Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 284: The Most Beautiful Day



"Happy New Year!"

"Cheers!"

Naoki clinked his glass of tree sap with his Pokémon friends, then tipped it back, drinking deeply.

Outside, snowflakes drifted gently down, while inside, the fireplace crackled warmly, casting a cozy glow over the room. The table was filled with steaming, freshly made food. Pawmot, dressed as Santa Claus by Naoki, happily scooped up a bowl of rice mixed with berries, munching contentedly.

Cyclizar, sporting a scarf around its neck, was thrilled as it held a sandwich, taking a big bite with a satisfied expression.

Glaceon dipped its nose toward a creamy smoothie, then eagerly buried its face in the Eevee- sized bowl, lapping up the delicious smoothie with its small pink tongue.

"Buyi~"

Dragonite, holding a skewer of fried sea bass, took a big bite, unfazed by the oil on its claws. The fried fish had turned golden and crispy on the outside, while the tender, juicy meat within provided an incredible burst of flavor with each bite.

"Awoo!" it exclaimed, eyes lighting up with delight. 'So tasty!'

Dolliv sat quietly nearby, clearly enjoying the lively atmosphere, a contented smile on its little face.

Meanwhile, Mew and Teddiursa had settled themselves right on the table, surrounded by a honey-themed feast that Naoki had specially prepared just for them.

Their spread included honey pudding, honey bread, honey-glazed fish, honey-infused milk, honey biscuits, honey-grilled meat, and fruit drizzled with honey.

Encircled by such a sweet bounty, Mew and Teddiursa were in pure bliss, savoring every bite of the honey-filled treats.

Compared to the other Pokémon eagerly devouring their food, the Indeedee siblings ate in a much more refined manner. Yet, the joy on their faces showed they were just as enchanted by the atmosphere.

Before coming to the ranch, the Indeedee siblings had felt uncertain about their future. They had worried about what kind of home awaited them and how their new owner would treat them.

With these worries, they had devoted themselves to learning various etiquette and household chores under the guidance of their parents.

It wasn't until they arrived at the ranch and met Naoki that they felt reassured.

The siblings were delighted to have a kind-hearted person like Naoki and happily took on the responsibility of taking care of the household.

What made them even more joyful was the warm, family-like atmosphere at the ranch.

Everyone was gathered together, sharing a warm and happy evening where no one was judged by their strength or weakness.

Reflecting on this, Indeedee Brother glanced at their caretaker, Naoki.

Naoki sipped a glass of hot milk, feeling the warmth spread through him as he watched his Pokémon enjoying their feast in various ways. Suddenly, he sensed a gaze directed his way.

Turning, he noticed Brother Indeedee looking at him.

"What's up?" Naoki asked.

Brother Indeedee quickly looked down, trying to brush it off. "Ai-yi."

Seeing this, Indeedee Sister didn't hesitate to chime in, calling him out with a mischievous smile, "Ai-ai!"

Sensing that Sister Indeedee wanted to say something, Naoki took a handful of translation crisp and began munching them.

Sister Indeedee took a step back from her brother and, without a second thought, revealed, "Ai-ai-" (My brother actually likes Naoki a lot, but he's too shy to say it!)

"Ai-ai!"

Brother Indeedee's face fell as he lowered his head, resigned to the confession.

Though he had suspected it, hearing it from them made Naoki feel deeply touched.

"Is that so?" Naoki said, turning to Indeedee Brother with a warm smile. "Well, I like you both a lot too. Let's continue to take care of each other in the new year!"

Indeedee Brother looked up at him in surprise, then nodded with a beaming smile. "Ai-ya!"

"Alright then, let's eat!" Naoki said cheerfully.

Indeedee Sister, smiling with satisfaction, returned to her brother's side, who sighed in amused defeat at her boldness.

Watching the sweet interaction between the two siblings, Naoki couldn't help but smile. Just then, he noticed Koraidon staring off thoughtfully, seeming a bit distant. Naoki turned his attention to it. "What's wrong? Aren't you hungry?"

Koraidon's head feathers drooped slightly, and a warm glow shimmered in its golden eyes. The look in its gaze was so gentle, a contrast to the fierce and mighty creature described in

lore.

Naoki tilted his head, patiently waiting for Koraidon to respond.

"Ah-ga..." Koraidon said softly, then, with a surge of emotion, declared, "Ah-ga-hi!" (I like you too, Naoki!)

Naoki chuckled and reached out to gently pat its head. "I know."

Koraidon thought for a moment, feeling a bit different from the others, and added, "Agassi!"

(I like Naoki the best!)

Hearing this, Dragonite stopped munching on his grilled sea bass and immediately jumped in to declare his own feelings.

"Awooo!" (I am the Pokémon who likes Naoki the most!)

Pawmot was drawn into the excitement as well, exclaiming,

"Pamo!" (Me too!)

Meanwhile, Alcremie, who had already finished her meal and was lounging on the sofa,

perked up with renewed energy.

