Chapter 7: Where Legends Dwell
Ash hadn't known what to expect when he and Latias decided to follow the Alpha Latias, so he was very surprised when he and Latias spotted an assortment of sea stacks over the horizon. The imposing spires of stone were several stories tall, numbering at least a dozen, and were of varying shapes and sizes. Lush vegetation coated the various peaks and ledges of the sea stacks, while gray rock lay exposed down its remaining lengths. Their spectacular size made Ash feel immensely small in comparison, their colossal shadows towering over him.
"Hey!" The Alpha Latias's sudden sharp declaration snapped Ash out of his reverie. "I understand that the spires of our Guardian Stones are imposing, but, by your admission, time is of the essence, so curb your astonishment and let us proceed."
Ash nodded. "I'm sorry. Let's go."
The Alpha Latias turned and headed deeper into the depths of the sea stacks, the younger Eons following close behind. It wasn't long before The Alpha Latias led them to an opening in the base of one of the sea stacks that was the largest and tallest of all of them, the circular hole in the rock large enough to accommodate at least a dozen Eon Pokemon at once. At first Ash assumed it was some sort of sea cave, he had seen a lot on his Pokemon journey, and none of them resembled anything like this.
Upon passing into the shadows Ash discovered that his Latios body could see in the dark far better than he could as a human. His vision unencumbered, Ash noted the walls of the cavern were expansive, smooth, and glossy, akin to glass.
The group proceeded down the expansive tunnel for what felt like several minutes, before a bright light appeared in the distance, growing steadily closer. Soon, the exit was upon them. Ash found himself in a massive hollow chamber, large enough to easily accommodate a small city. Sunlight shown through holes in the roof, illuminating the cavern in great radiant beams, giving the cavern the appearance of being supported by pillars of light.
The light cascaded not onto solid ground, but onto sea water, churning into tunnels akin to the ones Ash and the others had exited from. Whilst he, Latias and The Alpha Latias had entered the chamber from above the water that made up the chamber's floor, other Eons were entering from below, their lithe forms akin to moving shadows beneath the surface before their gentle splashes prefacing their surfacing.
Dozens upon dozens of Latias and Latios emerged from the water, flying throughout the chambers to land on alcoves and sturdy ledges along the stone walls of the chamber. Similar alcoves and ledge's also lay in great stone monoliths that jutted up from the sea like towers. As Ash and the others traveled deeper into this thriving community Ash took stock of several things. He noticed that, while carrying distinct traits common for their kind, the Eon Pokemon had defining characteristics that set them apart individually. The color of their feathers, while still pertaining to their usual red and blue, each had a different shade that was either lighter or darker than that of their peers. Some of them even had defining styles to the feathers on their heads.
Ash looked beneath him to his reflection in the water. He'd assumed his feathers' difference was because of his "unique" circumstances, but now, that hypothesis was not as accurate as before. As he peered deeper into his reflection, however, Ash finally noticed that Latias was leading him by the arm, a mildly irritated look on her face
"Oh, sorry Latias."
Ash extracted his talon from hers, a slight hint of embarrassment on his face as he made an effort to hover on his own. Latias smiled brightly, continuing forward as well.
"Don't worry Ash. I know this place is quite the sight to behold."
"I'll say," Ash agreed, still taking in all the sights. "So you and your brother were from here?"
"More or less," answered Latias, looking forward once more. "Though I haven't been back in a long time. But I have to say, not much has changed since then."
From what Ash could see, nothing needed to change. He found the place a sight to behold, and it grew even more amazing the further they went. Ash began to notice that several of the Eon Pokemon had families. There were Latias and Latios pairs hunkered in alcoves with clutches of eggs between them, and some alcoves housed Eons that even had hatchlings, the tiny Latias and Latios sleeping between their parents. Some of the hatchlings were even being brought food, parent Eons bringing various water Pokemon native to Johto back to their nests.
Regardless of how transfixed and fascinated Ash was, the Alpha Latias soon led them to a secluded area of the chamber, away from the towering walls and the spires of stone.
The only thing there apart from the sea water below was a group of more Eon Pokemon, this time only Latios. They all stood in even lines of about a dozen, stiffly levitating in place, like soldiers standing at attention. Their focus was on a lone Latios that stood before the head of the crowd. This Latios was a good deal older than his peers, even at a glance, for he was a fair bit bigger and had obvious wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. Ash, watching them, guessed that the majority of the Latios were either teenagers or young adults, with the one in front being some kind of leader or teacher.
As they approached, the Alpha who had been leading them suddenly held up a claw, signaling them to stop, to which Ash and Latias complied.
"It's best we let my beloved mate finish up his lesson," she said, watching the procession below, her eyes fixated on the Latios at the head of the flock below. "He has little patience for those who would disrupt him."
"Mate…" Ash mumbled to himself, contemplating the word silently as he regarded the head Latios below. "Should have guessed he would be my teacher."
"Respected Alpha, we are short on time," protested Latias worriedly, her words snapping Ash out of his stupor. "According to Arceus, Team Phreatic moves on Alto Mare as we speak, and we're not even there to defend it."
The Alpha Latias gave Latias a stern glare. "I understand the detriment of your plight, but what my beloved is doing here is just as important to us as your endeavor with your home is to you. We cannot interrupt these lessons, and my mate would never stand for it, regardless of circumstances."
Latias opened her mouth to resume arguing again, but was halted by Ash, who put a hand on her shoulder and gave her a light, reassuring smile. No words were needed, Ash and Latias's feelings understood, and her argument with the Alpha continued no more.
