The evening sky hung low over ancient Eterna City, veiled in mist. Natsume stepped off the old-fashioned train at the station, his mood comp
The evening sky hung low over ancient Eterna City, veiled in mist.
Natsume stepped off the old-fashioned train at the station, his mood complicated as he arrived at the meeting point with Ash and the others.
Two major dungeons overlapping... I wonder if I can handle this.
"Marshadow!" Marshadow pointed from the shadows beneath a streetlamp toward a restaurant's sign.
"That's the place."
Natsume nodded, then glanced at Gengar, who was munching on a can of chips. "You think you'll still have room for dinner?"
"Gengar!" Gengar licked the crumbs off its cheeks and grinned.
As everyone knew—snacks and meals went into separate stomachs!
"We're almost at Eterna City!" Ash announced in the chat group.
"I won't be able to reach you until tomorrow at the earliest," Brock said, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Also, Shaymin can purify the air, but try not to let it inhale too many pollutants."
"A Mythical Pokémon symbolizing gratitude..." Lucian adjusted his glasses, musing. "Perhaps it's the embodiment of humanity's thanks to nature."
Yellow, the Blessed One of Viridian Forest, nodded faintly in agreement.
Natsume looked up at the sky.
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later...
Though, the "air purification" ability was unexpectedly practical.
If he were shameless enough, he could probably use Shaymin as a living air purifier...
Ahem!
Having already abandoned the idea of making Marshadow steal Nuggets, Natsume shook his head and scoffed:
"I'm a hero undertaking the Rainbow Trial! How could I stoop to such petty schemes?"
Marshadow: "..."
This guy has zero credibility!
...
Eterna City Outskirts
Ash and Flint hurried along the path.
Shaymin, perched atop Ash's head, projected its telepathic voice.
"We gotta get there, right?!"
"We should contact Natsume-sensei first," Flint explained. "Having him around will keep you safe."
Even Flint, usually thick-skulled, sensed something unusual about this journey.
After all, the legendary Sendoff Spring had shown strange activity... not to mention this Mythical Pokémon Shaymin suddenly appearing out of nowhere.
Shaymin turned its head away and muttered, "Fine, whatever! I'll stick with you guys, okay?!"
"You're such a diva," Ash remarked.
"I didn't say anything wrong~!" Shaymin puffed its cheeks, its grassy quills bristling.
"Alright, alright," Flint mediated, then brightened. "There—that's the restaurant!"
...
Inside the Restaurant
Natsume spotted Shaymin dozing on Ash's head.
Exhausted from evading Giratina, the little hedgehog-like Pokémon napped quietly, pink flowers blooming along its sides. Its body was covered in lush green grass, its stubby legs as white as fresh snow.
"It's actually pretty cute when it's asleep," Ash said.
"This one's way too spoiled," Flint groaned, rubbing his temples. "I've never had to deal with kids... what a hassle."
Remembering Shaymin's tsundere personality from the movies, Natsume chuckled wryly.
Sylveon was like this too back then... So Natsume wasn't too bothered by Shaymin's attitude.
Gengar and Marshadow peeked out from Natsume's shadow, eyeing the little hedgehog.
"Marshadow..." Marshadow sensed something unusual about Shaymin, its tiny face scrunching up.
Hopefully, the Rainbow Trial won't get derailed.
"Gengar!" Gengar, however, found the flowers on Shaymin oddly familiar. After a moment, it recalled the flower basket from earlier.
Digging through its shadow, Gengar pulled out both the basket and the vase, offering them to Natsume.
Natsume: "..."
Which one do I pick—the Gracidea basket or the system-bonus vase?!
As if triggered by a key plot item, Shaymin twitched its nose in its sleep, a sweet smile forming as the grass on its back unfurled.
The Gracidea—symbolizing "gratitude"—filled the air with a gentle fragrance, and Shaymin's body began glowing white.
"Evolution light?!" Ash and Flint exclaimed simultaneously.
