The Furious Dragonite left with two reluctant Dragonites, Dratinis, and Dragonairs.
Before leaving, the two Dragonites also took away a large bag of Poke Puffs from Naoki.
Naoki had initially packed a bag for each Dratini and Dragonairs as a farewell gift, but when the two wild Dragonites saw this, they quickly approached and acted cute.
Feeling obligated, Naoki packed two more bags for them.
He had considered offering one to the third Dragonite, but it turned out that Dragonite wasn't interested in Poke Puffs and flew off without them.
"...Really?" Naoki thought, exasperated.
Finally seeing the five mischievous little dragons leave, Dragonite felt as though the world had become brighter.
It sniffed the air, inhaling the scent of flowers, and felt that life had never been so beautiful.
Dragonite happily stood on tiptoes, twirled around on the grass, and hugged Cyclizar, who was standing nearby, in a moment of pure joy.
Cyclizar was helpless, trapped in Dragonite's embrace, and looked to Naoki for assistance: "Gaao..."
Koraidon, watching from the side with a complicated expression, shattered Dragonite's moment of bliss with a blunt comment: "Gah!" (Naoki still has to go to Dragon Island tonight!)
Suddenly, Dragonite's world turned gloomy again, and the flowers lost their fragrance.
Naoki chuckled at the scene. "Alright, alright, I'm only going to take a look this time. I promise I won't bring back any other Dragonites."
Dragonite became suspicious: "Oooooh?" (What about Dratini and Dragonairs?)
Naoki reassured him, "No, not them either. Besides, we don't have enough food right now. We need to save up. Winter is coming, and we can't grow crops in the fields during that time. We need to prepare in advance."
Hearing this, Dragonite finally felt relieved.
It pondered for a moment, realizing that the recent shortage of food was due to the two wild Dragonites, and proudly declared: "Awoo!" (I'll help find food too!)
Dragonite had experienced winter before. It knew that the season brought cold, snow-covered lands, and scarce food. Even the fish in the sea would hide in deeper waters. Some Dragonites would store berries to last through the winter months.
Naoki chuckled. "Good boy," he said, "but you don't need to worry about finding food yet."
He pointed to the orchard in the southwest corner of the ranch. "Do you see that orchard? Soon, it will be filled with ripe, plump fruits. Together with the harvest from the fields, there will be plenty for you all to eat throughout the winter."
Naoki felt a surge of pride as he spoke.
"Look at this! The once-abandoned ranch had been completely revitalized through hard work! "
There were abundant fruits, fertile grass, and thriving crops. The Pokémon lived happily!
'Life was good.'
Naoki stretched and, feeling content, waved his hand, telling the Pokémon around him to go off and play. He then turned to head back.
The Dragonites had mentioned that their evolution ritual would begin when the moon rose.
Tonight, Naoki planned to attend and witness this special ceremony.
As he thought of the sight of Dratini and Dragonair evolving under the moonlight, Naoki muttered to himself, "I really need to buy a camera."
It would be a shame not to capture such a precious moment.
Not to mention, the photos could be framed and displayed in the pub to add to its charm.
So, after lunch that day, Naoki went to the town's department store to purchase a camera.
...
On a peaceful autumn afternoon, Brother Indeedee, who had been silent most of the time, thoughtfully placed a small, elegant table and chair beside the flower garden.
Sister Indeedee, ever attentive, brewed Naoki a cup of his favorite black tea.
This particular tea was made from the leaves that grew on the budding antlers of Deerling, known for its rich aroma and popularity among tea lovers. It was always present at prestigious tea parties.
Naoki was pleasantly surprised and touched by the thoughtful gesture of the two Indeedees.
Under Sister Indeedee's kind hospitality, Naoki sat at the table and took a sip of the fragrant tea.
"Ah... your tea-making skills are perfect!" Naoki praised with genuine appreciation.
Sister Indeedee chuckled softly, "Ai ah ~" (Brother can also make tea ~)
"Huh?" Naoki suddenly became curious. "Then why haven't I seen him brew it before?"
Sister Indeedee glanced at her brother, noticing his tense expression as he tried to maintain a calm demeanor, though disapproval flickered in his eyes.
Sister Indeedee hesitated, unsure whether to reveal the truth.
Naoki, seeing the look on her face, remembered how she had once mentioned that her brother wasn't great at cooking and had even blown up the kitchen. He suddenly realized what was going on. "Oh, I get it!"
A hint of embarrassment crossed Brother Indeedee's face.
Sister Indeedee quickly waved her hands: "Ai Ai!" (Brother, I didn't say that!)
Brother Indeedee: "..."
"Hey, it's no big deal!" Naoki laughed. "Everyone has things they're good at and things they're not."
