Pokemon: A New Path

"Naoki?"

When Geeta first heard the name, she thought she might have misheard. Was it the same Naoki she knew?

Leon immediately picked up on her reaction. "Yes, Naoki!" he confirmed enthusiastically.

To clarify, Leon added, "Besides the King of Bountiful Harvests, he also had another incredibly strong Pokémon—a red one called Koraidon, I think? They both seemed like they were unique to the Paldea region."

Geeta fell silent, her expression unreadable.

Koraidon was indeed a Pokémon native to the Paldea region. But the King of Bountiful Harvests, Calyrex, wasn't.

She recalled what Naoki had told her before: Calyrex originally lived in the Crown Tundra of the Galar region, where it was once revered as a king. Over time, however, its existence faded into legend, and it was forgotten.

And now, looking at Leon's earnest expression, it seemed he truly didn't realize that Calyrex was a legendary Pokémon from his own region.

Geeta took a moment to organize her thoughts. The timeline pieced itself together in her mind:

Last year, Naoki traveled to the Galar region, there, he found the forgotten Calyrex, gained its trust, and captured it.

Later, Naoki entered a competition, using Calyrex as part of his team. Leon had also been at that tournament. But for reasons unknown, Naoki withdrew midway, leaving Leon fascinated by his strength and eager for a rematch.

Now, it seemed Leon had traveled all the way to Paldea to seek him out.

However...

"Naoki isn't a trainer affiliated with the Paldea League," Geeta said frankly. "He doesn't work for us."

Leon blinked, clearly confused. "Huh?"

Geeta studied the energetic, good-natured young man in front of her and explained, "Naoki currently runs a ranch in one of Paldea's rural towns. If you want to find him, I can give you the exact location."

Leon's jaw nearly dropped. "A rancher?!"

Geeta smiled knowingly. She was familiar with this reaction. "When I first heard about it, I was just as surprised as you."

"But later, I learned that Naoki traveled extensively across various regions before returning to Paldea last spring. He inherited his late grandfather's ranch and decided to settle down there with a group of Pokémon."

Leon's eyes widened in realization. "Ohhh, now that makes sense!"

He recalled stories of retired champions finding new ways to live quieter lives. His own mentor, Mustard, had purchased an island and established a dojo. Running a ranch sounded like another unique but fulfilling choice for someone seeking a change of pace.

"Living on a ranch with a group of Pokémon and starting fresh sounds pretty great," Leon admitted. His mind was already made up—he'd visit the ranch himself.

Geeta could tell exactly what he was thinking from his expression. She chuckled and added, "Naoki's ranch is in Kosaji Town. Once you get there, just ask the locals—they'll know how to direct you. His ranch is quite well-known in the area."

Leon nodded eagerly, a broad grin spreading across his face. "Got it! Thanks a ton!"

With that, he stood and headed for the exit, his excitement evident in his stride.

Leon pulled out a Poké Ball, and with a flash of white light, his Charizard emerged. Its sharp eyes gleamed under the lights of the Paldea Alliance headquarters, and its powerful form radiated strength.

Leon retrieved a map from his bag, carefully studying it to pinpoint the location of Kosaji Town. However, as Geeta watched from behind, she couldn't help but interject:

"Mr. Leon, I think you're holding the map upside down."

"Huh? Oh!" Leon quickly flipped the map the right way, laughing sheepishly. Once he confirmed the town's direction, he climbed onto Charizard's back and pointed confidently toward his destination.

"Let's go, Charizard!"

"Roar!"

Charizard let out a commanding cry, spreading its wings wide before leaping into the air. The pair ascended quickly, vanishing into the night sky.

Geeta remained in the entranceway, watching as Leon became a distant speck in the sky. A faint smile played on her lips as she muttered to herself, "No wonder it took him so long to get here…"

---

Time passed, and night had once again fallen over Naoki's ranch. Inside the house, all was peaceful—except for one restless Pokémon. Flutter Mane, fully refreshed from a long rest, was brimming with energy.

Unfortunately for Naoki, this meant another interrupted night of sleep.

"Flutter Mane…?" Naoki groaned as he groggily opened his eyes, glancing at the clock on his bedside table. It read 11:00 PM.

The rest of the Pokémon were still sound asleep. Koraidon snored softly in a corner, its chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Pawmot lay sprawled out on its back, occasionally smacking its lips as though dreaming about food. The sight of them enjoying their slumber only deepened Naoki's exasperation.

