Master Craftsman of the Pokémon World

Outside the Crystal Tower, the real Entei and Suicune sensed the elemental surges coming from within. Entei's eyes widened in confusion.

"Huh? What the…?"

Sensing a second "Entei" inside the tower was already outrageous—let alone the fact that this whole situation had already made it into the news. And now, another one?!

Who was fighting in the tower?

Was it "me" versus… "me"?

Then, was the one standing beside Suicune not the real one?

That thought felt so strange it gave Entei chills.

"Hmm…"

Even Suicune gave Entei a look, then glanced at the Crystal Tower again.

Three very similar yet subtly different auras pulsed from within.

It blinked in curiosity.

It seemed this trip wasn't in vain. They had witnessed a truly rare sight.

Who would have guessed Entei had two "siblings"?

"This doesn't make sense…"

Entei shook its head, puzzled. It decided to investigate and leapt onto one of the twin spires with Suicune, activating its psychic senses to better perceive the situation inside.

Meanwhile, within the tower…

The fake Entei, having used Extreme Speed to burst through the crystal layers and return Molly's spiritual projection to her real body, suddenly felt the divine aura of the real Entei descending from above!

"?!"

Startled, the fake Entei looked up.

It was badly wounded, though its injuries were rapidly healing.

But that aura from above…

Was it yet another "me"?

Just… how many versions of me are there?!

"Daddy!"

Terrified by the recent battle, Molly awoke from her half-conscious state and threw herself into the fake Entei's fur, sobbing.

She had been so afraid. That ferocious Pokémon who looked just like "Daddy" had nearly killed him!

"Molly, I'm alright. As long as you believe in me, I won't be defeated by any Pokémon."

"But that Pokémon was just like me—it couldn't be hurt in this place either. We need to leave now. Otherwise, they'll catch up to us."

The fake Entei had assumed that as long as it stayed by Molly's side, it could protect her and fulfill its duty as her father.

It never expected that after a single incident involving "kidnapping the mother," so many powerful and bizarre humans would flood into the tower.

"Leave? But where would we go? I don't want to leave…"

After all, Molly was still just a regular little girl.

She had dreamed of growing up to become a Pokémon Trainer, but now that dream had been shattered before it could even begin.

She gripped Entei's mane tightly, shoulders trembling as she cried:

"Daddy… let's stay here."

The fake Entei fell silent.

If Molly wished it…

Then it would stay. That was the whole reason it had come into this world—to be her father.

"Molly, listen to me—"

Suddenly, Hanako, now freed from the mind control, stepped forward and said:

"I'm not your real mother."

"You can't stay here any longer."

Hanako's release from the Unown's influence had been unexpected for Entei.

As a mother, she was now trying to persuade Molly to face reality.

But the frightened little girl couldn't accept it—not even when both her "Daddy" and "Mommy" were telling her to leave.

Though Entei and Hanako meant different things when they said "leave," both wished for Molly to step outside this mental realm—whether for safety or to break free of her emotional chains.

Entei stayed quiet.

It should have shouted at the woman to shut up.

But the gravity of the situation forced it to admit—

No matter the intention, leaving this place was the right decision now. Otherwise—

"Entei! Let go of my mom!"

A loud shout echoed from the only crystal corridor.

Ash and his friends, with Pikachu, had arrived at the top floor.

Seeing Entei still battered, Ash immediately understood—

This "phantom Entei" had already lost the battle below!

"So you fled up here after losing, huh?

If you're defeated, then get out of the way!"

Ash waved a hand, then turned to Molly.

"Molly! Do you remember me? We met back in Pallet Town!"

"Come with us! Let's leave together!"

Long ago, before Ash had begun his journey, Professor Shuley had visited Pallet Town with Molly.

They'd taken a picture with Ash, Hanako, and Professor Oak.

But to a young girl like Molly, it was likely a faint memory buried deep within her mind.

"I… I don't want to."

She shook her head gently, eyes wide in panic.

More and more people had invaded her "private room" with her parents.

Her dream was crumbling before her eyes.

Her expression became increasingly aggrieved and angry.

Finally, she let out a sharp cry—

"I don't want to!!"

Boom!

Sharp crystal spikes suddenly erupted from the ground, piercing through everything in the room like spears!

The shards rapidly spread to every corner, forming towering, jagged barriers that prevented anyone from approaching Molly.

Outside the room, the crystal growths swelled even further—

Huge crystalline winds formed a blizzard-like effect, blowing everyone back!

Brock shouted against the storm,

"This is bad! This world is Molly's mind made real! The Unown are resonating with her emotions—she's lost control!"

"Mom! Over here!"

Ash searched through the razor-sharp crystals for Hanako.

Seeing Hanako moving toward Ash, Molly's face filled with sadness and a sense of loss—

"Daddy… Mommy…

Mommy's being taken by that boy…"

Even though Ash had told the truth about their past,

Molly couldn't remember.

The lonely girl simply clung to what she believed was "real."

At her command, the fake Entei growled lowly.

Though it wanted to say "leave that woman and stay,"

it realized…

"At least here… she's Molly's mother."

