"Where do you want to go?"
Giratina's massive body shifted within the swirling shadows of the Distortion World. Its golden spikes glinted faintly in the gloom as its eyes turned upward. Perched on its broad, armored neck was a five-year-old boy with black hair and dark eyes.
"To the outside world!" Sorin declared, clutching Terapagos tightly in his arms. His eyes sparkled with excitement, filled with the eager curiosity only a child could carry.
Giratina let out a low rumble. "Very well." It had never broken a promise once given.
The Legendary Pokémon already knew the perfect destination. Recently, whispers carried even into the Distortion World, a vast, extravagant statue of Giratina had been erected in Blackgold City, a booming Sinnoh coal town. It was the work of the Giratina Fan Committee, who praised and honored the Renegade Pokémon as their protector.
With a deep growl, Giratina surged forward, its titanic wings cutting through the currents of distorted space.
For what seemed like hours, Sorin clung to its neck as the swirling vortexes of the Distortion World passed them by. Then, with a sharp breath, Giratina unleashed a pulse of Dragon Breath into the fabric of reality.
The sealed space tore apart with a thunderous crack.
In an instant, the enormous shadow broke free of the distortion and burst into the bright sunlight of the real world.
—
Blackgold City was alive with activity. Miners, helmets tucked under their arms, walked toward the coal pits in groups. Office workers in pressed shirts rushed down the main street, checking their watches. Trainers with eager faces and worn sneakers chatted as they entered the city with Poké Balls clipped to their belts.
And in the central plaza stood a towering statue, pitch-black, carved to resemble Giratina in its Origin Forme. Its presence was both fearsome and majestic, the centerpiece of the city. Beneath it bustled the headquarters of the Giratina Fan Committee, an unusual but devoted group of followers who adored the Legendary Pokémon.
To outsiders, Giratina was a terrifying figure, a monster from old Sinnoh myths, banished for its violence. But the members of the Committee believed otherwise. To them, Giratina was not a destroyer, but a guardian who punished cruelty.
The crowd in the plaza stirred.
A strange ripple appeared in the skies above.
Gasps erupted as a vast, dark shape emerged from the distortion.
"No way… is that..."
"It's Giratina!"
"Giratina has come! It must have seen everything we've done to honor it!"
The cries grew louder as Giratina descended, its shadow falling across its own statue.
Some in the crowd clasped their hands in awe, tears streaming down their faces.
For they knew the stories, not the fearful legends spread by the old texts, but the tales whispered between fans. Tales of a misunderstood protector.
Once, a little girl who adored Giratina had been bullied at school. Heartbroken, she confided in her prayers to the Renegade Pokémon. The next day, Giratina had emerged from the mirror in her room, confronting the bullies and scaring them so thoroughly that they never dared bother her again.
How could such a Pokémon not be loved?
So when Giratina appeared, it immediately caused a sensation in Blackgold City.
But before long, someone in the crowd noticed something unusual.
"Wait… there's something on Giratina's head!"
At once, a few trainers pulled binoculars from their bags and focused on the Legendary Pokémon.
"It's a little boy!" one trainer exclaimed.
"Who could it be…" another murmured, eyes wide.
Paldea Region – Naoki Ranch
Naoki suddenly realized the house was unusually quiet.
He narrowed his eyes, went downstairs, and looked around, but only found the Pokémon lounging peacefully.
"Hm?"
"Flutter Mane, have you seen Sorin?" Naoki asked.
Flutter Mane floated in thought, then drifted outside and pointed toward the Distortion World.
Naoki: "…"
Of course. That little rascal must have slipped away to play at the World Tree again.
Sorin was only five years old, and soon he'd have to start kindergarten. But with his mischievous personality, Naoki doubted he'd follow in Elara's footsteps, she had once made the entire kindergarten burst into tears on her first day.
The Pokémon of the World Tree adored Sorin and watched over him like family. Naoki reassured himself there wouldn't be any real danger. He sighed, deciding to take the quilts outside to dry in the good weather.
But just as he reached for them, his Rotom phone buzzed with an incoming video call from the Sinnoh region.
The blonde woman on the screen made him pause. "Cynthia?"
"Sorry to bother you, Mr. Naoki," Cynthia said, her tone calm but serious. "There's something I need to ask."
"Go ahead," Naoki replied, puzzled. The Sinnoh region shouldn't be in danger now… unless remnants of Team Galactic had resurfaced?
But Cynthia's next words left him frozen.
"Giratina appeared in Blackgold City earlier today. A little boy, about five years old, was sitting on its head. I believe that child is Sorin. Do you know anything about this?"
