Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
During these five days.
Natsuhiko managed to visit some of the more interesting places on Ula ula Island.
Of course, it wasn't for fun.
He went to train Pokémon.
He went to Ula ula Beach, Ula ula Garden, and even Haina Desert to see Harvest Ruins.
He encountered many Pokémon of the Alola region.
He caught some, and released some.
The main goal was to train Pokémon.
Even though the overall strength of his Pokémon didn't improve much, there was still progress.
For instance, Beedrill became increasingly adept at controlling the Feather Current; even without the help of Charjabug, it could barely manage to stimulate its wing currents to boost speed occasionally.
The only regret was not encountering another Overlord Pokémon, to test the "Overlord Aura" data he just got from the Ethereum Foundation.
But luckily, Beedrill has a good grasp of its own "Leader Aura."
Natsuhiko found that since arriving in the Alola region, besides the good luck on the first day, his luck afterwards was lacking.
He gained little visiting Harvest Ruins and didn't get to see Kapu Muu, nor did he manage to find a Frost Six-Tails or Ice Sandshrew on Lanakila Mountain.
After five days of training.
From tomorrow, he would have to start eliminating those competing for seats, and he wouldn't have much time to stay in the Alola region.
The next visit might have to wait until the Alola region fully opens.
So while there was still some time, Natsuhiko visited the peak of Lanakila Mountain again.
Everything else could wait.
There would be time to search again once the Alola region opens.
But not Lanakila Mountain.
Because the alliance would choose this mountain peak to establish the Pokemon Alliance Headquarters, by then, Lanakila Mountain wouldn't be so easily accessed.
The night was hazy.
Natsuhiko searched for traces of Frost Six-Tails and Frost Nine-Tails at the peak of Lanakila Mountain with his Pokémon.
Unfortunately, this place is engulfed in snow and wind year-round
Visibility was low, not to mention leaving any traces was impossible.
Even footprints they left would soon be completely covered by the snow.
When midnight came.
Natsuhiko gave up.
Sitting at the edge of the cliff, he gazed out over the entire Ula ula Island, and could even see the outlines of other islands in the Alola region from afar.
What had to be acknowledged.
Was that without the excessive industrial development and excavation, Alola's scenery was still quite beautiful.
Due to the past blessings of the "Great God of Radiance," the flora of the Alola region was exceptionally lush.
Tree Fruits could grow without careful selection.
Look at what the Exeggutors had become in the Alola region, due to the rich and fertile land.
Even the Dragon Attribute sprouted from them.
Natsuhiko vaguely saw at the foot of Lanakila Mountain a few Exeggutors over ten meters tall, swaying as they passed by.
Being so tall made them stand out, visible even from the mountain peak.
"Buzz."
Beedrill came to Natsuhiko's side.
It didn't join in the "chaos" with Latios and the others, while Alakazam followed Oranguru to learn, and Aegislash stayed hidden in Natsuhiko's shadow.
Seeing Beedrill, Natsuhiko smiled.
"Beedrill, how long has it been since we started training together?"
"Buzz~~" Beedrill's eyes showed a reminiscent look.
Back then, they had to use every ounce of strength just to survive.
Now.
The team had grown so large.
As Natsuhiko's first Pokémon, it witnessed Natsuhiko climbing from nothing to where he is now.
This made it proud to be Natsuhiko's Pokémon.
But it also felt the pressure.
The pressure came from many places.
From the pursuit of Alakazam, Togekiss, and others, and from within itself.
It only understood after more exposure, how in most people's eyes, a Pokémon like itself was of little importance.
It was afraid.
Afraid it couldn't continue alongside Natsuhiko, accompanying him step by step to his peak.
Therefore, it took care of the other Pokémon, so if it couldn't be there, they would accompany Natsuhiko.
It was afraid.
Afraid its presence would fail to provide any assistance to Natsuhiko, and instead become a burden.
So it diligently followed Natsuhiko's plans, executing them meticulously.
It was afraid.
Afraid that if it didn't work hard enough, it would slowly drift away from Natsuhiko's main team.
Thus, it worked hard, always the quietest but the most diligent in the team, setting a good example for others.
It was afraid.
Afraid of many things.
Most of all, it feared becoming a stumbling block for Natsuhiko, preventing him from moving freely.
After all, the Pokémon Natsuhiko captured later all had greater potential than it.
It certainly knew Natsuhiko treated it well.
