The image of the gentle and hardworking Dragonite from Naoki's ranch flashed through Teddiursa's mind. In comparison, the Dragonite they were seeing now was a world apart.
'Too exaggerated.' Teddiursa thought, filled with shock. It worried that if it got too close, the massive Dragonite might accidentally step on it.
However, Mew, who had experienced far more adventures, remained calm and collected.
Without hesitation, Mew grabbed Teddiursa and flew swiftly toward the enormous Dragonite, determined to uncover the truth.
In mere moments, they caught up to the colossal figure.
Sensing their presence, the giant Dragonite turned its head, noticing the two small figures approaching it.
Mew tilted its head, curious. "Mew?"
At first, Teddiursa was a bit afraid, but as they got closer, it felt something unexpected—a deep, overwhelming sense of loneliness emanating from the giant Dragonite.
Teddiursa's fear softened into sympathy. Remembering their mission as the Great Hero Expedition Team, it gathered its courage and spoke up.
"Ursa! Ursa!" (We are the Great Hero Expedition Team. What happened to you? Maybe we can help!)
Mew nodded, encouraging the offer. "Mew!"
The giant Dragonite looked at the two with a mixture of confusion and surprise.
"Rooar?" (What is the Hero Expedition Team?)
Teddiursa puffed up with pride and explained, "Ursa!" (We're a team that travels the world, helping Pokémon in need. Mew is the hero, and I'm the apprentice hero!)
The giant Dragonite turned to Mew, staring into its beautiful, sky-blue eyes.
"Rooar?" (Can you really help me?) it asked, a glimmer of hope flickering in its otherwise despairing heart.
Mew nodded enthusiastically. "Mew!"
The Dragonite's eyes softened as it asked again, "Roar?" (Can you help me find my companions?)
It explained how it had been wandering the area for days, searching for its companions. Earlier that day, it had heard a call that sounded like one of them, but no one was there.
'Looking for companions?'
Teddiursa and Mew blinked, exchanging glances before Mew asked, "Mew?" (Is your companion also a Dragonite?)
The giant Dragonite nodded eagerly, hope filling its expression as it asked, "Roar?" (Have you seen them?)
Teddiursa shook its head, somewhat disappointed. "Ursa." (No, I haven't seen any other Dragonites around here.)
The giant Dragonite's hopeful face faltered, but Teddiursa quickly added, "Ursa, Ursa!" (However, I do know a Dragonite. I don't know if it's your companion, but it's very far away.)
It was referring to the Dragonite living at Naoki's ranch in the Paldea region.
Hearing this, the giant Dragonite's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Rooar?" (Where is it?) it asked quickly, eager for any lead.
Teddiursa replied, "Ursa!" (There's a Dragonite at Naoki Ranch in the Paldea region. It lives with Naoki.)
The giant Dragonite seemed to focus intently, trying to recall the location Teddiursa mentioned—'Paldea' and 'Naoki Ranch'. But soon, a look of confusion crossed its face, realizing it didn't know the exact location of the ranch.
"Mew~" Mew smiled reassuringly. Its eyes began to glow with a soft blue light, and it telepathically shared the location of Naoki Ranch and a vivid image of Naoki himself from its memory.
The giant Dragonite, now armed with the information, seemed filled with new hope. It gave them a grateful nod and turned toward the sea, its massive figure slowly vanishing into the mist as it flew off to find its companion.
With the giant Dragonite gone, the fog lifted, and the sea returned to its calm, clear state.
Teddiursa and Mew floated in the air, watching the direction in which the Dragonite disappeared.
"Ursa!" (Let's write a letter to Naoki and tell him about this!)
"Mew~" Mew agreed happily.
After solving the mystery of the black shadow, Mew and Teddiursa headed to their client, the Kingler, to deliver the news.
Upon hearing that the giant Pokémon would no longer appear in the area, Kingler let out a sigh of relief. It gratefully thanked the Hero Expedition Team and offered to treat them to a seaweed feast in celebration.
However, Mew and Teddiursa politely declined.
As heroes dedicated to justice and helping the weak, they refused to accept any rewards for their good deeds.
Kingler, moved by their selflessness, thanked them once more with deep gratitude.
Mew and Teddiursa then returned to their temporary tree-hole base. Once settled in, they found some crayons and letter paper in the corner and started drawing together, capturing the details of their encounter with the giant Dragonite.
When the letter was ready, they handed it to a Pidgeot they had met in the forest, asking it to deliver the message to Naoki's ranch.
Pidgeot happily took the envelope in its claws, gave a cheerful cry to Mew and Teddiursa, and then spread its wings, soaring off into the sky to deliver the letter.
---
The next morning, Naoki woke to bright sunlight. His first task was to visit the salt house and check the progress of the mole's work, which was moving along steadily. Satisfied, he hopped on Cyclizar and rode to Kelly's shop.
Upon entering the shop, Naoki's eyes were immediately drawn to a statue of the Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvest, displayed prominently on the shelf.
Compared to the rudimentary ones he had carved himself, Kelly's work was impeccable—so lifelike, it almost seemed like the real King of Bountiful Harvest.
Naoki picked one up and inspected it closely. "How are the sales?" he asked, curious.
Kelly smiled brightly. "They're selling for 2,000 Poke Dollars each, and they've been incredibly popular! Many farmers have already bought statues and taken them home for display."
She continued with excitement, "I've even heard that if the summer crops are bountiful, they plan to hold a special Thanksgiving Day in the fall to give thanks to the King of Bountiful Harvest for his blessings."
Naoki paused for a moment, slightly taken aback by the farmers' devotion.
"…"
Naoki couldn't help but think, 'If the King of Bountiful Harvest knew about this, he would probably be very happy, right?'
The missionary work of the King of Bountiful Harvest was progressing smoothly in the Paldea region, and farmers were embracing his legend with open hearts.
He wondered if the King of Bountiful Harvest had regained some of his strength from the growing faith. However, that wasn't why he had come to see Kelly today. His main reason was to ask about expanding the salt house.
Before Naoki could bring it up, Kelly tossed a package at him.
Naoki instinctively caught it. "What's this?"
Kelly smiled. "Your share of the statue sales."
Opening the package, Naoki found it full of Poké Dollars. He didn't hesitate to accept the money, grateful for the success. After pocketing it, he asked, "By the way, if I want to expand the salt house, how do I prevent the hole from collapsing as we dig?"
Kelly raised an eyebrow. "You let the Naclstack dig a hole downward?"
Naoki shook his head. "No, not the Naclstack—it's a Diglett that's doing the work on my ranch."
After listening, Kelly nodded with understanding. "Ah, I see. No worries, I can handle that. I'll come over this afternoon and reinforce the structure. You should stop the Diglett for now. I'll have it properly dug out for you later."
"Sounds good," Naoki agreed.
After bidding Kelly goodbye, he returned to the ranch.
Later that afternoon, Naoki was preparing a cream smoothie for Glaceon when a sudden, unfamiliar cry echoed from outside.
Curious, Naoki stepped out to investigate and saw a Pidgeot landing on his pasture, holding a letter.
Immediately, Naoki's heart leaped with excitement. He quickly realized—Baby Bear and Mew must have sent him another letter!