At the end of December in the 198th year of the Alliance dar, the Paldea region was bed by a snowstorm that had sted nearly two weeks.

  A thick yer of snow covered the roads, pletely blog access to the ranch. Even Zack's delivery truck couldn't make it through. With no other choice, Zack decided to take a few days off, pnning to resume work ohe snowfall lightened up.

  Early in the m, Naoki grabbed his tools and headed out with Koraidon and Cyclizar to clear the snow.

  Standing in the crisp winter air, Naoki looked out toward Kosaji Town and muttered to himself, "Just as I thought…"

  As he anticipated, the road was pletely snowed in, making it impassable for vehicles.

  "Good thing I stocked up on supplies beforehand," Naoki thought, relieved he wouldn't o make the trek to town in these snowy ditions.

  In this kind of weather, most people stayed indoors, and even the usual trainers and travelers were absent. With the road to town blocked and no visitors, the ranch felt wonderfully secluded—like a hidden haven, separated from the rest of the world.

  Everywhere he looked, there was an endless stretch of white. Being surrounded by it felt sing, almost as if his soul were being purified.

  Naoki savored the peaceful isotion, standing in the snow with his eyes closed, enjoying the quiet solitude.

  But in the moment, the sound of galloping hooves disrupted the silence.

  Naoki opened his eyes to see Gstrier sprinting through the snow, enjoying its newfound freedom.

  Naoki sighed, realizing his moment of peace was over.

  The whole ranch had e to life now that the snow had stopped.

  Plumes of smoke rose from the snow-covered rooftop as sister Indeedee prepared breakfast for everyone.

  Pawmot flew out of the living room and made its way to the chi coop to tend to the hens.

  G led Dolliv and Alcremie in a pyful game of drawing patterns in the snow with their footprints.

  Dragonairs and Dragonites, who took up delivery duties, arrived at the ranch as well. Dragonite, leading the way with a satchel, gathered fresh goat and momo milk t to the ers waiting in Kosaji Town.

  Naoki couldn't help but smile as he took in the lively se. Even though the ranch was cut off from the rest of the world, he didn't feel lonely in the slightest.

  Koraidon and Cyclizar stood at Naoki's sides, looking at the lively ranch, happily chattering.

  "Raao~"

  "Ah~ Gah~"

  Notig Cyclizar's scarf was about to e loose, Naoki walked over to help tie it again.

  Seeing this, Koraidon stepped forward, lifting its head with a hopeful look.

  "Alright, alright," Naoki chuckled, patting Koraidon affeately. "I'll retie yours too. Holy, you're like a little kid."

  "Raao~" Koraidon gave a pyful, almost puppy-like sound, wagging its tail iement.

  It resembled an rown, affeate golderiever with its boundless energy and eagerness. Naoki gently s head aside with a smile, fog on his snow-clearing tasks. Along the way, he checked on the ranch facilities to ensure everything was running smoothly.

  Last month, as temperatures started dropping, he had set up heaters in the chi coop and Pokémon House. Sihen, the hens and Miltank had happily settled in their warm rooms, rarely venturing outside.

  Arriving at the Pokémon House, Naoki greeted the Miltank ih a bright smile. "Good m, everyone! Another day awaits!"

  "Moo~" The Miltank, cozy on their soft hay beds, responded cheerfully.

  "Excellent," Naoki murmured as he picked up a brush to give them each a gentle bing. He filled their troughs with fresh fruits and hay, then bid them farewell before heading off to the chi coop.

  At the coop, Pawmot was busy chatting with the hens, gesturing with tiny paws and calling out enthusiastically, "Pawmot, Pawmot, Pawmot!" The hens clucked and gathered around, clearly captivated by their friend's lively storytelling.

  When Naoki approached, Pawmot scurried over to him. "Pawmot~"

  " they uand you?" Naoki asked, amused.

  Pawmot nodded eagerly. "Pawmot!" It seemed proud to have such good friends among the hens.

