Chapter 18: 18. Cerise Park

Words : 1002 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Thank you, Ghost for becoming a Royal Knight on P@treon! Your support means the world to us. Shoutout to you enjoy all the exclusive perks that come with it! Drop Some power stones! If you like the chapter! It helps to keep me motivated to upload more!???????????? ---- After leaving Pewter City Gym with Misty, Kai pointed to the Pewter Science Museum across the street. "The museum here is quite famous. It's one of the major attractions in Pewter City. What do you think? Want to check it out together?" "Sure," Misty agreed without hesitation, having nothing else to do. Crossing the street, the grand structure of the museum came into view. Upon entering, Kai bought two tickets, and they walked into the first-floor lobby together. The Pewter Science Museum was divided into two sections: the exhibition area and the research area. Unfortunately, the research area was not open to the public, leaving visitors restricted to the exhibitions. The exhibition area spanned two floors. The first floor was dedicated to fossils, displaying rare ancient Pokémon in various glass cases. The highlights included the skeletal remains of Aerodactyl and Kabutops. However, Misty didn't seem interested in fossils. She glanced briefly at each display case before quickly moving on. "I don't get it. Why would anyone want to display these creepy things?" They proceeded to the second floor, where the theme shifted to space exploration. Exhibits included historical artefacts, moon meteorites, and even a model of a space shuttle. As Kai and Misty examined the shuttle model, an elderly man nearby remarked, "It's been decades since humanity first set foot on the moon. Now, they're planning to reach the red planet! News like this, whether true or not, always excites me." The two smiled politely at the man before continuing their leisurely tour of the museum. Eventually, they left and found a nearby restaurant for lunch. The restaurant wasn't fancy, but both the appetizers and desserts were surprisingly satisfying. During their meal, Kai listened to Misty recount her story of meeting Ash and the incident with her bike. "You should've seen how bad it looked," Misty said, still harbouring resentment. "I'd just bought that bike, and the next thing I knew, Ash and Pikachu had burned it to a crisp!" "So, until he compensates you, you're sticking with him?" Kai asked. "That's part of the reason," Misty replied with a sly smile. "But my real goal is to become a Water-type Pokémon Master, and travelling is the best way to achieve that!" Kai chuckled, offering a few encouraging words. Though he'd seen this story unfold in the anime, hearing it directly from Misty felt strangely different. That evening, they returned to the Pokémon Center but still hadn't seen Ash. "Do you think he's already left Pewter City?" Misty asked, concerned. "Not likely," Kai reassured her. "Ash won't leave until he defeats Brock. I'd bet he'll show up at the gym again tonight or tomorrow morning." Just as Kai predicted, the next morning, while they were having breakfast, Ash appeared, looking both exhausted and fired up. "Ash!" Misty waved him over. "Where were you yesterday?" "Sorry for worrying you," Ash said as he joined them at the table, quickly wolfing down some food. "I ran into Flint outside the gym and spent the day training with Pikachu at his place." "Flint? Training?" Misty echoed, puzzled. "But Pikachu is an electric type. How's that supposed to help against Brock's Rock-types?" "You'll see," Ash said confidently. "Pikachu is a whole different Pokémon today!" "Oh?" Misty smirked. "Well, I'll believe it when I see it." Kai, wiping his mouth with a napkin, suddenly said, "Ash, good luck. It's a shame I can't stick around to witness it." "Why not?" Ash asked, surprised. Kai replied with a smile, "Your goal is to compete in the Indigo League, right? Well, we're rivals. I have my journey to continue, and it's time for me to head to the next city." "You're leaving already?" Misty asked, disappointed. Despite knowing Kai for only a short time, she'd enjoyed his company. Kai smiled warmly. "Don't worry. Even though Kanto is vast, we share the same goal. We'll meet again maybe in the next city or gym." After returning to Vermilion City, Kai went straight to the Cerise Laboratory. "Thank you for your hard work," Professor Cerise said, greeting him warmly. "After you delivered the prototype to Professor Oak, he called to praise you. He went on for so long that I was starting to feel embarrassed!" Just then, Chloe walked in with her school bag. Noticing Kai's Pokémon Eevee, Squirtle, and Charmander her eyes lit up. "Wow, you've caught so many Pokémon!" she exclaimed. "That's right," Kai replied. "I've gathered the Kanto starters, and now I'm looking to catch one more to complete my team." He gestured to his Pokémon. "Everyone, this is Chloe. Say hello!" As the Pokémon greeted her, Chloe knelt to admire Kirlia. "Is this Kirlia's evolved form? It's so adorable!" Kirlia responded with a polite bow, its gentle demeanour making Chloe smile in delight. Watching the interaction, Professor Cerise said, "By the way, Kai, I've arranged a dormitory for you here at the lab. You won't need to stay at the Pokémon Center anymore. Plus, we've completed construction on Cerise Park, where all your Pokémon can stay safely." "Cerise Park?" Kai repeated, intrigued. Professor Cerise pointed out the window. "Take a look." Outside, a massive glass dome stood behind the laboratory. Within the dome, streams, pools, hills, and dense forests could be seen as a perfect sanctuary for Pokémon. ---- For early access to advanced chapters and exclusive illustrations made by me, visit my P@treon: P@treon/Iamxeno Thank you so much for your support and for reading!

Chapter 18: 18. Cerise Park

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