Chapter 291: The Southern Islet and the Power of Longing

【Item: Heart Scale.】

【Description: A radiant gem emitting beautiful light, carried by Latias or Latios, and their soul crystal. This Heart Scale contains Latios’s longing.】

【Effect: When held by Latios or Latias, the power of Psychic- and Dragon-type moves increases.】

Guang Tai picked up the two gems, and a corner of the world returned to stillness—but faintly, Guang Tai heard a questioning call emanating from the Heart Scale.

Latios, the Infinite Pokémon.

It has a streamlined body, its rear half blue, with jet-wing-like wings and fin-like legs; a red triangular pattern adorns its chest. Its upper half is white, with triangular ears on its head, a white face, and a central white pentagonal mark.

Latios has high intelligence and understands human speech. It is a gentle Pokémon that avoids conflict, forming close bonds only with kind-hearted people, and can project its thoughts and perceptions as vivid images. Even when invisible, it retains psychic sensitivity, allowing it to sense its partner’s location and emotions.

Though listed in the Hoenn Pokédex, it is most commonly seen over the seas of Johto, in the Water City of Alto Mare.

“The guardian of the Water City. I wonder where Ash and the others are—probably nearing the Water City soon.”

“After the Water City comes the Silver Conference.”

Gazing at the faintly glowing Heart Scale, Guang Tai projected his power toward it; sunlight condensed upon the gem, and at that moment, the power granted by the Linking Tree activated.

The Linking power can connect with any life—even souls—a miraculous psychic ability.

The hostility projected from the Heart Scale gradually faded; Guang Tai’s emotions reached Latios’s heart in another world, and that Pokémon, through the Heart Scale, saw Madame Valachia in the real world.

At first came confusion, then astonishment, and finally, overwhelming joy and excitement after so long.

The black-and-white corner of the world faded; Guang Tai turned back to look at Madame Valachia, who seemed unaware of what he had just done—she stared in shock at the two gems now in the young man’s hands.

“Where did you find these?”

She had noticed nothing here before, and certainly not these two beads—but for some reason, the moment she saw the blue one, a wave of nostalgia surged within her.

It was like reuniting with a friend long unseen—the emotion transmitted from the blue bead was…

A distant call and longing.

“This is something your friend left you. They hid the item in a certain place in another world—so in this world, you can retrieve it through special means at the same location.”

“The emotion you just felt came from this ‘Heart Scale.’ That Pokémon is nearby.”

“But from our world, you cannot see it.”

“Yet through the cracks of dreams, that Pokémon can appear in this world.”

The Latios Madame Valachia met as a child was most likely a shiny one.

There are indeed forests around Violet City, so it’s no surprise this strange church is said to house the dreams of the forest.

But the forests around Violet City have no name; continuing north leads to the Ross Mountains, where the Whispering Cave lies—the home of the legendary Pokémon Groudon.

Madame Valachia held the Heart Scale in her hands; its intense longing and emotion flowed into her like a warm current. Long-forgotten childhood memories, once dull and gray, suddenly revived, glowing vividly.

When she was still a girl, she rode on that Pokémon’s back, carefree, traveling across the world beyond the bridge. Back then, she dreamed of becoming a pilot—and in that world, she truly grew into an adult, transformed into someone entirely different.

Yes—dreams.

Her present self bore no resemblance to the one she once dreamed of. As years passed, childhood memories faded into gray obscurity; ideals gave way to reality, and reality was cruel.

Unable to become a pilot due to physical limitations, she became a Pokémon Trainer to overcome it—challenging Gyms, training on the Champion’s Path, witnessing Mr. Adel’s grandeur, losing to the Elite Four, and endlessly… day after day, honing herself into a seasoned Trainer.

Later, she grew weary of this life and founded a company in Fuchsia, primarily focused on Pokémon training and growth.

“I remember.”

Madame Valachia stared blankly at the Heart Scale in her hands, whispering to herself:

“I wanted to become a pilot because I saw the vast sky from Latios’s back.”

“It was an infinite world.”

The Heart Scale emitted waves of joy and nostalgia; Latios’s voice was precisely transmitted into Madame Valachia’s deepest heart through the Linking power.

Let’s soar through the sky again—this time, just you and me.

We haven’t played together in so, so long.

The sky above remains unchanged. Beyond the black-and-white world lies the distant universe and brilliant light; clouds surge and ebb. Only when reaching great heights does the world’s color shift.

Fly once more… fly again… I still want to fly with you.

“Latios… Latios!”

Madame Valachia suddenly looked up, searching the ceiling—but Latios was invisible in this world. She turned her pleading gaze to Guang Tai.

“Who are you? That voice just now—”

“A psychic, and a mythologist,” Guang Tai replied with a smile, then drew out a Poké Ball.

“Are you ready? To reunite with your friend after more than thirty years.”

