Naoki shifted gears abruptly, beginning a tale seemingly uo the crisis at hand. "Have you heard the legend of the King of Bountiful Harvests?" he asked, his toaking on a storyteller's gravitas.

  Kieran and Carmine blinked in surprise at the sudden ge of topic. "The King of Bountiful Harvests?" Carmine echoed.

  Naoki nodded solemnly, his expression serious. "Its name is Calyrex, and it is a Pokémon once loved and revered by the people in the Gar regio me tell you its story."

  Naoki wove the legend: how Calyrex wahe nd on its loyal steed, bringing abundao those in need. It was worshipped as a benevolent ruler, but as the turies passed, its legend faded, and humans began tet. Left to wahe snowfields in loneliness, its power diminished until it was rediscovered a thousand years ter. In gratitude for saving their nd, humans built a shrine on a mountain to honor Calyrex, ensuring its legadured.

  Carmine gasped, her eyes wide with wonder. "That's incredible! It sounds way strohan those three... panions." She spat the word with disdain. "No, those three vilins 't even pare!"

  Kieran's eyes gleamed with fasation. The idea of a Pokémon that had once been a king and ruled a kingdom captured his imagination.

  But the siblings soon realized the story didn't seem to address their current predit. Carmine furrowed her brow. "Naoki, isn't this a little off-topic? Don't we o figure out how to help everyone in the vilge?"

  Naoki smiled. "It's not off-topic at all. You see, I happen to be a friend of Calyrex. I ask it to help."

  The siblings' jaws dropped. "Wait, what?!" Kieran excimed. "You actually knookémon like that?!"

  Carmiared at Naoki as though seeing him in a new light. "Uncle, you're amazing!"

  Naoki: "…"

  Fet it, let this little girl scream whatever she wants!

  Deg to act quickly, Naoki goward the fog-shrouded streets below. "Is there a Pokémoer in town?" he asked.

  "Yes!" Carmine replied eagerly. "It's oreet behind the Momozawa store."

  Naoki nodded and instructed Dragoo carry Kieran and Carmio the ter while he and Ogerpon rode Koraidon, carefully weaving through the purple fog and the wandering vilgers.

  The Pokémoer was dim, its usual cheerful atmosphere repced with tension. As they approached, they heard faint footsteps from inside, followed by the sound of curtains being pulled back slightly.

  The door creaked open, and Nurse Joy peeked out. Spotting Naoki and the children, she quickly ushered them inside. "Hurry!" she whispered urgently.

  Once everyone was safely inside, Nurse Joy closed the curtains and leaned against the door, her expression worried. "Everyone in town has started ag sely... I've never seen anything like this."

  She looked at the children and offered a gentle smile. "Don't worry. I've tacted the Sinnoh League, and they're sending help as soon as possible."

  Kieran and Carmine, however, were nhtehey exged gheir excitement mounting. "Naoki's going to call Calyrex!" Carmine whispered to her brother.

  Nurse Joy tilted her head in fusion. "Calyrex? What's that?"

  Naoki sed the Pokémoer until his eyes nded on a row of video phones in the er. Turning to Nurse Joy, he asked, "May I use the video phone?"

  Though puzzled, Nurse Joy nodded. "Of course. Feel free."

  Naoki strode over, pung in the number for his ranch. The s flickered to life, and soon the face of Indeedee appeared on the s.

  As if hearing Naoki's voice, Alcremie and G quickly gathered in front of the s. The group of Pokémon pressed their faces eagerly against the camera, their expressions cheerful and curious.

  Naoki chuckled, greeting his Pokémon warmly. Then, turning to Indeedee, he said, "I o speak with Calyrex. Something urgent has e up."

  Hearing this, Indeedee immediately turned and called toward the living room behind it.

  "Ai-ye!"

  Calyrex, who was quietly watg a show, floated into view upon hearing its name.

  When the Pokémon appeared on s, it ined its head regally. "C… Mo-Chi-?" it asked telepathically.

  Naoki sighed, realizing the telepathy wouldn't transmit over the video call. Thinking quickly, he expihe situation aloud. "Calyrex, there's a strange Pokémon in this town using its power to trol the vilgers. I 't pinpoint its location, and things are getting out of hand."

  Calyrex's expression hardened as it grasped the gravity of the situation. It gave a firm nod, signaling its willio help.

