Chapter 4: Misty Beside the Lake — The First Spark
The forest trail was calm this morning, with only the occasional rustle of leaves and the flutter of Pidgey wings overhead. Shafts of warm sunlight poured between tree branches, lighting the path in golden streaks.
Kai stretched as he walked, his hoodie tied around his waist, and Blaze trotted cheerfully by his side, small tail flame glowing steady and bright.
"Alright, little guy," Kai said with a grin, "we're officially on our journey."
Blaze looked up and chirped in response, giving a confident nod like a miniature soldier.
Two days had passed since Blaze hatched from the god-tier egg, and they'd already formed a rhythm. Eat together. Train lightly. Explore. Sleep. Repeat. Kai hadn't battled yet, but he wasn't in a rush. He wanted to enjoy the world first.
Still, a certain pressure lingered deep down.
Because Kai wasn't just some new trainer.
He had memories.
From his past life.
From Earth.
From watching this exact world as a show — the one called Pokémon.
He knew who the Gym Leaders were. He knew where to find rare Pokémon. He even remembered names, places, evolutions, and how important people's roles were in this region.
That included her.
Misty.
The Cerulean Gym Leader. The fiery redhead with the strong temper and stronger heart. A girl he'd watched in episodes growing up… and quietly admired.
He never thought he'd meet her in real life.
And yet, as he came over a grassy hill and stepped down into a wide, quiet valley—his breath stopped.
There she was.
Standing knee-deep in the shallow edge of a lake, sunlight catching her orange hair, which was tied in a messy side ponytail. She was skipping stones across the surface, her voice humming gently. A Psyduck lay asleep on her towel nearby, while a Staryu floated lazily in the water beside her.
Kai froze behind the tall grass.
No way…
She turned slightly, and the light hit her face. Sharp blue eyes, soft freckles on her cheek, confident posture. Same voice. Same attitude in her stance.
It was Misty.
From his world's show. From his childhood.
But here… she was real.
And close.
Kai's heart raced. His breath hitched for a second. She was exactly as he remembered—only more alive. More vibrant. More real than anything he'd ever imagined.
But of course, she didn't know him.
To her, he was just a stranger in the woods.
Blaze tilted his head and gave a low, curious "Cha?"
The sound caught Misty's attention.
She turned swiftly.
"Hey!" she called across the clearing. "Who's there?"
Kai stepped forward slowly, raising his hands. "Just a trainer," he said calmly. "Didn't mean to sneak up."
Misty narrowed her eyes, still standing in the lake. "Kinda shady to just stare from the trees."
Kai rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah… sorry about that."
Blaze waddled ahead a few steps and waved his little claws.
Misty blinked. "Aww! Is that a Charmander?"
Kai nodded. "Yep. His name's Blaze."
She gave a small smile and stepped out of the lake, barefoot, carrying her shoes. Her shorts were damp around the knees, and her yellow tank top clung slightly from the water. "Cute guy," she said, kneeling in front of Blaze. "You just catch him?"
Kai shook his head. "He… hatched recently."
Her eyebrows rose. "Oh? From an egg?"
Kai nodded.
"Lucky," she murmured. "Most people don't start with eggs."
"Guess I'm just lucky."
She looked up at him then—sharp and curious. "Huh. You don't have the usual newbie vibe."
Kai smiled lightly. "First impressions can be misleading."
Misty stood and brushed her hands on her shorts. "Name's Misty. I'm on a short break from home. Just traveling."
Kai played it cool, though his heart skipped again. "I'm Kai. Just started my journey yesterday."
"Seriously? Then why are you already this far north?"
"Didn't want to follow the exact road everyone else takes."
Misty studied him for a second. "Huh. A rebel. I like it."
She reached down, picked up her towel, and waved toward a small grassy area nearby. "Wanna sit? There's room."
Kai nodded and followed her over. Blaze curled up under the shade beside him, and Misty offered him a can of lemonade from her small cooler.
They sat together quietly for a while, just listening to the wind ripple across the lake.
Kai glanced sideways at her once.
She was lying on her back, arms crossed behind her head, staring at the sky. A single blade of grass dangled from her lips.
Totally at peace.
Totally unaware of how surreal this was for him.
> [System Notification]
— "Special Character Encounter: Misty"
Bond Potential: ★★★★★
Companion Flag: Eligible
Unlockable Affection Events: 12
Reward for Active Traveling Partner: +20% EXP gain for Blaze
New Quest: "Share a Battle, Share a Bond"
Kai read the notification in silence, mind spinning.
This was real.
This was happening.
He exhaled slowly and kept his voice relaxed. "So… you're not traveling with anyone?"
"Nah," she said without opening her eyes. "Needed a break from my sisters. And the gym. Sometimes, being stuck in one place drives me nuts."
"Makes sense."
"What about you?"
"I'm not rushing," Kai said. "No badges yet. I just want to explore, train Blaze, and figure out what kind of trainer I want to be."
Misty glanced at him, curious. "You're serious about it, huh?"
Kai nodded. "Yeah."
There was a long pause.
Then she asked quietly, "You ever feel like you were meant to do something big… but you don't know what it is yet?"
Kai looked at her, surprised. That wasn't a question he expected.
But maybe, just maybe, she felt that same weird emptiness he used to feel before he ended up in this world.
"I used to feel like that a lot," Kai said, voice calm. "But now… I think I'm getting closer to it."
Misty turned her head slightly, eyes meeting his.
The wind shifted.
Blaze's tail flicked in the breeze.
"Cool," she said finally, and gave a small smile. "You're weird."
Kai grinned. "I get that a lot."
---
Later that afternoon, they sparred.
Misty called out her Staryu, and Kai sent out Blaze. It was Blaze's first real battle, but he held his ground like a warrior.
Even Misty was impressed.
"Not bad for a baby," she said after the battle, returning Staryu with a grin.
Kai picked Blaze up and patted his head. "He's a fighter."
They sat again near the lake, this time closer.
"Hey," Misty said after a pause, "you wanna travel together?"
Kai blinked. "Just like that?"
"Well," she said, "you're interesting. You're not a creep. And Blaze is adorable. Plus, I hate walking alone."
Kai laughed softly.
"…Sure."
> [System Notification]
Misty has joined your party.
— Partner Bond Initiated
— Misty: Trusted Companion (Rank 1)
— Romance Path Unlocked
Bonus Effect: Increased friendship growth with Pokémon while Misty travels with you.
Kai said nothing.
He just looked at her as she stood up and stretched, arms overhead, back arching slightly in the sunlight.
"I don't carry people's bags," Misty said casually.
"Didn't expect you to."
"And I get grumpy when I'm hungry."
"Got it."
"Also, if you slow me down, I'm leaving you behind."
Kai stood. "Then I guess I'll keep up."
Misty smirked. "Good answer."
---
That evening, they set up camp by the lake. A small fire crackled gently as Blaze curled up beside Kai, yawning with tiny puffs of smoke.
Misty sat beside him, knees drawn to her chest, watching the stars reflect off the lake.
"Y'know," she said, voice soft, "it's nice… not being alone out here."
Kai glanced at her. "Yeah."
She looked at him and smiled again—this time not playfully, not teasingly.
Just gently.
Honestly.
And in that moment, Kai realized something.
This wasn't just some fictional world.
This was his new life.
And the girl beside him… might become a lot more than just a travel partner.