Pokemon: Raised by Legends, Chapter 65-66

Chapter 65 - Both Human and Pokemon!

Mount Tensei, Secret Base.

Fuyuki crouched in front of the storage room cabinet, sorting through the things he would need for their journey.

First was the piece of black-tech every Trainer relied on, the Space Backpack.

From the outside, it looked no different from an ordinary backpack. Inside, though, was an enormous amount of space, enough to hold huge quantities of supplies. Even tables and chairs could fit inside.

In the anime, Brock was always pulling things like that out of his bag when camping with Ash and the others.

Next came food, drinking water, medicine, and similar necessities.

After placing some food into the travel bag, Fuyuki paused.

There really was not much they needed to bring. If they were missing anything, they could just exchange Shock Points in the system shop.

While he packed, Entei stood nearby, quietly keeping watch.

All of a sudden, as if sensing something, Entei turned its head toward the outside.

Its expression grew serious.

“What’s wrong?” Fuyuki noticed the change at once.

“Ho-Oh has returned,” Entei said in a low voice.

“Huh?” Fuyuki froze. Hadn’t Ho-Oh just left not long ago? Why was it suddenly back?

Before they could figure it out, Ho-Oh flew in from outside and landed right in front of him.

At the sight of this, Entei’s heart tightened.

Could it be… that Ho-Oh had come back to take Fuyuki traveling?

“Ho-Oh? Why did you come back?” Fuyuki could not help asking.

“I suddenly remembered something,” Ho-Oh said softly.

As it spoke, power gathered around it. A brilliant rainbow glow flashed, and one Rainbow Feather after another formed in the air before Ho-Oh.

The feathers, brimming with immense vitality, drifted down slowly, piling up on the floor until they formed a dazzling little mountain of feathers.

Fuyuki stared in shock. “Th-This is…?!”

Ho-Oh’s voice was gentle, carrying a trace of warmth.

“From my observations over the years, when human Trainers travel, they carry many kinds of medicine to treat their Pokemon’s injuries. I will not be by your side for a time, and I cannot use regeneration to heal your Pokemon.”

“These Rainbow Feathers contain my power. If you are injured while traveling, or if your Pokemon are hurt in battle, you can use these Rainbow Feathers to treat them.”

“As for how to use them…” Ho-Oh looked toward Entei. “Entei carries my Sacred Fire within it. When needed, have Entei burn them with Sacred Fire, and you will obtain Sacred Ash. That is what humans call my power.”

Hearing this, warmth flooded Fuyuki’s chest.

“Ho-Oh…”

He buried himself in the soft feathers on Ho-Oh’s chest and gave it a tight hug.

A hint of a smile shone in Ho-Oh’s eyes as it continued.

“If this is not enough, you may call to me through the Rainbow Feathers. I will come and replenish them for you. Go now, my child.”

Fuyuki was so moved he was on the verge of tears. What did it matter that they were Pokemon?

Not just Entei. Even Ho-Oh and the others were treating him as their own child.

Entei was like a stern father, always silently guarding him. It rarely spoke, but no matter what he wanted to do, Entei never refused.

Raikou always claimed humans could not be trusted, yet it secretly remembered that he liked Moomoo Milk, and brought some back every time it returned from outside.

Marshadow rarely showed itself in front of him, but Fuyuki knew perfectly well that it had always been watching over him from his shadow.

Even Suicune cared for him in its own way.

It had created a “Clean Lake” at home, with water that purified itself, just for him to play in. It would also use Rain Dance to gently tend to the Berry trees he planted.

Everyone… being able to meet these Pokemon was truly wonderful.

Looking at Ho-Oh, Fuyuki wiped at his damp eyes and nodded hard. “Yeah. I’ll remember.”

Ho-Oh nodded lightly, then turned and left Mount Tensei once more.

Only then did Entei finally relax.

Good. Ho-Oh had not come to compete with it for Fuyuki.

…No. How could it think such a thing about Ho-Oh? Entei silently reflected on itself.

Staring at the pile of Rainbow Feathers, Fuyuki could not help thinking of his mother from his previous life.

Every time he traveled far from home, she worried that he would not eat well or stay warm on his own, and would always prepare all kinds of homemade food for him.

What Ho-Oh had done now was no different from a mother.

Fuyuki slowly let out a breath, then crouched down and packed the Rainbow Feathers, filled with immense vitality, into the travel backpack.

When he was done, he stood up and said to Entei beside him, "Father, we're ready to go!"

