Chapter 0658: Reshiram - Your Courage is the Truth!

The castle's tremors grew more violent.

"Victini~" Victini clung weakly to Natsume's head, trembling as it gripped his hair.

This might make him go bald...

The thought flashed through Natsume's mind as he closed his eyes, sensing the threads of white light connecting him to Victini through the Power of One.

"Victini..." Victini lifted its head slightly, peering down at Natsume.

"It's alright."

Natsume flashed a reassuring smile. "I'm here."

Victini's eyes widened slowly before it nodded firmly, as if gathering courage:

"Victini!"

Darkrai stood in the extended shadows nearby, gazing up at the towering pillar of light.

Compared to past incidents, this was practically mild.

Darkrai's eyes flickered briefly toward Natsume.

A familiar, inexplicable chill ran down its spine.

As long as Natsume doesn't jinx it by mentioning "fused Legendary Pokémon," we'll be fine!

"Victini is the friend of the 'King of Eindoak Town'—father to the two princes of black and white," Janta explained. "They say the King used Victini's power to protect this town, but war broke out between the brothers."

"The conflict was eventually quelled, thanks in part to Victini. But Victini has been bound to this castle's barrier for nearly a century..."

Janta glanced at the tiny V on Natsume's head, her eyes filled with reverence, guilt, and gratitude.

The mayor fell silent. Victini was their savior, yet Eindoak Town could offer it no freedom.

Victini, oblivious, bared its tiny fangs in a bright grin:

"Victini~"

Selflessly aiding those it trusted was simply Victini's nature.

And every trainer blessed by Victini became synonymous with victory.

Natsume reached up, offering a macaron while gently pinching Victini's soft cheeks.

"Victini (^▽^ )"

Victini's eyes sparkled as it happily munched on the treat.

For a Mythical Pokémon's lifespan, it's still just a kid, Natsume mused.

Ash asked, "Now that the barrier's weakened, does that mean Victini can leave the castle?"

Janta hesitated. The mayor sighed. "Perhaps you're right, Ash..."

Relying so heavily on Victini's power was unfair.

"But right now," the mayor continued, "we have no choice but to depend on Victini's strength—"

He didn't finish the thought: to quell Reshiram.

"Rather than imprisoning Reshiram," Natsume said, "why not harness its power instead?"

The mayor's eyes widened.

"Harness... Reshiram's power?"

"Only Unova's Hero of Truth can command Reshiram," Janta interjected urgently. "Anyone else would be consumed by its blue flames!"

Carlita tugged her mother's sleeve. "That's Natsume-sensei..."

Janta froze, suddenly remembering: this was the trainer who'd saved Opelucid City. The rumors—outlandish as some were—all spoke of his strength.

If it was Natsume-sensei... maybe he could earn Reshiram's recognition!

The mayor nodded firmly. "Understood. Natsume-sensei, please follow me to the underground stairway!"

With Victini on his head and a grinning Gengar floating beside him—busy feeding the tiny Mythical snacks—Natsume descended.

"Gengar~" Gengar offered a macaron.

"Victini!" Victini took a bite, only for Gengar to yank it away, leaving the little one teary-eyed.

"Gengar hehe~" Gengar laughed before relenting and handing it back.

How are they still fooling around at a time like this...?

Natsume rubbed his chin.

In the original timeline, Ash became the Hero of White. Natsume had no intention of stealing his student's destiny.

But in this world, N was likely the Hero of Black.

And that worried him.

A fused Black Kyurem wouldn't be something Ash could handle alone...

"ROAR!!"

The dragon's cry snapped Natsume from his thoughts.

Before them stretched an ancient stone staircase, the white light pulsing from below.

"Victini!" Victini trembled, tightening its grip on Natsume's hair.

"So this is the price of strength," Natsume muttered. "You all coming down?"

Janta shook her head. "Only those deemed worthy by the dragon may enter. I lack that qualification."

Carlita sighed. "Reshiram rejected me too..."

Ash tentatively stepped onto the stairs, turning back. "Does this mean I'm allowed?"

Janta blinked. "Yes... If you descend the spiral staircase and commune with the Light Stone to awaken Reshiram, you'll have passed the trial."

Could this unassuming boy truly be Reshiram's chosen hero?

Natsume relaxed slightly. If things followed the original plot, this should resolve itself.

