One of Cyrus's scientists placed the red crystals on the heads of Azelf and the others one by one.
"Let me see the power of the Red Chain."
After saying this, he let out a lewd laugh.
The red crystals stuck tightly to the heads of Azelf and the others; their petrified state began to vanish, returning to normal, with red light glowing in their eyes.
Gengar looked at the now unconscious Azelf and the others, observing the red crystals on their foreheads.
It wondered if simply destroying these red crystals would restore them to their original state.
Gengar quietly slipped into the shadows, preparing to sneak over.
"Who's there?!"
Mars suddenly looked in Gengar's direction.
Gengar: ?! I've been discovered?! Gengar was shocked.
Just as it was about to emerge from the shadows, it suddenly saw Ash and the others appear before it.
Gengar: ?! How did they suddenly appear?
Realizing that Team Galactic wasn't talking about it, Gengar continued to hide in the shadows, waiting for the right opportunity.
"What have you done to Azelf?"
Ash looked at the unconscious Azelf and the others, questioning Saturn and the others.
Mars and the others stopped wasting words with Ash and his friends and directly threw their Poké Balls.
Purugly, Skuntank, and Toxicroak appeared before Ash and his friends.
Ash then summoned his own Pokémon.
"Everyone, let's attack together and save the Lake Guardians."
Brock and Dawn nodded.
Taking advantage of the chaotic battle, Gengar stealthily moved through the shadows.
However, Ash and his friends' strength was ultimately no match for Team Galactic commanders like Mars, and they were quickly defeated and captured.
Just as Mars was about to finish them off, Cyrus called a halt.
Cyrus walked up to Ash and the others, who looked at him in disbelief.
"How is this possible——"
Dawn muttered to herself.
"Boss Cyrus, why are you doing this?!"
Ash questioned Cyrus loudly, unable to believe it.
Cyrus smiled, then looked at the unconscious Azelf and the others. "See? This is the humanity you chose; forever lacking reason and emotion."
Then Cyrus looked at Ash and the others. "I just want to realize my ideal."
"But why are you mixed up with Team Galactic?"
Listening to Dawn's words, Cyrus glanced at Saturn and the others beside him. "I am the leader of Team Galactic."
"All the plans were arranged by me."
After saying this, Cyrus had Mars tie up Ash and the others, then took Azelf and the others toward the door behind him.
Meanwhile, outside the Team Galactic base at Mt. Coronet.
Jessie and James transformed themselves, disguising themselves as Team Galactic members.
Accompanied by the International Police officer named Looker, they were crouching in front of the Team Galactic base.
Cyrus and his group descended from the airship with the Lake Guardians, arrived at a door, and looked at the disguised Jessie and the others.
He glanced at Mars.
Mars threw a Poké Ball, and Skuntank immediately used Flamethrower, blasting Jessie and the others back to their original forms.
Cyrus ignored Jessie and the others, instead ordering Saturn to use the Galactic Key to open the door in front of them.
Gengar watched as they took the Lake Guardians inside the opened door, then looked at Jessie and the others who were still with Ash and the group.
After hesitating for a moment, it finally chose to save Jessie and the others.
Jessie was thrown into a sealed room by Jupiter.
Ash and the others walked over. "Jessie, James, Meowth, why are you here?"
"And Mr. Looker?"
Ash asked in surprise.
"We were originally trying to sneak into the Team Galactic base during the chaos, but we got caught, Meowth."
Meowth explained.
"Where did they go?"
Ash asked hurriedly.
"They seemed to use a strange key, placed it on a strange stone, opened a door, and walked inside."
James recalled and said.
"Damn it, is there really no way?"
Ash's head throbbed again, and he hammered the wall, gritting his teeth.
Just as everyone was at a loss, a sound rang out.
"Gengar!"
"You guys are here."
Ash and the others were overjoyed when they heard the sound.
Just as Looker was guarding the surroundings, a figure emerged from the wall.
"Gengar, why are you here?"
Ash asked hurriedly.
"Gengar, can you save us? We must stop Team Galactic."
Gengar grinned, then its whole body phased inside. It came to the door, returned all their Poké Balls to them, and finally told them to step back.
A huge Shadow Ball gathered in its hand.
"Gengar!"
The Shadow Ball flew toward the iron door. After an explosion, the locked door was completely destroyed by Gengar.
"Gengar! Let's go."
Then it led the way, floating out.
The Team Galactic grunts they passed were all afflicted with paralysis, Hypnosis, and poison.
Ash and the others followed behind Gengar.
"Whose Pokémon is this? How did it appear here?"
Looker asked Ash while they were hurrying along.
Before Ash could speak, Jessie spoke up first.
"It's our Manager's Pokémon. Its presence here means, could the Manager be nearby too?"
