#final war arc

[autumnmobile12]

Because only this arrogant fuck would lose two separate fights in one night and call it a win.

Look, I know the showdown between the brothers has been a long time coming...

...but I still think it would have been more strategically prudent to send the two guys who actually have successfully taken him out in the past.

Judging by those two embarrassingly quick takedowns, it wouldn't have taken them very long.

...

Dabi: You here for a re-match?

Vlad: You say that like you won last time.

[gradelstuff]

League of Villains - Character Collection Cards from Jump Shop Online (2023)

(Cards are using the ultra analysis stats)

[sweetbeanmacchiato]

These scenes were too cute

[spinji]

[loverln]

i get the au that toga is alive somewhere in hiding i really do, but i do think her dying is essential for both her and ochaco’s character arcs.

that being said, thinking about ochaco lying next to himiko’s body until someone was able to mediflight her off the battlefield is literally such a gruesome and realistic depiction of war that i’m not surprised it happened off screen.

[isabeauwolf]

When I keep asking myself "Would I love a monster man?"

Yup. 🤭🥰😍❤️

Too late to turn down back now 🐦‍⬛🔥💙💚💜

Also, have y'all seen Horikoshi's new Sketch!? Omg! We get Toga and Dabi!

We finally got a fully colored and rendered burnt Touya from Horikoshi 😭🙏🏻 Thank you!

[idreaminmugiwara]

When people complain that the animation quality of MHA doesn't quite live up to the manga, this is what they're talking about. Although to be fair, most of this hasn't been animated yet and Bones has been cooking pretty hard with season 7. I'm eager to see how the second half of the war arc turns out.

[gentrychild]

A couple of funny (to me) things that happened in the final war arc so far:

The last arc ended on a big friendship moment where the protagonist was assured that he didn’t have to fight alone and how the other heroes could help him carry his burden only to be shown again and again that they get their behind handed to them when said protagonist isn’t there but even the villains point out that they never should have been allowed the time to become stronger.

The whole plan the heroes had created was derailed not because of the two main villains but because another, far weaker villain, abducted the MC so she could confess to him.

We don’t know if Bakugou is dead but we definitely know that he is now part jean part ninja.

Dabi showed up to the main fight in an outfit where all his torso was exposed and that no parent would ever approve of, not only because he is an edgelord but also because he expected to fight his dad.

Endeavor, the number 1 hero, used an ultimate attack on All for One, which only ended in All for One fully rejuvenated and back to his prime.

All for One was naked for several minutes during the final fight and obviously didn’t care that he was flashing everyone.

All for One still decided to stop being naked and instead of using a quirk to summon a suit or something like that, he stole several heroes’ clothes in the middle of said fight.

Tomura got so mad at Mirio when he said he had no friends that he broke AFO’s hold for a moment, just to tell him that not only does he have many friends but also that his dog loves him.

When Izuku arrived to UA to see all the people down because of the fight, the All Might card was the one that received the most emphasis.

[salvagesmha]

Altering the Final War's Battlefields

With the series done, one of the few things that took me until now to get to was basically a bit of a revamp of the Second War battlefields.

The problem with them in the long run for me is that, LOV members aside, there was just...no other major villain established in those fields to really give a shit about or really have a sense of dread about.

One of the major differences between the 1st and 2nd War is that, regardless of how you feel about the results of the 1st War, waltzing into it you understood that the Villains were very credible, established threats.

The League of Villains and their upgraded powers, the MLA top brass and knowing what havoc just one of them could do, the High End Nomus that lay in waitin production thanks to Ujiko, Gigantomachia being a living disaster, 100K soldiers who we know should be on par with regular Heroes from training and have put the LOV on the backfoot. YMMV on how the 1st War turned out, but walking in there was some solid anticaption and intrigue in how these elements would be used....

The Second War does not have that. Why? Because Horikoshi kinda just...gutted the PLF and didn't reaaaaaaallly bring suitable, built-up replacements for them?

High Ends that have personality and can think? Nope, back to just the dumbass Nomus who are just rampaging monsters...that's it.

The PLF soldiers? Literally just 100 people now and, even then, the jailbreakers they got to replace them are just...well, nothing, like I talked about here.

The top brass of the LOV/PLF? Most who could provide interesting fights or intrigue were taken away for just Skeptic...whose regulated back 'hackerman' only.

Replacing them are either AFO's Assassins or Advisors who are just ether not developed at all or just came in too late, beaten too quick and used too little to care about. Thus, it really makes them feel totally irrelevent to the other stuff going around during the war.

