Chapter 20 – Aftermath and Aura Growth
The Saffron City Gym doors swung open with a soft creak as Kai stepped into the sunlight, Gardevoir floating calmly beside him. Misty trailed behind, her hands behind her head, and Frogadier padded along the stone path, flicking his scarf-like frill.
Kai took a deep breath.
That battle had been unlike anything he'd experienced before — not just the intensity, but the connection. The moment Gardevoir evolved, it was like the world itself had gone quiet just to watch.
"Still feels unreal," he muttered.
Gardevoir gave him a glance, her eyes shimmering with warmth. She didn't need to speak — her expression said enough.
Misty tapped his shoulder. "Hey, you didn't even do a victory pose this time. Are you sick?"
Kai laughed. "Guess I'm just a little overwhelmed."
"Not every day your Pokémon talks to you without moving her mouth," Misty teased.
"Not every day I nearly cry during a Gym Battle," he added with a smirk.
Frogadier let out a low, amused croak and flicked water at Kai's ankle. Gardevoir giggled softly beside him. Even Blaze, walking behind with an easy stride, gave a low rumble of amusement.
Psyduck... had gotten his beak stuck in a snack wrapper again.
"Not now, Psyduck," Misty groaned, dragging him along.
---
The team settled in a quiet park on the eastern side of Saffron. With the Gym challenge behind them, the group decided to take a much-needed break. A gentle breeze rolled over the soft grass, and a fountain in the center trickled peacefully.
Blaze lounged in the shade of a tree, his tail flame flickering calmly. Frogadier meditated cross-legged near the fountain, trying to mimic the focus he'd seen in Gardevoir. Psyduck floated on his back in the water like a strange, yellow inner tube.
Misty lay sprawled on a picnic mat, her arms over her face. "My legs are sore. Can I nap here forever?"
"Nope," Kai said. "We've got places to be. Fuchsia's up next."
"Ugh," she groaned. "Do they have beds in Fuchsia?"
Kai chuckled. Then turned to Gardevoir, who sat beside him, hands resting delicately on her lap.
"Feeling okay after everything?"
Gardevoir nodded slowly. "Yes. I feel… whole."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Whole?"
"I was always searching… for something. A bond. A voice. You gave me both."
Kai rubbed the back of his neck. "You were the one who stepped up. I just believed in you."
She smiled. "That was enough."
The silver pendant from Sabrina dangled from Kai's fingers as he examined it. It was cool to the touch, but occasionally pulsed with a strange warmth when near Gardevoir.
"It's reacting to her aura," Misty noted, peeking from under her arm. "Sabrina wasn't joking."
"Seems like it," Kai replied.
Gardevoir gently reached out and touched the pendant. The metal glowed softly, casting a faint purple hue between her fingers.
> [System Notification] Psychic Pendant Resonating with Gardevoir. Aura Sync Rate: 78% Link Stable.
Kai's eyes widened. "This is… new."
A moment later, he felt it — not a voice, but a sensation. Calm. Warmth. Like Gardevoir was humming a tune directly into his thoughts.
"You're humming?"
"Yes," she confirmed without moving her lips.
Kai blinked. "Okay, that's still going to take getting used to."
---
Later that afternoon, Kai found himself alone near the edge of town, sitting atop a hill that overlooked the Saffron skyline. Gardevoir stood beside him, silent, while Blaze practiced flamethrower control behind them.
Kai held the pendant, thinking.
His system had told him once: "Your aura is vast, but untamed." That had been weeks ago. Since then, he'd started hearing more — feeling more. Sensing shifts in emotion, in presence.
Was this what Sabrina meant when she said he wasn't "just a trainer"?
"Do you think I can handle this?" he asked softly.
"You already are," Gardevoir said. "You're not alone."
He gave a soft laugh. "You know, that means a lot."
Just then, a rustling came from the nearby brush. Kai turned, instinctively on guard — only to see a small Riolu stumbling out, clutching its side.
"Whoa!" Kai was on his feet instantly. "Hey, little guy, you okay?"
Riolu growled weakly, clearly hurt. One of its legs was scraped, and its aura flickered like a dim lightbulb.
Misty came rushing up from the other path. "I heard something—oh no, is it hurt?"
"Looks like it," Kai muttered. "Gardevoir—"
Already moving, she extended her hands and released a gentle Heal Pulse.
The Riolu's eyes opened wider as the warmth flowed through it. It looked up at Kai, blinking.
Then its eyes glowed faintly blue — just for a moment.
Kai blinked. "...Did it just sense my aura?"
Gardevoir nodded. "It's… interested in your energy."
The Riolu struggled to its feet. Then, without hesitation, it bowed.
Kai's heart skipped. "You want to come with me?"
It nodded once.
> [System Notification] Wild Riolu wishes to join you. Accept? [Y/N]
Kai smiled. "Yes."
The Poké Ball tapped Riolu's head gently — and clicked.
Misty whistled. "That's rare. Riolu usually don't trust strangers."
"Guess we connected," Kai said softly.
---
That evening, back at the Pokémon Center, Kai sat beside the window as the sun dipped below the horizon. Gardevoir braided small strands of her own hair absently, while Frogadier perched outside the window ledge, watching the city lights come on.
Riolu rested in a bed, breathing steadily. It had curled up near Blaze's tail flame — toasty and safe.
Misty yawned as she returned with drinks. "Okay, everyone is asleep but me, and I'm rethinking my life choices."
Kai took the bottle from her and chuckled. "You say that every night."
She flopped into a beanbag chair. "Yeah, and I'm usually right."
They sat in silence for a bit.
Then Misty turned to him. "You're different now."
"Huh?"
"From when we first started traveling. You're stronger. Smarter. More… aware."
Kai scratched his cheek. "Is that a compliment?"
Misty smirked. "Don't let it go to your head."
They both laughed quietly.
Gardevoir stood and walked over, handing Kai a small note she'd written. "Thank you, for believing in me."
Kai read it and smiled. "Always."
---
Later, as the lights dimmed, and the Center settled into quiet hums and nighttime routines, Kai whispered to himself:
"We're growing. Not just in strength. But as a family."
And somewhere in the night, a soft voice echoed in his thoughts—
"Yes."
> Chapter End.