Inside the Tree of Beginning…
Ash and Lucario were also under attack—this time from Regice and Registeel.
"This way!" Lucario yanked Ash by the collar, taking Registeel's Flash Cannon head-on with a pained grimace.
"Lucario!" Ash cried out in panic.
Lucario knelt, gasping for breath, before forcing itself back up and dragging Ash deeper inside.
I have to reunite Ash with Pikachu…
Lucario clenched its teeth.
I won't let the same tragedy happen again!
The Tree of Beginning's paths twisted like a maze.
Elsewhere, Jessie and James wandered, separated from the others.
"Where'd the twerp go?"
"Even Meowth's missing…"
The two sighed in unison.
"James, look at these ores—they've gotta be worth a fortune!" Jessie's eyes gleamed as she reached for a glittering crystal nearby.
James suddenly paled. "Danger!"
"Huh?" Jessie turned—just as a Cradily, its body glowing like molten lava, lashed out with its tendrils and ensnared her.
"What the hell is this thing?!" Jessie shrieked.
"It's… almost like a white blood cell attacking bacteria," James muttered, voice shaking. "Weezing, Cacnea—save Jessie, now!"
But by the time their Pokémon lunged forward, Jessie had already been swallowed whole, vanishing without a trace.
Behind James, another spectral fossil Pokémon loomed, its shadow stretching toward him.
"Ghk—!" James thrashed wildly, hurling a Poké Ball with his last ounce of strength. "Chimecho, all of you—run!"
In his final moment, his choice was to set his Pokémon free.
"Chimecho~~" Chimecho and Weezing locked eyes, tears streaming down their faces.
Meanwhile…
Natsume and Steven had ventured deep into the Tree of Beginning's heart.
The trunk's interior was a hidden world—crystal-clear streams, rare Berries, precious ores, and fossil Pokémon everywhere.
"It's like a paradise untouched by time," Steven murmured.
"The Three Regis must guard this place to keep humans from disturbing its peace."
Natsume glanced at his phone, hesitated, then pocketed it.
I'll come back for photos later, he told himself with a nod.
"The paths here are too convoluted," Steven said, frowning. "Natsume-sensei, can you contact Ash?"
"There's no signal on the mobile phone either." Natsume shook the mobile phone and smiled, "But I have Squirtle."
"Huh?"
"Squirtle!" Squirtle closed its eyes, sensing Lucario's aura, then pointed decisively toward the cavern's depths.
Steven followed its direction, stepping forward cautiously. "Let's go. No sign of the other two legendary titans yet—"
He paused.
The air was dead silent.
Steven turned.
Natsume was gone.
His smile vanished. Metagross materialized at his side in an instant.
"Stay sharp," Steven whispered, eyes scanning the shadows. "Something here can Teleport."
...
One moment, Natsume had been chatting casually with Steven.
The next, he found himself standing at the very top of the Tree of Beginning.
A cold wind brushed against his face as he gazed out at a sea of thick clouds.
Looking down, the dizzying height made his stomach lurch.
"Pikachu!"
"Executive ~~!!"
The cries of Pikachu and Meowth's wailing suddenly reached his ears.
Natsume turned—just in time to see a pink blur dart past him.
"Mew~~"
He looked left, then right, before finally glancing up to find Mew giggling mischievously.
So Mew's Teleport brought me here...
Before he could finish the thought, Meowth barreled into him, clinging desperately.
"Meowth's been stuck playin' with Mew for a whole day an' night!" Meowth sobbed, snot and tears dripping. "Meowth wants James an' Jessie, meow!"
"Pikachu..." Pikachu stood nearby, ears drooping.
"Mew!" Mew flitted nervously toward a pile of junk hidden behind a tree stump.
Natsume's eyes followed—only to find an assortment of toys scattered about.
Mew pulled out a horn and gave it an enthusiastic "Doduo!" toot.
When Pikachu didn't react, it rummaged again, this time producing a music box. Its face lit up. "Mew~!!"
Pikachu still shook its head.
Hovering midair, Mew racked its brain before finally resorting to a bright, hopeful smile. "Mew!"
"Did you bring me here to play with you?" Natsume asked softly.
Mew circled him twice, then shimmered with a soft glow—transforming into a Pikachu that leaped onto Natsume's shoulder.
After nuzzling his cheek affectionately, it changed back and pressed the music box into his hands. "Mew~!"
In that moment, Natsume saw it—
Centuries of Mew waiting alone in the Tree of Beginning, with nothing but these worn-out toys for company.
It longed for playmates, so it brought them here.
But one by one, they all returned to their Trainers.
Only Mew remained, left with its music box and toys centuries out of date...
Natsume reached out. Mew happily flew over, rubbing against his palm.
"Sylveon!" Sylveon puffed its cheeks and turned away indignantly.
"Mew~~" Mew smiled shyly before flitting off to try coaxing Sylveon into playing.
"I can play with you for a while," Natsume said gently. "But I'll have to go back eventually."
"Just like Meowth and Pikachu... they have people they care about, same as you care for these toys."
"Mew..." Mew's shoulders slumped. It picked up the music box again, nudging it toward Natsume pleadingly.
Natsume didn't take it. "Can you leave the Tree of Beginning?"
"Mew..."
Meowth translated: "It says only for short trips—gotta come back eventually, meow."
Natsume sighed quietly.
He'd expected that answer.
Mew was a guardian of the Pokémon world, bound symbiotically to the Tree of Beginning. It couldn't just leave.
For thousands of years, it had no companions, no Trainer to bond with—only its childlike innocence, unchanging...
Still, he accepted the music box with a smile. "If you want to play, you can visit me anytime."
"But only for short trips. And no more whisking away other people's Pokémon."
Mew nodded vigorously, tail swaying as it circled him. "Mew~~~"
Natsume opened the music box. A gentle melody spilled out as Mew settled quietly on his shoulder.
"So you're giving this to me?" he teased.
Mew hesitated—then nodded firmly. "Mew!"
"Just kidding." Natsume laughed. "Gengar, you brought Pokéblocks, right?"
"Gengar~!" Gengar grinned, plunging a hand into its belly to rummage around.
"Ta-daa!"
Momotarō's rice balls (scratch that)—Natsume-sensei's golden Pokéblocks!
"Mew?" Mew carefully took one in its tiny paws and nibbled.
Instantly, its face lit up with pure bliss. "Mew!!"
Meowth wiped drool from its mouth. "Says it's the best thing ever, meow."
"Here." Natsume tossed one to Meowth. "You're practically drowning in saliva."
"Thanks, Executive!" Meowth cried, moved.
"Gengar~~︿(￣︶￣)︿" I'm above such things now~
After making their promise,
Mew floated obediently, leading Pikachu and Meowth to find Ash.
The labyrinth of crystalline branches formed a tangled maze of pathways.
Suddenly, Pikachu's ears twitched. It stood upright and shouted, "Pikachu!"
...
Ash and Pikachu reunited at last.
Lucario watched them, a faint smile crossing its face: He really did it... what Sir Aaron couldn't.
But Meowth looked around anxiously—no sign of Jessie or James.
Like a kindergarten kid left unclaimed after school,
Meowth's head drooped, dejected.
Natsume patted its head reassuringly—
Then froze.
Not far off, a crimson, magma-like specter of a fossil Pokémon drifted, scanning the area.
"I remember... if that thing catches you..." Natsume glanced at Mew.
Mew fidgeted like a guilty child.
Meowth translated: "Says it didn't give that order, meow!"
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