Naoki immediately reized Professor Oak.

  Smiling, Naoki greeted him, "I've seen you on TV! Hello, Professor Oak!"

  Professor Oak nodded warmly, quickly uanding the reference. "Ah, the TV lecture series! The station invited me to provide some educational material for young trainers."

  These lectures were desigo introduon to children uen, cultivating i and knowledge before their journeys began. As an authoritative figure in Pokémon research, Oak's programs aired across variions, bridging the gap for children eager to learn.

  After exging pleasantries, Professor Oak's curiosity turned sharply toward the Pokémon gathered around Naoki. His eyes lit up with a mixture of academitrigue and childlike excitement.

  "Would you mind if I examined your Pokémon?" Oak asked eagerly.

  Naoki smiled aured toward them. "Be my guest."

  Professor Oak wasted no time, stepping closer to Koraidon. The Pokémon's vibrant red scales shimmered in the moonlight, its muscur frame a testament to its strength.

  "This one is remarkable! Dense, protective scales and... is that a tire on its chest?" Oak crouched, poking at the air-filled sa Koraidon's chest.

  Koraidon seemed startled by Oak's unceremonious iion. It stepped back, looking flustered, then suddenly transformed into its bat-ready, bipedal form. Its t posture and rippling muscles exuded an aura of power.

  "Ah, gah!" Koraidon roared, the sound deep and resonant.

  Oak and Lah flinched in shock. "It ged form?!" Oak excimed, his excitement only growing.

  Naoki stepped fently patting Koraidon's shoulder. "Calm down," he said softly.

  Koraidon obeyed, reverting to its more docile mount form.

  Naoki expined, "This is Koraidon. It's a rare Pokémon from the Paldea region, first discovered and named by Professor Sada and Dr. Turo."

  "Koraidon..." Professor Oak repeated thoughtfully. He crouched again, the Pokémon with great i. "Fasating! And its ability to shift forms—truly remarkable."

  Koraidon nodded enthusiastically. "Ah, gah!"

  The loud roar made Oak wind cover his ears. "Alright, alright! I uand!" he said with a chuckle.

  Satisfied, Koraidon stopped r, and Oak turned his attention to the other Pokémon. His eyes fell on Ogerpon, who had been boung around happily.

  "This one—was I corre that it ge its type depending on the mask it wears?" Oak inquired.

  Naoki nodded. "Exactly. This is Ogerpon, and the masks it uses tain a unique energy called Terastal Energy, which inates in Paldea. This energy allows Ogerpon to shift its type depending on the mask."

  "Terastal Energy..." Oak murmured, intrigued. "The ability to ge types—remarkable! I wasn't aaldea had access to such extraordinary phenomena."

  Ogerpoed by Oak's i, danced around in joy. "Oge!" it chirped, its voice cheerful and iious.

  Oak smiled warmly aurhe greeting. "Hello, Ogerpon!"

  "Pon~" Ogerpon responded, even more delighted. Its happiness was tagious, as it twirled and hopped around the group.

  Watg Ogerpon's cheerful demeanor, Naoki felt a pang of emotion. He recalled its difficult past but reminded himself that those days were behind them. Ogerpon was safe and happy now, surrounded by friends.

  Professor Oak's attention then shifted to Pawmot, who stood nearby in its superhero-inspired cape and wielding a hammer. The sight immediately reminded Oak of a certain movie franchise he had once seen.

  Chug, Oak k and greeted Pawmot. "Hello, little hero!"

  Pawmot froze for a moment when he heard the stranger call him a hero, and then a bashful expression spread across his face.

  In a blur, he zipped behind Naoki, clearly embarrassed.

  Naoki chuckled. "This Pokémon is called Pawmot. The e it's wearing ecially made by me."

  Professor Oak smiled warmly. "Pawmo, you say? Well, it's certainly brimming with energy!"

  Having introduced the Pokémon nearby, Professor Oak suddenly paused and looked around. "Where's that ethereal Pokémon I saw earlier? The ohat looked like Misdreavus. It was just here, wasn't it?"

  Naoki froze, quickly gng around the area. Sure enough, Flutter Mane was o be seen. flickered across his face.

  Turning to the other Pokémon, Naoki asked if anyone had noticed where Flutter Mane had gohe Pokémon, engrossed in their chatter with Professor Oak, shook their heads, oblivious to what had happened.

  This isn't good, Naoki thought, frowning deeply.

  Notig Naoki's unease, Professor Oak asked gently, "Is something wrong? It couldn't have wandered far. We search the manor for it."

  Naoki hesitated before responding, "Flutter Mane is a bit… different. It has a more cautious and uable temperament than most Pokémon. I'm worried it might have been startled by something and could uionally hurt someone."

  After all, this unfamiliar enviro must feel overwhelming for Flutter Mane.

  Thinking quickly, Naoki turo Pawmot. "Pawmot, you fly around the manor and see if you spot Flutter Mane? Pay special attention to any dark or quiet areas."

  "Pamo!" Pawmot nodded firmly before taking to the skies.

