Pocket monsters: the sonic adventures

by duel king sonic

A new journey begins for Sonic across the pokemon world and regions. This new path walked by Sonic and his trusted partner raichu, often joined by their friends, contains many challenges, new loyal allies, just as many deadly enemies, a complicated rivarly with Ash Ketchum as well as personal quest of self-discovery and improvement and the pursuit of a dream Sonic never knew he had

56. special chapter 3

Special chapter; Spell of the unown

It was a nice warn day in the small Johto town if Greenfield. People were walking the streets as usual, talking gently to their friends and acquaintances. Pokemon were running around town, playing and looking for something to eat, like berries from one of the many trees found in the many beautiful gardens of Greenfield.

On one of the many streets of Greenfield, teeming with life walked a father with his young daughter, no more than 5 years old.

"It is such a nice day today" the father thought smiling while holding his daughter's hand.

"Good morning professor Hale. And good morning to you to little Molly" the gentle voice of the town baker, mrs Carter greeted them.

"Good morning mrs Carter" professor Spencer Hale greeted her as well.

"Good morning" Molly said with a big, gentle smile on her face.

"Are you doing well today professor?"

"Just fine, thank you" professor Hale answered.

Mrs Carter then offered a cookie to Molly before she and her father continued their morning stroll through town.

While visiting the local park, professor Hale watched Molly play with a wild but friendly sentret. The smile and look of pure joy in his daughter's face gave the professor a feeling if pure happiness.

"If only you were here to witness this my love" he though thinking of his wife.

He looked at the sky as he recalled her. Lucy Katsuya Hale. His life's one true love.

Although painful he allowed his mind to take a trip down memory lane.

He remembered the day he met her, a young inexperienced archeologist in his group of researchers who studied the Pokemon known as unown. He remembered as her stunning beauty had him not paying attention to what his colleagues would say. To be more accurate she was the only thing he remembered from that day, though one weird last name from one of his colleagues from that day had stuck to his mind.

"The echidna" professor Hale thought "what a strange last name"

As their work progressed Spencer found himself less and less willing to continue rejecting his feelings for Lucy until he spontaneously asked her out and she accepted.

What followed was the best 8 years of his life. 5 of them living in his mansion with his wonderful wife. The other 3 were the first 3 years of their daughter Molly. Her arrival had completed their happiness.

Spencer and Lucy had of course continued their work on the unown but Lucy knew how to keep the balance between work and family, keeping Spencer balanced in his life.

But like all beautiful things it wasn't meant to last.

During the beginning of the 4th year as parents, Lucy disappeared. She had planned to take a trip to the ruins of alph to explore the catacombs. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary. She knew the catacombs very well having traversed them countless times before.

But days passed and she no longer gave any life signs. Organized search teams sweeped the top to bottom but not one clue was found.

Lucy had disappeared from the face of the earth.

And Spencer of course took the news the hardest.

For the first 6 months he was almost entirely at the ruins of alph, traversing the catacombs himself. He couldn't believe his wife would just get lost.

He also didn't know what he feared more; not ever finding out what happened to her or finding out.

It was only at the beginning of the 7th month when he was about to leave for the ruins again, when he realized he had to let go.

Molly had begged him not to go. She was so young and although she couldn't quite comprehend the entirety of the situation, she could understand one thing.

Her mom wasn't coming home.

"Please don't go Papa" her innocent begging voice echoed through Spencer's mind in the present.

Spencer had realized in that very moment that there was no other way. Molly was the last part of Lucy remaining. And she was his little girl. All he had left in their world.

From that day forward, Spencer stopped actively researching the ruins of alph and had become a stay at home parent while also writing a book about the unown with all the facts he and his team had discovered through their research.

The book ended up becoming a best seller, allowing them to maintain the mansion and for Spencer to spend time with Molly. But on the back of his mind was always his missing wife.

When it was time to go home, Molly was sad to part ways with sentret.

"Papa I'm going to miss it" she had said, clearly saddened.

Spencer caressed Molly on the head.

"You and it will find each other again one day. You're friends now right?"

Molly managed to smile.

"Right".

That same evening, back in the mansion, Molly was getting ready for bed.

"Papa can you read me a bedtime story?"

Spencer nodded his head smiling although his heart ached; bedtime stories were usually told to Molly by Lucy.

He picked up one of the books from the shelf titled Legends of Johto. The professor was at first planning to tell his daughter the story of Ho-oh and the beasts but at the last moment chose another legend. The stories of the unown.

Molly listened to the stories about the unown with great interest before asking what they were.

"They are legendary pokemon Molly".

"Legendary?" Molly asked fascinated.

"Yes. Very few people have actually seen them. They have been a great mystery for hundreds of years" Spencer explained "in this book, the artist imagined what some of them might look like".

"They are what you and mama have been looking for, right?"

"Yes we…" he stopped momentarily to regain his composure. Talking about Lucy even to Molly was an incredibly painful task.

"We have been searching for them for… for a long time now".

"This one looks funny".

"That is Entei. One of the three legendary Pokemon saved by the mighty Ho-oh after the fire. Entei is believed to have a connection to the unown".

Molly looked at the picture of the ferocious legendary beast.

"Entei looks a little scary to me" Molly admitted.

"But you like Entei. Entei's big and strong but still nice".

"Just like you Papa".

Spencer's heart was filled with warmth at his daughter's words. Especially after how hard Lucy's disappearance had affected them.

"I'm like Entei huh? Imagine that" he commented "well then I AM Entei!"

"You're Entei!" Molly said excited.

The two of them played for a few moments, with Spencer pretending to be Entei and Molly riding him.

Afterwards it was bedtime for Molly. Spencer covered her with the blanket and kissed her in the forehead.

"Goodnight sweetie".

"I love you Papa".

Spencer smiled.

"I love you too" he answered before closing the door.

Hale then made his way back to his room, intending to go to sleep as well.

Entering his room he was about to just lie down when he saw his open laptop on his desk. An email notification was beeping.

"It must be Skyler again. It's always him. Trying to get me back to action".

He went to turn off his laptop but stopped at the last second, wondering if there was any chance it was anything different like Skyler checking in to see if Spencer was ok.

"Professor. We found something. A new room under that supposed dome. A hidden chamber with many clues about the unown. I know you don't want any part in this but please. Come quickly".

Spencer was left stunned. A new chamber?

Was there still hope for Lucy?

Giving in, he quickly gathered his gear and went to Molly's room.

"Papa?" Molly asked him confused "is everything ok?"

Spencer looked at his daughter's cute face with a forced calm look. He didn't want to tell her that he was going. But on the other hand…

"I have to go for a while Molly".

"What? Why?"

"Just doing Skyler a small favor" Spencer lied. He didn't want his daughter to fear he would start chasing ghosts again "I'll be back very soon".

Molly remained silent for a few agonizing moments.

"I'm going to miss you papa".

"And I'll miss you my sweet angel. Keep me close in your dreams until I am back".

"Papa" Molly suddenly said. Spencer stopped.

"I love you".

Spencer smiled.

"I love you too. Pleasant dreams Molly".

Spencer headed for his car, still torn by his choice. Regardless he pressed on. He couldn't give up without trying.

Reaching the ruins of Alphs in the middle of the night he was met by Skyler who took him to the chamber's location. Apparently a group of young trainers accidentally brought the dome down a while ago, but that was verified earlier that same day.

"Here it is Professor" Skyler pointed to the inside of the chamber while also showing Spencer photos of the walls in the chamber.

"I've never seen markings like these" Spencer said skeptical "but they seem to be about the unown".

"Well if anybody can figure out what the scriptures say it's you" Skyler patted his boss and friend on the back "I'll go let the team know you are here and be right back".

"Good. Meet you soon" Spencer answered.

Skyler left and Spencer climbed down into the chamber. Approaching the walls of the Unown he began translating the scriptures while also looking around trying to locate any clue that his wife had been in that chamber. But nothing.

"Where are you Lucy?" he muttered as a tear ran down his cheek.

He felt a presence behind him. Turning around he saw what he had come here to find.

"Unown!" he said in awe but then realized he had a chance to know "where is my wife?!"

The unown suddenly began multiplying into many more unown all different from each other. The many newly arrived unown used their powers to open a portal. The portal then sucked Spencer in before he could process the situation or make any choice.

After completing their work, the unown disappeared. Right before Skyler returned.

"Alright professor. The team is on their… professor? Professor!"

News of Spencer Hale's disappearance in the exact same way as his wife spread like wildfire. By that same morning it had already reached Greenfield.

As Skyler was informing an officer who had come to Spencer's home to look for clues, the two saw Molly ran outside.

"Papa! Where is my Papa?!"

"Molly" the officer whispered in realization of what would transpire for Molly.

"I should tell her" Skyler said.

But Molly didn't need telling. It was obvious.

Running back inside she went up to her room and laid face down crying in her pillow.

She heard a sound coming from the door and thought it was Skyler coming to talk to her. She got up to confront him but saw a small box by the door. On it was a message from Spencer.

"Something to keep you entertained while I'm away" could be read.

Molly, her curiosity getting the better of her, opened the box. Inside where small tablets containing images of forms of the unown. With her emotions overwhelming her, Molly formed one word with the tablets.

Papa.

Instantly the tablets sprang to life. The unown depicted started appearing and hovering around Molly who wasn't scared of them at all.

"Unown" she whispered in admiration "do you all want to play with me?"

The unown responded to her question by gathering together and unleashing a bright light. Molly turned away, blinded by the brightness.

From the light she heard her father's voice.

"I am like Entei, am I? Well then I AM Entei".

"Papa?" Molly called out still not looking "please come back".

From light emerged the towering figure of a pokemon. Huge. Four-legged. Ferocious-looking. But at the same time gentle.

The pokemon looked down at the little girl.

