"I feel Ho-Oh's presence," Entei rumbled, staring toward a large branch in the distance. "He's here."
Naoki and Koraidon pressed onward, and the trio followed closely.
The Legendary Beasts looked around with wide eyes, like travelers discovering a new world. Everything fascinated them.
When they came across the massive, rune-covered gate embedded in a cliff, they all paused.
"That's a space-time portal," Naoki explained. "It connects to other worlds. This is our Expedition Guild's base. We live here to support Pokémon in need—across this world, and even others. This place is called the World Tree."
The three Beasts were silent. They had never heard of a place like this. A space-time gate? A sanctuary where Pokémon came to help others?
But… they understood the part about helping.
Naoki turned. "Come on. Ho-Oh is waiting for you."
They continued walking, ascending a massive, spiraling branch that stretched toward the sky.
After about ten minutes of climbing, a breathtaking sight opened before them: a vast canopy of emerald leaves, with thick trunks forming natural platforms.
Perched on one of the upper branches, the Rainbow Pokémon rested peacefully. At the sound of approaching footsteps, Ho-Oh turned its head.
The three Legendary Beasts immediately stepped forward and bowed in unison.
"Lord Ho-Oh!"
Naoki and Koraidon stepped aside, quietly observing the reunion.
"You've arrived," Ho-Oh said softly, its tone calm but commanding. "Tell me, what did you see?"
The Beasts hesitated. What… did they see?
Then, slowly, they began to speak.
"I saw a colossal gate, pulsing with energy," Entei said.
"I saw Pokémon from different worlds living together peacefully," Suicune added.
"I saw a home," Raikou murmured, gazing around again.
Suicune then looked to Ho-Oh. "What is this place, truly?"
Ho-Oh's feathers shimmered as it spoke.
"This is the World Tree," it said. "Naoki built it as a haven for Pokémon. He founded the Expedition Guild and journeys across dimensions, into other world, bringing aid to Pokémon in peril, protecting worlds on the brink of collapse."
The three Beasts were stunned.
They turned to the human standing beside them. And at that moment, they finally understood why Lord Ho-Oh had placed so much faith in him.
"I summoned you here so you could see this for yourselves," Ho-Oh said, his voice firm and calm. "He is the Rainbow Hero I have chosen. A heart and will like his needs no further testing."
"Yes, Lord Ho-Oh!" the three Legendary Beasts replied in unison.
Then, Ho-Oh turned his gaze toward Raikou.
"Raikou, the Rainbow Hero requires your help. I ask that you offer him your strength."
Raikou stiffened, visibly surprised. After a long pause, he lowered his head respectfully. "Yes, Lord Ho-Oh."
Naoki blinked, taken aback. Ho-Oh… was serious?
He had actually summoned Raikou here to help him round out his Electric-type team for the Gym?
Entei and Suicune both turned toward their companion, while Raikou met Naoki's gaze with narrowed, golden eyes.
"What would you have me do?" he asked plainly.
Naoki scratched the back of his head. "Uh… nothing too dramatic. I just need one more Electric-type for my Gym team. I was hoping you could join and help me battle for, say… ten months?"
Raikou stared at him, thunder quietly crackling in his mane.
He narrowed his eyes again, and then, a burst of lightning exploded around him as he stepped forward with a deep, rumbling growl.
"Then let's see," Raikou said, his voice booming like a storm. "If you're truly worthy of wielding my power!"
Naoki froze. "Wait, what?"
Was Raikou… challenging him to a battle?
Entei and Suicune calmly stepped aside, silently granting them the space to duel.
Ho-Oh didn't speak, only observed with a faint smile. It had faith that Naoki was up to the task.
Naoki exhaled slowly. "Right. This… feels very on-brand for the Pokémon world."
So Raikou wanted a show of strength. Fair enough.
"Alright then," Naoki said. "Koraidon, I'm counting on you."
"Agah!" Koraidon stepped forward confidently, golden eyes locking onto Raikou with a calm, burning determination.
The tension sparked in the air.
And then, Raikou bolted forward, lightning coiling around his body like a tempest. With a roar like thunder crashing from the heavens, he unleashed a surge of electricity so fierce it sent shockwaves through the air. Bolts of lightning arced across the clearing, converging on Koraidon.
