The m, after finishing his work at the ranaoki decided to take a walk in the back mountains to see if he could gather some wild resources.

  Most of the Pokémon on the ranch were busy with their own tasks.

  Koraidon was teag Cyclizar new moves, Gogoat was tending to the crops, the bee were gathering honey, Dragonite was delivering milk to the toawmo was managing the chis.

  So this time, Naoki asked Butterfree, who was familiar with the back mountains, to apany him on his trip.

  Before leaving, he told Cyclizar, "I'm heading out for a bit. Make sure to keep learning from Koraidon. Did you mao master Dragon Pulse st time?"

  "Gaa~"

  Cyclizar nodded eagerly, then rushed over to give Naoki a loving hug.

  After what happened yesterday, Cyclizar realized Naoki wouldn’t get angry or scold it, and this made it grow more fident.

  Seeing this, Naoki could only smile helplessly.

  He patted Cyclizar's head and said, "Now that you've learned Dragon Pulse, it's time to move on to your eique."

  Turning to Koraidon, Naoki noticed it was looking envious. He walked over and gave it a hug as well.

  Koraidon was satisfied.

  Naoki added, "But there's one more thing—don't teach Cyclizar how to use Draeteor just yet."

  "Raao?" Koraidon tilted its head.

  Naoki looked between Koraidon and Cyclizar and expined, "The power and ce of that move are too great. If we're not careful, it'll destroy the ranch."

  Both Pokémon nodded in uanding.

  Seeing this, Naoki smiled and said, "Alright, I'm off then!"

  He slung his backpack over his shoulder, which held some food for attrag wild Pokémon, and turo Butterfree, saying, "Let's go!"

  "Mm-mm~"

  It was summer, and the trees on the back mountaialler and denser.

  The thick opy of dark green leaves blocked the sunlight, casting a patchwork of shadows on the forest floor. The buzzing of is filled the air, occasionally punctuated by the loud cry of a cicada.

  All of this made the forest feel alive.

  As soon as Naoki stepped into the forest, he spotted several familiar Pokémon.

  Caterpie crawled along the branches, Spinarak hung upside down from the trees, and Kricketot chirped iall grass.

  Naoki wasn’t particurly ied in these Pokémon, and sihey were small and non-aggressive, they posed no threat.

  In summer, the mountains and forests were full of hidden treasures.

  Not long after starting his walk, Naoki found a patch of wild ginger growing in the grass.

  He knew a little about this pnt—it could be used to make soup.

  "I'll have to head into town and buy a cy pot for making soup ter."

  With that thought, Naoki pulled up the wild ginger by its roots and pced it in his backpack.

  Butterfree watched curiously. "Hmm?"

  Naoki expihe use of this wild gio Butterfree, then smiled and asked, "Butterfree, do you know where we find more edible pnts nearby?"

  Butterfree blihought carefully, and then nodded eagerly, "Mmm!"

  Naoki was a bit surprised. "Huh? You actually know?"

  Butterfree led the way, and Naoki quickly followed.

  After passing through a dense bush, they arrived at a rge tree.

  Sure enough, many green-skinned fruits hung from the branches, clearly unripe.

  Butterfree gently picked one of the fruits from the tree and pced it in Naoki's palm.

  At first, Naoki uzzled, but soon he reized what it was.

  "Unripe almonds!" he realized.

  "Mmm!" Butterfree expihat some Pokémon would eat these when they couldn't find other food.

  Naoki smiled and shook his head. "No, you 't eat these now—they're not ripe yet."

  "Mmm?" Butterfree tilted its head in fusion.

  Naoki thought for a moment and said, "They'll probably need another month or two to ripen! When they do, the almonds inside will be crispy and refreshing. It's a very nutritious fruit."

  "Mmm!" Butterfree's eyes gleamed as it started drooling.

  Naoki chuckled. "I'll bring you here when they're ripe."

  Butterfree nodded eagerly.

  Naoki asked again, "Besides these, what else did you eat when you lived in the wild?"

  "Mmm..." Butterfree thought carefully.

  Back when it was still a Caterpie, it mostly ate leaves from trees, and occasionally, if it was lucky, it would find a fruit. Most of the time, though, it would hide in derees and tall grass to avoid being hunted by bird Pokémon.

