Chapter 242: Iono
"Bang!"
Tinkatuff's small fists, charged with steel energy, hammered away at the iron block. The crisp clang of metal echoed across the meadow as nails and iron filings fused under its efforts, forming a piece of silver-colored metal. Naoki stood nearby, watching in awe.
Tinkatuff frowned at the block, clearly unsatisfied. Without high temperatures or cooling, it was forging metal through sheer force and skill. Naoki marveled at how this broke the laws of physics.
"Maybe it's the Steel energy?" he guessed, still curious.
Taking a break, Tinkatuff noticed Naoki still watching, looking startled. It had assumed Naoki left earlier and was caught off-guard.
"Have you made a hammer before?" Naoki asked kindly.
Tinkatuff's eyes lit up. It nodded, explaining through excited chirps how it once crafted a hammer from scrap found in an abandoned cabin. That hammer was its trusted companion, helping it fend off metal-eating Pokémon—until it was tragically lost in a fire.
Seeing Tinkatuff's sadness, Naoki smiled. "Don't worry! If you made one before, you can do it again!"
Renewed with determination, Tinkatuff clenched its little fists. "Woo-wah!" it exclaimed.
Naoki patted its head fondly. "Keep at it, and I won't disturb you."
As Naoki left, the steady clanging resumed, carrying through the ranch like a rhythm of purpose. Back in his room, Naoki pulled out a book on Pokémon ecology. Flipping through the pages, he found the section on Tinkatuff:
"Tinkaton, the Hammer Pokémon"
Tinkatuff, like Tauros and Miltank, is a single-gender Pokémon species.
"People think that Pokémon like Tinkaton are solitary, but that's not entirely true. They actually live in groups." he mused.
Naoki continued, "Tinkaton lives alongside Tinkatuff and Tinkatink. You'll usually find them in areas filled with scrap metal, like ancient castles or old ruins left behind by humans."
"The ground in these places is covered with copper bits and iron scraps, but since Tinkatink is still small and not that strong, it gathers metal shavings and fragments to make its first hammer."
He smiled, imagining the little Pokémon hard at work. "Once they evolve into Tinkatuff, they need tougher stuff. That's when they set their sights on the metal used by Pawniard, hunting them down for sturdier materials."
Naoki's grin widened. "And when a Tinkatuff evolves into a full Tinkaton, it doesn't stop there. It goes after Steel-types like Bisharp."
He leaned forward, whispering as if revealing a secret. "Ordinary hammers won't do for Tinkaton—researchers say their hammers can weigh more than 100 kilograms. But Tinkaton swings them like they're made of feathers. Talk about strength!"
Naoki's eyes lit up with inspiration. "As these little blacksmiths evolve, their taste in metal keeps improving—from scrap iron to Bisharp's armor."
He glanced over at his Pawmot, imagining the perfect hammer in its hands. "If I can get that Tinkatuff to make a hammer for Pawmot, Thor Pawmot will finally be complete! The red cape is already waiting."
There was a playful glint in Naoki's eyes. "Maybe I could help Tinkatuff by collecting some of Pokemon's steel remains in advance. I'll give her half to practice with, and the other half will go toward Pawmot's special hammer."
He clapped his hands together with excitement. "Good thing, Galar is full of Corviknights. I'll gather everything we need on my next trip there!"
In the skies over Galar, Corviknight reigned supreme. As the go-to flying taxi service, these majestic Pokémon were seen soaring gracefully through the clouds, transporting passengers across the region.
Some trainers had even partnered with the Galar Taxi Fleet, working with Corviknight to help travelers get from one town to another. Naoki figured that someone in the fleet might collect shed feathers from the Corviknight, which could be perfect for crafting the hammer he needed.
...
October 9, 198 – Alliance Calendar
That morning, after finishing his chores on the ranch, Naoki waved goodbye to everyone and climbed onto his trusty Koraidon. His destination? Levincia City, a vibrant metropolis on the other side of the Paldea region.
With a grin, Naoki patted Koraidon's side. "Ready, buddy? Let's take to the skies!"
