Alliance dar Year 198, August 20 – Autumn

  Early in the m, Naoki received a warm set of woolen clothes and scarves from Mrs. Dantes.

  The kind elderly dy carefully packed the items into a handbag and ha to Naoki. Her eyes, however, drifted toward the stretg figure of a Cyclizar nearby.

  "Doesn't this little one know you've prepared a gift for it?" Mrs. Dantes asked with a smile.

  "Of course not," Naoki grinned. "If it knew, it wouldn't be a surprise."

  Mrs. Dantes chuckled softly. "Well, I won't keep you then. Wish your Cyclizar a happy birthday for me."

  "I will!" Naoki promised with a nod.

  With a final wave, Mrs. Dantes headed off, disappearing dowh.

  After she left, Naoki returo the house, carrying the handbag. He looked at the Indeedee siblings and asked with a grin, "Are you two ready?"

  "Ai ah~!"

  "Ai eh~!"

  The siblings nodded in sync, full of excitement.

  Naoki cpped his hands. "Alright, let's get started! Koraidon, take Cyclizar outside and keep it busy. Make sure you two have fun and e back when the sus!"

  "Raao?"

  Koraidon tilted its head but soon realized.

  Koraidon remembered its previous experience vividly—it had been taken out by Koraidon to py but the Koraidon got distracted and ran off on its own, leaving the poor Pokémon behind.

  Despite that, Cyclizar hadn't been upset. Instead, it returned happily carrying a bunch of flowers, believing Naoki wao decorate the house with them.

  Now, as Koraidon watched Cyclizar roll around zily on the grass, it gave a small sigh.

  "Raao!" (Let's go find some flowers!)

  Cyclizar perked up, tilting its head. "Gah?" (Flowers?)

  Realizing Koraidon was asking it to join the adventure, Cyclizar's eyes brightened. "Gaao!" it squeaked happily, ready to follow along.

  Koraidon rolled its eyes but decided to indulge the younger Pokémon. "Ah gah," it said, making up a story. (Naoki got a new vase and wants the prettiest flowers for it. Know where we find some?)

  Cyclizar tilted its head thoughtfully. If anyone knew about flowers, it was Naoki—but Cyclizar didn't catch the fw in Koraidon's pn. Overjoyed to have pany, it turned around ahe way toward the southeastern field.

  "Gaao!" (Let's go!)

  Together, the two Pokémon arrived at the flower field, where mid-autumn blooms flourished.

  bee and Butterfree fluttered over the flowers, busy with their work.

  The moment Cyclizar saw the flower field, it couldn't resist diving straight into the blooms. It rolled around ials, poking its head out every so often to check if Koraidon was watg.

  "Gaao?" Cyclizar tilted its head, a bit fused. 'Why was Koraidon standing so still?'

  Koraidon shook its head and thought to itself, 'Only a child would roll around like that.' It sighed, deing Cyclizar's invitation to join. "Ah gah." (No thanks.)

  Cyclizar didn't mind. It just kept pying happily, although it did feel a tiny bit disappoihat it couldn't chase butterflies—after all, there were none around in autumn.

  Koraidon watched for a moment longer, amused by Cyclizar's carefree behavior. Finally, when Cyclizar wasn't looking, it quietly slipped away.

  After a little while, Cyclizar realized Koraidon had disappeared. It shook the petals off its head and stood up.

  "Gah..." (ht!)

  It remembered Koraidon's story about Naoki wanting flowers and decided to take the task seriously. With renewed enthusiasm, it dove bato the flowers, determio find the most beautiful ones for Naoki.

  ---

  Meanwhile, ba the living room, Naoki and the Indeedee siblings were busy decorating.

  They strung colorful ribbons and twinkling lights along the walls. Naoki instructed the flying Pawmot to hang decorations in the harder-to-reach pces.

  In the er, Alcremie worked diligently in its little cream workshop, whipping up fresh batches of frosting for the celebration.

  Even the usually zy Dolliv was invited by Naoki to help serve fresh olive oil.

  With the Pokémon diligently handling their tasks, Naoki entrusted them with decorating the venue.

  He theuro the cream workshop to prepare today's birthday cake.

  Naoki had memorized the steps for making a birthday cake: Eggs, milk, oven...

  And, most importantly, a little bit of emotion.

  Naoki had learhat cooking with heartfelt emotion always enhahe result. This time, it felt even more natural—his bond with Cyclizar was woven into the fabric of everyday life, so the feelings came effortlessly.

  As Naoki reminisced, fond memories flooded his mind.

  A year ago, Cyclizar had hatched from its egg.