"Are you the one who called me here?"

Molly looked at the pokemon in absolute awe.

"Are you my…?"

"I am Entei".

"Papa! It's you!" Molly rushed with a look of pure joy, stuffing her face in Entei's chest fur.

"You look just like the Entei from the storybook but it is you! Papa!" she screamed in absolute bliss.

"Papa" Entei repeated slightly confused.

"Papa?" Molly looked up with a hint of fear in her voice over the small confusion in Entei's voice.

Entei met her eyes.

"If that is what you wish".

"I knew you'd be back Papa" Molly once again stuffed her face in Entei's fur, unaware of the power she had inadvertently unleashed swallowing the mansion and Greenfield turning them into a crystal dystopia.

The news of it spread like wildfire just like Spencer's disappearence but unlike those news, the latest ones reached the Kanto region. Soon enough the news had made its way to professor Oak's lab.

Mortified by what happened to his friend's house and worrying about him and his daughter, Oak called Delia Ketchum.

"Delia no time for pleasantries. It's our friend Spencer. Something horrible happened. We need to get to Greenfield ASAP".

Oak and Delia boarded a helicopter called by him and took off for John. Unaware that two groups of heroes were on their way to Greenfield at the same time as them.

One of those groups was in a particularly good mood that day. Especially after their successful escape from Ecutreak city.

"Ahahaha! Did you see their faces when they tried to cross the trench?" Tails asked Sonic while laughing.

"Yeah" Sonic responded smiling "they never saw it coming. And Suicune. Wow. Total savage. Waited for them to get in to sweep them away".

"Raikou too was sick. Bringing down that helicopter. It was like they had no regard for life" Tails joked. He didn't really believe the beasts would kill those officers back there but their assault on them was pretty funny from their current point of view.

"What do think Knuckles? Was it sick?" Sonic turned to his other friend.

The lightheadidness that was spread amongst team Sonic hadn't been spread to Knuckles. He looked down and saddened.

"Knuckles? Everything ok?"

Knuckles didn't respond.

"Hey Knuckles" Sonic took him from the shoulder.

"What?" a defeated and pessimistic voice answered.

Sonic and Tails were both taken aback. Knuckles wasn't impervious to sadness but for his mood to shift so drastically from last night… that was just a huge red flag that something was wrong.

"We're just… wondering why you're so down all of a sudden" Tails explained.

"Don't I have the right to be down if I feel like down?"

Sonic was now really concerned.

"Of course you do. But that sudden change mood is worrying us".

"Walk it off. I'm fine".

Sonic and Tails looked at each other in concern. Such a level of an abrupt answer was the polar opposite of who they knew to be Knuckles.

Knuckles realized the same fact at the same time.

"Hey. Sorry for that. I'm just not feeling it today. It will pass but I want you to respect how I feel right now".

Sonic was momentary torn between pressing the matter and letting it go. He chose the latter path after a few moments as he knew Knuckles wouldn't talk unless he wanted to.

"We understand" Sonic said in the end "if you need to talk we're here. Do me just this favor and don't forget it you Knucklehead" he patted his friend on the back.

Knuckles smiled faintly.

"We're arriving at Greenfield soon. Maybe we should take a walk around town since we're here, the gardens here are said to be small paradises. Who knows it could help lift your mood" Tails chimed in.

Knuckles doubted it would but wouldn't say no to such a chance.

He had suffered for so long on this very day every year.

Maybe today would make a difference.

The three friends climbed up the hill behind which was Greenfield. When they reached the top they were shocked.

The whole area had been covered in a blue crystallized matter. And the source of that weird terraforming phenomenon seemed to be the huge crystal shaped palace in the middle of town.

"What happened here?" Sonic wondered aloud, shaken.

"It looks like the whole place was terraformed. But that's impossible. Such technology should be tens of years away from being fully and successfully developed" Tails answered.

"Let's go find out" Knuckles said immediately walking down the hill. Tails and Sonic were quick to follow.

Team Sonic made their way for a small group of people on the edge of the crystal field. Apparently there was something really big going on.

While walking through the crowd trying to make sense what was going on a familiar voice called out to them.

"Sonic! Knuckles!"

It was Ash.

All three turned to meet the Pallet town trainer who approached them in a rush.

"Boy am I glad to see you guys. We could use your help".

Both Sonic and Knuckles were already taken aback by Ash not only not being savage as usual but immediately asking for their help?

Something really really big was going on here.

"What happened here?" Sonic asked Ash.

"Follow me. Professor Oak will fill you in".

Team Sonic followed Ash. Tails was at first annoyed that Ash didn't even acknowledge him, as if unless you're his rival he won't even remember you.

That frustration was immediately shoved aside when Tails realized he had an idea to meet the famous professor Oak. He had been wanting to consult a professional on pokemon for their findings on Sonic and Raichu's bond connection.

Ash quickly led the three friends to his group, consisting of Professor Oak, Ash's mother Delia, Misty, Brock and Lisa who unbeknown to everyone was the same trainer Sonic's Bayleef had met the day it ran away from Sonic.

The groups said hello for a few moments and introduced each other to each other until Oak decided it was time to get back on track.

"We're dealing with a very dire situation here. That" he said pointing to the crystal castle "was the home of my old student and good friend professor Spencer Hale. He was reported missing earlier today. But beyond that… his young daughter Molly is apparently trapped inside. We are organizing an operation to get her out. And we're going to need all the help we can get".

"Wait so all this just came out of nowhere?" Sonic asked Oak in total disbelief.

"Indeed. We don't know what the trigger was but one thing is for certain. Molly needs our help. Especially after Spencer's disappearance".

"What about Molly's mother?" Knuckles suddenly asked.

"She has been missing too. For 2 years" Delia explained saddened. She and Lucy were just as good friends as Oak and Spencer were.

"What?!" Knuckles almost screamed "so Molly… Molly's… an orphan now?"

"I'm afraid so" Oak said in a serious tone, closing his eyes "and she is so young too. Only 5 years old".

Knuckles shifted his gaze to the huge crystal castle. Sonic observed his friend carefully. He looked like he felt as if he had been hit by a truck.

Ever since beginning their common journey through Johto, there had been moments when Knuckles was inconsistent. Perhaps today they would get to the bottom of those inconsistencies.

"We'll help you get her out, I promise" Knuckles immediately declared without even asking Sonic and Tails if they agreed.

Both of them did agree of course but the fact that he didn't even think to ask them if they did, even at least saying a "right guys?" just seemed out of character.

"We will help professor" Sonic said in the end "what's the plan?"

"First thing we need to do is find a way inside. For that purpose we will need…"

Suddenly Pikachu's ears perked up as if they were hearing a distant sound. Raichu also came out of its pokeball looking around nervous.

"What's the matter Pikachu?" Ash asked it.

"Raichu you ok?" Sonic asked his partner as well.

Strong, heavy and quick footsteps, clearly belonging to something big were felt, making the ground slightly rumble. A huge pokemon appeared out from behind the house they currently in front of. Sonic immediately recognized it.

"Entei!"

"What is that?" Oak asked in shock and awe.

"A legendary pokemon. Sonic and his friends freed it and its two brethren pokemon from Ecutreak city's burned tower two days ago" Brock quickly explained "it stomped Sonic and Raichu down bad".

"Are you back for a rematch Entei?!" Sonic asked nervously. Despite his desire to fight Entei again, its strength was plainly terrifying.

"No. I have come for you!" Entei answered referring to Delia.

"It talks?!" Tails yelled in shock. Just how many pokemon in this world could talk? First team rocket's meowth, then Mewtwo, then Lugia and now Entei?

"For my mom?!" Ash asked Entei angry.

Entei didn't answer. Using the power of the unown it transferred to Delia's mind the memory of itself and Molly watching the operation unfold from inside the castle from Molly's TV. Molly had seen Ash hug Delia and call her mom.

"You're… Mama" she had whispered watching. Entei immediately set out to fulfill her wish.

The full memory played in Delia's mind putting her in a trance.

"Take me to her" Delia said in a calm manner and an emotionless face shocking everyone.

"It must be controlling her mind!" Tails surmised.

"Raichu! Break that mind control! Thunder punch!" Sonic ordered.

Raichu jumped charging its paw to land the punch. Entei roared loudly.

Sonic was hit with a feeling if deja vu. Entei would just flick raichu away.

Except it didn't.

The roar slowed down Raichu a little but the attack still got through knocking Entei back.

"What?" Sonic muttered caught off guard by this.

Taking advantage of his momentary lack of focus, Entei slammed into Raichu, sending it crashing into the wall and soon after it, Pikachu followed. Ash and Sonic looked on helpless as Entei approached Delia before they could even move.

"Take me to my child" she said before collapsing on its back and then Entei fled towards the castle.

"Mom!" Ash called out in despair.

Sonic knelt down trying to cope with the crazy development when he noticed something weird; wherever the fleeing Entei stepped before it reached the territory covered in crystal, crystal was formed under its paws. As if it couldn't step on regular ground.

Ash tried to chase after Entei only to be held back by Brock and Knuckles.

"Let me go! I can't let them get away!"

"Ash you don't know what's out there!" Brock warned him.

All of them stood helpless and watched as Entei disappeared into the crystal field heading for the castle.

Ash stopped fighting and knelt once they were out of sight.

"She's gone… I couldn't save her…"

Sonic looked at Ash, his eyes widening. It was just like looking at himself after the battle at silph co. After Jolty's death.

Entei raced through the castle with Delia on its back until it reached Molly's bedroom. Molly looked at it in excitement.

"I have brought you what you wished for" Entei said as Delia gently got off it, her eyes still revealing she was entranced.

"Mama?" Molly asked hesitantly. When Delia's eyes turned to Molly she ran into her embrace.

"Mama!"

"You called me Mama?"

