Author Notes: Chapter 39 is here!

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Chapter 39 — Hardship and Weakness

For how long had he been running? Ash didn't know. It felt like an eternity for him. No matter how hard and fast he ran, it felt like his legs failed him at the most crucial of moments, leaving him helpless and at the mercy of his worst fears, alone and vulnerable on the cracked ground whose touch was hard and abrasive.

Ash picked himself up again for the umpteenth time, even as icy wind gusted by and left uncomfortable bites of cold on his skin, dragging along with them a thick fog that obscured the environment and left him disorientated. What was he even running from? He didn't know, and that only terrified him further.

Ash stopped in place and briskly turned around, eyes frantically scanning his surroundings back and forth. "Hello? Latios? Latias? Pikachu? Anyone?" he asked tentatively. Yet no answer came to him and, worst of all, the haunting feeling that something was out there overtook him once more.

This time, before Ash could run, a figure appeared right in front of him. One that shattered the fog and fear, and pushed away all danger. One that brought with it a comforting presence of warmth, care, and love.

As Ash approached the figure for solace, a gorgeous down of red and white feathers took form and the loveliest pair of amber eyes looked back at him. "Latias?" Ash asked in a quiet voice as he approached her.

Latias moved closer in turn, bringing with her an undeniable feeling of safety and comfort that Ash craved. As she approached ever so slowly with an innocent smile and the ever-present joyous expression that she always carried, the comforting warmth she exuded felt stronger and far more tangible than it ever should.

Far too real. How was that possible?

Ash jerked back in fright when his world lit up in a blinding glare of orange and red. He screamed when he realized it wasn't comforting warmth all around him, but the merciless touch of fire, and it was excruciating. He could feel it burning away his skin and searing the muscles and nerves under his flesh. He coughed desperately for air as he felt his throat charring and the pungent smoke filling his suffocating lungs. He felt—

Ash woke up with a violent start and immediately sat upright on his sleeping bag. His heart drummed in his chest while he gasped for breath. He looked around frantically for fire, and closed his eyes in panic when he found none. He reached up and wiped beads of cold sweat off his forehead.

'Just a horrible dream, just a nightmare,' Ash told himself reassuringly. He opened his eyes and scanned the rest of the campsite. Brock and Bianca slept soundly in their sleeping bags. Their campfire still burned away, providing some illumination and warmth to the group. Pidgeot, with a few blankets wrapped around her to dry off her feathers, roosted comfortably and was in a deep sleep right at its side.

Ash let out a soft gasp and immediately looked away from the crackling embers of the campfire. He shuddered at the uncomfortable sensation of cold sweat matting his shirt and socks. 'Everyone's fine, I'm fine,' Ash thought as he slowly crawled out of his sleeping bag—with extreme care to not wake Pikachu up—and leisurely walked to the nearby lake's shoreline.

The pitch-black surface gleamed with slight traces of silver from the moonlight that shone on it and errant streaks of rainbow light from the Sacred Fire at the lake's center, which provided a somewhat peaceful setting along with the three resting Pokémon within it. Ash stopped at the lake's edge, reached down, scooped some water with his hands, and used it to wash the sweat on his face away. As he did so, he felt an uncomfortable pressure build up within him, prompting him to wince and lean forward in reflex. His eyes moistened when he felt a bulge form in his throat, causing him to crouch down as he vomited into the lake.

Ash coughed repeatedly and collapsed back on the ground. He wiped the edges of his mouth with a hand and grimaced. 'Latias didn't do it intentionally. She'd never do it,' he thought in self-reassurance. 'It was just a sick accident. Nothing more.' Ash clutched his chest and noted with worry and frustration that his rapidly-thumping heart and his hastened breathing didn't quell.

'I guess I'm not getting much sleep tonight… I'll just walk it off.' Ash wheezed as he stood up with some difficulty and then walked along the lake's bank at a leisurely pace.

Skailyn watched Latios and Latias with a disheartened expression on her face. The twins slept soundly on a coil around her midsection, partially submerged in the lake's healing waters. The worst of their wounds weren't physical, but instead spiritual, she knew. Not to the same degree she suffered, but still enough that it concerned her. Her eyesight, capable of seeing unrestrained into the realm of souls, allowed her to confirm that their distressed and stolen power had finally soothed.

Slowly and gently, Skailyn dispelled her powers and let up the pressure on their souls that encouraged them to sleep and heal. She leaned forward and nuzzled them, alternating between them while tenderly running her heavy tongue over their sides and back, gently egging them on. Not long after, the pair of dragons stirred.

Skailyn hugged them closer in the protective embrace of her coils, for one more moment, and then let go. She was more than aware of how intimidating she could be, and they hadn't even met each other yet, not truly. Instead, the black dragoness pulled back and pushed out the coil where they rested to give them ample space.

Latios' eyes shot wide open and he immediately looked around in panic. He flared telekinetic power into his levitation out of reflex when he noticed the immense face of a dragon right in front of them. Yet, almost as soon as he picked himself up, his powers faltered and made him plop back down onto the Rayquaza's smooth scales.

Latias' eyes opened at the commotion. She shook her head a few times to clear away the immense wave of nausea that came crashing down on her and left her rather disorientated. "What?" she murmured uneasily. "Where are we?"

"Hello," Skailyn greeted in a soft and tender voice, watching as the twins—so young and small in her presence—looked at her in alarm and fear. "My name is Skailyn. You're okay. You're safe here."

Latios apprehensively glared at her, once again attempting to levitate but failing to do so. He scoffed, not comfortable with how vulnerable he felt without flight. "Where are we? Where are our friends!?" he asked brusquely.

"You're at Sky Pillar. Your friends are here, too." Skailyn tilted her head, listening to the whispers of the wind around her. "They're safe."

Latias eyed the enormous Legendary warily. Her empathy didn't get many emotions off her at all, other than a radiating aura that sent out a constant sensation of soothing, of calm, of safety. She narrowed her eyes at the familiarity of the situation, as she knew of only one other entity that could project specific emotions like that. "Are you related to Ho-Oh in any way?"

Skailyn turned her attention to her and smiled. "You're a sharp little one, aren't you? I'm not related to her directly, no, but we share many traits as gods, and we know each other well."

Latias locked eyes with Skailyn and gauged her for deceit. She noted that her reaction to the question radiated a feeling of affection and amusement, and it all felt genuine. Latias hummed and relaxed marginally. "Okay," she relented at last. She glanced at Latios and nodded reassuringly at him.

"Thank you." Skailyn gradually pulled the coil where they rested closer to her. "What do you remember?"

