Naoki also noticed Dr. Sada and Arven not far away.
When he first spotted them, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him and stood there in a daze for a moment.
"How come they're here?" he muttered to himself.
"Dr. Sada?" Naoki asked in surprise, stepping forward.
Dr. Sada nodded slightly, a confident smile on her face. "Long time no see, Naoki."
"Why are you visiting so suddenly?" Naoki asked, stopping his work and greeting them properly.
Hearing this, Dr. Sada glanced at Arven beside her and said thoughtfully, "What you told us last time made me think. So, I decided to take a few days off and spend some time with Arven to relax."
Naoki nodded, recalling the conversation he'd had with Dr. Sada and Professor Turo about Arven's feelings towards Koraidon and Miraidon. Arven had misunderstood that those Pokémon were responsible for taking away his parents, and as a result, he wasn't too fond of them.
It seemed like Dr. Sada wanted to mend things with Arven. But Naoki couldn't help but think, 'If you wanted to relax, wouldn't an amusement park with a carousel and Ferris wheel make more sense? Why the ranch?'
Naoki's confusion must've shown on his face because Dr. Sada chuckled and explained, "Experiencing the peaceful countryside with Arven and immersing ourselves in farm life is a great way to relax. Plus," she trailed off, her gaze shifting toward Koraidon. "I can observe this Koraidon up close."
After their last conversation, Dr. Sada realized the importance of addressing Arven's feelings, but at the same time, she also saw an opportunity to study Koraidon, something she couldn't resist. She had asked Professor Turo to look after the lab while she and Arven came to the ranch for a little break and observation.
Naoki blinked. "Oh..." He now understood her motivation, though he still wasn't sure how to respond.
He glanced from Dr. Sada to Arven.
After hearing his mother's plan, Arven, who had been cheerful, suddenly looked less than thrilled.
Arven had been overjoyed that his mother had finally taken a rare day off to spend with him. He'd imagined they'd be going to a fun place, maybe having a big family meal and making lasting memories together.
But when he realized the destination was the ranch, and that his mother's attention was already focused on Koraidon, his previously bright expression dulled. His mouth straightened into a thin line, and a shadow of disappointment settled on his face.
Naoki winced slightly at the scene. 'Poor kid,' he thought.
"So," Dr. Sada continued, breaking the silence, "could we have a picnic here? I'll pay for the space and any rental fees."
Naoki blinked. "Uh..." He glanced at Arven, who was clearly downcast, and hesitated before responding, "Of course, but there aren't enough ingredients on the ranch."
Dr. Sada nodded. "No problem. I'll go into town to visit the market and pick up some supplies. Arven, would you like to come with me?"
Arven, still looking dejected, lowered his head and didn't answer.
Sensing his reluctance, Dr. Sada sighed softly and said, "Alright, then. You stay here and wait for me. I'll bring back your favorite food."
After saying that, Dr. Sada turned and left.
Naoki stepped away from the farmland, washed his hands, and grabbed a bottle of chilled drink from the fridge. He walked over to Arven, who was standing there quietly.
"Your name's Arven, right? I heard it from Dr. Sada," Naoki said, offering the drink with a smile.
Arven looked at the man in front of him and shook his head. "I'm not thirsty."
"Well, take it for when you are," Naoki insisted, holding out the drink.
"Thanks," Arven replied softly, realizing he couldn't really refuse.
"Just call me Naoki," Naoki said, grinning. He hadn't expected the tough Senior Arven from the games to have such a shy side.
Given his age, Arven seemed to be around seven or eight years old, not yet the confident teenager Naoki remembered from the future.
While waiting for Dr. Sada to return, Naoki asked Arven to sit and relax while he finished up the remaining farm chores with the Pokémon. Once all the crops were harvested and piled neatly on the lawn, Dr. Sada finally returned from town, carrying a large bag of groceries. She handed Naoki a hefty sum—10,000 Poke Dollars.
Naoki blinked in surprise. "Wow, that's, generous."
He realized with that kind of payment, he needed to go all out. He meticulously inspected the ingredients Dr. Sada had purchased and decided to treat her and Arven to a proper barbecue farm party.
He set up everything needed—cutting the meat into small pieces, preparing skewers, and even making a few glasses of iced watermelon juice. It was shaping up to be quite the feast.
"Do you need me to grill the meat?" Naoki asked.
Dr. Sada shook her head with a smile. "No need, we'll do it ourselves."
Seeing that, Naoki decided to step aside, figuring he should give them some privacy. But to his surprise, Dr. Sada called out to him.
