Pokemon: A New Path

Naoki handed over the freshly steamed Flame Buns and Frozen Buns to Moltres and Articuno.

Zapdos stood nearby, eyes shining with curiosity and anticipation.

Seeing this, Naoki blinked. "Huh? You want to try them too?"

Zapdos gave a firm nod.

Naoki hesitated for a moment, glanced at the few remaining buns, then handed two to Zapdos.

"These are fine for eating, but just so you know—they won't have any effect on you. They're only useful for Fire- or Ice-type Pokémon like Moltres and Articuno."

Zapdos froze, mid-reach.

"Chiu?" It tilted its head, its face clearly asking: What do you mean they won't work?

It stared down at the buns, then looked at Naoki again—disbelief written all over its face.

No effect?

Then why had it worked so hard to bring Moltres and Articuno here?!

Zapdos felt like its whole worldview was collapsing.

It had imagined soaring to new power heights after eating feathers from the other two Legendary Birds. And now... it was just holding fancy steamed buns that amounted to nothing more than warm snacks.

Looking down at the buns with a slightly disgusted expression, Zapdos gave an indignant squawk.

"Chiu!" Forget it! I'm not eating these!

Naoki was baffled. "What's with that face…?"

"You're really not eating them?"

"Chiu!" Zapdos shook its head firmly.

Naoki just shrugged. "Suit yourself."

He turned and handed the uneaten buns to Slugma, Flareon, and Glaceon. Each of them eagerly took a bite.

Seeing the others enjoy them made Zapdos feel a little better.

At least its effort hadn't gone to waste. The buns still benefited Naoki's other Pokémon—its flock, in a way.

Meanwhile, Moltres and Articuno had already finished their buns.

A sudden whoosh echoed through the air as Moltres erupted in a blazing crimson flame. Fiery waves shimmered off its feathers, enveloping its body in a radiant glow.

At the same time, Articuno let out a quiet cry as brilliant blue energy surged around it. Milky-white frost coated its wings, and ethereal ice crystals began forming in the surrounding air.

A moment later, the very weather above the ranch began to shift.

The wind howled as dark clouds rolled across the sky, blanketing it in shadow. Snowflakes began to drift gently through the air—glittering specks in the swirling breeze.

But just as suddenly as the snowfall had begun, it vanished. The clouds broke apart, revealing a clear, starry night overhead.

Naoki looked up, his eyes narrowing as he observed the rapidly changing weather. Then he glanced back at the two Legendary Pokémon before him—Moltres and Articuno.

They had done this.

They could influence the weather itself.

Naoki recalled the lore—only the Legendary Bird Trio of Orange Archipelago, were said to possess such power.

Could it be… that Moltres and Articuno had grown to rival even those Legendary beings?

As the air settled and the last breeze faded, calm returned to the ranch.

The flames flickering around Moltres gradually dimmed, returning to their natural, gentle radiance. But even so, its fiery plumage burned with new intensity, and its scarlet eyes glowed like twin stars piercing the darkness.

Beside it, Articuno's long, elegant tail swayed gracefully, its feathers trailing glimmering particles of frost-blue starlight. The icy aura that shimmered around it gave the majestic bird a divine and ethereal beauty.

Naoki couldn't help but marvel.

What a stunning Pokémon.

Between Moltres's commanding presence and Zapdos's raw power, Articuno stood out with unmatched grace. Its beauty was almost otherworldly.

After finishing their buns, both Pokémon turned to face Naoki with bright, eager eyes.

Raising an eyebrow, Naoki chuckled and asked, "So, how are you feeling?"

"Artti."

Articuno spread its wings, then gave a delicate nod, indicating it felt wonderful.

Moltres, on the other hand, couldn't sit still. With an excited cry, it flapped its wings and soared into the night sky, circling high above the ranch with trails of orange flame dancing in its wake.

Naoki watched it fly, a thoughtful look crossing his face.

He recalled the Sacred Flame Ceremony held before every Pokémon League tournament in Kanto and Johto. The eternal fire used in that ritual was said to come from Moltres itself—a flame that could never be extinguished.

"Tch… Amazing," Naoki muttered under his breath, impressed.

His first instinct? Ask Moltres for a bit of its flame to place in the ranch's fireplace. Imagine—an eternal fire right at home!

But… there was already Slugma stationed in the hearth. No need to be greedy.

After circling the skies, Moltres finally descended with a satisfied chirp, landing softly in front of Naoki. Its eyes sparkled with warmth.

Articuno stepped beside it, and the two Legendary Birds gazed at the human before them in quiet admiration.

Seeing this, Naoki raised an eyebrow.

"Hm?"

"Arti!" Articuno let out a cool, trilling cry.

"Moltr!" Moltres followed with a sharp, fiery call.

Using his ability, Naoki quickly tapped into their emotions—and was surprised by what he sensed.

"You want to become my Pokémon?" he asked, blinking in astonishment.

They'd barely known each other for six hours. There hadn't even been a proper battle. And yet… Moltres and Articuno were already choosing to follow him?

The speed of their decision left even Naoki, momentarily speechless.

But the two Legendary Birds nodded firmly.

"Arti!"

"Moltr!"

That's right! They wanted to become this human's Pokémon—not just because of the paradise that was the World Tree, but because his strength had deeply impressed them.

Both of them had once fought—and lost to—Zapdos.

And Zapdos had become that strong under Naoki's care.

