Andrew nodded slowly, not saying another word, but the change in his expression was evident. For my part, I couldn't help but feel there was something else at stake. Even if the Dratini was there, there was much more to uncover. Why had Team Rocket been so interested in this Pokémon? And how had they come so far as to lose their lives in this dark corner of the forest?
Feeling something calling me, I approached the edge of the pond. Something in the still waters made me stop. A glimmer flickered for a moment, and I could make out a silhouette in the distance, something moving silently beneath the surface.
"There it is…" I muttered, pointing to the exact spot where I had seen the flash.
Andrew looked in the indicated direction. Despite his usual composure, expectation was evident in his eyes.
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Author's Notes: If you want to support the story and read some advance chapters https://www.p@treon. com/Jayjayempi , it would also help me a lot if you have comments on how the story is going or if you would be so kind as to leave a review, Thank you very much for reading!
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The pond remained silent. Only the faint murmur of the wind through the trees dared to break the tension.
I had seen something. A silhouette gliding gracefully underwater. It wasn't large, but it was agile, almost ghostly.
Andrew stood by my side, alert, on guard. Nidoran ♂ sniffed the air, restless, and Ralts looked at me impassively, almost waiting for some instruction.
"That device…" I muttered, turning my gaze to the strange device still flickering weakly next to the Rocket's corpse.
Andrew approached. Without saying anything, he picked up a stone the size of his fist. He looked at me for a second, as if asking permission.
I nodded firmly.
With a swift, precise motion, Andrew slammed the stone against the device. There was an electrical crack, sparks flew, and the device stopped emitting its light. The silence that followed was thick... as if the forest was holding its breath.
Immediately, both PokéNavs vibrated softly. The signal was back.
"Perfect" I said in a low voice, "now let's continue, Ralts make him come out" I said with a determined tone as I turned to see my Pokémon partner
Ralts moved slowly toward the shore, as if guided by an impulse. Her eyes lit up for a second, and then, with a small inhalation, she let out a Disarming Voice. The bright, melodious ripple expanded like a bell of energy, vibrating the surface of the water with a magical echo.
Instantly, a blue flash emerged from the pool. A long, slender body, gleaming like the sky itself, broke the surface. Dratini.
The little dragon rose a few inches from the water with a shrill cry. Its body shook with fear, its eyes wide. Ralts's Fairy-like energy had clearly frightened it.
Andrew and I looked at each other, instinctively.
We both knew what that moment meant.
Without saying a word, we took out a Pokéball at the same time.
"Dratini, come with us!" We both exclaimed at the same time, throwing our Poké Balls vigorously.
The spheres flew through the air, spinning precisely. But just before they touched Dratini, he shuddered, shaken by his natural instinct. A Thunder Wave erupted from his small body, expanding into an electrical field that lit up the clearing with a blinding glow.
"Close your eyes!" I shouted.
I did too. A high-pitched buzzing sound echoed in my ears. I felt static prickling my skin. For a few seconds, there was nothing but light and sparks floating in the darkness beneath my eyelids.
When we finally opened our eyes, we saw the scene before us: a single PokéBall resting in the grass, its center button glowing red. It wasn't moving. It was over.
The Dratini had been captured.
Andrew and I looked at each other, breathing heavily, not knowing which of the two PokéBalls had done it.
A moment of silence. Then we both took a step forward... but stopped at the same time.
We didn't say anything. Not yet.
It was then that Andrew spoke, with a half smile:
"Looks like we have a dilemma, don't we?"
"It seems so," I replied, crossing my arms.
We looked at the PokéBall. So close... and yet, so uncertain.
"So," I said, "let's work it out like real Trainers."
"A battle?" Andrew asked, raising an eyebrow.
"A friendly battle. The winner keeps the Dratini." I replied with a smile.
Andrew nodded without hesitation.
"Okay. In Pewter City Park, after we heal our Pokémon. In the battle arena."
I looked at Ralts, who gave me a tired but determined look. Nidoran ♂ snorted, always ready. I looked at Andrew, who was stroking his Deino's back, now recovered from the previous fight.
We knew what was at stake.
A Pokemon like Dratini was almost legendary in this region and was an ideal addition to any Pokemon team.
Together, we picked up the sealed Poké Ball with the Dratini inside. Without opening it, we stored it in my backpack for the time being.
It was time to go back.
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The walk back to Pewter City was silent at first. The trees of the Viridian Forest let sunlight stream through their leaves, casting dancing shadows across the ground.
Ralts walked beside me, still somewhat exhausted, but proud. Nidoran ♂, always attentive, led the group with firm steps. Andrew walked beside me, hands in his pockets, and Deino walked at his pace, still charged with draconic energy that seemed to never fade.
