Rainbow Trial, begin! Natsume blinked, taking a long moment to process the situation. He'd thought he was dealing with the "Giratina and the
Rainbow Trial, begin!
Natsume blinked, taking a long moment to process the situation.
He'd thought he was dealing with the "Giratina and the Icy Sky Bouquet" dungeon.
But now, the Dim Rainbow Wing had summoned Marshadow… meaning this was actually the 'Rainbow Trial' dungeon?!
Marshadow, a small shadowy figure with flickering flames for eyes, stared silently at Natsume.
"Marshadow!"
This is the best way to test whether you are worthy of becoming the Rainbow Hero!
Through Telepathy, Marshadow conveyed its intent to Natsume-sensei.
It also wanted to use this chance… to decide how to treat this Trainer.
After all, this man before it was… utterly incomprehensible.
The flames in Marshadow's eyes wavered.
He was clearly the one who had dimmed the Rainbow Wing, yet the Rainbow Wing had acknowledged him instead.
His methods were underhanded, yet he was a genuine 「aura wielder」.
His Pokémon looked fierce… but the warmth of this household was undeniable.
"Marshadow!" Marshadow's gaze hardened.
The Rainbow Trial would reveal the truth!
Natsume: "Yeah, no thanks."
Marshadow: (⊙﹏⊙)
"Gengar~! o(*≧▽≦)ツ" Gengar slung an arm around Marshadow's shoulders.
"Marshadow!" Marshadow glared at Natsume, baffled.
"No need to participate, right?"
Natsume shrugged cheerfully. "Wouldn't lazing around at home be better?"
"By the way, you hungry? Want me to make you some noodles?" Natsume asked kindly.
Marshadow, standing amidst the little ones, lifted its chin proudly. "Marshadow!"
If you refuse the Rainbow Trial, then we have nothing more to discuss.
Farewell!
Marshadow tried to melt into the shadows—
Natsume said flatly, "Gengar, Mean Look."
Mean Look: Uses eerie light to trap the opponent in a Shadow Tag condition, preventing escape.
"Gengar!" Gengar grinned, crimson eyes glowing an eerie blue as its shadow stretched out, snagging Marshadow firmly.
Marshadow: "…"
This is dirty! Absolutely shameless!
"Marshadow!"
Trapped by its own shadow, Marshadow turned its head away defiantly, as if saying, Do what you will!
Natsume scratched his head, unsure how to handle this 'shadow thief' who had broken into his home.
Letting it go after trespassing wasn't an option.
But keeping it here meant dealing with that troublesome 'Rainbow Trial'—which was dangerous in its own right.
After a moment of thought, Natsume clapped his hands.
"Let it watch us eat, then send it off!"
"Classic you, Rotom!" The Rotom Pokédex gasped.
"Little Rotom, legendary kitchenware mode," Natsume ordered.
"System Overload, Rotom! o(TヘTo)"
Natsume headed to the kitchen, waving a hand. "Keep an eye on it, Gengar!"
"Gengar!" Gengar cracked its knuckles, flanked by Sylveon's Baby-Doll Eyes and Arcanine's watchful glare.
"Marshadow…" Marshadow realized it had been tricked.
Even the fish tank in the back seemed to be hiding an Aura Sphere…
Is this really the conduct of a 'Rainbow Trial challenger'?!
Natsume's muttering drifted into its ears, making Marshadow's expression twist.
"You had the whole sky to flee, yet you chose to barge into Natsume's home…"
Natsume glared at the Rainbow Wing.
"So it's you who led Marshadow here, huh?!"
The Rainbow Wing remained silent, dim and lifeless.
"Marshadow…" Marshadow sighed deeply.
Had the Rainbow Wing truly misjudged him?
Or… had this Rainbow Wing really been corrupted?!
Glancing at Gengar beside it, Marshadow's eyes burned with resolve.
Marshadow had made up his mind—Natsume-sensei would participate in the "Rainbow Trial."
This was the resolve of a warrior, a guardian among shadows.
The clock had already struck six in the evening.
"Marshadow," Marshadow stood in the shadows of the corner, silently watching the cheerful household.
Natsume & Gengar: (￣～￣)
The rich aroma of ramen wafted through the air. Marshadow's gaze flickered toward the glistening chashu and the savory broth, swallowing hard.
Human food… held little interest for it.
But this broth—was it made from Berries? How… irresistible.
Natsume and Gengar slurped their noodles. Arcanine buried its snout in its bowl. Sylveon had mastered the art of wielding chopsticks with its ribbons.
As for Togepi, Blastoise, and Sirfetch'd… they all had hands, and their chopstick skills were impeccable.
