Chapter 12
"We're going to Cerulean City!"
Friday, April 16th
With fire in his eyes and hands clenched into fists, Ash decided on their next destination. His plan: march straight into Cerulean City and crush Misty Waterflower in a battle! It wouldn't be enough just to beat her. No…they needed to annihilate her!
However, twenty-four hours after making this declaration, Ash found himself back at the rest stop near Saffron City on Route 6. Even though he wanted to leave, his new duties as the liaison of the Pokemon League took priority. Ash hardly understood what he needed to do to fill the networking aspect of this role, but thankfully Brock came to his rescue.
They couldn't leave Saffron City yet, not without meeting more of the trainers that lived there and the surrounding area. While Ash spent their first few days here preparing for his battle with Joe, Brock was organizing that very meeting, which would take place this afternoon.
Route 6 – Rest Area #1.
The clearing behind the motel of this rest area was the site of their meeting. It was an open invitation, and Ash was shocked to see a gathering of at least a hundred trainers. This meeting had more people in attendance than his battle against Joe! The goal was to start communicating the idea of the Pokemon League, and this meeting would be the first in a series to begin presenting the concept to trainers across Kanto.
"Brock?" Ash asked as he approached his friend. Brock was working with a young man to set up a small speaker and microphone for Brock to use.
"What's up?" Brock asked as he straightened up.
"What did you say to get all of these trainers to come here?" Ash asked as he glanced back at the crowd.
Brock stifled a laugh. "The same thing that attracts any trainer, free food!" Brock replied, and Ash's eyes widened. "I spoke with Charles, and we made an arrangement with the food places at this rest stop to cater for our meeting," Brock paused as he joined Ash in viewing the audience. "But honestly, I feel a lot of these trainers came because it's a chance to talk about their problems with people who understand."
Ash was well aware of the challenges that Pokemon trainers faced. But this meeting would bring more facts to light. Brock mentioned these things in passing, but now Ash got to witness it himself.
Brock called for their attention, and the discussion began. It started with Brock advertising the Pokemon League in the same manner as Charles Goodshow.
"I'm sure you all must be wondering, 'what can the Pokemon League do for my Pokemon and me?'" Brock began as he looked around. "As of this moment, the Pokemon League has two goals. The first is a huge undertaking, with many steps involved. To summarize it, the Pokemon League wants to help all people befriend, trust, and work alongside Pokemon," Brock explained. "The second goal is to create a stable lifestyle for Pokemon trainers because, let's face it…it's not easy to be a trainer right now."
Several trainers in the crowd voiced their agreement.
"The Pokemon League has limited resources, so we're trying to learn the needs of trainers and how that can be met. So instead of me talking to you guys for thirty minutes, I want you all to talk with me," Brock said as he motioned to the audience. "Tell me what you guys have been going through."
It was an invitation for the floodgates to open, and a tsunami surged forth.
"I've lived out at the motel here for the last two years to focus on Pokemon training. It's been a lot of fun, but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't suck being broke all the time. I don't have the income to gamble money away in Pokemon battles."
"I work in Saffron City full-time. Eight hours of work, plus a commute, doesn't leave me with much time to practice with my Pokemon."
A consistent theme appeared as several trainers were allowed to come forward and speak. Time and money were 'obstacles.'
To make a living as a Pokemon trainer requires that you have starting money to place wagers on battles, and the battling prowess to back it up. If a trainer had one without the other, there was no margin for error if they launched a career as a trainer. They risked sacrificing everything they invested into this if they failed, and such an unforgiving lifestyle would always seem inaccessible.
There was no system to protect them. It was survival of the fittest.
The meeting went off without a hitch, and, according to Brock, it was a rousing success! However, Ash frowned as he sat in the backseat of the car as the crew returned to their hotel in Saffron City. Not a single solution was presented for all the talking he heard during the meeting.
All those people wanted to be Pokemon trainers, but they were trapped by a lack of structure. Everyone could see it. But their discussion never went beyond the issues at hand.
How would the Pokemon League fix this?
Charles assured him that the Pokemon League was an infrastructure designed to support a career involving Pokemon. But how would with address the aspect of income? How would it provide financial stability to trainers?
Ash scrunched up his nose as he racked his brain for the answer. The transformations that his face went through didn't go unnoticed. Brock would glance at him occasionally through the rearview mirror.
"Something on your mind, Ash?" Brock inquired, and that was more than enough to get Ash started.
"I don't get it," Ash answered. "Maybe I didn't pay enough attention when Mr. Goodshow was talking…but how is the Pokemon League supposed to help all this? I mean, these people need money. Are we just going to give away money to help kick start their journey?"
"That sounds nice, but handing out a bunch of money could attract people that don't actually care about Pokemon training," Brock pointed out. "As of this moment, the League is aimed more toward helping trainers and people that actually want to make a career out of this."
"And keep in mind, not all trainers are saints," Gary interjected. "Giving out money is like sending out an invitation for strong trainers to prey on the weak to collect a payday."
"Yeah, Gary's got a good point," Brock said with a nod of agreement.
"What if…what if there were rules against that?" Ash continued. "Maybe some kind of ranking so that strong trainers only face people at their level."
"I see what you're trying to do," Brock commented with a chuckle. "But I'm sure you know that getting dunked on by someone better than you still does have some value."
Ash bit down on his lower lip, the battle against Joe still fresh in his mind.
"Besides, that would also deny trainers opportunities to pull off upsets against trainers that are 'stronger' than them," Brock added.
Ash thought of his battle against Volkner. If limitations such as these were in place, he might not have been able to battle Volkner.
"I don't get it," Ash heaved out a sigh. "How do we fix this, then?"
"Well, for one, there's no need to rush things right now," Brock replied. "These are problems that developed over the last several decades, and we can't fix them overnight," Brock paused for a moment, and then he smiled. "Do me a favor and go on the PokeHub. Once you're there, look up Charles' profile. You'll see that he started compiling a series of videos about the Pokemon League to help promote it."
Ash took out his phone and followed Brock's instructions. Just as Brock said, there was a collection of videos that discussed the Pokemon League. There were interviews with Charles Goodshow and various Pokemon experts. The most recent addition to this playlist was from earlier today…the meeting that Brock held at the rest stop.
"We're just getting started," Brock went on. "It's going to take a while before we make a difference, but this is how it's done. One day at a time, help more people buy into this concept. We each just have to do our part."
"Just do our part," Ash repeated.
"For trainers to respect this new system, they need to know reputable trainers took part in it and improved. So, you must conquer the best trainers in each city," Charles explained.
There was a bigger picture, far beyond what Ash's contributions alone could fill…but he wanted to understand.
"How will the Pokemon League help those trainers get the money they need?" Ash asked. "Is it going to be like the underground circuit where we earn money from sponsorships and winning battles?"
"Think of the underground circuit and the Hidden Cove as a testing ground," Brock replied. "It had its own working economy, but that's because it was funded by wealthy people looking for entertainment. There's no shortage of that in Vermilion City, but that model isn't sustainable if it's expected to support trainers worldwide. Maybe it might work for a competitive format, but there are all sorts of careers around Pokemon beyond battling."
"So, what's the plan then?"
"I've discussed this with Charles, and he wants the Pokemon League to create opportunities for anyone that loves Pokemon. And we're not just talking about becoming a better Pokemon 'trainer.' We're talking about jobs like teaching, research, or even essential services," Brock continued. "We want everyone to get a chance at finding something they can do with a Pokemon."
"You know, sometimes you impress me, Brock," Gary remarked with a snort.
Brock sneered, though he kept his eyes on the road. "Whatever, Gary."
Ash leaned back into his seat and bit down on his lower lip to fight off a smile. His respect for Charles Goodshow grew every time the man was mentioned. Ash always dreamed of a world where people and Pokemon lived together in peace…but Mr. Goodshow understood that dream far better than Ash. He was laying the groundwork for it!
Pikachu climbed up onto Ash's shoulder, and he could feel a tremble from his trainer. Ash's legs were shaking, and he grasped at his pant leg. Pikachu snickered and pressed his cheek against Ash's. There was a slight discharge, enough to get Ash's attention. Their eyes met, and Pikachu offered Ash a salute.
Ash winked in return. One day…everyone will be able to have their Pokemon partner with them all the time!
Saturday, April 17th
1:00pm.