For all the talk of the Heroes being at a disadvantage, it certainly did not feel so with just...6 of the bad guys out of a hundred or so people would really care about.. As such, my list below is basically having major Villains take the spots of the Jailbreakers/Advisors as 'Bosses' of their fields so as to give each place a solid Villain to get invested in. In addition, also adding in more returning Villains to help make each place to feel 'alive' in a sense.

If you wanna see how I'd use the Advisors, for the most part (there's a few changes here), look here.

Central Hospital:

This is the most blatant change I feel works for the story better is Trumpet being the ‘Boss’ (or well, one of the Bosses) of Central Hospital. One of the issues in the that battle came about from Disgustus being shoved into two contradictory roles. The first, up until the midway through the battle, is an advocate of mutants that seemed to be genuinely hurt and bitter from the discrimination he’s implied to have gotten (as evidence by his scar)...except then we get to the second half. Which has his internal thoughts filled with how the PLF were just using the mob they gathered as tools and makes him just cartoonishly corrupt. 

Instead of him being forced into both, I think a good idea would have been for Trumpet to take the reigns as the corrupt leader, acting as a false sympathizer for the Heteromorphs, and Disgustus to remain as a genuine, if disdainful extremist. It gives a mook of the PLF more depth since it reminds the audience that a lot of the Villains walked down the path due to rough lives, and allows for their still to be a scummy Villain still to stop. Heck, I feel using Trumpet as the Boss also just makes some of the plot feel more coherent, since he can use his Quirk to not only boost the mob, but make them too frenzied up to really listen or notice something being off (like Spinner clearly being out of it due to the additional Quirks) or notice him clearly covering his ass.

In this case, it’s Shoji and Koda beating Trumpet that could allow for the mob splinter to really begin and stall, with the pig guy’s group merely being the final blow to crack the facade for good. As for Disgustus and the rest of Spinner’s crew, they can be defeated right before they could enter the hospital. Something that hurts Shoji and the others badly enough that the mob genuinely could have killed them if not for pig guy. Heck, to help with this option, I also raise Chimera from movie 2 to return, acting as extra muscle for the crowd and, given his own experience being discriminated against, be another pillar of change get the crowd motivated. While Shoji loses the first encounter against Chimera, this second time, he barely manages to defeat him and is in danger of being killed when help arrives.

On a minor note, more of the USJ crew returns, mainly the Heteromorphic side as well, perhaps trying to spread the idea that, from the beginning, the League of Villains was just trying to raise awareness and change…even though that was very much not the case XD

Boss: Spinner, Trumpet

Jailbreaker: Chimera

Advisors: Spinner’s Advisors

Return: Steel Bulwark, Invisible Wall, Chomper, Greedy Gaping Jaw

Okuto Island

Given this is Toga’s battlefield, there’s not quite too many changes I’d make here. I think the most blatant that could be done is make Moonfish, whose acting as the ‘Jailbreaker’ for the Okuto Villains, more prominent. If Kunieda and Gashly are allowed to wipe out or fend off multiple Heroes, than a guy whose supposed to be on par with them should really be allowed to cut loose and be more of a massive thorn for their side. Plus, since I also think League members should at least get at least a significant send-off, I think Tsu being the one to take him down would be a good way of giving her something major to do. In this case, Tsu uses her wits and camouflage to bait Moon into being more careless with his attacks. Something that leads to him leaving himself open to being stunned by her poison mucus before being knocked out.

Another change I’d make is including Eleph from the High Ends on this battlefield. I think it’d hit the point home how much of a gamble splitting hte Villains up from each other was, as there was always a chance one Villain could have a real advantage wherever they got sent to. In this case, Eleph’s quirk allowed him to suck in water to make fierce hydro attacks at his foes. 

On a lesser note, I’m also for Hanzo Suiden/USJ water thug to add to his mayhem since it should have been high priority for that water fucker to at do something threatening given that battlefield was his advantage. Perhaps’s he’s teaming up with Eleph to help boost the Nomu’s attacks? 

Likewise, for the Advisors section, I’m all for Toga having her #1 Advisor at the scene to help add to the pressure of Okuto.

Boss: Toga

Jailbreaker: Moonfish

Return: Hanzo Suiden, Minotaurus

Nomu: Eleph

Advisors: Toga’s #1 Advisor 

Kamino Ward:

Given that the purpose of this place is that it doesn’t have any Major Jailbreakers, only real major tweak I would make for this is that Ribby replaces the NHE here. I think it’d be fitting if the High End assigned to Dabi was also an ax-crazy killer Nomu that wouldn’t give a shit to being set on fire and is just enjoying the chaos of the War. SImilar to the anime, Ida’s attacks with Ribby, alongside someone like Burnin, are what eventually gets him to go down.

