Chapter 189: Future Potential
2024-05-15 Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"Whoa, my Private Technician has appeared!!"
"Whoa, Giovanni's Private Technician has appeared!!"
Joyful laughter erupted from both sides at the same time. Then, hearing each other's voices, both parties froze with stunned expressions.
"Does this kid also know about the Dratini family's unparalleled potential in the art of massage?"
"Do these three also want to catch a Dratini to be their Technician?"
Instantly, Ash and the Team Rocket trio understood each other's intentions.
Such ravenous ambition! They had the exact same objective.
It was just Kaiser, standing behind them, who found it all rather baffling. He didn't understand why they were all shouting the word "Technician."
Did Dratini have Technician as an Ability?
He was an old-timer, unfamiliar with the traditional job title "Technician." In the Unova Region, that kind of profession was generally called a "service provider."
The target had appeared. Just as tensions reached a breaking point between the two sides, ripples once again appeared on the surface of the river.
"Ree-liing~~"
A pleasant sound drifted over, followed by a sky-blue Pokemon slowly emerging from the water's surface, even levitating into mid-air.
Despite having no wings, it just hovered there quietly in mid-air. A sprinkle of glittering light scattered around its body, making it look extraordinary.
This was a Pokemon that bore some resemblance to Dratini. It had the same blue and white skin, but its body was much more slender, curving through the air. It had a small horn on its forehead and a deep blue pearl on its neck, which was shimmering with a mystical light.
"Pokedex Beep. Dratini, a Pokemon with Future Potential. It is rare and has great potential. Catch it if you want, or don't."
"Pokedex Beep. Dragonair, the Evolved Form of Dratini. It possesses the mysterious power to control the weather. Evolution is recommended."
The Pokedex announced.
If Dratini is a cutesy-style Pokemon, then Dragonair is an elegant and noble one, with a mysterious aura that makes one want to take a second look.
"Dragonair? A two-person Technician team?"
Ash and the Team Rocket trio's eyes lit up simultaneously. That's right, how could one Technician be enough? A duo would be truly satisfying.
Future Potential?
Ash and Team Rocket couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Don't think for a second they couldn't detect the Pokedex's sarcasm. The title "Future Potential" sounded impressive, but in reality, it had no other meaning than to imply one thing.
It's very weak right now.
After all, the difficulty of evolving a Dratini is extremely high. Some people spend their entire lives unable to evolve their Dratini into a Dragonite.
After all, not every Pokemon that dreams of growing wings to fly can actually grow wings.
"Dragonair, you're the one from back then..."
From behind, Kaiser suddenly walked over, trembling, his eyes moist as he looked at the Dragonair floating in the sky.
When he was middle-aged, he had traveled through various regions. One day, while passing through this place, he accidentally fell into the water and was saved by a Dratini.
The two formed a friendly relationship, and Kaiser would often come here to play with it. The photograph in the Wooden House was even taken back then.
But later, word got out, and countless Trainers flocked here in search of the Dratini. Fearing the Dratini would be forcefully caught by an unscrupulous Trainer, Kaiser deliberately created this thicket of bushes. Decades passed in a flash.
Only now, after all this time, did the two meet again. But the world had changed; the latter had evolved into a Dragonair and had even become a wife.
"Ree~~"
The Dragonair drew a little closer and touched Kaiser's palm. Even though she was a wife now, that bond still remained.
"Dragonair..."
Kaiser felt a pang of regret. He should have eloped with the Dratini back then. But now it was too late; her child was already old enough to run errands.
After the sentimental moment, the Dragonair turned its neck, its noble eyes looking towards the others as it hovered in mid-air.
"Ree-ree~~"
"Oh, oh! The Dragonair means that she also wants her Dratini to go out and gain experience. She's going to pick the best Trainer from among us, meow!"
Meowth translated.
In situations like this, his usefulness as a translator was truly infinite.
The Dragonair nodded. After all, the Pokemon in the Safari Zone just lazed around waiting for death every day. She didn't want her offspring to end up like her.
Besides, a human's lifespan is 100 years at most. They're just a tool, that's all.
"What about you? I don't mind a wife. As long as you evolve, that's all that matters. And having a wife as a Technician gives a type boost," James said, setting his sights on the Dragonair.
"Ree ree."
"'I will never evolve in this lifetime, meow.' Meowth provided a real-time translation.
It wasn't just Psychic Type Pokemon that had high intelligence; Dragon Type Pokemon were also quite smart and could understand human speech.
Evolve? Evolve into that big-bellied, tubby Fatty?
That would be worse than just giving this Dragonair a swift end!
"So you're not willing to evolve..."
Instantly, both Ash and the Team Rocket trio lost all interest in the wife Dragonair.
This sudden change of attitude left the proud Dragonair feeling rather baffled.
Don't be fooled by the fact that it hadn't fully evolved. This Dragonair wasn't some "Future Potential"—it was a "Future Is Now" Pokemon. It could be sent into battle immediately, and its strength surpassed the vast majority of Pokemon.
But no one was paying attention to it anymore.
The Team Rocket trio and Ash were all staring intently at the young Dratini, puffing out their chests to show that they were the best Trainer here.
Although Brock and Misty were also quite interested, when it came to Technicians and the like, they'd rather go catch an Azumarill with the Huge Power Ability. That would be more than enough for their bodies.
Unconsciously, the two of them had also been led astray, starting to equate the Dragonite line with the Technician profession...
Soon, two factions formed on the riverbank. Team Rocket was on one side, and Ash stood alone on the other. Floating between them were a Dragonair and a cute little Dratini, which was curiously observing its surroundings.
Little did it know, its own mother was in the process of selling it off.
"Ree-ree~"
Meowth acted as the Dragonair's real-time translator.
"As an excellent Trainer, you must first have lofty dreams and goals. For the first trial, she wants us all to state our ambitions and what we plan to do with the Dratini."
That's right, the Dragonair planned to use a competition to select a suitable Trainer.
Seeing that it was time to talk about dreams, Ash slapped his chest and spoke first, his words flowing with confidence.
"I'm Ash from Pallet Town, and my dream is to become the strongest Trainer, a Pokémon Master!!"
He spoke with soaring spirits, because this was the dream he truly craved in his heart. His infectious, powerful confidence was so strong that even the Dragonair couldn't help but shudder upon hearing it.
"As for the Dratini, I'll have it evolve into a Dragonite, to become the best at its craft... and the most powerful Pokemon!!"
Ash felt there was nothing wrong with this statement. Although it had a hint of deception, being the best Technician and the most powerful Pokemon were not mutually exclusive.
On the bed, the strongest Technician; on the battlefield, the strongest Pokemon. It was perfectly reasonable.
"Ree-ree~"
The Dragonair nodded, seemingly satisfied with Ash's answer, then turned its gaze to the Team Rocket trio.
The three of them held back for a long time before finally, awkwardly, giving their answer.
"Same here."
The Dragonair nodded again, accepting Team Rocket's dream and ambition.
Ash: ???
(end of chapter)