......
Shortly after,
Fang Yuan, feeling fully satisfied, arrived at a secluded place and called out the feigning Dragonite.
He said to Dragonite, "Stop pretending to sleep, I've got Milotic's answer for you."
Dragonite's antennae-like hair twitched.
"If you don't get up, I'm not going to tell you," he warned.
Whoosh!
Dragonite immediately rolled up into a sitting position, looking at Fang Yuan with a resentful gaze.
It was so painful: in that moment, Dragonite realized that the power of awkwardness could also be transformed into mental agony, becoming nourishment for the Dark Power.
How detestable.
Dragonite glared at Fang Yuan, tears streaming down, and really wanted to ask why they had to torment such an honest and simple child.
"It's for your own good!"
"If it weren't for this chance, when on earth would you have confessed to Milotic? Do you expect Milotic to confess to you?"
"Boop, boowoo!!! (Then!!)" Dragonite looked at Fang Yuan anxiously.
Its heart thumped wildly, even more fearful and nervous than when facing Groudon for real.
So... what exactly was Milotic's answer?
Fang Yuan looked at Dragonite, sighed, and after a long silence, shook his head slightly, "I'm sorry, Dragonite, Milotic... turned you down..."
Boom!!!!!!
As soon as Fang Yuan finished speaking, it was as if an atomic bomb went off inside Dragonite's heart.
Crack!
At that moment, Dragonite felt almost suffocated, as countless snowflakes fell around it.
Its heart shattered into innumerable pieces, and the pain was like needles stabbing its soul, while the Dark Power surged up "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh."
Dragonite's face stiffened, and it nearly fainted for real.
On the other hand, Fang Yuan took a breath and continued, "But."
"But Milotic only said that you aren't good enough right now. I think you still have a chance!! As long as you meet Milotic's standards for a mate..."
"Boop... boowoo?!!"
Dragonite's spirit was suddenly rekindled.
Fang Yuan's words reignited Dragonite's thoroughly extinguished hope, and it snorted hotly through its nostrils, staring at Fang Yuan with wide eyes full of surprise and hope.
What are the standards? Quick, tell me! It would climb mountains and swim through seas of fire to meet them.
"Milotic said it likes girls..."
Crack!
Dragonite's face froze once again, and its heart went cold – it broke once more. What!!!
Did it have to change gender to earn Milotic's love? It...
The Dark Power rose again.
"Just kidding, now I'm going to tell you the real deal," Fang Yuan cleared his throat and continued.
Dragonite: "..."
Dragonite: (。・`ω´・) Keep huffing and puffing, and you'll lose your cute ride.
"Cough, first of all, Milotic says it likes strong Pokemon, at least stronger than itself. You've known this for a while, haven't you?"
"Fang Yuan sports meet hasn't been held for a while, you know, you've got to work hard oh."
Bam!
Dragonite clenched its fists and nodded vigorously. Its resolve to become stronger was now even more firm.
Fang Yuan also smiled watching Dragonite, knowing that through this ordeal its strength had definitely improved from before. If it had another battle with Sir Thousand Miles, it would certainly be the last one standing.
Its overall strength was not too far from Milotic's now, and if it were to unleash its full battle power, as long as it didn't have a type disadvantage, it might barely make contact with an Advanced Guardian God-level Pokemon.
"Second, Milotic hopes its other half has a heart of gratitude, and treats the Trainer just as well as it treats it," Fang Yuan nodded and said.
"Boowoo! (Are you sure you didn't add that one yourself?)" Dragonite glared at Fang Yuan.
"Not at all! Milotic told me that itself, if you don't believe me, go ask it yourself," Fang Yuan refused to admit.
He was certain Dragonite wouldn't dare to ask.
Dragonite: (.﹏.*) Boowoo...
"Then the third point, Milotic said it... likes slimmer Pokemon... hm."
Dragonite: ?????
Dragonite blew out an ice mirror on the ground, looking through it at its strong (bulky) body, pondering deeply.
Dragonite: (p・・q)?
"Don't bother looking, you definitely fall into the overweight category."
"Hm... I think what Milotic means is that it likes the slimmer figure of a Dragonair," Fang Yuan scratched his cheek, feeling this was probably the gist, thinking that indeed a Dragonair suited Milotic more than the goofy Dragonite...
Dragonite: (‧̣̥̇꒪່⍢꒪່) Boowoo…
Ah, what should it do, it couldn't devolve, could it?
"Let's not worry about this for now; appearances aren't the main issue. What matters most is showing Milotic your determination..."
"So let's start with losing weight. Starting today, your daily training regimen will be tripled, and I'll have Self-detonating Magnetic Monster design a weight-loss diet for you."
"You've indeed put on quite a bit of weight lately..."
"Fourth..."
This day was bound to be one filled with both despair and hope for Dragonite.
...
Half a day passed, and with Fang Yuan's guidance, Dragonite was willing to stay awake and stroll around.
And Fang Yuan, feeling completely content, went back to watching movies.
He wanted to see how his acting was from the perspective of an audience.
Dragonite really wanted Fang Yuan to delete the video Rotom had recorded, but though Fang Yuan promised with his words, his body didn't move an inch.
Dragonite sighed deeply.