Latios closed his eyes and thought hard for a moment. "We were having a good day, playing at the beach. Then, someone or something… possessed our friend," he explained cautiously. "It brought back memories of our father, and put us in something similar to the DMA, and it hurt. So much. Then... nothing. I don't remember anything else."

Skailyn nodded along, almost like she expected that answer. "I can try and answer some questions for you if you'd like. But there isn't much I can say as it isn't my place to answer." She closed her eyes and remained silent for a moment. "I'll be honest with you, as you deserve as much from now on."

"What do you mean that it isn't your place to answer?" Latios asked.

"Is something wrong?" Latias' brow furrowed. Her empathy picked up a rather bittersweet undertone from Skailyn, though one that was heavily smothered by the constant soothing aura she projected.

"That's because it's for someone else, someone very important to all of us, to answer," Skailyn replied while opening her eyes. "However, you have my word that you'll know very soon."

Latias and Latios looked at each other with slight confusion and worry. "We can't pry it out of you, can we?" Latios asked slowly.

"No," Skailyn replied with a shake of her head.

"Well, in that case, I just want to know the most important thing. Are we okay? Are our friends okay?" Latias asked.

Skailyn nodded. "You're okay, and so are your friends. You're all safe."

"What exactly happened back there, and why were we unconscious?" Latios asked with a growl. "Can you answer that?"

"The one who attacked you sought to steal a piece of your dormant power. The extraction damaged your souls slightly, but I've healed that already. By resting here, you've mostly recouped your lost strength," Skailyn answered.

"That doesn't sound good," Latios murmured under his breath.

"What about Ash?" Latias asked sharply. "Why did our attacker possess him?"

"A spirit needs a medium to interact with the physical realm. Someone had to be possessed for that. Ash was chosen for a multitude of reasons, convenience first and foremost due to his abnormally large aura, and because of the bond that you shared with him. It's what allowed him to access you so freely," Skailyn explained.

Latios froze and adopted a stunned expression. "Is Ash alright? If it hurt us this badly, what about him? He's only a human!"

Skailyn gave him a reassuring look. "He's okay. I healed him as well."

Latias gulped. "Healed? If he required healing, how injured was he?"

"Your attacker stole power from you, and ripped out the soul piece you left in Ash. It damaged you two, him the most," Skailyn answered slowly. "Fear not, though. As I said, I healed all of you."

Latios' eyes widened in horror. "Wait, that bond was there to protect us! We made it after we almost died at Alto Mare. Am I going to be okay without it?" He tensed visibly. "Is Ash going to be okay without it?"

Skailyn nodded. "Both of you are fully healed and entirely out of harm." She glanced to the side. "Ash's soul was badly injured, as having a bond so intertwined with his spirit ripped out like that left it in tatters." She focused her attention back on Latios. "As for you, the damage was trivial. The souls of Legendaries are far more resilient and heal naturally, even without intervention."

Latios frowned as he carefully thought over the dragoness' words over and over again. "So, our bond is gone? Like, completely gone now? Is that what you meant by it all?"

Latias looked at him with concern. "Latios…"

"Yes," Skailyn confirmed with a nod. "You'll be okay without it, don't worry. That bond served its purpose and protected you when you were in need. That's no longer the case."

Latios sighed unhappily and bit his lip, unsure of how to react to that. For now, he pushed the thought to the back of his mind as far more pressing matters remained at the forefront of his mind. "But, if you're saying that his soul received so much damage… then, how is he now? What's his condition right now?"

Latias grimaced. "Did he suffer? I don't like the way any of this sounds. At all."

Skailyn glanced repeatedly between the dragon twins and carefully thought out her answer. "Listen to what I will say from start to finish. What happened earlier not only injured his spirit but also killed him, physically. However, given his condition and the circumstances of his death, rather than allowing him to pass on, I ferried his soul to Ho-Oh and let her decide his fate. She revived him, so he's now okay and alive. I know no more than that. That is a conversation you two should have with Ho-Oh."

Latios and Latias stared at the Rayquaza in shock, unmoving and stunned beyond belief as they listened to every passing word. Latias' heart beat harder in her chest, her pupils shrank, and any response died in her throat as her mind grappled with the revelation.

Latios cast a downward glance at the black scales under him with widened eyes. 'Ash… died. He died. He died!' he repeated to himself. 'This can't be true, can it? Would she have any sick reason to lie to us about something so delicate? If so, why?' He gulped and ran his tongue over his uncomfortably dry lips. 'But what if it is true?'

Skailyn's thick tail slowly lifted out of the water and pointed to the side. "It looks like he's having trouble sleeping. He's been walking around the lake for a while now. If you two need it, you should go and see him."

Latias followed the dragoness' tail with her eyes and, now fully awake and with her powers and mind focused, immediately levitated and rocketed away so fast the water under her parted like a crevice.

Latios focused his telekinetic powers and levitated off Skailyn's body. He flew at a much slower pace but abruptly stopped in midair. He looked into the distance where Ash resided and fidgeted nervously. The black Rayquaza's words still hung heavily on his mind. 'He died on my watch, and we're no longer bonded,' he reminded himself, wondering if he had the strength to face him with that knowledge weighing down on him. He shuddered and gritted his teeth. 'I have to see him. I have to be there for him.' He steeled himself and flew after his sister.

Despite the darkness of night, only pierced by scant illumination from the moon above and the distant flame at the lake's center, Latias' sharp eyesight swiftly picked up Ash's figure on the shoreline. She gradually slowed to tone down her momentum and crashed-landed into the young trainer, shoving him onto the ground. "Ash!" she cried out.

Ash let out a brief, startled scream that swiftly died away from the air leaving his lungs. He collapsed into the dirt below with a pained wheeze and panted heavily. "Latias!" he shouted when he finally recovered his breath. "You're awake!"

Latias pressed herself tightly against him and buried her face into Ash's neck and chest. Her arms wrapped around his sides and pressed inward to draw him into a tight hug. "What happened!?" she shrieked, voice marred with sobs. "Is it true? Please, tell me it's not!"

Ash cringed when he finally laid his eyes on Latias' hurt form. For the briefest moment, he felt terrified of what his first impression of her would be upon their reunion. Would he be afraid of her? Would he resent her? Much to his relief, he found that he was glad—happy, even—to see her again. 'It's not her fault. None of it is. It was just an accident,' he reminded himself.

Yet, despite Ash's relief at his lack of fear of her, he looked away from Latias instinctually as a torrent of thoughts about the entire affair crashed mercilessly upon him. It was evident she knew of his death, but to what extent he did not know. "It's true…" he confirmed with a pained tone. "But I'm alright!" he added swiftly while reaching up to wrap his arms around her slender neck. "Please, don't be sad, Latias."

