ONE YEAR LATER

-x- Izuku -x-

Holding Shoto's hand so he didn't float away, Izuku stood his ground, safely allowing Shoto to practice his levitate, which terrified but excited him. The third grader then had the power shut off and landed on the pillows, panting hard. He was covered in sweat, his hair sticking to his face. "You okay?"

"Y-yeah," Shoto said, sitting up, and wiped his face of the sweat, rubbing his damp hands on the carpet. "Bow, I'm fine," he added when the sylveon was pacing back and forth. It was clear he was worried. Izuku didn't know what he'd said.

"And you're doing a good job. Just stop worrying, I have the pillows."

Suddenly, the room changed to black, stars all around. Izuku shouted in alarm and Shoto's eyes widened. He stood up. "Don't worry, this is the Star Room." Izuku gasped, frightened but excited. It was only a few seconds later that Arceus appeared. Izuku's jaw dropped. He was beautiful, and looked exactly like Shoto's drawings of him. He was the largest pokemon Izuku had ever seen in person.

"Arceus, what happened?" Shoto asked, looking worried and confused.

"I want you to find Celebi."

"Why? Is something wrong with her?"

"I'd like you to be able to heal yourself."

"...Is something bad going to happen to me?" the eight year old asked in worry. Arceus was honest, and nodded. "Oh…" he said faintly. Izuku was worried, too. But he didn't dare speak to this literal god. It was good enough he got to see. "Um, why did you let Izuku come?"

"He will be with you when it happens." Izuku pursed his lips and his eyes widened. "You have the location of Celebi, find her."

"Um, when? When does something bad happen?" Izuku didn't understand why Arceus didn't just stop it, but then remembered that Arceus never altered events or fixed human problems directly. Always hints in the world. So, he couldn't save them or anything, but could give them advice on how to be alright.

"Next week." So, they had to find Celebi, now, then. Shoto took a deep breath and nodded. "I believe you can do it." Did that mean Shoto did, if god thought he could? Izuku was still entranced by the god pokemon, which Shoto didn't seem to be in awe of. Well, how long had it been? Four years? Four years to Arceus had to be less than a second in the grand scheme of his immortal life.

Shoto said, "Okay," in a small and unsure voice. "Okay, I'll do it." Arceus nodded, and the Star Room disappeared and they were in the bedroom again. Izuku fell to his butt on the floor, in complete shock. Shoto was already preparing, taking out the book he hid under his mattress, and looking for the portal to Celebi's location. Leaning over, Izuku could still not see the coordinates.

"Touya will be really mad if we tell him," Shoto stated. "He'll blame Arceus for whatever bad will happen." He scanned the page before turning it to the next, finding what he was looking for. "It… it's gonna be hard to find her, she's in the Aokigahara forest." The thick forest along Mount Fuji. "Maybe we could have Touya drive us, and wander away."

"We'd get in trouble, maybe police would be called," Izuku said. It didn't sound like the best idea.

"I could go on my own," Shoto said, but didn't look happy with that choice.

"Having Touya go with us would make things easier," the conventionally quirkless one said. "He would be glad to help us with this, to keep you safe." Shoto sighed, but nodded. He closed the book and held it to his chest. He went to Touya's room, who let him in. He saw the shellshocked children and stopped his game.

"What's up?"

"We need your help."

-x-

"Fuck," Touya swore as the three hiked up to the look out point where the portal was. Izuku stumbled over roots, slippery since it was raining. It would be raining the whole week, so they had no choice of when to go. Best to go as early as they could, so if they didn't see her that day, they had more. "Why couldn't he have told you guys earlier?"

"I don't know," Shoto admitted. He was the only one who was easily able to climb and walk, not slipping once. It was pouring, and the forest was slightly uphill. Envy, Hono and Hero were with them. Natsuo wasn't there, but he let Hero go with them. He seemed to want to come, and listened to directions out in public. He didn't wander away.

