This story has been written by Nethowin and me, and we both hope you enjoy your read. That's all.
The fresh ocean breeze was calmly passing through the city of Alto Mare and the cloudless sky above held the warm sun which gave life energy in everything it touched. The whole island was bursting with life by both people and Pokémon alike. People, from local occupants to tourists, happily went about by boat through the many canals or simply walked to and from the various homes, shops and attractions Alto Mare had to offer. Children played carefree with friends and family while their parents watched, enjoying the creative spirit of the youth. Pokémon, both small and large, peacefully rested under and above the refreshing water.
However, most do not know of the recent events that occurred during the night while they slept. To them, it was just one more undisturbed, relaxing sleep. But to a few select ones, it was a horrific, sorrowful, sleepless night. Even with everyday life returned to normal, memories of that night will always be with them; for better or for worse.
That afternoon, two people exited the large, elegant structure that was the city's museum and headed to the start of their route home. Both the man and his granddaughter wore their usual everyday clothes, but it was the granddaughter who carried her art supplies from an earlier drawing session. They walked at a leisurely pace but they both had the same concern of a certain Pokémon in their lives. It was, after all, only a day since it happened. Only a day since they've lost him.
"Grandpa," the girl started, eyes glued to the rocky pathway and concern in her voice. "I'm worried about Latias. Do you...think...she'll be alright?"
The man, whose name was Lorenzo, eyed his granddaughter sympathetically. "It's hard to say Bianca. When I was young, her mother went through the same situation."
She looked up at him, trying to recall what he once told her about Latias' mother. "What did she do?"
His expression saddened, "She simply disappeared one day while I was at school."
That was not what young Bianca wanted to hear. Her heart turned to mush for fear that the latias she knew would decide to do the same as her mother. Bianca knew Latias and Latios since she was born. The fact that Latios sacrificed himself already tore her heart in two. If Latias were to disappear, her adopted sister, she wouldn't be able to live with herself.
Lorenzo realized that his response was too harsh for his granddaughter's emotional state and quickly tried saying something more optimistic. "You, me, and Latias are family; she knows it too. It's not in Latias' heart to let us go."
Her head fell upon the bridge they now walked across, thinking if Latias would consider such an sudden departure. "I hope so," she sadly said.
Once the two made it across the bridge, Lorenzo stopped suddenly followed by Bianca. "Why don't you go check on her. See if she's ok." He glanced momentarily down a street to their left. "I have to go meet Berry at his shop for a few hours but I'll be home before dark."
He did mention that yesterday to her, but even then, Bianca felt like she needed to be close to her family at all times. "Oh, ok." Before leaving, Lorenzo pulled his granddaughter into a tight hug and turned to head down the street slowly. With her grandfather's story stuck in her head, Bianca rushed down the route that lead her home, going as fast as she could without dropping her art supplies.
It didn't take her long to reach the front door of her house she lived in with her grandfather. It was a fairly large two story house that held Lorenzo's work shack on one side where the canal passed through, and fencing along with large trees that occupied the opposite side. Wasting no time, Bianca quickly unlocked and entered through the door, dropped her painting supplies near the closet, and rushed to the back of the building where the backyard led to the secret garden's main level tunnel entrance. Once on the other side, the garden was still as beautiful as she always knew it to be. But it wasn't the garden itself that made her feel at home, it was Latios and Latias. Almost every time she entered the garden, the two were always in sight because they knew when she was nearby, even before stepping out of her house.
But this time...it was empty. Beautiful, with all the vegetation naturally grown top to bottom, undisturbed water filled the ponds, and sunlight peeking through the trees...but empty. Latias was nowhere to be seen which made Bianca afraid that she was alone from that moment on.
"Latias!" she yelled. No response. "Latias! Where are you!" Still nothing. Without knowing it, a couple tears escaped her eyes as she ran to the tree swing the eon Pokémon always loved in the middle of the garden but again, no Latias. No, she thought, afraid of losing her too after all they've been through in life. Was it all going to end? Did she really leave...
Bianca collapsed onto the soft grass next to the swing sobbing, continuing to search around in hope the eon Pokémon was just hiding or out exploring Alto Mare like she did before. Yes, that's where she was, just out for a stroll. It's what young Bianca wanted to believe.
Up in the trees however, in the corner of the secret garden, was Latias, curled up in the thickest tree she could find so nobody could find her; not even Bianca or Lorenzo. It wasn't them she wanted to see, it was Latios; her brother she had grown up with for as long as she could remember. He was gone so suddenly, so abruptly that she barely had the time to say goodbye. In one moment he was helping her do the right thing by stopping that title wave, and in the next he was gone, vanished out of her life forever. Latias didn't realize that it took more than the two of them to completely calm the waters safely because Latios was using more energy than he could handle the entire time. It wasn't until it was too late before she knew what Latios decided in the final moments.
Within the next few minutes, Latias' ears twitched when she heard padding of Bianca's footsteps speeding away from her original place, now realizing that her sobbing nearly ended. Latias was not disturbed though. Bianca nor her grandpa would never understand how she felt. Never would they understand how hard it was to believe she lost the only other one of her kind. How hard it was to be the last remaining Pokémon of her species.
Latias uncurled herself and gently lowered herself out of the trees, not caring if the branches scratched her sleek feathers. Then with claws tucked in, she slowly flew over to the main fountain where the soul dew was properly placed. Her flying was extremely sloppy and slow along the way, dropping height in some instances before recovering. Strength was something she barely had. The last meal the eon Pokémon ate was yesterday, right before Latios and herself fell asleep. And it was the night before that that she got a full night's sleep. To her though, it didn't matter or she didn't care. Memories of Latios flooded her mind like that wave from the night before.
