Chapter 31 – Cookies, Chaos, and a Celadon Stroll
Kai woke up to the sound of humming.
Not human humming.
The melodic, echoing kind of humming that could only come from a divine child trying to remix a lullaby with interdimensional static.
"Shiny Moon…" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
She floated inches above his chest, a blanket cape trailing behind her, and a pair of Misty's hair ties wrapped around her little golden rings like victory trophies.
"I made a theme song!" she declared proudly. "It's called 'Moonlight Cookie Zap Remix Vol. 1.'"
Kai blinked. "It's… early."
"It's moon o'clock! That's when the cereal sings and the spoons dance!" She spun in a circle, knocking over a tissue box and a plush Psyduck.
Misty sat up groggily, her hair frizzed out like she'd been struck by lightning in her sleep. "What is happening…?"
Moon landed on her lap. "Aunt Misty, I had a dream you turned into a Gyarados made of candy."
"...Was I delicious?"
"No, you kept yelling at trees."
Misty flopped back down with a groan. "Yup. That sounds about right."
---
Ash wandered in from the next room, hair even messier than usual, followed by Pikachu who carried a half-eaten apple and deep regret.
"She's been humming for thirty minutes," Ash mumbled. "I thought maybe it was a swarm of Jigglypuff in the hallway, but nope. Just her."
Moon gave him a finger-wave. "I sang you back to sleep! You're welcome!"
Pikachu leapt onto the bed and glared. "Pika."
Moon gasped, floating backward in mock offense. "I didn't eat your ketchup bottle. I hugged it. Deeply."
---
The day passed in sparkles and strange requests.
Moon insisted she could tie her own ribbons ("They go on my horns, not my ears!"), then proceeded to tie one around Kai's ankle and another onto Blaze's tail. Blaze blinked, looked at the new accessory, and accepted his fate.
Later, they ventured into Celadon City's bustling morning markets. Kai walked with Moon riding on his shoulders, floating just enough that her weight didn't actually press on him—though her head bopped rhythmically with every step.
Misty had insisted they buy fresh berries.
Ash had insisted they buy fried berries.
Moon had insisted they buy, in her words, "ten billion sparkles of cookie dreams."
They compromised. Which meant: one basket of berries, two containers of sweet buns, and exactly three cookies—one for each of them. Moon stared at her cookie like it was sacred treasure.
"I shall save it for later," she whispered reverently… before devouring it two seconds later.
---
On their way back, a small crowd had gathered around a street performer and his Mr. Mime, who juggled invisible boxes.
Moon floated down and watched for five seconds before whispering, "I can do that."
Kai blinked. "Moon, wait—"
Too late.
She levitated three actual pebbles from the street, wrapped them in golden aura, and made them juggle themselves while also playing the Poké Flute via psychic mimicry. The entire street applauded. Mr. Mime dropped an invisible box on his foot.
Moon bowed. "Thank you, thank you. I'm here till nap time."
---
Back at the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy blinked in stunned silence as Moon greeted her with:
"Hi, I'm a god-baby and I have nine sparkles left in today's chaos budget. Can I use the elevator button?"
Joy looked at Kai.
Kai gave her a helpless shrug. "It's fine. She's… mostly harmless."
Joy finally smiled. "She's adorable. She reminds me of a Togepi I once knew."
Misty narrowed her eyes. "Don't say that. Don't ever say that."
---
That evening, Kai and Moon sat out on the balcony. The sunset cast orange light across the sky, painting the buildings in gentle warmth.
Moon floated in a small circle, giggling as she used her powers to make tiny aura-sparkles chase each other like fireflies.
"Papa," she said quietly.
Kai looked up from polishing Blaze's tail.
"Yeah?"
"Do I… have to become big?"
Kai paused. "What do you mean?"
Moon drifted to his lap. "Arceus said my path is mine. But if I get too big too fast… will you stop cuddling me?"
Kai smiled, leaned forward, and pressed his forehead gently to hers.
"Never. No matter how big you get. You'll always be my Moon."
She sniffled. "Promise?"
He kissed her forehead. "Promise."
Misty stepped out onto the balcony with a blanket and wrapped it around them both. "Even if she gets so big she can't fit through the door, we'll just make a bigger door."
Moon sniffled again. Then smiled. "Good. Because one day I might accidentally eat the moon."
Ash's voice called from inside: "WHAT?!"
Pikachu shouted in panic. "PIKA?!"
Moon grinned.
"Just kidding. Probably."
---
That night, Moon was asleep before she even made it to her moon-bed.
Kai carried her gently, her golden rings pulsing dimly, her mouth faintly mumbling something about "cookies with star icing."
Misty tucked her in.
Gardevoir watched from the corner with a fond look. "She's stabilized. Her power harmonized with Kai's aura signature. No outbursts tonight."
"Good," Kai whispered. "I don't think the neighbors could handle another floating vending machine."
They stood together in the quiet, watching the little god-child sleep.
Her breaths were soft. Her presence, warm.
She may have been born of Arceus… but here, she was just Moon.
Their Moon.