After leaving the warm and heartfelt Kangaskhan sanctuary, Ash, Misty, and Brock finally arrived at the famous Safari Zone on the outskirts of Fuchsia City, filled with anticipation for the unknown.
This was a vast area enclosed by fences, built to simulate a natural ecosystem. It was said that countless kinds of wild Pokémon lived here, including many species that were extremely rare outside.
For any trainer aspiring to become a Pokémon Master, this place was undoubtedly a treasure trove full of temptation.
At the entrance stood a small wooden cabin with a rugged wilderness style, the administrator's office. Inside, they met the man in charge of the area, a middle-aged man named Kaiser. His skin was darkened by the sun, and his face carried the marks of wind and weather. Kaiser gave the impression of being stern and rigid as he swept his sharp gaze across every visitor.
"Welcome to the Safari Zone," Kaiser said in a low, powerful voice filled with unquestionable authority. "Here, you must follow strict rules. First, you may only use our specially made Safari Balls to capture Pokémon."
He pointed to a row of unusual Poké Balls on the counter. They looked heavier than the ordinary red-and-white ones and had a yellowish-brown color.
"Second, each entry is limited to thirty minutes. Third, the number of Pokémon you can take out with you is also limited. Most importantly, any form of violence is strictly forbidden. You may only rely on throwing Safari Balls and bait to attract and capture Pokémon. Anyone who violates these rules will be permanently banned from entering!" He deliberately emphasized the last point.
While Kaiser was explaining the rules, Ash's gaze casually swept across the office walls and was immediately drawn to an old yellowed photograph in a frame.
In the photo was a young man with a bright and energetic smile. One could vaguely tell it was Kaiser in his youth. His arm rested affectionately around the neck of a Pokémon.
That Pokémon had a long and elegant body covered in pearl-like pale blue scales. A small horn protruded from its head. It was none other than the legendary Dratini.
A wave of excitement stirred in Ash's heart, but he suppressed it and asked as calmly as possible, "Mr. Kaiser… that photo… is that a Dratini? Have you seen one?"
Kaiser's expression immediately darkened. A complicated emotion flashed in his eyes, something like nostalgia mixed with deep regret and caution.
He abruptly turned around and flipped the photo face-down on the table. His tone became unusually stern.
"Don't ask about it! That's none of your business! Remember, your purpose here is to capture Pokémon within the permitted area. Don't ask about anything else!"
Ash did not pursue the matter further. After all, with his foreknowledge, he knew Kaiser must have his own reasons. So he simply took the Safari Balls and headed into the Safari Zone with Misty and Brock.
However, this conversation about Dratini had been completely overheard by the Team Rocket trio, who were lurking outside the window like ghosts.
"Dratini! I heard it, meow!" Meowth exclaimed, his whiskers trembling with excitement.
"That's an incredibly rare Pokémon worth a fortune!" James's eyes turned into symbols of money.
"Since we heard about it, that means it belongs to Team Rocket now!" Jessie declared with her hands on her hips, as if Dratini was already in their pocket. "Let's sneak in and find it!"
Carrying the special Safari Balls and limited bait, Ash and his companions stepped into the vast land of the Safari Zone.
The terrain here was diverse. There were dense grasslands, clear lakes, damp swamps, and rocky hills, like a miniature natural world.
Ash took a deep breath and slowly spread out his Aura.
Instantly, the outlines of the surrounding environment, the breathing of plants, and the life energy fluctuations of countless Pokémon both strong and weak appeared clearly in his perception like a three-dimensional map. This allowed him to detect targets in advance and avoid unnecessary trouble.
He knew that in the original story, the rampaging Tauros herd often interfered with captures, leading to the ridiculous situation where he only ended up catching Tauros. Therefore, he paid special attention to the restless energy signatures that indicated a herd moving together.
Whenever he locked onto a desirable target and prepared to throw a Safari Ball, if he sensed a Tauros herd charging in that direction, he would concentrate and extend a faint thread of Aura like an invisible hand. Instead of attacking, it would gently guide and soothe them, or create a tiny disturbance in energy, subtly causing the stampeding herd to shift their direction slightly and bypass his location.
