Raikou was currently speechless.
Furthermore, it had zero desire to answer the stupid question Kashiwagi had just asked—"Have you ever seen a Jirachi before?"
If it had actually seen one, it wouldn't have been so slow to guess what on earth the thing was.
In the end, it had simply sensed an abnormal energy fluctuation and wanted Kashiwagi to go check it out. The series of events that followed were not part of its plan.
Even picking up the rocks containing the Fire Stone and Fire Gem was a whim—a "since we're here, might as well take them all" kind of thought.
Who could have guessed a Mythical Pokémon would be stuffed inside one of them?
"I get it, I get it."
Kashiwagi saw Raikou turn its head away, its tail flicking irritably back and forth. He realized he'd likely poked a sore spot without meaning to.
However, there was a reason he had asked.
As one of the Pokémon legendary for being resurrected by Ho-Oh 150 years ago at the Brass Tower, Kashiwagi was curious: Was Raikou already a Raikou before its resurrection, or was it—as some speculated—originally one of the Eeveelutions?
Kashiwagi had searched for legends of the Ho-Oh Guard online and found that the oldest records only dated back to the Burning Tower incident.
On the other hand...
In Zoroark: Master of Illusions, Shiny versions of the Legendary Beasts had clearly appeared. Even if there were no records of differently colored Ho-Oh Guards on the internet, Crown City and the famous criminal Kodai from the movie's background were very real.
"Have you ever been to Crown City?" he asked.
Raikou met him with stony silence, appearing to be in a bit of a foul mood.
Seeing this, Kashiwagi cleared the speculation from his mind. He set the Wishing Star down and picked up the comb to soothe this rather prideful big cat.
At first, Raikou twisted its body to avoid the brush, but as Kashiwagi continued with steady strokes, waves of pleasant tingling surged to its head. It eventually "reluctantly" accepted the treatment.
If you listened closely, you could hear the beast's breathing grow slightly heavy; it seemed it was reaching its limit of resistance. Kashiwagi wondered when it would finally graduate to a full "cat purr."
Perhaps it would be on the same day he finally got to bury his face in the fur?
"Hehe."
Kashiwagi couldn't help but let out a low chuckle.
This big cat was the classic type that needed its fur stroked the right way when angry, but once calmed down, wouldn't mind a few rough ruffles against the grain. Majestic as it looked on the outside, its heart was quite sensitive—the type to get annoyed easily and never hide its emotions.
He wondered what the personalities of the other two were like.
The Entei created by the Unown was full of majesty and strength, but that was because it was infused with the elements of a father to satisfy Molly's inner image.
Suicune... that was hard to say.
While grooming, he continued chatting with Lyra on his phone. He agreed to her request to hand over the Wishing Star, the Fire Stone, and the Fire Gem for her to study.
Of course, if the Wishing Star reacted to him, Kashiwagi might have to ask Jirachi for its permission first.
As for the method of transport...
[Lyra]:You absolutely cannot send it by mail! This is a Wishing Star! What if it gets intercepted by wild Pokémon or lost during transit?
[Kashiwagi]:It's not that serious, is it? I heard the loss rate for mail is less than one in a thousand...
[Lyra]:A one-in-a-thousand chance is way too high! Wait right there! I'll have Steven come find you!
[Kashiwagi]:Huh?
[Lyra]:Where are you heading next?
[Kashiwagi]:There's really no need to bother Steven-san... Okay, okay. I'm going to Fallarbor Town. Give me a day and a half at most, and I'll definitely be there.
[Lyra]:Got it! I'll have Steven contact you then!
[Kashiwagi]:...
This girl spoke as if she could order the Champion around at will. Still, given Steven's fanatical obsession with stones, the moment he heard about a rock carrying a Mythical Pokémon, he would 100% come sprinting, no matter how far away he was.
...
...
North station of the cable car.
Kashiwagi pushed the massive flatbed cart off the platform, hurtling along amidst the curious gazes of staff and travelers.
A gust of wind caught a corner of the black cloth, revealing the jagged, craggy surface of a rock.
Seeing this, the onlookers looked away.
People picking up rocks on Mt. Chimney were a dime a dozen; while picking up a hoard as large as Kashiwagi's was rare, it wasn't unheard of.
