Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 436: The Great Migration to the World Tree

That night, the Dragonites who worked at Naoki’s ranch returned to Dragonite Island.

Since they had decided to move to the World Tree, this was their chance to say goodbye to their companions on Dragonite Island.

Dragonite Island lay peacefully in the vast ocean, its silhouette resembling a crescent moon against the night sky. Nourished by the power of dragons, the island’s vegetation flourished, with clusters of berries hanging heavily from the trees that thrived in the fertile soil.

Rustle!

The leaves of the forest trembled as a Dragonite’s head popped out from the foliage. Its chubby claws reached for a bunch of berries, which it happily stuffed into its mouth. The burst of juicy flavor made the Dragonite hum in satisfaction as it munched.

Not far from this scene was a circular lake, where Dratini and Dragonair were playing near the clear water.

“Wooo~!”

A series of cheerful calls echoed from the sky, catching the attention of the Dragonites on the island. They looked up and saw their friends returning from the ranch, laden with their delivery boxes.

The young Dratini and Dragonair playing near the lake perked up, their eyes lighting up with curiosity and excitement as the returning Dragonites landed.

Eagerly, the young Pokémon crowded around the delivery Dragonites, their gazes fixed on the boxes they carried.

The Big Brother Dragonite, as usual, distributed some Poffins to the eager Dratini and Dragonair. The sweet aroma of the treats wafted through the air, and the younger Pokémon eagerly nibbled at their portions.

More Dragonites on the island were drawn to the commotion. Their curious eyes darted toward the Poffin boxes, their expressions asking,

Typically, the working Dragonites would share only a small portion of their Poffins. But tonight was special. Since they were leaving the island and would have plenty of delicious treats at the ranch, they decided to share everything as a parting gift.

“Ooooh~”

The working Dragonites opened their Poffin boxes and generously distributed their contents to their companions.

Soon, a growing crowd of Dragonites gathered, happily munching on the Poffins while wondering why the delivery team was being so generous.

One of the working Dragonites cheerfully explained,

“Awoo~!” ()

This announcement left the other Dragonites stunned.

“Awooo?!”

Some Dragonites looked shocked, while others seemed worried about the implications of this move.

Word of the decision quickly reached one of the older Dragonites, who approached the gathering with a calm but curious demeanor.

The elder Dragonite asked, “Awoo?” ()

The working Dragonites nodded enthusiastically, sharing stories of their life at the ranch.

“Awooo!” ()

“Awwooo~” ()

“Awoo, awoo!” ()

“Awo!” ()

The stories captivated the other Dragonites, sparking curiosity in even those who had previously shown no interest in humans or the ranch.

However, some Dragonites remained unconvinced. One hesitantly asked,

“Awoo...” ()

One of the working Dragonites thought for a moment before replying confidently,

“Awoo!” ()

Another working Dragonite chimed in, “Awoo!” ()

The hesitant Dragonite’s eyes lit up with realization.

“Awoo!” ()

Soon, the other Dragonites, previously worried about losing access to Poffins, reached the same conclusion.

.....

The following morning, a large group of Dragonites departed from Dragonite Island, soaring across the vast Paldea Sea toward the Paldea region.

As they flew, their presence was detected by an ocean ferry traversing the sea.

The captain and first mate stood on the deck with their binoculars, stunned by the sight.

Passengers on board quickly gathered on the deck, their faces painted with astonishment.

“So many Dragonites... Are they migrating?” someone murmured in awe.

Dragonite migrations were an exceedingly rare phenomenon, often considered a sign of good fortune. Many of the tourists clasped their hands together and began making wishes to the majestic Pokémon.

6:35 AM, Paldea Time

Naoki was busy feeding the Pokémon at the ranch when a sudden shadow passed overhead.

Looking up, he froze in surprise. A massive group of Dragonites was descending into the pasture, their wings creating a flurry of movement in the air.

Naoki: 

While it wasn’t unusual for the Dragonites to arrive for work, this… this was an entirely different scenario.

“Why are there so many Dragonites?!” Naoki exclaimed, barely concealing his shock.

Spotting the Big Brother Dragonite among the group, Naoki approached it hurriedly and asked, “What’s going on?”

The Big Brother Dragonite replied calmly, “Awoo.” ()

Another Dragonite chimed in eagerly, “Awoo awoo!” ()

Naoki listened to their responses, and it all began to make sense.

Apparently, after his Dragonite employees returned to the island the previous evening, they had shared stories about life on the ranch and the delicious Poffins. The news had spread, inspiring these Dragonites to migrate en masse.

