"I almost thought I was going to die——"
After landing safely thanks to the electric net's deceleration, Aiden took a long moment before finally opening his eyes, his heart finally unclenching with relief.
Just moments earlier, as he plummeted from the sky, his mind—perhaps in denial of reality—had even begun flashing back through memories like a life-review reel.
Fortunately, the sudden appearance of that electric net had maximally slowed their descent, and its cushioning effect upon landing had absorbed much of the impact—allowing both him and Salamence to touch down completely unharmed.
Though the net clinging to his body was somewhat sticky, and wherever it touched his skin, a continuous current coursed through him—gradually numbing his limbs with paralysis————???
Oh no—looks like I'm about to get electrocuted into unconsciousness——
"Gaaao!"
Just as Aiden was about to collapse into sleep like the Salamence sprawled on the ground beside him, an excited crackle of electricity rang out—drawing what little attention he had left.
Miraidon—who should have been lying flat and dozing outside the Gym gates—was now sprinting toward him at full speed, its eyes and movements radiating sheer panic.
But its appearance had undergone a dramatic transformation. Powerful, visible currents now swirled around its abdomen, head, and tail, while countless blue-white stripes had emerged across its light-purple metallic shell—appearing to be conduits linking its various internal power generators.
It perfectly matched the description in The Violet Book of one of the paradise guardian dragons—a legendary creature known as the "Iron Serpent."
So that's how it was——
The moment Aiden saw Miraidon in its fully powered form through the mesh of the electric net, he instantly understood what had just happened.
He had been saved by Miraidon.
For some reason, a subtle sense of warmth bloomed in Aiden's heart.
Or perhaps——
The joy of a bountiful harvest?
Truthfully, he had known from the very beginning just how immense the power slumbering within Miraidon truly was.
It was only because of certain unbearable events that had transpired within Area Zero—traumas too heavy to bear—that the current "lazybones dragon" residing at Sunshine Gym had come to be.
Compared to the physical wounds it had sustained while desperately carrying the Mabostiff out of Area Zero, the scars buried deep within its heart—untouchable by anyone—were far more difficult to heal.
At the very least, bodily functions could be restored by seeking out the five Herba Mystica—but heart wounds required remedies of the heart. On that front alone, Aiden had always been at a loss.
So even though Miraidon had consistently displayed a somewhat——battle-shy lizard?—demeanor, he had never once tried to "correct" it.
He had even considered—if Miraidon could never overcome this mental barrier, never reclaim its strength—then simply letting it live out its days peacefully at Sunshine Gym wouldn't be such a bad fate.
After all, having a tsundere yet stylish motorcycle dragon was pretty cool, wasn't it?
But now, seeing Miraidon fully restored and standing proudly before him—Aiden felt this outcome wasn't bad at all.
Without him even realizing it, half a year had already passed since he and Miraidon began living together.
During this time of mutual healing, perhaps he—the so-called "owner"—had gradually become important to Miraidon as well?
Which was why, when he had fallen into danger just now, Miraidon had instinctively unleashed that long-dormant power to save him.
To have another Legendary Pokémon with extraordinary power by his side was deeply reassuring——
Though… why did it feel like, aside from all the "illegal" Pokémon, divine beasts were also piling up around him?
And Miraidon learning to weave electric nets… that didn't seem entirely legal either——
"Gaaao!"
As Aiden's vision blurred and his thoughts grew sluggish under the net's continuous current, Miraidon slammed on the brakes—skidding to a halt directly before him and Salamence.
Electricity surged from Miraidon's feet into the ground, racing outward through the grass with a sharp zap-zap-zap.
An Electric Terrain activated instantaneously.
"Krah?!"
Startled by the static coursing through the ground, the previously unconscious Salamence suddenly jolted awake—blinking in confusion.
What… just happened?
Salamence blinked, peering skyward through the net's mesh with a puzzled expression.
Just a second ago, it felt like it had been soaring freely through the skies with its Trainer on its back—then after a moment of drowsiness, it woke up entangled in a net.
How strange!
Its instinctive wing-flap successfully stretched the electric net binding it and Aiden, loosening their restraints considerably.
Aiden seized the moment of clarity—quickly pulling a Cheri Berry from his pocket and swallowing it whole, then slapping his own cheek with a Wake-Up Slap to fully restore his consciousness.
As everyone knows, the Pokémon world is deeply scientific. Those bottomless bags aren't some fourth-dimensional technology—they actually utilize a special technique called "Storage."
So as a scientifically-minded Trainer, using Storage on his own pockets to carry emergency items was perfectly reasonable, right?
Extremely reasonable~
Beyond Poké Balls and Berries, he also routinely carried special items like the heavy Tera Orbs and held items like Macho Brace.
As Aiden pondered this, Miraidon before him suddenly raised an arm—its metallic claws swiftly slicing through the electric net.
In a single motion, the sticky net was severed into pieces, dissolving back into Electric-type energy that seeped into the earth.
Miraidon's stern expression never wavered—not until its mechanical-like eyes scanned left and right, confirming Aiden was completely unharmed, did it finally let out a breath of relief.
