Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 435: Giratina: Guardian of Dragonites

Naoki, after careful consideration, decided not to rush into offering cross-regional delivery.

As the popularity of Dragonite Express continued to grow, he realized it would inevitably attract the attention of Pokémon hunters from other regions. These hunters might place fraudulent orders to lure Dragonite out and then ambush and capture them in one fell swoop.

Compared to humans, Pokémon are still innocent and trusting—this holds true even for legendary Pokémon. The Pokémon world has seen countless examples where advanced technology and cunning strategies were used to capture these mighty beings.

Lugia, the guardian of the seas; Celebi, the time traveler; Latios; the three Lake Guardians; Meloetta; Suicune; even Dialga, the god of time, and Palkia, the god of space—each has been manipulated or captured in some way.

With this in mind, Naoki replied to the many customers requesting cross-regional delivery:

[Naoki Ranch (Merchant): I'm sorry, but at the moment, our delivery service is limited to the Paldea region. Other regions are simply too far, and I'm worried about the safety of the Dragonite delivery team.]

As soon as this response was posted, it quickly went viral on Pokémon forums, shared widely by netizens.

Many immediately understood Naoki's concern: the risk of Pokémon hunters. Dragonite, being rare and powerful, would naturally be a prime target for such individuals.

The internet was abuzz with discussions. One user commented:

"Every region has black markets dealing in rare Pokémon. Naoki's caution makes perfect sense."

Another, more skeptical user asked:

"But doesn't the Paldea region have Pokémon hunters too?"

Before Naoki could reply, an unexpected defender spoke up:@@novelbin@@

[Paldea Chief Champion Geeta: That's right! Security in Paldea is exceptional, thanks to the hard work of the Paldea Pokémon League staff. We're committed to maintaining peace in the region. Everyone is welcome to travel and settle here!]

Geeta's response was promptly shared, further boosting Paldea's reputation for safety.

Naoki: "..."

She wasn't wrong—the Pokémon League's tireless efforts kept Paldea remarkably secure. From Gym Leaders to League Champions, everyone worked overtime to ensure the region's safety.

Even Geeta herself was often seen diving headfirst into emergency situations, whether it was resolving city crises or handling rogue Pokémon like the giant Dragonite that entered Paldea's waters a few years ago.

Still, Naoki knew the importance of vigilance. While Paldea might be safer than most regions, he reminded himself of the old adage: "Trust, but verify."

March 10, Year 200 of the Pokémon Alliance Calendar, 6:25 AM

Naoki gathered all the dragonites on the grassy field.

In total, there were eleven Dragonites employed for deliveries, plus Naoki's own personal Dragonite, bringing the count to twelve majestic Dragonites on the ranch and a newly hatched Dratini.

Naoki's Dragonite stood beside him, with its arms folded, observing the group of hardworking Dragonites and their Rotom partners assembled in front of them. 

Naoki cleared his throat and asked, "Ahem, has your work been going smoothly these days?"

The Dragonites nodded enthusiastically, happily exclaiming, "Awoo~!"

For them, the tasks were simple and enjoyable. Their cheerful smiles made them look even more endearing. Naoki chuckled, reaching out to pat their heads. "That's good to hear," he said warmly. "But today, I want to talk about something a little more serious."

The Dragonites blinked curiously, tilting their heads as if to say, "Awo?" (What is it?)

Naoki's expression grew serious. "I want to warn you about the dangers you might face while delivering goods. Humans, like Pokémon, have different personalities. Some are kind-hearted, like Mrs. Dantes in town, who bake cookies for you. But," he continued, his tone darkening, "some humans have malicious intentions. They might try to hurt you by using stronger Pokémon to overpower you, trap you in nets or cages, and sell you for a high price."

The Dragonites collectively frowned, their expressions filled with distaste for such people. But their frowns soon turned into determined scowls.

The Big Brother Dragonite, flanked by its brothers, roared confidently: "Roar!" (If we meet those people, we'll teach them a lesson!)

Naoki shook his head. "Don't underestimate your enemies."

"Awoo?" The Big Brother Dragonite tilted its head in confusion.

Naoki turned to his own Dragonite, using it as an example. "Think about this: if you only saw Dragonite before it trained, you might think it's just the same old silly Dragonite. But now, its strength has grown far beyond what it used to be. If you fought it now without knowing its true power, what do you think would happen?"

Dragonite cheerfully chimed in with a playful "Awoo~," raising its chubby paw. Naoki chuckled, squeezing it gently.

