101

Chapter 101: Imago

A/N: Hello everyone! Time for the chapter! It gets a bit… mind boggling this time around. Makes sense, when you consider mindscapes existing for All For One, and intervening factors such as shards. Anywho, away we go!

Izuku slowly came to, the darkness slowly receding from mind and sight. He almost didn't want to get up from where he was; the spongy floor cushioned his back like a bundle of clouds whilst the misty air caressed his face. It was… comforting.

But Izuku knew that he couldn't stay where he was. He had a job to do. And every second he laid like he currently was was another moment of potential danger.

Izuku willed himself to move, parting his eyes as he sat himself up. The first things that filled his vision were a pair of yellow gloves and a flowing, white cape. It took him quite a few seconds to connect the dots.

"Nana Shimura?"

The woman in question turned around, tilting her head down to look at the still seating Izuku. "Finally. Do you know how long I've been keeping watch?"

"Can't have been more than a few minutes," Izuku muttered, rubbing his head as he stood himself up.

"Are you kidding?!" Shimura exclaimed. "It's been over an hour!"

"But time flows differently here, doesn't it?" Izuku knowingly asked. "It's been… what?"

A gust of air coalesced to Izuku's right, mist merging together to manifest Taylor. "Barely two minutes on the outside," she said with a minute smirk.

"I've got to admit," Izuku interjected, interrupting any sort of retort Shimura had planned, "I didn't exactly expect to see you here. You as in a predecessor of One For All, in a host for All For One, that is."

Shimura grimaced, crossing her arms over her chest and averting her gaze. "Tenko's never met me, you know. He's only seen me once, in a photograph hidden in his father's — my son's — office. I know now that my abandonment of my son did nothing but grow hatred in him, which in turn trickled down to Tenko. Perhaps if I've done things differently, Tenko wouldn't be in the position he is now."

Taylor hummed in thought. "Are you saying that your familial connection allows your shade to enter Shigaraki's mind?"

Shimura scowled, gaze jerking towards Taylor. "Shouldn't you know?"

Taylor narrowed her eyes. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

Shimura took a step forward, pointing a finger at her target. "It's like that monster said. You're like him, aren't you? That infuriating principal refused to tell us everything, so I had Mirio do some digging on you. And guess what? You don't exist. And for some reason you can access this place, the mindscape of our powers. Just like All For One."

"You're making baseless accusations, Miss Shimura," Izuku said as he planted himself between the two, hoping to diffuse the tension. "Taylor isn't a bad person. You just… don't have all the facts."

Shimura turned her gaze to Izuku. "And you wouldn't happen to be willing to divulge any of that information, perchance?"

Izuku nodded a negative in return.

Shimura hardened her gaze. "Why are you here, Izuku Midoriya?"

Taylor scoffed. "Probably should have started with that, don't you think?"

Izuku quickly spoke up before another argument could spark up. "I'm trying to subdue… you said that his real name was Tenko? Tenko Shimura?"

Shimura crossed her arms once more. "Yes. And subdue? How exactly are you planning to do that without All For One noticing?"

"We're here right now, aren't we?" Izuku pointed out.

Shimura let out a chuckle. "Only because we're nothing to him. In the grand scheme of things, little deviations in the massive space that makes up his quirk is nothing he thinks he needs to worry about."

"Then that'll be his downfall," Izuku simply said, pushing his way past Shimura and into the depths."

"Where do you think you're going?!" Shimura exclaimed, chasing after him.

"I told you already, Izuku said, probing his eyes at his surroundings.

"Poking at his subconscious is one thing. Trying to mess with his new body is another," Shimura said. "All For One will definitely notice!"

"Oh," Taylor mused, her form floating up beside them, "I doubt that."

Shimura frowned. "You know nothing of dealing with a quirk like All For One."

Taylor's eyes shined in amusement. "I know more than you think, Miss Number Seven."

"Pfft! And what are you planning to do," Shimura contested, "talk him down?"

"Yes," Izuku calmly pointed out. "That's step #1. Though if I'm honest, I'm not amusing myself with the belief that attempting to reach him through words will have a decent chance of working."

"So you've planted yourself in a corner," Shimura stated. "Are you planning to kill him then? Rip him apart from within his mind?"

"It won't come to that," Izuku stated. His face then twisted in thought. "Can't say that the same will apply to All For One, though," he muttered.

