Elara didn't immediately decide between the three options her father had given her.
At first, she had planned to take the third option, leaving the Paldea region with Volcarona and the others to explore the wider world.
But there was a problem. Each Pokémon League had different rules.
The Paldea League was unique in that it didn't restrict challengers by age. Anyone with enough skill and determination could take on a Gym.
The other Pokémon Leagues weren't so forgiving.
They followed strict rules: a trainer had to be at least ten years old to officially register, earn badges, and compete in Gyms.
So, after some careful thought, Elara surprised even Naoki with her choice.
She decided to remain at Paldea Academy for two more years, honing her skills, before officially setting out on her journey through other regions once she turned ten.
"Are you sure about this?" Naoki asked, raising his brows at her unexpected decision.
"Yes!" Elara nodded, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
This wasn't her only reason. Deep down, she also knew that if she left now, her parents would miss her terribly.
Elara had always been a clever, thoughtful child.
When Naoki met her gaze, he instantly recognized the sly, playful glint in her eyes.
"This child…"
Naoki exhaled, both proud and wistful. Though a little disappointed, he respected his daughter's choice.
He had raised her step by step, watched her grow from a babbling toddler into a bright, capable young Trainer. He, Iono, and even the Pokémon on the ranch had poured so much love and effort into her upbringing.
And now, in what felt like the blink of an eye, she had grown into someone with her own opinions, dreams, and goals.
Naoki felt a mix of relief and deep emotion.
Time flew quickly. Before long, it was the year 212 of the League Calendar.
Naoki was thirty-four. And Elara, now ten years old, was ready to begin her true journey.
On her birthday, Naoki handed her a carefully prepared gift: a letter of introduction from Professor Oak.
That morning, Elara donned the old red cap that once belonged to the legendary trainer Red. She slung her backpack over her shoulders, tightened its straps, and, under the watchful eyes of her parents and Koraidon, officially set off on her journey.
Her first destination was Pallet Town in the Kanto region.
Not only was it the starting point of her new adventure, but it was also where the mountain lay, the place where Entei and the others had told her she would face the Trial of the Rainbow Hero.
Naoki had known this day would come, but even so, when he watched his daughter walk away, his eyes brimmed with tears.
From now on, he knew, he would have less and less time with his little girl.
Iono gently reached for his hand, squeezing it softly to comfort him.
"It's all right," she whispered. "Elara is going to become an incredible Trainer."
Naoki nodded slowly. "Yes."
My child, like a brave eagle, may you conquer the skies and soar freely into the vast blue above.
...
Kanto Region, Pallet Town Outskirts.
One day later, Elara made her way through the thick, verdant trees of the forest.
The air was damp with the scent of moss, and sunlight filtered down in broken patches through the canopy. Pokémon calls echoed all around her, making the whole forest feel alive.
Holding up her Rotom Phone for guidance, Elara muttered to herself, "If I keep going this way, Pallet Town should be just ahead!"
Even as she advanced, she couldn't help but study her surroundings.
The ecosystem here was completely different from Paldea's. Many of the wild Pokémon she spotted were species she had never seen roaming back home.
Suddenly, her Rotom Phone chimed, displaying an entry:
Pidgeot, the Bird Pokémon. Known for its calm and composed nature. Even when under attack, it rarely strikes back directly, preferring instead to whip up clouds of sand to protect itself.
"Pidgeot?" Elara tilted her head as her Rotom Phone recited the Pokédex entry. She glanced curiously at the bird Pokémon pecking at fruit in the trees.
Just then, behind a bush, a boy in a straw hat with a bug-catching net spotted her. His eyes gleamed with fiery determination.
The girl looked young, maybe just ten years old, wearing a travel backpack and a red-and-white cap. Clearly, she was a brand-new Trainer.
To him, their meeting was fate.
And there was only one thing to do when fate brought Trainers together.
"Hey, you over there!" the Bug Catcher shouted, bursting out of the brush.
Elara turned in surprise.
"Are you a new Trainer on your journey?" he asked.
Elara nodded. "Yes! Today's my very first day!"
"No way! Same here!" the boy said, growing more excited. "I've been catching Bug-type Pokémon all over this forest, and I've trained them to be super strong. Want to battle? Let's have a match!"
