As the girl walked away – and was she Bianca or Latias? - Ash looked down at the paper she'd given him, and raised it.

"Take a look," he said, showing Pikachu. "It's us!"

"Pika!" Pikachu said, pleased.

It wasn't quite a painting, but it was vibrant and full of life. Ash's attention was on Pikachu, and Pikachu was smiling in pleasure as he clung to Ash's shoulder, and Ash's hand was up to cradle Pikachu if he fell – ready to support him at a moment's notice, without actually doing so right that second.

It was a nice sketch.

"But… was that Bianca or Latias?" Misty asked.

"I can't believe it," Brock complained. "How did Ash get a girl, when I've been trying for so long?"

"I think that's your answer," Misty said, tugging Brock back down into the boat. "Coming, Ash? Don't forget, we still need to stop by New Bark Town before going to the Silver Conference."

"Right," Ash said, turning towards the boat, then frowned. "Uh. Do either of you guys know how to keep artwork safe? I don't want this to get wrecked, not when it looks so good."

"Normally it would be in a poster tube," Brock said, apparently having gotten over his despair. "But we don't have one and I don't know where there's an art store in Alto Mare. Bianca might know?"

"Pika ka-chuu pi?" Pikachu suggested, pointing at Ash's belt.

"That might work, yeah," Ash agreed. "Who could… I guess Noctowl isn't carrying anything right now, and she won't be out while we're on the move…"

As he reached for her Pokéball, though, Pikachu's ears perked up.

"Pikapi!" he said, pointing, and Ash turned the picture over to look.

There was a scribbled number on the back, along with the word text, and Ash frowned before getting his phone out.

"What's up, Ash?" Brock asked, saw the number, then gave an all-new wail of despair.

Misty just sighed.

Once they were on their way, because they were supposed to be on a schedule, Ash finished entering the number into his phone and frowned.

Then he began typing.

So… I'm doing this right, right?

A moment later, a text came back from someone who was apparently called 'Mareon'.

New phone, who this?

Ash blinked.

"Huh?"

A few seconds later, another text appeared.

I'm joking, she said. I know it's you, Ash, nobody else has my number yet.

A pause.

Also, your display name is Ash_Ketchum, which kind of makes it obvious.

"Hey," Ash protested, frowning.

What sort of name should I have had, then?

A better one, Mareon said – and Ash still wasn't sure if that meant she was Latias or Bianca. It should be meaningful, or at least a bit clever. You get what I mean, right?

Not really, Ash admitted, texting back again. Though… I guess I feel like making Ash Ketchum into a meaningful name, then!

He paused, thinking.

Why did you give me your number, anyway? Ash asked, after a long moment.

Partly boredom, Mareon said. Because… right now, I guess, my brother's… you know. And I'm going to be thinking about that for a while, but… being distracted from it is good. And I wanted someone to properly talk to, and with Latios gone…

There was a long pause, and Ash wondered what he should say.

The only thing he could think of was that at least he knew who he was texting, now, but… that didn't sound right.

And I wanted to have the option, Mareon – Latias – resumed. So that this doesn't turn into something that happened, and then all I have is memories. I want it to start something, too.

Ash stared at that for a long time.

So… I guess I could tell you about how my journey has gone? he suggested, eventually. Would that help?

That would be great, Latias agreed, and Ash smiled.

Then started trying to work out where to start.

Starting at the beginning was normal, but also… kind of embarrassing…

"Ka-chuuu," Pikachu said, his voice understanding, and Ash glanced at him.

"I guess," he agreed. "It all worked out in the end, right?"

So he began typing.

Several hours later, in a Pokémon Centre back on the Johto mainland, Ash's eyes opened in the middle of the night.

"Ohh," he said. "Now I get it! Alto Mare, and an-"

Misty hit him with a thrown pillow.

So, I was wondering, Ash texted, half his attention on Nelson's plan and half his attention on his phone. Do you have any idea if Legendary Pokémon can be caught?

Latias didn't reply for several long seconds.

Why do you ask? She said, eventually.

Oh – I don't mean, is it possible, Ash clarified, rapidly. I mean, is it okay, is it something that people can do without getting in trouble? Catching one without a Pokéball always seems to cause chaos, but there's this trainer who wants to catch an Entei by using Mean Look to stop them running away.

Oh, Latias replied. Yeah, let them try, LOL. That's going to keep Entei stuck for about three seconds.

As it turned out, Latias was incorrect.

By about a second.

The next day, as they trekked towards Mount Silver, Ash's phone beeped.

"Again?" Misty asked. "How much time do you spend on that phone, anyway?"

Ash waved Misty off, because he actually was worried – Latias had been halfway through explaining something, then just… broken off, and not said anything.

Ash had been worried that she was in trouble, but he didn't really have any way to help her.

