Chapter 92
The training grounds behind the guild were packed. Everyone wanted to see what my Pokémon could do. I couldn't blame them—this was something entirely new to their world.
"Alright, everyone!" I called out, clapping my hands to get their attention. "Let's show you what Pokémon battles are all about."
"Does anyone wants to volunteer? " I asked.
"Me!" Of course Natsu did.
"Fine." I nodded, having expected this. Natsu was nothing if not predictable when it came to seeking out battles. "I choose Blaze."
Blaze stepped forward, standing nearly seven feet tall at the shoulder. Blaze was an imposing sight. Natsu, though, just looked excited.
Natsu's fists were already engulfed in flames. "I'm all fired up now!"
"Don't underestimate him," I warned, crossing my arms. "Blaze has been battling fire-users for years."
"Psh, none like me!" Natsu bounced on his feet, grinning widely. "Let's go, doggy!"
Blaze looked at me, huffing with what I recognized as amusement. The Arcanine had encountered plenty of overconfident opponents during our time in the Pokémon League.
"Alright," I said, stepping back to give them space. "Begin!"
Natsu immediately charged forward, fists blazing. "Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Blaze didn't even need a command. He simply stood his ground, watching Natsu approach with calm intensity. As Natsu's flaming fist connected with Blaze's chest fur, the Arcanine didn't even flinch.
"What the—" Natsu's eyes widened as Blaze absorbed the flames entirely. "It ate my fire!"
"Flash Fire ability," I explained with a smirk. "Fire attacks only make Blaze stronger."
Normally a Pokemon only has a single ability. Not mine, courtesy of the inventory, using an improved version of ability capsule allowed my Pokemons to have every ability they could have at the same time.
No more changing of abilities every now and then.
The guild members watching murmured in surprise. Makarov's eyebrows raised slightly—even he seemed impressed.
Before Natsu could recover from his surprise, Blaze countered. A deep rumble built in his chest, and then he unleashed a Flamethrower that dwarfed Natsu's attack. The pillar of flame engulfed the Dragon Slayer completely.
When the flames cleared, Natsu stood there, munching away. "Thanks for the meal!"
Now it was Blaze's turn to look surprised. His head tilted to one side, ears perked forward in curiosity.
"Fire Dragon Slayer Magic," I explained to my Pokémon. "He eats fire too."
Blaze gave a bark that sounded remarkably like laughter.
"This is gonna be fun!" Natsu cracked his knuckles. "We're evenly matched!"
I couldn't help but grin. "Not quite. Blaze, Extreme Speed."
In a blur of orange and cream, Blaze vanished from where he stood. Natsu barely had time to blink before Blaze slammed into him from the side, sending him tumbling across the training field.
"So fast!" Gray exclaimed from the sidelines.
Natsu got up, spitting dirt. "I didn't even see it move!"
"Again," I commanded.
Once more, Blaze became a blur, striking Natsu from multiple angles so quickly that he couldn't defend. It was like watching a pinball machine with Natsu as the ball.
"Enough," I called after Natsu had been knocked down for the fifth time. "Blaze, back off."
The Arcanine returned to my side, looking pleased with himself. Natsu struggled to his feet, bruised but grinning wildly.
"That was awesome!" he exclaimed, brushing dirt from his clothes. "But I was just getting started!"
"We can continue another time," I said, raising an eyebrow. "There are other demonstrations to get through."
"That was impressive," Erza said, stepping forward. Her analytical gaze swept over Blaze, then moved to my other Pokémon. "I'd like to test myself next."
I nodded, having expected Erza would be interested. Even as a young woman, she had that serious approach to battle that had always defined her character.
"I think Kaisel would be a good match for you," I said, gesturing to my Scizor. The red, metallic bug Pokémon stepped forward, his pincers clicking together in anticipation.
Erza studied him carefully, then nodded. "Very well." With a flash of golden light, she requipped into her Heaven's Wheel armor, multiple swords floating around her. "I am ready."
"Kaisel specializes in precision and speed," I explained to the observers. "He's a Bug and Steel type with natural weapons that can cut through almost anything."
"My swords are forged from the finest steel," Erza replied, her voice calm but confident. "Let us see which is superior."
Begin whenever you're ready."
Erza didn't hesitate. She launched forward, her circle of swords spinning around her before shooting toward Kaisel from multiple angles. It was an impressive attack—one that would have pinned most opponents.
Kaisel, however, simply vanished.
"Bullet Punch," I said, even though Kaisel was already executing the move.
Moving at speeds that made him nearly invisible to the untrained eye, Kaisel darted between Erza's swords, deflecting several with his pincers before appearing directly in front of her. His pincer struck out, stopping just short of her armor.
"Fast," Erza acknowledged, jumping back and summoning more swords. "But I've faced speed before."
"Show her your X-Scissor," I called.
