Day 22 — May 24th
Ecruteak City
Hundreds of years ago, the relationship between humans and Pokémon was not as peaceable as it would one day become. Most Pokémon were wild creatures who roamed the expansive regions of the world thousands of years before humans appeared. Mankind's intrusion into the habitats of Pokémon promoted conflict between the species, even as some humans attempted to befriend and domesticate some of the more amiable types of Pokémon. The building of civilizations further aggravated tensions between humans and Pokémon as cities grew in places where Pokémon once resided.
In an effort to placate the unease of the wild Pokémon, small pockets of mankind began to try to make amends. The men of Johto's Ecruteak City erected two tall towers to honor the Legendary Pokémon of the region.
The Brass Tower, built in the west of the city, was meant to awaken Pokémon. It became the home of Lugia, the Guardian of the Seas, whose duty was to watch over the Pokémon of the water. Lugia came to the Brass Tower when mankind's strife forced it to break apart its former home of the Whirl Island into four separate pieces. It longed for the day when humans would find peace, and eventually end their conflict with both each other and Pokémon.
On the east side of Ecruteak was constructed the Bell Tower, built to honor the resting place of Pokémon. In its eves, the Legendary Pokémon Ho-oh made roost, where it watched over the Pokémon of the skies. From there, it also awaited the time when humans and Pokémon could live in peace together, when one species could read the hearts of the other.
Both towers were protected by a combination of people and Pokémon who embraced the ideals Lugia and Ho-oh believed in. For well over 500 years, the two Legendary Pokémon remained on lookout from the tops of their respective towers, searching for harmony between the species. Yet, despite the passing of certain events (including Azalea Town's reverence of the Slowpoke after they saved the town from a drought) and an increase in the camaraderie between humans and Pokémon, Lugia and Ho-oh never saw what they sought.
Then, tragedy occurred when a violent storm swept through Johto. A lightning bolt struck the Brass Tower and set it ablaze. The fire burned for three days before a sudden downpour extinguished it, but the damage had already been done. Three nameless Pokémon died in the conflagration and successive collapse of the building.
Ho-oh, overseer of the tower for Pokémon resting places, descended upon their ashes and resurrected them. They became Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, representative of the lightning which struck the tower, the fire which burned it to the ground, and the rain which doused the blaze. The three Legendary beasts ran into the vast Johto wilderness, tasked with watching over the Pokémon of the earth and, like their contemporaries, waited for the day when humankind and Pokémon could fully understand one another.
Lugia and Ho-oh both left their perches in Ecruteak City, never to return to their roosts.
"Since then, a few people have reported sightings of Lugia, Suicune, Raikou, and Entei, though no concrete evidence has ever truly surfaced," Morty continued. "Some people have spent their lives searching for the existence of these Legendary Pokémon—" here he shot a pointed look at Eusine, "—while others have hoped to become worthy enough to simply witness their greatness." He inclined his head slightly, indicating that he was the guilty party. Then he peered curiously at Ash. "Strangely enough, I had never believed I would be lucky enough to see Suicune until you came to Ecruteak City all those years ago. And now here you are again…with all three Legendary beasts in hand."
Ash chuckled and glanced at Suicune. "What can I say? I guess I just attract the right crowd."
Morty hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe…but I am not one to believe in coincidence. You claim you saw Ho-oh when you first set out on your journey, correct?"
"Yeah."
"And now you've caught Raikou, Entei, and Suicune," he added with a look for the Aurora Pokémon. The Ghost-type Gym Leader turned his attention back to Ash. "It's possible you're the one they've been waiting for, the one who's said to be able to touch the hearts and souls of Pokémon. The one to bridge the gap between our species."
A bright grin lit Ash's features. "Really? I must be real spec—mmf!"
Misty's hand clapped suddenly over his mouth with more force than strictly necessary. "We appreciate the info, Morty, but if you could give it without increasing Ash's already huge ego even more, I'd be even more grateful."
The Gym Leader offered her a small, almost placating, smile. "My apologies. I allowed my enthusiasm to get the better of me. I have strived to see Ho-oh my entire life, to be the person it has been looking for, and while it is disappointing to know that I am not the one it seeks, finding that person in my lifetime is still an amazing achievement." He fell silent, as if considering something, before nodding to himself. "Come with me."
"Where are we going?" Ash asked, recalling Suicune in a beam of light.
"We're going to see if you truly are worthy," Morty replied. He opened the door to the gym and gestured for Misty and Ash to exit. "Eusine, you're welcome to come if you'd like."
"Hmph, might as well see this through."
Morty held the door open for his friend, hiding a grin as he did so. Eusine could be brash, impulsive, and single-minded, but he was also highly interested in puzzles and the stories of the Legendaries, with an obvious emphasis on Suicune. Despite any hard feelings he had for Ash, Eusine would want to see if Morty's theory held any water.
The Ghost-type trainer led the other three across town until they were standing in front of the multi-tiered Bell Tower; or, more precisely, a squat structure in front of the Bell Tower. Like the rest of Ecruteak City, the Bell Tower had a rustic, muted look to it, a pagoda with blue, tiled roofs over its ten stories and umber-colored architecture. Golden bells hung from each corner of every floor's roof, barring the top level where the bells were a beautiful crystal.