"Pii-kapi?" Pikachu asked.

"Tar," Larvitar added, tugging on Ash's leg, and Ash unlocked his phone before going to the text app.

The old messages were there, including his question about if Latias was okay, then – below it – a new one.

I'm fine, just, I know something new about my phone, she sent.

Ash frowned, then the next message arrived.

It is less waterproof than me. In unrelated news, I now have another new phone...

After his first battle of the Victory Tournament phase, Ash sat back in his accommodation and tried to just… relax.

It had been a weird battle.

"Well, Pikachu, I guess we did it," he said, reaching out to pat the Electric-type. "We beat Gary."

"Ka-chuu, Pikapi!" Pikachu agreed, nodding.

"Everyone did great," Ash went on. "And… yeah. I'm really proud of what happened, and of all of you. You know that, right?"

"Chaaar-zard," Ash's Charizard said, lazily, and Ash chuckled.

"Yeah, you too," he told the Fire-type.

Then his phone went bwip, and Ash checked in on it.

Okay, so… firstly, I saw the battle, Latias sent. But I didn't know the schedule, so I didn't want to distract you or something… is now a good time?

It's fine, Ash replied. I'm thinking about tomorrow's battle, but that's not something you have to worry about.

Good, Latias told him. It was pretty cool, I've not really paid attention to competitive Pokémon battling before. vOv.

"...that's a shrug, right?" Ash asked Pikachu, showing him.

Pikachu shrugged, which could mean yes or that he wasn't sure, so it really wasn't a very helpful answer.

Do you want me to explain? Ash asked.

Sure! Latias said. So why didn't you use Pikachu, anyway?

That's actually a rules thing, Ash replied. I had to pick the Pokémon before the match, and I guessed that Gary would think I'd use Pikachu. So I didn't.

Why would he do that? Latias asked. Because you always have Pikachu with you?

Actually, we grew up together, Ash replied, grinning. And he knows I use Pikachu all the time.

LOL

That must have surprised him, Latias added. He's all like, wait, where's Pikachu? And Pikachu is cheering for you instead!

"Pika-kachuu," Pikachu giggled. "Ka-pika-pikapi!"

"Yeah, I'll use you next time, though," Ash reassured Pikachu.

Charizard made a curious noise.

"And you," Ash went on. "You came all this way, so of course!"

Of course, I don't really have much idea what Pokémon Harrison will use, Ash added. So now it's sort of my turn to guess…

A few weeks later, Latias leaned back on the grass and checked her battery charge.

She was currently on her third phone, the second one having… slipped… while she was flying rapidly over Alto Mare. Water resistant phone two may have been, but it was not high-speed-impact resistant.

Latias was still a bit embarrassed over that one. When she started carrying her phone around more often, for safety and to keep in touch with her new friend, she hadn't really considered the possible pitfalls.

Perhaps it was because a Latias didn't have trouble with pitfalls. She could, after all, float.

A new message appeared, and Latias opened it to see what Ash had to say now.

Need advice, it said.

What's up? Latias replied.

Almost as soon as she sent it, Ash's second message turned up.

What do I do if I'm chased by Taillow? It said.

Latias frowned.

Are you being chased by Taillow? she asked, confused.

Not yet but there's a lot of them, Ash told her, then paused. Have been chased by Spearow before. They can be mean.

Well, if it were me I'd just outfly them, Latias sent. But I guess you can't fly faster than the speed of sound, LOL.

She giggled at the idea of Ash swooping overhead at several hundred miles an hour, possibly with his hands held out to both sides.

Latias, I need an idea of what to do, Ash pleaded. They're looking like they want to eat all our food! And maybe then get mean!

Latias tilted her head slightly, claws poised and ready to type, as she thought about what she would do in a situation like that.

Flying faster than them wouldn't be an option for Ash, so…

Is there a lake nearby? Latias decided to ask. Or a canal or something? I'd just go underwater and wait until they went away.

Then there was no reply for several minutes.

Latias wasn't sure if that meant that Ash was busy, or that he'd taken her advice, or possibly if he'd just decided that her advice wasn't very helpful right now.

Come to think of it… was Ash's phone waterproof? If it wasn't then he'd probably have to get a new one, at least if he'd hidden from angry Taillow underwater or something.

Hopefully he'd written her number down.

Then her phone beeped again.

I've got a new Pokémon! Ash sent. First one for Hoenn!

Is it a Taillow? :P Latias replied.

… Ash replied. ...yes.

A photo followed, but Latias was too busy giggling to have a good look at first.

So, good news! Latias sent, while Ash was looking nervously into the water, and he took his phone out. I've got another new phone! Also I feel kind of embarrassed because the second phone slipped out of my hands while I was turning a corner at four hundred miles per hour, it hit a wall and absolutely exploded. Anyway, what's up?

