Chapter 2: Alto Mare

"Oh my god!" Latios said, looking at his hands. "You did it!" He said, hugging me. "WAIT!" He said, flying over to the well where the soul dew was held. The water was still flowing from the well and Latios let out a relieved sigh. "You really did it. Everything is perfect and here I am…" You are a miracle worker." He said, hugging me again.

"What's going on?" I heard a male voice come from the entrance of the garden.

"Lorenzo? I said, surprised to see the rotund old man.

"Jamie? I didn't expect to see you here. I didn't expect to see Latios either." He laughed. "You must have done some miracle magic or something. Latios has been trapped in the soul dew for over fifteen years."

"Now I am free." Latios said, flying around in circles.

"We are all incredibly thankful." Latias said, flying up and hugging me. "Come on, lets go get you something as a treat." She said, turning into a human and dragging me to the exit of the secret garden.

"Hey, wait for me." Rob said, chasing after us.

"Hey Latias, where are we going?" I said as she dragged me behind her. I didn't get a response, instead she just turned around and smiled.

"Hey, wait up!" Rob shouted from behind us.

We came across a canal that was loaded with racers. "Wow, we got here just in time!" I laughed.

"Welcome to the Alto Mare yearly water chariot race!" The announcer said over the intercom. "This year we have a great turnout. We have former race champion William here with his floatzel, but a few newcomers aren't going to let him win without a fight. Trainers, when you hear the Xatu, that's your cue!"

A few anticipation filled seconds went by as we waited for the xatu to say its name. "Xatu." The bird pokemon said, spreading its wings. The racers sped off and I saw Latias transform into a pokemon and smiled.

"What are you doing?" I exclaimed.

"Come on Jamie, lets have some fun." She laughed. "Turn into me and lets race."

"Well this certainly is a nice surprise folks, in the crowd is one of the guardians of Alto Mare, Latias!" The announcer said, getting a cheer from the crowd.

I decided to go with her proposal and I turned into a Latias as well and flew over to the starting line. "What are you waiting for?" I called.

"Uh-oh, it seems like we have TWO races today." The announcer laughed. "On the Xatu, go!"

We waited for the Xatu again and when he raised his wings, I sped off through the track, water flying behind me. I looked to my left to see Latias right beside me laughing. Her laugh stopped when she looked past me and gasped. I looked to what she was surprised at and saw Latios beside me. "I am not letting you two have ALL the fun." He said, before speeding down the course.

"We can't let him win." I said, turning the corner. Latias nodded and we both sped off. The next minute was spent turning through the various waterways in the canals of the city. It didn't take us long to catch up to the water chariot racers, causing many to gasp and fall down. I was closing in on Latios and laughed. "Come on, move over a little." I teased him, speeding up to my limit and barely passing him. The final turn had come up and as I was coming into the home stretch I saw a burst of water fly up in front of me as Latias breached the surface and passed the finish line laughing her high pitched laugh.

"I win I win." She giggled, slowing down. Maybe next time brother." She said, turning to her blue counterpart. "I missed you." She hugged him.

"That wasn't… very fair." I panted.

"Of course it was." She laughed. "You wouldn't be so hot if you were to go underwater too." She smiled. I saw the truth in her words and dived underneath the cool waters of the canal. The chariot racers were quick to finish behind us and William and his floatzel finished in first.

"Lets give him a prize!" I said, popping my head out of the water.

"Like what?" Latios asked. I didn't answer, instead I flew up to the trainer and lowered my head, signalling for him to get on. He sat there in shock for a second, but quickly obliged.

I took him on a victory lap as fast as I could. I could feel his pulse race as I sped through the waterways and he yelled out more than once. "Best trophy EVER!" He screamed as we crossed the finish line a second time.

"That was fun!" I said, smiling.

"Yea… Definately have to do this again next year." Latios smiled.

I gave myself a mental slap when I realized that in all the excitement, I completely forgot about Rob. I motioned for the trainer to get off and I flew up to Rob, licking him on the face. 'Get on.' I said.

"Yes ma'am." He cheerfully obliged. I flew him around the track, not very fast.

