At Kashiwagi's insistent urging, Jinya reluctantly released the Garchomp he had just recalled.
"Gar-chomp!"
Its fine scales shimmered with a dull, metallic luster in the dim light of the cavern. The shark-like dragon let out an excited low growl, its eyes darting around the familiar shadows.
It was clear this Pokémon felt right at home—in fact, it had likely been born right here in Meteor Falls.
"See these two oval-shaped growths on its head?" Jinya said, puffing out his chest with pride. "Those are Garchomp's sensory organs. It can pick up vibrations from miles away. A mere group like Team Rocket—"
"Stop right there! I already know Garchomp is amazing," Kashiwagi interrupted, cutting off the inevitable 'death flag' before Jinya could finish the sentence.
He glanced down at Mawile, who had scuttled a little closer to his leg to stay clear of the Garchomp's intimidating jaws.
"Ugh!" Jinya choked on his prepared speech.
He had actually wanted to sell Kashiwagi on the idea of getting a Garchomp, but Kashiwagi seemed hyper-fixated on Team Rocket. The gravity of Kashiwagi's caution was finally starting to sink in.
Still, Jinya couldn't help but ask, "Kashiwagi, why does it feel like you're... afraid of Team Rocket?"
"It's not fear, it's respect," Kashiwagi said, shaking his head.
"Objectively speaking, Team Rocket has been causing chaos in Johto and Kanto for years without being wiped out by the International Police. That proves they are incredibly powerful and hidden. But what I'm actually wary of is their technological edge."
"Objectively speaking, Team Rocket has been causing chaos in Johto and Kanto for years without being wiped out by the International Police. That proves their influence is massive and deeply hidden. We have to be on guard. Furthermore, what I truly dread is the technological power they possess... though saying it like that might sound a bit vague to you."
He gave Mawile a reassuring look and stepped back toward a higher, open piece of ground. Dropping his backpack, he called out, "Have your Garchomp attack me with Dragon Claw. Aim for the clothes on my body, because this is currently one of the strongest sets of protective gear in existence."
"What's 'protective gear'...? Wait, what?! That's way too dangerous!" Jinya froze, ready to refuse immediately.
"It's fine, don't worry. Just have Garchomp strike!" Kashiwagi waved him on, his voice earnest. "Really, trust me!"
Jinya muttered, "Even if you say that..."
"I just want to show you what technology can achieve. Do you believe me if I say Garchomp's attack won't even break the defense of this fabric?" Kashiwagi challenged loudly.
"I don't! It's just a thin shirt!"
"Then have him try!"
"But... fine. Garchomp, Dragon Claw!"
"Garch..." Garchomp looked at its Trainer hesitantly. Seeing Jinya nod and give the signal, the dragon lowered its body and leveled its glowing green fins, charging straight at Kashiwagi!
As a Mach Pokémon, its fins could create air blades capable of slicing trees in half just by running past them. Garchomp didn't dare use its full strength. But even held back, the power was terrifying.
BOOM!
The fin slammed into Kashiwagi's chest. The resulting explosion of draconic energy sent him flying backward!
Mawile's figure vanished as she sprinted toward where her Trainer was falling, but she stopped halfway, her tense expression relaxing slightly.
Garchomp stood in place with a confused look. The sensation of the hit felt... wrong.
"Kashiwagi!" Jinya screamed in panic, only to see Kashiwagi perform a nimble backward roll, plant his feet against the cave wall, flip forward, and land easily on his feet.
"Whew~ You didn't use full power, did you? But that should be enough to illustrate my point."
Kashiwagi stood up and brushed the dust off his Magma suit, revealing fabric that didn't even have a scratch.
He smiled at a very grumpy-looking Mawile. "See? I'm fine."
"Maw-wile!" she huffed, turning her head away in annoyance.
Kashiwagi sighed and turned back to the stunned Jinya and Garchomp, whose eyes were practically popping out of their sockets. "As you can see, Garchomp's Dragon Claw failed to do much damage."
"Huh? Why?! That's impossible!"
The young Tamer couldn't believe his eyes. Garchomp's claws could shred boulders; Not to mention that it didn't hurt anyone, how could they not even tear a piece of clothing?
Jinya ran over and pinched the fabric of Kashiwagi's suit, turning it over in his hands. "It's this thin? Seriously?"
