Capítulo 161: Rest Beneath the Waves
Seeing the giant Dragonite for the first time was a novel experience for the Dragonites living on Dragonite Island. At first, they were hesitant, watching from a distance with a mix of awe and fear. None of them dared to get too close.
But it didn't take long for them to realize that the giant Dragonite had no ill intentions. It was there to make friends. Slowly, a large group of Dragonites approached the newcomer. Some clambered onto the giant Dragonite's back, while others circled around it in the air, marveling at its immense size.
Naoki sat by the lake, surrounded by Dratini, Dragonair, and a few curious Dragonites who had been drawn to the area by the food. He watched the heartwarming scene unfold above, smiling as the normally timid Dragonites began to accept the giant Dragonite into their group.
"The giant Dragonite must be really happy right now," Naoki thought to himself, observing the interaction.
Soon, the large pile of snacks Naoki had brought was completely devoured by the hungry Dragonites, Dratini, and Dragonair. Even after finishing all the food, they looked up at Naoki with eager eyes, clearly wanting more. One of the Dragonair let out a pleading whimper: "Woo..."
Naoki raised his hands in surrender. "That's all I brought this time! There's no more food left."
The disappointed look on the faces of the Dratini and Dragonair made Naoki chuckle. "Don't worry, I'll bring more the next time I visit."
As soon as they heard this, the Pokémon erupted in cheers, their faces lighting up with joy and anticipation.
"Woo~!" they all chimed in together.
Naoki shook his head, smiling at the lively group. "You're all such gluttons," he said playfully, picking up a Dragonair and giving it a playful tickle on its belly.
The Dragonair squirmed in his arms, giggling and wriggling away. Tears of laughter filled its eyes as it finally broke free and scampered off to hide in the lake, leaving only its head peeking out to avoid another tickling session.
Naoki grinned and shifted his attention to a small, timid pink Dratini. The last time he visited, the shiny Dratini had been too shy to come close, but the bond formed over snacks seemed to have eased its nerves. This time, it allowed Naoki to pick it up without hesitation.
Naoki recalled a rumor he'd heard in his previous life: shiny Pokémon, because of their different coloring, were sometimes excluded by their peers, seen as odd or unattractive.
Curious, Naoki glanced at the other Dratini and Dragonair around him. "Do you think it's cute?" he asked, referring to the shiny Dratini in his arms.
The nearby Pokémon all turned their attention to the pink Dratini.
"Woo~" One of the regular-colored Dratini rushed over, nuzzling the shiny Dratini affectionately, showing no signs of exclusion. It was clear that, to them, their companion was just as beloved, regardless of its color.
The other Dratini and Dragonair didn't show any signs of rejection. Instead, they appeared quite happy and content, playing around without a care.
Seeing this scene, Naoki couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
It was clear that on Dragonite Island, the usual conjectures about shiny Pokémon being isolated due to their unique coloring didn't hold true. Despite their different personalities, the Dragonites living on this island were all kind, gentle, and welcoming.
Naoki took a deep breath and lay down on the soft grass, gazing up at the sky through the thick canopy of trees above. The white clouds drifted lazily across the clear blue sky, and the golden sun shone so brightly it was almost blinding. A soft sea breeze blew through, carrying with it the warm air of summer.
Thankfully, the dense trees surrounding Dragonite Island acted as a natural shield, blocking out most of the heat. The central lake, with its cool waters, made the island feel like a hidden paradise.
The island was like a sanctuary. The trees grew tall and lush, likely nourished by the energy released by the Dragonites. The fruits hanging from the branches were large, ripe, and plentiful.
"This is such a perfect place to live," Naoki thought. He made a mental note to visit the island more often for some well-deserved relaxation.
As he lay there, the Dratini and Dragonair began to entertain themselves. They chased each other around the lake, splashing into the water and then darting into the thick bushes. Naoki watched them play, enjoying the tranquility. This was their everyday life, and to him, it seemed wonderfully peaceful.
Suddenly, the sound of something massive entering the water broke the calm.
Naoki quickly sat up, looking around in alarm. A group of Dragonites and Dragonairs, just as curious, ran to the eastern cliff of the island to investigate. Naoki followed, arriving at the edge with a clear view of the sea.
All the adult Dragonites on the island had gathered there, including Naoki's own Dragonite. They stared out at the crashing waves below.