Then, as it narrowed its eyes, a conspicuous arc of electricity sparked at the corners—and along with it, a wisp of white vapor.
"Thanks for your help, Miraidon."
Aiden smiled warmly and, just as he had comforted Salamence earlier, reached out to pat its head.
Though both had incredibly hard skulls, the tactile sensation was completely different.
Salamence's head still carried biological warmth—a slight give with each pat—while Miraidon's body felt like solid steel, producing a crisp clang when tapped.
On any ordinary day, whenever Aiden made such a gesture, Miraidon would instinctively recoil—slinking away like a skittish cat to put distance between them.
But this time, Miraidon didn't pull away. Instead, it continued staring blankly at Aiden with those piercing, electricity-charged eyes.
I did it!
This time——I didn't run away!
—
For as long as Miraidon could remember, whenever it drifted into slumber, fragments of past memories would inevitably resurface.
Originally, it should have lived in a far more distant future—or perhaps in an entirely separate parallel dimension with no connection to this world at all.
Of that original world, Miraidon retained little memory—only that it had been a solitary yet powerful lone wolf, rarely encountering creatures bold enough to challenge it head-on.
That had been its existence for countless ages.
——
Until one day, it finally encountered another "monster" strikingly similar to itself.
That creature was a pure beast—possessing not only formidable physical prowess but also fighting with a primitive, wound-for-wound brutality that betrayed not a shred of rationality.
Roars that normally sent opponents fleeing were utterly ignored. Even lightning strikes charged with its full power barely fazed it—its absurdly high vitality allowing it to shake off paralysis in moments and rejoin the fray.
Knowing close-quarters combat was hopeless, Miraidon ultimately resorted to Draco Meteor to temporarily drive the beast back—and seized the opportunity to make a shameful escape.
The world was vast—they should have, like before, never crossed paths again.
Yet that creature seemed to have marked Miraidon as its prey—reappearing frequently, each "greeting" delivered via ambush.
Until one day, cornered with nowhere left to run, Miraidon had no choice but to fight for its life.
As it turned out, its earlier assessment had been correct.
That creature's scales were astonishingly tough—even when Dragon Claw carved ghastly wounds into its hide, it showed not a hint of fear. Instead, it grew more excited, its battle lust intensifying with each strike.
It was a born warrior—but Miraidon possessed no such innate talent.
With each blow its body endured, the negative emotion called fear would surge wildly within—gradually seeping into its limbs, hampering its movements.
As its strength waned and the beast's fervor grew—if the battle continued any longer——
Without a doubt, it would die!
It never wanted to fight—why couldn't that creature simply understand? If both parties just pretended nothing had happened, they could go their separate ways.
Its mechanical body held nothing edible—what could that beast possibly gain even if it won?
Honor? Satisfaction?
It was impossible to comprehend——
Yet just as despair began to consume Miraidon—miraculously, salvation arrived.
A strange light suddenly erupted behind it—and in an instant, the monster poised to end its life vanished without a trace.
The world before its eyes transformed completely.
Only later did it glean an explanation from the humans at the research facility.
That day, the two professors had activated a device called the "Time Machine" for the first time—plucking Miraidon from countless timelines like a claw-machine prize, transporting it to this present era purely by chance.
Thus, Miraidon escaped the clutches of that beast.
No—more accurately, it had been utterly liberated.
Compared to its previous desolate world, this place was undoubtedly a paradise.
Here existed "humans"—beings of high rationality dedicated to deciphering the world through wisdom—as well as countless varieties of "Pokémon," and more food than one could possibly consume.
Grateful for their life-saving intervention and daily meals, Miraidon chose to remain at the facility—providing security for the two professors' research.
For a considerable time afterward, it effectively became the professors' "ace enforcer," encountering numerous creatures humans called "Paradox Pokémon."
Those resembling the beast that had hunted it—bodies and minds brimming with primal ferocity—were dubbed "Ancient Pokémon" by humans;
While more rational, metallic beings resembling itself were labeled "Future Pokémon."
Of course, even if the professors and researchers never voiced it aloud, Miraidon was well aware—they likely classified it as a special variant of Future Pokémon as well.
But that was fine.
After all, it had indeed encountered some of those beings before. Being grouped with others from its original world was only natural.
And——
Compared to that barren dimension, perhaps Area Zero was truly where it belonged.
At the facility, it was a trusted partner to humans. During breaks, the two professors would often describe the world beyond Area Zero—and even handcraft delicious sandwich dishes for it.
Later on, after each exploration mission concluded, the professor couple would even voluntarily take it out of Area Zero to stay at their home for a while.
Though their child—a little one named Arven—seemed to have never taken a liking to it.
In Arven's eyes, it was the villain stealing time his parents should have spent with him—their hours with Miraidon far exceeding those with their own son.
But even being disliked didn't bother Miraidon.
Because this relationship of mutual trust with humans had, for the first time, made it aware of its own purpose.
It wasn't the hated intruder Arven saw—it was the guardian protecting them, battling the Paradox Pokémon captured by the Time Machine.