Shimura shook her head. "You're naive. You don't think that you can talk him down, and yet you don't believe that you will have to kill him? What kind of notion is that?"

Izuku brushed her off. "Again, you're making assumptions without knowing all the facts. We have a secret weapon. One that has to do with how Taylor and I can show up here in the first place, actually."

"And you're telling me that All For One won't notice?"

"Not with what we have in store for him."

Shimura didn't seem convinced.

Izuku simply shook his head in response. "Think it's false bravado all you want. I'm serious."

Shimura huffed. "And what stops me from just ejecting you from here right this moment?"

Izuku let out a small laugh." But it's not even your mind!"

"I have the might of six other vestiges behind me that I can call upon."

"Please, we've had worse. You don't scare us," Taylor cut in. "And I can guarantee that All For One. Not if our previous experiences with him still prove to be true, that is. Suppose that you can attribute that to the perks of being older than him, you know?"

"What?!"

Izuku sighed. "Taylor, stop antagonizing her."

Shimura pushed her way past Taylor and next to Izuku. "How can you even be sure—"

"Look," Izuku intoned. "I'm getting tired of hearing all your fretting. I'm here to take care of Tenko, and to do that you need to leave. So, if it'll ease your worries, I'll explain the process. Somewhat."

Shimura nodded. "Go."

"Due to some… prior manipulations by QA—"

"Who?"

"Don't interrupt, please." Izuku took a breath. "Anyways. QA. She sort of… imparted something into Tenko awhile back. It's not it's original purpose, but right at this moment it's acting as an anchor point. Something that connects both Tenko and I together, and what allows me to breach his mind."

"So you plan to take advantage of this… connection, is what you're saying?" Shimura asked, unbelievingly. "That's got to be—"

"Look." Izuku stopped in his tracks, spinning around to face Shimura eye to eye. "Taylor's nearly done adjusting herself and I to this plane. It's nearing the moment where I can deal with Tenko, and I need you gone for that. Because last I saw, he didn't exactly have a pleasant reaction to learning who you were."

"But—"

"Your presence endangers my entire plan, Nana Shimuira. And so what if I fail? I die? Would you care, really? You still have Togata, don't you? Wherever he and the other two are, they're the last stand against All For One in the case I fail right here. So why don't you worry about them, instead of something out of your understanding?"

Shimura backed off, eyeing Izuku up and down.

"What?" Izuku scathed.

Shimura huffed. "Fine. But don't blame me when you die."

Taylor showed herself again, leaning right up against Izuku. "He won't need to."

And without another word, Nana Shirmua dispersed.

Izuku nodded, turning and continuing his walk. Taylor simply fell into step right beside him.

"She's gone," Taylor said. "And she's not coming back in anytime soon. I've ensured it."

"Why was she even here in the first place?" Izuku asked. "She's not watching her grandson 24/7 now, is she?"

"She probably felt us entering and wanted to check out what was happening herself," Taylor explained. "I could have prevented her from getting in, but… Well I was sort of preoccupied with the landing and making sure Shigi didn't outright notice what was happening."

Izuku drew his mouth into a line. "You're not in the clear either, you know."

Taylor blinked. "What?"

"What was that? All that… stuff with you talking to her. Did you really need to rile her up?"

"I know her kind. Self-righteous, domineering, and thinks that she's—"

"I'll stop you while we're ahead," Izuku interrupted. "And focus. We're here."

Tomura Shigaraki jerked his head straight at the newcomer arrivals as he let out a raspy growl.

"You."

"Hello— Shigaraki." Izuku took a step forward. "I hope we can talk?"

"The hell are you doing here?" Shigaraki yelled, eyes dry and red. " In my head!"

"Well, I just said—"

"I fucking heard you." This mist that had simply been floating just above the ground moved. It circled around him while growing in intensity, swirling around him like he was the eye of a storm.

"What makes you think you can just… come in here?!"

"I'm just trying to help—"

"Like hell you are!" Shigaraki smirked. "I should've gotten rid of you a long time ago. But now? Now I'll crush you with my own mind."

Internally, Izuku let out a sigh. Expected, but not what I wanted to do. Ah well.

Izuku steeld his eyes, firmly planting his feet on the ground as the invisible guss attempted to push him down. "You can try."

Shigaraki began to walk forward, the callous and wild winds following in his wake.

"You think that after all you've done, that you're not going to get what's coming for you?"

