"Pamo, Pamo!" (I am Pawmot, the god of thunder, for the glory of the ranch!)

  Five mier, Pawmot was zipping around the ranch, hammer in hand, gleefully flying through the air like a kid with a oy.

  Naoki and Tinkatuff stood below, watg with smiles.

  After his initial surprise, Pawmot had quickly fallen in love with the hammer. To fully embrace the role of the superhero Thor, whom Naoki had just described, Pawmot had even gone back to his room to put on a red cape.

  Now, he was the spitting image of the legendary thunder god.

  Naoki's thoughts drifted back to the moment Pawmot had electrified the hammer, and he mused, 'Judging by how the hammer ducted electricity, the Corviknight feathers used in its making are excellent ductors. They match Pawmot's electric abilities perfectly.'

  'With the electricity c through it, the hammer's power is amplified. And from what I see, Pawmot has instinctively learo swing it like a pro without any instru. Could this be a self-made move? Thor's Hammer?'

  'I wonder if the Paldea League's battle rules would allow Pawmot to use a on like this in a battle,' he pondered.

  'But it should be allowed, right?' he thought with a grin.

  After all, Pokémon like Tinkatoer battles wielding hammers, and even Pokémon like Tandemaus and Dragapult bring their entire families along for support. In that sehis hammer could be sidered Pawmot's signature on.

  From this day forward, Pawmot wouldn't just be an ordinary Pawmot but a unique individual in his species, ohat the ranch would proudly call "Thundergod Pawmot."

  Naoki felt a deep sense of satisfa, realizing he was helping to create a new legend. He was excited to see just hoawmot, who had now embraced his "thunder god" persona, would go iure.

  At that moment, sister Indeedee stepped out of the house and called to him, "Ai-ai!"

  Naoki realized she needed something, so he turo Pawmot and Tinkatuff.

  "You two py here. Pawmot, Tinkatuff's family has a natural talent with ons like hammers. If you ever need guidance, feel free to ask her for advice!"

  Pawmot's eyes sparkled with excitement. Turning to Tinkatuff, he asked eagerly, "Pamo?"

  Tinkatuff, caught a bit off guard by Pawmot's admiration, looked shy but nodded fidently.

  "Wooo!" Tinkatuff responded with a proud grin.

  Naoki was right—Tinkatuff and her kind had an instinctive mastery of hammers as if the skills were embedded in their very nature.

  Seeing Tinkatuff's response, Pawmot eagerly asked his friend to teach him the art of hammer-wielding.

  The little bcksmith, Tinkatuff, was thrilled to finally be of help. Since being rescued, she'd been living at the ranch, enjoying meals and care. Now, she had the ce to use her talents, and she couldn't have been happier. Without hesitation, Tinkatuff agreed.

  With their hammers in hand, Pawmot and Tinkatuff csped paws and made their way to an opeo practice their hammer skills together.

  Meanwhile, Naoki turned and headed baside.

  As soon as he ehe living room, he heard the sound of the video phing.

  'Hmm? Who could be calling at this hour?'

  Naoki wondered, a bit surprised. He stepped over to the phone and answered, and the s lit up with the familiar face of Professor Sada.

  "It's been a while, Naoki," Professor Sada greeted him with a smile.

  After a brief moment of surprise, Naoki quickly collected himself. "It's good to see you again, Professor. Koraidon's outside. I call him in if you'd like."

  But Professor Sada shook her head with a gentle smile. "No, I'm not calling for Koraidon this time. I actually o ask a personal favor."

  'Hmm?' Naoki bliaken aback for a moment, then said, "Of course. Go ahead."

  "It's about Arven." As she mentioned her son, a look of guilt crossed Professor Sada's face.

  "The resear Area Zero is at a crucial stage. Professor Turo and I 't leave here for long periods."

  "Arven's had to live on his own for most of his childhood. We owe him a lot. When we spoke yesterday, he looked so alone, sitting in that dim room. pared to kids his age, he's far too solitary, far too mature."

