"Hah... hah... Finally... the Raizen Mountains."
After several days of long-distance trekking, and having encountered Entei, Suicune, and Raikou along the way, Aomori, Ash, and their companions finally arrived at the Raizen Mountains.
The other two of the three Legendary Beasts had not escaped Aomori's "vicious hands" either; he had successfully plucked fur from both of them.
Standing on the hillside, Ash pulled the Rainbow Wing from his shirt.
As if sensing Ho-Oh's presence, the Rainbow Wing erupted in a dazzling brilliance, shooting out a bridge of seven-colored light that arched toward a specific peak in the mountain range. Triggered by the wing, the rocks there "blossomed" with rainbow flowers, glowing with a magnificent luster.
"That place is the highest peak of the Raizen Mountains, Mount Tensei! That must be our goal!"
"Yeah, no doubt about it!" Ash gave a firm wave of his hand. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
To ensure they reached the summit for the battle with Ho-Oh before dark, they chose to fly to Mount Tensei on Pidgeot and Charizard.
Aomori's large-scale Pidgeot and Charizard led their smaller counterparts, cutting through the wind and soaring over the high peaks until they reached the summit of Mount Tensei.
"Aomori-san, why are your Pokémon so much bigger than mine? Especially Pidgeot, it's just plain exaggerated," Ash said enviously, watching his own Pidgeot trail behind the massive one like a tiny chick.
"Indeed, the size is unbelievable. If possible, I'd love to know the reason behind this," Brock said, his eyes rare-form wide with excitement.
"Various reasons, I suppose. Eating well, sleeping soundly, and working hard at training?" Aomori only knew that his Pidgeot was a glutton; it ate and drank indiscriminately in every world they visited. He wondered if it had accidentally consumed some cross-dimensional growth hormones.
"I see," Ash and Brock replied thoughtfully.
Just then, an elderly man with white hair and a massive beard came running up, panting. He looked at Ash and the others and asked, "Have you come here to become the Rainbow Hero?"
He took a deep breath, sniffing the air around them, and said with certainty, "The scent is faint, but I can't be mistaken, you carry the scent of Ho-Oh."
"Are you talking about this?" The straightforward Ash pulled out the Rainbow Wing.
"Ohhh! Is that the Rainbow Wing? I knew it! You must be the Rainbow Hero of this era. Good, good... you're a fine lad." The old man squinted, looking entranced by the mesmerizing colors of the wing. "Better put it away; that light is a bit too dazzling for an old fossil like me."
Ash nodded and tucked the wing away. "Gramps, who are you?"
"You can just call me Bonji," the old man said with a smile. "I've been chasing Ho-Oh's footsteps for twenty years. Through various clues, I deduced that Ho-Oh's resting place was here, so I've been waiting for the arrival of a Rainbow Hero. I want to see Ho-Oh with my own eyes one more time."
"Are you... the author of the book Ho-Oh is My Life?" Brock blurted out, remembering something. It was precisely because of that book that they had found their way to the Raizen Mountains.
"You recognized me! Yes, I am the author," Bonji said, stroking his beard and laughing. "Years ago, I caught a glimpse of Ho-Oh's majesty and could never forget it. I've been searching for its traces ever since. Thankfully, I've finally lived to see this day."
"Don't worry, Bonji. Just watch, I'm going to summon Ho-Oh right here," Ash said seriously.
"Hahaha! If I'm not mistaken, you just need to take the Rainbow Wing and stand atop that rock over there." Bonji pointed to a massive boulder at the peak. "By the way, did you encounter the 'Guide from the Shadows'?"
"You mean Marshadow? We met it," Brock said. "It even gave Ash a trial."
"Not just Marshadow; we even met Entei, Suicune, and Raikou," Misty added.
"Oh! Is that so? Truly impressive."
"Alright then, I'm heading over." Ash gripped the Rainbow Wing and started walking toward the giant rock with Pikachu.
Suddenly, the silhouettes of many Pokémon emerged from various hiding spots, all staring expectantly at Ash.
"So many Pokémon!" Misty said in surprise.
"These Pokémon have gathered here hoping to receive power from Ho-Oh," Bonji explained.
"Hoping for someone else to grant them power? That's a bit too optimistic," Aomori shook his head.
