When someone else asked the question,
alternate-world Cynthia's attitude changed completely from before.
Facing Ash's question, she first reached out and vigorously ruffled his hair.
Then she squatted down, lightly tapping his nose with her finger.
"This? It's a secret~"
Whoosh—
A blush uncontrollably spread across Ash's cheeks.
"Um… c-could you not do that…"
As if mustering all his courage, Ash firmly grabbed the finger Cynthia had extended toward him.
"Please answer my question properly!"
His gaze was sharp, his tone serious!
…Though it would've been far more convincing if the blush on his face would just go away.
[Alder]: This is the way it should be! Beauty is nothing compared to the safety of the world! Well done, Ash!
[Brawly]: Master, it's fine if others say that, but maybe you shouldn't… you really lack credibility.
[Alder]: What do you mean by that?! I want my lawyer!
[Elesa]: Blushing Ash is really adorable. I've noticed he's not good at dealing with passionate "big sister" types—there were signs when he faced Champion Diantha before.
But I didn't expect him to run into alternate-world Cynthia. Look at how red she made him!
[Gary]: Tch. With passionate older sisters, you're supposed to conquer them with your own charm, you know?
[Brock]: This is my favorite type! Miss, would you be interested in dating me?
[Misty]: Brock, are you an idiot?! That's also Champion Cynthia! If you want to die, don't drag me with you!
[Ash]: Huh? Why are you two together again? Didn't you say you went home?
[Misty]: We rested already and are heading to Pallet Town to find you so we can travel to the next region together.
[Ash]: Oh! Then wait a bit—I'll tell my mom first!
Seeing Ash's reply, Misty let out a sigh of relief.
After watching Ash's recent behavior,
she deeply regretted not making her move earlier—
Which allowed so many others to sneak in afterward.
She firmly believed that as long as she was around,
no shameless woman would be able to get close to Ash.
Not even Champion Cynthia.
Not even Champion Diantha.
Ash was hers!
Even Arceus couldn't take him away!
I said it!
On Screen —
"Hehe~ Compared to that brother of yours who only has battles on the brain, you're much more interesting, Ash."
After saying that, alternate-world Cynthia stopped fooling around.
Her gaze settled on Ash, and her tone turned serious.
"I don't know exactly where Red is. He only said he was going to look for some truths.
But he did leave behind some information."
"For example, everything happening right now is related to the Time and Space gods."
"But… we already know that. Can you tell us something useful? Uh, Sister Cynthia."
Ash thought for a moment and finally chose a form of address close to "Cynthia."
The moment she heard him call her sister,
alternate Cynthia's composed expression completely collapsed—and she burst into laughter.
"Looks like our Ash is really working hard~ You already know that much.
In that case, I'll have to bring out some of my own findings—otherwise we wouldn't look like such a good match."
As she spoke, alternate Cynthia pulled a document from her pocket.
Instead of handing it to Ash,
she gave it to the other Cynthia, who had been standing beside Ash, staring coldly at her the entire time.
Taking the document, Cynthia's eyes rapidly scanned its contents.
Team Rocket.
Cyrus.
Dialga.
Palkia.
The Red Chain.
One keyword after another was caught by her gaze.
Combined with the information already in her mind,
Cynthia quickly pieced together the general course of events.
"It goes like this—Team Rocket discovered a substance called the Red Chain while studying Cyrus's legacy."
"This substance can partially control the Time and Space gods, forcing them to obey."
As she spoke, alternate Cynthia's expression also turned grave.
Clearly, she was furious at Team Rocket's actions as well.
"According to my information, Team Rocket somehow entered the rift where the Time and Space gods reside.
They used the Red Chain to restrain them, forcing them into constant conflict and generating time-space裂缝."
The more she spoke, the colder the surrounding air became.
It wasn't just Cynthia radiating pressure—
Even the fiery alternate Cynthia was the same.
For mythological scholars like them,
such acts of persecuting gods and enslaving Pokémon were unforgivable.
