The preparations for the ceremony were mostly just tradition. I had to wear a special orange outfit and eat the ceremonial meal before meeting with the family at noon. The ceremony was held at a large natural amphitheater which allowed all the family and any pokemon that wanted to attend. The ceremony was performed every year on the summer solstice.

This year there were two family members of age to attend the Blood Bond Ceremony; Myself and my cousin Obediah (our family has a thing for names that start with O). We weren’t exactly friends, but we weren’t antagonistic towards each other. I just didn’t really enjoy playing childish games since I reincarnated and we never really reconnected when we got a bit older.

Grandpa Ozai stood on the “stage” and beckoned both of us forward.

“Today, we welcome Orick and Obediah to their Blood Bond Ceremony. This is a tradition that has been passed down from our ancestors, to better acclimate to the blood bond.” Gramps recited as he waxed poetically about the ceremony. Really, the most important part was the elixir we drank to enact the blood bond. Normally, the trainer and pokemon would just imbibe the other’s blood. The elixir we have incorporates the blood of both the trainer and pokemon, allowing for the Blood Bond to form more easily.

From some experiences passed down from other family members… It seems like the elixir contains a mild psychedelic…

Hopefully I don’t do anything embarrassing.

Grandpa finally finishes his speech as Drako and Elise’s daughter are brought before us.

Drako rushes up to me and I pat him on the head. Meanwhile, Elise’s daughter slowly walks up to Obediah and nods at him. We both lead our charmander to our respective area, prepared for the Blood Bond Ceremony.

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When we are each in our place, Grandpa draws a circle around each pair. “Now, after drinking the elixir, no one can interfere until the Blood Bond Ceremony is complete!”

He hands us both the elixirs for us and our pokemon. The moment is here, what I’ve been working towards madly for over a year. My childhood dreams in both lifetimes are about to be realized.

“Begin!” Barks Grandpa.

Thoughts of the horrible pain I'm about to face race through my mind. With one last look into Drako’s eyes, I drink the elixir while feeding Drako his portion. Bottoms up!

After chugging the elixir, I resume staring into Drako’s eyes and I can feel it starting to work. There is a heat in my chest and I can see that Drako is feeling it too. He starts to cry out “CHAAAR!” And looks like a mini super saiyan, with aura lines radiating off his body.

I don’t remember when I started screaming but my voice melds with his as I start to see apparitions behind Drako. Charmeleon and charizard, his evolutions look to be projected behind him. Both screaming out as well in a roar. That picture of his monstrous evolutions framed behind Drako seemed to be burned into my retinas. Then there was black.

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When I woke up it was dark outside, but my immediate area was lit up by Drako’s tail. But…it seemed to be bigger. I focused on Drako and saw a charmeleon!

“YOU’RE UP! Thank Arceus!”

As I looked around I saw my mom rushing towards me to encapsulate me in a hug.

“Ah…I'm okay, Mom… but you’re squishing me…”

“Hahaha! What did I tell you! Of course he would complete the bond successfully.” Grandpa boasted, but seemed to grow meek at Mom’s stare.

“So, what happened during the ceremony…?” I asked.

“Well, Obediah’s ceremony went pretty normally and he woke up in the evening.” Mom began, “But you! I should have never let you talk me into this! You were screaming so loud…” She sniffled. “And then Drako started evolving and…you kept screaming…”

She released me a little to look in my eyes, “Please, never put me through something like that again.” She said with tears in her eyes.

There were tears in my eyes too as I nodded.

Thwack Drako’s tail hit my back in what I felt from him to be his attempt at consoling me. He must not know his own strength right now. Wait… The bond! I can feel Drako at the edge of my…mind? Or my senses? Anyways, I could tell what Drako is feeling! And the bond would only grow better over time, letting us communicate with each other.

I pulled Drako into the hug my mother seemed deadset not to let go of. “You might as well join in too, Gramps!”

“Heh, twerp.” He replied as he came into the group hug.