-x- Izuku -x-

"So… I found an odd trick, to help me with this power," Izuku said shyly. Shoto looked interested. Shoto pulled out the small wooden box. "Eating psychic type pokemon treats makes it easier to control." He thought anyone else would laugh, but Shoto looked surprised.

"How'd you find this out?"

"It just popped into my head. I know! It's stupid," he flushed.

"If it works, it works. And you need to catch up soon," Shoto said brightly. "Are you training Mitty, too? If you want to be a hero and all, she should be stronger."

Izuku sighed. "She doesn't want to be strong, she wants to be a couch potato and hang out with Taki all the time. I don't think she'll be my pokemon hero partner. How's Envy?" Shoto looked to the bed at his beloved joleton.

He sighed. "She's having nightmares. Loud sounds scare her. It's to be expected." Izuku agreed, nodding. "Do you think eating pokemon food for me would work?" he wondered, and held out a hand for one. Izuku blushed about the whole thing, and gave him a pokemon treat, little purple balls that were made of various different plants that wild psychic pokemon often consumed, along with added vitamins.

Shoto popped it into his mouth and grimaced. "I never said they tasted good." Shoto spit it into his little trash can.

"You're dedicated if you eat those."

"They actually don't taste that bad to me… it's weird. Mom thinks I'm a nut job for eating them," Izuku sighed. He ate one, and Shoto chuckled. "Want me to show you what I have so far?" Shoto nodded, sitting to face him directly, attentive. Izuku swallowed and took out a squishy ball from his backpack. He sat it on the floor, and closed his eyes. The ball was stretched and twisted. It was disturbing how it was what happened to Shoto, but it was the only thing he could actively visualize.

Shoto looked at it with wide eyes when Izuku opened his own. "That's cool. You're fast at learning." Izuku smiled at the simple praise. "I'm happy you got a power, even if it was traumatizing," he said, glancing to Envy sleeping on the bed. Poor thing.

"She'll move on, she has before. She's strong. Besides, I still have nightmares."

"Yeah, me too. I don't want to deal with bad pokemon in the future. The thought of trying to kill them or physically fight them never came to my head. Not once. I just wanted to cool them down and be rational. Can I even fight them physically?" he asked in a small voice, looking at his hand in his lap, pulling at a loose string of his cotton sweatpants.

"That's not what Arecus wants you to do, right? He wants you to be peaceful."

"How am I supposed to do that if I die? If they kill me?" He was being pessimistic.

"You can heal, and worst case scenario, you evacuate with Celebi's power. If you're about to die, do that," Izuku said in a kind, soothing voice. "We have years to figure this out more." Shoto nodded. They got to going to Touya's room and playing some videogames with him on his huge TV on the wall.

-x- Shoto -x-

"I mastered wicked blow," Shoto told Touya, who saw his brother had red arms, an angry, irritated red. "It's not the nicest feeling," he admitted. "It's too bad Bold isn't here and can't teach me dark pokemon attacks."

"Finally a dark pokemon move?" Touya asked in interest, turned his computer chair to the side to face him. Shoto nodded. "Nice," the older complimented. "Maybe be nicer to your body, though."

"It'll heal in a bit," Shoto said dismissively. Touya nodded, and Shoto went to get leftovers for dinner and then sleep. When he did sleep, he had the first Star Room meeting in two weeks. It was good to see him again, and he could tell him all about Izuku's progress. Though he had to see it with the stone Shoto wore religiously unless he was showering or sleeping. Though it rested on the bathroom counter or his bed stand when he wasn't wearing it.

But Arceus' body language was alarmed. Tenser and leaning back only slightly. Shoto could tell, even with him not being humanoid and no expressive face. "What's wrong?" Shoto asked worriedly.

"Shoto, you need to stop collecting pokemon powers."

"But… I still have a lot more I need. What's wrong?" he asked in worry.

"You're presence is slowly becoming more like that of a pokemon. You need to stop collecting for good, and only master what you have now." Shoto's jaw dropped, and he asked if he was becoming a pokemon. What would made him seem like one? He didn't look any different. None of the eeveelutions or other pokemon he met had said anything about a change.

Arceus said, "I'm not sure, but this is not what I want for you. I understand you wanted to collect more and get stronger, but you are plenty strong already. Focus on what you have now. I will break my rule and put a limiter on you so you don't do anything accidentally." Shoto didn't know what that was, but if the god pokemon was breaking one of his self made rules, it had to be important.

