In a forest on the edge of the road leading from Celadon City to Gringey City.
The branches and leaves of towering ancient trees interwove to form an airtight dome, allowing only scattered starlight and moonlight to filter through the gaps like silver coins, casting mottled light marks upon the humus-covered ground.
Tonight.
Unusual ripples stirred in the depths of the forest.
A biting cold wind whipped up without warning.
It did not appear naturally generated, but rather converged from countless ice crystals and pure water vapor.
The cold wind spiraled and condensed, finally outlining a slender and elegant form.
The incarnation of the North Wind, Suicune, descended quietly.
Its azure fur was like the purest glacier, its jewel-like headpiece flowed with a cold brilliance, and its mane was like clouds and mist. Its four feet trod silently upon the earth.
Two white, ribbon-like tails floated from behind it to its sides.
A pure aura permeated the air, and the surrounding stagnant, corrupt puddles were instantly revitalized.
This was its special ability as a Legendary Pokémon.
So-called Legendary Pokémon are not classified by their combat power.
The combat power of some Legendary Pokémon is truly nothing to write home about.
But their abilities are generally very rare and very special.
Of course, purely combat-type Legendary Pokémon are not non-existent.
It's just that among Legendary Pokémon, the gap between the combat types and non-combat types... is somewhat outrageously large.
Suicune's gaze turned toward the mouth of a dark cave not far away.
Deep within that cavern, two burning bright lights ignited first.
Then, the sound of heavy footsteps rang out.
Every step caused the surrounding ground to tremble slightly.
The King of Volcanoes, Entei, stepped forth.
It wore iron bands on its strong limbs, had red hexagram-shaped structures on its cheeks, and a golden-yellow shell resembling a clover embedded on its forehead. Behind it drifted billowing white smoke.
The breath exhaled from Entei's mouth and nose carried the scent of sulfur and sparks, instantly dispelling the chill brought by Suicune.
Although the two sides were friends of many years.
Their attributes were indeed not very compatible.
Chatting together occasionally was fine.
But if they stayed together for a long time... they would eventually tire of each other.
Water and fire are not completely incompatible.
But for water and fire to be compatible is generally quite difficult.
"You came." Entei stopped in front of Suicune, his blazing eyes looking at the other.
Entei spoke.
Suicune maintained a stoic, deadpan expression.
Suicune felt that this companion had a guilty conscience today.
But it still nodded slightly, its posture remaining elegant, its cool voice like a spring flowing through a mountain ravine:
"I sensed your summons, so I came."
"For that... new Rainbow Hero?"
Frankly speaking, Suicune did not quite approve of this.
But what could be done? It was a tradition of many years.
Mainly, as Pokémon resurrected by Ho-Oh, they really had no standing to oppose Ho-Oh.
"Correct." Entei's gaze seemed to penetrate the layers of dense forest, looking toward the direction of Celadon City. "Ho-Oh's feather has shone once again."
"It is just that this time..."
"Marshadow acts as roughly as ever."
Mentioning this name, even the usually steady Entei carried a tone of helplessness.
Generally speaking, Marshadow followed by Entei's side, hiding in Entei's shadow.
It could be said they were constant companions.
Theoretically speaking... Marshadow was timid and cowardly... but its actions... were... too stubborn and hard-headed.
Although this seemed a bit nonsensical.
But in Entei's perception, this was how it was.
Hearing Entei say this, Suicune agreed considerably:
"That fellow who prowls in the shadows, its style of action is just like its attributes—cruel and direct."
"It uses negative emotions as a touchstone, luring out the dark side of the human heart. Its methods are too impatient."
"The last time it intervened in human affairs, it nearly caused a candidate who originally had potential to sink completely into depravity."
"If this continues, that overly radical style of its will sooner or later invite a true backlash, leading to a major stumble."
In Suicune's view, humans had already developed a different civilization.
So human matters should be left for humans to handle themselves.
Suicune itself did not really want to intervene.
It was just that everyone was a colleague of the same rank; Suicune couldn't control Marshadow either.
"It firmly believes that only a heart that can maintain its light within the ultimate darkness is worthy of the title of Rainbow Hero."
Entei snorted a breath carrying sparks... feeling that there was something wrong with its brain.
"The result... the process..."
Is the process important?
Or is the result important?
Entei felt both were important.
They should go hand in hand; one should not be abandoned for the sake of the other.
It is better to do a slightly poorer job together now, leaving room to improve together later, than to let the scales lose their balance.
Entei felt... some things cannot be chosen between; they shouldn't be measured as high or low.
Once the scales are unbalanced, it is very hard to pull them back later.
This was something Entei had learned in current human society.
"However, Marshadow's duty is exactly this, and we have no right to interfere too much."
"Right now, we need to determine the trial field we are responsible for."
Entei turned the topic to what truly needed to be done.
Everyone had their own duties.
You couldn't say that just because you felt Marshadow's method of interfering with humans was wrong, you should go and interfere with Marshadow...
Then what would be the difference between him and Marshadow?
If everyone thought and acted like that... wouldn't it become a complete mess!
