The process of making pumpkin cookies wasn't too plicated.

  Plus, Naoki had put in the effort to specialize in making desserts like these.

  By now, he could whip up cakes, puffs, puddings, and cookies without much trouble.

  He started by mashing the sliced pumpkin and then mixed it with the prepared Moo Moo milk. , he added olive oil and sugar to the eggs, beating them until the mixture expanded into a fluffy texture.

  The third step involved p in the pumpkin puree, adding flour and starch, and blending it all together evenly before p the mix into a round mold on the baking pan.

  Finally, Naoki pced twht red dried berries on top of each cookie as decoration and popped the tray into the oven for about ten minutes.

  Soon, with a ding, the oven timer went off.

  Naoki, donni-proof gloves, pulled out the baking tray, revealing rows of golden-brown cookies, smelling sweet and fresh.

  The delightful mix of Moo Moo milk's riess and the warm aroma of pumpkin filled the air.

  "Done!" Naoki excimed, feeling proud as he admired the cookies. He had a knaaking desserts after all.

  Curiously, he looked down, and the information about the cookies popped up in his mind.

  [Pumpkin Cookies (B+): These cookies, made with pumpkins grown on the ranch, are a delightful pastoral treat.

  Effect: Lucky Guy Lv2. After ption by Pokémon, the hit rate of moves that cause abnormal status ditions like Sleep Powder, Hypnosis, and Freeze Beam is moderately increased. The ces of using powerful moves with Metronome are also heightened.

  Effect duration: 10 minutes.

  ent: A tasty cookie created to celebrate a good harvest, believed t luck to Pokémon.]

  "Hmm? Lucky Guy?" Naoki raised an eyebrow.

  At first, he thought he had made something like a lucky pudding. But after reading further, he noticed the cookie's effect was more specifioves in battle.

  Intrigued, Naoki picked up a cookie, still warm from the oven.

  The idea that moves like Hypnosis and Freeze Beam would have improved accuracy ealing. But what really caught his attention was the boost to Metronome—a move known for its randomness.

  In the games, Metronome could trigger any move, even powerful ones like Groudon's Precipice Bdes, Kyogre's in Pulse, Palkia's Spacial Rend, and Dialga's Roar of Time!

  To pull off such powerful moves, a Pokémon only needed ohing: good luck.

  Naoki couldn't help but think of Misty's Togepi from the anime, who frequently used Metroh uable results.

  He chuckled at the thought of Togepi suddenly using Arceus's Judgment in the middle of a battle.

  Just imagining the se made him grin with excitement.

  These pumpkin cookies were certainly iing!

  But, unfortunately, the effect would be of little use for the Pokémon on his ranch right now. And with the effect sting only ten minutes, it was more suited for battle situations than everyday use.

  Still, something was better than nothing.

  Naoki carefully pced the freshly baked cookies on a pte and headed downstairs.

  Not many of his Pokémon had a sweet tooth.

  Aside from Alcremie, only Indeedee seemed to enjoy sugary treats. The other Pokémon didn't mind sweets but weren't particurly ied in them either.

  Naoki had inally po let Alcremie taste the cookies, but as he looked around, he couldn't find her in the living room.

  Curious, he turo his brother, Indeedee, who was closest. "Where's Alcremie?"

  "Ai eh," Indeedee responded, pointing outside.

  Naoki was a little surprised. It was already dark, so why was Alcremie still outside at this hour?

  He left most of the cookies with Indeedee to share, a out for the ranch with the pte of cookies.

  After walking around the ranch for a bit, he finally found Alcremie uhe guidance of Butterfree.

  She was talking toh a face full of determination ahusiasm.

  Intrigued, Naoki reached into his pocket for a packet of "transtion seeds," a handy tool to uand Pokémon speech.

  Popping oo his mouth, he listened closely.

  In a baby-like voice, Alcremie decred, "Mree!" (Dragonite! Please teach me how to bee stronger!)

  Dragonite looked down at the tiny Alcremie in front of it, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Ooooo..." (My method might not work for you, because you don't have wings and 't fly...)

  Alcremie tilted its head, fused. "Mree?" (What does being strong have to do with flying?)

  Dragonite's eyes lit up as it expined, "Ooooo!" (Because if you fly, you deliver goods! Naoki says delivering goods is a form of training, and it helps Pokémon grow stronger. My current strength is all thanks to delivering packages!)

