Ash and Misty sigh in relief as they reach Pewter City, apparently every single. Bug pokemon on the route had heard Misty scream when a beedrill flew at her and the entire insect swarm had reactors with hostility.
"Piiiikkkaaaa~"
"Almost to the pokemon center Pikachu and then you can… Actually, if you wish to take a nap now go for it." Ash responds
While Pikachu was asleep Ash pulled out a feather which was in his pocket it was a golden glowing thing and he turned to look at Mist.
"Hey Misty, I found this thing in my pocket and I was wondering if you might have known where it came from?" Ash asks with a roguish grin.
Misty took a deep breath, steadying herself as she glanced at Ash, who still looked confused. She supposed it made sense—he had been completely unconscious when it happened.
"You really don't remember, huh?" she asked, shaking her head.
"Remember what?" Ash asks
"Yeah, you passed out," she said, crossing her arms. "And while you were out cold, something incredible happened. I saw it with my own eyes. This huge Pokémon—bigger than any bird I've ever seen—flew down from the sky. Its wings shimmered with gold and red, and it left this glowing trail behind it, like a rainbow."
Ash felt his breath hitch. "No way…"
Misty nodded. "It circled over us a few times, almost like it was checking on you. Then, it dropped that feather—that feather—right on you before flying off."
Ash looked back down at the glowing golden plume in his hand. He ran his fingers over it, feeling a strange warmth pulse through his skin.
"You're saying… a legendary Pokémon gave me this?"
Misty nodded. "Yeah. And if I had to guess, it was Ho-Oh."
Ash swallowed hard. The name sent a chill down his spine, not out of fear but from the sheer weight of the moment. Ho-Oh. A Pokémon of legend, a being said to bring eternal happiness to those who saw it. To bless those of pure heart…
He clenched the feather slightly, his mind racing. He had seen Ho-Oh in the anime but this was different? why?
Misty studied him for a moment. "So… what are you gonna do with it?"
Ash exhaled slowly, staring at the feather as it glowed faintly in the dim light of Pewter City.
"I don't know yet," he admitted. "But I think I need to find out."
"The city is kinda rockish isnt it?" Misty asks aloud.
"havent you been here several times Gym Leader Misty? I mean you had tp pass through the cave to get to that lake down by pallet… Actually what were you doing there anyways?" Ash asks
"I was chasing down rumors of a red gayradouse." Misty responds
"Ah,Cmapion lance already caught that. It was caught several years ago if im not mistaken." Ash ansers causing misty to pause and look at him.
"An just how would you know that?" Misty asks
"I just know things misty isnt that right Flint?" Ash asks suddenly looking at the rock salesman who had been watching them silently for a few minutes now.
Misty looks over at the man who was dressed as a hiker before staring at him for a solid minute.
"You absolute degenerate low life! This is where you went after abandoning your family!" Misty shouts
Flint's face paled, his fake salesman grin faltering as Misty's shout echoed through the stone streets. A few passing trainers glanced over, but Misty didn't care. She was furious.
"W-What are you talking about? I-I'm just a simple rock seller," Flint stammered, gripping the straps of his backpack tightly.
"Don't play dumb!" Misty took a step forward, hands balled into fists. "You're Flint—Brock's dad! You abandoned your kids and left Brock to raise your entire family while you went off on some half-baked journey!"
Flint winced, his eyes darting to Ash, who stood there with a calm, almost knowing expression.
"You… you knew?" Misty asked, her eyes narrowing as she turned to Ash.
Ash gave a small nod, not looking the least bit surprised. "Yeah. I recognized him right away. I knew it was Flint the moment he started watching us."
Misty blinked in shock. "Then why didn't you say anything?!"
Ash shrugged. "I wanted to see if he'd admit it himself. Besides…" He turned his gaze to Flint, his eyes sharp. "I figured he needed to hear it from someone who cared about Brock."
Flint's shoulders slumped further under Ash's intense stare. "I… I didn't think anyone would recognize me."
"Pretty hard not to, I mean i watched most matches that the Pewter City gym put out although the place looked like a barn… Brock does a good job though." Ash responds
Flint winced at Ash's blunt words, the guilt on his face deepening. "Yeah… Brock's always been a good kid. Better than I deserved."
Misty scoffed, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "You think? He's been raising his siblings all on his own while trying to keep that Gym running. And you've been here… selling rocks."
Flint's shoulders sagged, shame radiating off him. "I thought… I thought if I stayed away, they'd be better off without me. I failed them once already."
Ash's gaze didn't soften. He gripped the golden feather tighter in his hand, its faint glow reflecting in his eyes. "That's not how it works. Running away doesn't fix anything. Brock's been carrying the weight you left behind, and he still respects the Gym, even if it nearly breaks him."
Flint swallowed hard, looking down at his worn-out shoes. "I didn't think he'd want me back… not after everything."
Ash turns around to walk away knowing they were not going to win this argument.
Misty hangs back a second still looking at Flint… "Coward." Misty states firmly before turning around to follow Ash.
=========
Ash and Misty pushed open the glass doors of the Pewter City Pokémon Center, the familiar sterile scent and soft hum of machines instantly washing over them. Nurse Joy stood behind the counter, organizing a tray of Poké Balls, her Chansey by her side.
Ash approached the counter, Pikachu still snoozing on his shoulder. "Hi, Nurse Joy! We'd like to check in for the night."
Nurse Joy looked up and smiled warmly. "Of course! You two look like you've had quite the journey. Trainers can stay free of charge, and your Pokémon will be fully healed by morning." She tapped a few keys on the computer before her. "I have a private room available if you'd like."
Ash nodded eagerly. "That would be great. Thank you!"
Misty crossed her arms, still fuming from their earlier encounter with Flint but managed to offer a polite smile. "I'll take a room too."
Nurse Joy handed over two keycards. "You're all set. Your rooms are just down the hall, second door on the right and third on the left. The healing stations are open if you'd like to drop off your Pokémon now."
Ash gently lifted Pikachu off his shoulder. "Yeah, Pikachu's had a long day. Can you make sure he gets some extra berries?"
"Piiika…" Pikachu yawned, barely awake as Nurse Joy scooped him into her arms.
"I'll take good care of him," Nurse Joy promised before walking toward the healing machines.
Ash and Misty made their way to their rooms, the weight of the day finally settling in. Ash stopped in front of his door, sliding the keycard and stepping inside. It was simple—just a bed, a small desk, and a window overlooking the city—but it was enough.
Letting out a relieved sigh, Ash closed the door behind him. "Finally… some peace and quiet."
He reached into his pocket, pulling out the golden feather, its faint glow still pulsing in his hand. "Alright, Athena, come on out," he said, tossing a Poké Ball forward.
In a shimmer of light, his shiny Gardevoir materialized, her elegant form nearly glowing in the soft light of the room. "Gar~," she greeted with a gentle nod.
Ash smiled. "We've got work to do."