The first rays of sunlight filtered through the canvas of the tent, warm and golden. Delia stirred awake, her hair gently tangled, her face still faintly flushed. As she opened her eyes, she found herself in Alex's arms, his steady breathing comforting against her.
The memories of the night before rushed back, and her cheeks turned red. She pulled the blanket a little closer to her, shy but smiling softly.
Alex opened his eyes at the movement, and their gazes met. For a moment, no words were needed. He simply reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.
Delia bit her lip and whispered, "Good morning…" before quickly looking away, embarrassed.
Stepping out of the tent later, Rena greeted them quietly, her serene expression unchanged—but her knowing gaze lingered a moment longer on Delia. It was subtle, yet Delia caught it and blushed even deeper.
Misty, already outside brushing her bike, raised an eyebrow as she saw the two emerge together. "You two sure took your time getting up…" she teased lightly, though her eyes flicked between them with curiosity.
Delia almost stumbled over her words, but Alex only smirked faintly, offering no explanation.
Introducing Pidgeot
After breakfast, Alex released the newly captured Shiny Pidgeot from his Poké Ball. The majestic bird spread his blazing wings, his fiery-tipped feathers gleaming under the sun. His aura of dominance filled the clearing, and he looked down at the group with the arrogance of a ruler.
To ease him into the team, Alex first released his Charmander. The little lizard let out a cheerful cry and waved his tail flame proudly.
But Pidgeot only tilted his head with disdain, letting out a dismissive screech. His sharp eyes clearly said: This one is beneath me.
Before tension could rise, Alex calmly released another Poké Ball. The ground trembled as a colossal form surged forth—the mighty Stormborn Gyarados. The dragon's roar shook the forest, sending flocks of Pidgey scattering in panic.
Pidgeot froze. His wings faltered slightly as he stared up at the enormous serpentine beast towering over him. The fire in his eyes wavered, and for the first time, the proud overlord lowered his head in submission.
When his gaze turned back to Alex, respect replaced arrogance. His scream this time was not a challenge, but a vow of loyalty.
Delia, watching the exchange, smiled proudly at Alex—her eyes glowing with admiration as if to say, That's the man I chose.
Misty, however, took a step back in shock. Her face paled at the sheer size and ferocity of the dragon. "T-That's… a Gyarados?!"
But Alex's calm voice cut through the fear. "Stormborn won't harm anyone unless I command it."
As the minutes passed, Misty cautiously inched closer, eventually daring to touch the massive scales. Stormborn rumbled low, but instead of threatening, it allowed her presence. A small smile crept onto Misty's face.
"He's… not so scary once you get used to him," she admitted softly.
And so, under the bright morning sky, Shiny Pidgeot accepted his place among Alex's growing team, and a new bond of trust began to form.