----
As Kai stepped onto the shore, Sabrina greeted him with a rare smile. Moments later, Cissy arrived astride her Blastoise, leaping gracefully onto the beach.
She approached Kai, holding a pink, glimmering seashell in her hand.
"Congratulations on your victory," she said warmly. "You've earned the Coral-Eye Badge!"
Kai looked down at the badge in her hand. The shell had been polished to a brilliant shine, its surface smooth and radiant under the sunlight.
Set into its centre was a blue gemstone resembling an eye, which caught the light beautifully.
This is the Coral-Eye Badge?
As he took the badge into his hand, Kai noticed the gemstone wasn't actually a gemstone at all, but rather a piece of translucent, finely-crafted glass.
The shell itself was from a species unique to the Orange Islands, known as the "Sakura Clam."
While the materials were relatively common, the craftsmanship was extraordinary.
The badge looked elegant and refined something that would appeal to anyone with an eye for beauty, especially women.
Sure enough, when Kai handed the badge to Sabrina, she examined it with her usual stoic expression.
However, her subtle, almost playful gestures as she turned the badge over in her hands made it clear she found it quite charming.
Noticing their interest, Cissy offered some insight. "Actually, all four Orange League badges are made from different kinds of shells. Each badge reflects the character of its respective gym."
Kai nodded in acknowledgement before glancing at his watch. With a polite bow to Cissy, he said, "Thank you, Miss Cissy. But it's getting late, and we need to move on to our next destination. We'll take our leave now."
"Wait!" Cissy called out, stopping him mid-turn. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small, well-crafted display case, handing it to Kai. "Here, take this badge case. Consider it an apology for earlier."
Kai accepted the case with a smile, inspecting it briefly. It was a thoughtful gift, as he hadn't yet acquired a proper case for his Orange League badges. "Thanks! I'll make good use of it."
With that, Kai summoned Charizard, who had been sunbathing lazily on the gym's rooftop. The mighty Pokémon swooped down, lowering itself so Kai and Sabrina could climb onto its back.
Once they were settled, Charizard spread its wings and launched into the sky, carrying them toward their next adventure as Cissy waved from the shore.
---
Evening at Sunburst Island's Beach
Flying eastward, Charizard carried Kai and Sabrina across the sea, bypassing other islands. With daylight fading, Kai decided to stop at Sunburst Island for the night.
Charizard landed on a quiet, secluded stretch of beach. As they dismounted, they noticed a young girl, perhaps five or six years old, standing near the shore. Her twin pigtails bobbed as she hurled glass bottles into the ocean, one after the other.
Startled by the sudden appearance of Charizard, the girl let out a surprised squeal and stumbled backwards. In a panic, she flung the remaining bottles in her arms into the water before darting off without a word.
Kai and Sabrina watched her disappear into the distance. Sabrina tilted her head curiously. "What's she doing? She looked so… secretive."
Kai shrugged, his curiosity piqued. "Let's grab one of those bottles and find out."
Wading into the shallows, Kai retrieved a bottle before it could drift too far. The glass shimmered in the warm orange light of the setting sun. As Sabrina peered closer, they saw a piece of rolled-up paper inside.
"A message in a bottle?" Sabrina remarked, raising an eyebrow. "This isn't some remote island. People here can just pick up a phone to communicate. Who still uses such an old-fashioned method?"
Kai chuckled. "I doubt it's anything serious. It's probably just the girl's way of making a wish hoping the sea, or whoever finds the bottle, will make it come true."
As he spoke, memories of a similar scene from the anime flashed through Kai's mind. He pulled out the cork and unrolled the note, confirming his hunch.
The message read:
"If anyone knows anything about the Crystal Onix, please let me know. Sincerely, Marissa from Sunburst Island."
Bingo. Exactly as I thought.
"Marissa?" Sabrina repeated, glancing in the direction the girl had fled. "That must be her name. But Crystal Onix? A Pokémon made of crystal? Does something like that even exist?"
Kai nodded as he studied the note's uneven handwriting. It was crude, with uneven letters exactly what one might expect from a child. "It does. This world is full of wonders we haven't discovered yet. And now that we've found this note, why not try looking for it ourselves?"
Sabrina gave him a sceptical look. "You're seriously planning to waste time chasing after a child's fantasy? What if it's just her imagination?"
Kai's grin widened. "Don't worry about it. I just happen to know a thing or two about this Crystal Onix. Trust me this will be worth the effort."
He re-corked the bottle and tossed it back into the ocean, watching it drift away before turning back toward Sabrina.
The setting sun painted the sea and sky in brilliant hues of red and gold, and the lights of Sunburst Town began twinkling in the distance.
The pair stood together for a moment, enjoying the serene beauty of the scene. Then, as the last rays of sunlight disappeared beneath the horizon, they turned and made their way into town.
---
Sunburst Town
Sunburst Town, nestled on Sunburst Island, was a quaint yet vibrant hub. Though it lacked a gym or Pokémon Center, it was renowned for its glass artisans.
Nearly every shop along the streets displayed intricate, dazzling glassworks. Visitors from all over the Orange Islands and beyond came here to admire and purchase these handcrafted treasures.
As Kai and Sabrina strolled through the streets, they couldn't help but stop at a few shops to admire the craftsmanship.
The glass ornaments, shaped like Pokémon, flowers, and abstract designs, sparkled under the glow of streetlights.
Their adventure on Sunburst Island was just beginning, with the promise of the Crystal Onix and perhaps more mysteries waiting to be unravelled.
----
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