Written by me and Cloud4012

Started: September 11th

Finished: September 18th

Beta Reader: cherrybombees


Chapter 6: The Waterflowers of Cerulean City

It was the day after the tournament and Ash was finally ready to take on the Cerulean Gym.

However, Misty still hasn't showed up since her disappearance yesterday.

"Man where did Misty disappear to? I'm starting to get worried." Ash asked as he and Brock made their way to the gym.

"Me too. She's been acting weird since we got here." Brock said.

"I wonder what's going on with her." Ash wondered to himself.

Arriving at the gym, both boys look at it with surprise.

"Wow, it sure looks different than your gym." Ash said.

"Each gym tends to reflect the Gym Leader and type of Pokémon." Brock pointed out. His family's gym was more rugged on the interior, with boulders for miles on end. This, however, was more suited for a performer, with its' blinding lights and clean running water.

Once the boys were inside, they were surprised to see that instead of the normal battlefield, they saw an enormous pool and a large diving board. There were people everywhere in the two stands on the left and right side of the walls watching the swimming pool with great excitement.

"What's going on? Are they all here to see a battle?" Ash asks confused as suddenly a voice announced on the intercom. A drumroll echoed through the speakers.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Please welcome the stars of our show: the sensual synchronized sisters of Cerulean City!"

As a spotlight shined down we saw three beautiful teenage girls in swimsuits. One had long blonde hair and a red swimsuit. One had dark blue hair and a green swimsuit and the last one had pink hair and a yellow swimsuit.

The boys looked in with shocked faces; while Ash's was confused, Brock's was intense as he stood on his toes, looking in awe.

"What the heck is this?" Ash asks.

"Well since we're here we might as well watch." Brock suggests.

"But I thought this was a gym..B-Brock!" Ash saw Brock heading down to find some place to sit and watch.

"Ssshh here comes the big dive." Brock said enjoying this.

The trio of girls jumped off of the board in unison before diving into the water.

Groaning in defeat, Ash realized that he wouldn't budge until the show was over.

Little did he know Misty was watching the show from the other side of the stands but she was tightening her fists at the sight of the Sensational Sisters. They weren't so sensational to her!

Not long after...

Ash and Brock were walking down the stairs after the show was over. "Ah, that was beautiful. A sight to see. 10/10, would see again numerous times," Brock says with a goofy smile on his face.

"Well glad at least one of us enjoyed that." Ash said, rolling his eyes.

"Oh my little naive friend," Brock pats his head. "There will come a time where you will understand this once you're older."

"Yeah right." Ash snarked doubting that.

As they reached the lower level hallway, they came across a hall full of glass windows. It had glass showing an underwater scenery that most have been the pool.

"What is this place? It's like a show, a gym and now an aquarium?" Ash said in disbelief.

Just then Ash heard voices coming along his way. He and Brock turned and stopped the Cerulean sisters walking down the hallway.

"Daisy, the dive you did was super!" The violet haired sister said in happiness with a grin.

"The practice really paid off." The sister who answered that was named Daisy answered with a nod.

"Like totally!" Said the last sister with pink hair as they each started laughing.

"Uh excuse me." Ash said walking towards them and once they saw his face they were startled. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sorry but we don't do autographs, young man." The violet sister said.

"Violet, be nice. He might be one of those hospital charity kids." Daisy whispers.

The pink haired girl stepped up. "Do you need anything?"

"Yes, me and my friend wanted to know if this was the Cerulean Gym?" Ash said, motioning to Brock.

"Uh, hey ladies." Brock blushes waving at them.

"That's right this is it." Violet nods.

"Then can you tell us where the Gym Leader is?" Ash asked.

"You're looking at them." The pink hair said, surprising them.

"We are the Cerulean Gym Leaders, Daisy, Lily and Violet. The Sensational Sisters." They said, striking a pose for them.

"Huh?! But what was with all that swimming earlier?" Ash asked, confused.

"Not that we're complaining that is," Brock said.

"Oh that's just a hobby of ours and our fans love to watch us perform." Lily smiles.

"We pool our talents to make a big splash!" Violet jokes, making the trio of girls laugh, which unfortunately the boys didn't find funny. In fact, it happened to have creeped them out.

After that was done and dealt with, the girls lead the boys to the swimming pool, which happens to be the battlefield.

"Alright then, so who am I battling today?" Ash asks.

"Uhm sorry but we don't really feel like battling right now." Daisy admits.

"Huh? B-but you're Gym Leaders. What to you mean you don't feel like battling?" Ash said, stunned by the sister's retort.