Okay, so, you know how we were going to Dewford? Ash asked. Because we've got a problem. You swim, right?

Of course, Latias replied.

"Pika-kachuu?" Pikachu asked.

"I'm asking," Ash said, still typing. What would you do if you were surrounded by, like, 100 Sharpedo?

"Shaarrrrrr…" one of the Sharpedo growled.

I'd fly away, Latias responded. I don't want to have to deal with a hundred angry Sharpedo, lol

Ash stared at the answer.

"...that doesn't help much," he said. What if there were Spearow as well?

That kind of thing only happens around you, Latias told him.

Then paused.

Wait, are you surrounded by Sharpedo at the moment?

Yep, Ash replied.

"Ash, have you got an idea of how to deal with this?" May asked. "Who are you talking to, anyway?"

Brock could have answered, but he made a sort of lamenting noise instead.

"I'm trying to get advice," Ash explained. "Uh… hold on…" Do you have a moment?

Sure, what's up? Latias replied. Apart from like a hundred Sharpedo, that is.

"Why are you guys doing this, anyway?" Ash asked, tapping something, then held out his phone.

"Shaaar-pedo, do, do!" the lead Sharpedo snarled, teeth gnashing.

Ash's phone dinged as a new message arrived, and he turned it so he could look at the screen.

I guess they don't like people in general, Latias said, then sent another text. And also there's this Seviper who hurt the leader?

"A Seviper hurt you?" Ash asked. "None of us have a Seviper, uh… but I know who does! Can you tell them, Pikachu?"

"Pika-ka-chuu!" Pikachu declared, making faces, and looked remarkably like a Meowth. "Pikachuu ka-chuu!"

"Shaar-pedo!" the leader replied. "Pe-sharp-do-shaaaarp!"

"Sharp!" the other Sharpedo agreed.

What? Latias asked, sending another text. Now I want photos of whatever they're saying is a really good impression.

I'll get you photos in a minute, Ash texted back.

Max just looked mystified.

"Does the Pokénav have that app?" he asked, searching through it. "Where would a translation app be…"

Pikachu giggled.

Latias inspected the results of her latest painting effort, then frowned.

"Hmm…" she said, to herself. "I can't help but feel like I've misunderstood something about this."

She'd heard about this online as a kind of trend on Pokévision, but the results were just coloured streaks down the canvas that didn't seem to give any kind of merit except for abstract art. Which was… maybe nice, but it was nothing like the pictures everyone else had posted.

Frowning, she clicked on a video, and watched the first ten seconds.

Then stopped, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Oh, so that's what speed painting means," she said. "You… right. In hindsight, trying to paint at two hundred miles per hour does seem like something humans generally couldn't do."

She paused.

"Maybe with a Pidgeot or something?"

Then her phone went bing, and she looked at it.

Hey Latias, Ash had sent. Quick question? You know mroe about Legendaries.

I know a bit more, Latias texted back. What's the problem?

How much do u know about Groudon? Ash asked.

Not a lot, Latias admitted. Why?

Kinda wandering if you've herd of a giant version of Groundon, Ash texted back. That eats Pokémon.

No, Latias replied, hurriedly. WTF? Where did that come from?

After a moment, a terrible idea occurred to her.

Is this hypothetical? she asked

About ten seconds later, a photo arrived.

No, Ash explained. There was a wish thing with Jirach and now we're running

"Ash!" May shouted. "Why are you on your phone again?"

"Trying to get help!" Ash replied. "I know this expert on Legendary Pokémon!"

"Pika-ka-chuu, Pikapi!" Pikachu called, then used a massive electric attack. The shock broke up the glob of material that the weird Groudon was launching at them, and Ash ducked to the side.

"Thanks, Pikachu!" he said.

"We need to rescue the others!" May called. "Max – is Max okay?"

Any ideas? Ash texted, with one hand, as he sent out Taillow with the other to go and find Max.

Ash, I have literally no idea how to win fights, Latias replied. Or even do fights.

Ash missed how long the next message took, because there was a Flygon buzzing around and attacking the Groudon, but he looked back and saw a new message had appeared.

I'm a supersonic dragon who lost a fight to a spider and I don't actually know any attacks.

"Wait," Ash said, looking at it. "I – May, we need to get to Jirachi!"

"Pika?" Pikachu asked, leaning over to look at the text, then turning to Ash with some befuddlement.

"Why?" May asked.

"Because we need to ask if he knows any attacks!" Ash replied. "I just realized we never checked!"

Thanks for the help, Ash texted, some minutes later.

Latias looked at the reply, then scrolled up through the conversation.

...if what I said helped, cool IG, she sent. Mind telling me how?

AN:

So I had this idea… because, hey, why not?