Chapter 20: Frolicking In The Sky.
Latias, her smile unshakeable, broke the silence. "Ash, before we go back, there's something I want to do," she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Something only a few Pokémon have ever experienced."
Ash's curiosity was piqued. "What is it?" he asked, his Latios form tilting his head to the side.
Latias looked at him with a mischievous glint in her eye. "You'll see," she said, her voice filled with excitement. She turned to Pikachu and focused her psychic abilities, wrapping an invisible force around his tiny body and securing him snugly against Ash's back.
Ash felt the unseen embrace, firm yet comforting, as Pikachu gave a squeak of surprise. "Don't worry, buddy," he assured his partner. "Something tells me that this is going to be amazing."
Latias took off, her wings unfurling with a grace that left Ash in awe. Her psychic powers had created a warm, secure bubble around Pikachu, allowing him to breathe and stay snug against his back, even as they ascended into the sky. Ash followed close behind, his form rippling in a rhythm that was surprisingly natural to him. He felt the wind in his feathers, the rush of the air in his new form, and the sheer exhilaration of flying.
But as they climbed higher, the air grew thinner and the pressure began to build. Ash's human instincts kicked in, and he could feel the panic rising from the depths of his transformed soul. He called out to Latias, his mind-voice filled with a hint of fear. "Latias, are we going to be okay?"
Her response was swift and soothing. "Don't worry, Ash. Eon Pokemon are made for this." Her confidence washed over him, and he felt a surge of warmth. He took a deep breath, the cold air sharp in his new lungs, and focused on the steady beat of her wings, the rhythm of their flight.
They climbed higher and higher until the world below was nothing more than a patchwork quilt of greens and blues, the cities and towns mere specks in the vast tapestry of the planet. Ash could feel the thinness of the air, the pressure that threatened to crush them, but his body, now a testament to the power of the Eon Pokémon, adapted. His heart pumped stronger, his lungs expanded to meet the challenge, and he felt a strange, exhilarating thrill at the limits he was pushing.
The memory of the Sword of the Vale incident was stark in his mind—how he had clung to the runaway machine, Pikachu by his side, their very lives on the line. The fear had been all-consuming, the cold embrace of the atmosphere a constant reminder of their mortality. But here, with Latias leading the way, the experience was different. Empowering. He was not a passenger to fate, but a creature of the skies, in tune with the very fabric of the world around him.
"Pikachu," Ash called out to the one on his back, "are you okay?"
Pikachu looked up at him, his expression a mix of bewilderment and excitement. He nodded vigorously, his voice muffled by the psychic bubble. Despite the wariness in his eyes, he seemed perfectly content, as if the bubble was a warm, snug blanket. The memory of the Sword of the Vale incident was a stark contrast to their current situation to Pikachu as well. Back then, the thinning air had been a terrifying threat, a harbinger of imminent doom. But now, with Latias's psychic embrace, the cold was kept at bay, and the pressure was a mere trifle. He could breathe easily, his tiny lungs unaffected by the lack of oxygen.
Ash felt a strange sense of awe and wonder as they climbed even higher, the air turning colder, the sky darkening to a deep, velvety blue. The stars began to twinkle into view, closer than they had ever been. The curvature of the earth became apparent, a gentle arc that made his heart swell with a profound sense of insignificance and importance all at once. He was a mere speck in the grand tapestry of the universe, yet here he was, flying alongside a creature of legend, now one himself.
The horizon grew rounder, the world stretching out below them like a vast, unexplored map. The sun peeked over the edge of the world, a fiery sphere that painted the sky with strokes of orange and pink. It was a sight that few humans ever got to witness, a moment reserved for the gods of the Pokémon world. And yet, here they were, three unlikely companions, breaking barriers and soaring into the heavens.
The clouds beneath them looked like floating islands, their soft, billowy forms a stark contrast to the jagged peaks of the mountains they had left in their wake. They were so close that Ash could almost reach out and touch them, their surfaces shimmering with the light of the rising sun. They drifted lazily, as if they too were part of the grand dance of the skies, moving to the same silent rhythm that guided their flight.
Pikachu's eyes grew wide as he took in the view, his tiny body pressed against Ash's back, his fur fluttering in the wind. The fear had left him, replaced by a sense of wonder that only a creature who had flown alongside a legend could understand. He had seen so much with Ash, faced so much danger, but this...this was something else entirely. This was beauty in its purest form, a spectacle that surpassed even the grandeur of the Pokémon world's most majestic battles.
