Chapter 5 – Cerulean City Challenge

A few days later, Ash and his friends were still traveling along a dusty, lone road as they were heading for their next destination.

"Ah, it's a great day to just enjoy the sunshine," Ash beamed as he outstretched his arms with a joyful and serene expression on his face.

"And while you're enjoying the sunshine, Gary's out catching more Pokemon," Brock retorted empathetically, causing Ash to freak out in terror. "But I guess a Pokemon trainer can both catch Pokemon and enjoy the sun."

Pikachu then turned around to see Misty racing up to them desperately.

"Hey, wait a minute!"

Misty then managed to catch up to the gang as she stopped to catch her breath.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Oh, I know where we're going," Ash declared. "We're going to Cerulean City."

"Ah! Cerulean City?!" Misty balked in terror, suddenly flying into a nervous panic. "What are you going there for?"

"Well, it's none of your business, but I'm going for more badges," Ash snapped with an akimbo.

"What's with her anyway?" Katie hissed to Shirley, who shrugged.

"She's acting really suspicious," Yuki frowned with narrowed eyes, wondering why Misty's demeanor had suddenly changed.

"Uh, Ash, you don't want Pokemon from there; trust me," Misty laughed nervously, practically breaking out into sweat.

"Why not?" Ash demanded.

"Because they're all…" Misty began while holding up his finger at him.

"All what?" Ash growled.

"Very scary ghost Pokemon that look like this," Misty replied as she made a particular funny face by stretching the corners of her mouth wide. "Like monsters."

The gang just stared at her silently for a few minutes before Rhonda and her friends slowly broke out into soft and quiet snickers and then they erupted into outright hysterical and maniacal laughter. Ash also laughed at her as he turned around and walked away.

"Nice face, Misty. Come on, Brock. Let's go, Pikachu."

"Hey, hey! Wait a second! What about Vermilion City?" Misty cried as she rushed over to them and blocked their path.

"What about it?" Luthor demanded acerbically.

"It's right on the water and there are lots of neat Pokemon and you can watch all of 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," Misty continued.

"Uh huh," Ash nodded uncertainly.

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

"Okay, let's go," Ash replied.

"Really?" Misty smiled hopefully, clasping her hands.

"To Cerulean City," Ash declared as he and his friends walked off.

Misty then groaned in frustration and irritation as she collapsed to the ground.

"I got to get more trainer badges, Brock. And there's a Gym in Cerulean City," Ash informed Brock.

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

"Ah, I never wanted to wander back here," Misty groaned while rubbing her head sorely.

Her face then fell as she decided to follow her friends all the way to Cerulean City, a part of her still worried and anxious about what she was going to find there.

TLSTLSTLSTLS

Later that evening, inside a local store, a vent door opened as James peeked out of the opening.

"The coast is clear."

"Nothing to fear," Jessie declared as she also peeped out of the opening.

"Nobody here. Meowth," Meowth piped in.

It was then that James, Jessie and Meowth vaulted out into the open as they began to venture through the store with James shining his flashlight everywhere, scanning his surroundings. James then stopped in front of a large vacuum machine as he pointed his flashlight at it with a conniving smirk.

"Well, looks like we found it."

"Just what we need to get just what we want," Jessie declared.

"Pokemon," Meowth purred.

TLSTLSTLSTLS

The next morning, Ash and his friends had finally arrived in Cerulean City as they were walking through the streets.

"So this is Cerulean City, eh, Brock?" Ash inquired curiously.

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

"I don't see what's wrong with it exactly," Rhonda frowned as she looked around inquisitively. "I honestly don't know what's gotten Misty so afraid about this town that she refuses to set foot in it."

"Yeah, pretty cool," Ash concurred, only to turn around and notice that Misty wasn't with them.

"Hey, look. That's weird. Misty's not following us anymore."

"Chu," Pikachu squeaked.

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

"I wonder why she hates this place so much," Ash asked Brock.

"I guess we're about to find out, won't we?" Jasmine shrugged nonchalantly.

Brock just grunted in acknowledgement.

"Ah, we'll never figure out girls," Ash laughed with a shrug of his own.

