Celebi, brimming with curiosity, followed Luo Yuan into Team Rocket's airship.
While it wanted to thank him for resolving the mess caused by its earlier well-meaning actions, its true motivation lay deeper:
Celebi wanted to understand why Team Rocket members from Johto had been chasing it.
Lacking the courage to confront its pursuers directly, Celebi sought answers from Luo Yuan—a fellow Team Rocket member but one it trusted as a good person.
Seated on a couch, Luo Yuan signaled Matori to pour Celebi a glass of juice.
Although Celebi often ate berries, drinking juice was a first for it.
Cautiously taking the glass, Celebi sipped. Its eyes immediately curled into delighted crescents.
Watching this reaction, Luo Yuan couldn't help but think how effortlessly gullible Celebi was.
If only the Masked Marauders had approached it this way, they might have succeeded years ago.
After a few more sips, Celebi finally asked the question it had been holding back.
Luo Yuan, considering it for a moment, decided there was no harm in explaining.
He recounted the story of Pryce and the two Lapras, simplifying it for Celebi's understanding.
---
"Bi~?"
Hearing the explanation, Celebi was stunned.
It had assumed their attempts to capture it were for some nefarious, unspeakable purpose. Who would've thought it was all to save Pokémon that had died due to an accident?
Seeing Celebi's surprise, Luo Yuan seized the opportunity to ask for its help.
After a brief hesitation, Celebi, moved by Luo Yuan's kindness and trust, agreed to assist. It decided to travel to Johto with Luo Yuan to help solve this long-standing issue.
The entire process took Luo Yuan less than an hour—a feat Pryce and the Masked Marauders had failed to achieve over several years.
This success was due not only to the Virdian Power that allowed Luo Yuan to communicate effectively with Pokémon but also to his skillful diplomacy.
If nothing else, it highlighted the importance of mastering a foreign language!
Having easily recruited Celebi in Sootopolis, Luo Yuan gave Hunter J instructions for the next phase of Team Rocket's expansion in Hoenn and then departed the region.
Incidentally, he did not bring Rayquaza back to Kanto with him.
Instead, Luo Yuan decided to leave Rayquaza at Team Rocket's Mauville City base.
This wasn't because Luo Yuan couldn't afford to keep Rayquaza.
With his financial resources, he could easily support the dietary needs of several Rayquaza.
Rather, there were three key reasons:
Rayquaza's massive size made it unsuitable for covert operations in Johto. Using it there would risk exposing Luo Yuan's identity as the region's Elite Four.
Rayquaza's presence in Hoenn served as a deterrent, safeguarding Team Rocket's interests against potential retaliation from the Hoenn League.
Most importantly, Rayquaza possessed unparalleled global mobility.
Should Luo Yuan need its assistance, Rayquaza could quickly respond to his summons and reach any corner of the world.
Thus, its exact location during downtime was irrelevant.
---
Johto Region
Back in Johto, Luo Yuan requested a long leave under the pretext of needing rest.
Champion Lance, understanding the toll recent events in Hoenn must have taken, approved the request without hesitation.
While based in Kanto, Lance had heard of the chaos in Hoenn. Frankly, even he would have felt overwhelmed if placed in the same situation.
The reports of a Mewtwo + Deoxys + Rayquaza versus Groudon and Kyogre showdown only deepened his sympathy for the Hoenn League.
At the same time, Lance couldn't deny feeling a sliver of relief—someone else was now experiencing the pressure he had once faced against Team Rocket.
What Lance didn't know was that Luo Yuan, newly free from duty, had gone straight to Mahogany City.
Inside the Mahogany Gym, Pryce had been anxiously awaiting Luo Yuan's arrival.
Now, with years of pent-up anticipation about to be fulfilled, Pryce struggled to contain his emotions.
When Luo Yuan entered the gym with Celebi hovering curiously at his side, Pryce's excitement peaked.
However, Luo Yuan's opening words caught Pryce off guard.
"I didn't catch Celebi." Luo Yuan held up an empty GS Ball and gave it a shake.
Pryce furrowed his brow but didn't have a chance to respond before Luo Yuan continued.
"I explained your situation to Celebi, and it volunteered to help."
As Luo Yuan stepped aside, Celebi peeked out from behind his shoulder, its wide eyes scanning Pryce with curiosity.
Pryce froze, stunned by this unexpected development.
"You know," Luo Yuan added casually, "Celebi is actually very willing to help others. Why didn't you think to talk to it back then?"
"..."
Pryce was at a loss for words.
Back then, just finding Celebi had been a monumental effort. Communicating with it? That had seemed impossible without someone like Luo Yuan and his unique abilities.
Had Luo Yuan not demonstrated overwhelming strength in Hoenn, leaving even the regional League wary, Pryce might have been tempted to "discuss" the matter with him further.
Not wanting to push too far, Luo Yuan refrained from teasing Pryce any more. He respected the elderly and had no intention of bullying Pryce unnecessarily.
"Alright, let's begin!" Luo Yuan said, turning to Celebi.
Pryce steadied his emotions and nodded, focusing on Celebi.
Under the watchful eyes of Luo Yuan and Pryce, Celebi blinked its large eyes and suddenly glowed with a vibrant green light.
Luo Yuan's heightened senses detected an immediate shift in the environment.
Guided by Celebi's powers, Luo Yuan and Pryce found themselves drawn into the rift of time.
Shadows and light swirled around them as the scenery beyond the rift changed rapidly.
Time… was rewinding.
Pryce, unable to contain his excitement, stared at the shifting landscape outside. Meanwhile, Luo Yuan kept an eye on both Celebi and the surroundings.
Beads of sweat began to form on Celebi's forehead.
"What's wrong?" Luo Yuan asked, his tone concerned.
"Bi…" Celebi's voice was tinged with exhaustion.
It gazed at Luo Yuan with weary eyes. For Celebi, traversing time was second nature—a pastime it often indulged in as it sought peaceful eras to inhabit.
Even carrying one or two passengers wasn't a challenge.
But this time was different. Celebi hadn't anticipated how much energy it would take to transport Luo Yuan.
"Is it because of me?" Luo Yuan pondered aloud before realizing the issue.
It was likely due to the sheer number of Pokémon he carried. Celebi's time-traveling capacity had been overloaded.
Most trainers carried at most six Pokémon, while Luo Yuan traveled with a veritable army—ten to twenty Pokémon at any given time.
Having identified the problem, Luo Yuan quickly devised a solution.
"Let me help you," he said, placing his hand gently on Celebi.