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"I feel like Ho-Oh's gaze isn't very friendly?"
Platinum tilted her head in confusion.
And Marshadow, being glared at by Ho-Oh, could only tremble, wanting to cry. It didn't want this!
But this human insisted on holding it, what could it do?
If it didn't let him hold it, what if that dark, purple-eyed guy behind him hit it?
Marshadow was already timid, and being scared like this made it even more so.
Fortunately, Ho-Oh's emotional regulation was excellent. Now was not the time to argue with Mammon.
Ho-Oh, shimmering with a faint golden light, circled above everyone once, then slowly folded its wings and landed on the Rainbow Stone.
"Ho-Oh!!"
Ash excitedly stepped forward a few paces and called out to Ho-Oh.
Seeing Ash's excited and enthusiastic appearance, Ho-Oh showed a human-like smile and gave a noble and reserved nod.
"This is Ho-Oh! The legendary Pokémon!"
Misty was also very excited, her small face flushed from the high spirits.
"Yes, a Pokémon recorded in myths, its wings shine with seven colors, and legend says that those who see Ho-Oh can have eternal happiness!"
Brock's tone was also unable to remain calm. As natives of the Kanto region, they grew up listening to the legends of Ho-Oh and Lugia.
How could they not be excited to see the legendary Ho-Oh with their own eyes?
Platinum blinked her big eyes, both joyful and curious. How to put it?
She thought that from afar, Ho-Oh truly exuded divinity and beauty all over, but from this close distance, she always felt Ho-Oh's physique was a bit...
Hmm, no, she couldn't think about it anymore, it was impolite.
And at this moment, Ho-Oh watched Ash with a gentle gaze. Although there was an annoying commoner it didn't want to see, it didn't matter.
Its mood was still very good with Ash's arrival. It could feel that Ash's heart was still pure and clean, and he loved Pokémon immensely.
That's right! This was the human it had been waiting for.
"Ash, quickly tell Ho-Oh your wish." Mammon, stroking Marshadow's belly, smiled at Ash.
"Huh? Is that okay?"
Ash was startled by the words, turned his head, and asked Mammon with a bit of embarrassment.
"Wait, Mammon, where did that Pokémon in your arms come from?"
But upon turning around, Ash stared in astonishment at the Marshadow in Mammon's arms. No, how did a Pokémon suddenly appear?
Ash's words immediately drew the attention of the others.
Four or five people suddenly staring at it made Marshadow feel like its whole body was melting; its social anxiety was flaring up.
"You mean this? I just picked it up." Mammon said calmly.
Marshadow: (°⌒°)
Ho-Oh: "..."
"Don't worry about mine for now. As the Rainbow Hero, you've completed Ho-Oh's trial and arrived here. You can naturally make a wish to Ho-Oh."
"You're right, Ho-Oh?"
Saying that, Mammon looked at Ho-Oh and asked.
"Is that so, Ho-Oh?" Ash's eyes instantly lit up.
Ho-Oh gave Mammon a subtle glare, but when its gaze met Ash's, it immediately switched back to gentle and amiable, nodding again with a smile.
Mammon's words were not wrong. Since Ash had already arrived here, it could naturally fulfill a wish within its power for Ash.
Hmm, as long as Ash didn't wish for it to fight something like Black Rayquaza or Kyurem, which would be difficult for a bird, it would be fine.
But thinking about it, that's impossible. Ash is not like that annoying commoner.
"Wow! It's really possible, Ash! You have to think carefully, okay?"
Seeing this, Misty was also very excited and reminded Ash.
"Mhm mhm mhm, I know, I'll think about it."
Ash began to think carefully.
But did he have any wishes? Yes, and yet, it seemed he didn't.
His goal was only one: to become a Pokémon Master, but ultimately, the dream of 'Pokémon Master' was vague.
So, he was currently just moving towards becoming the strongest Trainer.
And besides this dream, what other wishes did he have?
"Ash, if you don't know what to wish for, I'll teach you. You can..."
