with cars and bloody smears lacing the ground.
What they witnessed…. It was nothing but destruction and chaos. Loud explosions and shockwaves filled the air, leaving no room to dispute that the two combatants were to blame, and one of them, Masha knew, had to have been this Luz Noceda individual. Otherwise, their power wouldn't show it to them.
It all came to an end when a lone chunk of rubble flung into their line of sight.
Masha was taken out of the vision with sweat pouring off of their face in the bucket loads, followed by tears and shivers. Camila looked horrified, and as Masha looked up at her, all they could say was the first thing to come to mind.
"Ms. Noceda?" Masha began, their voice trembling and their heart pounding against their chest as fear shined in their eyes. "You're daughter… she is The Devil reborn…. A monster given human flesh. I tell you this, knowing of the future to come, but please, for your own sake, abandon her. Leave her. You will be safer if you do."
"What?!" Camila shouted, anger in her voice as Masha shook their head, ignoring the irate woman. Masha knew, instinctively, that they needed to skip town. Convince their parents to move. Do anything but stay in this place.
"I am deeply sorry for what's to come. I should have turned you down, take your money, and go. I'm leaving this doomed town before it's too late," Masha said, throwing the money that Camila gave them back to her, before booking it as they collected themselves.
They didn't know how long this place had left, but due to how visceral and detailed the vision was, chances were that it would not be long until everything went tits up. And as far as Masha was concerned, they would not be sticking around to find out.
They couldn't get that awful, hate-filled stare out of their head. It was nothing but cruelty and anger. There was nothing human about those eyes. Was it wrong to tell that to a grieving mother? Maybe, but Masha didn't care. All that they knew was that they needed to leave. Because they knew, deep down, that in the coming months…
Gravesfield would be no more.
[XXXX]
Luz felt a pit grow in her stomach as she stared down the very man that she had no wish to see again. The pit in her stomach was quickly followed by annoyance. She had fallen asleep, most likely after having taken Julia's power. Her Vines. They now belonged to her.
Now that she thought about it, it was definitely because she hadn't taken anyone's power that she hadn't been able to fall asleep. She remembered that once she had finished sapping away Julia's power, and after she had comforted Julia due to the pain that she had inflicted upon her, she felt a wave of drowsiness, and immediately blacked out.
And now, here she was, within The Vestiage Realm, staring down the man she had grown to loathe, who was sitting down on his throne across from her, with an impressed look on his face. Rikitasu Shigaraki was still dressed in that same, matte black and white-stripped suit that he had worn the day they had met. He had one hand resting on his cheek, as he leaned on his elbow with his other arm draped across his lap.
"You…" Luz practically hissed, disdain in her voice as Shigaraki smirked.
"Well, it took you long enough. But now, here you stand. And, you've done the one thing I have been waiting for you to do. Congratulations, Luz Noceda. You have stolen your very first Quirk. And, frankly, I think you made the correct choice."
"I didn't steal it. I was given it. Julia wanted it gone, so I took it. There was no stealing involved," Luz rebutted as Shigaraki waved her objection away, sitting up straight on his throne, his arms resting flat against the armrests, just like a king would, staring down Luz with a neutral expression.
"Semantics, my dear successor. That is all that is. What matters, is that you've taken your first step toward success. Though, now, I feel the need to warn you, now that you've taken your first Quirk, I'm afraid you won't be able to stop now," Shigaraki said as Luz crossed her arms, staring him down with narrowed eyes.
"Oh, really? Says who? What if I decide to stop today, and have Julia's be the only "Quirk" I take, huh?" Luz spat as Shigaraki shook his head.
"You know, Luz, you should take my word at face value. I am the first wielder of All For One. I know it more than you do, so when I say once you've taken your first, it only spirals further from there, you should believe it," Shigaraki noted, staring Luz down as he spoke. "I never had a reason to mention it in our first meeting. But, you see, All For One comes with two downsides, and it is the reason why I had as many Quirks as I did."
Luz rolled her eyes. "You mean aside from the fact you were a tyrannical supervillain?"
"Yes, aside from that," Shigaraki replied honestly as he steepled his fingers together. "Technically, there are three downsides, though I do not count them as separate. For starters, I'm sure you've noticed it by now, but All For One warps one's perception of reality. For example, let's say that you don't believe one thing the day before the Quirk appears, but then suddenly, you have a different opinion of it that is polar to the original. That has happened, yes?" Shigaraki asked as Luz nodded, if not reluctantly.
That had happened, at least, she thought so anyway. If she strained herself to think about it, before she awoke her power, she felt less inclined to agree with her more "repugnant" actions. As a matter of fact, she had felt… remorse for what she had done to Amber.