They had been climbing for over an hour before they reached a peak of level ground. Their legs were covered in mud, shoes flooded with water. They froze when they came across a pool of water that was a pure, bright blue. "Is that…?"

"Probably Suicune. The plants around it are in perfect condition, as well. Celebi probably," Touya said, the seventeen year old very drained. Izuku was, too, but Shoto wasn't. He called over a ursaring that they could see watching curiously from across the pool. They could be quite aggressive over territory, so Izuku was nervous. Touya, too, but Shoto was completely unafraid.

"We're looking for Celebi. Do you know where we can find her?" Shoto was silent, listening. "Thank you." The ursaring glared at the other two, and then left their field of vision. "Follow the stream." They followed in the direction of the perfect plants, bright green and healthy. When they came across what looked like a big nest, Shoto asked them to stay back.

They stopped, but got in a position where they could watch from behind a tree. Shoto said nothing, conversing in his head. It was a bit frustrating to not be able to hear even him now, but they didn't complain, they stayed there and shut up. Shoto entered a small cave, and they didn't hear what was going on inside.

Shoto came out not long later, the Celebi in front of him. He had his sure and still hands up in a small show, not reaching, but up enough, as if he was holding a plusle in his hands. Touya did not take his phone out to film, never being intrusive in that way. They watched Celebi settle in his hand for a moment before pressing her hands against Shoto's head.

There was no flash of light, no words spoken, and they parted ways. The Celebi clearly knew both of them were there, both normal people, and gave a small wave with her tiny hands. Then she blinked away with a small and dull flash of light. Shoto walked over, looking completely normal, as if he hadn't just had such an interaction.

Izuku wished they could meet the Suicune, too, but he knew Shoto would not purposely seek it out to be a nuisance. He only looked for the Celebi because he was told to, both of them were. Touya was annoyed he didn't get to see the god pokemon, but Izuku had a feeling he'd berate him for indoctrinating his youngest brother when he was so young.

"We can go back, now."

"You're not gonna give any explanation?" Touya asked incredulously.

"I couldn't take all her powers. My body isn't ready enough," he said, looking at his hands. "No time travel. Only healing. I'm happy with that. I hope Arceus is proud," Shoto said. "I'm sorry this was so uncomfortable and effortful."

"How can you act so casually, Shoto?" Touya asked. "You just got a power from a fucking mythical pokemon! And you actually found her on the first try!"

"I mean… I see the god pokemon all the time. She was really nice, though. I didn't to waste her time," Shoto said. "Now we have to go back down." Izuku sighed, not wanting to go downhill now. But they started their descent, the only foothold were roots sticking from the forest floor. He slipped, and Izuku fell on his butt once. Shoto climbed down gracefully. The pokemon were easy to get down, too, though they all needed baths, covered in mud and dirt, just like the humans. It would have been so much easier without the downpour.

Touya slipped and fell, his arm snapping, making him scream. "Touya!" both boys called in worry. Shoto carefully went to him, and put his hands on the injury. He had to squeeze his eyes shut, and it looked like it took a lot of effort for the wound to heal, his arm grinding back into place.

Shoto was completely drained from it, and needed to take a long break before they kept going down. It worked! He really got one of Celebi's powers! Izuku was so in awe of his amazing best friend. When they made it to the main road finally, they put towels down on the seats of the car. The mats for their feet would need to be put in the wash, since they were covered in mud, now.

"That was crazy," Touya finally said as they drove, the windshield wipers at full blast. "Thanks, Shoto. For fixing my arm. I'm sorry, it looked difficult."

"It was hard. But I did it," Shoto said. "You could have dried yourself off with your fire."

"I'd rather not use it and erupt in steam when the rain made contact."

"Oh, that makes sense," Izuku commented. Shoto thanked his brother for going with them.

"No way I'd let you two go alone. Besides this was more interesting than a day of homework anyways," he said. They got on the highway, and made the hour long drive back to their home town. Izuku was staying the night, and the three bathed the pokemon after taking their own showers. Izuku still had lots of mud under his fingernails.

