Teddiursa looked up at Naoki and chirped excitedly, “Ursa, ursa!” (This is a gift from the Farfetch’d that the hero and I helped! It’s its favorite onion!)

  Naoki nodded, uanding Teddiursa's excitement. Pokémon like Farfetch’d are particurly fond of these special leeks, and the Pokédex even describes Farfetch’d as only living in pces where these stem-like pnts grow.

  He looked down at the bundle of leeks in his arms, realizing that these “stem-like pnts” were indeed just rge green onions. For some reason, the leeks in this world were unusually big—far rger than any he’d ever seen, even sturdy enough to be wielded like a sword.

  Curious, Naoki pulled o and swung it through the air like a bde. The leek sliced through with a soft, whooshing sound.

  Teddiursa watched him and nodded iement. “Ursa!” (That’s right! That’s how Farfetch’d swings its leek!)

  Naoki chuckled, picturing a Farfetch’d battling with su enormous leek—it was amusing and strangely impressive.

  However, he khat wild leeks like these were being scarce, which had made life increasingly difficult for Farfetch’d. Since Farfetch’d couldn’t survive without its leek, it would fiercely defend it against anyone who tried to take it away.

  In some areas, people had even started cultivating these leeks in the hope of attrag wild Farfetch’d to settle nearby.

  “Farfetch’d, huh?” Naoki mused, imagining having a few of these rare Pokémon on the ranch. But Farfetch’d only inhabited areas where leeks grew naturally, and sadly, there didn’t seem to be any in Paldea.

  He sighed with a hint of disappoi, setting the bundle of leeks aside. Just theiced Indeedee, the elder sibling, watg Teddiursa and Mew with curiosity.

  Naoki remembered that the Indeedees had joihe ranch after Teddiursa and Mew left on their journey, so they hadn’t yet met each other.

  Realizing this, he began introdug Teddiursa and Mew.

  “After you left, we weled many new friends to the ranch.”

  “Ursa?” Teddiursa looked at Indeedee with curiosity and greeted him cheerfully. “Ursa!” (Hello!)

  Indeedee seemed a bit surprised by the warm greeting but mao respond with a shy, “Indeedee…” (Hello… to you, too.)

  Naoki smiled, “This is Elder Indeedee. He and his sister take care of the rand help keep everything running smoothly. Even if I’m not around, they make sure everything is in order.”

  Hearing Naoki’s sincere praise, Indeedee looked slightly embarrassed but grateful. These responsibilities were simply part of the job, but Naoki’s aowledgment clearly meant a lot.

  Teddiursa’s eyes shoh admiration. “Ursa!” (That’s amazing!)

  Indeedee, feeling even more fttered, gave a modest smile.

  “Besides Indeedee, there are many other new friends, too,” Naoki tinued. “But they’re all busy pying hide-and-seek in the maze outside. I’ll introduce you to them ter.”

  Naoki paused, then asked gently, "You both must be very tired from all your travels. Would you like to take a nap?"

  Teddiursa and Mew were indeed feeling a bit worn out. After making the decision to return to the ranch that very day, they’d rushed back from the distant Johtion without a moment’s rest. They’d crossed os, climbed mountains, and endured many hardships to make it back here.

  Having expended so muergy—and now cozy and full from their ret meal—the warmth of the room only intensified their drowsiness.

  "I'm so sleepy..." Teddiursa murmured.

  "Mew..." (I want to sleep too...) whispered Mew.

  Seeing this, Naoki smiled warmly. "Then go ahead a."

  He led the two little Pokémon back to their room, helping them settle into their soft beds.

  Teddiursa y on the plush mattress, the faint st of fresh pine filling the room. Feeling safe and warm, Teddiursa’s sleepy eyes drifted toward Naoki, and with a soft, drowsy voice, murmured, "Ursa…" (I’m so gd I found you, Naoki...)

  “What was that?” Naoki asked, leaning in, but Teddiursa’s eyes had already closed, drifting into peaceful sleep.

  Beside him, Mew was also dozing off, mumbling ily, “Mew...mew…”

  Before long, both Pokémon were fast asleep.

  Watg their peaceful faces, Naoki’s heart melted. He gently adjusted the temperature in the room to keep them fortable, then quietly slipped out and closed the door behind him.

  In the living room, Dragonite, who’d been pying outside all m, returned, looking energized.

  Seeing Dragonite and the other Pokémon, Naoki remembered what he’d been pnning to discuss with them.

  First, he poured warm juid milk for the Pokémon and for Arven to help everyone warm up. Theuronite and Pawmot with a determined look.

  "Do you want to get stronger?" Naoki asked.

  “Awoo?”

  “Pawmot?”

  Though the effect of the transtion seeds had worn off and Naoki couldn’t fully uand their words, their expressions said it all.

