The m, Naoki woke up at the first light of dawn. It was drizzling outside, and the sky was a soft gray, with the entire pasture shrouded in a misty veil. The wet grass glistened faintly in the diffused light.

  "Is it still raining?" Naoki murmured to himself as he opehe door to let the cool breeze ihen took out some sandwiches and eggs from the refrigerator, quickly assembled a few simple sandwiches, and asked Cyclizar to deliver them to G.

  After finishing his own breakfast, Naoki noticed that Dragonite was already waiting uhe eaves, wearing its little red bag and ready to go to work. Naoki handed Dragowo bottles of packaged goat milk. "Thank you for your hard work!"

  "Ouch~" Dragonite chirped happily as it collected the goat milk and disappeared into the rain.

  Naoki then put on his rain boots, grabbed an umbrel, and stepped out of the house. He turo see Cyclizar and Koraidon looking eager to follow him but quickly stopped them. "I'm just going to feed the Gogoat. Stay in the house; I'll be back soon!"

  On rainy days, the ground would be muddy, and although Koraidon and Cyclizar wouldn't roll in the mud, their cws would still get dirty, trag mud all over the house. So the two Pokémon stayed uhe eaves, watg as Naoki walked into the misty drizzle.

  The rain didn't dampen the spirits of the Gogoat at all. When Naoki arrived, the entire pen had transformed into a vibrant stage, with the three Gogoat dang wildly, their energy creating fshes of neon-like light. Smoliv stood nearby, swayily as it absorbed the rich Grass-type energy.

  Naoki poured a bag of grass balls into the feed trough and filled the water trough with fresh water. The Gogoat immediately gathered around, eagerly eating their breakfast.

  Naoki watched them with a sense of pride. The Gogoat had grown signifitly stronger, and their height had noticeably increased sihey evolved. When fully upright, they almost exuded an aura of strength, remi of the legendary swordsmen.

  Shaking off these fanciful thoughts, Naoki moved on to the chi coop. He took out the feed from the silo, filled the trough, and then closed the doors and windows to protect the hens from the rain, ensuring they wouldn't get sick.

  In the Pokémon House, the three Miltank had already milked themselves. Naoki carefully poured the milk into a bucket, moved it to a er, and then took out a brush to groom them. The Miltank looked tent as Naoki brushed their fur, clearly enjoying the attention.

  For the Miltank, life on the ranch was truly blissful. They were cared for daily, with help in milking, feeding, grooming, and access to fresh, fertile grass. They had e to love their new home.

  As Naoki brushed them, he observed their moods. Seeing how tent and happy they have brought him a deep sense of satisfa.

  Despite their simir appearance, each Miltank had a distinct personality. One articurly gentle and g, often sharing its fresh milk with the smaller Pokémon on the ranch. Another was more reserved, preferring to graze quietly in the field and bask in the sun on clear days, enjoying the peaceful surroundings.

  The third Miltank was lively and active, always full of energy and fighting spirit. It enjoyed iing with the other Pokémon on the ranch, bringing a sense of vitality wherever it went.

  "Alright, all done!" Naoki said as he patted the head of the spirited Miltank. He hung the brush on the wall and added, "You all go ahead and py! I still o feed the Naext door."

  The Miltank trio mooed in agreement, tent and ready to enjoy the rest of their day. Naoki smiled at them before turning to head to the room.

  As a Rock-type Pokémon, Nacli didn't enjoy rainy days. They preferred to stay indoors during such weather, avoiding the dampness outside. As Naoki approached the salt house, he pictured the five small figures in his mind and couldn't help but smile before pushing the door open.

  The first thiiced was a massive, rocky figure. It okémoirely made of rocks, with a body that seemed to be structed out e, square blocks.

  Naoki's eyes widened as he realized what had happehe Nacli had evolved! During the rainy night, one of the Nacli had transformed into a Naclstack!

  Before Naoki ehe other four Nacli were already gathered around their newly evolved panion, looking up at it with envy and admiration. But as soon as they notiaoki, they excitedly rao him, surrounding him with their usual cheerful chatter.

  "Nacli, Nacli!"

  "Nacli, Nacli."

  The newly evolved Naclstack also moved forward, its rge limbs making it seem even more formidable.

  "Naclstack~" it called out, its voiow deeper and more resonant pared to when it was a Nacli. The sound owerful blend, almost like a mix of thunder and stone grinding together.

