Chapter 37

The version of myself across from me gazes intently after hearing my disagreement with Team Alpha's actions. With a sigh, he remarks, "You're just like how I was after the Kalos League at your age. Back then, I would have disagreed with it too."

He adopts a stern expression and continues, "Nevertheless, I'm uncertain if you'll face the same situation in your world. But I have faith that you can ready yourself in case what's occurring in our world extends to yours. This way, perhaps you won't resort to the same path of world destruction as I did."

Lillie inquires, "Are you suggesting that we shouldn't intervene in your actions and allow you to continue causing destruction to the world?"

The alternate version of myself responds, "At present, we're not instigating any attacks unless provoked. Our primary objective is to gather the scattered Infinite Gems across the world. We aim to harness their powers, hoping to utilize their abilities to grant wishes and positively transform the world."

"Is that the reason why your siblings aren't here with you?" I inquire. "Are they out searching for the remaining gems?"

"You're right," the alternate Serena confirms. "Each of us is assigned to locate three of the gems. So far, the three of us have acquired the Electric Gem and the Ice Gem. We're just resting before we're heading to Johto to get the Dragon Gem and meet up with others."

"I understand," I reply calmly. "But I feel compelled to challenge you. A one-on-one battle, you against me."

The other version of myself regards me with surprise. "And why should I entertain that idea? You appear less experienced compared to me; it seems inevitable that you'll end up defeated."

"Who said defeat is assured?" I retort. "I simply feel the need to face you. It's not about winning or losing but understanding your strength and determination towards your objectives."

Reluctantly, he concedes, and we make our way to the battlefield, reverting back to our original forms. The atmosphere becomes charged with anticipation as we stand opposite each other, our stares unyielding. The weight of our shared history and diverging paths hung heavy in the air, adding intensity to the impending clash.

Locked in a profound gaze with my alternate self, the embodiment of diverging choices and experiences, I feel the weight of this clash of wills. With a shared understanding, we unleash a mighty roar, echoing our determination before commencing the battle. The sound reverberates across the battlefield, a declaration of our resolve and readiness to engage in this momentous confrontation.

With a resounding battle cry, I kick off the confrontation, channeling the forces of temporal energy. I unleash a ferocious Spacial Rend, a rending tear in the fabric of space hurtling toward my alternate self. Anticipating my move, the other me reacts swiftly, a flicker of azure aura heralding the invocation of Judgment. Multihued beams of overwhelming power collide mid-air, a breathtaking collision that lights up the battleground in a spectacular display of celestial brilliance.

Undeterred by the aftermath of the Judgment clash, I pivot with fluid grace, evading the residual effects of the celestial assault. In response, I unleash my own Judgment attack, aiming to strike with an array of radiant energy. However, my counterpart, anticipating my move, deftly sidesteps the assault, swiftly evading the incoming barrage.

Reacting swiftly, the other me retaliates, invoking Cosmic Power to fortify defenses. A shimmering, ethereal aura envelops my opponent, heightening their resilience against any ensuing attacks. The battlefield is now adorned with an intense aura, the very essence of our powers resonating with the cosmic energies that surround us.

Continuing the cosmic clash, I harness the potent energy of my Draco Plate, calling forth a potent force of nature—a formidable Draco Meteor hurtling through the expanse of the heavens. The radiant spheres streak toward my other self with intense velocity, a display of pure elemental power.

Anticipating the incoming assault, the alternate version of me, wielding the Dragon Plate, acts swiftly, summoning a defensive barrier of Roar of Time. The temporal energies manifest into a protective shield, intercepting the incoming barrage of meteors and nullifying their devastating impact.

With breathtaking finesse, my alternate self manipulates the cosmic forces, unleashing a swift Gravity that alters the very fabric of the battlefield. The intensified gravitational pull disrupts my balance, causing a momentary disorientation as I struggle to maintain my stance amidst the cosmic disturbance.

Sensing the opportune moment, my other self seizes the advantage, capitalizing on my weakened state. Charging a devastating Hyper Beam with the amplified energy of a Silk Scarf, an unstoppable force gathers at their command. The Hyper Beam, a concentrated beam of unstoppable power, hurtles toward me with immense velocity, aimed at exploiting my vulnerable position.

As the Hyper Beam streaks towards me, the sheer force and intensity of the attack threaten to overwhelm my defenses. Despite my efforts to counter, I find myself momentarily unable to evade the impending onslaught due to the disrupted equilibrium caused by the altered gravity. The searing energy engulfs me, overwhelming my defenses, and I succumb to the overwhelming force. Struggling to maintain composure against the relentless assault, I falter and then collapse, unable to withstand the tremendous power of the Hyper Beam. My vision blurs and the world around me fades into darkness as I fall to the ground, defeated and unconscious.

"Ash!" Lillie rushes to my side, attempting to rouse me from my unconscious state. Witnessing her concern, my other self steps forward, deciding to utilize Heal Pulse to mend my injuries and infuse me with revitalizing energy, coaxing me back to consciousness with a surge of rejuvenating power.

"I must admit, despite your positive demeanor, you proved to be an exceptional opponent in battle," the other me remarks with a smile. "I have confidence that you possess the capability to protect yourself with such power at your disposal."

"And you're quite formidable too," I respond. "Considering the power you wield, I believe you can retrieve your Pokémon taken by those traitors seeking immortality for their selfish desires."