"We just got beaten three times in a row by kids from this nowhere place called Pallet Town." The violet sister explained as Ash froze after hearing that, groaning after hearing that, "Not again..."

"We only really have one good Pokemon left." Daisy said before clapping. "Seel!"

Jumping out of the water, we see a white seal Pokemon appear. "Seel."

"And all of our other Pokémon are currently in the Pokémon Center, resting right now." Lily said.

"Even so. As a Gym Leader it's your responsibility to always be prepared for challengers. Clearly you didn't time your visits to the Pokemon Center very well to end up in this mess." Brock said.

Ash looked at him with relief, 'Finally, he says something that isn't making him act like a buffoon.' He thought with a sigh.

"Yeah...I guess we kinda messed up on that part." Lily admits.

"Now you've left your challenger in a rough spot." Brock said.

"Yeah we need at least 2 more Pokemon for this to work." Violet said.

"Don't even think about just giving him a badge." A familiar voice said.

"Huh?" Everyone turned to the right for the source, and to Ash and Brock's surprise, they saw Misty standing above the stands, looking down on all of them.

"Misty?!" They exclaimed. Misty stepped down from the stands to greet them all.

"Misty, where have you been? We didn't know what happened to you." Brock asks.

"I came here. I was trying to work up the guts to come back here. I'm a Cerulean trainer too. The Fourth Sensational Sister." Misty declares surprising her friends.

"There are only three Sensation Sisters and one runt." Lily corrects, making her growl.

"So little sister it's a surprise to see you back so soon." Daisy retorted looking at her younger sister.

"That little girl who was always running her mouth, saying she wouldn't come back till she said she was a great Water Pokémon trainer. Wasn't that you?" Violet recalled the words, Misty said to them.

"Uh I guess I did say something like that." Misty admits.

"So the reason you didn't want to come here was because you didn't want to face your family troubles?" Ash assumed connecting the dots.

"Let's just say we left a lot out. Including how you said you were gonna come back better than the three of us combined." Daisy said, crossing her arms.

"And I'm still holding onto that statement," Misty said, snapping her head to her.

"I think it's best we hear the full story," Brock said, wanting to get the full picture of what happened here before Misty met Ash.

"Alright the truth is I was sick and tired of being in their shadows. Everyone is always saying how I wasn't as good as my sisters." Misty said.

"Or as beautiful." Lily adds.

"Or as popular." Violet adds.

"Or as talented." Daisy adds.

"The point being I was sick of it!" Misty yells getting the attention back.

"So you left because..?" Ash asks, slowly getting a grasp of it.

"Yeah, I left on that day, wanting to prove to these three saying that I wasn't a brat, I wasn't a runt, and I DEFINITELY wasn't a bad trainer." Misty said, emphasizing her reason. "You guys think you're so great with your pretty faces, and your big shows, it's like you don't care about the Gym portion or the Pokémon."

"So then the big question is why did you come back?" Daisy asks.

"Because he wanted to battle the gym here." Misty points to Ash.

"Hmm, no offense kid but you could have done better. Even with...this." Violet said gesturing to his scars, getting Ash and Misty both embarrassed looks on their faces.

"He's not my boyfriend!" Misty snaps annoyed.

"Then again, there is-" Lily was about to say until Misty covered her mouth.

"Don't you even mention that name!" She snapped again, now supporting a blush on her face before shaking her head to get back on point. "If I battle him; it'll prove I'm not a quitter and I'm just as good a trainer as you three combined."

"Alright Misty if you're up for it we'll let you battle him but on one condition." Violet said.

"Name it." Misty said.

"You have to use Seel as one of your three." Violet points.

"S-Seel?" Misty asks, surprised looking at the seal Pokémon. "But Seal's the mascot of the Gym, he's never been in a battle before."

"Seel?" The little seal said, tilting its head.

"A great trainer and can make the best of any situation including using a new Pokémon." Daisy said.

"You gonna rise to the challenge Misty or are you going to insult us and run away again?" Lily asks.

Making up her mind, Misty looks to the scarred kid. "Alright Ash, are you ready to rumble?"

Ash nodded, "Bring it on."


Standing across from each other Ash and Misty faced off.

"Misty I know you've been there for me through a lot but I'm not making this an easy battle. I plan on winning!" Ash said.

"The same goes with me. If you want that Cascade badge, you're going to have to beat me!" Misty declared.

"Been there for him?" Daisy asked on the sidelines with her sisters and Brock.

"Hmm recently. Misty met Ash shortly after his accident." Brock admits.

"Poor little guy, I can't imagine myself in his shoes." Lily said abit concerned.

