章 273: The Sensation Caused by the TV Program
'Man and Dragons… It's like The Old Man and the Sea,' Naoki thought with a chuckle. He had no objections and told Alice, "The title is up to you. Dragonite and I will be happy to cooperate."
"That's fantastic!" Alice beamed.
She then briefed Naoki on the filming process. "Actually, you don't need to do anything out of the ordinary—just go about your routine. As a reporter and photographer, I'll find the right angles."
"No problem," Naoki agreed.
With that, Naoki resumed his tasks around the ranch, while Alice followed from a respectful distance, adjusting her camera and searching for the perfect shots.
The Pokémon paid little mind to this curious visitor. Calyrex was resting in the greenhouse with Sinistea and Polteageist, while Spectrier and Glastrier munched on Berries that Naoki had placed in their troughs.
In the colder weather, Naclstack preferred to stay underground, and Pokémon like Alcremie and Cyclizar gathered around the fireplace, playing with toys Naoki had set out for them.
Outdoors, the hens were clucking cheerfully as Pawmot herded them, while Gogoats tended to the World Tree sapling. A few Dragonites and a small group of Dragonairs roamed nearby.
Alice had already spotted the four Dragonites earlier, having followed them to find the ranch. Watching their friendly interactions, she raised her camera to capture a few shots of them together.
After a while, she turned her attention back to Naoki. She scanned the area, only to find a scene that left her jaw hanging.
Naoki stood near a lake, surrounded by five Dragonairs. One of them was a rare, shimmering pink—an incredibly precious shiny Dragonair!
Alice's eyes widened, and she gasped, "Oh my goodness!"
Five Dragonairs, plus the four Dragonites from earlier—that made a total of nine Dragon-types at this ranch!
She felt herself shiver in awe. 'Who was this Naoki? Could he be a dragon-type specialist? Even the prestigious dragon trainers in Paldea didn't have this many dragon types in one place!'
Alice was astonished to see how comfortable the Dragonairs were around Naoki. The way they looked at him made it clear—they adored him.
"This is incredible!" she murmured.
As the day of filming wrapped up, Alice was still processing everything she had seen, her expression one of bewildered wonder.
Naoki was busy filling up treat boxes with fresh Poffins for the Dragonites. Once each Dragonite had its box filled, they looped them around their necks, waved goodbye to Naoki, and flew off toward the sunset, accompanied by the five Dragonairs.
Watching them soar into the distance, Alice couldn't help but ask, "Where are the Dragonites going?"
Naoki, gazing at the fading silhouettes, replied with a smile, "Oh, they're just heading back home."
Alice looked puzzled. "Home? What do you mean?"
"Just what I said," Naoki shrugged. "I didn't train them; they come here on their own."
Alice was skeptical. "Really? That's hard to believe."
Naoki laughed, spreading his hands helplessly. "Believe it or not, that's how it is. I'm as surprised as you are."
She then glanced at the lone Dragonite left on the ranch. "And what about this Dragonite?"
"This one?" Naoki said warmly. "It's mine. My companion."
Hearing this, Dragonite perked up happily, clearly thrilled to be acknowledged as Naoki's special friend. Proudly, it nodded along, chirping, "Awooo!" as if to say, 'That's right!'
Alice was a bit taken aback, then shook her head with a smile. "Even if you didn't officially catch them, it's clear they chose you too!"
Naoki responded with a quiet smile.
What kind of person could naturally attract so many Dragonites and Dragonairs? Alice found herself intrigued and slightly puzzled. Her gut told her that if Naoki ever tossed a Poké Ball toward them, those Dragonite and Dragonair wouldn't hesitate to join him willingly. Maybe, deep down, they even hoped he would.
It was… truly enviable.
"It's getting late; let's wrap up today's filming here," Alice said, glancing at the sunset.
She had pieced together much of the urban legend surrounding the "Dragonite Delivery Service." Looking back at the fading light, she added, "Tomorrow morning, I'll return to the ranch to capture footage of the Dragonite at work. After that, I'll head back to the station to edit the episode. I have a feeling this will be a hit!"
"I hope it brings more visitors to the ranch," Naoki said with a smile.
Alice shared his enthusiasm. "It might even draw some powerful trainers!"
"I'd love that," Naoki replied. "If trainers find value in the ranch goods, it would make everyone here happy."
...
Alliance Calendar Year 198, November 10 – Winter
That evening, a program titled "Man and Dragons" aired on Paldea's most prominent news station.