But, that didn't feel right.
Why hadn't that felt right?
"I can see it in your eyes. Now that I've brought it to your attention, you notice it, do you not?" Shigaraki asked as Luz, once again, nodded.
"Yeah…." As Luz said that, her eyes widened. Was this power… changing her? "What's happening?" Luz asked, slight panic in her voice as Shigaraki waved her question away.
"Nothing. All For One, as I said, is alive. Most Quirks are, and they have their own, unique personalities. And when two clashing personalities meet, they change each other over time. This is what is to be expected. You are changing, that much is true. But, what is also true, is that change is needed. You see, you're body has evolved. It's not that you have spontaneously gained a new power. You're body, and as a result, your brain has evolved to fit the Quirk," Shigaraki began as he stood up, snapping his fingers as suddenly, a whiteboard appeared.
On that whiteboard, there was a very detailed drawing of Luz, with an x-ray of a brain over her forehead and next to it was a drawing of a computer with an equal sign drawn between them. Luz stared, confused, as Shigaraki spoke.
"Think of it like this: Your brain is a computer, and All For One is a software update. However, because the hardware isn't strong enough to handle the software, the hardware must be updated as well. Thankfully, nature can handle most of this process, and so, to fit the software, the hardware—in this case, your body and brain—gradually begins to evolve. I'm sure you've felt it, but if you haven't, I'm sure you will in the future," Shigaraki continued, before flipping the whiteboard, revealing another drawing.
It was of Luz, once again, extremely detailed, putting a hand on someone's head, and activating All For One on them. "However, All For One is the type of software that needs constant updates to maintain functionality. This leads to the main topic, for the time being, that is that All For One enforces an addiction on its user. An addiction to sapping away power from those around the user."
With a snap of his fingers, the whiteboard disappeared, as Luz stared at Shigaraki with a confused expression on her face. An addiction? To take away other people's powers? "That's the most made-up thing I've ever heard in my life. And I get told I think anime is real," Luz snarked as Shigaraki frowned.
"Do you think I'm lying, Luz?" Shigaraki said, his tone ebbing with seriousness the likes of which only a judge could carry. And for a split second, she could've sworn that he had an honest look of concern in his eyes. Not that Luz believed it to be real. He had already said in their last meeting he was a manipulator and a villain, so therefore, she refused to fall for the same thing that he most likely employed on those whom he victimized.
"Well, yeah, duh! You said it yourself, you're a manipulator. Why the hell should I believe you?" Luz replied as Shigaraki chuckled to himself, putting his hands behind his back as he did.
"Touche, Luz. Touche," he quipped, before clearing his throat. "But, then, if I was lying, then why were you restless for the last few days?"
"Because I was restless, duh? Ever heard of stress?"
"Yes, that's true," Shigaraki agreed, putting his hands to his sides before sitting back down on his throne. "Stress is a key factor in remaining restless and being unable to sleep. But, did you know that another sign of someone experiencing withdrawal is not being able to sleep? Or, perhaps paranoia, as well? Things you've become familiar with in the last four days, have you not? Only allievated when you stole Julia's power, did they not?"
Luz blinked, her expression taut in the realization that once again, she found herself agreeing with Shigaraki. For the fourth time since they first met, Luz found herself agreeing with the man before her. And it was infuriating. The worst part was that she couldn't rebut him.
Once again, she was reminded that Shigaraki, the man before her, was a manipulator. But more than that, he was someone who had decades of experience talking to others. No, not decades, perhaps centuries of talking to others. Manipulating others. But more importantly, studying others. Further increased by the fact that he was the first person to have All For One.
And because he was the first person to have All For One, of course, he would know the inside-outs of the power. Of course, he would know full well the drawbacks of it. And while she always had to take what he said with a pinch of salt, she didn't see why he had any need to lie. And so, because of that… "You're not lying to me, are you?"
"I wish I was," Shigaraki replied, frowning. "Believe me, the addiction that this Quirk comes with, while useful at times, can cause problems. For example, because of my addiction to stealing powers, I would find myself sapping powers from those whom I cared about. While that list was a short one, and that wouldn't have been so bad, had it not been for another thing I found out regarding All For One."
As Shigaraki spoke, there was a hint of regret in his tone. How his eyes narrowed and his eyebrows knitted together to create an expression of both anger and annoyance, once again directed at himself. She couldn't tell if it was an act, but what she could tell was that, if it wasn't, he seemed to harbour regret over something.
But, more importantly… "What are you talking about? I thought you said there were only two drawbacks?" Luz said incredulously, as Shigaraki smirked, looking back up at Luz.
