Seeing the excitement in Flutter Mane's eyes as it stared at him, Naoki was momentarily taken aback.

  What had Koraidon said to it that left the a Pokémon looking at him with such eager anticipation?

  Naoki g Koraidon. The Pokémon tilted its head upward with an i expression.

  "Raao~"

  Raising an eyebrow, Naoki guessed that Koraidon had told Flutter Mane about how Pawmot became s under his guidance. Flutter Mane, who also desired strength, was now looking to him with hope.

  "Do you want to bee stronger?" Naoki asked directly.

  Flutter Mane's rea firmed his suspi. It nodded with suthusiasm that its ghostly form seemed to glhter.

  "Alright then!" Naoki exhaled deeply, already formuting a pn in his mind. Helping Flutter Mane grow stronger wasn't an impossible task. Its strength y in its uraits, but its reckless battle style needed refining.

  Flutter Mane's battles thus far had relied on brute force, charging headlong into physical frontatioe its fragile defeo help it grow, Naoki resolved to guide it toward utilizing its natural advas speed, special attack power, and ability to fight from the shadows like a true spectral tacti.

  "I battle," Naoki said, thinking aloud, "you could have used your stealth and speed to your advantage. Instead of a direct charge, sneaking into position and attag from the shadows would have been much more effective."

  Flutter Mailted its head, clearly processing his words.

  "Let's work on that," Naoki cluded, his voice resolute.

  Hearing his agreement, Flutter Mane practically lit up with joy. It waved its spectral cws in delight and spun zily through the air in an urained dispy of happiness.

  However, Naoki wasn't finished. He reached into his pocket and pulled out ay Poké Ball, holding it up for Flutter Mao see. "But before we start, there's one more thing to take care of."

  Flutter Mane paused mid-flight, l itself to the ground and staring curiously at the red-and-white sphere in his hand.

  It blihen g Koraidon as if to firm its thoughts. Koraidon rumbled in aowledgment, recalling their versation the day before about Poké Balls and the boween humans and Pokémon.

  With a soft sound of uanding, Flutter Mane floated forward. "Mrrream!"

  To Naoki's surprise, it eagerly snatched the Poké Ball from his hand with its cw-like appendages. It tilted its head, examining the sphere with childlike curiosity, poking and prodding at its surface.

  "What are you doing?" Naoki asked, bemused.

  As if in response, Flutter Mane actally tapped the activation button. A beam of red light shot out, enveloping its spectral form and pulling it into the Poké Ball. The ball dropped onto the grass with a soft thud and began to shake.

  One shake.

  Two shakes.

  Three shakes.

  As the Poké Ball wobbled for a fourth time, its movements slowed, as if Flutter Mane was gradually acclimating to the space within.

  When the red light on the Poké Ball finally disappeared, the sphere y pletely still.

  Naoki stared at it, speechless.

  He had never seen a Pokémon so eager to jump into a Poké Ball of its own accord.

  "Well… I guess I've officially caught Flutter Mane," he murmured, still processing the surreal moment.

  As a Ghost-type Pokémon, Flutter Maurally preferred the night and used daylight hours to rest and recover its strength. After the intetle with Pawmot, it obediently stayed is Poké Ball, using the quiet space to sleep.

  "Alright, everyone, you go back to pying now!" Naoki waved his hand, signaling to the gathered Pokémon. They scattered with cheerful cries, each returning to their activities.

  With the Pokémon occupied, Naoki decided to tackle some ranch chores. Grabbing his toolbox, he headed to the pasture to repair the worn wooden fences. After a year of enduring wind, rain, and the occasional headbutt from a particurly spirited Gogoat, some ses looked battered and unsightly.

  This wasn't a job worth troubling Kelly over—Naoki could ha himself.

  The rhythmic sound of hammering echoed across the ranch, and the quiet day passed ufully.

  By the time dinner was done, Naoki was thhly exhausted. He headed straight to bed, barely managing to pull the b over himself before drifting off into a deep sleep.

  As the ranch fell silent, the Poké Ball Naoki had left on his bedside table stirred. After sleeping for most of the day, Flutter Mane emerged, brimming with energy.

  It floated quietly in the dimly lit room, its crimson eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.

  Surveying its surroundings, Flutter Mahought, 'It's dark. That means it's time to hunt.'

  However, just as the thought crossed its mind, something Koraidon had said earlier came to it: there was o hunt here. Naoki would provide food for everyone.

  'But how does he get the food?' Flutter Mane wondered, floating in a slow, ptive circle.

  'Could Naoki be going out to hunt for their meals?'

  Flutter Mailted its head, doubtful. Naoki seemed… well, weak by parison. 'How could a human catch prey good enough for it and the others?'

  The more Flutter Mahought about it, the more tas thoughts became. After a while, it floated over to Naoki's bed.

