Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 334: Foundations of Growth



By noon, after spending the entire morning practicing its leek-based sword skills, Farfetch'd approached Naoki with sweat dripping from its brow, its expression full of anticipation. It was clearly eager to see what new move it might master today.

Farfetch'd had a peculiar sense of optimism, as if convinced that today was the day it would strike gold and unlock the skills it had been chasing.

"What a gambler," Naoki muttered inwardly, shaking his head.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

All the fruits in the house had been devoured by Farfetch'd the previous day, leaving Naoki without ingredients for another fruit platter that morning. He had sent Cyclizar to the orchard to gather a fresh basket of berries.

Once the fruits were delivered, Naoki placed the basket on the dining table, selected a few ripe berries, and diced them meticulously into neat pieces, creating three colorful fruit platters.

"How was practice this morning? Did you manage to relearn the moves you forgot?" Naoki asked as he worked.

Farfetch'd nodded enthusiastically. "Farfetch'd!"

It had spent the morning refining the Leaf Blade. Having practiced the move countless times before, Farfetch'd had committed its execution to memory. By now, it could wield the move with exceptional finesse, even discovering new nuances in its execution.

Naoki was impressed. It seemed Farfetch'd had a natural aptitude for Leaf Blade. A thought crossed his mind: if the move was already engraved so deeply in Farfetch'd's mind, would eating the fruit platter still make it forget?

Curious, Naoki brought the platters outside to the grassy field where Farfetch'd waited eagerly. But just as Farfetch'd reached out for the first platter, Naoki snapped his fingers, halting it.

"Wait a second!" Naoki dashed back inside the house, opening the fridge and pulling out a special treat he had made for Teddiursa: Lucky Pudding.

As he held the pudding, information about it surfaced in his mind.

Lucky Pudding (A): A dessert crafted with joy and care, made from whipped cream, Moo Moo Milk, and natural sweetness.

Effect: Enhances luck slightly for a short period. After consumption, Pokémon have a higher chance of finding rare items during exploration.

Evaluation: A delicious dessert that brings happiness and a touch of good fortune.

"If it eats the lucky pudding before the fruit platter, maybe it'll boost its odds of learning a new move," Naoki mused, handing the pudding to Farfetch'd. "Here, try this first. It might make you luckier."

Luck, after all, was a mysterious force. Whether in life or in battle, it could lead to dodging an enemy's attack or landing a critical hit on a vital point.

Farfetch'd devoured the pudding with focused determination, then turned its attention to the three fruit platters, its eyes gleaming with hope.

It began with the first platter. After the final bite, it suddenly executed a flawless Double Team, leaving behind multiple illusory copies of itself.

Encouraged, it moved to the second platter. But as the last morsel disappeared, a pained expression crossed Farfetch'd's face. The knowledge of Leaf Blade seemed to flicker and fade, vanishing from its memory.

Undeterred, it approached the third platter. This time, as Farfetch'd swallowed the final piece, its body began to glow intensely. The ground trembled beneath it, and an overwhelming force surged through its frame.

Naoki froze, his instincts screaming at him. A sudden realization struck him like lightning. "Oh no-"

Before he could finish the thought, a deafening explosion rocked the field.

The shockwave sent grass, dirt, and debris flying in all directions. Naoki shielded himself, stumbling backward as the powerful blast knocked him off his feet. When the chaos finally subsided, he lifted his head cautiously, surveying the damage.

At the center of a large, charred crater lay Farfetch'd, sprawled out with dazed, swirling eyes.

Naoki's shoulders slumped. He pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing deeply. "That move... it's Explosion."

Explosion: A Normal-type move that unleashes a massive explosion, striking all Pokémon in the area. With a base power of 250, it's devastating but comes at a steep cost-the user is left in a near-faint state after performing it.

"What terrifying power..." Naoki muttered under his breath.

Judging by Farfetch'd's pained state, the move clearly took a heavy toll on its user.

He wondered briefly if Iono's Electrode could use this move. Even if it could, Naoki suspected Iono wouldn't allow it, as the risks to the Pokémon's well-being would outweigh the

benefits.

With a deep sigh, Naoki called Koraidon to fetch some life goat's milk. The warm, creamy milk had miraculous healing properties and quickly brought Farfetch'd back to full health.

But Farfetch'd didn't look happy. While it had learned two new moves, neither was the one it truly wanted. Determined, Farfetch'd gripped its leek tightly and stood up again, a fiery resolve burning in its eyes.

