Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 418: Apple Orchard and New Adventure of the Hero Expedition Team!

Chapter 418: Apple Orchard and New Adventure of the Hero Expedition Team!

"My dear customer, your order of Moo Moo Milk, berries, rock salt, honey, and other farm goods has been dispatched. You should receive it in about twenty minutes," Naoki said with a smile, mimicking the polite tone of customer service he had seen in his past life.

Iono suddenly felt a twinge of guilt but kept up her act. "Huh? Naoki, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

Naoki: "…"

"Alright, enough pretending. Those three orders were from you, weren't they?" Naoki asked, both exasperated and touched.

Caught, Iono broke into a sheepish grin. "Fine, you got me! I just wanted to support your ranch. Your produce is top-notch! Eating it is good for health, so I bought some for my parents too."

At that moment, one of Naoki's Dragonite couriers, guided by the Rotom Phone's navigation, landed right in front of Iono's house.

Iono quickly shifted her camera, walked over to collect the goods, and cheerfully said, "Got it! Dragonite Express is amazing!"

Naoki sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, just don't overdo it."

"Got it!" Iono replied, nodding quickly. Worried Naoki might scold her further, she hastily made an excuse to hang up the call.

Ten minutes later, Naoki logged into his online store to check its status. He was greeted by a glowing review from a familiar username.

[User: BrightLightTrainer] "I received my order! The Moo Moo Milk is delicious, the vegetables are incredibly fresh, and the rock salt is uniquely flavorful. My Pokémon and I love everything. I'll definitely order again!"

Reading the review, Naoki couldn't help but smile. "It does feel a bit like... staged feedback," he muttered.

.....

Meanwhile, in Levincia City, Iono was getting ready for the day when her phone rang. It was her mother.

"Hey, Mom! Did you get the package I sent?" she asked.

Her mother's voice, a mix of amazement and urgency, replied, "We did, but... where did you get that goat milk from?"

"What happened? Is something wrong?" Iono asked, concerned.

Her mother explained what had transpired. Earlier that morning, a Dragonite courier had delivered the fresh produce. Upon seeing the name and contact information on the package, they had realized it was from their daughter. After signing for the delivery, her parents began inspecting the items, planning to enjoy the fresh crops for breakfast.

Among the items was a small bottle labeled "Life Goat's Milk" with a cute, cartoonish Gogoat logo. Curious about its taste, Iono's father decided to try it.

The result? He was now running laps around their yard with newfound vigor and had started challenging the neighborhood Machop to wrestling matches.

Hearing this, Iono froze for a moment before remembering the properties of the Gogoat milk from Naoki's ranch. 

"Mom, I forgot to tell you!" Iono said quickly. "That goat milk is really special. It's meant for Pokémon or people recovering from serious injuries. If someone healthy drinks it, they get so energized they won't stop moving until the excess energy is burned off!"

Hearing this, the woman was dumbfounded after hearing Iono's explanation. "That store sells something like this?"

Her mind wandered briefly to dubious products sold in shady pharmacies, sparking a hint of concern. "There aren't any side effects, right?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Iono quickly reassured her, "Don't worry! I've seen others drink it before, and there were absolutely no side effects. It's completely safe."

Relieved, the woman finally relaxed.

.....

Spring had arrived, and the entire ranch was bursting with life.

Flowers in the garden were in full bloom, their vibrant colors attracting wild Beautifly and Butterfree, which danced gracefully among the petals. Their wings shimmered in the sunlight, adding a touch of magic to the serene landscape.

After finishing his call with Iono, Naoki waited patiently at the ranch. Twenty minutes later, the Dragonite delivery team returned, their backpacks considerably lighter.

Naoki checked the time on his Rotom Phone and muttered to himself, "It only took twenty minutes to travel from Kosaji Town to Levincia. As expected, Dragonite could probably fly around the whole world in under sixteen hours."

He even mused that if the Dragonites used moves like Agility, Extreme Speed, or Dragon Dance, the delivery times could be even shorter. Compared to ordinary couriers, Dragon Express felt like a service from another dimension.

For now, there were no new orders in the ranch's online store apart from Iono's. Setting aside the online business, Naoki decided to check on the Pokémon on the ranch. Spring brought plenty of tasks to handle, and he was determined to ensure everything ran smoothly.

One of the highlights of spring on the ranch was the upcoming horse racing event. Naoki noticed that Glastrier seemed especially excited about it.

