Ch 8: The Water Flowers of Cerulean City.
Another two days passed before the group finally reached the edge of Cerulean city.
"Finally, we're here." Serena said. They stood at the top of a hill overlooking the city. Cerulean city was surrounded by trees and a small lagoon on the north end.
"This city looks nice. I've actually never been here before." Ash said.
"We should probably get to the pokemon center first." Serena said.
"Agreed." Ash said. The group made their way through the streets, and saw each building had several trees around them. The group also noticed that most of the pokemon the people had were water type pokemon.
"There are sure a lot of water trainers here." Serena said.
"Cerulean City is well known for water type trainers." Brock said. As they went down the streets the three heard what sounded like a battle.
Ash saw a crowd of people gathered around an open lot.
"Is there a battle going on?" Ash asked. The 3 made their way into the crowd and saw a young man and young woman fighting.
The young woman looked about 13 years old while the man looked about 14. The young woman had shoulder length sand blonde hair tied into a pony tail. She had blue eyes, and light skin. She wore a short sleeved green shirt with a pokeball insignia on the center and a pair of blue shorts. She also wore a white backpack.
Standing in front of her was a Bulbasaur.
Standing in front of her opponent was a Poliwhirl.
"Poliwhirl use Brick Break!" The young man shouted.
"Bulbasaur use vine whip on his arm!" The young woman shouted.
"Bulba sour!" Bulbasaur shouted as he unleashed 2 vines and wrapped them around Poliwhirl's arm , then hurled him into the ground.
"Alright nice work Bulbasaur!" The girl shouted.
"She's pretty good." Brock said.
"Poliwhirl use Water gun!" The boy shouted.
" Razor Leaf into Vine whip!" The girl shouted.
"Saur!" The Bulbasaur shouted as he unleashed several sharp leaves that cut through the water and slashed across Poliwhirl's face, making him stumble backwards before Bulbasaur unleashed two vines and whipped them across his face, hurling him back.
"She's really good." Serena said.
As Ash and Pikachu watched the girl they noticed something very familiar about the way she battled.
"That's it, Poliwhirl use Mud bomb!".
"Razor leaf into Tackle!" The girl shouted. As the Poliwhirl unleashed a thick blast of mud at Bulbasaur, the grass pokemon unleashed a barrage of sharp leaves that hit the explosive mud , causing them mud to be cut into pieces before exploding in mid air.
Just as the smoke cleared Bulbasaur leapt forward through the smoke and smashed into Poliwhirl with Tackle.
"Gotcha!" The girl shouted. The Poliwhirl was knocked onto his back and fainted.
"Poliwhirl is unable to battle, the winner is Sam and her Bulbasaur." another trainer said.
"Yes alright! We did it Bulbasaur!" Sam shouted as her Bulbasaur leapt into his arm.
"Poliwhirl return. Geez you're good sam." The boy said.
"That's right, Bulbsasaur and I are more than ready for the gym battle! We're going to get that Cascade badge!" Sam shouted before she and her Bulbasaur left the area.
After the girl left, Ash and Pikachu finally realized how her battle tactics seemed familiar to them. They were the same exact tactics that he and Red use.
"That girl battles almost exactly how we do." Ash said to Pikachu as the electric pokemon nodded.
The group made their way to the pokemon center and went inside.
"We'll just have nurse Joy take a look at my pokemon, then we head to the gym." Ash said.
"You know I was looking around and saw there's a shopping mall here. We should check it out before we leave." Serena said.
"Uh." Ash and Brock said nervously.
"Excuse me you're next." Nurse Joy said to the group.
"Oh look at that." Ash said as he walked to the counter. Pikachu leapt onto the counter as Ash placed his other 3 pokeballs on the counter as Brock and Serena did the same.
"Alright I'll take a look at your pokemon." Nurse Joy said as she took the pokeballs and Pikachu leapt onto her shoulder.
"Such beauty!" Brock shouted as took Nurse Joy's hands.
"Your eyes are like gleaming suns, your voice like a bell ringing in my heart!" Brock said as his face turned red.
"Uh, I need to take a look at these pokemon." Nurse Joy said as she handed the pokeballs to her Chansey.
"Chansey." She said as she took the pokeballs to another room with Nurse Joy followed her.
"I am denied the love of my life once again." Brock said as his face turned crestfallen.
