After returning the Copy Card to the system space, Ash fell asleep with excitement. Not only had he resolved a lingering issue in his heart today, but he'd also obtained a powerful tool like the Copy Card. All in all, it felt like luck was on his side.
The next morning, Ash was awakened by the sound of his alarm. As he opened his eyes, the dazzling sunlight poured in through the window, making him squint.
Pikachu was still fast asleep. Not wanting to disturb his partner, Ash quietly got up, grabbed his clothes, and headed to the bathroom to wash up.
As he stared at his messy hair in the mirror, he sighed. There was no helping it—while medium-length hair might look stylish, it always got messed up during sleep.
Still, he couldn't bring himself to cut it. Even with memories from his past life, Ash was still just a nearly 16-year-old boy in this world—and naturally a bit concerned about his appearance.
"Pikapi~" Pikachu yawned as he tugged on his ears and shuffled into the bathroom. He picked up the small toothbrush lying beside the sink and started brushing his tiny teeth up and down with practiced ease.
Having lived with Ash for so long, Pikachu had picked up quite a few habits—including brushing his teeth regularly. His small teeth sparkled, white and clean.
Once they were both ready, Ash, with Pikachu perched on his shoulder, stepped outside. It was still early, and the corridors were empty. Without wasting time, Ash headed straight to Dragonite's ward.
According to Nurse Joy's diagnosis, Dragonite was due to give birth today or tomorrow—three Dratini eggs in total. The thought alone made Ash's heart race with anticipation.
If Dragonite chose to entrust her children to others, Ash wouldn't object. After all, even if others received them, they wouldn't be able to raise them to the same level of strength. Although Dragonite's children would inherit some of her skills, awakening those abilities depended greatly on training and luck—it wasn't guaranteed they'd all manifest.
For instance, out of ten self-created techniques, a child might inherit five. Of those five, only two or three might awaken naturally. The rest depended entirely on effort and fortune.
"Dragonite, how are you feeling? Are you okay?" Ash asked gently as he entered the ward. Seeing Dragonite lying listlessly on the bed, his heart ached.
"Wuuu~" Dragonite weakly responded, clearly exhausted and in pain from the imminent birth.
Ash softly patted her head, unable to do much more. In this situation, even a Full Restore Capsule wouldn't help—this wasn't an injury, after all, just the strain of a natural birth.
"Didn't expect you to be here so early. I thought I'd be the first," a voice called out.
It was Shiro, Ash's cousin. Ever since he heard that Ash had tamed an ancient Dragonite, Shiro had been itching to come see for himself.
To the Dragon Clan, Dragonite had a very special significance. Shiro had actually visited the night before, but without Ash there, Dragonite had barely acknowledged him. If Delia hadn't arrived in time, there might've been a fight.
Dragon-types during labor could be quite temperamental. Sometimes they even lashed out at their own trainers. But Ash wasn't worried—Dragonite respected his strength and had been treated well by him. She was naturally more at ease around him.
"I'm surprised it's you," Ash said with a smirk. "What, trying to get your hands on a Dratini egg to raise?"
Shiro, 27 years old and older by a decade, chuckled. But there was no sense of distance between them—no generational gap.
"Not at all," Shiro replied. "I just wanted to see what this ancient Dragonite looked like. I already have a Dragonite and a Haxorus. I don't have the time or energy to raise another."
Ash nodded. That made sense.
"Have you thought about who'll get the eggs?" Shiro asked seriously. "You know how the big families out there are drooling over your Pokémon—especially with those custom techniques and how rare Dragon-types are. If the Oak and Dragon Clans weren't keeping things under wraps, someone might've already come knocking on your door."
"I haven't decided yet," Ash replied. "I was going to ask Dragonite. If she doesn't want to give them away, then I'll leave them with her to raise. I don't have the energy to raise them myself either—not while I'm still collecting Gym Badges."
Just as Ash finished speaking, Dragonite gave a small nod of approval, surprising him. He hadn't expected her to agree so readily to letting him decide the fate of her children.
But Dragonite had her reasons. She knew her own strength and understood the potential her children had with the right inheritance. Even if they never reached her level, they were sure to reach Champion-tier strength someday.
Now that she had become Ash's Pokémon, Dragonite could feel the vastness of the world more clearly than ever. She also knew Ash would never mistreat her children—so she nodded in agreement.
"It seems your Dragonite really trusts you," Shiro said, watching the exchange with a hint of envy. As someone who shared a bond with Aura, he could understand Dragonite's subtle gestures.
"Since she agrees," Ash began, "I'm thinking of giving one of the three Dratini eggs to Uncle Masaki Oak, one to the Dragon Clan, and the last one... to Cynthia."
Hearing that, Shiro raised an eyebrow in interest.
Ash continued, "Uncle Masaki is not just family—he's a Champion-level Trainer and more than capable of raising a Dragon-type properly. Plus, since he's family, Dragonite would always be able to visit her child."
"As for giving one to the Dragon Clan," Ash added, glancing at Shiro, "that's partly to honor our lineage... and to let Dragonite maintain that connection with her offspring."
Then, Ash's expression softened slightly. "As for the last egg... Cynthia's going to find out eventually. Whether I win or lose against her in our battle, I've already decided—I'm going to marry her. Giving her a Dragonite egg is technically a gift... but in truth, the child will still stay close to Dragonite."
Dragonite let out a soft, satisfied cry. "Wuu~ Wuu~ Wuu~" Her eyes narrowed into gentle slits, and she smiled. She clearly understood Ash's reasoning—he didn't want to separate her from her children. In the hands of a careless Trainer, even a pseudo-legendary like Dratini could end up wasted. But Ash had made sure her children would be raised with care.
Shiro nodded, impressed by Ash's thoughtfulness. Still, one concern remained.
"Who in the Dragon Clan are you thinking of raising the egg?" he asked. "I appreciate the gesture, but with how things are between you and your father..."
Ash's expression cooled slightly. "I don't care who raises it," he said firmly, "as long as they treat the Pokémon well. Anyone's fine—except that man."
...
TN:
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