“Mm.” Entei gave a small nod.

After taking a few steps, Fuyuki suddenly thought of something and quickly stopped.

“We haven’t told everyone in the forest yet!”

They would not be coming back to Mount Tensei anytime soon. If the Pokemon from the mountain came looking for him, they might not find him.

To avoid any misunderstandings, he felt it was necessary to let everyone know.

Entei naturally had no objections.

“Then let’s stop by the forest and tell everyone on the way!” Fuyuki called out, “Marshadow, are you there?”

Before long, Marshadow slowly emerged from the shadows.

“Marsha?”

Fuyuki smiled at it. "Marshadow, Father and I are going traveling. We probably won't be back for a long time. If you miss me, you can use the video phone at home to contact me!"

“Marsha…”

“But don’t worry. When the New Year comes, on the day it snows heavily, Father and I will come back to Mount Tensei to celebrate!” Fuyuki grinned.

“Marsha.” Marshadow nodded gently.

“Alright, we’re heading out!” Fuyuki swung himself onto Entei’s back and waved goodbye to Marshadow.

Entei glanced at Marshadow, then dashed down the mountain.

Marshadow watched their retreating figures in silence. After a moment, it sank into the shadows and, through the shadow world, quickly appeared beneath Fuyuki’s feet, hiding in his shadow.

Fuyuki knew nothing of this.

Riding on Entei’s back, he traveled through the forest.

He raised his voice and shouted, “Everyone, come out! I have something to tell you!”

The wild Pokemon living in the mountains heard his voice and poked their heads out one after another, curiosity written all over their faces as they gathered around.

A Nidoking and Nidoqueen family, Electivire, Magmar, Oddish, Butterfree…

Once most of them had arrived, Fuyuki spoke.

"Father and I are going traveling. While we're gone, if you get hungry, you can go to the Berry orchard on the mountain and pick some fruit to eat!"

“Fwee?!” The Pokemon were shocked by the news of him leaving.

Butterfree in particular was distressed. Cubone had already left, and now even Fuyuki was going too. Who would play with it from now on?

Its eyes filled with tears, and it looked like it was about to cry. Fuyuki hurried to comfort it.

“Don’t worry. We’re not leaving for good. We’re just going out for a while. When we’re done having fun, we’ll come back!”

Hearing that, Butterfree finally relaxed.

“Fwee~!” That’s good!

“Alright, everyone, it’s time for us to go!” Fuyuki looked around at the group of Pokemon, his childhood companions.

“Woo~!”

The Pokemon cried out, seeing them off.

Under the gazes of so many Pokemon, Fuyuki rode on Entei and left Mount Tensei, the place he had lived for ten years, setting out on his own journey.

Chapter 66 - The First Wind

On a stretch of open fields five kilometers outside Pallet Town.

Under a sky filled with pounding rain, a soaked and battered boy clutched a Pikachu in his arms as he sprinted down a narrow country road.

Behind him surged a furious swarm of wild Pokemon, Spearow.

Ash’s heart had already sunk to the bottom.

Not long ago, he had officially set out on his journey with the starter Pokemon Pikachu he received from Professor Oak.

Earlier, they had run into a Pidgey in the tall grass. Ash tried to catch it, but the Poke Ball missed and instead struck a Spearow on the head nearby.

The enraged Spearow immediately called its companions, launching a relentless pursuit of the human and the Pikachu, intent on taking revenge.

“Pikachu, I’ll protect you!” Ash said, lowering his head as he ran.

“Pika…” Pikachu looked at the human boy who was being chased by wild Pokemon, facing danger to his life and still refusing to abandon it. Something deep inside Pikachu stirred.

Tears streamed from its eyes as it let out a faint cry.

“Pika…”

Ash gasped for breath and glanced back at the Spearow hot on his heels. In a moment of carelessness, he tripped over a rock and fell hard to the ground.

The Pikachu in his arms was thrown forward.

It hurt.

Sharp pain shot through his knee, but Ash had no time to think about it. He saw Pikachu ahead of him and hurriedly crawled forward, then planted himself in front of it.

Anger flashed across his face as he glared at the Spearow. “Hey! Don’t underestimate me! I’m Ash from Pallet Town! I’m going to become the world’s greatest Pokemon Master! I won’t lose to you! I’ll catch all of you! Come on!”

Those words only fueled the Spearow’s rage. Flames of fury burned in their eyes as they circled in the air, power building as they prepared to strike with everything they had.

