Pokemon: A New Path

Ting-Lu[499]

Several Pokémon examined the image on Naoki’s Rotom Phone. The Sawsbuck and Deerling, native to the jungle, looked puzzled, tilting their heads in confusion.

Heracross shook its head, signaling that it had never seen anything like it before.

But then, Trevenant's eyes lit up with realization—it had seen this object before!

"Really?" Naoki asked, his interest piqued. "If anyone can help me find it, I’ll reward them with a big bag of Poke blocks!"

Trevenant hadn't expected such an enticing offer. It eagerly nodded, waving its arms. "Hoo-hoo!"

Heracross’s eyes gleamed with excitement as well. It wanted to help too!

Within minutes, the group of Pokémon scattered across the area, determined to find the glowing stake in exchange for their promised reward.

Naoki followed closely behind Trevenant, trekking along a narrow mountain path.

Roughly ten minutes later, they arrived at a hidden cave nestled between the rocks.

The cave itself wasn’t deep, and at its very end, bathed in a faint blue glow, was the missing stake.

Naoki stepped forward and grasped it firmly, pulling it from the ground.

Now, only one remained.

"As promised, I’ll give you your reward! Let's head back to the camp first," Naoki said with a smile.

Trevenant cheered, hopping in place with excitement. This human was really kind!

When they returned to camp, Heracross and Sawsbuck were still out searching.

Naoki kept his promise and handed Trevenant a bag of Pokeblocks.

Seeing the Pokémon’s delighted reaction as it hugged the bag like a prized possession, Naoki couldn’t help but chuckle.

Trevenant was a peculiar Pokémon—it looked like a tree but was actually a Ghost-type.

"Interesting," Naoki mused.

Heracross and Sawsbuck were still searching for the remaining stakes, but Naoki wasn’t about to sit around waiting.

After handing Trevenant its well-earned reward, he resumed his search with Koraidon and the rest of his team.

Koraidon soared through the sky, scanning the landscape below. Remembering the previous stake found in the cave, Naoki thought for a moment before giving an order.

"Lower your altitude, let's check the lower terrain. Keep an eye out for caves, valleys, or any hidden spots where something might be buried."

"Raao!"

Koraidon let out a cry of acknowledgment before descending, gliding smoothly toward the rugged mountainside.

Naoki’s sharp gaze moved across the terrain—examining the grassy clearings, shaded depressions, winding valleys, and jagged rock formations.

Time passed minute by minute, as they combed through the area with unwavering focus.

Then, after hours of meticulous searching, Naoki’s patience finally paid off—hidden within a narrow, inconspicuous crevice halfway up the mountain, the faint blue glow of the last stake shimmered in the shadows.

Without hesitation, Naoki reached in and grasped the stake firmly, pulling it free from the ground.

The moment he did, a deep, resonating vibration echoed across the landscape.

The seal had been broken.

"The Shrine has been unsealed!"

"Let's head back!" Naoki immediately called out to Koraidon.

With a powerful flap of its wings, Koraidon turned sharply and sped toward their campsite.

As they landed, just as Naoki had anticipated, the final chain that had bound the shrine had vanished without a trace.

Standing on the grass near the ancient shrine, Heracross and Sawsbuck had also returned, though empty-handed.

Several wild Pokémon turned their attention toward the disturbance, their eyes fixed on the mysterious scene unfolding before them.

Under their watchful gazes, Naoki stepped forward and gently placed his hand on the glowing blue shrine door.

The next moment, the sealed entrance collapsed with a loud crash, sending a cloud of dust billowing into the air.

Then, a figure slowly emerged from within.

Ting-Lu, the ancient Ruinous Pokémon that had been sealed away for millennia, had finally been released. A sinister aura of destruction surrounded its massive form.

A malevolence so dense it felt almost tangible pulsed from its body, dark energy crackling like an unrestrained force of nature.

With a low, rumbling motion, the enormous stone vessel it carried tumbled to the ground with a deep boom.

The earth trembled violently.

A wave of oppressive, purple energy spread outward, cascading down the mountainside. Boulders loosened from their perches and tumbled down, sending shockwaves across the land.

Witnessing this, Heracross, Sawsbuck, and the other Pokémon froze in terror, instinctively huddling behind Naoki for safety.

"So this is one of the Treasures of Ruin? No wonder it's so dangerous..." Naoki murmured, his gaze sharp as he assessed the situation.

They couldn’t allow Ting-Lu’s disaster energy to spread any further—if left unchecked, it could bring calamity upon the entire region, just as it had done to ancient Paldea thousands of years ago.

