The forest was eerily quiet now. The storm of battle had passed, but the scorched earth still held the echoes of what had happened.
Ray moved quickly and silently, keeping to the trees. Dratini remained wrapped tightly around his torso, hidden under his cloak, its small form shivering from exhaustion and grief.
Pidgeotto flew low overhead, wings outstretched, its sharp eyes watching for trouble.
They had just crossed the outer ridge when Ray heard them—rangers, accompanied by members of the Wildlife Protection Corps and a few Trainer Guild officials. Among them…
His father.
Ray ducked behind a fallen tree and watched from a distance as the investigation team arrived at the now-devastated clearing.
A pair of rangers swept the site methodically.
"Energy readings are still off the charts," one said, holding a device that whined softly.
"Confirmed signs of Hyper Beam usage," another added. "Level of destructive force suggests it was fired by a fully evolved dragon-type. Possibly a Dragonite."
"Not many wild ones around these parts," a Guild officer said grimly. "If this was wild… it must've been provoked."
They fanned out, discovering scorched ground, bone fragments, and smears of blood that belonged to no one species alone.
"There was a battle here," someone concluded. "Multiple Pokémon. Some killed."
Then a ranger called out, "We've got a cage. Metal's warped. Lock shattered."
The Guild officer inspected it.
"This was recent. No blood inside. Whatever was here… was being kept alive."
"Poacher, then?" another said. "Looks like someone tried to smuggle something valuable."
Ray swallowed hard. He held Dratini tighter, heart racing.
Then one of the Guild members approached the makeshift grave beneath the tall tree. Stones, feathers, and a smooth bark slab decorated the site.
They all went quiet.
Someone knelt and brushed away the top layer of dirt, revealing massive scales—burnt, but intact.
"Dragonite remains," the Guild officer murmured. "Recent."
They carefully unearthed several preserved fragments—fangs, scales, tendons hardened from age—and tagged them for retrieval.
"No trainer ID. No Pokéball record. This was wild."
"And someone buried it," the ranger added, tone soft.
"Someone who respected it," another murmured.
Ray slowly backed away from the scene.
He couldn't let them see him.
That Night – Ray's Home
The door creaked open just past dusk.
Ray stepped inside, exhausted. His cloak clung to him, dirt-stained and damp. He closed it tighter around Dratini, who had barely moved since leaving the forest.
"Ray?" his mother's voice rang out from the kitchen. "You're back late. You didn't tell me—"
She walked in, froze mid-sentence, and narrowed her eyes.
"...What's under your cloak?"
Ray didn't answer fast enough.
She stepped forward, pulling the edge open—revealing Dratini, nestled close to his chest.
Her breath caught.
"Ray…" she whispered. "Where did you get this?"
Dratini blinked at her, confused.
"Ray! Do you understand what this is? Dratini are incredibly rare! They're not found in this region at all. Only the highest-ranking trainers ever have one, and that's after going through extensive regulation!"
He opened his mouth, but the door opened again.
His father entered.
He caught sight of the Dratini immediately.
"What—" he paused, stepped forward, eyes sharp. "Where did that come from?"
Ray looked between his parents.
And told them the truth.
He explained how he'd gone to the outer forest to train, how he saw the poacher, how a wild Dragonite had fought to protect its child, and how it entrusted Dratini to him with its dying breath. He told them about the battle. The grave. The promise.
Silence followed.
His father's fists clenched.
"You went into the outer forest alone," he said slowly. "Unaccompanied. No permit. And you got involved in a battle between a poacher and a wild Dragonite."
Ray lowered his head.
"I had to help…"
His father's voice rose.
"You could've been killed. Do you understand that? Do you understand the kind of Pokémon that could've ended your life in a single move?! This wasn't a game, Ray!"
His mother gently picked up Dratini, holding it close as the little dragon whimpered.
"You were lucky," she said softly. "If that Dragonite hadn't fought the poacher, we might not be having this conversation right now."
Ray didn't argue. He couldn't.
"I didn't plan to fight," he said quietly. "I just… couldn't leave it."
His father turned away, pacing.
"From now on, you're banned from the outer forest. No more solo training. No more pushing the rules. You can still train—but only under supervision. Understood?"
Ray nodded, eyes stinging.
"I understand."
They were angry—but underneath that anger… was fear.
They had almost lost him.