PokéRangers: New World

Parallel Worlds

"Now... start at the beginning" Zekks encouraged as the five began to recount everything they'd been through: their victories, their losses and how they ended up in this strange world. "Fascinating", Zekks muttered as they finished.

"FORGIVE MACHO FOR MISJUDGING YOU!!!!!!!", Macho cried out as he tightly hugged the former Luxray Ranger.

"Yes, you're forgiven", the former Luxray Ranger gasped. "Now please put me down!"

The former Gyarados Ranger smiled at this exchange before turning back to Zekks. "Okay, your turn. What is this place? And why do you look like someone we know?"

Zekks leaned back in his chair, "Does your world have a concept of the multiverse?"

"You mean the theory that there's parallel universes where certain events did or didn't happen?", the former Moltres Ranger asked.

"Precisely!" Macho chimed in. "You see, there are multiple universes out there. Not just yours and Macho's. In fact, Zekks has been to multiple!"

Zekks smiled to himself as if remembering simpler times. "He's right. And from what you're telling me - and from what I'm seeing...", he gestured at all of them "it seems like your world wasn't that different from ours.

"No disrespect but...", the former Rapidash Ranger began, "'two worlds not that different from each other'. Isn't that what multiverse is all about? Similar settings and faces, but different contexts?"

"Not exactly." Zekks smiled. "You see, the actual multiverse is surprisingly varied. And whereas you might occasionally get an overlap or two in terms of events or people, I never thought it was possible for the similarities to be this pronounced."

"So you're saying..." Macho began before peering suspiciously at the former Luxray Ranger again, "they MIGHT still be lying."

"Wait, what?", the former Luxray Ranger replied frantically as the other Rangers got nervous for a second as well.

"No no no", Zekks quickly replied. "I believe everything about their story. I'm just a little confused on the 'how' it's possible." Zekks admitted. "But hey, I'm no multiverse expert. There's an endless amount of universes out there – many composed of multiple worlds that support life. Perhaps I'm the one who has it wrong. For all we know, maybe both of our universes are neighbors – spatially speaking." Zekks laughed.

"But if our universes are neighbors", Vinnie looked up at Zekks, "how come this is the first you're hearing of their world?"

"A very good question Vintavius", Zekks admitted.

"OH!" Vinnie interjected. "It's Vinnie now" he smiled.

"Is that so?" Zekks smiled as Vinnie nodded. "Well, then that's a very good question VINNIE", he emphasized. "But sadly I don't have a good answer for that. How two universes that share so much in common could be complete strangers to each other... it's certainly perplexing." He paused for a moment before turning back towards the Rangers. "But I'm getting off topic aren't I?"

"Same topic, just different direction", the former Gyarados Ranger chuckled.

"So as I was saying", Zekks began, "this world was once very much like yours, but as time progressed and different events took place, our two worlds – and ourselves in general – took somewhat different paths. And if you were to see the rest of this world... you'd say they were VERY different paths."

"At the risk of starting another tangent", the former Moltres Ranger offered, "how so?"

"Trust me Rangers", he began. "You may have only seen a small portion of this world; but I assure you it gets weirder. Gravity fluctuations, random weather phenomena, spatial convergence, the very laws of nature itself have been turned upside down! Though 'our worlds taking somewhat different paths' wouldn't actually explain all of that."