Pokemon: A New Path-Chapter 400: Fishing Master

Naoki immediately called over the Dragonair who had not yet returned to Dragonite Island and served them generous portions of the Paldea seafood rice he had prepared.

The Dragonair's eyes sparkled as they took in the aromatic dish brimming with the essence of the sea. They curiously leaned forward, sniffing the delectable aroma with their large snouts, before happily picking up a shrimp and savoring it.

"Drra!" (Delicious!)

At a nearby table, Koraidon and Dragonite also began enjoying their portions of the vibrant seafood dish. The paella, filled with rich flavors and the happiness of shared meals, was a feast not only for the palate but for the eyes.

Dragonite, particularly enchanted by the dish, eagerly picked up its plate and began devouring the rice in large, hearty bites, leaving the plate spotless. The rest of the Pokémon joined in the meal, eating with equal enthusiasm.

Watching the joyful scene, Naoki smiled warmly. This, he thought, was the true purpose of cooking: bringing happiness to those around him.

Turning his attention to the Dragonair, Naoki crouched to their level and said with a knowing smile, "Tomorrow morning, I'll take you all to a special place for some intense training."

"Drra?" The Dragonair tilted their heads, their curiosity piqued.

Naoki chuckled, deliberately leaving them in suspense. "You'll see when we get there."

The next morning, after observing Calyrex nurture the World Tree, Naoki got to work preparing more Paldea seafood rice for the day's training session. Though the dish greatly enhanced the effectiveness of special training in the sea, its effects only lasted three hours. To ensure the Dragonair had enough energy for the entire session, he packed extra portions in advance.

The Dragonair were eager and had already gathered around Naoki by the time the sun had risen. Their anticipation was palpable as they encircled him.

"Alright, we'll set out soon!" Naoki assured them, carefully packing the prepared paella into containers. He also grabbed his fishing rod and a small bucket, deciding to spend the training session testing the dish's effects on fishing while the Pokémon trained.

For this session, Naoki chose to switch instructors. Instead of Koraidon, Dragonite would lead the special training. With its ability to summon storms and create ocean whirlpools, Dragonite was the perfect choice to challenge and guide the Dragonair in their exercises.

After securing everything, Naoki climbed onto Koraidon's back, signaling the Dragonair and Dragonite to prepare for takeoff. However, before they could leave, the Eevees playing in the pasture noticed Naoki gearing up and rushed over to him.

"Buee buee!" (Take us with you!)

Naoki glanced down at the excited group of Eevees swarming around him. "I'm heading to the beach to help the Dragonair with their training," he explained.

"Buee buee buee!" (We want to go too!) the Eevees chorused, their eyes sparkling with hope.

Naoki chuckled softly. These Eevees hadn't left the ranch since they'd hatched, and their curiosity was understandable. After a moment's thought, he nodded. "Alright, you can come, but you have to promise to behave and not wander off. Got it?"

"Bu-yi!" (We promise!)

"Alright then, climb aboard!" Naoki said, patting Koraidon's back.

With delighted cries, the Eevees quickly clambered onto Naoki, finding spots on his shoulders, arms, and lap until he was completely surrounded by their fluffy forms. Naoki adjusted his arms protectively around them to ensure they wouldn't fall.

"Hold on tight, everyone!" Naoki said, preparing for takeoff. He glanced over at Dragonite and the Dragonair, who were ready to accompany him.

"Raao!" Koraidon let out an enthusiastic cry.

In about three minutes, the group arrived safely at their destination.

Naoki turned his head, surveying the surroundings. The beach was relatively quiet during the day, with only a handful of fishermen scattered along the shore, their fishing rods planted in the sand.

He recalled his last visit to this beach when he had brought Dragonite and the others to enjoy the summer fireworks festival. This time, however, the atmosphere was tranquil.

As Koraidon landed gracefully on the golden sand, the group of Eevees quickly jumped off Naoki, their wide eyes brimming with excitement. The sight of the glimmering sea and the endless expanse of sand fascinated them—it was their first time experiencing such a view.

Naoki pulled a small stool and a folding fishing rod from his backpack. Turning to Glaceon, Umbreon, and Koraidon, he instructed them with a smile, "I'm counting on you three to look after the Eevees. Let them enjoy playing in the sand, but make sure they stay out of the water."

"Buyi~" Glaceon responded with a calm nod.

"Ah, gah!" Koraidon added enthusiastically, puffing out its chest in assurance.

The trio of Pokémon then led the excited Eevees a short distance away, where they began building sand sculptures with playful energy. Naoki glanced over at the happy group, satisfied that they were in good hands.

He then retrieved the still-warm paella from his backpack and fed it to the eager Dragonair.

"Dragonite," he called to the large, dependable Pokémon. "They're under your guidance now. Take them to the sea and use your powers to create a tidal wave so they can undergo special training."

"Awoo!" Dragonite patted its belly confidently, signaling its readiness for the task.

After the Dragonair finished their meal, Dragonite led them toward the sea. Once they reached a considerable distance from the shore, Dragonite plunged into the water with a mighty splash.

