After stopping at the Pokémon Centre at the base of My Silver, we finally began to make our way up to the Pokémon Preserve at Professor Elm's request, to return Larvitar to its mother. I knew it was the right thing to do, but I will really miss Larvitar, and I think Latias will too.

"Latias…" She sighed sadly, holding onto my shoulder to float behind me as I walked with her.

"Huh? Latias? Are you okay?" She shook her head then sniffed, tears filling her eyes so I pulled her around and into my arms to cradle her gently. "It's okay, this won't be the last time we see Larvitar. One day we'll come back and visit, by which time you'll both have so many stories to tell one another. Isn't that right Larvitar?" I asked and Brock turned around so that Larvitar could answer.

"Lar!" He agreed, smiling happily.

"Larvitar has turned into a really happy Pokémon." Brock noted proudly as he carried Larvitar in his arms.

"It seems to have gotten over its fear of all of us ever since it spent all that time with Elekid." Misty agreed. "Larvitar doesn't even harden up anymore. Isn't that right Larvitar?" She questioned and Larvitar gave her a big smile.

"Lar!" He gave a cheerful response as Brock looked in his guidebook.

"Hmm…up there should be the preserve run by Ranger Mason, but I can't tell which side of the bridge it's on." He said but he didn't need to as Larvitar suddenly called out and leaped form Brock's arms to march over the bridge, pointing ahead and leading the way. "Hey Larvitar, wait up!"

"Larvitar!"

"Guess we're going to that side." Misty laughed as we all ran after the little Pokémon, who continued to race ahead before slowing down to look around him and inhale the air deeply. Finally he began to march forwards, arms lifted up and a bright smile on his face as he laughed.

"Laaaar!"

"This is the happiest I've seen Larvitar." Brock noted as we followed Larvitar through the forest.

"I wonder if Larvitar knows that this is his home, even though he was just an egg when he was stolen away from here." Misty wondered as I walked beside her.

"Latias!" Latias nodded her head with a smile and I gave a chuckle as she clung to my shoulder, letting me pull her along.

"That's right Latias. In the later stage of egg development, the Pokémon are able to hear, see and smell things from the outside." I said with a nod of my head.

"In that case, I bet Larvitar recognised home right away." Ash looked back at us all with a smile as we continued to follow Larvitar's lead. We got a little further way into the woods when a low, rumbling growl echoed from the trees, making Latias whimper and shrink back behind me for comfort. "What was that?" Ash asked with a slightly fearful tone so I closed my eyes and pressed my knuckles together, searching for any other auras in close proximity.

"It sounded like a Pokémon." Brock answered as I tried to concentrate.

"If that's a Pokémon, then it sounds like a very big one." Misty answered, holding Togepi closer as the ground began to shake with heavy footfalls. Finally I found the source. A very angry source, however the moment my aura touched that of the Pokémon, it calmed down and was actually surprised.

"It's alright guys." I said as the Pokémon emerged into view, huge and green and mean looking. "It's just…Larvitar's mom." I told them, opening my eyes and looking up at the towering Pokémon who narrowed her eyes down at us.

"What?!" They all yelped and Larvitar blinked in shock. Ash smartly pulled out Dexter to find out what Pokémon we were having a stare contest with.

"Tyranitar, the armour Pokémon. Tyranitar has a heavily armoured body that can withstand powerful attacks and is able to crush a mountain with one hand." So in summary, don't mess with Larvitar's mom.

Tyranitar growled then let loose a roar at us, anger filling the air as I felt it rush out all at once. "Tyranitar calm down! Let me explain!" I called out and quickly reached out to place a hand on her broad belly even as she charged up a Hyper Beam attack. "Listen." I said then closed my eyes, reaching out and connected to Tyranitar. I showed her everything, from the moment we met Larvitar as an egg and the explanation Naomi had given us to tell us how Larvitar had got there.

