The sound of the ocean had always been a comfort to Kai. The rhythmic crashing of the waves, the salt in the air, the distant cries of Wingull—it was all a part of him, woven into his very being. Growing up in a small seaside village, surrounded by the vastness of the ocean, he’d always felt like the world was just within reach. All he had to do was step off the shore and into the unknown.

But it hadn’t been that simple.

Kai watched the sun sink lower over the horizon, the sky ablaze with hues of orange and red. Sitting here with Ariel by his side brought back memories—of his own journey, of the hopes and dreams he’d carried with him when he left home at twelve, and of the crushing weight of reality that hit him soon after.

He glanced down at Ariel. Her eyes were wide with wonder as she gazed at the sea, her innocent curiosity reminding him of the boy he used to be. She had so many questions about her future, about what it meant to be a Pokémon Trainer. But what she didn’t know—what he wasn’t sure he could tell her—was that no amount of answers could prepare her for the real world.

She was still so young, her view of the world untainted by disappointment or failure. Kai didn’t want to take that away from her. Not yet. She’d learn soon enough. Everyone did.

His thoughts drifted back to his own journey, the one he’d started with so much excitement and ambition. Back then, he had believed that being a Pokémon Trainer was just like in the stories—the ones where the protagonist rises to glory, wins gym badges, and becomes a champion, all with a little hard work and determination. But reality had been different. It was messier, harder, and far less forgiving.

He hadn’t been ready, no matter how much he had thought he was.

Old Man Tide had seen it in him, even before he had. Kai could still remember that day—standing in front of the grizzled old trainer, eager to prove himself. Noah had watched him with those sharp eyes, sizing him up like he could see right through the bravado. The battle they had fought was short, brutal, and one-sided. Kai hadn’t even stood a chance.

When Noah had rejected him, it had felt like the end of the world. He hadn’t given Kai any real explanation, just a simple, “You’re not ready.” That was it. No words of encouragement, no tips on how to improve—just rejection.

It had stung. But more than that, it had made him doubt himself.

Kai sighed, running a hand through his hair as he stared out at the horizon. He hadn’t been ready back then, and maybe he still wasn’t now. But it was different for Ariel. She was smart, determined, and she had a spark in her that reminded him of their mother. She’d figure things out. She had more time than he ever gave himself.

He glanced down at her again, noticing how she was staring at the sea, lost in her own world of thoughts.

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Ariel smiled a little, her gaze shifting from the horizon to the ocean below. "I guess I’m lucky that I already have Magikarp, huh?"

Kai almost chuckled out loud. Magikarp? Of all the Pokémon she could be excited about, it had to be the one everyone knew as a joke. But the sparkle in her eyes, the genuine pride she had for that flopping fish, held him back from saying anything dismissive. He couldn’t ruin this moment for her, not when she was still so innocent.

Still, it was funny. He remembered starting his own journey with a Buizel, a far more capable Water-type. And even then, he thought with a wry smile, I could barely keep up with the others. Ariel, claiming she could maybe start with Magikarp of all Pokémon, amused him to no end. But then again, she was only six—just a little girl with big dreams.

She was naive. Of course she was. He had been, too, once.

“Magikarp, huh?” he said lightly. “Guess you’re ahead of the game then.”

Ariel giggled, clearly proud of her Pokémon. Kai let the sound settle in the air for a moment before he leaned forward, his tone softening. "What's your goal, Ariel? For when you start your Pokémon journey?"

He didn’t really want to ask, but the question hung between them, unspoken. It was the same question he'd once been asked by their parents, by Old Man Tide, by anyone who saw a kid with dreams and no idea what the real world was like.

If she said she wanted to participate in the circuit and try for the League, he'd put a stop to it right then and there. Even if she hated him for it.

The world of Pokémon battles wasn’t some fantasy where hard work and a good heart got you through. It was brutal. Unforgiving. You never knew if the monster sitting next to you had a trainer or not.

Kai should know. He had fought "her," after all.

The memory hit him like a cold wave, dragging him back to that battle, to the feeling of helplessness as he watched his strongest Pokémon fall one by one. The Blonde girl across from him had smiled—smiled—as her Pokémon tore through his team like it was nothing. She did all that using Just a Single Pokémon. She hadn’t even broken a sweat. And if Ariel ever faced someone like that… No. He wouldn’t let her go down that path.

His thoughts were broken by Ariel’s small voice. “I… I don’t know,” she said quietly, looking down at her hands. “I just… I just wanna be with Pokémon.”

Kai blinked, surprised by her answer. He had expected something more ambitious, more like the dream-filled words of a child who thought the world was as simple as the stories made it seem. But all she wanted was to be with Pokémon? No battles, no League victories?

Her answer was naive, sure. But it wasn’t the worst thing he could hear. In fact, it was a lot better than what he feared.

He studied her for a moment, noting the way her shoulders relaxed when she said it. She wasn’t driven by the need to prove herself. Not yet, at least. She just wanted to be near the creatures that fascinated her, that made her smile. Kai could respect that.

Still, he couldn’t help but worry. She was still young, still so far from understanding the real world. If she wanted to play around with that Magikarp for the next few years, why would he stop her? But when the time came for her to make real decisions, to step into the world of trainers, he wouldn’t let her walk blindly into it.

“I guess that’s not a bad goal,” Kai finally said, his voice softer now. “Being with Pokémon. There are worse things to want.”

He ruffled her hair, and she scrunched her nose in playful protest. He forced a smile, keeping the darker thoughts at bay.

I won’t let you follow my path, he thought. If she could hold on to that innocence a little longer, if she could keep that wonder for Pokémon without getting swept up in the battle circuit, maybe—just maybe—she’d be spared the harsher lessons he'd learned too late.