Summary: This is it. The final showdown between Deku and the League of Villains. But All For One knows Izuku’s ultimate weakness:
Saving people.
Warnings: HEAVY ANGST, canon-typical violence, mild swearing, includes some manga/anime spoilers
Word Count: 2.3K
Mind the tags and enjoy!
~
“Shigaraki, we have to end this!” Izuku shouted at the S-Rank villain across from him, actively using Float to maintain higher ground. Below them, several students, pro heroes, and villains were battling to the death. “Can’t you see All For One has been using you and your power this entire time?”
“Shut up, shut up!” Tomura Shigaraki hissed, sending a parade of attacks in the young hero’s direction. Midoriya practically teleported out of the way, instinctively hurling Blackwhip towards his rival. The villain was quick to catch Deku’s Blackwhip with one hand and yanked the boy forward. Luckily for Izuku, he was used to villains grabbing ahold of Blackwhip to try and use it against him. Using the momentum Shigaraki had generated, Deku swung his right leg upward and landed an attack right underneath the villain’s jaw. Shigaraki was sent flying skyward, though he quickly repositioned himself and locked eyes with Deku once again. “You little shit,” he snarled, winding up another powerful attack from above.
On the ground, Midoriya rolled his shoulders and then used the energy stored by Fa Jin to skyrocket into the sky and match Shigaraki’s altitude, dually dodging multiple attacks. “Please,” Deku insisted. “Just stop and think for a moment. For thirty seconds, even!”
“I said shut up, you pathetic little pest!” Shigaraki repeated, going ballistic with Quirks and attacks. “I’m done letting All Might’s protege get in my way!” After several more punches, kicks, and various exchanges of power, Deku used Smokescreen to surround and blind Shigaraki. Considering the amount of Quirks both Tomura and Izuku wielded, they had learned it was generally more difficult for the two to predict each others’ moves and battle strategies. For example, up until this very moment, Deku wasn’t even sure if Shigaraki had the ability to fly—or hover? Whatever Quirk it was, Tomura was managing to manipulate the skies in the same way Deku was.
During a brief moment of recovery, Izuku pleaded one more time. “I think you and I are more similar than we realize, Tomura,” he announced bravely, his yellow cape flowing in the breeze. “Or should I call you Tenko?”
“What the hell do you want, brat?” Shigaraki retorted, panting as raindrops began to collect on his painfully tattered face. “A heart-to-heart or something? Don’t you realize this is the path I’ve chosen for myself? For a rotten society that deserves nothing but judgement?”
“Sure!” Deku replied happily, his prominent smile catching Tomura off guard. “A moment like that would be nice. You know, like when we met at the mall.”
All of a sudden, everything stopped. The ongoing war below, the rain, literal minutes themselves, all coming to an immediate halt. It felt as if time on a clock had just run out, and all the earth had gone completely still. Izuku and Shigaraki were awkwardly staring at one another while frozen in midair, their eyes and eyelids being the only objects capable of movement inside whatever realm this was. The next time Deku blinked, the world had gone pitch black with him and Shigaraki suspended in nothingness.
A haunting voice called out from the darkness. “Tomura, humor me for a moment.” It was clearly the voice of All For One, and it enraged Midoriya so much that he reminded himself of Bakugo for a brief moment. All For One himself then manifested behind Shigaraki, two large hands descending upon the villain’s shoulders. It creepily reminded Deku of Shigaraki’s previous ensemble. “I am your family. I would never abandon you. I saved you. This boy, this… Deku… Seems to think otherwise.” The way he pronounced Midoriya’s hero name was belittling beyond belief, dripping with a venomous disgust only the antithesis of heroism could muster. “I believe he also considers himself your savior. Your personal hero. And he claims I’ve only damaged you. Kind of absurd, don’t you think?”
Tomura remained silent. Deku wasn’t entirely sure if the villain’s meekness was intentional or if it was because the two of them were unable to move. He also wondered if the quietness was at all related to fear.
