Line #7 DeconstructionFic/AllForLuz


1	-> ''"This fic is a deconstruction story. Meaning it's supposed to be showing what would happen if [[TheHero Luz]] had [[PowerParasite All For One.]] That would entail her being influenced by not only a Quirk that makes [[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil you think and shapes your belief structure to assume that everything belongs to you]], [[EvilFeelsGood including other people's lives]], and having a [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative asshole]] living [[EnemyWithin rent-free in her head without a way to get rid of him without her dying]], effectively makes it impossible for [[DarkFic this story to not be dark]]."''
2	-->-- '''The author on the story's premise.'''
3
4	''Fanfic/AllForLuz'' is an effective [[DeconstructionFic deconstruction]] of more than a few tropes, particularly the role that the appearance of superpowers would play in society at large.
5	----
6	!!Original and Revised Work
7	* AssholeVictim: Murder is still murder in the eyes of the law, even if the victim in question had it coming. Not to mention that EvenEvilHasLovedOnes can be in effect and the killer question might not enjoy it as much as they thought it would.
8	* AxCrazy: Luz is suffering from serious PTSD from the Death Camp that causes frequent hallucinations, bringing back memories of her traumatic near-death experience and put in a "kill or be killed" situation. Thanks to this, she often react violently, especially to her enemies, striking down anyone in her path and believing it to be in self-defense when BlindedByRage.
9	* BadPowersGoodPeople: Luz inherits the All For One Quirk, a power she hates as the idea of having a PowerParasite Quirk, because she's always wanted to be special, and All for One revolves taking what makes other people special. However, Quirks influence the user's mind and Luz is no exception to that rule with its AddictiveMagic properties. While she hasn't lost her humanity, she has loosened up her moral code over time and not above doing some KickTheDog moments herself.
10	* BoxingLessonsForSuperman: Luz notes the problem with invoking this for UnskilledButStrong is that some point you can become too strong to practice your powers, due to few people being your equal willing to so and make you a better fighter.
11	* BullyingADragon: This is a ''really'' bad idea that people find out the hard way if they try it. Assuming they survive long enough to learn so, especially with Luz, [[SuperpowerLottery the wielder of All For One]].
12	* CapeBusters: The regular police and army are meant to deal with villainous superhumans in the Human Realm. Though they're meant to enforce government authority over Quirk users, in practice against the more powerful ones, they function more like supervisors and have very limited experience in fighting superhumans that aren't afraid to become a CopKiller, especially if the superhuman in question is a PersonOfMassDestruction. In fact, the few times the police squads are used to take on a powered threat, like against Magneto Girl [[spoiler:or Luz]], they’re brutally slaughtered when they stop holding back.
13	* ComingOutStory: Unfortunately, not all kids have {{Open Minded Parent}}s as [[spoiler:Julia]] found out the hard way. Her first girlfriend didn't fair much better who was DrivenToSuicide by her homophobic parents' abuse.
14	* ConvenientlyEmptyBuilding: '''Horribly Averted.''' [[spoiler:Many people in the buildings die as the superhuman attacks cause them to collapse on top of them, during the Battle of Gravesfield.]]
15	* CopKiller: Turns out not very many people like them even if the cop in question is a DirtyCop. And that's not even taking into account there's a CopKillerManhunt that will soon follow.
16	* CorruptPolitician: There's only so much you can get away with in your position with money and connections before you hit KarmaHoudiniWarranty. With Governor Maxwell you can get charged with corruption,stripped of your position of power and spend the rest of your life behind bars with the legal process, with [[spoiler:Tamashiki Shigaraki]] a supervillain like All For One might get sick of your shit and kill you for that.
17	* DiscardAndDraw: When giving a witch Quirk via All For One, they lose their ability to perform any sort of magic. One example was Alador which included the creation of abomination for his inventions, seeing his quirk as a PowerUpLetdown. It took giving it away and 3 years for his bile sac to show signs of recovery and then a further decade to it full return to its its former glory for him to get back to business.
