Pokemon: A New Path-Rayquaza joins the chat group![477]

No one had an answer.

Inside the expansive Weather Institute, the silence was deafening. The entire research team stared at the enormous split-screen display, each half showing a legendary Pokémon in motion.

On the left, Groudon trudged forward with its powerful legs, its massive tail scraping the ground and leaving deep furrows behind. On the right, Kyogre swam swiftly through the ocean, too large for the satellite to fully capture, but the radar’s readings made one thing clear: Kyogre was moving at extraordinary speed.

In fact, it had already outpaced Groudon and was no longer within Hoenn’s borders. It was heading toward—Unova.

“Alert the Unova League immediately,” a senior executive instructed. “Tell them to prepare for anything.”

“Yes, sir!” An assistant immediately set about contacting the Unova League.

“What about Groudon?” another researcher asked, shifting their gaze to the massive land-bound Pokémon.

If Groudon was also bound for Unova, its journey would be far slower. Unlike Kyogre, Groudon had no way to traverse the ocean quickly. It could not soar above the waves using its immense fins as Kyogre did.

The room fell into uneasy silence.

After a moment, a senior researcher spoke. “Continue tracking Groudon’s movements. Ensure it doesn’t approach any towns or cause harm to civilians.”

Recalling Groudon’s ability to create land by spewing magma, he added, “Just keep an eye on it until it leaves Hoenn.”

...

Naoki, meanwhile, remained blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding elsewhere.

He stood atop the sky island, gazing up at the towering World Tree, his spirits high.

[World Tree (Mythical): An incarnation of nature, the source of ecosystems, and the mother of all life. It radiates natural energy to nourish the entire planet. It is said that it can sustain an entire world.]

“From the mature stage to mythical status?” Naoki murmured, reading the description. “That’s not surprising.”

As if sensing the World Tree’s transformation, Pokémon from every corner of the sky island began to emerge.

Flying Pokémon fluttered eagerly around the World Tree’s canopy, exploring its vast branches. Ground Pokémon made their way up the tree’s sturdy limbs to peer out at the endless sea of clouds below. It was a view they had never seen before, a world transformed.

"Treeck" “Wow!”

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Treecko’s eyes gleamed with amazement.

The other Pokémon shared its awe, gazing at the verdant World Tree, the misty expanse of clouds, and the glittering stars above. These sights, unknown to them in the Distortion World, filled them with wonder.

Naoki shared their sentiment. Seated among the branches of the World Tree, he looked out at the magnificent starry sky with his companions.

Below, at the guild’s headquarters, Calyrex, Mewtwo, and Giratina rested. Having poured their energies into the World Tree’s growth, they now stood quietly while Pokémon scurried around them.

Pikachu and Meowth arrived, carrying containers of fresh tree sap to help the trio recover their strength. Milotic directed Venusaur to prepare an array of sushi for the three great heroes. Even the Treecko trio who guarded the orchard brought forth a selection of ripe fruits as a show of gratitude.

Under the hazy glow of the moon, Ninetales lit a cheerful bonfire, sparking a spontaneous celebration. The Pokémon gathered around the flames, their faces alight with joy. Together, they held a lively bonfire party to celebrate the World Tree’s ascension.

Mewtwo sat by a fountain, its usually piercing gaze softened as it took in the joyous scene before it. Pokémon of all kinds danced and played, their laughter ringing out under the starlit sky. For a moment, the powerful psychic creature closed its eyes and let a small, tranquil smile form on its face, 'This is the peace I’ve always longed for.'

Giratina, too, had changed. The once-fierce legend had softened in the company of these cheerful Pokémon. It laughed along with them, enjoying the attention and the carefree atmosphere.

Calyrex sat gracefully in a chair, sipping tea prepared by Sinistea and Polteageist, its usual serene smile never leaving its face.

High above, Naoki observed it all from his perch. Looking down at the celebration below, he felt a wave of gratitude for the life around him.

Exhaling slowly, he turned his eyes upward to the starlit sky.

From today forward, the World Tree is truly complete.

Naoki marveled at how every Pokémon that called this place home now had all their needs met. Newcomers, no matter their species, would find safety, companionship, and an endless source of nourishment. There would be no more hunger, boredom, or danger to worry about.