  H above the sleeping human, it stared at his peaceful expression for a moment befently patting his cheek with its cw-like appendage.

  "Mreeaam...!" Flutter Mane whispered, trying to wake him.

  Naoki stirred slightly, groaning softly in his sleep but not waking up.

  Flutter Mated his face a little harder.

  Before meeting Koraidon, Flutter Mane would never have sidered helping a weaker creature. But after their time together, it had learhe value of cooperation and mutual aid.

  In the past, Koraidon ofte hunting with Flutter Mane, as they could usually find more food uhe cover of night.

  Feeling somethiedly patting his faaoki groggily opened his eyes.

  The first thing he saw in the dark air of glowing red eyes staring ily at him.

  "Oh my god!"

  Naoki yelped, instantly startled awake. He fumbled for the bedside mp and flipped it on, flooding the room with light.

  Only then did he reize the source of the glowing eyes a out a long sigh of relief.

  "It's you… Don't scare me like that!"

  The otion woke Koraidon and Pawmot, who both rubbed their eyes groggily before looking toward Naoki.

  "Pamo?" Pawmot mumbled sleepily.

  "Raao?" Koraidon yawned, stretg its nebsp;

  Flutter Ma out a low growl, its stomach rumbling loudly. It gnced down at its own belly before tugging at Naoki's arm, trying to lead him somewhere.

  Naoki tilted his head, momentarily fused by the a Pokémon's as. But then he heard its stomach growling again and immediately uood.

  "You're hungry, aren't you?" he asked.

  "Mrrream?" Flutter Mailted its head slightly but nodded in agreement.

  Naoki led Flutter Mao the living room. He opehe refrigerator and pulled out some food: a sandwich, fresh fruit, a bottle of juice, and milk. Setting the items oable, he gestured to them with a smile.

  "I saved this for you since you were asleep during dinner," he expined. "Eat up!"

  Flutter Mane peered at the unfamiliar food cautiously. Sniffing the sandwich first, its eyes lit up, and it grabbed the food with its cw-like wings, dev it eagerly.

  Naoki chuckled at the sight. "That's it! Enjoy!"

  After Flutter Mane finished eating, Naoki stretched, feeling exhaustion tugging at him. "Alright, time for me to get back to sleep."

  But Flutter Mane wasn't ready to settle down. Full of energy, it began to float around the room, curiously iing its surroundings.

  Its exploration was less than graceful, however. While fluttering about, it actally knocked over a few items, creating a series of ctters and bangs loud enough to wake the entire house.

  Koraidon sighed loudly from its spot in the er. "Raao…"

  Naoki pihe bridge of his his is not going to work…"

  No! Tomorrow m, Naoki decided, he absolutely had to start training Flutter Mao align its schedule with everyone else's on the ranch. This noal routine wasn't going to work any longer.

  So the m, fag Flutter Mane who looked sleepy and wao go back to the Poké Ball to sleep, Naoki, with dark circles under his eyes, proposed a pn to help it bee stronger.

  Thanks to the fact that Paradox Pokémon could uand human nguage seamlessly, Flutter Mane quickly grasped what Naoki was asking.

  All traces of sleepiness vanished as it perked up, looking at Naoki with eager anticipation.

  Naoki said, "If you want to bee strohe first thing we o work on is ging your battle strategy."

  "Mrrream?" Flutter Mailted its head, puzzled. 'Battle strategy? What's that?'

  Naoki tinued patiently, "Before we start w on that, I o know what moves you already know. Let's see what you do! Show me your best moves!"

  Koraidon added helpfully, "Raao!" (It's the attacks you use in battle!)

  Uanding dawned on Flutter Ma gave a sharp nod before floating into the air and beginning its demonstration.

  Naoki stood off to the side, closely and jotting down notes in his Pokémon Observation Journal. He diligently recorded every move Flutter Mane showcased.

  Pokémon Observation Notes

  Name: Flutter Mane (Paradox variant of Mismagius)

  Type: Ghost/Fairy

  Temperament: Not as ferocious as anticipated, though it retains the wild instincts of a Pokémon. Dispys a ck of uanding about modern s. Eats raw meat like a predator, mildly bative (?).

  Hobbies: Not yet identified.

  Favorite Foods: Grilled steak, berries, sandwiches.

  Moves Known:

  Ghost type : Shadow Ball, fuse Ray, Phantom Force.

  Fairy: Dazzling Gleam, Draining Kiss, Misty Terrain.

  Psychic: Psyshock, Moon Bst, Imprison.

  Rock: Pem.

  Supportive Moves: Wish (restores HP), Parting Shot (lowers target's stats), Helping Hand (boosts ally's moves).

  By the time Flutter Mane fis demonstration, Naoki's notes were filled with details. He looked over the list, eyebrows raising in surprise.

