Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 335: Visitor



The newly acquired land was divided into two main sections: a flat, grassy expanse and a small mountainous area.

The flat ground, covered in lush green grass, seemed ideal for grazing Pokémon. Naoki could already envision sheep-like Pokémon roaming freely here.

Curious about the terrain, Naoki climbed the small hill to survey the land. From the hilltop, he could see the distant forested back mountain and even catch a glimpse of the Shrine peeking through the trees. The view was breathtaking.

"I could plant apple trees here," Naoki mused aloud. He imagined the hill transformed into an orchard resembling the picturesque Apple Hill in Kitakami Township. The thought filled him with excitement.

Living on the land were various Pokémon, including a family of Hoppip. These Pokémon had small, round, pink bodies with delicate green leaves sprouting from their heads. Their bright yellow eyes shone with a lively curiosity. Their little arms and legs waved gently as they floated effortlessly through the air, their pink tails swishing like playful kittens.

When the wind picked up, the Hoppip were carried aloft, rising into the sky and drifting wherever the breeze took them. They twirled in the air like leaves caught in a gentle whirlwind.

"Just like the Pokédex says, Hoppip are incredibly lightweight," Naoki murmured, watching them float away.

It was said that Hoppip hadn't originally been native to the Paldea region. Long ago, a strong sea wind had carried a few Hoppip across the ocean to these shores. Since then, their population had taken root in Paldea, thriving in the region's gentle breezes.

Besides the Hoppip, the area was also home to other Pokémon, such as Flabébé and Floette. These Pokémon lived in a field bursting with wildflowers. The Flabébé clung to tiny blossoms, their diminutive forms even smaller than the palm of Naoki's hand. They flitted between the flowers, their delicate wings sparkling in the sunlight.

For some reason, these Pokémon reminded Naoki of Thumbelina from Andersen's fairy tale— a small yet vibrant presence that brought life to the world around them.

His arrival startled the Flabébé and Floette, who quickly hid behind their flowers, peeking out cautiously.

Whenever Naoki made eye contact with them, the Pokémon would retreat, as though they could avoid being seen entirely by simply ducking down. Their shy antics were so endearing that Naoki couldn't help but laugh softly.

Not wanting to disturb the peaceful Pokémon further, Naoki turned and headed back to the ranch, feeling a renewed sense of responsibility for the land and its inhabitants.

The next morning, Naoki met with Kelly and placed an order for a wooden fence to enclose the new property. He also asked her to help construct a bridge over the river to connect the two sections of the ranch.

Kelly, having no pressing projects, agreed readily. She loaded her truck with supplies-wood, stone, and cement-and offered Naoki a ride back to the ranch.

In the back of the truck sat her team, ready to get to work. The tools clinked softly against the materials as the truck rumbled along the road.

Naoki, seated in the passenger seat, asked curiously, "Do you need a license to drive a truck like this?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Of course," Kelly replied with a smile. "You need a license to drive any kind of vehicle. Why, are you thinking of getting one?"

Naoki nodded. "The ranch is bigger now, and I've been thinking about getting a vehicle to haul goods."

Kelly thought for a moment. "In that case, you don't need a large truck like mine. A pickup truck would be perfect. It's great for transporting things like fruit, crops, or supplies. They're not too expensive, either."

She added with a grin, "Plus, if you ever want to take your Pokémon on a trip, you can load them into the back and hit the road. It's convenient."

Naoki chuckled, picturing himself driving a pickup truck loaded with Pokémon. The idea had a certain rustic charm.

While he had initially considered enlisting Revavroom as a makeshift tractor, the logistics and ethical concerns had made the idea feel impractical. For now, a pickup truck seemed like a more straightforward solution.

Naoki expressed his doubts about obtaining a driver's license, voicing his uncertainty about where to start.

Kelly answered patiently, her tone reassuring. "You don't need to go all the way to the Pokémon League headquarters for something like this. There's a Vehicle Management Office right in Kosaji Town where you can take the driving test. It's much simpler than the breeder's license exam. If you pass, they'll issue your certificate right there."

"That's a relief," Naoki said, exhaling deeply. He felt thankful that he didn't need to attend a driving school. With experience from his previous life, where he had already passed a driving test and learned how to drive, he figured the process should be straightforward.

Kelly glanced at the road ahead, her expression softening with nostalgia. "This world can be unpredictable sometimes."

"Huh?" Naoki raised a curious eyebrow.

Kelly smiled wistfully. "I was just thinking about when I first learned to drive. Back then, I dreamed of traveling the world with my Pokémon. But life had other plans. I never left this place and ended up working as a carpenter instead."

"Traveling the world sounds amazing," Naoki said, imagining himself in Kelly's shoes. "Do you ever think about going on that journey now?"

Kelly sighed. "I'd love to, but I can't leave the Pokémon here. Not just the ones at my shop, but all the wild Pokémon in the forest too. If I'm not around to care for them when they get hurt, who will? Sometimes plans don't keep up with life's twists and turns."