Checkout time. Ash, Gary, and Brock met at the reception desk to pay the fees for their hotel rooms. Once those matters were settled, they piled into the car again, and their journey continued. Their destination: Cerulean City!
"Let's go!" Ash hollered as he tooted the car horn. Ash volunteered to be the driver for today as they ventured into Kanto's Route 5. With Brock as his co-pilot, loud music and singing were Ash's company for the next four hours.
Route 5 was much like Route 6. Dense woodlands with a thick tree canopy shielded them from the sunlight. The only noteworthy difference was how the elevation changed. The area was filled with high hills and sharp slopes, but the roadway they used cut straight through the valleys.
When Brock's voice finally grew hoarse, the car became quiet, much to Gary's delight. However, Brock still kept the conversation going. His Pokedex was filled with an endless number of discussion points for them as he brought up some of Samuel Oak's most recent additions to the Pokedex. Gary and Brock did most of the talking, but eventually, they reached a subject that piqued Ash's interest.
Their topic was a Pokemon known as Mantyke and their ability to manipulate water and wind. It reminded Ash of how Misty described Greninja.
"Greninja is a water crafter," Misty stated.
Ash knew that Greninja was sure to have abilities that revolved around using water. But he didn't understand if those abilities were Greninja's primary skillset or if it was something secondary that didn't need as much attention.
When they reached their first rest area to take a break, Ash spent the time sitting outside on a bench with his Pokedex. Brock showed him how to navigate to Greninja's Pokedex entry. Then he left Ash alone with Pikachu to gather what he could from this information hub.
"Greninja, the Ninja Pokemon, and the final form of Froakie," His Pokedex said. "Greninja can compress water into different shapes and forms as their primary tool in battle."
Ash pursed his lips. This must have been what Misty meant…and that answered his first question. But what were Greninja's true capabilities? He had to dig further into the Pokedex entry to find more. Not only did it provide physical evaluations of Greninja as a species, but there were old documents where trainers shared their discoveries concerning Greninja.
'Water manipulation' is a rare trait among water type Pokemon. In fact, many people often mistake 'weather manipulation' for 'water manipulation.' While they might seem the same on the surface, these are two vastly different abilities. Those differences became very pronounced depending on the setting of a water Pokemon when using these abilities. Of course, you would expect water type Pokemon to interact with water differently. Still, direct water manipulation is only used by a select few. – Crystal Sinclair, Institute of Oceanography, Pastoria City (1283)
Serving with Greninja as a watchman of our village, his water manipulation has proven to be frightening at times. There are many water Pokemon that live in the area, but none demonstrate mastery over water in the same fashion as Greninja. His ability to form projectile weapons and even bend water to do his bidding while combat is…unique. – Ippei Matsuda (approx. 536) - Journal entry found among artifacts within a forsaken village near Kalos' Route 18. Artifacts date back to the feudal Ransei era.
"Form projectile weapons and bend water…" Ash scratched at his chin as he repeated that statement. If this was Greninja's primary ability, how would he teach this to him? Water Pledge was a reasonably basic move that Ash was familiar with. What move could Greninja learn to further develop his 'water crafting?'
"What's got you so focused?"
Ash flinched before he realized Brock was seated beside him.
"Oh uh," Ash collected himself. "I'm trying to do some more research on Greninja to see what else I could teach him."
Brock nodded, a bit of a grin on his face. "It's about time you started doing your homework," Brock remarked. "Is it because of how your battle with Joe went?"
"Kind of," Ash answered. "But I think the biggest reason is that Greninja and I fit Joe's description of a one-trick pony."
Brock chuckled as a thought crossed his mind. "Don't you mean a one-trick Pony-ta?" Brock slapped his leg as he burst into a fit of laughter. Pikachu fell off Ash's shoulder to the bench and laughed openly at Brock's terrible joke.
Ash bit down on his lower lip and fought furiously to keep a deadpan…but their laughter was contagious, and he couldn't resist it for long.
"A one-trick Pontya," Brock repeated his punchline, which forced a snort out of Ash. He surrendered to the awful display of humor and joined their laughter.
Ash didn't want to be known as a one-trick pony, but it wasn't something that could be fixed in a day. Rather than stress over it, he would spend the next leg of their journey doing the research to answer his earlier question.
Sunday, April 18th
Route 5 – Rest Area #2
Ash smacked his lips as he sat upright on his bed. He winced when the sunlight hit his eyes, but the discomfort was short-lived. His eyes quickly adjusted, and he checked the time on the clock. It was just past eight.
Ash set his feet on the floor and scratched at his chin with a frown. He had a solid routine each day during his year in Ecruteak City. But since returning to Vermilion City, that routine was non-existent, and somehow even more so since they started traveling on the road. Ash pinched the bridge of his nose and looked at Pikachu curled up at the edge of the bed. Despite Ash's movements, Pikachu was still sound asleep.
Pikachu slept a lot, though that was expected since he expended so much energy whenever he practiced. Sleeping was his fastest route to recovery, with the assistance of a Potion, so that he was ready to continue by the next day. There wouldn't be any lightning-induced wake-up calls for the time being. In fact, their roles were reversed. Ash was the alarm clock!
Ash slid down the mattress until he was beside Pikachu and poked at his back. There wasn't any response.
"Pikachu, it's time to get up, buddy," Ash said as he poked Pikachu again. This time, he put more force, and Pikachu rolled over in response. Ash took that as his invitation to begin a relentless assault on Pikachu, poking his body repeatedly. "If I have to get up, so do you, Pikachu."
However, Ash's attempts to awaken Pikachu caused their roles to return to what they once were. Pikachu's eyes snapped open with a glare, and his cheeks crackled. With his target acquired, he unleashed a jagged lightning bolt onto Ash. "Pi-ka!"
Ash cringed before he fell to the floor, and his face remained frozen with that expression. His shoulders and arms twitched as Pikachu peered down at him from the bed.
"Pikapi," Pikachu said, and lightning jumped from his cheeks. Ash shuddered on the floor as he made a mental note to use a long stick or pole the next time he woke up Pikachu.
Once Ash regained his freedom of movement, he got himself changed and went down to get breakfast in the lobby. He ate some heavy oatmeal and a serving of berries with Pikachu and Greninja. They decided to wait and let their meal settle in their stomachs before starting a morning workout. Ash expected Brock or Gary to appear in the lobby during that time, but neither of them showed up.
He decided to send Brock a text message that he was going out for a run with Pikachu and Greninja. The air was crisp outside, the perfect temperature for a run before the day grew hot. Rather than run around the rest area, Ash thought it would be nice to venture into the woodlands of Route 5, and both of his Pokemon agreed.
'The Pokedex has a nifty little map feature that you can use,' This reminder from Brock rang out in Ash's head, and he saw this as an opportunity to try it out.
It offered a fairly detailed view of the rest area and its surroundings. Ash could see several dirt pathways, likely established by old hikers as they passed through. After some stretches, the trio went on their way into the woods. The hills provided some resistance, perfect for their interval training.
They went out for about an hour before they stopped to take a break in a tiny clearing. There were several Pidgey perched in the trees over them, chirping away at each other. Ash and Greninja stood comfortably since they only needed a few moments to catch their breath. Usually, Pikachu was splayed out on the ground and gasping for air when they took a break, but today he sat upright as he regained a steady breath. His conditioning and stamina were improving!
"Nice," Ash said softly, a grin on his face.
He looked up when he heard the Pidgey flutter their wings, and they all took flight. Now that they were gone, it became tranquil. The sudden silence reminded Ash of their time spent in the alcove back in Ecruteak City.
"We haven't done that in a while," Ash noted aloud. "How about a little meditation," He suggested with a glance at Greninja. "Like back in Ecruteak City."
Greninja nodded. However, Pikachu tilted his head, and Ash could see question marks circling Pikachu.
"This was part of our training, Pikachu," Ash explained as he invited Pikachu and Greninja to sit beside him. "The goal is to relax your mind and body. Focus on your breathing like this."
Ash crossed his legs to demonstrate, and Greninja did the same. Together, they shut their eyes and took a deep breath. After a few moments, they began to breathe in unison. Pikachu still didn't understand, but he took a seat beside Ash and imitated what he saw. He listened for Ash and Greninja's breath and matched their tempo.
