Not Being a Trainer This Time

Dragonite answered, ”Rawr.” (Because everyone stayed behind on Dragonite Island.)

This was a Dragonite that had only joined today.

Spending the night at the World Tree for the first time felt a bit strange for it, since it had grown up on Dragonite Island.

It kind of missed everyone back on Dragonite Island.

The Treecko had also left their hometown to come here, but unlike Dragonite, they were full of anticipation for life here, looking forward to the founding of the Pokemon Guild, and running a café in it.

Because of that, Treecko didn’t really know how to comfort Dragonite.

The leaping campfire reflected on the Dragonites’ faces, and a sad mood lingered in the air; Milotic and Tatsugiri were also feeling sorry for them.

Arboliva’s gentle gaze swept over the faces of the gathered Pokemon.

It had lived with Naoki since it was little. Though it rarely took the initiative to express itself, it had always been silently watching over Naoki.

If it were Naoki, at a time like this he would definitely choose to stay together with everyone, right?

Yeah! That’s right!

Arboliva’s expression cleared; since they were sad about being separated, wouldn’t it be fine if everyone just lived together?

Thinking of this, Arboliva looked at the Dragonite and said to them, ”Li, li!” (If you’re missing your friends, then just invite them all to come live here on the World Tree!)

”Rawr?!” The Dragonite lifted their heads and looked over.

Arboliva gently explained, ”Li.” (You’ve seen it yourselves. There’s a lot of space around the World Tree, enough to hold many Pokemon. If they come here too, then you’ll never have to be apart again, just like everyone on the ranch.)

At those words, the eyes of the working Dragonite lit up all at once.

What a great idea!

This way everyone could always be together! And the World Tree was such a nice place—they were sure to fall in love with it too!

The Dragonite were overjoyed.

It was decided! Tomorrow morning they would go invite everyone over!

Having made up their minds, the Dragonites’ moods brightened again.

They spent a peaceful night on the World Tree.

Early the next morning, once it was fully light, a large group of Dragonite went to find Naoki, told him their plan, and asked if it would be okay to invite all the Dragonite on the island to come live on the World Tree.

”Rawr!”

The Dragonite looked at him expectantly, their expressions pleading.

Naoki had never imagined it would be about this, and was a bit dumbfounded for a while before he could react.

He asked in disbelief, ”You’re saying you want to invite all the Dragonite on the island to come live on the World Tree?”

”Rawr!” The Dragonite nodded again and again.

”Will they come?” Naoki was a little worried.

But the Dragonite themselves weren’t worried at all.

They patted their chests, indicating that they definitely would!

Everyone on Dragon Island had lived together since they were little, catching fish in the sea every day, picking Berries in the jungle, watching the stars and the sunrise together.

This separation had been hard not only on them; everyone on Dragonite Island must also be having a rough time getting used to it.

”Then I’ll go with you!”

Naoki closed up the little ranch shop, planning to shut it for a day just to take care of the Dragonite’s matter.

He mounted Koraidon, took Dragonite with him, and followed behind the working Dragonite as they crossed the ocean.

After a year, Naoki once again returned to this lonely little Dragonite Island standing in the middle of the sea.

He followed behind the working Dragonite, with Koraidon and his Dragonite by his side.

Hearing what the Dragonite had just said, his Dragonite also felt a faint stir in its heart.

There was a time when it, too, had lived on this Dragonite Island, just like everyone else.

Back then it had been a dummy, but no one ever laughed at it or bullied it; instead, it was always the one who thought of itself as a dumb Dragonite and sulked.

Now that it had stepped out and looked back, Dragonite actually felt a trace of nostalgia for that time.

Looking at the group up ahead who wanted to compete with it for its Trainer, Dragonite decided that from now on it would allow Naoki to teach them new Moves too!

The working Dragonite started negotiating with the other Dragonite on the island.

Naoki watched the scene with interest, then turned to the Dragonite beside him and asked, ”Did you play with them when you were little too?”

Dragonite nodded. ”Rawr rawr.”

Back then it had still been a Dratini. They had all been small and weak, staying in the lake every day, waiting to grow up.

At that time, some Dragonite on the island would bring Berries and fish from outside to give to them.

Naoki nodded slightly. Looking at his own Dragonite, he suddenly felt a bit emotional. ”Compared to when I first met you, you’ve really grown a lot more mature.”

Being praised by Naoki, Dragonite bashfully scratched its head. ”Rawr~”

Naoki suddenly remembered something. His gaze swept over the group of Dragonite not far away and he asked, ”But speaking of which, the Dragonite you used to like is in there too, right?”

At that, Dragonite’s eyes widened at once.

Seeing its expression, Naoki raised an eyebrow. ”You don’t like her anymore?”

Dragonite didn’t know how to answer either.

Naoki encouraged it, ”You’re a really amazing Dragonite now. You have to believe in yourself!”

Dragonite let out a helpless sigh. ”Rawr...”

By this time, the conversation between the working Dragonite and the island Dragonite had already come to an end.

All the Dragonite turned their heads to look at Naoki.

One of the working Dragonite happily walked up, its tone full of excitement. ”Rawr!”