Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 268: A Garden Between Worlds



In a flower-filled room, as warm and inviting as spring itself, Naoki and Calyrex lifted their teacups under Polteageist and Sinistea's eager gaze, ready to savor its brew.

The purple liquid in their cups shimmered, clear and vibrant like a pool of lilac spring water. Naoki leaned in, inhaling the unique, refreshing fragrance of the tea. He raised the cup to his lips, took a careful sip, and felt an immediate wave of delight as the rich flavor washed over him. It was like stepping into a dream world, with each sip whisking him away to a realm of bliss.

Naoki's eyes brightened with delight, and he couldn't help but think of Polteageist's

potential as a perfect companion for brewing specialty tea. Although it couldn't directly transform tea leaves into a beverage, its unique energy elevated the tea's quality and taste to an extraordinary level.

Curious about Calyrex's reaction, Naoki glanced over. Seated among the flowers, Calyrex sipped from the teacup with elegance, eyes closed, savoring the taste slowly. After a thoughtful pause, Calyrex opened his eyes and regarded Polteageist warmly.

"Your tea truly is extraordinary-an experience beyond compare," he said.

Polteageist's eyes sparkled with joy at Calyrex's words, and it turned its gaze to Naoki, who nodded with a smile. "I've never tasted tea quite like this. It's wonderful."

Overjoyed, Polteageist began to spin in excited circles, its happiness contagious. Sinistea, sensing Polteageist's delight, joined in, swaying along in a playful dance behind it.

Naoki and Calyrex shared a smile at the sight, their hearts warmed by the cheerful display. Then, Naoki gently pushed a plate with a slice of grass cake toward Calyrex.

"Would you like to try it?"

Calyrex looked down at the slice of cake, which gave off a pleasant aroma-a blend of fresh grass and subtle sweetness. Following Naoki's example, he used a silver knife to cut a small piece, carefully picking it up with a fork and tasting it thoughtfully.

The cake's flavor surprised him; the fresh essence of grass was softened by the sweetness of cream and caramel, creating a delightful harmony. It even contained a faint hint of Grass- type energy, making it irresistibly appealing to any Grass-type Pokémon.

Calyrex took another small bite, clearly enjoying it even more than the carrots offered by his loyal followers long ago.

"This is the most delicious dessert I've ever had," Calyrex praised, his tone warm and grateful.

Naoki laughed with delight. "That's great!"

Calyrex, looking thoughtful, asked, "You mentioned earlier that the grass cake allows the one who eats it to influence the crops they nurture. Does that mean I also have this ability now?"

Naoki considered it carefully, then replied, "Logically, yes."

He double-checked the effects of the grass cake and, seeing no restrictions for legendary Pokémon, nodded in confirmation. "Yes, you do."

Calyrex's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Could it work on these flowers as well?"

Naoki nodded again. "Yes, it should."

With a hint of excitement, Calyrex said, "I'd like to try it out."

Naoki hesitated, concerned. "Won't that take too much of your energy?"

Calyrex shook His head, smiling warmly. "My strength is sustained by belief, and I can feel that this land is filled with faith. With my loyal steed by my side, I recover quickly. It's why I was able to regain my energy in just a month."

He continued, "The energy needed to make flowers bloom is entirely different from what's required to nurture the World Tree. I could make the entire pasture bloom with flowers with just a thought."

Naoki understood now. Caring for the World Tree took 90% of Calyrex's energy, while making flowers bloom in a smaller area would only require a tiny fraction, about 0.5%.

"Well, shall we give it a try?" Naoki asked, feeling just as curious.

Calyrex nodded with a gentle smile.

He floated gracefully from the wrought-iron tea table into the air, facing the flowers that had not yet fully bloomed, and gently waved His right hand.

At that moment, a breathtaking sight unfolded.

In the expansive greenhouse, every flower and plant-whether potted or hanging from racks -blossomed in vibrant, full blooms simultaneously, filling the space with color and fragrance.

Calyrex lowered His hand and turned back to Naoki with a serene expression. "How's that?" Naoki beamed, "Let me take a closer look."

Naoki began to search among the flower stands, his eyes scanning the newly bloomed flowers. "Rose... no," he murmured.

"Peony... no."

"Pansy... no."

After circling the greenhouse, Naoki's eyes finally settled on a peculiar rose that stood out from the rest, glowing softly with a delicate, moonlit sheen.

