Just as Misty had warned, if word spread that Ash had seen Ho-Oh, a Pokémon absent from the world's eyes for centuries, his journey would no longer be peaceful.
Ho-Oh was a being coveted by both the forces of light and the shadows of the underworld. Unlike other Legendary Pokémon, Ho-Oh's allure was unmatched. The legends said that those who merely glimpsed Her would be blessed with a lifetime of fortune.
And if someone were to gain Her recognition, or worse, capture Her, there were rumors that it could even extend one's lifespan.
For humans, the pursuit of longevity, even immortality, was a desire shared by almost everyone. That alone was reason enough for Ash to keep Ho-Oh a secret. Fewer people who knew, the safer he would be. Just like his mysterious chat group, some things were better left hidden.
Seeing Ash bow his head in genuine apology, Misty finally sighed in relief. On one hand, he hadn't gotten upset over her rough handling earlier. On the other, he now understood why Ho-Oh couldn't be mentioned casually. That alone saved her the trouble of a long lecture.
"Oh, right!" Ash suddenly clapped his hands, as if struck by inspiration. "I should call my mom and let her know I'm safe. Misty, don't you want to phone your family too?"
Misty shook her head, her expression calm but distant. "No need. My family's always busy, they don't really have time for my calls."
"Huh? What do they do?"
"They perform. A bunch of sisters who'd rather be on stage than do anything serious. Don't ask so many questions."
"Oh… okay." Ash wisely dropped the subject.
He hurried to the Center's public videophone and dialed home. Soon Delia's face appeared on the screen, and Ash cheerfully reassured her that he was safe. Afterwards, he placed a second call to Professor Oak, reporting that he had already made it to Viridian City.
Professor Oak raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You've arrived already? But Ash… you haven't caught any Pokémon yet? Gary, on the other hand, has caught more than a dozen!"
Ash met his words with unexpected maturity. "Pokémon are our partners. When you catch one, you need to be ready to take full responsibility for it. A Trainer can have many Pokémon, but each Pokémon usually only has one Trainer. If I can't give them proper care, then I don't want to just capture them for no reason."
The words struck Oak silent. For a boy who had always lagged behind Gary in his classroom studies, this sounded… profound.
And there was truth in it. Gary had indeed caught a number of Pokémon already, but most were common ones, Raticate, Pidgey, Spearow, Sandshrew. To Gary, they were more trophies than partners, captured for the sake of his collection. Training them? Given his personality, it was doubtful. Instead, the responsibility fell to Oak's lab, where Gary's Pokémon were kept fed and housed.
Their needs were met, but they lacked freedom. More importantly, they had no certainty of when, or if, their Trainer would ever call upon them again.
To a Pokémon, such a fate was almost pitiful.
"I didn't expect this from you, Ash," Professor Oak admitted at last, his voice filled with surprise. "Such thoughtful words… they're completely different from the Ash I remember in class."
For so long, Ash had lagged far behind Gary in academics. Yet here he was, only one day into his journey, already showing insight and maturity far beyond what anyone expected.
This kind of reflection, treating Pokémon as true partners, wasn't something even many seasoned Trainers ever considered, let alone a boy who had just set out on his journey.
"What are you saying! Why can't I think about things like that? Professor Oak, you're being way too prejudiced against me!" Ash puffed out his cheeks in protest, though inside he felt a twinge of nervousness.
If it hadn't been for Champion Ash's words in the chat group, he probably would have already caught several Pokémon, Spearow, Pidgey, any that crossed his path. But now he understood.
A true Trainer wasn't defined by how many Pokémon they captured or how strong their tactics were, but by whether they could genuinely care for and respect the Pokémon they caught.
Catching Pokémon just to fill out a team or serve as tools in battle wasn't responsibility, it was negligence.
"Well, since you've arrived in Viridian City safely, I can finally relax," Oak said with relief. Then he adjusted his glasses. "By the way, Gary's already signed up for the Kanto League. Ash, are you planning to participate? Or do you even know what the League is?"
"Of course I know!" Ash shot back immediately, puffing out his chest. I've already signed up! If Gary calls, tell him not to get too comfortable, I'll be waiting for him at the Indigo Plateau!"
With a clenched fist and a blazing grin, Ash's spirit was undeniable.
"Er… very well. I'll… pass that on," Oak said, sweat beading on his forehead. He was about to end the call, but suddenly his face grew grave. "Wait, one more thing! Ash, listen carefully. You may challenge any Gym first, but under no circumstances should you choose the Viridian Gym or the Saffron Gym. Do you understand?"
Ash blinked. "Huh? Why not?"
The Viridian Gym again… Even the veterans in the chat group had warned him not to pick it. Could it really be that dangerous?
"The Viridian Gym is the strongest in all of Kanto, without question," Oak explained gravely. "Its Gym Leader, Giovanni. His strength is said to rival that of the Elite Four themselves. His specialty is Ground-type Pokémon, and even his weakest team is far beyond the reach of beginners. For a novice Trainer with only a Pikachu, who is at a natural disadvantage against Ground-types, it would be hopeless. Challenging him now would only shatter your confidence."
Ash swallowed, eyes widening. "Giovanni…"
"Yes," Oak nodded firmly. "Many young Trainers from Pallet have made that mistake, heading straight to Viridian since it's the nearest Gym. The results have always been the same: crushing defeats that ended their journeys before they even began."
Ash nodded quickly, showing he understood. "Got it. I won't go to Viridian Gym."
"Good. Now listen about the Saffron Gym," Oak continued, his tone dropping even lower. "That Gym recently changed leaders. The new Gym Leader is… severe. The reports I've received are troubling. Trainers who challenged her walked away broken, shaken in ways I cannot even describe. The only thing they can say to newcomers is this: Unless you have no other choice, never set foot in the Saffron Gym."
Oak's face loomed close to the videophone, his stern features filling the screen. In the dim light, his expression was almost ghostly.
The effect was immediate. Both Ash and Misty, who stood beside him, shuddered instinctively.
"I—I won't go!" Ash blurted, hands waving in protest. Misty nodded quickly as well.
...
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