"Beep—Shaymin evolves into its Sky Forme when exposed to Gracidea, according to Floaroma Town's historical records! Rotom!" the Rotom Pokédex chimed.
As the light faded, Shaymin blinked awake, its demeanor now bold and lively.
It had transformed from a hedgehog into a deer-like creature, white wings extending from its head and red fur swaying around its neck.
"I'll take you to the flower fields!" Sky Forme Shaymin declared proudly.
Ash stared for a second before scratching his head. "It's like a whole different Pokémon now."
"Seems more energetic," Flint remarked.
"I was always like this, okay?!" Shaymin huffed, lifting its chin.
"Speaking of which," Flint turned to Natsume-sensei, baffled, "why do you just happen to be carrying Gracidea—two bunches, no less?"
Natsume sighed deeply. "It's... a long story."
"According to the Pokédex, the Gracidea fields are near Mount Coronet," Ash said, checking the navigation. "Perfect! After we take Shaymin home, we can train there!"
"Ash is kinda dumb, right?" Shaymin giggled, fluttering in the air.
"Hey, you're the dumb one here!" Ash shot back.
"Pikachu..." Pikachu facepalmed, then suddenly froze. "Pikachu?"
Seizing the opportunity, Natsume scooped Pikachu up, stroking its head with insulated gloves.
Finally! I've been wanting to pet this electric mouse forever!
"Pikachu?" Pikachu blinked, surprisingly not using Thunderbolt, but instead leaning into the touch with a contented sigh. "Pikachu..."
As he continued petting the electric mouse, Natsume said, "We should get moving soon. We can camp along the way if needed."
"Why the hurry?" Flint asked.
Because Giratina might catch up...
Natsume coughed. "I, uh, have other business at Mount Coronet."
The two nodded in understanding. Ash pulled out his phone. "Then I'll tell Brock to meet us at the foot of Mount Coronet tomorrow!"
"Wait, Pikachu—when did you get over to Natsume-sensei?!"
"Pikachu?" Pikachu twitched its ears innocently.
"Hurry up and get to the flower fields already!" Shaymin tugged at Ash's cap.
"O-Okay, okay!" Ash yelped.
Life was hard. Natsume and Pikachu sighed in unison.
Typical Ash—full of heart, zero brain cells.
...
The night was clear and windless, the starry sky stretched across the heavens like a glittering river.
Flint had Flareon light a campfire, then sat with his hands on his knees, playfully teasing the Flareon perched on his shoulder.
Flareon's cream-colored fur resembled an elegant scarf, its body a vibrant flame-red.
The firewood had been gathered by Ash's Staraptor from nearby.
Stacked together, the flames danced at the center, crackling softly.
"Feels like something big's gonna happen tomorrow."
Flint let out a yawn, lazily waved his hand, and crawled into his sleeping bag. "I'm turning in early—gotta save my energy."
Natsume shot a glance at Flint, the jinx, before lifting his gaze to the Milky Way.
Mysterious, dazzling… Somewhere out there, little Cosmoem might be drifting, or Rayquaza soaring in the ozone layer, or even Jirachi, whom he'd once met…
"It's so beautiful," Ash murmured, holding Pikachu as he stared upward.
Hearing this, Natsume gave a slight nod before suddenly saying:
"I'm grateful for everything I have now."
"Huh?" Ash turned to him in surprise.
"Even if they sometimes misunderstand me…"
Natsume smiled faintly. "Still… thank you, Gengar. And everyone."
Behind him, the shadow stretched, taking the shape of Gengar as its signature chuckle echoed.
Sylveon, pretending to nap on his lap, let out a soft huff and turned its head away.
The Poké Balls at his waist trembled faintly, their metallic surfaces glimmering.
Ash thought for a moment, then looked down at Pikachu in his arms and grinned.
"I'm really grateful for you too, Pikachu!"
"Pikachu~!" Pikachu tilted its head.
Late into the night, Shaymin's Sky Forme could no longer be maintained, reverting to its small, hedgehog-like appearance.
