A lot had changed in Ecruteak city in five years. The gym had been completely remodelled a year ago, so there was still no grass growing around it, and some tools the workmen had left behind were lying around the ground. This also made the gym leader slightly annoyed, so he looked grumpier than before.
The pokemon centre had also moved closer to the gym, since the gym leader had gotten stronger, and the pokemon that lost to his were often in need of fast healing.
For one who had not been there since the infamous fire of the dance theatre would be shocked to find, that in the place of the former theatre was now a black, burned down ruin, with a sign explaining the horrendous events of five years back. It also told that a new dance theatre had been built a few blocks away from the original place, and that it was open from 12 AM to 8 PM.
The ruins of the old one were kept so that people would have a place to pay their respect towards the events that still caused many sleepless nights to many citizens, especially the kimono girls themselves.
The most significant change, however, was considered to be the fact that there were only four Kimono girls performing daily in the theatre. In other cities, there were rumours that the youngest of the girls had died in the fire, but the citizens knew better. The girl had survived, miraculously with light wounds, but it was still a very, very tragic story.
They said, that the Kimono girls had all seemed to have managed to escape the burning theatre with their pokemon, but on a critical moment, Satsuki, the eldest of the Kimono girls, had noticed that her youngest sister was missing. She had realized that she had not been seen outside at all, and that the poor girl was most likely still in the building. This had also been noticed by the Umbreon the youngest sister owned, who had rushed back into the building, and somehow managed to get her away from the worst fire. Satsuki had carried her out, but the Umbreon was never found. Soon enough, it became very clear that the poor pokemon had died in the fire.
This had been hard on all the kimono girls, but Tamao, the youngest sister, had suffered the most. The loss of her pokemon had caused her to become extremely depressed, and she had lost her wish to dance at the new theatre. Eventually, she realized it was too painful for her to stay in Ecruteak city, or even it Johto. So, the girl had taken an Eevee, coincidentally the little sister of her deceased Umbreon, with her and left to Orre, ignoring what her sister had said. Not once had she since put her feet on Johto, and she only rarely called her sisters. According to the kimono girls, she was currently living in Sinnoh, a region in the north. Even so, that was only the latest information they had. She had already lived in several regions, and she had been in Sinnoh for a fairly long time compared to the others, so it was likely that she'd move soon, if she hadn't already done so.
Those were the rumours, at the least.
The truth was a little different, though; Tamao quite liked Sinnoh, and was not planning to move away from there in a while. She liked the way the air was refreshing in there. She enjoyed walking in a route, noticing it'd start snowing soon, and hoping to find a shelter somewhere for the night. The trainers were nice too; they were often eager to join her journey for a short period of time, or challenge her to a three on three battle. Even though Tamao did remember having some unpleasant encounters with some strange people breaking havoc in the name of some Team Galactic, the people in Sinnoh were mostly nice. Oh no – she wasn't going to leave, not for a while, at least.
Upon leaving her home, Tamao had first left for Orre, where she had obtained another Eevee from a boy named Michael, due to various reasons. From there, she had travelled to Kanto, but left soon after accidentally capturing a fun-loving Murkrow, sometimes a major pain in the back. Since then, she had travelled through many regions, and eventually ended up in Sinnoh. She had now lived there for a year, and found it the most comfortable place for her to be. Her Eevees (who had by now fallen in love with each other) had soon both evolved soon after she got to Sinnoh, making Tamao the owner of a Leafia and a Glacia. Her Murkrow was also eager to evolve, but since Tamao felt he would become dangerous if he gained more power, she kept her Dark stone hidden, which was a source of great annoyance to the Murkrow, who had always been a troublemaker, and very eager to gain power.
That, of course, was just Tamao's journey in a nutshell, and it had taken her five years to get where she was now. She was known as a fairly strong trainer, who had defeated some gyms here and there, but never really aimed towards becoming anything. She was still searching for her place, and she knew it too.
Her depression had gotten better though. Even though Tamao still mourned for her lost Umbreon, she still did her best for her three pokemon, and somewhat enjoyed her quiet, peaceful life with them. She was sure that in Sinnoh, she'd finally be able to become happy, and live the life she wanted to.
With this optimistic attitude, Tamao was peacefully living her days in Sinnoh. She had circled around the region once already, but she had yet to decide where to by a house from, so she was currently just wandering around Sinnoh.
Currently, she was walking along route 212, trying to remember whether she was supposed to turn to right of to left from the crossing. Glacia and Leafia were arguing about this too, as they walked by her. Tamao obviously couldn't understand their words, but since she was the one who had started the conversation, she knew the topic of their growling.