  Naoki couldn't help but marvel at this iion. 'Could Pokémon really unicate with regur animals?' In his time here, he had learhat not all animals in this world were Pokémon. There were indeed ordinary creatures around—chis, cows, ducks, pigs, fish, and so on—but unlike in his previous world, rger predators like lions, tigers, and sharks were absent.

  The main distin between regur animals and Pokémon, he mused, seemed to be the ability to use moves. While most wild creatures had limited abilities, Pokémon exhibited special powers and skills uo each species.

  Though some people regarded specific parts of Pokémon as delicacies—for instance, Slowpoke tails and Kwf's aoki had yet to try any of these unusual dishes. Despite his curiosity, he preferred stig to familiar food.

  Naoki wasn't a saint; he just saw Pokémon as haviions and intelligen par with humans. Many people treated them as panions or even family.

  With that perspective, eating Pokémo... indescribable.

  After p for a moment, Naoki said goodbye to Pawmot ahe chi coop.

  Inside sister Indeedee had already prepared breakfast. Naoki, alongside Cyclizar and Koraidon, washed their paws and joined everyone for breakfast.

  After they'd eaten, snow began falling outside once more. With nothing urgent to do, Naoki moved a rog chair in front of the firepce, sat down to warm up, and began reading a book.

  The Pokémon stayed indathering around the firepce to share in the warmth with Naoki. Outside the window, snowfkes drifted down, while the cozy heat from the fire filled the room.

  Naoki gnced around at the Pokémoled close by and couldn't help but smile.

  This... this feeling erfect.

  "Only a few days until New Year's," Naoki thought with surprise. Time had flown by!

  His first New Year in the Pokémon world felt deeply signifit. He pondered over what he could do to make this New Year memorable for the Pokémon.

  After thinking for a while, he settled on preparing a feast for them—a New Year's Eve dinner filled with all the dishes he'd made throughout the year.

  "lenty of ingredients at home, so let's go all out!" he thought happily.

  *

  Iernoon, Calyrex appeared before Naoki, a hint of excitement in his voice. "My strength has returned, and I'm ready to begin the sed phase of nurturing!"

  Naoki's eyes lit up. Ign the ongoing snowfall, he hurried to the World Tree with Calyrex by his side.

  Notig the two heading toward the tree, Mew and Teddiursa followed with curiosity.

  Koraidon, Cyclizar, Pawmot, Alcremie, Dragonite, G, the Gogoats, and the Indeedees also gathered around, creating a rge circle of Pokémon around the World Tree.

  Naoki and Calyrex stepped forward, anticipation clear on their faces. Calyrex looked around, smiling as powerful energy surged from his body.

  This vital energy expanded outward, f a dome-shaped energy shield that encircled the World Tree.

  The moment this shield appeared, all the snow on the groued away, and fresh, green grass began sprouting from the earth within the vibrant energy field.

  The World Tree reacted immediately. Its trunk grew thicker and more upright, and the bare branches began to fill with lush green leaves.

  Naoki kept his gaze fixed on the World Tree as it transformed.

  Under his watch, the age of this World Tree was shifting at an incredible rate.

  [World Tree Sapling: A seedling that has absorbed immense Grass-type energy. Due to an anomaly in its growth, it has begun a unique evolution. An intense life force is brewing within, ready to burst forth. Approximately 97,995 years until full maturity.]

  [97,980 years...]

  [97,500 years...]

  [96,980 years...]

  [96,001 years...]

  Finally, the tdown halted at 95,995 years.

  Before him now stood a tree about 1.8 meters tall—roughly the height of an adult. Its branches were full of vibrant, glowing leaves, with faint tendrils of green energy flowing among them. Just standing near it, one could feel its immeality.

  The Pokémon nearby noticed the transformation and were in awe.

  Mew and Teddiursa stared, eyes wide with amazement.

  "Ursa!" (The leaves are glowing!)

  "Mew!" (Calyrex is so powerful!)

