Pokemon: Gym Leader

After dinner, Dylan booked a suite for Ash and his friends at the hotel, saving them the trouble of heading to the Pokémon Center.

Dylan and his companions also returned to their own suite.

"Big Sis Leah, are you okay?"

Lillie asked with concern. She had noticed during dinner that something seemed off about Leah's expression.

"I'm fine, maybe just caught a slight chill," Leah shook her head in response.

Lillie frowned slightly at her words, then exchanged a glance with Dylan. Seeing him nod, she hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"Big Sis Leah, you're definitely hiding something from us, aren't you? Is it about Ho-Oh?" Lillie asked tentatively.

She had always been a smart and perceptive girl. Leah's unusual behavior had started the moment she saw the Rainbow Wing in Ash's hand, and Lillie had taken note of that detail.

"..." Leah looked a little helpless.

"If it's something truly difficult to talk about, you don't have to say it. But Leah, simply keeping things bottled up won't solve anything," Dylan said.

"I know, fine, I'll tell you," Leah rolled her eyes playfully before sighing deeply.

After experiencing so much, she naturally trusted Dylan and Lillie, especially since Dylan was someone capable enough to rely on.

The three of them sat down on the sofa, and Lillie poured some tea.

"Actually…"

After a moment of hesitation, Leah reached into a hidden compartment of her personal bag and took out two feathers, placing them in front of Dylan and Lillie.

"This is…?" Lillie looked at the two feathers in surprise.

The one on the left shimmered with a beautiful rainbow-colored glow—it was the Rainbow Wing.

The feather on the right, however, was much sleeker and longer, emitting a faint silver light—this was the Silver Wing of Lugia.

Dylan picked up the Silver Wing and ran his fingers over it. It was incredibly soft and smooth to the touch.

Hmm, this would probably make a great badge decoration.

Lillie, holding the Rainbow Wing, examined its glowing colors with curiosity.

"So this is Ho-Oh's feather… It even glows—how special. I wonder what Reshiram's fur feels like."

"When I was little, I also lived in Pallet Town," Leah said after a brief silence.

"Huh?"

Lillie was stunned.

Pallet Town—the home of Professor Oak's research lab, as well as the starting place of Red, Blue, and Ash.

"Yes, but when I was young, a Pokémon came to town. It took me away and carried me all the way to Johto."

Leah pursed her lips. That incident was precisely the reason she developed her fear of bird Pokémon—it was her nightmare.

"Which Pokémon?" Dylan asked, following the thread of the story.

"Ho-Oh."

"Ho-Oh took you away, Big Sis Leah? Why?"

Lillie was shocked. Ho-Oh was a legendary Pokémon in Kanto, holding a status equivalent to the Dragon Gods of Unova or the Sun and Moon deities of Alola.

A Pokémon worshipped like a deity in folklore—why would it abduct an innocent little girl? That made no sense.

"It was because of a masked man. And it wasn't just Ho-Oh—there was also Lugia. He captured both of them, and they roamed the land searching for gifted children for him."

Leah's voice grew somber.

"..." Lillie was silent, unable to fully understand but deeply shaken.

So that masked man had tamed both Ho-Oh and Lugia… and used them to kidnap children?

That was absurd! If he had Ho-Oh and Lugia, what couldn't he accomplish?

"The masked man had a secret plan, and he had been preparing for it for a long time. He abducted us to train us, making us suitable for that plan. But at the beginning of the year, I escaped from the organization."

Leah shook her head, as if anticipating Lillie's confusion.

"And I stole his Rainbow Wing and Silver Wing before I left. That's why I've been on the run, avoiding their pursuit."

"So that means that Sham and Carl…?"

"Yes, Sham and Carl are part of the masked organization. Strictly speaking, they're my childhood friends."

Leah's tone carried a hint of sarcasm. But unlike her, Sham and Carl had voluntarily joined the organization out of admiration for the masked man's strength.

Still, their paths had diverged—they were not the same kind of people.

"The masked organization…"

Lillie was overwhelmed. She suddenly realized that Kanto was truly an unstable place, with each villainous organization more terrifying than the last.

Team Rocket's higher-ups were essentially at Elite Four level, and Giovanni, the boss, was strong enough to rival Lance, the Champion.

Not to mention the appearance of Mewtwo, who was undoubtedly connected to Team Rocket.

If such an evil organization were to appear in Alola…

Alola would have probably been conquered by Team Rocket by now! And now, there was an even more mysterious masked organization?

Lillie didn't know how strong the masked organization truly was, but judging by what Leah had said…

That masked man had captured Ho-Oh and Lugia! That alone was terrifying.

"Wait, if Ho-Oh is that masked man's Pokémon, then why are we looking for Ho-Oh tomorrow?"

Lillie suddenly realized something.

