Early the next morning, the sky was bright as sunlight streamed through the window.
The Pawmo on the bed rubbed its eyes. Seeing it was getting late, it immediately woke up.
It turned its head to see Naoki still sleeping, then climbed onto his chest: "Pawmo~"
"Hmm..." Naoki groggily opened his eyes, saw Pawmo on his chest, and hugged it with a quick motion.
"Pawmo!" Pawmo exclaimed in surprise.
At that moment, the old-fashioned wall clock on the wall suddenly chimed.
Naoki was startled awake and realized he needed to prepare breakfast for the Pokemon.
Naoki got dressed to start the day. Pawmo also jumped down, chasing Alcremie around the room, waiting for breakfast.
Naoki bypassed them and took ingredients from the fridge to start cooking.
This morning's breakfast was very simple, just sandwiches and MooMoo Milk as usual.
After eating, Naoki, as usual, prepared to milk the Gogoat.
He walked out of the room and stepped outside, glancing around the ranch.
Hmm, the ranch looked thriving, and the weather was great... Hmm? What was that?!
Out of the corner of his eye, Naoki suddenly noticed something enormous.
He turned his head and saw something unusual in the otherwise mundane field: a watermelon.
To be precise, a giant watermelon.
A group of Pokemon like Dolliv, Nacli, Gogoat, and Miltank were all attracted to it, curiously observing the gigantic watermelon.
Even the normally hardworking Combee had stopped collecting honey and was observing the giant watermelon.
What was going on?!
Naoki stared wide-eyed and speechless at the scene.
His first reaction was that last night a fairy had blessed the ranch.
A fairy, a chance event from Stardew Valley.
Each nightfall, there was a certain chance a fairy would appear, helping players hasten the ripening of their crops.
But swiftly, Naoki realized this wasn't the world of Stardew Valley. There were no fairies or elves here.
He stepped forward and approached to closely observe the giant watermelon.
He reached out and tapped on it, hearing a crisp sound, indicating it was fully ripe.
Looking at the watermelon, which was taller than he was, Naoki couldn't help but fall into contemplation.
The creation of this giant crop was very likely due to Gogoat.
After eating Green Grass Cake, the crops grown using Gogoat's Grass Type Energy had a certain probability of mutating.
At present, it seemed that growing larger was indeed a mutation.
But there was still one question: How did it grow so large overnight?
Naoki quickly brainstormed and incidentally checked the other crops nearby, discovering that only this watermelon had changed in the entire field.
First of all, it couldn't have been due to Gogoat, otherwise, why hadn't the other crops ripened, leaving just this watermelon mature?
Secondly, it couldn't possibly be because the Time God Dialga accelerated the time for this watermelon.
After all, he didn't know any Time God and had no dealings with Dialga.
The answer to the question was already incredibly clear.
Thinking of this, Naoki turned to look at the empty shrine.
It's Calyrex!
It noticed his actions, and the early ripening of the watermelon was its reward!
Calyrex's power + Gogoat's energy = giant watermelon.
"Whoa, Calyrex really sensed it!"
Naoki was internally greatly shocked.
After all, the Paldea Region and the Galar Region are separated by a sea.
But... why did Calyrex only help ripen one watermelon?
Naoki was puzzled, and just then, he suddenly heard Keri's voice coming from not far away.
She was standing in front of the ranch, calling out, "Is Naoki here? I brought you the wooden sculpture!"
Hearing the voice, Naoki and a group of Pokemon turned to look.
Keri also noticed them and looked over in this direction.
In the next second, a look of shock appeared on her face.
Naoki heard her say, "Oh my gosh! How can there be such a big watermelon!"
Naoki: "..."
Keri was extremely amazed.
She came forward, staring at the watermelon in disbelief, circled around it, and gently tapped it with her hand.
"Truly a giant watermelon!"
"In fact, I'm also very shocked," Naoki said from the side.
Immediately, Keri seemed to think of something, her eyes widening as she asked:
"Is this the power of Calyrex you mentioned yesterday?!"
Naoki: "...Uh, probably?"
Calyrex ripened this watermelon, but its growth was due to Gogoat's power.
"I can't believe that legend turned out to be true!" Keri murmured, then her eyes gleamed: "No wonder it's the King of Bountiful Harvests; this is amazing!"
Seeing Keri's expression as if she was thinking, "Calyrex is incredible, I must also believe in it,"
Naoki instantly didn't know whether it was him taking advantage of Calyrex or Calyrex taking advantage of him.
Oh no, he really has become a missionary for Calyrex.
After pondering for a moment, Naoki thought: Let's consider it a reward for borrowing its horse someday! He would definitely ride its great horses fiercely, 135 Glastrier and 246 Spectrier, taking turns!
Keri handed over the polished and waxed statue.
Naoki reached for it and "respectfully" placed the finely polished statue into the shrine, and then laid two Berries as offerings in front of the shrine.
Keri witnessed this scene from the side.
Only then did Naoki have the chance to ask, "Why did you come over?"
Keri gestured towards the large truck outside: "I received a commission today to build a mill; I have to leave. If you can't find me at the shop, that's why I brought it over myself on the way."
So that's how it was.
Naoki nodded.
The two turned to look at the giant watermelon in the field, and Keri asked, "What are you planning to do?"
Naoki pondered for a moment, and suddenly, a good idea popped into his head.
Since Calyrex needed followers, why not take the opportunity to actively promote Calyrex's legend in the Paldea Region, helping it restore its power and increase its affinity?
As Naoki thought about it, he organized his words and asked, "What do you think about me hosting a [Summer Watermelon Festival]?"
Inviting nearby farmers and some acquaintances from town to come to the ranch and gather, enjoying the giant watermelon—because he couldn't finish it by himself anyway.
By then, they would surely be shocked by how such a big watermelon could exist.
Then he could take the opportunity to tell everyone the legend of Calyrex.
Hearing this, Keri's eyes lit up, agreeing, "That sounds wonderful! I'll definitely come to join then."
"Then it's settled," Naoki nodded with a smile, "Tomorrow! Tomorrow at 9 am, at Naoki Ranch, see you there."
"No problem." Keri nodded with a smile, "But for now, I have to go; I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's Watermelon Festival."
After saying this, she bid farewell to Naoki and drove off.
Naoki glanced at the sky, internally apologizing to the people of the Galar Region.
From today, your Calyrex belongs to us in the Paldea Region!
For Naoki, there was no psychological burden at all about taking a mythical beast from another region.
When feelings are mutual, how can it be considered cheating?
He laughed and patted the head of Koraidon beside him, then began to get busy with today's work.
Meanwhile, in the Galar Region, at The Crown Tundra.
Calyrex saw its little follower's joyous expression, with a gentle, elegant smile forming on its face.
Yet... How did it not know its powers could make a watermelon grow so large?
Looking at the watermelon that was even bigger than its two steeds, Calyrex was filled with confusion and puzzlement.