Honestly, I’d probably include Starservant and Ending since both were Dabi’s grunts during the EA arc, and it’d be nice for them to assist their boss once more. Plus, both fit the theme of being crazed Villains unconcerned for their lives, like the other two above as well. Not that I think they’d be a major help, but it’d give some familiar faces the audience would recognize and help care more about the battlefields beyond just the final Boss taking up a major focus.

Boss: Dabi

Nomu: Ribby

Return: Starservant, Ending, Sharkyonara (RIP poor bastard), One-Eyed Green Dragon, Sickle Claw

Advisor: Dabi’s 1st ranker

Jaku Ruins:

To take the place of Skully of the Jaku Ruins battlefield, I raise you Geten. Honestly, I think this is the most natural choice as the Face of Jaku Ruins given how Skully shares Geten’s ‘Quirk Makes Right’ mindset and I think it’d hit more for Mina trying to reason with Geten about how both were fighting for their fallen mentors (in this case Re-Destro) than her trying to resonate with a character who hasn’t really been given his due at all. It’d especially hit harder given RD is basically Geten’s Dad too, so ice boy’s attempts at freeing Machia is coming from a placed of enraged love like Mina had.

As the Jailbreaker of Jaku, I raise Slice as being the sort, mostly to act as a villain against Mina, and would be in a similarm indset to geten about trying to avenge a loss loved one + getting payback on Mina while she was at it since it was her acid that cost her the first fight.

Likewise, in this case, all three of Geten’s Advisors + Dabi’s #2, will be at Jaku. Skully is there to work with Bindi Girl into creating gas that’ll keep their forces safe. Geten’s #3 can probably utter his mammonist line from overhearing about the Heroes plot, and be apart from the first wave of the Jaku villain forces to intercept the Heroes (before being taking out fairly easily - he’s No. 3 for a reason after all). As for Geten’s #1…well, he’’ likely just be there for Geten to bounce ideas off and defend the Commander against enemy attacks.

Now, on the returning Villain side, I’m surprised Giant Villain wasn’t brought back to rematch Mt. Lady. He’ll not be as strong as her, but he can keep her busy after she stomped through a good number of their guys. And, like in canon, Sludge Villain can stay and do his thing. Also, as apart of the first wave, Teruo’s here…to probably be one-shot immediately again, but he will be there XD

Boss: Geten

Jailbreaker: Slice

Return: Sludge Villain, Giant Villain, Teruo Hazakashi (Naked Guy), Axer, Stitched Giant

Advisors: Geten’s Advisors, Dabi’s #2 Advisor

Troy Parking Lot

Now this is one of the trickier locations since it’s pretty just one of the ‘spares’ of the battle. But, ultimately, I think it can work to be something even more meaningful than in canon. In this case, I want Mr. Compress to be left behind here. The support of the League faceing off against pretty much the spares of the Heroes trying to mop up the last of the resistance. Plus, it’s not like Compress doesn’t have a Hero of his own he has beef with. Aoyama was the reason his plan to capture both Bakugo and Tokoyami went screwy, and given Aoyama comes from a rich family that his ancestors would have likely stolen from, well…there’s a lot fun you can have between these two brawling out.

The way I see it, Kunieda makes his plants like in canon, and thanks to Compress’ mask, (alongside several other Villains still remaining that do wear masks of their own or maybe even just Kunieda has control over who he turns into plants) Compress is able to go back to his tree hopping shtick like in the training camp arc and show off his own stealth abilities again. Able to gradually whittle down the Heroes by taking advantage of the foliage to turn those who aren’t plant turned into marbles.

Since there are no Nomu here, the lesser Villains will be made of minor villain gangs, those like Cider House to Team Resvoir Dogs. Stragglers that are really only lasting as long due to Kunieda’s cover and will likely go down after Aoyama/Hagakure’s combo attack.