The fake Entei turned to threaten Ash:

"Get out. If you won't leave, I'll make you!"

Time was running out.

The fake Entei could feel it.

"You don't get to decide that!"

Hot-headed as ever, Ash refused.

He pulled out a Poké Ball.

"If you think I'll just back off—Totodile, I choose you!"

Entei: "You think you can beat me?!"

Ash: "I won't lose to some illusion!"

Totodile dropped in and started dancing with glee.

Under Ash's command, it fired a Water Gun!

Fake Entei dodged quickly, but—

Damn it!

Why did everyone—this boy, that strange young man, and even that monster-like Pokémon—keep calling it a phantom?!

Ho-Oh… Entei… the Burned Tower… Gouging Fire…

Father, mother, daughter… ruins, murals, Unown…

Memories and thoughts twisted together in its mind.

It let out a furious roar and released a massive Flamethrower!

The raging fire blasted Totodile across the floor.

Ash tried to switch to Cyndaquil, but Entei used Extreme Speed—

The ball was knocked from his hand!

Ash himself was pinned under the beast's weight!

"Now you've seen my power—still think I'm an illusion?!"

"Ash!!"

Misty and Brock jumped in, summoning their own Pokémon.

But fake Entei dodged easily, then used Extreme Speed again and again—

One hit per Pokémon!

Compared to the beast below, these Pokémon were far weaker.

It said no more and charged at Ash again!

"Pikachu!!"

Pikachu's Thunderbolt struck…

But did no damage.

The fake Entei unleashed a full-power Eruption!

The intense blast pierced through the Crystal Tower.

Ash shielded Pikachu—

And was blown off the tower!

Hundreds of meters below…

Even with Ash's "Super Pallet Town Physique," the fall would be fatal.

But—

"RAWWR!!"

A fiery orange figure burst from the sky—

Charizard!!

Ash's Charizard had flown all the way from Charicific Valley to save him.

It had seen this "disaster" on TV and come to help!

It roared furiously and lunged at Entei!

"This situation is spiraling out of control…"

From atop the tower, Suicune and the real Entei watched the fierce battle unfold.

The Rainbow Hero—Ash—was riding Charizard, weaving between crystal spires to clash against the phantom Entei.

But that Entei had infinite stamina, being the physical form of Molly's will.

Against regular Pokémon, it simply could not lose.

…Of course, only against regular Pokémon.

"It really is identical to me,"

the real Entei murmured, following the battle with its eyes.

The phantom Entei had already lost once to another Pokémon below.

Which meant…

With enough power, it could be defeated.

All that remained was calming the girl's heart.

"I thought you might consider this a trial for the Rainbow Hero."

"That's not my role," Suicune replied with a soft smile.

Its gaze moved to the broken edge of the tower.

"Look—Is that the source that summoned you?"

Entei turned its head.

Even from this distance, it saw the figure at the shattered window.

The anomalous Entei—

Gouging Fire!

"ROAR!!"

It smashed through the tower wall, crystals raining from the impact.

It slammed its horn upward—

And shattered all the nearby crystal spikes!

"Hmph."

Gouging Fire snorted, crushing the remains beneath its claws.

Hikaru followed behind, floating beside Doublade.

Trapped in the crystal were…

Team Rocket?

"How'd you three get stuck here?"

In the original movie, they'd saved Ash and then disappeared.

But now…

"Because…"

"We came at the wrong time…"

"Ha… ha…"

The trio were jammed into the cracks.

Only after Gouging Fire destroyed the crystal did they escape, sighing in unison.

"We're saved! (x3)!"

"That girl went berserk—soon as we got here, we were trapped!"

Meowth flailed his paws as he explained.

Hikaru turned to the encased Molly.

Even with Hanako trying to calm her:

"Please… remember your real father and mother…"

It didn't seem to help.

Ah, crap.

Hikaru facepalmed.

Maybe he had shattered her "dream."

She didn't even get to enjoy summoning crystal Pokémon—

Her dream was crushed before it began, leaving her more reclusive than in the movie.

So… it's my fault?

"Well, let's comfort her, then."

He had a plan.

A child's heart may be fragile—

But compared to a persecuted Mewtwo who turned into a philosopher,

a little girl should be easier to reach, right?

Children need comfort.

Guidance.

And the chance to understand.

"Doublade. Use Psyblade."

"Yoo~!"

Doublade's eyes glowed—

Psychic threads sliced through the field, cleanly cutting down the crystal spikes.

Each slice left a mirror-smooth finish.

Gouging Fire snorted.

Tch. I could've just smashed it with my horn…

As for the girl?

Whether she survived or not—

Was that really his problem?

"That's ancient thinking. Survival of the fittest doesn't apply anymore."

Hikaru stepped toward the trembling Molly.

She was frozen in fear.

The crystals she created were effortlessly shattered—

That only deepened her terror.

The more unstable her emotions grew, the more the Unown's power spun out of control!

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Giant crystal pillars erupted wildly!

"Don't hurt her!!"

Outside, the fake Entei saw Gouging Fire had reached the top.

It swatted Charizard aside, leapt from a crystal outcrop—

But a blazing blue-white fire dropped from the sky!

