Happy Pokemon Day everyone!

Before he had evolved, Riolu had always simply curled up in bed with Ash without issue. Now things had become a bit awkward for Ash with Lucario's larger, more human like shape. However he hadn't wanted to push his best friend away simply because he'd changed so he'd put up with it and was quickly getting used to it. Tonight however it was particularly difficult.

The two aura users slept particularly fitful in their bunk as a powerful sense of danger loomed on the horizon. They were constantly twitching violently in their sleep, repeatedly waking the other up as the night went on.

Finally around midnight duel flashes of light on their balcony caused Ash and Lucario to snap awake. Leaping down from the bunk, Ash saw two figures standing in the doorway to the balcony, looking terrified. A moment later he recognized them as Latias and Latios in their human forms, and turned to Cynthia to wake her. The blonde was already up however and rushing to the distraught Pokémon's side.

"What is it sweetie?" she asked as Latias grabbed her in a tight hug.

"Are you okay Latios?" Ash asked, approaching the boy. There was a flash of light and he returned to his normal form and nuzzled into Ash's arms, seeking comfort.

"Ash?" Misty's sleepy voice came from behind them, "What's going on?"

"I'm not sure," Ash said slowly, "but I think something bad happened."

"What?" Brock murmured sleepily, "What do you...whoa!"

Misty squeaked and brock fell off his bunk when they saw Latios. A moment later Latias burst into a shower of golden sparkles, returning to her normal form.

"Guys," Ash said gently, "can you show us what happened?"

Latios met his eyes and his red eyes began glowing brightly. Ash gasped as he felt him enter his mind. His hands came together of their own volition and he began pooling his aura. To everyone's shock a time flower bloomed into existence and activated.

Latios and Latias were sleeping in a tree with their mother. A slight shift in the air currents of the garden caused the wind chimes to start spinning, waking the three Pokémon. They lifted off, turning to see two familiar women standing in the entrance to the garden, an Ariados and Espeon beside them.

Latias squeaked in fright and Latios growled. Tianna glowered at the two intruders.

"Thats them!" Cynthia gasped, "Those are the women who were attacking Latios and Latias earlier. They somehow knew who they were through their disguises then tracked them back to the garden."

"Yeah," Ash growled, "We should have stayed their tonight. We could have stopped them!"

"Laaaaaa!" Tianna roared, charging at the two women. However they easily cartwheeled out of the way of his attack.

"I know," the blonde one said, "First one to catch Latias wins!" She cartwheeled away again as Tianna came around for another attack, missing her entirely.

Latias and Latios met Tianna high in a tree. Realizing that her strategy wasn't working, Tiana turned invisible followed shortly by her children.

"Uh-oh," the blonde girl said, "That's a new one Oakley."

"These three are just full of surprises," the lavender haired one, Oakley, said. She put on a pair of sunglasses and suddenly looked right at Tianna, coming in for yet another attack on the blonde. "Watch out Annie!" she shouted.

Annie backflipped just in time to dodge Tianna's attack.

"So that's how they're doing it," Ash growled, "Those glasses let them see Latios and Latias, even while invisible."

Annie ran up and stood back to back with Oakley, putting on her own sunglasses. Spotting Tianna she pointed at it saying, "Right there, Espeon use your Swift Attack."

Espeon unleashed a barrage of star shaped energy projectiles into the air, impacting against Tianna's side.

"No!" Misty gasped.

"These sunglasses rule!" Annie said happily. Suddenly an invisible figure crashed into Espeon, knocking it down and cutting off it's attack.

"It's Latios, Ariados use your Night Shade!" Oakley ordered, pointing out the male legendary.

"Aria!" the arachnid hissed, unleashing a wave of dark energy at Latios. It impacted against his side, drawing a cry from him as his invisibility failed.

Suddenly Tianna flew in the way of the Night Shade to protect her son. She cried in pain as the attack damaged her severely, losing her invisibility too.