  With a smile, Naoki tinued, “I’ve got an idea.” He went on to expin his cept for the Lightning Trial and the Storm Trial.

  “Just like the Gogoats who hold the Grass Trial, you’d get to challenge visiting trainers, battling their Pokémon and gaining experiehat will help you both grow stronger.”

  “Awoo!” (I’m in!) Dragonite cheered, its eyes shining.

  “Pawmot!” Pawmot barked in agreement, hopping up with excitement.

  Both Pokémon had seen the Gogoats’ Grass Trial before. They admired how skilled and powerful the Gogoats had bee, and the thought of reag that level themselves thrilled them.

  "Perfect." Naoki nodded with satisfa. He’d been sure they’d be on board.

  The exact details of the trials—the strategies and move binations fonite and Pawmot—would e ter, but for now, he was gd they were excited about this.

  Although Naoki wasn’t a professional trainer, his past experiences from the games offered him some tactical insight that could guide Dragonite and Pawmot iraining.

  At that moment, some of the other Pokémon in the living room overheard his versation with Dragonite.

  Alcremie perked up, looking at Naoki with eager eyes. “Mree?” (Will I get my own trial, too?)

  "Uh…" Naoki hesitated, feeling a bit awkward.

  After all, Alcremie wasly suited for battles. If he were to create a trial for her…

  Would it be a “Buttercream Swirl Challenge”?

  Or maybe a “Metronome Luck Test”?

  her seemed quite right.

  After thinking it over, Naoki replied, “I haven’t decided yet. Give me a little time to e up with something fitting.”

  Alcremie nodded enthusiastically, clearly excited at the idea. “Mree~” Wheime came, she’d use her special Metronome move to surprise her oppos!

  Seeing her excitement, Naoki suspected that Alcremie just wao join in on the fun and wasn’t all that ied in actual battling.

  “Why not?” he thought with a chuckle. “Since she’s excited, let her have a little trial experieoo.”

  Just then, Naoki noticed Cyclizar looking up at him with equal anticipation.

  Naoki: “…”

  e to think of it, Cyclizar didn’t have any standout battle qualities at the moment.

  Sure, eating birthday treats could potentially increase his stats, but this was only his first year, so it wasn’t yet clear what effects that would bring.

  But seeing Cyclizar’s hopeful gaze, Naoki thought for a moment and said, “I’ll figure something out for you too.”

  “Gaoo~” Cyclizar beamed with joy.

  As for Koraidon…

  Naoki g Koraidon, who y zily nearby, clearly tent to watch rather than participate. Uhe other Pokémon, this legendary creature had no desire for petition.

  But that robably for the best. Given Koraidon’s power, it would be nearly impossible for ordinary traio challenge him successfully.

  ...

  By the time Mew and Teddiursa woke up, it was already three iernoon.

  The two Pokémon slowly opeheir eyes, blinking as they adjusted to the cozy surroundings. For a moment, they thought they were still resting in a tree hollow outside.

  Then, as they took in the familiar setting, they realized—oh, they had returo the ranch!

  “Teddi?” Teddiursa looked around, immediately searg for Naoki.

  Leaping off the bed, it dashed out of the bedroom with Mew floating close behind. When they didn’t find Naoki in the living room, Teddiursa tis search outside.

  Sure enough, there he was, w in the pasture.

  Naoki was guiding a group of Pokémon as they cleared snow from the paths.

  The snow didn’t seem like much trouble now, but soon enough, it would start freezing over, turning into slippery ice that could make it difficult to walk.

  To prepare for that, they were clearing pathways ahead of time, leading to the Pokémon House, the Chi Coop, the Orchard, the Greenhouse, the Tavern, the Stables, and even the Underground Cave.

  Arven was also there, lending a hand. He was watg Naoki closely, and as he observed him, Arven began to suspect that Mr. Naoki could somehow uand what the Pokémon were saying.

  “Of course, it’s Mr. Naoki—we should expeothing less!” Arven thought, feeling impressed.

  Just theiced a soft pink gloroag from a distand looked up, astonished. “Mr. Naoki, what is that Pokémon?!”

  Naoki gnced over and smiled warmly. “Them? That’s Mew and Teddiursa.”

  Arven had read about Teddiursa in the Pokémon Encyclopedia but had never seen anything quite like Mew before.

  Watg the small, floating pink creature with wide eyes, he murmured, “Mew?”

  “Yes, that’s Mew,” Naoki replied with a nod. “Acc to legend, Mew is an incredibly rare Pokémon. It’s said they’ve been in this world sint times. Some schors even believe that Mew might be the aor of all Pokémon.”

  Arven's eyes widened. “An aor?”

  Naoki tinued, “Mew’s genes tain traces of every Pokémon, allowing it to use every known move.”