Following the mountain path all the way down, Kashiwagi brought the cart to a halt in front of a small grove of trees. He pulled back the black cloth to grant Raikou its freedom and tossed the unnecessary rocks to the side.
"...It still won't fit. What now?"
After tucking the Fire Stone into his bag, he realized there was no room left for the Fire Gem and the Wishing Star. His bag was already bursting with supplies. He looked toward Raikou with a pleading expression.
"..."
The legendary beast silently looked away.
What did he expect it to do? It wasn't exactly a car pulling Tauros.
"Looks like I'll have to keep pushing this cart." Helplessly, Kashiwagi placed his bag and the stones back onto the flatbed, covering them with the black cloth and tying them down with rope to prevent anything from falling off.
Since he needed to reach Fallarbor Town—or at least the vicinity—by tomorrow, a stop at the Numel Tank Farm was out of the question. He led Raikou and Galarian Corsola toward the nearest entrance to the Fiery Path.
In the games, this tunnel connects the two ends of Route 112, allowing players to bypass the desert before they obtain the Go-Goggles.
In the anime, however, it is located at the base of Mt. Chimney—a sprawling subterranean network with multiple exits that serves as a vital shortcut for travelers to reach Route 113 quickly.
One had to be careful, though; the path was home to many short-tempered Slugma.
When they moved in massive groups, it was known as a "Lava Tide," leaving a trail of scorched earth wherever they went—comparable to a natural disaster.
Many Trainers had accidentally provoked them, only to be chased relentlessly.
Of course, in the anime, their skin followed the same logic as Rapidash's fire or a Sharpedo's Rough Skin—they were magical creatures who wouldn't burn you if you earned their trust.
Thus, seeing someone pet a Magcargo, which supposedly has a body temperature of 10,000°C, wasn't even weird. Just standard anime physics.
"There's really no need to scare them. Look, they're too afraid to even come close," Kashiwagi said to Raikou, glancing at the glowing Slugma in the distance.
To weak wild Pokémon, the Ho-Oh Guard were like heroes—beings they would instinctively approach for protection. But to a wild, territorial pack like the Slugma, Raikou was a completely different story.
Especially when Raikou let its aura bleed out.
Its Pressure ability kept its presence incredibly fierce. While it didn't have much of an effect on Kashiwagi anymore since he was so familiar with it, it was very effective for bullying wild Pokémon.
"...Roar."
Raikou spared him a glance.
If I could actually command those Slugma, I'd have them swarm you just to see you jump.
Like being surrounded, do you? I'd give you your fill!
Too bad.
Kashiwagi saw the look in Raikou's eyes and knew the big cat was likely plotting some mischief, so he hurriedly pushed the cart forward.
To be honest, the cart was quite useful, but the wheels were too small for the wild terrain. A single pebble getting stuck could easily break them, so he did his best to avoid the gravelly patches.
Fortunately, most of the ground in the Fiery Path was either trodden flat or scorched smooth, making it relatively "cart-friendly."
Thanks to his excellent stamina, it didn't take long for them to reach the exit on Route 113.
As sunlight spilled over them again, Kashiwagi and Raikou both took a deep, instinctive breath to clear the dusty tunnel air from their lungs. Galarian Corsola, perched on his shoulder, visibly relaxed.
However, since the volcanic ash usually blew in this direction, the air quality on Route 113 was also questionable. One breath and you got a mouth full of "nature."
The trio's expressions stiffened slightly.
Then:
"...One last push! Fallarbor Town is right in front of us!" Kashiwagi broke the silence, shouting enthusiastically to his two companions.
Unfortunately, he wasn't facing Hydreigon or Blissey today, but two complete "silent jars." You could shout until the sky fell and you wouldn't get an echo. So predictably, the mood fell flat.
"Onward!"
Kashiwagi pretended he had received a response in his head and pushed the cart onto the small trail.
And then...
The cart wheel broke.
"It's only been half a day," he muttered, looking at the lopsided cart while holding the detached wheel. It had split right down the middle, and he had no spare parts.
He felt like he was splitting down the middle too.
Seeing this, Raikou silently slunk into the ash-covered grove of trees to prevent itself from being guilt-tripped into becoming a pack animal.
