At home, I was immediately picked up, bags and all, and engulfed in a hug by a big steel dinosaur. 'Argg!'

'Bullet! Put her down!' Ben shouted from the kitchen as I squirmed. Don't get me wrong, I love Bullet, I really do. But for some reason, while devastatingly fierce in battles, my brother's Aggron was too friendly and over enthusiastic. Meeting him always resulted in me getting bruised ribs.

'Good to see you too Bullet'. I rubbed his back because really, that's the only part of him I can reach.

'Bay!' Bagon, who was miffed by all the jostling, had attempted to headbutt the bigger dinosaur. He was too young though, and his soft ridges were not yet hard enough to protect him from the diamond hard skin of Bullet. Thankfully, Bullet only looked amused by the creature whose height didn't even reach his knees. 'Arg?'

'Wherever did you find this Bagon little sister?' Ben had finally came to check up on them, probably to make sure Bullet hadn't accidentally crush his little sister. 'Arceus he is huge!' Said Bagon was now squirming in Bullet's claw, trying to bite him.

I gave him a brief breakdown on what happened on my trip. As I was outlining the events, Ariel's head poked out of my room. 'Poachers? At Meteor Falls?' Ariel's forehead creased into a frown. 'I thought they were at Mt Chimney?'

'Oh, hey sis! Wait what are the both of you doing home?' I was suspicious now. For my brother to come home was normal – he only left house for long periods of time when he had to camp out in caves to study rock Pokemon or collect data for his research. But my sister, who practically lives at the lab where she worked? She also have a rented apartment near the lab.

'I had to settle some stuff outside work,' Ariel waved her hand dismissively. 'I have a life outside lab ok? Besides, Mum asked me to help you with Pokemon Trainer's evaluation.'

Right, I had evaluation, though it was still a while away. It sounded fancy but it was mostly filling up forms, paying admin fees for application for a Pokemon license and then passing a useless MCQ test. I heard that there were stupid questions like 'What do you do if you see Zubats hanging in a cave? A. Throw food at them. B. Run and scream. C. Walk pass calmly as they will not attack. D. Sit down and cry.' Both my siblings had already gone through the test, which will be at Littleroot Town, at the lab where my sister worked at (So I had begged her to Teleport me when she go to work on my evaluation day). Everyone does, if they wanted to keep Pokemons. But only a few of all the people who applied challenge the gym circuit. These are the people who use Pokemon competitively. HSFs have to be trainers with at least 6 badges. Only with 8 badges can trainers challenge the Elite Four. They can only challenge the Champion after defeating all the Elite Four members. After defeating the Champion though, they have to accept the position of new Champion and all the responsibility that comes with it. Ex Champions can then go on to pursue other commitments like training or joining HFS, teaching or becoming gym leaders. Gym leaders have to defeat all the Elite Four members. Elite Four members have to at least challenge the Champion once, whether they win or not. When an Elite Four member step down, or for any reason deemed incompetent, the Champion will then hand select a few candidates out of all who applies. They then had to pass criteria such as having a well balanced team. Long ago, Elite Four member need to have a specialized type. This rule was overwritten as it was plain stupid. It couldn't properly test trainers as they just needed one or two Pokemon that is strong against the specialized Elite Four's type.

Ms. Morgan actually defeated all the Elite Four members before deciding to be a teacher, choosing not to challenge the Champion. Ben challenged the gym circuit, obtaining 8 badges before choosing to pursue his PhD. He seemed undecided about challenging the Elite Four. To my knowledge, Ariel never had any interest in the gym circuit. Instead, she obtained her Pokemon trainer's license, caught a Natu named Soren, travelled around a bit, earned a badge and applied to be Research Assistant in Professor Hawthorne's lab while obtaining her Bachelor's at the same time. Over the years, she obtained a few more Pokemon and climbed the ranks, now leading her own team of researchers at a young age of 26. While her team is certainly good enough to get her 5, maybe even 6 badges, she showed no inclination of ever challenging the gym circuit.

Speaking of Soren, he flew in. 'I do not see why I have to teleport children. I am not a – ugh get this thing off me.' He managed an air cutter right in Bullet's stomach, squawking indignantly as Bullet let go of his hug. True to his affable nature, Bullet took it in good nature, rubbing his tummy. I wasn't sure how my sweet sister ended up with a snobbish Xatu but I guess that's how things go. He was also wearing a Translator, an expensive piece of technology that was just released in the market. I don't understand why she put a translator on her psychic. Soren could just speak directly in our minds but all of Ariel's Pokemons had it, as her lab was the one who invented it. Bullet had it too, but, Ben informed me, he pissed off a group of Armaldo by attempting to hug an Anorith at the Pokemon Restoration Research Center. The resulting battle crushed the translator, which was impossible according to the advertisement – 'Don't worry about sending it with your Pokemon to battle! It's indestructible!' The manufacturer sent all sorts of apology and a promise to replace it free of charge if Ben doesn't mention it to anyone. He is currently waiting for a replacement to be sent to him.

