Five years later.

It had been five years since she arrived in Sinnoh and in that time she had already turned twelve. She had fully enjoyed the past years she had spent with the Professor and the assistants.

She'd grown a lot taller, already 5'1 feet tall, while her hair had grown half way down her back.

Her antlers had also grown a lot as they already peaked outside of her hair. The assistants had given her a white hat with light blue accents to hide them from the public.

If not, the sparkle of the coloured gems in the antlers would surely attract attention.

While her growth was to be expected, her experience in taking care of the Pokémon had grown a lot too.

She had learned how to take care of multiple types of Pokémon and how to care for them without using her healing powers.

The Professor had first been surprised by it, but had quickly told her not to use it when the situation wasn't dire.

It would make her dependent on her abilities while most of the situations could easily be handled without them.

The chance that she would been seen by unsavory eyes would also rise exponentially.

Because of his words, she had learned a lot about Pokémon healthcare, medicine and how to make her own version of Pokémon food, which the Pokémon seemed to like a lot.

The Pokémon currently at the Pokémon lab, were Pokémon from trainers who's gotten the Pokédex from Professor Rowan. The Professor could then update the information of the Pokédex and his knowledge of Pokémon.

The health of the Pokémon had mainly become her responsiblity, as all the Pokémon that arrived here seemed to like her a lot.

Professor Rowan had likened it to the power of Empaths.

The could apparantly also understand what a Pokémon said.

He described it as them having some kind of aura that would work calmingly on Pokémon and would allow them to 'speak to the heart' of the Pokémon.

Ashley didn't know if she had such an aura too, but she could at least understand what they were saying and that was enough for her.

Speaking about Pokémon, she'd gotten one from the Professor and his assistants when she turned ten.

Now in addition two her other two Pokémon, Sylveon and Shaymin, she was now blessed with a Chimchar.

The Professor had apparantly noticed she'd taken a liking to this type of Pokémon when she was taking care of the starter Pokémon.

Having taken good care of it, it was already close to evolving.

She didn't know how she knew it. To describe it, it was like some kind of feeling she got when interracting with them, a kind of nagging feeling in her mind.

While Chimchar stayed in his Pokébal, Sylveon and Shaymin did not. She'd gotten them Pokéballs as soon as she started working at the lab, but they didn't seem to like staying in them.

As it wasn't such a problem, Sylveon and Shaymin could stay outside of it.

As she'd seen many trainers receive their first Pokémon, she could already feel some kind of excitement bubbling up as she thought of her own journey.

That feeling had with time gotten stronger, almost too hard to contain.

Deciding that it was time to start her own journey, she wanted to talk to Professor Rowan.

When she was done taking care of her tasks of the day, she found Professor Rowan facing the destruction of the Pokémon lab. Not expecting to see such a sight, Ashley halted as she fully took in the devastation in front of her.

Glass was spread all over the lab, while papers were scattered in all directions. There were multiple scorch marks, the windows had been broken, while there was no sight of the beginner Pokémon.

In front of Professor Rowan, multiple assistants were bowing in apology.

"We're sorry Professor, the Pokémon were arguing resulting in a fight. They are currently in the forest."

"I see."

"Don't worry Professor! I will find them."

A young girl with blue hair replied.

"Then I will leave it to you young lady."

Professor Rowan didn't seem concerned as the young girl ran outside in search of the Pokémon that had escaped.

"Professor Rowan, there was something I wanted to talk with you about, though currently it seems it can wait."

Ashley looked around her again, noticing only Turtwig and Shuckle were here.

"No, speak what's on your mind Ashley."

"Well, you see Professor..... I wanted to start my journey too. I really want to meet a lot of different Pokémon."

Professor Rowan didn't seem surprised by Ashley's words as he searched for something in his labcoat.

"I already suspected you would like to travel on your own. It's just that we expected you would do so sooner. That was one of the reasons for the Pokémon we gifted you, after all."

Professor Rowan having found what he was looking for, pushed an evergreen device in her hands, explaining what it was.

"Here is your own Pokédex. I expect you to see a lot of Pokémon. Don't forget to show me the results after your journey."

He also handed her light blue backpack with debit card and a creme coloured waist bag filled with empty Pokéballs.

"We've filled your bag with the necessary travel equipment, a debit card with enough money for your travels and its expenses and enough Pokéballs. Enjoy your journey to its fullest and don't forget to take good care of your Pokémon."

Ashley felt tears beginning to fill her eyes, but quickly blinked them away. She quickly hugged Professor Rowan in thanks, surprising him in the action.

He gently patted her head, for he had begun to see her as his own grand daughter a long time ago. still, birds needed to leave the nest to grow, so he would let her grow till her hearts content.

"Know you can always come back if you want to. Think of this place as your home."

Ashley nodded at his words.

"I will. Thanks, Grandpa."

Professor Rowan for the first time heartily laughed at her words as he pushed her out of the door.

"Now go, start your journey. We'll be waiting to hear of your stories when you return."

Having been given the last push, Ashley quicky ran up towards her room and starter pakking her last baggage. the bag she'd gotten appeared to be bigger on the inside than one would think, as multiple pairings of clothes fitted inside and it was only half full. She quickly dressed into something more comfortable and she was ready to go.

(A/N: imagine her wearing something like this: https://nl.pinterest.com/pin/533043305868733455/)

As she ran back to the lab again, all the starter Pokémon were back and the young trainer was picking out her Pokémon.

"And, have you already decided which Pokémon you will choose?"

The girl cheerfully responded, "Yes Professor! I choose Piplup."

Ashley could see Turtwig and Chimchar feeling down as soon as they heard the girls choice, causing her to chuckle softly.

Well, there would always be some who would be left out.

She walked towards the Pokémon and patted their heads encouragingly.

"Don't worry, there will be a trainer for you too, so don't be so down."

Chimchar and Turtwig seemed to cheer up at her words, leaving with the assistants to play with the other Pokémon.

Turning back to the girl, Ashley introduced herself.

"Hi, my name is Ashley, I work here as an assistant. I mean worked, as I'm currently starting my journey."

Ashley motioned towards her Pokémon, "And these two are my dear partners, Sylveon and Shaymin."

The blue haired girl greeted her back, holding Piplup safely in her arms.

"Hi, my name's Dawn and this is my partner Piplup."

Dawn shook her hand, while also pointing her Pokédex towards Shaymin and Sylveon.

The Pokédex pointed at Shaymin and began to speak.

"Shaymin, the Gratitude Pokémon. When the Gracidea flower is in bloom, its pollen allows Shaymin to change into its Sky Forme from its Land Forme. Shaymin also have a tendency to migrate."

"Wow, I've never seen one before."

Dawn exclaimed, pointing her Pokédex at Sylveon.

Again, the Pokédex responded, causing Ashley to look at Professor Rowan in wonder.

"Sylveon, the Intertwining Pokémon and an evolved form of Eevee. Sylveon affectionately wraps its ribbon-like feelers around its Trainer's arm as they walk together."

"They are so cuuute!" Dawn said as she reached out her hand and patted Sylveon on the head.

Meanwhile, Ashley looked inquisitively at Professor Rowan.

"Don't be so surprised, I asked a colleague of mine in the kalos region, as he shared his Pokédex entries with me. Now off you go, don't keep standing there and start your journey."

Ashley nodded, bidding farewell to Professor Rowan. She also waved goodbye at Dawn, as she seemed to want to catch herself a Pokémon first in the forest.