As Zack arrived at the ranch with the test results for the Gogoat milk, he found Naoki carefully grooming Glaceon and Pawmot.
Spring had brought a burst of growth, and cockleburs were scattered throughout the grass. When the long-haired Pokémon rolled around, the burrs inevitably clung to their fur. Some got stuck in places they couldn't reach, so they'd return, looking a bit sorry for themselves, hoping Naoki could help.
After plucking the last burr from Pawmot's head, Naoki patted it affectionately. "Alright, you're all set! Go on and play."
"Pawmot!" it squeaked happily, scampering off.
Naoki turned to Zack, noticing his excitement. "What's going on?"
Zack was practically glowing with enthusiasm. "Naoki, this goat milk is incredible! It's loaded with nutrients, and it also contains a mysterious energy that rapidly restores strength and heals injuries."
"Mysterious energy?" Naoki was surprised but quickly considered. 'Could it be the natural energy Calyrex mentioned? Or maybe the Grass-type energy imbued in the goats?'
Zack continued. "Plus, I went to the Pokémon Center to test its effects firsthand. A seriously injured Wattrel, which was nearly unconscious, fully recovered after drinking the milk! Not even the full-recovery potions at the Pokémon Center can work that fast!"
"I see…" Naoki's reaction was more measured. He already knew the milk's potent effects; it was akin to the Phoenix King's Sacred Ash.
Zack continued, "After a lot of discussion, we settled on a price of 30,000 Pokédollars per bottle. Does that sound fair to you?"
"Thirty thousand?" Naoki was momentarily taken aback. Given the yield from the Gogoats, that meant he could earn millions in a single round of sales.
After some thought, though, he realized it was reasonable—any higher, and it might be out of reach for those who really needed it. He had initially wanted this milk to help trainers and Pokémon like Alder and his Volcarona, to prevent the kind of tragic loss Alder had faced.
With a nod, Naoki agreed to the price. "That sounds good to me."
"Fantastic! I'll take today's shipment!" Zack beamed. He'd come prepared with enough funds this time and, after carefully calculating the total, paid Naoki for the goat milk and other items, then left in his truck with a satisfied smile.
As nearly a million Pokédollars was deposited into his account, Naoki looked at the pile of large-denomination bills, feeling a wave of satisfaction and purpose wash over him.
"It's a lot of money!" Naoki muttered, surprised by the amount. But with the ranch running smoothly and most needs met, he didn't really have much use for it.
"Maybe I'll save it for now," he thought. "Perhaps I can look into getting a villa somewhere scenic, so I can take Koraidon and the others out for the occasional getaway."
With that in mind, Naoki grabbed his travel backpack, packed the money safely inside, and rode Koraidon to Kosaji Town to deposit the money at the bank. By the time they returned, the sun was setting, and a gentle twilight had settled over the ranch.
As spring warmed the days, the Pokémon had been more energetic, no longer huddling around the fireplace to stay warm. Even as night began to fall, they were still running around outside, playing in the twilight.
Naoki watched from under the eaves, a mix of fondness and exasperation on his face, before heading back inside. The thought of Alder and his Volcarona lingered in his mind, and he decided to reach out to Geeta using the video phone.
Geeta's face soon appeared on the screen, and she greeted him with a smile. "Oh? Naoki! Calling to discuss joining the Paldea League, are we?" she teased.
Naoki: "..."
Geeta chuckled. "Alright, alright. What can I help you with, then?"
"Actually, I wanted to ask if you know much about the champions of other regions," Naoki replied.
Geeta raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised. "The champions of other regions? Hmm… while we don't interact all that often, I do know some. Each region is pretty autonomous, after all."
She thought for a moment and then continued, "For instance, I know of Diantha, the champion of the Kalos region. She's actually quite famous outside of Pokémon battles—she's also a well-known actress."