Just then they came across a machine shop where a large crowd was gathering and a few police cars were stationed near the entrance.

"The police. I wonder what happened," Ash mused.

"Yeah," Brock nodded.

"Hey, what's going on? Did something happen over there?" Katie asked.

"I think we should totally check things out," Luthor suggested. "Maybe somebody got murdered and we might end up seeing a dead body or something."

"Luthor, what on earth is the matter with you?" Shirley snapped at him sternly with narrowed, disapproving eyes.

Ash and the others then rushed over to where the crowd was as they raced over to the scene and saw that the entrance to the store was cordoned off.

"Excuse me, do you know what happened here?" Ash asked one of the bystanders.

"Some burglars broke into that store last night," the man informed him.

"Burglars, huh?" Ash murmured to himself.

"What do you know about burglars?" a female voice addressed him and Ash turned around to see a familiar looking police officer.

"You two look very suspicious to me," the female police officer declared while cupping her chin in her hand.

"Hey, you're that motorcycle officer from Viridian!" Ash exclaimed.

"Huh? Ah… you must have met my sister-in-law," the motorcycle officer laughed as she soon realized what Ash was talking about.

"Let me guess; you two have the same exact name, huh?" Katie retorted with an eye roll as she and Rhonda exchanged incredulous glances.

"If you know my sister-in-law, then that means that you probably had some dealings with the police back in Viridian!" the police officer fired back while glaring at him with her arms folded across her chest.

"Well I…" Ash stammered, slightly taken aback by the officer's accusation.

"Now, maybe you just stopped to ask her for directions, or maybe you found a wallet on the street and turned it in to her, or maybe you're a burglar who broke out of jail!" the police officer continued as she then flashed out her handcuffs, spinning them in the air.

"I've never been to jail!" Ash panicked in terror.

"Neither have I!" Brock insisted.

"I've never committed a crime a day in my whole entire life!" Rhonda wailed in fear. "Not even stolen a candy from a baby!"

"Me neither!" Yuki cried.

"That's what they all say," the police officer growled suspiciously.

"We just got into town and saw the crowd so we came to see what was going on," Brock explained.

"The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime," the police officer smirked with a knowing gleam in her eye.

"We're not uh…" Brock stammered, feeling at a loss.

"Maybe this will help clear things up," Ash said with a nervous smile as he then opened up his Pokedex and showed it to the officer.

"I'm Dexter and I'm a Pokedex programmed by Professor Gary Oak for Pokemon trainer Ash Ketchum," Dexter intoned.

"Yeah, and I was the leader of the Pewter City Gym," Brock added while showing the officer the Boulder Badge.

"Well, that's enough evidence for me; I'm sorry that I was suspicious," the police officer replied while laughing it off before turning away from the gang.

"Now I'm suspicious of my sister-in-law. She sure has weird taste in friends," she muttered to herself out of earshot from everyone else.

"Um, miss?" Brock began.

"Huh?" the police officer turned her attention to Brock with a questioning look.

"I was wondering, since I'm new in town, maybe we could get together tonight and you can show me around," Brock offered.

"Well, I'm not off-duty until past your bedtime and I may have to work round the clock to catch those burglars," the police officer replied haughtily.

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

"Well, that's the strange thing about it," the police officer answered, crossing her arms with a puzzled expression. "They didn't take any money, just a massive vacuum and a giant hose."

"But what would anyone want to steal that for?" Ash inquired with a bemused expression.

"Maybe they have a humongous mansion and they needed a humongous vacuum to clean up all of the dust and dirt lying around," Luthor retorted with a taunting smirk.

"That's ridiculous, Luthor; nobody steals a vacuum just to clean their own house, especially if they're rich; they'd just buy it themselves," Katie scoffed with an eye roll.

"Not to mention that they would also pilfer all of the money they possibly could and make it out like bandits as quickly as possible," Yuki added.

"I'm sure I don't know, guys," the police officer sighed. "But I do know that I don't have time to play guessing games with you and I've got a job to do, so it's time for all of you to move along."

