Pokemon: A New Path-Champion’s Duel: The Past and Future of Galar’s Fate[449]

After lunch, Leon was eager to battle Naoki.

"Alright." Naoki nodded, leading him to the ranch's battlefield.

As soon as word spread, Pokémon from all over the ranch gathered, eager to see the match. Geeta stood nearby, arms crossed behind her back, watching with great anticipation.

"Are we doing a singles or doubles match?" Naoki asked, smiling.

Koraidon stepped onto the battlefield, ready to fight, while Flutter Mane hovered nearby, blending into the crowd, watching intently.

"Let's go singles this time!" Leon said, eyes burning with competitive fire. "We can try doubles next time!"

Since Koraidon was Naoki's strongest Pokémon, it was only fair that Leon sent out his own ace as well.

"No problem." Naoki smirked.

Leon unclipped a Poké Ball from his belt and threw it forward. With a burst of white light, a powerful Charizard materialized on the battlefield.

The flames on its tail burned intensely, signaling that Charizard was in peak condition. Naoki sized up the battle-hardened Charizard and smirked.

"No Dynamaxing here. Won't that take the fun out of it?"

After all, Leon's strongest form was when his Charizard could Gigantamax.

"No worries!" Leon grinned. "We'll save that for when you visit Galar! I'll give you a Dynamax Band so you can Gigantamax, too! Then we'll have a real showdown!"

Since Leon was Galar's Champion, he had the privilege of handing out Dynamax Bands to exceptional trainers.

Dynamaxing… Koraidon…

Naoki was intrigued.

In Paldea, Dynamaxing wasn't naturally possible, since the energy phenomenon wasn't present.

But in reality, any Pokémon could Gigantamax under the right conditions—provided they had a Dynamax Band and access to Dynamax energy.

"Sounds fun." Naoki chuckled, looking forward to seeing what a Gigantamaxed Koraidon would look like.

But for now… this battle was about to begin!

Standing at the edge of the battlefield, Indeedee took out a whistle. With a sharp blast, the match officially started!

Crimson energy surged across Koraidon's body. The clouds above dispersed, revealing a clear blue sky, as the sunlight intensified!

Leon's eyes widened in fascination.

"Whoa! Is this its Ability? It can change the weather? That's incredible!"

Naoki smirked.

"Koraidon, use Ancient Power—let's test the waters!"

"Aah-GAH!"

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Koraidon stomped the ground, sending deep rumbles across the battlefield. Primal energy surged, forming several large, glowing boulders that shot toward Charizard.

Leon's response was instantaneous.

"Charizard, Iron Tail!"

"ROOOAAAR!"

Charizard soared into the air, its tail shining with metallic energy. As the boulders approached, Charizard swooped down, whipping its tail left and right—shattering each rock in midair!

Naoki raised an eyebrow. Leon was aggressive as always.

"Now, Charizard—Dragon Claw!"

Leon had been analyzing Koraidon closely. From what he could tell, it was likely a Dragon/Fighting type. If that was the case… Dragon Claw would hit hard.

Even if his guess was wrong, it didn't matter—this was just the opening gambit! Charizard rocketed forward, claws glowing with purple draconic energy, swiping down toward Koraidon.

But Koraidon didn't move. It simply stared Charizard down, completely still.

"Let's match them! Show them your strength!"

The moment Naoki's command rang out, Koraidon surged forward, forming its own massive Dragon Claw!

With a blinding flash, the two dragon-enhanced attacks collided! The impact was thunderous, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.

Despite the force of the clash…

Koraidon didn't budge.

It stared Charizard down, its golden pupils gleaming like a predator at the top of the food chain.

"Ah-GAH…"

A deep growl rumbled from Koraidon's throat. Then—its grip tightened. With a burst of raw power, Koraidon overpowered Charizard and flung it backward!

The impact sent Charizard tumbling, claw marks scraped across its scales.

Leon's grin widened.

"So strong!"

From the sidelines, Geeta narrowed her eyes.

"That Koraidon… its raw power is superior to Charizard's."

