Author notes:

A must on for perfect effect, Nothing by The Script. You really need to listen to this one. It seems like the best one for writing.

Happy New Year, guys. I hope this acts as the perfect gift.

The rush of adrenalin was something new. The rushing wind that spreads itself upon Ash's face, the water that drenched his shirt, all of them managed to bring up a feeling that might have been long forgotten.

Simply put, it was fun.

The straightforward goal, the obvious path, everything was so easy. All he had to do was follow the route set in stone. Straying wasn't exactly prohibited, but the disorienting canals were the true reason which made contestants stick to the path.

Ash was in perfect sync with Totodile. Every turn was taken at the best possible angles. There was no way they could fail from their current situation. The syncing was rare between trainers and their lesser used Pokémon. However, Ash somehow managed to get Totodile's absolute trust in two short days.

The rules for the race were plain. Only water types were allowed, though on some occasions, other aquatic Pokémon were allowed. There were exceptions, though. Pokémon like Gyarados and Wailord tend to be too large for the canals, and there were some like Peliper with the ability to fly. These were some qualities which gave those riding them an unfair advantage.

In the end, it came down to a trainer's ability to connect with their Pokémon. It didn't matter how much practice they did, for the route was too complex for complete memorization, let alone remembering the perfect timing for each turn and charge.

Ash made a few risky maneuvers, such as taking a turn later than considered safe, but it all paid off. Making the corrections to the Pokémon's slant and the chariot's tilt with a quick jerk, rather than a slowly escalating pull would allow the rider to maintain his velocity without sacrificing speed. The danger was in losing balance, which would result in instant disqualification.

Ash kept his rhythm throughout a large portion of the race. He had a good start, and that counted for a lot. Totodile's was very fast, especially considering its relatively short practice period. Together, the two managed to overtake many challengers. After a good part of the race's duration, they were in the lead.

A second timer getting such a good lead was not commonly seen. The old Ash may have gotten overconfident at this point, but the more mature Ash wanted to win. He wanted that so badly that he pushed away all notions of gloating. His focus was on the width of the next canal, the sharpness of the twists and turns and the distance between him and the contestant in next place.

All because of the award he promised himself.

…

Pikachu found himself dumbfounded by Ash's ability for composition. Most other contestants not only fell behind, but also fell off their chariots. The more skilled and experienced found themselves looking at the shadow of this relatively green newcomer. As they struggled to keep control, Ash would overtake them.

Even Pikachu, who knew Ash better than anyone else, found this display of proficiency stunning. He was obviously glad that Ash stood a chance of winning, but then again, the chances being so unbelievably good? Not so much.

The screen was focused on the leading three, but while the current second and third placers fit in one screen, Ash was way ahead.

Pikachu couldn't help but gasp when Ash made a few moves. He sometimes took the sharp turns a little too close for comfort. A few times, the chariot came too close to the 90 degree limit.

Sure, Pikachu had faith, but was it well placed?

Only time would tell.

Latias acted as the guardian for this yearly event, and she was normally amazed by the contestants' ability. This year, however, she was blown away by the skill of one.

She would generally choose one contestant to root for, and then hope for the best. This year's choice was practically non-existent. She never would have guessed that Ash won. Admittedly, Ash was still a long way from victory, but judging by the distance between him and the second placer, it wasn't a bad bet.

She had the urge to stick with Ash, making sure that he remained safe. However, the other contestants were already beginning to pile up behind. She had to cushion a few blows and help a few chariot's retain balance.

Ash was still in the lead. He may have some tough competition in those who spent years training, but looking at his synchronization with Totodile made her less anxious. What she was anxious about was the recklessness of a few moves. A couple of times, she gasped at Ash's iron grip on the rope. He never let go, no matter how hard the tug was.

Somehow, watching that reminded Latias of herself. Never willing to let go, no matter how unfathomable that choice seemed to be. All things said, today was the day those thoughts got pushed aside; because this was the day she would confront Ash about her feelings. A million reactions flashed through her mind, and yet none of them seemed to be the right one. The confrontation, she reminded herself time after time, was certain.