18	* TheDreaded:
19	** Luz has gained this status after her actions [[spoiler:at Summer Camp come to light]]. While a CardCarryingVillain like the League of Villains would want this, an aspiring hero like Luz ceratinly doesn't. Even with her immense powers and brutality, her reputation takes a nosedive as the media demonize her and becomes PersonaNonGrata in nearly every facility in Gravesfield.
20	** All For One's power, resources, imaginative cruelty and sadistic enjoyment of tormenting others makes him a fearsome enemy to all and his stated goal is to be the world's most feared and reviled villain much like the Demon Lord in the comics he read about as a child. However, his reputation as can end up having the opposite effect as rather than run, people [[spoiler:like Eda, Lilith and Belos]] all [[EnemyMine team up]] to send him packing.
21	* DrowningMySorrows: After Manny's death, Camila took up drinking to cope with his death and being a StrugglingSingleMother. However, Camila can be an angry drunk (which has only gotten worse since she got older with reduced tolerance) that led to her being estranged from her sister, brother-in-law and niece after a Thanksgiving party and Luz being concerned and resenting her for being an AlcoholicParent. When Luz and Camila have a massive argument, she throws wine glass at her daughter and reveals herself to be a ResentfulGuardian towards her. Luz is so hurt by words ([[EasyAmnesia not helped by the fact that she seems to have forgotten about it much less apologise for it]]) that now she actually ''wants'' to go to Reality Check Camp just to get away from her and has considered [[TheRunaway running away from home altogether if her mother doesn't get her act together soon]].
22	* EqualOpportunityEvil:
23	** When he was alive, All For One adopted this rhetoric in his speeches to his followers, and sought out those on the fringes of society to bestow his "gifts," but his kindness is transparently false. In reality, he only recruits people who were the [[FantasticRacism victims of prejudice]] or who failed to fit in because they're vulnerable and more willing to buy into his beliefs, much like how real cultists seek out new members. [[spoiler:He did this tactic on the witches and demons in the Boiling Isles who were dissatisfied living under Emperor Belos's rule.]] A villain like [[ManipulativeBastard All For One]], fully aware of the world's injustices but, instead of doing anything about it and become a PoliticallyCorrectVillain, intended to take full advantage of it for his own purposes. A useful pawn is a useful pawn regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, etc., after all.
24	** Tyler Wittebane has hired assassins that include a teenaged girl, a witch, a transporter who's genderfluid, a convict with gigantism and a female former MMA fighter. However, he's certainly not a PoliticallyCorrectVillain, quite [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain the opposite in fact]]. Despite hating the idea of witchcraft and superpowers as a whole, Tyler isn't above hiring such users [[PragmaticVillainy if it benefits him]], especially to assassinate others of their kind or his opponents. This only serves to show him as a {{Hypocrite}}.
25	* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: All For One genuinely loved his little brother, but being a psychopath could only do so in a possessive way. [[spoiler:Even his newfound compassion for Luz doesn't make him reconsider pulling a VillainOverride on her.]]
26	* EvilMentor: Since All For One is essentially the only one who can help Luz use and control her Quirks, she's forced to accept his offer of guidance to become his successor. However, under his wing, Luz slowly becomes as cruel and uncaring as her sensei. On the flip side, All For One needs to act not ''too'' evil towards her, [[spoiler:as his whole EvilPlan will be completely ruined if she loses all trust in him.]]
27	* ExplainingYourPowerToTheEnemy: As Luz lampshades, telling your opponent your abilities makes it easier for them to figure out your weakness and how to beat you. And when you're fighting against someone who's PowerParasite, it gives them a better understanding of the Quirk they're stealing without going through too much trial and error to figure it out.