"Roar!" came the deep, tired call from the giant Dragonite as it floated on the surface of the sea. It let out a long, melodious roar toward the island's Dragonites before slowly sinking back into the ocean, disappearing from sight.
The Dragonites on the island responded by diving into the sea after the giant Dragonite.
Naoki, curious and eager to know what was happening, turned to Dragonite. "Take me down there!"
Instantly, every Dragonite on the island turned to look at him, their gazes intense.
Naoki: "…"
"Awoo!" Naoki's Dragonite puffed out its chest proudly and flew to Naoki's side, boasting to the other Dragonites,
"Awoo!" 'He's talking to me, not you!'
The other Dragonites: "…"
Naoki smiled at the display. "Let's go!" he said as Dragonite carried him into the sea, diving smoothly below the surface.
Luckily, Naoki knew how to swim, a skill that came in handy now. As soon as they entered the water, everything grew quiet, and the world around him changed. Gone were the familiar sights of the island, replaced by the vast, deep blue of the ocean.
Schools of fish swam by, scattering in every direction as they sensed the presence of predators.
As Naoki held onto Dragonite, they descended deeper into the ocean. Right in front of them, the massive figure of the giant Dragonite swam gracefully, like a colossal underwater creature. It eventually reached a spot beneath Dragonite Island, where it settled down, closed its eyes, and began to sleep.
The other Dragonites observed the scene, and once the giant Dragonite fell asleep, they gradually made their way back to the shore.
Naoki, noticing the calm demeanor of the Dragonites, wondered aloud, "Did the giant Dragonite tell you it was going to sleep?"
Dragonite nodded enthusiastically, "Ouch!"
"As expected," Naoki said with a nod, thinking it had simply decided to rest.
But Dragonite wasn't finished. "Awoo, awoo!" it added, its eyes gleaming with excitement.
In Dragonite's mind, the words of the giant Dragonite echoed:
"I'm tired and going to take a nap. I'll play with you all when I wake up! If any bad guys try to hurt you or endanger the island, wake me up, and I'll teach them a lesson."
The other Dragonites had assumed the giant Dragonite would head back to the deep sea for its slumber, but it chose to sleep directly beneath Dragonite Island instead.
Naoki, unable to understand Dragonite's words, pondered, 'Does the giant Dragonite even need to eat?' He thought about whether it would prefer fruits, fish from the sea, or perhaps, like Groudon and Kyogre, it could sustain itself on natural energy.
The answer to that would have to wait until the giant Dragonite woke up.
Satisfied with how the situation had resolved itself, Naoki and Dragonite began bidding farewell to the dragons of Dragonite Island.
Dragonair, Dratini, and Dragonite all looked saddened by his departure. Many of them wanted to follow Naoki back home, but a stern glare from his Dragonite kept them in place.
Naoki noticed their longing expressions and smiled warmly, "We'll visit again soon. For now, it's time to go. See you later!"
Waving to the group of Dragonites, Naoki mounted his Dragonite and took off, soaring into the sky while the Dragonites watched, filled with reluctance.
As Dragonite Island disappeared behind him, Naoki reflected on everything that had transpired.
'Maybe I'm officially a human friend of Dragonite Island now,' he mused, smiling at the thought of how well the Dragonites had taken to him.
However, as he replayed the events in his mind, he couldn't help but feel a bit shaken.
The day had been far more intense than he had anticipated. What began as a surprise could easily have turned into a disaster.
Had the giant Dragonite been more aggressive, pushing through the defenses of the Paldea Alliance and storming the region, it would have led to a devastating battle.
'I just don't know how strong the chief champion Geeta is in reality, and whether she could suppress the giant Dragonite.'
After activating Extreme Speed, Dragonite's speed reached an incredible level.
Before long, they arrived back in the Paldea region.
Naoki had intended to head straight back to the ranch, but he noticed someone waiting for him on the west coast of Paldea.
Unlike before, the Alliance's defensive line on this coast had been withdrawn, and Officer Jenny, the group of reporters, and Tulip had all left.
Only one helicopter remained on the beach, and Geeta stood next to it, looking up at the sky.
Naoki considered flying past, but when he saw Geeta waving at him from a distance, he realized he had no choice but to land.