"Ash is a fighter. Even after all life has thrown at him he's not giving up his dream of becoming a Pokémon Trainer. He's even got a badge under his belt." Brock said, impressing them.

"Ready?" Ash asks, reaching for a Pokéball from his belt.

"You bet. Misty calls Staryu!" Misty said, calling out the Star Pokémon that took out Meowth.

"I didn't know she had that." Ash said, taking out his Pokédex.

"Staryu, the Star Shape Pokémon. It appears in large numbers by seashores. At night, its central core flashes with a red light."

"In that case, Videl! I Choose You!" He shouted as the former Beedrill princess appeared with an energized buzz.

Shivering slightly, Misty quickly shook it off.

"Alright bring it on!" Misty declares.

"Videl, Twineedle!" Ash said as Videl flew in stingers at the ready.

"Staryu, use Water Gun!" Misty yelled as Staryu fired a gush of water from its head point, pushing Videl back. "Now Swift!" A stream of stars shot out from its gem core.

"Fury Attack!" Doing a series of quick strikes Videl knocked all the stars away.

"Well that's a first." Misty said briefly, surprised. Swift never misses, so it seems Ash's training wasn't fruitless.

Videl struck Staryu multiple times.

"Staryu, Rapid Spin!" Spinning quickly, Staryu knocks Videl away making her fly backwards.

"Focus Energy, Videl!" Ash yells. Videl regained her composure and her body glowed red, making the next attack she made to be a critical hit. "Now follow it up with Poison Job!" Her two stingers turned purple as she flew back towards Staryu.

"Staryu, dodge it!" Diving into the water, Staryu narrowly dodges the attack.

Coming to a stop, Videl looked around the pool with caution, trying to find Staryu.

"Too bad your Beedrill isn't a very good swimmer." Misty smirks.

"You can't hide underwater forever." Ash said as Videl flew up high.

"Don't need to. Staryu, Underwater Tackle!" Misty shouts as Staryu spun out of the water and smashed into Videl, knocking her back and dived back into the water.

"Look out Videl!" Ash shouts as Staryu resurfaces again and Videl quickly dodges in time.

"Dive back down!" Misty said as Staryu headed back to the pool.

"Don't let it get back in the water! Poison Jab!" Flying in Videl nails Staryu, knocking it onto a platform.

"Now use Brick Break!" Ash shouts as Videl's stinger glows white and strikes Staryu in the side.

"Staryu Water Gun!" Regaining balance, Staryu fires a stream of water.

"Dodge it!" Videl tries to fly out of the way, but Staryu follows, resulting in her getting soaked.

"So far, both are trying to get the upper hand on the other," Brock said his thoughts out loud.

"Misty's holding on pretty well. Guess she has learned a thing or two." Violet said.

"The battle is still early." Lily said.

"Staryu, Bubble Beam!" Misty said as the jewel in the middle of Staryu's body glows orange and it releases orange or blue bubbles from it towards Videl.

"Use Fury Attack, and pop your way through!" Ash said. Videl started thrusting her stingers back and forth, popping the stream of bubbles coming her way to reach Staryu.

"Keep firing Staryu, don't let it reach you!" Misty encouraged it as Staryu kept making more bubbles come out of its core.

As Videl flew in popping bubbles left and right, some bubbles got past her and hit her on the way in.

"There's too many of them." Ash grits his teeth. Suddenly he gasped as an idea came to him. "I know! Videl! Spin through it!"

Spinning like a drill, Videl flew in popping all the bubbles along the way, surprising everyone.

"Staryu! Head's up!" Misty shouts.

Looking up Staryu moves to dodge but Videl grazes the side inflicting damage.

"Oh that was a bit too close." Lily said.

Narrowing her eyes, Daisy didn't want to look away for even a second.

Dropping back near Ash, Videl shook her head trying to shake off the dizziness from that attack.

"Good work Videl. We'll get em next time." Ash said.

"Staryu, how are you holding up?" Misty asks Staryu, now seeing the spot Videl struck. Along the rim of Staryu's gem we see a small crack running towards it.

"Uh oh, that can't be good." Misty cringed. She couldn't let Ash do a move like that again to Staryu. "Use Recover."

Glowing bright, Staryu fixes the cracks and heals some of the damage it took from Videl.

Regaining her senses, Videl buzzed, saying she was ready to get back in action.

'If Staryu recovers enough damage, Videl will be too tired. So I gotta hit it hard before that happens.' Ash thought. "Focus Energy!"

Videl raised her arms as an orange energy engulfed her.

