Disclaimer! I don't own Pokémon – I imply to this coming chapters too.
Summary:
Ash, Brock, and Dawn are exhausted after traveling nonstop, so they decide to take a rest and revisit Alto Mare. Dawn of course haven't seen the place is excited, but Ash is nervous going back there. Bianca who kissed him on cheek is still there. What is Ash to do?
Chapter 1
Ash's party was waiting for the ferry, that would carry them to Alto Mare. They decided about a week ago to go there when Dawn said, "We need a break." But of course that wasn't Dawn's idea go to Alto Mare. No, it was when Brock mentioned the beautiful old looking city, open for tourism. Ash didn't have opinion in this matter, but he didn't complain; he could finally to take care of his feeling in his gut when he left from the said city. Ash glanced far away, seeing tiny spot over the ocean. "Alto Mare..." he murmured silently.
Before he noticed bell rang, a man wearing sailor uniform ringing a bell in right arm informing any coming passengers that the ferry is ready to leave. Ash jumped up, noticing Dawn and Brock already left him behind. "Wait up guys!" Ash yelled, and ran after them. Dodging few people in his path he successfully arrived in ferry. The sailor welcomed the trio aboard before removing the wooden plank between the ferry and entry point. Then the sailor darted off to ferry's controls, starting the engine and leaving the shore far behind.
Alto Mare
Meanwhile in Alto Mare Bianca had just finished a new painting about the bell tower. She carefully scanned the outlines with her eyes. "Perfect." She told herself, taking the painting and placing it on the wall. She hadn't noticed Latias presence while watching her own painting behind her back. Latias left soft coo noise, Bianca turned around, "Latias, didn't see you." She said, a bit surprised. "What do you say, it's my newest work." She pointed freshly painted bell tower painting hanging on wall. Latias never understood why she painted so much, but she guessed she had just too much free time.
"Lati! Latias!" The red dragon told Bianca, as saying it was great. Bianca smiled, knowing Latias so well, she was sure she praised her work. "Thanks Latias. Have you seen Lorenzo today?" she asked. Latias nodded. The last time she saw him was when he was working on gondolas at his workshop. "Good, can you remind him to water plants in Secret garden? I must find a new inspiration for next work." Bianca said, as she packed her paint brushes. Latias with nothing else to do flew out and refracted light, making her body invisible to curious eyes. Flying over the city she noticed unnatural amount of people walking on streets. 'Tourists?' she thought. It wasn't that extraordinary for tourists to visit Alto Mare, but it recalled every time her time with Pikachu, Ash, and rest of his team. How she missed the good times they had back then. She hoped to see them again some day.
Lorenzo checked the wrecked gondola, broken wood stirring from flank. How people could so easily break his handmade gondolas. "Novices." He blurted out. Yeah, that was probably the fault he thought. Those novice-in-training gondoliers would break his hard work, but he didn't complain; every time they brought the gondolas back here for repairs, his bank account would get noticeable rise. Lorenzo hummed as he further inspected damages; 'that needs to be replaced and that too,' he told himself. With quick inspection he thought, 'Oh, what the hell, let's just replace whole right side on go.' That way he could demand more cash from those novices, and it also works as a reminder 'not to break second time.' Lorenzo paced to inside his workshop and searched needed tools for job, but before he could pull drawer open he felt poke on his back. Lorenzo's reflexes kicked in, and he spun around, to see the intruder. But for his surprise he saw no one. "Huh? That's weird." He said, when he expected something.
