Note: I'm sorry for the update spam, I'm trying to correct all errors as I find them, and my net connection seems to be acting weird. I cannot replace chapters, like I always do, instead, I can only remove and then reupload chapters. Sorry for the inconvenience. It happened last time too,m but that never persisted for this long, sorry.
Author Notes:
I don't want to say goodbye.
Please listen to this song. Its from PMD2, and it is so sad that it makes me cry every single time.
Sorry for the long wait, I've had a case of writer's block, which ironically is the main reason I wrote this for. I had writer's block for my Chinese story, and I wrote this to get that away. Well, at least I got this chapter done. Thanks for the overwhelming support, guys!
The story won't be completed in this chapter, instead, it'll have more chapters. I think that one or two can be expected.
Enjoy the story, and thank you for reading.
Disclaimer: Pokemon is not mine, it is the property of Nintendo and Game Freak.
In the distance, the unmistakable outline of Alto Mare grew larger. The white boat which caressed the waters slowed its pace, allowing its passenger to relish the beauty. The Pikachu came out first, climbing onto the bars which kept the overly curious excursionists from falling over. His trainer came next, and rested his arms over the railing, letting his body's weight have a moment's respite.
The boat was now cruising at a laid-back speed, slowly slicing the waves. Ash and Pikachu savored the diluted taste of saltwater in the wind. The waves caused the boat to rock, to the left, then to the right. It was perfectly suited for a tense soul. The seemingly infinite hourglass never lost its balance, as the sands flew towards the bottom, more were added.
Whiling away time, Ash started to reminiscent the time where he once stepped onto the granite floors of Alto Mare. The slow sound of waves lapping in the distant ocean, and the chaos that seemed to follow him wherever he went.
Amazingly, he managed to get out of that dilemma unscathed. Well, luck was his main characteristic. How many times has the good fortune helped him? That was a number most would cringe at, seeing as how providence not only won him battles, but also saved his life on a number of occasions.
The Alto Mare incident still retained its high position in his memories. This was partially because the disaster would, if not averted, destroyed the entire island. And then there was also the artsy feel of Alto Mare itself. The city almost seemed to be crafted out from a painting, decidedly built as the artist thought. Even Ash could feel the love that went into the creation of the buildings and walkways, which was worth noting due to his 'tastelessness', as his friends liked to put it.
And there was one more thing that cemented Alto Mare as his most favored place.
The kiss.
Was it Bianca, or was it Latias? That was the question that troubled him for all these years. It may have seemed difficult to answer, but the truth was that Ash always knew the answer. He never confirmed his suspicions, but somehow, he knew it. Deep down in his heart, he just knew it.
It was Latias, he was sure of it.
Just somehow.
Latias stood at the docks in her human guise, drawing the ships that came and went. She was always there, perhaps this would be her new haunt. That would probably be comforting to those who were used to seeing her at the waterways. Her patience never failed to amaze her. She'd been standing at the same spot throughout the day, repeating the same actions which formed the backbone, and then the form of her drawing.
It almost seemed like an eternity. Bianca went, Lorenzo was busy, it almost seemed as if they were avoiding her. Who could blame them? It wasn't that hard to know that it was her own fault. Her playful self was long gone, overshadowed by the Latias who wanted nothing more than solitude. She never thought herself capable of such peace, considering her old self's blithe and lighthearted approach to life.
Sometimes, she longed for a tumult in the wind. At least she would have someone to share her sorrows with. Sadly, such a wish was never granted. Those who did pass the secluded area did not make a motion to acknowledge her presence, and those who did were always given the cold shoulder.
She was rather conflicted, and who could say otherwise. She needed nothing more than a friend to share her thoughts with, but apparently, that was too much to wish for. She only wanted Bianca to notice her change in attitude, possibly even continuing the long conversation they had. Was that really that hard a wish to grant?
Yes, it seems that it was.
She didn't shed tears upon the departure or her childhood friend; she was too tough on the surface to show any weaknesses which would cause Bianca to stay. She had her own dreams, and staying would only compromise her chances of fame and glory. Latias wasn't going to force Bianca to stay, whether by free will or under pressure.
