Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 300: Miraidon



In the empty, silent corridor, Flutter Mane quietly observed Koraidon standing opposite it. Seeing Flutter Mane after so long, a joyful expression spread across Koraidon's face.

"Raao!" it rumbled excitedly.

Looking at Koraidon now, Flutter Mane couldn't help but recall the Koraidon from its memories—a Koraidon always scarred, its body battered from countless battles.

They had traveled so far together once.

In its quest to find that important person, Flutter Mane had followed Koraidon through forests of towering ancient trees, leapt alongside it from sheer cliffs into shadowed depths, and traversed mysterious, pitch-dark caves.

Back then, its impression of Koraidon was that of a Pokémon who never smiled. No matter the danger or the trial, Koraidon's face always carried a somber, weary expression.

It remembered how Koraidon had shared its thoughts and fears during their journey: how it came from a ranch filled with many Pokémon and how it was terrified it might never find Naoki or make its way home again.

And now, seeing the wide grin on Koraidon's face, Flutter Mane felt a warmth stir within. The corners of its own mouth curled slightly, forming a soft smile.

It was genuinely happy for Koraidon.

"Mrrream," Flutter Mane murmured softly, its ethereal voice gentle. (You found him.) "Raao!" Koraidon nodded eagerly, its tone brimming with excitement. (Naoki's here too!) Flutter Mane already knew. It had seen the human accompanying Koraidon earlier.

As it reflected on this reunion, Koraidon suddenly grew curious about Flutter Mane's journey. It tilted its head and asked, "Raao?"

Flutter Mane replied, "Mrrream." (I waited there, but when you didn't return, I went down. That's when I was brought here.)

Koraidon froze, trying to piece it together, before realization dawned. The little turtle Pokémon must have used their crystal-like energy to send Flutter Mane here, just as they had done for it!

Replaying the past in its mind, Koraidon suddenly had an idea.

"Raao!" it invited, its voice full of hope. (Would you like to come back to the ranch and live with us?)

Meanwhile, in the monitoring room.

Watching the two ancient Pokémon interact peacefully on the surveillance feed, Professor Sada's eyes sparkled with intrigue.

"As I suspected-they know each other!" she exclaimed, her tone filled with fascination.

Dr. Turo, standing beside her, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy as he observed the

scene.

Sada's research into ancient Pokémon had taken another significant step forward, yielding yet another breakthrough.

By contrast, his research into future Pokémon had hit a wall.

Compared to the wild, ferocious nature of the primal Paradox Pokémon, future Pokémon exhibited a calm and calculated demeanor. They seemed intelligent, almost too intelligent, but their unpredictable actions and inscrutable thought processes made them far more challenging to study.

As Dr. Turo observed the scene unfolding in the monitoring room, he couldn't help but glance at Naoki, who stood nearby.

As an esteemed Pokémon researcher, Dr. Turo had a keen eye for understanding human- Pokémon dynamics. It was clear to him that Naoki had a unique gift-no matter the Pokémon, they eventually became his friends, trusted him, and willingly listened to him.

So, the question arose: could Naoki help bond with a Pokémon from the future, just as he had with Koraidon? Dr. Turo's thoughts turned to Miraidon.

He had previously attempted to help Arven connect with Miraidon, but for some reason, the boy remained indifferent, even resistant, to the futuristic Pokémon. The attempt had been less than successful.

Deep in thought, Dr. Turo began to consider a new idea. If Miraidon were entrusted to Naoki, could it form a similar bond, akin to the one Koraidon shared with him?

Unable to suppress the idea any longer, Dr. Turo turned to Naoki and asked, "Naoki, are you interested in Pokémon like Miraidon?"

Naoki blinked in surprise, caught off guard. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Dr. Turo clarified, "I'd like to entrust Miraidon to you. Much like Koraidon, I want to see if you can develop a deep bond with it."

Naoki's eyes widened as the meaning sank in. "Are you serious?" he asked, incredulous.

"Of course," Dr. Turo replied with a smile.

From her seat at the monitor, Professor Sada, who had been intently observing Koraidon and Flutter Mane, overheard their conversation. A playful smirk crossed her face as she turned to her husband and teased, "You're cheating, aren't you?"

Dr. Turo chuckled softly, though his expression remained serious. "What choice do I have? Ancient Pokémon, given time, can adapt to this era with proper care and guidance. They learn from their trainers and gradually integrate into the modern world."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He sighed, shaking his head. "But future Pokémon... They're entirely different. They possess advanced intelligence from the start, and they resist traditional methods of bonding. Building a connection with them is infinitely more challenging."

On one side were wild Pokémon, untamed and lacking in developed intelligence. They were driven purely by instinct, ferocious in temperament, and focused solely on fighting for territory and hunting for survival.

On the other side were futuristic mechanical Pokémon of unknown origin. Though their metallic bodies were cold and unfeeling, they possessed extraordinary intelligence and the ability to think and analyze in ways that were far beyond any ordinary Pokémon.

Dr. Turo turned to Naoki, his gaze steady. "So," he began, "I'd like to ask you to try interacting with Miraidon. See if you can establish a bond with it, just like you've done with Koraidon."

Naoki took a deep breath, calming his excitement and nerves. He couldn't deny the uniqueness of Koraidon's circumstances. After all, he had nursed it back to health, which had been instrumental in gaining its trust and affection.

But Miraidon was different. He had no prior connection to it, and the process of forming a bond seemed daunting.

"I'll give it a try," Naoki said cautiously. "But I can't promise anything."

Dr. Turo nodded, satisfied with his response. Glancing at the monitoring screen where Koraidon and Flutter Mane were still engaged in conversation, he said, "It seems they still have much to discuss. Let's take this time to visit the biome where Miraidon resides."

Professor Sada stayed behind to continue observing Koraidon and Flutter Mane, while Naoki followed Dr. Turo to the ecological zone housing Miraidon.

The automatic gates slid open, revealing a sprawling biome filled with towering cliffs and deep basins. The environment was stark, almost desolate, yet it exuded a certain majesty.

As soon as they entered, Naoki began scanning the area for Miraidon. It didn't take long for his eyes to settle on a figure hovering near the edge of a towering cliff.

There it was-Miraidon, floating silently in midair. Its piercing, lifeless gaze was fixed on the distant sky, its expression unreadable. It gave off an aura of unyielding stillness, as if contemplating something far beyond human understanding.

Dr. Turo gestured toward it and spoke in a hushed tone. "That's Miraidon, also known as the Iron Serpent. It's said to have wielded the power of lightning to reduce entire landscapes to ash."

Naoki studied the Pokémon, noting its sleek, mechanical frame and eerie presence. "It looks a lot like Cyclizar's skeletal structure," he observed.

Dr. Turo's expression turned serious. "That's true, but Miraidon is far more powerful and far more ruthless than any Pokémon like Cyclizar. It possesses an intelligence that's both impressive and unsettling. It can assess a person's character with remarkable precision, yet its mechanical nature makes it impossible to decipher its emotions."

Naoki nodded thoughtfully, taking in the imposing figure of Miraidon. Compared to Koraidon, Miraidon felt... alien. Its cold, metallic demeanor was a stark contrast to Koraidon's

warm and expressive personality.

"As expected," Naoki murmured, "Koraidon's emotions are much more vivid and easier to understand. Its appearance feels more natural, more biological."