Pokemon : Rewind

"This is the first time we've met. I am Professor Ivy," she introduced herself with a polite smile.

In her laboratory, Professor Ivy had changed out of her earlier swimsuit. Though it had captured everyone's attention by the beach, her current attire was far more professional and reserved. 

Wearing a white lab coat that obscured her figure, she now looked every bit the brilliant researcher she was reputed to be.

"Hello, Professor Ivy! My name is Ash, and these are my friends, Misty and Brock," Ash said with a friendly nod. "Oh, and this is my partner, Pikachu."

"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu, perched atop Ash's head, waved its tiny paw at Professor Ivy, eliciting a warm chuckle from her.

"Nice to meet you, Pikachu," she said kindly, her curiosity clearly piqued. As a researcher, she had seen Pikachu's performance in the Indigo Plateau Conference and found its strength and adaptability fascinating.

At the same time, Professor Ivy's three assistants finally recognized Ash. The young trainer's accomplishments, especially his record-breaking battles, left them in awe. They exchanged amazed glances, whispering about the legendary trainer standing before them.

"Alright, let's get straight to it," Professor Ivy said decisively. "I'll show you the GS Ball." 

Leading the group through the lab, she guided them to a research room filled with intricate instruments, though it wasn't as advanced as Professor Oak's facilities.

The GS Ball, named after the "GS" letters etched faintly on its surface, sat atop a specialized machine in the corner. 

As Professor Ivy motioned them closer, Ash, Misty, and Brock got their first look at the mysterious Poké Ball.

The GS Ball was unlike any Poké Ball they had ever seen. Gold covered its upper hemisphere, while silver adorned the bottom. The "GS" lettering, faint and stylized in ancient script, gave it an aura of mystery.

"A Poké Ball unlike any I've seen before," Brock muttered, his earlier infatuation with Professor Ivy replaced by genuine intrigue.

"It's incredible," Misty added. "How did you find it?"

Professor Ivy smiled wryly. "I stumbled upon it entirely by chance. Even after extensive research, we still don't fully understand it."

"I heard from Professor Oak that the GS Ball can't be teleported. Is that true?" Brock asked.

"That's correct," Professor Ivy confirmed, signaling to her assistant, Hope, to demonstrate. Hope, dressed in an orange shirt, nodded and activated a teleportation device.

As the machine whirred to life, a visible magnetic field surrounded the GS Ball. Small arcs of electricity crackled around it, but the Poké Ball resisted the energy completely. 

No matter how powerful the magnetic field grew, the GS Ball remained unaffected, as if protected by an invisible barrier.

"We've tried every method to analyze it—teleportation, force, and even advanced scanning techniques—but nothing works," Professor Ivy explained. 

Her three assistants nodded in agreement, their expressions a mix of frustration and admiration for the GS Ball's enigmatic properties.

"Since we can't crack its mysteries, I've decided to entrust it to Professor Oak. Perhaps his expertise will uncover its secrets," Professor Ivy said, carefully picking up the GS Ball and handing it to Ash. 

"Mr. Ash, I'm counting on you to deliver this safely."

Ash accepted the GS Ball with a nod. "Leave it to me."

As he touched the GS Ball, a strange sensation coursed through his body—a subtle, unfamiliar force. 

Startled, he paused and tried to focus on it, but the feeling vanished as quickly as it came. Dismissing it as his imagination, he placed the GS Ball in his backpack.

To everyone's surprise, the GS Ball slid in effortlessly.

"What just happened?" Brock asked, noticing the astonishment on Professor Ivy's face.

"We've tried storing the GS Ball in space-expanded devices before, but it's always been rejecting them," she explained. "This… this is the first time it's worked."

Curious, Ash handed the GS Ball to Misty and Brock, asking them to try placing it in their backpacks. 

Both attempts failed—the GS Ball stubbornly resisted being stored in anything but Ash's bag.

"It seems like the GS Ball reacts differently to Ash," Professor Ivy mused, her scientific curiosity now fully engaged.

Ash, equally puzzled, recalled the fleeting force he'd felt earlier. Could the GS Ball be responding to that strange energy? While he wasn't sure, this was neither the time nor place to investigate further.

After packing the GS Ball securely, Ash stepped outside to contact Professor Oak. Over the video call, he updated the Professor on the situation, including the unexpected connection he seemed to have with the GS Ball.

"Don't rush to return just yet," Professor Oak advised. "Focus on your Orange League challenge, and we'll figure this out together when you're back."

Ash agreed, grateful for the Professor's patience.

Later, as the group prepared to head to the Pokémon Center, Professor Ivy extended an invitation. "Why don't you stay here tonight? The facilities are simple, but it'll save you a trip."

With no pressing plans, Ash, Misty, and Brock happily accepted. Spending the evening at Professor Ivy's lab promised to be both comfortable and enlightening.

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