Boss: Mr. Compress

Jailbreaker: Kunieda

Return:Cider House, Blade Villain/Street Thieves, Reservoir Dogs, Gorilla, Spike

Advisors: Compress #3,

Takoba Stadium:

Honestly, this might sound weird, but Skeptic honestly could have taken Gashly’s place. Gashly’s whole thing is that he spawns minions to outlast others while he himself is in a safe location…

Kinda like Skeptic’s Quirk…or Twice’s…or Toga with Twice’s Quirk (Horikoshi didn’t spend much time on Gashly’s power, let’s be real…). If the main boss of Takoba is just a summoner, than just let Skeptic be badass and not only hack UA’s systems, but also fuck people up via his henchmen too? Heck, you don’t even have to do much to explain how he can do both without issue.

Have him hide somewhere during the chaos…or alternatively? Bring back the Shie Hassaikai guy, Tengai, Barrier and allow Skeptic to camp with in. As for how he can use his set-up at all, have AFO’s spies implant a virus that allows Skeptic access to UA’s systems so that he can safely work his magic in peace…at least up until La Brava stops him. As for how he can fight so well, perhaps have a chapter detailing Skeptic actually bothering to improve his Quirk so that he doesn’t need to use much to create puppets thats can do simple commands, and with access to Detnerat support items, he can effectively spawn more infinitely.

That’s how you can explain Skeptic outlasting the others for so long. At least, up until Tengai is knocked out by Tokage and Kamikiri via the Warp Gate. Thus, shutting down the barrier to allow Skeptic and any remaining Villains to be wiped out. 

Of course, there’s also the issue of the likes of Ketsubutsu’s deal with Skeptic being overturned, though I think a good way to handle that is to have them also at Takoba trying to take Skeptic’s forces down. In this case, a good midtier Villain that can give them a challenge is Deidoro Sakaki and Katsukame. Sakaki’s Sloshed and Katsukame’s energy drain are being a real nuisance in preventing the Heroes from getting to Skeptic, so it’s up to Ketsubetsu to stop them. In this case, Shindo and Nakagame take down Sakaki, while Ms. Joke and those other two guys beat Katsukame. Thus, freeing up more space to focus on the nerdy fuck who needs to get out of the barrier. 

As for any other side Villains to go along with Skeptic, I’m all for including the likes of the Carmine Advisors that made it out, beyond Toga’s 1st ranker. So Toga #3 and Skeptic’s #3. As for Gashly, he can still work as the main muscle, albeit with a revamped Quirk? Perhaps his Baby Tree quirk is more on the psychological side of things that make Skeptic’s puppets even more of a hassle to fight against? Nomu for Takoba will be Chubs to add to the whole theme of ‘this place is chalk full of tanky, long-distance, support fuckers who won’t fight directly’ which is just bound to get on the Takoba Heroes nervesXD

Main Boss: Skeptic

Jailbreaker: Gashly (with a revamped Quirk, probably something rhyme-based to help Skeptic’s puppets out)

Return: Tengai, Katsukame, Sakaki - Shie Hassaikai. Needle Hair, Martial Hair

PLF:  Skeptic #3/Toga’s #3

Nomu: Chubs

UA Shelters

Always thought this was more of a shame that there wasn’t really any proper fights here. Yeah, I know the idea is ‘oh, we can’t let the Villains in’ but c’moooon! It’s the final fight - let them be more of a threat by a few breaking in, causing the Heroes on the inside to try to stop them.

Let Mustard return to spray his gas to help weaken the Heroes defenses, which allows him to get a rematch with Kendo and Tetsu again! Let Mimic get smuggled into UA to take control of the damn thing after Skeptic failed! Have the remaining yakuza work with the saboteurs, acting as their guardsman while they try to bring UA down and it’s a race against time to really stop them. Hell, let Mummy return to use his powers to turn the machinery against the Heroes and have them work hard as Hell to stop him!!

How did they get in? IDK, let one of the saboteurs have a Quirk that let’s them be dollar tree version of Mr. Compress, or maybe they snuck in, if only barely. Heck, maybe after Kurogiri is freed, AFO placed the data for inside of UA and the team meant to rampage in it (thanks to the spies) inside of Shiggy’s mask and Kurogiri warped the taskforce in after the factl There are ways to go about it to make it work. Just allow people like Kaminari and Momo to get more to do than off-screen deal with Twice copies!!! 

But, with that in mind, every location needs a boss of some sort, right?...So why not have the one in charge of such operations be Giran? Have him sneak into UA via his muddle Quirk and make him the director of sabotage for the Villain forces, something he’d be proud to do since he’d want revenge for Twice's death. As for how he doesn’t get folded instantly when found out, if you don’t want to have him unguarded, you can have him use his/Detenerat’s support items to hold off Heroes long enough to make some play happen for his side. I just think it’d be a fitting way to end his story trying to payback the man who saved his life instead of just…not existing after a while.

