Spectrier tinued nibbling at the shade-root carrots he field, sav each bite with quiet satisfaeanwhile, Naoki sed the surrounding area, mentally noting the terrain and enviro.

  To firm the reason for the unusual mutation of the carrots in the Tundra, Naoki khe best approach was a side-by-side parison.

  The location of the a cemetery marked the edge of the snowfield. Although it was still cold here, hardy green pnts had mao grow nearby, suggesting the area was less saturated with iergy.

  After pting for a moment, Naoki walked toward a patch of nd opposite the a cemetery. He paused and turo Calyrex.

  "By the way, if you keep using your powers to accelerate crop growth, will it take a toll on you?"

  Calyrex gave a reassuring shake of his head. "Not at all. Thanks to you and my steeds, my strength has fully returned. Any energy I use will replenish quickly."

  "Good to hear." Naoki smiled. Then he shared his idea: "I want to pnt carrot seeds here, further from the cemetery, to pare the growth with the ones he bed soil. This way, we figure out what causes them to mutate into shade-root carrots."

  Calyrex sidered the pn and gave a nod of approval. "A good idea. Let's begin!"

  Naoki asked Koraidon to help dig small holes in the ground with its cws. Together, they phe carrot seeds i rows.

  Wheing was done, Calyrex floated toward the field, eling his powers once more. A wave of shimmering blue energy washed over the soil, coaxing the seeds to sprout.

  In an instant, the soil shifted, and a snow-white erged, glowing faintly iernoon light.

  Naoki crouched to ihe carrot. "It's the same type of white carrot that Gstrier loves, but…" He paused thoughtfully. "It doesn't seem as pure as the ones we grew on the snowfield."

  He turhe carrot over in his hands, feeling its faint chill. "Could it be that the iergy isn't as strong here as it is oundra?"

  Calyrex floated beside him, sharing in his refle. "Perhaps... It could be the level of energy in the enviro."

  Naoki scratched his . "I'm not sure yet, but I've got an idea for another experiment."

  He looked up as Spectrier, having fis meal, silently approached, lig its lips tentedly. The ghost horse's graceful movements drew Naoki's attention back to Calyrex.

  "I remember," Naoki said, "that you trol the auras of both Gstrier and Spectrier using your powers, right?"

  Calyrex nodded gently. "Indeed. Over the years, my abilities have bee iwined with those of my beloved steeds."

  "When I ride Gstrier, I focus my powers to harhe cold air it produces, f massive ice ons. You've already seen me use this teique—I call it the Snow Lance."

  "And when I ride Spectrier, my spiritual energy merges with its essence, enhang its ghostly strength. I summon tless flickering fmes that desd like falling stars. This move, I call Astral Barrage."

  Naoki houghtfully, processing the information. Both Snow Land Astral Barrage were powerful abilities uo Calyrex when riding his respective steeds, showg the bond they shared.

  "And now," Naoki said, a spark of excitement in his voice, "I need a favor from you."

  Calyrex tilted his head slightly, curious. "What do you have in mind?"

  Naoki poioward the field. "I'd like you to ride Spectrier and focus your energy to des ghostly aura. Let's ihe energy into this field and see what happens."

  Calyrex immediately uood Naoki's iion. He gave a slight nod and said warmly, "Leave it to me!"

  With a fsh, Calyrex used his teleportation ability to appear orier's back. Once again, the king and his loyal steed were reuheir bond rekindled. Calyrex, now in his Shadow Rider Form, looked majestic atop the ghostly horse.

  In the moment, a faint purple mist emanated from Spectrier's body, driftily across the field and merging with the soil.

  "It is done," Calyrex announced with quiet pride.

  Naoki nodded, pnting a sed seed into the soil.

  Calyrex raised his hand, eling his powers to ence the crop's rapid growth. A brilliant blue light shimmered across the nd, and within seds, a familiar bck radish sprouted from the same patch of earth.

  Naoki's eyes widened. 'It worked! Just as I suspected.'

  "This firms it—ice-type and ghost-type energies are essential frowing snow-white carrots and shade-root carrots," Naoki murmured thoughtfully.

  With this knowledge, Naoki felt fident about creating special fields back at the ranch. By harnessing the unique powers of Gstrier and Spectrier, he could cultivate bd white carrots, ensuring the two steeds would have their favorite foods even in Paldea.

  "It's perfect!" Naoki excimed with excitement, turning to Calyrex to share his discovery.

