Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 462: Mayor Thomas’s Urgent Request

May 7, Year 200 of the Alliance Calendar – Summer

Naoki sat at the table, deep in thought as he gazed at the two leaves that had fallen from the World Tree.

One of them, the Awakening Leaf, had already been ground into a green leaf ball—a remedy that, once he fed it to Jirachi, would free it from its thousand-year slumber.

The other, the Leaf of Life, glowed with a vibrant green light. It contained a vast amount of natural energy, capable of sustaining the land of Forina in Jirachi's place. With it, Jirachi could finally travel freely, no longer bound by the responsibility of nourishing this land.

Everything was ready—except for Jirachi's arrival.

Three days had passed since the Hero Expedition Team last contacted him. During that time, Teddiursa and Mew had kept him updated on their mission.

They had successfully found Jirachi in Pokémon Park.

Though Butler had attempted to interfere, they had managed to thwart his plans just in time. Thanks to Zapdos's powerful Thunderbolt, Butler's dreams of resurrecting Groudon were shattered.

By now, the Hero Expedition Team was likely bringing Jirachi to the ranch. Tonight was the night of the Millennium Comet's arrival—the moment when Jirachi would awaken.

Just as Naoki was thinking about all this—

Knock, knock, knock!

The sudden knocking at the door pulled him from his thoughts.

Naoki was slightly surprised. Who would visit the ranch at this time?

Putting down the leaves, he walked over and opened the door.

Standing outside was Mayor Thomas, his face lined with worry.

"Mayor Thomas?" Naoki blinked in surprise, then quickly stepped aside. "Come in and have a seat."

However, Mayor Thomas shook his head.

"Naoki, I came to ask for your help," he said, his voice carrying a heavy tone.

"Of course, what is it?" Naoki asked.

Mayor Thomas sighed and explained, "It's about Cyclizar's mother. Cyclizar is fifty-three years old now, but recently, it's been looking troubled. So yesterday, I took it to the Pokémon Center for a checkup."

"Nurse Joy said… its time is almost up. It doesn't have long left. I want you to take Cyclizar to visit her."

Hearing this, Naoki was taken aback.

"The lifespan of a Cyclizar is only around fifty years?"

Mayor Thomas shook his head.

"No, normally, Cyclizar can live much longer," he explained. "But when it was younger, Cyclizar suffered serious injuries while protecting me.

"It never fully recovered, and… it seems that battle took years off its life."

Naoki understood immediately.

Wasn't this the same as Alder's Volcarona?

"I see."

Without hesitation, Naoki turned and took a bottle of Life-Goat Milk from the fridge. Then, he called over Cyclizar, who was completely unaware of the situation.

"Gah?"

Cyclizar tilted its head, confused. It looked at Naoki, then at Mayor Thomas.

However, the moment it saw the solemn expression on the mayor's face, its instincts flared—something was wrong.

From the side, Koraidon, who had been resting in the shade, noticed the tense atmosphere and hurried over.

"Ah, gah!"

Naoki could tell what Koraidon meant—it wanted to come along.

"Alright," Naoki nodded. Then, he turned to the Indeedee siblings, who were standing nearby.

"I'll leave the ranch in your hands for now. I'll take Cyclizar and Koraidon to town."

"Ai eh."

Though the siblings were worried, they still nodded obediently.

With that, Koraidon carried Naoki, and Cyclizar carried Mayor Thomas, and they quickly made their way into town.

At Mayor Thomas's Home

As they arrived at the house, Mayor Thomas looked at Cyclizar and sighed.

"Little Cyclizar… go see your mother."

The bad feeling in Cyclizar's heart was confirmed. It dashed inside without hesitation, and Koraidon immediately followed.

Lying in the center of the room was an elderly Cyclizar, her eyelids drooping, her breathing shallow.

Just looking at her, it was clear—she was at the end of her life.

Cyclizar immediately ran to her side, its cries filled with distress.

"Gah!"

Hearing the voice of her child, the mother slowly opened her eyes.

With what little strength she had left, she lifted her claw and gently stroked her child's face—as if to comfort it, telling it not to be sad.

Tears welled up in Cyclizar's eyes.

"Ah… gah…"

Even Koraidon, standing beside them, lowered its head in sorrow.

However, within moments, it turned toward Naoki.

Naoki nodded.

He stepped forward, pulled out the bottle of Life-Goat Milk, and knelt beside the mother Cyclizar.

Then, under Mayor Thomas's puzzled gaze, he slowly fed the milk to her.

"Don't worry. She'll be fine."

As soon as the warm, life-infused liquid entered her body—The old Cyclizar felt a sudden surge of energy coursing through her veins.

For the first time in years, her limbs no longer felt heavy.

Her body, which had long since been burdened by age, felt lighter—as if she had returned to her youth.

The power within the mother Cyclizar slowly surged, restoring vitality to her weary frame. Letting out a startled cry, she lifted her head, blinking in confusion at her own body.

"Gah?!"

