The Seeds of Reunion

Naoki didn't know how to respond to the old village chief's words. 

After all, it wasn't really the villagers' fault. The true reason for the King of Bountiful Harvests, Calyrex, being forgotten lay with the Galar royal family of a bygone era, who had obscured his legacy to glorify their own deeds. 

Rather than dwell on it, Naoki simply nodded in thanks and turned toward the bookshelf filled with ancient tomes. 

The books were old and weathered, with yellowed pages and cracked covers, clearly showing the passage of time. 

"These books were passed down from my grandfather's grandfather," the old chief explained from behind him. "When I was a boy, I read them as stories. They may be old, but they've lasted for generations." 

Naoki nodded and pulled out one book, reading the title: "Crown Tundra Exploration Diary."

"Not this one," he muttered, setting it aside. 

After searching further, he finally spotted a book labeled "The King of Bountiful Harvests."

Naoki opened the first page, where the legend of Calyrex was recorded: 

"It is a Pokémon that brings abundance to the land. With a wave of its right hand, flowers bloom and the grass turns green. With a wave of its left hand, the soil becomes fertile, and crops ripen for harvest." 

"Its enormous crown glows with a brilliant blue light as it rides across the land on the back of its beloved steed." 

"The king's arrival breathes new life into the earth, bringing prosperity to humans and Pokémon alike. We revere it as our king, offering faith and gratitude in return for the bounty it provides." 

Naoki raised an eyebrow in surprise. 'I thought Calyrex was born as the ruler of the Galar region...' 

But from what he was reading, it seemed the title of King of Bountiful Harvests had been given to Calyrex only after humans witnessed his power. 

"So, the 'King of Bountiful Harvests' wasn't his original title. It's a name bestowed by ancient humans," Naoki muttered to himself as he continued reading. 

The text went on: 

"The king has two beloved steeds. These majestic creatures not only served as his mounts but also enhanced his powers. When they are united with the king, entire forests can grow overnight."

"However, in ancient times, the two horses were wild and caused havoc, eating crops and terrorizing villagers. It was the king who calmed them and made them his loyal companions."

"One horse is as white as a snowstorm; the other is as black as the night. Some stories claim both exist, though no one knows for sure."

Naoki smiled. These must be Glastrier and Spectrier, he thought. 

The next part described the Reins of Unity in detail: 

"The king tamed his steeds using the Reins of Unity, an artifact infused with his own power. These reins were a gift from humans, woven with layers of Radiant Flowers and the manes of horse Pokémon. They were created to honor the king and the harvests he brought." 

"The reins served not only as a way to bond the king with his steeds but also as a symbol of the connection between the king and his people." 

"To maintain this connection, the reins were presented to the king each year as an offering." 

Naoki nodded thoughtfully. 'Just as I remembered from the legends. Without the reins, there's no way to restore Calyrex's bond with the horses.'

Naoki turned to the village chief and asked, "By the way, do you know how to make the Reins of Unity?" 

The chief raised an eyebrow. "The reins, you say? Why, of course! My ancestors once tried to replicate them, following the instructions in the old books—but that was long, long ago." 

The old man gave Naoki a curious look. "Why do you ask? Do you need to make the reins?" 

Naoki nodded honestly. "Yes, I do." 

The village chief rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I'll be honest with you. Most people have forgotten how to make them these days. If it were the time of my great-grandfather, I'd surely find someone to help, but it's a lost art now." 

Naoki absorbed the information silently. 

The chief studied Naoki with growing curiosity. He heard Ryan say that he had rescued a tourist in distress from the snowy mountains, and the other party seemed to be looking for the King of Bountiful Harvests.

The old village chief stared at Naoki in disbelief. 

This young man had ventured deep into the Crown Tundra's snowy wilderness, nearly freezing to death in the mountains. And yet, he hadn't given up on his search for Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests. 

The chief shook his head. "You're a strange one, aren't you? Do you really believe in the legend of the King of Bountiful Harvests? You think it actually exists?" 

Naoki nodded confidently. "Yes, I believe it. And who knows—perhaps the King of Bountiful Harvests is watching over you right now." 

The old man let out a helpless sigh. "It seems you've lost your mind." 

He gave Naoki a concerned look. "Legends are just stories. If you insist on chasing after the King of Bountiful Harvests, that's your choice—but promise me you'll be careful! It would be a shame if you lost your life over a fairy tale." 

The old chief continued thoughtfully, "It would also be bad for the village. If word spreads that a tourist died here, no one will visit, and the businesses—our homestays, shops, and cafes—will suffer." 

Naoki sighed to himself. 'I knew it.' 

