Chapter 256: Zacian and Zamazenta
That's one of the strongest Pokémon in existence—practically a legend in its own right!
Naoki's excitement bubbled over.
That tall, powerful frame, those mighty arms, the determined protective eyes, and that smooth yet bristly fur.
'What an incredible Pokémon!'
Hailing from the Paldea region, Naoki had never encountered an Urshifu in person before.
Unable to contain his curiosity, he grabbed Koraidon and Calyrex—both poorly disguised with sunglasses—and sneaked into the Pokémon Center to get a closer look.
The boy, Urshifu had carried was being treated in the emergency room.
Meanwhile, the big bear Pokémon stood anxiously in the lobby, its eyes glued to the door, pacing restlessly.
Professor Magnolia, seated on a nearby sofa, looked on sympathetically. "Don't worry," she said gently to Urshifu. "The child will be fine."
But Urshifu remained visibly distressed, its expression downcast and tense.
Naoki, pretending to be a trainer resting in the Pokémon Center, settled on a nearby bench. He picked up a newspaper to blend in, but his attention remained firmly on the towering Pokémon.
"Ah..gah."
Koraidon was speechless, knowing full well Naoki's fascination had been piqued once again.
Meanwhile, Calyrex, sitting coolly with his oversized shades, scanned the surroundings.
Just then, the red light above the emergency room door flickered off and was replaced by a green one. The door swung open, and Nurse Joy emerged, her expression both serious and stern.
Naoki perked up, watching intently.
Nurse Joy addressed Urshifu directly. "What happened? Where are the child's parents? If you had waited even ten more minutes to bring him here, things could have ended very badly!"
Urshifu seemed to want to say something but hesitated, shifting its weight awkwardly from one paw to the other.
Professor Magnolia stepped in with a kind smile. "It's alright now. The child is safe."
But Nurse Joy, still visibly frustrated, crossed her arms. "It's so irresponsible of the parents to not show up themselves! Instead, they sent a Pokémon to bring the child all this way alone."
At these words, Urshifu lowered its head, its expression filled with guilt and sadness.
Nurse Joy's stern demeanor softened at the sight. "The child is going to be fine," she added more gently. "If you're worried, you can go see him in the ward."
At her invitation, Urshifu hurried down the hall, eager to be at the boy's side.
Naoki watched all of this unfold with great interest.
If what Naoki overheard earlier was true, then Nurse Joy's words must have stung the heart of the poor Urshifu. It must feel really guilty, right?
At that moment, Nurse Joy noticed Naoki and his companions sitting quietly in the corner. Composing herself, she approached them with a professional smile.
"Hello, how can I help—"
Her words trailed off as she spotted Calyrex sitting calmly, wearing sunglasses.
Unable to stop herself, she blurted out, "What a... big head!"
Calyrex: "…"
Naoki: "..." 'How rude!'
Realizing her slip, Nurse Joy immediately clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh my! I'm so sorry! That just slipped out."
Calyrex gave a weary sigh. "It's fine, I don't blame you," he said, waving a hand dismissively.
However, to Nurse Joy, Calyrex's words came out as: "Cal moo-ji-ji!"
Naoki leaned forward with a reassuring smile. "He says he forgives you."
Relieved, Nurse Joy nodded apologetically. "Thank you, and I'm sorry again!"
In an effort to make amends, she headed to the counter and returned with three cups of nutritious berry juice. "This juice helps restore a Pokémon's energy. It's good for all types," she explained with a kind smile.
Naoki handed the drinks to Koraidon and Calyrex, popping straws into their cups. Then, he smiled and said, "Could you get us one more?"
Nurse Joy gave a polite nod and left to prepare another. While she was gone, Naoki released Cyclizar from its Poké Ball.
When Nurse Joy returned with the extra juice, each Pokémon began sipping happily through their straws.
Calyrex held his cup carefully with both hands, sipping from the straw with a serene expression.
Judging by his contented look, the juice must have been delicious.
After finishing the drink, Calyrex gave a small nod of approval. "This is indeed quite good. The temperature on the Crown Tundra is too cold for fruit trees to grow, so I haven't had a drink like this in a very long time."
Naoki smiled warmly. "There are plenty of fruit trees on my ranch. You can drink as much juice as you want when we get back."
Calyrex chuckled softly. "I'm not a child, you know. You don't need to talk to me like one. But… I appreciate the sentiment."