Latias remained pressed against Ash and tightened her hold on him as if it'd make it so he could never be taken away from her again. Just hearing his response made the skin under her feathers prickle with horror and a chill run down her spine. She buried her face into his chest further and sobbed uncontrollably. "W-Why did it have to h-happen?" she asked shakily, her voice so marred by her crying that it was barely coherent.

Ash winced again as Latias' sharp claws ripped through the fabric of his shirt and dug into his skin. "Hey, easy there, Latias, easy," he whispered soothingly, running his hand over her neck tenderly. "I… I don't know why," he admitted. "But all I care about is that I'm still here, alive and well, with you and everyone else."

Latios gradually levitated to the pair and stopped a good distance above them. He looked at them with a somber expression and felt a tear roll down his cheek, even though he fought it as hard as he could. It felt immensely relieving to see that Ash was okay with his eyes, rather than being told by a third party.

Yet, a part of him felt terrified at the prospect of approaching Ash, and his inability to explain why only drove the sentiment further and made him feel incredibly tense. His breathing turned erratic and he looked around uneasily as if looking for an answer to his dilemma within his immediate surroundings.

"It's okay, Latias, it's okay," Ash cooed while gently stroking her neck in a soothing rhythm to calm her down. He looked up at Latios, sighed deeply, and gave him a welcoming smile. "Hey, Latios."

Latios hesitantly returned the look, so slow it appeared as if he was afraid to look in the young trainer's direction. Ash was his best friend. Why was looking at him so difficult? Latios' heart sank when he noticed the lively chocolate brown of Ash's eyes. 'So, it is true,' he realized.

Ash frowned at the silence that became the only reply he received from the blue dragon and returned his attention to Latias for the time being. He gently pushed Latias off him and cupped her face with his hands. "Latias, look at me. There's no need to cry. I'm okay."

Latias didn't fight Ash's action. Instead, she blinked to try and clear her reddened eyes. "But, Ash…" she whispered in a heartbroken tone. "We promised at Rustboro…"

Latios cringed noticeably at the mention of the word 'promise' and looked away in shame once more. He vividly remembered their breakdown in the aftermath of Team Aqua's assault, and the promise made amongst themselves. But, that paled in comparison to the memory of his promise to Delia only months ago. A promise he resoundingly failed at keeping.

For a moment, Latios considered just flying away as fast as he could, away from it all. 'It'd be such an easy way out,' he thought bitterly. The more rational part of him, however, knew he had to stay and face his failures and hardships. He growled in disgust at himself for even allowing that thought to exist.

"I know, I know, Latias. I was there." Ash looked at her unhappily as he idly scratched the feathers on her neck. "It's not like I ever wanted this. I'm sorry…"

"It's not your fault," Latias murmured weakly, slightly choking on her words. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "I should have protected you. I should've stopped this. Somehow."

'Or I.' Latios' eyes remained focused on the pair that were the two most important people to him. It pained him to the point his chest throbbed to see them so hurt, and it felt appalling that it happened under his watch. 'What could I have done differently?'

"If it's not my fault, then it isn't yours either, Latias," Ash responded kindly, hand still stroking her neck in a soft and comforting rhythm.

'Because it's mine.' Latios winced as another tear rolled down his cheek, one that he struggled so hard to keep at bay.

Ash glanced at Latios and smiled comfortingly. "Hey, Latios. You've been quiet. Everything okay with you?"

Latios remained silent. He had to be strong for both of them. He had to be a part of this moment, and he knew it. He shook his head to push any insidious thoughts away and psychically wiped the tears off his cheeks. "Just… letting it all sink in," he admitted slowly while levitating closer to them. "There's so much to unpack here."

Ash gently patted Latias' back and hugged her tightly. "Yeah, there is." He sighed as he went over the events that he remembered and glanced between Latios and Latias repeatedly. He gave Latios a reassuring look while his hands gripped Latias tighter. "Listen, both of you. I know you two think you should've protected me, but… it's not like we know what happened to begin with. It just did, and I don't blame you for it. So, don't blame yourselves, okay? What I want is for all of us to go back to being the happy little group we've always been."

"It's hard not to," Latias muttered. "We're your Pokémon, we're supposed to protect you."

"And you do," Ash countered. "Do you remember Rustboro? When that giant Swampert knocked me off the building? You rescued me. What about when Team Aqua's airship almost killed us all? You saved us." He cupped Latias' head with his hands and wiped off her tears. "You've always protected me. And what happened doesn't change that. And I, as your trainer, should protect you too."

Latias sniffed. "But what if—"

"No what ifs," Ash interrupted. "I've still got a long way to go on my travels through Hoenn, and I still trust you to protect me all the way. I always will." He grinned at her. "Always."

"You think so?" Latias asked weakly. "Or are you just saying that to placate me?"

"Of course!" Ash replied. "Why wouldn't I? You've always had my back."

"It's just that it's hard to accept this happened," Latias answered unhappily. "If it happened once, it could happen again."

Ash nodded reassuringly. "And I trust you'll protect me if it does."

Latias didn't reply and, instead, closed her eyes and pressed deeper into Ash's comforting touch.

Latios looked at Ash, both stunned and with admiration. "I thought you'd be in worse shape, you know," he commented. "You're the one that died, yet it's both of us who are wrecks."

"He's a wreck too. He's just trying to hide it," Latias murmured. She pulled back, opened her eyes, and gave Ash a knowing look. "You're forgetting I'm an empath. I can read your emotions. You can't hide it from me."

Ash winced. "I know, but I have to be strong, for both of you."

"You don't have to," Latias protested. "You shouldn't burden yourself with being strong for everyone's problems."

Latios narrowed his eyes. If Ash could be so strong in the face of emotional adversity, then so could he. He levitated closer and pushed aside all doubt. "Yeah. You shouldn't bottle how you feel either."

Ash shook his head. "That's not it. Truth is, when I first woke up and learned I died from Ho-Oh, my biggest concern was you two. I don't want you both to think you've failed me, I would never blame you for this, and I would never think any less of either of you. Ever. And even now that's still my biggest concern. I care about you both like you have no idea."

"And we care about you, Ash," Latios replied with a bittersweet expression. "That's why your death upset us."

Latias sighed and looked at her trainer unhappily. "Ash… What killed you?"

'So, she doesn't know…' Ash grimaced. "Fire. Not a pretty way to go out."

Latias frowned. "I… I distinctly remember there being a fire somewhere before I passed out, but I don't know where it came from." Her eyes narrowed. "Ash, there's something I need to know." She paused until she felt certain his unrestrained attention rested solely on her.

