Ethan carried Scizor's Poké Ball as he walked deeper into the Hermonia Estate.
Away from the laboratories...
Away from the mansion...
Toward one of the largest training fields on the property.
Unlike the manicured gardens surrounding the estate, this section was wild by design.
Golden sand stretched across the ground.
Large boulders stood scattered throughout the field.
Several of them bore deep bite marks, while others had claw scratches running across their surfaces.
This area had been built specifically for Ground- and Rock-type Pokémon.
It was one of many specialized habitats maintained by the Hermonia family.
Scizor looked around curiously.
"Scizor?"
Ethan smiled.
"I want you to meet the last member of the team."
He unclipped a familiar Poké Ball from his belt.
The one that had remained untouched since the Bug-Catching Contest.
He pressed the button.
"Come on out, Gible."
A burst of white light flashed.
The small shiny Gible appeared on the sand.
For several seconds...
Nothing happened.
Gible simply stood there.
It glanced at Ethan.
Then looked around the training ground.
Its crimson eyes finally settled on Scizor.
"...Gible."
Scizor raised one pincer in greeting.
"Scizor."
Silence.
Ethan scratched his cheek.
"...I'm honestly not sure if you remember me."
After all...
Since catching Gible, it had immediately transferred it to the estate so it could grow in an environment better suited to its species.
They hadn't really spent any time together.
Gible stared at him for another long moment.
Then...
It slowly walked closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Until it was standing directly in front of Ethan.
Everyone watched quietly.
Gible sniffed his shoe.
Looked up.
Then—
CHOMP.
It bit Ethan's leg.
"...Ow."
Not hard enough to hurt.
Just enough to leave teeth marks.
Kitsu burst into laughter.
"He remembered you."
Scizor blinked.
"...Scizor?"
Ethan sighed.
"I think that's Gible for 'hello.'"
The little Dragon let go, sat down proudly, and looked completely satisfied with itself.
Apparently...
As far as Gible was concerned—
Their first reunion had gone perfectly
Ethan looked at Gible, still gently patting the little dragon's head.
He activated Dragon Force.
His crimson eyes shifted to their familiar deep purple.
He wanted to know just how much potential this Gible truly possessed.
Dragon Force was... strange.
Even after being reborn with it, there was still so much he didn't understand.
'I know it enhances my body beyond normal human limits.'
'It lets me sense Dragons... and Pokémon with draconic blood like Charizard.'
'It also lets me feel their potential.'
'But I know there's more to it than that.'
'I just haven't discovered everything yet.'
As Dragon Force spread through his senses, he focused on Gible.
Then—
He froze.
'...What?'
What he felt wasn't normal.
It wasn't just powerful.
It was overwhelming.
An immense mass of Dragon-type energy slumbered inside the tiny Gible.
Coiled.
Compressed.
Waiting.
It felt less like looking at a young Pokémon...
...and more like staring at a volcano moments before it erupted.
Ethan's eyes widened ever so slightly.
'This isn't just talent.'
'This thing is a monster waiting to be born.'
For just a fleeting instant...
An image flashed through his mind.
A blue land shark tearing across a battlefield.
Its claws split mountains.
Its Dragon Aura alone made lesser Pokémon hesitate.
'...Almost like that Garchomp.'
The ace of the future Sinnoh Champion.
Cynthia's partner.
Except...
'No...'
'This feels even wilder.'
Gible looked up at him and tilted its head.
"Gible?"
Ethan blinked, his eyes returning to red as Dragon Force faded.
A small smile spread across his face.
"...Looks like I hit the jackpot."
Gible puffed out its chest.
"Gible!"
It sounded incredibly proud of itself.
Ethan chuckled.
"I haven't even complimented you yet."
"Gible."
The little Dragon nodded anyway, as if the praise had already been accepted.
Scizor watched the exchange quietly before looking at Ethan.
"Scizor?"
Ethan nodded.
"Yeah. He's joining the team."
Scizor glanced at Gible.
Then back at Ethan.
"...Scizor."
It gave a firm nod.
Acceptance.
Gible blinked.
It stared at Scizor for a few seconds.
Then marched straight over.
"...Gible."
Scizor lowered himself slightly to meet its gaze.
"Gible."