"Dragon Claw!" Naoki shouted.
Koraidon charged without hesitation. In a blur of motion, it closed the distance in a heartbeat. Its claws glowed with a fierce, violet light, charged with draconic energy.
With a mighty swipe, Koraidon's Dragon Claw tore through Raikou's electric barrage and struck him head-on with a blast of raw power.
Raikou staggered back slightly, sparks flickering across his fur. His expression turned serious.
What a strong force! Raikou showed a solemn expression on his face.
Just as Raikou was preparing to shift tactics, he suddenly heard a sharp command from across the battlefield.
"Collision Course!"
In the next instant, the red Pokémon before him leapt high into the air. A surge of ancient, primal energy ignited around its form as it launched forward like a comet, head lowered, glowing with power.
Danger!
Raikou's instincts screamed. It knew this wasn't an attack it could take lightly. It quickly summoned its supernatural energy, crackling with electric-blue force, trying to create a telekinetic barrier in time.
A wave of psychic pressure burst out from Raikou, making the air ripple with tension.
Would it work?
Raikou braced itself, but the next thing it saw was Koraidon barreling straight through its barrier as if it were paper.
BOOM!
The collision exploded in a burst of force. Dust and smoke billowed into the air, swallowing the battlefield in chaos.
When the haze finally cleared, Raikou was lying on the ground, breathing heavily, its limbs limp beneath it. The sparks dancing around its fur faded.
It had been defeated.
"We did it," Naoki said calmly.
Koraidon let out a satisfied huff and padded back to Naoki's side. From nearby, Ho-Oh gave a quiet nod of approval.
"Use a Poké Ball to catch him," Ho-Oh said. "He will aid you on my behalf."
Naoki blinked.
Wait, was Ho-Oh really telling him to catch Raikou?
He looked at the fallen Legendary Beast, who had begun rising to his feet with effort.
"I will obey Lord Ho-Oh's command," Raikou said solemnly.
Suddenly, a pulse of psychic energy burst from Raikou's body. One of the empty Poké Balls on Naoki's belt unlatched itself and floated into the air.
Then, with a flash of red light, Raikou voluntarily transformed into energy and entered the Poké Ball.
The ball dropped to the ground, rocked once… twice… click.
The capture was complete.
Naoki stood there stunned, staring at the Poké Ball that now contained the embodiment of thunder itself.
"Alright then," he whispered. "If that's the will of Ho-Oh and Raikou, I won't let it go to waste."
He stepped forward, picked up the Poké Ball, and looked up toward the Phoenix King.
"Thank you, Ho-Oh. And Raikou, I'll count on you for the next ten months."
"You're welcome," Ho-Oh replied gently, wings folding behind him with quiet dignity.
In his hand, the Poké Ball gave a soft shake, as if Raikou inside had heard him and was nodding back.
Ho-Oh turned his gaze toward Entei and Suicune.
"You two, remain here at the World Tree for a while. Watch over this place, and help protect Naoki's ranch."
The two nodded deeply. "Understood."
Naoki looked down at the Poké Ball in his hand and took a steady breath.
Pawmot. Jolteon. Pikachu. Zapdos. Jirachi with Electric Tera Type. And now, Raikou.
With six powerful Electric-type Pokémon assembled, his team was finally complete.
Naoki, the new acting Gym Leader of Levincia, was ready to face whatever challengers came his way.
...
Two days later, at the Levincia Gym in Levincia City.
Naoki sat calmly in the Gym Leader's seat, reviewing the list of registered challengers that the staff had just handed him.
"Since the Gym's been closed for the past three days, a lot of trainers have shown up to challenge today…" said Anya, the gym's receptionist.
She glanced curiously at the young man seated before her. This was Naoki, husband of their Gym Leader, Iono.
Word had spread quickly among the staff: Iono was pregnant, and Naoki had volunteered to run the Gym in her place so she could rest at home.
'What a thoughtful guy,' Anya thought to herself with admiration. Their Gym Leader really found herself a good man.
Naoki flipped through the list with a small smile. "No worries. We'll handle all the battles this morning."
...
Bonus @2K $tonks
Read upto 50 chapters ahead @patreon.com/Keepsmiling818