Eevee rested at the Pokémon Center for a week, and its injuries finally healed.
Morning sunlight slipped through the gap in the tent.
The moment Ash opened his eyes, he met Eevee’s watery gaze.
At some point, the little one had squeezed beside his pillow, its fluffy tail draped across his face.
Seeing Ash wake up, Eevee immediately wagged its tail in excitement.
Its soft fur brushed against his cheek, carrying a faint fragrance.
“Coming to act cute again?” Ash laughed and reached out to rub Eevee’s head.
Who would have thought that this only made the little one even more excited?
It climbed directly onto him, placing its paws on his chest as a satisfied purr rumbled in its throat.
Pikachu curiously came over from the side, just about to burrow into Ash’s arms, only for Eevee to suddenly turn its head, bare its tiny sharp teeth, and let out a warning growl of “Eevee, Eevee.”
Mealtime was even more of a “comedy show.”
Ash had just sat down and was about to enjoy breakfast when Eevee eagerly jumped onto his lap.
Its fluffy body curled into a ball, its head resting on his arm as it stared longingly at the food.
When Ash fed Pikachu an Energy Cube, Eevee immediately became unhappy.
It lightly patted the back of his hand with its paw, letting out dissatisfied whimpers until Ash fed it a piece separately.
Only then did it narrow its eyes in satisfaction.
Looking at Eevee’s bossy yet adorable behavior, Ash smiled helplessly and gently tapped the tip of its nose.
Eevee tilted its head, its tail sweeping happily across his thigh, as though responding to Ash’s pampering.
…
And just like that, another four years passed.
There was only one week left until the day Pallet Town’s new Trainers would set out.
That day, Ash boarded a ship heading out to sea.
The salty sea breeze lifted the brim of Ash’s cap, and the cries of Wingull mixed with the hum of the propeller as they swept past his ears.
The Eevee he had rescued four years ago was now curled up on his shoulder, dozing off.
Its fluffy tail lightly tapped his neck as the ship rocked.
Pikachu crouched on the railing, its tail brushing across Eevee’s nose and earning an unhappy little “Eevee” from the small Pokémon.
Yes—Pikachu.
During these four years, Pichu had already evolved into Pikachu.
“Mr.
Ash, we’re almost at the target sea area!” a crew member shouted through the wind and waves.
Ash held the railing and looked ahead.
In the distance, the outline of an island faintly appeared before his eyes.
Four days ago, he had seen a news report at the Cerise Laboratory.
Three fishing boats had been caught in a storm, only to be lifted up by a group of Dragonite at the moment of crisis and carried to a safe area of the sea.
In the surveillance footage, the huge waves stirred up by Dragonite wings looked like emerald screens.
Their scales shimmered with mysterious light beneath the lightning.
“Professor Cerise believes these Dragonite should have a fixed island habitat,” the researcher had said at the time, pushing a satellite cloud map in front of him.
On the screen was a stretch of sea marked as a “blank zone.”
So Professor Cerise had asked Ash to come take a look.
“Hard to starboard!” the captain’s order made the ship tilt violently.
Eevee’s little paws tightly gripped Ash’s collar.
Pikachu also dove into Ash’s arms.
“This is the place.” Ash took a deep breath.
Just then, a deafening dragon’s roar sounded in the distance.
The entire ship shook violently, and a bucket on the deck was jolted into the air.
The ship slowly docked beside a barnacle-covered reef.
Ash stepped onto the wet deck and leapt down, splashing seawater that soaked the cuffs of his pants.
He moved along the winding beach.
The fine sand beneath his feet was gradually replaced by damp soil.
Dense ferns intertwined overhead, forming a natural dome.
Sunlight filtered through overlapping layers of leaves, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
Suddenly, the sound of splashing water came from ahead.
Ash held his breath and pushed aside the tangled vines.
The sight before him made his pupils shrink slightly.
Beside an emerald lake, dozens of Dratini were playing happily.
Their blue bodies glimmered under the sunlight.
Their slender tails stirred the water, splashing strings of crystal-clear droplets.
