The Water Flowers of Cerulean City
"That's the Cerulean City Gym?!"
"Pika?!" Ash and Pikachu stared at a large building that had a rather colorful design along with a dome shaped roof, a life-like Dewgong sculpture hanged over the entrance to the Gym. It looked significantly different than the Pewter and Viridian City Gyms but the building itself wasn't the only thing out of the ordinary as a rather large crowd could be seen entering the building.
"Oh man, we're going to wait forever for our Gym battle!" Ash groaned.
"Not necessarily," Brock quickly spoke up. "I've heard about this Gym but I've never actually gotten to see it for myself, apparently the Gym Leaders put on water shows and plays at all hours of the day. They're quite popular too though from what I hear it's because they're beautiful girls!" Brock couldn't help but drool at the thought while Croagunk activated his Poison Jab as he stood behind his trainer, ready to lash out if he acted out.
"Water shows? How's that even allowed, I know that a lot of the Gym Leaders in other regions have side hobbies but they never let it prevent them from facing challengers." Chloe frowned.
"Who cares so long as one of them is ready to face me!" Ash and Pikachu clenched their fists with excitable expressions as they were eager to earn their second badge! So long as he got a good Pokemon battle, he honestly didn't care what the Gym Leaders did on their spare time. He eagerly rushed towards the doors only for them to suddenly swing open and smack him in the face!
"Ow!" Ash held onto his nose while Pikachu rubbed his own nose.
"Pika..."
"Heh, late as usual Ketchup!" Damian looked around the door with a smirk. "I saw ya coming this time and waited for just the right moment to get ya!"
"Yeah it was hilarious Damian!"
"You da man Damian!"
"C-Char..." Charmander peeked around Damian's leg, shivering as dark bruises could be seen across his body.
"Charmander..." Chloe gasped out. Brock clenched his fists at the sight while flames appeared in Ash's eyes, the raven haired boy quickly grabbed Damian's shirt collar and growled out.
"You're still hitting Charmander?!"
"And kicking and throwing... but what's it to you? You're not the boss of me and Charmander is my Pokemon, I can do what I want with him! Besides ya got no proof that it was me and not some wild Pokemon we got into a scuffle with! And I happen to know that your friend is no longer the Pewter Gym Leader thus his word means as little as yours!" Damian laughed. "Now I suggest that you let go of me before I report you to Officer Jenny for harassment, I've got witnesses!" Damian pointed at his two pals before waving his hand around to indicate the crowd entering the Gym around them.
Ash's eye twitched before he shoved Damian away. "Mark my words Damian, I'll get proof eventually! Don't worry Charmander, you won't be stuck with him much longer."
"C-Charmander..." Charmander edged closer to Damian as the boy cockily smirked.
"Don't ya see? He loves me! He ain't going anywhere so long as he proves his worth to me!"
"That's Stockholm syndrome!" Chloe cried out before making a remark of her own. "You're lucky Gloria's not here cause I bet she'd beat you up again!"
Damian's eye twitched as he shot Chloe a nasty glare before turning back to his pals. "Forget this, I've already got my badge so let's roll out!"
Ash glared after him as Damian walked away, his fists tightly clenched as he held back the desire to simply knock the prick out and save Charmander. Chloe placed her hand on his shoulder and lightly shook her head.
"Don't, he may deserve it but you'd lose everything and Charmander would still be stuck with him." If a girl struck him she doubt that Damian would say a thing but she wasn't strong enough to deck him nor was it really in her character to do so.
Ash calmed down at the touch, offering Chloe a light smile before stepping foot into the Gym where his eyes immediately set focus upon large fish tanks full of various Water types some of which he'd never even seen before as there were heart shaped fish Pokemon kissing each other in one tank, small green and black piranha Pokemon in a tank all by themselves, and a school of brown and purple sea horse Pokemon along with various amounts of others!
"Wow look at all these Pokemon!" Ash quickly began scanning them one by one in order to learn their names. Luvdisc, Basculin, Skrelp... it was as if the Gym Leaders had been all over the world! A loud roar from the crowd could be heard as the show appeared to be starting, Brock eagerly rushed out to watch as he hoped that the rumors were true while Chloe sweated at the sight before looking back at Ash.
