"That's the plan! Got it, you two?"
"Pika!"
Pikachu gave a firm nod while Pidgeotto was still munching on a top-grade Swordcap, trying to digest it quickly to support Kazuki.
"Pika pika pii~"
Seeing how much Pidgeotto was enjoying the Swordcap, Pikachu wandered over and sniffed at the remaining mushrooms.
Kazuki patted Pikachu on the head. "Pikachu, if you eat that, I'll ride you upwind with my mouth open and eyes shut!"
"Pika~ Pi pika!"
Pikachu quickly shook its head, signaling it was just curious about the smell.
"Haha, good boy. Once we get to Vermilion City, I'll treat you to all the ketchup snacks you want!"
"Pika pii!"
The moment Pikachu heard "ketchup," it leapt onto the road, tail wagging, eyes shining.
"Kazuki, Kazukiiiii—!"
Just then, Misty came dashing down from the lighthouse tower. But the moment she saw the now-towering Pidgeotto standing beside Kazuki, she froze.
She completely forgot what she'd rushed over to say.
Only when she circled around to the side did she confirm that this enormous bird was indeed Kazuki's Pidgeotto.
"Ka… Kazuki, why is your bird SO big?!"
Kazuki poured a bowl of water for Pidgeotto, chuckled, and replied, "My bird's always been this big."
"Nonsense!" Misty stared up at the majestic creature, jaw nearly dropping. "Last time I saw you use Pidgeotto against that swarm of Beedrill, it was nowhere near this size!"
"Oh! You were talking about Pidgeotto?"
"Huh?" Misty frowned suspiciously at Kazuki. "What else would I be talking about? Do you have another big bird?"
"Hahaha, you'll find out on the next island," Kazuki chuckled, then began explaining the scene he'd already prepared in his mind.
"I've been putting Pidgeotto through special training. It's been eating a lot lately and growing fast. Back in the forest, I found a bunch of stuff it likes, so I collected some."
"That explains why it's been eating more and developing faster!"
"Developing fast? That's a serious understatement!" Misty only had a basic understanding of Pokémon outside the Water-type species she specialized in, so she didn't recall much about Pidgeotto's growth stages or rare specimens and thus accepted Kazuki's explanation without much doubt.
"Oh right! Why were you looking for me?"
"Oh!" With Kazuki's reminder, Misty suddenly remembered. "That researcher, Bill, said a super rare Pokémon might appear tonight!"
"He invited both of us to the top of the lighthouse to watch!"
"Oh, great! You go ahead. I'll be up in a bit."
Kazuki's answer was unusually calm, which made Misty tilt her head in confusion.
Huh? What's with Kazuki?
He was super excited when he saw Bulbasaur and Charmander, and even when he caught that tiny Krabby today, he was over the moon.
So why is he acting so chill about a never-before-seen Pokémon?
Geez! I've been traveling with him for so long, and I still can't figure him out!
Am I really that bad at reading guys?
No way! When we get a chance, I need to ask Daisy for tips on understanding men's thoughts.
I can't keep letting Kazuki read me like an open book while I'm totally clueless about him!
But for now, let's focus on seeing this super rare Pokémon!
Ever the sunny optimist, Misty didn't dwell on it too long. She simply hummed a tune and headed cheerfully back up the lighthouse stairs, while Kazuki continued feeding Pidgeotto with full concentration.
With Aura Power tuned in, he could sense the Giant Dragonite's approach. As long as it came near, he'd know instantly.
Right now, he just needed to maintain a calm mindset. If something went wrong while airborne, and they scared the Giant Dragonite away, all would be lost.
As night fell, a mist began to rise over the sea.
Kazuki, having completed his warm-up, suddenly felt a surge in his Aura Power.
"It's here! Pidgeotto, ready?"
"Pidgeeee!"
Now standing over two meters tall, Pidgeotto unfurled its wings with a powerful gust.
"Alright, Pikachu! Once the Giant Dragonite gets close to shore, we're going up to greet it!"
"Pika pika!"
And so, the trio—Trainer, mouse, and bird—waited quietly in the sea breeze for the Giant Dragonite to arrive.
Meanwhile, on a nearby cliff, Team Rocket—fully geared—prepared to climb up.
