Drayden stood in front of Ethan, his arms crossed, his presence radiating the calm but commanding aura of a seasoned Dragon Master. He had just finished a brief test — a pulse of his own Aura to gauge Ethan's reaction. The result had been… fascinating. The dragons in the garden stirred, responding to Ethan's presence as if recognizing one of their own.
The old dragon tamer's lips curved into a faint, approving smile. "You handled that well, young Harmonia."
He straightened up, his deep voice carrying the weight of decades of discipline and pride. "I have one question for you."
Ethan tilted his head, still feeling the faint tremor of energy inside him.
"Do you want to be a Dragon Master?" Drayden asked, his tone firm but not unkind. "If you accept, you'll be trained in the Dragon Village alongside our other prodigy — Lance. Together, you could become the strongest Dragon trainers in the world. But there is one condition…"
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"You can only use Dragon-types — or Pokémon with draconic qualities, such as that Noibat you rescued."
The world seemed to go quiet for a moment. Kitsu, standing beside him, looked like she was about to squeal with excitement at the thought. Even Elm's usually calm expression turned curious, wondering what Ethan's answer would be.
Ethan looked up at Drayden. His small hands clenched, not in fear — but in quiet determination.
Then, he shook his head.
"Thanks, Mr. Drayden," he said honestly, his tone respectful yet firm. "But I don't want to be just a Dragon Trainer."
Drayden blinked, caught off guard. "Oh?"
Ethan looked at his Noibat, who chirped weakly in his arms, then back at the imposing man before him. "I wanna use Dragon-types, yeah… but also others. I don't wanna limit myself to one kind. I wanna understand all Pokémon — even Fairy-types."
Elm's brows lifted. "Fairies too, huh? That's brave for someone who just met a Noibat."
Drayden studied him for a long moment. The old dragon's expression softened into something resembling pride. "Hmph… few have the courage to speak against tradition, boy. Even fewer do so with conviction."
He turned to Shinku, smirking slightly. "Your son's got quite the fire in him. Reminds me of myself."
Shinku chuckled. "Good thing he's not old enough to grow one yet."
Drayden nodded, stepping back. "Very well. I won't press you, Ethan Harmonia. But remember this — whether you train dragons, fairies, or anything else… power comes from understanding, not restriction. You have the makings of a true trainer."
Kitsu's eyes sparkled with pride. "See! I told you you'd be awesome!"
Ethan grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Hehe… guess I'll just have to prove it someday."
Drayden gave a deep laugh, the kind that shook the air like thunder. "I'll be waiting to see that day, boy. Don't disappoint me."
Elm then looked at Ethan, smiling lightly. "Hey kid, if you had to pick a Starter — or rather, your partner Pokémon — what would it be? Just curious to see where your instincts lie."
Ethan blinked, caught off guard by the question. His mind spun for a moment, memories flashing — or maybe they weren't memories, but fragments from before.
Three glowing wheels.
A flash of light.
And a name that had burned itself into his heart long before this life even began.
He smiled, looking up at Elm with certainty. "Mudkip."
For a moment, silence.
Drayden raised a brow. Shinku crossed his arms, intrigued by the confidence. But Elm… froze.
"Mudkip?" Elm repeated, blinking. "That's… not a common answer around here. Not for someone from Johto."
Ethan shrugged with a small grin. "I don't know. Something about it just… feels right."
Elm looked at him longer than necessary — as if trying to read something written behind those eyes. Something old. Something impossible.
Drayden gave a low chuckle. "Heh, interesting choice. Not many trainers appreciate the potential of a Mudkip. Smart answer, kid."
Shinku smirked faintly. "Told you, he's a strange one."
Ethan smiled innocently, while inside his mind screamed: Yeah, strange doesn't even begin to cover it.
Elm sighed as he spoke. "Well that's something, anyway".
He looked at Drayden. "We better start, getting these Dragon back to either your village or naturally habitat, because I think I saw Salamce eat a Dratini".
Drayden blinked at that, turning sharply toward the group of Dragons that had been peacefully gathered in the garden.
Sure enough, a muffled gulp echoed through the air, followed by a very guilty-looking Salamence trying to look innocent.
Drayden pinched the bridge of his nose. "By the Dragon Lords… you've got to be kidding me."
Elm just sighed, rubbing his temple. "Told you. I knew I saw something tail-shaped sticking out of its mouth."
Shinku groaned, muttering under his breath. "Please tell me the insurance covers this."
Ethan and Kitsu tried (and failed) to hold in their laughter from the sidelines.
Kitsu whispered, "Think Dad's going to yell?"
Ethan snickered. "No, but I think Drayden's going to give Salamence a lecture that'll last longer than the Poké War."
Drayden took a deep breath, standing tall as his voice boomed through the garden.
"SALAMENCE! SPIT. IT. OUT."
A beat of silence.
Then a drenched, dazed Dratini plopped onto the grass, blinking up at everyone before sneezing out a bubble.
Elm gave a nervous laugh. "See? All fine. No harm done—mostly."
Shinku turned toward Ethan with a smirk. "Welcome to the world of Pokémon, son. It's pure chaos."
Ethan looked at the soggy Dratini and muttered under his breath, "Yeah, I can tell."
As the organized chaos began to settle, Drayden and Elm started rounding up the dragons. Salamence, after a thorough scolding and a forced apology to the dazed Dratini, was now sulking under a tree. Flygon and Dragonair helped guide the younger dragons into the transport pods that would return them to their natural habitats.
