Locked onto the sleek silhouette hovering confidently in the air across the battlefield, Shelgon's eyes shimmered with unmistakable longing.
Just from the dismissive glare alone, it was clear—this was a powerful, self-assured Pokémon. And more importantly—
It was a dragon that could fly.
Its perfectly streamlined body seemed crafted by nature itself for aerial dominance. With every beat of its wings, those crimson membranes stretched wide like twin crescent moons descending to earth, casting an oppressive aura over everything below.
Though admittedly not as awe-inspiring as the black dragon it had once glimpsed, to a sky-hungry Shelgon, Roaring Moon was still the very image of draconic perfection—
And for some inexplicable reason, the moment it laid eyes on Roaring Moon, Shelgon felt a strange, instinctive kinship.
Still, it had overheard the conversation between its Trainer and the stranger.
This massive creature named Roaring Moon was to be its opponent in this battle!
So even if something about it felt oddly familiar, it had to steel itself and rise to the challenge.
Just like the other Pokémon at the Gym—it couldn't let its Trainer or the Gym down!
With most of its body, including its mouth, encased in thick armor, Shelgon couldn't vocalize its thoughts. But its sharp, battle-ready gaze alone conveyed everything it needed to say.
The match was about to begin.
"Then allow me to strike first."
Hassel smiled warmly as he spoke up.
From Shelgon's expression alone, he'd reaffirmed his earlier assessment.
Even facing a Roaring Moon powerful enough to rival an Elite Four's ace, this not-yet-fully-matured Shelgon hadn't buckled under pressure—in fact, its fighting spirit had only intensified.
Setting aside the current power disparity, the Shelgon Aiden had raised clearly possessed exceptional growth potential.
But to take that next step—
It would need more than just stubbornness. It would need conviction.
Hopefully, this battle would be the catalyst it needed.
"Roaring Moon—charge in with Dragon Claw!"
Hassel's expression shifted instantly to one of focused professionalism as he issued the command.
As for Roaring Moon's reaction—it caught Aiden slightly off guard.
He'd assumed a primal ancient species like this might not comprehend human speech.
But though it hesitated for half a second, Roaring Moon did indeed assume the starting stance for Dragon Claw—proving communication wasn't an issue.
Perhaps when Arceus first created Pokémon and humans, it had already accounted for this compatibility?
That was the only explanation that made sense.
"Rooaah—!"
Baring its razor-sharp foreclaws, Roaring Moon beat its wings powerfully and lunged forward.
Had an ordinary human given the order, it would've ignored them completely.
But even primitive societies obeyed the law of the jungle: the strong rule, the weak submit.
The ice dragon this man had sent out was stronger than itself—it had lost to him multiple times in fair combat. As the weaker party, obedience was only natural.
"Shelgon—use Iron Defense to reinforce your defenses!"
Faced with Roaring Moon's aggressive charge, Aiden opted for a conservative approach.
With Shelgon's mobility being notoriously poor, trying to keep up with a high-speed opponent was futile. Minimizing damage was the optimal strategy.
He had to ensure Shelgon stayed standing long enough for a counterattack opportunity to arise.
Without hesitation, Shelgon dropped its stance low, tucking its body securely within its armored shell.
Roaring Moon descended like a comet, its claws striking Shelgon's carapace with a grating metallic screech.
Unlike previous opponents who'd struggled to pierce its defenses, Roaring Moon's power was clearly in another league entirely.
Even with optimal bracing, under the relentless assault Shelgon's expression quickly twisted with strain.
Had its natural defenses not been exceptional, that single strike—amplified by type advantage—might have critically wounded it.
But passively enduring blows wasn't Aiden's style.
"Shelgon—use the impact to leap upward and counter with Dragon Claw!"
The moment Roaring Moon's flurry of attacks paused—just long enough to catch its breath—Aiden seized the opening.
Prepared in advance, Shelgon thrust its hind legs backward with explosive force. Though too heavy to truly fly just yet, raw power alone launched it several meters into the air.
In the same motion, its forelimbs extended, claws gleaming with draconic energy.
Admittedly, its stubby arms contrasted comically with Roaring Moon's elegant limbs—making the whole display oddly endearing—
But!
Hassel responded with textbook caution.
"Roaring Moon—use your speed to create distance and evade!"
Shelgon's timing was impeccable—but the gulf in speed between them was simply too vast.
Even with the burst from its jump, its movements still appeared sluggish to Roaring Moon's eyes.
Without even needing to adjust its trajectory significantly, Roaring Moon merely flapped its wings sharply backward, effortlessly putting space between them.