She then pushed everybody out of the area and then started to disperse the crowd.

"All right, everybody! Show's over! Nothing to see here! Everybody out!"

TLSTLSTLSTLS

A short time later, Ash, Brock and the others were sitting on a park bench together while trying to figure out their next move.

"Good thing I had Dexter and you had your badge," Ash said.

"Yeah, I don't want to think about what would happen if that lady arrested us," Katie whispered with a fearful shudder.

"Yeah, shouldn't you head for the Cerulean City gym?" Brock asked.

"Yeah; hey Brock?" Ash asked as he turned to face Brock. "You got any inside info on the Gym trainer there?"

"Huh?" Brock gawked at him in confusion as Ash laughed softly while rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"I just want to find out as much as I can about him before we have our match. Know yourself, know your adversary and then you hold the key to victory."

"Wow, that actually sounds kind of dope there, Ash," Luthor marveled in awe.

"You sure know some pretty deep stuff," Brock mused.

"Heh, I learned that one from Dexter," Ash chuckled good-naturedly while holding up his Pokedex.

"Well, I never actually met the trainer here but I know his Pokemon special move," Brock replied while crossing his arms.

"Yeah? What is it?" Ash inquired excitedly.

"I'm sorry, Ash, but I can't give you that information," Brock informed him firmly.

"Why now?" Ash demanded with a petulant frown.

"I'm a Gym Leader too after all; I can't tell you out of respect," Brock explained. "You understand."

"Oh, that's cool," Ash nodded understandingly.

Ash and his friends then got up from the park bench as they started walking.

"Well, I have some stuff that I need to check out," Brock announced.

"What stuff?" Ash asked curiously.

"Just stuff," Brock insisted, not wishing to elaborate further. "See you later."

He then turned around and walked away in the opposite direction as he was then gone.

"Gee, I wonder what's his deal there," Luthor scoffed.

"Well we might as well leave it alone and just head off to the Cerulean City Gym so that we can beat the next Gym Leader and get our next badge," Shirley declared.

"Well, let's get going, Pikachu," Ash said as he and Pikachu also walked off.

TLSTLSTLSTLS

A short time later, Ash and his friends arrived at the Cerulean City Gym as they noticed that the dome-shaped part of the building was painted with multiple bright colors and there was a large image of a Dewgong.

"Huh, there it is," Ash said.

"Wow, the gym looks so pretty," Katie whispered in an amazed and fascinated voice.

"Whoever designed this gym actually has pretty good taste," Jasmine mused with admiration and intrigue in her voice.

Meanwhile, inside the gym, a large crowd was seated in the bleachers as they were anxiously awaiting an upcoming performance. Ash and his friends stood on the top of the bleachers as they looked out at the massive pool ahead of them.

"What on earth is this?" Rhonda mused with a puzzled yet curious expression.

"I got to admit, this gym has an unusual and fascinating design," Shirley observed keenly. "This must be a water gym."

"Why not an Ice Gym?" Katie frowned questioningly.

"Because otherwise the platform would be completely frozen over and covered with ice. Remember that the platform at the last gym was covered in rocks and boulders?" Shirley retorted pointedly.

"Oh… right," Katie's voice trailed off softly as she quickly realized that Shirley was right.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the star of our show, the sensational Cerulean City synchronized swimming sisters!" a male voice announced.

Ash gasped in astonishment and wonder as he looked up to see three girls standing on the platform. One of them had orange hair with a red dress while the second girl had bright purple hair with a green dress and the third girl had pink hair with a yellow dress.

"Lily! Violet! Daisy!"

The crowd then let out an uproarious cheer as the three women then jumped off the platform while performing a single tumble before diving into the water. Then as the women emerged from the water, the crowd continued to cheer enthusiastically as they dipped briefly into the water before flipping upside down and performing a synchronized dance with their legs.

"But I thought that this was a Pokemon Gym, Pikachu," Ash frowned in confusion and puzzlement as he continued to watch the performance.

Pikachu couldn't help but be mesmerized by the women as he continued to watch their enchanting and hypnotic dance.

Then as soon as the performance was over, Ash and his friends left the building as they walked down the stairs.

