Chapter 16 — Night Out with a Goddess

  “Disturb not the harmony of fire, ice, or lightning, lest these titans wreak destruction upon the world in which they clash. Though the water’s great guardian shall arise to quell the fighting, alone, its song will fail, lest the earth shall turn to ash. Oh, Chosen One, into thine hands, bring together all three. Their treasures combined tame the Beast of the Sea,” Ash recited, occasionally making an exaggerated accent or hand gesture throughout the speech for emphasis.

  Latias giggled and clapped. “There we go! You finally got it. It took you enough tries.”

  Ash harrumphed and closed his Pokédex from where he had read the inscription. “Well, excuse me, but there’s no way I’d memorize all of that and repeat it off the top of my head. This happened about… two years ago or something. It also has a lot of weird words in it.”

  “Wait! Is that the prophecy with a pun with your name that you mentioned earlier?” Latias asked.

  “Yeah,” Ash said, nodding. “It is. You caught it pretty fast.”

  Latias nudged him in the side with a finger. “That was obvious. How’d you miss it?”

  Ash slapped her finger away and snorted. “I never said I was good with wordplay. I suck at it.”

  “Clearly,” Latias said, a teasing twinkle in her eye. “I should’ve made my Latios riddle easier.”

  “Anyway!” Ash said a little too loudly. “So, I get off the island after hearing this prophecy for like the tenth time, and it says I’ve got to walk across this frozen ocean to get the last treasure. As I’m walking through it, I recall even saying that I felt more like the frozen one, not the chosen one—”

  Latias burst out laughing. “The frozen one! Oh, that’s a good one.”

  “You think so? It just came to me out of nowhere. I didn’t get far before realizing I could use a piece of wreckage from that boat Lugia destroyed that I mentioned earlier, hook it up to my Pokémon, and boom! We’re sledding across the frozen ocean.” Ash threw a punch at the air in front of him. “Full speed ahead!”

  Latias couldn’t help but grin at the teen’s contagious spirit. “So, what’s next?”

  Ash winced. “Well, Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres all attacked us at the same time. And just as we’re about to get zapped or cooked, Lugia flies in and stops them!”

  “Only zapped or cooked? What about Articuno? I doubt an Articuno is harmless,” Latias said.

  “Well, I did say I’m already the frozen one. We were so cold I doubt Articuno could’ve made us feel any colder, really,” Ash said. He chucked and shrugged.

  Latias snorted and struggled to hold back a laugh. “That’s true.”

  “So, they start this massive battle in the sky while we do our best to glide through it, dodging the few attacks thrown our way.” Ash sighed at the memories. “That was not fun.”

  Pikachu slumped on his shoulder, his tiny body trembling as the memories of near-death experiences flooded his mind, the sounds of a battle between titans lingering in his ears.

  Latias turned around a corner and gripped the rim of Ash’s shirt with her hand. She turned him just before he fell into the canal and pulled on him to continue walking along the sidewalk.

  Ash laughed and rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry, I got carried away with my storytelling.”

  “Oh, I can see that, but please continue. I’m eager to find out how this story ends,” Latias said.

  “Yeah, well, Latias—” Ash froze when he realized a group of people walked just beside him, and they had undoubtedly heard what he had just called the teenage girl at his side. Yet, to his surprise, they carried on and showed no reaction. “Huh? I thought I just blew your cover.”

  “Latias and Latios, and the many variations of them that people come up with, are common names in Alto Mare,” Latias said. “Latios and I saved this city’s ancestors and raised it from infancy. People often consider it lucky to name their kids after us. No one would bat an eye at hearing someone named something similar to Latias on the street.”

  “Thought I’d messed up for a moment.” Ash glanced back. “It must be odd to hear people named after you or see yourself in so many decorations, statues, and things like that.”

  “It can be, yes,” Latias admitted. “Neither Latios nor I desire worship and have never demanded it, but sometimes, people just need something or someone to look up to. We allow it as long as it does the city well.” Her lips curled into a smile. “We’re almost at the place, anyway.”

  Ash’s face lit up, as did Pikachu’s. “We are? Great! I’m starving.”

  Not long after, Latias reached out, grabbed Ash’s arm, and pulled him around a corner. They ended up facing a quaint café amidst the old-style architecture of a piazza. “And we’re here!” she said with enthusiasm.

