Hoenn Region

  A gentle rain drizzled over the volic crater, casg down onto the stone-paved streets in the heart of the city.

  Within this natural caldera, led by the tranquil waters of the crater ke, stood the Sootopolis Gym—a grand structure in one of Hoenn's most iic cities.

  Acc to legend, Sootopolis City was born from the eruption of an a uer volo. Over time, rainwater filled the massive crater left behind, giving rise to a magnifit ke in its ter. As the years passed, people discovered that the region's warm, humid climate made it a perfect pce to settle, leading to the foundation of the city.

  It was here that Steven Stone arrived in search of assistance from his trusted friend, Walce, hoping to uhe whereabouts of the missing Red and Blue Orbs.

  However, just as he was about to discuss his course of a, a message fshed across his s.

  Steven stared at the reply in silence for a long moment.

  [Gold King]: The orbs are with me. Don't worry.]

  Across the room, Walce, lounging on a luxurious velvet sofa, sipped his tea while watg Steven's rea with keen i.

  "A rancher?" Walce repeated, raising an intrigued brow. "Well, now that's fasating."

  Steven remained silent.

  He never would have imagihat the two legendary orbs had somehow traveled ht from Hoenn to the distant Paldea region. The absurdity of the situation was almost ughable.

  More baffling was the fact that the three Pokémon he had entered—a Teddiursa, a Zapdos, and a small pink feline-like Pokémon—were apparently all part of the same team.

  Steven had spent the previous night researg the mysterious pink Pokémon. After cross-refereng the information in various records, he had finally identified it—it was her thahical Pokémon Mew.

  That meant Stranger No. 1—or rather, Naoki, as he had now introduced himself—not only had Zapdos, but also Mew under his and.

  It was nearly impossible to believe that a mere rancher could have captured such rare and powerful Pokémon.

  It wasn't that Steven uimated the profession of a rancher—far from it. However, in his experience, ranchers specialized in raising Pokémon, not in catg legendary ones.

  Walce, seeing Steven deep in thought, smirked and swirled his tea. "Well, I suppose this saves us a great deal of trouble. At the very least, Team Magma and Team Aqua will never suspect that the orbs have been taken to Paldea."

  Steven exhaled slightly, his tense shoulders easing.

  He had spent days researg Hoenn's a history, fully aware of the catastrophisequences should Groudon and Kyogre awaken once more.

  Thousands of years ago, the two titans had cshed in an all-out battle for dominance, wreaking havoc across the Hoenn region.

  Had Rayquaza not desded from the skies to quell their battle, the entire region might have beeroyed.

  In honor of that event, Sky Pilr had been structed as a sacred site, forever tied to Rayquaza's legend.

  Returning his attention to the message, Steven replied:

  [Steven Stohen I'll leave them in your care.]

  A response came almost immediately.

  [Gold King]: No problem. Ohis is all over, you e to my ranch to retrieve them.]

  [Steven Stone]: Uood.]

  Walce chuckled at the name. "Naoki Ranch… What an iing pce this must be. A humble ranch, run by a man with legendary Pokémon? Now I'm dying to visit."

  Steven, however, was still processing everything.

  Even though the orbs were now safe, the situation in Hoenn was far from resolved.

  Team Magma and Team Aqua had already obtained critical data on Groudon and Kyogre's locations.

  With the orbs out of reach, their only option now was to use force to awakewo legendary Pokémon directly.

  Realizing this, Steven acted swiftly.

  He opehe Pokémon League's unicatiowork, initiating an emergency video fereh all Gym Leaders in Hoenn.

  Once all the familiar faces appeared on-s, Steven spoke in a anding tone.

  "From this moment forward, we are entering a state of high alert."

  His sharp gaze sed the s.

  "I will personally head to Groudon's resting pce to stop Team Magma's pns, while Walce will dive into the deep seas to prevent Team Aqua from awakening Kyogre."

  "If we fail…" His voice grew heavier. "Prepare for immediate evacuation procedures."

