Chapter 29

So far, Ash and Brock's trip through the Safari Land had been less than fruitful. Sure, they had had lots of adventures, but the Safari Zone had been known for one thing: its wide variety of rare Pokémon that was a staple for any Pokémon Trainer. But so far, every area they had stumbled across was a Pokémon reservation made to protect the rare Pokémon – as such, capturing them wasn't allowed. But with the Pokémon Ranger Jenny's help and guidance, they were quickly approaching the actual Safari Zone, and Ash was beyond elated, especially when they started to see the large gatehouse that was the entrance to the area that Jenny had described.

"We have finally arrived; we've finally... arrived!" Ash sang happily, marching to a song that was only playing in his head, much to the chagrin of Brock, who seemed to be annoyed to the point of exhaustion. "Here's the Safari Zooone; I'm happy but sort of embarrassed; here's the Safari Zoone! I'm gonna go all out getting tons of Pokémon! Yeah yeah yeeaaaahhhh!"

The pair stopped in front of it, and Ash felt as though the smile on his face couldn't fade at all. "We're finally at the Safari Zone! Let's get some Pokémon... yeaaah!" he said, still in a singing voice but not as much as the song he had been singing earlier.

"Please do something about that 'talking through singing' thing..." Brock sighed with exasperation, but Ash ignored him and simply raised his hands higher as he sang.

"This is a Pokémon smörgåsbord!" he argued happily, continuing to sing, which made Brock hang his head in defeat.

"Well, while we're here..." the Pokémon Breeder muttered, and then threw his head back and began to scream into the sky. "I'LL GET SOME TOO! YEAH YEAH YEAHHH-" Ash chuckled at his friend finally getting into the same happy spirit that he was, but suddenly, both boys flinched back as a gruff voice screamed at them.

"SHUT UP!" When their eardrums recovered, the two looked up on the porch of the gatehouse to see an older man with gray hair and a tough-looking face glaring down at them from squinted eyes. "I don't want to hear your off-pitch singing!" he scolded.

"What is with this all of a sudden?!" Ash objected, but instantly buttoned his lips together, mashing them until they turned white when the man pulled a gun from one of the holsters on his hip and cocked it before pointing the barrel at Ash's face.

"You want to be shot?" the old man simply asked. Unsure of how to apologize without speaking, Ash and Brock simply stared frozen in place with their hands up in surrender. The man really seemed to be considering shooting them, but then finally put the safety back on and sheathed his weapon. "Consider that my last warning," he said finally. "I am Kaiser, the warden here at the Safari Zone."

"Great! I would like to participate in your Safari game!" Ash replied hastily, forgoing any of the events that had just transpired. When the man's eyebrows drew together for a fraction of a second, the black-haired boy instantly regretted opening his mouth and quickly redacted his statement. "Uh, if that is... okay..."

The man was quiet for a long time, as if he were thinking over a difficult question, before he finally spoke up. "There's already someone else who is participating as well. He's in the lobby, but I'll have him wait until you're familiar with the rules." With that, the warden turned around and headed inside the door behind him without waiting for Ash or Brock to follow. The two traveling companions exchanged a nervous glance before walking up the porch and into the lobby as well.

The lobby was fairly small, and only consisted of a waiting area with several photographs hanging on the wall, a front counter which Kaiser had stepped behind, and a small videophone in the corner of the counter. The boy that Kaiser had mentioned was a teen that looked a little older than Brock, and was standing looking at the photographs with his hands in his pockets. He gave the two a quick glance before turning his attention back to the frames before him. His short blond hair clashed with his leather jacket, but the jacket wasn't long enough to hide the belt hanging loosely around his hip that had a line of Poké Balls on it.

Ash and Brock approached the counter as Kaiser's back was facing them, and he retrieved an already prepared tackle box with a fishing rod sticking out of the top. Peering inside, there didn't seem to be fishing lures inside, but instead, green Poké Balls with little 'S's above the control button. The sight of the new Poké Balls brought a smile to Ash's face, and he let out an excited gasp. "Safari Balls!" he exclaimed, recognizing the Poké Balls from television. A lot of powerful Pokémon Trainers such as Bruno from the Elite Four had Pokémon that originated from the Safari Zone. "And a fishing rod! With these, I can get-" He reached out a gloved hand greedily to grab the handle of the tackle box, but instantly moved and recoiled his hand when the barrel of Kaiser's gun poked his knuckle.

