Ren gets the feeling—a distinctly nonverbal one—of amusement coming from Latios. We know, the Pokémon seems to say, having long since known their names and the names they’ve bestowed on their own companions. They also understand Nora’s intention—“mission” isn’t exactly a concept Pokémon are accustomed to, on their own—and perhaps it is because of Ren and Nora’s own unusual empathy and combat abilities that they’ve come to them rather than to anyone else.

Humans, after all, must bargain, and these two are in dire need of something important. Something that they might be able to assist them with, in turn. Isn’t it how it always goes?

Then again, they could’ve just come for the picnic.

Latios straightens up, looking to the sky before bowing low, shutting its eyes as it does so. Next comes a curious sensation, like a tiny prick in the back of their minds—then a scene—

—a bird’s eye view of a mountain’s peak—zooming in, breaking through clouds—graves everywhere—an old couple—two trainers at odds—one in red, the other in blue—a Pokémon battle—a stalemate—escape—

—flashes of red and blue splitting apart from the summit of Mt. Pyre as the combatants flee in opposite directions, each in possession of something ancient—dangerous—

Ren shudders as the vision comes to a close. He meets the Latios in the eye, and although he’s aware that they have, in some way, come to an understanding, he still feels the need to voice it out loud: “I recognize them.”

Their uniforms, anyway. And neither of them were the grunts they had seen so far—certainly not judging from their level of skill in combat.