Butterfree had left.
Ash, Pikachu, Sōji, and all found their eyes wet without realizing it.
But the journey did not end there.
They still had to continue forward—
To find Ho-Oh.
[Lance]: "I'm tearing up… Ash loved Butterfree so much, yet he let him go for Butterfree's happiness!"
[Lorelei]: "Watch your wording. That's not 'releasing.' The Poké Ball bond wasn't broken."
[Cynthia]: "Exactly. A temporary farewell is for a better reunion. After migration, Butterfree may return."
[Aaron]: "Parting with a Bug-type Pokémon… such pain. Ash possesses true resolve. I, Aaron—acknowledge him."
[Flint]: "No one asked for your approval."
[Caitlin]: "'If you miss me, look at the ribbon—I'll always be with you.' How romantic. Since when is Ash this smooth?"
[Diantha]: "Perhaps a parallel-world Ash, traveling alone at first, awakened earlier. This emotional intelligence—devastating."
[Cynthia]: "If Ash applied even half of the emotional awareness he gives Pokémon to people… no one would stand a chance."
[Diantha]: "Including you?"
[Cynthia]: "?"
When I typed that question mark, it wasn't because I had a problem.
It was because you did.
"Don't be sad, Ash."
Red spoke firmly.
"All farewells are for better reunions. In this world, you gave Butterfree a ribbon too, didn't you?"
"Then he'll definitely come back—bringing his children with him."
Though this was a parallel world, aside from people and events, Ash's nature was the same.
Through the projection, Red finally understood what kind of person Ash truly was.
That love for Pokémon—
Even Red couldn't say his own was stronger.
So he believed—
Butterfree would return someday, guided by that bond.
"Yeah… I'll take that to heart."
Ash nodded, then looked ahead excitedly.
"Next… we're finally meeting Ho-Oh, right?"
"I wonder if Pikachu can beat Ho-Oh!"
Pikachu puffed out his chest and slapped his nonexistent muscles.
"Pika!"
Of course I can!
"…Probably not."
"Pika—"
Red's blunt answer instantly deflated Pikachu.
As a veteran Pikachu Trainer, Red knew the limits well.
If he said no—
Then it was really unlikely.
Within the Projection
After bidding farewell to Butterfree, Ash and his group continued toward Mount Skyblue.
Along the way, they encountered the last of the Legendary Beasts—
Raikou.
But it appeared only briefly before vanishing.
Now they had seen all three—
Entei. Suicune. Raikou.
Which meant only Ho-Oh remained.
On the path, they met an old man named Bonji.
He had chased Ho-Oh for twenty years.
The book "Ho-Oh Is My Life" was his work.
Based on decades of pursuit, he believed Ho-Oh would appear atop Mount Skyblue.
A true Ho-Oh fanatic.
When he learned Ash was the Rainbow Hero, Bonji was ecstatic and begged to accompany them.
Along the way, he explained—
The Legendary Beasts had been testing Ash.
And within Ash's shadow…
There existed an Observer of the Shadow—Marshadow.
Marshadow's role was to guide the Rainbow Hero, and when things went astray—
To correct them.
Ash and the others suddenly remembered—
The night Pikachu sensed something in the shadows and unleashed Thunderbolt, attracting a troop of Primeape.
Ash had even caught one that liked his hat.
They had dismissed it as imagination.
But now…
Marshadow might truly have been there all along.
No matter how they searched, they couldn't see it.
If Marshadow didn't reveal itself—
They would never find it.
The projection suddenly focused on a distant rock.
A dark silhouette stood behind it, silently observing.
The audience exploded.
"That bastard again!"
"He's like a parasite!"
"He's after the Rainbow Wing, isn't he?!"
The hatred was unanimous.
Even as a silhouette, the man was unmistakable.
Cross.
He must have realized Ash hadn't lost his qualification—
So he chose another method.
Yet Ash seemed unaware.
Mount blue
After camping overnight, they reached the mountain's base.
Ash raised the Rainbow Wing.
A radiant arc of light shot forth, striking a multicolored stone embedded in the mountain.
The entire peak ignited with cerulean brilliance.
The gray mountain transformed into a radiant cyan monument.
Perhaps—
That was the origin of its name.
At the summit, a dazzling rainbow stone awaited.
"So… placing the Rainbow Wing there will summon Ho-Oh?"
"In theory… huff… yes…"
Bonji wheezed behind them.
The kids had sprinted the whole way up.
Ash, Sōji, and Molly rushed forward—
When suddenly—
Ash felt intense danger.
He stopped and flipped backward instantly.
A massive red-and-black humanoid tiger slammed down where he'd stood—
Incineroar, claws glowing purple.
Darkest Lariat!
The ground exploded.
Had it hit—
Even a Super Pallet Town rookie wouldn't have walked away.
Cross emerged.
He no longer hid.
Incineroar returned to his side; Lycanroc stood nearby.
"Cross!"
Ash shouted.
"Hand over the Rainbow Wing."
"Only the strongest Trainer may face Ho-Oh."
Sōji snapped.
"Only the Rainbow Hero can meet Ho-Oh! Even if you steal it, you won't succeed!"
But Cross was beyond reason.
"Strength is truth. Ho-Oh will battle the strongest!"
Ash clenched the Rainbow Wing.
"And the weak?"
"Trash."
"And the defeated?"
"Worse than trash."
Enough.
Ash exploded.
"I will never lose to someone like you!"
"I'll prove it—bonds between Pokémon and humans are real!"
The Rainbow Wing flared.
From Ash's shadow—
Marshadow emerged.
It floated aside, silently observing.
Cross smirked.
In his mind—
The winner would claim Ho-Oh.
Ash returned the Wing to his chest and threw a Poké Ball.
"Let's go—Charmeleon!"
Charmeleon roared, eyes blazing.
This time—
No hesitation.
"This time… I win."
Revenge Match
"Still using that trash?"
"I beat you once. I'll beat you again."
"Incineroar!"
The clash began.
"Flamethrower!"
Ash didn't hesitate.
"Dodge—close in! Slash!"
Charmeleon ducked low, sprinting alongside the flame column.
Too fast.
Too sharp.
SLASH!
Three shallow gashes appeared across Incineroar's chest.
Not deep—
But real.
Cross's eyes narrowed.
"Darkest Lariat!"
Incineroar charged, claws glowing.
Charmeleon danced through terrain, walls, and rocks—
Using the battlefield itself.
Incineroar smashed straight through obstacles—
Pure force.
When Incineroar overextended—
Ash shouted.
"Now—Mega Punch!"
Charmeleon's fist glowed gold.
BOOM!
Incineroar was blasted backward.
Ash pressed.
Cross countered.
"Flamethrower!"
At point-blank range—
Charmeleon crossed his arms and endured the flames.
Ash cried out.
"Charmeleon!"
The fire on Charmeleon's tail surged.
Then—
Light exploded from his body.
Evolution Begins
A blinding glow engulfed the battlefield.
Flames roared.
Power surged.
This was no retreat.
No desperation.
This was—
Charmeleon's answer.
Evolution.
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