"Well I suppose it wouldn't hurt to watch, I mean they won't stop it just to battle you."
Ash uttered out a reluctant sigh as he followed her into the next room, his eyes lit up at the sheer size of the room. A large fish tank stood at the center of the room with what appeared to be two floating platforms atop the water surface to allow for Pokemon to battle one another without giving Water types a complete advantage as there were certain Pokemon that were unable to swim. It also appeared as if the tank were capable of lowering to the floor based on the setup going on around the edges, Ash and his friends currently stood atop a large set of bleachers as they entered the room which was packed full of a loud cheering crowd as three rather beautiful and nearly identical sisters, possibly triplets, stood at the top of the tank and waved their hands at the cheering crowd. Their only difference being their hairstyle as one had long flowing blonde hair, another had violet colored hair, and the third had hers dyed pink!
"Cerulean City we're the Sensational Sisters and we're here to put on a show for you!" The blonde girl shouted out followed by the crowd's loud cheers. "My name's Daisy and these two are my sisters Violet and Lily! Now without further ado let's get this show started!" The three threw Pokeballs up into the air releasing a beautiful serpentine Pokemon along with a Dewgong and Lapras!
"Oh wow, those three are the most beautiful girls that I've ever seen!" Hears filled Brock's eyes as he gazed at the three sisters, his cheeks tainted a bright red color. Unlike most the girls Brock displayed interest in at least these three appeared to be his age rather than older than him.
"No kidding..." Ash breathed out as he appeared to be memorized by the show. Chloe clenched her fists as she found Ash's reaction rather unsettling.
"Humph, some Gym Leaders..." Chloe turned to notice a rather angry looking girl the same age as her and Ash. There was a bit of resemblance between her and the three sisters as her face looked remarkably like theirs only a couple of years younger, her natural looking orange hair was short and had a bit tied up on the left side. Her appearance was a bit tomboyish compared to her sisters, wearing a bright yellow jacket with a blue collar with a pair of yellow shorts that matched her jacket. "I was supposed to take over as Gym Leader..." Her arms crossed as a rather sour look formed across her face.
"I'm sorry, who are you?" Chloe asked with a light tilt of her head.
"Misty the tomboyish mermaid and rightful Gym Leader of this Gym..." Misty couldn't help but growl out. Chloe gave her a glance over before frowning as she couldn't help but wonder if the rule changed screwed her over like it had with Brock and Forrest. Misty began tapping her foot in annoyance as she watched the show go on, her eye twitching as her fists tightly clenched while her body violently shook. It appeared as if the girl was ready to snap at any moment so Chloe decided to slowly back away as to not wind up in the crossfire.
After an hour the show came to an end with the three sisters taking a bow from atop the aquarium. "Thank you all for coming, we'll see you all in a few hours for our next show!"
The aquarium began lowering into the ground as the crowd made their exit, Ash started walking forward in order to ask the three for a battle only to find himself pushed aside as Brock went racing past!
"Daisy, Violet and Lily, names equally as lovely as the women they belong to!" Brock stretched out his arm as he dropped to his knees. "You three are the most beautiful girls that I've ever laid my eyes upon and I can't bear the thought of never seeing you again! Is there any chance that your looking for another act? I'd be happy to-"
"Croagunk!" Croagunk jabbed his trainer in the back causing him to collapse to the ground as Croagunk croaked out in laughter before dragging Brock off.
"I wonder where he's taking him..." Chloe couldn't help but ask as she watched Croagunk disappearing with him.
"That was strange..." Daisy commented.
"He sure was cute though!" Violet stated with a smile.
"Uh oh, looks like Misty's coming our way..." Lily frowned as now it was Misty's turn to push Ash aside as she raced down the bleachers!
"You three have been destroying the Gym's good name for far too long, it's time that I take back what is rightfully mine!" Misty shouted, her face bright red from anger as she glared heavily at her three sisters.
"Misty we've been over this so many times, we were named the Gym Leaders by Chairman Rose himself!" Violet rolled her eyes.