"Mree!" (Naoki's favorite Pokémon is obviously me! He even built a cream workshop just for

me!)

Dragonite wasn't having it. "Awoooo!" (It's me! Naoki put so much effort into training me to be the strongest Dragonite!)

Pawmot chimed in, determined not to be left out, "Pamo!" (And he gave me a cape and a

hammer!)

All the Pokémon were soon caught up in an animated debate about who Naoki's favorite really was. But after much excited chatter, they realized they still hadn't reached a conclusion. They all turned to Naoki, hopeful for an answer.

Even Cyclizar, though not joining in the debate, couldn't help but glance expectantly in

Naoki's direction.

Naoki looked around, a bit flustered. This felt like a no-win question!

"You all..." he began, pausing.

The Pokémon gazed at him, their eyes wide with anticipation.

Even Calyrex glanced over with mild curiosity.

Naoki took a deep breath. "You're all my favorite Pokémon."

Their eyes sparkled with joy.

"Pamo..."

"Awoo..."

"Gah..."

"Alright, everyone, eat up!" Naoki said, gently steering them back to their dinner.

"Afterward, I'll read the letters that the townsfolk sent us!"

The Pokémon were immediately intrigued and happily returned to their meals, enchanted by

the prospect of the letters.

Relieved, Naoki took a quiet breath, glad to have diffused the situation.

Just then, he remembered the little coin-loving Pokémon hiding out in the tavern.

Getting up, he gathered some treats and berries, quietly walked to the tavern, and left the

plate in the shadows, then turned and left without a word.

After some time, a small, cautious Pokémon emerged from the darkness. It crept up to the delicious treats, looked down at the food, then glanced in the direction Naoki had gone, as if deep in thought.

After dinner, the Pokémon played happily in the living room. Brother Indeedee tidied the table and the room, while Naoki and sister Indeedee took care of the dishes together.

By the time all the chores were done, it was already eight o'clock in the evening. Naoki dried his hands, then went to his bedroom to retrieve a stack of letters that Ivan had delivered. These had been sent by the townspeople and farmers from nearby over the past few

days.

Earlier in the morning, he had opened a couple of envelopes and found New Year greetings inside. He decided to save them until the evening, intending to read them with his Pokémon.

With the letters in hand, Naoki settled by the fireplace and waved to the Pokémon in the living room. Immediately, all the Pokémon who had been playing nearby gathered around him,

eager and curious.

The warm glow of the fireplace cast dancing shadows, stretching Naoki's and the Pokémon's

forms across the room.

Once everyone was settled, Naoki opened the first letter.

"Alright, here we go!" he announced.

"Ah, gah!" Koraidon nodded happily. Naoki grinned, gently stroking Pawmot, who had curled

up on his lap, as he began to read the letter aloud.

"'Hey, Naoki! Happy New Year! It's hard to believe you've already been at the ranch for a whole year. If your grandfather could see how well you're running it, I'm sure he'd be so proud. With the year ending, keep up the great work! Oh, and be sure to pass along my New Year's greetings to Cyclizar. - Mayor Thomas.""

Naoki held up the letter and turned to Cyclizar. "Hear that? Mayor Thomas is wishing you a Happy New Year!"

"Gah~" Cyclizar nodded happily, its eyes shining.

Naoki chuckled. "Let's bring Mayor Thomas some New Year gifts tomorrow, shall we?"

Cyclizar gave an enthusiastic nod, ready for the trip.

Next, Naoki opened the second letter.

"'Happy New Year, Naoki! This is Kelly from the Workshop. Thanks for all your hard work this

past year! We hope you'll continue to guide us in the coming year. And remember, if you ever need any custom furniture, we're here to help! - Kelly.""

"That's perfect timing," Naoki shared with his Pokémon. "After winter, I'm planning to build

a large greenhouse here at the ranch. That way, we'll have fresh veggies no matter then/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

season."

The Pokémon listened attentively, nodding along. Even if they didn't quite understand the details, they were happy just to see Naoki excited.

"Alright, let's see-this next one's from Mr. Elif," Naoki said, opening another envelope. "Do you all remember Mr. Elif? He runs the cherry orchard just next door."

Koraidon and Cyclizar seemed to remember Mr. Elif's cherry orchard, but Indeedee siblings

and Glaceon looked a bit puzzled.

"In the spring, Mr. Elif holds a cherry blossom festival with cherry blossom wine," Naoki

explained. "Many people and Pokémon come to taste the wine, share food, and enjoy the blossoms. You missed it last time, but I'll take you to experience it this year." "Ai ah~" Sister Indeedee agreed enthusiastically.

Naoki smiled and continued reading through each letter one by one, savoring the warm

wishes. At first, the Pokémon listened attentively, but as he went on, the full stomachs, soft carpets, and cozy warmth of the fireplace started to take their toll. One by one, they began to

feel drowsy.

