https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-366-The-Third-King-Hammer-of-Fearlessness-Beast-Hammer-/12537528/
Chapter 367: The World Tree and the Shadow Pokemon
Chapter 367: The World Tree and the Shadow Pokemon
Naoki looked on in surprise at the Latias that was following closely beside Zapdos.
"I wonder what this is about?" he thought. "Is this Latias a new friend that the Big Hero Expedition team invited over?"
It was common knowledge that legendary Pokemon like Latias and Latios existed in groups and were not solitary creatures. They could be found in the Johto region, as well as the Hoenn region.
So, the question arose: Which group did this Latias belong to?
As Naoki gazed at Latias, the Pokemon was also curiously examining him.
"Is this the Naoki that Mew and Teddiursa were talking about?" Latias wondered.
At that moment, Zapdos lowered its head and used its beak to retrieve a photo from its pouch, presenting it to Naoki.
Naoki took the photo and, upon inspection, immediately understood the origins of this Latias.
It was the very same Latias from the movie, "The Guardian of Alto Mare, Latias and Latios"!
"I wonder if Mew and Teddiursa are still traveling in the Johto region?" Naoki pondered.
After all, the movie was set in the Johto region, in a water-bound town called Alto Mare.
Naoki recalled the movie's plot vividly.
Two female thieves captured Latios in their quest to steal the town's treasure, the Soul Dew. However, their greedy hearts corrupted the pure Soul Dew, leading to a catastrophic disaster that nearly submerged the entire town.
In a critical moment, Latios, the brother of Latias, sacrificed himself. He transformed into a new Soul Dew, protecting the island and its inhabitants.
Naoki studied the photo in his hand.
The background of the photo was a garden shrouded in mystery, with trees, grass, and a beautiful fountain.
Mew and Teddiursa stood in the center, with the taller Zapdos standing proudly behind them. Latias and Latios poked their heads from either side, all posing together for this memorable shot.
The Big Hero Expedition team had somehow played a part in this movie, and Naoki wondered about the extent of their involvement. Had they managed to prevent the disaster from unfolding?
Driven by curiosity, Naoki invited the two Pokemon into the living room, offering them a place to rest and refreshments in the form of fruit juice and snacks.
Naoki himself munched on a piece of translated sunflower seed cake.
He turned his gaze to Latias, whose eyes sparkled with curiosity, and asked, "How is your brother, Latios? Is he doing well?"
At the mention of her brother, Latias paused, a look of surprise spreading across her face. "Woo?" she asked, clearly astonished. (How do you know about my brother?)
Naoki smiled and replied, "Not only do I know about him, but I'm also aware that you are the guardians of Alto Mare. You've been secretly protecting the Soul Dew in the hidden garden."
Latias's eyes widened further, unable to conceal her amazement. "Woo!" she exclaimed. (Impressive!)
So, this was Naoki? Latias thought. Just as Mew and Teddiursa had described him, he was indeed a human who knew many things!
"Is Latios doing alright?" Naoki inquired with a smile.
Latias looked confused, as if she didn't quite understand Naoki's concern. But after a moment's thought, she responded, "Woo? Woo!" (Of course, Latios is fine! He should be sleeping on the big tree in the secret garden right now!)
"I see..." Naoki wasn't sure if the plot of the movie had unfolded as expected, so he asked, "What about the villains? Were they caught?"
Latias immediately thought of the two humans who had tried to steal the Soul Dew.
She nodded vigorously, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Woo! Woo?" (They were caught! Bonnie handed them over to Miss Katrina, but how do you know about this, Naoki?)
"That's my secret," Naoki said with a mysterious smile.
Latias was astonished; this human was even more incredible than she'd imagined!
Naoki, looking at the photo, realized that the Big Hero Expedition team must have inadvertently altered the movie's plot.
Latios, who was originally destined to sacrifice himself to protect the island, had survived.
The Big Hero team truly lived up to their name!
Naoki turned to Latias, a smile playing on his lips, knowing something she didn't.
Latias, unaware of his thoughts, was perplexed by Naoki's words. However, she assumed that he must really like her brother, given how many questions he had asked about Latios.
Latias, always thoughtful, said, "Woo!" (Latios is guarding the city! He can't leave, but if you want to see him, you can always go to Alto Mare!)
"No, that's alright," Naoki replied with a shake of his head. "Knowing that he's safe and sound is enough for me. You two are doing a great job as guardians."
Latias blinked, her eyes full of confusion. She felt like she was starting to misunderstand Naoki's words.
Without elaborating further, Naoki stood up, carefully placed the memorable photo into a frame, and turned to say, "Zapdos, the World Tree should be habitable by now. Would you like to go and take a look?"
"Chuu!" (I've already seen it!)
Zapdos exclaimed. It had spotted the World Tree from the sky earlier and noticed that it had grown significantly.
Although it wasn't as grand as Mew and Teddiursa had described it would eventually become, the World Tree was now large enough to accommodate Zapdos.
"So, do you want to stay here then?" Naoki asked.
Zapdos shook its head. "Chuu! (Not for now. I want to stay with Mew and Teddiursa!)