  Although the ces were rare, it had seen many other Pokémoing habits.

  Butterfree she air, then tinued leading Naoki through the forest.

  After a while, they arrived at an old, t tree.

  Naoki peered through the branches and noticed a wild bee ahead.

  Several bee were flying out to collect honey, while their leader, Vespiquen, patrolled around, guarding the hohe bee had worked so hard to produce.

  "Wild honey," Naoki whispered, surprised. "Have you ever tried to take some?"

  Butterfree shook its head vigorously, whispering, "Mmm!"

  It had never dared!

  Those wild bee were fierce, and Vespiquen was even scarier—not at all as friendly as the bee back at the ranch.

  However, other Pokémon did e here to steal honey, like Teddiursa. Even Dustox would sneak over at night to steal honey while the bee were asleep.

  "Fet it, there's plenty of honey back at the ranch. Let's not disturb these bee," Naoki said.

  Butterfree had no objes. The two quietly moved on, tinuing their search for useful mountain products.

  At the same time, iy of Mesagoza.

  As the rgest city in the Paldea region, the renowned Naranja Academy is located here.

  trary to what Naoki thought, Naranja Academy is just a branch of Paldea Uy, and together with Uva Academy, they form Paldea Uy.

  The two academies have different names, uniforms, and teag methods.

  Students choose their preferred academy based on their is.

  Today was midterm exam day at Paldea Uy.

  In addition to the standard written exams, the uy had alsanized a special Pokémon battle petitioween Naranja Academy and Uva Academy.

  Besides earning an A grade, the winner would receive the academy’s Treasure Hunt Schorship.

  This schorship offered a signifit sum, which attracted many students to sign up for the petition.

  A tense aed Pokémon battle was taking p the open-air battlefield in the heart of the city.

  Students wearing the e uniforms of Naranja Academy and the purple uniforms of Uva Academy surrouhe battlefield.

  As they cheered, they chatted with their panions about the two trainers itle.

  "Hey, Delibird vs. Skeledirge—who do you think will win?"

  "Obviously Skeledirge! The Fire type has the advantage over Delibird's Ice type!"

  "Besides, the trainer of that Delibird is pretty famous at Naranja Academy!"

  "Oh? Tell me more!"

  "His name's Carter. He's rumored to be from a wealthy family in Gss Bottle City. He's been pampered his whole life and doesn’t know how to train Pokémon. His Delibird is notoriously weak. Even a Sprigatito could beat it despite the type disadvantage."

  "I heard that retly Carter decided to finally take training seriously. He started doing push-ups and running ps with his Delibird every day, but after less than a week, he got exhausted and quit. It’s bee quite the joke."

  Otlefield, Carter’s face flushed as he overheard the other students' remarks about him.

  But soon, memories of the past two days filled Carter’s mind.

  At Naoki's ranch, uhe tough sparring of those three Gogoat—whose strength rivaled that of a King’s Pokémon—his Delibird had gained a lot of experienow, it had been reborn, mastering neowerful moves.

  Carter khey wouldn’t lose!

  As if sensing his trainer’s determination, Delibird called out from the battlefield.

  “Bibi!”

  At that moment, the referee waved the fg and announced, "The battle begins!"

  "Delibird, use Rain Dance!" Carter anded immediately.

  Rain Dance would weaken Fire-type moves, making it the perfect ter to the Skeledirge they were fag.

  The opposing trainer didn’t react right away but gnced up at the giher alongside his Skeledirge.

  "Rain Dance, huh? I'll let you have one free move, otherwise, people will say I only won because of a type advantage."

  "I don't need your pity!" Carter snapped, frustrated by being uimated. As he spoke, raindrops began to fall.

  The Skeledirge’s trainer finally got serious. "Skeledirge, use Ember!"

  At his and, Skeledirge stepped forward, and a flurry of hot sparks shot from its mouth, heading straight for Delibird in mid-air.

  “Dodge it and use Double Team!” Carter responded quickly.

  Delibird fpped its wings and swerved in the rain, narrowly dodging the Ember. It then moved gracefully, and multiple es of Delibird appeared in the rain-soaked battlefield.

