"I have a feeling Ho-Oh doesn't look very friendly?"
Platinum tilted her head in confusion.
Marshadow, who was being stared down by Ho-Oh, could only shiver, its eyes watery. It didn't want to be in this situation either!
But Damian insisted on holding it. What could it do?
If it didn't let him hold it, what if the thing behind him—the one with purple light in its eyes—attacked it?
Marshadow was cowardly to begin with, and after being scared like this, it became even more timid.
Fortunately, Ho-Oh was good at controlling its emotions. It knew now was not the time to argue with Damian.
Ho-Oh, its body shimmering with a faint golden light, circled once above everyone. Then, it slowly folded its wings and landed on the Rainbow Rock.
"Ho-Oh!!"
Ash took a few steps forward and called out to Ho-Oh.
Seeing Ash's excited expression, Ho-Oh smiled and gave him a calm nod.
"So this is Ho-Oh! A Legendary Pokémon!"
Misty was excited too. Her face turned red from the rush.
"Yeah. A Pokémon recorded in myths. Its wings shine with seven colors. It's said that people who see Ho-Oh will have eternal happiness!"
Brock's voice couldn't stay calm either. As someone born and raised in Kanto, he had grown up hearing stories about Ho-Oh and Lugia.
How could he not be excited to see Ho-Oh with his own eyes?
Platinum blinked. She was excited and curious at the same time. From a distance, Ho-Oh looked overwhelming. Up close…
No. Don't think like that. That's rude.
Ho-Oh gazed at Ash with a warm look. Even though there was one more troublemaker it didn't want to see, it didn't matter.
Its mood stayed good because Ash had arrived. It could tell Ash was still sincere, and that he truly loved Pokémon.
That was it. This was the kind of human it hoped for.
"Ash, go ahead and tell Ho-Oh your wish," Damian said with a smile as he rubbed Marshadow's belly.
"Eh? Is that allowed?"
Ash froze. He turned to Damian, suddenly feeling shy.
"Wait, Damian, where did that Pokémon in your arms come from?"
As soon as he turned around, Ash stared at Marshadow in Damian's arms in shock. No, wait—how did a Pokémon suddenly appear out of nowhere?
Ash's words immediately drew everyone's attention.
Having Ash, Misty, Brock, Caitlin, and Platinum all staring at it made Marshadow feel like it was going to melt. It instantly stiffened up.
"You mean this? I just found it," Damian said with a straight face.
Marshadow: (°⌒°)
Ho-Oh: "..."
"Don't worry about mine for now. As the Rainbow Hero, you completed Ho-Oh's trial and made it here. Naturally, you can make a wish to Ho-Oh."
"Am I right, Ho-Oh?"
As he spoke, Damian looked toward Ho-Oh.
"Is that true? Ho-Oh!" Ash's eyes lit up instantly.
Ho-Oh gave Damian a hidden glare. But when it looked at Ash, it immediately switched back to a gentle look and nodded again.
Damian wasn't wrong. Since Ash had already made it here, Ho-Oh was willing to grant a wish within its power.
Well, as long as Ash didn't ask it to do something outrageous.
But that wasn't Ash.
"Wow! It's really true, Ash! You have to think about it carefully!"
Misty was extremely excited and reminded Ash.
"Mmhmm, I know. Let me think."
Ash began to think seriously.
Did he have a wish? He did, but it also felt like he didn't.
He had one goal: to become a Pokémon Master. But that dream was so broad.
Right now, he was just walking the path of becoming stronger.
Besides that, what else did he want?
"Ash, if you don't know what to wish for, I'll teach you. You can—"
"Human!!"
Before Damian could finish, the furious voice of a certain big roasted turkey rang out in Damian's head.
'I won't let you mess with this kid!'
'Ho-Oh, that's not fair. You're shutting me up. I was just going to give a suggestion.'
'Enough. I haven't even asked you yet—why is my Marshadow in your arms?' Ho-Oh was furious.
'What do you mean your Marshadow? I already told you I found it. It's my Marshadow now.'
Damian felt his logic was flawless.
Ho-Oh was so angry it almost laughed. What do you mean you "found it"? Marshadow barely dares to breathe in your arms. It's obviously terrified!
Damn it. Every time Ho-Oh ran into this human, nothing good happened.
What bad luck.
'Fine. I won't argue. But you are not influencing this kid's wish.'
'Ash is my friend. I'm the one who brought him here. Why would I mislead him? Ho-Oh, you're being biased.'
'...What do you want?' Ho-Oh decided to end the conversation.
A satisfied smile appeared on Damian's face.
They were talking through a private telepathic link, so nobody else knew what was said.
And no one noticed that Ho-Oh's expression had turned extremely annoyed for a second.
"Damian, keep talking," Ash said, looking at Damian with curiosity.
"I think you should follow your instincts, Ash. Don't overthink it."
Damian spoke to Ash with a smile.
Ash paused. He looked at Damian, a bit dazed.