The three pokemon were exhausted and napped on the couch in the family room. When Izuku and Shoto were back in his room, the book showed that Celebi's portal location had changed to the opposite side of the mountain from where they'd found her. Izuku hoped he got to see Arceus again, but he didn't. Once was enough. God, it was incredible.

Izuku had never doubted Shoto, but seeing it for himself was just… it was hard to explain even to himself. The oldest creature in the entire known universe. Izuku wished he had some pokemon ability. But he was still happy to be in the bubble with Shoto.

They slept deeply that night, and he couldn't tell that Shoto had a meeting with Arceus. No change in him as he slept.

-x- Shoto -x-

It looked like Arceus was very happy with him and how well he'd done. There was no way for him to smile, but there was a positive energy coming from him. Not that he'd ever let out negative energy. Shoto had never done anything worth scolding, and he doubt Arceus would ever take the angry route.

"I am impressed, and thankful you got it done quickly. I told you the pokemon would not hate being around you. Though Celebi is the most peaceful and friendly legendary or mythical you'll likely ever meet." Shoto smiled lightly and nodded.

"When will it be easy to use the healing? It was hard to fix Touya's arm."

"Control and power will only come with time. Celebi was right in telling you your body can't handle too much right now. That's why I have you focusing on a small amount. Step by step, you will gain more stamina."

"I'm happy I was able to do it. Thank you for warning me. Is that allowed?"

"I went against my rule to only give hints. It may not happen again."

"Thank you, anyways," Shoto said. "Why did you let Izuku see you, too? It's always just been me."

"Based on your encounters with him over the last four years, and his loyalty, I thought to reward him for being your support. It will not happen again, hopefully once is enough." Shoto didn't ask why Touya didn't see. It was obvious why and did not need to be addressed. "I know it was lucky to have you receive the gift." He called Shoto's abilities given to him 'gift', instead of 'power'. After all, it was literally a gift given to him.

Shoto asked, "Will I see you again? Before the bad thing happens in six days?"

"No. I will see you after." Shoto didn't directly ask about his future because he knew he'd never get a straight answer. He never had before, so he never asked anymore. "Good job. Sleep well."

Shoto woke up, and saw Izuku awake and drawing in his notebook, and writing about Arceus in their code language. "He was proud of me. And said my body isn't ready for strong powers yet."

"Ooh, you saw him again?" Izuku asked brightly. Shoto nodded.

He explained, "He said you'd never be in the Star Room again. He only let you see because he wanted to reward and thank you for supporting me the last four years." Izuku blushed a bit at the high praise. He was excited he got praise from a god. Shoto was happy he got to see him, and he hadn't shown fear, which was good. Not that Shoto ever said Arceus was scary after the first time when he'd recalled their first meeting as a nightmare.

Shoto was worried, though. About whatever bad thing would happen to them both. Only them, so not their families, which was good.

-x- Izuku -x-

They quickly knew what the problem was when it occurred. An earthquake. It was a big one and they were literally on top of the MTL fault line. He was a bit annoyed that Arceus didn't just tell them not to go there, but Shoto insisted it was just how he worked. Shoto's shoulder had been impaled by a broken tree branch, and Izuku's leg was broken. Both of them were crying from the pain as Shoto pulled himself from the branch.

He screamed as he forced himself up, the branch dragging against his muscles and bone. Blood was everywhere, and it was horrific to see. When he pulled away, it healed, and left him drained and limp. He looked near passing out, but didn't forget Izuku was injured. He crawled as fast as he could to Izuku on the ground.

He pressed his hands on the broken leg that had pierced the skin and was bleeding. Izuku cried out as the bone was put back into place, the skin and muscle tissue being healed together, rejoining with the separated parts. Shoto passed out after that, and some ponytas appeared. Izuku draped Shoto over one of them, and was allowed to get on the back of the second. They were trotted down to the road where police were. Izuku took off his pants and Shoto's shirt. It was best to not show they'd been bleeding with no wounds.