Flutter Mane's bright red eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, watching him intently. Its mind was racing with thoughts: 'If we don't hunt tonight, we'll run out of food. And if there's no food, we'll grow weak. What happens if other Pokémon invade while we're defenseless?'

"Mrreeam!" Flutter Mane let out a soft call, urging Naoki to get up.

Resigning himself to his fate, Naoki swung his legs over the side of the bed and shuffled into the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator and retrieved some food, setting it on the table for Flutter Mane.

"Here. Eat up," he said, rubbing his eyes.

Flutter Mane eagerly devoured the food, but to Naoki's surprise, it didn't settle down afterward. Instead, it floated around the room restlessly, casting glances at the door. Its behavior was unusually anxious, even for it.

Naoki scratched his head in confusion. "What's wrong? Do you want to go outside?"

Flutter Mane paused, then nodded firmly. Its instincts were screaming at it to leave. Deep down, it believed it needed to hunt. The thought of relying solely on stored food felt wrong—what if the supplies ran out? What if they were unprepared for danger?

Naoki quickly realized why Flutter Mane was so restless. The Pokémon's anxiety was deeply rooted in its instincts, and it couldn't seem to shake the feeling that something had to be done.

Observing its behavior, Naoki decided to follow it and figure out what it was up to.

---

The ranch was quiet under the night sky, with only the faint chirping of crickets breaking the silence. The moonlight illuminated the landscape, casting a gentle glow that made it possible to see without any additional light.

Most of the Pokémon were sound asleep. The Glastrier had settled into its usual resting spot, while Spectrier, ever watchful, remained awake, its luminous mane glowing faintly in the dark. The trio of Gogoats lay peacefully on the soft, grassy floor of their shelter, their breaths steady and calm.

Nearby, the Combees had retreated to their hive, lost in dreams of nectar and flowers. Butterfree perched serenely on a branch of the World Tree, its wings folded as it dozed.

Naoki trailed behind Flutter Mane as it glided soundlessly across the ranch, occasionally glancing back at him. Its gaze carried a flicker of confusion, wondering why this human followed so casually instead of moving stealthily like a predator.

Naoki couldn't help but notice the odd tension in Flutter Mane's movements. Finally, he broke the silence, his voice quiet but firm. "What are you up to?"

Flutter Mane didn't respond, instead gliding past the boundary of the ranch and into the nearby forest. Reluctantly, Naoki followed.

---

The forest was dense and alive with faint sounds—the rustling of leaves, the occasional snap of a twig underfoot, and the distant calls of nocturnal Pokémon. Moonlight barely penetrated the canopy, leaving the shadows thick and mysterious.

Flutter Mane floated effortlessly through the darkness, blending seamlessly with the shadows around it. Occasionally, it glanced back at Naoki, its crimson eyes filled with confusion. 'How does this human manage to catch so much prey?' it wondered. 'The way he's moving would scare everything off!'

Naoki, completely oblivious to Flutter Mane's thoughts, strolled along at his own pace, brushing aside low-hanging branches as he followed.

Suddenly, the quiet was broken by a faint rustling in the tall grass ahead. Flutter Mane's attention snapped toward the sound, its instincts kicking in. It crouched low in the air, its body tensing in preparation for a quick strike.

Naoki watched the shift in Flutter Mane's demeanor and immediately understood what was happening. "Wait—stop!" he called out, his voice urgent.

Flutter Mane hesitated for a split second, but it was too late. The Pokémon hiding in the grass—a nimble Kricketune—had already been startled by Naoki's shout. With an impressive leap, it vaulted ten feet into the air and vanished into the underbrush, its chirping fading into the distance.

Flutter Mane turned back toward Naoki, its expression confused rather than upset. 'Why would he stop me from hunting?'

Naoki sighed, realizing that this behavior wasn't random. "You were hunting, weren't you?" he asked gently.

"Mrream," Flutter Mane replied with a nod, confirming his suspicion.

"That explains it," Naoki said, scratching his head. He crouched down to look at Flutter Mane more closely. "But there's no need for you to hunt anymore. I told you, I'll provide food for you. That's what I meant when I said I'd feed you. You don't have to fend for yourself anymore."

Flutter Mane blinked, tilting its head as if trying to process Naoki's words.

Naoki didn't say much but led Flutter Mane back to the ranch. Once inside the living room, he opened the doors to the pantry and refrigerator, revealing shelves packed with food of all kinds.

Flutter Mane's crimson eyes widened in shock as it stared at the sheer abundance. 