Seizing the moment, Ash quickly turned back to Pikachu.

“Pikachu, get inside! Get into the Poke Ball, I’ll handle this!”

“Pika…”

Pikachu stared blankly at the human boy standing in front of it.

The Spearow finished gathering their strength. Like a black cloud blotting out the sky, they dove straight toward Ash.

“Pika, pika!”

Pikachu understood all too clearly. If that attack landed, the boy named Ash would die.

Ignoring the severe injuries on its body, it forced itself up, enduring the pain. With a sudden leap, it vaulted over Ash’s shoulder and landed in front of him.

"Pika...chu!"

A surge of overwhelming electricity erupted from Pikachu. The electric energy merged with the surrounding rain and detonated in an instant, forming a massive electric sphere that blasted the Spearow apart.

“Spearow!”

The wild Spearow were thrown into panic. Terrified by what they had just witnessed, they abandoned the attack and scattered in all directions.

As they fled, the sky slowly cleared.

Ash and an exhausted Pikachu lay on the ground, staring at each other.

“Pikachu…”

Pikachu looked at the boy, joy at surviving washing over it. A small smile appeared on its face.

“Pika!”

Ash laughed too. He reached out and pulled Pikachu into his arms.

Pikachu affectionately licked his cheek.

Ash froze for a moment, then looked at the Pikachu who had never listened to his commands. He could not help asking again,

“Pikachu… will you become my Pokemon?”

“Pika~!”

This time, Pikachu nodded vigorously. In its heart, it had already accepted the boy before it.

At the same time, high above.

Ho-Oh, which had just departed Mount Tensei not long ago, passed through the skies here.

It narrowed its eyes and looked down at the boy and the Pikachu.

Everything that had happened below had been clearly seen by it.

This human… might possess the qualifications to become a Rainbow Hero.

With that thought, Ho-Oh flew boldly over Ash and Pikachu’s heads.

The pair below immediately noticed its figure.

“That is…”

Thanks to Ho-Oh’s frequent appearances in the human world over the years, Ash had heard its legends since he was very young and had seen photos taken by others.

He recognized it at a glance.

That was…

“The Legendary Pokemon, Ho-Oh!”

Ash cried out in shock.

Then he saw a feather glowing with rainbow light slowly drift down from the sky, landing in his hand.

Pallet Town, Professor Oak’s Laboratory.

Professor Oak stood at the entrance of the lab, gazing into the distance with a worried expression.

Even now, he clearly remembered the human child adopted by Raikou.

Not long ago, Ash had already set out on his journey with Pikachu.

By all rights, Fuyuki should have already turned ten by now.

And yet… the period for receiving starter Pokemon was almost over, and that child still had not appeared.

“I wonder if that kid will come…” Professor Oak murmured.

With a helpless sigh, he turned back into the lab and looked at the Poke Ball resting on the table.

This really was the last Pokemon he had left.

When Ash took Pikachu, he still had several others. After Ash left, a few more Trainers from nearby villages came one after another and took the remaining Pokemon.

“Click!”

A flash of white light burst forth.

A Pokemon popped out of the Poke Ball.

It looked out at the sunset beyond the window, then around the empty laboratory. A deeply disappointed expression spread across its small face.

No Trainer wanted to choose it. No human wanted to become its partner…

Its head drooped, mood sinking.

Seeing this, Professor Oak sighed and tried to comfort it. “Don’t worry. There should still be one Trainer who hasn’t come yet. He lives very far away. Maybe he ran into some trouble on the road and couldn’t make it in time.”

But the Pokemon could hear the obvious attempt at reassurance in his words.

Its head drooped even lower, and it let out an extremely dejected cry.

“Oh dear, I really wasn’t lying!” Professor Oak hurriedly added when he saw its reaction.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

“Excuse me, is Professor Oak here?” A boy’s voice came from outside.

He’s here! Professor Oak’s eyes lit up. He looked happily at the Pokemon in front of him. “See? I wasn’t lying to you.”

At those words, a glimmer of hope appeared in the Pokemon’s eyes.

Outside the door, Fuyuki stared at the closed entrance in confusion.

“Huh? Is Professor Oak not home?”

The next second, the door opened from the inside. Professor Oak stood there, smiling warmly.

"Welcome, Fuyuki, and Rai..."

Before he could finish, his eyes widened in shock.

Because standing beside Fuyuki this time was not Raikou, but a Pokemon entirely different. It radiated overwhelming pressure and scorching heat, its gaze stern and imposing.