  Although her Professor Oak nor Lance fully uood the situation, they immediately offered their help. "We'll assist you in searg," they said.

  Together, the group, apanied by their Pokémon, began sc the manor.

  ...

  Meanwhile, on the manor's third floor, far from the party's liveliness, a low, eerie g sound echoed from a dark room. The sound was faint, like a baby's wail, yet unnervingly hollow.

  Flutter Mane, who had been feeling peckish and was casually hunting for something edible, paused. Its curiosity piqued by the sound, it floated toward the source.

  The room's windows were wide open, and the wind stirred the curtains, creating a ghostly atmosphere. The cries grew louder as Flutter Mane approached the room.

  H he open window, Flutter Mane peered is eyes narrowing with suspi. The cries became more distinct, yet the room appeared pletely empty.

  'Fluur'. 'Where is that sound ing from?' Flutter Mahought, puzzled.

  Drawn by its curiosity, Flutter Mane floated cautiously into the room.

  The moment it ehe g stopped, only to start again moments ter, louder and more insistent. The wails seemed to beg the intruder to delve deeper.

  As an a predator, Flutter Mane's instincts kicked in. Its senses sharpened, and it realized the truth—this was no ordinary cry. It was a lure.

  With practiced stealth, Flutter Mane slipped into the shadows, silently moving behind the ornate sofa in the ter of the room.

  Peering around the sofa's edge, Flutter Mane spotted the source of the sound: a peculiar Pokémon. It had a dark green, slightly lumi body, a hairstyle resembling eerie fmes, and a string of red beads hanging promily around its neck.

  Yet something about the Pokémo oddly familiar.

  Flutter Mane's sharp eyes he mischievous glint in the Pokémon's gaze, even as it feigned sorrow with its g. Its expression gave away its i—it was waiting for prey to approach.

  'Fluur'. 'This Pokémon looks like… me?' Flutter Mahought, perplexed. A smaller, younger version, perhaps?

  Emerging from the shadows, Flutter Mane revealed itself without a sound.

  The g stopped abruptly.

  The Pokémon finally sensed something amiss and whipped its head around with a startled expression. In that instant, two vastly different gazes locked.

  Flutter Mane: (●_●)

  Misdreavus: Σ(°△°|||)︴

  The Misdreavus, who had been plotting a prank to scare humans, froze in terror before abruptly turning tail and bolting from the room. In its panic, it clumsily knocked over a decorative vase, which shattered on the floor with a loud crash.

  Flutter Mane, however, remained calm and posed. As a Pokémon that had spent much of its life in solitude, it felt little i in meddling with the affairs of other Pokémon, particurly this mischievous little one.

  It prepared to leave, but then an image of Naoki fshed in its mind.

  If it were Naoki, Flutter Mahought, he would have helped this juvenile Pokémon without hesitation. During its time at the ranch, Flutter Mane had e to realize how Naoki and the others—especially Koraidon—made great efforts to teach it about this world, ensuring it felt weled and ied.

  This was a ce to prove it had been paying attention and learning from them.

  Determined, Flutter Mane gave chase.

  The Misdreavus fled as fast as it could but risked a gnce over its shoulder. To its horror, the "scary big Pokémon" was gaining on it. Misdreavus' nerves were so frayed it felt like it might faint frht.

  'Help! Someone save me!'

  Misdreavus zoomed through the air, desperately seeking an escape route. Yet before it could find ohe t figure of Flutter Mane swooped in, its sharp wing cws gently but firmly capturing the panicked ghost.

  The little Misdreavus froze in terror, not daring to move.

  Flutter Mane didn't move either, as it appeared to be pting what to do . It mulled over everything it had observed at the ranch, attempting to recall the steps Naoki took when g for younger Pokémon.

  Gradually, the trembling Misdreavus calmed down, realizing that the rge Pokémon wasn't harming it. Gathering its ce, it finally spoke in a small voice, "Mis…dreavus?" (What are you going to do?)

  Flutter Mane's eyes flickered as it remembered something from a show it had watched with the other Pokémon on the ranch—a program called Pokémon World. It had expihe process by which wild Pokémon formed retionships, raised their young, and cared for them.

  Now, how did those Pokémon in the show hauations like this?

  Before Flutter Mane could piece it all together, Misdreavus' stomach let out a loud rumble.

  The smaller Pokémed, clutg its midse in embarrassment. "M-Misdreavus…" (I'm…hungry.)

  It expihat its pn had been thten humans and absorb their fear to sate its hunger, but things hadn't gone acc to pn. Instead of humans, it had attracted this intimidating Pokémon.

  Hearing this, Flutter Mane nodded in uanding. Its mind clicked—it remembered the first rule of g for younger Pokémohem.

  Reag into a hidden stash of berries it kept for emergencies, Flutter Mane offered a few to the Misdreavus. It mimicked the gentle care it had seen Naoki exhibit, nudging the fruit toward the smaller Pokémon.

  Misdreavus hesitated but was too hungry to refuse. Though it didn't particurly enjoy the taste of the berries, it ate them anyway, grateful for the gesture.

