Finally! Zoey gets her next badge! And meets Misty! Watch what happens in this chapter. No I don't hate Misty! I just don't like her and Dawn very much. :3 Oh and sorry about the late update. I wrote an extra chapie to my Naruto story and I just couldn't help myself! xD Have you ever gotten that feeling when you're really into one of your fanfics and you just have to write another chapter even though you promised yourself, and maybe your reviewers, that you would write another chapter to your other story first? Well, I have had that feeling a lot of times before. xD So sorry if I updated late. I wanted to write another chapter to my Naruto fanfic. And because I was lazy...Heheh.

A Battle of Personal Vendetta

Zoey and Charmander walked to the Cerulean Gym.

"Charmander char?"

"Huh? What do you mean I should train first?"

"Charmander char mander char."

"I know I haven't had much practice with Oddish--"

Charmander placed her forhands on her hips and looked at Zoey with a raised eyebrow.

"Fine. I haven't had any practice with Oddish. But I'm sure it'll be alright."

"Charmander char mander mander char."

"Look, I know the Leader's Pokemon are gonna be tough, but I'm confident we'll win!"

The orange lizard sighed. "Char..."

The two finally got back to the city.

"I better talk to Oddish first and get aquanited," Zoey said. She took out Oddish's Pokeball and tossed it in the air. The little plant appeared.

"Oddish?"

"Hello," said Zoey as she knelt down. "I'm Zoey Ketchum and I'm your new trainer!"

"Odd..."

"And sorry about before. But we'll be great friends! Here, why don't you meet your other comrades?"

Zoey tossed her other Pokeballs and out came her compainions who each gave their own cry.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Oddish. She is our new teamate!"

"Nido," said Nidorina. She walked over to Oddish and smiled. Oddish cowered.

"Pidgeo!"

"Fairy!"

"Char!"

Oddish trembled more, even though the Pokemon were only introducing themselves. Oddish began to cry.

"Oh..." said Zoey with a sympathetic look. "It's ok." She grabbed Oddish and held her in an embrace. The little Pokemon had tears on the edges of her eyes.

"Odd..."

"I know we captured you by surprise...And I'm sorry."

Zoey hugged her and Oddish calmed down.

"Oddish."

"Do you feel better?"

Oddish nodded.

"Well, now we can head to the Gym! Oddish, I have a favor to ask."

"Odd?"

"Will you help me on my Pokemon journey to accomplish the dream of becoming the Kanto League champion?"

Oddish's eye's sparkled. "Oddish!"

"Ok! Then it's settled! Well, let's get that badge everyone!"

Her Pokemon cheered.

---------

Zoey and Charmander walked into the Cerulean Gym. Charmander was in her Trainer's arms.

"Wow, it's nice in here," Zoey said. The girl looked at the reception desk. "I wonder why this place is so nicely furnished unlike other Gyms?"

"That's because this Gym is also used for water shows."

Zoey turned around and saw the Cerulean Gym Leader, Misty.

"Hi!" said the woman with a warm smile. "I'm the Leader of this Gym. And you are?"

"I'm Zoey Ketchum from Pallet Town and I'm here to claim my next badge!"

Misty froze on the spot. "Ketchum? Then you're..."

Zoey sighed. She hated when people asked who her parents were. "Yes, I'm May and Ash Ketchum's daughter. But please don't keep--"

"Well, do you want to battle?" Misty's tone of voice changed.

"Um...yes?"

"Follow me then."

Misty started to walk into a room and Charmander looked at Zoey with a puzzled look.

"Charmander mander?"

"I don't know what just happened either..."

-------------------

The battle area was really big. It was like a stadium and an aquarium combined. The battle ground was a large tank filled with water and floating platforms.

Misty had walked up the stairs to one side of the arena. Zoey walked to the other. Charmander was a little uneasy.

"You can go inside your Pokeball if you'd like."

Charmander shook her head and just held on to Zoey's leg.

"Well, shall we start?" asked Misty.

"Ok."

"Each trainer uses two Pokemon."

"Only two? I thought that the challenger can use any amount of Pokemon he or she wishes!"

"Fine. You can use as many as you want, but that won't help you. Staryu, come on out!"

A bronze colored star Pokemon with a red jewel at it's center appeared. "Hehya!"

Zoey took out her Pokedex.

"Staryu, the Star Shape Pokemon. If its body is torn, it can grow back if the red core remains. The core flashes at midnight."

"Go, Clefairy!"

