A Hero For All

Beat It Out of Him

Hope.

It's such a powerful thing, isn't it?

It pushes us forward when our backs are up against the wall.

It's everything to people who have nothing.

It leads armies.

It inspires the weak.

It's something no man, woman, or child can live without.

Without hope, there would be no future. And with no future, there would be no more civilization.

Some tell you that no matter where you are, no matter how bad your situation is, you can find hope.

But there was never any hope in this place.

In the underground lab...

Izuku, during the midst of his joy and excitement of having been given a quirk, forgot one teeny-weeny thing.

That he was still in an underground lab with the biggest, most evil crime boss in the criminal underworld and an army of mad scientists that will stop at nothing to get what their master wants.

And what their master wants is a weapon.

And when a previously-quirkless boy causes an energy surge large enough to cause a small earthquake, completely transform his hair and eye color, and act completely aware and awake in a pool full of sedatives strong enough to put an elephant to sleep, there's a lot of potential for a city-leveling weapon.

-All For One looked at the transformed boy in complete shock. He couldn't believe his eyes.

"T-take him back to his cell," All For One said shakily.

Two guards, who were present during the energy explosion, were knocked out of their shocked stupor by the voice of their boss, and quickly lead the boy back to his cell.

"Where are you taking me?" Izuku asked.

The guards flinched when they heard his voice. They didn't respond. They just kept walking.

Once they left, there was pin-drop silence in the test area. Nobody said anything, too shocked by the events that just took place.

Thankfully, that silence was broken.

Broken by the sound of laughter.

All For One was chuckling, which eventually turned into full-blown joyful laughter.

"IT WORKED! IT WORKED!!" He yelled.

The scientists merely stood there slack-jawed.

All For One was so unbelievably happy.

He had finally done it.

He had finally been able to give someone a quirk without destroying their mind.

He was one step closer to achieving his goal.

To create a world without All Might.

He was so close...

With Izuku...

He was confused.

He had no idea where the hell he was.

Or what the hell he was doing.

Or where the hell he was going.

Or who the hell these people are.