But instead of dwelling on it, Naoki returned to the book and continued reading. 

The next section focused again on Calyrex's two steeds, Glastrier and Spectrier. 

"The carrots in the Crown Tundra grow differently depending on where they are planted. In deep snow, they grow into Iceroot Carrots, cold and crisp. When planted in graveyard soil, they become Shaderoot Carrots, dark and mysterious." 

"The legendary steeds of the King of Bountiful Harvests are drawn to these carrots. Glastrier devours Iceroot Carrots, while Spectrier craves Shaderoot Carrots. It is said that each steed can eat one hundred carrots in a single sitting—and they won't stop until they're full." 

Naoki blinked. "One hundred? They'll eat until they pop!" 

He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of the horses munching endlessly, but the information was useful. The carrots would be the key to attracting the two steeds. 

Naoki started piecing together a plan in his mind. 

First, he would need carrot seeds. Then, he could plant them in the right locations—one in the snowy fields for Glastrier, and one in the cemetery soil for Spectrier. 

Once the carrots grew, Naoki could ask Calyrex to use his powers to ripen them. With the carrots ready, all that was left was to wait for the legendary horses to appear. 

Having gathered the information he needed, Naoki thanked the village chief and left with Koraidon. 

But as they walked along the snow-covered paths, Naoki realized something. Where would he find carrot seeds?

Naoki thought for a moment, then decided to head back to Ryan's house to ask about the carrots. 

When Ryan's wife answered the door, she looked puzzled to see him again. "Back so soon? Is something the matter?" 

Naoki smiled politely. "Yes, I wanted to ask you about the carrots. I heard that the ones grown in the Crown Tundra are different from those in other places. I was curious." 

"So that's how it is!" the old woman exclaimed with a warm smile. "If it's carrot seeds you're after, you can buy them from the grocery store in the village. But as it happens, I have a bag of seeds left over. I didn't get a chance to plant them, so you can take these!" 

She stood up, reached into the cupboard, and pulled out a small bag of seeds, handing it to Naoki. 

"Thank you so much!" Naoki's eyes sparkled with excitement. 

The old woman chuckled. "These are just ordinary carrot seeds. You could find them in other cities too, but only here in the Crown Tundra can they grow into something special. Maybe it's because of the snow and soil here." 

With the carrot seeds in hand, Naoki quickly rode Koraidon back to meet Calyrex. He eagerly told the Pokémon about his discovery. 

Calyrex's expression softened with nostalgia. "Indeed, whenever they find their favorite crops, they come running. I had always struggled to keep them still. So, the secret was these carrots all along." 

Naoki nodded with determination. "Now we just need to plant these carrots. When they're ready, the two horses—Glastrier and Spectrier—will come to us!" 

Calyrex gazed fondly at Naoki, his little believer. 

Moved by Naoki's dedication, Calyrex's once-majestic voice grew softer. "If there is fertile soil, I can help these crops grow quickly with my power. All I need is a single seed." 

The King of Bountiful Harvests closed his eyes, his psychic energy sweeping across the vast snowy plains. After a moment, his eyes opened, shimmering with confidence. 

"There are two places where the soil will nurture these carrots," Calyrex explained. "One lies in a field covered by pure snow, and the other rests beside a tombstone that soothes the spirits of the departed. I will accompany you there." 

Naoki beamed. "Of course!" 

However, he paused, realizing something. "There's just one thing I need to do first—please wait here for me a moment." 

Calyrex's eyes glimmered with curiosity but gave a small nod, watching as Naoki rode Koraidon back toward the village. 

Ten minutes later, Naoki returned, carrying an old hoe borrowed from Ryan's house. He grinned with excitement, holding the tool up. "Let's go!" 

From what Naoki remembered of the Crown Tundra's legends, the two locations Calyrex mentioned must be the Snowy Field and the Old Cemetery. In the game, these were the places where the special carrots were planted to lure Glastrier and Spectrier. 

But since Naoki was unfamiliar with the area, he would need Calyrex's help to lead him to the right places.

Calyrex gave a graceful nod. Thanks to Naoki's assistance, he had already begun regaining some of his lost strength. He floated upward, his body radiating a soothing blue aura.

In the blink of an eye, Naoki felt the world shift around him as Calyrex enveloped him and Koraidon in a blue glow. The next thing he knew, the snowy village was gone, and they stood in a serene valley surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains.

In the peaceful valley, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, several fields had been cultivated by someone long ago, their purpose now forgotten. 

Calyrex stood at the edge of one such field. He gazed down at the frozen soil, his voice soft as he spoke: 

"This field is suitable for growing Iceroot Carrots. Although my memories are hazy, I remember that my ice-type steed favored these carrots." 

