Pokémon, Ash is going to become a perfect man from now on.

Templates are static, but people are dynamic. Only by collaborating with this young lady can we guarantee that every outfit is a unique, custom-made piece.

"I see... It is indeed a very attractive suggestion. I will start setting up a production line when I get back." After Xiao Zhi explained it to her, Ma Xiu simply nodded.

Her eyes were somewhat unfocused, as if she were thinking about something else.

"Mr. Ash... have you had any extraordinary encounters lately?"

"Oh... what do you mean by 'adventure'?" Ash raised an eyebrow.

“I just sensed that Mr. Ash must have obtained Ho-Oh’s feather.” Ma Xiu looked at Ash seriously. “Moreover, he has already been activated as the Rainbow Hero.”

"How do you know all this?" Xiao Zhi frowned immediately.

The Rainbow Hero's Trial has been activated... Could it be caused by the silver feather?!

“I’m also from Yuanzhu City, and I’m familiar with these legends,” Ma Xiu quickly explained when she saw Xiao Zhi’s displeased expression.

"Did you know about it, or is it actually related to the legend?" Ash asked noncommittally.

He suddenly remembered a not-so-popular plot device and began to suspect that this Miss Ma Xiu might have some connection with the geishas of Enoki City.

In the Johto anime, the five Eevee sisters only serve to make Misty complain about her older sister, but in the game, they can dance and summon Ho-Oh!

"There is indeed a connection." Ma Xiu did not hide it any longer. She stood up, bowed solemnly to Xiao Zhi, and simply danced a simple and graceful dance.

"Consider this my gift. I never expected to see the Rainbow Hero again," Ma Xiu said softly. "As far as I know, the Hero's Trial is very risky... In addition to the three legendary beasts, Mr. Ash will also be watched by a Pokémon called the 'Shadow Guide,' and will encounter many obstacles and trials along the way. Please be careful then."

"Thank you..." Xiao Zhi nodded silently, and Ma Xiu's identity should be confirmed.

She must be one of the geishas who can summon the Phoenix King through dance, otherwise she wouldn't know so many secrets.

Perhaps she also has connections with the headmaster of the Yuanzhu Dojo.

“Mr. Ash, you’re too kind… Although I have left my homeland, I still hope that one day Ho-Oh will appear at Bell Tower again.” Ma Xiu said solemnly, “People like us all have this wish, and we also hope that Mr. Ash can pass the trial… because that might mean that Ho-Oh will choose to trust humans again.”

"Well... I can only say I'll do my best." Xiao Zhi couldn't make any promises to Ma Xiu; his mind was a complete mess.

Ho-Oh gave him a rainbow feather, but it wasn't activated... This means the situation is different from the movie; Ho-Oh was just acting on a whim here.

In the original story, an old man who obtained the Rainbow Wing appeared, but he searched for Ho-Oh for decades without success. In the end, Ash forced Ash to bring a dog and impersonate a Finch, making any attempts at trials out of the question.

But things are different now.

Because Lugia carelessly plucked a silver feather, Ash's rainbow feather was officially activated, forcing him to participate in the Hero Trials, which also caused all the related people to sense it.

So what is this?

Lugia hopes Ash will complete the trial so that Ho-Oh can regain its trust in humans.

Is the God of the Sea allowed to meddle so much...?

Or perhaps Lugia has some other purpose?

Chapter 245 Parting, and a New Journey!

Ash couldn't figure out what Lugia was planning yet; he was more concerned about what Mash had said.

After activating the Rainbow Warrior Trial, some Pokémon will come to you.

For example, the Three Holy Beasts... Of course, it doesn't matter if they come.

The real problem lies with that Shadow Guide—Marshad!

Having seen the M20 movie, Ash knows that guy is a total loafer.

I, the mighty Lord Dazhi, was actually rendered invisible in a parallel world movie! If it weren't for Pikachu's Thunder God and Ho-Oh realizing the seriousness of the situation and rushing to the rescue, the protagonist would have been truly dead!

Therefore, Ash dislikes this thing and doesn't want to be led by it at all.

But it seems he had no choice...

He didn't know when the trial would begin, when the guide would appear, or even the specific form of the trial.

After all, in today's world, there is no such thing as the Yunying Mountain Range, let alone the Tianqing Mountain where the Phoenix King resides!

On the contrary, in the waters near Hoenn on the Seven Islands, there is an island called Navel Rock.

In the game, both Ho-Oh and Lugia reside there... By the way, Ho-Oh is up there~

In short, this trial is currently in a state of insufficient funds, undecided actors, and no script. Xiao Zhi can only silently tell himself to let things take their course.

What's meant to happen will happen, and he has no time to worry about these things. He should find a way to suppress the sorrow of impending separation.

When it was time to part ways, Serena had to return to Carlos.

She had come to Guandu under the guise of accompanying Ma Xiu on an inspection tour, and now that the tour was over, she had to go home.

Ash was naturally very reluctant to part with her, but he couldn't just keep Serena by his side like that.

Serena isn't a Trainer yet, and Aunt Sachi would absolutely never agree to her giving up her studies and the important Rhyhorn riding training to travel directly with Ash!

Moreover, Xiaozhi spends at least half of his travels dealing with various criminals. What mother would feel comfortable letting her daughter take risks with such people?!

