AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings, readers! Here is chapter 49 of the continuing adventures of Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu as they continue their journey through the Johto region. Ho-Oh from the anime makes an appearance in this chapter. And so do Veronica, Eric, and Morty. I decided to base Eric's Abra from the event Abra from long ago when the Gold, Silver, and Crystal version games first came out. Please feel free to read and leave responsible reviews when you can.

TEASER: Tristan and Hillary arrive in Ecruteak City and learn about the legend of Ho-Oh and its servants: Raikou, Entei, and Suicune. But their biggest surprise may be waiting for them at the top of the Tin Tower.

Chapter 49: A VISIT FROM HO-OH

(Music Cue: Opening Title 1999-2001 (as heard at the beginning of "The Poké-Spokesman"))

Our heroes have finally reached their next destination: Ecruteak City. But little do they know that a legendary Pokémon awaits their arrival.

Tristan, Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi all took their first steps into Ecruteak City.

"It sure is good to be back, isn't it, Hillary?" said Tristan.

"You bet," agreed Hillary. "Now we can explore the city in greater detail and we can see Morty again, not to mention you get another chance to win a new badge."

Presently, Tristan's Silver Wing began to glow.

(Music Cue: Imminent Danger)

"That's weird," said Tristan. "My Silver Wing's reacting to something."

"This could mean only one thing," said Hillary.

Presently, Mewtwo appeared in the sky. Tristan, Hillary, it's good to see the two of you again.

"Look, it's Mewtwo!" said Tristan.

I wish I could exchange pleasantries with you, but I came because you are about to meet another legendary Pokémon.

"What do you mean, Mewtwo?" asked Tristan.

I wish I could explain and help you understand, replied Mewtwo. But I'm afraid I have other matters to attend to. Best of luck. And Mewtwo flew away.

Tristan and Hillary were confused.

"What was that all about?" wondered Hillary.

"I don't know, but we'd better find out," replied Tristan. "Let's go see Morty at the Ecruteak Gym." And they and their Pokémon friends rushed posthaste to the Ecruteak Gym to find Morty.

They arrived at the Gym a few moments later just as dark clouds started to cover the sky.

"Well, this is it," said Hillary. "I remember Grandma and Grandpa took us here to learn about the legend of Ho-Oh."

"Yeah," agreed Tristan. "And we also learned about Raikou, Entei, and Suicune."

"Let's see Morty," suggested Hillary. "Maybe he can tell us what's going on. And why are there dark clouds in the sky? The weather said it would be sunny today."

Sure enough, the dark clouds were coming in, and had covered up the sky even more.

"Maybe a storm's coming," replied Tristan. "Let's get inside and see Morty." And he opened the door of the Gym.

But instead of seeing Morty, an old sage was seen blocking the entrance to the Gym.

"Hey, you're not Morty!" said Hillary.

"Nope, I'm not," replied the sage.

"Is Morty here?" asked Tristan.

"Morty, the Gym Leader, is absent," replied the sage. "Sorry, but you'll have to leave. Hohohoho!" And he smugly shoved Tristan into Hillary, Pikachu, and Togepi, and slammed the door.

Tristan and Hillary winced in pain, but soon became most annoyed.

"The nerve of that guy!" fumed Hillary. "Shoving us out of the Gym like that. That's just mean! Does he realize who he's dealing with?"

"I'd say not!" agreed Tristan. "Come on, let's go find Morty, and then we'll get some answers!"

And they ran off.

A few moments later, they came to an old run-down burnt tower in the distance.

"What is this place?" asked Hillary.

Tristan gasped in shock. "Wait! I know this building!"

"You do? How's that?"

"This must be the Burned Tower, the place where the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh used to roost!"

"Just like in the presentation Morty showed us, right?"

"Exactly," said Tristan. "Maybe we can find some answers in there."

And he and Hillary cautiously made their way to the Burned Tower.

The interior of the tower was just as run-down as the exterior was.

"I don't know if this is a safe place to take shelter," said Hillary nervously.

"You're right," agreed Tristan. "Something doesn't feel quite right in here. It's as if someone's watching us."