As Saphira rushes towards my other self, she envelops him in a warm hug, exclaiming joyfully, "Yay! Papa won! Papa is the strongest! I want to be as strong as Papa!"

My alternate self, touched by Saphira's enthusiastic cheer, smiles warmly and gently embraces her back, acknowledging her support with a sense of pride and affection. "Thank you, Saphira."

Turning back towards us, my other self addresses the lingering issue, "That reminds me, you mentioned having trouble returning to the world where you reside, correct?"

"This is actually the sixth world we've found ourselves in, and it's been a month since we departed from our original world," I explain with a frown.

The alternate version of myself turns to Serena and requests, "Serena, could you assist me in retrieving the Ultra Space GPS from my room?"

The other Serena responds with a hint of uncertainty, "Are you certain you want to give it to them?"

"They simply wish to return home. Unlike us, who might have nothing but ourselves, they still have families they want to reunite with. My disdain for the people of our world doesn't extend to everyone beyond space and time," the other me responds.

Captain Phyco remarks, "That would indeed be very kind of you. I am curious, where did you acquire such an item?"

"They were crafted by our world's Lillie, utilizing technology from the Aether Foundation and aided by Uxie, the Legendary Pokémon of Knowledge. This collaboration made it easier to develop such a device, facilitating our travels to places like the Ultra Metropolis," explains the other me.

Soliera interjects, recalling, "I do recall you mentioning it at some point. It's just that our captain forgot about it..."

Phyco clears his throat and admits, "Being in my old age, my memories tend to be a bit jumbled."

I accept the watch and inquire, "How do we utilize this? We're not precisely certain of our world's location..."

"It's quite simple. Allow the watch to scan you, and it will reveal the coordinates or location of your origin. This way, even if you're lost, you can try to pinpoint the whereabouts of your world," explains the other me regarding the watch's function.

"Now, all that's left is to wait for Lunala's recovery, and then we'll finally be able to return home," I affirm, expressing anticipation for Lunala's healing before our journey back to our world.

That night, Lillie and I decide to approach Serena, who stands pensively on the balcony, her expression marked with a frown. "Serena," I begin gently, "I'm curious, has my other self forgiven you for being hypnotized and for any actions that might have hurt him deeply?"

She sighs softly before responding, "We had a conversation while we were on the quest for the Ice Gem. My Ash reassured me that he still holds love for me and our child, Saphira. Prior to our journey, he seemed oblivious to my feelings, simply because he wanted to shield me from potential harm, much like how he would protect me from threats such as Team Rocket."

"So, Team Rocket was still a threat even during our time in Kalos?" I inquire. "Because in our world, Team Rocket was already dealt with and never resurfaced during our Kalos journey."

"I understand... I didn't really have a clear goal when I started my journey. I just wanted to find Ash and return the handkerchief he used to bandage my knee during summer camp. Also, I was trying to escape the monotony of home due to the Rhyhorn training," Serena reveals. "He was the one who sparked my interest in Pokémon performing..."

So she has never traveled with my other self in the Kanto Region, Lillie inquires, "How were your experiences with Team Rocket during your journeys in Kalos?"

"They were quite bothersome. There was an instance in the Poke Ball Factory where they managed to snatch Pikachu's Poké Ball from Ash and locked us in a storage room. Luckily, Pikachu was nimble enough to evade their attempts to recall him until we retrieved the ball," Serena explains with a sigh. "Then there was another occasion where they attempted to steal the sundial in Anistar City, but Olympia's Future Sight prevented their success."

"The last time I visited the Pokeball Factory, we encountered Team Flare instead," I recount. "Their objective was to gather as many Pokéballs as possible to aid in their misguided cause of destroying the world."

"It's interesting how our encounters differed. We didn't encounter Team Flare until we met Squishy," Serena chuckles. "Seems like, without dealing with Team Rocket, you ended up encountering Team Flare much earlier in your journey."

After that day, the other me, Serena, and Saphira depart once more in pursuit of the next gem, while Lillie and I decide to use the Ultra Space GPS to make our long-awaited return home. Finally, our journey back to our world commences, and we prepare to step back into the familiarity of our home after our intricate and eventful interdimensional travels.

Here is a new chapter, and now we're done with the sixth dimension. The next chapter will be back to Hisui with the other sidequests for Ash to gather his plates back. I hope you like this chapter.

Ash and Alice's Pokemon (Hisui):

Pikachu, Arcanine (Hisuian), Electrode (Hisuian), Typhlosion (Hisuian), Espeon, Torterra, Infernape, Empoleon, Lucario, Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf, Dialga, Palkia, Giratina, Cresselia, Manaphy, Samurott (Hisuian), Lilligant (Hisuian), Zoroark (Hisuian), Braviary (Hisuian), Tornadus, Thundurus, Landorus, Goodra (Hisuian), Avalugg (Hisuian), Decidueye (Hisuian), Wyrdeer, Kleavor, Ursaluna, Basculegion, Sneasler, Overqwil

Ash and Lillie's Pokemon (Ultra Dimensions):

Charizard, Butterfree x2, Lapras, Meganium, Steelix, Mantine, Sceptile, Gardevoir, Milotic, Absol, Glaceon, Gallade, Samurott, Audino, Zoroark, Hydreigon, Meowstic x2, Aegislash, Hawlucha