"How about a Pokémon battle with me?" Oak's voice echoed in the chamber, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. Kai blinked, caught off guard, his crimson eyes widening slightly.
Then, a chuckle slipped from his mouth. His childlike voice bounced in the air as his eyes narrowed with determination. "Only if we're battling right now."
Oak laughed heartily, rising from his seat. "Hahaha! Young people really are full of energy!"
Kai and Caiden's twin sets of cerulean eyes followed Oak. The old professor looked them over with a smirk laced with challenge. "I hope you won't disappoint me, young man."
Kai jumped to his feet, Caiden at his side. A confident grin spread across his face, a spark of fire glowing in his crimson eyes. His voice carried that same burning energy. "Shouldn't I be the one telling you that, old man?"
"Riuu~!!" Caiden chimed in.
Oak chuckled again. Sunlight filtered through the high windows, catching the swaying hem of his white lab coat as he walked.
The battlefield looked like it had been carved by time and war. The ground, a patchwork of scorched earth and stubborn blades of grass, bore the memory of countless battles. Once-white wooden fences, now browned and cracked with age, encircled the arena that stretched across several square feet.
Tall grass and a ring of sunflowers crowded around the fence line. Ivy snaked over wooden posts and nearby trees, their thick trunks casting deep shadows across the worn field. Rays of golden light broke through the canopy, slicing the air between the two trainers and their Pokémon.
Kai and Oak stood on opposite ends. Oak, poised with a quiet authority, had his arms tucked behind his back. His black eyes narrowed as he studied his young challenger, a faint smirk curling his lips.
He reached into a polished, weathered Poké Ball holster. The aged leather creaked. In a flash of red light, Tauros appeared with a ground-shaking bellow.
His hooves struck hard. Dust exploded from the impact. His aged bronze coat gleamed, stretched taut over his powerful frame. Three muscular tails whipped the air behind him, twitching with raw, impatient aggression.
Tauros lowered his head. His flared nostrils sent out short bursts of steam. His ember-red eyes locked with Caiden's glowing cerulean stare.
The small Riolu stood tall, fur rippling in the breeze. One paw clenched. The other, loose. His aura sensors twitched.
Their breathing synced.
You could feel the pressure in the air.
Then Oak's voice, calm but commanding: "Whenever you're ready."
Kai's stoic face didn't change, but his mind stirred. Just like last time. You remember, right?
No words passed between trainer and Pokémon—but Caiden's stance answered everything. One foot stepped forward. His breathing deepened. A spark lit in his eyes.
He moved.
Gone in a blur, Caiden vanished. One second by Kai's side. The next—a blue-and-silver streaks slicing across the field.
Oak's eyes widened. "Oh? Already learned acting without instructions? Tauros, same for you—you know what to do."
Tauros reacted, slamming his hooves into the ground in frustration—but Caiden was already gone, the wind slicing past his ears.
Caiden reappeared with a Force Palm charging in his paw. But Tauros twisted, rising on hind legs before crashing down, striking Caiden with raw power.
"Block! Counter with a kick!" Kai's message came too late. Caiden's teeth gritted through the pain. But just before he hit the ground, he twisted, landing a kick that slammed against Tauros's skull.
Tauros stumbled. Caiden hit the ground and skidded, feet carving into the dirt. Another message followed: "Now—focus your aura. Focus Punch, right to the jaw!"
Caiden's body lit in blue glow. He launched forward, his blured and burst towards Tauros, leaving a crater in his wake.
"Earthquake!" Oak's voice rang.
Tauros slammed both hooves into the earth.
A loud crack. The ground split. Fractures raced outward. Rocks burst free. Dust exploded into the sky.
Kai's footing failed, as he got on his knees from the shaking off the ground. Yet, Oak stood firm as he had experienced this countless times.
Kai roared, "Jump!!". But, too late. The tremor rolled under Caiden.
Everything slowed.
Kai's crimson eyes met Caiden's glowing blue. The earth rose beneath him. Caiden was airborne.
Kai's heart sank. Still—he ran. Reaching out just in time to catch his partner. But Caiden's weight was too much. They both crashed into the dirt, the pokemon lying on top of his trainer.
Kai groaned. "Ugh, that was dumb."
