Barry: That god of space doesn't seem like the kind who'd do something reckless like that.
Bruno: What do you mean, "not reckless"? He's clearly trying to tank it with his body! Are gods really this gutsy?!
Aaron: That kind of brute-force defense… why does it look so familiar?
Barry: It's Ash! Doesn't the way Palkia's taking that Roar of Time look exactly like when Ash took Gengar's Shadow Ball head-on?
Flint: You know what—you're right. It's identical!
And sure enough—Barry's hunch was correct.
After all, Roar of Time is an attack that can erase a Pokémon from the very fabric of time.
Even for a fellow deity like Palkia, taking that hit directly was no easy feat.
Blocking Dialga's strike with the Space Gem was the only option left.
(Though let's be honest—both these gods have questionable battle IQ. Palkia just happens to be the smarter idiot of the two!)
In the footage—
Dialga's Roar of Time struck the Space Gem dead-on.
No black mist erupted this time, but the collision of time and space unleashed a massive shockwave that tore through the void.
Countless Unown emerged from the darkness again, swirling like ancient runes of chaos.
Only when the distortion faded did they vanish once more.
As the light receded, Palkia's figure appeared—bathed in dim radiance.
But then—
the magenta gem on its chest, the very symbol of its power over space, fractured.
Cracks webbed across its surface, and the glow of spatial energy flickered out completely.
And just like that, a battle between two gods became a fight to the death.
Professor Rowan: Oh boy, that's bad. Now I finally understand why the meeting of these two causes "unpredictable consequences"—they literally fight to kill!
Bruno: I can't believe this—why won't that god of space dodge?! He just eats every hit! Doesn't he know how to "Protect"?!
Lance: Maybe it's divine pride! Gods don't dodge!
Bruno: Divine pride my foot—look at that gem! Who knows, maybe everything that happens later starts because of this!
Steven: Don't talk about our Hoenn trio again. Your Sinnoh gods are the real muscleheads! Even Groudon knows to dodge Kyogre's Origin Pulse!
Wallace: True. At least in Hoenn, when land and sea rage, the sky god always shows up to break it up.
Bruno: I guess the space-time duo just have too much ego. There's no god strong enough to make either of them back down.
And Bruno was right.
Dialga and Palkia's battles were all-or-nothing—no mercy, no restraint.
Now that the Space Gem was shattered, the equilibrium of reality itself began to collapse.
This… was the root of all that was to come.
In the footage—
The destruction of the gem sent Palkia into a rage.
It spread its wings and lunged at Dialga.
"Paaa—!"
But strangely, the two gods seemed to reach a silent understanding.
They stopped using Spacial Rend and Roar of Time—instead, they traded Aura Spheres and Hyper Beams, their energies clashing in the dark void.
The battle raged on and on, their forms vanishing into the darkness, leaving only rippling waves of light to mark their conflict.
It was a battle with no end—like an hourglass that had lost its sense of time.
Then, the void went dark once more—
and from that darkness, light bloomed.
A silhouette appeared: a young boy with a Pikachu perched on his cap.
As the sunlight washed over them, their faces became clear—
Ash Ketchum and Pikachu.
After the chaos of the gods' battle, their presence felt like a breath of relief.
With Ash here, things would be okay. They always were.
Gary: As much as I hate to admit it, after everything we've seen, whenever Ash shows up… it just feels like things will turn out fine.
Ash: Hey! Don't say stuff like that—it's embarrassing!
Gary: I wasn't complimenting you!
Sabrina: It's true, though. When I lost myself in Saffron Gym, it was Ash's reckless determination that brought me back.
Ash had that effect—his very presence brought hope.
No matter how dire the crisis, he always found a way to help others.
Whether it was as the Aura Guardian, or now—
Ash always gave everything he had to save the day.
Because… he's Ash.
By now, even the audience had accepted this as fact.
The gods could tear the world apart—but if Ash was here, maybe, just maybe, there was still hope.
In the footage—
Ash, Brock, and a girl in a black skirt were walking down a country path.
"Dawn, our next destination is Alamos Town, right?"
"Yep! They're holding a Contest there, and I have to enter!"
Her voice was soft but confident—sweet, with a hint of mature poise beyond her years.
"Brock, are we close?"
Brock looked up from his magazine and pointed ahead.
"Right there—you can even see it from here."
Sure enough, the faint outlines of a town shimmered on the horizon.
Alamos Town.
