On the outskirts of Cerulean City, a practice battle between Ash and Leaf is about to begin, in preparation of Ash's Gym Battle at the Cerulean Gym. Brock was acting as the referee.

"This will be a one on one battle" he stated, "Understand?" he asked.

"Yes!" Ash and Leaf replied in unison.

"Ok then, begin!" said Brock.

"Beedrill, I choose you!" Ash cried as he threw his Poké Ball into the air and released his Beedrill.

"Bee!" he buzzed.

"Beedrill, huh, okay then, let's go, Butterfree!" Leaf said as she released her Butterfree.

"Freee!" she cried, as it entered the battle. Leaf decided she was going to have the first move.

"Butterfree, use Gust!" She ordered. Butterfree flapped her wings as fast as she could, creating a strong breeze.

"Beedrill, dodge it!" Ash ordered, "Then use Fury Attack!" Beedrill easily avoided the Gust, and charged at Butterfree, and began rapidly jabbing at her with his stingers.

"Aah! Butterfree dodge it quick!" Leaf ordered, but Beedrill was too fast for Butterfree, and she was hit all five times by the attack. Butterfree fell to the ground.

"Alright, Beedrill, use Twinneedle!" Ash commanded. Beedrill's stinger began to glow purple as it flew towards Butterfree. "

Heh, perfect" Leaf smirked, "Now! Use Stun Spore!" Leaf commanded.

"WHAT?" Ash cried out, Butterfree flapped her wings and released a yellow powder right as Beedrill got close, causing him to become Paralysed.

"Follow up with Confusion!" Butterfree's eyes glowed blue, Beedrill became outlined by the same blue energy. "Now throw him!"

Butterfree lifted the paralysed bug-type into the air, and then slammed him down into the ground, sending dust into the air. The dust cleared to reveal swirls in Beedrill's eyes showing that he was unable to continue.

"Beedrill is unable to battle, so Butterfree and Leaf are the winners" declared Brock. Ash crouched beside Beedrill.

"You okay, Beedrill?" he asked his fallen bug-type.

"Bee…" it said with a nod and sad tone in his voice.

"Don't worry Beedrill, you were just at a disadvantage, and besides, it was only a practice battle anyway" Ash said trying to comfort Beedrill.

"Pika!" said Pikachu, also trying to cheer up his team mate.

"Ok, Beedrill, return" Ash said as he returned his Pokémon. "Now, to Cerulean City!" he cried.

As they entered the city, Ash began looking through his Trainer's guide, looking for the Gym's location.

"Okay, looks like the Gym is near the Pokémon Center" Ash stated.

"Aren't we going to find Misty first?" asked Leaf.

"Nah, she's probably at the Pokémon Center anyway, so we can just meet her there, now let's go!" Ash replied. He couldn't wait to gain his second Gym Badge.

"Okay then…" Leaf said, not really sure this was the right thing to do.

After healing their Pokémon at the Pokémon Center, the group found the Gym.

"Ready, Pikachu?" Ash asked his partner, "Pi Pikachu!" he replied with a "thumbs" up. "Okay, let's go!"

When they entered, they found a group of three girls drinking lemonade sitting at a table.

"Uh, excuse me, we're looking for the Gym Le—" Ash said before being interrupted by Brock, who ran over to the girls. Ash and Leaf were about to experience for the first time, something they would see a lot throughout their journey.

"Hello ladies, I'm Brock. It's a wonder there's still ice in those drinks, because you three are hot" he said, pulling a bouquet of flowers out of nowhere. The three girls just stared at him in response. Ash and Leaf had a similar reaction.

"Uh, can we, like, help you?" the blonde haired girl asked.

"Um, yeah, we're looking for the Cerulean Gym leader?" he asked.

"What's your name, kid?" the indigo haired girl asked.

"Uh, Ash Ketchum" Ash replied. The three girls looked at each and nodded. The pink haired girl pointed to a doorway.

"She's, like, through that door" she told the group.

