"Truly… a remarkably energetic Pokémon."
As Aiden lay pinned beneath Salamence's affectionate "cuddles," Hassel had already recalled his exhausted Roaring Moon and walked calmly toward the pair.
Shatter first, then rise—such was the nature of Salamence's evolution.
The more powerful the individual, the denser and more resilient the shell its instincts forged during youth—trapping Shelgon ever more tightly within. Yet once that prison was broken and evolution completed, Salamence would emerge with mighty wings and an ironclad physique—transforming instantly into a draconic powerhouse unmatched in both speed and strength.
Hassel mused on this—then paused thoughtfully.
"By the way, Aiden—did you know? Pokémon that suppress their innate nature during evolution often develop notably short tempers afterward."
"Take Tyranitar, Salamence, or even Beedrill—there are quite a few examples like this."
"Within territories they claim as their own, strangers may find themselves attacked without warning."
From Aiden's upside-down perspective, the now-gigantic Hassel reached out and patted Salamence's head.
Though his expression remained unchanged, Aiden sensed his entire body subtly tense—as if bracing for a potential counterattack.
Admittedly, Hassel's gesture had been rather bold.
Knowing full well Salamence's notorious temperament, he'd still chosen to approach as a stranger—likely a Dragon Tamer's occupational curiosity getting the better of him. He probably wanted to confirm whether Salamence's gentleness extended beyond just its Trainer.
With an ordinary Salamence, he'd have been swatted away by now.
But his touch seemed to go entirely unnoticed.
Several seconds passed before Salamence—still absorbed in its licking spree—belatedly registered the unfamiliar presence beside it. It halted its affectionate assault, twisted its head, and blinked up at Hassel with clear crimson eyes.
As if to say—
'What're you lookin' at?'
That unintentionally haughty little glare left Hassel momentarily awkward. He scratched his head sheepishly and offered a wry smile.
Beyond satisfying his own curiosity, his real concern had been whether the newly evolved Salamence might pose a danger to future Gym challengers.
Such incidents weren't unheard of—which was precisely why powerful dragon-types demanded extra caution.
But—
"Seems my worries were unfounded."
"It must've lived very happily here at Sunshine Gym. Not a trace of resentment lingers in its heart—its personality is completely unlike other Salamence."
"Less like a dragon… more like a Growlithe, perhaps? Adorable."
Hassel reached out again—instinctively aiming to stroke Salamence's head—but the dragon deftly dodged, eyeing him with even greater suspicion.
What is this human even doing?
I dislike those who don't respect boundaries!
Seizing the distraction, Aiden slipped free from Salamence's "loving embrace," brushed himself off, and stood up.
His face was sticky with Salamence's slobber—
Desperately needed to wash up back at the Gym!
While Salamence and Hassel engaged in a silent staring contest, Aiden slipped away unnoticed, dashed inside to rinse his face, and returned moments later feeling refreshed.
By then, the previously hyperactive Salamence had flopped onto the ground—post-battle exhaustion finally catching up as the adrenaline faded.
Yet it stubbornly fought off sleep, eyes drooping but refusing to close… until Aiden reappeared. Its gaze instantly brightened—it scrambled upright, tail wagging wildly as it trotted over, casually swiping at roadside pebbles and sending them flying.
"Roar!"
Having learned from last time, Aiden reacted instantly as Salamence lunged. The moment its head neared his body, he wrapped his arms securely around its neck.
A seemingly affectionate gesture—but with hidden strategy.
First, it pinned Salamence's head in place, preventing further face-licking.
Second, his body braced against its forelimbs, doubling the difficulty of being knocked over again.
Thus, Aiden achieved perfect equilibrium—responding to its enthusiasm while preserving his facial dignity.
Plan successful!
Cradled in Aiden's arms, Salamence let out a contented rumble. Its tail whipped the air so vigorously it carved visible trails through the grass.
The tender scene of Trainer and dragon leaning against one another radiated warmth.
Even Hassel, observing quietly nearby, found himself softly smiling—touched by the atmosphere.
But soon, Salamence began shaking its head again—forcefully fighting back the drowsiness washing over it.
"This little one… must have some unfinished business weighing on its mind. That's why it refuses to sleep."
Hassel's timely remark drew Aiden's attention to Salamence's unusual persistence.
Unfinished business?
Aiden released his hold, stepped back, and met Salamence's gaze once more.
Truly—the final evolution of that infamous "iron-headed" Bagon. Its stubbornness had carried over perfectly.
