Nothing New (a my hero academia fanfiction, volume two of the Nothing Series)

Threshold

Brilliant rays fo sunshine filtered into the secluded cave, and the nonchalant birds chirped optimistically outside.

All For One eagerly advanced on his captives and removed thier blindfolds in a brisk tug. "You won't be needing these things anymore."

Mirio and Katusma both groaned as they woke up. Sleeping in their restraints happened to be very uncomfortable, that left the pro heroes aching and sore. Togata blearily blinked a few times to adjust his eyes to recognize the wrinkly bald man standing before him. He growled. "What are you waiting for?"

All For One smiled. "I just wanted to look into your eyes as I strip away your only hope for salvation-" He placed his outstretched hand over Mirio's face and waited.

No Energy.

Nothing Happened.

All For One seemed slightly confused. "I don't feel anything-" The villain stiffened as his warped voice boomed in frustration. "WHY DON'T I FEEL ANYTHING?!" 

He had been careful...

waited for a decade in the shadows-

refraining form taking any quirks-

timing the capture to the letter, just when the Symbol of Hope had let his gaurd down-

all so he could TAKE  the one thing he craved the most.

One For All.

All For One thought irratably. "What went wrong?!" The man quickly drew upon the familiar strength that his most prized disciple gave him for the first time in ten whole years- 

To grasp at nothing.

All For One shuddered in pain and doubled over, releasing his grip on Mirio's head with a gasp. 

The villain-mastermind shrieked in horror as his prolonged age unraveled. His prune like skin dried out and shrank in on itself with in seconds. His limps became limp and tired, a fraction of the strength and size they were before- His head hung low, and his back hunched with a few sharp pops of bones moving into their proper place- 

Mirio and Katsuma's eyes bugged in fear as they watched their rival inexplicably wither before them----

All For One screamed as he collapsed to the floor....a trembling sack of flesh and bones, dressed in a now ocean of suit coat, pants, button up shirt and tie--- even the equipment that perserved his life had become a bit too large- 

All For One's breathing was reduced to a dry wheeze as he tried to assess what had just happened- He was his true age once again- "What? Im-possible...." He croaked in disbelief. 

His quaking hands reached up to press the cold metal mask closer to his face to secure it-

Very shaken, the emaciated villain timidly tried once more to connect to the power his servant always lent him- 

It was gone. 

Dead. 

His greatest asset was dead.... 

Even though there could have been a number of logical explanations, All For One latched onto one in particular.

The mad scientist was a careful man, he wouldn't just die in an accident or LET himself be discovered by heroes- which could only mean that he had been murdered.... 

Compromised by someone from the inside... 

The villain wheezed as he ran through the list of his beloved servants, dismissing each one that was loyal to him..... All For One wasn't surprised when he came down to one person...

One who had defied him one too many times, and had refused to become his student.....

All For One growled dryly. "Izuku Midoryia...." 

Mirio and Katusma both perked up at the name, and exchanged a confused glance before Mirio asked. "What about him?" 

All For One trembled as he feebly got back to his feet...then man waekly seethed. " I'm going to KILL him."

Mirio glared fiercely. "Over my dead body."

All For One sighed. "Sadly that won't be arranged for a while. Unless..." The villain swiveled his head so that his empty eye sockets rested on Katsuma. "You have a quirk that will be useful to me-" 

Katsuma slightly stiffened. He thought. "Oh yes my quirk is very useful, but I won't give it up to the likes of you-"  After mere seconds of hatching a simple plan, the Regenneration Hero scoffed. "You don't want my stupid quirk, look!" He focused hard and moved the energy in Mirio's golden hair to make it swish. "You see? Just a wind quirk, I mostly use it to blow out candles, but-" 

All For One snapped bitterly. "Then you are useless!" 

The villain reached out and held his breath as he strained......trying to take One For All.... Beads of sweat coated his head by the time he finally pulled away in resignation. "After a lifetime...the power is within my reach...but I'm too weak to take it!"

Mirio brightened with a confident smile. "You failed! All your hard work has been for nothing Villain! Hey Katsuma- I just came up with a new nickname for our rival here-"

Katsuma gasped theatrically. "Oh really?! But he's so scary, no nickname could possibly suit our mighty captor-"

Mirio interrupted with a laugh. "How about All For Nothing?!"

Katsuma bust up laughing. "Because his plans and evil attempts were all for nothing!!!!"

All For One turned away from his captives, already forming a plan. "On the contrary....all my hard work is going to pay off soon enough-"