As they plunged into the fissure, two feathers slowly exuded a peculiar power, protecting Ace and his Pterodactyl.
Within this vast, empty space, a series of past scenes unfolded before Ace's eyes.
There were his battles with Lance, nights spent studying, and daily life with his Pokémon.
"Is this... time?"
Ace watched the scenes of the past, quickly reining in his focus. Following the ever-older scenes, Pterodactyl carried Ace swiftly back in time.
Soon, Ace's past ended, and scenes from Pryce's past appeared. After flying for nearly two minutes, Ace finally found Pryce, in his wheelchair, surrounded by his Pokémon, stopped before one specific scene.
"Found you. Let's go..."
Ace rushed forward and reached out to grab Pryce.
However, his hand passed directly through Pryce's body. Looking at the reflection-like figure, Ace froze.
"You've come," Pryce said, smiling at Ace. The coldness was gone from his expression, replaced by the gentle kindness of an elder.
"Do you know, Ace," Pryce turned his head to look at the scene of the ice field before him, "you're my most satisfactory disciple. You're very smart, and you have some clever tricks. I know you're not suited for the normal trainer path, which is why I was willing to teach you my skills. Seeing you grow to where you are now, I'm very gratified."
"Stop talking." Ace frowned, looking at the Pryce before him. "How can I take you back?"
"It's no use. From the moment I personally opened that Poké Ball, there was no turning back," Pryce said with a faint smile. "Looking back now, I've done many wrong things for the sake of all this. My current situation is my own doing; I can't blame anyone else."
As Pryce spoke, his figure began to fade, starting from his feet, slowly disintegrating into fine sand.
"I'm going to reunite with them. This is what I've always wanted."
Pryce, in his wheelchair, stroked his Piloswine. "Please apologize to Green and Silver for me."
With that, Pryce smiled at Ace. Soon, his and his Pokémon's bodies completely vanished, turning into fine sand and merging into that scene.
Ace stared blankly at the scene where Pryce had now appeared. He watched a young Pryce, running desperately across the ice field with his Pokémon. When his two Lapras fell into a crevasse, he unhesitatingly dove after them.
"Laplace, Laplus, I'm sorry, I'm late..."
Pryce's voice seemed to pass through the scene and echo in Ace's ears. Ace silently watched Pryce perish in the ice field. He had a million things to say, but in the end, they all turned into a long sigh.
All the past events, accompanied by this scene, had finally come to an end.
"Is it a pity?"
Suddenly, an ethereal voice rang out. Ace turned his head and saw a Celebi floating nearby.
Ace turned back, shaking his head. "There's nothing to pity. It's Pryce's choice. There's no need to feel sorry for him."
"Then come with me. I'll take you out." Celebi held out a hand to Ace, gesturing for him to follow.
"Wait a moment." Ace paused in a moment of silence, then turned back to Celebi. "What exactly happened to my Ninetales?"
"Don't you already have the answer in your heart?"
Celebi flew a circle around Ace, smiling. "I control space and time. If something exists that disrupts the stability of time, I must correct it. And Ninetales is the product of that correction."
"So you merged all existing Ninetales into the one I have now?" Ace's brow furrowed.
"This was the fastest way," Celebi said earnestly. "It was also the Ninetales' choice. I have no right to interfere."
"Give it back to me! Give my Ninetales back!" Ace said through gritted teeth. He couldn't accept this outcome!
"You can't blame me for this." Celebi smiled. "This was an inevitable consequence of your interference in this matter. I merely guided it toward a better outcome. Are you sure you want to try? Something very bad might happen. After all, I can't guarantee that I can find a perfect Ninetales again in the time stream."
Ace fell silent. He knew Celebi wasn't lying.
Ninetales' situation was like its soul possessing a new body, a body that belonged to it in different timelines.
The Ninetales from different timelines merged into one. The other Ninetales were willing to give up control of their bodies, ceding to the will of Ace's Ninetales. They merged into Ninetales' soul, creating a new one.
This was the fundamental reason why Ninetales' level had skyrocketed and why Ace felt it was a bit strange.
And according to Ace's idea, while Celebi could separate them again, after reversing time, Celebi couldn't guarantee it would be able to give Ace a complete Ninetales a second time.
After all, there were too many variables. Even Ace, who had asked the question, hesitated now, unwilling to try so easily.
"It looks like you've figured it out," Celebi said with a small smile, looking at the silent Ace. "As compensation, I can choose a new timeline for you. I can help you realize any timeline you wish."
"No need. Just send me back." Ace sighed, holding out his hand to Celebi.
Celebi was taken aback. It was the first time someone had ever rejected such a generous offer.
No one wanted a cruel future.
Wasn't it better to adjust the timeline and turn a bad situation back into a good one?
Ace didn't show any interest. Although he knew Celebi had this ability—just like in the storyline in Hoenn, where Norman and Steven died, Celebi helped Ruby modify the timeline and reverse their deaths, giving Ruby a happy ending—Ace didn't want it.
Life was full of disappointments. But it was precisely because of this that it was real life.
A smooth-sailing life might feel great, but it lacked a certain flavor. The path Ace wanted to walk was definitely not one that someone else had arranged for him!
"A strange human," Celebi sighed, then extended its hand and took Ace's.
Celebi's energy wrapped around Ace and Pterodactyl. Soon, led by Celebi, they flew toward the future timeline...
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