Pokemon: A New Path-Final Test[558]

Naoki climbed onto Koraidon's back, and together they followed Tapu Koko deep into the heart of the forest.

The guardian deity eventually stopped near an ancient, towering tree. It floated to its trunk, placed a glowing hand upon the bark, then returned to Naoki.

Tapu Koko opened its hand.

Lying in its palm were three different Z-Crystals:

One blazing red, marked with a fiery icon — Firium Z

One leafy green, bearing a nature symbol — Grassium Z

And one soft pink, with swirling marks.

When Naoki saw the light pink Z-Crystal, he paused in surprise.

Tapu Koko followed his gaze and noticed the same crystal.

"Ka-ka-ka!" the guardian chirped, as if offering an explanation.

Naoki blinked. "You found this in an ancient ruin?"

Tapu Koko nodded firmly. "Ka-ka!"

A slow hiss of amazement escaped Naoki's lips.

If his guess was right, that soft pink crystal wasn't just any Z-Crystal.

It was likely Mew's exclusive Z-Crystal.

And with this item, Mew could unleash its signature Z-Move: Genesis Supernova, an origin-level Psychic attack that summoned a Psychic Terrain and embodied Mew's mythical power.

"Ka-ka?"

Tapu Koko looked at Naoki again, tilting its head slightly, signaling for him to choose which Z-Crystal he wanted to trade for.

Naoki hesitated. The pink Z-Crystal was precious, possibly one of a kind, but Mew wasn't currently one of his partners. On the other hand, the green Grassium Z could be used immediately by his team back on the ranch.

After a brief pause, he reached toward the Grassium Z.

But Tapu Koko had been watching closely. It noticed the conflict in Naoki's expression.

Without saying a word, it picked up the pink Z-Crystal with its right hand and gently placed it in Naoki's palm.

Naoki blinked, stunned. "You're… giving me this too?"

"Ka-ka!" Tapu Koko chirped proudly, nodding with a wide grin.

With that, it accepted the Fightingium Z Naoki offered in return, along with the Fire Z, tucking them away. Then, it turned with a flutter of sparks and zipped into the forest canopy.

Its silhouette vanished almost instantly.

Naoki was left standing in the clearing, a little dumbfounded.

After a moment, he shook his head with a wry smile. "No way I'm taking that kind of generosity for free."

He reached into his backpack and pulled out several bottles of Life Gogoat Milk and a few carefully made Poke Blocks. With care, he placed them into the hollow at the base of the same ancient tree where Tapu Koko had drawn the Z-Crystals from.

"If this is where it keeps its treasures," Naoki said, "it'll definitely be back later. And when it sees these, it'll understand."

With his business complete, Naoki turned back toward the forest trail with Koraidon at his side. The Forest Pokémon Café was back in operation, the orchard restored, and Snorlax no longer a problem. The trial set by Kahuna Hala was complete.

Now all that was left was to report back.

But Naoki didn't rush.

Instead, he and Koraidon made a quick detour to a seaside restaurant in Hau'oli City, where they enjoyed a well-earned lunch while watching Wingull wheel through the ocean breeze overhead.

Only after finishing their meal and letting the hour slip past three, did Naoki finally set off toward Iki Town to deliver his mission report.

...

Iki Town – Inside Kahuna Hala's Residence

Hala looked at the young trainer standing before him with a warm smile and booming laughter.

"I just received word from Officer Jenny that the Forest Pokémon Café has reopened for business."

"That place isn't just a spot for humans to relax. It's a haven for Pokémon too. I'm truly glad it's up and running again!"

"You've done an excellent job. As a reward, I have a gift for you."

Hala reached over to the low table beside him and picked up two items: a yellowish-brown crystal gleaming with energy and a brand-new Z-Ring crafted with the distinctive silver frame unique to the Alola region.

"This is a Z-Ring and a Z-Crystal, tools of great power passed down here in Alola. With them, your Pokémon can perform mighty Z-Moves."

But mid-sentence, Hala suddenly paused. His eyes narrowed as they fell on Naoki's wrist.

"Hmm? You already have a Z-Ring and a Z-Crystal?"

Naoki nodded. "Yes. This Z-Ring was a thank-you gift from the owner of the Forest Café, Oranguru. The Z-Crystal was given to me by Tapu Koko."

Hala's eyes widened in astonishment. "You encountered one of the guardian deities?"

Naoki nodded again. "It probably came by after hearing the café had reopened. Tapu Koko visited, and I think it found out what happened."

