Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 338: Spectrier's Gambit, Glastrier's Grit



On March 24, 199 of the Alliance Calendar, the day before the horse racing competition, construction on the ranch was finally completed.

The ranch's boundaries had been greatly expanded, enclosed by freshly built wooden fences that gleamed under the sunlight. This new addition was now officially part of the ranch, marking a significant milestone for Naoki.

A river ran through the ranch, neatly dividing it into two distinct areas. A solid stone bridge now spanned the river, connecting the two sides and serving as a functional and scenic addition to the landscape.

The Psyducks, who normally resided on the far side of the river, were fascinated by the new bridge. They waddled across it with their usual dazed expressions, clutching their heads with their stubby wings.

One particularly curious Psyduck trotted across the bridge on its webbed feet. It paused at the other side, seemingly amazed that it had crossed the river without getting wet.

"Quack!" it cried in delight, then scurried back across the bridge to test its newfound discovery.

The Psyduck repeated the action, running across the bridge, then jumping into the river to wade back to the other side. Its antics quickly caught the attention of the other Psyducks, who eagerly joined in, treating the bridge as their latest toy.

Naoki, inspecting the new land with Alder, paused and rubbed his temples when he saw the Psyducks' antics.

"Hahaha!" Alder laughed heartily. "These Psyducks are hilarious!"

Naoki could only sigh, though a faint smile tugged at his lips.

The two continued their patrol, eventually reaching a grassy slope. Alder looked around, admiring the picturesque view. Overhead, a vast expanse of blue sky stretched endlessly, while the grassland below swayed rhythmically in the breeze, like a rolling green ocean.

Naoki studied the slope thoughtfully. He decided it would be perfect for raising Wooloo, a Pokémon known for its love of rolling around. The gentle incline would let them roll to their hearts' content.

The town's ranch did sell Wooloo, so he made a mental note to purchase some later. However, raising a Pokémon like Tropius would be more challenging. Tropius weren't available for sale in town because they weren't considered profitable for ranchers. Their bananas only ripened twice a year, making them a slow-yield investment.

If Naoki wanted a Tropius, he would need to find one in the wild and tame it himself. That task, however, would have to wait until after the horse racing competition and his upcoming trip to the Unova region.

In the afternoon, Naoki began special riding training to prepare for the horse racing competition. Upon hearing about the plan, Calyrex graciously offered its beloved steeds for Naoki's use.

Both Glastrier and Spectrier stepped forward, standing proudly before Naoki. They showed no signs of resistance, trusting Naoki implicitly. After all, Calyrex itself respected him, and Koraidon-a symbol of strength-was always lounging around the ranch. Their acceptance of him was natural.

Naoki gently patted both Pokémon on their heads. "Who wants to come with me to the competition? To race against other horse Pokémon and prove themselves as the strongest horse Pokémon in the world?"

Spectrier remained calm, its expression unreadable, while Glastrier's icy gaze sharpened. It snorted forcefully, clearly offended at the implication that it needed to prove its strength.

"The strongest horse Pokémon?" Glastrier huffed internally. "I already am the strongest. Who even doubts that?"

Memories of galloping across the Crown Tundra's snowfields flashed through its mind. Those who dared to challenge it back then hadn't even been born yet.

"Gla-hiss!" Glastrier neighed, its breath chilling the air.

Naoki chuckled. "I know you're powerful, but others don't know that yet. If you join the race and win, everyone will witness your strength. They'll see you as the most powerful horse Pokémon in the world."

Glastrier's imagination took flight. It pictured itself standing on a podium as a crowd of humans cheered its name. People would look at it with awe, chanting, "The strongest King Steed! You're amazing!" They would even build a shrine in its honor.

The mental image was too much for Glastrier to resist.

"Neighh!" it neighed, stamping its hooves excitedly.

Naoki grinned. "Then it's decided. Glastrier, we'll win this race together."

