"IT'S HERE! IT'S FINALLY HERE!"
Ryuga launched himself out of bed, the morning sun of Ironspire City glinting in his eyes. He landed perfectly on his feet, fists shaking with barely contained energy.
"My tenth birthday!" he cheered, spinning around. "The day I get my Pokémon and finally start at the Academy!"
For a fleeting moment, the calm, strategic mind of an adult from another world surfaced, coolly observing the childish glee. Right. Focus. The academy is just the first step.
Ryuga grinned, dismissing the thought. "Who cares! Today, I finally get to be a real Pokémon trainer!"
*BZZRRT-PING!* A flashy, bright blue screen materialized out of thin air, startling a yelp out of him.
[SYSTEM ONLINE! WELCOME, PLAYER... uh... RYUGA PENDRAGON!]
"Whoa!" Ryuga stumbled back, pointing a shaky finger. "What is this thing?!"
[FIRST-TIME SIGN-IN BONUS! HIT IT! HIT IT NOW!] a button on the screen pulsed with an irresistible glow.
A huge grin spread across Ryuga's face. "Don't mind if I do!" He jabbed the button with a laugh.
The screen exploded in a shower of golden pixels.
[AWESOME! YOU GOT A SUPER-DUPER RARE SKILL: AURA OF THE DRAGON KING!]
"Aura of the—what now?" Before he could finish, a majestic, golden dragon silhouette flared to life behind him, its roar completely silent. A wave of immense, warm power washed over his entire body. "WHOA!" he yelped, tumbling onto the floor as the image faded.
The intercom on his wall buzzed. "Rise and shine, my little champion!" his mother's voice sang. "The academy entrance ceremony is this morning, and a very special partner is waiting to meet you."
"NO WAY!" Ryuga scrambled to his feet, the weird screen momentarily forgotten. "I'LL BE RIGHT THERE!"
He burst into the sunny conservatory at the top of the Spire, his sneakers squeaking as he skidded to a halt. "I'm here! I'm ready! Where is it?!"
His mother, Aurelia, giggled. "My, someone's eager to get to school."
His father, Drakorian, stood beside her, looking as stern as a statue. "Hmph. The Pendragon name carries weight at that academy, son. Do not tarnish it on your first day."
"Gahahahaha!" a massive laugh boomed through the dome. His grandfather, Taran, the reigning Champion, grinned. "Let him be, Drakorian! A little excitement is good! Today he forges the bond that will see him to the top of the world!"
The Champion's golden eyes twinkled. "Well, my boy? Your new partner is waiting!"
Ryuga's gaze snapped to a velvet cushion. Curled up in a shimmering blue ball was a sleeping Dratini. It was even more amazing than he had imagined.
"Go on," his grandfather urged.
Ryuga approached slowly, his heart hammering. He reached out a hand, and just as his fingers brushed its smooth scales, the blue screen flashed back into existence.
*BZZRT!*
[RARE POKÉMON DETECTED! SCANNING!]
The screen filled with data, but one line glowed with a light so intense it made him squint.
* POTENTIAL: 🟡 G-G-GOLD!!! (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!)
Ryuga's jaw hit the floor. "G-G-G-GOLD?!" he screamed in his head, his face a perfect picture of anime shock. THAT'S THE SAME AS GRAMPS' CHAMPION-LEVEL DRAGONITE! I'M TAKING THIS THING TO SCHOOL?!
As if sensing his chaotic thoughts, the Dratini stirred. Its violet eyes opened, saw Ryuga, and immediately sparkled with pure delight.
"Kyuuu!" it sang happily.
In a flash of blue, it zipped off the cushion, did a loop-the-loop in the air, and then tackled him in a joyful, squirmy hug.
"OOF!" Ryuga tumbled onto the grass, laughing as the little dragon nuzzled excitedly under his chin.
"Hahaha! Hey, that tickles!" he giggled, hugging his new partner.
The Dratini looked up at him, its eyes full of trust, as if to say, "Hi! We're gonna be the best, right?!"
Ryuga grinned from ear to ear, his eyes shining. The pressure of his family, the rivalry with the Royal Academy, all of it seemed to fade away. All that mattered was the warm, living creature in his arms. His first Pokémon. His best friend.
"Yeah," he whispered, his voice full of emotion as he looked towards the window, in the direction of the sprawling academy campus. "Let's go show them all what a Pendragon can do."