Naoki had never beeain about the precise location of Kitakami. Before being transported to this world, the Teal Mask DLC for the Pokémon games hadn't been released, so he had assumed Kitakami Vilge was somewhere in the northeastern shadows of the Paldea region.

  However, it appeared his assumption was incorrect.

  Acc to Mayor Thomas, Kitakami Vilge was a secluded settlement located in a remote area. To reach it, one would travel through regions dotted with vast mountain ranges. It was certainly off the beaten path.

  "There's no airport in Kosaji Town," Mayor Thomas tinued. "You'll o head to Gss Bottle City to catch a flight. Don't worry about expehe town will cover all your travel costs."

  Naoki nodded, mentally mapping out his schedule.

  It was February 26th in the 199th year of the Alliance dar. The jouro Kitakami for the week-long agricultural exge was set to begin oh. This gave him three days to tie up loose ends on the ranch before departure.

  "Uood. I'll make sure I'm ready," Naoki replied.

  Mayor Thomas smiled warmly, reag into his coat pocket and pulling out a card. "Here's your identification badge for the exge. Keep it with you at all times. When you arrive, someone from Kitakami will meet you at the station. Just show them this badge, and they'll take care of the arras."

  Naoki accepted the badge, thanking the mayor for the detailed instrus.

  After expining everything, Mayor Thomas rose to leave. "I'll take my leave now. Don't worry about the ranch while yohe townsfolk will help keep everything running smoothly."

  "Thank you. I'll be ready," Naoki assured him, walking him to the door.

  He stood outside, watg the mayor's figure fade into the distance before heading baside.

  Ba the kit, sister Indeedee gestured toward the basin of seafood. "Ai Ai?" she chirped, tilting her head to ask if he wanted her to tinue preparing the ingredients.

  "Oh, no need! I've already ed everything," Naoki replied with a grin. "Just steam it directly."

  Taking over, Naoki began yering the cms, ches, oysters, shrimp, and crabs into the steamer. While waiting, he minced a few cloves of garlic, whipped up a simple garlic sauce, and prepared a few dipping bowls on the side.

  Living so close to the coast, Kosaji Town was known for its seafood, which was always fresh from the m's catch. As the pot began to steam, the rich aroma of the o filled the kit, mingling with the savory st of garlic.

  When the seafood erfectly cooked, Naoki carefully poured it inte iron bowl. The vibrant colors of the shells glistened, and steam swirled upward, carrying the tantalizing st.

  He gnced down, and almost instinctively, information about the dish appeared in his mind:

  Seafood Feast (C+): A hearty dish made from a variety of fresh seafood, brimming with the unique fvors of the o.

  Effebsp;Slightly increases friendliness for Water-type Pokémon. Provides a small boost to their overall vitality.

  ent: A simple yet delieal that brings the taste of the sea to life!

  Naoki's eyes widened. "Huh, it boosts Water-type Pokémon friendliness? That's !" He paused, then rubbed his thoughtfully. "Wait a sed… I don't really have any Water-types on the ranch right now."

  His eyes lit up as he remembered. "ht! Those silly Psyducks by the stream. They'll love this."

  Setting aside a portion of shrimp and shellfish for the Psyducks, Naoki made a mental o deliver it to them ter. Meanwhile, he po let the Dragonites have their fill first—they were already eyeing the seafood pot eagerly.

  As Pokémon living on isoted isnds, the Dragonites and Dragonairs rely heavily on the o for their food. Their diets include sea fish, squid, shrimp, and shellfish, all of which they catch fresh from the sea.

  Every m, they wake up promptly and dive into the sea to catch their breakfast. After their meal, the Dragonites fly to Naoki's ranch to help with work, where they are rewarded with delicious Poffins as a treat.

  The Dragonites don't return tonite Isnd at noon, so Naoki prepares nutritious sandwiches to keep them energized. They stay on the rantil su, returning to their isnd as the day ends.

  For these Pokémon, seafood is a regur part of their diet. However, the dishes Naoki prepares elevate the fvors, making the familiar taste extraordinary. When Drago into a squid dipped in sauce, its eyes lit up with delight. Soon, all the Dragonites were sav their portions with clear expressions of satisfa.

  In trast, Koraidon and Cyclizar showed little i in seafood. They much preferred rge, juicy cuts of grilled meat that exploded with fvor at every bite. Unsurprisingly, the e of seafood was devoured by the Dragonites, who still looked like they hadn't had enough.

  Naoki watched them with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

  That evening, the Dragonites and Dragonairs returonite Isnd carrying boxes of Poffins. They gathered he tral ke, eating their treats happily. Between bites, some of the Dragonites began to discuss an idea.

  Dragonair One: "Oooo!" (Naoki likes fish just like we do!)

