"Needless to say." Ho-Oh seemed to have seen through Fire Emperor's thoughts. It turned its gaze away from Fire Emperor and looked toward Suicune and Raikou beside it.
And Marshadow, who had appeared silently at some point.
"I summoned you here today for another reason, so there's no need to worry, Fire Emperor. Since you've decided to adopt this human child, it means a bond has already formed between you."
"A human raised by Pokémon... I look forward to seeing what the future holds for you."
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Fire Emperor replied respectfully, "Yes, Lord Ho-Oh!"
Ho-Oh nodded gently, then continued with the matter at hand. "I have sensed that a new Chosen One has set out on a journey to Heavenly Green Mountain with the Rainbow Feather."
"Fire Emperor, Suicune, Raikou, Marshadow, I need the four of you to go and guide him, test him, and see whether he has what it takes to become the Rainbow Hero."
A new Chosen One had appeared?
Fire Emperor was taken aback.
In the past, they would probably have agreed at once, then followed the lingering trace of the Rainbow Feather Lord Ho-Oh had left behind to find the Chosen One and guide him.
But now, if they all left, there'd be no one to look after Little One...
"Oh? Fire Emperor, do you have some other concern?" Ho-Oh asked, looking at him.
Fire Emperor replied respectfully, "Lord Ho-Oh, Little One is still very young and can't live on his own. If Raikou, the others, and I all leave..."
"I want to go too!" Dongshu had naturally understood the conversation between Ho-Oh and the others.
As expected, Ho-Oh was a kind Pokémon! It had agreed to let him stay without a second thought.
But a new Chosen One had appeared?
Dongshu was very interested. As far as he knew, Ho-Oh flew all over the world, choosing humans who met its criteria and granting them Rainbow Feathers.
If he could tag along, maybe he could show off in front of that Trainer and earn some Shock Points to help make ends meet.
But the very next moment, Fire Emperor instinctively objected.
"No! You're staying here on Heavenly Green Mountain!" Fire Emperor frowned. The world beyond was too dangerous. If anything happened while they were carrying out their mission, they wouldn't be able to protect Little One.
Fire Emperor looked pleadingly at Ho-Oh. "Lord Ho-Oh..."
He had been about to ask whether he could leave a little later, then switch places with Raikou or Suicune afterward.
But before he could say a word, Lord Ho-Oh spoke.
"Very well. Leave this human child to me."
Ho-Oh had once roosted in a tower near Ecruteak City. It was there that it had formed a friendship with humans.
Although the tower had later been destroyed and Ho-Oh had left, it understood humans far better than Fire Emperor and the others did.
And it wasn't just because Fire Emperor had adopted the child.
Ho-Oh had sensed a remarkably pure aura from the human child, along with the love for Pokémon that shone from deep within him.
A new idea suddenly came to Ho-Oh.
It had spent ages flying all over the world, casting a wide net in search of potential Rainbow Heroes and granting them Rainbow Feathers. The process was tedious and exhausting.
Besides, it had been nearly a hundred years since it last found a suitable Rainbow Hero.
Over those hundred years, it had no idea how many feathers it had given to humans, yet not one of them had passed the test.
Ho-Oh was exhausted by it all.
But what if they raised a human from scratch and made him into a Rainbow Hero themselves?
That way, they would have another person to help them protect vulnerable Pokémon and foster harmony between humans and Pokémon...
At the thought, Ho-Oh's eyes suddenly lit up.
Neither Fire Emperor nor Dongshu knew what Ho-Oh was thinking.
But when Fire Emperor heard that Lord Ho-Oh was willing to look after Dongshu for him, gratitude filled his eyes.
"Thank you so much, Lord Ho-Oh!"
Dongshu, meanwhile, was dumbfounded. What was with all these Legendary Pokémon? Why did they all want to try their hand at raising a kid?
Raikou was one thing, but now even Ho-Oh wanted to?
Before he could react, Fire Emperor spoke to him.
"Little One, Raikou and I have to go fulfill our mission. Lord Ho-Oh will look after you while we're away."
There was no need to say so much, really. Fire Emperor knew perfectly well that their Little One was a very smart child who could take care of himself, even if he was left alone at home.
But as Little One's father, Fire Emperor couldn't help worrying, even though he knew that.
Dongshu opened his mouth, then closed it. He knew Fire Emperor and the others were going to guide and test the human Ho-Oh had chosen.
If the person passed the test, he would become a Rainbow Hero, just like Ash in the anime.
If he failed, the Rainbow Feather in his possession would lose its color.
That would mean he had lost the chance to become the Rainbow Hero.
But...
Dongshu couldn't help glancing toward Ho-Oh nearby.
A calculating gleam shone in Ho-Oh's eyes.
To them, this naive, sheltered human child was the perfect blank slate.
Having been raised by Pokémon, he would surely become an excellent Rainbow Hero one day, traveling across the land alongside Fire Emperor, Raikou, Suicune, and the others, protecting the vulnerable and safeguarding the world.
"But I want to go too..." Dongshu tried to protest.
He'd definitely earn fewer Shock Points with Ho-Oh than he would in front of humans.
His research had shown that the more shocked someone was, the more Shock Points they gave him.
A child raised by Pokémon, riding the Legendary Pokémon Fire Emperor, a child who could "command" the Legendary Beasts...
All of that would surely leave the Trainer chosen by Ho-Oh utterly stunned, earning Dongshu a fortune in Shock Points.
Then he could buy more furniture from the System Store to build his home.
But Fire Emperor picked him up by his clothes and set him down, then soothingly licked his cheek.
"Be good, Little One. Lord Ho-Oh will take good care of you. We'll be back soon."
Raikou and Suicune nodded beside them.
Then Fire Emperor looked toward Ho-Oh.
"Lord Ho-Oh, I'll leave him in your care."
With that, the Legendary Beasts and Marshadow gave Dongshu one last reluctant look, then raced toward the foot of Heavenly Green Mountain.
They were about to leave Heavenly Green Mountain and head for the Chosen One.
In almost the blink of an eye, only Dongshu and Ho-Oh remained at the mountain's peak.
Dongshu gazed up at Ho-Oh, the Legendary Pokémon that people online in his previous life had jokingly called "Shiny Fearow" and "the Photographer."
Before you continue