Pokemon: A Different Path

Naoki immediately recognized Professor Oak.

Smiling, Naoki greeted him, "I've seen you on TV! Hello, Professor Oak!"

Professor Oak nodded warmly, quickly understanding the reference. "Ah, the TV lecture series! The station invited me to provide some educational material for young trainers."

These lectures were designed to introduce Pokémon to children under ten, cultivating interest and knowledge before their journeys began. As an authoritative figure in Pokémon research, Oak's programs aired across various regions, bridging the gap for children eager to learn.

After exchanging pleasantries, Professor Oak's curiosity turned sharply toward the Pokémon gathered around Naoki. His eyes lit up with a mixture of academic intrigue and childlike excitement.

"Would you mind if I examined your Pokémon?" Oak asked eagerly.

Naoki smiled and gestured toward them. "Be my guest."

Professor Oak wasted no time, stepping closer to Koraidon. The Pokémon's vibrant red scales shimmered in the moonlight, its muscular frame a testament to its strength.

"This one is remarkable! Dense, protective scales and... is that a tire on its chest?" Oak crouched, poking at the air-filled sac on Koraidon's chest.

Koraidon seemed startled by Oak's unceremonious inspection. It stepped back, looking flustered, then suddenly transformed into its combat-ready, bipedal form. Its towering posture and rippling muscles exuded an aura of power.

"Ah, gah!" Koraidon roared, the sound deep and resonant.

Oak and Lance both flinched in shock. "It changed form?!" Oak exclaimed, his excitement only growing.

Naoki stepped forward, gently patting Koraidon's shoulder. "Calm down," he said softly.

Koraidon obeyed, reverting to its more docile mount form.

Naoki explained, "This is Koraidon. It's a rare Pokémon from the Paldea region, first discovered and named by Professor Sada and Dr. Turo."

"Koraidon..." Professor Oak repeated thoughtfully. He crouched again, observing the Pokémon with great interest. "Fascinating! And its ability to shift forms—truly remarkable."

Koraidon nodded enthusiastically. "Ah, gah!"

The loud roar made Oak wince and cover his ears. "Alright, alright! I understand!" he said with a chuckle.

Satisfied, Koraidon stopped roaring, and Oak turned his attention to the other Pokémon. His eyes fell on Ogerpon, who had been bouncing around happily.

"This one—was I correct in observing that it can change its type depending on the mask it wears?" Oak inquired.

Naoki nodded. "Exactly. This is Ogerpon, and the masks it uses contain a unique energy called Terastal Energy, which originates in Paldea. This energy allows Ogerpon to shift its type depending on the mask."

"Terastal Energy..." Oak murmured, intrigued. "The ability to change types—remarkable! I wasn't aware Paldea had access to such extraordinary phenomena."

Ogerpon, excited by Oak's interest, danced around in joy. "Oge!" it chirped, its voice cheerful and infectious.

Oak smiled warmly and returned the greeting. "Hello, Ogerpon!"

"Pon~" Ogerpon responded, even more delighted. Its happiness was contagious, as it twirled and hopped around the group.

Watching Ogerpon's cheerful demeanor, Naoki felt a pang of emotion. He recalled its difficult past but reminded himself that those days were behind them. Ogerpon was safe and happy now, surrounded by friends.

Professor Oak's attention then shifted to Pawmot, who stood nearby in its superhero-inspired cape and wielding a hammer. The sight immediately reminded Oak of a certain movie franchise he had once seen.

Chuckling, Oak knelt and greeted Pawmot. "Hello, little hero!"

Pawmot froze for a moment when he heard the stranger call him a hero, and then a bashful expression spread across his face.

In a blur, he zipped behind Naoki, clearly embarrassed.

Naoki chuckled. "This Pokémon is called Pawmot. The costume it's wearing was specially made by me."

Professor Oak smiled warmly. "Pawmo, you say? Well, it's certainly brimming with energy!"