Not looking down on it because it was a Beedrill.
Always giving it the most suitable things he could think of.
Yet the better Natsuhiko treated it, the greater the pressure Beedrill carried in its heart.
The more Natsuhiko valued it, the more it worried about wasting his attention.
Sometimes, talent is something that effort can't easily make up for, otherwise it wouldn't be called talent.
"What are you afraid of?" Natsuhiko's gentle words reached Beedrill's ears.
A warm and strong hand heavily pressed down on its head.
Beedrill hadn't said anything, yet Natsuhiko voiced its thoughts.
"Buzz..."
Could Natsuhiko not notice Beedrill's condition?
No.
On the contrary, he had observed every little change in Beedrill.
Every glance and movement from Beedrill conveyed its intentions, and Natsuhiko could discern them without even thinking.
This was their momentum, something that even Alakazam, Togekiss, and Aegislash couldn't yet compare to.
Natsuhiko rubbed Beedrill's head and looked towards the cliff.
He slowly raised the corners of his mouth.
"Do you remember when we first began training together? First I led you in a run, then it became you leading me, and now you're leading them."
Beedrill listened silently.
"It's true, I won't deny it. Compared to Pokémon like Latios, Beedrill's talent certainly doesn't compare."
Species Value is a reference figure given by the Alliance, but doesn't it reflect many things?
We shouldn't fully trust it, but neither should we completely ignore it.
Beedrill slowly drooped its head.
Even Natsuhiko said this...
"But not comparing, doesn't mean you lack talent."
Beedrill gradually lifted its head, its crimson compound eyes looking at Natsuhiko.
Natsuhiko smiled.
"The difference between having talent and not having talent is huge and hard to make up for. But the difference between you and them is only in quantity and quality."
"Buzz?" Beedrill gently murmured.
"Have you ever wondered why out of so many Pokémon, only you have the Leader Aura?" Natsuhiko looked at Beedrill.
"Buzz?"
Wasn't it because of the 'Pure Gold Feather'?
"Yes, the 'Pure Gold Feather'. But why didn't the Leader Aura activate when you first consumed it?" Natsuhiko asked again.
Beedrill's eyes showed confusion and contemplation.
"Beedrill."
Natsuhiko suddenly raised his voice, calling out.
Their gazes met.
"Your talent." Natsuhiko said, his finger slowly moving to point at Beedrill's chest, at its heart.
"Is right here!"
His index finger pressed firmly against Beedrill's chest, feeling the heartbeat.
"Remember that day when you battled the Overlord Vikavolt and let go of everything, focusing solely on defeating it? That transformation, that speed, that unmatched aura, that... determination of a leader and Overlord facing off."
Natsuhiko originally thought Beedrill's biggest change came from external 'Feather Current'.
But thinking back, Beedrill's biggest change was internal.
If a Pokémon's heart is always worrying or fearing something, how can it fight with complete freedom?
Fear will only slow your response.
Beedrill's bright red eyes slowly began to shine, twinkling brilliantly.
The light gradually filled its entire eyes.
Inner strength is powerful, strong enough to overlook many things.
And Beedrill is absolutely the strongest internally among Natsuhiko's Pokémon.
Together they have risen from humble beginnings, the greatest reward of all.
"Together, we'll become stronger!" Natsuhiko pronounced each word clearly.
"Buzz!" Beedrill roared softly, red wisps of energy swirling around it.
It's the Leader Aura!
As a leader, how can it be afraid?!
Other Pokémon playing nearby came to a stop, looking at Beedrill.
They felt that Beedrill had become stronger?
Natsuhiko smiled.
The Overlord Aura comes from the Guardian God's favor.
While the Leader Aura comes from within the Pokémon itself.
He hadn't anticipated he had quite the talent for 'motivational boosts'.
But this 'motivation', isn't it also for himself?
Beedrill had become stronger.
Indeed.
Not just with the Leader Aura, but also in strength.
This is a spiritual transformation, a removal of shackles, the official debut of Leader Beedrill.
Simply by the change in aura and perception, the current Beedrill doesn't need Mega Evolution; its Gym Leader Level strength is already among the elite, not far from Elite Candidate!
Crunch!!
Lanakila Mountain's summit ice cracked wide open.
"Buzz!" Beedrill turned sharply.
Overlord Aura!
————
PS: Beedrill is about to break through, grab your seats.
Todays' count is 13,000, it's the last two days for double monthly votes, asking for votes!