the arrivel at the Dragon's den and Delia's quest

As Ash settled onto the Charizard's back, she felt a surge of excitement course through her veins. The Charizard, Ignis, responded to her presence with a gentle hum, its eyes gleaming with a warm, golden light as it turned its head to regard her. Ash's hands, wrinkled and age-spotted, closed around the saddle horn, her fingers wrapping around it with a practiced ease. With a subtle shift of her weight, she signaled Ignis to take to the skies.

The Charizard's powerful legs coiled, then sprang upward, launching them into the air with a sudden burst of speed.

As the elder and the younger sage sat on Ignis, the wind whipped through their hair, carrying the sweet scent of blooming wildflowers from the fields below. The sun, now a burning orange orb, cast a warm glow over the landscape, illuminating the rolling hills and verdant forests that stretched towards the horizon. Ignis, sensing the elder's subtle weight shift, banked gently to the left, adjusting their course towards the distant silhouette of Blackthorn City.

The younger sage's eyes, wide with wonder, drank in the breathtaking vista, her gaze darting between the elder's serene face and the majestic Charizard beneath them.

As Ignis soared through the sky, the wind whipping through Ash's silver and blue hair, the elder's eyes remained fixed on the horizon, her gaze piercing the distance. The younger sage, still wide-eyed with wonder, clung to the saddle horn, her knuckles white with excitement. The sun's warm rays danced across their faces, casting a golden glow over the landscape.

As they approached the entrance to the Dragon's Den, a figure emerged from the shadows, an older male sage with a long white beard and piercing blue eyes. He stood tall, his staff in hand, and greeted them with a warm smile.

As they descended onto the weathered stone platform, the older male sage's eyes, piercing blue and filled with a deep wisdom, locked onto the elder's, his gaze warm with a sense of familiarity. A gentle smile spread across his face, creasing the skin around his eyes and mouth, as he inclined his head in a respectful greeting. "Greetings, Arcturus," he said, his voice low and soothing, like a gentle breeze on a summer's day. "I see you've brought a young apprentice with you. I am Sage Orion."

The elder's eyes, a deep, piercing brown, sparkled with warmth as she returned the greeting, her voice husky with age.

"Of course, Orion we are here for her to get her first Pokemon," Arcturus said while petting Ignis' neck. The Charizard's eyes closed in bliss as the elder's hand moved gently over its scales.

Orion nodded, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "Ah, yes. A young sage needs a trusty companion to begin their journey. I have just the Pokemon in mind." He turned to the entrance of the Dragon's Den, his staff thumping gently against the ground as he walked. "Follow me."

As Arcturus returned Ignis to its Poké Ball, the Charizard's eyes lingered on its trainer for a moment before the ball's lid closed, enveloping it in a warm, golden light. The ball, now still, was tucked back into the sash at Arcturus's waist, the intricate etchings on its surface seeming to shimmer in the soft, ethereal glow that permeated the Dragon's Den.

Orion's gaze, warm and inquiring, turned to the younger sage, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "And you, young one," he said, his voice low and soothing, "what is your name?"

"Drakaina," she replied, her voice husky and low, the draconic name rolling off her tongue with a quiet confidence. The sound of her new name seemed to resonate within the Dragon's Den, the air vibrating with a subtle energy as if the very walls were acknowledging her transformation.

Orion's eyes, warm and inquiring, sparkled with interest as he nodded his head in approval. "Ah, Drakaina, a name that speaks of power and wisdom," he said, his voice dripping with a soothing cadence. "I sense that you have a deep connection to the dragons, one that will serve you well on your journey."

As they stepped into the Dragon's Den, the air was filled with the sweet scent of dragon scales and the soft hum of ancient magic. The sound of gentle chirping and soft rustling of wings echoed through the cavernous space, a soothing serenade that seemed to welcome Drakaina and Arcturus to this sacred place. The moment they entered, a burst of iridescent color flashed before them, and Arcturus was tackled to the ground by a Latias and a Latios, the two dragon Pokémon nuzzling her gently with their soft, feathery heads.

