It was now December 20th. In just ten days, the League Calendar would flip to the year 204, marking seven full years since Naoki arrived in this world.
Seven years… and now he had a family, a child, and a peaceful life surrounded by Pokémon.
"How should we celebrate the New Year this ti?" he asked.
Iono thought for a mont and smiled. "Let's just celebrate at ho! Honestly, as long as we're together, it doesn't matter where we are."
Naoki nodded. "You're right."
So they agreed to spend it just like past years, with warmth and simplicity.
On December 31st, the last day of Year 203, Naoki traveled to town to pick up so fireworks and New Year supplies.
That evening, the family and all the Pokémon gathered at the ranch for a cozy New Year's Eve dinner. As midnight approached, they set off fireworks under the starlit sky.
With the toll of the bell at midnight, Year 203 officially ca to a close.
A brand-new year, Year 204 of the League Calendar, had begun.
After the New Year, snow began to lt across the Paldea region. Spring's warm sunlight stirred life back into the land.
As the temperature rose, Naoki and his family made a decision: it was ti to return to the Paldea region.
Luckily, Hoopa made moving easy.
It summoned six golden rings, which flew out from its arms and ford portals leading directly to Paldea.
The Gogoat, Wooloo, Miltank, and Spectrier lined up and passed through the glowing rings in an orderly fashion.
Soon, only Naoki, Iono, little Elara, and Koraidon remained at the Alola ranch.
"Naoki, are you heading back now?" Hoopa asked, floating nearby with a curious tilt of its head.
Naoki shook his head. "Not just yet. I still have sothing to take care of."
"Then Hoopa will wait for you here!" Hoopa cheerfully replied, pulling back its golden ring portals and settling down.
Naoki mounted Koraidon and rode toward the familiar stretch of coast where he often fished during their stay in Alola.
He stood near the shore and called out.
A mont later, a Popplio erged from the waves, swimming ashore with a happy bark.
"Popplio," Naoki said gently, "we're heading ho. Would you like to co with us?"
"Pop?" Popplio tilted its head, looking puzzled.
Naoki knelt down and smiled. "We were only here on vacation. Now that winter's ending, it's ti to return to Paldea. We might not get a chance to fish here again anyti soon. I thought… if we leave now without asking, we might never et again."
His voice was calm, but there was a hint of reluctance behind his words.
He wasn't wrong. Even though they might visit Alola again soday, there was no telling if Popplio would still be around. Wild Pokémon often moved on, exploring new areas, following the tides. If Popplio left this beach, the chances of eting again would be slim.
Popplio seed to understand. It blinked its round eyes, clearly deep in thought.
Naoki didn't rush. He waited patiently for Popplio's decision.
After a long pause, Popplio finally looked up with a cheerful bark.
"Pop!"
It had co to like this human. During their many etings, it had eaten loads of bait, sotis without permission, and yet, Naoki was never angry. Instead, he brought delicious food and treated it kindly.
But Popplio hesitated for a mont longer.
"Pop…" It had taken on a task of its own: searching for signs of the Legendary Pokémon, Kyogre.
Popplio had hoped to spot it. But after so long, it had found nothing.
Naoki blinked in surprise, then gave a gentle smile.
"It's alright," he said. "I was just a little curious about that Pokémon. It's okay if we don't find it."
Popplio stared for a mont… then gave a happy bark.
"Pop!" So that's how it was!
Naoki stood and stretched out his hand again. "Then… will you co ho with us?"
"Popplio!" the little Water-type cried with joy, leaping out of the water.
"Alright, Koraidon," Naoki called, "Let's go!"
The goal of the Alola trip had been fulfilled. Naoki rode Koraidon and returned to the ranch area where Hoopa was waiting.
"Hoopa, open the way," Naoki requested with a smile.
"Leave it to Hoopa!" Hoopa replied cheerfully. A bright, fan-shaped portal spread open in front of them with a shimring glow.
Before stepping into the portal, Naoki turned to the Pokémon of the Great Hero Expedition Team and asked, "Are you all staying behind?"
"Miu!" w nodded firmly.
That's right, they had decided to start their journey from here this ti. After all, the Alola region was vast and full of wonder, and they were eager to explore it together.
"Alright then." Naoki smiled and gave a warm nod. "In that case, I wish you a wonderful adventure!"
"Miu~!"
"Bye-bye, Hoopa! See you later, Teddiursa, w, Zapdos!" Naoki waved to them all, then stepped into the portal alongside Koraidon.
In the blink of an eye, they crossed the fabric of space and returned to their ho at Tree House Ranch.
As Naoki looked around at the familiar scenery, he took in a deep breath.
Ho at last.
After being away for three whole months, the ranch was a bit of a ss. There was a lot to take care of, and everyone quickly got to work.
Entei, Raikou, and Suicune took charge of watching over little Elara, while Iono and Indeedee focused on cleaning the house.
Naoki, accompanied by Koraidon and Cyclizar, headed straight to the ranch fields.
The lawn had beco overgrown and wild after the long winter, so Naoki fired up the mower and trimd everything back to a smooth, even green.
anwhile, fallen leaves were scattered all over the grounds. Dragonite eagerly wanted to help and let out a powerful Gust attack to blow the leaves together, but the mont it used the move, a sudden whirlwind sent leaves flying into the sky like a storm of confetti.
"Gah!" Cyclizar blinked wide-eyed in disbelief.
Even Koraidon turned and gave Dragonite a disapproving look.
Realizing it had overdone things, Dragonite scratched the back of its head in embarrassnt. It only ant to help, but its strength got out of hand again.
"Awooo" "Sorry, sorry!" Dragonite muttered sheepishly and began awkwardly picking up leaves with its claws.
Cyclizar and Koraidon looked at each other with a mix of exasperation and amusent, then quietly joined in to help.
Elsewhere, the orchard and berry fields had taken a hit over the winter. Overripe and rotting fruit littered the ground beneath the apple and berry trees.
Naoki pulled on a pair of gloves and moved quickly through the groves, gathering up the spoiled fruit and disposing of it.
No one had lived at the ranch for quite so ti. Perhaps because of the long absence and quiet, the old chicken coop and the barn where Miltank used to rest had grown a bit worn down.
The roof of the coop even had a hole in it, likely from weather damage or maybe a visit from wild Pokémon.
Naoki fetched a ladder and a wooden board, then carefully climbed up and patched the leak to keep the hens safe and dry.
After that, he walked the periter of the ranch, inspecting the fences. So posts were loose, others leaning, and a few had splintered from age. He gathered the right tools and set to work, tightening, hamring, and replacing what needed fixing.
By the ti all the repairs were complete, the sun had dipped low, and the clock was nearing five in the evening.
But after a long afternoon of hard work, coordinated by everyone, the ranch looked completely refreshed.
The fences were sturdy, the coops sealed, and the barns clean and safe. Pokémon road the fields again, frolicking under the fading golden light.
Naoki looked around at the lively, peaceful scene and let out a contented sigh.
"Well, now it finally feels like ho again."
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