It's a new day.

  Ever siing the Storm Buns made by Naoki, Dragonite felt like it had bee the most powerful Pokémon on the ranch. This realization filled it with excitement, and even its walk seemed lighter like the wind itself was carrying it.

  After delivering fresh milk to Mrs. Dantes, Dragonite began to set its sights oro Pokémon on the ranch: Koraidon, known as the stro around here.

  Seeing Koraidon lying zily on the grass, Dragorotted up and stood, staring at it ily.

  Sensing the intense gaze, Koraidon raised one eyelid and gave Dragonite a puzzled look, asking, "Raao?" (What's up?)

  Dragonite, full of anticipation, chirped, "Awoo?" (Wanna have a sparring match?)

  Koraidon blinked, surprised. 'Early in the m? Was it hearing this correctly?'

  It looked at Dragoh suspi, w if it had misuood. But Dragonite nodded enthusiastically: "Awoo!"

  Koraidon sighed. It didn't really want to get into any trouble, but since yesterday, it had noticed Dragoing like it was about to float into the sky from Pride.

  Dragohought it was now the most powerful Pokémon on the ranch.

  How did Koraidon know? Well, st night, when Dragonite was gazing at the moon with Cyclizar, it boasted about its newfound strength.

  At first, Koraidon didn't think much of it, just feeling a little envious. But now…

  This couldn't stand! It was still the stro Pokémon on Naoki's ranch!

  With its pride suddenly ignited, Koraidon became serious and accepted Dragonite's challehere could only be one most powerful partner for Naoki!

  So, just as Naoki was stepping out of the greenhouse, Cyclizar raced towards him, frantically trying to expin that Koraidon and Dragonite were about to fight.

  Naoki was stunned for a moment. He quickly tossed aside the Psyduck-themed watering he was holding and followed Cyclizar over to the goat's pen.

  o the pen was the battlefield Naoki had set up for challeaking part in the Green Grass Trial.

  At that moment, both Dragonite and Koraidon were already i opposite ends of the field, following all the rules of a proper match.

  "What are you two doing?" Naoki asked, slightly worried.

  "Ouch!" Dragonite answered happily, ready for the match.

  "Raao!" Koraidon responded calmly, showing no signs of as if this was just a routine practice.

  Naoki felt his initial ease. Seeing the two Pokémon so posed, he realized this wasn't a serious fight, just a friendly sparring session.

  After all, during their journeys, other trainers ofteheir Pokémon battle each other for practice.

  "Alright, I'll be your referee!" Naoki said with a smile.

  He was actually curious to see how this would turn out. Though Koraidon was legendary, it wasn't as overwhelmingly strong as endaries from previous games. And now, Dragonite had been boosted by the effects of the Storm Bun.

  'Would Dragonite be able to challenge Koraidon?'

  Seeing that both Pokémon were ready, Naoki blew his whistle and decred, "The battle begins!"

  However, the two Pokémon didn't attack right away.

  Dragonite looked at Koraidon across from him, filled with fighting spirit, and shouted, "Awooo!" (I'm going to attack!)

  Koraidon blinked and sighed, "Raao."

  With determination, Dragonite sprang into a.

  It folded its wings together, gathering energy to create an air vortex in front of it. But just as Dragonite began to move, Koraidoed instantly.

  In a fsh of scarlet, Koraidon's speed was blinding, crossing the battlefield in the blink of a gave up guarding and unched a direct atta Dragonite, catg it off guard.

  "What incredible speed!" Naoki gasped. 'Is this Koraidon's full power?'

  Koraidon's powerful punch, capable of crag the very earth, struck Dragonite hard, interrupting its move. Before Dragonite could process what had happened, Koraidon followed up with a wide-area destruove, sweeping Dragonite aside effortlessly.

  Dragonite's vision blurred as it was knocked out in one swift exge. Its eyes turned into spiraling swirls, and small stars circled above its head as it y on the ground, pletely dazed.

  "Is it… over already?" Naoki's voice was full of disbelief.

  Koraidon, standing victorious, turs ba the fallen Dragonite, exuding an aura of absolute dominanbsp;

  'I am,' Koraidon seemed to decre, 'the stro Pokémon around Naoki!'

  Koraidon g Naoki, and as their eyes met, it returo its usual calm, almost shy demeanor.

  "Raao~"

  "Wow, that was incredible!" Naoki excimed, still stunned by the dispy of power.

  Koraidon scratched its head bashfully, feeling a little embarrassed by the praise.

  'This is nothing pared to the real battles I've seen,' Koraidon thought, its mind wandering back to the time in Area Zero.

  Back then, Koraidon was still a Cyclizar, standing on the dazzling crystalline nd, gazing up i a mighty Koraidon locked in bat with four other dragons—and holding its ground without breaking a sweat.

  At that time, Cyclizar made a wish in its heart.

  If possible, it wao bee a powerful Koraidon, proteaoki, and stay by his side forever.

  Now, it had done just that.

  It had bee the most powerful Pokémon around Naoki.

  Naoki stepped forward to help Dragonite recently treating its injuries.

  Dragonite slowly opes eyes, still a bit groggy from the knockout. Covered in dust and looking quite pitiful, it blinked as it regained sciousness.

  Naoki coughed lightly, then asked, "So, how do you feel?"

  Dragoouched the back of its head, looking embarrassed: "Ouch…"

  It realized that it had been too proud and overfident.

  Seeing Dragonite's rea, Naoki began to piece things together.

  It wasn't like Koraidon to challenge Drago of nowhere. Knowing both of them well, Naoki guessed that this battle was most likely Dragonite's doing. It had probably thought it had bee to after eating the Storm Buns, and so it had challenged Koraidon to prove its strength.

  With a smile, Naoki rubbed Dragonite's head. "Don't be upset. You did really well."

  As Naoki sidered honite must've felt after being stronger, he couldn't help but offer some advibsp;

  "Also, as dragons, we o learn to be humble. Stay calm. Koraidon is family. Just because you lost, it doesn't think any less of you. It's not like some wild Pokémon out there that might ugh at you."

  Naoki gave Dragonite an example, describing a sario where it might show off to a wild Dragonite, only to be beaten ahe wild Dragonite say, "That's it? I thought you were stronger!"

  Dragonite blushed, imagining the se, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed.

  "So, what would you do in that situation?" Naoki asked as he casually popped a transtion seed into his mouth.

  Without hesitation, Dragonite replied, "Ouch!" (Challehem to another battle!)

  Naoki smiled. "But what if you still 't beat them?"

  Dragohought hard about this, struggling to e up with an answer. "Ouch…"

  It really didn't know.

  "So! Do you see what I'm saying? It's always better to stay humble." Naoki said with a pyful grin.

  Dragonite nodded in uanding.

  Naoki tinued, "It's not your fault. It es from your past experiences. I just want you to remember ohing."

  Dragonite looked up attentively.

  Naoki met its gaze, his tole but firm. "Strength is meant to protect yourself and those you care about, not to show off."

  Dragonite bliaking in Naoki's words. It gnced over at Koraidon, as if something clicked, then nodded firmly, its expression serious.

  "Ouch!"

  Naoki smiled warmly and reached out to pat Dragonite's head.

  "You're already strong. In fact, I'll need your help with something soon, but it might take a little time."

  Naoki had his sights set on the Ghost and Ice-type horses from the Gar regiorier and Gstrier.

  He po take Dragoh him to Gar. If it was like in the games and he had to face them in battle, maybe Dragonite could test its strength against those legendary horses before Calyrex mouhem.

  Naoki chuckled to himself, w if the horses with a base stat of 580 could match his Dragonite, with its impressive base stat of 600.