"Seems like Ho-Oh's gaze isn't very friendly?"
Dawn, puzzled, tilts her head.
Marshadow, being stared down by Ho-Oh, can only tremble, desperate to cry but tears won't come—no one wants this situation either.
But this human wants to hold it anyway, what can it do?
If it doesn't let him hold it, what will the guy behind him with dark eyes glow purple do to it?
Marshadow is naturally timid; such a scare only makes it shrink more.
Fortunately, Ho-Oh's mood调节能力 is very good; now is not the time to fuss with Damian.
Ho-Oh, shimmering with a pale golden light, circles once above everyone and then slowly folds its wings, landing on Rainbow Rock.
"Ho-Oh!!"
Ash steps forward, excited, shouting at Ho-Oh.
Seeing Ash's excited and thrilled look, Ho-Oh's face bears a human-like smile, nodding politely in light of its nobility.
"That's Ho-Oh! Legendary Pokémon!"
Misty is also excited, her face turning slightly red from the mood.
"Indeed, recorded in myth, the wings of this Pokémon shine with seven colors; it's said that seeing Ho-Oh grants eternal happiness!"
Brock can't keep calm either; as a native of the Kanto region, he grew up hearing stories of Ho-Oh and Lugia.
Seeing a legendary Ho-Oh in person, how could he not be thrilled?
Dawn blinks with wide eyes, both happy and curious. When seen from afar, Ho-Oh seems full of divinity and beauty, but up close, Dawn thinks Ho-Oh's build looks a bit—
No, that's not polite to dwell on.
Right now Ho-Oh gazes at Ash with a gentle look; despite the new nuisance in front of it, it remains in good mood, sensing Ash's pure and loving heart toward Pokémon.
That's right! This is the kind of human it's been hoping for.
"Ash, quick—tell Ho-Oh your wish," Damian teases, patting Marshadow's belly.
"Eh? Is that allowed?"
Ash freezes, turning to Damian with a shy question.
"Hold on, Damian, where did that Pokémon in your arms come from?"
He glances back at Damian's arms and is surprised to see Marshadow there; where did another Pokémon come from?
Ash's question draws the eyes of the others.
Four or five people stare at him, making Marshadow feel like it's going to melt, social-anxiety rising.
"You're talking about this? I just picked it up," Damian replies calmly.
Marshadow: (°-°)
Ho-Oh: "..."
"Never mind me for now. As a Rainbow Hero, you've completed Ho-Oh's Test and arrived here. You can naturally make a wish to Ho-Oh."
"Right, Ho-Oh?"
"You think so, Ho-Oh?" Ash's eyes light up.
Ho-Oh casts a vague glare at Damian, but when the vision lands on Ash, it softens into a gentle, approving look and nods at Damian's words. It's not wrong; since Ash is here, it's natural to grant him a wish within its power.
As for not asking for silly things like Shiny Rayquaza or Dragon Kyurem, that's obvious enough.
But it's also unlikely; Ash isn't like that rascal.
"Wow! It's really possible, Ash! You've got to think carefully," Misty exclaims, excited.
Ash contemplates carefully.
But what wish does he have? He has one goal: to become a Pokémon Master, but that dream is broad.
So he's aiming toward the strongest trainer path.
Beyond that dream, what else does he wish for?
"Ash, if you don't know what to wish for, I'll teach you—"
"humans!!"
Before Damian finishes, a shout from an overgrown roast bird rings in Damian's head: …
"Ho-Oh, that's not right! You're trying to steal my right to speak, and I was just trying to offer a suggestion; you're being overly prejudiced."
"Enough! I didn't even ask you, why is my Marshadow in your arms?!" Ho-Oh is not happy.
"Whose Marshadow is it? I said I found this Pokémon; it's now my Marshadow," Damian asserts.
Ho-Oh scoffs; who cares if you found it? Marshadow in your arms might be cowed because you've been intimidating it.
Damn! Every time I meet this human, trouble follows.
Unlucky!
Fine, I won't argue; you won't influence this child's ideology. Ash is my close friend, I brought him here to meet you. I won't mislead him, Ho-Oh, you're being biased.
"What do you want, exactly?" Ho-Oh is done with this sophistry and thick-skinned human; it decides to end this topic.
Damian's face shows a satisfied smile.
The two engage in telepathic conversation privately, not visible to others.
And no one notices Ho-Oh's bird face turning very unhappy.
"Damian, go on," Ash asks curiously.