The Big Brother Dragonite furrowed its brow, its expression shifting to one of deep thought. After a moment, its face hardened with resolve.

"Do you understand now?" Naoki asked.

"Awoooo!" The Dragonites nodded earnestly, signifying that they understood the gravity of the situation.

Next, Naoki addressed the Rotoms. "I'm counting on you to watch over the Dragonites. If anyone tries to harm or capture them, contact me immediately. If you can't reach me, contact Calyrex or Giratina."

The Rotoms buzzed in unison, pledging to do their part diligently.

Naoki gave a satisfied nod. He had already secured promises from two legendary Pokémon. Both Calyrex and Giratina had assured him that they would intervene swiftly if alerted. 

Among them, Giratina was particularly resolute.

Giratina had assured Naoki, with its usual confidence, that the Dragonites were now its "little brothers" and that it would take great care of them.

"If anyone dares to bully them," Giratina declared boldly, "I'll follow the network signal straight to their hideout, take them down, and rescue the Dragonites myself!"

Naoki was left completely dumbfounded by Giratina's peculiar statement. It wasn't until Rotom on his phone piped up that he learned the truth: Giratina had been watching a Hollywood Pokémon gangster movie.

According to Rotom, the movie followed the story of a loyal and fearless human who led his gang to confront rivals, eventually becoming the undisputed king of all gangs worldwide.

Giratina had been deeply inspired, convinced that the protagonist's sense of loyalty and commanding presence mirrored its own personality. It began imagining itself as the "boss" of Pokémon, leading a loyal band of followers.

So, when Naoki asked for its help, Giratina didn't hesitate for a second.

Though it could be hot-tempered at times, Giratina was dependable when it came to keeping its promises. With both Giratina and Calyrex as safeguards, Naoki felt reassured. Should anyone dare to target Dragonite, Giratina would "run along the network cable," as it so dramatically put it, and make them pay.

With the day off to a solid start, the Dragonites began their deliveries, carrying goods to customers under the precise guidance of Rotom's navigation systems.

Meanwhile, Naoki turned his attention to cleaning the house, joined by the Indeedee siblings.

The ranch, bustling with Pokémon, often left Naoki's home in a state of disarray. Toys were scattered everywhere, and muddy paw prints from the Pokémon returning from outdoor play often left the freshly cleaned floors a mess.

As Naoki swept and mopped, the Eeveelutions darted around him, playing a game of tag. When he turned around to admire his progress, his jaw dropped.

A trail of muddy footprints crisscrossed the pristine floor he'd just cleaned.

!!!

"You little troublemakers! Look at this mess! Outside, all of you—go play in the pasture!" Naoki took a deep breath to calm himself before ushering the mischievous Eeveelutions out of the house.

The Eeveelutions scampered off with playful giggles, clearly unbothered by Naoki's scolding. Meanwhile, Flutter Mane, who had been rummaging in the fridge, glanced back at Naoki in confusion.

"Flutter Mane," Naoki called out quickly, "not you. You don't mess up the floor. You can stay."

Flutter Mane rarely touched the ground, always floating gracefully in the air. It gave a soft, understanding hum and drifted back to its spot.

"Fluu," Flutter Mane murmured, as serene as ever.

Seeing Flutter Mane staying put, Koraidon, who had been preparing to head outside, decided to remain indoors as well.

Naoki raised an eyebrow at the big Pokémon, torn between saying something and staying silent.

"Raao?" Koraidon tilted its head, feigning innocence.

Naoki sighed in defeat. "Oh, forget it. Where's the Cyclizar?"

Koraidon turned its head and looked outside. "Raao?"

It had just spotted Cyclizar and Ogerpon dashing off toward Snorlax Park to play.

Seeing this, Naoki sighed knowingly. "Go fetch them all for me," he said, addressing Koraidon. "It's bath day, and I'm not letting anyone skip it."

"Raao!" Koraidon chirped in agreement before turning and bolting off to gather the others.

By the time Naoki and the Indeedee siblings finished tidying up the house, Koraidon returned, accompanied by a parade of Pokémon.

Naoki headed to the bathroom, filling several basins with water. With so many Pokémon to clean, he had to wash them one at a time.

He started with the hairless Pokémon, as their cleaning process was quick: a simple rinse followed by a fragrant shampoo. Koraidon, Cyclizar, Gholdengo, and Ogerpon were all squeaky clean within five minutes.

The furry Pokémon, however, required more attention. Their fur needed to be thoroughly washed and then dried to prevent colds. But with Slugma in the house, this was no problem at all.