Shelgon's Dragon Claw swiped through empty air, and it landed with a heavy thud.
"Tch!"
Aiden clicked his tongue in frustration.
Clearly, against an opponent this fast—capable of bypassing Shelgon's defenses at will—the usual defensive-counter strategy was useless.
His side couldn't land a single hit, while Roaring Moon could endlessly harass and whittle away at Shelgon's stamina.
Mismatched in both power and tactics, a one-sided battle was inevitable.
Still—even in this dire situation, a path to victory existed:
If Shelgon could evolve now—transform into a Salamence equally capable of flight and combat prowess—it would match Roaring Moon in both offensive capability and aerial mobility.
So this was what Hassel had meant when he said this battle might become the key to Shelgon's evolution.
But how exactly to trigger it?
"I see… I understand now!"
As Aiden pondered with furrowed brow, Hassel suddenly wore an expression of dawning realization. Scratching his cheek awkwardly, he spoke up:
"Honestly—I'm not sure if I should say this…"
"But it's honestly shocking. Teacher Azure, hailed as a genius by so many, actually showing the nervous hesitation of a rookie Trainer—it's kinda… cute?"
"No wonder I heard rumors you've been a Trainer for less than a year. I think I might actually believe it now."
"Huh?"
Aiden's brain short-circuited for a moment.
Had he… done something wrong just now?
The heated battle atmosphere evaporated instantly.
Roaring Moon let out a low, disgruntled snort—clearly impatient with the humans' chatter—but notably refrained from attacking while they conversed.
"My apologies, Roaring Moon—for interrupting your fight."
Hassel waved a placating hand.
"But just give me a few minutes. There's something I need to confirm."
"If my suspicion is correct…" he added with a faint smirk, "you might just witness this little one going all out—and maybe even losing to it."
?
Sensing the subtle provocation in Hassel's tone, Roaring Moon's eyes instantly sharpened with menace as it glanced toward Shelgon.
That monstrous pink creature aside—
This stubby runt? Aside from a decent glare, its actual strength was laughable compared to its own.
This thing was supposed to beat me?
Roaring Moon snorted derisively—but Hassel's words had piqued its curiosity.
Fine. Let's see if it can actually back up those claims!
Hassel nodded approvingly.
As expected—ancient Pokémon were refreshingly straightforward. A little provocation, and they'd fall right in line.
With Roaring Moon temporarily pacified, Hassel turned his attention back to the bewildered Aiden.
"Let's return to our earlier topic, Aiden."
"During that exchange just now, I realized something—"
"Haven't you been… protecting Shelgon a little too much?"
Hassel voiced his observation with gentle curiosity. Aiden's brows instinctively furrowed.
Was he referring to how rarely he'd pitted Shelgon against strong opponents?
Against typical challengers, Shelgon's current level should've been adequate.
After all, Shelgon was in a phase of accumulating power—once it broke through and evolved, its true strength would finally manifest.
And when facing stronger foes lately… well, it hadn't needed to fight at all. Other teammates had always stepped up—
Wait.
A realization struck Aiden—
"Exactly. This kind of thinking is actually quite common among new Trainers when they first receive their starter Pokémon."
Noting the shift in Aiden's expression, Hassel clapped his hands together lightly and continued with a warm smile.
"On one hand, you want your Pokémon to grow quickly. On the other, you dread seeing them get hurt—so you start holding back during battles."
"The intention itself isn't wrong. But sometimes… you need to truly listen to your Pokémon."
"Pokémon are exquisitely sensitive creatures. How a Trainer treats them can shape even the same species into completely different personalities."
Hassel paused meaningfully before continuing.
"But dragon-types are different—especially Salamence, renowned for its ferocity."
"Being gentle certainly helps build bonds quickly—but excessive coddling won't trigger its evolution."
"Though I suppose that's understandable. This kind of knowledge is typically only passed down among Dragon Tamers—"
Hassel shrugged lightly before posing a question.
"Aiden—do you know why Bagon and Shelgon have that peculiar habit of leaping from great heights before evolving into Salamence?"
He fell silent then, patiently awaiting Aiden's response.
Meanwhile, Aiden sank into deep thought.
Hassel's hint had been unmistakable.
He'd always assumed the Salamence line's behavior mirrored certain birds—using life-or-death crises to awaken latent flight instincts encoded in their genes.
But upon reflection… while that might explain Bagon, Shelgon's heavy armor clearly wasn't something it could simply "unlock" at will.
