I closed my light hazel eyes against the spinning stars. I felt my dark hair glide behind me, while the two shorter locks that fell on either side of my face slapped my cheeks briskly. I leaned forward and clutched Latias's sleek body tighter. I felt my backpack thump heavily against my small, thin figure. Cooling breezes and channels of air began to set in, washing away the day's hotter and more humid display.

Latias turned her head to look at me. Her light hazel eyes were dulled from exhaustion however, their lively spark hadn't altered. "We'll be in Konoha by dawn. Rest now, Naya. I'll wake you when we arrive," Latias whispered through her telepathy.

I nodded drowsily. I had already been aware of my eyelids drooping for some hours already. I nestled my head against her wing joint and was quickly lulled to sleep by Latias's gentle movements through the night's chilly air.

I dreamed that night. I saw Latios and the silhouette of another person beside him. I could see that it was a boy, looking no older then thirteen. He had short, bristled hair in a spiked style. From his silhouette, he wore a thick jacket with a highly folded collar. His legs were hidden beneath gently-falling pants. Sharp edges on either side of his forehead hinted the presence of some kind of face or eye gear looking similar to ski or scuba goggles.

He and Latios seemed to be standing on an island made of starlight. Everything felt warm and gentle, like a soft summer's evening. A true paradise! I could see other shadowed and blurred figures moving around the island, though I recognized none of them.

I watched them silently from the edge of the island. I was completely mesmerized by the island's beauty. I watched as Latios stared right at me. But, it wasn't at me, it was through me, almost as though I wasn't there. As if, I were transparent to his keen eyes.

Can he see or sense me? Or am I just a bystander who has no part to play in this?

Maybe he could feel me if I touched him…

I tried to take a step forward. My legs didn't respond. Not even a little bit. I felt no pain though… Not like the time when I had been paralyzed by a thunder wave. I was just frozen.

Frozen!

It was as though I were frozen in time or space. Unanimated. Stilled. Stuck between two universes.

I sighed to myself. My eyes began to wander, scanning and absorbing every tiny detail of my dreamland. It felt summer-like. A large oak tree resided in the center on a tiny island of land for its roots to use as a base. A sparkling pool or moat surrounded the little section of land. I could see waves lapping at the banks, which seemed to resist being eroded by the constant lapping of water. Stones had been placed in the water. They weren't rugged or jagged at all. They were smooth and shiny, as though they'd been in place, undisturbed for perhaps generations. All of them shone with a silvery glint as moonlight bounced of their surfaces.

Then, I noticed the stars begin to shine brighter. A gentle brightness that maximized slowly and steadily. I was basked in a bright, almost golden beam of light. It was warm. Warm like sunlight. I felt something shaking me gently. Calling to me.

"Time to wake up."

I muttered something that was supposed to say, "Leave me alone." Though, it didn't come out that way. My eyelids fluttered, and my eyes opened, and I stared into the bright face of Latias.

I realized that I was lying on the ground. The fresh scent of grass and moss filled my nostrils. I could feel a small blanket over my back.

I sat up slowly; my eyes still full of sleep and my vision still bleary. I quickly became aware of a small pile of fruit at my side. I grasped an apple from the top and began to force bites into my mouth and down my throat.

I felt Latias touch my shoulder gently. I took a guess that it was she that had taken care of me. I turned to thank her, but she was gone.

"Latias? Are you there?" I called in the misty morning air.

No reply.

"Latias, thank you…for everything. I'll miss you, but it's not goodbye after all. Is it, my friend?" I whispered.

I tucked by hand into the pocket of my sky-blue jacket and pulled out the poke ball belonging to Espeon. I threw it.

"Espeon, let's go!"

Espeon sprang out. Her feline-like face with a single, red gem resting on it, turned and smiled at me. She lifter her tail, which split into two sections halfway down, into an arch, happily.

I beckoned to her to follow. I turned and faced the great gate of Konoha. The morning sun shone brightly over a mountain that cast a shadow over the village. In the top of the mountain were faces, carved into the stone.

I turned to Espeon. "Are you ready?"

She nodded.

Side by side, Espeon and I walked into the blinding light of dawn and through the great gates of Konoha.