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 nd, and withered yellow leaves swirled as they fell from the branches.

  Naoki had finished harvesting his fields and decided to pnt just two types of radishes—the favorite food of Spectrier and Gstrier. He and his Pokémon worked together to store the harvested vegetables in the warehouse or pickle them to enjoy during meals.

  Iingly, the onion patch guarded by Farfetch'd wasn't immuo the ging seasons. The ohid vibrant leeks had aged and begun to wilt from bei 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 ly and presenting them to Naoki for sale.

  After months of dedicated fitraining, Farfetch'd had developed a robust physique, its sturdy muscles visible beh its fihers. The leek it once wielded awkwardly now felt like a natural extension of itself.

  "Looks like your leek-wielding skills have improved again!" Naoki ented, watg 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 turo Naoki with a resolute expression. "Quack!" it decred fidently.

  Naoki smiled. "What's your pn for the future?" he asked curiously.

  "Farfetch'd ..."

  Farfetch'd tilted its head in thought, then shook it. It had no pns to leave; it wao stay on the rand tiraining.

  "Well, let's keep w together," Naoki said warmly, patting Farfetch'd on the head. He then took out a red wool scarf he had purchased in town aly ed it around the Pokémon's neck.

  "Here's a gift for you. This winter is going to be especially cold," Naoki expined.

  He had seen the news a ferior—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 returo his house.

  November had arrived, and the cold was being more biting with each passing day. It felt like snow could fall at any moment.

  Last winter, Naoki had traveled to the Gar region in search of Calyrex. This year, however, he had no major pns, 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 tio drop, Naoki reopehe ventition ducts ected to the home's Slugma. The Slugma moved through the pipes, radiating warmth throughout the house and keeping every er cozy.

  Outside, the Eevees, with their thick fur coats, showed no signs of disfort despite the cold. They frolicked in the yard, their cheerful antics lighting up the wintery atmosphere.

  In the living room, besides Calyrex watg TV with his elegant tea set, including Sinistea and Polteageist, the only other orying to escape the cold was Cyclizar, curled up fortably he warm firepce.

  Naoki opehe refrigerator and began preparing lunch for the Pokémon. He had some important tasks pnned for the afternoon. Professor Sada had called him the day before, mentioning her iion to visit the ranch to observe Flutter Mane's adaptation to modern life.

  After finishing lunaoki 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 sinaoki had st seen Arven, and the young man seemed unged—still reserved and quiet.

  Naoki greeted him warmly. "Long time no see, Arven!"

  Arven gave a polite nod iurn. "Long time no see, Mr. Naoki."

  Indeedee, ag 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 Snorx 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 gnced around, notig the absence of the Gogoat herd and Arboliva.

  "Mr. Naoki, where are the Gogoats?" he asked curiously.

  "They've goo a warmer pce 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 frass-type Pokémon. So, wheemperature dropped, Naoki allowed them to retreat to the World Tree's floating isnd until spring.

  vely, the entrao the Distortion World was located in the ranch's ke, making it easy for the Pokémon to travel bad forth.

  Satisfied with the expnation, Arven nodded and tinued walking without further questions.

  Crossing the river, the group arrived at Snorx Park, where Professor Sada finally id eyes on Flutter Mane again.

  The park was bustling with activity. A group of Eevees was gleefully boung on Snorx's belly as though it were a trampoline, while Flutter Mane was curiously sliding down a slide, gripping the edges with its ghostly cws.

  Professor Sada's eyes lit up. The sight of the a and once-mysterious Flutter Mane enjoying such a muivity was astonishing.

  Naoki expined how Flutter Mane had adapted to life on the ranch. "At first, Flutter Maais 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 a Pokémon were shaped by a world of survival and primal energy."

  Naoki tinued, "I had Koraidon introduce modern life to Flutter Maeag it what's acceptable and what isn't. To help it adjust its noal habits, I gave it a special blend of coffee to boost its energy during the day. Over time, it grew aced 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 beied, especially when I b 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 for a while, the group returo 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 pnning to e back to the surface to celebrate the New Year this year?"

