Pokemon: A New Path-A World Without You- I [560]

White mist surged all around, spilling across the ground until it covered Naoki's calves. The world had vanished into a featureless sea of pale fog, just endless white stretching from earth to sky.

Naoki stood still, brows furrowed in thought.

This had to be Tapu Fini's doing. Its signature fog, capable of conjuring illusions and disorienting outsiders, was notorious.

But… this?

This felt far stronger than anything shown in the anime.

'Could it be that the Tapu Fini depicted on screen had concealed its true power? Or was the guardian deity even more formidable than he'd imagined?'

And then there was the glowing gate.

That strange, shimmering doorway standing silently in the mist was that also part of Tapu Fini's ability?

Naoki's eyes narrowed as he considered the possibilities. This was beyond anything he'd expected. And what about his Pokémon?

His hand shot instinctively toward the Poké Balls clipped at his side.

Empty.

Dragonite and Gogoat were both gone.

Naoki's pulse quickened. "They disappeared too…"

'Was this… all part of Tapu Fini's illusion?'

"Is that glowing doorway some kind of trial space? A place of punishment?" he muttered.

Dozens of questions swirled in his mind.

After a moment's hesitation, he turned and broke into a run, heading in the opposite direction, hoping to find the edge of the fog.

Ten minutes passed.

Nothing changed.

No matter how far he ran, the mist never thinned, never shifted. The glowing portal remained ahead of him, unmoved, like he'd been running in place.

"A mist labyrinth…" Naoki whispered, winded.

The luminous doorway still shimmered softly at the heart of the fog, waiting.

He clenched his jaw.

He was trapped.

With a grim sigh, he reached into his jacket pocket for his Rotom Phone, only to find it missing.

Even his phone was gone.

"Figures… Tapu Fini really wants me to go through that door."

Naoki looked at the light once more.

He remembered the scene from the anime, when Tapu Fini had grown furious after Kiawe's Pokémon battle damaged the land near the Ruins of Hope. But even then, the guardian hadn't lashed out in cruelty.

Instead, it had created a trial, a vision that helped resolve unspoken grief.

And when Kiawe faced that vision, Tapu Fini's rage had subsided.

"So this might be my test too," Naoki murmured.

If he passed, he could probably rescue Koraidon, Pawmot, and his other partners.

He drew in a slow breath, steeled himself, and stepped into the light.

—

The world shifted.

Suddenly, he found himself seated in a familiar office under artificial lighting. The glow of neon signs blinked through the tall glass windows.

A bustling modern city spread beyond the tower's edge.

Naoki blinked groggily and sat up.

He was in his old workplace.

"Did I doze off…?"

He rubbed his sore eyes and glanced at the clock. Half past ten at night.

"Late again," he muttered.

Of course, he'd fallen asleep at his desk, overtime again, chasing a little extra pay that never seemed worth it.

The floor was eerily quiet.

The entire office was empty.

"Seriously… no one thought to wake me?"

He sighed, stood up, and stretched his arms. His back ached from the chair, and the silence only deepened his sense of isolation.

Grabbing his phone and shoulder bag, he trudged toward the elevators and made his way down to the street.

Outside, the city shimmered under fluorescent lights. Towering buildings, bright signs, the quiet hum of traffic. All so familiar. Too familiar.

Naoki headed for the subway.

The last train home was about to leave.

There weren't many passengers on the subway this late at night. Outside the windows, only darkness stretched endlessly, reflecting a faint and weary face in the glass.

Naoki stared blankly at his own reflection. A strange sensation welled up inside him, a gnawing feeling that he'd forgotten something important.

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But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember what it was.

Shaking his head, he sighed. "I must be overworked…"

Lately, the company had been crunching on a new game project, one Naoki had the misfortune of leading.

The game's title? Cooking Master.

It was, frankly, garbage.

A shallow, pay-to-win cooking simulator dressed up with flashy graphics and gacha mechanics, tricking players into spending money under the guise of food-themed fantasy.

Naoki grimaced, thinking of the game's absurd setting.

In Cooking Master, the player was granted magical culinary powers. The food they cooked wasn't just for eating; it granted buffs, boosted attributes, or triggered bizarre magical effects. The more extravagant the dish, the stronger the benefits.

Dishes were rated on a scale from F- to SSS, like many other cash-grab games. And of course, the only way to get top-tier ingredients or rare recipes was through—what else?—lottery draws.

"Why am I still thinking about work…" Naoki muttered, rubbing his temple.