Both of them were brought to the hospital nearest, which was flooded with injured people. Across the street was a pokemon hospital. A long line of injured pokemon laid outside the doors, all wild and seeking human help, which they were given. Since they both had nothing wrong, they were discharged and their mothers were in the waiting room. They hadn't been there long, but it was too busy for them to go back and take up time and room.

Touya was there, eyes wide and jaw set. He knew that was what happened. The one time they went out to the park without him there, an earthquake hit. Shoto was walking, awake, but dead on his feet. The tall teenager picked him up easily and put him on his back, walking back to the car.

They were only able to be alright because of Arceus' warning. If they'd been there any longer, one of the many small aftershocks could have done them worse. In hindsight, they shouldn't have gone to an active fault line when they knew something bad would happen. Neither had thought of an earthquake, but villains or a car crash or something.

They went their separate ways, Shoto going home to sleep it off as best as he could. Izuku was so lucky to have Shoto with him. And it was just a wonderful feeling that Arceus trusted him enough to support Shoto telling someone else sensitive things. Well, not too sensitive, even if Izuku would never spread it around.

It was a huge secret, the whole thing. Ochako was gone, they hadn't talked to her in a long time. It was just lucky there was no real solid years of history with her that would make the no contact hurt more.

When he got home, he drew Arceus and Celebi as best as he could. Their images were burned into his mind, and he knew he'd never forget. Was it selfish that he really wanted to see other legendaries? To go with Shoto when he was older and was tasked with finding them? What would he need to do that would require such powerful powers? What happened in the future that they couldn't be told?

What kind of threat was it? How was it so related to pokemon that god asked a human for help? Well, made him help, as a sort of nonhuman mentor of a sorts. Izuku wished he had someone who believed in him that way. But there wasn't really much about Izuku to believe in. He was a quirkless, insecure nerd. He had one friend.

But Shoto was the same as him in that regard. He just had a power. He was still an insecure, quiet nerd that let everyone walk all over him. Though he didn't go home and cry about it. He had many friends all around him to talk to in private. Izuku had his mom, Shoto's family, and Mitty.

Shoto acted like a lonely person when it was the complete opposite. There was almost always someone or something to talk to. Izuku was jealous in a way, but not toxic. Just wishing he could be like him. It was fine to be along for the ride, though.

-x-

Izuku shared a table desk with Shoto, and Kacchan was sitting with them for a project they had. An art project. They were in pokemon history month, which was always in November. Where classes were full of information about humans and the history of pokemon, though much retained unknown.

Shoto seemed interested, even if he probably knew more about the pokemon universes history than anyone. That book was a treasure trove of information that only three people knew. The two friends and Touya. Izuku really wished he had an older sibling, but that was just impossible now. Shoto had three older siblings, though he only got along with two, and only was very close to one.

"So, what are we doing for our pokemon art?" Izuku asked. He already knew what Shoto would want, as he really wanted humans to know what the god of all pokemon looked like. He was bothered by some of the completely inaccurate renditions in books and online. So the question was for Kacchan.

"You should know, you're the pokemon guy," Kacchan snapped. "Why the hell would you hide a quirk like that anyways? What's the fucking point?"

"We should do a legendary pokemon," Shoto stated, not reacting to Kacchan's words. The blonde was annoyed, his eye twitching a few times when Shoto ignored the jab and unnecessary question.

"Which one?" Izuku asked, ready to write down a list.

"One of the dog trio."

"Let's do Entei and we can draw a fuckin' bloodbath around him," Kacchan said, leaning back in his plastic chair. Shoto looked slightly offended before the look left just as fast as it came. "Maybe you can fucking interview him. Go find him and ask all the questions and become his fuckin' friend."

Shoto furrowed his brows. "Why are you so angry about it?" he asked. "It's my quirk, there's nothing you or I can do to change it." Kacchan looked annoyed.

