Ash looked at the exhausted, battered child—Jirachi—floating in the air. His heart ached.
"Sigh… Everyone, give it your all!"
He turned to May and Brock, handing over Eevee and Jigglypuff. "Take care of these two—they're not strong enough for this fight."
The creature born from Butler's failed resurrection—the Earth Monster—had reached an Elite-tier level. It was mindless, but dangerous. If it absorbed any more power, it could easily reach Champion-level strength… or worse. Time was running out.
Ash took a deep breath and activated the Universal Ring.
"Next lineup: Pidgeot, Charizard, Tyranitar—go!"
He hurled three Mega Evolution Stones into the air. Each Pokémon caught theirs instinctively.
"Let's Mega Evolve—together!"
With a blazing surge of energy, the sky exploded in color.
"Owwwwooo!!""Pidgeoooo~!!""Tyraaaa!!"
From the light emerged Mega Charizard X, Mega Pidgeot, and Mega Tyranitar, all glowing with newly awakened might. The three launched toward the monster, their attacks shaking the air.
"Pikachu, it's Ground-type—electric moves won't work.""Let's change that."
Ash activated the Tera Orb, energy crackling in his palm.
"Terastallize!!"
He threw the orb. A cascade of crystalline light surged over Pikachu's body—balloons formed above its head, and Terastallized Pikachu was born!
"Pika~CHU!"
May's eyes sparkled. "So gorgeous!!"
Everyone stood in awe.
Butler suddenly clenched his fist. "Salamence! Go! We have to save Diane!"
"Mega Charizard X—Flamethrower!""Mega Pidgeot—Air Slash!""Mega Tyranitar—Hyper Beam!""Snorlax—Fire!!""Pikachu—Tera Thunderburst!"
Ash gave every command with perfect focus.
"Salamence, join them—Flamethrower!" Butler shouted. From the sky, Flygon rejoined too, unleashing Dragon Pulse to aid the assault.
The monster let out a primal roar, unleashing a wave of black tentacles.
Suddenly, a soft voice echoed in the air:
"The stars… are calling me…"
Jirachi's True Eye opened again. Its body pulsed with starlight.
"Jirachi…?" Max whispered, eyes wide. But there was no need for words. Jirachi was calling on the power of the Millennium Comet… to finish this.
Ash nodded at Butler. "Give it everything you've got! Jirachi needs a chance!"
"Got it! Salamence—Full-Power Hyper Beam!!"
Flygon roared and blasted its strongest Dragon Pulse.
"Charizard—Outrage!""Pidgeot—Brave Bird!""Tyranitar—Dark Pulse!""Pikachu—Crystallized Thunderburst!""Snorlax—go all in!"
Ash tapped his Z-Ring, and a blazing aura ignited around Snorlax.
"Snorlax… use Serious Slam!"
"SNORRR~!!"
Snorlax, normally calm and sleepy, exploded forward with unimaginable strength. The ground shook. The combined attacks tore through the monster's defenses, clearing a path.
Now it was Jirachi's turn.
Its entire body glowed white, power brimming within.
"Ash! I'm ready!""Then do it, Jirachi! Use Doom Desire!"
"Yes, partner!! DOOM DESIRE!!!"
A divine aura radiated from Jirachi as it summoned the energy of the stars themselves. A blinding beam pierced the heavens—then shot straight through the Earth Monster.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The monster screeched, its body glowing from within—until it erupted in a stunning explosion of light!
As the dust cleared… colorful rays of light fell from the sky like a meteor shower. One by one, the Pokémon and people who had been swallowed—Absol, Flygon, even Team Rocket—all reappeared, unharmed.
Butler rushed forward, eyes wide.
"Diane…!"
"Butler!!" she called back, and the two embraced—tears in their eyes.
"We did it!" Ash exhaled. "Everyone… thank you."
"Owooo~""Pika~!""Pidge~!""Tyra~!""Snor~!"
"Eevee~!""Jigglypuff~!"
Eevee and Jigglypuff ran across the field and leapt into Ash's arms. May, Max, and Brock rushed over too.
"Yay!! We really did it!! Ash—you were amazing!" May beamed. ⁂((✪⥎✪))⁂
Jirachi gently floated down, glowing with soft celestial light.
Max immediately hugged it. "Jirachi!!"
"Max, I love you… and I love everyone. You've all been so kind to me. We'll always be the best of friends!"
"Yeah! Forever!"
Jirachi floated higher into the sky, radiant.
"Ash… thank you. I'm going to sleep again. Take this—just a little gift from the stars."
Starlight rained down, bathing Ash's team in light:
Charizard: Promoted to Quasi-Elite (Mid-Tier)
Tyranitar: Quasi-Elite (Initial Tier)
Pidgeot: Quasi-Elite (Initial Tier)
Snorlax: Advanced to Gym Leader (Early Tier)
Jigglypuff: Advanced to Gym Leader (Later Tier)
Then… Pikachu and Eevee began to glow.
"Huh? Evolution?!" May shouted.
Brock squinted. "But Pikachu hasn't used a Thunder Stone…"
Max tilted his head. "Is Pikachu becoming Raichu? And Eevee… Umbreon?"
But as the evolution light faded—neither had changed appearance.
"Wha…?" Everyone was confused.
But a system prompt chimed:
[Ding~ Seven Nights' Wish Star complete. Comet Energy detected. Reward: Partner Power Unlocked]
Pikachu's and Eevee's strength had skyrocketed—without evolving.
Partner Pikachu
Strength: Quasi-Heavenly King (Mid-Tier)
Moves: Glittering Thunder Light, Electroweb, Fly...
Partner Eevee
Strength: Gym Leader (Early-Tier)
Moves: Zippy Zap, Nasty Plot, Last Resort, Ace...
Glittering Thunder Light: The higher the friendship, the stronger the damage.Zippy Zap: High-priority attack that hits critical points.Nasty Plot: Creates a mysterious wall that weakens enemy attacks while striking.
Everyone stared in awe.
"Everyone…" Jirachi called out softly from the sky, "Will you listen to my final wish?"
"Jirachi's wish?" Max whispered.
"I want… to hear a song. Just one song… before I fall asleep again."
Tears welled in Max's eyes. "Jirachi…"
The group came together, and in the quiet of Forina, beneath the starlit sky, they sang a lullaby for their friend.
"Thank you… I'm so happy," Jirachi whispered with a smile.
Its body wrapped in soft white light, folding into itself like a dream, and then…
It became a glowing crystal once more.
It sank into the earth, where it would rest for another thousand years.
A green light spread through the forest, renewing the land.
"Good night… Jirachi.""Pikachu~""Eevee~"
Afterward, Butler turned himself in and fully cooperated with Officer Jenny's investigation into Team Magma. Diane stayed behind in Forina, vowing to protect the land they both loved—together.
Ash and the others resumed their journey.
"Oh no!" May suddenly shouted. "My wish star—I forgot to make a wish last night!"
Ash grinned. "So… what are you gonna do?"
May blinked, then laughed brightly. "It's okay! I'll make my own wish come true!"
To be continued...