Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 278: Return of the Hero Expedition Team



If Calyrex were to perform a miracle and make the trees on the hillside grow instantly, it would surely attract the attention of the Paldea League.

Naoki's mind swirled with various thoughts.

For instance, how would others react to Calyrex's existence? How would the Paldea League treat a Pokémon with such significant powers?

Would they revere him, much like the Johto League did with Ho-Oh and Lugia, building towers and shrines in their honor? Or, would they attempt to control him, as President Rose of the Galar League tried to do with Eternatus, using it as a source of energy for the entire region?

Regarding the latter scenario, Naoki wasn't particularly worried. Calyrex had regained his full strength, and with both Spectrier and Glastrier by his side, any ordinary intruder would likely be blown away by the force of Astral Barrage or Glacial Lance.

And as for Paldea's Champion-Naoki was confident that Geeta wouldn't try anything like that. He had met Geeta a few times and found her to be an honorable champion. Knowing her, she'd likely prefer to ally with Calyrex and have him work with the Paldea League, rather than attempt to control him.

Which left one other possibility.

The Paldea League might work to spread Calyrex's legend across the region, perhaps by building shrines and encouraging people to honor him as the King of Bountiful Harvests. This approach would not only increase Calyrex's favor toward Paldea but could also lead to a prosperous future for the region.

The only downside? It would likely bring a flood of curious, inexperienced trainers to the small town of Kosaji...

After weighing his options, Naoki made up his mind.

Since it couldn't be avoided, he might as well welcome it!

With the help of Calyrex, the Gogoats wouldn't need to expend as much energy cultivating the World Tree as they had before. It would be a perfect opportunity to invite visiting trainers to participate in the Grass Trial, giving the Gogoats a chance to hone their skills.

Then, Naoki recalled a time when Pawmot had been eagerly practicing with his hammer. "Perhaps we could add a Lightning Trial alongside the Grass Trial. It would give Pawmot the chance to gain more experience, improve his battle skills, and become even stronger."

"And as for Dragonite, his basic training seems to have hit a wall. To make further progress, he'll need practical battle experience."

And where would that experience come from? Battles, of course.

Thinking of Dragonite's abilities to call forth wind and rain, Naoki envisioned yet another challenge-the Storm Trial.

With that, a complete cycle began to take shape.

Trainers and travelers, drawn by tales of the legendary Calyrex, would come to the ranch to participate in the trials, which would in turn make the ranch famous and attract even more visitors.

Once the ranch's reputation grew, the Rotom Phone would likely be released, ushering the world into a new era of connectivity.

Then, new industries like live streaming and online shopping would undoubtedly begin to thrive.

By that time, he could formally establish Dragonite Express and invite all the Dragonites from Dragonite Island.

Equipped with Rotom Phones for navigation, tracking, and communication, each Dragonite would deliver goods from the ranch to customers across the Paldea region.

The first step to bringing this plan to life was to await the arrival of trainers and travelers. These visitors would not only help strengthen the faith in the King of Bountiful Harvests but also provide Pokémon like Dragonite and Pawmot with the opportunity to stay active and refine their skills.

It was a perfect plan, maximizing both benefit and enjoyment.

Naoki's face lit up with a grin, so mischievous that it caught the attention of Calyrex beside him.

"What's on your mind?" asked Calyrex, curiosity piqued.

"I'm thinking about what I want to accomplish next year!" Naoki replied, eyes gleaming. "Next year?" Calyrex looked puzzled, unfamiliar with the human concept of time.

"Yes, it'll be a new year soon," Naoki explained. To make it clearer for the King, he added, "For humans, a year has 365 days, and it's divided into four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter."

"Right now, the snow means this year is coming to an end. When the ice and snow melt and life returns-when flowers and grass start to grow again—that marks the beginning of spring and a new cycle."

Hearing this, Calyrex seemed to understand. "I see. In the Crown Tundra, it snows all year round. The landscape remains unchanged, no matter the season. It has indeed been many years since I last witnessed a spring."

He paused, nostalgia in his gaze. There was a time, long ago, when he rode his faithful steed across the Galar region and took in its beauty.

