Pokemon: A New Path

Pokémon of Blessings[515]

As the cold wind swirled around them, light flakes of snow began to fall from the sky.

Naoki noticed that while Chien-Pao's body still bore wounds from its battle with Koraidon, its piercing, sapphire-blue eyes were now calm and observant, a stark contrast to the wild hostility it had before.

Chi-Yu was the first to speak.

"Yu." (It seems like you weren't too deeply corrupted by the power of Ruin.)

Ting-Lu smiled warmly and greeted it.

"Moo!" (That's good to hear! Long time no see, Chien-Pao!)

Chien-Pao, standing tall and composed, turned to them and acknowledged both Pokémon with a nod.

"Pao." (When this human defeated me, much of the Ruin's influence dissipated, allowing me to regain clarity. It's been a long time, Ting-Lu.)

Naoki watched this exchange with interest, then patted his head and said with a grin,

"Alright, you guys catch up. I've got a few things to prepare!"

Chien-Pao didn't seem to understand what Naoki was planning, but Ting-Lu and Chi-Yu knew exactly what he was about to do.

As they watched Naoki walk away, Ting-Lu's voice carried after him:

"Moo!" (Soon, you'll be free from the power of Ruin!)

Chien-Pao's ears twitched slightly, and for a brief moment, its expression softened.

After heading inside, Naoki retrieved a Poké Ball and released the small Pokémon inside.

With a flash of light, Happiny appeared on the floor, blinking its round, pink eyes curiously.

"Happy?"

Naoki smiled and knelt down to its level.

"This is Happiny. I met it earlier in the mountains."

Then, he turned toward Indeedee.

"I'd like you to introduce Happiny to the ranch and help it get settled in."

Indeedee tilted her head, observing the new Pokémon with curiosity.

After a brief pause, she nodded warmly.

"Ai Ai~"

With a satisfied nod, Naoki turned back to Happiny.

Naoki knelt down and smiled at the small Pokémon in front of him.

"Happiny, this is sister Indeedee, and over there is brother Indeedee. They're our caretakers here on the ranch. They'll take you around to meet everyone, okay?"

"Happy!"

Happiny, still holding its Poké Ball tightly in its arms, nodded eagerly in agreement.

The two Indeedee led Happiny away, leaving Naoki alone.

With a satisfied nod, Naoki turned and walked to the ranch's kitchen, where he opened the refrigerator and retrieved a container of Distortion Realm Water, something he had prepared in advance.

This time, the tea was for Chien-Pao.

The preparation process was simple. He boiled the water, steeped the tea leaves, and within minutes, a steaming cup of Reversal Black Tea was ready.

With the cup in hand, Naoki headed toward the Four Treasures of Ruin.

At the ranch's open pasture, all four of the Treasures of Ruin were gathered.

Ting-Lu stood tall. Chi-Yu rested comfortably. Wo-Chien, as usual, appeared drowsy, while Chien-Pao lay gracefully on the grass, attentively listening to Ting-Lu's speech.

As soon as Naoki approached, three of them turned to look at him.

Chien-Pao had already learned everything from Ting-Lu and Chi-Yu.

It observed Naoki carefully, then spoke in a calm, serious tone:

"Pao." (Thank you.)

Naoki smiled and shook his head.

"No need to thank me. Here, drink this first."

At his words, Chien-Pao lowered its gaze to the cup of tea Naoki had placed in front of it.

Could this simple black tea truly erase the corrupting power of Ruin, a force born from greed and destruction?

For a moment, Chien-Pao hesitated.

Then, without further thought, it lowered its head and slowly licked the warm tea.

Sip after sip, until the last drop was gone.

At that moment, a dazzling light burst from Chien-Pao's body!

The energy of Ruin and Disaster began to seep out in wisps of dark mist, dissolving into the wind.

When the light faded, the Pokémon standing before Naoki was completely transformed.

Its once frosted fur was now a brilliant shade of white, its sapphire-blue eyes shined even brighter, and its paw pads had turned a soft pink.

Chien-Pao had been reborn.

Naoki's first thought was:

"What a cute snow leopard!"

For a split second, he had the urge to pet its fur, but he quickly refocused on the matter at hand.

More importantly, "How do you feel?" he asked.

Chien-Pao furrowed its brow, processing the new sensations coursing through its body.

After a brief pause, it hesitantly answered:

"Pao…" (I think… I've gained a new power.)

Naoki's eyes brightened with curiosity.

"What kind of power?"

Chien-Pao's icy blue eyes gleamed as it lifted its head and spoke with a newfound sense of clarity and purpose.

"Pao." (My fangs now hold the power to slay malevolent spirits. In winter, I can summon snow and frost to bless the land, strengthening the fields and forests so that they flourish in the following year.)

Naoki's mind immediately recalled an old saying:

"A bountiful snowfall brings a prosperous harvest."

And the ability to slay spirits… Could that mean Chien-Pao had gained a special advantage against Ghost-type Pokémon?

For ordinary farmers, this newfound power over winter was a true blessing.

After all, winter wheat was a widely cultivated crop in this world. Naoki had always considered growing it on his ranch, but after working tirelessly throughout the year, he preferred to rest in the winter months rather than take on new farming projects.

