Author's Note: Greetings, Readers!

Thank you all for your interests and support for my new enterprise. As we enter the third chapter of Altoshipping! Part 2, I would like the audience to express their opinions on the story so far and what they would like to see in the future. For example, would you want to see more actions, battles and skill improvements from Ash and Latias or would you rather see more advances in their romance? Should there be side romances involving other characters or would you like to see more linear developments? Should there be more characters or less? Finally, should my chapters be longer or shorter? Of course, these are just a few examples of which one can provide their feedbacks. Feel free to provide your valuable opinions via your reviews.

Also feel free to leave your reviews in other languages if English is not your primary language. With that said, on to Chapter 3 we go!

The Guardian Returns

As Ash and Latias were facing difficulties in their training with Lando, Bianca was having problems of her own back at the Pokémon Center. Ever since Ash and his friend had departed to meet with Lando, Bianca had been sitting by herself in her room trying to figure out the sudden and unusual change to the Soul Dew. As she stared at the Soul Dew placed at the window sill, admiring the contrast of the gloominess of the Soul Dew against the pure light of the sun shining through the open window, she heaved a sigh of exhaustion. Due to the sensitive nature of Soul Dew, Bianca could not ask around the Pokémon Center to see if other trainers had seen the Soul Dew on the previous night, therefore she could not figure the nature behind the Soul Dew's disappearance. At this point Bianca was convinced that the disappearance was indeed related to the change in the Soul Dew.

"I guess I will just think on the issue while I paint," said Bianca to herself, "I always concentrate better when I am painting."

Setting up the easel and preparing all her necessary tools, Bianca sat down in front of the blank canvas and thought about the subject for her painting. Since she is trying to figure out the mystery of Soul Dew, Bianca decided to paint a portrait of her old friend while he was still alive. With a nod, she mixed the colors on her palette and began working. The paint, guided by Bianca's hand, flowed across the blank canvas without hesitation or doubt as it began to take the shape of the Azure Guardian. Having done similar portraits since she was a child, Bianca had no problem transferring the image in her mind to the canvas. She was able to recall every vivid detail of Latios as if he was standing in front of her: His feathers so smooth that they shone, his body, powerful and muscular, stood out in stark contrast against the soft line of Altomare horizon; his face was noble and wise as he looked off into the sunset, his eyes… his deep brown eyes were soft and caring when Latios turned around to look at her…

Without warning, Bianca felt a sudden rush of heat crept up her cheeks.

"Gah! What am I doing?!" she yelled to the empty room.

Dropping her brush and palette in a clatter, Bianca snatched the canvas off its easel and grabbed hold of an edge as to destroy the painting, but after a moment of hesitation, she replaced the canvas with tears streaming down her eyes.

"I am sorry… I am so sorry…" sobbed Bianca, "It's just… it's just I miss you so much, Latios…"

Wiping her tears away with a sniff, Bianca studied the result of her labor. The image of Latios was striking per her intension, but there was more. The Latios on the canvas looked so alive and real that Bianca half expected it to fly off the easel and out the window in a great rush of wind. As Bianca rubbed her right thumb fondly over Latios' face, voices of her childhood echoed to her from the distant past.

"Listen well now, Bianca," said the memory of Lorenzo gruffly, "the Soul Dew is not only an important treasure to Altomare, but it is also contains the soul of the Latios who brought his children to us. This, of course, you know about, don't you?"

"Yes, Grandpa," replied the young Bianca brightly, "You've told me the story a million times!" At her feet, the hatchlings of the Eon twins mewed at her for attention.

"Then let me tell you another secret about the Soul Dew," said Lorenzo, "And this one is the most important of them all."

"Oh, what is it?" clapped the young Bianca excitedly, "Tell me! Tell me!"

So Lorenzo told his granddaughter about the presence within the Soul Dew and how a person with pure mind and soul could establish a direct contact with the Latios inside the Soul Dew, and if deemed worthy, harness its awesome power. He also warned Bianca about the dangers of attempting such communication, as one single mistake or one single impure thought could send the soul of Latios into frenzy, thus causing great devastation to Altomare. Lorenzo made his granddaughter promise him that she will not attempt to communicate with the Soul Dew on her own without his explicit permission; a promise which she did not keep. Bianca recalled with great regret the day she snuck into the Secret Garden and tried to establish a direct contact with the Soul Dew. Due to her inexperience at the time, the presence within the Soul Dew panicked and its power went on a rampage, causing massive floods in the canals. Luckily, Lorenzo was able to intervene soon enough to calm the soul within the Soul Dew, but enough damage had been done. From that day on, Bianca swore she would not attempt such foolish act ever again.

Bringing her thoughts back to the present, Bianca found her oath being challenged as she once again studied the gloomy Soul Dew. Knowing the horror that might unleash should she fail, Bianca was very reluctant on what she was about to attempt; especially when there was no Lorenzo to come to her rescue this time. But seeing no other choice, Bianca steeled herself and placed both her hands on the Soul Dew and closed her eyes.

"Latios, please hear my voice as I plead to you in times of urgency and peril," prayed Bianca, reciting the ancient ceremonial phrase like Lorenzo had taught her.

Almost immediately, Bianca felt her consciousness pulled into the murky depth of the Soul Dew, resulting in an uncomfortable chill which coursed through her whole body.

"It's dark… so… dark" echoed an anguished voice inside Bianca's mind, "Where am I? Why is it… so dark?"

