Pokemon: A New Path

Chi-Yu[503]

Naoki carefully placed a plate of snacks in front of Kubfu.

The little Fighting-type Pokémon sat cross-legged on the grass, its ears twitching curiously as it picked up a small treat with its paws.

With a quick sniff, it popped the snack into its mouth and instantly, its eyes lit up.

"Fuu!"

Seeing its delighted reaction, Cyclizar let out an amused chuff.

"Gaaao!"

Cyclizar had already developed a good impression of Kubfu, as the two had been training together under the waterfall.

Eager to introduce Naoki properly, Cyclizar thumped its tail against the ground and explained:

"Gaao!" (Naoki made these himself! He's the best cook!)

"Fu" (Naoki?)

Kubfu tilted its head, rolling the name around in its mind.

Was that the human's name?

Cyclizar nodded eagerly:

"Gaao!" (That's right!)

Naoki sat beside Koraidon, eating a sandwich as he watched the interaction between Kubfu and Cyclizar.

He couldn't help but smile.

"They seem to be getting along really well."

Koraidon let out a satisfied rumble:

"Ah, gah..."

But more than that, Naoki was beginning to find Kubfu absolutely adorable. It was a serious and diligent little bear, yet at times, it could be incredibly shy.

For a moment, Naoki considered something. Would Kubfu be willing to come back with him to the ranch?

He leaned closer to Koraidon and whispered:

"Koraidon, if I invite Kubfu to stay at the ranch with us, do you think it'll agree?"

Koraidon nodded without hesitation:

"Ah, gah!"

Naoki blinked in surprise.

"You sound so sure. How do you know?"

Koraidon grinned, its fangs flashing playfully.

"Agassi!" (Because Naoki is the best Trainer in the world!)

Naoki: "…"

That wasn't quite the reason he was expecting—but at the same time, he couldn't help but chuckle. To Pokémon, their Trainer was always one of a kind, the most important person in their world.

However, he had to think realistically. Kubfu was a Pokémon deeply dedicated to training.

There was no natural waterfall at the ranch, but perhaps…

If he could bring Kubfu to the habitat of Kyogre, the Sea Basin Pokémon, it could experience the mysteries of water flow in an entirely new way.

Not to mention, it would have Cyclizar as a training partner.

The two could spar together, pushing each other to grow stronger.

But first, they had one final task to complete.

Finding the Last Stake

After lunch, Naoki prepared to continue the search for the last stake. He planned to rely on the wild Pokémon once again for assistance.

However, before he could speak, Kubfu suddenly perked up.

"Fuu?"

Through Viridian's Power, Naoki could sense its thoughts—

Kubfu was asking:

Are you looking for the glowing stake?

Naoki paused in surprise before asking:

"Do you know where it is?"

Kubfu nodded firmly.

Without hesitation, it turned and dashed off, leading the way.

Naoki quickly followed.

Through winding bamboo forests and past rushing streams, they moved swiftly through the terrain.

Before long, Kubfu led him to a hidden cave, its entrance covered with dried bamboo leaves, making it almost impossible to notice.

No wonder Gastly and the others hadn't found it.

According to Kubfu, it had discovered this small cave while taking shelter from the rain.

The entrance was incredibly narrow, barely 30 centimeters wide, making it impossible for Naoki to fit inside.

So, he turned to Kubfu.

"Can you go in and pull out the stake?"

"Fuu!"

Without hesitation, Kubfu nodded, its determination unwavering.

Kubfu easily squeezed into the cave and vanished into the shadows.

Moments later, as the final stake was pulled free, a deep, eerie vibration echoed through the air.

The Seal Has Been Broken

Wild Pokémon in the area froze, their ears twitching as they turned toward the sound. They exchanged uncertain glances.

Something had changed.

The seal on Chi-Yu, the Ruinous Pokemon, had been lifted!

Naoki's expression darkened.

If Chi-Yu broke free without control, it could devastate the entire region. He quickly explained the situation to the gathered Pokémon, asking them to stay behind.

Then, he vaulted onto Koraidon's back.

"Let's move—full speed!"

"Ah, gah!"

With a mighty leap, Koraidon raced toward the Fire Shrine, its powerful legs propelling them forward at astonishing speed.

From the corner of his eye, Naoki noticed movement.

Kubfu was following them!

The little bear sprinted after them without hesitation, its face set with determination.

The Fire Shrine lay hidden behind a seemingly ordinary waterfall. From above, the water cascaded down, forming a vast, tranquil lake below.

But as Naoki arrived, his breath caught.

A dense mist had begun rising from the lake's surface, not from the chill of morning but from intense heat. Through the fog, a red glow shimmered behind the waterfall, pulsing like an ember.

The lake wasn't just misty, It was boiling.

A sudden ripple disrupted the water.

Then, a red shadow glided through the lake, barely visible beneath the shimmering surface.

A goldfish-like Pokémon swam forward with eerily slow grace, as if it had all the time in the world.

Its body was covered in shimmering gold, yet its tail and fins burned like living flames.

Its eyes—huge, black voids—seemed to stare directly through him, and surrounding each eye were two glowing magatama that faded from deep crimson to pale gold.

It noticed them.

The moment its gaze locked onto Naoki and Koraidon, the magatama around its eyes flared violently, flashing gold before briefly glowing red.

An immense wave of heat surged outward.

Naoki shielded his face as the entire lake ignited. The water itself transformed into a swirling inferno. The steam thickened, cloaking everything in blinding white mist, and within it, the silhouette of Chi-Yu vanished.