28	* GlassCannon: All of the Wittebanes' assassins fall her this category, due to OnePersonOnePower at work. While many of their Quirks give them massive offensive power to varying degrees, they don't have SuperToughness, so they're all just as durable as any other human being and don't have a HealingFactor to compensate. [[spoiler:One direct hit from [[LightningBruiser Luz's]] more powerful attacks and they became as good as dead.]]
29	** In fact, a lot of Quirk users fall into this category. The story in general has a healthy respect for conventional weapons and a few characters with powers that lack SuperToughness or a HealingFactor are badly wounded or even killed by them.
30	* GodzillaThreshold: Even this does succeed, it can still result in a lot of CollateralDamage that could you ask yourself WasItReallyWorthIt.
31	* GoingColdTurkey: This almost never works in practice when it comes to addiction, be it [[BreadEggsMilkSquick alcoholism, drugs or stealing superpowers]].
32	* ImaginationDestroyer: All For One paints the [[spoiler:real]] Reality Check Camp as this to Luz, noting that stripping away one's creativity isn't the answer to their behaviorial problems, as it would be better to give them guidance and direction for it instead. He even goes as far as to compare the place to a ''conversion camp.'' [[spoiler:In fact, the original Reality Check Camp was ''supposed to be this'' according to the Camp Counselor, before The Governor came along and turned it into a DeadlyGame.]]
33	* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies: A platonic version occurs with Luz and Camila. The teen realises that Wittebanes are targeting her with assassins and decides to distance herself from her mother for her safety. The KindlyVet is under no illusion that Luz ever going to be coming back home, because of this and the town of Gravesfield won't let her [[spoiler:due to recently becoming a CopKiller]] and is heartbroken by this decision. Unfortunately, the ArcVillain in question is petty enough to order his most brutal assassin to go after Camila out of spite against Luz for not dying [[spoiler:and succeeds in murdering the poor woman]]. It turns out even if a hero distances themselves from their loved ones, the villains still might come for them. Especially if they still know you care for them and will be just as likely a target as ever, only now they wouldn't have an awesome, powerful superhuman around to protect them.
34	* MassSuperEmpoweringEvent: When Quirks first began appearing in the Human Realm, the transition is ''not'' smooth, especially since nobody knows why or how it was happening in the first place. The [[MoralGuardians cultural backlash]], [[FantasticRacism prejudice against the people who first got Quirks]], and [[PersonOfMassDestruction resulting violence]] was so profound that it lead to a SuperhumanRegistrationAct after a month.
35	** It's not helped by the fact those that received superpowers are aged between 7-19-years old where KidsAreCruel and TeensAreMonsters are in full effect, with Gravesfield's sheriff going into detail about stories of power-hungry children attacking people on the street and using their powers to go full {{Supervillain}}. Kids who won the SuperpowerLottery can be particularly monstrous, due to having power but little emotional maturity or empathy, believing that they can do whatever they want.
36	* MoleInCharge: [[spoiler:Darius]] infiltrated the Coven system to take it down from the inside after rising to a high position, having officially becoming a Coven Head. However, given his position and what duties he has to do, it makes things a lot hard on the man to carry out his role with so many eyes on him. After all, he had less time in the day to meet up with [[spoiler:Perry Porter]] to report back on any useful information when he could. His tight schedule already made that difficult, so tasking him with something else, [[spoiler:like tracking down Luz/Toshiko]], just seemed too cruel to his boss to task him.
37	* MoralityPet: Unfortunately, being this doesn't always equate to ''MoralityChain.'' Rikitasu cared about his brother Yoichi a lot, but because of the CrapsackWorld they lived in he was forced to commit crueler things for his sake, which caused a wedge in their relationship. Just because Rikitasu loves his little brother, doesn't negate the rest of his actions as a supervillain.