He walked forward and lifted one leg, staying balanced perfectly on the other three. The large slightly pointed foot pressed to his chest. Shoto felt a tight feeling in that area, but then it went away. "You will only be able to use the powers you've attained this far. It is more than enough."

Shoto looked down. "I'm sorry I can't do more."

"You have done phenomenal. There is no need to feel shame. You are a human, and this is your limit of abilities you can absorb. It is amazing it was not less than this." Shoto nodded, but still felt bad, weak and not enough. Maybe someone else should have been chosen, someone stronger. He was sure the emotion was on his face, easy to read, when Arceus said, "Your personality perfectly fits what the world needs of you. There could not have been someone more deserving."

This got a tiny smile from him, and he nodded. "Focus on strengthening what you already have instead of longing for what you can't." Shoto agreed, and the Star Room disappeared, and he woke up.

The next day, Shoto wrote down all of the moves he'd gotten so far, and was happy to see the list was pretty long. He marked what he wanted to use most, what was most useful. Then he called Izuku, not planning on telling Touya he somehow was becoming similar to a pokemon, which he still didn't understand. But he would trust what the pokemon god says.

"Hey."

"I got some… news. Don't freak out." This put the other on edge, the opposite of what Shoto wanted. "I can't get anymore pokemon powers…"

"What?! Why?"

"Um, Arceus said I was starting to seem more like a pokemon to him, so I can't get any more and have to focus on the stuff I already have," he explained openly. Izuku was silent on the other side, shocked speechless. Shoto waited for a reaction, and he got one deceptively calm.

"So… you're becoming a pokemon?" Izuku asked in a deeply strained voice.

"That's what he sort of said. It's good he told me, though," Shoto said.

"Uh, yeah. Yeah… will that happen to me, too? Cause I'm eating the pokemon treats?"

"I don't think it would happen to you. You aren't stuffed with powers… I'm sad, I still wanted to meet more," he said honestly, sadly.

"Maybe you can visit without taking abilities. Maybe."

"Maybe…" Shoto sighed. "I'm not gonna tell Touya." Izuku said he understood why. "So, will you practice with me? With some of the moves, and then I can practice with you?" He gladly agreed, and soon they were both in the large backyard, Envy and Mitty curled up on the warm deck, bathing in the sunlight.

Izuku was having a lot of trouble not destroying the objects he was trying to warp. It scared him, but Shoto reminded him of his weakness with it. It soothed him a bit, knowing he was unlikely to be able to do the kind of damage possible from Palkia. The monster that attacked Shoto just for being affiliated with Arceus. Taking revenge on him by targeting Shoto.

When Izuku managed to squash a rock, he smiled. "I didn't destroy it!"

"It doesn't even look like a rock. What if you could change the shape of things?"

"Oh! I could do rescues with that! If there's something crushing someone, I can warp it into a different shape! I just shouldn't use it on living things." Shoto was happy for him. "It's not a kind of quirk I ever imagined, but it's better than nothing. Hopefully it gets better by the time high school comes along!"

Shoto was overjoyed at the prospect of Izuku coming with him. "We can be hero partners, maybe."

"You'd have to deal with the shadow pokemon or leaving me behind," Shoto pointed out bluntly. Izuku nodded.

"I wouldn't get in your way. I could focus on helping the humans while you deal with the pokemon, balancing us out!" Izuku said brightly. Shoto nodded, a small smile on. But Izuku needed to get control and advance his new power. Not a quirk, but a power given form a pokemon. Shoto doubted this situation was a replication. How likely would it be to be grabbed by the pokemon that big, and how likely was it for a case like Shoto come along? And if it did, if he wasn't the first, the previous obviously failed in the end. He hoped he wasn't a failure that doomed the whole world and every creature there, people or pokemon.

That was what he had to do, what he lived for. Yeah, he wouldn't mess it up. Not with all the powers he had. But he could not count on help from pokemon. He had to assume they'd attack him and he needed to be extremely fast thinking and smart. He would study pokemon, all of them and their abilities, so he could deal with each one.

He had a perfect memory since using the lake guardian's abilities, so he knew that would come in handy greatly.

-x- Izuku -x-

Izuku sat on the beach, a pile of rocks in front of him that he was manipulating. It had been a few weeks since the forest incident, which really scared him and he still had nightmares of being torn apart, or watching Shoto have his limbs all ripped off. Thank god Mitty hadn't been there with them.

He had his hands pressed to the rocks, and they morphed into blobs. He couldn't make figures, but he wanted to learn to do that. Maybe he could make side money by selling statues and art with his power. Not a quirk. Inko was shocked and confused, as was Rei. She didn't know her own son had been quirkless as well. Only Touya did.

