[After tireless investigation, I finally discovered the reason. If you want Dragonite Express to unlock in your region too, then you'll want to read this!]
[Let's rewind to last summer when the Hoenn region got its delivery service. Do you remember what happened in Hoenn at that time? I think many of you already know the answer.]
[That's right! That was the summer when Groudon and Kyogre, the embodiments of land and sea, awakened due to the actions of Team Magma and Team Aqua. After their clash, both Legendaries disappeared once again—and both villainous teams were completely disbanded.]
[Now do you see the connection? Just like the fall of Team Galactic and the Pokémon Hunter Syndicate in Sinnoh, this is the key: Dragonite Express only launches when evil organizations are no longer a threat in the region!]
[So… does that mean if your region still doesn't have Dragonite Express, it's because there are still shady organizations out there capturing Pokémon?!]
As soon as this theory went viral, the entire internet exploded.
What?! That's the reason?
Trainers in the Alola region were quick to chime in: [But we don't have any evil organizations here!]
Galar residents followed: [Same here. We're clean!]
Kalos region added: [+1]
Meanwhile, Trainers in Kanto and Johto just quietly stared at their screens.
Anyone who's ever trained in the Kanto region has heard of Team Rocket.
That infamous group is practically the blueprint for evil organizations, stealing Pokémon from innocent Trainers, operating in the shadows, and constantly stirring up trouble. Even if they've been quieter in recent years, it's clear Team Rocket never truly disappeared.
Some even believe they've simply evolved.
Trainers in the Unova region chimed in too. While they hadn't noticed anything obviously criminal, they did mention seeing a group pop up in public spaces from time to time, one that claimed to be "liberating" Pokémon from Trainers, urging them to release their partners and abandon Poké Balls.
Suspicious?
You bet.
With this new theory making waves, internet users from every region suddenly became amateur Pokémon detectives. Social media buzzed with speculation, sightings, and organized efforts to uncover local villainous activity. Some even launched a dedicated forum for sharing intel and theories.
When Naoki saw all this chaos erupting simply because his store had opened Sinnoh deliveries, he nearly spat out the drink in his mouth.
He scrolled through the comment threads with amusement and disbelief.
Within days, Trainers in Unova had unearthed a mysterious group called Team Plasma, hidden deep within their region.
The group promoted public speeches about "freeing Pokémon from oppression"… yet eyewitnesses noticed that their own members used Poké Balls themselves. Hypocritical much?
Some players reported tailing the speakers from a distance.
The entire internet joined the hunt, with Trainers from other regions forming a kind of crowd-sourced Pokémon investigation squad to assist the Unova community in exposing any villainous activity.
At this rate, it felt like even the most secretive evil teams would soon be caught with their metaphorical pants down.
Naoki couldn't help but mutter, "There really is no such thing as privacy in the age of the internet."
He chuckled to himself, thinking that if someone like Giacomo or Cyrus were still lurking around, they'd be furious right about now.
Of course, most of these internet sleuths probably wouldn't affect the big picture. Stopping a major team like Plasma would ultimately depend on the region's top trainers, such as Unova's former champion, Alder.
Still, what interested Naoki the most were the comments about Team Rocket.
Apparently, reports of wild Team Rocket activity, like snatching Pokémon from random Trainers, had been on the decline in recent years.
That raised a big question: Was Team Rocket... changing?
As everyone knew, Team Rocket operated both in the shadows and in the public eye. Its boss, Giovanni, wore two faces, one as the secretive mastermind behind criminal operations, and another as a respected businessman with connections among politicians, celebrities, and even Pokémon League officials.
Was Giovanni preparing to "go legit"?
Or maybe he thought street-level theft was too unsophisticated for Team Rocket's future direction, and had ordered his grunts to scale back?
Naoki tapped his finger on the desk, deep in thought.
His musings were cut short by a familiar sound.
"Awoo!" came a friendly roar outside the ranch window.
Forget it. None of that had anything to do with him now.
Naoki stood up and stepped outside.
Today was a special day on Dragonite Island, the molting ceremony for the young Dratini. Early that morning, he'd received an invitation from the Dragonites to come watch the mass evolution ceremony.
Come to think of it, the shiny Dratini he had hatched himself should be ready to evolve soon too.
To give it a better environment to grow and learn the way of the Dragon-types, Naoki had sent the little one back to Dragonite Island to live among the others.
Today would be the perfect opportunity to visit it again!
But first, he had to make some preparations.
Naoki called his caretaker Indeedee sister and asked her to pack some Poffins and Poké Blocks into his travel bag.
As he slung the bag over his shoulder, he couldn't help but imagine a crowd of adorable Dratini and Dragonair swarming around him, pleading for treats.
Just the thought made him smile.
"Alright, let's go!"
Naoki stepped out to meet Koraidon and Dragonite, who were already waiting for him at the front door. He gave them a nod.
"Raao!" Koraidon chirped.
"Awoo!" Dragonite roared excitedly.
