Friendship, Tears and Bonds

Spectrier continued nibbling at the shade-root carrots near the field, savoring each bite with quiet satisfaction. Meanwhile, Naoki scanned the surrounding area, mentally noting the terrain and environment.

To confirm the reason for the unusual mutation of the carrots in the Crown Tundra, Naoki knew the best approach was a side-by-side comparison.

The location of the ancient cemetery marked the edge of the snowfield. Although it was still cold here, hardy green plants had managed to grow nearby, suggesting the area was less saturated with ice energy.

After contemplating for a moment, Naoki walked toward a patch of land opposite the ancient cemetery. He paused and turned to Calyrex. 

"By the way, if you keep using your powers to accelerate crop growth, will it take a toll on you?"

Calyrex gave a reassuring shake of his head. "Not at all. Thanks to you and my steeds, my strength has fully returned. Any energy I use will replenish quickly."

"Good to hear." Naoki smiled. Then he shared his idea: "I want to plant carrot seeds here, further from the cemetery, to compare the growth with the ones near the blackened soil. This way, we can figure out what causes them to mutate into shade-root carrots."

Calyrex considered the plan and gave a nod of approval. "A good idea. Let's begin!"

Naoki asked Koraidon to help dig small holes in the ground with its claws. Together, they planted the carrot seeds in neat rows.

When the planting was done, Calyrex floated toward the field, channeling his powers once more. A wave of shimmering blue energy washed over the soil, coaxing the seeds to sprout.

In an instant, the soil shifted, and a snow-white carrot emerged, glowing faintly in the afternoon light.

Naoki crouched to inspect the carrot. "It's the same type of white carrot that Glastrier loves, but…" He paused thoughtfully. "It doesn't seem as pure as the ones we grew on the snowfield."

He turned the carrot over in his hands, feeling its faint chill. "Could it be that the ice energy isn't as strong here as it is on the tundra?"

Calyrex floated beside him, sharing in his reflection. "Perhaps... It could be the level of energy in the environment."

Naoki scratched his chin. "I'm not sure yet, but I've got an idea for another experiment."

He looked up as Spectrier, having finished its meal, silently approached, licking its lips contentedly. The ghost horse's graceful movements drew Naoki's attention back to Calyrex.

"I remember," Naoki said, "that you can control the auras of both Glastrier and Spectrier using your powers, right?"

Calyrex nodded gently. "Indeed. Over the years, my abilities have become intertwined with those of my beloved steeds."

"When I ride Glastrier, I can focus my powers to harness the cold air it produces, forming massive ice weapons. You've already seen me use this technique—I call it the Snow Lance."

"And when I ride Spectrier, my spiritual energy merges with its essence, enhancing its ghostly strength. I can summon countless flickering flames that descend like falling stars. This move, I call Astral Barrage."

Naoki nodded thoughtfully, processing the information. Both Snow Lance and Astral Barrage were powerful abilities unique to Calyrex when riding his respective steeds, showcasing the bond they shared.

"And now," Naoki said, a spark of excitement in his voice, "I need a favor from you."

Calyrex tilted his head slightly, curious. "What do you have in mind?"

Naoki pointed toward the field. "I'd like you to ride Spectrier and focus your energy to condense its ghostly aura. Let's infuse the energy into this field and see what happens."

Calyrex immediately understood Naoki's intention. He gave a slight nod and said warmly, "Leave it to me!" 

With a flash, Calyrex used his teleportation ability to appear on Spectrier's back. Once again, the king and his loyal steed were reunited, their bond rekindled. Calyrex, now in his Shadow Rider Form, looked majestic atop the ghostly horse.

In the next moment, a faint purple mist emanated from Spectrier's body, drifting gently across the field and merging with the soil. 

"It is done," Calyrex announced with quiet pride.

Naoki nodded, planting a second seed into the soil. 

Calyrex raised his hand, channeling his powers to encourage the crop's rapid growth. A brilliant blue light shimmered across the land, and within seconds, a familiar black radish sprouted from the same patch of earth. 

Naoki's eyes widened. 'It worked! Just as I suspected.'

"This confirms it—ice-type and ghost-type energies are essential for growing snow-white carrots and shade-root carrots," Naoki murmured thoughtfully. 

With this knowledge, Naoki felt confident about creating special fields back at the ranch. By harnessing the unique powers of Glastrier and Spectrier, he could cultivate black and white carrots, ensuring the two steeds would have their favorite foods even in Paldea.

"It's perfect!" Naoki exclaimed with excitement, turning to Calyrex to share his discovery.