Naoki nodded, understanding her sentiment. The thought of leaving the Pokémon on his ranch to fend for themselves felt impossible to him. Their well-being was his responsibility.

"What about you?" Kelly asked, turning her attention back to Naoki. "Do you think you'll ever leave?"

Naoki shook his head, smiling faintly. The ranch was his home, and the Pokémon were his family. He couldn't imagine leaving them behind.

Kelly seemed amused by his response. "There aren't many young people like you these days. Most kids dream of becoming great Pokémon Trainers, leaving their hometowns to travel and chase adventure. The land gets left behind, untended. When folks like Mr. Elif grow old, who's going to farm it?"

Naoki pondered her words. "I suppose that's why the Paldea Alliance supports agriculture and animal husbandry so strongly," he said after a pause. "But at the same time, who could blame the kids? It's the dream, isn't it? To become a Pokémon Master, to travel and see the world."

He thought of iconic trainers like Ash, Misty, and Brock-individuals whose stories inspired countless others to embark on their own journeys.

Naoki grinned. "But who's to say they won't come back? After all, everyone grows up eventually. Once they're ready to settle down, maybe they'll return to their hometowns with their Pokémon and pick up where their families left off."

Kelly blinked, then chuckled softly, her expression softening. "You might be right."

By the time they arrived at the ranch, the conversation had left both of them in high spirits. Kelly parked the truck and directed her team to unload the materials-wood, cement, and steel. They began by surveying the creek that flowed through the ranch.

The river meandered gently from the back mountain, its source likely tied to Casseroya Lake and Glaseado Mountain. It wound its way through the ranch before eventually emptying into

the sea.

After some consideration, Kelly selected an ideal spot for the bridge. Her experienced team of builders, assisted by Machokes, got to work immediately. They began constructing the bridge's foundation, pouring concrete and reinforcing it with steel beams. Their skill and efficiency were evident in every movement.

While the builders worked on the bridge, Kelly and Naoki crossed the river to inspect the new

plot of land.

The sprawling wilderness was untamed, and the dense vegetation gave it a rugged charm. Looking over the vast expanse, Kelly let out a low whistle. "It'll take a lot of effort to turn this

into something usable."

Naoki nodded thoughtfully. "Not all of it needs to be farmland. I'll cultivate a small portion for crops and fruit trees. The rest can be used as grazing land for the Pokémon. I'll plant grass seeds to make it more hospitable."

Naoki envisioned adding new Pokémon to the ranch, such as Wooloo, Tropius, and Grumpig, alongside planting rows of apple saplings for future harvests.

"Fence everything off?" Kelly asked, raising an eyebrow.

Naoki nodded. "That way, I can clearly define the ranch's boundaries and feel more at ease."

Though Naoki could build the fences himself, he faced a significant problem-there wasn't enough wood available on the ranch. Cutting down trees from the nearby mountains was out of the question, as it would violate the Forest Protection Act. The consequences of being caught by a forest ranger would include a hefty fine. More importantly, those trees were home to countless Pokémon, and Naoki couldn't bring himself to disrupt their habitats. With this in mind, the easiest solution was to hire someone to build the fences. "Got it!" Kelly said with a smile, quickly calculating in her head. "For such a large area, the

wood we currently have in the workshop won't be enough. I'll need to order a fresh batch. Combined with the bridge construction, it'll take about two weeks to finish everything." Naoki had no complaints. "That's fine. Same arrangements as before?"

"Sure thing."

With everything sorted, Naoki could only wait patiently.

Given the expenses from purchasing the land, Naoki decided to hold off on buying the

Wooloo, Tropius, and apple saplings. His savings had taken a hit, and he needed time to recover financially before expanding further.

The construction work was labor-intensive and time-consuming. Building a bridge and installing fences couldn't be completed in just a few days. Kelly made daily trips to the ranch, working until dark before heading home to rest and repeat the process.

Meanwhile, Naoki kept busy with life on the ranch.

When not working, he relaxed by watching TV with Calyrex, prepared fruit platters for

Farfetch'd, played with his Pokémon, and even welcomed aspiring trainers from Paldea

Academy to test their skills.

These enthusiastic trainers brought Pokémon like Eevee, Meowth, Fidough, and Caterpie to participate in trials such as the Grass Trial, Lightning Trial, and Storm Trial. The results were often one-sided. Despite their best efforts, the novice trainers found their Pokémon defeated in a single move, leaving them wide-eyed with shock and awe as they marveled at the ranch

Pokémon's strength.

During this time, Naoki also began researching major corporations in the Paldea region. His primary goal was to find information on the Nemona family's situation, driven by his promise to Calyrex about acquiring a phone for it. To stay informed, he even subscribed to the town's

daily morning newspaper.

Amid these tranquil days, time flew by, and soon it was the end of March in the Alliance

Calendar year 199.

One crisp morning, Ivan, the town's cheerful postman, arrived at the ranch to deliver the day's

newspaper.

