Naoki carefully pced the docile Tatsugiri into the small water bucket beside him and turned his attention back to the fishing line. Every now and then, he g the Tatsugiri, who eeking out just enough to watch its surroundings. Its curious, wide-eyed gaze made it undeniably adorable.

  Naoki chuckled softly before fog on the petition. The fishing test was lively, and the energy around the ke alpable.

  A sudden spsh of water nearby drew everyone's attention. A girl in a short skirt was wrestling with her fishing rod, which bent precariously as she fought to reel in her catch. From the water emerged a massive, whiskered Pokémon—a Whiscash. The croed iement.

  "Oh my! Another Pokémon catch after Takeru and Naoki! Go, Maeve!" a spectator cheered.

  The Whiscash thrashed violently, resisting Maeve's efforts to reel it ie her determination, the sheer strength of the Pokémon proved too much. With one powerful tug, the Whiscash broke free, taking the hook and bait with it. The fishing rod nearly slipped from Maeve's hands as she stumbled back, breathless.

  "Oh no! So close!" the onlookers excimed.

  Takeru Sato, the posed fishieran, watched the se with calm detat. "Fishing is about patiend precision, not brute force," he remarked, resetting his line.

  As if ohe float on his liwitched. Takeru's sharp eyes zeroed in on the movement. With practiced hands, he reeled in his line, revealing a retively on Bas. Uerred by the less-than-rare catch, he pced it in his bucket and resumed fishing.

  Naoki, Takeru's calm demeanor, couldn't help but admire the man's skill and posure. But the subtle challenge in Takeru's as ignited a petitive spark in Naoki. He resolved to take things more seriously.

  Moments ter, Naoki's own float jerked violently. A heavy pull indicated that something sizable had taken the bait. His pulse quied—was it a Dondozo? Thinking back to the immerength dispyed by Whiscash earlier, Naoki braced himself.

  Gripping the rod tightly, he leaned bad began reeling in the lih all his might. To his surprise, the line came up smoothly, without the fierce resistance he'd anticipated.

  That's odd, he thought. Wasn't it a strong fish?

  Whech surfaced, his fusion deepened. Hanging from the hook was a Slowpoke, its mouth zily cmped around the bait. Its big, round eyes were as vat as ever, and its pink tail trailed ier like a loose rope.

  "A Slowpoke?" Naoki muttered, incredulous.

  Spectators began to murmur. "What? A Slowpoke?"

  "Is that even sidered a fish Pokémon?" someone asked.

  "ly," another chimed in, "but acc to the petition rules, anything caught ts—whether it's a regur fish or a Pokémon! And if it's rare, it scores even more points!"

  Naoki carefully removed the fishing hook from the Slowpoke's mouth and pced it gently on the grass nearby. The Pokémon remained as still as ever, its dull eyes staring bnkly into space.

  Naoki shook his head in mild amusement. The Slowpoke lethargy and vat expression lived up to its reputation.

  The Slowpoke didn't move at all, simply sitting by Naoki's side and staring into the void. He sighed and decided to cast his line again, refog on the fishing petition.

  Time passed steadily, and other testants began to haul in their catches—mostly on fish or Pokémon like Magikarp and Goldeen. Some lucky individuals reeled in Barboach, though every attempt at capturing one of the giant Whiscash ended in failure.

  The anizer called out over a loudspeaker, "Attention, testants! Ten minutes remain in the petition!"

  Naoki calcuted silently: enough time to cate st fish. Nearby, a otion drew his attention. Ripples spread across the water akeru Sato's fishing rod, and the line began to thrash violently. Whatever was hooked was enormous.

  A murmur spread through the crowd as Takeru gripped the rod with focused determination.

  "It's a big one!" someone excimed.

  Takeru's expression grew intehe strength of the pull threateo snap the fishing rod in two, but his experience showed as he braced his stand began reeling it in with steady, calcuted movements. After a brief struggle, a massive Whiscash leapt from the water, its shadow momentarily eclipsing Takeru.

  "It's another Whiscash!" a spectator cried.

  "This is the eighth one hooked today," said another. "But no one's mao nd o. Takeru Sato pull it off?"

  Excitement rippled through the onlookers. Known for his legendary fishing skills, Takeru was said to have once caught and tamed a wild Gyarados.