"Who did it?" Latias asked sharply. The sadness, the heartbreak, the pain of loss, for a moment all of it went away and hid in the back of her mind, replaced by something far livelier, something that burned vibrantly in the forefront of her consciousness. Anger. Her claws flexed instinctively and her eyes twitched at the mere thought that someone dared to kill her beloved Ash. "I need to know because it isn't just staying like this. I'll make the one who did it pay dearly."

Ash's brown eyes became scared and uncertain the moment they locked with Latias' golden eyes, which reflected in them a powerful and vengeful bloodlust. 'This is it,' Ash realized with panic and apprehension. 'I have to tell her the truth.' Ash hesitantly opened his mouth to speak but froze when his eyes ventured deeper into Latias' furious glare. Nothing came out.

'Tell her, tell her!'

Ash trembled and felt his knees grow weak. He closed his mouth and bit his uncomfortably dry lips. Yet, his eyes remained steadfast and centered on Latias' eyes.

'Tell her. Be honest.'

"Well?" Latias asked expectantly, an impatient scoff escaping her lips. Ash looked so distraught. She could sense a torrent of conflict and pain burning within him to the point it felt searing to her empathic senses, to the point it eclipsed anything she had ever sensed from him. She growled. Someone hurt him. Badly. And she wanted, needed, to know who it was. "Who hurt you, Ash? I swear I will make them pay for this."

'You gotta tell her.'

Ash's expression remained conflicted and uncertain. Every moment that he stared longer into Latias' glowering eyes felt like a grueling eternity, and he felt every bit of strength and resolve just abandon him. She looked livid. He'd never seen her so angry before. He didn't even know the perpetually sweet and kindhearted Latias was capable of such fury.

'Don't falter, Ash. Honesty is key.'

Yet, Ash knew what he had to do. He knew what the correct course of action was at heart. "It was…" Ash gulped and ran his tongue over his dry lips. Unable to bear the weight of the strenuous eye contact anymore, as it looked like a fire burned intensely within her amber eyes, Ash's eyes finally drifted to the side and lost focus. "I… I don't know who did it."

'Wait, what!?'

Ash shook his head and tightened his hands into fists. "It's just, I… It was that thing that possessed me. All I remember is dying to fire, it all went by so quickly. The one who possessed me must've done it."

'Ash! That's not true!'

Latias' gaze softened and she let out a saddened sigh. She could practically feel a horrifying storm coming off him through her empathy, to the point it almost smothered it. "I'm sorry, Ash. It wasn't my intention to place such a burden on you. I'm just so pissed." She leaned forward and rested her head on his shoulders. "If I'm bringing up painful memories by asking, I'm sorry. I just need to know. I care about you like nothing else."

Ash slumped down and looked at the ground in defeat with an appalled expression. 'No, no, no, what have I done?'

Latias wrapped her arms around him comfortingly. "It's okay, Ash. I'm here for you, always. I'm sorry for not protecting you. I won't make that mistake ever again, I promise it."

Ash sniffed and pressed against her touch. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly. "I'm just… I don't even know anything anymore. You don't have to apologize, Latias."

Latias pressed her cheek against Ash's and nuzzled him affectionately. "I promise you that the monster who possessed you will pay for this. Dearly."

"T-Thanks," Ash whispered uneasily. "It's just that—"

"Shh, it's okay, Ash," Latias interrupted gently. "I understand if you're feeling panicked and afraid. You just died, after all." She sighed and looked at him with a frown. 'If he died, why is he feeling guilty? What's there to be guilty of?'

"I'm sorry. I… it all went by so quickly. One moment we were all having fun and then… yeah. I'm sorry for getting possessed," Ash apologized, voice quivering with occasional trembles.

"Ash, that's not something you should apologize for. It's not like you could've prevented it. Who was that guy who possessed you, anyway?" Latias growled. "If he killed you, I need to know more about him."

Ash looked at her anxiously. "After Ho-Oh revived me, I talked with her. She said it was the same guy that killed your father."

Latias froze and looked at Ash in surprise. "What!?" Her jaw dropped slightly. "Ho-Oh said that?"

"Yeah, Ho-Oh told me," Ash confirmed with a weak nod.

Latias turned to face her brother. "When he trapped us, did you see the same thing I did? Our father? Alto Mare?"

"I did. So, it wasn't us just imagining random things." Latios snarled. "I can't believe the evil trainer from the Alto Mare legend is still around."

Latias growled and gritted her teeth. "This is personal now."

Latios scowled and levitated closer to her. "It very much is. I swear I'll kill him. For real." He scoffed and shook his head in distaste. "How is that even possible, though? I thought our dad killed him. That's what the legend says, anyway."

"I don't know, but we met Ho-Oh earlier today. She's here in Sky Pillar. You may want to talk to her, I think? It looks like she could know something about it," Ash suggested.

"I'll probably have to." Latios glanced at the lake, focusing on the distant and unmoving form of Skailyn. "She doesn't want to talk much. She says all of this is for someone else to explain. What if that someone is Ho-Oh?"

"I don't know," Latias commented. "But, enough of that. We'll deal with it later." She gave Ash a soft and tender expression. "Hey, by the way, what about everyone else? I vaguely remember them trying to break us free." Latias gulped and fidgeted uneasily on the spot. "Did that big ball of fire also reach them? Did Ho-Oh have to revive anyone else?"

Ash shook his head. "Thankfully, no," he confirmed shakily. "Pidgeot and the rest saved Brock and Bianca. Though, Pidgeot was a bit hurt in the process."

Latias frowned. "Is she okay?"

Ash nodded. "Yeah."

"What about Bianca, Brock, Pikachu, and, well, everyone else?" Latias asked with concern. "How are they doing?"

"They're all okay, just as shaken as us, really. They're asleep at the camp, it's on the lakebed just further down," Ash replied while pointing to the side.

"I'll go and see them." Latias levitated off of Ash. "I'm concerned about them, too. It's also late at night, so we should go back to camp and rest until morning." She looked at Ash and Latios. "You two coming?"

"Yeah, I'll come after you. Just, I'll stay behind for a bit, I've had trouble sleeping. I'd love to walk some more," Ash murmured in reply.

"Well, death and revival are bound to be traumatic," Latias pointed out. "I can feel it. You're all over the place right now." She frowned. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

Ash looked at her and gave her a forced smile. "I should. I just need time to get over it. We'll be right behind you."

"Okay. Don't take too long. It's cold out here. The last thing we need is you getting sick." Latias leisurely flew away in the direction of the group's camp.

Ash remained frozen on the spot as he looked after the departing Latias with a horrified expression. Time seemed to slow down and the environment grew uncomfortably silent.

