So... is it a Ditto or a Zoroark?
Judging from its sharp, alert movements, Naoki thought there was an 80% chance it was a Zoroark.
Zoroark, the fuzzy Demon Fox Pokemon, the Phantom Ruler.
Naoki's heart stirred.
Koraidon didn't stop; the three of them quickly left the area, and that Slaking also disappeared from their sight.
Naoki looked back begrudgingly at the scene behind him.
For a moment, he even considered abandoning the search for that mysterious Pokemon, going down to verify whether it was a Slaking or a Zoroark.
Let it go, you can't pick up sesame seeds and lose the watermelon.
There will be bread, and there will be milk.
Casseroya Lake is right here; he can come back to explore any time.
Naoki cleared his thoughts; at this point, Koraidon crossed the vast Casseroya Lake to the other side.
Behind him, Yousuke excitedly looked at the nearby cliff and exclaimed, "It's over there!"
Naoki followed the direction of his gaze and saw a familiar Pokemon at the top of a steep cliff.
The Pokemon had a rounded body, with a delicate dragon horn and whiskers on its head, and small dragon wings on its back.
It was sitting dazed on the grass at the cliff top, looking melancholically at the moon in the sky, occasionally letting out a troubled sigh.
It really was a Dragonite!
Naoki's heart surged with excitement.
Dragonite, a pseudo-legendary Pokemon from the Kanto Region, powerful and extremely rare, the signature Pokemon of the renowned Dragon Elite, Lance.
It did not disappoint him!
"That Pokemon is?!"
Upon seeing the Dragonite clearly, Yousuke couldn't help but show a shocked expression.
Naoki slowly uttered its name, "Dragonite."
Koraidon hovered in mid-air and didn't immediately land.
The Dragonite either didn't notice them or noticed them but didn't care.
After observing from above for a moment, Naoki had Koraidon land behind the Dragonite.
Yousuke immediately took out a pen and sketchbook and captured the scene of the "Dragonite Gazing at the Moon."
Hearing sounds from behind, Dragonite turned around curiously. Upon seeing the suddenly appearing people and Pokemon, it was startled, revealing a surprised expression.
"Awoo?!" When…did you get here?!
So cute! Naoki's gaze was fixed on this Dragonite.
The Dragonite in reality was very plump, with a chubby body, and its big belly looked extremely soft; he couldn't help but wonder what it felt like to touch it.
Those chubby thick dragon claws also looked very adorable.
No wonder it's so chubby!
Naoki really wanted to take this Dragonite back to his ranch to raise it.
Thus, he tried to show his good intentions as much as possible.
"Good evening, Dragonite!"
Dragonite blinked its big round eyes without showing hostility, nor did it make any attack moves. It just glanced around, let out a small sigh, then stood up, soared into the sky, and left, flying towards the ocean.
Naoki and Yousuke were left looking at each other.
After a while, Naoki said, "Did we... disturb it?"
Yousuke, looking at Dragonite's back, murmured, "It seemed to be quite troubled."
Does Dragonite, a Pokemon at the top of the ecological system, also have unsolvable troubles?
Yousuke suddenly seemed to recall something: "Shouldn't you have immediately sent out Koraidon to battle and capture it in a Poke Ball?"
"...Wouldn't that be a bit too much?" Naoki politely retorted, "Besides, I'm not a Trainer and don't plan to be one. Even if I captured it, I wouldn't use it to battle. I just want to live alongside it. You understand that feeling, right?"
Yousuke gave an understanding nod, "A collecting hobby? I've seen people like that before, who only capture specific Pokemon for their collection."
This made Naoki think of that crazy collector in Lugia's explosive birth.
He couldn't help but ask, "Not like I imagine, making specimens for collection, right?"
"How is that possible?" Yousuke widened his eyes, "Those guys just have peculiar tastes, not maniacs. I've seen people who only capture fluffy, cute, and small Pokemon, and reportedly that guy sleeps surrounded by them every day."
"Also, there are Trainers who only like muscular Pokemon, like Machamp, Incineroar, Rillaboom, Grimmsnarl, Obstagoon — I think they surely lacked a sense of security when they were young."
Naoki: "..."
He wore an awkward yet polite smile.
What a coincidence, he was one of them too.
Yousuke asked again, "But seriously, aren't you going to chase it?"
Naoki considered briefly and shook his head, "Better not; forcibly approaching might annoy it. If I'm not mistaken, it will come back here. It'll be better to get to know it slowly then."
Moreover, he couldn't stay out all night; otherwise, Cyclizar and the others would worry.
Yousuke agreed, "That's true."
The two returned to their campsite on the east side of Casseroya Lake, where the Nacli were cuddled up asleep by the warm campfire after filling their bellies.
Yousuke lowered his voice and whispered, "Are you heading back?"
Naoki also lowered his voice, "Yeah, come back tomorrow."