Gardevoir and Gallade heard the sound of fighting and rushed out quickly.
Near a barren mountain and an empty lake, two Pokémon were fiercely battling. A few curious Water Pokémon in the lake poked their heads out to watch the commotion.
Upon closer inspection, Gardevoir and Gallade recognized one of the combatants—it was their old friend Dragonite, who was sparring with a bipedal feline Pokémon. The nearby Water Pokémon continued observing the spectacle.
The arrival of Gardevoir and their companions drew mixed reactions. Pikachu, in particular, froze in shock upon seeing the cat-like opponent. Its intense presence made Pikachu tremble.
"That cat is so strong!" Pikachu thought, overwhelmed by its aura. It wasn't just physical strength; Pikachu could feel a deep, primal suppression—something tied to the cat's lineage and its life essence.
"Is this a Legendary Pokémon? Or a Mythical Pokémon?" Pikachu wondered, uncertain but captivated.
The feline Pokémon was none other than Zeraora, a proud Electric-type Pokémon that stood upright like a warrior. Sensing the arrival of Gardevoir and Gallade, Zeraora paused mid-fight and turned toward them.
Dragonite, however, was thrilled to see familiar faces and chirped excitedly.
"Whooo~!!"
Zeraora, less enthusiastic, tilted its head briefly at Gardevoir, Gallade, and the others before glancing at Dragonite. It muttered something indecipherable, then vanished in a streak of light without a second glance at the newcomers.
Gardevoir sighed wistfully as she watched Zeraora disappear. "What a pity! If only we could have brought him back to Evan," she thought. However, she quickly refocused. The goal now was to connect with Dragonite.
With determination, Gallade and Gardevoir approached Dragonite.
"Dragonite!" Gallade called out cheerfully. "Long time no see!"
Dragonite beamed with joy and greeted Gallade warmly.
"Whooo~!"
Gallade introduced the rest of his group to Dragonite, who listened attentively. Dragonite looked surprised.
"You found a Trainer?" it asked, astonished.
Dragonite had known Gallade for a long time and had even traveled with him for a while. Now, seeing Gallade's newfound strength and hearing about the bond with Evan, Dragonite was both impressed and pleased.
Gallade smiled proudly.
"I found a fantastic Trainer," he confirmed. "And I brought you a gift!"
Gallade pulled out a box containing a top-tier Dragon energy cube and offered it to Dragonite. The sight of the energy cube made Dragonite's eyes widen in surprise. Without hesitation, it accepted the gift, sniffed it eagerly, and, with a delighted chirp, devoured the entire box's contents in one bite.
After finishing, Dragonite patted its belly, its face glowing with satisfaction.
"This is amazing!" it exclaimed happily.
"Any more?"
"Give me more," Dragonite demanded eagerly, licking its lips.
Gallade chuckled and shook his head. "Sorry, that's all I brought." Then, with a sly smile, he added, "But if you come with me to my master, you can have this kind of food every day. Plus," Gallade continued, his tone growing serious, "I'm preparing for the national competition, and I need strong Pokémon on my team. What do you say? Will you join us?"
The Pokémon's conversation was blunt yet clear. Gallade didn't mince words, stating his purpose outright.
Dragonite fell silent, contemplating Gallade's words. Go to Gallade's Trainer? This was a decision that could shape its future. As the lingering taste of the energy cube danced on its tongue, Dragonite let out a soft chirp, considering its options.
"Will I really get to eat like this every day? What if I eat too much—will your master kick me out? Does your master mind a Pokémon with a big appetite? Do I need to do anything in return?"
Gallade listened patiently to Dragonite's flurry of questions and reassured it with a calm smile. "My master runs a breeding house. There's plenty of food to go around, so you'll never have to worry about running out. And no, no one will mind how much you eat!"
Gardevoir and the other Pokémon chimed in with their own reassurances, describing the abundant meals and the supportive environment.
Hearing this, Dragonite nodded decisively. "I'm just an old, lonely dragon," it thought. "Why not find a place where I can relax, enjoy good food, and have a purpose?"
It was settled. Dragonite glanced at Gallade, its mind made up. Competing in a national tournament? That could be fun. "None of those other Pokémon could stand a chance against me anyway," it mused, recalling past Trainers and challengers who had tried to capture it.
Gallade, sensing Dragonite's agreement, took out a Poké Ball. Dragonite, understanding what came next, extended a hand and tapped the ball. In a flash of light, it was captured without any resistance.
The capture complete, Gallade and Gardevoir exchanged triumphant smiles. "One down, three to go," Gallade said with determination.
As they discussed their next steps, Gallade thought about Zeraora. "We could've recruited him, but he's gone for now. Let's focus on building trust between Dragonite and Evan," he said.
Releasing Dragonite from the Poké Ball, Gallade began sharing the details of their next mission. "Evan asked us to bring back some strong Electric-type Pokémon," Gallade explained.
Dragonite listened and then pointed toward the lake. "What about them?" it suggested, motioning to a group of Horsea watching from the water's edge.
Gallade followed Dragonite's gaze and smiled. "Good idea," he said.
Dragonite approached the Horsea, chirping cheerfully. "I'm retiring! Want to join me? There'll be plenty of delicious food where I'm going!"
The Horsea, loyal to their "big brother," immediately agreed. They trusted Dragonite completely, and the promise of abundant food sealed the deal.
Dragonite didn't hesitate. With a nod, it took out the Poké Ball Gallade handed over and gently tapped each Horsea, capturing them all.
The team's numbers were growing steadily, and Gallade felt a surge of satisfaction. "This is going well," he thought. "Evan will be pleased."