Okay, so to quickly run things over, I'll give the debrief.
We stopped at a Swap Meet in Pompona Town where we met this kid who had a Wobbuffet and wanted to trade it, however no one was willing to make a trade so we stopped to help and managed to persuade a guy to trade, but then he ducked out at the last second when the Pokéballs were placed on the trade machine. Then it turned into a big mess where Jessie somehow bumped into it, dropped a Pokéball into the pod then traded her Lickitung for the Wobbuffet.
After that it was rescuing Pokémon, beating Team Rocket then watching them blast off into the distance. A job well done. However after that we stopped at a Fire and Rescue Grand Prix where we met the Squirtle Squad again and I got blasted with affectionate showers of Water Gun several times that day. It was interesting to say the least, however when it proved that the Squirtle Squad couldn't handle themselves without a leader, Ash's Squirtle stepped back into the slot as Squirtle Squad team leader and helped them win the competition against Team Wartortle, and after seeing how great the Squirtle Squad were with Ash's Squirtle back in the team, he had decided to leave him with the others.
I was sad to see him go but the Squirtle Squad really needed him, so it was a goodbye that was necessary. So after we'd let Squirtle go it was back on the road for us. Right now I was trying out one of my new lures, happily fishing with the others by a sleepy stream. At least, some of us were happy.
"This is a boring way to catch Pokémon." Ash complained grumpily for the seventh time now.
"Be quiet." Misty snapped in a hushed tone, eyes closed in concentration as she focused on her fishing.
"I could have gone out and caught ten of them by now."
"Will you please just shut your mouth?!" Misty yelled suddenly, startling even me from my little fishing trance.
"Don't you think we should just give up?" Ash asked Brock who hummed thoughtfully.
"Hmm…maybe we're using the wrong bait." He suggested, pulling his line in and looking at the special bait grub he'd put at the end of his hook.
"How long are we going to have to sit here like this?" Ash asked so I reached out and smacked his head.
"For as long as we want." I answered him simply. "And with you yammering away with that big mouth of yours, it's no wonder we haven't caught anything."
"I know it seems boring but if we're really quiet then maybe it'll only take another hour." Misty said to him, going back to her gentle tone but Ash looked less than impressed.
"As long as you're quiet I don't care if we're here another two hours." He replied and Misty growled.
"Argh! You're the one complaining about everything, why don't you be quiet?!" Suddenly Misty's line pulled and we all stopped to watch.
"Hey you got something!" Ash said as Misty began to pull on it.
"Reel it in Misty!" Brock encouraged as I sat up on my knees.
"Go Misty!" She grunted, standing up and struggling to pull in whatever it was she had caught.
"Must be something humongous!" She grunted as the line darted from side to side a little.
"Hang on, don't let it get away!"
"You can do it Misty!" I added and we all began cheering for her as she started to wind back her line, reeling in her catch before finally, with one mighty tug something burst out of the water with a large spray, making Misty beam with pride.
"I got it!" We all smiled excitedly until the water washed away to reveal…a beaten up teapot.
"What is it?" Brock frowned as Misty blinked.
"I just caught a tea kettle." She answered blankly.
"Put up a pretty good fight though." Ash pointed out and I couldn't supress my smile. At least Ash knows how to make light a situation.
"Could you throw it back and try for a coffee maker?" Brock asked and Misty instantly turned a stormy face around to him.
"I came here for Pokémon not appliances!" She yelled. "But now we're talking I'm going to have to use more drastic measures to get one!" Misty said whilst glaring ahead, lifting her fist at the water as Ash stepped forwards.
"What do you mean?" He asked her in confusion. "What are you going to use Misty?"
"My secret weapon. Introducing…the Mini Misty Lure!" With that she whipped out a lure from her pocket, a small image of her leaping upwards with one hand spread up to the sky. Aw it's adorable!
"It looks like her." Brock whispered.
"Isn't that going to scare the Pokémon?" Ash asked so I smacked him on the back of the head.
"Be nice." I scolded him as Misty smirked.
"Watch closely guys, you're about to see the dazzling technique of Misty the water Pokémon master!" With that she elegantly tossed her line in, the lure diving down into the water as she held her stance with a smile.
"Since when are you a water Pokémon master?" Ash asked so she dropped her stance and put on a serene face as she answered.