What if he flipped the perspective entirely—
That all-encompassing shell was protection, yes—but might it also be a prison?
Like an eggshell: once life matures within, what once sheltered now stifles growth. To continue developing, it must be shattered from within.
In nature, this is a universal trial for nearly all oviparous creatures.
Only by breaking free from that confinement can fragile new life gain strength and thrive.
But Shelgon's shell was hundreds of times tougher than any eggshell—far beyond what it could break through with its own power alone.
Hence… the instinct to leap from cliffs. Not merely "longing for the sky"—but a desperate, biological imperative to shatter the cage.
With Hassel's guidance, the answer crystallized instantly.
But choosing this path meant no turning back.
He would have to deliberately shatter that protective shell—strip Shelgon of its natural armor—
Only with that resolve could Shelgon complete its evolution and become the mighty Salamence.
Taking a deep breath, Aiden looked toward Shelgon—still turned slightly toward him, its gaze still fixed upward on Roaring Moon.
Earlier clashes had already left several deep scratches across its dorsal plating.
Yet despite failing to land hits, despite sensing the vast power gap—Shelgon's crimson eyes still burned with unyielding battle spirit.
That was the thirst for victory.
Yes—just as Hassel had said.
Pokémon are spiritual beings that keenly perceive human emotions—and reflect them back with even greater intensity.
Born and raised at Sunshine Gym, nurtured by everyone's expectations… right now, Shelgon's heart surely held only one desire: to grow stronger!
To stand beside its Trainer and win—every single battle!
That was the most fundamental wish of every Pokémon.
With this realization, Aiden's expression softened with resolve.
"Let's continue fighting, Shelgon!"
"Let's win this—together—the old-fashioned way."
Though Shelgon couldn't speak, in that moment Aiden felt its emotions with perfect clarity.
Its fighting spirit had reached its zenith.
Even his own usually calm heart began pounding with excitement.
"What a look. After evolution, it'll surely become an exceptionally powerful Salamence."
Hassel, silent until now, finally spoke up.
"Then—let the battle resume!"
"Roaring Moon—Dragon Claw again!"
"ROOAAR—!"
Having grown impatient, Roaring Moon roared fiercely. With a powerful wingbeat, it shot forward like a scarlet arrow, claws gleaming with lethal intent.
"Meet it head-on with Double-Edge!"
Aiden's shout rang out—surprisingly loud enough to momentarily drown out Roaring Moon's roar.
Eyes sharp with determination, Shelgon pushed off with all four limbs and charged straight into Roaring Moon's path.
BOOM—!
The armored shell meant for defense collided violently with sharpened claws. Roaring Moon's talons dug in, wrenching several deep fissures into the plating.
But Roaring Moon fared no better.
Faced with a 200-pound projectile hurtling straight at it, its body had no time to adjust. The sheer impact sent it tumbling backward through the air, spinning wildly before barely stabilizing.
Normally, Double-Edge would recoil painfully on the user—but Aiden's Shelgon possessed the Rock Head ability.
The backlash dissipated harmlessly against its rounded carapace, allowing Shelgon to land safely.
I… got knocked back… by this stubby runt?!
Disbelief flashed in Roaring Moon's eyes—its already crimson gaze darkening further with rage. Its wings beat erratically, thrumming with barely contained fury.
"Don't stop—keep pressing with consecutive Dragon Claws!"
Hassel's voice cut through the air—perfectly aligned with Roaring Moon's own seething intent.
"ROAR—!"
You don't need to tell me twice—I'll crush it myself!
This time, Roaring Moon attacked with all four limbs—every claw a whirling blade of destruction.
Aiden's focus narrowed entirely onto Shelgon—specifically, the cracks already spiderwebbing across its shell.
After a few more high-intensity strikes, that armor would surely begin to crumble.
But Shelgon showed not a shred of fear—in fact, Roaring Moon's aggression seemed to excite it further, its movements even gaining noticeable speed.
At a moment like this… he had to answer his Pokémon's fighting spirit.
"Shelgon—charge again! Double-Edge!"
Aiden roared once more.
Shield versus spear—the clash began in earnest.
Without pause or mercy, the brutal exchange lasted nearly five minutes.
Until finally—after one last furious Dragon Claw delivered with all its remaining strength—Aiden heard it:
Crack.
The first fragment of armor, webbed with countless fractures, broke free and clattered to the ground.
Lost in the heat of battle, Shelgon seemed oblivious—continuing its forward charge with single-minded intensity.
But Roaring Moon, having learned its lesson earlier, was ready this time.
