*Note: sorry for make you wait so much.
Have a good day :)
...
A sudden and profoundly unsettling sensation of anxiety filled the depths of my being, coursing through my veins and settling heavily in my chest. Yet, for all its intensity, I could not, for the life of me, rationally understand the root cause of this emotional turmoil. After all, my logical mind knew perfectly well what was destined to occur next; I possessed the clear certainty that my mother was in no genuine danger and that, provided I executed my role correctly and followed the necessary sequence of events, in a mere matter of a few hours, the crisis would subside, everything would revert to a state of normalcy, and I would be free to proceed with the grand journey of my Pokémon adventure in a typical, unremarkable fashion. But then, a persistent question gnawed at the edges of my consciousness, even while armed with the full knowledge of the future: Why did I feel such piercing anxiety and overwhelming sadness? Why did this unnecessary melancholy cling to me?
[It is because of the lingering influence of Ash's soul.]
A query formed instantly in my mind, directed at the ever-present System: Didn't you explicitly state that Ash was effectively me now? That I had fully replaced him, becoming the new identity?
[Yes, that is correct, but his soul did not vanish; it fundamentally merged with yours, creating a blended, unified consciousness.]
Does that imply that on specific occasions—rare or frequent—his residual essence, his soul, retains the power to influence my emotions, to subtly alter my normal behaviors, or even to inject foreign emotional states into my own perception?
[Indeed. This effect occurs only on exceptional occasions, and this kidnapping scenario is precisely one of them. That is the definitive reason why you experience these intense feelings despite possessing absolute, foreknowledge of everything that is about to unfold. After all, the component of Ash that resides within your merged being does not have access to your memories of your previous life or the future plot. Furthermore, even if it could access them, it would be functionally impossible for it to systematically review and process them, as it exists merely as a soul—a passenger, not the driver of the body's rational thought processes.]
I see. This explanation brings a measure of clarity to the complex, contradictory emotions I've been experiencing. Then it must be because of this soul integration that I occasionally find myself feeling deeply emotional responses and sentiments that were entirely alien to me in my previous, jaded life. Perhaps that is precisely the reason why I adapted with such unexpected speed and grace to the inherent wonders and emotional dynamics of this vibrant world. Perhaps that is why my core personality underwent a subtle, yet undeniable, shift towards optimism and warmth. Otherwise, after having endured and overcome all the crushing negativity I was forced to live through in my previous life... it is highly probable that in this existence, I would not have been the balanced, capable person I am today.
[Yes, when you underwent the process of reincarnation, your deep-seated resentment towards women, and indeed towards the world in general, was enormous—so vast, in fact, that it had begun the devastating process of corroding the integrity of your very soul. That is why the decision was made that you would merge with the...
Once again, I was abruptly cut off, unable to hear the critical remaining information. Just as I was on the precipice of hearing a truly crucial piece of the cosmic puzzle—a secret that might explain my entire existence—I was interrupted, not by the System itself, but by the immediate, real-world presence of Roxanne.
"Ash, are you alright? You look distinctly pale and somewhat distant," Roxanne asked, her voice laced with genuine, urgent concern, her gaze fixed on my face.
"No, I'm fine. I was just momentarily lost in thought about my mother. I sincerely hope she's alright and hasn't suffered any distress," I replied, forcing a reassuring tone despite the lingering internal anxiety.
"She will be fine, Ash. You must have faith. I assure you that Entei only forcibly took her there because Molly, in her profound loneliness and desperate need, wishes for your mother to assume the role of her own mother," Celeste added, offering comforting words meant to stabilize my emotions.
"I certainly hope so," I managed to say, exhaling a long, dramatic sigh that was half-genuine emotion from Ash's soul and half-feigned despair for the public performance.
My measured response clearly did not entirely convince the girls, who exchanged meaningful glances, realizing I was concealing the depth of my thoughts. However, they wisely chose not to press the issue further. Although they instinctively knew I was fabricating some part of my reassurance, they did not challenge me. They simply stood there, their attention collectively focused on the enormous crystalline structure, waiting in silence until the magnificent, false Legendary Pokémon, Entei, finally reached the mansion.
After a few tense minutes of continuous, high-speed running, Entei, carrying my mother, reached the perimeter of the crystal-covered mansion. Upon arriving at the front edge of the constantly expanding crystal wall, it executed a powerful, effortless jump, clearing the enormous crystal barrier, and disappeared completely from our line of sight, vanishing into the magical, crystalline landscape.