  "Turo and I always wanted him to experience more of the world, to find things that make him happy. But he's been withdrawn, ued in most things."

  "When I mentioned your ranch yesterday, though, he seemed intrigued. So I'm calling to ask if you'd be willing to host Arven for a few days, to give him a ce to experienething new and refreshing."

  "As a thank-you…"

  At this point, Professor Sada paused, then smiled, adding:

  "The st time you visited Area Zero, I know you didn't get the opportunity to capture one of the Paradox Pokémon you were hoping for. Retly, the Paradox Pokémon Researstitute has made some signifit advas. If a Paradox Pokémon suited for this era is successfully ied, Turo and I will do our best to make sure you have the ce to look after it."

  Naoki: "…"

  He let out a sigh, a small smile tinged with sympathy appearing on his face. "Of course, I'd be gd to help. But, Professor, as you know… this might only be a temporary fix, not a perma solution."

  Professor Sada sighed. "I know… we've failed Arven as parents, but it feels like there's nothing we dht now…"

  Naoki let out a quiet sigh, feeling the weight of her words.

  'So be it.'

  If Arven was destined for a challenging future, Naoki wao give him some cherished childhood memories to carry with him.

  Without saying anything further, he silently accepted Professor Sada's request.

  "Thank you so much," Professor Sada said gratefully. "In a week, the institute will have a break, and Turo and I will return to Paldea to pick up Arven from your pce."

  "Uood," Naoki replied with a nod.

  After the call ended, Naoki stood thoughtfully for a moment before heading upstairs to prepare a guest room for Arven.

  "A guest will be arriving at the ran a few days," Naoki said to the Indeedee siblings as he made the bed. "He's the son of two doctors. His name is Arven."

  "Ai-ai~!"

  The elder Indeedee nodded cheerfully, promising that they'd take excellent care of their guest.

  Naoki smiled. He'd met Arven before; he was a sensible and polite child, mature for his age.

  Acc to Professor Sada, if Arven took the Squawkabilly Flying Taxi from Mesagoza, he'd likely arrive at the ranch by tomorrow afternoon.

  With this in mind, Naoki tidied the room, ensuring it was cozy and weling, then waited with his Pokémon for Arven's arrival.

  The day, at around three iernoon, Naoki was down in the wine celr cheg on a batch of fruit wine when he heard a otion outside.

  'Arven must be here,' he thought, stopping his work to go out and greet him.

  But wheepped outside, he was surprised to see a sleek, bck luxury car pulling up in front of the ranch.

  'Hmm?' Naoki blinked in fusion.

  Under his curious gaze, two people stepped out of the car.

  The first was an elderly man with silver hair, dressed sharply in a bck suit over a white shirt—a distinguished butler.

  The sed was a small girl with a ponytail, bright-eyed and full of energy.

  As soon as the girl stepped out, her eyes locked onto Naoki.

  With a determined look, she pulled a red-and-white Poké Ball from her pocket, raising it with a spirited grin. "Battle me!"

  Naoki: "???"

  The old butler beside her gave an exasperated sigh. "Miss Nemona, please, you're far too eager."

  'Ne…Nemona?!'

  Naoki's mind reeled. Was this spirited young girl really Nemona? 'But why would she be here?'

  At that moment, the old butler approached Naoki with a polite bow.

  "My apologies, Mr. Rahis is Miss Nemona. After seeing you and your Dragonite on TV, Miss Nemona insisted on io challenge you to a Pokémon battle."

  Hearing these words, Naoki quickly pieced together what was happening.

  He g the spirited young girl before him and thought, 'She is indeed Nemona—always following her heart and doing what she wants!'

  But…

  Just as Naoki opened his mouth to expin that he wasn't a trainer, a pink figure suddenly soared over the ranch.

  The figure was wearing a bold red cape and desded majestically, hammer in hand, with the wind making its cape billow.

  That Pokémon is…

  Nemona's attention was immediately captured.

  The elderly butler beside her looked stunned, his mouth dropping open.