"Join us! We bought way too much, and besides, I'd love to hear more about Koraidon," she said, nodding towards the Pokémon.
Naoki considered it for a moment, then agreed. He brought his Pokémon over, spread a picnic blanket on the grass nearby, and set out sandwiches and snacks for everyone.
Koraidon, Cyclizar, Dragonite, and Glaceon all gathered around, eagerly digging into the food.
As Dr. Sada watched this scene unfold, she couldn't help but be amazed.
She had assumed Naoki was just an ordinary rancher who happened to be lucky enough to meet Koraidon when it was injured. Perhaps, out of gratitude, Koraidon had stayed on the ranch.
But now, it was clear that there was much more to Naoki. Raising a large group of rare Pokémon like Dragonite, Dratini, and Dragonair? That wasn't the work of an ordinary farmer. The Pokémon on his ranch were exceptionally well-cared for, even bred to perfection.
Dr. Sada couldn't help but notice how well-trained and healthy the Pokémon looked. The sturdy Gogoat, the shiny fur on Pawmo, the strong and heavy Naclstacks—it was all far from ordinary.
Dr. Sada observed the Pokémon Naoki had on his ranch, noting that some seemed relatively ordinary compared to the rare and powerful ones. Cyclizar, Butterfree, Miltank, Dolliv, Glaceon, and Alcremie stood out as more common species. But given that many of these Pokémon were used for ranch work in the Paldea region, not for battle, it wasn't surprising.
As Dr. Sada grilled some skewers, she asked, "It must be hard to take care of so many Pokémon, right?"
Naoki chuckled and glanced at the Pokémon enjoying sandwiches from the picnic basket. "It's not too hard since they're all pretty well-behaved."
He paused for a moment, then continued, sharing the details Dr. Sada was probably most curious about. "Especially Koraidon. It's incredibly strong and helps me out a lot. It takes me to town, helps plow the fields, plants seeds, and even helps train the Dragonite and Cyclizar."
Naoki smiled warmly. "It's also pretty cute in its own way. Sometimes it gets jealous of the other Pokémon. And sometimes, it forgets how big it is and tries to hop on my bed, which ends up with the bed crushed. I've had to replace two beds since I've had it."
As he spoke, Naoki reminisced about all the little moments with Koraidon. Dr. Sada listened intently, and even Arven, who had been quiet and somewhat sullen earlier, seemed drawn in by Naoki's stories.
The Koraidon Naoki described sounded so different from the one Arven had heard about. It wasn't just a fierce, ancient Pokémon—it was a companion.
Dr. Sada nodded in agreement. "That's typical of Pokémon like Koraidon. They have strong personalities and can be quite possessive. But once they form a bond, they become incredibly loyal."
Naoki laughed and nodded. "Exactly!"
Dr. Sada smiled, handing some of the grilled food to Arven, who no longer looked as grumpy as before. He was beginning to enjoy the rare family time with his mother.
"Seeing you two like this, I can't help but feel a little relieved," Dr. Sada said, watching them both with a soft smile. "It shows that ancient Pokémon like Koraidon can still adapt to this era."
Naoki paused for a moment. 'Is it just me, or does Dr. Sada still have a bit of a wild side?' he thought, though he didn't say it out loud.
After some hesitation, Naoki asked curiously, "Dr. Sada, have you and Dr. Turo been working in the Great Crater of Paldea for a long time?"
Dr. Sada nodded. "Yes, there's so much to study there. The Terastal phenomenon that trainers use in battle? It was something Turo and I discovered deep in the crater."
"What's it like in there?" Naoki asked, his curiosity piqued.
Having only seen the crater in the games, Naoki wondered how breathtaking it would be in real life. He imagined it must be quite the spectacle.
Dr. Sada smiled at his curiosity. "The environment inside the Great Crater is truly unique. The terrain is varied—lush green fields, steep cliffs, waterfalls from rivers, lakes, deep caves almost any kind of terrain you can imagine is inside that crater."
She paused, letting the wonder of the place sink in for Naoki. "In short, it's a place full of mystery and immense beauty."
Naoki's eyes lit up with excitement. "I'd love to see it for myself one day!"
Dr. Sada smiled. "Maybe one day you will. But it's not quite the time yet."
The Paldea Crater is full of mysteries and unknowns. It wasn't until 79 years ago that humans established an observatory at the Paldea Crater, gradually unveiling some of its enigmas.
However, the terrain is too complex and dangerous, with many perilous Paradox Pokémon inhabiting the area.