Still, with Chien-Pao's power, perhaps that could change…

He looked back at the four Pokémon gathered before him and smiled.

"Congratulations, Chien-Pao."

As Naoki's gaze shifted to the other three Treasures of Ruin, he couldn't help but marvel at how each of them had transformed:

Ting-Lu now had the ability to stabilize the land, preventing disasters like earthquakes and ensuring peace. Chi-Yu could bless both humans and Pokémon, bringing prosperity and good fortune through its flames.

Wo-Chien, once a devourer of life, could now revitalize forests, nourishing plants and crops to ensure abundant harvests. And now, Chien-Pao, a Pokémon once feared for bringing blizzards and ruin, could summon winter's frost to prepare the land for renewal.

Naoki couldn't help but chuckle.

"Calling them 'Pokémon of Ruin' doesn't seem right anymore… They're more like Pokémon of Blessings now!"

This entire transformation was brought about by the power of reversal… It was something straight out of a fantasy tale.

Naoki let out a breath and looked at the four Pokémon with curiosity.

"So… what are your plans for the future?"

At his words, the four Pokémon exchanged glances.

Ting-Lu stepped forward first, its voice deep and resolute.

"Moo!" (I have already decided, I will remain here to protect Naoki's ranch!)

Chi-Yu's magatama-shaped eyes gleamed with warmth as it gently swayed its tail fin.

"Yu." (You freed me from my seal and cleansed me of my ruinous power. I have nothing to offer in return, so I wish to stay and use my new abilities to help this land. Please take care of me, Naoki.)

Wo-Chien, half-asleep in the warm sunlight, suddenly perked up and let out a loud yawn.

"Wo—!" (Me too, ah—)

It smacked its lips lazily, then mumbled:

"Wo..." (The sunshine here is so comfortable… I'd love to stay here and nap… zzZ...)

And just like that, Wo-Chien dozed off on the spot.

Naoki: "…"

That left only Chien-Pao.

The snow leopard Pokémon locked eyes with Naoki, studying him carefully.

After a brief silence, it spoke.

"Pao." (Humans have always coveted our power, sealing us away, trying to claim us as possessions, but you… you saw us as Pokémon, not treasures.)

Chien-Pao's mind flashed back to the moment it had fallen in battle against Naoki's Pokémon.

And then, to this very moment, Naoki had willingly freed them from their curse instead of using their power for his own gain.

Chien-Pao's expression softened.

"Pao." (That is why… I choose to stay.)

...

The next morning, after feeding the Pokémon at the ranch and sending his Kubfu to the World Tree for training, Naoki gathered Ting-Lu, Chi-Yu, Wo-Chien, and Chien-Pao.

"Let's go. Today, I'm taking you to meet someone."

"Moo?" Ting-Lu tilted its head slightly, as if asking who it was.

Naoki smiled. "Her name is Raifort. Thanks to her, I was able to find you all."

"Pao." Chien-Pao stepped forward, its piercing sapphire eyes filled with intrigue. If that was the case, then meeting this person was necessary.

"Alright, time to go inside your Poké Balls. Koraidon will take us there."

With a few flashes of red light, the four Treasures of Ruin were safely recalled into their Poké Balls.

Naoki secured the Poké Balls in his belt pouch, then turned to the Indeedee siblings.

"I'll leave the ranch in your hands, okay? I probably won't be back until the afternoon. If Eeveelutions and the others decide to visit the World Tree, you don't have to prepare lunch for them. Cyclizar and Dragonite will be coming with me. And Happiny, try not to run off, alright?"

"Ai Ai~" The elder brother Indeedee nodded politely.

Hearing this, Happiny, who had been clutching her bag full of Poké Balls, happily chimed in.

"Happy!"

Naoki sighed as he watched Happiny hug her collection of Poké Balls like precious gems.

Yesterday, after taking a full tour of the ranch, Happiny had been overjoyed when Naoki gave her a bunch of extra Poké Balls, just because she liked round things. Naturally, she stuffed every single one into her pouch, mimicking Chansey as if she were carrying eggs.

At this point, her pouch was so full that it barely fit any more Poké Balls.

Naoki rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"I swear… maybe once she evolves into a Chansey and can actually lay eggs, this obsession will go away."

With that thought, he waved to the Pokémon.

"Alright, we're off. See you this afternoon!"

With a mighty leap, Naoki mounted Koraidon, and together, they soared into the sky, leaving the ranch behind.

The landscape shrank beneath them as they ascended. The rolling pastures became tiny dots in the distance, and soon, all that remained was the whistling wind as they cut through the air.

One city… one field… one town at a time…

They flew past lakes, mountains, and sprawling forests, the breathtaking scenery of Paldea unfolding below.

By 10:00 AM, they had reached Mesagoza, the largest city in Paldea.

As they descended, the bustling metropolis came into view, students rushing between classes, travelers from all over the world exploring the historic landmarks, and a sea of people filling the vibrant streets.

Naoki took a deep breath, feeling the pulse of the city around him.

"Time to meet Raifort."

There were no flight restrictions over Mesagoza, so it wasn't uncommon to see trainers soaring into the city on the backs of Flying-type Pokémon.