Upon cresting the little hill that marked the first road into Cerulean City, Ash had not expected to be able to see the Cerulean Gym from this distance. Though, he did not realize it was the gym until he and Dawn were on its street. He and Pikachu gawked up at the now more imposing size, noting the scaffolding.

They were expanding, again? Gone was the massive Dewgong statue and the pink-and-yellow circus-tent-like top. He saw great metal frames over the now plain top of the gym. He tilted his head, seeing markings in the grass to denote… something? He wasn't sure what.

"Hey," Ash asked, nudging Dawn's side with his elbow. "What the heck is all this?"

She shrugged, palms skyward. "Heck if I know. Prinplup?"

"Priii." The water type looked to Pikachu.

The electric type's ear merely twitched.

"Jeez, how is it that you've always got that clueless look on your face?" came a taunting voice.

Before Ash could process it, having been preoccupied with trying to puzzle through the mystery of the white marks on the grass, there was a finger flicking his nose. "Hey!" he retorted. "What's the big-Misty!" His tone turned chipper.

That would explain why Pikachu hadn't warned him of the offending presence.

The red head chuckled, looking rather proud of herself. "The one and only!" Hands on her hips, she looked towards Dawn. "Who's this?"

Dawn cooed, recognizing her from mentions in passing by Brock and, on occasion, Ash. "Oh, wow, it's so good to finally meet you!" Ever confident, Dawn introduced herself with a jerk of her thumb towards her chest. "I'm Dawn of Twinleaf Town and this is my starter Prinplup!"

"Prin-prin!" the water type boasted, puffing his chest out in greeting.

"We're just gonna ignore how you called me clueless even though you're the doofus with your gym looking like a trash pile?" Ash snarked. He was, perhaps, a little put out at having not had the coolest greeting out of the group; his pride was bruised.

"We're renovating!" Misty hissed.

"They're putting graffiti on your grass," Ash argued. "Looks like trash."

"It's the outline for the canal!" Her fist clenched. Despite the years and despite her growing maturity, Ash, somehow, had the knack of bringing out her temper. It came with familiarity. "It's to connect the gym to the river! Use your brain!"

Ash's brows rose. "Wait, all the way to the river? Like, to Cerulean Cove, then? Whoa, that's cool!" Dismissing the two girls, Ash turned to Pikachu. "Let's see if it goes to the river, buddy! That's a big, big canal if that's what they're doing!" Without further warning, Ash went sprinting off.

If Dawn wasn't used to his physical prowess by now, she might have worried that he wouldn't return for his match. Instead, she decided to use this time to get to know Misty. She smiled, pointing towards the gym door. "Wanna give us a tour?"

"Yeah," Misty replied, flipping back into a happy smile. "You might actually learn something without Ash here."

Dawn giggled as she and Prinplup followed after Misty. "Aw, I'm sure he'd know plenty about the Pokémon! … That's all I'd know, either!"

Misty quirked a brow as the two entered the aquarium section of the gym. Prinplup grew distracted, watching the strange creatures flutter within the cases. He had seen them at the markets, sometimes. They were not Pokémon. What were they called? Pheesh? Feesh? Phish?

Meanwhile, the gym leader began her tour. "I dunno what he's told you, but let me clarify where this is. It's the Cerulean Gym. We do not do water ballets anymore." A pause. "Well, we don't do them in my gym section. My sisters… still want space for it, but, uh, that's what the renovations are for." She waved her hand dismissively. "My part is my part and their part is their part."

Dawn cooed in awe. "Whoa… You earned the funds to do this?"

"Well, the league gave us some grants, but we only got 'em cause I'm just that good." She grinned, hands on her hips. "I might be the second gym leader most newbies usually hit up, but I've got team set ups for even veterans. Hope Ash hasn't gotten it into your head that he'll put the whoop on me. I'd hate to embarrass him in front of more friends."

Dawn blinked, thinking it over. More friends…? Misty had met-oh, that's right! Misty and Ash were close, weren't they? It seemed they were close enough for Jessie and James to prod about her. With a reputation like this, it suddenly made sense that Samurai asked about her. Was that why Ash was so protective of the lure that looked like her? Misty did seem very cool.

But, Dawn was a proud girl. If other people were being cool and bragging, she would brag, too!

"Maybe I'll get a place like this for me, too, if I ever have my own contest hall," Dawn decided. "Oh, maybe a coordinator tutoring field, like my mom. Maybe a boutique, like Lila!"

"Lila?" Misty echoed. "Your mom's a coordinating tutor?"

Dawn tucked the still-curious Prinplup under her arm as the group neared Misty's battle field. "Lila's a Poké Stylist, like, a good one. She makes clothes for Wallace. And, my mom's a top coordinator. One of the best, actually. I'm gonna be just as good, though. I came second in my first grand festival!"

Misty stilled, taking in the information. "That's cool! All of it! Wow, you know someone that makes clothes for Wallace… And, that's a really good ranking, especially for your first time!" The redhead chuckled. "You're not half-bad, Dawn!"

Dawn crossed her arms, tickled. "You're pretty great, too, Misty!"