Now, with the objective successfully identified and positioned, it was unequivocally my turn to take definitive action.
"Where exactly is the entrance to this place?" I asked Skyler, immediately getting down to the critical task at hand.
"There are no entrances, Ash. The situation is dire. All the potential access points—every single door and window—have been sealed and covered completely by the solid, encroaching crystal. No one can enter or exit through any conventional means," Skyler replied, his voice heavy with frustration and a sense of insurmountable defeat.
"There has to be a way in. We cannot stand here doing nothing," I insisted, pushing back against his resignation with an assertive tone.
"Unfortunately, there isn't one, Ash. You must believe me. We have systematically tried absolutely everything, applying every known method, but we simply could not find any viable way to breach the interior. It seems completely impossible to get past that barrier," Skyler lamented, gesturing helplessly at the shimmering, impervious crystal dome.
Professor Oak, Talia, and Skyler were visibly desperate, worn down by the stress and the apparent invulnerability of the phenomenon. It was profoundly clear that, without prior knowledge of the events that transpired in the movie, formulating an effective solution and finding a way past the crystal was a task deemed truly impossible for conventional science.
"There is always a way, Professor, and fortunately, I believe I know exactly what it is," I stated with a sudden, decisive air of certainty, drawing all attention to myself.
"What is it, Ash? Tell us!" Talia asked, her voice instantly alight with a flickering hope she hadn't felt moments before.
"The waterfall," I said, pointing definitively towards a nearby, rushing cascade of water nestled in the hills.
"The waterfall? What could possibly be significant about a natural feature like that?" Professor Oak asked curiously, struggling to connect the dots between the water and the crystal fortress.
"If my memory serves me correctly, there is a small, concealed opening or cavity hidden directly behind the main curtain of the waterfall. This secret passage leads directly into a secondary, less-guarded part of the mansion's lower level. That's precisely why, in the original film, Ash and his companions managed to slip inside unseen," I explained, offering a fabricated but highly convincing historical rationale for my sudden insight.
"That makes perfect sense," Skyler conceded, finally understanding the logic of my claim.
"But how is it, Ash, that you know all these specific details? How could you possibly know about a hidden entrance that even the Hale family assistant was unaware of?" Professor Oak asked, his face a mask of puzzled disbelief.
Damn it, I talked too much. My absolute confidence made me overshare.
"My father, Professor, you see, he frequently visited here before he mysteriously disappeared. He once told me, in passing, that there was a hidden, almost forgotten entrance concealed right behind the waterfall," I quickly fabricated the most plausible lie possible, leaning heavily on the emotional context of my absent father.
My quick-witted answer convinced them entirely. All the adults, despite the improbability of the story, looked genuinely relieved and willing to accept the explanation, even though I had just delivered a colossal, self-serving lie. It did not matter; the overriding imperative was to keep the narrative momentum going and adhere strictly to the established events of the movie.
"If that is truly the case, Ash, then we absolutely must get to that location right now, without delay," Talia urged, her professionalism instantly kicking in.
"I'll go immediately," I volunteered, taking a step forward.
"No, I will go with you," Celeste and Roxanne declared in a rare, unified chorus, stepping forward determinedly to join me.
"Me too. You might need someone with fast Pokémon on your team," Lisa added, not to be left out of the action.
"Okay, then, the three of you can accompany me. Skyler, Professor Oak, Talia, you must remain here. Your role is vital: You need to continue investigating exactly what is happening with the crystal phenomenon and, more importantly, discover the theoretical means to neutralize and stop the destructive power of the Unown. I will take on the mission of infiltrating the mansion and personally taking charge of rescuing my mother, Delia, and ultimately reaching Molly," I instructed, organizing the team into distinct, critical roles.
I knew that in the original movie, Brock and Misty also accompanied Ash, forming the iconic trio. Since Brock and Misty were not physically present in this reality and were not a part of my travel team, it was an inevitable narrative substitution that the three girls—Celeste, Roxanne, and Lisa—would replace them, maintaining the necessary group dynamic for the subsequent events.
Without wasting a single second more on planning or discussion, we quickly sprinted toward the waterfall. It was, unfortunately, situated quite far from the command center. In fact, if we hadn't run at absolute full speed, utilizing every ounce of our stamina, we would likely have needed more than twenty minutes to reach it. As it was, pushing our limits, we managed to cover the distance in only seven or eight strenuous minutes. During this brief, intense period of action, and without any of us even noticing the subtle shift in light, full night had descended upon Greenfield.
