"Hehe—" The elder, also known as Elder Dracoflame to Longxi and others, put down the book in his hand and stood up with a smile, walking towards Natsuhiko.
"This young brother has helped our 'Meteor Village' greatly, and we don't even know how to thank you."
As he spoke, he very familiarly tried to grab Natsuhiko's hand.
Fortunately, Natsuhiko dodged in time.
He took two steps back, looking at the elder with a hint of caution and shock in his eyes.
Old glass?
However, more shocked than Natsuhiko were Longxi, Nina, and Ryuzi.
The three of them looked at each other, seeing disbelief in each other's eyes.
Just now...
Elder Dracoflame laughed?
Usually known for being serious and rigid, Elder Dracoflame actually smiled upon seeing Natsuhiko?
Why did Ryuzi wilt like a frosted eggplant when he heard the name "Elder Dracoflame"? Wasn't it because of fear?
Even the now kindly smiling Elder Dracoflame was a rare sight for both Longxi and Nina.
"Ahem, sorry, sorry, I was abrupt, very abrupt."
Seeing Natsuhiko's cautious posture, Elder Dracoflame realized that he had been a bit out of character.
Natsuhiko barely managed to force a smile.
Seeing his disbelief, Elder Dracoflame hesitated for a moment before slowly asking, "Young brother, are you aware of the 'Star Power'?"
Star Power?
Natsuhiko only knew about psychic power, Power of the Eternal Plate, Waveguide Power, and Super Overcoming Power, but nothing about "Star Power."
He shook his head.
Then, Elder Dracoflame slowly recounted the whole story.
The reason he had been so out of character was due to a reason.
He saw "Star Power" within Natsuhiko and his Pokémon.
Thousands of years ago, the "Meteor People" who worshiped the Dragon God, which is Rayquaza, summoned Rayquaza through prayers and successfully had Rayquaza undergo Super Evolution to quell the conflict between Primordial Groudon and Primordial Kyogre.
According to records, the power that allowed Rayquaza to undergo Super Evolution came from a meteorite from outer space, containing a special power that allowed Rayquaza to complete the Super Evolution.
What that power is cannot be determined, but the "Meteor People" referred to it as "Star Power," the mysterious power of the cosmos.
Just now, Elder Dracoflame sensed a trace of "Star Power" within Natsuhiko and his Pokémon, especially strong in his Absol.
Because at that time, aside from summoning Rayquaza, the "Meteor People" also received a prophecy.
A thousand years later, another meteor would strike the earth, and by then, the Dragon God Rayquaza would save the world once more.
Now, the millennium's period is nearly complete.
The "Meteor People" are unsure whether they can summon Rayquaza again and trigger another Super Evolution.
However, if there is still "Star Power," then things might be different, and the chances might be greater.
And also.
The prophecy states that a person would arise to give Rayquaza power again, completely awakening it.
Elder Dracoflame considered Natsuhiko as the potential person from the prophecy.
After listening to the story, Natsuhiko had an odd expression.
Was he the "Child of Prophecy" in the Pokémon Realm?
However.
Natsuhiko roughly understood the reason for the so-called "Star Power" sensed by Elder Dracoflame.
The "Star Power" he possesses is actually the power of Jirachi's Wish Star.
All three Pokémon received Jirachi's prayer, and Absol, having the longest contact with Jirachi and having contributed the most, naturally had the strongest aura.
This seems...
To be a misunderstanding.
Conversely, Ryuzi and the other three behind Elder Dracoflame revealed a look of sudden realization.
Looking at Natsuhiko, their eyes were filled with an inexplicable emotion.
It turns out everything was fate.
Natsuhiko touched his nose, hesitantly saying, "This... might be a misunderstanding..."
He seemed to have vaguely understood.
Wasn't the "Child of Prophecy" Elder Dracoflame mentioned the same as Xijana, who clashes with Flint in the future?
She does appear capable of helping Rayquaza undergo Super Evolution.