Zoey tossed her Pokeball and Clefairy appeared with a dramatic entrance. She came out twirling.

"Clefairy!" The pink Pokemon landed on a platform.

"Staryu, use Water Gun!"

A jet of water shot from Staryu.

"Dodge it Clefairy and use Double Slap!"

Clefairy managed to dodge the water just in time. She hopped from platform to platform and began to slap Staryu this way and that.

"Staryu, Rapid Spin!"

"Hehya!"

Staryu began to spin and it's pointy ends hit Clefairy. "Fairy!"

"Clefairy!" cried Zoey. "Use Metronome!"

Clefairy managed to wiggle her finger. She breathed in, and then out. From her mouth shot a freezing blast of ice. The Pokemon had used Ice Beam.

"Dodge it Staryu!"

The star leaped away from Clefairy. Her beam of ice had frozen the entire tank.

"Good," said Zoey quietly to herself. "Now that the water is frozen, Clefairy has more places to stand."

"Staryu, use Rapid Spin--"

"Clefairy dodge it!"

"on the water!"

"Huh?!"

Staryu began spinning rapidly and crashed into the water. The icy surface now had tiny glaciers.

Zoey scowled. "Darn!"

"Ha," said Misty. "Now you can't have your Pokemon stand anywhere she likes!"

"That's not gonna stop me!"

"Staryu, use Bubble Beam!"

Staryu shot a ray of bubbles at Clefairy who was blinded. Then Misty said "Now use Rapid Spin!"

"Hehya!"

Staryu began spinning again and attacked Clefairy. This time the attack hurt more. "Farieee!"

"No!"

Zoey had to think, and fast. Staryu was beating down on Clefairy, causing the little glacier to crack.

"Use Mega Punch on the core!"

"What?!" said Misty.

Clefairy's eye twinkled evily and her paw started to glow. She slammed her fist into Staryu's red jewel. It cracked and a piece of it came off.

"Oh Staryu!" cried Misty. She returned it to prevent further damage. She glared at Zoey who was hugging her Clefairy.

"Now you've done it! Go, Golduck!"

"Golduck?"

Misty tossed her Pokeball in the air and out came a large blue duck, that didn't really even look like one...

"Golduck!"

The Pokedex came out again.

"Golduck, the Duck Pokemon. It is the evolved form of Psyduck. The flippers of its well-developed limbs give it shocking speed. It is the best swimmer among Pokemon."

"Oh crud..." said Zoey. "Clefairy, return!" The Pokemon went back inside it's Pokeball. "Go Oddish!"

Oddish appeared. "Oddish odd!"

"Golduck, use Fury Swipes!"

"Gol!"

Golduck swam at Oddish at an amazing speed. His claws were raised and he slashed the little plant across the face.

"Odd odd odd!" cried the creature. Her face burned.

"Oddish!" Zoey cried. She needed to win this. "Uh...use Razor Leaf!"

"Odd..." Oddish tried to shake off the pain and used Razor Leaf. Golduck dodged it.

"Use Water Gun!"

"Golduck!" A jet of water shot from his beak at Oddish. She landed on a platform nearest Zoey.

"Oh no...Um...use Poison Powder!"

Oddish shook really quickly and the spores spread everywhere. Golduck couldn't dodge this one. Unless...

"Golduck, dive under the water!"

Golduck dived down to avoid the spores.

"Darn it!"

Golduck came back up from beneath Oddish and scratched her again.

"Ooooddd!"

"No! Oddish! Return!"

Oddish was returned back inside.

"Great...now what...ah! Pidgeotto! I choose you!"

"Pidgeo!"

"Golduck, use Water Gun!"

From the water, Golduck shot a Water Gun.

"Dodge it Pidgeotto and use Gust!"

The bird dodged it and began flapping her wings violently. The water had many ripples in it. Golduck came out ready to attack, but then he fell on one of his knees. "Gol..."

"What's wrong?" said Misty with concern. That's when she noticed the spores in the water. And some of them had gotten on Golduck while he was coming out!

"No!" cried Misty.

"Yes!" said Zoey. "Pidgeotto, use Quick Attack!"

"Pidgeooo!" Pidgeotto dived and striked Golduck on the chest.

"Now use Whirlwind!"

Pidgeotto flapped her wings harder and Golduck was lifted into the air. "Now finish him off with as many Quick Attacks as possible!"

"Pidgeoooo!"

