Last Chapter, Brayden challenged Cerulean Gym Leader Misty to a rematch. With the Cascade Badge on the line, Brayden, Oddish and Pidgeotto battled valiantly against Misty, Psyduck, and Seadra. But as the battle neared its end, Brayden lost his cool when Misty's Starmie defeated Oddish in just two moves. This caused Wartortle to become too anxious to attack. Can Brayden calm down and get back in sync with Wartortle before he is disqualified for delaying the match?!
"Wartortle, come on! Attack Starmie with Bite!" Brayden shouted furiously.
Wartortle wasn't sure what to do. The last thing the Water-type wanted was to forfeit the match, but listening to Brayden's flustered commands could just as easily result in defeat.
"Two minutes!" Diana the Gym Trainer called out.
Brayden was at his wits' end. How could Wartortle hesitate at a time like this? After how hard they had worked? And what about their good friends Oddish and Pidgeotto, who had fought so hard to help them win? They absolutely HAD to win this match, no matter what!
"Wartortle, if you don't attack right now, I'll…" Brayden started darkly.
Now THIS was something Wartortle knew exactly how to respond to.
"WAR!"
The Turtle Pokémon immediately turned around and shot a Water Pulse into Brayden's face, causing the young boy to fall over backwards.
To say Misty and the Gym Trainers were shocked was an understatement.
"What was THAT for?!" Brayden yelled at Wartortle.
"War! Wartortle!" Wartortle shouted back, pointing at Brayden.
"What, are you asking why I'm mad?!" Brayden asked Wartortle.
"Tortle Tortle!" Wartortle responded, nodding.
"It's because—" Brayden began.
"One more minute!" Diana warned.
Misty shot her an ugly look.
"You're not helping! Give him time to figure things out! We're not in a rush, here!"
Hearing this caused Brayden's anger to disappear. She had gone from ruthlessly (from his perspective) knocking down Oddish, to stopping the Judge from disqualifying him.
Misty saw this change in emotion, and knew this was her opportunity to reach out to him.
"Brayden, were you angry because of how I knocked out Oddish?"
Brayden thought for a moment before responding.
"…Yeah."
Misty sighed. But then, a small smile appeared on her face. "You were wondering why I taught Psyduck Hidden Power."
Brayden's eyes widened. Had it been that obvious?
"You see, after you beat Proton, I knew without a doubt that you had improved big time in the short time since our last battle. So I had to switch up my strategy a bit to have any chance against you." Misty explained carefully.
"Then…" Brayden uttered.
"I'm taking you seriously, Brayden! As a Gym Leader, it's my responsibility to test you!" Misty declarared.
"So don't be angry. Instead, fight me with everything you have!"
This revelation caused a complete flip in Brayden's mood. "Heh heh heh…" he chuckled. "I've been really over sensitive. Maybe that's Blue's fault…but…"
Brayden straightened his cap, and a massive grin formed on his face.
"I'm not letting him hold me back anymore! Wartortle, are you ready?!"
This was exactly what Wartortle had been waiting to hear.
"WARTORTLE!" The Water-type replied, fired up.
"Great! Then use Rapid Spin!" Brayden exclaimed.
"We'll use Rapid Spin, too! Go, Starmie!"
The two Water-types crashed into each other, continuing to spin, before eventually stale mating and knocking each other back.
"Use Water Pulse!" Their Trainers commanded.
Both Wartortle and Starmie launched a concentrated water sphere at each other, and the spheres cancelled each other out when they collided.
"Starmie! Rapid Spin!" Misty ordered.
The Mysterious Pokémon zoomed to Wartortle's position.
Brayden knew this was there chance for a super-effective attack! "Wartortle, use Bite once it reaches you!"
Somehow, it was done. The instant before Starmie struck Wartortle, the Turtle Pokémon chomped down on Starmie's gem-like core, dealing massive damage. The Mysterious Pokémon's core flashed brightly, indicating its' pain.
"Ack!" Misty cried in shock. "Starmie, shake Wartortle off with Psychic!"
Starmie's entire body glowed, and Wartortle was blasted away by the psychic force. However, Wartortle caught himself and flipped back on his feet.
"Way to go!" Brayden cheered. "Now, Rapid Spin!"
Wartortle ducked back into his shell and blasted towards Starmie.
"Ha! Now it's our turn to counter! Starmie, Water Pulse!" Misty shouted.
Starmie's water sphere smashed into Wartortle's shell with enough force to knock him out of it.
As the Turtle Pokémon sailed helplessly towards Starmie, Misty called for Swift. The star rays blasted Wartortle's back to Brayden.
"Wartortle, can you keep going?" Brayden asked Wartortle.
"War…Tortle…!" The Turtle Pokémon replied, breathing heavily as he gave a thumbs-up.
"How about you, Starmie?" Misty asked her Pokémon.
Starmie's core was flashing slowly and repeatedly, but it gave what could only be described as a nod.
"All right! Time to finish this!" Brayden cried.
