"Don't worry—she'll come."
Elias gave Gardevoir's head a gentle pat as he spoke.
On this, he was confident. Knowing Latias' personality, there was no way she'd get cold feet at a time like this.
And besides, with Latios still here, there was no reason—emotionally or logically—for her not to show up.
Gardevoir huffed lightly in response, clearly less thrilled by the idea of that jet-plane girl showing up…
Just then, Elias' phone lit up and buzzed softly on the table beside him.
"Gardevoir, can you hand me my phone?" Elias reached his hand out.
Gardevoir obediently picked up the phone—but instead of handing it over, she looked at the screen herself.
The phone wasn't locked, so the message was visible right on the lock screen.
[Elias, I think Tias is almost there! Where should I tell her to meet you? (sparkly eyes)]
Gardevoir narrowed her eyes. The sender was Latios—he'd just added Elias as a friend the day before.
It wasn't hard to guess that the "Tias" in question had to be that red jet plane.
She's already here…
Gardevoir's hand tightened slightly around the phone.
"Who's the message from?" Elias asked at just the right time.
Gardevoir glanced at him, her expression flat, then calmly returned her attention to the phone.
"Spam. Want me to delete it for you?"
With that, she swiped on the screen and was about to go in and delete the message from Latios.
But before she could, another hand reached in and snatched the phone away first.
"Don't mess around."
Elias gave her cheek a light pinch, sounding both helpless and amused.
With how well he knew Gardevoir, how could he not notice the guilt on her face?
Sure enough, once the phone was back in his hand, the message from Latios was clear on the screen.
"…Garde."
With her plan foiled, Gardevoir slumped slightly.
She looked so deflated—like a sad, wilted eggplant—that Elias couldn't help but savor the moment a bit longer.
Still, after his moment of appreciation, Elias began typing a reply to Latios:
[Got it. Just tell her to head straight to the Saffron Gym. I'll be waiting there.]
Once the message was sent, Elias rubbed his palms together.
He was about to meet Latias again—and even he couldn't deny the stir of nerves.
"Come on, Gardevoir. Don't be so down. Who knows, maybe you and Tias will get along great."
He gave her a reassuring smile and beckoned for her to follow.
---
At the same time, high above the outskirts of Saffron City, a sleek black airship cut swiftly through the clouds.
Inside, a red-haired girl stood before a large viewing window, eyes fixed on her phone with a serious frown.
From the faint glimmer of frustration in her gaze, it was clear she wasn't in the best of moods.
"What the heck is my dumb brother even doing?!"
After sending yet another message, Latias grumbled through gritted teeth.
Ever since she'd gotten in touch with Latios, she'd been trying everything she could to get him to spill the truth about which "sneaky cats" were hanging around Elias.
It would help her plan her next moves—to systematically drive all of those Pokémon away.
But…
That idiot Latios kept dodging the topic, stammering every time she brought it up—like he was scared to say anything!
Tis was not happy about that.
Thankfully, after enough prodding, he eventually gave her one piece of useful information—a location: Saffron Gym.
That was enough.
Latias was confident in her own strength. She didn't believe there was a single Pokémon that could beat her now.
She put away her phone and looked out toward the city in the distance, its silhouette just beginning to take shape on the horizon.
Clasping her hands together, she murmured softly:
"Elias… you better be there."
---
Meanwhile, hovering above Saffron City, a shiny Gardevoir floated silently—clearly lying in wait.
But unlike a typical Gardevoir, this one… didn't quite have that cool, aloof aura.
"Garde~ garde~"
The Gardevoir twisted awkwardly in midair, clearly uncomfortable.
It was Mew—disguised as Gardevoir—trying (and failing) to get used to this new body.
She was far more accustomed to her soft, floaty, feline form. This tall, curvy figure just felt off.
How could Elias be into this kind of body, anyway…?
Shaking her head in confusion, Mew curled her lips into a mischievous smirk as she gazed off into the distance.
She was here thanks to the plan she'd cooked up with Latios yesterday.
That guy had "helpfully" told her one key thing: that his little sister, Latias, wasn't very strong… and wasn't very smart either.
That got Mew's brain whirring.
She might not get the upper hand when dealing with the real Gardevoir, but Mew's own power was nothing to scoff at among Pokémon.
And if this Latias was no monster like Gardevoir… then wouldn't she be easy to toy with?
All she had to do was disguise herself as Gardevoir, intercept Latias before she reached Elias, and give her a good beating.
Then, when the chaos broke out, Gardevoir would take the blame, and Mew could sit back, watch the drama unfold, and reap the rewards.
To Mew, this was a genius-level plan.
And the best part? Latios actually approved of it!
He even said he'd cooperate.
Of course, Mew thought smugly, if the sister's not that bright, odds are the brother's no genius either.
Letting out a quiet sigh, the Pokémon known as the ancestor of all Pokémon shook her head.
Modern Pokémon… They've all mastered my moves, but none of them seem to have inherited my brilliant brain.
That's the real reason I'm called the ancestor.
As she was musing to herself, a strong gust of wind blew across her, breaking her train of thought.
Squinting toward the source of the wind, she spotted a large, sturdy black airship pulling into range.
She's here!
Mew's eyes lit up, and her expression shifted into something sly and human-like.
Latios hadn't lied to her after all.
With excitement bubbling inside her, she began scanning the airship for an exit, intending to intercept the weak little sister right at the door.
But it seemed she didn't need to.
Moments after the airship came to a stop, a small, red-and-white jet Pokémon appeared in midair, hovering gracefully.
Her gaze was innocent and wide-eyed, and she was hugging a Poké Ball to her chest.
Seeing her, Mew's smirk deepened into a full-on sinister grin.
---
P.S. –
Latios: My sister's really weak.
Mew (a.k.a. Dumb Cat): How weak?
Latios: A bit weaker than Gardevoir.
Mew: …?
...
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