Shinku stood beside Jenny, both sighing in relief that the operation had gone smoothly — or, as smoothly as anything involving dragons could go.
Ethan stood nearby, crouched beside the green Noibat that had refused to leave him since the park. Its wing had healed overnight, thanks to Joy's care and a bit of Harmonia's special medicine. The little bat nuzzled against Ethan's hand, chirping softly.
Drayden approached with Elm, both watching the boy and the Noibat.
"You know," Elm began, adjusting his glasses, "it's strange. Noibat aren't native to Johto at all, let alone a shiny one. It's like fate dropped it in your lap."
Drayden folded his arms. "Or perhaps the dragon chose him. Dragons have a way of sensing potential — the kind that can't be measured by bloodline or training."
As if on cue, the Noibat suddenly perked up.
Its small chest began to glow faintly blue, and a deep draconic hum filled the air.
Ethan blinked. "Wait—what's happening?"
Before anyone could answer, the little dragon let out a fierce cry — its aura bursting outward in a flare of blue fire. The air rippled as it shot skyward in a burst of power, its tiny body cloaked in a phantom dragon's shape.
"Noi–BAAAAT!"
The Dragon Rush collided harmlessly with the sky above the Hermonia mansion, scattering clouds like mist.
Everyone stood frozen for a moment.
Elm was the first to break the silence — chuckling softly as he shook his head. "Dragon Rush… at that age? That's an egg move."
Drayden's lips curled into a rare, proud smirk. "Hmph. Seems that little one wasn't the only dragon blessed by fate."
Shinku crossed his arms, watching as the Noibat fluttered back down to perch on Ethan's shoulder. "Looks like it's made its choice."
Ethan blinked, wide-eyed as the Noibat rubbed its cheek against him affectionately. "Its choice?"
Drayden nodded slowly. "A dragon never gives its trust freely. You've earned it, boy — remember that."
Ethan smiled faintly, reaching up to pet the bat Pokémon. "Guess we're partners then, huh?"
"Noi!"
Kitsu ran up beside him, eyes wide. "That was awesome! Ethan, your Noibat's so cool!"
Asagi, who had been watching with stars in her eyes, added. "It's like something out of a fairy tale…"
Elm chuckled again. "Fairy tale, huh? Well, maybe this one'll grow up to rewrite a few of them."
Drayden turned to Shinku. "You've got quite a son, Shinku. Keep an eye on him — that kind of potential draws both light and darkness."
Shinku smirked faintly. "Yeah, I figured that out the day he was born."
As the dragons began their journey home and Drayden prepared to return to Unova, Ethan watched the skies — Noibat resting on his shoulder — unaware that his true path, one bound by dragons and destiny alike, had only just begun.
Before Drayden had left, he gave Ethan a Dragon Scale hecklss, as they left.
Few hours later, Elm had returned to the Johto League at the Indigo Plato
When he arrived, a red hair 9 year old with a Dratini was waiting for him.
Elm sighed as he spoke. "Really lance"
The kid now know as Lance, sent out all 6 of his Dragon type, to fight his mentor and current Champion of Johto.
Elm rolled his eyes and send out his Ace. "Electivire, do what you normally".
5 minutes later
Lance pokemon where being healed. Elm rubbed the back of his neck as Nurse Joy treated his own mild static burns, grumbling under his breath. "Kid's got talent, but zero patience…"
Lance, sitting on a nearby bench, pouted while his Dratini coiled sadly around his arm. "I almost had you that time, Professor!"
Elm raised an eyebrow, looking over at the scorch marks all across the training floor and the faint smoke still coming off Lance's hair. "Sure you did, champ. The day you beat my Electivire with a baby Dratini, I'll retire early."
The young redhead huffed and crossed his arms. "Just wait! I'll become the strongest Dragon Master in the world! Stronger than even Drayden!"
At that, Elm chuckled, walking over and giving the boy a light tap on the forehead. "Dream big, kid. But remember—strength without discipline makes you a lightning rod for disaster."
Lance didn't quite get the joke but still puffed his chest proudly.
Meanwhile, sitting by the Pokémon Center's counter, a young girl about the same age was laughing uncontrollably. Her long red hair matched Lance's, though her personality was much calmer and brighter.
"Lance, you always end up in the emergency room when you battle him," she teased. "You're like a magnet for Thunder Punches."
Lance groaned. "Lorelei, stop laughing!"
Lorelei giggled even harder, holding her Slowpoke like a plush toy. "Sorry, sorry… but seriously, you should've seen your face when Electivire's fist lit up!"
Lance muttered, face red. "One day I'll win, and then we'll see who's laughing!"
Elm just shook his head with a small smile. "You two are going to drive me to early retirement."
He walked over to a nearby monitor and began typing his report to the Johto Council. His mind briefly drifted back to earlier that day — to the boy with the red eyes and the shiny Noibat.
A Harmonia boy with Aura… a shiny Dragon using Egg Moves at will…
Elm's fingers paused on the keys.
"Maybe," he muttered under his breath, "Lance won't be the only dragon prodigy this generation."
As he glanced out the window of the Indigo Plateau, he could almost picture it — two boys from opposite ends of Johto, both chasing strength, both with dragons at their side.
And fate, it seemed, was already setting the stage.
To be continued
Hope people like this Ch and give me Power stones and enjoy