"Human!!"
Before Mammon could finish speaking, the giant fiery chicken's shriek echoed in Mammon's mind.
'You are not allowed to lead this child astray!'
'Ho-Oh, you're wrong about this, aren't you? You're depriving me of my right to speak freely, and I'm just trying to give advice. You're purely stereotyping.'
'Oh, please, I haven't even asked you why my Marshadow is in your arms?' Ho-Oh was very displeased.
'What do you mean 'your Marshadow'? I already said I picked this Pokémon up. It's my Marshadow now.'
Mammon felt his explanation was perfectly logical.
Ho-Oh laughed in anger. What the hell do you mean 'picked up'? Didn't you see Marshadow barely daring to breathe in your arms? You clearly threatened it!
Damn it! Every time it encountered this human, nothing good ever happened.
Bad luck!
'Alright, I won't argue with you. In short, you cannot influence this child's own thoughts.'
'Ash is my good friend. I brought him here to see you. How could I mislead him? Ho-Oh, your words are biased.'
'...What exactly do you want?' Ho-Oh no longer wanted to continue conversing with this sophistical and thick-skinned human. It decided to end the topic.
Mammon's face revealed a satisfied smile.
Both were conversing through a separately connected telepathy, so naturally, outsiders didn't know what Mammon and Ho-Oh had said.
And no one noticed that Ho-Oh's bird face had become extremely displeased.
"Mammon, keep talking." Ash looked at Mammon curiously.
"I think you should follow your own heart, Ash. Don't deliberately have too many utilitarian thoughts. Just follow the deepest voice in your heart."
Mammon smiled and said to Ash.
Ash was startled by the words, looking at Mammon somewhat lost in thought.
Follow the deepest voice in his heart? Yes, he didn't need to think so much after all.
Ho-Oh subtly nodded. Hmm, although this annoying commoner was indeed hateful at times, he really knew how to get things done.
This was right.
"I understand what I want now."
Ash let out a long breath, a characteristic wide smile spreading across his face as he turned to Ho-Oh.
"Ho-Oh! Please battle me!"
Ash straightened his baseball cap and loudly declared his wish to Ho-Oh.
That's right, he wanted to battle Ho-Oh!
This was a thought he had since the day he first became a Trainer and saw Ho-Oh's silhouette, and it had never changed.
Upon hearing this, Misty and Brock were both astonished, then they smiled with helpless resignation.
Mammon chuckled softly, while Caitlin and Platinum's expressions were somewhat unusual.
Ho-Oh once again showed a human-like smile.
"Chuu~"
A high-pitched cry rang out as Ho-Oh spread its wings and flew, with vibrant, colorful flames burning on both sides of its wings.
Undoubtedly, this was Ho-Oh's battle stance; it had accepted Ash's request.
Wild Ho-Oh has challenged you!
"Pikachu! I choose you!"
Ash was burning with passion, he adjusted his cap and shouted to Pikachu.
"Pika~chu!"
Pikachu leaped from Ash's shoulder, looking up fearlessly at the legendary Ho-Oh in the sky, its eyes filled with fighting spirit.
"How amazing~"
Seeing Ash and Pikachu so unafraid of battle, Platinum suddenly understood why Mr. Mammon valued him so much.
After all, it was clear to anyone that Mammon's attitude towards Ash was quite special.
Just using such a precious wish-granting opportunity for something like 'Ho-Oh, please battle me' already made him different from too many people.
And facing the mythical Ho-Oh, he showed no fear or apprehension.
On one side was the mythical Ho-Oh, and on the other was Pikachu, as common as a stray dog. Such a battle would be unimaginable for ordinary people, wouldn't it?
"Ash possesses the pure heart that modern people lack most, and this is the main reason why Ho-Oh chose him."
Mammon looked at Ash at this moment, his smile unconsciously spreading.
"Such an expression, it's wonderful~"
Mammon sighed. How to put it? The more one lacks something, the more one desires to pursue it.