Elara's eyes sparkled. A battle on her first day? She couldn't say no.
"Sure!" she agreed eagerly.
That was the way of Trainers. When their eyes met, a Pokémon battle began.
The two found a clearing in the forest and stood across from each other.
The Bug Catcher grinned with confidence, grabbing a Poké Ball and throwing it forward. "Go, Caterpie!"
Elara mirrored his actions, her voice firm. "All right then… it's you!"
A pair of white flashes lit the battlefield.
On one side appeared Caterpie, its green body shining as it squeaked determinedly.
On the other side hovered Volcarona, blazing with scorching heat, its wings glowing like the sun itself.
The moment Volcarona appeared, the temperature spiked. Waves of hot air rippled across the clearing.
The Bug Catcher and his Caterpie both flinched, shielding their faces from the heat.
Their jaws dropped in disbelief.
The boy froze, his thoughts racing in panic.
What?! Volcarona?! What kind of brand-new Trainer has a Pokémon like that?! Why would I challenge this?!
Caterpie was shaking all over, eyes wide, before it squealed and scrambled behind its Trainer's legs, peeking out in terror at the moth's blazing wings.
"Are you seriously only ten years old?" the Bug Catcher stammered, clutching his Caterpie tightly.
Elara nodded confidently. "Yep!"
"And you just started your journey today?"
"That's right!" she replied with a bright smile. "This is my first time traveling in Kanto! Before this, I only explored near my hometown."
The Bug Catcher gawked at her in disbelief. "What kind of beginner has a Pokémon like Volcarona?!"
Elara giggled. "Volcarona has been with me ever since I was born. We grew up together!"
The Bug Catcher stood frozen in place, speechless.
The Bug Catcher sighed in defeat, waving his hands.
"No more battling! We're no match for you!" He completely abandoned the idea of a fight.
"Well then…" Elara said, realizing she could at least make use of the encounter. "By the way, do you know which way Professor Oak's laboratory is? I came here to visit him!"
"Professor Oak's lab?" the Bug Catcher repeated, then turned and pointed down the path. "It's straight ahead. Just keep walking and you'll see it!"
"Thank you!" Elara smiled.
Before leaving, she felt a little guilty that the boy had misunderstood her. "Oh, um, just so you know… I only just turned ten and started my journey today, but my Pokémon and I have already traveled together through Paldea for two years before this."
She recalled Volcarona, waved goodbye, and set off toward Professor Oak's laboratory.
The Bug Catcher remained rooted to the spot, staring after her in a daze. It took him a long time to recover from what had just happened.
Half an hour later, Elara finally reached the edge of the forest. In the distance, nestled in the countryside, she spotted a small town.
"That must be Pallet Town," she murmured, her steps quickening.
Just as she was about to continue, a flash of white light appeared at her side. From within it, the mighty figure of Entei emerged.
His amber eyes turned toward Pallet Town, then down to Elara. His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"Elara, once you've seen the professor, it will be time to begin Ho-Oh's Rainbow Hero Trial."
"I understand!" Elara replied without hesitation. She had already heard about the trial from her father and had been eagerly awaiting it. He told her that by completing it, she would deepen her bond with Pokémon, and perhaps even meet Ho-Oh.
Though she had glimpsed Ho-Oh before, back at the World Tree, seeing him again after proving herself would be different.
"I'm ready!" Elara declared with bright eyes. "After visiting Professor Oak, I'll head straight to Mt. Celeste!"
"Yes," Entei said solemnly, though his gaze lingered on her with quiet reluctance.
For ten years, he, Raikou, and Suicune had watched over her, ever since Ho-Oh entrusted them with the task. At first, it had only been a duty. But somewhere along the way, Elara had become like their own child.
They remembered the girl who once curled up in their warm fur to sleep… the girl who laughed as she rode on their backs across mountains and rivers… the girl who picked fruit and offered it to them with a smile.
Every moment of those ten years was filled with her presence, something none of them had expected.
If only he could remain by her side forever.
But that was impossible. They were the guardians of Ho-Oh, bound by greater duties still waiting for them across the world.
Entei closed his eyes for a moment, then lowered his head to her with a rare gentleness.
"Come. Let me guide you the rest of the way."
"Hehe, then I'm getting on!"
