Ecruteak City, a city known as the "flow history" city.
Ecruteak City lies in the northern part of the Johto region, a historic cultural city, draped in history traces.
Traditional Japanese-style buildings define the city, and its tallest structure is the ten-story Bell Tower.
As a venerable city steeped in history, Ecruteak City is quite famous across the entire Kanto Region.
Especially the Ecruteak Dance Theater, which is exceptionally renowned.
Many say that coming to Ecruteak City and not seeing a kimono girl perform at the Ecruteak Dance Theater would be a true regret.
After leaving Goldenrod City, Damian and his group have arrived at this historic city.
Upon entering the city, a distant view reveals a grand ancient tower—the Bell Tower.
"This tower has burned like this, why hasn't it been torn down yet?"
Zinnia, curious, looks toward the dilapidated tower to the side; judging from its exterior, this tower was likely burned before.
Traces cover the tower, all burned.
This kind of dangerous structure could collapse at any moment, yet no one has torn down this broken tower. I don't know how the people of Ecruteak City think.
"Because this tower is one of the city's most important proofs."
Damian can't help but laugh, glancing at the Burned Tower before shrugging.
"Damian you know this too?" Zinnia looks at Damian with surprise; she really notices that Damian seems to know many secret stories from all over.
"Burned Tower, that's what people call it now, but it was originally Brass Tower, struck by lightning a hundred fifty years ago and nearly burned to the ground."
Damian looks toward the distant Bell Tower.
Bell Tower and Brass Tower were built by the people of Ecruteak City for the friendship between humans and Pokémon, and thus Lugia and Ho-Oh dwelled in these two towers.
"But alas, when Brass Tower burned, no one extinguished the fire, and the three Pokémon that died in the blaze were revived by Ho-Oh; seeing these reborn Pokémon, people felt fear and even launched futile attacks against them."
Damian's tone is mocking; this is why Ho-Oh and Lugia left Ecruteak City.
The relationship between humans and Pokémon had already shown its rift through this event.
"What stupidity." Caitlin furrows her brows; she likely suspects that the three reborn Pokémon were Suicune, Entei, and Raikou.
"Indeed it is stupidity, but more than that it's disappointment. Seven hundred years ago, the people of this city built these two towers and earned Ho-Oh and Lugia's trust."
"One hundred fifty ten-year-old, yet due to a great fire, these two legends left this city, and the trust only lasted five hundred years."
Damian sighs; this world is like that—bonds are hard-won, but breaking them is easy.
"And now, this city's people probably have forgotten this history already."
Damian gazes at Bell Tower, which remains fairly intact.
Yet it's of little use; Ho-Oh no longer has any expectations for Ecruteak City, since the people here expelled the revived Suicune long ago, and it has been as such from the start.
"No, they haven't forgotten. We still remember the lessons of history."
A soft, elegant female voice speaks from behind them.
Damian raises a brow and turns his head; a beauty in a kimono greets them.
She wears refined makeup, a yellow kimono, and exudes a calm, gentle aura with a touch of Japanese elegance.
"Greetings, everyone~ I am Miki, and I happened to overhear your conversation."
The kimono-clad girl named Miki places her hands in front of her abdomen and bows slightly to Damian and the others, her voice carrying a theatrical lilt.
"Miss Miki, one of the Five Sisters of the Ecruteak Dance Theater, what a coincidence."
Damian studies the kimono beauty with genuine interest.
Ecruteak Dance Theater is Johto's most famous venue; the dancers here are all stunning and talented.
Especially the Five Sisters, who are renowned, not only for singing and dancing but also for occasionally performing operas, retelling cultural stories through stage performances.
There are also rumors that these Five Sisters are excellent Trainers, with strength not weaker than Gym Leaders.
Of course, whether that's true is another matter.
"I didn't expect this gentleman to know a girl like me; I'm flustered."
Miki bows again to Damian, her eyes like autumn waters, gazing at him.
"I wonder if you would honor us with an invitation to visit the stage; I'm quite skilled at tea ceremony."
Miki extends an invitation to them.
"There's no problem with that; being invited in person by Miss Miki is a privilege many men would envy."
Damian smiles softly and doesn't reject.
"Sire loves joking around." Miki covers her mouth with a smile.
"Then, please, follow me."
Miki steps gracefully ahead, leading them toward the stage. The Ecruteak Dance Theater is a famous venue even on off days, with many guests and performances.
Indeed, the grand stage hosts many dancers and singers.
Miki takes them in through the back door into the theater.
"Sister?"
Entering the stage, a girl in a black kimono adorned with gold rings greeted them, puzzled, looking at Miki.
