Thanks for all the great reviews! I've been really busy so I hadn't had time to get to writing on the next chapter. Thank you tall person for getting me motivated and getting the chapter out sooner than I thought I would. Thanks again for reading! I know that this chapter is short but it'll be longer next time.

Disclaimer: I'm broke.

Chapter 5

The New Journey

"Yes Ivy. Your research material is great. The quality of your experiments are quite impressive, even for you." Professor Oak smiled in his chair as he continued to read the papers in front of him.

Across the table, Professor Ivy beamed at the compliments. Having the opportunity to show the great Pokémon professor of Kanto your work was a great honor, even for someone as renowned as she. "Thank you Professor. I've been researching it for a few years now, but I truthfully have yet to come to a conclusion."

"Please, there's no need to be so formal. I am here on vacation after all."

Ivy laughed in slight embarrassment, "I'm sorry. I must have gotten carried away again."

"It happens to the best of us. But I really do think you've come a long way in your research. This new attack is very intriguing." Oak glanced down at the paper again and began to read aloud, "Completely unaffected by Pokémon type, and devastatingly powerful..." A small hand gently took hold of the top of the paper and pulled it out of his grasp. "Huh?" He quickly turned around to see a young brunette standing before him, the paper in one hand, a tray in the other, and a smile on her face.

"Now now Professor. You came here to relax, not work, and I'm going to make sure that's what you do."

Professor Oak rubbed the back of his head and laughed a little as a blush crept up his face, "I guess I should take my own advice. Thanks Delia."

"Don't mention it. Here, I made some tea." She sat the tray of drinks down on the center of the table. Ivy accepted the drink from the young woman with a smile and a thank you.

"You're in for a treat Ivy! Delia's tea is the best I've ever tasted." Professor Oak happily took a cup from the dish. As he brought it to his lips, he slowly breathed in the relaxing scent of peppermint.

"Oh you're just flattering me professor."

"Delia, you know that I'm horrible at flattery."

Ivy mumbled between sips. "That's her point."

"Eh?"

As the three happily talked, the vid-phone at the other end of the lab began to ring.

Professor Oak looked at the scientist across from him, who had made no move to answer the call. "Aren't you going to get that?"

"One of my aides will get it. And if they don't, the answering machine will. Besides, I'm long overdue for a vacation anyways. And this is very good tea." Professor Oak chuckled while Delia placed the paper back into the folder labeled 'Shadow'.

After several more rings, the image of Professor Ivy came onto the screen. "You have reached Professor Felina Ivy's laboratory. I have either left the building for the time being, or I am busy with my research and cannot reach the phone. Please leave your name, number, and reason for calling and I will return your call as soon as possible." After the short annoying beep, the image immediately switched to that of Tracy. Unlike his usual calm appearance, he seemed strangely tense. "Professor Ivy, this is Tracy. I need Professor Oak and Delia to call me as soon as you get this message. I got a call from Brock from Hoen; he said that something happened to Ash.."

Before anyone could blink, Delia had dashed across the lab and snatched up the receiver. "Tracy, what happened to Ash?" Felina and Samuel felt a drop of sweat trickle down the back of their heads.

"Wow. She's fast." Professor Oak could only nod in response.

"Delia! Thank God I got a hold of you"

"Please, just tell me what happened to Ash."

"Well, I don't know everything that happened, but Brock had said that Ash and Pikachu disappeared a couple of days ago."

Delia furrowed her brows in thought. "Disappeared? Why did they wait till' now to call?"

"Well, this is Ash we're talking about. He's gone off on his own for a long period of time before."

"He has?" Delia raised an eyebrow.

Tracy sweatdropped, "Uh, yeah." He had a bad feeling about that look.

Delia inwardly smiled at the young Pokémon watcher and decided to question him about that later. Quickly she returned to the subject at hand. "Do you know where his friends are?"

"I think they're in Petalburg."

By this time, both scientists had made their way over to the vid-phone. Professor Oak hit the speaker button allowing everyone to hear the conversation. "Tracy, what's all this about Ash disappearing?"