"True enough, but perhaps it's more about yearning. A yearning for Ho-Oh's divine strength."
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Ash approached the giant rock. Just as he was about to jump up, three robots suddenly sprang from behind the boulder and snatched Ash and Pikachu.
"Who's there?!" everyone shouted in shock.
"Prepare for trouble!"
"And make it double!"
"We're in a hurry so we'll skip the rest, meow!"
Jessie, James, and Meowth poked their heads out from the robots, finished their lines, and ducked back in.
"Team Rocket! You again! Let me go!" Ash struggled violently in the robot's grip but couldn't break free.
"As if! Where's the fun in that?"
"Pikachu!"
Pikachu unleashed a Thunderbolt, but it had no effect.
"Same as always, it's made of electricity-proof insulation!"
While James and Meowth held Ash and Pikachu respectively, Jessie reached out greedily to snatch the Rainbow Wing from Ash's hand.
"Although the Boss said to wait until you summoned Ho-Oh to strike, how could we let such a perfect opportunity slip by?"
"Oh no! We have to help Ash!" Seeing Ash in danger, Misty and Brock rushed forward, but Aomori was faster, with Latias close behind.
This 'true protagonist' trio really can't stick to a plan. With them around, there's guaranteed to be an accident, Aomori grumbled internally.
"No! Stop them! If the Rainbow Wing falls into the hands of someone with an impure heart, a disaster will occur!" Bonji shouted frantically from behind.
"How rude! I'm a young and beautiful maiden; how could my heart be impure?" Hearing Bonji, Jessie moved even faster and easily snatched the Rainbow Wing from Ash's grasp.
"Look! The color of the wing is still so bri—wait, what?"
The rainbow brilliance on the wing Jessie held faded at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning pitch black.
"Impossible! My heart is pure!" Jessie looked shocked.
"Sigh, I knew it," James lamented. "Jessie, you're always stealing snacks behind our backs; how could your heart be pure? It should have been me."
"Exactly, meow," Meowth added solemnly.
"Shut up!"
The tainted Rainbow Wing began to pulse with an unusual energy. Stimulated by this, Marshadow crawled out from the shadows, its large eyes reflecting the black feather.
"Marsha!" Marshadow suddenly extended two long, black shadowy arms and snatched the wing back from Jessie.
"Ah! My feather!" Jessie screamed.
Having secured the black wing, Marshadow let out a long, piercing howl. A massive eruption of dark energy exploded from its body, shooting into the sky like a pillar. The ground and the sky were instantly overtaken by darkness.
A violent tremor radiated outward from Marshadow, forcing everyone back.
"What's happening?" Misty lost her footing and sat on the ground. She stared at the transformed landscape in shock.
"It's Marshadow! It's not just the guide for the Rainbow Hero; it's the examiner appointed by Ho-Oh!" Bonji said with a grim expression. "If the Rainbow Wing is tainted, Marshadow will seal everything and 'correct' everything!"
The three robots lost control due to the tremors, allowing Ash and Pikachu to escape.
Meowth looked at the demon-like Marshadow and had a very bad feeling. "This doesn't look right. Maybe we should retreat, meow?"
"I agree. Looks like we messed up again," James said, losing his nerve.
"Hey! What are you two still standing there for?" Jessie had already fled, running far into the distance.
Meowth and James: "...Wait for us! You dark-hearted woman!"
Seeing the fleeing Team Rocket trio, Marshadow frowned and immediately conjured a large sphere of dark energy, hurling it toward them.
Boom!
A massive explosion sent the trio flying into the sky once again.
"I knew we should have stuck to the plan!"
"It's all Jessie's fault!"
"Blame me then!"
"Wobbuffet!"
"WE'RE BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"
They turned into stars once more and vanished.
The escaped Ash and Pikachu reunited with Aomori and the others.
"Ash, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Ash shook his head. He looked at Marshadow, who was radiating an overwhelming aura, and said with a furrowed brow, "What do we do now?"
"At this point, the only way is to defeat Marshadow and take back the Rainbow Wing. Otherwise, we'll all be 'cleared out' by it," Bonji said.
"Defeat Marshadow? Can we do that?" Misty asked uncertainly. "That's a Mythical Pokémon... a legendary existence."
