"It all makes sense now…" Professor Oak murmured, his face filled with disbelief.

  The retionship between Giratina and the gods of time and space, as well as the e between the Distortion World and the real world, were topics worthy of ih study. This newfound information made it clear that humanity had barely scratched the surface of the mysteries of the Pokémon world.

  "There's still so much out there waiting to be discovered," Professor Oak said, his voice tinged with wonder.

  Naoki smiled faintly and asked, "Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

  thia gnced sideways, her mind drifting to the murals iic Town. The a artwork depicted a Pokémon that seemed to be above Dialga and Palkia. Could Naoki possibly know something about this enigmatic figure?

  With curiosity guiding her, thia decided to ask.

  "Mr. Naoki," she began, "is there another Pokémon, o yet discovered by humans, that exists beyond Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina?"

  Naoki blinked in mild surprise at the question. Had thia already started pieg together the clues about Arceus? He studied the Sinnoh Champion for a moment, then decided there was no harm in sharing what he knew.

  "If I'm not mistaken," Naoki said carefully, "you're referring to a Pokémon called Arceus."

  "Arceus?" thia and Professor Oak both repeated in unison, their attention instantly captivated by the name.

  Naoki nodded. "Yes. In legends, Arceus is described as the Creator Pokémon. It has been called many hroughout history—the God of Creation, the Great Deity of Sinnoh…"

  He paused before tinuing, "Acc to what I've learned, when the world was first created, there was nothing. Arceus emerged and brought the first sembnce of order by creating Dialga to trol time and Palkia to govern space. From that moment, time began to flow, and space stabilized."

  He gestured thoughtfully. "At the same time, Arceus created the Distortion World, which Giratina governs. It serves as a terpart and support to the material world we live in."

  "Ohe material world was established, Arceus created the Lake Guardians—Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie—to give form to the spiritual world. Together, they represent knowledge, emotion, and willpower, bining spirit with matter to plete the bance of existence."

  As Naoki spoke, thia's golden eyes sparkled with awe. These myths and legends, so deeply entwined with the ins of the world, were unlike anything she had entered before.

  Naoki noticed her fasation and added, "The Sinnion isn't the only pce with tales of Arceus. Many regions around the world have their own legends and relics tied to the Creator Pokémon."

  thia's curiosity deepened. "Where might I find such pces?" she asked, her voice urgent but posed.

  Naoki could see her determination and pointed out a few notable locations. "The first is the Ruins of Alph and the Sinjoh Ruins in the Johtion. It's said that the innermost part of these ruins holds secrets tied to the truth of creation, but only those who are chosen may find the path."

  "The truth of creation…" thia murmured, her heart rag with excitement. "Have you been there yourself?"

  Naoki nodded. "Yes, during my travels before settling here at the ranch, I visited the Ruins of Alph. The experience was unfettable."

  This artially true—it aligned with his adventures in the games. He wasn't deceiving thia, merely framing his knowledge in an uandable way.

  thia itted the location to memory, already pnning an iigation.

  "The sed pce," Naoki tinued, "is the aown of Mia in the Sinnion. Its ruins date back thousands of years and hold signifit ties to Arceus."

  Naoki hesitated briefly before eborating. "Acc to legend, Arceus was orayed and sealed underground by humans using a mercury trap. Gravely injured, it fell into a deep sleep in a void, harb immense anger and waiting to awaken. When it does, it is said to seek retribution against humanity."

  "Mia…" thia whispered, her expression serious as she etched the o her thoughts.

  "The third location," Naoki said, "is Kalion. There, I saw a tower, depicted as a structure built to honor Arceus."

  "I've got it all noted," thia said, her tone brimming with determination. She looked as though she wao rush off immediately to iigate the three paoki had mentioned.

  True to her decisive nature, thia didn't li the ranch. After gathering the information she needed, she stood and expressed her gratitude.

  "Thank you so much, Mr. Naoki. I won't take up any more of your time. My stop will be Mia in the Sinnion," she said.

  But as she thought further, she adjusted her pn. No, I should transit through the Johtion first, iigate the Ruins of Alph, and then head north back to Sinnoh, she decided internally.

  Naoki: "…"

  So this was thia's personality—dired effit!

  He didn't try to persuade her to stay but offered her a simple farewell. "I wish you the best of luck."

  thia smiled faintly, the ers of her lips curving up gracefully.

  Before leaving, she added Naoki to her tacts on her Rotom Phone. "I'll reach out to you after I've iigated those myths, legends, and ruins," she said.

  Naoki nodded. "Sounds good."