Moments later a young woman stepped up to the counter as the Chansey came back with 3 pokeballs in hand.
"Chansey!" She said as she placed the pokeballs in front of the young woman.
"Thank you Chansey." Ash turned and saw the girl was none other than the girl from the battle they watched.
"Hey you're the girl who was battling earlier, Sam right." Ash said.
"Yeah that was meeeee!" The girl stuttered as her eyes widened when she saw Ash.
"Uh are you ok?" Serena asked.
"You! You're Ash Ketchum!" Sam shouted.
"Uh yes, I am." Ash said a bit confused.
"You're really Ash Ketchum! This is such an honor!" Sam shouted.
"UH thanks, how exactly do you know who I am?" Ash asked.
"How could I not! You were a top contender in the NPC! I never missed any of your matches!" Sam shouted.
Ash and the others sat down at a table as they waited for their pokemon. Sam had taken a seat directly across from Ash.
"You're such an amazing trainer! I've been watching you in the NPC since I was 10. Earlier this year I decided it was time I finally start my own journey. I went to professor Oak and chose Bulbasaur as my first pokemon. Since then I've tried to model my battle style after yours!" Sam said.
Back when Ash was in Kalos, he had occasionally been greeted by people who had seen him on tv. But never like this.
"Well, I saw you're battle out there. You and your Bulbasaur did well." Ash said.
"You really think we battle well." Sam said as she blushed. Serena noticed this.
"So who are you two?" Sam asked.
"I'm Brock, son of the Pewter city gym leader.".
"You do look a lot like him." Sam said.
"I'm Serena, Ash's girlfriend." Serena said.
"Oh." Sam said as she turned away from Serena.
"So why are you in Kanto anyway? Aren't you still in the NPC?" Sam asked.
"I'm competing in the Indigo league, if I can win it I could enter the elite four."
"Really! You're competing in the Kanto league! Does that mean you're here to challenge the gym leader too!?" Sam asked.
"Yes." Ash said.
"Well would you mind if I watched your match. It would be such an honor to see you battle in person." Sam said.
"Sure I don't mind." Ash said.
"Oh thank you so much!" Sam shouted as she blushed again.
"Excuse me, your pokemon are ready." Joy said. Ash got up with Brock and Serena as they walked over to the counter. Serena slowly looked back at Sam and saw she was staring at Ash with her face still red.
Serena turned back and gave a hid a smile.
"That girl has a crush on Ash." She said to herself. The 4 made their way to the Cerulean city gym.
When they finally reached it they saw the gym was a brightly colored dome shape building with a massive painting of a Dewgong on top of it.
"I guess this is it." Ash said.
"I can guarantee my dad wouldn't approve of our gym looking like this." Brock said.
"Well lets go inside." Sam said. She lead the way as they walked through the doors. Once inside they went through a long hallway with an aquarium around them. The could see dozens of water type pokemon through he glass swimming around.
"That's a lot of water pokemon." Serena said.
"Yeah, my dad would really hate this gym. Thought my mom would probably like it." Brock said.
At the end of the aquarium hall they endeared another room. This room had a large pool in the center with a large set of seats on both sides of it and a diving board on the other end.
"Where are the gym leaders?" Sam asked. Not a moment later a massive Gyrados burst out of the water in front of the group, causing all but Ash and Pikachu to jump.
After the Gyrados surfaced the group saw 3 young women leapt out of the water with him and land right in front of them. The first wore an orange bikini and had pink shoulder length hair with brown eyes.
The second wore a green bikini and hat much longer Indigo hair with brown eyes.
The last young woman landed in the center and had long blonde hair with green eyes and wore a red Bikini.
"Welcome to the Cerulean gym!" All 3 shouted in unison.
"Lily!" The pink hair one said.
"Violet!" The indigo haired one said.
"Daisy!" The blonde one said.
"We're the Sensational Sisters! Gym leaders of Cerulean city!" They shouted in unison.
"Well they certainly like to make an entrance." Serena said as she, Ash, Pikachu, and Sam sweat dropped.
Brock's face turned red as he ran up to the girls and knelt down in front of them.
"Such beauty! 3 beautiful outstanding girls stand before me. My heart soars like a Pidgeot!" Brock said.
"UH is he for real?" The pink hair one said.