The girl's boast session was interrupted by the door banging open. "-where are-oh! There they are!" Ash darted over, Pikachu clinging to his shoulder. "You were right! The canal went all the way to the river! That's so cool, Misty!"

"Did you think I was lying?" Misty snapped.

"I mean, you do lie, sometimes," Ash retorted. He grinned all the same. "I'm glad you're expanding the place! I can't wait for our battle!"

"Yeah, yeah, I got the email," Misty teased. "Aren't you gonna issue me an official challenge, though? I talked with Forrest and he said you and Brock were real showy about yours. C'mon. Make me feel like this is a real challenge, unlike the first time."

"The first time?" Dawn echoed.

Ash quickly sputtered an answer. "The first time was different, 'cause Misty's sisters were involved! Ahaha, did Misty mention their water ballets? The gym was way different with them in charge!"

Buying the obvious lie that had Misty raising a brow in questioning, Dawn clapped her hands together in understanding. "Oh! Wow, I guess the gym really did need a makeover if it left a bad taste in even Misty's mouth..." Dawn raised her hands, Prinplup mimicking her. "Okay! I'll cheer Ash on, but I can't wait to see what Misty does, too!"

With Dawn headed over to the stands, Misty took a moment to assess her old friend. "Aw, you're embarrassed about that old near-loss?"

"See, that's what I'm talking about with you lying," Ash shot back, only a little irritated but mostly amused. "We're gonna figure out a real score right here, right now!"

Twirling on her heel to head towards her side of the battle field, Misty stuck her nose in the air. "Jeez, I already told you I want a real challenge! C'mon, c'mon, don't keep me waiting!"

Laughing, Ash darted to his side as well. "Right, right, okay… Gym Leader Misty of the Cerulean Gym, I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town and I'm challenging you!"

Satisfied, Misty grinned. "I accept! Get ready to get washed away!"

Ash observed the site of their battle. Rather than a standard pool with a couple of floating platforms, the Gym interior sported a much more impressive battlefield to match its renovations; a gigantic pool between the challenger and the leader, with a rocky arch hooking around the challenger's end of the field. Several lower rocky platforms dotted the Gym Leader's end.

"So, this field favors water types," Ash mused. "But, the footholds you gave us will do! What do you think, Buddy?" Ash lifted up his right arm, which hosted Pikachu.

"Pi-ka!" The mouse chirped. This rematch was one they'd both envisioned for ages!

The gates were about to open on a magnificent battle, and the Aura of excitement, with it. That was all the stimuli needed to call a flash of light from Ash's belt; Rosa appeared beside him.

~Oh, is it battle time!?~ Rosa chirped, hopping from foot to foot. ~I wanna watch!~

"Aw, who is that!?" Misty cooed from across the way, bundling up her fists under her chin. "What a little cutie!"

The tiny Pokémon hesitated, studying the redhead. After a moment's recognition, her voice flowed through Misty's mind, as well. ~I'm Rosa! You're… Misty! I bet you're real strong!~

Misty blinked, giving the Pokémon a hard look before letting out an amused sigh. "Telepathy, huh…? Leave it to you to catch a Pokémon like that, Ash. And she's already heard of me~! Finally learned to start putting a good word in?" She winked.

"Well…! I. Uh. Y'know!" Ash laughed, dismissively waving his hand. "Of course I did! I didn't want her to just think I was beating a nobody, today."

"Hah!" Misty snorted. "Don't complain if that confidence comes back to bite you. Well, Rosa, how about you go cheer on the sidelines, with Dawn and Prinplup?"

~Okay!~ The Pokémon obliged without question, making a few quick leaps to stand by the other two spectators.

"Now, where were we?" Misty hummed. "...Oh, right! I was about to show you the power of the Tomboyish Mermaid. I choose... you!" Winding up with elegance, Misty spun, tossing her first Poké Ball.

"Politoed!"

Misty's Politoed appeared on a low rocky platform, croaking. That wasn't his only contribution, though; without prompting, dark storm clouds quickly gathered across the entire Gym's ceiling.

"What the…!?" Ash exclaimed.

He was answered with a loud, torrential downpour that stretched even past the battle box. Rain started to patter away at the otherwise calm waters, and soaked Ash and Pikachu, to boot. Off to the side, they heard Rosa complain, until Prinplup shielded her with his wing.

With that worry settled, Ash focused on Misty. "Politoed didn't even use a move…"

"That's Politoed's hidden ability: Drizzle!" Misty explained. "We learned to access that, while you were away. It starts a rainstorm instantly, when the battle begins. I hope that won't be a problem?"

"It won't be a problem at all!" Ash argued. "Especially when we've got the type advantage." Grinning, he gestured his arm forward. "Pikachu! I'm counting on you!"

Pikachu sprinted down the length of Ash's arm, leaping off of his wrist to clear the gap between the pool's edge and the rocky bridge overseeing the waters. Landing on all fours, he exerted sparks from his cheeks. "Pika-chuuu!"