Meanwhile, completely oblivious to Ash and the others concluding their discussion and forming their infiltration plan, a heavy-duty excavator began its destructive work. It commenced tearing apart and attempting to destroy the entire crystalline structure it found in its path, operating under the desperate hope of creating an opening large enough to enter the mansion and finally figure out what terrifying magical power was at work inside. All the while, the tireless television news crews recorded every single dramatic moment of the attempt, ensuring nothing was missed for the national broadcast.
Inside the mansion.
Upon seeing the brazen actions of the adults outside—the relentless, aggressive attempts to break through the crystal boundary and intrude on her private world—Molly's already fragile emotions flared into pure, protective anger.
"GET OUT! LEAVE US IN PEACE! This is our home!" Molly exclaimed, her voice amplified by the Unown's power, ringing with fury and possessiveness.
As if instantly responding to her violently strong, protective feelings, the surrounding Unown began to spin with extreme, blinding speed. The atmosphere crackled with psychic energy, and they simultaneously manifested and created enormous, jagged spikes of crystal that erupted from the ground and perforated the massive excavator as easily as if the machine were mere butter. Fortunately, as was clearly visible on the television news feed, the person driving the heavy machinery was an experienced operator who managed to bail out and escape the cockpit just in the nick of time, moments before the vehicle was totally impaled and encased.
With Ash.
We had finally stopped running and were momentarily exhausted, breathing heavily. We had not managed to extract any further clear, actionable information about the Unown or the crystal despite having discussed and speculated about the situation for hours on end back at the Pokémon Center.
"At least we have finally managed to conclude definitively that this entire disaster is the clear work of the Unown; there can be no other logical explanation for this level of reality alteration," Skyler stated, trying to find reassurance in the conclusion they had reached.
"That's absolutely right. First, Spencer's highly peculiar disappearance in those ancient ruins, which were coincidentally and deeply related to the Unown, and now this overwhelming, sudden crystal phenomenon… it is unequivocally clear that the Unown are the sole perpetrators and cause of this entire disastrous situation engulfing Greenfield," Talia confirmed, nodding her agreement with Skyler's scientific assessment.
Professor Oak was just about to offer a final observation, perhaps summing up the scientific consensus, but suddenly, the professor's sturdy laptop emitted a sharp, distinctive beep. This sound was the unmistakable signal that the device had just successfully received an electronic mail message.
"An e-mail? How incredibly strange and ill-timed," Professor Oak muttered to himself, momentarily distracted from the crisis by the unexpected digital communication.
Skyler was currently logged into his personal account on the laptop, but even so, it was extremely unusual and odd that anyone would choose to send a non-urgent communication, a casual e-mail, at this late hour, under these catastrophic circumstances.
Filled with an intense wave of curiosity, and acutely aware of the expectant, tense gazes of everyone present who were anxiously awaiting new developments, Professor Oak swiftly moved his hand and clicked on the recently arrived e-mail. The digital message itself was highly unusual and suspicious: it had no discernible subject line, nor was there any written text in the body of the message. It was simply comprised of a single, cryptic video attachment, which the esteemed Professor immediately clicked on, initiating playback without the slightest hesitation or second thought, his scientific curiosity overriding his caution regarding unsolicited digital content.
As the video feed stabilized and began to play, the very first image that was displayed prominently on the screen was that of Molly, the distressed young girl at the center of the entire crisis, her face contorted into a striking expression of unyielding anger and fierce possessiveness. Her features conveyed a stubborn defiance that was jarringly out of place for a child of her age.
"Mama, Dad, and I want to be alone together forever now. Go away immediately. Leave us all in peace," that was the exact, chilling message Molly delivered directly into the camera lens. Her voice, although still that of a child, was amplified and imbued with a strange, unnatural authority, resonating with a commanding firmness that demanded immediate, unquestioning obedience from all who heard it. The statement was a definitive line drawn in the sand, rejecting the outside world entirely.
"Molly!" exclaimed Skyler, the assistant, his voice laced with absolute shock and astonishment at her harsh, unexpected words. He was utterly surprised by the venomous nature of her declaration, finding it hard to believe that this was the sweet girl he had cared for.
"Did she just unequivocally state that both her father and her mother are currently with her inside that structure?" Professor Oak asked, a cloud of profound confusion deepening the lines on his aging face. He turned to Skyler and Talia, seeking clarification on a statement that defied the known facts. The implication was staggering, suggesting that two missing adults were magically present.