Seeing their sleepy faces, Naoki put the letters aside and gently patted Pawmot beside him.

"If you're feeling sleepy, go ahead and rest! I'm pretty tired myself. I'll head to bed after a quick shower."

The sleepy Pokémon murmured in agreement, each finding their way to their own sleeping

spots.

"Goodnight, everyone!" Naoki called softly.

Alcremie curled up in her cozy spot, Dragonite returned to his Poké Ball in a flash of red light,

the Indeede siblings went upstairs, and Cyclizar stretched and lay down on the floor, head resting on its arms.

Watching them all settle in, Naoki felt a warmth in his heart. He gently escorted the Calyrex to the glass greenhouse. "Goodnight, Calyrex."

Calyrex gave a slight nod, replying, "Goodnight, Naoki."

With a peaceful smile, Naoki turned and began to make his way back inside. But suddenly, he

remembered a Pokémon he had nearly forgotten about.

With a small chuckle, he ran back to the house, grabbed a few boxes of Poffins, and made his

way to the ranch's central lake.

The reverse world, as vast as the real world, had always been Giratina's domain. As the master of this strange, mirrored realm, Giratina seldom stayed in one place for long, preferring to explore the many corners of the reverse world-much like Ho-Oh, who roams the skies.

But this situation only lasted until recently.

Since Naoki had transformed the sky islands in the reverse world, Giratina had taken a liking to this area, rarely wandering elsewhere. Now, it spent its days either sunbathing on Flower Island or snacking on the apples of Apple Island. It was clear that this transformed sky paradise held a special charm for the mighty Giratina.

As Naoki arrived at the lake, he hoped his guess was right-that Giratina would still be nearby. Sure enough, a swirling purple vortex appeared on the lake's surface. Naoki held a box of Poffins tightly and jumped into the vortex, entering the reverse world.

After all his efforts to help Giratina develop Sky Island, they'd grown closer. No longer was Giratina the fearsome dragon that had once blasted him relentlessly. Thanks to the changes, this part of the reverse world was now lush and vibrant, mirroring Naoki's ranch above.

As Naoki landed on Flower Island, he found Giratina sprawled out lazily in the middle of a vibrant flower field, basking in the sunlight. Unfortunately, Giratina's massive form had crushed many flowers beneath it, leaving a noticeable clearing.

Naoki: "..."

Giratina cast a casual glance his way, then rumbled, "What are you doing here?" Naoki settled himself cross-legged among the remaining flowers and opened his box of

Poffins. "I brought some snacks to share," he explained, setting the treats out before him. "Today is the New Year for humans. I thought I'd come celebrate it with you." Giratina, ever the recluse, huffed in annoyance. "I have no use for human festivities. And I

don't eat the food of living creatures!"

But almost immediately after saying this, Giratina's gaze lingered on the Poffins, its

irritation wavering.

Giratina, looking down at the small treats, found itself lost in thought. For a moment, it

wished for something as whimsical as a cup of tea that could magically soften its stubborn, hardened personality.

But Naoki, familiar with the dragon's gruff yet tender nature, merely smiled and brushed it

off, recognizing Giratina's true sentiment behind its words.

"Happy New Year, Giratina," Naoki said warmly, giving a respectful nod. "Let's keep looking

out for each other in the year ahead."

With that, Naoki turned and left, stepping through the portal back to the ranch. Giratina

watched him go, feeling a flicker of something deep and complex stir within its chest. 'Humans... strange, contradictory beings,' Giratina mused as it thought back on other humans it had encountered-those whose ambitions drove them to seek power and control, even at

the cost of destruction. And now, here was someone so different: genuine, selfless, and full of

warmth.

After a quiet moment, Giratina lowered its head, sniffing at the Poffins, and decided to try a

few.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Naoki returned to the cozy warmth of his home, heading straight for a quick shower. Once clean and relaxed, he climbed into bed, with Koraidon lying

beside him and Pawmot curled up on his blanket.

The room was comfortably warm.

Everyone on the ranch was probably asleep by now, Naoki thought. Outside, the snow

continued to fall, but inside, all his Pokémon were safe and warm in their nests, sleeping

soundly.

As he drifted into his own drowsy contentment, Naoki suddenly called out, "Koraidon?" Koraidon, ever attentive, immediately raised his head. "Agh?" Naoki chuckled softly. "Nothing just wanted to call you." Koraidon blinked, then gave an amused huff. "...Agh."

Pawmot, hearing his voice, stirred and rubbed its eyes sleepily. Naoki wrapped the drowsy

little Pokémon in his arms and said with a smile, "Good night, Koraidon." Koraidon laid its head back down, closing its eyes with a look of complete peace, murmuring a

soft reply, "Agh..." as Naoki held Pawmot close and drifted into a peaceful sleep.

...

This is a bonus chapter for reaching 1500 Power Stones.

The next bonus chapter will be released at 2000 Power Stones.