Boss: Giran

League: Mustard

Jailbreaker: Mummy

Shie Hassaikai: Chronostasis, Mimic, Nemoto, Garbage Trio

PLF: Saboteurs (Tajima, Mihaera, and three people no one cares about)

Gunga Villa

Last, but not least, we got the Gunga battlefield…which is very much due for an uplift. Seriously, the battlefield against the Demon Lord should not have been so damn barren like in canon. Even the Nomus that got sent with him, who were giving everyone else so much trouble, went down likes chumps. So…how to correct it?

Simple! Make it the powerhouse buffet with all the heaviest of hitters being sent there. Woman and her analytical skills mixed with her bloodlust? She’s there to kick ass like the rampaging beast queen that she is, and ensure that the the Heroes really don’t get that much of a break while AFO is wrapped up fighting Team Endeavor in the skies.

Rappa of the Eight Bullets rampaging through the battlefield, knocking out people clean up until Kirishima arrives on Machia - then the rematch of a lifetime could occur!!! I will never stop harping on this, I truly believe we should have gotten a Kirishima and Rappa rematch in the Final War, and its a WASTE Rappa/none of the yakuza besides Overhaul returned!!!

Toxic Chainsaw, the name-dropped foe that All Might whooped back in the 1st chapter and could have probably been a neat callback? Add in Dreadlock Jailbreaker having a spike quirk and the threat from a living pincushion and toxic waste shoots the threat level way up. These guys I’ld probably leave as a deal opponents for the Shiketsu side of things, to give them some form of meaningful foe to clear out before taking on AFO.

Finally, the name-dropped Sanctum and the rest of the Twice Squad serving as, well not really AFO back-up, but general mook rallying nonetheless so the battlefield for this affair is a bit more of semi-organized affair for the Villains instead of a huge mosh pit where they got wiped out so easily.

Boss: AFO

Jailbreaker: Toxic Chainsaw, Dreadlock Jailbreaker

Nomu: Woman

Advisors: Sanctum & other Twice Advisors

Return: Rappa, Habit Headgear, Tesla, Victor

-

Ultimately, this was how I'd split them up! I tried to give each battlefield someone related to the League or who we have seen could be a credible match for the Heroes.

ALso saw fit to give an expalnation as to why some are here and others elsewhere...or not here at all.

Why isn't Re-Destro here?

Because I think the idea of Redestro going down fighting allow the PLF to escape is actually a good idea and could have lead to more development for his top brass, with the post-war showing how each of them are trying to carry on the organization's will. Geten's furious and preparing his Quirk more, Skeptic is actually training to defend himself and other better, Trumpet is channeling his inner Usopp and just lying to every straggler he finds to bolster their forces.

Why is the Shie Hassakai helping AFO?

Mutual benefit. The SH wants Overhaul back, AFO can free him if they win. Also, in Rappa's case, he just wants to brawl so he's imediately on board.

Why only Movie 2 villains on-board?

Because they're the only movie villains that are both in Japan, and not arrested internationally. I mean, I could have tried to incldue Wolfram and his dudes, if I wanted? But if I do ever make a pitch for a new Dark Deku Jailbreaker arc, I'd rather save him for that.

Aaaaaand, that's that?

Regardless, this is pretty much just a thought experiment on my part so hope you got some enjoyment from it!! Think I could have done any of these battlefields better?

[aqours]

to me it's not the fact that bakugo killed baby all for one that's been absolutely sending me for 24 hours straight but the fact he acknowledged that AFO is already on the way out but he REALLY wanted to fucking yeet that fetus and this is a completely morally acceptable choice

[riahlynn101]

"Familiarity."

Summary:

Izuku thought the war couldn't get any worse.

He was wrong.

--

"And Izuku can’t decide which is worse. That Hisashi Midoriya’s memory is being tainted by this evil man, and his presence in Izuku’s life was cut short by forces outside of his control. Or that Hisashi Midoriya was really just a facade donned by All for One in a series of facades, and all the fond memories Izuku holds of his father are false."

Inspired by both the theory that the AFO in the current battle is actually a clone, and the real one is Hisashi Midoriya who is working in America. And by a comment discussion between me and Gwen on another one of my DFO fanfics. So, big thanks to them for letting me ramble <3

Trigger warnings: AFO being himself, a teenager in distress, and canonical violence.

Warning: There is a major spoiler warning for chapter 423 within the first couple paragraphs!!

---

It’s over. 