"Well, I did say that I counted the first one and the second one as a singular drawback. Mostly because they function the same way. But this one is more serious than the other," Shigaraki continued before tapping the side of his head. "You see, remember when I said that the brain is the representative of hardware, and a Quirk therefore would be the software?" Shigaraki asked as Luz nodded, not quite following along as his smirk turned into a smile. "Now, tell me, what do you think would happen if the software was suddenly removed without any warning?"
"The hardware breaks," Luz replied curtly, and as soon as those words left her mouth, her eyes widened. "And if the hardware breaks, then that means the rest of the machine—"
"Dies," Shigaraki finished Luz's sentence, crossing his arms. "All For One's more dangerous side effect is that, when taking someone's Quirk, there is a chance that the person might become brain dead, and therefore, die."
"And you didn't think to tell me that before I used All For One on Julia?!" Luz snapped, her voice increasing in volume as Shigaraki shrugged.
"Well, considering you were so hellbent on not using All For One, I didn't think it was necessary. But now you have, and therefore, I feel obligated to tell you. It's just that simple, there's no harm in it, is there? Besides, Julia's alive, is she not?" Shigaraki said his voice calm as was his tone. Although, Luz could tell he was enjoying her frustration.
"You...!"
"Oh, please, you don't need to be mad. I mean, for all I knew, you were going to keep to your word, but now you've taken your first step—your first, proper step, into becoming a true user of All For One. You can never truly forget your first. Such as mine, having been my mother's Quirk. Bone-like Spears. If I could show you it, I would. I take great pride in it. It was the first and last thing I had to remember my mother by," Shigaraki continued, his voice gaining a sentimental tinge to it.
As he looked up toward the endless ceiling, Luz felt her annoyance and anger begin to fade away. There was no point in wasting her energy on him. He was just trying to get a rise out of her, that much she knew. And so, rather than try to argue with him, she exhaled. "Alright, fine, I get it. Can I go now?"
"No," Shigaraki said curtly, before gesturing for her to sit down on the throne next to him. "I would like you to take a seat. There is still much we need to discuss. And seeing as you are sound asleep at the moment, now is the best time to have a thorough conversation."
Without another word, Luz walked over to the throne next to Shigaraki and sat down. When she did, she couldn't help but immediately relax. It was comfortable. Extremely so. "Whoa…" Luz muttered as Shigaraki smirked.
"Comfortable, isn't it? A throne is a throne, after all. They are meant for those who are royalty, and as such, they ought to be comfortable," Shigaraki stated as Luz glanced over at him, before sighing and sitting up straight, clasping her hands in her lap.
"So, now what?"
"Well, may I point your attention in that direction," Shigaraki began as he pointed toward a dark corner of The Vestige Realm. When her eyes followed to where he was pointing, Luz paled. Standing there, idly, was a black, human-like shape of nothingness bobbing back and forth like one of those wacky-wavey-inflatable-arm-waving-tube men. Luz recoiled at the faceless, shapeless humanoid. It had white, oval eyes, and was ungulating like the black blob that it was.
"W-What the heck is that?!" Luz asked, disgust in her voice as Shigaraki huffed.
"That, Luz, is the imprint that is left behind when you take a Quirk from someone. Much like myself, it is a vestige, but an incomplete one, seeing as the person who you stole the Quirk from is still alive. A vestige of someone cannot fully become their own entity if the original is left alive. As such, I've dubbed them "incomplete vestiges." They are quite disturbing," Shigaraki explained as Luz turned to glare at him, eyes narrowed as she did.
"You better not be telling me that I should kill Julia because if that is what you're telling me to do, I swear—"
"Oh, heavens no!" Shigaraki quickly interrupted, putting his hands up defensively, prompting Luz to relax a little. "In fact, if this Julia person were to die, it would only make your quality of life worse," Shigaraki continued with a distant look on his face. "You see, the more people you take the powers of, the more this place becomes full of other vestiges. Now, granted, they do not have power over you, nor can they do much of anything against you. However, depending on how you took the Quirk, be it forcefully or otherwise, a vestige of them will appear here," Shigaraki explained, his expression twisted slightly into one of annoyance as he stared at the incomplete vestige.
"Now, some are silent, much like that one over there, but some are more vocal, and can even be nasty. especially if you killed them after taking their Quirk. It would be better for yourself if you didn't kill anyone you took the Quirk of, or kill them first, then take their Quirk. Otherwise, you will be bombarded by the voices of those whom you've stolen the Quirks of. Believe me, this happened to me on multiple occasions, so much so that I eventually found and stole a Quirk that made it so I didn't have to sleep."
