Pokemon: A New Path-The first SSS dish, and the legendary Gogoat![481]

As the World Tree reached its full maturity and rose above the clouds, life on the ranch settled into a calm, peaceful routine once again.

Thanks to Giratina’s portal, Eeveelutions still ventured from the Reverse World to play around the World Tree. The Gogoats would sometimes travel there as well, guiding the young Skiddo rescued by Mewtwo. Meanwhile, Naoki had grown accustomed to a tranquil lifestyle—sitting on his porch in the evening breeze, sipping tea, and listening to soft music as the sun dipped below the horizon.

One afternoon, Mayor Thomas paid a visit to the ranch. He wore his familiar, broad-brimmed hat, and his warm smile stretched ear to ear.

“Naoki, don’t forget! The town’s hosting a fireworks display at the end of the month,” the elderly mayor said cheerfully.

“Oh, I’ll definitely be there,” Naoki replied with a grin.

“Well, this year’s show is going to be bigger than ever! The town brought in some rare fireworks, and we’ve invited plenty of vendors to set up stalls. It’ll be a feast for the eyes and the taste buds,” Mayor Thomas added enthusiastically. “There’ll even be free food and drinks for everyone! Imagine watching those fireworks while enjoying a cool drink and something delicious to eat. I can’t wait!”

Naoki chuckled and nodded. The annual fireworks display was a cherished tradition in the Paldea region. On the last evening of summer, townsfolk and Pokémon gathered by the sea to marvel at the colorful explosions lighting up the night sky. The festive atmosphere always created wonderful memories.

“I’ll be there,” Naoki assured the mayor.

“Good, good!” Mayor Thomas tipped his hat and headed for the door. “See you at the end of the month, Naoki!”

As the mayor’s figure faded down the trail, Naoki noticed the tin of cookies the mayor’s wife had sent along. They were buttery and crisp—rumored to have once been the favorite treat of Cyclizar. Indeed, Cyclizar wasted no time in wolfing down the cookies, happily sharing with Koraidon, who also seemed to enjoy the treat. In no time at all, the plate was empty.

Later that day, he wrote a short letter of thanks to Mayor Thomas, explaining that he was sending over some fresh produce from the ranch. He packed a variety of ripe fruits and vegetables into a bag, which Cyclizar gladly carried off to deliver to the mayor.

With the morning turning into noon, Naoki decided to harvest some vegetables from the field for lunch. As he stepped outside, he was greeted by three Gogoat bounding out of Giratina’s portal. Each of them carried a large, glowing green leaf in their mouths.

“What’s this?” Naoki wondered aloud.

The Gogoat trotted up and gently placed the leaves at his feet. Their pleased expressions made it clear this was a gift from the World Tree.

“A gift from the World Tree?” Naoki asked, receiving an enthusiastic nod from the Pokémon.

He picked up the vibrant leaves and felt a spark of inspiration. Long ago, he had prepared a special dessert using similar leaves from the World Tree. Excited, Naoki turned back to the house, fetched his trusty recipe book, and flipped through its pages.

Over the years, Naoki had formed a steady routine: whenever he came up with a new dish, he carefully documented the ingredients, preparation steps, and potential effects.

Before long, he found the relevant notes in his cooking journal:

[Leaf Cake (Incomplete Version) (S-):

A cake made by blending leaves from the World Tree with eggs, MooMoo Milk, and other ingredients. If you listen closely, you might even sense the faint whisper of nature.

Cooking Effect:

Breath of Nature: Permanently boosts the power of Grass-type moves by 20%. This effect only applies to Grass-type Pokémon and does not stack.

Grass-type Pokémon that eat this cake can harmonize more easily with nature’s rhythm. Using Grass energy to nurture crops will slightly reduce their growth time. This effect also applies only to Grass-type Pokémon and does not stack.

Additional Effect: As the World Tree’s chosen caretaker, you may now access all areas within the tree. This effect applies exclusively to Naoki.

Comment: Hear the whispers of nature! Perhaps when the World Tree fully matures, dishes made with its leaves will yield even more potent effects.

“As expected!” Naoki murmured to himself.

Even when crafted from the immature leaves of the World Tree, this cake already had remarkable properties. He could only imagine what benefits the recipe might provide if made from the tree’s fully developed leaves. The thought filled him with curiosity and anticipation.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out.”

Without hesitation, Naoki began preparing a batch of leaf cakes. He first pureed the World Tree leaves in a blender, then combined them with eggs, milk, and other ingredients. While pouring in the MooMoo Milk, a new thought struck him: What if I used milk from the Gogoat instead?