"Well technically I'm not yet but I don't like to get bugged out by technicalities." She sighed softly, wearing a dreamy face. "There's nothing more wonderful in the world than water type Pokémon! When I was a little girl back in Cerulean City, I made a solemn promise to myself to dedicate all my life to learning all about water Pokémon, training them to the very best of my ability and always being their friend!" She declared as we all just stared. Okay, Misty is having a Misty moment. "I want to capture and train as many water Pokémon as I can! And that's why I'm hoping with all my might to capture one today!"
"Misty is kinda scaring me." Ash said quietly.
"She's almost as scary as that mini Misty." She glared at the two of them as I smacked them both on the head.
"Don't mess with me or mini Misty." She told them darkly and they both gulped loudly, making me chuckle and shake my head. Suddenly there was a splash and we all turned to see a blue shape leap out of the water flamboyantly before beginning to dance on a rock with bundles of energy.
"Totodile!" It called in the most adorable little voice before it began to kick its feet and chant happily as it watched us.
"Look! A Totodile!" Brock said as we all gasped.
"It's totally adorable!" Misty squealed as I just stared.
"From the looks of that little dance it's doing it's a pretty happy one too!"
"Yeah!" Ash agreed with Brock as we both flicked open Dexter and the two voices spoke at the same time.
"Totodile, the big jaw Pokémon. Its highly developed jaw is so powerful it can crush practically anything. Trainers beware, this Pokémon loves to use its teeth."
"I knew my patience would pay off and now I've found another wonderful water Pokémon to train." Misty said dreamily but then Ash stepped out in front of her.
"Dream on Misty because I'm capturing this one." He told her but she merely smirked then expertly angled her line.
"Oh no you don't!" The mini Misty soared through the air and towards the Totodile who instantly clamped its jaws around it, holding on as Ash yelled in disbelief.
"No fair! No way!" Misty laughed, turning a mocking smirk on Ash.
"Sorry! My mini Misty was just too fast for you." She crowed but then Totodile frowned, tasting the lure before shaking its head and spitting it out. "What's the matter? Is something wrong Totodile?" Misty asked with a slightly stunned expression. Suddenly the Totodile winked and Misty practically blew the roof. "Did you see what? Totodile just winked at me!" Good thing we're not inside.
"And I also saw it spit out that lame looking lure of yours! Pikachu, Thundershock!" Ash directed as Misty remained immobilised by adoration.
"Pi." Pikachu jumped out in front of Ash and instantly summoned up its electric power. "Pika…CHUUUU!" Twin bolts darted out across the stream and shocked Totodile, making it dance in the air before it dropped down, slightly woozy from the hit.
"Pokéball, go!" Ash yelled as he flung out the Pokéball then caught Totodile with it as Misty gaped.
"Aaaargh! That was a dirty low down double crossing trick Ash Ketchum! That Totodile wouldn't be anywhere near here if it weren't for me and my lure!" Misty yelled as he turned his back on her and glowered before he spun around and yelled back.
"Yeah? Well you don't catch a Pokémon with a lure you catch it with a Pokéball!" He shot back, however they seemed a little too busy to notice that the Pokéball had actually burst back open until the Totodile was dancing in front of Ash and Misty.
"Guess you don't catch this Totodile either." Brock assumed as Ash kicked out in frustration, flailing his arms as well.
"I caught you I caught you now get back in that Pokéball where you belong!" Ash tantrumed and I took a large step back, picking up Togepi and holding her before she could fall into the stream where she had been leaning too close.
"Toge-priiii!" She trilled and I sighed.
"I know, mommy and daddy are having another fight. It's okay kid, stick with me and we'll get through this." Just then Totodile turned to Pikachu and gestured for him to come closer but Ash interrupted them.
"You can make friends later, use your Thundershock!" Ash told Pikachu but then Misty slammed her hand against his face and knocked him out the way.
"Sorry Ash, but the reason this Totodile won't stay with you is because it obviously wants to be trained by me. Like all of my other water Pokémon." Misty told him, holding a Pokéball to hand. "Pokéball!" She called but Totodile smartly leaped back onto its rock and smacked it back to Misty with a powerful Water Gun attack, showering all of us completely. Great. Now I'm soaked!
And we had also been blown back a couple of feet into the tall grass but you know, details. We crawled back through but when we got back, the Totodile was gone. "Huh? Where'd that Totodile go?" Ash demanded frantically, looking around for it.