"There's also the Champion of the Unova region, Alder; the Sinnoh region's Cynthia; and the Galar region's Leon. I'm not too familiar with others, as they're quite far from Paldea," Geeta explained.
She paused, suddenly recalling something. "Oh, speaking of Galar, Leon—their strongest Champion—applied to visit Paldea not long ago. I wonder what's keeping him. He hasn't arrived yet."
'Leon? Coming to Paldea?' Naoki was surprised. Could he have gotten lost on the way?
"What's with the sudden interest?" Geeta asked, a curious look on her face.
Naoki gave the prepared answer he'd thought of earlier. "I heard from trainers passing by the ranch that Champions in other regions are incredibly strong."
Geeta's eyes lit up with interest. "Are you thinking of challenging them?"
Naoki quickly replied, "No, no. I'm just a rancher. I don't have that kind of strength."
Inwardly, Geeta thought, 'You say that, but you're the trainer who managed to befriend and work alongside Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests!'
Then, as if a thought crossed her mind, Geeta added, "While it might be possible to battle some Champions, Alder would be an exception."
"Huh?" Naoki blinked, a little surprised. "What happened to Mr. Alder?"
"Alder's main Pokémon, Volcarona, suffered a severe injury—an injury the Pokémon Center couldn't fully heal. Since then, Alder has lost interest in battling and has stepped back from League duties. Now, the affairs of the Unova League are mainly managed by the Elite Four," Geeta explained, a hint of sadness in her voice. "It's truly a shame to see such a gifted trainer step away."
"I see…" Naoki nodded thoughtfully. He found himself wondering why Geeta was so well-versed in the happenings of the Unova League.
Geeta seemed to sense Naoki's curiosity, so she offered an explanation with a smile:
"Recently, the Padlea Alliance and the Unova Alliance have strengthened their ties, especially with the establishment of the academy. Not long ago, they set up Blueberry Academy on an offshore island, which serves as a sister school to Naranja Academy and Uva Academy. Every year, the schools exchange students, giving them a chance to study at each other's campuses."
Naoki was taken aback. "Really? I hadn't heard anything about this!"
Just then, Naoki heard other voices in the background from Geeta's side.
"I have a few things to handle in the department," she said. "But let's catch up later if there's more to discuss!"
Naoki, having gathered the information he sought, expressed his gratitude, "Thank you so much for sharing this."
Geeta smiled warmly, about to end the call, when she suddenly remembered, "Oh, and by the way, the Paldea Alliance is aware of how Calyrex used his powers to restore the ecology around Kosaji Town. To express our gratitude and honor his deeds, the Alliance has decided to build a Shrine of Plenty in his name. The lead on this project should be arriving at your place soon."
"A… Shrine of Plenty?" Naoki was caught off guard. He stared at the screen as Geeta ended the call, feeling a bit overwhelmed.
---
Meanwhile, deep within Area Zero in the heart of the Paldea Crater, the time machine continued its operation, periodically bringing Pokémon from ancient times and distant futures into the present.
Not every paradox Pokémon appeared here every moment; only those that met certain criteria and responded to the time machine's signal could be transferred.
For instance, only Pokémon that found themselves near the time machine signal or grew curious about it would be drawn toward it.
At that very moment, within the vast chamber housing the time machine, a flash of intense white light illuminated the surroundings. As the light faded, a mysterious Pokémon with long, wild fur and an appearance akin to a giant nightmare materialized, gliding gracefully through the air.
Below, Professor Sada and Dr. Turo observed the Pokémon and immediately recognized it.
"It's a Paradox Pokémon known as Flutter Mane, recorded in the 'Scarlet Book!'" Dr. Turo warned.
"Be careful," he added, "Flutter Mane has a fierce and warlike temperament."
Professor Sada nodded calmly. They'd already gained plenty of experience handling such situations.
Their protocol was clear: if a Paradox Pokémon showed signs of aggression, they would use Poké Balls to capture it immediately and then seal the Poké Ball to keep it contained.