  Ash took a deep breath and grinned. The aroma of ground coffee beans and the inviting scent of baked pastries permeated the air. “Oh, that smells delicious! I bet it’d make a nice snack.”

  Ash and Latias stepped inside, greeted by the soft murmur of conversations. The interior had a cozy charm, with its rustic wooden furnishings and soft, ambient lighting casting a warm glow on the patrons. Ash walked to the main counter, his mouth watering at the sight of the shelves that displayed an assortment of pastries and other treats.

  “Hello, good evening,” the barista, a man in his fifties with a cupcake-adorned apron, said in a friendly voice. “How may I—” He turned around and stopped when he came face to face with Latias’ human form. “Oh! Latias! What a delight to have you here.”

  Ash looked between them, recognizing the tone of familiarity and understanding behind the man’s voice. “You know she’s Latias?”

  The barista glanced at Ash. “Yes, do you know it’s her? Like… You know, the Latias.”

  Latias laughed and shook her head in amusement. “Chill, both of you.” She turned to Ash. “He’s one of the few people who knows some of my human guises, as I frequent this place disguised as one.” She wrapped an arm around Ash’s shoulder, pulled him close, and grinned at the barista. “And, he knows. A friend I just made.”

  The barista nodded. “Wonderful. I imagine you’ll want the usual?”

  “Please.” Latias elbowed Ash. “Pick anything you’d like. My treat.”

  “There are so many options; I’m not even sure what to try first.” Ash, drooling from the lingering aroma of freshly baked pastries, pondered his choices, his eyes scanning the many options back and forth.

  “You could try them all,” Latias said, mirth lacing her voice from her joke. Her hand flew to her mouth as she fought to contain a soundless giggle.

  “That’s a great idea, Latias! You’re a genius!” Ash crouched to get a better look at the shelves under the counter. “I’ll have one of those, and oh! This one. And this one. And one of that, and that one, too.” He tapped his chin with a finger and moved through the exhibit. “And these two. And a bit of this! Oh, and that one, too.”

  Latias blinked, her jaw dropping. “I didn’t think you’d take me that literally.”

  “And these two as well,” Ash finished. He grinned, satisfied with himself. “Huh, but you said to try them all, right?”

  “You really are not the best with words.” Latias side-eyed him, bemusement clear in her expression. “If you finish all of that, I’ll be impressed.”

  “I eat a lot,” Ash said, and his stomach rumbled audibly on cue. “Sorry.”

  “Looks like it,” Latias said. “Impossible as it may seem.”

  Ash reached up and caressed Pikachu’s cheek. “Oh! And one bottle of ketchup, please.”

  Latias gave him a sharp look, her eyebrow arched in skepticism. “Ketchup? Why ketchup? You don’t intend to put ketchup on bread treats, do you?”

  “Not for me, it’s for my buddy.” Ash glanced at Pikachu, who looked ecstatic. “He loves Ketchup.”

  The barista chuckled. “My, my, you’ve got quite an appetite. And for you, dear Latias, it’s always on the house.”

  “Hey, I can’t always come in and eat for free every time. How about… My food can be on the house, but all that my friend eats is to be paid for. And that is final.” Latias stamped the ground with her foot. “Add it to my monthly tab.”

  “Your wish is my command, Latias. That would be fine with me, too.” The barista pointed to an open table in the corner. “Your usual spot?”

  “Yep.” Latias dragged a hungry-looking Ash with her to the corner table, where they sat opposite each other.

  “You know, I’m surprised the guy knows who you are,” Ash commented. “Do many people know this form of yours?”

  “There’s not a single soul in Alto Mare who knows every single one of my human disguises,” Latias said. “At any moment, I can hide from specific people. I knew we’d come here, so I picked a disguise he’d recognize.”

  Ash blinked. “How often do you tell people? Like, say, you did show me the… You know what.”

  “Don’t mistake the nature I’ve shown you as my nature toward everyone else. I find you captivating, so I’m fine revealing that to you.” Latias glanced out the window to the busy piazza beyond the café. “Outside of that, my brother and I are quite secretive regarding our private lives and the garden’s contents.”

  “What happens if you make a mistake in revealing something important? Or someone who knows already turns bad?” Ash asked. “Or, worse, a bad guy finds out?”

  “We just wipe their memories of our secrets and be done with it.” Latias shrugged. “Harsh and invasive, I know. But the garden and its contents are our absolute priority, and we take no risks with them.”

