Pyramid King. Frontier Brain. Keeper of the Three Regis.
Brandon groaned as he woke up, only to be greeted by a grinning ghost face inches from his nose:
"Gengar!"
"A ghost!!" Brandon nearly fainted again.
"Alright, enough ssing around." Natsu picked up the bulging white eyes that had rolled on the floor and handed them back to the prankster Gengar.
He felt oddly conflicted.
After spending so much ti with Gengar, this level of fright didn't even faze him anymore...
"Gengar! (￣▽￣)／" Gengar reattached its bulging white eyes and waved cheerfully at Brandon.
"Oh... it's just Gengar..."
Brandon exhaled in relief, scratching his head as his mories slowly returned. Suddenly, he tensed up:
"What about the King of Pokélantis?!"
"Right here." Natsu handed Brandon an ancient-looking stone orb. "Successfully imprisoned."
Brandon's eyes widened. "But... the inscriptions on the Plate were in ancient language..."
His gaze then landed on the renowned mythology scholar, Cynthia.
Realization dawned on him.
"Not ," Cynthia shook her head. "I haven't studied that far yet."
"Then who...?"
Brandon made an "ah" sound. "Brock, the Gym Leader with museum experience?"
"It was Natsu-sensei!" Ash loudly corrected. "You almost died, Mr. Brandon!"
Brandon froze for a mont before studying the extraordinary young man before him.
To have such mastery over obscure ancient languages at such a young age...
He solemnly nodded, stood up, and bowed deeply to Natsu. "Natsu-sensei, I owe you my life. I'll never forget this debt!"
"No big deal." Natsu scratched his cheek.
Cynthia frowned. "What exactly happened, Mr. Brandon?"
Brandon recalled the Three Regis into their Poké Balls and sighed.
"It was my carelessness. I thought the King was trying to possess Ash... but instead, my own mind was compromised."
"Don't bla yourself, Mr. Brandon," Brock said gravely. "You're already one of the greatest archaeologists of our ti."
Brandon shook his head with a bitter smile. "Precisely why I still need to train further."
"However," he continued, "this expedition to the ancient ruins wasn't entirely fruitless."
"At the very least, I uncovered the truth behind the fall of the Portlandis Empire, and..."
Brandon paused, glancing at the wrecked interior of the Battle Pyramid, then coughed lightly. "Let escort you all outside first!"
Brock eyed the lingering black mist. "What about these remnants of resentnt?"
"I'll have Dusknoir consu them—"
"Gengar~ "
Brandon glanced at Gengar and mused, "If Natsu-sensei's Gengar wishes to devour them instead..."
"Gengar! ψ(｀?′)ψ" (Ti to feast!)
Natsu watched as his levitating Gengar happily gorged itself, his expression complicated.
"Won't this... give it a stomachache?"
"These spiritual remnants are premium nutrients for Ghost-types," Brandon explained, arms crossed and smirking. "Especially for curse-based moves—their potency will increase significantly."
Natsu blinked. "Including Perish Song?"
"Perish Song, Curse, Destiny Bond... all of them."
Natsu's breath hitched as a familiar suffocating feeling gripped his chest.
I never expected...
Natsu narrowed his eyes. "Do you have distant relatives nad Reggie or Paul?"
Brandon looked puzzled. "Huh? Why do you ask?"
"Nothing." Natsu coughed. Just thought you looked eerily similar.
"Gengar! (*⊙⊙)" Gengar treated the black mist like cotton candy, stuffing entire handfuls into its mouth.
Seeking a more efficient thod, Gengar conjured a spectral "Dusknoir" behind it—a three-ter-tall mini-"Susanoo" that gathered the mist into a giant wad and gleefully shoved it into Gengar's mouth.
"Gengar! ヾ(≧?≦)ヾ" (Delicious!*)
Natsu's eye twitched.
Illusions. I must be trapped in Gengar's illusion!
After purging the pyramid of the black mist...
"Gengar! (〃ω〃)" Gengar licked its lips, eyeing the Imprison Stone orb in Brandon's hands.
The orb trembled violently, as if sensing imminent danger.
"You can't eat that... it'll give you diarrhea," Natsu warned.
"Gengar~(o_O)"
Brandon also broke into a cold sweat, pressing sothing against the orb before declaring gravely:
"This is Ho-Oh's punishnt... let him remain imprisoned in darkness."
Natsu nodded thoughtfully.
Just like Tantalus, cursed by the Greek gods to eternal tornt.
That said... if the King of Pokélantis could be trapped in a Poké Ball...
Natsu fell into deep, serious contemplation...
...
With Brandon seeing them off, the group exited the pyramid.
Under the clear blue sky, a golden-haired beauty gazed at the handso profile beside her, lost in thought.
"What are you looking at?"
"At you," Cynthia replied with a soft smile.
Natsu-sensei's face reddened as he glared. "Then I'll look back!"
The two engaged in a staring contest to see who'd blink first.
The perpetually single Brock squinted at the sky.
I never should've left ho today...
"Mr. Brandon!"
Ash stepped forward, issuing a challenge.
"I want to battle you for the last Frontier Symbol!"
"Very well."
Brandon crossed his arms and nodded sternly. "Take so ti to prepare. We'll battle when we next et!"
"Thank you, Mr. Brandon!"
Ash grinned excitedly before suddenly looking up.
Beyond the clouds, a vibrant rainbow streaked across the sky. The majestic tail feathers of a colossal bird scattered prismatic hues, outshining the world below—or perhaps, coloring it anew.
"Is that... the legendary Ho-Oh?" Cynthia was the first to notice.
"You blinked."
"How childish!"
Natsu glanced up just as the rainbow vanished, replaced by Rotom's beeping.
