As autumn passed, the temperature dropped sharply.
The Pokémon in the forests began gathering fruit to prepare for winter, while those that disliked the cold embarked on their annual migration, flying south to warmer regions.
Cold winds blew across the land, and withered yellow leaves swirled as they fell from the branches.
Naoki had finished harvesting his fields and decided to plant just two types of radishes—the favorite food of Spectrier and Glastrier. He and his Pokémon worked together to store the harvested vegetables in the warehouse or pickle them to enjoy during meals.
Interestingly, the onion patch guarded by Farfetch'd wasn't immune to the changing seasons. The once-thick and vibrant leeks had aged and begun to wilt from being left unharvested.
Fortunately, Farfetch'd knew just what to do. With a quick flourish of its cherished leek, it harvested the onions one by one, bundling them neatly and presenting them to Naoki for sale.
After months of dedicated fitness training, Farfetch'd had developed a robust physique, its sturdy muscles visible beneath its fine feathers. The leek it once wielded awkwardly now felt like a natural extension of itself.
"Looks like your leek-wielding skills have improved again!" Naoki commented, watching as Farfetch'd expertly swung its leek, sending fallen leaves flying into the air.
Hearing the praise, Farfetch'd paused mid-swing, holding its leek like a spear, and turned to Naoki with a resolute expression. "Quack!" it declared confidently.
Naoki smiled. "What's your plan for the future?" he asked curiously.
"Farfetch'd ..."
Farfetch'd tilted its head in thought, then shook it. It had no plans to leave; it wanted to stay on the ranch and continue training.
"Well, let's keep working together," Naoki said warmly, patting Farfetch'd on the head. He then took out a red wool scarf he had purchased in town and gently wrapped it around the Pokémon's neck.
"Here's a gift for you. This winter is going to be especially cold," Naoki explained.
He had seen the news a few days prior—an intense cold front was sweeping across the western seas of Paldea, and it was expected to hit the region soon.
Farfetch'd looked down at the scarf in delight. "Quack!" it chirped happily.
After spending a bit more time with Farfetch'd, Naoki returned to his house.
November had arrived, and the cold was becoming more biting with each passing day. It felt like snow could fall at any moment.
Last winter, Naoki had traveled to the Galar region in search of Calyrex. This year, however, he had no major plans, so he decided to spend the season at home, enjoying the quiet months with his Pokémon.
Even the Paldea Pokémon League offered a seasonal holiday. Gym Leaders like Iono and Grusha could use the break to travel or return home to spend time with their families.
As the temperature continued to drop, Naoki reopened the ventilation ducts connected to the home's Slugma. The Slugma moved through the pipes, radiating warmth throughout the house and keeping every corner cozy.
Outside, the Eevees, with their thick fur coats, showed no signs of discomfort despite the cold. They frolicked in the yard, their cheerful antics lighting up the wintery atmosphere.
In the living room, besides Calyrex watching TV with his elegant tea set, including Sinistea and Polteageist, the only other one trying to escape the cold was Cyclizar, curled up comfortably near the warm fireplace.
Naoki opened the refrigerator and began preparing lunch for the Pokémon. He had some important tasks planned for the afternoon. Professor Sada had called him the day before, mentioning her intention to visit the ranch to observe Flutter Mane's adaptation to modern life.
After finishing lunch, Naoki settled on the sofa with a warm cup of tea. Just as he was enjoying his break, Professor Sada arrived at the ranch with Arven in tow.
It had been a while since Naoki had last seen Arven, and the young man seemed unchanged—still reserved and quiet.
Naoki greeted him warmly. "Long time no see, Arven!"
Arven gave a polite nod in return. "Long time no see, Mr. Naoki."
Indeedee, acting as the ever-dutiful host, brought over two steaming cups of tea for Professor Sada and Arven.
After taking a few sips, Professor Sada eagerly expressed her desire to see Flutter Mane.
"Flutter Mane should be at Snorlax Park now," Naoki informed her as he stood up. "Let me take you there."
The group made their way across the ranch. On the way, Arven glanced around, noticing the absence of the Gogoat herd and Arboliva.
"Mr. Naoki, where are the Gogoats?" he asked curiously.
"They've gone to a warmer place for the winter," Naoki replied. To be specific, they were at the World Tree in the Distortion World.
