The Reverse World.
In this inverted, gravity-defying realm, Lin Feng had barely pushed Latias inside before he ended up landing right on her back without warning.
It was Latias' first time seeing the Reverse World, and she froze midair in shock.
When she turned her head, she saw the owner of that massive presence from earlier hovering above them, looking down.
Her body stiffened instantly.
She almost forgot Lin Feng was still on her back, her instincts screaming at her to flee.
"It's okay, it's okay," Lin Feng said quickly.
He steadied himself using his Verdant Power and gently patted her, calming her down.
"Use Dream Projection to find your brother's location. Then we'll head over."
After soothing her, he gave clear instructions.
Latias was still a little nervous, but she obeyed and began to use her ability.
This was essentially a form of psychic positioning.
She was trying to locate Alto Mare from within the Reverse World.
It did not take long before she received a response. Through the connection, she transmitted the location information directly to Lin Feng.
Lin Feng had no idea how to navigate the Reverse World himself, so he passed the coordinates to Giratina.
"Let's go. Take us there."
Giratina floated silently in the air, then gave a slow nod.
Without another word, it shot upward.
"Follow it," Lin Feng told Latias.
She turned and flew after it.
At first, Lin Feng assumed that even within the Reverse World, traveling between distant locations would take some time.
But less than five minutes later, after passing through countless strange and surreal landscapes, Giratina came to a stop.
"We're here?" Lin Feng asked, stunned.
Giratina nodded.
"That fast?"
He was even more surprised now.
Latias, beneath him, had not even fully processed what just happened.
"In the real world, as long as there's a reflective surface, I can locate it quickly from here," Giratina explained briefly, in a rare moment of clarity.
Then it exhaled toward a point in the sky, tearing open a spatial rift.
"Great, great. Giratina, wait here for us. We'll be right back."
Lin Feng's face lit up with excitement.
If it only took five minutes, then his plan was completely viable.
Train the little red jet into a top-tier worker.
Set up a proper shift system.
"Let's go, Latias."
They passed through the rift together.
In an instant, the world changed.
Warm sunlight spilled across the water, casting shimmering reflections everywhere.
Alto Mare lay before them, a coastal city in the Johto region. Even in February, the climate was mild, flowers blooming as if spring had already arrived.
People moved through the streets in lively clusters, while blue-stone buildings lined the intricate network of canals.
Fortunately, Lin Feng and Latias emerged beneath a bridge, avoiding any unwanted attention.
The moment they appeared, Latias took off into the sky with Lin Feng still on her back.
Her face was filled with disbelief.
Just seconds ago, she had needed a long time to fly home.
Now, after simply turning through a strange world, she was already back?
"Incredible, right?" Lin Feng called out.
"Waaah!"
(Amazing!)
Latias was completely astonished.
To think there was actually a Pokémon faster than her.
Back in her own territory, her excitement bubbled over. She flew wildly through the sky, weaving in loops and turns.
Meanwhile, Lin Feng's thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Originally, he figured Ash and his friends would not arrive here anytime soon.
After all, in the movie timeline, this place clearly appeared in summer.
But judging by the current climate, by March or April, it would already feel like summer.
By then… those two phantom thieves might show up.
With that thought, Lin Feng raised his voice.
"So, do you want to work for me?"
"Woo?"
(Can I have food every day, like that little cat did?)
Latias stopped midair and looked at him with sparkling eyes.
"Of course."
Lin Feng took out a storage ball.
"You can even bring a portion back for your brother. This one is for him."
"Woohoo!"
(Then I'll go tell him right now!)
Overjoyed, Latias immediately tried to carry Lin Feng toward the underground garden.
But Lin Feng quickly jumped off her back.
"I'm not going. You go by yourself. Good luck convincing your brother."
No way. Showing up in person would make this feel way too much like a kidnapping.
And this was Latias' first time even thinking about something like this.
Although she looked a bit confused, she did not dwell on it. She simply turned and flew straight toward the underground garden.
…
Underground Garden.
The place was quiet.
"Canon" and her grandfather were nowhere to be seen.
As soon as Latias arrived, she called out loudly.
Before long, a blue figure descended from the great tree.
Latios.
"Woo!"
(Big brother!)
"Wa?"
(Back already? Did someone bully you?)
Latios tilted his head, puzzled.
She had only left that morning. It had not been long at all.
A thought crossed his mind.
Could it be that the human mentioned by that strange little cat was not very strong, tried to capture his sister, and she simply escaped and came back?
But before he could think further, Latias burst out excitedly.
"Woohoo!"
(Big brother, I found a job!)
That completely threw him off.
A job?
"What?"
Latias transformed into Canon's human appearance, smiling brightly as she took out the storage ball Lin Feng had given her.
With a light tap, Pokéblocks spilled out.
Then she began eagerly recounting everything that had happened.
Latios listened, still confused at first.
But the moment he heard that she planned to go every day, his expression turned serious.
"Woo!"
(Absolutely not. You don't even understand what this 'job' is. I'm not letting you go.)
He had not even met this human.
How could he possibly trust him enough to let his sister travel back and forth every day?
And this so-called strange world that could instantly connect places… it sounded absurd.
But when Latias heard his refusal, she simply puffed up her cheeks.
"Woo…"
(Hmph. I don't care. I'm going anyway. I'll come back every day.)
She tossed the storage ball to him, reverted to her original form, and shot back into the sky without another word.
------------------------------
Love the story? Show your support and unlock early access to new chapters by joining me on Patreon! and if we hit every 250 Power Stones, a bonus chapter drops!
[email protected]/_tey
Change @ to a.