  "Wow, Flutter Mane, you've got quite the arsenal of moves!" Naoki remarked, clearly impressed.

  The breadth of Flutter Mane's abilities covered multiple types, including Ghost, Fairy, Psychid Rock. Its range of supportive moves was equally impressive, with abilities like fuse Ray for disruption, Wish for healing, and Helping Hand for boosting its allies.

  Naoki's thoughts wao the supportive nature of Flutter Mane's moves. The image of it using Helping Hand on Koraidon during the demonstration popped into his head. He became curious about the duo's history.

  "Did you and Flutter Mane ever hunt together in the past?" he asked, gng at Koraidon.

  "Raao!" Koraidon nodded enthusiastically.

  "And Flutter Mane helped you while hunting?" Naoki tinued, his tone incredulous.

  Koraidon nodded again, its expression firm.

  "Wow!" Naoki excimed.

  With Koraidon's raw strength and Flutter Mane's disregard for type advantages, it wasn't hard to imagihese two being practically unstoppable in aimes. Their bined power would have made them legends of their time, feared and respected by all.

  A thought crossed Naoki's mind: 'What if, just what if, I set up an a-style doubles trial on the ranch, with Koraidon and Flutter Mane as the challengers? Would anyone even be able to pass it?'

  He recalled a versation with Geeta, where she mentiohat doubles battles were a hallmark of Uva Academy, the sister college to Naranja Academy. Doubles battles—where a trainer ands two Pokémon simultaneously in a 2v2 match—required synergy, strategy, and adaptability.

  With Koraidon and Flutter Mane as the oppos, Naoki doubted anyone could clear such a trial. Their sheer power, coupled with Flutter Mane's uability, would make for an almost insurmountable challenge.

  'But that's a matter for ter,' Naoki thought, shaking off the idea for now. 'The priority is teag Flutter Mane how to harness its unique abilities effectively.'

  After a brief moment of refle, he turo Flutter Mane and began expining in straightforward terms, making sure it could follow.

  "From my observation," Naoki said, "ygest strengths are your speed and special attacks. But your physical durability isn't great. So you 't afford to fight oppos up close."

  "Mrream?" Flutter Mailted its head, clearly puzzled.

  Naoki eborated, gesturing as he spoke, "What I mean is, you shouldn't try to ram into your oppos with your body, like you did yesterday with Pawmot. In battle, you o keep your distance."

  Uanding dawned on Flutter Mane as it nodded. Its bright, inquisitive eyes now carried a spark of determination.

  "Good," Naoki tinued. "The key is to use your strengths. Speed and surprise are yreatest ons. Learn to keep your oppos guessing—strike when they least expect it."

  Hearing this, Flutter Mane's body shimmered faintly, and a shadow began to spread around it. Before Naoki's eyes, it melted into the darkness, disappearing pletely.

  Naoki looked around but couldn't spot it. He smiled, knowing full well that Flutter Mane was still nearby, lurking uhis was the essence of a true sneak attack—disappearing into the shadows to strike at just the right moment.

  "This is what I'm talking about," Naoki said aloud, though he wasn't sure if Flutter Mane could hear him from the shadows. "Sometimes, it's not about brute strength. Moves like this be just as effective defensively as offensively."

  The room was eerily quiet, with no sign of Flutter Mane. Naoki chuckled softly, his voice eg. "When you fight, you o think like a ghost—appear and disappear at will. Hit your oppo when they're vulnerable and vanish before they retaliate."

  "Depending on your oppo's type, you select a move that takes advantage of type effectiveness, such as Pem, Psyshock, or Shadow Ball," Naoki expined, his voice steady with encement.

  "Alright, Flutter Mane, e on out!" Naoki called, his excitement evident.

  Slowly, Flutter Mane's ethereal figure emerged from the shadows, its body shimmering faintly in the light. Despite expeg this, Naoki couldn't help but marvel. 'Ghost Pokémon are incredible,' he thought.

  To help Flutter Mane adjust its schedule to match the other Pokémon on the ranaoki had called on three Gogoats to act as sparring partners. Their tough hides and resilience made them ideal for the job.

  The Gogoat trio, uanding Naoki's i, began to el their power. Waves of vibrant green grass energy radiated from their bodies, transf the pasture in moments.

  "Me-eaah!"

  Within seds, a lush, verdant field of grass spread across the area, glowing faintly as if imbued with life. Their characteristic Grass Pelt ability activated, enhang their defenses in the grassy terrain. The white glow on their fur was the visible sign of this.

  Naoki observed the transformation, his mind briefly drifting to a parison. 'The Grass Terrain geed after eating the World Tree's leaves feels so much richer and more vivid than usual.'

  The grass energy was so potent it appeared almost tangible. The glowing bdes of grass swayed gently, and Naoki could see the energy flowing into the Gogoat, invigorating them.