  Calyrex observed the tree with a satisfied expression.

  Naoki, recalling the depi of the World Tree from a movie he'd once seen, guessed, "It might grow hundreds, maybe even a thousaers tall?"

  But just after he said this, a thought struck him.

  If the World Tree grew that tall, it would surely engulf the entire rand then some.

  "That... might be a bit of a problem," Naoki muttered.

  Naoki fell into deep thought.

  "Hundreds of meters... thousands of meters..." Calyrex sidered this, recalling the vision he'd seen when peering into the future. Just as he was about to speak, he notiaoki frowning, clearly lost in worry.

  "What troubles you?" Calyrex asked, puzzled.

  Naoki looked up, voig his s. "If this tree grows that enormous, it might overrun the ranch. This is my home—I don't want it to disappear."

  Hearing this, Calyrex remembered the future he had glimpsed.

  "You worry," Calyrex reassured him. "I have foreseeree's future. After a very long time, it will leave the earth, rise into the sky, and float among the clouds."

  "What?" Naoki blirying to process this.

  The World Tree… flying into the sky?

  "How would that even work?" he asked in surprise.

  Calyrex shook his head gently. "I ot say. The vision only allows me to see the e, not the jouro get there."

  Much like when he'd foreseen the arrival of Eternatus in the Gar region.

  "I see…" Naoki murmured, still a bit dazed.

  A tree that big, floating in the sky—it defied all logic. How would it overe gravity? Did someone pn on installing some kind of anti-gravity system?

  As Naoki pohese possibilities, he noticed that Calyrex seemed tired from his exertions.

  "Well," Naoki said, setting aside his s with a sigh. "If that's the future, I'm sure we'll figure it out wheime es. Thank you for all your hard wo get some rest! I'll prepare some dumplings and grass cakes for yht away."

  Calyrex nodded appreciatively, then vanished, returning to the gss greenhouse to recover.

  Naoki headed back to the living room with the other Pokémoing them enjoy some pytime while he went to the kit. There, he began preparing snacks and afternoon tea for Calyrex—treats that would help him restore his energy.

  On his way to deliver the snacks to the gss greenhouse, Naoki spotted his three Gogoats gathered around the World Tree, lounging on the grass that Calyrex had summoned and chewing something tentedly.

  "…What are you eating?" Naoki couldn't help but ask.

  "Meee…" One of the Gogoats turo him, revealing a vibrant greeucked in its mouth.

  Naoki's eyes went wide.

  "Oh no! Are they eating the World Tree?"

  Just as he feared his Gogoats had taken a liking to the World Tree's leaves, three fresh leaves, shimmering with a gentle green glow, detached from the branches above and drifted down, ndily in front of the Gogoats.

  "Meee…"

  The Gogoats' eyes lit up, and they eagerly bent down to mun the newly fallen leaves.

  Naoki: "…"

  'What's going on?'

  He stared at the se in fusion.

  'Could the World Tree have its own sciousness? Or was it somehow ected to nature's will, deliberately sharing its leaves with the Gogoats? Perhaps it even saw them as its chosen panions?'

  Naoki fell deep in thought, recalling the Tree of Beginning from the movie, which was equipped with a defense system that summoned guardians to protect it from intruders.

  "No way…"

  In disbelief, Naoki approached the World Tree.

  As he drew near, the tree seemed to sense his presence.

  Another leaf, glowing faintly with green energy, floated gently down.

  Watg the leaf desd, a wild idea popped into Naoki's mind.

  He and his Gogoats had teo this tree, watering ailizing it si nted. Maybe, just maybe, the World Tree reized him as an ally.

  On impulse, he reached out and caught the leaf.

  As he held it, information about the leaf appeared clearly in his mind:

  [Unripe World Tree Leaf]: A mythical item, a leaf infused with the raw power of nature. It is a treasured resource frass-type Pokémon, highly sought after and incredibly rare. Its exact effects are unknown, but it holds great potential.