As Shigaraki spoke, he cringed at the last part. "Trust me when I say that, if you kill someone after taking their Quirk, it will bring down your quality of life, I mean it. Hence why I recommend doing it the other way around. Now, if they were to die outside of you being the reason for it, the vestiges will never fully form, remaining shapeless blobs like that one over there," Shigaraki said, pointing toward the incomplete vestige in the corner. Luz felt a shiver run down her spine when she looked at it, her shoulders tensing as she pushed deeper into her throne.
"It's creepy…" Luz murmured as Shigaraki nodded.
"My point exactly," Shigaraki quipped, clasping his hands together. "Now, moving on. There is one more thing I must tell you about All For One that is crucial once you acquire more Quirks," Shigaraki said as Luz placed a hand on her cheek, a disinterested gleam in her eye at the mention of "acquiring more Quirks."
Don't get her wrong, she wasn't exactly against taking Quirks from others. But she knew what it was that he meant. He was implying that she went on a rampage and stole from everyone. And that was something that she couldn't stomach doing. Taking a Quirk every now and then? Fine, she didn't mind. Even if it did leave her with a sour taste in her mouth.
But going on a rampage? Absolutely not.
Shigaraki caught her change in demeanour, his face morphing from a slightly jovial expression to a frown. "Luz. Let me ask you a question, and I want to hear your honest response. Why is it that you seem so annoyed when I mention stealing other people's powers? There is clearly a reason behind it, and in order for this to work, you have to come forward about it."
Luz scoffed. "Do you really want to know, or are you just trying to pick my brain super villain style so that you can turn around and say "I kNoW yOuR gReAtEsT wEaKnEsS" later down the line."
Shigaraki frowned. "Luz. I'm serious about this. Whether you like it or not, your Quirk is designed to steal other people's Quirks. And yes, I truly do want to know your reasoning. Because if it is what I think it is, then perhaps I can make this easier for you. In our first meeting, you mentioned that you didn't want to take people's powers because you saw it as wrong. Care to explain that a little bit more?" Shigaraki questioned as Luz sighed, sitting up straight and looking the man dead in the eyes.
Maybe it was because of how he phrased that question. Maybe it was because he implied that he already knew her reasoning, or maybe it was because she was just starting to get fed up with what he was saying. But she could feel herself starting to get angry again.
And so, because of that, she went off on him.
"Why do I have to explain it!? Shouldn't it be obvious? Look, don't get me wrong, I'm fine with taking a Quirk, superpower, whatever the hell you want to call it, every now and then. But I know what you're implying. I'm not stupid. You want me to go around and strip power from everyone. That. That's my problem!"
Shigaraki went to say something, opening his mouth to talk, only for Luz to keep talking, her eyes narrowing as she jabbed a finger into his chest, making him recoil, if only because he was shocked that she had the guts to touch him.
"Taking other people's powers for the sake of taking them is evil. Period. And while I might be a little screwed up in the head, I'm not evil. Besides, why should I be the one to decide who gets to be special, and who doesn't?" Luz spat, before reclining back in her throne, pulling back her finger and cupping her forehead as she looked down at the ground.
"All of my life, since the first day I went to school, I've been seen as "the weird one," or "the kid who can't separate reality from fiction." And now people will finally get to see the world how they say I saw it. They can finally live whatever fantasy they want, be it good or bad. It's not any of my business," Luz continued, before lowering her hand and looking back to Shigaraki, her eyes narrowed even further than they were before.
"And now, you're telling me that I should strip them of that?!" Her voice raised, her fury evident, as Shigaraki straightened himself out, his expression one of utter calm. It was like he wasn't even phased by what she was saying. As if it was going through one ear out the other, and it only served to make her more angry. "Here's a question for you, what gave you the right to do what you did in your world? 'Cause I'll be honest, you strike me as the kind of person who takes over countries and steps on babies for fun!" Luz ranted, glaring at Shigaraki, who gave off a calm aura. "Go ahead, tell me I'm wrong because I'll call you a liar if you do."
Shigaraki reclined in his throne, looking up at the infinite expanse above them. He remained like this for what seemed like hours when in reality it was only a few seconds. Finally, he came back with an answer, glancing at Luz with the kind of gaze only someone who had seen horrible, awful things could claim to have.
The kind of look a war veteran would give to someone who knew nothing. And it was because of that, that Luz suddenly felt bad for what she had said. She knew she shouldn't. But she did. And it was strange. And then, he spoke.
