The 47th Chapter: Making the Protection of Dongshu the Ho-Oh Guard's Primary Mission!

The sun over Heavenly Green Mountain rose and set, time here leisurely and long—so much so that Dongshu often lost track of it.

He and Lord Ho-Oh lived a life of rising with the sun and resting with its fall.

Every morning, they would get up early, and Lord Ho-Oh would carry him across the mountains and fields, observing the lives of the Pokémon that dwelled on this land.

Come evening, Lord Ho-Oh would bring Dongshu—exhausted from a day of play and fast asleep—back to their nest, where they would drift off together in that cave.

This kind of life, even for a Pokémon of Lord Ho-Oh's caliber, was something he had never experienced before.

He never imagined that one day he would personally raise a human child.

If Lugia next door found out, he would surely be stunned, wouldn't he?

The Legendary Beasts and Marshadow returned to Heavenly Green Mountain on a drizzly spring day.

Since it was raining outside, Dongshu and Lord Ho-Oh stayed indoors.

Lord Ho-Oh rested with his eyes closed nearby, while Dongshu lay by the window, gazing at Heavenly Green Mountain in the rain.

The moment Fire Emperor and the others appeared, Dongshu spotted them.

"Fire Emperor's back!"

Dongshu immediately scrambled downstairs. No sooner had he reached the bottom than the Legendary Beasts had already entered the cave.

"Fire Emperor!"

Dongshu threw himself onto Fire Emperor, hugging his foreleg.

Back in a place where Little One was, Fire Emperor felt his entire body relax involuntarily.

He gently rested his large head on Dongshu's shoulder, his dignified voice sounding through telepathy: "Mm. I'm back."

After days of travel, even while carrying out his mission, Fire Emperor had been constantly worried about Little One.

He feared the child might bump or scrape himself, or that after being away so long, Little One might cry.

Now, seeing Little One safe and sound—even a bit plumper and taller—Fire Emperor felt a great weight lift from his heart.

This taciturn Pokémon lowered his big head, making it easier for his Little One to hold.

"Hmph."

Just then, a snort sounded from the side.

Dongshu and Fire Emperor turned to see Raikou staring at them with a sullen look.

When they glanced his way, Raikou immediately turned his head away, saying coldly, "We should go see Lord Ho-Oh."

"And Raikou!"

After hugging Fire Emperor, Dongshu ran over to Raikou, wrapped his arms around his leg, and expressed his longing.

Hearing this, Raikou's expression stiffened for a moment. His face softened slightly as he looked down at the human child before him.

Dongshu could feel that, like Fire Emperor, Raikou was also very good to him—almost as if he saw him as his own child to raise.

Seeing that Raikou seemed a bit displeased, Dongshu hurried over, hugged this big tiger, and carefully checked his fur.

"Did Raikou get hurt this time?"

Little One was worried about him! Raikou shot a challenging glance at Fire Emperor, showing off, but his voice still sounded somewhat aloof: "My strength surpasses Fire Emperor's. How could anyone harm me?"

Fire Emperor: "..."

"Mm-hmm!"

Dongshu nodded repeatedly, humoring this slightly tsundere big tiger.

Then, he turned his gaze to Suicune and Marshadow, greeting them.

Seeing that this human child hadn't treated her the same way he had Fire Emperor and Raikou, Suicune felt a pang of disappointment.

Still, she said nothing, merely nodding gently at Dongshu, her voice soft and elegant: "Mm. Long time no see, Little Dongshu."

"Ma sha~"

Marshadow's usually expressionless face now bore a faint smile.

Just then, Lord Ho-Oh finally appeared.

He flew down to the first floor, gazing at the gathered Pokémon.

Fire Emperor and the others immediately grew serious.

"Lord Ho-Oh, thank you for your trouble during this time!" Fire Emperor expressed his gratitude.

Seeing Fire Emperor's demeanor, Lord Ho-Oh narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint in them.

This Fire Emperor—back for all of five minutes and already trying to claim his Little Dongshu as his own? So eager to distance himself from him?

He'd just go scatter a few more feathers, find more Chosen Ones for these fellows to guide, and then Little Dongshu would be his alone. Lord Ho-Oh entertained some rather "sinister" thoughts.

Fire Emperor was baffled.

Still, Lord Ho-Oh understood—after all, it was Fire Emperor who had brought this human child back to Heavenly Green Mountain.

Its gaze fell upon the Pokémon before it. Even without asking, it knew that this time's chosen one had once again failed the trial.

"Lord Ho-Oh, the chosen one does not meet our requirements. The Rainbow Feather on him has lost its luster." Suicune stepped forward to report.

"I am aware."

A sigh echoed silently in Ho-Oh's heart.

How many times had this happened?

How many chosen ones had failed the trial by now?

Over the past century, it had granted countless feathers to humans—so many that even it had lost count.

Not a single one of those humans had passed the trial.

Ho-Oh felt a deep weariness settle in its heart.

As expected, outsiders were unreliable. Compared to this method, it was far more dependable to start from scratch and raise a human into a Rainbow Hero themselves.

Ho-Oh's hopeful gaze landed on Dongshu.

Dongshu, meanwhile, was pulling Fire Emperor and the others toward his backyard.

"Fire Emperor, Marshadow, Raikou, Suicune—come quick!"

The group of Pokémon was a bit bewildered, but as they passed through the room and the ordinary wooden door, the scene before them transformed completely.

A secret realm brimming with natural energy unfolded before their eyes—a place with grasslands, forests, flowers, lakes, and snowy fields.

When Fire Emperor and the others took in the sight, their pupils contracted.

"Little One, this is...?" Fire Emperor asked in a low voice.

"This is a place I built for everyone to play and live together!" Dongshu said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

This astonishing power left Fire Emperor and the others deeply stunned.

Such power was truly magnificent!

"Little Dongshu is a child blessed by the forces of nature." Ho-Oh's voice echoed in the hearts of the Pokémon.

Fire Emperor and the others were momentarily taken aback.

"The natural energy here is so abundant that even I cannot help but be drawn to it."

"If one stays here for a long time, it will be a great boon for any Pokémon."

Ho-Oh's voice rang out slowly.

Natural energy would help Pokémon grow and become stronger.

Having traveled the world for so many years, Ho-Oh had visited countless places.

To put it in human terms, this was a place where exceptionally powerful Pokémon individuals—Alpha Pokémon or even Dominant Pokémon—could easily emerge.

But more than that, what moved Ho-Oh's heart was this:

Little Dongshu had created this place for them—so that they could live together, rest together.

Ho-Oh's heart was deeply stirred.

"Fire Emperor, Suicune, Raikou, Marshadow." It spoke softly.

The four Pokémon turned their attention to it.

Ho-Oh continued, "If I leave this place in the future, Little Dongshu will be entrusted to your care. No matter what, you must protect him. He is our hope—the Rainbow Hero bestowed upon us by the heavens."