Where Heroes Rest
In the deepest part of Slumbering Weald lay the Hero's Rest—a quiet, mystical court concealed by thick forest and layers of mist.
The remains of a broken stone arch, covered in soft moss, stood proudly amidst the greenery. At its base was an ancient stone tablet, the carved words long eroded by time, their meaning lost to the ages.
Before the tablet rested two weathered, rusty weapons—one, a sword, and the other, a shield. Both relics lay dormant, bathed in soft beams of moonlight filtering through the canopy above.
This place was the sanctuary of Zacian and Zamazenta. In ancient times, after banishing the looming darkness, the two heroes had retreated here to live in peaceful seclusion.
Naoki and Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, stood before the royal court, observing the old, sacred artifacts glowing under the moonlight.
On either side of Calyrex stood Zacian and Zamazenta, their gazes focused on their ancient weapons. In deep, low growls that sounded like words carried on the wind, the legendary Pokémon spoke:
"Woof..." (While battling the darkness, our weapons were damaged by its power. When peace returned, we laid them to rest here in the Hero's Rest.)
Naoki listened in silence, absorbing the weight of their words. He glanced at Zacian, whose noble form stood steady beside Calyrex. Both Zacian and Zamazenta were still in their Hero of Many Battles forms—without their sword and shield, they could not transform into the Crowned Sword and Crowned Shield forms that once defined their legendary strength.
"Woof?" (King, when will you leave?) Zamazenta asked, breaking the quiet with a note of concern.
Calyrex shifted his gaze from the rusted artifacts to the forest beyond and answered with calm finality:
"I will leave this place once Naoki has completed his work."
Naoki blinked in mild surprise at the mention of his name, but before he could react, the two legendary Pokémon turned to study him with curious expressions.
Zacian and Zamazenta exchanged glances, sensing that the human standing before them was no ordinary traveler.
Naoki felt the weight of their gaze, aware that his presence was being scrutinized. Zamazenta's sharp eyes wandered toward Koraidon, who stood silently by Naoki's side, radiating an aura of quiet power.
Zamazenta's hackles raised slightly in unease. The aura surrounding the Pokémon accompanying Naoki was subtle, but unmistakably overwhelming—strong enough to rival their own, or perhaps even surpass it.
Though they still did not fully understand why their former king chose to accompany this human, Zacian's curiosity got the better of him:
"Woof, woof?" (King, will we see you again someday?)
Calyrex offered no definite answer. Instead, he spoke gently, as if leaving behind a riddle:
"Once your duty is fulfilled—should you wish to see me again—follow the traces I leave, and you may find me in another land."
Hearing this, Zacian and Zamazenta's expressions brightened.
"Woof!" (We understand!)
Watching the two legendary Pokémon bow respectfully to Calyrex, an amusing thought suddenly crossed Naoki's mind.
'These two... they don't seem like swimmers. Like Groudon, they probably can't fly either. So… how would they manage to cross the ocean if they had to?'
'That's a problem.'
It was getting late, and to give Zacian and Zamazenta a bit more time with Calyrex, Naoki decided to set up camp nearby. He pitched a tent and lit a small campfire, with Koraidon and Cyclizar lending a hand.
The Spectrier and Glastrier stood quietly nearby, snorting occasionally as they grazed on the soft grass at the edge of the royal court.
Zacian and Zamazenta rested close to the fire, their heads gently laid on their front paws, eyes calm as they watched the flames dance.
The sight stirred something in Naoki's heart.
'They really do look like big dogs… and they're adorable.'
He sighed wistfully. 'If only...'
'If only I could bring them back to Paldea.' Naoki mused dreamily.
Imagine—Calyrex running a farm, with Zacian and Zamazenta working as sheepdogs or guard dogs.
But Naoki knew it wasn't possible. Zacian and Zamazenta had an important mission—to defend the region from Eternatus. Taming them wasn't an option.
