Meet Ho-Oh!

Winter passed into spring. The snow melted, and all things began to stir back to life.

The Wild Pokémon that had been dormant all winter also began to grow active again.

With Fire Emperor, Raikou, Suicune, and Marshadow by his side, Dongshu had made it through the cold winter safe and sound.

That year, Dongshu turned two.

One day, Dongshu and the three big cats were gathered around the fireplace, warming themselves as usual.

The cozy warmth made Dongshu yawn again and again, and he was growing drowsy.

Just as he was about to drift into a deep sleep, Suicune suddenly opened her eyes.

She looked at Fire Emperor and Raikou, who were gathered around the human toddler, and spoke to them through telepathy:

"Lord Ho-Oh has returned."

At those words, Fire Emperor and Raikou, who had been resting with their eyes closed, suddenly opened them.

Because they had been revived by Ho-Oh's power, Fire Emperor, Raikou, and Suicune all shared a subtle connection with Ho-Oh.

Lord Ho-Oh's aura... was rapidly approaching Heavenly Green Mountain!

He had returned!

A hint of nervousness appeared on Fire Emperor's dignified, solemn face.

He couldn't help looking at the Little One beside him. What would Lord Ho-Oh do to the Little One?

"What's wrong, Fire Emperor?" Dongshu murmured, blinking his eyes open.

Fire Emperor didn't hide it from him. In a low voice, he said, "Lord Ho-Oh has returned. We're going to meet him now."

Ho-Oh was back?!

At those words, Dongshu was instantly wide awake.

He quickly climbed out of Fire Emperor's embrace and looked at the big cats beside him. "Do I have to go too?"

Fire Emperor nodded. "Yes."

Then he turned his gaze to Raikou and Suicune and spoke to the two Pokémon telepathically:

"If Lord Ho-Oh holds us responsible, I'll bear the blame alone. And if Lord Ho-Oh orders me to send the Little One away, I'll leave with him."

Suicune's eyes widened in shock. "Are you crazy?!"

Raikou remained silent.

"I'll raise the Little One on my own. Once he's grown, I'll return to Heavenly Green Mountain and apologize to Lord Ho-Oh. Whatever Punishment he gives me, I'll accept."

"You..." Suicune was at a loss for words. Fire Emperor was actually willing to go this far for a human toddler...

Suddenly, Raikou gave a cold snort beside them.

"Hmph. You think you can take the Little One away by yourself? It won't be that easy."

Fire Emperor's expression turned serious at once. He stared steadily at Raikou. "Raikou, are you going to stop me?"

Raikou instead looked at Dongshu. "You can't take proper care of my child on your own."

Fire Emperor froze for a moment, then quickly understood.

This guy...

Suicune looked even more astonished when she heard that.

Raikou was crazy too!

No... Suicune suddenly remembered everything that had happened over the course of the winter.

She recalled how the human toddler couldn't bear to leave her out in the cold, invited her back to the cave, and prepared a lavish meal for her.

And all those days they'd spent sheltering from the winter together in this cave.

Suicune wasn't a cold-hearted Pokémon. She had a heart, too.

If she were in their place, she would probably make the same choice as Fire Emperor and Raikou.

"If Lord Ho-Oh holds you responsible, I'll help plead your case," Suicune said.

Gratitude showed in Fire Emperor and Raikou's eyes.

The three Pokémon immediately rose and left the cave, racing along the mountain path toward the summit of Heavenly Green Mountain.

I'm going to meet Ho-Oh so soon?

Riding on Fire Emperor's back, Dongshu couldn't help feeling nervous.

Ho-Oh, the most mysterious Pokémon in the Pokémon world, had appeared throughout Ash's journey.

His existence symbolized happiness and good fortune, and he seemed to have the ability to see into people's hearts.

Ho-Oh flew all over the world, granting his Rainbow Feathers to people with pure hearts who could get along well with Pokémon and loved them dearly.

If someone he chose decided to undertake the trial to become the Rainbow Hero, Ho-Oh would send Suicune, Raikou, Fire Emperor, and Marshadow to guide them and put them to the test.

Those who passed the trial would become the Rainbow Hero chosen by Ho-Oh, earn the chance to challenge him, and gain the friendship and trust of Ho-Oh and his companions.

The Rainbow Hero would also shoulder the mission of protecting the weak and safeguarding the world.

But... none of that seemed to have much to do with him right now.

Dongshu's thoughts were a mess.

The three Legendary Beasts moved incredibly fast. Before long, they had reached the summit of Heavenly Green Mountain.

They stopped and gazed into the distance.

A brilliant rainbow suddenly appeared on the far horizon.

A large bird Pokémon with golden-red feathers, yellow tail feathers, and a golden crest atop its head flew rapidly toward Heavenly Green Mountain. A beautiful rainbow formed automatically in the sky wherever it passed.

That was... the Legendary Pokémon, Ho-Oh!

Before long, Ho-Oh landed on a jutting rock.

The three Legendary Beasts bowed their heads slightly to show their respect.

Ho-Oh's fiery red eyes swept across the Pokémon, then finally settled on Fire Emperor's back.

There, he sensed an utterly unfamiliar presence and saw a little one he had never met before.

A... human toddler?

Even Ho-Oh couldn't help freezing for a moment at the sight.

Noticing Ho-Oh's expression, Fire Emperor tensed up. He immediately spoke in a low voice to explain:

"Lord Ho-Oh—"

Ho-Oh turned his gaze toward him.

"I brought this human toddler back to Heavenly Green Mountain from outside. At the time, I was chasing a group of Pokémon Hunters."

"The child's parents encountered those people before I did. They tried to stop them and save the Pokémon they'd captured, but the Pokémon Hunters killed them."

"By the time I arrived, the child was all alone. His parents died protecting Pokémon. I thought that as a Pokémon, I ought to take care of their child!"

After he finished, Fire Emperor fell silent and waited for Lord Ho-Oh to decide his fate.

Unexpectedly, Lord Ho-Oh didn't get angry or upset. He simply watched Dongshu with curiosity, looking at the human toddler on Fire Emperor's back.

"What's his name?" Ho-Oh asked.

His voice sounded directly in Fire Emperor's mind. The sudden question left all three Pokémon momentarily stunned.

"Dongshu. His name is Dongshu. Raikou, Marshadow, and I chose it for him," Fire Emperor replied.

Ho-Oh gave a small nod. He looked at Fire Emperor and said, "Since you've decided to adopt him, then raise him well."

Fire Emperor was overjoyed to hear this.

Lord Ho-Oh wasn't going to punish them, and was even willing to let Dongshu stay on Heavenly Green Mountain and be raised by them?!

"Lord Ho-Oh..." Fire Emperor wanted to say something, but didn't know how to begin.