It was a bright sunny day, as Laoise's travelling group is walking down the path to Cerulean City. Naturally, Laoise and Ash intended to challenge the gym there, for it was one of the official Kanto gyms.

Laoise was song searching on her music Walkman. Ash yawned and stretched. "It's a great day to just enjoy the sunshine."

"And while you're enjoying the sunshine, Gary is catching more Pokémon." Brock quipped.

Ash almost falls over embarrassed.

"No need for the buzzkill, it's not always about quantity but quality." Laoise stated matter of factly. "By that I mean checking their endurance, speed and other factors."

Brock shrugged. "But I guess it's possible for a Pokémon trainer can capture Pokémon and enjoy the sun."

Pikachu briefly looks back to see Misty running to them from a distance and was delighted to see her catch up. "Cha!"

Misty soon comes running up to the three. "Hey! Wait a minute! Where do you think you're going?"

Ash replied. "Oh, I KNOW where we're going. We're going to Cerulean City."

Misty was alarmed. "Cerulean City?! What are you going there for?!"

Ash put his hands on his hips. "Well, it's none of your business, but I'm going for more badges."

"Likewise." Laoise chimed in, "Gotta get our next badge.

Misty looked quite nervous. "Uh, Ash. Laoise. You don't want Pokémon from there, trust me.

Ash questioned. "Why?"

"Because they're all... "

Ash pressed. "All what?"

"Very scary ghost Pokémon that look like this." Misty attempted a scary expression. "Like monsters!"

Ash only laughed, "Nice face, Misty. Come on, guys."

Laoise replied to Misty. "There are no ghost pokèmon in Cerulean city, I looked it up." Then added, "And there are, then I wanna see them!"

Misty fell over in disappointment then hurried after. "Hey! Wait! Wait a second!" Then she jumped in front of the group to block their path. "Hey, what about Vermilion City? It's right on the water and there are lots of neat Pokémon, and you can watch all the giant yachts pulling into the harbor, and there's a little park way up on a hill where you can sit and watch the sunset, that's so romantic."

Ash and Laoise were not impressed, however, Brock said nothing.

"It's much nicer than that old Cerulean City, so let's get going!" Misty insisted.

Laoise gave her a pointed look. "Misty, Ash and I are gonna go get our next official badge and the nearest is Cerulean city."

Misty fell over in disbelief. Laoise and the boys with Pikachu walked around her to continue the path.

"And since there's a gym in Cerulean City..." Ash said.

Brock acquiesced. "Yeah, makes sense to me."

Misty grumbled. "Ah! I never wanted to wind up back here!" And her face fell, this won't be easy.

It would take almost a day for the group to reach the city, already enjoying the scenery.

Ash was looking around. "So this is Cerulean City, eh, Brock?"

Brock remarked. "Pretty nice place, isn't it?"

Ash nodded. "Yeah, pretty cool!"

"Yeah, I guess the neighborhood is nice." Laoise shrugged. "But I gotta get to video phone before my parents start calling the pokèmon center and the gym before I call home."

And Ash noticed an interesting detail: Misty wasn't following them anymore.

"Chu." Pikachu noticed.

Brock commented, "She really didn't want to come to Cerulean City, did she?

Ash questioned. I wonder why she hates this place so much.

Laoise then piped up. "I think she's hiding something, she acted like a forest creature about to cross an open meadow. But what?"

Ash shrugged. "Ah, we'll never understand girls."

Laoise lightly elbowed him. "Ash, my dude, I'm right here. "

"Well… the regular ones anyways." Ash backtracked.

"I think you mean Neurotypicals but thanks anyway," Laoise shrugged.

Soon while walking through the city, our heroes came across a crowd of people and the city police in front of a machine store. Unbeknownst to them, Team Rocket had stolen a vacuum machine from the store overnight.

Ash stared. "Police. I wonder what happened."

Brock was also curious. "Yeah."

"I think it's crime scene," Laoise backed away a little, "Uhm I don't do so well with large crowds."

"But someone could be hurt."

Laoise whined, but followed Ash and Brock who push through to the front. Ash questioned a man next to him, "Excuse me. Do you know what happened here?"

"Some burglars broke into the store last night." The man answered.