"You act like a quirkless loser just so you can avoid fights and then the moment it comes out, everyone fucking leaves you alone?"

"Are you jealous?" Shoto asked, but not in a challenging way.

"No way, my quirk is awesome. It's fucking stupid you don't even care about yours."

"Just because I don't show it off doesn't mean I don't care about it. Let's do Entei," he said, wanting to change the subject.

Shoto was zoning out, which meant he was talking to a pokemon. "Actually, let's do Mewtwo." Shoto didn't respond. "Shoto? Shoto?" He came aware again.

"Sorry. What were you saying?" he asked.

"I was asking if we should do Mewtwo instead? I mean, he had the most interesting history, didn't he?" Kacchan agreed to that.

"He was bitching destructive, my favorite," the blonde said. Shoto agreed. So they did their best to draw him. It didn't look great, but Mew looked pretty cute beside him. They were still third graders and not master artists. Shoto knew the history very well, but Izuku knew the most. Since Mewtwo was not a natural legendary pokemon, he wasn't in the book much. He was manmade, and his story was as tragic as it was scary.

So Izuku told him what to write, and Shoto wrote it out for him. Kacchan was still coloring in the pokemon. "It's so sad what happened to him."

"Yeah… it wasn't his fault," Shoto agreed. "I wonder if I could have talked with him."

"He could already speak to humans, numbnuts," Kacchan said in irritation. Once they were done, it was put up on the wall. It was a good thing they chose him and not Entei, as he was done the most, surprisingly. Entei, Latias and Rayquaza. Nobody touched Mewtwo since it was such a controversial and also not well known history. A dark stain on human and pokemon relations, even worse than battles and the god awful pokeballs.

They got a good grade on it. Nobody's art could rival photos or the depictions in the book, but they all tried their hardest and it showed. After that was over, Kacchan went back to his lonely desk, and silenced.

At lunch, Shoto told Izuku what he and the pokemon had been talking about. "Sulfur said Bakugo hates being alone and bullied, and cries about it in private." There was no way Kacchan would have wanted his houndour to spill that to Shoto, but he didn't do it out of malicious intent, but sadness and worry over his sad human partner.

"What do we do?" Izuku wondered. "He wouldn't really fit in with us as a friend. We were friends before, but it changed when you came and then the quirks. He looks down on me for being quirkless and hates you for having a good one…"

Shoto shrugged. But he did do something nice for Bakugo later. They were walking home and Kacchan was being picked on relentlessly, looking embarrassed and angry, and miserable. Shoto looked up at a passing pidgey, and must have asked it to since it flew down and pantsed both bullies. They even had their underwear torn down and ran away crying.

The pidgey flew to Shoto's shoulder, and he rubbed its head before it flew away. Instead of lingering on the event, Shoto asked for no thanks, no reaction, and went on his way. Izuku followed. Kacchan looked humiliated for being saved like that. At least it had been a pokemon to do it and Shoto didn't come up behind the instigators and pull their pants down. Nobody got in trouble. Nobody could prove Shoto had asked it to.

Izuku did feel sorry for his old friend, but wasn't sure what to do about it. He just didn't know what to do, but wanted to do something.

-x- Shoto -x-

Shoto was drawing with chalk on the basketball court in the nearby park. He didn't care if people trampled on it on purpose or to play basketball. He was just using it for a huge canvas. He had a massive set of chalk he'd gotten for his birthday, and was drawing Arceus, like always. He just loved how he looked and was good at it by now after years of trying to create his likeness anywhere other than in the Star Room.

An aipom was drawing with him, making scribble patterns at the edge of the court. After he came over and started drawing with Shoto, others from his troop came over, and soon he had six drawing companions. They decorated the edge and Shoto continued to use up his dozen of gray and yellow chalk sticks to make his mentor.

After the sun started to set, Rei came to pick him up. She took photos of it, and he stood with his drawing buddies in a group photo. Shoto's hands were covered in chalk, and the same could be said for the aipoms. Thanks for drawing with me, he said to them.