"For instance, I'm great at cooking, but if you asked me to sew clothes or dolls, I'd be completely lost."
Brother Indeedee's eyes widened as he recalled finding several of Naoki's clothes with holes in them while tidying up recently.
"Did you notice?" Naoki grinned. "Honestly, before you two arrived, I tried mending clothes myself. Want to guess how that turned out?"
"Not only did I fail to sew the clothes properly, but I also pricked my hand. In the end, I had no choice but to shove those clothes deep in the closet," Naoki said with a laugh.
He used to do farm work every day, so his clothes and pants would often wear out and tear.
Brother Indeedee understood what Naoki meant, and the embarrassed expression on his face eased a little.
Naoki turned his attention to the Pokémon not far away, fiddling with the new camera.
After purchasing it, Naoki noticed several Pokémon showing interest in the device, so he let them take pictures of whatever they liked. He planned to create a photo wall at home, displaying their snapshots as decoration.
The Pokémon were very enthusiastic about this idea, and even Koraidon got involved, playfully competing with Cyclizar for the right to use the camera.
"It's so lively!" Naoki remarked with a smile, watching the playful Pokémon rolling around as they vied for the camera.
Sister Indeedee, looking slightly worried, asked, "Ai Ai?" (But Naoki, aren't you worried they might break the camera?)
Watching the Pokémon tussling over it, she grew nervous, fearing they might accidentally drop the camera, causing it to break.
Naoki shook his head cheerfully. "It's just a camera. If it breaks, it breaks. As long as they're having fun, that's what matters."
Of course, the unspoken rule was that breaking things accidentally was fine—intentionally damaging them was a different story.
Hearing this, the brother and sister exchanged glances and began whispering to each other.
"Aye..." (Brother, I told you it's strange!)
"Aye." (Naoki really loves this group of Pokémon.)
"Aye?" (Do you think he'll like us too?)
Brother Indeedee thought for a moment and answered, "Aye." (I think he will.)
Naoki, unaware of their quiet conversation, sat by the flower field, enjoying the autumn blossoms and leisurely sipping tea.
The tea party the Indeedees had organized today sparked some inspiration for him.
Perhaps he could turn the flower field into a proper garden filled with blooming flowers, complete with a set of tables and chairs for tea. In the future, he could enjoy sunny afternoons sipping tea, reading a book, or playing with his Pokémon.
...
As evening approached, the sky dimmed.
After a simple dinner, Naoki prepared to leave for Dragonite Island to witness the evolution ceremony.
"I'll leave the ranch in your care," Naoki told the two Indeedees. "It's the weekend, so the tavern will be closed today. You can use the extra time to relax, watch TV, or play."
Upon hearing that the tavern was closed for the weekend, Sister Indeedee's face showed a hint of disappointment.
Naoki chuckled. "Who likes working that much?"
Sister Indeedee responded shyly, "Ai ah."
"Okay, okay," Naoki sighed playfully. "Do whatever you want. I only have one request."
Sister Indeedee's eyes lit up with excitement. "Ai Ai?" (What is it?)
Naoki smiled warmly and said, "Just don't tire yourselves out."
Sister Indeedee nodded eagerly, "Ai yi!" (We won't!)
They weren't afraid of getting tired. In fact, running the tavern and serving the Pokémon guests brought them a lot of positive energy and happiness.
They loved it!
"Alright then." Naoki gently patted her head, then mounted Koraidon, with Dragonite by his side, and set off toward Dragonite Island.
This time, he only brought Koraidon and Dragonite, leaving the other Pokémon at the ranch.
Naoki wasn't sure how long he'd be away that night. It could end up being very late, so he let Pawmot and the others stay behind to rest.
The Pokémon were used to this arrangement, especially Cyclizar, who had long grown accustomed to staying behind to help take care of the ranch when Naoki had to go out at night.
There weren't that many Pokémon on the ranch at that time.
Naoki was busy taking care of important matters, so Cyclizar figured they couldn't bother him.
Still, every once in a while, a flicker of longing surfaced in Cyclizar's heart.
—If only it could help Naoki more, just like Koraidon did.
...
"Awoo!"
As they flew over the moonlit sea, Dragonite exclaimed, 'The moon is so round and beautiful!'
Naoki, curious, asked, "Do you like looking at the moon?"
He remembered the first time he saw Dragonite, sitting sadly, gazing at the moon.
Dragonite nodded. "Awoo." (The moon is different every day. A full moon looks like a plate, and a crescent moon looks like fruit that Koraidon took a bite out of.)
Koraidon: "..."
Naoki raised an eyebrow.
Oh, no wonder Dragonite seemed melancholic! He hadn't realized Dragonite had a poetic side!