Izuku managed to morph a few into flat surfaces, not quite rectangles or ellipse, but they could stack on top of each other. He was proud at his pale of stones, and took a photo to send to Shoto. He probably wouldn't see it that day, extremely busy with mastering his powers. There was a time limit for both of them, but Shoto especially.

It was good, in Izuku's eyes, for him to stop and only focus on what he had at the moment. Well, what he'd have for the rest of his life if he was still somehow becoming like a pokemon. Neither had any clue of what that meant, honestly. It was haunting for Izuku, but Shoto had seemed mostly unbothered after the initial shock wore off.

He was so deeply involved in the pokemon world that Izuku assumed he thought it wouldn't be that bad. Though becoming one, not looking human anymore… he would probably regret that. As Izuku worked, his mind wandered to the event again. Could he have done anything if he had a quirk when it had happened?

He would never doubt Arceus' intent again, as he came to rescue them and told Shoto to stop when it was no longer safe for him. Now Izuku was the only other living person to have seen Arceus in his physical form, and not once in the Star Room. And he allowed Izuku to keep the power because of the loophole of him not giving the power.

They deserved a damn loop hole after that mess. He didn't understand why Shoto wanted to return to that forest. Apologizing to Xerneas didn't seem worth it, but he couldn't reach him again anyways because the portals had changed location.

"Deku!" a familiar voice called. Izuku sighed, knowing this would have come eventually. That Kacchan found out Izuku somehow developed a quirk eight years after usual. He looked up but didn't bother to stand. He had his pants rolled up and shoes off, feet barely being touched by the slowly sloshing water. The foam barely reached his toes. "What the hell?!"

"What is it?" Izuku was grabbed by the collar. Sulfur wasn't there to protest right now.

"Did you fucking have a quirk all this time?!" he demanded, personally insulted. It wasn't like Izuku was going to give the truth. Not only would he seem insane but it might cause issues for Shoto, and he didn't need that.

Izuku lied. "It's not like it's been useful until now." His voice was firm. If he survived being grabbed and squeezed, being manipulated and forced back in time, he could handle a human bully. He wanted to be like Shoto, too, accepting that he'd be bullied, but standing up for himself when it mattered.

Kacchan looked at the tower of deformed rocks, and shoved Izuku back down on the sand after grabbing him by the front of his shirt. Izuku could not use his power on humans yet because he didn't want to deform them like he and Shoto had been. Even villains didn't deserve that pain and fear.

Kacchan was livid. "Please go away, I came here to be alone." His arm was grabbed and he cried out when the hand exploded and gave him a nasty burn. Izuku's power went out of control, and it warped Kacchan's hand, causing him to cry out in pain, too. Izuku focused to stop it, and the bully was holding his hand close. He saw no damage. No broken fingers, no deformity.

Izuku was holding his burnt arm and went into the ocean and submerged it into the cool water. He'd have Shoto heal it for him later. Celebi's power really helped them out. Kacchan left, and Izuku knew this was the start of an even worse relationship. He wished they could be on better terms like they had the whole time at elementary school.

He walked home sadly, and called Shoto to come to help him, explaining what had happened. He was angry, and agreed to come. When he got there, Izuku was baffled. Shoto was levitating, and had a pidgeot flying him with a rope in his mouth tied to Shoto's hand. He dropped down from the bird pokemon, and thanked him.

"Wow!"

"I can't fly, but I can levitate and get some help," Shoto said happily, eyes bright. They went inside, Inko at work, working as a nurse. She and Rei were both technically in healthcare, though the ice user was in the mental while the other was in physical. Izuku sat down, taking his shirt off carefully to expose the burn. The taller was angry at this, but his healing touch worked. The burn disappeared quickly, leaving only smooth skin, a little bit of freckles here and there.

Izuku confessed, "I used my power on Kacchan's hand. It warped it, but I managed to put it back in place. It looked like it hurt." Shoto didn't really care about his discomfort of pain, but Izuku wasn't happy he lost control. Though it was in self defense, he'd already been attacked.

"I'm sorry he does things like that," Shoto said sincerely. "Though only when Sulfur isn't there." He was very angry at him. He must hate him more for Sulfur telling Shoto he didn't approve of Kacchan's actions and behavior. But it hadn't stopped, it only just wasn't done in front of the houndour. A loop hole so Kacchan could do what he wanted and not face personal consequences.

"Let's work on your power some more," Shoto encouraged. Izuku nodded. They tried to work on water pouring from Shoto's hands into a bucket. Moving objects were harder. But Izuku had hope it would work.

