"Why does it seem like it's taking us a lot longer to get to Lavender, than it took us to get lost in the first place?" Cassie asked.
"Probably some cosmic, all powerful being trying to fill slots with pointless adventuring in order to stretch out a story." Ash said bluntly.
"Stop joking around like that." Cassie exclaimed.
"Then don't ask weird questions like that, it's not like we're in a huge rush anyways, there's still a few months until the Pokemon League." Ash reminded. "Besides, this side trip has been exciting."
"We were nearly ran out of the last two towns." Cassie pointed out.
"See that's exciting, we've never been ran out of Pallet Town." Ash commented.
"Dad has." Cassie said with a giggle.
"That was a weird Christmas." Ash commented. "Hey look up ahead!"
"Oasis Springs, I'm guessing this is the place." Cassie said, reading the sign.
"Well let's see if we can find the Pokemon Center." Ash said.
"I thought we were told to find the mayor?" Cassie said.
"Yeah, I have no idea who that is, but I know a Pokemon Center when I see one." Ash said.
Twenty minutes later
"Okay, so I have no idea where the Pokemon Center is." Ash said, sitting down defeated on a bench.
"So back to plan A, finding the mayor." Cassie sighed.
"I don't even know where the mayor is." Ash sighed.
"Did you say you were looking for the mayor?" A woman's voice asked.
"Don't tell me somethings wrong with this one too." Ash bemoaned.
"Well I would hope not, seeing as she is me." The woman said, approaching the bench.
"Wait what?" Ash said in confusion.
"Amaya Vintelli, I'm the mayor here." The woman said extending her hand. "Always happy to see travelers, what can I help you with?"
"Directions, we're trying to get to Lavender Town." Ash admitted.
"Well you're in luck, a train runs from here to the outskirts of Lavender Town." Amaya said. "I'd be willing to help you out if you could help us."
"What are we talking about in help?" Ash asked.
"I can see you're a bit of a trainer, we have had issues, cries at night can be heard, coming from where the springs flow, the train won't be here until tomorrow if you could help us out, I'll get you a private cabin." Amaya said.
"Deal." Ash replied.
Outside the mayors office
"Do you really think you can solve this?" Cassie asked.
"If not, hopefully I have enough money for at least seats on the train." Ash admitted.
"Is it that bad?" Cassie asked.
"I'm spending quicker than I'm earning." Ash said. "Once we're in Lavender I might need to enter a tournament just to afford supplies, I still don't have enough to even look at new microphones for Jigglypuff."
That night
"Okay this is our cave entrance." Ash said, turning on a flashlight. "I'll have to turn this in soon, didn't think I'd have it this long." Ash chuckled.
"Bwark bwark!"
"It sounds like whatever it is, is in distress!" Cassie exclaimed.
Ash and Cassie ran through the cave, the slight water on the floor splashing beneath them as they followed the sound of the Pokemon. Ash suddenly came to a stop when he saw something out of the corner of his eye.
"Ash! Heads up next time." Cassie complained.
"Look." Ash said, pointing to the right of them, red lights glowing in the dark.
"Bwark Bwark!"
"It's in there!" Ash exclaimed shining his flashlight to see a horde of Tentacool. "Nevermind."
"Bwark Bwark!"
"Okay, I can't risk using Pikachu in case that Pokemon in distress is in the water. Dratini is to…". Ash paused trying to think of the right word.
"Destructive?" Cassie offered.
"I was going to say energetic but yes, and Ponyta has a disadvantage." Ash said. "That leaves Gloom as my best option. Gloom help out!"
The grass type Pokémon fell to the floor of the cave with a light splash.
"Okay Gloom, I need you to take out as much of the Tentacool as you can with Mega Drain, do you think you can handle that?" Ash asked.
"Gloom!" Gloom said with confidence, ligning himself up, waiting for Ash to give the go ahead.
"Alright, Gloom use Mega Drain!"