"Staryu, use Bubble Beam!" Misty said as Staryu fired a stream of bubbles from its gem core.

"Dive!" Diving down, Videl raced along the water towards Staryu.

"Now Rapid spin!" Spinning like a throwing star, Staryu shot at Videl.

"Meet'em head on!" Ash shouts as Videl showed no sign of slowing down.

As Videl's stingers gleamed, Staryu spun faster.

"I can't watch." Violet said using Brock as a human shield. Which he did not mind at all.

Time slowed down as the two Pokémon were about to clash, until Videl moved her bottom stinger in front of her and aimed at the crack.

Jabbing forward a breaking sound echoed through the arena.

Spinning out of control,Staryu crashed into the water.

"Staryu!" Misty gasped as Staryu's limp body resurfaced, now with a visible crack on Staryu's gem.

"Oh no, Staryu's energy is just about to run out." Lily gasps.

"Staryu is like unable to continue. Beedrill wins!" Daisy declares.

"Awesome job, Videl!" Ash cheered. Videl buzzed in a joyful manner, having gotten the first win.

"Staryu return." Misty said, calling it back. "You were great, Staryu. You almost had them."

As she was about to call out her next Pokémon, she could feel like her sisters were giving her judgemental looks.

"Misty!" She heard Daisy call, snapping her out of her stupor. "What are you waiting for? Send your next Pokémon out."

'I can't mess this up. I need to show them.' Misty thought gripping the Pokeball tight. "Misty calls Starmie!"

On the field, was a Pokémon that resembles two violet starfish with five appendages each. The front starfish has a golden formation in the center. In the center of the golden casing is its red jewel core.

Ash brought his PokéDex out again.

"Starmie, the Mysterious Pokémon, and the evolved form of Staryu. From its core, Starmie can emit electrical waves that are powerful enough to reach the furthest parts of the universe."

"An evolution set?" Ash said surprised.

"Hmm, that's actually a pretty smart strategy." Lily admits.

"Alright Videl let's keep it going. Use Poison Jab!" As poison coated her stingers Videl flew in.

"Starmie, Flash!" Misty yelled as Starmie's gem shines brightly, giving off a bright light that blinded Videl.

Cringing, Ash covered his face while Videl was stopped in her tracks.

"Now use Psywave!" From its gem, Starmie fires a beam of multicolored energy that strikes Beedrill, dead center.

"Dazzling and powerful. Impressive." Violet said.

"And since Beedrill is a poison type, that move was super effective." Brock points out.

"Bzzz..." Videl groaned, as she was sent flying onto a pool platform.

"Videl!" Ash gasps.

"Now Water Pulse straight down!" Creating a blue sphere, Starmie dropped it down on Videl causing a huge wave to rock the arena.

"Woah, talk about a splash down." Violet cringed.

Resurfacing, Videl rose up from the water with swirly eyes.

"Beedrill is unable to battle, Starmie wins!" Daisy said.

"Wow, where did that come from?" Ash asks returning Videl.

"Water Pulse is made out of ultrasonic waves that leaves the opponent in a bad position," Misty explained with a grin. "Normally it would've caused Pokémon to be confused and hard to handle in battles, but it looks like Videl wasn't so lucky."

"Using that move is the trademark of every Pokemon in this gym. Elegant, but powerful." Daisy smiles.

"Well good to know," Ash said, bringing his 2nd ball out. "But you won't get the same results with this one! Come on out, Bastet!" He shouts, throwing the ball, as the female scratch cat appears on a platform.

"Huh. Usually, cat's don't like water." Lily jokes.

"That's true, but not this kitty." Brock said.

"Alright Bastet you ready girl?" Ash asks.

"Nya?" She meows, curious why she was facing Misty.

"Bastet a battle is a battle. Doesn't matter who our opponent is." Ash clarifies.

Seemingly having other choice in the matter, Bastet nodded and hissed at her opponents.

"Starmie, use Psywave!" Misty said using the same opening move as last time.

"Bastet, dodge it!" Leaping to the next platform, Bastet dodges the attack.

"Charge in with Night Slash!" Ash said as Bastet's claws turned to darkness as she made her way towards Starmie by hopping off the floating platforms.

"Starmie, keep her distance by using Water Pulse!" Misty said.

Starmie fires a sphere of water, but Bastet slashes it in half. Leaping forward she tries to slash Starmie, but the attack gives it enough breathing room to evade.

"Iron Tail!" Jumping off the platform, Bastet swings her tail whacking Starmie.

"Water Gun!" Starmie retaliates by shooting Bastet in the face with a pressurized water blast.

