Naoki sighed with relief as the group finally arrived back at the ranch. From the air, he could see thin wisps of smoke rising from the chimney of his house. He knew immediately what it meant—Indeedee must have been busy preparing lunch for everyone.
He couldn't help but think how much easier life was with a butler-like Pokémon at home. "Having a Pokémon like that really takes the load off," Naoki mused.
Deciding to leave lunch preparations to Indeedee, Naoki headed straight to the cupboard upon entering the house. He grabbed a small bag of roasted seed crisps and munched on them as he walked back to the yard.
"So, what did everyone gain from today's training?" Naoki asked, turning to the group of Pokémon gathered in the yard.
Standing in front of him were the newly evolved Dragonite—whom Naoki decided to call "Dragonite Five"—and the four Dragonairs that had yet to evolve.
Naoki had a simple naming system for his Dragonites. His original Dragonite was Dragonite One, and the three older Dragonites who helped with deliveries were Two, Three, and Four. Now, Dragonite Five had joined the ranks. With five Dragonites and four Dragonairs on the ranch, it was an impressive lineup, even for Dragon-types.
Compared to the others, Dragonite Five had a slightly goofy demeanor. It scratched the back of its head and proudly said, "Awoo!" (I evolved into Dragonite!)
Naoki smiled warmly. "I know. You did great!" He knew how much effort this Dragonite had put into training under the guidance of Koraidon and his own care over the past months. If it had been left on Dragonite Island, it might have taken years to reach this stage.
Turning his attention to the Dragonairs, Naoki asked, "And what about you?"
In unison, the Dragonairschorused, "Woo, woo!" (We learned new moves!)
Curious, Naoki gestured for them to demonstrate. One by one, the Dragonairs showed off their progress.
The first Dragonair gathered water energy on its tail and swung it powerfully, creating a torrent of water.
"Waterfall!" Naoki identified the move immediately. "Nice work!"
The second Dragonair opened its mouth, water swirling as it charged energy. With a loud roar, it unleashed a powerful stream that blasted forward in a high-pressure torrent.
"Hydro Pump!" Naoki's eyes sparkled with approval. "That's a super move!"
The third Dragonair summoned ripples of water, manipulating them into a series of focused waves aimed at an imaginary target.
"Water Pulse. That's another great addition to your arsenal," Naoki praised.
Finally, the fourth Dragonair raised its body high and summoned a massive wave, which crashed down with impressive force. Unfortunately, the wave soaked Naoki and several nearby Pokémon in the process.
"Surf," Naoki said, drenched but still smiling. "It's a fantastic move, but let's try to avoid soaking everyone next time, okay?"
The guilty Dragonair whimpered, flapping its tail nervously in apology.
"It's fine!" Naoki reassured it, laughing. "Just be more careful. You're all doing amazingly well."
Satisfied with their progress, Naoki turned to Dragonite Five and called over Dragonite One. "Dragonite, explain the delivery routines to your new teammate, alright?"
Dragonite One saluted with a confident "Awoo!" and took Dragonite Five aside to explain the duties of the ranch's delivery service.
Meanwhile, Naoki went inside to change into dry clothes. Reflecting on the training session, he was thrilled with how effective the Paldean Paella had been. Its ability to enhance ocean-based training results was undeniable, though it was a shame that it wasn't useful for all Pokémon types.
After changing, Naoki headed to the living room. There, a group of Eevees was chasing each other around, tumbling and yipping happily. Watching them, Naoki was struck by a thought.
He recalled a detail from his studies: evolving Pokémon too early could sometimes prevent them from learning critical moves. To avoid that, he wanted to find ways to support their growth without rushing their evolution.
Pulling out his recipe notebook, Naoki flipped through its pages. He paused at a section and muttered, "Zapdos Feather Lightning Buns for Jolteon…"
These steamed buns could enhance Jolteon's electric capabilities, potentially compensating for any disadvantages of early evolution. But the recipe presented a problem: Zapdos was currently off traveling, and it wasn't easy to procure its feathers.
"Forget it, there's no need to rush this," Naoki thought after some consideration.
Eventually, Zapdos would return to roost near the World Tree. When that happened, Naoki figured he could visit its nest regularly and might find naturally shed feathers.
While he was at it, he could even offer Zapdos a Lightning Bun to enhance its strength.
