Dismay and desperation leave such a regrettable sensation to settle upon the mind of the emotionally sensitive – especially when it originates from one Locke Jamison.

Much like the warm wind on the cusp of summer, an invisible watcher seeks to uplift the spirits and guide a fond face towards fortune. 

This one deserves to smile more, she decides.

Behind her, as she weaves unseen through the trees, a TAILWIND picks up loose petals and leaves. A sudden, soft change in the wind sweeping past Locke in the opposite direction he begins to tread.

The wind changed suddenly and strongly enough to sweep Rio-Rio up into the air and into his trainer's arms, and turn Locke one-hundred-and-eighty degrees. He stumbled dizzily down this new path as the gust died down to a lightly-tugging breeze, head turning back and force as he tried to find the source.

"Wha-Huh? Who's there?"

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

"Wha-Huh? Who's there?"

Only a gentle chirp whispers through the trees in reply and, should Locke Jamison look onwards down the directed path, a flash of ruby and ivory down gives clue to the visitor.

As if sensing their hesitation, Latias opts for a different approach.

Her nose bumps against their cheek softly in a familiar gesture, like she had back in the Slateport hospital.

In all of her innocence, perhaps that's not the smartest of tactic when it comes to the nervous postman, given what happened last time...

But she'll learn.

Their Riolu barked in their arms, eyes glowing as he followed some unseen aura ahead of them. "Rio-Rio you know I hate it when you do this! What is it?!"

Locke scanned the area with their own inferior vision, catching flashes of red and white too quick for their mind to process. Surely it was still too early in the evening for a Lycanroc pack to be stalking them, right? Right?

Something broke through his thoughts of being mauled and eaten in the woods to brush against his cheek, and Rio-Rio was unceremoniously dropped to the ground with a surprised yelp as Locke's hand flew to his face in a fit of déjà vu.

"L-Latias!" He squeaked, half-chastising, half-relieved. "You-C'mon out already!" He reached out blindly into the open air with his free hand, trying to feel for the tricksy dragon.

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

It appears she had finally been identified!

And yet her mission was not quite over.

Beneath the cover of obscured shining feathers, golden eyes crinkle in amusement. Locke knows that she is there - they know that she knows, no doubt - and yet she does not reveal herself to them.

Avoiding the outstretched palm, instead Latias sneakily floats above Locke to pluck the hat from atop the Delibird Delivery boy's head.

A chime of amusement and a floating cap drift away down the correct path, leading Locke like a carrot in front of a Mudsbray.

Harmlessly playing, as a tricksy dragon should.

Mission number one: lead the postman down the correct path is a-go!

"Hey!" Came the immediate protest, which did little to stop his hat from floating out of reach and off into the woods. Rio-Rio sprung out of his trainer's arms to lead the chase with his aura sight, forcing Locke to keep up with two far-too-energetic Pokémon.

Thankfully, the hat and Riolu never left the range of their normal human vision, Latias apparently more interested in keeping the postman's attention than actual thievery. Of course that didn't make it any more convenient for them.

Locke, ever the peacemaker, called out to the invisible dragon. "Latias, come on! It's late!"

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

Locke Jamison would find their hat innocently placed on the end of a blooming tree branch after their chase, thankfully, within reach. If they jumped.

It's an intentional placement.

There, down within a small hollow, is a pink blob positioned with the centre of a circle of objects that catch the sunlight.

Mirrors.

It seemed that Petalburg's little troublemaker, had been pinching mirrors from the townspeople and as its body attempts to twist into different shapes, it's clear why.

It hadn't gotten its transformation abilities down, just yet, body remaining a bright blush colour regardless of the form it took. The Ditto was practicing.

It's then that Latias reveals herself within the corner of Locke's vision, announcing herself with a chirp.

She looks pleased.

Locke sighed as he stared up at his hat, balanced on the end of a long branch. Rio-Rio was making a valiant effort to reach the accessory, but the pup could barely clear the ground with his little jumps. This was job requiring more of a human height.

One hop-two hops-there! The branch swayed dangerously under Locke's added weight, showering the earth below with dislodged leaves. Now if he could just reach-

"Hm?" Something within the hollow of the tree caught the light, drawing the courier's attention away from his headgear. Curious, he inched his way towards the trunk and peered into the hole. He was greeted by multiple copies of his own reflection, and a Caterpie posing in the middle of it all.

An unusually pink Caterpie.

It spotted Locke in the same moment, shifting back into its Ditto form with a surprised squeak and shocking the postman out of its tree. While their rear recovered from the fall, the pink blob hopped from its nest to make a run for it, only to be knocked down and out by a Force Palm from their Riolu.

"I guess there was one here after all," Locke groaned as they stood. They dusted off their hat before returning it to their head and facing Latias. "Thanks. We'd have never found it in there on our own…But could you leave my hat out of it next time? I've only got the one."

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

“And our little explorer has returned.”

When Latias finally drifts through the hangar threshold, their beloved sky had long been coated with a inky paintbrush, ocean waves kissed by moonglow silver. 

Angelo stands over a table in the middle of the warehouse, pencil tucked behind his ear and paper strewn over the surface like the contents of a box had been carelessly dumped.

It's all ignored as the second half of the Eon duo returns after her day long venture. Angelo peering up at the ruby dragon, welcoming her back with a warm smile that doesn't quite reach every corner.

He waves towards himself, beckoning. Covering the cracks that splinter beneath the surface. 

With a chirp, Latias merrily drifts over, her brother descending from where he'd been lounging quiet upon the rafters to butt their heads together in greeting.  

“Someone's had a busy day.” The pilot says with a knowing arch of his brow, plucking the evidence of an adventure that had clung to one soft ear tuft, between his fingers. “Been causing trouble with your new friend or for?”

The small, pink Plumeria petal is passed back into Latias's outstretched claw to which honey bright eyes crinkle and shine, as bright as a new sunrise.