Orion and Valeria stroll back into the main lobby of Pokémon Home, the teleportation device shimmering behind them. Pikachu, who had been patiently awaiting Orion's return, perks up at the sight of his friend and darts towards him.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaims, leaping onto Orion's shoulder and nuzzling his cheek affectionately. Orion chuckles, scratching Pikachu behind its ear.
Valeria, eager to get started, turns to Orion with a determined glint in her eyes. "Alright, Owner, how does this lottery thing work?" she asks, her hands clasped behind her back.
Orion smiles, ever the showman, and gestures towards a sleek, futuristic tablet resting on the counter. He picks it up and hands it to Valeria. "Here you are, my dear Miss Richards. With this, you can tap the screen to begin the lottery. A Pokémon silhouette will be randomly displayed, and you'll have the option to buy it."
He pauses for emphasis, his eyes twinkling. "You have five pulls, but remember, you have the option to decline any of them. No pressure, of course."
Valeria takes the tablet, her fingers hovering over the screen. With a deep breath, she taps the icon. The screen bursts to life, cycling through hundreds of Pokémon silhouettes at lightning speed. It's a dazzling display of varied shapes and sizes, a testament to the sheer diversity of Pokémon species.
The images blur, creating a mesmerizing spectacle of light and shadow. Then, as suddenly as it began, the screen stops, freezing on a peculiar silhouette. It's a metallic, vaguely arm-shaped form, unlike anything Valeria has ever seen.
What is that? she wonders, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"What is that?" she asks aloud, her voice a mixture of intrigue and bewilderment.
Orion gasps, his eyes widening in surprise. "My dear Miss Richards, you have an uncanny knack for surprises," he exclaims, his voice filled with awe. "You are truly lucky. This is Beldum."
"Beldum? And what do you mean, I'm lucky?" Valeria asks, her curiosity piqued.
"Oh, my dear Valeria, do you know of Legendary Pokémon?" Orion begins, his voice taking on a reverent tone.
"No. But just the fact that you call them Legendary, are they powerful, or are they just legends?"
"Legendary Pokémon are beings of immense power, whispered about in myths and legends. They are forces of nature, beings who control the very elements, shape the land, and influence the fate of the world. Some say they are even divine!"
He dramatically points a finger skyward. "We're talking about creatures who can control time, space, and even antimatter! They can create or destroy universes with a mere thought, summon storms with a flap of their wings, and heal the sick with a touch. They're basically gods walking among us, capable of feats beyond human comprehension."
Pikachu, perched on Orion's shoulder, nods enthusiastically, as if confirming every word. "Pika pika!" it chirps, its cheeks sparking with electricity.
He pauses, then continues, "But there's another category as well: Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon. They are only a step below the Legendaries in terms of strength and potential, but they are also very difficult to raise because of their relatively high evolutionary levels and the slow leveling rates."
Orion beams, gesturing towards the tablet. "What you just got was the unevolved form of a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon from the Hoenn region. And those from Hoenn are quite special. You are very lucky."
Valeria is shocked. She had no idea there was such a hierarchy among Pokémon.
Legendary and Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon? Her mind races, calculating the possibilities.
With this Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon, if she raises it right, Valeria no longer needs to be the damsel in distress,
Orion's expression turns serious, his voice losing its playful lilt. "However, I must warn you, Miss Richards, the price of Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon is incredibly high."
Valeria's eyes narrow, her excitement tempered by a sense of wariness. "How much are we talking?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
Orion sighs, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Five million dollars. But with the 30% discount from the store opening. That will be three million five hundred thousand."
Valeria's jaw drops, her eyes widening in disbelief. Over three million dollars! It's an exorbitant sum, even for her. But as she considers the potential of Beldum, she can't help but feel a sense of excitement.
Three million! she thinks, her mind racing. Still, I have a trust fund, and this could be worth it...
"Can I see it first?" Valeria asks, her voice filled with cautious anticipation.