" Calm it, you two. It doesn't matter, really. We've got plenty of time," Tamao told them, and the two looked at her stubbornly, obviously wanting to know which she thought was the right way to go.
" Uh… I seriously suck at remembering where I've gone, really, so there's no need to…", Tamao started, only to get interrupted by some angry growling, and the two pokemon starting arguing again.
Tamao couldn't help but to sigh, which greatly annoyed the two pokemon. They both made a devilish grin, and started playfully tackling Tamao's feet.
"Cut it out, you two! I'm going to fall," Tamao shouted, trying to sound calm, but in reality she was quite annoyed, struggling to hold it back.
Leafia and Glacia, however, had not had enough, so both of them decided on doing a gentle body slam, right on Tamao's ankle… unfortunately, they both realized their plans at the same time.
" Ah!" Tamao gasped, as both of her feet were hit, and she fell right down on the road. Even though her fall was softened by a pokeball on her belt, she couldn't help but to feel terrified; something more annoying than her getting hurt was about to occur.
Indeed; as the pokeball hit the ground, it's seal opened, letting out a black, crow-like pokemon. In the instant the pokemon noticed he was outside, he started shouting in joy, with something very devilish in his voice.
Tamao made a sigh, and the two pokemon that had knocked her down lowered their ears, and looked at their trainer nervously, wondering how she'd react.
" Now you've done it," the girl muttered, and picked up the pokeball, which had rolled to her side. Returning the Murkrow would not be possible in a while though.
On that instant, the Murkrow started wildly flapping his wings, making sand fly right on his two companions and trainer, laughing as devilishly as a Murkrow can. He then took off, flying towards west, aiming for the closest town.
" Oh geez. I wonder how much his pranks will cost me this time…?" Tamao whined in her mind, remembering how expensive it had been to pay for the repairing for not less than fifteen windows, which had all been broken last time the darkness pokemon was accidentally let out of his pokeball in an unrestricted environment.
Glacia looked at her, and slightly wagged her tail, probably trying to let he know she was sorry, and Leafia started nervously walking around in circles. Tamao smiled sadly at them.
" What's done is done. Besides, it was an accident," she said calmly.
The black-haired girl then gently pushed the ground, getting on feet, and wiped off some sand from her clothes. She looked at the side of the road, seeing a nice big tree, and a small, artificial pond. She smiled a little, finding herself to be, at least slightly, able to benefit from the accident. She turned to look at her two loyal pokemon, who had already guessed what was in her mind, and looked slightly happier.
" Now that Murkrow has flied off somewhere, we can't move on, or he'll get lost and break even more of other's property. Let's have a break over there, okay?", she said, simply out of conveniences sake, knowing that the two pokemon would be playing in the pond before she'd even manage to finish her sentence. And right she was; she had barely managed to start talking when the two had started running, shouting in joy, but this time nothing devilish in their voices. Tamao finished her sentence on her own, and then shouted after the two.
" Be careful, okay?"
Then she calmly walked up the tree, sat down on the ground, and took a comfortable position on the grass.
" Might as well take a nap…" She thought simply, and yawned, realizing once again that she really should sleep more.
Tamao closed her eyes, but before allowing herself to fall asleep, she shouted out to her pokemon, whom she heard playing in the pound now.
" Watch for everything while I'm asleep! If something happens, or Murkrow returns, please wake me up! Oh, and be careful!" she added in the end, like she always did.
Upon hearing a joyful answer from both of them, Tamao let herself go completely, and in a matter of seconds, she had fallen fast asleep.
Her dream, however, turned out not to be the usual one, where she had to apologise for Murkrow. It was something very different.
At first, Tamao felt a warm, comfortable sensation, and felt a pokemon gently lick her cheek, just once. Her eyes shot open, and she realized she was standing in front of the dance theatre in Ecruteak, the place that had been somewhat her home for the first ten years of her life.
And right next to her, by her feet, a slick, elegant black pokemon was standing, staring at the theatre.
Tamao made an inner gasp. Her lungs wanted to make a sharp breathe, and her heart tried to start pounding faster and faster, her arms and legs wanted to become paralysed from shock, but… None of these happened. Her body remained relaxed, her lungs took deep breaths, and her heart beat ever so calmly. Not even her expression changed; she was calm outside, but inside, she was holding back a scream.
On the very moment Tamao realized she had no control over her body whatsoever, the Umbreon by her legs got up. He looked at Tamao, and then turned his head towards the dance theatre, starting to walk towards it.