Pikachu relaxed his shoulders and enjoyed the soft breeze brushing against his fur. He felt the blades of grass waving beside him and the rustle of the tree leaves. But among those sounds, he heard the faint shuffle of footsteps. They drew closer and closer until finally, they stopped at the edge of the clearing. Someone or something was watching them from the edge of the clearing, concealed within the bushes.
"Pika," Pikachu's eyes snapped open, and he got onto his feet.
"What's up, Pikachu?" Ash asked. He followed Pikachu's line of sight to the edge of the clearing, and he saw the bushes shift before something stepped out from it. A pink fluffball of a Pokemon. The most prominent feature of its body was its eyes, which were wide and endearing.
Pikachu tilted his head and offered a smile to greet the newest arrival. The eyes of the Pokemon sparkled, and it quickly adjusted the tuft of hair protruding from its forehead. If Ash had to guess, it was a girl based on those mannerisms. Then he retrieved his Pokedex to scan her while she spoke with Pikachu.
"Jigglypuff, the Balloon Pokemon," His Pokedex announced, and Ash promptly snapped it shut.
"Jigglypuff, huh," Ash noted as he approached them and kneeled down. Jigglypuff was roughly the same size as Pikachu, so she looked up at Ash. "It's nice to meet you, Jigglypuff. My name is Ash, and this is my buddy, Pikachu!"
"Jiggly-puff!" She exclaimed with a twirl.
"Hey, Greninja," Ash called out as he looked at his remaining Pokemon. Greninja remained seated, locked in a meditative trance. Ash clicked his tongue but decided to leave Greninja as is. There was no sense in disturbing him.
After all, it would be more challenging to see what he could learn about Jigglypuff without Pikachu or Greninja feeding him the answers. Ash scratched his chin as he studied Jigglypuff's appearance. She certainly wasn't threatening, so he doubted she was much of a battler. Jigglypuff faintly reminded him of a Chansey, so he wondered if Jigglypuff filled a sort of healer role.
"Pika," Pikachu said as he tapped Ash's shin. Ash focused and saw that Pikachu was directing his attention to the center of the clearing. Jigglypuff was stationed on top of a tree stump, where she reached into her hair and withdrew a small marker from it. Ash furrowed his brow, but Jigglypuff motioned for them to sit in front of her.
"Oh…is that supposed to be a microphone?" Ash asked as he and Pikachu followed her instructions.
"Jig," She replied, and Pikachu nodded.
"So, you like to perform," Ash noted as he crossed his arms. "I never would've expected that from a Pokemon."
Pikachu shushed him and looked back to Jigglypuff. She cleared her throat and then raised the marker to begin her performance. Ash raised his brow as he heard her voice. It was calm and soothing. He rocked back and forth, reminded of the warmth of a lullaby. He closed his eyes and failed to notice when his back touched the ground.
A snore interrupted Jigglypuff's song, and she looked to her small audience. Ash rested on his back, with Pikachu leaning against him. They were both sound asleep!
She puffed out her cheeks and shrieked. "Jiggly-puff!" She popped off the cap of her marker and marched over to Ash and Pikachu. She defaced them without prejudice. Ash received a monocle and a mustache, while Pikachu had whiskers added to his cheeks and a black eye. Jigglypuff then looked to Greninja, who sat upright, but his eyes were shut. He wouldn't escape her wrath!
Jigglypuff stomped her way to Greninja, but as she extended her arm to resume her graffiti work, Greninja intercepted. He held her hand in his own and cracked open one eye to look at her. Their gaze locked, and Jigglypuff's eyes grew wide.
Greninja listened to her song! He heard her song!
Suddenly, a pastel background was behind Greninja, and sparkles glittered around him. He raised one eyebrow at Jigglypuff, and she could swear that his scarf was fluttering in the breeze. Her cheeks turned bright red, then she shrieked and dashed off into the bushes.
Greninja tilted his head. "Ja?"
He shrugged his shoulders and went to check on Ash and Pikachu. Greninja poked at them, but there was no response beyond the snores…so he turned it up a notch. Ash and Pikachu received a bath via Greninja's Water Pledge, but their slumber continued. He decided to wait and try again. But after thirty minutes and several attempts, Greninja could safely say that nothing was working.
There was only one option. Drag them back to the rest stop.
9:58am.
"Where is he?!" Gary exclaimed.
He and Brock met in the parking lot. This was their third meeting to report on their search for Ash in the past hour.
"He's still not answering his phone," Brock mumbled. "All I know is that he left me a text that said he was going for a run. But that was like an hour ago…he should've been back by now."
"He's the one that wanted to get to Cerulean City as fast as possible, but, of course, when it's time to leave, he's nowhere to be found," Gary muttered.
Fifteen minutes went by, but Ash didn't return. He didn't answer his phone either.
Irritation became concern.
"Ash can be a bonehead, but I'm starting to think something must have happened to him," Brock noted. "I think we should go looking for him."
"Well…" Gary paused as he looked at the forests that bordered the rest area. Ash wasn't familiar with the area, so there was a chance he got lost. "I see your point."
Brock called upon Rockruff for help. He went into the trunk of his car to retrieve one of Ash's shirts, which he gave to Rockruff to capture Ash's scent. As soon as he had what he needed, Rockruff barked and took the lead. The pup guided them along the pathways that cut through the woods. Things were slow at first as Rockruff trotted along, sniffing at the air and plains to stay focused on the right scent.
"What if he ran into an Ursaring?" Brock looked to Gary as he posed this question. "Or…a pack of angry Mankey?"
"Brock, relax; Ash should be able to handle himself," Gary reasoned with him. Although, Gary thought of Ash's often questionable decision to avoid research where he could. Ash would know better than to pick a fight with a predator Pokemon, right? Or go into a battle outnumbered? After all, Ash was accustomed to competitive battling…but out in the wild was an entirely different experience. "Shoot, a flock of Spearow could do a number on him too."
Gary's sudden despair caused Brock to look to his partner Pokemon. "Rockruff, have you got anything yet?"
Their pace remained slow as they moved. It was as if Ash went all over the area, and it was hard for Rockruff to distinguish his current location. They continued at a moderate pace for another fifteen minutes before Rockruff yipped, and his pace accelerated.
"We must be close," Brock said as they ran after Rockruff.
They leaped over a short line of shrubs and slipped between a dense section of tree trunks. Rockruff led them to another tight pathway, and up ahead of them was an almost grotesque silhouette. As they got closer, the details became visible, and both Brock and Gary deadpanned.
It was Greninja with a sleeping Pikachu in one arm and slumbering Ash draped over his other shoulder. Greninja's knees trembled under the weight of Ash's body, but with friendly faces in sight, he collapsed to the ground with a sigh of relief. Ash and Pikachu fell to the ground with Greninja, but not even that disturbed their sleep.
"What happened?" Gary asked as he and Brock loomed over Ash. He and Pikachu snored with defaced faces, much to Brock's delight.
"Doesn't matter," Brock replied as he took out his phone. "This is hilarious, and I'm getting pictures for blackmail."
Gary pursed his lips. "Good idea," Gary said as he joined in. "But I can't help but feel a little bad for Mr. Goodshow. He's got his work cut out for him if Ash is supposed to be the face of the Pokemon League."
A chuckle escaped from Brock.
"Mr. Goodshow is used to doing things the hard way," Brock remarked.
Their return trip to the rest stop took thirty minutes. Brock, Gary, and their Pokemon shared the responsibility of carrying Ash back. He was as heavy as a log when he slept, so for all the snickering Brock and Gary did as they took pictures, it was nothing but groaning as they dragged Ash back to the car. Unbeknownst to them, a pink fluffball followed them from a distance.
When they reached the rest stop, Ash and Pikachu were tossed in the backseat of the car. Gary went to Ash's room to collect his belongings, while Brock went to the motel's front desk to check out. Once everything was in order, they returned to the car. Gary opened the trunk to ensure everything was accounted for.
"Hey Gary," Brock called out. He was in the back seat, trying to sit Ash upright. "Help me put the seatbelt on, Ash."
"Ash owes me big time for all of this. I would've left him in the woods if it was just me out here with him," Gary remarked as he came to help.
"Oh please, you don't mean that," Brock said. "You don't seem like the type to abandon someone when they need help."
"Eh," Gary pursed his lips as he finally got the seatbelt buckle locked in. "Don't let Ash know I can be nice."