"
"Alright," Naoki said, respecting Zapdos's choice.
However, Latias, who was standing beside them, felt a surge of curiosity about the World Tree.
Naoki, noticing her interest, led her outside and began to explain, "This is the World Tree. Just a few months ago, it was a tiny sapling, but thanks to the efforts of Mega Gardevoir and the Gogoat herd, it has grown to this impressive size."
Latias had already heard about the World Tree from Mew and Teddiursa.
She knew that this tree would continue to grow, and that the Big Hero Expedition team planned to build their secret base on it, inviting their good friends they met on their travels to live there as well.
Naoki was slightly taken aback, but he quickly smiled and replied, "Of course."
If he remembered correctly, Latias and Latios were incredibly adept at flying, capable of reaching speeds of up to 4 Mach, surpassing even jet airplanes.
Traveling between Alto Mare and the World Tree would undoubtedly be an easy feat for them!
However, as guardians of the Water Capital, these two Pokemon probably wouldn't relocate their home like Zapdos had.
With Naoki's permission, Latias was thrilled.
She let out a joyful cry, eager to return to her brother and share all the wonders she had seen at the ranch.
Zapdos, too, had recovered its energy and was keen to rejoin Mew and Teddiursa on their journey.
Thus, the two Pokemon didn't linger any longer at the ranch.
Naoki, understanding their eagerness, bid them farewell after restocking the Big Hero Expedition Team's supplies.
"Take care and stay safe on your journey!"
Zapdos nodded slightly.
Latias cheerfully responded, "Woo! We'll meet again, Naoki!"
Naoki smiled warmly, "I look forward to it."
As he watched the two Pokemon disappear into the horizon, Naoki turned away, his mind filled with thoughts of Latias and Latios.
Suddenly, a strange feeling washed over him, as if he were experiencing a chain reaction of events.
It had all started when he kept Teddiursa, leading to its encounter with Mew.
Then, the two Pokemon had embarked on their journey together, forming the Big Hero Expedition Team.
And now, even Latios's fate had been altered by their actions.
There was no denying that the Big Hero Expedition Team's influence was growing exponentially!
Who could have imagined that the once mischievous Teddiursa, who relied on its cute appearance to scam others for food, would become what it was today?
Just like Budew.
With its newfound King's Power, it had matured and become more responsible.
The Budew that once timidly stole chicken feed under the cover of night was now proactively assisting Naoki in managing the ranch, much like Ash Ketchum's Bulbasaur.
It helped care for the ranch's Pokemon, including the Ice Eevee, Frostine, Psyduck, and Wigglytuff, fostering harmony among them.
Gourmet and Leafeon wouldn't take on such tasks, and Dragonite, Goodra, and Salamence were too preoccupied with eating, sleeping, and working.
Despite its strength, Trevenant behaved much like Frostine, frolicking and playing around the ranch like a child.
Who could have foreseen this transformation?
Naoki spent so much time with his Pokemon that he often didn't notice their growth, but in moments like these, he realized how much they had all changed.
News about the ever-growing World Tree was spreading fast in Verity Lake Town, and it was becoming harder to keep it a secret.
One evening, Zack arrived at the ranch to collect the day's produce, and his eyes immediately landed on the conspicuous giant tree.
Zack was startled. He stood at a distance, craning his neck to gaze up at the towering tree, and exclaimed, "When did this tree appear?! I don't recall seeing it yesterday!"
"It's a long story," Naoki replied, "but to put it simply, it's all thanks to the power of Pokemon."
Zack knew about Naoki's capture of a Regigigas, and he quickly made the connection. "So, it's Regigigas's doing?"
"Yes," Naoki confirmed. "I wanted to create a massive treehouse for the Pokemon to live and play in, so I asked Regigigas to help nurture this tree."
"I see..." Zack understood, but he was still amazed. "But its growth is astonishing! Will it keep growing? Won't it outgrow the ranch soon?"
"That is a concern," Naoki admitted, remembering his promise to Giratina. "But I'll figure out a way to relocate it when the time comes."
However, finding a suitable location for the tree was another challenge...
Additionally, what would become of the Riding Goats and Olivia if the tree were moved?
Naoki wished he could borrow Doraemon's Shrinking Light to shrink the World Tree temporarily and restore it to its original size once it was fully grown, then relocate it elsewhere.
"Wow," Zack muttered, still dazed by the tree's size as he loaded the milk crates onto his truck. "It's enormous!"
It wasn't just the townspeople who were drawn to the tree; passing trainers and Pokemon were also captivated by the sight.
Naoki struggled to keep up with the influx of curious visitors, from trainers to students from the Pokemon Trainer's School.
He envisioned a never-ending stream of tourists flocking to the ranch, turning the World Tree into a popular attraction.
Something had to be done.
That afternoon, Naoki sought out Giratina and asked if it was possible to move the World Tree to the Reverse World for the time being.
Giratina had no idea what the World Tree was.
So, Naoki led it to the ranch and pointed at the towering tree. "There it is."
Giratina froze, overwhelmed by the immense natural energy and life force emanating from the tree.
