... and there it was.
"You're approaching this like a typical pokémon would." Bahamut's head turned up toward the ceiling despite him not moving his body. "Which would be perfectly fine... if you were a normal pokémon. But you shades have... very different properties. They come from those Ultra Stones. And while I can't say I understand them... I believe your Ultra Stone can let you harmonize with your partner. If you want a goal... it should be to support your dad's actions in battle."
Was he really hitting the nail on the head here? Bahamut felt more like he was giving an order. Nngh. Phrasing things for little ones was a thin tightrope.
"I'll give an example. Esper, for all his troublemaking, uses his aura to bolster my defenses and prevent opponents from lowering them." Bahamut's head spun back around. "So, if your dad is focused on dodging and healing, you could try to focus on helping him dodge more efficiently."
His head spun around again to hide his frown. "I know it's easy to think that, by not actually attacking, you're not really helping the team. Most of them are attackers, after all. But we've been in all these fights and I've never done more than throw my weight around against an enemy's shield. I make barriers and heal people. No one's going to thank me for it, but I don't expect them to.
"Heroes and leaders shouldn't ask for recognition. They should look for something they can help with... and do just that."