The firelight flickered in the room as the little Tinkatuff y on a square pillow. The dang fmes in the firepce cast long shadows on the walls, making them flicker in rhythm with the fmes.

  The little Tinkatuff felt like it was dreaming.

  In the dream, a fire had broken out in the forest, and the snarling fmes were like the cws of a monster, stantly approag.

  The raging fire burned everything, turning its home into a nightmarish purgatory in an instant.

  It saw other Pokémon being ed by the fmes, and more and more began to flee.

  Tinkatuff joihe stampede of Pokémon, running with the wind howling in its ears and the heat of the fmes chasing from behind.

  The temperature around it rose higher and higher, as if the fmes were about to engulf it entirely.

  Tinkatuff let out a cry of fear and suddenly jolted awake.

  The all-ing fire was gone, and so were the fleeing Pokémon.

  Instead, Tinkatuff found itself in an unfamiliar pce.

  There was still a trace of fear on its face as it gasped for breath, like someone who had narrowly escaped drowning.

  Just then, a voice came from beside it.

  "You're awake?"

  Tinkatuff turo see a human.

  The memories came flooding back, and Tinkatuff recalled everything.

  They had escaped the fire and been saved by the human standing before it.

  But what about the other Pokémon that had escaped with it?

  Panic set in as Tinkatuff looked around the room, searg for its panions.

  Seeing its movements, Naoki uood what it was worried about.

  "If you're looking for Mino, you find them outside in the orchard," Naoki said with a gentle smile.

  Hearing this, Tinkatuff tried to get up and go outside. It remembered how Mino had stopped to save it from the fmes, and how the poor Pokémon's tail had been burned in the process.

  Naoki didn't stop Tinkatuff. After its rest, it had regained much of its strength and no longer appeared as weak as before.

  He followed Tinkatuff outside, and together they found Mino hiding safely in the orchard.

  Tinkatuff breathed a sigh of relief.

  "You're much better now," Naoki said, "but you still o rest. Stay here at my ranch for the time being. After winter, I'll help rebuild your home, and you return to the mountains and forests."

  Naoki expihat the Paldea League would also send people to help restore the area's ecology. Ohe forest recovered, the rescued Pokémon would be released bato the wild to live in their homes again.

  Hearing this, Tinkatuff seemed to rex a little more.

  It turo Naoki and quietly murmured, "Woo-woo.."

  Naoki smiled. "I even made a little for you. Would you like to try it? You stay with the others."

  Though safe, Tinkatuff's heart hadn't fully recovered from the ordeal. It hung its head and whispered softly, "Woo-wah."

  Seeing the fragile little Tinkatuff, Naoki found it hard to ect this timid Pokémon with the fearsome "Paldea's Fe Master" described in the Pokédex.

  The Fe Master refers to it's final evolution, Tinkaton, a Pokémon known not only for its intellige also for its bravery. Despite its small and cute appearainkaton is said to wield a giant hammer strong enough to crush Steelix.

  Naoki gently guided Tinkatuff to the wooden hut he had prepared for it.

  The little Tinktuff gnced back at Naoki, then walked into the cozy hut under his encing gaze.

  Naoki smiled as he watched.

  Finally, all the injured Pokémon had found a safe pce to rest.

  It was not yet dark, and the Pokémon didn't stay in their s. They were scattered throughout the orchard, all in a somber mood.

  Naoki uood this. After all, what had happened retly was traumatid it was normal for them to take some time to adjust.

  He gathered the Pokémon and said gently, "You piy fruit from the trees in this orchard a it. If you want to wander around, feel free to find Pawmot or Alcremie."

  The ripening period for the berries orees was much shorter than fur fruit. These berries would be more than enough to sustain the Pokémon through the winter.

  The group of Pokémon nodded in agreement, indig they uood.

  Before Naoki k, it was already five o'clo the evening.

  Zack arrived in his truck to collect the day's goods.

  He had clearly heard about the forest fire in the back hills.

  "This is sic," Zack sighed heavily.