They couldn't very well just start fighting Marshadow directly, right?
Leaving aside whether they could win or not, if they really started fighting, the destruction to the surroundings would be hard to predict.
"Where is it this time?" Suicune did not yet know the specific details of the trial.
"The border zone near Gringey City," Entei answered. "In that area, the filth of human industry and the vitality of nature are engaged in a cruel tug-of-war."
That was what he said.
But polluted nature is still nature.
There were actually quite a few Poison-type Pokémon around Gringey City; it could be considered a living area for Poison-type Pokémon.
For example, a large number of Grimer and Muk gathered there.
"Gringey City..." Suicune repeated the name, its elegant head tilting imperceptibly to the side, revealing obvious disgust.
"I do not like that place."
"The air is filled with the stench of rust and chemical agents, the rivers flow with venom, and even the wind carries the smell of decay."
As the incarnation of the North Wind, an existence in charge of the power of purification, it had an instinctive aversion to that kind of place.
Every time it stepped into a similar human industrial area, it felt as if invisible filth was attempting to defile its pure fur and power.
Fortunately, it generally only needed to limit the spread of industrial pollution and did not need to go deep into it.
Entei understood his companion's feelings.
Its heavy paws pressed on the ground, leaving a slightly scorched mark:
"Precisely because of this, it is even more necessary for us to go."
"Ho-Oh's will lies not only in selecting a hero but also in maintaining balance and healing wounds."
"That land and the innocent creatures living within it... must not be harmed because of this."
"In this trial, we also need to dispel some of the haze."
Speaking of which, it seemed a bit winding and complicated.
But translated into human language, it was:
Entei: Old buddy, since you're already here, just hold your nose and purify that place, would you?
Well.
Theoretically, Suicune did not need to come for the Rainbow Trial.
This was Marshadow's mission.
It was just that because Marshadow came, Entei came too.
After Entei conducted a field survey, he felt he could trick his old buddy into coming over.
Although Entei's appearance was full of majesty, Entei's heart was very gentle.
Suicune was silent for a moment. It knew what Entei said made sense...
But... is this guy practicing favoritism?
Forget it, such things are not important.
Suicune raised its head to look at Entei and asked the most critical question: "Are your reserves of Sacred Fire still sufficient?"
Purifying the environment was just a casual matter for Suicune.
If not for the fact that thoroughly purifying the environment would cause Pokémon like Grimer and Muk to be unable to survive...
It would have purified all these regions long ago.
Sludge Pokémon are Pokémon too, and they also have the right to live in this world.
Similar cases included garbage bag Pokémon like Trubbish and garbage dump Pokémon like Garbodor.
These types of Pokémon were all born accompanying the development of human society.
And Entei's Sacred Fire originated from Ho-Oh; it is the supreme flame of creating life and purification.
Entei's attributes were suitable, and as Ho-Oh's emissary, he was granted the right to use it, but this power was not endless.
Entei let out a low chuckle, carrying absolute confidence:
"Rest assured... if it were to make scorched earth reborn and the deceased revive like Ho-Oh, forcibly reversing the miracle of life and death... I indeed cannot do it."
"But if it is only limited to a certain range..."
It paused, the air around it twisting slightly due to the high temperature.
"My flames are sufficient to wash away filth and heal wounds."
"As long as they have not completely stepped into the netherworld, and the soul has not yet dissipated, the Sacred Fire can pull them back from the edge of death and grant new life."
"Healing those ordinary Pokémon trapped by pollution is more than enough."
This was not a boast, but knowledge accumulated from a century-old mission.
The power level of the Sacred Fire was extremely high. For injuries and pollution on the mortal plane, as long as the quantity was sufficient, it could indeed achieve a healing effect akin to a miracle.
By the way, the reason Suicune and Entei's thoughts were so grounded was that they were not very old.
They were resurrected 150 years ago.
That is to say, their age was just 150+, but definitely not up to 200.
Coupled with running around all year round, they hadn't turned into old fogies yet.
Suicune listened, the last trace of doubt in its eyes dissipating.
It turned gracefully, facing the general direction of Gringey City, as if it could already smell the faint scent of pollution carried by the wind from that distant place.
"Since that is the case... then let it be so." Suicune's voice returned to its coolness and calm.
"After the trial ends, I will dispel the toxic haze shrouding that place and guide clean water and air there."
Theoretically, purifying the environment was not a part of the Rainbow Trial... but since they were already here.
"Duty calls." Entei responded concisely, his massive body turning in the same direction.
"The trial is about to begin. We need to ensure that land does not become that young hero's end, but rather the starting point of his journey."
Whether the trial succeeded or not was actually unimportant in Entei's view.
Just as long as no one died.
He was indeed a considerably kind Pokémon.
Entei's temper was very good... during this period, he hadn't even laid a heavy hand on Trainers he met who wanted to catch him.
Highlighting a [Kindness].
Suicune spoke no more.
It raised its head slightly, and a denser mist of ice crystals and water vapor began to permeate around it.
The silhouette of Gringey City was faintly visible on the distant horizon.
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