She is the third sister among the Five Sisters (Zuki).
"Zuki, escort these guests to the private room, make sure they are warmly welcomed, I'll come over shortly."
Miki whispered to Zuki.
"Understood." Zuki froze.
"Apologies, everyone, let the younger sister welcome you all first; I'll go fetch something." Miki turned to Damian with an apologetic bow.
"No problem, Miss Miki. If you're busy, you go ahead."
Damian smiled in reply; he's actually more curious why Miki would invite them here so suddenly.
But Damian does have some guesses, even if they may not be accurate.
"Please, follow me."
Zuki extended her hand in a gesture; compared to big sister Miki, Zuki's aura is noticeably cooler.
Her features are also cold and stunningly beautiful.
To speak plainly, the Five Sisters are all incredibly beautiful; their genes are too strong.
Entering the private room, Damian glanced around; the room's decor is firmly ancient-styled, even with a bamboo recliner.
Zuki welcomed them to sit and began boiling tea.
"Zuki Miss, I heard your sisters' dancing is the best in Johto; may we be honored to witness a performance?"
Damian sat, eyeing Zuki's figure, smiling as he spoke.
"We would perform for esteemed guests, of course, but elder sister and younger sister are out right now, so it's not convenient."
Zuki answered in a soft tone.
"I see, that's a pity."
Damian felt a twinge of regret; idly listening to songs is something he'd like to try.
"I wonder if Zuki Miss knows Valerie, the Kalos Region's Laverre Gym Leader?"
Damian pondered, asking Zuki curiously.
Valerie, a Gym Leader in Kalos, a girl as delicate as a fairy.
Worth noting is Valerie's hometown, Johto, known as the "history country," and likely Ecruteak City.
Because Valerie's accent is a Kyoto-dialect, and inside Laverre Gym all Trainers wear long-sleeve kimonos, the Johto courtesans' favorite attire.
"Valerie? She once studied at our theater for a while."
Zuki recalled, then smiled.
"She's an excellent girl; we're happy for her achievements."
Indeed, Valerie has some association with Ecruteak Dance Theater.
Time passes in idle chatter; soon the private room's door is knocked, and Miki walks in with a box.
"Gentlemen, rude of us."
Placing the box aside, Miki apologized to them graciously.
"No need for such courtesy. Miss Miki, you could also explain the reason you invited us here, right?"
Damian waved it off; he's now more curious about why Miki invited them into the theater.
For a renowned dancer like Miki to invite someone casually on the street to the theater, and to prepare such a high-class private room, this is clearly unusual.
"As you've guessed, I won't hide it any longer. May I ask if you have had any contact with Lord Ho-Oh or Lord Lugia?"
Miki pressed, but she can't hide the urgency in her heart, awaiting Damian's answer.
Zuki's eyes lit up with interest.
"Oh? How did you know?"
Damian looked at Miki with surprise; he knows the Five Sisters have extraordinary ties to Ho-Oh and Lugia.
But surely it's not because of Ho-Oh's scent on him, right?
"Because of this, the ancestral treasure passed down."
Miki opened the box slowly; inside were two ancient bells.
Damian narrowed his eyes; he recognized them instantly.
These are the Clear Bell and the Tidal Bell!
"Back then I was returning to the theater, and as I passed you, I picked up on the Clear Bell's anomaly."
Miki lifted her wrist and gently shook the Clear Bell.
Dingling—the Clear Bell rang with a crisp, pleasant tone.
"So it really is you! Sir, you are the person chosen by Lord Ho-Oh!"
Miki's expression showed excitement; the Clear Bell and Tidal Bell had never rung since they were inherited by the ancestors.
Yes! They had never rung before, for Ho-Oh and Lugia had granted them to the ancestors long ago.
Only those endorsed by Ho-Oh and Lugia could make these bells ring!
The Five Sisters had been searching for this person, and now they have found him!
"No, I think you all may be misunderstanding…" Damian's expression grew a bit creepy.
Ho-Oh endorsing him?
He has reason to doubt that the bells rang only because of the Rainbow Wing he bears.
"No! It can't be wrong! The Clear Bell rang for you! You are the one admitted by Lord Ho-Oh!"
"Is it possible that I've indeed seen Ho-Oh, but it doesn't like me very much?"
Damian tried to clarify the situation.
"Sir! Please tell Lord Ho-Oh that we have never forgotten it; please forgive us."
But clearly Miki wouldn't listen; she even bowed deeply to Damian with a grand courtesy.
"Please, if you're willing to help us, we'll do anything!"
Anything...
Hearing Miki and Zuki's dangerous statements, Damian couldn't help but fall into thought.
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