"Latios?" Bianca called out tentatively into her gloomy surroundings.

"Please… let me go… I am sorry" continued the voice, "Please… I promise I will never say such things again… so… please… just let me out of here."

"Latios! What is going on?! Please talk to me!" shouted Bianca in alarm, but the soul of Latios did not notice. Instead the echoing voice seemed to get more desperate.

"No! Not that way! Not like this! S-s-s-stop! Sto- WAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

With the last terrified yell, the interior of Soul Dew brightened in a flash of light, followed by a giant torrent of emotions, memories and other sensations which crashed over Bianca like a tidal wave, threatening to drown out her consciousness. Bianca fought to remain conscious as the torrent of mental energies continued to wash over her, but try as she might she could not fully detach herself from the wave as Bianca began to feel emotions and sensations that were foreign and unrelated to her. Eventually, the interior of the Soul Dew calmed and the echoing voice was replaced with heavy panting.

"Is...is it over?" asked Latios cautiously.

"Latios? Are you feeling alright?" shouted Bianca once again into the depth of the Soul Dew. This time, Latios seemed to notice.

"Bianca!" exclaimed Latios, "Bianca, what are you doing in here? Don't you know it's dangerous for you to be here?"

"But I was worried about you; you disappeared last night without any warning and were acting strange up until just now," said Bianca, her voice full of concern, "Tell me what happened last night."

"Oh, so it wasn't just a dream…"

"What wasn't just a dream? Come on, Latios, you have to tell me what it was so I can help you."

"Well, I don't want to talk about it," said Latios defensively, but even as he said so, an image of close-up looks of Latias' face float across Bianca's mind.

"Did something happen between you and Latias?" asked Bianca curiously

"No!" snapped Latios angrily, "Look, I don't want to talk about it, alright? And stay out of my memory!"

"Sorry…"

A moment of awkward silence descended between the two of them. In an attempt to change the subject, Bianca asked Latios about how he had been for the past few months.

"Terrible," grumbled Latios, "thwarted the schemes of Team Rocket agents, saved the city from certain doom and what do I get? A little sister who proceeds to fall in love with a strange boy from far away land who, let me remind you, had minimal contribution to the overall safeguard of Altomare. I was then kidnapped against my will to go on this ridiculous quest for her love, while leaving our beloved city wide-open for invasion and disaster!" Latios took a deep breath as he paused in his tirade.

"But Latias is experiencing true love for the first time of her life," said Bianca patiently, "you of all being should understand how that feel."

An embarrassed silence resonated within the Soul Dew.

"That sort of love will never work," said Latios grudgingly

"But that was not what you used to believe," reminded Bianca gently, "Try to think back Latios, to the time before the Crisis of Altomare, before Ash showed up at our Secret Garden… Just try to remember… of that day…" This time it was Bianca who sank into an embarrassed silence. After a long pause, Latios spoke again.

"Indeed I've forgotten much," admitted Latios, "ever since my… transcendence… I had forgotten the soothing rush of wind, the refreshing coolness of water, the lively bustling of my beloved city. I am even beginning to forget who I am and how I looked before I was Soul Dew."

"Well, I don't know I can help you with your other memories, but I can certainly help you with your last one," said Bianca.

Gently taking of the canvas off its easel, Bianca presented her painting to the Soul Dew. Although the Soul Dew did not have any facial expressions, Bianca could tell Latios was stunned by the image.

"I see," said Latios slowly, "after all these years you still managed to remember."

"Of course, I do," said Bianca fondly, "how can I forget? It was the fateful day when we-"

"Here, allow me to show you something," interrupted Latios gently

Carefully separating his own presence from Bianca's mind, the Soul Dew began to pulse in soft, glowing light until with a sudden blinding burst of light the sphere of Soul Dew exploded into a cloud of silvery dust. Before Bianca could cry out in surprise, the cloud of silvery dust swirled around Bianca's painting and encircled it a few times, as if the Soul Dew was carefully examining the work. After encircling the painting, there was another blinding flash of light. As Bianca's eyes recovered from the flash, her breath and heart stopped with disbelief, as right in front of her very eyes, stood the Pokémon Latios. He was just as noble and striking as she had drawn him, but only this time the Latios was real.

"Unbelievable," Bianca managed to stammer, "How could this… does this mean…?"

"No," replied Latios, "The Soul Dew is merely a corporeal form of my soul. With enough power and experience I can alter that form however I choose. And this form," Latios ran his claws through his feathers, "is how I will choose to exist from now on… just for you Bianca."

Bianca flew into Latios. Hugging him tightly, she cried profusely onto his shoulders. For a moment Latios was lost as to how to proceed with his current situation. Looking around the room nervously as to find some clues to help him out, but finding none, Latios decided pat his old friend on her back hesitantly.

"It's so good to have to back again," said Bianca tearfully. Pulling back, Bianca wiped away her tears and smiled at Latios.

"Say, let's celebrate your return with a little event of our own?" asked Bianca

"What do you have in mind?"

Bianca sat down by the window sill and looked up at the clear blue sky, watching two Pidgey flirting with each other. She then turned around and asked Latios with a hopeful tone, if he could give her an aerial tour of Silver Town, like he had done for her many times when they were young. With a smile, Latios swept Bianca into his arms, causing her to let out a delighted giggle, and launched the two of them into crisp mountain air high above Silver Town.

"And it will be my greatest honor to fly with you again…my lady…"