Hala stroked his beard in thought, quickly connecting the dots. It made sense. Tapu Koko must have learned from Oranguru that it was thanks to this trainer that the café was saved. As a gesture of recognition, the guardian gifted him a Z-Crystal.

"In that case," Hala said with a grin, "you won't need another Z-Ring. But I will still give you this Fightinium Z. With it, your Pokémon will be able to unleash the Fighting-type Z-Move, All-Out Pummeling."

Naoki reached out and accepted the crystal, but a strange expression crossed his face.

It was the same Z-Crystal he had previously returned to Tapu Koko.

And now it had found its way back to him again.

Still, he couldn't help but feel amused by the turn of events.

That said, wasn't it customary to battle the Island Kahuna to officially complete the Grand Trial?

But looking at Hala, it didn't seem like a battle was coming. He wasn't reaching for a Poké Ball.

Then again, in Alola, the Kahuna's word is final. The Pokémon League hadn't been established yet, so the trial's outcome depended entirely on the Kahuna's judgment.

Naoki chuckled to himself. 'Guess I'll take the easy win this time.'

Just then, Hala straightened up. His expression turned serious.

"Oh, right. There's one more thing."

Naoki tilted his head. "What is it?"

Hala leaned back in his chair and spoke thoughtfully. "Oranguru asked Officer Jenny to pass along a message. After you left, another trainer visited the Forest Pokémon Café, and the Snorlax that had been causing trouble was captured by them."

Naoki blinked in surprise, then nodded. "Got it. Thanks for letting me know."

In truth, Naoki had been considering inviting Oranguru to run the café at the Expedition Guild base beneath the World Tree.

But thinking about the way Oranguru lived, peacefully tending to Pokémon in the forest, caring for its berry orchard, and running the café in harmony with nature, he knew it wouldn't leave so easily.

There was too much love in that little forest to walk away from.

He sighed quietly. "Guess not."

After bidding Hala farewell, Naoki climbed onto Koraidon's back and departed Iki Town.

In a single day, he had obtained three Z-Crystals: Fightinium Z, Grassium Z, and Mewnium Z.

Now only one remained, Waterium Z.

And if there was anywhere to search for that, it would be Poni Island.

Poni was the island protected by Tapu Fini, a guardian deity with dual Water and Fairy typings. If Waterium Z existed anywhere, Tapu Fini would surely be the one to hold it.

But there was a problem.

From what Naoki recalled, the current timeline hadn't yet produced a Kahuna or Captain for Poni Island.

Still, it was worth investigating.

He'd head to Poni Island first and see if he could find Tapu Fini. If not, then perhaps he could locate a powerful Totem Pokémon dwelling there—and see if one of them held a Waterium Z instead.

With that goal in mind, Naoki gripped Koraidon's reins and began the long flight toward the sea-wrapped wildlands of Poni Island.

...

Far beyond space and time, in the infinite planes outside all universes.

The Original One watched in silence.

Arceus, the creator of all, gazed upon the events unfolding across the threads of destiny. His eyes were locked on the human called Naoki, who now seemed ready to travel to Poni Island in search of the guardian Pokémon known as Tapu Fini.

Tapu Fini.

A thought passed through Arceus' divine consciousness.

With but a flicker of his will, the entire information of Tapu Fini unfolded before him.

A guardian spirit born of the land and sea. A mysterious Pokémon who could cloak the world in magical mist, allowing those touched by it to glimpse spirits of loved ones long passed, so that final words and wishes left unspoken could finally be shared.

An interesting power.

But Arceus was not simply curious.

He was contemplating something deeper.

Until now, he had merely observed the human known as Naoki. According to Arceus' original plan, once one of his avatars reawakened, he intended to entrust a critical task to Naoki and the heroic expedition team that followed him.

Should they succeed, they would be granted blessings beyond comprehension, rewards fit for saviors.

But Arceus, in all his divine wisdom, understood the hearts of mortals could shift like the wind.

Power had a way of corrupting even the most noble intentions.

What if this human, after receiving his blessings, used his strength to harm Pokémon? To exploit their power for selfish gain? To forget the trust and bond that Pokémon so freely offered him?

Even Arceus could not predict every outcome.

Thus, a final test would be needed.

A quiet trial of heart and will.

A way to see whether Naoki truly cherished Pokémon, not just in words, but in spirit.

Whether his bonds were real.

Whether he could stand beside Pokémon not just as their Trainer, but as their friend.

Only those who bore unwavering love and selfless intentions could be entrusted with divine power.