Pokemon: A New Path-506

A soft, melodic tune played from the car's CD player as Naoki drove along the countryside roads. The crisp morning air, the gentle hum of the tires on the dirt path, and the bright sunlight filtering through the trees made the trip feel like a relaxing spring outing with family.

In the back seat, Greavard panted happily, its tongue hanging out as it made playful "ho ho ho" sounds.

Meanwhile, Cyclizar and Koraidon lounged in the truck bed, enjoying the breeze as they gazed at the vast green fields rolling past.

"This place is so relaxing," Iono sighed, stretching her arms out to catch the wind. At that moment, she finally understood why Naoki loved living here.

The peaceful wilderness, the golden farmlands swaying in the wind, Pokémon freely roaming across the rhythmic grasslands...

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Just imagining it felt like a dream.

"Really?" Naoki chuckled, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. "To me, city life feels like living in a cage. Dozens—sometimes hundreds—of people crammed into the same building, everything is too cramped, too fast-paced."

He shook his head and continued, "Besides, an apartment in a big city wouldn't be nearly big enough for my Pokémon."

"Yeah, I get that," Iono nodded, instantly picturing Levincia's bustling streets.

Office workers in crisp suits, briefcases in hand, rushing through the sidewalks without sparing a glance at their surroundings.

That fast-paced, robotic life didn't seem to suit Naoki at all.

As they chatted, the car rolled into Kosaji Town—a quaint, peaceful village filled with wooden houses, small markets, and friendly faces.

Naoki pulled over and parked by the sidewalk. Then, he hopped out and made his way toward the Hugh Seed Store.

Just as they approached, a young girl dashed out of the shop, accompanied by an Espeon.

"Dad, we're going out to play!" she called out cheerfully.

Hearing her voice, Hugh—a tall, middle-aged man with a sturdy build and a warm smile—turned around.

He gently patted his daughter's head. "Alright, have fun with Espeon! Just make sure to be back before dark."

"I will!" the girl chirped before running off down the street, her Espeon trotting eagerly at her side.

Hugh watched her disappear, smiling softly before turning back to his work.

But the moment he spotted Naoki, his expression lit up.

"Ah, Naoki!" he greeted warmly. Then, he noticed Iono standing beside him—his eyes widened in surprise.

Naoki, oblivious to his reaction, returned the greeting.

"Good morning, Hugh. Do you have any bamboo saplings for sale? I'd like to buy some."

Hugh snapped back to reality and quickly nodded.

"Bamboo saplings? Of course! How many do you need?"

Naoki thought for a moment.

"Fifty should be enough."

"Alright! Just wait here, I'll go get them for you!"

Hugh disappeared inside the shop, and a few moments later, he returned with several stacks of bamboo plants.

With the help of his Pokémon, he carefully carried them out, batch by batch.

Naoki called over Koraidon and Cyclizar to help load them into the truck.

As they worked, Naoki casually asked, "That girl just now—was that Belle?"

Naoki's question made Hugh pause for a moment before he broke into a warm smile.

"Yes! That was my Belle just now," he said proudly.

Naoki blinked in surprise.

Belle had suffered a traumatic attack from wild Pokémon as a child, leaving her terrified of both Pokémon and the outside world. For years, she had refused to leave the safety of her home.

But two years ago, Naoki prepared a special dish—Courage Fried Rice—hoping to help her overcome her fears. He had also suggested that Belle raise an Eevee, known for its gentle and friendly nature.

He hadn't expected that simple act to change her life.

"Thanks to you, my daughter is so much more cheerful now," Hugh continued, his face beaming with gratitude. "She goes outside on her own now! And her Eevee has evolved into Espeon! Belle takes it to the beach every day to bask in the sun!"

"That's wonderful." Naoki nodded, pleased to hear such good news.

He finished loading the bamboo saplings into his truck and turned back to Hugh.

"How much for everything?"

Hugh quickly tallied the total. "That'll be 25,000 Poké Dollars!"

Naoki paid without hesitation.

Hugh smiled as he handed over the receipt. "Bamboo is in high demand this year! Mature bamboo can be turned into furniture, and a single stalk sells for thousands of Poké Dollars. The bamboo shoots can also be harvested and sold as food."

Naoki shook his head.

"I'm not planning to sell it," he explained with a chuckle. "I just want to plant a bamboo forest on my ranch for my Pokémon to enjoy."

Hugh gave an understanding nod, and after exchanging a few more words, Naoki bid him farewell and hopped back into his truck.

Before heading home, Naoki and Iono made a stop at the market, picking up some supplies and food for the ranch.

As they drove back, Iono leaned back in her seat, recalling something she had noticed earlier.

"Everyone here seems to know you!" she mused, raising an eyebrow.

Naoki grinned smugly. "Of course they do. I'm very popular in this town!"

Iono giggled. "Yeah, I could tell."

