Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 411: Giratina’s Intimidation: A Rotom’s Tale

Chapter 411: Giratina’s Intimidation: A Rotom’s Tale

It was a snowy day.

Outside the window, the world was blanketed in white, with snow falling steadily. The scene was serene, yet the cold crept into every corner. Inside, Naoki was cozy, sitting on the sofa and surrounded by a pile of sleek new devices—fifty Rotom Phones he had pre-ordered.

He began installing software on each one, going through the apps available on the Rotom app store. Despite the phone's recent release, the store was already teeming with options.

Many apps were creatively named after Pokémon, reflecting their purpose in the most straightforward way. For instance:

Pichu TV: A platform for watching TV shows and movies, its icon a cute Pichu-shaped television screen.

Pichu Live: A live-streaming service that allows creators to upload their content directly to Pichu TV.

Pokémon Communication: A social networking app reminiscent of a chat platform from Naoki's previous life, complete with a timeline feature akin to social media.

Pokémon Takeout: A food delivery service featuring Toucannon as its mascot.

Pokémon Online Shopping: A marketplace for purchasing goods.

Pokémon Online Banking: A convenient tool for digital payments and transfers, much like popular payment apps.

Pokémon Forum: A hub for discussing news, current events, and random musings.

The app icons and functionality immediately caught Naoki's attention. He first clicked on Pichu TV, marveling at its user-friendly interface. Then he switched to Pichu Live, noting the seamless integration between live-streaming and on-demand content.

When he opened Pokémon Communication, he couldn't help but smile. Its interface was strikingly similar to WeChat, a platform he was familiar with from his past life. He had shared some of these design ideas with the Rotom Technology team during development, and it was gratifying to see them implemented.

Next, he explored Pokémon Takeout and found that the app was still recruiting restaurants and delivery Pokémon. Meanwhile, Pokémon Online Shopping was still building its vendor list but showed great promise.

Naoki also tested the Pokémon Forum, where he stumbled upon a post by a user named Desert Tyrant: "Hello? Can anyone see this?" The replies were mostly greetings and comments marveling at the Rotom Phone's capabilities, with users expressing awe at the new technology.

Naoki: "…" Look at these people, they seem to have never seen the world.

Unlike standard smartphones, the Rotom Phone offered internet access anytime and anywhere, even without Wi-Fi, thanks to the unique abilities of Rotom itself. Phones without Rotom required a special internet card, making the Rotom Phone significantly more expensive but infinitely more convenient.

With the first phone fully set up, Naoki spent about eight minutes installing all necessary apps. He then created a user profile on Pokémon Communication for Calyrex, who had been intrigued by the idea of these human devices.

Handing the phone to Calyrex, Naoki explained, "Here it is—your own phone! I've installed everything you'll need."

Calyrex examined the device with curiosity, his eyes glowing faintly. "This is the device you spoke of earlier?" he asked.

Naoki nodded, grinning. "Exactly! Look here—this app is Pichu TV. You can use it to watch movies anytime you want, without ads."

Calyrex's expression brightened. "Truly? No interruptions?" His tone was filled with genuine excitement.

"Would you like to give it a try?" Naoki said with a smile. "You can open an app just by lightly tapping it with your hand. Plus, there's a Pokémon named Rotom living inside your phone. You can simply tell Rotom what you want to do, and it will help you."

He added, "If there's anything you don't understand, just ask Rotom, and it will explain everything it knows."

Hearing this, Calyrex hesitated momentarily before loosening his grip. The Rotom Phone floated up automatically in front of him.

Calyrex tried cautiously, "Rotom, open the movie app for me."

"Understood, opening Pichu TV," Rotom's cheerful voice replied.

The screen lit up, and Pichu TV launched, displaying a neatly arranged library of movies and animations. Rotom began introducing each title, giving a brief description for the Crowned King's convenience.

Calyrex selected a movie he had watched before and said, "Play Warm Slugma House."

Rotom responded, "Playing Warm Slugma House for you now."

Sure enough, the movie started playing on the screen. Calyrex stared at it, his eyes lighting up with amazement.

"How extraordinary!" Calyrex thought. "This device is a marvel!"

Naoki smiled at the awed expression on Calyrex's face and continued introducing the other features. When he opened Pokémon Communication, he added Calyrex as a contact and explained its uses.

"With this app, you can contact me anytime—whether through video calls or messages. Rotom will even translate your words into human language and convert them into text automatically," Naoki explained.

He pointed to different features on the app, saying, "This is your personal profile. Here, you can change your online name and profile picture. And this is the 'Friends Circle,' where you can see updates from your friends or share your own thoughts."

