Ash and his team spent three days training in the Battle Park and they had a great time fighting everyone, well at least Ash did.
Even Misty and Brock had several battles to make sure that their skills don't rust away.
Ash also exchanged his Lapras and his Tyranitar back from the Lab.
Lapras can now start special training especially created for him. He has made great progress recently under Slowking's training in his control over his energy. After these three days of constant fights, he has built up strong self-confidence.
Since Tyranitar was caught by Ash some time ago, he hasn't taken it on many trips or battles, but the Bond Value is actually very high. Ash attaches no less importance to her than Charizard, and he has a good run-in with it this time.
Ash hopes to make her one of his most powerful Pokémon's alongside his Charizard and Pikachu.
After all all, she has one of the highest stats across all of his Pokémon's.
After crossing the famous Ice Cave without much happening inside, Ash and his party finally arrived at the location of Ash's last Gym Badge, Blackthorn City. There was also a Dratini here waiting for him, waiting for a grand journey.
"Big Brother, look, Dratini!"
Molly has one of the sharpest eyes Ash has ever seen, she was the first to notice a Dratini lying by the riverside!
This is the Kanto Region's Pseudo-Legendary Dragonite, well in its initial stage.
This is a snake-shaped Pokémon, with its whole body covered in light blue scales, a small white dragon horn on its forehead, and white fins on both sides of its head. It is very cute to anyone and everyone.
"So cute!" Molly and Misty both exclaimed at the same time.
This little Dratini was lying with its body curled up by the lake. Before anything else, Ash stopped the two girls in his group from getting any closer to the Dratini, "This Dratini is shedding its skin. If it appears here like this, there must be a Trainer alongside it."
The energy in Dratini's body is constantly expanding and cannot be suppressed by much, so it will molt repeatedly and grow up little by little until it evolves.
The skin of Dratini that has just shed its skin is very delicate, so it usually molts under the protection of waterfalls. This little one looked like it was its first time shedding its skin. Not only is there likely a Trainer with it, but there must also be a Pokémon guarding it nearby and making sure that was safe from any harm.
"Be careful, I sense a Gyarados underwater next to that Dratini." Ash said after sensing it with his passive Auar Sense.
Sure enough, as soon as Ash finished speaking, the water in the lake started churning, and a ferocious-looking Gyarados jumped out and hit them with a Hydro Pumps without giving any warnings.
The Gyarados species as a whole was always so unreasonable when they met his group. They always began with using one of their Hydro Pumps.
The same goes for Ursaring and them using Hyper Beams every time they enter a forest.
"Petal Dance!"
Meganium's Petal Dance not only blocked Gyarados' Hydro Pump, but it also did some heavy damage to the Gyarados as well with her attack.
"Now use Sweet Smell!"
The rich and refreshing fragrance of flowers calmed down the alredy injured Gyarados, Dratini also seemed to relax and came to Pikachu's side, and Togepi also jumped out of Misty's arms to greet the new friend it saw.
They already seemed to began to play with each other with Pikachu looking over them.
"Dratini, it looks like you have found a new friend for you." A tall girl beautiful girl with long light blue hair appeared in front of Ash and his group. She was obviously Dratini's trainer.
Gyarados and Dratini soon came to her. She touched Gyarados' big horns, then picked up Dratini and put her into the lake. "Who's a good boy?"
At this time, she looked at Ash and his group, and her eyes lit up, "To be able to neutralize Gyarados' attack so easily, then calm its anger, and play so well with Dratini, you are Ash, right?"
Unexpectedly, the young lady in front of him actually managed to recognize him. Ash was stunned and said, "Hello, I am indeed Ash from Pallet Town!"
"Well nice to meet you, my name is Clair!" The young lady introduced herself to the group.
Brock immediately stood up and took a bouquet of flowers, and rushed to Claire, "Geodude's strong willpower, Magmars burning enthusiasm, and Sunflora's smile, Miss Clair, you are a combination of all of them!"
However, Clair noticed that Dratini started to move upstream of the lake. She didn't care about Brock trying to hit on her, and quickly called Gyarados, "Gyarados, Dratini has started to move, chase after him!"
When she was leaving, she left a message for Ash, "Well Ash, see you at the Blackthorn City Gym!"
Of course, Ash didn't want to miss this incident that was obviously related to Dratini. He hurriedly led his group to follow her, but an old man called out from behind him, "Miss, wait for me! Lady Clair, today is an important..."
This man was old, and he looked to be carrying a package. He can't keep up with Claire at all. Instead, he fell to the ground.
"Grands, are you okay?" The group hurried over and helped the old man get up.
Unexpectedly, the first thing this old man did when he got up was to open his package, not even his own self. He was relieved to see that the thing inside of the box was not broken.
"Is this a Dragon Fang?" Ash immediately recognized the item in the package at a glance, "But why is it so big? How big must that dragon be that produced it?"
Seeing that Ash was so knowledgeable about this, the old man was willing to introduce it to them, "This is a family heirloom passed down from generation to generation in the Blackthorn City Gym!"
"My name is Kaburagi, and I work at the Blackthorn City Gym. Miss Clair is the Gym Leader of the Blackthorn City Gym but I think you have already known that part." Kaburagi put the Dragon Fang away after carefully making sure it was safe.
Looking at Ash, he smiled and said.
Ash nodded to what he said, Clair just said goodbye to them and followed her Dratini.
It was obvious that Kaburagi had a reason to follow Clair, so Ash and the others followed Clair with him to make sure he was safe.
Ash led him to catch up quickly with Clair. After all, Dratini was not that fast, so everyone just followed him quietly.
"A long time ago, there used to be a lot of Dragon-type Pokémon causing trouble in this place!" Along the way, Kaburagi began to explain the origin of this family heirloom to everyone.
There was indeed evidence that Pokémon from long time ago were much larger than their species today. The largest Dragon-type Pokémon at that time was pacified by the first-generation Gym Leader of the Blackthorn City Gym, thus obtaining this Dragon Fang!
"This Dragon Fang is an important item passed down from generation to generation in the Blackthorn City Gym, and today is the day to hold the ceremony to purify the Dragon Fang, which is an important task for the young lady as the current Gym Leader.
"What kind of ceremony is this?" Misty asked curiously.
"A ritual to cleanse the Dragon Fang and pray for the health and prosperity for all Dragon-type Pokémon. This is an important day, happening every three years!" Kaburagi explained to them.
Hearing Kaburagi's voice, Clair responded, "Okay, I know that, but now Dratini is more important. For the upcoming molt, Dratini is conserving energy. It won't work if we don't be quiet and protect him!"
Kaburagi still wanted to persuade, but Ash stopped him, "I can understand Miss Clair's intention, Mr. Kaburagi, this ceremony is for the health of the Dragon-type Pokémon, do you want Clair to ignore her own Dratini's health?" Does he really want that to happen? As Trainers, they must first be responsible for our own Pokémon, right?
"Pika!"
"Yes, Big Brother is right!" Molly raised both her hands in agreement with Ash's remarks.
Misty and Brock also smiled and nodded along.
This was indeed the case for them, so Kaburagi had no choice but to compromise. It seemed that he could only wait until Dratini shed his skin to go back.