"I'll say this right at the beginning: these Safari Balls and fishing rod are all you can use in the Safari Zone," he said sternly. "If you disobey these rules, my Thunderbolt will fire."

"Thunderbolt?" Ash repeated, thinking back to his Gym battle with Surge and his Raichu. Was there a Raichu around here as well? His question was answered when he heard a click, and turned back to find the barrel of Kaiser's gun pointed straight at Ash's forehead, and the boy let out a nervous chuckle before slow raising his hands in surrender. "I... get it..."

"Hey, isn't this a Dratini?" the boy toward the back questioned, speaking up for the first time as he pulled one of the photos off to the side off its hook to get a closer look. The teen looked at it closely with a smile on his face, and the name of the Pokémon grabbed both Ash's and Brock's attention, and Ash approached the blond boy.

"Hey, can I see?" Ash asked, and the older boy politely showed him the photograph.

"Here, look." It was a black-and-white picture, and featured a young man whose face would have been intimidating if it wasn't for the smile in his late 20's kneeling beside an adorable Pokémon that looked like a cross between a sea serpent and a dragon. When Ash looked closely, the Dratini had a strange x-shaped scar running across the white bump on its forehead. "That looks like Kaiser being taken with it, doesn't it?"

"Ah, you're right!" the Pallet Town native realized. "He looks so young!"

"I've heard rumors that there are Dratini here in the Safari Zone," Brock spoke up with his hands on his hips as he looked over Ash's shoulder at the picture. "I guess they were true, then."

"No!" Kaiser yelled, running around the counter and snatching up the framed picture from the teen and clutching it defensively as if it were a delicate child.

"But it's in the photograph!" Ash argued. A clicking sound drew Ash's eye to Kaiser's hand, that was sitting on his holster, and he instantly changed his tune with a wave of his hands. "I-I-I get it! I understand completely!" Kaiser didn't respond, and quickly retreated outside while still clutching the picture frame to his chest, and the three let out a sigh of relief.

"Why does he get so defensive?" the newcomer asked aloud as the corner of his mouth scrunched up in thought.

"He seems to have his reasons," Brock responded simply.

"I'll try asking Professor Oak," Ash stated, and Brock nodded.

"All right." The blond boy left with his tackle box to go wait outside as Ash and Brock approached the videophone in the corner of the now-empty lobby. Dialing the familiar number of Professor Oak, he stared at the black screen while the line rang, and finally, Professor Oak's face appeared. The lines on his face seemed to be deeper from fatigue, but he nevertheless gave a small smile upon seeing the pair.

"Ah, hello Ash. Hello, Brock. Where are you two calling from?"

"The Safari Zone lobby," Ash answered.

"Ah, the Safari Zone. I know Kaiser very well," Professor Oak said with a nod.

Wanting to get straight to the point, Ash came out with his question bluntly. "Why would he say that there aren't any Dratini?" Professor Oak was quiet for a moment, and he stared at the screen with pursed lips as he contemplated his answer.

"The one who discovered the legendary Dratini thirty years ago was Kaiser," he finally responded. "But afterwards, Trainers who had heard rumors about it suddenly started intruding, and got every Pokémon they could find. As a result, the Safari Zone ended up completely wrecked." The pair looked horrified at the story, and the Pokémon Professor continued. "After that, the Safari Zone's rule to use thirty Safari Balls was established."

"So what happened to the Dratini?" the Pokémon Trainer questioned.

"In the end, it couldn't be found," he answered. "But a photo remains." Professor Oak scratched his temple nervously and turned his head nervously away from the camera. "Even I don't know where it really is. After all, it's a legendary Pokémon." As if to move off the subject, Oak came in close to the camera and glared at the lens at Ash through the screen. "More importantly, get some more Pokémon already! You haven't sent me anything at all aside from that stinky Muk!"

"I-I got it!" Ash sputtered nervously, and lifted up the tackle box and fishing rod that was given in the starter pack. "This time, I'll be sure to get something using these."