'So how do you like Alto Mare?' I said, looking up at him.

"Its beautiful." He said, looking around. "There is too much water for me though. I would have to learn how to swim at age two to live here." He laughed.

'Tell me you know how to swim.' I said.

"Of course I know how to swim." He said, swatting me on the neck gently.

'Hey, watch it. You have to remember who you are riding.' I laughed.

"Oh, I know."

'Good, then I won't feel bad about THIS!' I said as I did a barrel roll, knocking him off of my back.

"HEY! Not funny." He said, breaching the water's surface.

i just laughed and gave a nod as I let him climb back on me. 'Hold your breath.' I warned him as I dived under the waters surface. I sped down the canals, past a few water pokemon and went through the tunnel that lead to the secret garden. 'Well that was a lot of fun.' I said, turning back into my human form. I hugged the soaking wet boy I carried through the water with a happy sigh.

"Yea, until you flipped me off… Literally." He smiled.

"Would you rather me flip you off both ways?" I giggled, raising my hand, about to give him the finger.

"No, I am fine." He laughed, grabbing my hand with his own. We heard a splash of water and saw Latias and Latios come from the tunnel.

"Well, that was something I will have to get used to again." Latios said, shaking the water off of himself.

"So you are saying I only won because you just got your body back?" Latias said playfully.

"Exactly." Latios said, crossing his arms proudly.

"We'll see about that!" Latias said, tackling him.

"I think I will let them play." I said, smiling at the siblings that haven't played together in over 15 years. "Come on, I know a good place for ice cream."

"Alright, alright. I am coming." He said as I tugged on his arm. I lead him down and out of the garden through Lorenzo's workshop, stopping to talk to him for a few minutes before going on our way.

When I saw the canal I transformed into a Latias again. 'Get on.' I smiled.

"I guess this is one way to get around." He laughed, getting on my back. "Ready." He said.

Without warning I sped up only to have him slip off my back a second later. 'I thought you said you were ready?' I laughed.

"I was ready for you to go." He said, splashing me. "I wasn't ready to go the speed of light." I lowered myself into the water so he could get on my back again. "Ok… Slower this time." He chuckled, wrapping his arms around my neck.

I started off slow for him but I sped up as we were over the water longer. Pretty soon we were just a blur flying over the water of the canals. I slowed down as we neared the ice cream shop. I hovered near the entrance as I tilted to the side, allowing Rob to get off of me before transforming back into Jamie. "After this I think I am going to show you the real beauty of Alto Mare." I said standing in line.

"I am looking at her right now." He said with a sly smile, making me blush and my mind turn to romantic sceneries of us sitting and watching the moon and stars over the sea.

I almost burst into laughter when the guy in front of us in line turned around. "Smooth kid. Real smooth." He said with a laugh.

"Thanks." Rob said with a chuckle. "But what would you like to show me?"

"The canals, what else?" I said giggling.

"I can already see the canals." He said, looking over his shoulders to the blue water that filled the cities.

"Not like this." I smiled, leaning close and giving him a kiss.

"Mmh. Anyway, its our turn." He said, walking up to the counter. "Yes, I'd like-"

"Ahem, ladies first." I said, covering his mouth as he rolled his eyes in amusement. "One cookies and cream cone please." I said with a smile as the person behind the counter laughed at our little scene. When he handed me my cone I took my hand off of his mouth. "Now you can go." I said with a giggle.

"Chocolate chip mint please." He said. When he received his cone he pulled out his wallet and paid.

"Well, atleast you are somewhat a gentleman." I laughed as we walked out of the shop, thanking the shopkeepers.

"So how do you plan on showing me a different angle of the canals?"

"You will see." I said, eager to show him the magnificent views from underwater.

"Mmh." He said, taking a bite straight out of his ice cream. I gave him a disturbed stare. "What?" He laughed.

"That's not natural." I said as he bit his ice cream again.

"Allwell, I'm your problem." He laughed.

I let out a playful sigh. "Yes you are." We finished up our ice cream a Rob whispered sweet nothings to me and it made my heart flutter the whole time. "Anyway, are you ready?" I asked, finishing off my cone.

