Pokemon: Skybound

To clarify for readers, all potential heroines in the fanfiction, such as Misty and others, are portrayed as being 16 years or older & Kai is 17+. This adjustment has been made intentionally, as they are older than their canonical counterparts in this story.

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The torrential rain lasted only a short while before stopping abruptly.

When the weather cleared up, Kai invited Ash and the others to enjoy a luxurious lunch at a nearby restaurant.

It was a reward for their long and tiring journey, a treat for their hard-working appetites.

"This is so good!" Ash exclaimed, holding a fork in one hand and chopsticks in the other. His eating style was as enthusiastic as ever, and his mouth was so full he could barely speak clearly. "It's been a long time since I've had something this good!"

As he spoke, his eyes wandered to Pikachu, who was devouring its food with gusto, and Gardevoir, who ate gracefully, like a lady.

Suddenly, a thought struck him. Swallowing the food in his mouth, Ash turned to Kai and suggested, "Hey, Kai, we've known each other for a while now, but we've never had a battle! How about it? Want to have a match after lunch?"

Before Kai could respond, Brock's interest was piqued. "Oh? A battle between you two? That sounds exciting!"

"Exciting? Really?" Misty gave Ash a sceptical look and immediately sided with Kai. "With your skill level, there's no way you're beating Kai!"

"Hey, Misty, don't say that." Kai waved her off with a smile. "There's no such thing as a guaranteed win in a Pokémon battle. It all depends on strategy and performance during the match. Anything can happen."

Seeing Ash's eager expression, Kai eventually relented. "Alright, a battle sounds good to me. I believe in your skills, and besides, battling is a great way to burn off lunch."

"Awesome!" Ash's eyes lit up with excitement. "Let's go right now! Is there a battlefield nearby?"

Kai chuckled. "No need to rush. The closest one would be at the Cerise Laboratory. They have a simple outdoor battlefield in the backyard that isn't used often. It should be perfect."

After finishing their meal, Kai paid the bill and led the group across the city to the Cerise Laboratory.

Upon arrival, Ash was immediately captivated by the beautiful scenery under the massive glass dome of Cerise Park.

"Wow! This greenhouse is huge! There's even a small river inside!"

"This is the Cerise Laboratory, where I'm staying temporarily," Kai explained, pointing out various spots. Then, with a slight sigh, he added, "Unfortunately, I can't give you a proper tour since I'm only here temporarily."

"That's okay; we can admire it from the outside," Ash said cheerfully.

The group admired the park for a while before refocusing on the battle. The battlefield in the lab's backyard was overgrown with weeds due to disuse, but neither Ash nor Kai seemed to mind.

They decided to leave the weeds as they were, treating it as a natural grass battlefield.

Standing on opposite sides of the field, Kai said, "Let's keep it simple just a one-on-one battle. The winner takes all. How does that sound?"

"Sounds great!" Ash agreed enthusiastically. He turned to his partner. "Alright, Pikachu, it's your turn!"

"Pika!" Pikachu dashed to the centre of the field; tail held high, its excitement matching Ash's.

Kai rubbed his chin thoughtfully. As expected, Ash chose Pikachu his most trusted partner.

With a slight wave of his hand, Gardevoir gracefully stepped forward to the centre of the field.

Both Pokémon were their Trainers' first partners, holding special meaning for them.

Though Gardevoir had evolved to its final stage, Kai firmly believed in his earlier words: there are no inherently weak Pokémon.

The outcome of any battle depends on the effort and strategy of both the Trainer and their Pokémon. Even the smallest Pokémon can create miracles under the right circumstances.

As the battle preparations unfolded, the commotion caught the attention of someone inside the lab. Soon, Chloe approached, her footsteps soft and deliberate.

When she reached them, she smiled slightly at Kai. "Kai, did you bring some friends?"

Kai waved at her in greeting before introducing everyone. "These are friends I met on my journey. They're a reliable group of Trainers."

Ash stepped forward with his signature bright smile. "Hi! I'm Ash from Pallet Town. My dream is to become a Pokémon Master!"

"Pika-pi!"

"Do you always have to talk about your dream?" Brock sighed before turning to Chloe with a smile. "Hello, I'm Brock, one of Ash's travel companions."

Misty smiled as well. "I'm Misty. Nice to meet you."

Chloe, naturally quiet and reserved, nodded politely. "Hello, I'm Chloe Cerise."

Knowing Chloe's introverted nature, Kai added, "Chloe is still a student. Her father, Professor Cerise, is the one who founded this laboratory and Cerise Park."

"A famous professor?" Ash mused. "Like Professor Oak?"

Kai laughed. "Well, he may not be as renowned as Professor Oak, but he's a brilliant mind in his field."

As Chloe stood quietly beside Kai, her gaze accidentally met Misty's. The two girls exchanged a look, both sensing something unspoken between them.

Subconsciously, they both glanced at Kai and then noticed each other's subtle reactions.

This girl... Could she also...?

Though it was their first meeting, Misty and Chloe seemed to sense a shared understanding: they might both have special feelings for Kai.

Oh no!

Their hearts tightened. Even in the warm summer air, they felt a sudden chill.

Unspoken tension hung in the air, their gazes clashing like lightning. Neither would back down.

Unaware of this silent drama, Kai was entirely focused on the battle about to unfold.

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