"For starters, Luz, let me paint you a picture. The worlds we inhabit, or in my case inhabited, were far from the same. For you, Quirks are just awakening en masse, and while they have appeared before, they were able to be wiped out easily. But now? Not so much. A large portion of Quirk Users have come out of nowhere, and your government and many other governments across the world are freaking out. But, they had time to prepare a measured response. My world? Not so much.
"In my world, much like yours, humanity began to evolve. It started in my mother's generation in the 1950s-the silent Quirk boom. Only 0.1% of the population had superpowers at the time, the Government being unaware. Then, I was born in 1969, and my mother died. Left to rot. I, unaware of myself and my actions, took her Quirk. I was a second Generation Quirk User. But, I was undocumented. Left unaccounted for. And I wasn't alone. Hundreds of children like me were born in such a way. We were street rats. I was their leader. Myself, along with my brother, who I will refrain from talking about unless needed." Shigaraki began, glancing over to Luz, who began to pay attention.
"I saw horrors on those streets. Rape, murder, overdoses, drug dealings, all the kinds of things that a child my age should not have seen. It shaped me into the man I am now, or, well, was. But, back then, all I wanted was to see my kind. Those with powers, dubbed Meta-humans back then, succeed. But not in the same way most would think. I wanted to own the world. I wanted it to be mine. Because I took excellent care of those I claimed to be my possessions. At the ripe young age of 13, I made my first step in this journey. One of many."
The vestige realm began to turn into an old-timey cityscape, with a much younger-looking Shigaraki dressed in rags standing in front of a crowd of children who had seemingly gathered in some kind of field. The vestige of the young Shigaraki was giving some kind of speech, but Luz couldn't hear it. He looked emboldened by something, and there was a certain fire in his eyes that reminded Luz of her own firey passion for things that she cared about.
It was very, very eerie, to say the least. "That was the day I first began to plant the seeds of rebellion. Children, teens, and adults of various ages, all wanted change in such a way that those with power were those that ruled. I was the one who started the criminal underground the way that it now looks back in my home. Interlocked and with very little infighting. All the while, to the surface, I was just an orphan with aspirations to become a police officer, much like my brother, who dreamed of becoming a lawyer."
The vestige realm shifted once more, returning to what it was before, as Shigaraki continued. "The years would go on, and I would work steadily toward my goal. Until finally, in 1991, at 24 years old, I began my war against my country of Japan, and in a matter of two years, I took over the country with brute force. I ushered in a new era. An era of fear. An era of loss. An era of strength. For fear begets loss, and loss begets strength, and with strength comes power."
Once more, the vestige realm changed in appearance to an overhead view of a major city wreathed in fire, explosions going off in the background, a true war zone. Luz had a look of utter horror wash over her face. The amount of death that no doubt came about because of Shigaraki's war…. "It's a blood bath…" Luz muttered as Shigaraki nodded grimly.
"Would you believe me if I said I disliked the amount of death that occurred during the war?" Shigaraki asked as Luz glanced at him. For a moment, she went to call him a liar, but the genuine look of remorse in his eyes made her hesitate. Was he being serious? Or was he playing it up to make her think that he wasn't a complete monster?
She didn't know, and that was the scary part about this whole conversation so far. "A part of me says you're lying. But… another part of me believes you, and I don't know what to think…" Luz said, a sternness in her voice that earned her a nod.
"Believe what you will. Anyway, after the war, I made two discoveries. One that led me down the path of realizing the Multiverse was real, and another path that led me to discover that there had been an insurgency growing. The former isn't important for the time being, so let's focus on the latter. I'm sure I mentioned my brother, correct?" Shigaraki asked, looking over at Luz, who nodded.
"Well, you see, my brother was sick. He had been since birth. This was due to something that happened while my brother and I were in the womb. You see, there is the chance that, during the gestation period, if the mother has twins developing, one might siphon the nutrients required for the other to grow. This is what happened to myself and my brother. I stole the nutrients needed for him to grow healthy and strong, and as such, it was my job to watch over him. To care for him in the best way I knew how. And so, that was what I did," as he spoke, once again, that same sombre tone leaked into his voice.
This time, Luz knew, that it wasn't a trick. It was real. True, honest emotion. Why he was opening up to her, she didn't know, but it seemed like something he had kept pent up for a while. She said nothing, only listening intently as he spoke.
"I took care of him. Did what I needed to do. I fed him, bathed him, bought him clothes, healed him when I could. I protected him from the world, and he kept me stable. He tried to keep me on the right track. But, sometimes, nature overcomes nurture, and I did something that I heavily regret to this day. It was both the beginning of my downfall and the beginning of my fall from grace."
