The sound of booming footsteps approached. The group turned to see the wooden monster striding towards them.
Ash and the others, with no time to rest, quickly released their Pokémon again, attempting to rescue Celebi.
Pikachu, Charmeleon, and Misty's and Brock's Pokémon, charged at Vicious from the flanks. Vicious, naturally, didn't just sit there. He released his Dark Tyranitar and several other Dark Pokémon.
For Ash's group, being cornered by the lake, soaking wet, and with their airship destroyed, there was no retreat.
Now, they had to put everything into this fight. This time, they attacked with their full strength.
The battle instantly spread out from the lakeside into the surrounding area.
Brock even sent out his Onix. Upon appearing, it used its size to grapple with Dark Tyranitar, trying to create an opening for Ash and the others.
Ash didn't waste the opportunity. He and Sammy ran to the base of the wooden monster and began climbing it by hand.
They had planned to sneak up to Celebi amidst the chaos, but halfway up, they were blocked by the Team Rocket trio.
Those three had climbed onto the monster earlier and were now finally making themselves useful.
"Hehe!" Jessie said smugly. "Twerp! If you want to interfere with Lord Vicious, you'll have to get through us first!"
"Damn you, Team Rocket!" Ash yelled, furious and desperate. "Get out of our way!"
"That's impossible!" James said. "In fact, you should hand over Pikachu!"
Old enemies meeting again, words were unnecessary. They started fighting.
However, Ash and Sammy had rushed up empty-handed; their Pokémon weren't with them. The Team Rocket trio, on the other hand, was well-rested, had Meowth with them, and held the high ground. It was an easy position to defend.
Fortunately, Pikachu, seeing Ash in danger, leaped recklessly onto the wooden monster and joined the fray, easing the situation.
Moves flew everywhere; no place was safe.
Erika released her Leafeon to protect herself, Towa, Miku, and White. Those three were without Pokémon and had come to help; she couldn't let them get hurt.
Surveying the entire battlefield, only Natsui had yet to make a move.
In truth, ever since arriving at this village and knowing he would face Celebi, he had been waiting for an opening.
An opening to resolve the situation, send Sammy back to his time, and allow him to catch Celebi.
But the memory was too vague; he only remembered the ending. And the battlefield was chaotic. He hadn't found the right moment to intervene.
Is it now? Or should I wait a bit longer?
If he truly wanted to defeat Celebi, he had countless opportunities and the strength to do so, even with Vicious's Dark Balls.
But then what?
Celebi would surely take Sammy and leave, and it would all be for nothing.
But he couldn't just let this continue. He had to get Celebi out of that monster first.
With that thought, he glanced at Towa's group nearby. Seeing their attention fixed on the battle, he quietly slipped behind a large tree.
Taking a Great Ball from his right pouch, Natsui released the Pokémon inside.
In the next second, an elegant, blue-bodied Pokémon appeared before him.
It was his legendary Pokémon—Suicune!
As the embodiment of the north wind and water, Suicune possessed a miraculous purification ability. In the movie, it was Suicune's appearance that changed the tide, allowing Ash and the others to rescue Celebi and ultimately purify the dark energy controlling it.
Natsui didn't know if another Suicune was nearby.
It was even possible that this Suicune was the one from the movie.
Natsui couldn't gamble on a second one showing up. He had to release his own and let it advance the plot.
Pointing at the wooden monster, Natsui said softly to Suicune, "See that? Celebi is inside. You need to find a way to get it out and purify the dark energy on it. Also, that man nearby has something called a Dark Ball. Do not let that ball control you!"
Suicune nodded, then bounded towards the wooden monster.
Nearby, Towa, Miku, and White were staring nervously at the battlefield. They saw the dire situation but could only worry, unable to help.
Just as they were fretting, an elegant blue shadow flashed past them, leaping into the battle.
When they got a clear look at it, the three were astonished.
The legendary Pokémon Suicune!
Only Erika, seeing Suicune appear, immediately looked for Natsui. Sure enough, she saw him walking casually from the direction Suicune had come.
He nodded at her, confirming it was the one he had captured.
Sending Suicune in... it seems you've finally decided to intervene.
Suicune arrived on the battlefield. As Dark Tyranitar attacked Onix, Suicune leaped onto its back, kicked it down, and then bounded straight for the wooden monster.
Its appearance, of course, attracted Vicious's attention!
"What!? Suicune? This can't be!" Vicious was stunned, but his shock quickly turned to joy. "This is great! I never thought I'd encounter a second rare Pokémon here! You'll be part of my collection too!"
Without hesitation, he grabbed a Dark Ball and threw it at Suicune. But Suicune, already on guard, dodged it easily.
Oh? That sharp?
Vicious frowned. Though surprised at Suicune's caution, the joy of encountering a Legendary Beast overshadowed any suspicion.
His divided attention, focusing on Suicune, naturally weakened his control over Celebi.
On the wooden monster, Pikachu, in a burst of heroism, took out the Team Rocket trio in just a few moves.