"I'm looking forward to it!" Professor Oak concluded, and with a wave of his hand, the screen went black.

His arms lowered and a smirk of excitement grew on the Pokémon Trainer's face as he stared at his own reflection, but it wasn't what he was seeing. In his mind's eye, he was looking straight at the Pokémon from the photograph. "The legendary Pokémon Dratini, huh? I want to see it!"

"Me, too!" Brock agreed.

Together, the pair headed out of the lobby and towards the giant wooden gates of the Safari Zone. The teen Pokémon Trainer was standing in wait, and Kaiser had just approached from one of the side doors when Ash and Brock caught up with them. "All right! Let's get some Pokémon!" the black-haired boy said with excitement emanating from him. Kaiser's frown deepened, but the blond Trainer smirked, and with a twist of a key at the front lock, the double wooden gates slowly opened with a loud creak.

The Safari Balls in Ash's hand rattled as his hand shook in anticipation, and the three stepped past the border into the wasteland ahead with the tackle box in one hand, and a fishing rod in the other. "Well, we're off then!" Ash said to Kaiser with a smile.

"Once you've used all the Safari Balls, return here immediately," Kaiser instructed.

"Okay!" Ash and Brock said at the same time, and the younger of the pair turned to the blond boy.

"My name's Ash, and this is Brock," the Pallet Town boy introduced, and Brock gave a nod and a friendly smile.

"I'm Ryuji," the Pokémon Trainer replied back.

"Do you want to go along with us to find Pokémon?" Ash asked, but the older boy shook his head in response.

"No thanks," he declined politely. "I kind of tend to go at my own pace, and I'm gonna hang around back here just a while longer." Ryuji flashed his teeth at them and gave them a final wave. "I hope we all get the Pokémon we came here for." Kaiser's eyebrow twitched at the phrase, but this went unnoticed by Ash and the boy chuckled back.

"Thanks! Me too!"

o 0 o

Leaving Kaiser and Ryuji behind, Ash and Brock headed out in search of Pokémon. The excitement of actually being able to catch some of these Pokémon he ran into was carrying him on a cloud, and he vowed to catch the first Pokémon he saw. Fortunately, they didn't have to go very far before a rumbling sound filled their ears, and mooing and roaring followed suit. The sound was very familiar, and Ash smiled when he looked up and saw a herd of Tauros barreling toward them.

"Here they come, Ash," Brock told him, and Ash retrieved his Pokédex to scan the Normal-type.

"Tauros. Its signature move is Tackle. Due to their docile nature, they won't attack without being assaulted first."

"All right!" Ash decided with a nod, and smirked as he closed the cover to his Pokédex. "I'll get Tauros." Plucking one of the green and white Poké Balls from his supply box, he pressed the center button to enlarge it, and threw the ball into the stampede. "Go, Safari Ball!" The ball soared into the storm of charging Pokémon, and a loud lowing came from the inside. A red flash of light showed that a Pokémon was drawn inside, and as the pair of Trainers quickly darted out of the way of the Tauros heading toward them, Ash's eyes were only locked on the ball that was left in their wake, rocking back and forth. As the black-haired boy approached it, the ball locked shut.

"It seems too easy, almost as if there's no merit to it!" the Pallet Town boy said confidently, picking up the Poké Ball and smiling.

"Just remember that there's a limit on the Safari Balls you have," Brock reminded him.

"I know that," Ash assured his traveling companion with a light grin, and the pair moved on. Using foliage as their cover, they moved quietly through the bushes until they poked their heads out. Covered by shade and leaves, their eyes fell upon a quadruped gray Pokémon that was covered in hard plates – a Rhyhorn. The Spikes Pokémon had its backside to them, and was busy grazing in the grass to even open its eyes. "A Rhyhorn has been spotted..." Ash muttered to Brock, gesturing his nose ahead and retrieving his Pokédex to gather information on the Ground and Rock Pokémon.

"Rhyhorn, the Spikes Pokémon. It's covered in a tough armor, giving its Tackle attack an extraordinarily destructive power." Remembering back in Pewter City, Brock's father, Flint – who helped him train to battle his son – had a powerful Rhydon, and Rhyhorn evolved into Rhydon. This was the basis on which Ash decided to capture Rhyhorn, and stood up from his cover.