This delicate manipulation consumed tremendous mental energy, but the results were remarkable.
Like the most seasoned hunter, Ash carefully selected his targets across the vast plains.
In sunny grasslands, he encountered shy Oddish and swaying Bellsprout. He even successfully lured and captured their evolved forms, Weepinbell and the giant-mouthed Victreebel hidden among enormous flowers.
In the rocky areas, he came across Nidorino and Nidorina facing each other in confrontation and managed to capture the "couple" together. The swift Raticate, Diglett hiding in burrows, and the curled-up Sandshrew were all detected by his Aura and eventually caught.
By the water's edge, he not only captured Goldeen and its evolution Seaking, but also encountered Staryu and Starmie, which Misty excitedly pointed out. Even though she already had them herself, she insisted Ash catch one as a "companion."
In a peaceful forest clearing, they even encountered a Chansey carrying an egg and looking adorably clumsy. With gentle Aura and delicious bait, Ash successfully earned its trust.
In addition, Pokémon such as the vine-covered Tangela, the bone-holding Cubone and Marowak with their sorrowful expressions, the cunning Meowth, the noisy Dodrio, the energetic Poliwag and the powerful Poliwrath, Paras carrying mushrooms, Ekans lurking in the grass, Koffing floating in the air, the loyal and brave Growlithe, and even a leisurely wandering Exeggutor were all gradually added to Ash's captures.
But the most surprising discovery happened in a meadow full of blooming flowers.
Just as Ash was preparing to capture a Nidorina, his Aura sensed a pure and lively Fire-type energy. Turning his head, he saw a Ponyta leisurely strolling nearby, looking as though it had stepped out of moonlight itself.
Its fur was not the usual creamy white but shimmered with a silvery glow like flowing moonlight. Its mane and tail burned with silver flames that sparkled like tiny stars.
"It's a shiny!" Misty cried out in amazement.
Ash held his breath and carefully approached. He gently placed his best bait on the ground while fully circulating his Aura, conveying his greatest goodwill and admiration.
The shiny Ponyta looked at him curiously, seemingly drawn by the warm and unusual Aura. After hesitating for a moment, it slowly walked over and lowered its head to enjoy the food, even nuzzling Ash's hand affectionately.
The capture that followed was smooth and effortless.
[Ding! The host has captured a Shiny Ponyta. Reward: 500 World Points.]
The rewards by the water were even more surprising. Using a fishing rod, which was permitted in the Safari Zone, Ash hooked a Magikarp whose scales shimmered with an unusually bright golden glow. Although it currently only knew Splash, Ash noticed its unique coloration and casually captured it.
[Ding! The host has captured a Golden Magikarp. Reward: 100 World Points.]
In a shallow area near the river, Ash's Aura sensed a Horsea that stood out from the rest. It was not a shiny, but the energy fluctuations within its body were unusually pure and condensed, and its eyes looked especially sharp and spirited. Clearly, its aptitude was exceptional. Ash patiently used bait to lure it closer, then seized the right moment to throw a Safari Ball and successfully captured it. This Horsea possessed tremendous potential and a promising future.
[Ding! The host has captured a high-aptitude Horsea. Reward: 200 World Points.]
Of course, he did not miss the Safari Zone's iconic Tauros herd either. He deliberately chose the right moment and used his Aura to soothe and communicate with them, successfully capturing the strongest leader of the herd, whose gaze carried clear intelligence, as well as another younger Tauros that he sensed contained extraordinary potential.
Just as Ash was counting his plentiful gains, having already captured twenty-eight different species of Pokémon, and marveling at how worthwhile the trip had been, Uncle Kaiser suddenly came running over, panting and looking extremely anxious, completely losing his earlier calm demeanor.
"T-this is bad! Ash! Those sneaky people… Team Rocket! I don't know how, but they've found 'that place' and are trying to forcibly capture the Dratini!"
