Chapter 2
Latias arrived with her brother at Lorenzo's house a few minutes later.
"I'm so glad you two are okay!" Bianca threw her arms around Latias and Latios.
Out of the corner of her eye, Latias noticed Misty and Brock looking at them. What would happen when they found out about Ash? If anything, this whole thing was her fault. She was the one who chose Ash.
But I couldn't have done anything else, she realized. If Ash never forgives me, well – I don't blame him. But I have to make it up to him somehow. Or at least try.
"We'll only answer a few questions tonight," Latios telepathed, "Latias and I have already used too much energy."
"Alright," sighed Bianca, "So, how are you two able to use telepathy?"
Latios shrugged. "When Ash saved me, it just hit us, I guess."
"Where is Ash?" Demanded Pikachu, glaring at Latias. "I get the whole 'I need Ash to save Latios' thing, but what happened to him? I swear, if he died again…"
Latias hesitated while her brother translated Pikachu's question, deciding not to question the 'again' part. "He's alive… I'm not sure if you want to know more,"
Latios cut in before Pikachu could retort, much to Latias' relief. "Once our guest wakes up, I promise we'll tell you everything,"
Latias sighed. She wished she could tell Pikachu– he was Ash's best friend after all– but Ash being an eon would be way too hard to explain, especially in her state. It was a miracle she could keep her eyes open.
"Speaking of which, what kind of Pokémon is that?" Brock asked.
"We don't know," Latias took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "But we'll tell you everything we can tomorrow." She poked herself with one of her claws to stay awake, but keeping her eyes open felt like lifting two giant boulders.
"Bianca, Lorenzo?" Latios telepathed. "Could you get some food ready? I'm sure the other eon will be hungry when he wakes up. We'll go upstairs to make sure he's okay."
Latias followed her brother to the guest room, where Ash lay on the bed, his wings shifting as he slept. Latias wished she could just flop down beside him, but there wasn't enough room on the bed. She sighed, curling up on the floor next to her brother. When you wake up, Ash, I'll be there. I promise.
~~~
Ash opened his eyes, feeling very, very hungry. Light streamed in through the window, and he guessed it was already the afternoon. He shook his head to wake himself up. Where was he?
"Ash? How are you feeling?"
Ash turned to see Latios and Latias hovering next to him. "Latios! You're okay!" He tried to get up, but his legs wouldn't cooperate. Frowning, he tried pushing himself out of bed, only to be met with a pair of orange claws. "What the-?!" He exclaimed, rolling out of the bed and falling flat on the floor.
"Ouch…" Ash groaned. The claws were still there. He tried to shoo them away, but they only waved back and forth. Maybe his hands were still numb from saving Latios.
Wait a minute… He moved his left hand. The claw on the left moved. He moved his right hand. The claw on the right moved.
Are these my claws? What happened to me? He tried to push himself up, but failed. "Latios? Latias? A little help?"
With their help, Ash managed to get into a 'sitting' position, his newly discovered wings preventing him from getting comfortable.
"How did this happen?" he asked, "And why am I orange?"
"Ash, we have no idea why you're like this. All we know is that it happened while you were reviving me," Latios sighed. "I guess it might have been the only way your body could survive the revival."
Ash looked at them blankly. So he was a Latios now? Or something like one? But before he could ask any more questions, someone knocked on the door. "Are you two going to tell me where Ash is? I know your guest is awake!"
"Come in!" said Latias.
"…"
"Oh, sorry!" She flew over to open the door.
"Pikachu!" Ash tried to run to his best friend, but ended up with his face on the floor.
"Hi?" Pikachu tilted his head.
Ash accepted Latias' claw and pulled himself up. "Pikachu, Latios is okay! But I think I got turned into… something." Oh, right, Pikachu probably doesn't recognize me.
"Ash?" Pikachu blinked. "Okay, I admit that wasn't on my list of guesses."
"You're not surprised?" Latios asked.
Pikachu sighed. "Ash seems to have an attraction to these sorts of things," he said, then gave a sad smile. "It's permanent, isn't it?"
"I'm afraid so," said Latios, "his body must have changed to survive my revival, so if he were to somehow change back, I don't think he would last long."
"What?!" The other time Ash had been turned into a Pokémon, it had only been for a day. Which was cool, but he didn't want to be one forever. "How am I supposed to be a Pokémon master as an– orange Latios?"
"I'm sorry, Ash, this is all my fault. I didn't think this would happen to you," Latias fiddled with her claws. "Can–can you forgive me?"
Ash was still confused about the whole situation, but he wasn't mad at Latias. Even if he did have to be whatever he was forever, it was worth saving Latios' life. "It's alright, I survived." He smiled at her. "I forgive you, Latias. Besides, it wasn't really your fault."
Latias met his eyes and smiled back. "Thank you, Ash."
"And thank you for saving me," Latios put his claw on Ash's. "I promise I'll do anything I can to help you."
"Anything for my friends," Ash grinned, then glanced back down at his new body. "I think I'll take you up on that. How do I get up?"
Latios thought for a moment. "Try closing your eyes and picture your body leaving the ground, just don't go too high."
Ash closed his eyes and tried to imagine himself floating like Latios and Latias. He felt lighter as his chest lifted off the ground, and only air remained underneath him. But when he peeked to see how he was doing, his concentration slipped and he crashed back on the floor.
This was going to take a while.
~~~
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