"But you informed us just a short time ago that her father vanished without a trace, and her mother is also missing, presumed to have passed away long ago…" Celeste interjected, completely unable to reconcile the blatant contradiction between the girl's words and the tragic reality. She looked from one scientist to the other, genuinely struggling to comprehend the strange situation.
"This situation is indeed very, very strange. It elevates the complexity of the phenomenon to an entirely new level," Talia confirmed, nodding her own agreement with the assessment. Her expression reflected the perplexity of a scientist confronted with data that utterly breaks known rules of existence.
What, precisely, was the underlying meaning of the events unfolding here? What could Molly possibly mean by asserting that she was happily situated with her mother and her father? Her biological parents, both of them, were either completely missing or confirmed deceased at this precise, tumultuous moment in time. But then, if that was the case: Why did Molly speak those definitive, absolute words with such conviction and emotional intensity? No single individual among the assembled group—not the seasoned scientists, nor the shocked trainers—could begin to fathom the truth; nobody, that is, except for Ash. Ash, the reincarnated soul, understood because he possessed the unique, privileged knowledge of the original movie's plot, allowing him to decipher the psychic projection and its false reality instantly.
Meanwhile, inside the mansion.
Immediately following the transmission of the short, angry video message to the encroaching world outside, Molly's intense, defiant expression instantly dissolved. Her face reverted to its habitual, pleasant appearance—the innocent, cheerful, and unburdened countenance of a young girl who simply wanted to pursue the endless possibilities of fun and playful distraction, just like any child her age. And that was precisely the activity she was now happily engaged in with her "father," the magnificent, crystalline Entei, who was merely a physical manifestation of her deepest desire. The two figures were playfully engaged in a joyful, animated game within the vast, expansive dimensions of the crystallized room, while her "mother"—my own Delia Ketchum, held captive by the illusion—watched them from a comfortable distance with a tranquil, beautiful smile plastered on her face, forced into the role of the devoted, doting parent.
"This is just exactly how we used to do it before you left, Dad!" Molly exclaimed with innocent, unadulterated joy, a powerful, self-reinforcing statement that solidified the illusion of the Legendary Pokémon as her true, returned parent in the eyes of the Unown. The power of wish fulfillment had successfully created a family unit.
With Ash.
"Professor, given this strange new development and Molly's direct message, do you have any theoretical idea or hypothesis about how we might be able to effectively neutralize or halt the increasingly dangerous power of the Unown?" I asked, cutting directly to the necessary solution, bypassing the need for further bewildered speculation.
I was fully aware, intellectually, that the safer course of action would be to maintain silence, to perhaps feign ignorance and let the scientists arrive at the conclusion organically. However, considering the highly constrained time limit I was operating under—the temporal pressure imposed by the looming threat and, more critically, the precise requirements of the System's mission—I had absolutely no choice but to forcefully propel the progression of events forward, guiding the team towards the required action sequence. Every second wasted was a potential failure.
"We have no definitive idea, Ash, to be brutally honest. The Unown are entities that exist fundamentally beyond our current, limited comprehension and all known scientific rules, placing them completely outside the existing Pokémon taxonomy. However, based on our observations of the crystal expansion, we strongly suspect that the entire phenomenon is directly linked to, and driven by, Molly's deeply rooted emotions and intense feelings. Therefore, our primary hypothesis is this: If we can somehow manage to make Molly genuinely happy and content, perhaps achieving a state of emotional balance, the Unown will subsequently cease all this reality-bending activity, and the crystal chaos will be reversed," Professor Oak explained, detailing the scientific consensus that tied the emotional state of a child to the global catastrophe.
"I understand completely. I follow your logic. So, the singular, most direct way to effectively save both my mother from this forced captivity and to rescue Molly from her self-imposed, dangerous wish-world is to somehow infiltrate the mansion and forcibly stop the continuous flow of psychic power emanating from the Unown," I synthesized, formulating the practical objective in plain terms.
"That is precisely correct, Ash. You have grasped the fundamental truth of the problem," Professor Oak affirmed with a resolute nod, confirming the severity of the task.
"Then there is only one specific course of action remaining that we can possibly take to achieve that goal," I stated, my tone firming into determination.
"And what action is that, Ash? What have you concluded?" Celeste asked, her curiosity now tinged with urgency and a readiness for combat.
"We have to execute an immediate, discreet infiltration into the mansion's interior and establish direct communication with Molly. She is the only person on this entire planet who holds the ultimate key—the emotional trigger—to stopping this phenomenon and reversing the damage," I declared, making the high-stakes personal mission clear to the entire group.