Those three didn't get lucky this time. A single Iron Tail from Pikachu knocked them off the monster and into the forest below, where they instantly disappeared.
With the pests gone, Ash and Sammy continued their climb, soon reaching the wooden monster's "mouth."
Looking inside the open maw, they could see Celebi, protected by countless vines.
"Stop it, Celebi!"
"Celebi, don't do this!"
Hearing their voices, Celebi finally noticed them. Its eyes widened, its power flared, and an invisible barrier expanded, pushing Ash and Sammy back.
They nearly fell off the monster but managed to hang on. Though they slid down, they quickly began climbing again.
Not far away, Vicious was focused on catching Suicune. But Suicune dodged left and right, its movements erratic. He threw several Dark Balls, all in vain.
Seeing his supply dwindling, he hesitated.
"Tyranitar, stop messing with those kids' Pokémon! Go deal with that Suicune!"
He had just given the order, but before Dark Tyranitar could move, Vicious heard a noise behind him. He looked back and saw the two kids had snuck up on him!
Damn it! Why are these kids so annoying!
He was furious. He had never encountered an opponent as tenacious as Ash. An ordinary trainer would never climb up him like a monkey. Only someone like Ash would do such a thing, risking everything to save a Pokémon.
And he had even influenced the serious Sammy to do the same!
"Celebi, get rid of them!"
But his command came too late. Ash and Sammy had already crawled into the monster's mouth, navigating the vines to reach Celebi.
Staring at the darkness-shrouded Celebi, Ash shouted, "Celebi, don't listen to him! Remember your true self!"
Ash used the powerful "Awakening" and "Recall" commands. They were super effective.
Hearing their calls, the dark energy around Celebi surged violently. Through its briefly clear eyes, they could see Celebi's mind wavering.
Seeing this, Ash and Sammy were overjoyed. They quickly reached out, grabbed Celebi's body, and tried to pull it free!
This pull caused Celebi's spirit to fluctuate, and the wooden monster began to shake uncontrollably.
Vicious, standing on top, lost his balance and had to grab onto the weeds at his feet to avoid being thrown off.
This change caught everyone's attention.
Misty and Brock, seeing this, realized Ash and Sammy must have done something. Their morale surged, and they intensified their attacks on the Dark Pokémon.
Without Vicious's commands, his Dark Pokémon reverted to simple tools of destruction. With Suicune's help, they were quickly defeated, and the tide of the battle turned instantly.
"You detestable brats!"
By the time Vicious realized what was happening, his Dark Pokémon were all down. He gritted his teeth in hatred.
But that wasn't the worst of it. The Dark Ball on his vest that controlled Celebi suddenly began to smoke and tremble, as if about to explode.
"This... this is impossible!"
In his alarm, he grabbed the Dark Ball. In that instant, it exploded in his hand. With a puff of smoke, Celebi was completely freed from his control.
"No!!!"
He barely had time to scream before the wooden monster beneath him disintegrated. He felt the ground give way, and he fell along with the debris.
At the same time, Ash and Sammy, inside the monster, were lifted by Celebi's power, floating safely down to the ground.
Rumble... rumble...
The giant wooden monster collapsed in an instant. The scattering debris forced Misty and the Pokémon to flee to avoid being hit.
When the dust settled, Vicious was nowhere to be seen, only wreckage.
Is it over?
Seeing this outcome, everyone except Natsui found it hard to believe.
Just moments ago, Vicious had the upper hand. How did the situation reverse so suddenly?
Before they could think, they saw Celebi land gently on the ground with Ash and Sammy. Misty and the others immediately forgot about Vicious and rushed over.
Towa, Miku, and White also approached, wide-eyed. Although Arborville was at the forest's entrance, this was the first time the guardians had seen the true guardian of the forest in person.
This... this is Celebi?
It's so... so beautiful, so incredible!
While the others crowded around Celebi, Natsui stood back, scanning the ruins.
He knew Vicious couldn't be defeated that easily. It might look calm now, but Vicious's final, desperate move was coming.
However, he didn't alert the others. They were at the climax. Every step from here on would influence his own chance to catch Celebi.
Suicune walked over to Natsui. Although Natsui wanted to avoid revealing his legendary Pokémon in front of others, it was his Pokémon. After defeating Dark Tyranitar, it naturally returned to his side.
By now, both it and Raikou had accepted their fate and acknowledged Natsui as their trainer.
Even with this chance, they wouldn't think of escaping.
This was the insidious result of gradual acceptance. Once they accepted this "setting," they would, like the Legendary Birds, only know to fight for this man on his future journeys, never to return to their former lives.
But before Natsui could see Vicious reappear, a shocked shout came from Ash's group.
Puzzled, Natsui walked over and saw Celebi's body visibly shriveling. Its spirit was fading rapidly, and its breathing grew weak.
"Wh... what's happening!?" Ash shouted, staring at Celebi with wide, unbelieving eyes.
Natsui only needed one glance to see the problem. "It must be power overexertion, combined with the strain of breaking free from the Dark Ball. The dark energy's backlash is hitting it. If we don't find a way to heal it, its life is in danger!"
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