Tamao wanted to scream his name and stop him, knowing exactly what was likely to happen soon. But, instead, she merely started walking after the pokemon, following him inside. For an endless moment she followed the pokemon in the theatre, until the Umbreon finally stopped, and sat down on the floor. Tama walked until she was right behind him.
On the moment she stopped, wild flames lit in the building. Suddenly, the whole building was engulfed in fire, as if it would have been burning for hours already. Helplessly, Tamao couldn't do anything but stare, when her beloved Umbreon got up again, gave her a sad look, and ran right into the flames.
That was when the force binding Tamao's body disappeared. Her heart started beating faster than it ever had, her lungs drew a dozen sharp breaths, and a scream came out from her mouth.
" Umbreon! Umbreon, no!" she screamed, and started running towards the flame her pokemon had disappeared into. But before she could reach it, before she could even feel the heat coming from that specific flame, she heard a powerful scream from above.
Tamao raised her head in fear, and in the instant all seven colours of a rainbow flashed in her eyes, leaving only a golden figure for her to see.
The figure, a magnificent bird, bended its head towards her. If Tamao hadn't realized what it was before, she knew now; every citizen of Ecruteak city knew the legend of the golden and rainbow-coloured phoenix.
Tamao gasped in awe, but managed to get her eyes off the magnificent being, staring into the flames where her pokemon had disappeared. But she was forced to turn her head right back, as the being let out another kaw, and this time golden flames started gathering around its wings. In the next moment, the building was no longer engulfed in the flames it had been; instead, it was engulfed in a sacred fire, coming from the huge rainbow coloured wings of this phoenix.
Tamao felt warm, just like at the start of the dream, but the name of her pokemon was still echoing in her mind, and the sad look he had given her still remained in her eyes.
But before Tamao could react in any way, she felt gently, but fast and panicking pounding on her shoulder. Suddenly, a similar feeling started on her other shoulder too.
" I must wake up," she told herself, realizing it was just a weird nightmare. She closed her eyes, and bit her tongue harshly. Slowly, the warm sensation started fading, her heart started calming down, and Tamao could feel grass with her fingers.
Tamao's eyes shot open, and she found herself safely under the tree, near that artificial pond her pokemon had last been playing in. The pond was empty now, and the two pokemon were now on both of her sides, tapping her shoulders in fear, trying to wake her up. When they noticed her eyes were open, both of them started shouting, sounding fearful.
Tamao sat up, and put her hand on the head of Glacia, the one that was close rot her, as Leafia had started running in circles again.
" Wh- what's wrong?" Tamao asked, still dazed by her dream, trying to get herself together.
Glacia looked terrified, and Tamao couldn't help but to notice her icy fur sparkling in a strange bright and golden light. But before she managed to wonder about it, Glacia had already looked up, and moved fearfully closer to her trainer.
Tamao looked right up, and what she saw amazed her so much she could no longer feel her legs.
Because right there, above the trainer and her two awed pokemon, was a magnificent rainbow-coloured bird. This time, it was not a dream. Because truly, there, it really was, looking straight at Tamao with its red eyes.
The legendary rainbow pokemon Ho-oh.
Tamao couldn't make a sound. She just stared at the amazing being, without even knowing what to think. Leafia and Glacia made nervous glances at the legendary pokemon, not knowing if it was okay for them to look or not.
Ho-oh was burning in a gentle, golden light, but it looked somewhat sorrowful. As Tamao tried to figure out its expression, the pokemon made a harmonious, beautiful shout, and flapped its wings once. It turned around, and started beautifully flying towards the western sky, making one meaningful glance at Tamao as it flew.
Tamao got up as fast as she could, and took a few steps after it.
" West… Johto!" She gasped as she realized where the pokemon was most likely heading.
Her head started feeling heavy, and her mouth felt dry. What was going on? Had the legendary pokemon flown all the way to Sinnoh, just to see her? And did this mean it wanted her to return to Johto?
" It can't be… Why would a legendary pokemon want me to…?" Tamao shouted at herself in her head, and squeezed her hands harshly against each other, only to realize she was holding something. Something soft and warm.
With shivering hands, Tamao opened her grip, and saw a beautiful, rainbow coloured feather in her hands. She knew what it was, and especially it's value. And it didn't make her feel good at all.
A Rainbow wing. The feather of Ho-oh, the only way for a trainer to proof she had the right to meet up with Ho-oh, rumoured to be resting on the top of Tin tower in Ecruteak city.
Tamao turned her gaze towards west, where Ho-oh had already disappeared. She knew for sure now.
The legendary pokemon really had come to call for her. It really did want her to follow it. Tamao was to return to Johto, whether she wanted or not.