"Please accept me as your love and I shall be eternally faithful!" Brock said before the 3 girls slowly backed up away from him.
"Ok, who is here to challenge us?" Daisy asked.
"We are!" Sam shouted as she stood beside Ash.
"Alright then, which of us do you want to battle?" Violet asked.
"Which?" Sam asked.
"Yes, we're all co gym leaders and we all face opponents." Lily said.
"Alright , well which one of you is the strongest?" Ash asked.
"I am, I'm the oldest." Daisy said.
"Sam if you want you can battle first." Ash said.
"Really, thanks. Alright Daisy, I'll face you!" Sam shouted.
"Very well, let us begin." Daisy said. A few minutes later she stood on one end of the pool battlefield while Sam stood on the other. Ash , Serena, and Brock sat in the seats on the right side while Violet sat on the other side and Lilly stood on the side of the battlefield.
"The battle between Leader Daisy and challenger Sam is about to begin, the battle will be a one on one. Choose your pokemon."Lilly said.
"Alright time to get on with the show!" Daisy shouted as she hurled a pokeball forward.
A large orange fish like pokemon came out with a billowing caudal and pectoral fins which were all white specked and black. Sitting on top of its forehead was a large horn on its head.
"What is that?" Serena asked as she opened her pokedex.
"Seaking, the Goldfish Pokémon. Seaking is the evolved form of Goldeen. Its sharp, drill-like horn is capable of crushing even stone."
"Alright I choose you Bulbasaur!" Sam shouted. Sam's Bulbasaur came out and stood on a floating platform in front of her.
"Seaking start off with Horn attack." The Seaking went underwater and began circling around the platform.
"Bulbasaur keep your eyes on the water , prepare to use vine whip." Sam said. Bulbasaur watched the water closely as the Seaking kept circling around the platform until he was behind it Bulbasaur.
"Horn attack!". The Seaking leapt out of the water and smashed his horn into Bulbasaur's back.
"Saur!" Bulbasaur groaned as he was hit.
"Hold on Bulbasaur!" Sam shouted. Seaking swam back under the water as Bulbasaur looked around the water.
"Water pulse!" Daisy shouted.
Her Seaking came up in front of Bulbasaur and unleashed a pulse of water at the grass pokemon.
"Vine whip!" Sam shouted. Bulbasaur unleashed his vines forward and smashed the water causing it to disperse back into the pool. However, Bulbasaur and Sam both noticed that Seaking was now gone.
"Water pulse!" Daisy shouted. Her Seaking came up behind Bulbasaur and blasted him with water, knocking Bulbasaur into the water.
"Bulbasaur!" Sam shouted.
"That's not good, now Daisy has a major advantage." Ash said.
"Bulbasaur get out of the water!" Sam shouted.
"Horn attack!" Daisy shouted.
Bulbasaur tried to get up but and onto the platform but was too late. Seaking swam up and smashed his horn into Bublasaur's bottom.
"Saur!" Bulbasaur shouted as he was knocked up into the air.
"Bulbasaur!" Sam shouted as Bulbasaur landed on the platform.
"Perfect now finish him with a Water pulse and Peck!" Daisy shouted. The Seaking unleashed a pulse of water at Bulbasaur before soaring at him.
"Vine whip!" Sam shouted.
"Saur!" Her Bulbasaur shouted as he unleashed his 2 vines, tearing through the waterless and slamming into Seaking before wrapping around him.
"Oh no. Daisy said.
"Yes! Now use Razor Leaf!" Sam shouted.
"Bulba sour!" Bulbasaur shouted as he unleashed a barrage of sharp leaves into Seaking.
"Oh no Seaking!" Daisy shouted. After the last of the Razor leaves were past the Seaking, he fell back into the water once Bulbasaur let him go. Bulbasaur and Sam were watching the water closely before Seaking floated to the surface belly up with his eyes swirly.
"Seaking is unable to battle. The winner is the challenger." Lilly said.
"Yes! We did it! We won!" Sam shouted.
"Saur!" Bulbasaur shouted.
"She did it." Brock said.
"She did." Ash said.
"Seaking return, it was a beautiful battle anyway." Daisy said. Violet and Lilly joined their sister in front of Sam.
"You beat me challenger, therefore you have earned the Cascade badge." Daisy said as Lilly handed her a badge shaped like a drop of water.
