UPDATED: Well, this one didn't really have much to update, just a big plot hole.
Only about 9 days I think since I started this... feels like a lot longer. Anyway, I've nearly finished the story, with only about three more chapters to go, making this about 12-13 chapters long.
Usual warnings and disclaimers apply.
Lateral Ganon
# # # Chapter specific notes # # #
Italics are Ganon's thoughts. Easy enough.
Chapter 6: Time Out.
So deep was the darkness surrounding him, Ganon just continued to walk forwards.
He heard a sharp intake of breath behind him as Ash walked through the rift behind him. However in the oppressing silence that had enveloped them, neither of them dared to speak. The silence was deafening.
That's a contradiction in terms. How can silence be deafening? And it's not even silence anyway. I can hear my own footsteps.
Ash ran to catch up with Ganon and Pikachu, seemingly drawing comfort from the fact that he wasn't alone. The corridor they were walking through gradually became lighter in front of them, until they arrived out in the open. Even after that brief span of time in the tunnel, the sun still scorched Ash's retinas when he first moved into the light.
Pikachu and Sneasel had rushed ahead. Being Pokemon, the darkness of the tunnel hadn't been a problem for them, and they didn't seem to be affected by the sudden change in light intensity.
Pikachu squealed to them both to come forwards to see the amazing sight that had unfolded before them.
They both gasped as they saw the green wonderland spread out before them down a flight of stairs; a great paved pathway flanked by colossal, ancient trees led towards a water feature at the other end of the space, a series of paths branching of this main avenue between the trees. Smaller trees were scattered here and there around the central path, and various ornaments lined each branching path. Rectangular ponds were scattered throughout the area, homing small groups of about three or four Poliwags. A small herd of Butterfree flew past them as they descended the steps.
"This place is amazing"
"…Beautiful." They both finished at the same time.
Why can't Ash appreciate true beauty, even when it stares him in the face? Ganon wondered, until he realised that Ash was only fourteen, and hadn't developed a sense of maturity to his situations.
Ash saw the girl they had been following about halfway down the main avenue, as she turned around and ran up the branching path next to her.
"Hey, it's her."
Ganon sighed again. At least some tact would have been nice to see. Who else could it be for goodness sake? Ash took off after her, oblivious to Ganon's scorning glance.
As they reached where the girl had ran, they came across a large rectangular lake, which had gazebo on an island in the middle, currently sheltering a small group of Wooper. The girl had settled down on a swing, and was currently swinging happily, her eyes intent on the two boys she had led.
Ganon's heart softened. She looks so cute. Ash and Pikachu began to run towards her. Something stirred in the garden.
"Ash, stop!"
He had heard them too; the wind chimes that bordered the path had suddenly burst into a flurry of activity around them. The only sound in the garden now was the chimes frenzied whirring. Something very big, very fast, or both, was moving through the garden.
Ganon crouched on the ground, staring at the fountain at the other end of the garden. Ash could not understand what he was doing, and just eyed the wind chimes suspiciously.
Ganon suddenly noticed that Sneasel had wandered over to the lake and had started to drink and wash herself when an explosion from inside the fountain rocked the garden. The shock was enough to shake nests out of the trees around them.
"Sneasel!" was all he could shout before a huge shock wave had surged in the lake, and roared as it crashed down on her. He looked on in disbeleif. She had only been up and about for about an hour, and already she would have been knocked out.
Man, I'm getting careless.
A poke in the back brought him back from his sorrow and he looked around. There she was. Ganon burst out with delight as she pointed to a branch that dangled low above the water from the tree behind him. As he looked closer, he could see that half of the bark had been scratched off where she had first leapt up. Then he felt the wind on his back again. The something had just swooped in for another dive and was flying off in front of him. Ash didn't know what it was, so he and Pikachu couldn't see what was attacking them, but Ganon had experience in these matters, and could clearly see the outline of a moderately large winged Pokemon.
My, My. He's grown up well.
