"Hi"- normal speech

"Hi"- electric speech

'Hi'- telepathy

'Hi'- normal thoughts

Chapter 9

Ash opened the door to his summer house, and was met by his former pursuers.

"Welcome boss," said Jessie, "How are you doing this fine morning."

"Very well Jessie. May I enter?"

"But of course." Once Ash, Latias (who was still invisible), Pikachu and Espeon were inside, Ash closed the door. Striding into the living room, he flopped down on the couch, Latias floating down beside him, while Espeon lied down on the floor beside the couch, and Pikachu taking the armrest above Ash's head.

"Anything we can do for you, boss?" asked James.

"No thank you, James. In fact, since I don't really need anything from you three at this time, why don't you all take the day off. By the looks of things, you've been keeping this place well kept, so it's the least I could do to thank you."

"Oh, thank you boss. Jessie, Meowth, we've got the day off." At this, a girlish squeal rang through the house, and Jessie shot out the door at high speeds, beach supplies in hand.

"Come on Meowth, there's a huge bazaar sale down at the markets, let's go." yelled James.

"Right behind ya, Jimmie." replied Meowth, and the two headed off to the Altomare market district, leaving Ash and his group alone. Once the coast was clear, Latias once again became visible.

"You know, you didn't have to stay invisible." said Ash.

'Still, what would happen if they let slip that they saw me? Trainers all around would come hunting around for me, and eventually someone's going to get lucky and find the garden and me. The way I see it, the less people know about me, the better.' Ash couldn't fault her there.

'I have to agree with her Ash,' Espeon piped up, ' I believe it's best if Latias' existence is kept on a need to know basis. We don't want anyone capturing her now, not to mention the soul dew.' Ash nodded, he didn't want another armageddon wave on his hands, and he seriously doubted Latias could stop one on her own.

"All right, we won't let anyone know except those we can trust." The rest of the morning passed by in comfortable silence, but soon everyone started to get bored. Nothing good was on TV, and there wasn't anything really entertaining to do in the house. Finally, Ash broke the silence.

"All right, I don't know about you guys, but I am bored. Anybody got any ideas?"

'Shopping?' provided Latias.

'No way, I've seen the way women go shopping and I'd rather be in... no, I'd rather be a woman's pack mule than go back in my ball.' At this, Espeon shivered a bit.

"We could just walk around town. Maybe we could check out the museum."

"I'm with you Ash. A day out on the town'll be great." said Pikachu.

'I'd like that too. I've been holed up in the garden for so long that I'd love to see the city again.' Latias replied.

"Well then I guess that settles it. Let's hit the town guys." Leaping up off the couch, Ash headed out the door, the pokemon not far behind. After locking up, they headed out into the busy morning streets of Altomare. Soon they wound up in the market district, much to Latias' (who had taken her human form) delight. They went from stall to stall, checking out what was on sale. Ash mostly checked the trainer wares, while Latias preferred the jewelery. Eventually the group came to the docks, and Ash recognized a very familiar ship in the port.

"Well paint me pink and call me Mew, that old sea dragon is here. Hey Latias, would you like to meet a member of the family?" Latias was surprised that Ash had a relative in Altomare.

'Sure, who is it?'

"It's my grandfather, Drake." Ash replied, and headed to the seaside tavern by the dock. Latias started to get nervous.

'Are you sure we should go in there? It looks really seedy.'

"Don't worry, just stay close to me and you'll be fine. I've been in worse looking places, and I can tell you, this one looks to be one of the more friendlier places." Doing as she was told, Latias stayed close to Ash's side as they entered. The inside of the tavern was dimly lit while the smell of sweat, tobacco, and cheap booze hung heavy in the air. Looking around, Ash immediately spotted the person he was looking for. As he walked up to the table his grandfather sat at, he noticed the stares and lecherous grins the other patrons were giving Latias. Finally he reached the table and sat down in front of the man, Latias taking the seat beside Ash.

"Hello gramps." said Ash.

"Well ahoy to you too boy. I see you haven't forgotten this old sea dragon. So what brings you to Altomare?" replied Drake.

"Well lets just say an old friend needed me. So I rushed over."

"I see now. And who is this fine young lady?"

'Ash, introduce me as Amy, Bianca's twin sister.' Latias telepathed.

"This is Amy. She's the twin sister of Bianca, who happens to be a good friend of mine."

"Pleasure to meet you, lass." Latias giggled.

"Unfortunately gramps, she can't speak. Don't know why, but she never could." said Ash, having seen his grandfather's puzzled look.