"I don't know…it was just here…" Misty answered and they both began searching.
"It hasn't been gone long enough for it to have gotten far away, bet you if I hurry up I can still catch it!"
"Can I catch it this time Ash?" Misty pleaded, opting for a different route of attack but Ash merely smirked.
"Finders keepers, losers weepers! Let's go Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu darted off after Ash as Misty growled then turned around to face us.
"Ruby, take care of Togepi!" She said quickly before running after Ash.
"Already on it." I said as I sat on the ground drying us both off. "Right Togepi?"
"Toge-pi!" She trilled happily as I gently rubbed her little body.
"Hey I think I better come too!" Brock yelled before adding under his breath. "They're gonna need a referee." Me? I think I'll just sit here and do some more fishing. "Ruby hurry up!" I growled under my breath before standing.
"Well Togepi, let's go." I sighed, picking her up and grabbed the bags as well, taking them all with me as I followed at a much slower pace.
"Toge-Toge-piiii!" Togepi trilled happily at the flowers and I stopped to pick one for her, smiling at her adorable little face as I put her down then took some photos for Misty.
"You look very cute Togepi." I told her as I put the camera away then picked her up again. "You have to be one of the most adorable Pokémon in existence."
"Toge-Toge!" She agreed and I chuckled softly before looking around for the others. I followed the stream and soon spotted them. Ash and Misty faced one another and Brock stood to the side with a Lure Ball sitting neatly on a blanketed covered rock.
"Oh boy…please tell me we're not doing this." I sighed, walking over to Brock who nodded to me.
"Unfortunately we are. Both Ash and Misty threw their Lure Balls at Totodile, only when they both landed in the bush we couldn't tell which one was who's, so since they're both too stubborn to give it up, we're settling this little dispute with a Pokémon battle." He explained to me so I turned to watch, Togepi in my arms. "I will be the judge and referee of this match and until a winner is determined I will also be in charge of the Totodile." Brock said to the others in his serious tone. "You'll each be allowed to use a total of three different Pokémon and whoever wins the best of three battles wins the match!"
"Now I'll show you who would've won the match we never finished back at the Cerulean City gym." Ash said confidently to Misty who didn't bat an eyelid.
"There's no reason for you to do that Ash, because we both know that the winner would have been me." She replied with equal confidence as I took a seat on the ground, sitting Togepi in my lap.
"I bet you won't think this is so funny when I win that Totodile! The only kind of Pokémon you have are water Pokémon, so I'm going to go with an electric type. Ready Pikachu?"
"Pikachu." He answered, springing forwards with a battle stance ready to go.
"Hmm…okay. Well I guess we'd better get started then." Misty said, unfazed by her total disadvantage with the typing matchup. I could even hear Ash gulp.
"You mean you're not even a little worried?" He asked but Misty only lowered her head, still smiling slightly with a confident expression.
"Not really. As a matter of fact I have a secret weapon for battling Pikachu." She revealed and I looked up with interest. How? All her Pokémon are water types with no kind of attack that would work well against Pikachu. What was she talking about?
"Exactly what kind of secret weapon are you talking about Misty?" Ash demanded with slight worry.
"One that's been right in front of your face all the time! Only now you're going to see it in action! Togepi go!" Misty called and Togepi sprang forwards, chirping happily as she waddled over to stand in front of Misty.
"Wargh!" Ash yelled and Pikachu took several steps backwards in horror.
"Pika?!" Misty folded her arms with satisfaction, eyes focused on Ash as she smirked smugly.
"We're ready to battle whenever you are." She announced.
"The first match will be Pikachu verses Togepi. Begin!" Brock called and lifted his arm which Togepi instantly answered by running towards Pikachu who leaned backwards, unsure of what to do.
"Pi? Pika…"
"What's the matter Pikachu?" Ash asked before thinking. "Uh…how about starting out with your Thundershock attack?" He suggested but Pikachu whirled around and stared at him.
"Pika?" Meanwhile Togepi toddled towards Pikachu, completely oblivious to what was actually going on.
"Okay Togepi, go give Pikachu a big gigantic hug!" Misty directed so Togepi leaped forwards and jumped on Pikachu who caught her, holding her back from him though she chirped and beamed happily, none the wiser to anything as Pikachu turned around desperately to Ash for help.