Naoki knew this particular Zapdos was just a wild Pokémon, not the legendary Thunder God referenced in myths or the one featured in The Power of One. Its strength likely didn't compare to the Zapdos guarding the thunderous skies near Shamouti Island in the movie. But with the Lightning Bun, it could grow closer to that level.
However, figuring out something similar for Flareon and Vaporeon presented more challenges.
Naoki had never encountered Moltres, nor did he have access to its feathers to create Flame Buns. As for Vaporeon, its unique physiology posed a different problem entirely—there wasn't an established method to boost its water-based abilities with food.
"Maybe I'll just have to experiment and come up with something simple yet effective, like Grass Dumplings," Naoki thought optimistically.
When Indeedee called from the kitchen to announce lunch was ready, Naoki closed his recipe notebook. Stepping outside, he called all the Pokémon back to the house for their meal.
...
That evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the Dragonites and Dragonairs who had spent their day working—and occasionally napping—on the ranch returned to Dragonite Island. Each carried a box filled with Poffins and Poké Blocks.
They landed near the central lake on the island and sat in a circle, eagerly munching on the snacks. The sight of the working Dragonites feasting had become a familiar scene for the wild Dragonites living on the island.
Compared to these workers, the wild Dragonites were less interested in food and more focused on training. Their primary goal was to grow stronger and evolve into even more powerful Dragonites.
However, tonight, the wild Dragonites noticed something unusual. Among the team of working Dragonites was a newcomer—a Dragonite they didn't recognize.
Intrigued and a little suspicious, three particularly fierce Dragonites approached. They surrounded the newcomer, their faces full of confusion.
"Awoo?!" (How did you evolve so quickly?!)
Dragonite Five blinked at them innocently. Still chewing on a Poffins, it replied through a mouthful of food, "Awoo~" (Naoki helped me train with special methods!)
Naoki.
The wild Dragonites were no strangers to the name. They remembered the human who had sent Dragonite One to their island and later took a particularly clumsy Dragonite under his wing. Naoki had visited Dragonite Island several times, but they hadn't paid much attention to him back then. They hadn't considered the human particularly remarkable.
But now, things seemed different. This human had apparently found a way to help Dragonairs evolve into Dragonite faster than they had ever thought possible.
The three "Dragon Brothers" exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of shock and awe.
Their amazement didn't stop there. After finishing dinner, the remaining Dragonairs began their nightly routine—sparring with each other.
This wasn't just casual play. Each clash was a determined effort to grow stronger, to push their limits, and to one day evolve into Dragonite themselves.
Their goal wasn't just evolution—it was to become strong enough to help Naoki manage the ranch and contribute to its daily operations.
The three "Dragon Brothers," known for their intimidating presence, were accustomed to watching the Dragonairs spar on Dragonite Island. However, today's training battles were noticeably different.
The Dragonairs were using new moves they had recently mastered.
One of the brothers asked, "Awoo?" (Are those the new moves you just learned?)
The Dragonairs nodded enthusiastically. "Woo!" (That's right! These moves are the result of Naoki's special training!)
Hearing this, the three Dragonites widened their eyes in disbelief.
Naoki… was truly impressive!
The Dragonite trio moved to the top of a nearby cliff, overlooking the waves crashing against the rocks below. They began to murmur among themselves.
"Awoo?" (Big Brother, do you think we could also ask that human for help?)
The Dragonite referred to as "Big Brother" had a solemn expression. A long scar ran across its face, a testament to the battles it had endured. The scar was a reminder of the time it had been attacked by a Gyarados while fishing, mistaken as an intruder in the Gyarados' territory.
At the mention of seeking help, Big Brother Dragonite hesitated. Its pride as a powerful Pokémon weighed heavily on its heart.
It remembered the fierce battle with the Gyarados. At the time, it had only just evolved into Dragonite and was no match for the sea serpent. But through sheer determination and an unyielding spirit, it had driven the Gyarados away, eventually claiming dominance over that stretch of the sea.
From that day forward, Big Brother Dragonite dedicated itself to the pursuit of strength. It fought countless battles, sharpening its skills and building a reputation. Its unwavering determination inspired the two younger Dragonites to follow it, forging a bond of loyalty and camaraderie.
