Thirty minutes after Naoki entered the mountain, snow began to fall.
White snowflakes drifted down from the peak, blanketing the entire mountain in a shimmering coat of white. Everywhere Naoki looked, the world was wrapped in a serene, silver landscape.
The temperature here was brutally cold, so cold that every breath he exhaled turned into a white mist and quickly dissipated into the frigid air.
Thanks to the warmth from the hot soup noodles he had eaten earlier, Naoki hadn't yet needed to put on his cold-proof suit. The "cold resistance protection" effect from the meal would last for six hours, allowing him to traverse the mountain in just a thin coat.
Koraidon, his Pokémon, slowed its glide through the sky, while Naoki scanned the snowy ground below. The mountain was covered in a thick layer of snow, with only the occasional pine tree breaking the white expanse. These trees, known for their resilience to extreme cold, stood tall and straight, their dark green needles adding a splash of color to the monochromatic scene. They could survive even in temperatures as low as minus fifty degrees Celsius.
Perhaps because of the harsh weather, there were few signs of Pokémon wandering in the wild. Most of the wild Pokémon that called this mountain range home were likely nestled comfortably in their dens. They were probably asleep, watching the snowfall from their cozy burrows, or huddling together for warmth, grooming each other's fur.
If it were up to him, Naoki thought, he would also choose to stay indoors in such extreme weather.
As he observed the vast expanse of white below, Naoki patted Koraidon thoughtfully and said, "Let's land first!"
Ice-type Pokémon often had body colors of white or light blue, making them blend in with the snow. From a high altitude, they could easily be overlooked. To avoid missing any, Naoki decided it was best to explore on foot.
"Raao?" Koraidon received the command and immediately descended onto the snow-covered ground.
Naoki dismounted and began walking alongside his Pokémon. The black leather boots he wore made a soft crunching sound with each step, while Koraidon's footsteps left a trail of paw prints in the snow. Naoki glanced back, noticing that Koraidon's footprints were quite cute, resembling those of a dog.
Just then, Koraidon seemed to spot something and alerted Naoki with a sound, "Raao?"
Naoki looked up and noticed a creature wriggling in the snow not far away. It was a Pokémon that resembled a moth larva—snow-white and covered in ice crystals, slowly wriggling as it consumed the snow on the ground.
"A Snom?" Naoki recognized the Pokémon instantly.
Snom, a Pokémon with dual Ice and Bug types, was known for its love of eating soft, freshly fallen snow. The more it ate, the taller the ice spikes on its back grew. In reality, Snom looked quite cute, its white body resembling a dumpling.
"Snom won't do," Naoki muttered to himself. He had ventured out to find a Pokémon suitable for building an ice cellar, but Snom wasn't a good fit, especially since there wouldn't be enough snow for it to thrive on the ranch.
"Let's keep moving," Naoki said, bypassing the Snom as they ventured deeper into the mountain.
About five minutes later, Naoki and Koraidon climbed over a low hill and finally spotted another Ice-type Pokémon beneath a snow-covered pine tree.
It was a group of five Snover, hopping energetically under the tree as if they were playing games.
At that moment, one of the Snover sensed an unfamiliar presence. It turned around and saw a human accompanied by a fearsome-looking Pokémon. The red Pokémon exuded a terrifying aura, and the Snover, frightened, leaped up and quickly scurried away.
Seeing this, the other Snover followed suit, vanishing into the snow within seconds.
Naoki sighed, "Well, that didn't go as planned."
Koraidon made a soft sound of agreement, "Raao..."
With the Snovers gone, they had no choice but to continue searching for other Pokémon.
After another ten minutes of walking, a cold glacier loomed before Naoki.
There, by the river, Naoki finally saw an Ice-type Pokémon suitable for the ranch.
It was an Iceberg Pokémon, massive and turtle-like, with a body as hard and pale as an iceberg and a pair of amber pupils that gleamed in the cold light. This Pokémon could release an icy aura that instantly froze the ground beneath it, creating a perfect surface for an ice cellar.
"That's the one!" Naoki's heart leaped with excitement as he pulled out an empty Poké Ball from his pocket, ready to make his move.
