Warning: Spoilers for Pokémon: Aim to Be A Master Episode 1
The final miniseries for Pokémon's Ash Ketchum has begun, and despite kicking off his adventures with no friends at his side, he's found one by the end of the episode--although his new companion is so legendary he may not even know it.
While marketing for the series has already revealed that Ash will be joined by Misty and Brock sooner or later, he begins this first episode with no traveling companions for the first time in quite a while. Ash has dipped back into his Pokémon storage to retrieve some old favorites that he hasn't used in a while, though, so he spends most of the episode with Pikachu and his other Pokémon partners--until a Latias comes crashing down into a pond not far away.
Ash Befriends Latias For His Final Journey
Ash and his Pokémon help Latias out of the water, despite it fighting and struggling. Ash has encountered a Latias before, and recognizing it, is able to break out some of his potions and bandages to help it out. When Team Rocket come by to try to steal it, Ash gets sucked up into their machine alongside Latias, and is able to prove to Latias that he only means well by helping it to escape. Pikachu and the others destroy Team Rocket's machine and Latias is free, flying with Ash on its back. With Team Rocket dealt with, Ash says goodbye to Latias and sends it off to wherever it came from, continuing on his journey. However, as Latias begins to fly away, it has second thoughts, and turns itself invisible and begins following Ash.
This Isn't Ash's First Legendary Pokémon Friend
It's far from the first time that Ash has helped a Legendary or Mythical Pokémon that was being pursued by Team Rocket, or another evil organization hoping to use its power to enrich themselves. Back in Pokémon's Alola region, Ash and Lana helped to defend an injured Kyogre from a team of poachers who had poisoned it. In Unova, Ash traveled with a Meloetta which had escaped from the greater Team Rocket organization, and which was constantly being pursued by them. In Kalos, Ash similarly traveled with a Zygarde Core named Squishy which was wanted by Team Flare. The big difference here, at least so far, is that Ash has no idea that Latias has decided to tag along, and Team Rocket's attack on Latias was opportunistic more than an indicator of a greater scheme. What role this will have to play in Ash's final journey is still an utter mystery, but Latias choosing to follow him should assure fans that there is something more going on. It might even wind up being Ash's first Legendary Pokémon capture!
Whether Ash winds up capturing this Latias or not, his final Pokémon anime adventure is off to an interesting start. Why Latias in particular, and what business might it have with him? Only the next episodes can answer those questions.
Pokémon: Aim to Be A Master is airing on Fridays in Japan. The English dub will be added to Netflix at a later date.