With the crisis of Groudon and Kyogre resolved, Naoki didn't have much else to handle for the ti being.
Today was May 18th of the 200th year in the League Calendar. In just thirteen days, the World Tree would mature, and then he'd be able to assist the World Tree and its Pokémon inhabitants with relocating.
On May 22nd of the League Calendar, at 9 a.m., Steven Stone—fully recovered—boarded his private plane to the Paldea region, accompanied by his trusty tagross.
After a five-hour flight, the plane touched down on the outskirts of Kosaji Town, a serene area filled with fresh air and picturesque countryside.
As they descended, Steven caught sight of a bustling ranch below. The entire ranch was bordered by wooden fences, with a clear river running through its center.
Along the riverbanks were expansive fields, their crops lush and nearly ready for harvest. An orchard sat nearby, flanked by a barn and a handful of other buildings.
Near these structures were several large milk churns, and hens were pecking contentedly at the grass.
A stone bridge connected the river's far side, where another orchard thrived. Opposite the orchard lay a park shaded by a massive tree under which a Snorlax snoozed peacefully. On a gentle slope nearby, a flock of Wooloo basked lazily in the sunlight.
This must be Naoki's ranch.
"Naoki is actually a rancher?"
Steven was stunned by the sight.
The idea of a rancher taming Giratina was almost too incredible to believe.
At that mont, the pilot preparing to land let out a startled cry.
Steven turned and saw what had caused it—several Dragonites were circling the plane.
The Dragonites carried small satchels and were peering curiously at the aircraft. One in particular, a scar-faced Dragonite, fixed them with an unsettling stare.
"Mr. Stone, what should we do?"
The pilot was clearly nervous, surrounded by so many imposing Dragonites.
"Don't worry," Steven said calmly. "They an no harm. Just land as planned."
"Yes, sir!"
The pilot steeled himself and gently guided the plane down onto an open patch of land.
As Steven disembarked with two suitcases, he noticed a tall man in blue work clothes waiting for him nearby. Several Pokémon stood at his side: a Butterfree, a Dragonite, a Cyclizar, a Pawmot, and an unfamiliar Pokemon.
Steven's gaze lingered on the new Pokémon. It had a scarlet body, golden eyes, vibrant feathers crowning its head, and an unmistakably wild aura.
"We finally et, Mr. Stone," Naoki greeted the silver-haired Trainer with a friendly smile.
Steven snapped out of his amazent. "Hello, Mr. Naoki."
He turned back to the pilot and said, "You can head into town to rest. I'll call when it's ti to leave."
"Yes, sir!"
The pilot quickly readied the plane for takeoff, leaving the two n alone.
Watching the plane rise into the air, Naoki couldn't help but admire Steven's composure.
Steven Stone—the renowned heir of Devon Corporation! Even so, the man before him carried himself without a hint of arrogance.
"Please, co inside," Naoki said, motioning toward the house.
"Thank you for having ," Steven replied graciously, following Naoki into the living room with his two suitcases in hand.
Setting them down beside the sofa, he said, "This is a token of my father's appreciation. Please accept it."
Naoki blinked in surprise, then chuckled and shook his head. "You didn't need to bring anything. I was just there to help."
Steven shook his head. "But it was your intervention that helped stop the disaster in Hoenn. Regardless, the Hoenn League owes you its gratitude."
As the Champion of the Hoenn League, Steven had co specifically to express his thanks. However, he hadn't revealed Naoki's true identity or personal details to the rest of the League. From the way Naoki had concealed his face behind a mask, it was clear he didn't want others knowing who he was.
Without prior knowledge of the situation, Steven doubted he would have ever guessed that the person who saved Hoenn was, of all things, a rancher living out in the countryside.
Hearing Steven's words, Naoki gave a carefree smile and changed the subject. "Is the Hoenn region doing all right now?"
Steven nodded. "Thanks to your help, the damage caused by Groudon and Kyogre was kept to a minimum. Most cities have resud normal operations, though a few towns near the coast and volcanoes are still recovering."
"That's good to hear," Naoki replied.
He turned, reached into a nearby cupboard, and retrieved two orbs. Setting them on the table, he looked at Steven.
"These two should be returned to their rightful owners," Naoki said. The scarlet and indigo orbs had been brought back earlier by Teddiursa.
However, Steven shook his head. "They don't belong to us."
Naoki hesitated, slightly taken aback.
Steven continued, "To be precise, these orbs are part of Groudon and Kyogre's original power."
Through ancient texts, Steven had learned that the Vermilion Orb and the Indigo Orb were tied to Groudon and Kyogre from ti immorial. For reasons long forgotten, the two Pokémon had lost them, and only later were they discovered by humans.
