Chapter 7: The Greninja Egg and the Caterpie's Love Mission
The forest trail was quiet, with only the soft crunch of dirt beneath their feet and the occasional chirp of a Pidgey above. Misty kept glancing over her shoulder, one eye twitching every time a leaf moved.
Kai noticed. "You know it's gone, right?"
"I know," Misty muttered, clutching her bag tighter. "But if another Caterpie sneaks up on me, I swear I'll scream again."
"Good to know," Kai smirked. "I'll get Blaze to hold the camera this time."
"Don't test me," she grumbled.
Blaze skipped ahead, his flaming tail swaying like a torch, lighting the way as they left the deeper woods and approached the open road again. A small sign read 'Cerulean City — 1 km Ahead.'
Kai stretched. "Finally. Maybe we can do some gym training before challenging the leader."
"I could use a shower," Misty muttered. "And real food."
Blaze suddenly stopped walking. His tail flame flickered unusually.
Kai blinked. "Blaze?"
"Char…"
The world around them slowed.
A glowing golden screen flickered in front of Kai's eyes.
> [System Notification]
Congratulations, Host!
You've unlocked your Second God-Level Pokémon Egg:
🥚 Greninja (Hidden Ability: Battle Bond)
Kai's eyes widened as a bright, blue-and-black egg shimmered into existence before him, resting gently in a cradle of light before lowering into his arms.
Misty turned, staring. "Is that…?"
Kai gently touched the shell. It was cool, but pulsing with energy. "My second partner…"
> [System Notice]
Greninja will hatch faster the more you bond with it.
Current Affection Level: 0%
— Suggestion: Carry the egg often, speak to it, and train near it.
"Blaze, meet your new little brother," Kai whispered.
"Charrr!" Blaze cheered, excitedly wagging his tail.
Misty leaned over cautiously. "Okay… even I know this isn't normal. Where do you even get something like this?"
Kai rubbed the back of his head. "Uh… the world really likes me?"
Misty squinted. "I don't trust that explanation. But… that egg is cool-looking."
"Want to hold it?"
"What? No! What if I drop it?! What if it hatches and imprints on me and starts following me around like a little blue frog ninja?!"
Kai tried not to laugh. "I think that's the idea."
She took one step back.
But behind her… a bush rustled.
Misty froze. "Please don't be what I think it is."
From the leaves, a small green head poked out.
Another Caterpie.
"NOPE!" Misty shouted, jumping behind Kai again.
But this Caterpie wasn't like the last one.
It held… something.
A flower.
A crushed, slightly wilted daisy clutched in its tiny mouth.
Kai stared.
Blaze tilted his head.
Caterpie slithered forward, placed the flower gently at Misty's feet…
And looked up at her with sparkly anime eyes.
Misty blinked. "What… is happening?"
Kai was biting his lip to keep from laughing. "I think… I think this Caterpie likes you."
"WHYYYYY?!" Misty shrieked.
Caterpie inched closer.
Misty picked up her bag and held it like a shield. "No. No bug love. I'm too young for this kind of trauma!"
Caterpie chirped softly and began making little heart shapes in the dirt.
Blaze was giggling uncontrollably.
Even the Greninja egg wobbled slightly, as if amused.
Kai crouched next to the love-struck Caterpie. "Hey buddy, I think she's not ready for a relationship."
"Caaater…"
"She has high standards."
Misty huffed. "I have standards like 'no slime trail.'"
The poor Caterpie looked crushed.
"Don't look at me like that!" Misty scolded. "There are other bugs out there!"
Caterpie slumped over.
Kai sighed, scooping the little guy up and setting him gently back in the bushes. "Sorry, Romeo. Time to move on."
Blaze gave a sympathetic wave.
Once the trail was clear, Misty grumbled the whole way toward Cerulean City.
"Love confession from a worm. I've hit a new low."
Kai chuckled. "Technically, it was a caterpillar."
"Don't make this worse."
They finally reached the Pokémon Center and handed over Blaze for a quick checkup. Misty practically dove into the waiting room shower stalls, emerging fifteen minutes later with a towel around her head and a look of pure bliss.
