"Hey, Derick, becoming a Trainer isn't that easy. I've heard that raising Pokémon is very expensive!"
An older man took a sip of barley beer. Seeing everyone's eyes turn toward him, he set down his glass and said mysteriously:
"Back when I was delivering goods to the big shots in the city, I heard their butler say that his master keeps a Pokémon called Snorlax. In just one day, it can eat an entire room's worth of food!"
"It can eat that much?" Someone's eyes widened. Just how big was this Snorlax's stomach to hold so much?
"My goodness, Pokémon aren't something ordinary people can afford to raise..."
Many people present knew that Derick's family was struggling; he could barely support himself, let alone raise a Pokémon.
Besides, the wilderness was so dangerous. He lived alone with his widowed mother; if something happened to Derick, how heartbroken would she be?
Though they were poor, they were kind-hearted. Realizing this, they all began to persuade Derick to give up on the idea.
Wouldn't it be better to stay here honestly, work some part-time jobs, and then become a teacher after graduating from that Pokémon School?
Hearing everyone looking out for him, Derick couldn't help but feel moved.
But... Derick's intuition had been sharp since he was a child. During his days at the Pokémon School, he had seen many new things.
Pokémon, Trainers, types, moves, special training, breeding, battling, getting stronger... these were things they had never encountered before.
Derick had heard from the teachers at school that it wasn't just Castelia City; other places within the kingdom were the same way.
Derick keenly realized one thing.
—Their King was promoting Pokémon and Trainers, and this profession would likely become mainstream in the future.
And all of this would completely change the situation of the kingdom!
The bigger the waves, the bigger the fish; Derick, coming from a poor background, understood this logic well.
Derick thought of his mother. His father had passed away when he was young, and his mother had raised him to this age through weaving, stitch by stitch.
His mother's hands, already aged, were full of wrinkles and chilblains from years of labor.
As a son, he should take good care of her.
Moreover, he was already sixteen years old this year.
Derick was unwilling to live in poverty forever; he wanted to seize the opportunity to give his mother a better life.
"Hey, Derick, what are you thinking about?" someone shouted.
Derick snapped back to his senses and quickly said, "It's nothing. Thank you all so much, I understand."
It was impossible for all Pokémon to have a giant stomach like Snorlax, right?
Derick remembered that the newspaper had introduced several Pokémon.
For example, the Grass-type Oddish and the Bug-type Leavanny were both very easy to raise.
Oddish could replenish its energy just by basking in the sun, and Leavanny only needed to eat leaves, grass, and common berries to grow up.
"Yeah, when it's time to collect a Pokémon, I can choose between these two types," Derick thought to himself.
Not just in Castelia City, but across Unova, this newspaper marking the arrival of a new era was being delivered with the help of Pokémon flying taxis.
Opelucid City, Accumula Town, Nacrene City... under Draconis's deliberate promotion, this news reached everyone's ears in just one week.
Countless young boys and girls began to look forward to the arrival of next spring.
*
Inside the castle in Nimbasa City.
"Your Majesty, the Trainer Associations in various regions have prepared Pokémon suitable for novice Trainers to raise."
Alfred handed the documents sent by the regional Trainer Associations to Draconis.
"These are all Pokémon they rescued from the wild according to your instructions during this period. Some chose to return to the wild, while others remained at the associations."
Draconis looked at the list of Pokémon and nodded thoughtfully.
He had thought implementing all this would be very difficult, but it was running surprisingly smoothly.
The regional Pokémon associations had already prepared the starter Pokémon for new Trainers as he had ordered.
These were wild Pokémon rescued over the past year from around towns or in the forests, including some left homeless by the previous war.
Everything was just beginning; they couldn't issue the 'Starter Three' to everyone like in the anime yet. They could only use Pokémon with gentler temperaments that were easy to bond with as starter Pokémon.
However, Draconis believed that given enough time, the day would come when everyone could receive a Starter Three Pokémon.