  Calyrex listened patiently, a smile spreading across his face. "That's wonderful news. Now I need not worry about my beloved horses being deprived of their favorite food when we leave the Tundra."

  However, Gstrier and Spectrier both froze at the mention of leaving the tundra. Their eyes widened in disbelief, and they exged uneasy ghis snow-covered nd held deep meaning for them.

  Long ago, in the a Tundra, Gstrier—known as The Icebringer—and Spectrier—referred to as The Phantom Fme—reigned as kings among Pokémon. Their strength was unmatched, and they ruled over the wilderness with pride.

  But that ged when humans arrived and encroached oerritory. Enraged, both steeds unched fierce attacks on the invaders and their Pokémon allies. Their wrath seemed unstoppable—until the day Calyrex appeared.

  After beied by the mighty Pokémon King, Gstrier and Spectrier formed a deep, unbreakable bond with him. From that moment on, they became Calyrex's loyal panions and ruled beside him, their fierce spirits softened by friendship.

  Now, the idea of leaving the tundra, their a home, stirred uainty iwo steeds. They had never imagined departing from the nd that defihem.

  Sensing their hesitation, Calyrex spoke with calm authority. "This po longer belongs to us. The humans who once honored us as kings are long gone, lost to the past."

  Spectrier and Gstrier blinked, still showing hints of reluce about leaving their home.

  Notig this, Naoki smiled and said, "Don't worry—whe to the ranch, I'll grow plenty of carrots just for you."

  At the mention of food, Gstrier's hesitatioed away instantly. The icy horse neighed happily, swice, and began prang in pce, kig up tiny clouds of frost.

  Naoki: "..."

  Calyrex observed the se, an amused glimmer in his eyes.

  Beside them, Koraido out a delighted sound, "Ah-Gaah~!" (This is great~!)

  ...

  Before they k, the moon had risen high into the night sky.

  The hazy moonlight bathed the nd in a silver glow, while the vast starry sky stretched endlessly above them. Beh their feet, the snowy tundra sparkled uhe gentle light.

  Naoki rode atop Gstrier, who trotted eically through the night, kig up snow as they traveled south across the Tundra. Gstrier, with its fiery temperament, seemed eager to stretch its legs beh the stars.

  To Naoki's left, Koraidon sprinted in its mount form, keeping pace effortlessly. To his right, Calyrex rode Spectrier with quiet grace, the ghostly horse's hooves gliding silently over the snowy ground.

  Their destination: Giant's Bed, where the enormous pink tree, known for nurturing tless Pokémon, stood proudly.

  As they approached, the silhouette of the t tree loomed rger and rger, its pink blossoms glowing faintly uhe moonlight.

  Naoki marveled, ing his o look at the colossal tree. Turning to Calyrex, who rode calmly beside him, he asked, "How did it get so big?"

  Calyrex lifted his gaze toward the giant tree and answered with a soft, reflective tohis nd nurtured it, just as it nurtures everything that lives here."

  Naoki blirying to his head around the idea. "Huh? The nd nurtured it?"

  Calyrex nodded gently. "Yes. The earth embraces all of its children, nourishing them so they may flourish. Through this tree, it provides for the Pokémon who call this nd home."

  Naoki: '..What?'

  He scratched his head, struggling to grasp the cept. "Are you saying the nd itself has... a will?"

  After a moment of thought, Naoki figured Calyrex must be referring to the forces of nature.

  'It's kind of like the Viridian Forest in Kanto'. Naoki mused. 'They say the forest blesses certain humans, granting them the power to unicate with Pokémon and evehe forest's energy.'

  He remembered the Pokémon movie 'Secrets of the Jungle,' where the boy koko had used 'Jungle Healing'—a move normally reserved for Zarude—to protect his father.

  'That must've been the forest's blessing,' Naoki thought. 'The boween Koko and Zarude must've moved the spirit of the forest, allowing Koko to use Jungle Healing even though he's human.'

  "This world feels like a dream," Naoki thought with a wry smile.

  He remembered moments from the Pokémon anime where things took strange, almost magical turns—like the time Ash Ketchum was turo stone in Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back. In that se, Pikachu and all the surrounding Pokémoears, and somehow, through the mysterious power of these tears, Ash was brought back to life.

  As a modern, logical person, Naoki couldn't help but feel baffled. 'It's just like those stories where characters defeat the final boss with the power of love, friendship, or some mystical bond.'

  "Way too cheesy..." he muttered to himself with a sigh.