Calyrex listened intently and began exploring the phone himself. He tested video chatting with Naoki, dictated text messages for Rotom to translate, and browsed through his Friends Circle with curiosity.

While looking at his personal profile, Calyrex asked, "What is an 'online name'?"

Naoki replied, "It's like a nickname or a display name that others can use to address you online. You can also use your real name if you prefer."

Calyrex pondered for a moment before nodding. When Naoki glanced over, he noticed that Calyrex had set his online name to "[Farmer]."

Naoki: "…"

Well, that was certainly… fitting, considering Calyrex's pastoral tendencies.

"I understand now," Calyrex said with a nod of satisfaction.

Naoki chuckled. "Alright, if you have any questions, feel free to ask Rotom or message me anytime."

Calyrex nodded again and immersed himself in exploring the new device.

Naoki then took the remaining Rotom Phones to the Reverse World. He located the members of the Hero Expedition Team—Mew, Baby Bear, and Zapdos—and handed them each a phone.

He patiently explained the phone's features to them, just as he had done for Calyrex.

"With these Rotom Phones, you can stay in touch with the ranch no matter where you are," Naoki said. "If you encounter beautiful scenery on your adventures, you can use the camera feature to capture the moment and send the pictures to me."

Baby Bear and Mew stared at the Rotom Phone floating in front of them with wide-eyed curiosity. Their excitement bubbled over as they chirped in unison, happily signaling that they had understood how to use it.

"Very good," Naoki said with a warm smile. "From now on, Rotom will also be a member of the Hero Expedition Team. Let it travel with you and assist you on your adventures!"

"Miu~" Mew twirled through the air in delight, orbiting the Rotom Phone with glee.

Satisfied, Naoki made his way to Giratina.

At first, Giratina dismissed the device with a huff of disdain. It grumbled about how it didn't need human-made trinkets. But when Naoki casually mentioned that all the other legendary Pokémon had one, Giratina's pride flared.

Scarlet eyes burning, Giratina let out two heavy snorts, glancing toward the Rotom Phones hovering near Naoki. Its sudden interest, however, sent the timid Rotoms into a panic. As if sensing the dragon's formidable aura, the little Pokémon darted behind Naoki for protection.

Naoki blinked in surprise at the scene, while Giratina growled in frustration. The mighty ruler of the Reverse World, disrespected by these "insignificant" Pokémon? Its temper boiled over.

With a sharp movement, Giratina lunged, capturing the most timid Rotom. The poor Rotom trembled, looking as though it might faint on the spot.

Naoki quickly stepped forward, raising his hands. "Hey, hey! Don't be so rough!" he exclaimed.

Giratina, thoroughly insulted, barked at the quivering Rotom, "What are you afraid of? I'm not going to eat you!"

Naoki crossed his arms, staring firmly at the imposing dragon. "Giratina, you cannot treat Rotom like this. You'll terrify it!"

Giratina grunted in irritation, its pride visibly wounded. "Am I the kind of dragon that would harm such a weakling?" it retorted, its tone both defensive and indignant.

Naoki sighed, his expression softening. "Look, if you want a Rotom companion, I can find one that's not afraid of you."

"No," Giratina snapped stubbornly. "I want this one."

The captured Rotom trembled harder, earning another sigh from Naoki. Despite Giratina's fiery temperament, Naoki knew it would never truly harm an innocent Pokémon. He crouched down to address the frightened Rotom gently.

"Don't worry," Naoki said softly. "Giratina might have a bad temper, but it's a protector at heart. I promise it won't hurt you. If anything ever happens, just send me a message, and I'll come get you immediately."

Hearing this reassurance, the Rotom relaxed slightly, its trembling subsiding. It hesitated but finally nodded.

Naoki smiled. "That's the spirit. I hope you two can get along."

After ensuring the Rotom was reasonably comfortable, Naoki helped Giratina set up its phone and added the legendary Pokémon as a contact. He left the Reverse World with the remaining Rotom Phones.

Back at the ranch, Naoki decided to give the hardworking Dragonites two days off. With the snow falling steadily outside, he instructed them to rest and return to the ranch once the weather cleared.

Naoki decided to save the remaining Rotom Phones for the Dragonites when they returned to work. He also intended to give one to Koraidon, but Koraidon politely declined, expressing that its constant presence alongside Naoki made the device unnecessary.

Reluctantly, Naoki agreed and set the remaining Rotom Phones in the living room, allowing the Pokémon to interact with them freely. Some Pokémon eagerly explored the devices, while others remained indifferent. Naoki didn't press the matter, letting everyone do as they pleased.