Ash's Latios eyes took in the vastness of the sky, the endless horizon that stretched out before them. He had always wondered what it would be like to fly (under his own power), to feel the wind beneath wings that were his, and now here he was, a human in the body of a Pokémon, experiencing it all. He was stunned, not just by the sight, but by the sheer magnitude of the world that unfolded beneath them. The clouds were no longer a barrier to be feared, but a soft, welcoming cushion that they could glide upon.
But it was Latias's gaze that drew him out of his reverie. He saw her turn her head slightly to the left, her eyes locked on something far beyond the world they had left behind. He followed her gaze and there it was, the moon, not the small, glowing disk that he was used to seeing from the ground, but a massive orb, hanging low in the sky, as if it had descended from the heavens just for them to marvel at. It was a sight that filled him with awe and a sense of insignificance in the grand scheme of things.
"Ash, what do you think?" she asked, her voice a gentle caress against the howl of the wind.
He took a moment to breathe in the crisp, thin air of the upper atmosphere, feeling the sun's warmth kiss his feathers. "It's...magnificent," he murmured, his eyes never leaving the moon. "I feel so...small."
With the grandeur came a profound sense of smallness. The world below, a sprawling mosaic of greens and blues, was where he had lived, battled, and loved. It was a humbling realization, one that made him feel like a tiny, insignificant speck in the vastness of the universe.
Latias nodded, her eyes reflecting the same awe. "It has that effect, doesn't it?" she said, her voice a gentle whisper that resonated within Ash's heart as well as the air. "But remember, no matter how small we feel, we are part of something much larger than ourselves. Our journey has brought us here, together, and that is something truly special."
Without warning, she drew closer, her wings gleaming steadily as she hovered over Ash. She nuzzled his cheek, the warmth of her touch sending a shiver down his spine. Her eyes, filled with love and a fierce protectiveness, bore into his. "You," she whispered, "will always be the most important thing in my life, no matter how big or small we may feel."
The words hung in the air, thick with emotion. Ash felt his heart swell in his chest, his Latios form feeling the weight of his human feelings. He knew that she was right, that their bond was unbreakable, no matter the challenges they faced. He leaned into her touch, feeling the warmth of her breath against his skin. "Latias," he said, his voice a mix of the wind and the thunder of his own heart. "I love you."
Her smile grew wider, the warmth of it lighting up the cold, early morning sky. She leaned back and gave him a gentle nudge with her snout, sending him spiraling in a playful dance. The air was thin, but their joy was boundless. Pikachu, still nestled in his psychic carrying seat, chuckled in amazement at the sight of his friends soaring through the heavens, their love transcending into something more profound than he could ever have imagined.
"Ash," Latias called out, her voice carrying on the wind, "Let's play tag amongst the stars!"
He looked at her, his heart racing with excitement. "What?" he shouted back, not quite believing what he had heard.
With a mischievous grin, Latias tapped his shoulder and yelled, "You're it!" before darting away, her wings a blur of light in the early morning sky. Ash felt a jolt of energy surge through his body, his Latios form reacting instinctively to the playful challenge. He shot after her, the wind rushing past his feathers as they played tag in the upper atmosphere.
The stratosphere was indeed their playground now. They darted between the clouds, their laughter echoing through the vast emptiness. Ash's human mind struggled to comprehend the sheer scale of their surroundings, but his Pokémon instincts reveled in the freedom and speed that his new form granted him. They played for what felt like hours, the joy of their youthful spirits reborn in the boundless sky.
Pikachu, watching from his cozy psychic bubble, couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. He had flown before, but this was different. This was the kind of flight that only myths spoke of, the kind reserved for creatures of legend. Yet here he was, a witness to it all. His cheeks grew rosy with excitement, his tiny heart thumping in his chest.
Ash chuckled, the sound echoing through their minds as they played. "Is this what it's always like for you?" he asked Latias, his thoughts a mix of wonder and disbelief. "Is this your playground?"
"Yes," she replied, her voice filled with mirth as she dodged his playful nips. "This is our realm, the place where we are free to be ourselves."
And with that, she pulled another trick from her sleeve. Ash saw her outline blur, and then she was gone. The air was filled with a shower of glittering light, leaving him bewildered and searching for his invisible companion.
"Hey, no fair!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing through the emptiness. The only response was the distant giggle of Latias, floating on the breeze like the tinkle of a wind chime. He scanned the horizon, his eyes searching for any clue to her whereabouts. The sky was vast and open, but she had vanished without a trace.
"Pikachu, help me look for her, be my extra set of eyes," he said, turning to his friend. But Pikachu was already on it, his sharp gaze scanning the clouds below. His heart raced, the thrill of the chase a familiar sensation. They had played hide and seek countless times before, but this was different. This was the sky, their new domain as Eon Pokémon.
