Ch1

Pokédex Entry: "Bagon's dream is to fly. It is said that this Pokémon jumps off cliffs every day, but it always lands safely due to its hard head."

Bagon had always been the smallest. From the moment he had hatched, it was clear to everyone in the den that he was different. While his siblings had strong limbs and hard heads, his body was scrawny, his legs a little shorter, his head not quite as solid. He was the runt, and the other Bagon never let him forget it.

The others would often mock him as they played. He would try to join in, but they'd shove him aside, sneering, "You'll never fly like us!" Bagon's dreams, however, were larger than any of their cruel words. Whenever they weren't looking, he'd sneak off to a nearby cliffside that overlooked the valley, where he would sit for hours watching the skies.

Flying-type Pokémon danced above, their wings cutting through the clouds with elegance. A Swellow would glide effortlessly across the wind, a Pelipper would dive from the clouds with precision, and occasionally, a majestic Salamence would soar, its wings casting a shadow over the entire landscape. To Bagon, this was the epitome of freedom something he knew was buried deep within him, waiting to break free.

But every time he looked at the skies, that same doubt crept in. His small size, his shaky legs, and the laughter of his peers echoed in his mind. How could he ever hope to fly like them?

One day, as the sun dipped low and bathed the valley in amber hues, the other Bagon gathered near the cliff. It was a rite of passage for their kind. They would leap from the edge, testing their bodies against the ground. Over time, their tough skulls would harden, and they would be one step closer to becoming the powerful, flying Salamence they aspired to be.

Bagon lingered at the back, watching nervously as one by one, his siblings took the leap, crashing into the ground below with loud thuds. They would clamber back up, bruised but determined, eager to try again. Each jump brought them closer to their dream. But for Bagon, that first step was the hardest.

He inched toward the edge, his heart racing. The cliff loomed high, and the rocks below looked sharp and unforgiving. He could already imagine the failure, the sneers, the endless mockery if he hesitated or worse didn't jump at all.

"What's wrong, runt? Scared?" one of his siblings called up, laughing as they made their way back to the top for another jump.

Bagon's legs trembled, his gaze fixed on the chasm beneath him. He wanted to retreat, to hide, but something held him there, frozen in place. His dreams, his longing to be more than what the others saw in him those thoughts kept him glued to the spot.

And then, in the distance, he saw it.

A Salamence, its massive wings stretching wide, glided through the sky with a grace and power that made Bagon's heart skip a beat. It wasn't the first time he'd seen one, but something about this moment felt different. The Salamence roared, its voice reverberating through the valley, as if calling out to him specifically.

In that instant, something inside Bagon shifted. The fear, the doubt it didn't disappear, but it quieted. In its place, a wave of determination surged through his small body. "That is my dream," he muttered to himself as he watched the dragon fly in the sky.

With a deep breath, Bagon stepped closer to the edge. His siblings, still mocking him below, didn't matter anymore. The cliff, the drop, the sharp rocks—they were all irrelevant. All that mattered was the sky. The vast, open sky where he belonged.

Without another thought, Bagon jumped.

For a brief moment, he was weightless, the wind rushing past him as the ground sped closer. His heart pounded, his eyes wide, and he felt a mix of exhilaration and terror. Would he crash like before? Or would this leap bring him closer to his dream?

The ground loomed below, but in his heart, Bagon imagined soaring, his wings cutting through the clouds like the Salamence above.

He didn't know what would come next. But for the first time in his life, he wasn't afraid of the fall.

Bagon hit the ground with a loud thud, his skull slamming into the hard earth below. The pain radiated through his body, but he gritted his teeth and got back up. His siblings, who had once mocked him, had grown bored of the cliff jumps. They had moved on to other areas, already beginning to train in combat, their heads hardening with each leap, their bodies becoming stronger.

But Bagon remained at the cliff, determined to keep jumping. Every day, he would haul himself up the rocky path, stand at the edge, and leap once more. Each time, he'd feel the same weightlessness, the rush of the wind through his scales, but the ending was always the same: a harsh collision with the ground.

Weeks passed. His head ached constantly from the repeated impacts, and his body, though tougher than it had been, was still bruised and sore. His determination kept him going, but a deep frustration began to build inside him. No matter how many times he leaped, no matter how hard he hit the ground, it seemed like he wasn't getting any closer to his dream. The other Bagon had already surpassed him, their heads harder, their leaps longer. But he remained the same runt.

One evening, as the sun set and bathed the valley in a golden light, Bagon sat at the edge of the cliff, watching a Salamence fly across the sky. It was the same one he had seen before, its wings cutting through the clouds with ease. Bagon watched it intently, his heart heavy.

Why couldn't I be like that? Why haven't I made any progress? The questions circled in his mind, growing louder and louder until he couldn't hold them back any longer.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he stared at the sky. He had worked so hard, pushed himself so far, but it still wasn't enough. The dream that seemed so close was still out of reach, and he felt as small as the day he had first been ridiculed by his siblings.

For the first time, Bagon allowed himself to cry. The sobs wracked his small body as he curled into himself, hiding his face in his stubby arms. The pain in his head from all the falls was nothing compared to the ache in his heart.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over him. Bagon wiped his eyes and looked up to see the Salamence hovering just above him. Its massive wings beat slowly, creating gusts of wind that ruffled the grass and sent small pebbles scattering. The Salamence descended gently, landing with a soft thud beside him.

"Why do you cry, little one?" Salamence's deep voice rumbled, a mixture of strength and wisdom.

Bagon hesitated, feeling a lump form in his throat. "I… I want to fly. I want to be like you, but no matter how hard I try, I can't do it. I'm too small… too weak."

