32. Night

Latias was watching the water from the top of her favourite cliff on Southern Island. She had an unhappy look on her face and was trying her hardest to smile. It was a beautiful night with a large full moon hovering above her like a giant pearl. The stars were vivid and bright and they reminded Latias of the jewels humans covet. She wondered what it was like to feel rich, happy and...loved.

The little eon dragon couldn't admit it to anyone, but she absolutely adored Rayquaza. He was large, powerful and very fearsome. Latias couldn't find it in herself to be afraid of him...or even had a reason to. He was rash and harsh sometimes, but not fearsome.

At least...not until she saw he had no real feelings. She risked herself to make him happy. Instead...it was as if he hated her.

She had no chance with him. Nothing like Mew had with Celebi or Azelf had with Darkrai...it wasn't fair. If a small pixie could find love with a dark monster, why couldn't she find it with a powerful deity?

"Stupid," she chided herself. "It's not as if he knows how to love. He's never had a reason to. He has everything...his own location, power, position in Hoenn...and the ability to save Hoenn from everything Groudon and Kyogre have to throw at it. He doesn't need me."

She suddenly wished it wasn't a bright night. She wished it was stormy and dark, like her emotions.

"Ohhh...why did I have to fall in love with him?"

&-&-&-&

Southern Island was not a far trek from the Sky Pillar. For Rayquaza, the trip only took five minutes. He hoped the visit would be just as short and that he wouldn't run into Latios. The sky king wasn't sure if he could control the temper he had if Latios showed his face.

Luckily for him, he spotted Latias just outside the trees looking down at the water. Perhaps if he was quiet and smooth, he wouldn't bring Latios's attention to him. He slowly glided towards Latias, hoping he wouldn't alert her to his presence so soon. However, Latias's psychic powers reacted and she looked right up into his eyes.

"Rayquaza? Why are you here?"

Not Ray. For some reason, Rayquaza found that annoying. Latias was the only one to call him that. In a way, it made him feel special to get a nickname even if it was only a shortened version of his name.

"I came to see you," Rayquaza admitted. "Your brother came to visit me," he added, scowling.

"I know," Latias replied. "I tried to talk him out of it. He just wouldn't listen." She suddenly gave him a concerned look. "He didn't do anything drastic, did he?"

"No, of course not, Latias. He only ice beamed me to hell and ruined one of the walls of my home by scratching a message into my wall. Nothing drastic at all."

"No," Rayquaza lied. "Just gave me a few words and that was it."

"Oh good." Latias looked relieved. "Um..."

"Latias, I, um...came to say I'm sorry," Rayquaza said. "I should have paid more attention to your feelings...but I was worried about you. In any case, yelling at you wasn't the right idea," he finished.

Latias didn't anything right away. She just looked down at the water where the moon was reflected in. Her silence was bothering Rayquaza. He was sure he didn't say anything that could have been taken the wrong way...did he?

"Latias?"

"Rayquaza, why were you really concerned?" she asked softly. "Is it because of my brother? The fact I'm one of a kind? What was the reason?"

"For you, mainly," Rayquaza said. "I couldn't bear the thought of you getting captured and forced to battle for humans. Remember how it happened to Celebi? She became enslaved and forced to destroy her forest. And she nearly died from it as well. If it weren't for the good humans, she might have been lost forever. Mew was devastated at the news and the others were all shook up. That's why we make it a point to keep away from human eyes," he reminded her.

"I know..." Latias admitted. "But I really wanted to make you happy. That's why I took the risk."

"Why for me?"

"Because..." Latias paused to look back at him. "I like seeing you happy. Feelings of goodness are what all humans and pokemon need, even us legendary ones. To have, to hold, to cherish..." Her voice trailed off and she added, "...and to love..."

Rayquaza didn't say anything. But he knew Latias was probably just dreaming. Then again, she was highly sensitive to feelings. Hostility made her flee in terror. It was no surprise she had such a strong commitment to making others happy, even a big green grump like him.

"You're special, Ray," she said and Rayquaza felt a warm feeling come over him. Had she really forgiven him? She went back to using that nickname, but what did she mean by that?

"How am I special?"

"You're an almighty powerful deity in Hoenn," Latias said, inching closer to him. "But even someone like you needs to know they're not alone." Before Rayquaza could say anything, Latias had wrapped her small arms around him and pressed her face to the side of his long body. He didn't know what to say, or do. But her warmth...was comforting. It was the first real hug he had ever had.

But it wasn't only Latias's physical warmth that stunned him. She had a lot of emotional warmth he realized he had come to miss during the days she didn't visit. The way she spoke to him, the meals they shared, the treats she got for him...he couldn't believe how blind he was.

He had missed her.

How could an almighty powerful deity of Hoenn be so stupid and blind?

"I missed you, Ray," Latias whispered, nuzzling him.

For once, Rayquaza decided to let go of his pride. He put his long arms around her and tried to share his own warmth.

"I missed you too, Latias."

That night changed Rayquaza's way of thinking forever. It was amazing what simple little gestures and a few words could do. Latias started to come back to the Sky Pillar more often and Rayquaza got to taste the salac berries he craved. The two dragons began to get closer on a higher level than friends, much to Latios's dismay. Eventually, Latias confessed how she felt. By this time, Rayquaza had grown into a more polite and caring dragon and he accepted Latias's feelings. They began to spend more time together and even whole nights sleeping beside each other.

He replaced his pride for better feelings. Rayquaza couldn't help but think he was better off and actually happy for once.

"Thank you, Latias."