"Warm water," she sighed. "Bless Nurse Joy."
Kai was gently polishing the Greninja egg, holding it wrapped in a towel. It gleamed in the light.
"Hey, you're really taking care of that thing," Misty said, sitting next to him.
He smiled softly. "It's weird. I already feel connected to it."
The egg wobbled again, and Blaze chirped from the corner.
> [System Notice]
Greninja Egg Affection: +5%
— Hatching Progress Boosted
"Looks like it feels the same," Misty said quietly.
Kai grinned. "Heh. Guess it wants to see the world already."
Later that afternoon, they arrived at the Cerulean Gym's training area — an outdoor arena with water pools, platforms, and obstacle zones. It was mostly empty except for a few trainers practicing their movements.
Misty blinked. "I forgot how big my sisters made this place…"
"You sure they'll let me train here?" Kai asked.
"I'm still technically family. And it's better to ask forgiveness than permission," she said casually.
Kai stretched. "Alright then. Let's train."
He set the egg gently in a padded corner of the stands with a soft blanket and a clear view.
"Watch us, little guy," Kai said. "You'll join us soon."
Then he turned to Blaze. "Ready?"
"Char!"
"Okay — let's start with footwork. Circle the field using Flame Burst every ten steps."
Blaze immediately sprinted, launching small bursts in the air at intervals. The blasts fizzled out before hitting anything, but each one left a trail of steam.
Misty sat on the bench, drying her hair. "He's fast."
"I want him to have both speed and control," Kai said. "Once he evolves, those wings will give him even more edge."
Blaze flipped mid-run and launched two Flame Bursts in quick succession.
Kai gave a whistle. "Nice!"
> [System Notice]
Blaze's Control has increased!
Blaze Affection: +3
Trainer Bond: Deepening
After half an hour, Kai called for a break. Blaze panted happily, tail flickering with steady warmth.
Misty approached the egg and knelt beside it. She tapped its shell gently.
"Hey, ninja baby. Your future partner's kinda cool, I guess."
The egg gave a little wobble.
"...Don't imprint on me," Misty whispered. "Please."
Suddenly, the bushes behind the arena rustled again.
Kai turned. "Please not another Caterpie."
But no — this time, it was a Machop carrying a basket.
"Ma-chop!" it said cheerfully, waving at them.
It dropped the basket — full of snacks and water bottles — and then pointed to the scoreboard where a note had been pinned.
Misty read it aloud. "'Free gym training for new challengers. Enjoy snacks on us. Please don't set the pools on fire.'"
Kai grinned. "Seems like we've got a free pass."
They resumed training until sundown. Blaze practiced dodging dummies on floating rafts, leaping between platforms and launching Flamethrowers into target rings.
Misty even joined in, releasing Staryu and helping it practice Water Gun precision.
Kai watched her for a moment. She was focused, shouting commands, eyes sharp.
He smiled.
Not just because she was strong — but because they were growing together.
And as he cradled the Greninja egg in his arms again, he whispered, "We're gonna be amazing. All of us."
> [System Notice]
Greninja Egg Affection: +10%
Hatching Time: Accelerated
Kai's Aura increased slightly due to emotional resonance
Back at the Pokémon Center, Misty collapsed onto the couch.
"I'm done. Fully cooked. Steam me like a dumpling."
Kai chuckled, setting the egg beside her.
Caterpie suddenly appeared again at the window.
Misty shrieked. "IT FOLLOWED ME?!"
Kai rushed to close the window.
Caterpie tapped the glass sadly.
Misty shoved a pillow over her head. "I'm not here. I've died. Leave a message."
Caterpie left a new flower on the windowsill… then slithered away slowly into the night.
Kai whispered, "Poor little guy."
From under the pillow, Misty groaned, "That's not poor. That's persistent."
And so, the day ended not with battles… but with something better:
A new bond forming.
A ninja waiting to be born.
And a Caterpie hopelessly, hilariously in love.