Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 323: Calming Ho-Oh (Two-in-One)

Hearing the ding of the Luxury Ball containing Ho-Oh, Rio smiled.

The two regional guardians of Kanto — Lugia, the Sea Guardian, had already been captured by him. Now Ho-Oh, the bearer of life and death, was also his. That meant from now on, the Kanto region was completely under his control. Both humans and Pokémon alike would look to him as their leader.

And with Ho-Oh under his command, the other two of the legendary beasts — Entei and Suicune — would naturally follow suit. Surely Entei and Suicune wouldn’t dare rebel after seeing their master Ho-Oh captured by him.

With that thought, Rio reached out his right hand and beckoned toward the Luxury Ball. The next second, under Gengar’s psychic power, the ball floated toward him and landed in his palm.

"Lugia, Greninja — go help Mewtwo." Rio assigned tasks to Lugia and Greninja.

He decided to keep Gengar close for now, just in case of unexpected developments — like Ho-Oh pulling the same stunt as some other Pokémon that attacked their trainer immediately after being released.

Yes, he meant you, Red Gyarados.

A flash of light — Rio released Ho-Oh. Its level information appeared before him.

[Pokémon: Ho-Oh]

[Level: 90 (14991 days until next level)

[Talent: Legendary]

[Friendship: 30]

[Ability 1: Pressure]

[Ability 2: Regenerator]

[Gender: —]

[Moves: Gust (140%), Whirlwind (140%), Ancient Power (140%), Weather Ball (140%), Life Dew (140%), Safeguard (140%), Calm Mind (140%), Zen Headbutt (140%), Recover (140%), Sunny Day (140%), Fire Blast (140%), Future Sight (140%), Brave Bird (140%), Air Slash (140%), Overheat (140%), Sacred Fire (140%), Flare Blitz (140%), Hyper Beam (140%)...]

[Description: A legendary Pokémon, known alongside Lugia as one of the legendary giant bird Pokémon. It symbolizes hope and good fortune, possessing the power of resurrection. It is called the ’Rainbow Pokémon’ — legend says that those who see it will gain eternal happiness, and wherever it flies, a rainbow appears. ]

But what surprised Rio more than the level information was this: Ho-Oh had been covered in wounds before capture, but now that it was released, its injuries had already healed significantly — half healed in just moments.

"Human, how did you convince them to follow you? Especially Lugia." Ho-Oh was more polite than Lugia. It didn’t attack Rio after capture, instead asking its question.

But then it noticed Rio’s gaze was focused on its body.

"This is my sacred flame — it has healing properties." Ho-Oh explained proactively. Within its golden flames, traces of white fire appeared. Wherever the white fire touched, Ho-Oh’s wounds rapidly healed.

Rio raised an eyebrow at this and began explaining Ho-Oh’s question.

"The reason is simple: I have the ability to benefit others."

"Benefit others?" Ho-Oh didn’t understand.

"Yes — the ability to help Gengar, Greninja, and Lugia become stronger in the future." Rio explained with a smile.

"What you really want to know isn’t why Lugia follows my commands — you want to know why you were overpowered by Gengar, and why it can wield time power, right?"

Ho-Oh’s phoenix eyes flashed with golden light. The human was right — it wanted to know why a Gengar could dominate it, and how that Gengar could control time.

"So what you’re saying is that Gengar is this strong and has time power, and Lugia follows you, because you helped them grow stronger?" Ho-Oh asked cautiously.

"Exactly." Rio shrugged. "Ho-Oh, you can do the same. From now on, if you sincerely follow my commands and build a good relationship with me, you too can gain greater power."

Ho-Oh’s eyes fixed on Rio, judging whether he spoke truth or lies. Seeing this, Rio smiled and offered a suggestion:

"If you don’t believe me, you can summon Entei — it will give you a satisfying answer."

"Entei? It knows you?" Ho-Oh was surprised.

"Yes. Entei helped me two years ago. You can ask it whether I’m lying." Rio said, then added: "Oh, and summon Suicune as well."

"Why not Raikou?" Ho-Oh was confused. It was being asked to summon two of the three legendary beasts — why not Raikou?

"Because I can summon Raikou myself." Rio flashed a grin and pulled out a strand of Raikou’s fur. "It was the first legendary Pokémon I ever captured."

Ho-Oh: "..." It stared at Rio for a long moment without speaking.

After a while, it let out a cry toward the sky.

In the Johto region, Goldenrod City. A Pokémon wearing a crown, with a body as strong as a lion’s, heard the cry and burst out of its tree hollow.

In the Johto region, Ecruteak City. A Pokémon walking across a lake, with a slender body like a sea lion, heard the cry and swiftly galloped across the water.

"Entei and Suicune will be here soon." Ho-Oh explained.

"Understood. As for Raikou, I’ll summon it here too so you can witness its transformation." Rio took Raikou’s feather and lit it on Ho-Oh’s blazing flames.

After the feather ignited and drifted skyward, Rio looked toward the ongoing battle against Rayquaza — now involving Lugia, Greninja, and Mewtwo. With Lugia and Greninja’s help, Mewtwo’s burden had lessened considerably. But capturing Rayquaza was still far from certain.

"Old Ghost, you join the battle too." Rio said.

"You want me to join?" Gengar looked at Rio in surprise, then glanced at Ho-Oh.

The meaning was clear.

Ho-Oh’s expression turned slightly displeased. It understood Gengar’s look — it was afraid that Ho-Oh would cause trouble after Gengar left.

"Old Ghost, what are you implying? Are you suggesting that Ho-Oh, the legendary bringer of love and hope to the world, would attack me after you leave?" Rio suddenly spoke, just as Ho-Oh’s expression soured.

