Scene 51: The Tomboyish Mermaid
[After arriving in Cerulean City, Kari & Eevee meet with a young Trainer named Misty. She's a fun-loving tomboy who just so happens to be apart of the city Gym; however, as the 4th youngest "Sensational Sister" she's not as popular as the other girls and doesn't recognize her own special qualities as a person, let alone a Trainer. It's not until Kari, who sees the sparkle in her eyes, stands up and asks her for an official challenge does Misty start to believe in herself. We've returned to our normal day-wear for each of the girls as they stand poised over the water battle field inside the Cerulean City Gym.]
Kari steps up to the edge of the water. This was the very same pool they had been playing at just the day before. She had no idea this was actually the gym. Her eyes pass over the butler and line of maids standing nearby. As she continues to look over the field, Misty's voice calls her back to the moment, "As you already know, my policy is an all out offensive with Water-Type Pokémon!" Misty smirks at Kari from across the water arena. Something comes splashing from under the water. Kari recognizes the Pokémon: a Seal and its evolved form, Dewgong.
"So beautiful..!" They flip in the air together, splashing back into the water. They swim quickly to the other side, jumping out and sliding up to Misty. Dewgong places something in Misty's hand. It's small, shiny, and blue. She shows it to Kari, "This is the Cascade Badge. If you really want it, then you'll have to beat me. Are you ready?"
Kari laughs. "You know it!" A sweat-bead hangs on her brow, ["Too bad I don't have any Water-Type Pokémon of my own to fight with..!"]. One of Misty's maids takes the center spot as referee and gives the official Gym Rules: Just as with the Pewter City Gym, the Cerulean Gym Leader will use only 2 Pokémon to battle while the Challenger may use up to 6 in order to defeat them.
Misty already has her first Pokéball in her hand. She throws it high in the air to release her Pokémon. Hi-ya! Kari uses her Pokédex to confirm. It's a Staryu, the pre-evolved form of Starmie. She pulls at one of the Pokéballs on her hip, "Then we'll just have to match its Kari speed with some of our own." She calls out Beedrill.
There's a high-pitched shriek. Kari, Eevee, and Bedroll all jump. She looks across the pool, confused. Misty had... vanished..! Kari blinks, "W-where did Misty go..?" Kari turns her head side to side. She notices her friend squirming behind a nearby pillar. Kari cocks her head to the side in confusion, "Hey, Misty, is everything alright?"
Slowly, Misty peers around to look at her friend, "Y-yeah..! Fine! Everything's fine... it's just..." Her eyes glaze over Kari's Beedrill once more. She shudders, speaking to herself, "Oh, why did it have to be a Bug!?"
Kari raises an eyebrow at the row of mades standing nearby. They, of course, know about Misty's fear of all types o bugs. They couldn't only smile apologetically at her. Kari waits as Misty hesitantly makes her way to her stand on the opposite end of the battlefield. She composes herself, "Ahem..! Sorry about that. L-let's get back to the battle, shall we?" Kari nods, gesturing to Beedrill, "Alrighty! Let's do it!" Bzzz! He flies forward. Misty gulps. She shakes her head, "Come on, Staryu! Let's exterminate that pest!" Hi-ya!
Although Beedrill may have the advantage in flight, Misty cleverly uses Staryu's Rapid Spin attack to keep up. At Kari's call, Beedrill continues to weave in and out of Staryu's onslaught of attacks, barely able to dodge them all and getting nicked a few times in passing. The both continue to fly around the room, but neither of them are holding back! Finally, after several long minutes, Beedrill lands an attack with his stinger!
"Oh no!" Staryu is Poisoned! Misty knows she has to act fast. Kari is convinced that she'll win it, but Misty tries something a little different, "It's time we took this match back! Go, Staryu!" It knocks Beedrill out of the air, following closely as he falls. Before Beedrill can recover, Staryu comes crashing down right on top of him and straight into the water, dragging the poor Bug-Pokémon into the deep pool.