Out of a sudden, when he least expected it, Latias materialized in thin air, almost giving a heart attack to Lorenzo. "God! Don't do that!" Old man Lorenzo said, while trying to lower his pulse. "If I die in heart failure because of you, I'm going to haunt you for the rest of your life, Latias." He promised. Latias shivered the thought of Lorenzo's spirit following her everywhere, but quickly dismissed the idea when she recalled what Bianca told her to do. "Laa~ latias!" Lorenzo got only confused by her words and said, "Latias, there's a language barrier between us if you remember, I can't understand a thing what are you saying." He said. Latias left a frustrated noise. How could she forget that Lorenzo isn't like Bianca. She practically needed to show what she meant. Latias glanced through the workshop, and stopping upon seeing a green colored water can sitting on corner. She levitated there and picked up the water can, and shoved it into Lorenzo's hands. "What's with this?" He asked, but then light bulb flashed over his head. "The plants." He groaned, how he managed to forget them. "You wanted to remind me to water the plants, Latias?" He confirmed. Latias nodded her head vigorously. She got her point across, and she was more than happy with the result. "Oh, well thanks for reminding, actually, I think I will go right away. It's not like those gondoliers can't wait" He winked, "And you do whatever you want, but don't try sneak upon me again, I don't like it." Lorenzo said. The old man Lorenzo walked his way to workshop's back wall, and traced his hand on wall until he felt tiny hole. He put his left index finger in, clicking the hidden button in it. To his left a pathway opened. "Later then, Latias." Lorenzo waved his hand once and walked away to hidden pathway. When Lorenzo disappeared from view, the automatic system closed the pathway, leaving only Latias in workshop.
Latias saddened. There's no one play with her; Bianca too busy with painting and Lorenzo is just too old for that. Oh how she missed the old times, when Bianca was so young and playful back then, and would always be with her. And there was Latios, her only true family, but he was taken away by rocket team's action. Latias sighed. Well, she could always check around the city just for fun. With a flash Latia's appearance changed to exact replica of Bianca minus the hat. She left the workshop behind and started to walk towards the central city.
Ash's party
"Wow, it's much beautiful than I thought!" Dawn exclaimed, as she turned her head every known possible direction. "How could they built something like this, look at the architecture!"
"We know Dawn. We have been here already once." Brock said. "But yeah, it is something alright." He admitted. You couldn't see elsewhere this kind of architecture Brock was sure.
Ash sighed aloud, getting attention from Brock, Dawn and Pikachu.
"Is something wrong, Ash?" asked Dawn. She wasn't sure but something was off. She could tell.
"It's nothing really." Answered Ash.
"Actually Dawn got a point there." Brock started, "You have been very quiet lately, not your cheerful self. Come on, tell me what is bugging you." He asked.
Ash opened his mouth but closed it right away. How is he going to explain this. All of this what he is feeling right now.
"It is personal." He said, hoping the questions would end there.
Dawn crossed her arms for that response, "How we are going to help you if we don't know what is bugging you." She fumed.
Ash looked down at Pikachu, he didn't seem to be bothered. Was it that Pikachu didn't simply care or just the opposite - trusted so much in Ash that he would take care of the problem with his own way. Of course the latter one, Ash thought, smiling in his mind. He could never doubt his oldest friend. Ash stretched his right arm behind Pikachu's long ear, and stroked him, getting squeal of delight from Pikachu.
Brock wasn't saying anything but that didn't mean he didn't do nothing. No, he was thinking. He knew Ash got more silent when they arrived here, in Alto Mare. "Of course." He said, smirking a bit.
Ash heard Brock, and flinched when he heard it. Brock knew! He screamed in his mind.
"You know what is bugging Ash, Brock?" Dawn urged.
If Brock hadn't visited Alto Mare with Ash he wouldn't know, but he did. And he remembered what exactly did happen when they left. But could he tell that for Dawn? No, Brock decided that it would be better for Ash if Dawn would be left out of this matter.
"More or less, but it's..." He thought for a moment before finishing his sentence, "Personal."
Ash sighed in relief, and thanked that Brock didn't spit it out.
"Well, if you or Ash isn't going to tell me, I don't care, but I don't want Ash ruining the good mood here with his new attitude."
"Don't worry, a private talk between men will fix it." Brock said, and mentioned Ash to follow.
They walked a good distance so Dawn couldn't hear them talking.
"Bianca, right?"
Ash sighed yet again. Well, he knew the answer already so why to postpone it then.
"Yeah." He replied.
"I had my hunch, but I never knew you felt like that for Bianca."
Ash scratched his neck and looked away, "I know, even I'm surprised. When I think of her, I feel twist in my gut, not in bad way."