Though he wouldn't admit it, he didn't mind the kindness at all.
Naoki scratched the back of his head, a bit embarrassed. "Haha… Koraidon and I are just used to it."
Just then, Urshifu—the Martial Arts Pokémon—came rushing out of the room with a determined stride.
Naoki blinked in surprise. "Where's it going?"
Calyrex floated closer, equally curious. "Shall we follow?"
Naoki nodded, and together with Koraidon and the rest of their Pokémon, they trailed after Urshifu.
The bear Pokémon marched through the streets of Postwick Town without stopping, eventually crossing the town's borders.
Naoki furrowed his brow. "Is it… running away?"
At that moment, Urshifu abruptly stopped in its tracks. It turned toward them, eyes narrowing with cautious wariness.
"Oruh?" (Who are you?)
Naoki tensed slightly, realizing just how sharp Urshifu's senses were. 'This one must be incredibly strong.'
Deciding to confront it directly, Naoki called out, "You left the boy back at the Pokémon Center."
Urshifu's expression flickered with a mixture of pain and hesitation. "Haru..." it muttered softly.
Naoki raised an eyebrow. "Haru?"
Urshifu's eyes widened. "Wait… can you understand me?"
Calyrex floated forward, radiating calm reassurance. "We mean no harm," he said kindly. "We're just curious about your relationship with the human boy."
Urshifu hesitated, glancing between Calyrex and Naoki. After a long pause, it sighed deeply, its gaze softening.
"He's Haru... my son," Urshifu admitted quietly.
Naoki and Calyrex exchanged a knowing glance. 'Just as we thought.'
Meanwhile, Koraidon's jaw dropped in shock.
"Ah-gaah?!" (Can Pokémon have human children?!)
Naoki shot Koraidon a flat look. "...Seriously? He's a male Pokémon. How would that even work?"
He couldn't help but marvel at Koraidon's wild imagination.
Urshifu glanced at Koraidon, shaking its head. "No... I found him. I raised him."
As Urshifu spoke about the boy, its face softened with love and pride. The affection in its voice was undeniable—this boy meant everything to it.
"It was a long time ago," Urshifu explained. "I was practicing my moves under a waterfall when I saw him—just a baby, drifting downstream in the river. It was clear that humans had abandoned him."
"If I hadn't taken him in, he wouldn't have survived," Urshifu said, his voice soft with emotion. "So, I adopted him as my son and named him Haru."
"I love him deeply. I used to take him across the grasslands to gather food, and he'd join me at the waterfall to practice martial arts year-round. Haru is a smart child—he helps Pokémon in the forest. Even the more aggressive ones grow calmer around him."
As Urshifu reminisced, his expression became tender, his eyes filled with affection.
Calyrex listened quietly before asking gently, "Then why did you leave him?"
Urshifu's expression clouded with sadness. "Because...Haru is human. The forest is no place for him to live."
"That human nurse was right—I am not a suitable father. I can't keep Haru tied to me, away from the world he belongs to."
"If he stays among humans, he'll grow up safe and healthy. He won't have to worry about hunger or illness, and he'll sleep in a warm room, protected from storms and the cold."
Naoki nodded slowly, beginning to understand Urshifu's feelings. After a moment, he said, "You've already proven yourself to be a good father."
Urshifu looked at Naoki, startled.
"But I don't think Haru knows you left yet," Naoki added gently.
Urshifu's face shifted with uncertainty.
Calyrex spoke next, his voice calm but filled with understanding. "I can feel the love in your heart. If you care so much about him, why are you leaving?"
Naoki chimed in. "When he wakes up, the first person he'll want to see is you. But if you're not there, everything in the human world will feel strange and overwhelming to him."
Beside them, Koraidon nodded his head in agreement, "Ah gah!"
Urshifu blinked, imagining Haru waking up alone and frightened. A sudden wave of panic washed over him, and without another word, he turned on his heel and sprinted back toward the town.
Naoki watched the bear's retreating figure, feeling a warm sense of admiration.
"I never thought I'd witness something like this," he murmured, touched by the scene.
"It makes me like Pokémon like Urshifu even more," Naoki added with a smile. "It's just a shame... they're so rare."
He couldn't just take someone else's father, could he?
Well, forget it! With Koraidon and Calyrex at his side, Naoki felt more than content.
'The key to life is knowing when to be satisfied,' he reminded himself with a grin.