After all, Mewtwo remained a vigilant guardian here. Should any threat arise, Mewtwo would act without hesitation to ensure the well-being of everyone in the World Tree’s sanctuary.

It was a paradise, Naoki thought—a true haven for Pokémon.

Meanwhile, beyond all known universes, Arceus, the god of creation, observed this unique world.

Today, the atmosphere was especially vibrant, brimming with the life-giving energy radiating from the World Tree. Out of all the worlds Arceus had shaped, this one was uniquely captivating.

In His vision, Arceus could see the Pokémon gathering around the bonfire, their laughter and joy filling the air. The sight of the Pokémon Guild in the background caught His attention, and His gaze seemed to sharpen for a moment.

Yet He held back. “Not yet,” Arceus murmured to Himself.

It was not the right time. His avatar—His incarnation in this world—remained dormant. Until it awoke, He would wait.

A plan began to form in His mind.

“Naoki,” Arceus whispered, His voice reverberating through the void, “I am aware of the agreement you’ve made with Giratina. In light of that, I will set one final challenge before you.”

His tone grew firmer. “If you can overcome the rampaging clone, then I shall descend in person.”

“Prove yourself!”

His words echoed briefly before fading away, leaving the space once again silent and still.

...

Back at the World Tree, Mewtwo stirred. Its eyes snapped open, and it turned its gaze skyward.

A powerful, imposing presence was approaching rapidly, heading straight for them.

In a flash, Mewtwo appeared beside Naoki, who was grooming Pawmot’s fur.

“An unknown Pokémon is approaching!” Mewtwo said, its tone sharp and alert.

Naoki blinked, momentarily stunned. He and Koraidon, along with the nearby Pokémon, lifted their heads.

From above, a sleek, shiny black Rayquaza descended, its presence commanding and its movements confident and unhurried. As it drew near, the World Tree’s immense canopy reflected in its wide, curious eyes.

“Roar!”

Rayquaza’s cry echoed as it hovered, staring in disbelief at the enormous tree before it.

Naoki, however, simply smiled and sat back down. “It’s fine, I know that one. It doesn’t mean any harm.”

Not far away, Dragonite and a group of other Pokémon noticed Rayquaza’s arrival. With wide-eyed excitement, they flew out to greet it.

“Awoo!” they called out enthusiastically. “Rayquaza-senpai!”

Hearing their familiar voices, Rayquaza’s surprised expression softened. It carefully scanned the scene and spotted Dragonite and the others waving from the branches.

Confused but curious, it moved closer, rising higher into the tree’s canopy. There, Rayquaza found even more Pokémon than it had expected.

Rayquaza was stunned and couldn't figure out what was going on for a moment.

Dragonite quickly floated over, calling out a cheerful explanation: “Awooooo!”

It took Rayquaza a moment, but realization gradually dawned on its face.

“Rayq…” it rumbled softly, though it still seemed a little taken aback.

Its gaze wandered over the scene, taking in Cyclizar, Butterfree, and all the other Pokémon. It spotted Naoki perched on a branch of the World Tree, who waved in a friendly greeting.

Rayquaza also recognized a Pokémon it remembered from the time they helped stop Groudon and Kyogre. That Pokémon, noticing Rayquaza, suddenly grew animated and called out to Naoki:

“Naoki, invite him to the group!"

Rayquaza blinked, its expression unreadable. “?”

Naoki: "..."

Naoki, however, let out a small sigh, descended from the branch on Koraidon’s back, and gave Mewtwo a pleading look. “Could you help me out here, Mewtwo?”

Mewtwo glanced at Rayquaza, then back at Naoki, and offered a calm nod of agreement.

A few minutes later, Naoki returned with a brand-new Rotom Phone. He handed it over to Rayquaza, who stared at the device with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. Naoki began his explanation.

“This is a Rotom Phone. It’s, uh… a human invention. I imagine living up in the ozone layer must get pretty boring for a dragon like you. With this phone, Rotom can keep you company and let you know what’s happening around the world in real time.”

“Rayq…”

Rayquaza gingerly accepted the Rotom Phone, gripping it awkwardly in its claws. It was clearly unfamiliar with the device.