The opening shot featured a group of Dragonites, each carrying a satchel, hovering over a quiet country town. The sight of the Dragonite immediately captivated trainers watching at home.
"Is that… Dragonite?"
"Such a rare Pokémon! How did they end up here?"
After a moment of awe, questions buzzed through the audience's minds.
The camera then cut to show the Dragonite reaching the town. They split up, each heading in a different direction to make their deliveries, showcasing their intelligence and dedication as they touched down gracefully around the town.
The camera zoomed in slowly on a Dragonite with a bright red bag strapped to its back, landing gracefully before a cozy little house. It reached out with its chubby claws and gave the door a gentle knock.
A moment later, a kind and gentle old lady appeared at the door. Dragonite carefully took two bottles of milk from its bag and handed them to her with a warm smile before turning around and flying off into the distance.
As Dragonite's silhouette faded in the camera's view, curiosity buzzed among the viewers.
"Did I just see that? Was Dragonite delivering milk to that old lady?"
"This is unbelievable! It looks like someone actually trained it to make deliveries!"
"Wait, if that Dragonite is delivering milk, what are the other Dragonite doing? Are they also playing the role of delivery Pokémon?"
"Oh my goodness! Isn't this like the Pidgey mail service, but way more extravagant?"
"Who could possibly tame so many Dragonites and have them deliver supplies?"
The questions in the viewers' minds intensified. Just then, the screen shifted from the quaint town setting to a picturesque ranch in the countryside.
Standing under the eaves of a small building was a young man, accompanied by a mysterious, crimson Pokémon, gazing up at the sky.
Moments later, several shapes appeared in the clear sky.
It was the Dragonites! The delivery team was returning!
Could this be the man who raised all these Dragonites?
"Hello, everyone! I'm Alice!" Alice appeared on the screen, greeting the audience with a bright smile. "I'm here to investigate the truth behind the urban legend of 'Dragonite Delivery,' a story that's intrigued many of you on your travels!"
"As you can see, this legend is very real! I'm here in Kosaji Town, the birthplace of the tale!"
"These Dragonites who deliver goods are all Pokémon raised by Mr. Naoki at his ranch!"
"But it's not just four Dragonites. There are five Dragonairs in this ranch. That means there will be nine Dragonites in total in the future.!" Alice's voice carried a tone of amazement.
Back at home, the viewers were left speechless.
"Nine… Dragonites?"
"Did I hear that right?"
Dragonites are incredibly rare Pokémon, often dwelling in deep oceans or far-off regions. Many trainers have searched for them their whole lives, only to return empty-handed.
Yet here was a single ranch with nine Dragonites!
Who was this man?
Meanwhile, at the ancestral of a Dragon Tamer family, an elderly man with silver hair was being ushered in front of the TV by younger family members. Seeing the young man instructing Dragonite to make deliveries, his face displayed a mixture of shock and awe.
Who was this person? How had he tamed so many Dragon-types, even surpassing the Dragon Tamer family?
For a moment, he was lost in disbelief. Then, shaking himself from his stupor, he tapped his cane firmly on the floor and exclaimed, "This is outrageous! How could this young man let a noble Pokémon like Dragonite be used for deliveries?"
To him, Dragon-type Pokémon were beings of honor and strength, born for the thrill of battle. The Dragon Tamer family had always taken pride in taming and nurturing powerful Dragon-types, preparing them for greatness.
And now, here was someone using these magnificent creatures to run errands?
"Speaking of Mr. Naoki and the Dragonite," Alice continued, her voice carrying a touch of warmth, "there's a heartwarming story behind their bond. This is why the Dragonite chose to stay at the ranch and help him."
With that, Alice began recounting the tale of how Naoki had helped a young, struggling Dragonite grow stronger. She described how, under Naoki's care, Dragonite had evolved from a timid, gentle creature into a powerful Pokemon.
At the end of the story, the Dragonite that Naoki had once helped didn't leave after becoming stronger, as some might have expected. Instead, the bond between the two deepened as they shared their lives together, and from that moment on, Dragonite chose to stay at the ranch.
"I have to say, Mr. Naoki is truly a charming person!" Alice said with admiration. "The other Dragonites were also drawn to his kindness and warmth, and that's what brought them to this ranch."
With a warm smile, Alice faced the camera, concluding, "And that wraps up our journey into the mysterious urban legend of 'Dragonite the Delivery Pokémon'! Thank you all so much for watching!"
