Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 298: Trials, Discoveries



A few hours later, Naoki finally placed the axe down, wiping his brow with a satisfied sigh. Every log in the firewood pile had been neatly chopped, and the ranch now had enough wood to last for weeks.

Feeling the tension in his muscles ease, Naoki headed back to his room for a shower. The warm water cascading over him washed away the dirt and fatigue, leaving him refreshed and energized.

"That Life Goat Milk is no joke," he muttered, drying off with a towel. "It's definitely not something the average person can handle in large quantities."

The milk's effects were undeniably potent-a remarkable tonic for boosting energy and vitality—but Naoki knew he'd need to be more cautious moving forward. Drinking an entire bottle in one go had been reckless. Perhaps smaller, more controlled portions would provide the benefits without the overwhelming surge of energy. Coupled with regular exercise to burn off the excess nutrients, it could become an incredible regimen for long-term health and vitality.

As Naoki mused over this idea, a voice rang out from outside the house. Curious, he quickly dressed and stepped out to see a short-haired girl in a Uva Academy uniform standing by the ranch gate, a backpack slung over her shoulders.

Her eyes lit up when she saw him. "Hello! I'm a student from Uva Academy. Could you tell me how to get to the Shrine of Plenty?"

Naoki blinked in surprise. A trainer already? It seemed the news coverage of Calyrex had been incredibly effective.

He pointed down the main path leading away from the ranch. "Just follow this road straight ahead. At the end, you'll find a mountain trail that leads to the shrine."

The girl clasped her hands together in gratitude. "Thank you so much!"

Without another word, she turned and jogged off in the direction he'd indicated, her backpack bouncing as she disappeared down the path.

Naoki watched her go, deep in thought. This girl wouldn't be the first, and she certainly wouldn't be the last. The legend of the King of Bountiful Harvests was already drawing trainers to the region, eager to learn more and test their mettle.

This could only mean one thing-the Lightning Trial and Storm Trial he'd envisioned were finally ready to be put into motion.

Determined, Naoki called over Pawmot and Dragonite. The two Pokémon hurried to his side, their eyes bright with curiosity.

"Do you remember the Lightning Trial and Storm Trial we talked about?" Naoki asked, crouching down to their level.

"Pamo!" Pawmot chirped, nodding eagerly.

"Awoo!" Dragonite responded with a rumbling cry, its wings fluttering in excitement.

Naoki smiled. "Good. These trials are designed to make you stronger-stronger than you've ever been before."

Both Pokémon's eyes sparkled with determination.

"Great," Naoki said, standing up. "Let's go over the trial details together so we can prepare."

He turned to Dragonite, who blinked at him expectantly, practically vibrating with enthusiasm.

Dragonite blinked, looking expectant: "Awoo?"

"The trial you're in charge of is called the Storm Trial," Naoki explained to Dragonite. "As the name suggests, your goal is to unleash the most powerful storm you can muster to challenge your opponent."

He began outlining the strategy. "Start with Rain Dance to set the field. Follow it up with Hurricane for devastating storm coverage. Depending on the situation, you can mix in other moves like Thunder, Thunderbolt, or Dragon Rage for added offense."

Naoki's tone became serious as he continued. "But remember, the goal isn't to defeat your opponent outright. The purpose of this trial is to gain valuable experience. Treat your opponents as sparring partners-test your moves, learn how to adapt in real battles, and grow stronger through real combat. Do you understand?"

"Awoo!" Dragonite responded enthusiastically, nodding with vigor.

Naoki couldn't help but smile. Ever since Dragonite ate the Buns last time, it had been itching to test its newfound strength. The announcement that challengers would soon arrive clearly excited the Pokémon.

Flapping its wings in anticipation, Dragonite created a sudden, powerful gust of wind that rustled the grass and shook nearby trees.

Naoki blinked in surprise, marveling at the display. "It seems your compatibility with the Storm Bun is even better than I expected," he mused.

With Dragonite ready, Naoki turned his attention to Pawmot, who stood clutching its miniature hammer, its expression filled with determination.

Before Naoki could say anything, Pawmot began swinging the hammer in its paw. As the hammer twirled, bright arcs of lightning crackled around it, sending sparks dancing through the air.