  Naoki looked at the Naclstack with curiosity and asked, "When did you evolve?"

  "Stack..stack!" Naclstack replied, expining that just st night, while it was sleeping soundly, it suddenly felt a surge of magical power c through its body. When it awoke, it found itself in its current, more powerful form.

  "gratutions!" Naoki said with a smile, reag out to touch its head.

  But before his hand could make taaclstack suddenly produced a massive amount of crystal-clear, pure rock salt. The rock salt poured out in su abundahat, in mere seds, a t "salt mountain" had formed on the ground nearby.

  "Wow!" Naoki excimed, his eyes wide with shock. He khat Naclstack could produce more rock salt than Nacli, but he hadn't expected anything this extreme. The amount produced in just one go exceeded what the Nacli had been able to gee over the past two weeks bined!

  The Naclstack, still cheerful and carefree, looked at the pile of rock salt and then back at Naoki. "Stack! stack~" it chirped happily.

  Despite the carefree life on the ranaclstack had not fotten its past. It still remembered how Naoki had protected them, cared for them, and brought them back to the ranch from the dangerous wild when they were lost and helpless. It remembered how Naoki had built a beautiful house for them to live in.

  Now, in its simple yet sincere way, Naclstack wao express its gratitude to the human who had done so much for them. It nudged Naoki affeately with its square head, trying to vey its feelings.

  Even though they couldn't speak the same nguage, Naoki could feel the deep emotions emanating from the i Pokémon in front of him. Naclstack was expressing its heartfelt thanks.

  The emotions of Rock-type Pokémon, Naoki realized, were as simple and steadfast as the mountains themselves.

  Naoki was deeply touched. He pced a hand on Naclstad said warmly, "Thank you, Naclstack. I feel your kindness."

  "Stack~" Naclstack responded, its voice full of warmth.

  Meanwhile, the four Nacli that had yet to evolve watched the se with eager envy. They hopped up and down, chirping, "Nacli, Nacli, Nacl!"

  Seeing their enthusiasm, Naoki smiled and picked eae up in turn, giving them gentle words of encement. "You have to work hard too! But remember, Naclstack is not the final stage—there's still Garganacl waiting for you further up the path."

  "Nacli, Nacli!" The Nacli chorused, their voices filled with determination. They were eager to try their best!

  At that moment, Naoki suddenly recalled that the final evolution, the Garganacl, would stand more than two meters tall. If all five Nacli evolved intanacl, the current salt house would bee far too small and cramped for them.

  "It seems I'll have to ask Kora about building a bigger salt house," Naoki murmured to himself.

  He theuro the , grabbed a bag to collect the pile of rock salt, and told Alcremie about the evolution of the Nacli.

  As expected, after hearing the news, Alcremie immediately wao go see for herself.

  So Naoki took Alcremie to the salt house.

  When she first saw the t Naclstack, Alcremie was taken aback. "Alcremie." she murmured in shock.

  Was this really the little Nacli she used to py with?

  Alcremie had always been the big sister among the Nacli, leading them around and pying together. But now, seeing the Naclstack, which was bigger than herself, she suddenly felt like the roles had reversed.

  It was as if the little sibling who used to follow her around had suddenly grown up ht.

  Naclstack, however, didn't notice Alcremie's surprise. When it saw her, it happily greeted her, "Stack~"

  Naoki, who was busy pag the rock salt nearby, turo Alcremie and said, "When the Naclstack evolve again, they'll be even bigger! By then, they'll be taller than me!"

  "Alcremie?!" Alcremie was even more astonished.

  Naoki added with a smile, "Then you stand on the Garganad have them carry you around."

  He imagined a se where five Garganacl were lifting Alcremie high into the air, making her look like a knight riding on mighty giants.

  Hearing this, both the Nacli and Naclstack were thrilled, eagerly looking forward to that day.

  "Alright, I'm going to put the rock salt away. Do you want to e back with me or stay and py with the Nacli?" Naoki asked as he stood up.

  The Nacli and Naclstack clearly wanted Alcremie to stay and py with them.

  Seeing the familiar, eager expressions on their faces, Alcremie realized that no matter how much they had ged, they were still the same good friends who had alyed together. So, without hesitation, Alcremie nodded happily, indig she wao stay and py with the Nacli.