But before he could approach, the Pokémon began to move. With heavy, icy footsteps, it stepped into the glacier, and its enormous body slowly descended into the river. The sight was like watching an iceberg collapse, sending huge waves splashing across the river.
When the water finally settled, the Iceberg Pokémon was floating steadily on the surface of the river. It turned its head to glance at the riverbank, and Naoki noticed several small Pokémon on the snow nearby.
They were a group of tiny Ice-type Pokémon, Bergmite, gleefully hopping about.
Seeing the Avalugg safely in the river, the Bergmite quickly jumped onto its back with visible joy. Once all the Bergmites were aboard, Avalugg began to swim downstream, its body resembling a colossal ice aircraft carrier as it floated effortlessly along the river.
Naoki watched, puzzled. 'What are they doing?' he wondered.
"Koraidon, follow them and see what's going on!" he instructed.
Mounted on Koraidon, Naoki tracked the group of Bergmite and Avalugg from above. Avalugg was already moving swiftly downstream, and after about thirty minutes, they reached the river's end.
Before them lay the North Sea of Paldea. The river, flowing down from mountain, finally emptied into the vast Paldea Sea. With the Bergmite still on its back, the Iceberg Pokémon entered the sea and began to drift away, its massive form gradually blending into the horizon.
Koraidon landed on a nearby mountain peak, and Naoki watched in silence as Avalugg slowly disappeared into the endless sea.
Koraidon tilted its head, a bit confused by the sight. "Raao?" it questioned softly, reflecting Naoki's own bewilderment.
Naoki looked just as puzzled, responding, "I'm not sure what they're doing."
Though he could recall the name of every Pokémon, his knowledge of the specific behaviors and ecologies of some of the less popular ones was limited.
At that moment, a voice came from behind, explaining the scene to him.
"That's the Avalugg migrating."
Naoki turned around to see a man in a down jacket approaching, accompanied by an Incineroar walking beside him.
The man stared at Koraidon with keen interest, circling it before asking with curiosity, "What kind of Pokémon is this? I've never seen anything like it!"
"Uh..." Naoki began, "It's called Koraidon."
"Wow, look at those muscles, that powerful build—it's incredibly strong!" The man's voice was filled with envy and admiration. "Please, tell me, where did you capture this Pokémon?!"
Naoki was taken aback, thinking to himself, 'Did I just run into a weirdo?'
Noticing Naoki's wary expression, the man quickly realized he had overstepped. He withdrew his gaze, coughed awkwardly, and introduced himself, "My name's Henry. I'm from the Alola region, and I'm currently exploring this snowy mountain!"
Naoki glanced at the fierce Incineroar beside Henry and replied, "Naoki, from Paldea. So, what do you mean by Avalugg migrating?"
Henry explained, "It's a common behavior for Pokémon like Avalugg. They often travel across the sea with Bergmite to find new homes."
'Is that so?' Naoki thought, falling into contemplation.
The distances between regions are vast. Wouldn't Avalugg encounter dangers while crossing the sea to relocate? Like storms or tsunamis?
Just then, Henry's gaze shifted from Koraidon back to Naoki.
"I've been wondering—aren't you cold wearing so little?" Henry asked, snapping Naoki out of his thoughts.
Naoki looked down at his outfit: a thin sports jacket, jeans, and leather boots.
He paused for a moment before replying, "Not too bad."
"Ah, the energy of youth!" Henry said, then looked back at Koraidon with admiration. "Are you here to explore the mountain too?"
"Something like that," Naoki replied. "I'm trying to capture an Ice-type Pokémon, but I haven't found the right one yet. The only Avalugg I saw has already moved on."
Upon hearing this, Henry smiled broadly and thumped his chest enthusiastically. "I can help you! I'm quite familiar with the Pokémon that live around here!"
Sensing that Henry might have an ulterior motive, Naoki narrowed his eyes and asked, "What's in it for you?"
Henry looked a bit sheepish, then admitted, "I'd just like to take a closer look at your Koraidon. Its muscles are fascinating!"
Naoki raised an eyebrow. "So, you like muscular Pokémon?"
"That's right!" the man nodded enthusiastically, flexing his biceps with a gleam in his eyes. "Exercising with Pokémon is the best thing in the world! It makes me feel like I've found kindred spirits!"