The young man sighed, "Sorry Professor. I don't know all the details, but..."

"That's ok Tracy." Professor Ivy interrupted, "Just tell us what you do know."

There were three things Ash learned while shopping. The first thing was that clothes were more expensive than his usual supplies. The second was to find out what sizes to get before leaving. And the third, well... "Um, sir? Why are you staring at the lingerie?"

Buying her undergarments was just plain embarrassing.

Ash blushed at the cashier's remark and turned his attention to his feet. Yup. Still muddy. "Your total is $123.20." He quickly fished out the money and handed it to her (leaving him pretty much broke). As he grabbed his sack, he heard the lady mumble something about a pervert in the store under her breath. Well, whatever it was, it didn't concern him. He quickly made his way to the Pokémon Center and ran straight up the stairs and into his room.

"WHAA!"

Nurse Joy looked up from her work as a loud metallic clang echoed from one of the trainers' rooms. "I wonder what that could've been?"
Back upstairs, Pikachu ran to his friend's side and patted him apologetically on the large red mark on his face. "Pichu-kachu Pikapi!"

Ash sat up slowly and scratched the yellow rodent under one of his ears. "It's okay Pikachu. You did a great job guarding the place." He looked around noticing the empty beds. "Where's Latias?" Pikachu pointed to the bathroom as he pushed the door closed and began rambling for a few moments, Ash nodding every now and then. They were soon interrupted by a loud thud originating from the bathroom. Both Pokémon and trainer looked at each other, and slowly proceeded towards the door. The last thing Ash expected was it flying open and a waterlogged brunette, clad only in a shower curtain, latching onto him and knocking him to the floor.

Latias sank deeper into the small tub allowing the hot water to alleviate the aches and pains that plagued her human body. She still couldn't believe that her home was gone. In the past, she always believed that she would spend her life with her brother, flying around the city in an endless search for fun. But alas, fate had set in and ripped her brother from her in the worst possible way she could imagine. She opened her mouth to cry out in sorrow, but the only sound that escaped was her was a sigh of grief as she pulled her legs to her chest. Her arms wrapped around her legs and she slid deeper into the bath, her nose now barely above water.

"WHAA!" Clang! Thud!

Latias gasped and immediately regretted it. She coughed and gagged a few moments, regretting the fact that she inhaled her bathwater. Finally, she backed herself into the corner of the tub, listening to see who it is.

"Where's Latias?" Despite the door blocking the way, the Eon Pokémon quickly recognized the owner of that voice.

It's Ash! He's back!

She quickly jumped up and out of the water, though a little too quickly. Slipping, she fell onto the floor with a thump and pulled the shower curtain with her. Cringing at the quick meeting with the tiles, Latias grabbed the first thing she could get a hold of and wrapped it around her in an attempt to keep warm. Then, she scrambled to her feet and dashed out the door.

"Latias!" Ash's eyes widened as his face turned beet red and his back hit the ground. Pikachu smirked at his friend's embarrassment.

Why humans feared nudity was beyond him.

"Uh, Latias." He looked her weary eyes and the awkwardness faded. "It's okay. I'm here for ya." She smiled at his words, and he grabbed the sack of items he just purchased. "Here. I got you some clothes and some medicine for your cuts." Latias looked at him surprised.

He bought her stuff? Was it really all just for her?

She hugged him tightly in thanks before accepting the bag and having him guide her into the bathroom. "You can get dressed in here. I'll be right outside the door, so don't worry about a thing." After shutting the door he sighed and plopped down on the bed, "What a way to start a journey."

"Pika? Pi-pi Chu?"

Ash laughed at Pikachu's question. "Yeah, The Hoenn League can wait. Latias still hasn't shown me what's in the bag, but whatever it is, Team Rocket wants it bad." He looked out the window. "I just hope we can help her." At about that time, Latias stepped out of the bathroom and Ash held in a laugh.

She's got a lot to learn about getting dressed too. Which reminds me, I need a new hat.

Please R&R!