"How are you feeling Ash?" Casey asked.
"I'm just a bit conflicted, I feel like we should have been there over the night for Molly." Ash sighed.
The two trainers were waiting for Ash's mom and Professor Oak to arrive, Schuyler had managed to get both of them on the first flight here as both were close friends to Doctor Hale.
"Ash, you can't beat yourself up so much, we waited around the mansion for hours but sooner or later we had to leave." Casey reminded.
"We could have spent the night, who knows what Molly is feeling right now though." Ash pointed out.
"Pika!" Pikachu exclaimed, running off.
"Pikachu, where are you… Mom! Professor Oak!" Ash exclaimed, seeing the two from Pallet coming near.
"Ash, I wish we were seeing you in person under better circumstances." Professor Oak said.
"Poor Molly, I can't help but worry about her with all that's happened." Delia said.
"Oh, it's great you're all here!" Schuyler said, running up out of breath.
"Schuyler, I thought we'd be meeting you at the mansion." Ash said.
"There's, a problem, at the mansion." Schuyler said.
"More trouble, what could have happened now?" Ash questioned.
"I wish I could explain, but what happened, it defies all logic." Schuyler said. "Something has attacked the mansion, I think at least.
"Mom, Professor, stay here, we'll check it out real quick." Ash said.
"Wait Ash!" Delia said, stopping her son.
"What is it?" Ash asked.
"Just be careful, please." Delia said worriedly.
"No problem, we'll be back in no time, I'm sure it's nothing." Ash said. "Come on Casey."
"Right." Casey said, the two trainers and Schuyler rushing back towards he mansion.
The trio reached the gates to the mansion in no time, nothing appearing to be off just yet.
"Schuyler, what's the big deal, the gates look the same as they did yesterday." Casey said in confusion.
"It's not the gates, it's what on the other side." Schuyler said, opening the gates to show a strange crystalline structure growing from the mansion.
"What are these?" Ash asked.
"I have no idea, they weren't this far earlier either." Schuyler said worriedly.
"We need to get Molly out, now!" Ash said, racing towards the front doors of the mansion, slamming into them.
"Bayleef, let's help out, use Body Slam!" Casey called out, rushing forward with her starter Pokemon.
Casey, Schuyler, and Bayleef slammed into the door in sync with Ash, breaking the doors open to reveal the grand entrance filled with more of the strange crystals.
"Molly!" Ash called out.
"Go back." A girl's voice said.
"That voice, who said that?" Casey asked.
"Go back where you came from, we're all happy here." The girl's voice said once more.
"Look, up there!" Ash said, seeing a girl in a blue dress.
"Who is that?" Casey asked.
"It's Molly." Schuyler said.
"No, Molly is our age, that girl is…". Ash said. "The same age the last time Molly had her whole family…"
"Wait, that's actually Molly, how?! What could have caused this?" Casey asked.
"Wait, look over there!"
The others looked to see the mansions staff all encased in crystals.
"Oh no, that's terrible!" Schuyler said appalled.
"Molly, you need to let them go!" Ash called out.
"No, we're all happy here, the only ones who need to go are you three!" The girl said angrily, crystals growing towards them rapidly.
"Run." Ash said, pushing Casey and Schuyler out of the way as crystals jutted up from where they were standing.
"Schuyler, is there anything that could have caused this?" Casey questioned.
"Not that I'm aware of. Molly nor the mansion have ever shown signs of this. Ash do you have any ideas?" Schuyler said turning around.
"Wait, where is Ash, did he not make it out?!" Casey asked.
Back inside the mansion
"Come on Molly." Ash struggled as he was raised up. "You, you have to recognize me, after all of our journey's together, and we, we're cousins."
"I don't need you or your journeys, I'm here with Papa and once I have a Mama, we'll be a happy family once again." The girl said.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ash saw creatures similar to the symbols on the tiles, but now real and floating around.
"Molly, please, don't do this." Ash said, trying to keep breathing.
"Why should I let you leave, you weren't welcome here! You left!" The girl shouted.
"We messed up yesterday, I'm sorry but we never meant to hurt you Molly." Ash said. "And I'm sorry if this hurts you too."
"What do you mean?" The girl asked.
"Pikachu, use Thunder over there!" Ash exclaimed.
A blast of electricity sparked through Ash and the crystal, firing towards the symbols floating about, large amounts of crystals redirecting back towards the symbols, protecting them and blocking the attack and freeing the duo.
"Let's go, now!" Ash said, rushing back towards the door. "We need to get mom away from here, this is too dangerous!"
"Mama?" The girl said, as crystals began sprouting out, quickly following Ash.
"Run! Run! Run! Run! Run!" Ash screamed rushing out the doors towards the front gates with Casey and Schuyler already ahead of him as crystals sprouted more and more out from the ground.
The trio barely made it out of the gates before crystals overtook them.
"We need to keep going, this isn't safe here." Ash said, catching his breath.
"And do what?" Casey asked.
"Whatever those symbols were, they're alive." Ash said. "And I have to guess they are causing it."
"So what do we do about it?" Schuyler asked.
"I don't know, but I want to get my mom and Professor Oak out of here, it isn't safe." Ash said.
"I'm sure they'll have an idea." Casey said, following Ash back to the Pokemon Center.
Back at the center
"Ash, Casey, Schuyler, it's great to see all three of you back, has the issue at the mansion been resolved?" Professor Oak asked.
"Where's my mom, something insane is happening, we need to get you out of here." Ash said amidst a panic.
"She just stepped inside, Ash, what is going on here?" Professor Oak asked.
"I'm not sure, but whatever Doctor Hale was researching, it's real and it has Molly." Ash said.
"Something has Molly?" Delia asked in shock.
"Mom, it's not safe, there's these crystals and they're growing and attacking anyone in their path." Ash said. "We need you and Professor Oak to leave now."
"Ash, Molly is our family, you can't just turn your back on her." Delia scolded.
"Mom, you don't get it, this is!" Ash was interrupted by a large thud.
"Ash." Casey said, seeing the Pokemon.
"What is that?!" Ash exclaimed.
"It's an Entei." Schuyler said in shock.
"Great, because we don't have enough problems as it is right now." Ash groaned.
"I am here on behalf of Molly." The Entei said approaching.
"What have you done to her?!" Ash argued.
"Molly will be fine, but she requests her Mama!" Entei roared, stepping forward.
"Her Mama?" Delia said in confusion. "But her mom is…"
"Mom, don't argue with the giant angry Pokemon, just get back inside." Ash said, getting between the Entei and the building. "Pikachu use Thunder!"
Pikachu sent out a burst of electricity, only for it to be engulfed by a purple flame, dissipating the electricity as Entei leapt over Ash and Pikachu.
"Mom!" Ash called out, as the Entei knocked her down before picking her up. "Give me back my mom!"
"Molly's happiness is all I am to do." The Entei said. "You would be best to leave, she does not want to be disturbed." The Entei said, before leaping off back towards the mansion.
"Ash, we'll get her back." Casey said. "We'll figure something out, get help or something."
"I'm going back." Ash said. "I'm going back there right here and now, and I'm not going back until I rescue both Molly and my Mom."
"Ash, how do you even plan on getting through the crystals?" Casey asked. "Bayleef barely could, and none of our Pokemon are stronger than him."
"Not here, but I have one. Professor Oak, Tracey is still at the lab right?" Ash asked.
"Of course, but what is your… I see what your plan is." Professor Oak said.