For Ho-Oh the Bells Toll

The next gym was located in Mahogany Town. To get there, the heroes had to backtrack to Ecruteak City. Since they would be taking the same route back, getting there would be pretty easy. But they managed to get a few rides from traders who were going their way. It saved them the trouble of passing through mountains and getting sick on their travels.

It may have taken a few weeks to get to Olivine City from Ecruteak City, but with all the extra help, the heroes managed to make it back in a few days. They decided to rest up in town for a while and stock up on supplies.

Just then, the heroes heard chiming. It was coming from the Tin Tower. They decided to head over there to check it out. To their surprise, they met Morty. "Well, well," he greeted them. "It's been a long time since I last saw the four champions of Duel Monsters. Somehow, I'm not surprised to see you all again."

"Morty?" Kaiba asked. "Why are you here?"

"Well, if you must know, I've come to investigate the sounds of the bells of the Tin Tower," he explained. "The bells haven't chimed like this in a long time, but when they do, it means that Ho-Oh is coming."

Everyone was shocked to hear that. "How can you tell?" Yugi asked.

"I'm not sure how to explain it, but when you four came back to Ecruteak City, something inside told me that Ho-Oh was coming to make itself known to you."

"Ridiculous," scoffed another voice. It came from an arrogant man in a purple suit and a white cape. He also had a bracelet with a Keystone in the center. Morty introduced him as Eusine. He was a man in pursuit of legendary Pokémon and the one he's had his eye on for a long time was Suicune.

Morty brought the team back to his study. On the top floor of the Tin Tower rested four sacred objects known as the crystal bells. They would only ring when the arrival of Ho-Oh was near. Morty was about to check and see if the bells were ringing before he met up with Yugi and the gang. Everyone already knew the story of the Burnt Tower, but Morty decided to go further into the story. Although the Tower had been destroyed, the thirty-two metal bells and four crystal bells were not. They withstood the fire and were not damaged in any way. After the new Tower was built, the bells were put back into their original place with the hope that Ho-Oh would one day return. Since then, the bells have never rung.

But for the bells to ring now, it was still unclear if Ho-Oh was coming. But everyone did know this much: Ho-Oh was still watching over the world. From what Eusine discovered in his research, Ho-Oh's anger and rage will only cease when the hearts of humans and Pokémon are one and when that happens, Ho-Oh will finally make itself known to humans again. Until then, Ho-Oh's servants will continue to observe humans.

According to the legend, from the fires of the Tower, three Pokémon were born. They were the noble dogs of the Johto Region. There was Entei, the reincarnation of the volcano, Raikou, the reincarnation of thunder, and Suicune, the reincarnation of the North Winds.

When Yugi mentioned that he and his friends saw Suicune when they first arrived in the Johto Region, Eusine became jealous, but the jealousy quickly turned to disbelief. He boasted that Suicune would only appear before someone worthy and he accused Yugi and his friends of not being of any worth. To confirm his suspicions, he challenged Yugi to a battle.

The challenge would take place in the arena of the Ecruteak gym. Eusine tossed his Pokéball and called on Alakazam. Yugi decided to battle with Bayleef. Immediately, Eusine touched his Keystone and tapped into the power of Mega Evolution, causing Alakazam to Mega Evolve.

Before the battle could start, the bells began to chime again, only much louder than before. Everyone looked up and saw a great bird approaching the Tin Tower. It was Ho-Oh.

"Unreal!" gasped Joey.

"We've got to check this out!" Yugi cried. Everyone agreed and hurried to the Tin Tower. On the way, they heard a strange roar. Suddenly, a mysterious Pokémon appeared before them. It was a blue dog with white diamond patterns and a purple mane with a crystal crest. It was Suicune, one of the three noble dogs.

Everyone was amazed to see Suicune standing before them. Eusine was not going to let this chance slip away now that she was here. He immediately challenged her to a battle and called on Alakazam. When Alakazam emerged from his Pokéball, Eusine touched his Keystone and made Alakazam Mega Evolve once more. Alakazam was about to attack with Confusion, but Suicune warded him away with Roar, causing him to retreat to his Pokéball.

Suicune cautiously approached Emily. "Are you the princess who holds the Millennium Star?"

"I am," she weakly answered.

Suicune lowered herself and bowed in respect. "I have orders to bring you to the Tin Tower. Ho-Oh requests your presence. Your friends may come, but no one else."

"All right," Emily says, climbing on Suicune's back.

Morty's eyes widen. "What are you doing?"

"Suicune wants me to come with her to the Tin Tower," Emily explains. "She said Ho-oh wants to see me."

Eusine couldn't believe what he was hearing. "How can you understand Suicune? And why would it make itself known to you? Who are you and how are you controlling Suicune?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Emily told Eusine. "Yugi, Joey, Kaiba, let's go. Ho-Oh's waiting for us."

"Lead the way," said Yugi, and Suicune brings the heroes to the Tin Tower.

