It was a brand-new day. The warm glow of an autumn morning bathed the ranch in golden light. One by one, the Pokémon woke from their slumber, shaking off sleepiness and prancing through the dew-kissed grass.
The air carried the gentle fragrance of rosemary blossoms, while fruit-laden trees and vibrant foliage flourished across the fields.
A few wild bird Pokémon perched on the rooftop tiles, curiously watching the peaceful, bustling scene below.
Just then, the front door creaked open.
The birds tilted their heads and spotted a man stepping out of the house with a fiery red Pokémon beside him. He turned back and called into the house:
"We're heading out!"
A cheerful voice replied from inside.
"Alright, be safe!"
Naoki leaned in and gently pinched Elara's cheek as she sat cradled in Iono's arms. "Elara, be good for Mom today, okay? Daddy's going to work."
But Elara was still too little to understand what 'going to work' meant. She only knew that her dad was leaving.
Her round eyes welled up with tears, and she stretched out her little arms, silently begging for a hug.
"Pah!"
Naoki sighed.
It was Saturday, which meant the Levincia Gym was closed, and it was his day to teach classes at Blueberry Academy.
But seeing his daughter like this made it hard to leave.
"Daddy made a promise, and promises must be kept," he said gently. " Larvesta and Entei will play with you, alright? Or maybe Dragonite can take you for a sky ride?"
But Elara burst into tears. She didn't want a ride—she just wanted her father to stay.
Iono quickly stepped in to comfort her. "Mama will stay with you, okay? Daddy will be back soon."
Still, Elara remained stubborn.
Until recently, she hadn't been able to crawl or talk, so every time Naoki went out, she'd be asleep, only to wake up in the care of gentle Pokémon.
But now, almost ten months old, she was starting to recognize the people and Pokémon around her. Every day, Naoki had been with her. His sudden departure filled her with fear and confusion.
Naoki poked her cheek again and smiled softly. "Alright, alright. Daddy's not leaving forever. I'll always come back to you."
The reassurance seemed to calm her, and her sobs slowed.
Seizing the moment, Naoki asked, "Do you want to play with the Cyclizar?"
Cyclizar, beside them perked up and chirped, "Gaao!"
Elara looked between her father and Cyclizar, then gave a hesitant nod.
Naoki gently placed her on Cyclizar's back. Then Cyclizar dashed off across the pasture.
Children are easily distracted. Soon enough, Elara was completely immersed in the thrill of her ride.
Seeing that, Naoki let out a sigh of relief.
"Alright then, I'm off," he said.
"Go on," Iono replied with a smile. She didn't have work today, so she planned to stay home and spend time with Elara.
"Koraidon, let's go!"
"Gah!"
Naoki hopped onto Koraidon, and the two took off, slowly rising into the sky. The ranch shrank below as they soared higher. From above, Naoki spotted the now-bustling Kosaji Town and its newly expanded port, where cargo ships from all corners of the world were docked.
A wave of emotion swept over him.
When he had first arrived in this world, Kosaji Town had been little more than a quiet coastal village. Now, it was beginning to flourish.
With a smile, Naoki turned his eyes to the horizon and urged Koraidon forward, heading for Blueberry Academy.
...
At the ranch, Cyclizar gently carried little Elara through the fields until they arrived at its favorite flower meadow.
Lowering its head, Cyclizar nudged aside some tall blooms and carefully stepped into the sea of vibrant petals, weaving a path through blossoms swaying gently in the breeze.
As expected, Elara's wide eyes sparkled with wonder. She gazed at the radiant colors and the Combee buzzing above, gathering nectar.
Above them, the sky was a soft, endless blue. Wispy white clouds drifted lazily, and the flower field looked like something from a painting.
For the first time in her young life, Elara experienced what "beauty" truly meant.
But she was still too small to express those feelings in words. So instead, she clapped her tiny hands and laughed, eyes shining with joy.
Seeing her so delighted, Cyclizar couldn't help but feel proud. It had brought her to the perfect place.
Just then, it caught sight of a few Butterflies fluttering gracefully through the blossoms before landing on a nearby flower.
"Gaao!" Cyclizar's eyes lit up.
If it could catch one of those butterflies and gift it to Elara, surely she'd be even happier!
With that thought, Cyclizar gently helped her down onto a soft patch of grass. The little one sat quietly, looking up with innocent eyes.
"Gaao~" (Wait for me here~), Cyclizar said, giving her a gentle pat.
Elara blinked, not fully understanding, but watched as Cyclizar turned and dashed into the tall flowers in pursuit of the butterflies.
She giggled at Cyclizar's exaggerated movements, clapping in delight at the sight of her Pokémon friend leaping among the petals.
But soon, the flowers closed behind him, and the sound of rustling leaves faded away.
The field grew quiet.
Elara's laughter slowly stopped. She looked toward the direction Cyclizar had vanished, confused. The stillness around her made her hesitate.
Then, something glittered in the distance.
Her curiosity piqued, Elara turned over and began to crawl.
Tiny hands and knees pressed into the grass as she slowly made her way through the flower-covered trail. She didn't know how long she had been crawling, but up ahead, a warm, glowing light began to spill through the blossoms.
Elara gently pushed aside the tall flowers, and in the next moment, the scene before her burst into light.
What unfolded in her view was a charming pavilion, made from woven wooden trellises. Clusters of flowering vines curled up and around the posts, their blossoms swaying softly in the autumn breeze. In the center stood a delicate wrought-iron tea table surrounded by a few matching chairs.
Seated on one of the chairs was a Pokémon, one that looked like a rabbit, but with an unusually large head.
It held a porcelain teacup in its right paw, sipping delicately while basking in the warm autumn sunlight. Everything about it, the relaxed posture, the elegance in how it sipped, the tranquil air around it, radiated a sense of quiet refinement.
Elara was instantly captivated.
Without even realizing it, she kept crawling forward, her eyes locked on the peculiar tea-drinking Pokémon. Her tiny head tilted upward as she stared at it in wide-eyed curiosity.
At that moment, the Pokémon paused mid-sip.
As if sensing something unusual, it slowly turned its oversized head to look directly at her.