"Just leave it to me!" he stated with a smirk, cradling a Safari Ball in his hand. Hearing this, the Rhyhorn gave a snort and turned around. Its eyes looked right at Ash without an ounce of worry, but before it could do anything further, Ash windmilled his arm back. "Go, Safari Ball!" The Safari Ball left his hand just as Rhyhorn turned away from Ash, and his aim would have been true, had it not been for another herd of Tauros to go stampeding by right in between him and the Rhyhorn. Ash's head cocked to the side and he let out a groan as the ball tapped a Tauros on the forehead, and the Safari Ball converted the Wild Bull Pokémon into red energy before pulling it inside. As the stampeding Tauros ran away mooing loudly, the green and white sphere fell to the ground and locked shut after barely rocking back and forth.

Both Ash and Brock stared in silence at the Poké Ball, unsure of how to react to what had just happened. "I ended up getting a Tauros again..." Ash murmured with a frown.

Up ahead, Brock had turned his attention to the Rhyhorn, that had trotted away over the hill after finishing grazing. "Oh, it left..." the Pokémon Breeder told his friend, but Ash only gave a nervous chuckle.

"Well, these things happen sometimes," the black-haired Pokémon Trainer replied, attempting to sound positive, and laughed loudly. "Next time! Next time!"

After collecting his second Tauros, the pair moved on onto a small lakeside. Ash would sometimes fish at home, but he never had on his journey as a Pokémon Trainer. Mostly because there wasn't enough room in his backpack for his father's fishing rod. But with the one provided, he decided to see what he could fish up.

The lake was small and it was pretty murky, which Brock commented on. "I wonder what kind of Pokémon could live in waters like this," he asked rhetorically as the Pokémon Trainer threw his lure in. The two sat in silence for just a few short minutes before Ash spoke up again.

"I'm not catching anything," he muttered with a frown.

"Fishing takes patience-" Brock began, but movement at Ash's fishing line grabbed both of their attentions. The line began to spin around and around in the water, and Ash gasped before gripping the fishing rod tightly in his hands.

"W-woah! This thing is strong, whatever it is!" he exclaimed, planting his shoes in the mud best he could to make sure he didn't get pulled into the water. When his rod began to vibrate like it was going to snap, he ground his teeth together and called to Brock. "Brock! Help me!" Brock hurried over and wrapped his fingers around the fishing rod's base. "Don't let go! We'll pull at the same time!" Brock nodded, and both of them silently counted to three in their heads before pulling upward simultaneously. "THERE!"

Water rushed up all around the lake, and a roar reverberated through the air. Their blood ran cold and they all let out a scream when they saw Ash's line was sticking out of the huge fangs of a blue-scaled sea monster Pokémon. "It's a Gyarados!" Brock screamed, and in their frightened jump backward, the fishing line on Ash's rod snapped, and the Gyarados gave one final roar before diving back into the water and splashing water all over them and sending them off their feet and onto their backsides.

Water dripped down the side of Ash's face and the Pokémon Trainer opened up Dexter's cover and brought up Gyarados's information. "Gyarados. This Pokémon has a vicious temperament, so use extreme caution. Its fangs can crush stones and its scales are harder than steel."

"I can't believe there's something like that in those waters..." Ash murmured as he watched the ripples from the disturbed water expand outward until the surface settled once again. Standing up and shaking the water droplets from their body, Ash looked up to see a shadowy figure stumbling over to them. "Hey, it's Kaiser!" the boy exclaimed, realizing who it was once he got closer. But the man suddenly winced as he limped closer, and folded like a lawn chair onto the ground. "Kaiser!" Both boys ran up to the man, and Brock leaned down and helped him off the ground. He flinched back at Brock's touch to his arm, and the Pokémon Breeder quickly looked at the appendage before turning back to Ash.

"His arm is broken," Brock deduced.

"Kaiser, what happened?!"

"That kid... That Ryuji kid... He's trying to capture Dratini..." Kaiser wheezed breathlessly. He was covered in bruises and scrapes, and both of the weapons that he had holstered when the pair had first met him were gone.

