Ash and his companions resolutely set out toward the Crystal Tower.
The sights along the way were alarming. The once vibrant grasslands had been swallowed by eerie purple crystals.
The glittering violet substance spread like a plague, bringing decay to everything it touched.
"We need to take a different route," Ash suddenly said, stopping in his tracks with a serious expression.
Misty asked in confusion, "Why? Wouldn't the main entrance be closer?"
Ash pointed at the constantly expanding crystals.
"These crystals are manifestations of Molly's negative emotions. Forcing our way through from the front will only make things worse."
His eyes swept across the surroundings before finally settling on the river flowing toward the Crystal Tower.
"Follow me. We'll approach from the water side."
Arriving at the riverbank, Ash threw a Poké Ball.
"Come on out, Charizard!"
A flash of red light appeared, and Charizard, fresh from its special training in the Charicific Valley, emerged majestically.
Its body was even more muscular than before, its eyes sharp and fierce, and a powerful aura radiated from its entire body.
Yet in front of Ash, it still obediently lowered its head, allowing him to gently stroke its neck.
"Charizard, please carry us up there," Ash said.
Charizard nodded calmly and carefully allowed the three of them to climb onto its back.
Spreading its powerful wings, it took to the sky and skillfully avoided the crystal obstacles along the way, carrying them toward the upper levels of the Crystal Tower.
After landing on a platform inside the tower, they encountered a new problem.
The passage ahead was completely sealed by thick layers of crystal.
Even worse, the crystals seemed alive. No matter how much damage they suffered, they rapidly regenerated.
"Hold on to me," Ash ordered decisively. Then he looked at Pikachu on his shoulder. "Pikachu, use Iron Tail to break through the crystals!"
Pikachu leaped down agilely. Its tail glowed with metallic light as it accurately shattered the crystal barrier.
At the exact moment new crystals were about to regenerate, Ash used his Aura powers to teleport himself and his companions through the opening.
Pikachu had already crossed to the other side and quickly jumped back onto Ash's shoulder.
As they climbed the spiral staircase, the scenery around them became increasingly surreal.
The steps gradually turned transparent, while floating geometric shapes slowly rotated in midair. The entire space was filled with an otherworldly atmosphere.
"So this is the power of the Unown..." Ash thought in amazement. "No wonder Professor Hale became so fascinated by them."
When the three finally reached the top floor, the sight before them took their breath away.
It looked like something out of a fairy tale.
A soft pink sky was filled with clouds resembling cotton candy. Colorful flowers dotted the lush green grass, creating a sharp contrast with the lifeless crystal wasteland outside the tower.
"How beautiful..." Misty couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
Brock carefully observed their surroundings.
"This should be the ideal world created by the Unown based on Molly's heart."
At that moment, a figure quietly appeared among the flowers.
It was a graceful young woman, and Ash recognized at a glance that she was an older version of Molly.
"I'm going to battle you with Pokémon and defeat all of you!" the girl declared firmly, though a trace of confusion lingered in her eyes.
"Molly, it's me, Ash." Ash tried to awaken her memories. "Don't you remember me?"
The girl coldly shook her head.
"You're not the Big Brother Ash I know. Enough talking. Let's battle!"
Seeing that words were useless, Brock stepped forward.
"Leave this to me. You two keep going."
Ash solemnly took out a metallic item that gleamed in the light.
"Brock, take this Metal Coat. In this world created by thoughts, normal status conditions may not work, and the power of moves might also change. If Onix evolves into Steelix, it might be enough to turn the tide."
Brock accepted the Metal Coat and nodded firmly.
"Don't worry. I'll buy you some time."
After parting with Brock, Ash and Misty continued climbing upward.
However, the scenery changed once again on the next level.
It felt as though they had arrived on a tropical island. The path leading upward floated above a vast blue ocean.
The grown-up Molly appeared once more, with Entei faithfully at her side.
"My turn this time," Misty said without hesitation. "Ash, go on ahead."
Ash glanced worriedly at his companion before finally nodding.
"Be careful."
Alone, Ash finally reached the deepest part of the tower.
There, he saw the true scene.
The young Molly was peacefully asleep in Delia's embrace, while Entei stood guard nearby, watching Ash vigilantly but making no move to attack.
"Molly, I've come to see you," Ash said softly, afraid of waking the sleeping girl.
"I'm sorry. I came too late."
Delia gently shook the girl awake and said tenderly,
"Molly, wake up. Your Big Brother Ash is here."
Molly slowly opened her eyes.
The moment her gaze met Ash's, the entire space within the tower suddenly trembled slightly.
The power of the Unown seemed to be undergoing some kind of change.
And this adventure, which concerned the fate of two families, was finally approaching its decisive turning point.
---
A/N: There is a small setting inconsistency here, so I'd like to explain it.
Normally, Onix evolves into Steelix using a Metal Coat through trading. However, in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Onix can evolve into Steelix simply by using or holding a Metal Coat without trading. I specifically looked this up, so anyone interested can check it themselves.
Since the situation in the story was urgent, I used the latter setting. I'm mentioning this in advance to avoid confusion.
...
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