Time: ??
Place:??

*************
"Ochako?"

"Hm?" she was lying on top of him, her face on his chest, but Deku could see her eyes half open.

"Is there something wrong?"

"I'm okay. I was just thinking" Uraraka muttered.

Deku wrapped his arms around her and tenderly caressed her short brown hair. It hadn't been a year since they officially became Pro Heroes, but much like their lives in UA, they had been full of surprises. One of them had been those not so occasional nights together.

They never planned it that way. But they should have seen it coming after their last year's prom night, where more than a few cute words and actions were exchanged.

And they were an excellent team, so no matter the distance and silence they forced between them, action would call always them back. Hero work brought them together as easily as it separated them.

Deku didn't need to ask her what she was thinking. In private they understood each other as well as they did in battle.

Fans had no evidence about their feelings, but fans were fans and it wouldn't take long before they were shipped to death. Their friends weren't blind either, and the most down to Earth ones were worried. It was public knowledge now that Izuku "Deku" Midoriya was far more than just a cool and charismatic hero. And if there was something to be known about All Might's successor's sentimental life, every villain in the country would be all ears.

The thought of All For One or Shigaraki going after Uraraka or her family was more than enough to keep him awake too.

"Ochako..." he had called Uraraka by her first name since that prom night. "I really like... this. And I wish we could..."

"Shh... I know" Uraraka put a finger on his lips and looked at him from her position. "Let's just have what we have now..." she stated as she cuddled closer to Deku's neck and hug him before closing her eyes.

Deku hugged her in response and followed her on the attempt to sleep again...

**************

The facility was no longer there.

He had read about alternate dimensions, as well as enjoyed thousands of stories fantasizing with such theories, but that... oh, that. Nothing could have prepared him for what was before him.

He was ready for the enemy coming out of anywhere, but the next figure he found inside the vortex was equally familiar. Only that young man didn't look so powerful.

The door the boy just knocked opened. However, Deku saw that scene five years ago and remembered it to perfection...

***************

"For the last time, Mina, I'm not going to..." Uraraka muted when she met the one standing before her dorm.

That day, this five years younger Deku had flied for seven hours, run all the way to UA and endured a three hours session of suits, hairstyles and more to meet Ochako Uraraka at her door. Most of Class 3A, led by Mina and the rest of the girls had orchestated the operation that resulted in Deku all suited up, hair combed and flowers in hand just for their friend. Years later, Mina herself would say years later the pair would have saved plenty of time if Deku would have just proposed to her right there and then.

"..."

"Deku...?" Uraraka would have pinched herself if she weren't too shocked to move. "You... you are supposed to be in the States. When did you arrive?"

"H...hi..." despite all the preparation, the question wouldn't leave Deku's question without a fight. "These are for you..."

Uraraka's eyes said "thanks" in every language when she took the flowers.

Meanwhile the rest of Class 1A ladies expectantly awaited on the corner for Deku's move so they could pass to the next part of the plan. A plan the five of them, not without some help from the boys, had orchestated with military efficiency.

"You see, I... I heard there is a dance tonight..."

******************
The scene faded away and Danger Sense warned its user. A powerful burst of air forced him to activate Quirk and run fast as small portals were opened everywhere around him. Full Cowling allowed him to avoid most of the attacks until a huge arm appeared just before him. Its strength and the speed he was currently moving at resulted on a considerable pain for him as soon as he met the floor.

"Ragdoll's Quirk." It wasn't an easy task, but he had memorized and studied every Quirk Shigaraki had ever publically used.

Deku was back on his feet as fast as he had been hit. He had built his whole career by doing that.

"Thanks for accepting my invitation, Deku. I have been expecting this for so long."

The mist full of mixed images and sounds made blurry in the distance, but that was undoutedly the figure of Tomura Shigaraki.

His voice was strange, grave and hissy, mocky and angry, all at the same time, like two different voices unsuccesfully trying to become one.

"Is that All For One who is talking... or is it you, Shigaraki?"

The evil metallic scoff was heard just behind him, but when Deku turned the male figure there faded like smoke.

"Much like All Might and you, Tomura and I are bonded by something thicker than blood..."