"No, I don't know why, but Ho-Oh and Lugia have already abandoned the masked man."

Leah shook her head. She was certain of this—Ho-Oh and Lugia had left the masked man's side.

"The masked man needs the Rainbow Wing and Silver Wing for his plan, so he must either find me and take them back, or track down Ho-Oh and Lugia again."

"I think Sham and Carl joined Team Rocket for these exact reasons."

Leah analyzed the situation, and there were hardly any other possibilities.

Sham and Carl enjoyed excitement and thrills, but they would never ignore the masked man's orders just for fun.

After all, the masked man wasn't someone you could defy so easily.

"Dylan, I want to ask for your help."

After a brief hesitation, Leah looked at Dylan and spoke.

"You want me to help you fight against the masked organization? If that man finds you, you can always contact me. That's no problem," Dylan replied with a smile.

"Thank you." Leah bit her lip. His unwavering response filled her heart with warmth.

"There's no need to say that between us."

Dylan shook his head. For the friends he recognized, he was always willing to lend a hand.

A long silence stretched between them before Leah finally took a deep breath and spoke.

"Actually… there's another thing I need to tell you both."

Lillie tilted her head, curious. "Big Sis Leah, what is it?"

Dylan, who had been relaxing with his arms crossed, straightened slightly. "Go ahead. We're listening."

Leah hesitated for a moment, gripping the feather in her hands tighter. Then, as if finally deciding to just say it, she looked at the two of them seriously.

"Leah… isn't my real name."

Lillie blinked. "Huh?"

Dylan narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Taking another deep breath, she continued, "My real name… is Leaf."

The room fell silent.

Lillie's jaw dropped. "Wha—?!"

Dylan, usually calm and composed, actually looked surprised for once. His brows furrowed as he processed the revelation. "Leaf… You mean, that Leaf? The one who—"

Leah—no, Leaf—nodded. "Yes. The same one you're thinking of."

Lillie covered her mouth with her hands, eyes wide with shock. "But—but the whole world thinks you're… missing!"

Dylan exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "Damn… That explains a lot."

Leaf smiled wryly. "Yeah, I know. I've been living under a different name ever since I escaped from the masked organization. If people knew I was still alive, it'd put a huge target on my back."

Lillie's expression shifted from shock to concern. "So… you've been hiding your identity all this time?"

Leaf nodded. "It's safer this way. That's why I need to ask you both… Please, don't tell anyone."

Dylan met her gaze, serious. "Are you sure about this? You don't have to carry this alone."

"I know," Leaf admitted, "but until I figure everything out… until I make sure that masked man and his organization are truly gone… I can't risk it. If my name gets out, they'll come after me, and I don't want to put you guys in danger."

Lillie, still stunned, clutched her hands together but gave a firm nod. "I understand… I won't say a word."

Dylan studied her for a moment, then smirked. "Well, you could've just told us from the start, but I get it. Fine, your secret's safe with us."

Relief flooded Leaf's expression as she smiled. "Thank you… both of you."

Lillie, still slightly overwhelmed, let out a breath. "Wow… So all this time, we've been traveling with Leaf—the legendary rival of Red and Blue…"

Leaf waved a hand dismissively. "Shhh, shhh, not so loud!"

Dylan chuckled. "Well, this changes things. But don't worry, Leaf… or Leah, whichever you prefer. We've got your back."

Leaf's heart warmed at their trust. Hiding had been exhausting, but with these two by her side, for the first time in a long time, she didn't feel so alone.

"Hmm~ Dylan, you're so nice, I don't even know how to repay you!"

Leaf's eyes shimmered with emotion.

"How about I make a little sacrifice and marry you as repayment?"

"Eh?!!"

Lillie, who had been smiling just moments ago, immediately froze, her expression shifting.

How could this be?! How could Big Sis Leaf be so shameless…?

A girl should be more reserved! This isn't right!

"Huh?" Dylan was taken aback.

"What do you think, huh? I'm a gorgeous, fragrant beauty! You'd be lucky!"

Leaf winked playfully, her beautiful eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Tsk~"

Dylan glanced at Leaf from head to toe and clicked his tongue.

Leaf didn't mind at all. She even leaned slightly on the sofa, subtly emphasizing her curves.

"…So unappealing."

"???"

Leaf's smile froze. What?!

"I'm heading back to my room. Get some rest—we have a long journey tomorrow."

Dylan stood up and walked to his room, locking the door behind him.

Leaf, snapping out of her daze, grabbed a mirror and examined herself.

What the hell?! I look stunning! What does he mean by 'unappealing'?!

The next morning…

Guided by the Rainbow Wing, the group arrived at the Mount Tensei Range.

It was a vast and expansive mountain range, with Mount Tensei standing as its tallest peak.

"Hah… This should be the place."