"But who?" asked Hillary.

(Music Cue: Enter Mewtwo)

Presently, flames could be seen erupting from the support beams.

"Look, it's a fire!" exclaimed Tristan.

"Come on, we'd better get outta here!" said Hillary as she, Tristan, Pikachu, and Togepi made a beeline for the exit.

But no matter which way they turned, more flames blocked their path. Soon, they found themselves trapped as the flames surrounded them.

"There's no place left to run," said Hillary. "Now what?"

"We'll just use our Water Pokémon to put out that fire," replied Tristan as he took out his Lure Ball. "Totodile, I choose you!"

"Squirtle, you go, too!" shouted Hillary as she took out her Poké Ball.

Both Poké Balls opened and Totodile and Squirtle emerged from the white lights that shot out of them.

"Use Water Gun!" commanded Tristan and Hillary together.

Both Pokémon shot powerful blasts of water from their mouths at the flames, but their efforts proved to be futile as the flames didn't get any smaller.

"Their Water Gun attacks aren't working!" gasped Hillary. "But how? Hey, Tristan, let's have our Pokémon get closer to the fire."

"All right, guys, you heard what Hillary said!" commanded Tristan.

And both Pokémon got closer to the flames and shot their Water Gun attacks directly at them. But as close as they got, their efforts didn't get any better.

It was then that Tristan carefully inched his way to the flames.

"Tristan, please be careful!" cried Hillary.

Tristan felt for the flames and waited for them to burn him, but as his hand touched them, he didn't feel any heat. "That's weird."

"What is?" asked Hillary.

"This fire isn't hot at all," answered Tristan.

Hillary inched closer to the flames, and soon she discovered that the flames didn't burn her either. "This fire isn't even warm!"

"Could this be some illusion?" asked Tristan.

(Music Cue: Johto Wild Pokémon Battle (as heard in "Hour of the Houndour"))

Presently, a primarily yellow bipedal Pokémon with closed eyes and a tail showed up out of nowhere, floating in midair.

An elderly man and woman appeared with it.

Tristan and Hillary recognized who they were.

"Hey, look, it's an Abra!" gasped Tristan.

"And Grandma and Grandpa are right next to it!" added Hillary.

Sure enough, Veronica and Eric, Tristan and Hillary's grandparents had come to their rescue.

"Abra, use your Foresight," instructed Eric.

Abra opened its eyes, which glowed red, and shot a beam of light at the fire.

Sure enough, the flames disappeared, and soon, dark purple spherical Pokémon covered in poisonous gas made their appearance.

"Those are Gastly!" gasped Tristan.

"So they're the ones who created the fiery illusion," said Hillary.

"Now's your chance, kids," said Eric. "Use your Pokémon to stop them."

"Right," agreed Tristan and Hillary.

"Chikorita, I choose you!" shouted Tristan as he threw his Friend Ball.

Chikorita emerged from the white light that shot out of it.

"Okay, Squirtle, let's get in there!" said Hillary.

Squirtle nodded and charged into battle.

The Gastly kept appearing and disappearing in and out of thin air.

"We can't let those Pokémon confuse us, Chikorita," warned Tristan. "Use your Tackle attack!"

Chikorita charged full-body style toward the Gastly, and one by one, they got tackled.

Just then, the Gastly shot crimson beams from its eyes.

"Now they're using Night Shade!" cried Hillary.

"Chikorita, use your Tackle attack again!" ordered Tristan.

"Squirtle, team up with Chikorita and attack!" commanded Hillary.

Chikorita and Squirtle both charged full-body style toward the Gastly and scored direct hits on them one by one.

"Now, Chikorita, finish 'em off with Razor Leaf attack!" ordered Tristan.

"Squirtle, help Chikorita with your Water Gun!" commanded Hillary.

Chikorita shot multiple razor-sharp leaves at the Gastly while Squirtle shot a powerful blast of water from its mouth.

Sure enough, both attacks scored clean hits

The Gastly seemingly had enough, so they fled through the walls and disappeared.

Eric came over to them. "Are you guys all right?" asked Eric.

