After saying goodbye to Brock I rested at the Pokémon centre then set out again though this time, I caught a bus to cut down on my journey time. This meant that I reached Cerulean City in three days, though every stop I made sure I added more Pokémon into my PokéDex.
I let out Pidgeotto to stretch her wings then let Charmander have a run around too. "Okay Pidgeotto, get ready to catch!" I called then flung the ball for her, which she caught easily. "Hmm, I'm going to have to think up a new strategy for you, this is way too easy for you now." Pidgeotto chirped at me then dropped the ball in my hand. I was about to fling it again when I felt someone tug at my shorts. "Huh?"
"Charmander!" He pointed to himself then to the ball and I stared at him. "You want to have a go?" I questioned and he nodded his head. "Char." He folded his arms across his chest then strode forwards proudly.
"Okay!" I smiled, overjoyed that he was willing to play. "You ready?" Charmanded nodded his head, sniffing slightly and turning up his nose but I ignored this. "Go get it!" I cheered then flung the ball forwards. Pidgeotto hung back, the both of us watching as Charmander watched the ball sail over his head then jumped.
"Char!" It ran forwards, waving its arms over its head as it rushed to catch the ball.
"Go on Charmander! You can do it!" I called and began to jog after him. Charmander held out his hands and watched the sky for the ball, still running forwards and wasn't looking where he was going. "Hey, watch out!" Too late. Charmander tripped over a stone and yelped as he crashed into the floor, knocking his chin as the ball landed a few feet in front of him then rolled away.
He blinked in shock then, all at once, began to cry. He wailed and the pitiful sound tugged at my heartstrings as tears poured down his face. "Oh it's okay, please don't cry!" I gasped as I ran to his side then scooped him up into my arms to cradle him as Pidgeotto grabbed the ball then landed in front of us.
Charmander continued to wail, kicking out like a little baby but I continued to cuddle him, carefully minding his tail as I rubbed his head the way Brock had showed me with one hand, the other curled underneath him. "There, there, you're alright. It was just a little bump." I assured him and he slowly calmed down, sniffing slightly as he looked up at me with watery eyes. "You see? Not a scratch. There's a brave Pokémon." I smiled down at him then stood up. "Come on, let's get going."
Charmander nodded his head then turned into me, his small body nestling neatly against me and I looked down at him with happy surprise as he nuzzled into my shoulder then closed his eyes, gripping onto my shirt as he recovered from the shock of falling over.
Proud of this achievement I marched on down the road, watching Pidgeotto as she glided overhead easily, keeping an eye on our surroundings for me as I continued to cuddle Charmander, savouring it whilst it lasted.
Sure enough a few minutes later, Charmander gave a low growl then jumped out of my arms, brushing himself off. "You know, how about we try that again?" I suggested, holding out my hand and smiling as Pidgeotto accurately dropped the tennis ball into my palm. "Only this time I won't throw it so far." Charmander shook his head.
"Char."
"You're not afraid, are you?" I tested, stepping back with a smirk as I struck his pride. Charmander growled at me then turned around to face me, leaning forwards and pushing his arms back to signal he was ready. Giving him a confident smile I tossed the ball forwards but aimed for him, so that Charmander only had to reach out and catch it. "Great! That was a perfect catch Charmander! See if you can throw it to Pidgeotto." I suggested so Charmander looked to Pidgeotto then tossed it up into the air.
He then turned and swiped the ball with his tail, shooting it up into the air and Pidgey dived to catch it before dropping it into my hands. "Awesome! Let's go again!" I cheered, bouncing around on my feet as I tossed the ball to Charmander, who then let it bump on his head to launch it back to me. I caught it with a quick snag of my fingers then flung it up in the air for Pidgeotto, who called out as she flew for it.
"Pidgeo!"
"Go Pidgeotto!" I laughed and Charmander smiled.
"Char! Char!" I looked at him and smiled, glad to see that he was enjoying himself. We raced one another down the path that led straight into Cerulean City and I pulled out their treat bags and tossed them the squares of Pokémon food specified for them. I tossed one to Charmander and he leaped up into the air and caught it in his mouth, chomping it down happily as I then threw one up for Pidgeotto.
"Okay guys, this is Cerulean City. You know, my mom told me they do shows here at the gym, how about we go and watch one?" Pidgeotto nodded her head in agreement, thinking it was a great idea.
"Pidgeo!"
"Charmander? What do you say?" Charmander snorted then shook his head.
"Char Charmander." He flicked out his tail and whacked me on the back of the leg, making me yelp.
"Ouch! Hey! We were doing so well." He shrugged then turned his back to me and I slumped. Oh man, I thought we were really getting somewhere with our relationship! "Okay then, you'd better return and rest in that case. We worked pretty hard today with all that catching." I returned him to his ball then headed towards the Pokémon Gym.
