Pokemon: A New Path

The Search for Jirachi & Teaming Up with Abso[461]

The sun blazed overhead, casting its golden light over the breathtaking quartz sandstone peaks.

Stretching endlessly toward the horizon, this rugged and unique landscape was a tapestry of towering mountains, dense forests, and winding rivers that carved through the sandstone cliffs.

Standing atop a high ridge, one could gaze down upon miles of untouched wilderness, a land seemingly untouched by human hands.

Abundant water sources flowed through the valleys, nourishing lush green groves brimming with plump, wild berries. It wasn't hard to imagine the countless wild Pokémon that called this region home.

At that moment, three Pokémon belonging to the Hero Expedition Team, who had been following rumors of Jirachi, descended onto a hilltop.

Mew and Teddiursa hovered off the back of Zapdos, their eyes widening as they took in the breathtaking scenery.

Teddiursa, mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the land, couldn't help but murmur in awe:

"I-I-I-I?" (This place is beautiful… So this is Forina?)

'Mew?'

Mew tilted its tiny head, its large, sapphire-blue eyes scanning the vast woodland below.

If the Swellow elder had been right, then this should indeed be Forina—the place where Jirachi was said to be sleeping.

Zapdos, too, was taking in the unfamiliar land.

"Chiu." (No matter what, we'll know for sure once we ask around.)

Hearing this, the three Pokémon exchanged glances before swooping down toward the valley below. Just like in other regions, Forina was teeming with wild Pokémon.

From Parasect and Electabuzz to Ursaring, Tropius, Nuzleaf, and Altaria—the land was rich with life.

The Pokémon of Forina quickly took notice of the unfamiliar visitors. Likewise, the Hero Expedition Team observed them with keen eyes.

Determined to gather information, Mew floated toward a group of Parasect and asked in its soft, curious voice:

"Mew?" (Excuse me, do you know where Jirachi is?)

The Parasect blinked in confusion at the unfamiliar name.

"Par?" (Jirachi? Who's that?)

"Mew!" (Jirachi is a Pokémon that looks like a little star!) Mew explained. That's how Naoki had described it.

But even after hearing this, the Parasect still shook their heads.

Teddiursa frowned. "Teddi..." (Looks like they've never heard of Jirachi either.)

That left them with a dilemma.

Teddiursa quickly thought of a solution. If they couldn't get answers here, they could just ask Naoki directly using the Rotom Phone!

Brightening up at the thought, the little bear held up the phone and called out, "Teddi!" (Rotom, connect us to Naoki!)

"Understood, Rotom!"

The Rotom Phone's screen flickered twice before the call interface appeared.

After two rings, the video call connected.

Naoki's face appeared on the other end of the screen. Through the display, he immediately recognized the unique rock formations behind Teddiursa.

It only took him a second to identify their location.

"So, you've made it to Forina." Naoki nodded.

Forina's unique stone peaks made it one of the most distinct landscapes in the entire Pokémon world. After all, its real-world inspiration was Wulingyuan in China.

"Teddi" "Yeah!" Teddiursa nodded excitedly.

Then, it quickly explained their current problem.

"Teddi…" (The Pokémon here don't seem to know who Jirachi is…)

Mew floated closer, its tail swaying as it listened, equally puzzled. With several pairs of expectant eyes watching him, Naoki thought for a moment before answering.

"I think I know why."

After a brief pause, he explained:

"You see, Jirachi only wakes up once every thousand years. Since a full millennium has passed since the last time it was awake, all the Pokémon living here today were born long after that. It makes sense that none of them would recognize it."

Teddiursa's ears twitched in alarm. "Ichi?!" (Then how are we supposed to find Jirachi?!)

Naoki simply smiled.

"That part's easy." He reassured them. "Your best bet is to find an Absol. If Jirachi really is sleeping here, Absol should know where to find it."

There was an Absol in the Jirachi: Wish Maker movie. It served as Jirachi's guardian, capable of sensing its presence. In the film, Absol was the one who guided Ash and his friends to Forina, where they helped Jirachi fulfill its purpose.

Hearing this, Teddiursa quickly turned to the group of Parasect and asked eagerly:

"Teddi?" (Do you know Absol?)

The Parasect exchanged glances before nodding. Absol was well known as the guardian of Forina. Many Pokémon in the area had been helped by it before.

Although they didn't know why these three unfamiliar Pokémon were looking for Absol, one of the Parasect stepped forward and pointed in a specific direction.

"Para!" "Absol lives there."

Mew and Teddiursa turned to look in the direction they had pointed. They quickly thanked the Parasect before hopping onto Zapdos and soaring toward their new destination.

During this time, the Rotom Phone connection remained active. Naoki took the opportunity to observe Forina and the diverse Pokémon that lived there through the screen.

Shiftry perched high in the treetops, Tropius gathered by the riverside to drink, while Poochyena and Mightyena lurked cautiously in the tall grass.

Naoki had to admit—this place was absolutely teeming with Pokémon. It was no surprise, really.

