After dark, Naoki finished cheg the ranch facilities aled in with his Pokémon to watch TV. He tuned in to Paldea V, where Alice's program, Man and Dragons, was airing.

  Naoki watched with i. It was his first time seeing himself on TV, and the experience felt both exg and surreal.

  Looking at his own image on the s, Naoki thought, 'Is this what it feels like to be on television?'

  "I hope this dotary helps spread the name of the ranch," he murmured to himself.

  Every journey begins with small steps, he reminded himself. Although the ranch wasn't well-know, he was fident that one day the name "Dragon Express" would be reized throughout the entire Paldea region.

  ...

  The m, life returo its usual rhythm.

  Now that Naoki was back from the Gar region, he had no pressing matters outside of the ranch. He enjoyed his daily routine, w and spending time with his Pokémon.

  Each m, Naoki began by milking his Gogoat, bottling the fresh milk for the Dragoo deliver to town.

  After the m milking, sister Indeedee, who worked as the ranch's caretaker, prepared breakfast, whiaoki enjoyed with everyone on the ranch.

  Once breakfast was over, the Indeedee siblings ed up the rooms, tidying up after Pawmot and Cyclizar, who had been especially pyful. Meanwhile, Naoki headed outside to care for the ranch.

  He filled the water troughs, scattered feed for the Pokémon, and stocked the stable with berries and carrots. He also collected Moomoo Milk, gathered honey from the bee hive, harvested rock salt from Naclsta the underground cave, and picked up fresh eggs from the hen coop.

  With the m chores done, Naoki returo the kit to make grass dumplings foat and checked the progress of the fruit wine and rose jam brewing in the celr.

  Whehing was in order, it was time for lunaoki dined with the Pokémon and then took a short break in the gsshouse, enjoying afternoon tea with Calyrex.

  By mid-afternoon, he'd head to the Reverse World to tiransf the sky isnd into a lush back garden for the ranch.

  ...

  Eaon had its own activities—pying or simply rexing. The weather was beautiful, and as Naoki basked in the sun, listening to the joyful sounds of the Pokémohought, 'This is the perfect life.'

  "Wooo~?"

  Just then, he heard a small voice from outside.

  Naoki opened his eyes and stepped out to see Tinkatuff, the little bcksmith Pokémon, standing nearby with a hammer in one hand, gng around as if searg for something.

  The moment Tinkatuff spotted Naoki, its eyes lit up. It ran over, proudly raising the hammer.

  "Wooo!" it excimed with enthusiasm.

  Naoki's eyes brightened as he took the hammer from Tinkatuff. "It's ready?"

  Tinkatuff nodded eagerly, "Woo-woo!" firming that this hammer was its fi creatio, crafted with all its skill a.

  Naoki lowered his head and examihe impressive hammer in his hands.

  The hammer gleamed with a striking silver metallic sheen, clearly different from the small, delicate hammer that the little bcksmith, Tinkatuff, held.

  Tinkatuff's hammer was modest in size, crafted perfectly for its small stature. But the hammer Naoki held was rger, with a sturdy, square head and a captivating silver luster.

  It was evident that this hammer had been ade by Tinkatuff specifically for Pawmot.

  "This is incredible!" Naoki couldn't help but excim in awe.

  Even though he'd heard stories about Pokémon like Tinkatuff and their crafting skills, witnessing its talent firsthand was astonishing. The fact that it could create such a beautiful hammer without any additional tools h-temperature f—just with its skillful hands and natural Steel-type energy—was remarkable.

  Seeing Tinkatuff's eager gaze, Naoki smiled warmly and praised, "I really love this hammer. Thank you for making it, Tinkatuff!"

  "Wooo~"

  Tinkatuff's eyes lit up with happiness, visibly thrilled by Naoki's appreciation.

  It was no lohe timid, dookémon he had met after the forest fire. Recreating its own hammer had restored Tinkatuff's spirit and energy, revealing its true, lively self.

  Naoki felt a surge of joy for Tinkatuff's growth and healing.

  Gently patting Tinkatuff on the head, he goward the chi coop's roof and said, "Let's go give this to Pawmot together!"

  "Woo-ooa!"

  Tinkatuff nodded eagerly, following Naoki, its hammer in hand.

  They reached the base of the coop, and Naoki called out. Soon, Pawmot, who had been sunbathing on the roof, bounded down.

  "Pamo?"

  Naoki handed Pawmot the hammer, a smile in his eyes. "Want to give it a try?"

  Pawmot accepted the hammer, grasping the handle and immediately notig how well it fit. However, after a moment of surprise, a puzzled expression crossed Pawmot's face as it looked up at Naoki. "Bamo?"

  'Was this a gift? But what was it for?'

  Seeing Pawmot's fusion, Naoki realized that, uinkatuff, Pawmot had no experieh tools like this. Naturally, it had no idea what to do with the hammer.

  Naoki cleared his throat, then sat down on the ground, prepared to share a story with his eager listeners.

  Seeing him settle in, the two Pokémon, Pawmot and Tinkatuff, also sat down in a row, looking up at him expetly.

  Naoki began, "A long time ago, there owerful Pokémon hor. He wore a red cape that symbolized hope and wielded a mighty hammer. With this hammer, he protected the weak, fought for justice, and traveled across the world helping Pokémon in need."

  "He could el the lightning within his body into the hammer, surrounding it iriergy to strike down his enemies. In this way, he stopped many evildoers."

  "The humans and Pokémon he helped called him a superhero. Over time, this figure in a red cape, s through the sky with his hammer, became a bea of hope."

  "Pamo…" Pawmot murmured, enraptured.

  "Wooo…" Tinkatuff echoed, its eyes filled with admiration.

  Hearing the tale, Tinkatuff's eyes sparkled with a sudden realization, remembering the time when Pawmot had flown through the smoke during the forest fire, cloaked in a red cape, searg for Pokémon in need.

  Tinkatuff turo Pawmot with newfound admiration. "Wooow!"

  Seeing Tinkatuff's expression, Naoki chuckled, nodding as Pawmot blushed slightly. "That's right. Pawmot is a superhero, too."

  At this, Pawmot's eyes shone. Inspired by Thor's story, it tightes grip on the hammer, determio follow in those heroic footsteps. Fog hard, Pawmot called upon the electriergy within itself.

  In a fsh, a crag surge of electricity leaped from Pawmot's body, eling into the hammer. The metal bzed with powerful lightning, lighting up the area around them.

  Pawmot stared i the glowing hammer, a surprised cry esg it. "Pamo?!"