Capítulo 4: Dragonite's Egg [355]
Soon, the waiter brought out dishes one after another until the entire table was filled to the brim.
Spicy and flavorful mapo tofu, stir-fried pork with green peppers, golden-brown baked eggs, tender and glistening braised pork, and aromatic white radish and pork rib soup.
Alongside these, the waiter also delivered a variety of snacks and sandwiches prepared especially for the Pokémon.
Naoki and Iono released their Pokémon to join the feast. The table became a lively scene as the Pokémon gathered around, eager to enjoy the meal.
Pawmot and the other Pokémon, having met Iono's team before, greeted them warmly. Several Electric-type Pokémon rubbed cheeks and exchanged bursts of static in friendly greetings.
Iono's Luxray lounged on the floor with a plate of treats resembling Poffins resting between its two large paws. It buried its face in the plate, munching loudly without a care.
Nearby, Glaceon observed the Luxray with a mixture of disbelief and disapproval. Clearly, Glaceon thought, such behavior was unbecoming. Elegantly, it lowered its head and began nibbling on its food with deliberate grace.
Meanwhile, Flutter Mane floated quietly, its gaze fixed on Misdreavus. Misdreavus, sensing its stare, turned to meet its eyes.
The two Ghost-type Pokémon locked eyes, their mutual curiosity holding them in place. Neither one looked away, as if silently assessing each other.
Iono grinned, her chopsticks poised over a plate of mapo tofu. "Alright! Let's dig in!" she announced enthusiastically.
Naoki smiled, amused by her energy, and began eating as well. As he ate, he glanced around at the Pokémon, checking to see if any of them needed help or attention. This was a habit of his—ensuring that his Pokémon were well-fed and comfortable during meals.
But instead of finding any Pokémon in need of assistance, he saw a scene of perfect harmony. The Pokémon were interacting joyfully, their bonds evident as they shared the food.
Seeing this, Naoki relaxed and focused on his meal.
"This is amazing!" Iono exclaimed, her face lighting up as she savored the food. "So delicious!"
Naoki chuckled softly, then asked, "Did you have any trainers challenging your Gym this morning?"
Iono nodded, her cheeks puffed with food like a chipmunk's. "Yep! We had three challengers in a row this morning. Misdreavus and Bellibolt are practically exhausted!"
"That sounds tough," Naoki replied, sympathizing with the busy lives of Gym Leaders in Paldea.
Iono waved it off with a laugh. "It's not so bad! Gym Leaders get breaks, you know. We're not stuck in the Gym all day waiting for challengers—that would be way too boring!"
Naoki nodded thoughtfully. He remembered that, among Paldea's Gym Leaders, Iono wasn't exactly the strongest. It wasn't her battles that stood out—it was her charisma and flair.
"Do you enjoy being a Gym Leader?" he asked curiously.
"Of course!" Iono replied brightly. "It's amazing seeing the crowd cheer during battles—it makes me so happy!"
No wonder, Naoki thought. With Paldea's League offering generous salaries to Gym Leaders, it wasn't about the money for her. Her passion for the audience's excitement seemed genuine.
Her love for broadcasting and live streaming was probably more of a personal hobby, a way to engage with people beyond battles.
The thought gave Naoki an idea. Maybe he could start his own channel in the future—something like "Naoki's Ranch Life"—to share videos of his farm and Pokémon. It could even help promote his agricultural products and berries.
"What about you, Naoki?" Iono asked, tilting her head. "Do you like what you do?"
Naoki blinked, then smiled. "I do. Life in the city doesn't suit me. The small, cramped apartments feel like pigeonholes compared to the open space and freedom of the ranch."
"But you have to admit, city life is convenient," he added. "Then again, with Pokémon like Koraidon or Dragonite, traveling between cities is pretty easy. I can go anywhere in minutes."
Iono laughed, imagining the stark contrast. "You and I are opposites, huh?"
Naoki raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile forming. "Don't tell me you eat out every day."
Iono hesitated, her grin turning sheepish. "Not every day… just sometimes. Okay, fine—a lot of the time! But I can cook! I just… don't do it often."
Naoki gave her a skeptical look.
"Alright, alright!" she admitted with a laugh. "I'm not a great cook, but I can manage the basics! It's just that Misdreavus and Bellibolt don't seem to like my cooking, so I end up eating out."
"Alright then!" Naoki nodded and said, "Living in the city does have its conveniences."
"Really? Hehe!" Iono immediately chimed in with enthusiasm.
Naoki couldn't help but chuckle, and the atmosphere between them became harmonious for a while.
After the meal, Iono quickly rushed to pay the bill before Naoki could stop her.