Koraidon responded with a playful "Raao?" and launched into the air.
As they flew, Naoki marveled at the landscape below. "The real Paldea feels so much bigger than it does in the game."
He studied the map, noticing towns and villages not shown in the game: Sunflora Town, Jellyfish Village, and Tauros City.
"I should visit these places someday," he mused.
Sunflora Town was surrounded by fields of sunflowers, where Sunflora Pokémon roamed freely. Jellyfish Village was known for the wild Jellicent floating in nearby waters. And Tauros City was famous for its thrilling bullfights, where trainers competed with their Tauros in fierce but friendly battles.
After several hours of flying, Naoki and Koraidon reached the eastern side of Paldea. Below them, fields gave way to modern towns and cities, their sleek buildings shining in the sunlight.
Naoki smiled. "The east side of Paldea feels so much more modern than the west."
As they approached Levincia City, the vibrant lights and towering skyscrapers came into view.
Skyscrapers stood tall, side by side, their windows glowing brightly. The city was alive with traffic, and although it was only early evening, the shops lining the streets had already turned on their lights. Neon signs flickered and glimmered, casting colorful hues across the streets, making Levincia City feel like a dreamland.
For a moment, Naoki was awestruck.
"It's like I've stepped into another world," he thought. Compared to this bustling metropolis, his hometown back in Paldea felt like a sleepy little village.
"This is incredible!" Naoki gasped, dazzled by the vibrant lights.
He marveled at the beams of neon stretching skyward, gently weaving through the night air. They illuminated the city like a dazzling tapestry of color, making the whole place feel like a living dream. Then it hit him—he knew exactly what this was.
"This must be the Million Volt Night View!" Naoki realized.
It was one of the ten most beautiful sights in Paldea. He couldn't help but smile. "I gotta admit, it's just as breathtaking as people say."
Koraidon let out a curious hum, its voice soft in the night.
"Raao?"
Naoki gave Koraidon an affectionate pat, grinning at his partner. They stood there in quiet admiration, taking in the sea of lights below. The thousands of glowing windows sparkled like stars scattered across the ground, creating a mesmerizing view.
Before long, another traveler arrived, riding on the back of a Corviknight. The traveler and his companion, cameras in hand, gasped in excitement.
"This really is one of Paldea's top sights! It's gorgeous!" the man exclaimed.
"Quick, take some photos! We need to capture this," his friend urged.
The sight snapped Naoki back to reality. "Right! We've got business to take care of!"
He tapped Koraidon gently. "Alright, let's land!"
"Raaooo!" Koraidon responded cheerfully and began descending toward Levincia City.
As soon as they landed, Naoki noticed something odd. The moment they touched down on the busy streets, a sense of awkwardness crept over him.
The passers-by, dressed sharply in suits and fashionable clothes, cast curious glances his way. Naoki looked down at his own travel-worn outfit and gulped nervously.
"Uh oh…" he thought. "Do I look like a country bumpkin?"
He remembered how Ash Ketchum had once been teased for being a small-town kid in a big city. Naoki braced himself, expecting similar treatment.
But to his surprise, no one laughed or mocked him. They simply stared for a moment, intrigued by his sudden arrival on the back of Koraidon, before going about their business.
"Well… that's a relief," Naoki muttered, exhaling deeply.
Reassured, he turned his attention back to his goal. "Alright, time to head to the port and grab our tickets to Galar!"
They crossed the busy streets, following the city signs toward the port.
Naoki mentally mapped out the directions: "Go through the central square in the heart of the city, then cross the sea bridge to reach the Levincia Lighthouse. The boat boarding point is right next to the lighthouse."
With a nod of determination, Naoki nudged Koraidon. "Let's head to the square first!"
However, as they reached the central square, they found themselves caught in a whirlwind of excitement.
Trainers and Pokémon were rushing in from every direction, chatting excitedly as they hurried toward the same destination.
"The battle at the Gym is about to start!" one shouted.
"Hey, outta my way!" another trainer yelled.
"Ahhh, stop pushing me!" someone cried as the crowd surged forward.