Draconis took a deep breath. He had done so much over the past year that he felt a bit exhausted.
Rubbing his temples, Draconis said, "You may leave!"
"Yes, Your Majesty. I will not disturb your rest then," Alfred bowed and then slowly withdrew.
After he left, Draconis walked onto the castle balcony, overlooking the prosperous and bustling city below.
Compared to a year ago, his Nimbasa City had undergone earth-shattering changes.
Countless new houses and shops had risen in the town; the streets were crowded with pedestrians—travelers from elsewhere, merchants, Scholars, Commoners... and the sight of Pokémon everywhere.
Outside the city lay fertile farmlands and ranches; such a prosperous scene seemed to have almost no boundaries.
On the other side stood towering factories.
Countless small and ordinary figures gathered into a torrent, pouring into them.
Plumes of thick smoke rose into the sky from giant chimneys, as if announcing the descent of a new era.
Amidst the rumbling of giant machines operating inside the factories, the year 150 of the kingdom calendar officially came to a close.
As winter arrived, humans and Pokémon who had been busy all year took shelter indoors together with their pre-stored food.
As the end of the year approached, various affairs in Nimbasa City were put on hold.
The Pokémon School went on break, the Pokémon Center left only The Joy Sisters on duty, and the Trainer Association also closed its doors.
Inside the castle, Draconis also gave the soldiers and maids who usually stood guard time off to go home and reunite with their families.
With the maids and guards gone, the castle suddenly felt empty.
Fortunately, quite a few Pokémon that Draconis kept in the back still lived here.
Vulpix, Oshawott, Audino... they chased and played with each other in the empty castle, or played small games like hide-and-seek together, having a very lively time.
When they got tired of playing, the group would run to Draconis's bedroom and huddle in front of the fireplace to warm themselves.
With no working maids in the castle, Draconis had to do it himself, bringing berries, snacks, and other foods from the storehouse to set before the Pokémon for them to enjoy.
"Wu~!"
Vulpix let out a cry full of joy.
Oshawott picked up a berry and took a happy bite.
There was no longer any trace of their former bedraggled states on their bodies.
It was clear that these Pokémon, who had lost their homes to war, had now completely integrated into life in Nimbasa City.
Draconis stood to the side with a gentle smile on his face, watching the Pokémon enjoy their snacks.
Just then, Dragonite saw Draconis. It ran up with a biscuit and shared it with him.
"Wu~!"
Delicious things must be shared!
Seeing Dragonite's gesture, Draconis smiled and patted its head, then took the biscuit and said:
"Don't worry about me, go on and eat!"
"Wu~"
Suddenly, a series of intense explosions echoed from outside the castle.
Draconis was slightly startled. He walked onto the balcony and looked up to see brilliant and dazzling fireworks blooming across the dark night sky.
It was the people of Nimbasa City collectively celebrating the arrival of the New Year.
The Pokémon in the room were also drawn out by the noise. At first, they thought there was some danger, but when they saw the sight of the fireworks blooming, they all froze in place.
Fireworks were reflected in their eyes, and the fleeting light illuminated their faces.
"Wu..." So beautiful... Inside the room, Kyurem, who had been lying on the carpet with eyes closed, was also drawn over by the commotion.
It opened its massive dragon eyes to gaze at the sky, watching the brilliant fireworks bloom and fade. A hint of wonder couldn't help but flash in those eyes that were usually full of majesty and solemnity.
"Human creations are truly beautiful!"
Kyurem had never seen such a sight before.
Draconis nodded with a smile: "This is humanity. Though their strength is weak, they can use their wisdom to create all sorts of things and build homes on this land. Even when facing crises, they never give up..."
"Yes, humans are stronger than I thought," Kyurem agreed with a slight nod.
Draconis turned to look at Kyurem; he had always had a question he wanted to know the answer to.
And Kyurem seemed to sense the thoughts in his heart. It turned its head and said, "You seem to have a question in your heart."