  "Yes," Naoki replied, thinking about the Pokémon that had lost their lives in the fire. "It's going to take a long time for the ecosystem to recover, and these Pokémon have been deeply hurt, both physically aionally."

  "All we do is help them through this tough time," Zack added, equally saddened by the situation.

  "Everything will be okay," Naoki said, trying to limmer of hope.

  Zack smiled at his optimism. "You're right! If we all work together, we'll definitely overe this."

  He handed Naoki the payment for the day's milk, waved goodbye, and drove off from the ranch.

  After seeing Zack off, Naoki felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him.

  From early m until now, he hadn't taken a moment to rest. After helping put out the fire, he had immediately taken the ranch's Pokémon to check the back mountain, theuro build the wooden huts for the rescued Pokémon.

  Naoki yawhough he was incredibly tired, he pushed through and started preparing dinner with the help of the younger Indeede sibling.

  After dinner, Naoki went to fill the troughs for the Gogoats and Miltank, then herded the hens bato their coop for the night.

  The Indeede siblings were visibly tired too. Seeing how exhausted everyone was, Naoki decided to hang a "Closed" sign at the tavern, so the siblings could get some well-deserved rest.

  That night, the lights at the ranch were turned off early, and Naoki, along with all the Pokémon, quickly fell into a deep sleep.

  ...

  The m, a brand-new day began.

  The weather leasant, and the temperature, which had dropped the previous day, had risen slightly.

  Early in the m, Naoki began mowing the grass with a wnmower, preparing to collect fresh grass to make new grass dishes for the Gogoats.

  It's worth mentioning that, to ensure his Gogoats could enjoy fresh grass dumplings during winter, Naoki had filled aire ste shed with fresh grass.

  All of this grass had been carefully preserved by sealing it in crystal-clear id st it in G's ice celr. This way, whenever needed, Naoki could take out a block, let it tharepare green grass dumplings.

  While Naoki was busy w in the pasture, a new visitor arrived at the ranbsp;

  Geeta, the chief champion of the Paldea League, stood on the road, gazing at the bustling ranch before her.

  "Is this the champion-level trainer Jenioned?" Geeta murmured to herself.

  Just as she stepped through the ranch's entrahree Dragonites soared overhead, each carrying a small delivery bag.

  Geeta looked up, her expression filled with surprise. 'Could this rancher be a champion-level trainer specializing in Dragon-types?

  She followed the flight path of the Dragonites, notig they were heading toward the town.

  Jenny had mentioned some rumors about this ranch the previous evening. Seeing the Dragonites now, Geeta thought they must be the delivery Pokémon Jenny had referred to.

  "Quite the luxury," Geeta remarked softly. "But Dragonite is certainly well-suited for the job."

  She assumed these Dragonites were among the main Pokémon of the ranch's owner.

  However, as Geeta turned her gaze, she spotted another Pokémon stretg zily on the grass not far away.

  It was a tall, majestic creature with a scarlet-scaled body, a mane of vibrahers, and striking golden eyes.

  Sensing her presehe Pokémon opes eyelids, log eyes with Geeta.

  For a moment, Geeta stood frozen in pbsp;

  'Is that… the Paradox Pokémon that Professors Sada and Turo had been studying? '

  'The one known as the Winged King, recorded in the Scarlet Tome? '

  As the leader of the Paldea League, Geeta was well aware of the existence of Area Zero and the enigmatic Paradox Pokémon within.

  Access to Area Zero was restricted—anyone wishing to enter had to apply through the League and receive approval from Geeta herself.

  "No… Koraidon shouldn't be here," she whispered, instinctively denying the sight before her.

  She khat only two of these powerful and uable Paradox Pokémon had ever been summoned outside of Area Zero.

  If Koraidon was here, then what was left at the heart of Area Zero's deepest b?

  But the look Koraidon gave her was impossible to dismiss.

  Even if she found it hard to believe, the creature standing before her wasn't an illusion—it was real.

  So who was this mysterious rancher?

  How had he mao befriend and train su uable and untamed Pokémon as Koraidon?