  The Whiscash crashed onto the shore, thrashing violently as it flung water and dirt everywhere. Its beady eyes locked onto Takeru with a fsh of anger, and it immediately unched a Water Gun attack.

  Takeru anticipated the move and dodged nimbly, narrowly avoiding the high-pressure stream. Without hesitation, he lunged frabbing the Whiscash's long whiskers and wrestling it to the ground.

  The massive Pokémon filed wildly, its powerful tail creating shockwaves against the earth. However, being out of water was a signifit disadvantage, and Takeru used the terrain to his advantage. Holding on tightly, he pihe Whiscash to the ground.

  Naoki, watg from a distance, could hardly believe his eyes. "Is this even fishing anymore? It looks like a wrestling match!"

  Still, he couldn't deny the impressive dispy of skill and enduraakeru's athleticism was on full dispy, a testament to the extraordinary capabilities of humans in the Pokémon world.

  Gradually, the Whiscash's movements slowed. Its energy drained, it y on the grass, panting heavily. Takeru finally released its whiskers and stood, his victory clear. He produced a Poké Ball and tapped it against the Pokémon's side. The Whiscash ehe ball, which shook briefly before log with a click.

  Appuse erupted from the onlookers on the shore.

  Pah, pah, pah!

  "As expected of Mr. Sato Takeru!"

  "That was incredible! He actually subdued the Whiscash!"

  Naoki was equally impressed. The idea of climbing onto a Pokémon's bad physically subduing it was beyond anything he could imagine doing himself.

  With just over a minute left in the petition, most testants doubted they would catything worthwhile in such a short time. Many had already packed up their gear, g the petition after witnessing Sato Takeru's success.

  Naoki was about to do the same, but just as he reached for his fishing rod, the float oer suddenly twitched.

  A bite!

  Startled, Naoki instinctively reeled in his line. With a dramatic spsh, a long, elegant figure broke through the surface of the ke.

  Water droplets scattered into the air, shimmering like a rainbow in the sunlight. The Pokémon's scales sparkled brilliantly, drawing gasps from the crowd.

  When the onlookers realized what Naoki had hooked, they collectively froze in awe.

  The Pokémon had a cream-colored, streamlined body adorned with shimmering blue and pink scales. Its ruby-like eyes glowed with a dreamy brilliance, and its beauty was almost otherworldly.

  "Milotic…" Sato Takeru whispered in disbelief.

  Milotic, the Tender Pokémon, was known for its rare beauty and elegance. Flers and trainers alike, entering a Milotic was akin to a dream—a nearly unattainable goal.

  With a graceful cry, the Milotic broke free from the hook and dived bato the water.

  "Naoki, tame it quickly!" Sato Takeru shouted, snapping Naoki out of his daze.

  "Tame it? How?" Naoki stammered. The idea of physically subduing a Milotic, as Sato had doh the Whiscash, was ughable.

  "Fet it! I"ll just throw the Pokeball!" Naoki muttered to himself, gripping the Poké Ball in his hand.

  He took a deep breath, aimed carefully, and threw the Poké Ball with all his strength. The ball arced gracefully through the air and struck the Milotiveloping it in a red light before pulling it inside.

  The Poké Ball nded on the ke's surface, bobbily as it began to shake.

  "Buzz! Buzz!"

  The tension alpable. Everyoheir breath, their eyes glued to the ball.

  Naoki's heart raced. He didn't dare to hope. After all, capturing a Milotic—a Pokémon of such beauty and rarity—on the first throw seemed impossible. He wasn't some kind of legendary trainer with a ohrow guarantee, and there was no boween him and the Milotic. It had no reason to stay.

  The Poké Ball rocked owice, three times… and then fell still.

  The crowd erupted in cheers at the sight.

  "Yes! He successfully caught it!"

  "Mr. Naoki is incredible! To catch such a rare Pokémon like Milotic is amazing!"

  Sato Takeru, still slightly breathless from his earlier battle with the Whiscash, nodded with a smile. pared to Milotic, the Whiscash he had caught were clearly inferior.

  "It seems we already have our champion," Sato Takeru admitted, this time with genuine admiration. He was ready to cede defeat without pint.

  Naoki, however, felt his head buzzing. Had he really caught a Milotid even more surprising—it seemed to aowledge him!

  What just happened?

