Bryan's small form trembled as he pressed himself against the rough bark of an old oak, hiding away in the thick forest. His shoulder and calf burned where the belt had landed, and his skin was smeared with dirt from stumbling in his hurried escape. Hunched over with his arms wrapped tightly around his knees, he buried his tear-streaked face, trying to muffle his sobs.
He wanted so badly to understand why everything had changed. A year ago, his father had been the kind of man who would toss him into the air, laughing as he'd caught him, making him feel like the happiest kid alive. But now, since he'd taken to drinking, the house had turned cold and heavy with anger. It was as if something inside his dad had twisted and warped, leaving Bryan to walk on eggshells, constantly bracing for the next outburst. And tonight, it had come in a storm, over something small that Bryan couldn't even remember now. All he knew was the sting of the belt, and his dad's face red with anger.
A few Bug Pokémon nestled in the tree above him, barely noticing him through the leaves. A bright-green Metapod clung to a branch while a gentle Butterfree drifted by, wings shimmering in the fading daylight. But even their soft presence wasn't enough to calm him, not now.
Bryan sniffed, wiping his nose with the back of his hand as his crying finally slowed, leaving him feeling small and tired. He knew he couldn't stay here forever, but going back home felt even scarier than the darkening woods around him. Curling his fingers into the dirt, he took a shaky breath, wondering if he'd ever feel safe again.
Bryan jumped as he heard footsteps crunching through the leaves behind him. He looked up to see a girl his age, wearing a white dress and a wide-brimmed white hat that framed her chubby, round face. Her eyes, a deep, almost mesmerizing shade of purple, stared at him with irritation, and her teal hair peeked out in soft waves beneath her hat.
"Hey! You're in my spot!" she huffed, crossing her arms with a fierce little pout.
Bryan sniffed, rubbing at his damp cheeks with his sleeve, feeling indignant. "Your spot? I'm here all the time," he argued back, planting his hands on his hips to match her stance. "I was here first!"
The girl's pout only deepened, and she tilted her head at him, almost like she was studying a puzzle. "No way," she said, shaking her head with a haughty tone. "This is my secret spot. I found it ages ago. You probably just stumbled here by accident!"
"Did not!" Bryan shot back, his voice raising a little. "I've been coming here forever!" He puffed up, refusing to let her chase him away from the one place he could find some peace.
But then, something strange happened. Without warning, he felt his feet lift off the ground. His eyes widened as he rose into the air, flailing his arms. "H-Hey! Put me down!" he yelled, looking down to see the girl staring at him with an amused smirk.
The girl let out a little giggle, barely hiding her pride. "Not until you say it's my spot!" she declared, holding her arms out as if lifting an invisible weight.
"I'm not saying that!" Bryan squirmed, feeling both amazed and annoyed. "Come on, this isn't fair! Put me down!"
After a moment, the girl tilted her head, relenting as she slowly lowered him back onto the ground, her pout returning. "Fine," she muttered, brushing off her dress. "But if you're staying here, don't go messing with my stuff."
Bryan glared at her but felt a hint of curiosity tugging at him. "Maybe I won't."
Bryan's eyes were wide with wonder and just a bit of fear as he stared at the girl standing before him. "How'd you… how'd you do that?" he asked, voice catching slightly. "How did you make me fly in the air?" He rubbed his arms, trying to shake off the strange feeling of being lifted, like he was just a toy or something. Sabrina's deep purple eyes gleamed with a mischievous spark, her expression half-proud, half-playful.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" she teased, her smile widening as she watched his reaction. Before Bryan could protest, he felt his feet lift off the ground again. His heart leapt into his throat as he looked down to see the dirt getting farther and farther away.
"H-Hey! Put me down!" he yelped, flailing his legs as he floated several feet up in the air. His hands reached out, grabbing at the empty air in a panic. "I don't like this!"
