Chapter 94: The Bird That Kidnapped Marmen's Brother!

Marmen pondered this possibility seriously, but sure enough, he felt the problem lay with the Rainbow Feathers.

"Qiqi~"

Tapu Fini floated back holding a small handful of Rainbow Feathers, presenting them to Marmen as if offering a treasure, his large eyes blinking rapidly.

"Good job. Today's reward is a bag of cupcakes."

Marmen took the feathers and gave Tapu Fini a thumbs-up.

"Qi~!" Tapu Fini immediately beamed with joy.

Marmen looked at the feathers with satisfaction; a quick glance suggested there were over ten of them. Although some were damaged and not very aesthetically pleasing, it didn't matter.

"Mr. Marmen, what are you collecting these feathers for?"

Liza asked with considerable curiosity. Although she thought the feathers were quite beautiful, was that really all there was to it?

Moreover, some were incomplete. Although the feathers of Ho-Oh certainly held commemorative value, they were ultimately just feathers.

"Ah, you just don't get it. These are feathers of Ho-Oh."

Marmen grinned, holding up a relatively intact Rainbow Feather and gazing at the faint rainbow glow upon it.

"Whether in actual value or the symbolic value it represents, it is immeasurable."

What did the Rainbow Feather represent? From a normal perspective, the Rainbow Feather was a treasure possessed only by humans recognized by Ho-Oh, representing a reserve status as the Rainbow Hero.

According to myth, at the end of the rainbow, if one places the Rainbow Feather upon the Rainbow Rock, the legendary Ho-Oh will descend!

Of course, this was of no use to Marmen. The difficulty of Ho-Oh recognizing him was simply too great; after all, Marmen's temperament did not fit Ho-Oh's "mate selection criteria."

"Ho-Oh is a Pokémon in the Kanto myths. In the Kanto region, Ho-Oh is sacred to many people. In Ecruteak City in the Johto region, there are still many people who worship Ho-Oh."

Marmen spoke slowly.

"Tell me, if I sell the Rainbow Feathers to them, or if I take these Rainbow Feathers and claim to be the human chosen by Ho-Oh, what do you think they will do?"

Marmen laughed with great arrogance.

That's right, Ho-Oh's status in the Kanto region is very high! Especially in Ecruteak City in Johto; as the city where Ho-Oh once descended and dwelt, there are still many believers of Ho-Oh there.

For instance, the monks at the Bell Tower, and the Eevee Sisters, famous throughout Johto. Especially the Eevee Sisters.

Actually, the background and identity of the Eevee Sisters are very special. Players who have played the "HeartGold and SoulSilver" versions should all know this.

The Eevee Sisters are one of the few in modern times to inherit ancient traditions, just like the Meteor People of the Hoenn region, who can make Rayquaza descend through prayer at the Sky Pillar.

The Eevee Sisters can also summon Lugia and Ho-Oh through their inherited dance at specific locations!

Marmen guessed that the ancestors of the Eevee Sisters might have been shrine maidens or priests serving Ho-Oh and Lugia, thus preserving the tradition.

However, after the great fire one hundred and fifty years ago, both Ho-Oh and Lugia had left humanity in disappointment. Even with their inheritance, the Eevee Sisters would still need an opportunity to contact Ho-Oh and Lugia again.

"This..."

Liza was shocked upon hearing this. If true believers firmly devoted to Ho-Oh saw Marmen holding Ho-Oh's Rainbow Feathers, what would they do?

Would they take Mr. Marmen as the messenger chosen by Ho-Oh?

But... that's not right!

"Doing this like that... isn't it deceiving people??" Liza felt that what Marmen was doing was a bit too despicable.

"I am Team Rocket. Isn't this just basic operation for me?"

Marmen retorted with a sense of righteous justification.

Liza: "..."

"Moreover, there are many wealthy people in this world. With Rainbow Feathers like these, with just some artistic processing, creating exquisite crafts to decorate with the Rainbow Feathers, they would perfectly become works of art. Selling them to collectors who lack nothing but money would surely fetch a good price."

Marmen played with the Rainbow Feathers with a smile; in his view, the Rainbow Feathers had countless uses.

Hmm, Marmen pondered how much a Rainbow Feather artwork could sell for later; at the very least, it would start at eight figures, right?

Liza's eyes were already spinning in circles.

"Furthermore, Ho-Oh possesses the ability to resurrect the dead; perhaps its feathers also possess this special property. A potion made from these Rainbow Feathers might have extremely strong effects!"

