On September 17, 206 of the Alliance Calendar, news of the Paradox Pokémon's attack on a town quickly spread throughout the Paldea region.

Trending searches such as "Never-before-seen Pokémon," "Violent Temperament," and "Attacks Residents" shot up, drawing massive online attention.

At this moment, Paldea's Chief Champion, Geeta, officially announced the existence of the Paradox Pokémon and the disaster that had occurred within the Great Crater of Paldea.

The news sent shockwaves through the world.

A time machine? Pokémon from the distant past and future?

Many people suddenly wanted to explore the crater for themselves.

But a follow-up announcement from the Paldea League quickly cooled that enthusiasm:

Paldea League Statement: We regret to inform you that the Great Crater remains under strict lockdown. Two of our region's professors tragically lost their lives due to the crisis. To prevent any further disaster, the League has returned the Paradox Pokémon to their rightful time periods and has permanently shut down the time machine.

We must also extend our deepest gratitude to Mr. Naoki, who rushed to the scene alone, erected a defensive line, and prevented the Paradox Pokémon from spilling into the wider Paldea region.

The announcement had an unexpected effect: "The Scarlet Book," written by the explorer Heath, suddenly went from being an obscure curiosity sold by street vendors to a region-wide bestseller.

Wait… so the information in it was true?!

In this atmosphere of stunned excitement, Naoki and Koraidon finally returned home to the ranch.

They had been gone for months, leaving in spring and only now returning in late autumn.

The Pokémon of the ranch hadn't seen Naoki in so long that when they saw him descending from the sky, their faces were filled with disbelief.

In a chorus of happy cries, nearly every Pokémon rushed over to surround him.

Hearing the noise, Elara, led by Entei, came running out—followed by dozens of Terapagos.

"Daddy!" Elara squealed, flinging herself into Naoki's arms.

"Daddy's back." Naoki hugged her close, heart aching as he reflected on all that had happened. He silently vowed to be a true father, never neglecting Elara the way Professors Sada and Turo had with Arven.

As he spoke, his gaze swept over his partners: Ogerpon, Flutter Mane, Urshifu, and all the Pokémon he had befriended throughout his long journey.

"I'm back," Naoki declared.

The Pokémon erupted in joy.

After months apart, they had dearly missed him.

But Elara's sharp eyes looked past them.

She saw Koraidon, Dragonite, and Pawmot emerge from their Poké Balls… yet there was no sign of Cyclizar.

Her face turned puzzled.

"Daddy… where's Cyclizar?" she asked softly.

Cyclizar had promised to take her butterfly-catching atop the World Tree.

The other Pokémon had noticed too. Cyclizar was gone.

Dragonite and Pawmot exchanged heavy glances.

"Awoo…" Dragonite murmured, looking at Koraidon with sorrow.

"Bamo."

Naoki stood in silence, unsure how to answer.

Elara was only four years old. To her, Cyclizar was not a paradox of time or an altered existence, it was simply her dear friend. And now that friend was gone.

For a child, there was no pain more cruel.

After a long pause, Naoki finally said, gently:

"Cyclizar… it's gone far, far away."

The young Elara looked up at him innocently. "Will it come back?"

Naoki met Koraidon's gaze and then nodded firmly.

"Yes. One day… it will come back to us."

But not now, nine years from now.

Elara frowned. "How long will that take?"

"When you've grown up to be as old as your father, Cyclizar will come back to us," Naoki lied gently.

"Okay!" Elara promised with determination. "Then I'll eat lots of food and grow up to be big like Daddy!"

Naoki smiled at her words, though there was no real joy behind it.

"Go play for now. Daddy's a little tired and wants to rest." Naoki stroked Elara's head.

Elara was a considerate child. She could sense her father's exhaustion and obediently replied, "Then Daddy, when you wake up, take me out to play!"

"Alright," Naoki nodded softly.

After comforting Elara, Naoki turned his attention to the other Pokémon gathered around him.

The Eevee evolutions, led by Glaceon and Umbreon, along with Flutter Mane, Urshifu, Alcremie, Butterfree, and Miltank—

These Pokémon had lived alongside Naoki for years. Naturally, they couldn't miss the unusual heaviness in his demeanor.

Only once Elara and Entei had walked away did they exchange glances of concern.

"Boni…?"

"Ah, gah…" Koraidon stepped forward.

Naoki exhaled, his voice low. "Koraidon… is Cyclizar."

The Pokémon froze in shock as Naoki slowly recounted everything that had happened.

"Cyclizar traveled back in time, became Koraidon, and then returned to me nine years ago."

The Pokémon seemed to understand.

They could communicate with one another in their own way, and they had all lived together for so long… but no matter what, no one, not even the Pokémon, not even Naoki himself, could immediately reconcile Koraidon and Cyclizar as the same being.

When Naoki returned home and looked at the spot in front of the fireplace where Cyclizar often curled up, at Cyclizar's special food bowl, and at its favorite toys, his heart ached.

That had been Cyclizar's corner. The scarf he'd given it for its first winter was still there, it had loved wearing it while bounding through the snow.

And the toys he'd bought over the years… Cyclizar had cherished each and every one of them.

Memories of his loyal partner lingered constantly. Naoki would often find himself staring blankly at the fireplace.

While tending the orchard, he would suddenly remember Cyclizar's clumsy yet earnest efforts to help him carry baskets of fruit.

Koraidon and Pawmot felt his grief keenly. They stayed silently by his side, offering comfort without words.

It wasn't until a month later that Naoki began to recover from his grief, if only slightly.

He never forgot. Instead, he buried the pain deep in his heart, quietly waiting for the day in the future when he would travel back in time, find the Cyclizar, and stand watch over it.

By November of the 206th year of the Alliance Calendar, Iono's belly had grown larger.

The Paldea League Tournament had just ended. With her gym duties on hold, she now spent her days at home, caring for Elara and the Pokémon on the ranch alongside Naoki.

One warm afternoon, Briar arrived at the ranch.

She had learned from the Paldea League about what had happened, Naoki's intervention in the Paradox Pokémon uprising. Curious to know more about the mysteries of the Paradox Pokémon and the depths of Area Zero, Briar traveled all the way from Blueberry Academy to visit.

That afternoon, Naoki sat with Briar and slowly recounted everything: the Paradox Pokémon, the battles beneath Area Zero, and even his encounter with Terapagos.

Briar listened with wide eyes, thrilled beyond words. She scribbled down every detail with excitement, and not long after returning to Blueberry Academy, she sent Naoki a package.

When Naoki opened it, he found a book resting quietly inside, its title read "The Scarlet Book."

But the color of the book's cover was… white.

Naoki froze.

His thoughts flashed back to the old notes he had read from Professor Sada.

The white book… Briar…

Now, the puzzle pieces began to fall into place.

Just as Naoki was lost in thought, Elara came running over.

She spotted the book in his hands and asked curiously, "Daddy, what's that?"

"Pago?" A few Terapagos, who had become Elara's closest playmates, waddled over as well, craning their necks to look.

Naoki handed the book to his daughter.

And then, he froze again.

The memory of Sada's notes came back to him clearly:

"Near the pond, I met two children, one with Koraidon, and one with Terapagos. One of them gave me a white book. It recorded not only the mysteries of the Great Crater, but also the awakening of Terapagos… I truly wish I knew who the author, Briar, really was."

The girl with Terapagos. The child holding the white book. The chronicler of Area Zero's secrets.

And now, standing before him, his daughter, Elara, fit that description perfectly.