"We're fine, Grandpa, thanks," replied Hillary.

"But why did you come here in the first place?" asked Tristan.

"Morty called us on our Poké Gear because he'd seen you arrive in the city," explained Veronica. "And he had a feeling that you'd come into the Burned Tower looking for him. So your grandfather had Abra Teleport us here so that we can help you."

"How did your Abra learn how to use Foresight?" asked Hillary.

"Your great-grandparents had Pokémon that had unusual moves," explained Eric. "And this Abra knew how to use Foresight when it hatched," explained Eric.

"That's awesome," said Tristan.

Presently, more Gastly and some purple round Pokémon with disembodied hands made their appearance.

"Those are Haunter!" gasped Hillary.

"They just got reinforcements," grunted Tristan. "Let's get 'em, Chikorita!"

Chikorita was about to charge in when suddenly...

"Hold on."

Tristan, Hillary, Veronica, and Eric all turned around and saw a familiar-looking figure emerge from one of the doorways and came down the stairs.

The figure came into the light.

Tristan knew who it was. "That's Morty!"

Morty snapped his fingers, and instantly, all the Gastly and Haunter disappeared.

"That's awesome!" gasped Hillary. "Morty can control Ghost Pokémon!"

"Please understand, these Pokémon aren't here to harm you," explained Morty. "They were just defending their home."

"We didn't know that," said Tristan. "I guess we trespassed, huh?"

Morty then saw Tristan and Hillary and came to them. "It's good to see the two of you again. How have you been?"

"Great," answered Tristan and Hillary.

"Thanks for helping them, Morty," smiled Eric.

"No problem, Eric," replied Morty. "I figured they'd arrive in Ecruteak City sooner or later. So did you enjoy your vacation in the Whirl Islands?"

"We did," answered Veronica. "Our grandchildren certainly had a blast."

"Well, it sounds like they had a fun time exploring new things," smiled Morty. Then he looked at Tristan's Silver Wing hanging around his neck as it glistened in the light. He gasped in shock. "Is that the legendary Silver Wing?"

"It is, but why do you ask?" replied Tristan.

(Music Cue: Mystical Story (as heard the second time in "A Bout with Sprout"))

"Well, a lot of people say that having a Silver Wing allows you to encounter the legendary Pokémon, Lugia," explained Morty. "But special Silver Wings give its holder extra-special powers, and are very hard to come by."

"What do you mean, Morty?" asked Hillary.

"What I mean is, those special Silver Wings are only given to a select few, those who actually befriend a Lugia from the moment it's born."

Tristan and Hillary gasped in shock. But they weren't as surprised as Veronica and Eric were.

"That's quite extraordinary, dear," remarked Veronica. "That Lugia that you helped must've liked you so much that it gave you that very item hanging around your neck, right?"

Tristan nodded. "Lugia and I have become really good buddies. We play when we want to get together."

Pikachu agreed.

"I can't really explain this," continued Tristan, "but when I was on Ogi Isle in the Whirl Islands, I kept getting drawn towards it for some reason. Maybe it was because how beautiful Lugia looks or maybe it was just calling out to me. Either way, Lugia and I really enjoy each other's company."

"That is extraordinary," said Morty. "But if you don't mind, I'd like to show you something." And he led Tristan, Hillary, and their grandparents to a wooden carving of a legendary Pokémon hanging on the wall.

"Is that the legendary Ho-Oh?" asked Tristan.

"Yes, it is," answered Morty. "This is the very same Ho-Oh that visited those guarding the tower many centuries ago. Then, as you know, invaders sought to use the Ho-Oh's power for evil purposes, causing a fire in this tower. Then, after seeing three nameless Pokémon unable to escape the flames, it gave brand new lives to them, and were given names. Raikou, the reincarnation of thunder; Entei, the reincarnation of the volcano; and Suicune, the reincarnation of the north wind and the rains that put out the fire. The Ho-Oh sent those three to observe humans from the ground. And then it fled, never to be seen again."

"I feel so bad for it," said Hillary sadly.