Naoki sighed, feeling a bit awkward. The values instilled in him since childhood made him feel that such gestures were his responsibility, especially since he was three years older than Iono. It felt strange to let someone younger treat him to a meal.
Iono noticed his expression and grinned. "It's fine! We agreed I'd treat you this time!"
Then she added with a wink, "If you feel bad, Naoki, just make it up to me next time I visit your ranch. Treat me when I'm there!"
Naoki looked into Iono's bright, expectant eyes and finally relented with a nod. "Alright, I'll treat you next time for sure."
"Hehe, deal!" Iono said, satisfied.
After lunch, Naoki said his goodbyes to Iono and hopped onto Koraidon. Together, they left Levincia behind.
...
By mid-afternoon, Koraidon soared over Kosaji Town and landed gracefully at the ranch.
Butterfree was the first to spot them, and soon, a large group of Pokémon came rushing over to greet him.
Naoki's face lit up with a smile as he patted each Pokémon affectionately, one by one.
Without Alcremie and Glaceon around, the ranch had felt a little subdued. Many of the Pokémon appeared to have been listless in their absence. Seeing this, Naoki quickly released all the Pokémon from their Poké Balls.
He looked at Alcremie and Glaceon and said, "Go on, play with everyone! Without you here, Garganacl and the others have been pretty down."
Hearing this, Alcremie turned to the line of Rock Pokémon standing before her. Normally upright and sturdy, they now looked pitifully dejected.
This tugged at Alcremie's heartstrings. She immediately fluttered over to them, perching on their rocky forms and coaxing them into play.
Naoki smiled at the sight and turned his attention to Cyclizar. He patted its head and sent it off to join the fun before heading to the living room with his bulging backpack of gifts.
Calyrex was lounging on the couch, engrossed in a television program. Meanwhile, Indeedee approached Naoki to give a status update on the ranch's activities over the past week.
Naoki popped a handful of seeds into his mouth and listened as Indeedee began to relay information:
"Ai-ye, aiee." (Nothing major happened, but some wild Pokémon accidentally broke a few fences by the river.)
"Ai-ye, aiee." (Oh, and two days ago, a person named Grusha visited the ranch. She left after hearing you weren't around.)
"Grusha?" Naoki echoed, surprised.
Indeedee nodded and added something else, seemingly unsure: "Ai-ye, aiee" (Grusha, Umm....a girl)
Naoki couldn't help but chuckle. "Oh, I see! You figured that out based on his hairstyle and appearance, didn't you?"
Indeedee looked puzzled, unsure whether it had made a mistake.
Naoki grinned and clarified, "Actually, Grusha's a guy. He's the Gym Leader of Glaseado Mountain's Gym. But don't worry—plenty of people make that mistake!"
Indeedee blinked, seeming both confused and a little embarrassed.
Naoki let out a hearty laugh and reassured the Pokémon. "Don't worry about it. Grusha's bound to visit again soon!"
With that settled, Naoki turned his attention to the gifts he had brought back. Unpacking the items from his overstuffed backpack, he began sorting them for the Pokémon. Then, with a smile, he handed a pair of glasses and a blue scarf to Indeedee sibling.
"These are for you two," he said warmly. "I hope you like them."
The Indeedee siblings eagerly accepted the gifts, their eyes lighting up with joy.
Seeing their delighted reactions, Naoki felt a wave of satisfaction. He had chosen the right gifts after all.
Naoki carefully handed a copy of papers on Rotom mobile to the Calyrex and said, "It's all set! The information for the mobile phone has been sent. I believe it won't be long before we can use one!"
Calyrex's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "I eagerly await that day!"
"Same here!" Naoki exclaimed, brimming with excitement to be back at the ranch.
"I'll go check on the fence."
With that, Naoki headed out, crossing the creek to the far side of the ranch. He carefully examined the wooden fences along the boundary, scanning for any signs of damage.
As expected, he found several areas that were in need of repair.
Being located in the wild, the ranch often dealt with wild Pokémon that occasionally wandered in and damaged the fences. This wasn't anything new to Naoki.
Returning to the utility room, he grabbed tools and wooden planks, rolling up his sleeves to begin repairs. By the time the last plank was secured, the sun had already begun its descent, and it was nearing 5 PM.
Just as he finished, Zack arrived at the ranch, right on schedule, to collect the day's goods. Spotting Naoki, Zack looked momentarily surprised before grinning.
"You're back?" Zack asked.
"Yeah, I just got in," Naoki replied with a nod.
As Zack loaded the day's milk and vegetables into his truck, he remarked with admiration, "Your Pokémon are incredible! And those two Indeedees of yours have kept the place running perfectly! Honestly, I'm jealous. If they ever lay eggs, let me know. I wouldn't mind raising a butler Pokémon myself."