"Yes but the Gym was left to me!" Misty shouted. "When our mother died she said that I'd be taking over as it was always my dream to follow in her footsteps and become a Water type Master, and part of getting there is making a name for myself as Gym Leader like she did!"
"Yes but she didn't know that the rules would be changing in a few weeks," Lily spoke up. "The Gym couldn't just stay empty so Chairman Rose put us in charge of it!"
"And you've been destroying the good name of the Gym! Putting on shows and handing out badges as if they were pieces of candy!" Misty snarled out. "Remember when those recent challengers, Leaf and Gary I believe, walked right out in disgust upon hearing that you would just give them a badge? That's no way to treat a badge or your challenger! You're to show challengers respect and make them earn their badge by besting you in a Pokemon battle!"
"Wait you give out badges?!" Ash clenched his fists. He couldn't help but butt in as he too found that incredibly disrespectful. "You can't do that! What do you think the other Gym Leaders would say if they could see you now? You'd look like a joke and they'd probably report you to the Chairman himself!" From what they implied it sounded like Damian had taken the free badge.
"The only reason I haven't done so is cause the Gym would be shut down permanently!" Misty growled as she continued to glare at her sisters.
"But battles are so boring!" Lily moaned.
"It's much more fun putting on shows!" Violet added.
Daisy gave Misty a sympathetic look as she looked towards her twins before looking back at Misty. "You know there's a way to handle this that would benefit us all, why not let Misty take over as Gym Leader so long as she still lets us put on shows after hours. She's old enough now and with more time to ourselves we'd have time to properly work on our performances!"
"That is true..." Lily noted while Violet tilted her head as she gazed towards Misty.
"You cool with that, Misty?"
"I guess it wouldn't hurt so long as you respect the Gym rules of accepting challengers from eight to six." Misty shrugged. Not like she would be using the Gym during those hours. "But you're to clean out the pool from now on, I'm done doing that!"
"But Misty-" Violet moaned out before Daisy placed her hand over her mouth.
"We accept!"
"Great so does this mean that I get my Pokemon battle now?!" Ash eagerly asked while Chloe lightly shook her head. She liked Ash but he could have a one track mind sometimes! "I wanna earn my second Gym badge!"
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu raised his fist as he eagerly chimed in.
"Of course, I'm eager to begin my run as Cerulean Gym Leader!" Misty offered him a light smirk before extending her hand to him. "I'm Misty Waterlily, the tomboyish mermaid and future Water Master!"
"My name's Ash Ketchum, future World Champion and Pokemon Master!" Ash smirked back as the two shook hands.
"Really? Well you've got to beat me in order to get there!" Misty laughed as she eagerly grabbed at a ball. "Race ya to the battle field?"
"You're on!" The two raced for the battlefield, positioning themselves at the exact same time as each other!
"Alright so the rules of the Cerulean Gym are simple, we each use two Pokemon and only the challenger is allowed to switch out their Pokemon, once either side runs out of Pokemon or forfeits the battle will come to an end. You agree to those terms?" Misty asked with a light tilt of her head.
"Still just two?!" Ash hung his head in disappointment as he hoped for the Pokemon battles to be longer.
"Sorry Ash but I don't make up the rules, the official rules state that the rookie circuit requires you to have at least two badges before the Gyms advance to three on three or four on four battles. Maybe if you prove yourself at the Indigo League you'll get invited to the Silver Conference's professional circuit, all the Gyms over there have at least four on four battles and don't hold back! Even the first Gym can be quite the challenge for most trainers!" Misty explained as she tossed a ball up and down. "Back to the question at hand though, you accept?"
"I accept." Ash gave a light nod as he reached for a Pokeball.
"Alright, Staryu let's go!"
"Hiya!" The brown starfish burst from the ball and landed upon the rivaling platform while Ash threw his own Pokeball forward.
"Treecko I choose you!"
"Treecko!" Treecko landed on the floating platform rivaling Staryu's as he gazed at the starfish with a calm and cool expression.
"Swift!" Staryu twirled through the air as it fired off several golden yellow stars at Treecko, quickly pelting Treecko with the unavoidable attack!