Latias saw the ships as they were, but she also drew out details which she herself didn't notice when she first observed her source of inspiration. Most people would only notice the ship's designation, but she saw the man with the yellow T-shirt talking with his son. Most people would only see the flag wavering in the wind, yet she saw the surreptitious Pidgey on the tip of the pole. It was these details which gave life to the dreary waters and ruins. It was never stunning to look at, but it was compelling to look at. She found her interest in the unimportant details somewhat strange at first, but she eventually understood her interest. She was searching, after all this time, the urge never left her.
She searched the incoming ships for the sight of the boy who once saved her life. Any sight of yellow was a chance, she knew that Ash would never abandon Pikachu, especially considering how much they've been through. Every sighting of a red and white cap brought a ray of hope into her heart, as that had the slightest possibility of being the teen who dreamed of being the best.
She loathed the feeling of helplessness that came with the longing. Even a simple glance of her loved one would be enough to swathe the ache. She knew that she would be able to find Ash by leaving the island, but that wasn't allowed. The oath she and her brother were swore to when they were still little still rang clear in her ear.
We shall protect Alto Mare. No matter what stands between us and the safety of the island, we will defend it, together.
Together.
First teardrop fell. Then the second came. The droplets soon turned into a stream, and they came quickly.
Together.
It was all I that final word, it was the base from which they built the sturdy pillars of kinship. It wasn't easy to see her brother go. Thinking back, perhaps her brother broke the oath. They were supposed to protect Alto Mare together, so what happened to 'together'? Latios sacrificed himself to let Latias have a chance at life, but was she really happy this way? She sometimes thinks that she would rather have left with her brother that day. At least she wouldn't be this consumed in sorrow, vulnerable to any slight attacks in emotionality.
Subjugation was fine, but not necessarily acceptable.
Latias was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't notice the small ship slowly cruising into the docks, the very same one which her beloved was currently on.
Ash held on tight to the bars as the ship came to a stop. The shudder he felt as the ship hit the walkways never felt good, and he wasn't in a rush to feel another one. As he stepped on the plank which connected the boat and the docks, he heard a voice shouting at him. He looked back, careful to not fall off the thin plank. It was Mr Briney, his ship pilot.
My Briney looked back, and started to speak. "We're here, now have as much fun as you like. I'll be headed back to Hoenn for a while, call me once you're ready to go." Ash nodded, then continued to the docks, once he stepped on solid ground, he turned back.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay here?" Mr. Briney wasn't exactly one to give up on a sightseeing chance.
"Nah, you have fun. I'll just go back to Hoenn and meet my friends for a while."
"Won't you be lonely?"
"Never mind, I have Peeko." Just as he said the name, a Wingull came flying down from the top of the flagpole. Of course, Ash thought, the Wingull was Mr. Briney's lifelong companion.
"All right, have a safe trip."
"Sure thing. Have fun." The old man started off for the wheel, and the sound of engines momentarily deafened Ash and Pikachu. They covered their ears with one hand, and tried their best to combat their natural reactions and wave.
As the ship went off in the distance, Ash started to think of the attractions in Alto Mare. There was the museum, but he didn't manage to recall of another draw for tourists.
As he struggled to recall another place which would whir away time, he heard a familiar sound of his tummy rumbling. Pikachu's ears peaked up at the sound, and he looked at his trainer with a look that said 'again already?'
"Ah, I guess it's time for lunch," he said with an edge of embarrassment. "Let's find a restaurant to eat in, shall we?" He then began to walk off into the many alleys, in search of a place in which he could drain the feelings of hunger.
Pikachu quickly raced forward, not wanting to lose sight of his trainer and friend. From his previous experience of Alto Mare, the alleys were dark and crisscrossed in ways which could confused those not familiar with the layout. Their last attempt was being chased by the thieves who stole the Soul Dew, and that time the distortion helped them. They won the chase simply because Latias, who was with them at the time, knew the island's geography like the back of her hand.