After nearly dropping to the stone ground in exhaustion, Latias finally made it to the steps before she allowed gravity to take over her body and her emotions. Her body was laid angled on the few steps upwards to the mysterious treasure in the fountain, including her wings. It was then she released all the tears she held back with eyes closed shut before struggling up the stairs without the use of psychic until her head reached the edge of the water, where the beautiful ocean blue sphere was. The tears that ran down her white feathers fell into the peaceful pool, making small ripples upon every single drop.
Latias took one arm and placed it just above the water's surface until only a single claw lightly dipped under, disturbing the water's smooth surface only the slightest. The water showed her reflection, from the pure red and white feathers on her head to her beautifully autumn coloured, sad eyes.
Latios was the only one she wanted to see. She missed him so much. Why did he have to sacrifice himself to calm the waters? Latias felt like she was sure that both of them would return to Alto Mare safely. Apparently, she was wrong. Was she making all the wrong decisions when he was around? Remembering back, Latias realized she caused him some frustration at times, which led into nasty situations where Latios would end up fixing before scolding her on her stupidity.
Now, regret washed over the depressed latias. Regret, for everything she's done to make Latios unhappy in the past. She wanted to say sorry for everything she's done wrong to upset him. She wanted to be by his side again, to say how much she cared. She wanted to give the world to have him back so they may continuing playing, learning, exploring like they always did and have fun.
But she can't. Latios is gone. Forever.
The garden was empty and lonely, just like her heart. The claws she held above the water, she let go freely into the pool until her whole arm was submerged, hanging beside the fountain barrier while tears constantly flowed from her eyes. It wasn't fair; life was not fair.
"Latias!"
Very weakly, Latias moved her head sideways so it rested on the edge of the fountain, enough to see two figures running through the main tunnel with one half opened eye. Lorenzo and Bianca. Bianca reached Latias first, kneeling down beside the red and white Pokémon for a tight embrace. Latias merely let out a quiet coo in response which clearly held sadness within the sound. "I thought I lost you..." she murmured, extremely relieved.
This came to a surprise to Latias. Why would Bianca think such a thought? It was Latios who was now vanished, not her.
A couple moments later, Lorenzo caught up out of breath, old age betraying his physical ability that he once knew. "...That's...quite the relief," he said between breaths, glad that what Bianca told him wasn't true.
Bianca released her arms and eyed the depressed Pokémon with a saddened expression. "Don't ever leave us, ok Latias?"
Why would I leave? Latias thought. The garden was her home after all. But at the mention of leaving, her gaze fell to the soul dew at the bottom of the fountain, placed perfectly on its underwater platform while it glowed an ocean blue colour beautifully with many patterns, like the sphere itself was alive.
Immediately, Bianca noticed Latias eyeing the soul dew before she started softly petting the top of her neck for support and comfort. She remained silent though. All three of them had the same Pokémon in mind and in their hearts. Latios. The sad, soft cooing Latias was making was clarification.
Minutes quickly passed by before Lorenzo walked up to the two. They both heard him but it was Latias who didn't bother turning to see him eye to eye. No, her gaze remained fixed on the soul dew that gave life to the fountains by allowing water to flow freely along them. "Latias," Lorenzo softly spoke, kneeling down beside the female eon dragon. "I know that mine, nor Bianca's sadness, can be compared to yours, but know that we too are heartbroken by Latios' departure. You should also know that where ever he is, no matter how far away from us, he will always watch over us and Alto Mare."
Lorenzo placed a hand on Latias' back for comfort while his words settled into her mind. It was both herself and Latios that was supposed to guard Alto Mare, not one. Was it true though? Is Latios really inside the soul dew now? She focused her teary eyes again on the blue, hollow-like gem, wondering if that was the reason why it looked alive. A barely audible whine was all that Latias made to express how she felt.
Bianca and Lorenzo exchanged worrisome glances before Bianca spoke up. "Let's go back to the house Latias, you must be hungry."
Food, just like with everything else, did not register in her mind. Poor Latias' thoughts were all lost in a blur. From past experience though, she believed Bianca always knew what was best for her. So with the encouragement and help from both of her friends, Latias weakly levitated off the stairs and turned to the opposite direction which led to the house. To avoid unbalance, she placed each wing on a shoulder, one on Lorenzo's and the other on Bianca's before they began leading her away from the fountain and into the shade of the tunnel.
((((()))))
Deep down in the dark, mysterious ocean, suspended shortly above the ocean floor, a powerful Pokémon existed. In a deep slumber, it rode through the never ending, rough currents peacefully; a place known as home. For years the Pokémon lived a comfortably, secluded life away from the vast people and Pokémon that occupied all types of elemental environments. This Pokémon felt the ocean like its very own body. Holding knowledge of every current's direction and strength, portions that many other Pokémon lived on, and sensing every major oceanic change.
Such as now.
Like with a rapid change in current, the mighty Pokémon opened its eyes that seemed to glow a beautiful shade of light blue amongst the surrounding blackness. It could feel it; a disturbance. The Pokémon listened and felt the ocean like the grand waters itself was a deity, telling it of the outside world above. The water current slowed, almost to a stop and silence followed.
The ocean was crying. Crying for life.
With psychic abilities, the Pokémon knowingly located the approximate area where the most drastic change in currents was before extending its long wings fully, its gaze fixed above. And with a loud cry, the Pokémon raised its wings above its body and delivered a massive stroke that easily accelerated it upwards with such speed to surpass even the fastest current. The start of a long travel to the surface.