Its dark, shiny eyes secretly observed Natsume and Ash, a sweet, shy smile flickering across its face.
From them, Shaymin sensed an emotion—gratitude—the very energy it thrived on.
"Marshadow!"
In the darkness, Marshadow quietly watched this challenger of the Rainbow Trial.
It might sound cliché, but the first step to becoming the "Rainbow Hero" was the bond between humans and Pokémon.
And in this moment, that first trial had already been proven.
"Marshadow…"
Marshadow glanced enviously at Natsume and Gengar before its expression hardened, slowly melting back into the shadows.
Gratitude and kindness alone weren't enough to become a Rainbow Hero.
Exceptional wisdom, formidable strength, unwavering courage…
Perhaps Ash once lacked wisdom and strength.
But the moment he stood between Pikachu and a horde of frenzied Pokémon—just as he once faced a storm of Spearow—
Ash had already earned the right to be called the "Rainbow Hero."
Marshadow's gaze burned like embers as it stood guard within Natsume's shadow, a stern examiner.
"Marshadow…"
I'll be waiting…
For the moment you truly become the Rainbow Hero.
Reverse World
In Giratina's crimson eyes, the reflection of humans and Pokémon sleeping beneath the galaxy flickered.
Its gaze shifted, landing on the small, grass-covered hedgehog—as if it had found its target.
Then, Giratina's six ghostly wings unfurled, propelling it swiftly through the Reverse World, trailing Natsume's group.
Like ripples in nothingness, reality itself trembled. Yet the towering Mount Coronet remained shrouded in mist.
...
Sinnoh Region, Celestic Town
Carolina scowled, muttering under her breath. "What the hell's going on? These spatial rifts keep appearing—did someone capture Arceus or something?!"
The golden-haired beauty in black frowned, resting a delicate hand on her chin. "Grandmother, where is the pulse strongest?"
"Even if you go, you won't solve anything."
Carolina snapped. "The disturbance is coming from the Distortion World—the Reverse World. Mount Coronet is one of its gateways. Unless someone dives into that ruined dimension, this disaster won't end!"
"Then I'll go." Cynthia's voice was ice-cold, without hesitation.
Carolina opened her mouth, then shut it, grumbling. "The pulse has affected Mount Coronet's wild Pokémon. They're being corrupted by some shadowy force—driven into a frenzy."
"If you insist, at least bring Lucian and the others… The more Elite Four, the better."
"You still haven't told me the epicenter." Cynthia pressed.
"I can't pinpoint it yet." Carolina shook her head. "But one thing's certain—Mount Coronet is where Giratina is headed."
"Mount Coronet again…" Cynthia's eyes flickered.
"What?"
"Natsume—No, never mind." She shook her head lightly.
"Worried about that Natsume kid?"
Carolina narrowed her eyes. "Is he planning to charge into the Reverse World for you and take on Giratina alone?"
Cynthia didn't answer. Instead, she said softly, "He can do it."
"Have you lost your mind?" Carolina stared at her granddaughter.
Cynthia smiled, her gaze unwavering.
"Because… he's Natsume."
...
Twenty kilometers from Mount Coronet, a rugged off-road vehicle roared down the barren highway.
Hitting a steep slope, the jeep launched into the air before slamming back down with a thud, its speed never faltering.
Surprisingly, the driver was a white-haired grandmother, her kind smile etched with laugh lines.
"Granny! Granny Bertha!"
Aaron, the Bug-type Elite Four member in a thin tank top, clung to the overhead handle, his green cowlick nearly torn off by the wind. "C-Can you slow down?!"
"Tch. Can't even handle a little speed?"
Bertha, the Ground-type Elite Four, shot him a glance and growled, "Hold on tight, young man!"
With that, Granny Bertha floored the accelerator, the needle on the speedometer lurching upward.
Amidst screams, the jeep hurtled toward Mount Coronet like a storm.
"Understood."
Hundreds of meters above Mount Coronet, Lucian crouched atop his levitating Bronzong, pressing a Bluetooth headset to his ear.