"I can't understand it," Ash muttered to himself as he then turned a corner and saw an aquarium before him.

"Huh? It's like an aquarium. How can this be a Pokemon Gym?"

Unbeknownst to him, however, a group of girls were approaching the gang as they were having a discussion amongst themselves.

"The crowd was totally awesome."

"I know. That was so great."

"Daisy, the dive you did was super," the violet-haired girl named Violet complimented her sister.

"The practice really paid off," the orange-haired girl named Daisy laughed.

"Totally," the pink-haired girl named Lily beamed as the three girls laughed.

"Uh, excuse me," Ash interjected as he approached the trio.

"I'm sorry, but if you want an interview, you have to, like, call our manager," Lily retorted brusquely.

"No, it's not that," Ash replied.

"We don't do autographs," Lily insisted.

"Hey, we're not here for autographs or interviews," Yuki snapped with a fiery look in her eyes.

"I don't want one either; I just want to know if this is a Pokemon Gym," Ash added.

"It sure is," said one of the girls.

"Well, I'm looking for the Gym trainer," Ash explained.

"You're looking at them," another one of the girls interjected.

Ash balked in confusion and surprise.

"The three of us are the Gym trainers here," Daisy explained.

"We're the Sensational Sisters," Lily piped in.

"We're world famous," Violet added.

"Huh? But what's with all that swimming?"

Ash demanded in astonishment as Pikachu looked on at them adorningly.

"It's, like, our hobby, and our fans like to watch us perform," Lily explained.

"We pool our talents to make a big splash," Violet added as the three girls then broke out into hysterical, uncontrollable laughter.

"Ugh, how banal," Jasmine groaned with an eye roll.

TLSTLSTLSTLS

A short time later, everyone was back inside the gym as Ash and his friends were facing off against the sisters.

"Come on, I challenge all of you!" Ash demanded.

The sisters hesitated as they all looked away while cradling the back of their heads in their arms.

"Um…"

"What?" Ash quipped.

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

"What do you mean?" Ash scoffed in utter disbelief.

"We just got beaten three times in a row by these kids from this nowhere place called Pallet Town," Violet explained with a slightly abashed voice.

"Not again," Ash groaned as he soon realized that Gary had already made it to the Cerulean City gym and earned the badge from there.

"It was just one defeat after another," Violet continued. "My eyes were spinning from all of the losses."

"We had to, like, practically rush all of our Pokemon to the Pokemon Center," Daisy interjected.

"This is the only one left," Lily added as she took out her Poke Ball and summoned her Pokemon, revealing a Goldeen.

"You mean all you have left is a Goldeen?" Ash balked in amazement as he stared at the Goldeen before it was returned back into its Poke Ball.

"If it would evolve into Seaking, we could use it," Violet offered with a sheepish grimace. "But all it can do now is its horn attack."

"So, like, there's no point in battling," Daisy sighed dejectedly.

"Now instead of having matches we have time to make ourselves more beautiful than ever," Lily replied with a beaming, joyful face.

"Then who's going to battle us if you guys won't?" Rhonda growled irascibly.

"I know what you want," Daisy answered as she then turned her attention towards the pool.

"Seel?"

A white seal-like Pokemon with a small horn on its head then emerged from the pool as it landed on the ground and popped out its tongue, revealing a water-drop-shaped badge. Daisy then removed the badge from the Seel's tongue before showing it to Ash.

"The Cascade Badge. This is what you want, right? You can have it."

"What? That's not fair! You're just going to hand over the badge just like that?" Katie yelled indignantly while flailing her arms incredulously.

"Thanks, but uh, I'd rather earn my badges," Ash grimaced hesitantly.

"Take it; a badge is a badge," Daisy insisted.

Ash sighed reluctantly before he walked over to the girls and reached over for the Cascade Badge. Then just as he was about to grab it, he heard a loud female voice calling out.

"Hold it right there!"

The three girls then turned around and were astounded to see Misty as she jumped out of the bleachers and landed right in front of them.

"All right, Daisy; if you don't want to battle him, then I will!"