And with that, one human and two dragons passed through the Reverse World, using the World Tree's elevator system to descend toward the inner sanctum where Dragonite Island was located.
The World Tree absorbed sunlight from the outside and converted it into warm, life-giving rays that bathed the ecosystem below. With automated climate and biome control, it was essentially the world's most perfect Pokémon nature reserve.
That morning, golden sunlight shimmered across the vast blue sea. Waves sparkled like jewels as they lapped gently against the island's coral-strewn shores, leaving behind trails of white foam.
In the center of Dragonite Island sat a large circular lake, framed by thick clusters of leafy trees. The island's resident Dragonite were gathered near the shore, watching over the event.
Nearby, seven or eight Dratini were gathered along the rocks, rubbing against them excitedly.
Naoki landed at the scene with Koraidon and Dragonite.
The moment they arrived, the baby Dratini turned their wide eyes toward him with delight.
Among them, the shiny Dratini Naoki had raised squeaked joyfully and zipped through the air into his arms.
"Woo~!"
"Long time no see, Dratini!" Naoki laughed, gently petting its silky head. "Are you taking part in the ceremony too?"
He paused as he noticed the little Dragon Pokémon's damp, glistening skin. A small crack had already begun to form on its side.
A clear sign — it was shedding its old skin!
"You'd better get to it," Naoki encouraged warmly. "I'll be right here watching. I brought tons of snacks too! Come have some after you're done."
Dratini beamed with joy. The other Dratini nearby squealed in excitement too, their eyes glittering with anticipation.
Meanwhile, the Dragonite who had been overseeing the ceremony turned their gaze toward Naoki's backpack.
Their sensitive noses had already picked up on the delightful aroma of Poffins and Poké Blocks inside.
That smell... so sweet, so savory... I want it.
"Gulp..."
Several Dragonite swallowed hard.
The towering elder Dragonite who stood beside them glanced over with a raised brow.
"Awoo!" the elder barked, voice raspy but commanding.
The younger Dragonite flinched and quickly averted their eyes from the backpack, trying their best to refocus on the ceremony.
On Dragonite Island, that old Dragonite held the same authority as a clan elder — what it said, went.
The ceremony resumed.
Each Dratini twisted and coiled, pressing their slender bodies against the warm reefs, scraping gently to peel away the delicate layer of old skin wrapped around them.
Naoki sat back and watched in awe, fascinated by the rare scene unfolding before him. He quietly pulled out his Rotom Phone to record the moment.
It was something you didn't get to see every day, an entire generation of Dragon-types growing stronger, together.
The evolution process of Pokémon like Dratini is quite unique. Unlike many other species that evolve as soon as they reach a certain strength or level, Dratini must first go through multiple molting cycles. Only after shedding all of their juvenile skin layers will they begin the transition into Dragonair.
The way Dratini shed their skin is rather simple, and a bit rough. They rub their bodies against hard surfaces like rocks or reefs until their old skin peels away, revealing a fresh, supple layer beneath.
Perhaps it was Naoki's arrival… or maybe it was the mouthwatering scent of the Poffins he'd brought… but either way, the Dratini all seemed to silently agree on one thing, it was time to hurry up and molt!
With renewed determination, they began rubbing against the reef faster and harder.
Soon, a soft white glow shimmered around one of the Dratini. It resembled the glow of evolution, though it was gentler and less intense.
In the light, a small crack split open on top of the Dratini's head. Then, like unzipping a snug bodysuit, it slowly began sliding out of its old skin, from head to tail.
The freshly molted Dratini leapt joyfully from its discarded skin and glided straight into Naoki's arms.
"Woo~!"
Naoki caught it with a chuckle. The freshly shed Dratini felt incredibly soft, like holding the smoothest, silkiest fabric in the world.
"Well done," Naoki praised gently. He set down his bag, pulled out a treat, and offered it. "Here you go, a reward for your hard work."
He fed the Dratini a fluffy Poffin.
Seeing this, the other Dratini immediately doubled their efforts.
Not long after, more and more Dratini began to glow with that soft white light.
The second... the third... the fourth...
Within five minutes, every single Dratini had finished their molt. One by one, they wriggled free from their skins and zipped over to Naoki, who suddenly found himself surrounded by squeaking, wiggling, wide-eyed baby dragons.
"Woo~! Woo~!"
Naoki blinked as the mini dragons piled into his lap.
The elder Dragonite overseeing the ceremony watched with a smile of approval.
These little ones… they were growing up well.
Naoki laughed and laid out a large picnic blanket on the grassy patch nearby. He poured out all the Poffins and Poké Blocks he had brought, creating a small mountain of colorful treats.
The Dratini squealed with joy and began devouring the snacks eagerly, tails flicking and eyes gleaming.
Life couldn't get better!
Delicious food, warm sunlight, and the hope of evolving into strong Dragonite who could deliver joy all across the world — what more could they ask for?
A few Dragonite watching from the sidelines couldn't help but drool a little.
...
Bonus @3500 $tonks
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