Ash's heart skipped a beat. Just as he expected.
"Let's go, quickly!" he shouted to his companions.
Led by Kaiser, they passed through a very well-hidden path and arrived at an isolated lake deep within the Safari Zone.
The water was crystal clear, and lush green grass surrounded the lakeshore. It looked like a paradise untouched by the outside world. But now its tranquility had been shattered.
The Team Rocket trio were piloting a suspicious-looking machine equipped with a giant mechanical claw, chasing a frightened and adorable little Dratini across the lake's surface. Meanwhile, a larger and far more elegant Dragonair, its neck and tail adorned with blue gemstones, was desperately trying to protect its child. It kept launching Dragon Rage attacks in an attempt to repel the mechanical claw, but the effect seemed limited.
"Stop right there, Team Rocket!" Ash shouted angrily, launching an attack without hesitation.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Primeape, Cross Chop! Ponyta, use Stomp!"
Golden lightning, powerful fighting strikes, and the silver phantom-like charge of Ponyta's trampling attack instantly smashed Team Rocket's ramshackle machine, sending sparks flying and parts scattering everywhere.
Seizing the opportunity, Dragonair unleashed an even stronger Dragon Rage that struck the control console directly.
"Waaaah!"
"What a terrible feeling!"
The Team Rocket trio, along with their ambitions, once again turned into shooting stars disappearing into the sky.
With the crisis resolved, Dragonair slowly swam to the shore. Its pure blue eyes looked at Ash with warmth and gratitude.
It seemed able to sense the strange yet comforting Aura surrounding the human boy, and even more so his sincerity and fearless courage in protecting Pokémon.
Lowering its head, Dragonair gently nudged the trembling Dratini hiding behind it and let out several soft, encouraging cries. Then it carefully pushed the still timid yet curious Dratini toward Ash.
Its eyes were filled with trust and entrustment. It believed that this strong, kind, and trustworthy human trainer could guide and protect its child better, allowing Dratini to see a broader world and grow into a stronger future.
Kaiser stood nearby, watching this silent exchange. He let out a deep sigh, and the stern expression on his face finally softened into relief and approval.
"Ah… for so many years I've guarded this secret, trying to protect them from disturbance. But perhaps… I've been too stubborn. Dragonair… it chose you. Ash, take good care of Dratini. Don't betray this trust."
Ash felt the heavy responsibility settle upon his shoulders. He nodded solemnly, almost reverently.
Taking out a precious Safari Ball, he did not throw it. Instead, he walked up to Dratini, crouched down, and gently touched the ball to its smooth forehead.
Dratini affectionately rubbed against Ash's hand and let out a soft "Wuu~" cry before its body glowed with gentle white light and willingly entered the Safari Ball.
The ball did not even shake before the locking sound clicked.
[Ding! The host has gained the recognition of the pseudo-legendary Pokémon Dratini and successfully captured it. Reward: 2000 World Points.]
[Ding! The host has captured thirty different Pokémon species in the Safari Zone and completed the hidden achievement "Ecological Observer." Reward: 1500 World Points.]
[Current World Points: 19100.]
Thus, Ash's harvest in the Safari Zone included a total of thirty-one Pokémon, counting the Kangaskhan captured earlier in the sanctuary. Among them were the pseudo-legendary Pokémon Dratini, the shiny Ponyta, the golden Magikarp, the high-aptitude Horsea, and two special Tauros.
In short, this journey through the Safari Zone had been extraordinarily fruitful, far beyond expectations.
He sent most of the Pokémon to Professor Oak, keeping only Dratini, the shiny Ponyta, the high-aptitude Horsea, the two special Tauros, and a few others with him.
Carrying the immense joy of obtaining a legendary Pokémon, the weight of Dragonair's entrusted responsibility, and an even stronger anticipation for the journey ahead, Ash and his companions once again set off on their adventure to challenge Gyms and pursue their dreams.
The adventure in the Safari Zone had ended, but their story was still continuing.