Cascade Badge

After exploring the remainder of Mt. Moon Ash, Brock and Misty finally make it to Cerulean City.

"Have you determined what Pokemon you're going to use for the gym battle?" Brock asked.

"Well, since the gym's specialty is water type Pokemon." Ash answered. "Pikachu is a sure thing, but I don't know what other Pokemon I'll use."

Misty was quiet as he said this.

"Hey Misty, what's going on?" Ash asked, concerned. "You haven't said a word since we arrived here." She didn't want to tell her friends what the problem was, but knew she had to be honest.

"I...I didn't want to come back to Cerulean City." Misty reluctantly admitted.

"Why not? Did something awful happen to you here?" Brock asked.

"What, no." Misty said. She sighed. "I'm one of this city's four gym leaders."

"Hold on?" Ash repeated. "You're a gym leader."

She then opened her backpack and took a picture out. It showed her and three other girls.

"These are my sisters Daisy, Lily and Violet." Misty informed them. "Because they're so pretty, I'm a runt compared to them."

"Are you saying they bully you?" Ash asked her.

"No, they don't bully me." Misty said. "But they go out of their way to tease me."

"Let me see if I understand." Ash said. "You're traveling with us to capture Water type Pokemon and get away from your siblings."

"Yes." Misty said. He felt sorry for her, having your siblings pick on you isn't a pleasant experience.

"Listen, if you don't want to accompany us to the gym that's fine." Ash said, in a attempt to make her feel better. Misty smiled and accepted his offer.

"I have some other business to attend to." She said as she walked away from the others.

With that settled Ash and Brock went to the gym while Misty took care of her own business.

They soon arrived at the Cerulean Gym; it was a pink and yellow building with a large Dewgong on it.

"I'm going to get some more supplies." Brock said, before leaving. Ash was by himself, so he entered the gym.

"Hello?" Ash called out. There was no one in the gym lobby. "Where did everyone go?"

Just then he heard cheering from beyond the lobby. He walked through the doors from the lobby and saw what was transpiring. Three beautiful girls were performing a water ballet in a giant swimming pool. Ash recognized the three women from Misty's picture.

"So those are Misty's older sisters." Ash said. He wasn't exactly pleased by their performance.

'I get the feeling they would prefer performing over being gym leaders.' He thought.

When the water ballet ended, Ash went to talk to the gym leaders. They were having a conversation about the performance.

"Daisy that dive was perfect." Lily said.

"Practice does make perfect." Daisy replied.

"I think that was the best one yet." Violet added.

"Excuse me." Ash said.

"If you came here for a autograph, we don't do that." Daisy said.

"I didn't come here for a autograph." Ash explained. "I'm here to obtain a gym badge." The three sisters looked at each other.

"Sorry, but we don't battle anymore." Violet informed him.

"What?!" Ash exclaimed.

"Yeah, we already lost three times to some kids from Pallet Town." Daisy explained. It then dawned on Ash that Gary already arrived in Cerulean City.

"This is the only Pokemon that remains." Lily said, throwing a Poke Ball. It was a Goldeen.

Ash scanned it.

"Goldeen, the Goldfish Pokemon. Its tail fin billows like an elegant ballroom dress, giving it the nickname of the Water Queen."

"This particular Goldeen isn't ready for battles just yet." Lily added.

"So, now we are more concerned with our water ballets." Daisy said. "But we know what you came for. Come on out Seel."

Ash looked it up.

"Seel, the Sea Lion Pokemon. The protruding horn on its head is very hard. It is used for bashing through thick ice." The Seel stuck it's tongue out and presented a blue object.

"As you want the Cascade badge, you can have it." Lily said, taking the badge off Seel's tongue. It was a blue badge shaped like a rain drop.

This infuriated Ash; he wanted to earn the badge by winning a battle, not have it handed to him. He was about to tell them off when a voice called out; "Don't even try that!" It turned out to be Misty.