Pidegotto darted toward the blue duck at an incredible speed. She slammed into him countless times. Finally, she stopped, and Golduck had given in. He fell in the water, swirls in his eyes.

"Oh Golduck..." said Misty. "Return..."

"Yay!" cried Zoey. "That was awesome Pidegotto!"

The bird flew to her master and landed on her shoulder. "Pidgeo!" Zoey scracthed the bird on the head lovingly, who cooed.

Misty sighed saddly. "Here...your Gym badge."

Zoey returned Pidgeotto and grabbed Charmander. She held her in her arms and hopped on the platforms towards Misty, who held out a hand holding the Cascade badge.

"Thanks!" said Zoey. "That was a great battle!"

"I guess. If you don't mind...I have some...things to do..."

Misty got off the platform and walked down the stairs. Zoey watched her leave and close the door.

"I wonder what's wrong?"

"Char..."

---------------

It was already night and Zoey was staying at the Pokemon Center. She had taken a shower and put her other Pokemon to sleep. She treated Oddish with some sweets for giving it her all. Oddish began to cry because she thought she sucked at the battle today, but Zoey held her and merely said that this is why Pokemon spend time with their trainers: to create a bond between humans and Pokemon so that way they can grow together.

Oddish cried even more and she was thankful for Zoey's compassionate nature. Zoey kissed the little Pokemon on the head and put her in the room to sleep. The girl then went to the phone to call her mom.

"Hi mom!"

"Oh hello Zoey! I see you're getting ready for bed."

"Yup. Guess what? I won my second Gym badge!"

"That's womderful!"

"And I caught an Oddish!"

"Oh how cute!"

"But..."

"What's wrong?"

"The Leader wasn't really friendly..."

"Who was it?"

"Misty."

There was a pause and Zoey could tell her mother wanted to say something, just by the look on her face.

"Well...there's a little story behind that I'm afraid..."

"What is it?"

"You see, a few months before your father proposed to me, Misty hadn't come in contact with us due to her Gym Leader duties. But when she did, she was informed on a lot. She talked to Brock first since your father was with me when I was in the Jhoto region participating in contests. Misty and he talked and talked. Finally, when Brock came to the part where you're father and I were a couple, Misty's heart just...shattered. She had called Brock because she knew we would be returning to Kanto the next week. She was going to tell your father her true feelings for him, but when Brock told her the whole story...she just couldn't take it.

Then when she found out we were engaged, she became even more depressed. At that time, she had found somebody, but she still felt that loneliness in her heart. She came to our wedding, but left early. And then when she was informed that you were born nine months later, she only visited once and never came back. So I think the reason why she was 'mean' to you was because she doesn't like me much..."

"What about dad?"

"She doesn't have any grudges against him."

"So does she have her own family?"

"Her husband left her when their child was born. Other than that, I don't know much about her personal life..."

"Oh...how sad...Mom, isn't there anything I can do?"

"I'm afraid not. I have tried talking to Misty myself, but it wasn't successful...She just ended up yelling at me 'Why did he chose you!?' or 'What do you have that I don't May?!' It made me cry because she didn't want my help...Honey...I'm sorry she was mean to you."

"That's ok mom. Does dad know?"

"Yes. And he tried to talk to her, but she only told him to leave. Brock has tried as well, but he failed. Even Professor Gary tried."

"You mean all four of you tried and still nothing?"

"Exactly."

Zoey looked down at the ground.

"Honey?"

The girl looked back up at her mom.

"Don't let it bother you too much. I'm positive Misty will cheer up. You'll see. We all have hope that she will."

"Ok mom."

"Well, you should get some sleep sweetie. Thanks for calling me. I love you Zoey. Good night!"

Zoey smiled. "Night mom." And she hung up.

----------------

As Zoey lay in her bed and while her Pokemon were fast asleep, she contemplated on what her mom said. She wondered why Misty would take out her sadness and anger against Zoey in a Pokemon battle. That woman's Staryu almost drowned Clefairy, and her Golduck nearly totalled Oddish. Lucky for Zoey that her Pidgeotto was so strong. Otherwise she might have had to train real hard to beat that duck. The young girl wanted to help Misty, but she didn't know how.

Zoey closed her eyes and finally started to sleep.

And that's the end of the chapter! Wheew! That took me almost an hour to write! Dx Yeah, I gave Misty this 'tragic' background because I felt it suits her. No don't worry. She's not evil. She'll come to her senses later on in the story. Reviews would be nice. :3