Leon, however, was not discouraged.

"Charizard, Heat Wave!"

Switching tactics, Leon opted for a ranged attack.

Charizard flapped its wings, unleashing a scorching wind across the battlefield. With Sunlight active, the air temperature spiked dramatically.

But Naoki saw through Leon's strategy immediately.

"It's not that easy! Koraidon—let's go all out!"

"Ah-GAAH!"

Ignoring the blistering heat, Koraidon leapt into the air, golden eyes locked on Charizard. A primal aura erupted from its body as it charged forward at full speed!

Leon's eyes widened.

"That speed—!"

Before Charizard could dodge, Koraidon slammed into it—

BOOM!

The impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield, and Charizard was pinned beneath Koraidon's strength!

"Now! Use Ancient Power!"

Naoki's command rang out, and boulders rose from the ground, surrounding Charizard and Koraidon.

'Danger!'

Leon's instincts screamed at him.

"Charizard! Use Inferno!"

Flames erupted around Charizard, enveloping both Pokémon in a swirling storm of fire! At the same time, the Ancient Power boulders crashed down from above!

The clash of two powerful moves ignited a violent explosion, engulfing both Pokémon in fire and debris.

The scorching flames spread toward the edges of the battlefield, but Vaporeon, who had been watching the battle, quickly reacted—shooting a Water Gun to douse the flames before they could spread further.

As the fire burned, its flickering glow reflected in the eyes of the spectators.

Geeta's expression held admiration.

Leon looked tense.

But Naoki remained calm—he knew Koraidon wouldn't lose.

And sure enough…

As the smoke and fire began to fade, a familiar silhouette emerged.

Koraidon strode forward. The scales on its body were charred black from the flames, but its eyes remained sharp, its stance unwavering.

On the other side…

Charizard had collapsed on the battlefield, eyes swirling in dizziness. It was unable to continue the fight.

Indeedee stepped forward, checking on Charizard before blowing the whistle—signaling the end of the battle!

Geeta clapped her hands, clearly impressed.

"What a spectacular match!"

It was the first time she had seen one of those ancient Paradox Pokémon in battle.

Leon let out a deep exhale, rubbing the back of his head.

"Phew…" He smiled at his Charizard, watching as Naoki's Indeedee handed it a bottle of Life Goat Milk. "That was tough… but I wouldn't expect anything less from a hidden trial!"

Leon mentally noted that he needed to train even harder when he returned home. Perhaps he should visit Mustard for some intense training.

Meanwhile, Naoki handed Koraidon its own bottle of Life Goat Milk, patting its side.

Hearing Leon's words, he smiled.

"You did great, too."

Leon perked up instantly.

"Wait—has anyone else challenged Koraidon before me?"

Naoki nodded.

"Yes. One of the Paldea League's champion trainers attempted it… but they lost in just a single clash."

Leon's eyebrows raised as he turned to Geeta.

"Oh?"

Geeta: "…"

She quickly shook her head.

"Not me. Another trainer."

Naoki chuckled, clarifying,

"Paldea's League operates differently. There are multiple champion-level trainers, but only the strongest among them becomes the League's 'Top Champion.'"

Leon nodded in understanding.

Unlike Galar, where he was the sole reigning champion, Paldea had several trainers at the champion level—but only the best earned the title of 'Top Champion.'

As they chatted, Charizard had fully recovered, and Koraidon's injuries had healed completely.

The battle was officially over.

Naoki gave Koraidon a final pat before saying,

"Go ahead and play!"

"Aah-GAH~"

The Pokémon cheered and scattered, heading off to enjoy themselves. The weather was scorching, so Naoki invited Geeta and Leon to rest inside the living room.

Just as they were about to enter, Geeta's phone rang.

"Hello? This is Geeta… Understood. I'll be back immediately."

Naoki and Leon turned toward her. Her expression was apologetic as she sighed.

"I'm really sorry, but something urgent has come up in the Paldea League. I need to return immediately."