Only time would unveil the outcome. Judging by the current situation, the meeting was set in stone.

All she could do was wait.

Ash was now one with the waters. Totodile's pull was strong, but not too potent that his grip loosened. He felt good, better than he felt after beating the toughest of trainers, in fact, it felt as if he was flying through heaven, bliss was the only thing he sensed.

Of course, he still retained a grasp on reality. That was a must to wade through the canals. He was close to the end of the race. Even without looking back, he could tell that the others were a good distance away. He relaxed a little, knowing that the race was his.

He closed his eyes, trusting Totodile's instincts. His concentration didn't waver, but he suddenly felt the chariot slowing down.

Once his eyelids opened, he saw Totodile dawdling. The rush must have drained Totodile completely. Ash thought that the lead they earned would be enough to let them win, but he then heard the sounds of rushing water behind him.

He didn't even turn back. He wanted to tell Totodile to move, but there seemed to be a knot in his throat. How it got there was anyone's guess, but it surely wasn't caused by dehydration. As the sounds of the other contestants shrilled, his mind started racing.

Why was he even in the race? Was it for the glory, the fame? No, he had more distinction than he liked.

Was it to take his mind off the many thoughts of his life? Close, but not exactly.

It was just to get an excuse, an excuse to meet Latias.

That was fine though. What was stopping him from passing the victory line? Totodile had more than enough strength to move further, all he needed was Ash's encouragement. Ash tried to find the words, but none came.

He wasn't being honest with Totodile. And what made things worse was his fraudulence with Pikachu, and more importantly, himself.

He faced more challenges than he cared to count, but this seemed like the toughest one yet. He was adept in Pokémon battles, but this internal conflict was more than he could handle. It seemed that he couldn't bear to make Totodile do something without knowing what it was for.

What was wrong with him? Couldn't he lie just this once?

Well, maybe not.

Pikachu could not believe his eyes. Ash was actually stopping.

What happened? The camera panned towards him. The others were catching up, and if he didn't do something soon, he would lose.

Then there was a sudden gust of wind above him. When Pikachu looked up, he couldn't see anything, but somehow, he had a perfect idea of who that was.

Latias couldn't bear to see Ash that way. When he bended down to talk with Totodile, there was a tinge of helplessness, one that could be easily dismissed as tension, but she knew Ash better than that, there was something wrong.

She rushed straight to the place where Ash was as soon as she saw the incident. What she didn't expect was for Pikachu to call her name out. She was invisible, and that probably guaranteed the impossibility of detection. Apparently, Pikachu was more alert than others.

She slowed down just that bit, enough to let Pikachu get on. There was a slight chance that the bored among the spectators would see the levitating Pikachu, but the likelihood was extremely slim. Chances had to be taken, especially since more than just the prize medallion dangled upon this thin line.

Pikachu said little during the flight, and even when he did, it was a very one sided conversation. As far as things went, Pikachu gave her a sum up of Ash's arrival to Alto Mare. And all she heard only helped build up the belief that she wasn't the only one who wanted the romance to burn stronger. If anything, this made her fly faster, filled with the desire to help Ash complete his wish of reunion.

Ash slowly regained his composure, and decided that the best way to combat his feelings was to confess them.

"Totodile, I'm really sorry for pushing you so hard, but I really need you to win this." Totodile struggled for a while, but barely moved an inch. Ash was getting desperate; the other competitors were getting close.

"Totodile, remember the statues we saw at the town square that year?" The water type didn't answer, but Ash knew that he understood every single word. "Remember how Brock and Misty said I was thickheaded?" This time, Totodile responded, but instead of accelerating, it was a snicker. Two seemingly unconnected things started to link themselves together.

In the end, Ash himself confirmed the correlation. "I think I'm in love, and I really need you to win this." Totodile now managed to recuperate an ample amount of stamina, allowing a much needed burst of speed.

Ash, relieved by the progress, began to relax. There was still a chance to win this. As long as Totodile managed to retain this velocity, there was no way the rest could catch up. There were, however, a few factors to include in his calculations. For one thing, fatigue could do a lot to hurt the chances, and Totodile was more than just tired. The other more deciding one was the availability of his own confidence. There was no way he could force Totodile, simply because he couldn't bear to see any of his Pokémon suffer.