"Okay, if you want to be the hero," Oakley said mockingly as she threw a small device at her. It expanded instantly, wrapping Tianna up in an energy web, electrocuting her with a surge of energy. She cried out in pain before falling down in a smoking heap.

"Tianna, no!" Ash shouted.

With Tianna captured, Annie and Oakley turned their attention to the younger Latias and Latios. They had turned invisible again, but with their special sunglasses it didn't matter. Annie pointed her out unerringly and said, "Espeon, Psybeam!"

From the gem on its forehead, Espeon unleashed a beam of multicolored psychic energy. It hit Latias on the side, drawing a cry of pain from her and causing her to lose her invisibility as she fell to the ground in a heap.

"Latias!" Cynthia cried.

"Laaaa!" Latios cried out, seeing his sister being attacked.

"Espeon, Tackle it!" Annie ordered.

Espeon charged, but Latios surged across the ground and cut it off with a tackle.

Latias called out to her mother, fear etched into her expression. She bellowed back, and Ash knew she was telling her children to run.

"Espeon, Psychic attack," Annie ordered.

The Pokémon unleashed their attack on Latios, causing him to scream in pain.

Tianna, with a rush of energy, surged across the field and got in front of the attack, crying out in pain.

"Laaaa!" Latias cried to Latios.

Tianna bellowed at them again, and finally they turned to run.

"Going somewhere?" Annie asked, running after her and throwing another capture web at Latios. He would have been caught, but somehow Tianna found the strength for one last flight and got in the way of the net. She bellowed in pain as it electrocuted her again before falling to the ground unconscious.

Latios and Latias dove into the nearest pool and swam away into the canals to safety.

The Time Flower closed it's petals as the scene faded away, leaving the group once again in the Pokémon Center.

"We have to save her," Ash growled.

"But we don't know where they took him," Misty said.

"No, but we can find out," Cynthia said. "Latias, can you contact Tianna? Show us what she's seeing?"

Latias looked unsure, but then her eyes began glowing and the world around them changed again.

"Now what's happening?" Brock yelped.

They were suddenly standing within a spherical prison, three rings gyrating around them as a large machine whorled to life in the center of the large room they were in.

"What is this?" Ash asked.

"This is the Museum," Misty said in recognition, "Remember Brock? That old guy was telling us about the Defense Mechanism. There, that's him!" She pointed to a large ariados web where Lorenzo and Bianca were tied up, struggling fituly to free themselves.

"They stole the Soul Dew!" Ash said in dismay, seeing the small jewel in the machine.

On the far side of the room Oakley was climbing into a large limb of the machine.

"Okay, let's see what this thing is made of," she said as the machine activated fully. "First lets bring in some reinforcements. Kabutops, Aerodactyl, rise!"

"Are you crazy? You're going to destroy the entire city!" Lorenzo shouted, but Annie and Oakley paid him no heed.

"The fossils," Misty gasped, "They are in the floor of the museum."

"Not anymore," Brock said, pointing. With a flash of light, a fully alive Kabutops and Aerodactyl stood before Annie and Oakley.

"Alright you two, bring me back that Latios and Latias," Oakley ordered them.

They didn't hesitate, turning and running from the museum.

The image then faded as Tianna lost what little strength she'd regained. Latias fell to the ground in exhaustion as well as they found themselves back in the Pokémon Center.

"Latias, are you alright?" Cynthia asked, crouching down to help the Pokémon.

"Ash what is going on?" Misty asked.

"I think we're in trouble," Brock said.

Ash glowered out the window. "They've activated the DMA, this whole city is in danger. We need to get there now."

Grabbing his Poké ball belt, he snapped it around his waist and walked to the balcony.

"Are you ready to fly?" Ash asked Cynthia as she came up next to him.

She smirked at him, "Of course." Pulling a Poké ball out she tossed it into the air where it popped open and released a surge of energy that coalesced into her Garchomp.

Ash grinned and released Dragonair. In sync he, Lucario, and Cynthia climbed up to the edge of the of the balcony and leapt off, dropping onto their Pokémon's backs.

