Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 173: Pokemon Tavern



The rain came quickly and disappeared just as fast. The grass was damp, and the riverbank was slick with mud. Naoki didn't want to dirty his shoes, so he lost his enthusiasm for fishing for the moment.

Instead, he returned to his room and started preparing the three fish he had caught, deciding to cook each one differently: braising one, steaming another, and frying the third.

Later that afternoon, Naoki took a trip to the town, where he bought an outdoor camping tent from a department store.

After purchasing the tent, he gathered his Pokémon to help set it up on a clean patch of lawn. It wasn't too close to the house, but it wasn't far off either-just a nice, quiet spot on the ranch.

Pawmo, curious about the tent-building, tilted its head in confusion.

"Pawmo?"

Naoki chuckled and explained, "We're going to rebuild the house in a few days. When that happens, we won't have anywhere to stay, so we need to prepare ahead of time."

He went on to describe the joys of camping, trying to paint a vivid picture for his Pokémon. "Imagine a summer night, a cool breeze blowing through the pasture. We'll be lying in the tent, gazing at the stars above, listening to the gentle sound of the cicadas in the hills. When we get tired, we'll fall asleep peacefully under the sky."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Pawmo..." Pawmo, along with the other Pokémon, were quickly swept up by Naoki's description, admiration clear in their eyes.

As Naoki admired the newly set-up tent, a thought struck him-it reminded him of the game Animal Crossing.

In the game, players could set up a tent on their island, and occasionally small animals would visit to camp. If the player and the animal hit it off, the player could invite the animal to live on the island permanently.

'Could I do something like that here?' Naoki wondered. 'Could I invite wild Pokémon to camp at the ranch?'

It seemed like a fun idea, but he wasn't sure how practical it would be. After all, wild Pokémon usually stayed within their habitats. It was rare for them to travel or leave their homes, much less camp in an unfamiliar place.

But then, he thought about Teddiursa and Mew. Their encounters had shown him that wild Pokémon had their own networks and connections-just like people.

'If I spread the word, could I attract some curious Pokémon?' he mused. The world of Pokémon was vast, and there were certainly many Pokémon with unique personalities and hobbies.

'You never know who might show up to camp here,' Naoki thought, smiling to himself.

His imagination ran even further-what if he opened a small tavern for Pokémon? A place where they could relax, drink Moomoo Milk or tree sap, and share their stories.

Naoki could spread the word across the region: a human at Naoki Ranch could help Pokémon solve their problems. Pokémon in need could come by for help, advice, or even just some relaxation.

Perhaps Teddiursa and Mew, who often traveled, could be his ambassadors. They could spread the news to Pokémon all over the world as they journeyed, telling them about the Pokémon Tavern.

Naoki began to imagine the possibilities: providing counseling, guiding Pokémon through their confusion, or simply listening to their stories. He could even change careers, shifting from rancher to something akin to a priest, guiding lost Pokémon on the right path.

The truth was, Naoki was getting a bit bored staying at the ranch with little to do. If he set up a place like this, not only could he learn more about Pokémon, but he might even get a sneak peek into their little gossip circles. And if he met a particularly fluffy Pokémon with a sweet personality, he wouldn't mind petting it a few times.

The idea excited him he could connect with more Pokémon without having to leave the ranch!

Naoki was so wrapped up in his daydream that he didn't even hear Cyclizar calling him. After a long pause, Naoki finally snapped out of it and realized Cyclizar was trying to get his attention. "What's up, Cyclizar?" he asked, looking over.

Cyclizar's eyes gleamed with excitement: "Gaao..."

Not just Cyclizar-several nearby Pokémon had the same eager expression.

Naoki blinked, then looked at the tent he had just set up. Suddenly, it all clicked. The Pokémon had been swept up by the cozy image of camping that Naoki had described, and now they wanted to camp out tonight!

Naoki smiled warmly. "Of course! I'll go grab some blankets, and we'll all camp out here tonight!"

The Pokémon cheered in unison, clearly thrilled by the idea.

True to his word, Naoki hurried to gather blankets and brought out an old-fashioned camping lamp from the utility room, placing it at the entrance of the tent. The soft glow made the scene even cozier.

Just as everything was falling into place, a clear, sharp cry echoed from above.

Naoki paused, his head tilting toward the sky in curiosity. His gaze caught sight of a dark blue-feathered bird Pokémon swooping down into the pasture.

"Is that... a Swellow?"