"Why not?"
"We've been rivals since Ecruteak City, and I don't want that to change while we're traveling together," Gary stated.
Brock raised his brow. "Just because you are rivals doesn't mean you can't be friends," He pointed out.
"I understand that, but I still don't want to take it easy against him, and I don't want him to relax either," Gary explained.
Brock nodded. He could respect that, and some people needed that edge to motivate themselves. If that was what Gary needed, then Brock wouldn't question it.
But while the two of them were busy in the backseat of the car, a certain pink Pokemon used the opportunity to hop into the open trunk. When Ash was fully locked in, Gary returned to the trunk and shut it, unaware of their newest passenger.
The journey to Cerulean City continued.
Ash yawned audibly to announce that he was finally awake again. It was just after one-thirty in the afternoon, and Ash furrowed his brow as he took in his surroundings.
"Where am I?" Ash grumbled.
Gary looked back at him from the passenger seat. "It's about time you woke up," He said. "You've been asleep since we found you."
"Found me?"
"Yeah, back at the rest stop. You disappeared for like two hours, so we went out to look for you and found Greninja dragging you around the woods," Gary explained. "What happened to you?"
"Uh…I," Ash paused as he looked up in thought. "I don't remember. But that was the best sleep I've had in ages!"
Pikachu was still out cold in the backseat alongside him, but Ash left him alone.
"Who was drawing on Pikachu's face?" Ash inquired.
Brock stifled a laugh. "No idea. We found him that way. Nothing a bath won't fix, though."
Ash looked toward Brock and caught a glimpse of himself in the rearview mirror. When Brock saw this, he quickly adjusted the mirror to deny Ash a view of his reflection.
"Wait a second, what was that?" Ash asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Brock responded through pursed lips.
Ash dug into his pocket for his phone and used the camera to check his own face. A poorly drawn handlebar mustache was above his lips and a monocle around his left eye. All he was missing was a top hat.
"Did you guys draw on my face!?" Ash exclaimed.
Brock did his best to hold back his laughter and focus on driving, but Gary didn't care as he laughed openly.
"No, I swear we found you like that," Brock replied.
"But I would definitely take credit for it since you made us leave two hours later than we planned," Gary pointed out as he shot Ash a smirk.
"Why is it always my face?" Ash grumbled as he crossed his arms. Ash vividly remembered instances where his face was vandalized by both Casey and Macy. It looked like that trend would continue, though he didn't know who the culprit was this time.
Ash looked at the window, and then he pressed his nose against it and saw that they were cruising down a freeway among moderate traffic. Ash looked out in front, and he saw a cityscape ahead of them.
"We're already in Cerulean City?" Ash asked.
"Yup, we should be in the downtown area in a couple of minutes," Brock answered him.
Ash closed one hand into a fist, and he could hear his knuckles pop as he did this. "First things first, we find Misty Waterflower and molly-whop her."
"You might want to get a paper bag to cover your face. Otherwise, she'll call you a Mankey with a mustache," Gary interjected. When Ash glared at him, a laugh escaped Gary's lips.
Ash groaned. "Alright, first we get a hotel. I wash my face, and then we molly-whop her!" He declared.
"We don't even know how to find her yet, Ash," Brock pointed out.
"Actually," Gary cut in. "I did some research on behalf of sleeping beauty here," Gary motioned toward Ash. Brock cackled at the slight jab, and Ash leered at him through the rearview mirror. "There's a resort in Cerulean City owned by Misty's dad. He built the entire resort, and now he runs it as the general manager."
"So, we'll find Misty if we go there," Ash concluded.
"We should," Gary continued. "They host a water Pokemon showcase three times a week with a group of performers. They call themselves the Sensational Sisters, and I see Misty's name is listed there."
"Performers, huh?" Brock remarked with a smirk, one eyebrow raised.
"Stay focused, Brock," Ash stated. "We're going to this show to find Misty, not stare at girls."
"But if I can do both at the same time, why wouldn't I?" Brock asked him in return.
Ash shook his head as he sighed.
They rolled into Cerulean City, and Brock offered some insights into its history. Cerulean City was one of Kanto's legacy cities, established in the earliest of Kanto's history due to its positioning next to one of the Cascade River, one of the largest in the region. It was once the largest city in all of Kanto, stretching from where it now stood to Kanto's eastern coast. But Cerulean City's reconstruction following the Great Crisis left it at only a fraction of the size it once was.
A thruway took them straight through the heart of Cerulean City, and they reached the northern district where the Cascade Beach Resort was located. Positioned next to the river, a manmade beach was designed and maintained as the resort's main attraction. They were dazzled by the glistening water, white sand, and beach gazebos as they approached the main building. But the most extraordinary detail was that the resort employees could be seen working with Pokemon. Next to the beach, Pokemon were also advertised as one of the main attractions of this resort. And as a famous resort, its status was reflected in the price of staying there.
"Yeah, we can't afford these prices," Gary noted. He and Brock stood in front of one of the receptionists in the main lobby. The price of one room for a night would cost as much as they spent for a week at rest stop hotels!
"I got it covered," Brock stated as he reached into his wallet. He used a platinum debit card to cover the deposit for each of their rooms.
"Sheesh, since when were you rich?" Gary asked as the receptionist stepped away to process the transaction.
"I wouldn't say that," Brock replied. "That's money Ash made a few years ago in the underground circuit. He gave it all to me. Now that we're traveling, it comes in handy when we need to splurge for whatever reason."
Gary raised his brow as Brock revealed this. A secret sum of cash? While Brock labeled it as splurge money, Gary couldn't help but imagine Brock blowing all of that money to try and impress a girl…or needing it to pay bail. Whichever came first.
There was a shriek at the main entrance. Gary turned and saw a woman glaring vehemently at a young man…who had a Pikachu attached to the front of his face. Gary groaned as he palmed his face. "What is this idiot doing?"
"Pi-ka!" Pikachu berated Ash.
"I thought you meant my left," Ash whispered before he looked at the woman he bumped into and apologized to her. "I'm sorry, miss."
"Ugh," She scoffed at him. "Try watching where you're going, or I'll call security."
She marched off just before Gary arrived. "That was one of the staffers here, Ash," Gary whispered harshly. "The last thing you want is to have them all breathing down your neck while you're staying here."
"I didn't mean to," Ash retorted. "But when I saw all these people, I didn't want any extra attention because of the drawings on my face."
"So, walking around with Pikachu on your face sounds like a better idea?" Gary asked him incredulously. "You looked dumb, to begin with, and somehow you managed to top that," Gary snorted as he shook his head.
Despite Gary's point, Ash wore Pikachu as a face mask all the way up to his room on the fourth floor of the resort. As soon as he got into his room, Ash went to the bathroom, where he and Pikachu washed their faces thoroughly. It still took three or four washes before the markings faded away.
By then, Brock and Gary were knocking on his door. It was already three o'clock in the afternoon, which didn't leave them with much time before the water show started. Thankfully, there were signs everywhere directing guests to an indoor pool. There was a seating area set up around the pool, already packed with people. Apparently, these shows were so popular that people from all over the city came to watch them regularly.
Unfortunately, they couldn't get any seats, so they had to stand at the bottom of the bleachers. However, that did give them a close view of the pool and the show participants. A trio of young ladies stood on a platform at the edge of the pool. After a few moments, Gary realized that he recognized two of these women.
"Aren't those the torpedo girls?" Gary pointed out. It was indeed the 'torpedo' girls. The first pair of girls that Brock tried to hit on after they left Vermilion City.
"Well, I can see why they call themselves the Sensational Sisters!" Brock exclaimed. The rejections he received from them two weeks ago did little to change his current demeanor or opinion of them.
Once the three sisters introduced themselves to the audience as Daisy, Lily, and Violet, the show began. Water Pokemon of all shapes and sizes surfaced from the water within the pool. Ash recognized some of them, such as Dewgong, Seaking, and Staryu. But there were others where he called upon his Pokedex for the answer, such as Lapras. With all of these water Pokemon present, the performance started with some synchronized swimming, but that wasn't for long.
Lapras became the center of attention as she commanded the water in the pool. It swiveled and swirled around her in the form of a whirlpool. The Sensational Sisters in the water took refuge on Lapras' back. At the same time, the remaining Pokemon fearlessly swam through the rapids. Despite the rough conditions, these Pokemon had no trouble leaping from the water to perform flips and spirals in the air. But Lapras was just getting started.