Slowly, as those words left his mouth, the vestige realm began to change into an empty, blank room with a vault door, and within it stood an identical vestige of Shigaraki looming over a sickly, frail young man with long white hair dressed in a blue shirt and black jeans. The top half of his face, along with Shigaraki's, was covered by a cloud of black smoke, not revealing their eyes, only their mouths, as the younger brother spoke.
"Brother! For the last time, I will not aid you in this… in this massacre!"
"It is not a massacre. It is what needs to be done. We are at the final stretches of the war. We can rule side by side once this is over, and my doctors will be able to cure you of your illness! Please, Yoichi. Join me. I won't ask you again."
"Forget it!"
"Fine then. You leave me with no choice."
The vestige of Shigaraki reached out to this "Yoichi" individual, forced his hand on his brother's head, and activated All For One. Familiar black and red sparks jumped from his arm to his brother. His brother screamed in pain, and all Shigaraki's vestige did was stare, either forcing or taking something onto or from him.
The scene abruptly ended, as Luz stared in horror while the vestige realm returned to normal. The idea of forcing anything on anyone made her want to puke. As far as she was concerned, forcing anything on anyone was akin to a form of rape, just like forcibly taking something from someone was. It was a non-consensual act, be it forcing a drug on someone or something similar, it was wrong and disgusting.
A new form of anger filled her body as she glanced over to Shigaraki. Oh, sure, there was regret painted all over his face, but that didn't change the fact that what happened had happened. "You… what the fuck is wrong with you?!"
"Many things, Luz Noceda," Shigaraki replied calmly, breathing in as he looked straight ahead. "I will freely admit that what I did back there was both stupid and also heavily wrong. But, what you must understand is that I wanted my brother to survive past his thirties. And so, I forced upon him a Power Stockpiling Quirk. This was in a vain attempt to make his body gain the strength so that he could support himself. Because, back then, I was under the impression that my brother was Quirkless. And I believed that if I gave him a Quirk, he would start his journey of healing. So that he could rule by my side till the day he died."
Shigaraki's expression became one of anger, narrowed eyes, and a scowl. "But that was not what happened. Not only was my brother not quirkless, but he was born with the ability to divest himself of his Quirk and give it to others. And whatever that Quirk that person had became attached to it and passed down to the next person. However, that wasn't all. A mutation occurred, merging both his Quirk Transfer ability, which I later dubbed Transfer, and the power stockpiling Quirk. When they merged, they created a new power. A power my brother called One For All in his dying breathes."
"Dying breathes?" Luz asked incredulously as Shigaraki inhaled sharply.
"I don't want to talk about my brother's death. All I will say is that his death is what caused a lot of horrible things to transpire. My descent into utter madness, and my obsession with his power. It ruined my empire, destroyed countless cities, and plunged the country I once loved into an era of darkness. I pray you never experience something as horrific as that because the last thing any world needs is another me running around. That much I am more than willing to admit," Shigaraki spat, anger coating his words as he spoke.
Luz kept silent, looking at the ground. The fact that she felt bad for the monster next to her… it shouldn't have been possible. And yet, here she sat, feeling bad for Shigaraki Rikitasu. Maybe that spoke to her inner selflessness and the fact that she could see the good in most people. The fact that she could see the glimmer of goodness in someone as monstrous as Shigaraki, who admitted that he was a monster, proved her right in that regard.
The only thing that she wondered now was…. "Do you… regret what you did?" Luz asked as Shigaraki raised an eyebrow.
"Do I regret my actions?" Shigaraki asked back, huffing out hot air. "The only thing I regret is putting my brother in the position he was in. Everything else? Not even remotely. You know why I did what I did. The only thing I probably wouldn't have done was kidnap that strange dog-like creature that allowed me access to The Multiverse, or at least an aspect of it. And maybe I wouldn't have destroyed Asakusa… but that would be just about it. Everything else I would keep the same."
Luz frowned, disappointment on her face. "So, you're saying that you'd still become a tyrannical monster on purpose?" Luz asked, furrowing her eyebrows at the man, who shrugged.
"Who knows? For all I know, if what I said I'd change does end up getting changed should I have the chance to redo it all over again, perhaps I wouldn't become a tyrant. We will never know what that future holds, or what it would turn out to be. But, what I do know Luz, is that we're getting off-topic," Shigaraki said, smirking.
Luz cringed at the hideous smirk on his face, avoiding eye contact. Shigaraki's smirk faded back into a neutral line, as he adopted a more thoughtful expression. "Let's get back on track, shall we? I think I finally know why you're hesitant to strip power from others en masse. And it all has to do with your view of morality. Let me take a guess and say that you find it abhorrent to steal from others because you equate it to something even worse. Like, for example, rape, right?"
