When Ash led everyone to a hidden pool of water, they were all stunned by the sight before them. There were actually many Dratini here! And Ash's Dragonite was chatting with a Dragonair.
"These... Dratini..."
Brock stared at the Dratini, at a complete loss for words. These were Dratini, for crying out loud! The Dragonair, who had been talking with Ash's Dragonite, saw Ash and happily slithered over, wrapping around him and nuzzling his cheek.
"How have you been lately, Dragonair?"
"Draaa!"
Seeing how close Dragonair was to Ash, and remembering the sheer ridiculousness of Ash's Pokémon lineup, Misty asked uncertainly, "Ash... this Dragonair and the Dratini aren't your Pokémon too, are they...?"
To their surprise, Ash shook his head.
"Nope, they aren't my Pokémon. They just live here in the Safari Zone."
Looking at the Dragonair and the Dratini, Suzie couldn't help but ask, "Are all these Dratini her children?"
"That's right. That's why I've always helped out with Dragonair's nutrition. Uncle Kaiser doesn't know the first thing about making nutritional dietary mixes."
Being called out by Ash, Kaiser could only blush and scratch his head. "Can't help it. I really just couldn't figure out all those ratio mixes you talked about..."
"Rooar!" Just then, Ash's Dragonite called out a few times to the Dragonair. Dragonair thought for a moment, then nodded and called out to Ash.
"Dra!"
"Meowth, what is she saying?"
Meowth looked at the Dragonite with a bit of surprise before translating for Ash. "The Dragonite suggested that Dragonair should go with you, Boss. After all, you can provide a much better environment for her and her kids. And Dragonair agreed. Right now, she's asking for your opinion."
"Hm? Come with me? I don't have a problem with it, but Uncle Kaiser..."
"Since it's Dragonair's own wish, letting them go with you is for the best," Kaiser said without any objection to Ash catching them. In fact, Ash was the most suitable trainer for Dragonair. If Ash had wanted to, with his capabilities, he could have caught them ages ago. But for the sake of an old man like him, Ash had just been helping take care of them all this time. Letting them follow Ash now was a good thing.
Since Kaiser put it that way, what else could Ash say? Refusing now would just be being overly modest. However, looking at Misty, Suzie, Lara, and Brock, Ash thought for a moment and said to Dragonair, "Dragonair, Misty, Suzie, Lara, and Brock are all great people. How about letting them help raise some of your children too?"
Hearing Ash's suggestion, Dragonair looked at Misty and the others, then called back to Ash. "Dra!"
"Boss, she says it depends on what her kids want."
Ash smiled.
"Of course. In that case, Dratini, come over here for a sec!"
At Ash's call, the Dratini who were playing in the water and eating all gathered around.
"I have four excellent trainers and breeders here. Do you want to see if there's anyone you'd like to follow?"
"Dra?"
"Dra!"
The Dratini exchanged a few soft cries, then looked back at Dragonair. Seeing her nod, they began to circle around Misty, Suzie, Lara, and Brock, observing them.
While they were observing, Ash asked his Dragonite, "Dragonite, what do you think?"
"Rooar!"
"He says these juniors are pretty good seedlings. If you help raise them, Boss, they should achieve some great things. Just like your Totem Pokémon."
"I see. But becoming a Totem-level existence isn't a gentle process. It requires countless grueling trials. You understand that, right, Dragonite?"
"Rooar!"
The Dragonite nodded. As a being that had survived since the ultra-ancient times, he fully agreed with Ash. To him, the grueling trials Ash spoke of were what true training was all about. Otherwise, for Dragon-types like them, there would be no real growth.
While Ash and Dragonite were chatting, the Dratini made their choices. Perhaps because Misty, Suzie, and Lara all carried traces of Ash's scent on them, Dratini quickly chose the three girls.
As for Brock...
Seeing that not a single Dratini had chosen Brock, Ash could only silently pat him on the shoulder. "Look on the bright side. Maybe girls are just more popular..."
"Waaaah... I'm fine! I'm not gonna cry! You don't need to comfort me, Ash!"
Looking at Brock's face, which clearly screamed 'I really want to cry but I'm holding it in', Ash sympathetically turned his head away. Pikachu, sitting on Ash's shoulder, also gave Brock a pitying pat.
"Psy?"
Psyduck stared at Brock's tragic state, tilted its head in confusion, and then went back to sleep.
And so, Lara, Misty, and Suzie each caught a Dratini. As for Brock... the less said, the better.
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