The tiny Dragon reached out...
And smacked one of Scizor's steel pincers with its head.
Clang.
Scizor didn't even move.
It simply looked down at Gible.
"...Scizor?"
Gible frowned.
It backed up.
Then charged again.
CLANG!
The sound echoed across the training ground.
Scizor remained completely still.
Kitsu covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
"...Is he trying to fight him?"
Ethan nodded.
"I think so."
"Gible!"
The little Dragon growled defiantly before opening its mouth.
A stream of purple flames burst forward.
Dragon Breath.
Scizor reacted instantly.
One crimson pincer flashed.
X-Scissor.
The Dragon Breath split cleanly down the middle, the attack dispersing harmlessly to either side.
The training field fell silent.
Gible stared.
Scizor stared back.
"...Scizor."
It tilted its head, almost asking,
"Was that supposed to do something?"
Kitsu lost it.
She burst into laughter.
"Pfft—!"
"Oh no..."
"He offended him!"
Gible's eyes widened.
"...Gible."
Its little fists clenched.
Ethan sighed.
"He's definitely going to keep challenging Scizor until he wins."
He had owned enough Dragon-types in his previous life to recognize that look.
Stubbornness.
Pride.
And the overwhelming desire to prove themselves.
He smiled despite himself.
"Yeah..."
"These two are going to get along just fine."
Later.
Ethan was next to his mother.
Erza was looking at her son, her rainbow rielcting the light. "Your carry limit has been increased to 7, but let's count your current Pokèmon 8".
Ethan ate his own food as he looked at his Mother. "Yes, I know, I wanna exchange Gible for Sentret, for a while after returning back to my travel".
Erza looked at her son. "Oh, why so?"
Ethan blinked. 'Right, didn't think about that's.
He looked at her. "I was thinking with a Dragon type, I shouldn't just leave it at home".
Erza smiled faintly.
"That's a sensible reason."
She took another sip of her tea before setting the cup down.
"A Dragon-type requires constant guidance. Left alone for too long, they become territorial... sometimes even arrogant."
Ethan nodded.
"I figured."
He looked out the dining room window toward the training fields.
"Gible has incredible potential."
He paused.
"And if I leave him here while I'm traveling..."
"He'll grow stronger," Erza finished.
"...but not necessarily into the partner you want."
Ethan smiled.
"Exactly."
Erza rested her chin on her hand.
"Many noble families make that mistake."
"They train their Pokémon."
"They don't raise them."
Her rainbow eyes met Ethan's.
"Strength without trust creates monsters."
"Trust without strength creates victims."
"The goal is to have both."
Ethan silently committed the words to memory.
"...I'll remember that."
Erza gave a satisfied nod.
"Good."
She glanced toward the Poké Balls hanging from Ethan's belt.
"So, your team will be..."
She counted them one by one.
"Vesna."
"Gengar."
"Marshtomp."
"Rocky."
"Flaaffy."
"Scizor."
"Gible."
"And Sentret returns to the estate."
Ethan nodded.
"Just for now."
"I'll rotate the team later."
"Sentret deserves battles too."
Erza smiled warmly.
"That answer alone tells me you're thinking like a real trainer."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Many people become attached to six Pokémon and ignore the rest."
"The Hermonia family has never believed in that."
"Every Pokémon deserves attention."
"Even if they aren't currently on the active team."
Ethan laughed.
"I don't think Sentret would forgive me otherwise."
As if summoned by the conversation, Sentret peeked out from her Poké Ball on Ethan's belt.
"Sentret?"
She tilted her head innocently.
Ethan chuckled and scratched behind her ears.
"Don't worry."
"I'm not abandoning you."
"You've earned a vacation."
Sentret happily closed her eyes.
"Treeet~"
Erza smiled softly, setting her teacup down.
"That's a good reason."
Ethan nodded.
"I've spent enough time around Dragons to know one thing."
He glanced toward the window, where Gible was currently trying—and failing—to bite one of the training dummies.
"They don't become strong by sitting in a comfortable habitat."
CHOMP.
The dummy now had fresh teeth marks.
"...Gible."
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
"They need battles. Experience. Real opponents."
Erza watched the little Dragon with an amused expression.
"That much is true."
She looked back at her son.
