"Pikapi…"
Ash and Pikachu stared in disbelief at the scene before them.
Especially Ash, he stood frozen, wide-eyed, unable to process what had just happened. That Shadow Hoopa, and all those legendary Pokémon... had been subdued so easily by Mr. Naoki?
As if responding to the shift in the air, the once-controlled Legendary Pokémon, except for Kyurem, gathered from every corner of the battlefield.
But they didn't approach aggressively. Instead, they silently floated on either side of Naoki, solemnly observing the peaceful resolution.
Groudon. Kyogre. Rayquaza. Ho-Oh. Calyrex on his Glastrier. Giratina...
"W-wow..." Ash's voice trembled with awe. His eyes gleamed.
So it was true... Mr. Naoki really was that mysterious masked man!
"Ash, you did well." Naoki nodded at him with quiet praise. He then looked toward the twin dragons nearby.
"Thank you, Latias. Latios. You both protected them bravely."
"Woo~" Latias let out a cheerful cry, circling around joyfully.
With the crisis finally over, the Legendary Pokémon that had been summoned by Shadow Hoopa began to return to their original realms.
A gentle ripple stirred in the sky as the power of time and space converged. Two shining portals opened, one blue, one purple. Dialga and Palkia glanced back briefly, then flew gracefully into the swirling dimensions, vanishing into their respective worlds.
Rayquaza gave Naoki a solemn nod before spiraling upward into the clouds, its serpent-like body cutting through the sky like a green flash.
Giratina looked like it wanted to stay with Naoki, but after a low rumble and a glance of understanding, it turned and faded into the Reverse World, leaving behind only flickers of shadow.
In the end, only Koraidon, Groudon, and Calyrex remained by Naoki's side.
Naoki stared at Groudon and sighed, lips twitching. "Alright. Hoopa, can you send Groudon home?"
"No problem! Leave it to Hoopa!" Hoopa replied with a grin, spinning its golden rings.
A glowing portal opened before Groudon. The massive Legendary took one last look at the others, then stepped through the halo. On the other side, it was greeted by the familiar scent of volcanic stone and roaring heat, it was home.
As the portal closed behind it, Meray and Baraz came rushing back, carrying the now-repaired Prison Bottle.
When they saw the calm, smiling Hoopa, they both froze in shock.
"Where's Shadow Hoopa?" Baraz asked quickly, scanning the area with concern.
Meray gasped, covering her mouth as she stared at the floating Hoopa, no longer mischievous, but serene and glowing.
It gave a playful smirk.
"Hoopa is here!" it said proudly.
"Wait... what?" Serena looked bewildered. "What happened to the other Hoopa?"
"Mr. Naoki used his power to purify Shadow Hoopa's anger!" Ash explained, eyes still sparkling. "Now Hoopa's back to full strength, its real self!"
Meray and Baraz stared at Ash, stunned.
"Purified… anger?" Baraz muttered. "That's even possible?"
But before he could finish processing it all, he turned and bowed deeply to Naoki.
"Thank you, truly, for everything, Mr. Naoki."
Naoki nodded gently. "You're welcome." He glanced back at Hoopa, but his tone turned serious.
"But it's not over just yet."
Baraz blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Although Hoopa has regained its true power," Naoki said gently, stepping forward, "the punishment imposed on it has not yet been lifted."
Baraz and Meray's eyes widened in realization.
"The halo..." Meray murmured.
"Hoopa still can't pass through it."
Hoopa, now in its smaller form again, summoned a golden ring and gave it a try, eyes full of hope.
But no matter how many times it rushed forward, it was stopped by an invisible barrier. The space around the halo shimmered faintly, like a membrane of ancient judgment.
"It's still sealed…" Hoopa muttered, its confidence wilting. "Hoopa… can't do it..."
Ash couldn't just stand there. He ran up and scooped Hoopa into a firm hug.
"Don't give up, Hoopa! We'll break through it together!"
Hoopa blinked in surprise at his determined voice, then nodded hard.