Ash frowned. "Burglars, huh?"

"What do you know about burglars?" A police woman had walked right up to the three trainers. With the exception of the badge on her cap, she bared an astonishing resemblance to Officer Jenny of Viridian city. Uniform and all and ironically even the name.

Officer Jenny looked at the three. "You all look very suspicious to me."

Ash smiled, "Hey! You're that motorcycle officer from Viridian!"

Officer Jenny blinked for a moment. "Huh? Oh! You must have met my sister-in-law." She then crossed her arms. "If you know my sister-in-law, that means you all probably have some dealings with the police in Viridian."

"I hope that's not a comment about my abilities as a neurodivergent trainer." Laoise said through gritted teeth.

"Now, maybe you all stopped to ask her for directions, or maybe you found a wallet on the street and returned it," She then whipped out a pair of handcuffs. "Or maybe you're all crooks who broke out of jail!"

"Excuse me?" Laoise scowled.

Ash stammered. "I've never been to jail!"

Brock was just as nervous. "Neither have I, ma'am!"

"That's what they all say." Officer Jenny said.

"Actually, I was the one who asked her for directions to the Pokèmon center and she pointed me in the right direction." Laoise said rather scornfully. "Unlike you."

Ash and Brock lightly elbowed her discreetly.

Brock tried to smooth things over before Laoise could say anything else. "Look, we just came into town and we saw the crowd and we were wondering what was going on."

Officer Jenny smiled grimly. "The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime."

"We're not..." Brock began.

Ash held up his Pokédex. "Maybe this will clear things up." His red Pokédex opened and a robotic male voice spoke. "I'm Dexter, a Pokédex programmed by Professor Oak for Pokémon trainer Ash Ketchum."

"Here's mine." Laoise held up her lilac Pokédex. Dixie's voice said, "I am Dixie. A Pokédex programmed by Professor Oak for Pokémon neurodivergent trainer Laoise McGrady of the Bluebell Hollows."

"Yeah, and I was the leader of the Pewter City gym." Brock confirmed this with a boulder badge.

"Well, that's evidence enough for me." Officer Jenny nodded. "I'm sorry I was suspicious. "Now I'm suspicious of my sister-in-law, she sure has weird tastes in friends."

Brock then got her attention. "Uh, Miss?" and then said confidently "I was wondering, since I'm new in town maybe we could get together tonight and you can show me around."

Officer Jenny replied loftily. "Well, I'm not off-duty until it's past your bedtime. And I might even have to work round the clock to catch these burglars."

Brock was mildly disappointed, Ash was a little sheepish and Laoise was shaking her head in disbelief.

"Well, what exactly did they steal?" Ash asked.

Officer Jenny folded her arms in confusion. "That's the strange thing about it. They didn't take any money, just some massive vacuum and a giant hose."

"Bizarre." Laoise said.

Ash wondered. "But what would anyone want that stuff for?"

"I'm sure I don't know, young man. But I do know I have no time to play guessing games with you because I've got a job to do and it's time for all of you to move along." Officer Jenny ushered then them out of the crowd and then began doing the same with the crowd. "Come on, let's go! Alright, everybody! The show's over! Nothing to see here! Break it up! Break it up!"

After that, they sit on a bench and Ash asks Brock for inside information on the Gym Leader. Brock tells him that as a Gym Leader, he cannot give out that information.

Laoise had gone to call her family via video phone to let her parents know of her arrival to Cerulean City and to show them she'd won after defeating the Pewter city gym leader.

"I did it!" Laoise opened her badge case to show the boulder badge.

On the other side of the line were her delighted parents, her older sisters were already in school.

"That's wonderful, Bunny boo!" exclaimed her mom. "We knew you could do it."

"Thanks Mom. You should've seen Bulby and Goliath in action," Laoise beamed. "And you won't believe this, looks like the young gym leader Brock joined our travelling team while his Dad takes on the responsibilities and challenges of the gym"

"Is he now?" questioned Dave, Laoise's father.

From the video phone, Laoise's travelling companions were clearly visible. "That's him with Ash and pikachu on the bench...wave guys!"

Brock and Ash waved to Laoise's parents on the video call. Her father nodded in approval at Brock.