Well, the old way of trusting them always came through, maybe this time would be no different.

He risked a glance backwards, and saw the closest competitor. His Buizel was coming up fast, the natural ability with water helping a lot.

Well, destiny was all that could decide the winner now.

Latias was just about to let Ash know that she was there. Doing so may not have gotten the needed effect, but it would at least allow Ash a moment of peace. He would at least know that he achieved his goal. Well, it seems that he came through yet again. The competition just got fiercer, no longer was Ash the undisputed champion. This time, there was going to be another close call.

Ash had a slight lead, but the Buizel and its trainer shortened the distance. There was no telling who would win this time. From time to time, one of them would gain a trivial lead, but in the next second, the space would be nonexistent. Ash was clearly struggling to keep up, especially since Totodile was more than just tired. The other trainer faced similar troubles, his Buizel was starting to pant, a good sign to Latias.

The final bend loomed up ahead, once they made the turn, there was only a few inches separating them from victory. The two were so close that the winner was anyone's guess. The finish line was the very same bridge that acted as the beginning. The Pokémon was the main reference. The winner was decided by determining which one passed the bridge first. The noon sun cast a perfectly aligned shadow which could easily be used as the reference point.

They were no longer fighting for first place. Instead, there was no conceivable distance between them. From her point of view, they were at the same speed, and they were matched in both speed and skill. Ash did have an advantage though, he had determination.

Once the two contestants got past the finish line, it was all for fate to decide. It was the equivalent of a coin toss, any one of them could be named the winner.

The wait wasn't long, but it seemed like an hour before the winner was announced. During the wait, there were a few later arrivals. They weren't qualified to win, but then again, finishing the race itself was a hard task. They deserved acknowledgement.

She let Pikachu off a distance away from the crowd. She made herself scarce, settling atop the roofs of the buildings. She searched the crowds for Ash, and saw him at the rest area. Ash was busy cleaning himself up. Even drenched, he looked as cute as he was those years ago. She didn't even attempt to push the thought away. This was the day she would speak to Ash again, and that alone was more than comforting enough.

The wait ended before she could think of anything else. Lorenzo, being the man responsible for the decoration and planning of the race, had the honors of declaring this year's champion.

Lorenzo stood to the top of the bridge, and took the microphone. "It is really an honor to be standing here, and I also have to thank the city council for giving me the opportunity of being the organizer of this year's Tour de Alto Mare."

Absolute silence fell upon the spectators. Everyone was awaiting the moment where the champion would be revealed.

Lorenzo continued after a short dramatic pause. "After looking at the footage, we finally have a winner." Another short gap added to the anticipation. Latias was practically begging for Lorenzo to be quicker, the tension was killing her from within.

"This year's winner is,-" Another pause, one that got its desired effect. Latias was praying, praying for Ash to win. "Colin from Cherrygrove city, congratulations."

The crowd erupted; applause was the only sound to be heard. Latias looked at Ash, and saw a look of depression, one that went beyond her mind's remembrance of him. He went to Colin, the competitor who won fair and square. Anyone else would have just punched him in the face, but Ash just shook his hand, giving courteous congratulations.

And then, he walked away, delaying the meeting that Latias so badly craved. Well, she waited for so long, a few hours were nothing.

Little did she know that Ash had other plans.

He lost.

He actually managed to screw this up.

Ash walked back to the hotel. He didn't even give the receptionist a nod, all he wanted was to pack up and head home. There was the challenge with Cynthia coming up, and that would be the perfect dissolvent to his heartbreak.

He called Mr. Briney, wanting to go back to Pallet. The ship was set to arrive at ten tonight.

He only just noticed that Pikachu was absent, but then again, that was a minor issue. Knowing Pikachu, he was already on his way back. In fact, he was quite amazed that he got back at all. Pikachu was the one that helped him out in navigation.

Either way, there was a lot of packing to do. He had around eight hours to do it all, and there was no better time than the present to do it.