BOOM!

A wall of fire blocked its path, melting the crystal walls.

And standing before the fake Entei was…

The real Entei, of the Ho-Oh Guard!

That move was—

Sacred Fire!

"You're… me?!"

For the first time, the fake Entei clearly saw the real one.

The Ho-Oh Guard Entei showed no anger.

Just stared at the fake calmly, with growing sorrow.

"Phantom born from dreams…

Now is not the time to fight."

"The Unown's power is out of control. Even they can't stop it."

"If this continues, the crystal expansion will spread from the grasslands to distant towns."

"The damage… will be unimaginable."

"Who are you?! What are you?!"

The fake Entei trembled, refusing to accept that it was just a fantasy.

Even with the real Entei standing before it, it shouted—

"I'm the real Entei!"

"Is that so?

Then maybe I'll have to show you the truth… through force."

Flames of life flared across the real Entei.

The Sacred Fire, gift of Ho-Oh, merged with its own strength!

A duel began between the two Entei.

Ash, atop Charizard, stared in awe at this wild turn of events.

But then—

The crystal growths suddenly… slowed.

Inside the tower…

Molly, no longer panicked, held a goofy-looking toy.

A Calyrex plushie had been shoved into her hands,

and the fear in her heart began to fade.

Terror dissipated.

She could finally see the people around her clearly.

Hikaru gently placed an orange charm on her neck.

The Charm of Courage.

Both items calmed the mind, eliminated negativity, and awakened positivity.

"Mental strength is something visible.

Even though you're young, this wild phenomenon proves it.

You might have strong potential as a psychic."

He placed a hand on her head, releasing a calming wave of energy.

Doublade also exuded aura energy—

Aura… guide me.

It repeated the chant Hikaru had taught it.

"Everyone's a friend.

Life meets life, and from it, something new is born.

If you go on a journey—

Where would you want to go?"

"You'll meet new people. New Pokémon.

You'll battle, connect, become partners.

Your real parents are alive.

You'll meet them soon.

I won't lie to a child."

Molly blinked.

She gripped the charm tightly.

Though she didn't know this person,

a warm confidence radiated from the amulet—

and she felt it, too.

Time to be brave.

Children don't truly understand "escape"—

They just don't want to accept cruel reality.

So they weave dreams.

But when those dreams shatter,

and they finally look forward…

that moment is called—

Growth.

Now it was Hanako's turn.

As Molly's temporary mother, she held the sobbing girl and gently patted her back.

Her warm words calmed the child, who was finally ready to face reality.

Ash, Misty, and Brock soon gathered around her as well.

Outside the tower, the battle neared its end.

Because Molly had found her courage, her inner darkness was dispelled.

And with it, the fake Entei's power plummeted.

It was cornered by the real Entei.

Its wounds no longer healed instantly.

But it had also… lost the will to fight.

"I lost."

It could feel Molly's change. Her courage affected it too.

As she returned to reality, it finally realized the truth of its own existence.

It was just a phantom.

Born to be a father.

But still… just a fantasy.

How…

How could this be…

"…Is it over?"

A blue figure landed gracefully from another spire.

The fake Entei stared at the newcomer.

It had never seen this Pokémon before.

The real Entei nodded.

"This is Suicune, a fellow member of Ho-Oh's guard."

"We three beasts were born from Lord Ho-Oh's grace.

Once consumed in flames, it was Ho-Oh who revived us,

giving us our mission.

In a way, our desire to protect Lord Ho-Oh

is the same as your desire to protect your daughter."

"So please—

For her sake, help us stop the Unown.

Otherwise, she—and this land—will be in danger!"

ROAR!!

From the broken tower came a mighty roar.

Gouging Fire leapt down, slamming into the earth.

It stepped from the smoke, gaze fierce, eyeing the battered fake Entei.

Tch. So the coward that fled from me before came crawling back?

In our era, Pokémon like you drew every predator for miles.

A perfect lure for the bloodiest hunts.

"…Who are you?"

The real Entei had to ask.

Three Entei now stood side by side:

The real Entei,

The phantom Entei,

And the paradox Entei!

Even calm Suicune couldn't help but grin.

What a rare sight!

Too bad Raikou and Ho-Oh couldn't witness it.

"You and the phantom share a similar power…

But you feel real to me.

Why is that?"

The real Entei asked,

"Earlier, I heard your roar.

It sounded like a dream's echo.

What are you… to me?

To us?"

"Those ancient Johto ruins depicting 'Entei'…

Were they about you?

We look… so alike…"

Heh.

The three of us could form a new Entei Guard.

Swear an oath of brotherhood?

The fake Entei said nothing, only stared at Gouging Fire.

It had wanted that answer for a long time.

"Roar."

Gouging Fire glanced at the real Entei.

This one felt… completely different.

If the phantom's roar was a nightmare,

then this one was like a secret ending in a dream.

A "true me" in another world.

Well then—

Let's get acquainted.

I am the fire dragon from the ancient past.

Humans call me…

Gouging Fire.

"ROAR!"

Enough talk.

Let's end this endless nightmare—together!

(End of Chapter)

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