"Leer!" Treecko narrowed his eyes as he leered at his opponent. "Then follow up with Bullet Seed!"
"Tree... kokokokoko!" Treecko began rapidly firing off glowing seeds like a machine gun at his opponent!
"Dive!"
"Hiya!" Staryu dove beneath the water, avoiding the attack! Ash clenched his fists before returning Treecko to his Pokeball.
"Pikachu I choose you!"
"Pika!" Pikachu leaped out onto the floating platform, flailing his arms about as he attempted to keep his balance before he'd lock his eyes on his opponent as a smirk crossed his face.
"Use Thunder Shock on the water!" Ash quickly called out. Misty's eyes widened before she facepalmed at how poorly planned her attack had been!
"Pikachuuu!" Pikachu's cheeks sparked before he fired off a singular bolt of electricity but the bolt was all that was necessary to electrify the entire pool! Staryu's unconscious body soon floated up to the surface, it's red crystal blinked repeatedly to indicate that it'd been taken out!
"Staryu return, Quagsire let's go!"
"Quagsire!" A light blue bipedal Pokemon with a rather derpy looking face burst out in front of her. Rather than blindly attack, Ash chose to pull out his Rotom Phone in order to scan the Pokemon.
"Quagsire the Water Fish Pokemon, Quagsire hunts for food by leaving its mouth wide open in water and waiting for its prey to blunder in unaware. Because the Pokemon does not move, it does not get very hungry!"
"So Electric attacks won't be effective? Well this got interesting, Pikachu return!"
"Pika!" Pikachu raced across the platform before leaping back towards Ash who reached out and grabbed hold of him, setting him back on the ground as he retrieved Treecko's ball.
"Treecko I choose you!"
"Treecko!"
"Use Leer!" Treecko narrowed his eyes as he cast Quagsire a leer.
"Yawn!"
"Quagsire!" Quagsire stretched out and yawned causing Treecko to utter out his own yawn as his eyes began drooping shut!
Ash clenched his fists before he quickly threw out an arm and shouted out. "Use Bullet Seed quick!"
"Tree... kokokokoko!" Quagsire couldn't move anywhere as quickly as Staryu had done so he hadn't been able to hide beneath the water! Quagsire uttered out a cry of pain as he was pushed across the platform, looking rather worn out as the attack was quadruple effective against him! Fortunately for him though Treecko had now fallen asleep!
"Treecko return!" Ash wasn't going to take any chances on Treecko waking up unless it was absolutely necessary. "Alright Pikachu, I choose you again! Use Splishy Splash!"
"Huh?" Misty blinked while her sisters giggled out at the childish name. Chloe shot the triplets a harsh glare before her and Brock's attention locked on Pikachu as he raised up his arms before summoning the large electrically charged wave of water!
"Pika!" Pikachu brought the wave crashing down on top of Quagsire, the Water/Ground type disappeared from sight and for a moment it looked as if he'd been taken out before he suddenly reemerged from beneath the water's surface looking completely recharged and refreshed!
"What?!"
"Pika?!"
"Quagsire must have the Water Absorb ability, that means Water attacks will heal it not damage it!" Chloe explained.
Ash clenched his fists with a frustrated expression. "That leaves us with limited options... Tail Whip then follow up with Quick Attack!"
"Pika!" Pikachu turned his back to Quagsire and began waving his tail in a rather cute fashion to lower the Pokemon's defense, Pikachu then turned around and began racing across the water's surface at blinding speed! "Pi pi pi!"
"Mud Shot!" Quagsire took a deep breath, his cheeks began expanding shortly before he'd open his mouth, firing off an array of mud balls at his opponent! A ball smacked Pikachu directly in the eyes making it difficult for him to see, he raced right by Quagsire before landing right in the water with a cold splash!
"P-Pika!" Pikachu began flailing his arms about as he apparently didn't know how to swim!"
"I've got you, buddy!" Ash threw off his jacket and hat before leaping on into the water, quickly making his way to the flailing mouse before picking him up and carrying him back to dry ground.