"Glad to see you've got capable companions watching your back, sweetpea," he said warmly. "Now be sure to take care of each other out there!"

"We will, Dad!" Laoise promised.

Her mother smiled fondly. "We know you're growing up more independent every day, but your father and I will always worry. Do check in often, okay?"

"I will, Mom." Laoise beamed, grateful as ever for their support. "Love you both!"

After tapping off, she rejoined the boys on the bench. "All set to battle the gym, Ash?"

"You bet!" Ash answered.

Then Brock decides to check something out that he has been meaning to look at - Laoise can only guess it involves pokèmon breeding. They split up, so Laoise and Ash with Pikachu to the Cerulean Gym alone.

Ash was using a map to find the gym through a suburban neighborhood. Finally they turned a corner spotted the gym in view.

The building was a dome-shaped, brightly colored Gym with a gigantic painting of a Dewgong on top of it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the stars of our show, The Sensational Cerulean City Synchronized Swimming Sisters!"

When Laoise and Ash reach the Gym, they see three teenage girls performing a synchronized swimming show for a lively crowd.

"I wonder if this IS the right place?" Laoise said uncertainly.

Ash scratched the back of his head. "I thought this was the Pokémon gym, Pikachu."

Pikachu watches the show in awe. "Cha..."

The performance ends in thunderous applause. Confused, Ash and Laoise descend down some stairs

"I can't understand it." Ash said then gasped at where they ended up, "It's like, an aquarium!"

And find themselves looking at a large aquarium.

"Well, I read somewhere that this was supposed to be a gym that specializes in water Pokémon." Laoise said, looking at all the colorful fish.

"How can this be a Pokémon gym?" wondered Ash.

They then heard voices approaching, that belonged to the three girls they'd seen performing earlier. They all talked with valley girl accents.

The one with long indigo hair said. "The crowd was totally awesome!"

"I know, that was so great!" The pink haired one remarked.

"Daisy, the dive you did was super." The violet haired girl said to the blonde.

Daisy, the one with long honey-blonde hair and a beauty mark replied, "The practice really paid off."

"Totally." The pink-haired one said.

And the three girls all giggled.

"Uh, excuse us." Ash addressed them.

The three girls turned towards Ash and Laoise, noticing them at the aquarium for the first time.

The pink-haired girl replied loftily, "I'm sorry, but if you want an interview, you have to, like, call our manager."

"But we're not reporters." Laoise shook her head.

"We don't do autographs." The pink-haired girl responded.

"I don't want one." Ash said calmly.

Laoise added, "Me either. We just want to know if this is still a Pokémon gym."

"It sure is." answered the violet haired girl.

"Well then, we're looking for the gym trainer." Ash said determinedly.

"You're looking at them." Daisy responded.

"Oh? All three of you?" Laoise piped up. Battling three different people will be interesting.

Daisy added, "The three of us are the gym trainers here."

"We're the Sensational Sisters." the pink-haired one said proudly.

Ash was confused. "But what's with all the swimming earlier?"

The pink-haired one responded. "It's, like, our hobby and our fans love to watch us perform."

The indigo haired girl shrugged. "We pool our talents to make a big splash."

All three sisters laugh in a ditzy manner while Ash nearly falls over in embarrassment from the joke.

Now the two trainers faced the three Sensational sisters back upstairs in the pool area where all the visitors had left.

"Come on! Me, and Laoise challenge all of you!" Ash said.

Pikachu nodded. "Pika!"

"What he said!" Laoise grinned. "Well, if you're ready."

All three sisters however looked rather reluctant and uninterested.

"We don't feel much like battling anymore." Daisy said.

Ash and Pikachu were taken aback. "What do you mean?"

The indigo haired sister, Violet, said. "We just got beaten twice in a row by kids from this nowhere place called Pallet Town."

Ash slumped over, Gary had already beaten him to the punch. "Not again."

Laoise frowned then she had a thought and she looked at the sisters awkwardly. "Uhm, you… didn't get any calls from the Bluebell Hollows did you?"

"Just some uppity lawyer lady asking if her kid made it to the gym yet -she like had, something about a syndrome?" The pink-haired girl, Lily, replied with a shrug.

