Day 1, fishing.
Day 2, fishing.
Day 3, fishing.
The mornings in the riverbend always carried the cool crispness of water vapor.
Ash Ketchum sat cross-legged on a wet stone, his wrist flicking as the fishing line cut through the thin mist, sinking into the rippling river water with a plop.
Beside him, the bucket was empty, containing nothing but rippling water.
Misty glanced over, unable to resist speaking up again: "Hey, Ash Ketchum, it's been three days! You've released every Magikarp you caught! You're not keeping a single one?"
Her own bucket was packed full of Goldeen and Poliwag, their silver scales glistening in the morning light.
She really couldn't understand this guy who kept claiming to love Water-type Pokémon, yet was so "dismissive" of the Magikarp that delivered themselves to him.
Ash Ketchum didn't even turn his head, his gaze firmly locked on the small float on the water's surface, his face wearing an expression of near-pious concentration.
Fishing, you see, is all about metaphysics.
The more anxious you are, the less you catch.
"Oh, Misty," Ash Ketchum drawled, his voice carrying a matter-of-fact calmness:
"Fishing is about enjoying the process!"
"Look at this water surface, this sunlight, the thumping anticipation in your heart while waiting... isn't it wonderful!"
"Catching Magikarp and releasing them back is also a way of communicating with them, letting them know there's a vast world outside the river!"
He paused, catching a glimpse of Misty's "are you kidding me" expression out of the corner of his eye, and hurriedly added:
"Of course! The most important thing is honing my fishing skills!"
"What I'm pursuing now is the realm of 'fishing with a straight hook—only the willing take the bait'!"
He waved the spare fishing rod in his hand—which belonged to Misty—with great affectation.
"Pika Pika..." The Pikachu at his feet rolled its eyes and covered its face with its small paws.
It knew all too well what nonsense its Trainer was spouting.
The Pidgey on his shoulder, however, was very serious, its sharp gaze still scanning the river surface and the woods on the opposite bank, dutiful and responsible.
Misty's mouth twitched, but in the end, she didn't say anything more.
Forget it, she thought. Although this guy is full of crooked logic, at least that focus is real, and... he has indeed quietly accompanied her fishing for a few days, no longer scaring away her fish with his noisy behavior like when they first met.
She sighed in resignation and turned her attention back to her own float.
Just then, Ash Ketchum caught another fish.
As he casually tossed a Poké Ball over, a system interface glowing with a faint blue halo silently popped up in the top left corner of his vision:
[Catchable Target Detected]
[Pokémon: Magikarp]
[Level: 5]
[Ability: Swift Swim]
[Individual Value Composite Assessment: Average]
Ash Ketchum felt no ripples in his heart.
With a dexterous flick of his wrist, the Poké Ball opened, and an orange-red Magikarp that could only "flop flop" appeared on the ground.
"Friend! Have a happy life!" Ash Ketchum walked over with a grin and poked the Magikarp with his finger.
The Magikarp stared at him with dull fish eyes, its tail feebly slapping the ground.
"Go! Go back to the river that belongs to you! Remember today's encounter and try hard to become stronger!" Ash Ketchum encouraged solemnly, bending down to release the Magikarp back into the water.
With a plop, the orange-red shadow quickly disappeared into the shimmering waves.
Misty held her forehead: "...As long as you're happy."
Time quietly passed in this repetitive cycle of "catch-check-release".
The sunlight turned from crisp to scorching, then gradually was dyed with the warm gold of dusk.
Ash Ketchum's patience seemed bottomless; every cast carried the same focus, every release accompanied by similar lines.
Only he knew that his "fishing rod" was not just the bamboo pole in his hand, but also the system in his mind that could spy on potential.
He was waiting.
Waiting for a Magikarp truly worth investing his resources in.
And even more, waiting for a... weather change that would alter destiny.
In the sky, thick lead-gray clouds had piled up at some point, pressing down heavily, even the wind carrying the scent of damp earth.
The bird calls in the forest became sparse, and the air was so stuffy it made it hard to breathe.
"Is it going to rain?" Misty looked up at the sky and started packing her fishing gear. "Looks like we have to call it a day early."
Ash Ketchum's heart skipped a beat, then immediately started racing wildly!
It's coming!
He suppressed the excitement that was almost bursting out of his throat, giving only a casual "Yeah" on the surface, but his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the deepest part of the clouds.
"Crash—!"
The long-brewing storm finally poured down, bean-sized raindrops smashing onto the river surface, kicking up countless dense bubbles and instantly blurring their vision.
The whole world was shrouded in a gray curtain of rain and the sound of water.
"Quick! Back to the tent to take shelter!" Misty hugged her bucket, calling to Pikachu and Pidgey, turning to run into the woods.
"Coming!" Ash Ketchum followed close behind.
As the two walked, the sky suddenly cleared up completely.
Even a rainbow appeared.
"Wait! Misty!" Ash Ketchum suddenly grabbed Misty, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling due to his barely suppressed excitement.
"Look over there!" He handily took out the Pokédex on his person and turned on the recording function.
He definitely had to film a video for Professor Oak!
Since Professor Oak had given him such a super Pikachu, Ash Ketchum had to be professional about it.
Misty looked in the direction of his finger in confusion.
There was a rainbow.
And beneath that rainbow, a dazzling golden light appeared.
That light was so holy, so brilliant, carrying a majesty that overrode all things.
The golden light was not static; it was flying slowly through the clouds.
Every spread of its wings of light scattered a sky full of fine gold dust. Even across the far distance, that radiance was still clearly branded on the retina, carrying a searing heat that shook the soul.
A distant, ethereal cry, appearing to come from ancient primordial times, rang directly in the depths of Ash Ketchum and Misty's hearts!
"Kree—!"
That was not a sound heard by ears, but a tremor felt by the soul.
Majestic, holy, bearing an indifference and compassion that looked down upon all living beings.
Pikachu's fur instantly stood on end, golden arcs of electricity crackling uncontrollably.
Its small body froze in place, golden traces reflected in its bright black eyes.
Pidgey shrank its neck directly, its sharp gaze completely captivated by the miracle in the sky.
Misty was completely stunned, her mouth open, orange hair sticking wetly to her temples.
Her eyes were wide and round, containing only that golden firmament burning amidst the storm, only that cry branded in the depths of her soul.
"Is this... Ho-Oh?" she muttered absently, her voice as light as a feather.
Ash Ketchum's heart drummed crazily in his chest, almost smashing his ribs.
He had waited for it!
This was the existence that governed the fire of life in the legends!
The golden light was reflected in his black pupils, burning violently.
He looked up, as if to carve this brilliant scene into the depths of his soul forever.
Under the gaze of the two, Ho-Oh disappeared into the clouds.
The lingering rhyme of that holy cry seemed to still echo in the depths of their souls, never ceasing.
The world seemed to have been paused, leaving only the sound of heartbeats, and that brilliant figure spanning the sky, burning with ancient majesty.
Ho-Oh really has a filter when viewed from afar.
As for viewing it up close...
Uh... let's not call it a Shiny Fearow.
After all, having just witnessed holiness with one's own eyes, it's not suitable to crack jokes verbally.
_____
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