Mayor Thomas, standing beside Naoki, widened his eyes in shock.

Meanwhile, Cyclizar's own tears came to an abrupt stop. As realization dawned, its expression shifted to sheer joy, and it let out an ecstatic cry.

"Gah!"

Seeing this, Naoki turned to Mayor Thomas and explained, "This is Life Goat Milk, produced by the Gogoat at my ranch."

Mayor Thomas instantly recalled the expensive bottles of goat milk sold in town. His wrinkled face twisted in disbelief.

"This... what exactly is going on?"

Naoki took a deep breath, already anticipating his reaction. "It's likely the power of Calyrex," he explained. "When Calyrex blessed my ranch, the milk from my Gogoat was imbued with natural energy. It not only restores strength but can also heal even the most severe injuries."

In other words, Life Goat Milk could even extend the lifespan of Pokémon whose lives had been shortened by injury or illness.

Mayor Thomas murmured in shock, "I never imagined that goat milk could have such incredible properties..."

While the mayor was still reeling from this revelation, the once frail Cyclizar suddenly pulled her child into a tight embrace, nuzzling it lovingly.

Nearby, Koraidon watched the scene, its gaze softening. A hint of longing flickered in its golden eyes, but it hesitated, shuffling its claws against the floor.

Naoki noticed its demeanor. Koraidon looked like it wanted to join in—but something held it back.

A wave of emotion surged through Naoki.

Pokémon are both powerful and fragile creatures. They possess incredible strength, boasting abilities beyond human comprehension. Yet, beneath their powerful exteriors, they are still living beings—just like humans.

A healthy balance of training and battle sharpens their skills, making them stronger. But excessive combat, severe injuries, or the ravages of time could weaken even the mightiest of Pokémon, cutting their lives short.

This wasn't just an isolated case.

It reminded Naoki of Alder's Volcarona—whose lifespan had been greatly reduced due to years of injury.

Or the former Galar Champion, Mustard.

Decades ago, he had been an undefeated Champion. But after countless battles, his partner Pokémon grew weaker and eventually passed away before its time. His own strength faltered afterward, and for the first time in years, his long-standing unbeaten record was shattered.

Naoki exhaled slowly. He had seen too many cases like this.

At that moment, Cyclizar, who had been celebrating its mother's recovery, turned its head. Its gaze landed on Koraidon, who stood nearby, looking unusually quiet.

Tears still clung to the corners of Koraidon's eyes.

Cyclizar tilted its head in confusion.

"Gao?" (Why are you crying?)

Koraidon stiffened, its expression unreadable.

"..."

It didn't respond.

Cyclizar grew even more puzzled, watching Koraidon intently, trying to understand what was going through its mind.

Meanwhile, Mayor Thomas, who had finally gathered himself, turned back to Naoki with gratitude written all over his face.

For days, he had been haunted by worry, unable to sleep, fearing his old friend's inevitable passing.

Now, seeing Cyclizar healthy again—seeing her sharing this heartfelt moment with her child—he finally felt at ease.

Tears welled in the old mayor's eyes, and he wiped them away with the back of his hand.

"Naoki, I don't even know how to thank you properly this time."

Naoki shook his head with a small chuckle. "There's no need to thank me. You helped me when I first arrived here, so this is nothing."

Hearing this, Mayor Thomas let out a hearty laugh.

Mayor Thomas looked at Naoki with deep admiration.
"No, it's all because of your hard work. You've managed that abandoned ranch so well that it's even better than your grandfather's."

Naoki smiled, feeling a warmth in his chest.

Mayor Thomas invited them to stay for lunch, but Naoki was too preoccupied with Jirachi's situation to accept. After politely declining, he set off back to the ranch with Koraidon and Cyclizar.

However, as soon as Naoki arrived home, he was met with chaos.

A commotion had broken out in the orchard. Several fruit trees had been knocked down, their branches and leaves scattered all over the ground.

Naoki stopped in his tracks, stunned.

'What happened? Did a wild Pokémon break into the ranch?'

Without hesitation, he ran toward the orchard, Koraidon and Cyclizar close behind.

By the time he arrived, he found that sister Indeedee, Butterfree, and several of the other Pokémon had already gathered. Even the three Gogoat from the ranch had come to investigate.

The Pokémon were all standing in a circle, glaring at a single Pokémon lying on the grass—tightly restrained by vines.

It was a yellow-and-white primate Pokémon with brown stripes down its back and a tuft of orange fur on its head.

Naoki immediately recognized it.

Vigoroth.

He blinked in surprise, recalling a certain Pokémon from his past.

At that moment, Indeedee and Butterfree noticed Naoki's arrival.

The Pokémon immediately turned toward him, angrily complaining about the troublemaker on the ground.

"Aiya!" (This troublemaker knocked down several fruit trees!)

"Free~!" (It even tried to attack us!)

"Bu-yii!" (So annoying!)

Naoki sighed, rubbing his temples.