To raise a Pokémon to such levels, this human must be truly powerful. The kind of trainer they were willing to entrust themselves to.

However, Zapdos, watching from the side, suddenly scoffed.

"Chiu." (All this fuss… isn't it just because you want to live in the World Tree?)

Articuno and Moltres immediately turned to glare at him—both flustered, as though their secret had been exposed.

Moltres's flames suddenly burned hotter, flaring with irritation as it narrowed its eyes at Zapdos.

But Zapdos wasn't intimidated. With a loud crack, its feathers stood on end, crackling with golden electricity.

Naoki sighed at the scene.

Zapdos clicked its beak, then reluctantly let the electricity on its body fade and turned its head away with a huff.

Articuno and Moltres turned back to Naoki, their expressions uneasy.

What if he didn't accept them?

Articuno lowered its gaze slightly, sadness flickering in its icy blue eyes. It really did like this human.

He had treated them with kindness from the start—offering food, shelter, and power, asking for nothing in return.

Moltres let out an anxious "Woo!"—trying to convince him.

They could provide feathers regularly! Plenty of them! Just… let them stay in the World Tree!

Zapdos, still standing nearby, rolled its eyes and gave them both a smug look.

Didn't a certain bird once mock him for "serving" a human?

And now look at them—eagerly offering feathers like rent.

Naoki, meanwhile, could only stare at the two legendary birds in silence.

"…"

In his mind, Naoki couldn't help but imagine himself raising Moltres and Articuno inside a peaceful enclosure, collecting their naturally shed feathers every day.

But more importantly—the World Tree was currently missing something crucial: a proper Ice-type habitat. A place that could support Ice-type Pokémon and help balance the ecosystem atop the World Tree.

Naoki's gaze shifted to Articuno.

The question now was: could Articuno use its control over snow and frost to create a glacier biome, maybe even a snowy mountain range, right there on the World Tree?

There were very few Legendary Ice-types to begin with. Aside from Articuno, there were only Kyurem, Regice, Glastrier, and Avalugg.

And conveniently, Glastrier and Glaceon were already living on the ranch.

If they teamed up with Articuno, then maybe, just maybe... his dream of building an icy habitat could come true.

And then—he could bring in some adorable Alolan Vulpix and let them frolic freely across the snowy fields.

Eventually, when he grew older, he could pass the ranch down to his children and live out his twilight years on the World Tree with Koraidon and the rest of the Pokémon family.

Eat sushi at the Expedition Guild on Mondays, visit the Dragonite Village on Tuesdays, goof around with Groudon on Wednesdays, chill with Alolan Vulpix on Thursdays, fly through space with Rayquaza on Fridays, and spend the weekends fishing and picnicking with Koraidon and Cyclizar.

And the fish they caught? Perfect for making Dragonite's favorite steamed sea bass.

Just thinking about that life made Naoki's heart feel warm and full.

With that dream in mind, Naoki's gaze steadied.

He looked at Articuno and Moltres and said with a gentle nod, "You don't have to force anything. Just collect the feathers that fall naturally and give them to me. That'll be more than enough."

Hearing this, both Articuno and Moltres lit up with joy.

Did this mean... Naoki had accepted them as his Pokémon?

Moltres lowered its head and looked toward Naoki's belt.

Having lived on the Indigo Plateau for many years, it had watched countless human trainers come and go.

It knew very well—this was the moment when a trainer usually took out a Poké Ball to officially make a Pokémon their partner.

By all logic, Naoki should now take out a Poké Ball and officially capture them. That was the next step, right?

However, he remained still and said, "Actually, Articuno, there's one more thing I'd like to ask you for help with first."

Articuno tilted its head slightly, listening intently. But before Naoki could finish, Moltres suddenly interrupted.

"Woo!"

Naoki blinked in surprise and looked at the fiery bird.

"You want to enter the Poké Ball?"

Moltres gave a firm nod. "Woo!"

Apparently, in its mind, if it didn't go into a Poké Ball, it didn't count as an official bond. Without that, it didn't feel like a real member of Naoki's team.

Naoki was momentarily speechless. This was honestly the first time he'd seen a Pokémon so eager—so insistent—about being caught.

He had originally thought it wouldn't matter either way. After all, just like Jirachi and Giratina who lived peacefully in the World Tree, Moltres and Articuno weren't going to be used in battle unless absolutely necessary. But now… Moltres looked genuinely anxious about being "official."

"Alright, alright. I'll go get two Poké Balls."

With a helpless smile, Naoki turned back into the house, rummaged through his drawer, and returned with two fresh Poké Balls.

Moltres's eyes lit up.

It didn't wait for Naoki to make a move—Moltres lowered its majestic head and pressed its beak gently against one of the Poké Balls.

A flash of red light swept over its body, and in the next instant, the Legendary Fire-type was gone.

The Poké Ball wobbled slightly in Naoki's palm, then clicked.

Capture successful.

Articuno watched quietly, and after a moment, stepped forward with a graceful nod. It pressed its forehead to the second Poké Ball.

Another red light, another gentle shake, and another soft click.

Naoki held both Poké Balls in his hands, feeling the quiet weight of what had just happened.

Two of the Legendary Birds—willingly joined him, no test, no battle, no chase through stormy skies.

As he stood there in stunned silence, he noticed something.

A gaze.

He looked up slowly.

Zapdos stood across from him, staring at the two Poké Balls in Naoki's hands with an unreadable expression.

Naoki: "…"

Zapdos: "…"