“Got it, don’t worry, Mom!” said Lono.
“Seeing you all happy puts my mind at ease.” The woman said: “That’s settled then, we’re going back, no need to see us off. You should also go home and rest!”
Saying this, the two left the ranch.
Watching their figures disappear, Naoki finally linked arms with Lono and headed home.
In the afternoon, the Pokémon in the ranch were leisurely basking in the sun.
Koraidon lay under the eaves, lazily watching the two.
Just then, as if sensing something, it suddenly lifted its head and looked in one direction.
Naoki noticed Koraidon’s movement and couldn’t help but ask: “What’s up, Koraidon?”
“Ah gah sss.”
Naoki and Lono turned to see three Pokémon approaching from afar.
The one in the middle had fiery red fur, a dignified expression, and mane behind its head flowing like smoke.
On the left was a Pokémon with a blue body and white block-like patterns, a blue gem-like adornment on its forehead, and two white ribbon-like tails gently swaying.
And on the right was a Pokémon with golden-yellow fur, strong limbs, and sharp fangs, resembling a saber-toothed tiger, with a pale blue lightning-shaped tail, looking quite fierce.
The trio approached from afar and soon stood on the nearby grass, looking straight ahead.
Seeing this, Naoki and Lono were slightly taken aback.
“Those Pokémon are…” Lono couldn’t help but ask.
“Ho-oh’s guards, Entei, Suicune, and Lei Gong,” Naoki introduced, finally understanding what Ho-oh meant yesterday…
Upon hearing this, Lono’s mouth slightly parted, unable to resist a gasp.
“Ho-oh must have sent them here,” Naoki said.
Lono also noticed these three Pokémon seemed to have come to find her husband, and lightly patted Naoki’s arm, saying:
“Go ahead, I’ll wait for you at home.”
Naoki nodded, escorted Lono back to the room, then turned to face the three Pokémon again.
Beside him, Koraidon shook its neck, stretching as it stood up from under the eaves.
The legendary beasts were also observing the human, pondering why Lord Ho-oh had sent them here.
“Was it Ho-oh who sent you?” Naoki asked.
The next moment, a solemn voice, like that of a middle-aged man, sounded in his mind.
“Indeed, Lord Ho-oh instructed us to come here to find you.”
That was Entei’s telepathy.
Wondering why? Naoki couldn’t fully grasp Ho-oh’s intent immediately, but after some thought, he decided to take the legendary beasts to meet Ho-oh.
“Since that’s the case, I’ll take you to Ho-oh!”
Lord Ho-oh is here too? The legendary beasts were slightly surprised.
Before they could react, the human and the red Pokémon were already leading the way ahead.
The legendary beasts gazed at their backs, contemplating for a moment, then slowly followed.
The group entered the Reversed World, and just after passing through the water, the legendary beasts sensed a threatening aura.
The dangerous aura caused Lei Gong’s fur to stand on end involuntarily.
Entei and Suicune also showed caution as they glanced at Giratina in the distance.
“Relax, that Pokémon is not dangerous.”
The legendary beasts were slightly startled; Lei Gong looked at the human in front of him and then at the Pokémon, the fur standing on its body gradually softened.
Naoki nodded at Giratina and then passed through the green corridor ahead.
The legendary beasts followed closely behind, and the next moment, their view transformed drastically.
The air was thick with the scent of nature, the lake surface was shrouded in mystic aura, dewdrops adorned the grass, and everywhere was vibrant with life, resembling… paradise!
“What place is this?” Suicune murmured softly.
Entei, however, looked in one direction: “I sense Lord Ho-oh’s presence; Lord Ho-oh is here.”
Naoki and Koraidon continued to lead the way, and the legendary beasts followed in sync.
Along the way, the legendary beasts, like Pokémon who had never seen the world, gazed around, seeming interested in everything.
Especially when they saw the giant Gate of Space-Time in the Explorer Team Guild, they couldn’t help but stop and gaze up at it.
“That’s the gate connecting to other worlds,” Naoki explained, “This is the Explorer Team Guild, where Pokémon live and set out to help those in need in other worlds. We are currently at the place called the World Tree.”
The legendary beasts didn’t know about the Gate of Space-Time, nor had they heard of the World Tree or the Explorer Team Guild.
But they understood the part about helping Pokémon in need.
“Let’s go! Ho-oh is just ahead!” Naoki turned around and continued leading the way.
The legendary beasts lifted their feet and followed.
They ascended along a large tree branch, and after walking for about ten minutes, they suddenly found themselves before a lush canopy with thick trunks and massive leaves.
Ho-oh was resting on one of the trunks, and upon sensing familiar auras, it promptly turned to look.
The legendary beasts quickly stepped forward and greeted.
“Lord Ho-oh!”
Naoki and Koraidon stepped aside to observe the scene.