It was the first day of winter break, and since David's flight wasn't scheduled until the afternoon, he had the rare luxury of sleeping in. He took his time getting dressed and didn't roll out of bed until close to noon.
After a simple lunch, David packed his belongings and prepared to leave for the airport.
Before his departure, his father pulled him aside.
"Son, this is your first time traveling alone, so be careful and stay aware of your surroundings. Your mother's busy with work and can't get away to see you off.
I've transferred some extra money to your card. Take care of yourself while you're out there on your own..."
"I understand, don't worry! I'll be fine. You and Mom should take care of yourselves too, and don't work too late," David replied earnestly, touched by his father's rare display of concern.
"Oh, and take this with you, just in case."
After finishing his instructions, David's father reached into his jacket and produced a custom Poké Ball finished in black and gold, then handed it to David.
David examined the Poké Ball, then looked up at his father with a questioning expression.
"Go ahead and release it," his father said.
David pressed the button, and the Poké Ball opened with a flash of red light. A familiar figure materialized before him.
"Dragapult~"
With a head shaped like a stealth fighter and a semi-transparent, light green body, the Pokémon hovering in the air was unmistakably a Dragapult.
"Is this... a Dragapult?" David asked, eyes widening.
"That's right. Take it with you for protection. That way, your mother and I can have peace of mind if anything happens."
David's father then addressed the Dragapult directly.
"Dragapult, I'm entrusting my son's safety to you."
"Dragapult!" the Dragon-type responded, patting its chest confidently as if to say, "Leave it to me!"
The Dragapult clearly recognized David as its Trainer's child and seemed eager to take on the responsibility.
David studied the Dragapult hovering before him, mentally reviewing its information:
Name: Dragapult
Type: Dragon/Ghost
Gender: Male
Energy Level: 69 (Elite)
Aptitude: Light Red
Ability: Infiltrator
Held Item: Dragon Fang
Moves: Bite, Quick Attack, Dragon Breath, Astonish, Infestation, Lock-On, Sucker Punch, Hex, Agility, Dual Wingbeat, U-turn, Dragon Dance, Phantom Force, Dragon Rush, Double-Edge, Acrobatics, Dragon Pulse, Draco Meteor, Hyper Beam, Dragon Darts, Dragon Tail, Dragon Claw...
An Elite-level Dragon-type pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
David recognized this particular Dragapult—it was one of the main Pokémon on his father's third team, trained over recent years. He even remembered seeing it as a tiny Dreepy during his childhood. He never imagined it would have evolved into such a powerful Elite-level Pokémon.
After recalling Dragapult to its Poké Ball, David said goodbye to his father once more, then left for Imperial Capital Central Airport.
David was now aboard a plane bound for Sol Province. Having purchased a VIP ticket, he enjoyed a private cabin with ample space and even a large bed for resting.
Taking advantage of the privacy, David released all his Pokémon from their Poké Balls.
It was the first time any of them had experienced flight, and each one pressed eagerly against the window, eyes wide with curiosity. Even Riolu, who normally carried himself with the composure of a little adult, couldn't resist the novelty.
"Sir, here are the drinks you ordered. Please let us know if you need anything else," a flight attendant said, entering the cabin. She wore the crisp uniform of Imperial Capital Airlines and had an air of professional elegance. After setting down David's beverages and confirming he had no additional requests, she offered a polite smile. "Imperial Capital Airlines wishes you a pleasant journey."
With that, she discretely departed.
David surveyed his surroundings, picked up the hot drink from the table, and took a small sip. He nodded in satisfaction—this was far more comfortable than his previous flying experiences.
To be fair, airplanes in the Pokémon world were vastly different from conventional aircraft. Before reaching cruising altitude, planes faced considerable danger from wild Flying-type Pokémon. While encounters were rare at altitudes of tens of thousands of meters—save perhaps for Rayquaza—the skies between several hundred and a thousand meters teemed with all manner of Flying-types.
For safety, modern aircraft were equipped with sonic dispersal devices designed specifically to ward off wild Pokémon. Additionally, they carried numerous Flying-type Pokémon with human passengers on their backs as escorts, and employed Professional Trainers as security personnel. Every precaution had been taken.
The flight was swift. Departing around 4:30 PM, they reached their destination in less than three hours.
After exiting the Airport, David checked his watch—it was just past seven o'clock, still early.
He decided to explore the area before settling in for the night.
Since evening had already fallen, David chose not to visit Sol Province's famous Pancham Ecological Park. He'd save that for tomorrow when he could properly appreciate it.
As a side note, David vaguely recalled hearing a theory that Kubfu had mutated from Pancham. He wondered idly if there was any truth to it.
Hailing a Corviknight Taxi, David quickly arrived at a nearby night market district.
Around seven o'clock, vendors were still setting up their stalls, but the area had already begun to buzz with activity.
"Tauros-brand spicy beef skewers! Absolutely delicious!"
"Freshly squeezed Berry juice! Pressed right in front of you! One hundred percent pure! Anyone interested?"
"Ring toss game! Three dollars for one try, ten dollars for three! You can't lose! Grand prize is a life-sized Gardevoir plushie!"
"Pop star Meowscarada's collaboration soda! Lucky customers might get an autographed edition with her paw print! Limited quantities—first come, first served!"
Stalls of every variety lined the streets, offering snacks, local specialties, toys, and carnival games.
Soaking in the lively atmosphere, David released all his Pokémon.
"Let's go! If you see anything you want to eat or buy, today's your chance. My treat—offer expires soon!" he announced cheerfully.
He started by purchasing a skewer of Sol Province's specialty roasted sweet potato skins—the Hoothoot-leaf-free version—from a nearby vendor and began munching on it.
Before long, David discovered he simply couldn't keep up with everyone's interests.
First, he queued with Zorua to get the limited-edition collaboration soda, then played ring toss with Kirlia to win prizes, and after that went shopping for various snacks with the entire group. This continued until 10 PM, when a thoroughly exhausted David finally made his way to the hotel he'd booked in advance, arms laden with the evening's spoils.
The hotel's exterior wall featured a large Pokémon mural—an Eevee design.
That's right—David had reserved a room at the national chain Eevee Hotel. Specifically, he was staying at their Flareon-themed branch.
After washing up and collapsing into bed, David mentally reviewed his plans for the next day. As he pondered his itinerary, exhaustion caught up with him, and he quickly drifted into a deep sleep.