Naoki wasn't surprised. After all, everyone in the Paldea League was a workaholic—especially Geeta.

He simply nodded.

"No problem. See you next time."

Geeta smiled.

"Yes. Until next time."

Then, she turned toward Leon.

"Champion Leon, if you encounter any trouble in Paldea, feel free to contact the League. I hope you enjoy your visit."

Leon waved her off with a grin.

"Relax! I'm just here visiting Naoki—no need for all the formalities!"

Geeta gave a small smile.

"In that case, I'll take my leave. See you both again soon."

With that, she departed the ranch.

Leon watched her go and shook his head with a chuckle.

"She really takes her job seriously, huh?"

Naoki nodded.

"Yeah. It's different from Galar—Paldea doesn't have a League President. Geeta has to act as both the regional champion and League President."

Unlike Galar, where President Rose and his secretary Oleana handled administrative matters, allowing Leon to focus purely on battles—

Geeta had to handle both roles.

Once inside, the two of them sat in the cool living room. Naoki's Indeedee brought over tea and snacks.

Leon took a sip, then hesitated.

"Naoki…"

Naoki looked up.

"Hmm?"

Leon scratched the back of his head, suddenly looking serious.

"Actually… there's something I need your help with."

Naoki raised an eyebrow, setting down his cup.

"Oh? What is it?"

Leon leaned forward, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by genuine concern.

"To be precise… I need to meet with the King of Bountiful Harvests."

Naoki's eyes widened slightly.

"Calyrex?"

He quickly pieced it together—he had a hunch about what Leon meant.

And sure enough…

Leon nodded.

"There are legends in Galar's history, as well as Professor Oak's research, but…nowhere does it confirm that the disaster known as 'The Darkest Day' was ever truly destroyed."

Naoki fell silent.

"If that disaster ever returns to Galar. The entire region will be in danger—just like it was in the past."

There were records of this catastrophe from three thousand years ago.

A black vortex loomed over the entire Galar region, shrouding the skies in an eerie darkness. It was as if the end of the world had arrived.

But the chaos did not stop there.

Ancient texts described what happened during The Darkest Day—a calamity where wild Pokémon grew uncontrollably, their forms warping into massive Gigantamax versions of themselves.

With rampaging Pokémon running amok, the Galar region was nearly destroyed.

Leon's eyes held a deep concern.

"I fear that this disaster may return one day."

Galar had fully embraced Dynamax battles, but few truly understood the nature of the energy behind them.

Where exactly did this mysterious Dynamax energy originate from?

And what if…

What if the Gigantamax energy being used in Galar's power stations were to leak?

The Macro Cosmos Group, under Chairman Rose, had already built energy plants across major cities.

If something went wrong, if too much energy spilled into the world…

What would happen then?

Naoki nodded slightly. He respected Leon not only as a champion but as a person.

In the anime, Leon risked his life to stop Eternatus, sustaining serious injuries in the process. Had Zacian and Zamazenta not arrived in time, he might have lost his life that day.

It reminded Naoki of Steven Stone from the Hoenn region—another champion who was willing to sacrifice everything to protect his home.

With that in mind, Naoki pulled out his Rotom Phone and sent a message.

Moments later, Calyrex floated into the room.

Leon straightened immediately. Seeing the legendary ruler of Galar in person filled him with awe and reverence.

This Pokémon… was once the true king of Galar.

Leon placed a hand over his chest, bowing his head slightly.

"Greetings, King of Bountiful Harvests. My name is Leon, the current Champion of Galar."

Hearing the name of the region, Calyrex's gaze shifted toward Leon, a flicker of recognition in its gentle, wise eyes.

Slowly, the legendary Pokémon floated over, its posture elegant and regal.

Then, a voice resonated directly in Leon's mind.

"What brings you here?"

Leon's expression grew serious.

"How much do you know about The Darkest Day?"

"I read in ancient texts that the two heroes of Galar—Zacian and Zamazenta—did not truly 'defeat' the darkness… but merely sealed it away."