Pikachu was surprised with Ash's taking leave. Sure, he could find his way back, but it just didn't seem like Ash to run off like that. Either way, the way to the hotel was burned in the back of his mind. He could possibly find the way back before an hour passed.

Latias' sudden departure seemed quite similar in its questionability. Was there some sort of connection between them both?

No, that couldn't be.

No, Ash wouldn't do that.

Surely not,-

Oh god, he was almost as stupid d as Ash was. Those two were in love. And they both promised to meet each other as long as Ash won the race. That's why Ash couldn't bear to stay.

There was still a chance to get them together. Instead of taking the left route, the way back to the hotel, Pikachu made a right turn. He didn't know for sure, but this seemed to be the way to the secret garden. He replayed the chase from the first time they met Latias. It was a right turn here, and then a left one after the second junction. After that, it would be another left turn at the third intersection and then a straight run until-

Oh great, there was no left turn, and there were only three junctions.

Never mind, he still remembered the flowerpots with flowers on the right side of the path just now, which meant that he could just retrace his steps and head back.

Only problem was that there was neither flowerpot nor flower. That meant only one thing, he was lost.

Latias went back to the secret garden, knowing perfectly well where Ash would be if she wanted to meet him. He tried his best, and that was all that counted. She made a quick routine patrol of the city, but nothing much was going on. The major contrast between the crowded lanes of this morning and the nighttime's deserted ones was something she would never get used to.

When she reached the western side though, she heard a few cries for help. It wasn't from a human, but instead a Pokémon. As she went down to check it out, she saw the very same Pikachu that rode her a few hours ago.

Even though he didn't admit it, it was obvious that he was lost. Seeing the sun set, Latias let him on, promising to take him back to Ash.

Pikachu peppered her with questions, all of which concerned her feelings with Ash. She didn't want to answer any of them, but she answered them eventually.

Whether it was annoyance, or simply because the secret would be out soon, she didn't know. One thing was for sure though, she felt like a stone just got removed from her mind as soon as she let out those preserved feelings. It appears that Pikachu knew all about her feelings, no big surprise there. Pikachu's questions weren't hard to answer, especially since most of them revolved around how she managed to keep them in for so long.

Pikachu asked, she answered. It was just a routine that kept repeating itself. Only when Pikachu asked his last question did the cycle break itself.

He asked, do you love him, and she couldn't answer. In her mind, she yelled out an affirmative, but her mouth seemed unable to open. Why this happened was beyond her.

She was decades older than Pikachu, but it seemed that Pikachu was the one who had the wisdom. If she wasn't able to admit it, how would she tell Ash? That was another question Pikachu asked, and this time, he didn't want an answer.

The rest of the flight passed in silence. Latias' mind, however, was working overtime to find the answers she needed. It was true that she couldn't tell Ash, and that wasn't only because of the language barrier that all Pokémon faced when conversing with humans. Even in Bianca's human form, Latias couldn't speak, and telepathy was an ability beyond her. If only her parents were still alive, perhaps under their tutelage, she would be able to have some mode of exchanging words.

Well, she would handle it the same way she did every time.

Improvisation.

She was waiting for an excuse to meet Ash, and this was the perfect chance.

Where in the world was Pikachu? It really wasn't like him to be gone for so long. Ash's anxiety rose, and he panicked. The boat was set to leave soon. He finished the packing up, and everything was already set. All that was left was Pikachu.

Grabbing one of the Pokéballs which was left unopened for a few days, he released Staraptor. The Predator Pokémon was the first Pokémon he ever caught in Sinnoh. It became one of his best Pokémon in battles. Staraptor also acted as a great help when he got lost. This time, Staraptor was going to be the best bet to find Pikachu.

"Go find Pikachu, and hurry." Staraptor acknowledged him and flew off. Ash checked out, proceeding to the docks where Mr Briney was waiting. Seeing Staraptor a distance away, she shouted out, "If you find him, take him to the docks!"

He may just be able to buy Staraptor some time. As he walked away, he would never know that Latias was just around a corner.

Latias found the hotel, and with Pikachu's guidance, she managed to find the room which Ash booked. Surprisingly, it was empty. Not only was Ash absent, but everything that belonged to Ash was already gone.