  Naoki turned back to Indeedee. "Please escort Calyrex to the Pokémoer in town and send it through the Poké Ball Transporter as quickly as possible."

  Indeedee saluted smartly. "Ai-ye!" It swiftly moved to make the arras.

  After the call ehe Pokémon on the ranch sprang into a.

  ...

  Back at the Pokémoer, Kieran and Carmine were still buzzing with excitement. They had watched the eera from behind Naoki and couldn't tain their awe.

  "That's Calyrex?" Carmine asked, eyes wide. "Its head is… so big!"

  Naoki sighed, ping the bridge of his nose. "Be respectful. That's not how you talk about someone as noble as Calyrex."

  Carmine quickly cmped her hands over her mouth. "Sorry!"

  Kieran, more cautious, whispered, "Will Calyrex be mad?"

  Naoki shook his head with a small smile. "Calyrex has a ki. But that's no excuse to be impolite, okay?"

  The siblings nodded solemnly, promising to be more respectful.

  Nurse Joy, who had been the exge, still looked fused. Naoki didn't bother to expin further, instead walking over to the transporter as it lit up. Moments ter, a Poké Ball materialized in the mae with a soft hum.

  Naoki retrieved the Poké Ball, and with a fsh of light, Calyrex appeared in its Rider form atop Spectrier, exuding a anding presehat silehe room.

  "Whoa…" Kieran and Carmine gasped in unison, their amazement evident.

  Even Nurse Joy, who had seen her fair share of legendary Pokémon, was rendered speechless by the regal aura Calyrex carried.

  Calyrex's gaze swept the room before fog on Naoki. Telepathically, it asked, "Where is the threat?"

  Naoki stepped forward and reted the events that had unfolded in the vilge. He expihe strange fog, the zombified vilgers, and the mysterious Pokémon's as. When he mentiohe three vilinous Pokémon stealing Ogerpon's masks and causing the death of its caretaker, a storm of fury flickered in Calyrex's usually calm eyes.

  Calyrex turs attention to Ogerpon, its gaze softening with a rare dispy of warmth and passion. There was a deep uanding in its eyes as if it could sehe pain and loss Ogerpon had endured.

  "I never imagined such wicked Pokémon could exist in this world," Calyrex said, its voice regal yet tinged with sorrow. "They must be brought to justice."

  Kieran and Carmine, overwhelmed by the majestic presence of Calyrex, stood rooted in awe.

  "That's right! Those bad Pokémon deserve to be punished!" Carmine excimed, g her fists in anger.

  "Calyrex, please save everyone in this town," Kieran added, worry evident in his voice as he thought of his grandparents.

  Calyrex ined its head slightly in aowledgment, then guided Spectrier out of the Pokémoer with a fluid, anding stride. The townsfolk wandering the streets, still uhe strange Pokémon's trol, tur the sound of Spectrier's hooves. Slowly, they began to surround the Pokémoer, their vat eyes devoid of aion.

  Calyrex surveyed the crowd calmly, its gaze steady and unyielding. Without a word, it summos immense psychic power. Like a tidal wave, the energy surged outward, sweeping through the eown in an instant.

  A radiant light burst forth, illuminating the dark streets as if it were midday. The vilgers froze iheir movements stilled by the overwhelming force. Slowly, their clouded minds began to clear uhe influence of Calyrex's powerful psychic aura.

  As sciousness returned, fusion flickered across their faces. Some were startled, others embarrassed as they realized their as and the events that had transpired. Their attention was soon drawn to the regal Pokémon before them, mounted on its ethereal steed.

  "What… is that?" a vilger murmured.

  "What just happened?" another whispered.

  Meanwhile, Kieran and Carmine spotted their grandparents in the crowd. Overjoyed, they rushed forward, throwing themselves into the arms of Yukito and Hideko.

  "Grandpa! Grandma!" Kieran cried, his voice trembling with relief.

  Yukito and Hideko embraced their grandchildren tightly, their faces still filled with shock as they looked toward Calyrex.

  "That Pokémon… where did it e from?" Yukito muttered.

  Sensing their apprehension, Kieran quickly expined. "Don't worry! That Pokémon is called Calyrex, and Unaoki brought it here to help us!"

  While the vilgers murmured amongst themselves, Calyrex closed its eyes, extending its psychic powers further. Its aura spread like a fine web, searg the town for the source of the disturbance. Moments ter, its eyes snapped open.

