Work Text:
I am Cell and I have a message for all the people of Earth.
All Might lay in bed, jaw set and eyes cold. The monster that had been terrorizing the nation for weeks had finally shown itself and it was even worse than he could have imagined. If All For One were still alive, All Might was sure that even he would be quaking in his boots at the creature on the screen.
Your boring lives are about to get a lot more interesting thanks to me. I have enjoyed terrorizing Earth but now I have something far more entertaining planned for this pathetic planet
His fist clenched the sheets beneath him and he took a wavering breath from the respirator, beside him Nighteye, his loyal sidekick, had his gaze fixed on the monster on the screen, a nervous sweat beginning to form on his face. Both hero and sidekick were worried for what this beast could possibly have in store for the people of Earth. There was only so much All Might could do while his injury healed and if this Cell wanted a fight then the Symbol of Peace would not be able to partake in it, at least not now.
The reason I’m here is to announce my decision to hold a Martial Arts tournament. I’m calling this competition the cell games, catchy name isn’t it? These games will be held in 9 days time at Area S.5: 28 miles northeast of East City. Bring me your best fighters and I will face them one by one in a contest of strength. This is the last chance for planet Earth if I am not defeated it belongs to me!
“No!” With gritted teeth All Might pushed himself up from the bed, ignoring the strain of the stitches on his left side.
Nighteye put his hand on his hero’s shoulder, “All Might don’t do this! You’re too injured!”
“I have to try,” he pushed Nighteye’s hand away from him and shifted his legs over the side of the hospital bed, “if I don’t, what kind of a symbol of peace am I?” He sat up and began tugging the array of wires off of his body, sidekick staring at him in shock.
The younger man couldn’t decide whether to slap the man for his foolishness or to help him in his endeavor to uphold his status as the number one hero.
The monster’s laugh filled the room as All Might attempted to stand. It was as if the beast was mocking him, daring him to make a move against him. With a grunt, he pushed against the bed and lifted himself to his feet, taking it slow and steady so as not to pass out. Black spots filled his vision as a sharp pain began to emanate from his side. He grunted and began to sway.
Nighteye, now standing on his feet, quickly went to All Might’s side and offered himself as a crutch. With a grateful bob of his head, the symbol of peace gently put a single arm around Nighteye and put some of his weight onto the smaller man. Nighteye was much smaller than him but the younger man was strong enough to handle his weight, especially after the lost of a majority of his stomach
“All Might don’t do this!” His voice cracked as he held tight to the older hero, both supporting him and holding him back. “You’ll die if you do!”
The rules will be the same as the World’s Martial Arts tournament. If you give up or your body touches outside the ring, you lose. And though I will try to avoid this, if you die, you will of course, be disqualified.
All Might ignored the pleas of his friend and began to make his way out of his hospital room. Sir Nighteye pulled against him in a futile effort to keep him from doing something foolish but the symbol of push shrugged off his hold and pressed on. Even in his injured state, All Might was one of the strongest heroes in the world.
Sir Nighteye didn’t falter for long, if he couldn’t physically stop the man hopefully his words could make him at least pause to think things through. He followed the injured man out into the hallway.
“All Might, listen to me, I looked into your future and-”
“Mirai.” All Might interrupted, leaning against the wall but still pressing forward, interrupted, “I told you not to use your quirk on me.”
His sidekick paled slightly, admonished by his hero but still he persisted, “I know but… I had to know if you’d survive.”
At this All Might paused, if only for a moment.
“Toshinori, I saw you with your organs coming out of your body. You’re my hero, I had to know if you’d survive. The world still needs One for All!” Nighteye’s voice grew in volume as he saw the muscles of the injured man in front of him begin to move once more, “But I looked too far!” He yelled.
I hope I haven’t frightened any of you from playing the cell games. Now that you know where the competition will be held all you have to do is find the courage to show up.
“All Might! If you continue on this path you will die an unspeakable death!”
All Might stilled for just a moment. He listened to his sidekick’s words, the younger man was so desperate to get him to stop, to keep One for All safe. He wanted his hero to survive and to keep the future bright but All Might found that he couldn’t stop. Not now.
All for One had been defeated, true, but this Cell monster had made it clear that evil wouldn’t rest. And so long as there was evil in the world the symbol of peace would not rest. He could not rest, not so long as he was the wielder of One for All. All of his predecessors before him had sacrificed so much, had given him so much, that to give up now would be a disgrace to their memory.
He couldn’t do that. He wouldn’t so long as Yagi Toshinori was still breathing he would fight. He would do as his predecessors had hoped and fight to preserve peace in the world. Against this monster Cell he would do as the previous holders of One fo All had done against All for One, he would do what Son Goku had done against the Demon King Piccolo. He would keep fighting against the villains of the world until the next generation could live without fear of any villain attacks.
He took a step and stumbled. Behind him he could hear Mirai gasp. He didn’t stop, he took another step only this time black spots filled his vision and his legs gave out beneath him.
“ALL MIGHT!” Mirai rann to his side, “NURSE!” he shouted. In the distance All Might could hear footsteps approaching, probably a nurse or doctor coming to his aid.
“I… won’t….stop.” All Might grunted between his clenched teeth as he fought a losing battle to stay conscious.
Come and get me if you dare! Now let the games begin. The tournament starts in 9 days, good luck!
“Sir, don’t move. We need to-” The nurse’s voice faded as Toshinori Yagi succumbed to his newly reopened wounds and lost consciousness.