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"Mommy, it's me, it's Molly!" Delia, brought into the crystal tower, successfully met Molly. Finally, she confirmed Molly was safe and sound, and breathed a sigh of relief. She remembered that Professor Spencer Hale's wife, Molly's birth mother, had gone missing several years ago. These past few years, Spencer Hale had been solely juggling his research work and meticulously caring for his young daughter, which was truly arduous. Delia gently held Molly in her arms. Now, her task was to take good care of Molly, awaiting her son to resolve the entire incident. Cradled in Delia's arms, Molly happily and contentedly fell asleep. Entei, whom she called Daddy, quietly guarded them. Entei was born to make Molly happy!
At the very top of the crystal tower, countless Unown rotated, jumped, and... crystallization was continuously spreading. "Professor Spencer Hale's disappearance, the spread of the crystal tower, and Entei's appearance—the root of everything lies with the Unown!" After investigation, Professor Oak finally reached a conclusion. These Unown were precisely Professor Spencer Hale's research subject.
"Professor Oak, let's not talk about that yet! Ash warned me before he fainted that we absolutely must not recklessly touch those crystals. Please hurry and stop those people!" Behind Professor Oak, Brock and Misty looked at the gradually setting sun outside the window, growing anxious. Because human machinery was already in place, poised to clear away the continuously spreading crystals in the Green Meadow. Ash, having given a special warning before he fainted, must have known something. But now, even Professor Oak couldn't stop them. The machinery began its work, and large sections of crystals were destroyed.
However, Molly, who viewed the crystal tower as her home, seeing the crystals being destroyed, felt her emotions fluctuate again. The Unown, sensing Molly's negative emotions, suddenly went wild! The spread of crystals erupted dramatically, and countless crystal pillars suddenly shot out from the ground, instantly overturning all the machinery. Fortunately, all the staff managed to escape, otherwise they might have been crystallized along with the machinery. Seeing this scene, everyone's faces turned grim!
"Has Ash not woken up yet?" Professor Oak suddenly turned to Brock and Misty. However, they shook their heads, disheartened. "Not yet. Pikachu is with Ash, never leaving his side." No sooner had Brock spoken than Ash's voice came from outside the door. "Brock, Misty, I'm fine now. Has Charizard arrived?" Brock and Misty quickly rushed forward. Misty helped Ash up, and Brock quickly handed him Charizard's Poké Ball. Besides Charizard, Ash had also just contacted Tracey and had his five strongest Pokémon with the highest bond values sent over. Apart from Pikachu and Snorlax, who were always with Ash, there was Charizard, specially sent from Charicific Valley. There were also Bayleef, Houndour, and the first "General," Wartortle, who had just evolved for Ash.
Pikachu: 220/255
Charizard: 255/255
Snorlax: 220/255
Bayleef: 200/215
Wartortle: 200/215
Houndour: 170/200
Originally, Ash's Heracross had higher compatibility, already close to its peak, but its bond value wasn't there yet. Also, considering they were facing Psychic-type Unown this time, the Dark-type Houndour would definitely be helpful. Moreover, this Alpha Houndour was about to evolve! Simply put, this was the strongest team Ash could assemble right now. He would bring his strongest backup to rescue his mom and little sister Molly!
"Oh, right, Brock, Misty, Mika, Professor Oak, how many empty Poké Balls are there here?" There was no time to prepare. Everyone pulled out their empty Poké Balls. Combined with Ash's few, there were exactly 28.
"Ash, what are you planning to do?" Professor Oak looked at Ash, who had stuffed all the Poké Balls into his backpack, and couldn't help but frown with concern. Ash looked up at Professor Oak. "Professor, I'm going to rescue my mom!"
"Ash, I'll go with you!"
"Me too!"
As travel companions, Brock and Misty immediately offered to go along. They could still provide Ash with some help! But Ash refused. "Misty, Brock, this time, I'll go alone!"
"If that's the case, Ash, take this. Keep in contact with us here!" Mika handed Ash a strange device. It was a mobile communication device. Taking the item, Ash bowed to Professor Oak and resolutely turned and walked out of the Pokémon Center!
"Charizard, I choose you!"
Charizard's figure once again appeared before Ash. It was very excited to see Ash. "Buddy, I need your strength again!" Ash leaped onto Charizard's back, and with a flap of its wings, they flew towards the crystal tower. Looking at his retreating figure, Brock and Misty stood behind Professor Oak. "Ash, he's grown to a height we can no longer reach!" In their recent travels, they had increasingly struggled to keep up with Ash's pace. When capturing Houndour, they could only run behind Ash.
"That little kid who was late even to pick up his first Pokémon has grown so reliable!" Looking at Ash's retreating back, Professor Oak felt a deep sense of satisfaction.
...
"Is that...? Charizard?" Ash didn't know, and even if he did, he wouldn't care. His high-profile action of riding Charizard was once again captured by reporters and live-streamed. Molly, Delia, and Entei, inside the crystal tower, could naturally see him through the network.
"Daddy, Mommy, it seems someone is trying to break into our home!" Molly seemed to find the figure somewhat familiar.
"That kid again!" Entei stood up. "I'll go chase him away!"
Delia, however, looked at Ash on the screen and introduced him to Molly, "Molly, you forgot! That's Big Brother Ash! You used to follow him around, calling 'Big Brother Ash, Big Brother Ash' non-stop!" Not only that, Delia had long noticed their group photo on the table, pointing to Molly and Ash in it. "Look, that's Big Brother Ash!"
"Big Brother Ash?" Molly tilted her head, making a cute thinking gesture. After all, she was a child, and some memories with time gaps had already become a bit hazy.
"Ah, it's Big Brother Ash!" Finally, she seemed to remember. "Mommy, Big Brother Ash is riding Charizard, and Pikachu! Does he have other Pokémon too?" Hearing that it was Molly's acquaintance, and sensing Molly's heart seemed very happy, Entei lay down again, disregarding the situation.
"That's right, Big Brother Ash has many Pokémon! He's a man who will become a Pokémon Master!" Delia's heart was filled with pride as she spoke of her son.
"Pokémon Master!" Hearing this term, Molly seemed to get excited. "Daddy, Mommy, I want to have a Pokémon battle with Big Brother Ash! Can I?"
"Of course, Molly, whatever you wish!"