  The Poké Ball taining Milotic drifted to the shore with the gentle waves of the ke. Naoki picked it up with a mix of awe and disbelief.

  With a press of the button, a fsh of white light revealed the beautiful Milotic standing before him once more. Its elegant flimmered in the sunlight as it gazed at Naoki with gentle, curious eyes.

  Three metaphorical excmation marks appeared in Naoki's mind.

  Does the Poké Ball have some hidden brainwashing fun?!

  "Milotiaoki called hesitantly.

  The Tender Pokémon tilted its head slightly, him with a calm, almost curious demeanor. It didn't seem hostile, nor did it attempt to flee. If anything, its gaze was almost... approving.

  Milotic could sense something unique about the human before it. He exuded a natural, calming aura—ohat resonated deeply with Milotic's e to nature. In its mind, this aura marked him as someone ily kind and trustworthy.

  Naoki, without his usual transtor device, couldn't uand Milotic's unspoken thoughts, but its gentle behaviave him a clue. He decided it was best to let things flow naturally and proceeded t the Pokémon he caught for the final evaluation.

  Around him, other testants cast envious g Milotic, their admiration evident.

  "It seems everyone has dooday!" Mayor Thomas announced warmly as he approached the gathered partits. "Now, let's see what everyone has caught."

  The fishing petition would be judged based on a points system. Ordinary fish were worth one point, Pokémon two points, and rare or special Pokémon carried bonus points. The bined score would determihe winner.

  Mayor Thomas and the panel of judges began iing each testant's catches one by one.

  While waiting for his turn, Naoki reviewed his own haul for the day. His colle included:

  Three Tatsugiri, Two Barboach, One Slowpoke Several Magikarp and Goldeen And, of course, the star of the show: Milotic.

  He gnced over at Sato Takeru, who had also caught a fair number of Pokémon:

  Four Qwilfish, Five Bas, One Kingler, and a mix of on river fish.

  When it was Sato Takeru's turn, Mayor Thomas ied his haul carefully and then announced, "testant Sato Takeru's final score is 42 points!"

  The crouded. pared to most testants, his score was already quite impressive.

  Naoki silently admired Sato Takeru's effort. Watg him subdue Pokémon with his sheer determination and physical skill earlier had been nothing short of awe-inspiring.

  Finally, it was Naoki's turn.

  Mayor Thomas carefully examined Naoki's colle, his eyes lighting up when he reached Milotic.

  After deliberating with the other judges, the mayor smiled broadly and decred, "testant Naoki's final score is 52 points! By the way, this is the first time in our petition's history that someone has caught a Milotic!"

  The crowd erupted ihusiastic cheers.

  Naoki's score was a full ten points higher than Sato Takeru's, earning him the championship title of the fishing petition. Mayor Thomas handed him the gleaming gold medal awarded by the Fishing Association.

  Sato Takeru approached Naoki with a wide grin.

  "I accept my defeat wholeheartedly," Sato Takeru said with a sincere smile, his admiration for Naoki evident.

  Naoki, feeling slightly unfortable, shook his head. "No, I was just lucky."

  He couldn't help but think about the edge he had thanks to the effects of the World Tree's aura and the Pael. pared to the other petitors, his methods felt like cheating.

  But Sato Takeru chuckled and replied, "Sometimes, luck is part of one's skill. It leasure peting with you in today's fishing test. If the opportunity arises iure, let's go fishing in the opeogether!"

  The vast, boundless o, home to an incredible variety of aquation, was every angler's dream destination.

  Naoki hesitated. Fishing in the o? With his luck, he might actally reel in something legendary, like a Kyogre. He thought of the miraculous effects of Pael and sighed inwardly.

  Still, Naoki managed a polite smile. "Sure, why not?"

  Satisfied with his response, Sato Takeru grinned widely. "The's quer the Pokémon of the sea together!"

  With the fishing petition officially over, many partits opted to release the fish Pokémon they had caught, mindful of preserving the ecosystem. Naoki also turned his attention to his catches.

  Three Tatsugiri popped their heads out from the bucket, their bright scales glistening uhe sun. Two Barboach stubbornly bit the rim of the bucket, refusing to let go, while Slowpoke tinued lying on the grass, staring into space. As for Milotic, it stood nearby on the grass, its elegant form captivating all who looked at it.