Hitting against the platform, Bastet splashes into the water.

"Yes, this battle is going to be mine. Cat's are afraid of water, so all I need to do is just go in for the finisher." Misty said to herself, thinking she's already won this.

"We're not down yet Misty." Ash growls.

"Then try dodging this, Psywave! In the water!" Misty said as Starmie began spinning in the air like a disco ball while firing energy blasts in multiple parts of the pool.

"Bastet, dive!" Going underwater Bastet swims under Psywave.

"Get'em, Starmie!" Swimming underwater Starmie expertly swam circles around Bastet.

Bastet was beginning to grow nervous as she was basically trapped in Starmie's ring.

"Bastet, get back to the platform!" Ash said as she tried swimming to it as fast as she could.

"Oh no you don't, Starmie!" Starmie spun rapidly, racing after Bastet.

"Wait for it. Wait for it. Iron Tail on the water!" Slamming her tail down, Bastet leaps out of the water just as Starmie was about to hit, making her land right on its back.

"Starmie!" Misty gasped in surprise. Didn't see that coming.

"Never seen someone do that before." Her sisters said equally surprised.

"Night Slash!" With dark claws, Bastet slashes Starmie across the back dealing super effective damage.

"Starmie, use Water Gun!" Misty said as Starmie recovered and knocked Bastet back with the familiar water blast. "Now Psywave!"

Landing back on the platform Bastet jumps narrowly avoiding the attack but unfortunately the attack had destroyed the platform.

Ash needs to shut that thing down.

Landing across from Starmie, Bastet shook herself, getting the water out of her fur. "That Starmie is really starting to be a problem if that Psywave keeps on hitting us." Ash mutters to himself. He needed to find a way to shut it and Misty out of the way in order to give them a clean hit.

"Starmie, Water Pulse!" Misty said releasing a sphere of water that upon contact with the field turned the arena into a wave pool.

Bastet cringed as she tried to hold onto the platform tight, trying her absolute best to try not get swept away.

"Now Starmie, Psywave!" Misty said as Starmie fired Psywave at the trapped cat.

"Block it with Iron Tail!" Using her tail Bastet deflects the attack; sending the reflected part across the water, making a wall of water pop up.

"That's a new one." Misty said never seeing that strategy before.

"Anything to keep you guys away," Ash said.

"Well let's see you block another one!" Misty said as Starmie released another Psywave.

"Iron Tail, again!" Ash said as Bastet raised her tail, and deflected Psywave, sending the split part across the water again. Looking at the brief aquatic walls, Ash's eyes widened. 'That's it!' He thought.

"If that won't work we have plenty others! Starmie, use Water Pulse!" Misty said not backing down.

Starmie fired the wavy sphere of water from its gem, towards Bastet. "Iron Tail, once more!" Ash said.

Jumping off the platform, Bastet slams her tail down on the water and a giant wave rises out of the pool.

When it died down, everyone was surprised to see that Bastet wasn't on Ash's side anymore.

"Hey, where'd she go?" Misty asked, looking around.

"Feint Attack!" Came out of Ash as Misty quickly snapped her out around to see Bastet suddenly appearing out of thin air, behind Starmie.

With a gasp with a panicked shout, "Behind you!" However Starmie reacted too late as Bastet bashed Starmie right in the race, knocking it back harshly.

"He used the wave as a distraction so Bastet could get in close." Brock smiles amazed.

"Wow, that kid sure led Misty into that one." Violet said, impressed, seeing the look of disbelief on her baby sister's face.

'I thought I had him cornered but Ash was just setting me up for a counterattack.' Misty realized.

"Nice one girl, that puts us ahead of'em." Ash called out to his Pokémon.

"Nya." Bastet smiles while Starmie's gem beeped like a siren meaning its energy was low.

"Starmie is unable to battle. Meowth wins." Daisy declares. Ash was back in the lead! Now Misty was down to her last Pokémon, and we all know who that one is.

Frowning, Misty was starting to get nervous. This was her last chance.

Seeing the look on her face Lily shook her head and stood up.

"Hey Misty pull yourself together already!" Lily said, getting her attention.

"Yeah you're acting like you've lost!" Violet said standing up.

"W-what?" Misty turned to them.

"You said you wanted to surpass, but here you are shaking like a bowl of jelly!" Violet said. "Fight back and be serious!"

"Were you serious about that or are you actually wimping out on us in the middle of a gym battle?" Daisy calls out.

Misty couldn't believe this, her sisters were encouraging her to keep going.

But..but why? After all of the teasing and mocking in the past, she thought they treated her like a failure.