"D'oh..." Laoise flushed visibly. Her parents must've called ahead of a few hours just before she and her group arrived to Cerulean city. "Sorry, that was my mom...I have Asperger's syndrome, it took ages for my big sisters to convince my parents to let me go on a Pokémon journey."

Pikachu looked to Laoise as if sharing her mortification.

Ash commiserated with Laoise. "Her parents worry too much, that's why they kept calling ahead."

"Oh em gee, like, that's so sweet that your parents care!" Daisy cooed at Laoise. "Anyway. Three trainers already beat us..."

Violet described, "It's was just one defeat and then another. My eyes were spinning from the losses."

Daisy added, "We had to, like, practically rush all our Pokémon to the Pokémon Center."

"This is the only one left." Lily dropped a single Pokéball and a Goldeen materialized.

Ash was in disbelief. "You mean, all you have is a Goldeen?!"

Laoise then pulled out Dixie. "Goldeen, the Goldfish Pokémon. A Water type. It is known as either the Water Princess, Water Queen or Water Dancer because its tail fin billows like an elegant ballroom dress. It can also use its tail to swim at a speed of up to five knots."

Lily recalled the Goldeen.

Violet explained, "If only it would evolve into Seaking, we could use it, but all it can do now is its Horn Attack."

Daisy held her other arm, "So, like, there's no point in battling."

"Now, instead of having matches, we have time to make ourselves look more beautiful than ever." Lily said, flipping her hair.

Laoise looked almost as disappointed as Ash. "You got to be kidding..."

"I know what you both want." Daisy clapped twice. "Seel!"

A Seel popped out of the pool with a badge on its tongue. It was in the shape of a blue teardrop.

Daisy took not one but two badges from Seel's mouth and held them up, "A Cascade Badge. This is what you two want, right? You each can have one."

Ash was unsure. "Thanks, but me and Laoise would rather earn our badges."

Daisy insisted, "Take it. A badge is a badge. Here."

"Wouldn't that be... I dunno, dishonest?" Laoise questioned.

"Only if you try to steal it." Violet replied.

Laoise looked quite uncertain as did Ash and he slowly began to approach.

"Hold it right there!"

Everyone looked up at the bleachers in shock. There, standing with an indignant scowl was...

"Misty?!" gaped Ash.

Pikachu looked happy to see her. "Cha!"

Misty leaped down from her spot to land right in front of them. "Alright, Daisy. If you don't want to battle them, I will!" she said to Daisy.

"Can someone explain- I feel like I've missed something?" Laoise said.

"What do you mean?" questioned Ash.

"I'm a Cerulean City trainer, too." Misty smirked, "I am the fourth Sensational Sister!" she declared.

Lily then corrected her, "There are only three Sensational Sisters and one runt."

Misty growled at her in disbelief.

Daisy looked prim. "So, little sister, it's a surprise to see you back so soon."

"Misty! You've been holding out on us!" Laoise teased, wrapping an arm around the girl's shoulders. "You didn't tell me you had older sisters too."

Misty scowled and shrugged off Laoise's arm, clearly embarrassed. "It's not like we're close or anything!"

Violet recalled. "Yeah, that little girl with the big mouth who said she wouldn't come back till she was a great Pokémon trainer, wasn't that you?"

Misty had enough sense to admit it. "Huh? I guess, I did say something like that when I left."

Ash looked to Pikachu. "So THAT'S why Misty was so dead set against coming here."

Laoise joked, "Big mouth braggart? That's her alright. You shoulda seen her before we reached Cerulean city…"

Lily then said, "Misty, you left here pretending you wanted to become a Pokémon trainer because you couldn't compare with us because we're obviously much more talented and beautiful than you are."

Misty soured at her older sister's words, Ash could sense an argument about to ensue. "Uh oh."

"Well that explains a lot." Laoise said looking from the sisters to Misty.

"That wasn't the reason!" Misty shouted at Lily.

"Well then, I guess, like, you came back because you couldn't make it as a Pokémon trainer." Daisy surmised.

"It wasn't my idea to come back here!" Misty then pointed to Ash and Laoise. "The only reason I'm here is because those two wanted to come!"

Daisy looked Laoise. "Okay, I get you wanting to keep on eye on the tiny kid in the hoodie there."