Naoki was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond to this unique enthusiasm.
But he figured there was no harm in letting the man admire Koraidon and perhaps exchange some knowledge about Pokémon. So, Naoki nodded in agreement and then asked, "Have you seen Ice Eevee around this mountain?"
Henry replied, "I have spotted an Ice Eevee! Come with me; let's head back to my campsite first!"
Naoki nodded and followed Henry as they made their way back. Along the way, Henry introduced the Pokémon living in the area, mentioning creatures like Snom, Froslass, and Regice.
When they passed by a cave, Henry pointed inside and said, "Pokémon often live in caves like this."
He peered into the cave, then exclaimed in surprise, "This looks like where a Glaceon might live!"
"Really?" Naoki's interest was immediately piqued.
"Definitely! It's here!" Henry confirmed, and with a reckless air, he dashed into the cave.
Naoki was about to follow when an angry roar echoed from inside. Moments later, Henry came running out in a panic, shouting, "Ah, sorry, Beartic! I didn't mean to disturb your rest!"
A Beartic, baring its fangs and claws, charged out after him.
Naoki stood there, unsure how to react. 'Is this guy really reliable?' he wondered.
In the nick of time, Henry's Incineroar stepped between him and the angry Beartic. Sensing the heat emanating from Incineroar, Beartic paused, its expression turning serious.
Henry quickly hid behind his Incineroar and apologized sheepishly, "I'm so sorry!"
The Beartic snorted, exhaled a breath of cold air, then turned and retreated back into the cave.
Henry let out a sigh of relief. "That was close! The Pokémon around here are tough."
Naoki watched him silently, questioning whether he should continue following Henry.
Noticing Naoki's doubtful look, Henry quickly tried to reassure him. "I made a mistake, but I promise there's definitely a Glaceon nearby! My campsite is just ahead; let's go there first!"
'I suppose it's worth checking out,' Naoki thought, and nodded.
They continued onward until they reached a campsite at the foot of a cliff. A bonfire was crackling warmly, making the area feel safe and inviting.
Henry relaxed upon returning to the campsite, then took out a few Poké Balls and released their contents. A Pangoro, a Ursaring, and Throh appeared in the camp.
Naoki glanced around, noticing that all the Pokémon were heavily muscled. He couldn't help but think, 'Wow, he really likes strong, muscular Pokémon.'
Aloud, he remarked, "All you need now is a Urshifu and a Buzzwole."
Hearing this, Henry's interest was piqued. "Urshifu? Buzzwole?"
Naoki looked at Ursaring and Throh, slightly surprised. "You've never been to the Galar region? The champion there has an Urshifu, which is also a muscle-type Pokémon. And as for Buzzwole."
He paused, remembering that the Ultra Beasts might not be common knowledge yet, especially to someone from Alola. So he quickly changed his approach, "Both are strong, powerful Pokémon, just like your Incineroar."
Henry nodded, though a bit uncertainly, and made a mental note to look into these Pokémon later.
Henry then pulled out a map of the mountain from his backpack, comparing it to their surroundings. "Found it! Glaceon is nearby! I always mark rare Pokémon on my map. But I have to warn you, that Glaceon is very cautious and doesn't warm up to humans easily. It won't be easy to catch."
"It's okay, I still want to try," Naoki replied. "You see, I have a goal, too."
"Oh? What's that?"
"I want to collect all the Eeveelutions!"
Henry didn't seem to understand. "Those small, weak Pokémon? Wouldn't a strong, mighty one like Blaziken be better?"
Naoki shook his head, smiling. "It's their small size that makes them cute! They're so fluffy—perfect for cuddling. Just looking at them makes me happy."
But then Naoki paused, realizing that Henry probably felt the same way about his muscular Pokémon, like Incineroar.
"Never mind," Naoki decided, changing the subject. "Tell me where Glaceon lives!"
Henry set the map aside, then looked at Koraidon with excitement. "Of course! But first, I want to battle with your Koraidon. I want to see whose muscles are the strongest!"
Naoki was taken aback. He glanced at Koraidon, then at Henry's Pokémon, and asked, "Are you sure?"