Jirachi absorbed energy from the Millennium Comet and used that energy to nourish the land, making the soil rich and the forests lush.

When the land was fertile, resources flourished, and naturally, more Pokémon would inhabit the area.

But Naoki still had one lingering question.

What should he do to prevent Jirachi from falling asleep again?

Trying a Reversal-Style Meal?

No, that might backfire, turning Jirachi's Grace into a Punishment rather than a blessing.

It was well known that Jirachi could absorb energy from meteors to revitalize Forina.

And if Naoki recalled correctly, the World Tree's natural energy could do something similar.

So what if…

What if Jirachi absorbed enough natural energy? Could it wake up without waiting another thousand years?

Just as Naoki was deep in thought, a figure suddenly appeared before the Expedition Team.

A four-legged Pokémon with snowy white fur, piercing red eyes, and a crescent-shaped horn stood before them.

Its gaze was calm but sharp, sizing up the strangers that had intruded upon its domain.

It was Absol.

Teddiursa and Mew immediately noticed it as well.

Naoki introduced it through the Rotom Phone:

"That's Absol."

At the sound of a human voice, Absol's crimson eyes snapped toward the floating Rotom Phone.

Mew floated closer and spoke first.

"Mew?" (Hello, Absol. Do you know where Jirachi is?)

The moment Jirachi's name was mentioned, Absol's expression tensed. It glanced at the Rotom Phone, then at the three unfamiliar Pokémon.

"Absol?" (Why are you asking?)

Teddiursa immediately caught onto Absol's cautious tone. Realizing that Absol might have misunderstood their intentions, the little bear quickly explained:

"Teddi, teddi!" (We're the Hero Expedition Team, not bad Pokémon! We're looking for Jirachi because we want to help—it shouldn't have to wake up only once every thousand years!)

Hearing this, Absol remained silent.

As Jirachi's guardian, it knew very well the circumstances surrounding the Wish Pokémon.

However…

Absol studied the three Pokémon in front of it before finally speaking.

"Absol." (Jirachi is gone.)

Gone?

Hearing those words, the Hero Expedition Team fell into stunned silence.

Absol turned and led them into a cave.

"Absol ." (Jirachi was supposed to be sleeping here, but it disappeared three days ago. Some Pokémon in the area mentioned seeing a human nearby, but I couldn't track him.) 

Hearing this, Teddiursa's expression darkened as a troubling thought crossed its mind. 

"Could it be… that Jirachi was captured by a human trainer?" 

Absol immediately responded with firm conviction, "Absol!" (Impossible! Jirachi hasn't woken up yet—it wouldn't be able to make that decision on its own!) 

"Absol is right," Naoki's voice chimed in through the Rotom Phone. 

Absol's sharp gaze immediately shifted to the device, narrowing at the human on the other side of the screen. 

Sensing Absol's suspicion, Naoki chuckled lightly and explained, "There's no need to be so wary. I'm Naoki, and I only want to help Jirachi." 

Teddiursa eagerly nodded in agreement. "Teddi!" (That's right! It was Naoki who sent us here to help Jirachi!) 

Mew chimed in with a reassuring smile, "Miu~" (Naoki is a very kind human~) 

Despite their words, Absol remained cautious. It wasn't so quick to trust—especially not a human. After all, it was a human who had taken Jirachi in the first place. 

Silence filled the cave as Absol hesitated, weighing its options. 

Meanwhile, Naoki had already pulled up information about Pokémon Park on the Internet and quickly sent it to Teddiursa and Mew. 

If his guess was correct, the crystallized Jirachi had been taken by Butler—the former scientist of Team Magma. 

Butler and his partner, Diane, were currently organizing a massive Pokémon amusement park near Forina to entertain visitors during the seven days of the Millennium Comet's passing. 

On the surface, it appeared to be an innocent festival—a place for trainers and tourists to have fun. 

But in reality, this was all a front. 

Butler's true intention was far more sinister—he planned to use Jirachi's energy to revive a Groudon using fossilized remains and prove his worth to Team Magma. 

Every Poké Dollar earned from the amusement park was being funneled into his research. 

"Alright, I've sent you Jirachi's likely location. Just follow the map on the Rotom Phone—it'll lead you straight there." 

"However," Naoki added with a slight frown, "there are still a few days before the Millennium Comet arrives. Jirachi likely hasn't woken up yet." 

Teddiursa and Mew's eyes widened with admiration. 

"Teddi!" 

"Miu!" 

As expected of Naoki—always so reliable! Absol, on the other hand, stood frozen in shock. 

How did this human know where Jirachi was? 

Mew glanced at the Rotom Phone, quickly confirming the location of Pokémon Park. Once it realized it wasn't far from their current position, it immediately prepared to set off. 

Teddiursa turned back to Absol and eagerly extended an invitation: "Teddi!" (Absol, come with us and help Jirachi!) 

Absol remained silent. 