Mammon would never have Ash's pure thoughts and passion, but this didn't prevent him from wanting to see such people appear, or rather, interact with such people.
Ultimately, his painstaking efforts to recruit Ash into Team Rockets also held a certain such idea.
"But Ash... he shouldn't be Ho-Oh's opponent, right?" Misty watched Ho-Oh and Pikachu, who had already begun battling.
"Impossible, Ash hasn't grown to that level yet."
Mammon shrugged. There could be no surprise regarding the outcome of the battle.
And indeed, not long after, with one of Ho-Oh's Holy Fire attacks, Pikachu's small body was sent flying by the explosion of flames, unable to get back up.
The battle didn't last long. Although Ho-Oh was weak to Pikachu, and Ash's Pikachu was indeed quite special.
But it still couldn't make up for the huge disparity in current strength. Ho-Oh was still far stronger than Ash and Pikachu at present.
"I lost, Ho-Oh is too strong!"
Ash quickly picked up the injured Pikachu. After confirming Pikachu was fine, he looked up at Ho-Oh, who had landed back on the Rainbow Stone, and flashed a big smile.
Ho-Oh returned a smile, its eyes full of relief and approval.
It liked Ash like this, but indeed, the current Ash was still too weak. But it didn't matter, it hoped he could become stronger in the future.
Beautiful specks of light fluttered down as Ho-Oh flapped its wings, and the injuries on the severely wounded Pikachu in Ash's arms visibly healed.
Before long, the electric mouse was lively again.
"A bit of a shame, Ash. If you could defeat Ho-Oh, you might have been able to catch it."
Mammon walked to Ash's side and said regretfully.
Seeing Mammon, the human-like smile on Ho-Oh's face slowly vanished.
"Haha~ Can't be helped, Ho-Oh is still too amazing." Ash scratched his head a little sheepishly.
"Maybe there will be another chance in the future, then..."
Mammon grinned and looked at Ho-Oh.
"Ho-Oh, what about what you promised me?"
Hearing this, Ash and the others were all somewhat surprised. What did Ho-Oh promise Mammon?
Ho-Oh glared at Mammon. This hateful commoner!
"Chuu~!"
Ho-Oh raised its head and cried out, its cry echoing far and wide.
Two incredibly swift figures sped over, finally landing heavily in front of the Rainbow Stone.
"The legendary Raikou, Entei!" Brock exclaimed.
That's right, it was Raikou and Entei from the Ho-Oh's Guard. Suicune had already been caught by Mammon, so now only these two remained in the Ho-Oh's Guard.
Raikou and Entei were majestic and awe-inspiring, but upon seeing Mammon, Entei's expression subtly changed.
Raikou even subtly stepped back half a pace, shielding its comrade Entei in front of it.
Hmm, it had psychological trauma.
Last time, if it weren't for Lord Ho-Oh intervening, they would have all been taken away by this human.
But even so, they still lost their most important companion, Suicune.
"What does this mean?"
Misty looked at the expressionless Ho-Oh, completely puzzled. Why did it suddenly summon Raikou and Entei?
"Xiao Guang, come, come, pick one of these two. Whichever one you like, you can start the capture battle directly."
Mammon waved to Platinum.
"This is an opportunity given to you by the great and generous Ho-Oh. You must seize it well, okay?"
That's right, this was the result of his bargaining with Ho-Oh just now.
Although he himself didn't care for Raikou or Entei, since his purpose for coming here today was for the adorable Marshadow.
And now that Marshadow was in hand, it wouldn't be bad to help his subordinate get another Ho-Oh's Guard member.
"Really? Thank you, Ho-Oh!"
Platinum was very surprised, and being very polite, she even expressed her gratitude to Ho-Oh.
Raikou and Entei! They were both legendary Pokémon!
Raikou: "???"
Entei: (°—°)
Ho-Oh: "..."
Ho-Oh's face showed a very human-like forced smile.
Wuwuwu, another one of my guards is going to be gone.