"Pikachu, do you see anything?" Ash called out, his eyes straining to penetrate the thick clouds. The electric mouse nodded vigorously, his voice clear and strong.
"Over there, I think!" He pointed with a yellow paw to a distant break in the clouds that shimmered with a faint light, a place where the sun had not yet reached.
Ash's Latios instincts kicked in, and he dove through the thin air, the wind screaming past him like a chorus of unseen spectators. The clouds rushed up to meet him, their softness belying the speed of their approach. His eyes narrowed, focusing on the spot where Pikachu had indicated.
And then he saw her, a shimmering, transparent figure weaving through the clouds like a dancer. The hurricane on the horizon provided a dramatic backdrop, the swirling maelstrom of wind and water a stark contrast to their playful escapade.
"Ready or not, here I come!" Ash exclaimed, his voice resonating with the excitement of the chase. Latias's laughter echoed through the sky, a melodious sound that was music to his newfound Pokémon ears. She dipped and dove, her form flickering in and out of existence as she played with the very fabric of light itself.
Ash gave chase, his wings cutting through the thin air with a grace that seemed impossible. He felt the rush of wind against his feathers, the thrill of the pursuit pulsing in his veins. The world below grew larger with every second, the details of the landscape coming into sharp focus as they descended from the heavens. The rush of gravity was exhilarating, a sensation that made his heart race and his blood pump with newfound vigor.
The towns and forests grew closer, their shapes and colors becoming more discernible as the clouds parted like a curtain being drawn back. Latias, the clever trickster, had dropped her invisibility, sticking her tongue out at him in a playful gesture that was as human as it was Pokémon. Ash couldn't help but giggle, the sound alien and delightful coming from his new form. "Wait till I catch you!" he called out, the challenge in his voice clear.
As they were low enough to skim the treetops of a forest, Latias suddenly stopped, turning to face Ash with a mischievous grin. She held out her arms, as if to receive him, and he knew exactly what she was planning. He dove towards her, his wings tucked in tightly to his body as he transformed into a sleek, feathered projectile. The air rushed past him, a symphony of whispers that grew into a crescendo as he neared her.
Their collision was not violent, but a meeting of equals, a dance of feathers and laughter. They tumbled through the air, their bodies intertwined in a playful embrace that sent them spiraling towards the earth. Ash felt the thrill of the fall, his heart racing as the world rushed up to meet them. Latias's arms tightened around him, and for a moment, it was as if time had stopped, the world a blur of green and brown and blue.
They hit the ground with a soft thud, their momentum carrying them into a nearby meadow of tall grass that bent and whispered around them. The psychic bubble around Pikachu popped, and he was released into the world once more. He rolled to a stop, his fur ruffled but his eyes shining with excitement. The two Eon Pokémon lay there, their forms tangled, panting with joy and exertion.
Ash, now on top, looked down at Latias with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. Her eyes, so full of love and warmth, stared back at him unblinking, filled with an affection that seemed to burn brighter than the sun above. Her cheeks were flushed with the thrill of their game, and the light breeze ruffled the feathers around her neck. For a moment, they were frozen in time, a tableau of love and friendship that defied all understanding.
Then, she spoke, and the world seemed to stop spinning. "I hope you can forgive me for this, Ash." Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, and it sent a shiver down his spine. Forgive her? For what?
But before he could ask, she leaned in and kissed him. It was a gentle, tender kiss, full of warmth and longing. For a moment, Ash was lost in the sensation, the feel of her lips against his, the taste of the early morning air mingling with hers.
When they broke apart, Latias looked at him with a glint in her eyes that was equal parts anticipation and regret. "Welcome home," she said.
Pikachu, standing nearby, felt a strange pull, his tiny paws tingling as if they had been zapped by his own electricity. He looked around, the tall grass and distant treetops seemingly unchanged from their earlier flights. But something was different—familiar. His heart raced as the realization dawned on him. This was where it all began, where he had first opened his eyes to the world. That laboratory, nestled at the edge of the field, had been his cradle, the place of his birth.
He tried to tell Ash, but the words caught in his throat, the thrill of the moment silencing him. Then, as if the universe had heard his unspoken thoughts, they heard a voice. A very familiar voice. "Good gracious! I don't believe it. Eon Pokémon!" The voice grew louder, and the three of them turned to see a figure emerging from the treeline. It was none other than Professor Oak, his eyes wide with astonishment and a smile that seemed to light up the entire world.