Nothing here just a book

After the exhilarating battle concluded, many guests and trainers excused themselves to change out of their rain-soaked clothes. The unplanned downpour had disrupted the elegant ambiance of the villa, with water dripping from expensive suits and dresses.

Naoki stood at the center of it all, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment. His Dragonite had performed magnificently but had been so caught up in the intensity of the battle that it hadn't controlled the range of its Rain Dance.

As he surveyed the scene of drenched trainers, Naoki chuckled nervously to himself. 'Guess we overdid it,' he thought.

Thankfully, the guests, far from being annoyed, were laughing as they retreated inside. For seasoned trainers, such incidents were part and parcel of the Pokémon experience.

Meanwhile, Lance, the Kanto region's Dragon Master, wasn't in a hurry to dry off. He stayed near the battlefield, releasing his injured Pokémon one by one and carefully feeding them the bottles of goat milk Naoki had given him earlier.

The transformation was almost immediate. After just a few sips, the Pokemon stirred, their eyes fluttering open as the visible wounds on their bodies healed rapidly.

Lance examined the glass bottle with curiosity. "This is… extraordinary. I've never seen anything quite like it."

Naoki stepped forward, his hands resting casually in his pockets. "It's a specialty of my ranch," he explained with a smile. "Gogoat milk mixed with natural ingredients. It's great for healing and recovery."

Lance turned the bottle in his hand, noting the playful design on the label. Three cartoonish lambs, their heads huddled together, smiled back at him from the transparent glass. The label was simple but charming, just like the product itself.

Before Lance could comment further, a loud voice interrupted.

"Hey, hey, hey! Are you really giving away such a rare treasure to him for free?!"

Naoki and Lance turned to see Alder striding toward them, his grin wide and teasing. Behind him were Clay and Nikar, Nemona's father.

Alder wagged his finger playfully. "I've spent plenty of money on that goat milk, and you're just handing it out like it's nothing! I feel cheated!"

Naoki barely had time to respond before Alder's Volcarona buzzed beside him, chirping pointedly.

"Alright, alright! I know the goat milk helped you recover too," Alder said, laughing as he patted the Pokémon on the head.

Nemona came bounding over next, her energy unrelenting despite the rain-soaked field. She ran straight into her father's arms, her excitement bubbling over.

"Dad! This is Mr. Naoki! I told you all about him! He runs a ranch full of Dragonites that deliver goods all over the region!"

Nikar smiled warmly, patting his daughter's head. "Yes, yes, I remember, sweetheart." His gaze shifted to Naoki, and his demeanor became more formal.

Clearing his throat, Nikar stepped forward. "Mr. Naoki," he began, "I'm Nikar, the head of Rotom Technology. I've been meaning to ask—did you create the design for the Rotom Phone?"

Naoki's eyes widened slightly. "I did," he admitted. "Why? Is it feasible to produce with current technology?"

Nikar hesitated, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "It's a brilliant concept, but I'll need to consult with my R&D team before I can give you a definitive answer. The idea has tremendous potential, though."

Naoki nodded. He wasn't surprised by Nikar's cautious response. "That's understandable," he said. "Let me know what your team decides."

Nikar's expression brightened. "Of course! We'll be in touch to discuss the details further, including your share of the rewards. Thank you for considering us as your partners."

With that, Nikar excused himself, leaving the group of trainers to continue their conversation.

Alder, always one for lively banter, turned to Naoki with a curious look. "Rotom Phone, huh? What exactly does it do?"

Naoki explained patiently. "It's not like the Rotom appliances we're familiar with. The Rotom Phone is a handheld device—a communicator, navigator, and organizer all in one. It can even connect trainers across regions for online shopping and video communication."

Nemona's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Wait, you mean I could order fresh milk and berries from your ranch and have them delivered straight to my house?!"

Naoki laughed, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Exactly. And Dragonite would handle the delivery, of course."

Clay, Lance, and Alder exchanged skeptical glances, still struggling to wrap their minds around the futuristic concept.

Alder chuckled. "Well, if anyone can pull off a Dragonite delivery service, it's you, Naoki. I've seen it with my own eyes. It's like a flock of mail carriers in the sky."

