Author's Notes: Wow, this chapter turned out longer then I thought, but it didn't take nearly as long to write.

Anyway, this was one of the easiest chapters to write. Why? because everything fit together so perfectly. In the sense that I could write the story exactly the way I wanted to and it would still make perfect sense.

BFoS: Well, the reason it's called explanations is because there's also an explanation to what 'the smell' was, what happened to the data-brace and that's pretty much it. So maybe you're right. As you said, there isn't very much to discuss...

Chapter 25

1 month later

I never learned how I had transformed that day, but I knew it wasn't going to be my last time. I still had so many questions though, was I able to transform into anything else? What was with that strange spirit like fog? And so on.

I was still surprised that I overloaded the brace. But after a few weeks it was repaired and ready to go. It was also upgraded so that it would have a better chance to record the signals without overloading.

That wasn't the only thing that got repaired. After a while I told the professor what became of the EMDAC. Fortunately he wasn't surprised, and he also mentioned that he had replacements, multiple replacements. Now that there were those rocket orbs flying around, he let me bring two at a time to make even quicker work of those orbs.

When I got back to the apartment that day, it turns out that Terra had told Dallin everything that happened. The second I had entered the apartment, I was barraged with questions that I also wanted answers to. From that day, Dallin begged me to learn how I transformed so I could do it again only turn into a pikachu the next time. He wasn't the only one who wanted that.

It was now early winter and it was cold. The snow didn't pile up though, which was good for Terra. She didn't mind the snow as it always melted under her feet, but if the snow was a few feet thick, she'd be continuously falling through.

In Karen's office, "So, Karen, where to, today?"

"You're off to the northern mountains of Hoenn." I shivered the moment she spoke those words. From what I had read, those mountains were the coldest place in the world.

"What would be all the way in those mountains?"

"We don't know. We got a distress signal. It was a little fuzzy and the people weren't very clear on what was going on. But they said that they need your help."

"So, I'm just being teleported to the middle of nowhere?"

"No, the signal came from a research base from the mountains. You'll be teleported there."

"Alright, just give me a minute to get ready."

"Oh, Nick, a quick suggestion. There are just as many flying pokemon as there are that don't in those mountains. I suggest you bring the gliders just in case."

"Right." I went to my apartment and piled on all the heaviest clothing I had. Just in case, I also brought the gliders and the EMDACs. I rounded up Terra and Dallin and we were ready to go. By the end I was piled under what seemed like ten pounds of clothing. I opened the button on the brace and suddenly a windy, cold portal opened. I walked in with Terra and Dallin and the portal closed.

The sky was cloudy and snowy, and the wind blew ferociously. The visibility was terrible, I was only able to see a few meters in front of me. It was cold beyond all belief. Despite all the clothes that I had piled on, it still didn't seem like enough. I couldn't see any research base in sight. I looked at Terra and Dallin to find that Terra had melted a little hole in the snow. Dallin was sitting on the usual spot he did, in between Terra's shoulders.

What was I going to do? I couldn't see the base anywhere and I had no idea where I was either. I figured the best thing to do was call the organization. I pulled my sleeve up and pushed the communicator.

"Karen?" I had to yell in order to hear myself against the brutal wind.

"Is something wrong."

"You're coordinates were a little off."

"Sorry, I said the signal was a little fuzzy."

"Just get us out of here, Karen".

"Alright, just a sec... ok the portals open." I looked around and there was no portal in sight.

"I don't see a portal."

"I don't know what it is. We're losing signals, the computer says that you're coordinates are jumping all over the place".

"You mean I can't get out of here?!"

"Nick, it's-... you're going to have to-... I can't-...," her voice was getting interrupted by white noise, we were losing signals. "Nick, I-... I repeat-... go to-..." The communication ended.

I dropped my arm and stared into space. I had no signal, I was in the middle of nowhere, and I wasn't able to leave. What to do.

'Hey, Nick,' Dallin said, 'what about those guys who contacted the organization. They're probably out looking for you.'

'You're right! But how will they find me in weather like this?'

'Hmm, I'll have to think on that a little more.'

'Right,' I shivered a little, 'Wow, it's cold out here. Terra could you light up your... FIRE! That's how they'll find us. Terra light up your back.' Dallin jumped off of Terra's back and onto my shoulder. She concentrated for a second and lit up her back. The fire had been growing in size ever since we had met. The fire burned brightly, so brightly it looked as if someone could see it from a kilometer away. I stood close to the fire as we basked in its heat.

'So, do we start moving?'

'No, first we wait a while for them to come. If they don't then we walk.'

I stood beside Terra trying to gather heat. I didn't know how long we would be out there but I wanted it to end. The weather was unbearable.

Thirty minutes had past. I was shaking uncontrollably, and I couldn't stop. Dallin had even started shaking too. I took him off my shoulder and held him against my chest. We tried as hard as we could to give each other heat.

After 10 minutes I figured that they weren't going to come. I got up.