"I think you should follow your heart, Ash. Don't force a utilitarian ideology; just listen to the deepest voice in your heart."
Damian smiles at Ash.
Ash, somewhat zoned out, looks at Damian.
Following the voice in your heart? Yes, you don't need to think that hard.
Ho-Oh nods subtly; despite this rascal's occasional annoyances, he can get things done.
That's the approach.
"I know what I want now."
Ash takes a deep breath, a big smile forming on his face, and turns to Ho-Oh.
"Ho-Oh! Please, battle me!"
Ash straightens his baseball cap and shouts to Ho-Oh.
"Pika Pika!"
Pikachu hops from Ash's shoulder, meeting the challenge head-on, eyes shining with battle intent toward the legendary Ho-Oh above.
"That's amazing!" Dawn realizes why Mr. Damian values Ash so much; it's clear his attitude toward Ash is special.
To put such a precious wish opportunity toward "Ho-Oh, please battle me" is already different from many others.
Facing myth and legend Ho-Oh, there's no fear or concern.
On one side, Ho-Oh of myths and legends; on the other, Pikachu, as common as street dogs elsewhere—this battle is beyond ordinary people's imagination.
"Ash has the pure heart of a child, that's why Ho-Oh chose him," Damian watches Ash, a smile growing.
"That expression is amazing!"
Damian remarks; the more one lacks, the more one pursues.
Damian will never have Ash's pure thought and passion, but that doesn't stop him from wanting to see such a person appear or interact.
After all, recruiting Ash into Team Rocket was partly driven by this ideology.
"But Ash isn't Ho-Oh's opponent, right?" Misty looks at Ho-Oh and Pikachu battling.
"Impossible; Ash isn't there yet," Damian shrugs; the outcome of the battle is not surprising.
Indeed, before long, Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire blasts Pikachu's small body out, unable to rise again.
The battle doesn't last long; Pikachu loses to Ho-Oh, and Ash's Pikachu is special, but the current strength gap is too large; Ho-Oh dominates.
"Lost, Ho-Oh is too strong!" Ash hurriedly picks up injured Pikachu, checks he's okay, then looks up to Ho-Oh who has landed back on Rainbow Rock, smiling.
Ho-Oh returns the smile, relieved and recognizing.
It loves Ash's forthright nature, but Ash is still weak now; hopefully he'll grow stronger.
Beautiful lights fade as Ho-Oh's wings flare; Pikachu's injuries visibly heal.
Soon, Pikachu is energetic again.
"Bummer, Ash; if you could have beaten Ho-Oh, you might have caught it," Damian mutters, approaching.
Seeing Damian, Ho-Oh's human-like smile fades.
"Ha, nothing we can do; Ho-Oh is just too strong," Ash jokes.
"Maybe there'll be another chance someday—"
Damian grins, turning to Ho-Oh.
"Ho-Oh, you promised me something?"
Hearing that, everyone is surprised what Ho-Oh promised.
Ho-Oh shoots a sharp glance at Damian—this pesky rascal!
"Chiu~!"
Ho-Oh cries, its hoofbeats echoing.
Two silhouettes rush in at lightning speed, landing before Rainbow Rock.
"Legendary Raikou and Entei!" Brock gasps.
That's right—among the Legendary Beasts, Suicune has already been caught by Damian, so now only Raikou and Entei remain.
Raikou and Entei look majestic, but Entei's expression shifts slightly when it sees Damian; Raikou even steps back a bit to shield Entei.
It's got a psychological shadow now.
Last time, if not for Lord Ho-Oh stepping in, they would have all been captured by this human.
But despite that, they've lost their most important partner Suicune.
"What's the meaning of this?" Misty stares at Ho-Oh's expressionless look, suddenly wondering why Raikou and Entei were summoned.
"Dawn, come here, you pick one; whichever you want, start a Capture battle," Damian beckons Dawn.
"This is Ho-Oh's grand, generous gift to you; seize it properly."
Yes, this is the result of his bargaining with Ho-Oh just now.
Although he himself isn't fond of Raikou or Entei (today he's here mainly for Marshadow, after all), capturing one would help his subordinates gain another Legendary Beasts member.
"Really? Thanks, Ho-Oh!"
Dawn is surprised and polite; she even expresses gratitude to Ho-Oh.
Raikou and Entei remain legendary Pokémon.
Raikou: "???"
Entei: (°1°)
Ho-Oh: "..."
Ho-Oh shows a humanly reluctant smile.
Ugh, my Legendary Beasts are losing another one.
~~
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