FicWad

"That was cutting it a bit close..." Sean grumbled after avoiding the group of hostile Houndour, along with its leader, Houndoom. He looked to the mysterious creature "Thanks for the save, by the way."

"Way to go! For a second, I thought you were both goners!" Nemona said with a relieved sigh.

Sean didn't respond to that as he saw the creature now staring at the lighthouse that was nearby. It then began walking out of the cave and made its way towards the building, then a glowing reddish-orange light enveloped the creature, who collapsed with a soft pained groan, reverting back to the form it was before. Sean and Nemona rushed to the creature's side in concern.

"Whoa?! What's wrong?!" Nemona exclaimed.

"It was just like before..." Sean muttered to himself.

"Maybe it used up all its power?" Nemona assumed, looking at the strange creature "What is this Pokémon, anyway? It kinda looks like a Cyclizar, but I've never seen one quite like this before... And now it looks so different from a minute ago. You think it's OK?"

Sean shrugged slightly. "It's hard to say."

"You can't tell either, huh, Sean?" Nemona looked at her friend. "Well, all that aside, I'm seriously glad to have you back up here in one piece! You know...that battle down there was really something. You and this fella looked perfectly in sync facing down that Houndoom!"

"Actually, I didn't give it a command." Sean confessed.

Nemona looked surprised to hear that. "What?! You didn't even tell it what to do? I guess it's not like you're this Pokémon's trainer yet, huh..." Both Trainers were caught off guard when the creature got back up and stood on all fours, letting out a friendly growl "Oh good! Looks like it perked up a little! Do you think this fella was the one making that mysterious cry we heard before?"

"It's a possibility." Sean answered simply, as the strange creature let out another growl.

That seemed to trigger Nemona's excitement even more. "Oh man, oh man, oh man! The more I look at this Pokémon, the more mysterious it seems! If you do become its Trainer, you gotta let me battle against it!" She took out her black Rotom Phone. "Let's exchange numbers so we can get in touch if we somehow get separated again!"

"Good idea." Sean agreed, taking out his own Rotom Phone as they exchanged contact details.

Nemona reached into her bag and held out a small white disc. It was TM032, Swift. "And here—this'll let you teach your Pokémon a move to help it battle stronger opponents! Think before you use it, though! TMs can only be used once."

"I'll use it well, thanks." Sean replied, putting the TM Disc away 'Sounds similar to TR's in Galar. Better use them wisely.'

"You've both been through enough for a minute! I think we better take a breather." Nemona suggested, then gestured to the lighthouse. "Let's just get to the lighthouse—that'll be a good spot to relax."

"Agreed." Sean said as he began sliding down the small slope, with Nemona and the creature following him.

Getting a better look of the lighthouse, Sean saw a building connected to it with a door on the left side of the lighthouse, and there was a person standing in front of the door.

The person turned around, revealing a young man with messy blonde hair and green eyes. He wears a white and orange shirt and necktie with a blue vest with the Naranja Academy's emblem on the front, orange pants and brown boots. He carries a yellow backpack in his back. His gaze was fixed on the strange creature, followed by an expression of anger.

"Why that little...!" The male teen bolted towards them, now standing in front of the creature "What're you doing out here?!" He questioned in a accusatory tone, to which the creature quizzingly looked at him. The teen side-glanced at Sean and Nemona. "I'm not talking to you two. You can shove off."

"I beg your pardon?!" Sean questioned, deeply annoyed that he was spoken to like that.

"Calm down, Sean." Nemona stopped her friend from escalating things, then asked the teen with a look of realization. "Wait, I know you... Aren't you Arven? You're enrolled in the humanities track, right? And aren't you the son of that Pokémon researcher—Professor Sada?"

The teen known as Arven, immediately whirled to glare at Nemona. "Doesn't matter who my mom is! The real issue here is what in the world this Pokémon is doing out here! And what is with this form it's in?!"

"Just so you know..." Sean crossed his arms "That Pokemon saved my neck just before."