"Pamo!" Pawmot exclaimed, its eyes shining with resolve.

It wants to become stronger and become a powerful Pokémon, and then use this power to punish evil and promote good, like the Pokémon named Thor, and become a real superhero! Naoki chuckled, impressed by its enthusiasm. "It seems like you're already raring to go. I don't even need to explain-your mastery of that hammer speaks for itself."

"Pamo!" Pawmot cheered, sparks of excitement crackling around it.

Naoki nodded with satisfaction. Everything was falling into place. Now, all that remained was to wait for the challengers to arrive at the ranch.

February 6, Alliance Calendar, Year 199

That morning, Naoki received a letter from the Elif Cherry Orchard. The invitation read that this year's Cherry Blossom Festival would soon take place and encouraged Naoki to bring his Pokémon along for the festivities.

'Cherry Blossom Festival.'

The memory brought a smile to Naoki's face as he recalled attending last year's event. It was a perfect opportunity to bond with Pokémon and friends while enjoying the serene beauty of blooming cherry blossoms. This year, the Indeedee siblings who had since joined the ranch would finally have a chance to experience it too.

But as always, plans could change.

That afternoon, Naoki received a call from Area Zero Research Institute. Answering, he was greeted by the image of Professor Sada, who appeared unusually animated.

"Professor?" Naoki blinked in surprise. "What's going on?"

Professor Sada, visibly excited, nodded eagerly. "Naoki, remember the discussion we had about identifying Paradox Pokémon that could integrate well with human environments?"

Naoki nodded slowly. "Yes... What about it?"

Professor Sada's expression brightened. "Well, the search has paid off! We've made a remarkable discovery!"

"What kind of Paradox Pokémon?" Naoki asked, intrigued.

Sada leaned closer to the screen, her voice practically bursting with enthusiasm. "We've confirmed the presence of Flutter Mane in Area Zero. It's an ancient Pokémon, much like

Koraidon, recorded in the Scarlet Tome!"

Naoki's eyes widened. "Flutter Mane?"

He had not expected that the Pokémon in question would be Flutter Mane, a creature often described in eyewitness accounts as fiercely aggressive and highly combative. "That's right," Professor Sada confirmed, nodding as she began explaining Flutter Mane's unique circumstances. "Not long ago, we used the time machine to bring it from ancient

times into our era."

"At first," she continued, "both Dr. Turo and I assumed it would immediately attack us, given the accounts of its violent nature. But to our surprise, it didn't. Instead, it stayed hidden in the shadows, observing us as if trying to understand who we were."

Naoki listened intently, intrigued.

"Not only that," Sada added with a chuckle, "it also managed to sneak into the cafeteria storage and steal a significant amount of food supplies. But there's more-something truly

fascinating."

Naoki leaned forward, curious. "What did you discover?"

Sada's expression turned serious yet excited. "We noticed that Flutter Mane showed a

peculiar interest in a photograph taken at the Area Zero Research Institute-the one featuring

you and Koraidon."

Naoki blinked in surprise. "The photo of me and Koraidon?"

Sada nodded. "Yes. That behavior led Dr. Turo and me to form a rather bold hypothesis: could Flutter Mane and Koraidon have known each other in the ancient past?"

Naoki's mind raced. The idea that these two Paradox Pokémon might share a history was both

thrilling and mysterious.

"Because of this," Sada continued, "we'd like to invite you and Koraidon to the Area Zero Research Institute. We believe that bringing Koraidon face-to-face with Flutter Mane could

help us verify this theory."

Naoki nodded slowly, already considering the implications. "And if they do recognize each

other?"

Sada smiled. "If that's the case, we think Koraidon could be instrumental in taming Flutter Mane. It may help the Pokémon feel more comfortable and secure."

"And bringing Flutter Mane back to the ranch...?"

"Absolutely," Sada confirmed. "If their bond is real, the ranch could become the perfect

sanctuary for Flutter Mane."

"I'll handle the formalities with Geeta. You don't need to worry about that part. Just focus on

coming to the institute and bringing Koraidon with you."

...

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