"For crying out loud Daisy." Misty said. "Are you seriously attempting to ruin the gym's reputation?"

"Hey Misty." Daisy said. "Have you become a great water Pokemon trainer yet?"

"Yeah, you told us you wouldn't return home until that happened." Lily added.

"I did say that." Misty nodded. "Before I found out you guys are planning on giving badges away for free. You've left me with no choice but to come back early." She then turned to Ash.

"Ash, you and I are going to battle for the Cascade Badge." She declared.

"So be it." Ash said. He was looking forward to winning the Cascade Badge.

Ash stood on the red platform; while Misty stood on a blue one. The battle was about to start.

"Misty calls Staryu." She said. Her brown starfish Pokemon was ready for battle.

"I choose you, Pikachu!" Ash called.

"Staryu, Water Gun!" Misty shouted.

"Stop it with Thunderbolt!" A bolt of lightning intercepted the attack.

"Now, Volt Tackle!" Pikachu runs at Staryu. Its body then becomes surrounded by golden electricity, and it tackles Staryu head on.

'Oh dear, Staryu's hurt.' Misty thought. She was amazed that his Pikachu was strong; but this is Ash she's talking about, he trained all his Pokemon well.

"Staryu, Swift." Misty said.

"Avoid them with Quick Attack!" Ash ordered. Pikachu successfully dodged the stars.

Misty's sisters were watching the battle from the side lines.

"Misty's real good at this." Violet said.

"Yeah." Daisy agreed. "She may not have our looks, but she's much better at battling than we are." Seel was enjoying the battle and clapping it's fins.

"Pikachu, Thunder Shock." Pikachu's body glows yellow, then it releases a yellow lightning bolt from its body at Staryu. It hit Staryu head on and it fainted on Misty's platform.

"Oh no Staryu return." Misty said, returning it to it's Poke Ball.

"You're very strong. But this battle's not over yet. Misty calls Starmie." A big, purple starfish came out of the Poke Ball.

"Hmm?" Ash said, before opening the Pokedex and scanning it.

"Starmie, the Mysterious Pokemon and the evolved form of Staryu. It's central core glows with the seven colors of the rainbow. Some people value the core as a gem."

"Pikachu, return." Ash said. "Pidgeotto I choose you!"

"Looks like we're taking this battle to the next level." Misty said. "Very well, Starmie Tackle." Starmie spins around and heads toward Pidgeotto.

"Fly up." Pidgeotto avoided the attack.

"Now, Air Cutter!" Pidgeotto flapped it's wings and a strong gust with S shaped energy blades in it flew and slashed Starmie.

"Starmie, no!" Misty exclaimed.

"Use Wing Attack next!" Pidgeotto hits Starmie with one of it's wings, sending it crashing into Misty's platform with swirling eyes.

"Starmie, return." Misty recalled Starmie after it was defeated. She then walked over to Ash.

"Well Ash, in honor of a great battle I present the Cascade Badge." Ash was happy that he obtained the gym badge.

"I appreciate it." He said.

"I have to say Misty." Daisy said. "You proved to us you're a great battler." Violet and Lily nodded.

"Thanks, guys." Misty thanked her sisters.

Just then Seel came over to Misty.

"Is something wrong, Seel?" She asked.

"It seems Seel wants to accompany you." Ash said.

"Is that true?" Misty asked Seel. It nodded.

"Alright." Misty said. "Truth be told, I would like to leave some Pokemon here." She took out six Poke Balls from her bag.

"I have six Poliwag in here. I caught eight a while back and since there aren't any Poliwag here, I decided to leave six behind and take two of them with me." Misty brought Seel with her while Daisy, Lily and Violet kept six of the Poliwag. They said goodbye to the three and exited the gym.

Sometime after that, they reunited with Brock outside the gym. Misty informed him about obtaining Seel.

"Wow, it seems I missed out on that." Brock said.

"Yeah, you did." Ash said. "And now it's time for me to get my third gym badge." The trio then left Cerulean City.