However, Naoki suspected the real motivation was their desire for the Poffins…

Looking at the eager faces of the newly arrived Dragonites, Naoki found himself at a loss for words.

he thought,

Finally, Naoki smiled and welcomed them warmly. “Alright, everyone. Welcome to the ranch! I’m Naoki, the owner of this place.”

The Dragonites blinked curiously, clearly recognizing Naoki from his previous visits to Dragonite Island, where he had treated them to plenty of food.

“From today onward, we’ll be working together,” Naoki continued. “You’ll help me deliver goods, and in return, I’ll make you all the Poffins you could ever want.”

He then instructed Koraidon to fetch several spare Rotom Phones and called his own Dragonite over.

“Teach them everything,” Naoki said to Dragonite, “from how to use the Rotom Phone to the delivery routes.”

Dragonite puffed out its chest proudly and stepped forward to take charge. It began instructing the new Dragonites with an air of authority, demonstrating the delivery process with the help of the veteran Dragonites.

Meanwhile, Naoki took a headcount of the new arrivals.

“One, two, three... thirteen,” he muttered.

“There are thirteen new Dragonites, added to the twelve already working here... That makes twenty-five Dragonites and one Dratini at the ranch.”

Naoki:

The sheer number of Dragonites at the ranch was astonishing.

“If I recall correctly,” Naoki murmured to himself, “there were only about thirty Dragonites on Dragonite Island. How many are even left there now?”

Including the Dratini and Dragonairs that hadn’t yet evolved, the total number of Dragonites on Dragonite Island was likely no more than fifty.

And now, nearly half of them had come to Naoki’s ranch.

Even Naoki couldn’t believe the sheer number.

He recalled that the giant Dragonite, known for its immense size and strength, also lived on Dragonite Island. Originally, this Dragonite had journeyed to the Paldea region in

“But what if they don’t want to leave?” Naoki asked, his brow furrowed with concern.

The Dragonites were quick to reassure him, puffing out their chests with confidence. They explained that everyone on Dragonite Island had grown up together, sharing countless memories—catching fish in the sea, gathering berries in the forest, and watching the stars and sunrises.

If they missed their friends, surely their friends felt the same way.

“Alright then,” Naoki said with a smile, touched by their determination. “Let’s go together.”

After quickly closing the ranch for the day, Naoki mounted Koraidon with his own Dragonite by his side. Along with the group of working Dragonites, they set off across the glistening waters of the Paldea Sea.

After nearly a year, Naoki found himself returning to Dragonite Island. The secluded haven stood tranquil in the middle of the vast ocean, surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant wildlife.

As they approached, the group could hear the familiar calls of wild Dragonites echoing through the Island's forest. The scent of ripe berries filled the air, carried by a gentle breeze.

The working Dragonites led the way, excited to share their stories and their invitation.

Naoki dismounted Koraidon, taking in the serene beauty of the island. Memories of his previous visits flooded back, along with a realization—Dragonite Island had a unique charm, one that felt like home even to him.

His Dragonite, too, seemed nostalgic. Its gaze swept across the landscape, remembering the days it had spent here with its kin.

Dragonite reflected on its past. Back then, it felt like the "fool" of the group—clumsy and unsure of itself. But the other Dragonites never laughed at or bullied it. Instead, they always treated it with kindness. Despite their support, it couldn’t shake the feeling of being inadequate, always seeing itself as “just a stupid Dragonite.”

Looking back now, Dragonite felt a wave of nostalgia for those simpler times. Life had been carefree, filled with days spent playing in the lake and dreaming of growing stronger.

Dragonite glanced at the group of island Dragonites, who were now vying for Naoki’s attention. It made a decision then and there—it wouldn’t stop Naoki from teaching them new moves. After all, they were its family, and learning from Naoki could only make them stronger.

The working Dragonites began negotiating with the island Dragonites, enthusiastically sharing tales of life at the ranch and the World Tree.

Naoki, observing the lively discussion, turned to his Dragonite with curiosity. “Did you play with them when you were little?” he asked.

Dragonite nodded with a soft “Awoo,” recalling the memories fondly. Back then, it was just a tiny Dratini, surrounded by others as weak as itself. They had spent their days swimming in the lake, eagerly waiting for the day they would evolve. Older Dragonites would bring back berries and fish to feed them, watching over the younger generation with care.

Naoki smiled warmly at Dragonite. “You’ve grown so much since the first time I met you,” he said, his voice filled with pride.

Dragonite, caught off guard by the compliment, scratched its head shyly and let out a soft “Awoo~.”