"Marshadow…" Marshadow watched quietly.
Natsume shot a sidelong glance at the brooding Marshadow, then stood and fetched another bowl of ramen from the kitchen, offering it to it.
"Marshadow?" Marshadow blinked in surprise.
"Made this for you," Natsume said. "You nodded when I asked if you wanted some."
"Marshadow!" Marshadow turned its head proudly, refusing handouts!
Natsume smirked.
Then handed it a pair of chopsticks.
Marshadow: "…"
Marshadow accepted the chopsticks: (￣～￣)
Marshadow: (⊙0⊙)
Marshadow: (⊙ˍ⊙)
Soon, though, it schooled its expression back to sternness.
Perhaps you are not a villain.
But the Rainbow Wing's fading light heralds calamity—this is Ho-Oh's omen!
A boyish yet oddly solemn telepathic voice echoed in Natsume's mind.
"And how do we fix it?" Natsume asked curiously.
"Undertake the Rainbow Trial," Marshadow declared.
Good grief, we're back to square one.
Rubbing his temples, Natsume sighed. "What happens if I refuse?"
"If the imbalance continues, if disaster strikes—"
Marshadow's tone hardened. "Ho-Oh itself will descend."
Natsume paused.
"…Not impossible," Natsume muttered, stroking his chin. "Ho-Oh intervened directly during the Burned Tower incident."
Back then, even the Tree of Beginning rejected me… If Ho-Oh sees me up close, it might just vaporize me with Sacred Fire.
But—
I'm the Aura Wielder, acknowledged by the Tree of Beginning itself!
Since when do I need Ho-Oh's approval?!
Natsume squared his shoulders. "Fine. How do I start this Rainbow Trial? What's the plan?"
"Marshadow?" Marshadow gaped.
Did I mishear? He's agreeing? Just like that?
"Marshadow!" Marshadow shook its head, then pointed at the Rainbow Wing in Natsume's hand.
We must hurry to the glaciers near Mount Coronet.
There lies the Indigo Stone. Complete the trial path, earn the Rainbow's blessing, and Ho-Oh will appear.
Natsume blinked. "We don't have to go to Kanto?"
"Marshadow." Marshadow nodded.
Each region's trial path differs. Find the Indigo Stone, and the way will open.
Natsume looked skyward, suddenly reassessing Ho-Oh's grandeur.
Ho-Oh had always maintained an air of majesty, its sightings spanning multiple regions.
Though in Special Edition, its prestige took a hit—losing to Pryce's Delibird, of all things.
"Wonder which version this is…" Natsume mused.
Compared to the looming Giratina crisis, the "Rainbow Trial" seemed like a lighter dungeon crawl.
His gaze drifted to Marshadow, now thoroughly bribed by ramen, devouring the bowl with gusto.
Hmm.
Avoiding Ash for a while might not be a bad idea…
Passing the trial to restore the Rainbow Wing's glow was like earning an extra life (…right?).
Natsume's eyes flicked to the Gracidea flowers in the vase. His brow arched.
Giratina's dungeon's too risky… Fine, I'll pick a different one!
"So," Natsume said, turning to Marshadow. "You're staying here for now?"
"Marshadow!" Marshadow nodded solemnly.
I must keep watch over the challenger!
Natsume: "…"
You just want free meals.
But if even the examiner Marshadow's been won over… this trial's as good as mine!
Natsume smirked.
Opening the chat group, he checked Ash's status.
Ash: "I'm challenging Volkner again!"
Natsume: "Go for it! Give it your all!"
Ash grinned fiercely, nodding.
His next attempt was in a week. He planned to train hard until then.
Erika: "Natsume-sensei seems unusually kind today."
Bea: "Yeah, really."
Natsume paused.
Wait, is it "Bea" or "Bean"?
Ah, right—Bea's my Galar apprentice. So "Bean" it is.
Meanwhile, Lucian DM'd him:
Lucian: "Flint wants to join the group. Should I add him?"
Natsume: "Of course!"
Perfect. His name's still on my notebook—easier to coordinate this way.
Lucian adjusted his glasses, thoughts drifting to the recent spike in dimensional disturbances.
"I really should retire…"
He gazed out the window.
"Let Cynthia handle it."
Elsewhere, Natsume glanced down.
Two shadows stretched from his feet—one harboring Marshadow, the other Gengar.
"We leave tomorrow," Natsume declared.
"Marshadow!" Marshadow affirmed.
"Gengar~! ㄟ(≧◇≦)ㄏ" Gengar cheered.
Rainbow Trial, here we come!
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