Morty walked up to the short building's entrance and knocked on the door. A moment later, the face of an elderly man appeared in a crack between the old doors. His placid expression morphed into one of mild surprise. "Master Morty, how unexpected."
"Honorable Sage Koji," bowed the Gym Leader, "I apologize for the unannounced intrusion, but I had a sudden desire to visit the tower today. If you would be so kind as to let us through…"
Koji's eyes flickered to the trio standing behind the Ghost-type trainer. "As always, you are welcome to enter, Master Morty. Your family has a long history of protecting the Bell Tower and acting within the best interests of Ecruteak City. However, this is a sacred place, not a tourist destination, and your friends will not be allowed to step foot inside."
"I respect your decision, Honorable Sage, but there are…extenuating circumstances which I believe deserve a reprieve on the rules just this once." Morty spared a glance for the outdoors, watching the citizens of his city go by, before turning his attention back to the monk. "Perhaps if we could discuss this further inside…"
A long moment passed where Koji said nothing. Finally, he closed his eyes and opened the door wider. "You have always had a good head on your shoulders, Master Morty. Very well, I will hear you out. Come," he beckoned, "welcome." Morty bowed in appreciation and murmured a gracious thanks, his companions aping his behavior.
The second Ash walked through the structure's entrance, the sound of chiming rang out. "It can't be!" gasped Koji, pushing past the group to get outside. At the front of the procession, Morty allowed a bemused smirk to cross his features.
On the first nine floors of the pagoda, the golden bells that dangled from each roof were clanging in the breeze. Koji stared at the baubles for a long moment in disbelief before turning to face Morty. "This is simply astounding! How…?" Morty thumbed towards Ash, and the sage hurried back into the building and shut the doors. "Those bells only ring when Suicune is near," explained Koji. "Do you…?"
Ash understood the unfinished question and brought forth Suicune's Pokéball. In a flash of light, the regal Water-type was again released from its confines. As the sage basked in the Legendary Pokémon's presence, Morty said, "I believe you now understand the importance of allowing my friends access to the rest of Bell Tower."
"Yes, of course," nodded Koji. "Please, go right ahead. Master Morty can take you up."
The Gym Leader beckoned for the others to follow him. "Sorry about Koji," he mentioned as they walked down a long hallway. "He's in charge of protecting the Bell Tower from any outside influence in order to preserve the sanctity of this place. He also happens to be a stickler for the rules, and puts a lot of stock in proper decorum. I could personally do without the title of 'Master', but—ah, here we go." Morty paused at the end of the hallway, turning to face the gathering. "No one outside the sages and my family has been allowed to step foot past this area. I hope you understand the importance of this place to Ecruteak City, and all of Johto."
"Of course," Ash assured him as Misty nodded and Eusine watched in muted curiosity. "We would never want to disrespect this place."
Morty offered the other male a small upturn of his lips. "No, I didn't think you would." The Ecruteak Gym Leader pushed open the double doors, and his companions gaped at the sight before them.
Trees lined a long trail that led straight to the entrance of the Bell Tower, their leaves a vibrant array of reds, oranges, and yellows that left the visitors awestruck. Colorful detritus littered the pathway, painting the entire area in a magnificent golden hue. "It's beautiful," Misty whispered. "Like the sunset at Cerulean Cape, only so much more."
"This is the Bellchime Trail," Morty informed them quietly, as if afraid that speaking loudly would disrupt the majesty of the place. "No one knows why, but it's like this year-round, no matter what the weather's like. It's truly quite amazing. Our destination, however, is at the end of this path."
The group made their way along the trail until the grandiose double doors of the Bell Tower were before them. When they entered, the small room they found themselves in consisted of only a ladder and three walls hedging them in. "The people and Pokémon who built this place put in many ladders leading to dead ends and illusionary walls to trick any thieves or people with ill intent from reaching Ho-oh," Morty explained. "I know my way around…but it appears as if your friend would rather lead the way."
Suicune was already padding over to the ladder leading to the second floor. It leaped through the opening and stuck its head back through, as if beckoning the four humans to follow. Ash took his Pokémon up on the offer, with Misty, Morty, and Eusine close behind. This continued for the first nine levels, until the small party was on the penultimate floor and there were no more ladders. "Where to now?" Ash asked.
"I'm not sure," Morty replied slowly. "Even though there are ten floors, I've only ever made it here. In all my years, I've never been able to make it to the roof." He looked around the room, trying to see if there was anything he had missed in his previous jaunts to the Bell Tower that would indicate how to reach the final floor. Unfortunately, the area was rather barren, with only three statues – one each against the west, north, and east walls – as decorations.
Ash had a weathered eye on Suicune, who was staring intently at the statue against the north wall. "Hey Morty, what's with these statues?"
The Gym Leader walked over to stand beside him. "It's said that they're supposed to represent the three Pokémon who died in the collapse of the Brass Tower and were reborn as Suicune, Entei, and Raikou. They were put in shortly after Ho-oh left its roost. In fact, the day these were placed up here was the last day the Bell Tower had any inhabitants." Morty watched as Ash scrutinized the statue, comparing its likeness to Suicune. The Frontier Brain then moved to kneel before the other two statues before coming to stand in the center of the room again. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking Suicune's lonely." He removed two Pokéballs from his belt and opened them, revealing the imposing forms of Entei and Raikou. The two Legendary beasts exchanged nods and split to stand in front of their respective statues. Then all three Pokémon bowed their heads to touch the statues.