The Alpha Latias seemed to take notice of this as well and gave Ash an appreciative smile; the first positive expression she'd shown him thus far.
"You are wiser than I first gave you credit for, young one."
Ash rolled his eyes.
"So what are they practicing?" he asked, bringing his attention down to the proceedings below once more.
"Wait a few more moments and all will become clear," said the Alpha Latias, looking up through one of the holes in the ceiling. "If I am right, this should be the last exercise of today, then my beloved may be informed of your situation… and maybe he will agree to help you."
Ash and Latias glanced at each other, but said nothing else. Down below, they watched as the older Latios; the Alpha Latios, closed his eyes and relaxed his stature. The others followed suit, mirroring his actions. The Alpha Latios began to shine in a brilliant light, his form shifting. As the light dissipated he had taken his Mega Evolution form. The rest of the Latios followed his example, their bodies steadily glowing a bright light and, one by one, with considerably more difficulty than the Alpha, took Mega forms as well.
Ash's eyes widened in astonishment.
As soon as they had transformed, the group below undid their transformations, glowing once more and reverting to their regular forms.
True to the Alpha Latias's assessment earlier, this was the final exercise. The lead Latios waved a claw and the others dispersed, either diving into the water below or flying off into the plethora of towering rocks where the other Eons were nesting. The Alpha Latias resumed escorting the pair of young Eons on the final stretch of their short journey, hovering down to the Latios that had been educating just moments before. The Latios turned and spotted them just as they came down to hover before him, though his focus was solely on the Alpha Latias, to whom he gave a bright, welcoming smile.
"Ah, my love. I'm glad to see you have returned safely," he said, his voice a deep baritone, though warm and friendly. The Alpha Latias and Alpha Latios drifted closer to each other and brushed muzzles, the Alpha Latias following up by running her tongue up her mate's cheek affectionately.
Ash blushed slightly in embarrassment as he watched the display of affection, feeling slightly uneasy. Latias, however, had an expression of longing.
"So, did you discover the source of all that racket?" the Alpha Latios asked, finally withdrawing his head away from his mate's.
"Indeed I did," said the Alpha Latias, looking over her shoulder to the two she had guided to her home. "Apparently these two wayward Eons were responsible."
"Ah, I see."
The Alpha Latios began looking them over, his expression just as scrutinizing as his mate's had been when they'd first met out in the ocean. Though Ash disliked the Latios's attitude, he knew he would have to tolerate it if this was his only method of stopping Phreatic.
"So you young ones were responsible for all the racket that's been disturbing us," the Alpha Latios said, frowning. "So why were you being so loud? A lot of nesting families have been disturbed because of all those explosions."
Ash and Latias exchanged a look, resigning themselves to another explanation. From there they explained to the Alpha Latios their circumstances, as well as their request for him to help train Ash in the Pokemon moves of a Latios. Once they'd finished their explanation the Alpha Latios proved once again how well fitted him and his mate were, for his reaction was practically identical to hers.
"So you are that young boy that Hoopa summoned us to aid, which Arceus himself has turned into a Latios so you may guard the city humans refer to as Alto Mare?"
"There's more to it than that, but essentially yes," confirmed Ash with a nod, but before he could say more the Alpha Latios turned to the Latias next to him, his expression stern.
"It's been one calamity after another since your family got involved with humans and that city," he said in an aggravated voice. "Give me one good reason why me and my beloved should assist in this."
Before anything else could be said, the Alpha Latias spoke up. "I understand your reluctance to help them, dear. Believe me, I have had my own misgivings myself. But we have just as much to lose if these criminals… this "Team Phreatic," get their hands on that machine housed in Alto Mare, if not more."
"That infernal contraption," the Alpha Latios sneered angrily with venom in his voice, turning to face his mate with a sour scowl. "Why should it matter to us what becomes of it? If it's stolen it means it won't be around anymore. That is a good outcome as far as I am concerned."
"Have you forgotten what they said they intended to do with it?" argued the Alpha Latias, a bit of sharpness entering her voice as well, but still retaining her compassion that she had for her mate. "They're going to distribute it for profit."
"I still fail to see how that should involve us," said the Alpha Latios, his demeanor unchanging.
"My beloved, have you forgotten what powers that horrible machine?" inquired the Alpha Latias, genuine worry blooming in her expression for the first time since Ash and Latias had encountered her earlier.
Ash, Latias, and the Alpha Latios all were hit by realization at the same time.
"Of course…" Latias thought to herself. "The DMA is powered by a Soul Dew… if there were more DMAs…"
"By Arceus…" the Alpha Latios's fear now mirrored that of his mate's.
The Alpha Latias took his paw and gave him a reassuring smile. "Regardless of our personal feelings, my love, we can't let that machine fall into the hands of those people. We don't have a choice. We have to help."
The Alpha Latios looked at her, then to the countless other Eons in the distance. He growled to himself underneath his breath.
"Very well," he reluctantly compiled, turning to Ash and Latias. "You shall have our aid." His words finally seemed to snap Ash and Latias back to their senses. "But!" The pair startled back. "Realize the responsibility you now carry. The fate of our species now relies upon you, so should you fail, for any reason…" The Latios pointed at the far-off Eons. "...Their suffering will be the consequences of your actions."
"We understand," Ash declared, a resolute resolve in his eyes. "And we will do whatever it takes to thwart Team Phreatic and their plans."
Latias let out a trilling cry that carried her emotions, mirroring that of Ash's. The Alpha Latios nodded sagely.
"Very well. Then let the training begin!"