At that moment, Koraidon let out a warning cry: "Ah, gah!"
Naoki looked up and saw Dragonite Island coming into view.
They picked up speed and soon landed on the island.
The many Dragonite and unevolved Dratini and Dragonair spotted them quickly.
In no time, Naoki noticed dozens of sparkling eyes watching him.
Naoki: "Huh? What's going on?"
With a rustle, several small figures rushed out from the bushes.
It was the Dratini and Dragonair who had left the ranch that morning.
Seeing their excited faces, Naoki couldn't help but smile, patting their heads as he asked, "Did you miss me?"
The Dratini and Dragonair nodded eagerly: "Woo!"
Dragonite, standing nearby, narrowed its eyes. "Awooo." (It's only been a short while since we last saw each other!)
It was about to say more, but before it could, more Dratini, Dragonair, and Dragonite rushed over, pushing Dragonite aside and surrounding Naoki in an excited circle.
"Ouch!"
"Woo~"
"…"
Dragonite widened its eyes, watching the scene warily.
'What's going on?'
'Why were they suddenly so excited?'
The chorus of dragon Pokémon calls filled the air, and Naoki could feel the energy from his translation seeds being drained rapidly.
He was a little overwhelmed.
From their chatter, Naoki pieced together what had happened.
Earlier that day, the grumpy Dragonite had brought back the two wild Dragonites and a group of tiny Dratini and Dragonair to Dragonite Island. The snacks they'd brought from the ranch had a delicious aroma that attracted the island's dragon Pokémon.
Curious, the other dragons had asked what the food was.
With pride, the wild Dragonites, Dragonair, and Dratini had replied: "Awooo!" (It's a special treat from Naoki!)
They excitedly shared their experiences of life on the ranch.
The Dratini and Dragonair especially painted a vivid picture.
Their glowing descriptions had sparked curiosity, and now the island's Pokémon were eager to experience the ranch life for themselves.
Naoki: "…"
At that moment, Dragonite finally understood what was happening but found itself unable to squeeze through the crowd.
With a heavy heart, Dragonite thought: 'If I'd known this would happen, I never would've brought Naoki to Dragonite Island.'
It was too late to regret!
"Ah, gah..."
Koraidon had adapted faster than Dragonite when it came to understanding Naoki's popularity with Pokémon.
After all, no matter how much attention the Dragonites showered on Naoki, they couldn't sleep in his room like Koraidon could.
For Naoki, Koraidon was unique!
So Koraidon had learned to find joy in this, and it even tried to teach Dragonite how to handle the situation with grace.
At that moment, a powerful dragon roar echoed across the island, catching the attention of many Dragonites.
They all turned their heads, looking curiously, then flew to the far end of the island with Dratini and Dragonairs in tow.
Naoki, now free from the swarm of Dragonites, was sweating profusely.
"These Dragonites are way too enthusiastic about the food!" he thought, laughing to himself.
But this enthusiasm was exactly what he needed. After all, he had plans to use the food as a way to start his Dragonite Express company.
Noticing the commotion at the far end of the island, Naoki asked Dragonite, "Is it starting?"
Dragonite's attention shifted to the event as well.
It nodded before flapping its wings and soaring into the sky.
Naoki quickly hopped onto Koraidon and followed.
When they arrived at the other end of the island, the sight took Naoki's breath away.
The bright moon hung high in the sky, casting its soft light over the sea, which shimmered like a dream world.
The water was a deep, rich blue, glowing under the moonlight.
Suddenly, Naoki noticed a tidal wave forming beneath the surface of the sea.
One by one, Dratini and Dragonair dove into the water, racing into the swirling whirlpool and swimming with all their strength.
Naoki grabbed his camera, eager to capture this incredible moment.
Then, something astonishing happened. The seawater seemed to come alive, spiraling upwards like a towering column of water as if reaching for the moon itself.
Another column of water followed right after!
Naoki's eyes widened in amazement. "Is this what Dragonite meant by the water flowing to the moon?"
He was utterly stunned by the impossible beauty of the scene.
But then, through his camera lens, he noticed something peculiar—there were shapes inside the columns of water.
Quickly, Naoki adjusted the focus and zoomed in for a closer look.
The next second, the mysterious figures came into view.
They were tiny, blue Pokémon, almost blending perfectly with the sea.
They had round heads with ribbon-like tentacles, small mouths, big blue eyes, and a red oval gem on their chests.
Each one had a pointed foot that looked underdeveloped.
"That's... Phione!"
...
[Here's the extra chapter as promised]
If you're still reading this, you've already unlocked the secret move: Powerstone Smash! Go on, give it a tap! 💥