As the "Strategist" rejected by the Tree of Beginning, of course he wouldn't get a trial opportunity...

Then—BAM!

A beam of red light shot from a Premier Ball, landing squarely on the stairs. Sirfetch'd struck a knightly pose, utterly fearless.

"Sirfetch'd! ( -'`-)"

I heard someone calling me!

Natsume: (⊙□⊙)

He looked at Sirfetch'd, then at the stairs beneath it.

"Natsume-sensei and Sirfetch'd were granted the trial?!" Janta gasped. Two heroes worthy of Reshiram?!

Natsume: ???

Sirfetch'd: "Sirfetch'd…(°ー°〃)"

Oops. Bad timing.

It tried to sneak back into its ball—only to realize it lacked Baton Pass or U-turn.

Natsume: "...Rotom's cooking you tonight."

"Sirfetch'd! (′︿‵)"

With the trial activated, Sirfetch'd was trapped on the stairs, separated from Natsume by a transparent barrier. Their mournful stare-off resembled a duckling gazing through a roast duck shop's window.

Natsume stepped into the depths, recalling the trembling Sirfetch'd, and faced the Light Stone's radiant pillar.

Wonder if Reshiram will give me some face this time.

"That's Reshiram?" Ash asked.

"Technically, Reshiram inside the Light Stone," Natsume corrected.

The stairs seemed endless, like some twisted dream. But with the Power of One dispelling the mist, Natsume soon reached the cavern floor—only to realize the descent wasn't as long as he'd thought.

He glanced back up the steps and twitched.

Ash was tumbling down headfirst, covered in scrapes.

The kid's grit is commendable, if nothing else.

"Oww..." Ash wiped his face. "Natsume-sensei, what's this?"

"Berry Powder." Natsume shook a small jar. "For the pain."

"It's fine!" Ash grinned. "I've had worse as a kid—once carried someone out of a forest like this!"

Natsume paused, shaking off the déjà vu, and turned to the glowing Light Stone on the pedestal.

The crystalline orb pulsed softly—Reshiram's slumbering form, transformed over centuries.

The light dimmed, scattering into glittering motes that filled the cavern.

Natsume stared, then blinked as the world around him shifted.

"A mental space?"

Not like Palkia's spatial warping—this was a communion of minds.

Been through weirder.

Natsume looked up calmly.

Before him stood the elegant, regal Reshiram—

Its feathers soft and white as clouds, majestic wings outstretched, with flowing hair resembling twin tails of mist.

Reshiram raised its slender neck adorned with silver rings, luminous blue eyes gazing down at Natsume.

Natsume's eyes trailed downward—past the downy belly feathers, the powerful legs with sharp rear plumage, to the torch-like engine at the base of its tail.

"So cute. Definitely male," Natsume thought.

"Gender holds no meaning for Legendary Pokémon."

Reshiram's neutral, ethereal voice echoed in his mind as it stared down at him.

"But by your human conventions, I am male."

Natsume's brow arched.

"Here, thoughts suffice for communication," Reshiram explained.

Compared to the Temporal and Spatial Dragons Natsume had met, Reshiram seemed far more... patient.

"Can I ask you something?" Natsume said.

"Speak, human hero." Reshiram inclined its head slightly.

Are you related to Blue-Eyes White Dragon? (Scratched out)

"Is Zekrom in trouble?" Natsume cut to the chase.

Reshiram paused, then nodded.

Damn it, N.

"Now... my question."

A tremor of unease laced Reshiram's calm tone. "Why do I sense... Arceus' presence upon you?"

"Because I wrecked Arceus."

As the Dragon of Truth, Reshiram could discern lies from honesty.

Reshiram stared.

Natsume stared back.

Reshiram: ???

That statement was true.

"Let's start the trial," Natsume said. "People to save."

Judging by that roar earlier, Zekrom was probably getting forcibly fused right about now.

"Ahem. I... require a moment."

Reshiram was still processing. That "truth" had been too impactful.

Natsume glanced around. "What about the other kid? He didn't make the cut?"

"He possesses potential, but not yet."

Reshiram spread its magnificent wings, luminous eyes locking onto Natsume as it intoned solemnly:

"What... is your truth?"

Natsume blinked.

We were just chatting. Now it's an interview?