'Hey lazy bumps come help out for dinner!' The three of us hurried into the kitchen to escape Mum's wrath.

Dinner was chaotic. There was literally no other way to describe it. Mum and Dad leapt in fear at the sight of Bagon, though he was only a baby. They were just biased. They were fine around Sandstorm, my brother's Flygon. They gave me weird looks when I announce that Bagon was to be my starter. Bagon had to get use to so many people and Pokemons. My parent's Pokemons were out, and so were my brother's. Thankfully, my sister left most of her Pokemons at the lab, having only Soren and Shitake the Breloom with her. Bullet laughed at Bagon's obvious discomfort, petting him (hard) on his head as he was snarling at everyone. It was then the first time Bagon's draconic nature was shown, baring his teeth and refusing to socialize with anyone. He headbutted Bullet and, though in obvious pain afterwards, ran up a tree. Till these days, I still don't understand how it managed to climb up a tree, seeing that it's a bipedal dinosaur. But sighing, I took my food and climbed up after it. It managed to calm down enough for me to feed it a few pieces of Pidgey breast.

Over the next few weeks as I wait for my Pokemon evaluation exam and hence my Pokemon trainer's license, I was trying to get Bagon to respond to my commands. It was extremely hard, seeing as it did not understand everything I said. It picked up things extremely fast though. I managed to potty train it within 3 days. Or rather, Mum managed to potty train it. Whenever Bagon shit in the house, she will pick up whatever is near her and started running after Bagon. I guess this has managed to train Bagon to run pretty well too. It was still waddling weird sometimes, despite implementing morning runs for it, with a training session at night.

At first, Bagon seemed to think it was all a game. The first few runs comprised of Bagon just prancing around. I had to give him credit though, he managed to keep up with me for the first 2km. But after a few night sessions of 'Headbutt that tree!' and him running to run up the tree at record speed then trying to fly, Ben decided to step in and help train him with Sandstorm the Flygon (seriously my brother's naming skills sucks).

The first time Bagon officially met Sandstorm was hilarious. I brought it to backyard in the evening for his nightly training. It seemed pretty excited; probably thought there was going to be more 'flying' lessons. It raced out to the backyard only to come screeching to a halt in front of the green gargantuan dragon towering over him (all of us really). It seemed stunned, its face contorted between a snarl and a look of awe. It decided to go for snarling in the end, only to get smacked in the head by one of Sandstorm's wings, which it then promptly tried to touch. Sandstorm rebuffed him with a series of 'Fly, flygon, fly GON' Properly chastised, Bagon sat meekly in front of Sandstorm as she gave him a series of instructions. Throughout her speech, Bagon's face got more and more animated and I could only wonder what was Sandstorm telling Bagon. ' – during the interval trainings – probably telling it that if it follows instruction it can get wings and fly.' Seeing my face, Benjamin broke off outlining drills I could do with Bagon when I'm training him without Flygon (many of which I already have in mind). A smile came to my face, seeing as how desperate Bagon wants to fly. I read many documentations of how Bagons are always seen trying to fly, though many papers said that Bagons do that by jumping off cliffs, while my Bagon jump off trees.

Honestly, it was way easier to teach Bagon with Flygon present. He was much better behaved. I guess it helped that Sandstorm was a mother (2 baby Trapinch! Dexter and Cleo. Both currently at the lab in Ben's school under some research program. I am pretty sure Ben did not name them), so Sandstorm could speak baby dragon. He actually listened to instructions and Sandstorm corrected his running posture, making sure he leaned forward instead of waddling backwards. Ben told me that I should try to focus on teaching Bagon something he already has an instinct for – Bite. After he learn his first move, it'll be easier to teach him something else, say like Headbutt. We recruited Bullet for this, who seemed to be pleased that he was important in teaching a baby Pokemon. He kept petting Bagon whenever it successfully clamped its mouth over his arms, which wasn't actually a pet considering Bullet's strength. This seemed to pissed Bagon off and causing Bagon to bite Bullet, which kind of turn into a vicious cycle. Bagon's bite doesn't seem to hurt Bullet at all though. Ben told me when Bullet felt something from the bite, that's when Bagon successfully learn it. That did not happen till a few days later.

