Led by Chansey, Ash Ketchum and Misty entered a room in the Pokémon Center. It was very simple: two bunk beds with a walkway in the middle, and a bathroom inside for showering, using the toilet, and washing up.
Small, but everything you needed.
"Thanks, Chansey. Sorry to trouble you this late at night." Misty patted Chansey's round head, apologizing as she spoke.
Ash and Pikachu had already flopped onto a bed with contented sighs.
"You two, keep it down! You'll wake people up!" Misty puffed her cheeks and scolded them, clearly annoyed.
"Sorry, sorry. It just feels like it's been forever since I slept in a bed, even though it's only been one day since I left home. So this is what traveling is like, huh~" Ash sprang up with a start and apologized.
"Pika pika~" Pikachu scratched his head with an apologetic look.
"What am I gonna do with you two… You and Pikachu can take this bed. I'll sleep over there. And I'm warning you—don't get any funny ideas. I may be the world's cutest girl, but I've got a few moves of my own! If you try anything while I'm sleeping… watch out for my fists!!"
Misty waved a tiny fist that didn't look all that intimidating, though her pretty face did its best to look threatening.
"Funny ideas? What's that supposed to mean?"
"You!!" Misty pointed at Ash, her finger trembling. If it were anyone else, she'd think they were mocking her. But with Ash, he probably really had no clue.
They hadn't known each other long, but Ash's thoughts and personality were easy to read. He was obviously the type who knew nothing about boys and girls. Otherwise, there's no way Misty would agree to share a room with him—even with separate beds.
The reason she was willing, aside from getting a read on him over the course of the day, was the most important one… Ho-Oh had recognized Ash.
A Trainer chosen by Ho-Oh couldn't be a bad person. That carried more weight than any other intel or impression.
That's why Misty felt safe sharing a room with him. The tough talk she'd thrown out earlier was just reflex—only for Ash's answer to nearly make her blow a gasket. She should've just kept her mouth shut!
"If there's nothing else, I'm going to sleep. I'll tell you about the registration stuff tomorrow." On the road, Ash had asked how to sign up for the Pokémon League Conference and the general situation of Kanto's League.
But Misty was so exhausted from the day's travel that she didn't even have the energy to answer. So that would have to wait.
"Wait—that's right, I haven't showered yet… aaagh!! I'm gonna die!" Misty, who'd collapsed on the bed, suddenly sat up, her tired face slipping into mild despair.
As a super cute girl, how could she go to sleep without a shower? If there were no way to bathe, that'd be one thing. But with the bathroom right there, she could never stand going to bed covered in road dust.
"Ash, wait outside first. I'll shower, then you can come back in." Even though Ash was almost certainly not the type to peek, Misty still hated the idea of some boy she'd known for a day being out there while she washed. It just felt wrong.
"Okay." Ash casually scooped Pikachu up and stepped outside. He wasn't planning on sleeping yet anyway—he had a pile of questions for the big shots in the Chat Group.
They'd been on the move nonstop, and he hadn't had a chance to check in with the group. With Misty in the shower, he could stand outside and hop in to ask what he needed.
…
[Newbie Ash: Seniors, need urgent help—do you know what kind of existence Ho-Oh is? Is it a Legendary Pokémon? What's special about her?]
[Rainbow Hero Ash: You met Ho-Oh? On your very first day of traveling?]
[Newbie Ash: Yeah. And, uh, your name… does that mean you met Ho-Oh on your first day too?]
Rainbow Hero—wasn't that the exact title from the legend Misty had just told him?
Which meant this newly appeared Ash had also encountered Ho-Oh?
[Rainbow Hero Ash: Quite a few "me's" in this group have met Ho-Oh, but meeting her on day one is still rare… Did you get the Rainbow Wing?]
[Newbie Ash: I did, I did! I wanted to ask what it does. Why did it turn gray when Misty held it, but stayed colorful when I held it?]
[Rainbow Hero Ash: You actually got the Rainbow Wing… There are a lot of Ashes in the group who've met Ho-Oh, but aside from me, you're the second one to receive the Rainbow Wing.]
There really were many Ashes in the group who had encountered Ho-Oh. But as for those who'd obtained the Rainbow Wing, previously there had only been Rainbow Hero Ash. That's how he got the name.
Because not only did he possess the Rainbow Wing, he ultimately defeated and captured Ho-Oh. There were many Ash in the group, but very few who had managed to capture a Legendary Pokémon.
[Newbie Ash: Eh?! None of the other seniors got the Rainbow Wing? What does it actually do? Is it really for accepting Ho-Oh's trial, like Misty said?]
[Rainbow Hero Ash: Your Misty knows a lot. Yes, the Rainbow Wing is indeed the key to the trial Ho-Oh grants to the Trainer she chooses. But beyond that, it has other uses.]
[Rainbow Hero Ash: You've probably noticed—wherever the Rainbow Wing is, living things grow unusually fast. That's because the Rainbow Wing contains Ho-Oh's life force. If a human carries it long-term, it strengthens the body, boosts vitality, and extends lifespan. By my estimate, it adds at least fifty years.]
[Newbie Ash: !!!]
What the heck? Fifty years! A single feather can add fifty years to your life? You've gotta be kidding!
But the Rainbow Wing's effects didn't stop there.
[Rainbow Hero Ash: If you let a Pokémon hold the Rainbow Wing, it also enhances the Pokémon's life force, effectively increasing stamina. I don't have Breeder Ash's ability to see a Pokémon's stats, but judging from my team's performance while holding it, this thing should help a Pokémon break past its stamina stat cap.]
[Rainbow Hero Ash: Not only that—when a Pokémon holds the Rainbow Wing, it will periodically recover a bit of stamina mid-battle. It also boosts the power of Fire-type and Flying-type moves. You could call it a super support item.]
[Newbie Ash: …]
He wasn't sure if he should say this, but—was this Rainbow Wing… a feather, or a cheat device?