Beedrill is unable to defend himself underwater. He tries to use his wings, but they can't even move in the water! Staryu berates him with attacks: repeated Rapid Spins and a flurry of Bubbles, a final hit knocking Beedrill back out of the water and onto a platform. Staryu jumps out and lands on the platform in front of Misty. It's clear to them all that Beedrill won't be getting back up anytime soon. The maid raises her arm, ready to make the call, but before that can happen Staryu collapses! Misty gives a gasp.
The maid catches herself. She looks at the two unconscious Pokémon and makes the call, "Both Staryu and Beedrill are unable to battle. It's a draw!" A double-knockout. The girls return their Pokémon, thanking them for putting up such a hard battle. Misty puts the ball away in her pocket. She looks towards where Kari is standing, cocking a single eyebrow, "Hmm… You're pretty good. No wonder you were able to win those other badges." She prepares her 2nd Pokéball.
Kari must consider her options. She reaches around for a Pokéball when a sudden light shines. Cleffa has released herself from her Pokéball. Eevee and Kari stare at her in shock, "Huh!?" Cleffa's hopping up and down with excitement, though she clearly doesn't understand what's happening. Meanwhile, Misty is already prepped for the next battle. She throws the ball. Her Starmie spins into view, landing splendidly atop the nearest white platform. Kari tries to snatch Cleffa back up, but she's already seen something much more interesting..!
Cleffa jumps just out of Kari's grasp, bounding forward atop the platforms and towards the new friend. Kari's hand twitches as she grasps the empty air in front of her, "N-no! Cleffa! Come back!" Kari wonders if she's ever even battled before. But before Kari can stop them, the maid already calls for the start of the match. Kari stands. She gulps. She lets out a tremendous sigh, scratching the top of her head, "Well, guess we all have to start somewhere..!"
Misty calls out the first attack, but oddly enough, Cleffa is too quick for them. With a wide smile plastered on her face, Cleffa jumps to the side and Starmie slams straight into the platform, flipping it over. Kari's eyes are wide as this scene continues: Misty calling an attack, only for Cleffa to happily bound off in the opposite direction. Cleffa seems to be having fun running around on the platforms, but it's odd movements are too confusing for Starmie and Misty to understand. Misty stamps her foot, "What is up with that Pokémon!? For a cute little thing it sure is good!"
Kari laughs quietly to herself. Who would have thunk it? She clenches her fists, "Use Pound!" With a wide smile on her face, Cleffa hits Starmie. But when their opponents immediately counters, Cleffa goes flying straight into Kari's arms. Shocked and startled by the sudden attack, Cleffa starts crying. Misty and Starmie stop to stare as Kari tries to calm the little Pokémon. Kari's never had to deal with anything like this before..! She tries to rock her up and down, rubbing her head gently and speaking softly. Now the others are watching with confused faces.
Kari gives an embarrassed smile, looking around at them all, "I'm sorry! This is her first battle!" She pats the little Cleffa's head, smiling, "It doesn't hurt that bad, right?" Kari tries to sway her back and forth, to help calm her nerves, but she suddenly starts to glow. Right in Kari's arms, Cleffa is evolving!
They're all bathed in the blue light as the little Pokémon's shape begins to shift. When it dissipates, sitting in Kari's arms is a slightly larger Pokémon they all know as a Clefairy. She blinks, gathering herself. Shaking herself out of the reverie, Clefairy jumps out of Kari's arms, standing upright. Kari is excited now..! She kneels down to her friend, "You ok to go back out there?" Clefairy turns to look at Kari and nods. She's ready.
Clefairy and Starmie go at it for another couple minutes. As the two exchange blows Kari checks Dex for any new moves. One of them sounds like the perfect chance… She has an idea.
As Starmie comes flying out of the water, trying to get behind Clefairy and close enough for a hit, Kari calls out to her Pokémon, "Use Sing!" Without any worries Clefairy turns to face her opponent, her hands placed together and her eyes closed shut as she begins to serenade them. Starmie slows, landing beside Clefairy on top of the water platform. Misty notices the strange way her Pokémon is behaving, "H-hey..! What's wrong? Are you ok?" Starmie begins to sway side to side as Clefairy sings its song. And just like that, Starmie falls asleep, unable to battle! Misty is stunned.