Deku thought fast and floated when the floor under him quickly cracked and decayed. Shigaraki manifested himself tossing a rain of black and red spikes at him. A rain that would have reached a hero less experienced than Deku, but the cinetic energy acumulated in his body was the key to avoid them clean. Once he reached a clear spot it was Black Whip's turn to work.

When Shigaraki was about to grab his face with that diabolical grip, the debris caused by Decay were thrown into a some portals Deku had memorized. The debris met their way from one portal to the closest to Shigaraki before he could see them coming. The villain covered himself as fast as he could, unable to avoid most of the hits.

Then the whole place shook and both hero and villain were separated.

A new flashback began to play before Deku...

********************

"Shut up! I would have beaten you clean!" Bakugou turned and looked at the just arrived Deku. "And you! I know you said something to him before our match! You two ruined my big moment that day!!"

"Sorry, Midoriya" Todoroki half turned as he slurped his soba stoically. "Some people can't let the past in the past."

Deku remembered that scene too, but this time was different: he was not just a viewer but an actor. The three of them were wearing the then brand new black and hooded versions of The Three Musketeers, and having dinner sitting on a crane.

"Kacchan... Todoroki... what is this? What are you doing here?"

"Funny question coming from you!" Bakugou answered as he devoured his burger. "We are here for work! We are heroes, remember?"

"But this isn't real... I am the only one in here... I am fighting Shigaraki...

"Ha! So you haven't changed. You keep thinking you are THAT special."

"These are your memories, Midoriya. We are always here" Todoroki said.

Deku had given up the possibility of getting an scientific explanation at that moment, but that vortex was something he had seen before. Only never so wide and defined. It was like a bridge between the One For All and All For One users' minds.

He saw Shigaraki nowhere. Would he be revisiting certain scenes of his own past?

"So, how is your fight going?" Todoroki asked, as he would in a normal day.

"You better win, Deku" Bakugou growled. "Because this is the only time I step aside so you can be the protagonist."

"This is your fight, All Might's love child"  Todoroki smiled. "But this is our war. And remember: you are not alone..."

******************

When the scene faded he was wearing his current costume again and Shigaraki was some feet away. Surely he just had his own vision, because he didn't look happy.

They both flied ahead and grabbed each others' arms, but Deku had anticipated. His were wrapped in Black Whip, whose extra extensions he used to immobilize him.

"Decay this."

Deku connected two good hits but the third was caught by a huge hand whose arm kept growing until it was free from Black Whip and big enough to crash Deku against the ground.

Black clouds began to form over them and the once Nine's main Quirk created an electric storm. Deku moved fast, but eventually he had to block a lighting with a fist charged with One For All. That hurt and disintegrated his whole left sleeve.

He hardly had time to breath again before the rock floor cracked, its pieces rose, pierced together, and clashed with Deku in the middle. When he used his strength to free himself he had to release a burst of air projectiles with his hands to Shigaraki to make him back down.

"All For One!" he called out looking around. "I am the last One For All user! Stop hiding behind Shigaraki and fight me!

"Hide? Why would I hide?"

The infamously earie voice was heard coming out of the purple mist, along with the image of its owner.

"Everything you have accomplished, every pain you have endured, every loss you have suffered... has brought you to this moment."

Deku's first attack was avoided by the big man with a lazy move. When he turned, the landscape around turned blurry and began to disappear. A new flashback was coming...

******************

The masked and disfigured villain was replaced by his white haired and younger version. Somehow, his grin and the expression of his eyes didn't make him look more human at all.

"Do you remember?" a different voice asked next to Deku. "This is where it all started".

"Of course I do" All For One didn't need to give a very close look to recognize the place. "This is where I turned you from a nobody into somebody, dear brother."

"No" Deku replied. "This is where you created the power to stop you."

"I must admit I always had a soft spot for my younger brother. I guess not even I am safe from that" All For One almost sounded like there was anything he regretted. "Previously, I offered him a place by my side, so we could rule and keep order the only way possible. An offer any wise man wouldn't decline..."

All For One pointed at the window of the office with his hand: out burning buildings and smoke columns could be seen everywhere. An environment Deku knew wouldn't be different to their home's at that moment.

"... but here we are, aren't we?"

