That night, everyone watched the fleeting Millennium Comet together. May folded the sixth star of her Wish-Fulfilling Star as they enjoyed the peaceful, starry sky.
The next day, Jirachi had recovered all of its power, but it was also set to begin its thousand-year slumber after today. Ash and his friends woke up early and headed deep into Forina, but the dense forest made it hard for them to find the right direction.
Just then, Ash sensed a familiar aura. "Awoo~" Absol suddenly appeared before them and signaled for them to follow!
With Absol leading the way, things went much more smoothly. They traveled from day to evening, finally reaching a tall cliff. Along the path, many Pokémon appeared to welcome Jirachi's return!
"Wow, look! It's a Flygon!" Max said, pointing to the Pokémon on the large rock in surprise.
May looked around at the atmosphere. "It seems like everyone is here to welcome Jirachi back!"
Ash and the others then followed Absol into a deep cave, which opened into a large, open-air grotto. "It's right in here, where Jirachi has been sleeping all this time!" Diane confirmed, looking at their surroundings.
Absol looked up, motioned for Ash and the others to look up, then ran off into the darkness and disappeared. Ash and his friends looked up through the giant hole in the cave ceiling, and they could perfectly see the dazzling Millennium Comet.
"The stars are calling me..." With that, Jirachi began to slowly float up. "Jirachi..." Suddenly, Max hugged Jirachi tightly. "I don't want to be separated from Jirachi!!"
Jirachi was stunned and looked at Max. "Max..."
??o·(????????????)?o·? This time, Max let all his sadness out, crying out, "We just became friends, and now we have to say goodbye! I don't want to!"
No one knew what to say. After all, this separation from Jirachi would be a final farewell!! Everyone was sad.
"The stars are calling me..." Unfortunately, this couldn't stop Jirachi from fulfilling its duty. It slowly floated up into the air and rested in front of the Millennium Comet!
"The 'True Eye' is opening!" Diane said with a sigh.
"The 'True Eye'?" The group was confused. Whoa, she had another secret up her sleeve!
Diane quickly explained, "When Jirachi summons energy from the Millennium Comet, it opens its 'True Eye'!"
Everyone looked on curiously. The black slit on Jirachi's stomach slowly opened like an eye!
Diane gave a detailed explanation. "During its thousand-year slumber, Jirachi slowly injects the energy it absorbs from the comet into the ground! That's how Forina is able to have such rich vegetation!"
Everyone suddenly understood. So this forest was created by Jirachi!
They watched as the eye on Jirachi's stomach fully opened, ready to absorb energy and fall into slumber again, when something unexpected happened!
"Oh no! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash quickly commanded. "Pikachu" But it was too late!
From the rock walls around them, four steel pillars shot out. They created a purple laser that formed a force field around Jirachi. Pikachu's electric attack was blocked, and Jirachi was pulled into the air!
"Jirachi! Dammit! It's a trap!!" everyone shouted!
Just then, a black cloth fell from the ceiling, and the opening suddenly grew wider. A round steel platform, held up by chains connected to the stone pillars around it, was suspended in the air! On it stood Butler in a tuxedo, holding his magic wand. "Everyone! Welcome to a magic show by the one and only true great magician, Butler!"
Diane asked, shocked, "Butler! How did you know about this place?"
Everyone first looked at Diane with suspicion, since she was the only one who knew their location! But they quickly dismissed the thought. They had been with Diane the whole time and hadn't noticed anything unusual!
Ash shook his head and said, "He discovered Jirachi here and took it away. It's only natural that he would guess this was the place. We were just careless!"
Butler laughed with a smug expression. "That's right. In order to open Jirachi's heart and gain its trust, your friendship was the most effective method. You were the biggest trap I set for Jirachi!"
"Butler! Don't be so stubborn!" Diane looked at Butler furiously!
"Diane, I'm sure you'll understand me once my experiment succeeds." Butler waved his hand and pressed a button. Purple energy rays shot out again, creating a force field that trapped Ash and his friends!
"Everyone! The climax is about to begin! Please enjoy this great performance to the fullest!!"
