That evening, Kai, with Ursaring in tow, and Ivy, accompanied by her newly-caught Butterfree, presented their tickets and boarded the ferry bound for Pummelo Island.
"Is that Butterfree a bit… simple?" Kai mused, watching it flutter ceaselessly around Ivy. "It was caught so easily. I don't even know how it managed to evolve."
"She's not simple at all," Ivy countered, gently fiddling with Butterfree's antennae, which only made it more excited. "Perhaps this was just a destined encounter."
"Perhaps," Kai conceded. He found his seat and recalled Ursaring. With no more luggage to carry and a ferry to cross, there was no need for it to be out.
The first Poké Ball on Kai's belt unlatched on its own. Poliwrath emerged, taking the seat next to him. The ship was not crowded, leaving plenty of empty seats, but Ursaring's sheer size made it unsuitable for the cabin.
"Wrath!" Poliwrath looked to be in excellent spirits. After its treatment from Nurse Joy, the arm strain no longer hindered its movement.
All of Kai's current Pokémon were in standard red-and-white Poké Balls. He'd received a free set when he first set out from Pummelo Island, and operating on the principle of 'use it or lose it,' that's what he had used for every catch.
During his journey through Johto, he had purchased some Ultra Balls, but in his rush to challenge the gyms, he had never gotten around to switching them out. Higher-quality Poké Balls did provide a better resting environment, and he made a mental note to make the swap once he was back home.
"Your friends on Pummelo Island must be so proud of you," Ivy said, her gaze drifting to the powerful Poliwrath beside Kai. "The trainer who defeated Zapdos."
"You were there," Kai reminded her, a faint smile on his lips. "We didn't exactly defeat it. That last gust of wind…" The memory of the battle was still vivid, and they fell into a quiet discussion about the morning's incredible events.
Mikan Island and Pummelo Island were not far apart. As the sun dipped completely below the horizon, the ship sailed into Pummelo Island's harbor.
As they disembarked, they were immediately greeted by a small crowd of children holding up handmade signs.
"Welcome Home, Big Brother Kai!"
Among them, the golden-haired Fergus was particularly noticeable.
"Boss! Over here!" Fergus, who had been scanning everyone coming off the boat, spotted Kai instantly.
Kai had showered and changed at the Mikan Island Pokémon Center while his team was being treated. He now wore a floral shirt with a fire pattern and Exeggutor-print beach shorts and stood at a towering six feet. He was hard to miss.
"Fergus! Long time no see! You've grown taller, kid," Kai waved to the crowd, signaling he had seen them.
"Let me introduce you," he said, turning to Ivy. "This is Professor Ivy, who will be working at the Mikan Island Research Institute. We shared a near-death experience on that airship."
"Hello, Professor Ivy." Fergus led the children over, taking their luggage.
"I'm not a Professor yet. I…"
Ivy started to explain, but Kai cut her off.
"Oh, it's going to happen sooner or later. With my help on your Tangelo Island investigation and the paper you'll write, becoming a Pokémon Professor will be a piece of cake, won't it?"
He turned to the children. "Everyone, from now on, call her Professor Ivy!"
Kai ruffled each of the children's heads. "It seems that in the months I've been away, everyone has been eating well."
"Boss, I've had Alu set up the welcome party at the base," Fergus said. "Shall we grab some drinks from the shop and then head over?"
"Haha, alright. Lead the way. Let's go, we're going home!" Kai patted Fergus contentedly. The kid had grown up fast in his absence.
The large group bustled away from the pier, heading toward the beachside beverage shop Kai owned—his very first business.
The shop wasn't far. The joyfully running children were the first to push open the door.
"Sister Jade, Boss Kai is back!" they shouted excitedly.
The shop was being temporarily managed by Jade, an orphan from the disaster years ago. She was two years younger than Kai and remarkably capable. After Kai shifted his focus to the Recycling Station, he had entrusted the shop to her, with the other children taking turns helping out.
"Brother Kai, the drinks are ready," Jade said, wiping her hands as she walked out from the back.
Seeing the large group enter, Jade's face lit up. "Did you all go to pick up the boss?"
"Let's tidy up," Kai said to her with a smile. "We'll close early today and go to the base to celebrate together."
At his words, Jade immediately put down her work and began to clean. Soon, the beverage shop's door was locked, and Kai, surrounded by the children, walked toward the base he had built over the years. Along the way, their laughter and cheers filled the air with infectious energy.
"It's clear you have a high standing in the hearts of these children," Ivy remarked.
"Of course," Fergus replied eagerly. "We're a family, working hard to live together. The boss is our patriarch."
Kai smiled and asked him, "How is your Poliwag's training coming along?"
Fergus's Poliwag was the younger brother of Kai's Poliwrath. They were both descendants of a pair of Poliwhirl on Pummelo Island, though not from the same litter.
"He's about to evolve, but I feel like many of his moves aren't quite up to par yet. He seems a bit weaker than Poliwrath was at this stage, so I plan to have him suppress his evolution for now."
Kai listened to Fergus's answer, thought for a moment, and then said, "You'll need to buy an Everstone for that. Simply relying on the Pokémon's own will to suppress evolution might cause problems later on."
Fergus nodded, taking the advice to heart.
The group quickly arrived at their base: the Pummelo Island Recycling Station. It was a large factory, with steel-structured workshops and a gray office building.
The main gate was pushed open, and everyone entered in an orderly fashion. What greeted them was a lively and joyful scene—a party already in full swing. The simple Recycling Station plaza had been transformed, decorated in vibrant colors. Brightly colored lights twinkled overhead, and colorful balloons floated all around.
Tables and chairs were neatly arranged, laden with a rich array of delicious food: tasty snacks, exquisite pastries, and mouth-watering fruits.
"Welcome back, Boss!"
With a unified cheer, the children responsible for the decorations ran over excitedly. They held party poppers, their faces beaming with bright smiles. As Kai approached, they eagerly popped them, and a shower of colorful confetti bloomed like splendid flowers, accompanied by crisp popping sounds.
Kai looked at the innocent children, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. He smiled. "Thank you for the welcome! Waiting this late, everyone must be hungry, right? Then let's start this delicious dinner!" He waved his hand, signaling for the children to enjoy the food to their hearts' content.
"Kai, these children of yours truly adore you," Ivy said, a unique tenderness in her eyes.
"Eat first, eat first," Kai replied with a grin. "We can talk about other things later!"
***
(End of Chapter)
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