"What?! Rhonda and her friends balked in astonishment and disbelief.

"Misty… are you sure about this?" Yuki frowned anxiously.

"What do you mean?" Ash asked in confusion.

"I'm a Cerulean City trainer too," Misty declared proudly.

The gang let out loud gasps and murmurs at Misty's revelation.

"What in the blazes…?" Rhonda sputtered.

"I'm the fourth Sensational Sister," Misty added.

"There are only three Sensational Sisters and one runt," Lily retorted while wagging her finger disapprovingly at her, prompting Misty to fume and seethe at her.

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

"That little girl with a big mouth who said that she wouldn't come back until she was a great Pokemon trainer," Violet scoffed disdainfully. "Wasn't that you?"

"Huh? I guess I did say something like that when I left," Misty sighed deeply.

"So that's why Misty was so dead set against coming here," Ash speculated.

"Misty, you left here pretending that you wanted to be a Pokemon trainer because you couldn't compare with us," Lily sneered contemptuously. "Because we're obviously much more talented and beautiful than you are!"

"Why in God's name would she ever want to compare to you?" Jasmine snarled viciously, her eyes flashing with simmering, cold fury. "You three are just a bunch of stuck up, prissy, spoiled little bitches!"

"Why don't you cool it, you little twerp?" Violet sneered back at her snidely.

Jasmine continued to scowl furiously, barely able to hold back her temper.

"That wasn't the reason!" Misty snapped indignantly.

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

"It wasn't my idea to come back here!" Misty shot back while getting in her face before turning around to point at Ash. "The only reason I'm here is because he wanted to come."

"Well, he's totally not someone that I'd choose for a boyfriend," Daisy retorted curtly as Ash fainted in shock at that comment. "But you're no prize yourself."

"Well, you're one to talk," Katie sneered coldly. "You people are beyond awful; no wonder Misty wanted to get as far away from you as possible."

"My boyfriend? If I battle him, that'll prove that I'm not a quitter and I'm just as good a trainer as you three!" Misty insisted in a determined voice.

"Well, you are the only one with a Pokemon that can actually battle," Daisy replied with a shrug.

"All right, Ash; are you ready to battle?" Misty declared while stabbing her finger into Ash's chest.

Ash just laughed nervously while staring awkwardly at her.

A short time later, Misty and Ash were both standing on floating platforms in the pool as they were getting ready to battle, with Luthor also standing right next to Ash.

"Luthor, are you really sure about this?" Katie bellowed from the other side.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure, Katie; she's as good as mine," Luthor declared with a confident and haughty smirk as he bounced his Poke Ball around in his hands.

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

"It'd be my pleasure!" Ash yelled back as he then turned to face Pikachu.

"Pikachu, this one is going to be a piece of cake."

However, Pikachu could only look back at him hesitantly.

"Chu…"

"So how many Pokemon?" Ash asked.

"Two against two works for me," Misty answered.

"You got it; Pikachu, I choose you!" Ash declared loudly as he grabbed Pikachu and tried to throw him in the air.

However, he was surprised to see Pikachu clinging tightly to his hand with a look of fear in his eyes.

"Pikachu, what are you doing?" Ash inquired with a puzzled and baffled face as Pikachu dropped down to the ground.

Pikachu just shook his head while pointing at Misty.

"Uh, what? Are you saying that you don't want to battle Misty?" Ash frowned quizzically.

Pikachu nodded.

"Well I guess it's okay if you don't want to battle a friend," Ash sighed while putting on an akimbo.

Pikachu squeaked in approval at Ash's words.

"Pikachu, you're a Pika Pal!" Misty hollered from the other side.

"Thanks a lot, Pikachu," Ash grumbled as he reached for another Poke Ball.

He then tilted his hat back as he then tossed a Poke Ball into the air.

"Butterfree, I choose you!"

Butterfree then emerged from the Poke Ball as it was floating in the air.

"Butterfree!"

"Well, in that case, Misty calls Staryu!" Misty exclaimed as she then tossed out her Poke Ball and summoned Staryu.

Ash then stared at Staryu curiously as he then took out his Pokedex and opened it up.

