Pokemon: A New Path

With a crisp ding, the oven signaled its completion. Naoki donned heat-insulating gloves, carefully removed the honey bread and freshly baked Poffins, and placed them in a picnic basket. Carrying the basket, he headed outside to find the three members of the Great Hero Expedition Team.

He found them huddled near Glaceon's ice cellar, whispering among themselves. As Naoki approached, he noticed the remnants of their once-prized secret base, now reduced to rubble—a casualty of Koraidon's powerful punch. Clearly, Mew had discovered the destruction but hadn't yet pieced together what had happened.

Naoki scratched the back of his head awkwardly and explained, "About that… there was a noisy toy inside the base, and Glaceon thought it was haunted. So, I asked Koraidon to investigate. Unfortunately, we didn't realize it was your secret base."

He added quickly, "I'm really sorry, Mew. Don't be too upset—there are plenty of other spots on the ranch where you can build a new base!"

Mew tilted its head, its expression shifting from sadness to understanding. After hearing the explanation, it nodded thoughtfully. The base, after all, had always been temporary. Once the World Tree grew tall enough, Mew had planned to move the base up there anyway. With its concerns alleviated, Mew turned its attention back to Naoki.

"Mree~" Mew chirped softly, signaling it wasn't upset anymore.

The aroma wafting from the picnic basket quickly caught the attention of the group. Naoki smiled, sensing their curiosity. "How about we talk more on the grass while we eat?"

"Ursa!"

"Mew!"

The expedition team eagerly followed as Naoki spread a picnic blanket on the soft grass. He unpacked the basket, laying out the fragrant honey bread, Poffins, and refreshing drinks. Soon, Glaceon, Alcremie, Koraidon, and other Pokémon gathered around, drawn by the irresistible smells.

As Teddiursa and Mew dug into the treats with enthusiasm, Zapdos hesitated momentarily before lowering its beak to peck at a Poffins. The Legendary Pokémon's sharp demeanor softened slightly as it sampled the sweet snack.

Naoki watched the scene unfold with quiet satisfaction. Seeing the Pokémon enjoy the food he'd prepared brought him immense joy. 'Nothing beats the sight of happy Pokémon,' he thought.

Breaking the silence, Naoki asked, "So, when are you planning to leave tomorrow?"

Teddiursa paused mid-bite, then nodded affirmatively. "Ursa!"

Naoki smiled knowingly. "Morning, like last time?"

Teddiursa nodded again.

Naoki continued, "Are you planning to invite more Pokémon friends to live on the ranch?"

Before Teddiursa could answer, Mew eagerly nodded.

"Mew!"

Its enthusiasm was clear—it wanted all its friends to live together, ensuring they'd never have to be apart.

"I see," Naoki said, a touch of concern creeping into his voice. "But here's the thing: Flying Pokémon like Zapdos can easily get here on their own. But what about bigger Pokémon, like Snorlax or Aggron? How will you bring them to the ranch?"

At this, both Mew and Teddiursa paused. They set down their Poffins, thoughtful expressions crossing their faces. Naoki's question had clearly struck a chord.

"Ursa…" Teddiursa murmured, scratching its cheek in contemplation. It hadn't considered the challenges of transporting larger Pokémon.

Mew floated in place, its tail twitching as it pondered the question. Memories of past encounters surfaced—massive Pokémon like Rhydon, with its ironclad hide, or the towering Onix, whose body of boulders stretched endlessly. How could such colossal friends possibly traverse the vast ocean separating the ranch from distant lands?

Mew and Teddiursa were clearly troubled as they thought about transporting large Pokémon back to the ranch. The idea of a massive Onix or Rhydon being carried by a flying Pokémon seemed impossible. The sheer weight alone would crush the flyer.

The two Pokémon stared at the uneaten snacks in front of them, their usual excitement replaced by concern. Even Zapdos, usually composed, paused to consider the dilemma. 

"Chirp!"

Zapdos finally offered, signaling its willingness to help.