Glastrier nodded vigorously, clearly pleased with its decision.

However, at that moment, Spectrier grew visibly displeased.

It turned to glare at the Glastrier, its aura flaring up in protest:

"Neighhhh!"

The Glastrier turned sharply, returning the glare. 'What's the problem now?'

Spectrier, glowing faintly with an ethereal light, stomped a hoof and let out another challenging cry. It clearly believed this opportunity should belong to it instead.

Not one to back down, Glastrier retaliated, its icy power surging in response. A chill spread across the stable, and frost formed on the walls and floor at an alarming rate.

Alder, watching from nearby, grew visibly concerned. He leaned toward Naoki and whispered,

"Your two horses look like they're about to go at it!"

Naoki sighed deeply, feeling a headache creeping in.

The escalating tension between the two Pokémon was palpable, and Naoki quickly

intervened. "Stop it, both of you!"

But the two Pokémon were too locked in their standoff to heed his words.

Naoki crossed his arms and raised his voice. "If you keep this up, there'll be no carrots for

either of you next week!"

That got their attention. Both Pokémon immediately broke eye contact, their fiery and frosty glares dissipating. However, they now turned their intense gazes toward Naoki, their expressions clearly asking one question: 'Who are you going to choose?'

Naoki sighed again. The horse racing tournament allowed only one participant per trainer. He mulled over a solution before finally speaking. "How about this? We'll draw lots to decide. Whoever doesn't go this year can go next year. Fair enough?"

The two Pokémon hesitated, but eventually nodded in reluctant agreement.

Seeing their acceptance, Naoki went inside and retrieved two identical white bowls. Into one, he placed a pink Pecha Berry. Into the other, an Oran Berry. Then he carefully turned both bowls upside down and brought them out to the stables.

"Here's how it works," Naoki explained. "The Pokemon that picks the bowl with the Pecha Berry will get to compete this year. The one with the Oran Berry will go next year. No complaints, alright?"

Both Pokémon stared intently at the identical bowls, their large eyes filled with suspicion and hesitation. Neither wanted to make the first move, fearful of choosing incorrectly.

After what felt like an eternity, Spectrier finally stepped forward. It hesitated briefly before

gently tapping its hoof on the bowl to the right.

Glastrier immediately snorted in protest, stomping forward to nudge Spectrier aside. It

wanted that same bowl!

Naoki frowned, shaking his head firmly. "No stealing. First come, first served. Spectrier chose first, so the bowl on the right is off-limits."

Glastrier grumbled but begrudgingly backed off, its frosty demeanor cooling slightly.

Naoki crouched down and carefully lifted the right-hand bowl. Beneath it sat the pink Pecha

Berry, glinting softly in the sunlight.

"Well, there you have it," Naoki declared.

To confirm the result, he lifted the left-hand bowl as well. The blue Oran Berry sat within, signaling Glastrier's turn would have to wait until next year.

Glastrier huffed in frustration but didn't protest further. Spectrier, meanwhile, stood a little

taller, a faint, satisfied glow surrounding it.

"Congratulations, Spectrier! Don't be discouraged, Glastrier, it'll be your turn to shine nextn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

year," Naoki said warmly.

"Neighhhh~!" Spectrier couldn't contain the excitement in its eyes.

Glastrier, however, was furious. It snorted loudly, turned his head and pointed his butt at

Naoki, and flicked its tail in defiance, refusing to acknowledge him anymore.

Naoki sighed. "..."

Alder, observing the scene, tried hard to stifle his laughter. "Your Pokémon sure have some

big personalities!" he chuckled.

For a moment, Naoki was at a loss for words. He picked up the bowls and returned them to the

kitchen.

As he walked past the living room, Calyrex, who was comfortably watching television,

glanced over and casually asked, "So, who did you choose?"

"Spectrier," Naoki replied simply.

