"What's going on with them?"
Misty asked, still processing the astonishing sight. The fierce Spearow had actually retreated! How had they survived the onslaught?
"They probably realized they had no chance of winning and got scared," Ash explained, glancing back at the birds.
"But why aren't they flying away?" Misty wondered aloud. The Spearow circled overhead, their wings flapping uneasily as they hovered in the distance instead of fleeing.
"It's their companions…" The boy pointed to the fallen Spearow on the ground. Those unable to fight were likely the reason the rest of the flock hesitated to leave.
Misty blinked in surprise, her heart softening at the sight. Spearow were known for their ferocity, but their unity was striking.
Even in defeat, they weren't willing to abandon their companions.
"Let's go…" The boy spoke with conviction.
He didn't want to finish off the remaining Spearow; after all, it was his actions that had provoked them in the first place.
"Hmm…" Misty nodded, pulling out her Poké Balls to return Staryu and Starmie.
She then stood on the pedals behind the boy's bike. As they prepared to leave, she stole one last glance back, seeing the Spearow flying to the side of their fainted comrades, their loyalty unwavering.
After riding for a while and putting distance between themselves and the Spearow, the boy finally stopped again.
Exhausted, he dismounted the bike and sat down in the muddy grass, ignoring the wetness seeping into his clothes.
"That was intense! I'm glad it was raining; otherwise, we might not have escaped those Spearow," he admitted, leaning back and letting out a long sigh of relief.
"Pikapi…" Pikachu snuggled into the boy's arms, equally drained from the day's events. It was a battle unlike any it had faced before, and it had exerted all its energy.
"You've got some nerve saying that!" Misty started to retort, frustration bubbling up inside her. But seeing the boy's weary face softened her heart, and she held back her anger.
"I'm really sorry for dragging you into this…" The boy looked up at her with genuine remorse.
"By the way, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Ash, and I'm from Pallet Town. This is my partner, Pikachu!"
"Pikapi—!" Pikachu waved a paw in greeting, its bright eyes sparkling with appreciation.
At the mention of Pallet Town, Misty's expression shifted slightly as she extended her right hand.
"I'm Misty, from Cerulean City."
"Nice to meet you, Misty! And thank you for your help!" Ash said, shaking her hand as he stood up, a smile lighting up his face.
"Um… you don't have to be so polite," Misty replied, a hint of fluster crossing her cheeks at Ash's cheerful demeanor.
Just then, the rain began to taper off, and the dark clouds above parted to reveal the sun shining down upon them.
"The rain has stopped!" Ash exclaimed, looking up at the now-clear sky. Misty followed his gaze, intrigued.
"What's in the sky?"
She asked, but before she could finish, her eyes widened in astonishment. A magnificent bird Pokémon glided gracefully through the air—the legendary Ho-Oh!
The sight was breathtaking. Ho-Oh was enormous, easily over three meters long, its golden feathers shimmering like sunlight. As it flew, faint, colorful lights trailed behind, creating a dazzling spectacle.
"Pika…" Pikachu gasped, captivated by the beauty of Ho-Oh. An urge blossomed in its heart—to become an extraordinary Pokémon like Ho-Oh!
"Amazing…" Ash's eyes sparkled with admiration. This was the Pokémon he had dreamed of seeing. One day, he would stand before Ho-Oh and challenge it!
As if sensing their gaze, Ho-Oh paused mid-flight, its head tilting down to look at the two humans below.
Misty froze in place, overwhelmed by the sheer presence of the legendary creature. It radiated power and grace—an entity that could effortlessly erase her with a mere flick.
After a moment of scrutiny, Ho-Oh's gaze landed primarily on Ash and Pikachu, a hint of intrigue flashing in its eyes.
It sensed something unique about Pikachu—a strength that resonated with its own.
With a slight pause, Ho-Oh continued its majestic flight, but not before a feather detached from its plumage and floated down gently, landing softly before Ash.
"Whoa…" Ash stared at the feather in disbelief. He quickly looked up, only to see Ho-Oh vanishing into the horizon, its radiant form fading from view.
"Ho-Oh's feather!" Misty gasped, her eyes wide with envy. She knew this was a rare gift, one not given lightly.
"They say that those who see Ho-Oh can obtain eternal happiness, but you got a feather from it…"
Misty glanced at Ash, a complex mixture of emotions swirling within her. How had he garnered such favor from Ho-Oh?
In a world where even sighting Ho-Oh was a rarity, Ash had not only seen it but received a gift from it! He seemed destined for greatness.
"Do you want it? Here." Ash reached out, grasping the Ho-Oh feather and offering it to Misty without hesitation.
"Ah?!" Misty's face flushed. She hadn't expected this gesture. After a moment of internal struggle, she shook her head vehemently. "No, this is from Ho-Oh to you. You should keep it!"
"Because it was given to me, it's mine now, and I want you to have it as a token of my gratitude for your help," Ash insisted earnestly.
"No, it's too precious! If it were something else, I'd gladly accept it, but not this!" Misty refused, the thought of accepting Ho-Oh's feather feeling overwhelming.
---
Adios