Dragonair's gaze cut into Kaiser's face like a knife.
It swam into the shallow waters near the shore, its slender blue body tensing beneath the surface, its tail lashing heavily underwater and sending up a spray of water.
It let out a low-pitched cry toward Kaiser.
That sound wasn't an angry roar, but a form of accusation suppressed for thirty years, carrying a tremor, a sense of grievance, and an indescribable bitterness.
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Kaiser had been knocked over into the mud by the water ball, soaked to the bone with mud smeared all over his face.
He struggled to climb up, but his palm slipped in the mud and he fell back down, the back of his head hitting the ground, his hat and wig completely askew.
But Kaiser didn't care about any of that.
He heard that voice.
That familiar voice that had appeared in his dreams countless times.
Thirty years ago, that tiny Dratini had made the same cry in the water, only back then the voice was thinner, softer, and more immature.
Now, the voice had become deeper and more mature, but the underlying tone hadn't changed a bit.
Kaiser's eyes suddenly widened.
Ignoring the muddy water on his body, he scrambled up from the mud on all fours and knelt by the shore, hands propped in the wet mud, looking like a drowned rat just pulled from the water.
He looked at the blue Dragonair before him, a nearly frantic light erupting in his eyes.
"It's you!!"
Kaiser's voice cracked, sounding like a scream squeezed from his throat.
"So you're the Dratini from back then!! You evolved!! You've evolved into a Dragonair!!"
His hands scraped at the mud as he crawled forward another half-step, his knees sinking into the shallow water. His pants were completely soaked, but he couldn't feel it at all.
"It's me!! It's me!! I'm Kaiser!! Do you still remember me!!"
Kaiser reached out, his hand covered in age spots trembling in the air as if trying to grab something, yet not daring to actually touch Dragonair.
"Thirty years ago, I was the one who stayed by your side, I was the one who brought you food, I was the one who accompanied you through one lonely night after another!!"
"We took photos together!! You were by my side!! You were willing to be so close to me!!"
"We are friends!! We've been old friends for thirty years!!"
Kaiser's tears fell again, mixing with the muddy water on his face and flowing down, carving paths through his wrinkled skin.
His voice was hoarse and urgent, carrying a reckless madness as if he wanted to pour out all thirty years of waiting.
"You recognize me, don't you!! You recognized me!! That's why you swam over, right!!"
Dragonair looked at the old man before it, covered in mud and crying like a child.
Its eyes narrowed.
Then it spoke.
Dragonair's cries echoed over the water, one after another, the pitch getting higher and more hurried.
It was accusing him.
It said that thirty years ago, you were the one who leaked my whereabouts.
You took photos back with you, and you told others of my existence.
Consequently, more and more Trainers flooded into the Wild Area.
They brought Poké Balls, they brought battle Pokemon, they camped by the lake, they fought in the water, and they searched everywhere in the mountains and forests.
They were looking for a Dratini.
A legendary, rare Dratini that could evolve into a Dragonite.
Dragonair's voice was full of anger and grievance.
It said, from then on, I never dared to leave this lake again.
The world outside became a forbidden zone for me.
I have been trapped in this lake for thirty years.
Thirty years!!
I lost my freedom!!
I lost the right to explore the world!!
All because you didn't keep your word!!
Dragonair's cry had turned into a hoarse roar by the end. Its slender neck arched slightly, and the crystal bead on its neck flashed in the sunlight before dimming again.
Kneeling in the water and listening to Dragonair's accusations, Kaiser froze.
His mouth hung open, the feverish expression on his face slowly fading, replaced by a pale grayness.
Self-reproach, guilt, and remorse.
These emotions surged up like a tide, clutching at his heart.
"It... it was me..."
Kaiser's voice dropped, becoming almost inaudible.
"I only told one person... just one..."
"He was my good friend... I trusted him..."
"He promised me... he promised he would keep it a secret..."
Kaiser's hands clenched into fists in the mud, his nails digging in until his knuckles turned white.
"I chose my friends poorly... I chose my friends poorly!!"
His voice rose again, tearful and filled with a regret that had nowhere to be vented.
"But I've also guarded you for all these years!"
