In the Black World—
The inside of the Crystal Tower presented a very heartwarming scene: a father apologizing for not fulfilling his daughter's wish, and a daughter who, though disappointed, still understood him deeply.
If, in this picture, the father weren't a beast, and they weren't discussing taking someone else's mother to be her own... then this would indeed be a very warm scene!
Just as Entei was speaking to Molly, the wall of the room they were in was blasted open! The tremendous noise made Entei instinctively shield Molly. The dust made it impossible for Entei to identify who had arrived.
As the dust slowly cleared, a small figure appeared before Molly and Entei—a golden body with a cute, squirrel-like appearance. It was Pikachu, a household name beloved by thousands of children!
If not for the faint smoke curling from this Pikachu's tail, Entei might have been happy to have a Pikachu come play with Molly. Given the circumstances... the one who had just broken through the wall must be this yellow rodent! But how did it do it? The Crystal Tower was its creation. It should have detected any approach, especially a close one! Yet this yellow rodent had reached its doorstep, even kicked the door down, before it noticed...
"Scree—!"
A sharp cry echoed inside the tower. A large brown bird flew out from the hole Pikachu had made and landed gently beside it.
Ash jumped down from Pidgeot's back, gave it a pat, and said to Entei with a smile, "I gotta say, Entei, you don't even have a door in this place! I tried to sneak in but found no doors, not even windows! So, as a last resort, I had to make my own entrance. Sorry!"
At the end, Ash even apologized to Entei. Then, the smile on his face faded, replaced by a cold intensity.
"Now, let's talk about why you keep targeting my mother!"
"You were planning to go again, weren't you? If I hadn't arrived early, you would have sneaked in to kidnap my mother?!"
"Is that your idea, or hers?" Ash pointed first at Entei, then at Molly behind it.
Entei firmly blocked Molly, its majestic voice resonating in Ash's mind. I was going to find a mother for her. Then, glancing at Pidgeot, it added, So you came through the air. No wonder I didn't detect you.
"How you got here doesn't matter. The issue now is... you need to correct this twisted thinking!"
"Let's battle, Molly!"
Ash ignored Entei and spoke directly to Molly, who was peeking out timidly from behind it. His previous question had been a probe. Now it was clear: Entei stood unconditionally on Molly's side, even indulging her. The request for a mother had come from Molly, and Entei had simply obeyed, going to capture his mother. As for why it was his mother...
Ash glanced at the table beside Entei, where a photo album lay open. It contained pictures of him, Professor Oak, Delia, and the Felina family. According to Professor Oak, Molly's mother had been missing for a long time, and her father had disappeared not long ago. Though he didn't know why she saw Entei as her father, the reason for mistaking his mother for hers was likely because Molly's mother was gone. Subconsciously, she might have believed the woman in the photos as her mother no longer existed, so she latched onto Delia instead. Plus, Delia had come to Greenfield, and somehow Molly had seen her... Ultimately, it led to this: Entei tried to kidnap his mother!
Matters between trainers could be settled with battles! Though Molly wasn't a trainer, Ash believed... she definitely had the heart of one! If he wanted to get through to her, he'd do it through battle!
"A battle... you mean a Pokémon battle?" Hearing Ash's words, Molly jumped out from behind Entei with surprise.
"Yes, a Pokémon battle. If you lose, you listen to me. If you win... I'll stay here in this Crystal Tower with you!"
"Really?! Brother Ash, a promise is a promise!!"
"Huh? You recognize me?" Ash was clearly taken aback when Molly called him 'Brother Ash.' Back when Molly was just two, they hadn't played together many times. He hadn't expected her to remember him.
"Mm! I remember you! Brother Ash who played with me when I was little! The Brother Ash who knows lots of things!"
"That's... Do you know Aunt Delia?"
"Auntie? No! Delia is my mother!"
Ash: ...
Okay, this kid still has some cognitive issues. It seemed he could only correct her perception bit by bit. Moreover, this space was also problematic... The crystal wall he'd just broken was already repairing itself. Plus, on the way to the tower, Professor Oak had told him this structure was likely connected to the Unown!
Unown—it was said to be an ancient script! Though a written character, it was also a kind of Pokémon, with many varieties, called one of the world's seven wonders! Even Professor Oak couldn't fully comprehend Unown's power. But one thing was known: a single Unown might not exert much power, but many Unown gathered together could unleash might that would astonish even Legendary-tier Pokémon! And, rumor had it, Unown could reshape reality according to human will. This Crystal Tower was likely the masterpiece of Unown! And the initiator of it all was Molly!
In other words, this Crystal Tower was a product of Molly's fantasies given form by Unown power! This was Molly's inner world. Here, as long as Molly's will, desires, and imagination were firm enough, Entei's power would be too—because Entei was also a product of her fantasy! By the same logic, if Molly's mindset could be reversed, this crystallized grassland would return to normal!
Thus, there was only one answer—
"Battle me, Molly!"
"I'm ready!"
Molly ran out excitedly. Entei watched Ash vigilantly but, seeing he truly meant no harm to Molly, relaxed slightly. If Molly trusted Ash, then as a being born of Molly's will, Entei would also involuntarily feel some trust toward Ash. However... Entei, who had gained a degree of autonomy, privately didn't believe Molly could win. After all, Ash had pinned him down and pummeled him earlier!
"So, what Pokémon will you use, Brother Ash?"
"My Pokémon... I'll use Pidgeot!" Ash patted the large bird beside him. Pidgeot was now at peak Gym level, similar to Blastoise and Vileplume—all just a step away from reaching Elite Four–level! Using it against a little girl might seem like bullying, but the reality was... they'd have to battle to find out!