"Uh, thanks" Ash thanked the girls and headed towards the doorway. Brock was still kneeling in front of the girls, so Leaf grabbed his collar and pulled him behind her.

"Wait! Can I at least ask your names?" Brock cried out as Leaf pulled him away.

"The name's Daisy" said the blonde haired girl, "Violet" said the blue haired girl, "And I'm Lily" said the pink haired girl.

"Daisy, Violet, Lily, you're like a bouquet of beauty!" he complimented them as he was pulled through the door way.

Ash stepped through the doorway and found himself in giant room with a huge swimming pool in the center. Leaf and Brock soon joined him.

"Hey, look up there!" said Leaf, pointing up to the top of a tall diving platform. Ash looked up and saw a figure he probably wouldn't have recognised, if it weren't for the side pony-tail.

"Misty!?" Ash called out in surprise.

"What's wrong, Ash? Surprised to see me here?" She asked teasingly. She jumped from the platform into the pool, then swam to the side of the pool and climbed back out.

"So Ash, you ready for a battle?" she asked.

"Wait, so you're the Gym Leader?!" asked Ash, he was confused now.

Misty smiled, "Well, I'm one of them, my three sisters are also Gym Leaders" she informed.

"So the girls we met outside, were your sisters, and Gym Leaders?" Leaf questioned.

"Like, yeah" a voice replied from behind them. The group turned around to see the girls from outside, Misty's sisters.

"So why did you come back here ahead of us, Misty?" asked Brock.

"I wanted to give Ash an, at least somewhat, challenging battle, that my sisters couldn't give, so I wanted to have a bit of time to prepare" she answered.

"HEY!" Cried the sisters, obviously offended by Misty's lack of faith in their skills as trainers.

"So Ash, ready to begin?" she asked.

"You bet!" Ash replied with excitement.

Ash and Misty stood at opposite sides of the pool, which now had multiple platforms floating in the water for Pokémon that can't swim. Leaf, Brock, Lily, and Violet sat in the audience, while Daisy acted as the referee.

"This will, like, be a three on three battle and only the challenger may, like, swap Pokémon" Daisy explained. "Trainers, like, choose your Pokémon."

Misty selected her Pokémon first. "Misty calls, Goldeen!" Misty cried as she released her Goldeen.

"Goldeen Goldeen" it said as it landed in the pool. Ash pulled out his Pokédex.

"Goldeen, The Goldfish Pokémon. It swims at a steady 5 knots. If it senses danger, it will strike back with its sharp horn."

Ash chose his own Pokémon, "In that case, Pidgeotto, I choose you!" he shouted as he threw Pidgeotto's Poké Ball.

"Pidgoh!" she called as she exited her Poké Ball.

"Battle, begin!" shouted Daisy and the battle had started.

"Goldeen, use Water Pulse!" Misty ordered. A ball of water formed in front of Goldeen's horn, which it then launched towards Pidgeotto.

"Quick, use Quick Attack to avoid!" Ash ordered, the bird Pokémon shot away from the Water Pulse, then rammed into Goldeen. The Goldfish Pokémon was sent about a metre backwards, before managing to stop itself.

"Use Horn Attack!" Misty ordered, Goldeen swam as fast as it could and launched itself out of the pool straight into Pidgeotto's stomach. Pidgeotto flinched at the pain, but quickly recovered.

"Alright, use Steel Wing!" Ash commanded, Pidgeotto's wings glowed a metal-grey colour as she flew toward Goldeen, who was still in the air from its previous attack, and hit the fish with its wing. Goldeen fell to the bottom of the pool, before resurfacing, fainted.

"Goldeen is unable to continue, Pidgeotto is the winner!" declared Daisy.

"Thanks Goldeen you were great" Misty said, as she returned Goldeen to its Poké Ball. Pidgeotto landed on Ash's arm.

"You were great, Pidgeotto!" Ash praised, petting the bird on her head.