  By now, they had reached the tranquil shores of Lake Ballonlea, surrounded by the t hills of the Giant Tree. Both Gstrier and Spectrier came to a gentle halt, their hooves barely disturbing the calm atmosphere.

  Naoki dismounted, along with Calyrex, and they decided to set up camp for the night. It was already seven o'clo the evening. Despite the fading light, they could still see wild Pokémon roaming nearby.

  Overhead, a Swablu drifted through the sky, and in the shadows of the trees, sharp-eyed Corvisquire perched quietly, keeping watch. In the grass below, herds of Wooloo grazed peacefully, while Cottonee drifted zily with the evening breeze.

  At the water's edge, Barboach swam in zy loops beside dull-eyed Magikarp spshing aimlessly. Bas darted about in small bursts, disrupting the stillness of the ke.

  Naoki marveled at the rich variety of Pokémon. The vibrancy of this ecosystem filled him with awe. "These Pokémon... they're all nurtured by the Giant Tree," he realized, recalling Calyrex's words from earlier.

  The sight tugged at Naoki's heart, reminding him of a special tree ba his ranch. "It's just like the World Tree," he whispered aloud.

  He turo Calyrex. "There's a tree on my ranch too. If it grows tall enough, do you think it could raise as many Pokémon as the Giant Tree does?"

  Calyrex gave him a curious look. "A tree?"

  Naoki nodded. "I call it the World Tree. It's an incredible tree, but it takes a huhousand years to fully grow."

  Calyrex pohis for a moment, his serene expression unwavering. "The World Tree..." he murmured. "I have never heard of such a tree, but if time is the only obstacle, perhaps I help it grow."

  Naoki recalled the three goats on his ranch, who worked tirelessly to nurture the tree. Every time they eled their energy into its growth, they were left utterly exhausted—pletely drained, but with a look of satisfa on their faces.

  'If I wait for it to grow naturally, I'll never live to see it fully grown,' Naoki thought somberly

  He turo Calyrex, a hint of hope flickering in his eyes. "That might take a lot of your energy though," he said cautiously.

  Calyrex smiled warmly. "So what? You pulled me out of the abyss and spread my name across the nd, givihe strength to ehe harsh cold of the Tundra."

  Naoki felt a wave of emotion wash over him.

  What a truly kied Pokémon!

  Just then, the sound of Koraidon's stomach growling shattered the heartwarming moment.

  Naoki turned and saw Koraidon tilting its head, giving him an i look as if to say, "Ah?" 'What happened?'

  Naoki: "..."

  Well, that ruihe mood.

  "Alright, I'll start cooking!" Naoki announced, rolling up his sleeves.

  For dinner, Naoki prepared grilled steak aarian sandwiches made with fresh vegetables. The steaks were for Koraidon and Cyclizar, while the sandwiches were set aside for Calyrex.

  As fstrier and Spectrier…

  They had already devoured over a hundred carrots earlier iernoon. Their bloated bellies firmed that they weren't hungry anytime soon.

  Making the sandwiches was simple. Most of the ingredients were fresh vegetables.

  He chopped the vegetables into slices, yered them between soft bread slices, and added a drizzle of ketchup and sad dressing. A perfect vegetarian sandwich was ready.

  Naoki gnced down at the sandwich, amused. "This only boosts Grass-type moves... oh well." He shrugged and tinued cooking.

  After preparing meals for the Pokémon, Naoki turned his attention to his own dionight, he decided on omurice, a warm and f dish for the chilly night.

  While cooking, Naoki suddenly remembered something the old chief from Freezington Vilge had told him. He gnced over at Calyrex and asked,

  "By the way, the chief—the desdant of those who once crafted the Reins of Unity—wao know if you truly exist. He asked me to tell him if I found anything. Should I tell him about you?"

  Calyrex's serene expression didn't ge. After a moment of quiet refle, he shook his head gently. "No need. I am no lohe King of Bountiful Harvests. From now on, I am just a humble farmer."

  Naoki: "..."

  Naoki decided it robably for the best. "Alright then, I won't say anything to the chief."

  With that matter settled, Naoki smiled. "In that case, we'll set off tomorrow!"

  There were still errands to run—Naoki o visit the major cities of Gar to purchase steel feathers shed by Corviknight. It would take a bit of time, but it was necessary.

  Ohe errands were plete, he could return to the ranch with Calyrex and the others to spend a peaceful wiogether.

  Calyrex gave a soft nod, his gentle gaze refleg the trust he now had in Naoki. "Okay."