Predicting Shelgon's aerial trajectory, it suddenly dipped its wings downward—barely slipping beneath the incoming Double-Edge.
THUD—
The heavy impact of Shelgon hitting the ground echoed through the field.
"Rooaar…"
Roaring Moon's roar now carried a distinct wheeze—its stamina clearly depleted from the prolonged struggle.
That stubby opponent's attacks weren't particularly effective—but it had landed blow after blow on that steel-like shell, yet still couldn't finish the fight—
For Roaring Moon, it had been torture for both body and spirit.
But after taking so many hits… you must be at your limit too!
Drawing a ragged breath, Roaring Moon looked down—
And froze in shock.
The Shelgon that should've been collapsed on the ground, utterly spent… was now enveloped in dazzling, multicolored evolution light.
Shards of silvery-white armor lay scattered around its feet—proof that its defenses had finally shattered under Roaring Moon's assault.
But—what was this light?!
As an ancient creature, Roaring Moon had no concept of "evolution."
Within the radiant glow, the now-shell-less Shelgon kept its eyes closed.
Though its protective armor had completely fragmented, it felt no pain—only an exhilarating sense of liberation.
The shackles were gone. This was the perfect moment to unleash months of pent-up frustration and reclaim its pride!
For months, it had watched helplessly as others ate freely—unable to vocalize, constantly overlooked by humans and Pokémon alike, nearly invisible within the Gym.
Even during practice battles, it had always been the one taking hits—
But today… that suffering ended!
A gust of wind swept across the field, gradually dispersing the evolution radiance.
KRAA—!
Accompanied by a mighty roar, a dragon bearing striking resemblance to Roaring Moon—but with wings sharp as blades—soared into the sky above the battlefield.
Through two evolutions, Bagon had finally gained the wings it dreamed of—and with them, explosive muscular power to match its arduous journey.
But what caught Aiden's attention more than the evolution itself was—
The signature "bloodstained crescent" wing structure, the shell plating guarding its joints like suspenders, and the aerodynamic body clearly engineered for hypersonic flight.
This… wasn't the Salamence he remembered. This was Mega Salamence!
At that moment, lines of text materialized before Aiden's eyes—just as they had long ago.
[Mega Salamence (Male)]
[Type: Dragon/Flying]
[Ability: Aerilate]
[Moves: Tackle, Double-Edge, Protect, Dragon Breath, Scary Face, Dragon Claw, Crunch, Dragon Tail, Fly, Dragon Rush, Head Smash]
[Very Adamant nature.]
[December 20th—hatched in Cabo Poco. The day you met.]
[Dislikes bitter flavors.]
[A little clingy.]
Aiden blinked—then sucked in a sharp breath.
His earlier suspicion had been confirmed. The Mega Stone gifted by the black Rayquaza had caused Shelgon to skip its standard evolution entirely—transforming directly into its Mega form.
The most illegal Salamence had arrived!
Ironically, compared to Sylveon and Lucario, this one was actually the least problematic.
After all—the Mega Stone came from Rayquaza itself, a Pokémon capable of autonomous Mega Evolution. Teaching Salamence to do the same… actually made a strange kind of sense?
"ROARRR—!"
Meanwhile, the newly evolved Salamence—only just realizing it had sprouted wings—let out a startled roar.
But it adapted quickly, twisting its neck to admire its own magnificent crimson wings with evident satisfaction.
Not only had it evolved and gained stunning wings—the fatigue from battle had vanished completely.
I'm… incredibly strong now!
Salamence lifted its head proudly. Its powerful tail whipped through the air, rapidly accelerating until it blurred like a helicopter rotor—sending a chill gust sweeping downward.
"Growl!"
Locking fiery eyes onto Roaring Moon, Salamence let out a challenging cry.
Despite being a proud, fearsome dragon-type… in that moment, Aiden couldn't help but see a giant, overexcited dog—
Specifically, a husky with a notorious talent for demolition.
Aiden's eye twitched involuntarily.
With Salamence's size, he'd definitely need to set ground rules before letting it inside the Gym again.
Otherwise, a casual flick of its tail or wings might just level half the building—
"As I thought—this child's energy had long been sufficient for evolution."
Hassel smiled—but a flicker of confusion crossed his features.
"Though… is Salamence supposed to look like this? It seems a bit different from what I recall."
He quickly dismissed the thought. Raising his gaze to Aiden, his expression turned serious once more.
"Excellent. Now that evolution is complete—let's continue our unfinished battle!"
"Roaring Moon—Dragon Rush!"