Daisy handed the badge to Sam who then showed it to her Bulbasaur.
"We won our first badge Bulbasaur!".
"Saur!".
"Congratulations Sam, you and your Bulbasaur handled yourselves well out there." Ash said.
"Thanks, that means a lot coming from you." Sam said blushing.
"Alright Ash, you can either battle me or Lilly, who will it be?" Violet asked.
Before Ash could say anything the group heard the door behind them open.
"Alright I'm back from the pokemon center." A familiar voice said. Ash and the others turned around to see none other than Misty standing in front of them.
"Misty?" Ash, and Serena said.
"You guys, hey Brock too. What are you doing here?" Misty asked.
"I'm here to challenge the gym leader. What are you doing here?" Ash asked.
"Well I." Misty said sweat dropping.
"Misty there you are, you've been gone all day." Lilly said.
"I've been training!" Misty shouted.
"Well we've had challengers here." Violet said.
"Misty you know the gym leaders?" Serena asked.
"Yes, they're my sisters." Misty said as she shrugged.
"Wait if these are your sisters, then that means you're one of the gym leaders here too." Ash said.
"She is, she's also the youngest and least experienced of all of us." Violet said.
"Hey! I'm just as good of gym leader as you three!" Misty shouted as her face turned red.
"In your dreams little sis, we're the sensational sisters and you're just our little sister who occasionally battles trainers we don't want to." Lilly said.
Ash, Brock, and Serena could see the look of hurt on Misty's expression. Ash and Brock both had siblings and never had they treated or been treated like this.
"I am a gym leader here and I deserve respect! Why do you think I've been training!" Misty shouted.
"Look little sis, one challenger has already come and won herself a gym badge. We only have one left, and we'll take care of it. From what we heard he's suppose to be a professional." Lilly said.
Misty turned back to Ash. She remembered what he said about him being in the NPC. In truth when she had been traveling with Ash , she had hoped that some day she could battle him. A trainer of his stature.
"So who will you be battling?" Lilly asked. Pikachu turned to Ash and nodded.
"I choose Misty." Ash said.
"What?" Misty, Lilly, and Violet said.
"Why her? She's the least experienced out of all of us?" Violet said.
"I think she can provide me just as much challenge as any of you." Ash said.
"But." Lilly said.
"The challenger made his choice." Daisy said.
"Well looks like you've finally got your chance against a real challenger." Violet said.
Ash stood on one end of the pool while Misty stood on the other. Serena, Brock and Sam sat back in the seats on the right side.
"This is so exciting! I get to see Ash in a real battle! What pokemon will he use? Pikachu? Charizard?" Sam said with stars in her eyes.
"Ash will probably use his Butterfree and Pigeotto since they're younger." Serena said.
"Still this will be amazing!" Sam said.
Daisy stood by Misty as she stepped up onto her side of the pool.
"Good luck Misty, don't let them make you feel like you're less of a water trainer." Daisy said to her sister. Daisy was the only one of Misty's sisters that actually treated her with respect. Misty took a deep breath as Ash stepped up onto his end of the pool.
Daisy walked over to the center of the pool as Violet and Lilly sat in the seats on the left side.
"The gym battle between leader Misty and challenger Ash Ketchum is about to begin. Each trainer is allowed 2 pokemon and only the challenger is allowed to swamp out pokemon."Daisy said.
"Alright it's time to show them what you're capable of, go Staryu!" Misty shouted.
Her Staryu came out and into the water in front of her.
Ash already knew who he was using, Pikachu or Charizard could seriously hurt Misty's pokemon , plus Pidgeotto and Butterfree needed more experience.
"I choose you Butterfree!" Ash shouted.
"Free!" Butterfree cried as he flew out and above the water.
"A Butterfree? Huh I was expecting more from a trainer of his stature." Lilly said.
"Staryu start off with Swift!" Misty shouted.
"Star!" Staryu shouted as he unleashed a barrage of spiked stars. Ash knew he could have easily blocked the spikes with Confusion, but he was hoping Misty had forgotten that Butterfree could use it, and thus would be an ace up his sleeve like with Brock.
"Butterfree use Steel wing!" Ash shouted. Butterfree covered his wings in metal then flew down as he used his wings to knock each of the spiked stars away.
"Staryu under the water." Misty said. Her Staryu swam under the water as Butterfree flew over him.