The ceiling rumbled as a staircase appeared from it and swung to the floor. "That's never happened before," Morty claimed. "How did you know what to do?"
Ash looked at the gathered quadrupeds. "According to the legend, there's an obvious connection between Ho-oh and these three," he gestured. "If the top of Bell Tower is where Ho-oh used to roost, then it would make sense that Suicune, Entei, and Raikou are needed to access it. Doesn't explain how they did it hundreds of years ago, but I suppose that's not important right now." He glanced thoughtfully at the staircase, then at the three Pokémon. "After you."
Raikou, Entei, and Suicune padded up the staircase, followed by their trainer and then Morty, Eusine, and Misty, Pikachu still in her arms. They were greeted by the blue of the sky and the white of the clouds, the sun at its zenith. It illuminated the tall golden spire on the Bell Tower's rooftop and shone off the statues of Ho-oh rooted on each corner. Morty, as a native of Ecruteak and an avid historian, looked around in amazement at an area which hadn't been seen in over a century and a half. Ash did the same, a frown wrinkling his brow. "What next?" he muttered to himself.
His query was answered by Suicune, who deposited a small green-, white-, and red-colored feather into his hand. "Hm?" He held the feather up to the sky, letting the light play over it.
Then came the deep tolling of the crystal bells.
The clouds parted and a bright ray of light shone down upon Bell Tower's spire. Morty turned his gaze skyward, shielding his eyes from the increased sunshine; everyone else followed his example. A shadow was cast over the roof of the pagoda as a large form descended upon the Bell Tower.
Ho-oh looked to be just a tad smaller than Lugia, though its wingspan was just as long as its fellow Legendary's. Red-orange plumage decorated its body, the wingtips bearing a stripe of white and then green, its belly boasting pure white feathers. Green feathers collared its neck in a thin strip, and a bushy tail of feathers fading from gold to white composed its tail. A golden crest rested atop Ho-oh's sleek head, accented by an equally golden beak and dark circles around its red eyes. It landed on the tower's spire, gripping one of the cylindrical shells spaced every couple of feet with sharp, blue talons.
"Ho-oh…" whispered Ash, admiring the Rainbow Pokémon. "This is the first time I've seen it up close." The raven-haired trainer looked around, finding that Morty had been rendered absolutely speechless, and even Eusine's sour features had melted in awe. Suicune, Raikou, and Entei all had their heads bowed in reverence to the one who had resurrected them. "You know," he addressed the bird, "you're the reason I was able to keep moving forward that first day of my journey, to keep striving towards my goal of being a Pokémon Master. Thank you for inspiring me to be my best." Ho-oh cocked its head to the side, as if accepting the male's gratitude and waiting expectantly for more. Ash recalled the three Legendary beasts and brought out another Pokéball. "But now you're an obstacle on my way to completing this journey. I hope you're ready for this."
Ho-oh released a proud crow. Ash smirked, knowing that the Rainbow Pokémon had accepted his challenge. "Feraligatr, let's do this," he announced, tossing out the sphere. The reptilian Pokémon appeared with a rumble of his name. "Start off with a Water Gun."
"Gator," grunted the blue Pokémon before unleashing a stream of water at his opponent. Ho-oh flapped its wings and rose into the air, easily evading the liquid. The Rainbow Pokémon threw an Ancient Power at its grounded foe, but Feraligatr swung his tail into the silvery orbs, breaking them apart with Thrash.
"Alright Feraligatr, try a Hydro Pump." The deluge spewed forth from his mouth, but Ho-oh again avoided the attack. In retaliation, it expelled a Fire Blast, which was countered with a second Hydro Pump. Then Ho-oh became encompassed in a golden aura, and from its beak came a golden flame.
"That's the legendary flame of Ho-oh, the Sacred Fire," Morty managed.
"Feraligatr, Aqua Shield!" Ash shouted. The spiral of water for an Aqua Tail formed around the Big Jaw Pokémon's appendage before he slammed it against the ground, raising a wall of liquid in front of him. Both elemental attacks collided, with the Fire-type attack evaporating the makeshift shield on contact. Feraligatr released a growl as the conflagration surrounded him and licked at his leathery skin.
Ash gritted his teeth. Ho-oh was ridiculously powerful, and like Lugia, had the distinct advantage of being able to fly over the battlefield. With most of his Pokémon grounded, he was at a distinct handicap trying to fight the Legendary Pokémon over the Bell Tower. Not to mention that Feraligatr, one of his few friends who had a type advantage over the bird, was still not fully recovered from his battle with Raikou and Entei the previous day. "Feraligatr, return!" he called. The Johto starter disappeared, and the flames surrounding him dissipated. The Frontier Brain withdrew another Pokéball. "Well buddy, looks like you'll finally get your challenge. Charizard, go!"
