Lonely Ninth

Burden

  Izuku was walking home when he heard the noise. It came from the big grey building covered in rust and moss.

  Izuku wasn't scared, he was a big boy now, his mummy even trusted him to be on his own at the park when she needed to go to work.

 
  "Izuku, you need to stay here! Lots of people have been hurt on the other side of the city, and mummy needs to go and help.  If it gets late, then be careful going home. Ask Mrs Tsukasa next door to help you inside if you need to."

  Izuku opened the big wooden door. It looked like it had been forced open recently, the wood in the middle had split open, and one door seemed larger than the other.

  The young boy looked around.

  "H-hello?" He asked quietly.

  He heard the noise again, a little louder.

  A wet cough, and a large splatter.

  Izuku frowned in determination, stepping inside and peeking into the first room. Someone was hurt, and they needed help!

  Izuku followed the quiet grunts and loud hacking coughs, until he found something that would haunt him forever.

  It was All Might, the world's greatest hero. He was slumped against the far wall, his lower half drenched in blood, and the same dark red liquid dripping from his radiant smile.

  "Oh dear.. hello young man.." All Might coughed.

  Izuku raced forwards.

  "A-All Might, you're hurt! M-my mummy is a nurse, she showed me how to use bandages and stuff!" He said.

  The hero laughed quietly. It wasn't his great boisterous laugh, but something softer, kinder. All Might shook his head.

  "I don't even thing your mother could help me, amazing as she sounds." He said.

  Izuku began to cry.

  "A-are you..?"

  The hero sighed.

  "I am. I'm terribly sorry young man, I won, but the cost of my own life."

  Izuku sat before the hero, gazing up at him.

  "A villain did this?" Izuku asked, horrified.

  All Might nodded, but smiled reassuringly.

  "I was able to defeat him. We each dealt a mortal blow to the other. I'm hiding from his minions in here, who will most definitely try to exploit my weakness. However, I'm afraid the age of All Might is over."

  Izuku rubbed his tears away.

  "Don't worry All Might! I'll become the number one hero, and save everybody with a smile, just like you!" He said.

  The hero chuckled fondly, swallowing the blood down. A trickle of hope entered his eyes.

  "I'm sure you'll make an excellent hero young man. You certainly have the heart of one."

  Izuku sniffed, smiling at his idol.

  "Everyone says I can't, that I'm too weak because I'm quirkless. I'm still going to do my best though! If I can just save one person, I can be happy!"

  All Might's eyes widened a little.

  "A child born quirkless was rare when I was a boy. You'll need to work hard, but I think you can do it. Do you want to hear a secret?"

  Izuku nodded, every inch of attention on his hero.

  All Might smiled.

  "I too was quirkless, until I was 15."

  Izuku's eyes opened wide.

  "You were like.. me?" He asked.

  All Might nodded.

  "My quirk was not originally my own. Through the combination of a quirk that could pass itself on and an energy stockpile quirk, my quirk, called One for All, was born. I am the eighth wielder of this great power. My master chose me for the same reasons I now choose you. Young man, would you carry my power, and wield it to help others?" He asked.

  Izuku's eyes were wide with amazement. A quirk that could be given to others? It was unheard of! But.. people could do a great many things. It wasn't impossible.

  The greenette nodded wordlessly.

  All Might smiled, shifting into a more upright position.

  "Excellent. I'm sorry to shove my burden onto you, however you need to hear this. The man who injured me today is the one who created One for All. His name is All for One, and his quirk is the ability to steal and give quirks to and from others. You must keep One for All to yourself. You must train in secret, until you have enough control over it to be safe. You cannot even tell your family. Many people, hero and villain alike would hunt for you if they knew of One for All. You must remain 'Quirkless' until you are attending a hero school. Knowing this, do you still accept my power? It is a great and heavy responsibility. For that, I am sorry." The hero said.

  Izuku nodded, his expression one of determination.

  All Might sighed in relief, then looked seriously at the young boy.

  "I'm afraid you're going to have to drink some of my blood, or eat a strand of my hair. You need my DNA in your system to let me pass One for All on to you. I know it's gross, but it must be done."

  Izuku made a face, but wiped some of the blood from All Might's extended hand with his finger. He stared at his bloodied digit for a moment, before licking it, shuddering in revulsion.

  All Might finally relaxed, his last duty complete.

  "You must not use it until you build up strong muscles my boy. Only a trained body can handle One for All's power. You'll also need to dial the amount you use down. Think of One for All's energy as a vast lake. Once you train, you will only be able to use a teacup's worth of that energy. The amount will grow as you strengthen your body."

  Izuku nodded in understanding.

  "I'll train really hard All Might! I'll make sure One for All is used for good!" He said.

  The hero smiled, using his unbloodied hand to pat the boy's hair.

  "I'm sure you'll do excellently. Don't worry, I'll always be with you within One for All, whenever you need guidance... just.. ask.."

  All Might, the world's symbol of peace and justice, died thinking of a tall, green haired hero watching over a city, his cape swirling in the wind.

  He was smiling a bright, hopeful grin.