"Beep! Beep! Beep!"

The shrill alarm blared through the lab, echoing in Naoki's ears. He stood frozen before the massive time machine, his face pale.

A storm of emotions swirled inside him, regret, guilt, sorrow.

'If only I'd been more careful… If I'd brought Calyrex here with me… maybe none of this would have happened.'

"Ah… gah…"

Beside him, Koraidon hung its head. It had never seen Naoki like this before, and it too looked stricken with guilt.

"I'm sorry, Naoki," Sada's AI said as she stepped forward. "The damage to the time machine isn't catastrophic. Turo and I will do everything we can to repair it. If possible… we'll try to call Cyclizar back."

Naoki's head snapped up. "You mean… there's still a chance to bring Cyclizar back?"

Sada AI hesitated, then nodded gravely. "It will be extremely difficult… but we'll try."

Naoki fell silent for a long moment before asking, "Then tell me, what caused the real Professors Sada and Turo to die?"

Sada AI's expression dimmed. "Not long ago, the Paradox Pokémon in the crater rioted. The professors went to the Fourth Research Station to investigate… but they were ambushed. The station exploded, and they gave their lives protecting Koraidon."

Naoki closed his eyes. His fears were confirmed. 'So even I couldn't change their fate…'

The AIs said nothing more. They simply turned back to the wrecked machinery and began their repairs.

But repairs would take time. Outside, the crater still seethed with rampaging Paradox Pokémon.

Naoki inhaled deeply, then pulled out his Rotom Phone. First, he contacted the Paldea League, informing Geeta of everything that had happened. Then he called the Hero Expedition Team and Calyrex, asking them to search for Dialga, the God of Time, and to bring Cyclizar's Poké Ball to Area Zero.

Help arrived in an instant. Calyrex teleported to the scene, carrying the Poké Ball.

The moment Naoki took it in his hand, his heart clenched.

"What's wrong?" Calyrex asked.

"Cyclizar fell into the time machine to protect me…" Naoki's voice trembled as he stared at the ball. Memories surged back, Cyclizar shielding him from the attack, Cyclizar diving into danger without hesitation.

'How did he make it through so many battles, so many dangers, all alone, just to get here?'

But this world had Dialga, the ruler of time. No matter what, Naoki swore he would bring Cyclizar back.

As if answering his determination, a golden halo shimmered open.

Hoopa floated out, grinning. "Hey, Naoki! What do you want Hoopa to do today?"

Naoki's voice was steady but firm. "Hoopa… I need you to summon Dialga."

"Summon Dialga? Piece of cake!"

Hoopa transformed into its Unbound Form, raising its arms. A massive golden ring spiraled outward, pulsing with energy. 

A beam of blue light shot from the halo, and the vast steel-blue figure of Dialga stepped forth, its eyes glowing crimson.

Naoki took a step forward. "Dialga, please. One of my Pokémon fell into the time machine. I beg you, bring him back. If you do, I'll owe you anything."

The Temporal Pokémon regarded him in silence. For a long moment, only the hum of the damaged time machine filled the air.

Finally, Dialga's voice rumbled like thunder.

"I cannot."

Naoki froze. "What do you mean?"

"Because he has already returned to you."

"What…?" Naoki's breath caught.

Dialga turned its gaze toward a clearing nearby.

Naoki followed the look, and his eyes widened.

There, standing strong despite its wear, was a familiar shape.

Scarlet scales. Golden eyes. A frame sturdy and battle-worn.

Koraidon.

Naoki's heart leapt. "No… that can't be."

"Ah… gah…"

Koraidon lifted its head, meeting his gaze. For so long, it had hidden the truth. But there, under Dialga's watchful stare, it knew it could no longer conceal itself.

Slowly, heavily, it walked toward him. Each step seemed to weigh a thousand years.

Naoki stood frozen as everyone, Calyrex, Hoopa, and even Dialga, watched silently.

Finally, Koraidon stopped before him.

"Ah… gah!"

With a firm cry, it glanced down at the Poké Ball in Naoki's hand, Cyclizar's Poké Ball.

Then, with a decisive movement, it lowered its forehead against the button.

Naoki's eyes widened. 'No… it can't be…'

But in the next instant, the impossible became real.

A beam of red light surged from the Poké Ball, wrapping around Koraidon's body.

And before Naoki's trembling eyes, the Pokémon was drawn inside.

The ball clicked shut.

Naoki's body trembled, unable to process the truth.

"Bang!"

The Poké Ball slipped from Naoki's trembling hand, hitting the ground with a dull thud-thud.

At that moment, he felt numb all over. In a flash, everything made sense.

Why Koraidon had appeared on the ranch…

Why it had been so close to him from the very beginning…

Why it was so familiar with Dragonite…

Why it trusted Iono instantly…

Why it was so strong, far stronger than it should have been.

Why, even though he had already caught Koraidon, there had still been two within Area Zero…

Why the Koraidon had been so hostile toward that Miraidon…

It was because there had never been two Koraidon at all.

It had always been his Cyclizar, the little one who had grown up by his side, lost in time and changed by the ages.

Tears welled and spilled down his cheeks, uncontrollable. Naoki fell to his knees, whispering over and over, "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"

A flash of white light burst from the Poké Ball, and Koraidon reemerged.