It was fun! And then they all ran off and jumped into some trees.

The next day, Touya showed him his chalk drawing was all over the news. Well, local news. They looked for the artist, and Shoto felt complemented by the fawning over it. Nobody knew it was him who did it, and that was fine. He was just glad it was seen by people. Even though it would seem like an OC pokemon.

"You're a professional at drawing him, huh?" Touya teased.

"Yeah. I used up all my gray and gold chalk. I hope he sees it and likes it," Shoto replied.

"You know… after he told you to find Celebi, and that stopped you from having an amputated arm, I don't really hate him too much anymore. He cares for you in his own way, I guess." Shoto nodded, that was true. "I just hope you don't get hurt because of his orders." The boy wouldn't call them orders, that sounded negative. But they weren't suggestions either. He was to do them, it was just his fate. But he didn't really feel forced to do anything.

He enjoyed it, enjoyed getting better at his power, even if it was slow going. He enjoyed seeing him, feeling special when he hadn't been wanted at birth. Enji would forever make him feel like an unwanted baby. It hurt, still, when he was just thrown away. Even if they were on "okay" terms, with no real drama happening in a few years, it still stuck with him. A pokemon saw more in him than his father ever did.

"He's gonna help me get stronger. Someday I'll go meet the legendary pokemon. I have the locations and all."

"Hopefully they won't hurt you."

"Yeah. Thanks for showing me this."

"Of course."

At school, someone had taken the credit of Shoto's work, bragging over it being on the local news. He didn't really care. He'd done it for fun, not recognition or clout. It could have rained and been washed away a few hours later and he wouldn't have minded. It was enjoyable and having some monkey pokemon draw with him was even better.

When the kid who stole the credit saw Shoto's decorated notebook with Arceus and the other creators, he grew sour, knowing Shoto had been the one to draw it. Envy was playing outside since pokemon history month was always great for pokemon. They had fun structures at schools with lots of treats. It was just a good time for them, and Shoto liked seeing them happy. Seeing Envy make friends. She'd improved so much over the years that Shoto was proud of her every day.

"You stole my drawing!"

"No, I didn't," Shoto stated.

"No, you stole it."

"Okay," Shoto said, not really wanting to get in an argument about it. Izuku looked annoyed about it, but didn't say anything, didn't defend Shoto's image. It wasn't like it belonged to him, that's not what Shoto thought.

But Bakugo stepped in. "Why don't you try and draw it from memory, huh? If you really were the one to do it," he sneered. The kid faltered. But when he saw everyone watching him, he decided to go for it. Shoto turned his notebook on its head to not show him. The kid did his best, but it was completely off and Shoto assumed he'd looked at the picture of his art once and then claimed it was his.

When he failed, Bakugo mocked him as a liar and talentless. Shoto stayed out of it, really not finding it such a huge deal. "Tomato Face really did draw it?" one of the bullies followers said. God, Shoto hated that nickname.

"He's been doodling it for fucking ever, of course it was his."

"Bakugo, it's fine, I don't care," Shoto said.

"Tch, of course you don't. Hide your quirk, hide your talent - you're so fucking fake." Well, that was rude.

"Okay," Shoto said, and started doodling in his notebook again. Was it wrong to be such a pacifist? He didn't feel it was wrong, and nobody had ever told him that. Did not engaging and standing up for himself make him a pushover? He wasn't sure. The feelings had just never been there. Was it wrong?

Actually, he'd been told he was a nice person, he was easy to be around, and that his gentle nature was positive. It just didn't make sense to him, and it seemed much more miserable to be defensive and angry than quiet and wanting to not get into drama. He thought about it all day, and was glad when there was a Star Room meeting in his sleep.

"Is it wrong for me to be so passive? A classmate got mad at me for it. I just don't like drama or fighting or being under a spotlight. I'd rather just do nothing and move on instead of fight back. Is it wrong?"