"Everyone's really nice here," Naoki added, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "When I first moved here, they took great care of me."

Farmers had given him free crop seeds, shopkeepers had offered discounts, and the entire community had welcomed him like family.

After a brief silence, Naoki turned to Iono with a meaningful look.

"So? Have you thought about it?"

Iono tilted her head. "Thought about what?"

Naoki smirked.

"Joining me in running the ranch. Living here."

For a second, Iono was stunned.

Then, she burst into laughter. "Ha! You should know me by now! Once I set my mind on something, I never back down. Don't underestimate me!"

Naoki chuckled. "Alright, alright!"

With that, the conversation drifted into lighthearted banter, and half an hour later, they arrived back at the ranch.

The moment they returned, Iono grabbed a hoe, eager to help.

"Watch this! Let me show you what I can do!" she declared confidently.

She swung the hoe down with all her strength…and completely missed the soil, sending a spray of grass and leaves flying into the air.

Naoki: "…."

Iono's face immediately turned bright red.

"That was a mistake!" she blurted out.

Naoki couldn't hold back his laughter. "Alright, alright, I believe you. Let's leave the farming to the professionals!"

He let out a sharp whistle.

Almost immediately, a mound of dirt shifted, and Dugtrio popped out from the ground.

With expert precision, the Dugtrio began digging perfectly spaced holes in the soil.

Naoki stepped forward with Koraidon, carefully placing the bamboo saplings into the freshly dug holes.

Iono watched for a moment before rolling up her sleeves.

"Alright, I'm helping too!"

Perhaps the events of the day had stirred something inside Iono.

Determined, she clenched her fists and declared, "Next time I return to Levincia, I'm going to study! The next time you see me, I'll show you just how strong I've become!"

Naoki: "…"

With a helpless sigh, he shook his head. "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Maybe it's best to leave farming to me and the Dugtrio."

With all the bamboo saplings planted, Naoki decided to call Kubfu and Gogoat.

"Koraidon, go fetch Kubfu and Gogoat from the ranch," he instructed.

Soon, a small figure dashed in from the onion garden—it was Kubfu, rushing over at full speed!

Iono, who had never seen Kubfu in Paldea, blinked in curiosity.

"Is that Kubfu?" she asked.

Naoki gestured toward Kubfu, introducing it with a smile. "Yes. It's a Kubfu. I found him yesterday at Furry Falls. Maybe you haven't heard of it before, but Kubfu is fairly common in the Galar region."

After all, the signature Pokémon of Galar's former Champion, Mustard, was none other than Urshifu, the evolved form of Kubfu.

"Huh? A Pokémon from Galar?" Iono crouched down for a better look. "It's so cute!"

"Kubfu!"

The little Pokémon stood beside Naoki and looked up at the new human curiously.

Naoki introduced her with a knowing smile. "This is Iono. She's going to be the future hostess of the ranch!"

Kubfu's ears twitched as it took a second, longer look at Iono.

Iono grinned and waved cheerfully at the small Pokémon.

"Nice to meet you, Kubfu!"

After hesitating for a brief moment, Kubfu gave a quiet response.

"Ku…"

Naoki clapped his hands and turned his attention to the three Gogoat standing nearby.

"Alright, time to get down to business!" he announced. "I'll leave these bamboo saplings in your care."

The Gogoat trio perked up and let out enthusiastic cries.

"Mehhh!"

The moment Gogoat's horns began to glow, a wave of rich, green energy spread from their bodies.

A faint, fresh scent of earth and nature filled the air.

In an instant, the green energy enveloped the bamboo saplings and seeped into the soil beneath them.

Then—right before everyone's eyes—the bamboo stalks started growing at an astonishing speed!

Within mere seconds, they had shot up, their emerald-green leaves unfurling under the sunlight.

What had once been a barren patch of soil was now transformed into a lush bamboo forest swaying gently in the wind.

Naoki stood back, admiring their work.

"Hmm… It looks just like the bamboo forest over at Furry Falls, don't you think?" he asked.

He then turned to Kubfu with a warm smile. "This is your new home. From now on, this bamboo forest belongs to you."

Kubfu's eyes widened in disbelief.

This was… for it?

It took a step forward, gazing at the towering bamboo stalks surrounding it.

Naoki had done all of this just for it?

For a Pokémon that had always trained alone, never having a real place to belong, this simple gesture meant everything.

However, Kubfu wasn't very good at expressing its emotions.

As it turned to face Naoki, its tiny paws fidgeted awkwardly, and its eyes darted to the ground.

A warm feeling filled its chest, but it didn't know how to say thank you.

So instead, Kubfu lowered its head slightly, ears twitching in shyness.

It was embarrassed!

Naoki easily picked up on what the little Pokémon was feeling.

But instead of teasing it, he simply smiled, reaching out to gently pat Kubfu's head.

"You don't have to say anything," Naoki said softly. "I already know."

...

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