"I thought there weren't any Dratini?" Brock questioned, but the old man shook his head.

"No. There are. In the Valley of Dragons."

"The Valley of Dragons?" Ash parroted with a cocked eyebrow.

"I'll explain on the way there..." he puffed, and forced himself onto his feet.

"Sir, we need to wrap your arm-" Brock began, but Kaiser cut him off.

"That kid is going to steal Dratini! I can't let that happen!" The younger boys fell silent, and exchanged a glance before Ash's eyebrows came together in determination.

"Let's go to the Valley of Dragons."

o 0 o

The Valley of Dragons was a lake located so deep in the Safari Zone it was obvious why so few people came here during the Safari game. It wasn't a very big lake, but it was closely nestled and protected in between two cliffs of white stone. In fact, if they didn't have Kaiser's instructions, Ash and Brock wouldn't even have known that it was here. The lake itself was crystal clear, unlike the last one they had seen, and several spiked stone made of glittering mica glistened in the sunlight, giving the whole area an ethereal appearance.

Supporting the old man on both of their shoulders, the three tried to go as fast as they could to stop Ryuji from doing anything drastic. When they finally arrived, they found him on the other side of the lake. At his side was a Machoke with lines showing age on its face, and in his hands was a collection of red pipes tied together with a band and a timer on the front.

"Ryuji, stop!" Ash yelled, and the boy and his Machoke looked in their direction. "Kaiser told me what's going on. You can't take the Dratini!"

"You're a tough old man," Ryuji said to Kaiser, and though he frowned, he still looked amused. "I've come this far. Don't make me stop you, Ash!"

"Why are you so determined to get Dratini?!" Brock asked. "There are tons of other Pokémon here! Go catch them instead!"

"My grandfather was one of the only Trainers to ever see Dratini!" Ryuji paused, and glanced at his Machoke. "He battled it with this very Machoke, and he would have got it, too, if that old man hadn't stopped him!" Kaiser's face was set in stone as Ryuji shot a glare at him, and then the blond continued. "That Dratini rightfully belongs to him, and as such belongs to me! I'm going to fulfill his dream by getting that Dratini – one way or another!" Ash stepped forward, but Ryuji held the collection of pipes forward.

"What is that?"

"It's a bomb that I designed. It will go off and set off an electrical charge through the water, which will bring all of the Pokémon in the lake to the surface, and I'll be able to catch them one by one with these Safari Balls that Kaiser so graciously provided with us. And if this little stun bomb doesn't do the trick, then that's what I have Machoke here for. It's not just for interrogating old men, you know."

"It's against the rules to use your Pokémon here!" Ash yelled, running forward to the side of the lake.

"I play by my own rules, kid! Machoke, Rock Slide!"

"Maaaa-Choke!" The Superpower Pokémon gave a loud cry before swinging its fist backwards and slamming the side of it into the cliff. The earth rumbled and soon fragments of rock broke off behind them and flew down, splashing into the water just in front of Ash. It was a warning shot to show that he was serious. As Ash's brown eyes watched the rocks sink and disappear into the water, he looked back up to see Ryuji winding up, and they could only gasp as he grunted and threw the bomb forward, where it landed in the lake among the rocks with a splash.

"If that explodes, the Pokémon in the lake will..." But whatever Kaiser was going to say wasn't finished, as the Safari Zone warden didn't even hesitate before running forward and diving into the lake.

"Kaiser!" Ash yelled, and went to follow him, but Brock called out for him.

"Ash!"

"What is it, Brock?"

"If you go into there and that bomb goes off..." But Ash gave his traveling companion a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine," he told him, and twisted his cap backwards. As he did, he retrieved a Poké Ball from his belt and tapped the device's button to make it larger. "Wartortle, I choose you!" The ball hit the ground and opened, releasing the energy it was holding inside which eventually formed into Ash's starter Pokémon.

"Wartortle!" his Pokémon cried, and together, the pair dove into the water. Behind him, Brock took out his own Poké Ball and threw it over the lake.

