August 16, 198th year of the Alliance dar, Autumn.

  Four days before Cyclizar's birthday, Naoki began to think about the perfect birthday gift for it. This was his first time celebrating a Pokémon's birthday, so it o feel special.

  However, no matter how long Naoki thought, he couldn't figure out what kind of gift would truly excite Cyclizar. From what he knew about it, Cyclizar didn't seem to have any particur preferences or desires.

  "Maybe I could make its favorite meal?" Naoki sidered but quickly dismissed the idea. Giving it something it already ate every day didn't feel like a real birthday gift.

  "What about a training device to help it get stronger?" But then Naoki thought again. Cyclizar didn't seem to have the same obsession with strength as Drago might like the gift, but only because it came from Naoki, not because it actually wa.

  So what would be the right gift?

  Naoki sat uhe eaves, listening to the soft chime of the wind bells overhead, his eyes resting on the Cyclizar basking in the sun. Koraidon y zily nearby, taking a nap.

  Notig Naoki had been silent for a while, Koraidon opened one eye and followed his gaze. It nded on the se of a teary-eyed Cyclizar holding its tail. Nearby, a Naclstaon stood apologetically, shaking its head in a panic, clearly trying to say, "I didn't mean it!"

  Alcremie, who had been sitting atop the Naclstack like it was driving a car, now looked down in fusion.

  "Ah, gah?" Koraidon muttered in fusion.

  Naoki sighed, "Naclstack actally stepped on the Cyclizar's tail. I'll go che them."

  Standing up, Naoki headed over, and Koraidon shook itself off and followed.

  By the time they reached, Alcremie had already jumped down from the Naclstad was tending to the Cyclizar's injury.

  The otiohe attention of other Pokémon, and G and Butterfree also came over.

  "Stack…" Naclstack mumbled apologetically as Naoki approached.

  "Don't worry," Naoki said, trying to calm it down. "Let me take a look." He gently took hold of the Cyclizar's tail.

  The tip, normally slender, was swollen like a little balloon, its pale skin slightly reddened. Naoki could only imagihe pain—the Naclstack weighed over 105 kilograms!

  Cyclizar's eyes welled up with tears from the pain.

  Naoki quickly examihe injury and turo Brother Indeedee who had just arrived. "Please brihe gauze and medie from the et in my bedroom."

  "Ai ya." Indeedee nodded calmly, g the injury, and headed back to fetch the supplies.

  Naoki held the Cyclizar's tail, ready to fort it, but suddenly the weight in his hand lightened.

  For a moment, he was fused, then looked down to see the tip of the Cyclizar's tail lying quietly in his hand.

  Naoki was frozen.

  Nearby, Alcremie, Butterfree, and the other Pokémon gasped in horror, their exaggerated cries filling the air.

  "Mree!"

  "Buyi?!"

  "Stack!!!"

  Naclstack, absolutely terrified, stood paralyzed in fear. It hadn't meant for this to happen!

  But when Naoki looked back up at the Cyclizar, it was already looking much better, as if the worst of the pain had passed.

  Tentatively, Naoki asked, "How do you feel now?"

  "Gah..." Cyclizar looked a little embarrassed seeing everyone so ed for it.

  Cyclizar shook its head, looking at the missiion of its tail in fusion.

  After its tail broke, it suddenly didn't hurt as muymore.

  Naoki's eyebrows raised. 'Could it be that the pain triggered Cyclizar's potential and it realized the move "Shed Tail"? '

  Shed Tail is a move that sacrifices a bit of health to create a substitute, allowing the Pokémon to switch out with a partner. In the games, this is a move that only Pokémon like Cyclizar and Orthworm learn.

  Naoki carefully examihe cross-se of Cyclizar's tail and noticed that it wasn't as bloody as he'd expected.

  "Is this a new move?" he asked.

  Instinctively, Cyclizar khis was a move called Shed Tail. It nodded, a little embarrassed. "Gahao..." it mumbled, realizing that it couldn't use the move again until its tail grew back.

  Naoki had a general idea of what had happened, and just then, Brother Indeedee jogged over with the medical supplies.

  Naoki took the bandages and healing spray, gently applied the spray to Cyclizar's broken tail, and ed it up ly with a bow.

