Where Freedom Lies [Pokémon Horizons X Male Reader]

Chapter 1| Ghosts And Salamanders

The soft morning light seeped through the cracks in the cabin walls, gently illuminating the scene of Y/n and Bagon resting peacefully together. Y/n stirred, stretching slightly but not fully waking, feeling the warmth of Bagon's small but sturdy form nestled close to him.

He smiled to himself, eyes still closed, thinking about the unusual bond that had formed between them so quickly. Bagon could have easily gone home, but for some reason, the Pokémon had chosen to stay. Y/n didn't understand it fully yet, but he felt grateful. Life had been lonely for him for as long as he could remember, and now, for the first time in a while, he felt like he wasn't so alone.

"Guess we're in this together now, huh?" Y/n murmured softly, still half-asleep.

Bagon snorted quietly in response, its small body rising and falling with deep breaths. The two of them had so much ahead of them—so many dreams, adventures, and challenges. But for now, just having each other was enough.

Y/n's eyes fluttered open, and he looked down at his new companion, a sense of warmth and excitement growing in his chest. "You really meant it, didn't you? You're not leaving."

Bagon blinked awake, its determined eyes locking with Y/n's.  "Ba." With a small grunt, it gave a confirming nod, establishing that they were truly in this together.

Y/n raised an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at the small Pokémon. "Bagon..." he began slowly, sitting up and crossing his arms. "Do you know anything about those berries?" He said, referring to the heap of stolen berries that had suddenly gone missing.

Bagon shifted uncomfortably, refusing to make eye contact as it scooted slightly away from Y/n. A nervous chuckle escaped the Pokémon, and it scratched the back of its head with its tiny claws. The sweat rolling down its face gave everything away.

"Uh-huh," Y/n said with a smirk, standing up and stretching. "So you were the one who munched them off while I was sleeping, huh?"

Bagon gave a half-hearted shrug, trying to look innocent but failing miserably. Its round belly was a dead giveaway.

Y/n couldn't help but laugh. "I guess I can't blame you. I'd probably do the same if I had the chance," he admitted. "But we're gonna need to figure out food, and soon." He glanced out the hole in the wall serving as a window, watching the forest that bordered his cabin. "The wild berries around here won't last us forever."

Bagon, looking guilty, lowered its head and gave a small apologetic grunt. Y/n knelt beside him, patting the Pokémon's back.

"Don't worry about it, buddy. We'll figure something out together." He smiled brightly. "But next time, maybe save a few for me, alright?"

Bagon perked up a little, nodding eagerly. The bond between the two was still new, but moments like these—sharing both the struggles and the laughs—were quickly strengthening it.

"Come on," Y/n said, walking out of the door into the wilderness "Let's go see what we can find for breakfast. Maybe we'll get lucky and find a few more of those berries you liked so much."

Bagon hopped up energetically, ready to follow Y/n's lead, a mischievous glint in his eye that told Y/n this wouldn't be the last time food mysteriously disappeared. Y/n rolled his eyes at Bagon before his gaze shifted to the skies above. Gray clouds were starting to roll in, partially blocking out the sun. A cold breeze blew through the air, causing both Y/n and Bagon to shiver. Y/n's shredded t-shirt offered no protection against the elements, and Bagon, being a Dragon-type, already struggled with the cold.

"Let's hurry up," Y/n said, starting to jog into the forest with Bagon right beside him.

The two had made it quite deep into the forest when the temperature suddenly dropped to extreme lows, sending an eerie shiver up both of their spines. The unsettling feeling of being watched shook them up. Though the sudden chill left as quickly as it came, the sense of being stalked never truly faded. The two glanced at each other, and seeing that the other had gone pale, they knew it wasn't just their imagination playing tricks on them.