“Well, Tomura? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.” All For One faded into the background and reappeared behind Midoriya, his hands resting on the boy in the exact same fashion as they did a moment ago with Shigaraki. “And I imagine Izuku Midoriya is on the edge of his seat in anticipation, too! So do tell, Tomura.”
With a snap of his fingers, All For One vanished and Midoriya found himself at the Kiyashi Ward Mall with Shigaraki’s hand carefully wrapped around his throat—except this time, he and Shigaraki were both dressed in their current day attire.
“Don’t kill me yet,” was the first thing Midoriya uttered to Shigaraki, well aware of the position he was in.
“Thirty seconds,” Tomura growled, his grip tightening. Midoriya glanced in the villain’s direction, locating vermillion eyes hidden behind white strands of hair. “Got it?”
Midoriya knew he could easily get out of this considering the many Quirks he possessed. He also knew this may be the only chance he had at swaying Tenko and pulling him out of this depressive abyss he’d unwillingly fallen into.
In other words, he dare not waste this opportunity.
“Tomura… Tenko,” Deku corrected himself. “I know he is your Master and you care for him, but does All For One care for you?”
Deku felt Shigaraki’s fifth finger, but only for half a second or so. Luckily, it was lifted almost immediately after making contact. “Of course he does. I’m his most trusted and important pawn...his king.”
Midoriya raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Like in chess,” Shigaraki explained. “I’m the most important player on the board.”
“I don’t think so,” Deku swallowed nervously. “There are no kings on this chessboard you’re talking about. Only the player and the pawns. You and I are exactly the same. He’s been manipulating you ever since the day you both met.”
“That was almost twenty years ago. Do you really think I’m going to just throw all of that in the trash? Besides, hasn’t All Might done the same with you?”
“There’s a difference between student and master versus puppet and puppet master. This—all your pain—will never stop until you’re able to cut the strings holding you back.”
“But he saved me—”
“All For One stole you away from the world to benefit himself,” Midoriya paused, desperately hoping Shigaraki wasn’t keeping track of the thirty seconds that had already come and gone. “I can’t speak for all pro heroes, but if I could somehow go back in time to when it would have mattered most, I would reach a hand out to Tenko Shimura with a smile on my face and prioritize his safety and happiness over all else.”
In that moment, Shigaraki’s fifth fingertip came to rest on Izuku’s skin.
Though he had been anticipating it, Midoriya felt no pain.
No decay.
Nothing.
He must’ve been holding back, controlling it, Deku assumed.
“I honestly think you’d have a great testimony, Tenko,” Midoriya added calmly, his gaze darting between Shigaraki and the countless civilians minding their own business inside the mall.
“Tch,” Shigaraki scoffed, his own gaze landing on a familiar individual.
On Ochaco Uraraka.
“Uh,” she commented with wide eyes, “Deku?”
Midoriya stared at her, remembering the moment like it was yesterday.
“Is that a friend?” Ochaco asked, arms straight at her sides. “No, that can’t be right. Uh, hey, let go of him.”
“This isn’t real,” Deku reminded himself, taking a deep breath.
BOOM.
A sudden explosion sent Midoriya and Shigaraki flying away from one another, the illusion of the mall vanishing in an instant. Deku noticed Shigaraki had been knocked unconscious by the unexpected attack and both of them were plummeting to the ground. “Tenko!” Deku called out, but the villain didn’t respond.
A soft but strong voice reverberated around Midoriya, a gentle hand coming to rest on his shoulder. “What are you waiting for?” It was Nana Shimura’s spirit, the Seventh User of One For All. “Float and catch him! I can feel it. You’re so close to saving him. But there is more work to be done!”
Izuku responded immediately, zipping towards Tomura—but he somehow wasn’t fast enough. All For One had reappeared behind Deku, grabbing one of his ankles and throwing him further from Shigaraki. “Leave him be, Izuku Midoriya,” All For One snickered. “He’s not yours to save.”
“You aren’t making any sense!” Izuku yelled, green sparks of lightning surrounding his battered and bruised body. “We’re miles into the air. When he hits the ground, it doesn’t matter how much of your power has been infused into him. He’ll get hurt!” He immediately forced himself downward in hopes of catching up to Tomura.