I looked at my PokéNav as we moved forward, now with a full signal.
"You know," I said to Andrew, raising my voice to break the silence, "we could settle this in a second if we just checked our licenses. The Poké Ball that registered the Dratini would be tied to the Trainer's name... it would be easy to tell who it belongs to."
Andrew looked at me out of the corner of his eye, with that expression I was beginning to recognize: a mixture of logic and stubbornness.
"Yes…" he finally said. "But that wouldn't be fair. We both threw our PokéBalls at the same time. Only one could have caught it, but it's only right that the strongest deserve it."
I remained silent for a few seconds. Not because I disagreed... but because deep down, I admired him for saying it. Andrew didn't talk much, but when he did, he said what mattered.
"You're right," I finally replied with a smile. "Let the battlefield decide."
When we finally emerged from the forest, the town greeted us with its usual calm. The sun was already higher in the sky, and passersby barely noticed the passing of two young trainers returning from a major raid.
We headed straight to the local police station. The gray brick building with metal windows was discreet but efficient. Upon entering, we were greeted by Officer Jenny, who looked up from her desk and, seeing our serious faces, immediately stood up.
She was a woman of firm demeanor and clear gaze, with the deep blue eyes so characteristic of all Jennys, but hers had a slight tiredness around the edges, signs of someone who'd been on watch more than they'd slept. She wore the regulation blue uniform with impeccable neatness, her cap perfectly aligned over her dark blue hair pulled back in a low ponytail. Her belt held a Poké Ball and a baton, but she didn't need to pull either out to command respect. There was something about her posture and her voice that made one sit up straight instantly.
"What happened, guys? Any problems?"
Andrew and I exchanged a look. Then, calmly, we told him everything: the body, the device, the broken box, and the Dratini that had been hidden.
Jenny frowned gravely and quickly jotted down the details in a digital notebook.
"We've already received reports of suspicious Team Rocket movements near Pewter City… but we didn't have any solid evidence until now. You did the right thing by reporting it. I'll personally investigate the area," he assured her, his tone professional but warm.
"Don't we have to hand over the Dratini?" I asked, worried.
"The parents have been moved to another area, legally it was captured by you in a Pokeball so it's yours" She replied "Thanks for reporting it."
She bid us farewell with a firm bow. We left the building without further discussion, but with the feeling of having done the right thing.
From there, we went straight to the Pokémon Center. Nurse Joy greeted us with a smile that felt as familiar as it was comforting.
"Max!" she said cheerfully. "It's good to see you again! Are you in more trouble now?"
"Hi, Helen," I replied with a more relaxed smile. "You know how it is. If there aren't any adventures, it seems like something's missing."
Helen had that kind air that almost no one could fake. Her pink eyes shone with sweetness as she took our Poké Balls with the efficiency of someone who'd done this a thousand times.
"It'll be quick. Give your Pokémon a rest, they've earned it," she said, winking at me.
While we were waiting at the counter, Helen with a curious expression approached Andrew and spoke to him in a calm tone.
"Hey…" she said, leaning slightly toward him. "Have we met before in the City? I mean, I don't know… you sound familiar."
Andrew slowly turned his face toward her, but his eyes lowered for a second. Then he shrugged lightly.
"It probably just reminds you of someone," he said before turning to me and changing the subject. "And that Dratini? Do you think it's male or female?"
I looked at him for a moment longer, suspecting that he had deliberately avoided the question, but I let the subject drop.
Nurse Helen was unfazed by the clear attempt to evade the question and handed us the Poké Balls with a smile.
"Everything is in perfect condition. Ready for whatever comes next," she said.
"Thank you, Helen," I replied, placing them on my belt.
Andrew nodded slightly.
Without further ado, we left the Pokémon Center and headed toward Pewter City Park. At its center was a small official battle arena, marked by white circles on the hardened earth. It wasn't as imposing as the gym stadiums, but it served the purpose perfectly.
Andrew stood at the opposite end of the field. I walked to the other. A respectful silence enveloped us. There was no audience, just us, the park trees, and the light city breeze.
"A one-on-one battle," I said, taking Nidoran's Poké Ball ♂. "No substitutions. The winner keeps Dratini."
"And to make it more interesting," I said, adding with a smile, "the loser can make a small request of the winner as a consolation prize."
Andrew frowned for a second at the last part of what I said before answering with a smile: "Accepted," Andrew replied, taking out Deino's Poké Ball.
Our Pokémon appeared on the field with a flash.
Nidoran♂ leaped up and let out a growl. Deino roared, hunching his body as a small blue spark ran through his mouth.
"Start with Focus Energy!" I ordered.
Nidoran♂ closed his eyes for a moment. His body tensed, and a faint reddish aura enveloped him. He was ready to hit harder.