38	--> '''Rikitatsu''': You’re my brother, Ichi. I would never leave you behind. I—
39	--> '''Yoichi''': My point exactly. You care. Granted, it’s only about me, but if you just spread that care out to others…
40	* NecessarilyEvil: Luz sees having All For One as her EvilMentor as this. He's trapped in her head with no way to kick him out and he has over a century's worth of knowledge and experience in using Quirks, as no one else in her world is an expert on them. However, that doesn't change that he's ''still'' evil and acts as a [[CorruptTheCutie corrupting influence on girl over time all for his own agenda.]]
41	* ObviouslyEvil: Before Luz even exchanged words with [[EnemyWithin All For One]], he set off her "Warning: This man is clearly EVIL" alarm the moment she lays eyes on the scary-looking man with a SlasherSmile. Because of this Luz initially and rightfully doesn't trust the man believing him to be a ManipulativeBastard. Shigaraki has to rely on VillainHasAPoint, VillainsNeverLie and a dose of NecessarilyEvil to gain some level of trust from the girl.
42	* OneManArmy: While Luz is certainly badass to be one of these, [[spoiler:the sheer amount of killing she's done has caused her to end up having a significant amount of psychological problems, including PTSD]].
43	* PersonOfMassDestruction: Luz gets so powerful that not only can she defeat almost any enemy she faces but causes a fuckton of CollateralDamage in the process making people fear and hate her.
44	* ThePromise: Some promises just aren't worth keeping. [[EveryoneHasStandards Especially if someone is trying get you to do something immoral or illegal to fulfill it.]]
45	* RegretfulTraitor: Riley Stewardson is a teenage mercenary with a DarkAndTroubledPast who was forced into working for a CorruptChurch that employs teenage superpower mercenaries. She reunites with her little cousin Luz, whom she generally loves. Then Riley learns that one of the bounties of who she has to kill is her cousin Luz. Riley is heartbroken and horrified by the fact that she has to kill her little cousin but ultimately decides to do the deed; she justifies it by saying that if she doesn't do it, [[YouHaveFailedMe she'll eventually be killed]], and Luz will eventually be killed by someone else. While Riley is generally regretful and wants to make at least sure that Luz's mother, Camila Noceda, is spared, she does ultimately betray her cousin in an attempt to kill her, and no amount of remorse makes what she did better. [[ItGetsEasier It's implied that Riley has been desensitized to all the killing she previously done]] and is too afraid to do the right thing and protect her cousin. [[spoiler:Ultimately, her betrayal of Luz backfires and adds to another one of the traumas Luz experiences, turning her from a NiceGirl into a hardened villain-in-the-making. When Riley realizes what she has done, she's genuinely remorseful and wants to make up for what she did. It's too little, too late, and Luz does not trust her. [[KarmicDeath Luz kills Riley with her own Quirk]], and she dies a traitor, remorseful for her actions, but it's too late for her to make things right.]]
46	* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Luz's quest for vengeance takes a psychological toll on her; that's to say nothing of the CollateralDamage that accumulates around her. [[spoiler:Not to mention Julia, the person she's trying to avenge, doesn't want her to commit murder in her name.]]
47	* SchoolBullyingIsHarmless: Averted Hard. Luz being a social outcast that keeps getting picked on by her peers hasn't done her self-esteem any wonders, something All For One takes full advantage of to manipulate her into a darker, angrier version of herself that's more prone to violence.
48	* SmugSuper: As powerful and competent some Quirk users and magical beings are, they're not as invincible or infallible as they think they. This blows up in their face when they get completely blindsided when he learn too late that they're NotSoInvincibleAfterAll.
49	* SuperiorSuccessor: [[spoiler:After Luz awakened her Quirk, something All For One couldn't achieve in his lifetime, the EvilMentor considers the girl to be this and congratulates her. This is NOT a good thing as he intends to pull a VillainOverride on her instead of his original target, Tomura.]]
50	* SuperpowerLottery: Luz has the All For One power, an incredibly strong Quirk that made her become a target by each ArcVillain out of FantasticRacism due to her immense potential. Despite being the WorldsStrongestWoman of her realm, Luz remarks to herself that ever since she woke up with her Quirk her life has pretty much been ruined and can never go back to normal.
