Delia was walking circles in Ash's room with a frown. Ash just smiled as he did a final check on his luggage. He nodded to no one in particular and zipped up his trusty, green backpack and shouldered it.

"Are you sure you have everything?"

"Come on, mom, it's not like this is the first time I've left home, and I'll be back before you know it!"

"Oh, I know, but I'll never get used to you leaving. You're my little boy after all!"

Delia walked over and pulled him into a hug. The kind of hug that was unique to mothers and their children. There was a sense of security and motherly love. Ash returned the hug with no complaint. It did seem a little weird to, Ash, though. He wasn't used to being taller than his mother. After a few seconds he patted her back and broke off. A knock resonated from downstairs, almost as if it'd been timed. Delia headed downstairs with, Ash, a few feet behind her.

As he neared the couch, Pikachu jumped on his arm and climbed up to his shoulder. It was then, his old friends were welcomed in. Misty, the hot headed Gym leader of Cerulean City Gym, and Brock, the Gym leader of the Pewter City gym. The three of them had been through a lot together. He would do just about anything for them.

Misty set her bag down gave Ash a friendly hug. "It's good to finally see you again," she said.

Ash pat Misty's head. She hadn't changed or grown much from the last time he'd seen her, making her nearly a head shorter than him now.

"It's good to see you guys. It's been, what, 3 years since Johto?"

"Too long, I say," Brock remarked holding out a hand. Ash gave him a strong handshake in return.

"So," Brock continued, "what's the plan? I imagine you've done your homework."

"Ash, honey, the cab just arrived!" Delia called from the garden.

Ash shrugged. "Just a little."

-2 days later-

It was early in the morning and the sun was still rising. Ash, used to waking up early, found himself leaning over the railing, listening to the waves crash into the side of the boat. Alto Mare, a town where he had a fateful encounter, years past, could be seen creeping over the horizon. It was time to see if this encounter could be rekindled or if all that was left was, funnily enough, ash. The Captain announced when they would be docking over the PA system, interrupting Ash's thoughts. Rude, he thought, but this gave him an excuse to wake Misty and Brock so they could catch breakfast. Just as he was turning around, he saw something red streak across the sky. He smiled excitedly.

"It's good to see you again," he whispered.

Latias soared through the sky, scanning her surroundings with an eye as sharp as a Pidgeot's. She had stuck to her word about guarding the city and even took it upon herself to aid the local Pokémon as well as she could without being spotted by a human. Today, however, there was nothing for her to do, but she felt uneasy.

'I don't like this. It's like an itch that won't go away. None of the other Pokémon appear worried though… Maybe I just need to take a nap.'

She was about to turn around when she noticed something out in the sea.

'Of course! The boat! I suppose I should head over and make sure nothing happens.'

With a new objective in mind, Latias flew over to the docks, transforming in a secluded alley along the way, and waited.

Brock yawned loudly, earning him a smack on the back of the head from Misty. "At least cover your mouth!"

Ash jumped ahead of them and turned his head to his two traveling companions. "Come on guys! Lorenzo's place is this way!" he yelled, sprinting off with Pikachu at his heels.

"Yeah, well you're not the pack mule are you," Brock mumbled trying to find a comfortable position to carry the bags.

"Oh quit complaining," Misty said taking her own bag from him.

"And since when is he any good with directions? The last time we were here, he got lost on his way to the ice cream parlor that was right in front of us."

"Oh well, a lot about him has changed since we last saw him."

They were silent for a few moments before Brock responded. "Yeah, he's all grown up. Kinda wish he was still a kid. It was nice being the reliable one."

Misty smacked him again.

"What was that for?!"

Misty smiled and ran after Ash.

"Hey, wait for- Aw, come on now, guys!"