Pokemon: A New Path

October 28, League Calendar Year 203

It was a bright and breezy morning when Naoki, Elara, and a few of their Pokémon companions arrived in Hau'oli City, the largest city in the Alola region and a vibrant hub of joy, peace, and tropical charm.

Hau'oli City was divided into three main zones.

First was the beach district, a sparkling stretch of coastline where tourists gathered year-round to soak in the sun.

Next came the commercial district at the heart of the city, a lively zone brimming with fashion, desserts, local crafts, and crowds of beachgoers wearing bikinis, shades, and infectious smiles.

And finally, the bustling port district, where boats constantly ferried people between Alola's islands.

That morning, Naoki and the others had arrived in Hau'oli by boat. After disembarking, they enjoyed a satisfying breakfast at a sunny café nestled in the commercial center. Then, dressed in light, breezy outfits perfect for a day at the seaside, they headed straight for the beach, the highlight of their trip.

Golden sand stretched beneath their feet.

The sun shone brightly overhead.

The sea sparkled with a brilliance unique to Alola.

A warm, salty breeze carried the scent of salt and flowers. People and Pokémon strolled lazily along the shore. Laughter filled the air. Kids with inflatable Psyduck floaties giggled and splashed in the shallows while Wingull soared overhead in wide, lazy arcs.

Out in the shallow waters near the beach, several Lapras could be seen leisurely gliding through the sea, each one carrying a child on its back. The gentle Pokémon moved with grace, as if they were playing along with the laughter of their passengers.

Lapras, an Ice and Water-type Pokémon, had a beautiful sea-blue body and a gray, shell-like back. Its cry was as melodious as a lullaby drifting across the waves.

In Paldea, Lapras were considered a rare sight.

So when Iono spotted them, her eyes immediately sparkled. "Honey, look! Lapras! There are so many of them here!"

Naoki held Elara gently in his arms, smiling as he turned toward the sea. "That's pretty normal. In Alola, Lapras aren't rare at all."

In other regions, Lapras had once been driven to near extinction due to overfishing and illegal poaching. Fortunately, in recent years, Pokémon Leagues around the world had prioritized their protection.

And in Alola, where the ocean's ecosystem remained pristine, conservation efforts had led to something of a population boom.

Too much of a good thing, some might say.

Naoki lowered Elara onto the soft sand, supporting her as she practiced standing on her own.

The little one, who hadn't traveled far from home before, was quickly distracted by the soft, powdery sand beneath her feet.

With wide eyes, she squatted down, scooped up a handful of sand with both hands, and gasped with joy. "Wow!"

Naoki chuckled. "Go ahead and play."

Tiring of standing, Elara plopped herself down and began happily sifting sand through her tiny fingers, giggling at the texture.

Naoki sat nearby, leaning back and soaking in the Alolan sunshine, a picture of peaceful contentment.

Not far away, several of their Pokémon were enjoying themselves too.

Ogerpon and Gholdengo were running wild along the shore, their footprints trailing behind as they playfully chased each other through the sand.

The group of Eeveelutions had gathered into a tight huddle, whispering and mumbling amongst themselves, clearly up to something.

Naoki called out to them, and they all turned toward him in unison.

Only then did he notice what they'd been doing, digging a massive hole in the sand.

He blinked. "What in the world…"

But then he smiled. "Well, if that's what keeps you entertained."

His gaze shifted to the other Pokémon.

Dragonite and Pawmot were no strangers to beach life. They had played on the shore back during the summer fireworks festival in Kosaji Town a few years ago.

So, even with Alola's stunning coastline, the two weren't overly impressed.

Dragonite lay sprawled on the beach like a lounging king, eyes closed as it basked in the sun.

Pawmot, however, had taken a more hands-on approach to vacation.

At that moment, it had lifted a tiny, three-year-old child off the sand, one who had clearly wandered off and lost sight of their parents.

"Pawmo!"

Naoki. "…" Love this story? Show support at MV2LEMPYR.

He quickly stood up, brushing sand off his legs, and rushed over.

He contacted the beach manager and asked him to make an announcement over the loudspeaker to help locate the child's parents.

Soon, a young couple came running over, their faces full of tears and gratitude. They scooped their child into their arms and bowed deeply to Naoki.

"Thank you so much!"

Naoki smiled and waved his hand. "Don't thank me, thank my Pokémon! It was the one who found your child."

They quickly turned to Pawmot, their hearts filled with appreciation. "Thank you, thank you!"

In response, they handed the Pawmot several ice creams as a gesture of thanks.

Pawmot, a bit bashful from all the praise, rubbed the back of its head shyly.

Then, with a small shake of its body, it declined the treats, donned its signature red cape with flair, and leapt into the air. With a spark of energy, it began patrolling the beach from above, scanning the area to see if any more lost children or Pokémon needed help.

Naoki chuckled softly at the sight.

Right beside him, Koraidon lay sprawled out in the sun. It hadn't moved much at all. The massive Dragon had its head resting lazily on its forepaws, eyes closed in what looked like a light nap, clearly enjoying the warmth and peace of the seaside.

Just then, Iono came running over, Misdreavus floating beside her and her Cyclizar racing ahead excitedly.

Cyclizar zoomed up to Naoki with a cheerful cry, "Gaao!"

It dropped a bright blue frisbee at his feet, the one Iono had just bought at the beach shop, and looked up at him expectantly, tail wagging.

"Looks like Cyclizar wants to play!" Iono said, beaming. She held up her Rotom Phone and added, "I'm going to record this perfect beach day!"

Naoki nodded with a grin. "Sounds good."

He stood up and picked up the frisbee, glancing at Cyclizar. "Ready?"

"Gaao!" Cyclizar bobbed its head enthusiastically, crouching slightly like an athlete preparing to dash.

"Alright, go!" Naoki shouted, and with a powerful flick of his wrist, he sent the frisbee soaring across the sand.

Cyclizar shot forward like a streak of lightning, dashing across the beach in perfect sync with the frisbee's arc. Before the disc could hit the ground, it leapt up, caught it cleanly in its jaws, and turned back in one smooth motion.

Rotom Phone buzzed softly as Iono recorded the entire scene. She panned the camera slowly, first catching the Pokémon relaxing and playing on the beach, then centering the frame on Naoki and Cyclizar's game.

"Hey hey, today is October 28th, Year 203 of the League Calendar!" Iono narrated excitedly. "We're out here playing on the beach, and everyone's having such a great time! Look at that! Cyclizar caught the frisbee, so cool!"

Her voice was bright and full of joy as she documented the moment, tracking Cyclizar's return with the frisbee through her camera.

She wasn't just recording for fun. Deep down, Iono wanted to preserve these memories, these peaceful, happy days.

Someday, when she and Naoki were old and gray, she hoped they could sit down together and watch these videos, reliving every smile and sunny afternoon.

In the frame, Cyclizar returned proudly, dropping the frisbee into Naoki's hands. He gave it a gentle pat on the head and praised it with a soft smile.

Though there was no audio in the video, you could see the warmth in his expression and the connection between them.

Not far away, Koraidon had rolled onto its side. It was now lying on its belly, eyes half-lidded, watching everything unfold with a calm gaze.