She slapped the water's surface with her flippers and raised her voice. The water seemed to listen to her song as it rose. Spheres of water ascended from the pool, each containing one of the Pokemon. Now in the air, the water Pokemon began to propel themselves from one water bubble to the next. Lapras cried out and summoned even more water from the pool. The bubbles became a stream of water drawn in an infinity symbol.
Lapras' water manipulation was outstanding!
"Greninja!" Ash exclaimed as he called his partner out of his Pokeball. "You gotta see this!"
They watched the rest of the show together. Once the initial performance was over, things became more controlled as each of the Sensational Sisters worked with a group of Pokemon on a routine. Lapras assisted each of them, and Ash considered her to be the master of 'special effects.' She controlled the water and used it to make their performance extraordinary.
The show was forty-five minutes, and once it concluded, the audience was allowed to approach the pool to meet with the Sensational Sisters and their Pokemon. It wasn't until the show ended that Ash remembered why they came to view it.
"Misty wasn't even in the show," Ash exclaimed.
"Like I care, I'm trying to meet her sisters!" Brock replied as he rushed off to join the crowd.
Ash and Gary shook their heads. Even though they didn't find Misty, the show itself was still a resource to them. Greninja observed Lapras closely to see if he could learn a little trick to improve his water manipulation. But it seemed as though he would need to talk with Lapras to better understand that skill. With the crowd around the pool, they opted to wait until the audience thinned out, which took some time.
About fifteen minutes passed before the commotion settled down. Daisy and Lily departed, and a chunk of the crowd left with them, Brock included. Violet remained to speak with the stragglers, inviting them to return to the next show later in the week. The Pokemon sunk back down into the pool as things grew quiet, and Ash realized that almost all of the sisters managed to slip away.
Thankfully, Brock came to their rescue. He happened to be returning from his failed attempt to pursue Daisy and Lily, and Brock caught sight of Violet. He dashed so hard that he kicked up a cloud of dust as he made a bee-line toward Violet. However, his rapid approach alarmed the guard that accompanied Violet, and Brock was pinned to the ground by this man.
"What do you think you're doing?" The guard asked Brock.
Brock slapped the floor repeatedly with a shout of 'Uncle!' When the guard loosened his hold on Brock, the young man was able to explain himself directly to Violet.
"I was dazzled by you during the show," Brock began as he lowered his voice. "My heart was moved, and I just had to speak with you. I've spent my life searching for the finer things in life, and I believe today I stumbled into one of those things in the form of you."
Ash and Gary approached the group, and they heard Brock's opening line to Violet. Gary rolled his eyes, and Ash wondered how Brock's latest rejection would unfold. However…
"Oh my gosh, get off of him!" Violet exclaimed as she pointed to her guard. Brock was immediately released, and Violet helped Brock to his feet. "Tell me more!"
Ash and Gary came skidding to a halt.
There was no hesitation from Brock. "This is truly amazing. I've never experienced something like this," Brock noted as he looked to Violet, who still held onto his forearm. "I've been touched by an angel!"
Violet concealed her smile with one hand. "You're too much!" She exclaimed. "What should I call you?"
"I'm known as 'dark and lovely,'" Brock answered her.
Gary wanted to face fault. Ash did.
Violet adored everything that Brock had to say, to the point where Ash couldn't stomach it anymore. He cut into their conversation, and while Brock didn't appreciate it, Violet paused at the sight of him.
"Oh, you're that guy," Violet said. "You're the one that has Misty in a tizzy!"
"That's why I wanted to talk to you," Ash pounced on this opportunity. "I was hoping to find her here today."
Violet giggled. "I'm not surprised," she said. "I remember Misty bad-mouthing you not too long ago. But's she been acting weird ever since she first saw you. One day she's singing your praises, and the next, she's upset with you," Violet paused. "But then again, Misty has always been kinda temperamental. If you really want to talk to her, just know that her mood can change at any moment."
"I'll take my chances," Ash replied. "I'm not here to make friends with her."
"Well, if you want to step onto that minefield, be my guest," Violet muttered. "Misty wasn't part of today's show, so she usually goes up the Cascade River to practice with her Pokemon. There are other trainers most of the time, but it's hard to miss Misty. She's got ginger hair and a huge butt."
Ash snorted at Violet's description, and with a place to conduct their search in mind, Ash grabbed Brock and took off.
"I will return my angel!" Brock hollered to Violet.
The trio of Ash, Gary, and Brock worked their way up the rocky shoreline of the Cascade River. There were small patches of sand that could be treated as a private beach, but the river wasn't calm. Brock was certain that the Pokemon that worked at the resort played a part in creating still waters for the guests. But out here, the water was choppy.
They traveled on foot, following a bike path alongside the river. The river itself acted as the northern border of Cerulean City, separating it from the hills and valleys of Route 25. As they walked, the group traveled beneath a towering bridge that crossed the waterway, a landmark Brock described as the Nugget Bridge. It earned that name because the riverbed was rich with gold deposits during the early industrial era, which played a role in Cerulean City's rapid expansion along the Cascade River.
The guys called out all of their Pokemon to help search for Misty, but they didn't have any luck. She was nowhere to be found, and even though Violet said there would be other trainers, they didn't see anyone during the hour they spent there. There wasn't much else they could do for the day, so they returned to the resort for dinner. With such fancy rooms, all three wanted to use them as much as possible during their stay in Cerulean City.
Monday, April 19th
Ash struggled to leave his bed when he woke up. The mattress was pure bliss. He could remember laughing at those old mattress commercials that advertised sleeping on a cloud when he was a kid. But what he experienced last night was exactly that!
It was up to Ash; he would've slept for another three hours. But his hunt for Misty Waterflower would continue.
The clock on his nightstand read eight o'clock, so Ash decided to get breakfast. The dining room was loaded with guests and filled with the chatter of conversation and the clangs of utensils hitting plates. Ash set out a light meal for himself and Pikachu, porridge, and sliced berries. He then called out Greninja to join them, and the three of them ate together. Ash showed Greninja how to eat his porridge with a spoon, while Pikachu simply stuck his head in the bowl. They shared a laugh when Pikachu rose up and revealed how much porridge was on his face.
The trio set out for the Cascade River when they finished eating. The bike path they used yesterday was the perfect place for an early morning run. They stretched out their limbs and jogged for the next hour. Ash watched as they passed underneath the Nugget Bridge again, and gradually it grew smaller in the distance. The bike path continued alongside the river, but Ash noticed it turned south after the first hour, heading back toward Cerulean City.
If what Violet said yesterday was true, then Ash would go off the bike path and stay by the riverside. A tree line formed next to the rocky shore, and they went a bit further inland while they jogged.
"So Greninja, did that water show yesterday give you any new ideas?" Ash asked as they stopped for a quick break.
"Ja," Greninja shook his head as he replied. "Nin-ja."
"No worries," Ash said. "I just wish we could've talked with that Lapras afterward, but it was so crowded, I doubt she would've been able to share any tips."
Greninja frowned as he gave a nod. Lapras was incredible! The level of control she displayed put Greninja's current skill level to shame. The best he could manage at the moment could be labeled as 'hurling' water around the place.
"We'll figure this out," Ash remarked as he grinned at Greninja. "It's not like this is supposed to be easy. Just ask Pikachu," Ash motioned to the other Pokemon in question. Greninja saw that Pikachu sat with his ears drooped over his face, gasping for air. "It takes time before things start to go your way," Ash said. "So, stay patient, and we'll work at it together."
Greninja nodded, and Pikachu raised one hand to give a thumbs up, though his arm wobbled. They gave Pikachu a few more minutes to get himself settled, and then they resumed their jog up the river. After ten more minutes of progress, there was a tremendous splash from the river. Ash glanced upward, and he swore that he swore that he saw a tower of water briefly rise into the air. They quickly investigated the cause, and they discovered another trainer and their Pokemon.
Ash's attention was drawn straight to the trainer. They were dressed in a scuba suit, with the hood pulled up over their head. Based on the figure and the voice, Ash was confident it was a girl. She commanded a pair of Pokemon from a small patch of sand. Ash furrowed his brow, unable to name the Pokemon in action. His Pokedex was summoned, though he lowered the volume to make sure they weren't discovered.