"Ash?" Latios asked tentatively as he flew closer to the young trainer. "Is something wrong?"

Ash stared ahead until Latias disappeared into the distance. His hands balled into fists and his lips trembled. He scoffed and stomped toward the lake. "I'm so stupid!" he cried out angrily. "I can't believe it!"

Latios blinked, completely taken aback. "What are you talking about?"

Ash dropped to his knees and glared into his faint reflection on the lake. He could see the tears dripping down his cheeks. "Why? All I had to do was say it and get it over with!" His fists tightened and he punched his reflection, causing a mild splash along the surface.

Latios hastily levitated to Ash's side and pressed against him. "Ash, what's wrong?" he asked with concern.

"I lied!" Ash shot back, turning to face the dragon. "I was so weak, I couldn't do it!"

"Do what? What did you lie about?" Latios asked, both panicked and confused.

Ash took a few deep breaths to try and get his heaving chest under control. "It was…" He stopped and choked on his words. "It was Latias."

"I'm very confused," Latios said while giving him a dumbfounded look. "You have to—"

"It was Latias who killed me," Ash whispered in a voice so faint it barely made it over the unnerving silence that permeated their surroundings.

Latios froze and his words died in his throat. "She what?"

"She killed me!" Ash snapped angrily. His hand immediately clasped over his mouth, as if he'd just spoken a forbidden word. His fingers curled, gripping his face tightly in frustration.

Latios recoiled, appalled. "Are you sure? It can't be true, right? Latias? Seriously? Her? How do you know? She'd never do that! It's gotta be a mistake, right? Right?"

Ash let go of his mouth and lowered his head. "Ho-Oh told me. It was Latias who made that fireball. It was an accident, I swear."

Latios stared at Ash with widened eyes. He shook his head in disbelief and struggled to comprehend the revelation for a moment from how badly it caught him off-guard. "Oh no, this can't be…"

"I should've told her, I should've just said so and been honest with her. I had it on the tip of my tongue! My mind was screaming at me to do it. It was the right thing. I had to. I had to. But I lied. In the most important moment of all, I just… couldn't." Ash collapsed onto his back on the cold ground. "When I looked into her eyes and saw how angry she was, and knowing the damage the answer would've done to her… I broke. I faltered. I'm so damn weak," Ash added in frustration. His eyes felt annoyingly moist and his head throbbed repeatedly.

"Ash, you're not weak," Latios whispered in protest. "You're the farthest from it."

"I am!" Ash sat back up harshly. "I… when I was looking at her. I knew I had to say it. But looking into her eyes, into her face…" He rested his head on his palms. "I've never seen her so angry before. I just took the easy way out, like a coward."

Latios quietly flew down and wrapped his slender body around the distressed Ash, allowing him to rest his back against his side. Latios brought an arm around Ash's chest and pulled him close. "Listen, Ash. You're not weak, and you didn't fail. Okay?" His head pressed against Ash's comfortingly and nuzzled him. "You're the least guilty of anyone here, and what happened is certainly a tragedy. And this tragedy had you in an extremely difficult position. You're still very young and growing, after all, it's understandable you might falter."

Ash sighed and reached up to wipe his tears. "It's just that, when I told everyone else, Larvitar and Phanpy took it quite badly, Larvitar especially. And I calmed him down so well. I thought I could do the same with Latias. It would be easy, right? But when it was the moment to do so, I just couldn't. Why?"

Latios nodded along. "Because everyone is different, Ash. Latias isn't Larvitar. What worked with him wouldn't work with Latias. And you're at no fault for not knowing that."

"But now I've lied to her. If she finds out what she did, it's only going to be worse, a lot worse. I could've sorted it out here and been done with it," Ash protested. "How do I even tell her now? It's not like I can just walk up to her and say 'oh hey did you know it was actually you who killed me?' out of nowhere. It had to be now or never."

"Yeah, I can see the issue." Latios frowned and remained silent. "But, think about it for a moment, Ash. It's not easy to confess to one of your best friends that she killed you. It's something that you don't just say to someone."

"I know, I know," Ash mumbled weakly. "What should I do now?"

"I'll admit that I don't know what to do. And, if I'm honest, anyone we ask wouldn't know what to do either." Latios made a face. "That should only put into perspective how difficult the situation you're in is. So, don't feel ashamed if you didn't pick the correct path, or if you picked an easy way out."

Ash met Latios' eyes with a disheartened expression. "I suck."

"You don't. It's entirely the opposite of that. Anyway, what's done is done, let's put it behind us and think of something to do," Latios suggested. "Does anyone else know it was Latias?"

"Only Ho-Oh because she told me. I haven't told anyone else," Ash answered faintly.

"Well, she won't tell anyone, I'm sure, and will probably be all 'this is something for you to resolve' and leave it at that. She always does that," Latios said with relief. "That gives us some time to think."

"You're not going to suggest we keep it a secret, are you?" Ash asked with a frown.

"No, we can't. We're psychics. She'll figure it out sooner or later. She could peek into your mind, or accidentally pick up an errant thought, and it'll all be over," Latios replied. "Worse yet, Latias is an empath and she's terrifyingly perceptive. We have to find the right way of telling her."

"What a mess I've caused." Ash rubbed his temples and then looked at the starry sky. "I'm sorry for roping you into this, Latios."

"It's okay," Latios responded, following Ash's gaze into the night sky. "I'm happy you did. I want to help you, Ash. I want to be part of your hardships, too. I want to solve them with you, together." He pressed his head against Ash's head and nuzzled him again. "I'm glad you're not alone in this."

Ash closed his eyes and sank into the comforting touch. He reached up and wrapped his arms around the dragon's neck in a hug. "Thank you, Latios. Thank you so much."

Latios pulled back. "If it makes you feel better, I'm very disappointed in myself as well."

Ash blinked and looked at him in surprise. "You are? Why?"

"Because I failed too," Latios revealed. "I failed at protecting you. And worst of all, I was so caught up in my self-pity that I was afraid of approaching you. That's why I was so quiet earlier. I'm disgusted and disappointed at myself for being afraid of you in your moment of greatest need."

Ash frowned. "Latios, to me, you've never failed. You always do great. You've saved us all so many times. At Alto Mare, at the Silver Conference, at Oldale, at Rustboro…"

"But you still died." Latios looked down sorrowfully. "I promised Delia that I'd protect you on your travels, and I didn't."

Ash winced. "Oh no, I was so focused on Latias that I didn't even think of my mom. I don't want to imagine what she'll think if she ever finds out. I never told her I died at New Island, either."