He saw Pikachu rolling backwards to a stop next to him, and decided it was too dangerous for Sneasel to stay in the open. He could see the Pokemon circling back around for another dive.
"Sneasel, get over here." He said as he cradled her in his arms, crouched over to shield her from the elements. Ash had just done the same with Pikachu, and was bracing himself for the inevitable impact.
That impact never came, as the girl had just ran into the space between the Pokemon and the two boys, shielding them. All Ash and Ganon could feel was the rush of air that was suddenly displaced as the Pokemon back-flapped to a stop. Then the Pokemon lowered the shield he had used to hide from view, and revealed himself in all his glory.
Both boys stood in absolute shock. Here, hovering before them was the legendary dragon; Latios.
As the Pokemon screeched at them past the girl, Ash recoiled out of fear, recalling the statues that Ross had pointed out to them in front of the museum.
"It's Latios."
Ash, are you thick or what?! He knows he's a Latios.
The Latios was squawking at the girl that was blocking him from them. She appeared to be arguing with her. Ganon knew that he wasn't arguing, he was making demands, and they were being ignored. He would attack her if she continued to defy him.
"Why is he so mad at us?"
Ash was surprised when Ganon stepped around the protection the girl had provided, standing straight in front of the Latios, looking straight into its eyes, almost the same shade of red as his own. For some reason, it was just as shocked, which was why it hadn't attacked him yet.
He walked around the Latios in a circle looking at it from every angle, when suddenly another voice cut in.
"What's going on here? What are you doing to Latios?"
Ganon looked straight at the girl. She looked just like the girl that was currently shielding Ash, except she had a white beret and an artist's bag. This was the girl that Ash had seen on the balcony of the museum, and who Ganon had seen walking past him on the bridge. He wasn't surprised why there was two of them.
Ash wasn't as logical as Ganon, and just took to staring at one girl, then the next, and back again.
Ash, you look like an idiot, Ganon thought to himself. What do you think she's doing, teleporting and taking off her hat? What would be the point in doing that?
"Well?" She demanded of them when she didn't get an answer.
"Hold on a second! We weren't doing anything; we just followed this girl here." Ash said, trying too hard to look innocent.
Were led by this girl here. You make us sound like stalkers. The Latios turned and looked at him. Ganon stared right back.
"This is my friend, Pikachu. And I'm Ash, I'm a Pokemon trainer."
"And him?" She said, pointing accusingly at Ganon. Ash remained silent, looking at Ganon as though expecting him to answer her himself.
Oh great, leave me to talk to the angry girl, just what I always wanted. He thought sarcastically. The Latios sniggered slightly.
"My name is Ganon. I'm a Pokemon researcher, specialising in the so called legendary Pokemon." He said in a much more calm and collected manner as he walked back to stand next to Ash.
"Oh really?" She asked back. She didn't believe either of them. She didn't care that one of them was telling the truth.
"Alright Latios, get 'em."
Well if a fight you must, then a fight you get. He thought as the Latios reared its head and prepared to attack them. He prepared to summon a blast of energy to counter the Latios's attack. Whatever he uses, it's going to hurt. He's had a long time to practice.
"That's enough." Said another voice coming through the trees, halting the combatants in their step. Ganon dismissed the energy that was building in his hand. No need to burn a hole in his trousers as he dropped his hand to his side.
"Bianca, Latios. I'm sure these boys mean no harm."
"Grandpa, they were…"
"Hey, I know you." Ash suddenly interrupted.
Of course you know him; he led us around the museum. We were probably his most troublesome guests.
Latios sniggered again.
"But they…"
The curator shushed her into silence, and turned to the other girl.
"It's okay. Latias, do you want to play with your new friends?"
The girl nodded vigorously, before trying to grab Ganon's arm.
WAAARRRGGGHHH!! Not me! Play with Ash! He thought as loud as he could, whilst pulling his arm out of her reach.
She released his arm, looking puzzled at him.
Please don't look at me like that; it's too cute in your human form.