Except Natsuhiko was unsure if this world was the anime world or the special chapter world.
Does Xijana even exist?
"Impossible!" Elder Dracoflame asserted straightforwardly, "This must be the guidance of the Dragon God, which made you aid Ryuzi and punish evildoers, your aura, especially this Absol's aura, is the best proof!"
"Though young, to possess an Absol of such strength is proof as well!"
Natsuhiko: "..."
Looking at Absol, it still maintained its cool demeanor, as if nothing had anything to do with it.
Looking at Togetic, its eyes were full of little stars, looking back at him with admiration.
"Child of Prophecy," oh, that's so incredible!
Then looking at Yujira, he saw helplessness in its eyes, Yujira clearly understood the ins and outs of the situation.
Thankfully.
There was someone reasonable.
Otherwise, Natsuhiko would feel completely swayed.
Almost truly believing himself to be the "Child of Prophecy."
Didn't see Togetic already wobbly?
As for Beedrill, Natsuhiko didn't even need to glance at it, because with or without Elder Dracoflame's words, in Beedrill's eyes, Natsuhiko was already its "Child of Prophecy."
"So... what does the elder want me to do?"
"Do what?"
Elder Dracoflame was stunned and opened his mouth without knowing how to respond.
Do what?
Save the world!
But not now.
After a long silence, Elder Dracoflame slowly said, "You don't need to do anything, everything is guided by the Dragon God. When the time comes for you to do something, you will naturally know what to do."
Natsuhiko: "..."
Could this be the legendary...
Talking to the elder is like hearing... talking to the elder?
"But to thank you for helping our 'Meteor Village' this time, with my decision, you can go to the 'Dragon's Nest' and choose a Dragon Egg."
Dragon Egg?
Dragon-type Pokémon Egg?
Natsuhiko's eyes finally lit up.
That's right, after all that talking, isn't something tangible better?
Images of Dragonite, Salamence, Garchomp, Hydreigon, and other Dragon-type Pokémon flashed through his mind.
The thought was exciting.
Elder Dracoflame smiled again, saying to Ryuzi, "Ryuzi, take Mr. Natsuka to Granny Long, let him choose a Dragon Egg."
"Alright." Ryuzi quickly responded, "But what should I say to Granny Long?"
Elder Dracoflame waved his hand, "She'll understand when she sees, no need for words."
"Eh?"
...
...
Ryuzi led Natsuhiko out of the village onto a forest path.
"Mr. Natsuka, are you... really the person from the prophecy?" Ryuzi couldn't help but ask.
Natsuhiko did not answer, he merely gave him a look of self-understanding.
How to answer?
If he said no, would anyone believe him?
"You must be! I've never seen Elder Dracoflame speak so kindly to anyone before." Ryuzi answered himself, quite certain.
Natsuhiko silently rolled his eyes, too lazy to refute.
"By the way, Mr. Natsuka, can you teach me more about the outside world?"
"Like what?"
Ryuzi scratched his head, chuckling, "Just... what you outsiders call Pokémon battles."
"Pokémon battles?"
"The elders say the times have changed; people outside are now into Pokémon battles instead of combat..."
Combat.
A thousand years ago, humans and Pokémon in the Pokémon Realm coexisted in this form?
True enough.
That is the phenomenon that should exist in nature.
But after the League took power, they promoted the peaceful coexistence of Pokémon and humans.
Till now, Trainer to Trainer interactions are mostly through Pokémon battles, not life-or-death combat.
This policy has both good and bad sides.
But for the stability of the whole Pokémon realm, it is a good thing.
"I'll try my best, though I'm not that skilled." Natsuhiko said truthfully.
Ryuzi showed an "understanding" expression, "Understood, understood."
Be humble.
"Understand what?"
Ryuzi did not answer him, only returned with an "I understand well" expression.
"Here we are."
Before them was a gigantic ancient tree that reached the sky and a large nest-like structure.
Inside.
It was filled with...
Dragon-type Pokémon Eggs!