Kaiser looked up at Dragonair, his eyes full of pleading.
"I come every month. Rain or shine, I bring you food! I bring you music players, I bring you berries!"
"I've spent my whole life on you; I've never left the Wild Area!!"
"I know I was wrong. I've regretted it for thirty years. I've used thirty years to atone for my sin!!"
"Give me one chance... just one..."
Dragonair looked at him, its gaze as cold as if it were looking at a stone.
It flicked its tail and turned around.
Then it swam toward Roy.
Kaiser's hand froze in mid-air.
He watched Dragonair swim toward the black-haired young man, watched its tail carve an elegant arc on the water's surface, and watched it lower its head to gently nuzzle the back of Roy's hand.
That movement was incredibly gentle.
It formed a sharp contrast with the coldness shown to him.
Kaiser's hand fell weakly into the muddy water with a splash.
His mouth opened, and an incoherent sound escaped his throat as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Misty stood behind Roy, watching Dragonair take the initiative to be close to him, then looked at the way Dratini was nuzzling against Roy's palm, and couldn't help but click her tongue.
"Wow... both mother and daughter have taken a liking to Roy?"
She nudged Sister Delia's waist with her elbow and leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Sister Delia, look at Kaiser's expression. My god, I feel like he's going to ascend to heaven on the spot in the next second."
Sister Delia didn't speak, just looked at Roy's back, her lips pursing slightly.
She wasn't as boisterous as Misty, but she was also thinking that Roy indeed possessed an indescribable charm.
Pokemon were drawn to him, and he was truly good to Pokemon.
This kind of goodness wasn't a calculated display of gentleness, but something deep in his bones that Pokemon could feel.
Sister Delia looked down at the feed bag she was carrying and suddenly thought of something.
She quickly crouched down, pulled out two handfuls of specially made feed from the bag, and handed them to Roy.
"Roy, here, let them try this."
Sister Delia's voice was soft and gentle, carrying a thoughtful tone.
"This is a formula I improved; I added berry powder and a little bit of honey."
Roy took the feed, turned to look at Sister Delia, and his lips curved upward.
"You're always so thoughtful."
Roy spread the feed in his hand and offered it to Dragonair and Dratini.
Dragonair lowered its head and sniffed Sister Delia's special feed.
Then its eyes lit up.
It opened its mouth and, with a sweep of its tongue, took a small portion of the feed into its mouth.
It chewed twice.
Its eyes lit up even more.
Delicious.
Even more delicious than the one before.
This feed had a faint sweetness of honey mixed with the fresh fragrance of berries; the texture was soft and chewy, melting in the mouth.
Dragonair couldn't help but lower its head for another bite, its tail swaying gently on the water, looking very much like it was enjoying itself.
Seeing its mother eating happily, Dratini also leaned in.
Earlier, it hadn't thought about eating because it was worried about its mother, but now that its mother had relaxed, it could finally taste it with peace of mind.
Dratini opened its small mouth, took a tiny bite of the feed, and chewed.
Then the entire Pokemon froze.
Its eyes went round, its mouth hung slightly open, and it just held that bite of feed in its mouth, forgetting to chew.
What kind of heavenly flavor is this?
How can it be so delicious?
Only this one thought remained in Dratini's little head.
Then it suddenly lowered its head and began to eat ravenously, its little mouth working quickly, its tail slapping against the water surface and splashing up small sprays.
It finally understood.
No wonder its mom had been attracted earlier.
Who could resist this flavor?
Dratini ate until its eyes were squinting, its little head rubbing against Roy's palm as it ate, so happy it felt like it could take flight on the spot.
Watching her daughter's gluttonous appearance, a flash of tenderness appeared in Dragonair's eyes.
It turned its head and let out a few low cries.
Hearing its mother's voice, Dratini stopped eating and lifted its small head, a few crumbs of feed still clinging to the corner of its mouth.
Dragonair gently nudged Dratini's body with its nose, pushing it toward Roy.
Then it looked up at Roy and let out a low cry.
There was no longer the anger it had shown Kaiser, nor was there any coldness; there was only a serious, pleading tone.