  Ash nodded along. “I’m not surprised, you’re not the first—”

  “Hold it right there,” Latias interrupted him with a raised hand. “Let me guess; this is where you’ll tell me you’ve met a psychic Legendary who wiped your mind after a mishap with them.”

  “…Yeah,” Ash said with an embarrassed laugh. “I met the same Legendary again, saved him from some bad guys, and got to keep my memories the second time.”

  Latias laughed. “My brother was right. It’ll be easier to list which Legendary Pokémon you haven’t met.” She hummed and tapped the table with her fingers. “But, yes, let’s suppose Latios or I make the mistake of opening up to someone we shouldn’t have, which has never happened to me, but it has for Latios. We can delete their memories, and the problem is solved.”

  As Latias finished speaking, the barista walked beside the pair’s table with a large silver tray. He placed a couple of plates with several pastries and a drink on Ash’s side of the table, as well as a medium-sized ketchup bottle in front of a delighted Pikachu. “Here you go, lucky guy.” He then put an enormous pastry and a jug containing a milky-red drink on Latias’ side. “And for you, the usual, Latias.”

  Ash leaned in and stared at Latias’ drink. “Oh, what is that?”

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  “A berries milkshake specially made for me,” Latias answered. “It took a while to figure out a specific mixture that was perfect for me. As for the size… Well, I’m a dragon. I’ve got the appetite of one.” She glanced at all the pastries on his side of the table. “You are absolutely not allowed to comment about how much I eat.”

  “Can I try it?” Ash asked. “It looks good.”

  Latias shook her head. “I wouldn’t recommend it.”

  Ash frowned. “Is it bad or something?”

  “Oh no, it’s not, but I’ve got tastebuds tuned for different things, and it’s strong.” Latias paused. “And when I say strong, I mean strong.”

  “I’m even more curious now,” Ash said. “May I?”

  “If you must sate your curiosity,” Latias said, a hint of challenge in her tone. “Go ahead.”

  Ash reached with a hand and took her jug. Latias didn’t protest and watched with mild amusement as he brought it to his lips and took a slow swig.

  Ash grimaced and took the jug away, face scrunching as he held his tongue out and grunted. He grabbed a handful of napkins from a basket and dried his tongue with them, coughing and sputtering.

  Latias laughed as Ash reached for his drink and chugged it down. “Are you all right?”

  “It’s—” Ash sputtered. “So sweet, and the flavor is pretty intense. Hmm, it’s also got an odd taste to it.”

  “That’s why I said you probably wouldn’t like it,” Latias said. “It’s got a few added herbs I enjoy. I’m a dragon, not a human, remember?” She grabbed the jug and took a long sip, smacking her lips afterward. “Oh, that hits the spot.”

  Ash blinked, recovering from the excessive sweetness of the drink. “Sweet tooth, huh?”

  Latias grinned and sipped her drink again. “Guilty as charged, your honor.”

  “Are there any sweet things you’ve found too sweet for you?” Ash asked.

  Latias stared at him with a deadpan expression. “I mean, if I can handle this, then I can handle just about everything.” She smirked at him. “Don’t worry if you can’t. It’s only natural. You’re just a human, after all. You’d never be able to finish something like this.”

  Ash narrowed his eyes at Latias. “We’ll see about that.” He looked at the barista. “I’ll have one of those, too.” He said, pointing at Latias’ milkshake.

  The barista’s eyebrows raised. “Sir, uh, I don’t know if that’s a good idea—”

  “I’ll have one of those, too,” Ash repeated. “This is a matter of pride. I never back down from a challenge!”

  “You’re a dork.” Latias glanced at the barista and pointed at Ash. “He’s a dork.”

  Pikachu nodded in agreement from his place at the edge of the table.

  “I can see that,” the barista said. “So?”

  “Yeah, do it,” Latias said. “But let’s be merciful and bring him a human-sized glass.”

  “I’ll return in a bit,” the barista said as he returned behind the counter.

  “If you somehow manage to finish all your pastries and the milkshake, I’ll let you ride on my back,” Latias offered. “Deal?”

  “Deal! You haven’t seen anything yet!” Ash grinned and started on the food before him.

  Latias watched with wide eyes as Ash devoured the pile of sweets in front of him. “Mighty Arceus, where does it all go?” She leaned down, resting her cheek on her open palm as she took a large bite of her food. “I’m starting to think you could actually finish it. My goodness.”

