In truth, it was the same issue as before: even though Ash Ketchum could see Ho-Oh's name, he couldn't understand the meaning behind what Ho-Oh conveyed—just like with the Ability Static.
So Ash really wanted to ask Misty what kind of existence Ho-Oh was. Was it a Legendary Pokémon? Why was she so excited when she saw it?
At the same time, Ash deeply felt what people meant by "being uneducated is terrifying." Looked like he'd better cram a whole lot more Pokémon knowledge in the Chat Group from now on.
It was laughable—he hadn't even memorized the type matchup chart…
In the end, Ash still didn't ask Misty what Ho-Oh was, because if he did, there'd be no reasonable way to explain how he knew the name "Ho-Oh."
All the Ashes in the group had said it before: don't expose the Chat Group. There were plenty of schemers in the world; even if he only told someone close and trustworthy, it could still lead to the Chat Group being exposed.
Best if he were the only one who knew.
So even a straightforward guy like Ash followed the rules he and the others had set and absolutely would not reveal the existence of the Chat Group.
As for Ho-Oh, he'd ask the big shots in the Chat Group when he got back. For now, he'd just quietly soak in the shock brought on by the presence and majesty of this Legendary Pokémon.
"Pikachu, you've gotta grow to be as strong as that someday!"
"Pika pi?" Pikachu pointed at himself, giving Ash a look that clearly said, You've got to be kidding me.
He didn't know who Ho-Oh was either, but that didn't stop him from feeling the terrifying pressure. Reaching Ho-Oh's level—who knew how many years that would take? And whether he even had that kind of potential was another question entirely.
"You can do it—because you're my partner." This time, Ash didn't joke around. He looked straight at Pikachu and spoke with unshakable conviction, his words brimming with trust.
"Pika… pika pi!!" They'd barely known each other for a day, yet his Trainer had such high expectations and faith in him. Pikachu's fighting spirit blazed to life.
He thumped his chest to declare that one day, he'd command thunder and become a super electric mouse to rival Ho-Oh!
Off to the side, Misty watched the human and mouse with an odd expression, lips parting as if she wanted to say something but held back.
She didn't want to crush their spirits, but this was a little too far-fetched. Make Pikachu as strong as Ho-Oh? How was that any different from hoping a Fearow could evolve into Ho-Oh one day?
Still, looking at these two brimming with ambition, Misty ultimately kept quiet. Without dreams, you're just driftwood. Even if this particular dream wasn't exactly realistic.
"Misty, look at that!" Misty, lost in thought, snapped back at Ash's voice. She followed his finger and saw that Ho-Oh's figure was gradually fading—but in the sky, something like a rainbow seemed to be falling!
"Come on, let's hurry over and check it out—you take the bike!" Ash called to Pikachu and bolted.
"Hey, hey! Wait for me!" Misty yelped from behind. She had just swung onto her bike and looked up, only to catch a glimpse of Ash and Pikachu's retreating backs.
Seriously, what kind of speed is that? Even on a bike she wasn't that fast!
…
Ash reached the spot where the rainbow fell like the wind. It was about a kilometer from where they'd been resting, yet he got there in under a minute—his new personal best.
Pikachu clung to Ash's shoulder and gripped his shirt tight, looking completely windblown and disheveled.
Right then, Pikachu could only think—If you'd run this fast earlier, we would've dropped those Spearow ages ago! So you slowed down on purpose to fight them, didn't you?
"Is that… a feather?" Ash arrived directly beneath the place where the rainbow had descended. The rainbow light had just touched down. Wherever it fell, the tiny weeds around it surged up as if injected with growth serum, shooting up over ten centimeters in the blink of an eye.
Wrapped in that iridescent glow was a dazzling feather. Its shape did look like one of Ho-Oh's feathers, but its color matched none of the plumage on Ho-Oh's body.
Ash picked it up and studied it closely. At first, the feather shimmered with the seven hues of a rainbow, but as soon as he lifted it, the light began to draw inward, revealing the feather's true appearance.
"A seven-colored feather? The Rainbow Wing?" Ash stared blankly at the information that appeared before his eyes.
The Eye of Insight was still doing its job: the feather's true name appeared to him. It seemed that as long as it was related to Pokémon, the Eye of Insight worked—just not perfectly.
Aside from learning that this feather was called the Rainbow Wing, Ash knew nothing else.
Judging by the name alone, it had to be a feather shed by Ho-Oh. Even a single fallen feather from a Legendary Pokémon was different from an ordinary Pokémon's.
"Skrrrrt!!" A rapid pedaling sound came from behind, followed by an abrupt squeal of brakes. Misty fishtailed to a stop behind Ash, her fair face beaded with sweat, lips parted as she panted for breath.
"I mean… huff… the way you run… huff… is way too fast! I couldn't catch up even on a bike!" Misty managed to get a whole sentence out after a good long while.
Before she could continue complaining, Ash held the Rainbow Wing up in front of her. Whatever she'd planned to say vanished the instant the feather caught her eye.
"Is this… Ho-Oh's feather? It's gorgeous!" Misty took the Rainbow Wing from Ash, unable to put it down as she turned it over in her hands, enchanted.
But as soon as she held it, the once-vibrant Rainbow Wing began to dim. Misty froze, then panic flickered across her face.
"W-What's going on, Ash? Why is the feather turning gray? I didn't do anything!"
Ash scratched his head, just as confused. "I don't know either. It was fine just now… Maybe it's because it's no longer with Ho-Oh? It was colorful at first since it had only just separated from her."
"No way… Ash, you try holding it." Misty handed the feather back. The instant Ash took the Rainbow Wing, the gray was swallowed by color again.
The feather even gave off a faint iridescent glow. The soft shimmer made Pikachu, perched on Ash's shoulder, feel relaxed and comfortable.
"Uh…" Misty and Ash stared at the once more radiant Rainbow Wing, momentarily speechless.
So… the feather chooses its bearer?