"If that's the case, then doesn't that mean The Darkest Day could return one day?"

Leon's concern was evident in his voice.

Calyrex studied him carefully. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, the legendary Pokémon's demeanor shifted.

The air around them grew heavier—the once-gentle presence of the King of Bountiful Harvests now radiated a sense of ancient authority.

It was as if Galar's true ruler had returned.

"So that is why you came."

Calyrex closed its eyes briefly, then spoke once more.

"Since you seek the truth, I shall tell you everything."

In an instant—A surge of psychic energy erupted, enveloping the entire room. The surroundings began to dissolve, fading into a swirl of colors and memories.

When the light faded, they were no longer in the room.

Leon and Naoki found themselves standing in an endless wilderness. There were no cities, no human settlements. Only an untamed world, ruled solely by Pokémon.

Calyrex's voice echoed through the air.

"This is the world from twenty thousand years ago. It was then that the darkness fell from the sky. And The Darkest Day began."

Leon's eyes widened.

"Twenty thousand years ago?!"

Naoki, however, remained calm.

He was already aware of Calyrex's unique abilities—the legendary Pokémon had the power to glimpse into the past and the future.

Calyrex nodded solemnly. Then, the sky suddenly turned crimson.

A massive, fiery meteorite tore through the heavens, leaving behind a blazing trail of destruction.

Leon watched in shock as the meteor plummeted toward the earth, striking the land with a devastating impact. The ground quaked violently. Fire and smoke erupted into the sky.

Across the landscape, countless Pokémon cried out in terror, scrambling to flee from the devastation.

And then—

Leon saw something that made his blood run cold.

From within the wreckage of the meteorite, something moved.

A massive, dragon-like creature began to emerge from the flames. Its body was composed of pulsing, red energy, intertwined with dark purple exoskeletal armor—a form both alien and terrifying.

Its triangular head bore a translucent red crest, from which five long spines extended backward. It had no eyes—only eerie, glowing white rings forming an unsettling pattern where its face should have been.

Its jagged, tooth-like jaws clashed together, emitting a low, bone-chilling hum. Its serpentine body stretched endlessly, its dark, skeletal limbs ending in razor-sharp claws.

And at the center of its chest…

A pulsating, pink core.

A "heart" of pure energy, beating slowly.

Leon staggered back.

"What… is that thing?!"

The sheer scale of the creature dwarfed even the largest Pokémon in existence..

Calyrex's voice answered gravely.

"That… is The Darkest Day."

A cold chill ran down Leon's spine.

Naoki, standing beside him, quietly muttered the name under his breath.

"Eternatus."

Leon's eyes widened in disbelief.

"The Darkest Day…? That creature itself is the source of the disaster?"

Calyrex gave a solemn nod.

As if responding to his understanding, the scene before them continued to unfold. For reasons unknown, the mysterious Pokémon that had emerged from the meteorite was in terrible condition.

Its movements were sluggish, its form weak, and shortly after breaking free from the meteorite, the enormous creature collapsed, exhausted.

It fell back into the crater, entering a deep slumber, its chest core pulsing ever so faintly.

Eternatus had fallen dormant. But that was not the end of the story.

Calyrex's mind stirred, and time accelerated before their eyes. The seasons passed—spring gave way to autumn, frost covered the land, and then, as the snow melted, life returned once more.

Countless years passed.

Until…The creature awoke.

Eternatus stirred from its ancient slumber, but it was still weak. Desperate to sustain itself, it began to drain the life energy of the land.

As its condition improved, strange phenomena began occurring all over Galar. First, the skies changed. A dark vortex swirled above Galar, warping space itself. Then, an ominous red glow spread across the land.

Nearby Pokémon, caught in the sinister energy, began to Gigantamax uncontrollably. Their minds twisted, their rampaging forms destroying everything in their path.

No grass remained. Forests were reduced to cinders. Human villages crumbled into ruins.

And the royal family, who ruled over Galar at the time, hid within their palace, trembling in fear. In desperation, they summoned warriors from all across the land to battle the calamity.