"Lets go," Ash said, "Latios can you lead us to the Museum?"

"Laaa!" He nodded, turning and flying to the northeast with Latias on his tail.

"What about Brock and Misty?" Cynthia asked as they raced after the legendary.

"They'll catch up," Ash said, "This is too important."

Cynthia nodded in agreement.

"Aaaeeroooo!" A harsh cry sounded from above them. Suddenly a figure swooped out of the sky right on top of Latias.

"Laaa!" she cried as the Aerodactyl dug its claws into her neck.

"Dragon Claw!" Cynthia barked.

In midair Garchomp reared back, her large claw glowing bright teal, and slashed down on Aerodactyl. It cried out, releasing Latias and flying away.

"No you don't," Cynthia growled, "Use Hyper Beam!"

"Gaaaaar!" she growled, launching the attack towards Aerodactyl with all of her might. The Hyper Beam impacted against Aerodactyl's side with an explosion, sending it blasting away clear across the city.

Ash's danger sense tingled and he looked down just as the Kabutops leapt from a tall building, raising its arm to slash at Latios.

"Iron Tail!" he ordered.

Dragonair whipped around, slapping Kabutops with his steel hard tail and sending it crashing back into the canal.

"Lets go," he said.

They flew on towards the museum.

"There it is!" Cynthia shouted as the large building came into sight.

Suddenly a massive tower of water erupted from the canal. "What is that?" Ash yelled as they landed in front of the museum.

"I don't want to find out," Cynthia said, sliding from Garchomp's back.

"Dragonair, try a Hyper Beam," Ash said.

Dragonair reared back as he charged the attack, then unleashed a massive blast of pure energy towards the wave as it washed towards them. It hit the wave with an explosion, sending water in all directions.

"That did it," Ash said triumphantly.

But as he said it, the water was already recollecting. It surged across the ground, surrounding the entire group before surging upward and enclosing them entirely before it came crashing down on them.

Ash flailed as the water turned around him. He tried to call upon his aura to help but he couldn't focus enough to do anything. His lungs started burning, begging for oxygen but he couldn't escape. He wasn't the only one either; Lucario, Cynthia, Latias, Dragonair, and Garchomp all struggled and flailed as they drowned in the tower of water.

Suddenly, Latias' eyes started glowing and a surge of energy erupted from within her body. The tower exploded, sending everyone crashing painfully to the ground.

"What...what happened?" Ash coughed out.

"I...I don't know," Cynthia gasped out.

They looked up and gasped. Latias was floating in midair, a massive sphere of energy enveloping her. After a moment if faded away and she fell to the ground.

"Latias!" Cynthia gasped, rushing to her side, "Are you alright?" Latios hovered to her side, nudging his sister gently.

"Laa," she said after a moment, perking up happily.

"Oh great," Cynthia said, relieved.

They ran into the museum, passing through a large entrance hall towards the very back of the building where surges of electricity and flashes of light could be seen.

Entering the room they stopped in shock at the sight. The DMA was going insane, spinning out of control as streams of energy erupted from the floor around them. Tianna screamed in pain as she was drained by the machine, sparks flashing around her.

Annie, who was standing watching, turned when they approached and opened her mouth to give her Espeon an order. However she was too slow as an Aura Sphere, courtesy of Ash, slammed into her gut and smashed her against the wall. Espeon suffered a similar fate as Lucario sliced at it with his Shadow Claw attack.

The one bad guy dealt with, Ash turned to examine the DMA. He gasped when he spotted the Soul Dew. It had turned black, glowing malevolently as the DMA whirled around. He then turned his attention to Tianna. "Lucario, use Metal Claw to free Lorenzo and Bianca. Then come help me."

Lucario ran towards the two tied in the Ariados' web. Ariados itself hissed threateningly at Lucario, but he simply lashed out with a Blaze Kick and sent it blasting into a nearby wall where it crumpled unconscious. He then slashed at the webbing, slicing it to pieces around Lorenzo and Bianca.