51	* SuperpowerfulGenetics: Quirks being genetic has led to people to try and produce a child with a desired power. [[spoiler:All For One recreate One For All through Amity via giving her parents one the two replica Quirks that made it each prior to her conception. When Amity discovered this fact, she is unhappy to know she wasn't [[DesignerBabies born out of love]], not helped by the fact the Quirk experiment cost her any chance of a normal life as a witch due to having no magic which she's [[FantasticRacism discriminated against]] or [[ParentsAspeople Alador]] finds it difficult to look at her due to implied QuestionableConsent being involved.]]
52	* TakesOneToKillOne: Tyler Wittebane sends various superpowered assassins to kill Luz, another Quirk user. What Wittebane doesn't seem to realise that with Luz's PowerParasite Quirk she not only has more options to beat them but to take their Quirks as her own, [[FeedItWithFire strengthening her with each battle]].
53	* TargetedToHurtTheHero: Tyler Wittebane orders Jonah [[spoiler:to kill Luz's mother to break her. He then goes the extra mile and tricks the girl into thinking she killed her with her DeadlyForceField]]. This was done to invoke a HeroicBSOD in the teen girl to create an opening to finish her off. This almost works until All For One does a GetAHoldOfYourselfMan speech to Luz, giving her a HeroicSecondWind fuelled by ThePowerOfHate and brutally kills the GiantMook and his comrades. If a hero can't protect their loved ones, they will make sure they're avenged.
54	* UnskilledButStrong: Despite having multiple Quirks, Luz never really had much time to formally train with her 10 initial Quirks in the month she has had them due to the SuperhumanRegistrationAct. This isn't usually a problem due to everyone else in her realm being this too with her being ''much'' stronger by mainly [[AbilityMixing mashing Quirks together]] for destructive combo attacks. [[spoiler:This backfires on her when she fights the [[TheDragon Golden Guard]] who is StrongAndSkilled, as in he trained with his Quirks for a decade is more than capable of holding his own against Luz, despite being slightly weaker than her. Not to mention that lack of finesse leads to a lot of CollateralDamage in her fights with the Wittebane assassins.]]
55	* VillainsNeverLie: As much of a ManipulativeBastard he is, All For One rarely lies to Luz. He also ''especially'' invokes this, if it concerns an AwfulTruth, simply out of delight with her trying to deny the awful revelations whilst he's being completely forthright with her. Despite believing that he's untrustworthy and then hating his BrutalHonesty initially, Luz does gain a level of respect in All For One because of his AtLeastIAdmitIt attitude compared to the NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist and KnightTemplar mindset foes she constantly fights. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for Luz, just because her EvilMentor "doesn't lie" doesn't always mean he's being completely honest with her either and tends to withhold vital information from her e.g. her cousin is plotting to kill her, what Quirks Hunter has, oh, and he (potentially) plans to pull a VillainOveride on her]].
56
57	!!Original Work
58	* IndyPloy: Governor Maxwell to took a huge gamble turning Reality Check Summer Camp in a DeadlyGame for superhuman teens, most notably, making Luz a target when she's potentially the most powerful person there. He does this without having any real long-term planning skills, without considering that most people wouldn't be on board with FinalSolution and without speaking to his collaborators, [[spoiler:like Tyler Wittebane]]. He ends up being despised, arrested and [[spoiler:dies in prison.]]
59	* VigilanteMan: After her experience at the Death Camp, Luz decides to become TheCowl in order to protect the people of Gravesfield. While liked by the locals, gives her an outlet for her violent streak and some relief from her AllTheOtherReindeer status in Gravesfield, it unfortunately has put her on the cops' radar and gives them a reason to arrest her. Vigilantism is still a crime, regardless of your motives or what good you do.

Context DeconstructionFic / AllForLuz