They soon found themselves at a restaurant located at the crossroads of the city. They took a seat, and made their orders. They started to think of the days where they first came to Alto Mare. Ash in particular felt a tug at the heartstrings. He remembered to final hour, the one where he was kissed.
Latias began to pack up, but before that, she still had one more thing to do. A check of her work was still in order. She unrolled the canvas of the day, and looked at her work. She was always impressed by how vividly she recreated each and every detail of the areas which she looked at every day. Today's oceans were more peaceful, rarely did a wave so strong come forth. The walkways remained dry, and the seawater never exceeded the limits which were set by nature itself.
She looked at the ships, and was impressed by how much detail she managed to cram into such a small canvas. Even those as insignificant as the floating waste were recreated perfectly. There was a Wailmer in the distant waters, and there were Pidgey circling the tip of one boat. And there was also a boat with a Wingull, a rare sight these days. Considering Alto Mare's close proximity to Hoenn, it wasn't that hard to see a stray Wingull flying apart from its flock.
What made this sight rare was that the Wingull belonged to someone. It was circling the small boat which was slowly caressing the ocean. The boat was tiny when you compared it to the other cruise ships which carried tourists and trainers. They were actually here for the forthcoming tournament; either they would be the contestants, or the viewers.
There were many outsiders these days. It was soon to be another annual Tour de Alto Mare. That meant that traffic was tight these days. She tried her best to avoid crossing paths with those who roamed the streets, unsure of their destination. Meeting outsides really wasn't good for her. Her habit of probing their every movement was really not the best of greetings.
She scrutinized her drawing, looking for the slight imperfections which could be saved with a quick stroke of the brush. She noticed a few blotches and quickly dampened her paintbrush. A quick swipe blurred the mistake, the paint melting into haziness. When she finished, one would never notice the original blemish.
She found another spot which was uncovered with paint, and began to restore it. This particular one was located at the bottom of a small boat's whim. As she used the wet brush to reinstate the beauty, she found herself looking at the person standing on the boat's railing. She could see the small yellow smear on the shoulder of that very person. It was the unmistakable shadow of her once loved.
Ash.
How could she have missed this at the first time? It was so obvious when she looked at it now. The only excuse was that she was too engrossed in the creation of the masterpiece that she never let her conscience wander. She now regretted her absolute density at the docks; it may have cost her a chance of reunion.
She could feel the tears welling up. She quickly made for a retreat, packing up and beginning for the canals. Once she escaped the eyesight of the many startled tourists, she began to run. She passed many familiar faces, to her at least. They never seemed to notice her, yet Latias understood that tears were an attention grabber. No matter the acquaintance, it was a guaranteed eye catcher. The last thing she needed now was to be reminded.
As she ran, her eyes drifted to a poster on the wall. She suddenly stopped in her tracks, ending the scuttle. She stood at the front of the poster, and a sudden light shone through the cloudy skies in her heart.
No, it still wasn't the end.
There was still a chance.
Ash and Pikachu left the eatery with satisfied looks on their faces. They were filled, and they were now slowly walking through the disorienting roads. Normally they would be afraid of the endlessly crisscrossing roads, but this time, they weren't in any hurry. Without the stress of urgency, there really is no need for rushing. It made the entire situation that much more enjoyable, exploring the many turns in the city was rather relaxing.
Swift recoveries from perplexity were easy to come by. The locals were frequent in the alleys, and they were happy to help out a traveler. This considerably made everything easier, and that obviously came with the price of minutes of lost time.
As Ash was asking a fisherman for directions, Pikachu got sight of a small poster on the wall. It was advertising the upcoming Tour de Alto Mare. The water chariot race was always a major attraction.
"Thanks," Ash was coming to pick up Pikachu. That was the perfect opportunity to get Ash's attention. Pikachu hopped on to Ash's shoulder, and began to point at the placard.
Ash's attention was now directed onto the announcement. It was an announcement about the water chariot race which Ash once entered years ago. It was a loss that time, but somehow, he had a feeling that this year would be different. He now wanted nothing more than to enter the race.