Ash and Dawn immediately quickened their pace, leaving Brock behind.
"Pikachu! Once we get there, let's find some strong trainers to battle!"
"Pika—chu!" Pikachu squeaked in agreement.
Dawn kept stride beside Ash, smiling with anticipation.
"I need to prepare for the Contest too… hmm, which dress should I wear this time?"
But just as their excitement peaked—
the road suddenly ended.
The land itself had broken away into a sheer cliff.
"Dawn!"
Ash grabbed her hand just in time, halting her before she stepped over the edge.
Brock finally caught up, scratching his head in embarrassment.
"Uh… I think I read the map wrong."
"You what?!"
"Pika?!"
"Guess we'll have to go all the way back…" Dawn sighed, deflated.
"Yeah… same…" Ash slumped.
Just then—
a woman's voice floated through the air.
"Would you like a ride?"
Ash looked around, puzzled.
There was no one nearby—
until Pikachu tugged on his cap, pointing upward.
A massive green hot air balloon descended from the clouds.
And standing atop it—was a blonde woman waving gracefully.
"Wow…" Brock froze the moment he saw her. His reaction said it all.
Golden curls framed her gentle face—
not as elegant as Cynthia's, perhaps, but warm and inviting in its own way.
"Hi~!" she greeted cheerfully.
Cut to a few moments later—Ash and friends were aboard her balloon.
Brock, unable to hold back any longer, stepped forward.
"My name is Brock! Beautiful lady, may I have the honor of knowing yours?"
"I'm Alice~," she replied, smiling.
"The Alice from Alamos Town?!" Brock's eyes sparkled.
He whipped out a little blue notebook and flipped through it.
"My Beautiful Women Ranking Book… how could I have missed someone like you?!"
He clutched his head dramatically.
"What a failure of a man I am!"
Brock: Miss Alice, I promise—next time we meet, your name will be first in my Beautiful Women Registry!
Misty: You idiot! How is that something to brag about?!
Alice: Oh, don't worry—I actually find him kind of funny~
Brock: M-my lady responded to me…! I'm so honored!
Ash: Wait, Brock, you seriously have a ranking book for women? Why not make one for Trainers instead? I'd totally read that!
Bruno: Haha, that's our Ash—no distractions, just pure love for Pokémon battles!
Meanwhile, in Kanto's Silver Conference town—
the real Ash was watching the footage, his eyes gleaming.
"If there really were a Trainer Ranking list… I'd challenge them all!"
That was Ash's dream—to battle every strong Trainer and become the greatest Pokémon Master.
A true Master always has the heart of a student.
And once he'd defeated them all—
he'd no longer be just a learner… but a legend.
Sitting nearby, Cynthia could practically see the flames of determination rising off him.
"Fiery as ever," she murmured, snapping a photo on her phone.
This side of Ash—so passionate and pure—was truly fascinating.
Back in the footage—
Just when everyone thought Brock had gone too far again,
he suddenly stood straight and declared solemnly,
"You are number one on my list, Miss Alice!"
He bowed at a perfect 90 degrees.
"Please, go out with me!"
But before he could finish—
Croagunk popped out of its Poké Ball,
jabbed him square in the ribs with a Poison Jab,
and down Brock went.
"Paralyzed~"
Croagunk calmly stepped into Brock's spot, hands folded, and bowed apologetically.
"Croa~"
Some things were simply hardwired into a Croagunk's DNA.
"You guys are really something," Alice laughed.
"Sorry about him," Dawn said sheepishly. "That's just how he is."
"I'm Dawn, by the way—heading to Eterna for the Contest!"
"And I'm Ash, this is Pikachu!"
"Nice to meet you both~" Alice replied warmly.
As they drifted through the sky, Alice explained that she was a musician—
her melodies could calm Pokémon and even draw them close.
She plucked a leaf, and with a gentle breath, played a tune that made flocks of Wingull and Pidgey gather around the balloon.
Even Brock, half-conscious from the Poison Jab, stirred awake in awe.
Meanwhile—on another green balloon not far away—
Team Rocket watched through binoculars.
Because where Ash goes… Team Rocket always follows.
Lance: Of course it's Team Rocket again. Where there's Ash, there's them.
Bertha: Do these guys ever work real jobs?! How do they even get paid?!
Denji: Calm down, Bertha!
And thus—Ash Ketchum, the true hero of every crisis,
took the stage once more.
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