The mental space shimmered, white light piercing the darkness like scattered stars.

Natsume rested his chin in hand, deep in thought.

If the question had been about "ideals," Natsume could have answered easily enough.

But "truth"? There were too many truths: the truth about Hydro Pump's accuracy rate, the truth about that diary's "gold" entry that could never be erased...

Considering the real reason for his trip to Unova Region,

Natsume tentatively offered: "Baby Cup tournaments?"

Reshiram fell silent.

Suddenly, Natsume snapped back to reality as the Light Stone before him erupted in radiant brilliance.

Reshiram materialized in the glow, its magnificent white wings stirring gale-force winds. The tail turbine glowed red-hot, sparks dancing in the scorching air as its voice boomed with solemn grandeur:

"Your courage IS the truth!"

Natsume's eye twitched.

What does Baby Cup have to do with courage?!

Any answer would've worked? This is just going through the motions?

Too damn honest, Reshiram!

……

Reshiram's telepathic voice echoed in the minds of those waiting.

"Reshiram... has truly awakened?!" Janta gasped in disbelief.

The Dragon of Truth, dormant for centuries, had finally recognized a new Hero of White!

The mayor whispered, "Ash... or Natsume-sensei?"

Suddenly, all eyes widened as a majestic white figure burst from underground, wings stirring violent gusts!

Janta shielded her face from the wind, her breath catching at the sight of the legendary white dragon hovering midair.

The believer in truth, the guide toward virtue, the ally of those who pursue enlightenment—

Reshiram, the White Dragon of legend!

Shrouded in an energy barrier like a halo, Reshiram arched its elegant neck and gracefully descended onto the platform, wings folding with regal poise.

Only then did the group notice the trainer riding atop its back—

"Natsume-sensei?!" Carlita blurted out.

They'd thought mere recognition was the highest honor—

Yet Reshiram had allowed him to ride it!

In Eindoak Town's centuries of history, no one had ever earned Reshiram's approval.

Natsume had been here less than a day, and already the guardian Victini followed him like a lost child... and now Reshiram too?!

Natsume happily ruffled Reshiram's cloud-soft feathers, grinning.

Better than genuine leather—absolutely addictive!

Reshiram shot him a sidelong glare, then reconsidered—this was the "Messenger Who Toppled Arceus." Some respect was due.

Then, a warm aura suddenly flowed from Natsume into Reshiram's body.

It felt like the Tree of Beginning's embrace—so comforting the dragon instinctively relaxed.

"Reshiram~!" Reshiram let out an ethereal cry, its twin-tail plumage swaying in the wind.

This Hero of Truth is mine. Not even Hoopa could change that now.

Having piloted the "mecha" Regigigas and ridden Giratina, Natsume could confirm: nothing matched Reshiram's first-class comfort.

"Nee-mi~!" "Togepi doo-ee!"

Victini and Togepi rolling gleefully in the downy feathers proved their supreme softness.

Reshiram's azure eyes showed faint exasperation—though its blue flames were reserved for evildoers.

As for Natsume?

Sure, he was scheming, shameless, and morally flexible...

But those flaws only proved his authenticity as a hero! (Probably.)

"Reshiram's flames can break the Sword of the Vale's barrier."

Perched between the dragon's wings, his black hair tousled by the wind, Natsume smiled down at Victini.

"Want to see the snow with me?"

Victini's eyes sparkled as it flashed a V-sign with one paw, fang peeking out.

"Victini!"

"I must aid my brother Zekrom," Reshiram telepathized.

"I know," Natsume replied. "I also have a student to save."

"Student?"

"One who's always searching for meaning between humans and Pokémon—naive, kind to a fault."

Reshiram fell silent, then said: "Perhaps I misjudged."

"Hm?"

"You are not merely Truth's vessel."

Reshiram tilted its head, gaze profound.

"Your Ideals... illuminate Truth."

WHOOSH—

Under clear skies, Reshiram's radiant form pierced the clouds, its energy barrier shimmering.

Janta and the mayor watched the vanishing silhouette, stunned.

Amidst the swirling mist, "Dragon Knight" Natsume-sensei suddenly looked uneasy.

"Reshiram... let's talk."

"Speak."

"Could we... slow down a bit?" He hesitated. "I'm scared of heights."

Reshiram: "..."

Only you, Hero of Truth.