Pokemon: A New Path

The intensity in the air soared.

The pink mist around Sylveon suddenly deepened in color, responding to the energy within her. The very atmosphere seemed to resonate with her heart's cry.

Then, in a brilliant burst of light, a massive pink sphere of energy erupted outward from Sylveon's body. It expanded in all directions, swallowing the snow and ice as it passed, painting the battlefield in radiant pink.

At the same time, Kyurem's body flashed with a piercing white light. The temperature plunged. Frost bloomed across every surface, and the very space around him seemed to freeze solid.

Two overwhelming forces, one warm and radiant, the other cold and desolate, collided in the heart of the battlefield.

Crack!

The ice on the ground exploded outward, fracturing like glass. Above, the hovering Cryogonal scattered in panic, ascending higher and higher as they tried to escape the unbearable cold.

Even Mewtwo and Koraidon tensed at the surge of elemental energy.

Without hesitation, Mewtwo blinked forward and appeared in front of Naoki and Koraidon. With a soft glow, it transformed into Mega Mewtwo Y, the Y-form specialized in psychic control. Its eyes glowed blue as it extended its right arm.

A glowing barrier of psychic energy surged forth, shielding them from the bitter chill outside.

This was Kyurem's ultimate move—Glaciate.

The ice surged outward, freezing the ground, the walls, and everything in sight. In seconds, the entire mine had been transformed into a glacial cavern.

Naoki could only gape in awe.

"A base power of 65 in the games... how is it this terrifying in real life...?"

The light was blinding, the roar of colliding elements deafening.

He could no longer see Sylveon. All he could do was hope.

Then came the boom, a thunderous detonation that shook the cavern to its core.

And then... silence.

Time passed. The cold mist began to settle. The blinding light finally began to fade.

As vision returned, Naoki gasped.

On the frozen battlefield, Kyurem stood still. Frost clung to his body. He was wounded, his breath ragged, his posture unsteady.

He looked... tired.

And across from him, Sylveon remained locked in the final pose of her Misty Explosion, her body completely encased in ice.

The battle was over.

"Sylveon!!" Naoki shouted, already sprinting forward.

"Koraidon!"

"Graaah!" Koraidon understood instantly.

A blast of searing flame erupted from Koraidon's jaws. It melted the ice surrounding Sylveon in seconds, steam rising in thick clouds.

Naoki rushed to her side, reaching into his backpack with practiced hands. He pulled out a bottle of Life Goat Milk and gently tilted it to her lips the moment her mouth was free.

A moment later, Sylveon slowly opened her eyes.

"Boo-yi…"

Still chilled to the bone from being frozen, Sylveon shivered all over.

Naoki quickly pulled open his coat, scooped her up gently, and held her close to his chest. His body warmth slowly seeped into her tiny frame, helping her thaw and recover.

After some time, Sylveon stopped trembling. Nestled in Naoki's arms, she rubbed her face against his chest affectionately.

"Boo-yi~"

"You did an amazing job," Naoki whispered with a proud smile. "To me, you're already a true hero."

Hearing those words, Sylveon's eyes sparkled. She hopped down from Naoki's arms with renewed spirit, and the three Pokémon, Sylveon, Mewtwo, and Koraidon, turned their gazes toward Kyurem.

Kyurem stood on the other side of the icy battlefield, his expression unreadable. His breath puffed visibly in the cold air as he stared at the group with his glowing, pupil-less eyes.

Then a deep, icy voice echoed through the cave, carrying with it a rare flicker of passion.

"It has been a long time since a Pokémon managed to injure me like this."

The blast from Sylveon's Misty Explosion had clearly left a mark.

"Buee…" Sylveon lowered her ears, a little shy from the compliment.

Kyurem continued, speaking with a quiet weight that only those who had seen many winters could carry. "You have earned the right to be called a hero."

"Buee?!" Sylveon's eyes widened. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Naoki stepped forward and pulled a bottle of Life Goat Milk from his bag, offering it to Kyurem. "Here, this will help with your wounds."

Kyurem accepted it silently. He had witnessed the healing properties of this milk before. After finishing the drink, the weariness in his body faded, and his strength fully returned.

"You did well," Kyurem repeated, his voice still cool but now laced with recognition.

Sylveon beamed. "Buyi!" Her long journey of training had not been in vain.

Kyurem's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he asked, "You want to be a hero. What will you do next?"

Sylveon paused. For a moment, the question stumped her. But then, images of the World Tree filled her thoughts, the Pokémon there, the cries for help from the Mysterious Labyrinth.

With renewed resolve, she raised her voice. "Buyi!"

She would go to the world of the Mysterious Labyrinth, help those in need, and truly live up to the title of hero.