Just as Naoki was pondering the arrival of the Swellow, he noticed that the bird was clutching something in its talon.

He quickly realized what was happening-Teddiursa had sent him another delivery. 'What a coincidence,' Naoki thought, smiling to himself. He had just been thinking about Teddiursa, and now here was a message from the little bear Pokémon.

With a warm smile, Naoki thanked the Swellow, who nodded in response. He gently took the items that had been delivered.

It was another crayon drawing, just like the ones Teddiursa had sent before. This time, the picture showed a basket full of snacks, with two happy, smiling faces beside it. Naoki chuckled softly, instantly understanding the message. Teddiursa and Mew had received the food he had sent them last time and were clearly pleased.

Relieved to know the package had reached them safely, Naoki glanced at the other item Teddiursa had sent a slightly damaged Great Ball that was no longer usable but still a nice

keepsake.

With its task complete, Swellow flapped its wings, ready to take off again.

"Wait a second!" Naoki called out, quickly running back to his house. He returned with some food and the camera he had recently purchased in town. It was a Polaroid-style camera, perfect for Teddiursa to take pictures with, capturing moments on their adventures.

Naoki handed the items to Swellow, smiling as he explained, "These are for you to take back to Teddiursa and Mew. The food is a gift, and the camera will be a fun way for them to share more of their adventures with me."

Swellow tilted its head as if processing the request, then nodded, grabbing the camera's strap

in its beak.

As Swellow prepared to leave once more, Naoki called out again, this time feeling a bit shy. "There's... one more thing."

Swellow paused, turning its head back toward Naoki.

Naoki rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little sheepish as he explained his idea. "Could you also let Teddiursa and Mew know about my plan to open a 'Pokémon Tavern'? It'll be a place where Pokémon can come for help-whether they need treatment, a good chat, or even just a place to rest and heal their hearts."

Naoki added a final message before Swellow left: "And if you or any Pokémon face a problem that you can't solve, feel free to come here to play or camp. You're always welcome." Swellow seemed momentarily surprised by Naoki's words. It stared at him for a few seconds, then gave a small nod of understanding before taking off and flying away from the pasture. Watching Swellow disappear into the sky, Naoki sighed with relief. "Finally, the camera's delivered!" he muttered with a smile.

...

Three days later, deep in the forests of the Kanto region.

Ever since they had started receiving food from Naoki, Teddiursa, and Mew would linger longer at each new place they explored, hoping to not miss any future deliveries from their

human friend.

When they spotted Swellow returning with something in its beak, both Mew and Teddiursa lit up with excitement, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Teddi!" (It's here!)

"Mew!" (Food's here!)

Swellow gracefully landed in front of the duo, and their eyes immediately darted to the basket

of treats. In typical fashion, Mew and Teddiursa shared the meal generously with Swellow, all three enjoying the delicious snacks together.

After the feast, Swellow presented the camera Naoki had sent and passed along his message. Teddiursa, who had been fiddling with the camera, paused, hanging it around his neck. He

looked up in disbelief at Swellow: "Teddi?" (A Pokémon tavern?) Mew, equally surprised, tilted its head, blinking curiously at Swellow.

Under their puzzled gazes, Swellow nodded to confirm what Naoki had said.

The duo exchanged glances, their eyes shining with happiness and gratitude. Naoki's message

came at just the right time.

Only a few days earlier, they had encountered a Ninetales deep in the forest-a majestic Pokémon that had lived for an untold number of years. Mew had sensed that Ninetales' life energy was slowly fading, and it had seemed weary as if it were approaching the end of its

long life.

Teddiursa and Mew had wanted to help, but they didn't know how. In the end, they could only watch in sadness as Ninetales slipped into a deep sleep in the mountains, perhaps forever. But now, hearing Naoki's idea about the Pokémon Tavern, a glimmer of hope sparkled in their hearts. If Naoki had been there at the time, maybe he could have helped Ninetales. Whether by offering guidance or some form of healing, Naoki always seemed capable of helping in one

way or another.

Naoki was, after all, a kind and smart human-someone who could cook magical food and always find solutions. Teddiursa held the camera tightly, feeling touched. "Teddi?" (Do you think Naoki knew we needed help?)

Mew nodded, "Mew!" (He must have! Naoki's amazing like that.)

The little bear smiled, its heart warm with affection. "Teddi!" ("In that case, Naoki will

definitely be a part of our Hero Exploration Team from now on!"!)

...

Stones