Naoki's mind went blank. A massive question mark practically hovered above his head.
"…?"
What on earth? Sorin? With Giratina? In Sinnoh?
"I see," Naoki finally muttered, rubbing his temples. "I'll contact Giratina."
Cynthia: "…"
So it really was the boy sneaking off again.
After ending the call, Naoki immediately dialed Giratina. The line buzzed for a long while before someone finally picked up.
But it wasn't Giratina's face that appeared, it was Sorin.
"Dad?"
"Sorin," Naoki said sharply, "it's dangerous out there. Come back with Giratina right now!" The next moment, Giratina's deep, rumbling voice came from beside him.
"I'm here. What's there to worry about?"
Naoki: "…"
"Dad, I don't want to go back yet! It's fun here!" Sorin insisted, clutching the Rotom phone.
Then Giratina leaned into the frame. "Sorin, ignore your dad. Listen to Uncle Giratina. Hang up the phone and let's keep playing!"
Naoki's expression hardened.
Sorin flinched at the stern look on his father's face. Lowering his voice, he whispered nervously, "Uncle Giratina… I think Dad's mad. Maybe we should go back…"
At those words, Naoki's expression finally softened.
Thinking it over, Naoki realized it made sense. With Giratina by his side, Sorin was in no danger. The boy simply wanted to see more of the outside world.
Now that Elara was gone and there was no one left to play with, Sorin felt lonely.
He never admitted it out loud, but Naoki knew his son was secretly envious of his sister's ability to travel.
Alas.
Naoki sighed to himself. As long as his children were happy, that was what mattered most.
"It's alright, Sorin. Daddy's not angry, just worried about you," Naoki said gently. "Go on, enjoy playing with Uncle Giratina."
Sorin's eyes immediately lit up.
"Really, Dad?" he asked, astonished.
"Of course," Naoki nodded with a smile. "But remember, you need to be back home before dark, okay?"
The boy's face brightened into pure delight. "I will, I promise!"
The children were growing up, each beginning to live their own lives. As a father, Naoki sometimes felt helpless, but he knew he couldn't hold them back forever.
From that day forward, Sorin became completely enamored with Giratina. Nearly every day, he ventured into the Distortion World to play with it, traveling together to far-off places.
This left only Naoki, Iono, and the Pokémon at the ranch.
Life passed peacefully. Now well into his forties, Naoki had settled into a quiet, steady rhythm with Koraidon and the others.
Occasionally, messages arrived from Elara. She would share stories of her own travels.
How she had passed the trial to become the new Rainbow Hero.
How she had parted ways with Entei, Suicune, and Raikou when they set off to fulfill their own missions.
Elara had been heartbroken at first, but she quickly regained her composure. Entei had promised her that the separation was only temporary and that one day, they would meet again.
And with every farewell came a new encounter. Her journey pressed on.
Strong and determined, Elara went on to sweep through all of Kanto's Gyms. By the end of the year, she stood victorious at the Indigo Plateau, winning the Kanto League Championship.
Along the way, like many other trainers, she caught a variety of Pokémon native to Kanto and sent them home for her father to raise on the ranch.
But even after her victory, Elara's journey continued.
After spending the New Year with her parents and her younger brother, she set out once more, this time bound for the Johto region, following the path Naoki had carefully laid out for her.
In the blink of an eye, the calendar turned to the year 217 of the Pokémon League.
Naoki was now thirty-nine. Elara, at fifteen, had begun her journey through Kalos.
And Sorin had turned ten.
But surprisingly, unlike his sister, he chose not to set off on a world-spanning adventure. Having already spent five years exploring countless places with Giratina, Sorin instead decided to enroll at Naranja Academy in Paldea with his partner, Terapagos, to study Pokémon formally.
In the year 218 of the League Calendar, Naoki officially entered his forties.
Like his sister, Sorin proved to be an exceptionally gifted student. He completed his studies in just one year, then accepted Geeta's invitation to take over the Levincia Gym from his mother, Iono.
At the age of thirty-five, Iono chose to retire, returning to the ranch to spend her days alongside Naoki and their Pokémon. The two of them settled comfortably into middle age.
By the year 219, Sorin had quickly made a name for himself as a Gym Leader, his Gym being recognized as the strongest in Paldea.
In the year 220, Elara achieved first place in Galar's Masters Eight Tournament and then returned home to Paldea. Naoki was forty-two, and Elara, now eighteen, had grown into a fully accomplished trainer. She inherited the title of Paldea League Champion from Geeta herself.
