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Gather around, my children, and I shall tell you the story of how Dunsparce became a dragon…
Once upon a time, many eons ago, Dunsparce lived much as they do now -- they were shy, timid little creatures that burrowed in the ground. They still had their stubby little wings, but they long had given up flying, as it was far more safe and comfortable on the ground, where they could dig into the ground and hide in their burrows at a moments’ notice.
One day, a timid little Dunsparce was sunning himself by the river when he saw a Magikarp swim by. “Hello there, Magikarp,” the Dunsparce said. “Where are you off to on this fine, sunny day?”
“This is a special day for me,” the Magikarp replied. “Today is the day I try to become a dragon!”
The little Dunsparce was shocked, for he had never heard of such a thing as a weak, pathetic Magikarp becoming a dragon. “What? How is this possible?”
“Do you see that distant mountain, covered in fog?” the Magikarp said. “At the top of a mountain is a special place called the Dragon’s Gate. To get there, you have to Splash your way up a very tall waterfall. Only then will the dragons grant my wish to become one of them. It is a very difficult journey, and not every Magikarp makes it. But I have to try, or else I will never become a dragon.”
The Dunsparce was amazed by this. “I want to be a dragon too!” he exclaimed. “If I come with you to the Dragon’s Gate, will I get to be a dragon too?”
The Magikarp laughed and laughed at the little Dunsparce. “You? A dragon?” he said. “You can’t become a dragon! You’re not a Magikarp!” The Magikarp swam away, still laughing.
The little Dunsparce felt bad. After all, if a Magikarp could become a mighty dragon, then why couldn’t a lowly Dunsparce also? “I’ll show him,” the Dunsparce said. “I’ll climb that waterfall, and then I’ll become a dragon too!” With that, the Dunsparce began slowly slithering along the river toward the waterfall.
The journey along the river was very long, but the little Dunsparce was determined. Finally, he reached the base of the mountain where the waterfall was. It was so tall that he couldn’t see the top through the clouds. Seeing that, the Dunsparce suddenly felt very scared. How could he possibly reach the top?
Hearing a splash, he looked back down at the waterfall to see the Magikarp jumping up the waterfall, occasionally disappearing into the water only to splash back up again, gradually making its way higher and higher until it disappeared into the clouds. Watching the brave Magikarp, Dunsparce felt a sudden rush of courage. “If a Magikarp can splash up such a tall waterfall, then surely I can make it up there too.”
With that, the little Dunsparce started flapping his tiny little wings as hard as he could. He hovered just a tiny bit off the ground, then got just a tiny bit higher, and a tiny bit higher. Being off the ground was a scary feeling, but he was determined to make it to the top.
Inch by inch, higher and higher, the little Dunsparce came closer and closer to the top of the mountain. Every now and then he’d have to perch on a rock to rest, and he’d look down toward the ground. It felt so very far away, and every time he longed for the comfortable darkness of his burrow. But then he’d watch another Magikarp splash its way up the waterfall and he’d feel determined once again.
Finally, the little Dunsparce broke through the clouds. There, he saw an amazing sight -- a brilliant golden gate shimmered at the top of the waterfall, flanked by two large dragons, one black and one white.
As he watched, a single Magikarp jumped through the clouds and splashed up to the gate. A sparkling golden light shined on it, and right before the little Dunsparce’s eyes, he watched as the Magikarp’s body slowly grew larger and larger, longer and longer, until the light faded, revealing the newly-evolved Gyarados. The Gyarados let out a mighty roar as it flew off into the sky and out of sight.
Excited, the Dunsparce slithered up to the giant dragons. They turned to watch him as he approached. The white one spoke up, its voice booming. “What business have you here, land-dweller?”
“I’m here to become a dragon,” the Dunsparce replied. “I’ve climbed the waterfall.”
The two dragons exchanged a look, and the white dragon burst out into booming laughter. “You? A dragon? You’re just a Dunsparce, you’re not worthy of becoming a dragon!”
The little Dunsparce was surprised and hurt, but then quickly became angry. “What do you mean? If a little Magikarp can be a dragon, why can’t I? What makes me any less worthy than them?”
“Get lost, you pathetic land-dweller,” the white dragon said, motioning him away dismissively.
Angry, the Dunsparce started flapping his wings furiously. The two dragons watched in bewilderment as he climbed higher and higher into the sky, faster than he’d made his way up the mountain. Finally, when he was so high up he could barely see the dragons or the gate, he swung his pointy tail around under him and let himself drop, aiming for the white dragon. He fell faster and faster, and he saw the white dragon’s eyes widen in disbelief.
Then, just as the Dunsparce nearly landed on the white dragon, the black dragon leaped between them, shielding the white dragon at the last minute. The little Dunsparce bounced off the impermeable scales, hitting the ground with a rough bounce. “Stop -- enough of this,” the black dragon said, its voice commanding but calm. It turned to regard the Dunsparce with curious eyes.
“How is it that such a lowly land-dweller as you could have such determination and such courage as to face us?” the black dragon asked. As it spoke, its features shifted, the voice becoming more ethereal; blue wisps of wings emerged from its body.
The white dragon too began to transform, fiery red rings emerging from its body. “Never before has one of your kind dared climb this waterfall and challenge us,” the white dragon said, its voice powerful. “Your bravery in the face of adversity and mockery is to be admired.”
The Dunsparce watched in shock. Could it be… the white and black dragons… were none other than Aotius and Mutios themselves?
“You have shown us your true soul, little Dunsparce,” the black dragon -- Mutios -- said.
“And for that,” Aotius said, “you shall be rewarded.”
The Dunsparce saw a shimmering white glow fill the sky around him. Slowly, he felt his body being lifted into the air.
Mutios spoke, her voice sounding far away. “Your wish has been granted, brave Dunsparce. You shall be a dragon.”
The light faded, and the little Dunsparce found that he was no longer little anymore… his body had been transformed, and was now larger and stronger. His wings were no longer tiny little stubs, but were fully formed with feathers; one strong beat could keep him safely afloat with almost no effort.
“From here forth, you shall no longer be called ‘Dunsparce’,” Aotius declared. “For your courage, you shall henceforth be called ‘Dunseraph’. Any of your kind who are bold enough to take to the sky to reach Dragon’s Gate and to challenge the very gods themselves shall be worthy of this transformation themselves. Now… go forth… and take your place among the noble dragons of Tandor.”
And from that day forward, any Dunsparce who overcomes its fear to climb the great waterfall to Dragon’s Gate, and who has the strength of soul to dare fall from the sky to challenge Aotius and Mutios, shall become mighty dragons. And this, my children, is why and how Dunsparce can only evolve here in Tandor.