"I'm not THAT little or helpless, I'm twelve years old!" Laoise pointed out.

"Like, could've fooled us." Violet remarked, "You're shorter than Misty, and she's your age."

Daisy then looked at Ash. "And well, he's totally not someone I'd choose between for a boyfriend. But you're no prize yourself."

Ash fell down in embarrassment.

"MY boyfriend?!" Misty snapped, but she was blushing furiously.

"No, Miss Daisy, it's because she told us there were ghost pokèmon here and I wanted to see them!" Laoise chimed in innocently.

Misty looked aggravated as she facepalmed. She'd forgotten that Laoise might sometimes take things too literally. She turned to face her three elder sisters. "If I battle them, that'll prove I'm not a quitter and I'm just as good a trainer as you three!"

"Well, you are the only one of us with a Pokémon that can actually battle." Daisy admits uneasily.

Misty turned to Ash and Laoise with newfound determination. "Alright you guys, you wanted a gym battle - you've got one. I'll show you what I can really do!"

"Hey Ash. Let me go battle against Misty first." Laoise said.

Ash nodded. "Alright."

"Fine with me!" Misty said sternly.

They square off against each other across the pool, which will serve as their Battle-Arena in two vs two pokèmon match. Each trainer will only use up to two Pokémon, and the match will end if both of either side's Pokémon are unable to battle. Furthermore, only the challenger is allowed to substitute Pokémon at any time.

Three floating islands float inside the pool, and on either end of the pool a blue and red island floats, with Laoise standing on one and Misty on the other.

Misty and Laoise took their positions, faces determined as the pool battleground stretched between them. Ash and the other sisters watched eagerly from the sidelines.

"This will be a two-on-two battle for the Cascade Badge!" Violet announced. "Challenger can substitute Pokémon whenever they like, gym leader cannot. Battle will be over when both of either trainer's Pokémon can no longer continue. Begin!"

"Staryu, you're up!" Misty called, sending out the starfish Pokémon.

Staryu was a golden-brown, echinoderm Pokémon with five appendages. The appendages surrounded an exterior organ called the core. The core resembled a golden metal casing with a red gem in the center, which is held in place by a golden ring looped around Staryu's lower left point.

Laoise pulled out her Pokedex to check its entry. "Staryu. Large numbers of these Pokémon make their home at the seaside. At night, a strange red glow radiates from the center of their bodies. "

'Pretty, I'll have to remember to catch one in the wild and more water types.' Laoise thought.

She nodded, steeling herself.

"Bulby, I choose you!" Laoise sent out her faithful Bulbasaur. "Let's start things off with a Vine Whip attack!"

Bulby launched their vines swiftly at Staryu, who spun its way out of reach.

"Now use Razor Leaf!" Laoise called. A flurry of sharp leaves sliced through the air toward their foe.

"Dodge and use Water Gun!" Misty commanded. Staryu nimbly avoided the attack and shot back with a powerful spray of water.

Bulby took the hit with a shake but stayed standing. Laoise thought fast. "Tackle it while it's recovering!"

Bulby charged ahead, knocking Staryu off balance with a solid hit. But it was still raring to battle.

Misty grinned fiercely. "This is just getting started. Use Rapid Spin!"

Staryu spun at dizzying speed, gaining momentum before rocketing into Bulby like a cannonball. Bulby was smashed into the edge of the floating island with an "Oof!"

Laoise gripped her Pokéball, fearing the worst. But Bulby managed to shake it off and struggle back up, panting. This was going to be one tough match!

Then Laoise had an idea. "Bulby, brace yourself until Staryu gets close enough!"

Bulby listened and waited for Staryu to attack again...

"Leech seed, quickly!" Laoise called.

Bulby shot out a single seed and it hit Staryu, leaf ridden vines covering the starfish pokémon.

Misty gasped as her Staryu was ensnared by Bulby's Leech Seed attack. Vines sprouted from the seed and wrapped around Staryu, sapping its strength bit by bit.

"Now's your chance!" Laoise urged her Bulbasaur. "Tackle it while it's restrained!"

With a burst of energy, Bulby shoved its entire body weight into Staryu, knocking the star roughly aside. Staryu strained against its binds, looking decidedly worn down from the draining effects.

