----
Just as the group finished discussing their next move, Professor Oak received an unexpected email.
There was no sender, no address just a lone message that had somehow bypassed the system's encryption, appearing on his computer as if out of nowhere.
That alone was enough to put Oak on high alert. His systems were top-grade protected by security designed for a Pokémon professor of global renown. Not even elite hackers could slip past unnoticed… and yet, this message had.
He hesitated, then clicked it open.
A video played.
On the screen appeared a young girl no more than six or seven years old. Though her face was still childlike, her words carried a calm, chilling certainty.
> "Daddy and Mommy have come back. I'm really happy now. Everything is perfect just the way it is. Please… don't come in. Don't disturb us."
The video ended.
Silence followed.
In those few seconds, everyone in the room felt the air grow heavy.
"…Did she just say 'Mommy'?" Misty asked, stunned. "She's talking about Mrs. Ketchum, isn't she? But why would she call her mom?"
She frowned. "And what did she mean, her dad is back too? Professor Hale went missing!"
Her eyes slowly drifted to Ash.
Could that little girl Molly actually be his sister? A secret daughter from another family?
Misty shook her head, brushing away the ridiculous thought. She wasn't trying to be lewd just… puzzled. The way Molly had said "Mommy" sounded far too personal.
Still, at the very least, the video confirmed Delia wasn't in danger. She was alive. Just… somewhere else.
Unfortunately, only Kai could truly make sense of the deeper truth. Ash, stunned, could only sit in silence.
---
Later that afternoon, Ash sat alone in the café, completely withdrawn his usual bright energy dulled into silent turmoil.
Kai, watching from afar, knew exactly what was going through his mind. Ash was thinking of how to sneak off and go after his mom without anyone stopping him.
And that's exactly what he tried.
After lunch, while everyone was relaxing, Ash quietly slipped out the front of the Pokémon Center with Pikachu at his side, heading straight for the crystalline field.
He thought he was being stealthy.
But before he could get far, a familiar voice called out from beneath a tree:
"Planning to charge into the crystal forest already?"
Ash stopped in his tracks and spun around. Kai sat casually on a rock nearby, a knowing smile on his face—as if he'd been waiting all along.
Ash blinked. "Kai? What are you doing here? Did you follow me? Are you gonna tell me to go back?"
He looked down. As much as he hated the idea of waiting if Kai insisted… he probably would.
Kai stood up and walked over. "I get how you feel. But rushing in blindly… that's not the answer."
Ash deflated. He knew Kai was right.
He turned to head back only to pause when Kai added:
"But I'm not here to stop you. I'm coming with you."
Ash's eyes widened. "Wait—what!?"
Kai grinned. "You heard me. I'm not letting you go alone. Who knows what kind of danger is in there?"
"Neither are we!"
A voice rang out from behind them.
Misty and Brock ran up the hill, panting from the effort.
"I'm going too!" Misty said, hands on her knees.
"And I'm not missing this!" Brock added.
Kai chuckled. "I figured as much. This was never going to be a solo mission."
"Of course not!" Misty beamed. "No way we'd let Ash go by himself!"
Ash's chest swelled with gratitude. "Thanks, you guys…"
Then Misty glanced around. "Wait, where's Erika? Isn't she coming too?"
Kai shook his head. "She and Marina stayed behind to keep Professor Oak and Officer Jenny occupied. If they knew Ash had slipped away, they'd never let him go. Erika's distracting them so we can move."
Misty's eyes lit up. "Wow, you really planned this out!"
"Don't get carried away," Kai said, lightly flicking her forehead. "Let's get going."
---
The team set off toward the crystal forest.
Even now, it was easy to see why Greenfield was called "the most beautiful place girls wanted to visit." The landscape was filled with golden sunflowers stretching out across the rolling hills. It was breathtaking.
But just ahead, like a scar on paradise, stood the surreal crystalline forest—sharp, geometric, and utterly unnatural.
As they crossed into its borders, the air grew quiet. Too quiet.
The world around them became unnervingly still no wind, no birds, no Pokémon cries. Just the crunch of crystal underfoot and their own tense breathing.
Everywhere they looked, the environment had been frozen plants and trees sealed in translucent crystal, like frozen moments trapped in amber.
Kai stomped on the ground solidly.
Brock kicked at a chunk and winced. "This stuff's hard! If we get trapped in this… we're in serious trouble."
Misty, still jogging beside them, asked the question weighing on everyone's mind. "How are we supposed to fight Entei? That's a Legendary Pokémon!"
Before Kai could answer, Ash beat him to it.
He clenched his fists, eyes focused. "We go all out. If we give it everything we've got, I know we can win!"
Kai nodded. "Ash is right. We're Trainers. No matter how strong a Pokémon is, even a legend, we'll find a way."
----
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