Marmen stated with conviction. Yes, Marmen felt that these Rainbow Feathers could definitely be used as medicine!

In the games, wild Ho-Oh carries a potion with extremely powerful functions—Sacred Ash!

And the effect of Sacred Ash is to restore all HP and PP of all accompanying Pokémon, and cure all status conditions of all party Pokémon, including fainting.

This is simply a heaven-defying effect!

One could say this is an essential medicine for the Medicine King.

And all wild Ho-Oh carry Sacred Ash, which means Sacred Ash is produced by Ho-Oh!

Sacred Ash, Sacred Ash; as the name suggests, could it not refer to the ash made from burning Ho-Oh's feathers?

It can't be ash made from bird droppings dropped by Ho-Oh, right? Ho-Oh carries it around; wouldn't it find that disgusting?

So Marmen truly felt that these Rainbow Feathers could definitely be used as medicine. Even if they couldn't produce true Sacred Ash, producing a "Little Sacred Ash" with slightly weaker healing effects would suffice.

That alone would completely outshine all healing potions currently on the market.

"If one could truly produce a potion with abnormally outstanding recovery effects, that would be enough to support a new pharmaceutical company." Caitlin's beautiful eyes sparkled.

"Hmm, but the quantity of these feathers might not be enough."

Marmen looked up at the sky. The battle was nearing its end, but compared to that...

Marmen looked at the bird feathers falling from the sky in a shower and called out to Tapu Fini.

"Fini, trouble you once more to gather those feathers."

Tapu Fini was very motivated; in its view, these were all its cupcakes!

Ten more minutes passed. A black figure descended from the sky, landing heavily before the three of Marmen, Liza, and Caitlin. It was Dark Mewtwo.

However, Dark Mewtwo now bore numerous burn marks, obviously having been burned by Ho-Oh's flames quite a bit.

But the momentum of Dark Mewtwo, having just finished fighting, was truly terrifying, even though its aura clearly showed it was very weak.

"It seems you fought to your heart's content, Mewtwo."

Mewtwo raised a hand, green light drifted toward Dark Mewtwo, and the Power of Nature healed the injuries on its body.

"Sorry, Mewtwo, I am not yet its match."

Dark Mewtwo's deep, hoarse telepathic reply came to Mewtwo, without any stubborn refusal or defiance.

It agreed with what Mewtwo said; after all, it had only just awakened.

"That is only natural. Although you are a brand-new legend recognized by the world, they are Pokémon that have survived since ancient times. Even a fraction of their lifespan is longer than your time of birth."

Mewtwo replied with a smile and patted Dark Mewtwo's shoulder.

"But I believe it won't take too long before you surpass it. You are Mewtwo."

"Mm." Deep purple flames flickered in Dark Mewtwo's eyes, and then it nodded without saying more.

It could feel Mewtwo's wholehearted trust in it; that was enough!

Dark Mewtwo also firmly believed in itself and would never let Mewtwo down!

Ho-Oh slowly flapped its wings and descended; it actually felt unwell too, as Mewtwo had struck it many times during the battle.

However, its constitution and defense were too outstanding, so its injuries were far lighter than Dark Mewtwo's.

"Human, can you release Suicune and the others now?" Ho-Oh's neutral telepathic voice rang out.

It roughly understood that Mewtwo might have specifically wanted to fight it to learn the limits of Dark Mewtwo's strength, which was why it forcibly captured its Ho-Oh Guard.

"I never said that, did I?" Mewtwo raised an eyebrow.

"Human, do not try to provoke me."

Ho-Oh's tone was noticeably heavier, containing a hint of anger; although it indeed disliked attacking humans, that did not mean it would never do so!

"I can return Raikou and Entei to you, but I want Suicune."

"Impossible!"

Ho-Oh refused without hesitation; colorful flames gradually ignited around its wings, and a heavy oppressive pressure descended once more.

"Human, I have already said that Suicune will never accept you! Even if you keep it, it will not serve you!"

Ho-Oh spoke in a deep voice; Pokémon were not human puppets on strings, but intelligent beings with flesh and blood.

Especially legendary Pokémon like them, all possessed their own thoughts and wills.

"Do you mean that the righteous Suicune will not accept me, whose thoughts are impure?"

"Naturally so."

"Is that really so? Then why did you kidnap my brother back then?" Mewtwo glanced sideways at Ho-Oh with mockery and sarcasm.

