By noon, after spending the entire m practig its leek-based sword skills, Farfetch'd approached Naoki with sweat dripping from its brow, its expression full of anticipation. It was clearly eager to see what new move it might master today.

  Farfetch'd had a peculiar sense of optimism, as if vihat today was the day it would strike gold and unlock the skills it had been chasing.

  "What a gambler," Naoki muttered inwardly, shaking his head.

  All the fruits in the house had been devoured by Farfetch'd the previous day, leaving Naoki without ingredients for another fruit ptter that m. He had sent Cyclizar to the orchard to gather a fresh basket of berries.

  Ohe fruits were delivered, Naoki pced the basket on the dining table, selected a few ripe berries, and diced them meticulously into pieces, creating three colorful fruit ptters.

  "Horactice this m? Did you mao relearn the moves you fot?" Naoki asked as he worked.

  Farfetch'd nodded enthusiastically. "Farfetch'd!"

  It had spent the m refining the Leaf Bde. Having practiced the move tless times before, Farfetch'd had itted its execution to memory. By now, it could wield the move with exceptional finesse, even disc new nuances in its execution.

  Naoki was impressed. It seemed Farfetch'd had a natural aptitude for Leaf Bde. A thought crossed his mind: if the move was already engraved so deeply in Farfetch'd's mind, would eating the fruit ptter still make it fet?

  Curious, Naoki brought the ptters outside to the grassy field where Farfetch'd waited eagerly. But just as Farfetch'd reached out for the first ptter, Naoki snapped his fingers, halting it.

  "Wait a sed!" Naoki dashed baside the house, opening the fridge and pulling out a special treat he had made for Teddiursa: Lucky Pudding.

  As he held the pudding, information about it surfaced in his mind.

  Lucky Pudding (A): A dessert crafted with joy and care, made from whipped cream, Moo Moo Milk, and natural sweetness.

  Effebsp;Enhances luck slightly for a short period. After ption, Pokémon have a higher ce of finding rare items during exploration.

  Evaluation: A delicious dessert that brings happiness and a touch of good fortune.

  "If it eats the lucky pudding before the fruit ptter, maybe it'll boost its odds of learning a new move," Naoki mused, handing the pudding to Farfetch'd. "Here, try this first. It might make you luckier."

  Luck, after all, was a mysterious force. Whether in life or in battle, it could lead to dodging an enemy's attack or nding a critical hit on a vital point.

  Farfetch'd devoured the pudding with focused determination, then turs attention to the three fruit ptters, its eyes gleaming with hope.

  It began with the first ptter. After the final bite, it suddenly executed a fwless Double Team, leaving behind multiple illusory copies of itself.

  Enced, it moved to the sed ptter. But as the st morsel disappeared, a pained expression crossed Farfetch'd's face. The knowledge of Leaf Bde seemed to flicker and fade, vanishing from its memory.

  Uerred, it approached the third ptter. This time, as Farfetch'd swallowed the final piece, its body began to glow intensely. The ground trembled beh it, and an overwhelming force surged through its frame.

  Naoki froze, his instincts screaming at him. A sudden realization struck him like lightning. "Oh no—"

  Before he could finish the thought, a deafening explosion rocked the field.

  The shockwave sent grass, dirt, and debris flying in all dires. Naoki shielded himself, stumbling backward as the powerful bst knocked him off his feet. When the chaos finally subsided, he lifted his head cautiously, surveying the damage.

  At the ter of a rge, charred crater y Farfetch'd, sprawled out with dazed, swirling eyes.

  Naoki's shoulders slumped. He pihe bridge of his nose, sighing deeply. "That move… it's Explosion."

  Explosion: A Normal-type move that unleashes a massive explosion, striking all Pokémon in the area. With a base power of 250, it's devastating but es at a steep cost—the user is left in a near-faint state after perf it.

  "What terrifying power…" Naoki muttered under his breath.

  Judging by Farfetch'd's paiate, the move clearly took a heavy toll on its user.

  He wondered briefly if Iono's Electrode could use this move. Even if it could, Naoki suspected Iono wouldn't allow it, as the risks to the Pokémon's well-being would outweigh the bes.

  With a deep sigh, Naoki called Koraidon to fete life goat's milk. The warm, creamy milk had miraculous healing properties and quickly brought Farfetch'd back to full health.

  But Farfetch'd didn't look happy. While it had learwo new moves, her was the o truly wanted. Determined, Farfetch'd gripped its leek tightly and stood up again, a fiery resolve burning in its eyes.

