The early morning was shining through the lackluster curtains of her room in the PokéCenter. Graisey woke up with Cyndaquil curled up beside her and Stars stuck to the wall. She poked Cyndaquil awake and whispered, “You need to take your last medication.” The Pokémon was not impressed and just opened its mouth. His Trainer carefully administered the medicine, Cyndaquil swallowed hard, shivered for a second, and then resumed its sleep.

  Graisey quietly got up and dressed in her sports outfit, thanks to the Pokémon League. She remembered to put her other clothes up for laundry, which would be completed when she would return from her jog. She recalled the sleeping Cyndaquil to its Poké Ball, with Stars fluttering next to her.

  Greeting Blissey and Chansey on her way out, she left the PokéCenter to start her jog. After she had limbered up, she found Stars in a nearby tree, licking honey from its bark.

  “Care to join me, Stars? Stay close to me.” The Ledyba immediately left the tree and they were off.

  Graisey jogged at a comfortable pace past the PokéCenter, her breath steady, her movements relaxed. Above her, Stars fluttered joyfully, looping in the air like a ribbon caught in the breeze. The morning sun stretched long across Violet City, bathing the cobbled streets and tiled rooftops in soft gold.

  The city was waking up.

  She passed a bakery where a man stood waiting, hands in his coat pockets, his Flaaffy resting loyally at his side. The Pokémon watched her jog past with lazy curiosity. Two mothers chatted by a low stone wall while their toddlers played with a gentle Snubbull, its ears wagging to their giggles. Their voices carried a playful warmth.

  Stars swooped down toward a tree, scanning for berries before flitting back to her side. Graisey smiled. Focus back on her pacing.

  A sudden flurry of motion caught her eye—Sentret scattering from a delivery truck parked outside a café. A shopkeeper chased after them with a broom, shouting more out of routine than urgency. One of the Sentret darted past her feet, nearly colliding with her, then zipped into a thicket.

  Graisey laughed under her breath and kept going, the rhythm of her steps guiding her forward. Her cheeks warmed from the effort, and the first pearls of sweat kissed her brow. She liked the feeling—alive, present.

  The streets narrowed. Cars hummed beside her, and clusters of office workers emerged, their ties swinging with every step. Here, Pokémon were fewer, but the sky still danced with Pidgey and Murkrow.

  She felt a little out of place in this world of briefcases and buses—until she saw the other jogger, this one in a bright tracksuit, trailed by a buzzing Yanma. As they passed, they exchanged a polite nod. Stars and the Yanma mirrored their Trainers, spiraling once in the air before returning to their paths.

  Graisey’s stride steadied. Her thoughts wandered, quietly.

  She thought of Hano—the doctor with seafoam green hair who’d welcomed her with lunch and battle. Of Sage Harlow, reading her like a book before she even spoke. She remembered the earth beneath her feet at Sprout Tower, the quiet dignity of its elders. The mystery of the egg her mother had set aside. The boy near Mr. Pokémon’s home and a victory that hadn't felt like one.

  Now she knew how to earn it differently. Together.

  Soon, the buildings thinned, giving way to quieter streets. Trees returned to frame the road, their branches swaying in the breeze. Sprout Tower rose in the distance, familiar and swaying. She spotted a sign pointing toward the PokéCenter.

  Above, Stars let out a soft chirp—gentle, like a sigh. Graisey slowed her pace, easing into a walk.

  Her legs felt heavy, but it was a good kind of tired. The kind that said she was getting stronger.

  Suddenly, Stars started chirping enthusiastically.

  “What's going on, Stars?” Graisey asked, her Pokémon, still flying, tugged at her arm, as if directing her. A tall Pokémon stood before the PokéCenter.

  “Oh!” Graisey let out and she started to run again, straight to Talonflame.

  The doors of the PokéCenter slid open with a sharp hiss, letting in the cool morning air—and Kaiy.

  Freshly showered, he stepped out, yawning and rubbing his neck as though trying to stretch off the flight.

