Pokémon: Dreams Come True Starting in Sinnoh

Despite a minor mishap, Dawn and Ash set off from Twinleaf Town together at the agreed time, heading towards Sandstone Town, the nearest town to them and also home to a Pokémon Research Institute.

Today should have been a joyous and celebratory day of departure, but...

"So tired..."

After walking for more than two hours, Xiao Guang finally let out this sigh.

It's not that Xiaoguang stays at home all day and therefore lacks energy, it's just...

"Why does this trip feel a little different from what I expected? It's so ordinary."

Xiao Guang revealed the truth about how tired he felt.

They walked and stopped along the way, not just for two hours straight. Logically, even if they were tired, they wouldn't have said it, but for Xiao Guang, the mental exhaustion was far more devastating than the physical exhaustion.

Why do I never encounter anything interesting?

Ash: "......"

How should one respond in this situation? That is the question.

"How could we possibly encounter anything interesting in such a short time? If we could encounter something interesting in just two hours, then even interesting things would become boring."

"Why are you acting so old-fashioned?" Xiao Guang pouted and complained.

"That's probably true..."

Xiao Zhi didn't think there was anything wrong with what he said.

"By the way, Hikaru, have you ever walked from Futaba Town to Masago Town before?"

"before?"

Xiao Guang thought for a moment, then slowly replied:

"I haven't walked there yet... but I have ridden a bicycle to Masago Town several times, because there are more kinds of goods in Masago Town."

That's why you don't find it novel.

Xiao Zhi said this.

"If it's a place you've never been before, the scenery along the way will seem quite unique, like forests, grasslands, deserts, and snow-capped mountains..."

Hikari, who was initially exhausted from the trip, perked up immediately after hearing Satoshi tell her about places she had never been before.

"Of course, even in places you're already familiar with, you might encounter some interesting things by discovering some side paths. However, it's best to take side paths in towns, otherwise it's easy to get lost."

"Xiao Lu...is that right...?"

Xiao Guang pondered Xiao Zhi's words, then suddenly clapped his hands as if he had remembered something.

"Ah! That's right! There seems to be a shortcut to Masago Town at the signpost ahead! But it's near the woods, so I've never been there before. Let's go that way this time! Okay?!"

"OKI!"

Xiao Guang's suggestion was quickly supported by Aipom, who was naturally restless and would agree to the opportunity to go to a more exciting place.

In contrast to Dawn and his friends, Ash and Pikachu, being seasoned pros at getting lost, knew all too well the risks of taking shortcuts.

Seemingly understanding Ash's concerns, Dawn immediately added:

"No problem! Many people have walked that path. They say that apart from some wild Pokémon living there, there's nothing special about it. It's a one-way path, so there's no risk of getting lost!"

Ash: "...Okay, okay, I know, stop looking at me like that...and Aipom too!"

In the end, Xiaozhi couldn't persuade Xiaoguang otherwise, and could only nod and agree to her plan.

Let's just consider it a special treatment for the newlyweds. After all, as Xiaoguang said, since there's no risk of getting lost, it's not bad to take a side path.

Although the main road is flat and safe, it lacks the vitality of wild Pokémon and isn't as interesting. It's Xiaoguang's first day on the trip, so it would be nice if it could bring her some novelty.

Of course, this novelty shouldn't come from being chased by wild Pokémon.

Ash shuddered as he recalled his first day of travel.

After Ash accepted the suggestion to change course, Dawn's spirits immediately returned to what they were when she first left home. She walked and ran all the way and quickly arrived at the signpost she had mentioned, which was the entrance to the path.

"The road ahead is unpaved, please proceed with caution."

Ash stood in front of the road sign, reading the warning next to it, and his expression became strange.

"Just how bad are the road conditions here that they need to put up such warning signs? Are they really okay?"

Ash turned his gaze to Dawn, seeking her opinion.

"No problem, no problem!" Xiao Guang patted his chest and said nonchalantly.

"That road sign is from several years ago, and the road surface here has already been repaired, so there shouldn't be any problems!"

"Yeah......"

(Xiaoguang usually says there's no problem when there is actually the biggest problem.)

For some reason, Ayako's words before she left suddenly popped into Ash's mind.

There shouldn't be anything that mysterious or mystical, right?

Ash has been traveling with Dawn for quite some time now, and Dawn has said there are no problems at least hundreds of times.

Although problems arose many times, most of them were easy to solve. It was just taking a side road, so there shouldn't be any issues, right?

"Alright, alright! Stop thinking about it! Let's get going!"

Ash: "???"

Ash looked at Dawn, who had hidden behind him and was pushing him forward, with a puzzled expression.

If you're going to set off, then set off! Why do I have to go first?

"Hmm~ What if a wild Pokémon suddenly attacks? Wouldn't it be troublesome if I'm walking in front? If Ash is in front, at least Aipom and Pikachu are by your side, so nothing should happen, right?"

"That makes a lot of sense."

Xiao Zhi suddenly realized.

That was indeed something he didn't consider. If he had thought of that beforehand, even if Dawn didn't do it, Ash would have taken the initiative to go first.

"Let's go then."

Ash shrugged, beckoned to Aipom who had already jumped impatiently into the tree, and prepared to step into the forest.

"While there shouldn't be any dangerous Pokémon near the starting town, Pokémon like Beedrill are special cases. If you see them, run away immediately, since they usually appear in large numbers."

"I understand~ Besides, I wouldn't dare act arrogantly in front of Beedrill without having obtained a Pokémon~"

Hikari puffed out his cheeks, seemingly very dissatisfied with Ash's attitude of treating him like a child, and urged him to hurry up and move forward.

Just as Ash took a step toward the stone embankment leading to the forest, he suddenly felt a soft texture under his feet, not the feeling of stone or mud he had imagined.

Under this sudden drop, Ash's body began to sway, and before he could hold on for even two seconds, a scream was heard.

"what--!"

The first thing Xiao Zhi did after leaving home was to fall face-first into the ground with a hard thud.

But before Ash could even complain about what was down there, he heard a soft, mournful sob behind him.

......