Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 229: Moon-Counting Cyclizar



"Larry?"

When Naoki heard the name, an image of a tired, overworked office worker immediately popped into his mind.

"Isn't he part of the Paldea League? What's he doing working as a guide?" Naoki muttered, puzzled.

"Yes," Geeta confirmed over the phone. "He's with the League's Sales Department and also the Gym Leader of the Medali Gym. But since the Zero Gate is short-staffed and in need of volunteers, Larry agreed to help manage the guide duties.

Naoki nodded quietly. "I understand."

"Just be careful in there," Geeta warned before ending the call.

Naoki stood there for a moment, lost in thought about the dangers of Area Zero, also known as the Paldea Pit. His musings were interrupted when sister Indeedee, gently nudged him, calling him back to reality.

Looking at the two Indeedee siblings-his ever-loyal helpers-Naoki smiled.

"I'll be leaving on a long trip in three days," Naoki said to them. "It'll take about a week before I return. I need you two to take care of the ranch while I'm gone."

"Aiya," the brother Indeedee nodded firmly, always eager to assist.

Sister Indeedee beamed brightly. "Ai-ye!" she chirped, delighted at the responsibility of caring for the Pokémon.

Naoki chuckled, comforted by their enthusiasm. "Thanks, both of you. I knew I could count on you."

He explained the details of the ranch's daily routine-the feeding schedule, what each Pokémon liked to eat, and all their little quirks. The brother and sister duo listened attentively, nodding along with complete focus, storing every word in their hearts.

With that settled, Naoki turned his attention to the next task: choosing the Pokémon to bring into the Paldea Pit.

First and foremost, Koraidon was a must.

Even though Koraidon was a Pokémon from the past, Naoki treated every Pokémon and situation with equal care, no matter what the data said. Experience had taught him never to let his guard down.

Alongside Koraidon, Naoki needed two more Pokémon with enough strength to protect him. The Pokémon at the ranch came to mind, and Naoki quickly narrowed it down.

Koraidon, Dragonite, and Pawmot, Gogoat were all strong contenders.

He briefly thought about taking the Gogoat trio, but they were crucial for milk production at the ranch. Bringing them along would disrupt the daily routine.

The younger Pokémon-like Glaceon, Cyclizar, and Butterfree-weren't quite ready for the challenges that awaited in Area Zero. They needed more time to grow before they could handle such dangerous adventures.

After weighing his options, Naoki made his decision.

"This time, I'll bring Koraidon, Dragonite, and Pawmot," he murmured to himself.

Before setting off, there were a few last things Naoki needed to take care of.

The first task was to check on Wattrel, whose wing injury still needed treatment. Naoki wanted to apply some medicine to ensure it healed properly.

The second task involved observing Cyclizar and checking the effects of yesterday's birthday cake.

Since it was still early, Naoki decided to visit the orchard first, where Wattrel rested in its nest.

Ever since Naoki warned Wattrel that flying too soon could make its injury worse, the little bird Pokémon had become much more obedient. It spent most of its time nestled quietly in the tree or watching the Pokemon below.

When Naoki arrived, Wattrel chirped softly and tilted its head, greeting him warmly.

Naoki smiled. "Hey, Wattrel! I came to check on your wing."

Wattrel fluffed up its feathers and stretched out its injured wing for Naoki to inspect.

He gently pressed around the joint. "Does it still hurt?"

Wattrel twitched a little but shook its head, chirping happily.

"Good," Naoki grinned. "It looks like you'll be flying again soon. Two more days, tops!" Wattrel's eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought of soaring through the skies again. "When your wing is all better, I'll be heading off on a little adventure," Naoki added. "But I'll be back soon, and the ranch will be in good hands."

As he spoke, several Pokémon gathered around him-Foongus, Jumpluff, Minccino, and Tandemaus. They huddled close, listening intently to Naoki's words.

He smiled warmly at the group. "Stay safe here, okay? I'll help rebuild your home next spring -promise."

It had been a rough few days since the fire that destroyed their home, but the Pokémon were slowly recovering. Their spirits were lifting, and they no longer looked as downcast as they had before.

After hearing what Naoki said, the Pokémon in front of him jumped with joy, cheering

happily.

Naoki smiled warmly, watching the playful scene. Then, a thought crossed his mind. He glanced at the Grass-type Pokémon gathered around him and said:

"Oh, by the way, the weather's been really nice these past few days-plenty of sunshine. You should play in the flower fields more often!"

He looked specifically at Petilil.

Petilil enjoys soil that's rich in moisture and nutrients, which is why crops tend to flourish wherever it live.

On the other hand, Foongus-the Mushroom Pokémon-had the opposite preference.

Foongus likes damp, shaded places, usually found deep in the forest. During the day, it stays still beneath fallen leaves or hides in the shade of trees. Its favorite food is the moist leaf mold that blankets the forest floor.

Petilil wiggled with excitement, eager to bask in the sun and roam the flower fields.