Shigaraki’s body disintegrates into nothing. The remaining pieces are carried away by the wind. It’s a sad send off, and nothing about it makes Izuku the least bit happy. 

The last embers of One for All burn up. He can feel the familiar warmth fade away, and just like that gravity catches up to him. Wind whistles through his hair as he starts the quick descent back to the hard ground below. 

He’s not worried. Falling is easy. He has enough faith in his classmates and the remaining Pro heroes to catch him. 

He can’t get Shigaraki’s defeated expression out of his head. Izuku wanted so desperately to save him. All of him, but it wasn’t enough. 

Izuku wasn’t enough. He wasn’t smart enough, nor strong enough to pull Shigaraki out of All for One’s parasitic grasp. Ironically, him wanting to save Shigaraki might have been the one thing that damned him. Maybe if he hadn’t-

He coughs. There’s something in his chest, in his lungs. Like mucus. Izuku coughs again, trying to ease the tension in his lungs. Some of it comes up, just as he lands in Iida’s arms. His friend smiles at him, exhaustion and pain evident on Iida’s usual stern face. 

Kacchan wobbles over to him, holding his side. “Hey, nerd,” he says, but there’s no bite to his tone.

Izuku opens his mouth to respond, to thank Iida for catching him. To tell Kacchan and the others that he’s proud of them, that he’s happy that they came to help. But when he does that, a rush of water spills from his open mouth. 

His eyes widened. He falls to his knees. Dark spots dance in his vision. The water, at least that’s what Izuku assumes it is, has the consistency of snot and the taste of sewer water. 

His friends rush over, holding him steady. 

Something prickles under his skin, down his arms and over his hands. Electricity. Not unlike how he felt with One for All dancing under his skin, waiting and ready for use. But One for All is gone…

His stomach cramps. Izuku groans, falling forward onto his knees in spite of his friends’ best efforts. Their voices meld together, mixing into a cacophony that hurts his ears. 

The dark spots grow larger, blocking Izuku’s vision until everything is eclipsed. Blindly, he reaches out for help. Needing reassurance that everything’s okay. That he isn’t dying. That this is all because he pushed his body a little too hard and not because something terrible has taken root. 

“Kacchan…” he claws at the ground. “Mom….mama help me!” His eyes burn. He’s scared. “All Might!” His voice is inaudible to everyone except himself. Every word is intercepted by another mouthful of liquid. “Dad!” 

In between one heart beat and the next, Izuku is back in the vestige realm. He knows it’s the vestige realm, and specifically All for One’s vestige realm, by the absence of anything at all. Just a big empty void with swirling winds and not a soul in sight. 

The heavy feeling in his chest and the dark spots in his vision have disappeared. It would be a relief if not for what him being here means. 

“All for One!” He calls out. There’s no reply. Of course there’s not. Because if Izuku’s here, then that means All for One’s out-

He summons all his energy into calling All for One back here. “All for One! Answer me!” And the man does, strangely enough. 

He appears before Izuku, but he looks…different. Familiar somehow. 

Izuku doesn’t let the moment go to waste. “Let me go!” 

All for One tilts his head to the side, a pitying look on his face. Without wanting to, Izuku studies the strange familiarity in the man’s face. “But I’m not even holding you.”

“You know what I mean,” he snaps, fists clenched at his sides. “I’m not going to be another vessel for you to live out your dying dreams in. Let. Me. Go!” He lunges forward to punch the smug look off All for One’s face. 

All for One disappears and reappears behind him. He laughs at Izuku’s strangled scream, and laughs even harder when Izuku whirls around to swing at him. His fists meet air, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to punch the man that ruined so many lives. 

“All for One!” He yells at the top of his lungs. “I won’t ask you again-”

“Ask me why,” All for One says, back where he started, across from Izuku. His arms are crossed.

“Ask you why, what?”

“You know. Ask me why.”

Izuku does understand. It’s the fact that he doesn’t want to anymore that’s the problem. He’s done listening. The war is over. He both won and lost in the most important ways. 

He forces himself to calm down. All for One has the advantage here. Izuku takes a deep breath, and unclenches his fists. “Why?” 

All for One quirks an eyebrow. “Why what…?” He smiles.

Through gritted teeth, Izuku manages to clarify himself, “why am I here?”

All for One clicks his tongue. “Wrong question. You already know the answer to that.”

It infuriates Izuku that All for One is right. “Fine,” he spits. “Then, why are you-”

Again, All for One clicks his tongue, an almost disappointed look on his newly-restored face. And again, Izuku finds himself studying it.