Kyurem, unfamiliar with the World Tree or the Labyrinth, remained silent. Yet he could feel Sylveon's determination. Her heart shone with purpose.

Without saying more, Kyurem turned his immense body and began walking back into the shadows of the mine. Only a single sentence drifted behind him.

"In that case… go and do it."

Naoki quickly stepped forward. "Kyurem, wait!"

Kyurem halted and turned back slightly. "What is it?"

"I'd like to invite you to live with us at the World Tree."

Naoki spoke earnestly, explaining the sanctuary nestled deep within nature. A peaceful place where no humans interfered, where Pokémon could live freely. He shared how many Legendary Pokémon already called it home.

Sylveon's eyes sparkled. She bounced in place, nodding excitedly. "Buee!" That's right!

Kyurem did not respond immediately. Instead, he fixed Naoki with a long, penetrating gaze.

"You carry the aura of those two."

Naoki blinked, then realized what Kyurem meant.

Reshiram and Zekrom.

"Yes," he said with a quiet nod. "Due to special circumstances, both Reshiram and Zekrom are currently at the World Tree as well. Though… they remain in their Dragon Stone forms for now."

Kyurem stood still for a long moment.

Then, without warning, he asked,

"What is your Tao?"

"Tao?"

Naoki was stunned by Kyurem's sudden question.

He quickly pondered the meaning behind it.

From what he knew, Kyurem, Zekrom, and Reshiram were all based on the ancient Taoist philosophy of Yin and Yang. Zekrom represented Yin, the power of ideals. Reshiram represented Yang, the power of truth. And Kyurem symbolized emptiness—the void between opposites, the root of all things.

Tao gives birth to One. One gives birth to Two. Two gives birth to Three. And Three gives birth to all things.

The original Dragon was split into three forms: Reshiram, Zekrom, and Kyurem.

Naoki also remembered an old tale, one that claimed if Kyurem absorbed the energy of either Reshiram or Zekrom, it would gain the power to protect either the real world shared by Pokémon and humans or the ideal world yet to be born.

And now…

The Kyurem before him clearly had the ability to transform into Black Kyurem. It was unclear where it obtained this strength, but one thing was certain, this Kyurem was no empty husk. It had a soul.

Cold air drifted from Kyurem's body. It stood still but imposing, its pale eyes locked onto Naoki's, waiting patiently for an answer.

Naoki took a slow breath. He searched his heart, and soon, the answer came to him. Meeting Kyurem's gaze, he said with clarity,

"I want to create a paradise… a place that belongs only to my Pokémon friends."

A faint mist puffed from Kyurem's nostrils, betraying the emotion behind its stoic face. It didn't speak immediately. Instead, it stared at Naoki in silence, as if peering directly into his soul.

The flow of energy, the Tao, moved gently through the air. Kyurem's eyes glowed faintly. In that moment, it saw past what was and glimpsed a world that could be. A world not yet born.

A low huff escaped its throat.

"Hmph," Kyurem finally said. "If that's your Tao… then prove it to me."

With those words, powerful ice surged from Kyurem's body, and the battle-scarred arena began to heal. The cracks in the icy floor sealed, and once again, a great ice gate materialized before Naoki.

"Booee?" Sylveon tilted her head in confusion, unsure of what Kyurem was planning. Was this another battle?

But Naoki understood perfectly.

Kyurem was not just offering a challenge, it was laying down a test. If Naoki wanted to bring it to the World Tree, he had to demonstrate his strength. Kyurem would fight at full power, and only if Naoki defeated it head-on would it acknowledge him.

Kyurem's chilling voice echoed across the field. "If you've made up your mind… then walk through the ice gate."

Naoki nodded and took a deep breath. For the first time in a long while, a fighting spirit stirred within him.

He wanted to know, was his Koraidon strong enough to stand against Kyurem?

"Koraidon," he called.

The ancient Pokémon stepped forward from behind Naoki, eyes blazing with fierce determination.

"I'll leave this to you," Naoki said softly.

"Gaaah!"

One man and one Pokémon stepped through the gate of ice together.

Kyurem's eyes narrowed as it sensed Koraidon's energy. This was no ordinary dragon. It was something primal. Something ancient. A solemn expression crossed Kyurem's face.

The battle began without warning.

Kyurem opened with a Freezing Beam, unleashing a wide blast of pale, cold energy across the field.

But Koraidon didn't flinch.

With a sudden burst of power from its hind legs, it leapt high into the air. Ice shattered beneath its feet, scattering like glass as the beam passed harmlessly below.

Naoki watched the battlefield calmly. Then, seeing the perfect opportunity, he gave the command:

"Collision Course!"

...

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