Realizing what she had managed to do, Clefairy turns to Kari with a smile on both their faces. Clefairy jumps to Kari who is cheering for their success. Kari is swinging Clefairy in the air, the both of them laughing, "So? How'd you like your first battle? Fun, huh? I can't believe you actually evolved!" Cleeff!Clefaaairy!
With Starmie back in its Pokéball Misty walks around the perimeter of the pool towards her friend, passing the butler and her maids along the way. They all join Kari on her side of the battlefield. Misty clasps her hands together, "Wow! You're too much! And I can't believe this was Cleffa's, I mean, Clefairy's first battle. Great job!" She pats the Pokémon's head. Misty reaches into her pocket and offers Kari the badge.
Kari stops their celebrations and turns to face them all as Misty begins to speak. Not wanting to be left out, Eevee jumps atop Kari's shoulder for a better look. Between Misty's right pointer finger and thumb is the Cascade Badge in the small shape of a teardrop. The badge catches a glint of sunlight as Kari listens to Misty's words, "You can have the Cascade Badge to show you beat me!" Kari gladly accepts her 3rd Badge and together, with her two Pokémon, the three of them give a cheer.
…
Kari and Misty are sitting on the steps of the mansion as they watch the sunset. Misty sighs, "I guess my sisters were right after all… They're just sensational and as beautiful as sea mermaids, and I'm just…" Kari gives a loud, exasperated sigh, "Did you forget what I said?" Kari cocks an eyebrow, glancing over to her friend, "You are sensational..!" She grabs Misty's hands, "Misty! That was such a great battle. You almost beat me!" Misty is a little embarrassed at the compliment, but is happy nonetheless. Kari thinks.
"And you know…" Kari blushes a little. "Misty you're pretty. Really you are! You're just like…" she gives a shrug, "a tomboyish mermaid. That's it!" They sit staring at each other for a moment. Then suddenly, they both burst out into a fit of laughter at the comment. Misty scruffs up Kari's hair, "Gee, thanks." She sits back on the step. "You know… After all this…" Kari turns to see Misty staring off, longingly, "I think I may want to go on a journey, too… someday." She looks back at Kari. "And I'll make my own dream come true..!"
…
The following morning the girls are standing in front of the large mansion. Misty gives Kari a couple of options on where she could go next. By taking Route 9 she'd make it to Lavender Town, but Route 5 leads to Saffron City. Misty winks down at her, "And there's a Gym there~!" Kari nods, making her choice. But as Kari turns to leave Misty remembers something else. She pulls out something from her pocket, "This TM11 contains BubbleBeam, so make sure you use it on an aquatic Pokémon. Oh and this, too!" She hands her a high-tech purple fishing rod. You click the button and it fully opens up to be used. "And one of my favorite lures- just for you!" The lure is in the shape of a Vaporeon.
"How cute! Thanks, Misty!" The two girls share one final smile. After being given a freshly made lunch by one of Misty's maids, Kari waves and she's off.
That evening, Misty's three older sister return home. She sits with them at dinner after having dressed to impress. As the maids work their way around the table serving the foods and drink, Lily, Violet, and Daisy talk smugly about their latest shopping trip. But no one else is really even listening… Misty pushes the food on her plate around as she sits in-thought. Her chin sits in the palm of her hand, her eyes wandering without anyone really noticing. She just can't seem to get her mind off the little girl that she befriended. A familiar face passes through her mind. The boy from all those months ago. She smiles to herself. After meeting with these strong Trainers, the call for travel pulls at Misty even more…
{{Current Team: Eevee, Raticate, Pidgeotto, Metapod, Beedrill, Cleffa - Cleffairy}}
Total Pokémon: Eevee, Pidgeotto, Raticate, Metapod, Beedrill, Ceffairy, Spearow, Ekans, Sandshrew…
Eevee: Tackle, Swift, Shadow Ball, Hyper Beam
Raticate: Focus Energy, Bite - Hyper Fang, Tail Whip, Pursuit
Pidgeotto: Tackle, Sand Attack, Whirlwind, Quick Attack
Metapod: Tackle, String Shot, Harden
Beedrill: Poison Sting, String Shot - Twineedle, Bug Bite, Harden
Cleffa: Pound, Charm, Encore - Sing