Glastrier was determined to win the championship trophy, currently worn by Spectrier, the Shadow Rider Pokémon. Spectrier had won the trophy in the previous year's race, and ever since, it had taken to wearing it like a crown.

Naoki had tried several times to take the trophy off Spectrier, intending to store it safely. However, Spectrier stubbornly refused. It saw the trophy as a symbol of its status as the reigning Horse King and was unwilling to part with it.

With no other options, Naoki reluctantly gave up. Still, he couldn't help but worry. "If Spectrier keeps wearing that trophy for too long, will its head start to mold into the shape of the trophy?

Thinking about the possibility, Naoki shuddered at how dreadful it could be.

He looked over at Spectrier in the stable, its ethereal form proudly adorned with the trophy-turned-crown. This couldn't continue.

Determined, Naoki sought out Calyrex, to share his concerns.

Calyrex listened calmly before taking action. Without a word, the regal Pokémon approached Spectrier and exchanged a few quiet words.

To Naoki's amazement, Spectrier bowed its spectral head, carefully removed the trophy, and handed it to Calyrex for safekeeping.

"It is resolved," Calyrex said with its characteristic composure.

"Thank goodness." Naoki sighed in relief. Just to be sure, he conducted a detailed examination of Spectrier's skull and was pleased to confirm there was no deformation from wearing the trophy for so long.

After expressing his gratitude, Naoki set off once again for the Reverse World, eventually making his way to the base of the World Tree.

There, he sought out Tropius, the Grass/Flying-type Pokémon that had been recovering from a wing injury last winter. Naoki had a question for it.

"It's spring now. The snow is melting, and everything is coming back to life. What are your plans? Will you return to Casseroya Lake to join your companions, or do you plan to stay at the ranch?"

Tropius raised its head majestically, letting out a melodic cry: "Tropi-oooh!"

"Do you want to stay here and live with us?" Naoki clarified.

Tropius nodded eagerly and called out again, "Tropi-yay!"

"Fantastic!" Naoki beamed. "Let's continue working together, Tropius!"

"Tropi-oooh!" Tropius chirped in delight.

However, Naoki couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. "If only the Holy Bun made with Ho-Oh's feathers worked on Tropius," he thought wistfully.

The Holy Bun was a special item infused with blessings from Ho-Oh, said to grant Pokémon incredible fortune. Its effects, however, were limited to Pokémon like Mew, Teddiursa, and Zapdos.

[Holy Blessing] Upon consumption, a Pokémon will receive Ho-Oh's favor, significantly increasing its luck and fortune. This effect applies only to certain Pokémon species.

"If it worked on Tropius, it might've guaranteed 100% activation of its Harvest ability, doubling its banana output each time," Naoki thought, slightly disappointed.

The divine blessing bestowed by the Phoenix King was limited to the chosen members of its expedition team.

Still, Naoki reminded himself to be content. Compared to the meager two harvests a year Tropius initially produced, the current situation was a massive improvement. Gently patting Tropius on the head, Naoki admired its vibrant form. With the warming weather, the Gogoat and Arboliva had already left the Reverse World and resumed their lives in the open air.

The heroic expedition team had also pressed forward on their journey.

Tropius, feeling a bit restless in the confines of the Reverse World, decided to accompany Naoki outside.

Naoki found a picturesque spot by the river, abundant in water and sunlight, perfectly suited for Tropius. "When the World Tree is fully grown, I'll build you a special perch on it."

After settling Tropius by the river, Naoki made his way to the apple orchard on the opposite bank.

Thanks to the care and nurturing of Gogoat, the saplings he planted earlier had flourished into mature apple trees, now heavy with fruit. The apples gleamed bright red, their color and shape rivaling those from more famous orchards like Kitakami Township.

Naoki plucked an apple from a branch and took a bite.

The crisp flesh released a burst of sweet, refreshing juice. "Mmm, this is good! Sweet and crunchy—perfect!" Naoki nodded in approval.

As he continued examining the trees, he noticed a few clusters of green apples mixed among the red ones. "I'll let these ripen for another couple of days before harvesting," he mused.

Strolling through the orchard, Naoki admired the trees laden with fruit, though a nagging thought crossed his mind. Would these apples attract Applin?

Applin, the Grass/Dragon-type Pokémon, is known for its penchant for apples. Upon hatching, it burrows into an apple, using its host as both camouflage and sustenance. While it grows by consuming the fruit, it often becomes a nuisance for farmers.

