Want to read ahead. You know where
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On the ruined island, Sam held the heavy ball tightly in his hand.
He looked at the massive Dragonite sitting before him and said quietly,
"Alright, it's my turn."
"Aw~~!"
The giant Dragonite gave a low rumble, nodding in agreement.
Despite its size, its eyes carried warmth.
The battles had proven enough.
Sam wasn't just feeding it or offering shelter, he had shown strength, resolve, and trust.
The Dragonite was satisfied.
Sam pressed the button on the ball.
A flash of red light engulfed the towering Pokémon, pulling its massive frame inside.
The ball dropped to the ground, rocking back and forth in heavy tremors.
Sam held his breath.
Once. Twice. Three times… then silence.
Click.
The ball stilled.
And with that, the bond between trainer and Pokémon was sealed.
Sam bent down and picked it up, his hand almost sinking under its weight.
He laughed.
"Heh, you're heavier than I thought."
He pressed the release again, and in a burst of light, the giant Dragonite reappeared.
Sam stepped forward, placing his palm against its thick leg.
Their auras connected, life energy flowed in both directions.
The Dragonite's exhaustion from the battle eased as his strength slowly returned.
Sam looked up at the towering Pokémon with a smile.
"From now on, I'll call you Draco."
"Aw~~!" Dragonite roared, the sound shaking the ruins around them.
Sam chuckled.
"Come on, let me introduce you to the team. This is Luca, this is Silver, and this is Darkrai."
"Luka~!" Lucario stepped forward, his curious eyes scanning Dragonite's body, as if wondering how muscles could grow that massive.
"Hissss."
Darkrai, who had been Dragonite's opponent just moments ago, simply flicked his clawed hand in a cold, curt greeting.
"Lili~!" Little Lugia circled in the sky above, letting out a cheerful call.
"Aw~~!" Dragonite responded, his deep voice rumbling like thunder, before giving a respectful nod to each of them.
Sam's lips curled upward.
He couldn't help it, victories like this didn't happen every day.
For a moment, the weight of what Sam had achieved settled in.
Another powerhouse had joined his side, and the future of their journey felt that much more certain.
Sam turned to the giant Dragonite, who was still chatting with the others.
"Draco, I have to head out for a bit. The energy cubes you love are almost gone. If I don't stock up, you'll be hungry again soon."
"Aw~~!"
The moment food was mentioned, Dragonite jumped up, eyes sparkling.
"Go now! Buy more!"
No way was he going hungry again, especially not when those delicious cubes existed.
Sam laughed helplessly.
"What a foodie. You really are the definition of gluttonous."
He reached for the heavy ball to recall Dragonite when the massive Pokémon suddenly stopped him with a roar.
"Aw~~!"
Sam blinked.
"What is it?"
Dragonite pointed to his back, motioning for Sam to climb on.
Clearly, he had something important to show him.
"Alright then."
Sam crouched and leapt a few times before landing on the thick scales of Dragonite's shoulder.
He held on tightly as the massive wings spread wide.
The ground shrank away beneath them.
The rush of wind hit Sam's face as Dragonite soared higher.
"Whoa… This feels amazing."
It was nothing like flying with Silver.
Dragonite was thirty meters tall, riding him felt like commanding the skies.
With just a few powerful beats of his wings, Dragonite carried Sam to their destination.
He landed and immediately began digging at the ground with his huge claws, tossing soil aside as though it were nothing.
Moments later, something glittered beneath the dirt. Sam's eyes widened as more and more treasures surfaced.
A nugget the size of a basketball.
A pearl glowing faintly, as big as a fist.
A dazzling Shiny Stone that sparkled even in the shadows.
Sam froze, staring.
"You've gotta be kidding me… These are your treasures?"
Dragonite nodded proudly, pushing the pile toward him.
"All of this… just for me?" Sam asked, dumbfounded.
"Aw~~!" Dragonite's grin stretched wide, eyes full of trust.
Sam rubbed his forehead and laughed.
"With all this, I could buy you energy cubes for an entire year!"
Dragonite's face lit up instantly, his massive mouth curling into an even bigger smile.