Chapter 5: The Golden Wings of Fate

Holly crouched under the rain tarp, her breath slow and steady as she adjusted the settings on her camera. The storm had rolled in exactly as she expected—dark clouds forming a sudden downpour over the forested hills of Route 1. The wind howled through the treetops, sending leaves scattering in the air like restless spirits.

She had climbed high for this. The tallest peak she could find, a place where the trees gave way to a small rocky outcrop that overlooked the surrounding valley. From here, she could see almost everything—the winding dirt paths below, the rolling storm clouds above, and in the distance, the faint figure of Ash bolting through the rain.

Her grip tightened on the camera. It's happening.

Even though she had made sure Ash was better prepared this time around, some things were simply meant to be. And Ash getting himself into trouble with an angry flock of Spearow? That was a fixed point in time.

She watched as Pikachu, soaking wet and bristling with defiance, released a desperate thunderbolt. The entire sky lit up for a brief moment, flashing white-hot against the dark clouds. The Spearow were thrown back, their screeches drowned out by the rumble of thunder.

And then… it happened.

A break in the storm. A golden light piercing through the gray.

Holly's fingers moved instinctively, raising her camera just as a brilliant shape emerged from the parting clouds.

Ho-Oh.

Its wings spread wide, gleaming in gold and crimson, its long tail leaving a shimmering rainbow trail in its wake. The rain seemed to slow, as if time itself hesitated in awe of the majestic creature.

Click. Click. Click.

She took as many shots as she could, adjusting the focus as Ho-Oh soared past. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She barely dared to breathe, afraid the moment would slip away.

She had known Ho-Oh would appear—it was Ash's moment, his first true brush with the extraordinary. But this time, she had captured it.

The perfect shot.

A painting bloomed in her mind: Ho-Oh soaring through storm clouds, the gold of its feathers reflecting against the darkness, the rainbow shimmering behind it like a promise.

A masterpiece waiting to be created.

She lowered her camera only when the legendary Pokémon disappeared into the horizon. Below, Ash stood frozen, staring after it, the same wonder in his eyes that she remembered from before.

Holly allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.

She didn't need to be the protagonist.

She just needed to capture the beauty of the story.