Coincidentally, the night where Bagon successfully learnt Bite, was the night I discovered he actually knew an attack beforehand, despite being newly hatched. Ben was actually the one who told me that he was newly hatched. It was as I suspected – Bagon's ridges were soft and short when I first found him. It had hardened considerably since then, not as hard as Bullet's skin, or even the tree in the backyard. But it definitely had sustenance to it now. (When I asked Ben how he knew so much, he replied that his interest is not only in Rock types just because of his PhD. I lowkey think he was just a nerd.) Anyway, Bagon was extremely frustrated during training; I guess after 3 days of nonstop biting and getting thumped on the head was too much for Bagon. One time, Bullet was a tad too enthusiastic with his encouragement, and Bagon hit the ground pretty hard. Bagon cried out as it stood up, its arm raised. I thought it was going to throw a tantrum, but wind whipped around our backyard. Leaves, pebbles and debris was lifted up and seemingly caught in a whirlpool, churning around Bagon. With another cry of 'GON!', the churning mass of sticks and stones zipped towards Bullet and actually caused him to stumble back.

'Wow! Little sister, your Bagon is quite something huh.' Benjamin, who was supervising while eating a burger, commented. 'That's Twister, in case you didn't know. That's quite impressive. I didn't expect a baby to know Twister, much less form one that affects Bullet.'

Sandstorm twittered her agreement. Bullet seemed delighted at his trainer's comment. He strode to Bagon and held out his hand, in an unmistakable gesture of a high five. Bagon only eyed it for a moment, before clamping its mouth over it. Bullet gave a growl of surprise and a hint of pain, trying to shake Bagon off.

'Gee sis, can't believe your Bagon learnt two moves in a day. Must be my training.' Benjamin bragged, only to get whacked in his head by Sandstorm's impressive tail fan as she walked over to berate Bagon.

That night, I snuck a chocolate bar into my room for Bagon (my mum will go nuts if she finds any of us eating in the bedroom). Scrolling through diets tailored for Bagons, I stroke its head absentmindedly.

'I guess I should be thinking about a nickname for you hmm. Wouldn't want to confuse you with other Bagons.' I mused.

'Bay?' Bagon gave me a baffled look.

'Yknow, names? Me Cara' I pointed at myself. Then I grabbed a family photo off my shelf and pointed to Ben and Ariel, saying their names. I then pointed at Bagon.

'Bagon!' Bagon cried, pointing at itself.

'If you want to know, that dull witted creature just said that its name is Bagon.' I looked up to see Soren at the doorway. Just as I was about to ask if Soren could help me translate, he cut me off. 'I was merely passing by when I heard that absurd comment. I do not do such menial labours.'

After Soren strutted pass, I rolled my eyes and stuck out my tongue at him, only to see Bagon doing the same. I smiled; maybe it's not that ignorant. I took my phone and looked up a picture of a famous Bagon in an old timey movie. I pointed to it and told Bagon its name is Typhon. Understanding dawned on Bagon.

'Bay! Bagon, bagon!' it cried

'I wish I could understand you. Actually I wish I know whether you are a boy or a girl.' I had been reluctant to check its genitals and none of the articles I read told me how to differentiate between a female and a male. I guess I had to do it the old fashion way. I googled 'nicknames for Bagon'.

'Bacon?' Bagon made a face.

'Smaug?' it gave me a huff.

'Chocolate?' This earned me an excited 'Bay!', until I realized it thought I was going to give him more chocolate bars. Apprently he could understand breakfast, lunch, dinner, chocolate, ice cream, pidgey, miltank pretty well. Looks like I had a glutton for a starter.

After a few more unsuccessful names, Bagon reached out and tapped on my phone screen, returning it to the homepage. It sat on its haunches, apparently very pleased with itself.

'Stars?' I gave it an incredulous look.

'Bay!' its face immediately fell.

Ok then, not stars. Thank god. Or Ben and Ariel will never stop laughing at me. 'Milky way? Sky? Space? Galaxy?'

Bagon seemed to consider the last one, then gave me a tiny nod. Wow. I thought I'd hit jackpot with Sky. It was definitely a mouthful to shout 'Galaxy!' in Pokemon battles. 'Ok, you're Galaxy, and together we will conquer the whole galaxy and what not. But can I call you Lexy?'

'Bay!' Bagon gave me a cry of agreement.

That's how I named my starter, Lexy the Bagon.

Sabth3607: Thank you for the review! And no, I don't intend on dropping it :-)