The Flame Pokémon burst forth with a roar and immediately took to the skies. He spotted Ho-oh and a burst of fire escaped from his nostrils. Turning to face his trainer, Charizard gave Ash a nod of approval, silently communicating that he was pleased. "You'd better be," Ash muttered. "Ho-oh's twice your size." Charizard blasted a scorching Flamethrower at the phoenix-like creature and was immediately countered by a Fire Blast.
"Unbelievable," said Misty, tugging at the collar of her shirt. "You can feel the heat from way down here."
Morty nodded. "This should prove to be quite the match."
"Charizard, shield with Steel Wing!" Ash commanded as Ho-oh launched another Ancient Power. "Now, hit it with Dragon Breath!" The Flame Pokémon expelled a stream of condensed blue air at his opponent, but a green energy shield surrounded Ho-oh. Damn, Safeguard. "Try Overheat!"
White-hot fire shot out at the Legendary Pokémon. It hit the barrier and pulsed against it for several seconds before finally breaking through and engulfing Ho-oh in flames. "Yes!" cheered Ash, but the bird spread its wings and dispersed the flames. "Crap." Ho-oh then became encased in white fire, only for it to fade into a glowing blue aura. "Double crap. Charizard, Take Down!"
The fiery dragon roared and dove towards Ho-oh as the phoenix-like creature did the same. Charizard threw his entire body into the attack, but Ho-oh's greater bulk won out, and he was sent reeling by the Brave Bird assault. Righting himself with a shake of his head, the Fire/Flying hybrid bellowed and exhaled another Flamethrower at the Legendary. Recovering from the recoil, Ho-oh could only take the conflagration head-on. Charizard roared proudly, but the flames surrounding the Rainbow Pokémon merely took on a golden aura. When Ho-oh launched its Sacred Fire, Ash called for a Dragon Rage to counter it.
There was an explosion as the two attacks met, and a hot wind blew over the group on the Bell Tower, forcing all the spectators to duck their heads. "This is ridiculous!" shouted Misty, trying to be heard over the roar of the wind.
"Ho-oh is clearly a force to be reckoned with!" Morty agreed. "I don't condone the actions of the past, but it's quite obvious why people would want to use it for personal gain!"
Ash ignored the dialogue of his associates. "Charizard, are you okay?" A roar sounded out, and soon the Flame Pokémon was floating above the cloud of smoke. "Great! Fire a Dragon Breath into the smoke!"
Charizard did as he was bade, expelling more blue air into the haze. There was a loud crow in response, and then Ho-oh appeared, its body surrounded by a golden-white aura. It flew at the fiery dragon, and Ash quickly called for his Pokémon to defend with Dragon Claw. The Flame Pokémon's claws turned a luminescent blue and extended several inches, allowing him to just barely catch Ho-oh's wings.
The two dual-types struggled against each other to break the aerial deadlock even as Charizard was slowly pushed back. "Charizard, Seismic Toss!" Ash yelled.
Charizard grunted and tightened his grip on his opponent's wings, but Ho-oh acted first, exhaling a Fire Blast into the Flame Pokémon's face at point-blank range. Ash's Pokémon bellowed in rage and attempted to recover his equilibrium, but Ho-oh again preempted him and finally landed its Sky Attack.
The Flame Pokémon fell a short distance before opening his wings and shaking his head. Despite looking a bit worse for wear, he regained the lost altitude and faced down Ho-oh once again. At Ash's behest, he loosed another Dragon Rage at Ho-oh; the bird countered by firing an Extrasensory. Both attacks collided, but the ball of condensed fire tore through the psychic energy and hit Ho-oh. The Rainbow Pokémon screeched in pain, but then began to glow gold.
"That's Recover," Ash realized. "Charizard, hit Ho-oh with a Wing Attack before it recovers!"
Charizard roared and dove at Ho-oh, his wings a pure white. He reached the bird a moment too late, though the attack still hit home. The Flame Pokémon immediately whirled around and exhaled a Flamethrower, but Ho-oh formed the silvery orbs of an Ancient Power and used the Rock-type attack to take the brunt of the conflagration. Smoke came out of the dragon's nostrils, a clear sign of his agitation.
Ash watched his friend, noting the scorch marks Ho-oh's flames had caused and his Pokémon's heavy breaths. Charizard… There was little doubt in the Frontier Brain's mind that the Fire/Flying hybrid was one of, if not the strongest Pokémon within his possession, especially given Charizard's willpower and pride, but he was clearly approaching his limit. Knowing that the Flame Pokémon wouldn't give up even if asked, Ash prepared to give his friend one last command. "Alright Charizard, use Fire Blast, and pour everything you've got into it!"
The flame on Charizard's tail multiplied in size, growing to a raging inferno as fire accumulated in his open maw. Across from him, Ho-oh's body began to glow a bright blue-white color, fire amassing in its beak as well. "What is that?" Misty asked.
"It looks like Ho-oh's Sacred Fire," Morty speculated, "but the coloring is different."
"The heat given off by a flame increases in intensity from red to orange to yellow, and finally to white or bluish-white," spoke Eusine.
Morty turned to his friend. "So you think—"
"That that is the hottest Fire-type attack we will ever witness? Yes."