  And with that, thia departed.

  As he watched her leave, Naoki couldn't help but reflect. Despite being a Champion with a regal demeanor often likeo an "iceberg beauty," thia roachable and down-to-earth when discussing myths and legends. The trast between her reputation and her actual personality caught him off guard, even though he had anticipated she would be respectful and kind.

  After all, people with noble and virtuous appearances often carried cold, distant personalities. Yet thia was gentle, warm, and devoid ance.

  "I have to admit," Naoki thought with a smile, "thia is truly a captivating person."

  "What's on your mind?" Professor Oak's voiterrupted his thoughts.

  Naoki blinked, snapping back to reality. "I was just thinking how different thia is from what I expected."

  Professor Oak chuckled. "Oh?"

  Naoki eborated, "Doctor, don't you think it's unusual? Logically, someone like thia—unfathomably strong and exuding suoble grace—would seem cold or difficult to approach."

  Uanding dawned on Professor Oak, and he ughed heartily. "I see what yetting at. But isn't it the same with you?"

  Naoki raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

  Professor Oak gestured toward him. "You're just as extraordinary, Naoki. You've raised Pokémon of incredible strength, yet you're here running a humble ranstead of showing off your skills as a Champion. On top of that, you wele passing Trainers and students, letting them train with your Pokémon. You're hardly arrogant yourself."

  Naoki: "…"

  When phrased that way, it did seem true! Naoki smiled sheepishly.

  Just then, Professor Oak's Rotom Ph. Pulling it from his pocket, he g the s before pressing the answer button.

  The moment, a familiar face appeared on the video call.

  "It's Ash!" Professor Oak excimed. "And it looks like you've made it to Rustboro City!"

  "That's right!" Ash grinned widely, holding up a badge case. Opening it, he revealed a gleaming badge. "Pikachu and I just pleted the Rustbym Challenge and woone Badge!"

  "That's great!" Professor Oak nodded with a smile. "There are still many badges left to collect before you have all eight, so keep up the hard work! When you participate in the Ever Grande ference, I'll e to cheer you on!"

  Ash, filled with enthusiasm at the mention of the Ever Grande ference, ched his fist and said, "Yes! Pikachu and I will give it our all!"

  "Pika~!" Pikachu chimed in agreement.

  At that moment, Brock, who had been the background on Professor Oak's Rotom Phone, noticed something unusual. The area around Professor Oak didn't resemble his b in Pallet Town. Instead, it looked like a farm, with vast fields of crops and several unfamiliar Pokémon roaming nearby.

  Brock squinted, his curiosity piqued. "Professor Oak, are you on a busirip?"

  Professor Oak chuckled. "No, I'm visiting a friend here in the Paldea region."

  He adjusted the Rotom Phone's camera, pointing it at Naoki, and introduced him to Ash and the group. "This is Mr. Naoki, a very skilled Trainer from the Paldea region!"

  Naoki smiled as he saw Ash, Brock, and their panions, May and Max, on the s. Waving, he greeted them warmly. "Hello there!"

  It was Naoki's first time meeting Ash, and he couldn't help but feel curious about the eic protagonist he had heard so much about.

  Ash, alolite and cheerful, waved back. "Hello, Mr. Naoki! I'm Ash from Pallet Town!"

  Professor Oak ughed. "Ash, if you ever get the ce, you should visit the Paldea region. There are many Pokémohat you won't find in Kanto!"

  Ash's eyes lit up at the mention of disc new Pokémon. "Really? That sounds amazing! I'll definitely visit when I get the ce!"

  Professor Oak nodded, smiling at Ash's excitement. "Good! For now, I'll be heading back to the b soon. And as always, if you caty new Pokémon during your journey, feel free to send them to me. I'll take care of them for you."

  Ash grinned. "Thanks, Professor! I'll keep that in mind."

  With that, the call ended. Professor Oak lowered his Rotom Phone a out a nostalgic sigh. "That boy is Ash. His father left home when he was young, so he grew up with just his mother."

  He smiled fondly as he tinued. "Ash has always been a bit reckless. When he was five, he missed a summer camp because he overslept. And wheuren, he arrived te to pick his first Pokémon. By the time he got there, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle had already been chosen by other Trainers. All that was left for him ikachu."

  Naoki listened with i as Professor Oak reted Ash's early days.

  "Ah, that boy has been traveling for quite a while now."

  Naoki listened quietly from the side.

  As he observed Professor Oak's thoughtful expression, a realization suddenly struck him.

  Professor Oak knew Ash. More precisely, he knew Ash even before Ash was born.

