The sun dipped low on the horizon, painting the skies in hues of rose and amber. Shion walked the dirt path home, the cool wind tugging at his sleeves. Behind him, the round Bidoof he now knew as Arceus waddled along, panting with effort.
"Wait -wait for me, human!" it gasped. "Carry me! You have two legs and no belly! It's unfair!"
Shion turned back with a sigh. "You're the God of Pokémon, right? Shouldn't you be able to float or something?"
"That was before I had these ridiculous proportions!" Arceus huffed, falling onto its backside dramatically.
Shion rolled his eyes, scooped up the pudgy Pokémon again, and trudged on.
When they reached the edge of the village, a familiar voice called out.
"Brother!"
Miya stood at the gate, grinning from ear to ear.
She sprinted up and practically yanked the Bidoof from Shion's arms. "Mr. Doof! You're back!"
"DOOF?" Arceus squawked as Miya squished its cheeks. "That's not my name-wait, stop-these paws are sacred!"
Miya hugged the flailing deity with delight. "Mr. Doof is so soft!"
Shion watched the chaos with an exhausted expression. "You brought this on yourself."
That night, everything seemed normal again. Dinner was warm, the table filled with laughter, and Kiba napped under the bench, tail twitching in dreams. Shion didn't say a word about talking gods or ancient beasts. It felt too big. Too unreal.
But when the lanterns dimmed and he lay in bed, staring up at the wooden ceiling, the memories crept back in.
Otherwordly Beasts. The Plates.
He thought about his grandfather's stories ,the ones he used to laugh off as bedtime nonsense. Stories of burning skies, monsters from beyond, and a warrior of light who sealed them away. What if they weren't just stories?
"Riverleaf is peaceful," Shion told himself. "Nothing bad ever happens here."
And yet, sleep came slowly.
---
Ravios, Capital of Ravelle Kingdom
Ravelle Royal Academy
Morning sunlight filtered through massive stained glass windows as the bell rang, marking the end of yet another intense training match.
Dust settled on the battlefield. A young man stood at the center, a Lucario beside him, calm and composed. Across from them, a fainted Luxray lay still as the referee's hand dropped.
"Match concluded. Victory—Ren and Lucario."
Polite applause rippled from the crowd of watching students, but not all of it was kind.
"Arrogant commoner..."
"Thinks he's better than nobles just because he has talent…"
Ren didn't react.
He turned his back on the murmurs and walked off the field, Lucario following close behind. His black hair fell across sharp blue eyes, and his every step was confident measured.
"Rennnn!" a voice chimed cheerfully.
Arms wrapped around his shoulders as a girl with bright pink hair fell into step beside him. Her smile could have lit a dark tunnel.
"You destroyed that guy," Mila said with a wink. "That was brutal."
"He challenged me," Ren replied simply. "I accepted."
Lucario gave a soft "Rua," while Mila's Gardevoir walked beside them, eyes gentle but alert. The two Pokémon exchanged a silent nod old partners in crime.
As they walked through the halls of the Academy, whispers followed them. Some were awestruck. Others spiteful. Mila didn't seem to care, and Ren didn't pretend to.
Inside their classroom, Mila dropped into her seat beside Ren and leaned over conspiratorially.
"Hey, did you hear the rumor?"
"Which one?"
"Sir Ares. They say he fought Ho-Oh. Actually fought it. And won."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Won?"
"Well, injured it. Took a feather. Maybe even a few."
"That's still… impossible."
"Is it?" Mila smirked. "They said he used his Garchomp. Hit Ho-Oh mid-dive with Dragon Rush."
Ren frowned. "Sir Ares is strong. Probably the strongest in the kingdom. Maybe even in all of Elvaris."
Mila leaned back, folding her arms behind her head. "Tsk tsk tsk. Little Ren, you really don't know how big the world is, do you?"
Ren cracked a rare grin. "I'm just saying what I think."
Before the conversation could continue, the classroom door opened.
Their homeroom teacher entered—a stern woman with silver-streaked hair and a sharp gaze. "Take your seats. Lessons begin."
---
For the next two hours, the students endured lectures on strategy, ancient history, and ethics in Pokémon handling. Mila tapped her pen with increasing impatience.
Ren, despite his aloof nature, paid close attention. Commoners didn't get second chances at the Academy. They had to fight twice as hard. Be twice as perfect.
The class ended with a shift in mood.
"The western forest near the Academy grounds is now off-limits," their teacher announced. "Recent reports say the wild Pokémon there have become unusually aggressive."
A hush fell.
Mila whispered, "Didn't a freshman go missing there last week?"
Ren nodded. "Rumor says he died during solo training."
The teacher gave no more details.
---
Cafeteria – Noon
The Academy cafeteria bustled with energy, students talking, plates clinking, Pokémon quietly eating at their sides.
"Oi! Ren, Mila! Over here!"
Vince waved from a corner table. A noble by birth, but surprisingly humble, he was one of the few who treated Ren and Mila as equals. Seated beside him was Rose a calm, stoic girl with a Hatterene who mirrored her silence.
Ren and Mila joined them, trading nods.
"Man, that battle you had this morning was insane," Vince said, half-laughing. "You nearly vaporized that Luxray."
Ren shrugged. "He left an opening."
Mila sipped her tea. "So. Sir Ares, huh?"
"Oh yeah." Vince leaned in. "Apparently, he did wound Ho-Oh. Took a feather, and even collected some of its radiant powder."
"That stuff heals fatal wounds," Rose added quietly. "Even burned forests."
They fell into silence at that. Then Mila spoke, her voice low.
"About the forest. The one they closed."
"They say something's not right with the Pokémon," Vince said. "They're... off. Even my swampert hesitated going near it."
Rose nodded. "And my Hatterene won't even look at the woods."
The group exchanged uneasy looks.
Something was coming.
---
Riverleaf Village
Sunlight washed over golden fields as Shion moved through rows of crops, pulling weeds and checking sprouts.
Kiba ran up and down the furrows, tail wagging, tongue lolling in joy.
Arceus still in the form of a chubby Bidoof sat on rock beside the field, looking dramatically miserable.
"Do you realize the fate of this world may rest in your muddy hands?"
Shion didn't answer.
Arceus continued. "The Plates are scattered. Legendary Pokémon are unrestrained. If we do nothing "
"I am doing something," Shion cut in.
"You're harvesting radishes!"
"Someone has to feed the village," Shion muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Arceus flopped dramatically onto its side. "Ugh. The Earth will burn, and you'll be planting potatoes."
Shion glared at the divine rodent. "I told you I need time."
Arceus puffed out its cheeks. "Time is one thing. Ignoring destiny is another."
Kiba barked happily and tripped over a root. Neither of them noticed.