I wonder what flying feels like?

Ever since I was a little Archen, I've been trying to learn how to fly. I usually ended up falling after a few seconds. The humans all say it's because my species just aren't built to fly, but I believe that the reason I can't fly is because of fear. While falling is a big concern, there are things I should be more scared of – all of the dangerous, terrifying creatures with all sorts of powers that live in this world. I could freeze, or be electrified, or crushed… I think of all of those things while trying to fly, and they end up distracting me and I lose concentration.

I'm hopeless. A Flying-type who can't even fly. A Pokémon who's afraid of what Pokémon can do.

I live in a Pokémon reserve, but I want to have a trainer. Maybe they'll help me get over all of my fears. Apparently, my species were extinct for a long time until they were revived by science. I find it to be a rather strange concept – once you're dead, you're gone for good, right? Concepts like that are too complicated for me…

Thankfully, the other Pokémon here don't make fun of me for this. Then again, they've probably never seen an Archeops before.

So I guess I'm just going to have to try myself. Where to start? Maybe I could try jumping between tree branches, but I'd need to climb a tree first. Not easy. Any gaps I could jump over? Well, there's that river… That's it, the river! If I fall, I'll fall into water, which won't hurt too much. Hopefully.

Well, here goes nothing…

I make my way over to the river in the Pokémon reserve. The sun is beginning to set, causing the river's waters to sparkle. I only have one chance to practise flying here; if I fall, my feathers will get waterlogged and I'll have to wait for them to dry off, which could take a while.

I've got to do it! I've got to do it! I've got to be brave! But what if I- no, I shouldn't think about things like that. I shouldn't!

I practise moving my wings up and down before jumping bravely over the river. I jump forwards, and once I'm about to fall I start flapping my wings. Although I'm clumsy, I manage to make it to the other side in one piece, without getting completely soaked.

…I did it! I learned how to fly. Even though it wasn't very good, I can always keep on improving. I'll work on my flying every day until I perfect it, and I'll eventually begin to take it for granted. I've got to say, I'm rather proud of myself. And for the first time in my life, I'm truly happy.

…What's that white Pokémon in the sky?