  He tried to imagihe tiny Pokémon emerging from the egg, a bit wobbly, with half of the eggshell still stu its head—just like the Indeedee siblings when they were young.

  Sadly, Naoki hadn't beeo witness Cyclizar's birth. The young Pokémon had been raised by its parents until it reached the usual size. Eventually, it was entrusted to Naoki's care by Mayor Thomas.

  Thinking of this, Naoki felt a warm hope swell within him: 'I want Cyclizar to live a happy, healthy life, filled with joy and peace.'

  With those thoughts in his heart, Naoki poured the cake batter into a mold and slid it into the oven.

  After some time, the cake emerged from the oven, perfectly golden and fragrant. Naoki carefully sliced the cake in half, filled it with pieces of fresh fruit, and spread a yer of silky cream over the top with the help of Alcremie.

  And just like that, the birthday cake was plete.

  Naoki looked down at his creation, feeling a strange sense of crity as information about the cake popped into his mind:

  [Birthday Cake (S)]: A cake made with rich cream and fruit, symbolizing celebration.

  Effect: If fed to a Pokémon on its birthday, it bestows blessings that increase HP, Physical Attack, Special Attack, Speed, Physical Defense, and Special Defense.

  ent: Give it to a Pokémon as a gift! It might just bring some ued surprises.

  "Wow..." Naoki whispered, blinking in surprise.

  "The cooking level jumped from B to S. Now it boosts every stat instead of just ohat's amazing!"

  But as the excitemeled, a new question popped into his mind.

  "Wait... Does it boost effort values (EVs), individual values (IVs), or base stats?"

  Naoki scratched his head. 'If it's just EVs, that's a bit underwhelming for an S-rank dish. But if it boosted base stats...

  'That would be incredible!'

  He imagined Cyclizar eating this cake year after year, raising its base stats far beyond the standard 501. If this keeps up, it might surpass even starters like Charizard, Venusaur, and Bstoise!

  Naoki chuckled to himself. At this rate, after a few decades, Cyclizar could reach the same level as legendary Pokémon!

  But they hit him. 'This isn't a game... There's no way to actually see stat improvements with the naked eye.'

  Even if a Pokémon's base stats are high, it doesn't guarantee victory. After all, in this world, it's not unon for Pokémon with low stats to triumph over stronger oppos through sheer will or clever tactics.

  Naoki shook off these thoughts after a brief moment of ption. "After all, I'm not a petitive traihere's o think about battles now. The most important thing was to celebrate Cyclizar's birthday."

  Just then, Butterfree, who was keeping watch, fluttered in through the window and cheerfully reported that Cyclizar was on its way back.

  Hearing this, Naoki jumped into a. He grabbed Alcremie and Dolliv and hurried into the living room, carefully carrying the birthday cake.

  The room erfectly set for the celebration. Lights twinkled from every er, and decorative gift boxes were ly stacked on the sofa and wooden floor.

  Most of the Pokémon from the ranch had already gathered. Naclstacks were huddled together in one er, while Miltank stood calmly he wall. The Dragonite and Dragathered around the firepce, chatting softly.

  These Pokémon had all been invited in advao celebrate Cyclizar's special day.

  Naoki turo sister Indeedee and asked her to draw the curtains. As the room fell into darkness, all eyes shifted toward the front door, waiting for Cyclizar's arrival.

  ---

  Meanwhile, Cyclizar made its way along the wooden path lined with sturdy, straight trees. It clutched a bundle of flowers in its arms—o believed to be the most beautiful on the ranch.

  But as Cyclizar walked along the quiet path, a creeping sense of utled in.

  "Gah?" (What's going on?)

  It gnced around, realizing that the once-bustling ranch was eerily silent. Even the usually noisy goats were o be found!

  Panic gripped Cyclizar. 'What happened while I ig flowers?' It broke into a run, hurrying back toward the house, desperate to find Naoki.

  When Cyclizar reached the front door, it pushed it open cautiously.

  Suddenly—BANG! Fireworks exploded, and colorful ribbons rained down like snowfkes, filling the air with joy.

  "Ai ah~!" Sister Indeedee cpped her haedly.

  Perched atop the pile of Naclstack, Alcremie stood with its arms on its hips, beaming: "Mree!"

  "Meaaa!" The Gogoat bleated happily. They had grown quite fond of Cyclizar, especially si often brought them grass balls to eat.

  Cyclizar stood in the doorway, stunned, holding its flowers awkwardly. The cheerful crowd of Pokémon stared back at it with weling smiles.

