"Senior, are you alright?"
Inside a quiet cave hidden beneath the forest canopy, Entei gently placed Ash Ketchum onto a large, smooth rock. The sacred beast looked down at him with intense concern. Ash's normally bright expression was pale and drained. His body slumped like a ragdoll, motionless.
"I… I think I'm dying," Ash whispered dramatically, eyes half-lidded as if every blink took an immense effort.
Entei's heart clenched. The mighty Pokémon, often considered a symbol of bravery and strength, began to anxiously pace the stone floor of the cave. His claws clicked lightly against the rock, echoing in the quiet chamber.
"Can you use Recover?" Entei asked, glancing back at him. "They say you can use all Pokémon moves. If that's true, then—"
Ash interrupted him with a faint shake of his head. "I'm too weak. I can't use any skills. Honestly, even speaking right now feels like running a marathon…"
"I see…" Entei murmured, clearly panicked, his massive body moving back and forth in short strides as he wracked his mind for a solution.
After a few tense moments, Ash weakly raised his voice again. "Entei… there's only one way left to save me."
"What is it?" Entei stepped forward immediately, his crimson eyes alight with determination. "Tell me, senior! I'll do whatever it takes!"
Despite feeling like he was in a bad stage play, Ash inwardly smirked. Hook, line, and sinker. Entei's eagerness was more than he had hoped for.
"You need to find Ho-Oh," Ash said, his voice dropping to a dramatic rasp. "Only Ho-Oh can heal me now…"
"Ho-Oh?!" Entei's expression froze, the burning passion in his eyes dimming into uncertainty.
Ash opened his eyes just enough to glimpse Entei's hesitation. "What's wrong?" he asked, trying to prop himself up. "Aren't you, Suicune, and Raikou its chosen messengers? Shouldn't you be able to contact Ho-Oh easily?"
That made sense, right? If Entei could call Ho-Oh, Ash would have a shot at capturing it. Not only would he gain Entei as a loyal Pokémon, but he'd have a real chance at catching the legendary rainbow bird. That would also mean Suicune and Raikou could potentially become his allies. A win-win.
Of course, Ash made sure to collapse back against the rock dramatically, just in case Entei turned around. He couldn't risk the fire beast spotting him acting perfectly healthy.
"I'm sorry, Senior Mew…" Entei bowed his head. "Although we three are Ho-Oh's messengers, we can't summon it at will. We only meet it when it chooses to awaken and summons us itself."
Ash blinked. "So basically, you're saying you can't contact it at all…"
Entei looked ashamed, like a student who failed an exam right after boasting about passing.
Ash sighed inwardly. His plan to lure out Ho-Oh was falling apart. Should've just thrown a Poké Ball at Entei when I had the chance, he thought bitterly. Even if it disobeyed me at first, at least I'd have caught something instead of acting like an idiot.
He was about to suggest calling Suicune and Raikou instead when something made him pause.
Entei had vanished.
"Wait… where'd he go?" Ash sat up, eyes wide. "Did he realize something? Crap! Did I give myself away?!"
His heart pounded in his chest. He had just pretended to be on death's door, and now the only witness to that performance had suddenly bolted. Did Entei suspect me? Is he going to report me to Ho-Oh? Or worse—
But before Ash could spiral too far into his thoughts, he suddenly sensed Entei's presence again—closer this time.
Within moments, Entei returned… and he didn't come alone.
Trailing behind him was a parade of Pokémon: Nidoking, Nidoqueen, Vileplume, Kangaskhan, Ursaring… a whole forest's worth of powerful allies.
But the ones that made Ash nearly faint were the two Miltank walking proudly at the end of the group.
Ash's instincts screamed danger.
He watched helplessly as Entei guided the two Miltank to his rock-bed.
"Senior," Entei said earnestly, "Miltank's milk is said to have miraculous healing properties. Please, try some. It might restore your strength."
Ash froze.
His entire body stiffened, sweat beading on his forehead.
He stared at the two Miltank who now stood on either side of him, mooing softly like kind nurses about to administer some "medicine."
No. No way. This can't be happening.
"Entei… that's very kind of you… but I suddenly feel a little better," Ash said, quickly sitting up. "I think I might be able to use Recover soon!"
But he wasn't fast enough.
One of the Miltank stepped forward with surprising speed and wrapped her hooves around him. Without hesitation, she began force-feeding him fresh milk.
Ash's eyes widened. He let out a strangled noise, arms flailing as he tried to escape.
"W-Wait! Stop! I'm not actually—!"
Entei, watching proudly from a short distance, nodded in approval. "That's it, Senior. The more milk you drink, the faster you'll recover. If this isn't enough, I can go find more Miltank for you!"
More?! Ash screamed internally. I'm gonna die! This isn't a healing session—it's a public execution of my dignity!
He tried waving his hands to signal for help, but Entei misunderstood and smiled even wider.
"Oh, you want more already? Amazing recovery speed, Senior!"
Ash whimpered, milk dripping from his mouth, his face burning with humiliation. He wanted to dig a hole in the cave floor and disappear forever.
I should've just told him I was a human. But if I do that now, after all this, he'll hate me for lying. No way he'd obey me after that.
Ash's only consolation was that Mew wasn't here to witness this. If Mew saw him now, all respect would be lost. That alone would be a fatal blow.
This is social death, Ash thought. Pure, unfiltered social death.
And of course, as if fate itself were a cruel prankster—
At that very moment, a bright red Salamence came crashing through the mouth of the cave.
"Master!" the Salamence called, eyes wide with excitement. "I followed your scent and finally found—"
The words died in his throat.
He stared.
Ash stared.
They locked eyes.
And in that moment, time froze.
Salamence's expression was a mix of confusion and horror as it beheld the majestic Mew—currently in Ash's transformed disguise—lying in the arms of a Miltank, milk dripping from his lips like a child who had just been bottle-fed.
Ash's heart dropped into his stomach.
Shame. Humiliation. Embarrassment. Regret. A tidal wave of emotions came crashing down on him all at once.
There were no words. Just the deafening silence of two souls locked in one of the most awkward encounters imaginable.
He didn't even try to explain. What was there to say?
Kill me now, Ash thought.
The silence stretched for what felt like hours. Even Entei seemed unsure of how to break the tension.
Then Miltank mooed again, lovingly nuzzling Ash like a mother comforting her child.
Ash groaned.
This was beyond social death.
This was spiritual annihilation.