The scene was idyllic: sunlight reflecting off the waves, the soft cries of Wingull echoing in the distance, and the rhythmic sound of the tide rolling onto the beach.

Naoki cast his fishing rod toward the horizon, settling into a comfortable position on his stool. Behind him, the Eevees were energetically playing in the sand under the watchful eyes of their caretakers. Naoki allowed himself to relax, enjoying the serenity of the moment.

Suddenly, the buoy attached to his fishing line bobbed sharply.

"A bite!" Naoki exclaimed, his focus snapping back to the fishing rod. He pulled hard, reeling in a white fish-like Pokémon with wavy yellow markings on its body. It soared out of the water in a graceful arc, landing on the sand near Naoki.

"Is that a Tynamo?" Naoki recognized the Pokémon immediately.

Tynamo itself wasn't particularly famous, but its evolved form, Eelektross, was renowned for its strength and versatility. Naoki recalled how some trainers referred to a Tynamo's transformation into Eelektross as a metaphor for a trainer's own growth and development.

The tiny Pokémon flopped about on the sand, emitting a faint but sharp electric current in a bid to escape. Naoki winced as the weak electricity tingled against his hand. Deciding not to stress the Pokémon further, he gently released it back into the sea.

At that moment, a sudden commotion drew his attention to the ocean. Far from the shore, a violent whirlpool had formed, its swirling waters creating an intense current.

The Dragonair were already in action, fearlessly diving into the whirlpool.

The seawater surged around the Dragonairs, tempering their bodies as they pushed against the relentless vortex. To them, it felt as though the world had dissolved, leaving only the roaring whirlpool and the deafening sound of rushing water in their ears.

Amid this intensity, a peculiar sensation stirred within the hearts of the five Dragonairs. It was as though they could distinctly sense the flow of the water surrounding them, a newfound awareness that sparked a flicker of understanding. One Dragonair, enthralled by the sensation, instinctively began swaying its body in rhythm with the water's currents.

The moment its body moved in sync, a sudden, powerful wave of energy erupted from within, causing the surrounding seawater to vibrate in response.

However, the unexpected force rippled through the vortex, catching the other four Dragonairs off guard. Still deeply focused, they had no time to react before the water's turbulence overwhelmed them. The whirlpool pulled them under, pummeling them mercilessly with its fierce currents.

The instigator of the wave panicked upon realizing the chaos it had caused. Watching its companions struggle against the powerful currents, it let out a distressed cry and surged forward in an attempt to help them.

"Woo!" the Dragonair roared, determination blazing in its eyes as it rushed toward its floundering companions.

But just as it reached out to grab them, the Dragonair froze, struck by a sudden realization: it had no hands.

For a brief moment, it hesitated, but then, a thought formed in its mind: If I need hands, I'll grow them!

As the thought solidified, a brilliant white light enveloped the Dragonair, radiating outward with intense energy. The evolution light was so strong it dispersed Dragonite's whirlpool entirely.

Within the radiant glow, the Dragonair's form shifted and transformed. Moments later, the light faded, revealing a majestic Dragonite in its place.

Without missing a beat, the newly evolved Dragonite stretched out its powerful arms, swooping in to catch its four companions just in time. With care and precision, it cradled them in its strong embrace, lifting them above the turbulent waters.

...

Meanwhile, time passed swiftly for Naoki as he focused on his fishing. When only five minutes remained of the three-hour training session, he glanced down at his fishing bucket, now brimming with his catch.

Peering inside, Naoki noted five flopping Magikarp and two dull-looking Feebas.

He chuckled softly, remembering how a few aggressive Basculin had made their way into the bucket earlier. However, their fiery tempers quickly turned the situation chaotic. The feisty Pokémon had launched themselves at Naoki, striking his chest repeatedly until he had no choice but to release them back into the water.

Now, the bucket only held the docile Magikarp and the sluggish Feebas, both of which lacked the ferocity of the Basculin. These two types of Pokémon were so placid that they hardly resisted being caught, instead accepting their fate with a resigned air.

Examining his catch, Naoki couldn't help but muse, "With these Magikarp and Feebas, I could almost cosplay as the festival Magikarp seller."

He sighed wistfully. "It's a pity I didn't manage to reel in a Gyarados or Milotic…"

Both Pokémon were rare in the shallower waters near the beach. To find them, he'd need to venture much deeper into the sea—a task for another day. Still, Naoki felt satisfied with his efforts.

The Paella of Paldea had worked wonders, amplifying his fishing luck. Though it was technically his fortune that had improved rather than his skill, the results spoke for themselves.

"This might be my ticket into next summer's fishing competition," Naoki mused with a smile.

In previous years, he had avoided the competition due to his lackluster fishing abilities. Early on, it had been Koraidon's efforts that brought in the fish for the ranch, though the townspeople mistakenly believed Naoki himself was the talented angler.

Naoki had once been given the honorary title of "Fishing Master" by the townspeople—though it was more exaggeration than truth.

But now, with the blessing of his special Paella de Paldea, his imagination ran wild. He pictured himself at the upcoming fishing competition, skillfully reeling in fish after fish, including rare and extraordinary Pokémon. A crowd of townsfolk would gather around him, their faces alight with amazement and admiration.