"I told you many years ago" the younger of the brothers spoke. "Your hunger power and condescendence on human lives will be the end of you."

"I would say Deku should be thankful. In a way, I was the one who gave him a hero to believe me. Oh yes, even the existence of All Might is something the world owes me..."

"The world owes you nothing" Deku spitted. "Back then, the people in Japan were drowning in their own desperation. And a population so desperate it was ready to destroy itself."

"That would end in either you overpowered by it or nothing to rule over."

"Soon you discovered that fear wouldn't be enough. People needed to believe in something. Or someone" Deku didn't need to ask the original user.

"You didn't plan it that way, but once you let go a tiny piece of your power, there was a reaction on that society. That reaction was the rise of people whose duty would be to fight villains like you."

All For One clapped. The sun set behind the window as the room faded and a shadow behind him became clearer.

"Congratulations, you just passed the theorical exam. Now, time to go back to the practical one..."

*****************

Deku jumped aside on time. Shigaraki landed like a rabid cat with his hands disintegrating whatever structure they were standing on.

More hits and attacks were exchanged as they fell according to whatever the physics of that place were.

Shigaraki impulsed himself while Deku tried to hit him with air shots and Black Whip, but this time he wasn't succesful and his enemy managed to impact against him.

After a brief struggle and exchange of hits, Deku activated Float and let him go, but Shigaraki stabbed left his shoulder clean with one of those black and red spikes, whose point twisted, allowing him to drag Deku in the fall.

Shigaraki used Air Canon to land on his feet while Deku, despite floating, landed harshly on his body. With a wounded arm and the other now completely bare too, courtesy of Shigaraki's Decay, he got up like his four limbs were made of stone.

The young head of the League of Villains couldn't help but getting too carried away. He impulsed himself ahead with his killer hands ready... just for his face to meet a black and green mass with the shape of a giant fist charged with One For All. His opponent wasn't as groggy as he thought and now it was his turn to kiss the ring, along with everything he found on his way until Deku lost sight of him again. 

When Deku was about to go after him, some new figure began to take shape.

"As cute as ever, Izuku..."

"You are not real Toga" Deku shook his head, determined to ignore her. "And I don't have time for this."

"On the contrary, sweetheart: sadly, you will always have time for villains before anything else. Poor Ochako; she might marry you, but if there is a girl who will give true meaning to your life... that would be me."

Deku knew he must ignore her and keep moving, but much like that day interrogating Toga in a room, he wasn't able.

"You should have chosen our band, Izuku. This society is soon to be sentenced. Heroes have corrupted it to the point of no return."

"The people on it are worth fighting for" Deku didn't step back. "I have protected this society and I will continue doing so, because I want it to be the best place for them and my loved ones."

"You will never change" Toga said with a dreamy tone. "That determination to get all even bloodier and messier instead of running away from it always drove me crazy. That's why I always loved wearing  your skin."

"I never would have guessed" Deku growled.

"Chill out, Deku, or work will make you very unhappy in your marriage" that was the voice of Dabi. "You can ask Endeavor."

Deku left those behind and flied from one debris to another until he caught sight of a whole UA school replica. When he arrived at the entrance, all the pain of the wound hit his shoulder like a thunder, almost bringing him to his knees.

Entire days fighting criminals, monsters, notorious villains and a final boss or two hadn't gone unnoticed in his body. That wound might be the most recent and visible, but was far from the only one.

How much he wished there she was...

*******************

Deku raised his sight: the entrance had turned into the Dagobah beach. His body still hurted, but now he was wearing the  clothes he used during his very first months of training. And the skinny hands on his shoulders could only belong  to one person.

"All Might..."

"That's my name, young Midoriya! Come on, get up, we have work to do."

The man behind him wasn't skinny anymore; his childhood hero was there in all his muscular and smiling glory, like History remembered him.

"I wish you were really here. This time, I'm not sure I..."

"Stop there, young man" All Might shook his finger. "Don't you remember? Look around! The beach is clear! Since that day, I had never doubted you!"

"It is far more than a beach that I'm trying to clean up this time. My family... my friends... the people... my future as a husband... your legacy... Tomura... everything is larger than me."

"It must be" All Might said. "I was never brave enough to have a family of my own.