"If only there was a way to let it know how we feel about Pokémon," added Tristan. "I just wish I could tell it that we love Pokémon."

Pikachu and Togepi nodded sadly in agreement.

"I'm sure Ho-Oh and those three will know how you feel about Pokémon in time," Veronica assured him.

"Your grandmother's right, Tristan," said Morty. "I remember when Ash told me that he saw Ho-Oh when he began his Pokémon journey, and you saw it near Fuschia City when you saved that wild Articuno. I'm sure it will come and visit you soon."

Tristan nodded. "Thanks, guys. I feel a lot better now."

Presently, they heard a weird noise coming from the Bell Tower.

"What's that?" asked Tristan.

"It's the bells," replied Morty. "Their ringing is coming from the other tower."

"Come on, kids, let's go check it out," advised Veronica.

Tristan and Hillary nodded in agreement.

Just as they exited the tower, lightning bolts came from the sky as rain began to fall.

"Oh, great, it's raining," groaned Tristan.

"Never mind that, we have to investigate what's going on at the Tin Tower," reminded Hillary.

And they kept on running towards the Tin Tower.

(Music Cue: The Moon Stone)

Inside, there were 32 metal bells, four of them on each of the first eight floors, and four crystal bells on the ninth floor, one of which had been repaired recently.

Tristan and the others came inside to hear the bells ringing loudly.

"Why are all the bells ringing?" asked Tristan.

"These bells only ring when Ho-Oh is coming," explained Morty. "They never ring in the fiercest of winds, and have been silent until recently when Team Rocket stole the crystal bells. They've since been recovered, but those four bells only ring to announce the arrival of Ho-Oh."

"Do you think we'll hear them ring?" asked Hillary.

"There's only one way to find out," said Veronica "We have to keep climbing."

And so they did.

They advanced through every floor until they came to the eighth floor.

"Look, here, too!" gasped Morty.

"This is the eighth floor, right?" asked Hillary. "That means the ninth floor must have the crystal bells."

"And they announce Ho-Oh's arrival," added Tristan.

"Well, there's only one way to find out for sure," said Morty. "We have to go up to the ninth floor."

And they kept on climbing, and came to the ninth floor a few minutes later, but when they got there, they heard no ringing from the crystal bells.

"I guess Ho-Oh isn't coming," said Hillary.

"Let's not lose hope yet," said Morty. "Just because these bells aren't ringing yet doesn't mean that Ho-Oh isn't coming."

"Morty's right," agreed Veronica. "I'm sure that these bells will ring in just a moment."

As the 32 metal bells on the floors below them continued to ring, everyone waited and waited.

Suddenly, the four crystal bells began to ring.

Everyone gasped in shock.

Then, suddenly, Tristan's Silver Wing began to glow again.

"Look, my Silver Wing!" gasped Tristan.

"That's an indication that a legendary Pokémon is coming here right now!" added Hillary.

"That has to be Ho-Oh!" put in Morty.

(Music Cue: Molly's Theme - Beautiful City (Japanese version as heard in "The Emperor of the Crystal Tower - Entei"))

Then just as suddenly, the rain stopped and the skies cleared up. Then a rainbow appeared in the sky.

"What a beautiful rainbow!" said Tristan.

"I've never seen a rainbow this close before!" added Hillary.

Pikachu and Togepi gasped in wonder as they looked at the rainbow.

Veronica and Eric proudly wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders.

"This is wonderful," said Veronica.

"Yes," agreed Eric. "Almost as wonderful as every day with you and the grandchildren, Veronica."

Presently, an avian Pokémon resembling a phoenix and a peacock came into view in the sky. Its feathers were gold and red with yellow tail feathers and green feathers at the tips of its wings, and it had a green stripe around its neck.

"Look at that!" gasped Tristan.

Morty looked on as the Pokémon flew closer and closer. "That's Ho-Oh! It's coming here at last!"

Morty was right, for it came closer and closer to the tower. Sure enough, as it descended, it looked considerably larger than Tristan and his friends.

Ho-Oh slowly flew lower and lower to the perch as it flapped its wings to ease its descent. Then as it landed, it folded its wings and lowered its head towards Tristan and his friends.

