After Red was out of sight Eric turned to Ashley and his dad.
Hey I'm going to walk around town and bond with Dratini. I'll see you both later.
And Eric runs off before anyone could say anything.
Eric! Wait. oh. Hey Mr. Johnson do you know when Eric's leaving.
I'm not sure. But if I know my son he'll want to leave just before dawn. May I ask why you want to know? And please call me Jake.
Yes, it's just that I was hoping he would stay until after I got my starter tomorrow morning, because I don't want to travel alone right off the bat. So could you please ask him if he'll wait to leave until after I get my starter?
I try and ask him but I don't know if he'll agree to wait.
ok, and thanks Mr.- I mean Jake. well I should probably get home before dad starts to worry. I was supposed to be home by noon, but it's already 1:00.
Hey what's your last name by the way? Eric talked about you from time to time but neve said what your name was or how you two met.
Well I'll let him explaine to you how we met, but my name is Joy. Ashley Joy.
And Ahsley walked away towards the center of town. meanwhile Eric's dad Jake was shocked to find out that his son has made friends with a member of the Joy family, due to the Joy's being very high status in the pokemon league.
Meanwhile
Eric was walking by the market and talking to his Dratini who has since wrapped herself around his shoulders, and was trying to get a feel for her personality. As Eric continued to walk he heard the voice again this time it was more urgent.
Help Me! Please!
Who are you?
Help Me! Please!
Where are you?
I'm cold! I'm wet! Please Help Me!
as Eric heard the last statement he started to sprint toward the beach. When Eric started to run Dratini almost flew off his shoulders.
Dratini was confused as to why her trainer was running, so she tugged on his shirt to get his attention.
What is it girl?
Dratini motioned her head in the direction of the beach and then at his feet. she was asking him why he all of a sudden started running to the beach without saying anything to her.
Oh. I'm getting this feeling that someone or something is call out to me for help.
Dratini was still confused, but didn't press for more information. Instead she wrapped herself tighter around his shoulders so she wouldn't be sent flying.
As Eric got to the beach he asked Dratini if she would keep an eye out for anything that could be a person in distress or a pokemon in distress, or and pokemon egg that's in danger. To which Dratini agreed to do so. Eric and Dratini searched for about 3 and a half hours and still didn't find anything that needed help, and just as he was about to give up and head back to the pokemon center he heard the voice again his time more urgently.
Please Help Me! I can feel you! You're close. Please Hurry.
when Eric heard this he turn back around and looked further down the beach and saw a pokemon egg in the sand. Just Eric saw the egg, Dratini did as well and had a bad feeling about how fast the tide was coming in.
Hold on Dratini!
And so She did. Once Eric got to the egg a decent size wave threatened to wash both the egg and Himself out to sea. Dratini started to squeal in fear of the wave which Eric saw the wave and was moving as fast as he could to get the egg free of all of the sand around it. Just as the wave was about to crash down on him, Eric got the egg free and ran as fast as he could up the beach and away from the sea. Eric just barely made it out of the waves reach before it crashed onto the shore, but while he was running Eric felt like something pricked his hand and was draining both blood and part of his soul.
While walking back to the pokemon center Dratini noticed that Eric was a little uneasy and was swaying back and forth. So she nudged his cheek to which he didn't respond so she nipped his arm.
Ow! Dratini! What was that for?!
Dratini motioned towards Eric's hands, feet, and his head. Asking if he was ok.
S-sorry girl I'm tired and worn out from all the running, and my hands hurt from digging up all that sand around the egg.
Dratini didn't fully believe him and nipped his arm again with a angry facial expression.
Ow! Ok that's not all of it your right. while we where running from the wave it felt like something was drawing my blood and part of my soul.
Dratini looked at him accepted what he said as the whole truth and rubbed her face on his cheeks.
Thanks girl. I needed that.
Dratini look Eric in the eyes, let out a cheerful squeak, and smiled.
Now will you help me stay awake till we get to our room in the pokemon center?
Dratini nodded at Eric and occasionally would nip his arm when he would start to tip over.
Meanwhile back in the pokemon center Eric's dad Jake was wrapping up a gift for Eric.
I sure hope he likes this. I still can't believe my son is close friends with a member of the Joy family. I mean what are the odds of that and not to mention she want to be a trainer, and wants to travel with him as well.
Jake continued to talk to himself for about 30 minutes, and was interrupted by Eric walking through the door.
Welcome back Eri-I-ic. What happened to you? You look like you've been to the distortion realm and back. What is that Dratini of yours running you through the ringer.
As soon as Jake finished that last sentence Dratini lashed out at him in the form of thundershock.
Ah-ah-aahh. Hey I was only joking. sheesh. So what happened son?
this is what happened.
As Eric pulls the egg out of his bag, he hears a familiar voice that he hasn't heard in a long time.
Now Eric this is the gift I've bestowed on you. I've given you two things: A strong pokemon that will hatch from that egg and a secret ability that you will discover sometime after she hatches. Good luck my friend.
Eric starts to feel dizzy and is about to fall over when Jake catches him.
Hey Eric maybe you should sit down for a little while.
Ok dad. thanks for catching me. I'll see you in the morning.
What pokemon will hatch from the egg? What secret ability did Arceus give Eric? And what did Jake get for Eric? For the answers to these questions and more. Tune in next time.