"What a true Fishing Master!" they would exclaim.

Naoki's daydream was abruptly interrupted by the jerking motion of the float on his fishing line. The float bobbed wildly—another fish had taken the bait!

He grabbed the rod and began to pull. However, the line didn't budge. The resistance was immense.

This is a big one! Naoki thought, his heart pounding with excitement.

He braced himself and increased his effort, gripping the rod tightly as he struggled to reel in whatever had taken the hook.

The commotion quickly drew the attention of nearby fishermen. Seeing the tension in the line and the activity on the surface, they instantly knew Naoki had hooked something enormous.

"Come on, young man!" one of them shouted.

"Don't give up! Fishing is a test of patience and perseverance!" another added.

"You've got this!" they cheered.

Encouraged by their enthusiasm, Naoki gritted his teeth and kept pulling. But just as he felt he was making progress, the line suddenly slackened.

Before he could process what was happening, a massive figure burst out of the water with a splash. The sunlight reflected off its wet, orange body as it soared into the air.

It was a Dragonite.

Not just any Dragonite—a cheerful, slightly mischievous-looking Dragonite with a radiant smile and a fishing hook clasped in its mouth.

Naoki froze. "Huh?"

Behind him, the fishermen stood in stunned silence, their mouths agape in identical "O" shapes.

The Dragonite landed gracefully on the beach, its tail swishing happily as it spat out the hook.

"Dragonite?" Naoki blinked, dumbfounded.

The fishermen erupted into chatter.

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"This young man actually caught a Dragonite?!"

"What kind of fishing skills does he have? That's unheard of!"

Naoki's own Dragonite soon flew over from the sea, carrying four dripping-wet Dragonairs in its strong arms. As it approached, realization dawned on Naoki.

"Dragonair?" Naoki called, addressing the Dragonite.

The playful Dragonite wagged its tail and gave a delighted cry. "Awoo!"

Naoki sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "You were the one on the line? Were you playing a joke on me?"

Dragonite chirped happily in response, clearly unrepentant.

Naoki turned to the fishermen, whose expressions had shifted from awe to confusion. "It's just my own Dragonite," he explained sheepishly. "It was messing with me."

At that moment, one of the fishermen recognized Naoki's Dragonite. "Wait a minute! That's the milk carrier Dragonite from town!"

Another fisherman's face lit up in recognition. "Are you… Naoki from Naoki Ranch?"

Naoki nodded with a modest smile. "That's me."

"Ah, that explains everything!" the fisherman said with a grin. "I've heard a lot about you, young man! They say you're a Fishing Master. Last spring, didn't you supply half the seafood market all by yourself in just two weeks?"

Naoki's smile stiffened. "That's... definitely an exaggeration."

The fishermen, however, were clearly impressed. They began discussing amongst themselves, and a competitive glint appeared in their eyes.

"You've got some serious skills, kid," one of them said. "You should join us for a fishing competition sometime."

Naoki could only manage a wry smile. "Sure… Maybe next time."

With that, the fishermen started packing up their gear—it was noon, and time for them to head home.

As they left, one of them turned back to Naoki and waved. "Don't forget! We're expecting you to show us those skills next time!"

Naoki chuckled softly and waved back.

He finally let out a sigh of relief. The fishermen's reactions had been so over-the-top that it left him feeling amused and a little embarrassed.

He turned back toward the sea, gently releasing the Magikarp and Feebas he had caught. Watching them swim away, he smiled, satisfied that his fishing trip had still been fruitful.

With his fishing rod now packed away, Naoki turned to his Pokémon and asked, "So, what did you all gain from today's special training?"

"Woo!" (We're so close to evolving!) came the enthusiastic reply from the four remaining Dragonairs, who had not yet evolved.

Their eyes sparkled with confidence and anticipation. They could feel it—their strength growing, their bodies preparing for the transformation they longed for. The training in the ocean whirlpool had pushed them to their limits, and now evolution seemed closer than ever.

Meanwhile, the newly evolved Dragonite could hardly contain its excitement. Its orange body practically glowed with pride as it realized its new role on the ranch. From today onward, it would officially join the ranch's delivery team, working alongside the other senior Dragonites to help Naoki with the daily tasks.

Naoki caught the eager gleam in Dragonite's eyes and couldn't help but chuckle. "What kind of Pokémon gets so excited about work?" he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Work is tough, you know," Naoki said, raising an eyebrow at the enthusiastic Dragonite.

But Dragonite shook its head vigorously, its eyes blazing with determination. "Awoo!" (I'm not afraid of hard work!)

Naoki paused, his expression softening. He couldn't help but admire Dragonite's enthusiasm. It wasn't just about wanting to work—it was about wanting to contribute, to be a part of the team that supported the ranch.

"Alright then," Naoki said with a small smile, patting Dragonite on its head. "If you're that determined, I'll make sure to prepare even more delicious meals for you and everyone else. You're all working so hard, and I want to make sure you're rewarded for it."