"Hey, Jessie, why are we going this way?" James asked, clearly puzzled by their chosen route.
"Yeah, meow! There's a perfectly good road over there!" Meowth added.
"Hehehe~" Jessie smirked triumphantly. "Because we're villains, of course!"
"Villains always take the road less traveled!"
"That way, we can catch them off guard and snatch all their Pokémon!"
"Ohh! That makes sense! Let's start climbing!"
Just as the trio began their ascent, a fine powder started drifting down around them.
"Huh? Jessie, your perfume smells kinda weird today."
"Perfume?" Jessie turned to glance at James in confusion. "I didn't wear any today."
"Nyah, look! A butterfly, meow!"
"A butterfly? By the sea?" Jessie and James both looked up. "Wait—those wings… red ripples?"
The moment they recognized Butterfree's wings, they both collapsed into sleep.
"Meowth, what are you guys doing? Now's not the time to—"
Before he could finish, Meowth also wobbled and fell over.
Butterfree settled onto a nearby rock, standing guard. Should Team Rocket stir again, it would simply use Sleep Powder anew until Kazuki's mission with the Giant Dragonite was complete.
Atop the lighthouse, Misty leaned on the railing, glancing between the staircase and the sea.
"What is Kazuki doing? Why hasn't he come up yet?"
"He loves rare Pokémon so much—if he misses this, he'll totally regret it!"
Misty was about to head down and drag him up when—
Rooooaaaar!
A deep, distant call echoed from over the water.
"It's here!" Bill gripped the railing in excitement.
"Ah! That fast?! Geez, what is Kazuki doing!" Misty stomped her foot, then ran back to the edge of the platform. She pulled out her recording device to film the rare Pokémon for Kazuki.
Bill began pressing buttons on a control panel, broadcasting a response call to attract the Giant Dragonite toward the lighthouse.
Through the mist, the massive form of the Giant Dragonite began to emerge.
It grew larger and clearer by the second, but just a few hundred meters out, it stopped.
It seemed to realize that there was only a lighthouse here, not the companion it had been searching for, and began to hesitate.
"Mysterious, one-of-a-kind Pokémon, please let me see your true form!" Bill cried out, clinging to the railing in frustration.
Meanwhile, Kazuki stood ready at the cliff's edge. "If this is the closest it'll get, then—Pidgeotto, let's go!"
With Pikachu in tow, Kazuki launched off the cliff. Pidgeotto swooped beneath them, wings wide, catching them midair and soaring toward the Giant Dragonite.
Misty, deep in her recording, gasped as Kazuki and Pidgeotto burst into frame.
"Kazuki!!!"
She screamed his name and rushed to the edge of the platform.
Bill, startled by her shout, finally looked away from the Dragonite and saw Kazuki flying straight toward it.
"Come back now, Kazuki! It's too dangerous!"
Bill was nearly in shock. He had just messaged Professor Oak, promising to look after Kazuki properly.
And now the boy was flying right at an unknown and potentially deadly Pokémon.
"Oh man! Professor Oak, what kind of Trainer did you raise?! This is insane!"
Bill's palms were sweating.
"That's Pidgeotto!" Misty replied without thinking, her eyes locked on Kazuki, though she now began to question Bill's credibility.
Wasn't this guy supposed to be a renowned Pokémon researcher?
He didn't even recognize a Pidgeotto?
"Pidgeotto?" Bill squinted and looked again. "Wait… this… this enormous bird…"
"This thing is even bigger than a Pidgeot!"
"Could it be…? No, no, that doesn't make sense. There's no such form in the Kanto Region!"
"Professor Oak did say Kazuki had knowledge even he didn't possess…"
"And that he's obsessed with super rare Pokémon…"
"But still, flying straight at an ancient, unknown Pokémon like that? That's way too reckless!"
Hearing this, Misty's heart skipped a beat. Wait… no way…
Could Kazuki's Pidgeotto be a rare variant too?
Is that its normal state?
Ugh—whatever!
Kazuki, you reckless maniac, are you really willing to risk your life just for a rare Pokémon?
You… better come back safe!
I still want to see you win the Indigo Plateau Conference!
You haven't even… seen me in a swimsuit yet!