With a thunderous bellow, Charizard unleashed the gathered flames in Fire Blast's telltale shape just as Ho-oh launched its blue-white Sacred Fire. For a long moment, as the two attacks struggled against each other, it appeared as if they were equal in firepower. But then the blue flames of Ho-oh's assault began to burn through Charizard's red-white fire. Ho-oh expelled its own Fire Blast, giving its conflagration enough fuel to completely overwhelm the Flame Pokémon's fire. Too tired to move, Charizard was struck by the phoenix-like creature's flames.
Charizard let out one more roar before his eyes closed and he plummeted to the ground below. Ash shouted his name as he fell past Bell Tower's roof, but Charizard had no energy left to right himself. He landed in a pile of leaves on the Bellchime Trail, sending up a flurry of yellows, oranges, and reds amidst the crunch of his body impacting the detritus.
Ash called out Pidgeot and jumped on the Bird Pokémon's back, instructing her to fly down to where Charizard lay. Misty, Morty, and Eusine clambered down the stairs of the Bell Tower as Ash descended towards the downed Flame Pokémon.
The Frontier Brain jumped off Pidgeot as they neared the ground, landing near Charizard and falling to his knees in front of the fiery dragon. "Hey buddy," he whispered, placing a comforting hand upon the creature's leathery neck. Charizard opened one eye and grunted, craning his neck in an effort to get up. When the simple action proved too much, he relaxed back onto the leaves with a snort. Ash laughed weakly. "Yeah, I don't think you're going anywhere for a bit. Ho-oh did quite a number on you."
A large gust of wind forced Ash to shield his eyes from the fallen leaves and dirt that was suddenly uplifted. He turned to find Ho-oh standing in the center of the Bellchime Trail, its sharp eyes watching his every move. Pidgeot stood in front of her trainer with her wings spread out protectively, looking like nothing more than a fledgling in comparison to the Rainbow Pokémon. "Pidgeot," Ash said, and merely shook his head when the bird turned to him. He recalled Charizard and went to stand before Ho-oh, left hand soothingly stroking the white and tan feathers of Pidgeot's wing.
Taking a deep breath, Ash hung his head. "I'm sorry, Ho-oh, but I can't fight you anymore. It's not worth the pain my Pokémon would have to go through to continue this battle. Every injury they sustain is because I pushed them into battle. They're my friends, I would rather not see them continue to be hurt by going forward with something unnecessary." Pidgeot cooed under his touch in agreement with her trainer's words.
Ho-oh stared at the smaller bird and her trainer with a keen eye, analyzing them. From the entrance to the Bell Tower appeared Misty, Morty, and Eusine, all of whom kept their distance from the confrontation between Ash and Ho-oh. They all watched in amazement as the Rainbow Pokémon blinked and bowed its head to the raven-haired trainer. Ho-oh slowly approached Ash, and with its beak, tapped one of the Pokéballs on the man's belt.
Ash blinked, confused. "I don't understand."
Morty decided to take a hesitant step forward, then another, then another, until he was standing just behind Ash. "The legends all say that Ho-oh would reappear when the hearts of Pokémon and humans were united. Perhaps you have proven to Ho-oh that you and your Pokémon fully understand one another, Ash, and that's all it wanted to know in the first place."
Ash considered Morty's explanation. Rai had stated that not all of the challenges set forth by the Legendaries would be battles, but the ones he had encountered thus far (barring Mewtwo) had not stipulated anything different. "Is that true?" he addressed the bird.
Ho-oh crooned softly and nodded. "So you're going to come with me?" Again, the Legendary Pokémon nodded. "Thank you, Ho-oh," he murmured, "for granting me this honor." He clipped Charizard's Pokéball to his belt and then withdrew an empty one.
Before he could open it for the phoenix-like creature, a hand stopped him. "If you would wait a moment," Morty said, "I would appreciate it." Ash let his arm drop to his side. "Thank you." Morty turned brown eyes to the giant bird. "Ho-oh…I have waited my entire life to meet you, training and forging strong bonds with my Pokémon in an effort to be the one you sought. I understand now that I am not that person, but I will not allow such a revelation to deter me from my path. No matter how long it takes, my family will be around to protect your roost, and I will strive to continue fortifying my connection to my Pokémon."
Ho-oh stared at the Gym Leader for a long moment before reaching back and plucking a single red-, white-, and green-colored feather from its plumage. It waited until Morty held out one trembling hand before depositing the item into his palm. "This… I have no words. Thank you, Ho-oh, for granting me this honor," he uttered, repeating Ash's words. "I will never forget this."
With Morty's interaction with the giant bird finished, Ash held out the empty Pokéball. Ho-oh tapped the button on the front and disappeared. A beat of silence passed, and then Ash stated, "Well, now that that's over, I think it's time to be moving on. Morty, your help was greatly appreciated. I owe you big time."
"It was my pleasure, Ash. Truly, it is I who is indebted to you for allowing me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you don't mind my asking, where are you off to next?"
Ash glanced behind to make sure Misty wasn't in earshot before whispering, "The Ilex Forest. Don't tell Misty, though, she'll freak out."
Morty raised one thin, blond eyebrow. "If you say so. I suppose you'll be absent from the summit meeting again?"
"Er…"
Morty gave him a slight smile. "I understand. It's not like your presence is required anyway. Misty, I look forward to seeing you at the Pokémon League Summit," he continued, turning his attention to the other Gym Leader, who was now standing beside Ash.
