Chapter 0750: Reunion After a Long Parting—Marshadow Appears!(Two-in-One)

Natsume was traveling together with Ryo and President Masaru.

According to tradition, every Touran Champion is granted the opportunity to meet Ho-Oh.

Those who pass Marshadow’s Trial will be blessed by Ho-Oh.

When they reached the foot of the mountain, Natsume asked Ryo what he had received from Ho-Oh.

“A Heat Rock blessed by Sacred Fire,” Ryo replied. “It suits my Talonflame and Venusaur perfectly. All in all, personally, I’m very satisfied.”

Natsume looked surprised:

“I thought you hadn’t passed Marshadow’s Trial.”

After all, the difficulty of the Rainbow Trial was well known… Besides, the former Champion hadn’t shown anything special at the Finals!

Ryo: “……”

That’s too harsh!

The Rainbow Trial values above all a brave and kind heart along with a tenacious spirit.

And in that, the often beaten and crushed veteran Ryo really had developed unbreakable guts...

President Masaru joined in, “Champion, are you really sure you want to retire?”

“Please, just call me by name.” Natsume paused, then nodded. “I just want to keep traveling with my companions.”

Red retired because being Champion held back his personal growth—and also due to a wrist injury.

Steven simply enjoyed collecting ores more than the Champion’s duties.

Of course, in a crisis, these Trainers always step up, title or not—Natsume included.

He’d just scribble a note in his notebook about “The Hatcher” afterward...

“I understand you, but it’s still a pity…” President Masaru shook his head gently, leaving it there.

Ryo’s eyelid twitched.

President, I feel like you’re hinting at something here!

“Ahem!” Ryo coughed deliberately, then said gravely, “If you retire, you still keep the Champion title and seeded spot for next year’s World Tournament.”

Natsume paused, surprised. “How does that work?”

“A Champion-level Trainer can go right to the Master Ball tier at the World Championship. Take Steven Stone, for example—he’s currently fourth among the eight Masters, and his title is still Hoenn Champion,” President Masaru explained.

Natsume’s feelings were complicated.

The World Tournament… a feast for battles among all Champions and even the Battle Legends.

The point wasn’t fear of losing, but that high-level competition can push Pokémon to their limits, close to critical condition. He didn’t need rankings to prove anything to himself.

Ultimately... he’d never planned to be a Trainer at all.

Nothing in life comes easy. Natsume sighed, feeling a faint chill down his back underneath the black-and-gold Champion's cape.

Forget it… Today I’ll just try to get some Sacred Ash out of Ho-Oh.

In the future, no matter how severe the injuries—human or Pokémon—Sacred Ash can save the day!

The three continued a little further.

At the mountain’s base, the distant path wound upwards, shrouded in thick mist, blue stones glimmering faintly.

“This is Mount Tensei, one of Ho-Oh’s soaring and nesting places,” said President Masaru. “From here on, you go up alone, Champion.”

President Masaru stuck with “Champion,” and Natsume let it be, asking,

“The fog’s so thick—what if I get lost?”

“That’s the job of the Messenger from the shadows,” President Masaru explained. “Once Ryo and I leave, Ho-Oh’s Messenger will appear, take you to the Rainbow Trial, and show you the right path up the mountain.”

“Don’t go in the mist alone! Without the Messenger’s guidance, it’s a death sentence!” Ryo warned.

Once, during the Rainbow Trial, he’d gotten a look at wild Nidoking and Graveler in the mist—they were terrifyingly fierce!

If they surrounded you, Trainers could get swept out by a barrage of Hyper Beams—no chance of escape!

“So that Messenger really is Marshadow…” Natsume thought. “But—didn’t I already pass the Rainbow Trial?”

Half a year ago, while traveling in Sinnoh, Marshadow had appeared and guided Natsume-sensei through the Rainbow Trial.

The trial: [Calm Giratina’s Fury, save the glaciers of the Reverse World].

That was basically SSS-rank Hell mode!

By comparison, the Rainbow Trials of past Touran Champions seemed like a breeze.

Natsume fell silent for a moment.

Did coming to Mount Tensei mean another round of evaluation?

At that moment, his inner jacket pocket grew warm, emanating a rainbow glow.

Ryo gaped. “Natsume-sensei… Your chest is glowing!”

Natsume forced a smile as he pulled out what was shining—a Rainbow Wing.

The Rainbow Wing shone with rainbow radiance.

Under Ryo and President Masaru’s startled eyes,

A faint pathway of light extended out, guiding straight through the mist towards the far mountain route.

“Rainbow Wing!”

President Masaru had heard that Natsume possessed this legendary item, but seeing it for himself, he was still surprised.

“It looks like it can just lead you straight to the summit...no evaluation at all!” Ryo exclaimed in disbelief.

Why... just because he’s better-looking? Does Ho-Oh favor good looks?