Under Elara's leadership, Paldea rose to become the most formidable region in the world, drawing in countless gifted trainers and challengers from far and wide.
After retiring, Geeta and Rika moved to Kosaji, becoming neighbors to Naoki and his family. They often visited the ranch, sitting together in rocking chairs beneath the sun.
With a sigh full of contentment, Geeta admitted, "Naoki, meeting you was the best thing that ever happened."
Naoki had long since seen through Geeta's intentions, but since Elara had no objections, he let things develop as they would.
"Hmph, I think you've had your eyes on our family for a long time," Naoki teased as he lounged in his rocking chair, gently fanning Iono.
He thought back to when Iono first came to the ranch and challenged him, it all felt so long ago, yet looking back now, everything seemed to have fallen into place.
"Don't say it like that," Geeta replied with a smile.
Naoki chuckled. "But then again, I have to thank you. If not for you, our lives might not have turned out this way."
He glanced at Iono, the warmth in his eyes undeniable.
Geeta smiled knowingly. "That's not necessarily true. People who truly love each other will always find a way to be together, no matter the distance."
She looked up at the bright blue sky, gently touching the wrinkles that time had left on her face.
Over the years, the Paldea League had seen many leaders come and go. Their generation's time had passed, and they accepted it with grace.
"By the way, Naoki, did you know that Arven inherited the legacy of Professors Sada and Turo and has become an accomplished Pokémon Professor himself?" Geeta added.
Naoki nodded, eyes closed as he basked in the sunlight. Of course he knew.
Geeta's stories of their old friends came in fragments, like pieces of a shared memory.
"Haha, Arven bought a small house in town after retiring. He's changed so much, if you saw him now, you might not even recognize him!"
"Nemona and Juliana are both members of the Elite Four now. I heard that Penny returned to Galar to live with her father. My goodness, all those kids have grown up!"
"Elara is truly remarkable. It's wonderful to see the Paldea region thriving the way it is today."
Naoki closed his eyes, listening in silence.
So much had changed in Kosaji over the years.
Mayor Thomas had passed away. The town's little seed shop had changed owners. What was once a bustling trade hub had grown into a fully modern metropolis.
Time changes people, and it changes places.
…
By the year 230 of the League Calendar, Naoki was fifty-two, Iono was forty-seven, Elara was twenty-eight, and Sorin had already turned twenty-three.
That year brought much sorrow.
Iono's parents passed away, leaving her in tears for days. She cried quietly in Naoki's arms, and from that day forward, she no longer had parents in this world.
Not long after, Alder also passed away.
Naoki, together with Iono and their two children, traveled to attend his funeral. The ceremony was quiet, heavy with grief for the former Champion of Unova.
Alder's Pokémon stood faithfully beside his coffin, their eyes filled with sorrow, unwilling to leave him.
Watching the scene, Iono's heart ached. She couldn't help but wonder, would her own Pokémon grieve this way when her time came?
The weight of these losses weakened her, and soon she fell ill.
Naoki stayed faithfully by her side, tending to her, speaking in a soft, reassuring voice:
"Don't worry. Even if your body ages, your soul will never fade. When the time comes, I'll lead you out of the spirit world and bring you back to our Pokémon."
"Really?" Iono asked, her voice trembling.
Naoki nodded, glancing toward Koraidon and the other partners who stood watch nearby. "Of course it's true. Whether in life or in death, we'll always be together."
That was his promise, to his wife, to his children, and to every Pokémon that had stood with them through the years.
…
In the year 231, Sorin met the love of his life. He married and made a new home in Levincia City.
Naoki felt a father's pride at seeing his son build a family. Yet, at the same time, he grew increasingly worried about his daughter.
Elara, despite her fame and strength, had shown no sign of romance. She hadn't even hinted at a crush.
Naoki, slipping into the role of a nagging father, began calling her almost every day, urging her to settle down.
He feared Elara had inherited Geeta's solitary streak. If she waited until her thirties or forties without marrying, would she live alone forever? The thought pained him deeply.
At first, Elara brushed off his concerns with casual replies. But eventually, tired of avoiding the subject, she brought her boyfriend home to meet the family.
At the ranch, Naoki sat stiffly upright on the sofa, staring sternly at the young man across from him.
On either side of him, Koraidon and Dragonite loomed with equally serious expressions, their eyes locked on the visitor.
The poor man was visibly nervous, sweat dripping down his temples.
The heavy silence in the room carried an unmistakable pressure.
At that moment, Naoki understood perfectly why his own father-in-law had behaved this way when they first met.
If someone wished to marry his daughter, they would have to pass through him first.