Oh? Draconis didn't expect Kyurem to notice.
He glanced at Kyurem's data and then asked, "I've always wanted to ask you: after merging with you, did Reshiram and Zekrom disappear completely?"
Hearing this question, Kyurem stared at him with its golden dragon eyes.
It didn't speak. With a flash of light, two beams—one black and one white—separated from Kyurem's body.
The white light transformed on Kyurem's left into an elegant and agile divine dragon covered in soft, snow-white fur.
The black light transformed on Kyurem's right into a pitch-black, steady, and robust divine dragon standing on two legs.
Those were... Reshiram and Zekrom!
At this moment, Reshiram, Kyurem, and Zekrom all looked toward Draconis.
"You need not be so surprised. I am the Dragon of Tao. Tao gives birth to One, One to Two, Two to Three; this is but a part of my power," Kyurem spoke.
Reshiram beside it nodded slightly, its voice sounding soft and gentle:
"Draconis, I have already acknowledged your Truth. Therefore, I will also help you to jointly construct the world you wish to create."
On the other side, Zekrom also nodded silently: "I too have felt your Ideals... I will also help you as much as possible to construct that ideal kingdom with you!"
"Then Kyurem..." If Zekrom and Reshiram were separated, what would happen to Kyurem?
Draconis looked toward Kyurem.
He saw that Kyurem still maintained its form as the three-dragon fusion.
"Tao gives birth to One, One to Two, Two to Three, and Three to all things. All things return to nothingness. Reshiram is me, and Zekrom is also me. You need not be surprised. Moreover, you carry both Truth and Ideals; we will not split again because of this," Kyurem's voice was deep as it spoke... Was this the power of the Dragon of Tao? It sounded truly profound and mysterious.
But looking at Zekrom and Reshiram before him, Draconis suddenly realized: from now on, could he simultaneously possess Zekrom, Reshiram, and the three-in-one Kyurem?
"If you wish, we can naturally remain by your side in these forms," Reshiram said softly.
Draconis couldn't help but fall into thought.
"In that case, will it have any effect on Kyurem's power?"
"The impact is minimal," Kyurem said deeply. "We have not split, it is just..."
Speaking to this point, Kyurem suddenly paused, as if it didn't know what words to use to describe it.
A flash of inspiration suddenly struck Draconis's mind.
"One Breath Transforms into Three Pure Ones!"
"It can be described that way," Kyurem nodded slightly.
"I see, I understand!" Draconis realized, and he felt relieved.
He was quite happy; this meant he could freely use the powers of all three Dragons of Tao.
Draconis turned around and, together with the group of Pokémon, looked at the fireworks blooming in the night sky.
From now on, no one in the Unova region would be able to block their path.
Whether it was the industrial age or the electrical age, it was a process that the development of this world had to go through; it was only a matter of time.
And what they had to do was to make all this arrive as early as possible, to completely integrate humans and Pokémon until it became the utopia depicted in the anime!
No oppression, no enslavement—only pure love for Pokémon and the heart to live and grow stronger together with them.
*
Time marched on, and in the blink of an eye, it was March of the year 151 of the kingdom calendar.
Inside the castle in Nimbasa City.
"Your Majesty, the Trainer Association in Castelia City is ready!"
"Opelucid City is also prepared. Not just us, but the over five hundred Pokémon cared for in the association are all ready!"
"Nacrene City is ready!"
"..."
Draconis listened to his subordinates' continuous reports on the situation in various places, then nodded slightly.
His gaze swept across the representatives from the regional associations below, and then he ordered:
"Then let it begin!"
"As you command, Your Majesty!" everyone responded in unison.
They left the royal city and returned to their respective towns via Pokémon flying taxis.
kingdom calendar year 151, March 12th, early spring.
The day for new Trainers to collect their starter Pokémon had finally arrived.
....
Power Stones PlZZZZ
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