"Excuse me, sir." He was now moving back to the fisherman's side. "Do you know where the registrations are?"
"Sure, just go forward from here, and then take a right turn at the second alleyway." The old man was barely finished speaking when he saw the young man running off in the way he was pointing to.
"Thanks!"
The man could barely hold back the chuckles. "Sure thing! Be careful. Remember, it's the second turn!"
"Thanks again!" The fisherman was then laughing out loud as Ash went sprinting into the first turn, rather than the second.
Ah well, he'll probably find his own way out.
…
Latias was now roving in her true form, and she was invisible to human eyes. She was now at the registration stand, hoping to see Ash. She actually began to think that her painting was actually just her mind drifting off.
Her patience, however, was rewarded when she saw the familiar silhouette coming out from the alleyways. It was Ash. After all these years, she actually got to glimpse her beloved again.
Ash was noticeably fatigued; he seemed to have been running for many, many hours.
As Ash signed up for the year's annual Tour de Alto Mare, her heart did a backflip. It almost seemed too good to be true. How could her premonitions be perfect? It was almost like a dream, one she hoped to never awaken from.
Ash finished the paperwork which was necessary for partaking in the tourney. As he began to walk back into the alleys, Latias knew that this was the perfect time to reveal herself. It was now or never.
Or was it.
She abruptly backed down, and cursed herself for her bashful thinking. It was not as easy as walking up to Ash, then grabbing his hand and running off into the setting sun. It was never that simple.
Ash left Alto Mare for years, it almost seemed like an eternity here. Why would he even remember her? It wasn't as if he stayed at Pallet Town, his home, which was not really a packed area. He travelled the entire world, defeating Gym Leaders and Champions alike. He was definitely not the same boy she fell in love with those years back.
Ash probably met many new companions, and those probably included friends.
Many, many friends.
Friends which would take her place in his heart. That was assuming there even was a place she belonged to in the first place.
She was so conflicted, they were friends once. Why shouldn't friends get together, a simple reunion? It obviously wasn't hard. So why didn't she go forth?
There was the matter of the kiss to consider.
The kiss.
Friendship changed when you show the other one affection. It would never be the same again. Imagine having to talk to the one you awkwardly kissed as a goodbye years ago. It wasn't the same as talking to a friend.
She made her decision to stay away from Ash. At least until he went back, she would have to keep her thoughts locked away. It was now harder to keep those feelings canned up, especially when they were in such close proximity. She longed for the chance to meet him, and she got it, partially.
Ash was now out of sight, and Latias made for her home. She would have to practice a certain amount of patience to get herself out of the hole she dug for herself.
Hopefully.
Ash entered the hotel which he and Pikachu rented for the week. They decided to stay until and after the entire ordeal with the race was over. It would take place on the day after the full moon, which was the day after tomorrow. They decided to have a very rudimentary trip around the island. Starting from tomorrow, they would be walking to the many attractions from the islands.
Pikachu was now fast asleep, Ash wanted so much to be with his partner in dream land, yet that wasn't to be.
Ash was now thinking about the final chapter of his last journey in Alto Mare. The wave, the death of Latios, all of those things didn't really matter that much to him. He had more than enough time to think about those things during the journey. He did think about the final moments on the docks, but he never really focused on the entire thing. Partially it was because he never considered the fact that the kiss came from a true heart.
Back then, he assumed that the kiss was a thank you after the ordeal with the thieves, but as he grew, and thought back to the events, he actually understood that the kiss was more than just that. It haunted him throughout his entire journey throughout the world. He learnt to push back the memories, suppressing the distractions they brought along. He actually thought that his immunity would actually hold, but he underestimated the strength of distance. As soon as he got to the docks, he felt a tug at his stomach. It seemed to force him to find Latias as soon as possible.
Yet he fought back, knowing that a reunion could make matters worse. What would he say? Hi, long time no see? None of those things would make things better. The worse thing was that he himself had a few skeletons in his closet. He actually liked Latias, in a way which made him think that Latias was more than a friend.