  When Professor Oak was a young maraveled through time with the help of Celebi. During that journey, he was transported to the future, where he met Ash. Together, they embarked on a thrilling adventure and worked to defeat a Pokémon Hunter.

  Through that extraordinary experiehe two became close friends despite being separated by time and space.

  Could this be the reason why Professor Oak took such great care of Ash ter in life? Naoki pohis newfound insight.

  In his past life, many online jokes specuted about Professor Oak's kioward Ash, attributing it to his retionship with Ash's mother, Delia. But now, Naoki saw that wasn't the case at all.

  Looking at the kind ale Professor Oak standing before him, Naoki felt he finally uood. Oak's care for Ash came from their shared bond during that fateful journey.

  Perhaps even Ash's unique Pikachu was something that Professor Oak had specially prepared for him, knowing what y ahead. After all, Professor Oak had already seen glimpses of the future.

  These thoughts led Naoki to ask, "By the rofessor Oak, why did you choose to build your research b in Pallet Town?"

  After all, Pallet Town was a small, quiet vilge in the Kantion. Whenever Ash introduced himself during his travels, people often remarked on its remoteness, calling it a "tiny pce" or even saying they'd never heard of it.

  Professor Oak wasn't just any researcher—he was a renowned Pokémon Professor and a top graduate of Uy. He could have chosen a more promi location for his work.

  Hearing Naoki's question, Professor Oak paused for a moment, a nostalgic expression spreading across his face. He then answered softly:

  "That's because someone very important to me lives there. When I was a child, I made a promise to him that we'd meet again."

  Naoki watched as Professor Oak's mind seemed to drift to the past. His thoughts returo a summer long ago, when he entered a boy named Ash in a forest where the legendary Forest Guardian Celebi was said to dwell.

  Naoki smiled inwardly. His suspis had been correct.

  "That friend must have meant a lot to you," Naoki said.

  Professor Oak nodded with a warm smile. "He and I shared a e—our temperaments were surprisingly simir."

  "That's amazing!" Naoki excimed.

  But a hought crossed Naoki's mind. Had Professor Oak moved to Pallet Town to keep his promise to Ash? Or had Ash met Professor Oak because Oak had already settled there?

  'If we think about it,' Naoki thought, 'this might be a time loop.'

  There was no beginning or end, no one who came first or ter. The two events were iwined, cause and effect of one another.

  Because Professor Oak met Ash as a child, he chose to establish a researstitute in Pallet Town.

  And because Professor Oak established his researstitute in Pallet Town, Ash eventually met the young Professor Oak.

  .....

  March 1, Year 200 of the Alliance dar, Spring

  After spending six days at the ranch, Professor Oak departed from the Paldea region, his luggage brimming with research data.

  Naoki apanied him to the airport, riding atop Koraidon to see him off. Only after watg the professor board his pne did Naoki and Koraidon turn to make the journey bae.

  By the time Naoki returo the ranch, the sun had dipped low in the sky, painting the horizon in hues of gold. The evening had arrived, and the Pokémon who had spent the day pying across the ranow showed signs of fatigue.

  Yet, without Naoki home, they hesitated to retreat indoors. Instead, they formed a line uhe eaves of the ranch, their curious eyes fixed oe, eagerly awaiting Naoki's return.

  As the miretched on, some Pokémon began to nod off, their heads bobbing drowsily.

  When Naoki finally appeared, gliding across the grass on Koraidon's back, the sight before him made his heart melt.

  Uhe soft glow of the setting sun, a small Eevee, half-asleep, was the first to notice him. Its drowsy expression lit up in an instant.

  "Bu-yi!" it called, its voice a joyful melody that broke the quiet.

  The call stirred the other Pokémon, who turheir heads toward the approag pair. Spotting Naoki, they immediately perked up, their weariness fotten. With excited cries, the Pokémon dashed toward him, their faces beaming with happiness.

  Naoki dismounted and was quickly surrounded by his panions, their eyes sparkling with joy and relief at his return. Seeing them so eager to wele him home, warmth spread through Naoki's heart like a f fire.

  Smilily, he crouched down and began to pat their heads one by one, his voice soft and full of affe.

  "Alright, everyone," he said, his tone soothing. "If you're tired, it's time to head inside a."

  His Pokémon, reassured by his presence, began to calm down. Some nuzzled his hand, while others yawned and stretched before heading toward the cozy warmth of the ranch house.

  As Naoki watched his Pokémon slowly make their way home, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of gratitude. This was more than just a ranch—it was a family.