Calyrex nodded approvingly. "The speed of Spectrier surpasses that of Glastrier. It's a good

choice for a race. You can trust its ability."

Naoki paused mid-step, a flicker of curiosity crossing his mind. He turned back and asked, "By the way, when you and your steeds roamed the lands of Galar, did the other one ever get upset when you chose to ride just one of them?"

Calyrex appeared slightly surprised by the question. He pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I never encountered such behavior. When I rode one, the other would simply stay at

my dwelling and patiently await my return."

Naoki nodded thoughtfully. "Well, Spectrier won the lot and got the chance to race, and now

Glastrier's throwing a tantrum."

Calyrex chuckled heartily. "It seems my beloved Glastrier has grown quite attached to you.

Such behavior is unusual-it truly shows how much it cares for you."

Naoki rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, unsure how to respond. Calyrexs gaze softened, and his voice grew nostalgic. "Each of my horses has a distinct temperament. Spectrier is quiet, solitary, and aloof, rarely interacting with others. Glastrier, on the other hand, is direct and forceful-it will seize anything it desires without hesitation. For it to merely sulk instead of acting out aggressively? That surprises even me."

Naoki silently speculated whether Koraidon's calming presence nearby might have influenced Glastrier's behavior. Still, the sight of Glastrier's sulky defiance left him feeling a twinge of

guilt.

Determined to make amends, he headed to Glaceon's ice cellar and filled a basket with chilled ice carrots. He poured them into Glastrier's feeding trough as a peace offering. Glastrier was still angry. It was fine at first, but when it saw him coming, it immediately

turned around and turned its butt towards him.

Naoki sighed deeply. "...Never mind."

Deciding it was best to leave Glastrier be for now, Naoki led Spectrier to the open meadow on

the far side of the river. Mounting the sleek, ghostly steed, he held the reins steady, allowing himself to adjust to the new experience.

Riding a horse felt noticeably different from riding Koraidon or Cyclizar. Spectrier's tall,

graceful frame moved with a fluidity that required balance and focus. If it were to sprint at full speed, even a small misstep could send an experienced rider tumbling. While humans in the Pokémon world had remarkably resilient physiques-able to endure falls and other physical impacts far better than in Naoki's previous life-minor injuries like scrapes and bruises were still a concern.

Naoki couldn't help but reflect on his inexperience. Before this, he had never ridden a horse. In

his previous life as a corporate slave, his days were spent navigating the gray urban jungle of

concrete and steel. He'd never had the chance to experience the vast, open prairies or the exhilaration of horseback riding.

Naoki had learned all his riding skills from the Calyrex. The techniques had been passed on

when the two legendary steeds first arrived at the ranch.

Now, with his legs firmly gripping Spectrier's sides and the reins steady in his hands, the spectral horse moved gracefully, breaking into a gallop across the open grasslands.

The horse racing competitions in the Pokémon world were unique. Unlike traditional races,

participants were allowed-and often encouraged to use their Pokémon's moves during the event. As Naoki rode, he explained the rules to Spectrier.

"There will be a lot of horse Pokémon competing in the race," Naoki said, gently stroking

Spectrier's mane. "The participants are allowed to use their moves during the race. It won't just be about speed-you'll need to be strategic."

Spectrier neighed in acknowledgment, its luminous blue mane flowing like a stream of light

as it ran.

He began running through the list of moves Spectrier had mastered: Double Kick, Hex, Stomp, Confuse Ray, Haze, Shadow Ball, Agility, Tackle, Freeze Dry, Dark Pulse. "Double Kick can fend off Pokémon trying to get too close. Confuse Ray can disorient the

others, and Stomp will slow down anyone in your way," Naoki mused aloud. "Haze will be useful to nullify stat boosts from other Pokémon."

As he strategized, confidence began to grow in his heart. With Spectrier's speed and its

arsenal of moves, their chances of winning were high.