Jessie suddenly realized this as she spoke, then looked around, but didn't see Lucas.
"Yes, Mr. Looker, Gengar is Lucas's Pokémon. It's very strong. Maybe Lucas sent it here to save us."
Ash said, while letting Pikachu use Thunderbolt.
On the other side, Jupiter was guarding the entrance, still feeling indignant.
"Why do I have to be the one keeping watch?"
After saying this, she hit the car door hard with her hand.
The next second, a meteor rushed over.
Skuntank blocked in front of Jupiter. As the smoke cleared, Jupiter climbed up from the ground. The car beside her had been knocked away, and Skuntank had lost the ability to battle.
Cynthia got out of the car, glanced at the open door, and then looked at Jupiter.
Just as Jupiter was about to throw a Poké Ball, Garchomp held its scythe against her neck.
The Team Galactic members were all awakened by the commotion and gathered around one after another.
Jupiter raised her hands, looking at Cynthia.
"Has Champion Cynthia arrived too? It's a pity it's already too late."
Cynthia looked at the Team Galactic members surrounding her, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Ms. Cynthia."
Ash's voice rang out, and Cynthia looked over.
Finding it was Ash and the others, she had Pikachu and Piplup break through the encirclement, run in, and stand beside her.
Cynthia stared, somewhat dazed, at Gengar, who was grinning at her beside Ash.
"Why are you here?"
"Huh? Me? I don't know either. We were suddenly teleported here. Later we were captured, and it was Gengar who saved us."
Cynthia nodded.
"Gengar!"
"Came here following them."
Cynthia angrily tugged at Gengar's mouth, then finally looked at the surrounding Team Galactic members.
"Champion Cynthia, we must go in and stop them as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable."
Listening to the International Police officer Looker's words, Cynthia hummed in agreement, then had Garchomp knock Jupiter unconscious and prepared for battle.
"Blizzard."
A voice rang out from above them, and a Blizzard instantly froze some of the members into ice sculptures.
"Lucas."
"Manager, you're finally here, wuwuwu."
Ash and the others were very happy to see Lucas, while Jessie and the others hugged each other and cried bitterly.
Cynthia looked at Lucas sitting on Articuno, not saying a word.
Lucas felt a bit guilty, but when he saw the door on the stone wall, he said, "Cynthia, go."
"Ash, follow behind Ms. Cynthia and go stop Team Galactic's actions."
"Leave this place to me."
Lucas threw a Poké Ball, and with a powerful punch, he sent the Skuntank flying.
Ninetales used Flamethrower, instantly turning the Golbat into a roasted bat.
Under Gothitelle's Gravity, all the Golbat fell to the ground, and Lilligant's Leaf Storm swept them all away.
Seeing this, Cynthia and Garchomp exchanged glances, then turned and left.
"Let's go."
"Okay."
When Cynthia reached the door, she looked back at Lucas. "Be careful."
Lucas heard this and grinned.
"Don't worry, I'm the Manager of the Breeding House."
Cynthia curled the corner of her mouth, then led the way into that door.
After seeing Cynthia and Ash and the others disappear, Lucas looked at Jessie and the others.
"Jessie, James, Meowth, can I ask you guys for a favor?"
Jessie and the others nodded immediately.
"Good, after I knock them out, you guys help me tie them up."
"We're best at this kind of work, Meowth."
Lucas took a deep breath, patted his cheeks, and then said.
"Articuno, Moltres, Zapdos, vent to your heart's content."
Getting off Articuno and sitting on Ninetales' back, Lucas led Gengar and the others to knock out all the Team Galactic members here.
Meanwhile, Moltres and the others were destroying all the facilities outside.
On the other side, Cynthia brought Ash and the others to a place similar to an alternate dimension. Cynthia led the way, running forward, and soon found Cyrus and the others.
Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie were placed by Cyrus on three stone pillars, along with several stones.
When Cyrus saw Cynthia and her group walk in, he suddenly laughed.
Cynthia looked at the setup before her and said coldly, "It's said that the three Pokémon led by Azelf guard the Sinnoh region and can also summon Dialga, who controls time, and Palkia, who controls space. I didn't expect it to be true."
Cyrus opened his palm, revealing the red crystal on it. "Celebrate, for the ideal world I seek is imminent."
Then he had his subordinates start the device. Azelf and the others screamed in pain instantly, and consequently, Ash and the others also clutched their heads and crouched down in pain, screaming out.
Then two light holes slowly opened, and two Pokémon emerged from them, subsequently being bound by a red chain.
Cynthia looked at the Palkia and Dialga before her and couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect that the Pokémon I've dreamed of seeing would be encountered under such conditions."
Then Cynthia's eyes hardened. "So what? I will defeat you completely and save them."
"Garchomp."
