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The Dratini was so absorbed in eating that it hardly seemed to notice the words around it.
In truth, a long time had passed since its mother left. Although it still thought of her occasionally, the trauma was slowly healing, and it was no longer as heartbroken as it had been at the start.
After licking the can clean, it looked at Kai with an eager expression.
Seeing this, Kai quickly pulled out a second can and handed it over.
"Here, eat as much as you want."
This time, the Dratini seemed a little bolder. It cautiously approached Kai, took the can, and started eating again.
Kai couldn't help but feel amazed as he watched it finish the second can as effortlessly as the first.
"For such a small body, it sure has a huge appetite," he mused. "It probably eats as much as two Wartortle combined!"
At that moment, Haunter glanced at the sky and remarked, "It's getting late. We've been here for too long. Shouldn't we leave?"
Kai nodded, called his Pokémon together, and prepared to ride away on Zapdos. But as he started to leave, the Dratini stared at him for a long time and then hurriedly followed, letting out a series of soft cries.
"Huh?" Haunter said curiously. "It looks like it wants to come with us!"
"Come with us?" Kai was pleasantly surprised.
As the pre-evolution of Dragonite, one of the rarest and most powerful Dragon-type Pokémon, Dratini was incredibly special.
Before arriving on this island, Kai had always dreamed of catching a Dragonite. But after seeing how peacefully the Dragonite family lived here, he hadn't wanted to disturb their tranquillity. The idea of taming one had left his mind entirely.
Yet now, here was a little Dratini, wanting to leave with him of its own accord.
"Hey, Haunter," Kai said with a grin, "do you think it's following me just because it wants more canned food?"
"You might be onto something," Haunter replied, rolling its eyes. "It's probably sick of eating berries all the time. Your backpack must look like a bottomless pit of delicious meals. As long as it sticks with you, it'll get to feast on new flavours every day!"
"Mother left for milk; it is leaving the island for canned food", Kai chuckled. Regardless of the reason, he was thrilled to have the chance to bond with such a rare Pokémon so easily.
He glanced at the nearby Dragonite, who seemed to show no objections if anything, they appeared relieved.
"Dooor-grahhh!" ( We Approve )
Taking that as approval, Kai squatted down and pulled an empty Poké Ball from his bag.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked the Dratini seriously. "If you come with me, it might be a long, long time before you return here."
But the Dratini, entirely focused on the Poké Ball, seemed to think it was something edible.
It moved forward and tapped its nose against the button. In a flash of red light, it was drawn into the Poké Ball.
The ball shook briefly, then clicked shut.
Kai sighed with a smile. "What a little foodie," he muttered.
Still, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. After so much travelling, he had finally caught his eighth Pokémon.
Riding on Zapdos, Kai soared through the air, passing through the circular storm surrounding Dragonite Island and leaving it behind.
When his phone signal returned, he checked his position and set a course for Fuchsia City.
The high-altitude winds were freezing and nearly took his breath away. To ease the strain, he patted Zapdos on the back, signalling it to descend.
As they flew lower, the air became more bearable, and the sea beneath them sparkled in the sunlight.
After travelling a considerable distance, Kai decided to avoid detection by switching to Gyarados and continuing the journey across the water.
Riding the massive sea Pokémon, he eventually reached the shoreline.
Fuchsia City, with its pinkish hue and serene beauty, lay ahead. Known as a key city in the southwestern Kanto region, its most famous attractions included the Fuchsia Gym and the Safari Zone, a vast nature reserve where trainers could catch Pokémon for a small fee.
In the Safari Zone, visitors were given 30 Safari Balls and could catch Pokémon without battling.
This opportunity drew countless people, especially those hoping to capture their very first Pokémon.
However, Kai had no interest in the Safari Zone. He already had a strong team and no targets left in this area.
After a brief glance at the reserve, he moved on, heading straight for Fuchsia Gym.
Fuchsia City's urban area, filled with high-rise buildings, gave way to rugged mountain roads as Kai followed his map to the gym.
Unlike other gyms located within city limits, Fuchsia Gym was hidden deep in the mountains, a tradition tied to its leader's ninja heritage.
The journey was exhausting. Kai crossed streams, climbed slopes, and even balanced on narrow bridges. In the dense forest, wild Pokémon peeked out curiously from behind the trees.
Seeing Kai struggle with the terrain, Haunter offered, "Want me to give you a lift with Psychic or something?"
Kai shook his head. "No, thanks. As tiring as this is, it's good exercise."
Haunter frowned. "I don't get it. Why build a gym so far out? It's supposed to be a place where trainers can battle for badges, but just getting here feels like a test in itself. By the time we arrive, I'll bet half the challengers are too exhausted to fight!"
Kai adjusted his backpack and replied, "The Fuchsia Gym Leader, Koga, is not only a master of Poison-type Pokémon but also a ninja. His family has a long history of practising in secret, so they value this isolation. Reaching the gym is part of the challenge."
After another ten minutes of hiking, they finally reached a high ridge. From there, Kai could see a sprawling, elegant compound nestled on the other side of a cliff.
The simple yet sophisticated design of the gym stood out. All the buildings were connected by long, narrow corridors, forming a seamless structure that blended perfectly with the surrounding nature.
Kai exhaled in relief. "Finally," he muttered. "Let's see if this ninja gym lives up to its reputation."
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