"Yeah and I'm Molly, remember?"

"Molly" Delia repeated without any color in her voice. Molly wasn't bothered by this.

"Thank you Papa. Can we all stay here forever?"

"If that is what you wish".

Molly felt complete. Her Papa was still with her and now she had a Mama too.

The unown sensed her joy and started transforming the inside of the palace.

"Your world is growing bigger" Entei commented.

"It's so pretty Papa" Molly said, her ears sparkling with joy as she saw her house transforming into a magical world. Just for her and her parents.

"I am so happy Papa".

"And I am happy that you are happy" Entei answered sitting down next to the bed Molly and Delia were sitting at.

Back at the edge of the crystal field, everything had descended into chaos.

"Why did Entei take my mom?" Ash kept shouting angry but with no one to truly direct his anger at.

"I honestly can't explain it" Tails answered trying to make sense of it "Entei helped us last time. Why would it kidnap Mrs Ketchum now?"

"And how could it talk?" Brock also chimed in.

Oak closed his eyes in deep thought.

"There is a chance this Entei is not the same one that young Sonic fought".

"Huh?" everyone but Knuckles reacted in shock. The latter had his gaze fixed on the castle.

"In some legends the legendary beasts have connections to the legendary pokemon species known as unown. Professor Hale was actively researching them until his wife's disappearence 2 years ago. Now his disappearance, this giant crystal field and even Entei appearing? It just can't be a coincidence".

"So now we're dealing with a new foe?" Tails wondered aloud.

"It would be nice if the Entei we know came to assist" Sonic admitted.

"What does any of this matter?" Ash said angry "my mom is inside that place. Who we're fighting doesn't change that. So what do we do to get her out?"

"I've already arranged for a bulldozer to try and break through the crystal barriers" Oak explained.

On cue, the bulldozer started slowly moving towards the castle.

Halfway through the crystal field however Molly's voice echoed through the field.

"Go away! Leave us alone!"

Entei emerged again. Unleashing a powerful and weirdly colored flamethrower, he caused the bulldozer to topple due to the intensity of the flames. The driver was able to escape but sustained major burns when Entei fired another, normal flamethrower towards him.

Everyone of the heroes was shocked at Entei actually hurting someone like that. And in the next moment, Oak received an email.

Everyone gathered around his makeshift desk. The email contained a recording of Molly.

"Mama and Papa and me just want to stay by ourselves forever so please stay away. Everybody leave us alone".

"Molly! Molly!" Oak shouted at the computer thinking for a moment it was a live video call and not a recording.

Team Sonic, or at least just Tails and Sonic as Knuckles was still looking at the castle with a lost look on his face, looked at each other.

"Did she just say her mother and father were with her?" Sonic asked getting more confused every minute.

"But that can't be. They're both missing!" Misty answered instead of Tails.

Ash got up and started heading for the crystal field.

"Woah woah!" Sonic stopped him by getting in his way "where are you going?"

"I'm not going to wait around anymore. It's up to me to save mom now"

"Us Ash" Brock intervened "up to us. You're not going alone".

"We're coming with you" Misty also declared.

"And so am I" Knuckles suddenly spoke up shocking everyone.

"Knuckles?" Sonic looked at him confused.

"They need our help Sonic. That's why we're here right? We came to Johto to help right?"

Sonic of course knew Knuckles meant their mission to find and end team rocket.

But still… they?

It was as if Knuckles was inferring that Molly too needed saving. But at the same time she had just declared herself and Entei their opponents.

"Right. Then I'm coming too" Sonic declared.

"Same" Tails said ready to follow.

"No. I need you to stay outside and help us navigate once we're in Tails. We need eyes on the sky for this" Knuckles said without giving Tails room to argue back.

The inconsistencies just kept piling up. Why was Knuckles so take charge all of a sudden?

After having Tails cause a distraction, the two teams snuck out and entered the crystal field. Sonic urged them all to be constantly vigilant, just in case Entei jumped them.

A news broadcasting chopper that had been flying over the area ever since the emergence of the crystals spotted the 5 trainers heading towards the castle.

The reporter on it immediately started reporting.

"We are once again live over the scene of the crystal phenomenon shortly after the kidnapping of Mrs Delia Ketchum by a supposedly legendary pokemon. As you can see on the ground, 5 trainers are bravely heading towards the castle despite the total destruction of the bulldozer only moments ago. Wait a minute… we've just received intel that one of the 5 trainers is Sonic the hedgehog, the famous hero of the Kanto region. Rumors have circulated yesterday that he had a battle with the legendary pokemon that has kidnapped Mrs Ketchum. That is a hopeful development. I daresay it is a matter of time before Mrs Ketchum and young Molly Hale are safely extracted from the mansion".

Molly watched this from inside the mansion and was instantly filled with fear.

If that guy was a hero, why was he coming to separate her from her Mama and Papa?

Delia at the same time, seeing Ash on his way was able to snap out of her trance but seeing her predicament she decided to try and help them from the inside as much as she could and if not, at least keep Molly distracted.

The five trainers circled the mansion for a while until they found what they were looking for; an entrance into the mansion in the form of a tunnel water was exiting from.

"How can there be water coming from the inside?" Sonic wondered.

"Don't know, don't care we're going in to find my mom" Ash declared.

"Alright then here's the plan" Knuckles took charge again to then slight annoyance of Sonic "I will use my gear to climb to that opening. I will then throw a rope down and you will climb".

And before anyone could object Knuckles started climbing the wall by using his special gloves that were embedded with spikes on the knuckles to dig into the wall.

Climbing the wall in record time, he then threw the rope down. Ash immediately started climbing. Brock and Misty were quick to follow. Sonic was the last to climb.

Halfway through however Ash slipped and started sliding down towards Brock. They were now in danger of falling into Misty and Sonic.

"Knuckles!" Sonic called out "lower us down! Ash and Brock are ready to fall!"

A loud 'no way' was heard from the opening of the tunnel. Then suddenly a roar of determination and the four trainers were being pulled up.

Managing to climb into the tunnel, Ash and Brock leaned against the wall to calm down from the danger. Sonic walked past them to see Knuckles rubbing his right arm, obviously in pain from the massive effort.

"Knuckles you didn't have to force yourself. We could have just climbed from the start".

"No" Knuckles declared determined "we can't waste any time. They need our help".

They. He used the word they again instead of she. Sonic was now sure.

Knuckles wasn't here to get Ash's mother out.

He was here to get Molly out.

"But why? Why is he so personally invested into saving her?" Sonic thought.

After everyone was ready, the group walked through the tunnel unaware that team rocket, more specifically the three idiots of Jessie, James and Meowth were attempting to follow them only to be brutally sent down to the mansion's ground level floor by Entei.

After a short walk of 10 minutes in total silence, the heroes used a combination of Ash's bulbasaur and chikorita, Sonic's Raichu and Knuckles' Quilava to cut open a way into the mansion.

They found themselves into the mansion's entry Hall. Tens of unown were located there, creating a huge orb of light while revolving around it. It was like a huge atom with the unown acting as the electrons.

Deciding it would be best to leave the unown alone for the time being as finding Delia and Molly was more important at the moment, the two teams prepared to traverse the mansion. Sonic called Tails on a walkie talkie they got before departing.

"Tails do you read me?"

"Loud and clear blue leader".

"We have successfully infiltrated the mansion. We're in the main hall. I need you to guide us towards…" he stopped.

Where would Molly be?

"Towards Molly's room" Knuckles snatched the walkie talkie from Sonic's hand "Molly is there guaranteed".

"Huh… ok. Take the stairs, then third door to your right is Molly's room".

"Thanks Tails" Sonic said taking the walkie talkie back "alright everyone. Molly is up the stairs, third door to the right. Brace yourselves. You know how strong Entei is and you saw what it did to me and Raichu. Be ready to engage at any moment".

Sending out Raichu he looked at it.

"Buddy it's time for a rematch with Entei. Are you up for it?"

"Rai rai!"

"Pika pi!" Pikachu cried out as the two electric types nodded at each other.

Upstairs in Molly's room she could see through her father's laptop which was connected to the tv, through the mansion's surveillance system, the infiltrators making their way through the mansion.

"Is that a Pikachu on this boy's shoulder?"

"Yes" Entei verified "and the orange one next to the blue one is Raichu, Pikachu's evolved form".

Molly, momentarily forgetting that Sonic could be a problem for her dream world, allowed herself to imagine having pokemon.

"I wish I was a trainer like them".

"You can be".

"I can Papa? Even though I'm not old enough?"

"If that is what you wish, then yes".

The two teams made their way to the designated door. Sonic who was taking the lead, kicked the door open and immediately lost balance as he noticed an eternity of black except for hundreds of white unsupported floating stairs leading to a higher floor.

Knuckles grabbed Sonic and pulled him back to make sure he wouldn't fall over.

"What in the… echo!" Sonic screamed testing to see how far that abyss stretched.

No echo could be heard though.

"Rules of physics may not apply here" Knuckles explained "especially if all this is created by the unown".

Sonic nodded.

"Now what?" Ash asked them.

"Give me a sec" Sonic took out the walkie talkie.

"Tails we got a problem. Castle has been magically changed from the inside. The unown have thrown the laws of physics out the window. Can you get me any clue as to where we can find Molly?"

Turning around to let the others know of Tails' directions once he had them, he found himself alone.

Knuckles must have convinced Ash and his friends to take a leap of faith and walk up the stairs.

"Damnit. Got to go. Looks like we'll sweep the mansion top to bottom, I'll keep in touch" Sonic said and started racing up the stairs.

While Sonic was at the foot of the stairs, Knuckles and Ash's group had reached the top and found themselves in a field full of flowers along with a pink sky. In the distant a second set of stairs awaited.

"Looks like there's more floors" Knuckles surmised "we take a breath then move on".

