"It doesn't matter. I didn't explain clearly at first, so it's normal you didn't know. Is that Dratini still here?" Ash said with a smile, not blaming Caesar for his confusion.
"Yes," Caesar nodded. "That Dratini has since evolved into a Dragonair. A few years ago, it even laid several eggs, one of which has already hatched into another Dratini. They've been living in the lake here in the Safari Zone ever since."
Now that he knew Ash's true identity, Caesar no longer felt the need to hide anything.
"Would you mind taking us to see them? I've never been to the Draconis family estate, so I've never had the chance to see Dratini or Dragonair up close before!" Ash asked eagerly.
With Caesar's agreement, Ash and his friends followed him to a quiet lake deep within the wilderness. Caesar bent down, picked up a stone, and tossed it into the water. Ripples spread across the surface—and soon, two sleek, blue-and-white figures rose from the depths.
"Drraaa~!"
"Nee~!"
It was a Dragonair and a Dratini. The Dragonair's serpentine body shimmered with blue scales, its underside white and smooth. Large, watery eyes gazed at them calmly, with winglike ears on the sides of its head, a single horn on its forehead, and a blue orb resting elegantly upon its throat.
The Dratini beside it looked much the same, though far smaller. Its scales were lighter in shade, it lacked the orbs along the neck, and its small white horn was only just beginning to grow.
"Hello," Ash said warmly. "My name is Ash. I'm very happy to meet you."
As he spoke, he allowed a gentle wave of Aura to flow outward, carrying with it his genuine goodwill.
Aura never failed him. Feeling Ash's kindness, both Dragonair and Dratini immediately brightened, swimming closer to nuzzle against his cheek affectionately.
"Incredible," Caesar breathed. "It's the first time I've ever seen Dragonair befriend someone so quickly. It took me three years just to earn Dratini's trust back then."
"Ash has the power of Aura," Suzie explained from the side.
"It's a kind of psychic energy that changes with his emotions, allowing Pokémon to sense his true intentions. They can feel the sincerity in his heart."
Caesar blinked, impressed. He had only recently learned of people with such gifts—like Sabrina, who could float in the air with psychic power. To now see another kind of supernatural ability firsthand was eye-opening.
"Dragonite, come out!"
Ash pulled out a golden Luxury Ball and released his Dragonite.
"Roooaar!" Dragonite bellowed as it emerged, flaring its wings. A powerful gale swept across the clearing, sending ripples through the water and rustling the nearby trees.
"Dragonite, wait! It's not a battle!" Ash quickly said, realizing his partner's misunderstanding.
Dragonite had spotted Dragonair and assumed Ash wanted it to fight. It puffed itself up with overwhelming force, but the mistake became clear almost immediately.
Even so, the pressure was enough to make Dragonair flinch and retreat slightly, which shocked Caesar. "Amazing… I've never seen Dragonair react like that. Your Dragonite is truly formidable!"
It was true—while the wild Dragonair was strong enough to dominate the Safari Zone, it had never undergone structured training. Its strength was at best on par with an Elite-level Pokémon, but against Ash's Dragonite, it had no chance.
"Ooh?" Dragonite tilted its head, scratching awkwardly at it with its claws. Its wide, innocent eyes gave it a strangely adorable look. Realizing its mistake, it grinned sheepishly and lowered its aura, extending goodwill toward Dragonair.
Dragonair relaxed quickly, sensing the sincerity, while the young Dratini gazed at Dragonite in awe, its eyes sparkling like stars.
"That's a true powerhouse," Sabrina murmured with a wry smile. "Ash's Dragonite really is on the level of a Legendary Pokémon. If it had shown up against my Alakazam, I don't think I'd have stood a chance."
Her voice carried both resignation and pride. Though her strength was that of a Gym Leader on par with the Elite Four, in front of Ash's Dragonite, even she knew the outcome. Still, the fact that the boy she cared for was so strong filled her heart with quiet happiness.
Ash and Cynthia were well aware of Sabrina's intentions, and even Suzie—who had joined the group later—could sense it. Still, the relationship between Ash and Sabrina was… peculiar.
The way they interacted was unlike anyone else's. Cynthia didn't mind Sabrina's presence anymore; in fact, she had grown quite close to her recently. Besides, Cynthia had come to trust Ash so deeply that her worries had faded. She believed in him completely and no longer feared what might come.
"It's rare for you to spend time with your own kind," Ash said warmly, watching Dragonite's beaming expression. "Go ahead and enjoy yourself. We'll rest here for the night and leave tomorrow."
"Rooaaar!"
"Draaa~!"
"Nee~!"
Dragonite let out a joyful cry and quickly dove into the lake with Dragonair and Dratini, disappearing beneath the surface to play.
Ash chuckled softly. His Dragonite was female, as was the Dragonair in this lake—after all, it had laid eggs before. That alone reassured him that Dragonite wasn't chasing after Dragonair romantically, but simply enjoying the company of kin.
"Uncle Caesar," Ash said, turning back. "We'll let Dragonite play for a while. Could you prepare three rooms for us to stay in?"
"No problem at all," Caesar replied with a smile. "I haven't seen Dragonair so happy in years. It's a blessing to witness. I have plenty of rooms here, and tonight I'll prepare a meal to welcome you properly."
Hearing that, Ash nodded gratefully. For once, it seemed like their journey would pause in peace.
...
TN:
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