Hearing this, Naoki finally let out a breath of relief.
Thankfully, the teacher's words had been "the principal was surprised by her performance" and not "the principal was knocked out by her Pokémon."
"I see, teacher. Thank you for your hard work," Naoki replied, glancing toward Elara, who was tiptoeing at the sink, washing her hands with a bright smile.
"You're welcome. It's what we're here for. Elara is such a well-behaved and popular child," the teacher said warmly.
After hanging up, Naoki sighed again.
Just then, Iono returned to the ranch on Dragonite. Spotting her husband sighing at the doorway, she tilted her head in surprise.
"Huh? What's wrong? Did something happen here?"
Naoki gave her a long look before muttering, "Your daughter is unbelievable. First day of school, and she's already the boss of the entire kindergarten."
"…?"
A giant question mark practically floated over Iono's head. 'Boss? Was he really talking about their daughter?'
Naoki groaned. "She used Terapagos and the others to wipe the floor with every kid in class who had a Pokémon. Even the older ones couldn't stand a chance. If it had gone any further, I swear she might've challenged the principal too."
Iono couldn't hold back her laughter. "Sounds like her first day went very well!"
Naoki gave her a look of pure disbelief.
"Oh, relax!" Iono waved a hand. "You know how Elara is. She's been training so hard all this time, of course she'd jump at the chance to battle."
Naoki was quiet for a moment. She wasn't wrong… but still, the thought of his daughter turning kindergarten into her own miniature Trainer League worried him. If she wasn't careful, "Big Sister Elara" might become less of an honorific and more of a scandal.
At lunch, he decided to probe her gently.
"Elara," he asked, trying to sound casual.
She looked up from her bowl of creamy mushroom soup, happily slurping and wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "What is it, Dad?"
"How was your first day at school?"
"School is amazing!" Elara's face lit up. "I'm already the strongest Trainer there! The teachers and even the principal praised me!"
Naoki: "…"
Suppressing another sigh, he switched tactics.
"So, how many classmates did you make cry today?"
"Cry?" Elara blinked, puzzled.
"Yes. Did any kids cry after losing battles with you? How many?"
"They challenged me first!" she said quickly, shaking her head with an innocent expression.
Naoki rubbed his forehead. The fact that she said "they" made his eyebrow twitch.
"So when they cried, did anyone make fun of them? Like, 'Ha, you're so weak'?"
Elara frowned thoughtfully, then shook her head. "Nope! Everyone just admired me!"
Naoki exhaled, relieved.
Elara, sharp as ever, tilted her head. "Dad, do you want to tell me something?"
Naoki nodded seriously. "Yes. Listen carefully, Elara. At school, you must never bully your classmates or tease them for being weak. Understand?"
"I didn't bully them! They just wanted to play battles with me!" she insisted, eyes wide with innocence.
"That's fine then." Naoki softened, but added in a firmer tone, "But remember this, we never pick on others. And at the same time, we don't let anyone pick on us either. If someone ever mocks you for being from the countryside, you show them with your strength. We don't start trouble… but we're never afraid of it."
In the Pokémon world, full of nobles and city elites, that was a lesson Naoki knew his daughter needed.
If he remembered correctly, Ash too had faced nobles during his travels, people who looked down on him simply because of his humble background.
"I know!" Elara nodded with conviction. "Entei and the others will protect me!"
Naoki blinked. "Entei and the others went to school with you today?"
No wonder he hadn't seen the three Legendary Beasts when he returned to the ranch that morning. He had assumed they'd gone to the World Tree to see Ho-Oh.
"They're always protecting me from the shadows!" Elara declared proudly. She had spotted them instantly, even when the teachers hadn't noticed a thing.
Naoki chuckled, relieved. With Entei, Raikou, and Suicune watching over her, he truly had nothing to fear.
That evening, after dinner, Elara curled up for her usual nap. Larvesta and Dratini nestled against her on either side, quickly dozing off. The sunlight from the window bathed the three of them in a golden glow, their peaceful faces making the entire room feel serene.