Kaisel's pincers began to glow with energy as he slashed them in an X-pattern. The energy wave that resulted collided with three of Erza's swords, shattering them completely.
A hushed murmur ran through the crowd. Erza's eyes widened slightly—breaking her swords was no small feat.
"Interesting," she said, her expression growing more serious. She requipped again, this time into her Flight Armor. "Let me match your speed."
What followed was a beautiful display of combat. Erza darted around the field with incredible agility, while Kaisel kept pace with her, their movements creating flashes of red as they clashed again and again. Each time metal met metal, sparks flew.
After nearly five minutes of intense exchanges, I raised my hand. "That's enough, Kaisel."
Kaisel immediately backed off, bowing respectfully to Erza. She paused, slightly winded but otherwise unharmed, and returned the bow.
"Your creature is remarkable," she said, returning to her standard armor. "The precision of his attacks, the hardness of his exoskeleton... I've never faced anything quite like him."
"Kaisel appreciates a skilled opponent."
Kaisel clicked his pincers in agreement, his eyes conveying respect..
"Alright," I called out as Gray finally managed to get dressed again. "Who wants to see Rayna's Hyper Beam next?"
The answering cheer from the guild was all I needed to hear.
Five years in the Pokémon world had changed me in many ways, but returning to Fairy Tail felt right. This crazy, dysfunctional guild was still home.
3rd POV
Makarov stood at the edge of the training grounds, arms crossed, watching as his children gathered around Aiden's strange creatures. In all his years as Guild Master of Fairy Tail, he'd seen countless forms of magic, but nothing quite like this.
"Quite impressive, aren't they?" he said to Gildarts, who stood beside him with Ur, little Cornelius sleeping against her chest.
"Yeah," Gildarts nodded, his eyes tracking the movements of the red insect-like creature—Kaisel, Aiden had called it. "Hard to believe there's an entire world of creatures like these."
After witnessing the demonstration of these "Pokémon" in battle, Makarov couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and concern. The power these creatures commanded was formidable, perhaps even dangerous in the wrong hands. But then again, the same could be said for the magic wielded by his guild members.
"Aiden seems different," Ur commented, gently rocking Cornelius when he stirred. "More settled somehow."
Makarov nodded in agreement. The boy who had left them years ago had always had a weight on his shoulders, a restlessness that never quite faded. The man who returned seemed more at peace, despite the circumstances of his departure and return.
"Time and distance have a way of providing perspective," he said, watching as Aiden walked toward them with a bag that appeared far too small to contain anything substantial.
"Before I left the Pokémon world," Aiden announced to the gathered crowd, "I made sure to bring some souvenirs. Or rather, some new friends for Fairy Tail."
When he opened the bag and began pulling out colorful eggs, Makarov couldn't help but chuckle. Of course he would bring back something that would turn the guild upside down. That was Aiden.
"What are they?" Natsu asked, eyes wide with curiosity as Aiden began distributing the strange eggs.
"That's for you to discover," Aiden replied with that mysterious smile of his. "Just keep them warm, care for them, and when the time is right... well, you'll see."
Makarov observed carefully as Aiden distributed the eggs, seeming to choose each one with purpose—handing Natsu one with flame-like patterns, Laxus one with cool yellow bolts. The guild members accepted their gifts with a mixture of confusion and excitement, turning the eggs over in their hands, examining the intricate patterns that adorned each shell.
"Master," Aiden said, approaching Makarov with a golden egg that seemed to shimmer with its own inner light. "This one's for you."
Makarov accepted the egg carefully, feeling an unusual warmth radiating from it. "And what might this be?"
"Something special," Aiden said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"A thoughtful gift, my boy," Makarov said, studying Aiden's face. "I will care for it well."
As Aiden moved on to give Gildarts and Ur their egg—a speckled orange one that seemed to pulse with a faint inner light.
After the distribution was complete, Makarov made his way over to where Aiden stood with the tall, purple-haired woman—or rather, the creature disguised as a woman. Astra, he had called her.
"Aiden, my boy," Makarov said, carefully holding his egg. "This is quite the gift you've brought to our guild."
"Consider it payment for disappearing for years," Aiden replied with that familiar grin.
Makarov nodded, allowing his expression to grow more serious. "There's much we need to discuss. About your absence, about what's happened while you were gone. The Magic Council has been... active, in ways that concern me."
This was an understatement. In the years since Aiden's disappearance, the Council had undergone changes that troubled him deeply. New members with hardline views on guild regulation. Increased surveillance of powerful mages. And several pointed inquiries about Aiden himself.
"Tomorrow," Aiden promised, his eyes briefly showing a glimpse of the sharp intelligence that often hid behind his casual demeanor. "Let everyone enjoy this moment first."
Makarov nodded, respecting his wish. After all, celebrations were all too rare in their line of work. Better to let his children have this moment of joy before burdening them with the troubles of the outside world.
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