  The barista returned with an identical drink, albeit in a regular glass. “I’m glad he likes our pastries. Be sure to leave us a positive review.” He placed the drink on Ash’s side, bowed, and left after flashing Latias a smile.

  Ash watched the barista out of the corner of his eye. He picked up the drink, took a big swig, did his best to endure the intense sweetness, and resumed his snack. “He seems pretty happy about seeing you. Why’s that?”

  Latias leaned against her soft, plush cushion. “Healing is not my forte, nor is it for Latios. But, with some creativity, we can do some of it with our powers. Now and then, we drop by Alto Mare’s hospitals to see if there are any patients out of the realm of human medicine that we can do something about, especially in the areas of the mind, brain, and nerves. A few years ago, his wife was one such patient. She suffered a boating accident that left her with almost no prospect of ever waking up, and if she had, she would’ve been disabled for life. There wasn’t much the hospital could do, but I could, so I did. While I couldn’t help her fully recover, she still woke up and regained many of her functions. Sweet woman, I’ll never forget their reunion.”

  Ash listened as he ate and smiled at the end of her answer. “You’re really kind. You know, the city loves you not because of your power but because of who you are. Even if you were weak and had no say in the city, it wouldn’t change a thing.”

  Latias reached up with a napkin to remove stray drops from her lips and took another sip. “Thank you.”

  “I guess that’s why he lets you eat for free. Uh, speaking of, I didn’t bring any money.” Ash scratched the back of his head. “Brock keeps track of funds and stuff. I’ve got some pocket change, but I doubt it can pay for all I ordered.”

  “Oh, don’t worry about that. I said it’d be my treat,” Latias answered. “I’ll pay for it.”

  “How do you get money, anyway? You’re a Pokémon,” Ash asked.

  “I’m also this city’s co-governor,” Latias said. The ice in her large drink clinked softly against the glass as she swirled it with her straw.

  “Pokémon that earn money, that’s a new one for me.” For a moment, Ash stared at her, the café’s noise fading as he pondered her significant role, the respect she commanded, and her importance to those around her. He stopped, felt a nervous tremor in his hands, and fidgeted in place.

  Latias leaned closer, the table creaking beneath her. “Your mood dipped quite a bit there. Is everything okay?”

  A strange stillness settled over Ash, the silence heavy as his gaze drifted until a sudden snap brought him back to the immediate present, a stark awareness in his eyes. “Hey, Latias?”

  “Yes?” Latias’ voice didn’t hide her concern.

  “While I’m here, please be careful.” Ash sighed, a long, weary sound, and a frown etched onto his face. “Trouble always follows me whenever I meet Legendaries. Always. It’s like I’m cursed or something. Every time, without fail, that I meet a Legendary Pokémon, there are always bad guys trying to steal them or capture them or something like that, or some disaster involving them happens. Even after we separate, please keep your guard up for a while, because there’ll be someone trying to do something.”

  Latias’ eyebrows raised in surprise, and she reviewed each word in her mind many times. “Hmm. Well, I appreciate your warning.”

  Ash shook his head. “I’m worried, that’s all. It always follows me, and sometimes I feel like it’s my fault. Or that I’m putting them in danger.” Ash’s hands seemed stuck to the tabletop, and he forced himself to move his fingers, tapping each with a steady beat. “Sometimes, I wish I could meet a Legendary without trouble following soon after.”

  Pikachu stared at him with a frown and his ears flat against his head, his ketchup bottle long forgotten. He skidded over and placed a paw on Ash’s hand in comfort.

  “I doubt that’s your fault, more like the Legendary Pokémon’s curse. You’ve only ever helped them, after all. You’re not guilty if that’s how you feel,” Latias said.

  Ash looked away. “It’s happened a lot. A lot… Not always. Like meeting Legendaries is cool and all, and the adventures can be fun, but sometimes, the danger and dread are just as bad. And I’m worried about their lasting effects on those I leave behind.”

  Latias gave him a patient and kind look. A pensive silence fell between the two of them. She couldn’t imagine Ash’s stress every time he encountered these adventures. He came across as positive and motivated, yet that constant worry and sense of responsibility for every Legendary he met clearly wore him down.

