The digital clock on the Safari Zone's staff computer blinked 1:07 AM as Arin slumped forward, forehead nearly touching the keyboard. Echo lay curled beside the monitor, her wings twitching faintly from whatever bat Pokémon dreamed about. The server logs scrolled endlessly on the screen—over 1,000 active users, 27 new posts in the last hour, and two reported bugs needing urgent fixes. His eyes burned from staring at code for hours, but he couldn't stop now. Not when PokeLife was growing faster than he'd ever imagined.
"Just one more fix," he murmured to himself, fingers flying across the keyboard.
Echo stirred, sensing his exhaustion. She fluttered to his shoulder and nuzzled his cheek, chirping softly.
"I know, I know," Arin sighed, reaching up to stroke her head. "We should get some sleep."
He saved his work and shut down the computer, gathering his notes and stuffing them into his backpack. His schedule had become increasingly impossible to maintain—eight hours at the Safari Zone, four hours of Echo's training, and then late nights fixing bugs and optimizing PokeLife's performance. Something had to give, and soon.
As they walked back to Mrs. Varma's boarding house, Arin mentally reviewed his priorities. The app was gaining users exponentially, which meant more server costs but also potential income. Echo's training was progressing well, but he couldn't afford to neglect it. And then there was the Dratini at the lake—a rare Pokémon he'd been trying to befriend for weeks.
"We need to make some changes," he told Echo as they slipped quietly into his room. She chirped in agreement, settling onto her perch as Arin collapsed onto his bed, not even bothering to change his clothes.
Morning came too quickly. Arin jolted awake to the sound of his alarm, feeling as though he'd barely closed his eyes. Echo was already up, hanging upside down from the curtain rod and watching him expectantly.
"Give me a minute," he groaned, dragging himself to the bathroom.
Cold water on his face helped, but not much. As he got ready for work, he activated his Observe skill on Echo, curious about her progress:
[Observe: Zubat (Echo)]
Female
Level: 19
IVs: 138
Moves: Supersonic, Leech Life, Bite, Astonish, Wing Attack, Hypnosis, BraveBird
Food: Pecha Berry Mix
Arin smiled despite his fatigue. Two months of focused training had transformed Echo from a fragile, injured Zubat into a formidable partner. Her Wing Attack, which she'd mastered just last week, was particularly impressive—powerful enough to slice through thick branches during practice.
"We're making progress," he told her, offering a Pecha Berry from his dwindling supply. Echo chirped happily, devouring the treat.
At the Safari Zone, Arin went through his morning duties mechanically—feeding the Oddish colony, cleaning the Bellsprout enclosure, checking the water quality in the ponds. His mind was elsewhere, calculating server costs and planning Echo's next training session.
"You look terrible," Kenji commented as they crossed paths near the staff room. "Late night?"
"Something like that," Arin replied, stifling a yawn.
"That app you're promoting is getting popular. Half the staff won't stop talking about it."
Arin tried not to look too pleased. "Yeah, it's catching on."
"Well, don't work yourself to death over it," Kenji said, clapping him on the shoulder. "You're still young."
If only he knew, Arin thought. The irony of being treated like a child while carrying adult responsibilities wasn't lost on him.
By lunchtime, Arin had made his decision. He couldn't continue at this pace—something had to give. After finishing his sandwich in record time, he headed to the director's office, but paused outside, deciding against formally discussing his schedule. Instead, he resolved to manage his time more carefully, sacrificing some special training sessions and taking unofficial breaks at work to focus on PokeLife and the lake visits.
That evening, after a focused training session with Echo practicing Air Cutter, Arin made his way to the lake. The sun had just set, casting long shadows across the water. In his pocket was a small pouch of premium Dragon Food—expensive enough that it had consumed nearly his entire month's salary, but worth it if it meant reconnecting with the Dratini.
He'd discovered the rare Pokémon by accident months ago, catching a glimpse of its serpentine form in the moonlight. Since then, he'd been leaving food at the lake's edge, gradually earning its trust. But financial constraints had forced him to stop his offerings for the past few weeks, and he worried the Dratini might have moved on or forgotten him.
Echo settled on a nearby branch as Arin knelt by the water, placing a handful of the iridescent food pellets on a flat stone. Then he sat back and waited, trying to project calm and friendly intentions through his growing Viridian power.
One hour passed. Then two. Arin's legs cramped from sitting still, but he refused to move. Echo occasionally fluttered down to check on him before returning to her perch.
Just as Arin was beginning to lose hope, a ripple disturbed the lake's surface. He held his breath as a sleek, blue head emerged from the water, jewel-like eyes reflecting the rising moon.
The Dratini had returned.
It hovered at the edge of the lake, watching Arin cautiously. He remained perfectly still, allowing the Dragon-type to make the first move. Echo, sensing the importance of the moment, emitted a soft, soothing pulse of Supersonic—not to confuse, but to communicate peaceful intentions.
Slowly, the Dratini slithered closer to the shore, its gaze fixed on the food. Arin activated his Observe skill:
[Observe: Dratini]
Male
Level: 20
IVs: 142
Moves: Wrap, Leer, Thunder Wave, Twister, Whirlpool, Thunderbolt, Thunder
Food: Dragon Berry Mix
Arin noted with interest that the Dratini had grown stronger since their last encounter. It had also recently shed its skin—a sign of good health in Dragon-types.
The Dratini inched closer, clearly tempted by the food but still wary. Arin remained motionless, barely breathing. Finally, the serpentine Pokémon slithered fully onto the shore, approaching the stone with the food.
Rather than waiting for Arin to leave as it had in the past, the Dratini began eating while keeping a watchful eye on him. Arin felt a surge of hope—this was progress. Whether it was hunger from the weeks without his offerings or a growing trust, the Dratini was willing to eat in his presence.
When the stone was empty, the Dratini hesitated, then moved slightly closer to Arin. Heart pounding, he slowly extended his hand, palm up, with a few more food pellets.
Time seemed to stop as the Dratini considered this offering. Then, with deliberate caution, it stretched forward and began eating from his hand. The sensation of its smooth scales brushing against his palm sent a thrill through Arin.
As the last pellet disappeared, Arin gently—very gently—raised his other hand to touch the Dratini's head. The moment his fingers made contact, a soft green glow emanated from his palm. The Viridian energy flowed soothingly, not healing but connecting.
The Dratini froze, then relaxed, pressing into his touch. Through the connection, Arin sensed emotions—curiosity, caution, and a flicker of something like recognition.
"I'll come back tomorrow," Arin whispered. "Same time. I promise."
To his astonishment, he felt the Dratini's response—not in words, but in impressions. Agreement. Anticipation. The faintest trace of trust.
The Dratini pulled back, studying him with new interest. Then it dipped its head in what could only be described as a nod before slipping back into the water, leaving Arin breathless with excitement.
Echo fluttered down to his shoulder, chirping questioningly.
"Yes," Arin told her, still staring at the ripples where the Dratini had disappeared. "That was definitely progress."
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