The World Tree had grown tall and vast, providing ample shelter for the Gogoat and Arboliva. Its stable climate and the natural energy it emitted were especially beneficial for Grass-type Pokémon. So, when the temperature dropped, Naoki allowed them to retreat to the World Tree's floating island until spring.
Conveniently, the entrance to the Distortion World was located in the ranch's lake, making it easy for the Pokémon to travel back and forth.
Satisfied with the explanation, Arven nodded and continued walking without further questions.
Crossing the river, the group arrived at Snorlax Park, where Professor Sada finally laid eyes on Flutter Mane again.
The park was bustling with activity. A group of Eevees was gleefully bouncing on Snorlax's belly as though it were a trampoline, while Flutter Mane was curiously sliding down a slide, gripping the edges with its ghostly claws.
Professor Sada's eyes lit up. The sight of the ancient and once-mysterious Flutter Mane enjoying such a mundane activity was astonishing.
Naoki explained how Flutter Mane had adapted to life on the ranch. "At first, Flutter Mane retained its primitive instincts, sneaking out at night to hunt. It preferred raw meat, tearing it apart with its sharp teeth."
Professor Sada nodded knowingly. "That aligns with the habits of Pokémon from its era. The ancient Pokémon were shaped by a world of survival and primal energy."
Naoki continued, "I had Koraidon introduce modern life to Flutter Mane, teaching it what's acceptable and what isn't. To help it adjust its nocturnal habits, I gave it a special blend of coffee to boost its energy during the day. Over time, it grew accustomed to ranch life."
"Has Flutter Mane made any friends?" Sada asked.
Naoki thought for a moment. "Flutter Mane mostly keeps to itself and doesn't seek attention like the others. But it does enjoy being petted, especially when I comb its hair. It's on good terms with most Pokémon here, but it's closest to Koraidon."
"I see," Sada said thoughtfully, raising her camera to capture the rare sight of Flutter Mane sliding down.
After observing for a while, the group returned to the living room.
Arven seemed intrigued by the ranch's Pokémon, so Naoki asked Indeedee to give him a tour. Meanwhile, Naoki stayed behind to chat further with Professor Sada.
Dr. Sada took a sip of the warm tea and remarked, "This winter feels exceptionally cold."
Naoki smiled. "Are you and Dr. Turo planning to come back to the surface to celebrate the New Year this year?"
"It's uncertain," Dr. Sada replied, her mind drifting back to the research at the lab. "It depends on how busy things are at the institute. But if we can't make it, we'll make sure Arven comes to visit us there."
Naoki nodded. "I'm sure he'd love that. Having his family around will definitely make him happy."
"Yes," Dr. Sada agreed with a gentle smile. "Arven is the pride of both Turo and me. Next year, he'll be heading to Uva Academy. I hope he'll make plenty of new friends there."
She paused briefly, her expression softening. "That way, Arven won't feel so lonely."
Naoki couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
'Time passes so quickly,' he thought.
When he first met Arven, he was just a reserved child, and now, in the blink of an eye, he was about to embark on a new chapter in his life at Uva Academy.
Still, Naoki couldn't help but wonder if Dr. Sada's hopes would come true. From what he recalled of the events in the games, Arven had struggled with loneliness at the academy. It wasn't until much later, after the tragic injury of his loyal Mabosstiff, that Arven began forging bonds. In his determination to heal his partner, Arven crossed paths with the game's protagonist, Nemona, and Penny. Together, their adventure in exploring Area Zero forged a lasting friendship.
As the conversation turned reflective, Naoki's thoughts wandered to the time machine in Area Zero.
From what he understood, creating a time machine with the Pokémon world's current technology should be impossible. Time manipulation was a power tied exclusively to legendary Pokémon like Dialga and Palkia.
"Doctor," Naoki asked curiously, "can the time machine in Area Zero truly achieve time travel?"
Dr. Sada nodded slightly. "Yes, it is thanks to its capabilities that we've been able to summon Pokémon from both ancient and futuristic eras to this timeline."
"Doesn't that mean humans could use the time machine to explore distant periods in the past or future?" Naoki asked, leaning forward in interest.
"Well…" Dr. Sada paused, choosing her words carefully. "The truth is, we can't pinpoint exact moments in time. The technology allows us to access Pokémon from broad eras, but not precise dates or events."