I showed her all the fun times we'd had with Larvitar and the moment when Professor Elm had instructed us to bring Larvitar back to the preserve, letting her know that we weren't the ones who had taken Larvitar and were not her enemy.

When I stepped back, Tyranitar was perfectly calm and looking down at me with a studious expression. Finally she gave a grunt then turned to Larvitar with a soft call. "Larvitar, that's your mom." Misty told him gently. "Don't you remember her?" She asked as Larvitar continued to just stare upwards at the towering Tyranitar.

"Ruby, did you just calm Tyranitar down all by yourself?" Ash asked in disbelief as I turned around to face him with victory sign.

"You bet! This aura thing is pretty handy, don't you think?" I gave a wink then looked up at Tyranitar. "So Tyranitar, this is Larvitar, your egg. I'm sorry he hatched without you, but at least you're back together again, right?" I pointed out and Tyranitar nodded her head before lowered herself down slightly to gaze lovingly at Larvitar, who blinked before smiling brightly.

"Lar! Larvitar!"

"Latias!" Latias cheered and I giggled, holding her in my arms as I walked back over to the guys. Without warning something blasted out from behind some foliage and hit Tyranitar, enveloping her in a huge orange bag which locked her in place as she roared, falling to the ground.

"No!" We all cried out in horror then turned as a metal machine rolled out into view with a course laughter coming from within. "What's going on? Is that you Team Rocket?" Ash demanded but as three figures rose up from inside, it turned out not to be.

"We're not Team Rocket kid." The middle figure said before the one on his left yelled down at us.

"The bag is ours, so back off you little punks!"

"And just forget about trying to free Tyranitar, that genius Poké-Bag I invented is escape proof!" The last one crowed as my blood began to boil. Poachers. Wait until I get my hands on them. They'll be Tyranitar food!

"With my coaching, a perfect poaching." The middle lead finished and his two goons both cheered.

"You're brilliant boss!"

"Yes, so true." He agreed as I growled under my breath and Latias wore a glare, narrowing her eyes at the poachers as I glanced to the struggling Tyranitar to my right. Don't worry, we'll get you out of there very soon.

"I bet you're the ones who stole Larvitar when it was just an egg!" Misty yelled at them angrily.

"Lar!" Larvitar agreed, making Ash step forwards also.

"You no good poachers! You're not getting away with Tyranitar, we're going to stop you this time!" The middle leader rolled his eyes.

"Don't judge a book by its cover but yes, that's us. I'm Braggo, and what I'm known for is speaking in phrase."

"I'm Chiko, criminal equipment inventor. There's nothing bad I can't invent." The skinny dweeb gloated to us proudly as the last of them finally introduced himself.

"My name's Blurt, I'm the strong silent type but I talk a lot and break stuff by mistake." He said. Great. We're dealing with three more idiots. This is just what we need.

"Together we're…the Pokémon Poacher Brothers!" They all crowed in unison but I stepped forwards and flung out a hand.

"Well I'm Ruby Bates, and this is the end of your career!" I yelled at them. "As the future Director of the Pokémon Protection Programme, I'm going to kick your butts!" With that I turned a fierce expression on Ash. "Are you with me?"

"Yeah! Let's go Phanphy!" He called and threw out the Pokéball of his choice. Okay then, if Ash is going for strength, then I'll go for firepower.

"Charizard, it's show time!" I called. "Come on out!" With a roar Charizard stomped on the ground and spread his wings, standing beside Phanphy and glared at the three brothers who just blinked at us.

"Pokémon Protection Programme? I've never even heard of that." Braggo said with a frown as Blurt scratched his head in confusion so I rolled my eyes.

"Well you have now." I answered back, folding my arms. "Are you guys going to just turn yourselves in? Because if you do it'll make everything a lot simpler."

"Oh I don't think so little girl. Chiko? Bag us that Charizard and then the Larvitar. They'll both fetch us very large prices." Braggo said to his brother who instantly whipped out a remote.

"You got it boss!" With that he punched a button and a Pokémon bag burst out, aiming straight for Charizard.