Yeah. He didn't need to think that much.
Ho-Oh gave a small nod. As annoying as this troublemaker was, that advice was correct.
"I know what I want now."
Ash let out a long breath. A big grin appeared on his face as he turned to Ho-Oh.
"Ho-Oh! Please battle me!"
Ash straightened his cap and shouted his wish.
That was right. He wanted to battle Ho-Oh.
This idea had been in his head since the day he first became a trainer and saw Ho-Oh's silhouette. It hadn't changed.
Hearing this, Misty and Brock were shocked at first, then they gave helpless but understanding smiles.
Damian laughed lightly. Caitlin and Platinum both looked a little weird.
Ho-Oh smiled again.
"Chirp!"
A sharp cry rang out. Ho-Oh spread its wings and took flight. Bright flames ignited along both sides of its wings.
Without a doubt, Ho-Oh had accepted Ash's request.
A wild Ho-Oh has challenged you!
"Pikachu! I choose you!"
Ash's blood was boiling. He shouted to Pikachu.
"Pika~chu!"
Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder. It stared up at Ho-Oh, full of fight.
"That's impressive..."
Watching Ash and Pikachu show no fear, Platinum finally understood a bit of why Damian valued Ash so much.
Anyone could see that Damian treated Ash differently.
And the fact that Ash would use a wish on "Ho-Oh, battle me" made him different from most people.
Also, facing Ho-Oh, he didn't hesitate at all.
On one side was Ho-Oh from the stories, and on the other was Pikachu, a Pokémon you could see anywhere. Most people couldn't even imagine a battle like this.
"Ash has the kind of heart that's hard to find. That's a big reason Ho-Oh chose him," Damian said, watching Ash with a smile.
"That look suits him."
Damian sounded a little amused. He couldn't think the way Ash did, and he never would, but he still liked seeing someone like Ash exist.
It wasn't a small reason why he wanted Ash on his side.
"But Ash… he probably isn't Ho-Oh's match, right?" Misty asked, watching the battle start.
"It's impossible. Ash isn't at that level yet," Damian said.
There wouldn't be any surprise in the result.
And that was exactly what happened. Before long, Ho-Oh used Sacred Fire. The flames exploded, and Pikachu was blasted back, unable to continue.
The battle didn't last long. Ho-Oh was weak to Electric-type moves, and Ash's Pikachu was special.
But it still couldn't close the gap. Ho-Oh was far stronger than Ash and Pikachu right now.
"We lost! Ho-Oh is just too strong!"
Ash hurried to pick up Pikachu. After confirming Pikachu was okay, Ash looked up at Ho-Oh, who had landed back on the Rainbow Rock, and smiled.
Ho-Oh returned the smile, its eyes full of approval.
Spots of light drifted down as Ho-Oh flapped its wings. Pikachu's injuries healed quickly.
A moment later, Pikachu was lively again.
"It's a shame, Ash. If you could beat Ho-Oh, maybe you could have caught it," Damian said as he walked over, sounding a little regretful.
Seeing Damian, Ho-Oh's smile faded.
"Ha… I couldn't help it. Ho-Oh is just too strong," Ash said, scratching his head.
"Maybe there will be a chance later. Now then…"
Damian grinned and looked toward Ho-Oh.
"Ho-Oh, what about the thing you promised me?"
Hearing this, Ash and the others were stunned. What did Ho-Oh promise Damian?
Ho-Oh glared at Damian. This hateful troublemaker.
"Chirp!"
Ho-Oh tilted its head back and cried out. The cry spread far and wide.
Two fast silhouettes rushed in, then landed hard in front of the Rainbow Rock.
"The Legendary Pokémon Raikou and Entei!" Brock shouted in shock.
That's right. It was Raikou and Entei from Ho-Oh's guard. Suicune had already been caught by Damian, so only these two were left.
Raikou and Entei looked imposing. But when they saw Damian, Entei's expression shifted.
Raikou even stepped slightly in front of Entei, as if shielding it.
Yeah, they were traumatized.
Last time, if Ho-Oh hadn't stepped in, they would have been taken away by this human.
Even so, they had still lost Suicune.
"What does this mean?"
Misty stared at Ho-Oh, totally confused. Why summon Raikou and Entei?
"Platinum, come here. Pick one of them. Whichever one you want, start a capture battle."
Damian waved at Platinum.
"This is a chance from Ho-Oh. Don't waste it."
That was the deal Damian forced out of Ho-Oh earlier.
Damian didn't care much about Raikou or Entei—his real target today was Marshadow.
But since Marshadow was already in his hands, it wasn't bad to grab one more member of Ho-Oh's guard for his subordinate.
"Is it true? Thank you, Ho-Oh!"
Platinum was stunned, then immediately thanked Ho-Oh.
Raikou and Entei were Legendary Pokémon.
Raikou: "???"
Entei: ( °—° )
Ho-Oh: "..."
A very forced smile appeared on Ho-Oh's face.
Sniff. Another one is about to get taken.
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