  "All done, you'll be good as new soon," Naoki said with a smile.

  Pokémon have remarkable healing abilities, and acc to Naoki's knowledge, the tail would grow back within three days.

  After hearing this, the other Pokémon finally calmed down.

  Naclstack hung its head apologetically. If it hadn't been so clumsy, Cyclizar wouldn't have been hurt.

  But the kied Cyclizar shook its head and smiled, reassuring Naclstack that everything was okay.

  Harmony was restored among the Pokémon.

  Feeling a bit tired, Cyclizar found a cozy spot to nap.

  Despite the fiveness, Naclstack still seemed dowed. It moved cautiously, making sure not to actally step on any other small Pokémon.

  Naoki and Koraidouro the eaves.

  Refleg on Cyclizar's earlier response, Naoki couldn't help but smile and say, "Cyclizar really is a little angel."

  "Ah, gah~" Koraidon agreed, having growo Naoki's frequent praise of Cyclizar.

  Naoki chuckled. "Why are you so happy when I praise Cyclizar? I remember you didn't like it much when we first got here."

  Koraidon had a sheepish look on its face. "Ah, gah."

  "Well, as long as yetting along now!" Naoki said, letting the matter drop. Given Koraidon's territorial nature, it was impressive enough that it didn't fight with Cyclizar anymore.

  Leaning baaoki asked thoughtfully, "By the way, has Cyclizar ever told you what it's ied in?"

  Koraidon tilted its head, u first.

  Naoki expined, "Its birthday is ing up, and I want to get it a nice gift, but I don't know what to pick."

  Koraidon perked up, recalling how, when it was still a Cyclizar itself, Naoki had once given it a special gift: a scarf and warm clothes.

  The clothes were like a snug little vest, with holes for its legs and a scarf to keep its neck warm. Cyclizar had loved the outfit, but after wearing it for so long, it had bee torn and worn out. Naoki had tried to mend it a few times before retiring it to the closet.

  Without hesitation, Koraidon responded, "Ah, gah!"

  At that moment, a cool autumn breeze blew by, bringing with it a slight chill.

  An idea popped into Naoki's mind—warm clothes!

  Winter roag, and he remembered that some shops in town sold scarves and clothes for Pokémon.

  "That's it!" Naoki suddenly stood up, ready to head into town.

  Cyclizar's tail was injured, making it unsuitable for carrying Naoki to town. Besides, Naoki wao keep the gift a secret and surprise it wheime came.

  So, this time, he decided to ride a more low-key mount—his trusty Gogoat—to town.

  Before leaving, Naoki reminded Koraidon, "Don't tell Cyclizar what I talked to you about today, okay?"

  Koraidon blinked, looking a little u first, but then gave a nod of agreement.

  Satisfied, Naoki mouhe back of his Gogoat a off toward the town.

  It had been a while sinaoki visited, but the town was just as lively and bustling as ever.

  Following his memory, he made his way to the Pokémoy Shop.

  Only here could he find some Pokémon outfits.

  Upoering, he was greeted by a very fashionable Pokémon stylist dressed in colorful clothes.

  "Good afternoon, young man! Are you here to style this beautiful Gogoat? Oh my goodness! Its wool is so lush and soft! Hmm, it's perfect for the hairstyle I just designed," the stylist excimed with enthusiasm.

  The stylist pushed an illustration in front of Naoki. It depicted a Gogoat with a mohawk.

  With a pyful grin, the stylist added, "Would you like to try this trendy look?"

  Naoki stared bnkly for a moment. "Uh…"

  The Gogoat, having uood what the stylist roposing, took a step closer to the illustration and immediately wides eyes in disbelief.

  "Mehh..."

  A green aura started te around Gogoat as it shot the stylist a very unfriendly look, as if to say, "Try toug my wool, and you'll see the wrath of my Leaf Bde!"

  "Oh, o get upset!" Naoki said hurriedly, trying to calm the situation.

  He chuckled awkwardly. The idea of these fashionable hairstyles and quirky styles seemed a bit too... unventional for his taste.

  Quickly moving past the topiaoki asked, "Do you have any clothing for a Cyclizar? I'm looking to buy something for winter."

  "Cyclizar?" The stylist looked surprised. "No, we only carry outfits for small dog-like Pokémon."

