The Encounter Ch. 9

Chapter 9—Return to Altomare
Location:  Some Random Island 50 Miles off the Coast of Altomare
Date:  October 4, 2011
Time:  5:30 PM

Still unconscious, I was launched skyward, from the impact of Latias's speed, and I flew backwards ending up in about sixty yards out into the ocean.  After I made splashdown, I immediately regained consciousness and I swam back to the shore to an awaiting Latias that was laughing so hard that she could not control herself.

"You should have seen the look on your face when you woke up from that splash!" Latias exclaimed.

I, on the other hand, face palmed at those words.  Latias then stopped laughing.

"Look, I am sorry, Ryan.  It was only an accident.  I'm sorry," Latias told me with watery puppy eyes.

'Must…resist…cannot…make it…oh dang it!" I thought to myself.

"It is okay, Latias; I forgive you," I replied in a sincere tone.  I then looked around to see if the other Legendary Pokémon were anywhere nearby.  "Where did the other Legendary Pokémon head off?"
"They left to go do the things that they would do on a daily basis."
"Dang it!  I wanted to ask Palkia more questions, but that can wait for another time.  The main thing is," I paused, then looking into the sky, I continued by yelling, "HOW DO WE GET OFF THIS WRETCHED ISLAND?!"
"Like this."

Immediately after Latias spoke, I was not on the island at all; I was in Altomare!  In fact, the location that I was at was the street that housed the Pokémon Center.

'Did you just teleport us again?' I asked in thought.
"Maybe," Latias answered in a slow, mischievous way.
'Well, at least we are off that desolate island.  Now, where to go?'
"Oh!  I know!"

Latias then took off leaving me behind near the Pokémon Center.  I then sprinted down the alleyway that Latias flew through mere seconds before I entered the alleyway.  I knew that she was only a couple of yards ahead of me.

'Wait up!' I yelled in my thoughts.  'You know how I cannot easily catch up to you!'

Latias then stopped flying towards to wherever her destination is and she flew back around to me.  She then grabbed my arm, and suddenly, I was out of the alleyway and I was in…The Secret Garden?

"So this is the place where you wanted to head off for," I muttered to myself.
"Hey!  You're that kid that was brought here by Latias only—" a voice spoke, but was cut off by me.  I recognized that voice!  It was that girl from when I was in the prison cell not so long ago!
"Three days ago?  Yes, I am aware of that moment in time.  Allow me to introduce myself:  my name is Ryan Cooley," I answered.  "Your name is?"
"Bianca.  Now," Bianca started, but immediately started to yell again, "EXPLAIN TO ME WHY YOU ARE HERE!"

Bianca's yelling echoed throughout the garden for a short interval then ceasing to exist as if it never happened.

"Allow me to explain.  I may look like an ordinary sixteen-year old boy who is smart and prefers to be simplistic (well, most of the time), but I am actually different than that on the inside," I started.  "I am—"
"Hold it right there!" a different female voice yelled.

I looked over Bianca's shoulder to see none other than the two words that spell trouble:  Team Rocket.

"Oh crud," I muttered.  I then walked to the side of Bianca then retorting, "Who in the world are you?"

That question is the question that I soon would regret asking.

"Prepare for trouble!" the dark-red haired woman started.
"Make that double," a purple-dye haired man continued coldly.
"To protect the world from devastation."
"To unite or people within our nation."
"To announce the evils of truth and love!"
"To extend our reach to the stars above."
"Jessie!" the woman exclaimed.
"James," the man said coldly.
"Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!"
"Surrender now or prepare to fight-fight-fight!"
"Meowth dats right!" a talking Meowth said.
"Oh great!  Looks like the failure squad is here!" I joked.  "But seriously, I DON'T HAVE ANY POKÉMON!!!"
"Good because that would make capturing Latias easier," James replied.  He then threw out a PokéBall while saying, "Go get them Carnavine!"

A Carnavine then burst out of the PokéBall and it headed over to James, and it started to bit his head.

"AH! Not me!  Get them!"

The Carnavine then shifted its focus to Latias and immediately launched a Bullet Seed attack.  Right before the attack hit Latias, I jumped in front of Latias and I took the attack for her.

"Ah!" I screamed in pain and agony as the bullet seed attack bombarded me one after the other.

Once the attack dissipated, I managed to stand back up on my feet and I stood my ground.

"That kid is acting idiotic for standing in front of that attack!" Jessie exclaimed out of surprise.
"Hm.  I recall seeing a Pokémon do the same procedure, but that was only sixteen-years ago," James said to himself in deep thought.  "No matter!  Still, his move is the equivalent of a fool!"

The rude comments that the two Team Rocket members threw at me were starting to send me over the edge in anger.