"Beep! Ho-Oh, the legendary Pokémon, said to appear only before Trainers of pure heart. Sightings are exceedingly rare, roto~"
Trainers of pure heart.
Natsu-sensei raised an eyebrow.
No wonder Ho-Oh bolted at the sight of ...
Then again... this ti, the "photographer" probably ca to check on the King of Pokélantis.
Even without , Ho-Oh would've intervened.
Or... Natsu glanced at Ash.
This is the last Frontier facility... maybe Ho-Oh ca to cheer "Satoshi" on.
"Alright!"
Ash suddenly clenched his fists, eyes blazing with determination as he turned to Pikachu.
"Let's head to the Pokémon Center first, then challenge Mr. Brandon!"
"Pikachu!"
Brandon, typically stern, allowed a rare smile before addressing Natsu:
"Natsu-sensei, as thanks for saving my life, I've prepared a gift."
Natsu's expression shifted.
Brandon reached into his coat and produced a faintly shimring, lustrous feather.
Instantly, everyone's eyes widened.
[Rainbow Wing (Dormant): A Rainbow Wing stripped of Ho-Oh's blessing, yet still breathtakingly beautiful. (Revival Token 1!)]
"The King of Pokélantis fell," Brandon explained solemnly, "because he possessed a Rainbow Wing he was unworthy of."
"Millennia later, this Rainbow Wing has lost its power, becoming a re relic."
Brandon extended the feather to Natsu. "I uncovered these secrets in the ruins, along with this Rainbow Wing."
"Now, I entrust it to you, Natsu-sensei!"
Legend says a Rainbow Wing will reignite when touched by a pure-hearted Trainer.
Of course, it's just a legend.
But Brandon believed this wise and kind Natsu-sensei was truly worthy.
Today's events had humbled him, reminding him of the need for further growth.
Hence, his decision to pass on the Rainbow Wing.
"Rainbow Wing!" Ash's eyes sparkled in recognition.
"You know about it, Ash?" Brock asked curiously.
"Yep! I actually found one when I first left Pallet Town," Ash grinned, scratching his head. "An elder once told —never let a Rainbow Wing fall into evil hands!"
Brandon nodded approvingly, still holding the feather out to Natsu.
"Please accept it, Natsu-sensei. With you, its power will be used wisely."
A bead of sweat rolled down Natsu's forehead.
It's not that I don't want it...
But if I take this, Marshadow might jump out and challenge to a deathmatch!
Ho-Oh hates those with impure hearts who claim its feathers!
"Mr. Brandon," Natsu said solemnly, "I saved you without expecting rewards."
"Evil must be vanquished by all. Wouldn't it be better to leave the Rainbow Wing for its destined bearer?"
Brandon hesitated.
His arrogance had nearly dood him to the King's grasp—he no longer felt worthy of the Wing.
Neither Cynthia nor Brock seed inclined to take it either.
His eyes shifted to Ash.
"I already have one," Ash said cheerfully before suddenly brightening. He took the Rainbow Wing from Brandon.
For a brief mont, the dormant feather glowed faintly before dimming again.
Even Ash couldn't reignite it?
Natsu paused, realizing:
This Rainbow Wing really is just a relic now.
"Natsu-sensei!" Ash waved the feather playfully. "See? No problems—no need to be so tense!"
He assud Natsu-sensei was just being his usual cautious self.
"Here, Natsu-sensei! Rainbow Wings bring good luck!" Ash pressed the feather into Natsu's hands. "Pikachu and I escaped danger thanks to mine!"
"Pikachu!"
Natsu's face paled as he tried to let go—only to find Ash's grip ironclad.
The feather felt cool against his skin.
Its faint glow dimd further, as if switching from "smart" to "power-saving" mode.
Natsu: ???
It brightens for Ash but dies for ?!
Fortunately... Natsu scanned the surroundings. No disasters struck.
The Rainbow Wing flickered weakly in his palm.
"It seems," Cynthia smiled, "the Rainbow Wing accepts you too."
"Told ya!" Ash grinned. "It's a lucky charm!"
That might be true, but...
Natsu stared at the feather like it was a live grenade.
Abruptly, the Rainbow Wing flickered irritably.
Panicking, Natsu channeled Aura of Ripple—a blue glow enveloped the feather, restoring its luster.
Seriously? This thing's a tsundere?!
Natsu's mood was... delicate.
At least Aura of Ripple is versatile.
Maybe I should test it on other targets...
Once the feather stabilized, Natsu cautiously tucked it away.
During the Indigo Plateau Conference, he'd obtained a Moltres tail feather—now worn by Arcanine to enhance its flas.
This new Rainbow Wing, though... he wasn't sure how to utilize it yet.
"Anyway," Natsu sighed inwardly,
As long as I pump it full of Aura daily, it shouldn't corrupt... right?
...
After bidding farewell to Brandon, the ancient ruins incident concluded.
Natsu-sensei had not only rescued the trio but also saved the day.
Gengar, after devouring millennia of the King's malice, wobbled unsteadily at the rear.
Natsu shot it a look. "Told you not to overeat."
"Gengar!" (Worth it!)
I got stronger—again!
The other prize was the dormant Rainbow Wing from the ruins.
Though "dormant," Ash could probably recharge it for revival purposes.
In a way...
Blastoise's cautious nature had thoroughly rubbed off on Natsu-sensei.
Cynthia walked beside Natsu, one arm cradling her elbow while her other hand rested thoughtfully against her chin. Her golden hair cascaded like sunlight.
Since my current research involves ancient languages...
Maybe I don't need Professor Rowan's help after all...
She turned to Natsu, tucking a stray lock behind her ear. A soft smile graced her porcelain features.
"I have a favor to ask of you!"
"Don't even think about making your translator!"
"The pay is really good, you know~"
"Where do I start tomorrow?"
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