The facial structure is the same. 

The hair is too.

So…why….

It’s the freckles, he realizes. The same diamond shape pattern that Izuku’s had since early childhood. The same ones that he inherited from his… 

Izuku takes a step back. “No,” he breathes. “This isn’t…what? Why do you look like…” he can’t bring himself to finish his sentence. Because finishing it would mean admitting that All for One looks like Hisashi Midoriya. 

All for One sighs, pleased. “There we are. You know, I was almost worried you weren’t going to catch on.”

“What is this!?” Izuku feels his body tense. It reminds him of the days before he knew how to fight. He grasps at any possible reason that All for One would be wearing his father’s face. 

“Oh, come now. I know it’s been a few years but-”

“No!” 

Izuku tugs at his hair. He turns away. All this time he thought his father abandoned them, sending money out of obligation, but instead he was murdered or…or maybe he was being blackmailed by All for One. 

He can’t decide if he should laugh or cry. 

“Izuku-”

“Don’t call me that!” Izuku screams. 

“Izuku,” All for One says. “I am Hisashi Midoriya.” He sounds amused, like this is all some great big joke. Like pretending to be, or actually being his father is supposed to be some hilarious spectacle. 

And Izuku can’t decide which is worse. That Hisashi Midoriya’s memory is being tainted by this evil man, and his presence in Izuku’s life was cut short by forces outside of his control. Or that Hisashi Midoriya was really just a facade donned by All for One in a series of facades, and all the fond memories Izuku holds of his father are false. 

“Well, I suppose that isn’t correct.” All for One hums, thinking. “I hold all the memories of being your father, but none of the emotions.” He laughs. “Makes me wonder why the other version of me allowed me to keep emotional ties to Yoichi but not to you? I almost feel cheated. Oh, well.”

But Izuku has checked out. “No! No! No!” He falls to his knees. The shadows that used to cover his body in One for All reappear, curling around him like ropes. 

The ground is cold and rough, like broken concrete. He sobs. 

All for One kneels down next to him. “Better luck next time, Izuku.” And then, he’s gone. Leaving Izuku to squirm against the shadows holding him down. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. 

-x-x-x-

Izuku jolts awake. The heart monitor beeps loudly, adding to his growing terror. His body aches and the terror he felt has followed him out of the vestige realm. 

“Izuku, my baby,” his mom warbles. She hugs him. It’s been too long since he’s found refuge in her arms. Too long since he’s seen her. He relaxes, allowing himself to be held.

Someone, unseen by Izuku because his mom’s in the way, clears their throat. His mom straightens instantly. Her eyes are wet and her smile is wobbly. She kisses Izuku on the cheek one last time before moving to the side. 

He tries to reach out for her, but his hand misses by an inch or two. He misses her warmth. He misses his mom. 

But before he can say anything, a….

Izuku swallows, looking the man before him over. “You,” he says. His voice is even, though he feels shaken. His stomach roils, curling into itself. 

“Me,” his d- (no, Izuku refuses to give into whatever this mind game is) All for One jokes. He has the same face as the dad he remembers. The same freckles that Izuku inherited. The same untameable, curly hair. The same concerned look on his face. Same. Same. Same. 

“Get- get out,” Izuku stammers. He looks at his mom, needing her to understand him. But her eyes narrow, in the same way they do when she’s about to scold him. 

“Midoriya Izuku,” she starts, but All for One holds up a hand to stop her. 

“It’s okay. It’s natural for our son to be hurt by my absence. It has been quite a few years.”

The word ‘son’ makes Izuku’s previously contained nausea grow. He groans, holding an arm over his stomach. 

His mom steps forward to help him, but All for One is quicker. Hands that used to hold him close and snuggle him to sleep, sit on his shoulders. 

Hands that forced Tenko into a life that he didn’t deserve. 

Hands that snuffed out generations of heroes. Of One for All users. Of innocent civilians. 

Hands that used to wipe away Izuku’s tears when he came home crying, hurt and heartbroken for the millionth time. 

“Izuku.”

He refocuses on All for One’s face. His eyes are the same white they were in his other forms, with the only difference being he actually has pupils. A ring of black in a sea of white. 

“There you are.” All for One smiles. A chill runs down Izuku’s spine. He glances over at his mom, but she’s nowhere to be seen. 

“Mom?” He calls out. 

“She went to get a nurse. The sooner you get checked out, the sooner we can go-”

Izuku cuts him off. “Home?” He finishes. “What home? The one destroyed by the war you started?”

