Pokemon: A New Path-Chapter 454: Baby Bear Picked Up a Treasure

[Steven Stone: You were right. Team Magma and Team Aqua really did attack the Weather Institute and the shipyard in Slateport City.]

Naoki, who had just sat down on his sofa, read the message and replied immediately.

[Stranger No. 1: What was the outcome?]

[Steven Stone: Since we were prepared in advance, we swapped out the real Submarine Explorer 1 at Slateport Shipyard and hid it in a secure location. However, things didn't go as smoothly at the Weather Institute.]

[Steven Stone: Team Magma and Team Aqua infiltrated the institute beforehand, disguising themselves as staff members. While the Hoenn League trainers were stationed outside, thinking they were preventing an attack, the real operation took place from within. As a result, they successfully stole data related to the ancient Pokémon Groudon and Kyogre.]

Reading this, Naoki sighed inwardly.

"As expected," he muttered to himself.

It was no surprise that the Hoenn League had critical information on Groudon and Kyogre.

Both the games and the anime hinted at this fact—Groudon and Kyogre weren't just myths, they were well-documented Pokémon whose movements were closely monitored by the League. If either of them stirred from their slumber, the Hoenn League would be the first to know.

With this in mind, Naoki typed another question.

[Stranger No. 1: What do you think their next move will be?]

There was a short pause before Steven responded.

Steven sat in his study, staring at the message. He was deep in thought.

'This Stranger No. 1… he knows too much.'

His knowledge of Hoenn's history was remarkable. It was evident that he had spent considerable time researching the legends of Groudon and Kyogre.

However, Steven knew something that this mysterious individual might not:

Long ago, the myths of Groudon and Kyogre weren't just stories. Alongside these legendary Pokémon, two ancient artifacts were passed down through history—

The Red Orb and the Blue Orb. These two artifacts weren't just relics. Legends stated that whoever possessed them could command Groudon and Kyogre.

And the current location of these orbs?

They were stored deep within Mt. Pyre, carefully guarded by the grandparents of Hoenn's Elite Four Ghost-type Trainer, Phoebe.

If Team Magma and Team Aqua had stolen data on Groudon and Kyogre… then their next target was obvious.

'They'll be heading to Mt. Pyre next!'

Steven's heart pounded. There was no time to waste.

He immediately contacted Phoebe, instructing her to secure the orbs at all costs.

Then, without a moment's hesitation, he left his mansion, stepped outside, and dialed another number.

Within minutes, a Devon Corporation private jet, emblazoned with the company's logo, descended onto the landing strip.

Steven climbed aboard and, as the plane took off, he sent one final message.

[Steven Stone: I've figured out their next move. I'm heading there now.]

Reading Steven's message, Naoki smirked.

'So he really did guess it—Mt. Pyre and the Red and Blue Orbs.'

If Team Magma and Team Aqua wanted to awaken Groudon and Kyogre, those orbs were the key.

More than that, the ancient Primal Energy within them had the ability to restore Groudon and Kyogre to their true, original forms.

[Stranger No. 1: Good luck. Hope everything goes smoothly.]

After sending the message, there was no immediate response.

Naoki wasn't worried. He simply made himself a cup of black tea and settled down, waiting patiently for updates.

As he waited, a new message popped up—not from Steven, but from Iono

She was thanking him for letting Dragonite fly her home safely.

Along with her message, she attached a picture of a Sunny Day Doll.

She wrote:

[I'm really grateful for your hospitality, Naoki. I sent a little gift for the ranch!]

Seeing the photo of the tiny handcrafted doll, Naoki couldn't help but smile.

When Dragonite returned, Naoki and the other Pokémon hung the Sunny Day Doll outside the ranch's eaves, as a symbol of good luck.

At exactly 10 PM, Naoki's Rotom Phone buzzed again.

It was Steven.

[Steven Stone: Everything went well. We successfully stopped Team Magma and Team Aqua's plans, thanks to a few unexpected Pokémon that showed up at just the right moment.]

Naoki raised an eyebrow.

[Stranger No. 1: Unexpected Pokémon?]

[Steven Stone: Yeah. A Teddiursa, a Zapdos, and a small feline-like Pokémon with pink fur and blue eyes.]

Naoki: "???"

'Isn't that The Hero Expedition Team?'

Meanwhile, in the Hoenn region, atop Mt. Pyre…

As Steven watched the three Pokémon disappear into the distance, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.

That had been far too close.

When he and Phoebe first arrived, Team Magma and Team Aqua were already in a fierce struggle, each determined to seize the two legendary orbs and prevent the other from claiming them.

But the moment the two of them stepped in, the rival teams immediately put aside their differences and joined forces—taking Phoebe's grandparents hostage.

Had it not been for the timely arrival of those three mysterious Pokémon, things could have ended very differently.

One of them, a small pink Pokémon, had used its psychic powers to swiftly rescue the elderly couple from their captors.

With the hostages freed, Steven and Phoebe seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack, managing to take down both teams in one swift, decisive blow.