  Then his eyes landed on her.

  The red from her jog still clung to her cheeks, her hair damp at the edges.

  “Graisey!” Kaiy called, his voice cracking a little more excitedly than he’d meant.

  She turned, smiling, and let go of Talonflame.

  “Hey Kaiy, you—”

  But before she could finish, Kaiy pulled her into a hug—without thinking. Not a polite, casual hug. It was instinctive. His arms wrapped around her like something inside him had missed her more than he was ready to admit.

  She froze, breath catching. And then leaned in.

  The embrace lingered, and in that fragile space between heartbeats, Graisey briefly closed her eyes. She felt warm, grounded. Safe.

  Kaiy broke the silence.

  “I missed you…” his voice barely above a whisper.

  Reality came back, crushing, as he slowly pulled away. The weight of the moment hit him, like waking from a blissful slumber. What had he just done? His chest tightened with panic, his eyes darting away.

  “Well, eeh…” he stumbled, words refusing to come.

  “You are…” Graisey blinked, cheeks flushed and words tangled. But then she caught herself, clearing her throat. “I just had a jog through town.”

  “Right. Yeah. You… should probably shower,” he said, too quickly. His laugh was short, tight—forced. His posture had shifted; hands in pockets, head slightly lowered. Kaiy wanted to vanish into the floor like a Ghost-type.

  An awkward silence opened between them.

  Graisey glanced toward the sliding doors, sensing the emotional knot he was wrapped in. She took a quiet breath and recalled Stars to its Poké Ball. She turned back to Kaiy, armed with a soft smile.

  “It’s really good to have you back, partner.”

  And with that, she stepped over the PokéCenter threshold, letting the door close behind her, giving him space—not out of distance, but out of care.

  Kaiy stood frozen a moment longer, watching the door. He pressed his lips together, as if trying to hold in the storm of thoughts.

  The awkwardness of the hug had melted away, quietly dissolved into the soft clinking of cutlery and the morning hum of the Violet City PokéCenter.

  They sat across from each other in a booth near the window, where golden strips of sunlight slipped through the blinds, drawing quiet patterns across the table. The air smelled faintly of toast and cleaning products.

  Graisey, whose hair was still damp from the shower, had opted for a bright bowl of fruit and cereal—simple, fresh, energizing. Kaiy, on the other hand, had already unwrapped his second Rage Candy Bar, its shiny foil crackling as he broke it apart between bites of a dry, buttered roll. Classic Kaiy. Next to them, Cyndaquil and Stars shared a bowl of treats, and Jolteon had joined Kaiy on the bench, his head resting on Kaiy’s lap.

  “So, I entered Goldenrod City and I saw the Pokéathlon Dome—which we should visit one day,” he quickly added. “And we landed at HQ. What was there? A Corviknight! Have you ever seen one?”

  Graisey shook her head, having a hard time recalling the Pokémon.

  “Is that the Steel-type taxi bird?”

  Kaiy laughed heartily at her description, but it was spot on. “Yes, that’s the one!” Graisey was laughing to herself now—it felt good to have these conversations again.

  “Inside HQ, I was greeted by Marshal and instantly pushed into a board meeting.” Kaiy placed the Rage Candy Bar onto a plate in front of him, sipped some water while Graisey asked about the protocol he had to follow.

  “Marshal was upset, but her focus was clearly on the board meeting. I’m not going to tell you all the boring details—bottom line: we’re now on an official mission.” Kaiy gestured between himself and Graisey, emphasizing the ‘we.’ “We’re allowed to look further into the leads. I got some pictures from Gira, look.”

  Kaiy handed over the printouts from his pack to his partner. She flicked through them and saw the hooded figure and the man with the handlebar moustache. While she was inspecting the pictures, Kaiy told her about the Mechanics Department and Cobalt as well.

  “And now, get this—the Radio Tower caught fire!”

  Graisey nearly dropped her spoon. “What?!”

  "Exactly! I was finally in my own bed after a med bay visit,” he indicated to his face, continuing his story, “and then the alarm blared through HQ.”