-x- Shoto -x-

"There's nothing you can do? It's only been two months," Shoto begged in the Star Room. He was begging the god to return the powers back to Izuku. It had not been a punishment from Arceus, there just wasn't the parts to keep Izuku with that ability. He was devastated, and stayed on his own lately, mourning his dream being ripped away again.

Shoto had already asked this many times, but the answer was the same every time. Arceus could not return it. It wasn't his power to give, and the only way he knew to get it back was to face Palkia once again and be abused further for a larger amount of the power. Izuku was not desperate enough to do that, at least.

"I am sorry for his loss," Arceus said simply. "This meeting is not about your friend." Shoto nodded, knowing that. "There are signs of it beginning. The shadows are creeping in." The preteen's eyes widened in horror. "It's affected the smallest pokemon in the darkest places. Also in deep water pokemon."

Around this time, Arceus was watching the human and pokemon world closely, looking for hints. And it was there. "Deep sea? Small ones? Or big ones?"

"Unfortunately, Kyogre has fallen victim to the shadows." Shoto's jaw dropped. "It is too early for him to surface, he must stay in the dark for now. It has always been this way with the pokemon in his position. The predecessors of his place in the ecosystem always became shadow pokemon first. This is nothing new, the shadows will hibernate while he sleeps in the depth of the ocean. But the consequences of his absence will be palpable.

"The water in the oceans will recede as he is not there to keep it stable or expanding." Nobody knew that one reason the water in the ocean was rising was because of Kyogre's ability to expand it and his detached way he thought of humans. It wasn't just global warming, it was him and only Shoto knew.

It wasn't like he could do anything to help it besides having reckless humans try and kill him or something foolish like that. "What will happen when he fully wakes?"

"It is all I can tell you without interfering greatly. I am sure you can figure it out yourself like you have before." Shoto nodded.

"If he can't control himself, couldn't Rayquaza come in and take care of it? Will he turn at the same pace as Kyogre?" He was being very careful with his wording so Arceus didn't need to give full answers.

"Time may not be enough for that. You must consider there is no outside help for you."

"Legendaries will turn into shadow pokemon, too. I really will be all alone," Shoto mumbled. "Now Izuku can't be my hero partner. I'll be completely on my own… I knew it would be this way, but thinking I would have help… having it taken away is awful."

"Your feelings are very understandable. It is unfortunate."

"I'm just glad you weren't the one to take it away from him… Is there really nothing anyone can do at this time?" Arceus shook his head. "Is there a way to know when the next one comes?"

"More ocean pokemon." Shoto's face fell, wondering if Lugia would change soon, too. But he wasn't deep sea, right? He swam where the light still shined.

"What will happen if I die?"

"I don't know." Shoto nodded. He expected that a bit. "Practice more, become stronger. I know you can do it." Then the Star Room disappeared.

-x-

There was a pounding on the front door, Shoto the only one home since school was canceled due to a flood from the broken plumbing system. So it was canceled for the day. He hurried down the stairs, the pounding continuing. He was going to get mad at whoever was freaking out the eeveelutions, Era hiding under the couch and Hero zooming up the stairs. Looking through the peephole, he saw it was Izuku, whose face was red and he was panting. Shoto opened the door, looking concerned.

Izuku hurried inside, and sat on the couch, leaning back to catch his breath. "What happened?" Shoto asked. He got a glass of water, purifying it to perfection. Izuku chugged the whole thing. Shoto sat on the recliner chair, waiting to know. It didn't seem like he was hurt in any way. When he caught his breath, he finally said what caused this.

"I had to tell you. I'm getting a quirk." Shoto sighed sadly. "No, for real. Not from a pokemon."

"What do you mean?"

Izuku explained the secret he'd learned about All Might and his hand me down quirk, his injury, and how he was going to give it to Izuku after he rushed to try and save someone despite being useless and quirkless. "Wow, you did that? That's really brave." Izuku smiled at his reaction. "But… why? Is it cause you did that and had no power already?"

He nodded excitedly. "I'll get All Might's powers soon. And he wants me to go to UA, and for you to come, too. He remembered both of us."

"Of course he did, you saved his partner." Izuku nodded. "Weren't you supposed to keep it a secret?"

"After everything we've been through, what you've told me all these years, you really think I'd keep it all a secret?" Izuku asked in disbelief.

"I guess not." He didn't want to ruin the mood, but Izuku would want him to be honest. The other saw his face, and recognized it easily.

