Chapter 29 – Petals, Promises, and a God's Jealous Grumble
The morning sun bathed Celadon City in a soft golden light. Cherry blossoms drifted lazily from the trees in the park, painting the breeze with pink. Kai stood near the garden fountain, gently brushing Riolu's fur while Blaze lay curled nearby, tail-flame crackling contentedly.
Misty sipped a citrus smoothie beside him. Her legs were crossed at the ankles, eyes half-closed in peace.
Ash was busy trying to convince Pikachu not to zap a vendor who had run out of ketchup.
And Shiny Moon — the divine avatar of Arceus — was currently lying belly-up on a park bench.
Snoring.
Loudly.
With a potted bonsai Bulbasaur balanced perfectly on her belly.
Misty giggled. "She's going to roll over and crush it."
"I think she has cosmic awareness for small plants," Kai said dryly.
Blaze flicked his tail.
"Don't worry," Shiny Moon mumbled without opening her eyes, "the bonsai is under my divine protection."
Pikachu crossed his arms and muttered something that sounded like a sarcastic zap noise.
Ash sat down on the grass with a sigh. "This might be the weirdest team I've ever been part of."
Kai laughed. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
---
Later that day, they visited Celadon's floating garden bridge — a massive greenhouse built over a waterway, filled with rare flowers and misty paths.
Kai and Misty walked slightly ahead while Ash lagged behind, trying to stop Shiny Moon from chewing on flowerpots.
"She's a literal god," Misty whispered. "Why is she acting like a spoiled Pichu?"
"She's… discovering freedom," Kai replied.
"She bit a ceramic turtle!"
Kai chuckled. "Freedom comes with experimentation."
Shiny Moon suddenly teleported beside them, having overheard.
"I was inspecting it for structural stability."
"You were gnawing on it!"
Shiny Moon turned and stared at Misty.
"Jealousy does not suit mortals."
Misty flushed red. "I am NOT jealous of a ceramic turtle!"
Shiny Moon sniffed. "Nor should you be. Its craftsmanship was lacking."
Kai pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay, time out. No cosmic sass today."
The trio paused on a flower-covered bench under a willow tree.
Misty leaned her head on Kai's shoulder, letting out a quiet breath.
He felt her warmth. He glanced at her lips, her freckles, the tiny sunbeam caught in her eyelashes.
"Hey," he said softly.
"Yeah?" she murmured.
"After all this… when it's quieter… would you go somewhere with me?"
She lifted her head slightly. "Like where?"
"Not a battle. Not a mission. Just us. Something… I've been wanting to ask."
Her eyes sparkled. "I'd like that."
In the background, Shiny Moon was lifting a bench with her telekinesis to retrieve a stray berry.
"Is this the moment?" she whispered to Ash.
Ash whispered back, "Not yet. It's close, though."
---
That evening, back at the Pokémon Center, chaos returned with full force.
Shiny Moon had taken it upon herself to babysit Riolu.
"Come, tiny blue punch-being," she declared, floating in slow loops around the room. "Let us meditate by hovering six inches above the floor."
Riolu stared blankly.
Then sat down and tried to float.
And promptly tipped over backward.
Misty covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.
"Pride will come," Moon said solemnly, flipping mid-air.
Gardevoir sat in the corner, sipping tea telekinetically and muttering, "This is what happens when a divine being eats six mochi buns in one hour."
Ash groaned. "She's been vibrating since noon."
Kai watched the chaos with folded arms, smiling. Then his system pinged in his mind.
> [System Notification: Egg Resonance Detected. Subject – Arceus Avatar. Emotional Synchronization Level: 97%]
His eyes widened.
Moon floated down and blinked.
"What's wrong?"
"You're syncing with the system faster than expected."
Moon puffed up proudly. "I am exceptional."
Misty asked, "What does that mean?"
Kai looked serious now. "It means she might… hatch soon."
Everyone fell silent.
Ash asked, "Wait, she's not fully hatched yet?"
"She's an avatar born from a divine egg. This is just the first phase. The full awakening comes when my daughter touches her for the first time."
Moon's body glowed slightly.
"I await her," she said quietly. "She is… everything."
Kai's heart squeezed at the honesty in her voice.
---
That night, the team shared dinner quietly.
Blaze curled around the fire. Psyduck accidentally fell face-first into the rice bowl. Pikachu stole a tomato from Ash.
And Shiny Moon… was sitting quietly beside Kai, watching the stars through the window.
She didn't speak.
She didn't eat.
She simply stared at the sky with the expression of someone waiting for something beautiful to finally arrive.
Kai reached out and gently stroked the soft fur of her side.
"You okay?" he asked.
Moon nodded slowly. "I am counting the moments until I hear her voice."
He didn't know what to say.
So he just sat beside her, in silence.
A boy.
A god.
And the promise of someone not yet born — but already loved more than anything else.
> Chapter End