Garchomp stood in front of Cynthia, its powerful aura startling all the other Team Galactic members.
"Is this the Champion of the Sinnoh region?"
Saturn swallowed hard and couldn't help but say.
After Ash and the others recovered, Cynthia spoke: "Ash, I am counting on you all to rescue Azelf and the others. Break the red gems on top of their heads."
Ash and the others nodded, then sent out their Pokémon.
Under the cover of Garchomp, Pikachu and the others shattered the red gems on the heads of Azelf and the others. Having regained consciousness, Azelf and the others gathered around Ash and his group.
As for Dialga and Palkia, they began to fight the moment they were summoned.
The resulting shockwaves swept toward Ash and the others.
The Lake Guardians blocked the falling rocks from the sky, but as the second wave of rocks was about to crash down on Ash and his group...
Garchomp flew into the sky and blocked the falling rocks, while the rest were stopped by the suddenly appearing Gothitelle.
Gothitelle unleashed powerful psychic energy, pulverizing all the rocks.
"Ash, try to communicate with Azelf and the others to see if they can send Dialga and Palkia back to where they came from."
Lucas's voice sounded from behind them. Ash and the others turned around and saw Lucas riding over on a tall Ninetales.
Ash nodded, then he, Dawn, and Brock closed their eyes, concentrating on communicating with Azelf and the others.
Lucas arrived beside Cynthia.
"How did you get in here?"
Hearing Cynthia's question, Lucas replied: "I promised Mime Jr. that I would bring Azelf and the others back."
After thinking for a moment, he continued: "Of course, it's mostly because I was worried about you being here alone."
Cynthia laughed, looking slightly annoyed. "Who do you think I am?"
She then shouted out a command.
"Garchomp, Dragon Rush!"
Garchomp fiercely slammed into Dialga, sending it flying.
Watching the blue Pokémon standing on four legs in the air being knocked away, and the white Pokémon standing on two legs, the aura radiating from their massive figures made it hard for Lucas to breathe.
Are these... the legendary Pokémon of Sinnoh, Palkia and Dialga?
Lucas forced himself to stay calm and jumped off Ninetales. Just as he was about to command Gengar, Cynthia pulled him to stand behind her.
"Stay behind me."
Cynthia stood in front of Lucas and said coldly.
The pressure suddenly eased significantly. Lucas took a couple of comfortable breaths, catching a faint scent, and felt somewhat helpless.
I really have been underestimated.
He stood behind Cynthia, looking at the red chains wrapped around Dialga and Palkia, then looked at the stones nearby.
"The Spear Key, Spear Pillar, and Adamant Orb."
I actually forgot about this.
Team Galactic has obtained them all, which means that as long as the Lake Guardians summon Dialga and Palkia, even without them, Cyrus can still use the energy of the Spear Key and the others to control Dialga and Palkia.
Fortunately, Cyrus controlling Palkia and Dialga isn't for the sake of battle, but to pursue his elusive ideal.
Ash, who had been communicating with Azelf and the others, opened his eyes. Azelf and the others flew toward Palkia and Dialga, preparing to send them back.
Just as the bodies of Dialga and Palkia were becoming ethereal, Cyrus clenched his hands, and the red chains on them dragged them back down. They roared in pain.
"Come now, open the door to a new world."
Cyrus commanded Palkia and Dialga.
A void slowly appeared. Lucas only needed one look to know that the Distortion World was on the other side.
Mars happily wanted to follow behind Cyrus, but was shoved away ruthlessly. "This is my new world; you are not worthy to touch it."
Mars looked on in disbelief, while that Team Galactic scientist had already expected this.
"I knew it."
He said softly. Mars wanted to say something, but was held back by Saturn. Saturn shook his head, and Mars had no choice but to give up.
Looking at Cyrus, who was acting like a madman, Lucas said: "Cyrus, I know where the world of your ideals is, but it is definitely not behind you."
Lucas knew where the world without Pokémon was, because that was where he came from.
Cyrus stopped his step into the void. "Shut up! What do you know? You don't understand anything!"
"This world is full of hypocrisy; everywhere is filled with violence and falsehoods. You can stay here and suffer slowly."
After saying this, Cyrus stepped into the light hole.
Lucas watched Cyrus disappear, not knowing what to say.
He had the power to control the two dragons of time and space, yet he was calmly walking to his death just for his own elusive, ideal world.
After Cyrus disappeared, Palkia and Dialga began to erupt.
They began to fight each other.
Professor Rowan watched the storm raging on the peak of Mt. Coronet on the screen, feeling somewhat worried.
"Cynthia, Lucas, can you succeed?"
Professor Rowan muttered to himself.
"We must destroy the chains on them so that Azelf and the others can send them back to where they came from."
Lucas said to Cynthia beside him, and she nodded.
"Ash, do you see the chains on them? Destroy them."
