A Dream

A lot, apparently.

Patience went running ahead of Ian back to Serene Village, as cheerful as she always was. While was following behind, wheezing in exhaustion from their time in the Drillbur Coal Mine.

After accepting Pancham's challenge, he led them to the mine where a few Drillbur were working. With the help of Patience's "persuasive" skills, they got in and made their way into the dungeon. The first of many problems, Ian still didn't know how to fully control his powers as a Pokemon. When a wild Pokemon was attacking them, all he could do was Tackle until the Pokemon went down. When Patience asked why he wasn't using a water move, he confessed.

"What?! You don't know how to use your water moves?!" Patience exclaimed.

"Well excuseeeeeeee me princess! I don't always go wandering into extremely dangerous dungeons!"

The second problem they encountered was running out of food. Thanks to the confusing layout of the mine, they got lost pretty often. Causing them to grow famished and consume the Apples they have collected. Eventually running out.

"Half for you, half for me." Patience said as she split the last Apple into two to balance both of their hungers.

After finally reaching the deepest of the mines, they found out that the monster of the mines was a Gabite. Who thought they were both thieves, wanting to steal his treasure. After a rather surprising short fight, Patience managed to explain to Gabite that they just wanted to see the treasure. With no other choice, Gabite led the two to his treasure room. A room filled with glittering stones and gems of all kinds of colors. Gabite had explained that his started collected these out of sheer fun. Eventually becoming a giant collection. Which gained the interests of many thieves to rob his priceless collection, causing him to have the Drillbur seal off this section of the mine to prevent any further thefts. Patience, been the good hearted Pokemon that she was, decided not to take any of the red stone from the room.

"The real treasure here is the memory that will forever be with me!" She exclaimed.

As the two finally reached Serene Village, they saw Pancham and Shelmet. Both eagerly waiting for their return.

"So, did you get the red stone as agreed?" Pancham asked.

"Nope! We decided not to!" Patience replied.

Pancham and Shelmet reacting in shock at Patience's reply.

"Wha-what?! You said you were going to get the red stone!" Shelmet said.

"Mr Gabite doesn't like when people take his stones!" Patience happily replied.

"You're-you're lying! You chickened out the first chance you had!" Pancham said back.

"Why don't you go down there and see for yourself?" Ian argued back, leaving the two Pokemon clearing their throats, shaking at the sheer thought of it.

"Well... I would! But-!"

" I thought so, see you around!" Ian said, leaving the two Pokemon behind and heading on their way. Ian remembered that Patience wanted to show him a really nice place, he guessed that was where they were going next.

"So where are we going?" Ian asked.

"You'll see!" Patience said. Running across the bridge that separates the plaza and the residential houses. She made a left, heading to the outskirts of the village, where Ian and entered from the first time he came here.

As the two ran up the hill, Ian had an idea where this spot may be. The giant tree.

"Here it is! My favorite spot in the village!" Patience exclaimed.

Ahead of them was a rather scenic view of the entire village. A gust of wind blew past them.

"Come on, sit with me." She requested.

Ian nodded and sat down the next to the fire fox Pokemon, admiring the scenery.

"This is a favourite spot to relax among villagers, I come here all the time to relax." Patience explained.

"This... this place is beautiful..." Ian said, in awe at the sight of Serene Village.

"Yup! "The best place to relax in the Water Continent!" That's what a lot of people say about Serene Village."

Ian remained silent, still taking in the remarkable sight, for the past few days he has been occupied with so many things that he never got the chance to see what this world had to offer.

"Do you see those towering clouds up there Ian?" She asked.

"What about them?" Ian replied.

"They're even taller than this tree we're sitting under. Stretching across the endless sky. But when the world looks up at them, even they look tiny from so far away. It sure makes you marvel at how big this world is..." Patience said.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I want to be like those clouds."

"Like the clouds?" Ian asked.

"I want to race away from the village, and see everything that this world has to offer. For I have a dream, a dream of one day joining the Expedition Society."

"Expedition Society?" Ian asked.

"Yup, a group of Pokemon whose main goal is to make a map of the world!" Patience said.

"A map of the world? Are you saying there are a lot of unexplored areas?"

"The world is filled with places called "Mystery Dungeons", no one really knows why." She explained. "Some say it's the world going out of balance, some say it was caused by an incident involving "Time Gears" in a continent far from here. No one really knows why."

Time Gears... Sounds like a really interesting name for a treasure of sorts.

"That's why... that's why I want to make a map of the world! I can have so many adventures and meet all kinds of Pokemon. But... I can't..."

"Why not?" Ian asked.

"The society doesn't allow kids to join... And even if they do, I doubt any of the grown-ups would allow me to just up and leave the village..."

"I see..."

"But that won't stop me, I'll show everyone in the village! Show them that Patience has what it takes to join the Expedition Society!"

Ian couldn't help but smile at her determination, she had a respectable dream. One that he's sure that she could achieve one day.

Patience stood up and turned to face Ian.

"Would help me achieve my dreams? Even when no one else would?"

Ian was taken back by the sudden question. Would he? He asked himself. He didn't know why he even came to this world. Who knows? Maybe if they do leave the village, he might find out the reason he was sent here, or who he was in his human life. He stood up, finally deciding what he wanted to know.

"Sure! I'll help you out." Ian replied. Showing an encouraging smile. "It's a dream that I respect."

"Really?! You would?!" She asked.

Ian nodded and was soon pulled into a hug. Finally, she had found someone who would help her. Someone... Who would support her dream. Ian, surprised at the sudden move by Patience decided to embrace the hug. Not wanting to spoil the moment for her.

"Thank you... Ian." She said.