Having introduced the Pokémon nearby, Professor Oak suddenly paused and looked around. "Where's that ethereal Pokémon I saw earlier? The one that looked like Misdreavus. It was just here, wasn't it?"

Naoki froze, quickly glancing around the area. Sure enough, Flutter Mane was nowhere to be seen. Concern flickered across his face.

Turning to the other Pokémon, Naoki asked if anyone had noticed where Flutter Mane had gone. The Pokémon, engrossed in their chatter with Professor Oak, shook their heads, oblivious to what had happened.

This isn't good, Naoki thought, frowning deeply.

Noticing Naoki's unease, Professor Oak asked gently, "Is something wrong? It couldn't have wandered far. We can search the manor for it."

Naoki hesitated before responding, "Flutter Mane is a bit… different. It has a more cautious and unpredictable temperament than most Pokémon. I'm worried it might have been startled by something and could unintentionally hurt someone."

After all, this unfamiliar environment must feel overwhelming for Flutter Mane.

Thinking quickly, Naoki turned to Pawmot. "Pawmot, can you fly around the manor and see if you can spot Flutter Mane? Pay special attention to any dark or quiet areas."

"Pamo!" Pawmot nodded firmly before taking to the skies.

Although neither Professor Oak nor Lance fully understood the situation, they immediately offered their help. "We'll assist you in searching," they said.

Together, the group, accompanied by their Pokémon, began scouring the manor.

...

Meanwhile, on the manor's third floor, far from the party's liveliness, a low, eerie crying sound echoed from a dark room. The sound was faint, like a baby's wail, yet unnervingly hollow.

Flutter Mane, who had been feeling peckish and was casually hunting for something edible, paused. Its curiosity piqued by the sound, it floated toward the source.

The room's windows were wide open, and the wind stirred the curtains, creating a ghostly atmosphere. The cries grew louder as Flutter Mane approached the room.

Hovering near the open window, Flutter Mane peered inside, its eyes narrowing with suspicion. The cries became more distinct, yet the room appeared completely empty.

'Fluur'. 'Where is that sound coming from?' Flutter Mane thought, puzzled.

Drawn by its curiosity, Flutter Mane floated cautiously into the room.

The moment it entered, the crying stopped, only to start again moments later, louder and more insistent. The wails seemed to beg the intruder to delve deeper.

As an ancient predator, Flutter Mane's instincts kicked in. Its senses sharpened, and it realized the truth—this was no ordinary cry. It was a lure.

With practiced stealth, Flutter Mane slipped into the shadows, silently moving behind the ornate sofa in the center of the room.

Peering around the sofa's edge, Flutter Mane spotted the source of the sound: a peculiar Pokémon. It had a dark green, slightly luminescent body, a hairstyle resembling eerie flames, and a string of red beads hanging prominently around its neck.

Yet something about the Pokémon felt oddly familiar.

Flutter Mane's sharp eyes noted the mischievous glint in the Pokémon's gaze, even as it feigned sorrow with its crying. Its expression gave away its intent—it was waiting for prey to approach.

'Fluur'. 'This Pokémon looks like… me?' Flutter Mane thought, perplexed. A smaller, younger version, perhaps?

Emerging from the shadows, Flutter Mane revealed itself without a sound.

The crying stopped abruptly.

The Pokémon finally sensed something amiss and whipped its head around with a startled expression. In that instant, two vastly different gazes locked.

Flutter Mane: (●_●)

Misdreavus: Σ(°△°|||)︴

The Misdreavus, who had been plotting a prank to scare humans, froze in terror before abruptly turning tail and bolting from the room. In its panic, it clumsily knocked over a decorative vase, which shattered on the floor with a loud crash.

Flutter Mane, however, remained calm and composed. As a Pokémon that had spent much of its life in solitude, it felt little interest in meddling with the affairs of other Pokémon, particularly this mischievous little one.

