"Magikarp for sale! Big, strong Magikarp, every one of them is the king of fish! Raise one and it'll evolve into Gyarados in no time, perfect for passing your Gym Challenge! Just 998 Poké Dollars each, come take a look!"
"Freshly grilled takoyaki! Hot and delicious!"
"Souvenirs of the Harvest King! Calyrex carvings, crafted from sacred wood! Exclusive to Kosaji Town, once you leave, you won't find these again!"
Voices from the various stalls echoed across the glowing night market as the Harvest Festival buzzed to life. Trainers, tourists, and Pokémon weaved their way through the festive crowd, wide-eyed and eager to explore.
Naoki and Iono stood among the local vendors. While Naoki organized the display behind the stand with the help of Koraidon, Iono and Cyclizar were up front, smiling warmly as they handed out candied haws to customers.
Magnemite and Pawmot, sitting on a nearby bench, emitted soft pulses of electricity that powered the multicolored string lights decorating the top of their stall.
A familiar face approached.
"Miss Iono? Mr. Naoki?" A young trainer blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"This is our hometown!" Iono said cheerfully, her hand resting gently on her rounded belly.
The girl's eyes widened in disbelief. "Miss Iono… Are you pregnant?!"
With a gentle smile, Iono nodded and brushed her fingers over her belly. "Six months along."
The girl stood speechless for a second, then:
"I want three candied haws!" A boy ran up, dropped coins on the stall, and beamed as Ogerpon passed him the shiny red skewers.
The girl turned back to the stall and grinned. "I'll take two!"
Business was booming. Within just an hour of the festival starting, the candied haws they had prepared were almost completely sold out.
Fortunately, most visitors soon made their way up the torch-lit path to the Shrine of Plenty for the evening ritual, and the crowd in the night market gradually thinned out.
Naoki opened his bag, pulled out two bottles of water, and handed one to Ogerpon and the other to Iono. "How are you feeling?"
"Pon~!" Ogerpon wagged her ears happily.
"This is a first for me," Iono said, still smiling. "I've never done something like this before. It's so much fun!"
Naoki grinned. "That's what makes it special. It's not just about selling candied haws—it's about being part of something, soaking up the joy and energy. You don't get this from a regular town stall."
"Next time," Iono added, resting her hand on her stomach again, "we'll bring our baby to help us run the stand too."
Ten months felt both close and far away. Naoki had calculated it before, their child would arrive after this winter.
The Pokémon nearby overheard and turned their curious gazes toward Iono's belly.
Ogerpon cautiously approached. "Pon?"
"Do you want to feel?" Iono offered gently.
Ogerpon's eyes sparkled in awe. "Pon?!"
It slowly reached out a paw, gently resting it on her belly, and immediately felt a faint kick.
"Pon!" Startled, it jerked its paw back.
"That's the baby," Iono said, chuckling softly.
Ogerpon, eyes wide with wonder, began to circle her, fascinated and excited. Pawmot floated closer as well, eager to meet its future little human friend.
"I'm sure the baby will love all of you," Iono said warmly.
Naoki and Koraidon sat nearby, watching with contented smiles.
Naoki could already picture it: one day, the baby toddling around the ranch, laughing with the Pokémon, learning their names, feeding them berries…
His heart was full.
Then, his Rotom phone buzzed in his pocket.
Naoki pulled out his phone. It was a message from Sonia.
[Sonia: Mr. Naoki, I've found the hiding place of the mysterious hero!]
Naoki blinked, then immediately realized, Sonia had found Melmetal.
Seeing the shift in his expression, Iono glanced over. "What is it?"
"The investigation I asked Sonia to look into... she's found something," Naoki replied, already typing his response.
[Naoki: Where is it?]
[Sonia: Map link]
Sonia had sent a direct location pin. When Naoki tapped it, the map zoomed in on the Galar region, Sonia was deep in the mountains west of Stow-on-Side.
[Sonia: I went into the site earlier to investigate. Long story short, the situation doesn't look good. Do you have time tomorrow? You should really come see it yourself.]
The situation doesn't look good?
That set off alarm bells. Naoki couldn't imagine what it meant exactly, but the only way to find out was to see it for himself.
