Gold- A Pokémon Story

Chapter Thirty One- The Closing Ceremony

Raikou took us over the mountains and through multiple forests over the course of an hour. We had left during the late afternoon and now the sun was dipping beneath the trees.

The Bell Tower came into view shortly after the sun began to fall out of visibility. Raikou leaped through the woods and jumped down from a cliff, stopping at the entrance to Ecruteak City.

"Ok. We're here. What is it?" Silver asked.

Most of the townspeople had gathered around the pond not too far from the Bell Tower. They were looking up at something.

Some people stared at television screens set up throughout the town that were all focused on the top of the Bell Tower.

I slid off of Raikou and went looking for our friends while Silver trailed behind me. I spotted Eusine and Jess chatting together and I rushed over to them.

"Eusine! Jess!" I called.

Jess looked over at me with a look of worry. "Gold! What's going on? Eusine was telling me the Legendary Beasts were freaking out about something!"

"I-I don't know," I answered. I looked back at Raikou. "It's not like I can talk to Raikou. But it seemed really worried." Jess noticed the Legendary Beast standing not too far behind us and her jaw dropped. "Where's everyone else?"

Jess focused on my question instead of the Raikou behind me. "Morty is heading up the Bell Tower right now with the Kimono Girls for the ceremony once Ho-Oh arrives. Bill and your other friend are also somewhere around here on guard in case any remaining Team Rocket grunts try anything."

I turned to the Bell Tower. "Something's wrong. No way Suicune would freak out that much if there wasn't."

"Suicune is known for being very in touch with nature, so much so that it may get premonitions of impending danger," Eusine added.

"Then what do we do?" Jess asked.

Silver stepped forward and cleared his throat. "We call Bill. I can feel something bad is about to happen." Silver put his eyes on the tower.

Raikou stood with us impatiently while I tried to get a hold of Bill but I kept being sent to voicemail. "Well if it isn't my favorite new trainers!"

I looked up to see Blue strolling over to us. He had some kind of drink in one hand and seemed to be there for the party. "Good to see you guys again!"

"Blue! Something bad is going to happen to Ho-Oh but we don't know what! Suicune said so!" I explained.

Blue set down his drink and put up a hand. "Slow down. Suicune? How would Suicune tell you anything?" I was about to explain when people began to shout and cheer, pointing at the sky.

At first, I wasn't sure what all the fuss was about, then I saw a brilliant light come from the sky. The light came closer and closer before descending to the top of the tower. It was Ho-Oh.

Ho-oh was a magnificent and large bird Pokémon. The feathers on its wings were red and turned to white and green at the ends. Its tail feathers were dark gold and turned lighter at the ends.

Ho-Oh was simply astounding to look at. There was a glow to its body and a regalness that give the Legendary Pokémon such a mystical feeling.

I didn't want to look away but Raikou started to growl again. I snapped out of my trance and glanced at one of the television screens. The close up showed Giovani emerging onto the roof behind Ho-Oh.

I pointed at the T.V. "Look! Behind Ho-Oh!" I shouted. Raikou started to run but Ho-Oh and the people still hadn't noticed Giovani.

Blue reached for his Poké Balls as soon as he saw Giovani. "It's him!"