Natsume looked down at the Rainbow Wing, blue light swirling in his palm, and casually sent out some Aura of Ripple.

Rainbow Wing: (^▽^)

At once, the guiding path shone even brighter, like built-in navigation, skirting all the mist's perilous spots and leading straight to Ho-Oh!

Natsume’s expression turned odd.

Was this thing desperate for him to meet Ho-Oh and get some loot?

Does it really symbolize a “Rainbow Hero’s” courage and goodness?

Why did it feel like, for all its glow, this feather was completely black inside?

In the darkness—

Marshadow, reunited after a long parting, hid stealthily in the shadows, watching his old friend from afar.

It still remembered that farewell:

“We’ll meet again.” Natsume had smiled and said.

The warmth didn’t last long before the Rainbow Wing made Marshadow’s jaw drop.

“Marshadow! Σ( ° △ °|||)︴”

That Rainbow Wing… really has a personality!

Clearly, after so much time with Natsume, it’s been assimilated—looks rainbow, is all black inside!

“You guys go on ahead.”

Natsume, gripping the Rainbow Wing, smiled back. “I’ll be right there.”

Ryo’s jaw dropped; he locked eyes with the equally confused President Masaru, and both nodded.

Natsume, Rainbow Wing in hand, walked up the mountain path enveloped in fog.

Bathed in rainbow light, the blue stone glimmered, forming the correct road.

Originally, only with Marshadow's guidance could a Touran Champion meet Ho-Oh.

Now, with the Rainbow Wing, Natsume basically skipped the whole process!

Marshadow couldn’t wait any longer, darted through the shadows along the blue stone, finally stopping in front of Natsume.

“Marshadow…”

A shadowy figure slowly rose from the darkness, embers flickering in its eyes, fists clenched, expression grave.

Ho-Oh’s Messenger—Marshadow!

After six months, they were reunited.

Their gazes did not avoid each other—just a silent greeting.

Natsume held Marshadow’s serious gaze for three seconds, then smiled and snapped his fingers.

The shadow beneath his feet split in two: one became Darkrai, the other Gengar.

Both Pokémon slowly rose from the darkness. Darkrai crossed his arms and nodded to Marshadow—a greeting from an old comrade-in-arms.

“Gengar~!” Gengar grinned, waving broadly.

Hey, long time no see~!

“Marshadow…” Marshadow straightened, nodding.

Yeah... long time no see.

Next, Marshadow gazed deeply at the black-haired young man.

There was now a black-and-gold cape on his back—the Champion’s mark.

That meant he had become the League Champion… and intended to meet Lord Ho-Oh!

Whew...

Marshadow exhaled, flames dancing in his eyes, his body flickered with gold fire, his head a glowing blue.

“Marshadow!” Marshadow threw up his fists, challenging Natsume.

Battle me!

I won’t let you through evaluation or to Lord Ho-Oh so easily!

Natsume reached into his inner pocket.

“Marshadow!!”

Don’t you dare take out a Poké Ball!

With a swish, Marshadow darted to Natsume and swung a shadowy fist!

Natsume’s cape whipped back in the punch’s wind, his black hair swept back, but his eyes didn’t flinch. He smiled at Marshadow’s fist.

The fist hovered inches away—Natsume’s gaze was clear, with not a trace of fear, only the joy of reunion after a long parting.

Because he knew Marshadow would never harm him.

He believed in this: if you give your heart to Pokémon, your opponent will always answer you.

“Marshadow…”

Marshadow’s voice weakened, a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze.

He looked down to see a small black, withered, fragile flower in Natsume’s palm.

A silent thanks—a Gracidea.

Marshadow had offered Natsume the flower at parting. Anything Marshadow touched became cloaked in shadow.

Even the Rainbow Wing, when Marshadow gripped it, would turn black and dark, a weapon for punishing foes.

“Marshadow…”

Marshadow never expected Natsume to keep that little flower… It had only given it as an afterthought, having nothing else to offer, so it picked a Gracidea from the field and handed it to Natsume.

“To return… No, I want to give it to you again,” Natsume said with a smile.

“Marshadow…”

Marshadow took a step back, staring at Natsume in silence.

Finally, it turned around, as strict as any examiner.

You—your courage has passed the Trial...

Now, come with me to see Lord Ho-Oh.

“Gengar~”

Gengar watched from the side, clapping happily.

Darkrai, arms folded, murmured, “What a half-baked trial...”

Natsume followed Marshadow and asked curiously, “Didn’t I already pass the Trial last time, Marshadow?”

Marshadow’s telepathy echoed with the soft voice of a child.

“That was last time. This time, there are new rules.”

“Who makes the rules?”

“Of course, I do. So you pass,” Marshadow huffed.

Natsume: “……”

This isn’t nepotism or favoritism… this is Bond!