"Who are these two Pokémon?" Iono asked, her eyes wide with curiosity as she looked at the little Teddiursa and the pink, floating Mew.
The two Pokémon paused mid-step, equally intrigued by the unfamiliar girl beside Naoki.
"Teddi?"
"Mew~?"
Naoki chuckled at the mutual surprise and began to introduce them. "This is Iono, my fiancée. After the wedding, she'll be moving to the ranch and living here with us."
He turned to the Pokémon and smiled warmly. "These two are Mew and Teddiursa—"
Then he paused.
A sudden realization struck him: he had never actually told Iono about the World Tree or the Reverse World. Not the full story. And now that their relationship had come so far, there was no reason to keep it hidden any longer.
Setting down the package he was holding, Naoki gently took Iono's hand. "Come with me. I want to show you something."
Iono blinked in surprise, glancing at his serious expression. Her heart fluttered with curiosity and anticipation.
Mew and Teddiursa perked up at Naoki's invitation. "Compared to the last time you two left, the guild has changed a lot," he said with a grin.
They chirped in agreement, eager to see what had changed since they last visited.
"Teddi!"
"Mew!"
Naoki turned to the rest of the Pokémon and gave them a quick wave. "Everyone, we'll be back soon!"
With that, he and Iono stepped outside, accompanied by Mew and Teddiursa, and made their way to the entrance to the Reverse World.
"Honestly, I've been thinking about how to explain this to you," Naoki admitted as they walked through the snowy landscape.
Iono's brow furrowed slightly. She'd heard bits of their earlier conversation—mentions of the World Tree, and a guild. The names sounded grand, even mystical.
Then Naoki came to a stop near a still, frozen lake.
"Here we are," he said. "Jump in."
"What?!" Iono's eyes flew open. "Are you serious?"
Naoki grinned. "Not what you're thinking. This lake isn't just water, it's a portal to another dimension. The entrance to the Reverse World."
Her jaw dropped. "Wait, the Reverse World? As in, Giratina's realm?"
He nodded.
Heart pounding, Iono followed him in, and the moment she entered the water, everything changed.
Gravity twisted. The sky fractured into floating islands. Flowers bloomed on upside-down surfaces. The atmosphere buzzed with strange energy.
And there, resting on a sky island covered in blossoms, was none other than Giratina itself.
Even though she'd already guessed what she might see, the real thing left her breathless.
"So this really is…" she began, voice hushed in awe.
She turned to Naoki, eyes wide with realization. "That means you're—"
Naoki raised a finger to his lips. "Shh. This is just between us."
Iono stared at him in stunned silence, then slowly nodded. "Okay. Wow. You're full of surprises."
"You're the only one in the Paldea League who knows," Naoki said. "Even the League Chief doesn't."
"Then… where are we going now?" she asked, still absorbing what she'd just seen.
Naoki simply smiled. "Come on. There's more I want to show you."
He led the way through the floating realm, flying upward toward a cave bathed in soft light. Teddiursa and Mew zipped ahead excitedly.
Once they passed through the cave, the scenery changed again.
When Iono finally took in the sight before her, she was completely stunned.
A massive, glowing canopy stretched high above, its leaves shimmering faintly as golden sunlight streamed through the gaps. The light danced across the soft grass below, illuminating the forest floor with a warm, peaceful glow.
In front of her stood a series of fantastical, uniquely shaped buildings, clearly built for Pokémon. At the very center was a colossal floating archway, gently humming with energy.
It wasn't just scenery that stole her breath. All around, Pokémon of every kind bustled with purpose. Some were waving goodbye to their friends as they stepped through the glowing archway; others emerged from it carrying packs, gear, or hauling supplies. It looked like a true Pokémon-run society—alive, organized, thriving.
As soon as Mew and Teddiursa arrived, they caught the attention of none other than Mewtwo, who emerged from the shadows with his usual quiet dignity. He gave a subtle nod to Naoki, then turned and began to lead them through the newly expanded Expedition Team Guild.
Naoki stood beside Iono, watching her expression with a soft smile.
"This is what I wanted to show you," he said gently. "This place is called the World Beginning Tree… or just the World Tree for short."
"The World Tree…" Iono whispered the name to herself. Her gaze slowly rose. "You mean… this is all inside a giant tree?"
Naoki nodded. "That's right. A sanctuary for Pokémon, one that I helped build with the aid of the Calyrex. It's a world only Pokémon can live in. No human settlements. No battles for territory. No exploitation. Just a peaceful home for everyone who wants one."
He reached out, gently taking her hand. "Come on. Let me show you around."
Hand in hand, the two began to walk through the heart of the guild and its surrounding areas, with Mew and Teddiursa happily leading the way.
"These buildings are part of the Pokémon Expedition Guild," Naoki explained. "Teddiursa and Mew were two of its founding members. When they go out on their adventures, they often invite new friends to join."
Iono's eyes widened as they passed a pair of Pokémon polishing armor near a training field, while a Gible and Bunnelby scampered by with maps clutched in their paws.
"The mission of the guild is to help Pokémon and people in need—rescue, relief, exploration, even rebuilding communities. And maybe," Naoki said with a thoughtful pause, "it's because of that mission that Arceus Himself noticed us."
Iono whipped her head around. "Arceus?! The God of Creation?!"
Naoki grinned. "Yeah. Not long ago, He reached out to the guild and opened a portal to other worlds, alternate dimensions, timelines, and realities. The Pokémon here now travel through that gate to help Pokémon from other worlds."
Iono stood rooted to the ground, speechless.
Naoki let out a quiet laugh. "It still feels surreal sometimes. I mean… this was all just a dream at first. I only wanted to create a safe place for Pokémon, one without violence, without cruelty. A world where they could live happily."
Iono's eyes shimmered. "You've made it real. This is amazing, Naoki."
Naoki scratched his cheek sheepishly. "It's not just me. Everyone pitched in. The Pokémon built everything with their own hands, or paws, wings, and vines. They even built me a house…"
He gestured ahead, where a small, homely wooden cabin nestled beneath a canopy of glowing fruit trees.
"They said it was a gift for everything I've done. A place I can live in when I'm old. Someday, when the time comes, I'll retire here with them."
Iono stopped walking. Her gaze lingered on the little home, eyes growing soft.
She imagined a time decades from now, when she and Naoki were old, their hair silvered, their movements slower. And yet, there they would be, still side by side, sitting on the porch of that very cabin with Pokémon playing in the fields around them.
A warm, syrupy sweetness welled up inside her.
"We'll both be old by then," she murmured, voice filled with quiet emotion.
In that moment, Iono made a silent vow in her heart.
From now on, she would stand beside Naoki, not just as his partner, but as a protector of the World Tree and all the Pokémon who called it home.
No matter what came their way, she would face it with him.
Naoki turned to her and said softly, "Don't be afraid of growing old. As long as you want to be with me... not even death will separate us."
Iono blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"
Naoki gave a small, mysterious smile. "Have you ever heard of the Spirit World?"
She shook her head. "No, I haven't…"
"As far as I understand," Naoki began, his tone gentle yet profound, "when living beings in this world die, their souls leave their physical forms and pass on to the Spirit World. Unless they choose to reincarnate, their spirits continue to exist there eternally."
"So even after we leave this world… we can still be together. And we'll be able to stay by Koraidon's side, and Bellibolt's, and all the others who've journeyed with us."
...
Bonus @1000 PS
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