  Kaiy’s energetic gestures lured in watchful eyes from across the PokéCenter. Other Trainers were now quietly drawn into the tale of the blaze in Goldenrod City.

  “It was amazing to see Kabutops darting in and out of a building. Oh, and I saved a Butterfree!”

  Graisey asked a few follow-up questions, and once she knew everyone had made it out safely, she felt a wave of relief.

  “Apparently, us Rangers made a good impression on the Fire Department—Eldric was very proud of us all.” Kaiy saw Graisey’s confusion, “Eldric is the leader of the Pokémon Rangers in Johto.”

  “But if you’ve been fighting fires all night, you haven’t slept?”

  Kaiy just shrugged and comically said, “That’s the Ranger life, Graisey.” Putting his hands behind his head, he leaned back on the circular sofa.

  “Lastly, before I packed my bag and set off to you again, I met with some journalists—but they were no help, as all their data was destroyed in the fire. Marshal is on her way to Kalos—maybe she can retrieve some lost data about that Dark Cave report.”

  Graisey pieced together the puzzle, getting a clearer view of the Ranger’s schedule from the past day and night. She noticed his fresh Ranger outfit and remembered his wet hair when they hugged.

  “Fresh suit?” she gestured to his outfit.

  “Yep! Never again will you see me without it!” He smiled, recalling the speech Eldric gave him about it.

  “How about you? What did you do after I left?”

  Graisey, who had finished her breakfast, first looked over to spot her Pokémon. She startled a little when she couldn’t find them, but Kaiy pointed to the bench. They were curled up next to Jolteon—they, too, had missed their friends.

  “Well,” Graisey started, settling back into her seat, “when you took off, I asked Mr. Pokémon to guide me to the school.” Kaiy shuffled in his seat, leaning on the table, engaging in her story.

  “There, I met with Dervish. He is… a special person, like an old child. Very kind and direct—a great help.” Graisey felt the need to correct herself. She didn't want to speak poorly about anyone. In the corner of her eye, she saw a Trainer talking to Nurse Joy over the PokéCenter counter.

  “As I wasn’t sure of the Researcher’s name, I had to speak to a whole room of people, just hoping to find him.” She relived the moment and felt the embarrassment wash over her again, but also the victory of overcoming it.

  “That’s how I met Hano Mahina. We had lunch together and he gave me his number.” She grabbed her PokéGear from her pocket. “We can call him later.”

  “Great! Talonflame still needs her check-up.”

  “Exactly.” Graisey was happy he remembered this time. “And he challenged me to a battle.” She nodded, anticipating Kaiy’s reaction. He nearly shot out of his seat.

  “A Researcher challenging a Trainer? Why?”

  “To be fair, he’s a Doctor. And he didn’t say why, but I learned so much from it. And—get this—I fought an Alolan Raichu!” She beamed; this was her rare Pokémon encounter.

  “Here? Wow, that’s really something! And how did you do?”

  Graisey’s heart sank a little, thinking about the loss. But as soon as she focused on what she learned, pride began to rise again.

  “I lost—initially. So, the Doctor gave me an assignment: train with the Sages in Sprout Tower. So I did!” She grabbed her PokéDex and showed the new entry for Bellsprout.

  “Wait, you actually trained with them? I didn’t know that was possible. How was that?”

  Graisey paused, looking for the perfect word.

  “Transformative.”

  Kaiy nodded, part awe, part admiration.

  “Yeah, it felt really good. I feel… grounded. Connected even. It inspired me to enroll in the Violet City Gym Challenge.” She gasped aloud.

  “In just a few minutes—I have to go!”

  “ have to go,” Kaiy smiled, waking the Pokémon resting beside him.

  “I'll tell you about the egg on the way there.”

  Kaiy showed a surprised, yet equally eager, expression.

  They left the PokéCenter with full bellies, washed hair, and all their gear. Ready to embark on the next part of their journey.