  Seeing that the little one had eaten, Flutter Mane appeared satisfied. It released Misdreavus but tio watch it carefully, its intense gaze silently instrug the smaller Pokémon to stay put.

  Misdreavus didn't dare move.

  Just then, Flutter Mane heard the distant call of Pawmot searg for it. It gnced in the dire of the sound, then turned baisdreavus. With a tilt of its head, it gestured for the little ghost to follow.

  The Misdreavus didn't dare to run. It could sehat the t Pokémon in front of it was far more intimidating than it appeared. If it tried to escape, it would likely be caught in an instant.

  Under such circumstances, it decided it was better not to provoke this enigmatic figure.

  When Pawmo finally led Flutter Mane back to Naoki, the trainer was surprised to see a nervous Misdreavus trailing cautiously behind Flutter Mas rge eyes darting around nervously.

  Naoki tilted his head in fusion. "What's this?" he asked.

  Flutter Mane's response was simple, its toeady: "Flurr." (A child.)

  Professor Oak, who had been the entire exge, leaned closer and chuckled with fasation. "Ah, this Pokémon—Flutter Mane, as you call it—seems to be g for the Misdreavus as if it were its offspring."

  Naoki's eyes widened in disbelief. "Offspring?" He g Flutter Mane, noting its posed expression. 'That 't be right. Paradox Pokémon like Flutter Mane don't y eggs, do they?'

  Yet, Flutter Mane's demeanor didn't waver. If anything, its calm, unspoken fidenly deepened Naoki's fusion.

  A thought suddenly struaoki, something that had been brewing in his mind for a while. 'Could Paradox Pokémon like Flutter Ma be fantastical creations or fabricated legends?'

  'Could it be possible that Paradox Pokémon were once real creatures—a beings that roamed the world like dinosaurs ioric times? Over millennia, had they goinct, leaving behind no evidence of their existence except for the peculiar glimpses provided by Area Zero?'

  'Or was there aranger expnation?'

  'Could the so-called time mae have brought these Pokémon from another dimensioirely—an alternate reality where their evolutionary paths diverged from anything known in this world?'

  As Naoki mused, Professor Oak's voice cut through his thoughts. "Flutter Mane… Could it be a unique form of Misdreavus found in the Paldea region? Fasating! It's much rger than any Misdreavus I've ever seen."

  Naoki frowned. He didn't have the answers. Instead, he reached into his backpack, pulled out a handful of seed crisps, and munched on them. After a moment, he asked Flutter Mane,

  "What's the story with this Misdreavus?"

  Flutter Mane seemed to hesitate for a moment before replying with its characteristic simplicity. "Flurr." (A child, alone, g. I helped it.)

  Naoki: "..."

  Naoki sighed, rubbing the back of his head as he turo Flutter Mane. His expression was a mix of exasperation and amusement.

  "It's not a child," he expined patiently. "Even though you two look simir, you're not the same kind of Pokémon."

  Flutter Mailted its head in visible fusion. "Flurr?" (Not a child?)

  Naoki nodded, croug slightly to meet Flutter Mane's gaze. "That Pokémon is called Misdreavus. It's just how they look."

  Turning to the timid Misdreavus h nearby, Naoki offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry for the misuanding. Flutter Mane didn't mean any harm. It thought you were a baby and wao take care of you. It really had good iions, even if it got a little carried away."

  The Misdreavus puffed up indignantly but, notig Naoki's calm demeanor and siy slowly rexed. With a huff, it responded, "Misdreavus!" (I'm not a baby! But… si didn't mean any harm, I'll let it go this time!)

  After its decration, the Misdreavus darted off, floating away with a dramatic fir as if it had made a graure of fiveness.

  Flutter Mane made no move to stop it. Instead, it simply watched the smaller Pokémon disappear with a puzzled look. Its expression made it clear that Naoki's expnation had only left it more fused.

  Land Professor Oak, who had observed the entire exge, were stunned. Both men exged gnces before Professor Oak broke the silence.

  "Wait a moment… Were you just talking to a Pokémon?" Oak asked, his tone ced with disbelief.

  Naoki straightened, meeting the professor's astonished gaze. Without hesitation, he nodded, his demeanor calm and matter-of-fact. "That's right. It's one of my abilities."

  "An ability..." Professor Oak murmured, stroking his as he pohe first thing that came to mind was the Tokiower, a rare ability said to be bestowed upon individuals born near Viridian Forest. Those blessed with it were rumored to be able to sehe emotions of Pokémon and eveheir injuries.

  Lance, however, thought of something different. His family's a legend spoke of the power to trons. This prao only a chosen few, was said to enhance a person's affinity with Dragon-type Pokémon, allowing them to bond with and and these powerful creatures effortlessly.

  As both men silently pted Naoki's ability, Flutter Mane g Naoki again, seemingly waiting for further crification. Naoki, however, simply smiled at his Pokémon.

  "Don't worry about it," he said, patting its head gently. "You did fine."