He immediately stopped loosening his hand.
Aoki closed his eyes again.
Is it snowing?
The sound was very crisp and ethereal, like the purest child's voice echoing softly through the air.
Seeing Aoki close his eyes once more, Steven and Phoebe exchanged glances, a flicker of hope appearing in their expressions.
At this moment, within Aoki's mind, a channel was constructed by psychic energy, as if bridging the gap between reality and another world.
When he opened his eyes again, Aoki found himself standing in an endless meadow.
The sky was a brilliant blue, and the warm rays of the sun bathed his skin, an unusual sensation for a world of consciousness.
"It's so warm," Aoki murmured, breathing in deeply. The air was fresh and clean, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and rich earth.
Snow——
The voice called out again, but this time it wasn't just in his mind—it resonated in his ears, clear and real.
As the sound faded, the meadow transformed before his eyes. Lush green grass gave way to a sea of vibrant wildflowers, bursting into bloom in an instant.
"To have this kind of power…" Aoki mused, trying to recall which Pokémon could manipulate nature so effortlessly.
Before he could pinpoint the answer, a small, light-green figure appeared among the blossoms.
It had a round head that tapered gently at the back, delicate green tendrils tipped with blue on its forehead, and large, expressive blue eyes framed by thick black markings.
The Pokémon darted playfully between the flowers, its movements light and graceful, like a spirit of the meadow.
"Celebi…" Aoki whispered in recognition.
Indeed, the Pokémon before him was none other than the mythical Celebi, a time-traveling guardian of the forests.
As if sensing his presence, Celebi paused mid-flight and turned toward him, hovering just a few meters away. Its translucent wings fluttered gently as it studied Aoki with open curiosity.
"Could this be Celebi's mindscape?" Aoki wondered.
Celebi's nose twitched slightly, as if catching his scent.
"Who are you?" Celebi's voice was soft and melodic, the words forming directly in Aoki's understanding.
"Hello, Celebi. I'm Aoki," he replied.
"Aoki?" Celebi tilted its head, as if searching its memories. Then, its eyes brightened with sudden recognition. "Aoki!"
Aoki frowned. That reaction was unexpected—Celebi shouldn't know him.
"You… know me?" he asked cautiously.
Celebi nodded enthusiastically, its smile widening. "I know Aoki! I've met Aoki before! Aoki is a friend!"
Aoki's confusion deepened.
"The scent of little Lugia, the scent of little Mew, and… and the scent of the little kitten. You are Aoki!" Celebi declared, as if that explained everything.
Aoki's mind raced.
Little Lugia? Little Mew? The kitten… Azelf?
Celebi suddenly frowned, sniffing the air again. Its expression turned uncertain.
"But… how can you have his scent? How can Aoki have this aura?"
Aoki's pulse quickened. Celebi wasn't just familiar with him—it recognized something deeper, something tied to his very essence.
A theory formed in his mind.
Celebi could traverse time. If it had encountered him in another timeline, or even the future…
"Celebi," Aoki ventured, touching his face—his mask was gone here. "Have you seen me before? Another version of me?"
Celebi's face scrunched in thought, its vast memories swirling like leaves in the wind.
After a long pause, it shook its head. "I can't say. I can't say." Its voice was firm, yet tinged with conflict.
Aoki suppressed his frustration. Pressing further wouldn't help.
Instead, he gestured to the meadow. "Is this your world, Celebi?"
Celebi's mood instantly brightened. "Yes!"
To demonstrate, it waved a tiny hand. A sapling sprouted from the earth, shooting upward with impossible speed. Branches unfurled, leaves sprouted, and within moments, a massive tree stood before them, its boughs heavy with luminous blue fruit.
Celebi plucked one and offered it to Aoki. "Aoki, eat!"
Aoki accepted the fruit and took a bite—
His entire mouth went numb.
Tears sprang to his eyes as he forced himself to swallow. "It's… delicious," he choked out.
Celebi beamed.
Tamato Berry. Of course.
Aoki discreetly pocketed the rest and changed the subject. "Celebi, do you know the space outside this one?"
Celebi nodded. "Yes!"
Before it could elaborate, Aoki's vision whited out—
He blinked, and suddenly he was back before the jade-green tree, Steven and Phoebe watching him intently.
Snow——
The chime-like voice echoed once more.
Steven and Phoebe started in surprise.
Then, from the tree, a familiar light-green figure emerged—
Celebi.
The moment it appeared, the swirling green energy in the chamber froze, as if time itself had paused.