"Thanks for your hard work, Ivan!" Naoki greeted warmly as he accepted the paper.

Ivan hesitated, a look of mild frustration on his face, as though he wanted to say something but didn't know how.

Naoki tilted his head curiously. "Is something wrong? You seem like you have something to

say."

Ivan finally spoke up, his tone tinged with urgency. "The horse racing event is coming up soon! Don't forget your promise!"

Naoki blinked, suddenly recalling their conversation from last year. Back then, Ivan had helped him locate the Indeedee siblings, and in return, Naoki had promised to assist Ivan in recovering the money he'd lost at the previous horse racing event.

Naoki grinned confidently. "Don't worry!"

Seeing Naoki's confidence, Ivan breathed a sigh of relief and eagerly asked, "Which Pokémon

are you riding for the race? A Rapidash? Maybe a Mudsdale?"

Naoki's grin widened into a mysterious smile. "Neither."

Curious, Ivan followed Naoki to the ranch's stables, where two imposing figures stood tall: a

Glastrier and a Spectrier.

Both Pokémon glanced lazily at the new human visitor, their piercing gazes carrying an air of

superiority. A chill of unease ran down Ivan's spine as he instinctively felt their power and

majesty.

"W-what Pokémon are these?" Ivan stammered, his eyes wide with shock.

Naoki couldn't help but smirk. "Prepare yourself. The one on the left is Glastrier, the Ice Rider

Pokémon, and the one on the right is Spectrier, the Shadow Rider Pokémon. Both are

legendary steeds, companions of Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests."

"Nani?!" Ivan exclaimed, nearly stumbling backward in disbelief. "Calyrex's trusted steeds?!"

Although Ivan had encountered Calyrex at the ranch before, out of respect for the King of

Bountiful Harvests, neither he nor the townsfolk had ever revealed its presence to outsiders.

Everyone revered the Pokémon's desire for peace and privacy. Naoki shook his head with a chuckle. "Calm down."

Ivan took a deep breath, though his heart was still racing. He realized that, considering Calyrex resided on the ranch, it wasn't far-fetched for its legendary steeds to be here as well.

He quickly regained his composure and asked, "Are you really planning to race with these

two?" Naoki shrugged casually. "Why not?"

"Of course! That'll be amazing!" Ivan exclaimed, his excitement overflowing. He grabbed

Naoki's hand in a firm grip. "Naoki, I'm entrusting my life and fortune to you! Win big for

me!" Naoki: "..."

Overjoyed, Ivan skipped out of the ranch, leaving Naoki shaking his head in amused exasperation. Returning to the living room, Naoki settled on the sofa, opened the morning paper, and began reading.

Rotom Technologies: A Dominant Force in Paldea

From what Naoki had gathered, the Nemona family, based in Paldea, owned a huge business

in the Paldea region

Rotom Technologies specialized in developing devices enhanced by Rotom's unique abilities.

Innovations such as Rotom Wash (a washing machine Rotom) and Rotom Frost (a refrigerator Rotom) had revolutionized domestic life. The foundation of this technology reportedly dated back to the ancient Hisui region, where humans first learned to integrate Rotom with

appliances.

Modern advancements had further refined these inventions, leading to widespread adoption. Rotom-powered devices were exported not only throughout Paldea but also to distant regions like Galar, Unova, and Kalos. Rotom Technologies had firmly established itself as a

leader in the industry.

The Nemona family's wealth and influence were undeniable, making them one of the

wealthiest families in Paldea. Nemona herself was every bit the rich heiress. Rotom Technologies also extended its reach to communication infrastructure. Videophones

used by the Paldea Alliance bore the company's logo, showcasing its monopoly over key

sectors.

As a rancher in the countryside, Naoki realized his chances of directly engaging with such a

massive corporation were slim. Even investing in such an enterprise seemed out of reach. More importantly, he wasn't interested in founding his own smartphone company. Such a venture would demand significant resources and time-time that he'd rather spend on his Pokémon and ranch.

His thoughts shifted to the region's technological landscape. Based on his research, Paldea's

tech capabilities were already advanced enough to support smartphones, yet the industry had oddly skewed toward Rotom-based appliances. The concept of Rotom-powered mobile devices was within reach; it just needed a final push.

But how could he approach Rotom Technologies? Through Geeta's recommendation? Or perhaps seek help from Professor Sada and Arven?

Naoki circled Rotom Technologies' name in the newspaper with a pen and added a question

mark beside it, pondering his next steps.

While deep in thought, Naoki was startled by a knock at the door. The Indeedee siblings had

already gone to check, and one of them soon announced, "Ai-ye". "There's someone here to see you."

Curious, Naoki put down the newspaper and stepped outside. Standing at the entrance to the

ranch was a tall, weathered man with dark skin, fiery red hair, and a strikingly strong build.

His regular yet commanding features were framed by thick eyebrows and sharp eyes.

Naoki's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the visitor.

Alder, the former Champion of Unova.

...

Bonus Chapter