Sabrina's giggle echoed through the forest, light and full of amusement as she held him there just a little longer. With a small wave of her hand, she gently set him back down on the ground. Bryan stumbled as his feet touched solid earth again, crossing his arms as he tried to play off his embarrassment.
"I don't like being lifted like that," he muttered, scowling at her. "How'd you even do it?"
Sabrina shrugged, as if floating people was as simple as skipping a stone across a pond. "I was just born this way, I guess," she said, brushing a stray lock of teal hair back under her white hat. "Mama says it's a 'gift,'" she added with a little eye roll, as if she didn't take it that seriously. She cocked her head to the side, looking him up and down. "Who even are you, anyway?"
Bryan straightened, trying to shake off his nerves and reclaim a bit of his pride. "I'll tell you my name…" he started, a small smirk creeping onto his face, "…if you promise not to make me fly again."
Sabrina huffed but crossed her heart with her finger. "Fine. I promise."
Bryan relaxed, his pout turning into a grin. "I'm Bryan. I'm six," he said proudly, as if the age alone made him important. Sabrina raised her eyebrows, her expression slightly impressed, but then she narrowed her eyes, not wanting to let him get too cocky.
"I'm five," she replied, lifting her chin. "But my birthday's soon, so I'm almost six!" She tilted her head up defiantly, and Bryan felt a laugh bubbling up, feeling a spark of challenge in her tone.
"Well, then I'm still older," he said, crossing his arms with a little smirk. "So I'm the boss."
Instantly, Sabrina's eyes narrowed. "Say that again, and I'll lift you up into a tree!" she warned, her voice both serious and a bit pouty. Bryan laughed and quickly held his hands up in surrender.
"Okay, okay! You win!" he said, chuckling. He could already tell this girl was something else.
After a moment of teasing and laughter, Sabrina tilted her head, her curiosity not quite satisfied. "So… what are you doing here, anyway?" she asked, peering at him with those big purple eyes. There was a genuine interest there, something Bryan hadn't seen from other kids his age.
Bryan hesitated, his gaze shifting to the ground as he kicked at the dirt. He shrugged, trying to act like it wasn't a big deal. "I just… don't like it at home sometimes." he said quietly, scratching at his shoulder where a fresh welt from his dad's belt was still throbbing.
Sabrina's face softened, her playful expression turning serious. "I don't like it either." she admitted, glancing away as she fiddled with the hem of her white dress. "It's boring, and I always have to stay in my room."
Bryan looked up, surprised. "They make you stay in your room? Like… all the time?"
Sabrina nodded, her mouth pulling into a small pout. "Mom and Dad say my 'gift' is… dangerous. So they don't want me wandering around," she said, mimicking her parents' stern voices with an exaggerated frown. "But when they go out, I sneak out here. This is my special spot," she added proudly, lifting her chin like she'd gotten away with something big. "I get to play here, where nobody bothers me."
Bryan's eyes widened. "Really? You're not even allowed to go outside?" he asked, disbelief in his voice. She nodded again, looking down as if that fact weighed heavy on her shoulders.
"So… do you come here every day?" she asked, her gaze softening as she studied him. It was a simple question, but Bryan shifted uncomfortably, glancing away.
"No," he admitted, voice lowering to a whisper. "Only when Daddy gets angry." He swallowed, hesitating before adding, "And Mom's not home."
Something shifted in Sabrina's face, a strange light sparking in her eyes. She leaned closer, voice barely a whisper. "Wow… we're the same," she murmured, sounding almost awestruck. "My parents… they think I'm dangerous, too. So they make me stay in, and I only come out when I can sneak away."
Bryan stared at her, blinking as her words settled into his mind. He'd never met anyone who knew what it was like to feel so… trapped, so out of place in their own home. It was oddly comforting to know he wasn't alone.
"Well…" Bryan paused, offering her a small, understanding smile. "Maybe we can both have this spot, then. We can keep it a secret," he suggested. "A place just for us."
Sabrina's face lit up, and for a moment, she looked almost relieved, like she'd been waiting a long time for someone to say exactly that. "Yeah," she agreed, nodding eagerly. "Our secret spot."
