When we walked back into the E-R, it was a great relief to see Nurse Joy and the two professors smiling with Larvitar looking a lot warmer than he had done before. He wasn't even shivering anymore!

"Your Larvitar is going to be just fine now kids." Professor Elm said as he put away his medicines.

"Keeping it as warm as possible was the right thing to do. You all saved its life." Professor Oak told us and I sighed with relief before lifting up Latias high into the air to celebrate.

"You hear that Latias? Your new friend is going to be fine!" She cheered with me but then suddenly I had two very interested professors crowding around close to see Latias.

"Now that the danger is out the way, let's have a closer look at this fine young specimen." Professor Elm said as he lifted my Latias out of my hands, making my jaw drop before my face burned red with anger, eyes starting to glow. Both Misty and Brock took a smart step back, just in case. "Wow, I've never seen a real Latias before! I've heard all about them of course but to actually see one, and hold one! This is a rare and valuable Pokémon with a lot of amazing facts to be discovered if I could just study it…"

"Thank you but I'll be the one doing any studying of this Pokémon." Professor Oak stated simply as he took Latias, who was beginning to look a little frightened which instantly set my pulse into high gear. How dare they manhandle my Latias?! "As it is Ruby's Pokémon, its research will be done back at my lab in Kanto, which is where all her other Pokémon live."

"But she hatched it here, so I reserve a right to any data that may have been discovered here!" Professor Elm argued, taking a hold of Latias and tried to take her back but Professor Oak hung on.

"No, me!"

"No, me!"

"Me!"

"ME!"

"ME!"

"Enough!" I thundered and forced my palms directly outwards, pushing both professors backwards and tumbling to the ground smartly then caught Latias as she was thrown up into the air. "No one is studying Latias, not until she's old enough to leave my side and at the moment, she's only a baby. So any research is being carried out by myself." I told both of them sternly as they rubbed their sore heads. "Understood?"

They both coughed then stood up, straightening their lab coats before Professor Oak sighed. "You're right of course, Ruby. I'm very sorry, I just can't believe our good fortune. Well done for finding such a wonderful Pokémon and taking good care of it." I nodded my head with a smile, once again calm as Latias nestled into the crook of my neck.

"I'm sorry too, I always get excited at the prospect of a new research topic." Professor Elm told me. "I hope you'll forgive me Latias." Latias gave a bright smile in return.

"Latias! La La!" She cooed back then held onto my shoulder, levitating the rest of her body into the air and used me as a guide to pull her through the air as she practiced her flying.

"She says not to worry. She understands." I smiled before looking to the Larvitar that Ash was now once again holding close.

"Hm. Strange." Professor Elm noted suddenly. "Its body temperature is back to normal and it's fully conscious, but it doesn't seem to react to external stimuli." He said and Professor Oak nodded his head.

"That combined with the fact it hasn't eaten since it hatched suggests that we still have a problem." I lifted a tentative hand.

"Actually, Larvitar has eaten. I fixed up a bottle last night and Ash fed him. Larvitar drank it all, right Ash?"

"Right." He said then jostled Larvitar very gently to try and get its attention. "Hey Larvitar, you've got to tell us what's wrong. Come on, please say something." He begged softly but then Nurse Joy appeared with her Chansey.

"Breakfast is ready for everyone. We may as well eat something and think about what to do next afterwards. No one ever solve a medical mystery on an empty stomach you know." She said warmly and the professors both nodded their heads, stomachs rumbling.

"That's a good idea." Professor Elm agreed.

"Come on kids, let's leave the Larvitar to rest for now." Professor Oak said but I paused, glancing back to Larvitar then to Latias who blinked at me then nodded her head.

"La La, Latias La." She said so I gave her a smile.

"Actually, I think I'll stay." I said to everyone. "Just to keep Larvitar company."

"I'll stay too." Ash agreed, refusing to relinquish his hold on the Larvitar. "I'm not that hungry anyway."

"Ash? Not hungry?" Misty blinked in astonishment.

"That has to mean he's worried." Brock noted before leaving the room with everyone else. Instantly I turned around and faced Ash.

"Larvitar is still afraid. He's afraid of people and everything around it. That's why he's refusing to respond." I explained, beginning to pace back and forth with Latias hanging onto my shoulder and chirping happily as she tagged along for the ride. "What exactly happened in your dream?"