Now, as the chaos settled, Phoebe watched the three Pokémon disappear into the night sky with a look of curiosity.

"Where did those three even come from?" she mused, tilting her head.

The most peculiar detail, she noted, was the Zapdos carrying a shoulder bag strapped around its chest.

Steven, ever the composed gentleman, shook his head. "I have no idea," he admitted, "but either way, we owe them a great deal."

Phoebe's eyes sparkled with intrigue.

"Three Pokémon—each from different species, each with different typings—working together like that… You don't see that every day."

From their coordinated movements and seamless teamwork, it was obvious these Pokémon weren't wild.

And that bag…

"Could they belong to a trainer?" Phoebe wondered aloud.

Meanwhile, Steven surveyed the surrounding area. Many of the buildings and shrines on Mt. Pyre had sustained heavy damage from the battle.

His gaze turned toward the bushes where the Red Orb and Blue Orb had been discarded during the fight.

His heart skipped a beat.

The orbs were gone.

"What?" His calm demeanor cracked for just a moment.

Phoebe, noticing his alarm, rushed to his side.

The two of them combed through the bushes, searching frantically for the missing orbs.

But no matter how much they looked, the precious relics were nowhere to be found.

A dark expression clouded Phoebe's face.

"You don't think… they were stolen by Team Magma or Team Aqua?" she asked, her voice tense.

Steven exhaled, collecting his thoughts.

"No," he said firmly. "That's impossible."

After all, every last one of Team Magma and Team Aqua's members had been apprehended and were currently being escorted into police custody.

None of them had the chance to take the orbs.

Which meant…

"Then where did they go?" Phoebe muttered, her concern deepening.

...

High Above the Hoenn Skies.

Amidst the swirling clouds, Zapdos soared at breakneck speed, cutting through the night sky like a golden lightning bolt.

The sheer energy radiating from its wings caused the once-clear sky to turn into a brewing thunderstorm, flashes of lightning illuminating the land below.

On the streets below, Hoenn's citizens glanced upward with concern.

Lately, the weather had been growing more and more erratic. Those paying attention to the news knew something was brewing.

But what no one could see—hidden among the rolling thunderclouds—was a small pink Pokémon and a tiny bear-like Pokémon, seated comfortably on Zapdos' back.

Both were clutching two radiant gemstones—one glowing a deep crimson, the other shimmering a brilliant azure. The orbs glowed brighter than ever before.

As the two Pokémon examined them with wide, fascinated eyes, the little bear—who had been the first to spot the discarded treasures—let out an excited squeak.

It had instinctively sensed their incredible value.

While Mew was busy helping the elders, the Teddiursa had wandered into the nearby bushes, where something shiny immediately caught its eye.

Two beautiful glowing orbs lay discarded on the ground.

Its little paws trembled with excitement as it picked them up, eyes sparkling.

"Teddi" "These are so pretty!" Teddiursa thought. "If I bring them back to Naoki, he'll definitely love them!"

Determined to surprise its trainer, the little bear carefully cradled the scarlet and indigo orbs and scurried back toward its friends.

Later that evening, when the Expedition Team found a safe place to rest, Teddiursa eagerly handed the orbs over to Zapdos, asking it to fly them back to the ranch as a gift for Naoki.

...

Meanwhile, at the Ranch…

That night, just as Naoki was getting ready for bed, his Rotom Phone buzzed again.

It was another message from Steven.

[Steven]: There's been a change in the situation. The two important artifacts that Team Magma and Team Aqua were trying to steal… have vanished!

Naoki's drowsiness disappeared instantly.

He knew exactly what Steven was talking about.

Those two artifacts could only be the Red Orb and the Blue Orb.

[Stranger No. 1]: What happened?

[Steven]: I have no idea.

Steven proceeded to explain the entire incident.

All of Team Magma and Team Aqua's members had been arrested by Interpol, yet the two orbs had completely disappeared.

They had searched every last grunt—no sign of the orbs.

It was as if they had vanished into thin air.

Naoki rubbed his chin in thought.

That didn't make sense.

Could one of the grunts have used a Psychic-type Pokémon to teleport the orbs away?

He immediately sent his theory to Steven.

[Stranger No. 1]: Could they have used a Psychic Pokémon to teleport them somewhere else?

[Steven]: Unlikely. Team Magma and Team Aqua don't use many Psychic-types. Their rosters mostly consist of Mightyena, Sharpedo, and Camerupt.

That was strange.

Naoki pondered for a moment, but since it was getting late, Steven decided to leave it for now.

[Steven]: Thanks again for your help. I'll resume my investigation tomorrow.

[Stranger No. 1]: Got it. Good luck.

After logging out of the Pokémon Forum, Naoki continued to puzzle over the missing orbs.

But no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't come up with an answer.

At least, not yet.

The Next Morning

Early the next day, a Zapdos with a small backpack swooped down onto the ranch.

The moment Naoki saw it, he knew what was coming. The Expedition Team was back… with another "delivery."