"Roooar…"
This time, Roaring Moon's roar carried unmistakable exhaustion.
Already drained from the earlier exchange, and now faced with an opponent that had not only transformed but radiated palpable power—
The psychological gap widened. For the first time, Roaring Moon felt the faint stirrings of retreat.
But it shook its head violently—banishing the weakness.
No. It couldn't lose face—not when victory felt so close!
If it was exhausted after attacking… this newly evolved lookalike must be barely hanging on! One solid hit would seal it!
No longer hesitating, Roaring Moon beat its wings and shot skyward.
Higher altitude meant greater momentum for its dive.
The advantage—is mine!
"ROAR!"
A savage cry echoed from above as Roaring Moon committed everything to one final strike—plummeting like a scarlet meteor, air screaming around it.
Dragon Rush—more devastating than any Dragon Claw before it.
But… Roaring Moon had actually chosen to clash physically with Salamence at the end?
Aiden's eyebrows lifted—he understood instantly.
"Salamence—we meet its Dragon Rush head-on with our own!"
"ROOAR!"
Receiving the command, Salamence's tail whipped the air even more furiously.
With a low growl, it shot forward—so fast its wingbeats became invisible blurs.
In mass and altitude, Roaring Moon held the advantage—its feathers glowing red-hot from air friction, resembling a true falling star.
But its opponent was Mega Salamence!
In power, speed, and defense—Aiden's side held the edge!
All it needed was one clean hit!
Two crimson streaks tore across the sky—colliding repeatedly midair, each impact bursting into crimson mist.
At this point, both Pokémon had abandoned technique entirely—reverting to pure, primal brutality. The battle had become a test of sheer endurance.
Every clash detonated thunderously overhead, raw ferocity saturating the air with the coppery scent of blood.
Until the final, decisive blow landed.
BOOM—!
One last blood-red blossom bloomed in the sky.
The two aerial combatants could hold on no longer—plummeting earthward in succession, shaking the ground on impact.
On Aiden's side, Mega Salamence's head, wings, and neck were crisscrossed with wounds—clear evidence of countless counterstrikes.
Blood smeared its skull from repeated head-on collisions—yet its gaze remained razor-sharp. The moment it hit the ground, it forced itself upright, glaring fiercely toward its opponent.
Not over yet—the battle isn't finished!
As for Hassel's Roaring Moon—its condition was far worse.
Once-proud plumage now lay in tatters—bare patches of wing marred by deep lacerations, limbs and wing joints bent at unnatural angles.
Likely multiple fractures—
But even that wasn't its most severe injury.
Like Salamence, its head was a mangled mess of blood and tissue—its unfocused eyes betraying the severity of its trauma.
Though clearly desperate to rise and continue… after several failed attempts, it finally collapsed—rolling its eyes back before passing out completely.
"I concede."
Hassel offered a wry smile.
Honestly—even deploying an ancient species like Roaring Moon, he hadn't anticipated the battle reaching such ferocious intensity.
But perhaps both Pokémon carried reasons they absolutely could not lose—driving them to fight until their very last breath.
It had been a magnificent battle.
"Roaar…"
Only upon hearing his opponent's concession did Salamence finally relax—plopping down heavily onto its haunches.
Its stamina, too, had been pushed to the absolute limit—only sheer willpower had kept it standing until the end.
This… was my first battle after evolving. I had to bring victory to my Trainer!
"You can rest now—it's okay."
Aiden's gentle voice came from behind, instantly lighting up Salamence's eyes with joy.
"Growl!"
Turning around, it found Aiden gazing at it with unmistakable tenderness—and concern.
Acting purely on instinct, Salamence lunged forward—tackling Aiden to the ground and lavishing his face with enthusiastic, slobbery licks.
Aiden's eyes widened briefly at the sudden tackle—then softened into a warm smile.
"Good job, Salamence."
"Even now that you've grown… it's okay to be affectionate after giving your all."
Feeling his cheeks grow damp under Salamence's enthusiastic tongue, Aiden lay there helplessly—gently stroking the scrape on its forehead.
Thankfully, Salamence had controlled its weight carefully—most of its 200+ pounds supported by its limbs rather than Aiden's body.
Otherwise… those pounds alone might've shattered several of his bones—
Sure enough—despite being a dragon-type, his Salamence behaved far more like an overgrown puppy. A strangely endearing contradiction.
Though… not entirely unpleasant.
Also—its tail keeps whacking my leg. It kinda hurts not gonna lie.
Should I remind it to ease up a little…?
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