The waves slowly receded.
Though the tsunami hadn't destroyed Alto Mare, its mark was still visible. The first floors of several buildings were flooded; furniture and appliances were ruined, and many small boats had either been carried deep into the canals or swept back out to sea.
For the city, it was a financial blow but thankfully, not a single life had been lost. That alone was a blessing.
The commotion had roused the citizens. Lights flicked on in homes, people leaned out from balconies and windows, staring at the half-meter of seawater still flowing through the streets.
Confused murmurs spread. None of them knew what had happened in the dead of night. Perhaps only when morning came, and the news broke, would they hear that a massive tsunami had struck but was mysteriously broken apart before it could annihilate the city.
From higher ground, where the group had taken refuge, Misty let out a long sigh.
"Finally… It's over."
"Wait a second!" Brock suddenly shouted. "What about those two thieves?!"
Dawn was beginning to creep across the sky. While it was still quiet in the city below, Lorenzo and Bianca helped guide the exhausted Latias and Latios back into the Secret Garden.
Meanwhile, Kai and the others rushed back to the Grand Canal Sanctuary.
But they were too late. The place was deserted. Broken machinery and scattered fossil fragments were all that remained Annie and Oakley had vanished.
As for the corrupted Soul Dew, it had shattered completely, leaving behind only dust and shards.
"Damn it!" Ash clenched his fists. "They caused all of this, and after everything, they just get away?!"
"It's frustrating, yes," Kai admitted. "But it couldn't be helped. If we hadn't focused on stopping the tsunami, the entire city would've been destroyed. There will be another chancebwe'll meet them again one day, and then we'll see justice done."
Brock hesitated. "Before they fled… I noticed Oakley didn't look good. The Soul Dew's backlash hit her hard. She might already be badly hurt."
"Hmph." Misty crossed her arms, glaring. "Serves them right. They brought it on themselves."
"That's enough," Kai cut in firmly. "We can't stay here. If the townspeople or authorities find us among this wreckage, we'll be blamed as the ones responsible. We should leave—now."
They returned to the Secret Garden.
Bianca greeted them warmly, bringing towels, tea, and a plate of pastries. "Here clean yourselves up. You must be starving and exhausted."
She wasn't wrong. From the moment Latias had woken them in the night until now, they hadn't eaten or drunk anything. If not for their hearty dinner beforehand, they might have collapsed long ago.
Now that the danger was past, fatigue crashed down. Everyone's eyes grew heavy. Even Latias and Latios, after receiving a little care, curled up together and drifted into peaceful sleep.
Kai smiled faintly at the sight. Unlike the story told in the old legends, Latios had survived. Latias wouldn't have to bear the grief of losing her brother.
After a quick bite, the group decided not to return to the Pokémon Center. Instead, they collapsed inside one of the Garden's wooden cabins. Bianca fetched extra blankets, and the moment Kai lay down, he fell into the deepest, most peaceful sleep he'd had in ages.
---
When he finally woke, sunlight was filtering into the room. The others were already up and gone. Groggy, he rubbed his forehead and stepped outside.
Ash and Pikachu were laughing and playing with Latias and Latios on the grass. Nearby, Bianca brushed Jolteon's fur while Gengar shamelessly begged her for scratches. Clearly, Kai's Pokémon had already decided she was part of the family.
Not far off, Misty and Ash were helping Bianca cook, and the whole Garden felt lighthearted and warm just like the first day they'd come here.
Kai nodded in greeting, then walked toward the reflecting pool where the Soul Dew had once rested. Lorenzo stood there quietly.
"Without the Soul Dew," Kai asked, "what happens now?"
The old caretaker smiled softly. "Even without it, Alto Mare has Latias and Latios. That's more than enough. They'll continue protecting this place. And I'll make sure the legend of the Soul Dew is never forgotten."
Kai hesitated, then pulled two Poké Balls from his belt and offered them.
"These are theirs. They should stay here."
Lorenzo raised an eyebrow. "You're not keeping them?"
Kai shook his head. "They belong to this city. They love this place. Where could I take them that would ever feel more like home? Besides… I already have Legendary Pokémon at my side. They deserve peace here."
The old man recalled the sight of Suicune racing across the waves. He understood—Kai spoke no boast. Unlike most trainers, he had no need to cling to every Legendary he encountered.
Still, Lorenzo asked one final question: "Then why not release them completely?"
Kai smiled faintly. "This way, it's a safeguard. If anyone tries again to capture them—whether thieves or careless trainers—they won't succeed. Once a Pokémon has been registered to a Poké Ball, no other ball can claim it. If something happens, you can always call them back to safety."
"Ah…" Lorenzo's eyes widened. "I see. That way, they can never truly be taken away."
Kai nodded. That was exactly the point.
Just then, Latias and Latios abandoned their playtime with Ash and Pikachu and floated over. Their eyes lingered on the Poké Balls as Lorenzo solemnly accepted them and placed them beside the reflecting pool where the Soul Dew had once lain.
"Then here they'll stay," Lorenzo said with reverence. "Side by side, to watch over this Secret Garden, as they always have."
The two Eon Pokémon chirped softly in agreement, their presence filling the Garden with peace.
And for everyone gathered there, it truly felt like the best possible ending.
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