After all, the Gogoat at the ranch produced milk of notably higher quality than the Miltank’s MooMoo Milk.

Inspired by the idea, Naoki quickly swapped out the milk for the Gogoat’s milk.

Once all the ingredients were mixed thoroughly, he poured the batter into a mold, giving it its desired shape, and slid it into the oven to bake. As the rich, earthy aroma filled the kitchen, Naoki prepared a fresh cream topping to finish it off. He’d made this cream from some of the finest ingredients at hand, ensuring it would complement the cake perfectly.

When the cake was just about done, he pulled it from the oven and carefully spread the fresh cream on top. The end result was a fresh leaf cake, glistening with a natural sheen.

Only, this time, something was different. This cake didn’t just have a beautiful texture and appearance—it actually emitted a soft, green glow.

Naoki blinked in astonishment, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him. But no, the cake was undeniably shining. Moments later, detailed information about the cake flooded his mind, as if the dish itself was revealing its secrets.

[Leaf Cake (SSS): A cake made by mixing leaves from the World Tree with eggs, Gogoat’s milk, and other ingredients. It practically radiates the essence of nature.

Cooking Effect: Lord of Nature Permanently boosts the power of Grass-type moves by 100% (limited to Gogoat). Other Grass-type Pokémon receive only 50% of the effect, and it cannot be stacked.

After consumption, Gogoat gains an even deeper connection with nature. Using Grass energy to nurture crops will cause all plants in a certain radius to mature within seconds.

Other Grass-type Pokémon that consume it will experience significantly shortened crop growth times. This effect only applies to Grass-type Pokémon.

Naoki, as the Lord of the World Tree, gains an additional unique effect: Those recognized by nature can inherit the special ability “Power of Viridian” after consuming the cake.

Power of Viridian: This ability allows one to communicate with Pokémon on a deeper level, greatly enhance their affinity with them, draw upon nature’s energy, and heal their wounds.

Comment: A perfect creation, unmatched anywhere in the world!

Naoki’s jaw dropped. “!!!”

“An SSS-level dish?! That’s insane!” He couldn’t believe the sheer power of what he’d just created. A permanent doubling of Gogoat’s Grass-type attack strength? The ability to instantly mature crops? And then there was that mysterious “Power of Viridian” that hinted at an inheritance of sorts.

For a moment, he pondered the meaning of “inherited.” Could it refer to passable traits or abilities? He wasn’t entirely sure—after all, he wasn’t in a situation where he could test that effect. Still, it didn’t detract from the awe he felt.

Eager to see the results firsthand, Naoki brought a portion of the glowing cake to Gogoat. The Pokémon sniffed the treat, their eyes lighting up with anticipation. With a delighted bleat, Gogoat began eating, savoring every bite.

Seeing how much Gogoat enjoyed the cake, Naoki decided to try a piece himself. As he tasted the cake, he couldn’t help but notice how the natural flavors seemed to burst with energy, leaving him feeling refreshed and connected to the environment around him.

Once the cake was fully consumed, a surge of vibrant, green energy erupted from Gogoat’s body, filling the room with a warm, radiant glow.

Through the insight granted by his newfound Viridian Power, Naoki could clearly sense that his Gogoat was undergoing a profound transformation. The change wasn’t just from the Leaf Cake—it was also the result of the World Tree’s long-term nourishment, which had fundamentally altered their life force.

In other words, his Gogoat was no longer an ordinary Pokémon.

Their very essence had been elevated. Their vitality and energy had reached the level of Legendary Pokémon.

Realizing this, Naoki was left speechless.

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He had done it—he had successfully created gods.

After a moment, the glow surrounding the Gogoat faded. The Pokémon looked at him with an unmistakable spark of excitement in their eyes.

Naoki finally collected his thoughts and, with a mixture of amazement and pride, said softly, “Congratulations, Gogoat.”

“Baa!” The Gogoat let out a joyous bleat, practically bursting with enthusiasm.

“Let’s see what’s different about you now,” Naoki said, still somewhat in awe as he examined his newly enhanced Pokémon.

Driven by curiosity, Naoki led the trio of Gogoat to the ranch’s training area.

They stood tall and proud in a line, awaiting Naoki’s instructions with an air of confidence and determination.

“Alright,” he said, “let’s start by looking at your Vine Whip.”

One of the Gogoat stepped forward and nodded. Two thick, dark green vines extended from its sides, swaying like powerful serpents.