Ash's group agreed.

Next moment, Entei appeared roaring majestically. A young woman was riding it.

"Entei" Knuckles muttered. Leaving Sonic behind was a dumb idea after all.

"Hello" the young woman said dismounting Entei "you are pokemon trainers aren't you?"

Ash wasn't in the mood for small talk.

"Entei! What did you do with my mother?!"

"Then let's have a battle" the young woman suggested undeterred.

"Don't change the subject! Where is mother?"

"You're no fun".

"Entei answer the question! You took mother where is she?!"

"There's no Entei. There's only my Papa, my Mama and me".

"Yes" Entei also confirmed.

"You liar! Where is she?!"

At that moment Sonic arrived at the scene. Raichu and Entei locked eyes and growled at each other.

"You" the woman said with a hint of anxiety "you're here to take my Mama away aren't you?"

"Your Mama? Who are you?" Sonic asked confused.

"Wait" Brock intervened "by any chance would your name be Molly? ".

"Yes, I am Molly Hale".

Sonic felt like a bullet train had hit him. That was impossible.

"Don't lie to us" he said "professor Oak said Molly Hale is 5 years old. You can't possibly be one and the same".

Knuckles on the other hand took the info in from a different perspective. The presence of the unown on the main hall could indicate what was going on here. There was indeed a way that woman could be Molly. And if that was the case he knew what they had to do. But first they would have to reach the real Molly to confirm his suspicion.

"Sonic I don't think she is lying. She really is Molly" he told his friend without an ounce of hesitation.

Sonic was ready to start arguing but then looked back at Entei that seemed ready to make a move on them.

"You are going to leave this place now" Molly declared at Sonic.

"Make me" Sonic fired back.

"Rai!" Raichu growled.

Entei was about to pounce before Brock made a suggestion.

"Molly you said you want a battle right? Are you aware of the gym challenge?"

"Yes".

"Sonic completed Kanto's challenge and won the tournament. I am a gym leader myself. What do you say you prove to me first you are capable of fighting Sonic? Beat me and you can fight him fair and square".

Molly worried that allowing Sonic to proceed would risk it all but Entei nodded to her that it would be ok. Molly accepted Brock's challenge and Brock encouraged Ash, Misty, Knuckles and Sonic to go on without him.

The four remaining trainers raced for the stairs to the next floor. Right before taking the first step, Sonic looked back at Brock and Molly's battle. It had only just began and Brock wasn't doing well.

Wasting no more time he followed the others upstairs, this time reaching an underwater environment. Once again stopping to catch their breath, Sonic cornered Knuckles.

"You got some explaining to do pal. What's with you since this morning?"

"N-nothing".

"That's bullshit and you know it! What are you not telling me? Why are you so eager to find Molly?!"

"How do you know?"

"You kept saying they need our help. And you have been taking action without asking mine or Tails' opinion. That's not teamwork".

"You… you won't understand".

"I won't as long as you don't tell me. We're supposed to be a team. So why don't you just tell me?"

Knuckles seemed ready to answer before Entei appeared again with the adult Molly.

Brock had lost.

"I beat your friend. Your turn blue".

"The name's Sonic. And I'm not leaving this madness without Ash's mother".

"You're not taking Mama!" Molly yelled and took out a crystal pokeball.

Sonic was about to jump into battle until Misty stopped him.

"Let me battle Molly".

Sonic hesitated.

"You won't win".

"I don't have to win. The time I can buy you is enough".

Sonic remembered saying those exact same words when he freed Mewtwo. Nodding he urged Ash and Knuckles forward.

The three rivals raced up the stairs. Sonic got a call on the walkie talkie from Tails.

"Blue leader this is yellow sky! I have eyes on the castle. Professor oak brought heat detectors. You're approaching the target".

"Right on time as always Tails".

Tails on the outside smiled until something bizzare happened. There were only a few stairs separating them from Molly and Delia but in a moment a whole new floor was created.

Arriving on said floor, they found themselves in a perfect replica of the stadium the indigo tournament took place at. Ash, having grown exhausted by the stairs knelt for a moment to catch his breath. Pikachu and raichu went to his side as Sonic cornered Knuckles again.

"Where were we? Oh yeah. You were about to tell me why this is so personal to you".

"We don't have time for this. Misty won't last long against Molly".

"Alright then. We're doing this the hard way" Sonic said going to stand between the stairs and Ash and Knuckles.

"We're not moving from this place until you come clean".

Knuckles tightened his fists. His face was suddenly a mask of pain. Ash didn't notice any of that being too busy catching his breath.

Knuckles started walking towards Sonic. The latter got ready for a fight.

Knuckles winded up his punch but stopped and dropped to his knees shaking uncontrollably.

"Knuckles?" Sonic knelt as well concerned for his friend.

Knuckles was crying. Sonic was truly shocked. He had never seen Knuckles yield to emotion that much.

"Knuckles whatever you're not telling me is eating you up inside isn't it?" Sonic guessed accurately "that's how it was for me not facing my own emotions of darkness back in Kanto. Please talk to me".

Knuckles met Sonic's eyes.

"I have to save Molly Sonic. She needs my help. I'm the only one who can save her".

"What do you mean the only one? We're all here for that same reason".

"No. You're here for Ash's mother and the whole crystal castle thing. I'm here because I'm the only one who understands even a fraction of what Molly is going through".

Sonic couldn't wrap his mind around this.

"How can you possibly understand a 5 year old girl who just lost the only parent that remained to her?"

Knuckles' eyes released more tears.

"Because I was exactly her age when both of my parents died!"

"What?!" Sonic backstepped in shock.

Of all the scenarios that had crossed his mind, that was not one of them.

"You mean… you're… "

"An orphan. Just like Molly".

"Why didn't you ever tell me or Tails?"

"I… it didn't matter back then. And I didn't want to seem weak".

Sonic could barely process what he was hearing anymore.

"Is this… connected to the reason you felt down today?"

"It's the reason I felt down today" Knuckles admitted "today… is the 10th anniversary of their deaths".

"Oh man… Knuckles I… " Sonic began saying but stopped.

Entei had appeared again. This time with a younger Molly.

Misty had lost too.

"Nowhere to run anymore blue".

Sonic stepped up.

"Go" he said over his shoulder to Ash and Knuckles.

"Are you sure?" Knuckles asked him.

"I am. Now go. You got somewhere to go right?"

Knuckles' mouth hung slightly open. He had never considered his friends would be there for him. All his life he had had to deal with this pain alone.

Even when he wasn't living alone yet.

Nodding in a thankful way, he and Ash left Sonic alone with Molly and Entei and raced to the last set of stairs.

Sonic watched then leave then turned to face Molly.

"Well… I'm all yours. Come get me".

"I finally have my Mama and my Papa with me. And I won't let you take that from me".

"Molly are you even listening to yourself?" Sonic asked her "you kidnapped another person's mother. That doesn't make her your mom".

"She is my Mama!" Molly insisted "right Papa?"

"If that is what you wish" Entei answered.

"Seems like the only way to end this is to defeat you. I will do what I must then" Sonic declared taking out Hitmontop's pokeball.

Molly and Sonic sent out a pokemon at the same time. Sonic sent out Hitmontop. Molly sent out a rhydon.

Rhydon brought back painful memories for Sonic. But that also made him wonder.

How did Molly have access to such a pokemon? Hell how was she able to change her appearance twice? She had battled Brock as a teenager and Misty as presumably the preteen he was looking at.

Hitmontop sparkled upon entering the field and its ability weakened rhydon in terms of strength.

"Rhydon use rock slide!" Molly went on the offensive immediately.

Rhydon unleashed a powerful rock slide. Sonic expected hitmontop to barely feel a thing, adding together the intimidate ability taking effect as well as the limited effectiveness of rock against fighting.

Hitmontop however was actually shoved back trying to hold the rock slide back. Sonic gritted his teeth.

That rhydon was stronger than a normal one. It now made sense that she had beaten Brock and Misty.

But Sonic was neither of them.

He was keeping the new move hitmontop had learnt during their training the previous day for a special occasion. And Molly definitely was one.

"Hitmontop rapid spin, then triple kick!"

Hitmontop jumped on its head and started spinning heading for rhydon.

"Rhydon use mega punch!"

Rhydon aimed to punch Hitmontop back hard but hitmontop blocked the punch and delivered three precise kicks on rhydon.

Rhydon was hurt so badly by the attack that it fainted, angering and scaring Molly.

Sonic wouldn't be as easy of an opponent as Misty and Brock were.

"Rhydon come back. You're up!"

The next opponent was a Pikachu. Sonic again felt something familiar about this Pikachu.

It reminded him a lot of Ash's Pikachu.

As if Molly was generating pokemon.

And somehow those pokemon came straight out of some of his most meaningful opponents.

"Can she read my thoughts? Or more accurately" he thought remembering how Entei had put Delia in that trance to kidnap her when it was not a psychic type "can this Entei read my thoughts?"

"Pikachu iron tail!"

Pikachu moved with incredible agility and speed. Now that hitmontop was already in battle, intimidate wouldn't affect Pikachu. Hitmontop was slammed hard while spinning, causing it to lose balance and roll a good distance away before fainting.

"You were perfect hitmontop" Sonic complimented it after he recalled it "get some rest now. Go wooper!

Wooper emerged. Pikachu was in a clear disadvantage here. Molly however didn't recall Pikachu.

"Pikachu thunderbolt!"

Pikachu unkeashed a thunderbolt. Wooper was immune to it so it didn't even blink.

"What? How can this… ? Papa is wooper a ground type?"

"Yes" Entei answered. It was sitting on the ground like the Sphinx, observing the battle with patience.

Sonic however was focused on something else.

Molly obviously didn't know about wooper's typing.

Whatever that power she had over the castle and the Pokemon she generated had, one thing was for certain.

