"Landorus, Tornadus, Thundurus—?!"
At Draconis's words, shock spread across Arthur's youthful face.
Bring harvest to this land—could it be true?
No—His Majesty would never lie to him.
The thought flashed through Arthur's mind.
At that moment the three Pokémon—Landorus, Tornadus, and Thundurus—standing beside the throne turned their eyes to Arthur after hearing Draconis's declaration.
They folded their arms, rode their cloud closer, and began to circle Arthur and Drilbur as if sizing the boy up.
This close, Arthur could feel the overwhelming power radiating from them.
He held himself rigid, afraid to move, letting them inspect him.
After a long while they stopped and looked toward Draconis, nodding.
Seeing this, Draconis smiled. "It seems Landorus and the others are pleased with you, Arthur."
"Huh?" Arthur stood dumbly, not yet grasping what those words meant.
"I'll ask once more: Arthur, will you join Landorus and the others to bring harvest to the humans and Pokémon of this land and carry out this great task?" Draconis asked.
Arthur gazed at Landorus, Tornadus, and Thundurus beside him.
Only now did he realize how immense the mission was—and how much hope Draconis placed in him.
He had never imagined that a farmer's plain, unremarkable son could earn His Majesty's favour—
remembering all Draconis had done for them while they had done nothing in return.
Moved, he spoke with unshakable resolve: "I will not fail you, Your Majesty! Even if it costs my life!"
Draconis: "——" That won't be necessary.
Yet seeing Arthur's fierce eyes, Draconis recalled what leaving the safety of town meant in this era.
Moreover, humans and Pokémon were not yet fully integrated; wild Pokémon still saw people as trespassers to attack.
Though the Forces of Nature could protect him, Arthur had no idea of their true might.
"Have you truly decided?" Draconis asked.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Arthur nodded; at last it was their turn to serve.
"Then the task is yours, Arthur," Draconis said. "Landorus, Tornadus, Thundurus, please watch over my subject."
The three Pokémon inclined their heads.
This first cooperation with humans would benefit both sides; they would keep the boy safe.
Only then did Draconis relax.
"Before you leave, bid your parents farewell; I'll have supplies readied," he said.
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
Escorted by guards, Arthur left the castle to say goodbye.
Meanwhile Draconis, drawing on modern Trainer journeys, ordered camping gear packed.
Sadly, the Pokémon world had yet to invent the spatial backpack; they could not stuff in tables, chairs, and pots like Brock and Ash.
So Draconis trimmed every nonessential item.
If only there were spatial backpacks—
Thinking of them, Draconis summoned a panel detailing the technology.
[Spatial Backpack: Uses compression and folding; holds two oxen. Requirement: Information Age. Cost: 2 million Satisfaction.]
"Information Age—"
It lay impossibly far beyond his reach for now.
He closed the panel.
At dawn, after farewells, Arthur set out. Beneath hopeful yet tearful eyes the boy, pack on back, left Nimbasa City with Landorus, Tornadus, and Thundurus.
They bore a mission grand enough to transform all Unova.
If successful, next year's harvest across Unova would be unprecedented.
Were it not for royal duties Draconis would have loved to see every city himself.
Alas, that was impossible.
When the farewell ended Draconis returned to the castle with his Pokémon.
Alfred hurried from the Royal Workshop to report.
"Your Majesty, the steam engine you designed is operational—production has jumped tenfold!"
Expected; assembly lines are ruthlessly efficient.
Draconis nodded. "And the steelworks?"
"We've smelted iron from the Mine and rolled the rails you described," Alfred replied.
"Good. Begin pilot lines to Opelucid City, Undella Town, Black City, and Lacunosa Village. Recruit crews and lay track."
"Understood." Alfred drew forth a sphere. "Also, craftsmen have finished the new Poké Ball."
Draconis looked: a red-and-white orb, slightly crude yet unmistakably a Poké Ball.
Its data surfaced in his mind.
[Poké Ball (Medieval): Crafted from oran berry and jade; captures wild Pokémon. Era limits prevent miniaturization; a caught Pokémon cannot be caught again.]
Draconis took it and glanced at Dragonite beside him. "Dragonite, new home."
"Huh?" Dragonite blinked wide eyes.
Draconis tossed the ball; it snapped open on contact, bathing Dragonite in red light and drawing it inside.
The ball hit the floor, wobbled twice, then stilled.
Capture complete!
....
Power Stones PlZZZZ
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