In case some references are little confusing, I've watched most of the Japanese episodes with English subtitles and so… just if you were a little confused.
It wasn't long before they arrived at the park and Brock led them to a picnic area. Ash was confused. The tables were already covered with food. There were bowls of fruit, plates of cakes and cans of soda. Misty, Brock and Tracey were grinning broadly with excitement. Ash turned and began to ask what was going on when people exploded out of the bushes. He and Serena and Pikachu had cried out in surprise, but they quickly recovered when they recognised the people. Ash grinned broadly. Bonnie ran up to Serena giggling with Dedenne on her head. Clemont followed her, a little nervously. He wasn't good with large crowds. Dawn ran over to Ash and gave him a high-five. Cilan and Brock greeted each other again having met on two previous occasions. The first time they hadn't exchanged names but when they met again in Viridian City they had quickly struck up a friendship. They were the main cooks in the group and went off together to start cooking a proper meal. Iris and May were introducing themselves to Serena and Misty was catching up with Max. Things began to calm down a bit and each of Ash's friends offered him congratulations. He apologised that he couldn't show them the trophy when Max asked to see it as Misty hadn't told him to bring it. Ash introduced his Greninja to his friends and again had to apologise that he didn't have his full Kalos team with him. Everyone released their Pokémon to eat some of Brock's handmade Pokémon food. They were just about to settle down to eat the fritters and stew Brock and Cilan made together when Ash noticed that there was an extra plate.
"Hey Brock, what's with the extra plate?" Ash asked. Some of his friends had noticed the extra plate and were also puzzled. "Hands off Ashy boy. That's my plate," A voice called from behind Ash jokingly. Ash turned around and saw Gary Oak. Serena recognised Gary from her excursion into the future. She smiled at him and then remembered that he didn't know that she had met him before. Ash got up and shook Gary's hand amicably. Ash couldn't believe that Gary had come all the way from Sinnoh. Ash learned that May was travelling through Johto again and Dawn was travelling through Kanto, each competing in Pokémon contests. "Sorry I'm late. Was halfway across Viridian City when I got your message Brock," Gary apologised to Brock as he took his seat.
The friends spoke of their journeys and in general caught up with another. Dawn and May showed everyone their ribbons. Dawn had two and May had three. Max told them how he helped his father with his gym duties. Cilan told of what a Pokémon connoisseur did and offered to give his expertise to anyone who wanted. Gary and Brock spoke of what they were studying. Once they had finished and Max learned that they had three gym leaders in their group, namely Cilan, Brock and Clemont (thanks to Bonnie), it was suggested that they have a few Pokémon battles. Serena offered to show everyone one of her performances rather than battle. Everyone had loved her performance and Serena learned of Pokémon contests and Dawn and May showed her a Pokémon contest battle. All in all, everyone enjoyed the celebrations.
That was until a shriek sounded from above them. Ash and some of his friends looked up, distracting them from Clemont and Brock's Pokémon battle. Ash couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the Pokémon flying low over the city skyline. "Ho-oh," he whispered to himself and saw that it was going to land on a building a few blocks over. He sprinted after it without waiting for anyone.
"Ash! What's wrong?" Serena shouted after him and Pikachu who was clinging to Ash's shoulder as he ran. May and Max looked at each other and nodded, knowing. "He's gone after Ho-oh," May informed Serena. "Ho-oh?" Serena asked a little confused. Clemont and Brock had stopped their battle as soon as Ash ran off. Max pushed up his glasses, knowingly. "Yes, Ho-oh is a legendary Pokémon native to Kanto and Johto but there a rumours that it visits Hoenn and Sinnoh on occasion. Apparently, Ho-oh is capable of granting eternal happiness to people," Max informed anyone that would listen. Misty and Brock shared a glance. "Except Ho-oh hasn't been seen in centuries after a fire in Ecruteak City in Johto," Misty added. "Except by Ash, May, Max and Me. We've only seen Ho-oh once," Brock motioned to himself, May and Max, "Ash has seen it three times, according to him," Brock continued. "We should go after him. Ash can be a bit impulsive," Gary concluded and they all rushed after Ash without another word.
Like I promised, things are picking up quickly. I just want to say this now, not everything I will say about Ho-oh is necessary mentioned in the anime and I've made up quite a few things. I don't want to say what now because it might ruin the story. However this part is very Ho-oh oriented and so episodes dealing with Ho-oh in the anime (Johto and Kanto (battle frontier)) are important.
So, until the next chapter.