I do not own Pokémon or any of its characters. The Bagon image on the cover was drawn by Ken Sugimori.
Inspired by 'walleye26's 'Pokémon One-shots' and by Bagon's Black/White Pokédex entry.
The summer breeze blew into Bagon's face, giving him a fresh feeling of vitality. He watched as his friends leapt from the cliffs, screaming with excitement as they fell, and then wincing when he heard them splash into the pool below. If only he were as brave as his friends, then maybe he would have jumped the same time they did. He peered over the cliff edge, trembling as he did so. He trailed the waterfall with his eyes until it met the pool water. The drop from his current position into the steamy pool below was terrifying. He almost toppled over the edge, making him flinch. Ever since he had first watched his father powerfully soar through the skies on mighty red wings, he had dreamed of emulating him. He had aspired of learning how to fly, despite his lack of wings.
You can do this!
He flapped his arms as if they were a pair of wings, and let out the largest roar he could- which happened to sound more like the crackling hiss of a Persian.
Three, two, one-
He came to an abrupt halt, and leapt backwards into the grass. The Butterfree in his stomach began to relax as he breathed heavily. No way was he trying that again. Flying was nothing but a dream for the little Bagon, a dream that he felt would never, ever come true, as long as he lived. He sat in the grass and tugged at it, tiny tears slithering down his little face.
"Hey, little guy!"
A large blue dragon hovered down and landed with a thud onto the cliff's edge.
"What are you doing, son? Don't you want to try it out?" he asked. "I thought you couldn't wait until your first cliff jump."
The Salamence laid a paw on his son's shoulder.
"I'll never be a big, strong Salamence like you! I'll always a stupid, weak Bagon!" the little Pokémon bawled, nestling his face into his father's paw.
Salamence lowered his head and rubbed his nose against the boy's head.
"Come with me."
He guided his son slowly to the cliff edge. He perched on all fours right on the edge of the cliff.
"It's okay, son. I'm here. I won't let anything bad happen to you," he reassured him.
The Bagon gulped as he took a second look at the jump. With his father right behind him in case anything went wrong, it seemed like a mere step.
"Go on. I'll give you a little push, if you'd like."
He smiled at the Salamence. "I'll be okay, thanks, Daddy."
He waggled his stubby arms and plunged from the edge. As he fell, he felt gravity pulling him at a great speed to the ground. A cool breeze brushed past his whole body, and it felt exhilarating. He let out a roar of excitement, and dropped with an almighty splash into the pool. He lifted his head above the surface, with a toothy smile.
"I did it, Daddy!" cheered the Pokémon.
Salamence glided down to the pool, and hugged his son tightly.
"Great job, son! Keep practicing like that, and you'll be a big, strong Salamence in no time at all!"
Bagon daydreamed about flying through the clouds on a massive pair of powerful wings, like his father would. It seemed his first jump pushed him that little bit so closer to his dreams.
"Yeah!"
The Pokémon roaming the plains ran far away when they heard the almighty roar of the dragon Pokémon. He twisted and turned as he shot through the skies like a jet plane. After a lifetime of constantly jumping from cliff tops, higher and higher each time, and persevering to get what he'd wanted so badly, his tedious work had finally paid off. The Salamence landed besides his old father, who lay calmly, watching in delight as his son swirled through the clouds.
"I knew you'd get there someday, son," he croaked, tapping him on the head with an old, wrinkly paw.
