At 10 a.m., people busily set up the celebration venue around the giant cooking pot.

  Mayor Thomas arrived shortly after, looking sharp in his formal suit with a gentleman's e in hand, followed by his Cyclizar.

  The mayor stepped up to the podium, took the microphone, and addressed the crowd warmly:

  "Wele, everyoo this year's Thanksgiving celebration! Thank you fing all your delicious ingredients to share. At noon, we'll bine everything in this grand pot to make a stew for everyoo enjoy!"

  He added with a chuckle, "Our staff is still finalizing the setup, so please be patient—it'll be worth the wait."

  Naoki stood in a quieter spot with his Pokémon panions—Dragonite, Cyclizar, Pawmot, Koraidon, and G—with Alcremie fortably perched onite's shoulders.

  Naoki g Mayor Thomas's Cyclizar and turo his own. "Hey, is that your mom?"

  The Cyclizar perked up, wagging its tail and chirping happily.

  "Gaooo!"

  'It was!' Naoki smiled, thinking about how this Cyclizar had e to his ranch as a youngling, leaving its parents behind.

  "Do you want to go say hi?" he asked gently.

  Cyclizar nodded eagerly. "Gao!"

  Naoki chuckled. "Okay, I'll call Mayor Thomas over. Koraidon, keep an eye on everyone, will you?"

  "Ah gah" Koraidon nodded.

  Before Naoki could move, Mayor Thomas noticed him and approached, his Cyclizar in tow.

  "Naoki! Gd you made it! The stew isn't ready yet, so there's some time to rex," the mayreeted with a smile.

  Naoki shook his head. "No rush. Actually, I wao ask you something."

  The mayor tilted his head curiously. "What's on your mind?"

  Naoki gestured toward his Cyclizar. "My Cyclizar wants to meet his parent."

  The mayor's Cyclizar reized her child right away. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and she trotted over to nuzzle her little one.

  "Gaooo!" she chirped affeately.

  "Gaooo~!" Naoki's Cyclizar responded, reassuring his mother that he was happy, healthy, and loved life on the ranbsp;

  Just as the toug reunion unfolded, an ued shout interrupted:

  "Raao!"

  Startled, the mother Cyclizar turo find Koraidon t over her. With his imposing frame and intense gaze, he looked intimidating, causing the poor Cyclizar to shrink babsp;

  Seeing her rea, Koraidon's expression drooped. His shoulders sagged, and his voice softened sadly: "Raao..."

  Mayor Thomas noticed Koraidon hanging its head aly soled him, "Do you miss your mother too? Even though I don't know where you came from, I promise you this—there isn't a parent in the world who doesn't love their child."

  Koraido out a soft, mencholic sound: "Raao…"

  Naoki reached out aed his hand on Koraidon's head, giving it a reassuring pat.

  Koraidon raised its gaze to meet Naoki's.

  Naoki smiled warmly and said, "Mayor Thomas is right. I know your mom would love you. But you've got us by your side now, so don't feel sad."

  "Raao!" Koraidon perked up slightly, its eyes filled with determination.

  It turoward the Cyclizar beside Mayor Thomas, calling out: "Raao! Raao!"

  The Cyclizar blinked in fusion, tilting its head at Koraidon's booming cries.

  The mother Cyclizar hesitated, her eyes wide with surprise. 'Could this massive Pokémon somehow be ected to her?' She knew very little about the broader world beyond her quiet life with the mayor.

  "Gao…?" the mother Cyclizar asked tentatively.

  "Raao~" Koraidon responded cheerfully, its earlier sadness easing away.

  The mother Cyclizar stared at him, bewildered. She was just an ordinary Cyclizar living in a quiet town—when had she ever had a child like this? Ahere was something familiar about the way Koraidon looked at her.

  Perhaps... could it really be one of her lost younglings?

  The Cyclizar's motherly instincts kicked in. She gazed at Koraidon warmly and said softly: "Gao..." (You've been through a lot, haven't you?)