On the rocks along the shore, several Dragonair were elegantly coiled into rings.
Whenever a Dratini swam past, they gently touched the little ones’ heads with the tips of their noses.
At the center of the lake, several adult Dragonite were stretching their wings atop a massive reef.
The glow flowing between their scales reflected off the water’s surface.
Occasionally, the airflow stirred up by their wings twisted the surrounding mist into hazy spirals.
One Dragonite lowered its head, picked up a floating piece of deadwood, and carefully placed it along the shore, building a temporary springboard for a Dragonair that was practicing flight.
“This is incredible…” Ash lowered his voice, afraid of disturbing the peaceful scene.
Eevee jumped down from his shoulder and curiously approached the lakeside, only to be startled back two steps when a Dratini suddenly spat out a bubble of water.
Seeing this, Pikachu laughed, “Pika, Pika,” and joined in the game as well.
Just then, ripples suddenly spread across the lake.
An especially large Dragonite broke through the surface.
The scales on its chest were covered in scars left by time, yet its majesty had not diminished in the slightest.
And its scales were actually green.
Its gaze swept over Ash on the shore, and a low rumble came from its throat.
The surrounding Dratini and Dragonair immediately quieted down and hid behind the adult Dragonite.
The damp sea breeze, carrying a salty scent, brushed past Ash’s ears.
His Aura began to flow, outlining his body with a faint, misty glow.
The massive Dragonite’s body froze for a moment.
Its eyelids slowly lowered, and its once-tense muscles relaxed.
Its pupils reflected the young man’s face.
A deep rumble sounded in its throat, making the surrounding air ripple.
When the blue light touched it, the enormous creature slowly folded its wings like a soothed hatchling.
Splash—!
Water exploded outward.
Dragonite’s huge tail fin struck the lake’s surface, shattering it and sending droplets flying into the sunlight like glittering fragments of silver.
The center of the lake returned to calm, leaving only expanding rings of ripples and the curious heads of the Dratini peeking from the shore.
Eevee shook out its damp fur and jumped back onto Ash’s shoulder, lightly patting his flushed cheek with its paw.
Pikachu ran excitedly along the shore, the sparks dancing on its tail echoing the blue glow of the distant Dragonite scales.
The sunset dyed the lake golden-red.
Ash looked at this secret paradise wrapped in twilight, the cheerful cries of Dratini echoing in his ears.
He understood very well that if such a pure and beautiful place became known to the outside world, it would likely bring unnecessary trouble.
So he gently picked up Pikachu and Eevee, deciding to leave quietly.
He followed the small path back toward the shore.
The damp soil made faint sounds beneath his feet.
Just as he was about to reach the docked ship, the rapid sound of splashing water suddenly came from behind him.
Ash turned around and saw a Dratini twisting its body, swimming toward him with all its strength.
It was the little one that had played most happily with Pikachu and Eevee earlier.
The Dratini swam to Ash’s feet, and its slender body immediately wrapped around him.
Its cool scales pressed against his skin, its tail gently curling around his wrist as its head nuzzled against his chest like it was acting spoiled.
“Oh?
Why did you follow me?” Ash was both surprised and delighted.
He reached out and gently stroked Dratini’s smooth head.
Dratini let out a cheerful cry, wrapping around him even tighter, as though afraid he would leave it behind.
That clingy behavior gave Ash a strange sense of familiarity.
He suddenly remembered that in the original story, Ash had also been tightly hugged by a Dragonite that loved hugs.
Could this be that future “hugging Dragonite”?
Ash looked into Dratini’s clear eyes, and warmth rose in his heart.
Maybe this was fate’s arrangement.
“All right.
Since you want to come with me that badly, let’s go together.” Ash smiled and picked up Dratini.
Dratini immediately rubbed its head against his cheek and let out a satisfied cry.
Under the setting sun, Ash walked toward the ship with Pikachu, Eevee, and his newly joined Dratini.
Their shadows stretched long behind them, as though telling the beginning of a brand-new adventure.