  "I have found it," Calyrex annouelepathically. Without hesitation, it unleashed another surge of psychiergy.

  The mischievous purple Pokémon, hiding deep within the shadows, was suddenly enveloped in a blinding white light. Before it could prehend what was happening, it was teleported to a clearing in front of the Pokémoer.

  The creature blinked, disoriented, as it found itself exposed. Panic set in as it realized the vilgers were no longer us trol and that a powerful presened before it. The Pokémon turned, attempting to flee.

  Ogerpon, watg from the sidelines, let out an angry cry, its voice trembling with emotion.

  Beferpon could act, tless tiny spirits appeared around Calyrex. These glowiies shimmered gently in the air, like stars scattered across a midnight sky.

  Then, in an instant, the stars shattered. The glowing purple spirits swirled through the air and surged toward the mischievous Pokémon, swarming it.

  A strange, resonating hum filled the air. "Buzz..."

  Pecharunt, still scrambling to flee, was engulfed by the storm of spirits. With a final, deafening crash, the Pokémon colpsed to the ground. Its vibrant purple form dimmed as it lost sciousness, rendered pletely powerless.

  The vilgers, gathered nearby, stared in stunned silence.

  Finally, the vilge chief broke the quiet, his voice trembling with awe. "What kind of Pokémon is that...?"

  Carmine and Kieran, seeing the one responsible for the chaos defeated, couldn't tain their excitement.

  "Calyrex is amazing! That was incredible!" Carmine cheered.

  "Yeah! It taught that bad Pokémon a lesson!" Kieran added, his fists pumping in celebration.

  'Calyrex?' The vilge chief's expression froze.

  Something about that name felt deeply familiar. His eyes flickered toward Naoki, standing amidst the crowd, and a memory surfaaoki's story about the King of Bountiful Harvests, shared during his visit to the rice fields just days ago.

  'If Calyrex truly existed… could that legend also be real?'

  The realizatiohe vilge chief visibly shaken.

  Calyrex, however, remained posed. It paid no attention to the vilgers' chatter, fog instead on the unscious Pokémon before it. Mounted orier, Calyrex leaned closer, its psychic pently probing the Pokémon's past and future.

  After a long pause, Calyrex straightened and spoke, its voice filled with both authority a. "You were loved, yet you failed t. You used your powers to trol and harm those who cared for you, ed by greed. In doing so, you turned love into pain and created this tragedy."

  Calyrex paused, its gaze heavy with sorrow. "I ot take your life, nor I offer fiveness on behalf of those you've wronged."

  Initially, Calyrex sidered sealing Pecharunt within the bounds of this vilge until it uood the true meaning of love. But after another moment of refle, it dismissed the thought.

  "I do not hold the authority to decide your fate," it cluded, turning away from the fallen Pokémon.

  Ogerpon stood silently nearby, its masked face tilted downward. The sight of the Pokémon responsible for stealing its masks and the loss of its loved ones reignited a deep fury within it.

  The vilgers remained, watg in tense sileheir eyes shifted between Pecharunt and the "oni" they had feared for so long, unsure of what would e .

  Ogerpon's fists trembled as it struggled to tain its emotions, its tiny frame quivering with unresolved rage.

  Naoki, the fli Ogerpon's eyes, sighed deeply. He stepped forward, standing beside the masked Pokémon.

  Ogerpon gnced up at him, startled.

  Naoki looked down at it, his expression calm but firm. "Do what your heart tells you to do," he said softly. "No matter what happe, I'll take responsibility for it."

  Whether the vilgers tio misuand Ogerpon, or whether the world judged it as a cruel oni, none of that mattered to Naoki.

  Because from now on, Ogerpon would no longer belong to Kitakami. It would leave with Naoki, journeying to the distant Paldea region to begin a neter in its life.

  There, it would no longer be shunned as a oni. Instead, Ogerpon would roam freely, py with other Pokemon, and join celebrations with joy. During the festivals iown, it take off its mask and revel alongside everyone.

  At this moment, not only Naoki, but also Yukito, Hideko, Carmine, and Kieran were all focused on Ogerpon.

  A deep siletled over the group. No one spoke. Everyone seemed to be waiting ferpon to make its decision.

  "Oge…"

  Ogerpon looked at Naoki, its wide eyes refleg his gentle expression and the reassuring touch of his hand on its head. Slowly, tears welled up in its eyes.