After each Eeveelution's bath, Naoki sent them to the fireplace, where Slugma waited. The warmth radiating from its body served as a natural dryer, efficiently evaporating the moisture from their fluffy coats.

As the Eeveelutions gathered by the fireplace, the cozy warmth made them visibly relaxed. Some wagged their tails lazily, and a few were already dozing off, their eyes half-closed. One Eeveelution sprawled on its back, its partially dried belly exposed.

When Naoki stepped out of the bathroom and saw the scene, he couldn't help but grin.

A symphony of playful cries of "Bu-yi! Bu-yi!" soon echoed through the room as Naoki joined in the fun, affectionately playing with the fluffy group.

.....

In the afternoon, after a hearty lunch, Naoki felt thoroughly worn out from the morning's work. The weather was good, with the sun casting a warm, golden glow.

Taking advantage of the peaceful atmosphere, Naoki made his way to the Wooloo pen and stretched out on a grassy hill. The gentle breeze and soothing sunlight enveloped him like a cozy blanket.

Lying there, Naoki let himself relax completely. Time seemed to slow as he gazed at the endless blue sky above. Fluffy, cotton-like clouds drifted lazily across the heavens, carried by the soft breeze.

In that moment, surrounded by nature's tranquility, Naoki felt an unparalleled sense of peace.

Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, with no endless overtime or heavy traffic to endure, Naoki's life now consisted of fertile farmlands, abundant orchards, soft grassy fields, and the companionship of adorable Pokémon.

It felt like a dream.

From the warm afternoon to the glowing sunset, Naoki reclined peacefully, resting against the fluffy wool of a Wooloo, enjoying the breeze and the sunlight.

During this tranquil time, he occasionally noticed the Dragonites returning from their deliveries, only to set off again. When the day's tasks were finally completed and the store closed, the Dragonites received their daily treats from Indeedee, before preparing to return to Dragonite Island with content expressions.

Watching them, Naoki suddenly felt a pang of concern. Traveling back and forth between Dragonite Island and the ranch every day seemed exhausting for these diligent Pokémon.

After pondering for a moment, Naoki stood up and called out to the departing Dragonites.

A large group of Dragonites paused mid-flight and turned to him with curious expressions. "Awoo?"

Naoki smiled and said, "Oh, I almost forgot something. The World Tree has fully grown now, and there's plenty of space inside for you all to live. Would you like to stay here instead? It'll make things much easier—you won't have to travel back and forth all the time."

The Dragonites exchanged glances, their interest piqued. "Awoo?"

They had heard of the World Tree, but it had been a long time since they'd last visited it. Sensing their curiosity, Naoki decided to show them. He led them through the reverse world to the World Tree, allowing the Dragonites to see its splendor firsthand.

The moment they arrived, the Dragonites were visibly awestruck by the tranquil and lush surroundings. The tree's natural energy resonated with them deeply.

"How about it?" Naoki asked, gesturing around. "Would you like to stay here? It's close to the ranch, and you'll have all this space to enjoy."

Four of the Dragonites immediately nodded in excitement. They were the younger Dratini and Dragonair who often visited the ranch to play, already deeply fond of the area.

Three additional Dragonites quickly nodded in agreement, their enthusiasm clear. The prospect of living closer to the ranch, with its comforting environment and abundant resources, was far more appealing than making the long journey back to Dragonite Island each day.

However, the Big Brother Dragonite group, led by their eldest brother with the scarred face, hesitated. After a moment of contemplation, the eldest brother stepped forward and rumbled, "Awoo." (I think I'll return to Dragonite Island.)

Naoki nodded understandingly. "That's fine. Take your time to think about it. Whatever decision you make, I'll respect it."

The eldest Dragonite was moved by Naoki's words. Over time, it had come to see why the others admired this human. Naoki wasn't just a skilled trainer; he genuinely cared for the Pokémon.

Not only could he teach them advanced fighting techniques, but he also possessed the ability to harness the power of dragons to aid in their growth. Furthermore, he demonstrated genuine respect for their choices and took the time to consider their feelings, something that deeply resonated with the Dragonite.

The Big Brother Dragonite glanced at Naoki with a newfound seriousness. But before it could speak, it caught a sharp glare from the "stupid" Dragonite standing nearby.

Naoki's Dragonite puffed up its chest and growled protectively, "Awoo!" (Naoki is my trainer! You can stay here, but don't even think about making him your trainer!)

...

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