“Wang!”

The light faded; the blue-haired Mao Xiaogou, responsible for the Wave Link, leapt out. It sensed the surroundings—this church’s dream rift was not the forest’s dream, so no Tuotai could connect it; Wave and C-device alone could reveal the other side of the world.

Madame Valachia: “That’s… Leafeon?”

Guang Tai: “No—Lei Lu, the Wave Pokémon. A rare few Lei Lu can wield Wave. Do you know? Wave is a powerful mental force—it can even link different worlds.”

“Come on, Lei Lu—let’s awaken the dream slumbering in this church!”

【Event Quest: The Longing of Violet Church.】

【Description: This church holds endless longing, sorrow, joy, happiness, and the passage of time—emotions intertwined into a unique power. The dreams of Unova swirl and converge like a vortex, and Violet City is the city this vortex represents. Find the source of this power!】

【Reward: Release Jade ×5, Distant Longing ×1, Heart Vortex ×1, Star Fragment ×10, Giant Gold Pearl ×2!】

【Note: The Linking Tree recognizes the importance of Dream Linking knowledge. This reward is a crucial guide to Dream Linking—not issued by the Linking Tree, but originating from the church itself.】

“Mera~”

Burnet looked out as Lei Lu ran out again, feeling frustrated.

It should have been her moment to shine.

Yet in the end, it became Lei Lu’s stage.

Can’t you link worlds without Wave?

“Don’t be discouraged. Wave is powerful, but GX power can also traverse time and space—we just don’t yet know how to use it, do we?”

Guang Tai crouched and stroked Burnet, while Lei Lu patted its chest in encouragement!

“Wangwu!”

Don’t worry! Everyone and every Pokémon has things they can and cannot do! Use your power correctly and unleash it fully—that’s enough!

The blue-haired Mao Xiaogou also patted Burnet. As a senior who trained for years in the Rock Cave, Lei Lu might look young, but it’s already a “big dog.”

Yet a trace of regret lingered in the blue-haired dog’s eyes.

Pokémon understand this—but some humans don’t. My former Trainer was one such person—he misused his power.

“Mera~” Burnet nuzzled Lei Lu. The little bug’s frustration came and went quickly; sadness vanished in an instant. After all, the Trainer and the blue-haired dog said every power has its moment—so she’d wait a little longer.

Maybe she’s useless because she can’t evolve into Volcarona. So if she eats well, sleeps well, and trains hard, when she finally evolves, she’ll have her chance to help!

Okay, keep going!

“You and your Pokémon seem perfectly in sync.”

Madame Valachia’s gaze softened with delight—the admiration one feels upon witnessing something beautiful.

“When I was young, I couldn’t understand Pokémon’s joys and sorrows. Battle consumed everything in my heart. I pushed myself relentlessly to overcome my weak body, training endlessly with my Pokémon—but now I realize, weren’t they merely accommodating me?”

“They are terrifying creatures, yet beautiful ones. They laugh and weep with you, understand human emotion—yet humans never grasp Pokémon’s love and hatred. It took me many years to finally understand this.”

“If only there were a power allowing humans and Pokémon to communicate without barriers, exchanging hearts directly—like your psychic ability.”

Madame Valachia’s gaze grew even softer, filled with nostalgia, loss, and genuine envy.

“If only I had a power like yours.”

“Aren’t you already understanding now?” Guang Tai released his power, activated the C-device, and with Lei Lu’s Wave, the church’s world turned black-and-white once more.

“Time never returns… yes, I understand now. Though late, I feel my dream has returned.”

“So… you can truly let me enter that world again?”

Madame Valachia’s heart grew anxious. After so many years, this reunion made her unbearably nervous. Latios’s call drew nearer—but she…

Ah, she was no longer the carefree girl of before. Would Latios be disappointed by this dull, ordinary woman now?

“Not by entering that world—but by calling Latios here.”

“That world cannot be entered yet. One can only accidentally fall into it through loss. Because gratitude is fading, hearts are drifting apart, and the links between worlds are growing faint.”

Guang Tai knew the C-device would eventually spread across Unova—in Black 2 and White 2, many already owned it, and the Linking Ruins had been fully restored.

People’s wills reunited, helping one another, expressing gratitude—and the worlds reconnected!

“Awo!”

Lei Lu’s triple Wave made the dream rift tangible; the C-device’s power, amplified by Lei Lu, reached its peak. Rotom seemed to sense something too—its large face on the screen grinned “XixiXi.” Only Guang Tai understood:

【Detected! Detected! Anomalous dream rift found—something’s coming out!】

Hum—

A strange, ethereal resonance filled the church. A stone slab embedded with a jewel appeared—but it was not the Forest Seal Stone.