Something flashes in All for One’s eyes. Not anger, nor frustration, but something more than his previous concern. He tilts his head to the side. “Oh, my Izuku,” he says. “You should have been nowhere near the war.” 

It’s not an admission, but it might as well be. 

To anyone else All for One sounds like a father regretful that he couldn’t protect his only son from the horrors of battle. But Izuku knows better. He knows that All for One, his father or not, cares little for anything besides getting the First One for All user’s vestige back. 

All for One hugs him. He smells the exact same as the last time Izuku got to hug him. Whether by conscious choice of wanting to forget who his father might be, or his subscious wanting comfort, Izuku buries his face into the crook of the man’s neck. 

“It’s okay, Izuku,” All for One murmurs. “I know you don’t believe me, but I do love you. And I’ve thought about you every day we’ve been apart.”

He’s right, Izuku doesn’t believe him. But he doesn’t have the energy to pick any more fights right now, so he shrugs his shoulders.

All for One says nothing to this. His fingers comb through Izuku’s curls. “Someday, you’ll call for me, just like you used to. Like you call for your mother now. Like you called for me on the battlefield, scared and in pain. You’re still just a little boy, Izuku. You need me and your mother.”

His words catch Izuku off guard. It feels so different from everything he said before. The concern is still there, but there’s decidedly something more. Izuku would call it ‘wishful thinking’, but he knows better. Especially when All for One’s arms curl around Izuku, trapping him in. 

“Why are you doing this?” Izuku asks, hoping his mom comes back soon. Over All for One’s shoulder he watches the door. 

All for One releases him, only to grab his face. The corners of his mouth curl upwards, not quite a smile but close enough. He squeezes Izuku’s cheeks together. “The same reason I do anything. Love.”

Izuku glares at him. They both know that’s bullshit. 

All for One lets him go, sighing sadly. 

“Whether you like it or not, you are my flesh and blood. And I’m not going anywhere, anytime soon.”

Izuku slumps into his pillow. “Liar,” he mutters under his breath. 

All for One leans over him, giving Izuku another (unwanted) hug. He hums, seemingly happy (of course he’s happy, Izuku thinks sourly. He’s getting what he wants…whatever that is). “I’ll let you think that son of mine.”

[autumnmobile12]

Ambush Simulation: Final War

I have not actually written anything for Final War in the Ambush Sim au, and I would absolutely love to play with the finale and the Vanguard’s part in it, but here are some notes and vibes for now.

…

Shimura: You know, I’m realizing Ambush Sim Tenko really draws the short straw compared to his canon counterpart. The death toll of people he loses…

His entire family, which he does feel guilty about

Twice and Magne

Sir Nighteye, basically an uncle to him

Star, probably someone he never met in person but cared about her as part of his surrogate family anyway

He shares All Might’s tendency to take on everything/take care of everyone…this is gonna be rough.

…

Toga: After already losing Magne and Twice, currently watching Touya fall apart, and seeing how hard Shimura is trying to keep it together for them, she’s actively nervous about losing everyone in this.

…

Touya: Weirdly enough, I think the most emotional goodbye he has before the fighting starts and they all move into position is him crouching down to say goodbye to all his students clustered around him. The students he frequently jokes about being afraid of him all anxiously asking if he’s coming back and him knowing he’s destroyed his body to the point where he knows Final War might finish the job.

“You’ll be back, right? You’re gonna teach us again?”

…

Spinner: Stationed at the hospital with Shoji and Koda. Not thrilled about Chimera, who has by now messed all of them up pretty badly, leading a riot as a giant wolf monster.

“…this is fine.”

…

Compress: Honestly, I didn’t really know where to place him. Given how badly he hurt himself in Jaku City, showing up for the fight was pretty last minute and probably ill-advised, but no way was he missing this. He gets stationed on Okuta Island with Toga, Uraraka, and Asui, and ultimately finds himself watching out for all three of the girls who are roughly the same age he was when he lost his whole family.

[gradelstuff]

Spinner......

[sweetbeanmacchiato]

Sharing that one braincell

[kiyasepicverse]

Back on my "Miruko is best friends with Hound Dog and Vlad King" agenda mixed with some "MIRUKO, PLEASE TAKE A VACATION!!"

[sanguine-tenshi]

Genuine question, but where the fuck is Snipe? Did he take a vacation in the middle of war? Abscond to USA or some shit?

Like that man tips the scales of any battlefield he's on by so fucking much it's is actually criminal he's nowhere to be found.