“Professor, what are you doing up here?” Tian Lin and Ash arrived at the upper floor of the lighthouse, where Professor Bill was gazing out at the sea.
“Waiting,” Professor Bill replied.
“Waiting?
Waiting for what?” Ash asked curiously.
“I’m Ash from Pallet Town, just like Tian Lin.”
“I’m waiting for a unique, phantom-like Pokémon.
It is enormous—possibly the largest Pokémon in the world.
For many years, I’ve stayed here, hoping to see it with my own eyes,” Professor Bill said with anticipation.
He then took out a recorder and played a sound—a mix between a cry of longing and a dragon’s roar.
“This is its voice.
I can faintly sense its meaning: ‘Where are you?
I want to meet you.’ For years, I’ve used this lighthouse to broadcast this signal over the sea—telling it, ‘I am here.
I want to meet you too.'”
At that moment, a soft cry echoed from the sea, similar to the sound from the recorder.
Tian Lin understood immediately.
It was coming.
He quickly released Scyther.
“Scyther, go check the shoreline.
If you see a group of two humans and a Meowth, use Vacuum Wave to blow them away.”
Scyther flew off.
A moment later—
“Blasting off again!” echoed through the sky.
Team Rocket had appeared, only to be instantly sent flying.
“Team Rocket… why are they here?” Ash wondered.
Tian Lin glanced aside.
Because you are here, of course.
“It’s coming… it’s finally coming…” Professor Bill trembled with excitement.
A massive shadow slowly emerged from the sea and approached the lighthouse.
When it came into full view, everyone froze.
It was a Dragonite.
But not an ordinary one.
“This… this is Dragonite?!
How can it be this huge?!” Sundae exclaimed in shock.
“I’ve been waiting for you all this time,” Professor Bill said, stepping forward.
“I want to be your friend.”
However, the Dragonite barely acknowledged him.
Instead, its gaze shifted toward Ash and Tian Lin.
At that moment, a system voice echoed in his mind.
“Host, this Dragonite did not come because of Professor Bill.
If it were, it would have appeared long ago.
Its appearance today is due to you and Ash.”
“Ash carries a special aura—similar to the Aura of the ancient Aura Guardians.
This Dragonite is from that era.
That is why it feels familiarity toward him.”
So that’s it…
No wonder it never responded to Professor Bill, yet appeared now.
But what about me?
Ash is related to Aura… but what am I related to?
The Dragonite looked at Ash for a moment, then seemed to understand—he was not its true companion, only someone with a similar aura.
Then it turned to Tian Lin.
This time, it paused.
Something changed.
Its expression softened.
A feeling of recognition—deep and instinctive—surged within it.
It slowly extended its hand toward Tian Lin.
“Tian Lin, be careful!” Sundae called out nervously.
“It’s fine,” Tian Lin said calmly.
“I can feel it—it means no harm.”
And he was right.
A strange sense of warmth flowed between them.
Tian Lin stepped onto its palm without hesitation.
The Dragonite smiled.
It let out a gentle, resonant dragon cry.
Even though they did not share a language, Tian Lin could clearly understand its intent.
They were speaking through feeling, not words.
“You’ve been searching for your companions all this time… you must have been very lonely,” Tian Lin said softly.
“I can feel it.
We share a natural connection.”
The Dragonite nodded.
For a while, human and Pokémon communicated in silence, yet understood each other perfectly.
Eventually, the Dragonite gently placed Tian Lin back on the ground.
“Tian Lin…” he said quietly.
“I’m sorry.
I still have dreams I must pursue.
I’ll be leaving tomorrow.
When I become stronger, I will return as a Trainer and officially challenge you.
Then I will capture you properly.”
The Dragonite listened quietly.
It understood.
He could not stay.
With a gentle smile, it accepted this and slowly turned away.
Before leaving, it placed two objects into Tian Lin’s hands.
Then, it disappeared into the sea.
Tian Lin looked at the items.
A flute… and a scale.
He had never seen them before.
He immediately asked the system.
“Host, both are extraordinary items,” the system replied.
“The flute is the Dragon Flute.
It can summon that Dragonite.
It is meant to protect you when you are in danger.
However, it has limited power—only three uses.”
“The scale is a Dragon Scale from its own body.
In the future, when you obtain a Dragon-type Pokémon, it will have special uses.”
So this was its gift.
“Thank you… Dragonite,” Tian Lin murmured.
“Seems like the one truly fated to meet that Dragonite… wasn’t me after all,” Professor Bill said with a wry smile.
“No, Professor,” Tian Lin replied.
“It told me something else.
Even though you weren’t its destined companion, it is still grateful to you.
It knows your sincerity was real.”
“R-really…?” Professor Bill’s eyes lit up again.
“It said that?”
“Yes.”
Professor Bill, deeply moved.
His years of waiting had not been meaningless.
The next morning, Tian Lin, Ash, and the others bid farewell to Professor Bill.
They all headed toward Vermilion City together for now.
Professor Bill remained at the lighthouse.
Still waiting.
Still believing.
That one day, he and that ancient Dragonite would truly become companions.