Elara giggled as she climbed onto Entei's broad back with practiced ease.
With the Legendary Pokémon's guidance, the trip was swift. In less than three minutes, they arrived at Pallet Town, its quiet streets basking in the warm morning sun.
Following the map on her Rotom Phone, Elara soon stood before the familiar white building that was Professor Oak's laboratory. She knocked politely, and after a moment, footsteps echoed from within.
The door opened to reveal an elderly man in a white lab coat, his white hair neatly kept, his eyes sharp and full of energy.
It was none other than Professor Oak.
"You must be…" His words trailed off the moment his gaze landed on the fiery red figure behind the girl. His eyes widened in shock. "Oh my… That's… Entei!"
Elara smiled politely. "Hello, Professor Oak! My name is Elara, and my father asked me to visit you. Here, this is a letter from him."
She carefully handed him Naoki's letter.
"Ah, so you're Elara!" Professor Oak's face lit up with recognition. Taking the letter, he chuckled warmly. "Your father mentioned you'd be arriving in Pallet Town in the next couple of days. I didn't expect you so soon! Hoho! Please, come in, come in!"
"Thank you, Professor!" Elara said with a bright smile as she stepped inside.
...
Meanwhile, at the ranch in Paldea, Naoki sat with a quiet sigh of relief as he read a message from Professor Oak.
"So, Elara's arrived at Professor Oak's lab…" he murmured.
A parent's heart always carries worry, even across great distances. It was his daughter's first time traveling so far on her own, and no matter how strong she was, he couldn't help but feel protective.
Still, if all went as expected, Elara would likely spend some time at the laboratory. Knowing Professor Oak, he would no doubt be eager to study the ecology of the Legendary beasts traveling with her, as well as Terapagos and Volcarona.
"Dad!"
The voice of a little boy rang out. Naoki turned just in time to see his young son, black-haired and bright-eyed, dash into the room.
"What is it, Sorin?" Naoki asked gently.
Sorin pouted, his cheeks puffing with frustration. "I want to travel with Terapagos too… just like Sis!"
Naoki: "…"
"But the League has a rule: children must be ten years old before they can begin their journey!" Naoki reminded firmly.
Sorin puffed out his cheeks in protest. "Dad, that's not fair! You're lying! Sis started traveling when she was only eight!"
Naoki sighed, his voice calm but resolute. "But you're only five right now."
"Waaah!" Sorin realized arguing wouldn't work. Frustration welled up in his chest, and he bolted outside, hiding beneath the eaves of the house. Tears slipped down his cheeks as he stared up at the clear blue sky, the scent of ripe tree fruit drifting through the summer air.
He felt so wronged.
He wanted to grow up fast too!
"Bago~"
Terapagos waddled over, nuzzling against Sorin's side, trying to cheer him up with its soft coos.
"Forget it!" Sorin sniffled, wiping his eyes. "If Dad won't let me travel yet… then I'll go explore the World Tree myself!"
Glancing back toward the ranch, he made sure Naoki was still distracted. Then, with a conspiratorial grin, he clasped Terapagos tightly and slipped into the shadows of the Distortion World. From there, he planned to sneak his way toward the World Tree.
But just as he set off, an enormous shadow loomed over him.
A massive figure descended from the darkness. Its golden spikes gleamed, its crimson eyes burned, and its voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"Hey, little one," the Legendary Pokémon growled, its serpentine body coiling around him. "Where do you think you're going?"
Sorin tilted his head back, and instead of fear, his face broke into a bright grin. "Uncle Giratina!"
Giratina blinked in surprise at the child's cheerfulness.
"Dad won't let me go on a journey yet," Sorin explained with a pout. "So I want to go play at the World Tree!"
"Naoki's keeping you home, is he?" Giratina's eyes narrowed, his tone low and thoughtful.
Sorin kicked the ground lightly, his voice small and wounded. "It's not fair… Sis gets to go, but I can't…"
For a moment, the Renegade Pokémon was silent. Then, with an amused huff, his deep voice rumbled with unexpected warmth.
"Don't sulk, little one. If Naoki won't take you out…" Giratina's massive head lowered until his eyes met Sorin's. "Then your Uncle Giratina will."
He let out a low, rumbling chuckle.
"Come on. I'll take you on an adventure."