Latias and Latios flew straight towards their mother, a worried expression on their faces. "Laaa!" Latias cried out, flying at the barrier and bouncing off uselessly.

Ash ran up behind her, gazing at the barrier with his aura sight. It shimmered powerfully, drawing a continuous stream of energy from Tianna to power the DMA. Then he noticed that the energy barrier had a very similar signature to Latios and Latias and an idea quickly formed. "Cynthia, when I say have Latias and Latios concentrate all of her energy into a single attack."

Cynthia didn't bother with questions, just nodded and moved to tell the two what to do.

Lucario came running up with Lorenzo and Bianca on his heels. "We've got to turn it off before it's too late!" Lorenzo said through gritted teeth.

"All we need to do is get Tianna out right?" Ash asked.

"Yes, that should do it," Lorenzo said.

"Right, Lucario we're going to give it our most powerful Aura Sphere," Ash said.

"Right," Lucario said.

Moving in sync, Ash and Lucario brought their palms together and started channeling their aura. Bianca and Lorenzo each gave a gasp as the Aura Spheres began forming, but Ash had tuned them out as he concentrated all of his focus on the orb of power he was forming.

"Now!" he shouted.

He and Lucario released their attacks, and the two orbs of aura surged at the cage and impacted against it with an explosion. The energy surrounding the cage weakened and it descended several feet closer to the ground.

"Do it!" Cynthia shouted.

"Laaaaa!" both Eon Pokémon screamed as they became enveloped in energy and surged against the cage. The energy barrier held for a moment, before shattering under their combined assault and they broke through.

"Now's our chance," Ash said.

All four humans rushed forwards to start pulling Tianna free from the cage. It fought to keep her entrapped, but eventually they succeeded. The instant she was free, the gyrating rings lost their power and fell to the ground uselessly. The DMA then slowed it's rapid spinning and fell silent. The control booth returned to its normal position and slid open, letting Oakley spill out weakly.

Latios and Latias started nuzzling their mother, cheering as she weakly raised her head.

"She's really weak, but I think she'll be fine," Cynthia said, giving her a quick exam, "A couple of potions, an elixir or two and she should be right as rain."

Lorenzo nodded, relieved, "That's good. We'll take her back to the garden and call Nurse Joy over in the morning."

Ash looked up at him in surprise, "Nurse Joy knows?"

"Of course," Lorenzo said, "She comes over to the garden every few months to make sure all of the Pokémon there are healthy. She knows how to keep a secret."

Ash just shook his head.

"Ash!"

"Hey Ash! Is everyone alright?"

Brock and Misty had arrived.

"Yeah, I think we're all gonna be alright," Ash said, relieved.

"Don't touch that!" Lorenzo suddenly bellowed.

Ash jerked up just in time to see Annie grab the Soul Dew. The moment her fingers touched it, it unleashed a wave of energy that blasted Annie back into the Control Panel with Oakley. Then...it shattered.

The DMA came to life again, releasing massive burst of electricity as it closed up on itself.

"What's happening?" Bianca asked worriedly.

"The Prophecy has come true," Lorenzo said darkly, "The Soul Dew is dying. It's been out of the pool for much too long. All the water is leaving."

"Oh no," Misty gasped.

They followed Lorenzo up a staircase to a door that opened onto the roof of the museum. Everyone gasped at what they saw. In the light of the moon, they could see that the water surrounding Alto Mare had completely receded.

"It's all gone," Brock said in shock.

"And I'm afraid it's coming back," Lorenzo said darkly.

Latios, Latias, and Tianna flew up higher and began hovering over the highest point of the museum. Tianna winced heavily, but put on a brave face when her children looked at her with worry.

Suddenly on the horizon they saw it. A massive fifty foot tidal wave rushing over the sea floor straight towards Alto Mare. A stone ruin that had once been underwater broke apart as the wave passed passed it.

"Just as predicted," Lorenzo said grimly, "It's coming." He held Bianca close to him.

Cynthia turned to Ash and they held onto each other for comfort as the tidal wave bared down on them.