Naoki gave him an annoyed look. "They're siblings, not a couple!"
Zack looked startled. "What?! I totally thought they were married… Oops, my bad!" He scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
Naoki glanced over at Indeedee, who was busy watering flowers nearby, and sighed with relief. Thankfully, neither of the siblings had overheard Zack's embarrassing comment.
Zack didn't linger long. After securing the goods, he bid Naoki farewell and drove off, leaving the ranch peaceful once more.
But sometimes, fate has other plans.
Just as Naoki was about to prepare dinner, a sudden, radiant light burst forth from two Dragonites near the ranch entrance. These were the hardworking Dragonites who had been delivering goods and were now preparing to return to Dragonite Island.
The brilliant glow immediately caught the attention of every Pokémon nearby, and a large crowd quickly gathered to watch.
Naoki, thinking this might be a Mega Evolution event, rushed over in alarm to check.
When he reached the scene, however, what he witnessed left him speechless.
The light emanating from the two Dragonites dimmed gradually—not to signal Mega Evolution, but rather to merge together into a single glowing orb on the grass between them.
When the light finally faded, an egg with vibrant orange-and-yellow patterns rested gently on the ground.
Naoki stood frozen, stunned. "An egg?!"
Dragonite had laid an egg! Or rather, their energy had merged to create one. Naoki's mind reeled at the implications. Could it be that Pokémon didn't necessarily need physical coupling to produce offspring? Instead, their energies could intertwine to form an egg?
"This is… unbelievable!" Naoki muttered, watching the mesmerizing scene before him.
He tried to wrap his head around the situation. Had these two Dragonites, who were simply colleagues delivering goods together, somehow developed romantic feelings for one another during their daily work? When had that happened?
Naoki felt at a loss for words. These two had always seemed like close friends, nothing more. Yet here they were, welcoming a Pokémon egg into the world.
One of the Dragonites gently picked up the egg.
The Dragonite looked down at the dragon egg in its arms, then exchanged a glance with its partner. Together, they turned their gazes to the egg cradled carefully in their claws.
What now? Should they take the egg back to Dragonite Island? Naoki wondered.
But before he could voice his thoughts, one of the Dragonite walked toward him. It blinked its large, expressive eyes and gently deposited the egg into his arms.
Naoki: "???"
Staring at the egg now nestled in his hands, Naoki was at a loss for words. What was he supposed to do with it?
However, the female Dragonite who had just laid the egg seemed unconcerned.
To her, Naoki was a trustworthy human—kind and caring toward Pokémon. Leaving the egg in his care felt far safer than returning it to Dragonite Island for natural incubation. Besides, the two Dragonite frequently visited the ranch to enjoy treats, so transporting the egg back and forth would be inconvenient.
Instead, they figured it would be easier and more secure to let Naoki handle it. That way, when the baby hatched, they could continue their deliveries and enjoy their meals at the ranch as a family.
Having entrusted the egg to Naoki, the two Dragonite waved their claws in farewell and took off into the sky.
Naoki and his Pokémon stood there, stunned, staring at the freshly laid egg.
Clutching the egg, Naoki asked hesitantly, "How do I even hatch this thing?"
Unfortunately, none of the Pokémon on the ranch had any experience with eggs, so they offered no answers.
In desperation, Naoki called for Dragonite, hoping it might have some insight.
When Dragonite learned that the two working Dragonite had laid an egg, it was visibly startled.
Naoki popped a piece of translation seed crisp into his mouth and asked, "Have you ever laid an egg?"
Dragonite shook its head vigorously. "Awoo!" (No, I can't lay eggs!)
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Naoki asked, exasperated.
Dragonite tilted its head thoughtfully, recalling scenes from Dragonite Island, and finally said, "Awoo!" (Just leave it on the grass and let it hatch naturally!)
Naoki: "…"
That sounded way too casual!
After a moment of deliberation, Naoki carried the Dragonite egg back into the living room.
Upon seeing the egg, sister Indeedee, tilted her head in confusion. "Ai Ai?" (What's this?)
Naoki sighed. "It's a Dragonite egg. They handed it to me right after laying it. I have no idea how to hatch it!"
Indeedee smiled warmly and said, "Ai-ah~" (I understand. Leave it to my brother and me—we'll take care of it!)
Naoki's eyes lit up in surprise. "Huh? You can handle this?"
Indeedee nodded confidently, her tone soft and reassuring. "Ai Ai!" (Before coming to the ranch, our parents taught my brother and me not only how to care for Pokémon cubs but also how to care for eggs. If you ever have children, we'd take care of them too!)
....
Bonus Chapter at 300 Powerstones.
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