"Of course we can. We have a legendary Pokémon on our side too," Aomori said with a smile.
"You mean..." Everyone looked toward Latias at the same time.
"Eh?" Latias shook her head frantically, saying in a panic, "I can't! I'm not good at fighting!"
"Don't worry, we won't make you face it alone," Aomori said. "How about this: Ash and I will try to defeat Marshadow and retrieve the Rainbow Wing. Misty and Brock, please handle the wild Pokémon around here."
While they were talking, Marshadow hadn't been idle. It used an unknown technique to take control of all the "spectator" Pokémon in the area. One by one, they began to stare at Aomori's group with hostile intent.
"Right! Leave it to us!"
Misty and Brock shouted in unison.
"Go, Onix! Crobat! Geodude!"
"You too! Goldeen! Horsea! Starmie!"
"Quack?" A yellow duck holding its head wandered out on its own.
"Psyduck, I didn't tell you to come out!" Misty snapped.
"Quack?"
With the combined effort of their Pokémon, the attacking wild Pokémon were held at bay. Taking the opportunity, Ash and Aomori moved unimpeded to the front of Marshadow and sent out their "aces."
"Charizard! Latias! I choose you!"
"Pikachu! Charizard! I'm counting on you!"
The two Charizards exchanged a look and simultaneously blasted Marshadow with giant flames. Pikachu leaped into the air, unleashing a violent electrical current through the void. Latias dropped her disguise, opened her small mouth, and fired a pillar of light.
Facing the joint attack of four Pokémon, Marshadow gripped the Rainbow Wing and let out another roar. A black aura, reminiscent of a Super Saiyan, erupted from its body. It crossed its arms, firing countless black energy spheres in rapid succession, easily neutralizing all their attacks. It even turned the tide, suppressing Pikachu and the others.
"Marshadow is so strong! Aomori-san, what do we do?" Seeing the seemingly "overpowered" Marshadow, Ash lost some of his previous confidence.
"Ash, stay here and continue commanding Pikachu and Charizard. Try to distract Marshadow as much as possible. I'll move closer to see if there's a chance to snatch the Rainbow Wing," Aomori said.
"That's too dangerous! I'm coming too!" Ash insisted. How could he not be part of such a moment? He loved a thrilling adventure more than anything.
"Ash, are you looking down on me?" Aomori said with a laugh. "As an adult, letting a kid take risks is a sign of failure."
"But..." Ash was still a bit reluctant. "I'm ten years old; I'm not a kid anymore."
"Tell me that again when you're eighteen." Though, Ash might be stuck at this age forever.
Waving goodbye to Ash, Aomori moved toward Marshadow with light feet. He intentionally chose blind spots to move, avoiding Marshadow's field of vision. Aided by the interference of his psychokinesis, he didn't draw Marshadow's attention and successfully reached a position not far behind it.
"Aomori-san is amazing!" If Ash hadn't been keeping a close eye on Aomori's movements, he probably wouldn't even know where Aomori had gone.
"I can't lose either!" Ash swung his arm forcefully and shouted, "Pikachu! Charizard! Give it everything you've got!"
"Pika-CHUUU!"
"ROAR!"
Under the full exertion of the two Pokémon, towering flames mixed with surging electrical currents formed a colossal vortex of energy that swept toward Marshadow.
Faced with this combined move, even Marshadow had to treat it with caution. It raised its hands, condensing a massive energy ball as big as a small hill, and hurled it with all its might.
Rumble...
The collision of the two powerful moves produced a violent explosion unlike anything seen before. The shockwave swept across the entirety of Mount Tensei, even buffeting Misty and Brock in the distance.
Just as Marshadow was momentarily caught in the impact, Aomori made his move.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared beside Marshadow. As he snatched the Rainbow Wing, he pulled Marshadow into his embrace, shielding it from the remaining gale.
"Marsha?" Having lost the Rainbow Wing, Marshadow's aura plummeted. It looked up at the suddenly appearing Aomori in stunned silence.
Aomori looked at the Rainbow Wing in his hand. Ripples appeared in the dark energy on its surface, as white and purple light began to glow. The three colors intertwined, radiating a strange, ethereal brilliance.