"Siblings. All are different but they'll always be there for each other when it counts." Brock smiles.

Feeling movement near her legs, Misty looked down to see the mascot of the gym, looking up to her. "Seel?"

Taking a deep breath, a serious look appeared on her face.

"Come on Seel, you're up next." Misty said as Seel jumped into the water.

"Be honest, does Seel have any battle experience?" Brock asks.

"We've taught Seel a thing or two but not much." Lily admits.

"Actually.." They heard the oldest sister of the bunch trail off in her sentence.

"Daisy?" Lily and Violet asked.

"Well I didn't think you guys would actually suggest letting Misty battle with Seel. The thing is..I may have been training Seel for a while," Daisy revealed.

"Daisy you little sneak. You had a surprise finale set up." Lily said.

Daisy looked on with a bashful look on her face. "Now let's just see how Misty plan's to use this."

"Seel use Aurora Beam!" Misty said as Seel released a beautiful multi colored beam that froze the tip of the water as it raced by.

"Nya.." Getting hesitant, Bastet leapt to higher ground.

"Watch yourself Bastet! Use Feint Attack!" Disappearing Bastet reappeared behind Seel.

"Seel!" Seel's tail becomes surrounded in swirling water, and it hits Bastet with it.

"What in the?" Ash gasps.

"That was an Aqua Tail." Misty realized.

"Seel! Seel!" Seel clapped its fins, loving this battle.

"Alright Seel, let's use that Aqua Tail one more time!"

"Bastet counter with Iron Tail!" Ash said as both Pokémon swing their tails and clash.

"Seel, dive in!" After both being knocked back from the clash, Seel took this as an opportunity to jump into the water.

Growling, Ash was really beginning to hate this field. "Brace yourself Bastet. It could be anywhere." Ash warns.

They didn't know which half Seel could be on. The water side where they are or the ice side near Misty.

"Seel, Aqua Jet!" Shooting out of the water like a torpedo, Seel was completely surrounded by water as it rammed into Bastet at an incredible speed.

"Nya!" Bastet screamed falling backwards. Then Seel popped out of the ice water again, smashing into her again.

"Bastet!" Ash gasps.

"Wait, I don't remember teaching Seel that move." Daisy said.

"Hmm guilty." Violet said as she and Lily pointed to themselves.

"That move just looked so beautiful we had to make Seel learn it." Lily admits.

Daisy looked shocked at her younger sister's before chuckling.

"So if I'm hearing this right, it's like all four Cerulean Sisters are battling right now." Brock realized.

"If you put it that way, it looks like it." Lily said with a giggle and a grin.

Hearing this Misty smiles softly. Maybe she had her sisters all wrong.

"Now Seel, use Aqua Tail!" Breaking out of Aqua Jet, Seel slams his tail down.

"Double Team and then Feint Attack!" Ash said. Bastet glowed as multiple copies came out of her body. Seel slices the fake Meowth in half. As they all dispersed, the real one appeared behind Seel.

"Nya!" Bastet yells ramming into Seel sending it skidding across the ice.

"Now Slash!" Ash said as Bastet jumped onto the ice with glowing claws as she skied towards Seel. Once caught up, she slashed them with a fierce swipe.

"Seel don't give up! Use Water Pulse!" Regaining its footing, Seel fired the sphere of water.

"Use Double Team again!" Ash said.

"Use Aurora Beam on all of them!" Firing the ice attack it blasted away all the copies before hitting the real one freezing Bastet in place.

"Oh no!" Ash gasped in fear.

"Oh yes! No more escaping for you," Misty smirked. "Now finish her off with Water Pulse!"

"Seel!!" Forming another sphere of wavy water, Seel throws it, striking Bastet and point blank range.

Falling out of the ice, Bastet was on her back with swirly eyes.

"Meowth is unable to battle! Seel wins!" Daisy declares.

Without saying a word, Ash quickly recalled Bastet. "Way to hang in there Bastet, you deserve a good rest."

"Seel Seel." Seel claps happily at its first gym win.

"We can do this Seel just one more time." Misty encouraged.

"Misty's good, really good." Ash said to himself.

He hated how he was losing, but was really enjoying the battle with her so far.

'Alright I know all the Pokémon Ash has on his team. I have the advantage against Talon and Quake but he could use Naga since it's a good swimmer.' Misty thought, bracing herself for the last Pokémon.

"I choose you, Mystic!" Ash said, calling out his water Pokémon much to everyone's surprise.

"Magikarp!" Mystic cried out.

"So he has a water type too." Lily said.

"This just got interesting." Violet said.

