Pokemon: A New Path

Chapter 29: Determination

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"Damn it!" Naoki gasped, recognizing the woman and boy instantly.

Dr. Olim and her son, Arven.

But how? Wasn't Dr. Olim supposed to be dead? Naoki's mind raced as he looked at the young boy beside her. Their resemblance was undeniable.

It was Arven!

So, what time was it? Had he arrived ten years before the events of the game "Pokémon Scarlet"? But why had Koraidon escaped from the Paldea crater, just like in the game's plot?

Now wasn't the time to ponder these questions. Naoki needed to address the situation at hand. He looked at Dr. Olim and Arven, feigning ignorance. "Who are you?" he inquired.

Dr. Olim studied his face for a moment, then shifted her gaze to Koraidon. "I am Professor Olim," she said, "and the Pokémon beside you is Koraidon, a creature from ancient times." "Not long ago, we used a certain technology to summon it to the present, but it attacked us and escaped from the lab."

"Koraidon," Naoki repeated, absorbing this new information that wasn't part of the game's story.

Dr. Olim continued, "However, its primal, ancient power is too volatile. Sooner or later, it will lash out and attack other Pokémon and humans."

Naoki's brow furrowed. Koraidon, standing beside him, tensed up.

"Gaa..." it grumbled.

Naoki looked at Koraidon, and its tense expression softened.

Observing the scene, Dr. Olim was surprised by the bond between Naoki and Koraidon. However, remembering the destructive power Koraidon and Miraidon had unleashed, she spoke with a firm tone.

"It seems to have formed an attachment to you," she acknowledged. "However, Pokémon summoned from ancient times are inherently wild and different from modern Pokémon. We can't guarantee it won't harm you, let alone other Pokémon or humans."

"Therefore, I ask you to return Koraidon to us. We will take it away from Paldea, back to where it belongs."

Naoki's heart sank. He knew Dr. Olim's concerns were valid. While Koraidon appeared docile and playful in the game, it also possessed a fiery temper that had forced Professor Olim to return it to Area Zero.

Returning Koraidon was the logical course of action.

But...

Dr. Olim reached into her lab coat pocket, pulling out a special Poké Ball designed to capture Koraidon. She threw the ball towards the Legendary Pokémon.

Koraidon watched the incoming projectile, its eyes narrowing in fury. A terrifying energy surged within it.

With a defiant roar, Koraidon charged forward, its scarlet body blurring with speed. Its dragon claws, gleaming with a menacing light, swiped downwards in a powerful arc.

Before anyone could react, the Poké Ball was sent flying, shattered into pieces by Koraidon's claws. Black smoke billowed from the broken fragments.

Koraidon then turned its attention to Dr. Olim, assuming an aggressive stance.

Alarmed by Koraidon's sudden aggression, Naoki shouted, "Koraidon, stop!"

Simultaneously, young Arven, who had been watching with a sullen expression, leaped into action. He stepped in front of his mother, protectively. "You're not allowed to hurt her!"

A white light flashed from his pocket as he released his own Pokémon, a Maschiff. Koraidon ignored the Maschiff, its attention solely on Naoki. Hearing his voice, it paused, its anger subsiding. It turned to Naoki and whimpered, a pleading look in its eyes.

"Gaa..."

"Koraidon?" Naoki called out tentatively, his heart filled with conflicting emotions.

Naoki watched, stunned, as Koraidon approached him and gently wrapped him in a hug with its massive paws, nuzzling against him like a giant, affectionate cat.

Dr. Olim's eyes widened in disbelief. That Koraidon...

Naoki, though unsure of what was happening, understood Koraidon's silent message: It wanted to stay with him, it didn't want to leave.

Naoki's mind flashed back to the game's story. He looked into Koraidon's eyes and asked, "Will you hurt me or other Pokémon?"

Koraidon shook its head vehemently. "Koraidon."

Reassured by Koraidon's promise, Naoki turned to Dr. Olim and Arven. "I'm sorry, Professor Olim," he said with conviction, "but I can't hand Koraidon over to you."

Dr. Olim was taken aback. "Why? Aren't you afraid it might suddenly attack you?"

Naoki shook his head. "I trust it. Instead of worrying about what might happen, I choose to believe what I see. And what I see is that Koraidon wouldn't do anything to harm me or others."

Dr. Olim was silent, her gaze lingering on the surprisingly gentle Koraidon. She was suddenly curious about what had transpired since it left Area Zero.

Dr. Olim had a dream.

She envisioned a world where ancient and modern Pokémon coexisted peacefully. Inspired by the Scarlet Book, she and her husband had ventured into the perilous Great Crater of Paldea, established an observatory, and utilized the crystal at its depths to research a time machine, aiming to summon Pokémon from the past and future.

However, the Koraidon and Miraidon they summoned had displayed a destructive nature, shattering their hopes.

But now she witnessed a different side of the Pokémon known as the "Winged King" in the Scarlet Book.

"If you don't mind," Dr. Olim asked, her curiosity piqued, "could you tell me what happened after you encountered this Koraidon?"