Rainbow Trial, begin! Natsu blinked, taking a long mont to process the situation. He'd thought he was dealing with the "Giratina and the
Rainbow Trial, begin!
Natsu blinked, taking a long mont to process the situation.
He'd thought he was dealing with the "Giratina and the Icy Sky Bouquet" dungeon.
But now, the Dim Rainbow Wing had summoned Marshadow… aning this was actually the 'Rainbow Trial' dungeon?!
Marshadow, a small shadowy figure with flickering flas for eyes, stared silently at Natsu.
"Marshadow!"
This is the best way to test whether you are worthy of becoming the Rainbow Hero!
Through Telepathy, Marshadow conveyed its intent to Natsu-sensei.
It also wanted to use this chance… to decide how to treat this Trainer.
After all, this man before it was… utterly incomprehensible.
The flas in Marshadow's eyes wavered.
He was clearly the one who had dimd the Rainbow Wing, yet the Rainbow Wing had acknowledged him instead.
His thods were underhanded, yet he was a genuine 「aura wielder」.
His Pokémon looked fierce… but the warmth of this household was undeniable.
"Marshadow!" Marshadow's gaze hardened.
The Rainbow Trial would reveal the truth!
Natsu: "Yeah, no thanks."
Marshadow: (⊙﹏⊙)
"Gengar~! o(*≧▽≦)ツ" Gengar slung an arm around Marshadow's shoulders.
"Marshadow!" Marshadow glared at Natsu, baffled.
"No need to participate, right?"
Natsu shrugged cheerfully. "Wouldn't lazing around at ho be better?"
"By the way, you hungry? Want to make you so noodles?" Natsu asked kindly.
Marshadow, standing amidst the little ones, lifted its chin proudly. "Marshadow!"
If you refuse the Rainbow Trial, then we have nothing more to discuss.
Farewell!
Marshadow tried to lt into the shadows—
Natsu said flatly, "Gengar, an Look."
an Look: Uses eerie light to trap the opponent in a Shadow Tag condition, preventing escape.
"Gengar!" Gengar grinned, crimson eyes glowing an eerie blue as its shadow stretched out, snagging Marshadow firmly.
Marshadow: "…"
This is dirty! Absolutely shaless!
"Marshadow!"
Trapped by its own shadow, Marshadow turned its head away defiantly, as if saying, Do what you will!
Natsu scratched his head, unsure how to handle this 'shadow thief' who had broken into his ho.
Letting it go after trespassing wasn't an option.
But keeping it here ant dealing with that troubleso 'Rainbow Trial'—which was dangerous in its own right.
After a mont of thought, Natsu clapped his hands.
"Let it watch us eat, then send it off!"
"Classic you, Rotom!" The Rotom Pokédex gasped.
"Little Rotom, legendary kitchenware mode," Natsu ordered.
"System Overload, Rotom! o(TヘTo)"
Natsu headed to the kitchen, waving a hand. "Keep an eye on it, Gengar!"
"Gengar!" Gengar cracked its knuckles, flanked by Sylveon's Baby-Doll Eyes and Arcanine's watchful glare.
"Marshadow…" Marshadow realized it had been tricked.
Even the fish tank in the back seed to be hiding an Aura Sphere…
Is this really the conduct of a 'Rainbow Trial challenger'?!
Natsu's muttering drifted into its ears, making Marshadow's expression twist.
"You had the whole sky to flee, yet you chose to barge into Natsu's ho…"
Natsu glared at the Rainbow Wing.
"So it's you who led Marshadow here, huh?!"
The Rainbow Wing remained silent, dim and lifeless.
"Marshadow…" Marshadow sighed deeply.
Had the Rainbow Wing truly misjudged him?
Or… had this Rainbow Wing really been corrupted?!
Glancing at Gengar beside it, Marshadow's eyes burned with resolve.
Marshadow had made up his mind—Natsu-sensei would participate in the "Rainbow Trial."
This was the resolve of a warrior, a guardian among shadows.
The clock had already struck six in the evening.
"Marshadow," Marshadow stood in the shadows of the corner, silently watching the cheerful household.
Natsu & Gengar: (￣～￣)
The rich aroma of ran wafted through the air. Marshadow's gaze flickered toward the glistening chashu and the savory broth, swallowing hard.
Human food… held little interest for it.
But this broth—was it made from Berries? How… irresistible.
Natsu and Gengar slurped their noodles. Arcanine buried its snout in its bowl. Sylveon had mastered the art of wielding chopsticks with its ribbons.
As for Togepi, Blastoise, and Sirfetch'd… they all had hands, and their chopstick skills were impeccable.
