Suddenly, the weather in the sky began to change.
The clouds that had been covering the night sky miraculously dispersed, revealing a clearer and cleaner starry sky.
Naoki's collar rustled as it was blown by the airflow from Dragonair.
He looked up at the sky and suddenly remembered the human world's records about Dragonair, this kind of Pokemon.
It's said that Dragonair's body stores tremendous energy, which they can concentrate on the crystal-like beads on their necks and tails to manipulate the weather.
Because of this, since ancient times, Dragonair has been worshipped by those engaged in agriculture as a controller of weather.
People believed it could manipulate the weather, so offerings were always plentiful in the lakes where Dragonair resided.
Now it seems, is this record true?
Dragonite beside them felt extremely envious witnessing this scene.
But it couldn't deny that this Dragonair's talent was higher than its own, even higher than most Dragonite on the island.
These days, Dragonite had come to understand that human trainers preferred more powerful Pokemon.
Thinking about how Naoki had always been fond of this Dragonair, possibly liking it more, Dragonite felt so sad that it stayed silent.
Naoki keenly noticed Dragonite's unusual behavior.
He knew his plump companion was unhappy again.
So he laughed heartily, hugged Dragonite and Koraidon's arms on his left and right, and said to Dragonair:
"We're all happy for you; your performance today was terrific, right, Dragonite?"
"Ow?" Dragonite realized Naoki was comforting it; the little dark cloud above its head immediately floated away, replaced by a bright sun, nodding in agreement: "Ow!"
Dragonair didn't think much of it, and after evolving, it was naturally thrilled. After expressing gratitude to Naoki, it looked around and then flew off to play with the other evolved Dragonairs.
Phiones' figures gradually drifted away.
The evolution ceremony was also coming to an end.
Naoki sat with Koraidon and Dragonite on a rock by the cliff, listening to the sound of waves crashing on the shore while watching the video recorded on the camera.
"Tsk, this is incredibly valuable research material!" Naoki marveled.
Whether it's the migrating Manaphys, or the Dragonairs and Dratinis evolving under moonlight, they are unparalleled treasures for those Pokemon researchers.
Naoki believes, if he were to sell this ecological footage, he could fetch a hefty price.
But well... he doesn't lack money, so it's better to keep it as a family heirloom.
Naoki put away the camera, and then, seeing that Dragonite wasn't paying attention, secretly led Dragonite and Koraidon to sneak away.
Regarding his actions, Dragonite was perplexed: "Ow?"
Wouldn't he say goodbye to them?
Naoki stopped in his tracks: "If you want to invite some Dragonites back to the ranch as guests, it's possible."
Of course, that's not possible!
Dragonite understood; this time, without Naoki needing to say, it immediately took the lead in departing, pulling Koraidon and Naoki away from Dragonite Island.
Seeing its manner, Naoki chuckled: "Don't worry, you're my favorite Dragonite."
"Grrr?"
Naoki patted Koraidon's neck and said to it, "You're also my favorite Koraidon."
Now both Pokemon were satisfied.
Naoki quietly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
He made up his mind that he couldn't go crazy collecting Pokemon like in games; otherwise, the effort to balance relationships among each Pokemon would tire him out.
Dragonite really thought it would never see those annoying Dragonites on Dragon Island again.
However, the next morning, at dawn, it saw some familiar figures in the ranch.
Looking at those two wild Dragonites and five Dragonairs, Dragonite rubbed its eyes in disbelief.
The wild Dragonites and Dragonairs blinked and greeted it: "Ow~"
Dragonite: "!!!"
Dragonite was extremely shocked.
But then, it thought of what Naoki had said before and maliciously folded its arms.
"Ow!" (You can come to the ranch, but you must help before you can get Poffins!)
Upon hearing the word "Poffins," the two wild Dragonites immediately recalled that delicious and rich food.
They nodded repeatedly: "Ow ow!"
Seeing this, Dragonite breathed a sigh of relief, thinking these Dragonites must be here for food.
That made things easier.
"Ow, ow ow!" (Naoki worked hard to prepare food, and humans are different from us; they need money to buy food. Yesterday, you ate all our Poffins, and now there's none left. If you want to eat, you need to help Naoki work!)
Upon hearing this, the two wild Dragonites mentally equated Poffins with work.
A few curious Dragonairs nearby also looked over.
Unlike the two wild Dragonites, they were not only interested in Poffins but also liked Naoki as a human.
The two wild Dragonites asked in confusion: "Ow?"
What is work?
Dragonite: "..."
It patiently explained to the Pokemon in front of it the things it usually does.
"Ow." (Naoki manages the ranch very hard, and Pokemon in the ranch all work with him. You can do the same tasks as me; it's simple, just deliver fresh milk from the ranch to the customers who ordered it. But remember, you can't drink it secretly on the way!)
Dragonite looked at them and continued with a serious expression: "Ow." (If you drink it secretly, Naoki won't make Poffins for you anymore.)
The two wild Dragonites wanted to taste Poffins again, so they shook their heads repeatedly, indicating they wouldn't steal drinks.
Dragonite was satisfied; it thought for a moment and added: "Ow!" (Starting today, you must listen to me!)
For these greedy Dragonites, they naturally had no objections.
Seeing this, Dragonite felt an inexplicable thrill.
It never thought that there would be Dragonites that listened to this silly Dragonite like itself.
"Uh?" At this moment, a few Dragonairs next to them asked.
What about them?
Dragonite kind of Pokemon are communal creatures; they typically care greatly for the Dratinis and Dragonairs yet to mature within their group.
Although these Dragonairs would compete with it for Naoki's attention, Dragonite instinctively chose to take care of them.
"Ow." (Just try not to cause trouble, and when you become Dragonite, you can come help Naoki.)
Dragonite waved its claws, sending the five Dragonairs off to the lake.
It itself stayed to teach the two wild Dragonites how to deliver milk.
So, early in the morning, people in Porto Marinada Town saw three rare Dragonites flying overhead, arriving at the town.
The townsfolk were stunned, incredibly shocked.
"Is that... Dragonite?"
"Am I seeing things? This kind of rare Pokemon appeared in Porto Marinada Town?!"
But some townspeople who had seen Dragonite deliver milk noticed something.
They keenly noticed that the lead Dragonite was carrying a small red satchel.
"Huh? Did Naoki Ranch hire new employees again?"
"Oh, it's that Dragonite?"
"You know it?"
"Of course, it's quite famous in the town! Every morning, we could see it flying from Naoki Ranch, delivering fresh milk to the customers who ordered it. It has a great personality, and people in the town like it very much. It's said Mrs. Dante often makes homemade cookies to give to it."
"Using Dragonite to deliver milk? That's too extravagant!"
The man who said this was a trainer from another region, and hearing these words, he showed a shocked expression.
"You'll get used to it." The townsfolk of Porto Marinada Town were accustomed to it: "Dragonite's flying speed is very fast, and it has a gentle nature; why can't it be entrusted to deliver milk?"
"This, this, this..." The man was speechless, unable to utter a word.
As he knew, Dragonite in the Johto Region's Dragon Taming Clan was considered a treasure!
If the clan members learned that someone in this world was using their family treasure as a delivery worker, wouldn't their eyes widen, legs kick, and they'd scold this as wasteful?