"Floatzel, the Seal Weasel Pokemon, and the final form of Buizel. The yellow floatation sac around Floatzel's body can be used in adverse conditions such as stormy seas to prevent Floatzel from drowning."
"Corsola, the Coral Pokemon. The coral branches on Corsola's body will become brittle and break off in dirty water. As a result, Corsola have been known to migrate to cleaner waters at the first sign of water pollution."
This trainer rattled off a list of instructions for Floatzel and Corsola from the shore. Beside her was a Lapras who watched the duel intently, and a Psyduck sat on Lapras' back, staring up at the sky. Corsola and Floatzel exchanged attacks, Bubble Beam and Water Gun, respectively. As soon as the two attacks ended, Floatzel went on the offensive. He raced across the surface of the water, which spiraled around him in the form of Aqua Jet before he rammed himself into Corsola. However, Floatzel cried out as he bounced off her sturdy exterior, toughened through Iron Defense.
White energy coalesced around Corsola, and it gathered at the tips of her coral branches. She shouted and unleashed a volley of glowing spheres at Floatzel, who darted off to avoid further damage. Corsola forced him to keep his distance as she fired off rounds of her Spike Cannon until their trainer gave a call for Floatzel's Agility. His movement speed increased tenfold, and suddenly, Floatzel didn't have a problem weaving his way through the Corsola's onslaught. He raced around her, too quick for Corsola to strike him with her Spike Cannon. His movements resulted in the creation of a Whirlpool around her. Corsola was a strong swimmer, but the rapids created within the Whirlpool sucked her into its center, where she struggled to break free.
Floatzel saw his opportunity to attack and pounced on it. He sunk into the waters and approached Corsola from below. She gasped as Floatzel suddenly erupted from the water beneath her, launching Corsola into the air. The fins on Floatzel's forearms glowed white and extended in the length of the use of his finishing attack, Razor Wind.
He struck Corsola twice with it, and the attacks penetrated her protective hide, leaving two sizeable gashes on her stomach. Corsola fell back to the raging Whirlpool, and when she didn't resurface, the duel ended there. The trainer quickly lifted the goggles around her neck to shield her eyes, and she plunged into the water to retrieve her Corsola. Floatzel quickly swam against the course of his Whirlpool to cancel its effects, giving his trainer free rein to move in the water.
Soon enough, she returned from the river's depths with Corsola in her hands, and Floatzel came over to tow them back to the shore. Lapras met them down at the edge of the water and waited for Corsola to be set down on the sand. Corsola winced as she felt the sand burn the cuts on her belly, so she was advised to lay on her side while Lapras treated her with Aqua Ring.
Lapras sang softly, and her voice called up two small streams of water from the river. They twisted around each other as they approached Corsola, and they wrapped around her body until she was contained within a sphere of water. It glowed softly as the water accelerated her natural healing properties, causing the wounds to close up in seconds.
"You did pretty well, Corsola," Corsola's trainer commented as she kneeled down beside her. "But you lost focus once you got caught in the Whirlpool. Even if you're getting overwhelmed, you have to keep track of your opponent. Otherwise, you'll get caught off guard."
Corsola nodded, and her eyes shined with determination.
"I know you probably want to go again, but how about you all take a break? We've been here for a while already," The trainer suggested. Floatzel took that at his invitation to dive back into the river, and he inflated his floatation sac to lounge on his back as he remained near the shore. Lapras continued to treat Corsola while Psyduck stayed on Lapras' back.
Ash chewed on his lower lip. His chest ached as he saw these Pokemon in action. Both Corsola and Floatzel were exceptional! They had options for all sorts of situations, and neither depended entirely on their water typing to do damage and defend themselves. Their skills were layered and varied.
After watching a quick practice battle, Ash knew that he had to battle this trainer! But they showed him something else now, something he didn't expect to see.
She pulled off her goggles and hood, which revealed her lengthy ginger-color hair braided tightly to fit within the suit. As she undid the knot that held her hair in place, it fell to her shoulders, and Ash realized who he was looking at. The details provided by Violet, plus what he saw of her in that brief video…everything matched up. This was Misty 'Salacia' Waterflower.
However, her identity wasn't the biggest surprise. It happened when Misty stepped out into the shallow waters at the edge of the shore. She went just far enough for the water to reach her knees and hummed softly. The water around her became still, and then Misty started to dance. Ash watched closely from afar, and he couldn't help but become entranced with her movements. It reminded him of how the Kimono Girls performed in Ecruteak City, but Misty's dance differed. The fluidity of her actions, it was more…free-spirited.
Ash's eyes grew wide as the water around Misty's legs began to move. It rose from the river as small streams, mirroring the movements of her arms and hips. And then they finally appeared. A pair of wings sprouted from her back, colored in cyan and silver.
Ash stumbled forward and hit the ground with a thud. Psyduck tilted his head, Lapras looked back at him, and Corsola jumped to her feet. Considering Ash's sudden appearance, he was surprised that Corsola came hopping over to him with a great big smile on her face. However, that was short-lived when Corsola drove her body into his abdomen as a greeting, and Ash shouted in pain. Greninja and Pikachu came out of the bushes and were 'greeted' in the same fashion.
The shouts disturbed Misty's dance, and the water around her dropped back into the river before she looked back at the cause of the commotion. She saw Ash, Pikachu, and Greninja hunched over on the ground, holding their stomachs while Corsola stood in front of them. The sight of a Greninja caused Misty to bite down on her lip, and there was only one person with a Greninja that she knew of. Her suspicions were proven correct when Ash lifted his face from the ground.
"Boy, you sure pack a punch, Corsola," Ash complimented her with a groan.
"Why am I not surprised that you're here?" Misty called out as she approached them with her Psyduck and Lapras. Misty crossed her arms in front of her chest and sneered at Ash. "I had a feeling you would show up one day, but I didn't expect you to be a stalker."
"Stalker?" Ash exclaimed as he forced himself back to his feet. "You're the one posting videos about everything I do. If anything, you're the stalker!"
A vein bulged on Misty's forehead. "Look, I only posted those videos because I knew that would make you come to Cerulean City."
"If you wanted me to come here, why didn't you just say so?" Ash asked her.
"After that horrible showing you had in Saffron City, I wasn't about to do you any favors," Misty retorted.
"Favors?!" Ash repeated.
"You're the one who put himself out there as this supposed 'Pokemon Master,'" Misty rolled her eyes as she said this. "Then you go and get dismantled in your first battle after that. Who's going to take you seriously when you spout a bunch of nonsense and can't even back up your big talk?"
Ash flinched and bit down on his lower lip to halt his initial response. He puffed out his cheeks and then let the air out slowly. "Look, I won't deny it. We didn't do well against Joe and Kecleon," Ash agreed with her. "But one bad performance isn't enough to say that we're terrible."
"I'm not talking about you guys as a team," Misty interrupted him. "I was talking about you," She pointed at Ash. "As a trainer. You only beat Volkner because Greninja evolved during that battle. You hardly pay attention to the nuance of a battle and ignore basic countermeasures. Greninja can only carry a bad trainer so far. At some point, he'll be better off joining a trainer that can actually teach him something worthwhile and execute during a battle."
Misty stopped and looked at Greninja.
What came next was something Ash would never have expected to hear.
"How about it, Greninja?" Misty asked him as she extended a hand toward him. "Do you want to join my team? I'm a water type specialist, and I promise you that I can teach you way more than he," Misty sneered at Ash. "Ever could."
It took a second for that to register in Ash's mind. Misty was trying to steal Greninja from him…right in front of him! Ash curled his fingers into a fist, and his knuckles popped as he did so. His jaw was tight, his hands trembled, and fire filled his chest. This feeling…he hated this feeling. It always led to regrets.
But this time, he could justify his anger.
"Pi-ka," Pikachu mirrored the feelings of his trainer as he stepped between Greninja and Misty. Electricity crackled from his cheeks as he glared at her. The tension caused Corsola to shrink, and she retreated back to Lapras and Psyduck.
"You've got a lot of nerve," Ash's voice was low to conceal its tremble, and he took a step toward Misty. He was a full head and shoulders taller than her. But Misty didn't back down, knowing that she was backed by her Pokemon. "You clearly don't understand anything about Pokemon if you'd even consider doing something like this."
