In the 199th year of the Alliance Calendar, mid-July brought the cool breeze from Casseroya Lake sweeping into Kosaji Town, heralding the arrival of autumn.
The leaves in the hills began to turn yellow, and the branches sagged with heavy, ripe fruit. The farmlands surrounding Kosaji Town stretched out in a golden sea of wheat, rolling endlessly to the horizon.
In this picturesque season, the farmers' faces shone with the joy of a bountiful harvest.
That afternoon, Naoki found himself with little to do on the ranch, so he grabbed a basket and headed toward the hills.
This was the season when the mountain's bounty was at its peak.
At this time last year, the forested hills had been teeming with hazel mushrooms and wild berries. Naoki had collected a large haul and cooked a delightful dish of chicken stewed with mushrooms for his Pokémon.
Unfortunately, a devastating fire had swept through later, reducing the forest to ashes. The once-vibrant landscape was left barren, its treasures consumed by flames.
But with the help of Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, the forest had been revived.
Now, more than half a year later, Naoki wondered if the mushrooms and berries had made a comeback.
Thinking of this, Naoki ventured deeper into the hills.
It had been a long time since his last visit, but he immediately noticed how the vegetation had grown far denser and lusher than before. The trees stood taller, the flowers bloomed brighter, and the air buzzed with renewed life.
The forest fire had, ironically, given the land a fresh start. The ashes of burnt plants had enriched the soil, turning it into a nutrient-rich bed for new growth, rekindling the cycle of life.
As he walked, Naoki couldn't help but sigh, his thoughts turning to the wild Pokémon that hadn't survived the blaze.
The soft calls of wild Pokémon echoed occasionally from the dense jungle, but fewer Pokémon appeared along his path. The delicate balance of the local ecosystem was still in the process of healing.
Soon, Naoki arrived at the grove he and his Pokémon had planted together that spring.
Here, he was delighted to see some familiar faces.
A Minccino, Tinkaton, and a family of Tandemaus greeted his arrival.
The Minccino was busily plucking berries from the fruit trees, its fluffy tail deftly balancing its spoils as it hopped nimbly from branch to branch. When its nest came into view, the Minccino carefully tucked its harvest into a hollow tree trunk. With its hoard safely stashed, it smiled, clearly satisfied with its work.
Meanwhile, Tinkaton sat beneath a broad tree, using its Steel-type energy to polish its hammer until it gleamed like silver.
Nearby, a family of Tandemaus stood before a large fallen leaf. The parents carefully draped the leaf over their two little ones like a blanket, tucking them in gently for an afternoon nap.
Naoki couldn't help but smile at the heartwarming scene.
Just then, the Minccino, having finished its task and ready for a break, spotted him. Its sharp eyes lit up, and it let out an excited squeak.
The Minccino scrambled down the tree trunk, its fluffy tail swinging as it bounded across the grass toward Naoki.
"Squeak!"
"Long time no see, Minccino!" Naoki greeted it with a warm smile.
"Squeak! Squeak!"
The commotion caught the attention of the other Pokémon, who quickly gathered around, curious and eager.
Naoki's gaze swept over them one by one, taking in their cheerful faces.
The Tandemaus family of four still looked the same, with the two smaller mice holding their parents' hands and staying close by their side.
The Wattrel had grown noticeably stronger and larger. Compared to last year, it had made great strides in development. It looked as though it wouldn't be long before it evolved into a Kilowattrel.
What surprised Naoki the most, however, was the evolution of the Tinkaton.
"Tinkaton, have you evolved?" Naoki asked, astonished.
"Wooo!" The Pokémon, now a Tinkaton, nodded happily, waving its hammer with confidence.
It had become the guardian of the forest.
The Pokémon rescued by Naoki during the fire last year had formed a close bond during their time at the ranch. Even after returning to the wild, they remained together in this forest, living like the closest of friends.
"That's amazing!" Naoki praised. "You've become so dependable."
He spent some time chatting with the group of Pokémon, catching up on their lives, before mentioning his plans to search for mushrooms and berries in the mountains.
Hearing his intention, the Pokémon immediately sprang into action, eagerly patting their chests and signaling their willingness to help.
With the help of the Minccino, who was particularly familiar with the forest, Naoki quickly gathered an impressive haul of fresh mountain mushrooms and wild berries.
By the end, his basket was overflowing to the brim, unable to hold even a single additional item.
"Alright, that's enough for today," Naoki said with a grateful smile. "You've worked hard. Now go back and get some rest!"
But the Pokémon showed no signs of weariness. They continued to dart around him energetically, bringing him more berries and mushrooms as a way of showing their gratitude for his help in the past.
Naoki felt a warm glow in his heart.
Just as they were finishing up, several young trainers visiting the forest to see the Calyrex Shrine happened upon the scene.
The trainers were astonished.
"Look at that! Pokémon are helping him pick mushrooms!" one of the boys exclaimed.
Hearing the voices, Naoki turned around and saw three trainers standing nearby—two boys and a girl. They looked to be no older than twelve years old.
The girl in the group asked curiously, "Are those Pokémon specially trained to pick mushrooms?"
"No," Naoki replied with a gentle smile. "They're wild Pokémon that live in this forest. I helped them out before, and now they are helping me as a way of saying thank you."
"Wow!" the three trainers chorused, their faces lighting up with amazement.
One of the sturdier boys, wide-eyed with disbelief, blurted out, "Wild Pokémon can really get this close to humans?"
Naoki chuckled warmly. "As long as you treat Pokémon with care and respect, whether they're wild or not, they'll always sense your kindness."
The three young trainers were momentarily startled, thoughtful expressions crossing their faces.
Naoki smiled gently, preparing to take the mountain produce back to the ranch.
Just as he turned to leave, one of the boys suddenly called out to him. "Hey, sir! Please wait a moment!"
Naoki turned back. "What's wrong?"
"Um… Are you the forest ranger who lives around here?" the boy asked hesitantly.
"No," Naoki replied with a small chuckle. "I'm a rancher."
"A rancher…" The boy's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Have you ever seen Calyrex? Was this forest really revived by Him? Did He actually appear here?"
Naoki blinked, surprised by the question, then asked, "Do you admire Calyrex?"
The boy nodded enthusiastically, his tone earnest. "Absolutely! Calyrex is amazing! His power is incredible, and He's done so much to help Pokémon!"
"I see." Naoki smiled warmly. "Well, yes, Calyrex did appear in this forest during that time. Many people witnessed the miracle as He restored the forest to life."
"Wow!" The three young trainers gasped in unison, their faces lighting up with excitement. The legend was true!
"If you'd like to see Him, you should visit Kosaji Town on the last day of autumn," Naoki suggested. "There's a Harvest Festival held then, and people gather at the Shrine of Bountiful Harvests to give thanks. Perhaps Calyrex might appear during the celebration."
The trainers' eyes sparkled with hope and excitement.
Naoki, meanwhile, thought to himself. He planned to invite Calyrex to the festival. If Calyrex chose to appear, the townsfolk and visitors would likely interpret it as a divine response to their gratitude. Such an event would only deepen their reverence for the King of Bountiful Harvests.
Moreover, the idea of "Calyrex sensing the emotions of the people and appearing before His followers" would make for a heartfelt tale—a story of unity between humans and Pokémon. Over time, this story could evolve into a cherished local legend, passed down through generations.