Clay folded his arms, his brow furrowed in thought. "A ranch with that many Dragonites… I'd like to see it for myself someday."

"I'd be happy to host you," Naoki replied with a grin.

Lance, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up.

"Are you… also from a family of Dragon Tamers?" Lance asked, his brow furrowed as he studied Naoki. The question carried genuine curiosity, as he vaguely remembered hearing about a Dragon Tamer lineage in the Paldea region.

Naoki blinked in surprise before realizing the context. He quickly shook his head. "No, I don't know anything about a Dragon Tamer family. I just happened to meet the Dragonites by chance."

Lance nodded, seemingly satisfied with the answer. He understood that not all trainers needed to come from legacies to achieve greatness.

Alder, standing nearby, still seemed astonished by the events that had unfolded. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before asking, "If I were to order milk from your ranch while I'm in Unova, could your Dragonites deliver it across regions?"

Naoki hesitated for a moment, carefully considering the implications. Transporting goods across regions could raise issues of regional security. Team Plasma, for instance, might mistake the hardworking Dragonites for oppressed Pokémon in need of "liberation."

Naoki opted for a tactful response. "Those are just ideas for now. I don't know if they can be implemented on such a scale."

Alder grinned, clapping Naoki on the shoulder. "I get it! Even if I don't fully understand the logistics, just let me know if you need anything."

"Oh, by the way," Alder continued, "if your Rotom Phones need Rotoms to function properly, you can count on me. I can take you to a special place—there's a whole community of Rotoms there!"

Naoki smiled and nodded. "Thank you, that could be very helpful."

Indeed, if Naoki planned to equip Pokémon like Giratina with Rotom Phones, he would need Rotoms to activate their full functionality. While standard Rotom Phones were already designed as advanced smartphones, introducing a live Rotom into the device would elevate it to a truly intelligent gadget capable of translating Pokémon communication and allowing them to interact with the digital world.

As their conversation unfolded, Clay listened intently. His curiosity about Naoki grew, and he had several more questions to ask. However, as the host of the banquet, he was obliged to entertain other guests. With a polite farewell to Alder and Naoki, Clay turned his attention elsewhere.

Alder, too, was soon approached by several members of the Unova Alliance. They were excited to see him and eager to catch up on the latest happenings. Although Alder initially wanted to stay with Naoki, he realized it was his responsibility to reconnect with his region and address lingering concerns from his absence as Champion. With a smile, he excused himself and joined the group.

Nemona, meanwhile, was swept away by her father. Before leaving, she turned back to Naoki, her eyes sparkling with determination. "When I'm back in Paldea, I'm coming to your ranch to buy fresh milk and vegetables!"

Naoki couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm, though he suspected her true interest lay more in battling than in shopping.

Lance lingered. His eyes drifted toward Naoki's Pokémon as they played in the garden—Koraidon, Pawmot, and others moving freely and happily under the moonlight.

"They're from the Paldea region, aren't they?" Lance asked, his tone curious.

Naoki nodded. "That's right."

"I've never seen Pokémon like them in Kanto or Johto," Lance admitted. "Honestly, I had no way of determining their attributes during our battles.

Naoki gestured towards a few of his Pokémon and began introducing them. "The pink one over there is Pawmot. It's an Electric-type Pokémon," he said with a touch of pride.

He continued, pointing to another Pokémon. "That one, which looks a bit like Misdreavus, is called Flutter Mane. It's a Ghost- and Fairy-type Pokémon."

Finally, Naoki gestured toward a particularly muscular and imposing Pokémon. "And this one here is Koraidon. It's a Dragon- and Fighting-type Pokémon. All of these are native to the Paldea region, and they're incredibly rare outside of it."

Lance's eyes followed Naoki's gestures, lingering on Pawmot and Flutter Mane for a moment before locking onto Koraidon. His gaze turned sharp, filled with an almost reverent admiration.

Naoki raised an eyebrow at Lance's reaction. "Something wrong?" he asked.

Lance's voice was full of awe. "What an incredible Pokémon. It's… perfect."

Koraidon tilted its head, letting out a confused growl. "Raao?"

Lance turned to Naoki, his expression almost glowing with enthusiasm. "You like Dragon-types, don't you?"

