Chapter One- Mother
Thunder rumbled overhead. Professor Juniper paid it no mind- her project was far more important: this device would be able to keep an Egg healthy in case problems arise with it, as well as help it hatch faster and safer. It was a difficult task, but the thought of all the good it would do kept her going long into this night. However, there was another project she would have to work on soon…
Beside her, Fern, a Snivy, curled up, snout hidden behind its leafy tail as it slept. A Chansey rested in a corner; Professor Juniper needed the Egg Pokémon to better understand how Pokémon Eggs worked. Juniper sometimes joked that this machine may end up replacing Chanseys entirely if it worked right. The Chansey always looked at her funny when she said that. Nevertheless, she was a great assistant, as was her Snivy.
A frantic knocking at the door awoke the Snivy. "Sniv…?" It muttered sleepily. "Vy Snivy?"
"I don't know who it is," Juniper replied. "But I intend to find out." She yawned as she made her way to the front door opposite her lab. Who'd be here at such a late hour? She had even posted a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door. This had better be good, she thought, just a little grumpy. The frantic knocking resumed with greater tempo as she called, "Yes, yes, I'm coming! Hold your Horseas!" She opened the door and stumbled back, falling to the ground in shock.
A Latias floated in the doorway, one clawed arm raised to knock while the other clutched an Egg protectively. Her red, downy scales dripped rainwater, soaking the "Welcome!" mat just outside. "A Latias?!" Juniper whispered, amazed. The Eon Pokémon made a trilling sound, holding the Egg out to the professor. Juniper noticed the distraught expression in her yellow eyes. "Yes, of course, come on in," she said to the living legend before her. While the existence of Latios and Latias were well documented, their sheer rarity has led them to be considered a legend among most groups, especially in Unova- Shut up, me, the professor instructed herself, trying to stay focused on the task at hand.
The Latias folded her wings to fit through, still holding the Egg out to the professor while she trilled insistently. "You want me to put this in my machine?" Professor Juniper clarified. The Latias nodded her triangular head emphatically. Juniper gingerly took the Egg and inserted it into a divot on the contraption.
Fern blinked a few times, disturbed by the rumbling from the machine underneath it, and looked up at the Latias. Its brown eyes widened. "Snivy Snivy?! Vy sni Snivy?!"
"I'm as surprised as you are," Juniper replied.
A screen lit up to the side. The professor tapped it a few times, directing it to gather information on the Egg. A soft humming arose from the machine as it started up, collecting data with unseen instruments. That was another thing Juniper loved about the machine: it was so sleek and unobtrusive- all the devices could be hidden away within the device without any interference in their operation. The data appeared on the screen Juniper looked at. Although Juniper doubted she could understand it, the Latias peered over the professor's shoulder to see the information herself. Juniper's eyes flitted between data points and graphs before turning to the floating dragon behind her. "I have good news for you. Your Egg will hatch into a healthy, vibrant Latios. You have nothing to worry about, I promise."
Professor Juniper had never seen a Latias cry before, nor had she ever read of such a behavior. "What's wrong, dear?" she asked, placing a hand reassuringly beneath her wing and scratching the wet scales lightly. Reportedly, Latios and Latias would scratch each other there as a sign of friendship. "I promise; you have nothing to worry about. If it concerns you this much, though, I'll let you stay here until it hatches. That should actually be only around an hour, so we can sit together until it hatches. The Latias gave a little smile and trilled, floating down beside the professor. Juniper looked at the dragon. It seemed that reports of their size were exaggerated- although she was much smaller than a Latios, she was still nearly as large as any human. In fact, if she stood on legs she might end up being taller, but such an anatomy could not- Shut up, me, she thought once more.
She noticed the Latias's dripping scales and fetched a towel from a closet. She threw it over the Latias's back, wrapping it around her belly to keep her warm.
Thank you, a soft voice in her head sounded.
"You speak the human language?" Juniper exclaimed. In all her research no one had ever written of a Latias speaking the human tongue. Sure, their intellect was clear from observations like the ones- Shut up, me!
I can… think it, yes. The words seemed strained, like she was grasping for each one. I must… say to you. My… son is not a… Latios. He is a Latios… a little.
"What ever do you mean?"
His… father… A torrent of images and feelings flashed through Juniper's mind- Astrid saw a dashing, handsome young backpacker as she soared overhead, invisible. She fell instantly in love. But she was nervous. How could he love a Latias? It was… wrong!
An agonizing amount of time passed as she deliberated within herself.
She came to a conclusion at last. She bent the light around her scales, resembling a beautiful young lady. The illusion was so perfect that even if she was touched no one could tell the difference. She was glad Arceus had blessed her with such talents.
Astrid met the young man while he was hiking. She played the role perfectly. They were happy together, laughing and playing almost every day. They fell deeper in love...
He proposed.
Months later, she felt the weight of an egg inside her. She grew worried.
He was happy to hear he would be a father. She tried to act like a pregnant human, but it was hard. Latias biology is far different from human biology.
It fell apart at the hospital. The shock on his face could not be mistaken as an egg came out instead of a baby. Astrid finally gave up. She relaxed her scales, revealing her true form to her lover. He was confused and sad.
She should have known this would happen. Tears welled in her yellow, draconic eyes as she took the egg and fled the hospital. She didn't want to face his shame.
She rested in a tall tree in Alto Mare, trying to decide what to do with her child. It would be too human to fit in with Pokémon... but was it too Pokémon to fit in with humans? She made the hardest decision of her life as she soared towards Professor Juniper's lab.
"You're… you're giving him up?" Juniper asked, stunned by her tale.
The Latias, Astrid, hung her head. He is… too human. But he will… hmm… be Pokémon, too. Can you help?
"You want me help him fit in?"
Astrid turned to face Juniper, hands together. Her eyes said it all.
Juniper thought as long-term as she could- raising him, explaining his parentage… how much contact should he have with others? He needs some social interaction… What would others think of him? Would they try to hurt him? Would they accept him?
On a more selfish note, this would be an amazing opportunity to study an extremely rare hybrid. There have been a couple recorded cases, like the Mew hybrid in Kanto, but she had never gotten the chance to really see one up close!
Am I really treating this child like a specimen to be studied? Juniper put a hand to her head. "I'm not sure I'm the best person to do this; I'm a scientist, not a parent!"
No! I trust you only! Please! Tears welled Astrid's eyes. Please!
"Are you sure?"
You argue with legendary.
She was set on it. What else could Juniper do? "…Okay. I'll do my best."
Thank you! Oh, thank you, Juniper!
A sharp cracking noise silenced the two. The Egg was hatching. A strange combination of human crying and pieces of "Latios!" emanated from within. The two came up close to watch miracle unfold. The Egg flashed with a white light, blinding the two… and sitting in the divot of the machine, surrounded by eggshells, was a Latios-human hybrid. The first thing Juniper noticed that the human part of him appeared closer to a six-month-old than a newborn, evident of some of the Pokémon trait of being born ready to defend itself. The Latios half was manifested in their characteristic grey and blue downy scales and deep red eyes over a pointed muzzle. Two rigid, triangular wings stuck out behind him. His outer thighs were covered by the same fan-like spikes Juniper had seen on Latios. Large tufts of down protruded where his ears would be. Each of his fingers ended in grey claws, and his hands had thick blue padding. Juniper's Snivy cautiously approached the wailing hybrid before curling up around him to calm him down.
Astrid gingerly lifted her child. I will name you Alto, for where the Lati call home... She switched to Pokéspeak. …in the hopes you remember your Pokémon heritage. She nuzzled his cheek. Because I will always remember you.