But their efforts were futile.

One by one, the heroes fell, their strength utterly insignificant against the chaos of The Darkest Day. The Galar region stood on the brink of destruction.

Then, just as quickly as the vision had begun, the scene faded away.

Naoki, Leon, and Calyrex returned to the present—the familiar walls of the ranch's living room surrounding them once again.

Leon sat in silent shock, unable to fully process what he had just witnessed.

Naoki, however, had already guessed what came next.

The legend of Zacian and Zamazenta.

The two ancient warriors, wielding the power of kings, had stood against Eternatus. Through their combined might, they shattered the creature's body into countless fragments—which later rained down upon the land as Wishing Stars.

Its core severely damaged, Eternatus fell into another deep slumber, and the two heroes of Galar became immortalized in legend.

And yet…

Centuries later, Chairman Rose and his secretary Oleana sought to harness the energy of Wishing Stars—a plan that nearly reawakened the disaster once more.

"This is the truth of The Darkest Day."

Calyrex's voice was grave.

Its gaze fell upon Leon, filled with both respect and solemnity.

"You were right to worry. The Darkest Day will awaken again soon. And when it does, Galar will once again be shrouded in darkness."

Leon's fists clenched tightly. Then, in a tone filled with unyielding determination, he spoke:

"I won't let that happen."

Calyrex studied his expression—the unwavering resolve in his eyes. Then, with a gentle nod, it offered one final piece of guidance:

"If you truly wish to stop this disaster, seek out the two heroes of Galar. Journey to the Slumbering Weald. They will answer your call."

Leon's eyes widened.

"The Slumbering Weald…?"

His gaze shifted to Naoki.

Naoki nodded.

"Yes. The two heroes who once repelled Eternatus—the legendary kings of Galar. Zacian, the Warrior of the Sword, Zamazenta, the Guardian of the Shield."

Then, with a small smile, Naoki added:

"Of course, if the time comes, you can count on me as well.

I happen to have a Pokémon that might be able to help."

Leon's instinct was to refuse. The burden of protecting Galar was his alone to bear. But Naoki's offer was genuine, and after a moment of hesitation, Leon nodded gratefully.

"Thank you."

Calyrex silently floated away, vanishing into the greenhouse—where it promptly pulled out its Rotom Phone and began scrolling the internet again.

Originally, Leon had planned to stay at the ranch for one more day. But after what he had learned, he couldn't afford to wait any longer. Galar was in danger.

And as its Champion, it was his duty to protect it.

"Thank you, Naoki. I have to return to Galar immediately."

Naoki watched him carefully, then nodded in understanding.

"Stay safe."

Leon grinned, returning to his usual cheerful self.

"I will!"

As he turned to leave, Naoki whistled, calling forth a Dragonite.

"I don't want you getting lost again, so I asked Dragonite to take you to the port."

Dragonite gave an enthusiastic chirp.

Leon, having already seen Dragonite couriers in action, simply laughed and climbed on.

"I'll be back for a rematch!"

With a final wave, he took off into the sky.

With both Geeta and Leon gone, the ranch finally quieted down. Naoki sighed, rolling up his sleeves.

Naoki returned home and began to clean up the house that was messed up by Pokémon.

...

April 25, 200th year of the Alliance Calendar.

The next morning, Naoki wandered through the apple orchard, contemplating something new.

"How can I help these Applin evolve?"

Applin's evolution was unique—they evolved into either Flapple or Appletun, depending on the type of apple they consumed.

A sour apple led to Flapple, a Pokémon that could spit highly acidic liquid.

A sweet apple resulted in Appletun, a Pokémon that radiated a comforting, honey-like scent.

"The apples in the orchard are sweet… but maybe they aren't sweet enough?"

As Naoki gazed at the Applin camouflaging itself among the apples in the orchard, he fell into deep thought.

"Have you tried all the apples here?" he asked.

The Applin quickly shook its head, indicating that it hadn't, but it could sense that none of the apples were special enough to trigger its evolution.