Calyrex listened patiently, a smile spreading across his face. "That's wonderful news. Now I need not worry about my beloved horses being deprived of their favorite food when we leave the Crown Tundra."

However, Glastrier and Spectrier both froze at the mention of leaving the tundra. Their eyes widened in disbelief, and they exchanged uneasy glances. This snow-covered land held deep meaning for them.

Long ago, in the ancient Crown Tundra, Glastrier—known as The Icebringer—and Spectrier—referred to as The Phantom Flame—reigned as kings among Pokémon. Their strength was unmatched, and they ruled over the wilderness with pride.

But that changed when humans arrived and encroached on their territory. Enraged, both steeds launched fierce attacks on the invaders and their Pokémon allies. Their wrath seemed unstoppable—until the day Calyrex appeared. 

After being bested by the mighty Pokémon King, Glastrier and Spectrier formed a deep, unbreakable bond with him. From that moment on, they became Calyrex's loyal companions and ruled beside him, their fierce spirits softened by friendship.

Now, the idea of leaving the tundra, their ancient home, stirred uncertainty in the two steeds. They had never imagined departing from the land that defined them. 

Sensing their hesitation, Calyrex spoke with calm authority. "This place no longer belongs to us. The humans who once honored us as kings are long gone, lost to the past."

Spectrier and Glastrier blinked, still showing hints of reluctance about leaving their home. 

Noticing this, Naoki smiled and said, "Don't worry—when we get to the ranch, I'll grow plenty of carrots just for you." 

At the mention of food, Glastrier's hesitation melted away instantly. The icy horse neighed happily, snorted twice, and began prancing in place, kicking up tiny clouds of frost. 

Naoki: "..." 

Calyrex observed the scene, an amused glimmer in his eyes. 

Beside them, Koraidon let out a delighted sound, "Ah-Gaah~!" (This is great~!) 

...

Before they knew it, the moon had risen high into the night sky.

The hazy moonlight bathed the land in a silver glow, while the vast starry sky stretched endlessly above them. Beneath their feet, the snowy tundra sparkled under the gentle light. 

Naoki rode atop Glastrier, who trotted energetically through the night, kicking up snow as they traveled south across the Crown Tundra. Glastrier, with its fiery temperament, seemed eager to stretch its legs beneath the stars. 

To Naoki's left, Koraidon sprinted in its mount form, keeping pace effortlessly. To his right, Calyrex rode Spectrier with quiet grace, the ghostly horse's hooves gliding silently over the snowy ground. 

Their destination: Giant's Bed, where the enormous pink tree, known for nurturing countless Pokémon, stood proudly. 

As they approached, the silhouette of the towering tree loomed larger and larger, its pink blossoms glowing faintly under the moonlight. 

Naoki marveled, craning his neck to look at the colossal tree. Turning to Calyrex, who rode calmly beside him, he asked, "How did it get so big?" 

Calyrex lifted his gaze toward the giant tree and answered with a soft, reflective tone: "This land nurtured it, just as it nurtures everything that lives here." 

Naoki blinked, trying to wrap his head around the idea. "Huh? The land nurtured it?" 

Calyrex nodded gently. "Yes. The earth embraces all of its children, nourishing them so they may flourish. Through this tree, it provides for the Pokémon who call this land home." 

Naoki: '..What?'

He scratched his head, struggling to grasp the concept. "Are you saying the land itself has... a will?" 

After a moment of thought, Naoki figured Calyrex must be referring to the forces of nature. 

'It's kind of like the Viridian Forest in Kanto'. Naoki mused. 'They say the forest blesses certain humans, granting them the power to communicate with Pokémon and even use the forest's energy.'

He remembered the Pokémon movie 'Secrets of the Jungle,' where the boy koko had used 'Jungle Healing'—a move normally reserved for Zarude—to protect his father. 

'That must've been the forest's blessing,' Naoki thought. 'The bond between Koko and Zarude must've moved the spirit of the forest, allowing Koko to use Jungle Healing even though he's human.'

"This world feels like a dream," Naoki thought with a wry smile.

He remembered moments from the Pokémon anime where things took strange, almost magical turns—like the time Ash Ketchum was turned to stone in Pokémon: The First Movie - Mewtwo Strikes Back. In that scene, Pikachu and all the surrounding Pokémon shed tears, and somehow, through the mysterious power of these tears, Ash was brought back to life.

As a modern, logical person, Naoki couldn't help but feel baffled. 'It's just like those stories where characters defeat the final boss with the power of love, friendship, or some mystical bond.'

"Way too cheesy..." he muttered to himself with a sigh.

