The elderly king stirred from his slumber. Slowly, he opened his clouded eyes and looked at the group of unfamiliar visitors standing before him.
But just as Victini was about to cry out with joy, its voice faltered.
It saw something that made it freeze in place.
Standing next to the old king was another Victini. It was the same as itself, identical in every way.
That was Victini from the past.
"Nini..." Victini stood there stunned, uncertain what to do.
Mew and Teddiursa also saw the other Victini. They looked at each other, unsure of how to react.
The old king's eyes narrowed as he examined the man and woman in unfamiliar clothing.
"Who are you?" he asked. "And why are you here?"
But as he spoke, his gaze drifted back to Victini.
A strange sense of recognition filled him, a warmth he hadn't felt in years.
Naoki glanced at Iono. She nodded slightly, and he stepped forward.
"We came from the future," Naoki said.
"Future?" the old king echoed, raising his eyebrows as he turned to face him fully.
Naoki took a breath and continued. "We're from a time a thousand years ahead. By then, the bond between people and the earth had been lost, and the people were scattered across the world. The two princes, each chosen by the dragon of truth and the dragon of ideals, clashed in a terrible war. The dragon veins surged out of control, and to stop them, you called upon Victini's power."
"You succeeded, but the cost was your life. Since then, Victini has remained alone in Earth Sword Castle for nearly a thousand years. Its wish to see you again is what brought us here."
The old king stood in silence.
His gaze moved from the Victini beside him to the one standing in tears across the hall.
So that was why he felt such familiarity.
Still, hearing of the future disturbed him. His brow furrowed.
He was old. He had known his time was ending, and his sons had begun to take their places.
But to think they would one day plunge the kingdom into war?
He had raised them with care. They had been brave, kind children.
"Victini," the king called gently.
The Victini from the future trembled, then broke into tears. At the sound of its trainer's voice, it couldn't hold back any longer.
With a cry of overwhelming emotion, it rushed into the king's arms.
"Nini!"
The old king reached out and gently stroked its head.
"You must have been so lonely all this time," he said.
"Nini," Victini sobbed as it buried its face into his robes.
The Victini from the past tilted its head, blinking in confusion as it watched the scene unfold.
After a long silence, the old king sighed.
He looked at Naoki and Iono with a gaze full of age and wisdom.
"If what you say is true, then I believe you. Because of Victini, I can feel your sincerity."
The king's voice grew heavier.
"The princes have already begun their struggle. The castle guards have pledged loyalty to the new kings. I want to stop them, but I no longer have the strength."
Naoki didn't respond. He couldn't find the words.
So the dragons had already chosen their champions.
That meant Reshiram and Zekrom were now aligned with each prince.
But where was Kyurem?
The king noticed their silence and asked, "What are your names?"
"My name is Naoki," he replied. "And this is my wife, Iono."
"Thank you for helping Victini. You are welcome to stay in the castle tonight. I will have someone prepare a room for you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Naoki replied with a bow.
Since Victini's wish had brought them to this time, and they had no clear way back yet, they could only accept the king's hospitality for now.
The king summoned an elderly servant, who led Naoki and Iono to a guest room richly decorated in gold and velvet.
After the servant left, Iono turned to Naoki, a worried look on her face.
"What are we going to do now? How do we get back to the ranch?"
Naoki exhaled and raised his hands.
"I don't know," he admitted. "The only idea I have is to find Dialga, who governs time, in the Sinnoh region and ask it to send us back to our own era."
/
"I just worry that if we're gone too long, everyone back at the ranch will start getting worried," said Iono, her brows slightly furrowed.
Naoki shared the concern. He looked over at Koraidon.
Man and Pokémon stared at each other for a moment.
"Agahi!" Koraidon let out a low growl, shaking its head. It didn't know how to return to the future either.
Still, Koraidon was confident. Somehow, Naoki would make it back to the ranch in the end.
"It should be fine in the short term. Indeedees can handle things while we're away," Naoki said, trying to reassure her.
Since Victini's wish had brought them back in time, it stood to reason that once that wish was fulfilled, they would automatically return to their own time.
But they were still here.
Could that mean Victini's true wish wasn't just to see the old king?
Naoki recalled the events from the movie. If he remembered correctly, the old king lost his life right in front of Victini while suppressing the dragon vein.
That must have been a traumatic moment burned into Victini's memory.
Maybe Victini's real wish wasn't simply reunion.
Maybe what it truly wished for was to stop the old king from dying.
"Teddi…" Teddiursa looked down, its face full of concern.
"Miu…" Mew floated silently beside it.
They were both worried. They had seen another Victini earlier, one from this era. Could two versions of the same Pokémon coexist peacefully?
The thought left the group uneasy.
Meanwhile, Iono took a different view of things. Since they were stuck here anyway, there was no point in sitting around worrying.
She stepped up to the castle window, looking out at the bustling medieval town below, full of stone paths, market stalls, and townsfolk going about their day.
Then she turned, took Naoki's arm, and smiled.
"Since we're here, we may as well explore a little."
Naoki glanced at their Pokémon. "Koraidon, Mew, Teddiursa. Want to come along?"
"Agah!" Koraidon gave an eager nod.
Mew and Teddiursa, unsure of what else to do, decided to tag along.
But as they reached the stairs, Naoki realized something. They were still wearing clothes from the future. If they stepped into town like this, they would definitely attract unwanted attention.
He paused, then headed back to find the elderly woman who had guided them earlier.
After he explained their need, she returned with two sets of local clothing. As she handed them over, her eyes lingered on Koraidon with a hint of fear.
Naoki didn't blame her.
Even in the future, people sometimes reacted that way. Koraidon's appearance was intense. Ferocious, even.
After changing into local attire, Naoki and Iono thanked the woman.
Then, under her astonished gaze, the couple stepped out into the sunlight with Koraidon, Mew, and Teddiursa trailing behind.
The old woman stood frozen in place, unable to look away.
That man had tamed a beast like that?
She had lived in the royal city her entire life, but never had she seen a beast master with such power.
There were significant differences between the ancient world and the modern world of Pokémon.
For instance, people in this era had not yet fully come to see Pokémon as friends, family, or partners.
While some individuals lived alongside gentle Pokémon, their relationships leaned more toward utility than companionship. Pokémon were often "tamed" for tasks like hauling goods, kindling fires, or weaving fabrics.
Even the word "Pokémon" hadn't taken root yet.
Instead, people here still referred to them as "magic beasts."
And how did Naoki know this?
Because of the way the townsfolk looked at Koraidon, with wariness and fear, as they whispered among themselves.