  The little plastic Dratini that rested on the Poké Ball shaped alarm clock sprang to life. It waved its mechanical head left to right and made a high-pitched noise. Dardua pressed the button on the side before dropping her head into her pillow again. Why did she have to care so much about the Trainers with sob stories. This is where she thrived, setting Trainers back on track. And Graisey would be no exception.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Dardua grunted low, her eyelids heavy. She hugged her pillow as if it were a friend she didn't want to miss. With a faint cry, she threw her arms and legs into a frenzied flailing. The childish tantrum was short lived. As Dardua relaxed again, her hair in knots, she smiled at her Dratini alarm clock. Now she felt ready to leave the warmth her bed provided. This childhood habit had become her wake-up routine. Some people snoozed, most just got out of bed—which she declared to be psychotic. No, the little girl inside her demanded a morning tantrum, and she would deliver—possibly forever.

  Quick shower, brushing her teeth, traveling clothes. She was finally awake. With hasty steps, she went down the apartment stairs. Nanab Berry in hand, she reached the ground floor and opened the door. The cold morning air greeted her, but she quickly shrugged it off. Confidently, chewing on her berry, she threw the Ultra Ball in an arc. The placid, serpentine Dragon-type sprang gently to life. Drampa greeted her with a slow, affectionate nuzzle, then he curled his neck around her, as always. As was tradition, she let herself fall in the pillowy fur. It was hard to tell who enjoyed this more, the Pokémon or the woman.

  “We need to go, Dramps” Dardua said, muffled by the soft fur. The warmth of it felt like her bed all over again. She had to snap out of it. Drampa let out a low, kind rumble.

  “Ok, first we get coffee and a snack for you,” already stuffing some of her Nanab Berry in its mouth, “then we hit the skies, deal?” As in slow motion, Drampa lifted its head to get face to face with her. He blinked in agreement, the piece of berry had already been swallowed. She mounted the Normal-type, flicking her scarf over her shoulder.

  The pair went off to their favorite shop, got what they needed and set off as agreed upon.

  Drampa wasn't a swift flier, but a steady and reliable one. Seeing they had to cross a great distance, Dardua chose to get up early instead of flying at night. She was still enjoying her coffee while Drampa flew with the morning sun at their backs. Her dragon friend was equipped with travel gear, pouches and riding bars to place her feet and hands. She sat on a soft cushion, filled with locally produced Mareep wool, that let through the body heat of her ride. Drampa floated steady, his head in bobbing motions, his eyes droopy and relaxed. They still had time. Dardua enjoyed the flight.

  It had been awhile since she was up here, in the skies. In her younger years, she swore she would become an aeronaut or sky deliverer to distant islands. Flying around, preferably on Dragon-type Pokémon—the freedom. It excited her.

  There was only one thing that excited her more: helping Trainers. The best place to come in contact with Trainers was through the Pokémon League. She had climbed her way up from Gym Assistant to Field Manager for the Johto region.

  Her job dealt with day-to-day business and mundane tasks, like replacing light bulbs in the cafeterias—but also with more complex cases. Like the case with Graisey. She followed the PokéCenter report, the non-confidential part, so she knew the early struggle Graisey and her starter Pokémon had to endure.

  So loves helping Trainers regain solid ground, sparing no expense. Some outfits and a nice display case were a small price to pay to make a young talent content.

  The scenery unfolded underneath her and Drampa and on the horizon, she could make out Sprout Tower.

  As the familiar shapes of Violet City began to take form beneath them, Dardua leaned forward, brushing her fingers through Drampa's soft mane. The flight had been peaceful, but her mind was already shifting to the event ahead. Watching a Gym challenge was always a thrill. She adjusted her scarf against the wind, spotting the silhouette of the wide, open dome of the Gym in the distance.

  Before she knew it, Drampa set in the descent. It landed gently, like a misty cloud, right before the Violet City Gym.

  And Dardua knew her Pokémon attracted a crowd. The Blue-greenish Dragon-type was a very rare sight in Alola where it is native, so here in Johto, not many people had seen one in real life.

