Pokemon: Skybound

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After spending the night at the Pokémon Center in Mikan Island, Kai and Sabrina set out early the next morning for the Mikan Gym, located on the opposite side of the island.

Walking along the winding path under the towering coconut trees, Kai glanced up at the 20- to 30-meter-high trees and casually warned Sabrina, "Watch out for falling coconuts. This is the season when they ripen, and a strong gust of wind can easily knock them loose. Every year, hundreds of unlucky people get hit by them."

Kai's intention was to remind Sabrina to stay alert, but before he could finish his sentence, a coconut above him came loose and hurtled straight toward his head.

Hearing the sound of the coconut breaking free, Kai instinctively looked up, only to see it growing larger in his vision. Just as it was about to hit, it stopped abruptly, hovering mere centimetres above his head.

Without so much as a glance, Sabrina nonchalantly waved her hand, redirecting the coconut to land heavily at Kai's feet.

"You're welcome," Sabrina said with a faint smirk, her tone light and playful.

Kai scratched his head, simultaneously impressed by her growing sense of humour and embarrassed at his own close call. 'I was the one warning her, and I nearly got knocked out myself!'

Even so, he muttered to himself, 'I didn't ask for your help… Gardevoir and Haunter would've had my back anyway'

Kicking the coconut aside in mild annoyance, Kai continued walking with Sabrina. Just as they were about to leave the coconut grove, he spotted a warehouse-like building near the coastline.

"Is that the Mikan Gym?" Sabrina asked.

"Looks like it," Kai replied, nodding as he stepped forward. But before they could approach, Haunter emerged from Kai's shadow and floated toward one of the coconut trees, appearing fixated on something half-buried in the ground.

"Haunter? What is it?" Kai asked, curious.

"Ka-ka-ka! Come here and see!" Haunter called excitedly.

Kai and Sabrina exchanged glances before approaching the tree. Upon closer inspection, they noticed a fishline tied to the coconut, with the line extending upward into the tree's foliage.

"A trap?" Kai frowned. "Is it for hunting? Catching Pokémon? Or… targeting people?"

They followed the line with their eyes and spotted a small boy, about seven or eight years old, perched on the treetop, watching them with a mischievous grin.

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere grew tense.

The boy, realizing his trap had been discovered, grinned wider and tipped over a nearby bucket. A cascade of cold water spilt down toward Kai and Sabrina.

Kai furrowed his brow, but before the water could hit them, a wave of psychic energy enveloped it, redirecting it upward. The water shot back at the boy, drenching him from head to toe.

"Waaah!!" The boy yelped, his smug grin instantly replaced by shock. Slipping in his panic, he lost his balance and tumbled from the tree, headfirst toward the ground.

Before he could hit the ground, Gardevoir's psychic energy caught him, suspending him in mid-air.

"Who are you?" Kai demanded, narrowing his eyes.

The boy ignored the question, thrashing and yelling, "Put me down! Let me go!"

When he refused to answer, Kai gestured to Gardevoir, who lowered the boy a few feet and abruptly released him. The boy landed on his backside, covered in mud and grass, looking thoroughly humiliated.

"Now, tell me, who are you?" Kai asked again, his tone firm.

The boy scrambled to his feet, ready to bolt, but as soon as he turned, Haunter's large tongue flicked out, giving him a frosty lick across the face.

"Wah!" The boy shuddered violently as if plunged into an ice bath. Haunter cackled, floating above him menacingly.

Finally getting a good look at the boy, Kai couldn't help but think he resembled a miniature version of Brock—his dark skin, wild hair, and large eyes all reinforced the comparison.

"I'll ask one more time," Kai said. "Who are you? Was that trap your idea?"

The boy, shivering from Haunter's icy lick, crossed his arms defiantly. "It's not a prank! That trap was my design to stop arrogant challengers like you!"

"Oh?" Kai raised an eyebrow. "So you're part of the Mikan Gym?"

"Of course!" the boy declared proudly. "If you know what's good for you, you'll let me go. My sister will be here soon, and she'll make you regret messing with me!"

Sister?

Kai frowned. The boy's attitude was insufferable, and it was clear from the sophistication of the trap that he'd likely pranked others before.

'What a troublesome kid' Kai thought.

The boy mistook Kai's silence for fear and smirked. "What's the matter? Scared? I've seen plenty of trainers like you swaggering up to challenge my sister, only to leave with their tails between their legs. Looking at you, I can tell you're weak. You should leave before you embarrass yourselves."

Before Kai could respond, Sabrina stepped forward, her icy demeanour making the boy shrink back.

"You're an insufferable brat," she said coldly. "Let me teach you some manners on behalf of your sister."

With a wave of her hand, the boy was lifted back into the air, spinning slowly in wide circles.

"Ahhh!!" he screamed, flailing helplessly. Sabrina, unmoved by his cries, continued spinning him faster and faster.

"Help! Sister! Save me!" the boy shouted, his voice cracking as tears streamed down his face.

Just then, a woman's voice called out urgently from the direction of the gym. A tall figure was running toward them.

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