[ti]spawn[/ti]The Cure to Loneliness is Friends: Part 3

Laguna only let out a long sigh in response, and instead of taking any steps further she'd move to walk over towards the nearest shade, a long ruined office building, and sit down next to it. "Brragon, I know you like fighting, and I appreciate that you're always willing to defend me. But you shouldn't go picking fights you can't win."

"Of course I can win!" He'd puff his chest up, beating it a few times as he also followed her along into the shade. "Just you watch! I'll beat up anything that gets in our way?"

"Is that, confidence I hear? Or pride?" She responded dryly, and Brragon simply blinked his eyes confused in response.

"... There's a difference?"

"Of course, darling." She'd pull out her wand, casually twirling it to keep the cool winds flowing. Even in the shade here, it was still stupidly hot. She didn't know how Brragon was handling himsef. "Confidence is being self-assured, appreciating your skills and knowing you can handle something. Negative pride, however, is a foolishly inflated sense of your own skills, and embracing it as fact. Being proud of yourself is one thing, but its easy to be too prideful. None of us are perfect, hon."

"Bah-" Brragon clearly didn't like having the chastising conversation, even if it did seem to get to him. He rubbed at the back of his head, sighing heavily. "Fine. Fine. If we find something, I won't immediately try and Dragon Tail it."

"Thank you," Laguna spoke softly, reaching over to pat their head, only to find them incredibly cool! Her eyes opened wide, in silent shock. "Wait, how are you so cool? I am dying in the heat over here! "

It was as if she said the wrong thing, and suddenly his pride was coming right back in full force as he puffed out his chest. "Easy! I take in hot energy, and make it cold! The higher the temprature, the more energy I get! I store it all deep inside me!"

"That... is admittedly, kind of incredible. But don't be so smug, you dork!" She'd gently shove him, the two tumbling into the sand and laughing together.

"Sorry, sorry. I just- Well, I like being me!" Brragon replied, climbing to his feet and kicking some sand away. "Do you like being you?"

"... Well-" It was a difficult question with an not easy answer, but she was saved by the sudden loud crack echoing from a nearby building, causing both of them to twist and search for the sound of the disturbance.

Laguna didn't know how to approach the moment, finding herself hindered by indecision as well. If she moved, or shouted, would the Naganadel, unable to communicate, view it as a threat and attack? Or would it be distracted and curious enough to give Brragon an escape?

Instead, she didn't get a chance to act, watching Brragon finally daring to take a step back, nervous energy building and building. That was more than enough of a reaction to have the Naganadel suddenly pouncing.

An Acid was fired from the tip of their stinger, and Brragon barely jumped out of the way at the last second. The poison soaking into the sand, effectively making a nightmare of sticky, sinking poisonous quicksand. The Frigibax quickly picked itself back up, attempting to return fire with a move of its own. An Icy Wind was fired, chunks of ice ripping at its wings, but the Beast was far faster than either could have predicted.

They'd twist around, a claw swiftly scooping the Frigibax up and into its grip, squeezing tightly as Brragon struggled.

"Brragon!" Laguna shouted loudly, flashbacks of her Pokemon getting abducted already flashing through her mind. A massive shard of ice would fling forth from her position as she leaped out, only proving to distract the creature as it zig zagged over towards her.

It took Laguna a few moments to hop up the building, climbing over out onto the vehicle, precariously stuck to the building, and sitting down next to him. "Next time, we-"

"I know, I know." Brragon spoke up before she could finish her sentence. He looked almost dejected and sad, staring into the distance at the Naganadel that continued to ignore them now, and wandered with whatever it was doing. "I shouldn't have tried to fight it. I just- I really want to impress you! With some of our friends gone I- I just, wanted to stand up. Show I can fight!"

Laguna was quiet, legs dangling off the edge of the vehicle, letting her thoughts wander for a few seconds before finally speaking. "Hon, being powerful doesn't impress me. Creativity does. It's doing things that only you can do, embracing what makes you unique. Like you said, you liked being you, right?"

"Yeah..." He mumbled softly, watching as Laguna grabbed her Golden Pokeball. It was probably easier to let himself be recalled, than trying to cut his way loose. "I, maybe I have an idea to actually befriend them?"

"I knew you would." Laguna's smile softened, as their form dissolved into light as they were recalled back into the ball. It was time to go heal their wounds.

Brragon was still nervous, but that didn't stop him from moving to pick up the next item. Something he himself had worked hard to find. An actual hood ornament. It was of some brand he had no idea about, but it looked kind of like a little dragon's head. Feeling hesitant, he just stretched his arms wide above his head, carrying the actual hood ornament high up with his eyes shut tight.

"Don't eat me..." He quietly mumbled, only to feel the little hood ornament being lifted out of his hands after a few seconds. He finally dared to take a peek, seeing the Naganadel holding it up to its eyes, examining it slowly.

It was rusty, but there was at least a few bits that sparkled in the sunlight. It tilted the ornament back and forth, watching the light refract off its metal form. And then their head swiftly shooting over to watch as the light beam reflected onto the sand below, like a cat with a laser, only one intelligent enough to slowly figure out that he was in charge of the beam. Like a baby learning how a mirror worked.

The purple hornet eventually moved the ornament and tire together, as if trying to figure out if they connected. After a few moments, it finally placed the ornament inside the tire, and it seemed to stay there, so it seemed satisfied before looking back at the duo again, blinking. For some odd reason, it was collecting these things. Laguna still wasn't sure if it was because it was trying to make like a dragon's hoard, a lair, or what, but it was working! Much better than her attempt at hide and seek did with the Nihilego, anyways.

"Brilliant idea, Brragon! But what are we just standing here for?" Laguna laughed quietly, reaching down to pick up part of an old steering wheel. "Let's offer up more of our things, and see how far this can take us?"

Brragon's confidence was swiftly shooting up, grinning ear to ear as they waddled back to pick up wires he had ripped from a ruined engine. "Okay!"