But that is the point, boy: no hero is or will ever be bigger than that he stands for. And we can all agree you are the biggest of all us, though.

I might be only a memory in your head, but I can tell you  All Might's pride on you is greater than ever."

Deku held his tears back. He promised All Might a long time ago.

"I hate to admit it, but I can't defeat both..."

All Might's figure was replaced by a smaller female one.

"So brilliant, but easy to get distracted. Just like Toshinori" Nana Shimura smirked. "You wouldn't come all the way here just to exchange hits with those two, right?"

The other One For All users wasted no time and their shadows appeared too.

"Tell us, kid: why are you here?"

Deku took a minute to think. His friends and him had planned it the best they could.

Iida was in Japan, leading the other heroes against the Nomus and Stain's followers. His friend didn't give him many details, but he assured him he had an idea and they wouldn't fail their people. And he trusted him.

Eri was safe. Professor Shield was safe. And the closest civilians would be safe soon. Kacchan, Todoroki and the others were taking care of the rest of the League. Of course, Kacchan would be more than ready for a rematch against The Man. And Todoroki had expected to deal with his brother again for ages.

And then, there was Ochako. She had just put Toga on the run and now she was a temporal One For All user. That wasn't part of the plan, but he trusted his fiancée with his life.

Neither of them would fail. So what was left for him to do in that crazy place?

******************

The beach went away. He was back at the entrance, where a last blur took an image that would make him forget about his wounds and any pain in the world.

Ochako stood there, in her white dress and flowers in hand, as radiant and gorgeous as she looked last week.

"Will you come back for me?" she asked with the voice of who pretends to ignore the answer.

"I always will" Deku answered, wishing he could stay there and hug her.

"I know" she smiled like the day they met at the exact same place.

Deku floated to the top of the building. Of course All For One himself would be there. The UA rooftop was where his last adventure had started and there it would meet its end.

Shigaraki wasn't on sight, but Deku didn't fear. He knew what game he was playing.

"Oh, Deku, you finally made it" he malevolent metallic voice behind the mask said. "I was thinking... before the final act, you might want to greet an old friend..."

A new blur began to take shape before him, only it was a younger version of one of his friends.

"It's okay, my young friend. You want to help people in a world that torments you for being different. How could you and your family be bad people?"

"I... I just want to become hero. But I didn't choose to be born this way" child Aoyama cried.

"Aoyama..." Deku muttered, despite knowing he couldn't change the villain's memory he was watching.

"Of course you didn't" All For One talked to the little boy like Deku wasn't there anymore. "The world is cruel. It makes you suffer. It makes your parents suffer. Parents that just want their child to be happy. But I am here, and I will help you where no hero ever will."

"You... you can do that? Can I stop... being different? Can I have... a Quirk?"

"You shall have that and more, little one" All For One replied as he got his hand closer to the weeping Aoyama's face. "Your parents have agreed on my terms and so have you. Because you know my power is the way for the best future. Just remember..." he added as Aoyama's tiny face was buried under his big hand. "... when the time comes, for the sake of you and your family, you will use your power and talents to serve  true justice. That is... me. Say it."

"Y.. yes! I promise. One day... my power and talents... will serve true justice..."

All For One coldly chuckled, as the child's image evaporated.

"You haven't forgotten, have you?

Deku just glared at him full of resent and anger. Most of the public and fans loved Aoyama enough to let his questionable origin in the past, but everybody remembered the day the so called "UA's traitor" was unmasked.

"No, of course you haven't. That's why they call it treason: it always comes from a friend."

"He was no traitor. He was just a hurt and lonely child you manipulated like the devil you are."

"A devil, am I?" All For One replied. "Well what is to you the society that turned its back on that child for being different?"

"You can't lecture me on that. I was born different too" Deku stroke back.

"Oh, surely you must feel proud of your Quirkless origin. That is the reason why All Might practically adopted you."

Deku didn't bother to explain to that evil incarnate what made All Might's power so special.

"But quirkless or not... how many families like the Aoyamas can there be in the world?" All For One exposed. "As Quirks spread and evolved, people became even more reckless and selfish..."

All For One turned blurry and the person Deku was waiting for came through him like he was made of mist.