As they climbed the stairs, they noticed that the bells were ringing. When they got to the last floor of the Tower, they saw that the crystal bells were ringing. When they came outside, they saw Ho-Oh sitting on the roof.

"So it is true," Ho-Oh was saying. "The warriors of Millennia have come to this world."

"Ho-Oh," Emily said in awe, "it's wonderful to see you."

She agreed. "Word has gotten out fast that the warriors of Millennia have been traveling through these lands. I wanted to see it for myself."

"That's why you've returned after so many centuries?" Joey wondered.

"That tradition has passed," said Ho-Oh. "But it remains true that I only appear to those worthy of my presence. And when I heard of your victory against Arceus for the Cobalt Star shard, I knew it was time for us to meet."

"So what now?" Kaiba asked.

"You may have fulfilled the task you were assigned, but there is still more to do," Ho-Oh explains. "I have heard that harmony can be restored only by the warriors of Millennia, but I do not believe it is so. But do not mistake it for me not having faith in you. The Gods want you to restore the balance between them by righting the wrongs they caused. Hopefully it will set an example not just for people and Pokémon, but for all of mankind and for beasts in the worlds you will travel to."

"Wow, I can see that harmony is such a big deal," Kaiba remarked.

"It was what made our world beautiful and allowed us to live together as one," said Ho-Oh. "I know you may already know this, but since man and monster began living together, the bonds grew stronger. Monsters wanted to be part of the human world by becoming humans. They had the power to take on the shape of humans, but remain as monsters for their abilities."

"So Pokémon had the power to turn into humans?" Yugi asked.

"Yes," Ho-Oh answered. "Humans were seen as the most advanced animal for being the last link in the chain of evolution. It was not enough that monsters wanted to be with humans. They wanted to be humans for their wondrous qualities and talents for imagination, creation, and to understand human emotions. But when violence broke out because of petty differences and greed and lust for power, the bonds between man and monster began to break. Since then, many monsters have lost the abilities they once had during their need to adapt and survive. The power to transform into a human has been lost for centuries."

Emily felt great sorrow for Ho-Oh's story. "A lot has changed since then. I agree a lot of it wasn't for the better, but some good has come from it. We can't go back to the harmony we once had in the ancient past, but by learning from our histories, we slowly start to understand each other."

"I know," Ho-Oh was saying. "And humans still have that dream with the hope of returning to how things used to be. But although these traditions have played an important part of history, they will not shape the future. They have to be let go. That is essential in starting over. That is why I travel tirelessly around the world, you see. I appear not to those worthy, but to everyone in need of hope."

"You're right," said Kaiba. "Nothing is ever accomplished by repeating history and trying to gain different results. In order to really move ahead, you have to let go of the past because if you hold on to it, your burdens will weigh you down."

Ho-Oh was glad that the heroes understood. "That is correct. It does not do to dwell on the past. But by learning from your wrongs, you can better yourselves and change the world for the good as you go."

"That's why you haven't been coming back to the Tin Tower like you used to," Yugi was saying. "You wanted to pass this lesson without having to repeat history."

"Does that mean you'll never come back to the Tin Tower ever again?"

"Not like I used to," Ho-Oh answered. "But I will still give my blessing to humans and Pokémon because everyone deserves it. The harmony between us cannot return to what it used to be, but these new harmonies are good. I have seen the bonds between humans and Pokémon and I know there are people with good hearts."

"Maybe it's better that way," said Kaiba. "After all that you've shared with us, it's best not to repeat history and rely on the hope that you'll return, but to believe that you'll always be with us."

Ho-Oh was pleased with their response. "I knew you would understand. And for that, you four have my blessing."

"Thank you, Ho-Oh," Emily whispered.

Ho-Oh spreads her wings and begins to leave the Tin Tower. "I will always watch over you, warriors of Millennia." And she leaves into the world.

The heroes decide to leave the Tin Tower as well. They come outside and see Morty, but Eusine is already gone. He left in pursuit of Suicune.

"You four are very amazing," said Morty. "First Suicune appears before you and Ho-Oh returns to the Tin Tower to meet you. You guys are something else. The legendary Pokémon must see something good inside you to want to appear before you."

"You have no idea," said Joey.

"Ho-Oh wanted to give us her blessing," Emily explained.

"You know, Emily, there's something I've been wondering," Morty asked. "When Suicune first arrived, it almost looked like you were talking to each other."

She nods and tells him, "I can talk to Pokémon and understand them."

"Another thing," Morty was saying, "it was like Suicune knew who you were and wanted to meet you. And it certainly seemed to have a lot of respect for you and your friends."

Emily wasn't sure how to respond to that. "I guess we'll never know. I mean, legendary Pokémon choose the people worthy of their presence, that much is known. But it's not always clear why. I guess it's because of what they see in us."

"I guess you're right," said Morty.

"Well, today was interesting," Joey was saying. "We should head back to the Pokémon Center and rest. After that, we'll be on our way to Mahogany Town."

"Good luck on the rest of your journey," Morty tells the heroes. He and Emily shake hands and go their separate ways.