"I don't want to think of it either," Latios responded with a cringe. "Your mom is a lovely woman, but she'd be livid."

"Well, anyway, I'm still alive thanks to Ho-Oh," Ash pointed out. "Maybe we can say it doesn't count? Or maybe we can just not tell her. We've got enough issues with just Latias as it is."

"You still died," Latios protested. "And a lot of the things you mentioned earlier are very close calls. We only survived Alto Mare barely because of our bond. We could've been injured at Oldale. We could've suffered grave injuries fighting Rico. And, lastly, we were inches from death at Rustboro. Well, finally, one of those close calls actually made it through."

"It did," Ash mumbled. "But, let's hope it doesn't happen again."

"Hope isn't good enough anymore." Latios growled faintly. "It's about us actively preventing it by any means necessary."

"Preventing something is easier said than done," Ash pointed out. "It's hard being ready for everything at all times."

"Yeah. You know, I remember when you told us about the time you died on New Island. I remember being so dismissive about it back then. Like it wasn't a big deal and a thing of the past. It really hits differently living through it now."

Ash's expression soured at the memories. "The worst part is I also dismissed it a lot like just one more adventure. I never thought of it as a big deal, either. Though this time was so much worse."

"Same here," Latios agreed. "I shouldn't take our mishaps so lightly. Maybe Pikachu's cynicism is right after all. The dangers we run into are serious. And now you've died on my watch. That shouldn't have happened."

"It wasn't your fault, though," Ash responded. "We already went over this. I was the one that got possessed by that evil trainer and then, well, what happened… happened. It was my fault, maybe?"

"Ash, we already went over this, too. That's in no way your fault, either. It's not like you could've prevented it," Latios countered.

"Could you have?" Ash asked sharply with narrowed eyes.

Latios opened his mouth to reply but found himself speechless the moment he put thought into any of his possible responses. He shut his mouth and winced. "Point."

Ash shook his head. "See? Not your fault either. Let's agree this wasn't the fault of either of us."

"Well, I guess we all should move on and go through this together," Latios agreed. "We'll find out a way to deal with Latias. We can't bury this forever. She'll find out sooner or later if we don't. And that would be far worse than if we just told her outright."

Ash nodded slowly. "I can agree with that."

Latios gently nudged Ash off him and levitated into the air. He offered Ash his clawed hand. "Come."

Ash looked at Latios' outstretched claws. He reached for them and firmly wrapped his hand around them, allowing Latios to gently pull him up to his feet. "So, what now?"

Latios nuzzled Ash affectionately. "You've done so much in holding the group together. One mishap doesn't change any of that." He pulled back and gave Ash a confident look. "Cheer up, because we'll get through this together. Alright?"

"We will. I guess I just have to take this experience and learn from it. I wish I'd have just told her the truth from the get-go," Ash said.

"Hey, things happen for a reason. Maybe you made the right call by not telling her immediately and instead waiting for some time to pass so the emotional trauma can heal before opening that particular wound," Latios commented.

"Yeah, maybe." Ash wrapped his arms around Latios' slender neck. "Thank you, for always being there for me."

"Always, Ash. Always," Latios replied while patting Ash's back. "Even if we no longer share a bond." He pulled back and looked at him unhappily. "I can't believe it's just gone like that."

Ash couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness get a hold of him. "Yeah. Ho-Oh said it served its purpose."

"So did Skailyn when we woke up," Latios said. "I'll miss it, you know? Even if it was just something that was there, in the back of our minds. It felt reassuring."

"Ho-Oh said it was possible to bond again, with a better bond," Ash commented. "She said she'd go into detail when we're together and if we're interested, though. She didn't say more."

Latios rolled his eyes. "Typical Ho-Oh. She always does that." His ears perked up. "Anyway, that's… something. I guess we'll have to ask her after we sort this mess out."

"Yeah, and what a mess it is," Ash muttered. "Latias is gonna kill us when she learns the truth. Like, kill us for real."

Latios winced. "She will."

"Anyway, Latios?" Ash gave him a reassuring look. "You're amazing. You're the strongest Pokémon I have. And I know I can always count on you to protect us all when things go bad."

"I'll try," Latios replied. "I will do my best from now on."

"Thank you for listening to me." Ash frowned and glanced back. "I'll go back to camp and try to get some sleep, Latias is probably expecting me soon. Also, I'm exhausted because dumb nightmares haven't let me sleep."

"Do you want me to fly you back to camp?" Latios offered.

Ash thought about it for a moment. "No, thanks. I think the walk will do me great. Thank you, though. What about you?"

"I'll catch up in a bit," Latios answered.

"Okay." Ash waved at him, turned around, and leisurely walked along the lake's shoreline in the direction of the camp.

Latios watched as Ash departed with a saddened expression on his features. He didn't lose sight of his friend for the longest time and let out an aggrieved sigh when the natural curvature of the lake and its vegetation finally blocked his sight of him. Latios levitated to the side and looked at the water next to him, focusing on the spot where Ash vented his frustration earlier. He stared into his reflection for the longest time in complete silence, only to fly back in slight startlement at the slight churn of the water ahead of him.

Skailyn gently slithered through the water and came to rest at the lake's shoreline, half of her enormous body partially submerged. Her head rose above the calm surface and gave the younger dragon a commiserating smile. "Hey, are you okay?"

Latios remained eerily silent for a moment and then shook his head. "Not entirely. Just, I have a lot going on in my head right now."

Skailyn nodded slowly. "I can imagine. You can talk about it if you need to vent. I'm all ears."

Latios sourly regarded the other Legendary and wondered if he should open up to her. For as far back as he remembered, he'd never been the type to be vocal about his issues with strangers, yet he felt the guilt and troubles eating away at him and rotting him to his core with every passing moment. His eyes locked with Skailyn's and, in the deep gold of her powerful gaze, found an odd sense of familiarity. Despite her size and fearsome appearance, the black Rayquaza's presence felt surprisingly comforting.

"No matter how much Ash says I didn't, I feel like I failed," Latios revealed at last. "I failed all my friends today. Latias killed Ash but she's oblivious to it. When she learns… I don't even want to know how she'll feel or what she'll do. As for Ash, well, he's feeling horrible over it because he knows the truth but couldn't find the strength to tell her." He opened his mouth to speak again, but shook his head several times instead and clicked his tongue.

"They're a ticking time bomb, and I feel it's me who has to deal with it. I know Ash is right and none of this is my fault, but still, something just screams in my head that maybe I could've prevented it all in the first place," Latios murmured. "I'm supposed to be the strongest one of us all, yet I was helpless to stop anything from happening. I didn't even know what was going on half the time. Maybe if I was stronger, better… I just don't know anymore."