"Mrream…!" 

'This human must have astonishing hunting abilities!' 

It turned to Naoki, admiration practically glowing in its gaze. 

Naoki sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "...It seems you still don't quite understand what being a trainer and Pokémon really means." 

At that moment, the commotion had awakened several Pokémon. One by one, they wandered into the living room, their curious gazes shifting between Naoki and Flutter Mane.

Naoki glanced at them before addressing Flutter Mane again. "For Pokémon, a trainer is not just someone they battle with. A trainer becomes the most important partner, a loyal friend, and often even family."

He crouched slightly, leveling his gaze with Flutter Mane's. "When Pokémon live with a trainer, they don't need to fend for themselves anymore. Trainers take care of them, preparing meals, nurturing them, and helping them grow stronger." 

Naoki's tone softened as he continued, his voice filled with warmth. "You've become my Pokémon now, Flutter Mane. That means I'll take care of you, just like I take care of everyone else here." 

Flutter Mane blinked, processing his words. It seemed to grasp some of what Naoki said, though much of it remained foreign. Over the past few days, Koraidon had tried to explain bits and pieces about this world. 

Flutter Mane now knew that humans lived alongside Pokémon, forming bonds. But one thing still baffled it—if humans couldn't fight or hunt, how did they gather enough food for themselves, let alone their Pokémon?

Naoki could tell from Flutter Mane's expression what it was struggling to comprehend. 

"Come with me," Naoki said, leading it outside into the cool night air. They stopped near the orchards and farmland.

"Food doesn't always have to come from hunting," Naoki began, gesturing to the rows of crops and fruit trees. "See these? Food grows here. And as for meat, I buy it in town using money."

He paused, realizing that this concept might be difficult for Flutter Mane to grasp. So, he continued explaining patiently. "To put it simply, I trade. If someone has meat but needs fruit, I can exchange the fruit I grow here for the meat. It's like bartering, but with money involved."

Flutter Mane tilted its head, clearly struggling to follow. The complexity of the explanation made its thoughts spin, and it soon gave up trying to understand entirely.

Naoki sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "…You know what? It doesn't matter if you don't get it right now."

He crouched again, looking into Flutter Mane's eyes. "What's important is this: You're part of my family now. You don't need to worry about where your next meal will come from. I'll take care of that."

Naoki smiled warmly, his voice filled with reassurance. "All you need to do is sleep well, train, and enjoy playing with Koraidon and the others. That's it. Do you understand?"

"Mrream…" Flutter Mane blinked slowly, its gaze blank and unfocused. 

Flutter Mane tilted its head, still perplexed. 'Are trainer humans who hunt Pokémon specifically? What are they for?'

The concept was alien to it. Humans seemed like such strange creatures, Flutter Mane thought.

Naoki noticed the lingering confusion in Flutter Mane's expression. Under the soft glow of the moonlight, he crouched down and tried to explain. "Trainers don't hunt Pokémon. Instead, they love Pokémon and want to live alongside them. That's why they do these things."

Flutter Mane blinked, trying to grasp the meaning. "Love?" it murmured internally. "Mrre" ."What is love?"

Naoki, sensing its struggle, continued, "I don't know if you understand the concept of love, but for us humans, love means being willing to do anything for one another. It's a connection—a bond."

Hearing this, an image surfaced in Flutter Mane's mind: the ghost that had once sacrificed itself to protect Koraidon when they first met. That ghost had acted out of love for Koraidon, hadn't it? 

'So… does love mean protecting others? 

For the first time in its life, Flutter Mane began to ponder deeply, a flicker of understanding forming in its thoughts. 

Naoki yawned, exhaustion evident in his drooping eyes. "Alright, enough philosophy for one night. Go back to sleep!" 

As he stretched, the other Pokémon returned to their resting spots. Naoki turned to check on Flutter Mane, only to see that it showed no sign of wanting to sleep. 

"Fine, we'll work on your sleep schedule later." 

Mentally making a note to buy coffee to create some kind of energy drink to help himself stay awake in the future, Naoki addressed Flutter Mane with a tired yet firm tone. "Alright, listen. No hurting other Pokémon. If you're hungry, just grab food from the pantry or fridge. If you're unsure about anything, use your eyes and figure it out, okay?"

As he spoke, Naoki reached out and gently patted Flutter Mane on the head. The ethereal Pokémon froze, momentarily startled, but did not resist his touch.

For a moment, Naoki thought about activating the "Golden Right Hand" ability. He focused, but nothing happened. Flutter Mane remained unaffected.