Pikachu saddened up, understandably uneasy with the current situation. Latias tried her best to comfort him, but there was no way to hide her own apprehension. Ash not being here was like fate playing her for a fool. Why was it that whenever she tried to avoid Ash, he was always there? And inversely, when she wanted to see Ash, he was never there.

Pikachu looked to be deep in thought; Ash's whereabouts were anyone's guess. The peace of the evening was broken by a bird's cry that wasn't familiar to Latias. The Pidgeys' cries were lower pitched and less intimidating. When she looked at the origin of the sound, she saw an alien creature, one that was not usually found here in Alto Mare.

It was definitely a flying type. It had a daunting shape, large yet sleek. Its face was half covered by the sharp arc of hair, red at the tips.

Pikachu however seemed relieved at the sight of the Pokémon. Then it hit her that the bird may be Ash's. Staraptor gave Pikachu a quick recap of Ash's orders, and told them to get to the docks as fast as possible. There was also a more startling disclosure: Ash was leaving Alto Mare already.

Latias didn't let Staraptor finish, she was already speeding straight to the docks.

"I see. Don't worry though. I know Pikachu will be just fine."

The boatman was as punctual as always. He always lived with the mantra that if you were there on time, you were late. Mr. Briney arrived a full hour before the stated time. Ash told him about the current state of affairs, and luckily, Mr. Briney gave him all the time he needed.

"I really hope so." Ash was looking up to the sky, hoping to see Staraptor with Pikachu on his back.

"I know so."

"Thanks." Ash said everything without even looking at his only friend in the Alto Mare now.

Mr. Briney, seeing a difference in Ash's demeanor, dug deeper. "You really seem different, like you've just lost that happiness in you."

"You noticed, didn't you?" Still Ash didn't look at him.

"In love aren't you?"

And that was all it took to get his attention. Ash now turned to him, and he asked, "Am I really that obvious?"

"Well, it really doesn't hide itself that well."

Ash buried himself in his arms. In the short moments, Mr. Briney continued to talk exactly like Lorenzo did a few days ago. "So, what happened?"
"I wanted to meet her, but set a goal to get through before that happened."

"And you failed, right?" asked the boatman.

"Obviously."

"And so you're giving up right here?"

"Right again."

Mr. Briney took the stairs to get down from his boat. "This isn't like you Ash, you really wouldn't just give up like that." The Ash he remembered would fight against the unbeatable odds, taking out his opponent's entire team even though all he had was his last Pokémon.

That made Ash even madder. He stood up, and started to raise his voice. "I just did, all right?I gave up, so what? I had so many chances and I blew them all!"

Mr Briney didn't seem the least bit staggered by the show of force, and continued to say, "So?"

Hush came over the entire scene.

Ash broke the ice. "You're saying that I should give it another shot."

A nod.

"I guess you're right." Just as he finished that query, he saw Staraptor in the distance, but Pikachu was not on his back.

Just as Ash was about to ask about Pikachu, he saw a shadow coming through the alley down the street. First, he saw Pikachu, but then, he saw another shadow, one that seemed so recognizable.

This was it.

She finally gets to meet Ash face to face. After all these years, she finally gets to meet him.

She knew that her presence would astonish the man Ash was with, but that was nothing to be concerned about. All she wanted was to run up to Ash, and let him know how she felt.

Ash's reactions weren't astonished, nor were they relieved, instead, he just stood there, stunned.

Pikachu ran up to Ash, jumping straight into his arms. Ash didn't seem to even acknowledge that action. He just stood there, looking at Latias. There was also the man who owned the boat, but at least Latias was under her human guise.

"So this is the girl, how nice to have your little reunion right here." Mr. Briney seemed to enjoy the moment, but honestly, another person really ruined the moment. He almost seemed to take this as one of those television dramas. Ash snapped out of his baffled state, and returned Staraptor to his Pokéball without even saying thanks.

Then, he turned to his travelling companion. "Mr. Briney, could you give us some time alone?"