"Staryu… the core of this water Pokemon shines in a rainbow of seven colors. A core that is valued by some as a type of jewelry."

"Wow, that actually sounds interesting," Rhonda mused.

"Staryu looks like a pretty cool Pokemon," Katie concurred.

"Oh… wow… leave it to a girl to show off her jewelry," Ash groaned.

"Quit stalling and let's get this show on the road!" Misty shrieked impatiently while flailing her arms wildly.

"Do you really think that Misty could win?" Violet inquired curiously.

"Like in her dreams, maybe," Lily scoffed incredulously.

"Butterfree, you can blow that thing away with one blast. Tackle it!" Ash commanded.

Butterfree then lunged right at Staryu swiftly as it then knocked it down to the ground.

"Staryu, counter attack!" Misty hollered.

"Butterfree, dodge!" Ash yelled.

Staryu then hurtled itself right at Butterfree as Butterfree managed to deftly dodge its attack. Butterfree then turned around and charged right at Staryu again as it proceeded to bash straight into it repeatedly.

"Ha, ha! I'm going to win this!" Ash cheered confidentially.

"Staryu, use Water Gun!" Misty yelled.

Staryu then dove into the water and emerged before shooting out a large spout of water at Butterfree. Butterfree was struck dead on by the water but managed to keep moving as it continued to evade and dodge more of the water blasts.

"In that case, Stun Spore now!" Ash ordered.

Butterfree then released a huge cloud of yellow mist at Staryu, causing Staryu to shudder and writhe in agony.

"Oh no, Staryu looks like it's in real pain," Misty frowned worriedly.

"It doesn't even have a face; how can you tell?" Ash demanded.

"Because I'm sensitive to others' feelings, that's how," Misty shot back sternly.

"Oh, yeah? Like I'm not?" Ash scoffed while turning away with his arms crossed.

"Which side are you clapping for?" Violet scoffed while shooting a disapproving glare at Seel, who appeared to be clapping while enjoying the battle.

"Staryu, wash it off!" Misty yelled.

Staryu then jumped into the water and took a brief dive before emerging out of the water and climbing back onto the platform, appearing to be as good as new.

"Yay!" Misty cheered excitedly. "Too bad that you didn't know that Stun Spore doesn't work if you wash it off in water."

"She thinks she knows everything," Ash growled softly with an exasperated scowl. "Butterfree, use Sleeping Powder!"

Butterfree then sprinkled some light blue mist on Staryu, only for Staryu to dive right back into the water.

"Tackle it from underwater!" Misty ordered.

Staryu then spun out from the water in a spinning motion and lunged at Butterfree as it attempted to knock it down. Butterfree then spent the next few minutes dodging Staryu's spinning attack as it kept on leaping in and out of the water repeatedly.

"If Staryu can get Butterfree underwater, I win," Misty murmured to herself determinedly as she then let out a hearty laugh. "Water Pokemon always have the edge in the water. Ha, ha, ha!"

"Pikachu, you're supposed to be on my side," Ash groaned as he saw that Pikachu was squealing and chirping for Misty and Pikachu hung his head abashedly.

"Misty's totally awesome," Daisy smiled adorningly.

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

Just then, Staryu launched out of the water again as it then slammed right into Butterfree and knocked it straight into the water. Ash then watched Butterfree struggle and fight to stay afloat as he then aimed the Poke Ball at it.

"Butterfree, return," he ordered as Butterfree then disappeared back into the ball.

"All right, now it's my turn!" Luthor declared as he then whipped out his Poke Ball and threw it into the air.

"Bubba, I choose you!"

A white light emerged from the Poke Ball as Bulbasaur landed on the floating platform.

"Bulbasaur…"

"Bulbasaur, use Razor Leaf!" Luthor yelled as Bulbasaur shot out a blast of leaves at Staryu, only for Staryu to dodge it swiftly.

"Staryu, use Water Gun!" Misty commanded.

Staryu then shot out a huge funnel of water at Bulbasaur as Bulbasaur staggered and groaned while trying his best to withstand the full blast of the attack. However, no matter how hard he tried to fight back, he could feel himself being pushed back as he felt himself slipping further and further towards the edge and into the water.