Before Naoki could react, he and Koraidon were swept up by the wave of eager trainers, pulled toward the heart of the square.
Naoki: "..."
When the crowd finally stopped, Naoki found himself standing at the edge of a massive, circular battle arena. Pokémon and humans alike gathered around, excitedly watching the scene unfold. Bright, colorful neon lights illuminated the square, casting playful patterns across the stadium.
At the center of the venue, a trainer stood confidently, drawing everyone's attention.
Naoki blinked, surprised by the trainer's striking appearance. The person had long blue and pink hair, with little Magnemite hair clips sparkling in the neon light.
But before he could dwell on it, the trainer's energetic voice rang out across the square.
"It's time for the Iono Show! Are you all ready?!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, familiar with the energetic Gym Leader's antics.
"Iono!" they shouted in unison, excitedly bouncing along with her lively energy.
With a mischievous grin, Iono flashed her signature sharp-toothed smile, raising her hands to hype up the crowd even more.
"Good morning! Good afternoon! Good evening! And ciao, everyone!" she exclaimed, waving enthusiastically.
Her opponent, standing on the opposite side of the field, seemed both starstruck and nervous.
Naoki watched in awe as Iono spun around dramatically, striking a playful pose. "Are you ready~?" she sang, her voice playful and energetic. "It's time to dazzle your eyes with a show you'll never forget!"
"Today's challenger is Trainer Komatsu, who's strong enough to take down a Copperajah mid-flight!"
The announcer's voice echoed through the square.
Naoki blinked in confusion. "...Wait, what?"
His eyes landed on the energetic trainer in the arena—blue and pink hair, with little Magnemite hair clips glittering in the neon light.
"It's weird," Naoki thought, scratching his head.
He stared at the lively trainer, trying to make sense of things. Iono—he was sure that was her name—was supposed to be a streamer. "Did she already become a Gym Leader?"
"If I remember right, she usually runs livestreams," Naoki mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe streaming hasn't caught on yet?"
The battle before them seemed more like an exhibition match than an official Gym challenge, adding to Naoki's confusion.
Just then, Koraidon—standing by his side—perked up, its eyes lighting up with excitement.
"Raao?" Koraidon chirped, its tail swishing happily.
"Huh?" Naoki glanced down at his Pokémon, puzzled. "Wait… do you like Iono?"
Koraidon responded with an enthusiastic cry, hopping in place. "Raao! Raao!"
Naoki tilted his head, still bewildered. "Koraidon, you've never even met her… Isn't this the first time you've seen her?"
He thought back to the rumors: Iono wasn't all that famous outside the big cities yet, so it made sense she hadn't made a splash in the quieter parts of Paldea where Naoki was. Still, the question nagged at him—what exactly had caught Koraidon's attention?
A fleeting thought crossed Naoki's mind, making him chuckle to himself. "Can Pokémon… fall in love with people?"
He looked at Koraidon, still bouncing with excitement, and shook his head in disbelief.
"Nah, that can't be it…"
"Raao!"
Naoki smiled warmly. "You really like her, huh?"
However, Koraidon did not think too much about it. He was just simply happy to see Iono.
Long before it evolved into Koraidon, Cyclizar lived on Naoki's ranch where Iono often visited. She treated everyone kindly, bringing joy to both people and Pokémon alike. She helped care for Cyclizar, forming a deep bond with the Pokémon.
Most importantly, Iono and Naoki had a child together—a little one they lovingly nicknamed "Leaf."
When Naoki and Iono nicknamed their child they also renamed the ranch as "Treehouse," and everyone lived happily there together.
Suddenly, Koraidon's usual cheerfulness faded, and its gaze dropped.
"Raao…" it murmured softly, sadness flickering in its eyes.
Koraidon's mind drifted to the memory of Little Leaf's sad face on the day it left the ranch. It could still feel the tiny hands clutching its tail and hear the soft voice asking, "When will you come back?"
But it hadn't been able to return.
The memory tugged at Koraidon's heart, and it couldn't help but become depressed.
"Raao…"
...
[Extra chapter]
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