However, Flutter Mane did not appear to be aggressive. Instead, it hovered in the air, its blood-red eyes calmly observing the two below.
Seeing this, Professor Sada hesitated as she prepared to throw the Poké Ball.
Moments later, Flutter Mane's figure gradually faded into the shadows and vanished.
"It disappeared?!" Professor Sada's heart skipped a beat.
Dr. Turo readied his Poké Ball, anticipating a surprise attack from the shadows. However, after a long moment, it became clear that Flutter Mane was not planning an ambush.
Realizing this, Dr. Turo made a quick assessment. "It fled."
Professor Sada was surprised. Such behavior was unusual.
Luckily, the time machine facility was empty, so Flutter Mane's escape posed no immediate danger to anyone else.
Dr. Turo surmised that Flutter Mane would likely make its way to the upper levels of Area Zero, where it would blend into the ecosystem there.
"What a missed opportunity," Professor Sada lamented. "To encounter an ancient Paradox Pokémon with such a calm temperament…"
Dr. Turo comforted her. "No need to worry. Our research shows that these Paradox Pokémon—summoned from both the distant past and future—are slowly adapting to this era and to humans. As long as we remain patient, we'll realize our goals eventually."
Professor Sada nodded, her optimism restored. "You're right."
With no other Pokémon appearing from the time machine that day, they checked the time, noticed it was late, and decided to leave.
Unbeknownst to them, Flutter Mane watched silently from the shadows, observing the strange figures.
Flutter Mane slipped back into the shadows, silently trailing the two researchers as they returned to the lab.
Dr. Turo headed straight to check on the Paradox Pokémon, studying their gradual adaptation to the modern era. Meanwhile, Professor Sada sat down at her desk and began documenting the day's findings in her research notes.
"Today, Turo and I ventured deeper into Area Zero and discovered a vast cavern in its lower levels. Within this cavern lies Terapagos… the mysterious relic of Zero, dormant in its depths.
The crystalline structure surrounding it appears to be a form of protection against potential threats. However, it seems it may require more time to awaken.
Interestingly, a unique crystallization phenomenon, unlike anything seen on the surface, is occurring throughout this cavern.
Turo and I have decided to label this all-encompassing crystal 'Star Crystal.'"
Professor Sada paused, turning to a new page in her notebook, then continued her notes.
"After further discussion, Turo and I have named the area below Zone Zero the 'Area Zero Underdepths.'
Based on the geological structure, I estimate this cavity was formed around two million years ago.
Remnants indicate that the cavity was once filled with some unknown material before nearly forming. The depth of the collapse is approximately 1,000 meters, and repeated collapses have left signs throughout. We speculate that crustal movement and erosion from rain and groundwater may be responsible.
Since its ultimate formation, Area Zero Underdepths has remained geologically stable to this day."
She set down her pen, pondering the connection between Terapagos and the mysterious Star Crystal.
There was no doubt in her mind that Terapagos was the origin of this crystallization. But according to her research, this Pokémon had once been part of a larger group in ancient Paldea, likely living deep within the Earth's crust.
Reflecting on the massive collapse marks in the under depths, Professor Sada couldn't help but wonder:
"Could it be that, due to tectonic shifts, all other Terapagos perished, leaving only this one, now locked in slumber?"
Lost in thought, she was unaware of Flutter Mane lurking in the shadows behind her.
Flutter Mane's gaze wandered around the lab, taking in the cluttered piles of research materials and tools scattered across the room. By a nearby whiteboard stood stacks of data and photographs.
Most photos were of Paradox Pokémon, each meticulously taken by Professor Sada and Dr. Turo. Among these, there were several pictures of Koraidon and Miraidon, along with snapshots of Naoki's interactions with Koraidon as it grew accustomed to the human world.
Flutter Mane's calm gaze eventually settled on a photo of Naoki gently stroking Koraidon's head.