//------------------------------//
// 2. Resolve 
// Story: The Hero of Altomare 
// by Borsuq 
//------------------------------//

	"I can't believe I'm actually doing this." Latios thought as he steeled himself beside the river for what he was about to do.
It was over a week since he woke up on that meadow. Latios made a nest for himself well hidden within the forest, near the river. He spend majority of this time cloaked, as he observed the inhabitants of the nearby town. There were no humans there, or any other creature he was familiar with. Instead, there were plenty of those like the one he encountered after he woke up.
Eavesdropping on their conversations - which, despite being a completely different species, were spoken in human language - Latios learned that they called themselves 'ponies', and that there were three kinds of ponies: pegasi, like the first one he encountered, with wings, unicorns, who had horns and strange powers which they called 'magic', and earth ponies, which didn't appear to have any distinctive features.
The more he observed them, the more lonelier he was. He missed Latias more than he ever thought he could. In the past, the two siblings shared a psychic bond, but that part of him was left in the piece of soul he separated to create the Soul Dew, so that Latias would still felt the closeness of her brother. Had Latios known that he would find himself alive, he wouldn't have done that, but that couldn't be helped now.
Aside from Latias, he also missed Alto Mare, Lorenzo and Bianca, as well as everyone that lived in the city. Not as much after the latter, but still. It was because of that loneliness that he tried to do what he was trying to do.
Latios was trying to shape-shift.
Both he and his sister could shape-shift so that their bodies would resemble others. Latias in particular liked to use it ability to mingle among humans, but Latios, who was never fond of them as much as her, used this only a few times. In fact, he was certain he could count the number of times his shape shifted on one of his paws.
He concentrated on the shape he wanted to assume. The shape-shifting worked best when one was familiar with the shape, which was why Latias usually took shape of Bianca, or he himself into Lorenzo a while back. Taking a shape of something entirely made up, like what he was about to do now, was much more difficult.
Latios expended his psychic powers across his body and wrapped it, twisting it to the shape he conjured within his mind. It took longer than he recalled, most likely due to the unfamiliarity with the appearance he thought of, but soon, he could grasp heavy breath, exhausted, as he regarded his reflection in the river.
He now looked like a pegasus pony, with blue coat and light gray mane and tail, both short. His eyes were the same color and shape as his real ones, and his ears, while still pony looking, had their tips divided. As for his 'cutie mark' - if he got the name of it correct - he chose the same red triangle-shaped marking that his chest bore.
"This will take some getting used to." Latios thought as he began to test his limbs.
Walking on all fours was something new to him, but after taking few careful steps, he decided that he wouldn't have a problem, as long as he wasn't going to run. As for his wings, flying was flying. Even if those feathered wings were different than his real one, it took him only couple of seconds to get good at using them.
Satisfied, Latios landed back on the ground. He glanced at his reflection once again, wondering, for about the hundredth time:
"Should I be really doing this?"
Latios sighed as he slumped down. Since he was alive, then it would be logical that he should look for a way to return back to Latias, and yet, something deep down told him that it was impossible. But that wasn't the real reason why he was hesitant with his next course of action. No, Latios was hesitating, because he didn't want to do this.
He didn't want to meet others, to befriend them and get to know them. He wanted Latias, and Lorenzo, Bianca, and even Ash and Pikachu. He wanted his life back. Latios' serious personality, especially with regards to his duty to protect Alto Mare and Latias, caused him to have little friends over the years, but those that he did befriend were very dear to him. And now, he was without anyone. Even Latias.
"What would you do, Sister?" Latios thought, sad. He then smiled as he realized what she would do. "You would have tried to befriend them on the first day. You were always sociable, unlike me. I wish... I wish I would have let you know how much I admired that in you. You would have done much better here than I." he sighed, letting himself lean on Latias memory for a little while.
When Latios finally stood up, there was determination in his eyes. He spread his wings and flew to the air, heading into the direction of Ponyville.
"I know you would have wanted me to be happy." he thought as he flied effortlessly, his thoughts still on Latias. "We are not that different, not in that matter. And it’s not just about being happy. No creature can survive long on its own. We are the best example of it: despite being so strong, we were always together, and together we saved our city. Now that I am here, I will have to forge new bonds, with others." Latios snorted at himself, and then chuckled. "Although, it is still more than likely that all of this, is because you rubbed in on me. Either way, I will find some new friends here, Sister, I promise."