After that Naoki went off to check on Cyclizar.

Yesterday, Cyclizar had devoured some birthday cake, but so far, there weren't any noticeable effects. Naoki furrowed his brow, wondering if the benefits would take time to appear.

He found Cyclizar lying lazily in the sun, soaking up the warm rays on the grassy field.

Naoki crouched down next to it. "Hey, buddy. Have you noticed any changes since yesterday?"

The asked curiously.

Cyclizar tilted its head, blinking in confusion. "Gaao?"

Naoki smiled. "Like... maybe you feel stronger? Or you can run faster than usual?"

Cyclizar gave it some thought, then shook its head, still looking puzzled.

"Hmm..." Naoki murmured, rubbing his chin. "Strange. Could it be that the cake had no

effect?"

He paused, then shook his head. "No, that can't be it."

Suddenly, a bold theory came to mind-what if the birthday cake didn't show immediate

effects, but instead increased Cyclizar's base stats?Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"If that's true," Naoki whispered, excitement building in his chest, "it might take some time before the results become obvious.!"

Naoki's eyes lit up as the possibilities unfolded in his mind.

"If the birthday cake boosted each of Cyclizar's stats by just 1 point every year, that would mean 6 points a year. In 30 years, that's 180 extra points! At that rate, your total stats would

reach 681"

He gasped dramatically. "That's almost on par with Arceus, the God of Creation!"

Cyclizar tilted its head again, utterly bewildered by Naoki's excitement. "Gaao?"

Naoki chuckled and gave Cyclizar a gentle pat on the head. "Don't worry about it, buddy. I just

realized how much fun it is to imagine your growth. You're going to become one powerful Pokémon, and I'll be right there with you every step of the way."

Hearing this, Cyclizar's eyes sparkled. It stood up tall, puffing out its chest like a kid basking

in praise.

"I'll do my best! Then I can protect Naoki!" Cyclizar seemed to say with its posture.

For a moment, Naoki saw the shadow of Koraidon reflected in Cyclizar's proud stance.

Naoki smiled as he watched Cyclizar puff out its chest with pride. It reminded him of Koraidon -how the ancient Pokémon looked equally proud whenever praised.

"Birds of a feather flock together," Naoki thought with a chuckle. "Cyclizar must've learned

this from Koraidon."

...

Three Days Later

The wings of Wattrel were finally healed, and it fluttered about joyfully. Now, it was time for

Naoki to leave for the Paldea Crater-also known as Area Zero-with Koraidon, Dragonite, and Pawmot by his side.

Standing in the pasture, Naoki gave a heartfelt farewell to all the Pokémon on the ranch.

The Pokémon, including Cyclizar, Alcremie, and Naclstack (the "Saltstone Pokémon"), all

looked sad to see him go.

Especially Cyclizar.

In its entire life, it had never been apart from Naoki for this long.

Seeing the sadness in Cyclizar's eyes, Naoki knelt down with a sigh. "The Indeedee siblings

will take good care of you while I'm gone. It's only for a few days-I'll be back before you

know it!"

Cyclizar's big eyes welled up with tears.

"Be good now," Naoki said gently, stroking Cyclizar's head. "You really love me, don't you?"

Cyclizar let out a low, sad sound: "Gaao..."

Naoki smiled softly. "I promise, next time we go out, I'll take you with me. How about that?"

Cyclizar sniffled but gave a small nod, still looking a bit down.

Naoki had a plan in mind-when winter came, he'd head to Galar's Crown Tundra and take

Cyclizar with him for a spontaneous adventure through the snow.

"Gaao..." Cyclizar murmured, still reluctant but accepting.

"Good boy." Naoki pointed to the Pumpkin growing in the farmland nearby and said to

Cyclizar, "I'll be back when the pumpkins are ripe. Until then, keep an eye on them for me and

make sure no wild Pokémon sneak in for a bite."

Cyclizar straightened up and gave a determined nod: "Gaao!" It looked toward the pumpkins with a newfound purpose, ready to guard them faithfully.

Naoki chuckled. "Alright, it's time for us to head out."

He stood up, recalling Dragonite and Pawmot into their Poké Balls. Then, he climbed onto Koraidon, who let out an eager roar.

"Take care, everyone!" Naoki called, waving goodbye to the Pokémon gathered at the ranch.

"Goodbye!"

"Aiya!"

"Alcremie!"

"Mea...!"

As Koraidon soared into the sky, the Pokémon on the ground kept their eyes on him until he disappeared from view. Slowly, they lowered their heads.

With Naoki gone, the ranch felt different. Even though nothing around them had changed, the Pokémon couldn't shake the emptiness in their hearts.

The Indeedee siblings, Naoki's loyal helpers, looked at the other Pokémon, noticing their low

spirits. A deep sense of responsibility swelled in their hearts-from today onward, it was their job to care for everyone.