Naoki sat next to Calyrex, who was deeply engrossed in the Rotom Phone, listening intently as Rotom explained its many functions. It was clear that Calyrex had developed a liking for the device. Naoki chuckled at the sight and opened his own phone to check his social app.

To his amusement, the Hero Expedition Team had updated their online name to simply "Hero Expedition Team." It was straightforward and fitting, he thought with a smile.

...

Meanwhile, in the Reverse World, things were not as peaceful.

After Naoki left, the Rotom assigned to Giratina was gripped with terror. Despite its best attempts to remain unnoticed, Giratina's piercing scarlet eyes seemed to see right through it. When Giratina finally left, Rotom heaved a sigh of relief, only to resume its "playing dead" routine when the fearsome dragon returned.

This time, however, something unexpected happened. Giratina rolled a few red apples towards Rotom. "Hmph, you're so timid," Giratina grumbled, though its voice lacked the earlier hostility. "I won't eat you. I brought these fruits—eat them."

Rotom blinked in surprise. The terrifying ruler of the Reverse World had actually offered it food? It hesitated for a long moment, but Giratina seemed uninterested, lazily curling up to sleep nearby. Rotom finally floated upward, cautiously inspecting the apples.

But as it did, Giratina cracked one eye open, its blood-red gaze falling on Rotom.

Rotom froze, its mind racing: What now?

"I don't eat fruit, Rotom," it stammered nervously. "I need electricity to recharge…"

Giratina's tone shifted, becoming more curious than irritated. "Electricity? Hm, I see."

Rotom explained further, mentioning how it usually recharged using solar power. The notion of solar power clearly puzzled Giratina. What Rotom didn't realize was that the few sunflowers on the sky island—potential sources of solar energy—had been accidentally crushed by Giratina during its naps.

Without saying much, Giratina extended a golden claw and touched the Rotom gently.

Giratina used a mini version of Thunder Wave.

However, Rotom was already fully charged, and in just one second, it felt like it might explode from the overload of electricity. It quickly floated backward, shaking its head frantically. "I'm not hungry yet, Rotom!" it exclaimed, trying to calm Giratina down.

Giratina snorted but said nothing more. It closed its eyes and began to doze off.

Rotom, still trembling from the experience, started to realize that this fearsome Pokémon might not be as bad as it seemed. After a brief hesitation, it decided to take the initiative and began explaining the functions of the Rotom Phone to Giratina.

Giratina's crimson eyes snapped open as it watched the screen intently. As a legendary Pokémon, its pride made it instinctively dismissive of human inventions. Yet, curiosity was gnawing at it. Despite its aloof demeanor, it was genuinely intrigued.

When Rotom mentioned the ability to make video calls, Giratina immediately demanded, "Show me! Call Naoki now."

Obediently, Rotom initiated a video call. Within moments, Naoki's face appeared on the screen.

It worked! Giratina stared at the screen, visibly astonished as it saw Naoki's smiling face on the other side.

"Oh, so you're already using the Rotom Phone?" Naoki remarked with a grin, instantly realizing that Giratina had warmed up to the device. He exchanged a few lighthearted words with the legendary Pokémon before ending the call.

This brief interaction only deepened Giratina's curiosity. It began ordering Rotom to open various apps, one after another. Since Giratina couldn't read, Rotom patiently translated and explained the text on the screen, detailing how to use each app and its purpose.

Meanwhile, Naoki was busy with his own tasks back at the ranch. He was exploring the Pokémon Online Shopping app, preparing to register as a merchant to officially launch Dragonite Express. With the Rotom Phone's connectivity, the Dragonites could now deliver goods across the entire Paldea region.

As Naoki was setting up his account, the video phone at his home suddenly rang.

When he answered, Geeta's cheerful face appeared on the screen.

"Long time no see, Naoki!" she greeted warmly.

"Geeta? What brings you here?" Naoki asked, slightly surprised by the unexpected call.

Geeta raised a Rotom Phone into view, shaking it slightly with a smile. "You got one of these too, didn't you? Add me as a friend!"

Naoki blinked, slightly caught off guard. A minute later, he received Geeta's friend request on his own phone and nodded, accepting it.

Geeta's profile was remarkably straightforward. Her display picture was a close-up of herself, almost identical to the ID photo on her trainer card. Her username was equally no-nonsense: [Geeta].

Moments after accepting the request, Naoki received a message from her.

[Geeta: This is so much more convenient! Now I won't have to worry about you not being at the ranch when I need to find you. :)]

Her message was punctuated with a cheerful smiley face emoji.