"Well, it started with Larvitar's egg falling off a motorcycle and into a river, which then somehow ended up in a town and the egg almost got run over by a truck. It was pretty scary. No wonder you don't want to meet the world." Ash said, looking down at Larvitar as Pikachu's ears dropped sadly.

"Pika Pi…"

"Ruby, can you talk to Larvitar?" Ash said and held Larvitar out to me, making me blink. "You know, like you did with Latias. You helped Latias get healthy again when it was still an egg. Could you do that for Larvitar now?" Giving Ash a gentle smile I pushed Larvitar away from me and back towards Ash.

"No Ash, I can't. Not this time." I told him and he blinked.

"Why not?"

"Because Larvitar doesn't want me, he wants you." I explained. "If Larvitar wanted my help, he would have shared his dream with me. Instead he reached out for you, because he knows how much you care. I think you're the one who's meant to help Larvitar break out of his shell, so it's up to you to try." Ash looked back down at Larvitar, deep in thought. Pikachu reached out and tugged on his jacket, drawing our attention to him.

"Pikachu, Pika Pi, Pika Pika!" Pikachu nodded his head with an encouraging expression.

"Pikachu…you think so too?" Ash questioned and Pikachu nodded his head decisively.

"Pi." He said so Ash got to his feet.

"Alright then! Larvitar, you're coming with me." Ash said and began to march his way outside and I followed a little behind to watch what he did. When coming into contact with fresh air and the warm morning sun, Larvitar actually opened his eyes. "Hey Larvitar! You're awake!" Ash said with a smile. "I'm going to show you what a great place the world is, so come on!" He walked out away from the Pokémon centre then stood facing the ocean a few feet away from the cliff with Pikachu at his side. "This is what we call a field, and that out there is the ocean. Isn't it beautiful? Above that is the sky, see how it goes forever?" He said and Larvitar looked out blankly.

"Pika." Pikachu agreed softly as Ash put Larvitar down to feel how soft the grass was here.

"You don't have to be scared of this world Larvitar, it's full of great things like friends and sunshine, and no one's going to hurt you." He promised. Latias called out then flew over, getting quite a decent way before losing her balance and tumbled down onto Ash's head, making her squeal with laughter along with Ash who picked her up. "And this here is Latias, she helped keep you warm last night. She wants to be your friend too, right Latias?" Ash asked and Latias nodded her head.

"La!" Ash put her down and she nuzzled her head against Larvitar who tensed and pressed his eyes shut, but Latias ignored that and continued to comfort him, trying to befriend Larvitar and slowly, he uncurled and even looked at her. "Latias!"

"Lar?" He gave a soft question and Ash chuckled.

"You see? We're all friends here. Look, even lying here doing nothing feels great!" Ash said as he lay back and stretched out on the grass. "Come on! Why don't you give it a try?" He suggested so Pikachu led the way, falling back and spreading his arms and legs out with a cheerful little chirp.

"Pika Pika!"

"And look!" Ash pointed up to the Jumpluff who floated in the sky, happily calling away as they floated on the wind. "Can you see how happy those Jumpliff are up there?"

"Oh spare me." A voice drawled and instantly I was on my feet, looking over to a pair standing before a large haystack.

"Who're you?" Ash questioned, lifting his head up by his hands which were curled underneath.

"Prepare for trouble and stop your dreaming."

"Make it double, because we're busy scheming." They both began and my eyes instantly widened, recognising that washed out beginning no matter what the disguise those two meanies wore.

"To protect the world from goodie two shoes."

"And let you know when you snooze, you lose!" Huh? Wait a minute, that's not the Team Rocket motto I know. What's going on now?

"Go ahead, take your nap and float away to dream land."

"Then your Pokémon will be under our command." I think I preferred the old one. This one doesn't flow as well. Both newcomers whipped off their disguises and sure enough, it was Jessie and James, back from the hike they were sent on yesterday.

"Jessie!"

"James!"

"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight, fight, fight!"

"Meowth, that's right!" Meowth ended finally with his paws lifted high.

"Team Rocket!" Ash growled as I reached his side and Latias instantly jumped into my arms.

"What do you three losers want?" I demanded. "Because if it's Larvitar and Latias, then you're out of luck! Because we're not going to let you take them." But they all just fell back against their haystack with a dreamy sigh.