"You talk to Arceus?" Shoto nodded. "What did he say…?" Izuku knew something was up.

"Do you really want to know? It'll ruin you mood."

"It might give me more motivation to master it soon." Shoto nodded and took a deep breath. This was very bad news and he hated giving bad news.

"It's started already. Deep sea pokemon turn first. That means… Kyogre is in the process of becoming a shadow pokemon. The ocean will start to recede more because of his absence." Izuku's jaw dropped and his face want pale. That's why Shoto didn't want to tell him. "There's nothing I or anyone can do to stop it. Everything will be messed up when the water will get lesser."

"Shit," Izuku hissed. "Shit, shit. Already? I thought we had three more years!"

"We do. For the most of it. I was already thinking of solutions to the problem. To get a headstart. I have to think before, right?" Izuku nodded, questioning him. "If the pokemon are attacking people, and I can change them, I'm only one person, there are billions of pokemon in the world. How have we been containing them for a long time?"

"...Pokeballs." Shoto nodded.

"I would hate to do it, but it could do something. Hopefully," Shoto sighed. "I didn't tell Arceus because I wanted to think about it more. And I know it's pokemon abuse, but I haven't come up with anything else."

"You're so incredible. You're thinking this far ahead already?" Shoto blushed at the heavy praise, but was happy to hear it. But he had no other choice. It was what he was meant to do in his life so far. It was just what he had to do, and thinking ahead was the best course of action. He brainstormed to himself for hours, and this was the best plan he had. Well, the only one he had that could actually possibly be pulled off.

Maybe he should start trying to collect pokeballs. They were illegal to sell by now, but he could get some from Ebay or something. Or other places if necessary. He was thinking of going to one of the peaceful legendaries to see if he could contain them in pokeballs to gauge what he may need to do in the future.

He hated it, so, so much, but it would be helpful, perhaps. It wasn't like the legendaries were happy to turn dark as well. Maybe they could trust him enough to let him try, just for a moment. He didn't really want to take Izuku with him for it after last time. And he wouldn't have this new quirk anytime soon. He had to get stronger to handle it. It would take time.

He had to try.

-x-

"Hi, Celebi," Shoto said, standing in front of her, eating berries from a tree. He was able to find her on his own, following the portal map to a coniferous forest. He purified all the water he passed without a thought or motive, really. He just did that whenever he could. He had Envy ask the other pokemon and they gave him the information.

"Bi," the legendary said. The first one he ever met. What are you here for?

Something awful. I need you to listen to me. A lot has changed since we last met. He explained the fate of the world, and what had happened before then. She lost her small smile, eyes wider than usual.

What do you need me for?

The only thing I can think of to stop them right now, with no evidence or direct information on how I can handle it… the only thing is to capture them in pokeballs. But I have no idea if it would work or if I would need master balls. I have one regular pokeball and one master ball. I bought them from a shady guy. Paid a thousand dollars for them. Mom didn't notice yet.

You want to use it on me?

Yes. I'm so sorry, I feel awful even thinking of it. Will you try?

Celebi looked less than thrilled, but seeing Shoto's teary, ashamed face, she agreed. He gently tossed the normal pokeball, but she broke out, which wasn't surprising. It's too weak. She looked disturbed by it.

Can I try the master ball?

She nodded, and he tossed it. When it opened to capture her, Shoto's feet were yanked forward, and he fell on his back, being dragged along the ground towards the ball. Celebi dropped down and forced it shut. The pull stopped, and Shoto was left shaking violently. He backed away from the master ball in shock and fear.

Celebi and Envy both hurried to him in worry and comfort. "I - I got pulled towards it," he whispered eve though they'd seen it. Some wild pokemon came out in concern for him, a human that had just been affected by something that should only work on pokemon. Arceus was right in some way. Something about him was more pokemon than human.

He curled in a ball, hiding his face in his knees, and continued to tremble and try to calm himself. Pokemon he could not communicate with approached him. Celebi flew to the master ball, and Shoto watched as she dug a deep hole with her little hands and buried it, filling the hole with dirt and then growing moss over it.

"How am I supposed to use that if it works on me, too?" he lamented at his only plan. It meant he could not have a master ball thrown anywhere near him or he might be affected. It would be smart to try it again, but he was too scared to be trapped inside. When he'd asked pokemon about the pokeballs when he was little, they described it as a tiny prison, where they got hungry and thirsty and only came out to be forced to fight.