"Latias!" Tianna suddenly bellowed. Then as one, she, Latios, and Latias hurtled out towards the wave as fast as they could.

"Latios!" Ash cried after them.

"Latias!" Cynthia screamed.

"Tianna!" Lorenzo bellowed.

"Caaarrr!" Lucario shouted.

As they approached the wave, all three Pokémon began glowing brightly as they unleashed all of their power. A massive sphere of pure energy impacted against the wave and erupted. It grew exponentially in size, causing the wave to break apart completely. The sphere continued to grow, until it burst in a flash and turned to a pillar of light reaching infinitely into the sky.

"What...what's happening?" Cynthia asked.

"I don't know," Ash said quietly.

"Where are they?" Bianca asked.

No one had an answer for her.

"Hey look," Misty said, "The water."

What was left of the wave gently flowed back into the canals of the city, soaking a few ports but doing no damage.

"Everything's returning to normal," Brock said.

"Not everything," Lorenzo said, "Come on."

The sun had been up over the horizon for nearly an hour now.

"Latios!"

"Latias!"

"Latios!"

"Tianna!"

"Tianna!"

"Latias!"

The group had taken Lorenzo's largest Gondola and pushed out to the open sea in search of Latios, Latias, and Tianna. So far they hadn't had any luck...until now.

"Hey look!" Brock suddenly shouted, pointing towards the horizon.

Ash squinted. Coming towards them through the water was a large shape, a Wailord. And laying on its back were... "Latios!" Ash said.

"And Latias!" Cynthia cried.

The wailord pulled up right next to their boat, allowing them to pull the two young Legendaries onboard.

"Latios, are you alright?" Ash asked.

"Latias, can you hear me?" Cynthia asked.

The two stirred at their voices, opening their eyes and looking up.

"Oh Latios," Ash said in relief as he hugged him.

"Latias, I'm so glad you're okay," Cynthia said, pressing her face into Latias' neck.

"But...where's Tianna?" Bianca asked.

Latios and Latias looked at one another, then as one they turned their gaze to the sky.

Ash closed his eyes as understanding washed over him. "Will you show me?" He asked quietly.

The Eon twins turned to look at him and their eyes began glowing. Ash felt them enter his mind and he manipulated his aura to form the time flower from their memories. It activated and everyone suddenly found themselves floating over the ocean.

Latios and Latias looked around in confusion, before their gazes fell on the glowing form between them. Tianna smiled down at them and held out her claws, even as her form began to grew steadily more transparent. The Eon twins held their mother's hand one last time before she dissolved completely, leaving behind a small glowing jewel that then flew off into the distance.

The memory ended and they found themselves back in the boat. Ash felt tears dripping down his face as he realized that he had just witnessed Tianna's death.

"Just like her mate," Lorenzo said weakly, "She gave her life to protect the city and became a Soul Dew."

"But, then where is it?" Bianca asked.

Lorenzo shrugged, "No one can know, and perhaps that's for the best. Without a Soul Dew, the DMA will never be able to be reactivated." He gave a great sigh, "Lets go home." As he turned the boat back towards Alto Mare, he gave a contemplative glance at Ash and Cynthia as they comforted Latios and Latias.

Ash stood and brushed the dirt off of his pants, having just planted the time flower of Tianna's death in the middle of the Secret Garden. Even without the soul dew, the fountains in the garden still gurgled happily. The huge infusion of energy into the surrounding water from the Eon's attack had made the need for the Soul Dew obsolete. The waters and canals were now a permanent fixture of Alto Mare.

"It's beautiful," Misty said, gazing sadly at the flower beside Brock and Cynthia.

"It is indeed," Lorenzo said, "Thank you Ash."

Ash just smiled. "This way Tianna will never be forgotten," he said.

Bianca burst into a fresh wave of tears. Despite being closer in age to the younger twins, she had always been closest to Tianna.

"Ash, Cynthia," Lorenzo spoke, "I would like to ask you to do me a favor."

"Anything," Cynthia said, with Ash nodding in agreement.