"Mr. Naoki," Steven said, "I'd like you to hold on to these."
Naoki blinked. "Huh?"
Steven's tone turned more serious. "I'm concerned that one day, soone might use these orbs to reawaken Groudon and Kyogre."
He paused, then added, "As it stands, only I and a close friend know you have the orbs. If they're with you, we can prevent them from falling into the wrong hands."
Naoki thought for a mont, then nodded. "Okay."
He turned back to Steven. "But I have a request as well."
"Of course."
Naoki glanced at his Pokémon companions before continuing. "We value our quiet life here. Please don't share any information about ."
Steven's expression softened, and he replied solemnly, "I understand."
"Thank you," Naoki said with a smile.
Steven hesitated as if there was sothing else on his mind. Sensing it, Naoki tilted his head. "What is it?"
Steven asked, "Are you a mber of the Draconid people?"
"Draconids?" Naoki looked puzzled.
The Draconid people were an ancient tribe of the Hoenn region, the builders of Sky Pillar and the caretakers of Rayquaza's legacy.
Steven had assud that because Naoki had summoned Rayquaza, he might be one of them.
Seeing Steven's curious expression, Naoki shook his head. "No, I'm not related to the Draconids. My connection to Rayquaza is… a bit different."
Naoki went on to explain. A while back, Dragonite had beco fascinated with Rayquaza's legendary heroics and set out to find it. The eting had gone well—so well, in fact, that Rayquaza had gifted Dragonite one of its scales.
Since then, Rayquaza had agreed to occasionally visit the ranch.
"I see," Steven said, finally understanding. Rayquaza wasn't confined to Hoenn; it traveled freely. The world was far larger than just one region.
Now that the threat to Hoenn had passed, Steven felt an unusual sense of restlessness. Perhaps it was ti to see what else the world had to offer.
There must be many fascinating stones waiting for him in those distant places.
Speaking of stones, Steven reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, ornate box.
The two suitcases by the sofa contained the gift prepared by his father, Joseph Stone. However, the item in this box was a personal gift from Steven himself, sothing he valued greatly and had chosen specifically for Naoki.
Pushing the box forward, Steven said, "Mr. Naoki, I've brought you this personal gift as thanks for your efforts in helping Hoenn during this critical ti."
Naoki blinked in surprise. Another gift?
He glanced at the two suitcases beside the sofa.
Sensing Naoki's confusion, Steven smiled awkwardly. "Those were from my father. This is from ."
Understanding dawned on Naoki. The gifts in the suitcases were from Joseph Stone, a father grateful for the safety of his son. The box, however, contained sothing Steven had personally selected.
Curious, Naoki reached for the box. He hadn't planned to open it right away, but his fingers accidentally brushed against the latch, causing the lid to pop open. Inside was a radiant stone, roughly the size of a glass marble, with a srizing, intricate pattern embedded within.
Naoki's eyes widened as he stared at it. A sudden wave of information seed to flood his mind.
[ga stone: A stone brimming with extraordinary energy. When a Pokemon holds it, it can achieve ga Evolution through the power of a Key Stone.]
Stunned, Naoki looked up at Steven, who was watching his reaction closely. Steven seed a bit uncertain, as though second-guessing his choice.
Steven smiled faintly and said, "I hope it's to your liking. I realize not everyone shares my interest in stones."
Seeing Naoki's silence, Steven hesitated. "Perhaps I was in too much of a rush and grabbed the wrong box?"
"Uh?" Naoki was caught off guard. "No, it's…"
Steven's face softened as he noticed a slight glimr of appreciation in Naoki's expression. "Mr. Naoki," he said tentatively, "do you like stones too?"
"It's beautiful," Naoki replied earnestly. "Like a small treasure."
Hearing this, Steven's worry lted into a warm smile. "That's good. I have quite a passion for stones. My collection at ho is rather extensive."
Naoki: "…" He wasn't sure whether to feel amused or exasperated.
What Steven didn't seem to realize was the true significance of the stone he'd gifted. The stone—better known as a ga Stone—was an incredibly rare and powerful artifact. When paired with a Key Stone held by a skilled Trainer, it could unlock a Pokémon's potential, allowing it to ga Evolve into a stronger, more majestic form.
Of course, at this point in ti, the process of ga Evolution was still a mystery to most. Professor Sycamore was actively researching it, but the results were still in the early stages.
As such, Steven hadn't utilized ga Evolution for his tagross during the recent battles in Hoenn. The knowledge simply wasn't widespread yet.
...
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