She smiled and said, "Shh the show's starting," and leaned back I her seat.
Rex mumbled a few syllables of disagreement then sat back in defeat. He watched the show with mild disinterest . When the show was over he turned to the girl. She smiled again and grabbed him by the wrist and said, "C'mon. I've got something to show you." She pulled him out of his seat then in and out of the crowd and through a door hidden against a wall.
They went down a long hallway that seemed like it was more for staff than the public. Rex asked still being dragged by Misty, "Where are we going?"
She smiled again, "You'll see."
They continued down the hallway until they came to another door this time it led to a very large domed room. The walls were white cinderblocks but the dome itself was glass and above that water. "We're under the pool. The water Pokémon are still there from the show. It's really beautiful. Y'know?"
"Yeah, it is," Rex looked up in awe, "but why are you showing me this?"
"Well for one we can't battle while the Pokémon are still in the pool. We don't want them getting caught up in the battle, and, well, you remind me of someone."
"Really?" Rex asked, "Who are they?"
"Well this boy who I know but never got to show him this."
"Your boyfriend?"
"No, just a boy and a friend. Well kind of…. Its complicated I guess" Misty sighed. Rex picked up that this was true but she wasn't happy about it. Then she half sighed to herself, "Oh Ash."
"Ash? Ash Ketchum? The famous Ash Ketchum the golden boy of Pallet Town is you boyfriend?"
"I told you he's not really my boyfriend per se but yes that Ash. Do you know him?"
"Not personally but I'm from Pallet Town and he's like a local celebrity. You cant go ten minutes without hearing about the great Ash Ketchum."
"Maybe you'll be the next golden boy. You do remind me of him."
"Would you believe me if I said that you're not the first to say that?"
Misty smiled at this and said, "Just do me a favor and don't take my bike. Okay. C'mon the Pokémon are almost all out of the pool and into their aquariums. We can use the battle field."
Rex and Misty waked in silence down a different hallway and through a different door into the same stadium like pool room but at the level of the pool this time. There was a ref on one of the tall custom life guard platforms, "Will the Leader and Challenger take their places." Rex walked to one end and Misty the other. The pool was noticeably different there were several large anchored floating platforms presumably for battling with non-water Pokémon.
The referee spoke, "The battle will be a three on three match. Only the challenger may substitute. Begin!"
Mist threw her Pokéball first, "Goldeen you're up!"
Rex called out, "I'm not gonna take any bikes but I will be taking a Cascade Badge when I leave!"
Misty called back, "You'll have to earn it!"
"Ok then," Rex threw his ball, "Snivey, let's earn that badge!"
Snivey and Joltik Even with their type advantages were only just enough to beat Misty's Goldeen and Staryu before her Starmie quickly took out Joltik. They were both down to their last Pokémon, Umbreon and Starmie.
"Umbreon, go. Take Down!" Umbreon launched itself at Starmie while leaping from platform to platform but only got one solid hit because Starmie was diving in and out of the water.
"Just try and hit Starmie, its faster than Staryu and your Umbreon can't attack from a distance like Joltik." Misty taunted him, "Starmie, Swift then Rapid Spin." Starmie Spun its way around the pool first launching golden stars at Umbreon then its own body. Rex or Umbreon had no time to do anything and Umbreon took the full blow of both attacks.
"Umbreon, Quick Attack." Rex commanded but Umbreon missed again as Starmie dove under the pool and hid.
"Rapid Spin again!" Starmie appeared, struck, and disappeared again.
"Fine if we can't hit you yet, use Moonlight, Umbreon!" Umbreon's ring's glowed momentarily then Umbreon seemed revitalized.
"Heal up all you want but you still can't hit us." Misty said smugly.
"Ugh," Rex grunted through gritted teeth, "She's right. What are we gonna do." Umbreon seemed to sense its trainer's anger and share it.
Umbreon snarled its own name, "Breon!" and lowered its head in concentration. Now Umbreon's eyes glowed. Deep purple. A ripple in the very air colored the same deep purplish black emanated from Umbreon and Starmie left the pool a little as it flew and hit the side of the arena.
Rex though What move was that? He pulled out his Pokédex and learned it was called Dark Pulse.
"That's perfect, Umbreon!" Rex called.
"Starmie, get back in there use Swift."
"Umbreon, Dark Pulse again." Umbreon let loose another ripple of dark energy and dispelled the golden stars. It continued to the purple sea star and threw it against the side of the pool again, "Umbreon finish it with a quick Attack!" Umbreon leapt from the platform at full speed straight at where Starmie hit the wall.
Mist shouted, "Dodge it, Starmie!" but it was too dazed from its repeated blows and Umbreon made contact and did the damage falling into the pool itself.
The referee called the match, "Starmie is unable to battle, Umbreon is the winner. The victor is Rex!"
Misty recalled Starmie, "I guess you earned that badge."
"I guess I did." Rex said smiling.
Umbreon Poképaddled to the challenger's platform and met its trainer with excitement. Misty smiled at him from across the pool. Rex recalled Umbreon and went to meet Misty half way around the pool.
"I guess you'd like that badge huh?" Misty asked smiling.
"I guess I would," Rex smiled back.
"Seel, Bring us the badge please," Misty called toward the pool. A moment later a small white Pokémon with flippers and a tail jumped up on the side of the pool and stuck out its tongue and on it was a small blue teardrop. Misty bent down and patted Seel's head, thanked it and took the badge. She righted herself and held out the badge to Rex, "Here the Cerulean Gym Cascade Badge."
Rex took the badge and put it in his badge case right next to the Boulder badge. "Thank you. I guess I'll be seeing you then."
They walked out of the Gym together. The crowd had dispersed and as Rex was walking away Misty called out, "If you do ever meet Ash tell him to come by a little more often."
"Sure thing," Rex called back.
Thanks for reading. This chapter so far is probably my favorite so I hope you like it as much as I do.
Please continue to read and review. Again thanks for reading.
This geek is out. Seeya