"Waiting on you." He smiled. He was surprised when I dived into the canals instead of transforming. "What are you doing?" He asked when I breached the surface again.

"Oh, just suck it up and be a man. Jump in with me!" I said enthusiastically as I dived underwater again, creating goggles with psychic energy. I could see Rob do a cannonball into the water and smiled. 'Come here." He complied and swan next to me as I summoned my bubble, siphoning air from the surface.

"Wow." Rob gasped as he saw the breathtaking marine life that was below the surface of the water. We could see pretty coral and a vast array of water pokemon. We began walking on the ground as we marvelled at the sea life. "Just think… Latias and Latios see this every day." He said in wonder.

"Well… We can too." I said.

"I don't know." He said.

"Remember, money will never be an issue for us. We can live anywhere." I smiled. "And quite frankly, I wouldn't mind living anywhere."

"Yea, because you are a mew." He laughed.

"Wrong." I said, my mind returning to us sleeping under a starry night. "Because you will be with me."

"You know, all you have to do is ask. I am pretty sure Lorenzo wouldn't mind loaning us a boat." He smiled as he read my mind.

"Hey!" I said, swatting him. "My mind is private." I said with a smile. "Go get your own." I laughed.

"What are you implying?"

"I don't know, read my mind and find out." I said with a giggle.

"Whatever." He said with a laugh.

We entered the secret garden right as it was getting dark. "Oh, where have you two been? You missed the food." Latias said, floating up to us with her two boys hovering close by.

"Hello Aunt Jamie." They chimed.

"Hello boys." I pet their cheeks. "It's not a big deal, if Rob and I get hungry I am positive Lorenzo will let us use his kitchen."

"Ok. Boys, it's time for bed." She said, putting her hands on their wings.

"Aww, mama. I don't wanna go to bed." The smaller one said.

"Now, now, Kyle. You know what I have said about arguing with me. Go to bed. You too Clark." She said, looking at both boys sternly.

"Yes mama." The said glumly as they went to the tree where they all slept.

"Thank you." She said as they floated off.

"Hey. Where is Bianca? I haven't seen her at all today.

"Oh.." Latias said, looking down.

"Uh-oh. She isn't dead is she?" I said, worried.

"Oh, no." Latias laughed. "She just moved away. Well, technically on the other side of the city, but, not HERE."

"Oh." I said, letting out a nervous laugh. "We should pay your best friend a visit tomorrow then. What do you say?"

"Um.. Excuse me, but who is Bianca?" Rob asked.

"Bianca is my best friend." Latias said cheerfully.

"Oh. Continue." Rob said, butting out.

"Yea, that sounds great." She smiled.

"Ok then." I said. "I am getting tired." I yawned. I transformed into a latias and let Rob climb on my back. I floated up to a specific spot on the tree and made myself comfortable, despite another pokemon's protests.

"Hey! You know that is MY spot!" Latias giggled.

"Yep." I said, closing my eyes with a smile.

"Mhm.. I guess I will have to deal with this." She said, eyes glowing blue. She began using her psychic powers to levitate us to a spot on the tree that wasn't taken and I laughed.

"That worked great." I said, getting comfortable in my new spot.

"What did?" Latias asked with a confused look.

"I only went half the distance I needed to, you finished my trip for me." I laughed as she rolled her eyes in amusement. I wasn't the only one laughing because all of the Latios were laughing with me.

"Boys." Latias said warningly.

When the laughter had calmed down, we all fell asleep on the peaceful night.

I awoke to the little noisemakers the Lati's had scattered around the garden going off. "Trouble!" I said. I hoped to get rid of the enemy before the other Lati's found out so it wouldn't put the on edge. I floated to the source of the sound, only to see Rob sitting by the pool of water where the soul dew used to lay. I let out a sigh of relief and transformed to Jamie. "Hey babe, what's the matter?" I said, rubbing his shoulders. I could feel him jump slightly at my touch, but he didn't do much else.

"Can't sleep." He said.