"Deino, Dragon Pulse," Andrew replied.
The dragon launched a blue energy sphere that sped through the air. Nidoran♂He barely rolled to the side, narrowly missing her.
"Now, Double Kick!" I shouted.
Nidoran♂ pushed off with his hind legs, spinning in the air before striking Deino twice in the side. The second impact sent him reeling.
"Leer" I ordered immediately.
Nidoran♂ fixed his gaze on his opponent. His eyes shone with a hypnotic intensity that made Deino lower his guard slightly.
"Deino, don't get distracted. Dragon Tail."
But the move came too late. Nidoran moved forward with renewed speed.
"Fury Attack!" I yelled.
Nidoran♂ chained together several swift blows with his paws and horn. One, two, three hits, each time with increasing force, until Deino managed to retreat and roar, stopping him.
Andrew gritted his teeth.
"Dragon Pulse. Full on this time."
The draconic energy hit hard, throwing Nidoran♂ backward. He rolled on the ground, panting.
I looked at him. He stumbled, but got back up.
"You can still do it… come on, Poison Sting."
Nidoran♂ opened his mouth and shot out a flurry of violet spikes that pierced Deino's body like tiny needles. The dragon moaned in pain, poisoned.
But before he could counterattack, something happened.
Nidoran♂ screamed... his body began to glow.
"This...?"
Andrew took a step back.
The light enveloped him completely. Nidoran♂ grew, its legs grew firmer, its horn longer. When the glow faded, Nidorino stood on the field, breathing heavily, still reeling from the damage.
"You did it!" I exclaimed.
But the joy was short-lived. Nidorino took a clumsy step, still disoriented by his new form.
"Deino, Dragon Tail, now!"
The blow was a direct hit. Nidorino didn't have time to react properly to his new body. The impact threw him backward, and this time, he didn't get up.
Silence.
"It's over," I said, walking toward him. "You won."
Andrew didn't respond immediately. He just looked at his Deino, who was panting but still standing, and then at me. There was respect in his gaze.
"It was a great fight. That evolution... was impressive."
I nodded.
"Andrew… I have something to confess to you." I said with a small, embarrassed smile.
He raised an eyebrow.
"I knew from the start that your Poké Ball was the one that captured Dratini. I saw it from the flash, the angle. I knew it instantly."
Andrew blinked. His lips parted, but he said nothing.
"I honestly thought about telling you from the start, but I didn't want you to feel bad about it. I wanted you to know that you earned it on merit, not by chance. And besides…" I looked at Nidorino, who was trying to stand up proudly, "seeing my partner evolve… was reward enough."
Andrew looked at me silently for several seconds. Then he nodded slowly.
"Thank you. Really."
The wind blew gently. We both knew something had changed between us.
"And about that favor I mentioned…" I said suddenly, with a mischievous smile. "I want to see your trainer's license."
Andrew tensed. His hand slid slowly toward his jacket. He hesitated.
"really?"
I nodded.
With a sigh, he took out his trainer's card and handed it to me. I looked at it.
Trainer License
Trainer: Andrew Wataru
Hometown: Blackthorn City
Sponsorship: Blackthorn Gym
Money: $400,000 Pokedollars
Badges: None
Pokémon
Deino♂
Gender: Male
Level: 21
Moves: Tackle, Dragon Breath, Bite, Dragon Pulse, Dragon Tail, Thunder Fang, Roar, Assurance, Headbutt,Dragon Rage
Dratini
Gender: Male
Level: 15
Movements: Wrap, Read, Twister, Thunder Wave,Dragon Rage
I looked up slowly, a smile forming on my lips.
"I knew it."
Andrew looked away, uncomfortable.
"What gave me away?"
"Red hair isn't that common, and you reacted a lot when you were talking about Lance," I replied, "without mentioning that connection with the dragon Pokémon…"
He put his card away without saying anything. But his face showed an expression that was neither resignation nor coldness. It was peace.
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Trainer License
Trainer: Maxwell Jones
Hometown: Pewter City
Sponsorship: None
Money: $54,600 Pokedollars
Badges: None
Bag
5 potions –
Candy Bar 3 Fury
8 Pokeballs⬇1
1 escape rope
1 red handkerchief (with 20 orange berries)
3 Poison Cure
-12 Spaces Available-
Pokémon
Nidorino↑
Gender: Male
Level: 16 ↑1
Moves: Leer, Peck, Focus Energy, Double Kick, Poison Sting, Fury Attack, Horn Attack↑
Ralts ✨
Gender: Female
Level: 12
Moves: Disarming Voice, Teleport, Growl, Double Team, Hypnosis, Draining Kiss
EXTRA
Pendulum necklace