  Naoki crouched down and spoke gently. "Thank you all for your help today. Because of you, I was able to win the petition. Now that it's over, if any of you wish to return to the ke, you're free to go."

  He pced the bucket by the river, allowing the Pokémon to make their choice.

  The two Barboach grumbled but eventually let go and waddled toward the water, disappearih its surface. The three Tatsugiri, however, remained in the bucket, chirping pyfully. Slowpoke, unsurprisingly, stayed put, still lost in thought.

  As for Milotic, it didn't even g the water. Instead, it fixed its serene gaze on Naoki.

  Seeing that most of the Pokémon had no iion of leaving, Naoki made up his mind t them back to the ranch. However, he o firm Milotic's iions first. Taking out his Rotom Phone, he activated the transtioure.

  "Milotic, do you want to e with me?" Naoki asked.

  "Woo~" Milotiodded gracefully.

  Naoki blinked, genuinely surprised. "Why e?"

  Rotom quickly transted Milotic's response: "Because you smell nice, Rotom~!"

  "Smell nice?" Naoki sniffed himself in fusion but caught no disible st.

  "What do you mean by that?" he asked.

  Milotic tilted its head and tried to expin. "Woo…" (It's like the wind and the st of green leaves… I don't know how to describe it well.)

  Naoki frowned, puzzled. But then a thought struck him. Could it be the aura of the World Tree that Milotised? Perhaps the natural energy from the dishes he had prepared using its leaves had left a tra him.

  Thinking back to how even powerful Pokémon like Zapdos and Calyrex had been drawn to the World Tree, the pieces started to fit.

  After sidering for a moment, Naoki asked again, "Then, would you like to live with me on the World Tree?"

  Milotic's ruby-like eyes sparkled as it nodded enthusiastically.

  With the petition ing up and the other partits dispersing, Naoki gathered his Pokémourned Milotic to its Poké Ball, carefully picked up the Slowpoke, and carried the bucket of Tatsugiri. Together, they made their way back to the ranch.

  Ohey arrived, Naoki headed directly to the ke oop level of the World Tree. The peaceful waters shimmered uhe sunlight, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

  "e out, Milotic!"

  A fsh of white light illumihe area as Milotic gracefully slipped into the ke. Surrounded by the inteural energy of the World Tree, Milotic appeared captivated by its serey.

  Naoki then released the three Tatsugiri and Slowpoke. The Pokémon emerged, each with its own unique demeanor: Milotic, elegant and peaceful, disliked flict; Tatsugiri, timid but intelligent, avoided provoking others; and Slowpoke, ever unbothered, lounged by the ke's edge, lost in thought.

  Naoki observed the group with a warm smile. "This is the interior of the World Tree," he expio them. "I'm building an Expedition Guild here, a pce where Pokémon live in harmony, help each other, and explore new adventures. You're all wele to be a part of it!"

  The Tatsugiri poked their heads above the water, and Milotic blinked curiously. They seemed intrigued by the idea of the guild.

  Naoki turo Arboliva, who had been tending the orchard nearby. "Arboliva, these are our new panions. you show them around and introduce them to the area?"

  Arboliva nodded gently, agreeing without hesitation.

  Satisfied, Naoki left to return to the rand tend to other tasks. Once he was gone, Arboliva began to guide the newers around the World Tree, expining its wonders.

  It shared stories about the Hero Expedition Team, the Pokémon Guild under stru, the cozy restaurant, and the lush orchard and farmnd nearby. The gentle Pokémon spoke in a soft, melodie, immediately putting the new arrivals at ease.

  Not long after, the Treecko trio, attracted by the otion, joihe group. They observed the new arrivals with bright eyes, their curiosity evident.

  Arboliva smiled warmly. "Olii!" (This pce will soon bee a paradise where we all live and work together. The Treecko have already decided to be waitstaff at the café. If you're ied, you find something to help with too!)

  The Tatsugiri began hopping iement, their eyes lighting up. "Tats!" (We'd like to manage a sushi restaurant!)

  Milotic's serene expressihte the thought. This peaceful haven seemed like a perfect pce to call home. "Woo!" (I'd love to help water the pnts!)

  Arboliva nodded in approval. "Oli~" (From now on, we're all panions. Let's work together to make this pce truly special!)

  Meanwhile, Slowpoke remained sprawled on the shazing into the distance, pletely lost in its own thoughts.