You! Have to! Come back safe!
The Giant Dragonite, realizing its companion wasn't here, began to turn away.
"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"
"Pika!"
Pidgeotto climbed higher as Pikachu leapt off in a dive, striking the Dragonite with a flash of light.
"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
Though Dragonite's thick hide barely flinched under the attack, the sting was enough to get its attention.
The Giant Dragonite swatted at Pikachu with a massive claw.
The moment their moves collided, a mission timer popped up on Kazuki's interface.
"Yes! We've made contact! Pikachu, get down!"
Kazuki and Pidgeotto swooped in, catching Pikachu midair and flying up to the Dragonite's face.
Kazuki focused his Aura Power, establishing a connection with the Giant Dragonite.
"Dragonite! Wait—are you looking for your companions? I might have some information that could help you!"
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
With its incredible speed, the Giant Dragonite was naturally attuned to other fast Pokémon.
Seeing Pidgeotto appear so swiftly, it was intrigued.
And hearing Kazuki mention information about its kind? Worth sticking around a little longer.
Roooo~
The Giant Dragonite responded, surprised that a human could possess such strong spiritual power and communicate so smoothly.
Kazuki, who had been worried about keeping the conversation going for 10 minutes, was suddenly relieved.
Since Dragonite brought up a topic, Kazuki launched into all sorts of Aura Power theories.
But within minutes, Dragonite grew eager again. "Tell me more about my kin."
Kazuki had been ready for this. He activated his Pokédex and played back recorded Dragonite cries.
Though the frequencies differed, the Giant Dragonite heard something familiar and grew visibly moved.
Kazuki then talked about Giant Gengar, Giant Jigglypuff—anything he could recall.
Having searched the world for traces of its companions with no results, the Giant Dragonite listened intently.
Even with Kazuki's odd tangents, it didn't mind. It had been ages since it had spoken to anyone.
By the time Kazuki finished, eleven minutes had passed!
Yes! Mission overachieved!
Yo, system, how about a bonus reward, huh?
Which newbie Trainer can say they talked to a Legendary Pokémon for eleven minutes?
Roooo~
Just then, Dragonite let out a wistful cry.
Kazuki noticed it was preparing to leave and almost told Pidgeotto to retreat.
The mission was complete—no need to risk anything further.
But to his surprise, the Giant Dragonite called out to him again.
Roooo~
It said this was the first time in centuries it had learned so much and spoken so freely.
It liked this little human.
Kazuki's brain lit up. Huh? What does that mean?
Just a moment ago, the Dragonite had looked so grim. Now it was practically glowing.
Then, the Giant Dragonite let out a low, resonant tone.
Kazuki felt a gentle force strike him through his Aura Power.
A moment later, Dragonite said it had memorized Kazuki's aura.
If he ever needed help, it would come.
Then, it turned and disappeared into the sea mist, continuing its lonely search.
Kazuki watched its silhouette fade and smiled.
"Looks like I've become the Giant Dragonite's only friend."
Hmm… does this count as a surprise bonus?
He directed Pidgeotto back toward the lighthouse and opened his reward interface.
[Congratulations, Host, on completing the Giant Dragonite Mini Mission.]
[Dragonite species favorability increased by 50%.]
Ah, so that's why it considered me a friend! The ten-minute mark must have triggered the reward.
That last minute of heartfelt talk sealed the deal.
[Intermediate Rare Candy ×5 added to system inventory.]
[Swift Wing added to system inventory.]
Kazuki took out the newly acquired Swift Wing and glanced at his exhausted Pidgeotto.
Even without battling, just hovering near a Pokémon of this caliber was like enduring a storm of pressure.
To Pidgeotto, those ten minutes were like a life-or-death trial.
Kazuki gently stroked its head. "You did amazing, Pidgeotto. You've earned this."
Without hesitation, he equipped the Swift Wing onto Pidgeotto.
Immediately, its feathers lengthened, and the wingtips shimmered with a silvery glow.
Sitting on Pidgeotto's back, Kazuki could feel the increase in speed firsthand.
The mini-mission with the Giant Dragonite was a complete success.
Trainer, mouse, and bird—safely returned to the lighthouse.
---
Next Goal:- 200 PS
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