"Well that's a shame, my condolences. So Ash, how's your training coming along. You entered the master's tournament yet?"

"Actually grandfather, I didn't even enter."

"What! All that training and you throw it away!"

"Gramps let me finish. The reason I didn't compete was because I got accepted into the elite four." This piece of news startled Drake. He didn't know that had happened.

"What member are you?" he asked.

"Final." was the reply, and Drake's jaw hit the table.

"What type do you use?"

"Electric."This was no surprise to Drake. He knew that Ash would never go into any major fight without his Pikachu.

"Well now my boy, this calls for a celebration. Bartender! Get us two shot glasses, and a bottle of dragon ale." Once the glasses and drink had been delivered, Ash immediately poured himself a shot.

"Man, thanks gramps. I just ran out recently." and then poured Drake his shot.

"Ash, what have I told you about drinking that stuff. I swear it's gonna kill you." said Pikachu.

'What's dragon ale?' asked Latias.

'Dragon ale is a type of alcoholic beverage made from distilled haban and babiri berries.' Ash replied in thought. He then downed his shot in one gulp, then he took a metal flask out of his bag and proceeded to fill it from the bottle. Just as he finished filling the flask, some of the alcohol spilled out. As soon as the liquid hit the table, it made a fierce hissing sound, like a hot pan under cold water. After a few seconds, the hissing was reduced down to a moderate fizzing, like soda. Latias stared wide eyed at the spilt liquid, while Pikachu was giving her a 'see what I mean' look. After Ash and Drake finished the bottle, Ash said his goodbyes to his grandfather and he and Latias left the tavern. Checking the clock tower it was twelve thirty, and a loud grumble escaped Ash's stomach.

"Who's up for lunch?" Ash asked, blushing slightly in embarrassment.

'Lunch sounds good.' said Espeon. Pikachu and Latias also nodded their assent.

"Know any good restaurants around here, Latias?" asked Ash.

'There's a store that sells sandwiches and other lunch foods nearby, this way.' said Latias, and led the group to the store. After a few minutes of running, they came to a small stand that sold a variety of salads, pizzas, sandwiches, and other such lunch meals. Ash was about to head over to get his lunch, but before he could take a single step, two very soft mounds started pressing against the back of his head, and a pair of arms wrapped around his neck.

"Hello Ash," said a seductive voice, "long time no see." Realizing just what he was pressed up against, Ash started blushing crimson.

"Hello Cynthia." said Ash, trying his best to ignore the woman's quite prominent assets pushing against his head.

"So Ash, we haven't seen each other since you came for training in Sinnoh, I was thinking we could go back to my hotel room and 'catch up', hmm?" Ash had to force his blush down before he got a nosebleed.

"Actually Cynthia, I was just going to grab some lunch and then head over to the museum." He said nervously.

"Ooh, why don't I get lunch with you, hmm?" said Cynthia, tightening her hold on Ash and pushing her chest a bit harder on him. Meanwhile, Latias was glaring daggers at Cynthia, and grinding her teeth in fury.

'That hussy. Who does she think she is, seducing my Ash like that. Oh she's going to pay.' While Latias plotted her payback, Cynthia had drug Ash over to the lunch kiosk.

"I'll take a Reuben sandwich, A fish salad wrap for Amy, and two cans of pokechow please." Said Ash.

"And I'll take...hmm...hmm...maybe that...or perhaps that...hmm."

"You might want to do my order while you wait. Cynthia usually never makes snap decisions outside of battle." said Ash. Nodding, the kiosk worker immediately got Ash's order prepared. After a ten minute wait, the food was done, and Cynthia still hadn't made her choice of meal. As soon as Ash paid for the food and pokechow, Cynthia shot up.

"All right, I'll have the Cesar salad and seafood lasagne, please." As soon as her meal was paid for, she dashed over to Ash ad his group.

"All right then, to the museum." she said, and the group headed off. After ten minutes of walking, the museum came into view.

"So Ash," said Cynthia, "Have you got a special someone in your life yet?"

"Um, maybe." Ash nervously answered. This promptly made Cynthia get right up in his face.

"Really? Who, who?" she asked excitedly, making Ash stop due to the closeness. However, Espeon, who was right behind him, wasn't paying attention due to a cute female Vaporeon running by, and bumped right into Ash. Losing his balance, Ash fell straight forward, right into Cynthia's ample cleavage.