“He belongs to me,” All For One declared, appearing beneath Deku and powerfully kicking him back into the clouds. “You only care to save him because he’s showing signs of transformation, of weakness,” All For One’s voice rang out, loud enough to cause Deku’s ears to bleed. What a vile Quirk. “I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong.”
“That’s not true at all!”
All For One then attempted to attack Deku once more, but Danger Sense picked up on the attack and allowed for Midoriya to find an opening and escape, continuing in his pursuit of Shigaraki. “You could save him,” All For One’s voice clawed its way inside of Izuku’s brain. “Or you could save her.”
Deku’s breath hitched and he stopped falling, his eyes wandering toward the spot on the ground where Himiko Toga had been fighting Ochaco.
Except she was no longer there.
“Dammit,” Izuku hissed, eyes glowing green the exact moment he glanced upward to see All For One with his hand wrapped around Uraraka’s throat.
“Don’t you see?” All For One’s sinister chuckle drilled a hole into Deku’s mind. “Tomura has so much to learn,” the villain of all villains scoffed, Tenko continuing to dive toward the ground.
“Let her go,” Midoriya growled, rings of electric energy emanating from his body.
All For One laughed darkly. “So easy. Just like that, you forget all about him.”
“I’m going to save them both!”
The monster hovering above Deku cackled relentlessly, tilting his chin toward the girl in his grasp. “You know what would be helpful, Uravity?”
She glared at him angrily, refusing to provide him with a response. Her Quirk was powerless against him as they floated in the air together.
“Your power,” he replied to himself. “Or taking it for myself, rather. Maybe, down the road, I’ll find another unsuspecting child to use to my liking, gifting it to them…”
An agonizing scream ripped itself from Deku’s throat. “No!” the boy shouted, zipping toward All For One and his classmate.
All For One vanished, reappearing below Midoriya. He brought an open palm to Ochaco’s face, physically threatening to steal Zero Gravity.
Ever taunting, ever calculating, ever manipulating, All For One smiled eerily as he witnessed Deku’s mortified reactions.
The next time Deku raced toward All For One to attack, he was met by the vicious Quirk of another enemy and sent spiraling downward.
It seemed Shigaraki had reawakened and recovered, eager to beat Midoriya to a pulp without a moment’s hesitation. Deku slammed into the ground, coughing as he watched blood pour out from his side.
“Ochaco…” he stuttered, clutching his torso to combat the pain.
And then he watched in horror as Ochaco was released by All For One, falling to the earth.
Why wasn’t she floating?
Deku attempted to stand up, eyes going wide as soon as he identified Toga dashing toward him. The villainess attempted to slash his neck with one of her knives, but he easily kicked her away and propelled to where Uraraka was going to hit the ground.
After landing on his injured side, he weakly hopped to his feet and jumped toward her, Ochaco landing in his arms. Despite having the ability to fly, Midoriya eventually fell to the floor, letting her rest on top of him.
All of a sudden, Deku locked eyes with Dabi standing in the distance, his charred flesh and white hair glowing in the moonlight now that the rain had come to an end.
Blue flames danced their way towards the two of them, Midoriya impulsively hiding the girl in his arms from hellish onslaught of fire. In this moment, he noticed Ochaco was conscious, but her eyes seemed empty.
A wave of cold air caught Deku’s attention, the source of the sudden drop in temperature standing between them and Toya. “Don’t worry, Midoriya,” Todoroki’s voice was music to the hero’s ears. “I’ll handle him. You take care of her, you hear?”
Midoriya’s eyes scanned the atmosphere above him, noting the sudden disappearance of All For One and Tomura Shigaraki.
Another familiar voice entered the scene. “Get out of here, Deku!” Bakugo dropped down next to Todoroki. Katsuki glanced over his shoulder at his childhood friend, excited sparks leaping from the palms of his hands. “She needs you.”
