This garden shared a history just as long and ancient as the city hall itself. Although the citizens had never truly understood why the garden had been designed in such a peculiar way, time had dulled their curiosity. Over centuries, people simply grew accustomed to it. Visitors wandered only along the garden's outer ring, never able to enter the inner circle.
At night, when the morning star descended, a girl appeared within the garden.
She skipped forward a few steps with lighthearted energy and called out to the empty sky,
"…Brother, I'm back!"
The seemingly empty sky rippled at her voice. The air twisted and distorted, and from nothingness emerged a blue-hued dragon-shaped Pokémon. Any resident of Alto Mare would have instantly recognized it—it was one of the Water City's guardian deities: Latios.
"I brought you something tasty—crepes! Come eat!"
Latias lifted the bag in her hand like an excited little squirrel, calling out to Latios.
"I've already seen everything that happened through your eyes."
Latios's mouth didn't move, yet human words emerged from him. His voice didn't sound like vibrations carried through air, but rather like psychic thoughts directly echoing in the mind.
"That human… is rather strange."
Compared to Latias, Latios's tone was noticeably more mature and steady.
Latias, however, paid her brother no mind at all. She cheerfully opened the crepe bag, her body glowing briefly as she shifted from human form back into her Pokémon form. Holding the crepe with her dragon claws, her eyes filled with satisfaction, she ate happily—guarding her food like a hamster.
Seeing his sister completely ignore him, Latios sighed helplessly, descending from the air. He opened the bag himself and began eating as well.
…
Over the next few days, Logan stayed in Alto Mare with Latias.
During the daytime, he sat idly at the Pokémon Center, watching as Latias transformed into a nurse, saving and treating injured Pokémon. Once her work was done, she led him—like a true local—through many hidden spots in Alto Mare that only residents knew.
During the peak tourist season, they were no different from an ordinary couple. No one paid them any attention. They were like a single pebble tossed into the ocean, stirring no waves—yet leaving behind echoes of laughter.
"This is my home!"
Latias grabbed Logan's hand and pulled him forward excitedly. After winding through a narrow, twisting path, a beautiful garden appeared before him.
Within the garden stood statues of Latios and Latias. Beneath them, a fountain sprayed crystal-clear water, surrounded by vibrant, blooming flowers of every color. Near the fountain was an old, slightly worn swing.
Latias led Logan to the swing, pressed him down to sit, then ran behind him and began pushing.
"This place is really beautiful, Latias…"
Logan said softly as she pushed the swing, gazing at the garden before him.
Through the Eon Flute, he could clearly sense another presence hovering not far above them. Without thinking, he knew it was Latios. The feather-like scales of Latios and Latias resembled glass, capable of refracting light, allowing them to turn invisible without even using psychic powers.
If not for the Eon Flute, Logan would never have detected them while they were hidden.
"Latias, have you ever thought about leaving Alto Mare… about going somewhere else?"
"Huh? Somewhere else?"
Latias froze mid-push, turning to him in surprise.
"Yes. Somewhere else—like the tourists who come to Alto Mare. Visiting other regions, other cities. Haven't you ever thought about it?"
Logan gently held her hands and slowly turned around to face her.
Hesitation crossed Latias's face, as though she had never once considered such a question.
She had lived in Alto Mare for so long—so long that even she herself had forgotten how many years it had been. Her entire life revolved around Alto Mare, at most circling the southern islands nearby. She had never truly thought of traveling beyond.
Aside from a small number of Legendary Pokémon, most of them preferred to remain rooted in one place. That was why legends from different regions rarely overlapped.
"I've stayed in Alto Mare long enough. I've already delayed too long on this trip. Maybe tomorrow… maybe the day after… I'll be leaving."
Logan spoke with certainty.
"You're leaving?"
Latias's expression dimmed slightly, but almost immediately, that ever-cheerful dragon smiled again.
"…Then you have to come back to Alto Mare often, okay?"
"No one can predict the future. Even I can't promise when I'll return here next."
Logan stared at the girl standing so close to him. Their faces were less than twenty centimeters apart—close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath.
"The truth is, I came to Alto Mare for a very important reason. Before I leave, I need to see if I can succeed."
"What are you going to do?"
Latias asked, puzzled.
"Many of Alto Mare's people believe that its guardian deities—Latios and Latias—truly exist here. I believe it too. And as a Trainer, what I want to do is obvious."
"I want to capture them."
Logan said firmly.
"You want to… capture them?"
Latias's crimson eyes widened.
"Of course. Whether it's their status as Legendary Pokémon or proof of me as a Dragon-type master, being interested in Latios and Latias is only natural."
Logan patted the back of her hand and slowly stood from the swing.
"…I've had a wonderful time these past few days. Thank you for showing me around Alto Mare. But my time is running out. I need to go make my final preparations."
"I believe we'll meet again very soon, Latias."
Before Latias could fully process his words, Logan suddenly leaned forward and kissed the corner of her lips.
The instant the kiss ended, Logan leapt backward, throwing a Poké Ball and summoning Dragonair. He stepped onto its head and rose into the sky above the garden.
He cast one final glance at Latias—and at Latios, who still hadn't revealed himself—before flying away without looking back.
Latias gently touched her lips, standing there in a daze.
"Brother… what did he mean by 'final preparations'?"
As her voice faded, Latios appeared beside her. He looked in the direction Logan had disappeared, then slowly shook his head.
…
In truth, Logan's "preparations" required no preparation at all.
The very next day, he rode Garchomp away from Alto Mare, circling above the southern island sea. Before long, he chose an uninhabited island and descended.
Recalling Garchomp, Logan stood atop a rocky cliff, listening to the roar of waves below. At last, he took the Eon Flute from his sleeve and raised it to his lips.
He felt that his time with Latias had been sufficient.
Now was the moment to play the Eon Flute—to summon Latios and Latias, and make them follow him.
He had no intention of letting either of them escape.
Because the two of them possessed an ability that could only be used when both were captured together. Missing even one made it impossible.
And that ability was crucial to Logan.
It was an indispensable piece of everything he planned to do next.
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