The [Title System]—

  It was the golden finger August had gained upon arriving in the Pokémon world.

  Its function was simple and direct: as long as August met specific conditions, he could unlock titles and then choose a reward from three options provided by the system.

  Even after ciming the [Viridian Power], August wasn't in a rush to leave the nature reserve just yet.

  Before heading to the League for his debriefing, there was still one important thing he needed to take care of.

  His destination: the Safari Zone, located right next to the reserve.

  From a distance, he spotted Kaiser, the old cowboy, sitting in a chair, diligently polishing his two prized revolvers.

  "Hey, old man Kaiser!"

  August raised a hand and called out in greeting.

  Kaiser, in the middle of cleaning his gun, jerked in surprise at August's voice. His hand slipped, and he nearly fired off a shot.

  Carefully tucking his revolvers back into their holsters, he lifted his head.

  Upon seeing August, his eyebrow twitched hard, and his expression turned wary.

  "August… why aren't you in your nature reserve? What are you doing here?"

  "What, is that how you treat an old friend? We've been neighbors for two and a half years, you know!" August feigned disappointment at the ck of warmth in Kaiser's voice.

  "Oh, please. Without you as my 'old friend,' I'd probably have a few more years to live." Kaiser scoffed.

  For the past two years, August's mischievous Gardevoir had caused absolute chaos in the Safari Zone, leading to countless compints from visiting Trainers.

  And August himself? Not much better. He constantly borrowed Pokémon from the Safari Zone to set up traps for poachers.

  To put it simply—every time August showed up, nothing good ever followed.

  August had nothing to say in his defense. After all, Gardevoir did have a bit of a pyful streak.

  "Rex, I'm just here to say goodbye."

  "Goodbye?" Kaiser suddenly stood up from his chair.

  "…You're finally getting transferred?"

  His eyes lit up with pure joy. If not for the no open fmes rule in the wild, he would've set off fireworks to celebrate.

  For two years, he had lived under the constant shadow of August and his Gardevoir.

  And now?

  He was finally getting rid of them!

  "…."

  Watching Kaiser all but dance for joy, August clenched his fists.

  "Do you have to be this happy? I haven't even left yet."

  "…Ahem, right, right. Can't celebrate too early."

  Kaiser swiftly suppressed his excitement and cleared his throat, trying to look serious.

  "So? What do you need from me?"

  "Got any Safari Balls? Hand me one." August held out his hand.

  After two years as a ranger, it would be a waste to leave without catching a second Pokémon.

  Now, Kaiser was truly curious.

  "I tried shoving Safari Balls into your hands before, and you never took them. What's with the sudden change of heart?"

  Even as he spoke, he didn't hesitate, pulling out an entire box of Safari Balls.

  "Take as many as you want. We're old friends, after all." Kaiser said generously.

  …Of course, in his mind, he was thinking—the faster he could get rid of August, the better.

  He was even willing to waive the entry fee just to speed up the process!

  Looking at the massive pile of Safari Balls, August could read Kaiser like an open book.

  Still, he only took one.

  "No need for so many. One is enough."

  "One? You already have a target in mind?"

  Kaiser was intrigued.

  After knowing August for so long, he knew the guy had high standards—he wouldn't go out of his way for just any Pokémon.

  Finally, the moment came.

  August tossed the Safari Ball up and down, then looked up with a smile.

  He uttered a name that made Kaiser's face change dramatically—

  "…Dratini."

  Without waiting for Kaiser's reaction, August turned and strode toward Dragon's Valley.

  "August! August, wait up!"

  Kaiser ran after him, waving frantically.

  Finally catching up, panting hard, he gasped, "Where the hell did you hear that there's a Dratini in the Safari Zone?!"

  Years ago, the secret leaked, and a horde of crazed Trainers had descended upon the Safari Zone in search of Dratini.

  Ever since, Kaiser had kept his mouth shut, never mentioning a single word about it again.

  So how did August know?

  "From the photo on your wall, of course." August replied matter-of-factly.

  "Every time I visit your ranger cabin, there's that framed picture of you and Dratini hanging on the wall. A blind man could see it."

  "…."

  The reasoning was so fwless that Kaiser had no way to refute it.

  This was his mistake.

  Still, he tried one st time—

  "Ahem… That was decades ago. There was a huge Dratini-hunting craze back then, but no one ever found one. Dratini probably migrated away a long time ago."

  Kaiser hoped to dissuade August from chasing after it.

  Not that he thought August would actually find Dratini…

  But the st time this happened, the entire Safari Zone had been ransacked.

  Even now, just thinking about it made Kaiser break into a cold sweat.

  August, however, simply said—

  "I was a ranger here for two and a half years. And based on what you know about me…"

  "Do I ever do things I'm not confident in?"

  Kaiser fell silent.

  August was right.

  He never acted without certainty.

  Which meant…

  "…Could it be that the Dratini from back then never left?"

  A thought took root in Kaiser's mind.

  If that was the case—

  Then maybe…

  Just maybe…

  He could see that Dratini again.

  ...

  "You sure Dratini is here?" Kaiser frowned at the ke before them.

  "I did find Dratini here back then, but after all the Trainers turned the pce upside down, no one saw any trace of it again."

  "They're them, and I'm me."

  August smiled.

  "…Gardevoir."

  Standing by the ke, August called out softly.

  Gardevoir responded immediately.

  She crossed her blue arms over her chest, lifted her head, and began to sing—

  A beautiful, haunting melody drifted through the air.

  Kaiser felt his mind grow fuzzy, but quickly snapped out of it—Gardevoir had deliberately excluded him and August from the effects.

  "That's [Disarming Voice]…!"

  Even the lingering echoes had nearly enchanted him.

  August's Gardevoir… just how strong was she now?

  The ke's surface rippled.

  Goldeen, Poliwag, Magikarp…

  Dozens of Water-type Pokémon surfaced, staring at Gardevoir with adoration.

  Even Kaiser, who had patrolled the Safari Zone for years, had never known so many Pokémon lived in this ke.

  But…

  Where was Dratini?

  Just as he was about to ask—

  The ke churned violently.

  SPLASH!

  Water burst into the air.

  The Water Pokémon hurriedly scattered—

  Two figures, one rge, one small, leaped from the ke.

  Water droplets sparkled in the sunlight, forming a rainbow.

  A sleek blue body arched through the air, snowy white wings shimmering.

  "…Dratini and… Dragonair?!"

  Kaiser's eyes widened in shock.

  August, on the other hand, was completely unfazed.

  After all—

  This wasn't his first time meeting them.

  "Over here!" August waved.

  Dragonair remained still, but Dratini—

  With a joyful cry, Dratini rushed straight into August's arms.

  "Mi-chuu~~!"

  It wrapped its soft body around August's neck, nuzzling against his cheek.

  "Long time no see, Dratini."

  "I'm here to keep my promise."

  ---

  T/N: omg Dratini Tini Tiny Dra Dragon TINY DRAGON??? (LMAO forgot to schedule this)