  Dragonite One: "Woo~" (I'm going to catch a lot of fish for Naoki tomorrow m!)

  Dragonite Four: "Awoo!" (I'll cate too!)

  Dragohree, still reminisg about the seafood: "Awoo..." (Those little fish were so delicious. I want more...)

  By the time dawn arrived, several Dragonites and Dragonairs had dived into the sea, leaving their panions behind with puzzled expressions.

  Every Dragonite was a skilled swimmer, slig through the water like sleek missiles. Their speed and agility made them effit hunters.

  Dragowo was the first to resurface, clutg a massive lobster in its cws. The lobster thrashed its tail in a futile attempt to escape, but Dragowo quickly subdued it with a well-pced sp. Pleased with its catch, it pced the lobster in a box for Naoki.

  Another loud spsh caught its attention. Turning, Dragowo saw Dragonite Four emerging with a small blue dolphin-like Pokémon, a Finizen, in its grip. Dragonite Four proudly held the struggling Pokémon, asking its panion: "Ouch?" (Will Naoki like this?)

  Before Dragowo could respond, the Finizen smacked Dragonite Four with its tail and escaped, retaliating with an angry water gun to the face before disappearing into the waves.

  Drenched and slightly bewildered, Dragonite Frumbled, "Oooch..." (What a bad-tempered Pokémon. Naoki wouldn't like it anyway.)

  Shaking off the water, Dragonite Four dove bato the sea. After a few moments, it resurfaced triumphantly, carrying a massive tuna it had stunned with electricity. "Awoo!" it cried, overjoyed with its catch.

  Yesterday, those small fish and shrimp were too small, so they could enough. This fish is big, so they will definitely be able to fill their stomachs!

  After seeing Dragonite Four proudly dispy its enormous tuna, Dragowo suddenly felt its rge lobster wasn't quite as impressive anymore. With a flick of its cws, it released the lobster bato the o and dived down once more. Moments ter, it resurfaced, clutg a hefty salmon in its arms, wearing a look of triumph.

  Meanwhile, the other Dragonites and Dragonairs were also busy catg their own prizes. Giant lobsters, enormous squid, and clusters of oversized crabs soon filled their cws and tails. Some even carried tufts of green seaweed as if adding a decorative touch to their haul.

  Satisfied with their bounty, the Dragonites and Dragonairs took to the skies, their mouths watering in anticipation. They flew back toward the ranch, each carrying their spoils with pride.

  At 7:25 a.m., Naoki was busy milking his trio of Gogoat. The fresh milk oured into barrels, ready to be moved to the milk celr by Koraidon and Cyclizar.

  On the farmnd, the Dragonite erf its usual duties, using Rain Dao water the fields. The m air was filled with the hum of productive activity.

  Suddenly, a loud chorus of whooping cries echoed from the sky.

  Naoki didn't o look to know it was the "part-time" Dragonites arriving. He gnced up, prepared to greet them casually, but what he saw left him utterly stunned.

  What oh was that?!

  Each Dragonite and Dragonair was carrying something—massive somethings. Twonites held enormous fish in their cws. Another carried two colossal lobsters, their cws still twitg. Dragonairs followed close behind, their tails and mouths filled with squid, crabs, shrimp, and even seaweed.

  "Oooooh~" The Dragonites desded gracefully, their faces lighting up with pride as they spotted Naoki.

  They nded in front of him and promptly deposited their catches on the grass, looking at him with expet expressions.

  "For me?" Naoki asked, still in shock.

  "Woo!" Dragonairs nodded eagerly, their eyes shining with anticipation.

  Naoki stared bnkly at the seafood strewn across the ground, momentarily speechless. As he processed what was happening, information about the freshly caught ingredients popped into his mind:

  The first Dragonite had brought a salmon, about oer long, with a sleek spindle-shaped body and a silver-blue back adorned with bck spots. The sed Dragonite's prize was a massive bluefin tuna, over two meters long, with a streamlined body and a shimmering blue dorsal fin. The third Dragonite carried two enormous lobsters, their cws slowly waving as if still p escape.

  Dragonairs, not to be outdone, preseheir tributions: squid, sardines, blue crabs, shrimp, and bundles of seaweed.

  The otion soon caught the attention of the other Pokémon on the ranch. Alcremie, Pawmot, and G hurried over to iigate. Upon seeing the sheer size of the bluefin tuna, their jaws collectively dropped.

  "Pawmot?!" Pawmot excimed in awe.

  Naoki looked at the Dragonites and Dragathered before him, their wide eyes filled with anticipation, a a wave of emotion.

  Walking up to them, he gently patted each of their heads in turn and said with a warm smile, "Thank you. I really love these gifts."