Naoki's heart softened at the sight. He quietly stepped forward, pulled the quilt up over his daughter's shoulders, and brushed her hair tenderly before slipping out of the room and closing the door behind him.
"Elara's asleep?" Iono asked softly, busy changing baby Sorin's diaper.
Naoki nodded, but his expression betrayed his thoughts. He sighed, then grumbled, "Your daughter's incredible. First day of school, and she's already making other kids cry. The moment she walked in, she dragged a boy with a Wattrel into battle, and crushed him until he burst into tears. Where on earth did she learn that from?"
Iono: "…"
She quickly held up her hands. "Definitely not from me!"
Naoki raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.
With a sly smile, Iono teased, "If I remember correctly, wasn't someone also fond of using Koraidon to battle rookie Trainers passing by?"
Naoki: "…"
Well, there was the answer.
He sighed again, then leaned over the cradle to pinch his infant son's cheek. "Sorin, don't grow up to be like your sister, alright?"
"Waaah!" Sorin babbled, waving his tiny arms.
Iono laughed, shaking her head. "His starter will be even more ridiculous. You already promised him that Terapagos egg, didn't you?"
Naoki grimaced. "That couldn't be helped! There weren't any other suitable Pokémon around at the ranch back then, only the Terapagos egg. Besides, it's not like we can change that now. Where is it, anyway?"
"Some of the other Terapagos carried it off to play," Iono replied casually.
Naoki nodded. "That's fine. Actually, that might be good for it. Being raised among the ancient ones that survived from millions of years ago… Sorin's Terapagos could learn their instincts and unique traits naturally."
That matter settled, Naoki's mind turned to Elara's current Pokémon.
Dratini was progressing well. With his guidance and the help of Dragonite, raising it would be manageable. The Viridian Power she inherited would only deepen their bond further.
But Larvesta… Larvesta was another story.
As a Pokémon rivaling the "pseudo-legendary" class in raw potential, Larvesta's growth rate was agonizingly slow. Like other rare Pokémon of its tier, its strength in its unevolved state wasn't drastically different from ordinary Pokémon of the same level.
Only after evolving into the mighty Volcarona would its power soar sky-high.
Naoki sighed, recalling. He had been raising this Larvesta for five or six years now, and still, there was no sign of evolution.
How about… finding a teacher for Elara? Someone who could show her the secrets and techniques of raising Larvesta?
Naoki already had the perfect candidate in mind:
The former Champion of Unova, Alder!
Without hesitation, Naoki pulled out his Rotom Phone and sent a request to Alder.
Upon receiving Naoki's message, Alder, who had retired from the Unova League and was enjoying a quiet life at home, readily agreed.
By mid-March of the 208th year of the League Calendar, the two of them set off from Unova toward Paldea.
It was the weekend, and with kindergarten closed, Elara came running to Naoki bright and early. Clutching Larvesta in her arms, she asked eagerly,
"Daddy, Mom said you found me a great teacher to help me raise Larvesta. Who is it?"
Naoki sipped his tea and answered slowly, "Why don't you guess?"
"Is it someone I know?" Elara's eyes sparkled. "Could it be Uncle Ash?"
"No," Naoki shook his head.
"Is it Uncle Leon?" she tried again.
"Not him either," Naoki said with a smile. Over the past two years, Galar had gone through tremendous change.
Leon had been focused on building new Battle Towers and developing his hometown.
"Then who could it be…?" Elara groaned, frowning in thought. When she couldn't figure it out, she threw herself into her father's arms and pouted. "Daddy! Just tell me already!"
Naoki laughed, clearly enjoying himself. "Alright, alright, don't get too impatient. Your new teacher… well, you and he already share a bond. He's the one who gave you your Larvesta, born from a Champion-level Volcarona."
At that, Elara's mind clicked instantly.
"It's Uncle Alder!" she shouted.
"Exactly," Naoki said with a nod and a grin.
