---
After enjoying a hearty lunch prepared by Brock and Bianca, and resting through the night, everyone felt fully recovered from the exhausting events of the previous day.
Looking back, their time in Alto Mare had been nothing short of incredible. Not only had they competed in a water chariot race and won the championship, they had also toured the breathtaking canals of the city, met Latias and Latios, and gotten to know Lorenzo and Bianca.
On top of that, they had thwarted the schemes of two world-class thieves and even helped save the city from a devastating tidal wave.
For any normal journey, just one of those things would have been enough but all of it had happened within a single day!
Now that the crisis had passed, it was finally time for them to leave Alto Mare and continue their journey.
When they told Lorenzo and Bianca of their departure, Lorenzo simply nodded with quiet understanding, but Bianca's face showed clear sadness.
Even though their time together had been short, the experiences they had shared created a strong bond, and she didn't want to say goodbye so soon. Still, she knew these Trainers were destined to travel far and wide; staying in one place simply wasn't an option for them.
"I have something I want to give you," Bianca said suddenly.
Before anyone could reply, she dashed off and, within moments, returned, clutching a sheet of paper.
"This is something I drew last night while you were asleep," she explained, cheeks turning pink. "Thank you for saving me and my grandfather… thank you for saving Latias and Latios… and thank you for saving Alto Mare. I don't have anything valuable to give, but I wanted to share this drawing with you."
"A drawing?" Ash blinked, reaching out for it only for Kai to snatch it up first.
Everyone leaned in to see. It was a colorful crayon sketch: the seven of them standing side by side with smiles on their faces, Alto Mare's canals and towers in the background, and Latias and Latios soaring happily above.
Pikachu perched on Ash's shoulder, looking just as cheerful as the others. Despite its simple style, the drawing was lively and full of heart. Bianca's talent and effort were plain to see.
"It's beautiful!" Misty said warmly. "Thank you so much, Bianca."
"It's nothing, really…" Bianca mumbled, embarrassed. "Compared to everything you did, it's not much at all. I just hope you'll accept it."
"Don't say that," Kai smiled. "The best gifts come from the heart. That makes this priceless." He carefully folded the drawing and tucked it away inside his coat. Though he said "we'll keep it," he clearly had no intention of letting Ash claim it. To Kai, it was a one-of-a-kind keepsake something to frame and hang in his room one day.
Latias and Latios soon appeared as well, sensing the farewell. Latias nuzzled against Ash and Pikachu affectionately, then circled the others in playful loops, reluctant to part ways.
Latios, more composed than his sister, simply gazed at them with deep gratitude before locking eyes with Kai.
Latios understood what had happened earlier that morning when Kai had recalled it into a Poké Ball to save the city. From that moment, Latios knew that he and his sister were no longer wild Pokémon.
Their lives were tied to Kai's now. Still, given the circumstances, and sensing his kindness, Latios didn't resent it. In fact, it accepted the bond willingly.
After leaving the Secret Garden, the group returned to the Pokémon Center to collect their belongings, then made their way to the harbor. A passenger ship was waiting to take them back to Johto.
Lorenzo and Bianca walked them all the way to the dock. When the ship's horn sounded and it slowly pulled away, the two stood waving until they disappeared from view.
"Goodbye, Alto Mare. Goodbye, Bianca," Kai murmured as the sea breeze brushed against them.
Standing on the deck, the group gazed back at the shrinking cityscape with heavy hearts. Parting from friends was never easy. But that was the life of a Trainer: always moving forward, with tomorrow's adventures waiting.
"Look!" Misty suddenly pointed skyward.
Everyone glanced up—and there, just barely visible between the clouds, two familiar figures flickered in and out of sight: one blue, one red. Latias and Latios had come to see them off.
"Goodbye!!" Ash shouted, waving with all his might. Passengers nearby turned their heads at his outburst, and a few even squinted at the sky in surprise.
"Wait a second," a man in a loud Hawaiian shirt said, rubbing his eyes. "I could've sworn I just saw Latias and Latios!"
"Oh, please," his girlfriend sighed. "They're just legends. No way they'd show up here of all places."
"I'm telling you, I saw them!" the man insisted, pointing to the clouds. "They were right there—hey, where'd they go?"
But the sky looked perfectly ordinary again. His girlfriend shook her head with an exasperated smile. "You've had one cocktail too many. Legendary Pokémon don't just pop up on cruise ships."
Hearing this, Kai and the others exchanged knowing smiles. The truth of Alto Mare's guardians and the Soul Dew's legend would remain a mystery to most, just like the statues and stories along the city's canals. But the legend would live on.
---
Unlike their arrival, the ship's return route carried them directly to the small port outside the City. It was a slow voyage, and after traveling through the night, they finally set foot on Johto soil the next morning.
There, they said their goodbyes. Ash, Misty, and Brock would head off to earn Ash's final Gym Badge, while Kai and Erika set out for Silver Town.
Since they all knew they'd meet again soon, the farewell was casual just a wave and a smile.
"See you at the Silver Conference!" Kai called out.
"It's only a few days away," Ash replied confidently. "Once I beat the Blackthorn Gym, I'll be there in no time!"
"Don't underestimate Clair," Kai teased with a grin. "She's not the type you can take lightly."
"Just watch me," Ash said, rubbing his nose with determination.
Kai chuckled. "Then it's settled. I'll be waiting for you in Silver Town."
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