'The Slakoth that used to nap in my orchard evolved into a Vigoroth…'

His eyes fell on the struggling Pokémon. Even though it was bound tightly by Gogoat's Vine Whip, it was still thrashing wildly, letting out agitated grunts.

It was filled with restless energy, its entire body practically vibrating with impatience.

Naoki stepped closer and spoke calmly.

"Vigoroth? Do you still remember me?"

The Pokémon stopped struggling for a brief moment. Its wild, unfocused eyes locked onto Naoki's face.

Of course, it recognized him. He was the human who had rescued it from a forest fire.

But its heart was pounding too fast for it to sit still. Its blood was boiling with energy, and it felt as if it would suffocate if it didn't move.

The Vigoroth trembled, barely able to contain itself, and let out a loud cry—"Hooh! Hooh!"—as if it was about to explode.

Naoki sighed again.

"Let it go," he said to Gogoat.

The Grass-type Pokémon hesitated for a moment but eventually loosened its Vine Whip.

The moment it was freed, Vigoroth sprang into action—dashing forward and bouncing off trees, kicking up dust, and leaping from branch to branch like a whirlwind of chaos.

Naoki expected this.

He understood Pokémon like Vigoroth better than most. Vigoroth weren't aggressive because they wanted to cause trouble. Their behavior was completely due to their biology.

During its Slakoth stage, the Pokémon had been extremely lazy, sleeping for nearly the entire day.

But after evolving into Vigoroth, all that built-up energy suddenly burst free, making it nearly impossible for them to stay still. Their heartbeats increased tenfold, and their bodies demanded constant movement.

If a Vigoroth remained inactive for too long, it would experience severe stress, and its health would decline.

This was what made training a Vigoroth so difficult. If they weren't constantly battling, they would find other ways to release their energy—usually by causing destruction.

As soon as the Gooat loosened the whip that had bound the Vigoroth, it began to make a scene everywhere.

Instead of attacking Naoki directly, the Vigoroth turned its destructive energy toward the surrounding fruit trees. Within moments, yet another tree came crashing down under its rampage.

Naoki: "…"

Watching as the frenzied Pokémon prepared to charge toward the next tree, Naoki quickly called out to his Gogoat.

"Gogoat, use Vine Whip!"

Swish! Swish! Swish!

With a sharp sound cutting through the air, the furious Vigoroth was once again tightly restrained by Gogoat's vines.

Realizing that restraining it repeatedly wouldn't be a permanent solution, Naoki decided to try a different approach—burning off the Vigoroth's excess energy through Pokémon battles.

He sent out a rotation of Pokémon, including Flareon, Miltank, and Butterfree, each taking turns battling Vigoroth.

However, it didn't take long for his Pokémon to start voicing their complaints.

Flareon and Butterfree were the first to return, clearly unhappy. Flareon's fur bristled, and Butterfree flapped its wings angrily. Their message was clear—Vigoroth was too rough! They had taken too many hits and wanted no part in another match.

Even Miltank, renowned for its endurance and stamina, looked exasperated after facing the hyperactive Pokémon.

While Cyclizar managed to temporarily knock out Vigoroth, it wasn't long before the Pokemon got back up and started causing trouble again.

The sheer energy reserves of the Pokémon were too much to handle. Even though the Pokémon on the ranch tried to wear it down through battles, the moment it regained its strength, it resumed its chaotic rampage.

By the end of the afternoon, the damage was catastrophic.

Five fruit trees had been completely uprooted. Farfetch'd's carefully tended leek garden had been ruined. The fields were trampled, and crops were left in ruins.

The furious Farfetch'd chased Vigoroth, brandishing a giant leek like a warrior wielding a sword.

Yet, even after being knocked out, Vigoroth only needed an hour to recover before resuming its rampage.

By the time the sun began to set, Naoki and all the Pokémon on the ranch were utterly exhausted from trying to contain this restless, havoc-wreaking fighter.

Staring at the wreckage left in Vigoroth's wake, Naoki felt his heart ache.

"Pokémon like Vigoroth… really aren't suited to life on a peaceful ranch."

It needed a trainer, someone who could take it to challenging battles, Gym matches, or even the Pokémon League.

Most of the Pokémon at the ranch had grown accustomed to a laid-back, peaceful life. They had little interest in constant, high-intensity battles.

Just as Naoki was pondering what to do next, the Hero Expedition Team returned—bringing Jirachi with them.

But they weren't alone. Walking alongside the expedition team were four very familiar faces.

On the far left stood a young girl in a red dress and a boy in a green short-sleeved shirt and black-framed glasses—a pair of siblings.

In the middle was a black-haired boy wearing a cap, and a Pikachu perched on his shoulder.

On the far right was an older boy with tanned skin and squinted eyes, exuding a calm and experienced aura.

Naoki froze in surprise.

May, Max, Ash… and Brock?!

'Why were they here?'

'Weren't they traveling in the Hoenn region? How had they ended up in Paldea with Mew?'

...

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