Naoki studied the vines with a critical eye, noting their deeper hue and sturdier appearance.

“It’s exactly as I thought,” he murmured. “The vines have changed… The color’s darker now, probably because their Grass-type energy is so much stronger.”

“Farfetch’d!” Naoki called, turning to where Farfetch’d had been practicing swordplay on wooden dummies.

“Farfetch'd?” The Pokémon waddled over, tilting its head in curiosity.

“Try striking the vines with your leek,” Naoki instructed.

Farfetch’d blinked in surprise but nodded. With a flash of light, the Pokémon charged forward, leek poised like a blade, and swung at the Gogoat’s Vine Whip with all its strength.

The vines didn’t even flinch.

Farfetch’d froze in shock, staring at the unscathed vines. “?!” it exclaimed, clearly baffled.

“It’s just as I suspected,” Naoki said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “The strength and resilience of the vines have increased.”

With that, he turned back to Farfetch’d and said, “Alright, that’s enough for now.”

“Let’s try using Leaf Blade next,” Naoki instructed his Gogoat, confident in its improved abilities.

Nodding, the Gogoat shifted its stance, and the energy around its mouth coalesced into a gleaming green sword.

Naoki pointed to a wooden practice dummy nearby. “Try hitting that dummy over there.”

The Gogoat immediately turned and dashed forward, holding the radiant Leaf Blade firmly. With a single, powerful swing, the dummy shattered into pieces, sending bits of wood flying.

Farfetch’d, who had been observing from the sidelines, gasped in astonishment.

“Farfetch’d?!”

Its eyes went wide with disbelief at the sheer power on display.

“Looks like the Leaf Blade’s strength has increased, too,” Naoki noted, quietly impressed. He smiled as his Gogoat trotted back, its green blade still shimmering.

“Alright,” Naoki said. “Now let’s see your best move—Grassy Terrain.”

The Gogoat let out a calm, resonant bleat as green energy began to surge through it. In an instant, a brilliant green light spread across the entire ranch. A lush field of soft grass sprouted from the ground and swayed gently in the air. The energy didn’t stop at the ground—it rose into the sky, surrounding the ranch in a faint green glow.

Naoki gazed up and marveled at the sight. The once-simple Grassy Terrain had evolved into something extraordinary. The green light was no longer just a field on the ground—it filled the entire area, giving off an almost ethereal “aura.”

“That’s… aura!” Naoki whispered, the realization hitting him. “It’s not just a terrain move anymore. That Leaf Cake must have transformed your Grassy Terrain into an aura!”

He stood silently for a moment, taking in the scene. As far as Naoki knew, only two Pokémon in the entire world possessed anything akin to a true aura.

One is the god of life, Xerneas, whose Fairy Aura boosts the power of all Fairy-type moves simply by its presence.

The other is the god of destruction, Yveltal, whose Dark Aura enhances the power of all Dark-type moves whenever it appears.

And now…

Could it be that the Gogoat had also developed its own aura?

Naoki’s excitement grew as the realization dawned on him.

From what he could see, the grass aura created by the Gogoat appeared to be far more versatile than Xerneas’s Fairy Aura or Yveltal’s Dark Aura.

Not only could the Gogoat’s grass aura boost Grass-type moves, but it could also provide healing. And combined with its ability, which raised its defense, the Gogoat had become a true all-rounder—a Pokémon capable of fighting, healing, and enduring.

If it were paired with Calyrex or Ogerpon, the possibilities seemed limitless. Naoki could barely imagine the potential ceiling of such a team.

Standing before his three Gogoats, Naoki felt a surge of pride. Could he be on the path to becoming the undisputed king of Grass-types?

Maybe he could follow the example of Lance.

What if Naoki trained a trio of Gogoats to perfection, complementing them with allies like Calyrex, and Arboliva from the World Tree? Together, they could form an unstoppable force of Grass-type champions.

But beyond that, Naoki had another thought—one he couldn’t shake. How would his Gogoat compare to Leon’s Charizard now?

He vividly remembered the last time, when Leon’s Charizard had easily swept his team, leaving him humbled. But now? Now the Gogoat had evolved to a whole new level. The energy from the World Tree had enhanced its life force, the leaf cakes had supercharged its attacks, and its Grassy Terrain had transformed into a full-fledged aura.

Curiosity and determination flared in Naoki’s eyes as he picked up his Rotom Phone and sent Leon a message across the sea in the Galar region:

Naoki: “When are you coming to Paldea? My Pokémon have grown stronger, and I’d love to battle you again.”