Silence!

The air suddenly grew quiet.

Ho-Oh's movements came to a complete halt the moment Mewtwo finished speaking, staring at Mewtwo in shock.

And Caitlin and Erika also looked at Mewtwo with equal astonishment.

Ho-Oh... kidnapped Mewtwo's brother?

"You..."

Ho-Oh finally came to its senses; its expression gradually became complex, containing shame, regret, and also gloom.

Ho-Oh actually did not refute? Holy crap! Is this true?

Erika was stunned!

"That was my own brother. That year he was only five years old. Ho-Oh, you should not have forgotten, right?"

"..."

Ho-Oh had no words to respond; this was indeed the only blemish in its entire life. Ten years ago, it and Lugia had been captured by a human.

That person's strength was astonishingly powerful, and precisely because of this, Ho-Oh agreed to become that person's Pokémon.

But a series of events that followed made Ho-Oh and Lugia ultimately betray that human, yet the mistakes already committed could not be avoided in the end.

Precisely because of this, Ho-Oh became even more convinced that its One's Own Thoughts were correct; strength was not the only thing, only purity of heart was the person it waited for.

Precisely because of this, it wanted to take back Suicune and the others, because it believed that Suicune and the others were incompatible with Mewtwo and could not become compatible partners.

"This is indeed my problem, even if it was not my wish." After a moment of silence, Ho-Oh replied with a sigh.

Because of guilt, it had not even asked Mewtwo in detail what that child looked like, because at that time, besides itself, Lugia was also searching everywhere in Kanto for outstanding children.

Perhaps Mewtwo's brother was caught by Lugia? But in Ho-Oh's view, it made no difference.

In the end, this was the sin of itself and Lugia.

"I can make compensation to you, but human, if you forcibly keep Suicune, neither of you will be happy."

Ho-Oh's attitude had obviously softened a lot.

"Can you bring Silver back?"

"I... cannot do it."

Ho-Oh was very helpless; it also wanted to send back all the children it had kidnapped back then, but did it dare to return there?

"Three promises, Ho-Oh. I need you to give me three promises: when I encounter difficulties, you must come to help me."

Mewtwo held up three fingers and spoke to Ho-Oh.

"I will keep Suicune temporarily. I will undergo training with it. If, as you say, we are incompatible, then I will let it go. But if it matches well with me, you cannot forcibly take it back."

"Three favors? Fine, but if it goes against my principles, I will not help you."

Ho-Oh could barely accept the matter of Suicune, but three promises... After hesitating for a moment, Ho-Oh still agreed; there was no choice, for it felt guilty in its heart.

"Naturally not." Mewtwo replied directly; nonsense, of course he would not let Ho-Oh help him do evil deeds.

Otherwise, Ho-Oh would not only not help him, but might even stop him.

But even so, with Ho-Oh as an ally, many things had a guarantee.

Since the matter had been settled, Mewtwo of course would not go back on his word; he took out the Poké Balls of Entei and Raikou and pressed the release button.

Two streaks of Bai Guang flashed, and the figures of the Flame Emperor and the Thunder Duke appeared ahead.

Both were still somewhat dazed, but they immediately sensed the Phoenix King's presence, turned around, and bowed respectfully to the Phoenix King.

"That Phoenix King, when I need you, how do I contact you?" Mammon asked the crucial question.

A particularly bright feather from the Phoenix King's body floated down, stopping before Mammon.

"You can contact me through this feather from any location in the world, and I can also find you by the feather's position," the Phoenix King said calmly.

"Tsk~" Mammon clicked his tongue, examining this incomparably beautiful rainbow feather; this was truly a perfect-quality Phoenix King feather.

Whether in color, brightness, or completeness, it far surpassed the "defective goods" in Mammon's hand.

"By the way, Phoenix King, I have a small personal request, not counted among those three promises; you may refuse."

"Speak."

The Phoenix King's temper was truly very good; it was even willing to listen to Mammon's request.

"When is your molting season? Do you shed heavily usually? It seems the quality of the feathers on your body isn't very good right now; why don't you change your feathers now, and give me all the feathers you shed?"

"???"

The Phoenix King's eyelids twitched wildly, and its gaze toward Mammon gradually grew dangerous.

Ps: Here it comes, here it comes, boo hoo, I got into a car accident when going out this afternoon; the rearview mirror was completely smashed, my heart aches.

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(End of this chapter)