Calyrex beside him, observed the encounter with a sense of renewed hope. The former King of Galar murmured thoughtfully, 'This has shown me new possibilities between humans and Pokémon.'
He then smiled warmly and added, "I hope that boy recovers soon."
"Alright, it's time to get moving!" Naoki declared enthusiastically.
Calyrex gave a small nod in agreement.
And so, the group resumed their journey, heading towards the town as the sky began to glow with the warm hues of evening. The setting sun blanketed the landscape with shades of gold, as if the whole world were submerged in the fizz of summer-orange soda.
Like Kosaji town, this town also thrived on ranches, but instead of raising Nacli or Miltank, the fields were filled with fluffy Wooloo—their round forms grazing lazily under the sunset, radiating a peaceful atmosphere.
Naoki admired the tranquil sight. It felt as though time had slowed to a gentle hum in this sleepy town.
Calyrex observed the scene, his voice soft with nostalgia. "It's been so long since I've experienced such a peaceful life. Now, I think it's something I can look forward to again."
Beyond the rolling hills lay a quiet forest, shrouded in evening's glow.
Calyrex turned his gaze toward the woods and said with certainty, "Let's go. Zacian and Zamazenta are waiting for us in the forest ahead."
Naoki felt a wave of excitement surge through him. Was he really about to meet Zacian and Zamazenta?
'I've only been in Galar a short time, and I've already encountered four legendary Pokémon! This trip has been so worth it!' Naoki thought, a grin spreading across his face.
With growing anticipation, he and Calyrex made their way towards the forest.
As night began to fall, the forest around them grew still and quiet. The gentle babbling of a nearby stream accompanied them, and the path they followed was lined with thick foliage. Tall trees stretched skyward, their branches entwined, forming a canopy that blocked most of the moonlight.
The trees in the distance were veiled in a soft mist, giving the forest a dreamy, surreal feel, as though they had stepped into a world woven from a dream.
The forest path twisted and branched endlessly. Naoki and Koraidon were unsure which way to take, so they let the Calyrex lead the way.
They walked for what felt like hours, the mist growing denser with each step, until their visibility shrank to less than five meters.
Suddenly, Calyrex stopped.
Naoki, curious, was about to ask what was wrong when he noticed Calyrex's serious expression as he gazed ahead.
Following Calyrex's gaze, Naoki saw two sleek figures emerging from the thick fog.
The one on the left had blue fur with white, scar-like patterns across its body. Its braided ears hung elegantly over its narrow limbs, giving it a majestic, agile appearance.
The other was covered in red fur resembling armor, with a tuft of curled hair crowning its head. Its body had sharp, angular features, with patterns that looked like battle scars. Its face was shaped like a small shield.
Zacian and Zamazenta.
The two legendary Pokemon stood with calm composure, casting quick glances at Naoki before turning their focus to Calyrex. Like knights honoring their sovereign, they knelt before Calyrex.
Calyrex's voice was calm and regal as he spoke. "There is no need for formalities."
The two Pokemon stood as if understanding the purpose of Calyrex's visit. They lifted their heads to the sky and howled in unison, their cries reverberating through the mist.
"Arf! Awooo!" (We have driven away the Darkest Day!)
Calyrex gave a small nod. "I know. But the darkness has not been fully vanquished. Its remnants still linger across this land."
A flicker of confusion crossed Zacian and Zamazenta's faces.
Calyrex met their gaze and spoke softly, "I am no longer the ruler of this land. Soon, I will leave. From now on, everything here will be in your care."
The two Pokemon widened their eyes in shock.
Zamazenta stepped forward, tilting its head with a soft whimper. "Awooo?" (Why are you leaving? Is it because of this human?)
Calyrex glanced at Naoki and gave a serene smile. "Yes, and no. The people of this land no longer need me. They have learned to walk their own path."
Zacian's ears flattened in worry. "Woof... Woof?" (But the darkness still lingers... If you leave, are we truly enough to stop it? And... our weapons are rusted and worn.)
Calyrex shook his head gently. "I have given you the power of kings. That power will guide you when the time comes. And know this—I have seen the future. This time, the darkness will be defeated for good."
The two Pokemon lowered their heads slightly, their expressions mixed with uncertainty and determination.
Calyrex continued, his tone reassuring. "Until that day comes, you only need to wait and prepare."
...
The next bonus chapter will be released at 3000 Power Stones.
PS: If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 284 at patreon.com/Keepsmiling818
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