No! I need more! it seemed to say.

But its stomach was already stretched to capacity from the three servings of berry platters and one serving of lucky pudding.

Naoki shook his head in exasperation. "You should take a break and digest your food first," he said with a half-smile.

"Gah..." Farfetch'd reluctantly placed a wing over its bloated stomach, acknowledging that Naoki was right.

However, resting wasn't in its nature. Instead, it charged straight into the dummy training area, its leek flashing as it practiced. Each strike against the wooden dummies echoed with precision and determination.

Having already regained mastery over Leaf Blade, Farfetch'd's movements were swift and elegant. The leek in its hand struck with rhythmic sweeps and chops, carving patterns into the dummies.

Hours passed, and the once plain leek began to glow faintly. A soft milky-white aura enveloped it as Farfetch'd struck a particularly powerful blow. A radiant I-shaped energy blade formed, slicing cleanly through the wooden dummy.

Farfetch'd stared at its leek in wonder. Somehow, its Leaf Blade had become sharper and more refined than ever before.

...

In the afternoon, Naoki was preoccupied with his plans to expand the ranch. After a hearty lunch, he hopped onto Cyclizar and headed to town to speak with Mayor Thomas. Before visiting the mayor, Cyclizar took a moment to reunite with its parents. Cyclizar nuzzled affectionately against its father and mother, sharing tales of its life on the ranch. It conveyed how much it loved its new home, its joy evident in every gesture.

Meanwhile, Naoki sat in the mayor's cozy living room. Mayor Thomas's wife brought over two steaming cups of tea.

"Thank you," Naoki said politely, accepting the tea.

"So, you're here to talk about buying land?" the mayor asked, curious.

Naoki nodded. "Yes, the ranch is becoming crowded with Pokémon. I need more space to accommodate everyone comfortably."

Mayor Thomas's eyes lit up with pride. "You're doing far better than your grandfather ever imagined! If he could see the ranch thriving like this, he'd be overjoyed."

Naoki chuckled softly but said nothing. The ranch's legacy was something he intended to honor and build upon.

"Where are you planning to buy land?" Mayor Thomas inquired, leaning forward. "The stretch across the river," Naoki explained. "It's a flat, open expanse-perfect for expanding the ranch. If we construct a bridge to connect the two areas, it'll feel like one

unified space."

Mayor Thomas immediately understood which piece of land Naoki was referring to and nodded in acknowledgment. He then began to explain the details of purchasing land.

"Undeveloped land like that typically costs 400,000 Poke Dollars per acre," Mayor Thomas began. "However, the Paldea Alliance has a policy to encourage agriculture and animal husbandry. Ranchers like you can benefit from agricultural subsidies, reducing the cost to about 300,000 Poke Dollars per acre."

Naoki nodded thoughtfully. Three hundred thousand Poke Dollars per acre seemed reasonable, and with his savings from the past year, he could afford several acres.

"Do I need to pay taxes or anything later?" Naoki asked.

Mayor Thomas shook his head. "No taxes are required for wild, undeveloped land. The Paldea

Alliance won't provide any maintenance or development services for it, though. Once you purchase the land, it's entirely your responsibility to manage it."

He elaborated, "You'll need to handle everything yourself, from land maintenance to dealing with wild Pokémon that might intrude-things like Pokémon destroying farmland, knocking down fruit trees, or stealing crops."

Mayor Thomas then smiled knowingly. "But given the strength of your Pokémon, I don't

think these issues will pose a problem."

Naoki grinned. 'Any Pokémon wandering onto the ranch wouldn't want to leave once they

experience it!'

An old saying popped into his mind: 'Wild Pokémon will never be rivals unless they're given a

better home and food.'

"If you're ready to proceed, I can accompany you to the town's Land Administration Bureau

to file the application," offered Mayor Thomas. "They'll then measure the land and give you a

final price."

"No need to trouble you," Naoki replied warmly. "I can handle it myself. Besides, I brought you a little something from the ranch." He placed a bundle of Moo Moo Milk bottles on the table. "These are from the Miltanks on my ranch. I hope you enjoy them." Though the goat's milk produced at his ranch was more prized, Moo Moo Milk from his Miltanks was still of excellent quality. Given how much Mayor Thomas had helped him over the years—even gifting him a Cyclizar-it was only fitting to show his gratitude. Mayor Thomas smiled kindly. "You didn't have to bring gifts, but I appreciate it, child."