But then, a playful gleam entered Naoki’s eyes. He leaned closer and whispered, “By the way, that Dragonite you had a crush on… is it among them?”

Dragonite froze, its eyes widening in shock. It looked as though Naoki had struck a nerve.

Naoki couldn’t help but chuckle at its reaction. “What’s the matter? Don’t you like her anymore?”

Dragonite’s wings twitched nervously, unsure how to respond. 

“Come on,” Naoki said with an encouraging smile. “You’re a strong Dragonite now! You should have confidence in yourself.”

Dragonite sighed, a little flustered. It let out a reluctant “Awoo...” before turning its gaze toward the other Dragonites, clearly still shy about the topic.

Meanwhile, the negotiations between the working Dragonites and the island Dragonites seemed to have reached a conclusion. The Dragonites all turned to Naoki, their expressions bright with excitement. One of the working Dragonites stepped forward eagerly, letting out a cheerful “Awooo!”

“Did they agree?” Naoki asked, hopeful.

The Dragonite nodded enthusiastically, its tail wagging with joy.

Naoki let out a relieved breath, a smile spreading across his face. “That’s great.”

As he scanned the gathered Dragonites, his eyes landed on a familiar figure—the giant Dragonite. Once towering over its peers, it had eaten a special pumpkin dish Naoki had prepared during a previous visit. Now, its size had adjusted to match that of a normal Dragonite.

“Long time no see, Dragonite!” Naoki greeted warmly, his voice carrying a note of nostalgia.

The giant Dragonite responded happily with a deep, resonant roar: “Awoo~!”

It clearly remembered Naoki, the person who had helped it find this haven in the first place. Gratitude filled its heart, and the bond between them felt stronger than ever.

Now that the Dragonites had agreed to live within the World Tree, Naoki turned his attention to the logistics of their new home. 

If all the Dragonites were housed on the Expedition Guild floor, it would undoubtedly become overcrowded. Furthermore, feeding this many Dragonites with the output from the orchard he had cultivated would be nearly impossible. He’d need to expand the orchards, and fast.

Naoki fell into deep thought, his eyes scanning the lush Dragonite Island. His mind wandered to the interior of the World Tree, considering its many levels and vast spaces.

Suddenly, inspiration struck.

Could Calyrex, use its psychic powers to relocate the entirety of Dragonite Island into the World Tree? 

Naoki’s mind raced as he pieced together the logistics. He recalled that the World Tree’s lower levels housed a massive valley with an expansive open space. With some minor modifications, it could be transformed into a perfect Dragonite sanctuary. If they transferred the island along with some seawater and stocked it with fish, the environment would replicate the Dragonites’ current habitat. They could hunt fish as they pleased and, when in the mood for something sweet, visit the orchard for fruit.

He knew of Calyrex’s immense power—it had once saved an entire forest and its Pokémon by relocating the entire ecosystem. Surely it could manage this task.

Excited, Naoki whipped out his Rotom phone and called Calyrex. After hearing Naoki’s idea, Calyrex affirmed it was feasible.

“Where are you now?” Calyrex asked.

Naoki shared his location, and Calyrex used the phone’s navigation to teleport directly to Dragonite Island.

“Should we evacuate the island first?” Naoki inquired.

Calyrex took a moment to scan the surroundings, its gaze calm and analytical. Finally, it shook its head. “No need. You can stay where you are.”

The next moment, Calyrex’s eyes glowed with radiant energy as it activated its psychic powers. A surge of pressure emanated from its form, sending ripples through the air.

The immense psychic energy manifested as a soft blue aura that enveloped Dragonite Island and a significant portion of the surrounding seawater. The power was so intense that it distorted the space around them, warping the sky and horizon into a surreal swirl of colors.

Then, in a flash of dazzling white light, the entire island—along with its inhabitants and the surrounding waters—vanished from the ocean.

Before Naoki or the Dragonites could fully comprehend what had happened, the scenery around them shifted dramatically.

Gone was the endless ocean. In its place was a mysterious, otherworldly environment—the inside of the World Tree.

Calyrex had not only transported Dragonite Island but had also brought a vast expanse of seawater along with it. The transplanted waters flooded the valley, filling the area with a shimmering blue sea that perfectly mirrored the original habitat. 

Dragonite Island now floated peacefully on the surface of this newly created “ocean.” As the waves settled, the once-turbulent waters became calm and serene, reflecting the soft light from above.

The Dragonites were utterly dumbfounded. They gazed around in disbelief, taking in the uncanny resemblance to their former home. The gentle waves lapped against the shore, and the familiar trees and berry bushes swayed in the breeze.

...

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