"Type advantage…?" Misty echoed, pursing her lips. Shaking her head, she continued. "This will be a four-on-four match! I want to see what you've picked up, since last time!"

"Fine with me," Ash agreed. "Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!"

"Pika… chu!" Pikachu shrieked, sending a bright bolt of lightning across the pool.

"Protect!" Misty ordered, waving her hand.

Politoed did as told, raising its stubby hands to conjure a translucent, green barrier around its body. Thunderbolt crashed into the shield, harmlessly splintering off into errant bolts.

"Good," Misty praised, "now use Earth Power!"

A punch into the rocky surface started a chain reaction under the pool. Glimmers of gold refracted in the waves as they quickly approached Pikachu, particularly visible, thanks to the bleak lighting provided by the storm. Soon, a gold pillar burst underneath Pikachu's footing.

"Dodge that, Pikachu!" Ash urged. Pikachu was well beyond ready, darting out of harm's way, just as natural power exploded where he'd stood. Ground-type energy burst and shattered the segment of his bridge, sending boulders flying in all directions. Ash grinned; he spotted an opening. "Now, dash on the rocks! Quick Attack!"

"Pi! Pi! Pi!" With a little cattish smirk, Pikachu fired himself at the falling boulders, making quick and precise jumps to zigzag between them to close in on his target. Kicking off the furthest, he rocketed towards Politoed with a silver trail following him. "Pi-kaaa!"

"He's gotten so fast…!" Misty gasped.

Pikachu smashed into Politoed's belly quicker than the water-type could even react, knocking the wind from the creature. Just as it started to recoil, Pikachu kicked off its head, launching himself into a backwards somersault to perch himself atop the still falling rubble.

"Impressive, Pikachu… Scald!" Misty called. Politoed tumbled back, opening his mouth to spit boiling water towards Pikachu. Under Drizzle's influence, its area and power doubled.

"Not that move!" Ash grimaced. "Pikachu! Use the rock as cover!"

Pikachu gripped the side of the stone wedge he'd found, kicking his back legs against its bottom to swerve it vertically; just in time for Scald to splash dangerously against its stony underside. Pikachu avoided direct harm, only feeling uncomfortable heat at his proximity.

What he hadn't accounted for, though, was Scald making even the surface of the rubble unbearably hot. "Pika!" He yelped, releasing the surface in a panic.

"Pikachu!" Ash exclaimed with worry. "It was too hot…"

Gravity was already on its course, but it accelerated Pikachu's drop into the pool, resulting in a small splash. The mouse briefly submerged, paddling his paws until he surfaced with a breath.

Pikachu was stuck in the water; at least until he found solid ground… though, that did give Ash a mischievous glint in his eye. In Misty's, on the other end, horror; they both seemed to realize the compromising situation she'd walked into at the same time. "Politoed! Back on the surface!"

"Let's light up the pool, Pikachu!" Ash cheered, pumping a fist in the air. "Thunderbolt!"

A sizzling current traveled quickly across the water's surface; far too fast for Politoed to escape.

Lowering her head, Misty seemed to know this. "Politoed… use Encore!"

Stranded, Politoed did as told, clapping its hands to send an orb of light towards Pikachu in the exchange. They were fried, and Pikachu was captured in the move's influence.

"Return, Politoed!" Misty called, returning her unconscious Pokémon with a red flash. "Man… Even with Pikachu, I didn't think you'd take us out so fast! I guess I should've known to not let him get too close to the water."

"That's the power of the new-and-improved us!" Ash grinned, brushing his index finger over his nose. "He's powered up a whole lot. Unlucky for you that he decided to battle you, this time!"

"I guess the Tomboyish Mermaid's influence couldn't have a hold on him forever," Misty smiled, shrugging and upturning her palms. "You just had to get in on the action, didn't you, Pika-pal?"

Pikachu, who had already boarded one of the floating pieces of rubble, turned back to flash a peace sign and a cattish grin. "Pi-ka~!" Clearly an eager participant, Pikachu made several leaps and bounds to return to the arch overlooking the pool.

"Pika-pal…?" Dawn echoed, balling up her fists. "Even Pikachu didn't want to fight Misty, back then!? He's never been one to turn down a fight… even with us!"

Just how impressive was Misty…?

"Well, get ready guys. I'm just getting started!" Misty summoned another partner into the fray. "Misty calls… Lanturn!"

"Lan!" The water-dwelling creature appeared on the pool's surface, lighting the dreary gym with its bioelectricity.

"A water and electric type," Ash mused, smirking to himself. "I get it. You locked us into Thunderbolt against Lanturn to take away our type advantage." Locking them into Pikachu's signature move was a suspicious move, indeed. One perhaps worth dwelling on, but the thought didn't so much as cross Ash's mind. He threw caution to the wind, with a hand in the air. "But, that's not enough to keep Pikachu's attacks at bay! Show 'em, Buddy; Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu looked over his shoulder at Ash, frowning. Something didn't seem right about this… but, he was always one to trust his trainer's judgment in battle. He revved up a Thunderbolt, and fired the shocking current over the pool's surface. The attack struck Lanturn, with not so much as a word from Misty?