"Wild Pokémon on Mount Coronet are in a frenzy. The remaining three Elite Four members are mobilizing to contain it."
Cynthia's voice crackled through. "What about Flint?"
"He's currently with Natsume-sensei. I haven't informed him yet." Lucian frowned. "I'm concerned they might be affected by the Distortion World's influence."
"Leave that to me," Cynthia said. "Just focus on suppressing the wild Pokémon's rampage."
"Copy that."
Ending the call, Lucian adjusted his frosted glasses, his gaze fixed on the mist-shrouded Mount Coronet.
The entire mountain seemed tainted by shadows, its wild Pokémon acting unnaturally aggressive—even attacking passing trainers.
What's happening?
Lucian's mind raced. Mt. Silver in Kanto had similar incidents… Is this connected, or just another ripple from the Reverse World?
Strength. Bonds. Courage.
These were the pillars of becoming the "Rainbow Hero."
In I Choose You!, frenzied Pokémon had been part of the trial.
Since Natsume-sensei's Rainbow Wing wasn't powered off—only in energy-saving mode—
The Berserk Pokémon on Mount Coronet weren't influenced by Marshadow.
Yet to a merciless Examiner, this made for the perfect test…
"Marshadow!" Marshadow urged Natsume.
We must reach Mount Coronet immediately!
Natsume gave it a weird look. "Did you miss the news? All routes to Mount Coronet are blocked."
"Marshadow." Marshadow's tone was grave.
This, too, is part of the trial.
Natsume: "…"
Once exams are over, I'm totally having Mega Gengar beat you up!
"We can head to Gracidea fields first," Ash said. "The path there is still clear."
"We need to get to the flower field quickly!" Shaymin, in its Hedgehog Form, glanced around as if sensing something terrifying, shivering as it spoke.
"Don't worry." Ash patted his chest and grinned. "Even if the bad guys grab you, I'll save you!"
Natsume: "…"
Stop jinxing it, you idiot!
Flint had slept well last night. Refreshed, he stretched and scratched his afro.
"Let's get going… The town and Pokémon Center are just ahead!"
…
At the foot of Mount Coronet, in a small town's Pokémon Center.
The dark-skinned Brock waited early: "Natsume-sensei."
"Long time no see, Brock!" Natsume waved. "How's Pewter Gym?"
"Left it under Forrest's care," Brock said.
Natsume nudged Brock with his elbow and grinned. "See? Now you're free!"
Brock's expression remained stern, unwavering. "But… as the eldest brother, I still have to shoulder our father's responsibilities."
Natsume nodded in understanding.
"I'm talking about this one." Ash held up a trembling Shaymin. "Shaymin's condition looks terrible!"
Brock narrowed his eyes and, at a jaw-dropping speed, pulled out a medical kit—its contents shockingly comprehensive.
After an examination, Brock set down his stethoscope. "It seems to be affected by some kind of pulse… but it's nothing serious."
"The nearby Gracidea fields should help restore Shaymin's mental condition."
"Shaymin…" Shaymin's face was flushed as if feverish, letting out a weak whimper.
Natsume frowned slightly.
"Related to you, huh?" Natsume murmured to himself.
"Marshadow…" Marshadow's telepathic denial echoed in his ears.
This wasn't how a normal Rainbow Trial was supposed to go.
Natsume took a deep breath.
It seemed Giratina's influence was growing worse…
Flint scratched his head and asked casually, "By the way, what's with the decorations in town today? Looks like some kind of event."
"Seems like a new stand opened up. Business is booming," Brock replied.
Hearing that, Natsume's eyelid twitched.
Stepping outside the Pokémon Center, Natsume froze.
"Don't miss out, come take a look, meow!"
"The latest Pokémon Trading Card Game—exchangeable with Gracidea!"
"Wobbuffet~!"
Looking at the wildly popular stand…
Natsume sucked in a sharp breath.
If the true protagonist was here… didn't that mean Giratina wasn't far behind?!
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