"Oh no. That's what Daisy did to me." Sam said.
"Ash has figured out more difficult countermeasures." Serena said.
"Your Butterfree may be able to fly, but here my pokemon have the edge!" Misty shouted.
"Maybe but I'll make your Staryu face my Butterfree like a man! Gust into the water!" Ash shouted.
"Free!" Butterfree shouted as he flapped his wings and unleashed a powerful gust of wind into the water.
"Huh?" Misty said.
The wind hit the water and began swirling it around in a whirlpool. Staryu tried to escape the powerful wind and current, but couldn't and was pulled in before being launched into the air.
"Staryu!" Misty shouted.
"Steel wing!" Ash shouted. Butterfree flew forward and smashed his wings into Staryu, hurling him back into the wind before being launched across the pool.
"That was so awesome!" Sam said.
"It didn't take Ash long to figure our how to beat the water field." Brock said.
"Geez Misty you're out of your league." Violet said.
Misty tried to keep her cool , knowing if she lost it she would make more mistakes. Ash and Pikachu were very disgusted with how Misty's sisters treated her. No one deserved to be talked to like that.
"Staryu use Water gun and keep moving around the battlefield!" Misty shouted. Her Staryu unleashed a jet of Water right at Butterfree.
"Dodge it!" Ash shouted.
"Free!" Butterfree shouted as he quickly moved out of the Water gun's path.
Before Butterfree could even respond, Staryu came up from behind and unleashed another Water gun.
"Dodge it!" Ash shouted. Once again Butterfree dodged the attack with ease with his senses heightened by his connection to Ash.
Misty's Staryu continued to appear somewhere else in the pool and blast a Watergun at Butterfree with a Watergun.
One by one Butterfree dodge the attacks with ease.
"Geez that's one fast Bug." Lilly said.
Ash and Pikachu both noticed a pattern of where Staryu was appearing and had an idea.
"Butterfree Stun spore at his pop up areas of the pool!" Ash shouted as he used his aura connection to inform Butterfree where those were.
"Free!" Butterfree shouted as he flapped his wings and unleashed a thick layer of spores around the pool.
"Oh no Staryu look out!" Misty shouted. Staryu came up to use Water gun, but as soon as he did was covered in spores.
"Staar!" he cried as the spores paralyzed him.
"Alright Butterfree use Gust!" Ash shouted.
"Free!" Butterfree shouted as he unleashed a powerful wind that enveloped Stayu and hurled him across the battlefield.
"Yes another direct hit." Serena said.
"He's so amazing!" Sam said with stars in her eyes. This caught the attention of Brock who then looked up at Serena.
"Misty you don't stand a chance against this guy, just give him the badge already it will speed things up." Lilly said.
"Maybe they're right. Nothing I'm doing is working, maybe I'm not cut out to be gym leader." Misty said.
"Misty don't listen to them!" Ash shouted.
"Huh?" Misty said.
"You can't give up on yourself and your pokemon. You have to be confident in yourself, not matter what the situation. Never give up until the end!" Ash shouted.
"PIka Pikachu!".
Misty already knew Ash was a nice person, but for him to try to keep her fighting when he was in a battle with her.
"Wow." Daisy said.
"Ash is trying to encourage her, even when she's his opponent." Sam said.
"That's the kind of person Ash is, it's one of the reasons I love him." Serena said.
Misty stared at Staryu as he stared back.
"No! We can do it! We're not giving up! Staryu use Water gun!" Misty shouted.
"Star!" He shouted as he blasted a jet of water at Butterfree.
"Dodge it!" Ash shouted. Butterfree moved out of the way just in time.
"Rapid spin!". Staryu spun himself into the air at Butterfree.
"Confusion!" Ash shouted.
Butterfree's eyes glowed blue as he caught Staryu in his psychic grasp.
"Did you think I forgot. Power gem!" Misty shouted.
"Power gym?" Lilly and Violet said.
"Starr!" Staryu shouted as he unleashed a barrage of gems right into Butterfree.
"Free!" Butterfree cried out in pain.
"Alright we got him!" Misty shouted.
"Huh, wow she actually pulled off an impressive move." Lilly said.
"I knew you could." Daisy said to herself.
"She's not giving up, but then again neither are we. Confusion!" Ash shouted.
"Free!" Butterfree shouted as he caught Staryu again.