She blushed slightly, then grabbed Ash by the arm and pulled him towards the swing she had vacated just earlier. She pushed him forcefully onto the swing.
A bit rough aren't you?
She gave Ganon a mock scathing look before standing on the swing behind Ash, pushing it into motion as she jumped on.
"Hey no offence, but I though Latias was the name of a Pokemon." Ash questioned her, still puzzled by why he'd been picked instead of Ganon. She gave Ganon a quick glance and he nodded back, rolling his eyes at Ash. She smirked and looked back down at Ash. She wanted to see the look on his face.
She began to glow a light blue as she looked back down at Ash, shards of the light breaking away in a dazzling display of sparks, and pushing the swing behind him was a red and white Pokemon with amber eyes; the other legendary dragon, Latias.
Ash shrieked as he leapt out of the swing at its height, flinging himself into the air, before landing on his face at the edge of the lake. Ganon and the Latios were roaring with laughter, as Latias flew forwards to pick Ash up.
"You hadn't figured out by now that she was a Latias? HA!"
Sorry about having to reject your offer Latias, but I really wanted to see the shock on his face when he found out you were a Latias. Besides, your brother found it hilarious too.
She looked back at them briefly, before checking to see that Ash was okay.
"Thanks, I'm okay, thanks… a lot." He was still reeling from the effect of seeing what he presumed to just be a rather attractive human girl changing into a legendary Pokemon.
"Laa! Laaaaaaaaaaaa" She cried out as she began flying around his head. That instantly lifted his spirits.
"She must have really taken a liking to these young men." The man said.
Suddenly, Latios swooped down next to Pikachu to investigate the small yellow creature that Ash had brought with him. And after a brief conversation in the Pokemon language, Latios licked the Pikachu's cheek.
"And Latios seems to have taken well to the Pokemon."
The four of them started slowly walking along the main path, with Pikachu enjoying himself above their heads, jumping between the backs Latios and Latias. Sneasel just looked up enviously and gave Ganon a questioning look.
"Sneasel, you know you can't fly with them. If you got too excited, you'd let loose a blast of dark energy, and knock them straight out of the sky. They are psychic you know."
Sneasel just continued to amble along sulkily. She was hoping she could do just that.
The girl looked towards the two boys and started talking.
"I'm Bianca. Sorry I almost attacked you two before. It is a little surprising considering we never have guests."
"That's okay, Bianca," Said Ash, "I do have a few questions though."
"I suppose you're wondering why Latias looked exactly like Bianca." Said the man who had identified himself to be Lorenzo.
"Yeah."
"Special power of all Latis." Ganon pointed out quickly."They have the ability to shapeshift into any form they desire. And being best friends with Bianca, she will find that shape easier to maintain. Humans are typically the most useful form, although they can rarely master the use of the vocal chords. Thats how you can typically tell the human from the Pokemon."
Lorenzo stared at Ganon suspiciously.
"Correct… How do you know that?"
Ganon waved a finger at him like a parent telling off a naughty child.
"I put in the research. That's also how I explained to Brock how flooding the city could not have defeated either of the fossil Pokemon."
Lorenzo could not believe what he was hearing. When he had heard Brock saying about that theory in the museum, he'd assumed it was the work of a middle aged man like Professor Oak or Hail. Not this little boy who was harly out of the cradle. But he did seem more knowledgable than he was letting on.
He was knocked off his train of thought as Latias suddenly swooped into a dive with Pikachu on her back, flying straight towards Ash. As she passed him, Pikachu leapt from her onto Ash's face. Ash was struggling to breathe whilst Pikachu clambered over his face to sit on his shoulder.
Could you two find a more private place to do that?
Latios roared with laughter and almost fell out of the sky.
Unbeknown to any of them, Latias had sneaked around behind their group. She lashed forwards, and grabbed Ash's hat in her mouth, before flying off towards the fountain with it. She had tried to get Ganon's cravatte, but just as she was about to reach it, he took it off and put it in his pocket. Spoilsport.