  “Don’t think of it as your fault or that you bring bad luck,” Latias finally said, breaking the silence. “Rather, think of it as you being in the right place, at the right time, to help a Legendary in need. Your help could be our blessing, not our curse. But, even then, if it becomes too dangerous, always consider saving yourself. Even if I understand it must be an impossible task to ask of you, your life matters as much as anyone else’s.”

  Ash glanced up. His fingers remained still, and his hands laid flat against the tabletop. “Thank you, Latias.” He forced out a wan smile. “I wish it weren’t so frequent. But I’m quite used to it at this point.”

  Latias returned the smile. “Don’t forget, you are part of a team,” she said. “That’s not your burden to bear alone, even if you carry more load than anyone should. Always look to your friends and Pokémon for support. Always remember the positive impact you cause on those around you.”

  “I… Yeah, I guess you’re right. Thanks, Latias.” Ash resumed eating, with his struggles to finish the drink he’d ordered before as clear as ever.

  Latias’ voice took a playful tone. “Anyway. If trouble follows you here and someone decides to cross me…” She balled her hand into a fist and shook it. “They’ll have something coming for them!”

  “I know you can protect yourself,” Ash replied. “You just never know who may try something or what kind of disaster may happen.”

  “Fret not. If trouble arises… If some ‘bad guys’ come to try to capture us.” Latias gazed at Ash, locked eyes with him and, for an instant, the dull amber in her eyes flashed back to the deep, striking golden eyes of her Latias form, with its intensity conveying the full might of the goddess they belonged to. “I will deal with it. We are Eon Pokémon and the Guardians of Alto Mare. No human could hold us to their whim and hope to survive. We could wipe out an army by ourselves without breaking a sweat.”

  Ash looked at her with narrowed eyes, his brow furrowed in skepticism. “But you lost to those three stooges yesterday and got knocked out. I had to save you.”

  Latias froze. “Fu—Yeah! I did.” Her eyes darted around, panicked, for any reprieve. “They got lucky! Like, really lucky! That’s all. I swear I had an off day.” Latias cringed and hit her face with a palm. “Yeah, let’s go with that.”

  Pikachu shook his head in amusement, stifled a laugh, and ate his ketchup to his heart’s content.

  Ash stared at Latias, his gaze unwavering and questioning. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Absolutely,” Latias said. “But, anyway! Please don’t leave me hanging; you cut the tale at the best moment. What happened as you glided across a frozen ocean with four Legendaries fighting above you?” she asked, her voice too eager to change the topic. “Gosh, that sounds so epic. I wish I could have seen it.”

  “Oh, right!” Ash cleared his throat. “So, just as we think we’re gonna reach Ice Island, one of their attacks blocks our path and destroys it, and we’re forced to run away from the ice and water. And, when we think all is lost, we hear Team Rocket’s dumb motto…” He grimaced. “You’ve met them. The three guys on the Meowth balloon the other day.”

  “Yeah, I did. They weirded me out because they rhymed, and—” Latias’ eyes widened, and a sharp gasp left her. “Oh no! I completely forgot to order a search party for them! Assuming they survived their landing in the ocean, that is. It’s been… one and a half days; it could still be just in time to have them rescued—”

  “Don’t worry about them; they’ll be fine,” Ash said, waving a hand dismissively. “They’ve survived worse. No idea how.”

  Latias balked. “But, the speed at which they flew! Judging by the angle, distance, and height, the forces of the impact with the ocean surface, and worse yet, they’d be stuck in the open ocean with no—”

  “Latias, they’ll be fine. They always are. Trust me. Please.” Ash shrugged. “Watch them try to attack us in the coming days.” He paused. “Uh, I know I just warned you about bad people, but if these guys are the ones to attack you, please don’t be too hard on them. They’re harmless. And annoying. You can rough them up, just not too much.”

  “All right, if you say so,” Latias said, her shoulders slumping in reluctant agreement. “It feels like everything that happens around you is always out of the ordinary.”

  “Anyway! So, Team Rocket shows up, and rather than do something to oppose us, they say they’ll help us. They created some raft thing and helped us reach Ice Island, where I finally got the Ice Treasure.” Ash sprang up and threw a fist forward. “Boom! Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres ambush us with nowhere to go! And then they beat Articuno up, taking it out of the fight.”