  No! I need more! it seemed to say.

  But its stomach was already stretched to capacity from the three servings of berry ptters and one serving of lucky pudding.

  Naoki shook his head in exasperation. "You should take a break and digest your food first," he said with a half-smile.

  "Gah…" Farfetch'd relutly pced a wing over its bloated stomach, aowledging that Naoki was right.

  However, resting wasn't in its nature. Instead, it charged straight into the dummy training area, its leek fshing as it practiced. Each strike against the wooden dummies echoed with precision aermination.

  Having already regained mastery over Leaf Bde, Farfetch'd's movements were swift and elegant. The leek in its hand struck with rhythmic sweeps and chops, carving patterns into the dummies.

  Hours passed, and the once pin leek began to glow faintly. A soft milky-white aura enveloped it as Farfetch'd struck a particurly powerful blow. A radiant I-shaped energy bde formed, slig ly through the wooden dummy.

  Farfetch'd stared at its leek in wonder. Somehow, its Leaf Bde had bee sharper and more refihan ever before.

  ...

  Iernoon, Naoki reoccupied with his pns to expand the ranch. After a hearty lunch, he hopped onto Cyclizar and headed to town to speak with Mayor Thomas.

  Before visiting the mayor, Cyclizar took a moment to reuh its parents. Cyclizar nuzzled affeately against its father and mother, sharing tales of its life on the ranch. It veyed how much it loved its new home, its joy evident in every gesture.

  Meanwhile, Naoki sat in the mayor's cozy living room. Mayor Thomas's wife brought over two steaming cups of tea.

  "Thank you," Naoki said politely, accepting the tea.

  "So, you're here to talk about buying nd?" the mayor asked, curious.

  Naoki nodded. "Yes, the ranch is being crowded with Pokémon. I need more space to aodate everyone fortably."

  Mayor Thomas's eyes lit up with pride. "You're doing far better than yrandfather ever imagined! If he could see the ranch thriving like this, he'd be overjoyed."

  Naoki chuckled softly but said nothing. The ranch's legacy was somethieo honor and build upon.

  "Where are you pnning to buy nd?" Mayor Thomas inquired, leaning forward.

  "The stretch across the river," Naoki expined. "It's a ft, open expanse—perfect for expanding the ranch. If we struct a bridge to ect the two areas, it'll feel like one unified space."

  Mayor Thomas immediately uood which piece of nd Naoki was referring to and nodded in aowledgment. He then began to expiails of purchasing nd.

  "Undeveloped nd like that typically costs 400,000 Poke Dolrs per acre," Mayor Thomas began. "However, the Paldea Alliance has a policy to ence agriculture and animal husbandry. Ranchers like you be from agricultural subsidies, redug the cost to about 300,000 Poke Dolrs per acre."

  Naoki houghtfully. Three huhousand Poke Dolrs per acre seemed reasonable, and with his savings from the past year, he could afford several acres.

  "Do I o pay taxes or anything ter?" Naoki asked.

  Mayor Thomas shook his head. "No taxes are required for wild, undeveloped nd. The Paldea Alliance won't provide any maintenance or development services for it, though. Once you purchase the nd, it's entirely your responsibility to ma."

  He eborated, "You'll o handle everything yourself, from nd mainteo dealing with wild Pokémon that might intrude—things like Pokémoroying farmnd, knog down fruit trees, or stealing crops."

  Mayor Thomas then smiled knowingly. "But giverength of your Pokémon, I don't think these issues will pose a problem."

  Naoki grinned. 'Any Pokémon wandering onto the ranch wouldn't want to leave ohey experie!'

  An old saying popped into his mind: 'Wild Pokémon will never be rivals uhey're given a better home and food.'

  "If you're ready to proceed, I apany you to the town's Land Administration Bureau to file the application," offered Mayor Thomas. "They'll then measure the nd and give you a final price."

  "o trouble you," Naoki replied warmly. "I ha myself. Besides, I brought you a little something from the ranch." He pced a bundle of Moo Moo Milk bottles oable. "These are from the Miltanks on my ranch. I hope you enjoy them."

  Though the goat's milk produced at his ranch was more prized, Moo Moo Milk from his Miltanks was still of excellent quality. Given how much Mayor Thomas had helped him over the years—even gifting him a Cyclizar—it was only fitting to show his gratitude.

  Mayor Thomas smiled kindly. "You didn't have t gifts, but I appreciate it, child."

