Caleb wasn't worried about Ash getting lost in the river of time. The Escape Rope would automatically return him to his original timeline.
After watching Ash leave, Caleb took out the wooden signpost-like board from his inventory...
[Destination set: Vermilion City]
[Warp Beacon, activate!]
...
*SPLASH!*
A black shadow fell, sending a tall spray of water into the air.
Caleb: ???
Without time to think, he quickly clamped his mouth shut, held his breath, and took out a Poké Ball. With Dragonite's help, he escaped the water.
"Wuu…"
Dragonite frowned as it looked down at the vast lake below.
Only then did Caleb notice his surroundings. Vermilion City was gone!
'Then what about Mewtwo, who had taken Reika and the others away?'
Caleb pursed his lips and immediately tried contacting Reika and the others via his wristband... But before he could unlock it, he saw black smoke rise from the device, accompanied by crackling sparks. It short-circuited on the spot, falling apart and sinking into the lake.
Caleb: "…"
Left with no choice, he could only use the Warp Beacon to head to Rocket City first and gather information.
After recalling Dragonite into its Poké Ball, he activated the Warp Beacon again. The next second, everything before him changed dramatically.
The sleek, futuristic silver skyscraper he had imagined did not appear. Instead, Caleb stood in the middle of an endless, massive crater, a trace of bewilderment crossing his face...
'Just how long had I been in the time dimension? And what the hell had happened here while I was gone?'
He could understand Giovanni wiping out Vermilion City, but why had Rocket City, the very foundation of Team Rocket, also disappeared?!
The air carried a faint burnt smell, and the surroundings were deathly silent, like those wastelands described in post-apocalyptic novels.
After hesitating for a moment, Caleb used the Warp Beacon for the third time, arriving at Pallet Town, where the Team Rocket trio was.
The trio, who had been spacing out in the yard, stared at him in utter shock when they saw him...
Meowth was the first to react, his mouth gaping wide enough to fit a volleyball, "You're not dead?!"
Caleb: "No. What's the date today?"
James answered, "July 28th."
July 28th… The day he had entered the time dimension was July 21st. So, while he and Ash had spent a few hours in the time dimension, a whole week had passed outside.
But that wasn't the important part. The real question was what had happened out here?
Where was Mewtwo? And what about the severely injured Dialga and Palkia?
Thinking this, Caleb asked directly.
James gave him a hesitant look, while Jessie bit her red lips and answered, "We don't know about Dialga and Palkia. But as for Mewtwo…"
Jessie's expression tuned complicated, "It killed Giovanni. Before dying, Giovanni activated an orbital weapon and destroyed all of Rocket City. Mewtwo… didn't make it out."
Caleb froze in place...
A few seconds later, he took out the Book of Answers from his inventory and silently asked in his heart: 'Is Mewtwo still alive?'
Then he flipped the book open.
On the title page, clear as day, was written: {..No..}
'Mewtwo… is truly dead...'
Caleb suddenly felt as if a tightly drawn string in his heart had snapped.
Back when he was living at the Resistance base, he had always kept an eye on Mewtwo's mental state.
After learning the truth, Mewtwo had initially been furious, despairing, helpless, and grief-stricken, even losing the will to live at one point.
Caleb had been so worried it might sneak out at night to end its own life, that he had Mimikyu keep watch over Mewtwo every day. But despite all his precautions… things had still come to this.
Mewtwo was dead. Giovanni was dead. Caleb didn't even know who to take revenge on anymore.
If that was the case… then what was the point of this world?
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He borrowed James' wristband to try contacting Reika and the others.
His memory had always been excellent, so he still remembered Reika's number.
James and Jessie exchanged a glance, then silently gave him some space.
Soon, the call connected.
Reika's exhausted face appeared on the screen. Her reaction upon seeing Caleb mirrored the Team Rocket trio's earlier shock: <..You're alive?!.>
Caleb nodded, "Yeah. Is everyone… okay?"
At this, Reika's expression shifted: <..Nozomi… she didn't make it..>
In truth, the only survivors from the Vermilion City Resistance were Reika, Kai, and the Latios and Latias siblings...
Caleb's movements stilled. He remained silent for a long time. The air grew heavy with quiet.
After studying his expression, Reika finally spoke again: <..Where are you now? About Mewtwo… you already know, right?..>
Caleb nodded.
Reika opened her mouth but suddenly found herself at a loss for words. She sighed before saying: <..You should rest for a while..>
With Cyrus and Giovanni's deaths, the situations in Kanto and Sinnoh had instantly descended into chaos. Without government control, gangs and factions of all sizes quickly seized control of major cities.
After Team Rocket's relentless purges, the Resistance had long been weakened and was in no state to deal with the mess left behind.
On top of that, Reika had recently heard rumors that Team Magma from Hoenn was planning to take over Kanto. At this point, the Resistance could barely protect itself.
After hanging up, Caleb sank into the sofa, deep in thought...
His earlier speculation had finally been confirmed. Even with Giovanni dead, this world could not truly be saved.
Now that things had reached this point, there seemed to be only one possible way left to change everything.
Forcing himself to stay calm, Caleb laid the Book of Answers before him and asked: 'Where is Arceus?'
A second later, large words slowly appeared on the page:
{..Sinnoh Region, Mt. Coronet, Ruins of the Divine..}
Once he had the exact location, Caleb immediately stood up, only to nearly collide with Jessie as she walked in.
Seeing his urgent demeanor, Jessie instantly understood what he was planning. She asked, "You… aren't going to rest first?"
Caleb shook his head, replying, "No. There's something I need to take care of. By the way, can I borrow this wristband?"
He didn't know Sinnoh's location in this world and desperately needed the map function.
Jessie glanced at it, saying, "Of course. Are you going on a trip?"
Caleb: "I'm heading to Sinnoh."
At that moment, Meowth and James walked in.
"We can help, nyaa!" Meowth declared.
With Team Rocket gone, the energy barrier that had once trapped them had long since vanished.
Caleb followed Meowth into what looked like a workshop.
Meowth and James each pulled aside a curtain, revealing a brand-new Meowth Airship.
"We know Sinnoh well. Let us guide you, nyaa!" Meowth said.
Truthfully, the moment Caleb arrived, the trio had already decided to leave with him.
James nodded in agreement, "Yeah, back when we were traveling with that twerp… uh, I mean, we've been there before! We'll definitely be useful!"
Seeing the eager gleam in Meowth's eyes, Caleb took a deep breath before speaking solemnly, "Thank you."