Pokemon: A New Path-The True Creator[586]

Naoki turned and saw Ash, Dawn, Brock, Sheena, Kevin, and Cynthia running toward him.

'Cynthia too?' Naoki blinked in surprise.

The group came to a stop, their eyes naturally drifting to the masked man who had just fought alongside the legends.

Ash and Brock were visibly excited, itching to speak, but hesitation held them back. There was something unspoken between them, something they didn't quite know how to say.

Meanwhile, Sheena and Kevin looked toward Arceus in the distance. The realization dawned on them quickly: it was the mysterious figure before them who had stood against Arceus and protected Michina.

They bowed slightly in deep gratitude. "Thank you so much for saving everyone."

Naoki simply shook his head, quietly indicating it was nothing.

Cynthia studied him intently, her golden eyes thoughtful and curious. She was intrigued by this masked figure, so calm, so powerful, but her upbringing as a noblewoman and a Champion of Sinnoh prevented her from acting out of turn. She wouldn't rip off someone's mask. She could only keep wondering in silence.

Just then, Brock remembered something important.

"Wait! Now that the Life Jewel has been returned, shouldn't this land have turned barren again?"

Before anyone could respond, Arceus floated over, radiant once again, with Dialga and Palkia by His side. His deep, solemn voice echoed through the temple.

"That power didn't come from me. It was your ancestors who worked tirelessly alongside Pokémon to nurture this land. Its vitality comes from the unity between human hearts and Pokémon."

"Oh… I see now!" Brock exclaimed in realization.

Behind them, Naoki watched the conversation with a soft smile.

"It's time for us to go," he said quietly.

Calyrex nodded in agreement. Today had been extraordinary, but it was time to return home.

With the Creator God calmed and balance restored, Giratina opened a portal to the Reverse World. It was no longer shackled by old resentment.

Ash and the others turned around at the sound of the vortex. They saw the masked figure, Naoki, riding atop Giratina.

"You're leaving already?" Ash asked quickly.

Naoki gave him a nod.

Then, without another word, Giratina and the group of legendary Pokémon soared into the Reverse World, the swirling portal closing behind them.

Ash and his friends stood at the edge, waving with all their might.

"Take care!"

Under the warm light of the setting sun, Dialga and Palkia gave one last glance before returning to their dimensions.

Now, only Ash's group and Arceus remained.

Arceus stood atop the restored temple, gazing at the horizon bathed in golden light.

"Your world is a beautiful one, Ash."

Ash blinked, then gave a gentle smile. "Yeah. It really is."

Arceus turned back to him, eyes softer now, and then took off into the sky.

Bathed in the glow of the sunset, Arceus felt something different, something human.

"I finally understand. I… am part of this world too."

Just like all other Pokémon, He could live in it, grow with it… even battle as one of them.

As that thought crossed His mind, He recalled the masked human who had stood before Him.

"Naoki. I never thought you'd be strong enough to challenge even me. I won't forget that."

...

"Alright, alright, I get it. Next time, I promise I'll take you with me. Okay?"

Back at the ranch, Naoki knelt beside Koraidon, who was clearly sulking. He ruffled the proud dragon's head fondly.

The crisis had passed. His promise to Giratina was fulfilled, and all the legendary Pokémon who had come to help had returned to their homes on the World Tree.

And the battle, an unimaginable clash of gods, had already caused a massive stir across the internet.

News outlets, trainers, and even entire regions were still buzzing.

Online, curious fans across the world were desperate to know the outcome of the legendary battle. But no one could say for sure, no one had seen how it ended.

As for the comments flooding the feed, Naoki scrolled through them with mild interest before losing interest.

Another major crisis had been resolved. Now it was time to return to the peaceful rhythm of life on the ranch.

Just then, the home phone rang.

Naoki walked over and picked it up, and a familiar face appeared on the screen, Ash.

"Mr. Naoki!" Ash said, eyes wide with excitement.