"But raising a Dragon-type is expensive."
"I know."
"They eat more."
"I know."
"They train longer."
"I know."
"They also have a habit of destroying training grounds."
Outside—
BOOM.
Everyone instinctively looked toward the window.
A small dust cloud rose into the air.
"...Gible."
"..."
Ethan slowly looked back at his mother.
"I'll pay for the repairs."
Erza laughed quietly.
"I wasn't worried about the estate."
She reached over and gently ruffled his hair.
"I was worried about you."
Ethan blinked.
Erza's smile became gentler.
"Dragon Pokémon demand a great deal from their trainers. Not just food or money."
"They demand patience."
"They demand confidence."
"And they will test you every single day."
She glanced toward the field again, where Gible was now attempting to climb onto Scizor's head.
Scizor stood perfectly still, seemingly wondering why this tiny dragon had chosen him as a mountain.
"...Scizor?"
Ethan chuckled.
"I've noticed."
Erza nodded.
"But..."
She looked directly into Ethan's eyes.
"I don't think you'll have any trouble."
"You've never treated your Pokémon like tools."
"You treat them like family."
"And Dragons understand that better than most."
Ethan smiled faintly.
"Thanks, Mom."
Erza stood, smoothing out her dress.
"One more thing."
"When you leave again, Sentret will stay here."
Ethan nodded.
"I've already decided that."
"She's falling behind the rest of the team."
"I'd rather let her train here with the family's specialists than drag her into battles she's not ready for."
Erza gave an approving nod.
"A wise decision."
"There is no shame in rotating a team."
"The best trainers know when a Pokémon needs experience..."
"...and when it needs time."
Ethan finished the last bite of his meal before standing.
"I should go tell Sentret."
Erza smiled warmly.
"I think she'll understand."
"...Eventually."
Outside, another loud crunch echoed across the training grounds.
CHOMP.
Followed by Scizor's confused cry.
"Scizor?!"
Ethan sighed.
"...I should probably save him."
Erza hid a small laugh behind her teacup.
"Yes."
"I believe your newest teammate has decided that Steel-types are chew toys."
Once his conversation with his mother ended, Ethan left the dining hall.
There was still one more person he wanted to see.
Or rather...
One of his fiancées.
'It's probably either Sabrina or Erika,' he thought.
Knowing Sabrina, she was likely meditating somewhere.
Knowing Erika...
She was probably with her Pokémon.
That prediction proved correct.
As Ethan stepped into one of the estate's gardens, he spotted the blue-haired heiress sitting beneath a large tree.
Around her rested her entire team.
Two Gloom were peacefully soaking up the afternoon sunlight.
Weepinbell lazily swayed from side to side, humming to itself.
Leafeon lay stretched out beside Erika, enjoying the warm breeze.
Then there was the newest addition.
A tiny Delta Bulbasaur.
Unlike an ordinary Bulbasaur, its pink body and violet flower made it look more like a living fairy than a Grass-type Pokémon.
The little Pokémon scampered around the garden with endless energy.
Erika sighed, holding a small grooming brush.
"Come on... stand still for just a second."
"Bulba!"
The Delta Bulbasaur giggled before darting away again.
Erika smiled helplessly.
"You've got leaves in your flower..."
The little Pokémon responded by running even faster.
Erika closed her eyes.
Soft green Aura flowed from her body, reaching toward the tiny Fairy-type in an attempt to calm it.
Normally, Aura worked wonders with Pokémon.
This time...
Nothing.
The Delta Bulbasaur simply blinked at the glowing energy...
Then happily chased it like it was a toy.
"..."
Erika let out a defeated sigh.
Ethan couldn't help but laugh.
She looked over.
"Oh."
"You've finished talking with your mother?"
Ethan nodded.
"Yeah."
He watched the Delta Bulbasaur happily spinning in circles.
Then he smiled.
"I think you're making one mistake."
Erika tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
Ethan crouched down, watching the little Pokémon instead of reaching for it.
"You keep treating her like she's a normal Bulbasaur."
Erika blinked.
"...She isn't?"
Ethan shook his head.
"No."
"She may share the name..."
"But she's a completely different species."
He pointed toward the tiny Pokémon.
"She's a Fairy and Psychic type."