Bryan woke up in the dim light of the rented hotel room, the soft hum of the city outside barely reaching his ears. He rubbed his face, feeling the stubble on his jaw—a subtle reminder of the years that had passed since he'd last been home. His features had grown sharper, more defined, the result of years of training, traveling, and battling. His once youthful face had gained a slight edge, the kind that came with age and experience. But despite the growth, he still felt the weight of the boy he used to be—the one who ran away in the dead of night, the one who couldn't stay in a place where love came with fists.
Even now, as a grown man, his father's shadow still loomed over him. The guilt never fully faded, lingering in the corners of his mind. Leaving Sabrina behind had been a decision he regretted every day, though he would never admit it. It had felt like the only way to escape, to breathe in a world that constantly reminded him of the people and the pain he was trying to forget.
He glanced down at the two Poké Balls resting at his side. They were the only two he had left—the ones containing Metagross and Gardevoir. After the intense years of training, after beating Cynthia, he had released most of his Pokémon, setting them free to live their lives as they chose. But Metagross and Gardevoir? They were different. They were the last remaining pieces of the life he had built, the ones who had stuck with him through the toughest battles. He didn't want to let them go. They were family now, in their own way.
Bryan stared at the ceiling, thoughts swirling. The only time he felt truly connected to his past, his real self, was when he was with them. He knew he couldn't run forever, but there were parts of him that still longed to. Yet, as much as he tried to push it all away, the ties that bound him to his family—especially Sabrina—were still there, tugging him back.
Bryan and his team trekked through the rocky terrain of Hoenn, the mountains near Granite Cave offering a quiet respite after the long journey. It had been a month since he'd defeated Cynthia, but the road back home still felt like it stretched out before him; Sinnoh, Hoenn, Johto, and then back to Kanto. It had taken time, traveling with his team of loyal Pokémon: Aggron, Gardevoir, Swampert, and Metagross. He hadn't expected the journey to be this long, but he wasn't in any rush to return. There was still too much to sort through, too much in his past that needed to be faced.
As he walked, he couldn't help but reminisce about how far he'd come. A decade of training, battles, and struggles, but even now, with the title of Champion behind him, he still felt the weight of his past on his shoulders. And today, as his team marched beside him, there was no escaping the guilt that gnawed at him. He had run away from his family, from Sabrina, and now, after all this time, he wasn't sure what he was even returning to.
The quiet was shattered by the sound of distant rustling. Bryan narrowed his eyes, scanning the area. His team noticed it too. Aggron's posture shifted, more alert, as it looked toward a clearing. A group of Torkoals, Numels, and Aarons were running away, their movements frantic and disoriented. Bryan's heart dropped as he saw the source of their distress a trainer was laughing, urging his Tyranitar forward as it rampaged through the area.
The Tyranitar's raw power was overwhelming, and Bryan could see a Torkoal and Lairon struggling to hold their ground. They were outmatched.
Aggron's body tensed as its massive frame loomed protectively in front of Bryan. The mountain air seemed to grow still, the quiet before the storm palpable. Bryan could feel the raw energy emanating from his Pokémon, the protective instincts so deep in Aggron's bones it almost felt like a second nature. But unlike the wild Torkoals, Numels and Aarons, this group had no alpha to defend them. They were scattered and vulnerable, without a Camerupt or an Aggron of their own to stand in the way of Tyranitar's wrath. Bryan's heart sank as he watched the chaos unfold.
The Torkoals scrambled desperately, while the Lairon attempted to charge in, only to be shoved aside by the Tyranitar's colossal bulk. The wild Pokémon were no match for the brute force of the rampaging predator. Without a leader, they had no structure, no way to fight back effectively. They were disorganized, and the group was slowly being driven to the edge of the clearing.