The blossoming of spring, the intense heat of summer, the crisp air of autumn, and the gentle snow of winter-he had seen them all.

Calyrex drifted into memories of a distant past. It had indeed been so long since he'd experienced spring that he couldn't even remember how many years had passed.

"You can experience every spring from now on," Naoki said with a smile.

If all went well, they would share many more years together.

For Naoki, knowing and living alongside so many Pokémon, sharing meals, and watching

them enjoy the food he prepared, made life fulfilling.

"I look forward to it," Calyrex replied, a smile forming. He was eager for the coming spring- and even more so, to share it with Naoki.

"Alright," Naoki said, stretching. "I need to find Dragonite and Pawmot for a chat."

As soon as Naoki stepped out of the glass greenhouse, he was eager to find Pawmot and Dragonite to discuss ideas for the Lightning Trial and the Storm Trial.

But seeing the group of Pokémon still engrossed in their game in the ice maze, he decided to let them enjoy their fun a bit longer.

Naoki decided to head back to the house and prepare some warm cups of juice and milk for the Pokémon, so they'd have something cozy to drink once they came back in to rest.

He turned around and began walking toward the house.

Just as he reached the eaves and was about to open the door, he suddenly heard a familiar

sound from behind.

"Teddi!"

Naoki froze, hardly believing his ears. He turned around, and there, bustling around, was the familiar sight of a little bear Pokémon.

"Teddiursa?" Naoki called out, unsure if he was seeing things.

"Teddi! Teddi! Teddi!"

Teddiursa nodded enthusiastically, then tossed the bundle of green onions it was holding to

the ground and dashed over to Naoki.

As it got close, Teddiursa leapt up, flinging its soft, furry body into Naoki's arms. Naoki instinctively caught it, chuckling as he looked down at the little bear's shining, joyful eyes.

"Ursa~!"

At that moment, another Pokémon descended gracefully from above.

Naoki looked up to see the familiar pink figure of Mew.

Surprised by the sudden return, Naoki asked, "What brought you back so suddenly?"

"Teddi!"

Although he couldn't fully understand, Naoki was delighted to see Teddiursa again. He quickly carried the little bear back inside. "Let's get you settled. Come on in, Mew! I've got

some treats waiting for you."

"Mew!" Mew chirped happily and floated after them into the living room.

Naoki set Teddiursa down on the sofa, then went to the kitchen to fetch some snacks and

drinks.

When he returned, Teddiursa was seated on the sofa, looking around the room with wide-

eyed curiosity.

"Teddi..."

Naoki chuckled, understanding that Teddiursa was noticing the changes in the house. "It's a

bit different, huh? After you left for your journey, I had the folks in town help rebuild it. The

old house was too small."

"Teddi!" Teddiursa nodded, seeming to understand.

Naoki set a plate filled with small cakes, puffs, and pastries on the table, along with a jar of Teddiursa's favorite honey.

As soon as Teddiursa spotted the honey, its eyes sparkled with delight.

Teddiursa picked up the honey jar, dipping its tiny paws into the golden sweetness and then

licking it happily.

Meanwhile, Mew picked up a piece of soft, flaky pastry in its little hands, nibbling it with

delight. "Mew!"

Taking advantage of the cozy moment, Naoki grabbed a few seed crisps for himself and settled into the sofa, ready to chat with his two returning friends.

"So, what brings you back so suddenly? You really surprised me!" Naoki asked, smiling.

Teddiursa looked up and replied, "Ursa, Ursa!" (We came back because we wanted to see you, Naoki!)

"To see me?" Naoki repeated, a bit taken aback. But the words made him feel a deep warmthNôv(el)B\\jnn

inside.

It seemed that Teddiursa truly cared about him.

He didn't say much more and simply watched as Teddiursa and Mew enjoyed their treats,

feeling content.

Once they finished eating, Teddiursa began to look around the room, taking in the surroundings. Its eyes fell on a photo hanging on the wall to the right. "Ursa!" (That's what

we sent back with Pelipper!)