"Huh? Ash? What brings you to call the ranch all of a sudden?" Naoki asked, feigning confusion.

Ash jumped straight to the point. "Is Calyrex still with you?"

Naoki shook his head with a smile. "Calyrex? He said staying on the ranch was starting to feel a little dull, so he left a while ago to travel the world. Last I heard, he's out there exploring, probably experiencing all kinds of new things."

Not far away, Calyrex, sat on the sofa and let out a quiet sigh. He hadn't said anything like that. But seeing Naoki's effort to keep his identity hidden, he silently chose to play along.

Ash blinked in surprise. "Ah? Then maybe… that person really wasn't you?"

Naoki raised an eyebrow. "Why? Did something happen?"

"I thought Cyclizar Mask was you," Ash admitted honestly.

Naoki chuckled. "How could that be? I've been here at the ranch the whole time. And Paldea is a long way from the Sinnoh region. It'd take at least seven hours just to get there."

Ash looked disappointed, but the expression didn't last. He quickly perked up. "Well, if I ever get the chance, I want to have a battle with Cyclizar Mask!"

Naoki: "…"

It was nighttime in Sinnoh. Ash and his group were staying at the Pokémon Center in Michina and about to have dinner.

"Well, I've got to go. We're heading to eat. I'll come visit the ranch if I get the chance. See you next time, Mr. Naoki!" Ash said with a grin.

Naoki smiled warmly. "See you."

The screen went dark.

It was evening in Sinnoh, but still early afternoon in the Paldea region. After using a Z-Move earlier, Naoki had burned quite a bit of energy and now felt a touch sleepy.

After lunch, he curled up with a few Eeveelutions in the shade of the ranch house and took a nap.

But in the middle of his dream, Naoki suddenly heard a voice, soft and ethereal, like a whisper carried on the wind.

"Naoki... come here."

Naoki's eyes snapped open.

Hovering in front of him was a softly glowing orb of golden light, drifting gently in the air.

He jolted upright.

'What... is that?'

Before he could even gather his thoughts, the orb, seemingly sensing he was awake, began floating toward the door.

Naoki stared in disbelief.

Was this something that actually existed in the Pokémon world? Or was he dreaming?

He turned his head. The Eeveelutions that had been napping beside him were still curled up peacefully... but something wasn't right.

They weren't breathing.

Naoki's eyes widened.

It wasn't just the Eeveelutions. Everything was frozen.

The leaves drifting midair were suspended in place. The curtain caught in the breeze stood still like a painting. Even the squawking parrots from earlier hung motionless in the sky.

Time itself had stopped.

Dialga?

He immediately thought of the Pokémon that governed time, but... no. This didn't feel like Dialga's power. It was something else. Something... deeper.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Naoki stood up. He slipped on his shoes and walked quietly toward the door.

Waiting for him just beyond the entrance was the glowing orb, still gently bobbing in place.

Seeing him approach, the orb began to float forward.

It passed over the fields, glided silently across the ranch, and hovered over the large lake at its center. Then, without warning, it slipped through a faint rift in space—an entrance to the Reverse World.

Naoki followed it in.

Through warped skies and twisted terrain, the glowing light led him deeper into the strange dimension. After several more turns, the light finally came to rest atop the World Tree, right in the middle of the Expedition Team Guild's Park.

Naoki stared at it, confused and amazed.

"Who are you?" he asked.

In response, the light pulsed.

Then, it began to change.

Golden radiance expanded outward, and from within the glow emerged a familiar, divine form, its body radiating with holy light, its Thousand-Arms form gracefully orbiting its frame.

Naoki gasped.

This was Arceus. The Pokémon he had battled not long ago.

But something was different.

There were no stone plates orbiting its body. No signs of the elemental slates of creation.

That's when the realization struck him.

Wait. Could this be... the true form of Arceus?

The original?

As that awe-inspiring thought surfaced, the divine figure finally spoke.

"You have met my avatar. But I am the one true Arceus, the creator of this world."