Electroweb! The move used electrified webbing to ensnare oppos, dealing damage and l their speed. The Caterpie's luck was incredible.

  The Caterpie itself seemed just as surprised by its newfound ability. After the experiences of the past two days, it had e to uand that the food it ed pyed a role in its growth and development. Food could make it stronger!

  Eagerly, the Caterpie looked at Naoki with hopeful eyes.

  "Not yet," Naoki chuckled. "You 't overindulge. You o practid master the new move you've learned."

  Besides, the cooking effect of the Fruit Ptter was uable. There was no guarantee what would happen if it were ed repeatedly. While luck had been on their side this time, the attempt could easily backfire and cause the Caterpie tet its moves entirely.

  "Cater..." The Caterpie uood the reasoning behind Naoki's decision. It resolved to diligently practice its newfouroweb, aiming to bee stronger with each passing day.

  But before that, it wao express its deep gratitude to Naoki.

  "Caterpie!" It affeately rubbed its antennae against Naoki's arm.

  Naoki smiled warmly. "Go get some rest," he said.

  The Caterpie nodded areated to a er of the room.

  Naoki looked down at the empty pte, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'll have to be more careful with that dish iure," he muttered to himself.

  Naoki took the warning to heart, wary of actally turning Cyclizar and Koraidon into mindless eating maes.

  After their meal of grilled fish, both Pokémon appeared thhly satisfied, squatting tentedly and lig their chops. Naoki chuckled at their silly expressions, warmth spreading through him.

  The temperature had dropped with the evening rain, leaving a chill in the air. But ihe firepce radiated a cozy warmth that filled the room.

  With full bellies and a fortable enviro, the three Pokémon soon began to yawn and doze off.

  Naoki, however, wasn't sleepy yet. He hadn't been very active during the day. He pulled a stool in front of the firepd started drawing the crops he had pnted on the wooden signs, referring to the illustrations in the "Rancyclopedia."

  He worked diligently, his shadow dang on the wall behind him, illuminated by the flickering firelight.

  Caterpie was already sn softly. Cyclizar, lying beside the bed, raised its head and looked over. Seeing that Naoki hadn't joihem for sleep, it stood up and approached him.

  The firelight bathed Cyclizar in a warm glow as Naoki looked up.

  "Graaah~" Cyclizar yawhen curled up beside Naoki, tent to keep him pany as he worked.

  Naoki's heart swelled with affe. He smiled and was about to tinue his task when he heard the heavy footsteps of Koraidon approag.

  He turo see Koraidon lumbering over, theling down on his other side, mirr Cyclizar's position. Koraidon gave Cyclizar a disgruntled look.

  Darn it, it beat me to it! Koraidon thought, feeling a pang of jealousy.

  Cyclizar, oblivious to Koraidon's iurmoil, had already succumbed to sleep, led fortably beside their trainer.

  Koraido a wave of frustration. Its attempt to outdo Cyclizar had backfired. It sighed, resigning itself to its spot on the floor, hoping to catch a few winks before Naoki finally joihem in slumber.

  Koraidon sighed, resting its head on its paws as it delved into the past.

  It recalled the time, shortly after arriving at Naoki's ranch when it had entered another Koraidon. At the time, it hadn't uood, but now it realized that the other Koraidon was its past self.

  Later, as a Cyclizar, it had fallen into a time mae and, influenced by a mysterious force, transformed into Koraidon. But the question remained: would this Cyclizar also evolve into Koraidon, just like it had?

  The thought made Koraidon's head spin. It couldn't prehend how or why this had happened and it struggled to distinguish past from present. Was it Koraidon or Cyclizar?

  The fusion was overwhelming. It felt like a swirling vortex of stars was f in its miually, Koraidon gave up trying to make sense of it all.

  No matter what, as long as it could be with Naoki, everything would be alright.

  Hearing the sigh, Naoki turo Koraidon. "Why the sudden sigh?" he asked, ed.

  Was the Legendary Pokémon worried about its past defeat ierritorial battle?

  Recalling the game's storyline, Naoki offered words of encement. "Don't worry, Koraidon. When you recover your full strength, you'll definitely be able to defeat that other Koraidon."

  Even without the secret ingredient, Naoki was fident that his cooking could help Koraidain its former power.

  Koraidon tilted its head, fused. "Gaa?"

  Naoki reassured it, "Don't worry, we'll find a way!"

  "Crack~"

  Koraidon's spirits lifted, and in a burst of affe, it lunged forward, sh Naoki's face with a torrent of slobber.

  Naoki pushed it away, wiping his face with a groan. "Don't lick people randomly!" he scolded.

  Koraidon's expression immediately turned pitiful.

  Naoki couldn't help but chuckle. He couldn't stay mad at the adorable Pokémon for long.

  ...

  The following m, the fire in the firepce had died out, leaving a faint st of ash in the air. The rain had stopped, and the sky was a clear, vibrant blue.

  Naoki stepped outside, inhaling the crisp, fresh air. He stretched his limbs, feelialized and ready to start a new day.

  After ging into his work boots and grabbing the newly made signs, he headed to the fields. Dewdrops g to the leaves, sparkling in the sunlight like tiny jewels.

  As Naoki worked, Caterpie emerged from the house and climbed a nearby tree, mung on fresh leaves while Naoki, Cyclizar, and Koraidon as they teo the crops.

  Determio bee stronger, not only to prove its worth to those who uimated it but also to repay Naoki's kindness, Caterpie vowed to evolve into the stro Butterfree it could be. It would bee an asset to the ranch, helping in any way it could.

  After a few bites of leaves, Caterpie began practig its newly acquired Electroweb, weaving intricate patterns of electrified silk in the air.

  Meanwhile, Naoki, apanied by Koraidon and Cyclizar, veo the western side of the ranch. This area was still untamed, a chaotic mess of weeds and trees.

  Naoki's pn was to clear this se of nd to make space for a chi coop. He had already saved enough money for stru; all he needed were wood and stone.

  Within two days, he hoped to visit the carpenter's shop in Mesagoza and ask Kora to help him build the coop, kickstarting his poultry business.