"Results speak louder than words. This special gear, known as a Magma Suit, is designed to absorb and diffuse elemental energy and impact force to the highest degree. The remaining force is nothing I can't handle."
He took off the jacket and handed it over.
"This is the power of technology. And the technology Team Rocket wields is likely not inferior to this—it may be far superior."
Jinya held the clothes in silence. This was clearly beyond his worldview. The rapid technological advancement of the outside world was not something the isolated People of the Meteors could easily grasp. Their seclusion was making them fall behind the times.
In Kashiwagi's view, Meteor Village should establish a Gym like Blackthorn City to strengthen its ties with the outside.
The Dragon's Den in Johto was also secluded, but they had a Mayor and a Gym Leader for protection, and eventually a Champion like Iris. The People of the Meteors lacked a figure with that kind of status in the outside world.
"In short, do not underestimate Team Rocket, especially their tech," Kashiwagi said, patting Jinya's shoulder.
He knew Steven and Raikou would eventually get involved, but nobody knew when Team Rocket would strike or if those two would arrive in time.
They resumed the patrol. Jinya soon recovered from the shock of the Magma Suit and began pointing out the interesting sights of Meteor Falls.
As they chatted, various wild Pokémon crossed their path. Zubat flew overhead, Geodude rolled past, and even a group of Clefairy appeared, none of them showing any fear of the humans.
"They recognize our clothes; they know we won't hurt them," Jinya explained.
The traditional attire of the People of the Meteors often featured symbols resembling scales or balance, derived from the markings on Rayquaza—much like how Team Aqua and Team Magma used the patterns of Kyogre and Groudon as their emblems.
"The markings on the Elder's shoulders—the ones that look like seeds or teeth—what are those?" Kashiwagi asked, mimicking a collar around his neck.
Jinya thought for a moment before realizing. "Ah! You mean the Lorekeeper's Cloak. Only a Lorekeeper is permitted to wear that attire. The Champion's cloak in the Hoenn region was actually inspired by it."
"I see," Kashiwagi nodded.
Soon, the sound of rushing water grew louder. Rounding a corner, they were greeted by a massive waterfall within the cave. Its scale far surpassed the small falls they had seen earlier... this was a true waterfall.
"We've arrived! The Dragon's Gate!" Jinya's voice held a hint of excitement.
"Dragon's Gate?"
"Yes. Look closely at the falls."
Following Jinya's finger, Kashiwagi watched the cascading water. He saw several bright red fish plummeting from the top, while others beat their tails frantically, trying to leap upward. In the glowing blue rapids below, a massive school of Magikarp was swimming against the current.
"Whoa!" Kashiwagi noted that while the previous streams had Barboach, this area was strictly Magikarp.
And this behavior…
"The Magikarp gather here to swim against the current and reach the top. Any Magikarp that succeeds is one we believe is guaranteed to evolve into Gyarados!" Jinya whispered. "That's why it's called the Dragon's Gate."
"So, 'Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate,' Dragon Gate Waterfall!"
"What a fascinating legend."
Kashiwagi watched the leaping Magikarp. This was essentially a natural selection process for Dragon Tamers to find the best specimens! If you wanted a Gyarados, you just had to wait at the top.
Suddenly, he thought of his Shiny Feebas.
Even though this was "Dragon's Gate" for Magikarp, Feebas evolved into a Pokémon in the Dragon Egg Group. They were distant relatives of sorts. Besides, the story of the "Ugly Duckling turning into a Swan" was very similar to the "Carp leaping the Dragon Gate."
This might be the perfect place to build her confidence.
Kashiwagi made a mental note to bring Feebas back here after the patrol. He was sure that with her hidden strength, this waterfall would be no problem at all.
"Very nice," he nodded.
Jinya smiled with satisfied beside him.
They delved deeper into the falls, arriving at an area where the ceiling was jagged and broken, allowing pillars of brilliant sunlight to stream down. The craters on the ground became much denser here.
To Kashiwagi's surprise, in one of the larger craters, a group of orange, orange-yellow spherical Pokémon, resembling the sum, were gathered, basking in the light.
In the center of the crater, a yellow light was pulsing rhythmically.
"Ah! A new Solrock is about to be born! Was it because of the meteor that fell the other day?" Jinya whispered, pulling Kashiwagi to a stop.