"You may have beaten my first Pokémon, Ash, but this battle is still going!" Misty told him.

"I know, Misty, but I still plan on winning!" Ash responded.

Misty chose her next Pokémon.

"Next, Misty calls, Poliwag!" she cried as she released the tadpole Pokémon.

"Poli!" it cried as it landed on one of the floating platforms.

"You okay to keep going Pidgeotto?" Ash asked his Pokémon. She nodded, and then flew out above the pool.

"Alright then, use Tackle!" ordered Ash. Pidgeotto flew at Poliwag.

"As soon as it gets close enough, use Double Slap!" When Pidgeotto got close, Poliwag turned around, and slapped Pidgeotto away with its tail, sending the bird into the water.

"Pidgeotto!" Ash cried, after a few seconds, Pidgeotto managed to get to the surface, but Misty wasn't willing to let her recover.

"Poliwag, Ice Beam!" Misty ordered, intending to finish Pidgeotto off.

"What!?" Ash clearly wasn't expecting Poliwag to know an ice-type move. Pidgeotto wasn't able to get out of the way in time and was hit by the Super Effective attack. Pidgeotto was sent flying backwards and landed on a platform, unable to continue.

"Pidgeotto is unable to battle, Poliwag wins!" Daisy declared.

"Good job, Pidgeotto. Take a good rest" Ash told the Bird Pokémon as he returned her to her Poké Ball.

"Wow Misty, I didn't see Ice Beam coming at all" he admitted.

Misty winked at the boy, "Come on Ash, Poliwag is still raring to go!" Poliwag puffed out his "chest", proving Misty's comment.

Ash selected his next Pokémon, "Nidoran, I choose you!"

The Poké Ball burst open to reveal Nidoran.

"You ready Nidoran?" Ash asked the poison-type.

"Nido!" it answered with a nod.

"Okay, use Poison Sting!" Nidoran's horn glowed purple, and shot a barrage of glowing needles at Poliwag.

"Poliwag dive underwater to avoid!" Misty commanded. Poliwag jumped into the pool just as the Poison Sting hit the platform. "Now use Water Gun!" Poliwag fired a jet of water from its mouth towards Nidoran.

"Counter with Double Kick!" Ash instructed, Nidoran jumped up and kick the water stream, blocking the attack. "Alright, use Hidden Power!" multiple green orbs formed around Nidoran's body, which he then launched at Poliwag.

"Quick Poliwag, get out of the way!" Misty cried out, but it was too late, Poliwag was hit by the attack and was knocked unconscious.

"Poliwag is, like, unable to battle, Nidoran is the winner!" stated Daisy, Misty thanked Poliwag and returned him to his Poké Ball.

"When did Nidoran learn that move, Ash?" She asked.

"When we were training on Route 4" Ash replied, "The best part is what type it ended up being." Misty looked confused.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Hidden Power's type is different for every Pokémon, that includes Pokémon of the same species, not all Nidoran, for example, have the same type Hidden Power" Brock explained.

"Is that so? So what type is Nidoran's, Ash?" Misty questioned.

Ash grinned, "Grass" he answered.

"Well, that explains why it did so much damage to Poliwag!" she stated, "But remember, this battle isn't over yet!"

"Misty calls, Staryu!" Misty called as she released Staryu into the battle.

"Hyahh!" it cried as it landed in the pool, ready to battle.

"Staryu, use Swift!" Misty ordered, Staryu fired multiple golden stars from it jewel.

"Nidoran, dodge it!" Ash instructed. Nidoran jumped to another platform to avoid but the Swift just changed direction and hit him. "Huh?!" Ash said in confusion,

"Didn't you know, Ash? Swift never misses, you can't dodge it!" Misty explained. She continued her attack, "Now, use Water Gun, full power!" Staryu fired a Water Gun from its top point and sent Nidoran flying into the pool.

"No, Nidoran!" Ash cried.