  As she was dismounting, she heard excited chatter and saw fingers pointing at her dragon friend.

  “Hello, how are y'all doing?” Dardua asked over a small crowd, letting them know she accepted them. The people felt invited and came closer. Drampa didn’t care that much, staying relaxed and cosy next to Dardua. As soon as the children showed up, his eyes got more alive. Sniffing them out, rubbing his nose against their bellies and puffing little clouds to entertain them. The kids were drawn to him, his gentle demeanor radiated safety and protection. All the kids got their turn to greet Drampa and his mute, yellow eyes.

  “Now that is a sight to behold! And I thought the Corviknight was spectacular.” Dardua heard a voice from the back of the crowd and she recognized a Pokémon Ranger outfit. Next to the Ranger, Graisey walked confidently with Cyndaquil in her wake and a Ledyba fluttering above her. The Trainer beamed, ready for the challenge. The pair made their way to the entrance of the Gym, next to where she stood with Drampa.

  “Hello Graisey, ready for the challenge ahead?” Dardua asked as the Trainer walked past her. Graisey was startled as a stranger knew her name.

  “Excuse me miss, have we met?” The pair stopped, meeting Dardua with the crowd behind her. Cyndaquil positioned himself between Graisey and the large dragon, Ledyba flew to the trees, hoping to score a berry and Jolteon stood in between Kaiy and Graisey.

  “Nice Pokémon you have there, my name is Kaiy.” The Ranger extended his hand which Dardua accepted wholeheartedly.

  “My name is Dardua, you must be the Ranger who requested the box.” After shaking Kaiy’s hand, she extended to Graisey, “It’s nice to finally meet you, Graisey.” She saw the Trainer putting the pieces together. The girl's brows furrowed, then lifted in recognition. Her lips parted in disbelief before curling into a wide, heartfelt smile.

  “You sent me the box, with the card! Thank you so much! The outfits are great, I’m wearing them every day.” To emphasize that statement, Graisey lifted her hoodie a little, showing the Cyndaquil shirt, “I remember you’re going to watch my first official match, but I had no idea you were going to be here, live.”

  Dardua laughed, “I’m here! And very eager to witness your battle, are you ready?”

  Graisey took a moment to collect herself, saw Kaiy patting the Drampa, and then focussed up and recalled her Pokémon.

  “Yes, Yes I am!”

  Dardua found an empty seat in the tribune and settled near the sideline, close to the center of the stadium. The roof above was wide open, a gaping window to the morning sky. A streak of chilly air swept down through it, curling around the stands like a whisper. Far above, faint clouds moved lazily across the blue sky, their presence mirrored in the slow play of shadows across the field below. The whole scene felt uncontained, like nature had one foot in the arena.

  Graisey entered the battlefield as the two Falkner sisters arrived from opposing sides. The older one had a microphone in her hand.

  “Greetings spectators, and welcome Graisey, from Olivine City, to your first official Gym Challenge!”

  A small round of applause erupted—tentative at first, then growing as more joined in. Dardua, still clapping, glanced around and noted most of the audience was made up of schoolchildren, huddled together with their teacher near the front rows. A field trip, most likely. She smiled; this kind of spectacle was meant to inspire.

  Her gaze returned to the center of the arena, just in time to catch Graisey’s reaction. The young Trainer stood frozen, her hands twitching slightly at her sides. Dardua recognized the look—half disbelief, half awe. Graisey’s eyes searched the crowd, unaccustomed to being the center of attention. Then she looked up and found Dardua in the stands. For a heartbeat, their eyes met. The girl’s shoulders eased just a fraction, and she offered a small, shaken smile.

  “Before the official battle begins,” the sister continued, static cracked over the soundsystem. Dardua made a mental note to investigate upgrading it, “Graisey has to undertake the Trail of Wind!” The kids cheered frantically, they knew what was coming. They jumped and pointed to the sky.

  Dardua saw Graisey taking it all in, the Trainer appeared nervous with a hint of wonder.

