Catching Latias was undoubtedly a milestone achievement for Xia Chi.
Not because another powerful Legendary Pokémon had joined his team. What was rarest for ordinary people was, for him, the least remarkable part.
The main thing was that Xia Chi had finally shed the embarrassing "can't fly" label he shared with Groudon.
From now on, the sky was the limit. Wherever he wanted to go, he could just have Latias fly him there.
In theory, anyway.
But Xia Chi glanced behind him at Latias, who had transformed into a human and was sitting elegantly in a maid outfit, studying the Flying Car's interior with curiosity.
Then he pictured himself riding on her streamlined dragon back-which could hardly be called spacious or comfortable-for a long-distance flight.
Forget it.
Her size was what it was. The riding experience was never going to be pleasant.
At least during the day.
This Flying Car, with its combination of comfort and privacy, was still the better choice.
The power of science really was amazing!
At that moment, inside the car cruising smoothly between the blue sea and sky...
Latias, transformed into the perfect image of a maid, sat in the back seat. Her pale fingers gently stroked the premium upholstery, her blue eyes full of wonder.
She remembered that when Xia Chi first arrived in Alto Mare, he had descended from the sky aboard this strange "giant steel bird."
It was precisely this creation she had never seen before that had piqued her curiosity and prompted her to approach the mysterious human Trainer, beginning their unexpected story together.
Now she was actually sitting inside the "giant bird's" belly, experiencing its marvelous interior firsthand.
Their connection had come full circle.
In the passenger seat, Meowscarada lazily flicked a tail and glanced at the new member in