The afternoon passed quickly as Naoki and Spectrier practiced tirelessly. They worked on

maneuvers to avoid incoming attacks and combinations of moves that would maintain their momentum while disrupting their opponents.

When their training session finally ended, Naoki led Spectrier back to the stable. As he

approached, he noticed that the basket of ice carrots he had left for Glastrier earlier had been

completely devoured.

Glastrier, however, was still irritable. It snorted loudly and stamped its hooves as if

demanding more.

Shaking his head, Naoki fetched another basket of frozen carrots from the ice cellar. The

frosty treat immediately pacified Glastrier, whose demeanor softened as it munched happily on the new snack.

"This one..." Naoki sighed. "I swear you eat more than all the other Pokémon combined."

With Glastrier content, Naoki returned to the living room. After dinner, he prepared a fruit platter for Farfetch'd, who had been diligently practicing its leek swordsmanship.

As Naoki settled on the sofa with Alder, they flipped on the television to relax for the evening.

Farfetch'd sat nearby, balancing its leek with an intense focus as it pecked at its fruit platter. Naoki couldn't help but smile ruefully as he observed the determined Pokémon. It had been a rough journey for Farfetch'd. Despite all its training and attempts to learn new moves, it often ended up forgetting them just as quickly as it mastered them.

The worst was when Farfetch'd had cycled through so many moves that it accidentally erased

everything it knew, leaving it with nothing. For a brief, laughable moment, it had become a completely blank slate-a Farfetch'd armed with nothing but sheer determination and its trusty leek.

But the setbacks only seemed to fuel its resolve. Farfetch'd refused to give up, treating every failure as an opportunity to improve.

Every day after finishing its fruit platter, Farfetch'd would grab its leek and dash to the

wooden dummy, practicing relentlessly. The rhythmic clangs of its strikes echoed across the ranch as it worked tirelessly to perfect its moves.

Today was no different. Farfetch'd eagerly ran to the training dummy, its determination unwavering. Naoki watched from a distance, wondering how long this journey of relentless training would continue for his feisty Pokémon.

As he pondered, Ogerpon approached, its mask shimmering softly in the evening light. Its

bright eyes sparkled with anticipation as it called out, "Pon?"

Naoki smiled, immediately understanding Ogerpon's thoughts. "Of course, you can come with us," he said warmly.

"Pon!" Ogerpon cried joyfully, clasping its hands together in excitement.

Naoki added, "I'll be riding Spectrier during the event tomorrow. You'll stay with Koraidon."

"Mr. Alder, I'll be counting on you to look after them while I'm participating."

Alder thumped his chest in reassurance. "Leave it to me! By the way, Ogerpon-is it a

Pokémon from the Paldea region?"

Naoki shook his head. "No, I met Ogerpon in Kitakami. It wasn't happy there, so I brought it back to the ranch."

Alder's eyes widened in amazement. "The diversity of Pokémon in this world never ceases to

amaze me." After their conversation, Alder decided to take his Volcarona and a few other Pokémon to the Pokémon Tavern, joining the Indeedee siblings for some drinks.

Naoki returned to his room and settled at his desk. With a determined expression, he opened

his notebook and began sketching ideas for a revolutionary device: a smartphone. Drawing from his experience working at a gaming company in his previous life, Naoki outlined his vision for the Rotom Phone.

On a piece of paper, he carefully illustrated the phone's design, marking the locations for essential features like the smart touchscreen, camera, and other components. He also detailed the potential functions of the phone, emphasizing its utility for trainers. "The old-fashioned Pokémon encyclopedia is destined to be replaced," Naoki murmured as he sketched. "The Rotom Phone will be indispensable for trainers."

He envisioned a device that went far beyond the capabilities of the traditional Pokémon encyclopedias. Combining functions like Pokémon data storage, photography, online forums, navigation, and seamless communication, the Rotom Phone would transform the way trainers traveled and interacted with the world.

...

Bonus chapter @3000 PS