"Do you feel it's wrong?"

"No. I've always been this way."

"Being gentle is something that makes you more loved by pokemon. Asking a pidgey to harass someone was a bit out of character, though." Shoto turned a bit red about him seeing that. "In my opinion, you are fine how you are."

Shoto felt better about it. "I noticed you draw me quite a bit."

"You're a pretty pokemon, and I see you all the time. It's easy to draw."

"I see." He was using 'I' and 'my' quite a bit when he usually avoided that. Always trying to stay neutral and vague. Though trying to make Shoto feel better probably was different than giving him directions and hints of what he should be doing. What would be best for him to be doing. "You were not brought here to talk about your feelings. How has Celebi's powers been going?"

"Fine. I think I broke my finger the other day, but it healed. Mom saw it, and so I told her a bit about it. She already knew I could use pokemon powers. I kinda lied, and didn't say it was from Celebi. But she's not a pokemon expert, so she didn't notice, I don't think."

"How are the others going?"

"I think I've done good with the electricity. It's the easiest for me. Psychic is fun but it still gives me headaches. I am able to use levitate, but I usually float away unless I have an anchor." He was embarrassed about that.

"Water would be the best to learn now. Using electricity and water will be able to produce and enhance the type ability."

"We don't have water pokemon."

"You have the pond and the pokemon that visit it. And you can go to the beach or a river."

Shoto turned red. "I can't swim, so I don't really like the water…"

"Learn to swim. Humans should know how to swim, it is important." Shoto nodded. "That is what you should do next. Focusing on a human aspect and not just pokemon will be a reprieve, perhaps." Shoto nodded again. "Good luck." And the meeting was over.

It had been two weeks since the last one. Shoto was glad but also sad that he didn't get to see Arceus so much. Glad because sometimes it was overwhelming and he didn't really like the updates. It made him feel like he had less homework than if he got new tasks much more often. He was also sad because he liked the company. Even though Arceus definitely had an ulterior motive, it also felt kind of freeing in a way.

He couldn't openly explain his feelings and so he didn't try.

The next weekend, Shoto was being taught how to swim by an instructor since Touya was busy. He had to admit, he was very scared of drowning. So he stayed in the kids' pool, and the instructor was very patient with him, coaxing him to tread water, and that he'd be right there in case something went wrong. It was made easier when some water pokemon arrived and were playing in the water. Pools no longer used chlorine since it was bad for pokemon. So they were able to play. Watching them swim through the water with such ease made him feel a little more motivated and unafraid.

If he was in trouble, he could ask for help and they'd do it. He did his best, and was able to improve well enough to be praised. But this opened up and entirely new interest with pokemon. He wanted to see more, and swim with them. He wanted to see deep sea pokemon. He wanted to meet a lapras, or even a gyarados. Maybe a magikarp so he could tell them they were a good pokemon and to not feel bad or discouraged.

After voicing this with Touya, they took a trip to the beach as a whole family. The eeveelutions played in the water. Well, besides Hono, he didn't like the water much and played with the wet sand, making sure not even his paws were submerged. Bounding away every time the waves washed over the sand.

Shoto went into the water, knee length with Izuku next to him in case he fell and panicked and couldn't swim. He called out in his mind for any water pokemon, and boy did they arrive. Shoto could barely move since he was surrounded by different fish types. A lapras did indeed come, and his large amount of visiting pokemon got much attention.

Can we ride on you? I don't mean to be rude.

Of course! Shoto smiled, and he and Izuku climbed onto his shelled back. He swam away a bit, both boys overjoyed, and seeing all the water pokemon beneath the surface. Izuku was grinning brightly, and Shoto was happy he was having fun. Then a dragonair showed up, and both boys gasped. They were very rare to see.

It was longer than Arceus was tall. "It's beautiful," Izuku breathed. It left as quickly as it came. When they got hungry, the lapras took them back to shore. Shoto dropped into the water up to his knees, and indeed was able to give a magikarp a pep talk.

