"Frogadier, Treecko, come here."
Aoki pulled his Pokémon aside into a corner and whispered his plan.
"Croak."
"Not exactly."
"Add or not."
The Pokémon nodded in agreement, then eagerly picked up their Pokéblocks and began eating, savoring every bite.
"These Pokéblocks are amazing."
"Yeah! Being with the master means we get to eat delicious food every day!"
Aoki smirked slightly—his plan was working. He was about to use his Pokémon to lure in another Pokémon.
Meanwhile, deeper within the cave, Bagon sat contentedly after devouring the Celadon/Rainbow Pokéblocks.
Food was scarce in Meteor Falls, and as a relatively young Bagon, it wasn't strong enough to claim meals regularly.
The taste of the Pokéblocks lingered, overwhelming its senses. It was the most delicious thing it had ever eaten, something it didn't want to forget.
Curious, Bagon cautiously peeked outside its hiding spot.
Hearing Treecko and Frogadier talking about their meals and enjoying their time with Aoki, Bagon felt tempted.
For the first time, it wondered what it would be like to have a trainer.
Additionally, there was something about Aoki—a comforting, warm feeling.
The power of Viridian.
"Bagon, I know you're nearby," Aoki called out. "Why not join me? You can eat delicious food every day."
Bagon hesitated, deep in thought.
Since birth, it had lived each day in hunger, always struggling to find food.
But this strange human…
He gave off an aura of kindness, warmth, and security.
And most importantly, he made amazing food.
Decision made, Bagon emerged from its hiding spot, standing proudly.
"Toot!"
If you want to catch me, you'll have to prove yourself first.
Aoki blinked in surprise before a grin spread across his face.
Bagon actually came out on its own.
It seemed his plan had worked—his food and the power of Viridian had captivated Bagon.
That was perfect.
He was determined to make Bagon part of his team.
"Go, Frogadier! It's your turn. I believe in you."
Aoki chose not to use Treecko.
Bagon's Flamethrower and broad move pool would make things too risky for Treecko.
He needed to make a strong first impression—Bagon had to see him as powerful.
"Croak."
Frogadier leaped forward, eyes locked onto its opponent, prepared to strike at any moment.
Bagon tensed, ready to fight.
The two Pokémon stared each other down, waiting for the signal.
"Frogadier, use Water Pulse!"
Frogadier swiftly gathered water energy, forming a swirling orb of liquid before launching it toward Bagon.
Bagon reacted instantly, releasing a burst of purple energy from its mouth.
"Dragon Pulse! Impressive."
Aoki's gaze sharpened.
This Bagon already knew Dragon Pulse—and it likely had Dragon Dance too.
It truly lived up to its Champion potential.
The Water Pulse and Dragon Pulse clashed in mid-air, colliding with a violent explosion.
Smoke filled the cave, obscuring the battlefield.
But Bagon wasn't fazed.
It dashed forward through the smoke, lowering its head as a brilliant white light enveloped it.
Its well-trained skull, hardened from repeated headbutts, made Iron Head a devastating move.
If it landed, Frogadier would be in serious trouble.
"Frogadier, dodge and use Hydro Pump!"
Frogadier flipped to the side, narrowly avoiding Bagon's charge.
Bagon crashed into a nearby rock, shattering it upon impact.
At that moment, Frogadier fired a concentrated torrent of water.
The Hydro Pump blasted Bagon head-on, sending it tumbling into the cave wall.
Despite the pain, Bagon stood up instantly, its determination unwavering.
The pride of Dragon Pokémon burned within its eyes.
"Good, Frogadier! Keep going—use Ice Beam!"
A chilling energy gathered in Frogadier's hands, releasing a sharp beam of frost toward Bagon.
The moment it touched the ground, ice began spreading, covering the cave floor in a crystalline layer.
Bagon countered with Flamethrower, unleashing a scorching inferno that spread across half the cave.
The air grew heavy with heat, as if the inside of Meteor Falls had transformed into a volcanic battlefield.
The flames and the Ice Beam clashed mid-air, sending waves of steam through the cave.
For a brief moment, the two moves were evenly matched—
Then Ice Beam overpowered the flames.
The remaining cold energy surged forward, freezing Bagon in place.
If their strengths were equal, Ice Beam wouldn't have been able to completely overpower Flamethrower, but Frogadier was stronger.
"Now, Frogadier—finish it with Quick Attack!"
Like a bolt of lightning, Frogadier vanished.
In an instant, it reappeared beside Bagon, striking with lightning-fast precision.
Bagon collapsed, spirals appearing in its eyes.
It had lost the battle.
Aoki immediately pulled out a Luxury Ball and threw it.
Bagon was drawn inside, the ball shaking once—
Twice—
Then, with a final ding, it clicked shut.
The capture was successful.
Aoki stepped forward, picked up the Luxury Ball, and lifted it into the air triumphantly.
"I caught a Bagon!"
The excitement in his stance was practically protagonist material.
Aoki glanced at the Luxury Ball in his hand, thinking about his next move.
Maybe he should aim for a Beldum next.
A Shiny one would be nice, too.
Of course, that was just a thought—finding and catching a Beldum was no easy task.
For now, he focused on his newest partner.
"Alright, Bagon—let's get you healed up."
Aoki released Bagon and placed a hand on its head.
Using the power of Viridian, he channeled healing energy into his new partner, soothing its injuries.
Bagon blinked in surprise, feeling warmth spread through its body.
At that moment, it knew—it had made the right choice.
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