This Molly wasn't real. The real one was probably where Ash and Knuckles were heading. This one must have been a fake created by Entei to allow Molly to experience battles.

In other words Sonic's opponent was an inexperienced 5 year old using very powerful pokemon.

"Power without control is not nearly as dangerous as it sounds" Sonic thought smiling.

"Wooper mud shot!"

Wooper unleashed a powerful mud shot, striking Pikachu head on. A regular Pikachu would have easily fainted but this one would require a few more hits to beat.

"Pikachu iron tail!"

Pikachu slammed its tail into wooper. The attack did some considerable damage to wooper but Sonic was pleased and relieved when it sprang back up ready to continue.

"Pikachu don't let up! Quick attack!"

"Wooper mud shot again!"

Pikachu was struck by the mud shot but was able to push through sending wooper flying. Wooper landed on its two feet, letting out an angry cry and beginning to glow.

"No way!" Sonic exclaimed. He had no idea when that was going to happen.

"Papa what's happening?" Molly asked Entei unnerved.

Wooper grew in size while glowing and then revealed its new form.

"It evolved" Entei said slightly amused "into quagsire".

"Quagsire" Sonic repeated "awesome! Let them have it! Mud shot!"

Quagsire unleashed a far stronger mud shot than it ever had as a wooper. Pikachu fainted right after.

"Papa how is he so strong?"

"Do not fear Molly. You will win if that is what you wish".

Sonic was getting annoyed by this constant quote. A wish alone couldn't possibly be enough to get her a win.

"Thanks Papa" Molly smiled sending out another pokemon.

Another electric type.

A Jolteon.

"Papa?" Molly asked confused "why does this one have a huge scar on its side?"

Sonic gasped and started whizzing, getting into a panic attack.

Molly had materialized Jolty.

"How… how dare you… use that against me" he muttered in anger as he took deep breaths to calm himself "Quagsire! Mud shot! Destroy that imposter!"

Quagsire obeyed and struck Jolty with all its might.

At that moment something bizzare happened. Jolty fainted from the strike and even weirder, Molly ordered it to dodge but it didn't.

Jolty's body then melted into a formless crystal-like liquid that started shaping into something else.

"Wait!" Sonic whispered in realization "if Molly really is using the aces of my strongest opponents… Giovanni, Ash and Mike… then… after Jolty died… Mike caught…"

He looked up and saw exactly what he feared; The crystal goo took the shape and colors of Zapdos.

"That's so cool" Molly exclaimed identifying Zapdos "a legendary pokemon is my friend! Let's show him Zapdos! Drill peck!"

Zapdos struck true. Quagsire didn't have a single chance to miss. Within an instant it collapsed.

Sonic gritted his teeth in frustration and anxiety. He would have to play it very carefully to win.

"Go! Bayleef!"

"Bay!"

"Leech seed!"

Zapdos was seeded and had its energy drained.

"Zapdos thunderbolt!"

The legendary bird of thunder unleoits move on bayleef but its training with raichu the previous day allowed it to tank the attack and then regain some of its health back with leech seed.

"Bayleef! Poison powder!"

Bayleef poisoned Zapdos causing Molly to get angry and sad.

"Why are you doing this to my friend? Why are you here to make me sad?"

"You started this when you kidnapped Ash's mom! And I'm gonna finish it!"

"Zapdos drill peck!"

Sonic knew Bayleef wouldn't be able to dodge. Their only chance was to try to endure it.

"Bayleef! Synthesis!"

Bayleef started healing itself but Zapdos was just too strong. Bayleef fought to stand but collapsed as well.

Sonic approached it to make sure it was ok and to let it know it was ok and that its hard work wouldn't be in vain. Bayleef rubbed its head weakly against him and then was recalled. Sonic then looked at Molly and Zapdos which wasn't looking so well.

Bayleef had done its job. Zapdos was one hit away from fainting. And Molly had yet to experience their true power.

"Raichu! Time to end this!"

"Rai rai!" raichy cried out as it prepared to attack.

"Zapdos use thunder!"

Molly was so focused on beating Sonic that she didn't even realize throughout their battle that those pokemon were ones he had fought before. There was no way he was losing against them now.

"Quick attack! Then thunder punch!"

Raichu moved like a blur before the thunder from Zapdos connected. Before either it or Molly could react, Raichu had slammed into Zapdos and having perfected agile movements, struck a devastating thunder punch causing Zapdos to plummet and faint.

Molly had lost.

"It's over Molly. I win! Now let go of Ash's mom!"

"No! You won't take Mama away! Papa! Teach him a lesson!"

"With pleasure!" Entei roared as it pounced on Raichu while the illusion Zapdos disappeared.

Raichu dodged Entei's attack and stood against the beast, ready for the confrontation.

Meanwhile, Ash and Knuckles were only halfway there. That final set of stairs was the longest one. They were forced to stop twice to catch their breath.

"Do you think Sonic doing ok?" Ash asked Knuckles.

"Well Entei hasn't intercepted us yet. So I think he's doing ok. Let's not waste the time he's buying us through" Knuckles began running up the stairs again determined to save Molly.

"Raichu thunder punch!"

Raichu jumped towards Entei. The latter used flamethrower greatly harming Raichu as well as Sonic who felt the attack. Raichu'a attack connected as well, causing Molly to call out to Entei in fear if it was ok.

Entei immediately got back up and pounced on Raichu. It was going for a stomp.

"No not again!" Sonic thought but regardless moved to intercept the attack.

The attack came down on raichu but once again Sonic found himself holding Entei down.

Both trainer and pokemon filling the surge of power inside their bodies, raichu got up and used its tail to help Sonic push Entei back.

Sonic was fully expecting Entei to suddenly apply more pressure and stomp them down just like the previous day. The pressure was indeed applied after a moment.

Unlike the previous day however, Sonic and raichu were now pushing back together. Sonic still expected Entei to overpower them albeit with some effort on its part.

But the complete opposite happened.

Letting out a battle cry, Sonic and raichu pushed Entei back, sending it flying for a few moments before it roughly crashed next to Molly.

"Papa no!"

Sonic was looking at his hands in shock. Their bond power had certainly been activated just now but even so they still shouldn't have possibly bested Entei. The parameters were exactly the same as the previous day.

This new fact confirmed Sonic's suspicion.

"You're not Entei" he said calmly.

Molly was helping Entei stand again when she heard Sonic make that statement.

"What?"

"I don't know what this thing is that you call Papa but it's not Entei!"

"But… it is Entei. My Papa is Entei!"

"No way Molly! I have fought the real Entei! It crashed me and Raichu! Literally! But this one? Able to talk, to mind control Mrs Ketchum yet has to create crystal footprints to walk past all this… and now unable to overpower us when the real Entei was? I don't know what you are Entei but you are an imposter! And there is no way an imposter will win against us!"

"Rai!"

Ash and Knuckles in the meantime barged in Molly's room, finding her sleeping and Delia by her side.

"Mom!"

"Ash!" Delia said as Ash run into her hug.

Knuckles cautiously approached the sleeping Molly. It was definitely a 5 year old girl.

That confirmed his theory. The Molly that battled Brock, Misty and Sonic was an illusion. The real one was the sleeping girl in front of him. And yet…

"What kind of power has she control of that all of this was possible?"

Back in the indigo replica, Entei decided that it would have to play dirty to fulfill Molly's wish. Unleashing a flamethrower, it forced Sonic and Raichu to dodge. Using the power of the unown to shape the field, Entei essentially teleported them under his incoming stomp attack.

This time there was no blocking it.

Sonic and Raichu both collapsed.

Alakazam's eyes jolted open in a cave in the Kanto region. Its friends Mewtwo and Moltres witnessed it.

"Alakazam what is it?" Mewtwo asked before surmising the answer itself.

"Is Sonic in danger?"

Alakazam nodded.

Mewtwo immediately connected Alakazam and Sonic's minds to discover their location.

"Moltres he needs you. Johto region, Greenfield go!"

Moltres screeched and flew out of the cave in a flash.

"You win Molly" Entei declared as it believed the battle had ended.

Molly had some reservations about Entei harming Sonic and Raichu like that but nevertheless hugged Entei thanking it for allowing her to experience battling.

That was until the two of them heard a fist being slammed into the ground.

"No…" Sonic could be heard saying as be and Raichu were groaning and shaking trying to get back up.

"No Molly... You… you haven't won yet!" Sonic met Molly's eyes.

Both Molly and Entei were left with hanging jaws. How could those two still keep fighting after literally being stomped down?

Entei was prepared to pounce again until it felt through its power, Ash and Knuckles entering the room in which the real Molly was in.

Informing her of this, the preteen Molly disappeared into thin air while Entei disappeared into a portal.

Sonic and raichu watched it happen and realized Entei was heading to intercept Ash and Knuckles.

Channeling their connection, they summoned two bolts of lightning to temporarily rejuvenate them. Sonic recalled Raichu to rest and started racing up the stairs.

Back in Molly's room Knuckles had introduced himself to Delia and explained she and Ash had to get out. He would stay and try to reason with Molly. He also asked Delia if she had seen any unown in the room. Delia said that the only pokemon she had seen was the one that brought her to Molly which Knuckles also explained it wasn't the one he was referring to.

Knuckles' eyes then fell on a book on the drawer next to the bed. He asked Ash and Delia to wait. Picking up the book he opened it.

And he gasped. It was THAT legend.

The legend he had read on those walls in that chamber they had accidentally discovered in the ruins of alph. The legend spoke of the unown granting a wish fulfillment power if a sacrifice was made.

"Professor Hale disappeared searching for his wife… who disappeared searching for the unown… they accidentally became the sacrifice that gave Molly the power" he thought in realization.

"The unown made that Entei" he muttered.

"What?" Ash asked him confused.

