In the 199th year of the Alliance dar, spring had just touched down in Paldea, but the chill of wiill lingered in the air.

  As the snow melted away, fresh green buds started to dot the ndscape of Paldea. A gentle breeze swept through the mountains and forests, while streams babbled in the valleys, heralding the start of a new cycle in nature.

  The ranch, bed in snow for much of winter, finally emerged into the light. Grass sprouted up, and vines in the garden began their slow climb up the trellises. The rge Wattrels, who had migrated south for the winter, returheir wings fpping as they nded on the rooftop. Using their beaks to tidy up their wi feathers, they observed the newly lively ranch below, where well-fed Pokémon chased and pyed with each other in high spirits.

  Ihe house, soft m sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows as Naoki enjoyed his breakfast, watg the day's Paldean m news.

  Oelevision s, a grand and unique academy took ter stage in the bustling city. In front of the school gates, a crowd of boys and girls in school uniforms with their Pokémon in tow gathered, listening ily to a man dressed as the principal:

  "Wele back to Paldea Academy! From today, the academy's famous Treasure Hunt will begin once more!" he announced. "Go forth, children, and seek out your own treasures across Paldea!"

  "So, the treasure hunt is still a staple at Paldea Academy," Naoki mused to himself as he watched.

  Last year, a few students oreasure hunts had stopped by his ranch, and he wondered if he'd see more visitors this year. In fact, he was hoping trainers would e, giving Dragonite and Pawmot—who were eager to train with new challengers—a valuable opportunity to grow stronger.

  "o rush," he thought, smiling to himself. "If all goes as phose students should be heading out soon."

  Paldea Academy was known for its open approach. While some students preferred adventures, others liked to stay on campus, attending csses and raising their Pokémon. If anyone from the academy did e to visit, it might not be for another couple of weeks.

  With that thought, Naoki fihe st spoonful of pe, stood up, and cleared the table. Today, he had something important pnned.

  Retly, his Gogoats had beeing plenty of World Tree leaves and were sistently nourished by the tree's energy. Naoki was curious to see if this unique diet had impacted the milk they produced.

  After ing the dishes, he grabbed the milking equipment and asked Koraidon to help carry the milk buckets over to the World Tree.

  By early m, the Gogoats were already engaged in their daily ritual of "gathering around the world tree."

  Positioned in a triangur formation around the World Tree, each goat radiated a soft, green aura.

  The energy of the lush green grass transformed into sparkling particles of light, which rose from the Gogoats and flowed into the trunk of the World Tree. Even the leaves at the top began to emit tiny, glowing flecks.

  When Naoki approached with his tools, the Gogoats happily greeted him with a chorus of, "Baaa~!"

  "How are you feeling today?" Naoki asked as he affeately patted their heads. He pced the milk bucket beh one of the goats, squatted down, and began milking. The other two goats waited in line, while the Gogoat being milked looked utterly tent.

  "Meaa~" it bleated, as if to share its delight.

  "Is that so?" Naoki replied with a smile, eyeing the bucket now filled with milk that radiated a rich, creamy aroma.

  As he gazed at the fresh milk, a familiar sensation washed over him, and information about it appeared in his mind:

  [Gogoat's Milk (Ultra-Pure): Fresh goat's milk blessed by the power of nature, with a quality beyond perfe, packed with dozens of times more nutrients than regur milk. Drinking it provides incredible restorative bes. It's said that even the most severe injuries heal instantly upon ption. It's also ideal for making top-grade cheese, butter, and other ary delights.]

  "Just as I thought..." Naoki murmured, taking in the new information about the milk. "It seems the World Tree's leaves and energy have truly transformed the quality of their milk."

  Before, the Gogoats' milk had been enhanced by the grass dumplings, elevating its nutritional tent and making it some of the fi milk. But now, after ing the World Tree's leaves, it had reached airely new level.

  The restorative properties rival those of Revive items! Naoki marveled at this, and an even more astonishing thought crossed his mind—this might not evehe limit of what his Gogoats and their milk could achieve.