This had to end quickly. The best-case scenario? Defeating it in a single strike.

"Koraidon, Full Power Collision Course!"

Naoki braced himself as the ominous energy crept closer, then swiftly issued his command.

"Raao!"

Koraidon launched forward without hesitation.

Its crimson form shot into the air, shifting mid-leap, its powerful body coiling as it propelled itself straight toward Ting-Lu.

The impact was catastrophic.

A deafening boom erupted as Koraidon collided head-on with the colossal Pokémon.

For a moment, the world seemed to freeze.

Then, just like that—everything fell silent.

The suffocating aura of calamity vanished, leaving only a stillness in its wake.

Ting-Lu, overwhelmed by the sheer force of the attack, had collapsed to the ground, unmoving.

Seizing the opportunity, Naoki retrieved a Poké Ball and threw it toward the downed Ruinous Pokémon.

A red beam of light engulfed Ting-Lu, pulling it inside the sphere.

The Poké Ball rocked once.

Twice.

Three times.

Click.

The indicator light dimmed. The capture was complete.

Naoki stepped forward, picking up the Poké Ball that now contained the mighty Ting-Lu.

The next step would be crucial—he needed to use the Reversal series dish to transform its disaster-bound aura into one of fortune.

With his mission accomplished, Naoki turned to face the wild Pokémon who had helped him along the way. He reached into his bag and retrieved the last of his Pokeblocks.

"As promised, here’s your reward for helping me locate the stakes. Thank you all."

Heracross accepted the treat but stared at Naoki in confusion, as did Sawsbuck.

They hadn’t actually contributed much, yet they were still being rewarded?

"Goodbye!"

With a wave, Naoki mounted Koraidon, and together, they soared away from the forest trail.

Upon returning to the ranch, Naoki’s first priority was ensuring Ting-Lu recovered from the battle.

To be safe, he had made careful preparations—he even invited the Calyrex, just in case Ting-Lu turned violent upon release.

But to his surprise, when he finally released Ting-Lu from its Poké Ball, it didn’t go berserk as expected.

Instead, the legendary Pokémon simply stood there, its enormous form towering over the grasslands, completely calm.

Naoki blinked in surprise.

“Ting-Lu?” he called, attempting to gauge its reaction.

The Pokémon slowly turned its heavy head to look at him—but remained silent.

Naoki was taken aback. What was going on?

After a brief moment of contemplation, he pulled out his Rotom Phone and called Raifort via video chat to report the unexpected development.

"I’ve successfully unsealed the shrine and captured Ting-Lu."

"Awesome! I knew you could do it!" Raifort's voice was filled with excitement.

"Wait—Ting-Lu didn’t go on a rampage when you released it, did it?" she asked curiously.

"I went with a swift strategy and defeated it before it could go berserk," Naoki explained, his voice steady. "But now, Ting-Lu is acting a little... strange."

As he spoke, he turned the camera of his Rotom Phone toward the Pokémon.

"Ever since I brought it back to the ranch, it hasn’t caused any disasters. It’s been eerily calm. When I call its name, it acknowledges me, but it doesn’t respond."

"It’s... calm?" Raifort observed the massive Pokémon standing in the pasture. This was completely unexpected.

She furrowed her brow, thinking back to the legend of the Treasures of Ruin.

According to ancient texts, during the time of the Paldean Empire, a foreign merchant brought four treasures from distant lands: an ancient vessel, a ceremonial sword, a mysterious tablet, and a jade talisman.

He sold these treasures to the king, but that very night, the artifacts transformed into Pokémon and went on a rampage, bringing ruin to the royal city.

Historical records suggest that these four objects were never just lifeless artifacts—they had always been Pokémon. They wandered the world for centuries, absorbing the negative emotions and cursed desires of humanity. When the king obtained them, his overwhelming greed triggered their awakening, fueling their destructive nature.

Raifort glanced at Naoki, her expression thoughtful.

After a moment, she exhaled and said, "I think I understand now."

"What do you mean?" Naoki asked.

Rika’s tone was complex, a mix of realization and quiet admiration. "It looks like Ting-Lu has changed because of you."

She paused before continuing, choosing her words carefully. "The Treasures of Ruin weren’t always harbingers of disaster. They became what they are today because of human desires. The more greed and ambition they encountered, the more their power twisted into something dangerous."

"But you… you don’t see them as cursed relics or treasures of great power. You see them for what they truly are—just Pokémon."

...

Bonus Chap @1200 PS