He wouldn't be forced to fight if he was trapped, but what if nobody ever found the ball and released him? It was absolutely terrifying. Let's go home, Shoto, Envy said, rubbing her head against his legs. He needed to go home, now. He stood, and went to the normal pokeball. Master balls were very rare and expensive when they were still being manufactured. They were not common, so that was more soothing.

He stuck the pokeball in his pocket, shrunken right now. Celebi and Envy lead him down back to the portal, him still shaking. When they made it to the portal, Celebi gave him a very gentle pat on the head, and Shoto entered the portal, turning to the window to see Celebi give one more wave and disappear, the portal going with her.

Let's go home.

Yeah.

-x-

When he got home, he slowly walked up the stairs and to his room, his legs heavy like lead. He should have asked Touya to drive him back, but he needed the long walk to calm down. It took him three hours to walk home, and he couldn't tell if it was from the long effort that his legs were so heavy.

Touya's door was open and he saw Shoto walk past like a zombie. He got out of his chair. "The hell are you doing here? I was supposed to pick you up."

"Oh… sorry," he said, not making eye contact. Touya was instantly worried, and walked into his room with him, closing the door gently behind him. He sat down at the chair at the small desk in the corner, and Shoto laid down on his side. Envy jumped up after him, curling next to him, giving his face a few licks.

Touya looked very concerned, but patient. "What happened, Sho? Did one of the legendaries come after you?"

"No… No, Celebi was kind to me," Shoto said. "I went to learn if pokeballs could contain strong pokemon. It's a long story, I'm not explaining. I tried to use a master ball when the normal one didn't. She gave me permission. I threw it and it started to suck me in. I got dragged across the ground towards it until Celebi slammed it shut. It was so scary, Touya."

If the older brother was shocked and fearful over it, he hid it well. He walked to the bed, and got on his knees next to it. "Master balls are not common even when they were legal. Sho, how did you get two pokeballs?"

"I bought them from a sketchy guy. It was cost a thousand. I use mom's credit card." Touya rose a brow. "I had to… But I lost the master ball. Celebi buried it for me. It messes up so much, it was my only plan, and I can't even do it myself." Touya brushed his hair out of his face. "I can't tell you, I don't want to."

"Alright, okay," Touya said softly when Shoto started to tear up. His only plan didn't work for him. Maybe shadow pokemon could be caught with normal pokeballs. But he was scared of the one in his pocket, and he later hid it in the air conditioning vent on the ceiling, taping it down. He needed to speak with Arceus soon.

And he got his wish when he went to sleep that night, eating in his room, not leaving for anything, he even held his pee in for the rest of the day and night.

"I saw what happened," Arceus said the moment Shoto was there. "Are you alright?" Shoto shook his head. He wasn't okay, he was scared. "It was a good plan. It might work, but you'll have to change it when it comes to you personally."

"I'm not a pokemon. I'm a human. How did that happen? I was yanked towards it, not even in that red light with normal catches. It doesn't make sense, I still look and function just like a normal person." He looked down at his very human like hands.

Arceus shook his head, now knowing the answer to his question. He wished he knew. "You are the first in this position. There are no certainties." Shoto nodded sadly.

"I'm sorry. If I had a better plan, people could be prepared, maybe. Or at least I could. Kyogre is already becoming a shadow pokemon, I need to hurry. I'm too stupid to come up with any good plan in the end."

"You're far from stupid. It is good you tested this far before the day comes. You have almost three years left."

"Time is going by so fast. Like Dialga is messing with it." Arceus told him he was not. Shoto nodded, knowing that, but it still felt like it. He wasn't improving fast enough, Izuku wasn't improving fast enough. They didn't have enough time. Shoto had known since he was four about this, why was he slow, so far behind?

He was ashamed and still shaken about his plan failing spectacularly, and knowing that master ball with him inside would have probably never been found by humans where it happened. Celebi saved him again.

"You need sleep, and something calming. Do something relaxing tomorrow." Shoto nodded, sensing this was an order. To have a break day. Only a day, then Shoto would get to practicing and doing better with his grades so he could be admitted somewhere useful. He wanted somewhere with useful information and supplies. UA was the jackpot.

-x- Izuku -x-

"Shoto, what's wrong? You look like you barely slept at all," the freckled preteen asked in worry. Shoto looked down. Something happened, something bad.

The other was quiet, looking conflicted. Bad news, then. "You know how Arceus told me I was like a pokemon and to stop?" Izuku nodded, brows furrowed. "I tried my plan, I went to find Celebi to see if the pokeballs could catch her. The normal one didn't. I had a master ball, I bought it from someone for a lot of money, mom was so mad. But I tried the master ball. It didn't suck up Celebi… it dragged me to it. Like I was the one who was going to get caught. It ruins the only plan I had! And Kyogre is already a victim and I can't even come up with a good plan!"