Thank you, that was very fun.

You're welcome. You're a good human.

I try to be.

They bounded back to shore, Izuku tripping over a big hunk of seaweed that wrapped around his legs. Fuyumi was laying on the wet sand, eyes closed and letting the waves lap over her, up to her ears. She looked very peaceful. The family and pokemon left her alone. Era was freezing bits of the water and jumping onto them like steps on a rock wall.

Luckily, there weren't many people around, they got bored waiting for the boys on the lapras to come back to shore. And once Shoto was gone, they all left anyways. "Mom, did you see that?" Shoto asked with a smile.

"I did. It made me nervous, to be honest." Shoto moved his hair out of his face, and saw that small wince when his hand went over his burn scar. She still felt awful about it, even if it didn't hurt and he rarely even remembered it was there unless seeing himself or someone pointing it out. She was mostly upset from it still because he was teased for it.

"We even saw a dragonair!" Izuku said brightly. "It was so fun!" he gushed. Rei smiled at the two boys' excitement. It was fun, and Shoto was so happy he listened to Arceus and learned to swim enough to be interested in water type pokemon. Ocean type, that is. He saw water type often, but not deep sea pokemon. It was too bad they didn't get to see a gyrados! They were supposed to be be even bigger than a dragonair!

-x- Izuku -x-

Shoto left his rock pendant at his house, and Izuku was honestly afraid to touch it. It was blinking a bright blue, bright and then dark in a slow manner. He didn't know what would happen if he touched it, and didn't want to risk messing anything up. So Shoto asked a passing noivern to get it.

It crashed through Izuku's window, took the chain of the rock pendant into its mouth, and flew away. A few moments after, Shoto texted, Got it. Sorry!

It was blinking a blue color. Was it gonna explode?

No, it happens when it's away from me 2 long. 2 get my attention I think.

Weird.

Mitty was sleeping on her bed in the corner when the flying type crashed through the open window. She's jerked up, and slapped the desk with her leaf over and over in irritation of being shocked awake from her nap. Izuku pat the bed and she jumped up. He ran his hand down her back.

"I wish I could talk to you like Shoto can," he sighed. "I wish I had something special about me, too," the nine year old said sadly. "Shoto will be a great hero, and I won't be able to help him much anymore." She climbed into his lap and settled in it to comfort him since no words could. "Whatever big fate he has to be ready for, I hope I'm not a burden.

"I wish Arceus could tell him what it is, but he won't. Sometimes I get how Touya feels. Angry that Shoto is still in the dark despite doing everything asked of him. But I still think Shoto is the perfect person for this role. Loved by pokemon and not confrontational in any way. But I wonder if he even wants to become a hero for himself, or only because it's what Arceus wants."

He sighed, and looked out the open window. He hated feeling inferior, but it was an emotion he was completely used to. Always had been used to after he was declared quirkless. He had nothing special or unique about him. Being with such an amazing friend, a best friend, sometimes left him feeling inadequate.

"I know Shoto loves me, we're like brothers, and I know he doesn't look down on me, but he doesn't realize how amazing he is, and it sometimes annoys me. I want him to realize he's incredible and kind and deserves all the love he gets from pokemon," he continued quietly. "I wish he would leave Endeavor's thoughts of him in the past, but they still haunt him. I was a surprise baby, too. It's not a bad thing. His family loves him… I wish he realized that."

His chikorita was watching him speak, listening to him. "I wonder what kind of human hero he'll be. He probably won't want to be someone who fights villains. Other than doing what Arceus wants, what is his goal? What will it be? We're already nine. Six years left until he can leave me behind. No, I'll be behind sooner than that. Probably when he starts looking for legendaries, and gets super powerful or needs to be focused on it. He'll leave me behind…"

Mitty ran her head leaf along his arm, not slapping him in comfort. It was nice, and he cuddled her closer, turning on a movie to fall asleep to.