"Ho-Oh," whispered Tristan.

He and Pikachu couldn't believe that Ho-Oh was looking right at them with its own eyes.

"It's so beautiful," added Hillary.

My friends, thank you for that nice welcome.

Everyone gasped in shock as they heard that calm, feminine voice.

"Is that...?" began Tristan.

"It's Ho-Oh's telepathy," put in Morty.

This is certainly a good place, continued Ho-Oh. But sadly, I cannot stay for long.

"But why not?" asked Hillary.

I'm afraid that this world is still full of humans who want to use Pokémon for their selfish purposes, answered Ho-Oh. That makes me sad and angry, just like the time when humans tried to steal my power.

Tristan walked closer to Ho-Oh and said, "Ho-Oh, we know that there are humans who are bad, but we aren't like them at all. We all love Pokémon. That's why we're learning to understand one another to live and work together in cooperation and harmony. Right, Pikachu?"

"Pika, Pikachu!" added Pikachu.

"Tristan's right, Ho-Oh," agreed Hillary. "We know that Pokémon should be our friends, not just tools for our selfish desires."

Togepi chirped in agreement.

Ho-Oh nodded. I realize that. That's why I came here for a short visit with you. I saw you save that wild Articuno some time ago, and I know you are one of the many good people I see as I fly through the world's skies, searching for people with pure hearts.

Tristan, Hillary, their grandparents, and Morty looked on as Ho-Oh spoke.

I must go now, but before I do, I want to give you both something. And Ho-Oh spread its wings as two glowing objects came from them and gently landed in Tristan and Hillary's hands.

One had the same color scheme as Ho-Oh, but the other one was orange, red, gold, and silver.

Tristan and Hillary gasped in wonder as they looked at them.

This is your test, explained Ho-Oh. You must hatch these special eggs safely in order to pass. Do that, and you'll be able to befriend the Pokémon that hatch. I know you'll succeed.

Tristan and Hillary understood their new task and nodded.

Farewell, my friends, said Ho-Oh as it spread its wings and ascended into the sky. We shall meet again. Ho-Oh flew off into the sky, leaving a rainbow behind.

Tristan, Hillary, their grandparents, and Morty looked on at the rainbow as Ho-Oh disappeared into the distance.

"Well, that was unexpected," said Eric as he and the others exited the Tin Tower.

"Yeah, seeing the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh was awesome," added Tristan.

"And it gave us both an egg to take care of," put in Hillary.

"Ho-Oh must have realized that you two, like many of us, were pure of heart, and decided to give you those eggs to test you," said Morty. "That's a big honor from a legendary Pokémon."

Veronica and Eric turned to Tristan and Hillary. "Maybe we can stay and watch your Gym battle," suggested Veronica. "Your grandfather and I would love to see how our grandson fares against a good friend of ours."

"Why don't we have our Gym match tomorrow?" suggested Morty. "I have a feeling today's events have made us exhausted and excited at the same time."

"That's a good idea," replied Tristan.

Presently, Abra emerged from the white light that shot out of Eric's Poké Ball and teleported over to Tristan's shoulder, startling him.

"It looks like Abra wants to help you win that fourth Gym badge, grand-sonny," smiled Eric.

Tristan was surprised, but asked, "Is that true, Abra? Do you want to help me beat Morty?"

Abra nodded.

"All right, together we'll win that badge!" said Tristan.

Pikachu agreed excitedly. It couldn't wait to battle with Tristan in his fourth Johto League Gym match.

"Well, Tristan, we'd better rest up," suggested Hillary. "We have a big day ahead tomorrow, and you'll want to be rested for it for your Gym battle."

Tristan nodded in agreement.

After encountering the legendary Pokémon Ho-Oh, Tristan and Hillary both have received eggs as a test to see if they can be hatched safely. Meanwhile, Tristan is thinking long and hard about the strategy to use in tomorrow's Gym match against Morty, as his grandfather's Abra eagerly decides to help him. But will it be enough to earn him a badge? Stay tuned to find out!

► TO BE CONTINUED