"Do you have any other information? Do you know how to reach the space-time rift?"
Cynthia put away the document and stared seriously at her other self.
Since the other Cynthia could discuss space-time rifts in such detail,
it meant she already possessed extensive knowledge.
Now was the moment to exchange information.
Hearing this, alternate Cynthia casually twirled a strand of hair.
"Of course. According to my investigation, the area with the most chaotic time and space energy in this world is at the summit of Mount Coronet."
She gestured toward Cynthia.
Cynthia immediately continued:
"Then they must have used the altar at the top of Mount Coronet to open a gate to the rift."
"Then let's go right away! The sooner we stop those guys, the sooner we can help the Pokémon return to their Trainers!"
After hearing everything, Ash grew excited.
He finally understood the situation.
As long as they went to the summit of Mount Coronet and found the altar,
they could enter the space-time rift.
And once they stopped the Time and Space gods there,
everything would return to normal!
"Of course. If I weren't waiting here for you, Ash, I'd have gone to Mount Coronet long ago."
As she said this, alternate Cynthia deliberately leaned in close to Ash's ear.
Warm breath brushed against his ear.
Ash's thoughts instantly short-circuited.
F-for me…?
Facing this passionate Cynthia, Ash found it incredibly hard to stay calm.
She was just too good at this!
Seeing this, Cynthia stepped forward and pulled Ash behind her.
Then she fixed her icy gaze on the woman who looked exactly like herself.
This woman was actually trying to steal her man right in front of her.
Unforgivable!
Even more dangerous than Diantha!
Alternate Cynthia merely smiled at the scene.
Her lips curved into a perfect arc, eyes full of amusement.
Cynthia… Cynthia.
I am you, and you are me. How could I not know what you're thinking?
Instead of drowning in longing,
why not turn it into reality?
That way, there would be no regrets.
Let me give you a little push.
A cunning glint flashed in alternate Cynthia's eyes.
The next moment—before either Ash or Cynthia could react—
She pulled them together.
One arm hooking Ash, the other hooking Cynthia.
Alternate Cynthia looked extremely pleased with herself.
[Flint]: The big sis from the other world is seriously charismatic! That kind of presence is just awesome!
[Volkner]: I actually find this version of Champion Cynthia kind of scary. With a fiery Cynthia like that, you're bound to suffer.
[Steven]: I wonder how strong the alternate world version is in battle. I kind of want to see the two Cynthias fight.
[Wallace]: Tch! You just want to watch the drama!
[Alder]: Not gonna lie—I love watching women fight!
Audience: ???
Anyone else might get a pass, Alder,
but when you say it, it just sounds indecent.
[Cynthia]: The other me…
[Diantha]: A Cynthia completely opposite to Cynthia is really fascinating. If I joined them, it'd be even more interesting.
[Lusamine]: No! You'd just stir up trouble!
[Diantha]: Who knows~
Diantha didn't seem bothered in the slightest.
Kanto – The World Tree
From the moment he entered the World Tree,
Red's gaze never left the Pokémon living within it.
Ancient Cradily, Omastar, and countless other prehistoric Pokémon dazzled his eyes.
Even with Red's legendary experiences,
this was something he had truly never seen before.
"Mew, thank you so much for bringing us here."
"Mew~"
Blushing, Mew floated around Red, then drifted over to Yellow.
If not for Yellow using her Viridian Forest power to ask for help,
Mew would never have brought others into the World Tree.
Even though this boy looked very much like the Ash shown in those images,
they were still different.
Mew still liked that Ash more.
Watching Mew float around, Yellow reached out and gently patted its head.
Then she stepped beside Red.
"Red… do you want to go to the top of the World Tree together to watch the sunrise?"
This invitation took all of Yellow's courage.
Watching the sunrise together—
That was something only couples did!
Would Red agree?
"Yellow, let's battle! Seeing so many ancient Pokémon has made my battle spirit impossible to suppress!"