"You asked for it!" Misty answered.
"Wartortle!"
"Starmie!"
"USE RAPID SPIN!"
Once again, both Water-type Pokémon spun into the air and collided.
This time, there would be no stalemate.
One of them was going to collapse, and both sides were determined to make sure it was their opponent.
"Starmie, I believe in you! Push Wartortle back!" Misty shouted encouragingly.
The Mysterious Pokémon glowed brightly as it spun, and Wartortle began to be pushed back slowly but surely.
But Brayden was not about to give up after all that had happened just now.
"Wartortle, you can do it! The others are rooting for you, too! Show Misty and Starmie what you're made of!" he rallied.
The other four Pokémon were shaking their Poké Balls, showing their support.
This was all Wartortle needed.
"WARTORTLE!"
With a sudden burst in strength and speed in his spinning, Wartortle easily knocked Starmie flying, cancelling its spin.
"Oh no! Starmie!" Misty cried in shock.
"NOW, WARTORTLE! FINISH IT WITH WATER PULSE!" Brayden cried fiercely.
Wartortle was still spinning after Starmie, and, still flying, he popped out of his shell and launched a cannon ball-like water sphere, supercharged by his Torrent Ability.
When the Water Pulse struck Starmie, it exploded in a large splash, drenching everyone in the Gym.
Once the resulting mist cleared, Wartortle stood triumphant over the exhausted Starmie.
"War-tortle tortle!" Wartortle said proudly.
(Translation: "I am the strongest Water Pokémon!")
Diana and the other Gym Trainers were speechless.
After a few seconds, Misty got over her own shock and cleared her throat loudly to get Diana's attention.
"O-oh, right…" Diana said quickly. "Starmie is unable to battle! Which means, the winner is Brayden!"
"YES! We did it, Wartortle!" Brayden shouted jubilantly as he ran to his worn-out Pokémon gave him a big hug.
Both Trainer and Pokémon laughed happily as Misty looked on. She then knelt down and embraced Starmie.
"Starmie, thank you for fighting so hard for me. You deserve a good rest." Misty said softly to the Water- and Psychic-type.
Starmie's core flashed slowly a few times as it returned to its ball.
Their Pokémon now healed (and everyone now dry), it was time for Misty to give Brayden his rewards.
"Brayden, I'm sad and frustrated that I lost, but all the same, I'm very happy that you and your Pokémon were able to work together under pressure and beat me fair and square! And so, I give you the symbol of Cerulean City: the Cascade Badge!"
Misty handed it to Brayden, who couldn't resist raising it up high for all to see.
"All right! We finally got the Cascade Badge!" Brayden exclaimed as Wartortle, Pidgeotto and Oddish cheered.
"Wartortle!"
"Pidgeotto!"
"Odd! Oddish!"
Brayden was all set to leave, but Misty placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Now hold on! I still have to give you my TM!" she said calmly.
"Oh, that's right!" Brayden grinned. "So which one is it?"
Suddenly, Misty remembered exactly what move the TM taught.
"Well… actually…" she said sheepishly as she fished it out of a nearby waterproof box. "It teaches Water Pulse."
Brayden and Wartortle were completely floored.
"WHAT? But Wartortle just learned that move the other day!" Brayden shouted in disbelief.
Misty laughed in embarrassment. "Sorry. Sometimes Pokémon can learn moves on their own without needing TMs. However…"
The young Gym Leader walked over to the wall on the north side of the Gym and pressed a hidden switch.
Brayden watched, completely fascinated, as a set of the wall opened like a clothes drawer.
Misty reached in and found something that resembled a TM, but contained in a blue case instead of a red one.
Brayden knew what it was immediately: a Hidden Machine, or HM. These are special TMs that teach unique moves that are essential for travel. The Flash HM Brayden had received from Professor Oak's assistants, for example, lights up dark areas enabling you to see in them. But because they don't break, they are extremely valuable and few have been made.
"You're giving me an HM?!" Brayden asked Misty excitedly as she walked back over to him.
"Not just any HM! This one contains Surf, a powerful Water-type move that'll enable Wartortle to carry you across bodies of water! You'll be needing it eventually, so take mine with you!" Misty said as she handed it to him.
Brayden placed it in the TM Case in his backpack.
"Thanks for everything, Misty. You've been a big help to us." he said sincerely.
Misty simply smiled. "Oh, it's nothing. You've been a lot of help yourself. Now get out there and show the other Gym Leaders what you've got!"
As Brayden stepped out of the Gym, Misty called out to him one last time.
"And if you run into those Rocket jerks again, give them a good thumping for me!" she shouted as she waved to him.
Brayden laughed. "You know I will!" he shouted back as he waved back to her, still running.
Brayden has at long last earned the Cascade Badge! As he and his Pokémon bid farewell to Cerulean City and their new friend, Misty, they vow to never forget the many lessons they learned here. And now, the rest of Kanto beckons to them! The journey continues!
Next Chapter: The Punch and Kick Masters, and another new friend!