Was there even anything left to hesitate about?
Theo practically made up his mind the very instant the thought appeared.
A Dratini might indeed be rare and precious, but in his heart, it could not compare to even a ten-thousandth of the value of this Shiny Beldum!
Even if the Dratini before him were an unusually rare Shiny variant as well, its weight in Theo's heart still would not reach half that of this Beldum.
Of course, if this Dratini happened to be a once-in-a-lifetime specimen, possessing both the Marvel Scale ability and a Shiny appearance then he might have struggled for a moment.
But clearly, no such heaven-sent miracle existed before him.
Right now, Theo's heart was already set. He would choose this Shiny Beldum—nothing else!
A Contest? What was so difficult about that?
To Theo, as long as he could obtain this Shiny Beldum he had dreamed of for so long, never mind merely participating in a Contest, even if he had to challenge an even harsher stage, he would gladly embrace it.
Besides, he already had countless well-crafted combo moves planned out in his mind.
All he needed was to calm down, polish them patiently, and guide his Pokémon with care and dedication.
This little fellow, born from Steven's own Shiny Metagross and endowed with extraordinary talent would undoubtedly shine with the most dazzling brilliance on the Contest stage, astonishing everyone present!
Theo did not verbally respond to Steven.
Instead, he walked straight toward the Shiny Metagross, lowering his gaze to the gleaming, silver-white Shiny Beldum resting at its feet.
He crouched down, letting his fingertips hover lightly over the little one's head.
Tilting his own head slightly, he looked at it with eyes filled with gentle warmth, quietly teasing the shy little Pokémon.
The next second, Theo suddenly shifted his position with a swift, light movement.
He slipped behind the Shiny Metagross, crouching down and using its massive body as a shield, hiding himself with only a small corner of his clothing faintly visible.
The Shiny Beldum froze, clearly stunned for a moment.
A trace of curiosity instantly flashed through its red crystal eyes.
It first looked up at the Metagross beside it, then quickly turned toward the spot where Theo had been standing.
Its body swayed a little as the mirror-bright metal surface caught the subtle light, as though it were seriously pondering this strange new game.
A few seconds later, it seemed to have figured something out.
It slowly glided to the opposite side of Metagross, hiding its body completely and leaving only its small head exposed.
Its red eyes peeked repeatedly toward the direction where Theo was hiding, looking particularly obedient and adorable.
Theo, crouched behind the massive Shiny Metagross, purposely stayed silent, wanting to see what this little guy would do next.
After a while, when the Shiny Beldum saw that Theo made no movement at all, it finally became unable to hold back.
It cautiously peeked out half its body, glancing left and right, its red eyes full of searching curiosity.
Right then, Theo suddenly circled around Metagross from the other direction and lightly tapped the smooth metal shell of Beldum with his fingertip, producing a crisp ding sound.
The unsuspecting Beldum jolted in surprise, instantly darting to one side and hiding behind Metagross's large frame.
But not even half a second later, it poked its head out again—its bright red eyes not showing the slightest fear.
Instead, they were filled with excitement, clearly finding this game incredibly fun.
It no longer stayed in place.
Instead, it began circling around Metagross with agile movements—sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right, its body moving like a tiny silver cannonball, having the time of its life.
Theo also followed along with its movements, deliberately slowing down so that the little Pokémon would always be able to "find" him.
Every time it "discovered" him, the little fellow would wiggle happily, letting out a clear ding-ding sound, as if cheering for its own victory.
Metagross remained still in place, its dark red eyes calmly watching Theo and Beldum as the pair played around it—its massive body unmoving while the two of them ran circles around it in pure joy.
Off to the side, the Dratini seemed to understand Theo's choice.
It slowly slithered to Steven's feet, curled up comfortably, and began rubbing its head against its own tail, playing by itself.
It appeared completely unconcerned about Theo's decision, relaxed and carefree.
Steven watched Theo and the Shiny Beldum interact so naturally and affectionately.
A deep, relieved smile gradually surfaced in his eyes.
He lifted a hand, took out a Poké Ball, and pressed the switch.
A flash of red light enveloped the still-playing Dratini and drew it back inside.
Theo and the Shiny Beldum continued their playful game for quite some time.
Eventually, Beldum reached its limit—its small body swaying slightly before leaning against Metagross's thick metal leg, panting softly with exhaustion.
Yet its crystal-red eyes remained bright, glimmering like polished rubies.
When it looked at Theo now, the initial shyness and timidity were completely gone, replaced by pure trust and closeness—clingy and affectionate.
Theo finally stopped as well.
He approached and calmly sat down beside Beldum, gently lifting the little Pokémon into his arms.
The Shiny Beldum narrowed its crystal eyes comfortably, its small body curling slightly as it nestled in his embrace.
From time to time, it rubbed its head against Theo's palm—docile, affectionate, and full of gentle dependence.
After the lively playtime earlier, it had wholly accepted Theo as its new partner.
"It seems the two of you have gotten completely familiar with each other."
Steven walked over at a leisurely pace, his tone relaxed.
His gaze fell on Theo and the affectionate Beldum cuddled in his arms, a knowing smile rising in his eyes.
"By the way," Steven continued, "have you decided which city you'll be heading to next?"
Theo looked down at the Shiny Beldum in his arms, idly stroking its smooth, cool, silver-glowing metal shell.
"I plan to head to Mauville City first.
I already checked through detailed information back at the hotel, and my plans are fully set.
The desert connected to Route 111 above Mauville City stretches endlessly, and sandstorms occur there frequently, with varying intensities.
Although harsh, the environment is perfect for Tyrunt's training.
Under the influence of such a vast desert and rocky terrain, Tyrunt should be able to grasp the essence of Rock-type energy, strengthening its mastery of Rock-type moves.
As for Feebas, it can also train its Water-type skills there.
With the dryness and sandstorms, it'll have the perfect environment to refine its control over water and ice, improving the precision of its Water and Ice-type moves."
While speaking, Theo stood up with the Shiny Beldum still in his arms, his voice carrying even greater anticipation.
"Besides, Mauville City will be hosting a Contest in a month and a half.
It'll be the perfect chance for Beldum to experience the intense atmosphere of a real Contest.
Letting it witness such a glamorous stage from a young age might spark its interest in Contest performances, and it will also lay an early foundation for training future combination moves.
Once Tyrunt completes its training goals in the desert, I'll bring it to the Mauville Gym afterward and challenge the Gym Leader, Wattson."
(End of Chapter)