"You can do it, Staryu!" Misty encouraged. "Break free and use Water Gun!"

Staryu blasted water powerfully despite its predicament. But Laoise was ready. "Dodge and use Vine Whip to toss it out of the arena!"

Bulby nimbly dodged the spray and lashed out with thick vines, seizing Staryu and hurling it across the pool with an almighty splash. There was no resurfacing - Staryu had fainted.

"Staryu is unable to battle!" Violet announced. "Bulby wins this round for the challenger!"

"All right, Bulby!" Laoise cheered for her partner.

Misty recalled her pokèmon, "Staryu return!"

And she pulled out her next pokèmon, "Your bulbsaur is tough, but next my Pokemon will beat you. Go Starmie!"

Starmie was an echinoderm 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, which can glow in seven colors and has developed to resemble a cut precious stone. The second starfish is semi-attached to the back of the first and can spin 360 degrees.

Laoise identified it with Dixie. "Starmie, when away from human eyes, its core is said to glow mysteriously in seven colors. People in ancient times imagined that Starmie were transformed from the reflections of stars that twinkled on gentle waves at night."

Again a pretty water type, but it won't matter with the next Pokémon Laoise will use.

"Bulby, return." Laoise recalled her Bulbasaur.

It was time to wrap this up.

"Storm, it's time to fight!" She tossed her pokéball.

The female Pikachu Laoise had caught months ago in Viridian forest materialized. Storm was on all fours ready to battle, shooting the Starmie and Misty a fierce glower. For electric types were strong against two pokémon types: Fly and water.

If Misty was nervous that Laoise would use an electric type, she didn't show it.

Storm sparked with electricity, raring for action against Misty's Starmie. This type matchup was in Laoise's favor for sure.

"Thundershock, let's go!" Laoise instructed her Pikachu.

Storm zapped Starmie with a jolt of electric power, earning a pained thrill from the watery star shape.

Misty was unfazed. "Rapid Spin to dodge and get in close!" Starmie spun at high speeds, evading another Thundershock before bearing down on Storm.

"Quick Attack to get out of range!" Laoise called. Storm utilized her agility, zipping away just before impact.

Daisy remarked, "That Laoise girl's got skills."

"Guess even the little ones can be tougher than they look." Lily commented.

"Use your momentum for a closer target, Storm!" Laoise called.

Storm braced herself on a floating mat.

"Grab on and give it a thundershock!"

Charging up, Storm unleashed a powerful bolt of lightning that shocked Starmie. It cried out, sparks dancing across its body.

The two pokèmon fell into the pool wall with an echoing thud. Storm emerged, climbing onto a pool ring. Starmie resurfaced with its core flashing repeatedly confirming its defeat.

"Starmie is unable to battle! The victory goes to the challenger!" declared Violet.

"Yeah, alright!" Laoise cheered. It was tough but she pulled through.

"Looks like Laoise is stronger than you, Misty." Lily smirked to Misty.

Misty glared, "Say what?!"

Daisy walked to Laoise, who was gently drying Storm with a towel. "Here's the Cascade badge for your victory. This should make your folks proud."

"Thank you, Miss Daisy." Laoise thanked her.

Ash cheered and Pikachu leapt onto his shoulder, "That was an awesome battle!"

Lily shrugged. "Beaten by a little girl with special needs, you're getting sloppy, little sis."

Misty retorted. "I'm not getting sloppy! I still have ONE more challenger left!" and she stomped up to Ash, "Alright, Ash. Are you ready to rumble?"

After Misty's pokèmon recovered, the pool was cleared for Ash and Misty's battle to begin.

"I wasn't planning on challenging you till you paid me back for my bike, but this is as good a time as any! If you want that Cascade Badge, you're gonna have to beat me!" Misty said from her place.

Ash grinned, "It'll be my pleasure. Pikachu, this one's gonna be a piece of cake."

Pikachu was reluctant. "Chu."

"So, how many Pokémon?"

Misty replied, "Like last time, two against two works for me!"

Positive that this is going to be a piece of cake, he grabs Pikachu and hauls it up.