  Naoki walked over with a wide grin, taking Cyclizar by the hand aly pulling it inside. "Happy Birthday, Cyclizar!" he excimed warmly.

  Cyclizar blinked, still dazed from the ued celebration. It didn't fully prehend what was happening until it found itself standing before a beautiful cream cake, topped with a single glowing dle.

  Seeing the look of fusion on Cyclizar's faaoki sighed helplessly. "Did you fet? Today's your birthday. This time st year, you hatched from a Pokémon egg."

  Cyclizar blinked, still processing the information, before nodding slowly with its signature silly grin. "Gaao."

  It wides eyes as realization dawned: 'Everyone is celebrating my birthday?!'

  Naoki smiled and reached for the gift he had prepared. "These are the clothes I had Mrs. Dantes make just for you." He id the cozy woolen garments in front of Cyclizar. "With these, you won't feel cold during winter. You py in the snow with everyoside."

  Cyclizar stared at the gift ihe sudden wave of happiness hit it like a tidal wave, leaving it feeling as though it were floating in pure joy.

  "Ga, ga!" Cyclizar squeaked, looking at everyoh gratitude aement.

  Koraidon, watg from the side, sighed dramatically. "Raao…" 'This is too embarrassing to watch!'

  "Time to blow out the dles!" Naoki announced, leading Cyclizar to the cake.

  Uhe eager gaze of all the Pokémon, Cyclizar took a deep breath, puffed up its cheeks, and blew out the single dle.

  "Pah-pah-pah!"

  The sister Indeedee sibling cpped excitedly, and the rest of the Pokémon joined in with cheers and appuse.

  With the dles blown out, it was time to cut the cake.

  Since Cyclizar wasn't sure how to do it, Naoki stepped in to help. He carefully sliced the cake into small pieces, giving the first piece to Cyclizar and encing it to share with everyone.

  Cyclizar did exactly as Naoki instructed, carrying slices of cake around the room with a joyful smile.

  Koraidon watched from a distance, a soft gleam in its eye. 'Cyclizar might look silly now, but it'll remember today for the rest of its life—and be grateful for it.'

  Soon enough, Cyclizar came trotting up to Koraidon, holding a piece of cake in its small hands.

  Koraidon gave it a curious gnce before extending a paw to accept the slice. With a slight smirk, it popped the cake into its mouth, sav the sweet taste of the long-awaited birthday treat.

  "Gaao~" Cyclizar beamed, delighted to see Koraidon enjoying the cake.

  It didn't seem to care at all that Koraidon had aba in the flower field earlier. All that mattered was the happiness of the moment.

  Once all the pieces were distributed, Cyclizar sat down with its own slid begaing alongside everyone else. The sweet cream melted in its mouth, filling it with pure delight.

  As it chewed, Cyclizar couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with happiness.

  ...

  On August 21, Naoki received a long-awaited reply from the Paldea Alliance.

  Geeta's calm, posed voice came through the phohe application you submitted to ehe Great Crater of Paldea has been approved. You'll o travel to Medali Town first, where Alliaaff will meet you and guide you to the Zero Gate, which leads into Area Zero."

  "However," Geeta warned, "they only escort you to the gate. What happens after that will be entirely up to you."

  Her tone grew serious. "The interior of the Great Crater is extremely dangerous—even champion-level trainers have to stay on guard. I wouldn't want the Alliao lose someoh your potential."

  Naoki: "…"

  He wasn't sure when or how he became a "talent" in the eyes of the Paldea Alliance, but he appreciated the . "I'll be careful, Champioa."

  Geeta chuckled softly, the rare sound lightening her usually posed tone. "Good. When do you pn to leave?"

  Naoki gnced over his shoulder at the Pokémon lounging in the living room. Dragonairs were sprawled zily on the rug, while the other Pokemon pyed nearby.

  For the time being, everything at the ranch was under trol. With the Indeedee siblings managing things, the ranch would remain in good hands during his absence.

  The only thing lingering on Naoki's mind was the group of wild Pokémon temporarily staying in the orchard—they hadn't yet recovered emotionally from the ret fire and still needed some attention.

  After weighing his options, Naoki gave his answer. "I'll leave in three days."

  "Three days?" Geeta firmed. "Alright. I'll notify the Alliaaff of your schedule."

  Naoki nodded. "How will I find the persoing me?"

  "That's easy," Geeta replied, her voice carrying a trausement. "The person you're looking for is Larry, the Gym Leader of Medali Town. Just go to the gym, and you'll find him."

  "If he's not there," she added with a sigh, "you'll likely find him at Treasure Eatery. He spends half his time there, so you're bound to catch him."