"Psyduck... gooo!" The red and white ball opened over the lake, and the Water-type Pokémon appeared in the air with a cry before splashing down into the water. "Psyduck, go help Ash and Kaiser!" Brock instructed his Pokémon, but suddenly, Psyduck surfaced and began to flail wildly.

"PSY-DUCK PSYYAIYAIYAIYAI!" it screamed, and instantly, Brock could feel his face burning in embarrassment.

"A Water Pokémon that can't even swim?!" he exclaimed, and let out a sigh before recalling his Pokémon back into its Poké Ball. Across the lake, Ryuji and Machoke laughed and the Pokémon Trainer raked a hand through his short blond hair.

"Oh man, if that's any indication of your friend's skills, getting that Dratini will be a piece of cake!"

"Don't worry, Brock!" Ash, who had seen the whole thing in the lake, nodded at the Pokémon Breeder. "I'll handle it from here." Pulling in a deep breath, both him and Wartortle disappeared beneath the surface.

It didn't take long to catch up with Kaiser with Ash holding onto the Water-type's back. His Starter Pokémon moved swiftly through the water as if it were a Flying Pokémon in the air, and when they reached the old man, bubbles came out of his mouth showing he had reached his limit. Wartortle, go help Kaiser and go on ahead. Ash thought this while looking at Wartortle, and somehow, his Pokémon knew what he was thinking, and though the lake was dark and void of light, he could see the outline of Wartortle's head nod, and it swam over to Kaiser before sweeping him up and going towards the surface.

Turning away, Ash continued swimming down, kicking his legs through the ice-cold water as hard as he could to get to the bottom. I have to do something for Kaiser, who has continued to protect Pokémon for thirty years!

The lake was a lot deeper than it looked from the outside, but Ash finally managed to reach it. Though he had to squint, he managed to find the bomb lodged in between a pair of rocks that had been sent down with Machoke's Rock Slide. His lungs started to tighten as he pulled with all his might to get it out, and clutching it close to his chest, he pushed off the ground and began swimming upward. But the surface was still too far away, and his chest was already begging for air. I have to hurry and get this bomb to land! he told himself, but this only seemed to deplete his held air supply more.

Hurry! I have to hurry! He kicked his legs faster, but it was useless. With an involuntary gasp, what little air that was held in his deflated lungs left his mouth, and the darkness closed in around him as he sunk to the bottom of the lake while clutching the bomb in his arms.

o 0 o

A bright light woke him up from unconsciousness, and when he opened his eyes, he realized he could breathe. Taking in a deep breath of air, he looked down to see that his legs were wrapped around a serpentine body with scales that glittered like sapphires. He was floating high in the air, and when the dazzling light faded and the clouds above parted and rays of sunlight broke through and shined down in beams all around him, he looked up to see a horned Pokémon with wings on both sides of its head.

He peered down below him, and the lake that he had almost lost his life in was splashing back and forth from being heavily disturbed, and while Kaiser and Brock looked amazed and relieved, Ryuji seemed shocked. Just then, the Pokédex in his pocket came to life. "Dragonair, the Dragon Pokémon. A legendary Pokémon that can freely make it rain or snow. It's said to be able to fly even though it doesn't have wings."

"You think you beat me, Dragonair?!" Ryuji asked loudly up at the Dragon-type Pokémon. "You've only made my plan succeed! Who do you think gave you that scar on your horn?! This Machoke is that very same one, and I will defeat you with it and capture you!"

"Ryuji," Ash spoke up, and the blond's eyes flickered over to Ash, glittering with worry. "This is yours!" At the high altitude that Ash was at, he only needed a light throw to get the bomb down to Ryuji, and the older Pokémon Trainer caught it completely out of reflex before peering down to see the number drop to zero. Both him and Machoke let out a scream that was cut off before the bomb exploded, and the pair were sent flying through the air, where they flew high over the cliffs and just under the rainbow that arched between them. Their screams quickly disappeared and as did they.

Floating back to the ground, Dragonair dropped Ash off on the surface before slithering back into the lake. Ash thought the Dragon Pokémon was going to submerge itself back underwater without another word, but the blue sea serpent turned around and swam up to the edge of the lake where Kaiser was. The pair locked eyes, and Kaiser was the happiest Ash had ever seen him. "Could you be...?" His eyes landed on the scar on the Dragonair's horn, the one that Ryuji had mentioned, and Ash recognized it instantly. It was the same scar that was on the Dratini's forehead in the picture they had seen back in the lobby. "I knew it; you're the one from back then!"