"Because it might as well be, I—"
"Incorrect," Shigaraki shot down, making Luz recoil, annoyance painting her features. Before she could explain herself, he continued. "Rape is taking away something sacred that can never be returned. Denying someone intimacy with another is not, nor will it ever be, the same as removing a superpower from another. The notion you would compare the two is, frankly, disgusting in my opinion, and takes away from the seriousness of rape in general."
"That's not—"
"That's not what you mean, yes, I am aware. But, you are implying it, and because you're implying it, you are therefore meaning it. Moving on, I can also pinpoint why you refuse the idea of taking powers en masse. And that, my dear successor, is that you were merely looking for an excuse not to. Because you know, deep down, you would just love to go on a stealing spree. To accrued power and strength. Because you, by yourself, could end this game right here, and right now, and all you'd have to do is run the risk of causing a few to become brain-dead."
Luz practically snarled at Shigaraki the more he spoke, "I— No! I wouldn't! You don't know me at all if you think that—"
"Oh, but that's just the thing, Luz. I do know you." The way that Shigaraki said that. The way his voice gained a heaping tonne of confidence, and the way that his neutral expression turned into a smile that trumped most villains she had seen on TV caused her skin to break out in goosebumps. "It seems you've forgotten, but I'm in your head. I know your thoughts, your wishes, your dreams, and desires, your fantasies both light and dark. I can even read your memories like a book if I so choose. The point I'm trying to make here Luz, is that you cannot lie to me. I know all that there is to know about you."
"I know you enjoyed brutalizing that Amber Stirwell girl. I know you'd love nothing more than to inflict grievous harm on anyone who slights you. Yet, because of your adherence to the morality you're mother set into you, the same mother who has now practically abandoned you and told you to die, you have stopped yourself from indulging in your darker, baser instincts."
"You and I, Luz. We are the same. The only difference between you and I is that I did not have a parent to keep me in line. But now, you might not even have that. The only people you have are the people in this camp, and even then, some of them hate you, others tolerate you, and only two of them actually care about you, those being Stanley Richardson and Julia Wittebane. Then, there's me. And all I wish to do is guide you. To mould you into someone who can not only look after themselves but do so without the fear of having to kowtow to anyone else. To not bend your own self-appointed rules for others' appeasement. After all, why would The Chosen One bow to anyone else, when they should all bow to you?"
Luz stared at Shigaraki, her jaw slack and her eyes wide. Her hands shook as she looked slowly down at the ground. She didn't know whether to call him a liar, or to yell at him, or to just… accept it. Because she knew—and she hated that she knew—that he was right.
Every word that came out of his mouth was correct. He wasn't lying, nor was he trying to lie to her. He was right. There was no ifs ands or buts about it. If he didn't know everything like he claimed, then how could he have known about her conversation with her mother? How could he know about what happened to Amber?
It had to have been the fact that he knew. And if he knew, then… what was the point of lying? What was the point of trying to call him out when he was telling the truth? What was the point in trying to tell him he was wrong when he knew he was right?
Why hide the fact that she wanted to end this right here, and right now?
Simple. Her morality.
"You're right. I hate to admit it, but you're right. There's just one thing you either don't understand or refuse to understand…" Luz said, looking back up at Shigaraki, steely determination in her eyes. He met her gaze with a neutral gaze of his own, his expression unreadable, like a brick wall. "We might have similar ideas of what's right and wrong. We might have similar ideals, too. Hell, I'll even throw you a bone and say you're probably right about my mother. But, there's one thing that you are wrong about."
"Oh? Do tell?" Shigaraki asked, his tone indicating nothing. Luz sighed, standing up from the throne she sat on as she walked toward the front of The Vestige Realm, back turned to Shigaraki, and only glancing over her shoulder to speak.
"You're wrong about what I want. Would I like to end this now? Yeah, I would. And the scary part is that I know I could. I could steal everyone's powers right here, and right now, and nobody would be able to stop me. But that's not right. I don't care how you twist it, how you word it, or anything like that. I'd rather work with the people around me. I'm not a one-woman army, even though I could probably be one. That's not how someone with a functioning brain thinks. That's how someone who is a sociopathic narcissist thinks. And last I checked, I'm neither of those."
Luz looked away from Shigaraki, sighing as she glanced at the carpet, glaring down at her feet as she continued. "I might not have a clean bill of mental health, and I have urges and tendencies others might frown upon. And for what it's worth, anyone who says I'm a bad person for what I did can shove it. I could care less about what their opinion is, because they don't know a single thing that I went through for me to get to that point. And while I'll agree that maybe, just maybe, we might have the same mindset, there is one thing you need to get through your thick skull right here, and right now."