The tree's vitality far surpassed that of any flora it had ever encountered!
"What is that?" Giratina asked, its eyes wide with astonishment.
"The World Tree," Naoki answered honestly. "I was hoping you could help me move it to the sky, as we discussed before."
Giratina, uncharacteristically silent, didn't utter a word, an imposing sight in itself.
Naoki: "?"
After a long while, Giratina finally spoke, "Although I don't know its origins, this tree will change the rules of this world. When that happens, you will be noticed by Him."
Naoki was perplexed at first by its words: "Who?"
He had just planted a tree; who would take notice of that?
But soon, Naoki realized who Giratina was referring to.
It was Arceus, the Creator deity!
Giratina: "This world and us, we were all created by Him."
Despite its reluctance to admit it, this was the truth.
Time, space, emotions, wisdom, will, and the antimatter that sustains the real world, which Giratina represents...
Everything traces back to that existence.
Naoki was stunned, finding it somewhat incredulous: "Arceus wouldn't come after me just because I planted a tree, would it?"
That would be a petty move for a Creator deity, Naoki thought to himself.
From what Giratina implied, it seemed that the World Tree, once fully grown, would prompt an evolution in the planet, leading to the birth of more natural resources and the emergence of more Pokemon.
Even Giratina didn't know how Arceus would react to this, but the thought of potentially causing trouble for the deity brought a sense of satisfaction.
So, it transformed into a pitch-black shadow and arrived beneath the World Tree.
The next second, something incredible happened.
The shadow resembled a lake, and within it, the World Tree slowly began to sink.
The Riding Goats, startled by this sight, rushed forward to try and stop it.
Naoki quickly held them back: "Don't worry, the World Tree hasn't disappeared; it's just been moved to another place."
The Riding Goats stopped in their tracks.
Soon, the World Tree was completely engulfed by the shadow, leaving behind only an empty patch of grass as if nothing had happened.
Naoki blinked, impressed by Giratina's ability.
"Come, I'll take you to see it!"
Naoki led the three Riding Goats into the Reverse World.
As soon as they arrived, they saw a colossal tree standing in a void of nothingness, its roots embedded in a massive floating island. A reverse waterfall flowed upwards, providing water to the World Tree.
The Riding Goats eagerly ran up to the tree, encircling it and nurturing it with their Grass Energy.
Naoki watched the World Tree thoughtfully, only relaxing when he saw no signs of withering or decay.
Upon further reflection, it made sense. If the World Tree needed to absorb nutrients from the soil to grow, its massive size would require far more than the ranch could provide.
The Grass Energy of the Riding Goats and the Fertile Power of Mega Gardevoir were more than enough to provide the necessary energy and nourishment for the World Tree.
However, there was one concern that still lingered in Naoki's mind.
Would the Reverse Energy of the Reverse World cause the vibrant World Tree to mutate into a Tree of Destruction?
As if reading his thoughts, Giratina, standing at a distance, suddenly spoke:
"The life layer of this tree far surpasses my understanding. Even my power cannot alter its nature."
Naoki understood the implication of its words.
He breathed a sigh of relief and said to Giratina, "Since that's the case, I'll leave the World Tree in your care for a maximum of two years. By the way, keep the door between the two worlds open. The Riding Goats and Mega Gardevoir will come regularly to nurture the World Tree and aid its growth."
The Reverse World had soil and water to provide the World Tree with basic nutrients, and the sun-like sunflower mutant, 'Sunflower,' could provide the light.
The Sunflower was a special crop, originally an ordinary sunflower that underwent a miraculous transformation under the care of the Riding Goats. It could periodically produce sunlight to illuminate its surroundings and provide warmth and light. The dishes made from its fruits would have the same effect as the 'Sun Stone.'
Giratina's emotions were complex at that moment. Though it had a temperamental personality, it always kept its promises.
Thus, it nodded in agreement.
However, Naoki still felt uneasy.
To provide a better growing environment for the World Tree, he returned to the ranch and summoned Diggersby, asking it to use its 'Land's Power' ability on the massive floating island where the World Tree was rooted to improve the soil.
Additionally, Naoki transplanted over a dozen sunflowers and fed the Riding Goats Lucky Pudding to enhance their luck.
Naoki instructed, "Now, use your Grass Energy to nurture these sunflowers and see if you can turn them all into Sunflowers!"
Upon learning that the sunlight produced by the Sunflowers could help provide nourishment for the World Tree, the Riding Goats were filled with determination.
"Meeeh!"
They released their Grass Fields, and the dazzling green light instantly enveloped the entire floating island, covering the World Tree and the sunflowers.
Perhaps the Riding Goats were blessed by fate.
Soon, one of the sunflowers began to mutate, transforming into a special sunflower that radiated a warm glow.
[Sunflower: A special crop, originally an ordinary sunflower, that underwent a miraculous transformation under the care of the Riding Goats. It can periodically produce sunlight to illuminate a certain area, providing warmth and light. Dishes made from its fruits will have the same effect as the 'Sun Stone.']
(End of Chapter)
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