Izuku began to move forward himself; slowly, step by step.

"After eating away at my arm?" Shigaraki exclaimed, hair viciously waving and spittle flying from his mouth. "It may be fixed now, but so what? You still did it!"

"It was self defense," Izuku argued. "Were you not the one attacking a bunch of school children?"

"Oh? And Ruka? What about her!? What you did to her is no different!"

Izuku shook his head, clearing the thoughts that dared to arise. "My doubts don't feed me anymore, Shigaraki! I've grown past them! So why don't you!"

Another step. Izuku was within the galeforce, Shigaraki's face growing ever more angered.

"All For One's using you," Izuku said. "You know it. So why don't you do something about it? Turn against him; you know now that he doesn't care for you. He said so himself! So why don't you let me—"

"I don't need your help!"

They were in each others' faces now, right within reach of the other. The two stared the other down — one with a cool and unwavering composure, and the other with hatred and fury.

Shigaraki roared in frustration. "Why aren't you dead yet?! Why aren't you blown away already?!"

Izuku smirked. "Taylor."

Shigaraki gasped, lungs suddenly searching for air. His body went still, skin going pale as the simulated winds began to die down.

"What…" Shigaraki grunted. The strain made the words difficult to say. Are you— Doing to me!?"

Izuku crossed his arms, a remorseful look entering his eyes. "You're a bud, straight from us. I mean, didn't you think it was weird that you suddenly gained a secondary power that complemented your primary one? It wasn't a coincidence that it came after such a stressful time for you."

Izuku shook his head. "All For One was taken from you, and your power reflected that feeling of loss. How does it feel, knowing that you're stuck with something that constantly reminds you of a person you now hate?"

"So?!" The words escaped past gritted teeth. "I don't… even need it! I don't—"

Flashes… Images… People… Colors...

Memories.

A boy in his yard. Crying, in need. His father hurt him. He needs somebody to understand.

But then.

His dog disappears.

His sister fades to ash.

"What— WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

Grandparents, gone.

Mother, fades.

Father—

"I'm happy that he's dead! He—"

"But what about the others?" Izuku asked. "It's true. Your father was abusive. You didn't deserve what he was doing, letting out all his anger on you. But what about the others?"

"They didn't help! They NEVER helped!"

"So what? That gives you the right to attack innocents? Kill heroes? Destroy society?"

"Of course! It's society that—"

"Can't you see that you've become just like him? What differentiates yourself… from your father?"

"You… You take that back! I've never— You wouldn't kn—"

A boy, barely four. He's told he has a quirk. Told that he will never have a quirk.

A mother who says the wrong words. A childhood friend turning tormentor.

Years and years of anguish and pain.

All for something he couldn't even control.

"I do understand. I know what it's like. Day in and day out, being scorned for something you can't control because it's just… a part of you."

Shigaraki took a moment. His breaths were evening out, face contorting less and less.

"All For One started you on this path. You don't have to continue down it," Izuku pleaded. "You can still push through and—"

"And what?" Shigaraki interrupted, eyes narrowing at his opponent. "Become a better person? Put this part of my life behind? Pretend it never happened?"

Shigaraki scoffed, a sadistic smile forming upon his lips. The wind began to pick up once more, gusts of black and grey mists swirling round and round.

"It's too late for that!" Shigaraki screeched.

His head tilted ever so slightly.

"You think I want to change?"

His legs moved, creaking under the pressure.

"You think you can talk me out of what I am?"

Arms free. Fingers flexed.

"Like hell I would listen to you!"

"With a grin, Shigaraki shot his arm out, right towards Izuku.

"I'll show you exactly how I— ARRGGGHHHH!"

And all at once, it stopped.

Shigaraki recoiled, stumbling in his own feet and falling to the ground. His groans and screams of pain echoed in Izuku's ears.

A blinding, mesmerizing light shone up from above, leading way for the giant shape to finally reveal itself. Free-flowing, multidimensional, weaving in and out and in.

The Queen Administrator was doing what it knew best to do: administor.

And that was all that Shigaraki could feel. The tesseract of power and aura above squished and pressed against the skin, stimulating the sensation of suffocating pores and clogged up airways. A tingling shock cascading across his interior, mind reeling over and over like a film reel flowing into a loop.

Izuku grimaced, walking forward and kneeling beside Shigaraki's thrashing form.