But Mew carefully compared the size of Onix to Zapdos in its mind. With a solemn shake of its head, it muttered, "Mew…" There was no way Zapdos could handle such a load.

Seeing their expressions, Zapdos grew puzzled, unsure of what else could be done. The group pondered the problem in silence for some time, each coming up short. Finally, Teddiursa turned to Naoki, its eyes shining with hope.

"Ursa!"

Surely Naoki, who always had solutions, could figure something out.

Sitting cross-legged on the grass, Naoki reached out to ruffle Teddiursa's fur reassuringly.

"I do have an idea," he said, smiling.

Mew's ears perked up. "Mew?"

Zapdos, too, turned its sharp gaze toward Naoki, curious.

Naoki leaned forward slightly. "Do you know how humans carry large Pokémon around?"

Teddiursa froze, deep in thought. The memory of being carried in a Poké Ball resurfaced, and its eyes lit up.

"Ursa!"

"Exactly," Naoki confirmed. "The solution is Poké Balls. With a Poké Ball, no matter how big the Pokémon is, it can easily be transported back to the ranch. We wouldn't even need Zapdos to carry them—just a simple delivery using a Flying Pokémon like a Toucanon."

The idea immediately brightened the mood. Mew and Teddiursa exchanged excited looks. Their worries melted away, replaced by newfound optimism. Even Zapdos seemed relieved.

Naoki grinned at their enthusiasm. "Are you sure you want to go with this plan?" he asked.

He knew this approach might be unconventional for the wild Pokémon his team would meet. While Naoki used Poké Balls sparingly, he never locked his Pokémon in them. Each Pokémon could come and go as they pleased, and he even kept a special Poké Ball stand in the living room for Dragonite, Pawmot, and Dugtrio.

During the winter, Dragonite would often retreat into its Poké Ball for warmth, emerging again each morning. The setup worked well for his Pokémon, but Naoki wondered if wild Pokémon would be comfortable with this arrangement.

Still, Mew and Teddiursa nodded firmly. Their trust in Naoki was unwavering. They believed he would treat their new friends with the same kindness he showed them.

"Alright," Naoki said, "I'll handle the preparations."

With that, Naoki excused himself and hopped onto Koraidon's back, heading toward Kosaji Town. Once there, he visited the department store and purchased a red shoulder bag identical to the one Dragonite used.

Naoki carefully packed the newly purchased supplies into the spacious shoulder bag. Utilizing advanced space-compression technology similar to that used in trainers' backpacks, the bag was perfect for traveling Pokémon. It could hold an impressive amount of items while remaining light and portable.

After leaving the department store, Naoki stopped by a supply shop to purchase fifty Poké Balls and several essential emergency medicines. Once satisfied with his shopping, he returned to the ranch to prepare the expedition team for their next adventure.

Gathering Mew, Teddiursa, and Zapdos, Naoki began explaining each item:

"This," he said, holding up the bag, "is a large-capacity space bag. It can store a lot of items, including any fruits or tools you pick up during your travels."

He then held up a small vial. "These are emergency medicines. For example, this one is an antidote. Like the Pecha Berries you know, it can cure Pokémon of poisoning. However, unlike berries, medicines don't spoil over time, making them more reliable on long journeys."

Once Naoki confirmed that Mew and Teddiursa understood how to use the medicines, he carefully placed them into the bag.

Next, he retrieved fifty bottles of Gogoat milk from his stockpile. "This is Life Gogoat Milk," he said. "It's incredibly potent—capable of healing even severe injuries in Pokémon. If you encounter injured Pokémon in the wild, make sure to use this."

"Ursa!"

Teddiursa nodded enthusiastically, clearly eager to help.

Naoki smiled and packed the milk bottles securely into the bag. Then, he brought out several snacks and rations. "These are for you. Not only are they delicious, but they'll also help restore your energy when you're tired."

Finally, he took out the Poké Balls. Shrunk to the size of marbles, they glimmered in the sunlight as he placed them before the group.

"Do you know how to use these?" Naoki asked.

Mew and Teddiursa shook their heads in unison.