Meanwhile, Cyclizar pondered what Naoki had said.

"The day when the pumpkins ripen..." But Cyclizar wasn't sure when that would be. It was just

a simple Cyclizar-it didn't know much about farming or pumpkin seasons. Determined to do a good job, Cyclizar trotted over to brother Indeedee, and asked earnestly:

"Gaao?" (When will the pumpkins in the field be ripe?)

Brother Indeedee furrowed his brow like a little adult. After thinking for a moment, Indeedee realized he didn't know the exact answer either.

"The pumpkins will ripen when..." he paused, carefully recalling the last time Naoki harvested pumpkins. Finally, he gave an answer: "Aiya." (When they turn orange, they're

ripe.)

Cyclizar blinked. "Orange?" It tilted its head in confusion. "What color is orange?" Seeing Cyclizar's confusion, Indeedee thought for a moment. Then, he waddled over to a

Jack-o'-lantern Naoki had made by carving out a pumpkin, pointed at it, and said: "Aiya." (That's the color-orange.)

Cyclizar stared at the glowing lantern, wide-eyed. "Gaao!" (Oh, I see!)

Even though it now understood the color, Cyclizar still wanted to know how long it would

take for the pumpkins to ripen. It decided to seek more advice, heading down to the underground cave to find Diglett, who always worked in the fields. "Gaao?" (How many days does it take for a pumpkin to ripen?) Cyclizar asked eagerly.

Diglett wriggled slightly, his tiny nose twitching. "Dig?" (Huh?) The question stumped the

little mole Pokémon. "Squeak..." (I only help Naoki prepare the land. I don't know much about when things grow!)

After a few moments, it said: "Squeak!" (Maybe Butterfree would know?) Butterfree was always fluttering around the ranch, keeping an eye on everything. If anyone

knew when the pumpkins would ripen, it would be Butterfree.

Cyclizar set off to find Butterfree.

In response to Cyclizar's question, Butterfree glanced at the sun hanging in the sky, then at

the Pumpkin growing in the field.

"Mmm." (Wait for the sun to set and the moon to rise seven times, and the pumpkins will be

ripe.)

"Gaao." (Got it.)

Cyclizar locked the answer into its mind. From that night onward, a "moon-counting" Cyclizar could be seen roaming the ranch.

Of course, Cyclizar didn't really understand when the sun would set or when the moon would

rise. All it knew was that when it counted to seven, Naoki would come back.

The distance between Naoki's ranch and Medali Town wasn't far. Riding on Koraidon at full

speed, Naoki made the journey in just three hours.

As soon as Koraidon landed, Naoki was greeted by the lively sounds of the town's bustling

streets.

"Stir-fried pork with green peppers, seaweed salad, and authentic ramen! The best food in Paldea is right here! Come taste it!"

"Fresh churros, straight from the fryer! Flavors include chocolate, cinnamon, and the classic -original-perfect for a snack!"

"Lemonade, coffee, Twinkies, and cheesecake! Visit the Welcome Café-a perfect place to

relax!"

"Seafood skewers, rice pudding, and creamy seafood macaroni! No wait needed-get your food while it's hot!"

The streets were packed with people, and the vibrant smells of food wafted through the air. Naoki sat astride Koraidon, stunned by the variety of restaurants lining the streets. "Wow... Medali Town is even livelier than I imagined!" Naoki said, amazed.

It was just past noon, and the savory scents floating through the air made Naoki's stomach

rumble. He decided to grab lunch with his Pokémon before searching for Larry, the Medali Gym Leader.

Navigating the town's winding streets proved trickier than expected. The intricate alleys and old-fashioned buildings left Naoki feeling a bit lost.

He looked around for a familiar landmark but couldn't spot the Treasure Eatery-where Larry

was supposed to be-or the Medali Gym.

In desperation, Naoki asked a friendly passerby for help. Thankfully, a kind girl with her playful Greedent pointed him in the right direction.

With her help, Naoki finally found the Treasure Eatery.

Inside the Treasure Eatery.

Naoki pushed open the door, greeted by the cozy, warm interior of the Treasure Eatery. In the

middle of the room, on a large tatami area, a Pokémon battle was underway.

A man in a black suit, with thinning hair and dark circles under his eyes, was standing on one

side of the tatami. He looked like a man drowning in corporate life, weakly commanding his

pokemon in battle against a younger trainer dressed in a school uniform.

Naoki raised an eyebrow at the scene.

"Looks like I arrived just in time," he thought with amusement.

The restaurant was full of diners enjoying their meals while watching the battle unfold on the

tatami floor.

Feeling hungry himself, Naoki found a seat at the bar and ordered some food. After placing his order, Naoki released Pawmot and Dragonite from their Poké Balls. The

three of them settled into a cozy dining area, separated by wooden partitions, enjoying the peaceful ambiance of the restaurant.

Together, they sat back, nibbling on their food, while watching the Pokémon battle with

great interest.

...