"Pikachu! I choose you!" he said, then saw Pikachu clinging onto his arm

Ash is confused, "Huh? Pikachu, what are you doing?"

Pikachu shook his head pointing to Misty. "Chu. Chu."

Unlike Storm, Pikachu wasn't too keen on battling Misty. Ash is forced to let Pikachu sit this one out.

"Pikachu!" laughed Misty, "You're a Pika-Pal!"

"PIKACHU!" Pikachu chirped.

Laoise glowered at Misty, "Not cool."

"Thanks alot Pikachu," Ash mumbled.

So Ash sends out Butterfree to battle Misty's Staryu. Ash hits Staryu with a Tackle, and Staryu replies with several Water Guns. Butterfree's Stun Spore paralyzes Staryu temporarily, though it dives and washes the powder off. Ash tries Sleep Powder, though Staryu dives once again.

Misty gloated "If Staryu can get Butterfree in the pool and underwater, I win. Water Pokémon always have the advantage in the water!"

"Pika-chu!" giggles Pikachu happily.

"Pikachu!" Ash rebuked, "You're supposed to be on my side."

"Ka-Chu," apologized Pikachu sadly.

"Misty's totally awesome," smiles Daisy.

"Well we three got the good looks in the family, so I guess she had to get SOME talent," smirked Lily.

Staryu performs several Tackles and eventually knocks Butterfree into the pool, causing him to lose the battle. After that, Misty sends out Starmie and Ash sends out Pidgeotto. Pidgeotto uses Whirlwind on Starmie, but it jumps into the water and attacks Pidgeotto. Pidgeotto uses Gust, causing Starmie to hit the wall and its red core to flash, with Misty becoming concerned about Starmie's energy wearing out.

But before Pidgeotto can zoom down , a rumbling begins to shake the Gym, catching everyone's attention. They turn and look, and to their surprise a massive vehicle with a metallic wedge on the front smashes through the wall... and there are two very familiar haircuts poking out from behind the wedge.

"Check out that hair!" gasped Violet.

"Like who invited the party crashers?" asked Daisy.

"Sorry to burst in on you ladies," said Jesse as she and James rise up on a platform from behind the wedge.

"Allow us to introduce ourselves," added James, before they get into the motto itself.

With the motto done, Team Rocket get right into the business of being villains.

"The Water Pokemon have the advantage," James explained.

"But if steal that water away," added Jesse.

"Then the Pokemon are ours for the taking," finished James.

"And Meowth knows just how to do it!" Meowth said before throwing a switch and getting the party started.

A giant hose bursts out of the machine and drops into the water, beginning to suck up all of the water inside of the pool...

"A giant vacuum and a massive hose," Ash gasped, then clicks that it was Team Rocket who were the robbers of the store.

Violet wondered. "What are they trying to prove?"

"It means they're after Pokémon, and targeting this gym!" Laoise cried.

All three sisters look in and sound surprised by Team Rocket's machine as it begins to suck up the water from the pool

Daisy gaped, "Our swimming pool!"

Misty stated, "They're sucking it dry!"

"Without water, the Pokémon who are inside will be sucked up and stolen away!" Laoise yelped.

Lily protested. "That's our water!"

"Right! I should give it back." Meowth put the machine in reverse and blows the water out all over the room, flooding it.

The water from the pool manages to trap the others.

Misty tried to swim up, "We've gotta protect the Pokémon!"

Violet wailed. "Like, what about my hair?!"

"Forget that!" Laoise snapped.

Meowth nodded. "All right! Now's the time to suck 'em up!"

He put the vacuum back in forward and starts sucking up the water and all the Pokémon trapped in it. The Gym's seel was sucked in first. Then Pikachu soon gets knocked into the pool by the current and gets dragged towards the center.

Then Ash gets an idea, "Hey, wait a second! Water conducts electricity! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu unleashed his thunderbolt, shocking Team Rocket. The troublesome trio collapsed into the water where James continued to moan that now he knows what it's like to be all washed up, while Jesse cried that they'll never come clean, and then they're sucked into the hose and burst out into the air outside. Seel had managed to get out, stood next to the hose and clapped happily at the sight.

"Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!"