"But this time people will have witnessed heroes' hipocrisy. Now, more than ever, they know you can't save them all. And once you're out of the map..."

"Then none will be able to save you from him, Tenko Shimura" Deku cut him.

Shigaraki gnashed his teeth in desbelief. No living person had called him like that in a lifetime.

"I don't need to be saved... and that is not my name!"

"You gave him your own surname, right, Shigaraki?" Deku addressed to All For One. "Why do you think he did so?"

"Shut up! You think you know him better than I do!? Once I have destroyed you, I will face my master and destroy him. That is the deal in order to continue his work!"

"No matter how powerful Quirks are; human body has a limit. And All For One's can't take his power for much longer..."

"He has remembered not even him can live forever."

Both Shigaraki stood silent in tension at the sight of Nana Shimura.

"That's why he always needed you, Tenko. Or more specifically, your body."

"That mind connection was never an accident. When you fought heroes like Stars and Stripes in the past, he wasn't merely interested in obtaining a new Quirk and killing a mighty hero: he was already trying to kill you and take control over a younger body."

"A body whose development and power he had directed personally for years, filling it with a hatred that would eventually lead to the self destruction of its owner."

"And that is why he ordered to build this thing where you could play with your mind more easily and face me at full potential."

"Tomura has always known there is only place for one on the top" All For One didn't look to be upset. "If he wants to success me, he must accept the final trial: it is me or him. But I'm allowing you to steal One For All, Tomura. Only then you will stand a chance against me."

"I see" Shigaraki finally spoke. "I must prove myself as the new Symbol of Terror by killing the new Symbol of Peace. Then I will face you, master... and if you succeed you will have all your Quirks... my Quirks... his Quirks... and finally, One For All, once more."

"All in the body of my flesh and blood" Nana Shimura finished it. "To add insult to injury."

All For One didn't speak back at that moment, making it possible for Deku to continue.

"You have tasted mortality for too long, Shigaraki. Now you want all your power back. Because you are afraid."

"Enough of the talking, Tomura" All For One harshly said. "Kill him or I will. But don't forget you'll have to face me after that. And even if I'm not so young anymore, I'm still stronger than the last time I faced All Might. Garaki made sure of that."

"Old bastard" Shigaraki bitterly chuckled. "I should have killed him a long time ago."

"What's it going to be, Tomura?" All For One had had enough. "And what about you, Deku? Do you think you can keep becoming this powerful and never become a terror to behold like us? Even if you won, when you held a power like mine, you'd understand that my way is the only way."

"I don't wish to be like a god among mortals. And I never will be" Deku played his last card. "I don't wish to fight you, Tenko. I came here to save you, like the others."

"You can't" All For One said. "He made his choice a long time ago."

"That's right" Shigaraki said. "I don't need you to save me, Midoriya. Heroes had their chance to do it years ago. And they wouldn't.

"And what about your friends?" Deku asked. "Will they be safe if you and I fail?"

Shigaraki didn't answer. Instead he deviated his sight to his each time more impatient mentor.

"You see, master... there is a problem here. I want to crush Deku for good, and I want to do it clean, with the two of us at hundred per cent. The thing is... how can I give my hundred percent... if you are there attempting to weaken me enough to eventually take control of my body?"

All For One stood before the two most powerful hero and villain of that generation.

"How disappointing. You, more than anyone, should know how I deal with treason, Tomura."

"Treason, huh? That means a lot, coming from its best user?" Shigaraki smirked. He then addressed to Deku. "I want you to feel every pain I'll bring on you later. You better make it in one piece."

"I always do my best on that" Deku assured.

End of chapter 47.

Hohoho! I finally returned with a late update Christmas present!🎅🎅

I'm sorry as usual for this taking me too long. Action, references, making up how dimensions and OFA work... well and studies and mental block didn't help either. But nothing will keep me from entertaining my Watties! Those who are patient enough to keep reading at least😅😅...

Hero and villain teaming up to fight greater evil had been seen a lot, but I hope I returned to writing in good shape!!

I am hurrying up to finally end this fanfic. I'll do my best!

Love you all, Watties 🧡🧡🧡! Merry Christmas and see you soon!!