Naoki glanced at the photo and nodded. "Yes! The Pokémon you asked for help were very reliable. They delivered everything to the ranch right on time." Teddiursa beamed, "Ursa~" (They're all good Pokémon~)

Naoki chuckled and then asked, "Did you come across anything interesting on your journey?"

Mew kept nibbling on its pastry, its little cheeks puffed out with food.

Teddiursa, now full and happy, replied excitedly, "Ursa!" (So much!) With great enthusiasm, Teddiursa began sharing stories of their adventures with Naoki.

They talked about encounters with Zapdos, Lugia, Mewtwo, Ninetales, and even a solitary,

giant Dragonite.

Teddiursa recounted how they had come across Zapdos, the legendary lightning bird, at an abandoned power plant left by humans.

Zapdos had been injured, so Teddiursa and Mew offered it some healing berries. From that

day forward, they became friends with the mighty Zapdos.

As they were leaving, Teddiursa noticed that a glowing feather from Zapdos had fallen to the ground, so it picked it up and brought it back to the ranch.

Naoki raised an eyebrow. "Wait... didn't you, uh, 'acquire' it from Zapdos using your 'super

luck' and 'quick escape' skills?"

Teddiursa blinked innocently. "Ursa!" (Of course not!) It shook its head, looking genuinely

puzzled.

"But I've heard Zapdos has quite a temper," Naoki said, still a bit skeptical. Teddiursa thought for a moment, then replied slowly, "Ursa..." (This Zapdos was actually

quite friendly—a really nice Pokémon. But later, Mew and I ran into another Zapdos with a

much worse temper...)

"Another Zapdos?"

When they recalled this memory, both Mew and Teddiursa exchanged sheepish glances.

"Ursa..." (That Zapdos was guarding a shiny gemstone. Mew and I thought no one needed it,

so we tried to bring it back to the ranch. But that Zapdos chased us...) Teddiursa admitted with

a grin.

In the end, they had managed to get away, but Teddiursa remembered how furious the

Zapdos had been.

They truly hadn't known the gem was so important!

Seeing the embarrassment in their eyes, Naoki couldn't help but chuckle.

He was about to ask more, but Mew, now full and content, began looking around as if

searching for something.

Unable to find what it was looking for, Mew turned its gaze to Naoki and asked, "Mew?" (Where's Mewtwo?)

"Mewtwo?" Naoki immediately caught on. Mew seemed curious about its friend. "Mewtwo

did come by once," he explained. "It stayed with the Pokémon here for a night, but the next morning, it mentioned wanting to find a place to settle down, and then it left." "Mew..." Mew murmured with a hint of sadness. It really wished it could see Mewtwo again!

"Don't worry," Naoki said gently. "Mewtwo is still out there in this world. If you keep exploring, I'm sure you'll cross paths again someday."

Hearing his reassurance, Mew and Teddiursa exchanged determined looks, their spirits

renewed.

"Mew!" (You're right!)

"Ursa!" (Absolutely!)

Seeing their enthusiasm, Naoki shared some stories about what had happened at the ranch

since they'd been away. He told them about the giant Dragonite now residing on Dragonite Island and the visit from the majestic Ninetales.

Mew and Teddiursa beamed, delighted to hear that everything back at the ranch had turned

out so well.

Teddiursa looked at Naoki, eyes sparkling. "Ursa..." (The hero and I formed an expedition team, and we helped so many Pokémon! I love it!)

Naoki chuckled as he listened to the tales of their adventures, marveling at the bonds formed

between Pokémon. "It sounds amazing," he said warmly.

Just then, the door opened, and elder Indeedee entered, holding a bundle of green onions.

With a puzzled look, he asked, "Ai-yi?" (Whose is this? It was left at the door.)

At that sight, Teddiursa perked up, remembering the gift it had meant to give Naoki. Quickly,

it stood up, took the bundle of green onions from Indeedee, and presented it to Naoki. "Ursa!" (This is for you, Naoki!)

Naoki blinked in surprise. Looking at the green onions, information about them floated into

his mind.

[Leek: A rare, stem-like plant known for its rich, flavorful taste. Often used in cooking and famously wielded by Farfetch'd as a weapon. The thick base can also be a useful tool for certain Pokémon to carry.]