"Come join us Larvitar. This hay here is much better than that itchy old grass." Jessie said temptingly, coking her finger at Larvitar.

"Oh yes. We'll show you how to really relax."

"Forget it!" Ash yelled at them. "Larvitar's not going to fall for that scheme." Ash assured them so they stood up.

"Oh really?" Jessie queried, placing a hand on her hip.

"Then we'll have to go for plan B." James answered simply as Meowth narrowed his eyes darkly and smirked at us, then punched the air with a smug expression.

"Operation Larvitar now in effect!" I do not like the sound of this. As the trio ran into the hay, it was a couple of seconds before it suddenly burst apart and revealed a frightening looking machine which roared loudly and came bearing down on us, making Latias squeal in fear then hide behind me, clinging on tightly to my jacket as I took a step back.

"Now what's that?" Ash questioned so I whacked him on the head.

"Does it matter? Move it!" I yelled so he quickly grabbed Larvitar as a net came swinging down at us.

"Just hand over the Larvitar!" Jessie growled as we set off running.

"No way!" Ash yelled, holding Larvitar in front of him as a large fist suddenly jumped forwards from the machine, opening up into a hand which chased after Ash as he continued to run.

"Watch out Ash!" I called as I leaped to the side but Ash didn't move fast enough. The hand grabbed him and Larvitar tumbled out of his arms, falling to the ground as Ash was wrapped up tightly in Team Rocket's trap. "No!"

"Pika Pi!"

"La!" Latias cried out then suddenly sprung from my back and flew through the air in a controlled descent, sliding along the floor at the last moment and caught Larvitar, making her look back at him with a smile. "La…La…Latias La." She said as Larvitar blinked in surprise.

"Lar?"

"Latias! Larvitar!" I called then tried to run for them but another hand shot out and grabbed me, making me cry out in alarm before I fell to the ground, arms pinned to my side and unable to move except for a pathetic wriggle which got me nowhere. "Both of you, get out of here!"

"Pikachu! Get them to safety!" Ash yelled as he tried to squirm free. "Larvitar, you have to run. Run away! You hear me? Save yourself!"

"Pikachu! Pika Pika!" Pikachu tried to shake Larvitar awake but he had closed his eyes and was now no longer responding to anything on the outside, too scared to face it.

"Watch out Pikachu!" Both Ash and I yelled as a claw reached out to snatch Pikachu away. Pikachu jumped out in front of Larvitar and Latias to protect them and sent a Thunderbolt at the machine but it only absorbed the attack and made Team Rocket laugh.

"Here's the real shock." Jessie gloated.

"Our machine is fully insulated, absorbing all of your electrical attacks!"

"Wobbuffet!" I heard Wobbuffet echo as I tried to worm my way over to the Pokémon but before either Ash or I could do anything, Pikachu was snatched up and lifted away by Team Rocket's machine.

"No! Pikachu!" Ash called and I turned my head to see the net descending towards Larvitar and Latias.

"Now for the main course, one legendary Pokémon and another valuable one coming right up!" Don't you dare! Meowth I'll pull out your claws one by one if you so much as touch my Latias! However the Jumpluff from earlier reappeared and began to dance in front of the net and the baby Pokémon, protecting them from being captured.

"Get those Jumpluff out of the way! We don't want them!" Jessie growled angrily then the net began to knock Jumpluff out of the way, hitting them to the ground and Latias gave a whine of worry towards the Jumpluff, trying to fly up to help them but she only got a few inches up before she dropped down again.

"Latias! La!" She tried to call for me so I fought even harder to escape, however I then felt like my ears would burst as Larvitar let out the most ear splitting Screech I had ever come across.

"LAAAAAAAAAAAR!" He yelled, making everyone including the Pokémon tremble and flinch back from its shrill scream.

"Larvitar! Go now! Get away from here!" Ash called and Larvitar stopped screeching to look back at Ash. "Run! Run now before you get caught! Don't you understand? Save yourself Larvitar!" But Larvitar just stared at Ash, slightly stunned and immobilised by confusion.

"It's alright Larvitar." I said to him, still struggling against my restraint. "It's okay to be afraid, but that's what friends are for. We're here to help you grow strong and protect you from what frightens you, but you've got to run and take Latias with you! She needs you right now!" I called and with a blink of his eyes, Larvitar looked down to a crying Latias, who was just as scared as he was.