Aggron's gaze flickered between the wild Pokémon and the Tyranitar, the growl rumbling in its chest becoming louder with each passing moment. Bryan knew that it wasn't just about the battle; Aggron wasn't going to let this happen on its watch. The Steel-type's protectiveness surged, the drive to defend those who couldn't protect themselves pushing it forward, Aggron brought down Candice's Abomasnow singlehandedly at Snowpoint Gym, brought down the pesky Milotic of Cynthia, and this one was all to ready to face down the Tyranitar and his cocky trainer head-on.
Bryan didn't need to give Aggron any orders as he trusted his partner completely. As a Sinnoh Champion, he had spent years honing his bond with his Pokémon, and Aggron, with its strength and confidence, didn't need any further instruction. The Steel-type Pokémon was ready, its protective instincts flaring.
The wild Pokémon continued to scatter in panic, unaware of the looming threat. The Tyranitar's trainer stood off to the side, laughing maniacally, urging his Pokémon to cause more destruction. "Move, Tyranitar! Rock Throw! let's show them who's boss!" he shouted gleefully, pointing toward the group of wild Pokémon, gesturing as if it were all just a game. His Tyranitar obeyed, hurling massive boulders toward the fleeing Numel and Torkoal, sending them tumbling as the wild Pokémon scrambled for cover, the Aarons taking shelter from behind a boulder.
But the trainer's cocky grin faltered as he failed to notice the massive figure rising from the shadows. From the high ledge above, Aggron suddenly launched itself with a primal roar, descending from above in a calculated ambush. The Tyranitar, distracted by its trainer's commands, barely had time to react before Aggron's massive body collided with it, slamming the Rock-type into the ground with a bone-shaking impact.
The ground quaked under the weight of the collision, and the Tyranitar's startled roar echoed through the forest. Aggron's sharp horns gleamed in the sunlight as it stood over the downed Tyranitar, its gaze unwavering and fierce.
The trainer, stunned by the sudden turn of events, shouted at his Tyranitar to get up, but it was clear the battle was over before it had even begun. Aggron didn't wait for an opening; it was relentless. With a powerful Iron Tail, the steel-plated tail crashed into Tyranitar's side, sending the Pokémon tumbling across the ground, unable to regain its footing.
But Aggron wasn't finished yet. With a swift Metal Claw, its claws shimmered with steel energy as they raked across Tyranitar's face, leaving deep scratches on the Rock-type's hardened hide. The Tyranitar growled weakly, struggling to rise, but Aggron stood tall, keeping the pressure on.
The Tyranitar's trainer, realizing he couldn't win this fight, cursed under his breath and recalled his Pokémon back into its Pokéball. Red-faced and humiliated, the trainer didn't waste a second more. He turned and fled, running into the trees, leaving Aggron standing tall, its chest heaving with each breath.
Bryan watched the scene unfold, his expression calm as Aggron stood victorious. His partner's protective instincts had carried them through once again, ensuring the wild Pokémon were safe. Aggron's horns glinted in the sunlight as it stood proudly, its gaze following the fleeing trainer. The wild Pokémon had scattered in all directions, safe once more, thanks to Aggron's swift intervention.
Aggron's roar ripped through the air, deep and primal, shaking the very earth beneath them. It was a warning; raw, powerful, and unwavering. The wild Pokémon, still skittish from the chaos moments before, slowly began to emerge from the cover of the rocky terrain. The Numels, hesitant but relieved, shuffled forward, their round bodies moving carefully across the rugged ground. The Torkoals, still wary but reassured by the presence of the massive Steel-type, crept out from the debris, their rocky shells coated with the remnants of the earlier confrontation.
Even the downed Lairon, battered but not broken, struggled to its feet. Its eyes, once clouded with fear, were now filled with a sense of respect and acknowledgment for Aggron's strength. It took slow, cautious steps toward the larger Pokémon, its posture a sign of submission.
The wild Aarons, who had initially fled in fear, now emerged from the rubble, their sharp eyes scanning the scene as they approached Aggron. They moved warily, recognizing the strength of the imposing Steel-type that had defended them and sent the Tyranitar's trainer running.