By now, they had reached the tranquil shores of Lake Ballonlea, surrounded by the towering hills of the Giant Tree. Both Glastrier and Spectrier came to a gentle halt, their hooves barely disturbing the calm atmosphere.

Naoki dismounted, along with Calyrex, and they decided to set up camp for the night. It was already seven o'clock in the evening. Despite the fading light, they could still see wild Pokémon roaming nearby.

Overhead, a Swablu drifted through the sky, and in the shadows of the trees, sharp-eyed Corvisquire perched quietly, keeping watch. In the grass below, herds of Wooloo grazed peacefully, while Cottonee drifted lazily with the evening breeze.

At the water's edge, Barboach swam in lazy loops beside dull-eyed Magikarp splashing aimlessly. Basculin darted about in small bursts, disrupting the stillness of the lake.

Naoki marveled at the rich variety of Pokémon. The vibrancy of this ecosystem filled him with awe. "These Pokémon... they're all nurtured by the Giant Tree," he realized, recalling Calyrex's words from earlier.

The sight tugged at Naoki's heart, reminding him of a special tree back on his ranch. "It's just like the World Tree," he whispered aloud.

He turned to Calyrex. "There's a tree on my ranch too. If it grows tall enough, do you think it could raise as many Pokémon as the Giant Tree does?"

Calyrex gave him a curious look. "A tree?"

Naoki nodded. "I call it the World Tree. It's an incredible tree, but it takes a hundred thousand years to fully grow."

Calyrex pondered this for a moment, his serene expression unwavering. "The World Tree..." he murmured. "I have never heard of such a tree, but if time is the only obstacle, perhaps I can help it grow."

Naoki recalled the three goats on his ranch, who worked tirelessly to nurture the tree. Every time they channeled their energy into its growth, they were left utterly exhausted—completely drained, but with a look of satisfaction on their faces.

'If I wait for it to grow naturally, I'll never live to see it fully grown,' Naoki thought somberly

He turned to Calyrex, a hint of hope flickering in his eyes. "That might take a lot of your energy though," he said cautiously.

Calyrex smiled warmly. "So what? You pulled me out of the abyss and spread my name across the land, giving me the strength to endure the harsh cold of the Crown Tundra." 

Naoki felt a wave of emotion wash over him. 

What a truly kind-hearted Pokémon! 

Just then, the sound of Koraidon's stomach growling shattered the heartwarming moment. 

Naoki turned and saw Koraidon tilting its head, giving him an innocent look as if to say, "Ah?" 'What happened?'

Naoki: "..."

Well, that ruined the mood.

"Alright, I'll start cooking!" Naoki announced, rolling up his sleeves. 

For dinner, Naoki prepared grilled steak and vegetarian sandwiches made with fresh vegetables. The steaks were for Koraidon and Cyclizar, while the sandwiches were set aside for Calyrex. 

As for Glastrier and Spectrier… 

They had already devoured over a hundred carrots earlier in the afternoon. Their bloated bellies confirmed that they weren't hungry anytime soon.

Making the sandwiches was simple. Most of the ingredients were fresh vegetables.

He chopped the vegetables into neat slices, layered them between soft bread slices, and added a drizzle of ketchup and salad dressing. A perfect vegetarian sandwich was ready. 

Naoki glanced down at the sandwich, amused. "This only boosts Grass-type moves... oh well." He shrugged and continued cooking.

After preparing meals for the Pokémon, Naoki turned his attention to his own dinner. Tonight, he decided on omurice, a warm and comforting dish for the chilly night.

While cooking, Naoki suddenly remembered something the old chief from Freezington Village had told him. He glanced over at Calyrex and asked, 

"By the way, the chief—the descendant of those who once crafted the Reins of Unity—wanted to know if you truly exist. He asked me to tell him if I found anything. Should I tell him about you?"

Calyrex's serene expression didn't change. After a moment of quiet reflection, he shook his head gently. "No need. I am no longer the King of Bountiful Harvests. From now on, I am just a humble farmer."

Naoki: "..." 

Naoki decided it was probably for the best. "Alright then, I won't say anything to the chief."

With that matter settled, Naoki smiled. "In that case, we'll set off tomorrow!"

There were still errands to run—Naoki needed to visit the major cities of Galar to purchase steel feathers shed by Corviknight. It would take a bit of time, but it was necessary. 

Once the errands were complete, he could return to the ranch with Calyrex and the others to spend a peaceful winter together.

Calyrex gave a soft nod, his gentle gaze reflecting the trust he now had in Naoki. "Okay."

...

The next bonus chapter will be released at 2500 Power Stones.

PS: If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 280 at patreon.com/Keepsmiling818

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