"You want to have a Pokémon battle with me?" Ash asked.
Molly nodded happily. "Yep! Not just you, your friends too. I want to play with all of you, lots and lots!"
They all looked at each other, and Ash held up a finger as he reached into his bag. "Uh, give us a second here." Ash grabbed a random lollipop that he usually gave to Clefairy and handed it to Molly before the gang went into a huddle.
Molly took the lollipop and happily put it in her mouth, completely ignoring how they were having a conversation just five feet away from her. She was still a child, after all.
Entei just watched, unmoving. If Molly didn't want him to attack, he wouldn't. If Molly didn't want him to listen to their plan, he wouldn't. He existed only to make Molly happy.
In the huddle, they were talking among themselves about the situation and what they should do. After some whispered discussions and a few nods of agreement, they looked up to see Molly happily waiting for them.
Brock was the first to stand up. "I think we should be the ones to battle you first. After all, you want to save the best for last, right?"
Misty nodded and joined in. "Yeah, and I'm sure you want your battle with your brother to be the bestest one ever, right~?"
"So, we'll play with you first, if that's okay," Yellow added.
No, they weren't admitting Ash was the strongest among them, even though they could win their battles against him sometimes when they train together. But right now their goal was to divert Molly's attention away from Ash so he could move on, and it was working.
Molly clapped her hands. "Wow, you're all right! You're all so smart! Yeah, let's play! Then I'll have the bestest battle with my Onii-chan!"
They all nodded, and Ash went to the stairs. "And Molly, I'll be waiting with Mom, okay? But don't rush have as much fun as you want," he said with a forced smile as he started running up the stairs.
Brock and Misty gulped but figured they should at least be able to stall. If Ash could get to the so-called Unown, then this whole nightmare dream world would be over.
Misty stepped forward confidently. "Okay, so which one of us will you battle first? You have to fight us one at a time; there's only one of you, after all."
Molly thought for a moment, putting her finger to her chin. "Hmm, good point. Who do I play with first? Ugh, the choice is so hard! If only I could play with all three of you. Oh, wait!"
Molly smiled and suddenly began performing what could only be described as mitosis. She split, and standing next to the 16-year-old Molly was now an adult 18-year-old Molly and a 10-year-old Molly.
The three Mollys laughed. "Now we can battle all three of you!" they said in unison.
Brock gave a side-eye to Misty but said nothing as he looked forward. Misty slapped her face. "Why do I talk…"
Misty pointed at Yellow. "Yellow, once we get out of this, I want you to slap me."
"W-w-what? N-no, I can't slap you. You're my friend!" Yellow stammered.
Misty put her hands on Yellow's shoulders. "No, I deserve it. I opened my mouth, and this happened. So you need to slap me. Promise me you'll do it."
"C-can't you ask Ash to do it?" Yellow said quietly.
"Are you crazy? Ash will slap me so hard he'll kill me," Misty said, slightly shaking Yellow. "But I trust you, so promise me. Promise me!"
"Okay, okay, I promise," Yellow managed to stammer out. "Just please stop shaking me."
"Thank you. Now let's do this," Misty said as she looked back at Molly, who was patiently waiting for them.
"Okay, you're done? Okay, okay! Let's play!" the three Mollys said in unison.
Misty, Brock, and Yellow grabbed Pokéballs and got ready.
Meanwhile, Entei looked up, his eyes glowing blue as he prepared something for Ash.
—-
Ash was running up the stairs. Even though the battle his friends were having wouldn't change a thing, he didn't have much confidence in their chances.
It wasn't that they were weak—they were strong. Every now and then, when they sparred, they would overpower him. The problem was Molly. In this world, she controlled everything. If she didn't want to lose, she wouldn't. She could be as strong as she wanted and keep getting stronger.
Basically, imagine those kids on the playground who, when you played with them, would give themselves overpowered abilities. Like, you hit them with your laser eyes, but suddenly they had laser-proof underwear—playground levels of BS, but only this time it's not pretend.
Her Pokémon had a type disadvantage? No, they didn't fire has always resisted fire. Her Pokémon were weaker? Nope, they were just holding back. A child's imagination could conjure up countless ways to ensure they always win.
The only one Ash had any faith in was Yellow. Her powers were similar in nature to Molly's dream power: as long as Yellow wanted to get stronger, she would. The problem was, that Yellow couldn't control it. It just happened when it happened.
Ash shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it. He put his hand to his temple and sent a message through his Aura to Abra.
"[Abra, you there?]"
"[I'm right here, Sect Master!]" Abra responded.
Ash was genuinely taken aback. This was the first time he'd heard Abra talk like this. He had no idea she was a chunibyo, "[Why are you talking like that?]"