Back inside the Gym, Pikachu is still in danger of being sucked up into the hose and Ash ran, trying to get to the machine and shut it down. Pikachu is sucked under water and pulled up into the hose as Ash clambered aboard the machine and dove for the lever, reversing the flow of the water. The hose burst out of the water blasted out it's contents, Pikachu being shot with the water and landing safely in Daisy's arms with a sigh of relief.

With Team Rocket defeated and the machine shut down, the Sensational Sisters, Misty and Ash take in all of the destruction.

Misty said to Ash, "Hey, we never got to finish our match."

Ash sighed, "Yeah. And I was just about to win it, too."

Misty looked at him, "What?"

Laoise smirked, "Well Ash did get the upper hand against your Starmie."

Violet quipped, "You could say your match had to be postponed, like, due to drain."

Lily shrugged, "At least nobody lost."

Misty murmured, "I wanted to win."

"I guess I'm not gonna get that Cascade Badge." Ash said glumly.

"I'm sure that when the Cerulean Sisters' Pokémon are healed, you can have your rematch then." Laoise said.

Daisy interrupted. "Wrong. We're giving this badge to you."

"How come he gets the badge?" Misty whined petulantly. "He didn't win!"

Daisy pointed out. "Pikachu was, like, the one who totally saved us all. And if he used Pikachu from the start, there's no way your water Pokémon would have won. Remember, Laoise's little Storm?"

Misty frowned, "Oh, man!"

"Electric trumps water types." Laoise pointed out.

Daisy said, "Take the badge, Ash. You deserve it."

"And don't let anyone make you feel like you don't deserve it." Laoise added.

Ash took the badge from Daisy, "Gee, thanks! Ha! I'll take it!"

"Cha!" Pikachu smiled.

And so Laoise and Ash earned their second Pokémon trainer badges.

Lily was saying to Misty, "Misty, you just go right on trying to become a Pokémon trainer. You might as well be good at something 'cause you'll never be stars like us."

Misty answered back, "You keep that up and you'll be seeing stars!"

Violet laughed. "Chill out!"

Daisy said, "Be careful! You know we love you."

Misty admitted, "Yeah."

At that moment, Brock came up from his errands.

"Yo Brocko!" Ash greeted.

"Find what you were checking out?" Laoise asked nicely.

"Sure did. How'd it go for you two?" Brock asked.

"See for yourself," Ash holds up his Cascade Badge.

Laoise smiled, opening her badge case to show the cascade badge.

"Cool, let's go," Brock nodded and the three begin to depart.

"Right," says Ash and heads off without a look back at Misty.

"You're not leaving without me!" cried Misty, charging after them.

"Misty, you're not going to be a sore loser are you?" Ash asked her.

"I didn't lose anything, it was a draw," growled Misty.

"Well I'm the one who got the badge," grinned Ash.

"WHAT?" Misty said angrily, "You know you lost with Butterfree!"

"That was just round one, I made a great comeback!" smiled Ash.

"If Team Rocket hadn't bust in, I would have destroyed you!" an enraged Misty growled as they head into the sunset, Brock beside them and Pikachu bobbing along besides.

"You're lucky they showed up, you were about to lose!"

"Lose? I was just getting started?"

"Oh yeah?"

"Oh Yeah!"

"Oh brother." groaned Brock.

"Looks like we're off to Vermillion City for our third badge." Laoise said, "But it looks like I'm the only one in the mood for burgers and fries." she teased Ash and Misty, seeing a store with a discount. "I wager, me and Brock can make it to the before you two!"

"You're on!" Ash grinned, sparks of rivalry still dancing between him and Misty. "Last one there buys!"

He and Pikachu immediately made a break for it, though Misty wasn't far behind in her pursuit to prove herself.

Laoise and Brock shook their heads fondly at their friends' boundless energy. "Shall we?" Brock jokingly offered her his arm in a gentlemanly fashion.

She giggled, looping her own through politely. "Yeah lets. But no special treatment - I fully intend to beat them and make them buy me that Peanut butter milkshake!"

With that playful declaration, Brock and Laoise casually ambled after the others at a more leisurely pace.

All in good time - the open road stretched ahead filled with adventure, Pokémon and those silly squabbles that somehow brought them closer as a team.

Vermillion city would be their next destination.

To be continued…