"Why not?"

"Don't know… Just can't." He said. I could feel him lie over our mental link.

"Mhm… I call BS on that one. Whats wrong?" I tried looking into his mind, but he made it so where I can't see what he was upset about.

"It's just the fact that you are a guardian right? A half legendary. Eventually I will age and die, but you. you will always look the same. You will always be a beautiful and stunning ninteen year old girl as I turn into an old man." He said.

"Rob…" I said, turning his head to face me. "In the Hall, nothing ages. Why do you think Arceus still looks like she is in her twenties even though she is millennia of years old. Why do you think the food she buys never gets old?"

"But there's the thing. Living forever is just as bad of a curse." He sighed.

"We will figure something out, I promise." I said, hugging him.

"Ok." He said, not sounding fully convinced.

"Hey. What do I always tell you?" I smiled.

"When you make a promise, it will be carried out one way or another." He chuckled. "But you have to cut me some slack, I am only human. I can't help but worry about my mortality, especially seeing as how about a month ago, I was laying in my bed, trying my hardest to not think about my upcoming death then."

"Well, you shouldn't be thinking about that now. We are on vacation, lighten up."

"I guess you are right." He sighed with a smile.

"I am a woman, I am always right." I laughed.

"That's not sexist." He laughed as well. "Besides… You said that nothing ages in the hall, so how old are you really?"

"I am not sure… I lost count after 200." I laughed.

He looked at me in disbelief. "You can't be over 200."

"You are right, i'm not." I giggled some more. I am only 21 in actual years. My mom kept me in the hall when I was an infant."

"But you said…"

"Well I guess a more proper way of putting is that things develop, but don't age?" I said, trying to figure it out myself. "Anyway, come on. It's cold sleeping all by myself."

"I guess you are right. How insensitive of me." He joked.

"Yes, now come on before I punish you." I joked back.

The rest of the night was spent beneath the tree where the Lati's slept, with warm arms around me.

I woke up to myself shivering and sweating. The nightmares from the Team Rage incident were back and scared me awake. "Calm down." I whispered to myself over and over again. When I was calm enough to walk around I let out a sigh and noticed sleeping on the ground had made me rather filthy, not to mention me being all sweaty. I got up quietly and tiptoed my way far enough from the sleeping people in and around the tree. I was far enough away and I began walking towards the pool of water in the garden.

I reached the pool and let out a sigh. "I am really going to regret this." I muttered to myself. "Allwell, I need a bath." I said, giving one last look to make sure everyone was asleep before stripping down and sliding gently into the water. "Holy shit!" I gave out a loud whisper as I felt the cold water reach my nether lips. I let out another gasp as it reached my breasts and made my nipples perky. "Great." I muttered. I began washing myself in the cold water, checking over on the sleeping pokemon and Rob to make sure there were no peeping toms. I was luckily able to finish before anyone woke up and I was careful to get out of the freezing water quietly.

I wasn't lucky enough to have my little bath go completely unnoticed because as I was bent over and drying my hair I got a very dirty thought come across our mental link. 'Nice show.'

When I heard this my face turned redder than groudon himself and I was quick to cover myself up from Rob's prying eyes. 'Oh my god, you scared me!' I yelled at him. 'Perv! How long have you been awake?' I said, throwing him an angry glance.

'Longer than you have. I couldn't sleep with your nightmares going over into my mind too.'

'I am sorry… I am weak. I should be able to get ov-'

'No. Don't say you are weak. If you have nightmares it means you are sorry, and if you are sorry it means you hate killing. I don't think I would even know you anymore if you started to like murder.'

'Wait…' I said as something clicked in my mind. 'You mean you were watching me the whole time?!' I yelled over the mental link.

'Yes...' Came his small reply. I could see him look at me with a playful fear.

'Jeez, how ungrateful… You could have at least had the common courtesy to help… maybe I would have gotten a nice back rub, but NOO. you had to be a perv and fiddle with yourself.' I joked.

'I did not.' He said defensively.

'I know, but you owe me.' I laughed as I got dressed. When I was fully dressed behind a tree I walked out to him and smacked him on the chest.