At ten o'clock sharp, Alder finally arrived at the ranch.
Naoki, Elara, and a group of Pokémon gathered to welcome him.
Even from a distance, they could hear Alder's booming, unmistakable laugh.
He waved and called out, "Ha ha! Long time no see, Elara!"
"Uncle Alder!" Elara squealed with delight. She still remembered when she was younger, how Uncle Alder had visited the ranch and treated her and Larvesta to Castelia-style ice cream.
She ran straight toward him.
Alder crouched down, holding his hands out to show her height. "Oh! I haven't seen you for just two years and you've grown so much taller!"
Elara beamed. "Mom says eating well is the only way to grow up healthy!"
"Haha! Not bad at all," Alder said warmly.
Then his gaze shifted toward Larvesta standing proudly beside her.
The little Pokémon had grown a great deal since he last saw it. Its fiery fuzz had thickened, and there was a sharp, determined gleam in its eyes. Larvesta radiated health and strength.
Right now, it was like a piece of unpolished jade. With the right training and care, it was destined to shine as a true legend one day.
Alder smiled knowingly. "Volcarona, come out!"
Alder drew a Poké Ball from his belt.
With a brilliant flash of white light, a Volcarona emerged, its wings blazing with radiance like the midday sun. A wave of scorching heat rippled outward from its body, giving it the presence of a fiery sun god.
The moment it appeared, Volcarona's eyes immediately fell on the Larvesta standing before it. The bond of blood told it everything, it recognized this Larvesta as the very child it had entrusted to Naoki's family years ago.
Now, that child had grown strong and healthy.
Volcarona's gaze softened with maternal warmth, relief, and joy.
Elara's eyes widened in awe. The moment she saw Volcarona, she was completely captivated by its aura.
"Wow! So powerful!" she gasped.
Alder chuckled, reaching down to ruffle her hair before glancing up at his partner. "What do you think? Volcarona is quite the sight, isn't it?"
Elara nodded furiously. "Yeah!"
"That's right," Alder said with a grin. "In ancient times, Volcarona was revered as the Incarnation of the Sun, the very god of fire. But don't just envy it. Your Larvesta will one day grow into a blazing sun of its own!" His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
With Naoki's skill at preparing special dishes to strengthen Pokémon, combined with Alder's experience raising Volcarona, Elara's Larvesta would avoid countless detours. With the right care, it might even surpass Volcarona's strength and shine at an entirely new level.
Alder was brimming with confidence.
Not only because he wanted to repay Naoki, but also because Elara herself inspired him. He could clearly see her boundless affection for Pokémon and her fiery passion for battling.
Such children were born to become Pokémon Trainers.
And he had no doubt, her future was destined to be bright.
After greeting Elara warmly, Alder turned toward Naoki. The two men exchanged a knowing look and a smile. Old friends didn't need words to understand each other.
"Come inside for some tea," Naoki offered. "You must be exhausted. Unova is a long way from Paldea."
"Sorry to trouble you," Alder said politely.
They returned to the living room, where Indeedee set a cup of tea and a tray of snacks before Alder.
"How are things back in Unova?" Naoki asked.
Alder's expression brightened. "Iris has fully taken on the role of Champion now," he said with deep admiration. "That girl is remarkable. As for me, I live much like you do now, sharing meals with my Pokémon back home, enjoying peaceful days, and occasionally offering guidance to young Trainers who pass through."
"That's wonderful," Naoki said sincerely. He was truly happy for his friend.
After his own experiences with Cyclizar and Koraidon, he understood better than anyone the sorrow of parting with Pokémon who had been lifelong companions.
He knew why Alder had once fallen into despair after losing his own Pokémon. But fortunately, that tragedy had not repeated itself here.
Just then, a small head peeked out from behind the sofa.
Naoki and Alder turned their eyes to see Elara crouched there, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Dad, Uncle Alder," she asked eagerly, "when does class start?"
...
Bonus @500
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