Reshiram and the other two Pokémon descended onto a flat area on Mount Tensei. Ash exhaled deeply, gripping the Rainbow Wing in his hand as it shimmered with its radiant glow.

He could feel it—this was the right place.

"The land at the end of the rainbow—Mount Tensei."

Dylan withdrew Reshiram, Dragonite, and Salamence, his gaze drifting toward the rolling sea of clouds in the distance.

"Look over there!"

Misty suddenly cried out in surprise. Everyone followed her gaze.

At a higher altitude, atop a towering rock formation, brilliant rainbow-colored light began to bloom, shining like a vibrant flower in full bloom.

"It really must be here. Ash, let's go up." Dylan nodded toward Ash.

"Alright!"

Ash agreed without hesitation, his eyes fixed excitedly on the towering rock.

The group made their way toward the mountain peak. The distance wasn't too far, so the trek didn't take long, and all the while, the Rainbow Wing's glow remained constant.

When they finally reached the summit, they could clearly see the rock that shimmered with rainbow light.

"Ash, go ahead—place the Rainbow Wing." Dylan smiled.

"Leave it to me!"

Ash adjusted his cap, then ran toward the Rainbow Rock without hesitation.

"They say that those who follow the guidance of the Rainbow Wing and see Ho-Oh will become the Rainbow Hero."

Dylan rubbed his chin as he watched Ash's back.

"Rainbow Hero?" Misty asked curiously.

"Yes. It means someone recognized by Ho-Oh. But whether Ho-Oh will follow them depends on the situation."

Dylan smiled. By all logic, the Rainbow Hero should have a chance to earn Ho-Oh's loyalty.

However, in the movie, Ash had seen Ho-Oh and even challenged it to a battle. While the outcome wasn't shown, judging from how Ash appeared at the Pokémon Center afterward, it was clear that he hadn't caught Ho-Oh.

Ash climbed to the top of Rainbow Rock and placed the Rainbow Wing in its center.

Something miraculous happened.

Even when Ash let go, the Rainbow Wing remained floating in place, and its glow intensified.

Ash quickly stepped down from the rock—just in time.

BOOM!

A pillar of rainbow light shot skyward from Rainbow Rock, its dazzling energy illuminating everyone's eyes. Thick clouds in the sky were instantly parted, revealing an immaculate, crystal-clear blue sky, as if polished to perfection.

"Whoa!!"

Misty gasped in awe at the spectacle.

From the Rainbow Rock, a stunning rainbow arched across the sky, stretching endlessly into the horizon.

Chirp~!

From some unknown distant land, a cry echoed across the heavens, resonating and drifting into the ears of Dylan and the others.

"Look there!"

Ash's eyes suddenly lit up. He pointed excitedly toward the far sky.

"Ho-Oh."

Dylan focused his gaze, raising an eyebrow.

A breathtaking, rainbow-colored figure appeared in the distance. Though still far away and hard to make out clearly, its radiant, multicolored glow illuminated its form, with a rainbow stretching beneath it. As it flapped its wings, shimmering golden specks of light gently scattered through the air.

Ho-Oh's entrance had never been anything less than legendary.

"So beautiful~" Misty's eyes sparkled in admiration.

"Right?! It looks amazing!"

Ash was beyond thrilled. This was the very Pokémon he had seen the day he left Pallet Town—Ho-Oh!

Beep—

Ho-Oh. Fire/Flying type. The Rainbow Pokémon.

Ability: Pressure

Moves: Sacred Fire, Overheat, Brave Bird, Future Sight, Fire Blast, Recover, Safeguard…

Description: A Pokémon recorded in myth, said to shine in seven colors. Wherever it flies, a rainbow appears.

Its wings shimmer in seven hues, and legend says that those who see Ho-Oh will be blessed with eternal happiness.

"Seeing Ho-Oh means eternal happiness?!"

Misty's heart pounded. Was this true? Could it really be true?

Chirp~!

Ho-Oh let out another clear, resounding cry. As it flapped its wings again, its shimmering form slowly drifted across the sky above them.

Golden light particles rained down, touching everyone present.

In that instant, Dylan and the others felt all their exhaustion—both physical and mental—disappear as if it had never existed.

With a graceful turn, Ho-Oh finally descended and perched atop Rainbow Rock.

Folding its wings elegantly, it stood tall, gazing down with a calm, majestic presence.

Its warm, gentle eyes lingered on Ash for a moment.

Then, as if sensing something, Ho-Oh's gaze shifted—to Dylan.

Its head tilted slightly, as though deep in thought.

"Hmm…"

Ash stared at Ho-Oh, lost in thought.

Now that it was up close, with its glow no longer as overwhelming, he could clearly see Ho-Oh's features.

How should he put it…?

Ho-Oh's body shape looked… kind of familiar? It resembled another bird Pokémon he had seen before…

Huh. Maybe it was just his imagination.