"It's okay, we'll definitely meet again in the future." Before parting, Serena comforted Ash first. "I've had a very happy trip. Not only did I witness Ash win the championship, but also... Anyway, I'll be waiting for Ash in Kalos. Then you can take me on a trip together, anywhere is fine!"

"Then it's settled~" Ash gently hugged Serena. "I'll drive Team Rocket out of Gantt as soon as possible, and then I'll go to Kalos to find you!"

"I'll take care of her during this time, so you don't need to worry," Nanami gently assured Ash, as she was also going to Kalos.

"Nanami-neechan, I'm sorry to trouble you with all this again," Ash said apologetically but gratefully.

During the days since Ma Xiu arrived in Guandu, it has been Nanami who has been in charge of communication. Now that it is time to build a factory in Carlos, she will definitely be there to oversee the process.

"It's nothing, and I actually quite enjoy doing these things," Nanami said with a smile, shaking her head. "But you, when you get back, you should tell Grandpa that he needs to find someone else to be his assistant."

"I will... Also, please take good care of yourself over there!" Xiaozhi anxiously instructed. "You need to contact me regularly... no, preferably every day! If anything happens, be sure to tell me immediately!"

"Okay~" Nanami patted Satoshi's shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry, it's just opening a branch office, there won't be any problems."

She actually had another mission this time: to open Ash's technology company in Carlos!

Although Xiaozhi kept saying that he could just find a trustworthy person from the company, Nanami still decided to go herself.

She could sense that Xiaozhi cared a lot about this, so of course she had to take action herself!

Xiao Zhi was indeed very concerned about this. Whether it was his cooperation with Ma Xiu or his plan to open a branch company, he actually harbored the intention of infiltrating Carlos in advance.

Kalos is Serena's hometown, and Ash knows that Lionhead is a traitor, so of course he wants to find a way to restrain him in advance.

His method is to compete with technology. Ash has Professor Akihabara and Porygon, as well as the invention genius Blue, and various black technologies seized from Team Rocket and the knowledge of evil professors. His research and development capabilities may not be inferior to Team Flare!

If they can seize the market with a large number of technological products, the Vladali Institute will no longer have the public support it had in the original work, and if Lionhead wants to cause trouble again, he will definitely encounter many obstacles.

If he slips up, Carlos might be taken down before the main storyline even begins!

...

And so, Ash said goodbye to Serena and Nanami, while Misty also said goodbye on the way, planning to go back to the Cerulean Gym first.

She also made a promise with Xiaozhi that he must remember to let her know when Xiaozhi's next trip begins.

Ash will certainly not forget their promise, and he will probably be able to fulfill it soon.

He took Blue and Lila back to Pallet Town, finally able to enjoy some leisure time after the tournament... but actually, the leisure didn't last long.

Ash had only been at home for two days when his elusive father and Professor Oak summoned him to the lab.

"Ash... I have a job for you. How about you take it? It'll take you on a trip to some really interesting places!" Professor Oak suggested, while handing Ash a picture of a special Poké Ball.

A GS ball with gold and silver accents!

Sure enough, the trip to the Orange Islands is about to begin.

The GS Ball, which cannot be opened, destroyed, or teleported, had its role completely abandoned in the anime, but Ash knew very well that... inside it was a capture net woven from the feathers of Ho-Oh and Lugia, a key item for catching Celebi!

"Of course I have no problem bringing it back... but what's up with you, Dad?" Ash asked, puzzled. "From what I'm saying, you're also planning to send me to the Orange Islands?"

"It's not me, it's Lance who plans to send you there on official business," Ash explained. "You'll be going to the Orange Islands to investigate Team Rocket or other evil groups' potential activities, and you'll also be investigating the Southern Cross Gym Leader as an inspector, cooperating with the Orange authorities to formally integrate them into the League!"

"Formally merged... okay~" After a moment's thought, Ash realized that Lance's move was indeed brilliant.

Although the Orange Islands have always been under the jurisdiction of Kanto, they are actually a small, self-contained alliance that obeys orders but not proclamations.

But ever since Giovanni started bullying the Kanto Alliance, these people from the Orange Islands have stopped obeying even basic commands, it's practically like they want to break away and become independent~

Now that the League has risen again, Lance naturally wants to reclaim this southernmost archipelago in order to cooperate with the Kanto mainland in surrounding and gradually infiltrating the Seven Islands, leaving Team Rocket with nowhere to hide!

This kind of overseas trip is indeed suitable for Xiaozhi.

Firstly, he likes to travel, and secondly... when it comes to stepping on others, it has to be a rising star to be convincing.

If we send one of the Four Heavenly Kings over, they'll start arguing, "I'm weak, therefore I'm right!"

"Alright... then I'll go. It won't take too long anyway." Xiao Zhi had no reason to refuse.

Whether it's the GS Ball, the special Pokémon, or the explosive theatrical films, the Orange Islands are undoubtedly a journey he must embark on.

"Then go for it!" Ash's dad patted Ash's shoulder with a smile. "If there are difficulties, overcome them; if there are no difficulties, create difficulties for the Orange League."

"Adu also asked me to tell you... go over there and cause a huge scene, you don't need to worry about anything afterward!"

★ Orange Island Chapter: Come on, let's cause a ruckus! ★