"And as for traveling back to those times ourselves…" Dr. Sada hesitated briefly, her gaze thoughtful. "It has always been Turo's and my dream to witness those eras firsthand. However, we don't intend to attempt it."
"Why not?" Naoki asked.
Dr. Sada looked at Naoki and asked, "Have you ever heard of a time paradox? It occurs when time travel or manipulation creates contradictory logical outcomes."
She leaned forward slightly, her tone becoming more serious. "Time is a linear progression. Every action you take has a cause and effect. If you change something in the past, it will alter history, and everything in the future will shift accordingly. You'd never return to the timeline you're familiar with."
Naoki furrowed his brows, his head spinning from her explanation.
Dr. Sada continued, "Many scientists have hypothesized ways to resolve time paradoxes. For instance, the well-known 'parallel universe' theory posits that there are numerous alternate versions of our world."
"When someone travels to the past, they might inadvertently step into a parallel universe—a version of reality altered by their actions. This secondary universe could potentially collapse and vanish at a specific point in time—perhaps even the moment the traveler initiated their journey."
Naoki stared at her, bewildered. "I don't follow at all…"
Noticing his confusion, Dr. Sada chuckled. "In simple terms, meddling with time is a dangerous game. Time will retaliate if you try to change what's already established. Events in the future could unravel entirely, and everything you know—people, Pokémon, even the environment—would be swept up in the butterfly effect."
"For example," she added, "imagine if someone from the future went back in time and prevented their grandparents from meeting. That person would cease to exist because their very existence depended on that relationship."
"…This is too complicated," Naoki admitted, his head aching from the mental gymnastics.
As he stared at Dr. Sada, a thought crossed his mind. Was the tragic ending of the professors in the game—the one where they died during their research—a result of tampering with time?
He had tried to alter Dr. Sada and Dr. Turo's fate before, but whether he had succeeded or not remained a mystery.
After some time, Dr. Sada rose to leave. There was much work awaiting her at the research institute, and she planned to bring Arven along to Area Zero. If time didn't permit, she mentioned that the three of them might celebrate the New Year there.
Seeing her prepare to leave, Naoki got up to see them off. "Take care," he said warmly.
Dr. Sada smiled in return, and with Arven by her side, they disappeared down the country road.
Returning to the living room, Naoki noticed Cyclizar standing near the fireplace. Its expression was one of quiet confusion, as though it was lost in thought.
Naoki raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong? What's on your mind?"
"Gaao," the Cyclizar replied.
Calyrex, who was seated nearby, casually offered a translation. "The Cyclizar is pondering Dr. Sada's explanation of the time paradox," Calyrex stated with a serene expression.
Cyclizar tilted its head and asked, "Gaao?" (Does Naoki fully understand what that means?)
Naoki thought carefully for a moment, then tried to explain as simply as he could. "Well, let me give you an example. You know I had a father and a mother, right?"
Cyclizar nodded earnestly. Every person and Pokémon has parents, after all.
Naoki continued, "If someone were to travel back in time and stop my parents from falling in love, then I'd never be born. And the version of me that exists now would disappear along with them. That's the butterfly effect, or at least what Dr. Sada called it."
Even as he explained, Naoki couldn't help but feel a pang of uncertainty. After all, this was the Pokémon world, where time itself was guarded by Dialga, the deity of time. It made him question whether the scientific theories he'd learned in his past life were entirely applicable in such a magical and extraordinary place.
Cyclizar tilted its head again, seeming to understand parts of what Naoki was saying, but still a little perplexed.
Before Naoki could continue, the video phone in the living room began to ring. He walked over to answer it, and a familiar voice came through the line.
"Is Mr. Naoki home?" the cheerful voice of Rachel, the granddaughter of the Pokémon Ranch store owner, came through.
"Yes, I'm here. What's going on, Rachel?" Naoki asked curiously.
Rachel replied, "Well, it's about a Tropius. My grandfather came across an injured one in the jungle two days ago. It should have migrated south for the winter, but it hurt its wings and couldn't fly."
Naoki listened intently as she continued. "We managed to treat its injuries, but now the weather's getting colder, and there's no way for it to make the journey south in time. Grandpa thought it would be best to find a trainer who could care for it over the winter. Do you think you'd have time to help?"
...
Bonus Chapter @1500 PS