"And terraformed this place into a crystal dystopia… all because of Molly's imagination".

"Oh dear" Delia said in shock.

"Mrs Ketchum wake her up. I know how to convince her to end this. And by all means be very very careful how you talk to her. She's in control of all of this".

Delia nodded after a while and gently woke up Molly, whose face seemed distorted by fear as at the exact same time she was witnessing Sonic and Raichu getting back up after being stomped down by Entei.

"Molly wake up" Delia said in a sweet voice.

Molly opened her eyes.

"I was dreaming Mama".

Delia didn't have the heart to do what she did next but they were running out of time.

"Molly sweetie please listen to me. I'm very sorry but I'm not your real mama".

"W-what?"

"You'll have to know the truth sooner or later".

"Mama what are you saying?"

"I'm really Ash's mother".

Molly wore a look of confusion and betrayal.

"Don't you remember when we played together Molly? At professor Oak's lab?" Delia tried to remind her of when Molly and her parents had visited Pallet town in Kanto.

"I… I… "

"I can explain it all Molly but now we have to go".

"But why?"

Knuckles felt the floor rumble. Their time had just been reduced to seconds.

Either Sonic had lost or Entei retreated to come for them.

Delia realized the same thing.

"We have to leave now Molly please".

"I won't" Molly said looking down "I won't!" she suddenly screamed unleashing a power wave through her imagination that sent Delia to the wall.

"Mom!" Ash rushed to her side.

"Are you ok?"

"I'm fine" she reassured her son.

"Knucklehead we're leaving! You want to save her you're on your own" Ash called out to Knuckles.

Knuckles had no problem with that but before he had any chance to interact with Molly Entei emerged from a postal similar to the one it had used to escape Sonic.

"What is it Molly?"

"That boy is taking Mama away!"

Entei immediately slammed Ash, knocking him against the wall. It then forcibly returned Delia next to Molly.

"Leave her here and leave this place"

"I won't do that Entei! She's my mother!"

"Entei" Knuckles suddenly spoke up "please let me talk to Molly. Just talk I promise".

Entei sized Knuckles from top to bottom before choosing to ignore him and turn back to Ash.

"No. Now she's Molly's mother. Now leave this place before I make you leave!"

Knuckles tried to talk Entei down but Ash chose violence.

"Totodile I choose you!"

"Your blue friend couldn't defeat me! You think you can?!"

Ash and Knuckles were horrified. Ash however shook his head bringing himself to focus.

"I don't believe you. Sonic wouldn't lose to some illusion! And if he wouldn't, neither will I! Totodile water gun!"

Water gun was fired but it barely hurt Entei got really mad.

"See if this is an illusion then!" it roared, releasing the attack it had used to topple that bulldozer earlier, sacred fire.

Totodile was about to be struck down before being saved by the timely intervention of Knuckles' Quilava that pushed it out of the way before using its agility to partially dodge the attack.

"Stay out of this!" Entei roared sending another sacred fire straight towards Knuckles who jumped out of the way.

Sonic was racing up the stairs when he received a call from Tails, telling him of what he could see going down in Molly's room. Sonic picked up the pace immediately so much so that small bolts of electricity started crackling out of his shoes as his bond connection with Raichu took over.

Tails from the outside was watching the battle unfold in Molly's room through both the heat signature cameras as well as binoculars. The battle was brutal with Entei easily defeating both Ash's and Knuckles' pokemon. The binoculars proved specifically useful when Ash's Charizard arrived from Charicific valley to save Ash from falling to his doom, having seen the situation on TV.

Molly was amazed by Charizard's arrival before Ash explained it is his friend that all pokemon were. That they were a family.

""Just like me and Papa" Molly muttered.

"Molly this Entei is not your family" Ash pleaded with her.

Before Knuckles could seize the chance and talk to Molly during the break in the battle Entei attacked Charizard who pushed Ash out of the way.

"I am Molly's father and I will protect her as long as that is her wish!"

"Molly please don't listen to it" Delia begged the little girl "come with us you can have a real family. Real pokemon".

If she thought however that such a statement would plant seeds of doubt in Molly she was dead wrong.

"I already have real pokemon and a real family! Now go away!"

Charizard and Entei attacked each other again before Ash had Charizard bait Entei out of the room. The two battled all over the mansion's roofs before Entei easily overpowered it and had it crash through the roof in Molly's room.

With its paw on Charizard's neck, claws out it felt like it was over. Knuckles tried one more time to get Entei to listen.

"Entei please. You've won. Just let me talk to Molly".

"Talk to this!" Entei roared as it prepared to fire a sacred fire on Knuckles.

Before Knuckles could even move however, Sonic passed by him like a blur, ramming into Entei and inadvertently freeing Charizard. Grabbing hold of Entei's fur, the two engaged in a rodeo style battle with Entei trying to buck Sonic off and Sonic doing his best to hold on.

During the chaos Sonic sent out raichu and asked Ash and Knuckles to attack assuring them that he would be ok and to take down Entei. Ash immediately got into action but Knuckles tried again to diffuse the situation but Sonic was too preoccupied holding onto Entei for dear life to hear anything.

Raichu and Ash's Pikachu and charizard managed to get some good hits in, with Pikachu accidentally zapping Sonic as well as Entei but nevertheless Sonic didn't let go. Instead he wrapped his arms around Entei's throat and applying pressure, trying to get him to loosen his movement and allow the others more attack openings.

"PAPA NO!" Molly screamed in despair seeing Entei get ganged on like that.

Empowered by her desire for it to be ok, Entei heated its mane so much that Sonic was forced to let go. Entei kicked him to the opening that had been created when Ash was thrown off the room. Sonic barely managed to hang on and climb back out but by that time Entei had defeated everyone else and was the last pokemon standing. Even raichu had fallen.

Entei saw him climb back up and turned towards him.

"You don't know when to quit do you?" it growled towards Sonic.

"… not really no".

"Papa make him leave!" Molly declared still fearing Sonic had the power to take her Mama and Papa away from her.

Entei obeyed. It created a small firewall between it and Sonic and the rest of the group. It then took a predator stance and eyed Sonic.

"Step back".

Sonic's eyes widened in shock.

"W… what?"

"Step back. Now!"

Sonic looked over his shoulder. The fall would be lethal.

At that moment Misty and Brock finally made it to the room to witness the scene.

"We have to stop it!" Brock tried to rally them.

"With what?" Ash asked in despair "even Sonic's Raichu fainted!"

"Molly please stop your Papa" Delia pleaded.

"Make him leave Papa! Make him go away!"

"You heard Molly! Step back!"

"There is no room to back up" Sonic tried to explain.

Entei took a step forward and Sonic instinctively took a step back almost falling off.

"Step. Back" Entei growled one last time.

Sonic was trying his hardest not to panic as he looked over his shoulder down in hope there was somewhere to jump to.

Until he heard a familiar cry. Looking up still over his shoulder, he saw a familiar pair of fiery wings heading his way.

Sonic first gasped. Then he slowly turned to Entei. While he turned his shocked gasped expression turned into wild confidence with a smile.

"You want me to Step back Entei?"

"Sonic what are you doing?" Ash asked him thinking he heard wrong.

"Step back now!" Entei repeated.

Sonic still smiling lifted his hands in a manner that stated 'if you say so'.

"If that is what you wish Entei" Sonic slightly mocked it "very well" before taking a step back and falling off.

"NOOOO!" Ash screamed in shock. Knuckles on the other hand was calm hoping Sonic had a plan.

Entei was taken aback. After all of that blue hedgehog's foolish stubbornness he went out on his own?

Regardless it turner back to deal with the rest of the intruders.

"Your friend is gone. And if you don't want to share his fate, leave Molly alone now!"

The temperature in the room started rising.

But Entei wasn't the one creating it.

A bright orange glow illuminated the room.

"HEY ENTEI!"

Everyone including Entei turned to the source of the glow as well as the yell.

Outside the opening was Sonic, riding his trusted Moltres that had come to save him all the way from Kanto.

"Rai rai!" Raichu cried out in relief and overjoyed to see both its trainer alive and its friend joining the party.

Entei locked eyes with Sonic, too stunned to speak.

"What do you say we really play with fire now?!" Sonic challenged it.

Entei roared and unleashed a sacred fire. Moltres dodged the attack as it carried Sonic higher into the sky. Entei jumped on the rooftops on the mansion in pursuit.

The legendary battle was observed by the rest of the operation group to rescue Molly including Tails and Oak. Tails especially was in awe of Moltres coming all the way from Kanto and being able to go toe to toe with Entei.

Moltres and Entei exchanged several blasts, which included flamethrower duels, sacred fire near misses and many successful air slash strikes.

"This could go on forever" Sonic said as they dodged another attack "I kinda regret rounding you up so much. You got nothing to strike Entei with".

Moltres cried out in response looking back at Sonic.

"Wait… you don't mean… Mewtwo helped you remember that move?"

Moltres blinked indicating that was the case.

"Great. Then get ready. We end this with one strike!"

Entei jumped in front of them and unleashed another flamethrower.

"Bait it over Molly's room!" Sonic told Moltres.

Moltres dodged the incoming attacks, showing the utmost patience until Entei jumped on the roof over Molly's room.

"NOW! Solar beam!"

Moltres fired the bright beam using the sun as a booster. Entei took the attack head on, looking away. When the attack stopped, Sonic and Moltres were gone.

Entei looked left and then right and then up.

His opponents had flown very high and were now skydiving towards him.

Entei's eyes flared with anger and it released the strongest sacred fire it could.

"Moltres now! Use ancient power while barrel rolling!"

Moltres did just that. A barrabe of rocks created by the ancient power colllided with the sacred fire, causing to dissolve after a while. When the attack was completely dissolved, all Entei managed to see, was the black eyes of Moltres right in front of it for a moment before the legendary bird slammed the legendary beast through the roof.

