Chapter 3: The Adventure Begins
Sora and Dawn both smiled, watching Piplup and Sora's own starter play around in the small lake that lay near Dawn's home.
"So, you named her Paine? That's a nice name, if a little unusual." she said, watching as Piplup popped out of the water, looking around to surprise the Shiny, only for her to pop up quietly behind him, and get him with a well placed, and decently powered, water gun, sending him flying back into the water. She giggled, waving at Dawn and her new trainer before disappearing back under. Sora chuckled, smiling.
"Yea, it is, isn't it? That's her name, though. I didn't even pick it, really." he said, taking a bite out of the apple he held. His words confused his friend, and she looked at him.
"what do you mean? Of course you did!" she said, causing him to shake his head.
"actually, I didn't. She told me her name. Well, not so much said as thought it really." he stated. He watched as Paine managed to peg Piplup again with another water gun, then dove below as he recovered, and then gave chase. "she told me it as we were leaving the professors lab. She has a nice voice, really."
"your Pokémon communicated with you? That's a rare talent, Sora! As far as history has been, being able to talk to your Pokémon, and understand them, is an ability no one has seen in nearly two millennia!" Exclaimed Dawn, going wide eyed. She looked over as Piplup and Paine came over, both jumping up into their trainers laps.
Sora smiled and gently hugged Paine, who gave a happy cry and hugged back. The Shiny Pokémon was glad her trainer was a nice guy.
"hey, Sora...I have a question..." Said Dawn, looking at Paine "what will you do now? I mean, will you travel?" She asked. Sora thought about it, then nodded.
"yea, I think I will. After all, I came here to search for my friends. And I cant find them laying about here, can I? Besides, I want to see the rest of this world!" He said with a big goofy grin on his face. Dawn couldn't help but laugh as she saw it. She looked out towards the mountains in the distance, and sighed.
"Well, if its alright with you, mind if me and Piplup tag along? I'm actually wanting to go out myself, and be a famous coordinator like my mom!" She said with a happy smile and a gleam in her eyes. Sora could tell she felt very passionate about her dream, and nodded.
"Sure! Paine and I could use the company, right?" He asked the little Penguin, who nodded happily. Sora smiled happily. We're going to make a great team, Paine, I know we will. he thought to her. She nodded, a fierce gleam in her eyes as she smiled, happy to simply be around him.
As long as we are together, Sora, we cant be beat! She thought, determined not to fail him, and then Sora looked up at the sky, seeing how bright it still was.
"Well, why don't we get going? Its still light out, and I'm sure we could make decent time." He said with a grin, standing up. Paine hopped up beside him, and let herself back into her pokeball. Dawn stood up beside him, nodding. They quickly made their way back to her house, where she and her mother packed up a few necessary things, such as clothes and some food and other camping gear, and soon the four were on the road, heading out. They passed a couple of young men heading into Sandgem town as they left, and Dawn stopped for a few minutes to gawk and adore over the cute Pikachu the younger of the two boys carried. Sora instantly recognized him from his dream so this is him...what was his name? Ash? And that must be the same Pikachu from the dream as well... he thought, seeing the resemblance. Soon enough the young male and his older friend, by name of Brock, continued on their way, leaving a slightly smoking Dawn, who had tried to hug Pikachu, and Sora to continue as well. Piplup laughed at his trainer, seeing her fried to a crisp.
They will be an interesting pair, right Sora? Asked Paine from her pokeball, causing him to nod in affirmation. They soon had made their way well out of town by the time darkness settled around them and they made camp, both humans sitting by the campfire while their pokemon played beside them.
"Ah, this is nice." Said Sora, laying on his back, looking up at the stars, which he knew to be other worlds just beyond this one. He sighed, and soon both he, Dawn, and their pokemon were asleep. The next morning, they woke, with both Paine and Piplup having to water gun Sora awake, and after a quick breakfast and packing up they were on their way.
I'm coming Riku, don't worry! thought Sora as they all made their way towards the next town, and the first leg of their journey.