A yellow blur shot out of the sky and stopped right in front of Gladion's face. Sparks danced around it. Gladion recognized the little troublemaker instantly.
The baby Zapdos that he had saved years ago had grown a bit bigger, but those mischievous eyes were exactly the same.
The young legendary Pokémon hovered nose to nose with him and crackled with excitement.
[Human! It is good to see you again! You got taller! What did you eat? Tell me quick so I can eat the same and get super big super fast! Mom says I am still a kid and that's why I can't roam around without her, but I am almost as tall as her knee now!]
Gladion remembered how this little bird used to shock him for fun when he saved him. He smiled despite the ache in his body.
'I hope he still does not Zapdos pidgeys for fun. He and Zeus might become best of the buddies but I fear the world might not be able to handle both of them together.' Gladion thought
"It is nice to meet you too, little guy," Gladion said warmly.
Baby Zapdos puffed up his tiny chest and sent a small jolt right at Gladion's cheek. Zap!
Gladion flinched and quickly raised a psychic barrier. Even a tiny jolt from a legendary electric Pokemon was
lethal. "Hey!"
[Me not little! Me not baby! I am strong legendary Pokémon! I can make big lightning! Watch!] He sparked brighter, making the air smell like ozone.
Gladion rubbed his cheek. "Okay, okay. You have definitely grown. You are much bigger than last time. And those sparks feel stronger too."
Baby Zapdos flew loops around Gladion's head. [Yes! Yes! I train every day! I fly fast and shoot thunder at clouds! Clouds run away scared! Mom says I am very good at it! Do you think I am stronger than you now?]
Gladion laughed softly. "You have grown a lot. But I think we are about equal."
Baby Zapdos stopped looping and hovered again. [No way! I am legendary! I am faster! I am stronger! I can shock you any time! See?] He sent another playful zap that Gladion blocked easily.
Gladion shook his head. "Fine. You win. You are the strongest."
Baby Zapdos did a happy barrel roll. [Yay! Human admits I am strongest! Now play with me! Chase me! I fly super fast now!]
Gladion looked exhausted. "I would love to, but I am really tired right now. I just fought a big battle."
Baby Zapdos crossed his tiny wings. [Tired? Legendary Pokémon never get tired so I don't know what that feels like! Come on! One little chase! Please please please!]
Gladion pointed at Ultron hovering nearby. "Why don't you play with Ultron? He is very fast too."
Baby Zapdos zipped over to the Metagross and circled him. [Metal friend! Play chase with me! I fly, you fly, we race!]
Ultron's calm voice spoke in perfect polite tone. [Greetings, young Zapdos. I am afraid I am currently assigned to protection duty for Master Gladion. Perhaps another time.]
Baby Zapdos tilted his head. [Protection duty? What is that? Sounds boring! Come on, one race! I will even let you win first!]
Ultron replied without changing expression. [I appreciate the generous offer, but my directives do not include recreational racing at this moment.]
Baby Zapdos puffed sparks. [Directives? You talk funny! Are you broken? Do you need more electricity?] He sent a gentle shock at Ultron.
Ultron absorbed it without moving. [Thank you for the charge. My systems are at ninety-eight percent capacity.]
Baby Zapdos laughed. [You are funny metal friend! I like you! We will race next time for sure!]
Gladion watched them and felt some of the weight lift from his chest. The little bird still had the same endless energy.
Baby Zapdos flew back to Gladion. [Okay! I go now! Mom says we have to leave. But next time we play! And bring snacks! I like sweet berries and pidgey meat!]
Gladion reached out and gently patted the spiky head. "Next time for sure. Thank you for coming today."
Baby Zapdos nuzzled his hand quickly and sent one last tiny spark that tickled instead of hurt. Then he shot upward to join his mother.
Gladion turned to the adult Zapdos. "Thank you. Truly."
Zapdos looked down at him with wise eyes. [Keep your promise to Moltres. Make the humans who did this pay. Our debt is settled for now.]
Gladion bowed his head. "I will."
Mother and child flew away together, lightning trailing behind them like a golden ribbon.
A moment later Koga appeared beside Elder Green on his Crobat.
"You took your sweet time coming up," Gladion said with a tired smirk.
Koga landed smoothly. "I was defending Fuchsia City. I came as soon as the area was safe. I helped the soldiers retreat below."
He looked around at the ruined summit. "But it looks like you handled everything. Why did Zapdos come? And why did it speak to you?"
Gladion explained everything calmly. "She owed me a favour from years ago. I called it in. She helped me talk to Moltres. Moltres gave us one week to return her egg and punish the ones responsible."
Koga nodded. "I will have every resource looking for the eggs."
Gladion's eyes turned cold. "Good. Because by the end of this week, Team Rocket will be punished for this. I will find their bases, their hideouts and their members. They will learn what happens when they do something that hurts my family. There will be no hiding for them. There will be no forgiveness. There will be only their ashes."
Koga felt the chill in those words and simply nodded.
-----Author Notes------
Thankyou axiom for supporting me!
Y'all can read 20 extra chapters on my pat*reon.
Pat reon.com/mrmime24
[No Space in pat*reon]
Thankyou for your support!