(A/N: Nothing much here: just in the mood for something new and altoshippy.)

Disclaimer: I own any cards in Latios' deck, other then the following:

Maha Vailo

Scapegoat

Black Luster Soldier; Envoy of the Beginning

Otherwise, I own nothing.

Chapter One

Low Spirits; High Sea

Bianca washed the paint from her hands, grabbed a water bottle and flopped down on the couch. "EEE!" A screech cut through the air, and Bianca shot up again at the sound of it as if the chair was on fire. She turned to see a red and white dragon Pok'emon shimmer into view.

"Oh, sorry, Latias." Bianca said sheepishly. "I guess now you know why I said not to lie on a couch while invisible."

"Lay." Latias said sadly. (A/N: Don't look at me that way, Latios! So what do you call it?" L/N: Heck, I dunno; I would say 'kuu', but Ryuko Vulpix already got that one. But honestly, 'lay'? That's the best you got? Jeez!" A/N: Shut up and save the trash talk for the duel! Sorry about that, readers, now back to the fic.)

Bianca sighed sadly and sat down next to her friend. "Latias, you've been sad for a long time now. You don't eat, you toss and turn all night; yes, I can hear it from my bedroom; and you look horrible. You look like a ghost. What's wrong?" She said. Even though she said it as softly as she could, Latias' amber eyes filled with tears. She flew off the couch and towards the sliding glass back door, which, apparently, she thought was open; however, it was not…WHAM! Bianca gasped and ran to her friend, who was curled on the ground, holding her head and sobbing.

"Latias, you okay?" She knelt down by her friend and reached out to her. Latias flew into the air again, swung the door open and flew out as fast as she could, slamming the door behind her. Bianca sighed sadly and walked to her room. It was beyond her why her best friend was acting like this. She heard the door open and ran downstairs again. 'Grandpa isn't supposed to come out of the shop this early. Maybe his water bottle's out. No. There is a faucet right in the shop.' She slowed her steps as a new thought came into her mind. Maybe the two thieves from a week ago were back! She slowly walked upstairs again and into her room. She reached for her easel and picked it up. It was the best weapon she had, and would have to do. She snuck downstairs, taking care not to bang the walls with her 'weapon', and alert the thieves. She heard footsteps approaching the staircase. "Bianca?" Completely disregarding the fact that the voice was one that was male, Bianca tore downstairs and into the family room, pulling the easel back. She caught a quick glimpse of a red hat and brown eyes before the easel crashed into the intruder. Ash was lifted off his feet by the force of the blow and slammed hard into the wall. He slid down, holding his nose. "Owww!" He yelled in pain. Bianca dropped the easel. "Ash?"

Ash could only respond with an "Aggh! My node!"

Bianca ran to the wounded trainer's side. "Sorry, Ash! I thought you were Annie and Oakley, and I sort of panicked."

"Dad's ogay, Bianga." Ash answered. "Helb me fide my node and pud id in ice so de hosbidal cad sew id bag od."

It was all Bianca could do not to laugh.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

"Your nose feel better, Ash?" Bianca said.

"Yeah." Ash said. "Thanks for helping me out. I know you didn't mean to hit me with an easel."

"Uh, huh." Bianca said, staring out the window. "I'm just a bit high-strung from what happened a week ago, what with the old Soul Dew shattering and Latios…" Her throat constricted and she couldn't continue her sentence. Ash laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Where's Latias?" He said, changing the subject.

Bianca rubbed her eyes. "Out in the garden. I don't think we should go out there right now. She's been acting strangely this past week. Ever since you left, she's been a shadow of herself. She never smiles these days, and you know that is strange for her."

Ash sighed. "Actually, Bianca, that's why I came back."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Latias flew to the fountain with the Soul Dew. Transforming into an identical clone of Bianca, her favorite human form, she kneeled down at the edge. Sealed within the jewel was the last member of her family; her brother, Latios. A week ago, he had died; he sacrificed himself to save the city of Altomare. Without warning, a tear slid down her cheek and fell into the fountain. Her eyes widened in amazement at what happened next. Instead of simply being absorbed into the water, her tear retained its shape and fell onto the Soul Dew. The light within the sacred jewel blazed, and Latias turned away, covering her eyes with one arm.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Lorenzo picked up a scratch awl and mallet and positioned them at the place where he would later put a nail. He pulled backed the mallet, about to bring it forward. Suddenly a huge pillar of light blazed from the garden. He missed and smashed his fingers. Rubbing his throbbing hand, he stared at the beam that was shooting from the middle of the garden. The next moment, he had dashed out the door.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Ash and Bianca stared in shock at the huge beam that had rocketed out of the garden. "The Soul Dew!" Bianca said. "Only something like that could give out that much power!" She and Ash ran out the door."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Latias uncovered her eyes as the beam began to fade. She ran to the fountain as fast as she could and stared in. The light in the Soul Dew was beginning to fade rapidly. As the poor guardian watched helplessly, the light within the jewel flickered and went out. She turned to run back to the house. Bianca would know what to do. She took two steps and promptly collided with someone, knocking herself to the ground.

"Oof!" Ash was knocked to the ground. He got to his feet and dusted himself off, Then reached down to help the person he had bumped into up. "Bianca? What are you doing here? Weren't you behind…me?" Ash stammered to a halt as the girl he had collided with leapt forward and hugged him, her body shaking with silent sobs. "B-bianca?" He asked in shock. Then he realized. "Wait a minute…Latias?" At this, the disguised dragon squeezed him tighter. Suddenly, Bianca ran up behind the two, and her jaw dropped. Lorenzo ran up as well. However, he didn't pay attention to the shocked trainer and crying dragon. He ran straight to the fountain, peered inside for a few seconds, then glared at the group. "What happened to the Soul Dew!" He roared. Latias shivered and cuddled closer to Ash in fear.

"I don't know what happened, Lorenzo. We came to check it out too!" Ash protested.

"What you're saying is," Lorenzo said sarcastically. "that Latias did it!" He pointed an accusing finger at the dragon, who fell to her knees and began to sob silently once again.

"Grandpa, what's wrong with you!" Bianca said, incredulous. "Latias is assigned to protect the Soul Dew, not destroy it." Latias got up, wiping the tears from her eyes. She pointed at her wet arm, and then pointed at the Soul Dew. Then she repeated this sequence again. And again.

"She's trying to tell us something." Bianca said.

"I get it." Lorenzo said. "Though I never heard of a dragon's tear activating the Soul Dew."

Latias nodded vehemently.

Bianca looked at the sky, where clouds were rolling in. "Well, the fountain doesn't seem to be damaged, the water is still coming out. The Soul Dew doesn't seem to be in any immediate threat. Let's go inside. It's nearly 9:00 and I'm tired. We can worry about the Soul Dew tommorow." She turned and walked back towards the house, followed by Lorenzo and Ash. Latias waved goodbye and ran happily back to her tree. Unbeknownst to her, a strange figure stood in a tree behind her.

"Ash, a human. Latias, a Pok'emon. This I cannot allow."

End Chapter 1