Sparks of Kinship
⸻
Chapter Three: Sparks of Kinship
Draco stretched out on the soft grass as the sun sank lower on the horizon. Ralts sat quietly beside him, its wide eyes reflecting the fading light. The bond between them was still fragile, but Draco felt something shifting—an understanding that went beyond words. It was as if Ralts had decided that, despite his cold exterior, Draco was worth its trust.
Charlie, always nearby but never overbearing, sat a few paces away, poking at the small campfire he’d built for the evening. The flames crackled softly, and Draco caught a glimpse of warmth in the firelight—something grounding, something familiar. He hadn’t asked for any of this, but a part of him couldn’t deny the comfort he found in Charlie’s steady presence.
“So,” Draco said, breaking the silence, “how does this training work? Ralts and I… we’re not exactly on the same page yet.”
Charlie looked up from the fire, smiling slightly. “It’s less about forcing a bond and more about growing it naturally. Trust doesn’t happen overnight, Draco. But you’re getting there. You and Ralts already share a connection, even if you can’t feel it fully yet.”
Draco frowned, glancing at Ralts, who was now staring at him with its head tilted to the side. “I’m not great with… feelings.”
Charlie chuckled. “That’s obvious.”
Draco shot him a sharp look, but the teasing edge of Charlie’s words softened as the redhead continued. “Don’t worry about that. What matters is you’re trying. Ralts can sense that, even if you can’t. You’re already doing better than most people would in this situation.”
There was a pause as Draco let those words settle. The fire crackled softly between them, and Draco couldn’t help but feel a tug of curiosity. “You’ve been here for a while,” Draco said, tilting his head, “and you seem to know your way around these… Pokémon. How did you manage?”
Charlie’s eyes flicked toward the sky for a moment, as if remembering his own beginnings in this world. “I stumbled a lot at first. Took me time to get used to the idea that magic wasn’t everything. But the Pokémon here—well, they’re kind of like partners. They have their own kind of magic, and once you understand that, it becomes easier.”
“Partners,” Draco repeated, glancing at Ralts again. “That still feels… strange.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Charlie said, standing up and dusting off his hands. “Speaking of partners…”
With a sharp whistle, Charlie called into the fading light, his voice carrying easily over the meadow. Draco turned, eyes narrowing in curiosity, when the air around them began to shift. A powerful gust of wind whipped through the clearing, but instead of alarm, Draco felt an overwhelming presence—one that exuded strength and loyalty.
And then, descending from the sky like a force of nature, was Dragonite.
The massive, dragon-like Pokémon landed softly beside Charlie, its wings folding gracefully against its back. Dragonite stood tall and proud, its golden-orange scales gleaming in the firelight. It let out a low rumble, its eyes scanning the area before landing on Draco and Ralts. Despite its intimidating size, there was a warmth in Dragonite’s gaze—a quiet, reassuring power.
“This is Dragonite,” Charlie said, his tone soft with pride. “She’s been with me since the beginning.”
Draco stared, his heart skipping a beat at the sight of the majestic creature. “You… you’ve been training a dragon?”
Charlie smiled. “Not exactly the same as the ones back home. Dragonite’s gentle. Strong, but gentle. She’s helped me through a lot.”
Draco’s eyes flicked between Charlie and Dragonite. The bond between them was palpable, and for the first time, Draco felt a pang of something—was it envy? Admiration? He wasn’t sure. He looked down at Ralts, who was now standing close to him, its small frame barely reaching Draco’s knee. The difference between them and Charlie’s partnership with Dragonite was vast, but Draco knew, somehow, that he and Ralts could get there too.
“You’ll get your own Dragonite one day,” Charlie said, catching Draco’s contemplative expression. “Or something just as powerful. But it all starts with trust.”
Draco sighed, feeling the weight of those words. Trust. A concept so foreign to him in the world he’d left behind. He glanced at Ralts again, who met his gaze with that same quiet understanding.
Maybe trust wasn’t as far off as he thought.
Dragonite let out a low, friendly rumble, leaning down slightly to get a closer look at Ralts. The smaller Pokémon seemed unphased, gazing up at Dragonite with wide, curious eyes. Draco couldn’t help but feel a small spark of pride that Ralts wasn’t afraid.
“They’ll get along just fine,” Charlie said, watching the interaction. “Ralts is a good match for you, Draco. Don’t doubt that.”
Draco huffed, but his usual sharpness had faded. He felt something in this moment—a flicker of hope, of possibility. Perhaps in this world, he could be more than just a Malfoy. Perhaps, he could be something else entirely.
⸻