The next day had arrived and it was early dawn as Ash awoke to Pikachu's friendly smile.
"Good morning, buddy, at least I wish it were..." Ash grumbled as he crawled out of bed, got dressed and went downstairs. "Morning, Mom, all right that smells great!" Ash exclaimed examining his breakfast buffet.
"Well, I figured you'd need your strength, you've got a big battle coming up, sweetie. Ash, honey, don't underestimate your father's battle tactics, he isn't a Pokemon Master for nothing. I hope you thought well on your choice of Pokemon. I don't want to pressure you Ash, just do your best no matter what the outcome of the battle is or what happens, I'll always love you and besides all I care is that your father comes home and apologizes but, even if he doesn't it won't be your fault. Ash, remember that." Delia said.
"I'm not going to lose, mom, I want him to say sorry and come home too, but I also want to beat him, and show him that he can't just leave us and get away with it! He's not the only great Pokemon trainer in the family! Also, I'm using my strongest Pokemon and a variety of types. I even had Liza send Charizard over from Charrific Valley." Ash said confidently.
"That's my Ash! We're meeting Misty and Violet at the harbor at 9:00 so we better go now." Delia stated.
"Right, Mom! Ya ready, Pikachu, next stop the battle of a lifetime!" Ash exclaimed profoundly as he, his mother and Pikachu set off towards there destination. They all arrived at the harbor in Seafoam Island and instantly saw Misty and Violet.
"Hey, you guys!" Misty called out grabbing the attention of Ash and his mother.
"Hey, like, totally over here!" Violet called
"Hey, Misty, Violet!" Ash said greeting them, than they sat down on a bench to wait for their ferry. The brisk, crisp ocean air blew up on them creating a cool breeze as the group began stirring up a casual conversation.
"So, Violet, do you happen to know how long it'll take to get to the Orre region?" Delia asked.
"Well, like the captain totally said it'll take like 12 ½ hours and like with a pit stop it'll take like three hours more so it'll be like 15 hours, give or take." Violet replied.
"Well, considering we're all the way out on the dock of the Seafoam Islands and first we've got to get to Gateon Port, that's not too bad. One night on the boat, right?" Delia said
"You're right, Mrs. Ketchum, besides it'll give Ash plenty of practice time. You can battle me it would do you good to battle the Cerulean City gym leader." Misty said anticipating a challenge.
"You bet, Misty! I'm looking forward to it I can't remember last time we battled and we'll be on the ocean, don't think I forgot water Pokemon are your specialty!" Ash exclaimed enthusiastically.
"All aboard!" the captain shouted as the gang hopped aboard and Team Rocket caught eye of the "twerps" and followed them on board. Than the S.S. Anne set sail on its voyage to Gateon Port, Orre. They all explored the boat as the sea breeze flew across them and wingull flew above. The salty aroma of the ocean lingered around them which set Misty in a great charisma. Ash dashed about the boat with Pikachu ignoring the wet floor sign.
"Ash look out for that-" Delia warned belatedly as he slipped and crashed right into some fishermen sending one of them spiraling off board and making the rest lose their catch.
"Ash Ketchum, what did I tell you about always running around without watching where you're going!" she scolded.
"Man overboard!" Ash yelled sarcastically.
"Very funny, young man, now apologize to these people at once!" Delia demanded.
"Sorry." Ash said bluntly.
"Yeah, sorry ain't gonna make up for all the magicarp we just lost! Not to mention we gotta stop off schedule cause a you and your recklessness Frank splashin' around down there like a psyduck!" the fisherman yelled furiously.
"I'm very sorry, sir, I assure you it won't happen again." Delia apologized for her son.
"It better not or I'll see to it that the captain knows and he won't let cha off so easy, now will 'e sonny?" The old fisherman continued.
"Sorry!" Ash apologized again to the spiteful old man and Pikachu flared up at him.
"Starmie, go get that man out of the water!" Misty ordered as she released the purple, star-shaped, faceless, water Pokemon out of its Poke' ball. Starmie carried the man back ashore to dry land.
"Thanks a bunch, miss!" The younger fisherman said graciously to Misty.
"No, problem! Thanks Starmie!" Misty said recalling Starmie to its Poke' ball.
"Sorry about that, mister!" Ash said remorsefully.
"It's fine, kid, it was just an accident, after all!" the man said in forgiveness.
"Sweetie, you've got to be more careful!" Delia said.
"Sorry, mom!" Ash said getting tired of the tedious apologies.
"So, Ash wanna have our battle now so our Pokemon will have plenty of time to rest up later?" Misty suggested.
"Misty's got a point, dear, you should practice your strategies now." Delia agreed.
"Alright then now it is! I saw a battlefield on the port deck, y'know before I nearly killed that guy." Ash said as they all raced down to the battlefield little did they know Team Rocket was running the battlefield as a scam to catch Pikachu.
"Hey, referee will you ref for us, please!" Ash cried out to the referee.
"Ugh, sure thing, twer- er um I mean young man." James said on disguise as a battle referee.
"Are you ready to battle the Cerulean City gym leader, I'm nothing to scoff at, Ash I've gotten a lot stronger since we've last met!" Misty beckoned.
"Yeah, well I'm nothing to stick your nose at either, I've got ugh…four times eight…is um… … Eight badges in four regions, top four at the Sinnoh League, battle frontier and Orange League Champ!" Ash boasted.
