The name Molly was common enough.
Kai had already met a few girls by that name since arriving in this world, but none quite .
And when Molly turned to Ash and called Delia "my mom", it instantly sent a jolt of rage through him.
"Give me my mom back!" Ash shouted, fists clenched.
Years ago, Molly had briefly visited Pallet Town with her father. A group photo had been taken with Delia and Professor Oak but she and Ash had barely interacted. Both were too young to remember.
Now, looking at the elegant young woman before them, Misty leaned in close to Kai.
"That's Molly?" she whispered. "But Delia said she was just a little girl."
Kai nodded. "This whole place is built from her imagination. If she wants to appear older… then she will."
Across the field, Molly stared Ash down. Even though he was Delia's actual son, she didn't flinch or waver. She didn't even seem threatened.
"She's my mommy now," she said. "If you want her back, you'll have to battle me for her."
It was absurd. Like a child's game of who gets to keep mom.
Though she looked like a grown woman, her mindset hadn't changed. She still spoke like a child, impulsive, possessive, and full of fantasy. It made sense. Only someone so young, so naïve, would try to claim a mother through battle.
Ash was about to step forward when Brock suddenly cut in front of him.
"Let me handle this," Brock said.
"You have to keep moving. Delia's probably just ahead. If you waste time here, you might be too late."
Then, with a half-grin, he added, "Besides… if Molly wants to play the part of a gorgeous big sister, it's only fair I will be her opponent."
Yes, Brock's sense of duty was real but his weakness for beautiful women wasn't exactly a secret either.
Still, he was reliable when it counted. That's what mattered.
"All right," Kai said. "We'll leave it to you. Just don't underestimate her."
Ash hesitated no more.
He and Misty followed Kai, racing up the crystalline stairs toward the tower's summit. They passed Molly and Entei on the way, but neither moved to stop them. Molly didn't even glance their way.
She was confident. Or maybe… she just didn't care.
At the top of the stairs, Kai looked back one final time.
Brock had already sent out his Crobat, which flapped into the air with piercing screeches. Across the field, Molly summoned a Poké Ball from thin air. From it emerged a Flaaffy electricity sparking from its wool-covered body.
The battle began in a flash.
Misty glanced back nervously. "You think he'll be okay?"
Kai didn't stop walking. "He'll hold his own. Brock's a Gym Leader too, remember? He won't go down easily."
The grassy field soon gave way to another layer of the tower. As they ascended, the environment changed again.
The crystal walls pulsed like veins, expanding and contracting like they were inside the body of something alien alive. It was eerie… almost biological.
They climbed for several minutes before reaching light once more.
And again, the scene before them changed completely.
They now stood on a sunset-lit beach, the horizon glowing gold. Palm trees swayed in a phantom breeze, and waves lapped gently at the shore. Their footsteps left crisp trails in the sand—only to be erased by the next gentle wash of water.
The illusion was beautiful.
Kai stepped forward, narrowing his eyes. "There's no scent of salt in the air. No humidity. Just like before… it's all fake. An illusion built from Molly's memories."
Probably memories of a vacation she never took imagined moments of peace she longed for.
Suddenly, light shimmered beside them.
Molly appeared again.
"What!?" Misty gasped. "How is she here!? Wasn't she just battling Brock?"
Kai narrowed his eyes. "I don't know. Either she beat him already… or this is another projection."
Either way, they had to tread carefully.
Hands folded over her chest, Molly looked straight at Ash, smiling.
"I told you—you'll never take Mommy back," she said. "So, who's going to face me now? I want to battle someone even stronger this time."
A moment later, Entei appeared at her side once more, stepping forward like a silent guardian.
Misty didn't hesitate.
She stepped in front of the boys. "It's my turn. Go on, you two, keep going. Delia's just ahead, right?"
"…Be careful. If Brock lost, she's no joke. But remember this is all a dream. If we can reach the real Molly, this illusion might break."
Misty nodded firmly. "Got it."
Ash didn't argue. He looked Misty in the eye and gave her a nod of trust.
Then he and Kai continued, sprinting across the surreal beach toward the next set of stairs.
Molly didn't stop them. She focused entirely on Misty.
Now it was their turn to fight.
The two girls stared each other down equal in strength, equal in resolve. Even though one was born of fantasy and one of reality, neither backed down.
The battle for Delia Ketchum had just entered its final stages.
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