"Better not disturb them. Solrock are usually gentle, but they become fierce when a new companion is being born, and they are especially powerful under direct sunlight."
"Oh?" Kashiwagi looked on with interest. He was curious about the "birth" of a Solrock. In the games, genderless Pokémon could just breed with Ditto, but in reality, finding a Ditto partner was rare. How were they actually born?
Kashiwagi wanted to get closer to see into the crater, but Jinya insisted that approaching would lead to being hunted down.
Fine. Better safe than sorry.
They observed from a distance. The surrounding Solrock absorbed the sunlight and suddenly began firing beams of energy into the center of the pit.
The yellow glow was replaced by a brilliant white light as a small Solrock drifted out from the crater. Upon seeing their new member, the other Solrock began to spin joyfully in place.
"…Is that it? It's done?" he whispered, glancing sideways.
"Yes."
Jinya nodded. "Whenever certain special meteors fall, they gather around them during the day and emit a specific light to bring a new companion into being. It doesn't always work, though."
"Special meteors… so they're Pokémon born from space rocks?"
"No, they are Pokémon born via meteors. We'll go take a look once they leave."
No sooner had he spoken than the Solrock seemed to notice Jinya and Kashiwagi. The Garchomp and Mawile standing beside them were hard to miss, yet the sun-shaped Pokémon didn't attack; instead, they drifted away in silence.
The two were finally able to approach.
Kashi immediately spotted a dusty, grey stone lying in the center of the crater. "…A meteorite?"
"Exactly. There should be a Sun Stone inside." Jinya stepped into the crater and, from who knows where, produced a hammer. With a resounding clang, he swung it against the meteorite's surface.
"Wait—"
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Jinya treated the meteorite with the raw brutality of a blacksmith at a forge. He quickly shattered the outer casing, revealing an orange, sun-shaped stone within. "Just as I thought. A Sun Stone! Here!"
He tossed it toward Kashiwagi. "You probably need this more than I do. Consider it a welcoming gift."
Kashiwagi caught it with a deft hand, his expression a mix of gratitude and concern. "Thanks… but won't hitting it that hard damage the stone? Weren't you worried?"
"Huh? This is how we've always done it."
Zhenya scratched his ear, looking genuinely puzzled.
Kashiwagi: "..."
He couldn't help but feel that if he recorded this and played it for Steven Stone, the man's opinion of these People would plummet several tiers. After all, Steven was the kind of man who caressed stones like he was touching his own wife!
"Anyway, Solrock use meteorites containing Sun Stones to bring forth new companions. By that same logic, Lunatone do the same with Moon Stones, though they only come out at night." Jinya hopped out of the pit.
"I've certainly learned something new today."
Kashiwagi nodded. The world of the anime was truly a wonder; even the birth of Solrock and Lunatone was so mystical.
Seeing Kashiwagi lost in thought, Jinya suddenly became alert and patted him on the back. "Come on, let's move! We're almost at the Dragon's Nest. It's the ultimate gathering place for the great dragons!"
"Alright!"
Kashiwagi was instantly hooked by the words "Dragon's Nest."
In the games, Meteor Falls was only divided into internal and external areas or upper and lower floors; there was no "Dragon's Nest."
However, much like how the Dragon's Den in Blackthorn City lacked a Dragon Holy Land in the games but featured one in the show, this was likely a special location unique to the anime's lore.
The "almost there" part turned out to be a bit of an exaggeration. They wound through the tunnels for a good twenty minutes before finally reaching a glowing cave mouth that suggested an exit to the outside.
As they stepped through, their vision was momentarily bleached white by the sudden glare.
When his eyes finally adjusted to the sunlight, Kashiwagi lowered his hand and gasped in sheer shock.
"This is—"
Stretching out before them was a lush, vibrant jungle that completely filled a massive impact crater. Rushing white water circled the forest, fed by a magnificent waterfall cascading from the distant cliffs.
Countless Dragon-type Pokémon were frolicking in the area. There were fully evolved Salamence, Dragonite, and Kingdra, alongside Bagon, Dratini, and Horsea. Even Dragon-types from later generations, like Druddigon, were present.
Of course, there were also a few non-Dragons mixed in for good measure.
Dragon Pokémon from every known era played here without a care in the world. They tensed up momentarily at the sight of the newcomers, but upon seeing Jinya's traditional attire, they quickly relaxed, returning to their business.