  As the Gogoats grow and develop further, who knows what effects their milk might have? Perhaps it could rival the legendary Sacred Ash, known to revive Pokémon from the brink of death—araordinary item created from the life force of Ho-Oh.

  The sacred ash was said to fully restore the health of any Pokémoering on the brink of colpse. Legend had it that Ho-Oh once used Sacred Ash to revive three Pokémon who perished in the fmes of the Bell Tower (Brass Tower).

  These Pokémon ter became known as the Legendary Beasts: Entei, Raikou, and Suie, with Suie embodying the north wind itself.

  Thinking of this, Naoki's immediate thought wasn't amazement at the effect—it was that he absolutely o raise his prices!

  "I'll have to ask Zack to retest the quality of this Gogoat milk and adjust the price," Naoki thought.

  Such adjustments were onp ranches and farms. Different Pokémon's health ditions could drastically affect product quality. For instance, some Miltank were naturally thinner, produg milk that was watery and less nutritious, sold at lower prices. In trast, rger, well-fed Miltank, grazing on high-quality grass, produced MooMoo Milk that was rid often sold at premium rates.

  Zad other buyers who collected milk from ranches khis well and based prig on the milk's specific quality at the time. Prices would vary, depending on freshness and nutritional riess.

  After some thought, Naoki tinued milking his other two Gogoat. Refleg on his journey, he felt a surge of gratitude—these three Gogoat were truly the bae of his ranch, eae having tributed so much. Together, they had built Naoki Ranto what it is today.

  Naoki's heart warmed at the sight of the Gogoat, who looked at him expetly, awaiting their ask. Smiling, Naoki said, "Alright, you're free now; today's work is done."

  Just as he was about to , Naoki suddenly remembered something he'd heir help with. He asked Koraidon to store the milk and led his Gogoat to the ranch's warehouse. Iacks of saplings and grass seeds filled the shelves—materials he'd ordered from town.

  "Today, we're officially starting the back mountaioration project," Naoki said. "Do you remember the Pokémon we rescued from there?"

  The Gogoats thought for a moment, then nodded a out a cheerful, "Meaa!"

  The memory of those Pokémon who escaped the forest fire was still vivid for the Gogoats. The fire had ed everything in its path, leaving tless Pokémon homeless, and redug the ohriving mountain forest to an eerie, desote ndscape. Those who survived were left with lingering sadness and fear, haunted by the loss of their home.

  Seeing that the Gogoats remembered the i, Naoki reached out, giving them a reassuring pat.

  "Today, I'm pnning to help them rebuild their home," he said gently. "We're going to pnt these grass seeds and saplings t life back to the mountain."

  Hearing this, the Gogoats bleated with determination, "Meeeeh!" They were eager to help too.

  "Good," Naoki smiled warmly. His Gogoats were truly kied. "Then, I'll be ting on you! Let's carry these supplies up the mountain and give those Pokémon a fresh start."

  "Meeeeh!"

  The Gogoats agreed eically, ready for the task ahead. Naoki began carefully loading the bags of seeds and bundles of saplings onto their backs, soon c them in supplies for the journey. Each Gogoat now bore the hopes of the rescued Pokémon as they followed Naoki and Koraidon toward the orchard.

  In the orchard, a group of Pokémon, who had heard the news of the restoration project, eagerly awaited them. Among them were the eio, Tinkatuff, Bellibolt, Smeargle, Tandemaus, Wattrel, Hoppip, some Foongus, and Shroomish. Apart from the Kricketune who had joined a band, all of the Pokémon that had once fled the bze were present.

  Over the wihey'd found refuge on the ranch, their fur and scales, once singed and scarred, now fully healed. As Naoki and Koraidon approached, the rescued Pokémon's eyes shoh excitement and hope. They fixed their gaze on Naoki, filled with a sense of purpose.

  Seeing their eager faces, Naoki felt his own spirits lift. Taking a deep breath, he called out, "The time has finally e! Are you all ready to restore your home?"

  "Squeee!" Mino, boung happily on the grass.

  With a smile, Naoki said, "The's go!"

