Meowth had long since grown accustomed to Mew's childlike personality. Thus, when Mew claimed it simply "forgot" to use Teleport, he wasn't entirely surprised.
What he wanted to know now was the whereabouts of Jessie and James! Why were only the tanned woman and the brat left?
"Jessie and the others..." Ash's hesitation gave Meowth a sinking feeling, and Kidd's face darkened with guilt. "Actually, May and Max also..."
Before they could explain further, Regice and the other two Titans caught up. Ash and Meowth had no choice but to run for their lives.
On the way, Ash pressed Kidd for the truth. Kidd looked at him, but "someone" else answered for her. As they ran, several more orange-liquid entities lunged at them from ahead.
"May and the others... were absorbed by that thing." "What!?" Ash clenched his fists, unable to believe it. May, Max, Brock—all of them? "Does that mean Jessie and James, too?" Kidd nodded grimly.
Although she was shocked that Meowth could speak, now was not the time for questions. The pair Meowth mentioned were undoubtedly the first man and woman swallowed.
"Ash, we have to get out first! Only then can we find a way to save them! This way!" Ash suppressed his inner turmoil.
If even he fell here, who would save the others? Guided by Banks, they finally found an exit. Just as Lucario prepared to jump, Registeel burst from a side tunnel and tightly bound Lucario! Its strength was immense; even Lucario couldn't break free immediately.
Ash moved to help, but the ubiquitous orange liquid struck again. Kidd and Ash were caught off guard and completely engulfed! 'Ash!' Seeing Ash in danger, Lucario erupted with all his power, finally prying Registeel's arms apart.
But... it was too late. Before vanishing, Ash and Kidd released all their Pokémon.
Grovyle and Pikachu tried to pull Ash out of the swamp-like liquid, but their strength was insignificant. Their trainer vanished right before their eyes.
Lucario walked slowly to where Ash had disappeared, his face filled with disbelief and agony. First Aaron, and now Ash... the boy who shared Aaron's Aura, the boy who called him a friend, was gone.
Pikachu, Swellow, Phanpy... their eyes welled up with tears. They wept openly.
[Eleesa: Waaaah ┭┮﹏┭┮! Seeing Pikachu cry hurts so much! Ash, come back quickly!]
[Diantha: It shouldn't be long. Ash will be back soon!]
[Catlin: Technically, Ash died again, right? He'll probably be revived by some miracle. Being a "Super Pallet Town Human" sure is a path of suffering~]
[Cynthia: Pikachu looks so heartbroken. If Ash were truly gone, I doubt he could go on alone.]
[Professor Oak: Their bond is unbreakable. I can only imagine how Lucario will feel when he finally learns the truth...]
If Lucario remained in the dark, it would be too cruel; yet, if he learned that his master sacrificed himself specifically for him and the kingdom, the guilt would be a crushing blow.
In the footage—
Mew watched the weeping Pikachu, unsure how to comfort him. It brought Ash's dropped hat to Pikachu, who was gesturing and crying.
Even without Meowth's translation, everyone knew what he was saying: 'I don't want the hat! I just want Ash back!'
Unable to bear Pikachu's sadness, Mew closed its eyes. It began to channel the power of the Tree of Beginning.
The two shared a symbiotic bond—Mew was the Tree, and the Tree was Mew. Under Mew's direction, the entire Tree glowed with a brilliant emerald light. The blue crystals turned jade green.
To Pikachu's stunned amazement, two masses of green liquid rose from the ground. Kidd and Ash reappeared! Pikachu lunged forward, hugging Ash with tear-filled eyes.
According to Meowth, Mew informed the Tree that they weren't "bacteria" just before the Tree could digest them. Ash and Kidd were profoundly grateful to the little Pokémon.
[Lance: I didn't expect the tragedy to be resolved so quickly!]
[Wallace: All thanks to little Mew! Cute, kind, and powerful—the ultimate Pokémon!]
[Catlin: Aah~ I want a Mew to soothe my tired soul!]
[Sabrina: Didn't you want Mewtwo before? Fickle woman.]
[Sabrina: Besides, even if Mew chose a trainer, it would be Ash. Look how much it likes him.]
In the footage—
Just as everyone was celebrating, the situation took a turn for the worse. When Mew tried to bring Ash his hat, it suddenly lost the power to float and tumbled to the ground.
The surrounding crystals, which had been jade green, turned a dangerous, sickly orange before turning black like ash and crumbling.
Kidd contacted Banks. The conclusion? The Tree's "overactive" immune response against the intruders had caused a massive energy failure. In short, Anaphylactic Shock. The Tree was dying, and with it, Mew would perish too.
[Lance: ...Seriously? The Tree caught a few people, and now it's dying of an allergy? It's more fragile than a human!]
[Drasna: Perhaps that's why it needs the three Titans. Its internal defense system is actually quite flawed.]
[Diantha: Wait, is Lance's "jinx" taking effect again?][Lance: Hey! Don't persecute me! I just said it was resolved quickly!]
In the footage—
The Tree began to "burn" from the inside. Thick black smoke billowed out, affecting even Cameron Palace. Queen Ilene watched the horizon with worry. Inside, Mew was failing.
"Mew~" The weakened Mew used its last strength to float and gestured for Ash to follow. They reached a location where the light was more intense than anywhere else—the "Heart" of the Tree. In the center, a crystal pulsed with raw, red energy.
"What is this place..." "Grrr!" Lucario suddenly roared, his telepathy failing in his shock. "What's wrong, Lucario?" 'That...'
Lucario rushed toward a crystal where a pair of gauntlets hung. He picked them up, his hands shaking. Inside the crystal was a human silhouette. "These are Sir Aaron's gauntlets!" "Why would Aaron's gear be here?"
Lucario channeled his Aura, and the crystal resonated, revealing a blue phantom of the man inside. "It seems Aaron came here after sealing you," Kidd speculated. "This must be the heart of the Tree. But what was he doing?"
Ash noticed a Time Flower. He held Mew in one arm and touched the flower with the other. His massive Aura triggered the vision. The world dimmed as the past reappeared.
"Mew! Come out! I know you're here!" A cry echoed from above. A massive bird with rainbow feathers landed on a ledge. Ho-Oh?!
[Lance: What the—! Ho-Oh?!]
[Professor Oak: Legend says Mew has the DNA of all Pokémon. It can transform. This Ho-Oh is almost certainly Mew in disguise.]
[Cynthia: Mew is quite mischievous, flying around as Ho-Oh. But the Ho-Oh Ash saw in the real world... that one dropped a feather. Haha~]
In the footage—
As Professor Oak surmised, the "Ho-Oh" transformed back into Mew and floated down to Aaron. "Mew, I know you and the Tree are one! Please, lend me your power!" "Mew?" "I am willing to use all my Aura to stop this war!
With my Aura and the Tree's power, we can do it!" "Mew..." "If it means stopping this senseless war, I don't care if I sacrifice my life! Let us begin, Mew!" "Aura is with me!"
Aaron placed his left hand on his heart and his right toward Mew. His gauntlets erupted in light, releasing a colossal sphere of Aura that enveloped Mew.
The energy surged through the entire Tree. With this boost, Mew stabilized the world and ended the war. As the light faded, the vision ended.
The truth was finally revealed: Sir Aaron hadn't betrayed anyone. He had given his life to save the kingdom and the Pokémon he loved.
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