  Hearing this, Alcremie gnced sadly at its own body.

  It didn't have wings like Dragonite, and that meant no delivering goods for it.

  Alcremie sighed, "Mree..." (I want to be the stro Pokémon in the world... so I won't get eaten!)

  Dragonite blinked, looking fused.

  Just then, Naoki, who had been watg, approached with Butterfree aly forted the little Alcremie, who was feeling lost. "Don't worry. No one's going to eat you. Everyone on the ranch will protect you."

  Both Dragonite and Alcremie turo look at him.

  Drago up with excitement, "Oooooh!" (Naoki!)

  Naoki smiled at Dragonite. "Open your mouth."

  "Ah!" Dragonite obediently opes mouth, and Naoki fed it a couple of pumpkin cookies before turning to Alcremie.

  Alcremie looked flicted despite Naoki's f words. "Mree..." (But I still want to bee stronger...)

  Naoki sighed internally, realizing that telling the story to scare Alcremie might not have been the best idea.

  Recalling what Alcremie had said earlier—about wanting to bee the most powerful Pokémon in the world—Naoki pondered.

  Being the stro… Well, that might be difficult. But being the biggest? That's certainly doable.

  Naoki remembered the oversized pumpkins he could grow on the ranch. With a little help, Alcremie could grow bigger—maybe even Gigantamax! But for that, they'd o take a trip to the Gar region.

  Smiling at the thought, Naoki handed Alcremie a cookie. "Okay, I'll help you figure something out ter. But for now, how about some snacks? Want to try the pumpkin cookies I just baked?"

  Alcremie happily started mung on the pumpkin cookie.

  Watg Alcremie enjoy the treat, a new idea suddenly popped into Naoki's head.

  Alcremie could learronome!

  While directly turning Alcremie into the world's most powerful Pokémon would take time, there were clever ways to approach the problem. For instance, Alcremie could eat some Lucky Pudding first, and when the good luck kicked in, follow it up with the pumpkin cookie.

  A double dose of good fortune might just give Alcremie the edge to perform some truly incredible moves.

  But there was otle snag—Alcremie didn't know how to use Metro, and oire ranch, only sister Indeedee, had mastered the move.

  After thinking it over, Naoki smiled at Alcremie and said, "I've got an idea on how you bee stronger."

  Alcremie's eyes sparkled with hope as it eagerly asked, "Mree?" (What's the idea?)

  Was he going to teach it to fly?

  Naoki chuckled and poi the pumpkin cookie in front of them. "It's called Metronome. While it won't make you stronger directly, it'll let you borrow the power of other Pokémoing you pull off some seriously strong moves!"

  "Mree..." Alcremie was a little fused.

  Naoki thought for a moment and gave an example: "You know Koraidht? Its most powerful move is to jump high into the sky, and then strike the oppo with full force."

  "If you master Metronome ahis cookie, you'll have a ce to borrow Koraidon's power and use that powerful move to defeat anyone who tries to mess with you."

  'Oh my!' Alcremie's eyes sparkled with wonder. Could it really use such a powerful move?

  Naoki chuckled and tinued, "It's not just Koraidoronome let you use many, many powerful moves from other Pokémon."

  Alcremie was amazed. It definitely wao learn this move!

  But… how would it even begin? Alcremie looked a little lost.

  Seeing its fusion, Naoki smiled warmly and said, "That's where we'll he help of Indeedee."

  For now, though, it was diime.

  After they ate and filled their bellies, they went off to find Indeedee.

  Naoki approached sister Indeedee with anticipation. "You know how to use Metronome, right?"

  "Ai-ah~" Sister Indeedee nodded happily but looked a little fused. What was going on?

  Naoki expined, "I'd like you to teach this move to Alcremie. The pumpkin cookies you ate earlier enhahe effeetronome."

  Uanding immediately, Indeedee down at Alcremie, who was staring up with eager eyes, and she smiled. "Ai ah~"

  So, Naoki led the group of Pokémon to an open field.

  Turning to his sister, Naoki said, "These pumpkin cookies will work on you too. While they're in effect, you might be able to pull off some incredibly rare moves."

  Sister Indeedee nodded. She already uood the effect of the cookies.

  Seeing that she was ready, Naoki stood back, watg as Indeedee prepared to demonstrate Metronome.

  "Aiya!" (Watch closely, I'm about to show you!) Sister Indeedee said to Alcremie.

