Seeing the boy on screen—
Wearing a cap, carrying a backpack, with a Pikachu on his shoulder—
Professor Oak rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
He looked at the screen.
Then at the boy beside him—
Ash, lying on the grass with Gary, watching the video.
Back and forth.
Again and again.
The more he looked—
The more identical they seemed.
"…That's just Ash."
It was practically the same face.
Almost like a perfect copy.
Well—
Not completely.
The boy in the video had lost the childishness in his features.
He looked older.
More mature.
"Ash… do you have an older brother?"
Professor Oak couldn't help but ask.
"Yeah, Ash! That guy looks just like you—just taller!"
Gary chimed in.
Ash blinked in confusion and shook his head.
"No? My parents never said I had a brother. I'm an only child."
Professor Oak frowned.
That ruled it out.
Then who—
Was that boy?
A distant relative?
"Hahaha! Maybe that's what you'll look like when you grow up!"
Gary laughed.
"But he still looks kinda dumb!"
"No way! My future ace Pokémon would never be Pikachu!"
Ash puffed up.
"Charizard is the coolest! I'm picking Charmander!"
The childish argument—
But to Professor Oak—
It was a revelation.
"Of course…"
"Future Ash."
The creator—Rin Aokawa—
Could show scenes from the distant past:
Groudon and Kyogre shaping the world.
Ho-Oh reviving the Legendary Beasts.
Then—
Why couldn't he also show the future?
Professor Oak stared at Ash.
"So in the future… you'll be chosen by Ho-Oh?"
"Given its sacred feather…"
Back to the Video
The scene shifted.
A mountain peak.
All around—
Pokémon lay scattered across the ground.
Unconscious.
Ash and Pikachu stood in the center—
Breathing heavily.
Clearly—
They had defeated all of them.
"Marshadow! Stop this!"
"Give Ho-Oh's feather back!"
Ten meters away—
Within the shadows—
A small Pokémon stood.
Its body was shrouded in mist.
It looked like a small humanoid figure.
Its eyes flickered like candle flames.
And atop its head—
A flame-like crest.
"What… is that Pokémon?"
"Marshadow?"
The Pokémon world was stunned once again.
Another completely unknown species.
"Pikachu—Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu dashed forward—
Crackling with electricity.
A powerful bolt surged outward.
Professor Oak's eyes narrowed.
"That power…"
"That's far beyond what a normal Pikachu should be capable of."
But—
The attack missed.
Marshadow melted into the shadows beneath the ground—
Vanishing instantly.
Then—
It reappeared from the shadow of a crystal on the mountain—
Looking down at Ash.
A strange, purple aura surrounded it.
Sinister.
Oppressive.
Even through the screen—
It made people uncomfortable.
Then—
Everyone noticed.
In its hand—
Was a feather.
"…Is that Ho-Oh's feather?"
Professor Okamaki frowned.
Because—
That feather—
Was dull.
Blackened.
Wasn't Ho-Oh's feather supposed to be radiant and rainbow-colored?
Subtitles appeared.
[If Ho-Oh's feather is held by one pure of heart, it shines with rainbow light]
[But if held by one with impure intentions, the feather becomes corrupted and dark]
The mystery was solved.
That was why—
The feather had turned black.
[Marshadow has gained immense power from Ho-Oh's feather]
[It used that power to control all Pokémon across the mountain]
The camera pulled back—
Revealing a full aerial view.
"…Hiss—"
Everyone sucked in a breath.
The entire mountain—
Was covered—
With Pokémon.
Countless.
Endless.
Their eyes glowed purple.
Controlled.
This boy—
Was facing all of them alone?!
The Assault Begins
Marshadow stared at Ash—
Then swung the corrupted feather.
BOOM—!!!
In an instant—
The entire swarm surged forward.
Even across dimensions—
People felt their scalps go numb.
That overwhelming charge—
Like a tidal wave of beasts.
And yet—
The boy on screen—
Did not show even a trace of fear.
"Pikachu—Quick Attack!"
He commanded calmly.
Fighting while retreating—
Dodging—
Countering—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions rang out endlessly.
Energy attacks of every color filled the battlefield.
Ash and Pikachu were incredibly strong.
Each strike—
Could knock down large groups instantly.
For a time—
No Pokémon could even approach within dozens of meters.
[Seeing that the boy and Pikachu could not be defeated]
[Marshadow decides to act personally]
"Marsha—!!!"
A terrifying aura erupted from its body.
The entire mountain trembled.
Everyone was shocked.
"That little thing is THIS strong?!"
"I thought it wasn't a fighter!"
Now—
They finally understood.
This was no ordinary Pokémon.
This—
Was something far more dangerous.