It still wasn't sure if it could fully trust this human and these Pokémon… but at this moment, Jirachi's safety was far more important than its doubts. 

After a brief pause, Absol finally let out a deep sigh and nodded.

"Absol." (Alright. I'll go with you.) 

"Alright, you guys head over first. I'll keep researching a way to prevent Jirachi from falling back into its slumber. If anything happens, contact me right away." 

"Teddi!" 

Baby Bear responded happily before ending the call. 

In order to avoid drawing too much attention, Mew quickly recalled Zapdos into its Poké Ball before the team took off toward Pokémon Park.

Mew transformed itself into a bluebird, perching lightly on Absol's back while Baby Bear climbed on as well. With the Rotom Phone guiding them, they followed the navigation toward Pokémon Park.

Meanwhile, Naoki stepped out of his house, his gaze falling thoughtfully on the Pokémon playing in the ranch.

As far as he knew, Jirachi wasn't a unique Pokémon—there were multiple Jirachi in different parts of the world. However, all of them shared the same biological trait: sleeping for a thousand years and awakening for just seven days.

Of course, not every Jirachi required the energy of the Millennium Comet.

The Jirachi in Forina was special. It didn't absorb energy for its own sake but rather to nourish the land itself, ensuring the region's natural balance and prosperity.

Moreover, judging by its portrayal in historical records, Jirachi's ability didn't work as most people imagined. It wasn't capable of directly granting any wish—it could only transfer objects from one place to another. If someone wished for food, for example, Jirachi wouldn't create it out of thin air but instead relocate food from somewhere else.

That meant simply wishing for Jirachi to remain awake forever wouldn't work.

Deep in thought, Naoki wandered through the ranch, following the dirt path that led to the lake. The shimmering surface of the water reflected the sky above, marking the gateway to the Reverse World.

Without hesitation, he crossed the lake and stepped into the distortion, arriving at the floating island where the World Tree stood.

However, instead of climbing to the top, he remained at the base, his mind racing with possibilities.

'Would food prepared using the leaves of the World Tree have an effect on Jirachi?'

Back when the World Tree was still growing, he had experimented with its leaves, creating a dish known as Leaf Cake. That dish had three special effects:

Permanently boosting Grass-type moves by 25%. Accelerating crop growth when Grass-type Pokémon used their energy for cultivation. A hidden effect that only worked for the Lord of the World Tree.

As Naoki pondered over this, something extraordinary happened.

The World Tree seemed to sense his thoughts.

A soft, green glow shimmered at its massive crown, illuminating the floating island. Moments later, two radiant leaves detached from the branches, drifting gently downward before landing at his feet.

Naoki stared, momentarily stunned.

He slowly bent down and picked them up. Almost instantly, information about them surfaced in his mind.

[Awakening Leaf]: A leaf with mystical properties. When used in cooking, it grants certain Pokémon the ability to remain awake indefinitely.

[Leaf of Life]: A leaf imbued with the World Tree's vast natural energy. Placing it anywhere will enrich the local ecosystem, revitalizing the land and making it flourish.

"...What?"

Naoki blinked in disbelief. He looked up at the massive tree towering before him.

'Did… did the World Tree just help me?'

He had always known that the world itself had a will.

After all, the Power of Verdant—the divine force of nature—was an embodiment of this will. Nature would occasionally bestow this power upon chosen humans.

Now, Naoki had his answer. The World Tree's natural will had sensed his dilemma and had taken the initiative to aid him.

'So this is what it means to be the Lord of the World Tree…'

The realization sent chills down his spine.

It was… terrifying.

...

Beyond the Cosmos, in a Realm Outside Time and Space.

Arceus watched the human named Naoki with quiet amusement.

"Fascinating… Even though you've never met that Pokémon, and you only know of it through secondhand stories, you're still willing to go out of your way to help it?"

A glint of intrigue flickered in the deity's many eyes.

"In that case, I shall grant you a gift."

With the faintest thought, Arceus willed two leaves to descend from the World Tree. As the Creator of all Pokémon, He had no qualms about rewriting reality itself.

After all, a simple adjustment to the rules of existence was nothing to Him.

But why bother aiding this human?

Because Arceus saw something new—a rare possibility that had never existed before.

Across the countless universes He had created, some were peaceful, thriving under natural order. Others teetered on the brink of destruction, plagued by chaos.

Arceus needed individuals who could act in His stead—those who could protect worlds that were unable to save themselves.

And this human, Naoki, had created something interesting—the Hero Expedition Team.

It wasn't the first time Arceus had done this.

A long time ago, He had selected a human named Akari from another world and transported her to Hisui, a region threatened by distortions in time and space. To aid her, He had granted her His Arc Phone, a tool imbued with His divine will.

Now, He had set His sights on Naoki.

Arceus' divine gaze reflected the image of the young man, bending down to pick up the two glowing leaves.

A small smirk played across the god's lips.

Naoki was still young, still unaware.

He didn't yet realize the truth—that every blessing from fate comes with a hidden price.