The People of the Meteor had coexisted with the wild Dragon-types of Meteor Falls for thousands of years. They were well-acquainted with one another, so unprovoked attacks were rare.
The Dragon's Nest.
A literal Dragon Paradise was perfectly laid out before Kashiwagi's eyes.
It was a far cry from the barren, jagged wasteland he had imagined—the kind of place that looked like a final boss's lair. Instead, it was as breathtakingly beautiful as the Dragon Holy Land.
It seemed to be nestled deep within a hidden valley.
"Well? Pretty jaw-dropping, isn't it?"
Jinya looked at Kashiwagi with a smug, triumphant grin. No one could stay calm after seeing the Dragon's Nest. If ordinary people were stunned, Dragon Tamer should be even worse—he expected Kashiwagi to be fumbling for his Poké Balls by now...
Huh?
He's not reaching for them!
Jinya stared at Kashiwagi's hands, which remained perfectly still at his sides. He was more shocked by this restraint than he was by the Magma Suit. He couldn't fathom how any Dragon Tamer could hold themselves back.
The earlier ritual had confirmed Kashiwagi was indeed one of the Dragon People. Looking at him now, Jinya concluded that this guy must possess a will of absolute iron!
Terrifying! What a terrifying man!
Meanwhile, standing on the other side, Mawile quietly tugged at the corner of Kashi's shirt. "Maw-wile."
(Cool it. Your heart is pounding like a thunderclap.)
"Sss..."
Kashi took a quiet, deep breath to steady his racing heart. He had already made up his mind: when he eventually used his "Clues," he was definitely doing it right here in the Dragon's Nest.
I can literally take my pick of Pseudo-Legendaries!
"M-mind giving me a tour?"
He turned to Jinya, who was currently caught in a mix of awe and slight disappointment. "There must be a lot of non-wild Pokémon in the Dragon's Nest, right?"
"Ah, yeah."
Jinya nodded. "Some of the Dragon Pokémon here were left behind by our ancestors who passed away. They wanted to live out their lives as close to the Dragon Tamers as possible, breeding and raising the next generation. That's why you see Dragon-types that people outside think aren't native to the Hoenn region."
"I see."
Kashiwagi inclined his head.
The anime was different from the games; the people here were real, living beings. Naturally, they would bring Dragon-types back from other regions. As these Pokémon bred over generations, the Dragon's Nest became home to many species that "shouldn't" be in Hoenn.
It made perfect sense.
In Pokémon Black & White, Clair specifically went to the Decolore Islands to catch a Shiny Druddigon, and Lance used a Hydreigon during the Masters Eight Tournament in Journeys. It wasn't as if their Pokémon would just be teleported back to their original habitats after their trainers passed away.
Eventually, those "foreign" Pokémon would thrive in their new home, their populations growing over time.
Some might even change due to the environment over long periods—perhaps what people eventually called "Regional Forms."
Moving on, Jinya led Kashiwagi on a tour of the Nest, attempting to use the spectacular sights to spark a "passionate" reaction. Unfortunately, Kashiwagi remained infuriatingly "composed" throughout.
Jinya eventually collapsed into an "Orz" pose on the ground, muttering dejectedly, "Kashiwagi, I've rarely truly admired anyone in my life... but you? I give up. I'm truly impressed!"
Kashiwagi: "???"
A short while later, after they had finished patrolling every corner of the Nest, Jinya went to check in with some of the Dragon-types he was friendly with.
Once he confirmed from them that no strangers had intruded, he gave them a few parting warnings and finally felt at ease.
He had taken Kashiwagi's words to heart; he knew all too well that human technology could sometimes bypass the natural defenses of Pokémon.
They soon arrived at another cave entrance.
"Let's go. The old village is just up ahead."
Jinya pointed forward.
Having seen the Dragon's Nest, Kashiwagi could already guess what the ancestral village of the Dragon People would look like.
Sure enough, after passing through the tunnel, he was greeted by a landscape just as vibrant and floral as the Nest. Numerous ancient and complex Japanese-style buildings, both single and double-storied, were scattered about. Sadly, they looked somewhat desolate after years of being uninhabited.
In the very center of the village stood a massive shrine, far eclipsing the size of the Dragon Shrine in the current Meteor Village.
The torii gate at the entrance and the colossal Rayquaza statue in the courtyard were etched with the heavy marks of history.