A hand was placed on Ash's shoulder, and he stopped to look at the source. It was Greninja. He also sported a sharp glare, but he had an answer ready for Misty. "Gre-nin-ja," He stated.
"This is my partner."
Greninja tightened his grip on Ash's shoulder, which caused him to relax somewhat. Misty huffed at his response, but she wasn't done.
"Alright then…that's your loss," she said to Greninja. "But I'll show you exactly what you're missing out on if you stick with him, with a battle."
She motioned to the river where Floatzel was watching their exchange. He deflated the floatation sac around his body when Misty called his name, and he readied himself for another battle. Ash and Greninja accepted without a second thought. Before the battle, they shared a few quick words, which boiled down to one statement.
"Let's show her what we're made of!"
The shallow waters close to the shore had dozens of rocks that protruded from the river's surface. Greninja positioned himself on one of the rocks while Floatzel floated in the deeper areas.
"Can your Greninja even swim?" Misty asked him.
Ash didn't respond, but based on Greninja's reluctance to dive into the river, Misty realized her assumption was correct.
"If you can't face us on the water, then we'll battle you with a handicap on land," Misty went on as she invited Floatzel to come battle on the small beach. Ash didn't like the thought of allowing Misty to handicap Floatzel. It meant that she had something to excuse her performance, win or lose. But he also didn't want to put Greninja at a massive disadvantage, especially with how well Floatzel could move in the water.
Greninja clicked his tongue when Ash agreed to the handicap, and both Pokemon reconvened on the beach.
Ash took a breath as he recalled what he saw of Misty's Floatzel earlier. With moves like Aqua Jet used in tandem with Agility, Floatzel could probably move just as quickly on land as he did in the water. Could Greninja handle something like that?
"There are no shortcuts to competing with the best trainers. You can't be a pair of one-trick ponies and expect to win…"
"The fast progression isn't always the best…" Charles continued. "The consistency you need to be the best won't be there. You'll experience very high peaks, but there will also be valleys and pitfalls as trainers counter those specialized skills."
"Joe set up a brick wall, and Greninja's trainer insisted on running into it headfirst. I can't believe that Greninja is stuck with a doofus for a trainer."
Ash knew that Misty's criticism, while childish, was valid. In fact, he was aware of it before he even left Vermilion City. He hoped Greninja's transformation would be a shortcut to competing with the best trainers around, but that backfired almost instantly. So now, his only option was to work at everything from the ground up.
No more gimmicks. They would make the most of the skills they had available.
"Okay," Ash breathed out. "Be conventional."
Ash and Greninja took the initiative. They started with their usual combination of Brick Break and Agility, but Misty didn't hesitate to counter them. Floatzel's Aqua Jet was just as effective on land as on the river. With a torrent of water propelling him through the air, Floatzel was impossible to hit.
Greninja's Aerial Ace wasn't up to par as a method to chase down Floatzel, and Ash found himself running through a list of ideas to try. But Greninja's weaknesses were laid out in the open.
His aim with Water Pulse was lacking. Greninja couldn't predict Floatzel's movements to launch one well-placed Water Pulse to strike him down. Nor was he able to fire this attack rapidly in the hope of landing a lucky hit. Water Pledge was ineffective because of the typing, but the move itself lacked the power to do any worthwhile damage. Greninja couldn't do anything…
However, that wasn't entirely on Greninja. Misty's style of battle was also a factor. During their training with Spenser, he mentioned that water symbolized adjustment, and as a water specialist, Misty fit that description perfectly.
"Be fluid, like water. Direct your opponent's energy away from you to avoid damage."
Misty meticulously selected when to act. If Floatzel could avoid an attack outright, that was always the first option. But when pressured, he had options such as Aqua Tail to redirect attacks and escape unscathed. Misty adjusted to every action they made and waited patiently for an opening to counterattack. It didn't take Ash long to realize that she could've countered them several times over, but she quietly waited for a moment when she could fully demonstrate the skill gap.
"Greninja, use your double Water Pulse," Ash called out. It was one of their go-to moves. A simple but effective strategy to occupy their opponent's attention with a ranged attack, while Greninja followed up with the second Water Pulse as a melee attack. But Ash knew they needed another layer to deal with Floatzel's speed. "Use Agility as you approach!"
The plan was for Greninja to attack the instant that Floatzel dodged the first Water Pulse, but Misty's response was clever and unexpected.
"Use Ice Fang, then follow up with Aqua Jet!"
Floatzel remained stationary as the Water Pulse approached. At the last possible moment, he opened his mouth to reveal a pair of frozen fangs. The Water Pulse erupted into a billowing cloud of white sparkles that concealed Floatzel completely. Greninja rushed forward, his eyes scanning the area in search of any movement from the cloud to see where Floatzel exited. But Floatzel came out charging right at him, his form now engulfed in a shield of ice. Greninja's eyes widened, but there was little time to react. All he could do was raise the Water Pulse he had in his hands to take the impact.
Greninja's small defense was ruptured by Floatzel's Ice Aqua Jet, and he was struck on the chest by the blunt side of it, which sent him skidding away on his back. Only the outer layer of Floatzel's Aqua Jet was encased in ice, but the damage was done. A bruise could be seen on Greninja's chest as he rose back to his feet, but Misty paused their contest here.
"You guys aren't going to accomplish anything battling the way you are," Misty stated as Floatzel returned to her side. "I don't want to hurt Greninja, so I think we'll stop here."
Ash didn't want to admit it…but Misty was the real deal.
"Greninja lacks practical skills," Misty went on, and then she pointed at Ash. "And you're not ready to face 'good' trainers. You've taught Greninja how to brawl, which has its uses, but that won't be enough for him to compete. He's a water crafter that should be able to do so much more than just Water Pledge and Water Pulse," Misty extended one hand to Greninja. The other she used to motion to herself and her Pokemon. "There's a lot we can teach you."
Ash started to grind his teeth as he glared at Misty. He could feel Pikachu's tiny paws grip his shoulder. But they didn't need to intervene. Greninja repeated the answer that he gave her earlier.
"Gre-nin-ja," He responded as he motioned to Ash.
Misty clicked her tongue and crossed her arms. "I don't know what you see in him…" She retorted.
Greninja widened his stance and raised his hands, ready to continue the battle with Floatzel.
Misty shook her head. "Beating you as you are now wouldn't be much of an accomplishment," Misty stated. "I'd only care to face you at your best."
Ash let out the breath that he was holding. His shoulders relaxed with this action, and his temper cooled. It pained him to ask Misty the question on his mind, but he wasn't sure if they would cross paths with another water specialist.
"What would you teach Greninja, if you don't mind me asking," Ash said, and he breathed out again at the end of his question.
Misty huffed and turned up her nose. "Ordinarily, I wouldn't help someone like you," she said to Ash, but a sigh escaped her lips when she glanced at Greninja. "But when I see a Pokemon like Greninja, who's got all the potential in the world, it's…" Misty pursed her lips for a moment. "I can't turn a blind eye to you."
Greninja raised his brow as she said this, and he lowered his arms.
"I love water type Pokemon, and I'll do anything to help them, so don't think I'm being nice to you," Misty said to Ash. Then she relaxed her posture. "I'm doing this for Greninja, so I'll respect his opinion of you."
Her change in demeanor was a signal to the rest of her Pokemon to return to the water. Lapras, Psyduck, and Corsola remained in the shallow waters alongside the coast while Floatzel went further to lounge. Misty motioned for Greninja to join them at the water's edge, but Greninja didn't move.
Ash made a quick observation of his Pokemon. Greninja's eyes were narrow as he stared at Misty and his shoulders were tense. He didn't want her help, not after everything she said about Ash.
"Greninja," Ash said softly as he stepped up alongside him. "I know you may not like it, but you should listen if she's willing to show you something."
Greninja's eyes widened. "Ja?"
"You won't always have teachers that you like," Ash said firmly. "This is a chance to learn something new, and we shouldn't let that go to waste."
Greninja frowned, though it was hidden behind his scarf. Then he nodded to Ash. Together, they approached Misty and her Pokemon. Lapras and Corsola greeted him with a nod, and Misty took charge.
"Lapras, Corsola, we'll show Greninja the basics of Liquidation," Misty explained. They nodded to her, and Lapras called for Greninja's attention.