"[Talking like what, Master? I am simply speaking as I always have. By the way, I am nearing my breakthrough tribulation—it is only to be expected of the jade beauty of our sect!]"
Ash rubbed his eyes and was about to send another message when he felt something incoming. He jumped back just in time as a burst of fire scorched the spot where he'd been standing. Looking up, he saw a Houndoom, Mantine, and Bellossom approaching him—= all made of crystal.
He knew that this was probably Entei's doing to stall him, he clenched his teeth but he realized that if these were made by Entei, not Molly, it meant they could be beaten.
Ash grabbed three Pokéballs from his belt and tossed them into the air, releasing Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile. "Guys, take care of those three!"
Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile nodded and got into position, or at least tried to. Cyndaquil took a few seconds before finally igniting his flames. Chikorita nuzzled against Ash's leg instead of focusing. Meanwhile, Totodile... was dancing.
Ash resisted the urge to slap his face. You might wonder why Ash sent out these weaker Pokémon instead of a heavy hitter like Venusaur, who could probably take down all three of them. The reason was stamina. Ash knew these three wouldn't be much help against Entei or even the Unown, so it was better to use them to handle the smaller threats and save the stamina of his heavy hitters.
Ash waved his arm and pointed at the three Pokémon. "Focus! This is a battle—get serious!"
At the sound of Ash's commanding tone, his Pokémon instinctively straightened their backs. They nodded in unison, turned to face their crystalline opponents, and prepared themselves for the fight.
As the battle began, Ash reconnected with Abra through Aura, "[I don't have time for this right now. We'll talk later. Can you get to me yet?]"
"[Forgive me, Sect Master, but I cannot. There is a Heavenly Demon Sacred Barrier of the Earth Realm covering everything. I cannot teleport to you,]" Abra replied.
Ash sighed. "[Fine. Be ready at any moment. I might be able to help you breakthrough. And get him down here when I give the signal.]"
As Ash spoke, a stray [Razor Leaf] from the crystalline Bellossom ricocheted toward him. He ducked just in time. Chikorita punished the Bellossom immediately with a decisive [Take Down].
"[Understood, Sect Master. I'll stand by. Until then, I will continue to cultivate!]" Abra said.
Ash cut off the communication and shifted his stance, focusing on the battle in front of him. "Let's do this, you crystal clones," he said under his breath.
—-
{Meanwhile}
Brock and Misty were locked in a losing battle. Brock was up against the adult Molly, while Misty faced the 16-year-old version of her. Molly had sent out a crystal Teddiursa and a Phanpy to battle their weaker Pokémon: Brock's Zubat and Misty's Poliwag.
At first, they thought it would be an easy fight, but they couldn't have been more wrong. The crystal Pokémon were far stronger than they anticipated, overwhelming their team at every turn.
Meanwhile, Yellow... was in a different kind of predicament. Molly, with the Unown's help, had sensed Yellow's hesitance. Yellow didn't see Pokémon battles as "fun," especially with someone like Molly, who treated her Pokémon like toys rather than friends. To Yellow, battling only made sense when her Pokémon needed or wanted to fight.
As soon as the battle began, the room shifted. The crystalline walls moved, separating Yellow from Misty and Brock. The child Molly phased through the wall to join her, leaving Yellow isolated.
Back in the main battle, Brock was bracing himself as Zubat was hurled into a crystal wall. Though still standing, it was clearly hurting.
"This is ridiculous! What are we supposed to do?!" Brock shouted.
Misty clenched her fists as Poliwag took a devastating hit from Rollout, sending it spiraling across the room and nearly out a window. "It's like nothing we do works! Every attack either gets shrugged off or healed with some random power-up!"
The two Mollys laughed gleefully, clearly unaware of the frustration they were causing Brock and Misty, "This is fun! Let's keep playing lots and lots!" one Molly cheered, as the crystal Teddiursa and Phanpy giggled in sync.
Brock gritted his teeth. "If this is what's happening to us, I don't even want to imagine what's happening to Yellow."
"Yeah," Misty agreed. "She must be having an even worse time than us. I just hope she's okay..."
—-
{Meanwhile, with Yellow}
Yellow sat stiffly in a chair, wide-eyed and shocked. The 10-year-old Molly stood beside her, carefully pouring her a cup of tea. All of Yellow's Pokémon were either playing around the room or happily munching on snacks Molly had provided.
Molly handed Yellow the tea with a bright smile. "Soooo, come on! Let's keep playing tea time!"
"E-eh, o-oh, thank you!" Yellow stammered, taking the tea cautiously. She glanced down at the toy teacup, which somehow refilled itself magically. "U-um, you know, when I used to play this, we just imagined the tea..."
