Because of Ash's words, the group did eventually accompany Dratini on its journey to molt its skin.
When it was time for dinner, Dratini also stopped what he was doing, and everyone sat down to prepare for dinner. Due to the time constraints, Brock just made some simple meals, but the taste was still good.
"It's so delicious!" Clair bit into the jelly filled donut that Brock made just for her, then took a sip of the drink that Ash had just made, and looked at Ash, "Ash, I've heard everything about you. Lance promised to give you a Dratini. But whether you can really get it all depends on your ability."
Hearing this, Ash's eyes went up to her eyes, "Is there any kind of test that I have to do?"
Clair smiled and said, "If you just want to get a Dratini from here, Lance and I can give you the recommendation, but the condition is that you have to choose it yourself by going inside of the Dragon's Den!"
"The first Gym Leader of the Blackthorn City Gym built the Dragon's Den in the large cave behind the Gym for the Dragon-type Pokémon species to live here for generations! Lance and I got many of our Pokémon's from within Dragon's Den."
"Ash, do you know how difficult this is to follow?" Clair looked at Ash with a very serious expression, "Of course before being able to go inside there, you must first defeat me and get the Rising Badge of the Blackthorn City Gym!"
Misty's eyes lit up, "So, does Ash also have the same opportunity to enter Dragon's Den to practice the same way as Mr. Lance and you had?"
Clair smiled and nodded, "This is an special opportunity that Professor Oak and Lance himself have fought for you to be able to do. Ash, you must work hard and use that opportunity!"
The request for a Dratini was indeed not too much. The difficulty was that Ash wanted to choose it by himself, but Lance agreed to it and tried his best to fight for Ash's decision.
Ash remembered this favor and will do his best to return it in the future.
"Ash, how many Badges have you got now?" Kaburagi asked curiously from the side.
"Grandpa Kabu, look!" Molly opened Ash's backpack and dug out the Badge Collection Box that he always carried with him. Seven different Badges lay quietly inside, each one full of memories and all clean.
"You even got the Glacier Badge, Ash, have you really been to the Mahogany Town Gym?" Kaburagi asked seriously, looking at the seventh Badge in the slot, "I heard the news a while ago that a Red Gyarados was near Mahogany Town. There was some trouble about it in the news, what's going on there now?"
Kaburagi and Pryce definitely knew each other at a personal level, Ash wouldn't believe it if they didn't know each other.
"You don't need to worry about this matter." Brock replied with a smile, "That Gyarados has been tamed by Ash using his Heal Ball, and it has now fully recovered and is training well in Professor Oak's backyard!!"
Of course, Brock doesn't know that Ash's Shiny Gyarados has completely recovered, and has also completed his Bond Evolution with Ash, becoming a real red water dragon!
"I see, no wonder Lance looks at you so differently!" Clair also looked at Ash with admiration, "Now I really am looking forward to the battle that we are going to have!"
"Me too, let's have a battle to remember!" Ash said with a confident smile.
As if feeling the fighting spirit of both Ash and Clair, Dratini, who was resting in the water, began to slowly molt for the last time as a Dratini.
Just then, his whole body began releasing a dazzling light!
"This is?"
Everyone quickly gathered around to witness the moment of Dratini's evolution.
The body in the white light continued to grow until the snake-like body straightened up to more than two meters in height. The evolved Dragonair did not change much in appearance from a Dratini, however the size definitely did.
After evolving, his body length now reaches more than 4 meters, and its whole body is covered with sapphire blue scales. Now it also has a small white horn on its forehead. The original white fins on both sides of its head have evolved into a pair of small white wings. When they fly, these small wings will become much bigger to help them go faster.
The most eye-catching thing is of course the three crystal-like blue beads on its body, one under its neck and two at the end of its tail.
These three beads contain the power to control the weather around it. When its whole body is shrouded in aura, the surrounding weather will completely change. Therefore, Dragonair has been worshiped by people who farm as the one who controls the weather since ancient times.
"Dratini, congratulations, you have finally evolved into a Dragonair!" Clair was very happy to see her partner evolving into a stronger form. The little guy who she had taken good care of for so long finally grew up.
"So beautiful!" Molly leaned forward and gently stroked Dragonair's scales, "It's slippery, haha. It feels nice to the touch."
Dragonair suddenly used its tail to grab Molly onto his back, floated into the air, and rushed upstream again.
Clair quickly followed them, followed closely by Ash and his group!
Under the leadership of Dragonair, everyone came to a waterfall, on which a pair of stone pillars that looked like dragon teeth protruded.
It was dark now, but the bright moon hung high in the sky. Viewed from the front of the waterfall, it fell right between the pair of dragon teeth, giving the entire waterfall a mysterious and sacred atmosphere.
"Dragonair guided us here for a reason. Its destination has been here from the very beginning!" Ash murmured after seeing the sight.
Whether it was Dratini's molt seeking the protection of the waterfall, or Dragonair's other purpose after evolution, Ash looked at Clair and Kaburagi, "Is this the best place to hold a ceremony?"
Only after Ash said this did Clair and Kaburagi react. Kaburagi quickly took off the package and handed the giant Dragon Fang to Clair.
The moonlight was bright and clear, Clair arranged the altar in the water and placed the giant Dragon Fang on it.
"Dragon of heaven, dragon of earth, dragon of water, give peace to all dragons! Give smile to all dragons! Give happiness to all dragons!"
She picked up a handful of water and poured the water from the source onto the Dragon Fang.
Just then, a miracle happened.
The golden light suddenly began to appear on the Dragon Fang, and then the golden light became stronger and stronger. It actually rose from the Dragon Fang, forming a shining ball of light that flew towards the sky.
"ROAR!"
The sound of dragon roars came from the void, and the light ball turned into a giant dragon, hovering in the air, and then turned into stars and dissipated from their sight!
"Big Brother, the light really become a dragon!" Molly was so shocked that her voice changed.
Patting her head gently, "Yes, this is the magic of Pokémon! Traveling and being able to see these kind of things is really great, right, Molly!"
"Hmm, luckily I went on a trip with Big Brother! When I get back, I will tell dad all about it for a long time!" Molly's experience along the way is the most precious treasure to her.
"The Dragon of Light that turns into a star will protect all dragon Pokémon. This is the legend of our place!" Kaburagi explained happily to all of them.
Clair came out of the water and looked directly at Ash, "I, Clair, the Gym Leader of the Blackthorn City Gym, am putting my reputation as a Dragon-type Pokémon Trainer on the line, Ash Ketchum, I'm going to fight you with all my strength! You better give it your all?"
"This is exactly what I wish for!" Ash said back to her.
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Back to the Whirl Islands with Maya.
"Ash, I need you." She said in a soft melodic voice.