What caused this? He's been friends with girls his age all his life. Misty, Dawn, May, even Iris. Yet all of them never actually got a place in his heart's deepest reaches. They were friends, and that was all they would be. The romantic in him never actually had time to voice its thoughts. Considering the training and help he had to do, he never really had time to think.
When he started to travel alone, he actually had time to let his thoughts take control. Instead of doing brash maneuvers, he would rather make a good analysis of the situation. This may have been what took him to the top tier of trainers and beyond.
He also began to think of things that happened in the past. The many adventures he had would make those who longed to glimpse a Legendary Pokémon envious. He couldn't count on one hand the times he saved the world, and he was proud to have been successful every time. At times, he actually thought about the events which built up to the climax of a story. The Lugia event was one that he held in high regard. It wasn't necessarily because of the recognition he got from Lugia that day, it was also because of the kiss from Melody, the very same girl who chose him as the chosen one that day. Perhaps the same reason applied to the fact that he got a kiss after Alto Mare too. Maybe, maybe.
He now found himself even less tired than before. He got up from the bed, and walked to the window. He was careful not to wake Pikachu, as the last thing he needed was for Pikachu to question him.
As he moved to the window, he was surprised to see lights blaring in the distance. They weren't moving urgently, so this wasn't an emergency. He found his legs taking him to the origin of the lights.
The walk was uneventful, and apart from the occasional boat, there was no one. As he reached the centre point of attention, he found himself looking at workers decorating the grounds for the race. What intrigued him the most wasn't the decoration efforts themselves, but rather, it was the man who led the many volunteers. It was Lorenzo, the museum's curator. He couldn't resist the urge to move forth and greet the old man.
He definitely saw time take its toll on the man whom once looked at old age in the eye and laughed. Lorenzo now had a hunch when he stood. And the man was noticeably more worn out than any one of the others at the site.
"Lorenzo!" Ash called out. He hoped that the man would recognize him, especially since the years actually changed him from the young boy to the grown man he is now.
Lorenzo turned back, hearing the call. As he looked into the face of the incoming teenager, he didn't at first recognize the young fellow. As he came closer however, he clearly saw who it was.
"Ash! You've grown a lot since you last came! Nice to see you!" Lorenzo could barely hold in the feelings of happiness that he felt. This was the very same boy which helped save Alto Mare those years ago.
"Nice to see you too, Lorenzo." Ash was also very glad to meet an old friend. Solitude was never really good, even though he's gotten used to it as the years went by. "I see you're in charge here, good thing they have someone they can count on." Ash knew that Lorenzo was one of the most responsible people in the world. He still remembered the way he over-reacted when he touched the Defense Mechanism of Alto Mare absent mindedly in his last visit. The race would go on smoothly this year, that's for sure.
Lorenzo smiled at the comment. "Yes, and I'm really very appreciative of the chance they've given me." Lorenzo shouted at a few men who were walking off in the wrong distance. He then turned back to Ash, and offered to take him for supper. Not wanting the chance to let itself go, Ash agreed.
They were at a café which was open throughout the day, and they were deep in conversation. Ash told Lorenzo all about his journey to become a master. Lorenzo on the other hand, told Ash about his ailment and the many efforts that went into the museum's restoration.
They both were talking like they've known each other throughout their lives, and that was attributed to the fact that they did know each other at some part of their lives. Ash was sorry that Lorenzo had a sickness which wouldn't go away, but Lorenzo said that it really was the condition itself which gave him the chance to be in charge for once. He's been trying for years to get a position in the race's preparations, and now, he finally got the opportunity to do so.
Lorenzo was extremely glad that Ash managed to get to his dreams. He was slightly jealous, but who wouldn't be. Those who attempted to get to their aspirations were never quite successful, but Ash managed to pull it off. Lorenzo never really had a dream, like most of the boys on Alto Mare, all he ever wanted was to find a life, then settle down. Thank goodness Bianca had dreams of her own; otherwise she would be stuck on this secluded island for the rest of her life.