As Dragonite touched down, Geeta took a moment to size up the young man in front of her. His clothes were half dry, half wet—likely from being in the sea.
"It seems the situation has been handled," Geeta said. "On behalf of the Paldea League, I want to thank you."
Naoki shrugged casually. "It's fine. This whole thing started because of me, so it was only right that I fix it."
Geeta nodded, appreciating his straightforward nature.
"Where did that giant Dragonite go?" she asked.
"Somewhere it belongs," Naoki replied, seeing the concern in Geeta's eyes. He added, "Don't worry, it won't return to the Paldea region."
Geeta seemed satisfied with the answer and changed the topic. "You've never participated in any gym challenges, have you?"
Naoki was slightly taken aback but shook his head. "Not yet."
Geeta's expression softened. "Would you be interested in attending Naranja Academy? From there, you could start taking gym challenges and eventually work your way up to becoming the Paldea Champion."
Naoki quickly understood that Geeta was eyeing him as a potential recruit for the League.
He had no doubt that once he accomplished these feats, Geeta would try to bring him into the fold, making him work for the Pokémon League—much like poor Larry, the Gym Leader who also serves as one of the Elite Four. The heavy workload always left Larry sounding weary and drained.
Naoki wasn't interested in that kind of life. A simple and quiet existence on the ranch was more his speed—an ordinary life with his Pokémon.
Naoki refused without a second thought. "No, I still prefer being a farmer."
He didn't miss the chance to promote his own agricultural products to the chief champion either.
"Oh, by the way, Miss Champion, if you ever get the chance, you should come by and buy some goat milk, vegetables, fruits, and more. They're all super fresh!"
After the creation of Dragonite Express, and with Geeta as the spokesperson, would he ever have to worry about not being able to sell them?
Once the live-streaming industry took off, Naoki envisioned hosting live broadcasts to sell his agricultural products across Paldea via Dragonite Express and online shopping.
Geeta: "..."
She had never met such a person before and didn't know how to respond.
After a brief pause, Geeta nodded hesitantly and politely said, "If I get the chance, I'll definitely try them."
Geeta was still young and inexperienced at this point, her expressions far less composed than the mature and poised persona she'd later exhibit in the games.
Naoki found it amusing but decided to leave it at that. He waved goodbye, hopped onto Dragonite, and began his return trip.
By the time he reached the ranch, it was already four in the afternoon.
Naoki patted the heads of his Pokémon, including Koraidon and Cyclizar, who had come to greet him. He was about to head inside for some water when he noticed the Naclstack and Nacli playing on the grass.
He approached them and asked, "Your new home is ready. Have you seen it yet?"
"Stack?"
"Nacli"
The Pokémon seemed confused, as they hadn't discovered it yet.
Naoki sighed, holding his forehead. "Okay then, follow me, I'll show you!"
He led the Pokémon down to the salt house. After navigating a downward passage, they arrived at the newly built underground cave.
As they looked around at the vast space, the four Naclsatck and Nacli were filled with amazement.
"Nacli, Nacli!"
"Stack!"
"You like it?" Naoki asked with a smile.
During summer, the surface gets scorching hot, but the coolness of this underground cave was a big hit with his cave-dwelling Pokémon.
Naoki walked over to the underground lake and said:
"There's water here. If you're thirsty, you can drink from the lake. I'll also set up a feeding trough for your favorite rock salt-fried soil."
With that, Naoki headed upstairs and, with Koraidon's help, moved the feeding trough from the salt house down into the cave. He filled it with roasted soil.
The Salt Pokemon weren't hungry yet, so they began exploring the underground cave, familiarizing themselves with their new home.
Watching them, Naoki couldn't help but think they resembled little moles from fairy tales, busy building their underground kingdom.
Feeling a bit tired, Naoki yawned and bid farewell to the Salt Pokemon before heading back to the house.
He took a sip of water and glanced at the old-fashioned clock on the wall. Seeing it was still early, he threw himself onto the bed and said to Koraidon, who had followed him inside, "I'm going to take a nap. Go outside and play with Dragonite for a while!"
...
I'm releasing the extra chapter in advance because I see we're super close to reaching our goal of 500 Power Stones! 🚀 Consider it an early reward! The next bonus chapter will drop at 1000 Power Stones, so let's keep that momentum going! 💪 Keep hitting that button and let's unlock more!"
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