With a sigh, he reached into Zapdos' bag. His fingers brushed against two smooth, round objects. The moment he pulled them out, his entire body stiffened.

Two glowing orbs rested in his hands—one crimson, one deep blue. And then, the system notifications popped up.

[Red Orb: A scarlet-glowing artifact that holds deep ties to Hoenn's ancient legends.]

[Blue Orb: An indigo-glowing artifact linked to Hoenn's legendary Pokémon.]

"...WHAT?!"

Naoki almost dropped them in shock. No wonder Steven couldn't find the orbs.

The Expedition Team had picked them up like a casual souvenir! Just then, his Rotom phone buzzed again.

Seeing the caller ID, Naoki took a deep breath and pressed Answer.

It was Mew and Teddiursa.

The video call connected, and Teddiursa and Mew appeared on the screen, their faces full of excitement.

Through the Rotom Phone, Teddiursa immediately noticed the glowing orbs in Naoki's hands.

With a proud smile, it asked, "Naoki! Do you like them? I found these beautiful treasures in the grass!"

Naoki: "…"

He knew it.

No wonder Steven couldn't find the orbs—Teddiursa's natural ability, Pickup, must have activated!

Seeing that Naoki remained silent, the little bear's expression quickly turned puzzled.

Its ears drooped slightly, and it asked in a softer voice, "You… don't like them?"

Naoki snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. "That's not the problem."

It was an absurd coincidence that the Expedition Team had stepped in to help Steven, but now, a bigger issue had surfaced.

You can't just take things that belong to others!

Taking a deep breath, Naoki asked, "Yesterday, you helped an elderly couple on top of a mountain, right?"

At his words, both Teddiursa and Mew were shocked.

"How did you know that?!" they exclaimed in unison.

Their words were automatically translated by Rotom Phone's built-in translator.

Naoki sighed. "Because I heard it from someone else. One of the people you encountered yesterday told me about your appearance. They didn't recognize Mew, but based on their description, I had a feeling it was you."

Understanding dawned on the two Pokémon.

"Ohhh… so that's how you knew!"

Still, Teddiursa was confused.

"But why don't you like them?" It tilted its head.

Naoki patiently explained, "Because these orbs are extremely important to the people who live there. They aren't abandoned treasures."

The realization hit Teddiursa like a Thunderbolt.

It had made a mistake.

The little bear's ears drooped even lower.

Naoki had always taught it never to take things that belong to others, and Teddiursa had always remembered that lesson.

But this time… it messed up.

Somewhere in Hoenn, Steven was probably searching frantically for these two artifacts.

Naoki frowned as he glanced down at the two legendary orbs glowing in his hands.

There was no reason to hide the truth anymore.

Taking out his Rotom Phone, he sent Steven a message.

[Stranger]: The orbs are with me.

Steven's response was immediate.

Naoki rubbed his temples and sent another message.

[Stranger]: It's a long story, let's add another account as a friend.

With that, he sent his ID.

Within seconds, a friend request from Steven Stone appeared.

Naoki pressed Accept and quickly explained everything.

[Gold King]: The Teddiursa from yesterday is my Pokémon. It has the Pickup ability, and when it saw the orbs lying on the ground, it thought they were abandoned treasures and picked them up.

On the other end, Steven fell silent.

This explanation… actually made sense. Pokémon with the Pickup ability were known for collecting random objects they found.

But Steven couldn't shake a feeling of curiosity.

That meant all three of those Pokémon from yesterday belonged to this person.

How had they just so happened to be in the right place at the right time?

And why was this person so informed about everything?

Had he planned all of this?

Steven's thoughts were spinning.

But then, another message popped up.

[Gold King]: Hello, let me properly introduce myself. My name is Naoki, and I currently live in the Paldea region. I've traveled to Hoenn before and have always been fascinated by its history and legends.

Steven blinked in surprise.

Steven: Wait… you're in Paldea?

Naoki had already anticipated his confusion and responded calmly.

[Gold King]: That's right. The Zapdos you saw yesterday flew the orbs to Paldea. It was an accident. Just send me your location, and I'll have my Pokémon deliver them back to you.

Steven hesitated.

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It was undeniable that the two orbs weren't safe in Hoenn right now.

If Team Magma and Team Aqua made another attempt, they could succeed.

Perhaps… it would be better to keep the orbs hidden somewhere outside of Hoenn until things calmed down.

But… could he really trust this person? After careful thought, Steven made his decision.

Steven: If possible, I'd like you to hold onto them for now.

Naoki paused, a little surprised.

But he quickly understood why.

[Gold King]: If you trust me, I have no problem keeping them safe.

Steven stared at his screen, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. There was still one thing he needed to know.

After a moment of hesitation, he typed:

[Steven]: Who exactly are you?

After all, Zapdos wasn't the kind of Pokémon just any trainer could have.

And from what Steven had gathered, Naoki's Pokémon were currently traveling through Hoenn—completely unsupervised.

What kind of trainer has Pokémon like that?

And then… the reply came.

[Naoki]: Me? I'm just a rancher.

Steven: "..."