"No counter attack?" Ash raised a brow. Lanturn didn't seem to react to the Thunderbolt at all. In fact, it looked more like the many amps of electricity were seeping into the Pokémon's lantern, absorbed like a sponge. "It did nothing at all. Is that some kind of ability?" He pulled out his Pokédex, scanning Lanturn.

"Lanturn's ability: Volt Absorb. The Pokémon is immune to damage from Electric-type attacks, and instead, regains vitality."

"You didn't really think I'd give you a free shot with Encore, did you?" Misty scolded. "Even if it is Pikachu. Sorry, Ketchum; you're locked into a move that can't even help you! Lanturn, however… she's free to use Surf, all she wants!"

A rising tidal wave boosted Lanturn high above surface level, bolstered by the continuous downpour. Surf's extra power damn near turned it into a tidal wave, threatening to even crash over Pikachu's high arch.

"We may not be able to damage you," Ash said, "but we can still trip up your attacks. Thunderbolt!"

"Pika…!" Pikachu surrounded himself in crackling gold, and fired his shot at Surf. "Chu!"

Thunderbolt crashed into the wave's foundation, breaking the roaring waters with the move's raw heat. Surf's crest collapsed under the duress, knocking Lanturn from its high perch.

"Got you!" Misty grinned. "Confuse Ray!"

The sea creature was now eye level with Pikachu, and used that to its advantage. An extremely bright, disorienting flash of light startled the small mouse. His white pupils expanded, and the world around him became a blur.

"Pikachu!" Ash, who'd guarded himself from the light with his cap, squinted at the fading flash to find his partner. Pikachu hadn't lost his rocky shelf, but something definitely wasn't right. Ash grimaced.

"Piiiii…! Pika…." Clumsy, aimless steps carried Pikachu around in a thoughtless daze.

"Crap, he's confused," Ash hissed. "You've gotta snap out of it, Buddy! Listen to me!"

"Pi-ka!" A Thunderbolt fired off randomly, just missing Ash. Another followed, and a third after that.

"He can't hear a word I'm saying…!" Bad news settled into even worse news, as a troubling realization weighed down on the trainer. "And, he won't go in his Poké Ball… I don't have a way to get him back."

Across the pool, Misty watched with a raised brow. He'd formally made the call to return, but if Pikachu wasn't cognizant enough to do so… "Talk about a rare situation… Lanturn, stand by!"

"Lan!"

Back in the fray, Pikachu clumsily tripped over his own feet, his face hitting the rock. "Ka!?" Impulsively, he let off a strong shock, blasting through the structure he stood upon. A rocky, uneven stairway formed by his bolt led to a hole in the stone; an easy fall towards the water, below.

"Pikachu! Damn it, hang on, Buddy!" Ash reached for his cap, flipping it backwards on his head as he took several steps backward in preparation. Once he had a clear path, he sprinted towards the edge of the pool.

"Ash!?" Dawn exclaimed from the sidelines.

Her worries went unheard, as Ash hit the pool's edge, and leapt. Reckless as he ever was, he cleared the distance… but, he couldn't quite get enough height. "Ngh…!" Ash grunted. He'd grabbed an uneven rocky edge. Gritting his teeth, he put his upper body strength to work, dangling momentarily before pulling himself up. Rolling over the side of the surface, he gasped in relief.

Unfortunately, there was little time to rest; a very confused Pikachu was stumbling down the crater he'd created, teetering just over the drop. Ash lunged forward without thinking, snatching the mouse into his arms before rolling over on his side. "Ngh…! There, Buddy. You're not sinking, on my watch."

Dawn released a long-held sigh of relief from the sidelines. "That was a close one… Is that even allowed!?"

"It's definitely teetering on the bounds of interference," Misty replied. "But, I don't think there's any precedent for returning a Pokémon who hates their Poké Ball. I'm the Gym Leader, so I'll allow it. I'd feel like too much of a jerk, disqualifying him after making that jump."

"Pikachu." Back up top, Ash lightly jostled his partner. "Hey, Pika-ARRGH!" An accidental Thunderbolt sent a vicious shock through his body. It certainly didn't help that he was soaking wet, from the rain! "Pi… ka… chu…!" Ash sounded out through grit teeth. Stubbornly, he hugged the mouse to his chest. "Snap… out of… it…!"

"...Pi?" The charge stopped. Pikachu blinked, looking up at his trainer. "Pikapi!"

"Pikachu!" Ash beamed at his partner. Relief washed over him like the rain-pitter-pattering on his charred arms. Luckily, it was beginning to wash away the soot he'd accumulated. "Thank goodness… Let's give you a break for now, huh?" Then, he heard a taunt echo from below.

"You done showing off, up there, Mr. Hero?" Misty jeered, smirking with a hand on her hip.

"Oh, please. You call that showing off?" Ash got back on his feet, patting an open palm against his chest. "That was nothing. I'd do anything for Pikachu! Come hell or high water."

"Pi~!"

"Yeah, yeah. You've gotten a little less shrimpy, but your stunts haven't changed much at all."

