Chapter 26: Dragonair Wants Cuddles
Rumble… rumble…
The fierce wind rolled up the thick, heavy clouds, and storms and thunder roared endlessly across the sky.
Sitting in the giant Dragonite's palm, Ash and Bill watched the scene with astonished admiration.
Even though the surroundings looked like an apocalyptic storm was raging, the area around the two of them remained completely calm and peaceful.
The giant Dragonite even let out a relaxed, ship-like horn sound, making Bill crane his neck upward in curiosity.
"This feeling… is truly incredible," Bill murmured. "It's as if the wind and rain are deliberately avoiding us."
Ash lounged casually on Dragonite's huge hand and explained with a nod,
"Dragonite's species has the ability to influence the weather. This stormy zone is probably created by the Dragonite clan themselves. That way, their paradise won't be discovered by people with bad intentions."
Dragonite nodded gently, confirming Ash's explanation.
Normally, whether it's a ship or a Pokémon trainer, anyone who sees weather this terrible would turn around and flee immediately.
Unless they're as stubborn as Team Rocket…
Under the water, a mechanical Magikarp submarine wriggled forward with loud glug-glug sounds…
"Come on! Hup—! Heave—!" Team Rocket pedaled the submarine desperately.
Even Dragonite probably never expected humans could be this reckless.
The next moment—crack! The foot pedals broke.
Staring at the swirling underwater currents ahead, Team Rocket collectively thought:
"No way—! What a terrible feeling—!"
Glug glug glug…
Very soon, Ash and Bill followed the Dragonite through the ring of violent storms.
The wind stopped. The rain faded. Warm dawn sunlight began breaking through the now-clear sky.
Dragonite gently placed the two of them on the shore. With eyes narrowed in a smile, the ancient Dragonite nodded, then turned and disappeared back into the storm barrier.
"Dragonite!" Bill asked, confused, "Where is it going?"
Ash waved gently. "Probably back to protect this untouched paradise… and also to search for any stray Dratini or its evolutions."
"I see… just like a responsible guardian of the whole clan," Bill nodded.
A friendly, soft hum echoed nearby. Ash turned his head and saw a kind-looking Dragonite walk out from deep within the island, leading an adorably sweet Dragonair.
"That one should be the current leader of the Dragonite clan," Ash judged.
"So what should we do?" Bill asked cautiously.
Ash gave him a side-eye.
Seriously? Who's the researcher between us again?
The leading Dragonite nodded very politely, sniffed Ash's palm once, and then simply walked away on its own.
In a place with such rich natural resources, the Dragonite clan's daily routine was essentially: eat, then fly around the sky for a bit.
Completely cut off from the outside world, they had no reason to be wary of humans.
To Dragonite, humans were probably no different from harmless little orange cats…
So after recording their scents for identification, the big fellow went off to sunbathe again.
Walking deeper into the island, Ash and Bill saw Dragonair and Dragonite resting lazily between the jungle trees everywhere they looked.
"This is unbelievable. This place is even richer than the Dragon's Den," Bill said as he looked around. "All this time, I thought Dragonite's natural habitat would be caves or deep, damp water caverns. I never imagined it would be a bright, sunny, water-lush island like this."
Ash nodded absent-mindedly.
"Exactly. This is the perfect habitat for Dragonite…"
"Ash, I want to explore this island thoroughly and observe Dragonite's daily life. Want to come with me?" Bill asked eagerly.
"I'll pass," Ash waved. "Just be careful. Let's meet back on the beach later, okay?"
"Well… fair enough. Then let's split up for now." Bill nodded and walked off excitedly, eyes full of curiosity.
Ash, meanwhile, headed toward the beach where the Dragonair practiced flying—guided by his own memories.
Of course, he picked up a few shed Dratini skins along the way.
They were thin, flexible, and very tough—perfect material for high-quality inner clothing.
He planned to bring a set each for his mother and Aunt Grace.
Arriving at the beach, he indeed saw several groups of Dragonair practicing flight.
Unlike Dragonite's purely physical flying style, Dragonair's method was far more technical.
Although their ear fins stretched like angelic wings, those wings provided almost no real lift…
Dragonair's flight came from controlling the wind!
As weather-influencing dragons, they created rising air currents to lift their own bodies into the air—that was the proper method.
"They're starting…" Ash sat on the sand with excitement.
Several Dragonair who were attempting flight for the first time rubbed their bodies against one another. The blue orbs on their necks and tails struck together, making crisp, ringing sounds.
Soon—clang… clang… A spiral of wind formed!
Dragonair were covered in a deep blue glow.
Their ear fins stretched.
Their long bodies twisted upward elegantly.
So graceful. Truly graceful.
This… this was the charm of Kanto's pseudo-legendary species in its purest form.
It was a pity that when they evolved, they changed from elegant serpents into chubby, adorable creatures…
Among the Dragonair, one clumsy little fellow ended up at the very back.
Watching their companions swirling high in the sky, the little Dragonair flapped its ear-wings desperately—
but simply couldn't take off.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
After falling three times in a row, the airborne Dragonair drifted away, leaving the little one lying on the sand like a defeated salted fish…
"Eeeehh…"
Tears welled in Dragonair's big, round eyes as it watched its companions go.
Why… why couldn't it fly?
All Dragonair should be able to fly…
"You're looking pretty down, huh."
Just as the little Dragonair questioned its entire dragon-life, a warm hand touched the top of its head.
"Eeeh?"
The Dragonair looked up curiously—and saw Ash's bright, sunny smile.
"Don't be discouraged. You'll get it eventually."
"Eeeehh~"
Dragonair curled its long body and sat beside Ash.
Ash comforted it:
"Sometimes things just take a little technique.
Once you figure it out, I'm sure you'll soar high in no time.
Besides, a certain champion from Hoenn once said:
'Even if I can't fly, it's fine. I'll keep my feet on the ground—and eventually beat every one of those flying guys out of the sky…'"
[TL: Wallace. Happened in manga.]
"Eeeh??"
Dragonair tilted its head in confusion.
There was someone… that silly?
Ash nodded seriously.
"Absolutely! But that's not the point.
I think you just need a bit of special training—
and as it happens, I'm a Pokémon Trainer.
So, how about it? Want to try some special training with me?"
Dragonair's eyes lit up immediately.
Finally—someone noticed it.
Someone wanted to help.
He was such a good person!
The Dragonair wrapped itself around Ash's arm.
Good person.
Must. Hug. Tightly.
"Ahem— haha… that's a lot of love…"
Ash was squeezed so hard his eyes nearly rolled back.
So this was when the cuddly habits started forming…
Too cute. Way too cute.
To be continued…
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〔TL〕
The author sure has a way with his wordings like wdym "Ash was squeezed so hard his eyes nearly rolled back."
Or maybe its just me...?
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〔TL〕
Every 100 powerstones = 2 bonus ch.
Every 2 review after 100 ps = 1 bonus ch.