Naoki gritted his teeth.

This Pokémon wasn't going to let them take control so easily.

"Koraidon—prepare for battle!"

"Ah, gah!"

Koraidon's muscles tensed, its body shifting into battle stance.

With a fierce snarl, its crimson scales glowed as ancient power surged through its form.

Koraidon stomped the ground, sending a deep, resonant roar through the air, and immediately, dark cracks spiderwebbed across the battlefield, racing toward the lake, shattering the earth itself.

The shockwave from Koraidon's Stomp tore through the battlefield, sending a tremor through the earth.

In an instant, the entire lake surged, massive waves crashing outward from the force of the impact.

Amid the turbulence, Chi-Yu was thrown from the water, its shimmering gold scales catching the sunlight as it was launched into the air.

Through the thick veil of mist, Koraidon's piercing golden gaze locked onto its airborne target.

The moment was fleeting.

Now was the time to strike.

Without hesitation, Koraidon launched forward, its muscular body shifting mid-air, reconfiguring as it prepared for a devastating attack.

A crimson aura of ancient power pulsed through its form, surging like wildfire through its limbs.

Then—

BOOM!

A violent collision erupted between the two Pokémon.

The sheer force of the impact ignited a chain reaction of explosions, shaking the entire shrine.

Chi-Yu, caught off guard, was sent hurtling downward, its form barely visible through the thickening steam.

A loud splash echoed as it crashed back into the lake. For a long moment, silence fell over the battlefield.

The once-boiling water slowly began to settle.

Then, a motionless shape surfaced.

Chi-Yu floated limply on the water, its body gently bobbing with the fading ripples.

Koraidon turned its head, glancing at Naoki as if waiting for the next command.

Naoki stepped forward, calm but focused.

From his belt, he retrieved a Poké Ball, feeling the weight of the moment in his palm.

Then, with precise aim, he threw it.

The Poké Ball spiraled through the air before striking Chi-Yu's body. A burst of red light enveloped the fallen Pokémon as it was drawn inside.

The Poké Ball snapped shut and landed on the water's surface, rocking gently with the ripples.

The button at its center blinked red.

One… Two… Three… Four…

The flashing red light faded. The Poké Ball stopped shaking.

Naoki released a quiet exhale and walked forward, plucking the Poké Ball from the water's edge.

The battle was over. Chi-Yu had been captured!

Now, only two of the Four Ruinous Pokémon remained—Wo-Chien and Chien-Pao.

In the bamboo forest, hidden within the foliage, Kubfu watched everything unfold.

Its wide eyes shone with awe and disbelief.

In just one strike, the Pokémon that had melted an entire lake and evaporated a waterfall was defeated.

'Wow… That was incredible!'

...

The waterfall cascaded gently, its mist spreading through the bamboo forest.

Naoki stood among the gathered Pokémon, holding a carefully prepared selection of Poffins and Poke Blocks from his backpack.

He smiled warmly at the Pokémon who had helped him, his voice filled with gratitude.

"Thank you all for your help! As a token of my appreciation, I've prepared some special treats for you. Please accept them!"

"Woo!"

The Passimian let out an excited cry, stepping forward eagerly to claim its reward, its eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Not far behind, the Shiinotic hopped forward and happily took a box of Poffins from Naoki's hands.

One by one, the Pokémon approached, each receiving their share of the thank-you gifts.

Jigglypuff, Gastly, Swablu, Scolipede, Vivillon...

Soon, nearly all the Pokémon had been given their treats—except for one.

Standing at the edge of the group, Kubfu hesitated for a moment.

It watched as the other Pokémon happily accepted their gifts, its small paws clenched into fists. Then, as if making up its mind, it looked up at Naoki.

A determined glint flickered in its sharp eyes.

"Fuu!"

Naoki immediately sensed that this wasn't just an ordinary interaction. He crouched down, lowering himself to eye level with the small Fighting-type Pokémon.

Then, with a knowing smile, he asked:

"Kubfu, would you like to come with us?"

"Fuu!"

Kubfu nodded without hesitation.

Naoki was taken aback for a second, pleasantly surprised by the eager response. But before he could say anything else, Kubfu's expression hardened.

"Fuu!"

This time, there was a clear challenge in its voice.

Naoki paused, studying the Pokémon carefully. Then, realization struck.

"You want to battle me first, don't you?"

Kubfu nodded firmly, standing its ground.

Naoki let out a small chuckle.

An Honorable Battle

Of course. This was exactly what he expected from a Pokémon like Kubfu. A proud and disciplined fighter like it wouldn't simply accept a trainer without testing their strength first.

To truly earn its trust and respect, he had to prove himself in battle.

Yet, as Naoki watched Kubfu's unwavering stance, a mischievous idea crossed his mind. He scratched his chin, pretending to be deep in thought, then spoke in a concerned tone:

"But… what if I lose?"

For the first time since they met, Kubfu's confidence wavered.

The small Pokémon froze mid-step, its determined face suddenly shifting into one of pure confusion.

It stood there for a full two seconds, blinking in complete disbelief.

A tiny flicker of embarrassment crept onto its face.

Kubfu turned its gaze toward Koraidon, as if to say, That Pokémon is really strong—you should battle me with it!

Naoki couldn't help but laugh at the suggestion.

"Haha, I was just joking. If you want a real battle, I should give it my all."

Hearing this, Kubfu let out a relieved sigh, feeling reassured by Naoki's sincerity.

"Alright then, Cyclizar, you're up!"