Bryan and his team, now standing at the edge of the scene, approached slowly. Aggron, still standing tall and proud, surveyed the wild Pokémon around them, its protective instincts unwavering. With the threat gone, the battlefield had fallen into a calm, the wild Pokémon safe once more under Aggron's watchful gaze.
Bryan smiled softly as he watched Aggron stand tall, surrounded by the wild Pokémon. He couldn't help but feel a swell of pride in his chest, watching the bond he shared with his partner extend to the very wild Pokémon Aggron had protected. Aggron, with its imposing presence and strength, had always been a symbol of security for Bryan—one of the few things that had remained constant in his life. But as Bryan looked at the Aarons, the Numels, and the Torkoals gathering around, he understood something else. They needed Aggron. The wild Pokémon were grateful, but they were also vulnerable. The Lairon, though strong, was still too young to defend the area like Aggron could.
Bryan's gaze softened, and he looked at Aggron with a mixture of love and bittersweet understanding. "You've been with me for so long… growing alongside me… but I can't keep you forever," Bryan thought, knowing this was the right choice, no matter how difficult it was. "You're needed here more than you're needed with me right now."
He approached Aggron, placing a hand on its broad shoulder, and with a firm but gentle voice, he said, "I'm proud of you, old friend. You're stronger than I could have ever imagined, and you've always been by my side."
Aggron let out a low whine, as if protesting the idea, but Bryan was insistent. "I need you to stay here, Aggron. You have a role here—these wild Pokémon need you. You're their protector now."
With one last, lingering look at his partner, Bryan took out Aggron's Pokéball and held it in his hand. Instead of recalling him, Bryan turned the ball in his hand, looking down at it for a moment. Then, without hesitation, he gently pressed the button, before placing it on the ground, stomping on the round ball, breaking it under his feet, releasing Aggron back into the wild.
"Take care, Aggron," Bryan whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You're needed here."
Aggron looked up at him with a mixture of confusion and reluctant acceptance, but there was no turning back now. It gave a low growl of acknowledgment before moving to stand tall among the wild Pokémon, taking its place as their guardian.
As Aggron took its place among the wild Pokémon, Gardevoir, Swampert, and Metagross slowly approached, one by one. Gardevoir was first, her arms gently wrapping around Aggron's massive form. Her soft, comforting embrace contrasted with his hardened steel body, but Aggron allowed it, understanding the affection behind it. Swampert, the big, burly Water-type, was next, his deep, rumbling voice thick with emotion as he sniffled. He hugged Aggron with all his might, trying to keep his composure. Aggron, though a tough warrior, softened in Swampert's arms, the bond between them undeniable.
Metagross, unable to physically hug his partner due to his rigid form, used his psychic abilities to send a gentle, warm wave of affection, a telekinetic hug that says it all. It was as close of a hug as he could get, and it was enough.
Bryan was the last to step forward. He placed a hand on Aggron's shoulder, his fingers tracing the cold, familiar contours of his partner's body. With a deep breath, he pulled Aggron into one final embrace. "I'm proud of you," Bryan whispered, the words heavy with bittersweet finality.
Aggron let out a powerful roar, its voice primal, as if bidding farewell to the ones who had been by its side for so long. The wild Aarons, Lairon, Numels, and Torkoals, sensing their leader's departure, slowly began to approach, following Aggron's lead. With a final glance back at the team, Aggron turned, heading toward Granite Cave, leaving behind a piece of its heart with the family it had grown with.
Hi guys, please leave a review. This is my first time writing a pokemon fanfic here. I'm a huge fan of a pokemon and this is something I had in my mind for quite awhile. My writing style is really not suited for pokemon fanfic cause I'm quite a bit of a serious writer lol. But I hope you will love it, a bit of a shameless OC I made up in my mind with quite a feat of strength, but I dont care lol.
Please leave a review guys, I will appreciate it and it really inspires me knowing people would give their time to voice out their opinions on his.