Naoki called out to Cyclizar, who had been saying goodbye to its parents in the yard.

"Cyclizar!"

"Gah!" Cyclizar responded immediately, bounding back to him.

Naoki patted its head affectionately, then turned to the mayor. "Thank you for everything, Mayor Thomas. We'll be on our way now. See you soon!"

The mayor waved warmly. "Take care! And if you encounter any trouble, don't hesitate to

reach out."

With that, Naoki and Cyclizar left, heading toward the Land Administration Bureau. Mayor Thomas watched their retreating figures, a soft smile on his face.

This boy has truly grown up, he thought, a tinge of nostalgia in his heart. At twenty-something,

Naoki was old enough to start a family. Mayor Thomas felt sure Naoki's parents and

grandfather would be proud of him, wherever they were.

...

The Land Administration Bureau operated with remarkable efficiency. Upon learning Naoki's intention, they immediately sent staff to the ranch to measure the land.

After a detailed survey, one of the staff explained the results to Naoki: "This plot of land totals 35 acres, which includes 9 acres of mountainous terrain. Factoring in the agricultural subsidy, the total price comes to 8.7 million Poke Dollars." Naoki took a moment to absorb the figure. Thirty-five acres was substantially larger than his current ranch. Combined, the two plots would make a ranch of about fifty acres. Though the price was steep, he felt reassured by the financial success of the past year. The

rising demand for goat milk, sales of high-quality rock salt, and the consistent production from his Miltanks had allowed him to save enough to afford the purchase.

After a brief pause, Naoki nodded decisively.

"I'll take it."

A permanent plot of land without ongoing taxes at this price? Missing out would be a regret

he'd carry forever.

"Great!" the staff member said, grinning. "Let's head back to the Land Administration Bureau to complete the registration. Once we log your details, this land will officially be yours.' Naoki didn't waste any time. He retrieved his bank card and returned to town with the staff. By

the time he left the bureau, his bank balance was nearly empty.

Even so, Naoki felt exhilarated.

The land across the river now officially belonged to the ranch.

He asked Koraidon to carry him across the river.

Standing on the vast expanse of green meadows, Naoki felt a thrill of excitement unlike

anything he'd experienced before.

"This is my land now,' he thought, his heart swelling with pride.

Naoki jumped off Koraidon and ran freely across the grass, arms spread wide like a child

savoring his first taste of freedom.

Koraidon, confused by Naoki's elation, squatted nearby, tilting its head curiously. After a moment of contemplation, it decided not to overthink things. It let out a loud roar of delight before bounding after Naoki, joyfully running across the field.

'What should I do with so much land?' Naoki wondered.

He envisioned a sprawling sheep ranch, a tropical dragon fruit orchard, rows of apple trees,

and vast farmland. But as these ambitious ideas swirled in his head, a logistical problem

surfaced.

Naoki slowed to a halt, his enthusiasm dampened slightly.

The expanded ranch was now so large that traveling across it on foot would be exhausting.

While he could ride Koraidon, future endeavors-like transporting harvested apples-would require a more practical solution.

I can't just hitch a cart to Koraidon like it's a farm horse, he thought, frowning.

He considered tractors, the staple of traditional farming. But then another idea struck him.

What about Revavroom, the Steel- and Poison-type Pokémon?

In the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet games, Revavroom was famously repurposed by Team Star as the engine and central component of their custom Starmobiles. Each Team Star boss modified their Revavroom to create powerful, battle-ready vehicles that reflected their

specialty type.

If adapted correctly, a Revavroom could function as a tractor for hauling produce on the ranch, given its impressive strength and versatility.

However, Naoki couldn't help but think about the unique challenges involved in repurposing a Pokémon like Revavroom for agricultural use. While Team Star had successfully turned their Revavrooms into vehicles, each Starmobile was highly customized for battle rather than practical tasks.

The thought of enlisting several powerful Pokémon for a humble task like farming felt absurd, akin to asking Groudon to till fields.

'Maybe this idea is a bit too ambitious,' Naoki mused, shaking his head. 'I'm getting ahead of

myself.'

For now, it was better to focus on the essentials. The land was his, but there wasn't a single

apple tree planted yet.

He reminded himself to take things one step at a time.

The immediate priority was setting up a wooden fence to enclose the new property and

building a bridge to connect the two plots of land.

With a determined nod, Naoki resolved to contact Kelly to begin the next phase of his ranch's

transformation.

...

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...

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