"Liquidation?" Ash repeated. He didn't like this any more than Greninja did, but he still intended to learn what he could.
Misty shot a leer at him. "Yeah, think of it as the next step in the progression of his Water Pledge," Misty explained, and then she added. "You would know that if you did just a little bit of research on water type Pokemon."
"I've tried doing research, but I'm not that great at it," Ash confessed.
"So what? You're going to let other people train your Pokemon for you?" Misty asked him.
Ash bit down on his lower lip. He had nothing to say on the matter. It was true.
Going back a few years to his time in Vermilion City, Ash recalled that Pikachu was taught by Brock, Giselle, and later Volkner. Ash didn't have a problem with it; in fact, he was grateful for their help. But things were different now. He wanted to take on a more active role as a teacher with his Pokemon. If he wanted to do that, he needed to learn how to be a better teacher first.
"How do you know so much about water type Pokemon?" Ash asked her in return.
Misty stared at him for a few moments. She could see a change in his eyes. The fire and frustration was quelled. He no longer wanted to fight…he wanted to learn.
"I had an advantage," Misty responded. "Everyone in my family is a water Pokemon enthusiast, so I've been around water Pokemon since I was little," She paused and then added. "Plus, my dad has been working with ocean researchers for years, so I've also learned from them."
Ash tilted his head. "Hmm, so that helped?"
"Well, duh," Misty retorted. "I studied everything about water Pokemon. Their habitats, migration patterns…I did my homework," She stated. "Pokemon aren't magic. There is science to everything about them, and once you understand it, that changes everything. When you look at water type Pokemon, you can categorize them. There are water crafters, water generators, and weather manipulators."
Once Misty started talking about water type Pokemon, there was no stopping her. She gave a breakdown and an example of each category. There were Pokemon like Greninja and Lapras that could naturally manipulate the shape of water. Then there were others, such as Wartortle and Floatzel, that possessed glands within their body that could produce gallons of pressurized water instantly. Among these two types was a subset that Misty labeled as water combat specialists, Pokemon who were masters of movement when submerged in water.
Finally, Misty concluded with a group known as weather manipulators. She described them as potentially the most frightening of water type Pokemon, but they were rare. Weather manipulators lived out in the depths of the ocean, known for the hurricanes and monsoons they created near island regions such as Hoenn and Sinnoh.
"Those are properties you'll find specifically among water type Pokemon," Misty went on. "But if a Pokemon has a subtype, you'll find all kinds of interesting twists that can help you create ideas that synergize with their main abilities. You have to learn everything about them to know how to teach them."
"Everything," Ash repeated with a nod.
As Misty approached Greninja to begin the lesson, her phone blared from a pocket at the back of her scuba suit. Misty answered the call immediately, and her whole mood changed.
"Are you serious?" She exclaimed. "This timing couldn't be any worse!"
Misty bit down on her lower lip as she ended the call. Then she looked toward Ash.
"I normally wouldn't do something like this, but this is an emergency," Misty stated. Ash could hear the difference in her voice. A tremble of fear. And then she made a request of him. "I need your help."
Ash furrowed his brow. "With what?"
"I don't have time to talk here. I'll explain on the way," Misty declared as she jumped onto the back of her Lapras. She called Psyduck back into his Pokeball and then extended a hand toward Ash. "Can you help me or not?"
Her earlier comments still lingered in his mind, but Misty described this as an 'emergency.' Perhaps this would be an opportunity to turn things in the right direction between them. So, Ash agreed, and they locked hands for Misty to pull him up onto Lapras.
The back of this water type Pokemon was protected by a shell with blunt cones protruding from it. Misty advised Ash and Greninja to hang onto them before Lapras surged forward. Her speed was impressive, and Pikachu tightened his hold on Ash's shoulder as the wind threatened to sweep them off of Lapras' shell.
"So, what's going on?" Ash called out to Misty, and he had a hand on his head to hold down his hat.
"The Cascade River starts in the mountains to the northwest. Magikarp travel upstream from the ocean to reproduce, and then they swim back down to the ocean afterward," Misty explained. "A few weeks ago, a school of Magikarp went up the river to lay their eggs, but on the return trip, one of them evolved into a Gyarados."
Ash felt his stomach drop. He didn't know much about Gyarados…but he heard the stories. Old tales of how Gyarados rampaged out in the oceans. How they raised gale force winds that summoned tsunamis, twisters, and violent whirlpools. Whole towns vanished in the wake of their wrath during the Great Crisis.
Ash gulped. "There's a…Gyarados in the Cascade River?"
Misty nodded with a grim expression. "This Gyarados has been trying to get back to the ocean, but she goes into a rampage whenever she gets near Cerulean City and the Nugget Bridge," Misty continued. "So, we've had no choice but to battle Gyarados and force her back upstream."
"You've been battling a Gyarados by yourself?" Ash exclaimed.
"Not alone," Misty replied as she shook her head. "There's a group of us that have been working together to deal with Gyarados. Normally, we have trainers stationed on the river at all times, but there were some gaps in our scheduling this week. Of course, Gyarados decides to show up when only a few of us are available…" Misty muttered.
"And that's why you asked me to help," Ash concluded, and Misty gave him a nod.
She explained that only one trainer watched the river overnight, stationed at a checkpoint about a mile beyond the city limit. It wouldn't be long before they intercepted Gyarados, and Ash steeled himself.
"How do you normally deal with Gyarados?" Ash inquired. He wanted an idea of what sort of battle he was walking into.
"Usually, we work as a team using about four Pokemon," Misty said. "The plan is to split Gyarados' attention. Floatzel here," Misty motioned to the weasel Pokemon that skated across the water beside them. "Is quick enough to keep Gyarados distracted without getting hit. Everyone else should be focused on doing damage. If you see an opening to attack, just go for it."
Ash nodded to her.
Other variations were employed during their previous battles with Gyarados. But Misty stuck to this plan for Ash's sake. The best move was to keep him out of the direct line of fire, though this would be a lot of pressure on Floatzel. He never handled this assignment alone.
There was a roar in the distance, and it echoed, which caused Ash's blood to turn cold. He remembered pictures of Gyarados, but those were…well, seeing one in person was an entirely different experience.
The water of the Cascade River churned violently, and Ash latched onto Lapras' shell even harder. Several meters ahead of them, the water spiraled into a whirlpool, and Gyarados erupted from its center. Her gaping maw hung open, and she let loose another terrifying roar. Gyarados towered over them and thrashed out, spraying water everywhere.
"What did I get myself into?" Ash asked himself as he stared up at this Pokemon.
A/N
And that concludes the intro chapter to this subarc. If you haven't been on my profile this month, I posted some news about My Wings going forward. I have...no time...to write. Like, I was shocked to see that the last time I opened the document for My Wings was literally two weeks ago. So I've decided to make a small adjustment to try to continue giving monthly updates. I will no longer be posting those huge 20k+ word chapters. I really loved those, but it's not feasible for me to write that much for the foreseeable future. So, I will be scaling back on the word count for each chapter. It'll probably be more in the range of a typical Caged Wings chapter if you need a comparison, but I might surprise myself and spit out a long chapter every now and then.
Now the only reason I'm making this a point of discussion is that this decision will affect how this story arc plays out. This whole arc was outlined to be written as either one enormous chapter or two beefy ones. But now that I've spread it out, the pacing might feel weird or slow compared to prior chapters where I could fit everything into one chapter. But! Hopefully, I stay consistent with my updates. The My Wings anniversary is next month, and 12 posted chapters would mean that I was consistent for the first year! Let's carry that momentum into year two!
With all of that out of the way, how did you feel about this chapter? I know there were a lot of lame jokes, but my humor is a work in progress. If it wasn't your cup of tea, oh well. Hopefully, Misty's debut chapter kept you around. Did you like what you saw from her to start? Were any of the Pokemon gave her unexpected? Do you think Ash and Misty will manage to become friends? Find out on the next episode of DRAGON BALL Z!
Alright, that was the last lame joke/reference, I promise. I hope you all enjoyed it! Shoutout to MjrGenMatt for his work! Shoutout to all of you who reviewed, followed, or favorited! Your support is always appreciated! If you have any comments, concerns, or just want to share your thoughts, feel free to! Thanks again, and all the best to each of you!