It's a brand new day again.
Ever since eating the Storm Steamed Bun made by Naoki, Dragonite felt it had become the most powerful Pokemon on the ranch.
This made it incredibly excited, even its walk had a strut.
After delivering the Miltank's fresh milk to Mrs. Dante, it set its sights on Koraidon, the previous top Pokemon on the ranch.
Looking at the relaxed and lazy-looking Koraidon lying on the grass, Dragonite ran up and stood there staring at it.
Noticing this unavoidable gaze, Koraidon lifted its eyes and looked over, its tone puzzled: "Ah-gar-sii?"
Dragonite eagerly said, "Awwooo?" (Can I spar with you?)
Koraidon: ?
This early in the morning, did it hear wrong?
Are you sure? Koraidon cast a doubtful gaze at Dragonite.
Dragonite nodded repeatedly: "Awwooo!"
Koraidon fell silent.
It originally didn't want to fuss with this Dragonite, but after thinking about it carefully, it realized that Dragonite seemed to be on cloud nine since yesterday.
Because it thinks it's now the strongest Pokemon on the ranch.
As for how Koraidon knew about this.
It was because Dragonite had mentioned it to Cyclizar while watching the moon together last night.
At the time, Cyclizar didn't feel much, just very envious, but now...
How could this be? It was the most powerful Pokemon by Naoki's side!
Koraidon's expression became serious, and it began to take on a competitive spirit against Dragonite.
Naoki's strongest partner could only be it!
So when Naoki just came out of the Glass Greenhouse, he saw Cyclizar rushing towards him, saying that Koraidon and Dragonite had started fighting.
Naoki was taken aback for a moment, quickly dropped the Psyduck Spray Bottle in his hand, and followed Cyclizar to the Gogoat pen.
Beside the pen was the battle arena he had built to welcome challengers participating in the Grass Trial.
At this moment, the two Pokemon had already arrived there, each standing at one end of the battle arena, following the rules.
"What's going on?" Naoki quickly asked.
"Awwooo!" Dragonite responded happily.
"Ah-gar-sii!" Koraidon's expression was also normal, as if this was just an ordinary match.
Naoki initially worried, but seeing the two Pokemon like this, he gradually let go of his concerns.
Because in this world, other trainers would also have their Pokemon battle each other as sparring partners during their travels.
"Alright then, let me be your referee!"
To be honest, he was quite curious too.
In the games, while Koraidon is a Legendary Pokemon, its performance was nowhere near as strong as those Legendary Pokemon from previous games.
And now, would Dragonite, who ate the Storm Steamed Bun, be a match for Koraidon?
Seeing both of them ready, Naoki blew a whistle and then announced, "The battle begins!"
The two Pokemon did not attack immediately.
Dragonite, full of fighting spirit, looked at Koraidon on the opposite side and shouted: "Awwooo!" (I'm going to attack now!)
Koraidon was speechless: "…Ah-gar-sii."
Seeing this, Dragonite moved.
It gathered its wings, starting to condense an air vortex in front of it.
However, just as Dragonite made a move, Koraidon also acted.
Its crimson figure moved like lightning, almost instantly, it charged up to Dragonite, abandoning defense and launched an assault.
"Such speed!" Naoki was shocked, was this Koraidon's full power?
The punch, capable of splitting the earth, slammed into Dragonite, interrupting its move. Before it could react, Koraidon unleashed a Breaking Swipe sweeping across.
Dragonite only saw darkness in front of its eyes, and with a single encounter, it was knocked out by Koraidon, its eyes turned into spirals with stars circling above its head.
"It's over?" Naoki was full of disbelief.
Koraidon, with an absolute dominant stance, turned its back on the fallen Dragonite.
It was the strongest Pokemon beside Naoki!
Koraidon looked at Naoki, and when its gaze met Naoki's, it returned to its original simple and honest demeanor.
"Ah-gar-sii~"
"Amazing!" Naoki exclaimed in shock.
Koraidon scratched its head sheepishly at Naoki's praise.
It still had a long way to go!
Images from back in Zone Zero flashed in Koraidon's mind.
Back then, it was still a Cyclizar.
Standing on the dazzling crystalline ground, it gazed longingly up at the powerful Koraidon fighting one against four dragon-types without falling behind.
At that time, it made a wish in its heart.
If possible, it too wanted to become as powerful a Koraidon to protect Naoki and always stay by his side.
Now, it had achieved that.
It had become the strongest Pokemon by Naoki's side.
Naoki stepped forward to treat Dragonite.
Dragonite slowly opened its eyes from unconsciousness.
With a grey, dusty look, it seemed rather pitiable.
Naoki cleared his throat and said, "Any thoughts?"
Dragonite sheepishly scratched the back of its head: "Awwooo..."
It realized it was wrong, it shouldn't have been so arrogant.
Seeing Dragonite in this state, Naoki couldn't help but speculate in his heart.
It was impossible for Koraidon to challenge Dragonite on its own.
Based on his understanding of the two Pokemon, this battle was most likely because Dragonite felt it became too strong, so it challenged the even mightier Koraidon.
Thinking of this, Naoki smiled and ruffled its head: "Don't be upset, you've already done quite well."
He recalled how this Dragonite of his would go to Dragonite Island to show off whenever it got stronger, and couldn't help but educate:
"Also, as dragons, we need to learn to be low-key, you know? Be more composed, Koraidon is family living with us, losing to it wouldn't make you look weak, but if it were another Pokemon, it might ridicule you."
Naoki began to give examples to Dragonite, like if it bragged about its strength to a wild Dragonite and then the other beat it and said, "Is that all? I thought you'd be more impressive!"
Hearing this, Dragonite imagined itself and its face immediately turned red, looking both embarrassed and angry.
"So what should we do in such a situation?" Naoki asked, while taking out a Translation Nuts Cake from his pocket and popping it in his mouth.
Dragonite unhesitatingly said, "Awwooo!" (Challenge again!)
Naoki: "And if you can't win?"
Dragonite thought carefully and said with difficulty: "Awwooo..."
It didn't know.
Naoki: "That's why! Do you understand what I meant now? Being low-key doesn't hurt."
Dragonite nodded.
Naoki continued, "It's not your fault because your past experiences led to this. I just want you to understand something."
Dragonite looked up.
Naoki looked into its eyes: "Strength is for protecting yourself and your companions, not something to boast to others about."
Hearing this, Dragonite was slightly stunned.
It glanced at Koraidon nearby, as if it understood something, then seriously nodded at Naoki.
"Awwooo!"
Naoki smiled and patted Dragonite's head.
"Your strength is quite good now, and I have something I need your help with, but it'll be a while yet."
That's the Spectrier and Glastrier in the Galar Region.
Naoki planned to take Dragonite to the Galar Region, and if taming those horses required battling as in the games, he could let Dragonite try its hand against Spectrier and Glastrier without Calyrex riding them.
Those two with a species strength of 580, he wondered if they would be able to defeat a Dragonite with a species strength of 600.