"Now, finish it off with Rapid Spin!" Misty commanded. Staryu began spinning and flew towards Nidoran, who was struggling to get out of the water. Nidoran was sent flying and landed on the floor in front of Ash, with swirls in his eyes.

"Nidoran is unable to battle, Staryu wins!" declared Daisy.

Ash picked up his Pokémon, "You okay, Nidoran?" he asked.

"Nido ni" it said weakly with a nod.

"Take a good rest buddy" Ash told the poison-type, as he returned him. Both trainers had only one Pokémon left, and Ash wasn't going to lose. He turned to Pikachu.

"You're up buddy" he told the electric mouse.

"Pika!" he replied, and jumped on to a platform.

"This is it Misty, the last match" Ash stated, "You ready to lose?" he asked.

"No way!" Misty retorted.

"This is getting close" Leaf stated.

"Yeah, but Ash has the advantage here with Pikachu" Brock pointed out.

"Alright Pikachu, use Thunder Wave!" Ash ordered. Pikachu jumped up and released a stream of electricity from his tail at Staryu, causing it to become paralysed.

"Oh no, Staryu!" Misty said with concern, Staryu's body crackled with electricity. "Try using Bubble Beam!" Staryu's jewel glowed orange, and then released a stream of orange bubbles towards Pikachu.

"Dodge, then use Thunder Shock!" Ash commanded, Pikachu easily moved out of the way of the bubbles, and then released a bolt of electricity at Staryu, causing Super Effective damage to the starfish Pokémon.

"Staryu quick! Use Recover!" Misty instructed. Staryu glowed rainbow, starting at its jewel letting it regain some of its lost strength, though it didn't help its paralysation.

"Pikachu, use Thunder Shock, again! Aim for its jewel" Ash ordered. Pikachu sent another Thunder Shock, this time right in Staryu's center.

"Ah! Staryu no!" Misty cried.

"Staryu yes!" Ash retorted. "Pikachu, finish it off with Electro Ball!" he commanded. Pikachu's body became surrounded in yellow electricity and multiple yellow sparks come off his body. All of the electricity condensed at Pikachu's tail and formed into an orange-yellow orb of electricity. He jumped into the air and did a front flip, throwing the orb towards Staryu. Staryu tried to move out of the way, but became fully paralysed, right at that moment, and was hit, and sent flying. It landed in the water right in front of Misty. Its jewel started flashing and beeping, signalling it could no longer continue.

"Staryu is unable to battle, like, Pikachu wins!" declared Daisy, "Which means, the challenger, Ash Ketchum is, like, the winner!" she finished.

"Yes!" Ash cheered, Pikachu ran from the battlefield and jumped into Ash's arms. "Ha ha, you were great buddy!" Ash praised his partner. Misty lifted Staryu out of the water.

"Thanks Staryu, you were great" she said as she returned the starfish. She stood up and walked over to Ash. "Well Ash, I'm impressed" she told him.

"Thanks Misty" he replied, "So were you." Misty blushed a little, but wasn't exactly sure why. Misty reached into her pocket and pulled out a blue badge in the shape of a teardrop.

"Ash, for winning here, I give you the Cascade badge" she said, as she handed the badge to Ash.

Ash took the badge and posed, holding up and said "I got, the Cascade Badge!"

"Pi Pikachu!" Pikachu joined in with his own pose.

"Hey Brock, where's the next gym?" Ash questioned.

"I'm pretty sure the closest gym is in Vermillion City" Brock replied.

"Vermilion City!?" Misty perked up at the name of the city, "I've always want to go there!" she stated, "Let me get changed and let's go!" She was about to leave the room when she remembered something.

"Oh yeah, there's a tournament at Cerulean Cape in a few days" she told the group.

"Really? Let's go there first!" Ash proposed. Brock, Leaf and Misty all nodded. Now Ash was excited, the Vermilion Gym could wait, but this tournament couldn't.

"Okay, of the Cerulean Cape we go!" "Pika!" Pikachu and Ash cheered together.