Brock took a firm grip on Ash's shoulders, "That's good, I thought sometimes you weren't into, um, women."
"What!" Ash yelled in response.
Brock tapped Ash's shoulders, "I'm just kidding! But seriously, you got lucky." As he said that, he started to pace back and forth in front of Ash and swing his arms in frustrated manner.
"How is it that you get lucky, when you don't even try." Brock stopped walking, "But if I were you, I would go for it."
"But what I should do!"
"What ever you do, do it from depths of your heart." Brock said, and thought a moment what he said, "Wow, when I learned to speak like that, but do what I said."
As Brock finished his talk Dawn came with Pikachu, most likely tired of waiting.
"You done? 'Cause me and Pikachu are tired of waiting." Dawn shoot the words out her mouth.
Brock nodded, "I believe we are done with the talking."
With that the trio started the sightseeing and exploring the city. Ash thought what Brock said once a while, but didn't let that bug him. If he would meet Bianca by any chance, he would do something then but now he wouldn't let that annoy him. That's what he decided anyway.
Dawn dragged the team for many hours, or that's what Brock and Ash thought. Dawn really couldn't stop once she was in lead. She wanted to see everything in one day literally and that took every strength they had. Except when Brock mentioned he couldn't go on anymore, that his legs was worn out totally. That's when they decided to take a little break and enjoy ice cream from one of the multiple stands in central city.
"This city is awesome! We should come here once a while just for fun. Brock do you know what time is?" asked Dawn, eating her vanilla flavored ice cream.
Brock brought his wrist watch to his sight, "6:00 PM it seems."
"Time sure flies when having fun, right? And it's good to have old Ash back."
Ash smiled. "It's not like I went anywhere, I just had to organize my thoughts that's all."
"I see." Replied Dawn.
No sight of Bianca in whole day yet, and Ash was sure he wouldn't see her today. Well, that's what he thought for a brief moment until he saw figure that resembled Bianca standing on bridge. But he couldn't be sure if it was her, for they were too far away.
Brock caught Ash's gazing and he himself looked where Ash's eyes were fixated. For his surprise he saw Bianca, and he was one hundred percent sure it was her. His whole life he had been looking different kind of girls, and he always remembered appearances and names. And of course he had better eyesight.
Brock nudged slightly Ash and whispered to his ear, "You should go. I will take care of Dawn meanwhile."
"Dawn, we haven't visited the museum yet. Do you want to go?"
"There's even museum here? Of course I will go, lead the way!" Dawn insisted.
Ash saw Brock leading Dawn away, and giving him a thumbs up sign while walking. Now it was only him and Pikachu.
"Hey Pikachu. Can you go with them, I will catch up later, okay?"
Pikachu somewhat knew what was going on and smiled for Ash, before darting off, following Brock and Dawn.
Ash took a big breath in and out. He was about do something stupid, or that's what he thought. He started walking slowly toward the bridge. Every step Ash took, his heartbeat jumped up a bit. He really wasn't used to this.
Latias stood still, watching around the tourists that came earlier. Kids with parents, trainers with their pokemons, and some lovers that came here to enjoy their honeymoon perhaps. 'How boring,' She thought. If there was something to take this boredom away, she would be so happy. She glanced the water that went under the bridge – the water was so clear, that you could see the bottom.
"Um."
Latias turned around hearing that voice, and for her surprise Ash was next to her. She was confused, happy, shocked, and lots of other emotions whirled in her. She wasn't sure how to respond but before she could even form any useful thoughts, Ash took a firm grip on her shoulders.
"Sorry." Ash said, and kissed her.
Latia's world crumbled apart that moment. Feeling moist and warm lips connected to her. She was heating up inside, heart rate jumping up and down at unnatural rate. She couldn't believe what was happening. Even though she couldn't believe all this, she had unconsciously hugged Ash and deepened the kiss.
"Ash!" A very agitated voice came over somewhere, and upon hearing it Ash stopped the intimate act. He turned himself to the voice of the source, and shock came over him, his eyes widened.
"Bianca...?"