"Uh…we'll have to attack as soon as Togepi lets go of you Pikachu." Ash said but Misty was already moving on.
"Togepi, hit Pikachu with your best full strength Charm attack!" She called and instantly Togepi gave the cutest expression it could, and Pikachu began to sweat in buckets, staring at Togepi before putting her down and running off to collapse on a stone with a small scream.
"Uh…that attack made me sweat too." Ash said as Brock lifted his hand towards Misty.
"Pikachu is unwilling to battle. Round one to Misty!"
"She beat me…!" Ash said in disbelief, fingers twitching as he stared in shock. Misty cheered, running towards Togepi and danced around with her with joy before giving Togepi a big hug.
"I knew you could do it Togepi!" Misty told her proudly before looking around to Ash. "Let's see what Pokémon Ash is going to use this time." She put Togepi down and let her toddle back over to me, so I lifted her up and settled her back in my lap to watch the battle.
"This time I'm going to use a grass Pokémon because they're really strong against water types. Chikorita! Go!" Chikorita appeared then looked with a focused glare towards Misty. "Even that secret weapon of yours isn't going to save you this time Misty."
"I wouldn't make any more predictions about winning if I were you Ash. Don't forget, you're up against someone who's practically a water Pokémon master!"
"I'm up against a water Pokémon disaster!" Ash yelled back but Misty merely smirked.
"We'll see about that. Go! Staryu!" Staryu leaped out then landed on the ground to face Chikorita.
"It's Misty's Staryu against Ash's Chikorita in the second round. Begin the battle!" Now feeling much more confident, Ash kicked things off with a Razor Leaf attack which Staryu neatly dodged by jumping up into the air then countered with Swift.
For this Chikorita hid under the broad leaf on her head, holding back as much of the damage as she could before Ash directed her to break through it with a Tackle attack. I watched the two of them battle and only then did it really hit me how good Misty really was. Sure I knew she was a gym leader but I've never actually seen her battle before and here she looked pretty determined to win.
However no matter how good Misty was or how high levelled Staryu, you just can't compete with Chikorita's spunk. She smartly dodged Staryu's Tackle and redirected her Vine Whip to catch it, then swung it around in a final grand slam, knocking Staryu out of the battle.
"Staryu is unable to continue. Chikorita wins the round!" Brock announced and the two of them celebrated together as Misty held her Staryu.
"I'm sorry I pushed you too hard Staryu but you know I only did it because I have a lot of confidence in you." She said to Staryu who nodded its head in return. My stomach began to grumble and I knew it was getting towards dinner time so I got up, picked up Brock's bag then headed a little further downstream with Togepi to start on some food, because no doubt Ash will be pretty hungry after this battle.
"Here Togepi, you can help me." I said to her with a smile. "Now you hold this very carefully and don't drop it." I said, handing her a carrot which she held with a chirp and a chirpy expression. That's our Togepi!
Out of the corner of my eye I could see the battle, the final decider against Bulbasaur and Poliwag, a Pokémon Misty had caught only recently. You see, when Brock, Ash and I had accidentally startled some Vileplume we breathed in a lot of Stun Spore which made us sick and Misty had to go get us some sort of weed to help cure us. That's when she met Poliwag who had helped her pull up the weed from the bottom of the lake, becoming friends along the way and since Poliwag had been alone so long, it decided to team up with Misty.
It was a very cute Pokémon though very slimy to cuddle. But I loved cuddling it anyway. Suddenly I heard Misty cry out so I turned around from my soup to see Poliwag collapsed on the ground, however it was now glowing. Woah! Poliwag is evolving!
Slowly Poliwag grew arms and its large tail disappeared as it also grew bigger, until finally the light died out and we were left with a Poliwhirl. Misty gasped in awe and joy, clasping her hands together as she beamed down at her newly evolved Pokémon. "My Poliwag evolved into a Poliwhirl! Now I'm going to have a totally new Poliwhirl and a totally new Totodile!"
I chuckled then began to add a few seasonings to the soup for extra tang just as it said in one of my new cook books, following the recipe carefully for a quick, easy but deliciously filling soup. I listened to the battle and it appeared that Poliwhirl put up an excellent fight, but Bulbasaur was just that little bit stronger and had the type advantage. So yes. In the end…Ash won.
And we're still hearing about it three days later.
