Pokemon: A New Path

"What's wrong?" Iono noticed Naoki's expression, a hint of concern on her face.

"It's nothing. Are you full? Let's head back to the castle."

"Okay, let's go!" Iono was already satisfied. She wiped the oil from Koraidon's mouth, then stood up.

The two of them thanked the restaurant owner and headed back toward the castle together.

The castle remained quiet, with only the old king and a few elder caretakers residing within.

That night, Naoki sat on the bed, helping Koraidon sharpen its claws and brushing the fur of Mew and Baby Bear. A sudden knock came at the door.

Curious, Naoki opened it to find Victini standing outside.

"Victini?"

Mew and Baby Bear flew forward, greeting their friend.

Victini looked at them with a downcast expression.

"Nini..."

"What's wrong? Aren't you happy to have seen the person you longed for?" Naoki asked.

"Nini!" Victini shook its head fiercely.

Of course not! It was just... a little sad. The old king currently had the past Victini beside him, and they hadn't yet gone through that tragic moment.

Using the power of Viridian, Naoki quickly grasped what Victini meant.

That... was a problem.

Now that the Victini from the future had returned to the past, there were two Victinis in this timeline. But the one beside the old king hadn't experienced loss or pain yet. So for Victini, this version of the old king wasn't truly the same.

Time paradoxes and alternate timelines, it all felt complicated.

"I see..."

"Mew..." Mew and Baby Bear looked at the saddened Victini with soft, worried eyes.

"Teddi" "What will you do now?" Baby Bear asked gently.

Victini glanced around at its companions, then took a deep breath and made a firm decision.

"Nini!"

It had told its past self to stay by the king's side. Now, it wanted to stop the conflict between the princes from ever erupting. That way, it could protect the king from the fate that had once taken him away.

Naoki stood in silence, understanding the weight of such a decision.

Changing the past... meant rewriting the future. He had seen it happen once during the Arceus incident, when Ash and the others altered history, the timeline corrected itself.

But if Victini changed the past, what would happen to its future self?

"If you go through with this, the future will be altered. The version of you that exists now could vanish due to the butterfly effect," Naoki warned.

Mew and Baby Bear looked startled. Even Koraidon grew somber, sensing the seriousness in the air.

"Ah gah..." it murmured.

Naoki didn't claim to fully understand the laws of time. But remembering what Professor Sada once told him about paradoxes, the risk was real.

Still, Victini stood firm.

"Nini... Nini!"

It had no regrets. Seeing the king one last time had been enough. Now, it only wanted to ensure the king would survive. That was its final wish.

Victini looked up at Naoki, Mew, and Baby Bear with hopeful, pleading eyes.

"..."

Everyone hesitated.

Mew and Baby Bear glanced at each other, then turned to Naoki.

"Have you really thought this through?" Naoki asked gently.

"Nini!" Victini nodded with conviction.

Naoki let out a long sigh, then finally said, "Alright. I'll help you."

Since this is Victini's wish, let them help it fulfill it!

Mew and Baby Bear were so sad they were about to cry.

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Naoki thought carefully, then comforted them:

"Don't be so nervous. The future is uncertain. In addition to that result, there's another possibility: Victini won't disappear. It may just gain an extra memory of this moment."

Just like Arceus. After Ash altered the past, Arceus suddenly remembered Ash.

"Nini..." Victini smiled, as if trying to comfort its two good friends, Mew and Baby Bear. "Nini!"

Then it looked at Naoki again. "Nini~!"

"You're welcome," Naoki said, smiling as he patted Victini on the head. "Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, we go stop the fight between the two princes."

"Nini!" Victini nodded firmly, grateful.

The enemy was Reshiram and Zekrom. Naoki worried about battling two Legendary Pokémon at once.

So, after Iono and the Pokémon fell asleep, Naoki quietly brought Koraidon to the castle terrace.

"Are you confident?" Naoki asked.

Koraidon nodded seriously. "Agas!"

It was strong now and determined to protect Naoki.

Long ago, when it was just a Cyclizar, it dreamed of being like Koraidon. It chased that image. Now it had become that powerful Pokémon. Now it could protect Naoki.

"Very good. Who cares if it's the Black Dragon or the White Dragon. We'll fight."

And with Victini on their side, they might stand a chance even if Reshiram and Zekrom fought together.

After all, Victini is the Pokémon of victory. They say the one who fights with Victini will always win.

It could generate infinite energy within its body and share it with what it touched.

"Agasi!"

Early the next morning, Naoki asked Iono, Baby Bear, and Mew to remain in the castle. He took Koraidon and Victini to see the old king and request he stop the princes.

The old king sat silently on his throne, his old eyes filled with fatigue.

"They've been chosen by the two dragons," he said. "The dragons possess unmatched wisdom and strength. Even Victini cannot match them."

He didn't ask it outright, but his eyes held the question: even knowing this, will you still go?

Naoki nodded and looked to Victini beside him.

"If they continue, the dragon vein energy will collapse. The earth will fall into ruin. The land of the People of the Earth will perish."

The old king's eyes widened.

"The People of the Earth... wiped out?"

"I don't know," Naoki admitted. "But the casualties were great. The land turned barren, and the remaining people scattered."

The old king's frail hands trembled.

What difference was there between that and the fall of a nation?

But he was old. He no longer had the strength to stop his grown sons.

Silence filled the throne room.

At last, the old king sighed and looked at Victini beside Naoki.

"If the war is stopped, Victini won't be so lonely in the future, right?"

"Nini..." Victini whispered.

The old king turned to Naoki. "Victini has great power. It will share it with your beast. I leave it to you."

"Nini!" Victini nodded determinedly.

"Where are the two princes?" Naoki asked.

"Their armies are gathered on the Vale Plains, east of the castle. You'll find them there."

The king paused and looked down at Victini with a gentle smile.

He reached out, touched its head, and said, "Victini, I had cookies made for you. Eat some before the battle."

"Nini~!"

Then, he turned to the Victini at his side and added with a smile, "You too go have some cookies

"Nini!"

The two Victini obediently left the hall together.

Suddenly, only Naoki, Koraidon, and the old king remained.

Under Naoki's gaze, the old king slowly spoke:

"Victini's lifespan is incredibly long. I, however, do not have much time left. When I pass, Victini may have to live alone for another thousand years."

He looked toward Naoki and his expression grew solemn.

"Traveler from the future… I have one last request of you, an old man's selfish wish."

"Please go ahead," Naoki said respectfully.

"In the future… if you find Victini again, please take care of it in my place. That way, perhaps it won't be lonely anymore."

...

Bonus Chapter