Skailyn nodded along in silence. When she realized that Latios finished speaking, she said, "Well, Ash was right. You couldn't have done anything unless you were willing to kill him on the spot. That's the only way you could've stopped it. At least, with your current abilities."

Latios frowned. "I'm not surprised."

"Don't dwell on it," Skailyn advised. She slithered ahead so her head hovered just beside the much smaller dragon. "You can argue I failed as well. Even if I only allowed your assailant a few minutes with you, it's still a few minutes too much. I always strive to be as strong as I can, and I'm aware that I can't exactly say we won the battle. Much like you, I've asked myself repeatedly what I could've done differently. But I know it's in the past. I've gone over it, I'll train hard, and I'll correct it, and I'll move on and not dwell on it." She paused and sighed. "In the end, I'm glad both of you are fine. That's what I care about. Much like how you should care that Latias and Ash are fine at the end of the day, hardships aside. I'm sure you'll all find a way to overcome this challenge."

"They're fine, yeah. One day we'll all be over this and return to being a happy little group, I'm sure." Latios tilted his head in her direction and eyed her curiously. "Thanks for helping us out, by the way. Though, how did you end up there?"

"I've been watching over you and your sister for a while at… someone's request," Skailyn answered slowly, carefully picking her words.

"Who?" Latios asked with perked ears.

Skailyn gave him a look. "Sorry, can't say."

Latios rolled his eyes. "You say that a lot."

"Because it's true. There's a lot that's not my place to explain to you and no amount of poking will change that. I ask that you please respect that," Skailyn replied.

"Fine," Latios said with an unamused huff. "So, how long have you been watching over us?"

"Since you went into Petalburg Woods."

Latios glared at her. "Wait, for that long? We've been through a lot of problems since then! If you watched over us, you could've helped us out much earlier!"

"That's exactly what I did," Skailyn countered.

Latios scoffed. "No, you didn't. I think someone as big as you helping out would've been painfully obvious to us."

The edge of Skailyn's snout turned into a mirthful smirk. Abruptly, a gust of wind rushed through the area and crashed against Latios' side—not too forcefully but not gently either—and shoved him away for a few yards.

"Hey! What was that!?" Latios asked in annoyance.

Another gust of wind blew by and buffeted him again, pushing him away further. Latios glared at Skailyn again, only for his eyes to widen at the familiarity of the situation. "Wait a minute… It was you. You're the one that guided me to Rico!"

Skailyn nodded. "There we go."

"And the bullets that got past us during the fight but hit the sand instead, that was you as well?" Latios asked tentatively.

"Yeah."

"Uhm… Thanks," Latios stammered with an embarrassed blush. "I guess you did help. We couldn't have found that Rico guy without you, then."

"I had to clean up your mess, too," Skailyn commented, tilting her head and giving him a knowing look.

Latios laughed nervously. "You mean… oh, that." He scoffed. "Yeah. I killed the guy. So what? Fuck him, I don't think anyone's going to mourn that dumbass."

"That's not the point. I won't scold you for killing someone you deemed fit to die." Skailyn's eyes narrowed. "But if you'll kill someone, at least mind your environment and what you leave behind for others to find," she reprimanded. "You're brash and impulsive, and that little show could've put your friends in grave danger."

Latios winced and turned away. "Yeah, I should've thought that through a little better. I was so pissed. Uhm… Are we in trouble for that?"

Skailyn shook her head. "I made sure you aren't. But be careful next time, because if humans came after you, I would've intervened to stop them and it wouldn't have been pretty. And that would've been on you."

"Anyway!" Latios said a bit too loudly. "Let's forget about that one and move on, shall we? So, why didn't you help us at Rustboro? We almost died. If Latias and I didn't have our outburst, tens of thousands would've died, including our friends."

"Yeah. I could have quite easily stopped those guys," Skailyn admitted. "But I didn't for two reasons."

"Which are?" Latios asked while giving her an expectant look.

"We're Legendaries, Latios. Not heroes. Ultimately, a group of humans trying to destroy another group of humans, no matter the size, is a problem for humans as a species to deal with and resolve amongst themselves," Skailyn explained. "It's not my role in life, or that of any other Legendary, to go around defending humanity from itself."

Latios glared at her in annoyance and opened his mouth to retort, but sharply closed it instead when he put a little more thought into his attempted reply. 'That sounds a lot like myself when I was Alto Mare's Guardian. Have I grown so fond of humans in my recent travels? Why does it annoy me so much?' Latios wondered while lowering his head in thought. "I guess you're right," he relented with a tired exhale. "I don't like it, but I can't fault you either because I can see your point. Before I left Alto Mare, I wasn't the biggest fan of protecting humans and I'd do the same as you in similar scenarios."

"And, second…" Skailyn gave him a soft look. "It's because I believed in you and your sister."

Latios froze on the spot. "What?"

Skailyn lowered her eyes to the water, following the younger dragon's gaze. "What do you see, Latios?"

Latios blinked in slight confusion and focused on his reflection in the calm water under him. "Well, myself."

"What was it you asked yourself earlier? If you could've stopped Latias from killing Ash in the first place? If you could've saved him earlier? Or if there was some way you could've prevented the whole thing in the first place?" Skailyn paused to let that sink in. "Tell me, are you going to prevent things like that from happening by depending on someone else to save you from danger every time?"

Latios stared in silence as he went over her question repeatedly in his mind. "Well, I guess not."

"That's why I did so little to intervene in your fight with Rico, or why I didn't stop the attack on the city or the human machine, even though I was there both times and I could have. I'm not here to fight your hardships or battles. I didn't jump in to save you because I believed you and your sister could save yourselves. And you did." Skailyn's proud smile broadened. "Through your own pain, blood, and effort, you earned your victory that day," she praised.

Latios' claws flexed and his teeth bared as he looked at her unhappily, even if Skailyn's proud beam caused a stir in him. Part of him knew she was right, as he hated depending on others to save him or fight his battles. But part of him resented the fact he and Latias fought alone and much of their suffering could've been prevented.

"Latios?" Skailyn said abruptly, her expression shifting into a serious stare.

Latios' glare met her eyes dead center.

"Yes, you failed to protect your friends just now. But you got a chance to try again, so stop moping over it and make sure you succeed next time." Skailyn's eyes narrowed and reflected an unwavering resolve. "Because, yes, it's always okay to have friends and trust those around you for safety. But, when the time comes, you can't always expect someone to come and save you. Latios, you're a god. You're a Legendary. You can save yourself. It's you who others will look to for saving."

Latios' eyes widened and his breath hitched as he contemplated her words.

