At some unknown point in time, a massive, golden clock face appeared on the horizon of this world...
It was so enormous, that it inspired fear. Yet no one could touch it.
Many people ran toward the strange clock, but no matter how far they ran, it remained fixed on the horizon.
No one could decipher what its markings represented. The clock's surface was covered in intricate patterns, its edges lined with bizarre symbols. It had only a single hand that moved steadily...
*Tick* *Tock*
It made no sound. And yet, many could hear it.
*Tick* *Tock*
....
In the early stages of the Reverse Clock's manifestation, it caused widespread panic...
No one knew why this terrifying object had suddenly appeared on the earth's surface. No one understood what its moving hands signified.
For a time, the chaos in Kanto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh, which had been sparked by the deaths of Giovanni and others, subsided considerably.
The moment the Resistance saw the clock, they immediately contacted Caleb. Upon learning that everything could be changed, Reika and the rest of the Resistance wept with joy.
The Reverse Clock required one month to fully charge before activation.
During that month, people forgot about war, forgot about conflict. They looked at the weapons in their hands, their eyes revealing an uncharacteristic confusion.
The Reverse Clock had given them time to think...
....
The final day before the world reset, Jessie prepared an exceptionally lavish dinner...
The meal passed in silence, with no one speaking a word.
After dinner, Meowth mysteriously pulled the three of them to the hills behind Pallet Town.
Jessie glanced at the black object Meowth was carrying and asked curiously, "What's that?"
"You'll find out soon nyaa!"
The weather was perfect tonight. It was a rare, clear sky.
The stars seemed ready to fall from the sky, and a full moon hung in the night, its gentle radiance spilling over the land like a final gift to the people of this era.
Caleb looked at the tree stump nearby and roughly guessed what Meowth was planning. After a moment's thought, he released all his Pokémon and climbed a nearby tree to enjoy the night breeze and gaze at the stars.
'One last night...'
Jessie glanced at the massive clock on the horizon and felt an inexplicable sense of impending liberation.
Steadying her emotions, she relaxed on the grass. Leaning against her Arbok, she gazed tenderly at the moon.
"I hope I can meet you all again," James said to Meowth and Jessie.
Meowth didn't reply. He sat on a rock, pulled out a violin from the black bag, placed it on his lap, and began to play.
Soft, poetic notes instantly filled the air.
The Reverse Clock, indifferent to the joys and sorrows of the world, continued its steady ticking on the horizon... Like an eternal knight standing guard.
As the melancholic music played, the Reverse Clock emitted one final tick.
In that instant, the entire world fell into silence. Even the wind and birdsong ceased. The towering waves froze mid-air.
And then, the clock's hands began to spin wildly backward...
....
~Year 2016, League Calendar, Mt. Silver~
Mewtwo slowly opened its eyes at the sound of a crisp tick. It looked down at its hands in confusion: 'What's going on? Didn't I die?'
Even though the surroundings were different, Mewtwo's mind still faintly recalled the sharp sensation of tearing and burning... the last thing it had felt before its consciousness vanished.
"Mewtwo?" A familiar voice suddenly came from behind.
Mewtwo turned and saw the figure it had personally crushed frowning at it in displeasure.
Memories of the past flooded its mind...
This was Mt. Silver, the place where Giovanni had annihilated the Kanto League. The thought alone made Mewtwo's emotions turn violent.
Though it didn't understand why it had returned to this moment... Its body reacted instantly.
With a burst of psychic energy, Mewtwo sent Giovanni flying backward, crashing to the ground and coughing up blood.
On the other side of the battlefield, the Elite Four, led by Lance, stared dumbfounded at the scene.
"What's happening?" the muscular Bruno asked, his thick brows furrowed.
Lance maintained a grave expression, though internally, he was utterly bewildered. Shaking his head at his companions' questioning looks, he said, "Let's observe for now..."
The two Deoxys in the sky saw their master being attacked and immediately descended to his side, warily eyeing the suddenly rebellious Mewtwo.
The atmosphere grew tense...
Just then, a conspicuous Dragonite flew in from the sky... After the Reverse Clock reset the world, Caleb appeared in Pallet Town seventy years in the past.
After confirming the current date with a passerby, he summoned Dragonite and rushed straight to Mt. Silver.
Seeing Lance and the others unharmed below, Caleb let out a quiet sigh of relief: 'Good, I made it in time!'
If Lance was safe, then the priority now was to use the Mewtwo's Affinity item in his inventory to win over Mewtwo, then leverage its power to eliminate Giovanni, and then head to Sinnoh to save Cynthia.
But before Caleb could even land, he noticed something odd about the atmosphere...
Everyone present, whether the Kanto League led by Lance, or Team Rocket under Giovanni, was staring up at the sudden arrival of this young man.
They had even forgotten to keep fighting.
Caleb: "…"
Giovanni studied him for a few seconds before shifting his gaze back to Mewtwo.
He suddenly realized that ever since this person appeared, Mewtwo's demeanor had grown strange.
Caleb also noticed Mewtwo staring at him. And before he could even use the heart shaped item in his inventory, he saw a flash of psychic light, and Mewtwo appeared right beside him, scrutinizing him with a frown.
Caleb was startled...
Mewtwo's expression was puzzled as it studied Caleb before asking: >..You're not dead? Is this a dream?..<
Hearing this, Caleb froze. He turned his head, staring at Mewtwo in disbelief.
"You remember me?" he questioned.
Mewtwo nodded.
'Do those who returned to life via the Reverse Clock retain their memories?' Caleb pondered.
'No, that can't be right...'
He glanced at Giovanni, who looked back at him with complete confusion, showing no signs of recognition.
'Could it be because of Mewtwo's unique nature?' Caleb was baffled.
But now wasn't the time to dwell on it...
Scanning the Team Rocket forces below, Caleb said, "Let's deal with them first."
Mewtwo replied succinctly: >..Agreed..<
In the next instant, Mewtwo vanished, charging straight at the two Deoxys. The three Legendary Pokémon clashed in the skies.
Caleb looked up briefly before descending beside Lance. Under the bewildered stares of the others, he cleared his throat and said, "Don't worry, I'm on your side. Let's take care of this situation first."
Lance studied him seriously before nodding and barking out an order: "All forces, attack!"
The League army and Team Rocket forces collided, the battle rapidly escalating.
After summoning his other Pokémon, Caleb joined the fray. He let Dragonite and Mimikyu act freely while he synchronized his consciousness with Lucario and plunged into the battlefield.
It felt eerily like playing a full-dive VR game. He then glanced up at Dragonite and Mimikyu in the sky...
Which raised a question: Is it possible use Aura to create a large-scale 'Aura Network' and command multiple Pokémon simultaneously in battle?
'If I ever have spare points in the future, I'll definitely use them to purchase Aura and test this out.'
Lost in thought, Caleb swung a fist, sending a Zubat flying.
Nearby, Lance and the others watched the young man glowing with a faint green light, their expressions odd.
Caleb noticed their stares: "…"
'Stop staring! This is already embarrassing enough as it is!' he complained inwardly.
Fortunately, this world's Lance had excellent social awareness. Seeing Caleb's discomfort, he promptly averted his gaze...