As a result, the Paldea League established strict rules: only researchers are allowed to enter the Paldea Pit. Traveling trainers and academy students, even during off-campus activities, are strictly forbidden from entering.
Naoki wasn't surprised by this information.
Thinking about the events that might unfold in the future, he couldn't help but ask indirectly, "It must be quite dangerous to conduct research in that kind of environment, right?"
Dr. Sada smiled slightly. "On normal days, the dangerous Pokémon don't come near the research facility. There's an observation station along the route, and it's a safe path to the institute. As long as you're cautious, there shouldn't be anything too hazardous."
Naoki pretended to ponder this and then said, "But research labs have all kinds of complex machines, right? I've seen in movies where research centers explode because of technical malfunctions, causing the researchers inside to—"
Dr. Sada cut him off with a laugh. "That's just something from the movies. Real-life research isn't like that."
Naoki remained silent for a moment, thinking, 'That's exactly how you and Turo will die—an explosion at the observatory, leaving Arven all alone.'
"It's always better to be cautious," Naoki insisted. "Actually, I have an idea."
Dr. Sada raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Oh? What's your idea?"
Naoki spoke seriously, "Each research facility should have a Pokémon with the ability Damp. With them around, perhaps you can prevent any catastrophic explosions."
Sada was momentarily taken aback, but then smiled at Naoki's earnest expression. "Damp, huh? That's an interesting thought. I'll keep that in mind when I return."
And with that, Naoki decided to leave the conversation at that.
Seeing that Dr. Sada had taken his suggestion, albeit lightly, Naoki shifted the conversation toward Arven, who had been quietly sitting by.
"Arven should be almost ten years old, right?" Naoki asked, breaking the gentle silence.
Speaking of her son, Dr. Sada's normally composed face softened with a touch of tenderness. "Yes, he just turned nine. This time next year, he'll be ten."
Watching this, Naoki couldn't help but reflect:
No matter what the future holds, despite Dr. Sada's dream of uniting ancient and modern Pokémon, she clearly loves her son deeply right now, doesn't she?
"Does Arven live with you in the research institute?" Naoki asked again, curious about their arrangement.
Dr. Sada shook her head, a hint of guilt creeping into her voice. "No, I'm tied up with my work at the research institute most of the time. Arven lives in Mesagoza, and next year, when he turns ten, he'll enroll at Naranja Academy."
Later that afternoon, Dr. Sada took Arven with her as they left the ranch.
Naoki stood by the gate with Koraidon and Cyclizar, watching them fade into the distance. He found himself staring at young Arven, and for a fleeting moment, it was as if he could see the great gears of fate beginning to turn above the boy's head.
"It should be possible to change things, right?" Naoki whispered, half to himself, half to the universe.
Koraidon tilted its head, its eyes full of quiet curiosity. "Raao?"
Without the translation seeds, Naoki couldn't understand exactly what Koraidon was saying, but he could tell from its tone and expression that it was likely asking, What are you thinking about?
Naoki smiled, organizing his thoughts before speaking. "I was just wondering what their future will be like."
Koraidon glanced at the figures in the distance before giving a soft, almost contemplative "Raao..." as if reflecting on the thought.
Naoki shook his head, casting off the weight of his ponderings. "Forget it. No use worrying about it. Whatever happens, it can't be worse than the events in the game." He chuckled lightly, trying to cheer himself up. Patting Koraidon's head, he added, "Let's get back to work! Zack will be here soon to pick up the goods. Once we make enough money, we can talk to Kelly tomorrow and finally build that big house. No more squeezing into this little cabin!"
Naoki turned his gaze back to the small, weathered cabin nestled at the edge of the ranch.
I used to think so small, he realized. If I really want to open that Pokémon tavern, maybe I don't need to demolish the cabin after all.
The idea sparked something new in him. Why tear it down when a few minor renovations could transform it into the cozy Pokémon tavern he had imagined? Clear out the old furniture, install a simple wooden bar, and place a few tables tailored for Pokémon guests—just like that, the tavern could open for business.
But then, the ever-practical part of him raised a question:
'Will there actually be Pokémon coming to "drink" at this tavern?'
Even with Mew and Baby Bear spreading the word, the Paldea region was isolated, surrounded by vast seas. Sure, flying Pokémon and water-types could cross the ocean, but what about the ones that couldn't? What would they do?
"Guess we'll find out soon enough," Naoki said to himself with a small, hopeful smile.
After some thought, Naoki made a resolution. If Pokémon visitors arrived at the tavern within the next few weeks, he would fully commit and officially open for business. But if not, well, he would convert the cabin into a storage barn for grain.