  "The Weather Institute will be monit any activity from the two a Pokémon. Ohey awaken, Hoenn's fate will be in our hands."

  A tense silence filled the call.

  Then, one by ohe Gym Leaders nodded in uanding.

  "Uood!"

  "Got it!"

  "Leave it to us!"

  "We won't let Hoenn fall!"

  Steven closed the call.

  With the phase of the battle about to unfold, he turo his closest ally.

  "Walce, I'll leave Kyogre to you."

  The Sootopolis Gym Leader fshed a smile, flipping his cape dramatically.

  "Naturally. You t on me, Champion~"

  Steven: "…"

  With their roles decided, Hoenn's strorainers prepared for the iable showdown.

  Meanwhile, at Naoki's Ranch…

  Naoki was chatting with Teddiursa about Mewtwo and the ed Pokémon.

  "Don't worry! Mewtwo and the others have settled down at the World Tree, and the Expedition Guild and other facilities have been pleted. You'll be surprised when you e baext time!" Naoki said with a smile.

  Hearing this, Mew and Teddiursa, who had been slightly ed, immediately felt at ease.

  "Does Mewtwo like the World Tree?" Mew asked curiously.

  "He should, right?" Naoki thought baewtwo's behavior over the past few days.

  He was about to expin when something occurred to him. Smag his forehead, he said, "ht! Mewtwo has a Rotom Phone now. I'll send you its number so you add it as a friend."

  As he spoke, Naoki switched ss and shared Mewtwo's ta the Pokémon Forum.

  The moment they received it, Mew and Teddiursa's eyes lit up with excitement. They couldn't wait to add Mewtwo to their friends list!

  Before ending the call, Teddiursa g the two glowing orbs in Naoki's hands.

  Even if Naoki liked them, he wouldn't keep something that beloo someone else.

  Teddiursa thought about it carefully, then patted its little chest with determination. "Naoki! ime, I'll find an eveier treasure for you!"

  Naoki: "..."

  He had no doubt about Teddiursa's ability to find rare items. With its Pickup ability, bined with Super Lud the Divine Blessing of Ho-Oh, it wouldn't even be surprising if one day it casually brought bae of Arceus' Ptes.

  Still, he was touched by the little bear's siy.

  Naoki smiled and nodded. "I believe in you."

  Teddiursa's eyes sparkled with joy, and it nodded bathusiastically. "Yeah!"

  Taking a deep breath, Naoki said, "Alright, I won't bother you two any longer. I o prepare some food for Zapdos. Anything specific you'd like me to send over?"

  Teddiursa's ears perked up. "Honey pudding and honey dy!"

  Mew, h beside it, chimed in, "Poké Blocks and Poké Puffs!"

  Naoki chuckled. "Got it. I'll get started right away."

  After ending the call, he turo Zapdos. "How about you? Want anything to eat?"

  The proud Zapdos lifted its head, feathers ruffling as it decred haughtily that it wasn't hungry.

  The sed, a loud grumble echoed from its stomach.

  Naoki: "..."

  Zapdos' feathers fluffed up in embarrassment.

  Pretending he hadn't heard anything, Naoki turned away and headed to the kit, getting to work on preparing the Pokémon's treats.

  Meanwhile, at the World Tree…

  Meas sitting in a quiet clearing when a notification popped up on its Rotom Phone.

  'A friend request?'

  It tapped the s in curiosity. Upon seeing the usereddiursa, Mew, and Zapdos—Mewtwo immediately uood and accepted the request.

  The moment it did, an ining video call request appeared.

  Mewtwo hesitated for a brief moment before pressing accept.

  The s lit up, revealing the excited faces of Teddiursa and Mew.

  "Mewtwo!" Mew beamed. "You made it to the World Tree, right? Do you like it there?"

  Seeing Mew's wide, bright eyes staring at it expetly, Mewtwo felt a strange sense of warmth.

  It nodded. "Yes. This pce is the paradise we were searg for."

  "That's great!" Mew cheered. "After we finish our mission here, we'll e back! Then I'll take you to our Hero Expedition Team's secret base!"