"Huh but he already tried that." Sam said.
"I have a feeling Ash has a plan." Serena said.
"Power gem!" Misty shouted.
"Gust!" Ash shouted. Butterfree unleashed a powerful gust of wind at the same time Staryu unleashed his gems.
The gust forced the gems away from Butterfree before enveloping Staryu.
"Oh no." Misty said.
"Starr!" Staryu cried before he was hurled into the water again.
"Staryu!" Misty shouted. Staryu floated to the surface belly up unconscious.
"Staryu is unable to battle." Daisy said.
"Alright he's got the lead." Sam said.
"Butterfree may be young, but Ash has trained him well." Brock said.
"Staryu return, rest up Staryu. Alright it all comes down to this. Go Starmie!" Misty shouted.
A Starfish like pokemon came out that greatly resembled Staryu, only it was purple with a second star behind the first.
"Woah I've never seen one of those before." Serena said opening her pokedex.
"Starmie the Mysterious Pokemon. Starmie swims through water by spinning its star-shaped body as if it were a propeller on a ship. The core at the center of this Pokémon's body glows in seven colors."
"Starmie use Hydro Pump!" Misty shouted. Starmie unleashed a colossal jet of water at Butterfree before diving under the water.
"Dodge it!" Ash shouted.
Butterfree narrowly avoided the Hydro pump, however, his fatigue from the Power gem was beggning to take it's toll on him.
"Now!" Misty shouted as Starmie came up directly beneath Butterfree and blasted him with water.
"Free!".
"Now use Thunderbolt!" Misty shouted.
"Thunderbolt?" Misty's sisters and the others said.
"Starr!" Starmie shouted as he unleashed a bolt of electricity that hit and enveloped Butterfree.
"Free!" Butterfree shouted before falling into the water and fainting.
"Butterfree is unable to battle." Daisy said.
"Alright! We got him!" Misty said.
"Butterfree return, you did amazing. Alright I choose you Pidgeotto!" Ash shouted.
"Ott!" Pidgeotto shouted as he came out of his pokeball.
"Starmie use Hydro pump!" Misty shouted.
"Agility!" Ash shouted. Starmie unleashed a massive jet of water at Pidgeotto, only to have the raptor bird dodge the jet of water like a pro.
"Geez the bird is even faster." Lilly said.
"Wow his Pidgeotto is moves like lighting." Sam said.
"That's nothing, you should see Pikachu." Serena said.
Starmie continued to come up around Pidgeotto unleashed Hydrop pumps, only to have Pidgeotto dodge each one with his agility.
"Geez how are we suppose to hit this thing?" Misty asked.
"Pidgeotto use Gust!" Ash shouted.
"Ott!" Pidgeotto shouted as he unleashed a furious gust down into the water. A whirlpool formed in the center of the pool, slowly dragging Starmie closer and closer. Starmie did his best to stay away, but the current was too strong.
Misty saw Starmie get sucked into the whirlpool and forced around.
"Think, come on think. Wait I've got it! Starmie ride the current then try and escape on the side with the momentum!" Misty shouted.
Starmie rode the inner faster current before using the momentum to burst out of the whirlpool and into the air.
"Thunderbolt!" Misty shouted.
"Wing attack!" Ash shouted. Starmie unleashed a bolt of electricity as Pidgeotto flew forward and dodged the attack before smashing his wings into Starmie, hurling him back into the water.
"Shoot I thought I had him." Misty said.
"He's doing so well!" Sam said blushing.
"Hey Serena," Brock whispered to Serena.
"H'mm" She whispered back.
"I think this girl likes Ash a little too much." Brock said.
"Brock I know she has a crush on him." Serena said.
"You seem very ok with it." Brock said.
"Brock, Ash is twenty years old and Sam is thirteen. I'm not concerned." Serena said.
"Right." Brock said sweat dropping.
"Besides, I think it's actually kind of cute." Serena said.
"Starmie use Swift and keep moving!" Misty shouted.
Starmie unleashed a barrage of spiked stars as he moved from place to place around the pool.
"Steel wing into Gust!" Ash shouted. Pidgeotto covered his wings in metal before smashing away each of the incoming spiked stars.
Once enough were clear, Pidgeotto unleashed a gust of wind that tore through the spiked stars, sending them all flying in different directions.
