"Lucky!" Chansey cooed, handing several Berries to Arlow, who was finally recovering from his grievous wounds.
"Thanks, Chansey." Arlow expressed his sincere gratitude, took the Oran and Sitrus Berries, and shared some with Lucerne.
Seeing Arlow regain his strength, Chansey gave a joyful smile before turning back to tend to other injured wild Pokémon, using Heal Pulse to soothe their pains.
Watching her work with such tireless patience, Arlow sighed. "Truly the kindest soul in the Pokémon world."
From the moment they met, this Chansey had extended a helping hand to total strangers and shared her precious Berries. It was no wonder the Joy family chose them as partners for Pokémon Centers worldwide.
Between being rescued by the brave Palico and healed by the gentle Chansey, the trauma of being hunted by the Anjanath and the Nargacuga had begun to fade.
"This really is the Pokémon world," Arlow remarked, watching the varied creatures gather around Chansey.
The distinctive Berries and the sheer variety of life confirmed it beyond a doubt.
"But which region is this?" Arlow scanned the treeline.
Corphish, Foongus, Venipede, Pikachu... Pokémon from several different generations were visible. It was hard to pin down a specific location.
"Arlow, this fruit is delicious, meow! I feel like my energy is coming back instantly!" Lucerne said happily.
"Eat up, then," Arlow laughed, ruffling the cat's soft fur.
Lucerne stood up and reached for a fruit nearby that looked like a red apple. Just as his paw touched it—
"Kee!" The "apple" suddenly sprouted two eyes and let out a startled shriek. The piercing noise sent Lucerne jumping back in fright.
"What in the world was that, meow?!"
"Kee!" The apple-like creature didn't stick around; it scurried away into the brush.
"An Applin?!" Arlow recognized it immediately. It was a Grass/Dragon-type from the eighth generation, first discovered in the Galar region.
"Am I in Galar?" The sighting gave him his first real lead.
Of course, Galar was vast. Applin wouldn't be restricted to just one route like in the games; as long as the environment suited them, they could be anywhere. While he was likely in Galar, his exact coordinates remained a mystery.
"Let's focus on healing first, then I'll take a deep dive into this 'Golden Finger' of mine."
Leaning against a massive tree, Arlow opened his book. He found that [Quests], [Map], [Monsties], [Ecological Report], and [Inventory] were now all fully illuminated. On the frontispiece, a "Hunter's ID" had appeared, showing a picture of him when he first arrived in his tattered modern clothes.
Below the photo, it read: [Hunter's Guild · New World Research Commission · 5th Fleet · Recommended Hunter NO. 001].
"Well... that's official," Arlow muttered. He wasn't a Guild-certified Hunter yet, but the book seemed to think otherwise. Should he add 'Pokémon World Research Fleet NO. 001' to the title too?
He shook off the joke and began studying the mechanics.
First, the [Quests] tab. There were no active missions, but it prompted him to conduct "Exploration and Investigation." It also gave him the option to return to the last set of coordinates he left in the other world.
He wasn't ready to jump back into the Ancient Forest quite yet. He needed a plan.
"It seems missions are triggered by finding tracks or discovering new species, similar to Investigation Quests in World," Arlow mused. This gave him a lot more freedom than a linear quest line.
The [Map] was simple: it recorded everywhere he had stepped in the New World. Currently, only the frantic path he took while escaping the Anjanath was mapped out.
Finally, he checked [Monsties], his primary means of survival. Since he was past the prime age for the brutal physical training required to be a Hunter, he couldn't "Monster Hunt" in the traditional sense. He would have to lead his team like a Pokémon Trainer.
The page looked remarkably like a Pokémon party screen. In the first slot, a tiny, animated 2D sprite of Lucerne was hopping up and down. His status was set to: [Active].
There were no numerical levels or HP bars, which made sense. In reality, health and growth were too fluid to be captured by a simple number.
He clicked on Lucerne's profile.
Name: Lucerne Species: Felyne (Male) Type: Normal Ability: Palico Deployment (The Felyne's type changes based on the armor set equipped). Moves: Palico Deployment (Form varies by gear), Scratch, Growl. Held Item: None.
"He really turned into a Pokémon!" Arlow marveled. Even the "Normal" typing fits perfectly. Palico Deployment seemed to be a unique Signature Move.
"Lucerne, were you a Hunter's Palico before?" Arlow asked.
The cat looked a bit embarrassed. "I was just a trainee Meowscenturer, meow. I usually just handled simple material gathering."
That explained the basic leather armor and the bone knife.