Naoki, holding a hoe over his shoulder, gave a confident smile. "Leave it to me!" he said enthusiastically. 

After all, as a self-proclaimed farming expert, there was no better person for the job! 

Seeing the determination in his young believer's eyes, Calyrex gave a small, warm smile. "Then, I'll leave the planting to you." 

The soil, frozen under layers of snow, was tough and difficult to till. However, Naoki's experience gave him the upper hand. He knew exactly how to handle these conditions. It wasn't going to be easy, but with a little patience, it would get done. 

Meanwhile, Koraidon and Calyrex stood by, watching Naoki work diligently in the field. 

As Naoki swung the hoe, he asked curiously, "Do you remember anything from before—about what happened in the past?" 

Calyrex furrowed his brow slightly, searching through his scattered memories. "The past?" he murmured. 

He closed his eyes, concentrating, but then shook his head gently. "I've slept here for so long that my memories have become blurred. I lost much of my power... and with it, much of my past." 

Naoki paused, his heart sinking. "Is it because the people of Galar forgot about you?" 

Calyrex's expression remained thoughtful. "I... I don't know," he admitted softly. "I only remember that something terrible happened—something that drained me of my strength. After that, I fell into a deep sleep." 

Naoki furrowed his brow. This was new information—something that hadn't been mentioned in the game's plot. 

Naoki's mind raced. In the Crown Tundra DLC, Calyrex's memory was also fragmented. However, there was a subtle difference. In the game, Calyrex only recalled having one beloved horse, not two. 

Something didn't add up. 

"How many horses do you remember having?" Naoki asked cautiously, hoping for a clearer answer. 

Calyrex tilted his head, puzzled by the question. "Two," he replied without hesitation, his eyes reflecting his regained clarity. 

Naoki blinked in surprise. This wasn't how things were supposed to go, according to the game's events. 

Seeing Naoki's confusion, Calyrex reflected for a moment. "It is thanks to the faith you brought me that I now remember," he said softly. "At first, I only recalled one steed, but your devotion has helped me recover lost memories." 

Naoki nodded thoughtfully.

One troubling detail lingered in Naoki's mind—Calyrex had mentioned that something terrible happened in the past, draining his energy and causing him to fall into a deep sleep. 

'Could that terrible event have been the awakening of Eternatus?' 

With the soil now tilled and the carrot seeds planted, Naoki carefully covered them with earth. As he worked, he asked: 

"Do you know Eternatus?" 

"Eternatus…" Calyrex repeated slowly, a flicker of confusion in his eyes. 

Naoki pressed further. "What about Zacian and Zamazenta?" 

Calyrex shook his head, his expression still blank. 

Naoki gave a small nod, thinking aloud. "I see…" 

He tried to piece together the events from the Sword and Shield storyline. If Zacian and Zamazenta were like fantasy heroes and Eternatus was the demon king, where did Calyrex fit into this story? 

Naoki mused, 'If Calyrex was the king, could he have crowned Zacian and Zamazenta as heroes, sending them off to defeat Eternatus?'

It made sense—a classic tale, like something from Dragon Quest. Perhaps Calyrex, foreseeing the coming of Eternatus, had used his powers to relocate the Pokémon of the forest. 

Naoki remembered a passage from Calyrex's Pokédex entry:

"It is said that Calyrex moved an entire forest, along with all its creatures, in a single night. With his ability to see both the past and the future, he saved the forest's inhabitants from the threat of falling meteorites."

Wishing Stars, falling meteors, Eternatus descending from space… 

The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to fit together in Naoki's mind. He realized that Calyrex must have used his power to save the forest's creatures before the catastrophe struck, sacrificing much of his strength in the process. 

When Calyrex fell into slumber, Zacian and Zamazenta repelled the Darkest Day and went into hiding. The Galar royal family then took credit for their deeds, erasing Calyrex's contributions from history. 

Lost in thought, Naoki glanced at Calyrex. The king's majestic blue eyes reflected both confusion and sadness as if trying to remember what had been lost to time. 

Naoki gave him a reassuring smile. "Calyrex, does your promise still stand?" 

The King of Bountiful Harvests raised his head proudly, his voice calm but resolute: "Yes. I will never break my word." 

Naoki's heart swelled with appreciation. He had already decided what he wanted. 

He looked at Calyrex with a hopeful smile. "Alright, I know what I'll ask for." 

Calyrex tilted his head slightly. "Tell me, little believer. What is your request?" 

Taking a deep breath, Naoki spoke clearly and sincerely: "Once I help you find your beloved horses, will you come with me to the Paldea region and live with me on my ranch?"