  In her mind, only a Pokémon who had endured tless battles and challenges could develop such strength and presenbsp;

  Koraidon's gaze wavered for a moment, overwhelmed with emotion. But it quickly held back its tears, standing tall. It wasn't a helpless Cyclizar anymore—it was strong, ready to protect the o cared for.

  The Cyclizar, seeing Koraidon's stoic expression, began to uand. This wasn't just a lost child—it owerful guardian in its ht.

  The younger Cyclizar, meanwhile, looked from Koraidon to its mother, eyes brimming with worry. It hesitated for a moment. 'Was Koraidoo take my p my mother's heart?'

  "Gao?" it asked nervously.

  Koraidon looked down at the younger Cyclizar, seeing a refle of his own past struggles. With a soft growl, Koraidon leaned in, reassuring the smaller Pokémon: "Raao…" (You'll always have a pce with her.)

  Hearing this, the younger Cyclizar's tense posture softened.

  "Gao..." it murmured, feeling a wave of relief. Koraidon wasn't here to pete.

  At that moment, the mother Cyclizar smiled warmly at both Pokémon.

  ...

  Naoki made his way to the back of the square, walking alongside Mayor Thomas.

  He gestured toward the two barrels of barley beer and the pumpkins he brought from the ranch. "Mayor Thomas, where should I pce these?"

  The mayor's eyes widened in surprise. "Yht so many things?"

  Naoki rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "We had a great harvest this year. Holy, we 't finish everything at home, so I figured it'd be better to share with everyone."

  Mayor Thomas chuckled heartily. "That's very generous of you, Naoki! Bring them over there. We have folks—both people and Pokémon—who'll wash, cut, and prep everything for the stew."

  He waved toward two cheerful townspeople, who arrived promptly with their Pokémon to help carry the pumpkins and barrels of beer to the preparation area.

  Just as everything was bei up, a otion broke out on the far side of the square.

  Naoki turned, curious. "What's going on?"

  Mayor Thomas grinned knowingly. "ht! I almost fot about this part!"

  Naoki tilted his head. "art?"

  The mayor only offered a sly smile. "You'll see soon enough."

  Still baffled, Naoki returo his Pokémon, gng back as Mayor Thomas made his way toward the gathering crowd, apanied by the mother Cyclizar.

  Soon, Naoki saw six strong Pokémon carrying a rge objeto the ter of the celebration square. The object was massive, and a dark cloth covered it, cealing its shape.

  With a heavy thud, the object ced down in the heart of the square.

  Naoki squirying to make sense of what it might be.

  Mayor Thomas stepped forward and, with a theatrical fir, pulled off the bck cloth.

  The croed, and Naoki's eyes widened in amazement.

  Before them stood a grand, t statue—a magnifit likeness of the King of Bountiful Harvests!

  Naoki's eyes widened, and before he could stop himself, he muttered under his breath, "Oh, Arceus!"

  Mayor Thomas already had the microphone in hand, addressing the curious crowd gathered in the square.

  "This year, we had araordinary harvest in Kosaji Town! Our crops grew healthier and yielded more than those in neighb towns. I'm sure many of you are w how this could happen."

  The urmured in agreement. Mayor Thomas smiled knowingly.

  "Let me introduce you to the reason for our abundahe King of Bountiful Harvests!"

  Naoki blinked, suppressing a grin. 'Well, I guess I don't o spread the word anymore. These folks are already doing it on their own.'

  Around him, curious whispers rippled through the audienbsp;

  Mayor Thomas tinued passionately, "On this Thanksgiving, we express ratitude not only to the fertile nd that sustains us but also to the King of Bountiful Harvest for blessing us with prosperity!"

  Naoki watched in amusement as the townspeople became more ented by the story of the King of Bountiful Harvests.

  In truth, pared to endary Pokémon, the King of Bountiful Harvests—also known as Calyrex—was remarkably unassuming.