"Well I hope your battling skills are a whole lot better than your mathematical skill,
Mr. thirty-two badges." Misty mocked.
"Alright the 3-on-3 battle between Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town and Misty the Cerulean City Gym Leader will now begin!" said James as he raised the flags signaling the trainers to begin.
"Okay, Misty, you can go first like you once said, ladies first." Ash offered.
"Alright then I choose you, Corsola, go!" Misty shouted summoning the pink coral-like Pokemon to the arena.
"In that case, Sceptile I choose you!" Ash cried.
"OMG Ash like totally has the upper hand, like totally!" Violet commented.
"That's my Ash!" Delia remarked, proudly.
"Don't think that just because you have a type advantage you'll win, Ash Ketchump" Misty bantered.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Mist-… Never mind Sceptile, use leech seed!" Ash commanded as the vines entangled Corsola in an array of roots that slowly drained the energy out of it.
"Oh, no, Corsola!" Misty panicked "Corsola hydro-pump hurry!" Misty cried as a direct hit inflicted Sceptile sending it flying back a few steps but did little damage.
"Hang in there, Sceptile and use your Petal Dance!" Ash shouted.
"Oh, no Corsola, dodge it!" Misty said but, it couldn't evade the attack because of the leech seeds previous damage then the petal dance struck Corsola and took it out.
"Corsola is unable to battle, Sceptile is the victor!" James declared.
"Way to go Sceptile you deserve a good rest." Ash said as he withdrew Sceptile knowing that it would suffer from confusion from the Petal Dance move, anyway.
"Psyduck, go!" Misty said sending out the dopey, simpleminded duck Pokemon.
"Psyduck? Are you kidding?" Ash said laughing at her decision.
"Hey, you're hurting Psyduck's feelings, knock it off, Ash stop being so insensitive!" Misty scolded.
"Sorry, sorry but I don't even think Psyduck can tell when it's being insulted. Okay, buddy you think you can handle Psyduck?" Ash ridiculed as he sent Pikachu out for battle.
"Psyduck, is like totally an embarrassment, like totally humiliating to our gym's reputation!" Violet said sulking.
"My Ash is doing very well, why am I not surprised!" Delia said pridefully.
"Pikachu, aim for the head!" Misty called.
"Oh, please Misty, I know it's been awhile but I haven't forgotten Psyduck's special confusion attack! I'm not dumb enough to give that quack a headache! Now, Pikachu thunderbolt then finish it off with iron tail!" Ash ordered.
"Psyduck, get out of the way!" Misty yelled in frustration but Psyduck just stood there completely ceased to move, it just stood there with an oblivious expression on its face as Pikachu's thundershock fried that dumb duck to a crisp.
"Oh, no, Psyduck!" Misty cried.
"Psyduck is unable to battle Pikachu wins!" James said raising the flag to Ash's side. Then he gave a wink to Meowth and Jessie signaling them that it was time for their plan to go underway. Suddenly, Jessie dashed by and pivoted Pikachu right off the battlefield right off the battlefield and than enclosed it in an electric proof capsule.
"Team Rocket! Give me back my Pikachu!" Ash shouted.
"Ugh, you three… Give up, already, enough is enough." Misty yelled. "You're interfering with our battle!" She continued.
"Well I don't care Kanto region twerpette! You're history, what're you even doing here?" said Jessie.
"Ah, give it up you old hag." Misty remarked.
"OLD HAG!" Jessie yelled.
"Calm down, Jess" Meowth stated.
"Team Rocket, stop following my son around and stealing his Pokemon can't you just leave my little boy alone!" Delia screamed, annoyed by Team Rocket's constant stalking her child.
"You really ought to get a restraining order against them…" Violet threw in.
"Not, unless he's willing to give up Pikachu!" James replied.
"Never!" Ash shouted and he sent Staraphtor to the sky to pop the balloon as Pikachu conveniently landed in Ash's arms. Then Team Rocket chanted simultaneously "We're blasting off again!" as they faded out into the horizon.
"Well, now that they're out of the way want to continue our battle? Huh, come on Ash, what's wrong?" Misty pestered.
"Not now." Ash said bluntly as Misty tried to chase after him but she was stopped by Delia grabbing her shoulder and nodding her head in disapproval.
"Let him go he needs time to think he's got a lot on his plate." Delia explained. They watched Ash stare out into the beautiful sunset leaning on the edge of the boat as the gentle seaside breeze whisked through his lush black hair, he was in such deep thought and it was like Pikachu could read his mind as it hopped up on Ash's shoulder to comfort him.
"Oh, Ash, my poor little baby, he's only a child. Look at what I've worried him with much more than a child of his age should have to deal with. I'm not much of a help to him either, I put so much pressure on him. I don't care if Ash loses, he very well might, my husband is a master. Of course I want Ash to win, to get back at Red but maybe if he just sees Ash that'll be enough to get him to come to his senses, return home. Even if he doesn't come home it's certainly not my little Ash's fault. Oh, my little boy… he deserves a better mother than me." Delia vented to Misty and Violet feeling extremely guilty for all of Ash's stress.
"Oh, that's not true, Mrs. Ketchum I think you're a great mom! What Ash does deserve is a better father." Misty said.
"Thank you, Misty" Delia replied.
"I've just gotta beat him for Mom, for myself for everyone. I just got to get him to come home, I have to." Ash thought as he stared at the beautiful evening sunset on the sea's horizon. The next day arrived and the group had reached their destination; Gateon Port, Orre.