"Well," Naoki muttered under his breath, "as expected, this ability doesn't work on Paradox Pokémon." 

He withdrew his hand, smiled faintly at Flutter Mane, and headed back toward his room. "Good night, Flutter Mane." 

Bathed in moonlight, Flutter Mane watched him go. The human's silhouette grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared completely. The ghostly Pokémon whispered softly, "Mrream…" 

---

The Next Morning 

Life on the ranch returned to its usual rhythm. 

The sun shone brightly in the clear sky. After enjoying breakfast, Naoki dove into his chores, tending to the fields and taking stock of supplies. The Pokémon busied themselves with their own activities, from play to rest, filling the ranch with lively energy.

Meanwhile, in the town of Kosaji, Leon and his Charizard finally arrived. 

After days of navigating unfamiliar roads, Leon had been fortunate enough to encounter a fleet of Squawkabilly taxis the previous afternoon. The cheerful drivers had offered their guidance, recognizing Leon's unfamiliarity with the region. 

When they learned his destination was Kosaji Town, one of the drivers enthusiastically offered to escort him there. Grateful and well aware of his poor sense of direction, Leon readily agreed.

Thanks to the convoy, Leon avoided any detours and finally arrived at his destination. 

As they touched down in the quaint, idyllic town, Leon sighed in relief, as did Charizard, who gave an approving growl.

After landing, Leon said goodbye to the taxi driver, returned Charizard to its Poké Ball, and approached an older man walking along the road. Politely, he asked, "Excuse me, sir, could you tell me how to get to Naoki Ranch?" 

"Naoki Ranch?" The man's face lit up with excitement. "Are you here because of the legend?"

Leon tilted his head, puzzled. "Legend? What legend?" 

"The legend of the King of Bountiful Harvests, of course!" the man exclaimed, eager to share the tale. 

"The King of Bountiful Harvests?" Leon echoed, the image of the peculiar-looking Pokémon he had seen during the competition flashing through his mind.

'Was there really a legend about it? And why did people here seem to revere it so much?' 

The man shook his head in mock disbelief. "You mean you don't know? The King of Bountiful Harvests has become quite famous around Kosaji Town and the entire Paldea region recently!" 

"Well… I'm from Galar," Leon admitted sheepishly. "I only arrived in Paldea recently." 

"Ah, that explains it," the man said with understanding. "In that case, let me fill you in!" 

He launched into the tale, his voice animated. "Legend has it that long ago, there lived a Pokémon called the King of Bountiful Harvests. It was said to bless the land, bringing prosperity and abundance wherever it roamed. People revered it and called it a king. 

"But as time passed, humans began to forget the king. Without their faith, it lost its connection to its beloved steed and wandered alone in the freezing wilderness of the Crown Tundra.

"Then, one day, Naoki stumbled across records of the King of Bountiful Harvests in an ancient book. He believed in the king's existence with unwavering faith. It's said that this faith was so powerful, the King of Bountiful Harvests took notice. 

"The king bestowed its favor upon Naoki's ranch, and when Naoki shared the story with the townsfolk, their belief was rekindled too. 

"Not long after, the King of Bountiful Harvests performed a miracle. A mountain forest, scorched and reduced to ash by a wildfire, was restored to life overnight! Grass, flowers, trees—all of it returned as if nothing had happened. 

"The Paldea League even built a shrine to honor the king on the mountain behind the ranch. It's said that the king now resides there, revealing itself only to those with truly devoted hearts." 

By the end of the tale, Leon's jaw hung slightly open. "That… that's incredible. The King of Bountiful Harvests is that powerful?" 

The man nodded eagerly. "Of course! I thought you came to Naoki's ranch to learn more about the legend." 

"Well… not exactly," Leon said, scratching his head. "I came here for something else." 

"Ah, I see," the man said with a knowing smile. He gave Leon directions to the ranch before stepping aside. 

Just as Leon turned to leave, the man called out, "Wait a moment!" 

Leon stopped and turned around. 

The man was pointing toward a small craft store nearby. "If you're interested, you should get a little wooden carving of the King of Bountiful Harvests from that shop. They're said to bring blessings!" 

Following the man's gesture, Leon looked toward the shop. On one of the shelves sat rows of intricately carved wooden statues. The Pokémon depicted was unmistakable—it was the same Pokémon he had seen with Naoki during the competition. 

The man smiled warmly. "Buy one. You'll carry the King's blessing with you wherever you go!"