As the night wore on, the Harvest Festival slowly drew to a close. Tourists yawned and began drifting home. The stalls were packed up one by one, and the warm orange lights began to dim.
Once Naoki and his Pokémon crew had packed up their supplies, they made their way back to the ranch.
Upon returning, Naoki went straight to the Calyrex, and quietly relayed everything Sonia had shared.
The moment Calyrex heard the words Melmetal and not good, his regal composure faltered ever so slightly.
Without a word, Calyrex closed his eyes, and a pale blue psychic aura surrounded his body. His mind reached across time and space to locate his ancient companion.
There, hidden deep within a mountain cave, was Melmetal.
Its once gleaming, silvery steel body was now corroded and dulled. Orange rust streaked its limbs like dried blood. It sat slumped in silence, lifeless, unmoving, at the end of the cave, alone.
Calyrex's eyes shot open.
"This is bad," he said quickly. "Its life is nearly over. It's waiting to die."
Calyrex did not hesitate. "I'm going with you."
Naoki met his gaze. Sonia's warning, Calyrex's urgency, he understood. Without hesitation, he nodded. "Let's go."
—
The next morning, Naoki contacted Geeta to take the day off. He left the ranch in the care of the Indeedee siblings and Iono, then departed alongside Calyrex.
With a little help from Giratina, they crossed regions quickly and arrived in the Galar Region by 9 a.m.
Stow-on-Side was famous for its sandstone cliffs and ancient mural art. The entire town was nestled into the side of a winding mountain trail. Travelers coming up the path could see the enormous mural that spanned the rock face, a relic from a forgotten era.
To avoid attracting too much attention, Naoki discreetly returned Calyrex to a Poké Ball before heading to meet Sonia at a local inn.
When Naoki arrived, Sonia immediately packed up her things and stepped out of the inn. "Come with me," she said briskly.
Out in the town square, she released her Corviknight. Its massive, segmented body glinted under the morning sun as it coiled, waiting. Sonia mounted its back. Naoki climbed onto Koraidon, and the two Pokémon soared into the sky one after the other, heading west toward the mountains.
After about half an hour of flight, Corviknight descended into a remote, uninhabited valley.
"This is the place," Sonia called as she jumped down and pointed toward a shadowy cave in the cliffs ahead.
Naoki dismounted Koraidon, and Calyrex floated gently from its Poké Ball, hovering beside him. One trainer and two Pokémon silently followed Sonia into the valley, carefully surveying the rocky terrain around them.
Sonia spoke as they walked, voice steady but tinged with curiosity. "According to my research in the Crown Tundra, a thousand years ago, there was a Pokémon that donated metal for the Sword and Shield used by the Hero Kings of Galar. Afterward, it disappeared from history and, after many turns of fate, came here to live in solitude. But here's the strange part…"
She suddenly stopped and turned, her eyes landing on Calyrex. Her breath caught. "Calyrex....you're really the Cyclizar Mask!"
Naoki sighed. "Please keep that nickname to yourself, Miss Sonia," he said, rubbing the back of his head. "I'd like to keep our quiet life undisturbed."
Sonia's mind reeled. Though she had only suspected it before, confirmation was another matter entirely.
The mysterious figure who had once battled the gods of land and sea, who had stood against Arceus itself while wielding the might of legendary Pokémon, was not some high-ranking League official or royal heir. He was a rancher.
A man who raised Pokémon in peace, tended his fields, and lived humbly with his family.
It defied belief.
Yet, standing here now, face to face with the former King of Galar and the quiet man from Kosaji Town, Sonia could no longer deny it.
"I understand," she said at last, nodding respectfully. "You have my word."
"Thank you," Naoki replied sincerely. "Please, continue."
Sonia turned back toward the cave, gathering her thoughts. "As I was saying… this Pokémon is nothing like what the historical records described. Its entire body is rusted, its aura is faint. I tried to bring it to a Pokémon Center yesterday to see Nurse Joy, but it refused to go."
Naoki's expression darkened slightly. "Miss Sonia, do you know what some Pokémon do when they're nearing the end of their lives?"
She paused, startled. But as a scholar, she knew exactly what he meant.
...
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