Izuku was very upset, but him getting upset wouldn't help Shoto at all. He took Shoto's hand, their pokemon walking beside them to school. He held his hand the whole way, Shoto slowly, slowly relaxing a bit more. He let go of his hand once they got to the gate.

While Shoto was so miserable, Izuku couldn't bring himself to be happy either. Even after training with All Might, which was just moving stuff around a junk yard, he was weak, he couldn't bring himself to tell Shoto something good that happened to him when he was lost in confusion. And Izuku was confused too. What was pokemon about Shoto? Was it just because of his abilities?

Or did he have, like, pokemon DNA in his blood from the encounters and absorption of powers? He didn't know and would rather not bring it up or think too hard because it really bothered him. He had to get stronger faster because Shoto needed him. He needed to know he wouldn't be alone in this. If things were already set in motion, both of them had to act quickly and efficiently. Shoto didn't bother to even hide his powers, and during lunch was outside practicing the hardest powers to master. He wasn't good with Xerneas', Rayquaza's was a mystery about what it could actually help him with. Lugia was too destructive to practice.

He did started to test the mental psychic abilities on he other students in the classes. Making them forget things that just happened. Forcing the feeling of dejavu, as well as changing their emotions, attitudes. But he never needed to make eye contact, so he was not held responsible. To say his other, more obvious abilities, more normal pokemon moves, were drawing a crowd was an understatement. Students watched from the windows, shocked about the scope of Shoto's abilities.

It seemed he just didn't care anymore, he was going to do everything he possibly could to be ready. He was lost in thought constantly, looking frustrated and focused on trying to come up with something, anything. He still managed to do well in class and turn in good grades, Izuku not bad either. But most of his focus at home was deep thinking, Izuku helping him brainstorm.

Having that plan he had faith in, was starting to have faith in, be a complete bust for him personally, it really demotivated him. No, it made him feel useless but he was now doing too much. Izuku was positive this was not how Arceus wanted him to behave. To be lost in the situation, making himself look sick in worry.

It lasted a week until Shoto showed up at the apartment, looking drugged out. "Shoto, what happened to you?" He walked to Izuku's room and dropped onto the bed face first, putting his face in Izuku's pillow. "Are you alright?"

"Arceus tried fixing me cause I was freaking out again." He rolled over, and pulled the rock pendant out. It looked like it shrunk through the years, but it was only Shoto becoming larger and making it seem smaller. It was glowing a light blue. You couldn't see it under his shirt, but when it was out, it was very obvious.

"What is it?" Izuku asked.

"It's to try and calm me down, if I have a panic attack. Natsuo saw it when he came back for break. It was embarrassing, and I was able to convince him not to tell mom," Shoto explained, holding the pendant tight in his hand. Izuku was sad to hear Shoto was having panic attacks. Was the pressure finally getting to him, or would it pass?

It had started, even if it was slow going, and Shoto wasn't ready. With his powers or emotionally and mentally. Izuku really hoped, for his sake, that Shoto was able to get passed this.

-x-

"Fuck, what's that quirk?" someone asked, a boy who threw a tomato at Shoto's face on the day Izuku wasn't there. Shoto ignored him, and the bell rang and they returned to class. Kacchan was sour in his seat, but Izuku didn't know what it was about. Maybe Shoto, maybe not. Izuku didn't really care, he was focused on his best friend.

He wasn't sleeping anymore, he came to school with heavy bags under both eyes, even visible under the angry red burn scar on his face. Izuku wished he could talk to Arceus and ask what he should do to help. He had no idea how to help and it left him feeling useless, like a terrible friend who couldn't do anything to help him. Nothing at all.

It looked like Envy was helpless as well, always looking longingly at Shoto, sadly. Nothing was helping him, and Izuku was lost on what to do.

-x- Shoto -x-

Arceus was stationed closer to Shoto than ever before, looking down at the bloody arms of the teenager. He'd turned thirteen that month. Two years. Maybe two years. He didn't plan on doing it again, but he's stolen the razor from Touya's kit in the bathroom, and tried cutting. It sucked, he wasn't doing it again, it just felt worse mentally and physically even if it healed over easily.

"What can I do to help?" Shoto shrugged silently.

"I need more time, I don't have enough to deal with this. To think of something. Everything keeps going to the pokeball incident. Every time, I'm stuck there. I keep having dream where I'm trapped in one."

