Erin continued to flip through the photo album, smiling at every aged memory. She came across a photo of the three on them standing in front of the gates to the Johto Pokemon League; Mikayla was in the middle winking and flashing a peace sign while Erin and Whitney smiled timidly. Mikayla was the only one who challenged the League that day; she conquered it, but refused the offer to take over to become the new champion. Since then, Mikayla has conquered every region's Pokémon League except of course for Sinnoh's. Upon receiving the Beacon Badge in Sunyshore City, Mikayla fell in love with the gym leader, Volkner, and aborted her dreams to help him run the gym. Erin had visited her in Sunyshore only a few months ago, she hated Volkner, he was cocky and controlling toward Mikayla and never seemed to give her the appreciation she deserved. Whenever Erin tried to tell Mikayla to leave him, it started a fight that always resulted in Mikayla storming out. She missed the old Mikayla, the lively girl who could never be held back.

*RING RING RING*

Erin turned to her PokeGear and answered it, the screen illuminated to reveal Elm's aged face.

"Erin! We need you at the lab, NOW!" he screamed.

"I'll be right there!" she assured, though with her own confusion.

What could be possibly going that required her to go the lab on Sunday at 11 at night? Regardless, she slipped on her lab coat and dashed out of her apartment door. After a quick walk, she rushed into a lab, and stopped to admire it. The walls and floors were just a pristine as they were eight years ago, there were many more books on the shelves, and of course all of the lab assistants were new and young, but the beehive-like busyness never changed.

"Erin, over here!" Elm waved her over to the back of the laboratory.

"What is it, Elm?" she sighed. "I'd like to get back to my photo albums and iced tea."

"You already sound like a crazy cat lady, you're 18!" Elm teased her. "Anyways, WE'VE DONE IT! The Master Project, it's complete!" the words clutched at Erin's heart, she almost stopped breathing.

The Master Project was started over two years ago, when she was first an intern in the Elm lab. Through the collaboration of every main Pokémon professor in each region, they aimed to create something that could summon all legendary Pokémon. The Master Stone was created. When shattered, the stone's dust combined with the DNA residue of the last person who held the stone emitted a hypnotic scent that is only picked up by legendary Pokémon, the stone wielder would have complete control over the most powerful army the world has ever known. The thought of such power sent shivers down Erin's spine, that stone could never fall into the wrong hands.

"The stone has been finished and is being held at the Oak Laboratory in Pallet Town" Elm continued to explain to the group of assistants, and Erin, his apprentice. "We have to go there as soon as possible and meet the other professors there to discuss what must be done to protect it." "Erin, it is only safe that you and I go."

Erin looked up at Professor Elm with wide eyes and lips slightly ajar.

"Really? When will we leave?" she stammered out, still in awe.

"Tomorrow morning at dawn, we'll drive to Goldenrod and take the Magnet Train" Elm explained professionally, though it was impossible not to notice the childlike excitement in his eyes.

"Go get some sleep everyone! It's late and we have a BIG day ahead of us!" Elm yelled to everyone in the laboratory. A buzz of excitement was audible in the laboratory as everyone cleaned up and began to exit. Erin too left the lab and walked back to her apartment building. She entered the building's lobby, it was only illuminated by a single, buzzing, fluorescent light. There was a long red rug leading from the front door to the stairs, the landlord's lazy attempt at "decorating" the decaying, old, brown tiled floor. Erin ran up the stairs to the third floor and opened the door to apartment 3C. She closed the door behind her, leaned against it, and slid to the floor. Her heart was pounding, she could feel the huge smile plastered on her face but could not do anything to shake it off. Two long years of work was finally coming together, and she would be there to witness the finished product. She thought of the disappointment she saw on all the other assistants faces when Elm chose her, they must hate her, she didn't care. A wiggling in her lab coat pocket broke her train of thought and caused her to jump; she was blinded by a bright, white light. The light faded and she looked to see Meganium smiling down at her, she had found a way out of her PokeBall…again.

"Meganium! Honestly, how many times do I have to tell you?" Erin began angrily, she was still startled. "You can't just pop out of your PokeBall whenever you please!"

Meganium looked at her with innocent eyes and lowered her heard to Erin's level.

"Okay, this time you're off the hook" Erin said sweetly as she patted Meganium's head and stood up.

She walked into her bedroom and picked a suitcase from her closet and begun stuffing random articles of clothing into it. Meganium walked over and flashed Erin a concerned and confused look.

"I'm not leaving you, silly" Erin softly teased. "We're going to Kanto, to see The Master Stone!"

Meganium's eyes widened and it let out an excited cry; Meganium had followed The Master Project as closely as Erin did and loved to walk around the lab to watch the research and experiments. Erin looked out the window at the clear night sky, something big was about to happen, she knew it, and someone needed to know. She reached over to her dresser and flipped open her PokeGear.