"Me, too," she replied, handing Pikachu over to Ash.
Ash nodded to Morty once more and turned to walk away, but Eusine's voice stopped him. "I believe I owe you an apology," Eusine began. "It was wrong of me to approach you so…aggressively. In light of recent circumstances, I am forced to admit that you are indeed worthy of being Suicune's trainer. And Ho-oh's. I apologize for how brashly I acted."
There was a long silence before Ash raised a hand in farewell without turning around. "It's all good. Good luck with your search for another Suicune."
And with that, Ash and Misty left Bellchime Trail and began their venture out of Ecruteak City.
-l-l-l-
"AAIIIEEEEE!"
Ash rolled his eyes. Some things never change. "Misty, relax. It's just a little Spinarak."
The redhead shot him a look that could freeze lava. "Don't tell me to relax, Ketchum. You know how much I hate bugs." She squeezed Pikachu a little tighter, causing the Electric-type to wince at the increased pressure on his body. Spinarak moved a little closer to the woman, the markings on its body contorting into a smiley face. "Ash, do something!"
"Aw, but Mist, it's completely harmless—"
"ASH KETCHUM, I SWEAR—!"
The raven-haired trainer cast a bemused glance at the gold- and scarlet-feathered form of his Noctowl, perched upon his left shoulder. "Alright Noctowl, I guess it's time to step in." The bird hooted and left his trainer's shoulder, coming to hover in front of the Spinarak. His eyes glowed luminescent red before two similarly colored rings struck the spider, forcing it to return to its home within the trees. Noctowl returned to Ash's shoulder as the Frontier Brain turned around and said, "See Mist? Nothing a little Hypnosis can't handle."
"I can't believe I let you talk me into coming here," Misty shuddered, hunching in upon herself and casting wary glances at the surrounding foliage.
"Hey, I offered to put you up in a posh hotel in Goldenrod while I continued on, but you insisted on accompanying me."
"YOU DIDN'T SAY WE WERE GOING TO THE ILEX FOREST!"
"Some things are better left as a surprise," he confided in Noctowl, a mischievous grin on his face. "More fun that way. Though if I had known exactly how much screaming I would have to put up with, I probably would've left her behind." Aloud, he said, "You're welcome to lead. It's harder to keep an eye on you when you're behind me."
"Fine," she huffed, striding past him. The redhead rounded a bend in the path ahead and released a bloodcurdling shriek. She sprinted around the corner and latched onto Ash's right arm with such force that Noctowl had to dig in his talons to avoid being dislodged. "Getthemaway, getthemaway, getthemawaaaay," she wailed.
Ash winced at the sudden pressure on both his right arm and left shoulder. "Noctowl, if you could go…" he gestured. The shiny Pokémon released his grip and took off, allowing Ash to focus his attention on Misty. "Misty, not for nothing, but I would really appreciate the use of my arm back." When she didn't relinquish her hold, he sighed, "The sooner you let go, the sooner we can find the shrine and get out of here."
There was a soft whimper, and then Misty's reluctant, "Fine. But I'm not leaving your side."
"Sure," Ash nodded, sounding sympathetic. He turned the corner, finding a trio of Metapod withdrawing out of sight. "Noctowl, could you scout ahead and take care of any, uh, distractions?" The bird keened quietly and flew off, leaving the two trainers to follow at a more sedate pace.
It had taken the pair over a week to get from the rustic Ecruteak City to the hustle and bustle of Goldenrod City. Despite Ash's offer to put Misty up in a hotel room for a couple of days while he went in search of Celebi, the redhead had vehemently protested being left behind, and Ash, indulging his prankster side, had neglected to tell her that the Ilex Forest was their destination. Misty had found out soon enough after they had departed Route 34 and demanded Pikachu for protection even though everyone knew the rodent was too powerful to repel the wild Pokémon without actually hurting them. They, not the forest dwellers, were the intruders after all, and not doing the wild Pokémon permanent damage was important.
Which was why Ash had called out Noctowl to provide a peaceable solution to any encounters they might come across.
In addition to trying to discover where they had been headed, Misty had also been rather curious at Brock's continued absence. Ash had remained unworried, stating that it wasn't unusual for the breeder to disappear for weeks at a time, and that he would return when his business was concluded. Whenever Brock returned to the Battle Island, his Blissey would be able to take care of Charizard and Ho-oh, both of whom Ash had sent back before departing Ecruteak.
Noctowl came swooping back through the forest. He reclaimed his perch on Ash's shoulder and began to hoot in his trainer's ear. "Alright, thanks for the info, Noctowl. C'mon Mist, we're almost there."
"Almost where?" she asked, bringing her pace to a quick jog when Ash did the same.
"You'll see."
Soon enough, they were standing before a small shrine, its bright red roof making the rest of its weathered wood appear drab in comparison. "Is this what we're looking for?" Misty asked.
"Yep. This is a shrine dedicated to the Guardian of the Forest, which, if the myths are to be believed, is Celebi," Ash explained. "Here, take Noctowl. I want a closer look at the shrine."
"Alright." The Owl Pokémon hopped upon her shoulder, allowing Ash to take several steps forward and kneel in front of the shrine. He reached out with a hand and carefully ran it over the wooden construct, examining it for small indentations or symbols, something to point him towards Celebi.