  The winds changed. From above, two large shadows appeared, stark against the morning sun. A pair of huge Fearow circled the open roof of the Gym.

  “Challenger Graisey, with the help of a Pokémon, must shoot three objects out of the air. They will determine our battle partners. Are you ready?” Graisey nodded, but Dardua could not hear her.

  “Then let us begin!” The elder sister left with the microphone; the younger one stood on the Challengers opposing side.

  A hiss sounded from a high air duct, and several small objects dropped into the arena—colored feathers with glinting metal tags attached. On the side, the League Judge raised a flag, setting the events in motion. Graisey called on Cyndaquil to join her, and then she ducked for cover. The Fearow flapped their wings aggressively, sending down torrents of air. The violent gust surged through the gym, catching the feathers and hurling them in disorderly spirals around the arena. A display of chaotic, colorful feathers—Dardua remembered they used these feathers in decorations around Violet City, like in the PokéCenter.

  Dardua smiled ear to ear, suppressed the urge to cheer and dance, and simply crossed her arms to enjoy the scene.

  The arena’s shape trapped the air currents, not bothering the spectators. She witnessed Graisey calling out commands and flashes of fiery light darted across the air, trying to strike a feather. In the stands near the arena, the Ranger also observed Graisey, his goggles resting on his face.

  A hit! Cyndaquil’s Ember caught one of the feathers mid-air. It spun out, clinking to the ground. Graisey kept her focus, pointing out as she wanted to get more targets.

  Another hit quickly followed. The Fearow swept lower, whipping up dust across the field. Dardua could see Graisey shielding her eyes, struggling to follow the feathers. Cyndaquil squinted into the wind, firing blindly but bravely at her command. No success.

  Then, the Challenger took a deep breath and adjusted her footing. She visibly relaxed.

  Cyndaquil stood quietly beside her, sharing in the calm while the air currents continued sowing chaos.

  Then Dardua saw it: Graisey inhaled slowly and shifted her stance, grounding herself against the wind.

  “Now!” The Challenger called out, and instead of a single flame, Cyndaquil spat out a volley of fiery orbs. The last tag hit the floor. The downward torrent stopped and with neck-breaking speed, the Fearow dove down. They opened their wings just above the arena, nearly colliding with it, speeding past the Challenger and her opponent in a synchronized circular motion. They then landed next to the younger sister, and sat up like statues, as if they had been there all along.

  Applause erupted once more, Dardua smiled as she saw Graisey clapping along with the others, joy written across her face.

  A flock of Magnemite buzzed in, their magnets humming softly as they swooped over the field. With playful precision, they magnetically juggled the fallen tags midair—spinning feathers, tossing them between one another like a well-rehearsed act. The younger spectators gasped and giggled.

  “They’re playing catch!”

  “No, they’re doing magic!”

  With one final flourish, the Magnemite deposited the tagged feathers into large bins at the edge of the battlefield. The older sister patted each Magnemite in turn, smiling.

  “The wind has spoken,” she said through the microphone. “Your opponents await.”

  She held up the three tags Cyndaquil had hit, then turned to a display and selected three Poké Balls. Joining her younger relative, she handed her one of them.

  “You’re in for a decent battle, Graisey.” Her voice held a teasing edge, stirring excitement in the crowd.

  “My sister will send her Pokémon to the field, you will follow. When a Pokémon is knocked out, the participant may send in the next until they are out of Pokémon. The Challenger is allowed to swap Pokémon during and after each battle. Are these rules clear?”

  Graisey nodded and then looked behind her, Dardua saw the Ranger making enthusiastic gestures.

  “Then, my lovely sister, take your place.”

  The girl, maybe 12 years old, walked with a tangy arrogance to her spot. Fearow’s cries rang through the arena, and the wind surged around Graisey as the battle began.

  In this chapter, I tried to write a little "slice of life" instead of true story progression. With action-packed scenes following Kaiy and world-building with Graisey, it felt good to slow things down a little.

  Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

  See you next time!