Despite brawling head-first with Roaring Moon for minutes on end, its skull bore only superficial scrapes—far less battered than its opponent's.
But as Hassel noted, Salamence's exhaustion was plain to see. It was sheer willpower alone keeping its eyelids from sealing shut.
"The battle's over now. Rest if you're tired, Salamence."
Aiden rhythmically patted its head.
But Salamence shook its head firmly—then gently tugged at his sleeve with its mouth.
As Aiden looked on in confusion, Salamence lowered its body, curling its limbs into a kneeling posture until its entire frame lay flat against the ground. Yet it kept its eyes wide open—gazing up at him with unmistakable anticipation.
An invitation.
"I see—"
Aiden instantly understood.
It wanted him to ride on its back.
Naturally—having just evolved into this aerodynamic form built for flight, it surely longed to soar freely through the skies and fulfill the dream it had carried since hatching as a Bagon.
And even now, utterly drained from battle, its first thought was still to carry its Trainer aloft—to show him vistas no human could witness from the ground.
Truly… an affectionate overgrown puppy.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Salamence."
With those words, Aiden swung himself onto Salamence's back—mounting dragon rather than horse.
A gentle sway followed—then the rush of wind as Salamence beat its wings. Aiden instinctively wrapped his arms tighter around its neck.
Honestly—every time this happened, he wanted to remark on how unscientific the Pokémon world was.
Real-world birds had to minimize weight to fly—sometimes expelling digested food immediately to stay airborne.
Yet Salamence, at over 200 pounds, could rocket into the sky in zero seconds—and carry Aiden's additional 100+ pounds without the slightest strain. If anything, it seemed happier with the extra weight—
Yep. Very Pokémon.
Now utterly unleashed, Salamence soared joyfully through the air, letting out triumphant cries at intervals.
After the initial tension faded, Aiden gradually acclimated to flight—eventually stretching out a hand to wave at the world below.
This is how it should be—a dragon must be able to fly!
"Gaaao?!"
Below, Miraidon—who had been dozing peacefully—jolted awake.
It sensed a vague, unplaceable malice… and lifted its head toward the source.
A dark silhouette circled rapidly above Sunshine Gym. Squinting, Miraidon could just make out a human figure riding atop what looked like a massive dragon.
If it wasn't mistaken—that was Aiden and—
???
Miraidon's eyes shot wide open. It blinked rapidly several times before scanning its surroundings in disbelief.
The Shelgon it often used as a pillow-shaped toy… was gone!
Which meant—the creature soaring through the sky with Roaring Moon-like features… was Shelgon's evolved form?!
Miraidon felt a profound sense of betrayal.
We promised to laze around together as carefree layabouts—how did that little runt suddenly evolve into a ferocious powerhouse?!
And worse—
It was a flying dragon-type. A perfect replacement for Miraidon's own role as a ride Pokémon!
Already resentful about the arrival of an even bigger eater at the Gym, now even its transportation niche was being outcompeted?!
In today's Sunshine Gym… it seemed to have lost every distinguishing trait.
Useless at everything—even eating ranked second place.
At this rate… it was bound to get "optimized" out of existence!
A flicker of panic crossed Miraidon's eyes.
It had heard from Indeedee—the one who cooked delicious meals every day—that while Pokémon could find shelter in human society, those failing to demonstrate sufficient value would eventually be phased out.
Indeedee herself had apparently been let go from her previous workplace for precisely that reason.
And now… with Salamence threatening to erase even its last shred of relevance… what reason remained to keep Miraidon at Sunshine Gym?
But Miraidon's anxiety lasted only a moment before fading.
Surely this worry was unfounded. Aiden's character simply didn't allow for callously discarding companions.
Even though Miraidon rarely contributed anything… it had still coasted comfortably this far—
Yep. Safe.
Miraidon promptly dismissed all troubling thoughts. But just before settling back into its cozy nest, it cast one last glance skyward.
Wanting to bring victory to its Trainer… thus finding the will to battle on, break through its limits mid-fight, and evolve?
That… I cannot comprehend.
In the end, humans were merely fragile creatures. What real impact could they have in battle?
Even if they somehow helped—when opponents grew overwhelmingly powerful, no amount of "friendship" or "bonds" could turn inevitable defeat into victory.
As for protecting them—
That was a luxury only the strong could afford. And I… am a weakling who has lost everything. I bear no capacity for responsibility.
I… can protect nothing.
A flicker of inner turmoil crossed Miraidon's eyes—then vanished beneath closed lids.