Everyone took cover from the cloud of dust. When the dust settled, Sonic and Moltres were standing victorious, with Entei trapped, its own neck on the mercy of Moltres' sharp talons.

"Papa!" Molly screamed trying to get to Entei but was held back by Delia.

Sonic got off of Moltres, complimenting it on its perfectly executed dive. He then knelt to meet Entei's face.

"It's over Entei. Now be a good illusion and get dispelled. And take all the crystals with you!"

"I can't".

"What?"

"I can't" Entei simply repeated.

Sonic felt his rage built up. Why was Entei not going to stop?

"Moltres. Give our friend Entei here our arguments".

Moltres responded by slightly digging its talons into Entei's neck. Entei roared in pain.

"NOOOOO! STOP! LET PAPA GO!" Molly screamed in despair as she started crying.

Moltres stopped digging into Entei's neck as Sonic motioned to it to stop.

"My patience with you has run thin today Entei. Or should I call you imposter Entei? In any case you will dispell all of this NOW".

"I… can't".

Sonic snapped his fingers and Moltres dug its talons into Entei's neck again.

"PLEASE STOP PLEASE!" Molly kept screaming and crying.

"Knuckles make her stop" Sonic said over his shoulder.

Knuckles didn't move.

He was too stunned to move.

Tails' image of Sonic becoming violent had just taken shape right before his very eyes.

Sonic didn't even bother asking Entei why it kept repeating it could dispell the illusion.

"Last chance Entei" Sonic warned it "Dispell. The. Illusion. Now".

"I can not!" Entei insisted.

That was the last straw.

"Moltres put this faker down"

Moltres hesitated but was about to do it before…

"SONIC ENOUGH!" Knuckles shiuted getting everyone's attention.

"What did you say?" Sonic asked angry.

"I said stop. Entei can't make this all go away".

Sonic looked back at the hurt legendary pokemon.

"It has to be. It's part of all this. It has to be the source as well".

"If that's the case" Knuckles said knowing he would have to play smart "ask it why it can't".

Sonic was perplexed but turned to Entei.

"If you really can't dispell the illusion tell me why".

"I can't… because that's not what Molly wishes".

"Say what?" Sonic asked in shock "you're in control?" he turned to Molly.

Molly was ready to break down.

"Please stop hurting my Papa. Leave us alone!"

"Sonic" Knuckles approached him "don't try that…" he said referring to Moltres still holding down Entei "on Molly. She won't listen".

"We have to make this go away Knuckles. And she can't be left to leave in a dream".

"I know. And I know what to do. But I need to trust me. And not just trust me but do as I say. Everything I say. You understand?"

Sonic looked at Molly and then nodded.

"Alright. First things first. Let Entei go".

"What?"

"I said everything I say".

Sonic hesitated but eventually agreed.

"Moltres let it go".

Moltres released Entei and got next to Sonic. Entei remained there trying to get used to the pain.

Knuckles then took the book with the picture of Entei and the unown and approached Molly.

"Hey there Molly" he said with a smile "I'm sorry about my friend's actions. He didn't mean to harm your Papa".

"Knuckles why are you encouraging…?" Sonic tried to say but Knuckles shushed him.

Ash and his two friends observed all of that with a perplexed look. What was Knuckles aiming for?

"I didn't get a chance to introduce myself earlier. I'm Knuckles".

Molly was slightly hiding behind Delia at this point.

"Your friend is a jerk".

"Yeah" Knuckles agreed giving Sonic a side look of disapproval "he is a bit of a jerk sometimes".

Sonic rolled his eyes.

"I wanted to ask you something before Entei first arrived Molly" Knuckles continued revealing the book "is this your book?"

"… yes".

Knuckles looked at the book with a sad smile.

"What's wrong?" Molly asked him confused.

"I remember this book. Back when I was your age. My own Mama used to read that to me".

"Really?" Molly asked, coming out from behind Delia.

"Yes. Does yours read you that?"

Sonic and Ash shot a look of confusion at each other. Knuckles knew of Molly's mother's disappearence. Yet he was acting like he didn't?

"No" Molly answered saddened "Papa did. Mama has been… for a while… " she tried to explain in a way that wouldn't cause her to have to say her mom was missing "but it's ok now. Papa came back to me as Entei. And brought me a Mama too".

"That's my mo…" Ash tried to argue before Knuckles silenced him with his look.

"I'm happy to hear that Molly. And I'm sorry we barged in like that. We should have first asked you if you were really ok. From how we saw it, we feared Entei was holding you against your will".

"I'm merely here to protect Molly and grant her what she wishes" Entei said.

Knuckles nodded at it. He gave the book to Molly who was now looking at him without a hint of fear.

"Did your Mama read you other stories too?"

Knuckles let a tear slip down his cheek. He had been holding them for a while but for his plan to work he let one slip.

"Mr Knuckles?"

"Sorry" he quickly apologized wiping it "it's just hard to talk about her".

"Why?" Molly asked him.

Knuckles let another tear slip.

"She… is dead Molly. Both her and my Papa. They… had an accident during work".

Molly was horrified.

"I'm sorry to hear that" she tried to comfort Knuckles.

"It's ok" Knuckles said calmly "it doesn't hurt as much anymore".

Molly nodded waiting to see what Knuckles would say.

"When I first heard about you, I feared you would suffer my fate Molly. That you would grow up alone. So I came here. And now I see I have no reason to worry".

Sonic felt the urge to dive off the hole in the wall. Had Knuckles completely lost his mind?

"It was wrong of us to barge in. So we will leave you alone".

"You will?"

"Yes Molly. But before we go… could I ask you to ask Entei something for me?"

"Anything" Molly answered eager for them to go.

Knuckles smiled. His plan was one question away from being a success.

"I want you to ask Entei if it is your Papa".

Molly looked confused for a moment, wondering why Knuckles would have her ask a question with such an obvious answer. Nevertheless she turned to Entei.

"Entei are you my Papa?"

"If that is what you wish".

Sonic smirked. Knuckles had achieved nothing with this question. All he would achieve is forcing Sonic to battle Entei to death again.

When he looked at Knuckles though he found him to be surprisingly calm. Not just calm either.

Confident. As if with every word Molly was speaking he was one step closer to ending all of this.

Molly turned back to Knuckles.

"I asked the question like you asked. Now keep your promise and leave".

Knuckles didn't move. He looked dissatisfied.

"I know Molly. And I intend to. Once Entei gives us a real answer".

"What do you mean a real answer?"

"I mean that Entei didn't really answer the question. Please ask it the question again and this time request it answers with a yes or a no".

Molly immediately got to it.

"Entei are you my Papa, yes or no?"

Entei looked torn after being answered the question. As if there was no way to answer it.

Molly noticed its hesitation.

"Entei why aren't you answering?"

"I am your Papa… if that is what you wish" Entei managed to answer.

Molly almost gasped. Why didn't Entei just answer yes? Looking back at Knuckles he saw him waving his head negatively as if he was sad it had come to this.

Molly turned back to Entei again.

"Entei are you my Papa? Yes or no?"

"I am… if that is what you wish".

Molly started breathing really fast.

"What I wish for is for you to answer like I want you too! Are you my Papa, yes or no?!"

Entei closed its eyes sad.

"….. No"

Molly gasped.

That couldn't be.

Entei was her Papa. He had told her he was Entei. But then again…

"I am your Papa… if that is what you wish".

That was the case all along.

Entei was her Papa. Because she wished it to be. Not because it really was.

Molly knelt as she started crying uncontrollably. Her whole world crumbled under her feet.

Delia moved in to hug her, trying to comfort her as best she could.

Ash, Misty, Brock and Sonic were all moved and saddened by the turn of events. Sonic in particular felt bad for having hurt Entei like that. Causing Molly more sadness before the one she was experiencing right now.

Knuckles moved next to Molly whom Delia was still hugging.

"I'm sorry you had to find out like that Molly. It was the only way I could show you what happened".

Molly looked at him with tears streaming down her cheeks. Knuckles pointed at her book.

"Your Papa was kidnapped by the unown. He accidentally became a sacrifice for them to grant your wishes until the end of time. Entei took his place as the guardian created by the unown. He was… never your Papa. Probably doesn't even know what the word means".

Molly couldn't even go on crying anymore. It was too much.

Her Papa was gone. There was no coming back.

Knuckles closed his eyes sighing in sadness, then got up and headed for the door.

"Mr Knuckles?" Molly looked at him go.

"Knuckles where are you going?" Sonic asked him.

Knuckles met Molly's eyes.

"I'm leaving. Molly asked Entei the question I asked her to ask. And I promised if she did we would leave. So we're leaving".

Everyone in the room was shocked beyond belief. And Molly most of all.

"But… what about… the crystals?" Molly asked Knuckles trying to understand why he was leaving.

"The crystals are connected to your wish for a family Molly" Knuckles explained "so they're staying".

"What?!" everyone gasped.

"Wait so you mean you will force me to leave my mother here?!" Ash asked Knuckles angry.

"Knuckles have you lost it?" Sonic objected as well.

Everyone kept asking Knuckles why he was acting this way, while the latter remained silent.

Until Molly shot up as well.

"Why Mr Knuckles? Didn't you come to get my Mama… I mean that boy's mama back?"

"I did Molly. But seeing what you have now… what I never had the chance of having after my parents… " Knuckles stopped for a moment overwhelmed by the emotions "I can't possibly ask you to let it all go. I know that pain very well. I don't want you to go through it if you can avoid it. So we're going to leave you alone".

"Knuckles listen to yourself!" Sonic tried to reason with his friend "are you really going to condemn all of Greenfield into an eternal crystal wasteland?"

"That is not up to me Sonic. That is up to Molly".

Molly's eyes widened.