"Pidgeot... it's so big! But I won't lose! If you use Pidgeot, I'll use Mareep!" With that, Molly waved her little hand, and a crystallized Poké Ball appeared in her grasp. She threw it, and a standing lamb with pink skin and white wool appeared on the field. Moreover, the floor of the crystalline room transformed into a proper battlefield!
Looking at the crystalline ball, the shifting terrain, and the bleating Mareep, Ash better understood the power of the Unown. This place... was no different from Molly's dream! What she wished for would appear! And though she wasn't a trainer, having a researcher father meant she knew some type matchups—like using Mareep against Pidgeot. But... her Pokémon knowledge was probably limited. Otherwise, she'd have sent out an Ampharos or an even more powerful Electric-type.
In just one encounter, Ash had analyzed Molly's situation.
...
[Flint: Turtle turtle, is this a master tactician? This intelligence analysis skill is too outrageous!]
As an Elite Four member, he considered his command skills and analytical ability among the best. But compared to Black Ash... there seemed to be a gap. He couldn't parse that much information from a single glance.
[Steven Stone: Black Ash's tactical style feels more and more like Cynthia's—so cunning...]
[Cynthia: ?]
[Cynthia: I'll give you a chance to rephrase that~]
[Steven Stone: Ah, sorry, misspoke! I meant as clever and insightful as Cynthia, making decisive judgments instantly!]
[Wallace: Strong survival instincts, Steven.]
[Winona: Hahaha, Steven, you've met your match!]
[Lance: Speaking of which, when Black Ash first started his journey, though strong tactically, he was far from this level. His growth rate is insane!]
Lance sighed. In just over half a year, Black Ash had evolved from a trainer between Gym Leader and Elite Four level to someone even Flint, the strongest of Sinnoh's Elite Four, acknowledged. This evolution speed was blinding! With such a trainer, no wonder Charizard progressed so fast!
[Bruno: Is this Ash at full power? I wonder if our Ash, at full power, could match Black Ash's growth rate!]
The Silver Conference probably wouldn't show White Ash's great leap, but afterward... he looked forward to it! Then, he'd definitely have a fierce battle with Ash! Of course, that meant a Pokémon battle—not a fistfight. Let's take it slow, no brawling!
...
In the Black World—
The battle between Pidgeot and Mareep officially began! From the start, Pidgeot suppressed Mareep with absolute superiority! Mareep's Thundershock did negligible damage to Pidgeot, who was too fast to be touched. Meanwhile, Mareep was on the defensive, battered by Gust, Wing Attack, Twister, Quick Attack, even Brave Bird... One move initially left Mareep severely injured! Molly shouted for Mareep to hang on, and it struggled back up. Pidgeot unleashed a flurry of attacks, even the Flying-type's ultimate move, Brave Bird! Yet... no matter the assault, Mareep remained in a critical but standing state, rising each time with Molly's cheers.
Ash watched the teetering Mareep, his face darkening.
Are you kidding me?
Acting? Still standing?
This wobbly Mareep took a Twister, a Brave Bird, and still gets up after a Quick Attack?
Cheating?!
"Pidgeot, Aeroblast!"
...
[Lugia: ???]
What was that?
Aeroblast???
Did he hear that right? The next second of footage confirmed he had.
...
In the Black World—
Pidgeot chirped, creating distance from Mareep. Ash extended a hand, palm toward Molly. The next moment, a translucent azure barrier appeared before her. Entei, who had been lying down, jolted upright, thinking Ash meant to harm Molly. But the next instant, it understood the barrier's purpose.
Pidgeot in the air took a deep breath. An incredibly sharp screech resounded through the Crystal Tower! The airflow within condensed around Pidgeot, the previously transparent currents visibly materializing! Then, Pidgeot violently beat its wings. The materialized airflow suddenly exploded into two silver tornadoes rushing toward Mareep on the ground! The terrifying cyclones even vacuumed the surrounding air. They bombarded Mareep, and for a moment, space seemed to freeze—followed by a sound like a nuclear detonation!
The entire Crystal Tower shook, trembled, crumbled!
BOOM!!
A massive explosion erupted from the top floor, leveling it entirely! Even Professor Oak and the others in the distance felt the tremendous tremor!
"Ash, he... is he okay?" Delia asked worriedly.
"Don't worry, he's Ash! We've experienced explosions like this who knows how many times on our jour—mph!" Before Brock could finish, a mysterious force sealed his mouth. He then noticed Delia's worried expression darkening.
"Huh, 'who knows how many times'... Every time this kid calls, he says he's never in danger, that the journey is full of fun."
"I'll have to have a good talk with him when he gets back~"
Brock: ...
Ash, brother mourns for you!
It's not that my lips are loose! It's... circumstances! Yeah, circumstances!
Sabrina shook her head helplessly. Last time, after the Lugia incident, Ash got an earful from Delia. This time... it probably wouldn't end well either.
Top Floor of the Crystal Tower—
The apocalyptic tremors slowly faded after an unknown time. As the dust settled, a massive crater was visible on the floor. The surrounding walls and ceiling were obliterated! Only a few spots shielded by Ash's Aura power remained intact.
Molly stared at the huge crater punched into the battlefield, stunned. It was her first time seeing a Pokémon unleash such power! Entei beside her also grew solemn. That human... wasn't just physically strong! That move, Aeroblast—even it might not withstand it! And... that human, in such a situation, still used part of his power to protect Molly. That proved at least one thing: he genuinely cared for her. But... Molly's will still came first, no doubt about that!
Ash also lowered his hands, his face showing amazement.
"So this is a Legendary Beast's move? Unbelievably powerful!"
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