  "It's uain," Dr. Sada replied, her mind drifting back to the research at the b. "It depends on how busy things are at the institute. But if we 't make it, we'll make sure Arven es 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. 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 neter in his life at Uva Academy.

  Still, Naoki couldn't help but wonder if Dr. Sada's hopes would e true. From what he recalled of the events in the games, Arven had struggled with loneliness at the academy. It wasn't until much ter, after the tragijury of his loyal Mabosstiff, that Arven began f bonds. In his determination to heal his partner, Arven crossed paths with the game's protagonist, Nemona, and Penny. Together, their adventure in expl Area Zered a sting friendship.

  As the versation turned reflective, Naoki's thoughts wao the time mae in Area Zero.

  From what he uood, creating a time mae with the Pokémon world's current teology should be impossible. Time manipution ower tied exclusively to legendary Pokémon like Dialga and Palkia.

  "Doctor," Naoki asked curiously, " the time mae 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 a and futuristic eras to this timeline."

  "Doesn't that mean humans could use the time mae to explore distant periods in the past or future?" Naoki asked, leaning forward in i.

  "Well…" Dr. Sada paused, choosing her words carefully. "The truth is, we 't pinpoi moments in time. The teology 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 withose eras firsthand. However, we don't io 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 maniputioes tradictory logical outes."

  She leaned forward slightly, her tone being more serious. "Time is a linear progression. Every a you take has a cause and effect. If you ge something in the past, it will alter history, and everything iure will shift accly. You'd never return to the timeline you're familiar with."

  Naoki furrowed his brows, his head spinning from her expnation.

  Dr. Sada tinued, "Many stists have hypothesized ways to resolve time paradoxes. For instahe well-known 'parallel universe' theory posits that there are numerous alternate versions of our world."

  "When someoravels to the past, they might iently step into a parallel universe—a version of reality altered by their as. This sedary universe could potentially colpse 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…"

  Notig his fusion, Dr. Sada chuckled. "In simple terms, meddling with time is a dangerous game. Time will retaliate if you try to ge what's already established. Events iure could unravel entirely, and everything you know—people, Pokémon, even the enviro—would be swept up iterfly effect."

  "For example," she added, "imagine if someone from the future went ba time and preveheir grandparents from meeting. That person would cease to exist because their very existence depended on that retionship."

  "…This is too plicated," Naoki admitted, his head ag from the mental gymnastics.

  As he stared at Dr. Sada, a thought crossed his mind. Was the tragiding 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 awaiti the researstitute, and she p Arven along to Area Zero. If time didn't permit, she mentiohat 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 iurn, and with Arven by her side, they disappeared down the try road.

  Returning to the living room, Naoki noticed Cyclizar standihe firepce. Its expression was one of quiet fusion, 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 transtion. "The Cyclizar is p Dr. Sada's expnation of the time paradox," Calyrex stated with a serene expression.

  Cyclizar tilted its head and asked, "Gaao?" (Does Naoki fully uand what that means?)

  Naoki thought carefully for a moment, then tried to expin as simply as he could. "Well, let me give you an example. You know I had a father and a mother, right?"

  Cyclizar nodded early. Every person and Pokémon has parents, after all.

  Naoki tinued, "If someoo travel ba 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 expined, Naoki couldn't help but feel a pang of uainty. After all, this was the Pokémon world, where time itself was guarded by Dialga, the deity of time. It made him questioher the stific theories he'd learned in his past life were entirely applicable in such a magical araordinary pce.

  Cyclizar tilted its head again, seeming to uand parts of what Naoki was saying, but still a little perplexed.

  Before Naoki could tihe video phone in the living room began t. He walked over to a, 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 juwo days ago. It should have migrated south for the winter, but it hurt its wings and couldn't fly."

  Naoki listened ily as she tinued. "We mao 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?"