After a good rest in Ecruteak City, Ash and his group were about to set off on their journey to Mahogany Town early that morning when they heard the sound of bells coming from behind them.
The direction from which the sound came was from the Bell Tower!
"Ash?"
Misty cast doubtful eyes on Ash, because after Ho-Oh left, didn't the bells of the Bell Tower make no sound no matter how strong the wind blew or how hard someone paused it?
Why is it today of all day that it decided to ring?
Ash realized that something was wrong and hurriedly led the party in the direction of the Bell Tower.
But he was stopped by a handsome young man at the foot of the tower, "You guys, you are not allowed to enter here..."
Before he finished speaking, the corners of his mouth suddenly stretched, revealing a very strange smile.
"Gengar?" He pushed Gengar away who suddenly appeared behind him, "Didn't I tell you to find the Clear Bell?"
Gengar is still smiling playfully.
Upon hearing "Clear Bell" Ash realized that something was really wrong, "What happened to the Clear Bell?"
"Is that Ash?"
At this time, the person who came down from the Bell Tower was none other than the Gym Leader Morty of the Ecruteak City Gym.
This Gengar is also the one that performed a Mega Evolution in the battle before against his Pikachu, he is also Morty's Trump Card!
"Ash, even you came here. I was just starting to think that this might really be a sign that Ho-Oh is coming again!" Seeing Ash also being present, Morty became more hopeful.
"Morty, what are you talking about?" The guy next to him was a little confused.
Just listen to Morty's introduction, "This is Ash from Pallet Town. He is the boy I was telling you about. The one who saw Ho-Oh when he started out his trip to becoming a Pokémon Master!"
"In the battle with him, he also beat me pretty easily!"
"Ho-Oh?" The young man looked in disbelief and cast his scrutinizing eyes on Ash.
However, Ash remained calm and composed, just like his usual self!
"By the way, Ash, let me introduce you. His name is Eusine. He does research on Pokémon Legends in various places. Sometimes he comes to me to investigate ancient documents left to me by my family!"
"Ash, something bad has happened. All the Clear Bells dedicated to Ho-Oh on the top floor of the Bell Tower have been stolen by someone!" Morty knew that Ash might be able to help, so he spoke out and told the truth!
Hearing this, Ash's eyes flashed, "So the other bells on the Bell Tower are making the sounds because the Clear Bells are missing?"
Eusine nodded, "You are right, do you know what this means?"
"Ho-Oh is watching us! Legend has it that Ho-Oh's rage can only be eliminated when there is a true connection between humans and Pokémon!"
"But, Ho-Oh made messengers to this world so they could help the humans!"
"I know, I know!"
Molly jumped out from behind Ash, "It's Entei, Suicune and Raikou!"
Eusine nodded, "Ho-Oh prays that humans and Pokémon can coexist peacefully one day, and sent these three Pokémon to be the monitors for us humans. When they agree that humans and Pokémon can coexist peacefully, Ho-Oh will return again to the Bell Tower, just like before!"
This is the conclusion that Eusine reached after years of investigation and researching the records left by the ancient people!
"That is to say, the three Legendary Beasts must have a unified opinion for Ho-Oh to come back!" Brock concluded!
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid! Big Brother is only missing Entei!" Molly suddenly made Ash became speechless and he felt like he just got stabbed through his chest!
Eusine's through went haywire immediately when he heard this, "What are you talking about? Have you caught Suicune and Raikou?"
After being exposed by his younger sister, Ash had no choice but to admit it and come clean, "That's right!"
Unexpectedly, Eusine suddenly got angry and said, "Ash, I want to know whether you are worthy of being recognized as a Trainer by Suicune! Fight me!"
Ash's face also darkened, "I don't need your confirmation whether I can get Suicune's approval or not! I don't even care for your existence, so I don't think I need your approval to do my work!" Ash was angered that this no name was telling him what to do and what to not do.
"But since you want to fight, I will give you a good lesson on why you shouldn't do this!"
As soon as he said they were going to fight, Ash and his team returned to the Ecruteak City Gym with Eusine and Morty.
"Big Brother, come on! Beat that arrogant prick!" Molly, like always cheered for Ash no matter how serious the situation was, she only knew that her older brother will not lose to this weird guy!
But Morty was trying to persuade Eusine, "Calm down, now is not the time to fight, the thief who stole the Clear Bell is still on the loose..."
However, Eusine pushed Morty away without waiting for him to finish his words, "For me, Suicune is more important than those Clear Bells! You just be a good referee when I'm beating this kid!!"
Hearing his words, Ash smiled and said, "So you still don't understand? The reason why you can't get recognition from Ho-Oh or Suicune? After all, all you are is jealous of me!"
Faced with Ash's questioning and retort, Eusine became angry and said, "Stop talking nonsense, I'm about to put you in your place. Go, Alakazam!"
Seeing him like this, and comparing him to Ash who was always calm, Morty couldn't help but shake his head, "This guy really is something!"
"My Alakazam received special training to fight against Suicune when I was still a Trainer, and it has improved its Special Attack by more than any regular Pokémon's! He is an important and good partner who pursues Legends like me. He will beat you!" Eusine's words made Ash somewhat less angry at him.
"You were a Trainer, looks like not a good one. Shock them all, Pikachu!"
"Pikachu!"
"Hmph! Alakazam, use Psybeam!" Eusine couldn't hold himself back and launched the first attack.
The psychic energy turned into magical light and hit Pikachu, and the power was indeed impressive. As he said, he strengthened Alakazam's Special Attack. But Ash didn't seem to care as this attack is nothing to his Pikachu.
"Quick Attack!"
Pikachu's figure has long since disappeared. "What? How did Psybeam fail?!"
"Where is he?" Eusine and Alakazam looked left and right, wary of Pikachu's sudden attack, but it was all in vain!
"Iron Tail!"
Pikachu suddenly appeared from the side, waving its metallic tail, and knocked Alakazam away!
How could this be the power of a Pikachu?
Eusine was left stunned and flabbergasted!
As the referee of the match, Morty's eyes lit up, "Pikachu is so much faster than when I fought him, and his cooperation with Ash is really an improvement from the last time!"
Morty, who had witnessed Pikachu's Bond Evolution and the effect first hand, he understood in his heart that now Ash and Pikachu are not exerting their full strength at all, they are just playing with Eusine and his Alakazam!
"Damn it, Alakazam, Reflect!"
Alakazam struggled to stand up and set up a transparent wall of light, which could weaken the damage of Physical Attacks. He obviously realized the power of Pikachu Iron Tail.
However, it was alredy too late for him to do anything!
"Thunderbolt!"
The galloping thunder and lightning directly penetrated the Reflect and hit Alakazam hard!
It was perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
"Alakazam loses the ability to fight any longer, Pikachu wins this battle!"
Morty quickly made his move as a referee and ended this unnecessary battle.
Before Eusine could reflect on anything from the battle, a student from the Gym ran in and said, "Sir Morty, something bad has happened. The Bell Tower has been occupied by many Pokémon!"
Everyone hurriedly came out of the Gym, only to find that there were countless worm threads hanging on the Bell Tower, and it was all so disturbing that it was making people get away from it!