  "Okay," Naoki said with a smile. "You all have fun. I won't disturb you!"

  He left the salt house, carrying the bag of rock salt.

  The rain outside hadn't let up. As Naoki stored the rock salt away, Dragourned from delivering the milk.

  Dragonite nded uhe eaves, and Naoki went over to remove the bag from its waist. He then took out a towel to help dry off the rain-soaked Dragonite.

  There wasn't much work that could be done on rainy days. The fields didn't need watering, and the hens couldn't graze, so Naoki decided to give both Pawmi and Dragonite a day off to rex at home.

  Drago on the floor, o a basket of small bread rolls that Naoki had made. The rolls were small enough foo eat ie.

  Pawmi watched the se with admiration, ever since seeing Dragonite unleash so much electricity the day before, Pawmi had developed a deep respect for the powerful Pokémon.

  Naoki noticed this and suddenly realized how iing it was to observe the iioween the different Pokémon on the ranch.

  Like the friendship between Alcremie and the Nacli, the boween Butterfree and the bee, the pyful rivalry between Cyclizar and Koraidon, or even the flowers the Pokémon had given to G.

  Of course, the most amusing pair was Cyclizar and Koraidon.

  It turned out that Pokémon could indeed get jealous of each other over their trainer's affe.

  For example, right now, Naoki was sitting on the carpet watg TV, initially leaning against Cyclizar. But he soon noticed a jealous expression on Koraidon's face.

  So, Naoki stood up, made a cup of the bck tea Madame Dantes had given him, and sat down beside Koraidon instead.

  Koraidon immediately beamed with happiness.

  Seeing this, Naoki moved back to Cyclizar.

  Koraidon started to pout again, clearly feeli out.

  "Pfft!" Naoki couldn't help but ugh at the sight.

  Koraidon, who had been ily the distaween Naoki and the Cyclizar, finally notiaoki's behavior. His eyes widened in shock, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

  "Ah, gah!"

  Koraidourned away and began to sulk.

  Seeing this, Naoki quickly moved closer to fort him. "Alright, I didn't mean it. e over and watch TV with me!"

  Koraidon y on the carpet, closing his eyes as if pretending to be asleep, but his slightly twitg eyelids gave him away.

  Cyclizar, notig Koraidon's behavior, tilted his head in fusion, looking at Koraidon with a puzzled expression. "Gaao?"

  Koraidoended not to hear anything.

  Naoki, trying to break the tension, said, "Cyclizar, Dragonite, and Pawmi are all looking at you!"

  At this, Koraidon could no longer keep up the act. He felt embarrassed—thinking he used to see himself as calm and collected, but now his behavior seemed no different from before. How could Cyclizar see him like this?

  Feeling a mix of shame and frustration, Koraidon wao flee the se. But just as he was about to, Naoki patted the spot o him and said, "e o's watch TV together!"

  Koraidoated for a moment before running over and ying down behind Naoki, positioning himself as a makeshift pillow.

  Cyclizar, still baffled by Koraidon's behavior, tilted his head further, "Gaao?"

  Koraidon closed his eyes tighter, trying to ignore everything around him.

  Naoki, watg this se unfold, had to suppress a ugh. This Koraidon had such a charmingly silly side! Despite his fierd imposing appearance, he was calm and reliable, though he occasionally let his guard down, showing a more pyful, almost childish side, just like Cyclizar.

  Naoki gently grabbed Koraidon's big paw, holding it as he pondered.

  What should I say at a time like this? he thought.

  Are you all my wings? The thought made him smile as he sidered how these Pokémon were more than just panions—they were his partners in every sense.

  Just then, something oV caught Naoki's attention.

  "Starting today, the Terastallization, jointly discovered by Professor Sada and Professor Turo, will officially be used in battle. this new battle teique ignite a revolution in the world of Pokémon training? Stay tuned!"

  The s showed two trainers engaged in a fieron battle, both utiliziallization in their strategies.

  Naoki blinked in surprise. "Terastallization is being introduced into battles now?"

  He had thought this eique had already been in use!

  "No wohe trainers I met before didn't use Terastallization," Naoki muttered. But this also firmed just how early iimeline he was. Arven was still young, and many key events had yet to unfold. It would be at least aen years before the major events of the Pokémon world began to take shape.

  Ten years from now. Naoki realized with a start. He would be thirty years old by then!