"Charizard, Seismic Toss on the bag!" I directed and Charizard instantly flew up into the air, twisting around elegantly like we had trained and grabbed the bag as it shot under him. He flew up around in a circle then let it go, allowing it to fly towards Braggo who yelled in shock before it exploded around him.

"Get me out of here!" He bellowed, struggling as his brothers yelped then tried to tear him free.

"Hold on boss, we'll get you out!"

"Don't worry boss, we'll bust you out of there!" But Ash wasn't about to let them get away with anything.

"Phanphy, use Rollout!" He called and Phanphy flapped his little ears with a smile before rolling forwards at high speed, gaining momentum before smashing into the machine and the three brothers toppled from their high stand and the three of them fell to the ground, Blurt landing on top and crushing his brothers. Ha! See how they like it. "Awesome Phanphy!" Ash praised as Phanphy jumped out of its rolling position and smiled back at Ash, wiggling his ears.

"Phanphy! Phan!" With the machine now desecrated, it was time to wrap things up.

"Charizard, get that remote and smash it!" I pointed to the remote which had sailed high up into the air from the collision so Charizard flew forwards and with a spin, whacked it with his tail and it shattered into tiny pieces.

Both bags burst open, freeing Tyranitar who instantly stood up and growled alongside Charizard who hovered at her side. "Uh…boss? Should we run for it?" Blurt asked his brother who nodded his head.

"Yes. That seems a good idea." He said and made a break for freedom, the three of them yelling at the top of their heads.

"Not so fast! Phanphy, Rollout attack!" Ash called and Phanphy barrelled after the trio, knocking them all down like pins.

"Now Charizard, Flamethrower!" I added and Charizard instantly blasted them with a hot Flamethrower which wrapped around them then landed on their other side, blocking their escape route as they whimpered then tried to run back the other way, only to face a very angry mother Tyranitar.

"ARGH!" They all yelled then spun around, blinking down at Larvitar who glared at them.

"Lar! Larvitar! Larvitar!" He yelled then began to glow, using his Hidden Power which lifted the three poachers off the ground.

"I want my mommy!" Blurt wailed as he kicked and flailed around like a Magikarp.

"I want my mommy!" Chiko agreed.

"Fools! We all have the same mommy!" Braggo reminded them hotly before Larvitar then blasted them with a powerful attack, shooting them right up into the air and we all just stared as they yelled, the sound getting weaker and weaker until it became louder once more, the poacher brothers dropping back down to the ground and landed with a large crash. Ouch. That one's gotta hurt.

"What's going on here?" A voice demanded as a woman rode up on a motorcycle with a Croconaw riding behind her. "Oh my goodness! Are they…"

"The three poachers you've been having trouble with for a while now?" I asked. "Yeah. Larvitar caught them for you." With a smile I reached out for Charizard and hugged his face as he lowered it down to reach me. "And you were awesome as always, thank you Charizard." I told him as he growled happily then licked my face with his long tongue, making me giggle.

"Larvitar! Larvitar! Larvitar!" Larvitar called as he leaped up into his mom's arms and hugged her, happily snuggling into her chest as she smiled lovingly down at her baby.

"La?" Latias blinked, watching the two of them then looked away with a sad face so I jostled my shoulder gently to get her attention.

"Hey, it's not that bad. We all have to say goodbye to friends every once in a while, but that's the great thing about best friends. You'll always see them again." I promised her so she took a deep breath, blinked away her teary eyes then smiled.

"La!" She called and Larvitar looked around and waved to her.

"Lar Larvitar Lar!"

"Latias!" Latias called then rose up into the air, flying in a spiral then spread her arms as she twisted, smiling brightly with the sunlight shining on her back, making her dazzling body shimmer until she almost disappeared into the light but then she flew back down and landed safely on my shoulder, making me chuckle. Now that everything was right here and those poachers were caught, it's time to think about one thing only.

The Johto League Silver Conference.