"Of course, my dear! One moment," Orion replies, his smile returning. He turns and heads towards a door at the back of the store, disappearing into the depths of Pokémon Home.
A few moments later, he reemerges, Beldum floating silently beside him. The metallic Pokémon exudes an aura of calm intelligence, its single, red eye seeming to observe everything with quiet intensity. Its body is a polished steel-gray, and it floats effortlessly, its form sleek and elegant.
Valeria is captivated. She had only seen a silhouette on the tablet, but now, face-to-face with Beldum, she finds it to be both fascinating and, dare she admit it, kind of cute.
"Can I touch him?" she asks, her voice now filled with curiosity and a newfound sense of respect.
Beldum seems to understand her question, its red eye blinking once in a gesture that Valeria interprets as a nod.
Hesitantly, Valeria reaches out her hand, her fingers brushing against Beldum's metallic surface. To her surprise, the Pokémon snuggles into her touch, its body pressing gently against her hand.
It's… surprisingly endearing, she thinks, a warmth spreading through her chest.
She wraps her arms around Beldum, hugging it close. It's heavier than she expected, its metallic body surprisingly dense.
"But," Valeria asks, breaking the hug, "how can this little thing be a Pseudo-Legendary Pokémon? It doesn't look that strong."
Orion chuckles, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Ah, but that's the beauty of it, Valeria! Beldum is still in its baby form. When it evolves, especially into Metagross, you'll see its true strength unleashed. It will blow your mind. A supercomputer on legs!"
Valeria's eyes widen. "Evolve? What is that? I know what biological evolution is. The change in heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. But what does that have to do with Pokémon?"
Orion's face lights up, clearly relishing the chance to explain one of the core concepts of the Pokémon world. "Evolution, in the world of Pokémon, is a fascinating process. It's not quite the same as biological evolution as you know it, though there are certainly some parallels. Think of it as a metamorphosis, a transformation into a more powerful and mature form."
He explains, "For most Pokémon, this evolution is triggered by experience, by growing stronger through battles and training. As they gain experience, they accumulate energy, which eventually triggers a change in their physical form and abilities. Some Pokémon also need outside help with evolution, but Beldum only needs experience."
He continues, "Think of it like this: a Caterpie evolves into a Metapod, which then evolves into a Butterfree. Each stage represents a significant leap in power and potential. In Beldum's case, it will first evolve into Metang, then finally into the mighty Metagross. At each stage, its stats improve, its movepool expands, and its capabilities increase exponentially."
Valeria is floored. A metamorphosis driven by experience? Stats, movepools, and exponential power? It's like a level-up system in a video game, but real! She can't help but be excited.
As if sensing her thoughts, Beldum nuzzles against her again, its smooth, metallic body a comforting presence. Its single eye looks at her with what seems like trust.
In that moment, Valeria makes up her mind. She may not fully understand the complexities of Pokémon evolution, but she knows one thing for sure: she wants Beldum by her side.
This little guy is going to be my partner.
"I'll take it," she says, her voice firm and resolute.
Orion beams, his eyes sparkling with delight. "Excellent choice, Miss Richards! I have a feeling you and Beldum will be an unstoppable team."
Valeria pulls out her credit card, handing it to Orion with a confident smile. Orion swipes the card, completing the transaction with a flourish.
"Congratulations, Miss Richards!" Orion exclaims, clapping his hands together. "You are now officially a Pokémon Trainer! The first one, besides myself, to embark on this adventure in this new world."
Valeria raises an eyebrow, a puzzled expression on her face. "Trainer? What's that?"
Orion chuckles, delighted by her naiveté. "A Trainer, my dear, is a person who raises, trains, and bonds with Pokémon."
He pauses, gesturing towards Beldum. "Trainers bond with Pokémon, raise them, teach them new moves, and battle with them. Through their experiences together, the Pokémon will grow stronger, reaching their full potential."
***
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Advance chapters in P@T0n Najicablitz.