"Bubba, use Razor Leaf again!" Luthor ordered.

Bubba then nodded and released a huge flurry of leaves as it sliced through the funnel of water and slammed right into Staryu, sending it flying straight onto the wall on the other side. Staryu then landed on the ground and shuddered briefly before collapsing on its right side.

"Staryu, return!" Misty yelled as she summoned Staryu back into the Poke Ball.

"Pidgeotto, go!" Ash cried as he tossed the Poke Ball into the air and summoned Pidgeotto.

"All right, Misty chooses Starmie!" Misty yelled back as she then hurtled the Poke Ball into the air and summoned Starmie.

"Pidgeotto, Whirlwind it away!" Ash ordered.

Pidgeotto then released a huge gust of wind in an attempt to blow Starmie straight into the water.

"Starmie, dive under and then up!" Misty commanded.

Starmie then dove straight into the water and then launched into the air before hurtling right into Pidgeotto, causing the bird-like Pokemon to stagger back from the hit.

"Pidgeotto, strike back with Wing Attack!" Ash commanded.

Then as Starmie charged right for Pidgeotto again, Pidgeotto slapped it away with its right wing and knocked it into the water, only for Starmie to bounce right back into the air and tackle straight into its foe.

"Give it a gust to blow it away!" Ash yelled.

Pidgeotto then summoned a huge gust of wind and then knocked Starmie straight into the wall on the other side. Starmie then slid down onto the ground with a whimper as it groaned and sighed in exhaustion with the jewel in its core blinking red rapidly.

"Oh no; Starmie's energy is just about to run out," Misty frowned.

"All right, Pidgeotto, let's get that trainer badge," Ash announced confidentially.

Just then, however, the entire building began to shake and rumble violently as everyone screamed in terror. Within moments, a large tank broke through a wall as it then stopped in front of the pool.

"Check out that hair," Violet commented.

"Like, who invited the party crashers?" Daisy demanded.

"Sorry to break in on you ladies," Jessie cackled as she emerged from the tank.

"Allow us to introduce ourselves," James interjected as he also stepped out into view.

"Team Rocket," Katie sneered with narrowed eyes.

"To protect the world from devastation."

"To unite all peoples within our nation."

"To denounce the evils of truth and love."

"To extend our reach to the stars above."

"Jessie," Jessie cackled.

"James," James smirked.

"Team Rocket blasting off at the speed of light," Jessie proclaimed.

"Surrender now or prepare to fight," James declared.

"Meowth, that's right!" Meowth declared as he also vaulted in front of Jessie and James.

"The water Pokemon have the advantage…" James mused.

"But if we steal all of that water away…" Jessie proposed.

"The Pokemon are ours for the taking…" James chuckled evilly.

"And Meowth just knows how to do it," Meowth declared.

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

Just then a large hose emerged out of the tank as it then plunged into the water and began suctioning it out of the pool.

"A massive vacuum and a large hose…" Ash murmured to himself before he had a suddenly epiphany.

"Team Rocket were the robbers that broke into that store earlier! I should have known it was them!"

"Our swimming pool," Daisy murmured softly.

"They're sucking it dry!" Misty gasped.

"That's our water!" Lily demanded angrily.

"Right; I should give it back," Meowth snickered as he then pushed down a red lever.

Within a matter of minutes the hose then released a massive spurt of water that blasted everyone away and caused the entire gym to be flooded.

"We've got to protect the Pokemon!" Misty cried.

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

"Forget about your stupid hair! We're all going to drown if we don't stop this machine!" Katie bellowed as she was being rapidly swept away.

"All right, now it's time to suck them up," Meowth announced as he then flipped up the red lever.

The hose then suddenly reversed course as it was now sucking up all of the water in the pool again. Seel was now trapped in the water as it was now being rapidly dragged towards the center of the whirlpool and was in danger of being sucked in.

"Come back, Seel!" Violet wailed.

"Bubba!" Luthor yelled as he also saw that Bubba had fallen off the floating platform that he was on and was now being dragged into the water.