"Oh my," she said, "Ash, I had no idea you were so forward, I love that in a man." Then she started pressing him in farther, despite his attempts of freeing himself. "Go on Ash, smother yourself in them all you want. Or we could go to my room and take this farther." Upon hearing that, Pikachu fainted, a perverted grin plastered on his face, and Espeon started glaring at the former champion. Latias however, was shooting fire from her eyes. 'Oh no she did not! That's it, this means war!'

'Espeon, can you help me out with something!'

'If it means taking down the shameless woman, count me in!'

'Okay, here's what I need you to do...' Meanwhile, Ash finally managed to get out of Cynthia's cleavage.

"Now, now Ash, no need to rush, we've got plenty of time." she said, and went over to a trash bin by the canal to throw out her trash, seductively swaying her hips the whole way. Once she threw out her empty styrofoam containers, she started to head back.

'Now!' Latias telepathed to Espeon. Immediately, his eyes glowed blue for a second, and a Wailmer in the canal 'just happened' to leap out of the water, over a bridge spanning the canal, and come down on the other side, making a huge splash and soaking Cynthia. Before the black clad blonde could get over the shock, Espeons eyes glowed again, and her foot 'just happened' to slip on the wet ground, causing her to tumble backwards and fall right into the water. That caused everyone to laugh, and laugh hard. Ash was holding his sides in pain from his mirth. Espeon was rolling around on the ground, unable to stop laughing, and Latias was hiding her face in her hands, trying to hold in her laughter, and failing miserably. After Cynthia managed to get out of the canal, she excused herself from the group and left for her hotel room, so she could change into something dry. When the three had caught their breath and woke up Pikachu, the group headed on to the Altomare museum, a smug smile plastered on Latias' face the whole way.

'Hah, take that you hussy! Ash is mine and no one is getting him but me.' Once they reached the museum, Ash saw something. A massive dome like building sat half a mile off the coast. A large stone bridge connected the building with the city itself, and it looked like a lot of important looking people were gathered by the entrance of the building.

'Hmm, maybe Lorenzo will know what's going on.' Ash thought to himself, and entered the museum. Finding Lorenzo wasn't to difficult, seeing as it was mostly empty. Ash found him in his usual spot by the DMA.

"Long time no see, Lorenzo." said Ash as he walked up to the aged man.

"Ash, how are you doing. Bianca came by earlier and told me everything."

"That's good, I hate repeating myself. Anyway Lorenzo, what's with that new building out off the coast?"

"That Ash, is the Altomare water stadium. You see, the government here felt that we weren't getting enough tourism these days, so he had the water stadium built to bring in more tourism. Also, tomorrow is the grand opening, and in celebration of the event, Altomare is hosting this years Wallace cup. That clear everything up?"

"Yes it does, thank you very much Lorenzo." With that, Ash left the museum. Looking out to the open water, Ash sat and watched the waves, but then he noticed something in the distance. At first it was faint, but after ten minutes it could be seen. It was a large cruise liner, and it was headed for Altomare.

'Wow, no ship that big has ever come to Altomare.' Latias telepathed.

"Well you got to remember, the Wallace cup is tomorrow, so I'm guessing that that cruise liner is carrying all the participants and spectators."

'Hey Ash, are you going to enter the contest?"

"You know what, I think I will. Just for the fun of it. Wait right there Latias, I'll be right back." Ash then made his way to the water stadium. Once he got there he went over to the nearest person.

"Excuse me sir," Ash asked, getting the man's attention. " Where do I need to go to sign up for the Wallace cup contest?"

"Just go inside and it's the desk in the center." replied the man.

"Thank you sir." And with that, Ash went inside the stadium. Going up to the center desk, he tapped the bell for service. Immediately, a secretary came in and sat down in the desk.

"Good afternoon sir, I assume you're here to sign up for the Wallace Cup?"

"Yes, ma'am." Ash replied.

"Alright then, I just need your pokedex and your contest pass, and we can start with the registration. Ash pulled both items out of his travel pack, and handed them to the secretary. After a quick scan on both items, the registration was complete.

"Thank you very much for your participation, we hope to see your dazzling display tomorrow." said the secretary, while bowing. Ash then headed back to where he left Latias, and when he got there he noticed how close the cruise ship was.

'It's almost here Ash!' said Latias excitedly. Then the ship started making preparations for docking.

"Let's go over to where its docking so we can meet some friends of mine." Said Ash, and the group dashed for the docks, eager to meet some old faces not seen in five years.

A/N:

And that's a wrap people. Just to let you all know, Cynthia is just teasing Ash. She's not going to try splitting Ash away from Latias in any way. All she's doing is having fun while embarrassing Ash. So Like it, Love it, Hate it? R&R please.