  "Double Team? When did Delibird learn that?" The urmured in surprise. Double Team was a tricky move to master!

  Carter overheard their astonishment and couldn’t help but smile. 'It’s all thanks to Mr. Naoki!'

  During the rigorous Green Grass Trial at the ranch, the relentless attacks from the Gogoat had pushed Delibird to its limits, f it to develop its potential and learn how to dodge effectively. That was how it had e to learn and master Double Team.

  At the same time, the opposing trainer anded, "Don’t think you hide behind those Double Team es. Skeledirge, use Heat Wave!"

  Both Pokémon moved at the same time.

  Skeledirge took a heavy step forward, fmes surging from its mouth, transf into a wave of scorg heat that swept toward Delibird.

  Delibird, however, flew slowly into the wave of heat.

  “What’s it doing?! Is it trying to get burned?” the spectatasped in shock.

  But just before Delibird was about to be ed by the heat, it suddenly twisted its body in an exaggerated maneuver and shot up into the sky.

  As Delibird maneuvered through the scorg air, white light surged from its wings, transf into glowing bdes of energy. It dove toward Skeledirge at high speed, striking it with precision.

  Skeledirge stumbled backward from the impact.

  The crowd held their breath, astonished.

  Soon, somehe move. "That’s Aerial Ace!"

  Carter felt exhirated. Pointing at Skeledirge, he yelled, "pared to Mr. Naoki, you're still far behind! Delibird, toss that Skeledirge!"

  The opposing trainer, now panig, quickly shouted, "Skeledirge, dodge it!"

  But it was too te.

  Delibird swiftly flew behind Skeledirge, grabbed it tightly with its wings, and hurled it into the sky with all its might.

  The croed, their eyes following Skeledirge as it soared upward.

  Delibird chased after it, reag the height of Skeledirge in mere moments.

  "Now, use Brick Break!" Carter anded.

  “Bibi!” Delibird cried, raising its wings before delivering a fierce strike, sending Skeledirge plummeting to the ground.

  With a heavy thud, Skeledirge nded in a deep crater, its eyes spinning as it y motionless.

  The referee stepped forward to check, then raised his fg and announced:

  "Skeledirge is uo battle! The winner of this match is Carter from Naranja Academy!"

  The crowd erupted in disbelief.

  "How is this possible?!"

  "Carter and his Delibird actually won!"

  "And they defeated Skeledirge despite the type disadvantage!"

  "Did I just see that right?!"

  "How did they pull it off?"

  People gathered around Carter, stunned by his growth.

  Carter basked ientioly enjoying their shock. 'Let them think I’m just a spoiled kid now,' he thought with satisfa.

  Still, Carter’s mind wandered back to the Green Grass Trial at Naoki’s rand the grueling battles with the three Gogoat that had pushed Delibird to its limits.

  An idea sparked in his mind, and he smirked mischievously. 'Why should he be the only oo ehe torment?' Clearing his throat, Carter preteo sound wise as he spoke:

  "It all started with me getting lost."

  The students leaned in, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

  Carter raised his head with a smirk and asked, "Have you heard of the Green Grass Trial?"

  "Green Grass Trial?" they asked, puzzled. "What is that? Tell us!"

  Carter’s smile widened as he tinued, "It’s a trial desigo help Pokémon grow strohe reason Delibird and I were able to win today is entirely because we participated in it."

  He paused dramatically and then asked, "Do you know how long it took us?"

  The students were hooked, eagerly following his lead. "How long?"

  Carter held up one finger and said, "One and a half days. In just one and a half days, Delibird and I transformed pletely."

  "One and a half days?!" The crowd was stunned. "How is that even possible? Even top trainers and breeders ’t achieve such drastic improvements in such a short time!"

  "That’s because the founder of the Green Grass Trial isn’t just anyone," Carter teased, keeping the mystery alive. "If you really want to know, you should see for yourself. The trial takes pce at Naoki’s ranear Kosaji Town."

  As he spoke, Carter silently prayed:

  'Mr. Naoki, those Gogoat better teach these guys a lesson. Don’t let me be the only one who suffered!'