Ash and Lorenzo both steered clear of speaking about Latias, and Latios as well. That day, Lorenzo lost a friend as well. It was never good to bring up something sad to a cheerful conversation. Ash knew better than to force the chat to that side, but Lorenzo was keen to talk about Latias.
"You know, Latias has never been the same."
This caught Ash off guard, especially since he wasn't ready to face Latias. He knew that the die was cast, and that he would have to face up to his fears one way or another. He answered carefully. "That's normal, considering she lost her brother."
Lorenzo didn't seem convinced, and who could blame him, Ash was acting terribly. "She isn't sad about that. I mean, she does cry from time to time, but she isn't the same playful Latias that we both know." Lorenzo took a sip from his cup, a well timed play which both gave Ash time to think and to pass the baton to Ash.
"So, what do you mean?" Ash himself was starting to doubt his instincts, which he trusted throughout his journey. "I would feel bad if I lost my friends and family too."
Lorenzo was now shaking his head. "You know, me and Bianca both knew what happened after you were leaving that day."
He knew about the kiss?
"Um, what do you mean?" Ash played dumb, knowing that anything he said wouldn't be able to change what Lorenzo had to say.
"The kiss, Ash, I'm not daft." Lorenzo now moved closer to Ash's side, probably to talk about the revered legendary in the area. "Latias was never the same, even after two years. She doesn't cry as much, and she doesn't leave the table when we talk about Latios, but each time we bring up you, she leaves in a hurry."
Ash now felt the tug in his stomach again. This confirmed his thoughts, every single strand of them. It was Latias who kissed him that day. He knew it all along, yet letting someone else confirm the suspicion still surprised him.
"You know, we always knew that Latias liked you. It was really quite obvious." Lorenzo left a pause in his words, probably to let Ash take in the sudden revelations. "We were actually wrong, she didn't like you." Someone was running outside the café, it was one of the volunteers. He was probably here to get Lorenzo, Lorenzo told him that he would be there soon, and then turned to Ash.
"You know, she loved you." Then he left, without a goodbye. Ash was left alone, with his cup of hot chocolate cooling away in front of him.
Latias dreamed of Latios that night, and when she awoke, she saw tears on the grass patch in front of her. She never liked to do this, but things weren't in her control. There was a limit to everything, and her control of reality was one of those.
She couldn't have foreseen the implications of Ash's arrival, and her decision not to interact with him. She now found herself thinking about him for the duration of the entire day. It was very hard, and she knew that she wouldn't be able to hold back the feelings for long.
The race was coming up soon, and Latias hoped that Ash would leave after the race. Perhaps once he left, things would go back to normal.
Honestly, she didn't believe that. Not one word of it.
She made her rounds, making sure that Alto Mare would be safe. As usual, there was nothing suspicious going on. She saw that the decorations were already finished. She applauded Lorenzo's efficiency. The decorations mostly took two days, yet for the first time in years, it took less than that. This meant that the volunteers got a free day to spend with either family or friends.
Family and friends.
Family.
Latias didn't want to face Lorenzo, yet she knew that the lonesomeness was killing her slowly inside. The same thing was happening to Lorenzo, though perhaps more literally. That was all the convincing she needed. She flew straight to Lorenzo's home, hoping that he wouldn't already be at the museum.
She never appeared at the docks that day, nor did she appear at the bridge. She was with Lorenzo, and she never left his side. Yet that wasn't because of their ties, instead, it was because Lorenzo told her about his meeting with Ash.
Latias knew that Lorenzo meant to heal the wounds, but that didn't happen. Instead, he may have just dug them deeper. Latias held back the tears, knowing that a breakdown was the last thing she needed now.
She had to meet Ash as soon as possible. And tomorrow would be her last and only chance.
Note: Mr Briney was in the anime, a very short appearance, but still, I wanted to keep using anime characters rather than original ones.
And that's it for this chapter. No reunion yet, but that comes soon. I'm sorry for the long wait, and I won't let that happen again. This isn't the end, and I'll update again before December. That's a promise.
As usual, please read and review. The comments are what keep me going, and thanks to those who read through the story.
Xuan Ying.