[Moon Rose: A rose that evolved under the influence of Grass energy. Once an ordinary red rose, it now holds the power of the moon. When incorporated into food, it grants the food a 'Moon Stone' effect.]

As Naoki paused to admire it, Calyrex, Sinistea, Polteageist, and Butterfree fluttered over to investigate.

Calyrex took one look at the rose and knew instantly. "Is this the one?"

Naoki nodded. "It's transformed from an ordinary red rose into a Moon Rose. If used in cooking, it could give the food special effects."

Ideas sprang to Naoki's mind: rose pastries, flower cakes, rose jam... and perhaps a few unique dishes to experiment with. As for the Moon Stone effect-it likely mirrored the Moon Stone's ability to help certain Pokémon evolve. Sadly, there were no Pokémon on the ranch who could make use of it just yet.

Calyrex marveled, glancing down at his hands. "It's incredible to wield such a power."

Just then, Kelly's voice called from outside.

"Naok

Are you

the greenhouse? The stables are ready. Bring your two hors s over

take a

look!"

Naoki turned to Calyrex with a smile. "Looks like the stable is finished." Calyrex nodded warmly. "I'll join you to see where my loyal steeds will be staying."

As they stepped out of the greenhouse together, Naoki noticed two workers loading up construction tools and spare wood while Kelly was busy making final adjustments to the

stable.

When she saw Naoki approach, she looked up, grinning. "All done! Come check it out!"

But the moment her eyes fell on Calyrex floating beside Naoki, Kelly froze. A series of memories flashed through her mind: the time Naoki had invited the townsfolk to his ranch to taste giant watermelons, and the special tour he gave, showing them a statue he'd called the "King of Bountiful Harvest."

During the autumn Thanksgiving season, Mayor Thomas had placed a large statue of the King of Bountiful Harvests in the town square. At Kelly's home, handmade wood carvings she created line the shelves, each sold to the townsfolk. That familiar, dignified presence, with a flowing royal cloak, noble gaze, and slender, regal form...

The Pokémon floating beside Naoki was unmistakably the King of Bountiful Harvests!

The realization hit her like a thunderbolt. Kelly's eyes widened as she looked at the majestic

figure in awe.

"Oh my goodness!" she gasped.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

She recalled Naoki's tales about the legendary King of Bountiful Harvests, and now, that very Pokémon was here at his ranch! Had Naoki somehow befriended it?

"Kelly?" Naoki called, seeing her stunned expression.

Kelly snapped out of her daze, noticing the King of Bountiful Harvests looking at her, even

offering a gentle smile.

"Are... are you really the King of Bountiful Harvests?" she asked, still in disbelief.

The King of Bountiful Harvests nodded slightly, answering telepathically, "Yes, I am."

"Oh my..." Kelly's shock deepened, and she looked over at Naoki for reassurance. "Is... is he

really speaking to me?"

Naoki chuckled. "Yes, he is! Take a breath, Kelly-no need to be so surprised."

Realizing her reaction, Kelly took a deep breath to steady herself.

Naoki explained, "The King of Bountiful Harvests will be staying here on my ranch from now on."

Naoki had actually befriended a legendary Pokémon! Kelly couldn't believe it.

As she gathered her thoughts, she remembered Naoki's recent trip. "So that journey... you

went to find the King of Bountiful Harvests?"

Naoki nodded with a smile. "Exactly."

At that moment, the King of Bountiful Harvests turned to call forth his trusted steeds,

Glastrier and Spectrier. In response, the two horses trotted over from different parts of the

ranch, each exuding its distinct aura.

Kelly looked at the two majestic horse Pokémon she had never seen before. After a moment,

she asked, "Are these the two Pokémon you brought back?"

Glastrier and Spectrier, the icy and ghostly steeds, trotted up to the King of Bountiful

Harvests, glancing curiously at the unfamiliar human.

Naoki nodded and replied, "Yes, they are the loyal steeds of the King of Bountiful Harvests.

They've come to stay here at the ranch alongside him."

The legendary horses of the King of Bountiful Harvests...

Kelly was taken aback. It all started to make sense.

Naoki walked over to inspect the two spacious stables, explaining to Kelly, "The one on the

left is for Spectrier, and the one on the right is for Glastrier. According to Galarian legend, the King of Bountiful Harvests once rode these Pokémon across the lands of Galar."

