1.Ash's Story (Part 2: Johto)

Chapter 81: Born Afraid and Listening

The road down from Route 46 felt quieter than the mountains behind us.

After Blackthorn, Route 45, Dark Cave, and every strange danger that had followed us since the Radio Tower, New Bark Town looked almost too peaceful. The wind moved through the grass near Professor Elm's lab, and the familiar roof waited ahead like the journey had folded back to the place where Johto first opened.

Pikachu sat on my shoulder with his ears leaning forward. Pikachu's meaning came through clearly: "Start place again. Not finished yet."

"I know," I whispered, keeping my eyes on the lab. "This feels like the road turning around before it moves forward."

Lillie walked beside me, and Larvitar's Egg rested safely in Professor Elm's care somewhere ahead. The Special Egg was not with us anymore. That Egg had already hatched into Phanpy, and Phanpy had already become Donphan on Route 46. This was something different, something Professor Elm had been watching while we finished the Blackthorn road.

Ethan stretched both arms behind his head, trying to sound relaxed even though he kept touching his Rising Badge case. "So this is it. We get registered, and then the Silver Conference stops being a future thing."

Kris adjusted her bag carefully while looking toward the lab. "Professor Elm will probably want reports before congratulations."

East glanced along the streets with his usual route-checking calm. "Lab first. Pokemon Center after that. Then we know the official League path."

Reisa smiled at the soft wind. "It still feels like Johto is holding its breath."

I understood what she meant. The Silver Wing and Rainbow Wing were with us, but Lugia and Ho-Oh had not appeared. The Kimono Girls had not finished whatever tradition Johto had been guiding us toward. The League was close, but something sacred still waited between us and the road to the Conference.

Professor Elm opened the lab door before we even knocked.

"Ash! Lillie! Everyone!" Professor Elm called, waving so fast that his papers nearly slipped from his arms. "You never cease to amaze me!"

Ethan muttered beside me, "That sounded like research before rest."

Professor Elm hurried us inside anyway. "Thanks to you, my research is going wonderfully. You have traveled through Johto's routes, caves, ruins, towers, oceans, and mountains. I could not have collected this field information from the lab alone."

Lillie smiled politely. "We are glad it helped, Professor."

Professor Elm's expression turned more serious as he walked to a locked case on the back table. "Then I should give you this before anything else happens."

He opened the case with both hands and lifted out a purple and white Poké Ball. Everyone in the room went quiet at once.

Professor Elm placed it carefully in my palm. "This is the Master Ball. It is the ultimate Poké Ball, capable of catching any Pokemon without fail. It is given only to noted Pokemon researchers, and I think you can make much better use of it than I can."

The ball felt heavy in my hand, even though it was no larger than any other Poké Ball. My mind went back to Silph Co., Giovanni, Sabrina, trapped Pokemon, stolen research, and the way Team Rocket had treated capture like ownership without responsibility.

"I still remember fighting in Silph Co. to stop Giovanni from stealing this kind of item," I said, closing my fingers around it carefully. "Something like this should never be used because someone wants to control a Pokemon."

Professor Elm nodded. "That is exactly why I am giving it to you."

A familiar voice came from the doorway behind us. "Professor Elm and I agreed on that point."