"Wow, as expected of Meowth! You really are full of ideas," James praised excitedly.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and act!" Jessie urged impatiently. After catching a glimpse of Dratini just now, her desire to own one had reached a fever pitch.
For Dratini's sake, she was even willing to put aside her ambitions of wealth and promotion, choosing instead to personally raise it.
Meowth nodded, just about to act—when suddenly, the three of them noticed a tall, youthful figure appear beside them.
"Hey, brat, who are you? When did you get here? I'll tell you this—don't stick your nose into Team Rocket's business!" Jessie glared at Yozora, her voice sharp and threatening.
"Who I am doesn't concern you," Yozora said with a calm smile. "What matters is that I won't allow you to harm the Pokémon here."
His words were light and airy, as though Jessie and the others weren't worth his notice.
These people couldn't even deal with Ash—how strong could they possibly be?
"Arrogant little brat! Arbok!" Jessie gritted her teeth and hurled out her Poké Ball.
"Weezing!" James quickly sent his partner into the field as well.
On Yozora's side, a Golduck materialized, its sharp eyes gleaming.
"Arbok, use Poison Sting!"
"Weezing, use Take Down!" Jessie and James shouted at once.
But their orders went unanswered—Arbok and Weezing remained frozen in place.
"What are you doing? Not obeying me? Are you trying to rebel?!" Jessie shrieked, furious. She was just about to rush over and scold them when she suddenly realized it wasn't just her Pokémon. Even her own body was bound tight, unable to move.
Of course, James and Meowth were in the same state—all of them trapped by Golduck's psychic power, unable to so much as twitch.
"What terrifying psychic strength… Jessie, this time we're done for," James sighed, far more worldly than Jessie. He could tell instantly that Yozora wasn't any ordinary trainer.
Jessie, hot-tempered as she was, wasn't a fool. Though she clearly felt the vast difference in power, her mouth still lashed out with curses.
Yozora chuckled. He bore them no killing intent, but driving them off was unavoidable.
"Golduck, lift them into the air with Psychic. Then finish with Hydro Pump."
"Golduck!" With a mere flicker of power, Jessie, James, Meowth, Arbok, and Weezing all floated helplessly upward.
"Fwoosh!"
A torrent of water burst forth, blasting them high into the sky. Their figures streaked away like falling stars until they vanished at the horizon.
"What a loathsome feeling…"
"My Dratini!"
Faint voices still echoed from above before they finally disappeared.
"At last, the pests are gone. Miltank!" Yozora released Mei and quickly fitted her with the milking equipment.
This time, however, he didn't collect the milk. Instead, he fed the fresh flow directly into the lake.
That's right—he was planning to use Mei's fresh milk to lure Dratini back.
Otherwise, who knew when it would appear again? And what if Dratini had a weakness for Jessie, and not him, refusing to show itself?
A Dratini with a crush on Jessie?
Unlikely… but Yozora preferred to be prepared.
Compared to himself, he trusted more in the allure of fresh milk. Sure enough, his plan quickly bore fruit. One by one, Water-type Pokémon surfaced, drawn to the shore by the scent of Miltank's milk.
Magikarp, Seaking, Horsea…
More and more Pokémon gathered. Finally, Dratini itself surfaced, sipping the milk in delight. Its eyes fluttered shut, savoring the flavor.
It was clear this Dratini was still young, little more than a baby. For it, milk was irresistible—especially the fresh milk of a Miltank!
But—
"Splash! Splash!"
The other wild Pokémon showed no courtesy for Dratini's age, jostling it aside, blocking it from getting even a taste.
This was nature's truth—and its cruelty. Survival of the fittest, the strong consume, the weak go hungry.
Eventually, once the others had their fill, they slipped back beneath the water, leaving Dratini behind.
It still wanted more, but the lake's surface was bare. Not a drop of milk remained.
So it turned its gaze toward Yozora and Mei. Clever for its age, it seemed to understand that they were the source of the milk.
But timid as it was, it didn't dare draw close. Instead, it whined softly, as if pleading for them to hurry and give it more.
The sight of its round eyes and desperate cries nearly made Yozora laugh. Yet he remained still.
This time, he wanted Mei to take the lead.
If Mei could form a bond with Dratini, it might awaken her nurturing side.
If Mei ever chose to battle and grow stronger, Yozora thought, he'd gladly give up this Dratini.
To him, a battle-ready Miltank was worth far more than even a Champion-potential Dratini!
Sure enough—
As Dratini whimpered pitifully, Yozora stayed silent. But Mei could hold back no longer.
"Moo… moo…" Mei looked at Dratini with a tender smile, then beckoned with her hoof.
Dratini hesitated for a moment… then slowly swam closer.
In the next instant, Mei scooped it into her arms.
She cuddled the tiny dragon lovingly, like a gentle mother with her child.
And Dratini, having tasted comfort, clung to her, refusing to leave.
Ten minutes passed. Dratini was full, but still nestled in Mei's embrace, unwilling to part.
Yozora's heart leapt with joy.
This was exactly what he had hoped for.
In just this brief encounter, the cow and the dragon had forged a bond…
Was it friendship?
No—
More like the bond of mother and child.
Yes, that was it. Mei might still be young, but she was an adult Pokémon. And Dratini was only a baby.
For it, Mei's embrace was as warm as a mother's.
Not long after, Ash and his friends arrived at the far side of the lake, with Kaiser in tow.
Kaiser had managed to slip away after being captured by Team Rocket, and sought Ash's group for help. He had told them Team Rocket planned to capture Dratini in the Dragon's Valley.
But when they got here, there was no sign of Team Rocket.
"Yozora? What are you doing here? And where's Team Rocket?" Ash asked in surprise.
"They tried to harm the Pokémon in this lake. I drove them away," Yozora said lightly.
But at that moment, Kaiser's eyes fixed sharply on the Dratini in Mei's arms.
"Moo! Mooooo!" Mei, mistaking Kaiser for an enemy, raised her head and bellowed, glaring fiercely in warning.
Yozora's eyes shone.
Yes—this was exactly the outcome he wanted.
…
…
(End of Chapter)