As the Eon Duo released their gentle grip on Arcturus, she stood up, her silver and blue hair slightly disheveled from the affectionate tackle. A warm smile spread across her face as she reached out to pet the Latias and Latios, her hands moving with a soothing gentleness that seemed to calm the very air around them. "Ah, my old friends," she whispered, her voice husky with affection. "I see you're as energetic as ever." The Latias and Latios nuzzled her hands, their soft, feathery heads bobbing up and down as they chirped in delight.

As the Latias and Latios continued to nuzzle Arcturus's hands, she turned to Drakaina with a warm smile. "Allow me to introduce you to these two rambunctious souls," she said, her voice husky with affection. "This is Lyra, the Latias," she said, gently stroking the Latias's soft, feathery head. "She's a gentle soul, with a heart full of love and a voice that can charm the stars from the sky." Lyra chirped softly, as if acknowledging the introduction, and nuzzled Arcturus's hand once more.

"And this," Arcturus said, her voice low and soothing, "is Kaidos, the Latios." She gently stroked the Latios's sleek, aerodynamic head, her fingers tracing the subtle curves of its face. Kaidos, unlike Lyra, was a bundle of energy, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he nudged Arcturus's hand with his snout. "He's a bit of a troublemaker," Arcturus added, a warm smile spreading across her face, "but he's fiercely loyal and has a heart of gold." Kaidos chirped in response, his voice a deep, rumbling hum that seemed to vibrate through the air.

Orion's eyes, warm and inquiring, turned to Arcturus as he asked, "And, dear Arcturus, I was wondering if you would be willing to take Lyra and Kaidos with you when you leave?" His voice was low and soothing, with a hint of a gentle smile playing on his lips. The air seemed to vibrate with anticipation as Lyra and Kaidos, sensing the possibility of an adventure, nuzzled Arcturus's hands with renewed enthusiasm.

Arcturus's face lit up with a warm smile as she gazed at the Eon Duo, her eyes shining with affection.

As Arcturus's nod of acceptance was met with a chorus of delighted chirps from Lyra and Kaidos, the air seemed to vibrate with excitement. The Eon Duo nuzzled her hands with renewed enthusiasm, their soft, feathery heads bobbing up and down in unison. Orion's face lit up with a warm smile, his eyes sparkling with gratitude as he bowed his head in appreciation. "Thank you, dear Arcturus," he said, his voice low and soothing. "I know that Lyra and Kaidos will be in good hands with you and Drakaina."

As they moved to the center of the Dragon's Den, the soft rustling of wings and gentle chirping of the dragon Pokémon grew louder, creating a soothing melody that seemed to harmonize with the beating of Drakaina's heart. The air was filled with an expectant hush, as if the very dragons themselves were waiting with bated breath for the next step in the journey. Lyra and Kaidos floated effortlessly beside Arcturus, their ethereal forms glowing with a soft, pulsing light that seemed to synchronize with the rhythm of the dragon's heartbeat.

Orion's eyes, warm and knowing, met Drakaina's gaze, and he nodded his head in a gentle gesture of encouragement. " Just wait here, Drakaina," he said, his voice low and soothing. "A dragon will choose you as their partner, as a Sage, your first partner will be your partner for life, and the dragons here choose their partner instead of the other way around, like Eldrid did with Arcturus."

Drakaina nodded, her heart pounding with anticipation as she watched Orion walk over to a group of dragon Pokémon huddled together in the corner of the Dragon's Den. She could feel the weight of the moment, the significance of the decision that was about to be made.

As the dragon Pokémon continued to ignore her, Drakaina's gaze wandered around the cavernous space, taking in the majestic forms of the dragons. Some of them seemed to be engaged in a heated discussion, their voices rising and falling in a soothing melody, while others lounged lazily, their eyes fixed on some distant point. The air was thick with the scent of dragon scales, and the soft rustling of wings created a gentle background hum that seemed to vibrate through every cell in her body.

Just as she was starting to feel a sense of unease, a sudden, terrifying roar echoed through the Dragon's Den, making the very foundations of the cavern tremble.