Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 441: Koraidon and Cyclizar

In the pasture, Koraidon lowered its head and gazed at Cyclizar.

It understood why Cyclizar was feeling so down—it had once experienced the same feelings itself.

Back then, Koraidon had spoken words to it that had stayed with it to this day. Remembering this, Koraidon opened its mouth and said, "Raao?" (There are things I can do, and there are things you can do.)

Cyclizar blinked, confused, its wide eyes filled with uncertainty. "Gaaao?" (What does that mean?) it asked hesitantly.

Koraidon's golden eyes locked onto Cyclizar's, its expression serious. "Raao?" (Haven't you always wanted to be Naoki's most dependable Pokémon? Are you ready to give up now? Can you really help Naoki like this?)

Cyclizar's gaze wavered. It hadn't expected Koraidon to bring up such a topic. Yet the words seemed to strike a chord deep within its heart, and it lowered its head in dejection.

"Gaaao..." (You can do all those things. Naoki doesn't need me...) Cyclizar murmured softly.

Its eyes lingered on Koraidon. The towering Pokémon was strong, majestic, and capable in every way.

Cyclizar had always wanted to be like that.

But it knew it was impossible. Unlike other Pokémon, Cyclizar couldn't evolve. It would never undergo a miraculous transformation.

Hearing Cyclizar's words, Koraidon let out a soft sigh.

It shook its head and said gently, "Raao." (One day, you will help Naoki. You'll become his most dependable Pokémon, just like me.)

Cyclizar's eyes widened in surprise. It looked at Koraidon with doubt and confusion.

"Gaaao?" (How do you know that?)

Koraidon didn't respond directly. Instead, it silently thought to itself:

There had never been another Koraidon; it was always the kind-hearted Cyclizar.

After a brief pause, Koraidon spoke again, its tone calm yet resolute. "Raao." (One day, I'll leave this place, and Naoki will be in your care.)

Since only one of them could exist, Koraidon had decided that its past self should remain with Naoki. It planned to ensure that Cyclizar never went near the time machine, sparing it the lonely years of gazing at the moon in ancient times.

Cyclizar's expression shifted to one of shock. "Gaaao?" (Leave? Where would you go?)

Koraidon remained silent for a moment. It didn't fully understand how time might correct itself if events were altered. Perhaps it would disappear entirely.

"Raao," Koraidon finally said, its tone light. (Before that happens, I'll stay by Naoki's side a little longer.)

Cyclizar's heart sank. Was it its fault that Koraidon wanted to leave?

But Cyclizar knew Koraidon's story. Naoki had once explained that Koraidon came from a distant, dangerous place—a place teeming with ferocious Pokémon. Through countless battles, Koraidon had grown into the mighty Pokémon it is today.

And yet, despite its strength, Koraidon was alone here. No mother. No friends.

Cyclizar felt a pang of guilt. If Koraidon left, where would it go?

Cyclizar hesitated, then spoke in a trembling voice. "Gaaao!" (If you leave, Naoki will be so sad. I can share my mother's love! Please stay!)

Koraidon blinked.  it thought, bemused.

But it didn't respond to Cyclizar's plea. Instead, Koraidon said, "Raao!" (Let's make a pact.)

"Gaaao?" Cyclizar tilted its head.

"Raao." (What happened today will remain a secret. Don't tell Naoki. In the meantime, I'll teach you everything I know so you can use those skills to protect Naoki in the future.)

This was the promise Koraidon made to its past self.

Cyclizar looked up, unsure of what to say. It didn't fully understand, but it could sense Koraidon's determination.

Koraidon continued, its tone firm, "Raao." (You'll need these skills one day. If you stay like this, you won't be able to help Naoki when I'm gone.)

The words hit Cyclizar hard. It had always wanted to protect Naoki, to be the Pokémon he could rely on most.

The two Pokémon locked eyes.

Koraidon's gaze was steady and resolute, and Cyclizar felt a flicker of hope reignite within itself.

Could it really become that strong? Could it truly be the kind of Pokémon Naoki needed?

Cyclizar sat quietly for a moment, its thoughts swirling. Finally, it raised its head and declared, "Gaaao, Gaaao!" (I'll do it and never give up again!)

Cyclizar thought that its envy of Koraidon, Naoki's most dependable assistant, was the reason Koraidon was planning to leave the ranch

"Raao..." Koraidon sighed.