  “Wow… that’s incredible!” Arven excimed, amazed that such a Pokémoed in the world.

  "Of course, it might just be a legend," Naoki said with a smile. "This Mew isn’t my Pokémon, after all. It’s a friend of Teddiursa’s."

  Just then, Mew and Teddiursa arrived in front of them.

  "Teddi!" Teddiursa looked up, its bright bck eyes shining with excitement.

  Naoki k dowly patting its head. “I’m just clearing the snow! I left some sandwiches for you in the living room. If you’re hungry, feel free to help yourself.”

  “Ursa~” Teddiursa nodded eagerly.

  At that moment, Mew, who had been curiously gng around, seemed to spot something iing. Tilting its head, it fixed its i blue eyes on something off in the distance.

  “Mew?”

  “What’s up?” Naoki asked, a bit surprised.

  But Mew was already floating toward the spot it had noticed.

  Naoki and Teddiursa turned in the direew was heading. There, they spotted a small sapling with bright green leaves sprouting up through the snow-cround.

  It was the World Tree sapling!

  Mew hovered around the sapling, cirg it with fasation, chirping in delight and wonder.

  “Mew!”

  “Teddi?” Teddiursa looked on in fusion, eyes wide.

  Naoki watched in amazement too, thinking, 'Does Mew really have su affinity for the World Tree?'

  Recalling the e between Mew and the World Tree in 'Lucario and the Mystery of Mew', Naoki couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to Mew's fasation than he knew.

  "Mew!" Mew let out another cheerful cry, filled with joy.

  Naoki, with Teddiursa close beside him, walked up to joiurning to them, Mew chirped happily, “Mew!”

  Teddiursa’s eyes widened in awe. “Ursa?”

  Naoki was baffled by what Mew was trying to vey, so he quickly called out to Koraidon to fete transtion seed crisps.

  "Raao…" Koraidon sighed, though it dutifully went to retrieve the crisps.

  Soon enough, Koraidourned with the transtion seed crisps. Naoki took a piece, and as he ate it, Mew’s voice became clear to him:

  “Mew!” (There’s an incredible life energy in this tree! I really love it here!)

  Teddiursa, however, didn’t seem to se. Looking at the sapling with a puzzled expression, he murmured, “Ursa…” (What kind of tree is this…)

  Mew shook its head. “Mew.” (I’m not sure either.)

  Despite its curiosity, Mew could feel that the tree’s vibrant life energy made it an ideal and weling pce for Pokémon.

  Seeing that Mew didn’t know what type of tree it was, Teddiursa turo Naoki. “Ursa?” (Do you know what kind of tree this is, Naoki?)

  Mew looked over as well, clearly eager for an answer.

  Naoki smiled and said, “This is the World Tree.”

  “Mew?” (World Tree?)

  Mew had never heard of such a tree before.

  'It seems not every Mew has a e with the World Tree,' Naoki thought. 'This Mew is likely drawn to it because it sehe same life energy that Calyrex is attuo.'

  “Yes, the World Tree,” Naoki expined. “It will take quite some time to grow, but eventually, it will be enormer thaire ranch. When it’s fully grown, you’ll all be able to live in it.”

  Hearing this, Mew and Teddiursa’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

  Mew immediately began imagining a secret base for their Hero Expedition Team led within the World Tree, while Teddiursa thought joyfully about inviting Zapdos to visit.

  “Mew!” (That’s a great idea!)

  Naoki raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Zapdos?”

  Teddiursa nodded enthusiastically. “Ursa! Ursa!” (We met Zapdos at an old power pnt! Zapdos told us that it was often disturbed by humans and attacked by their Pokémon. It said it would love to live somewhere peaceful where it wouldn’t be bothered.)

  Hearing this, Naoki’s heart softened. “Then we should absolutely i to stay here!”

  Teddiursa beamed with joy, thrilled that Naoki en to weling its friends to the ranch.

  Naoki chuckled and added, “But we’ll o wait until the World Tree has fully grown, which will take about four years. O’s big enough, you’re wele to invite any good friends you make on your travels to live here in the World Tree.”

  "Like Zapdos, or even Farfetch’d."

  The World Tree would be vast, with plenty of room for all sorts of Pokémon to settle and make it their home.

  'It’s like building a living encyclopedia of Pokémon,' Naoki thought with a rush of excitement. Just imagining a whole unity of Pokémon living in the World Tree filled him with joy.

  Hearing this, Mew and Teddiursa’s eyes sparkled with newfouement.

  “Ursa!” (Naoki, you’re amazing!)

  Naoki just smiled, feeling warm inside.

  “Raao…” Koraidon sighed from the side, clearly amused by the whole exge.

  It could almost hear the gears turning in Naoki’s head, calg this grand pn.