"Bulbasaur are usually calm because Grass-types naturally absorb energy from their surroundings."
He smiled as the little Delta Bulbasaur twirled happily before trying to catch a butterfly.
"But Fairy-types?"
"They're emotional."
"Curiouser."
"And they usually respond better to games than discipline."
Erika looked thoughtfully at the little Pokémon.
"So..."
"I've been trying to brush her before earning her attention."
"Exactly."
Ethan reached into his pocket before pulling out a small pink ribbon that had been left over from one of the estate's gift boxes.
He dangled it gently in front of the Delta Bulbasaur.
The tiny Pokémon immediately stopped.
Its large violet eyes locked onto the ribbon.
"...Bulba?"
Instead of running away...
It slowly walked closer.
Curious.
Ethan smiled.
"There you are."
The moment she reached him, he gently scratched under her chin.
The Delta Bulbasaur immediately leaned into the touch.
"...Bulba..."
Erika watched the entire exchange before letting out a small laugh.
"...So I wasn't trying to groom a Bulbasaur."
Ethan grinned.
"You were trying to groom a fairy."
"And fairies," he said as the little Pokémon happily climbed into his lap, "always decide the rules first."
Erika gently watched the little Delta Bulbasaur chasing a butterfly through the garden.
After a moment, she looked at Ethan.
"How much do you actually know about Delta Pokémon?"
Ethan shrugged.
"Honestly? Not much."
"I've read everything the family library has on them, but there isn't a lot."
He watched the tiny Fairy-type trip over a flower pot before immediately pretending nothing had happened.
"We imported this little one from the Torren Region as a diplomatic gift."
He smiled.
"And the Delta Venusaurite came with her."
"Delta Pokémon were incredibly rare outside their homeland.
Unlike regional variants, they weren't adaptations to a new environment, they were entirely different forms with different typings, abilities, and sometimes even different behavior.
Most could only breed with Delta Ditto, making them even harder to study."
Erika nodded hearing Ethan explanation.
"The Mega Stone was almost more valuable than the Pokémon."
"Most researchers have never even seen one."
She watched as Delta Bulbasaur finally caught the butterfly...
...only to let it fly away a second later.
Ethan smiled.
"So..."
He looked at Erika.
"Are you really okay?"
She turned toward him.
"What do you mean?"
"Taking care of something completely unknown."
"A Pokémon nobody around here has experience raising."
"There aren't any books for this."
Erika smiled softly.
"That's exactly why."
Ethan blinked.
"If someone has to learn how to raise Delta Pokémon..."
"...why not me?"
She looked back at the little Bulbasaur.
"It won't be easy."
"I'll make mistakes."
"But that's part of becoming a better trainer."
A comfortable silence settled between them.
The breeze rustled the flowers around the garden.
Leafeon stretched lazily beneath the tree.
One of the Gloom happily basked in the sunlight.
Ethan eventually broke the silence.
"So..."
"What's your goal?"
Erika thought for a long moment before answering.
"When I eventually inherit Midori's..."
She smiled.
"I want to become a Gym Leader."
Ethan raised an eyebrow.
"A Gym Leader?"
She nodded.
"Midori's has always specialized in Grass type cultivation."
"We develop fertilizers, medicines, berries, perfumes and botanical research."
"I want to continue that..."
"...while also teaching trainers."
She looked at her Pokémon.
"I don't just want people to battle."
"I want them to understand plants."
"To understand patience."
"To understand that growing stronger isn't always about winning."
Ethan smiled.
'There it is.'
'The future holder of the Rainbow Badge.'
He kept that thought to himself.
Instead, he simply laughed.
"I think you'd make a great Gym Leader."
Erika smiled back.
"I hope so."
Just then, Delta Bulbasaur came running back toward them.
"...Bulba!"
Without warning, she leaped straight into Erika's lap.
Erika laughed, gently hugging the tiny Fairy-type.
"...Looks like someone finally decided brushing isn't so bad."
The little Pokémon puffed out her cheeks...
...then happily rubbed her flower against Erika's shoulder.
Ethan chuckled.
"I'd say you've already passed your first test as her trainer."
Erika smiled as she stroked the Delta Bulbasaur's head.
"I think..."
"...we're both still learning."
To be continue
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