Salamence regarded him with kind eyes, then settled down beside him, folding its wings. "The journey to one's dreams is never easy," Salamence said softly. "It took me many, many years to get to where I am now. I was once like you—a small, determined Bagon, jumping off cliffs with the hope of flying one day."

Bagon's eyes widened. "You were?"

Salamence nodded. "Yes. And I felt the same frustrations you feel now. But it's important to remember that true strength comes not from one leap, but from the persistence to keep leaping. Each fall, each failure, makes you stronger, even if you don't see it right away."

Bagon sniffled, his tears slowing as he listened.

Salamence placed a gentle claw on Bagon's shoulder. "You've already come far. But sometimes, the journey requires help. Find a trainer—a strong and worthy companion who will push you to your limits. With their guidance, you will grow faster and stronger. And one day, little Bagon, you will spread your wings and fly."

Bagon wiped his eyes and nodded, feeling a spark of hope reignite in his chest. "Do you really think I can do it?"

Salamence smiled. "I know you can. The sky is not as far away as it seems."

With renewed determination, Bagon stood up, gazing out over the cliff. The pain in his head was still there, but now it felt like a reminder of how far he had already come. He looked up at the sky, where the last traces of the sun were disappearing, and took a deep breath.

He would continue to jump, and one day, he would fly.

As Salamence took off into the evening sky, Bagon stood at the edge of the cliff once more. He wasn't ready to find a trainer just yet, but he knew that day would come. For now, he would keep practicing, keep leaping, and keep believing in the dream that had always burned inside him. The sky waited for him—he just needed to keep reaching for it.

Bagon had grown stronger over the past few weeks. Every leap off the cliff was still followed by a harsh landing, but the pain had lessened, and his resolve had only grown. He remembered Salamence's words—that his path would not be easy, but that each fall was making him stronger. And most of all, he remembered the advice to find a trainer. A worthy companion who could help him reach heights he couldn't achieve alone.

It was late one afternoon when Bagon noticed something unusual. He stood at the edge of his cliff, preparing for another leap, when the rustling of leaves and the soft crunch of footsteps below caught his attention. He looked down and saw a human boy, a young trainer making his way through the dense forest at the base of the cliff. By his side was a Marshtomp, the Water and Ground-type Pokémon walking closely with its trainer, their bond palpable even from a distance.

Bagon watched them curiously, the way they moved in sync, the way the boy's gaze was focused, full of determination. There was something different about him. Bagon had seen other trainers come and go, but this one... there was a strength in his demeanor, an energy that Bagon hadn't felt from any other human before.

The trainer, Brendan, stopped and looked up at the cliff where Bagon stood. His eyes locked onto Bagon, a spark of recognition crossing his face. "A Bagon," Brendan murmured. "This could be a strong addition to the team."

Bagon felt a jolt of excitement and a bit of nervousness. He had heard of trainers battling wild Pokémon before, but this was the first time one had sought him out. The excitement fluttered in his chest, and for a moment, he remembered Salamence's words: *Find a trainer. A strong one, worthy of your trust.*

Brendan pulled a Pokéball from his belt and stepped forward, his Marshtomp ready for battle. "Let's do this, Marshtomp!"

The small Bagon growled as leaped from the cliff, landing with a thud before Brendan and Marshtomp. His head throbbed, but it was a familiar pain, one that fueled his determination.

Brendan didn't hesitate. "Marshtomp, use Mud Shot!"

Marshtomp fired a blast of muddy water from its mouth, but Bagon was quick, dodging the attack with a burst of speed. He charged forward, his skull glowing with the force of his signature move headbutt. He slammed into Marshtomp, who staggered back but remained steady.

"Not bad," Brendan said with a grin. "But we're just getting started. Marshtomp, Water Gun!"

The powerful stream of water struck Bagon head-on, knocking him back. The ground beneath him turned slick with mud, and Bagon struggled to regain his footing. The pain in his body flared, but instead of retreating, he found himself pushing forward, driven by something more than just the battle. It was that bond between Brendan and Marshtomp. The way they fought together, in perfect sync, neither one commanding the other—they worked as a team, their trust in each other apparent with every move.

Is this is the strength Salamence spoke of.

Even as Marshtomp's Water Gun knocked him down again, Bagon rose to his feet. His body ached, but there was a fire burning inside him now, stronger than ever before. He wanted to be part of something like that. He wanted to fight alongside someone who could push him, guide him, help him grow.

Brendan noticed the shift in Bagon's stance. "You're a tough one," he said, impressed. "But let's see how you handle this! Marshtomp, finish it with Tackle!"

Marshtomp charged, but Bagon was ready. He met Marshtomp head-on with another powerful Headbutt, the collision sending both Pokémon tumbling back. Bagon panted, his energy almost spent, but he stood tall, locking eyes with Brendan.

Brendan reached for a Pokéball, understanding the silent agreement in Bagon's eyes. "You've got spirit, little guy," Brendan said softly, holding the ball out. "Let's see if you're ready for this journey."

Bagon didn't flinch. As the Pokéball flew toward him, he closed his eyes and allowed himself to be enveloped in the red light, feeling a strange sense of calm. Inside the Pokéball, he could feel the warmth, the bond forming even now between him and Brendan. There was no fear, no regret—only excitement for the future.

As the ball clicked shut, Bagon's thoughts swirled with images of soaring through the sky, of battles fought side by side with his new trainer. The journey ahead would be long and difficult, but Bagon knew now that he wasn't alone. He had found his partner. And one day, together, they would fly.