"Marshadow…" Marshadow watched quietly.
Natsu shot a sidelong glance at the brooding Marshadow, then stood and fetched another bowl of ran from the kitchen, offering it to it.
"Marshadow?" Marshadow blinked in surprise.
"Made this for you," Natsu said. "You nodded when I asked if you wanted so."
"Marshadow!" Marshadow turned its head proudly, refusing handouts!
Natsu smirked.
Then handed it a pair of chopsticks.
Marshadow: "…"
Marshadow accepted the chopsticks: (￣～￣)
Marshadow: (⊙0⊙)
Marshadow: (⊙ˍ⊙)
Soon, though, it schooled its expression back to sternness.
Perhaps you are not a villain.
But the Rainbow Wing's fading light heralds calamity—this is Ho-Oh's on!
A boyish yet oddly solemn telepathic voice echoed in Natsu's mind.
"And how do we fix it?" Natsu asked curiously.
"Undertake the Rainbow Trial," Marshadow declared.
Good grief, we're back to square one.
Rubbing his temples, Natsu sighed. "What happens if I refuse?"
"If the imbalance continues, if disaster strikes—"
Marshadow's tone hardened. "Ho-Oh itself will descend."
Natsu paused.
"…Not impossible," Natsu muttered, stroking his chin. "Ho-Oh intervened directly during the Burned Tower incident."
Back then, even the Tree of Beginning rejected … If Ho-Oh sees up close, it might just vaporize with Sacred Fire.
But—
I'm the Aura Wielder, acknowledged by the Tree of Beginning itself!
Since when do I need Ho-Oh's approval?!
Natsu squared his shoulders. "Fine. How do I start this Rainbow Trial? What's the plan?"
"Marshadow?" Marshadow gaped.
Did I mishear? He's agreeing? Just like that?
"Marshadow!" Marshadow shook its head, then pointed at the Rainbow Wing in Natsu's hand.
We must hurry to the glaciers near Mount Coronet.
There lies the Indigo Stone. Complete the trial path, earn the Rainbow's blessing, and Ho-Oh will appear.
Natsu blinked. "We don't have to go to Kanto?"
"Marshadow." Marshadow nodded.
Each region's trial path differs. Find the Indigo Stone, and the way will open.
Natsu looked skyward, suddenly reassessing Ho-Oh's grandeur.
Ho-Oh had always maintained an air of majesty, its sightings spanning multiple regions.
Though in Special Edition, its prestige took a hit—losing to Pryce's Delibird, of all things.
"Wonder which version this is…" Natsu mused.
Compared to the looming Giratina crisis, the "Rainbow Trial" seed like a lighter dungeon crawl.
His gaze drifted to Marshadow, now thoroughly bribed by ran, devouring the bowl with gusto.
Hmm.
Avoiding Ash for a while might not be a bad idea…
Passing the trial to restore the Rainbow Wing's glow was like earning an extra life (…right?).
Natsu's eyes flicked to the Gracidea flowers in the vase. His brow arched.
Giratina's dungeon's too risky… Fine, I'll pick a different one!
"So," Natsu said, turning to Marshadow. "You're staying here for now?"
"Marshadow!" Marshadow nodded solemnly.
I must keep watch over the challenger!
Natsu: "…"
You just want free als.
But if even the examiner Marshadow's been won over… this trial's as good as mine!
Natsu smirked.
Opening the chat group, he checked Ash's status.
Ash: "I'm challenging Volkner again!"
Natsu: "Go for it! Give it your all!"
Ash grinned fiercely, nodding.
His next attempt was in a week. He planned to train hard until then.
Erika: "Natsu-sensei seems unusually kind today."
Bea: "Yeah, really."
Natsu paused.
Wait, is it "Bea" or "Bean"?
Ah, right—Bea's my Galar apprentice. So "Bean" it is.
anwhile, Lucian DM'd him:
Lucian: "Flint wants to join the group. Should I add him?"
Natsu: "Of course!"
Perfect. His na's still on my notebook—easier to coordinate this way.
Lucian adjusted his glasses, thoughts drifting to the recent spike in dinsional disturbances.
"I really should retire…"
He gazed out the window.
"Let Cynthia handle it."
Elsewhere, Natsu glanced down.
Two shadows stretched from his feet—one harboring Marshadow, the other Gengar.
"We leave tomorrow," Natsu declared.
"Marshadow!" Marshadow affird.
"Gengar~! ㄟ(≧◇≦)ㄏ" Gengar cheered.
Rainbow Trial, here we co!
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