Midoriya nodded, momentarily finding a place of solitude for the both of them to rest. He gently laid her on the ground, tears running from the outside corners of her eyes to her ears.
“I’m sorry,” she croaked. He grabbed her wrist, inspecting the pads of her fingertips.
They were smooth, a sign of her Quirk having left her body. He held her hand tightly in his. “Don’t apologize.”
“I failed,” she squeaked, sniffling. “I failed my parents. What am I supposed to do?”
“Don’t talk like that,” Izuku snapped, his thumb caressing the dip in her wrist.
He embraced her, careful not to hurt her.
“I’m getting your Quirk back if it’s the last thing I do.”
Because someone has to nourish this fan base before April 3rd.
Also if you have not read CartoonFuel’s “Wish: Reimagined” on AO3 I highly recommend it as it was the inspiration behind these drawings. Link will be posted below
<a href="https://archiveofourown.org/works/51925660"><strong>Disney's Wish: Reimagined</strong></a> (24375 words) by <a href="https://archiveofourown.org/users/CartoonFuel"><strong>CartoonFuel</strong></a><br />Chapters: 10/10<br />Fandom: <a href="https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Wish%20(Movie%202023)">Wish (Movie 2023)</a><br />Rating: Teen And Up Audiences<br />Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, No Archive Warnings Apply<br />Relationships: King Magnifico/Queen Amaya, Amaya/Magnifico of Rosa (Disney), Asha (Disney) & King Magnifico, Asha & Magnifico of Rosa (Disney), Asha (Disney)/Star (Disney: Wish)<br />Characters: Asha (Disney), Star (Disney: Wish), King Magnifico, Queen Amaya, Valentino the Goat (Disney), Magnifico of Rosa (Disney), Amaya (Disney), Dahlia (Disney: Wish)<br />Additional Tags: Asha is a princess, Valentino doesn't talk, Evil Amaya (Disney), Star Boy (Disney: Wish), Reimagining of Disney's Wish, Luci the Cat, Asha is Magnifico's apprentice, Dark Magic, Wish is a bit of a fixer upper, Disney Songs, Magnifico’s a BAD dude, Angst, Fluff, Rewrite, Starsha - Freeform, Canon-Typical Violence<br />Series: Part 1 of <a href="https://archiveofourown.org/series/3991192">WISH: REIMAGINED</a><br />Summary: <p>Come join me for a fully reworked, reimagined version of Disney’s 100th anniversary film, Wish (feat. scrapped concepts and ideas, further developed characters, a TRUE villain w/a backstory, romance, AND MORE)!</p><p>SYNOPSIS: Princess Asha makes a wish so powerful that it's answered by a cosmic force called Star. With Star's help, Asha now faces the daunting task of saving her kingdom from the malevolent King Magnifico and the manipulative Queen Amaya.</p><p>Feel free to allocate approximately 2 hours for uninterrupted reading, as I purposely designed the story’s length to mirror that of an animated movie.</p><p>PLAYLIST: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVWkR_gRgMqQJxpoB1j8gQxnqoqegsQsI&feature=shared</p><p>[COMPLETE]</p>
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
I want to give a shoutout to CartoonFuel for writing my other favorite Wish re-write. I like how this work sticks to canon while still adding it the cut concepts we all wanted.
It’s boldest, and my favorite choice was making Starboy nonverbal. A non verbal Starboy seems to be a rarity in the re write community and it can be hard to pull off but Fuel’s descriptions help paint what this character is feeling.
If you want to give them a follow they are on instagram, twitter and YouTube: cartoonfuel
“I always looked down on you because you were quirkless. You were supposed to be beneath me… but I kept feeling like you were above me. I hated it. I couldn’t bear to look at you. I couldn’t accept the way you were. So I kept you at arm’s length and was mean to you. I tried to act all superior by rejecting you… but I kept losing that fight. Since we got into U.A… Nothing’s worked out how I thought it would. Instead, this past year forced me to understand your strength and my weakness. I don’t expect this to change a thing between us, but I gotta speak my truth. Izuku… I’m sorry for everything.”