"DO NOT TOUCH LATIAS!  SHE IS A GOOD FRIEND TO ME!" I exclaimed, pausing in between words slightly taking deep breaths.

This remark made Team Rocket Trio step back in fear.

"I think that kid wants us to get out of here!" James exclaimed in fear.
"I can't believe we are even terrified by this kid!" Jessie exclaimed in fear while agreeing to what James said.
"Der's only one ting to say about dis!" Meowth replied.

Then the Team Rocket Trio turned around and ran back from wherever they came from screaming, "Team Rocket is running away again!"

After Team Rocket left, I opinionated, "I'm glad that those hooligans are out of here!  They should not even know about this place at all!"
"Same here.  Anyways, I saw what you did for Latias," Bianca started, "and I must say is that Latios, well, if he was alive, would do the same thing for Latias."
"Latios is not dead.  He is nowhere close to even being dead.  Not even by a longshot!  He is living amongst us at this very moment!"
"In what way is Latios even alive?  I saw him die sixteen-years ago!"
"He is talking to you right now."

Bianca then started to laugh at the answer that I gave her.  "Yeah, right!  Like I would believe you!"  Bianca exclaimed while she was amidst her laughter.
"You will believe me when I tell you the information that I left out," I started.  "You see, Arceus told Lugia who told me that I was Latios reincarnated."
"It is true," Lugia's voice agreed.  I turned around to see Lugia flying in through the opening in the ceiling of the garden.  "You should believe him.  I was the one who conveyed the message to him about him being a Latios."
"Now it all makes sense!  When you defended Latias, you defended her like Latios would!"  Bianca exclaimed.  "Listen, Ryan, I will be back momentarily, understand?"
"I understand clearly, but I do not like being treated like a seven-year old," I replied.  I turned around to tell Lugia, "Well, Lugia, I—"
However, as I turned around, he was not there anymore!  I then saw Bianca leave the gardens to either go get something or someone.  In the meantime; however, I noticed Latias looking at me joyfully,

"What?" I asked.  "Did I do something that made you excited?"
"No, you did nothing.  It is what Lugia stated that made me excited.  Anyways, when you saw that attack about to come at me, you acted just like Latios would act protectively," Latias answered.
"Okay," I commented slowly.

Just then, Bianca returned from wherever she was.

"Bianca, is this a joke?  How many times do I have to tell…oh…now I see why you brought me here!" an old man said.
"Grandfather, don't hurt him!" Bianca exclaimed.  "Do you not realize who this person is?  He is Latios, Grandfather!  He is Latios, but reincarnated as a human being!"
"Oh…I…uh…"
"It's okay, sir.  I forgive you," I told the old man.  "Anyways, who are you?"
"Oh!  Right!  My name is Lorenzo.  What is your name you youngster?"
"Ryan Cooley."
"It is nice to meet you."
"Likewise."

I then walked back to Latias, who was waiting impatiently for me.

"Took you long enough," Latias complained.
"Sorry about that.  I was caught up in some negotiations," I retorted.
"I know.  Now, follow me!" Latias said happily as she grabbed my hand, pulling me along for an unexpected ride.
"WHOA!" I yelled as Latias dragged me to what appeared to be a large fountain.  "Why are you taking me to a fountain?" I asked.
"Because I have an idea," Latias answered mischievously.  Latias then stopped in front of the fountain and released her grip on my hand.  "Now, here is what I want you to do:  I want you to reach out your hand and touch the Soul Dew."
"Okay…" I complied with uncertainty.

I then reached out my hand slowly for the Soul Dew.  With each decreasing distance of the gap between my hand and the Soul Dew, my heart rate increased slightly.  As soon as I was about one inch from the Soul Dew, I was sweating profusely.  Once I touched the Soul Dew with my right index finger, I shut my eyes waiting for something to happen, but nothing of the sort came about!  I then put my whole hand on the Soul Dew, but when I did, the Soul Dew started to emit a faint, eerie glow that would match the luminosity of a glow stick.  This interested me, so I decided to turn around and ask Latias, but as I turned around, I slipped on a puddle of water (it can happen) and now both of my hands were on the Soul Dew!  I then realized that the Soul Dew was emitting a blue-like glow similar to the color of a normal Latios's blue feathers!

"What the…" I said softly to myself.

Suddenly, a tremendous burst of white light from the Soul Dew erupted into the garden temporarily blinding me.  I decided to make a run for it, but I tripped over a stone causing me to hit my head on the grass knocking me out cold.  The last thing that I heard before I blacked out was the screams of Latias…in English?

"Ryan!" Latias yelled.  Her screams were slowly fading out.  "Ryan!"  Her screams were almost inaudible.  Her last words that I heard were, "I'm so sorry."