  'A flying Pawmot?!' He blinked, w if age ying tricks on his vision.

  And it was a rare pink Pawmot!

  pletely unaware of the two guests watg, Pawmot nded proudly in front of Naoki.

  "Pamo!" (I've mastered using the hammer!)

  Eager to demonstrate, Pawmot didn't wait for a reply. With a surge of energy, blue electricity burst from its body, c it in crag energy and casting a light blue glow in its eyes.

  The powerful electriergy funneled into Pawmot's hammer, and with a mighty swing, Pawmot hurled it high into the air. The hammer spun rapidly, gaining speed and finally bursting into a bze of lightning and sparks.

  At its peak, Pawmot let out a triumphant, "Pamo!" before diving from the sky, smashing down with its thunder-charged hammer.

  For a moment, bright electric sparks erupted in all dires, and the o ground now had a sizable crater left from the impact.

  Naoki's eyes widened, astonished by the dispy.

  'What kind of move is this? And how is it so powerful?!'

  The sheer ford spectacle of it all were beyond anything Naoki could have anticipated.

  The old butler stood in shock, utterly speechless as he stared at the unusual Pawmot before him.

  'That move… what was that?' He couldn't recall seeing anything like it before. And this pink, delicate-looking Pokémon… could this really be the familiar Pawmot?

  Nemona, standing beside him, ractically glowing with excitement as she watched Pawmot from a short distance away.

  She ched her fists eagerly, eyes sparkling. "That was incredible!"

  "Pamo?"

  Only then did Pawmot notice the visitors. He turned around, his gaze nding on the old butler and Nemona.

  Nemona wasted no time; with a fsh of white light, she released her small, fuzzy Sprigatito from a Poké Ball, her battling spirit bzing. "Mr. Rancher, please have a Pokémon battle with me!"

  Hearing this, Naoki gnced doawmot, who also looked over at the tiny Sprigatito.

  The Sprigatito looked up at the t Pawmot with wide eyes, visibly surprised to see such a powerful Pokémon that could even fly.

  "Pamo?" Pawmot tilted his head, fused, and looked back at Naoki.

  Naoki turo Nemona and said, "...Isn't this a bit too much?"

  Nemona paused, slightly taken aback.

  Naoki tinued, "If there's a signifit differen strength, f a battle could be harmful. A qualified trainer knows not to push their Pokémon into situations like that."

  Nemona's expression softened, uanding the reasoning. She looked at her Pokémon, then back at her Poké Ball, and finally returned Sprigatito.

  The old butler, having finally recovered from his shock, gnced around at the other Pokémon gathering due to the otion. He quickly realized this ranch was no ordinary pce.

  And the man before him wasn't just any rancher—he was likely a powerful trainer living quietly in seclusion.

  Thanks to his years of experiehe old butler posed himself. Seeing that Nemona had given up on her battle request, he addressed her gently:

  "Miss Nemona, perhaps you could have a Pokémon battle with this trainer when you're a bit older."

  Nemona's eyes lit up, her previous disappoi melting away.

  The old butler, smiling, turo Naoki and politely asked, "Mr. Rancher, may we take a look around your ranch? We've never seen so many Dragonites before. Miss Nemona and I would be happy to pay arance fee."

  Naoki blihen quickly uood their purpose. They wanted Nemona to experience powerful Pokémon like Dragonite firsthand, likely to inspire and enrich her training.

  'As expected of a young dy from a wealthy family!'

  With a friendly shake of his head, Naoki said, "No need for a fee. If you'd like to take a tour, please follow me."

  The old butler bowed slightly. "Thank you very much."

  Naoki was about to start the tour when he suddenly heard a voice from behind.

  "Um… excuse me!"

  Turning, Naoki spotted Arven, who had apparently just arrived. He stood a short distance away, raising a hand awkwardly iing.

  Naoki raised an eyebrow, amused.

  'What timing! First Nemona, and now Arven… All that's missing is Penny, and the trio will be plete.'