'I was so childish and annoying back then,' Koraidon thought to itself, 'skipping meals over something like that... I was so foolish.'

As Naoki fished the two roosters out of the river, he noticed Koraidon speaking with Cyclizar in the distance. A thought struck him, and a realization dawned.

Could it be that his little Cyclizar had fallen into this state because of Koraidon?

In the early days, he would ask both Pokémon to assist him in turns. But as the ranch expanded and more Pokémon joined, Naoki had to focus on the new additions. For convenience, he often rode on Koraidon when traveling, unintentionally neglecting Cyclizar.

Under these circumstances, Cyclizar may have felt abandoned, leading to its current sadness and emotional turmoil.

Naoki's heart sank as guilt settled in.  Resolving to do better, Naoki decided he would dedicate more time to Cyclizar moving forward.

He asked Flareon to use its warm breath to dry the drenched roosters. Once done, he handed the now-fluffy birds back to Pawmot's parents and reassured them the roosters were fine. However, as a precaution, Naoki also prepared some medicine to ensure they wouldn't fall ill.

With that task complete, Naoki returned to Koraidon and Cyclizar, determined to spend the rest of the day with Cyclizar and help it feel loved again.

Smiling, Naoki approached the two Pokémon. "What are you two talking about?"

Cyclizar instinctively glanced at Koraidon.

Koraidon let out a playful chirp and trotted off, leaving the two alone. It seemed Koraidon wanted to give Cyclizar and Naoki some private time together.

Naoki watched Koraidon leave and couldn't help but feel something was amiss between the two Pokémon. "What did Koraidon say to you? It didn't bully you, did it?"

Cyclizar quickly shook its head, chirping in protest. "Gah!" (Koraidon didn't bully me!)

Naoki smiled knowingly. Cyclizar's demeanor made it clear that whatever Koraidon had said had helped ease its troubled heart.

"So," Naoki continued, "what were you two whispering about?"

Cyclizar remembered the agreement it had made with Koraidon and clamped its mouth shut, refusing to say anything.

Naoki chuckled. "Let me guess—Koraidon was comforting you, wasn't it?"

Cyclizar's wide eyes betrayed its surprise. "Gaao?" (How did you know?)

"We've lived together for so long," Naoki said, smiling gently, "how could I not know?"

Cyclizar's expression softened, and its face lit up with a mix of bashfulness and relief. But then, it saw Naoki's expression grow serious.

Naoki reached out and rested a hand on Cyclizar's head. "I'm sorry, Cyclizar. I wasn't thoughtful enough and failed to notice how you were feeling."

"Gah…" Cyclizar's eyes filled with tears, overwhelmed by a mix of relief and pent-up emotion.

"Are you feeling so upset because you think I don't need you anymore? That you're not important?" Naoki asked gently.

Tears spilling over, Cyclizar nodded. "Gaaaa!"

Naoki shook his head firmly. "That's not true at all. I don't need you to do anything for me or prove yourself. Just being here with you makes me happy."

Cyclizar blinked through its tears, tilting its head in confusion.

"You know," Naoki continued, "the first Pokémon a trainer bonds with is always special. You're the first Pokémon I've had since coming to this ranch."

Memories of Cyclizar flooded Naoki's mind. Its carefree joy as it chased butterflies in the pasture, its contentment as it dozed by the fireplace, and its earnest effort as it helped him harvest crops—all of it filled Naoki's heart with warmth.

"If you weren't here anymore, if I couldn't see you on the ranch, I'd be heartbroken."

Naoki crouched, his voice earnest and direct. "Cyclizar, you're very important to me. If you ever ran away or decided you didn't want to stay with me anymore, I'd be devastated."

"Gah…" Cyclizar's tears welled up again as it listened, deeply moved.

"Do you understand?" Naoki asked softly.

Cyclizar nodded firmly, its tearful eyes shining with newfound determination. "Gaao!" (Yes, I understand!)

"Good," Naoki said, a warm smile spreading across his face. He ruffled Cyclizar's head affectionately. "Now, let's head home! You haven't had a proper meal in days. Let's fix that—I'll make you something special."

"Gah!"

Cyclizar quickly got to its feet and followed Naoki back toward the house.

The pair entered the cozy kitchen. Naoki opened the refrigerator, rummaging through its contents while asking with a smile, "Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

Cyclizar chirped, "Gah!"