There was a bright flash of light, forcing Ash to whirl around and shield his eyes with the crook of his arm. When he opened them, he could only gape in awe.
Everything around him – the forest, Misty, Pikachu, Noctowl – was frozen in place and devoid of color, a complete grayscale landscape. He gazed at his own hands, finding them to be their usual flesh-tone. Turning slowly on the spot, he discovered that there was a hemisphere roughly 15 feet in diameter – encompassing the shrine, and with him at the center – of non-monochromatic scenery.
And hovering above the shrine with translucent wings was the small, pixie form of Celebi. It stared at Ash with blue eyes set in a head too large for its pale and lime green body. In comparison to his battles with the rest of Johto's Legendary Pokémon, Ash was a little relieved to confront one who was smaller than him. "This is quite a trick," Ash tried nonchalantly, arms spread out to indicate the frozen scene around him. He reached for his belt and grabbed a Pokéball. "I suppose I'll have to catch you to stop it."
Celebi spread its arms wide and closed its eyes, the dark circles around them blending into its eyelids and creating black spots just below the roots of its blue-tipped antennae. Suddenly, Ash was bombarded by flashes of images, the intensity of the pictures causing him to clutch his head in pain. "Stop, stop!" he shouted, shaking his head. The abrupt slideshow ended, allowing him to once again look at the Guardian of the Forest. Remembering that Celebi was part Psychic-type, he ventured, "So you can communicate by showing images in people's heads?" The Grass/Psychic hybrid nodded. Plant life began to emerge from the ground behind Ash, twining together to form a chair of flora. Ash glanced at the makeshift chair and shot a look at Celebi. Taking a seat, he sighed, "I feel like this is a setup."
The Time Travel Pokémon almost seemed to smile at the remark, once again closing its eyes. This time, Ash felt like he was watching a video of his life on rewind instead of the multitude of disjointed images Celebi had showed him the first time. When the pictures stopped reeling, Ash was looking at his 10-year-old self clad in a simple turquoise kimono.
"Sorry I'm late," Misty apologized, coming up to where he was sitting on a bench. Ash looked up, startled to find the redhead dressed in a pink kimono decorated with bubbles, her hair let out from its usual side-ponytail. She gave him a somewhat confused look when he did nothing but stare, but replaced it with a smile. "Come on, Ash, let's dance."
"Ah, sure." He grabbed her proffered hand and let her lead him to the dance floor.
The image dissipated, and there was a flash in his mind's eye as Celebi found another memory to show him.
Ash sat up from his prostrate position on the floor of Lavender Town's Pokémon Tower. "Hi Misty. Hey guys, sorry to worry you."
"No sweat, glad to have you back," Brock admitted.
Meanwhile, Misty wiped the tears from her eyes and offered him a shaky smile.
Another flash as Celebi sifted through memories long passed. Only two images in, and Ash was starting to detect a theme.
"What's that saying? 'You always hurt the ones you love'?"
"Oh, you've got it all wrong," Misty assured Danny, running to catch up to him. "I'd never get involved with a little kid like him. I prefer the more mature, intellectual type."
"I never understood what Misty saw in him," Ash fumed. "Who has challengers climb a mountain without any gear anyway? I nearly died!"
"I dedicate this match to the girl who saved my sister and stole my heart," professed Rudy.
"Him either," he seethed, suddenly remembering Rudy's persistent interest in Misty—
"Ash! What're you gonna do, just stand there and let him beat ya? C'mon, you're the only one who can bring out Squirtle's real power!"
—and how, in the end, Misty had chosen to continue journeying with him and Tracey over staying on Trovita Island. "Yeah, who won there, huh?" he proclaimed to no one.
Flash.
"Wow, can you imagine Brock married?"
"You and I will be married someday, too."
Ash nodded in agreement, then did a double-take when his friend's words actually registered.
Flash.
"I just love the quietly heroic and passionate type. Say, how 'bout some lunch?"
"Excuse me," Misty interrupted defensively, "Ash is booked."
"Oh really? Who says?"
"I say so, Ms. Pigtails, and I'm the famous Water Pokémon trainer from Cerulean City; Misty's the name."
"Misty…and you say that you train Water Pokémon full-time? By the way, are you Ash's girlfriend or not?"
"N-no, I-I'm his coach…"
"Then I would thank you to stay out of his personal business."
Flash.
Misty tied a length of rope around her waist and turned to face Melody. "Ash is my burden. He'll never be alone because…he'll always have me…" Then she dove into the raging water and swam towards the place where Ash and Lugia had gone down.
"Misty was the one who saved me…?" Ash wondered.
Flash.
"Well Ash Ketchum, finally I know how you feel about me," Misty murmured, pedaling away from her long-time traveling companion. The tears in her eyes were lost to the wind.
Flash.
"I got this lure from Misty a long time ago."
"Oh, let me give that thing a try."
"No way, Dawn!"
Ash watched in fascination as Celebi showed him memory after memory – most of them his, some of them Misty's – all centered around his interaction with the redhead. Many were from their younger years traveling through Kanto, the Orange Islands, and Johto, but there were plenty from the years following his return from Sinnoh and his induction into the Battle Frontier. Each one just seemed to prove how far his friendship with Misty had come, and how far it truly extended. Still… "Why are you showing me all this?"
