The crackling fire flickered softly, casting warm shadows on their faces. The lake nearby was calm, reflecting the glittering stars above.
Aiden poked at the embers, then looked around at his friends sitting in a loose circle.
Ash's eyes sparkled. "I want to be the best Pokémon Trainer — not just winning battles but making Pokémon happy. My dream is to be someone they trust."
Red leaned back on his hands, staring at the sky. "I want to be strong enough to protect everyone. I don't care about fame or titles — just strength."
Blue smiled faintly. "I want to understand talents — why some Pokémon or humans have them, and how far I can push mine. Maybe one day, I can help people unlock their true potential."
Gary crossed his arms, but his voice softened. "I guess… I just want to prove I'm more than my family's legacy. I want to be my own person."
Aiden took a deep breath, feeling the weight and warmth of their words.
"I want to protect the people I care about," he said quietly. "I don't want to be the strongest just for power. I want to use what I have to make a better world."
He paused, glancing at the stars.
"And… I want to figure out why I'm different. Why I have this talent to copy and fuse others. I want to understand if there's a reason I was given this chance."
Ash nudged him with a grin. "You'll figure it out, Aiden. You've got all of us."
Red laughed softly. "Yeah. No matter what, you're not alone."
They sat in comfortable silence, the fire crackling, and the night whispering around them.
Dreams and futures stretching out like the vast, undiscovered world beyond Pallet Town.
The sun had barely risen, painting the sky in soft oranges and pinks. Aiden stood alone on the grassy training field, focusing deeply.
He closed his eyes, breathing steadily. Inside, he could feel the faint hum of his aura — a warm, pulsing energy surrounding him. Today, he was going to push harder.
"Aura…" he whispered, feeling it expand slowly, like a glowing sphere around his body. The air around him shimmered slightly.
He concentrated on controlling the edge, trying to hold it steady without spilling or collapsing.
Suddenly, a sharp pulse burst from him, sending a small gust of wind through the grass.
"Good," Aiden muttered. "Now psychic."
He opened his eyes, staring at a small rock a few meters away.
Focusing his mind, he reached out with his psychic energy, trying to lift it.
The rock trembled, quivered — then slowly floated a few centimeters off the ground.
"Keep steady…" he told himself.
His forehead glistened with sweat as he held the rock suspended longer, his aura flaring brighter to maintain the psychic hold.
After several minutes, he gently lowered the rock.
Breathing hard, Aiden smiled.
Progress.
Suddenly, footsteps approached.
It was Ash and Red, coming to check on him.
Ash grinned. "Training already? You never quit, huh."
Red nodded. "You're getting better. That aura of yours — it's getting stronger."
Aiden wiped his brow. "I want to be ready. I need to control both if I'm going to protect everyone."
Ash sat down nearby. "I can't wait to see what you do next."
Red added, "Maybe soon you'll be lifting bigger things — or projecting your aura further."
Aiden laughed softly. "One step at a time."
He looked up at the brightening sky, feeling more determined than ever.