Latias circled wildly through the sky, her brother having been taken from her. Heart-rending cries echoed from her throat, filled with pain and despair. The Kanto Champion, Logan, flew straight toward her. After speaking to her for a brief moment—words no one else could hear—he did something that left the entire crowd staring in disbelief.
He took out a Poké Ball.
And in full view of everyone present, he captured Latias.
The entire Trainer community erupted in shock.
No one there was foolish. Even thinking with their toes, they could guess what had happened: the Kanto Champion must have promised Latias that he would rescue her brother in exchange for her trust—earning her willingness to become his Pokémon.
Instantly, countless Trainers were flooded with regret.
Why hadn't they rushed forward earlier?
Why hadn't they risked everything to help when Latios and Latias were battling that mysterious man?
If they had fought alongside them, even for a moment, perhaps that shared struggle might have earned Latias's favor. Perhaps—just perhaps—she could have chosen them.
That was Latias.
A Legendary Pokémon.
Even the most ordinary Trainer, if blessed with a Legendary Pokémon, would possess the strength to challenge a Gym Leader head-on.
Of course, those Trainers had no idea that if they truly had joined that battle with such thoughts in mind, they would likely be spending the rest of their lives confined to hospital beds.
Some Trainers managed to suppress their emotions. Calmly, they evaluated reality: with their strength, they hadn't even qualified to step onto that battlefield—let alone earn the recognition of a Legendary Pokémon.
Yet whether rational or resentful, all of them felt the same thing—
Envy.
Because what the Kanto Champion had gained was not temporary aid, nor a cooperative pact.
Latias had entered his Poké Ball willingly.
Everyone understood what that meant.
Until the Kanto Champion died, Latias would never again return to the wild.
As Trainers nursed their tangled emotions, Logan—now with Latias at his side—had already disappeared.
But Alto Mare did not quiet down.
After confirming that the city was no longer in immediate danger, the mayor mobilized massive amounts of manpower and resources for rescue operations.
There were not many casualties in the chaos, but the damage to the city center was severe. Road reconstruction alone would keep the city government busy for a long time.
"Hello everyone, this is a special correspondent from Hoenn's BC Radio Station, bringing you an in-depth report from Alto Mare…"
"In the early hours of last night, a mysterious individual broke into Alto Mare's City Hall and seized the legendary artifact known as the Soul Dew…"
"The attacker was incredibly powerful. Witnesses at the scene report that he specialized in Psychic-type Pokémon and was unquestionably a Psychic expert. During combat, the psychic particles he released covered the entire city of Alto Mare…"
"The city's security forces were completely overwhelmed and defeated almost instantly. Afterward, the attacker used the Soul Dew to summon the Legendary Pokémon Latios and Latias…"
The assault on Alto Mare dominated headlines across nearly every region the following day.
Journalists who had been present worked through the night, flooding the internet and television with breaking coverage. They knew exactly what the public wanted to see.
Whenever footage of Latios and Latias appeared on screen, it was accompanied by exhaustive explanations.
Multiple media outlets even invited historians and scholars to analyze Alto Mare's ancient legends, meticulously introducing the history and abilities of the twin Legendary Pokémon.
"The mysterious attacker used the Soul Dew to suppress Latios and Latias. Fortunately, the Kanto Champion happened to be traveling in Alto Mare and drove the attacker back with overwhelming strength, preventing total destruction. However, before retreating, the attacker succeeded in capturing Latios and escaping with the Soul Dew, while Latias departed alongside the Kanto Champion."
Footage from the battle played on screens—shaky, ground-level recordings taken by journalists and civilians.
Though incomplete, the explosions, the roaring canal waves, collapsing buildings, and the completely destroyed City Hall plaza conveyed the brutality of the fight.
Shattered stone, blaring ambulance sirens, and the red-and-blue glow of emergency lights painted a picture of terror vivid enough for anyone watching.
"Fortunately, the incident occurred late at night. There were very few civilians near City Hall, preventing a greater disaster. According to post-incident statistics, four people were killed and 103 injured, thirteen of whom remain hospitalized with severe injuries. Next, we will interview Alto Mare's mayor…"
On screen, the mayor looked devastated, his face pale as he tearfully described the city's losses.
Damaged buildings and roads could be repaired—modern technology made that possible. Money could solve those problems.
What truly terrified him was something else.
Alto Mare was a tourist city. Tourism was its lifeblood.
Would this attack send the wrong message? Would people begin to believe Alto Mare was unsafe?
Even worse, the city's tourism had always relied on the legend of Latios and Latias. Now, in front of the entire world, one had been captured, the other had followed a Trainer, and the Soul Dew was gone.
The mayor feared Alto Mare would lose its competitive edge—leading to fewer tourists and, eventually, hardship for its residents.
Yet he soon realized his fears were unfounded.
After the incident, tourism didn't decline.
It exploded.
Media coverage introduced Alto Mare's unique culture and architecture to the entire world. The appearance of Latios and Latias ignited a frenzy of curiosity.
Ordinary tourists didn't come hoping to find Legendary Pokémon. They knew better.
But now it was proven that Legendary Pokémon had once lived here—perhaps for over a thousand years.
That alone was enough to draw people in droves.
As for safety, few worried. Attacks by Trainers of such terrifying power were exceedingly rare—perhaps once or twice a year worldwide. This was seen as an anomaly.
Tourists flooded in.
Trainers followed.
Even though Latios, Latias, and the Soul Dew were gone, who could say Alto Mare held no other secrets?
Many Trainers arrived afterward, hoping to uncover something—anything—that might change their own fate.
"However, we still know very little about the mysterious attacker. He appeared as though from nowhere. His motive for capturing Latios remains unknown. With both Latios and the Soul Dew now in his possession, the Pokémon League must remain vigilant. Based on his methods, he may bring even greater disaster to the world."
On an uninhabited island in the Southern Isles, waves crashed endlessly against jagged rocks.
As the reporter's worried words faded, Logan closed his Pokédex.
He stood silently on the shoreline for a long time.
Behind him, Latias stood as well.
Together, they lifted their gazes toward the distant sky.
There was nothing there.
Yet both of them knew—
Somewhere beyond sight, a man in a black cloak was flying through the heavens, invisible, riding upon Latios.
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