Misty was confused on why he chose Mystic over his other Pokémon. That's when she noticed the determined look on the little Magikarp's face.

"Don't underestimate them, Seel. They want to win just as much as we do." Misty realized.

Seel nodded. Time for the final battle to begin!

"Aurora Beam!" Misty points.

"Dive and use Tackle!" Diving underwater, Mystic swam towards Seel.

"Aqua Tail!" Misty said as Seel swishes his tail around to block Mystic's advances.

Swimming downwards, Mystic narrowly avoids the attack but Seel wasn't letting her get away that easily.

He goes after her for a Headbutt, but Mystic avoided it. She moves in and bashes him with a Tackle, but he smacks her away with his tail.

"An underwater battle." Daisy smiles.

"Now this is why we love water Pokemon." Violet smiles.

"Like no way you can have something this exciting with other types." Lily smiles.

"Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Brock said with a little laugh and grin.

"Seel, Aurora Beam!"

"Bounce!" Swimming up to the surface, Mystic avoids the ice attack before diving down at Seel.

"Seel!" Seel used his nose to catch Mystic before juggling her like a ball.

"What the?" Ash said surprised by this.

"Before Seel was into battles, this little guy had his own act in the shows." Misty giggles.

Seel then tossed Mystic on the opposite side onto the ice.

"Effective and flashy. Wow." Brock gulps.

"Sorry Ash, but you and Mystic will have to do better than that to beat us." Misty said.

"Well then how about this? Flail!" Slapping the ice, Mystic slid around like a hockey puck.

"OK I was skeptical when he pulled out a Magikarp of all things, but this kid knows how to make one of the weakest Pokémon ever into something crazy." Violet said.

"That's Ash for you. Imaginative." Brock said

Banking off the wall, Mystic rams into Seel knocking it across the ice.

"Seel!"

"Seel, Water Pulse!" Misty said. Seel formed another water sphere from his horn and fired at Mystic, who flopped away in the nick of time.

"Mystic back into the water!" Ash said as Mystic slid towards the pool.

"Quick Seel, Arora! Freeze the water!" Misty said

Firing an Aurora beam at the water, it froze resulting in Mystic flopping around like a fish out of water.

Now Ash was trapped!

"Uh oh. That's not good." Violet cringed.

"Water Pokémon need water. Especially those kinds." Lily cringed.

"Too bad for you Ash. Without water to swim in, Mystic is just an easy target." Misty said as Seel skidded towards her.

"Not if you can't hit us! Use Bounce!" Bouncing into the air, Mystic narrowly dodges Seel's attack.

Spiraling upwards, Mystic landed on the far end of the ice pool.

"Seel,Aqua Jet!" Surrounding itself with water, Seel launched itself at Mystic so this time when it bounced Seel was able to intercept.

"Flail!" Ash said. Swinging her tail, Mystic smacks Seel multiple times.

"Aqua Tail!" Misty said as Seel lashed its water covered tail at her.

"Bounce!" Ash said.

Jumping up Mystic, dodges the attack and bounces around on the ice but little did Misty realize that some cracks began to form where Mystic landed.

"You can't keep dodging forever Ash!" Misty said. "Water Pulse!"

"Keep bouncing!" Ash said as Mystic bounced around cracking the ice more and more, and Seel was trying to keep up after her; still unaware of the ice cracking.

"Seel, Aurora Beam!"

"Mystic, dive down and Flail!" Diving down parallel to the attack, Mystic smacks Seel, sending it falling down and breaking through the ice.

Misty gasped. "The water?! But it couldn't have been that hard to crack it!"

"Not unless it was weakened by a lot of hits over and over again." Ash points out.

The realization hits everyone, "The bounces!" Misty gasped.

"By using Bounce over and over again, Mystic was just making ice cracks to open potential spots to bring back the water." Ash explained smirking. "Then I used Seel to finish the job for me."

Landing back in the water, Mystic smiles feeling back in her element.

"I don't believe it, he played her like a fiddle." Violet said.

"He played us all. We just assumed he was trying to run away because his Magikarp couldn't fight back." Lily said.

"What'd I tell you? Imaginable." Brock smiled.

"Now Mystic, give it everything you got! Tackle!" Swimming with all her might, Mystic raced through the icy water and rammed into Seel, sending it smashing into a chunk of ice.

"Seel!" Seel cried out, sliding down the rock.

"Seel!" Running over to him, Misty saw the little sea lion had swirls in his eyes.

"Seel is unable to battle, Magikarp wins! With all three of Misty's Pokémon defeated, the winner of the Cerulean Gym battle goes to Ash!" Daisy declared.