"In that case... I'm counting on you, Porygon!"
After some thought, Kashiwagi decided to hand the heavy lifting to the shape-shifting Porygon.
Sure enough, Porygon used Sharpen to transform into a floating cargo bin, perfectly cradling all the rocks. Its Magnet Rise system made the load look weightless.
The only question was how long it could keep it up. Normally, maintaining a transformed state is a mental strain—much like a Vaporeon using Acid Armor or a Blissey using Minimize.
But there are always special cases: Ditto, who is born to transform, and Porygon, who was programmed for it.
"If it really doesn't work out, I'll just have to call Aggron or Steelix over," Kashiwagi thought. Or maybe a cargo net attached to Hydreigon? Truly, where there's a will, there's a way.
"Good work."
Kashiwagi patted the only part of Porygon that remained a recognizable head. While raising friendship to six hearts was a slog, he was sure they were getting close.
"Pory~" Porygon chirped happily. It liked being useful, and this was great practice for its transformation capabilities.
Kashiwagi turned his gaze toward the bushes and yelled, "You can come out now! No chores for you!"
No movement.
Apparently, Raikou found the whole thing too awkward and refused to show its face.
That big cat...
Kashiwagi shook his head. Knowing it would follow once he started moving, he set off again.
A few seconds later, the rustling of leaves confirmed that Raikou was on his tail.
...
...
The sun dipped below the horizon, and dusk began to settle into night.
Thanks to the relentless efforts of Kashiwagi and his team,
At last, the outer silhouette of Fallarbor Town came into view. Under the cover of night, the town's lights were a colorful tapestry, casting a vibrant glow upward that seemed to paint the very sky.
"Phew..."
Kashiwagi exhaled a long breath and looked toward the Hydreigon beside him, who was currently dragging a heavy pile of rocks with a thick rope. He reached out and patted the dragon's center head. "Great job! Just a little bit further!"
Porygon, despite its best efforts, hadn't been able to last the whole way—even after attempting to use its wheels and Recover. Its low level simply meant its stamina wasn't up to such a "strenuous" task, and the burden had ultimately been passed to its teammate.
"Hydrei-gaaan—"
Hydreigon nuzzled into Kashiwagi's palm. He wasn't tired at all; even if he were panting for breath and too exhausted to speak, hearing his Trainer's voice would make him feel like he had the energy of a hundred Pokémon.
Raikou stood on the other side, gazing at the distant town, before suddenly letting out a low roar.
"Raooor~"
"Huh? You're heading to Meteor Falls right now?"
Kashiwagi couldn't literally translate the beast's speech, but he could guess the gist of it—especially since Raikou's eyes were fixed on the path toward the falls.
"We haven't even had dinner yet! And I wanted to go with—hey!"
Before he could finish, Raikou was already a blur, sprinting into the distance.
"Will you be back tonight? Can you find me?" Kashiwagi yelled at the departing silhouette. A distant, low howl echoed back, letting him relax slightly.
As long as it responded, it was fine.
He had realized that Raikou's senses were incredibly sharp. It wasn't just about scent or presence; it could observe the world through the omnipresent charged particles in the air. This allowed it to easily find what it was looking for—be it a Jirachi, a Fire Stone, or Kashiwagi himself.
It was likely how it had sensed the Team Rocket base's abnormal electrical signature in the first place.
From that perspective, tracking him down in town would be child's play for the cat.
"Cats these days... they grow up and just bolt without saying what they're up to," Kashiwagi sighed. The biggest hurdle in their relationship was that the big cat never told him anything.
Even when things were staring them in the face, it preferred the silent treatment.
So, as for what Raikou was actually doing at Meteor Falls, Kashiwagi was still completely in the dark.
"Forget it."
He didn't dwell on it and found a hotel that rented out individual cottages with private courtyards. These were specifically designed for Trainers who didn't like keeping their Pokémon in Poké Balls all the time.
They were quite expensive, but with his pockets currently lined with cash, Kashiwagi didn't mind the extra cost.
Not long after dropping his bags, just as he was preparing to take his team to the Pokémon Center for a check-up, his phone rang. It was Steven.
"Steven-san?"