"Yeah! Hoopa won't give up!"
"Let's go!" Ash shouted.
Holding Hoopa tightly, Ash charged through the halo.
He passed through.
Hoopa didn't.
It hit the invisible wall again and fell backward.
"Hoopa!" Ash reached out. "Give me your hand! I'll pull you through!"
"Let's help too!" Serena and Clemont rushed over, adding their strength.
"Brother, go around back! I'll help from the front!" Meray called out.
Baraz nodded, and the siblings stood on either side of the halo, reaching toward Hoopa with both hands. At that moment, the Arceus pendants they wore glowed faintly with divine golden light.
The warm aura began to spread, enveloping Hoopa.
Everyone gritted their teeth, trying their best to pull the little Pokémon through.
And yet, the seal still held.
Naoki watched in silence for a few seconds, then stepped forward slowly.
He placed a hand gently on Hoopa's shoulder and asked, "Hoopa, do you understand... the true meaning of punishment?"
"Punishment?" Hoopa looked up at him, puzzled but listening.
"Now that you've regained such great power..." Naoki's voice was calm but firm, "if you went back to the Valley of Arche with Meray and Baraz, would you end up hurting it again, like a hundred years ago?"
Everyone froze.
The golden light paused.
Hoopa lowered its gaze, then looked at Meray, at Baraz, and remembered their smiles.
"Of course not!" Hoopa said with certainty. "Meray and Balza are Hoopa's family! The people in the Valley of Arche are kind to Hoopa too. Hoopa would never hurt them! Never!"
Naoki smiled.
"Then... you understand it now."
Hoopa's eyes widened.
Naoki gestured to everyone around, the friends who had gathered, the bonds that had formed, the hands reaching toward it, the warmth waiting to welcome it home.
"See? Everyone is here, working hard for you, believing in you. Everyone in the Valley of Arche is waiting for you to come back, not as a weapon, but as part of their lives. To laugh, to play, to... cause a little trouble once in a while."
Hoopa froze for a moment as memories flooded its mind.
From the events a hundred years ago to its life in the Valley of Arche...
Family...
That's right! Ghris had once said the same thing, they're family. Meray and Baraz were family too!
Everyone was waiting for it to come back.
This time, it would return with its true power. Not to cause chaos, but to help. This time, it wouldn't mess up!
As that realization settled in, Hoopa felt the invisible barrier in front of it vanish.
A second later, its body passed through the halo with ease.
"Hoopa did it!" it cheered, eyes wide in disbelief and joy.
Meray and Baraz lit up with excitement.
"That's amazing!"
Everyone applauded happily, celebrating Hoopa's breakthrough.
Not far away, Naoki watched it all with a calm smile, silently thinking to himself, 'this really is a world built on heart and ideals.'
Hoopa had found its home, its friends, its family. Returning with Naoki to the World Tree no longer seemed possible.
After a brief moment of thought, Naoki decided to let go of that idea.
Now that the chaos had passed, it was time to go home.
"Hoopa, can you use a halo to send me, Koraidon, and Calyrex back to the ranch?" Naoki asked.
"Leave it to Hoopa!" Hoopa answered eagerly, spinning a golden ring through the air.
"Mr. Naoki, see you again!" Ash and Pikachu waved enthusiastically.
"Good luck at the Kalos League!" Naoki replied with a warm smile.
"I'll do my best!" Ash nodded, his eyes burning with determination.
Naoki turned to glance at Bonnie and Serena.
Now that Team Flare's crisis had been resolved, it looked like Bonnie would keep traveling with Ash.
As for Serena...
She was the first travel companion in the anime to ever express romantic feelings for Ash. It was a shame Ash was too focused on battles to notice the girl's heart.
But that was Ash's story.
Naoki withdrew his gaze and looked back at the Great Hero Expedition Team.
"I'll be waiting at the ranch."
"Mew!" Mew chirped. Victini, Zapdos, and Baby Bear nodded happily beside it.
With the New Year approaching, it would soon be time to go home.