Just a thought, as mentioned in a previous thread, but perhaps both Latias and Latios are scouts of Ho-Oh, just like the Legendary cat trio.
Maybe towards episode 11 when Gary and Ash discuss about the goal of being a Pokemon Master, Ash will not initially be able to answer the question, since he doesn’t know.
However, towards the end of the episode, perhaps Ho-Oh properly introduces itself to Ash and Pikachu. Maybe through Latias, Ho-OH learns more of Ash’s deeds and accomplishments, and shares with Ash its admiration of him and his connection with Pokemon, such as Pikachu.
Before Ash leaves, Ho-OH gives Ash the implication that it wants Ash to catch it. Ash does so and then he releases the bird. Ash then realizes that Ho-OH’s intent of letting him catch it , just briefly, symbolizes his accension into becoming a Pokemon Master, since Ho-Oh, in essence, is a Pokemon that is praised and symbolized as the highest connection of Pokemon and Human relation, which is virtually what a Pokemon Master is.
It is then from this encounter, Ash gets his answer, and now realizes that he is a Pokemon Master. If I’m guessing right, then perhaps this is why Latias and the subplot with Latios may have been the reason for why it was important to this mini-arc story.
The plot of Latias following and monitoring Ash’s activities throughout this mini-series just to build up to the climax of requesting Ash’s help to save its friend (Latios), and how this pays off towards the end of enabling Ash to properly meet with Ho-OH and briefly catch it, while releasing it, is the hallmark that cements why Ash is a Pokemon Master and gives the audience or fans some type of satisfied closure that properly convinces us that Ash is indeed a Pokemon Master, then simply Ash just coming up with his own answer as a reason to why he is or isn’t.
I really hope this was truly the intent of why the direction for this mini arc went the way it did.