It was a large theatre place, with a massive Dewgong on the top greeting everyone with a toothy grin. "Well, here goes." I smiled to Pidgeotto who nodded her head then flew inside with me. We bought a ticket to see the show then followed the crowds inside to the stands.
Everyone was chattering with excitement, some of them holding onto their Pokémon so tightly that they almost made them faint. I looked to Pidgeotto then smiled, heading towards the back where she could perch on the railings to watch.
Once everyone was seated the lights cut out to end with darkness, only the luminous glow of the pool a source of light. "Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Cerulean City Water Display! Brought to you from us, the three Sensational Sisters." A voice called out brightly and warmly. "We are…Daisy!" A bright beam of light shone to the right side of the pool onto a girl who lifted both hands and waved with a smile, standing at the edge of a diving board. "Lily!" This time the light shone to the left side and another girl appeared in a similar stance to her sister. "And finally, Violet! The greatest of them all!"
People chuckled and I smiled as the third sister appeared in the middle of the pool at the edge. "Please enjoy the show!" All at once they dove into the pool in perfect synchrony, curling up into a plank then diving into the water in unison.
A collective ooh came from the audience and I smiled as I watched them begin to dance with their Pokémon, gliding easily through the water. A hoard of Goldeen rose up into a ring around the three sisters as they danced then used Water Gun to make pretty streams of water which arched down again in a perfect pattern.
A Seel leaped out of the water and I giggled as it landed on an iceberg float then clapped its flippers and tail, causing the audience to giggle and some of the younger girls squealed at its cuteness. The lights in the pool began to change colour, lighting everything up with beautiful reflections on the ceiling as if an aurora borealis was alive within these walls.
It was a wonderful display and I was left with sparkles in my eyes as the three sisters accepted our applause, waving and smiling as their Pokémon continued to circle and dance with happiness. I got up and looked to Pidgeotto. "I'm guessing they're the gym leaders. How about we go introduce ourselves?" I suggested and Pidgeotto nodded her head.
I returned her to her ball then made my way down the stands, exiting the stadium then head out in search of a stage door or something. I walked through an aquarium and I stopped to admire all the water Pokémon, adding their details to my Pokédex before continuing on.
Eventually I found my way around and entered the door, though when I entered the stadium there was no one there. "Oh dear, I've missed them." I pouted with disappointment then looked to the water as I heard something splash. "Oh! Hello there." I smiled as the Seel poked its head up out of the water.
"Seel! Seel!" It greeted then swam closer as I knelt down at the edge of the pool. "Seel?"
"Do you know where the Gym Leaders are? I'd like to battle for the Cascade Badge." I said to him and he beamed up at me.
"Seel!" I giggled as he began to splash around, dancing for me and I reached out to tickle its chin, making it slap the water with its tail as it enjoyed my attention.
"Hey! Don't even think about snatching our Seel!" A voice shouted and I whipped around to see three sisters glaring at me, aiming their Pokéballs at me. Instantly I shook my hands.
"No! No I'm not going to steal him, I just wanted to say hello." I assured them as I stood up. "I actually came to challenge the Gym Leader for a Cascade Badge." They blinked then laughed guiltily at me.
"Sorry, we're super protective of our water Pokémon." The middle sister explained to me. "Didn't mean to startle you like that." I nodded my head with a smile.
"So, you want the Cascade badge? The one with blue hair questioned, Violet.
"That's right." I nodded my head. The one with pink hair, who was Lily, giggled then stepped forwards. "Then you'll be fighting against me. Although we're all Gym Leaders here, we don't make challengers fight all three of us." Relieved to hear it I smiled to her.
"Okay, I'm ready." I assured her so she gestured for me to walk towards the edge of the pool as she walked to the other. The two other sisters, Violet and Daisy, followed either one or the other then helped push our floats out onto the water.
"Don't worry if you can't beat me, I'm pretty strong." Lily said to me, striking a pose which flaunted her perfect body, making me feel like a plain blob compared to her. Is it legal to have that much confidence?
"I'll try not to cry." I answered simply then waited for the rules to be read out.
"This will be a two on two battle with no time limit." Violet called out to us with a grin. "You may begin. Go Lily!" Her sister smirked towards her then threw a Pokéball forwards.
"Goldeen, I choose you!" Nodding my head as the fish Pokémon was let out I selected my Pokémon.
"Go Pidgeotto!" Lily laughed.
"Don't think you have any advantage just because you have a Pokémon that can fly. Goldeen! Use Horn Attack!" Pidgeotto looked to me for direction so I clenched my fist.
"Use Gust once it's out of the water!" I yelled as Goldeen dived under. Pidgeotto called out in agreement then watched the water carefully as Goldeen prepared for her attack. The moment it sprang out of the water, head aimed directly for Pidgeotto, my Pokémon darted out the way then aimed a powerful Gust at it.