No use dwelling. Time to sleep.
Though even within Indeedee's Hypnosis-infused "Slumber Field," true drowsiness refused to come. Restless, Miraidon kept reopening its eyes—gazing upward with faint, unspoken yearning.
—
Meanwhile, Aiden reveled in the sensation of wind slicing through his body—instinctively reaching out as if to grasp the currents themselves.
Then—suddenly—the unexpected happened.
The vibrant Salamence let out a massive yawn. Its once-powerful wings instantly wilted, the whoosh of air growing feeble.
Aiden's brow furrowed sharply.
He realized—he'd been so caught up in Salamence's enthusiasm that he'd overlooked something critical.
Even if Salamence could push through fatigue mentally, its body had endured a brutal battle. That exhaustion couldn't simply vanish.
Already at its limit, it had then gone all-out in the skies—carrying him through countless loops, draining every last drop of stamina.
And now that the adrenaline rush faded…
The tidal wave of exhaustion was utterly unstoppable!
"Hey—stay awake, Salamence!"
Panic seized Aiden. He began slapping Salamence's back vigorously, hoping to rouse it.
If you need to sleep—don't do it midair!
This is terrifying!
But human strength paled against Pokémon physiology.
His slaps not only failed to revive Salamence—they rhythmically mimicked a lullaby, deepening its drowsiness instead. Within seconds, its wings stilled completely.
In that instant—a flash of white light.
The sleek, Mega-evolved Salamence beneath Aiden vanished—replaced by its standard form.
And its eyes… were now fully closed, utterly surrendered to sleep.
"…"
After going all out like that… not even enough energy left to maintain Mega Evolution?
Next time I'm warning this overexcited dragon—never fly while fatigued!
Aiden had no time to complain before a violent sense of weightlessness seized him—his body plummeting earthward alongside Salamence.
We're doomed!!!
Though the altitude wasn't extreme—and Salamence's underbelly plating was specifically designed to shield its weak points, minimizing injury even in a crash—
There remained a fundamental disparity between species.
Even if Salamence emerged unscathed, Aiden himself would likely suffer several broken ribs from the impact alone.
What an undeserved fate—
For a fleeting moment, Aiden's vision blurred—fragments of half-remembered memories flashing through his mind.
—
Below, Hassel and the Gym's Pokémon quickly noticed the falling pair.
"That Salamence… did its appearance just change?"
Hassel murmured instinctively—then shook his head.
"No—focus. How to ensure Aiden and Salamence land safely—that's what matters now."
Duraludon? No—its body was too rigid. Catching them would be no different from hitting concrete.
Roaring Moon could intercept midair—but after that battle, it had completely lost consciousness. No help there.
If things grew dire… perhaps Baxcalibur's Glaive Rush could cushion their fall by deflecting them toward softer ground—
There was no time to deliberate. Hassel's hand instinctively went to his belt—reaching for a Poké Ball.
Nearby, Mewtwo—who had silently appeared outside the Gym—raised its right hand, blue psychic energy already coalescing in its palm.
And from the shadows directly beneath the falling pair, a formless black arm materialized—poised to catch them.
But just as Mewtwo and Marshadow prepared to act—a sharp whoosh caught their attention.
Recognizing the lightning-fast silhouette, both Pokémon exchanged knowing smiles—and lowered their hands in unison.
This time… let it be its moment.
The Miraidon that had moments ago been lazily sunbathing outside Sunshine Gym's gates had vanished. In its place charged a blue beast crackling with electricity—limbs pumping furiously, the ground itself sizzling in its wake.
For some reason, the instant it witnessed Aiden and Salamence falling from the sky, Miraidon—despite believing itself utterly powerless—had instinctively launched forward. Its body moved before its mind could even process the action.
And with that motion returned a force it thought forever lost!
Its engine roared back to life miraculously—electricity flooding its circuits in an instant, lightening its steps immeasurably.
No time to marvel at this resurgence. Miraidon's entire focus locked onto the falling figures above—its breath growing heavy with the surge of power.
With this body—right now—
I can do it!
Electricity erupted from the V-shaped receptors beside Miraidon's eyes—crackling like blue flames.
In the next moment, a massive net woven purely of Electric-type energy shot upward from its head—aimed precisely at Salamence and Aiden.
Held breathless by the surrounding Pokémon, the net struck true—revealing astonishing elasticity.
It not only ensnared Salamence securely but also generated upward resistance that drastically slowed their descent—allowing Trainer and dragon to touch down safely.
Success!
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