Once Arven grew older, he would surely understand.
Yet——
That day would never come.
A year ago, Area Zero underwent another anomaly. Following the professor couple deep into its heart, they discovered a peculiar "Ancient Pokémon" in the deepest recesses.
At a single glance, Miraidon's will to fight evaporated completely.
Though it didn't know how that creature had appeared out of nowhere, just from those ferocious eyes and the intense radiance accompanying its arrival——
Without doubt, that beast had crossed dimensions to hunt it down!
Alongside it emerged countless Paradox Pokémon whose data had already been logged by researchers.
Creatures the researchers had cautiously captured one by one had, unbeknownst to them, already seized control of Area Zero's depths.
And the monster the professor couple called "Koraidon" had unmistakably become their king.
Only in that moment did Miraidon realize—the Time Machine hadn't been "invented" by humans. They had merely "discovered" it.
And this mysterious power of unknown origin was clearly not humanity's alone to wield.
We can't win. No matter what, we can't win!
Having utterly lost the will to fight, Miraidon attempted to convey through body language that the researchers and accompanying staff should flee.
Retreating was shameful—but it worked.
Yet——
The final outcome was near-total annihilation within Area Zero. All humans were forcibly drawn into the now-unstable Time Machine—and vanished without a trace.
Only it and the barely-alive Mabostiff escaped—and were unexpectedly rescued by Aiden.
Though it styled itself a guardian—it had ultimately failed to protect anything.
It had assumed Arven would resent it upon learning the news—but the slightly older Arven had instead grown more resilient and mature.
He didn't even blame Miraidon—only silently cradling the Mabostiff and weeping through the entire night.
Unable to meet those eyes, Miraidon refused Arven's kindness—and was ultimately entrusted to Aiden, the one who had saved it.
Perhaps any human who grew too close to it would meet misfortune.
Thus, it couldn't let Arven suffer further—and couldn't burden Aiden, its savior, with more trouble.
That was Miraidon's original thinking.
But it soon realized it had overthought things.
Unlike the professor couple—who were career-focused and held expectations for it—Aiden barely seemed to notice its presence. Even after losing all its power, spending each day doing nothing but eating and sleeping, he never uttered a word of complaint.
This "owner" was completely unlike any human it had encountered before.
Aside from occasionally borrowing it for travel, Aiden seemed to have never felt curiosity toward it—simply allowing it to laze about undisturbed, leaving it to lick its wounds alone when night fell.
And this phenomenon wasn't unique to Miraidon alone.
Whether it was the Pokémon boarding at the Gym or those he personally raised, Aiden seemed to grant them maximum freedom—only stepping in to witness their growth when necessary.
Sylveon obsessed over painting; Lucario appeared and vanished like a phantom; Ogerpon devoted itself to tending the fields; Indeedee mastered the culinary arts; even Mewtwo aspired to become a Trainer itself.
In its eyes, not a single one of Aiden's Pokémon was "normal"—all possessed thought patterns as eccentric as their Trainer's, bearing little resemblance to the typical master-Pokémon hierarchy.
Yet——
It was precisely this peculiar daily life that occasionally stirred envy within Miraidon.
Aiden would smile encouragingly as Sylveon painted boldly—then hang its finest works on his bedroom walls;
Lucario grew steadily stronger under Aiden's absurd training methods—even mastering an evolution that transcended limits;
Even monstrous talents like Ogerpon gradually discovered their passions, finding belonging within Sunshine Gym;
Then there was Mewtwo, influenced—no, transformed—by Aiden; Indeedee, the sister who completed Sunshine Gym's final missing piece and reigned as Paldea's cafeteria deity; Mew, who occasionally materialized to leave Aiden exasperated; even that black Rayquaza, and Marshadow who had caused quite a stir recently——
Centered around Aiden, more and more Pokémon were unconsciously drawn to his unique qualities—gradually becoming part of the Sunshine Gym family.
Even the slow-witted, often-overlooked Shelgon had, through Aiden's companionship, ultimately matured into a mighty flying dragon.
Raised in happiness, the little one had forgotten all its pent-up frustration and resentment the moment it evolved—now thinking only of showing Aiden how much it had grown.
From everyone's eyes, Miraidon faintly grasped the meaning of "happiness."
And what about me?
Though Aiden had never spoken of it, Miraidon knew one thing for certain: from the very first time he gathered Herba Mystica and crafted sandwich dishes for it, it had already accepted his kindness.
These past six months of recuperation had been truly happy—and unbeknownst to it, its body had fully restored all its power.
At this point, the debt of gratitude it owed Aiden could never be repaid——
And what had just transpired only further confirmed Miraidon's inner conviction.
Before its mind could even process the situation, its body had moved on pure instinct—unleashing the energy long sealed within. Reborn, it was now stronger than it had ever been.
Yes—the limit on its power had never been its body. It was the instinct to flee when danger arose. And now… it had finally found someone worth protecting again—rediscovering the purpose of its existence!
From this day forward—I will never run away again!
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