That was when Pidgeotto picked up a shadow moving under the water.
"Wing attack!" Ash shouted. Pidgeotto flew in at the shadow with his wings raised.
"Confuse ray!" Misty shouted. Starmie leapt up and out of the water as his crystal began to glow red.
"Pidgeotto!" Ash Shouted.
"Pika!".
"Ott." Pidgeotto said as his eyes turned swirly and he began flying in a confused manner.
"Perfect now use Thunderbolt!" Misty shouted.
"Pidgeotto move!" Ash shouted.
Pidgeotto tried to move but his confusion made it difficult to tell where the attack was coming from.
"Starr!" Starmie shouted as he blasted Pidgeotto with electricity.
"Ott!" Pideotto shouted in pain.
"Oh no that was a direct hit." Sam said.
After the electricity faded Pidgoetto felt himself snap out of confusion.
"That's it, Pidgeotto use gust!" Ash shouted. Pidgeotto blasted Starmie with a burst of wind, hurling Starmie back.
"Wing attack!" Ash shouted. Pidgeotto flew in faster than he ever had before.
"Thunderbolt!" Misty shouted. Starmie tried to spark a thunderbolt in his center gem, but was too late. Pidgeotto slammed both his wings into Starmie, hurling him out of the pool and into the platform Misty was on.
"Starmie!" Misty shouted.
"Starmie is unable to battle, the winner is the challenger Ash Ketchum." Daisy said.
"Alright we've done it!" Ash shouted.
"Ott!" Pidgeotto shouted.
"Yes he won!" Sam shouted.
"Starmie return, you battled well." Misty said before she stepped off the platform and met Ash by the side of the pool.
"Congratulations Ash, for winning the battle you have earned an official Cascade badge." Misty said as she handed him a water drop shaped badge.
"Well Misty, once again you prove our point." Lilly said.
"You're still not ready to be gym leader." Violet said.
Misty lower her head before turning to her sisters.
" I've had just about enough of you two! I've worked hard for years to get where I am, I have earned the right to be the gym leader like you guys. I battle just as well as you guys and just because I'm younger that doesn't make me less than you!" Misty shouted.
"Lilly, Violet, she's right." Daisy said.
"What?" Lilly said.
"I've sat by and watched for years as you looked down on Misty just because she's younger than us. But she's worked hard to become the gym leader and she isn't any less than us." Daisy said.
"Violet, Lilly. Misty may not have beaten me, but that doesn't make her a bad gym leader. I've seen the way she trainers her pokemon and the way she battles. Misty is more than worthy of being a gym leader." Ash said.
Lilly and Violet both sighed.
"Maybe we have been a bit hard on her. I mean you were the youngest before her." Violet said.
"Well, I suppose Daisy didn't fare much better than you." Lilly said.
"Hey!" Daisy said.
"Well if this professional trainer thinks you're worthy of being gym leader, maybe you are." Violet said.
Misty's eyes widened.
"You mean , you two finally respect me." Misty said.
"I think it's time you became one of the Sensational Sisters!" Daisy shouted. Misty's eyes lit up.
"Finally!" Misty shouted.
Ash and the group made their way to the pokemon center.
"I"ve got badge number two." Ash said holding up his cascade badge.
"Congratulations Ash, your Butterfree and Pidgeotto did even better than they did against me." Brock said.
"Ash you were so awesome out there I." Sam started before she saw Serena come in and kiss him.
"You are such a great person, helping Misty like you did." Serena said. Sam had a bit of a crestfallen expression on as she saw this.
"Well, it was an honor meeting you Ash. But I need to get to Pewter city, it's where my next gym battle is." Sam said.
"Good luck sam, I hope to see you at the pokemon league." Ash said.
"Thanks." Sam said before she left the pokemon center.
"Well we should get a room here for tonight, I want to get up nice an early to do some training with Charla and Nidoran." Serena said.
"Sounds good, maybe I can see the Sensational Sisters again." Brock said as his face turned red. Ash, Serena, and Pikachu all sweat dropped.
"Someone's got to do something about that." Ash said.
Author's note
Another chapter done, I'm very proud of this one.
Sam will be a recurring character throughout this story so expect to see her again.
The next chapter will feature Serena's first showcase so get excited for that
Not much more to say.
Until next time, please review, comment, suggest, or ask(via PM)