Dragonair let out an elegant coo and leaned forward, laying its head down on Kaiser's shoulder, and tears fell from both of their eyes as Kaiser wrapped his arms around the legendary Pokémon. "You've grown up so splendidly..." he sputtered in between his tears. Another cry pulled Dragonair and Kaiser apart, and the old man looked down to see the cry had come from a Dratini that surfaced from underwater. The Pokémon gave an innocent yawn before swimming up beside its evolved form. "A Dratini!" He looked back at the Dragonair. "Could this be your child?" Dragonair's amethyst eyes looked down at the Dratini beside it and nodded its head. "I see... I see..." It was all he could say before the feelings overwhelmed him again and he began to cry with happiness.

"This is such..." Ash began, but feared he wouldn't be able to speak any more without bursting into tears himself, so Brock continued.

"A touching meeting, huh?" he added. And Ash could only nod in agreement.

o 0 o

"We won't tell anyone that we met Dratini and Dragonair," Ash concluded. They were back at the lobby at the Safari Zone gates, and the two stared at the screen where the image of Professor Oak smiling was being displayed. After the adventure they had, Ash needed to tell the Pokémon Professor, knowing he would enjoy the story while keeping it a secret as well.

The gray-haired professor chuckled once the story was completed. "You've all grown up pretty well yourselves," he commented, and Ash stuck out his chest proudly.

"Of course, Professor!"

"By the way, Ash, did you send me any Pokémon?" It was the question Ash had been dreading, and the black-haired boy gave a nervous chuckle.

"Uh, well, I captured a pair of Tauros!" he admitted, and Professor Oak stumbled in the screen.

"A pair?!"

"Yeah... Things happened, you see... In all the confusion, we didn't really have time to catch a whole lot," Ash admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "But, I only sent over one; I'll be keeping the leader with me. And I also sent you my Krabby. I sent them over earlier, so they should be there by now..."

Just then, a popping sounded over the speakers and a couple of flashes of light grabbed Professor Oak's attention. As he turned his head to look, he suddenly let out a loud scream and stood to run, but he was quickly trampled by the single Tauros that ran by, the Pokémon visible in Ash's screen as a brown blur. As the Wild Bull Pokémon exited the room, Professor Oak sat up, visibly bruised and his coat and hair ruffled, and sitting on the man's head was Ash's puny Krabby. The Crab Pokémon smiled at the screen upon seeing its Trainer, and clipped its claws and foamed at its mouth.

"Be sure to be good for Professor Oak, Krabby," Ash told his Pokémon, and the Water-type gurgled back a response, but it was Professor Oak that gave a sigh.

"It's not Krabby that I'm worried about..."

-end-

Ash:

Party:

Wartortle (Poké Ball)

Moves: Skull Bash, Dig, Water Gun, BubbleBeam

Pidgeotto (Poké Ball)

Moves: Gust, Quick Attack, Whirlwind, Wing Attack

Bulbasaur (Poké Ball)

Moves: Tackle, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, Leech Seed

Charmander (Poké Ball)

Moves: Flamethrower, Fire Spin, Skull Bash, Ember

Tauros (Safari Ball)

Moves:

Mankey (Poké Ball)

Moves: Thrash, Mega Kick, Scratch

At Professor Oak's Lab:

Muk (Poké Ball)

Moves:

Tauros (Safari Ball)

Moves:

Krabby (Poké Ball)

Moves: ViceGrip

Badges:

Boulder Badge

Cascade Badge

Thunder Badge

Marsh Badge

Rainbow Badge

Soul Badge

Brock:

Party:

Onix (Poké Ball)

Moves: Tackle, Bind, Dig

Geodude (Poké Ball)

Moves: Seismic Toss, Tackle

Zubat (Poké Ball)

Moves: Whirlwind, Supersonic

Psyduck (Poké Ball)

Moves:

Vulpix (Poké Ball)

Moves: Fire Spin