Naoki picked one up and demonstrated. "See this button here? Press it, and the Poké Ball will expand."

He pressed the button, and the small Poké Ball grew to the size of a fruit. "To open the Poké Ball, press the button again. If you want to capture a Pokémon, aim the button toward its head, and the Poké Ball will activate automatically."

He continued, "Once a Pokémon is inside, you can shrink the ball again, making it easy to carry. This way, even large Pokémon can be transported without issue."

Mew and Teddiursa stared at the Poké Balls with wide, curious eyes. Mew floated forward, its tiny paw reaching out toward one of the balls.

To Naoki's mild surprise, Mew pressed the button. A red beam of light shot out, enveloping Mew in its glow. Before anyone could react, Mew disappeared into the Poké Ball.

Naoki blinked. "What?"

The ball shook briefly, then fell still. Moments later, it clicked open, and Mew reappeared, hopping out with a gleeful "Mew!" It had clearly enjoyed the experience and was now brimming with excitement.

Naoki didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. "Well, at least you've figured it out," he muttered, watching Mew bounce around happily, proud of its newfound knowledge.

Naoki carefully secured the new shoulder bag around Zapdos' neck. The legendary bird lowered its head slightly, making it easier for Naoki to adjust the strap. Zapdos seemed perfectly content with its new role, a subtle gleam of pride in its sharp eyes. Helping its friends brought it a quiet sense of joy.

"All done!" Naoki clapped his hands with satisfaction. "You can also store your camera in there and take it out when you need it."

Teddiursa immediately perked up at the suggestion. It removed the camera hanging around its neck, hopped onto Zapdos, and carefully placed it in the bag. "Ursa!" it chirped, clearly proud of itself.

Naoki chuckled. "Looks like you've figured out how to use the shoulder bag. Now you can set off on your journey with peace of mind!"

Hearing this, Mew and Teddiursa high-fived each other enthusiastically before turning to Zapdos and inviting it to join in. With a loud "Pop!" their high-fives echoed in unison, symbolizing the official formation of the Great Hero Expedition Team.

Naoki and Dragonite stood to the side, watching the scene unfold. "This is getting more and more formal," Naoki mused to himself, amused by the growing camaraderie of the trio.

The entire setup reminded Naoki of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, where Pokémon formed exploration teams to help others and take on exciting missions. Those teams had their own guilds and even catchy slogans like "Work hard, never give up, and smile along the way." 

A thought struck Naoki: perhaps he could replicate something similar on the ranch in the future. When the World Tree reached its full maturity, it could host facilities like a Pokémon tavern, a restaurant, and even the headquarters for the expedition team. Zapdos might be the first member of this team, but Naoki had a feeling many others would follow.

His mind wandered briefly, imagining Pokémon that might join the expedition: Slowking for its wisdom, Oranguru for its strategic thinking, Happiny as a field medic, Tropius as a provider of fruits, and even Hoopa, whose ring-based teleportation would make it the perfect transport specialist. The idea of Hoopa summoning legendary Pokémon for a mission brought a smile to his face. But that was a plan for the future—right now, his focus was on ensuring the expedition team had everything they needed.

---

The peaceful night passed, and as the first light of dawn broke over the ranch, the Great Hero Expedition Team prepared to set off on their journey. 

This time, instead of transforming into a flying Pokémon, Mew and Teddiursa sat comfortably on Zapdos' back. The legendary bird seemed more than happy to carry its friends, a red bag filled with supplies hanging securely around its neck.

Zapdos didn't seem burdened by its new role. On the contrary, it looked eager to embark on the adventure, its sharp eyes glinting with anticipation.

As the sun rose higher, the silhouettes of the expedition team grew smaller, gradually disappearing into the horizon. Standing with the ranch Pokémon, Naoki waved them off with a heartfelt wish: 

"Go forth and use the Milk of Life to help Pokémon in need!"

As the light of day spread across the ranch, Naoki's thoughts turned to the future. 'What kind of Pokémon would Mew and Teddiursa invite to the ranch next?'

...

Bonus Chapter