Possessing Aura Power, Roy easily understood Dragonair's meaning.
"Can you take my daughter with you?"
A flash of complexity crossed Dragonair's eyes.
It cried out softly a few more times.
"I don't want my daughter to be trapped here."
"There are many dangers outside, but she cannot hide in the water forever."
"You have an aura that makes me feel very at ease; I can feel that you won't hurt her."
"Please take her away."
"Let her see the world outside."
Roy listened quietly to Dragonair's words and didn't answer immediately.
He looked into Dragonair's eyes; there was a thin layer of watery light in those blue eyes, but even more so, there was a sense of determination.
A mother's decision.
It knew the world outside was much more dangerous than this lake it had stayed in for thirty years.
But it would rather let its daughter go out and explore with a trustworthy human than have her live her life in fear.
Roy nodded slightly.
"Alright."
He crouched down, palm spread out, allowing Dratini to swim into his hand.
Dratini looked back at its mother.
Dragonair gave a soft cry and nodded.
Dratini then turned its head and actively curled its body into Roy's palm, its little head rubbing between his fingers.
Roy pulled an poke ball from his waist.
He gently pressed the poke ball against Dratini's forehead.
Dratini didn't struggle or dodge; instead, it proactively leaned its forehead forward.
The poke ball opened, and a flash of red light swept past.
Dratini's body turned into a beam of light and shrunk into the ball. The ball shook gently in Roy's hand once, twice, three times, and then let out a 'ding'. Capture successful.
Kneeling in the muddy water and watching this scene, the color instantly drained from Kaiser's face.
His eyes were wide, his lips were trembling, and his hands were digging hard into the mud, his fingernails filled with grime.
"Caught... he caught it..."
"I waited for over a year just to take one photo together... he... he's been here for less than an hour..."
"Dratini actively let him catch it..."
"Dragonair actively entrusted its daughter to him..."
Kaiser's brain felt like it had been hit with a hammer; it was buzzing, and he couldn't think clearly about anything.
He only knew one thing. He had waited for thirty years, hoped for thirty years, and dreamed of seeing Dratini be close to him. In the end, that scene happened with someone else. And it took less than an hour.
Misty bounced out from behind Roy, clapping her hands in excitement.
"Caught! Caught! Dratini is caught!"
"Roy, you're amazing!"
"Dratini is a super rare Dragon-type Pokemon; hardly anyone in the whole Kanto Region has one!"
Misty was jumping up and down with joy, her eyes shining like two stars.
Even though she hadn't caught Dratini herself, Roy had, and since he was her man, it was basically hers too.
Besides, Roy doted on her so much; wouldn't she be able to pet Dratini whenever she wanted in the future?
The more Misty thought about it, the happier she became, her smile nearly reaching her ears.
Sister Delia also stood up, smiling as she looked at the poke ball in Roy's hand.
Roy glanced at them, then tapped the poke ball to release Dratini again.
Dratini was a bit dazed from just being caught, but as soon as it saw Roy's face, it immediately nuzzled up to him again, its little head burrowing into his palm and its tail wagging like a small electric fan.
Dragonair swam over, lowered its head, and gently touched Dratini's body with its nose.
It was saying goodbye.
Its cries became very light and soft, one after another, as if it were giving instructions.
It said, the world outside is very big; follow this human, study hard, train hard, and eat well—your master's food is very delicious, eat more of it!
There are many dangers in the world outside, but there are also many beautiful things; you will definitely like it.
Mom is here; you can come back to visit whenever you want.
A mother's instructions are always endless; a mother always feels like she has an infinite amount to say to her child.
Roy stood to the side, waiting quietly for the mother and daughter to say their goodbyes.
He noticed the trace of reluctance deep in Dragonair's eyes.
That expression wasn't something a simple farewell could cover. That reluctance was like an underwater current—calm on the surface, but full of surging emotions underneath.
Roy thought for a moment, took a step forward, and stood in the shallow water, his boots sinking slightly into the soft mud.
"Dragonair."
Dragonair looked up at Roy.
"You can't bear to part with your daughter, right?"
Dragonair didn't deny it; it just lowered its head and looked at Dratini.
"Then you can come with us too!"