"What do you mean Mr Knuckles?"

"It's your choice to make Molly. You can let this all go. The unown and Entei can disappear and the town can return to normal. But the power of wish granting you have now will be lost. You will be alone".

Molly looked down devastated. There was no middle ground.

Knuckles approached her and knelt to meet her eyes.

"It's your choice to make Molly. And no one will judge you for it".

Molly's teary eyes met his.

"Why are you giving me this choice?"

Knuckles didn't answer right away.

"Because… we are alike. But we're not the same. If I was in your shoes… I wouldn't let it all go. But you're not me Molly. I am giving you this choice because I believe you deserve to be the one to make it. And I believe you will choose the right path regardless of which path it is".

Molly looked down again torn between what she thought was right and what she wanted.

"If Papa… Entei goes away… I will be alone" she muttered.

"No Molly" Knuckles countered "you won't be alone. Want to know how I know that?".

Molly nodded.

Knuckles looked at Sonic smiling.

"Because life sent me two amazing friends. And these friends became my brothers. And now I believe life has sent me to you. To be your friend if you choose this path".

He put his hand on her head gently.

"No matter which path you choose you won't be alone little one".

Molly looked at Sonic and then back at Knuckles. She then thought of everyone she knew in Greenfield. What they had lost because of what she wished for.

The people. The Pokemon.

There really was no choice to make here.

"I'll do it Mr Knuckles" she said after a while albeit with tears in her eyes "I wish to end this all".

Sonic thought for a fleeting moment that he saw something like a gleam of triumph in Knuckles' eyes. But only for a moment.

"Very well then" Knuckles said seriously "we need to make our way to the main hall then. The unown are all gathered there. It is where Entei must, under your wish Molly, have them open a portal and walk through. That will cause the unown to return to their dimension as well and revert the crystal transformation".

Molly nodded.

Everyone slowly started making their way out of the room. Knuckles motioned to Sonic to wait for a bit. Ash warned Knuckles that he better be right about that. Eventually Sonic and Knuckles were the only ones left in the room.

"Won't we go down with the others?"

"We will. But first I want you to send Moltres to Tails".

Sonic looked confused for a moment before Knuckles repeated his request.

Moltres, under Sonic's instructions, left the castle and headed to find Tails in the outskirts of the crystal field. Sonic and Knuckles then followed the others.

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm ok" Knuckles answered.

"Man…" Sonic continued "that was all so unexpected. I can't believe you managed to convince her so easily".

"You could have possibly convinced her yourself if you weren't so focused in causing pain to Entei".

Sonic took a guilty expression and then revealed to Knuckles how Entei had created illusionary pokemon for Molly based on his most significant opponents so far. It had manifested Jolty. And that had filled Sonic with rage.

Knuckles understood. It wasn't easy and certainly it would feel like a personal attack.

"At least it's over now. But I can't help but feel sorry for Molly. She is destined to be alone now".

"She won't be" Knuckles answered.

"Knucks" Sonic tried to say before stopping then trying again "look. I am moved that you see me and Tails as your brothers. The feeling is mutual. But your promise to Molly to be her friend… how are you planning to keep it? We have a mission we can't stay here".

"There's a good chance we won't have to".

"What do you mean?"

At that moment they were contacted by Tails who asked them why Moltres had come to him. Knuckles instructed him to ride it and go to the ruins of alph and more specifically to the room they had accidentally discovered. Tails asked why but Knuckles simply said it trust him and go. Tails then signed off and rode Moltres, informing professor oak that the crisis was almost over and that he had his own mission to complete.

"What did you mean that there is a good chance Molly won't have to be alone?" Sonic asked Knuckles once Tails signed off.

"Remember that part of the wall that was destroyed and I couldn't read the rest of the legend back at the ruins?"

"Yes".

"I remembered the rest. The book is based on that legend. The legend ends as follows. If the holder of the power of the unown willingly and selflessly lets the power go, the sacrifice will be reversed".

"You mean that professor Hale will return?!" Sonic asked in shock.

"Not for certain. As I said Molly has to do this not only willingly but selflessly. She is only 5 years old Sonic. Letting go of such basic wishes… is next to impossible even for adults".

Sonic was legitimately saddened to hear that.

"I can only hope this is the case" Knuckles explained "that's why I sent Tails to the ruins".

Eventually the group made it to the room with the unown. Knuckles told Molly that it was time if she was ready and absolutely certain. Molly nodded without hesitation, increasing Knuckles' hope.

Molly had a heart to heart with Entei, thanking it for everything but now it was time to say goodbye. Knuckles was hopeful when she talked to it as Entei instead of Papa. Entei asked her one final time if him and the unown leaving was what she wished. Molly said 'it is'. Entei nodded. Using the power of the unown, he opened a portal. It bid goodbye to everyone and then walked through with the portal closing behind it.

Instantly, the unown started losing power and disappear. Soon enough the crystals started disappearing as well. Before they knew it, Greenfield was back to normal.

Of course upon the end of the crisis the authorities tried to intervene but team Sonic, along with professor Oak explained the situation and quietly got them to leave Molly alone for the time being. Sonic's reputation helped immeasurably.

Afterwards, Ash and his group left to continue their travels, but not before thanking Knuckles for getting him his mother back. Oak and Delia left to return to Kanto as well, at least after Knuckles assured them Molly would be ok.

Team Sonic minus Tails were now left alone with Molly. Knuckles bought her some ice cream and kept her busy, telling her stories about Entei and its two brethren, Raikou and Suicune. In the meantime, Sonic watched with binoculars towards the direction of the ruins of alph.

After a while the pair of fiery wings appeared in the sky.

"Knuckles he is back" Sonic informed Knuckles.

"Is he alone?"

Sonic zoomed in on Moltres. Behind Tails who looked like he was having the time of his life riding Moltres, there was a man behind him.

"No! A man is behind him! It worked!" Sonic yelled in excitement before noticing another detail.

At first it seemed like the man had long wavy hair. That was until Moltres slightly turned and Sonic saw another passenger behind the man.

"Knuckles… I think a woman is also riding on Moltres!"

Knuckles wasn't expecting that.

"Molly?" he turned to the little girl "what did your Mama do when she was still here?"

"She studied the unown like Papa. Why?"

Sonic and Knuckles exchanged a look of shock.

It had worked. Better than they could have ever expected.

Moltres descended and landed. A man and a woman climbed off.

"Molly!" Professor Hale said in relief once he saw his daughter alright".

"Papa!" Molly exclaimed before she noticed Lucy next to Spencer "MAMA!"

The little girl run as fast as she could into her parents' embrace. The latter two knelt and hugged their daughter back, letting go out tears of bliss.

Tails approached his two friends.

"You won't believe what happened. I reached the ruins like you said, kind of forced our way into the chamber and they just appeared!"

"I know" Knuckles simply smiled "I'll let you in on it later".

After the tearful reunion, team Sonic had a chat with Molly's parents explaining what transpired. Spencer and Lucy were eternally grateful to Knuckles for helping Molly.

After the debriefing, the time had finally come for team Sonic to also go on their way. Spencer asked how he could ever thank them and Knuckles remembered something that pushed him to ask a question to Spencer privately.

"Professor… did you have a married couple with the last name the echidna on your research team?"

"Yes i did. How do you know?"

"Could you please tell me how they died?"

Spencer contemplated it for a moment before answering.

"It was an accident. A piece of debris from a ruin site fell on Mr the echidna. His wife unsuccessfully tried to push him out of the way. Tragic loss. Their 5 year old boy was left alone that day".

Knuckles teared up when he heard.

"What were they to you young man?"

"…my parents".

Spencer was shocked by the revelation and the game fate had played with them.

The son of two researchers on his team saving his daughter from the fate he was forced into that fateful day.

"I… i don't know what to say".

"You don't have to say anything professor. Thank you for telling me" Knuckles simply said and went to join I is two friends.

Spencer stood by his wife and daughter who was still holding the book about Entei.

"Papa where are they going?"

"On their path Molly".

Molly looked at Knuckles leaving. But she couldn't let him leave yet.

Dashing off she ran after team Sonjc.

"Mr Knuckles please wait!"

Team Sonic were surprised Molly came after them. Knuckles turned and knelt to meet her eyes.

"What is it Molly?" he asked gently.

Molly then pushed the book towards him.

"I want you to take this".

Knuckles was taken aback.

"I can't take that" he said in surprise "that's your book. The one your Papa read you".

"Papa is back now. And so is Mama" Molly looked back at her parents in pure happiness "but yours are not. So I want you to have it".

Knuckles was deeply moved.

"Are you sure? Absolutely sure?"

"Yes. Take it. So you can feel as if your Mama is still with you".

Knuckles slowly took the book as he was brought to tears again.

"My Mama is always with me Molly. And so is my Papa. Still… thank you. I promise to cherish this my little friend".

Molly smiled her sweetest smile and then wrapped her hands around Knuckles hugging him tightly. Knuckles wasn't expecting a hug but reciprocated.

After they broke off the hug, team Sonic finally went on their way, following the setting sun. Molly and her family waved them goodbye wishing them luck on their journey.

Team Sonic left Greenfield, more united than when they arrived.

"Knuckles?" Tails asked him hesitantly "we're you able to help Molly successfully because…"

"Because I could really understand her pain? Yes. I saw myself in her".

"Man I wish we knew… we could have been there for you man" Sonic said.

"You have been. And I promise you right now you will know. Once I fill ready enough, I will tell you all about my past. You are my brothers. So you deserve to know".

"You don't have to" Tails looked at his friend.

"I don't. But I want to".

Sonic and Tails smiled at their friend as the team began making jokes to lighten the mood.

From far away, the real Entei along with Raikou and Suicune observed the three friends walk off, seeing them grow a considerable amount to the heroes they would become sooner than they thought.