Luo Yuan placed his hand on Celebi, activating his Viridian Power.
The infusion of energy immediately halted Celebi's dwindling reserves and quickly replenished them.
The shifting light and shadows around them, which had begun to slow, now accelerated once more.
Finally, everything froze on a single scene.
The howl of icy winds rushed from the image, revealing a vast frozen expanse before Luo Yuan, Pryce, and Celebi.
The scene depicted a younger Pryce and two Lapras falling from a cliff.
"This is it…"
Staring at the sight, Pryce's face reflected a complex mix of emotions: self-loathing for his younger self, regret for his mistakes, and excitement at finally fulfilling a long-held wish.
Whoosh!
Luo Yuan acted decisively.
Deoxys streaked forward in a blur, its tendrils wrapping around the falling Lapras. In the blink of an eye, it returned to the rift, carrying them safely.
The two Lapras, who had believed their lives were at an end, looked at Pryce with cautious familiarity, letting out a tentative call.
"Finally… finally…"
Pryce embraced the Lapras' necks, his voice trembling with emotion.
He released his own Lapras, Glacier, who gazed at its parents with tear-filled eyes before rushing to their side.
"Bi~!"
Nearby, Celebi beamed at the joyful reunion. Its simple happiness came from helping others—pure and unadorned.
"Thank you, Celebi!"
After his initial burst of emotion, Pryce bowed his head in gratitude.
He stroked the smooth neck of one Lapras while stealing a final glance at the haunting scene of his memories—a nightmare that had now come to an end.
"Let's go," Pryce said, his voice steady as they prepared to return.
---
The journey back was smooth.
After all, navigating downstream through the river of time was far easier than fighting the current.
Yet Luo Yuan couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching him.
He scanned the shifting lights around them, seeing nothing unusual.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a fleeting glimpse.
"Was that…?"
The image lasted less than 0.01 seconds before vanishing completely.
If not for his psychic sensitivity, Luo Yuan might have dismissed it as an illusion.
But he knew better.
"Dialga…" Luo Yuan murmured.
If his eyes hadn't deceived him, the figure he saw was none other than the Legendary Pokémon of time.
According to legend, time itself was born with Dialga, flowing with each beat of its heart.
Though the tales were likely exaggerated, Dialga's reputation as the master of time was indisputable.
If any Pokémon could be considered the "Temporal Police," it would be Dialga.
What should have been a simple time-travel mission had unexpectedly attracted the attention of Dialga—a development Luo Yuan hadn't anticipated.
"Maybe today wasn't the best day for time travel," Luo Yuan mused with a wry smile.
Still, he wasn't overly concerned.
Dialga might control time, but Luo Yuan had Rayquaza, Mewtwo, Deoxys, and could even call on Groudon and Kyogre if needed.
If Dialga wanted trouble, it would have to get through them first.
---
By the time these thoughts had passed, Celebi had returned Luo Yuan and Pryce to their original timeline.
To onlookers, Luo Yuan and Pryce had never left. The only difference was the sudden appearance of two Lapras by their side.
Back in the present, Pryce exhaled deeply, glancing at the reunited Lapras family.
"My wish has been fulfilled," Pryce said to Luo Yuan. "As agreed, I'll disband the Masked Marauders and merge them into Team Rocket."
This had been their arrangement from the start, and Pryce had no intention of reneging.
But Luo Yuan stopped him.
"That won't be necessary."
Pryce looked puzzled.
"The Masked Marauders are only the Masked Marauders because of you," Luo Yuan explained with a smile. "As long as the group formally joins under Giovanni's command, you'll still be their leader."
"Giovanni's orders?"
Pryce raised an eyebrow, then chuckled.
"I underestimated his magnanimity."
At his age, with his goal accomplished, Pryce had little personal attachment to leading the Masked Marauders.
He had expected the organization to be dissolved after fulfilling its purpose.
Giovanni's decision to let him remain in charge was a surprise—but a welcome one.
"If Giovanni wishes it, I'll gladly continue," Pryce said, smiling as he clasped hands with Luo Yuan.
Watching the exchange, Celebi tilted its head, its wide eyes filled with confusion. It didn't understand the deeper implications of their conversation.
As they walked back, Luo Yuan turned to Celebi, who flitted around him in playful circles.
"What do you plan to do next, Celebi?" he asked.
"Bi?"
Celebi tilted its head again, a puzzled expression on its face.
"I mean, eventually you'll leave," Luo Yuan said. "But the world is a dangerous place. As human technology advances, there will always be people who try to capture you using machines.
"Not everyone you meet will have simple intentions like me or Pryce."
"Bi…"
Celebi fell silent, deep in thought.
It knew Luo Yuan was right.
Celebi's frequent time travel gave it a unique perspective on humanity's progress.
It preferred peaceful eras, avoiding conflict whenever possible. But with technology advancing, finding safe havens was becoming increasingly difficult.
Remaining in primitive times or eras without humans might be the only way to ensure its safety.
But such isolation would be unbearably dull.
Seeing Celebi's hesitation, Luo Yuan decided it was time to act.
"How about this?" he suggested. "Become my Pokémon.
"If I capture you, no one else can. You'll be free to go wherever you want, and I'll even assign Deoxys to protect you."
Celebi's eyes sparkled with excitement at Luo Yuan's words.
---
T/N: speech 100