"Y-You didn't have to do that, I'd have had Quagsire or Starmie rescue him." Misty sweated at the sight. "That was rather honorable though, not many trainers would do such a thing. You've definitely got the heart of a Pokemon Master but will that be enough to beat me? You still have one Pokemon left and he's fast asleep!" Misty smirked.
Ash clenched his fists as he gave Misty a confident look. "I'd do anything to keep Pikachu safe, the same goes for any of my Pokemon! And we aren't about to give up, I'm sure Treecko wouldn't agree with me if I threw in the towel right now! He'd want to be out there kicking butt so I'm giving him another chance, Treecko I choose you!"
"Tree..." Treecko snored as he remained fast asleep.
Misty smirked and took the chance to shout out. "Ice Beam!" Quagsire opened his mouth and fired off a beam of ice however that proved to be just what Treecko needed to wake up!
"Tree!"
"Alright Treecko, one final Bullet Seed should do it!" They'd already lowered his defenses with Leer and Tail Whip and Quagsire would be taking quadruple damage due to it's Water/Ground typing!
"Treee... kokokoko!"
"Quag!" Quagsire was flung to his back as the seeds blasted against his body! Swirls filled the Pokemon's eyes as he laid in defeat, a bit of drool poured out his mouth as Ash excitedly leaped into the air.
"Alright, we did it!"
"Treecko." Treecko lightly smirked while Pikachu excitedly cried out with his trainer.
"Pi Pikachu!"
Misty returned Quagsire but didn't seem too upset by her loss, giving Ash a light smile as she reached into her pocket to withdraw a blue tear shaped badge. "That was a great battle Ash, hopefully I have the honor of facing you again someday when we've both grown and become powerful trainers! You've definitely earned the Cascade Badge and with it, your future Gym battles here in the Indigo League will consist of three on three or four on four Gym battles! The number varies by Gym Leader."
"Thanks Misty I definitely look forward to battling you again someday in fact, I promise to battle you again in the future!" Ash grinned, excitement filled his body at both the fact that he'd won his second Gym battle and the fact that he'd made another friend that day! "Alright we just got the Cascade badge!"
"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu posed alongside his trainer while Treecko crossed his arms and smirked with a calm and cool look.
"Treecko."
"Congratulations Ash!" Chloe cheered.
"Eevoi!" Eevee cried out.
"Thanks Chloe, it'll be your turn tomorrow! The Cerulean Contest awaits us both!"
"Pi Pikachu!"
"You two are competing in the Contest?" Daisy asked with a light smirk. "Well we look forward to beating you!"
"I'm not competing but I'll be cheering the three of you on, my heart can't choose just one of you as I can't bear to break either of your hearts!" Brock exclaimed as he shot towards them and got into his romantic stance. "Daisy, Violet and Lily I'd love to be-UGH!"
"Croagunk!" Croagunk began dragging Brock away while everyone else lightly sweated. Chloe soon had a look of excitement however as she was close to experiencing her first Pokemon Contest!
"This is so exciting Eevee, I really hope that this turns out to be the goal meant for me!"
"Eevoi!" Eevee's tail twitched as she gazed up at her trainer with a cute and eager smile.
And there you have it, Ash has beaten Misty and now has two badges! Treecko will be taking a break from Gym battles for awhile so the others can have a fair shot, I'd say Pikachu too but you all know what's coming up! ;)
And a new concept introduced, rookie and professional circuits. The Silver Conference is meant for more experienced trainers similar to how Kanto is strong in Heart Gold/Soul Silver, while Kanto's got the rookie circuit. It works differently in other regions but as Kanto/Johto share the same Elite Four and Champion, they've got a different system rather than say Roxanne pulling out different Pokemon for an experienced Ash than she would for a rookie.
And yeah, Chairman Rose is in charge of the entire Pokemon League system like Mr. Goodshow(Who sadly passed during the skip). Making him have more of a role rather than coming out of nowhere later. Daisy was always more levelheaded than her sisters and since they're adults, they may as well make the mature decision to compromise rather than make a childish bet like I originally planned.
Anyways I hope you all enjoyed, let me know what you think and if there's anything that you'd like to see in the future! :)