Naoki: "…"

  "Alright then!"

  In his mind, Naoki pared Koraidon with Paradox Pokémon like Great Tusk and R Tail. Without a doubt, Koraidon was the most powerful Pokémon.

  Deg to rex, Naoki sat down beside Koraidon to bask in the warm afternoon sun. Koraidon squinted tentedly, clearly enjoying the peaceful moment. Meanwhile, Naoki begaally reviewing the various a Paradox Pokémon.

  There was the prehistori of Donphan, Great Tusk; the fierce, a Jigglypuff known as Scream Tail; and Brute Bo, a dangerous mushroom resembling Amoonguss. He thought of the elegant Slither Wing, the Paradox version of Vola, with its magnifit wings, and the fearsome R Moon, Samence's primal aor.

  Naoki's thoughts drifted to rumors about the a forms of the Legendary Beasts: Suie's Paradox form, Walking Wake, and Raikou's terpart, Raging Bolt.

  "I wonder just how powerful these a Pokemon are..." Naoki mused to himself.

  If these creatures were summohrough the time mae like the other Paradox Pokémon, he might have the ce to enter them within Area Zero.

  ---

  After lunaoki headed to the orchard to che the injured Pokémon.

  The usually lively area was strangely quiet, with hardly a sound from the Pokémon—quite the trast to the pyful calls of Alcremie and Naclsta the grassy field outside.

  When Naoki peeked into the wooden hut, he found a group of Pokémon huddled inside, seemingly still shaken from the ret fire.

  Though the bze had beeinguished nearly thirty ho, the Pokémon remained wary aless, their spirits dampened despite the safe and cozy enviro.

  As Naoki approached, some Pokémon cautiously poked their heads out from the hut, their curious eyes meeting his gaze.

  Naoki smiled warmly. "Let's see how you're healing, okay?"

  "Guji!"

  A lively Mino was the first to leap out of the hut. Its fluffy, plume-like tail swayed cheerfully—though part of it was singed from the fire.

  The little Pokémon scampered over to Naoki, holding its tail and looking up with a soft, pitiful "Gu..guji…"

  Naoki gently ied the burnt fur and grinned. "You're healing up nicely. Don't worry—by the time winter is over, your fur will grow back good as new."

  "Guji!"

  At the mention of recovery, Minohtened instantly. With a delighted squeal, it spun around and darted back to the hut, wagging its tail happily.

  Naoki peeked ihe hut and noticed a pile of berries stashed away—clearly Mino's winter hoard. He chuckled, reizing how simir Mino's behavior was to that of real squirrels, diligently gathering food to st through the colder months.

  The sight reminded him of the forest on the mountain, which had unfortunately been scorched during the fire.

  If there was a Mino living in that forest, it must have lost its stockpile too.

  His heart sank at the thought.

  This little Pokémon must have devastated too, but judging by the cheerful way it curled up on its ash of berries, it seemed things were slowly improving.

  Naoki watched Mino nuzzle into the soft pile of berries, its tail ing protectively around them. A tented sigh escaped the Pokémon as it y atop its treasures, blissfully happy.

  Seeing that the cheerful Mino was rec well, Naoki smiled and tinued dowh through the orchard.

  , he checked on a Wattrel perched in one of the trees.

  The poor Wattrel had fallen into a deep depression the day before, its wings scorched by the fire, robbing it of its ability to fly. It had spent hours attempting to fp its injured wings, trying desperately to lift off—but all its efforts ended in failure.

  Notig its struggle, Naoki approached gently and scooped up the small bird Pokémon. As he uned the bandages from its wings, he wi the sight of the worsening injuries.

  "Looks worse than I thought," Naoki muttered. He called out to brother Indeedee, t the medical kit.

  As Naoki carefully applied medie to Wattrel's wounds, he said softly, "You o st to fly for now. Every time you fp your wings like that, you make the injury worse. If you push too hard, you might not be able to fly again."

  At these words, Wattrel's eyes filled with a flicker of fear. It lowered its head, giving a small, relut nod as if promising it wouldn't try again.

  Naoki gently patted Wattrel's head. "I know flying is in your nature. Losing your wings must be terrifying. But trust me—if you let them heal properly, I promise you'll soar through the sky again soon. Do you believe me?"

  The little Wattrel looked into Naoki's dark eyes for a moment, theantly nodded.

  "Good." Naoki smiled warmly and gave the bird a reassuring pat. "From now on, I'll e by twice a day to give you medie, okay?"

  After carefully pg Wattrel ba its per the wooden hut, Naoki tinued on his way.

  Uhe nearby fruit trees, he spotted a group of Pokémon: a pyful Petilil, a couple of Hoppip floating zily in the breeze, and a curious little group of Foongus.

  Though the Pokémon were still a bit subdued, they perked up at the sight of Naoki, giving friendly greetings despite their low spirits.

  Naoki smiled at them. "Your injuries seem to be healing well. Get some good rest, and you'll be back to full strength in no time."

  "Da La!" cheered the group of Foonguss, happily cirg Naoki in joy.

  The Hoppip floated around Naoki too, spinning pyfully in the air. Meanwhile, Petilil watched the happy se with a soft smile.

  Seeing the Pokémon finally start to rex and smile again, Naoki felt a wave of relief wash over him.

  He gnced over at the Tinkatuff, Smeargle sketg on bark with joyful focus, a Kricketune chirping a soothing tune, and a pyful duo of Tandemaus chasing each other around the clearing.

  Naoki whispered softly, more to himself than anyone else, "Everything will be alright."

  Naoki carefully checked over the Pokémon one by one, ensuring they were all rec well. Satisfied that everyone was doing fine, he stood up and sed the area.

  Suddenly, something clicked in his mind—one Pokémon was missing.

  "The Bellibolt should be in the underground cave," he thought. "It was fierday, so that's not the issue."

  Then it hit him: one Pokémon still hadn't been ated for.

  "Where's that zy Skoth?" Naoki muttered, frowning as he gnced around the clearing.

  At that moment, a pair of pyful Tandemaus squeaked in unison, pointing with their tiny paws toward a nearby grove of trees.

  Naoki followed the dire they indicated, and soon enough, he spotted the familiar figure of Skoth. It was lying on a patch of grass surrounded by fruit trees, basking in a perfect beam of sunlight that filtered through the leafy opy.

  The Pokémon y ft on its back, pletely still. Even as Naoki approached, Skoth only shifted its eyes zily, a half-hearted yawn.

  Naoki: "…"

  It was abundantly clear that Skoth had fully adjusted to its new surroundings.