"Bulbasaur!" Bubba wailed fearfully.

It also wasn't long before Pikachu also got caught by a wave and was also being swept away towards the whirlpool.

"Pikachu!" Ash called out for Pikachu before another thought came to him.

"Hey, wait a second… water conducts electricity…"

He then turned his attention to Pikachu.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu then unleashed a powerful Thunderbolt attack that caused Team Rocket to be completely electrified and stunned.

"It's times like this that make me want to go straight," James groaned as he, Jessie and Meowth then tumbled into the water and were now being sucked into the whirlpool.

"Now I know how it feels to be all washed up," James whimpered.

"Now we'll never be clean," Jessie wailed.

Within moments, they were launched out of the hose as they were catapulted into the air before they were flying through the air.

"Team Rocket blasting off again!" they all yelled before they disappeared into the horizon.

Meanwhile, Pikachu was still struggling and thrashing in the whirlpool as he was now getting sucked into the hose.

"Pikachu!" Ash yelled as he raced towards the tank and climbed onto it before grabbing the lever and pushing down on it.

The hose then rose up from the water and shot Pikachu into the air as he then landed safely in Daisy's arms.

"Bubba!" Luthor cheered as Bubba was also launched from the hose and landed in his arms. Luthor then laughed softly as he embraced Bubba tightly, relieved to have his Pokemon partner safe and sound.

TLSTLSTLSTLS

"Hey, we never got to finish our match," Misty informed Ash as everyone was still standing around the pool.

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

"What?" Misty gawked.

"You could say that your match was postponed, like, due to drain," Violet proposed.

"At least nobody lost," Lily replied.

"I wanted to win," Misty frowned with a disappointed pout on her face.

"I guess I'm not going to get the Cascade Badge," Ash sighed sadly.

"Wrong; we're giving this badge to you," Daisy announced as she offered the Cascade Badge to Ash.

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

"Pikachu was the one that, like, totally saved us all," Daisy explained. "And if he'd used Pikachu from the start, there was no way that your water Pokemon could've won."

"Oh man," Misty groaned sharply.

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

"Gee, thanks," Ash smiled as he then accepted the badge.

His smile then widened as he examined the badge in his hands.

"Heh, I'll take it!"

A short time later, the gang was now standing near the entrance of the Cerulean City Gym as they were getting ready to make their leave.

"Misty, you just go right on trying to be a Pokemon trainer. You might as well be good at something because you'll never be stars like us," Lily declared with a pompous, arrogant tone.

"You keep that up and you'll be seeing stars," Misty threatened her darkly.

"Misty is more than half the trainer than either of you would ever be, that's for sure," Katie scoffed snidely.

"Chill out," Violet tried to reassure Misty calmly.

"Misty, be careful; you know that we love you," Daisy replied tenderly.

"Yeah," Misty nodded.

"Ash, hey man!" Brock hollered as he raced for Ash and the gang.

"Hey, Brocko," Ash greeted him warmly.

"How it'd go?" Brock asked.

"See for yourself," Ash smiled as he then showed the Cascade Badge to Brock.

"Cool; let's go," Brock nodded before he turned around and walked away.

"Right," Ash replied as he followed Brock.

"You're not leaving without me," Misty yelled as she raced after Ash, Brock and their friends.

"You're not going to be a sore loser, are you?" Ash retorted sternly.

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

"Well, I'm the one that got a badge," Ash countered.

"What? You know you lost with Butterfree!" Misty scoffed disdainfully.

"That was just round one; I made a great comeback," Ash shot back confidentially.

As Ash and Misty were busy arguing back and forth, Rhonda and Katie just looked at each other and shook their heads as they tried to ignore their ongoing bickering.

"If Team Rocket hadn't busted in, I would have destroyed you!" Misty yelled.

"You're lucky they showed up; you were about to lose," Ash taunted her derisively.

"Lose? I was just getting started!" Misty snapped.

"Oh yeah?" Ash retorted.

"Oh yeah?" Misty shouted back defiantly.

"Oh brother," Brock groaned.