Outside Professor Oak's lab, a small and adorable Ralts was already waiting for Ash.
As soon as Ash stepped outside, Ralts impatiently "floated" onto his shoulder.
With Pikachu on his left shoulder and Ralts on his right, Ash looked like he was being guarded by two divine protectors.
Comparison Livestream Chat
[May: Ralts? When did Ash catch a Ralts?!]
[Max: That meow-like Ralts—it's clearly Mew in disguise.]
[Roxanne: So Mew really became Ash's Pokémon?]
[Gary: AAAAAH! Just kill me already! Why does Ash have a Legendary Pokémon?!]
What made Gary even more miserable was that not only did the Ash of the Parallel World have a Legendary Pokémon—so did the Ash of their own world.
This Comparison Livestream was truly Gary's lifelong nemesis.
After leaving Pallet Town, Ash saw many wild Pokémon along the way—Pidgey, Rattata, Spearow—but he didn't try to capture any of them.
A person's energy is limited, and so is the care they can give their Pokémon.
Ash didn't want to catch Pokémon casually—he would only act when the time was right.
On his way to Viridian City, Ash encountered something interesting.
He saw a group of Spearow bullying a Pidgey.
Ash hadn't planned to intervene—it was simply the law of nature.
Pidgey got bullied by Spearow, Pidgeotto bullied Spearow, Fearow bullied Pidgeotto, and Pidgeot bullied Fearow in turn. That was the natural cycle.
But Pikachu, filled with justice, couldn't stand seeing the weak oppressed.
It unleashed a burst of electricity, making the dozen or so Spearow flee in panic.
Normally, Spearow were vengeful—if the younger ones were beaten, they'd call for the older ones, and if the older ones were beaten, they'd bring out the whole flock, ancestors included.
But for some reason, this time, the battered Spearow didn't return for revenge—they fled without looking back.
[Misty: What's going on? Have the Spearow of Pallet Town changed their nature?]
[Professor Oak: Although Spearow are hot-tempered, they're actually quite intelligent. They only bully the weak and never challenge those stronger than them. That's the law of their survival. Even a brief encounter with Pikachu was enough to make them realize how terrifying it is—that's why they didn't go back for help.]
[Ash: Hmph. They've learned their lesson this time. Otherwise, the Ash and Pikachu of that world would've made them pay even more!]
[Brock: But without the Spearow's help, can Ash still meet Ho-Oh?]
[Morty: Hey, hey, hey—aren't you guys a little too greedy? parallel world Ash already has Mew, and now you're talking about Ho-Oh?]
After teaching the Spearow a lesson, Ash was just about to move on when Mew began to act.
It transformed into a giant blue bird with fins along its back—and soared into the sky!
On the opposite horizon, a magnificent bird radiating a seven-colored glow and wearing a golden crown slowly descended.
In the sky, the two majestic figures—"Lugia" and Ho-Oh—faced each other.
Ash and Pikachu looked up in awe as the two Legendary Pokémon exchanged silent words.
No one knew what "Lugia" said to Ho-Oh, but under its guidance, Ho-Oh slowly descended toward Ash's location.
"Mew~."
The returning Mew reverted into its Ralts form and perched again on Ash's right shoulder.
"Mew!" It let out a proud chirp, as if asking, "Well? Am I amazing?"
Amazing? It was beyond amazing!
Without Mew, Ash would never have imagined standing face-to-face with the Legendary Ho-Oh.
At this moment, he was only half a meter away—he could have reached out and touched it.
[Morty: Just kill me too!!!]
It was pure agony—Ho-Oh, the Pokémon he had admired for years, was standing right in front of Ash.
That was his goddess, the one he only ever dreamed of meeting!
[Steven: Do you think Ash will try to catch Ho-Oh too?]
[Wallace: That would be the ultimate ending. Ash—invincible from the start! Becoming the world's strongest Trainer the moment he leaves his beginner village!]
[Diantha: Capturing Ho-Oh isn't that easy. Even if Mew helps, that might still not be enough.]
[Cynthia: Parallel World Ash might catch Ho-Oh someday—but definitely not now. With his pride, he'd never use Mew's power to capture it.]
Cynthia understood Ash completely—and she was right.
Although Mew traveled with Ash, it wasn't truly his Pokémon; it was more like a companion.
Ash's pride wouldn't allow him to use Mew's power to capture Ho-Oh.
He did want to catch Ho-Oh—but only honorably.
"Come on—let's make a promise. When I become stronger, let's have a Pokémon battle!" Ash's voice was filled with determination like never before.
"An interesting fellow."
Ho-Oh smiled faintly.
It didn't take Ash's words as a child's joke—instead, it accepted the challenge.
A Rainbow Wing floated down from Ho-Oh's feathers, drifting gently into Ash's palm.
"Hold the Rainbow Wing up to the sunlight, and you will find me. I await your arrival, Ash."
After giving its token, Ho-Oh spread its radiant wings and disappeared into the brilliant sky.