  Mewtwo nodded. "Alright."

  It paused for a moment before asking, "Are you still traveling as you did before?"

  Mew hummed happily. "Yep! There are still so many Pokémon in the world who need help!"

  Hearing this, Mewtwo frowned slightly, a hint of fusion flickering in its eyes. "But… why?" It hesitated, struggling to uand. "Why do you go out of your way to help other Pokémon?"

  Mewtwo pohe question, w if Mew and Teddiursa helped others simply to gain something iurn—perhaps a sense of fulfillment or the gratitude and gifts of those they aided.

  However, Mew's answer was far beyond its expectations.

  "Because they need help!" Mew said matter-of-factly, as if the answer were obvious.

  Meas momentarily stunned. Was it really that simple? They helped others just because those Pokémon ?

  Teddiursa chimed in eagerly, nodding. "That's right! We want to make friends with everyone and ihem to the World Tree so we all live together forever!"

  The little bear beamed as it imagihe future. "We'll py together in the fields, pick berries, nap iree hollows… We'll never feel lonely again! Just thinking about it makes me so happy!"

  "Happiness..." Mewtwo murmured, repeating the word.

  What exactly was happiness? What did it feel like?

  It wasn't the first time Mewtondered such questions, yet the aill seemed distant.

  After ending the versation with Mew and Teddiursa, Mewtwo sat in silence for a long moment. Then, out of curiosity, it opehe seargine on its Rotom Phone and began typing in human nguage.

  —What is happiness?

  The results loaded almost instantly.

  Happiness is a deep, long-sting sense of te with life. It is the joy that es when one's needs are fulfilled and a stable desire to maintain the present state of being. It is a mi, an experience, and even a way of living.

  Satisfa with life… A stable state of wanting things to remain unged…

  Mewtwo reflected on its curreence.

  Life at the World Tree had been peaceful. It farmed fields, pnted crops, harvested berries, aed on sun-warmed stones alongside the ed Pokémon. There were no humans seeking to harm them, no Team Rocket trag their every move, no battles for survival.

  No war. No fear. No hunger.

  'Was this happiness?'

  Measn't sure.

  At the Ranch

  As noon approached, Naoki finished preparing the requested food for Mew and Teddiursa.

  He packed honey pudding, honey dy, Poké Blocks, and Poké Puffs ly into Zapdos' satchel, filling every bit of spaside. Then, as ara touch, he pced a pack of specially made Electric-type Energy Cubes in the bag, just for Zapdos.

  Finally, he checked the Poké Balls stored ichel—Mew and Teddiursa had taken them on their jouro recruit new Pokémon for the World Tree, but during this period, they hadn't caught anyone new.

  'Maybe they've been too busy searg for Jirachi to invite anyone,' Naoki thought.

  After making sure everything was ready, he gently stroked Zapdos' slightly prickly feathers and said, "Alright, everything's set. I packed all the food Mew and Teddiursa asked for, and I also made a batch of Energy Cubes for you. I wasn't sure which fvor you'd prefer, so I prepared a mix of oypically enjoyed by Electric-type Pokémon."

  Zapdos turs sharp gaze toward Naoki.

  Despite its usual prideful nature, the Thunderbird couldn't help but be touched by the gesture.

  Of course, it wouldn't admit that.

  Instead, it let out a sharp cry, fpped its mighty wings, and turned away with an air of indifference, as if to say, "Hmph, this is no big deal."

  Naoki smiled knowingly. "Alright, then. Safe travels!"

  Without annce back, Zapdos soared into the sky. In the blink of a had disappeared into the clouds.

  Watg the majestion vanish, Naoki found himself thinking about Mew and Teddiursa.

  Their little Expedition Team had e such a long way.

  It was actually kind of moving.

  Who would have thought that, in the beginning, Teddiursa was just a mischievous Pokémon that relied on its adorable appearao trick farmers into giving it honey?

  And now… it had grown into a kied Pokémon, ohat carried a heart full of justice.

  Naoki sighed, feeling a wave of nostalgia as he prepared to head back to the house with Koraidon, ready to enjoy the cool breeze of the air ditioning.