Molly giggled. "That's silly! Why pretend when we can have real tea? So let's play lots more!"
"U-uh, o-okay," Yellow stammered again, taking a small sip. She was wondering if everyone else was having as easy of a time as she is.
—--
Brock and Misty shuddered at the thought of what could be happening to Yellow without them there to protect her.
"We need to do something soon," Brock said, his voice firm as he waved his arm to give a command. "Zubat, [Supersonic]!"
"But what's the point?!" Misty countered, her frustration boiling over. "We aren't doing anything to them, and this is just a game—a game we're stuck playing!" Still, she gave her own command. "Poliwag, [Bubble Beam]!"
Zubat's [Supersonic] hit both Teddiursa and Phanpy, leaving them momentarily dazed. The opening allowed Poliwag's [Bubble Beam] to strike, the burst of bubbles catching both opponents and sending them flying.
For a brief moment, it felt like a victory, until the crystalline Pokémon landed. The 16-year-old Molly clapped her hands and giggled. "That was so fun! Too bad it didn't really do much."
Misty's patience snapped. She pointed an accusatory finger at the teenage Molly. "No! That was a Water-type move! At least that Phanpy should've taken serious damage, it's Ground-type!"
The adult Molly chuckled, wagging a finger as though scolding a child. "Nope! Don't be silly. Ground types have always resisted Water. See?"
As if on cue, the Phanpy stood up, shook its crystalline body like a dog shaking off water, and looked no worse for wear.
Misty's face turned red with frustration, a vein visibly pulsing on her temple. Before she could erupt, Brock placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Hey, Misty. I think I know how we can win," he said.
"What?" Misty asked, her tone incredulous. Even Entei, who had been lounging indifferently, seemed mildly intrigued by Brock's words.
"I've figured out how this place works," Brock whispered, pulling Misty in closer. "If I'm right, I have a plan," he said as he whispered his plan into her ear.
Misty's eyes widened as she listened. "You really think that'll work?"
"Do you have a better idea?" Brock replied, his voice tinged with hopelessness.
Misty sighed, placing her hands on her knees as she steadied herself. "I guess not. Let's do this... I just hope Ash and Yellow are okay on their side."
The pair steeled themselves as the two Mollys beamed with excitement, sensing the game was far from over. Their enthusiasm, however, was lost on Entei, who seemed preoccupied, staring at something unseen in the distance.
The battle was far from over, and the stakes—real or imagined—felt heavier with every passing second.
—-
{Back with Ash}
Under Ash's command, Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile began pushing back against the crystalline Houndoom, Mantine, and Bellossom. The opponents' wild, uncoordinated attacks gave Ash's team the upper hand.
"This is it!" Ash shouted, seizing the momentum. "Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, get ready to use-"
Before he could finish, another voice rang out, calm and commanding, cutting through the chaos.
"Houndoom, [Fire Spin]. Mantine, [Whirlpool]. Bellossom, [Petal Dance]."
The shift was immediate. The once-chaotic Pokémon suddenly moved in perfect unison. Houndoom and Mantine unleashed their moves, fire, and water swirling together to form a dangerous vortex that caged Ash and his Pokémon. Bellossom spun gracefully at the center, her glowing petals cutting through the air, striking like a relentless storm of knives.
Ash grimaced as the relentless barrage forced him to shield his face. "What the? Who gave that command?!" he shouted.
Ash furrowed his brow as he looked around to see who did it, then walking through the water and fire, came someone very familiar, him, or at least it looked like him.
The crystalline doppelgänger smirked, his every movement unnervingly familiar.
The Crystal Ash looked at him and smiled, as Ash frowned, "So what, are you Entei too, or is this one the Unown?"
The fake Ash tilted his head, his smile widening mockingly. "Entei? There is no Entei. I am whatever Molly wishes me to be. If she wants a brother, I am her brother. If she desires a father, then I will be her father. And you?" He sneered. "She doesn't need you anymore."
Ash's Pikachu bristled with electricity, ready to jump into the fray, but Ash held up a hand to stop him. "Not yet, buddy. We need to figure this out first."
The fake Ash chuckled, his expression darkening. "You're nothing but a pest. Molly has no use for you. And now, I'll make sure she never has to see you again."
Ash narrowed his eyes, and gave a mocking smile "What's the matter? Still hurting from the beating I gave you earlier?" he taunted with a smirk.
The doppelgänger's grin faltered, his brows knitting into a scowl. "You'll regret those words," he spat, raising his hand. Crystals surged and twisted, gathering like a storm around him.
Ash's own eyes began to glow faintly blue as he steadied himself, his Aura sparking to life. "You can try," he said, his voice calm but laced with defiance. "But now that you're here, I'll prove to you that you're not as invincible as you think."