The Rotom Phone hovered nearby, translating the response: "[Hot noodle soup!]"

"Hot noodle soup?" Naoki blinked in surprise. That was the dish he'd made on his very first morning at the ranch, back when ingredients were scarce, and they had to make do with what little they had.

His mind wandered to that chilly spring morning two years ago. He and Cyclizar had huddled in the tiny, drafty old house, sipping hot noodle soup together. At the time, Cyclizar hadn't been a fan of the soup's simple flavor, so Naoki hadn't made it for the Pokémon again. Since then, Cyclizar had grown to enjoy sandwiches, steaks, and barbecue dishes more.

But now, seeing Cyclizar eager to give it another try, Naoki grinned warmly. "Alright, I'll make you a fresh bowl of hot noodle soup."

Things were different now. Their lives had improved, and the once-bare pantry and refrigerator were now stocked with an abundance of ingredients. They could afford to eat whatever they liked.

After some

Still, the Chief wasn't entirely wrong.

She needed to express her feelings first. Otherwise, if she overthought everything and got rejected, it would be all the more embarrassing later.

Thinking about this made Iono feel nervous.

"Forget it," she muttered to herself. "I'll just visit Naoki's ranch and see him first!"

...

After hanging up the phone, Geeta leaned back in her chair, her expression pensive.

Rika, who had been within earshot and overheard everything, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Chief, since when did you start moonlighting as a matchmaker?"

Geeta smiled knowingly and replied, "I'm not matchmaking. I just want to help them."

But Rika wasn't fooled.

Obviously, Geeta had her reasons—it was all about keeping Naoki in the Paldea region.

Geeta didn't mind being seen through by Rika. Instead, she allowed herself to indulge in her thoughts about the future.

"By the way, Rika," Geeta began.

"What is it?" Rika asked, still watching her with suspicion.

Geeta's voice was light as she mused, "If Naoki had a child, how old do you think they'd be when they reached Champion-level strength?"

Rika's expression turned incredulous, her disbelief plain on her face.

'Chief, first you want Naoki to stay in Paldea, and now you're planning for his future child?!'

"What's that look for?" Geeta asked, her tone playful. "I'm just saying—it's obvious that his child would be incredibly strong."

Rika thought about it for a moment, her mind going to Naoki's Pokémon team: Koraidon, Flutter Mane, Dragonite, Spectrier, Glastrier, Calyrex and Gogoat.

A trainer who could bond with and raise such powerful Pokémon couldn't possibly be weak.

If Naoki's child chose to follow the path of a trainer, Naoki would undoubtedly teach them everything he knew.

With so many Pokémon on the ranch, Naoki might even select a partner Pokémon for his child as soon as they were born, allowing the two to grow up together.

Such a bond would far surpass the connection most trainers form when receiving their first Pokémon at age ten.

By the time the child was three years old—old enough to walk and talk—Naoki might already start teaching them how to care for and train Pokémon.

If they trained consistently until the age of ten, they could likely challenge Gyms and even aim to become the youngest Champion in history.

Geeta could practically see the future unfolding—a brilliant new star rising in the Paldea League.

"It's an exciting thought, isn't it?" Geeta murmured, a smile tugging at her lips.

...

Late March, Year 200 of the Alliance Calendar

That morning, Naoki was steaming grass dumplings for his Gogoat when his Rotom Phone buzzed with an incoming call from Mayor Thomas.

"Mayor Thomas?" Naoki answered.

The mayor's jovial face appeared on the screen. "Good morning, Naoki! This year's Spring Horse Race is happening the day after tomorrow. Are you planning to bring your horse Pokémon to compete?"

Spring Horse Race?

Last year, Spectrier had entered and won the championship. Logically, it should be Glastrier's turn this year.

But Glastrier didn't seem as interested in the competition anymore.

Naoki thought back to the time when Spectrier had proudly kept its winner's trophy perched on its head. Worried that it might deform Spectrier's head, Calyrex had stepped in to explain that the trophy wasn't actually a crown.

Spectrier had promptly set the trophy down, and Glastrier, overhearing the explanation, seemed to lose all interest in the idea of becoming "Horse King."

Considering this, Naoki thought for a moment and replied, "I'm not sure. I'll ask my horse type pokemon and see if they're interested. If they're willing, I'll bring them along."

"Sounds good," Mayor Thomas said with a nod before ending the call.

...

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/Keepsmiling818