"I see..." Naoki muttered to himself. If that was the case, his only option was to order special evolution apples online, ones specifically designed to help Applin evolve.

But before doing so, there was something else he wanted to check.

Taking out his Rotom Phone, Naoki opened the Pokédex and searched for [Applin].

A moment later, Rotom's electronic voice chimed in, automatically reciting information from the entry:

"Applin, the Apple Core Pokémon. It disguises itself as an apple to avoid being eaten by bird Pokémon. It lives its entire life inside an apple. It has four evolutionary forms, Rotom!"

Naoki froze.

Wait a minute—four evolutionary forms?

That wasn't right. "Aren't there only two?" he mumbled, confused.

Quickly, he tapped on Applin's Pokédex entry, and sure enough, there were now two additional evolutionary forms besides Flapple and Appletun.

They were:

Dipplin, which evolved from a Syrupy Apple. Hydrapple, which evolved from Dipplin.

Curious, Naoki clicked on Hydrapple's entry, and Rotom immediately provided the details:

"Hydrapple, the Dragon Apple Pokémon. A colony of seven Applin live inside its body. The one in the center gives orders. It is said that when they communicate with each other, their true power is revealed, Rotom!"

"Hydrapple and Dipplin?" Naoki was surprised. "Could these be new evolutions introduced in The Indigo Disk DLC?"

When he was still in his original world, The Indigo Disk DLC hadn't been released yet.

Now, it seemed that both Hydrapple and Dipplin were all part of the newly introduced content.

But what surprised Naoki even more was a new move called Dragon Cheer.

He searched the internet and found that Dragon Cheer was a newly developed Dragon-type move taught by instructors at Blueberry Academy.

Unlike natural moves that Pokémon could learn instinctively, this move was exclusive—only trainers could teach it to their Pokémon.

Blueberry Academy…

The name sounded familiar.

Thinking back, Naoki realized that Geeta had mentioned it before. She had said that the Paldea League and Unova League had collaborated to establish a floating battle academy at sea.

Additionally, Blueberry Academy and Naranja Academy held exchange programs each semester, sending students back and forth for training.

"Interesting," Naoki thought.

After reviewing the new evolutions, he turned his attention back to the Applin in front of him. He opened the Pokédex again, showing Applin the four possible evolution options.

"So, which one do you want to evolve into?" Naoki asked.

Applin's round eyes darted between the options on the screen.

It had overheard Rotom's explanation just now and immediately eliminated Hydrapple as an option.

Why? Because Hydrapple required seven Applin to live together in a single apple—far too crowded for its liking.

That left only Flapple and Appletun.

Flapple evolved when given a Tart Apple, but Applin hated sour flavors.

Appletun, on the other hand, evolved with a Sweet Apple, and Applin absolutely loved sweet things.

Its choice was obvious.

"You want to evolve into an Appletun?" Naoki noticed Applin's gaze had settled on the image of Appletun.

"Appliiin!" Applin chirped, confirming its decision.

"In that case, I'll get you a Sweet Apple," Naoki said with a smile.

He opened his online shopping app, searched for Sweet Apple, and within seconds, multiple listings popped up. The prices ranged from 1,000 to 2,000 Poké Dollars.

Compared to other evolution items, these apples were relatively cheap.

Naoki picked a reputable seller, chose the fastest Pelipper Express delivery option, and placed the order.

Compared to the slower Noctowl Express, Pelipper Express was the fastest in the region.

After about two days, a Pelipper with a delivery satchel tied to its shoulder glided down from the sky, heading straight for the ranch.

It landed on the windowsill of Naoki's house and knocked on the window with its massive beak.

Naoki opened the window, and the Pelipper carefully pulled out a red, glossy apple from its bag, placing it in his palm.

Then, it handed over a delivery receipt.

Naoki checked the details, signed his name to confirm receipt, and the Pelipper let out a satisfied squawk before flapping its wings and soaring back into the sky.

"Pelipper really takes its time," Naoki chuckled.

He turned around and headed straight for the apple orchard, where Applin was eagerly waiting.