Naoki blinked, then glanced at Koraidon before nodding. "Yeah, I do."

Finding a kindred spirit, Lance launched into his thoughts on Dragon Pokémon. "Dragons are extraordinary beings, full of mystique and power. They're challenging to catch and train, but with proper care, they can become truly unstoppable. There's no better partner for a trainer than a Dragon-type Pokémon!" His tone softened slightly. "But…"

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Dragon-types are sensitive to the cold. That's one of their few weaknesses. When winter comes, I always stay close to my Dragonites to keep them warm."

Naoki didn't know whether to laugh or be impressed. It was clear that Lance was a dedicated dragon enthusiast. However, he really wants to say, 'You know, Charizard and Aerodactyl aren't technically Dragon-types, right?'

Then, with genuine curiosity, Lance asked, "Do you stay close to Koraidon and the others to keep warm during the winter?"

Naoki chuckled at the memory. "Not exactly. At my ranch, we light a big fireplace in the main house during winter. The whole place gets so warm that sticking too close to each other would make us sweat buckets."

Koraidon, as if on cue, let out an amused rumble. Naoki recalled one particularly chaotic winter night. "Though there was one time Koraidon climbed into my bed while I was sleeping. It ended with me nearly suffocating under the heat."

Lance laughed, his earlier embarrassment fading. "Right, I almost forgot you run a ranch. I guess it's a different story when you're traveling all the time like I am."

Naoki nodded a hint of wistfulness in his expression. He'd always admired the idea of traveling the world with Pokémon, living life on the road. "Do you hide in caves on snowy nights?" he asked.

"All the time," Lance replied, his tone nostalgic. "I've often thought it'd be great to have a kotatsu big enough for Dragon Pokémon. Imagine trainers and their Pokémon huddling together under a massive heated table to stay warm… though, now that I think about it, I have no idea how big that kotatsu would have to be."

Naoki burst out laughing at the mental image. "That sounds amazing."

Lance was caught off guard by his tone. "Wait a minute… Naoki, have you never experienced something like that before?"

"No," Naoki replied with a slight shake of his head. "I've been running a ranch in the Paldea region and haven't had much time to travel."

Lance looked at Naoki's Pokémon with a thoughtful expression. "You should give it a try. Traveling with Pokémon, experiencing the natural environment together, keeping each other warm during tough times—it's an incredible feeling."

Naoki smiled but shook his head again. "I don't think I could. The Pokémon at the ranch would miss me too much."

He paused, glancing at the horizon as he reflected. There was always a trade-off for every decision, and he was content with the life he had chosen. He couldn't imagine leaving behind the large family of Pokémon he cared for. Even during short trips away, he found himself yearning to return to the ranch—the fields, the familiar routines, and the Pokémon he had raised with care.

Every time he leaves for a few days, he finds himself worrying. He wonders how the fields are doing, if the Pokémon are behaving, or if Teddiursa and Mew have been sending their letters back."

The sentiment reminded him of something he'd once observed in his previous life: elderly folks from the countryside moving to the city yet always longing to return home. They fretted over their chickens, ducks, and even the family dog, afraid they might go unfed.

Lance's expression softened. "I understand that feeling," he said. "Knowing that there are Pokémon waiting for you back home—it's comforting, isn't it? Nostalgic, even."

"Exactly!" Naoki smiled, tilting his head toward the vast night sky. The stars twinkled brightly, and the full moon cast a serene, silvery glow over the manor grounds.

It was a view he cherished. He imagined the Pokémon back at the ranch gazing at the same moon. Perhaps they were thinking of him, just as he was thinking of them.

As Naoki's thoughts wandered, a middle-aged man approached from the other side of the courtyard. His features were instantly recognizable, sparking a moment of surprise in Naoki.

Professor Oak.

The name surfaced in his mind instantly. Dressed in a simple round-neck sweater, the renowned Pokémon professor exuded warmth and approachability. His white lab coat had been set aside, likely due to the rain earlier, but his reputation needed no such accessory to command respect.

Lance noticed him first and greeted him politely. "Professor Oak."

"Ah, Lance," Professor Oak acknowledged with a nod before turning his attention to Naoki. His kind smile brightened. "And you must be the trainer from Paldea. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Professor Oak from Pallet Town."