—On screen—
Ash's face twisted like he was constipated.
This is it? Really?
Still, even if he was skeptical, he decided to go check.
What if he was wrong?
(Unlikely, but still.)
After lunch at the Sakuragi Lab, Ash and Koharu set off for the so-called Ho-Oh sighting spot.
Johto Region, Ecruteak City.
The oldest city in all of Johto—
home to the Bell Tower, said to be the roost of Ho-Oh,
and the Burned Tower, once the dwelling of Lugia.
"Let's go, Koharu."
Ash inhaled deeply, taking in the crisp air of Ecruteak.
Because of its history, Ecruteak didn't have many tall buildings.
Most structures were classical in style,
surrounded by endless forest that felt refreshing to the soul.
"Do you even know where we're going?" Koharu asked.
"Of course. I know this place well." Ash turned his cap backward with practiced coolness.
"I even beat Morty here once, and won the Fog Badge."
"Wow, that's amazing!" Koharu's eyes shone with admiration.
"Heh." Ash scratched his cheek, a bit embarrassed by her straightforward praise.
He was indeed familiar with Ecruteak.
The sighting of Ho-Oh had been near the Bell Tower.
But before they even reached the tower—
a "Ho-Oh" appeared in the sky above.
Compared to the blurry photos,
The real thing left Ash utterly dumbfounded.
You've got to be kidding me… This is so half-baked!
"Wow! It's Ho-Oh! …Though it does look kinda ugly," Koharu gasped.
Ash sighed. He pointed up at the "fake Ho-Oh."
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt."
"Pikachu!"
A golden bolt split the sky.
The so-called Ho-Oh was struck dead-on—
and promptly fell from the sky.
Koharu: "?!"
Was Pikachu that strong?!
[Iron-Masked Marauder: I'm dying! Koharu's expression was priceless—the look of faith collapsing in real time!]
[Flint: Ash! What are you doing?! That's Ho-Oh!]
[Volkner: Calm down. That's clearly just a Fearow.]
[Flint: What?! Don't tell me Ho-Oh is actually Fearow's evolution!]
Flint's face went pale.
As a Fire-type Elite Four, how could he not know this?
He needed to catch a Fearow.
If it could evolve into Ho-Oh, it would be unstoppable!
[Lucian: Truly worthy of you, Flint. Your intelligence is unparalleled.]
Lucian pushed up his glasses in the League office.
Sharing the Sinnoh Elite Four title with Flint was his greatest shame.
No wonder Volkner had refused the invitation to become an Elite Four member.
Volkner was clearly the smarter one!
—On screen—
After blasting "Ho-Oh," Ash and Koharu hurried to the crash site—
the Bell Tower itself, Ho-Oh's legendary roost.
Koharu shivered along the way.
In just a few short days, she had already seen Lugia and Ho-Oh with her own eyes.
And Ash… had casually defeated Ho-Oh.
Would Ho-Oh be furious?
But her fears faded when they arrived.
On the ground lay a crude "Ho-Oh,"
stitched together from colored cardboard.
"Cyndaquil? Fearow?" Koharu gasped.
"As expected." Ash wasn't even surprised.
Just then, a boy came running over, shouting angrily at Ash for what he'd done—
only to be stopped by his grandfather.
The old man sternly scolded his grandson, insisting Ho-Oh didn't exist.
The boy's eyes filled with tears.
"It exists! Ho-Oh really exists!" he cried.
As his grandfather turned to leave, Ash finally spoke.
He had seen Ho-Oh himself.
He recounted the day he first set out on his journey,
the moment he'd glimpsed Ho-Oh in the skies above Viridian.
But the old man remained unconvinced.
Rain began to fall softly from the heavens.
The boy, Chris, explained why he had made his Pokémon disguise themselves as Ho-Oh.
His grandfather had once seen the real Ho-Oh
and received a Rainbow Feather.
But as the years passed, the feather's colors faded.
And Ho-Oh never appeared again.
Hearing this, Koharu's eyes welled with tears.
Ash, meanwhile, just shook his head.
The Rainbow Feather reflected the purity of one's heart.
If you didn't even believe Ho-Oh existed,
Why would it ever answer your call?
Most likely, the feather had only been given because he had faithfully guarded the Bell Tower for so many years.
After hearing everything, Ash stood at the base of the tower's stairs.
"Chris, do you want to see Ho-Oh? I can help you."
Chris froze.
The livestream audience froze.
Who did this kid think he was?
Ho-Oh wasn't something you could just summon like that!
[Gary: As expected of you, Ash. I'll be waiting for the slap in your face.]
[Lance: True enough. Ash, you should be more cautious. Ho-Oh is even more elusive than Lugia. Summoning it is nearly impossible.]
[Professor Oak: Stop, Ash. Just because you saw Ho-Oh once doesn't mean you can see it again whenever you like!]
[Ash: Hey—hey! Don't scold me across timelines! This isn't even me talking!]
[Gary: Shut up! When Ho-Oh doesn't show, you'd better admit defeat!]
In Pallet Town, Gary finally felt relief.
Ash had walked right into a trap.
This time, he would be the one laughing!
—On screen—
Chris brought his grandfather, begging him to trust just one more time.
Unable to resist, the old man followed them up the Bell Tower.
Before they reached the top, two wild Pokémon barred their path.
But Ash and Pikachu made quick work of them.
And Koharu, now a budding Trainer herself, captured both Misdreavus and Stantler.
When they finally reached the rooftop,
the rain stopped.
"…Well? Do you really have a way to summon Ho-Oh?" Chris asked suspiciously.
He'd acted on impulse, dragging his grandfather along.
If Ho-Oh didn't appear, the old man would be crushed.
Ash just gave him a confident "watch me" look.
Before everyone's eyes, Ash pulled from his pocket a Rainbow Feather—
one even larger than Chris's.
Within it, flames danced visibly.
"Actually… I have another identity," Ash said calmly.
"I am Ho-Oh's chosen one—the Rainbow Hero."
[Cynthia: That one's huge! Why is Ash's Rainbow Feather so much bigger than Chris's?]
[Gary: Wait,you actually have one?!]
[Ash: Heh. Admit defeat, Gary. When it comes to connections, you'll never beat me!]
[Flint: The flames… They're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen! Ash, you're my friend from now on!]
[Volkner: Careful, Ash. Flint just wants your feather.]
[Gary: Hmph! So what if you have a feather? You still haven't actually summoned Ho-Oh!]
[Gary: And another thing—why do you always have everything?!]
Weren't they supposed to be traveling together?
How did Ash always end up with all the rare treasures?
Did leaving home early really make that much difference?
This wasn't fair!
Nearby, Brock and Misty looked equally dumbfounded.
They had been with Ash from the very start, practically inseparable.
And yet—
Where did all this come from?!
Ash…
What have you been hiding from us?!
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