"Here, your Sweet Apple!" Naoki handed the fruit over.

The Applin happily took a bite.

The moment it did, a brilliant white light enveloped its entire body.

Its small, apple-shaped form rapidly began to change.

It grew larger, its shell expanding, its body stretching into a plump, dragon-like form.

When the light finally faded…

Appletun had been born!

The newly evolved Appletun had a body that somewhat resembled a turtle, with a high, rounded back covered in a lattice pattern resembling woven fruit pie crust. Its eyelids, once part of its Applin disguise, still remained atop its head.

It looked chubby and adorable.

Most notably, Appletun's entire body was coated in a thin layer of honey, giving off an incredibly sweet, fragrant aroma.

Naoki looked at the scene with satisfaction.

Its Ripen ability was a perfect match for the environment.

"Hello, Appletun!" he greeted the Pokémon warmly.

"Apple!"

Appletun responded, tilting its head in a slightly clumsy yet endearing manner. Its personality seemed to be as simple and honest as a Miltank in a pasture.

"Next, I'm taking you to a new apple orchard. Don't worry—it's just as safe as the ranch," Naoki reassured with a smile.

"Apple~!" Appletun let out a gentle cry, clearly excited.

And so, Naoki led Appletun to the World Tree.

The apple orchard there had been planted just a few days ago by Mewtwo and himself, and with the help of Calyrex, the trees had already started producing massive, ripe apples.

The moment Appletun arrived, it was instantly captivated by the sight of the orchard overflowing with fruit.

Its eyes sparkled with excitement as it gazed at the large, round apples hanging from the branches.

Just looking at them, it could already imagine how sweet and juicy the apples must be.

Its mouth almost started watering at the thought.

"Alright, from now on, this will be your home!" Naoki declared with a smile. "Use your Ripen ability to help take care of the orchard and grow even more delicious apples for everyone."

"Apple~!" Appletun responded enthusiastically.

During their walk here, Naoki had already explained that many Pokémon lived in this area, and that all of them were friends.

Appletun liked the World Tree orchard a lot—it decided right then and there that it would stay and use its abilities to grow the sweetest apples for everyone.

And so, a new, hardworking apple farmer had settled at the World Tree.

...

By the time Naoki returned to the ranch, it was already noon.

"Ai-Ai?"

"Sister Indeedee came forward and asked what he wanted for lunch."

"Anything simple is fine," Naoki replied casually.

Most of the Pokémon—Eeveelutions, Ogerpon, Butterfree, Farfetch'd, Flutter Mane, Alcremie, and Garganacl—had gone off to play at the World Tree.

They probably wouldn't return until later in the day, but Naoki wasn't worried. With the abundant food supplies available at the World Tree, they wouldn't go hungry.

At the ranch, only Koraidon, Cyclizar, Pawmot, and Dragonite remained, along with Combee, Gogoat, Miltank, and Wooloo.

Aside from Koraidon and Dragonite, the others had their meals prepared in advance, so feeding them would be easy.

Gogoat's favorite green grass dumplings and PokéBlocks for Miltank, Sweet honey for Combee, carrots for Spectrier and Glastrier

As for Naoki himself, he wasn't too concerned about his meal—it was too hot in the summer, and his appetite was low.

But before eating, Naoki still cooked a few special dishes for Koraidon and the others.

Once that was done, he grabbed a sandwich, sat down on the sofa, and resumed reading news from the Hoenn region.

After the incident where a Team Aqua member posted an online challenge and was promptly arrested by the Hoenn League, there had been radio silence from both Team Magma and Team Aqua.

It seemed that Maxie and Archie had tightened their control over their subordinates, keeping them from drawing too much attention online.

But even so, Naoki knew what was coming.

If the battle between Groudon and Kyogre really broke out, it would have devastating consequences for the entire Hoenn region.

With that in mind, Naoki switched to his forum account and prepared to post a new message.

[Shocking News!] Team Magma and Team Aqua are currently operating in Hoenn with the goal of…