Chapter 13 – The Next Step: Clefairy and Cerulean Calm
Cerulean City looked brighter the second time around.
Kai, Misty, Blaze, and Ralts stepped out of the mountain path and into the familiar roads. The sun shone on red rooftops and bright banners. People bustled in the streets as if nothing had changed — as if a Zubat had never dive-bombed Misty in Mt. Moon just a day ago.
"Remind me again why we're back here?" Misty asked, adjusting her ponytail. "Didn't we leave this city already?"
Kai shrugged. "You said you needed to grab something."
"Oh, right," she said flatly. "My sanity."
Blaze, now a proud Charmeleon, grinned and puffed a small flame from his nose. Ralts walked beside him, trying to imitate his confident stride with her tiny legs. Kai caught the mimicry and smiled.
They crossed the city square just as a familiar scream echoed from down the street.
"SISTER!"
Kai flinched. Misty groaned.
"Oh no. Please no."
From the Cerulean Gym burst Daisy, one of Misty's older sisters, waving dramatically and dragging Lily and Violet behind her. They were dressed for a fashion show, not a poolside gym.
"Misty!" Daisy squealed. "You're finally back! And—oh my gosh—is this your boyfriend?!"
Misty's face went red.
"He's NOT my boyfriend!" she snapped, stepping in front of Kai.
Kai blinked. "Uh… hi."
Violet gave a lazy wave. "He's kinda cute, though."
Lily smirked. "I like his eyes. He looks… mysterious."
Blaze rolled his eyes and let out a small growl, stepping protectively in front of Kai and Ralts. Ralts peeked from behind Kai's leg.
"I missed this gym so much," Misty deadpanned.
The sisters led them inside for "refreshments," which turned out to be juice boxes and leftover cupcakes from a birthday party. Misty looked like she wanted to melt into the floor.
Kai sat awkwardly at the table, sipping his juice while Psyduck wandered in and immediately knocked over a vase.
"Psyduck!" Misty groaned. "Can you go five minutes without chaos?!"
Psyduck tilted its head and waddled over to Blaze, who raised a claw to stop it. Ralts quickly stepped between them and levitated a napkin over to clean the spilled water. Blaze stared, then gave her an approving nod.
"She's getting smoother with her psychic moves," Kai noted.
Misty leaned on the table. "Honestly, she's cuter than my entire family combined."
"Hey!" Daisy pouted.
---
After escaping the sisters, Kai and Misty spent the afternoon walking around the city.
They passed a few small markets and crossed a canal bridge. Ralts gazed at the water, her reflection rippling in the surface. She pointed at a floating flower and tugged Kai's sleeve.
He knelt beside her.
"You want it?"
She nodded shyly.
He reached in, scooped it out gently, and placed it in her hands.
Her eyes sparkled.
Misty smiled, watching the interaction. "You're going to spoil her."
"I'll spoil all of them," Kai said, standing up. "They deserve it."
Charmeleon snorted like he agreed. Then tripped over a street cone and fell on his face.
Misty burst out laughing. "Graceful."
Charmeleon let out a fiery huff and pretended it didn't happen. Ralts gently patted his head.
They made their way to a quiet district of the city where Kai had read about a psychic dojo. It was a traditional-style building with soft chimes at the entrance.
A woman greeted them, her long blue hair tied in a bun, her aura calm.
"I sensed you coming," she said to Kai.
"That's not creepy at all," Misty muttered.
The woman ignored her and gestured to Kai. "You have a strong natural aura. Psychic and aura energy intertwined. Very rare."
Kai blinked. "I'm still learning."
She nodded. "Sit. Meditate with your Pokémon. Let your energy flow."
He sat with Ralts beside him. Charmeleon stood watch at the door while Misty peeked curiously around the room, trying not to touch anything labeled "DO NOT TOUCH."
As Kai closed his eyes, a warm light began to form between him and Ralts.
The woman stepped back in surprise. "Your bond is very close. Like two minds finding harmony."
Kai's mind drifted. He could sense Ralts' thoughts — not words, just emotions. Calmness. Trust. A little shyness. A flicker of admiration. His heartbeat slowed.
She opened her eyes and smiled at him.
They stood, and the woman handed Kai a small pendant.
"This may help your connection deepen. A gift."
> [System Notification]
Aura Bond increased. Psychic potential growing.
Outside, Misty raised an eyebrow. "You get free jewelry for sitting on a mat?"
Kai laughed. "Apparently."
---
That night, they returned to Misty's gym for one last rest. Kai unrolled his sleeping bag in a quiet guest room while Misty tried to explain to her sisters for the fifth time that she wasn't getting married.
"Why don't you just admit you like him?" Lily teased.
"Because I don't!" Misty shot back. "He's just… nice. And strong. And caring. And—SHUT UP!"
Kai didn't hear any of that. He was busy checking his bag — and paused when he saw the mysterious egg glowing faintly.
It shimmered with a soft blue light.
He knelt beside it. "You're almost ready, huh?"
Charmeleon sniffed the egg and grunted, satisfied. Ralts leaned close, curious. The egg pulsed gently under her psychic field.
Misty peeked in. "Hey, everything okay?"
He looked up. "The egg's almost hatched."
She stepped in, eyes widening. "It's glowing…"
The three of them sat quietly beside it, watching.
A small crack formed.
But then it stopped.
"Tease," Misty whispered.
Kai smiled. "Not long now."
---
The next morning, Kai stood in the Cerulean Gym's training area with Blaze and Ralts stretching nearby. Misty joined him, her arms crossed.
"No badge battles today," she said. "Remember: you already earned my badge back when you saved Psyduck and beat me in our friendly match."
Kai chuckled. "Still feels weird skipping a Gym."
"Think of this as a free day."
"Then we train."
He spent the morning helping Ralts practice psychic accuracy. She tried to levitate three pebbles at once. Blaze flicked them with his tail mid-air, and Ralts tried to dodge them with short teleports.
Misty clapped when Ralts managed to keep all three rocks floating for more than ten seconds.
"Look at her go! She's growing up so fast!"
"Should I get her a graduation cap?"
"Yes," Misty deadpanned. "And a tiny diploma."
Psyduck wandered in and tripped over a bench. Blaze sighed and helped him up. Ralts gave Psyduck a psychic tap to reset his balance.
Teamwork.
Kai stood watching, arms folded.
"I think we're ready for Vermilion next," he said.
Misty smiled. "Lt. Surge won't know what hit him."
---
Later, as they packed up to leave the city again, Daisy ran out one last time to wave.
"Don't forget to call when you get married!" she yelled.
Misty threw a rock at her.
Charmeleon caught it.
"Thanks," Misty muttered.
Kai adjusted his bag, feeling the egg tucked safely inside.
Ralts floated a tiny pebble behind her like a tail.
And they all walked off down the road, the sky bright above them, the path ahead uncertain — but warm.
Because this wasn't just a journey.
This was home.