'Ok, that's it. Let's -'

"Hello?" I deep voice came from behind me. I turned around to find two men and a women wearing clothes that made them look obese. One of the men had a beard and the other didn't.

"THANK GOD! You found us. Where's the research base?"

"It's this way, follow us." They started walking and we followed after. The man with the beard spoke, "My name's George, his is Kyle."

"OK, my name's Nick. So, what's her name?"

"We don't know", I gave George a puzzled look, "We'll explain when we get to the base. It's to hard to communicate out here." We walked in the need deep snow. I still held Dallin close to my chest as we walked, and Terra lowered her body heat so she could walk in the sone without melting it.

We walked for about ten minutes until we arrived to a pathway that went upwards. I looked up the path to find a few lights at the top of the hill. It was the base, finally. I ran to the base and Terra ran beside me. I was at the doorway, waiting for the other three to come along and unlock the door.

The base looked a lot more like a cabin than it did a research center. The other three finally caught up and unlocked the door.

I ran inside and was greeted by a flow of warmth. They closed the door as I removed my jackets and snow pants. The cabin had a warm feeling to it, as a fire burned at the back wall in the room. The walls were layered with brownish redish wood that heated me up just by looking at them.

In the corner of the room, I noticed a flareon sleeping on a blanket.

Regardless I was still shivering like crazy. I took off my shoes and laid down on a couch by the fire, with Dallin, still in my arms. My teeth chattered as I tried to gather warmth from the fire. Terra suddenly jumped onto the couch and laid down right on top of me.

'Terra what are you- ooooooooh'. I let out a relaxed sigh as Terra tried to heat me up. It was heavy but it was so warm.

"You had us worried, how long were you out there?" Kyle said.

"I don't know, it seemed like forever."

"Well, take your time in heating up, it seems like you were out there for a long time."

"Right." I laid there by the fire, my arms around Dallin, Terra's arms around me. We laid there for about five minutes before I finally sat up.

"So, I was told there was a distress signal here. What seems to be the problem?" I asked George

"We don't know."

"What?"

"Let me start from the beginning. We were continuing our research when we suddenly heard a knock at the door. We were very surprised, no-one comes up here. The only people who do are the ones that send us our supplies and food, but they weren't due for another month. We answered the door to find that she was there," He pointed at the lady sitting in the seat next to me. She had short read hair and the strangest eyes.

Kyle kicked into the story, "We, of course, let her in. She took out a note from her pocket and gave it to us. It said that she urgently needed help from the organization. More specifically it said that she needed you."

"Wow, but I'm still a little confused," I turned to the women, "Anyway, what seems to be the problem?" She frowned and remained silent. "Is something wrong?"

George suddenly spoke, "That's one of the problems. We've tried to ask her what's wrong, but she either won't speak or she can't. That's why we don't know what the problem is." There was a long pause in the room.

"Well we better get back to collecting the samples."

"Is that what you were doing out there?"

"Well, we were looking for you, too."

"Riiiight." George and Kyle gathered their tools and left the cabin. Now it was just Terra, Dallin, the woman and me.

"Are they gone?" The voice came out of nowhere.

"What?"

"I said, are they gone?" The woman asked.

I got up and looked out the window. I saw footprints leading away from the door, out into the blizzard. They were nowhere in sight, but I wasn't worried.

"Ya, they're gone. Why?" The women got up and looked out the window I just did.

"What I need to tell you is very secretive," as she spoke her voice still seemed like it was coming out of nowhere. "With those two around, all I can tell you is that it's a flight mission."

"They're just pokemon, they won't know what you're saying."

"Nice try, Nick. I know you can hear their thoughts and they can hear yours." I jumped back in surprise. No-one knew of those powers except those inside the organization.

"How did you know that?"

"It's a secret and as I said, it's a flight mission, so those two aren't needed." She spoke as she still looked out the window.

"Alright." I pressed the communicator. "Karen, can you here me now?"

"Yes, you're in the base now so I'm getting better signals thanks to the radio towers."

"Radio towers? Never mind. I'm being told that this is a flight mission so could you open a portal for Dallin and Terra?"

"Sure hold on." A few seconds later the portal was open. Terra and Dallin walked in. Just before the portal closed Terra stuck her head out.

'Good luck, Nick.' Her head popped back in and the portal closed.

"Alright, so now that everyone's gone, what's wrong?"

"Before I can explain anything to you, there's something I need to show you first."

"Really? What is it?"

The woman turned away from the window and faced me straight on. Suddenly, she became nothing but a bright glowing light, that nearly blinded me. I could slowly see the light change shape. The light floated off the ground and started hovering in the air. It slowly started to take a rounder shape.

When the lights were finally gone, I stared in awe. Hovering in the air, with red wings, pointed ears, and beautiful golden eyes, was Latias.

Author's After-notes: Bottom line, it was very fun to write. But surprisingly this isn't the chapter that I said was going to be fun to write, it's actually the next one.