  Alcremie nodded eagerly. "Mree!"

  Then, Indeedee gently waved her finger. Instantly, her hands began to glow with a soft, milky white light. A magical energy radiated from her body.

  All the light gathered at a single point, and when the energy reached its peak, it transformed into a dazzling beam of light, bsting forward with incredible power.

  Feeling the sheer strength of the move, Alcremie's eyes lit up with excitement. "Mree!" (So powerful!)

  "Steel-type move, Fsh on," Naoki recited in his mind, marveling at the power of the move just unleashed by Indeedee.

  Seeing both Naoki and Alcremie's reas, Indeedee felt a little exasperated.

  "Ai-ah..." (Shouldn't we be fog on learnironome?)

  Naoki scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Sorry, sorry, it's just that this is the first time I've seeronome in a. It's amazing!"

  He looked over at Alcremie, realizing that its focus had probably been more on the impressive move itself than on Indeedee's teique.

  Naoki smiled and asked, "Shall we try again?"

  Indeedee nodded, a hint of pyfulness in its eyes.

  Naoki looked at Alcremie and instructed, "This time, focus on Indeedee's fingers. Watch the movements carefully, then try to copy them."

  "Mree!" (Got it!) Alcremie responded eagerly.

  "Great, let's begin!" Naoki gestured.

  Once again, Indeedee waved its finger gently, and once again, a radiant white light surrous hand. Suddenly, a powerful surge of electricity erupted from Indeedee, enveloping its entire body in brilliant lightning.

  For a moment, the night sky lit up as bright as day.

  The lightning crackled and surged around Indeedee as it charged forward. Although there was net in its path, the dispy of power was awe-inspiring.

  As the electric current faded, Indeedee stood still, returning to its normal state. But this time, there was a look of surprise on its face. It gnced down at its hands, seemingly in disbelief.

  "Ai-ah?" (What was that move? It felt so powerful!)

  Indeedee looked up at Naoki with a questioning expression.

  Naoki's excitement grew. "If I'm not mistaken, that was Bolt Strike!"

  "Ai-eh?" (Really?)

  Naoki grinned. "Yep! That's not just any move—it's the signature move of Zekrom, the legendary Pokémon. You're pretty lucky!"

  It seemed the pumpkin cookies were w wonders!

  Naoki turned his attention back to Alcremie and asked, "Did you watdeedee's movements closely?"

  Alcremie nodded, its ruby-like eyes shining with determination. "Mree!" (I did!)

  Naoki smiled. "Give it a try, then."

  Alcremie focused on its small cream-covered hands, mimig Indeedee's movements as it waved its fingers. It tried owice... but no glowing light appeared.

  Seeing Alcremie's frustration, Indeedee stepped forward, another demonstration.

  This time, Indeedee waved its fingers again, but instead of a legendary move, it summoned a more on attack: Swift.

  "Ai-ah," (Here's a simpler move,) Indeedee said, sharing its experieh the Metroeique.

  Alcremie listened carefully, soaking in the advice, and tio practider Indeedee's guidance.

  The first few attempts were failures.

  The sed set... more failures.

  But Alcremie remained determined, and as the sky grew darker and evening fell, the Pokémon who frequented Naoki's Pokémon Tavern began arriving at the ranch. Instead of heading to the tavern right away, they gathered to watch the adorable Alcremie practig Metronome.

  Despite the growing audience, Alcremie stayed focused. It waved its fingers again and again, uerred by the previous failed attempts.

  Finally, on the fifty-seventh attempt, a brilliant white light surrounded Alcremie's small hands, shining brightly in the darkness.

  "Mree!" (I did it!)

  Every Pokémo fixed their gaze on Alcremie, eagerly watg what would happe.

  The strong white light densed into a ball of energy, radiating an incredible amount of power. The ball trembled slightly, as if the immense energy inside was too much for it to tain.

  Naoki felt his heart race with excitement. What move was it going to be?

  The answer quickly revealed itself. Alcremie threw the glowing orb high into the sky, and with a dramatic explosion, it burst like fireworks, scattering radiant light across the dark night.

  The light scattered like shooting stars, burning bright with red trails as they plummeted down at high speed.

  And then—boom! It nded with a deafening crash, like a meteor shower hitting the ground.

  Naoki's eyes widened, and he whispered in awe, "Judgement."