Nemona also stepped in. "See, we heard this strange cry, and we tried to investigate, but Sean fell off a cliff... That Pokémon saved him, but it seems like it wore itself out in the process. It got kinda... slumpy afterward. But you should have seen it before! It looked totally different—it was unbelievably strong!"

Arven took in what the two were saying, then looked towards the creature. "Well, yeah. As it should be. But it can't fight while it's like this. The form Koraidon takes in battle... That's its true form."

"Koraidon? Is that this Pokémon's name? How'd you know it?" Nemona questioned. The creature, Koraidon, turned to the building and stared at the door, letting out a cry.

"You can't go in the lab. It's locked." Arven told the Pokemon, then looked towards Sean. "I don't remember ever seeing you around. But given the uniform...you go to the academy too, do you?"

"That I am. It'll be my first day." Sean answered firmly.

Arven looked at him quizzingly before speaking with crossed arms. "Koraidon isn't the sort of Pokémon that any old trainer can hope to command. It's special."

"Special how? What sort of Pokémon is it?" Nemona asked.

Arven didn't respond as he glanced at her before looking straight at Sean. "You think you're up to ordering Koraidon around? Then how 'bout I test your worthiness?"

That made Sean smirk as he held out a Poke Ball. "Bring it on. I'll take on any challenge that comes my way."

Arven couldn't help but smirk at the boy's confidence. "Heh! Well, look at you—quite the little go-getter!" He moved some slight distance away as Sean did the same with Nemona and Koraidon now standing nearby, watching the upcoming battle. "I've been feeling all out of sorts, so I'm gonna use this battle to blast these doldrums away! Let's go, Rufflet!"

He throws the Poke Ball, sending out a small avian Pokémon with a blue body. A large white plume of feathers covers its head and three tail feathers extend from its lower back. The feathery ruff extends down past its neck, covering the upper third of its body. Its face is blue with five pointed tips, resembling a mask and crown in contrast to the white feathers surrounding it. Extending from its forehead is a large feather, which is red on the lower half and white on the upper half. The split between the two colors on the feather resembles a zigzag pattern. Its beak is short and wide, with large eyes on either side. Each eye has a thick black iris with a small white pupil. Its yellow legs and feet are large in comparison to the body. Each foot has four digits: one backwards, and three forwards.

Sean took out his Pokedex and scanned the new Pokemon. 'Rufflet, the Eaglet Pokemon. A Normal and Flying Type. Rufflet's talons are powerful, able to crack open even the toughest Berries. It often challenges stronger opponents to battle.'

"Fuecoco, you're up!" Sean called, sending the Fire Croc Pokemon out to battle. Fuecoco let out a battle craw.

"These memories are leaving a bad taste in my mouth—and I want it gone!" Arven muttered "Rufflet, strike first with Peck!" As instructed, Rufflet dived down with his beak now glowing yellow, moving to strike Fuecoco.

"Dodge and use Ember, Fuecoco!" Sean commanded.

Fuecoco ducked the avoid the incoming Peck, then looked back as it fired a ball of flames, making direct contact with Rufflet. The Eaglet Pokemon squawked in pain but made a quick recovery, glaring at his opponent.

"Wing Attack!" Arven ordered quickly. Rufflet spreads his wings, which began to let off a light blue glow.

"Counter with Bite!" Sean said.

As Rufflet got close enough, Fuecoco opened its mouth and bit down on Rufflet's wing, effectively blocking the attack while keeping a firm grip of Rufflet, who tried to fly back and get free, to no avail.

"Quick, use Slash!" Arven called out. Rufflet stops struggling, then raised his glowing talons and slashed Fuecoco across the face, causing the Fire Croc to clutch its face in pain while releasing the Eaglet Pokemon as it flew back. "Continue the assault with Peck!"

Rufflet began to descend towards Fuecoco, who was still clutching its head from the previous attack until noticing the incoming opponent.

"Duck, Fuecoco!" Sean shouted immediately. At the last minute, Fuecoco manages to duck down to avoid Rufflet's Peck attack. "Tackle, now!" Fuecoco slams its head right into Rufflet's stomach, which caught Arven by surprise as he saw the Eaglet Pokemon knocked into the air "Finish it with Ember!"

