"What?!"
The Alliance Chairman slammed his fist on the table and leaped out of his chair, roaring at the reporting member, "What did you say?! Say that again!"
The Alliance member had never seen the Chairman so enraged. Although trembling slightly, he plucked up his courage and reported to the Chairman, "Ash and Gary, the two Champions, along with Green, one of the Elite Four, plus Ash's disciple Yellow and Ace, have all turned into stone statues due to an unknown cause."
The Chairman ran his hands through his hair, his face a mask of distress. His already sparse hair was practically vibrating.
"Is there any way to restore them?"
In response to the Chairman's question, the Alliance member shook his head.
Since discovering the five had turned to stone, the Alliance had mobilized massive manpower and resources to address the problem, but clearly, the effect was minimal.
The Chairman pulled out a strand of his own hair, looking painfully at the hair in his hand. He then sighed and said helplessly, "Take them to Hoenn. The Battle Frontier in the Hoenn region is currently being established; the timing should be just right."
"The Battle Frontier? Are you saying..."
"Jirachi!"
...
His consciousness was recovering bit by bit. Ace gradually began to feel his body.
However, his bodily functions were currently minimized. While this state allowed Ace to survive for a long time without food or water, Ace checked and found he could only hold out for a maximum of one year before his confined body would completely die.
"I was careless. I completely forgot that at the end of the storyline, it was Sird's backstab that led to Ash and the others being turned into stone statues."
Ace thought silently, simultaneously contacting the system to inquire about the current situation.
"Host is currently petrified. This state can be removed for the cost of twenty mission points."
"Tsk, that's a high fee. Didn't a perfect body repair only cost five points?"
Ace clicked his tongue inwardly, "You're driving up the price."
"Host may choose not to use the service."
"If the plot proceeds normally, using Jirachi's wish to unseal the petrification is the most cost-effective solution."
Ace mused, "Besides, Maxie and Archie have already been dealt with by me. There basically won't be anyone to disrupt things. I can wait peacefully for the petrification to end."
Having settled his thoughts, Ace's consciousness spread out, quickly detecting Ash and the others nearby.
Like Ace, they were petrified and essentially incapable of movement.
But just then, Ace suddenly sensed two people arriving outside. One hand was already stroking Ace's body.
"How magnificent. The statue of the former Pokédex holder is truly sculpted vividly. It would be great if we could be added too."
"No interest. But why were we called to the Battle Frontier?"
"Yo, someone's already here. I'm Gold. Who are you?"
"Ruby."
"Sapphire."
"Oh, so it's you two. I've heard of you. Just wait a bit. Once Crystal arrives, all of us Pokédex holders will be gathered."
"Wait! What do you mean by 'gathered'?"
"Huh? You didn't know? Senior Ash and the others were petrified, and gathering us is so we can search for Jirachi together to help them break the petrification."
"Um... so you're saying these stone statues here are live people?"
"Yes, that's right."
"...I'm sorry, Senior Ace, I didn't mean it!"
Ace, sealed within the stone statue, was speechless. He couldn't help but feel that he had killed Maxie and Archie too soon.
If he had spared their lives, perhaps these people would be a little more vigilant right now, going all out to find Jirachi.
Instead of being like this, idling around and chatting, looking ready to enjoy a good show.
"Haha, it's fine. It's my first time seeing these seniors embarrassed too. Once they're free, I definitely want to see Silver's reaction."
"What are you guys talking about?"
Soon, another voice sounded. Ace knew instantly that Crystal had arrived.
"Yo, Crystal... and who is this beside you?"
"This is Emerald, also one of the Pokédex holders. She only recently obtained her Pokédex."
Crystal spoke up, introducing the person who came with her.
"Since everyone is here, let's start moving! Let's go and capture Jirachi!"
Gold said with great enthusiasm.
"No need, it's already been captured."
"..."
"As expected of the Capturer."
Gold grumbled quietly, and then, in a relatively cheerful atmosphere, the group met Jirachi. At the same time, they made the wish for Ace and the others to be freed from their imprisonment.
Ace felt the layer of petrified seal instantly shatter and peel off his body. His stiff body was instantly able to move.
Ace's vision returned. He found himself in a large hall, and in front of him was a group of familiar companions.
"Finally restored! I almost suffocated."
Ash sighed, simultaneously setting down Yellow, whom he was holding.
Yellow yawned, saying sleepily, "I slept well. I feel energized again."
"Haha, Silver, you had it coming!"
Gold ran up to Silver, patting him on the back with a laugh, "Don't forget, we saved you."
"I know."
Silver said flatly, then walked up to Ace and looked at him.
Ace also looked at Silver, then sighed, "Come with me later. That book will be returned to its rightful owner when I give it to you."
Silver nodded. His purpose in finding Ace was actually to see the Earth's Secret left behind by Giovanni.
"Let's put the reunion aside for a moment."
Crystal, wearing a white lab coat with her hands in her pockets, said, "Time waits for no one. Jirachi can still grant us two more wishes."
Hearing Crystal's words, the others snapped back to attention and looked at Jirachi floating in mid-air.
"Um... Can I wish to grow taller?"
The newcomer Emerald raised her long arm and couldn't help but ask.
Everyone's eyes turned to Emerald, and they looked at her height of a good one meter seventy, their faces filled with confusion.
Seeing everyone's confused expressions, Emerald blushed. She then sighed, jumped lightly, stepping down from her custom-made shoes, while the specialized telescopic arm she was holding also dropped.
Stripped of these two items, the real Emerald, whose estimated height was only one meter twenty-five, appeared before everyone.
Everyone's mouths twitched as they watched the one-meter-seventy Emerald transform into a one-meter-twenty-five figure. They felt an indescribably strange sensation.
Jirachi looked at Emerald. Then, under Emerald's expectant gaze, it examined her and firmly shook its head.
Emerald froze completely, instantly losing all color...
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