Chapter 34: Phoenix King: I...

"..." Upon seeing the feather clearly, Hu Yang felt a suffocating pressure.

This... this... Could it be that the Ancient Moon Bird forcibly plucked this from Ho-oh itself?

"Squawk!" The Ancient Moon Bird seemed tired and yawned.

Hu Yang returned it to the Master Ball, his expression complex as he carried the rainbow-colored feather back into the cabin.

It was just a feather. Ho-oh shouldn’t bear a grudge against him for this, right?

He carefully recalled Ho-oh’s storyline. According to legend, Ho-oh possesses the power to resurrect the dead; wherever it flies, rainbows appear, and those who see it are said to be granted eternal happiness.

In the Johto region’s lore, Ho-oh once lived atop the Bell Tower in Ecruteak City. After the neighboring Brass Tower burned down, Ho-oh left and began roaming the world, searching for pure-hearted Pokémon trainers.

In the anime, Ho-oh’s plotlines are few and far between. The only movie centered on Ho-oh is "I Choose You!". There, Ho-oh leaves Ash a feather, launching him and Pikachu on a wondrous adventure, ultimately earning Ash the title of Rainbow Hero.

Yet, from the story, that title seems to have little use. Unless you mention it, no one will ever know you’re the Rainbow Hero.

As for the rainbow feather, thinking carefully, it seems its only purpose is to see Ho-oh again. And currently, Hu Yang had no interest in meeting Ho-oh once more. With no money, he might starve before getting anywhere.

He might as well sell it.

"I need to find out how much Ho-oh’s feather is worth," Hu Yang mused inwardly.

If it was valuable, he’d sell it and use the funds to catch more new Pokémon.

Besides summoning Ho-oh, perhaps the rainbow feather also signifies Ho-oh’s favor and good luck?

More importantly, Ho-oh wasn’t stingy with feathers. Apart from Ash’s, it gave one to a man named Ji Wei from Ecruteak City in the Johto arc, and then vanished, only reappearing when the man was near death.

Though Hu Yang knew these could be parallel worlds, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Ho-oh was the Pokémon world’s version of a "player".

"What do you think?" After much deliberation, Hu Yang asked Gengar and Roserade.

"Rori rori..." Roserade looked helpless; it had never even heard of Ho-oh!

Hu Yang turned to Gengar.

Gengar shrugged. "Don’t look at me, I don’t know it either."

Hu Yang: "..."

"I’m asking if you think the Ancient Moon Bird actually yanked this feather out of Ho-oh."

"Rori rori..."

Roserade and Gengar exchanged a glance, recalling the silly bird’s antics, and nodded in tacit agreement.

Gengar said, "I think it’s possible."

He paused, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "You could have the silly bird pull a few more — then you’d have a feather duster."

Hu Yang: "..."

How bold!

Gengar, just a mere Pokémon, dared to disrespect a legendary deity like Ho-oh! Wasn’t he afraid Ho-oh would unleash Sacred Fire upon him? Hu Yang was sorely tempted to ask.

But Pokémon aren’t like humans; they have no concept of civilization.

Take Roserade, for example: If Hu Yang hadn’t caught it, it might never have seen the ocean in its lifetime, nor learned of the existence of legendary beasts.

To be honest, Ho-oh’s feather was truly beautiful. It repelled water, and under the lights reflected a rainbow-like glow.

Just then, Hu Yang noticed Roserade’s shadow shift.

"!"

Could it be Marshadow, the shadow guide that leads the Rainbow Hero?

But it was only a moth, drawn to the light, fluttering past the lamp.

Hu Yang breathed a sigh of relief.

Ho-oh’s messengers aren’t limited to the legendary trio of Johto; if counted, Marshadow, who guides trainers with the feather to meet Ho-oh, is also one.

In his previous life, netizens jokingly referred to them as "Ho-oh’s hounds".

Hu Yang worried Marshadow would attack if someone spoke ill of Ho-oh.

Yet in the anime, Ash met Marshadow only after encountering Entei; Marshadow then moved into his shadow.

Now, Hu Yang hadn’t even met Suicune — who could be caught by humans with a net.

So Marshadow wouldn’t appear here.

"I need to check what Professor Oak’s grandson is called." After being a slacker for so long, Hu Yang resolved to take action.

If the grandson is named Gary, not Green, it means he’s not in the most dangerous Special manga world.

Judging by his experiences over the past few months, this world doesn’t seem particularly perilous.

Still, he couldn’t rule out that it was a fusion of anime, games, and the Special manga.

...

Before Hu Yang’s thoughts could wander further, the passenger ship finally arrived at its destination.

Standing on the deck, gazing at the towering volcano rising above the jungle, a name sprang instantly to Hu Yang’s mind: Chimney Mountain.

"Chimney Mountain. Groudon should be inside that volcano, right?" Hu Yang wondered silently.

But he couldn’t be sure; by lore, Groudon usually resides in volcanoes around the world.

Hoenn’s volcanoes aren’t limited to Chimney Mountain.

As for Kyogre and Rayquaza, one should be sleeping in an undersea cavern, the other patrolling the ozone layer.

After disembarking, Hu Yang shouldered his bag, with Gengar drifting behind him, heading straight for the station.

This port was still a considerable distance from Autumn Leaf Town; aside from walking, the only way there was by train.

It was a harsh winter, bitterly cold outside. Hu Yang didn’t want to spend a second longer in the freezing air; inside the train, the heater was on, making it a world apart from outdoors.

He sank into his seat, letting out a satisfied sigh.

No sooner had he opened his eyes than a huge Gengar burrowed into his lap.

Gengar: "So many humans! I’m getting squished!"

Hu Yang rolled his eyes. "...You could go back into your Poké Ball. Besides, they can’t touch you anyway!"

Gengar replied without hesitation, "No!"

Hu Yang: "..."

Fifty minutes later, they got off at the Autumn Leaf Town platform.

Snow was falling on Autumn Leaf Town.

The entire town lay draped in pristine white.

Such weather was hardly suited for wandering outdoors.

So, upon arrival, Hu Yang headed straight for an inn, spending sixty League coins for a single room.

The inn’s style was distinctly Japanese, with a cozy little stove warming the room. Sitting on tatami mats, he could gaze through transparent floor-length windows at the beautiful snow outside.

The inn’s staff thoughtfully brought complimentary tea and snacks. Hu Yang thanked them, released his Pokémon to play as they pleased.

He himself shed his coat and wrapped himself snugly in a quilt.

This kind of weather was perfect for a lazy nap in bed.

Gengar was shocked at the sight: "You came here just to sleep?! Couldn’t you sleep at home?!"

Hu Yang: "..."

He ignored Gengar, turned his back, presenting only his rear.

Gengar: "..."