Warming Hearts

A Sunny Vacation

Warming Hearts

A/N: Here we are, the first official chapter of Warming Hearts! Roll it!

Chapter 1

A Sunny Vacation

Five and a half years later

The sun started to rise and shine its light down onto Sunyshore City. As its beams started to slowly stream over the beachside, it shone into a hotel window, and onto the sleeping form of one young man named Ash Ketchum. His most loyal Pokémon partner, a male Pikachu, who was sleeping by his side, eventually woke up as the warm sun hit his soft yellow fur.

The Electric type stretched out his limbs and admired the sun's warmth in his fur for a few moments before turning over to his sleeping Trainer. He tried to shake him awake, but the eighteen-year-old was not budging. With a silly roll of his eyes, Pikachu jumped off of the bed. His eyes glimmered with mischief while his cheeks started sparking.

"Pikachu!" With that cry, he released a Thunderbolt on the sleeping guy and zapped him awake, while Ash yelled in surprise and pain, jumping a good three feet in the air.

Ash then landed back on the bed with a hard thump. Pikachu jumped back on and cheerfully greeted his Trainer.

"Morning, Pikachu." Ash greeted back drowsily, opening his eyes.

He rubbed his head and sat up from the bed. He then saw a folded note on the nightstand beside him. Ash grabbed it and opened it.

Went out for the day. I'll be back for dinner. Love you!

-Mom

Ash smiled softly at the words written by her. Even though he was eighteen now, his mother still would sometimes treat him like he was still a little kid. But, he still loved her. He put the note back on the nightstand, and got out of bed.

"Pikachu, can you find that book we finished last night?" Ash asked him as he went into the bathroom to get changed and wash up.

Pikachu chirped an affirmative answer, and with some effort, opened up the drawer next to the bed. He then pulled out a red book. Ever since Ash's mother brought them to Sunyshore City for some needed relaxation, she insisted that Ash find something to do since he was taking a break from training.

So a few weeks ago, he and Pikachu stumbled upon a small library on a quieter side of town, and slowly, started reading some of the books there. Pikachu will admit, it was nice to know that his Trainer was starting to like books. He didn't really dislike books in the beginning, but he just didn't pay them very much mind. So it was a good change that he had started to read them.

Ash then came out of the bathroom, fully dressed. His raven black hair was still pretty wild, but a tiny bit more tame than the bedhead he had earlier. His chocolate brown eyes were shining brightly and wide awake. His healthy tan skin was glowing as he stepped into the sunlight. He was wearing the outfit that he wore during his recent journey in Kalos: a blue and white shirt, dark gray pants, and black and red running shoes. Ash then grabbed a red hat with a white half-circle on it from a nearby hook, and placed it on his head.

"Come on, buddy." Ash called out to Pikachu.

His best friend and partner jumped on his arm and handed him the book that was in his paws. After Ash took the book and placed it in his backpack, Pikachu climbed up to his usual spot on his Trainer's shoulder. Then, they both left their room and closed the door.

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Once they got out of the hotel, Ash took a deep breath of the beachy, late summer air. "It's a great day today, isn't it, Pikachu?" He asked.