  Then, in a decisive gesture, Ogerpon removed the verdant mask from its face, revealing its true visage.

  In its hands, a surge of potent Grass-type energy gathered, coalesg into a massive thorny club.

  Gripping the on tightly, Ogerpon began walking toward the fallen Pecharunt, who y motionless, breathing faintly.

  Step by step, it moved forward. The sound of its quiet footsteps echoed iill air.

  It was just like that fateful day when Ogerpon had charged down the mountain in ao avehe o had lost.

  The onlookers, the townspeople who had once feared Ogerpon, watched in stunned silence.

  As Ogerpon reached pecharunt, it raised the thorn club high above its head.

  And then, with all its strength, it brought the club crashing down.

  "Boom!"

  The ground shook as the club struot pecharunt, but the floor beside it, leaving a deep crater.

  ...

  Before Naoki's departure, the vilge elder, with tears in his eyes, thrust a sealed purple doll imbued with Calyrex's power into Naoki's hands.

  "Please, Mr. Naoki, take this Pokémon with you! It has brought nothing but trouble to our vilge!" he pleaded.

  Word of the events had spread quickly. Everyone now khe truth: the malicious Pokémon had been the one trolling the townsfolk and leading the Loyal Three to steal Ogerpon's masks.

  Fearful of the Pokémon's influend worried that the seal might someday weaken, the elder desperately wa removed from the vilge.

  Naoki sighed. While Ogerpon hadn't harmed Pecharunt in the end, merely leaving a gaping hole in the ground nearby, the memories associated with the Pokémon were still too painful.

  Keeping it nearby would only serve as a stant reminder of the past.

  Naoki shook his head, pushing the doll back toward the elder. "Calyrex's power is strong. As long as Pecharunt remains sealed, it won't pose a threat. If you're still worried, just bury it on Apple Hill. There's o send it with me."

  The elder trembled, tears welling in his eyes, but Naoki's firm to no room for debate.

  "My work here is done," Naoki decred. "The exge meeting has ended, and it's time for me to return home."

  Not only had he gained Ogerpon's trust, but Calyrex had alsthes e with the vilgers, harvesting newfound faith from the people of Kitakami.

  Naoki turo leave, ready to return to his ran Paldea.

  But just as he was about to step away, the elder called out to him once more, his voice desperate.

  "Wait! Mr. Naoki!"

  "What's wrong?" Naoki paused and turned back to ask.

  The vilge elder hesitated, his words faltering before he finally stammered out, "Could you… could you please not tell ahe truth about the legend cirg in Kitakami Township… please!"

  It lea, tinged with desperation. The vilge relied on the legend of the Loyal Three to draw tourists, develop the area, and es prosperity.

  Naoki blinked, momentarily speechless.

  Aside from Yukito's family, it seemed the townspeople and the four Pokémon shared a simir outlook in one peculiar echarunt and the Loyal Three had sought to steal Ogerpon's mask for their own gain, and the vilgers wao exploit the fame of the Loyal Three to boost tourism. her seemed particurly ed with the actual iy of their "panions."

  The phrase came to Naoki's mind: "No matter if the cat is bck or white, as long as it brings wealth, it's a good cat."

  It felt oddly fitting for the mi here.

  Naoki sighed. "If that's the case, why don't you promote Ogerpon instead? It's a legendary Pokémon too, isn't it? There's really not much difference."

  The vilge elder looked flustered, scratg his head awkwardly. "This… well, uh…" His words trailed off.

  Naoki shook his head, no longer willing to eain the versation. "Let's go!"

  Without waiting for a response, Naoki turned, climbed onto Koraidon, and took off into the sky.

  Kitakami gradually receded into the distahe sprawling green fields and winding roads growing smaller and smaller until they vanished entirely.

  Wheown was finally out of sight, Naoki reached ferpon's Poké Ball on his belt. He held it in his hand and said softly, "Ogerpon, please take care of me from now on."

  The Poké Ball trembled gently in response, as if the Pokémon within was answering him.

  Naoki smiled, his grip on the ball tightening briefly before tug it away again.

  The wind swept through his hair as Koraidon soared higher, the endless blue sky stretg above. With a tented sigh, Naoki patted Koraidon and said, "Alright, let's head home."

  "Raao!"