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Although Ash had never seen Entei before, the moment the majestic Pokémon appeared, its imposing presence sent a chill down his spine. He instinctively pulled out his Pokédex and scanned it.
> Pokédex: "Entei, the Volcano Pokémon. Fire-type. A Legendary Pokémon is said to embody the passion of magma. Some believe it was born from a volcanic eruption. It is known to run across the land uncontrollably, unable to contain the lava-like power within. According to legends, Entei is one of three Pokémon resurrected by Ho-Oh. Its flames are said to be hotter than molten magma, capable of incinerating anything in its path."
"Entei!?" Ash and the others, Misty, Brock, and Marina, sprang to their feet so fast they knocked over their chairs.
None of them, aside from Kaichad, expected to see the Entei, a legendary beast of the Johto region, standing right before them.
Why was it here?
That unspoken question hung heavy in the air, but no one dared to act recklessly. One wrong move might provoke the creature.
Kai, however, remained calm. Having already captured the three Legendary Birds of Kanto, he was far more composed in the face of power like this.
As he watched Entei intently, he noticed something strange.
Wherever Entei stepped, crystals bloomed beneath its paws just like in the movie. This wasn't a natural Entei it was one conjured by the Unown, a guardian forged from Molly's desires.
While everyone stood frozen in stunned silence, someone broke formation.
Delia Ketchum, for reasons unknown even to herself, stepped forward. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was her maternal nature. Or maybe she felt, as the oldest among them, she had to take responsibility.
She raised her voice, facing Entei directly. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
The others barely had time to react her movement had been too sudden.
It was as if Entei had come just for her and she'd unknowingly stepped into the role fate had written for her.
Entei's deep voice echoed in the air, surprisingly calm:
"Mother… You are Mother."
Everyone stared.
Before they could process the meaning, Entei's eyes flashed with a hypnotic glow. A beam of light hit Delia and she froze, entranced.
Then, with a single bound, Entei leaped to her side, gently lifted her unconscious form, and took off into the distance.
"MOM!!"
Ash shouted, bolting after them but Entei was too fast. With just a few leaps, it was already bounding toward the massive crystalline spire in the distance, disappearing into the surreal crystal forest.
Ash reached the edge of the crystallized terrain and was about to charge in when Brock grabbed him.
"Let me go, Brock!"
Ash struggled, but Brock held firm, unmoving like a stone statue. The strength of Pallet Town's hot-headed prodigy was no match for Pewter City's grounded wall.
"Wait, Ash!" Brock grunted, holding him back. "We don't know what's in there! We don't know if those crystals are dangerous! If you go running in and get crystallized—what good will that do your mom!?"
"…But…"
Kai stepped forward, his expression calm, though his heart was stirred. He knew how this story played out. Delia wouldn't be harmed. Still, he didn't share everything.
He placed a hand on Ash's shoulder. "Don't worry. The Legendary Beasts of Johto Entei, Suicune, and Raikou they're not violent by nature. They're nothing like the temperamental Legendary Birds of Kanto. Entei must have a reason for taking her. I don't think she's in danger."
At that moment, Kai felt the Poke Balls on his belt trembling clearly, his captured birds didn't appreciate the comparison.
"…Really?" Ash asked, hesitating.
Kai nodded.
Truthfully, if it had been his own mother taken, Kai knew he wouldn't have stayed this calm. But his foresight let him play the role of reassurance.
Erika arrived just then, slightly out of breath, but equally composed. "Kai is right," she said, resting a hand on Ash's back. "This isn't the time for rash decisions. Entei is a legendary Pokémon it won't do anything without reason. And we still don't know what's inside the crystal forest. Right now, the smart move is to regroup with Professor Oak. Maybe he's discovered something useful."
Moments like these were when Kai realized the difference between Erika and Sabrina.
If Sabrina had been here, she would've silently followed him, offering no advice and no emotional support.
But Erika? She thought ahead, stayed grounded, and helped him see options he might've overlooked. Traveling with her brought clarity.
Ash clenched his fists. His instincts screamed to chase after Entei. But with everyone urging caution, he had no choice but to bite back his emotions.
He took a deep breath and turned around, following the others back to the Pokémon Center though he glanced back at the forest every few steps.
As they walked, Kai contacted Professor Oak and explained the situation.
When they reached the Pokémon Center, Oak was just returning from the crystal site himself.
In one of the rest areas, Oak listened carefully as they recounted what had happened. His expression grew grave, but his stance matched Kai's.
"Entei… Here, of all places?" he murmured. Then he looked at Ash. "Don't worry. Legendary Pokémon rarely act without purpose. If Entei took your mother, there's a reason and it's not to harm her."
Ash looked down, fists clenched but nodded.
"Professor," he asked, "what did your investigation turn up?"
Oak pulled up his portable computer and brought up the data.
"The crystal structure doesn't seem harmful to humans or Pokémon," he explained. "So far, there's been no indication of toxic effects. That said, it's still dangerous. The growth is slowing, but it's not stopping, and navigating through it on foot would be extremely risky."
He glanced toward Officer Jenny, who stood nearby with crossed arms.
"Fortunately," Oak continued, "Jenny has arranged for heavy-duty excavation equipment. A path through the crystal forest is being cleared. By tonight, we'll be able to reach the estate directly."
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