  Seeing that this wasn't the right pce for what he had in mind, Naoki thahe stylist politely, bid them farewell, and hopped ba his Gogoat. He decided to head to a different shop, ohat specialized in clothing fer Pokémon.

  Naoki and his Gogoat returned from the mall empty-handed yet again.

  "Of course, the big mall only sells human clothes," Naoki muttered to himself, standing at the entrance, unsure where to look .

  Just then, a young female clerk from the mall called out to him.

  Naoki turned around, slightly fused.

  The girl asked, "Are you looking to buy some warm clothes for your Cyclizar?"

  Naoki nodded. "Yes."

  The girl smiled and replied, "Unfortunately, you won't find any here in Kosaji Town. Clothes tend to restrict a Pokémon's movement, so aside from a few noble dies dressing up their Pokémon for fashion, it's rare to see anyone else doing it."

  "I see…" Naoki houghtfully.

  The girl smiled again and added, "But I have an idea! You've been walking up and dowreet for a while now. You must really care about that Cyclizar. So why not make the clothes yourself?"

  Naoki's eyes lit up. "What do you mean?"

  The girl expined, "There are ranches near Kosaji Town that raise wool Pokémon like Wooloo. You buy some wool and then find a skilled tailor to make clothes for your Cyclizar."

  This was a brilliant idea.

  Naoki thahe girl and, while there was still time in the day, he rode his Gogoat over to the nearby Thunder Ranch to inquire about wool.

  The ranch owner, Ray, who was slightly older than Naoki, warmly weled him and agreed to show him around after learning the purpose of his visit.

  "e on, I'll show you around!" Ray said with a grin.

  Naoki followed, taking in the sight of the ranch. Thunder Ranch was located at the base of a hillside covered in lush grass, where a group of Wooloo and Dubwool from the Gar region peacefully grazed.

  "It's a bit different from your ranch, huh?" Ray said with a chuckle.

  Naoki nodded. "Yeah, quite different."

  He noticed that Thunder Ranch didn't have much farmnd—just a small pumpkin patd there weren't any Miltank-like Pokémon for dairy produ.

  Ray proudly expined, "My ranch specializes in animal husbandry. We focus on raising wool-produg Pokémon like Wooloo. Their wool is top-notaking clothes. In Gar, garments and carpets made from this wool are highly sought after!"

  "The wool from my herd is sold throughout the Padia region!" he added with a hint of pride.

  "Impressive!" Naoki genuinely admired Ray's rang skills.

  pared to him, Ray was an expert rancher. Naoki had relied on his magical cooking skills and the help of his Pokémon to get his ranch going, but Ray had managed everything himself.

  "Haha, thanks!" Ray said, a bit bashfully. "So, you're here for woht?"

  Naoki nodded. "That's right."

  Ray waved his hand, calling over a plump Wooloo with soft, fluffy wool and rge, gentle eyes.

  "Perfect timing! It's a shearing season," Ray said, pulling out a special pair of shears.

  As Ray expertly shaved the wool, he expined, "Wooloo's wool grows tinuously. Even if you shear it pletely, it only takes about three months for it to grow back."

  "If you don't shear them, these little guys barely move because of how heavy their wool gets!"

  In no time, Ray had produced a plete woolen fleece.

  Holding it up, he said, "Look at this! Isn't it amazing? The fleece is intad super estic. If you were to wear it, you wouldn't get hurt even if you fell off a cliff!"

  To demonstrate, Ray patted the wool, and it bounced back with a soft "boing" sound.

  Naoki was wide-eyed in disbelief. It was so… resilient!

  "If I gave this to a Werewolf-like Pokémon, it'd really be a wolf in sheep's clothing," Naoki thought, amused.

  "I'll round off the price for you—2,000 Poke Dolrs per kilogram. This fleece weighs 6 kilograms, so that'll be 12,000 Poke Dolrs," Ray said as he weighed the wool.

  Twelve thousand Poke Dolrs. sidering the quality, it was a reasonable price.

  Naoki thought it was a great deal and quickly paid for the wool. Excited, he hurried bae, eager to start the step: finding a tailor to craft the perfect warm clothing for his Cyclizar.

  It was going to be a birthday gift like no other!