But lately, Big Brother Dragonite felt as though it had reached its limit. No matter how hard it trained, it couldn't seem to grow any stronger. The thought of stagnation frustrated it deeply.
When it observed Naoki's influence—how the human had helped other Pokémon like Dragonite and Dragonairs evolve and reach new heights—it saw a glimmer of hope. Perhaps Naoki could help it break through the barriers holding it back.
But the idea of asking a human for help was daunting. Big Brother Dragonite's pride rebelled against the notion.
The two younger Dragonites, seeing the conflict in their elder brother's eyes, exchanged knowing looks. One of them spoke up, "Awoo!" (Then let's all go together and see what happens!)
Big Brother Dragonite's resolve wavered. It was tempted but still hesitant to take the leap.
The sun dipped below the horizon, and the three brothers remained deep in thought.
The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight painted the sky, the working Dragonites took flight from Dragonite Island, heading toward Naoki Ranch.
The two younger Dragonites called out to their elder brother, urging him to follow them. Finally, with a reluctant huff, the eldest brother Dragonite gave in and joined them.
It wanted to see for itself what made this human, Naoki, so remarkable.
...
Naoki Ranch, 6:30 AM
In a world without smartphones or modern distractions, Naoki had developed the habit of going to bed early and rising with the sun. After a quick breakfast, he began his daily chores at the ranch.
His first task was to prepare the milk and vegetables for delivery to customers in town. As the ranch grew in popularity, orders had surged—from just a handful of customers in the beginning to nearly a hundred now.
Although the ranch hadn't expanded significantly in size, the crops benefited from the unique nurturing abilities of the Gogoats. With their help, the fields yielded mature produce in just over half a month, ensuring a steady supply for the town.
As Naoki finished packing the milk and vegetables into crates, the familiar sight of the delivery Dragonites descending from the sky brought a smile to his face.
"Great job as always!" Naoki greeted them warmly as he handed out the goods.
The Dragonites took their deliveries and soared off toward the town. Among them was his own Dragonite, who seemed particularly eager. It wasn't just about the deliveries; Dragonite relished its visits to town, especially to greet Mrs. Dantes, who often baked cookies for it. Naoki suspected the Pokémon felt Mrs. Dantes would worry if it didn't make an appearance.
With the Dragonites off on their deliveries, Naoki turned his attention to the apple orchard across the river. Just as he was about to set out, three more Dragonites appeared, their silhouettes cutting through the morning sky.
The trio landed in the ranch, and the leader—a fierce-looking Dragonite with a long scar across its face—stepped forward. Its intense gaze and battle-scarred appearance immediately set it apart.
Naoki froze for a moment. "Who are you?" he asked cautiously.
The scarred Dragonite narrowed its eyes, its intimidating presence amplified as it let out a low growl: "Awoo…"
Naoki's heart skipped a beat, but as he observed their posture and expressions more closely, he realized they weren't here with hostile intentions—at least not outright.
Relaxing slightly, he ventured a guess. "You're here to apply for a delivery job, right?"
It wasn't an unreasonable assumption. After all, this wasn't the first time wild Dragonites had shown up looking to join the ranch's delivery team.
"If that's the case, it's pretty straightforward," Naoki continued, gesturing to the crates. "You just deliver milk and vegetables to town each morning. The rest of the day is yours to do as you please. In return, I'll provide Pokeblocks and Poffins."
The three Dragonites, however, didn't look like they were here for a job interview. Their intense stares and domineering aura felt more suited for a gang of troublemakers than delivery workers. Naoki couldn't help but wonder if their fierce demeanor might scare away customers.
Behind him, several Pokémon from the ranch had gathered, curious about the new arrivals.
The scarred Dragonite—clearly the leader—grew impatient. Seeing Naoki continuing to explain, it lashed out at a nearby fruit tree with its sharp claws, the sound of splintering wood snapping everyone's attention back to it.
"Awoo!" (Enough!)
Naoki's eyes widened. A sudden realization struck him, and his thoughts raced. Are they here to pick a fight?
The scarred Dragonite's gaze swept over the Pokémon behind Naoki, its eyes brimming with fiery determination.
Naoki, feeling the weight of that gaze, pointed to himself incredulously. "You… want to battle me?"
The Dragonite's nod was slow but deliberate. "Awoo." (That's right.)
...
Bonus Chapter @500 PS
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