【Artifact (?): Sky Seal Stone.】

Description: A gem from ancient outer space, born from the nurturing power of longing and the sky—a unique seal stone imbued with energy beyond this world. This slab exists in harmony with the church and the sky; it cannot be removed.

【Effect: Grants blessing. The blessed gain strength from sky and longing. The sky is the symbol connecting worlds—no matter where you stand, the sky above is always the same.】

The church turned black-and-white; the dream rift widened. Madame Valachia, linked by Wave, stared in awe at the opening—her childhood memories sharpened, and her familiar friend reappeared before her eyes.

“Laty.”

The blue Latios gazed silently at the people before it. It and Madame Valachia locked eyes—no words needed; their longing had already been exchanged. Madame Valachia trembled as she stepped forward, then ran faster and faster.

She embraced Latios.

Soar again—across that infinite sky!

“Friend… it’s been so long—over thirty years. You… you’re truly real!”

"Latios."

For an immortal Pokémon with a long life, thirty years were but a brief span; the little girl in its memory had now become this aged figure—time, once gone, never returned, and the passage of years was merciless.

Lady Valachia felt something on her cheeks; without realizing it, tears had welled at her eyes—perhaps a response to regret and loss from the past, or perhaps the emotion of reuniting with an old friend; her feelings were now complex, yet overall joyful.

And Latios felt the same.

Watching over this church had become part of its life, yet in this sudden moment, a strange person entered the church, extended a helping hand, and thus, friends separated for years were reunited.

Happiness is fickle; eternal happiness does not exist, so one must not be greedy.

Even after a very, very long time, as long as one can see their friend, that is enough!

"Latios~"

The shiny Latios was grateful for Guang Tai’s help; it had never before encountered a human capable of drawing out the Sealed Stone, and thus it was deeply curious about Guang Tai. Moreover, since the shiny Latios came from another world, it could sense the inexplicable power within Leafeon and Blaziken.

The power from heaven, and the power that crossed time and space.

Leafeon, the connector of the universe; Blaziken, returned from history.

Latios observed these two little ones in disbelief, then looked left and right, nodded to them in thanks, and as if remembering something, gently used its psychic power—unbelievable items fell from the cracks of dreams.

They were several shimmering, radiant scales.

"Heart Scales."

These were rare scales shaped like beautiful hearts; giving a Heart Scale to someone with the power of memory allowed them to help a Pokémon recall forgotten moves.

The power of memory could also let others read a Pokémon’s memories, a power even more convenient than Master N’s ability to read thoughts.

But these Heart Scales were taken from another world—perhaps they held special power.

【Item: Heart Scale.】

【Description: Rare scales shaped like beautiful hearts. Faintly shimmering with iridescent light.】

【Note: These Heart Scales come from the Southern Lonely Island; memories that faded are hoped to be etched into their hearts.】

【Effect: Recall Egg Moves or stronger moves. This memory can also be recorded into the Heart Scale and given to other Pokémon, giving them a chance to learn these special moves.】

"Latios~"

"Mela~"

Blaziken felt a little embarrassed.

I didn’t do anything, yet I received a gift?

But Latios said otherwise.

It was the fire Blaziken first used here that had drawn its friend back to this church.

Guidance was the greatest help.

And Leafeon’s Wave Motion was the bridge connecting the two worlds.

"Wangwu (Thank you!)"

Leafeon loved the Heart Scales; it turned them over and over in curiosity.

It had never seen anything like this in the north of Hoenn.

After giving the tokens of thanks to the two Pokémon, Latios observed Guang Tai, then returned to the crack and brought back a small stone tablet, handing it to Guang Tai.

【Artifact (?): Infinite Tablet.】

【Description: A tablet from the far end of the Southern Lonely Island’s Heart Altar, engraved with ancient, lost dreams. On the island’s stones it reads: All dreams are merely another truth—never forget.】

【Effect: This tablet is regarded as an Infinite Ticket; guided by it, one may find the Southern Lonely Island in any world.】

【Granted: Power of Memory!】

【Your soul level and heart level have been greatly elevated!】

【You now understand the Music of Memory—the ancient music of Hoenn from long ago.】

【Craftable Item: Infinite Flute.】

【Playable Legendary Tunes: “Flight of the Illusion,” “Sky Pillar,” “Sky Tower”!】

Soul level and heart level?

Guang Tai wiped the tablet in his hand, and the voice of the shiny Latios reached his heart.

This tablet was left long ago by ancient people; it had heard Guang Tai’s call because it emitted a secret resonance.

The tablet held no use for Pokémon, but for special humans, it was a precious gift.

It was said this tablet could strengthen the power of the heart.

【You】

Suddenly, a voice came from Guang Tai’s waist—Master Ball—Deoxys sensed the power of the shiny Latios and asked in disbelief:

【Are you also from that realm of radiant light?】

(End of Chapter)