"And what might that be, Luz?" Shigaraki asked and, as he did, a white doorway appeared before Luz. Its light cast a shadow over Shigaraki as Luz once more turned to look over her shoulder. However, unlike before, when her eyes had been a shade of golden brown, now, they glowed with a hideous crimson red. Her expression was taut in a snarl, and her eyebrows furled with nothing but anger coating her features.
"I am not, nor will I ever be, anything like you."
And then, Luz proceeded to walk through the white door, leaving Shigaraki all by himself. He sat there, his expression neutral as he watched his successor walk through the door to return to the waking world. After a few seconds, his mouth twitched and formed into a smile. Not an angered snarl or a frown of disappointment. But a true, honest smile.
"Good." And as he said that, he reclined in his throne, and looked over to the incomplete vestige of Julia Wittebane. "It wouldn't be nearly as fun if you were."
It had been a long, long time since he had met anyone who was bold enough to argue with him, let alone confront him on his ideals and mindset. He had grown so bored of the people he had surrounded himself with.
But now? Now he had something to look forward to whenever Luz Noceda decided to show up in The Vestige Realm.
He had entertainment.
-To Be Continued-
[Ending Song: Life – By: Rude-a]
*The ending opens up with Luz sitting on the edge of a cliff, staring up at the sky with a twinkle in her eyes, all the while the sound of a guitar strumming peacefully, followed by drums matching the tempo, like a serene melody, as a disembodied voice begins to sing.*
"Lately I don't know to do"
"Hurry up, my mind is one the moon"
"Flying up to where the wind blew"
*The scene stays the same, as wind blows through Luz's hair, still staring up at the sky, before looking down at the palm of her hands, a curious gleam to her eyes. Suddenly, a hand places itself on Luz's shoulder, as she looks over it to see Julia, smiling, before she sits next to Luz. This is followed by Stanley, who sits on the other side of her. Luz smiles, as more people around her age start pooling around her, sitting, staring out at the sky above as the clouds rolls past. All the while the disembodied voice continues*
"Overflowin' in the palm of my hand, passion to be who I am"
"Spent my days all just wandering this world"
"But then there's only you who's shining and pure"
"A rusty knife'll never cut a thing now; I am burning like a fire gone wild."
*The scene changes slightly, as a total of 33 people stand around and sit next to Luz, staring up at the sky, pointing out things that look to be strange. Julia has an arm wrapped around Luz's shoulder, whereas Stanley is ruffling her hair. Kennedy looms behind both of them, smirking, as if pleased with himself as the disembodied voice continues.*
"Like in the moment that my heart began to open"
"And it had the chance to scream, loud and unbroken"
"Everything was different from that moment on, if I don't try, I'll never know."
*The scene begins to change, the subtle strum of an electric guitar, signifying something. The wind blows harder, as if trying to push them away. The clouds darken as the sun begins to set, and as it does, people begin to disappear, starting with a few people in the back. One or two people vanish, but that's all. Luz, however, looks upset, closing her eyes, her expression changing to a solemn one as the disembodied voice continues*
"I wonder why the flowers are blooming."
"Your voice still echoes out in my heart."
*More people begin to disappear, but this time more rapidly. They're not walking away. They're simply disappearing. Vanishing from sight. Leaving Luz all alone. It gets worse as it comes down to only three people. Kennedy, Julia, and Stanley. First, it's Julia, who gets up from where she's sitting, and wanders off into the forest. It makes Luz's eyes widen, her solemnness turning into Despair. Then it's Stanley, which makes her look to her left. He waves to her, before going into the forest. Then, it's Kennedy, who stuffs his hands in his pockets and leaves. Luz's eyes water, and she looks away, before looking back up at the sky, the moon taking the place of the sun. All the while the disembodied voice continues*
"Tell me why I just shouted to the sky?"
"But you are no, no longer here, that's right."
"Remembering the adventure we went on called life!"
"Just a fleeting moment…!"
"Call it just a dream, 'cause I don't mind it."
"I'll save you from the present, the one so torn and riddled with scars."
*As Luz is left alone on the cliff, tears in her eyes, the guitar strums a solemn tone. Her tears are wiped away by an older man–All For One–who puts a hand on her shoulder. Julia sits back down next to Luz, holding her hand, which makes her smile. Now it's All For One looming behind her, his expression one of pride. The ending finishes with a few more strums of the guitar, and near the end, All For One's eyes glow a deep shade of red.*