Chapter 33: The Phoenix King

It took a full two days to sail from Kanaz City to Akiba Town.

Although this passenger ship was not as grand as the famed St. Anne of the anime, its facilities were comprehensive. There were cabins for passengers to rest, a commercial area selling various local specialties and small souvenirs, and a bar for relaxation.

Curiously, the ship explicitly forbade trainers from engaging in Pokémon battles on board. Perhaps the fear was that the Pokémon’s moves might sink the ship during a match?

Unable to battle, Hu Yang could only idle away his time on the deck, staring into the distance alongside his Gengar.

Shy Bud had evolved into Toxicrose, and next would be its final form, Roserade. Yet, to achieve that evolution, it required a particular item: the Shining Stone. Compared to the ordinary Fire Stone or Thunder Stone, obtaining the Shining Stone was far more difficult and rare; its price on the market was several times higher than any common evolution stone.

With his current savings, even if he sold himself, he still couldn’t afford a single Shining Stone.

The sky was blue, the clouds white. The ship’s passage stirred ripples across the sea.

He was penniless.

Hu Yang sighed deeply.

Night fell, and the sea grew turbulent. The ship’s power system was struck by lightning, plunging the vessel into darkness.

To soothe the passengers’ nerves, the sailors distributed temporary candles door to door, informing everyone that emergency repairs were underway.

Within the cramped cabins, warm candlelight flickered, but compared to the raging storm outside, its glow seemed feeble and insignificant.

Through the porthole, one could clearly see the sea dyed black by the night, waves pounding the hull in relentless succession.

The passenger ship rocked, and the candlelight swayed with it.

A sense of unease crept into Hu Yang’s heart.

He hugged his Rowlet and Toxicrose, gazing out into the pitch-black world.

The trembling candlelight inside seemed as if it could be swallowed by the dark waters at any moment.

“Coo.”

Perhaps sensing its trainer’s mood, Rowlet did something Hu Yang hadn’t expected. It spread its wings gently, shielding him.

“Roselia!” Toxicrose was frightened as well, but gathered its courage and embraced Hu Yang’s arm.

Hu Yang was stunned for a moment, suddenly feeling like one of those pitiful widows from a medieval tale, left alone with her children.

With that thought, his fear diminished.

Outside, rain continued to fall.

He cradled Rowlet and Shy Bud, watching as Gengar carefully protected the candle with its body, as if terrified the flame would extinguish before its eyes.

“Gengar,” Hu Yang called.

Gengar looked up. “What is it?”

Hu Yang smiled, “Nothing, I just wanted to call you.”

Gengar was speechless.

Hu Yang sighed regretfully, “If only I could touch you.”

Gengar paused, glancing down at its ethereal body, a fleeting, indescribable expression crossing its face.

The disaster Hu Yang had imagined—shipwreck and death—never occurred.

When he awoke the next day, the rain had stopped, the sea was calm, and the sky was a brilliant blue, promising another sunny day.

Power had been restored to the ship, the cooks began preparing breakfast, and the crew, exhausted from their overnight efforts, yawned as they returned from the deck.

Suddenly, a cry of surprise sounded outside.

“Look, what’s that?!”

“My goodness, what a beautiful rainbow!”

Hu Yang turned and saw a creature resembling a phoenix and a peacock soaring across the distant sky.

Its wings shimmered with iridescent light, leaving behind a stunning rainbow wherever it passed.

That was... Ho-Oh!

Hu Yang’s heart surged with excitement, especially after last night’s ordeal.

Ho-Oh radiated a sense of unmatched divinity; simply seeing it filled one with clarity and hope, sweeping away any lingering gloom.

Surely this was a sign of good fortune, just as Ash’s journey began with a similar omen in the anime, Hu Yang thought to himself.

“Coo?”

Suddenly, Rowlet beside him lifted its head, its gaze fixed on the direction the rainbow stretched.

Then, it beat its wings and flew off toward that distant path.

Hu Yang was alarmed. Though he reached out instinctively to stop Rowlet, he was too late, left only to watch as it flew toward Ho-Oh.

He wanted to give chase, but like Groudon, he was incapable of flight, so he could only stand there awkwardly and shout, “Rowlet!”

Please, let this silly bird not mistake the photographer for food and bring him back!

But Rowlet did not respond. It flew swiftly, and within minutes, its silhouette shrank to a tiny black dot and then vanished altogether.

Gengar stared in astonishment, “What is it doing?”

“Roselia…” Toxicrose was worried as well.

Nearby passengers turned to look, equally astonished.

Hu Yang covered his face and sighed, “...Don’t look at me, I have no idea either.”

Noon came, and Rowlet had yet to return.

Hu Yang grew anxious, fearing it might be lost, so he waited on the deck, eyes fixed in the direction it had gone.

He waited for hours, but its figure never appeared.

Becoming a “Bird-Watching Stone,” Hu Yang stood vigil the entire day, until night fell, and still Rowlet was nowhere to be seen.

Gengar was at a loss, looking in the same direction, hesitating, “It should... come back, right?”

Hu Yang, grief-stricken, replied, “...I wish I knew.”

If only he had kept Rowlet in the Master Ball and not let it out.

Night descended.

Tonight, the sea was calm, with none of the previous night’s storm.

In the deep hours, only Hu Yang remained on the deck.

Gengar and Shy Bud kept him company, waiting in silence.

“Could it really be lost?” Hu Yang’s expression grew grim.

Just then, he heard a familiar cry beside him.

He turned to see a wet figure.

“Coo?”

Rowlet stood there, a rainbow-colored feather held in its beak, head tilted, gazing blankly at the trio before it.

A wave of joy swept through Hu Yang’s heart, the relief of regaining something precious, quickly followed by anger at Rowlet’s reckless actions.

Yet, seeing Rowlet’s vacant expression, all his fury evaporated.

He sighed.

“Don’t ever run off like that again,” Hu Yang said, taking the feather from Rowlet’s beak.

[Rainbow Feather: A magical plume shimmering with iridescent light. Legend holds that those guided by the Rainbow Feather, who complete Ho-Oh’s trial, may become the Hero of the Rainbow.

Effect: Place this feather atop the Rainbow Rock at Azure Mountain’s summit to summon Ho-Oh.]