"Ahh… I wish I had brought a camera," Naoki muttered to himself. Getting a photo with two legendary Pokémon would've been amazing."
With a shake of his head, Naoki shifted his gaze from the resting wolves to Calyrex, who sat calmly by the fire.
"We'll head out early tomorrow," Naoki said to Calyrex. "Once we wrap up everything here, we can finally head back to Paldea."
Calyrex gave a slight nod of approval. "Yes."
...
The next morning, Naoki packed his belongings, carefully restored the campsite, and prepared to set off with his Pokémon companions.
Zacian and Zamazenta stood proudly in the morning light, their noble expressions calm as they watched Calyrex, the former King of Galar, take his leave.
Calyrex gave the two Pokémon a respectful nod before turning to follow Naoki out of the Slumbering Weald.
When they reached Postwick Town, Naoki noticed a group of children playing and laughing together on the street.
He paused for a moment, watching them.
Calyrex turned to him, tilting his head in curiosity. "What's on your mind?"
"Nothing," Naoki said with a soft smile. "It just feels a bit strange…"
He thought about Victor and Hop, two young trainers who would soon become the heroes of Galar.
'Right now, they're probably about the same age as these kids… wetting their beds, crying when they lose their favorite toys.'
He chuckled quietly to himself.
'Who would've thought that, in a few years, they'd save the entire region?'
"Let's go," Naoki said, his gaze softening.
The group followed the same path and boarded the steam train bound for Wyndon City.
This city is known as the headquarters of the Galar Flying Taxi Fleet, where travelers can also purchase rare materials like Corviknight shed feathers.
The plan was to stock up on supplies since acquiring only a few feathers wouldn't be enough. As Tinktuff evolves, their strength and skills grow exponentially, rendering earlier tools insufficient. These Pokémon need to forge new and stronger hammers during each stage of their evolution, consuming large amounts of metal in the process.
Additionally, Naoki also had to gather materials for Pawmot's hammer, ensuring the Pokémon had the best tools to work with. Collecting everything in one trip seemed like the most efficient option, as it would save time and prevent unnecessary back-and-forth journeys.
The train, known for its impressive speed, swiftly carried them across Galar. After roughly eight hours, they arrived at Wyndon City.
The moment Naoki and the Calyrex stepped off the platform and out of the station, they were taken aback by the bustling industrial landscape.
As the largest city in the Galar region, the sheer scale of Wyndon City seems even grander than Lumiose City in Kalos. Skyscrapers tower over the landscape, with two interconnected monorail lines circling the city, threading through modern districts and bustling hubs.
The architecture is a blend of past and future—featuring the Palace Gate Arena, resembling a giant pink rose in full bloom, and luxurious hotels inspired by Victorian and Gothic styles. In contrast, sleek, high-tech towers stand proudly, flaunting the city's modernity. At the heart of it all lies a vast central park that offers a tranquil oasis amidst the urban sprawl.
At the center of the park, a giant black statue of a Corviknight dominates the scene. The steel wings of the statue shimmer under the sunlight, giving off an imposing aura of strength and majesty. Above, flocks of Rookidee and Corvisquire glide through the sky, filling the air with their playful cries.
The streets are alive with movement. Office workers, dressed in sharp suits and holding briefcases, weave through the crowds, while fashionable upper-class ladies carry small ornamental fans or silk pouches and the sounds of cars, chatter, and the occasional Corviknight wingbeat create the rhythm of the city's life.
It is indeed a metropolis shaped by the vision of Chairman Rose. His influence is visible in every corner of the city, from its infrastructure to its sense of ambition.
Even Calyrex is struck with awe, gazing at the gleaming silver towers that reach for the heavens. After a moment of silent reflection, he murmurs, "Humans are truly remarkable. To think they have built something so grand... It is beyond my expectations."
...
This is a bonus chapter for reaching 3000 Power Stones.
The next bonus chapter will be released at 3500 Power Stones.