Skailyn's hardened expression softened as she leaned forward and gently rested her head against Latios' side. She closed her eyes and nuzzled him kindheartedly. "I care immensely about you and your sister. And it's because I care that I let you fight, learn, and grow at your natural pace."

Latios closed his eyes and leaned against Skailyn's head. "You're right. No more weakness, no more impotence. I don't want to feel helpless ever again. The dormant power I have? I want it. I want it all. I want to make sure my friends or family aren't in danger ever again."

Skailyn pulled back. The water churned as her tail snaked by and rose from the darkened depths. She slipped the slender tip under Latios' chin and gently lifted his head to meet her eyes once more. "You're strong, but don't let that go to your head, either. Don't forget being strong is more than just being a strong fighter or being the most powerful in the room, it's also about being a strong person and always doing the right thing. One day you'll grow into a fantastic Legendary, I'm sure. You'll find a way to deal with all hardships, even the emotional ones that currently burden you." She glanced to the side. "I can tell you care immensely about your friends. I'm sure you can succeed, for your sake and theirs."

Latios followed her gaze, no doubt knowing they were looking in the direction of the camp. "I know I can. It's always Ash doing his best to hold the group together. I think he needs me for that, more than ever. And, well, everyone else does too." He turned his attention back to her. "Thanks for the conversation. You're right, and you've helped me realize Ash is right too. I shouldn't be sorry or guilty, I should be better. I will be better."

"I'm glad." Skailyn dipped into the water and swam back to a deeper section of the lake.

Latios glanced in the direction of the camp again, but instead followed the massive Rayquaza further into the lake. "So, will you stay here now that we're awake?"

"At least until morning. My father's coming early and I'd like to chat with him. After that, I'll leave. The battle left me badly injured and I'd like to rest elsewhere," Skailyn answered.

Latios frowned. "You don't look injured, though. Unless you mean…"

"Spiritually, much like you and Ash."

"Gotcha. Anyway, your dad is Rayquaza, correct?" Latios asked.

"Yeah."

"There's something I need to show him, that's why we wanted to come here in the first place," Latios elaborated. "We just didn't expect to be interrupted like this."

"I'm sure he'll gladly listen." Skailyn stopped near the Sacred Fire shrine and coiled her body around itself comfortably.

Latios stopped just above her. "By the way, thank you for your honesty earlier. Looking at what happened with Ash, I guess it could've been easy for you to hide what happened to avoid hurting us. Even if the truth upset us, thanks. It's good to know."

"As I said, you two deserve complete honesty from now on," Skailyn replied amiably. "The truth often hurts, but goes a long way."

"Hey, mind if I stay with you for a bit? I… have a lot I want to think over, away from my friends and Latias," Latios requested with a slightly embarrassed expression.

Skailyn smiled at him. She slightly pushed out one of her great coils and gently motioned toward it with her head. Latios slowly levitated down to it and laid on the smooth scales. Skailyn gently pulled it in and protectively rested her neck over it so her head was right beside the smaller dragon's body, and closed her eyes to rest.

Latios pressed against the comforting presence almost instinctively. He knew he wouldn't get much sleep, but at least he could rest and think in peace.

"Who did this!?" Latias roared out angrily. Her eyes glistened with both the red-hot light of her vast psychic powers and the apparent stains of moisture, which freely matted the feathers on her cheeks.

Never had Latias felt such fury burn within her, completely overshadowing the sea of flames that surrounded her and scorched the landscape into nothingness. The rage and impotency of loss felt excruciatingly heartbreaking, for before her lay a charred and unrecognizable corpse that soon crumbled into a heap of ashes. "Who did this!?" Latias bellowed in a thundering voice.

The crackling flames at her side abruptly shifted in response. Latias' head immediately whipped in that direction and her eyes released a blinding gleam of red light. A vast amount of powerful psychokinetic energy flared out of her body and formed a gigantic, amorphous mass of psychic power above her that completely blotted out the sky in a sea of red.

As tears freely flowed down her cheeks and a shrill scream escaped her jaws, Latias unleashed the Psyshock at the culprit ahead. The mass of energy crashed down with the force and weight of a mountain, completely cleaving through the earth and setting off devastating earthquakes that shattered the landscape.

Yet, despite Latias' efforts, the flames didn't subside. If anything, they billowed even higher and crackled louder in open defiance of her. "Was it you? I'm going to kill you for this," Latias snarled venomously as a breeze of icy wind swept the ashes away.

The fire ahead of Latias grew taller and burned with even greater intensity. The plumes drew closer to each other and gradually coalesced into a figure.

Latias glared at it and adopted a defensive stance, eyes burning with overwhelming psychic power. She would confront this threat. She would win. She would avenge—

The fire abruptly took shape and glared back at her with a sickening smirk on its pointed snout and a mocking glint in its amber eyes. "Yes. I did it," it replied.

Latias was looking at herself.

Latias let out a shrill cry and shot up with a violent flare of her levitation. She looked around in alarm and heaved heavily, with her psychic powers readied for offensive use. She closed her dimming eyes in relief at the obvious absence of fire anywhere in the vicinity, as by now the group's campfire had long run out.

'Just a nightmare, just a nightmare,' Latias repeated in her mind as she tried to steady her rampant breathing. Her eyes opened slowly and scanned her friends one by one to check up on them. She gave Pikachu an apologetic look, as his head rose from Ash's sleeping bag and looked at her with a concerned expression. Thankfully, she noted, her abrupt cry hadn't woken anyone else up.

Latias sighed in relief as her attention moved from Pikachu to the sound-asleep Ash, noting that he was still very much alive and nothing was out of the ordinary. She slowly looked at the distant horizon, where the first streaks of daybreak already pierced the darkness of night.

'Still, what was that? Is… it trying to tell me something? Nah, just a senseless nightmare, that's all. It was just a nightmare, right?' Latias thought with dread, even though it unnerved her to the point it made her shiver and left her uncomfortable in her own skin. She scowled and glanced around once again. 'Huh, where's Latios at? He still hasn't returned?'

After a moment's thought, Latias let out a saddened noise and levitated down to her resting place, knowing full well there was no way she'd get any further sleep. Her claws flexed, her eyes narrowed, and a slight growl rose from within her throat as her thoughts drifted back to Ash. 'I swear I won't let anything hurt you ever again.'

Chapter End

Author Notes: Man, this chapter was so difficult to write. I feel like I'm so bad at writing emotional scenes, but hey, chapters like this provide practice, right? Plus, it's always fun to break down and explore characters when they're having rough moments. I hope it was an enjoyable read!

Anyway, don't forget to leave a Review or Comment with your thoughts! I'd love to hear them!