Mashaduo was not in the Yunying Mountain Range, otherwise, when Mewtwo's Confusion covered the entire mountain range, Mashaduo, no matter how well it could hide, should have been found.
However, under Master Fan's guidance, it only took Fang Yuan and his companions two days to find Mashaduo's traces in a city surrounding the Yunying Mountain Range.
As Mashaduo was capable of moving unnoticed, unperceived by anyone, how could it possibly stand the solitude of always staying in the deep forests and mountains?
Human cities held some allure for certain Pokemon.
Cloud Ying City.
Cloud Ying Gymnasium.
The Cloud Ying Gymnasium was also one of the gyms in the Kanto region, focusing on Fighting Type, but due to its remote location and the Museum Owner's lack of strength, it was not very famous, even less so than the Martial Arts Dojo in Golden City.
However, compared to the famously challenging eight gyms, it was undoubtedly easier to obtain gym badges here, convenient for pure newcomers to participate in regional Alliance tournaments.
At this moment, in the gym.
A Karate prodigy from Galar was commanding an Eight-clawed Martial Artist to challenge the gym.
And Mashaduo was just hidden in the shadow of the Eight-clawed Martial Artist, stealing the opponent's fighting techniques.
This was Mashaduo's Special Ability.
As a Ghost and Fighting Type Phantom Elf, it could use the move Shadow Thief to steal the opponent's enhanced abilities and double its own strength to attack, or it could slip into the shadows of great fighters to mimic their moves, instantly learning the corresponding fighting Moves, eventually upgrading to the ultimate secret technique, surpassing the master.
Today, Mashaduo was also casually stealing fighting techniques.
It had been living this way for a long time.
Of course, Mashaduo didn't forget its mission—to help guide Ho-Oh's "The Brave of the Rainbow" candidates.
But whenever Ho-Oh needed something, it would contact Mashaduo in advance, so it wasn't worried about missing anything important and could afford to wander.
But this time... while it was secretly learning fighting techniques, Mashaduo suddenly paused.
It sensed the Wave Motion of the Rainbow Feather!
Something was off; Ho-Oh hadn't mentioned that a candidate for "The Brave of the Rainbow" would come near the Yunying Mountain Range.
What exactly was going on?
Although it still wanted to copy more fighting techniques from the Galarian fighting girl, due to its curiosity about the Rainbow Feather, Mashaduo silently chose to leave the gym and started searching for the location of the Rainbow Feather, following its Wave Motion.
"I have already sensed Mashaduo's location, Master Fan. We just have to wait for it here," Fang Yuan said somewhere in a park.
"That quick??"
Master Fan looked at Fang Yuan in surprise.
Come to think of it, who was this young man who possessed such powerful Wave Guide abilities? He hadn't heard of him.
He was just leading Fang Yuan to the city where Mashaduo often appeared, and before they even started searching, Fang Yuan himself claimed to have sensed it.
This monstrous ability... no wonder Ho-Oh had chosen him...
Master Fan compared Fang Yuan to himself when he was young, chuckled, and shook his head. There was no comparison; he hoped that this young man would succeed in becoming The Brave of the Rainbow, fulfilling his own long-held dream as well.
Meanwhile.
Following the Wave Motion of the Rainbow Feather, Mashaduo quickly locked onto Fang Yuan.
Long before approaching, it hid underground, and with a quick flash of its eyes, it intended to dive into Fang Yuan's shadow and observe in secret.
Whoosh!!
Mashaduo charged in.
Two seconds later.
Just as it entered Fang Yuan's shadow, within the shadow, Mashaduo saw a Gengar, with Darkrai blinking and staring at it.
Mashaduo: Eh???
"Koje!!!"
"Get out!"
Glutton and Darkrai, with a "boom," worked together to squeeze the bewildered Mashaduo out.
"Marshadow!" From the outside, a Pokemon with the height of a calf, composed of a smoke-like grey shadow, was directly toppled out, "thump" "thump" retreating several steps before stabilizing its figure.
The next second, it suddenly stared with orange-red eyes, showing a look of annoyance, What the heck!!
"Mar … Marshadow!!"
When Mashaduo was extremely frustrated, suddenly, Master Fan's surprised voice rang out.
Following the voice, Mashaduo saw the old man Master Fan, blinked, and thought, It's this guy again.
He still hasn't given up.
It was also Mashaduo who had guided Master Fan, witnessing his failure and subsequent efforts. Sadly, the Brave of the Rainbow isn't something one can become through mere effort, and while Master Fan gained "eligibility", he ultimately lacked the necessary "talent" to pass all the trials.
If Lugia symbolized the ocean, cyclones, silver, and a soul as pure as the sea, then Ho-Oh represented the sky, rainbows, gold, and a heart as pure as the sky.
Master Fan's heart, at that time, couldn't withstand the trial of Ho-Oh.
Mashaduo heaved a sigh.
However…
Mashaduo quickly turned its gaze towards Fang Yuan, who was observing it next to Master Fan.
The one with the Rainbow Feather is this person right here!
The one who hid two Pokemon within the shadows, unnoticed even by it, is also this person!!
Mashaduo quietly watched Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan also quietly watched Mashaduo.
"That..." Fang Yuan took out the Rainbow Feather, showed it to Mashaduo while pondering, "Can I take the trial of the Brave of the Rainbow?"
"Marshadow! He's the new generation chosen by Ho-Oh, I believe he can definitely become the Brave of the Rainbow!" Master Fan said, offering support.
"Hmm…" Mashaduo looked at the Rainbow Feather in a disorganized manner. Something was off, why didn't Ho-Oh inform it in advance.
This Rainbow Feather is indeed real.
But... Mashaduo was confused, without Ho-Oh telling it the content of the trial, how could it prepare for the trial??
Could it be…
This too, was a trial from Ho-Oh for it?
Mashaduo's eyes gradually lit up, so that's how it is, it's a two-way trial.
It followed Ho-Oh for so long but could never, like the Three Sacred Beasts, receive the gift of Ho-Oh's power to step into the Legendary Realm. Mashaduo thought it had no chance, but now, the opportunity has come!!
Ho-Oh hasn't forgotten it!!
After brainstorming, Mashaduo earnestly looked towards Fang Yuan again. Yes, very good, in order not to disappoint Ho-Oh, it must come up with the highest standard of trial criteria, to help Ho-Oh choose the most perfect Brave of the Rainbow.
Alright then, first call the Three Sacred Beasts to come and help with the trial.
To increase the gold content of the trial.
Hopefully, this trainer has a heart as pure as the sky.
"I have a question, Marshadow, can you summon Ho-Oh after passing the trial?" While Mashaduo was thinking, Fang Yuan suddenly asked.
"Marshadow!" Mashaduo nodded nonchalantly. Although it couldn't summon Ho-Oh directly, with the Rainbow Feather in Fang Yuan's hand, it would be no problem.
Moreover, even though it could not summon Ho-Oh, it could summon the Three Sacred Beasts, Lei Gong, Shui Jun, and Emperor Yan, and together, these three Pokemon can directly summon Ho-Oh, so there's no need to worry about not finding Ho-Oh's location.
"Then there is no problem."
Fang Yuan, under Master Fan's excited look, said, "Bring it on then, the trial of the Brave of the Rainbow."
"Bwoo!" Eevee also raised its paw, expressing, Charge!
This Mashaduo isn't very strong; it, Eevee, is not afraid. It seems the trial should be quite easy.