"No way! You won't get away with this! Everyone, come on out!" Ash released all of his Pokémon. Brock and May also sent out theirs!
The group of Pokémon all attacked the force field together!
Meanwhile, Butler had already transferred Jirachi to a device that would attract the comet's energy. On the other side of the device, he placed a stone shard from Groudon's body!
The "True Eye" on Jirachi's stomach opened again, and a shining beam of light shot out, connecting with the Millennium Comet!
Butler shouted manically, "Team Magma, watch me! Groudon is about to be revived!"
Just then, Absol and Flygon arrived. With the combined effort of all the Pokémon, they finally broke through the force field.
Ash got on Charizard, Pikachu got on Pidgeot, and Max, refusing to be left behind, got on Flygon!
By the time Ash flew onto the steel platform, the Groudon pattern on the ground was almost complete!
Butler was still shouting manically, "Revive, Groudon! Only your revival can prove that my theory is correct!!"
"Jirachi!" Max yelled out!
"Hmph, so annoying! Salamence, get rid of them!" Butler threw a Poké Ball, releasing a Salamence!
[Salamence]
[Strength: Pseudo-Champion-level - Mid stage]
Ash had Pidgeot and Pikachu battle Salamence, while he had Charizard and Flygon seize the opportunity to destroy the device and save Jirachi!
Butler looked at the now-complete Groudon pattern on the ground and laughed maniacally. "Hahaha! It's too late!"
"Jirachi, are you okay? Hang in there!" Max asked, holding Jirachi with concern.
At this moment, the "True Eye" on Jirachi's stomach closed, and Jirachi woke up.
Jirachi smiled. "Max... Ash..."
"Jirachi, it's so great that you're okay!"
Ash and Max then regrouped with Brock, May, and Diane. "That's great! Everyone's okay!" May said, relieved to see Ash and Max safely back!
Just then, the pattern on the ground began to slowly gather together. A gigantic, dinosaur-like creature, protected by red scales with blue stripes all over its body, its crimson eyes filled with ferocity, appeared!
"What? Is that Groudon?!" Butler froze. This was not what he had imagined.
"Is that Groudon?" May asked, pointing at the large creature.
"No, that's not Groudon! It's just a monster that looks like it. It has power but no soul!" Ash shook his head.
[Ground Monster ○ Groudon]
[Type: Ground]
[Strength: Champion-level - Early stage]
The monster began to move, and the nearby trees started to wither rapidly.
Brock said in horror, "Oh no, the trees are withering!"
"That monster is constantly absorbing the energy of the earth! We have to stop it!" Ash said grimly.
Absol tried to stop it, but its attacks had no effect. Instead, it was swallowed! The monster began to continuously absorb Pokémon from the forest, and its power began to increase!
Ash and the others went to the cliff where Butler was. Butler was frozen in place, his eyes blankly staring at the monster. Diane walked up to Butler and angrily questioned him, "Butler, is this what you've been so obsessed with?"
Butler shook his head, his gaze vacant. "No, this isn't what I wanted to revive!"
The monster continued to release tentacles to devour things. It accidentally affected Team Rocket, who were watching the show, and they were swallowed up!
"How could something so terrifying be Groudon? No! It shouldn't be like this!" Butler clutched his head and staggered back a few steps. Suddenly, a tentacle shot out toward him. Diane didn't hesitate and rushed forward, pushing Butler out of the way, but she was caught by the tentacle!
"Diane!" Butler exclaimed, reaching out to grab her.
Diane gave her a final confession before she was swallowed. "Butler, I truly and sincerely love you! Live on!" With that, she was swallowed.
"DIANE—" Butler cried out in agony.
"Don't worry! Ms. Diane will be fine, as long as we defeat this monster!" Ash said, comforting him. The main character, the Team Rocket trio, was also swallowed. With their plot armor, they'll definitely be okay!
Just then, more tentacles shot out. Ash and his friends got on their flying Pokémon and dodged them!
"That thing wants Jirachi's energy!" Butler came to his senses completely. He looked at Ash with red eyes and shouted, "Ash, I'm begging you, I have to get Diane back!"
To be continued...