  He required no grand sacrifices or eborate ceremonies. Simply remembering His name gave Him the strength to tiing.

  Moreover, as the stories went, the more people who believed in Him, the stronger His power became. But Calyrex did not hoard this strength. Instead, He shared it freely with those who believed in Him, boosting their harvests and ensuring the nd flourished.

  Even if people fot Him one day, He would hold nes. Calyrex, after all, was a kied Pokémon, known to heal others—even enemies—after battle, with no mali His heart.

  'What a noble Pokémon,' Naoki thought wistfully. 'It's a shame He was fotten for so long... and even His loyal horse panio Him.'

  Naoki sighed quietly, p. 'Living in a cold, lonely pce like the Tundra. How does a Grass-type Pokémon like Calyrex manage in such harsh ditions?'

  ...

  At noon, the festivities kicked off in full swing.

  Mayor Thomas stood on a raised ptform he enormous stew pot, adding various ingredients brought by townsfolk—mushrooms, vegetables, and more. As the pot simmered, a mouthwatering aroma wafted through the square.

  Naoki sat at one of the long tables, surrounded by Pokémon and cheerful townspeople. Across from him were several curious children, eagerly eyeing him.

  "You're Naoki, right? From the ranch?" one of the children piped up.

  Naoki smiled warmly, adjusting his seat. "That's right. I run Naoki Ranch just down the road."

  One of the boys, around five or six years old, gazed at Koraidon with wide, curious eyes and asked ily, "Big brother, what's the name of this Pokémon?"

  Naoki smiled warmly. "This is Koraidon. It's a Dragon and Fighting-type Pokémon."

  The boy tilted his head thoughtfully. "Dragon and Fighting. Does that mean it's weak against Fairy and Ice-types?"

  "That's right," Naoki hen added with a pyful grin, "But type matchups aren't everything. Some trainers and their Pokémon win battles even if they're at a disadvantage."

  The boy blirying to grasp the cept, but nodded like he uood.

  A little girl nearby, holding a Greedent in her arms, perked up at the versation and shyly looked Naoki's way.

  "Big brother," she asked sweetly, " I e to your ranch this afternoon to trade some pumpkin cookies? My mom makes really yummy ones! Greedent loves them too!"

  Naoki chuckled and nodded. "Of course! I've got plenty of pumpkin cookies waiting at the ranch. You trade as many as you'd like."

  Pumpkin cookie exges were a beloved local tradition, simir to the way kids collect dy on Halloween. Hearing Naoki's approval, the children squealed in delight.

  One boy caught up iement, blurted out, "Yes! We finally see all the Pokémon at the ranch!"

  As soon as he realized what he said, he cmped his hands over his mouth, eyes wide in panibsp;

  Naoki raised an eyebrow, amused.

  The boy's mother chuckled and expined with a smile, "It's because Dragonite flies over from your ranow and then to deliver milk. Daiki here has been dying to visit ever since."

  The boy—Daiki—nodded eagerly, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Uncle Zack said Mr. Naoki's ranch has so many Pokémon! I e and visit? I promise I'll behave!"

  Naoki smiled softly. "Of course. As long as everyone behaves, you're wele anytime."

  The children cheered. Naoki watched them, feeling a warm flicker in his heart. In their bright, eager faces, he saw a refle of Ash's spirit—a childlike wonder and endless love for Pokémon.

  'Who knows?' Naoki thought to himself. 'Maybe one of these kids will grow up to be a great trainer, just like Ash.'

  Just then, the savory aroma of the stew filled the air, signaling that the food was ready. Volunteers began serving bowls of the hot celebration soup to everyohered.

  Soon, a boced in front of Naoki. As he peered into the bowl, the information about the bowl of soup immediately popped into his mind.

  [Celebration Soup: No Level]

  [A special soup made to celebrate the harvest, brimming with fresh ingredients. While it offers no special effects, it captures the simple joy of the season with every bite.]