  At that moment, Naoki received a message from Butterfree, alerting him that someone had ehe ranbsp;

  He set down his tools and made his way over. From a distance, he saw Geeta, dressed in her distinctive bd-blue champion's uniform, staring at Koraidon with a look of amazement.

  Naoki raised his eyebrows and stepped forward to greet her. "Champioa?"

  Geeta snapped out of her thoughts and turoward Naoki, studying his fabsp;

  "Have we met somewhere before?" she asked politely, frowning slightly.

  Naoki paused, thinking carefully. With his darker plexion, stronger physique, and new hairstyle, it was no wonder she didn't reize him at first.

  "Yes," he expined. "During the time the giant Dragonite visited the Paldea region."

  Geeta's eyes widened in reition. "It's you?"

  Naoki gave a small nod. "It's me."

  "No weeta murmured, her voice filled with realization. "No wonder you were able to and that giant Drago makes sense now—you must be a champion-level trainer."

  Naoki blinked, stunned. "Champion? What champion?"

  Geeta looked puzzled. "Aren't you the one who helped put out the fire yesterday? The Dragorainer?"

  Naoki scratched his head in fusion. "I mean, yes, I helped, but... I'm just a rancher."

  For a moment, Geeta seemed taken aback, but then she smiled as if everything suddenly made sense.

  Naoki: "...What exactly do you uand?"

  Geeta straightened, getting back to business.

  "Mr. Naoki, regardless of your title, I want to express the Paldea League's gratitude. On behalf of the League, I'd like to offer you a favor. Whether it's money, a Pokémon, or even a position within the League, we'll do our best to aodate your request."

  She added with a touch of excitement, "I'd personally love to recruit you—perhaps as a Gym Leader."

  Naoki chuckled, feeling both fttered and a little exasperated. "A Gym Leader? Really?"

  He couldn't help but shake his head. "I think I'll pass. I enjoy running the ranuch to bee a 'corporate sve,' like some of my friends."

  Geeta gave a regretful sigh but pressed on, hopeful. "Are you sure? The League enerous pensation, and you could still mahe ranch alongside your duties. Many trainers have dual roles—it's not as plicated as it sounds."

  Naoki gave her a polite smile. "I really appreciate the offer, but these Pokémon depend on me. I couldn't leave them."

  Geeta g the group of Pokémon gathered around Naoki, looking both scruffy and tent in his presence. She sighed. "I uand. But if you ever ge your mind, don't hesitate to tact me."

  She smiled warmly. "That said, the first two offers still stand. Please, sider it a small token of our appreciation—and well-earoo."

  Naoki hesitated. He wasn't sure what to say.

  Money wasn't something he desperately the moment. But the mention of Pokémon made him think—his mind wao the affeate Eevee family and the loyal Growlithe he'd always admired.

  He began to fall into deep thought. What should he choose?

  Seeing that Naoki was still hesitant, Geeta smiled warmly. "You take your time to think about it. ratitude isn't going anywhere. When you've made up your mind, just let me know."

  Naoki nodded, appreciating the time to sider his options.

  In his mind, he thought about possibly finding an Eevee from a nearby town or even taking his ces with a Growlithe in the wild. The thought of finally having one of these Pokémon made him feel a bit giddy inside.

  With the formalities out of the way, Geeta's gaze drifted back to Koraidon. Curiosity flickered in her eyes as she asked, "Is that your Pokémon?"

  Naoki looked at Koraidon, who gave him a curious ghen back at Geeta. Thoughts swirled in his mind.

  He khat access to Area Zero—the mysterious crater managed by the Paldea League—was heavily restricted. Any outsider wishing to explore it had to obtain permission from the League. Professors Sada and Turo had established observatories and researstitutes within the crater, only possible through the League's support.

  'As the chief champion of the Paldea League, Geeta must already be aware of the Paradox Pokémon,' Naoki thought.

  After a brief moment of ption, Naoki decided to tell the truth. "Yes, this is Koraidon. Dr. Sada . It appeared at my ranch about eight months ago. Dr. Sada entrusted me with its care, hoping I could uncover more ecological information through my observations."