It looked at Naoki for a moment, then lowered its head. Without a word, it gently pressed its snout against his shoulder, just as it had always done.

"Ah… gah…"

The members of the Expedition Team watched in silence, sorrow etched across their faces. Even Calyrex's expression softened with sympathy.

After a long while, Naoki's sobs slowed. He wiped at his face, though his heart still ached. Even with the truth revealed, it was hard to reconcile the images in his mind, the playful Cyclizar who had grown up with him, and the battle-scarred Koraidon standing before him.

'What had Cyclizar gone through after it fell into the time machine? How had it become Koraidon?'

Questions tumbled endlessly in his mind.

He turned to Dialga with desperate eyes. "Isn't there really any way to bring Cyclizar back?"

The god of time rumbled gravely. "They were the same being from the very beginning. Even I cannot separate them."

With that, Dialga turned and began to walk away, his heavy steps echoing.

Naoki's heart clenched. 'But what about… Arceus?'

He remembered the real Arceus he had once met. With renewed urgency, he called to Calyrex. "Please, bring me Arceus's phone!"

Calyrex nodded, vanishing and returning within moments with the device.

Naoki clutched it tight and tried to contact Arceus. One second. Two seconds. Three…

But there was no response.

The Creator's watch over this world had ended. He had departed completely.

Naoki's chest sank.

Beside him, Koraidon lowered its head too, its golden eyes shadowed with sorrow. If even Arceus cannot do it… then perhaps there truly is no way…

But Naoki's gaze shifted suddenly to the time machine. The professors' AI selves were still hard at work, repairing its shattered frame.

'If it could call forth Paradox Pokémon from past and future… then maybe…it could summon Cyclizar as well.'

A flicker of determination replaced his despair.

Naoki stood tall once more. He turned to the Expedition Team and Calyrex. "Thank you. There's still much to do here. I can't return to the ranch yet. Go home for now, I'll come back once I've found Cyclizar."

One by one, the others departed, leaving Naoki within the ruins of Area Zero's research facility.

In the afternoon, Dragonite and Pawmot had arrived.

Upon receiving the news, the Paldea League immediately dispatched its main forces to Area Zero to establish a defensive line, preventing the ferocious Paradox Pokémon from spilling out into the Paldea region.

The Pokémon around Naoki were deeply shaken by the news that his beloved Cyclizar had fallen into the time machine.

When they finally realized that the "Koraidon" before them was actually Cyclizar from another time, their faces filled with shock.

Naoki stood in silence for a long moment before finally turning to Sada's AI.

"Professor… is it possible for a modern Pokémon to become a Paradox Pokémon?"

Sada AI, who carried both the memories and the feelings of Professor Sada herself, paused in thought. After a moment, she nodded gently.

"It's possible. The ancient world was filled with primal, destructive energy, raw, untamed power unlike anything that exists today."

Naoki's thoughts immediately jumped to the legendary phenomenon of Primal Reversion, the transformations of Groudon and Kyogre.

Could it be… that Cyclizar's long struggle in an ancient era had triggered something similar, turning it into the Koraidon now standing beside him?

There was no clear answer.

That evening, Naoki's Rotom Phone buzzed with a call from home.

"Dad?" came Elara's sleepy little voice, soft but stubborn. She had clearly fought off drowsiness just to speak with him.

"Dad, when will you come home? Did you see Cyclizar? He told me it was going to find you! And… and he promised to take me to the World Tree to catch Butterfree when he came back!"

Hearing this, Naoki's eyes blurred with tears. He forced himself to keep calm, though his voice trembled.

"Cyclizar found me… but Dad lost another very important friend. I have to stay here for a while, sweetheart. In the meantime, let Indeedee and Entei take you out to play, okay?"

"Okay…" Elara replied softly. Too tired to argue, she yawned. Then, before hanging up, she reminded him in the most innocent tone:

"Dad, you must remember to eat and sleep on time too!"

Naoki smiled through his tears. "Yes… Dad will."

Once Elara was tucked in, Ionno took the phone and her expression immediately hardened. She had noticed the tremble in Naoki's voice.

"Naoki… what's wrong?" she asked gently.

Naoki closed his eyes and steadied himself. "Something happened in Area Zero. The two professors… they're gone. The Paradox Pokémon are in full riot. I've already reported it to Geeta. The League has begun fortifying the upper crater to keep them from escaping."

Iono bit her lip. She already knew part of the news, but hearing Naoki's voice only deepened her worry.

"And you? What about you?"

That was when Naoki finally broke. He covered his face with his hands, his voice muffled by grief.

"Cyclizar… it fell into the professors' time machine. To protect me, it was thrown into another era, another space-time altogether…"

If only he had foreseen the danger. If only he had brought more Pokémon. If only…

But there are no "ifs" in this world.

"We'll find him," Iono said firmly, though her own voice wavered. She knew all too well the bond between a Trainer and their Pokémon, especially one who had been by Naoki's side for nine long years, sharing meals, battles, laughter, and tears.

"Naoki, no matter what… don't give up."

"Okay," Naoki said at last, his voice softer now. "Go to bed."

Iono nodded gently. After ending the call, she stared at the paper in her hand for a long while. A storm of thoughts swirled in her chest, but she forced herself to set them aside, at least for now.