  "Awoo~" The w Dragonites ed happily, their eyes lighting up with delight at his praise.

  The Dragonairs joined in with their own tented whines, crowding closer to Naoki in a dispy of affe. Their efforts t him joy had clearly paid off.

  Not far away, another Dragohe one Naoki had raised and trusted for a year—watched this se unfold. Its eyes widened in shod, soon after, narrowed in indignation.

  It felt a sudden pang of jealousy and frustration.

  'Those scheming Dragonites had given Naoki gifts without telling it, iionally leaving it out of their phey trying to steal Naoki's affe?'

  The Dragohoughts spiraled. It imagined Naoki sitting at a table, ughing aing with the other Dragonites, while it was left alone in a dark er, fotten and abahe very idea made its tail twitch with anger.

  "Awoo!" Dragonite roared, its voice sharp with determination. It spread its wings, ready to storm over and stake its cim as Naoki's most loyal panion. However, just as it was about to act, a thought stopped it in its tracks.

  The other Dragonites had brought gifts to Naoki, but it had brought nothing.

  'No!'

  That couldn't stand. If it wao outshihose other Dragonites, it o give Naoki an even more impressive gift—something so spectacur that Naoki wouldn't even g the others.

  With a furious huff, Dragourned and soared into the sky, its powerful wings beating rapidly as it vaoward the horizon.

  Naoki had been smiling at the Dragonites and Dragonairs when he heard Dragonite's angry cry. Turning, he saw his Dragonite flying off, a clear look of frustration in its movements.

  "Dragonite!" he called after it, his voice filled with worry.

  But Dragonite didn't look back. Within moments, it had disappeared into the distance.

  Naoki's heart sank. He realized at ohat Dragonite was jealous. Its usual pyful demeanor had been repced with something uncharacteristically serious, and now it was gone.

  Panic gripped him. Turning quickly, he looked at Koraidon, atg the se with a curious tilt of its head.

  "Koraidon, we have to go after it!" Naoki excimed.

  Koraidon eechless, squatting on the ground with a calm demeanor. It let out a yawn, showing no signs of fonite's dramatic departure.

  Naoki: "..."

  "Koraidon, aren't you worried about Dragonite?"

  "Ah, gah…" Koraidon closed its eyes and began to nap, dismissing the questioirely.

  Naoki stared, baffled. "Is Dragonite really going to be okay?" he muttered under his breath, trying to gauge Koraidon's nont attitude.

  Still, Koraidon remained indifferent, leaving Naoki to wonder if it, too, was jealous like Dragonite. For the first time, Naoki truly felt the weight of managing so many Pokémon with unique personalities.

  The part-time Dragonites, however, recovered from their initial fusion. They quickly doheir signature red bags, collected bottles of Moo Moo Milk from Indeedee, and took off for Kosaji Town to start their day's work. Their cheerful departure left Naoki standing aloaring at the horizon where Dragonite had disappeared.

  "Pamo…" Pawmot murmured, looking up at Naoki with .

  Sighing, Naoki turned back toward the pile of fish that Dragonite and the others had delivered. He decided he didn't have the energy to deal with it anymore and dumped the seafood into the ke on the ranch.

  As the fish spshed into the water, a swirling purple vortex suddenly appeared. Within seds, every single fish vanished without a trace.

  Naoki: "…"

  Of course. He realized immediately what had happened: Giratina had likely cimed the fish as some kind of uional .

  With a groan, Naoki pressed his fio his temples. "It's ohing after another."

  Meanwhile, above the distant o…

  Dragoill fueled by jealousy, was flying at incredible speed. Its determination pushed it to use multiple high-speed moves, breaking through its limits as it zipped across the open sky.

  It soared so fast that it overtook a passenger pne, causing startled screams to erupt from the as it zipped past the windows like a golden blur. Oblivious to the otion it had caused, Dragonite kept flying, its focus unshaken.

  Eventually, it dived into the o, eager to find a fish even bigger than what the other Dragonites had brought back. It searched tirelessly, gliding through the currents with precision, but despite its efforts, there were no signifit catches in sight.

  Dragonite narrowed its eyes, unwilling to admit defeat. It sward with a powerful stroke and burst out of the water, wings fpping furiously as it took to the skies once more. Determined, it decided to explore further afield.

  The tenacious Dragonite flew over the sprawling Gar region, bypassed the t bridges of Unova, skimmed across the tropical waves of Alo, and even made a wide circle around the snowy peaks of Sinnoh before finally arriving at the Hoenn region.

  Below, the vast, sparkling Hoenn seas stretched endlessly, teeming with marine life. Taking a deep breath, Dragonite folded its wings and dived once again into the unfamiliar waters.