Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 431: New Residents

Early the next morning, Kelly arrived at the ranch in a truck. Along with a team of Machamps, she transported load after load of goldenwood to the World Tree's base.

Once the guild's location was finalized, Kelly and her construction team officially began their work. Hammers clanged and saws buzzed as the project moved forward.

Around noon, Zapdos returned to the ranch, delivering the three Treeckos to their new home. After fulfilling its duty, the Legendary Pokémon immediately flew off, leaving the trio of Treecko standing calmly before Naoki and the assembled Pokémon.

"Welcome!" Naoki greeted warmly, leading a group of Pokémon in hosting a small but heartfelt welcome ceremony for the newcomers.

As the ceremony concluded, Naoki handed each Treecko a piece of the World Tree Candy he had prepared the day before. The green, jewel-like candies sparkled in the sunlight as they were passed out.

The Treecko looked at the candies curiously before taking tentative bites. Their reactions were almost instant—eyes wide with astonishment.

"Tree-fu?!" they exclaimed, glancing at each other in shock.

"Can you feel it?" Naoki asked with a knowing smile. "Your Grass-type energy has grown stronger, hasn't it?"

The Treecko nodded cautiously, still processing the strange yet invigorating sensation coursing through their bodies. Their curious gazes fixed on Naoki.

"Come with me," Naoki said, gesturing for them to follow.

He led the Treecko across the shimmering lake and into the Reverse World. The transition between the ranch and the ethereal landscape left the trio wide-eyed as they took in the surreal beauty of their surroundings. 

As they reached the base of the World Tree, the Treecko froze in awe. The colossal tree, its trunk towering into the heavens, dwarfed anything they had ever seen before.

"Treec..." they murmured in unison, unable to hide their amazement.

The sheer size and majesty of the World Tree sparked vivid images in their minds—of climbing its dense foliage, building nests among its branches, and living peacefully within its embrace. Their eyes gleamed with longing and excitement.

Naoki, noticing their captivated expressions, smiled. "I take it you like the World Tree?"

The Treecko nodded eagerly.

"Then let's head up and explore," Naoki suggested.

He guided them through a path of floating sky islands and into the cavernous base of the World Tree. Using the bubble elevator, they ascended to a realm that could only be described as a paradise. Vibrant greenery stretched as far as the eye could see, while soft sunlight filtered through the dense canopy.

The Treecko inhaled deeply, their senses overwhelmed by the pure, natural energy filling the air. The lush surroundings and tranquil atmosphere resonated with their Grass-type nature, instantly making them feel at home.

In the distance, Kelly and her construction team were hard at work, hammering and assembling the foundation of the guild.

Naoki pointed toward the bustling activity. "See? Mew and Teddiursa didn't lie to you when they said I'd build a bustling Pokémon Guild here. We're just getting started, but in a few months, this place will be thriving."

He turned back to the Treecko and added, "Once it's complete, you can live here in peace and help run the guild with the other Pokémon."

The trio of Treecko exchanged glances before nodding in unison. It was the promise of such a guild that had convinced them to leave their old home and join the Hero Expedition Team in the first place.

"So," Naoki asked, "have you decided where you'd like to stay? Will you return to the ranch with me, or would you prefer to settle here at the World Tree right away?"

"Trec!" Without a second thought, the Treecko chose to stay at the World Tree.

Naoki nodded with approval. "Alright, sounds good!"

He glanced around the area. The World Tree, while magnificent, had not yet reached its full maturity. The orchards and farmlands were still undeveloped, leaving only a few edible Berries scattered among the bushes.

"But there isn't much to eat here right now," Naoki pointed out. "The orchards and farmlands haven't been cultivated yet."

However, the Treecko seemed entirely unconcerned. They cheerfully explained, in their own way, that they could easily satisfy their hunger by munching on the leaves.

Naoki: "…?"

As expected of Grass-type Pokémon, their adaptability to natural conditions was impressive. Some Grass-types could even sustain themselves purely through photosynthesis.

Even though the Treecko didn't mind, Naoki couldn't bear the thought of them chewing on leaves just to survive. It felt far too pitiful to him.

After a moment of thought, Naoki decided to take action. He asked the Treecko to stay at the World Tree temporarily while he returned to the ranch. From there, he drove his pickup truck to the town and purchased a batch of Berry tree saplings from the local Hugh Seed Store.

.....

Back at the World Tree, Naoki enlisted the help of Dugtrio and Calyrex. Together, they began reclaiming a designated planting area around the World Tree.

Naoki and Dugtrio worked to dig holes and prepare the soil, and the Berry tree saplings were carefully planted into the pits.

Once all the saplings were in place, it was time for Calyrex to work its magic. With a graceful wave of its hand, the tiny, delicate saplings began to grow at an astonishing rate.

In mere moments, a lush and vibrant orchard filled with Berry trees appeared before their eyes. The trees were laden with plump, glistening fruits, their skins smooth and shiny, radiating an irresistible allure of ripeness.

The Treecko trio stood in awe, their eyes gleaming with amazement.

"Treec…" they murmured in unison, marveling at the incredible sight.

Naoki smiled warmly and said, "Alright, that's settled. If you're hungry, feel free to pick fruit from the trees."

"Tre!" The Treecko trio nodded eagerly, their tails twitching with enthusiasm.

Naoki glanced around the lush environment and added, "Oh, there's one more thing I need to tell you."

"Tre?" The Treecko looked up attentively.

"The World Tree is enormous," Naoki explained. "Aside from this level, there are many other areas. However, I haven't explored those parts yet. It might be easy to get lost, so for now, please stay on this level."

"Tre!" The Treecko nodded in unison, understanding the caution.

Naoki nodded back. The area on this floor was already expansive enough to satisfy their curiosity and provide plenty of room to explore and play.

The World Tree was still in the process of growing. This particular level, located at the crown of the tree and shielded by its dense canopy, would likely remain unchanged even as the World Tree matured further. However, other areas were less stable and could shift as the tree expanded, particularly the hollow spaces within its massive trunk.

Naoki decided it would be best to wait until the World Tree reached full maturity before venturing into those parts. Once the environment stabilized, he could better assess what kind of habitats were suitable for different types of Pokémon.

Pokémon have a diverse range of attributes and habitats they prefer. Fire-type Pokémon thrive in volcanic regions with high temperatures, Grass-types favor areas with dense foliage and rich greenery, while Water-types need environments with clear, clean water.

Similarly, Rock- and Ground-types gravitate toward rugged mountainous terrain, Ice-types prefer frigid zones covered in snow and ice, and so on.

Creating specialized environments for each Pokémon type would be a significant project, but Naoki wasn't in any rush. He had all the time in the world.