"Your name is Fuyuki, right?"
The noble, elegant voice echoed directly in Fuyuki's mind through telepathy.
"Yes…" He looked up at the massive bird before him. With Entei and the others gone, didn't that mean he'd be alone with Ho-Oh for a while?
Ho-Oh was one of the most mysterious Legendary Pokemon in the world. Its true strength was unknown. Even though it had appeared many times throughout history, it had never once revealed its full power to anyone.
Curiosity got the better of him. Fuyuki opened the system shop and checked the Rare Candy section, searching for information on Ho-Oh.
There were no levels in the real world, but through Rare Candy exchanges, a Pokemon's rough strength could be represented as a level.
[Rare Candy (Ho-Oh Exclusive): A Rare Candy used to increase a Pokemon's level. Exchange cost: 82,000 Shock Points.]
Eighty-two thousand…
That meant Ho-Oh's strength was roughly equivalent to level 82.
In a world where level 100 was the absolute peak, this put it firmly among the strongest beings alive.
A flicker of shock crossed Fuyuki's face.
Ho-Oh noticed immediately.
Is the little one nervous? it wondered.
"There is no need to be afraid," Ho-Oh said gently through telepathy. "I am Ho-Oh, a being that brings happiness and good fortune to humans."
Over seven hundred years ago, it had formed bonds with humans in Ecruteak City and stayed atop the tower they built for it. During that time, it had closely observed many humans.
Including how they cared for their young.
An image surfaced in its mind, a human mother holding her child close.
The first step in nurturing the Rainbow Hero was to grow closer to this human child.
Ho-Oh descended from the rainbow-hued stone and landed in front of Fuyuki. It lowered its body and spoke.
"Come, Fuyuki. Climb onto my back. I will show you something interesting."
Fuyuki blinked.
Was it telling him to ride it?
His mouth fell open in surprise.
He didn't mind, but…
Ho-Oh was nearly four meters tall. To him now, it was an enormous presence.
"Ho-Oh…" he called out hesitantly.
The little one called my name. Ho-Oh narrowed its eyes slightly, its voice warm. "Yes. I am Ho-Oh."
"Too high!" Fuyuki tried to explain. "I can't reach!"
Ho-Oh, full of anticipation, paused.
It had overlooked that.
A soft blue light flashed in its eyes. The next moment, a gentle psychic force wrapped around Fuyuki's small body and carefully lifted him onto its back.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed right on cue. "That's amazing!"
Ho-Oh let out a clear, melodious cry. With a powerful beat of its wings, it soared into the sky, leaving the peak of Mount Tensei behind as it climbed into the clouds.
It was Fuyuki's first time this high up. Watching the land below shrink farther and farther away, his legs went weak. His body trembled despite himself.
This high up… if he fell, he'd definitely die.
Hmm? Is the little one afraid?
Sensing his emotions, Ho-Oh spoke gently through telepathy.
"Fuyuki, look ahead."
He instinctively pulled his gaze away from the ground and looked forward.
A massive, brilliant rainbow arched across the deep blue sky. The distant sun radiated warmth, and at some point, soft white clouds had gathered all around them. It looked like a fairytale oil painting brought to life.
"Wow!" The moment he saw it, Fuyuki was completely captivated.
"This world is beautiful, isn't it?" Ho-Oh said softly.
"Yeah…" He nodded blankly, eyes wide.
Ho-Oh smiled. Its cry rang out again, clear and pleasant, as it slowed its pace and drifted through the sky with the human child on its back.
They wandered among the clouds until the sun dipped low and crimson clouds set the sky ablaze.
Only then did Ho-Oh bring Fuyuki back to Mount Tensei.
The experience left him buzzing with excitement.
But what thrilled him even more was how kind and gentle Ho-Oh had been.
Nothing like the aloof, distant Legendary Pokemon he had imagined.
When they touched down, Fuyuki looked up and spoke from the heart. "Thank you, Ho-Oh!"
Ho-Oh smiled.
Then it saw the human child suddenly pull out something that smelled irresistibly sweet, as if by magic.
A Poffin.
Ho-Oh froze for a moment, eyes drawn to it.
Fuyuki held the Poffin in both hands, stood on his tiptoes, and offered it up with effort.
"Here!"
Ho-Oh was startled. "This… is for me?"
"Mm!" Fuyuki nodded, smiling. "Because you played with me all day!"
Something stirred deep in Ho-Oh's heart, a feeling it had never known before.
The little one…
Its expression softened even more as it gently ate the Poffin.
"Ho-Oh, come with me!" Fuyuki tugged at it. "It's getting dark. We should go home!"
"Home?" Ho-Oh paused.
"Yeah. The home I share with Entei, Marshadow, Raikou, and Suicune!" He nodded.
"Oh?" A spark of anticipation rose in Ho-Oh's chest.
It followed the child down the mountain path. Before long, a cave with a sturdy door came into view.
Beside it was a small Berry grove.
Ho-Oh's eyes flickered with surprise.
"Raikou and I planted those together!" After spending most of the day with Ho-Oh, Fuyuki felt far less nervous around it. Seeing where its gaze landed, he eagerly explained. "That way, we don't have to go down the mountain to find food!"
Then his expression turned a little troubled.
"But sometimes the Berries grow too fast. Entei and I can't eat them all, and they go bad…"
"So later, Entei and I started sharing them with everyone in the forest!"
"I see." Ho-Oh's gaze grew even gentler. It hadn't been mistaken. This child truly was born to be its Rainbow Hero.
Fuyuki stepped forward and pushed the door open. Ho-Oh looked inside.
To its surprise, it wasn't a simple cave at all, but a carefully arranged, square space that looked almost like a human house.
Wooden floors, a large rug layered over the carpet, sofas, tables, chairs, even a fireplace. The place felt warm and lived-in.
"This is…" Ho-Oh murmured.
"This is our home," Fuyuki said brightly. "Mine, and Entei's, and everyone else's!"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
You can read up to chapter 70 and more soon on patreon.com/NiaXD.