  "Even the visual effects are incredible," he murmured, watg the shimmering grass field with fasation.

  Meanwhile, Flutter Mane had already taken to the task, using Phantom Force to vanish briefly before reappearing near one of the Gogoat. It struck swiftly, its cws slig through the air and leaving a visible mark on the Pokémon's side.

  However, before Naoki could process the effectiveness of the attack, the radiant green energy from the Grass Terrain surged into the Gogoat's body. Within moments, the scar healed pletely, leaving no trace of the injury.

  Naoki's eyes widened in amazement. "Instant recovery?" That's an incredible healing ability!" he excimed, watg the Gogain its vigor as if nothing had happened.

  As everyone knows, Grass Terraiores the HP of Pokémon grounded on the field. Normally, the recovery is minimal, just a slight boost to enduranbsp;

  But now, the recovery effect of the Grass Terrain was signifitly enhanced.

  Was it because the Gogoat had beeing the leaves of the World Tree? Or was it due to the influence of the special Leaf Cakes they'd been ing?

  Naoki was stunned by this discovery, but he also felt a twinge ret.

  The enhanced recovery from the Grass Terrain wasn't selective—it affected both allied and opposing Pokémon. This meant that uhe Gogoat could knock out their oppo in a single blow, battles would likely devolve into drawn-out exges.

  It would be the kind of fight where one could almost hear someone yelling, "Stop! Stop already! You're just going to heal each other endlessly!"

  Meanwhile, Flutter Mane and the Gogoat were locked in bat. The Gogoat remained calm and posed, while Flutter Mane gradually became exhausted. After what felt like ay—nearly three hundred rounds of attacks—the Gogoat stood firm, while Flutter Mane was left panting, utterly drained.

  Finally, Flutter Mane gave in, colpsing to the ground in sheer exhaustion before drifting off to sleep.

  Naoki sighed deeply. "…Seriously?"

  With no other choice, he retrieved Flutter Mao its Poké Ball for rest.

  The Gogoat, still eic, turo faaoki, their sharp eyes glinting with determination.

  "Meh-eah," one of them cried softly, as if awaiting his and.

  Naoki approached them with a warm smile and began stroking their heads one by one. "You three are amazing. Thank you for w so hard!"

  The Gogoat enjoyed his touch, responding with happy bleats. "Baa-aa!"

  Such good Pokémon! Well-behaved, reliable, and so endearing—it was hard not to adore them. Naoki couldn't help but grin, his heart warmed by their loyalty and spirit.

  As his thoughts wandered, he recalled the incredible sight of the Gogoat releasing massive waves of Grass-type energy earlier, bing the entire back pasture in glowing green vitality.

  A bold idea suddenly sparked in his mind.

  The Gogoats clearly have an impressive degree of trol rass-type energy.

  So the question was: could they refihis trol further? Specifically, could they manipute the Grass Terrain to be only their allies, without healing their oppos?

  Naoki didn't think it was impossible. It would demand exceptional skill and focus from the Pokémon, but it felt like a goal worth pursuing.

  As Naoki pohe possibilities of Pokémon mastering and trolling energy at its peak, he gently pced his hand on the head of one of his Gogoats.

  At that moment, the Gogoat let out a cheerful cry. "Baa-aa~!"

  Naoki blinked, momentarily startled.

  Before he could react further, a surge of Grass-type energy erupted from the Gogoat's body, enveloping the surrounding area in a lush and vibrant green terrain.

  The energy formed a sprawling Grass Terrain so rid vivid that it seemed almost alive.

  Naoki stood frozen, staring in awe. He then turned his gaze toward the Gogoat, his mind rag with questions.

  The Gogoat, now looking up at him with eyes as clear and serene as a spring-fed pond, seemed calm and posed.

  Its expression carried a knowing air, as if it was trying to vey something profound.

  Naoki's eyes darted down to his own hand, which was still resting on the Gogoat's horns.

  A thought fshed through his mind.

  'Could this Gogoat have sensed what I was thinking just now?'

  Everyone khat Gogoat could use their horns to sense humaions. This ability allowed them to synize with their riders seamlessly, running as one and assisting humans in tasks and travel—a skill that had been doted for over 5,000 years.

  'But could it go further than just sensiions? Could it grasp his thoughts as well?'

  Naoki's voice trembled with cautious curiosity. "Were you… responding to what I was just thinking?"

  The Gogoat nodded, its movements deliberate and filled with joyful affirmation. "Baa-aa~!"

  Naoki's heart skipped a beat. The possibility seemed incredible, yet the evidence was right before him.

  Feeling a mix of wonder and disbelief, he murmured softly, " you actually do what I just imagined?"

  Once again, the Gogoat nodded eagerly, its joyful demeanor radiating fidence. "Mea!"