[Because, Chosen One, everything needs balance] spoke a voice in his mind. It was deep, and Ash immediately ruled out Celebi talking to him telepathically, instead considering the farfetched possibility of it belonging to one of the Legendaries from Hoenn or Sinnoh. [Reflect, and tip the scales.] With that, the voice was gone.
Ash pondered the voice's words as the forest around him regained its color and the flora-chair disappeared back into the ground.
Everything's back to normal. He looked around just to assure himself of that fact. Now's not the time to think of all that stuff. His fingers clenched a bit more tightly around the Pokéball still in his hand. It's time to battle.
"Heracross, go!" The Single Horn Pokémon appeared in a flash of light and immediately latched onto the nearest tree with a happy cry of his name. He began to emit slurping sounds as he broke through the bark and reached the sweet sap within. "Hey, Heracross, not to interrupt your meal, but I could kinda use your help over here."
Heracross looked over at his trainer, blinking curiously. Then, with a flutter of his wings, he dropped into a battle-ready position in front of Ash. "Hera-crah!"
Ash laughed. "I knew I could count on you. Let's start things off with Horn Attack." The Single Horn Pokémon charged forward with his trademark gleaming bright silver. Celebi floated up and away from the shrine, and Heracross was forced to take to the air to catch the pixie. "Megahorn," Ash called, and the beetle increased his speed as the glow of his horn changed to a pure white.
Celebi looked back and squeaked at finding its opponent so close, but it was too late. The Bug/Fighting hybrid plowed his horn into the Time Travel Pokémon with a cry of his name, sending the Legendary tumbling into Ilex Forest's thicket.
"That seemed a bit unnecessary," Misty berated.
Ash had the grace to look sheepish. "Whoops." I figured Celebi would be able to avoid that somehow. I wonder if showing me all those images took a lot of its energy.
Lime-green, crescent-shaped leaves appeared from the forest, all headed directly at Heracross. "Defend with Endure," he commanded. The Single Horn Pokémon hunkered down to protect himself as the Magical Leaf attack broke over his carapace. Just as the Bug- and Fighting-type rose from his position, a ball of multicolored psychic energy blew out from the trees and struck him in the chest. Heracross winced but managed to stay on his feet, wary of another attack.
As long as Celebi stays within the forest, it has the advantage, Ash noted. Heracross isn't agile enough to follow it through the trees and keep up, assuming he can even find it. "Heracross, return," he decided, recalling the Pokémon. Casting a glance in Misty's direction, he continued, "Noctowl, let's go." The Owl Pokémon hooted and left Misty's shoulder, gliding over to his trainer. "We need to find Celebi, so use your Foresight on the forest over there," he said, pointing towards where the Magical Leaf and Future Sight had come from.
Noctowl's eyes glowed red before twin beams erupted from them and scanned over the area his trainer had indicated. In short order, Celebi's small form was revealed to be hovering between two thick trees amidst all the foliage, the formation of another Magical Leaf apparent. "Use Confusion," he commanded. The wide, U-shaped crest on Noctowl's forehead glowed bright blue before a wave of psychic energy blasted from it. There was a distant squeal as the attack washed over Celebi, interrupting its own technique. When the Time Travel Pokémon didn't appear in the clearing by the shrine, Ash raised an eyebrow. "Making this difficult, huh? Fine. Noctowl, go find Celebi."
The owl hooted and flew off, dipping into the darkness of Ilex Forest's depths.
For a long time, there was silence in the surrounding area as Noctowl and Celebi engaged in an invisible game of cat and mouse. The Owl Pokémon's wings were noiseless as he flew, a distinct advantage in finding his prey. Celebi might have been more at home in the Ilex Forest, but Noctowl had the type advantage and the keen intellect of a hunter.
From the left came the sound of rustling leaves, followed by a loud keening, a flare of brilliant blue, and a high-pitched squeal. Celebi came crashing through the underbrush with Noctowl right on its tail, another Air Slash closing the space between them. The Flying-type attack struck the ground as Celebi swerved to avoid it, sending forest loam and dust into the air. "Noctowl, use Foresight to get a lock on Celebi and then use Sky Attack!" Ash shouted, protecting his eyes from the debris.
The Owl Pokémon hooted and sent out Foresight's twin lasers. Finding the Guardian of the Forest within the haze, he became encased in a golden-white aura and swooped at Celebi. The powerful attack struck home, sending the Grass/Psychic hybrid into a tree with a short shriek. It hit with a muted thump and slid to the ground. After telling Noctowl to blow away the residual dust in the air, Ash casually tossed a Pokéball at the Time Travel Pokémon.
When it stopped shaking, Ash walked over and picked up the sphere. He stared at it, trying to gather the thoughts that had cropped up from his trip down memory lane.
The voice, as strange as it sounded, was right. Somewhere along the way, he'd started devoting more of himself to his craft and less to his friends, his human friends, even as he'd tried to maintain those connections. Everything needs balance…
Something had to change.
"—of here. Ash! Are you listening to me?"
He had no idea how things would play out, but nothing would change if he didn't take a chance. "Misty," he began, turning around to face her. "Will you go out with me?"