Just then, the train pulled into his station.

Naoki got off, trudged back to his rented apartment, and went through the usual routine; wash up, throw on comfy clothes, and sink into his bed.

He reached for his Nintendo Switch.

The comforting startup jingle played as he launched Pokémon Scarlet. A smile tugged at his lips as his favorite partners appeared on-screen.

"If only Pokémon really existed in this world."

With a wistful sigh, Naoki opened the camp menu. He began grooming his Koraidon and the rest of his team, watching their happy expressions as he scrubbed away dirt and dust. Then they gathered around and started preparing sandwiches together.

It was peaceful. Heartwarming.

After finishing up camp chores, Naoki finally turned to the task he'd been meaning to do tonight.

The main story was already complete, and just the other day, he'd caught a Kubfu. Now, he needed to head to Porto Marinada for the auction, where he hoped to snag the evolution item Kubfu needed to become Urshifu.

He teleported to the coastal town and hopped onto Koraidon, riding straight toward the bustling market.

But as he entered the plaza, a strange sensation hit him, sharper this time.

That feeling again.

Like something important was slipping through his fingers.

Naoki came to a sudden stop.

His heart thudded.

'What was it…?'

Why did it feel like he was forgetting something real?

He stood there in the middle of the crowd, the buzz of the auction swirling around him, unmoving.

Was it just his imagination?

...

In Kosaji, within a quiet little home, a baby Cyclizar, barely two months old, slowly opened his eyes from a deep slumber.

Curled beside him was his mother, a gentle Cyclizar, who watched him with soft, loving eyes.

Cyclizar blinked slowly, still dazed from sleep, gazing up at her with a vacant look. The little dragon didn't seem fully awake.

His mother tilted her head in concern. "Gaooo?"

She blinked again, then seemed to realize something.

Ah! Her baby must have had a nightmare.

With a soft coo, the mother Cyclizar gently nuzzled baby Cyclizar's head, comforting him the only way she knew how.

The little Cyclizar leaned into her, whispering quietly, "Gaoo…" (I had a really long dream...)

In that dream, there was a peaceful ranch. Cyclizar's mother had entrusted him to her old trainer, Mayor Thomas. Thomas then gave him to a kind man, a trainer who had arrived from another region. Under that man's care, Cyclizar had lived happily on the ranch, meeting many Pokémon companions. They had fun. They ate together. They played together.

He had a home. He had... someone.

He was happy.

"Gaoo?" the mother Cyclizar chirped again, unable to understand his mumbling.

She thought he was still caught in his dream and just patted him gently again.

Cyclizar blinked. 'Was it really all just a dream?'

He let out a soft sigh and nestled closer into her embrace, drifting back into a nap.

Time passed quickly.

Cyclizar was now a year old.

A lot had changed in the town. A new town hall had been built. The neighbors had welcomed twin babies.

But none of that mattered to Cyclizar. He remained close to his mother, spending his days with the other Pokémon cared for by Mayor Thomas. It was a simple, joyful life.

One day, Cyclizar overheard Mayor Thomas talking about a ranch far away.

It was said to be abandoned—empty most of the year, without tall trees or joyful laughter.

But then a rich investor had bought it. They were planning to build a luxury villa with a countryside theme.

Curious, Cyclizar had snuck off to see it for himself.

He saw the marble terraces, the suited workers, and the artificial gardens. It didn't feel real. None of it reminded him of the dream.

It was nothing like the home he remembered.

Just a dream… right?

When Cyclizar turned one and a half, everything changed.

Mayor Thomas went on a field study one day but was attacked by a wild Pokémon in the forest. He was rescued by a traveling trainer, young, determined, and from a faraway region.

Grateful, Thomas invited the trainer to his home.

After learning that the young man was hoping to catch a Pokémon native to Paldea, Mayor Thomas made a heartfelt decision, he entrusted Cyclizar to him

And to Cyclizar, it felt like destiny.

He could finally meet his trainer. His true trainer. Just like his mother had told him, one day he'd be chosen and live the rest of his life alongside a human partner.

He ran forward, eyes shining with excitement.

"Gaoo!" he cried, happily bounding toward the smiling boy.

The young man crouched down and reached out, gently placing his hand on Cyclizar's head.

"Cyclizar, let's be partners from now on!"

Cyclizar froze.

His heart trembled.

Something wasn't right.

That wasn't the trainer he was supposed to be with.

Suddenly, a terrifying realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.

There's someone I'm forgetting.

Someone important.

Someone he must return to.