Energy began draining from the Tentacool as they turned their attention towards Gloom. Angered by his presence, they sent out a flurry of Water Guns.
"Gloom dodge it!" Ash said.
Gloom scurried back and forth dodging as many of the attacks as he could.
"Ash, we need a new plan, Gloom can't just dodge forever." Cassie said.
"Right right." Ash said thinking. "I've got it! Jigglypuff come out!"
Jigglypuff came out of her Pokeball, angrily waiting for her new microphone.
"I know, I know, I'm working on it, but I need your help." Ash said.
Jigglypuff huffed, and turned around.
"Please Jigglypuff. Gloom is in trouble." Cassie plead.
"Jigglypuff I know you're angry, and if you don't want to help then fine. Return." Ash sighed. "Pikachu think you can speed in and use a Thunder Wave to stun them?"
"Pika!" Pikachu said with a salute.
Pikachu sped into the opening, dodging the blasts of water with Gloom, as he began spinning his tail, building up static electricity before releasing it, giving Gloom a second opening.
"Alright Pikachu! Now Gloom use Mega Drain!" Ash exclaimed.
The second mega drain took out enough energy to make the group of Tentacool slip back away underwater, as Ash shone his flashlight into the cave, seeing a Seel on the other side.
"It looks hurt." Cassie said.
"Dratini come out!" Ash said.
Dratini flopped onto the ground before rolling over with a smile on his face.
"Dratini, do you think you can bring that Seel over here?" Ash asked.
"Tini." Dratini said, before leaping into the pond and zooming over to Seel.
"You know he's loyal at the very least." Cassie said with a giggle.
"Oh wow, you're heavy." Ash said, trying to lift Seel up. "It doesn't feel right, but I don't think I have what I need with me to help you." Ash said, looking in his bag.
"What about Ponyta, she could probably carry him." Cassie said.
"Even if she does, we still never found a Pokemon Center." Ash said.
"But we can't leave him here." Cassie remarked. "The Tentacool might be back soon."
"I know, I know." Ash said. "Okay, Ponyta I need your help!"
Between Ash and his cooperating Pokemon, they managed to get Seel out of the cave and into town.
"Oh my." A young woman's voice said, seeing the injured Seel.
"Thank you, do you know where the Pokémon Center is? I think he needs medical attention." Ash said.
"No, but come with me, I can take a look at him." The woman said.
"Will Seel be okay?" Ash asked as the woman exited a side room in her house.
"He's a little weak, but he'll be just fine. What were you fighting, and why didn't you put him in his Pokeball?" The woman scolded.
"Oh, he's not mine, I found him being attacked by Tentacool, the mayor asked me to look into the strange sounds." Ash said.
"That's my sister for you, sending a kid to do her work." The woman said.
"No, I can't have another sibling rivalry for mayor." Ash moaned.
"What? I'm a healer. This is what I do for a living." The woman said. "My younger sister ran for mayor, I'm extremely proud of her."
"Then why did you groan when I told you she sent me?" Ash asked.
"You're a kid, trainer or not. You shouldn't have to clean up these sorts of problems." The woman said.
"But if I can help fix them, then what does it matter?" Ash asked.
"Because Seel can't stay here." The woman said. "Pokemon get picked on, bullied, and all sorts of things in the wild, and no one knows most of that. Now that Seel is out of the cave, and likely the waterways back home, it's unlikely he'll go back on his own."
"So what can we do?" Ash asked.
"I hate to be like my sister, but I can't care for him long term." The woman said. "Here, I always keep a few spares lying around." She said handing Ash a Pokeball.
"Wait you're saying I should catch it?" Ash said.
"I'm guessing by your clothes that you're a traveling trainer. Take Seel to the Seafoam Islands just south east of Fuschia, that's where they normally live." The woman said. "Finish fixing the problem, for Seel."
"Okay." Ash said, grabbing the Pokeball, and entering the side room. A light flashed from the room, and a moment later, Ash exited holding the Pokeball. "I'll bring you home as soon as I can Seel." Ash said.