"I do not." He whispered with a smile.

"Ok… If you say so." I said, laying down on his chest.

"I do have a question though. Why did you bathe here instead of the hall, in our room?"

"You see those fan looking things everywhere? They are designed to wake up Latias or Latios whenever something enters the garden and I didn't feel like walking around Alto Mare for the next few hours while I wait for them to wake up."

"Mmh."

We sat there for about 10 minutes before my stomach began growling. Just then it had dawned on me that Rob and I never had an official supper last night, causing me to smile in amusement. "What would you like for breakfast?"

"Food."

"That helps a lot."

"You should know by now that I really don't care what I eat." He laughed. "I have been telling you that since we were what? Thirteen? Fourteen?"

"Well fine. I will go get me something to eat." I said with a smile. "They should be awake by time we get back." I whispered as I walked to the pool again. "Coming?" I jumped into the water and began swimming through the tunnel. I heard a splash behind me and Rob tried to catch up. I breached the surface of the canal and took a huge gulp of air because the tunnel was designed for Lati's, who can hold their breath for over half an hour. I swam to the nearest dock and waited for Rob to do the same. It didn't last long because I saw a strangely out of place shadow on the wall next to me. "You guys can't even give me a week?" I joked.

"Well it seems there are some… disturbances, in The Hall." Darkrai said, floating out from the wall.

"Specifics?" I said, helping Rob out of the water.

"There are too many." He said. "Everything seem to be in disarray. More than one pair of legendaries are fighting."

"Wonderful." I said. "So much for my week." I laughed. "Anyway, Rob, come on. Lets see who is fighting and why." I said, grabbing his hand and putting my other hand on Darkrai's shoulder and teleporting us to The Hall. We appeared by the large doors to Mount Coronet and I could hear a cacophony of loud voices in heated debates. I walked in the middle of them all as they paid me no mind. "Ehem. HEY!" I said, getting all of their attention. "Meeting." I said, pointing to the meeting room. I sent out a message to the rest of the legendaries that weren't here to join the meeting as well.

"Where do you want me to be?" Rob asked, walking with me to Arceus' spot.

"Just stay in our room, this won't be too long." I smiled. He walked off as the rest of the legendaries filed in. "Alright." I said as all the legendaries made their way to their spot. "As you all know, Mother left me in charge. I know some of you might not always get along with each other. I respect that. I don't get along with everyone either, but I do ask that you try and put your differences aside for the next five or so days. If you simply can't, I will be more than happy to help sort things out. I won't be in The Hall however. You can find me in Alto Mare with Latias and Latios until Monday." I looked around and saw heads nodding in approval everywhere. As I was looking around the meeting meeting I saw something that shocked me. In my spot was an exact copy of myself. It noticed my look of disbelief and winked slyly and I knew who it was. Arceus had sensed a meeting was coming and she decided to see how it would go. "Now are there any questions or arguments that need to be solved at this moment?"

A black taloned hand went up. "Yes, you said you would replace Mother. How do you feel you will change the rules for the coming year?" Zekrom asked.

"Ahh. I will be upholding everything Arceus has put into place. I might be slightly more lenient, but if you use that to your own gain it will not work. Anything else?" There were no more hands in the air or questions voiced out. "Good. Meeting adjourned. You may return to previous activities." I looked over to Arceus, who was still my doppelganger, and mouthed for her to wait. She nodded and met me by her spot after the legendaries had dispersed.

"Very well done." She smiled.

"Thanks." I nodded.

"You handled it better than I thought." She laughed. "Anyway, you can go back to what you were doing. I am going to be in Cerulean City if you need me." She said, turning back into her own human form and teleporting.

I went back to Rob, who was waiting for me at the door. "Good meeting." He smiled. I looked past him and saw the scrying table still on and I laughed.

"You always did love loopholes." I said, teleporting us to Alto Mare again for some breakfast.

This was a fun chapter to write because of all of the things that happen between Jamie and Latias XD Next chapter is probably my favorite. You will just have to wait until thursday to figure out why X3