"And, why should they? All's well that ends well, right?"

"I wouldn't continue testing my luck… but, I don't expect you to listen. Come on down, so we can continue our match!"

"Aye-aye!" Ash saluted the redhead, and hopped off the elevation to stick a crouching landing in the center of his trainer's box.

On the sidelines, Dawn frowned, crossing her arms over her chest in a guarded fashion. For reasons she didn't understand, she was feeling tense. 'All of those stunts he just did… It really would've been a lot easier to switch Pikachu out, in the first place! What's he thinking?'

With Pikachu sitting safely in the middle of the decorative Starmie serving as the trainer's box, Ash turned back towards his opponent, frowning. "That Lanturn of yours is giving us some trouble, but it's nothing we can't handle!" With a swift toss, he called his next Pokémon to stand atop the rocky bridge on his end. "Let's go, Snorlax! I choose you!"

Gargantuan feet took hold of the rocky ridge, laying pressure into the already damaged structure that Pikachu had wrought his wrath upon. Towering over the varied terrain of land and uneasy waters below him, Snorlax let out a rumbling roar. "Lax…!"

"We can't afford another Encore locking us in, or that nasty Confuse Ray," Ash narrated aloud, tightening a fist. "There's only one other option! We'll take our opponent down in one shot!" With a wide grin and and a showy toss of his hand, Ash shouted, "Hyper Beam!"

Beads of orange, volatile energy built in Snorlax's wide mouth, and were fired as an explosive, devastating beam that split the arena's waters; cutting through waves like a hot knife through butter.

Misty gasped. "Lanturn!"

The Water-type nodded to Misty, just as it was submerged by a coming tidal wave, which was lit with a bright and foreboding shimmer.

As Hyper Beam detonated, the recoil of the move came back to Snorlax; solid stone beneath his feet collapsed under his weight, crumbling to rubble. The sleepy giant came down with the debris, throwing his aim off-course. Hyper Beam slashed across the side tiers of land on Misty's end, and even climbed higher as Snorlax crashed into the uneasy waters.

The harsh crashing of glass could be heard. Large, hazardous shards of glass rained over the bleachers. If one were to look above, there was a smoldering hole blasted in the glass ceiling overlooking the Gym.

"Holy molly-!" Dawn gasped, guarding herself from the waves splashing over the perimeter of the pool. "Snorlax is that strong!?"

"Oh, you've got to be kidding!" Misty shrieked; voice hardly audible over the move's explosive aftermath. Destroying part of the field was one thing; in high-level matches, it was bound to happen. But, the Gym itself!? "Ash, look what you did!" Scowling, she pointed to the damaged roof. "Are you trying to defeat Lanturn, or the infrastructure!?"

"...Whoops." Ash rubbed the back of his neck, taking in the damage he'd done. Part of the earthy footholds the battle field offered was decimated. But worse than that, there was the ceiling… "My bad, Mist! I guess I screwed up our aim-"

"You're damn right, you screwed up!" Misty cut him off. "I won't hold Snorlax responsible, since he was just following your orders. But, you should know better than to fire off an attack like that on a shaky foundation! Use your head."

"Yeah, well…!" Ash argued back with a fist raised. As quickly as he'd opened his mouth, though, he found no excuses to prattle off. "Well… forget that! Did you see the power on that attack? Pretty damn impressive, huh!?"

Shaking her head, Misty let the subject drop with a sigh. "It was impressive," she agreed. Despite that, she smirked. "But a lot of good all that power will do, when your foe is underwater!"

Ash's shoulders dropped, along with his spirits. "Say what!?"

As Snorlax surfaced in the pool, ever buoyant, Misty triumphantly raised a finger. "Confuse Ray!"

The slippery Lanturn surfaced on cue, right in front of Snorlax's face. A blinding, disorienting light glimmered from the Pokémon's bioluminescent lure, leaving the mammal no time to defend.

"Oh, no!" Ash exclaimed. "Snorlax!" Like his Pokémon, he was helpless against the status move. Forced to watch his normally lax Pokémon flail about aimlessly in a lame attempt at staying afloat. Hoping to save face in whatever sliver he could, Ash recalled Snorlax. "Return," he muttered, cheeks burning red with embarrassment.

On the other end of the pool, Misty pursed her lips, giving Ash a scrutinizing stare.

"The next round will be different," Ash told himself. "Croconaw, I choose you!"

The Poké Ball thrown summoned a flash of light atop the remaining arch of land, taking the form of a cheery, frolicking biped. "Cro-cro-cro!" The gator quacked, twirling on the tips of his toes.

"Ohmygosh, ohmygosh! Toto- I mean, Croconaw, you evolved!" Misty cooed, cupping her face with her hands. With a squint, one might see sparkles in the Gym Leader's eyes. "Aw, I've missed so much…!" There was a puff in her cheek. Perhaps regret from that missed capture, long-ago?

Whatever may have been on Misty's mind, it was shaken off with haste. Grinning, she gestured high. "Use Thunder, Lanturn!"