"That’s an insult to Lady Ho-Oh’s virtue! Is it the kind of legendary that would do such a thing? Remember, when it first appeared, it didn’t join the battle — it used its own power to extinguish the flames in Viridian Forest and revived many Pokémon that had died in the fire. Tell me, would such a great legendary Pokémon attack me after you leave?"

The moment he finished speaking, a notification rang in his mind.

[Ho-Oh’s friendship has increased]

[Friendship: 32 (0 → 32) ]

Then Ho-Oh’s prideful voice followed: "Exactly! Do I look like the kind of Pokémon that would do that? That’s obviously something that an uncivilized fool like Lugia would do!" Ho-Oh craned its neck proudly. "I honor my bets. Since I was captured, I accept it."

"See? This is what a true legendary Pokémon is! Attacking your trainer after being caught — that’s clearly not something Lady Ho-Oh would do." Rio played along like a comic’s straight man. "Old Ghost, go. Join the fight against Rayquaza without worry. Lady Ho-Oh will keep me safe."

"Exactly, exactly! With me here, nothing will happen to him." Ho-Oh chimed in. "Even if I die, he won’t."

Gengar looked at Rio and the easily-brainwashed Ho-Oh with utter exasperation. These two were a perfect match.

"Don’t blame me if you get hurt." Gengar rolled its eyes at Rio, then floated toward Rayquaza’s battle, throwing a Shadow Ball as it went.

What had been a three-against-one fight became four-against-one with Gengar’s arrival — and Rayquaza’s pressure skyrocketed. Gengar was, after all, slightly stronger than Lugia.

Rio and Ho-Oh watched together for about two minutes.

From below, a roar sounded.

"Eeent~!"

Rio and Ho-Oh looked down. Entei stood atop a tree, staring up at them with shock — clearly startled by the battle raging overhead.

"Let’s go. You can get your answers from Entei." Rio patted Aerodactyl’s back. Aerodactyl understood and flew him down toward Entei. Ho-Oh followed.

Soon, Rio and Ho-Oh landed before Entei.

"It’s you!" Entei was surprised to see Rio — and even more surprised to see Ho-Oh following behind him.

"Yes, it’s me." Rio smiled. "It’s been a while, Entei. I owe you — last time we met, you saved my life."

"Don’t overthink it. I helped you two years ago because of Munchlax." Entei still held some reservations toward Rio. It bowed to Ho-Oh in submission.

"Eeent~!" — Lady Ho-Oh.

Ho-Oh nodded. Then it asked Entei: "You saved him two years ago?"

"Yes, Lady Ho-Oh." Entei nodded.

"You were able to save him two years ago?" Ho-Oh looked at Entei, then at Rio, then back at the battle in the sky. It couldn’t imagine that the power surrounding Rayquaza now had been built in just two years. But if it had existed before, then Entei — with its level of strength — couldn’t possibly have been the one to save Rio.

"Lady Ho-Oh, what do you mean by that look?" Entei, being straightforward, asked directly when it sensed something off in Ho-Oh’s gaze.

"How did you save him? From whom?" Ho-Oh ignored Entei’s question and asked its own.

"Naturally, using the Sacred Fire you granted me — to save him from Moltres." Entei replied, its gaze flickering between Rio and Ho-Oh, confused as to why Ho-Oh would question this. It was Entei, one of the legendary beasts! Saving a mere human trainer was perfectly normal.

"You saved him from Moltres with Sacred Fire?" Ho-Oh felt like it had heard something impossible. This human named Rio needed Entei to save him from Moltres just two years ago?

"Did it get the time wrong?" Ho-Oh asked Rio directly. It couldn’t believe this was something Entei was capable of.

"That’s right — it was two years ago. Back then, Mewtwo hadn’t been captured, Lugia was leading Moltres to beat me up, Gengar was nowhere near as strong as it is now, and Greninja was far from its current self." Rio explained with a smile.

Ho-Oh was stunned. Its eyes went wide as it stared at Rio, then at Entei.

"You’re saying you achieved this level of power in just two years?" Ho-Oh confirmed in disbelief.

"You could say that." Rio smiled and shrugged. "So, Ho-Oh — are you tempted? If you follow me, obey me, trust me, you too can gain greater power. And I won’t restrict you or force you to do things you don’t want to do — just like with Lugia."

Ho-Oh studied Rio, still deeply shocked.

Meanwhile, Entei, overhearing the exchange, was utterly dumbfounded, its mouth hanging open.

"Human, what do you mean?! You dare ask Lady Ho-Oh to follow you?!" Entei’s enraged voice echoed in Rio’s mind, and it began gathering Sacred Fire in its mouth.

But the next second, Ho-Oh’s stern gaze stopped it. At the same time, Rio spoke calmly:

"Sorry to break it to you, but your Lady Ho-Oh has already been captured by me. It just doesn’t fully trust my strength yet. I asked you to come here so you could show it just how much my strength has grown in two years."

With that, Rio smiled and held up the Luxury Ball — he recalled Ho-Oh, then released it again.

Entei was stunned into silence. The most majestic being in its eyes — Lady Ho-Oh — had been captured by Munchlax’s trainer.

Just then, the sound of thunder came from nearby. Rio turned — Raikou was riding a storm cloud toward them at high speed.

"If you want to see the most tangible proof of what following me can bring, just look at Raikou. I can safely say it’s now the strongest of the three legendary beasts." Rio said to Ho-Oh with a smile.

Raikou had unlocked its first friendship level four months ago. The reward was a level increase to 85 — and a divine move: one of the Tao Trio’s — Zekrom’s sacred move — Fusion Bolt.

At this moment, Raikou strode up to Rio with confident steps. The first words out of its mouth, upon seeing Ho-Oh and Entei, were:

"Rio, you didn’t capture Lady Ho-Oh too, did you?"