Goldeen was hit with the full force then was slammed back into the water where it fainted upon impact. "Nice hit Pidgeotto!" I cheered as Lily's face fell with a gasp.
"Goldeen! Hold on sweetie, I've got you." She returned her Pokémon then looked at me. "How…how did you do that?" She demanded to know and I gave a little shrug.
"Pidgeotto has a lot of experience, I've had her for a few years now though my dad did most of the training when we first got her. She's only just come on a journey with me so she's pretty powerful." Lily blinked then looked to her sisters.
"Don't give up Lily, you can do it!" Daisy cheered and Violet joined in, whistling and waving so Lily nodded her head.
"Okay, so you may have taken Goldeen out with one hit, but how will you manage something that's a little bigger and has more experience? Go Seaking!" A Seaking? What was that?
"Dexter?" I asked then scanned the large fish Pokémon as it appeared in the water with large, billowing fins and a horn on its head.
"Seaking, the Goldfish Pokémon. Seaking is the evolved form of Goldeen. Its sharp, drill-like horn is capable of crushing even stone." Thank you. So, basically just a stronger Goldeen. This shouldn't be too difficult.
"Alright Seaking, let's start off by knocking that Pidgeotto out of the sky. Use your Water Gun attack!"
"Dodge it Pidgeotto!" I yelled as Seaking directed its head upwards and shot a plume of projectile water at Pidgeotto. Her speed allowed her to escape it, but only just so I thought quickly. "Use Twisted on the water, catch that Seaking!" I directed so Pidgeotto moved down to start spiralling.
"Use Fury Attack!" Lily cried desperately as the water began to churn. Seaking struck out with a Fury Attack, jets of light shooting towards Pidgeotto and several of them struck him as she flew around and into its path.
"Pidgeotto! Keep going!" I called out, watching with wide eyes as the water continued to circle, creating a twister and whirlpool which Seaking got caught up in.
"Seaking!" It started in surprise at it was dragged by the current Pidgeotto had made, now unable to break free.
"Okay, now use Peck!" I commanded, throwing out a hand towards Seaking as Lily yelped.
"No! Seaking! Try and swim out of there!" Seaking tried to duck under the water but he couldn't move out from under the fast paced current. Pidgeotto dived down then slammed her beak into Seaking, causing sufficient damage as she rose up then dove again. "Seaking, use Supersonic!" Lily shouted out over the rush of wind.
"Quick Attack!" I redirected. Quick Attack always hit first, if Pidgeotto could land a critical hit then maybe we could take out Seaking before its own attack. Pidgeotto rushed down in a blur and struck against Seaking's side and he moaned wearily, landing on his side before going limp, no longer fighting against the current. "Okay Pidgeotto, that's enough! Blow out that Twister!" I commanded so Pidgeotto circled back around then flew right through the Twister, cutting it off effectively.
"Seaking…King…"
"Oh Seaking, you did your best and that's all I could ever ask of you. You were great." Lily told him as she returned him to his Pokéball. Then she faced me, arched her eyebrow with a disapproving look. Wait a second, I've just won the match! I get a Cascade Badge!
Suddenly all three sisters burst into applause, smiling brightly. "That was like, totally awesome!" Violet said to me.
"Yeah! You rocked. You deserve this badge, totally." Violet agreed, retrieving a Cascade Badge then offered to me after I had jumped from the float to the poolside. "That was really super what you did with that Twister, that's one special Pokémon."
"Thanks, I know." I agreed, stroking Pidgeotto's head as she chirped warmly at me. "I hope your Pokémon are okay?" I said to Lily who waved a hand.
"Don't worry, they'll be fine in no time. Though I'm super bummed, this is the third time we've lost in a row. Like, there were two other guys literally just here, like, one or two days ago. They seemed pretty strong too." Gary and Viktor. Well, at least I hope Ash is beginning to catch up.
"Gee I'm sorry, I hope I didn't put you out for your next show. You guys are great by the way, I came and watched you today." I said to them then smiled as Seel leaped out the water to come and meet me again. "I think Seel was my favourite! He's so adorable!"
"Yeah, he's super cute. He's like, our mascot. We never battle him but he's an asset for our shows." Violet answered me as she knelt down and picked Seel up into her arms as I accepted the Cascade Badge then pinned it to my backpack. "So you're going to need to go to Vermillion City for your next badge, but be super careful, cause like, Luitenant Surge is no pushover. He uses electric type Pokémon."
"Thanks, I'll be sure to train hard for my next badge." I assured them then smiled. "Thank you so much for this, I'll see you around!" They all waved and beamed at me as I headed out, Pidgeotto following my lead. The moment we were out of earshot, I leaped up into the air and squealed. "We did it! We totally rocked that battle!" I punched the air then took off at a run, all too eager to get moving again.
Already I've got two badges, that's only six more to go! I can totally do this, it's going to be a breeze!