"Riuu~~," Caiden added.
Oak approached with an approving and enthusiastic look, recalling Tauros. "Unexpected, but impressive!! You did far better than I expected."
He glanced at Tauros's Poké Ball and murmured, "Good job, Tauros," before holstering it.
A crater marked where Tauros had stood. Oak stepped around it and helped the boys up.
Kai spoke, brushing dust off. "We lost, but it was worth it."
Oak laughed. "Hahaha! What an odd kid. I expected pouting, but you're already learning. Keep that up."
A dark opaque screen blinked into existence in front of Kai. Pixelated words appeared:
NOTICE: CAIDEN HAS LEVELED UP. LVL 5 → LVL 20
Kai blinked and exclaimed internally, "What? Holy shit! What's with this jump?!"
New text appeared:
THE OPPONENT WAS OF VERY HIGH LEVEL AND EXPERIENCE. DESPITE LOSING, YOU GAINED EXPERIENCE
REMINDER: THIS IS THE REAL WORLD.
Kai snorted internally, "Yeah yeah, thanks for the reminder."
A single pair of claps echoed. A voice followed, "Amazing."
Kai and Caiden turned. Oak's gaze shifted slightly.
Leaning on the fence stood a figure with wild chestnut hair and sharp brown eyes—Blue. His arms were crossed. A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Oh, Blue," Oak said. "Did you finish that task I gave you?"
"Yeah, Gramps," Blue replied, pushing off the fence.
He walked toward Kai. "Impressive battle, kid. Not many hold their own against Gramps. He was one of the best."
His eyes shifted to Caiden. "You too. For a newborn, that was solid. You've got something in you."
"Riuu~!" barked Caiden.
Kai, expression flat, responded, "Thanks. But compliments from you sounds kinda cringe. But, I'll surpass you both soon." He ended his last sentence with a smirk.
Blue's smirk widened. "Keep dreaming."
Oak stepped in with a chuckle. "If you two ever battle, I'll be rooting for both. But come—we've got something to see."
He turned to Blue. "Shall we?"
"Absolutely," Blue said. Oak motioned for Kai to follow.
The group made their way back to the lab.
Footsteps echoed inside the lab, machines whirring softly in the background. As they entered, Oak turned to Kai.
"We should heal our Pokémon. They must be exhausted."
"Yeah, sure," Kai said. He pulled out a unique Poké Ball—blue and black in color. Turning to Caiden, he added, "C'mon, get some rest."
"Riuuu~~," Caiden replied.
Kai extended his hand and pressed the ball's button to Caiden's forehead. A red beam enveloped him, pulling him into the Poké Ball in a blink. Kai handed the ball to Oak. "Here, Professor."
Oak's eyes widened slightly, intrigued. "Ohhh—this is Caiden's Poké Ball? First time I've seen one like this."
Blue leaned in, curious. "That's a Poké Ball? I've seen a ton of other types, but never one like this."
Kai replied, "My mom said it's a custom Poké Ball, made just for Caiden."
Oak nodded, pulling his own Poké Ball out. "Ah yes, these are called Buddy Balls. Specially crafted for a new trainer's first Pokémon."
He approached a machine lined with smooth, semicircular craters glowing with a soft emerald light. He placed both Poké Balls on the machine, then pressed a button. A green field shimmered over the Poké Balls.
Kai's eyes lit up. "Wow."
Oak chuckled. "First time seeing one of these machines, huh? Leave them there a few minutes. They'll be healed good as new."
His expression turned serious as he looked to Blue. "Shall we?"
Blue nodded and reached into a leather bag. He pulled out a sleek, rectangular device with a red metallic finish.
Kai's gaze followed it, curious. "Is that... a Pokédex?"
Oak laughed. "Hahaha, you're catching on quickly. Yes, Kai, that's the latest model."
They watched Blue connect it to a nearby computer. A loading screen appeared, followed by images flashing onto the monitor.
"These," Blue said, "are sites where Pokémon have been acting strangely. Broken trees. Scorched grass. Ground torn up. All signs point to Rock and Ground types attacks."
He clicked through images of damaged terrain—some familiar to Kai, memories of escaping from Rhydon with the wild Pichu, and his battle with it resurfaced.
