"I'm back... Come to think of it, this was the longest time travel yet, wasn't it?"
As Summer opened his eyes, the familiar sight of his wooden cabin greeted him. It had been a while since he last heard the voice of his Forest Assistant.
[Eighth time-space distortion completed. You have obtained the TM: Dragon Dance.]
[Dragon Dance: A powerful and mystical dance that raises Attack and Speed. While most dragon-type Pokémon can learn it, some cannot—an unsolved mystery to this day.]
Dragon Dance? Summer mused. The first Pokémon I fought head-on in Hisui was Garchomp, right? …Wait, why do I feel like this is some kind of cosmic joke?
[You have obtained the TM: Zen Headbutt (One-time use).]
[Zen Headbutt: A psychic-powered headbutt with a chance to cause flinching.]
[You have obtained a Mastery Seed.]
[Mastery Seed: A mysterious seed that once allowed Pokémon to master Agile and Strong Style techniques, though the method to specify moves has been lost.]
Didn't expect to get an old Hisui-style item… but if I can't control which move it applies to, it's not exactly useful.
[You have obtained the TM: Poltergeist (One-time use).]
[Poltergeist: Manipulates objects near the opponent to attack. The closer the objects, the stronger the damage. Fails if no objects are nearby.]
[You have obtained the TM: Razor Shell (One-time use).]
[Razor Shell: Slashes with a sharp shell, with a chance to lower the opponent's Defense.]
[You have obtained a Thunder Stone.]
[Thunder Stone: A mysterious stone infused with electric energy that triggers evolution in certain Pokémon.]
[You have obtained the TM: Frenzy Plant (One-time use).]
[Frenzy Plant: Summons massive vines to slam the opponent but leaves the user temporarily immobile.]
[You have obtained a Fire Stone.]
[Fire Stone: A mysterious stone infused with fire energy that triggers evolution in certain Pokémon.]
[You have obtained the Sharp Beak.]
[Sharp Beak: Boosts the power of Flying-type moves. Its origin is unknown, and no one has determined what Pokémon it came from.]
These rewards must be from the battle in Snowpoint Village… Summer pondered. I wonder if they made it back to Dawn in the end.
[You have obtained the Fruit of Wisdom.]
[Fruit of Wisdom: Said to make people smarter, but in reality, its refreshing taste only helps with momentary clarity.]
[You have obtained the Fruit of Emotion.]
[Fruit of Emotion: Said to help people understand feelings, but in reality, it just tastes so good that it makes them happy.]
[You have obtained the Fruit of Willpower.]
[Fruit of Willpower: Said to strengthen one's resolve, but in reality, its bitterness just gives the illusion of determination.]
Summer stared at the seemingly mystical fruits, not sure whether to laugh or sigh. At this rate, even if I plant these in my forest, I doubt I'd ever use them.
[You have obtained the TM: Aqua Tail (One-time use).]
[Aqua Tail: Strikes the opponent with a water-covered tail. The larger the tail, the stronger the attack.]
[You have obtained the Verdant Leaf.]
[Verdant Leaf: A token from the Lady of the Ridge. Though the ten Lords and Ladies of Hisui have faded into history, they still exist in some form. This leaf ensures her trust.]
So the Noble Pokémon of Hisui are still out there… Summer mused. Blessed by Arceus, huh? Maybe Ursaluna knows where the Lord of the Tundra ended up.
[You have obtained the TM: Light Screen (One-time use).]
[You have obtained an Electric Orb.]
[Electric Orb: A small sphere filled with electrical energy. Only Pikachu and its evolutionary line can unlock its full potential.]
[You have obtained the TM: Brave Bird (One-time use).]
[Brave Bird: A reckless, high-speed dive attack that also damages the user due to recoil.]
[You have obtained a Spooky Cloth.]
[Spooky Cloth: A piece of ominous fabric of unknown origin. It is said to cause nightmares and may prevent one from ever waking up.]
Summer sighed. So Darkrai dropped this. Guess it's meant to match Cresselia's Lunar Feather… But this description makes it sound way too dangerous.
[Eighth time-space distortion completed. You have obtained the Clear Sky Tablet.]
[Clear Sky Tablet: A fragment of a larger stone imbued with pure energy. Boosts the power of Normal-type moves when held.]
Another tablet… Summer thought. I should properly store that Fairy Plate before I forget. Maybe I'll leave it with Hatterene.
[Eighth time-space distortion completed. You have obtained a Gracidea Seed.]
[Gracidea Seed: A rare and mysterious flower seed that attracts a certain mythical Pokémon to settle in an area.]
A Gracidea flower? Summer smiled. Looks like Twilight Forest might be getting its own Shaymin.
[Eighth time-space distortion completed. You have obtained the Lustrous Orb.]
[Lustrous Orb: A radiant gem infused with space-time energy. Boosts the power of a certain Pokémon's moves. Otherwise, it's just a beautiful ornament. Please handle with care.]
Summer chuckled. Last time I helped the Diamond Clan retrieve the Adamant Orb. This time, the Pearl Clan got their treasure back.
I used to think these items were useless, but after everything I've experienced… Maybe one day, I really will have to face Dialga and Palkia.
[Eighth time-space distortion completed. Twilight Forest has gained a unique aura: Hisuian Winds.]
[Hisuian Winds: Pokémon born in Twilight Forest now have a chance of being Hisuian forms.]
Summer's eyes widened. Wait… Does this mean Hisuian Pokémon, once considered rare, will become common in my forest?
As the Forest Assistant's voice faded, Summer glanced at the items he had received—not just from the system, but also from Irida's gratitude and Arezu's vitality leaf. He then looked at the growing collection of evolutionary stones.
At this rate, I could probably start a business…
Nimbasa City.
After finishing another long day of battles, Emmet dragged his exhausted body back home.
Unova's trainers were getting stronger. It was a good thing—but it didn't bring him the joy it once did.
Because no matter how much time passed, one thing never changed.
His brother, Ingo, had been missing for five years.
He had exhausted every method to search for him, but Ingo had seemingly vanished off the face of the earth.
Fishing out his keys, Emmet pushed open the door—
—and immediately, the rich aroma of coffee filled the air.
A pair of old, worn-out boots rested neatly by the entrance.
His breath caught.
Without thinking, he bolted toward the living room.
There, seated casually in an armchair, was the figure he had been searching for all this time.
Tired. Weathered. Worn.
But unmistakably—
"Ingo…"
"Emmet. Welcome home."
A small, familiar smile.
"You never changed the locks. Or the placement of the coffee beans."
Tears slipped down Emmet's face as he grinned, voice shaking.
"Welcome home, brother."
Twinleaf Town.
"Dawn! Didn't you say you were picking a Pokémon from the professor today?"
Dawn stirred awake at the familiar voice.
She blinked, sitting up.
This was… her room?
Had it all been a dream? The battle, the journey, everyone—
Her fingers brushed against her cheek.
A single tear fell.
No.
Everything had been real.
And on her desk, ancient Poké Balls lay neatly in a row.
Her lips trembled.
"Welcome home," she whispered.