"Laa!"
"Laa!!"
Latios and Latias suddenly cried out and flew toward the Soul Dew. A pure, radiant light poured from their bodies, flooding the dim cathedral with brilliance.
The darkness that had tainted the Soul Dew melted away. Within ten seconds, the gem had regained its pristine, translucent-blue glow.
Relief washed over everyone. At last, it seemed the crisis was over.
"Ash!"
"Gary!"
"Something's wrong—the river's gone dry!"
Brock and Misty's anxious shouts echoed from outside the cathedral, leaving the others stunned.
"Are you sure you didn't imagine it?" Gary called back.
The Soul Dew had been purified—Latios and Latias had restored it. A tsunami now seemed impossible.
"Let's take a look."
Lorenzo gently lifted the Soul Dew from its cradle, and everyone hurried outside.
"What—? The sea's gone!"
"How is that possible?!"
Not only had the canals run dry—even the open waters beyond the Grand Canal had vanished.
"Kraa!"
"Kraa!"
Two sharp cries rang out as a golden and a white silhouette circled overhead—Zapdos and Articuno, having already subdued Aerodactyl and Kabutops.
The ground trembled. In the distance, a colossal tsunami—miles wide—was surging toward Alto Mare. If it struck, the city would be utterly destroyed. Worse, Oakley had used the Defense Mechanism of Alto Mare (DMA) to seal every home; the citizens had nowhere to run.
"Damn it," Gary muttered. "Oakley must've used the DMA to trigger an undersea quake."
"What do we do?" Misty asked, pale with fear.
"Laa!"
"Laa!"
Latios and Latias shot into the sky, determined to confront the wave.
Gary's concern for Latios surged—but he had planned for this. Unlike the super-storm in the Orange Islands, this disaster could still be stopped.
"Moltres—come on out!"
A burst of blazing light flared in front of the cathedral as Gary released Moltres.
"Moltres?!" Lorenzo gasped. Just moments ago, he had wondered where Zapdos and Articuno had come from—now Gary had summoned the third Legendary Bird.
Latios looked at the firebird in confusion.
"Latios! Zapdos and the others can calm natural disasters. Let them help—you don't have to do this alone!" Gary shouted.
Latios and Latias exchanged glances and nodded.
"Zapdos, Articuno, Moltres—stop that tsunami!"
"Kraa-oo!"
"Kraa-aa!"
"Kraa-aa!"
The three Legendary Birds soared into the clouds, crackling with yellow, white, and scarlet energy. Under their combined power, the furious sea began to settle.
Latios and Latias plunged straight into the incoming wave, their twin auras merging into a brilliant sphere of light. The moment it struck, the tsunami buckled. Guided by the Legendary Birds' elemental forces, the water slowed, reversed, and gently flowed back into the canals.
Across the city, the metal bars sealing streets and homes retracted. Aerodactyl and Kabutops dissolved into motes of light and returned to their fossil forms in the cathedral.
Everything, at last, was returning to normal.
Gary and the others stared at the horizon, hearts caught in their throats.
After half a minute, Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres flew back toward them, with Latios and Latias close behind—tired, but unharmed.
"Thank goodness—it's over."
Everyone exhaled in unison.
"Great work—return and rest." Gary raised three Ultra Balls and recalled the birds.
The trio weren't the most powerful Legendaries in raw strength, but their unique gift for climate regulation made them invaluable—a reminder that a Legendary Pokémon's power lies not only in battle but also in the balance they maintain.
Celebi, for instance, can travel through time but is vulnerable in direct combat—even the Iron-Masked Marauder once managed to injure it.
Gary's birds were different from the canonical Orange Islands trio, but they were more than capable of preventing localized disasters.
"Let's clean up and keep this quiet," Gary said. "It's already four a.m., and the city needs rest."
"Right—let's return the Soul Dew," Lorenzo agreed.
They re-entered the cathedral, passed through the hidden passage, and stepped into the secret garden.
Bianca gently placed the Soul Dew back into its pedestal beside the spring-fed pool.
Instantly, the canals refilled, their waters shimmering with Alto Mare's signature jade hue.
That distinctive tint, long a mystery, was in fact the Soul Dew's power diffusing through the city's waterways—perpetually calming the sea.
Shortly after, Officer Jenny arrived with a squad and took Annie and Oakley into custody.
Thanks to Lorenzo's trusted reputation, the group gave their statements and were cleared without issue.
Jenny clearly sensed deeper mysteries hidden in the cathedral, but international authorities had already briefed her well enough to know not to pry.
After leaving the Pokémon Center, the group slipped back into the secret garden. Latias spotted them and fluttered over, circling playfully—though her childlike fatigue was obvious.
The long night had finally come to an end.