Lorenzo hesitated, then said, "I would like you to take Latios and Latias with you."

Ash froze in shock.

"What?" Cynthia gasped.

"Why?" Ash asked.

"As you said," Lorenzo stated, "They need a trainer if they are to get stronger, and I can't think of any better than the two of you to take good care of them."

Ash gaped, sharing a glance with Cynthia.

"Oh man, I'm so jealous," Misty said quietly.

"What do you think about this Bianca?" Cynthia asked.

"I..." Bianca swallowed, "I agree with Grampa. I'll miss them so much, but I know that they will be better off with you."

"But, we don't travel together," Ash said, "If we were to each capture one of them, they would be separated from each other for...months at a time."

"Well, why don't we ask them?" Brock suggested.

Everyone turned to face the two Eons who, up until now, had been silent. They glanced at each other, before nodding firmly. "Laaa!" They both called.

"Then I guess it's settled," Lorenzo said, relieved.

"We'll..." Ash began faintly, "need to go to the Pokémon Center to free up a space on our rosters."

"Here, follow me," Bianca said, "There's a passage that leads right near the Pokémon Center we can take."

"Here," Ash handed Cynthia a small stack of paper, "Fill this out."

Cynthia frowned at it, "What is it?"

"Special permission to carry an extra Pokémon for research purposes," Ash said, "that way you can carry your full team and Latias as well. You'll need to send a Pokémon back though to compete in official matches."

"But...I'm not a researcher," Cynthia said.

"I am," Ash countered, "and I can sign off on it. And here, use this to capture her." He placed a solid grey Poké ball on the table.

Cynthia gasped, "Where did you get that?"

Ash grinned, "I used my prize money for the Indigo League and ordered these after I beat Drake. Sort of a present to myself for winning."

Cynthia shook her head, "You are something else Ash Ketchum. Thank you."

Returning to the Secret Garden after completing their paperwork, Ash and Cynthia were ready to capture their first Legendary Pokémon. As they pulled out the grey Poké balls, Brock gasped and said, "Are those Dye Balls?"

"Why yes Brock, they are," Ash said. He turned to Latios and held the ball out. "Ready?" he asked.

Latios nodded and touched the ball with his nose. It instantly popped open and released a surge of energy that enveloped the Pokémon. His body then dissolved and was sucked back into the Poké ball which snapped shut and began shaking in Ash's hand. After a moment it released a burst of sparkles and fell silent to signal a successful capture. Then, the Poké ball suddenly changed color. The bottom half turned white, while the upper half turned blue with a red triangle in the middle.

Ash couldn't help himself. "Yes! I caught a Latios!"

Cynthia laughed, holding her own Poké ball with exactly the same design on it, with the sole exception of having a red upper half with a blue triangle. "I suppose it's only fair," she said, "I caught a Latias!"

"You guys are so weird," Misty said, staring between the two of the incredulously. They both laughed.

Ash and Cynthia shared a discreet kiss. It was almost time for Ash's ferry to leave, and the young couple were making the most of their remaining time together.

"I'll miss you," Cynthia said.

"So will I," Ash said.

It wasn't easy traveling on different journeys and maintaining a long distance relationship. They made it work as best as they could however, they each had their own dreams and respected that they each had to walk different paths to achieve them.

So, with one last hug goodbye, they turned to go their separate ways. Ash walked to the ferry where Brock and Misty waited with Lucario, while Cynthia released her Garchomp and clambered onto her back to fly back to Sinnoh.

As Ash climbed the ramp up to the ferry, he turned back and gave a wave to Lorenzo and Bianca. Almost involuntarily, his hand came up and fingered the Poké ball hanging from his neck. A grin grew on his face as he stepped aboard the ferry. "Hoenn, here we come!"

And thus ends the Heroes Ark. For those who were wondering, I introduced Tianna as an OPC (Original Pokémon Character) to take Latios' place as the parental figure, allowing him to be more childish like his sister and more willing to leave with Ash since he doesn't have the same sense of duty to Alto Mare as the Canon version did.