"Lucerne, when you were inside the ball, did you feel any different?"
Lucerne scratched his head. "I felt... more energetic, meow. And after eating those Berries, my wounds healed way faster than usual."
"Faster healing?" Arlow looked at his own back. The Chansey's Heal Pulse had closed the wound, but it was still tender. The Berries hadn't worked nearly as well on him as they did on Lucerne.
Could it be...?!
"Lucerne! Use Scratch!" Arlow suddenly commanded.
"Meow?!" Startled, Lucerne instinctively swiped his paw. As he did, a faint white light enveloped his claws, extending them into sharp, glowing energy blades.
"Wait! What's happening to me, meow?!" Lucerne stared at his paws in shock.
Arlow was ecstatic. "The system is more powerful than I thought. Lucerne, you've gained the traits of a Pokémon!"
"Pokémon?! What does that mean, meow? You've been so calm since we saw those strange creatures. Where are we, and what is happening to me?!"
Arlow couldn't lie to the cat who had saved his life. He took a deep breath and explained the concept of the Pokémon world—the creatures, the trainers, and the miraculous power they shared.
"So that's how it is, meow!" Lucerne gasped, tugging at his ears. "A world of magical power... I can't even imagine it. Is this really not just a very, very far away continent, meow?"
As a Felyne born in the Astera base, Lucerne's world was small. He had heard stories of the Old World, but a parallel universe was beyond his wildest dreams.
"Arlow, you're amazing, meow! To bring me to such a wonderful place... I want to be your Palico for real, meow!" Lucerne's eyes sparkled with pure admiration. He didn't resent Arlow for pulling him away from home; he saw it as the start of a grand adventure.
Moved by the cat's trust, Arlow spoke seriously. "No, you're not just a 'subordinate.' You're Lucerne, my partner. Whether it's the New World or the Pokémon World, we're going to see it all together."
Arlow felt his old spark returning. This was the adventure he had dreamed of since he was a kid.
"Lucky?" Chansey tilted her head at Arlow.
Arlow had changed his look. His tattered rags were gone, replaced by the Origin Armor set—sturdy, lightweight leather that protected the body without hindering movement.
Most importantly, he now wore a Slinger on his left arm and a Scoutfly Cage on his belt. These were the essential tools of a Hunter. The Slinger could fire stones, capture nets, or a grappling hook, while the Scoutflies could track monsters and highlight resources.
These items, along with a BBQ Spit and Whetstones, were part of the "Hunter Fundamentals" reward. The memory of how to use them had been burned into his brain, though he still needed practice.
"Lucky?" Chansey pointed worriedly at the bandage on his back.
Arlow smiled. "I'm okay now. Besides, Lucerne has some business to take care of."
Lucerne had asked to return to the New World briefly. He wanted to file a formal "Long-term Expedition" request at the Astera base so his friends wouldn't worry about his disappearance.
With a flash of light, Arlow and Lucerne arrived back in the Ancient Forest.
"We're back, meow!" Lucerne spotted the distant Great Tree through the canopy.
"Safe for now," Arlow said, checking his surroundings. He knelt down and picked up two jagged, feather-like objects stuck in the dirt. "Nargacuga tail spikes. These things cause bleeding; no wonder I couldn't stop the wound from opening."
His Scoutflies swarmed the spikes, glowing green, but they didn't lead anywhere. The Nargacuga had long since moved on.
"Let's move, Lucerne. Let's head toward the edge of the forest."
Using his new "Fundamentals" knowledge, Arlow moved stealthily through the underbrush. They eventually reached the coastline, where the trees thinned out to reveal a breathtaking view of the ocean.
Groups of Aptonoth wandered peacefully near the water, while pink Flowery Crakes pecked at seeds on the ground. A few Shepherd Hares basked in the sun, grooming their long ears.
It was more stunning than any game render. The breeze, the sunlight, the melodic cries of the animals—it was all real. In his mind, the triumphant horns of "Proof of a Hero" seemed to echo.
ROAR!
Suddenly, a piercing shriek shattered the peace. The small animals scattered in a panic. Arlow dove into the bushes.
Whoosh! A massive shadow blotted out the sun. A pale-green silhouette dived from the canopy like an eagle striking a rabbit.
Thud! An Aptonoth let out a final, piteous cry as the talons of a massive wyvern pinned it to the sand. The predator let out a victorious roar, claiming its kill.
It didn't eat on the spot; instead, it gripped the ten-meter-long herbivore and took to the skies, flying toward the very top of the Ancient Forest.
The Queen of the Skies—Rathian.
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