I don't...you people should know the drill by now...

The Chronicles of Spectre Dan
Episode XXXVI
Ho-oh's Secret

"Ho-oh."

Ash spoke the name with reverence.

"What's going on?" asked Maria.

"All will be revealed," said Ho-oh, "Come."

They followed the bird over the next hill, where found a picnic table covered with different dishes of food.

"At least he's got hospitality," said Misty, and Pikachu and Togetic nodded.

"I didn't even realize he could speak English," said Ash.

"Well, Ho-oh is incredibly private. Few have seen him, so there is little concrete information on him," said Spectre Dan.

They all sat down at the table. Ho-oh took a perch at the head of the table.

"So, what's this all about?" asked Dan.

"I require the aid of Team Mythos. As we speak, my brother Lugia is being imprisoned by the evil that is Team Rocket. Giovanni has no idea what powers he is playing with."

"What do you mean?" asked Maria.

"Let me explain. All the ones humans call Legendaries have important jobs. For example, the Hoenn Titans keep the balance of Earth's climate. Lugia and I keep a balance that is essential for the existence of all. The balance between LIFE and DEATH."

"Wow," said Ash, "who knew?"

"However, neither of us is immortal. Which is ironic for me, since I am the Guardian of Life."

"But, haven't you lived for centuries?" asked Misty.

"Not me personally. I got this job only about one hundred years ago."

"Pardon?"

"Ah, I'm getting ahead of myself. You see, Lugia is the name of a small number of beings. The Whirl Islands is the breeding grounds for Lugia. I believe some of you have met a mother and son Lugia before."

"Yeah, we did," said Ash, "we even saved the two from Team Rocket."

'I remember that adventure,' said Pikachu.

Ho-oh continued.

"The prime Lugia makes his home in the aquatic depths around the Orange Islands. He is the most powerful of the Lugia, and is the one who guards Death. He also has agents. They are the three races of Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, as well as all the Dusknoir of the world. Ho-oh, however, do not breed."

"You don't?" asked Misty, "I'm confused. Didn't you say that you've been alive about a hundred years?"

"I'm getting to that. The main thing you have to understand is that 'Ho-oh' is not the name of a Pokémon, or anything like that. It is a TITLE OF OFFICE."

There was silence. Even Spook's mind was blown. Spectre Dan finally found his voice.

"You want to run that by us again?"

Ho-oh repeated himself. Questioning shouts immediately bombarded him.

"SILENCE!" he roared, wreathing himself in flame.

Everyone got quiet really fast. The flames died down. Thankfully, nothing was burned.

"Every thousand years, a Ho-oh dies. It is also possible for a Ho-oh to be killed, but this is rare and VERY difficult to accomplish. Anyway, when a Ho-oh dies, his Flame Spirit, his power, seeks out two souls. One is a human, and one is a Pokémon. The souls must be closely linked, intertwined if you will. The souls must also be as pure as possible. But, most importantly, the Flame Spirit must find the souls worthy. The souls can have a strong sense of justice, or the souls can be filled with compassion. At any rate, once the Flame Spirit finds the two souls, the two can choose to bond with the Flame Spirit. If they do, the souls and the Flame Spirit will come together to become the new Ho-oh."

"Wow," said Ash.

"There's more. The new Ho-oh is able to take on three forms. There is the regular Ho-oh form, as well as a human form, and the form of whatever Pokémon one soul was before."

"So," said Spectre Dan, "If the Flame Spirit bonded with a man and a Nidoking, the Ho-oh created would be able to turn into that man, or that Nidoking."

"That is actually what happened to me, but the Flame Spirit likes to find Flying or Fire types when it can."

"I can kind of see why," said Maria, looking over Ho-oh.

"The new Ho-oh can summon fires in any form. The flames can harm or heal. The flames can even teleport people, Pokémon, or objects, which is how I got you here, and how I prepared this feast."

"That explains so much," said Ash.

"Now, back to us helping you," said Dan.

"Yes, yes. Team Rocket has already captured the Hoenn Titans, Regigigas, Mew, and Lugia. They plan to replicate their powers in any way possible, in order to take over the world. This cannot happen, or every balance of power in existence will be thrown into chaos. But, there is more. Ash, you remember the splicing experiments."

"Yeah, I do," answered Ash, absently rubbing the spot on his shoulder where he was bitten. There was still a scar.

"Well, they recovered and improved on the process. They have been able to create a serum that increases the natural abilities of their operatives and turn them into super soldiers. What's more, Giovanni and his apprentice have been taking more advanced versions. The apprentice is now a monster, and Giovanni plans to use the DNA gathered from the captured Legendaries to make himself unstoppable."

"How do you know all this?" asked Misty.

"Dialga informed me before he, Palkia, and Giratina left this dimension so as not to be captured."

"Ah."

"Other Legendaries have similarly escaped, but I will not back down. I know the location of the main Rocket base, but I will need help in the assault. Powerful as I am, I can not do this alone."

"Of course we'll help you," said Maria.

"Team Mythos is by your side," said Spectre Dan.

"That is good to hear," said Ho-oh.

"One question," said Ash.

"Shoot."

"You've been looking at me funny this whole time. Why?"

Ho-oh turned his head away, as if contemplating something. Ash thought he saw tears come to his eyes.

"A part of me was hoping that you wouldn't find out."

"Find out what?"

"I knew your mother. She was a remarkable woman. Against my better judgment, I fell in love. And, when you were born, the feeling in my heart was unlike anything I had ever encountered. I would have gladly stayed, but Arceus forbade it. He stated that I was getting too close to the humans. He forbade any and all contact with Delia or you. Leaving was the hardest thing I had ever done. I watched you grow from afar. My heart swelled with pride at the man you were growing into, yet it was heavy, as I could not hold you in my arms."

"Wait, you mean…"

In answer, flames shrouded Ho-oh. When they faded, a man stood before them. He looked so much like Ash, it was frightening. He spoke in a deep voice.

"Ash…I am your father."

Before anyone could process this shocking information, two canisters hit the table. The canisters spewed smoke, and everyone began to feel faint. Ash thought he heard laughter, but his concentration was on the man before him, the man who claimed to be the father he never knew. The man swayed and collapsed. Flames wreathed him, and he changed back into Ho-oh. Ash was about to call out to him when everything when black.

A silver-haired man strode forward after the smoke cleared. He eyed the fallen heroes before he ordered Ho-oh to be taken away. He then strode toward Ash and looked at this face.

"Well, well, well," said Paul, "This is my lucky day."

As your brains are probably mush right now from sheer shock, I going to make this short. This is only the beginning.