"Hey what are you doing?" Ash cried out, laughing slightly, before giving chase and began playing 'Keep Away" with his hat.
"Hey, come on! That's my favourite hat!"
Ganon watched as they played together, and loved the way that Ash used a ruse to trick Latias into getting within range of his grabbing arm. He's learning the basic skills he'll need.
"Got it!" He cried out triumphant, before playing the game with her again.
Latios had flown over to watch as well, hovering above the fountain. Ganon could sense he was deep in thought as he watched them. Leaning forwards slightly, his eyes began a glow a silvery blue colour.
Oh boy, is Ash in for a treat.
Ash however couldn't understand why Latias had suddenly stopped playing the game, as she turned around and stared into Latios's eyes. This triggered a similar effect for her.
Latios let out a loud squawk, drawing his arms up to his chest, and dived into the fountain, pulsing his body to cut through the water like a missile, as he entered an underwater tunnel that led into the canal network. Ganon suddenly remembered something important. Potentially very awkward for him.
Latias. Do NOT include me in this. My powers will taint it.
However, it was too late for that. In this state, she wouldn't be able to hear him in her mind. She floated down behind the group, Ganon clearly distraught. He had to make sure that she didn't encompass him with her power otherwise…
A psychic pulse emanated from her body, and enveloped the entire party. The vision of the party members shifted into a view of the inside of an underwater tunnel. However, there were large patches of view that had remained exactly the same as the fountain in front of them. Lorenzo and Bianca knew something was wrong. Lorenzo looked at the two boys, and noticed that Ganon was covering his own eyes.
"Sneasel. Use a small dark pulse on me, now."
She blasted Ganon with the dark matter, instantly shrouding him from the psychic field. She felt herself relax slightly as she did that, she had wanted to hurt Ganon for a while now, ever since he started exchanging looks with Latias. The patches in the vision for everyone else disappeared.
"Sorry about that. I have a strong degree of psychic power. As this experience is being fuelled by psychic energy, my own powers tampered with the field."
"How is this happening?" Ash quivered. He couldn't understand how he was breathing underwater, because he was too stunned to think rationally. Bianca decided to introduce the topic.
"Don't be afraid Ash, Latios has the power to project to us what he was seeing."
"It's sight sharing" added Lorenzo.
"Basically, Latios is transmitting exactly what he sees to Latias, who then uses the psychic field I so recently messed up to project that image into your mind. Think of it like watching a pokemon battle on TV live."
Ash was still feeling queasy from the fact that Latios was underwater.
"Ash, if you bend down and touch the floor under you, you will feel the pavement that you are stood on. You haven't moved anywhere. You are still in the garden. And you are still breathing air. I can see it considering I'm shielded from the field."
That was enough to calm down Ash sufficiently to be able to enjoy it.
"This is a rare privilege. To see through the eyes of Latios." Lorenzo commented absently.
Not as though I can't get that view later...
"I guess Latios feels he can really trust you two."
On though the maze of canals Latios swam, passing through roving shoals of Remoraid, Chinchou, and even a gang of Quagsires. To Ganon though, they all looked like fools; just stood there in front of the fountain, turning and twisting their heads randomly.
"Latias, this is amazing! Tell Latios we say thanks." He heard Ash say after another bout of head turning.
It was about ten minutes before Latios decided to turn around and head back for the garden. Ganon smiled to himself when he remembered the look on Ash's face when it turned out they went through a herd of rampant Sharpedos. The smell would probably linger as well.
"I must say, Lorenzo, that these two are amazing specimens. They are actually quite strong, considering they are only fledglings." Lorenzo looked at Ganon indignantly, and was about to start yelling at him.
"Hey, that reminds me. How long have you guys known Latios and Latias?" Ash asked them, genuinely intrigued. Lorenzo took a couple of deep breaths.
"I've known them since their father brought the water to our town."
And never once did you try out the diet.
Latios looked at Ganon sternly.