  Naoki called out to Cyclizar, who had been saying goodbye to its parents in the yard. "Cyclizar!"

  "Gah!" Cyclizar responded immediately, bounding ba.

  Naoki patted its head affeately, then turo the mayor. "Thank you for everything, Mayor Thomas. We'll be on our way now. See you soon!"

  The mayor waved warmly. "Take care! And if you enter any trouble, don't hesitate to reach out."

  With that, Naoki and Cyclizar left, heading toward the Land Administration Bureau. Mayor Thomas watched their retreating figures, a soft smile on his face.

  This boy has truly grown up, he thought, a tinge of nostalgia in his heart. At twenty-something, Naoki was old enough to start a family. Mayor Thomas felt sure Naoki's parents and grandfather would be proud of him, wherever they were.

  ...

  The Land Administration Bureau operated with remarkable efficy. Upon learning Naoki's iion, they immediately sent staff to the raneasure the nd.

  After a detailed survey, one of the staff expihe results to Naoki:

  "This plot of nd totals 35 acres, whicludes 9 acres of mountainous terrain. Fact in the agricultural subsidy, the total pries to 8.7 million Poke Dolrs."

  Naoki took a moment to absorb the figure. Thirty-five acres was substantially rger than his current ranch. bihe two plots would make a ranch of about fifty acres.

  Though the price was steep, he felt reassured by the financial success of the past year. The rising demand foat milk, sales of high-quality rock salt, and the sistent produ from his Miltanks had allowed him to save enough to afford the purchase.

  After a brief pause, Naoki nodded decisively.

  "I'll take it."

  A perma plot of nd without ongoing taxes at this price? Missing out would be a regret he'd carry forever.

  "Great!" the staff member said, grinning. "Let's head back to the Land Administration Bureau to plete the registration. Once we log your details, this nd will officially be yours."

  Naoki didn't waste any time. He retrieved his bank card auro town with the staff. By the time he left the bureau, his bank bance was nearly empty.

  Even so, Naoki felt exhirated.

  The nd across the river now officially beloo the ranch.

  He asked Koraidon to carry him across the river.

  Standing on the vast expanse of green meadows, Naoki felt a thrill of excitement unlike anything he'd experienced before.

  'This is my nd now,' he thought, his heart swelling with pride.

  Naoki jumped off Koraidon and ran freely across the grass, arms spread wide like a child sav his first taste of freedom.

  Koraidon, fused by Naoki's etion, squatted nearby, tilting its head curiously. After a moment of ption, it decided not to overthink things. It let out a loud roar of delight before bounding after Naoki, joyfully running across the field.

  'What should I do with so mud?' Naoki wondered.

  He envisioned a sprawling sheep ranch, a tropical dragon fruit orchard, rows of apple trees, and vast farmnd. But as these ambitious ideas swirled in his head, a logistical problem surfaced.

  Naoki slowed to a halt, his enthusiasm dampened slightly.

  The expanded ranch was now se that traveling across it on foot would be exhausting. While he could ride Koraidon, future endeavors—like transp harvested apples—would require a more practical solution.

  I 't just hitch a cart to Koraidon like it's a farm horse, he thought, frowning.

  He sidered tractors, the staple of traditional farming. But then another idea struck him.

  What about Revavroom, the Steel- and Poison-type Pokémon?

  In the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games, Revavroom was famously repurposed by Team Star as the engine aral po of their Starmobiles. Each Team Star boss modified their Revavroom to create powerful, battle-ready vehicles that reflected their specialty type.

  If adapted correctly, a Revavroom could fun as a tractor for hauling produ the ranch, given its impressive strength aility.

  However, Naoki couldn't help but think about the unique challenges involved in repurposing a Pokémon like Revavroom fricultural use. While Team Star had successfully turheir Revavrooms into vehicles, each Starmobile was highly ized for battle rather than practical tasks.

  The thought of enlisting several powerful Pokémon for a humble task like farmi absurd, akin to asking Groudon to till fields.

  'Maybe this idea is a bit too ambitious,' Naoki mused, shaking his head. 'I'm getting ahead of myself.'

  For now, it was better to focus on the essentials. The nd was his, but there wasn't a single apple tree pnted yet.

  He reminded himself to take things oep at a time.

  The immediate priority was setting up a wooden feo enclose the new property and building a bridge to ect the two plots of nd.

  With a determined nod, Naoki resolved to tact Kelly to begin the phase of his ranch's transformation.