"So—let's battle!"
Blue and Green, who had secretly followed them in, were completely baffled.
A girl invites you to watch the sunrise—
And you want to have a Pokémon battle instead?!
Truly you, Red.
"That's why I say Red's never getting a girlfriend in this lifetime. You should give up already."
Green mocked Blue at just the right moment.
But Blue didn't even have time to respond.
"Yellow, don't listen to him! Hurry and kiss him! Use your gentle lips to shut him up!"
Hearing Blue's shouting through the earpiece,
Yellow bit her lip, hesitating.
Should she… really do that?
Back to the Present —
"To enter the space-time rift, you'll still need two things—the Adamant Orb and the Lustrous Orb.
Without them, we won't be able to withstand the space-time storm at the summit of Mount Coronet."
"Do you know where they are?" Cynthia asked.
Alternate Cynthia smiled.
"Of course I do. You don't need to worry—just follow me."
With that, she released her grip on the two of them
and swaggered forward.
Ash and Cynthia exchanged a glance.
At this point, there was no backing out.
So they followed behind her.
Just then, Dawn came out of the room—
Holding her Piplup tightly in her arms.
But by the time she stepped outside,
Ash and Cynthia were already far ahead.
At that moment, Dawn finally understood how Gengar had felt back then.
I haven't even gotten on the bus yet!
After walking some distance, alternate Cynthia led them to a car.
"Sister Cynthia, why are we taking a car? Wouldn't flying Pokémon be faster?" Ash asked.
Alternate Cynthia gently flicked Ash on the forehead.
"Silly Ash. If flying Pokémon worked, don't you think I'd already be using them?"
"Because of Dialga and Palkia's battle, the time and space in this world are extremely unstable."
"At intervals, time actually reverses—not just the environment, but even Pokémon gradually devolve due to the chaotic space-time."
Though she was smiling as she spoke,
the sorrow in her eyes was impossible to hide.
"Pokémon… devolve? Is there really no way to stop it?!"
Ash immediately grew anxious.
Pokémon devolving was a violation of the world's fundamental laws.
Aside from Mega Evolution,
Pokémon almost never regressed.
Facing his question, alternate Cynthia shook her head.
"For now, aside from storing Pokémon inside Poké Balls, there's almost no way to suppress devolution."
"If possible, you should put your Pikachu into its Poké Ball—otherwise it will gradually devolve as well."
Hearing this, Ash instantly panicked.
So did Pikachu.
"Pika pika!"
Hearing that it might devolve, Pikachu immediately patted itself all over.
It even grabbed its chubby electric cheeks and squeezed them hard—
Crackle!
A flash of red electricity burst out.
Ash was electrocuted again.
Seeing Ash get shocked, Pikachu finally confirmed that it hadn't changed like Cynthia described,
and relaxed.
"Pika!"
Pikachu patted its chest proudly and raised an eyebrow at alternate Cynthia.
It was Professor Pikachu, after all!
How could it be affected so easily?
But as the saying goes—
Raising flags leads to consequences.
Right after that—
A space-time gate suddenly opened in front of Ash.
A blue beam shot out of it,
perfectly enveloping Pikachu.
The gate vanished.
Pikachu looked blankly at Ash.
Ash, just recovering from being electrocuted,
saw the blue light surrounding Pikachu and looked up in shock.
The next scene made his eyes widen.
White evolutionary light enveloped Pikachu—
But this wasn't evolution.
It was regression.
"Pi… pichu!"
Pikachu's body visibly shrank,
until it became a tiny Pichu no bigger than Ash's palm.
The little Pichu wobbled on Ash's shoulder, utterly incredulous.
What happened?!
I just said I wouldn't devolve!
"Sister Cynthia! What do we do?! Can Pikachu change back?!"
Ash hurriedly cupped Pichu in his hands, anxiously asking alternate Cynthia.
"For now… aside from resolving the source of this conflict, there's no way."
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