It was no wonder Misty and Brock were so shocked. After all, it was Ho-Oh — the legendary Pokémon that had been missing for over a hundred and fifty years.
[Misty: Brock, should we choose D?]
[Brock: You choose. I really can't bring myself to press D.]
It wasn't that Misty and Brock didn't trust Ash. It was just that his answer sounded so outrageous, it was almost unbelievable.
The two finally agreed that Ash must have been mistaken — what he saw wasn't Ho-Oh, but most likely Zapdos.
Of course, even seeing Zapdos would be astonishing; legendary Pokémon weren't exactly common. But compared to Ho-Oh, Zapdos sounded much more reasonable.
Chatroom.
[Chairman Goodshow: Professor Oak, what are your thoughts?]
[Professor Oak: How about… let's choose D.]
After all, when Ash had first arrived at the Viridian City Pokémon Center, he told Professor Oak that he had seen Ho-Oh. At the time, the Professor didn't take it seriously.
[Chairman Goodshow: Professor Oak, are you crazy—or am I crazy?]
[Morty: Professor Oak, don't joke like that. Option E, Groudon, is more reliable than Ho-Oh.]
[Professor Oak: You all decide for yourselves.]
He had already made up his mind anyway.
Take a gamble—maybe the bicycle will turn into a motorcycle.
[Quiz remaining time countdown—]
[3]
The countdown began. There wasn't much time left for everyone to choose.
[Steven: I'm giving up on this one. I'll answer the next question.]
[Wallace: Didn't you say you saw a rainbow? Why aren't you choosing Ho-Oh?]
[Steven: Heh, do you take me for an idiot?]
[Koga: B, Zapdos. Believe me now and get your champagne ready.]
[2]
[1]
As the timer hit [1], the white-bordered screen flickered to life again.
In the eastern sky, a giant bird, shimmering with seven-colored light, slowly flew across the heavens.
A crown upon its head, a rainbow for its path—mysterious and magnificent.
The answer was already obvious.
D, Ho-Oh.
[Steven: It really was Ho-Oh?!]
Steven wished he could slap himself. He did say he saw a rainbow—so why didn't he choose D?!
[Morty: How is this possible? How is this possible!!!]
[Lance: I'm stunned. It's really Ho-Oh.]
[Ash: I told you, I saw Ho-Oh.]
Alas, it was a pity that Misty and Brock hadn't listened to him. If they had, at least one of them could've shared the reward with him.
[Misty: Who would've known you were actually telling the truth?!]
[Brock: Seriously, it's just too unbelievable.]
[Ding! The top three correct answers for this prize quiz are Professor Oak and Ash.]
[Quizzer Professor Oak — Reward: Galarian Moltres.]
[Quizzer Ash — Reward: TM Cross Thunder (Limited to Electric-type Pokémon).]
Holy cow — another Legendary Pokémon reward appeared!
As soon as Professor Oak's reward was revealed, the chatroom erupted.
[Steven: Why… why didn't I persevere?!]
If only he had stuck with his rainbow theory, maybe that Legendary Pokémon would be his now!
[Aaron: Wuwuwu, Professor Oak, can you give me the reward? I really want Moltres!]
[Wallace: The Legendary Pokémon reward going to Professor Oak is acceptable… acceptable.]
Wallace was quite relieved. At least his best friend Steven didn't get it—otherwise, he probably wouldn't be able to sleep for a month.
[Chairman Goodshow: Professor Oak, I was wrong. I shouldn't have doubted you! Wuwuwuwu!]
[Professor Oak: Hahahahaha! Good luck, just pure good luck!]
At that moment, Professor Oak's heart was blooming with joy.
With Galar's Moltres, his Pokémon Pokédex would be even closer to perfection.
[Alder: Don't just look at Professor Oak's reward—Ash's is insane too.]
[Diantha: How so?]
[Alder: Cross Thunder is the exclusive move of the Legendary Pokémon Zekrom from the Unova region's mythology! Once unleashed, it can destroy the world!!!]
[Lt. Surge: Is it really that exaggerated?]
[Alder: It is that exaggerated!]
[Will: Hiss—]
Trembling, Will entered "playing dead" mode once again.
[James: The brat's Pikachu is already insane. If it learns Cross Thunder too…]
[Jessie: Hiss—if we hand over that Pikachu to the Boss, forget about ordinary executives—even the top cadres wouldn't be out of reach!]
[Meowth: The question is, how do we catch Pikachu, meow?]
[Otoshi: Heh, Cross Thunder? Never heard of it. Ash better pray he doesn't run into me at the Indigo Plateau Conference, or my Exeggutor will teach him a lesson!]
[Jeanette: So what if he learned a new move? My Bellsprout isn't to be trifled with either.]
[Gary: You two are unbelievable—you're even crazier than me!!!]