Ash's brow furrowed. "Watch out, Croconaw!" As powerful as Thunder was, its unruly strength could often be its undoing. With questionable aim, Croconaw's nimble moves could easily outwit even the most dangerous bolt of lightning!

As electricity gathered on Lanturn's lure, though, it didn't make an arc for Croconaw. Instead, it climbed into the storm clouds of Drizzle!

"That's weird…" Ash muttered. Seeing a flash in his peripheral vision, he gasped.

Thunder crashed down on Croconaw like a pillar of lightning, frying the crying Water-type on the spot. The blinding flash faded, leaving a hurt gator in its wake. "Croc…"

"What, Meowth got your tongue?" Misty taunted. "As a water-type user, I get a lot of perks out of battling in the rain. The fun doesn't stop with powered up water attacks, though; did you know what happens when you use Thunder doing a storm?"

Ash's eyes drifted towards the rain clouds hovering overhead. Residual sparks of gold danced between puffs of black and grey; some even lingered from near Lanturn. The gears in his head started to turn. "...Of course! The storm channels the electricity!"

"Right!" Misty affirmed. "The weather itself becomes a weapon; it means perfect accuracy!"

"Well, color me shocked." Ash whistled. "I had my eyes peeled for Confuse Ray!" The trainer laughed, resting a hand on his hip. "You're really something else, Mist."

"She's something else?" Dawn echoed, knowing full well what that expression was usually supposed to mean. She paused, momentarily. "What's that supposed to mean? She's a really good battler, but he's acting odd, right?" she asked. "He's battled people this strong before. What's he mean that she's something else?"

Prinplup gave Dawn a decidedly pitying look before returning to cheering for the match. Rosa, on the other hand, was perfectly confused.

~I think so!~ she offered. ~I dunno! He seems nervous, though!~

Nervous for what?! Dawn wondered.

'I've gotta find a way around that Thunder,' Ash recounted in his head. If he couldn't find a way to dance around a guaranteed hit, Croconaw would be toast. He smirked. Perhaps he already had the answer. "Let's go, Croconaw! Dragon Dance!'

A red, vibrant aura built around the prancing and dancing croc. Dragon-type energy coursed through his veins a show of fighting spirit, boosting his agility and attack power.

"What's he up to…?" Misty raised a brow. A quick power-up was handy, but it couldn't do much to undermine Thunder, could it? "Use Thunder, Lanturn!"

Lightning escaped the fish's lure, soaked up immediately by the dark storm clouds. Quickly dancing through their smoky veil, it was sure to come crashing down at once.

"Here we go… Croconaw! Use Aqua Tail, straight above you!" Ash commanded, pointing to the ceiling.

"Cro!" Croconaw obeyed, trusting his trainer's judgment. A cyclone whipped its way around the Pokémon's tail, climbing into a widening spiral of water; just in time for Thunder to come crashing down.

Ash braced himself upon hearing the deafening crash. Thunder struck the spiral that Croconaw maintained, filtering the electricity into the whirling waters, rather than striking him directly.

Watching from the sidelines, Dawn gasped. "It's like a Counter Shield!"

"Pretty cool, huh? We caught your Thunder attack!" Ash boasted. From his vantage point, though, the gator was buckling under the electricity, flinching away from wicked snaps that leaked through the water. "It doesn't look like Croconaw can hold that for long… we'll pass that attack on to you guys!" Ash grinned, gesturing to Lanturn. "Go, Croconaw!"

Croconaw whipped his tail around, bringing his shocking torrent down like a hammer upon the pool. Lanturn was bashed with its full weight before Aqua Tail collapsed into uneasy waters.

"Yes!" Ash triumphantly snapped his fingers. "A direct hit! And it looked like a big one."

The ebb and flow of the pool calmed after the impact, and Lanturn surfaced. To Ash's dismay, the Pokémon looked completely content. "Lan!"

"What the…!? It didn't do anything? I know that was a water-type move, but we had a direct hit!"

"And an electric type move," Misty added. "Whatever you did to hurt Lanturn with that Aqua Tail got healed right up, thanks to Volt Absorb! Thanks for the refresher, though!" She winked.

'Stupid… that was so stupid!' Ash growled through his teeth. "Dragon Dance!"

Croconaw did his song and dance, his further power-up given away by his angry crimson glow. Watching from across the pool, Misty gestured to him. "Use Thunder!"

"Aqua Tail, again!" Ash commanded.

Just as Thunder came crashing down, Aqua Tail's spiral caught it, like a strategically placed funnel to keep lightning from overflowing. Notably, though, the span of Aqua Tail was significantly larger, and more violent. Consequently, Thunder did little to throw off Croconaw's groove.

"See that?" Ash boasted, brushing his index finger over his nose. "We're too strong to be thrown off by Thunder, this time!"

"Maybe," Misty agreed. "But, that's quite a current your Croconaw is holding up, Ketchum! It'd be a real shame if he was washed up right out from under it!"

"Say, what!?"

Misty grinned. "Use Surf, Lanturn!"

A guiding swing of Lanturn's fins conjured a rising tide, towering over the rocky structure Croconaw stood upon. Drizzle's generous bonus to Water-type moves continued.