The captain took himself to the wheel, and started the engines. "Sure thing, I'll be back tomorrow." As the ship started to leave the port, Mr. Briney poked his head out of the window. "If anything happens, give me a call and I'll get here as soon as possible." He winked at Ash, and then took his leave.

The sounds of nothing at all returned. There were the sounds of distant celebration, but none of the glee spread to this same spot. Ash looked at Latias, and she did the same. Pikachu was still lying in Ash's arms, waiting for one of them to make a sound.

Since Latias couldn't talk, Ash was the one who spoke first. "So Latias, long time no see."

An awkward start, but Ash's tongue was tied. Brock was the 'expert' when it came to girls, and something told him that the gym leader's approach was not going to work in this situation. Or any other one, for that matter.

Latias took a step forward, one that cultivated into a sprint. Whatever Ash wanted to say had to wait, all she wanted to do was bury herself in his arms, letting silence say what she wanted to.

And what seemed like an eternity went by, step by step, Latias approached Ash. She didn't know how, but when she leaped for Ash, she was already in her original form.

Pikachu managed to leap out of the way in time, because Latias crashed straight into Ash. They both fell to the ground, Ash taking the brunt of damage. Seeing all of this, Pikachu stifled a giggle, but failed to hold it back when Ash said one of the worst things possible at the time.

"Wow, that hurt."

Pikachu decided to leave the two alone. Besides, they had a lot of catching up to do.

As night's curtain fell, Ash and Latias were on the rooftops. How they got there really wasn't that important. They barely shared words, letting nothingness speak for them. The lack of light in the area let the stars shine brightest. Everything was just so romantic, and that was the perfect enhancer for the adulations the two on top shared.

Ash was lying to the left of Latias. While his gaze was aimed upwards, Latias was only looking at him. It was amazing how she could fall for Ash without even being with him in the first place. Saying that Ash was attractive wouldn't be stretching it, but there was another thing, maybe it was his childishness, or maybe it was his always cheerful manner. Either way, it felt so good to finally have him close.

It was weird, thought Ash. He wanted to share so many things with Latias when the time came, but now, he found that silence was the perfect speaker. It felt better this way, saying nothing, but somehow, saying everything.

It made no sense, but the entire story wasn't any better.

After an hour or so, Ash turned to Latias. Latias, whose gaze never wavered, just stayed the way she was. There was no blushing, nor were there any sudden movements. Ash said the perfect things for the instant.

"I love you."

Then they kissed. For how long? Who knows, for when the sun rose to take place of the crescent moon, they were nowhere to be seen.

Cynthia was expecting Ash's call any minute now. She let him choose the place where their battle would take place.

That boy was something else, growing so much in so little time. The Sinnoh champion awaited the day where she would finally clash with him eagerly.

Just as the thought finished itself, her phone rang.

Picking it up, she heard Ash's voice on the other side. "Is this Cynthia?"

"Yes, it's me Ash. Have you decided on the location of our battle?"

"Yeah, that's why I called. Have you heard of Alto Mare?"

She wasn't familiar with the name, but considering that Unova was the only other region she'd been to, it wasn't that much of a surprise.

"No, where is it?"

"In the Johto region, just off Hoenn."

"I'll check it out sometime soon. Is there any special reason for choosing it?"

"It's a long story, Cynthia, maybe I'll tell you someday."

"Well, I do have time right now. I'd like to hear more of your adventures, Ash."

"Really, well I guess that I'll tell you once you get here. How's the day after tomorrow sound?"

"Perfect."

And that ends the Timeless story. For those of you who've been following from the start, you'll probably remember how it was meant to be a one-shot. I guess it turned out to be something more than that in the end.

Firstly, I'd like to say that I'm sorry for the long wait, I wasn't home for a few weeks, and there was also song writing for my friend's band. Either way, I'm finally back.

Thanks to all of you for your reading of this, and also for those who reviewed, a very big thank you is in order.

If you want to read more Altoshipping, I'm afraid that I may not write more of it. I may, but that's a big maybe. I can, however, point you to other great fics. There are so many out there.

Please read and review, thanks a lot to those who do.

旋阴。 Xuan Ying.