"Woo…"
Latios floated over to Gary and bowed in gratitude.
While he'd been unconscious, Latias had already explained how Gary had not only saved him but healed her as well. Naturally, Latios wanted to thank him in person.
"You're welcome," Gary said, gently stroking Latias.
Up close, he noticed her surface wasn't skin at all but a layer of ultra-fine scales—so thin that, from a distance, they appeared perfectly smooth.
Dragon-type Pokémon, including Charizard, Gyarados, and Milotic, all shared that trait.
"Mr. Lorenzo," Gary continued, turning to the elderly curator, "those two women are internationally wanted criminals and members of Team Rocket.
It would be safer to dismantle the device in the cathedral—otherwise, Team Rocket may target Alto Mare again."
Team Rocket's network was vast they had even tracked Mewtwo to a remote mountain. Annie and Oakley were in custody now, but Rocket spies could easily be embedded in the prison.
Once Giovanni learned how they had been captured, he might set his sights on Alto Mare. He was certainly ambitious enough to exploit the Defense Mechanism of Alto Mare (DMA)—especially if he discovered it could trigger a tsunami.
"With the League and Interpol involved, we've already made a decision," Lorenzo replied.
"The Soul Dew must remain—without it, the city would be at risk—but the machine will be dismantled and never activated again."
Suddenly, Ash blurted out, "Gary, when did you bring the three Legendary Birds here?"
"I had Tracey teleport them in while you were off sightseeing with Latias," Gary replied. Anticipating trouble, he had requested Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres as backup.
"But why all three? We're on vacation," Ash asked.
"To show off, of course," Gary laughed. "I'll ride one, swap to the next when it gets tired, and keep going."
Ash sighed—typical Gary.
That afternoon, Gary prepared to leave. "Ash, you take the boat home I'm flying back to Pallet Town." He climbed onto Moltres.
"Are you heading to the Hoenn region later?" Ash called after him.
"Yeah."
"Then enter the Ever Grande Conference—I'm going to beat you!"
DING!
[Mission issued: Defeat Ash at the Ever Grande Conference.]
[Reward: Random Mega Stone ×1
Gary's eyes lit up. At last—a task tied to a Mega Stone.
Beating Ash wasn't the challenge—getting matched with him in the tournament bracket was.
In the original timeline, Ash had fallen in the quarter-finals to Tyson, but Ash was stronger now and might go further. Gary would have to keep pace.
Ash grew nervous. "So you'll compete, right?"
"All right," Gary agreed with a smirk. "Since you insist, I'll enter—just don't disappoint me."
"I won't lose to you this time!" Ash promised.
"See you in Hoenn." Gary waved, then soared into the sky on Moltres.
Ash and the others chose to delay their own departure until morning to rest after the day's chaos.
High above Alto Mare, Moltres sliced through the clouds.
A sonic boom echoed behind Gary—Latios and Latias had caught up.
"Woo! Woo!"
They cried out, saying they'd come to see him off. Gary laughed. "You're too kind. Feel free to escort me."
The siblings flew alongside him for several kilometers before Latias finally turned back, leaving Latios to accompany Gary a little farther on his journey home.