"Long time no see, Kashiwagi! I heard you found a rock that might be a sleeping Jirachi?" Steven's bright, hearty laugh came through the speaker. In the background, there was a peculiar whoosh of rushing wind.
"That's right. I picked it up by chance from a scammer near Mt. Chimney."
"...A scammer?"
"Yeah, he was selling a bunch of random rocks he'd picked up, calling it 'stone gambling.' I found it in the pile," Kashiwagi explained briefly.
"I see. No wonder Lyra always says you have the luck of the devil."
Steven sounded deeply impressed. "Anyway, you should be in Fallarbor by now, right? Give me your location."
Kashiwagi was about to reply when a glint of silver caught his eye high in the sky. "I'm at... wait, I think I see you! Blissey, use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Bliss-ey! ✨"
Blissey released an incredibly bright, multicolored burst of light, like long needles piercing the darkness in every direction.
Beside her, Hydreigon's three heads displayed simultaneous expressions of pure terror. He scrambled away from the light—even though it wasn't aimed at him—and ducked behind a corner. A 4x weakness to Fairy-type was a trauma he had carried since his time as a Deino; he wasn't about to play "wait and see" with that kind of move.
"I see you."
Steven's warm voice came through the phone just before it clicked shut. The silver speck in the sky grew brighter and larger by the second.
Finally, Steven arrived, crouching slightly atop the head of his Shiny Metagross. The wind whipped at his clothes, and perhaps because of the chill at high altitudes, his face was slightly flushed.
"It's been too long, Kashiwagi!"
Steven leaped down. His hair was a bit messy from the flight, but it seemed to settle back into its perfect style automatically. "I didn't think we'd be meeting again so soon after our last parting."
"Me neither."
Kashiwagi knew exactly why the Champion was here, so he didn't leave him hanging. He turned and gestured for Mawile to bring out the Wishing Star. "Miss Lyra said this is a sleeping Jirachi, but I can't be sure. Would you like to take a look?"
"Sure, I'll have a look."
Steven's tone was casual, but he was already hovering over the Wishing Star. He pulled a pair of white gloves from his pocket and began to delicately feel the surface of the crystal. The excited flush on his face showed no signs of fading; if anything, it deepened as he examined the find.
Behind him, Kashiwagi marveled silently.
He had always known Steven loved stones, but this "ready-to-marry-the-rock" expression was a bit more than he had anticipated.
Then again, if someone was willing to fly halfway across Hoenn on a whim, they had to be a bit fanatical.
Since you're touching my stone... Kashiwagi thought, I guess I'll touch your Pokémon.
He turned to look at the Shiny Metagross. Its gleaming silver body, the golden 'X' on its face, and its massive, imposing frame... every inch of it screamed "cool."
"Hey there. Remember me?"
He waved at the Metagross. He expected it to be cold and aloof, but after the Pokémon scanned his face, it immediately lifted its front right claw in greeting.
"Meta!"
The Shiny Metagross's red eyes crinkled into crescents. It clearly remembered being fed by Kashiwagi back in Pyrite Town. It's that young guy who makes the delicious food!
Kashiwagi smiled. "I'm glad you remember me. Are you hungry? Want me to whip something up for you?"
"Meta! Meta!"
Metagross glanced at its Trainer. Seeing that Steven was still completely lost in the world of the Wishing Star, it nodded vigorously. If the Boss is busy, I might as well find a snack for myself.
A moment later, a bowl of fragrant Pokémon food was placed in front of the massive steel-type. It used its claws to pinch a bit and pop it into its mouth. Its eyes lit up instantly.
Delicious!
As a Champion's partner, Shiny Metagross had eaten many high-quality meals. But no matter how much gourmet food it had, a truly well-made dish still hit the spot.
Just then, a loud growl erupted from Steven's stomach. He subconsciously turned to look at Metagross, only to see his partner happily stuffing its face like a giant silver crab. Steven's expression turned slightly awkward.
"Uh... well..."
"If you don't mind, Steven-san, I have plenty of food left. You can have a bite while you work," Kashiwagi said helpfully, offering the remains of his dinner.
Steven looked at him, then at the food. His mind drifted back to their time in Pyrite Town.
"In that case... I'll gladly accept."
The Wishing Star was great, but there was no reason he couldn't appreciate it and dinner at the same time.