It prepared to leave, but then an image of Naoki flashed in its mind.

If it were Naoki, Flutter Mane thought, he would have helped this juvenile Pokémon without hesitation. During its time at the ranch, Flutter Mane had come to realize how Naoki and the others—especially Koraidon—made great efforts to teach it about this world, ensuring it felt welcomed and integrated.

This was a chance to prove it had been paying attention and learning from them.

Determined, Flutter Mane gave chase.

The Misdreavus fled as fast as it could but risked a glance over its shoulder. To its horror, the "scary big Pokémon" was gaining on it. Misdreavus' nerves were so frayed it felt like it might faint from fright.

'Help! Someone save me!'

Misdreavus zoomed through the air, desperately seeking an escape route. Yet before it could find one, the towering figure of Flutter Mane swooped in, its sharp wing claws gently but firmly capturing the panicked ghost.

The little Misdreavus froze in terror, not daring to move.

Flutter Mane didn't move either, as it appeared to be contemplating what to do next. It mulled over everything it had observed at the ranch, attempting to recall the steps Naoki took when caring for younger Pokémon.

Gradually, the trembling Misdreavus calmed down, realizing that the large Pokémon wasn't harming it. Gathering its courage, it finally spoke in a small voice, "Mis…dreavus?" (What are you going to do?)

Flutter Mane's eyes flickered as it remembered something from a show it had watched with the other Pokémon on the ranch—a program called Pokémon World. It had explained the process by which wild Pokémon formed relationships, raised their young, and cared for them.

Now, how did those Pokémon in the show handle situations like this?

Before Flutter Mane could piece it all together, Misdreavus' stomach let out a loud rumble.

The smaller Pokémon cringed, clutching its midsection in embarrassment. "M-Misdreavus…" (I'm…hungry.)

It explained that its plan had been to frighten humans and absorb their fear to sate its hunger, but things hadn't gone according to plan. Instead of humans, it had attracted this intimidating Pokémon.

Hearing this, Flutter Mane nodded in understanding. Its mind clicked—it remembered the first rule of caring for younger Pokémon: feed them.

Reaching into a hidden stash of berries it kept for emergencies, Flutter Mane offered a few to the Misdreavus. It mimicked the gentle care it had seen Naoki exhibit, nudging the fruit toward the smaller Pokémon.

Misdreavus hesitated but was too hungry to refuse. Though it didn't particularly enjoy the taste of the berries, it ate them anyway, grateful for the gesture.

Seeing that the little one had eaten, Flutter Mane appeared satisfied. It released Misdreavus but continued to watch it carefully, its intense gaze silently instructing the smaller Pokémon to stay put.

Misdreavus didn't dare move.

Just then, Flutter Mane heard the distant call of Pawmot searching for it. It glanced in the direction of the sound, then turned back to Misdreavus. With a tilt of its head, it gestured for the little ghost to follow.

The Misdreavus didn't dare to run. It could sense that the towering Pokémon in front of it was far more intimidating than it appeared. If it tried to escape, it would likely be caught in an instant.

Under such circumstances, it decided it was better not to provoke this enigmatic figure.

When Pawmo finally led Flutter Mane back to Naoki, the trainer was surprised to see a nervous Misdreavus trailing cautiously behind Flutter Mane, its large eyes darting around nervously.

Naoki tilted his head in confusion. "What's this?" he asked.

Flutter Mane's response was simple, its tone steady: "Flurr." (A child.)

Professor Oak, who had been observing the entire exchange, leaned closer and chuckled with fascination. "Ah, this Pokémon—Flutter Mane, as you call it—seems to be caring for the Misdreavus as if it were its offspring."

Naoki's eyes widened in disbelief. "Offspring?" He glanced at Flutter Mane, noting its composed expression. 'That can't be right. Paradox Pokémon like Flutter Mane don't lay eggs, do they?'

