This time, the Bagon understood what Aoki meant.
"Feed yourself something and come with me. It'll be delicious, and you'll have enough."
But looking at the person in front of it, the Bagon felt a kind of resistance in its heart.
When a pseudo-legendary Pokémon like Bagon is born, it possesses a very strong sense of self—it knows that it will fly one day! Just like how Groudon knew to.
Regardless, Bagon's mind was filled with fantasies of soaring through the sky. Even in the dark underground, it always believed it could fly.
People say that Salamence are fierce, but in truth, it's because of their overwhelming obsession with flight. This obsession begins as a Bagon, and once it evolves and finally gains wings, the excitement often leads to reckless behavior.
For example, mid-flight, it might become so exhilarated that it breathes flames into the forest below, harming the Pokémon underneath.
In short, flying is this species' deepest desire from birth.
The same was true for the stunted Bagon standing before Aoki.
It didn't know if following Aoki would let it fly, nor did it fully understand what following him meant.
As if sensing its hesitation, Aoki smiled and said, "I know your dream is to grow wings and fly. Follow me, listen to my training, and I promise you'll soar as effortlessly as Honchkrow!"
With that, Aoki gestured to the Honchkrow beside him.
The Bagon stared at Honchkrow with envy.
Flight…
Its resolve wavered slightly.
Aoki knew that with just a little more persuasion, the Bagon would accept him.
Though it had developed some bad habits, they weren't as deeply ingrained as in its previous life. There was still time to correct them.
First, however, Aoki needed to restore its potential and heal its hidden injuries to prevent long-term damage.
The Bagon was lost in thought, and Aoki gave it space.
But just because Aoki didn't interfere didn't mean others wouldn't.
The two Team Aqua members he had noticed earlier had now entered the tunnel he was in.
The path they had initially taken led to a dead end, so they doubled back.
Now, spotting the unconscious Solrock and Lunatone along the way, they realized someone else was ahead.
Determined not to let anyone interfere with their mission for Team Aqua's executive, Archie, they decided to investigate.
If the intruder was weak, they'd eliminate them quickly.
"Slowking!" The Slowking called out, using Telepathy to warn Aoki of their approach.
Though the two grunts moved fast, Aoki's Slowking had already sensed them with its psychic abilities.
"Gengar, hide!" Aoki ordered instinctively.
"I didn't expect them to show up now," Aoki muttered, rising to his feet. "I wasn't looking for trouble, but since they're here, I have no choice."
Just then, the Team Aqua members—Lina and Pash—appeared at the cave entrance.
In the dim glow of the cavern's crystals, they spotted Aoki—and behind him, the Bagon.
Their eyes gleamed with greed.
A rare pseudo-legendary Pokémon! If they captured it, their status in Team Aqua would skyrocket. Even if they sold it, they'd make a fortune.
Standing between them and the Bagon, Aoki was nothing more than an obstacle.
And in their minds, blocking their path to wealth was unforgivable.
Of course, they didn't realize that Aoki's hostility toward them was a far greater concern.
This Bagon couldn't be exposed—just like his Larvitar.
He wasn't some powerful champion or a high-ranking League official. He was just a small-town Gym Leader. Even with his League recognition, it wasn't enough to guarantee his safety.
People would kill for a pseudo-legendary.
Which meant these two grunts couldn't leave alive.
Judging by their uniforms and the Pokémon beside them—a Sharpedo and a Mightyena—they were at least Elite-tier Trainers.
Their Dark-type Pokémon gave them an advantage against the Psychic-type Solrock and Lunatone.
And with Sharpedo's Water typing, they were perfectly equipped to handle this cave.
"Kid!" Pash barked. "Hand over that Pokémon behind you, and we might let you live!"
The Bagon flinched under their predatory gazes, shrinking back.
The Mismagius hovering beside it patted its head reassuringly.
Pokémon weren't objects to be traded!
That look in their eyes disgusted her.
At that moment, Mismagius felt protective of the timid Bagon. Its scars, its hesitation—it all stirred something in her.
She might not be the strongest, but she wouldn't let them hurt it.
Bolstered by Mismagius's touch, the Bagon steadied itself.
And as it looked at Aoki—standing firm, unmoving—it realized something.
This human… wasn't so bad.
If anyone could teach it to fly, maybe it was him.