"Understood, Lucas."
"Gothitelle, I'm counting on you to cover us."
Gothitelle nodded and pushed its psychic energy to the limit, surrounding Lucas and the others.
Seeing this, Mars and the others hurriedly left the area. Lucas saw them, but did not bother with them.
"Gengar."
Gengar nodded, spat out, and a stone shone brightly.
Cynthia was stunned for a moment, then laughed. She took out a lipstick and applied a little to her lips.
"Garchomp." "Mega Evolution!" "Our hearts are connected." "Mega Evolution!"
Two extremely intense beams of light enveloped Lucas and Cynthia. The resulting fluctuations made Gothitelle want to curse.
However, it gritted its teeth and stabilized the protective barrier.
As the light faded, Garchomp's aura kept climbing, and it roared toward the sky.
Gengar stepped into the other dimension with its four feet, wearing a smile.
"Draco Meteor!" "Phantom Force!" "Thunderbolt!" "Bubble Beam!" "Poison Jab!"
The chains on Dialga and Palkia were all destroyed, and Dialga had it worse.
It was hit by both Mega Garchomp and Gengar, feeling quite pained.
"Roar!" Why is it me again!
Dialga's emotions exploded, and it fired a Roar of Time toward Palkia.
"Roar!" They hit you, so you hit me?!
It returned with a Spacial Rend.
The dimension showed signs of collapsing under the collision of the two powers.
"Ash!" Lucas roared.
Ash communicated desperately with Azelf.
Finally, just as they wanted to continue fighting, Azelf flew over with Mesprit and Uxie, and they began to circle above their heads.
Just as Dialga and Palkia were disappearing, Dialga roared at Palkia.
"Roar!" You just wait, if I don't beat you to death, I won't be called Dialga.
"Roar!" Do you think I'm afraid of you! Let's fight again in the other dimension!
Lucas felt the sensation transmitted from the bottom of his heart. He glanced at Ash, who was grinning beside him.
Fight again in the other dimension... no way, right?!
Lucas's eyes widened instantly. Even while maintaining the Mega state, his stamina was draining rapidly. Lucas's legs gave out, and with a "poof," Gengar returned to its two-legged state. Just as Lucas was about to hit the ground, he was suddenly nudged upward; Ninetales had placed him on its back.
It couldn't really be because of me, right? That butterfly effect couldn't be me, could it?!
Lucas kept muttering in his heart. If that's really the case, then it's all gone to hell.
Lucas regretted it deeply.
"Great, Ms. Cynthia, and Lucas, we solved it. We successfully rescued Azelf." "And Mesprit." "And Uxie too."
Looking at their happy expressions, Lucas could only smile bitterly.
Cynthia came to his side. "What's wrong? You don't look very happy."
Lucas sighed. "How should I put it..." He rubbed his temples and lay flat on Ninetales' back. "I hope I'm just overthinking it."
At this moment, Mesprit came to Lucas's side, thanking him for coming.
Azelf and Uxie also flew over. "Thank you, Lucas." The sensation echoed in his heart.
Lucas glanced at the Lake Guardians before him, especially Uxie. He had to say, Uxie and Brock were a perfect match. Both were squinty-eyed.
"You're welcome. Thank you all for giving Mime Jr. a good dream. This time, it was Mime Jr. who was worried about you, which is why it asked me to come and check on you," Lucas said.
"A good dream? Did it later turn into a nightmare?" Uxie's gentle voice echoed.
"A nightmare..." Lucas smiled. "But it really likes the new friends it made."
Afterward, Lucas looked at Azelf and the others. "If you don't mind, why not come to the Breeding House and play with Mime Jr. for a while?" Lucas had promised Mime Jr., so he asked Azelf and the others.
Azelf and the others exchanged glances, then nodded. "Yes." "Thank you." Lucas thanked them. Afterward, everyone headed outside.
Professor Rowan breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the storm on Mt. Coronet disappear.
"Professor, it's solved." Lucas's phone rang. After Professor Rowan answered, he heard Lucas's voice coming through.
Professor Rowan laughed and thanked him. "Good work, Lucas." "It was my duty, and Cynthia is here too."
Professor Rowan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "So that's how it is, you kid."
Lucas also laughed heartily. After hanging up the phone, Lucas looked at the tied-up Team Galactic members outside and suddenly remembered something.
"Oh no, I forgot to bring them out." Just as Lucas was about to turn back, he noticed Gengar sticking its head out toward him. Inside were the Spear Key, the Spear Pillar, and the Adamant Orb.
"Gengar!" This? I thought they looked quite valuable, so I swiped them.
Lucas immediately tugged at the corner of Gengar's mouth. "You really are something, Gengar."
Glancing at Cynthia beside him, Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. "It's finally over, everyone.