"Shoot… she's gonna waterlog us," Ash said. "Well, if we can't avoid it… then, all we can do is burst right through!" Ash challenged the predicament with gusto, hoping to draw all the attention in the room with a dramatic point forward. "Take off with Aqua Tail, behind you!"

"What'd he say!?" Though Misty couldn't see Ash over the wave, she could hear his bellowing, attention-demanding voice from a mile away. "He's not really going to…?"

He was, though. Croconaw took his trainer's word with full trust in it, aiming his scaly tail behind him. At once, a torrent burst behind him, sending him flying right into the coming wave. His tough hide smacked right into the wall of water; an impact worth wincing at, but Aqua Tail's turning propulsion send him sailing through. Liquid drill abandoned, he shot through the other side.

"That Drizzle may power up your Water moves," Ash smirked. "But, they power up mine, too!" With the wave between himself and the combatants collapsing, Ash knew he had little time to follow up. He punched the air. "Ice Punch!"

Before Lanturn could even process the scene, Croconaw was upon it. Winding up in what seemed like slow motion, the gator coated his fist with a frosty blue, and swung.

It was hard to judge which was louder; the audible 'smack' of a closed fist against flesh, or the pervasive ringing of frost spreading through the air before vanishing in a few frozen droplets against rough waters. All the same, Lanturn was sent skipping across the pool, its back crashing into the rocky elevation closest to Misty.

"Lanturn!" The redhead gasped. "That was a hell of a hit… and one serious gamble!"

"You bet it was!" Ash grinned, brushing his index finger over his nose. "Pretty impressive, huh?"

"You can worry about me being impressed after you've won."

Finding himself short of a real retort, Ash indignantly huffed.

"You shouldn't count ol' Lanturn out, yet. That Ice Punch was something, but you ought to remember…" Misty precluded, as the dual-typed Pokémon emerged with only a glaring bruise on her forehead. "It was the only real hit you've landed on her, so far! Lanturn, Thunder Wave!"

"Did she say Thunder Wave!?" Ash exclaimed. A rhetorical question - he could do nothing while numbing ropes of electricity ensnared Croconaw.

"Naw…!?" The ordinarily nimble Pokémon experimentally shook around his limbs. Even after Dragon Dance, his reflexes were slightly sluggish, and he recoiled at an uncomfortable lack of feeling in his leg.

"Can't say I saw that coming," he grumbled. There was one fact that was starting to tug at Ash, like the very static that plagued his teammate. As much as he wanted to ignore it.

He was losing control of the match.

Shaking his head, he shouted out. "You alright out there, Croconaw? A-okay to continue?"

Looking back, the Water-type stubbornly waved his claws. "Croconaw!" Naturally! He hadn't trained this hard, just to call it quits.

Ash smiled. "That's what I like to hear! Now, as long as you're paralyzed, we're gonna need some more speed… Dragon Dance, again!"

Fighting against paralysis, Croconaw complied. Luckily, he managed to move this time, working his power and speed up into a frenzy.

"Perfect," Ash muttered. "Now, we should still be able to keep up." With the status a constant, overhanging threat, he knew they couldn't be hasty, and put their necks out there, lest his old friend and her formidable water types latch on, and sink their chances of winning. He'd watch her next move, whatever it was, and outdo it with something even better! Stronger, and smarter! Then, and only then, would she see just the kind of trainer he'd become. Then, she'd surely be impressed-

"Pikapi."

"Huh!?" Back to reality. Ash suddenly felt like he'd drifted out of where he stood entirely. Exiting the battle for… whatever tangent he'd gone off on. Now, he only saw Pikachu, staring up at him.

The mouse frowned. He looked awfully concerned; Ash didn't need words to figure that out. How long had he been spacing out, he wondered? Before he could ask that question - if he could articulate it without sounding stupid - Pikachu nodded his head towards Misty.

Misty. Right. His opponent.

Judging by her Lanturn floating serenely on the easing waters, free of any crossfire, the Palletonian put the pieces together. They hadn't done anything. She'd called no moves since his Dragon Dance. Across the way, she was only staring at him. That green-eyed gaze burning holes in him.

Was that… boredom? No - pity!? Was she just sitting there waiting for him to move? The thought made Ash's chest burn up with something he couldn't identify, and didn't care to! He externalized it with a shout. "You think you can just sit pretty against us, huh!? Well, that ain't happening! One more Dragon Dance!"

The lag in Croconaw's movements showed. He was slow to start, tripping over his own feet into an embarrassing face plant.

On the sidelines, Dawn and company watched on. Their sympathy came in the form of unremarking silence.

Ash tutted. "I guess that's our sign not to do that again… Time to close this match out! Croconaw, Aqua Tail on the water!"

Feeling embarrassed, himself, Croconaw flipped back onto his feet, whipping his tail around to hammer the pool with a raging whirlpool. The surface broke, catapulting Lanturn from safety in a burst of mist and waves abound. At that moment, they were face to face.

