Chapter 201: 201. Tracey

Words : 1022 Updated : Oct 3rd, 2025

---- After departing from Navel Island, Kai and Sabrina continued their journey through the Orange Islands on Charizard's back. High above the ocean, with Sabrina seated behind him, they chatted casually. Suddenly, Sabrina sensed something unusual. "Look below," she said. Kai followed her gaze and noticed a speedboat cutting through the waves below, heading west. "Hm? What about it?" he asked. "I sense two familiar presences aboard. People we've met before," she explained. "Really?" Kai raised an eyebrow before patting Charizard's neck. "Charizard, take us down for a closer look!" As Charizard descended, Kai got a better look at the people on the boat. To his surprise, it was Ash, Misty, and Pikachu! "So, they've made it here too," Kai mused. Given the time that had passed, it made sense that Ash would have begun his Orange League challenge by now. On the speedboat, Ash, Misty, and Pikachu were at the stern, enjoying the ocean breeze. Alongside them was a woman wearing an orange life vest, steering the boat. Near the bow, a young man in a green T-shirt sat sketching in a notebook. The shadow of Charizard passed over the boat, drawing the passengers' attention. Looking up, they spotted Kai. "Kai!" Misty's voice rang out excitedly. She rushed to the railing, waving vigorously. Kai smiled before directing Charizard closer. Once they were alongside the boat, he leapt from Charizard's back and landed smoothly on deck. "Misty, Ash! I didn't expect to run into you two in the Orange Islands. What a coincidence!" "That's fate for you!" Misty grinned, cradling Togepi in her arms while casting admiring glances at Kai. Although they had kept in touch through occasional messages, seeing him again in person filled her with joy. Sabrina followed, using her psychic abilities to float onto the deck. Ash, seeing her, was momentarily stunned. "Sabrina? What are you doing here?" Kai answered for her. "She's taken a break from her Gym Leader duties and is travelling with me." Ash and Misty exchanged surprised glances. They hadn't expected the enigmatic Sabrina to be travelling alongside Kai. Then again, recalling how she had attended the Indigo Plateau Conference to watch Kai's matches, it wasn't entirely shocking. Misty felt a pang of envy. She had long wished to travel with Kai, but her responsibilities as Ash's companion and Brock's absence meant she had to stay by Ash's side for now. At that moment, the young man in the green T-shirt approached, looking at Kai and Sabrina with curiosity. He appeared to be around Kai's age, his neatly parted hair held back by an orange headband, exuding a calm and composed demeanour. Although they had never met before, Kai instantly recognized him. Tracey Sketchit. Seeing how familiar they were with Ash and Misty, Tracey asked, "Who are these two?" "I'll introduce them!" Misty said eagerly. "This is Kai, our friend and Ash's greatest rival. He's also the current Indigo League Champion! And this is Sabrina, the Gym Leader of Saffron City, known for her psychic abilities." "Nice to meet you." Tracey extended his hand politely. "I'm Tracey Sketchit, a Pokémon Watcher. I joined Ash and Misty not long ago on their journey." Sabrina's interest was piqued. "A Pokémon Watcher? That's an uncommon profession." Kai shook Tracey's hand and nodded. "Nice to meet you, Tracey. Like Ash, I'm a Pokémon Trainer." At the mention of Kai's name, Tracey furrowed his brow. "Kai... that sounds familiar..." Misty smirked, puffing out her chest. "Of course it does! Kai is the reigning Indigo League Champion! He won every single battle in the tournament without losing once!" "Wait... that Kai?!" Tracey's eyes widened. "I've read about you! You're the one who made history with a perfect undefeated streak in the Indigo Plateau Conference!" Kai chuckled. "Yeah, that's me. But Misty's exaggerating it" Tracey was immediately impressed. Despite being a champion, Kai was incredibly humble. It was rare to see someone so accomplished yet so down-to-earth. Noticing Kai looking toward the woman at the helm, Misty added, "That's Maren. We met her on Valencia Island, and she was kind enough to give us a ride since we're heading in the same direction." Maren gave them a quick nod while keeping her hands on the wheel. "Hey there." "Nice to meet you," Kai replied. Then, glancing around, he pretended to search for someone. "Wait... where's Brock? Did he not come with you guys?" Misty sighed in exasperation. "He stayed behind in Professor Ivy's lab on Valencia Island to help her with research." Kai smirked knowingly. "If Brock willingly chose to stay, I'm guessing Professor Ivy is quite the looker?" Ash and Misty exchanged a glance before laughing. "Pretty much," Ash admitted. "So, where are you all headed now?" Kai asked. Ash's eyes lit up with excitement. "We're on our way to the next Orange League Gym! What about you, Kai? How many Gym Badges have you earned so far?" "I've got two so far. I'm heading to Trovita Island for my third Gym challenge." Maren overheard their conversation and turned slightly toward them. "Trovita Island, huh? That's along the way. If you guys don't mind, I can drop you off part of the way." Kai grinned. "That'd be great. We've been flying for a while, so relaxing on a boat sounds like a nice change of pace." As the boat sailed onward, the group fell into comfortable conversation, exchanging stories of their journeys. The Orange Islands, vast and scattered across the sea, suddenly felt a little smaller with familiar faces around. The sun began setting, casting a warm golden glow over the horizon. The adventure continued, with new challenges and encounters waiting just beyond the waves. ---- Don't forget to drop some Power Stones! For early access to advanced chapters on p@treon. P@treon/iamxeno Thank you so much for your support and for reading!

Chapter 201: 201. Tracey

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