Want to read ahead. You know where
-----
The next three days, Sam hid on the island, quietly observing Dragonite.
During that time, Dragonite also noticed him.
The two were testing each other, neither rushing to act.
Dragonite's daily routine was simple.
It woke up, searched for food, and then slept.
Most of the time it fed on kelp and other aquatic plants.
When the island couldn't provide enough, it would fly farther out to sea in search of more.
Sam's first step in his plan was straightforward: conquer Dragonite's stomach.
As dawn broke, the giant Dragonite stirred awake and lumbered toward the beach to forage.
But today, something different caught its attention.
A strange, irresistible fragrance drifted through the air.
"Aw~…"
The massive Dragonite sniffed curiously and followed the scent until it came upon a rock.
Resting on top was a round object the size of a basketball, glowing faintly in the morning light.
Dragonite carefully lifted it with its claws and sniffed.
Delicious.
The aroma was unlike anything it had ever encountered before.
Without hesitation, Dragonite tossed the ball-sized treat into its mouth.
The moment it bit down, flavor burst across its tongue.
A rich taste, perfectly balanced between sweetness and warmth, spread through its mouth.
Alongside the pleasure came an unfamiliar but welcome sensation, fullness.
Dragonite lowered itself onto the beach, tail sweeping the sand.
It closed its eyes, savoring the lingering taste.
Its expression was almost blissful, like a wanderer who had finally found water in a desert.
Not far away, Sam stood with his three Pokémon, Luca, Darkrai, and Silver, watching the scene unfold.
A smile tugged at his lips.
"It worked."
This was the first step. Now the real plan could begin.
"Luca, Darkrai, Silver, we move to the next stage."
"Luca!"
"Hss~…"
"Lii~!"
The three Pokémon responded immediately, spreading out according to Sam's orders.
Sam's gaze stayed fixed on the giant Dragonite.
"Food will draw him in, but that's only the beginning," he murmured.
"To truly win him over, I might have to show him the oldest truth in this world, strength."
It wasn't complicated.
For Dragonite to submit, it needed two things: proof that life by Sam's side would be secure, and proof that following him would make it stronger.
Both were essential.
Without them, no Pokémon would willingly obey, no matter how strong a Poké Ball's bond was.
On the beach, Dragonite stirred again.
Its nostrils flared as another wave of that mouthwatering scent drifted over.
Its eyes snapped open.
This time, there was no doubt, this was real.
The hunt had only just begun.
The scent was strong.
Boom!
The giant Dragonite jerked upright, eyes wide, nostrils flaring as it sniffed furiously at the air.
In an instant, it locked onto the source and began moving.
Sam deliberately raised his voice.
"Smells good, doesn't it?"
Lucario, Darkrai, and Silver made small noises in response, playing along.
Their voices carried across the beach, exactly as Sam intended.
But Sam could sense the tension in the air.
Dragonite's aura was overwhelming, if it chose to attack, even Darkrai might not be able to intercept in time.
Still, he stood calmly, signaling to his Pokémon with his mind.
'Stay sharp.'
'If Dragonite makes a move, act immediately.'
High above the rocks, the massive creature lowered its head, hiding awkwardly behind a ridge.
It thought itself concealed, but with a body towering over thirty meters tall, it was as subtle as a mountain trying to crouch.
Its golden eyes fixed on the bait Sam had left out, an oversized energy cube, glowing faintly in the sand.
For a while Dragonite resisted, but drool was already dripping from its jaws.
Finally, unable to contain itself, it abandoned its poor attempt at hiding and lumbered forward.
Each step shook the earth.
Five meters from Sam, it suddenly sat down with a heavy thud.
The ground trembled as gravel and dust exploded outward, pelting the air.
Even though Sam had prepared himself, the pressure of facing such a colossal creature up close was suffocating.
Still, he did not move.
"Aw~…"
Dragonite's voice rumbled low, its gaze locked hungrily on the cube.
Its eyes gleamed with childlike expectation, utterly free of hostility.
Sam let out a slow breath, relief flickering across his face.
The first step had worked.
He gestured to his three Pokémon, signaling them to ease their stance.
"You want it?" Sam asked softly. He lifted the cube with one hand.
"Then eat."
With a smooth toss, the block arced through the air.
"Aw~~!"
Dragonite let out a cheer and snapped it up in a single gulp.
The instant the flavors spread across its tongue, its massive frame relaxed.
Its eyes narrowed in bliss, wings drooping as if drunk on pleasure.
Sam's lips curved into a faint smile.
"They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Turns out, the same is true for Pokémon."