"Grab them now!" Jessie ordered.

"Right on it!" James answered and the machine powered forwards, making Latias throw back her head in a wail, tears pouring from her eyes and that seemed to be the final straw for Larvitar. He narrowed his eyes and began to glow around his body, tiny orbs circling around him in several rings as he hummed in concentration.

Suddenly the machine lifted off the ground and flew upwards, making Team Rocket cry out in shock as Larvitar stopped the machine from getting any closer to Latias, who blinked in astonishment at Larvitar's impressive power. The machine began to shake and suddenly the clamp let go of Pikachu who beamed and dropped to the ground.

"Pika Pi!" He called to Ash who had just managed to wriggle out of the hand and I too broke free, kicking the hand away then turned to watch Larvitar's awesome attack.

"Are you okay Pikachu?" Ash asked and Pikachu nodded his head as I helped Ash to stand.

"Pika." Pikachu nodded his head then jumped into Ash's arms, all three of us then turned to watch Larvitar as he shook the machine one last time then flung out his arms with a yell, rushes of air flying out with shimmering light and launched Team Rocket high into the air until they were no longer in sight.

"What was that?" Ash asked in baffled shock as I laughed and ran over to Latias, sweeping her up into the air then hugged her tightly.

"That was Larvitar's Hidden Power!" I said, unable to stop smiling as I reunited with my sweet little Latias. "That was awesome Larvitar! You saved us all!" I told him as he blinked up, seemingly surprised at its own strength.

"Great job!" Ash agreed as he ran over with Pikachu. "You really showed Team Rocket."

"Lar."

"Pika Pika!" Pikachu praised as I rubbed Latias's neck then beamed up at her as she held onto my shoulder and floated behind me.

"That's what teamwork is, we all help each other out." Ash explained to Larvitar who turned his head to the side thoughtfully.

"Lar?" The Jumpluff returned, floating in front of Larvitar who instantly ceased up but Ash knelt down to the ground beside him.

"Don't be afraid of them Larvitar. They're your friends now." Ash told him gently. "Like us. Just look! There's nothing scary, everything's fine now." Ash turned to look at the dancing Jumpluff and the newly arrived Bellossoom as they all danced and chanted prettily. "See that? Those Bellossoom are doing a dance just for you, welcoming you into their world."

"Pikachu." Just then an entire ever flowing stream of Butterfree and Pidgey flew from the treetops, rising up into the sky and the Butterfree dazzled in the sunlight, creating a picturesque scene which I captured with my camera, then took a silent photo of Larvitar's smiling face as he gazed upwards.

"Larvitar, know what I think?" Ash asked as I took a photo of the three of them together. "I think now you've truly hatched." And those are the words of a true genius. I'm proud of Ash right now, I knew he was the one who would be able to help Larvitar get over the worst of his fears.

Ash laughed as he picked up Larvitar in his arms, Pikachu jumping to his shoulder and the three of them all beamed at one another, smiling broadly and I captured the moment with my trusty camera then took a photo of myself and Latias, smiling with a wink as Latias squealed. She loved having her picture taken.

"Ash, does it seem like Larvitar is responding normally now?" Professor Elm asked gently as everyone approached.

"Yeah! I'm sure it's going to be fine." He said as Misty walked closer and leaned over Larvitar.

"Oh good!" She said in her gentlest voice but Larvitar instantly ceased up, curling into himself at the sight of Misty getting too close.

"Oh no! It's hardening up again!" Brock said with shock but I just gave a simple shrug of my shoulders.

"Well what do you expect?" I asked them all. "Larvitar is still very afraid, Ash has only just started the beginning of the process to fully cure Larvitar's instinctual fear. It's going to take time and hard work to really help Larvitar get over everything he's afraid of." I said and Professor Oak nodded his head.

"Very true Ruby. You've turned out into a great Pokémon researcher. I might have to start calling you Professor Bates if I'm not careful." He teased so I giggled.

"Don't worry professor, my road is set, and the name professor just doesn't fit in." I assured him as I walked over to Larvitar and tickled his belly lightly where I knew all Pokémon seemed to respond. It was no different with Larvitar, he instantly uncurled and kicked his legs, smiling warmly as he laughed at the tickling sensation so I gave another giggle. "Yup. We're going to be just fine."