  Latias giggled at Ash’s outburst and leaned forward, head resting on her hands. Her eyes gleamed while she listened, enjoying how vividly he described the events. “I’ve taken attacks from other Legendaries. Not fun. I feel bad for Articuno there.”

  “So, after Zapdos and Moltres defeat Articuno, we barely make it out of the cove where the Ice Treasure was, and we’re soon escaping for our lives. Then Lugia appears out of nowhere and asks if I’ve got the treasure, which I do! And then…” Ash sat down and grinned excitedly. “Lugia offered to fly me to Shamouti Island. And so, I jump on his back—”

  The faster Ash spoke in his excitement, the more captivated Latias became. Her head sank deeper into her arms as the thrill of his story built. Her fascination stemmed not only from the Shamouti Island legend and Ash’s role, but also from his passionate and energetic delivery.

  Entranced, Latias pictured Ash and his friends’ adventure in her mind as he told it. She wasn’t an avid reader—that was Latios’ thing—but something about how Ash told his story kept her utterly engaged. While he wasn’t the best orator, and she noticed his limited vocabulary, the sheer enthusiasm behind his words and mannerisms drew her in. But it went beyond that for her. She couldn’t put her claws on it, but something else about Ash drew her in.

  Ash leaned back into his cushioned chair. “—And that’s how it all happened,” he finished. He took a deep breath and resumed eating his snacks.

  “That was amazing.” Latias clapped. “Simply awe-inspiring. How did your mother react to seeing you battling Zapdos, Articuno, Moltres, and a bad guy atop a Lugia on TV?”

  Ash shivered and tensed. “It’s… best not to think about it; she had a bit of a panic attack. And it took a while to calm her down.”

  Latias laughed. “Gee, I’m so sorry. That’s expected.” She looked at his almost-finished drink. “If you finish that, remember you get to ride on my back. I doubt I’ll be as ‘cool’ to ride as Lugia or Giratina, though.”

  “Maybe, but you’d be cooler because I know you better than either of them,” Ash said. “You’re also faster.”

  Latias grabbed her milkshake and finished it. “Delicious.” She watched Ash finish his drink and the last of his snacks. “You actually did it. How’d you fare with it? I warned you it was strong.”

  “It was doable, but that sweetness is something I wasn’t used to,” Ash replied. “But, I did it. I ate it all. I win a ride.”

  “And you say I’m the sweet tooth here.” Latias rolled her eyes. She glanced outside at the darkened streets. “Let’s get going. It’s been great chatting with you. We should do this more often.”

  “Sure! I’d love to.” Ash gathered their plates and felt the bloat hit as soon as he stood up. He winced and placed a hand on the nearby cushioned seat to balance himself. “Ugh…”

  Latias smiled as she walked past the main counter. “Thank you, it was excellent as always,” she said gratefully to the barista, bowing slightly. “Add the tab to my monthly bill, as I requested.”

  “I will, and thanks for stopping by. It’s always a pleasure to have you around here, Latias,” the barista said amiably as he returned the bow.

  Latias walked out and giggled as Ash stumbled out. “You look just about done.”

  “Ugh, I’m dead,” Ash said as he slumped against the doorway of the café. His backpack fell at his side, and Pikachu stopped to poke him with a paw.

  Latias shook her head in amusement. “You’re the one that decided to match my appetite. I’m a dragon. You’re a human. What made you think it’d be a good idea?”

  Pikachu laughed, turned to Latias, and spoke several vocalizations of his name.

  Latias blinked and looked at Ash. “So, the one that eats like a Snorlax failed.”

  “I don’t think a Snorlax can eat so many sweets,” Ash mumbled.

  Latias smirked. “Right now, you feel bloated. Wait until your body processes it and the sugar rush kicks in.”

  “If I can’t sleep tonight, I will blame you,” Ash said. “I’ve got a boat tour tomorrow, too.”

  “That’s right! You mentioned a boat tour.” Latias’ eyes sparkled. “Mind if I come along?”

  “How would that work?” Ash asked. “Like, as Latias or as a human?”

  “As a human,” Latias answered. “Much easier. If I attend as Latias, I’d draw attention away from the city and the guide to myself. The tour is about the city, not me. That way, I can blend in.”

  Ash nodded. “Okay, meet us early tomorrow, then.”

  “Sounds lovely.” Latias grabbed Ash’s backpack from the ground. “Come on, we’ve got to get back to the Pokémon Center.”

  Chapter End