"All of them are near Rock and Ground-type habitats: Viridian Forest's outer edge, routes near Mt. Moon, rocky cliffs." Blue's sharp eyes landed on Kai, as he finished his last sentence.
Oak furrowed his brow. "This is strange... Rock and Ground types don't belong in those areas. Something's disrupting their natural habitat."
Kai stayed silent, but his thoughts churned. Something's going on where those Pokémon live.
Oak's tone sharpened. "Blue, investigate thoroughly. But stay sharp."
Blue nodded, unplugging his Pokédex.
Once again, Oak caught the look in Kai's eyes, following the Pokédex, and smiled.
"Do you want one?" Oak asked.
"Huh?" Kai blinked.
"The Pokédex. I saw how you looked at it. Want one?"
Kai's face lit up. "You'd really give me one?!"
Oak laughed. "I would. But... they're all taken."
Kai's smile dropped. "Oh..."
Oak frowned slightly, sensing the disappointment. "I made five this year. One's with Blue. One with Professor Elm. Two with my aides. The last one's mine."
Kai's face stayed stoic, but inside, he thought, "Too bad. I wanted one."
Then Gameboy's black screen flickered to life:
WHY DOES HOST NEED A POKÉDEX WHEN HOST ALREADY HAS GAMEBOY?
Kai replied silently, "Because it looks cool. You're just a black screen."
Before Gameboy could respond, Oak's voice interrupted.
"Don't worry. Next year, I'll make a new set—my best work yet. I'll reserve one just for you."
Kai smiled, but kept it humble. "Thank you, Professor."
Oak looked briefly surprised. That's a mature reply, I kind of expected him to be jumping with excitement... His mother's raising a fine kid.
Then he added, "But for today, take one thing from my lab—something I made. Some limits apply, though."
Kai's eyes widened. "Really?"
Oak smiled inwardly. "Haha, that's more like a kid his age." Then continued with his reply to Kai, "Yes."
Blue interjected, "I should head out. The sooner I go, the sooner I finish."
Oak nodded. Blue turned to leave, then paused.
"Hey, kid. Pick something useful."
Kai smirked. "Don't worry—I'll pick something that even you'll be jealous of."
Blue chuckled, shaking his head as he walked out.
As Blue left, Oak said as he turned to Kai, "Follow me,"
They stepped through a side door, into a storage room. Oak flipped a switch, revealing two rows of shelves.
Each shelf was filled with items—carefully stored prototypes, devices, and ancient tools.
Kai scanned the room, wide-eyed. "Woah..."
"Go ahead. Look around," Oak said with a chuckle.
Kai moved between shelves:
A prototype Poké Ball with gears exposed and handwritten notes taped to it. An old wooden box labeled "Apricorn Test," holding faded Poké Balls from Johto.
A sleek black case with a universal Pokédex chip. A fossilized Poké Ball embedded in stone.
Then he saw it: a palm-sized, deep ocean-blue stone. Oval, smooth, and glowing from within like moonlight on water. Soft blue waves pulsed inside, like time frozen mid-flow.
Kai was mesmerized.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Oak's voice pulled him back.
He stammered, "Y-yeah... Is it a Water Stone?"
"Correct."
Kai couldn't take his eyes off it. "Wow."
Oak smiled. "Take it. Consider it a reward—for saving that Pidgeotto from Rhydon. Your battle prize still stands, by the way."
Kai hesitated, then slowly reached for it. It felt cool. Not just in temperature—but as if the stone itself held water.
"Wow... Thank you, Professor."
Then he saw something else.
A Poké Ball—upper half golden-yellow, lower half obsidian black. A silver button in the middle. A glowing lightning emblem shimmered faintly on the upper golden half, circuit-like lines pulsing along its surface.
"That's a Spark Ball," Oak said with a slight bitter smile, "Made it for catching Electric-types. Works great. But you see…it has been lying here eating dust, no one uses it. Haha...ha..."
Oak finished with an awkward laugh, as if embarrassed with his successful creation left unused like a failed product.
Kai turned, his crimson eyes shining. "I want this one."
Oak raised a brow. "You sure? There are other better things you could take."
Kai answered with a confident grin. "Yes, Professor."