"Yes we won!" Ash cheers.

"Karp! Karp!" Leaping out of the pool, Mystic hugs Ash happily.

"Mystic, you were unbelievable!" Ash said.

"Karp karp." Mystic smiles.

"I-I lost." Misty said in disbelief.

"Seel." Seel frowns thinking it was his fault.

"It's not your fault Seel. It's mine. Guess I'm not as great a Water Pokemon trainer as I thought I was." Misty said.

"What do you mean? You were great." Turning around Misty saw her sisters walk up to her.

"Way to hang in there, baby sis." Violet said.

"We're so proud of you." Lily smiled.

"But I lost, aren't you gonna make fun of me?" Misty asks.

"After seeing you battle? No way." Daisy shook her head. "You're gonna be a great Water Pokemon Trainer. You proved that to us today."

"I am?" Misty said surprised.

"Look Misty, we may be hard on you but that doesn't mean we don't love you." Violet said.

"Yeah, we may have gone a little overboard last time and we're sorry about it." Lily said.

"I guess I wasn't exactly calm last time either. It's not easy being the little sister to you three." Misty admits.

"Guess the same could be said about us with you too." Violet said.

"But everything changes starting today, right?" Daisy asks.

"So...maybe this time I can get a proper goodbye?" Misty asks.

"I believe there's something you need to do first." Daisy said gesturing to Seel.

Turning, Misty saw Seel hold out his tongue revealing a blue badge shaped like a raindrop.

"Right." Nodding, Misty took it and walked up to Ash. "Well Ash, that was a good battle. You really are something else, and I'm glad I've gotten to battle you."

"Thanks Misty, you didn't make it easy either with your knowledge on water." Ash said.

"Well as the current Gym Leader of the day I am proud to present you with the Cascade Badge." Misty said, holding it out for him.

Taking it, Ash smiled, holding it high. He did it; he earned his second badge!


As the sun was setting, Misty and her sisters were saying goodbye.

"You boys watch over her, OK?" Violet asks Ash and Brock.

"Sure thing." Ash nods.

"You got it." Brock nods.

"By the way Misty, your friends called earlier today. They both headed out to start their journey." Daisy informs.

Misty's eyes widened. "They did?"

"Yep, and they wanted me to say they'll see you out there." Daisy winks

The little ginger smiled, eager to get going and meet up with them in the future.

Daisy then handed her something. "Here, a little going away present." She said, revealing a Pokeball.

"Huh?" Misty said not expecting this. "What is it?"

"Open it and find out." Her sisters smirk.

Pressing the button, Misty opened it, revealing Seel. "Seel!"

"You're...giving me Seel?" Misty said at a loss for words. "But he's yours. You need him."

"No we don't Misty. Seel is yours now. And whenever you use him in battle you can remember that we'll always love you and we're rooting for you." Violet smiles.

Smiling, Misty pulled her sisters into a big hug.

The boys couldn't help but smile at the sister's reconnecting. It was touching.

As they made their way out of the city, Misty was feeling a million times better than when she arrived.

"So Brock I gotta know, what did you do while we were here?" Ash asks.

"I'll tell you all about it on the road, but what do you guys think about me competing in a few competitions?" Brock asks, getting their attention.

After a wild second gym battle, Misty has reconnected with her sisters, Ash has his second badge and all three of them are eager to see what their next stop is going to be.


Party Data:

Ash: Spearow (Talon), Magikarp (Mystic), Meowth (Bastet), Ekans (Naga), Beedrill (Videl), Sandshrew(Quake)

Sent to his mother: Pidgeotto and Clefable

Misty: Staryu, Goldeen, Starmie and Seel

Brock: Geodude, Onix and Zubat


Hope you all enjoyed the chapter, and sorry about the wait.

Now to "Vital Info", that is a VERY tall glass to fill. Some parts of your review I think I can do, others I don't think so.

No one is getting a back seat in terms of training and spotlight.

Ash is still catching the 3 Kanto Starters.

As for the whole PTSD thing, maybe, but I'm going to not go to where Ash is insane. I'm going to have to find some way to tone in down.

And Ash is NOT going to be a Garystu. What's the point of a story if the MC keeps winning all of the time?

I NEED Prof. Oak. I think he's been bashed enough in the beginning.

Ash giving Pokémon to Delia was an essential from the original story and I loved it. It's to give Ash's mom more help around the house and make sure she isn't lonely without him.

I hope you understand.

Anyways to those who have no problem with Tomo being part of the team, thank you and I can't wait to get there at some point.

That's all for now. See you all next time.