Naoki started to demonstrate its functions, but before he could finish, Giratina eagerly jumped in. The legendary Pokémon began enthusiastically describing the phone’s features and walking Rayquaza through the setup process. Naoki stepped aside, silently acknowledging that Giratina, ever the internet celebrity, had a natural talent for communication.

After about half an hour, Giratina had not only explained the phone’s functions but had also helped Rayquaza register all the necessary accounts. Finally, Giratina turned back to Naoki with an excited suggestion:

“Add him to the group chat!”

Naoki sighed, his expression one of resigned acceptance. He tapped a few buttons on his own Rotom Phone and added Rayquaza as a friend, then pulled it into the legendary Pokémon group chat. A new notification immediately popped up:

[Rayquaza has joined the group chat!]

Giratina, satisfied, stepped back to let Rayquaza explore the phone on its own. Holding the Rotom Phone in one claw, Rayquaza began clumsily poking at the screen with the tip of its other claw, attempting to follow Giratina’s instructions.

Dragonite hovered nearby, offering the occasional tip. For a brief moment, everything felt lighthearted and peaceful.

Soon after, Rayquaza set the phone down and started sharing tales of its recent battle against Groudon and Kyogre, recounting how it had helped save the world. Dragonite, Cyclizar, and Butterfree listened with rapt attention. Other Pokémon have also gathered around, their eyes shining with admiration.

“Meowth!” “So cool!”

Even Pokémon like Milotic and Venusaur regarded Rayquaza with awe. The legendary dragon, pleased with the adoration, grinned widely.

Naoki, watching from the side, couldn’t help but smile wryly. This was becoming a familiar sight.

As he observed the group, a thought struck him. Glancing at Rayquaza’s sleek, normal form, Naoki wondered, Can it still Mega Evolve now? Curious, he decided to ask.

“Hey, Rayquaza.”

The dragon turned its head toward him, silently waiting.

Naoki asked, “Can you still Mega Evolve? You know, transform into that other form and unlock even more power?”

He recalled that Rayquaza’s ability to Mega Evolve depended on harnessing the meteorite energy stored within its body. This energy, paired with the Dragon Ascent move, allowed it to achieve Mega Evolution.

Rayquaza tilted its head slightly before replying telepathically. “Roar?” (Is that what you humans call that transformation—Mega Evolution?)

Naoki nodded. “Yeah, Mega Evolution.”

Nearby Pokémon, including Mewtwo, Dragonite, and Calyrex, perked up and listened.

Rayquaza shook its head and answered, “Rayq.” (I used to be able to, but I don’t have enough energy now. I can’t transform into that form anymore.)

The response puzzled Naoki. “Not enough energy?” he murmured. He remembered that Rayquaza’s usual diet of meteorites might not provide the level of energy required for Mega Evolution. Then, a memory surfaced—an ancient, mysterious stone from the anime. This massive boulder, said to hold immense primordial energy, could potentially enable Rayquaza’s Mega Evolution.

Naoki recalled how that stone had been stored in a secret Hoenn ruin, where Steven uncovered it. The moment it was revealed, Rayquaza appeared, drawn to its power.

'It’s one of ours now,' Naoki thought. 'If the opportunity arises, I’ll help Rayquaza retrieve that stone. Not only will it help Rayquaza Mega Evolve and grow stronger, but it might also prevent someone like Lysandre from using it for evil.'

His musings didn’t stop there. If Rayquaza could Mega Evolve, what about Mewtwo? Mewtwo, after all, had two possible Mega Evolutions—one focused on physical power (Mega Mewtwo X) and the other on psychic prowess (Mega Mewtwo Y). Both forms were formidable in battle, and Naoki couldn’t help but wonder if Mewtwo would also be willing to unlock that potential.

As the bonfire’s glow began to fade and the Pokémon started drifting off to sleep, Naoki decided it was time to call it a night. After saying his goodbyes, he returned to his ranch to rest. Giratina vanished into the shadows of the World Tree, while Rayquaza accepted an invitation to stay. The other Pokémon weren’t ready to let it go just yet—they still wanted to hear more of its adventures.

Finding the abundant natural energy of the World Tree to its liking, Rayquaza decided to stay. Content, it settled into this extraordinary haven.

Meanwhile, far away, Groudon and Kyogre continued their journey, each determined to reach their destination.