"This is impactful. There is no other choice." Shoto thought he was going to get in trouble, but when Arceus stood, and turned away, a black doorway into pitch darkness appeared in the Star Room, blocking out some stars. "Come with me, Shoto." He stood up, and followed closely beside him.

They walked through a black place besides bubbles that looked like lava lamps. Then they walked past that, and to a vast field, it being daylight but the sun red. Still giving off the same color as home, but it was red itself. Their feet crunched on the ground, the dried dirt and leaves there like most of the forests Shoto had been to.

A lake came into view, and Shoto recognized it as the lake he'd been to for those two years inside. He saw the three guardians floating around it gracefully. But they weren't what dominated the lake. It was smaller versions of Palkia and Dialga. Shoto moved closer to Arceus as they approached.

"Palkia, Dialga," Arceus said, bringing their attention to them. Shoto automatically moved behind one of Arceus's long, muscled legs. The eyes of the lake spirit pokemon glowed to keep the two creationist pokemon from growing upset at their creator's presence. Especially after the fiasco in the forest. "I ask something of you, Dialga."

"What?" he asked in suspicion, the voice full of it but not showing on his face. There wasn't much face to show, just his red eyes mostly. Some glimpse of his mouth with a few sharp teeth showed. He looked similar to Arceus, epsicaly seeing them compared to one another. But Arceus looked much more put together and graceful.

"Would you be willing to lend Shoto your time power?" Shoto's head jerked up in shock before it snapped back to looking at Dialga, ready for the anger.

"Why would I do that? Just because he's throwing a fit?" So, he knew what was going on in the human world. Were humans in this place? He didn't see any other life besides the legendaries in front of him - some small, others large. The three lake guardians were petite and looked graceful, while the two other large pokemon were frightening, angular and rough looking.

"Shoto is destined to stop of the shadow pokemon from ending all life on earth." Dialga seemed unimpressed. "There will be nothing for you to watch. You will need to put more effort in to repair it, again. Do you wish to need to do such a thing again?" Arceus reasoned. Shoto had questions but didn't dare interrupt.

Dialga huffed, the sound guttural and rough like it was coming from his throat, even if it again was only telepathy where they could understand one another. "What am I supposed to give to this scrawny creature? His body will tear apart if I give too much." Shoto swallowed. "That other human already ran out of power. It's not as easy as it was for you to create this little abomination."

Shoto hated being called that. Was he really a monster? He had some sort of pokemon attributes in his body, enough to suck him into a pokeball. He shook his head, wanting to banish those thoughts.

"You give him the right amount, I know you can."

"How long? How long would you want to send him back, or send him forward? To wreck the world's timeline for a child who may, in the end, be more effort than he's worth."

"Neither. I would like you to suspend time for him." Shoto frowned. Time would just stop moving forward? Would he be all alone in that?

"For how long?" Dialga asked again, sounding thoroughly annoyed.

"One year. Shoto will train nonstop for one year. Time will freeze for him and everything in the human world, while he trains in this world. With our guidance." Shoto would learn directly from Arceus? Not perpetual meetings? He was excited, but at the same time would miss everyone. But, if they were all suspended in time, then he would miss nothing of their lives.

"Fine. Less work for me," Dialga said. "Send him back to get his things and then come back and I will do it, then." Arceus bowed his head, the god of pokemon bowing to his underling. Arceus told him that the amount of time he will be gone for everyone else was quite short. Shoto nodded.

He woke up in his room, and immediately got a backpack, stuffing things into it, including the book, some clothes, his phone (he doubted he'd have service there), and some photos of his family and Izuku. He also got his most comfortable pillow and a sleeping bag. He had no idea if he'd sleep there.

The portal will be in your back yard. Come quickly. Shoto nodded to himself. He made sure he had the pendant, the book, and anything else he needed, that he didn't want anyone to find while he was gone, no matter how long that was. He ran past Touya's room, not saying goodbye or he'd be angry. Best to not let them have any idea of what happened.

He left a note on the counter that said he was going on a long walk. Then he went outside, and looked at his house. Envy was there, staring at the portal. Envy, we're gong to another world to train. I will be gone a tiny bit for you, but it will be a year for me. She said nothing and jumped into the portal, Shoto following. He didn't get a second look back before the portal shut.

Arceus was waiting, and Envy was unafraid of him, but bowed her head. She knew this pokemon was strong. She'd met him before, briefly, after the forest incident.

There was a small enclosure by the lake, and he put his things there. He was ready. He'd miss everyone, but at least they wouldn't miss him. "Okay… I'm ready to start."