Yet, Flutter Mane's demeanor didn't waver. If anything, its calm, unspoken confidence only deepened Naoki's confusion.

A thought suddenly struck Naoki, something that had been brewing in his mind for a while. 'Could Paradox Pokémon like Flutter Mane not be fantastical creations or fabricated legends?'

'Could it be possible that Paradox Pokémon were once real creatures—ancient beings that roamed the world like dinosaurs in prehistoric times? Over millennia, had they gone extinct, leaving behind no evidence of their existence except for the peculiar glimpses provided by Area Zero?' 

'Or was there an even stranger explanation?'

'Could the so-called time machine have brought these Pokémon from another dimension entirely—an alternate reality where their evolutionary paths diverged from anything known in this world?'

As Naoki mused, Professor Oak's voice cut through his thoughts. "Flutter Mane… Could it be a unique form of Misdreavus found in the Paldea region? Fascinating! It's much larger than any Misdreavus I've ever seen."

Naoki frowned. He didn't have the answers. Instead, he reached into his backpack, pulled out a handful of seed crisps, and munched on them. After a moment, he asked Flutter Mane,

"What's the story with this Misdreavus?"

Flutter Mane seemed to hesitate for a moment before replying with its characteristic simplicity. "Flurr." (A child, alone, crying. I helped it.)

Naoki: "..."

Naoki sighed, rubbing the back of his head as he turned to Flutter Mane. His expression was a mix of exasperation and amusement.

"It's not a child," he explained patiently. "Even though you two look similar, you're not the same kind of Pokémon."

Flutter Mane tilted its head in visible confusion. "Flurr?" (Not a child?)

Naoki nodded, crouching slightly to meet Flutter Mane's gaze. "That Pokémon is called Misdreavus. It's just how they look."

Turning to the timid Misdreavus hovering nearby, Naoki offered an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry for the misunderstanding. Flutter Mane didn't mean any harm. It thought you were a baby and wanted to take care of you. It really had good intentions, even if it got a little carried away."

The Misdreavus puffed up indignantly but, noticing Naoki's calm demeanor and sincerity slowly relaxed. With a huff, it responded, "Misdreavus!" (I'm not a baby! But… since it didn't mean any harm, I'll let it go this time!)

After its declaration, the Misdreavus darted off, floating away with a dramatic flair as if it had made a grand gesture of forgiveness.

Flutter Mane made no move to stop it. Instead, it simply watched the smaller Pokémon disappear with a puzzled look. Its expression made it clear that Naoki's explanation had only left it more confused.

Lance and Professor Oak, who had observed the entire exchange, were stunned. Both men exchanged glances before Professor Oak broke the silence.

"Wait a moment… Were you just talking to a Pokémon?" Oak asked, his tone laced with disbelief.

Naoki straightened, meeting the professor's astonished gaze. Without hesitation, he nodded, his demeanor calm and matter-of-fact. "That's right. It's one of my abilities."

"An ability..." Professor Oak murmured, stroking his chin as he pondered. The first thing that came to mind was the Tokiwa Power, a rare ability said to be bestowed upon individuals born near Viridian Forest. Those blessed with it were rumored to be able to sense the emotions of Pokémon and even heal their injuries.

Lance, however, thought of something different. His family's ancient legend spoke of the power to control dragons. This power, granted to only a chosen few, was said to enhance a person's affinity with Dragon-type Pokémon, allowing them to bond with and command these powerful creatures effortlessly.

As both men silently contemplated Naoki's ability, Flutter Mane glanced at Naoki again, seemingly waiting for further clarification. Naoki, however, simply smiled at his Pokémon.

"Don't worry about it," he said, patting its head gently. "You did fine." 

________

Posting this chapter to let you know that I'll be releasing one chapter daily on Patreon, just like I used to on Webnovel. These posts will be free for everyone, so you won't need a subscription to read them. I'll continue this until all the chapters are fully uploaded on Scribble hub