  "Woohoo!"

  "Gummo!"

  the Pokémon cheered, all f a little parade as they followed Naoki, ready to restore their forest together.

  Before setting off, Naoki couldn't help but t the number of Pokémon.

  "Owo, three... thirteen. Huh? Why is there one missing?"

  Naoki paused, scratg his head in fusion. The Pokémon around him looked puzzled as well.

  "Looks like we're short one Pokémon," he said, gng around.

  The group began to look left and right, trying to recall who might still be missing. Finally, Mino cpped its little paws, remembering the absent Pokémon.

  "Squeak!" (It's that zy Skoth who loves to sleep!)

  Mino turned and scampered deeper into the orchard, with Naoki following close behind, instrug the Gogoat to wait for them.

  Soon, they arrived at a small grassy patestled among the trees, where a snoozing Skoth y sprawled out, its fur tinted in patches from the berry it had eaten.

  Naoki: "..."

  Mino hurried over and began to gently shake Skoth with its tiny paws. Slowly, the sleepy Skoth cracked open one eye, looking drowsy and thhly ued in moving.

  Mino squeaked urgently, expining why everyone was gathered, but Skoth merely looked at Mino in sleepy fusion, the out a big yawn, its eyes drooping closed again.

  Naoki sighed with a familiar sense of amusement. "He reminds me of the folks who always show up with an excuse to skip work."

  The Mino looked back at Naoki with a sigh.

  Mino was so excited about rebuilding its home that it barely gave the sleepy Skoth annce, darting back to Naoki with eager anticipation. Along the way, it began daydreaming about its future life—imagining a time when the forest trees would be tall and lush. It pictured itself seleg the biggest, tallest tree, carving a cozy little den, and stuffing it full of all the berries and fruits it could find until it was brimming with goodies!

  When Mino and Naoki returned, Naoki was surprised to see a rge gathering of Pokémon from the ranch. Pawmot, Dragonite, Alcremie, Cyclizar, G, Gogoats, Butterfree, the Indeedee siblings, and others had all gathered, eager to join the reforestation effort. Floating gracefully above them, the King of Bountiful Harvests hovered, its regal form seeming to inspire the other Pokémon.

  Catg Naoki's eye, the King of Bountiful Harvests spoke in a calm, geone, "I promised to assist you in the restoration process. I am here to keep that promise."

  Naoki smiled gratefully. "Thank you! Let's get started."

  With tools in hand, Naoki and the assembled Pokémon began their jouro the scorched back mountain, ready to breathe life bato the nd.

  ...

  Meanwhile, in the Pokémon Rescue ter in Kosaji Town, the Paldea League was alsanizing an ecological restoration project. The previous forest fire had caused a huge stir, prompting the League to assign forest rangers and skilled pnters from across Paldea to assist in the restoration. Even the Champioa, was there—not only overseeing the Alliance's efforts but also personally visiting the Pokémon affected by the fire.

  Nearby, Nurse Joy watched the Champion with admiration and said to Officer Jenny, "Geeta has su approachable side! It's inspiring."

  Officer Jenny nodded, recalling stories from League staff about Geeta's unwavering dedicatioe her packed schedule, the Champion was known to dash off to her duty with a Crystal Bloom tangled in her hair, pletely unaware as she focused on her responsibilities.

  But now, here she was, fully present, tending to the aftermath of the fire with passion. Officer Jenny nodded. "Yes, she truly is a reliable Champion."

  At that moment, Officer Jenny's inter crackled to life. After a quick exge, she looked up and addressed everyohe forest rangers are ready. It's time for us to head out!"

  Geeta heard the annou, straightened up, and casually pced her hands behind her back, preparing to join the group.

  The nearby Alliaaff, taken by surprise, quickly stood at attention, saluting, "Ch-Chief Champion!"

  Geeta smiled reassuringly. "I'll be joining you all to take a look. o be nervous—just pretend I'm not here."

  Alliaaff: "Y-Yes, ma'am!"

  Geeta gave a slight smile. "Alright the's go!"