"The beloved steeds of a legendary king..." Kelly murmured, still a bit dazed.

No wonder these magnificent Pokémon were unfamiliar; they were the royal companions of

the King himself.

After her initial awe, Kelly gradually regained her composure and turned her attention to the

stables.

"This is the largest stable design we have, perfect for Glastrier and Spectrier," she explained. "The wooden walls keep out the wind and rain, and there's room for soft hay in the back,

making it a cozy place for them to rest."

Naoki nodded, recalling the haystack he'd prepared with Koraidon the previous autumn. There would be plenty to keep the stables comfortable.

Pointing to the front of the stables, Kelly continued, "Here's the food trough and water

trough. Just add their food and water, and they can eat comfortably without needing to leave

the stable."

"That sounds perfect," Naoki agreed, clearly pleased with the setup.

He was sure Spectrier and Glastrier would appreciate their new home, especially since they

had endured the harsh, cold Crown Shrine in the past. The stable offered warmth and comfort

by comparison.

The wide pasture gave them plenty of space to run freely and enjoy the carrots during the day, while at night, they could rest on soft, warm hay in their cozy new stables.

"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll be heading off. Elif from Cherry Orchard ordered a wine rack

from my shop yesterday, and I need to deliver it to him," said Kelly.

"Alright," Naoki nodded, watching Kelly leave the ranch.

The evening was setting in. Naoki, along with Koraidon, grabbed a pitchfork and loaded a cart full of hay from the

haystack, then spread it evenly across the stable floors. Afterward, he fetched fresh water, pouring it into the troughs, and finally added a small pile of berries and the remaining ice and

shade root carrots.

With that, the stables for Spectrier and Glastrier were ready.

"Go on, try it out! Pick whichever space you like best," Naoki said, standing alongside Koraidon and the King of Bountiful Harvests as they looked at the two horses. Hearing this, Spectrier and Glastrier exchanged a silent look before each trotted into a

separate stable, choosing their spaces without fuss.

Naoki was pleasantly surprised. He'd half-expected a bit of rivalry over the stables, but the two seemed to have an unspoken understanding, each settling into its own space. It made sense, though-these two had been companions for centuries and knew each other's temperaments well.

In the soft glow of dusk, the two steeds stood in their stables, happily munching on the fruits

and carrots.

The King of Bountiful Harvests looked on with a warm expression. "They're pleased with the home you've made for them," he said.

"That's what matters most," Naoki replied, smiling as he glanced up at the sunset and

breathed a sigh of contentment.

With Glastrier and Spectrier finally settled, he could relax and look forward to the season

ahead.

It was now November, and snow would likely blanket the ranch in a few weeks. By then, he

and the Pokémon would be building snowmen and having snowball fights across the fields. For now, though, it was time to prepare dinner.

Naoki returned to the glass greenhouse, picking the Moon Rose to try his hand at making flower cakes for the Pokémon to enjoy.

But just as he was about to head indoors, a purple vortex suddenly appeared in the lake on the

ranch grounds.

The air shifted as a portal opened, and the King of Bountiful Harvests immediately tensed, his

expression serious as he called out, "Who goes there?"

Naoki recognized the visitor and shook his head with a reassuring smile. "It's alright. It's

just... a Pokémon from another dimension."

Hearing this, the King of Bountiful Harvests relaxed, his gaze softening as he trusted Naoki's

calm assurance.

Naoki remembered that Giratina, with its reversed temperament, had once asked him to plant

some flowers in the reverse world.

Now that the King of Bountiful Harvests was at the ranch, Naoki wondered if his power could help seeds in the reverse world grow quickly. "This calls for a little experiment," Naoki thought.

But Giratina in its regular form was still a bit dangerous-prone to a volatile temper and not

the easiest to negotiate with. If he wanted to work with it, he'd first have to coax it into a more agreeable mood. Fortunately, there was still some Water of the Distortion World left in the refrigerator. First, Naoki offered a few "gifts" into the lake's mirror-like surface, preparing to bring some reverse-style treats along for his visit to the Distortion World tomorrow.

Perhaps he could even make a small "backyard" there, turning a patch of Giratina's domain

into a unique garden. Since the ranch's lake was connected to that world, visiting it would be

easy and convenient.

...

The bonus chapter will be released at 2000 Power Stones.

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