Fuecoco took in a deep breath and fired another ball of fire that explodes upon contact with Rufflet, who falls onto the ground with swirls in his eyes, indicating that Rufflet is now unable to battle.

"Seems like you know a thing or two about battle." Arven sighed as he returned his defeated Pokemon.

Sean picked up his Fuecoco with a proud smile "Great work out there, buddy." Fuecoco crawed happily in response, and was then returned back to its Poke Ball.

Nemona walked over, patting her friend on the back "Wow, Sean! That was awesome!"

"I guess I wasn't ever going to stand a chance using some Pokémon I'd only just caught..." Arven admitted as he slumped over before standing up straight once more "But if you really think you can take Koraidon off my hands for me...you'll need this." He holds out a Poke Ball, which looked old, and hands it to Sean. "It's the Poke Ball that brute's been kept in."

"So why'd YOU have it?" Nemona questioned.

Arven glanced away to avoid answering, and said instead. "Anyway, that thing's your problem now, not mine. Good luck." Without warning, he suddenly dashes off down the road.

"What? Oye! Can you not hear me or something?" Nemona shouted out loud, but was left unanswered once again. "Fine, be that way! But you better actually show up for school! What a weirdo..."

Sean chuckled as he looked towards Koraidon. "Alright, bud. Let's get you some rest." He returned the Pokemon to its Poke Ball and puts it away.

Nemona crossed her arms. "That Arven guy definitely knows more than he's letting on. Next time, he and I are battling! I'm gonna wring some answers outta him!"

"Knowing you, he wouldn't stand a chance." Sean remarked with a smirk.

"Heh, I guess." Nemona replied in amusement, then had a look of realization. "But oh, right—we gotta climb the lighthouse! Can't wait to show you the view of our school!" She moved towards the lighthouse and began climbing up the ladder.

Sean stared at Koraidon's Poke Ball in deep thought, wondering what secrets it has and what Arven truly knows but decided to hold off until he had more information. After pocketing the Poke Ball, Sean moved to climb up the ladder himself, where he reaches the top and sees Nemona leaning against the railing, looking out to the view of Paldea. Sean moved to stand beside her.

"Look, Sean! That's Mesagoza!" Nemona pointed at the large city in distance, with many buildings. One building seemed to stand out over the rest, with spires around it and a Poke Ball sculpture at the center. It was one that Sean recognized as he saw it on books "And that huge building with the Poke Ball on it is our school!"

'Naranja Academy...' Sean thought to himself, a smile etched upon his face.

"It's gonna be so great having you in the same class, Sean!" Nemona exclaimed excitedly.

"I'm looking forward to it." Sean admitted.

Nemona grinned. "Right? I can't wait to get back. We're gonna learn so much...and battle so, so, SO much! Isn't it awesome what you can see from up here?" She asked as they both looked forward to the many sights that were awe-inspiring. "Mountains! Forests! Grasslands! Beautiful nature stuff, as far as the eye can see! And you know what's waiting for you all over these natural spaces? Tons of Pokémon!" She turned to Sean, who looked back at her "Consider this me officially telling you: welcome to Paldea!"

"And I truly thank you for that, Nemona." Sean said sincerely.

"But anyway, like you can see, it's kind of a hike to get into school from here." Nemona stated "Let's make it to Los Platos for starters. That's right on the way!"

Sean nods in response "Sure thing."

"Vamos! C'mon!" Nemona quickly bolted towards the ladder, making her way down.

"Guess we're meeting up at Los Platos then." Sean chuckled at his friend's excitement "But it wouldn't hurt to try and catch another Pokemon to up the team." With that said, he made his way down the ladder and began walking down the road.

Unbeknownst to him, a person was standing behind the building and hidden in the shadows as he watched the young boy disappear out of sight.

"So... he was given the 'Winged King'..." The hidden person noted. "But it's clear that it hasn't regained its full strength... Guess only time will tell..." He moved away, disappearing out of sight.