What? I'm psychic. It's not my fault he thought about it when he said that.
"He rescued the people from a life of terror, and left us with this beautiful water city. But I'm afraid it was too much for him." Lorenzo continued.
"No Latios can possess the sheer energy required to move such a tonnage of water and survive. He would have known that. His very physical essence would have been used up in the process, leaving no earthly remains." Ganon said. Lorenzo grinned broadly. Ganon had made a big mistake.
"Ah, that's where you're wrong Ganon. He did leave behind a…"
"The Soul Dew is a spiritual remain." He answered. Lorenzo looked annoyed at Ganon's reasoning ability. Only one person had ever been able to annoy him like this before.
"What's the Soul Dew?" Ash interjected. Lorenzo was relieved to be able to explain it to someone who didn't know everything about it.
"It is said to contain the spirit of the Latios."
"Others would call it the soul of Latios. But I could prove it isn't." Ganon added. Lorenzo scowled at him again. He hated how Ganon was so sure of everything to do with Latios and Latias. He had been born and raised to respect and revere them, Ganon just couldn't seem to care. It was as though he was considering them underlings.
"Where is it?"
Ganon just pointed his thumb unceremoniously over his shoulder towards an iron cage over the ledge above the fountain. Lorenzo glowered at him, but didn't question his knowledge. Ash looked into the fountain, and saw a glittering jewel cradled in a claw at the bottom. Considering Ganon didn't think it was important, he turned back to continue his conversation.
"So Latios died saving the town, and his children became orphans."
Ganon groaned loudly, causing everyone to turn and look at him. Even Latias had stopped flitting around idly to listen.
"He didn't die." Ganon stated. The certainty in his voice was so absolute...
Both Latis froze in the air. Neither of them could believe what Ganon had said. Lorenzo's patience snapped. He had concrete evidence to prove that their father had died.
"If that's the case then, where is he then?! Surely he wouldn't be able to keep away from his children. They'd be all the family he has left."
Ganon's patience also snapped the second Lorenzo brought the idea of a family into the question.
"They are not the only family left! What about the original Latias? The one who supplemented the power to bring the water? The one who did survive? Their mother?"
Lorenzo was taken aback by his sudden outburst. This boy was certainly touchy when it came to family ideals. He just pointed to the large lake next to the swing, as unceremoniously as Ganon had when regarding the Soul Dew. Under the gazebo, Ganon could see a marble plaque embedded in the floor that was invisible to all unless viewed from above.
No. No no no no no...
He sprinted away from the fountain, and down the path towards it. In a matter of seconds he had jumped across to the gazebo and had knelt down to read the inscription on the tablet, tears forming in his eyes with each line he read.
Here Lies Laura II
Deceased by Heartbreak
After The Bringing Of
The Water.
Beloved Wife and Mother.
Darling of Altomare.
Ganon allowed the tears to fall unchecked. Even the wind in the trees had fallen silent, only adding to the sorrow of the situation. He stared at the tablet unable to accept it. He looked at the shape of the lake that was living testament to her life; ten metres long from nose tip to tail, shaped perfectly to match her figure. He looked back to the stone, still unable to accept it. So they have no-one left either. And because of that, he cried all the harder.
Lorenzo had come up behind him and was looking at the plaque over his shoulder, watching Ganon's heaving shoulders rise and fall, before putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. He was shocked by the amount of emotion this boy was showing. Even during the brief time they had spent together, he had recognised Ganon as a boy that would never cry. Clearly, something here must have really upset him.
At his touch, Ganon looked back to the headstone. Underneath the words, he identified an etching of a Latias in profile surrounded by a symbol which resembled a sun. He racked through his memory and instantly recognized the image.
It was the power source icon of the DMA.
Well, thats another installment of this, hope you like it.
UPDATED: Okay, I've removed a bit at the end saying that Laura was used in the DMA. That was the really big plot hole, that I fell in and ended up in China because of.
Apart from that, there were no real changes to this chapter.