The screen shifted to a peaceful scene of Naoki gently handing out Poffins to the Dragonites. Each one waited with a joyful expression, anticipation shining in their eyes.
As the harmonious image of humans and Pokémon together filled the screen, the word "End" appeared, signaling the close of this heartwarming episode.
...
Meanwhile, in a mansion, a young girl of about six years, energetic and bright-eyed, sat riveted to the TV screen.
"So many Pokémon!" she marveled. "A human who can bring together that many Pokémon must be super strong!"
With a determined grin, she suddenly shouted, "I've made up my mind! I'm going to that ranch, and I'm going to challenge one of those Dragonites!"
The old butler standing beside her gave a resigned smile. "Miss Nemona, you're only six years old—you're not yet old enough to be a trainer."
"But I know how to battle Pokémon!" Nemona argued. "And I already have ten Pokémon!"
Before the butler could respond, Nemona was already racing out of the room, her mind set on her new goal.
"Wait for me, Miss Nemona!" the butler called, following with a sigh.
From the other end of the sofa, a woman in her thirties shook her head with a gentle smile. "She's such a determined spirit. I wonder where she gets it from."
The man across from her, lowering his newspaper, chuckled affectionately. "If Nemona wants to go, let her go. In just four years, she'll be old enough to start her journey as a trainer. Letting her experience a little adventure now might be just what she needs."
...
At the lighthouse laboratory, young Arven, a child often left on his own, sat curled up on the sofa with his loyal companion, Mabosstiff, both watching the TV in front of them.
Just then, a call came through from the depths of the Great Paldean Crater.
The faces of Dr. Turo and Dr. Sada appeared on the screen. They looked at Arven and asked, "Did you have dinner?"
Arven buried his face in Mabosstiff's soft fur, avoiding their gaze, and answered quietly, "Yes, I made a sandwich."
"That's good," Dr. Sada praised. "You're amazing, Arven! You've even learned to make sandwiches now. We can rest a little easier knowing that."
Arven: "…"
As always, they were his research-driven parents.
With a soft sigh, Arven's face held a touch of sadness. Most kids his age had their parents close by, but he lived with only his Mabosstiff for company. He had learned to eat alone, dress himself, and even take care of his own daily needs. Compared to other children, he often felt like an adult.
But he didn't want to be this kind of "adult."
Dr. Sada and Dr. Turo exchanged a helpless glance at Arven's response.
"Arven, please be patient," Dr. Sada said gently. "Our research is in a critical phase right now, but we promise, once it's done, we'll come back and take you to the amusement park."
Just then, Dr. Turo noticed the TV program Arven was watching. Seeing Naoki and Koraidon on the screen, a look of surprise crossed his face.
Dr. Sada noticed it too, but knowing Naoki's character, she wasn't surprised for long. Smiling, she suggested to her son, "If you're feeling a bit lonely, why don't you visit Naoki in Kosaji Town and help out at his ranch? I heard he's been gathering some rare Pokémon lately."
"If you go, I'm sure he'd love to introduce you to all the Pokémon on the ranch."
Arven thought about Naoki and the warm, lively atmosphere of the ranch he'd seen on TV, and he couldn't help but feel a pull to visit.
Seeing the interest in his eyes, Dr. Sada smiled and said, "Then it's decided. We'll contact Naoki."
Arven stayed silent, which they took as his agreement.
Dr. Sada and Dr. Turo ended the call and set to work contacting Naoki in Kosaji Town.
...
In Levincia, after a long day of gym battles, the Gym Leader Iono returned home, exhausted, and flopped onto her sofa.
The little Magnemite-shaped hairpin in her hair drooped alongside her, mirroring her tired expression.
Iono turned on the TV, listening to the sound with her eyes half-closed.
"…I have to say, Mr. Naoki is truly a remarkable person!"
"It's clear that the Pokémon on his ranch sense his kindness and warmth, which is why they've stayed by his side."
Iono opened her eyes just in time to catch a glimpse of Naoki, gently handing out Poffins to several Dragonites, his face radiating warmth.
Yawning, Iono observed the scene thoughtfully. It was evident to her, even in her weary state, that Naoki truly loved his Pokémon.
"Wait, a trainer who's raising four Dragonites?" As she registered the program's content, Iono's expression shifted from tired to intrigued.
As a Gym Leader, she knew exactly what it meant to have even one Dragonite, let alone nine.
This Naoki was clearly no ordinary person! He was using rare and powerful Pokémon like Dragonite for deliveries—a unique choice that sparked Iono's curiosity.
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