"Ash is logically sound, but we return to the practical obstacle: how exactly do we manage to get inside the crystallized barrier when all obvious access points are sealed?" Roxanne asked, raising the critical physical challenge once more.
"The waterfall," I repeated, emphasizing the location and pointing towards the natural cascade that stood only a handful of meters away from where we were positioned, a vital piece of the plot puzzle.
"But Ash, how are four of us supposed to ascend that sheer rock face?" Celeste asked, staring up at the rushing water with a mixture of apprehension and doubt regarding the physical difficulty.
"It is not only incredibly steep but also treacherous and extremely slippery due to the constant water flow, making a hand-over-hand climb almost impossible without specialized gear," Lisa added, providing her own assessment of the severe physical danger.
I stared up intently at the daunting wall of water and rock. My internal certainty remained absolute: I knew, deep in my core, that I had to climb it. After all, the necessary events of the film had to be followed with meticulous exactitude, and that specific sequence of ascending the cliff, curiously, I remembered perfectly well, down to the very Pokémon used.
In the sequence of the original film, Ash, as I can distinctly recall with reasonable confidence, utilizes his Chikorita (I am fairly certain it was Chikorita) to provide assistance, using its powerful Vine Whip attack to create a safe path and help pull his friends up the slippery ascent. Unfortunately, I do not yet possess a Chikorita within my current roster of Pokémon, which means I will have to make an appropriate substitution by making immediate use of my Ivysaur. And yes, I am fully cognizant of the alternatives: I know I could potentially utilize the colossal Onix to scale the rock face, or even command Charizard to fly us directly over the barrier and land inside the mansion's courtyards. However, there are two overriding, paramount reasons why I cannot and will not attempt either of those easier options: the first reason is the unpredictable nature of the defense—it is highly possible, even probable, that the Unown, upon sensing a direct, large-scale aerial threat, would immediately conjure massive, defensive crystal spikes and barriers to impede our climb or flight, making the assault unnecessarily complex. The second, and most critical, reason is the mandate of the System's mission. If I were to circumvent the natural climbing sequence by simply flying directly to the mansion, a significant number of the subsequent events that are mandatory for the plot progression would not occur in their required order, leading to a catastrophic failure in fulfilling the mission the System entrusted specifically to me. My actions must be precise and follow the cinematic script closely.
"Should we, then, attempt to utilize Onix to climb the wall for us? At least he has the necessary weight and bulk," Roxanne proposed, reverting to the most obvious powerful solution.
The internal map displayed by the System, however, clearly indicated that the narrative path required an ascent via the waterfall, regardless of the method or ease of entry.
"He is far too large, Roxanne, and deploying him would immediately attract unwanted attention and likely trigger a massive, destructive defense from the Unown. Let's execute this instead…" I said, immediately discarding the Onix idea and unveiling my calculated substitute plan.
Then, without further preamble, I produced Ivysaur's heavy Pokéball from my belt, and with a swift, powerful motion, I launched it accurately over the surging water and rock, aiming for the relative safety of the ledge at the top of the waterfall.
Ivysaur materialized successfully from the flash of light high above, emerging from the Pokéball right at the very summit of the cascading water, and immediately looked down at the four figures waiting below.
"Ivysaur: Listen closely. Can you utilize your powerful, extended vines to create secure ropes and pull the three of us up the rock face, one by one?" I asked, looking up at my starter Pokémon and issuing the critical command.
"Saur!" he responded with a sharp, affirmative cry, the Pokémon's signature sound indicating full comprehension and immediate readiness to execute the strenuous task.
Next, with incredible strength and dexterity, Ivysaur rapidly extended several of his thick, muscular vines, anchoring them securely into crevices in the rock above and allowing them to drop down like sturdy ropes to assist our challenging ascent. First, it was Celeste's turn to grasp the vine and be pulled upwards, followed by Roxanne, who climbed with great determination, and finally, it was my turn to take hold and be lifted, completing the infiltration of the cliff face and successfully entering the secret passage.
I know, even at this critical moment, that some readers might be inclined to pose a common, logical question: How exactly can Ivysaur effectively use its vines for climbing and hauling if it has not yet mastered or learned the specific attack known as "Vine Whip?" The answer is simple and rooted in the reality of the Pokémon world: it is entirely true that Ivysaur has not yet learned that precise combat technique for battle purposes, but that fundamental fact does not in any way preclude him from utilizing his vines for non-combat tasks, such as basic dexterity, grappling, pulling, and anchoring outside the confines of a Pokémon battle.