"Great!" Ash cheered. "Now, use-"

"Confuse Ray!"

Like a siren, Lanturn had lured Ash and his Pokémon, with promises of a sweet chance at victory. A clean shot to shut a frustrating battle down, and invoke a second wind. And much like the same creature of myth, that promise came with deadly consequence. A blinding light, all but consuming Croconaw's mind in a disorienting orbit of lamps robbing him of clarity.

"Damn it!" Ash hissed. In all the fuss over paralysis, Volt Absorb… everything factoring into this match, he'd completely forgotten! "Nothing we can do now! Croconaw, use Crunch!"

In his dizziness, Croconaw found resolve. His foot took hold of solid rock, and he lunged at Lanturn with snapping jowls. He'd chomp and fling his opponent like yesterday's leftovers!

Or, at least, that may have been the idea running through his head, before it collided with the rocky island behind Lanturn, face-first. Unceremoniously, he'd lodged his head inside the surface. His body hung limp, indicating defeat.

Perhaps mirroring his Pokémon, Ash slumped over in sheer awe. The power built up over the course of the round… that made confusion all the more punishing, didn't it?

All the more reason to erase the evidence of that embarrassment - the Pokémon returned to its ball in a flash of red, leaving a gator head-shaped crater in the surface. "Return, Croconaw."

And, then, despite her battle-honed urge to see this through, Misty's loyalty to her friend won out. Ash was acting off. She raised her hand, groaning in irritation. "STOP! Time-out!" She crossed her arms, brows furrowing. "I dunno if that run to the river fried your brain in the hot sun or what, but you're acting off. I'm not gonna have you whine about an unfair battle AGAIN, so me and you are gonna have a talk. C'mon!"

As she left no room for argument, Ash threw a sideways glance towards Dawn, shrugged, and darted off after her. If Dawn did anything more than watch the two disappear down a side-corridor, retreating back into the aquarium section, he didn't see it.

The moment Ash within the corridor, Misty whirled. "Look, you're being extra egotistical today, so you better appreciate me sparing Miss All Cheer and No Critical Thinking a good old fashioned Ketchum-Chewout. What is up with you?! You haven't acted like this since… Since…" She ruffled her hair. "Jeez, it's been that long!"

"Well, maybe I wouldn't have to act like I've gotta do my best if you'd act like you're a little happier to see me," Ash retorted, sulking with his arms crossed. He looked to the side.

"... Oh my god, this really is just like back then," she grunted. "What's your problem?!"

"You're my problem!" he snapped, brows furrowed. He stilled after he said it, instantly glad Pikachu had remained in the gym section. The starter would have snapped him for that ill-worded rudeness. "I mean… You're right. It's just like back then. I…" He swallowed thickly, looking at her. "You're still strong like back then, and you still get on my nerves, and we still have fun, and you're still pretty-"

"Oh," Misty breathed, the pieces falling into place. "Ash."

He would not look at her, embarrassed.

She put her hands on her hips. "Nope. No repeats of that stupid little flirt-and-dodge game we played. Look at me."

With her acknowledgement of his feelings, Ash obliged to look at her.

Her brows turned upwards and her teal eyes wavered in sympathy. "No," she said quietly and quickly. "I'm seeing other people and I don't really wanna pick that up, no offense. You're cute, you're strong, and you're just the right blend of annoying-and-fun that I used to love, but…" She crossed her arms, shrugging. "I figured out how to be more direct. And, other people are more direct than you, too."

As gentle as she was being, the rejection still hurt. "Oh," Ash echoed. "Well, crap." He rubbed the back of his head. "... This is embarrassing."

She waved her hands. "You'll get over it. I did." She paused. "Wait, did you say embarrassing? Don't… you mean disappointing?"

Ash fumbled, looking for the words. Being rejected had obviously not been fun, but he didn't feel devastated. He supposed he had never been devastated by whatever was going on between him and Misty, but he knew it had burned more in the past than it did now. He knew the knowledge of her seeing other people didn't burn him now like the idea of her once going off with that guy in the Orange Archipelago had pissed him off a few years ago.

"... I think we've just been apart a while," he finally put together, "and it was worse to finally, uh, talk about it than to avoid it, like we had been."

"Well, don't keep doing that," Misty deadpanned. "That's gotta be the most annoying thing in the world that you do."

"Worse than when I used to make fun of your sense of fashion?" Ash shot back, unable to help himself.

"Oh, okay, you don't want my romantic advice," Misty reasoned, tone light and playful but the threat of leaving him to flounder aimlessly still very much so on the table. "That's fine. It'll be funny seeing you single at my wedding in ten or so years."

"Yeah, 'cause you could afford to pay for me eating my feelings at your wedding," Ash snarked right back.

With a roll of her eyes, Misty shoved him lightly. "Well, if you need to go eat your feelings now, we can say you got heat stroke from trying to race to the river or whatever. We don't even have to tell Dawn what happened here."

He was grateful for her offer to cover for him. Misty had always been protective of him. "Thanks, but I'm ready to go." He grinned. "You said I gotta tackle things head on, right? So, let's do it!"