Particularly troublesome are Applin with the Gluttony ability, which could decimate an orchard in no time. However, there was a silver lining: Applin with the Ripen ability could accelerate the growth of apples rather than devouring them entirely.

If evolved into Flapple or Appletun, their Ripen ability would be even more effective, significantly boosting fruit yield.

In the Galar region, Naoki recalled, many orchard farmers kept Applin to assist in ripening their harvests.

The thought prompted Naoki to carefully inspect his apple orchard. He wanted to ensure no mischievous Applin had snuck in to feast on the fruit. 

His ability can play a big role in identifying apples.

As he examined each apple, Naoki could see detailed information displayed in his mind:

[Apple]: An ordinary fruit, sweet and delicious, with a crisp and refreshing texture. Nurtured by Gogoat during growth, its quality has been significantly enhanced. Highly nutritious and suitable for culinary use.

After carefully inspecting every apple in his orchard, Naoki confirmed there were no Applin lurking among the fruit.

Oddly enough, this realization left him feeling slightly disappointed. Naoki was quite fond of Appletun, the evolution of Applin. With an Appletun on the ranch, he could potentially cultivate an apple orchard atop the World Tree, letting the Pokémon assist in nurturing the fruit.

Inspired by this idea, Naoki decided to research the habitats of Applin, Flapple, and Appletun on his Rotom Phone once he returned home. He hoped to capture a few Pokémon with the Ripen ability to help oversee his orchard.

But just as he turned to leave, the sky darkened ominously.

Naoki glanced up and saw the massive figure of Rayquaza descending gracefully onto the ranch. Its sleek, emerald body shimmered under the dimming light as it landed in the pasture with a quiet but powerful presence.

Slightly taken aback, Naoki's gaze shifted toward the Snorlax Park. Sure enough, a crowd had already gathered to greet Rayquaza. Dragonite, Cyclizar, and Ogerpon were all there, and this time, even Eevee and Dratini had joined the group.

The younger Pokémon stared at Rayquaza in awe, their eyes sparkling with admiration for the majestic Legendary Pokémon.

It didn't take long for Naoki to piece things together. Dragonite must have invited Rayquaza back to the ranch.

Naoki let out a sigh, imagining what this would mean for their food supplies. The freshly baked Poffins and cookies he and Indeedee had prepared yesterday would undoubtedly be devoured by Rayquaza, who was notorious for its appetite.

"Why do I even bother?" Naoki muttered to himself, resigned to his fate. He couldn't very well deny Rayquaza hospitality—not after Dragonite and Ogerppon had already offered their finest treats as a welcome.

"Well then," Naoki sighed as he walked back to the house. "Let's see how many Poffins we have left."

Once inside, Naoki opened the cupboard to check their inventory. As he tallied the ingredients, his Rotom Phone buzzed with an incoming video call. Glancing at the screen, Naoki was surprised to see it was from Teddiursa and Mew.

Intrigued, he quickly answered the call.

The screen lit up, revealing the three members of the hero's expedition team: Teddiursa, Mew, and a third Pokémon, their expressions animated as they jostled to get in view.

"Hey, what's going on?" Naoki asked, a smile forming on his face. It seemed this day was about to get even more interesting.

Naoki noticed the background behind them, which appeared to be a lush forest teeming with life.

"It seems you've successfully arrived at your destination," Naoki said with a warm smile.

Teddiursa looked overjoyed, exclaiming, "Ursa-ursa!"

Rotom's electronic voice chimed in, translating the excited Pokémon's words: "That's right! There are so many Pokémon here we've never seen before!"

Mew joined in, its tone cheerful. "We even helped a Wingull that got lost in the forest find its trainer!"

"A Wingull?" Naoki echoed, a hint of surprise in his voice.

Mew and Teddiursa both nodded enthusiastically. They adjusted the phone's camera to give Naoki a better view of their surroundings. 

The screen displayed a variety of Pokémon going about their business in the forest: a Seviper slithering gracefully through the tall grass, a Poochyena prowling the clearing, a Beautifly fluttering elegantly among the trees, and a Swellow perched regally on a branch.

Seeing the familiar Pokémon on the screen, a realization struck Naoki. His eyes widened slightly.

'Could it be… the destination of the hero's expedition team is the Hoenn region?' Naoki thought.