  But just then, Koraidon suddenly tensed up, its keen eyes log onto something in the distance.

  "Raao?"

  "Hmm? What's wrong?" Naoki followed its gaze.

  That's when he spotted it—a Sprigatito sitting in the bushes.

  Naoki froze for a moment.

  A wild Sprigatito? That was ued.

  The Grass-type Starter Pokémon from Paldea wasn't only found in the wild. It was usually raised by trainers who selected it at the start of their journey.

  But as Naoki took a closer look, he noticed something odd.

  The Sprigatito wore a small bell around its neck, simir to those found on Gogoat herds raised on farms.

  Clearly, someone had pced that bell on it.

  "So… it's not wild?" Naoki muttered.

  Surprisingly, the Sprigatito showed no fear upon seeing him and Koraidon. Instead, it calmly padded toward them, eyes bright with curiosity.

  When it got close enough, it looked up at Koraidon, then at Naoki, before tilting its head slightly.

  "Spiri?"

  Naoki blinked.

  "Hold on a sed," he said, pulling out his Rotom Phone and activating the Pokémon Transtor app.

  "Say that again?"

  Sprigatito g the phoheed itself.

  "Spiri?"

  A moment ter, Rotom trahe words aloud.

  [Is this the Pokémon Tavern?]

  Naoki was stunned.

  'The Pokémon Tavern? It actually came here looking for tavern?'

  Rec quickly, he crouched down and asked, "What brings you here?"

  Sprigatito's ears perked up as it fidently answered, "Meow-ha!" (I heard this pce helps Pokémon!)

  Naoki nodded. "That's right. Do you need help finding your trainer?"

  He figured it must have gotten lost and learned about the Pokémon Tavern from another Pokémon that had been helped before.

  He imagined a poor, worried trainer searg desperately for their missing partner.

  However, the moment he brought up its trainer, Sprigatito's expression soured.

  "Spiri!" (No way!)

  It turned away, its tail flig in irritation.

  Naoki was startled.

  'Wait… what? Did it just… reject my help?'

  Sprigatito huffed dramatically before tinuing.

  Apparently, its trainer had caught a new Pokémon and started paying all their attention to it, pletely ign Sprigatito.

  Feeling ed, the jealous Sprigatito had run away from home.

  Later, it overheard some other Pokémon talking about a tavern that helps Pokémon with their problems.

  So, it had e seeking advice.

  Naoki listened carefully, his expression growing amused.

  "So, you're not here because you wao help you find your trainer…" He trailed off, pieg things together.

  Sprigatito turned back toward him, puffing up its chest.

  "Spiri?" (I want to ask—how do I make my trainer like ONLY me?!)

  Naoki eechless.

  Sprigatito stared up at him, eyes full of hope. It seemed to think Naoki was some kind of expert oter.

  He felt a sudden headache ing on.

  Pokémon could really be something else sometimes.

  Seeing Naoki's rea, Sprigatito frowned, its ears twitg in frustration.

  Then, as if sensing that Naoki was too slow to uand, it decided to expin its entire life story in one dramatit.

  "Spiri, Spiri, Spiri-ha!" (Astro is so mean! Ever since he caught that new Pokémon, he only pays attention to it! He spends all day taking care of those annoying Pokémon, and he didn't even notice that I ran away from home for days!)

  Naoki immediately uood.

  "So, you want your traio only like you and no one else?"

  Sprigatito nodded furiously.

  "Spiri!" (That's right! you help me? If you do, I'll even give you my favorite treasure!)

  Naoki: "…"

  'So I'm not the only one dealing with Pokémon jealousy problems.'

  Apparently, this was a universal issue.

  He had far too many Pokémon at the ranch, and some of them got jealous whenever he spent time with others.

  Just the other day, Freon and Sylveon refused to move from his p while he was w, demanding attention.

  And now… he was supposed to help this little drama queen make its trainer obsessed with it?

  Naoki let out a long sigh.

  ...

  Bonus Chapter