"I'm sorry," Izuku whispered. "You'll be going to sleep now. But… But after all this is done, then…"

A rushing mist centered in on the writhing form, covering it entirely until not even a glimpse of him could be seen.

Soon, the sharp shadows from within died down. The yells and shouts faded until they were heard no more.

With the intervention of QA, Shigaraki was gone. Trapped within his own mind; unable to escape on his own.

And all that was left…

Was the small, frail, crying form of Tenko Shimura.

The sobs echoed in the same way Shigaraki's yells had just moments before. The sounds penetrated Izuku's ears.

The same feelings of remorse and acquiescence filled Izuku's mind.

And then Tenko suddenly looked, his eyes finding the green haired boy before him.

"Who…" he sniffled. "Who are you?"

Izuku smiled. "I knew that this part of you was still hiding somewhere, deep down inside and forgotten. But not lost."

Tenko blinked. "Wha… What?"

Izuku shook his head. "Sorry. Just… speaking my mind."

He looked Tenko in the eyes. "Hey. You look like you need help. Something the matter?"

The waterworks instantly started acting up again. "Ye— Yes!"

Tenko grabbed onto Izuku, burying his face into the other's chest. "My— my sister! And my mom. The house and— and— agh!"

Tenko backed away, releasing his grip on Izuku's form. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't… didn't…"

Tenko's eyes looked on in disbelief at Izuku's u harmed form. He immediately looked down at his hands. "But… but how—"

"It's my quirk," Izuku interrupted, the lie easily flowing out from his mouth.

Tenko's head jerked right back up. "What?"

"Your hands," Izuku followed up. "You're looking at them like they were supposed to hurt me. So I canceled out your quirk. I'm guessing you still don't have total control over it?"

Tenko's breaths turned shallow. "I… I— I—"

"Hey." Izuku moved forward, reaching a hand out to Tenko's shoulder. The boy flinched a bit at the sudden contact, but relaxed once it was clear Izuku didn't mean to harm him.

"Look," Izuku began, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Why don't you go to sleep?"

"Sleep?" Even before the word could completely come out of his mouth, Tenko subconsciously found himself resting his head on Izuku's lap.

Izuku nodded. "Everything will be better when you wake up. I'll see to it."

Tenko let out a yawn, closing his eyes. "You promise?"

Izuku sighed. "Close your eyes, and take a breath. Rest."

Izuku blinked. And Tenko was gone.

Izuku allowed himself a moment, leaning back and lying flat down in the ground. He stared up at the endless ceiling, abyssal void replacing the now QA-less sky.

He closed his eyes, allowing himself time to think

"So?" The voice came from beside him. He didn't open his eyes though, content to speak just as he was.

"How do you feel?" Taylor continued in askance.

"I feel disgusted," Izuku answered. "Mindraping him, to the point of trapping him in his own mind in some forgotten corner, where all that he'll sense is darkness? Is that not worse than death?"

"We've been over this, Izuku. He won't even be conscious. And it's for the best. We can't have two powerful, quirk-stealing supervillains running around at the same time. Not if we want to resolve the situation at all."

"I know that!" Izuku blurted out. "I know that… It… It still feels wrong though. Where do I draw the line? Body snatching people is one thing. And it's still something completely inhumane! But this? This is just…"

Izuku let out a frustrated sigh.

"You won't have to resort to these measures once All For One is gone. This is only temporary. And besides, I'd be pretty disappointed if you started shirking on using bugs for combat."

"But still…"

"Hey," Taylor interrupted. "Stop dwelling on it. What's done is done. You should just consider yourself lucky that QA's bud was more than happy to communicate what it's learned so far about quirks, even if it meant shutting down its host temporarily. Especially since Shigi's been refuting to use the shard aspect of his powers."

"But still…" Izuku began. "Don't you think it's weird that… Well that he threw away his old self so completely that you can separate the two?"

"You're not knowledgeable in how the mind works, Izuku. Think of it more like… his mind, at different stages of his life. That's what you were seeing. Nothing more, nothing less.

Izuku took a breath. "Do you think that I could actually help him?"

"That's not your job, Izuku."

Izuku opened his eyes and looked over, finding Taylor to be on the ground, just like him. "But if it were?"

Taylor snorted. "Well, who knows? But you shouldn't feel hurried, in that case. We have all the time in the universe, after all."

A/N: And there's all that confusing mindscape business done and over with (for now)! Up next, back to the waking world!