Chapter Seventeen: Speak Louder! Haven't You Eaten Yet?!

The group arrived before a vast swimming pool. The water was about five or six meters deep, flanked on both sides by platforms for the trainers. Floating on the surface were several rafts for Pokémon to stand on.

“This is the battle arena of Cerulean Gym!” Sakura, the eldest sister, struck a commanding pose with one hand on her hip. The aura of a seasoned warrior radiated from her, causing Ash to break into a slight sweat, silently reminding himself not to underestimate them.

“Clematis, you’re up!” Sakura announced, as if presenting her prized Pokémon.

Clematis looked puzzled.

“My big sister is tired, and my Pokémon were completely defeated by the previous challenger. They’re still recovering,” Sakura explained matter-of-factly.

“But big sister, my Pokémon were also knocked out by the other challenger...” Clematis replied with an innocent expression.

The two exchanged a glance before turning their attention to the third woman with pink hair.

“Peony, it’s your turn,” they said in unison.

“The honor of Cerulean Gym rests on your shoulders!” they declared.

Peony was baffled; her Pokémon had also been defeated!

The three sisters, who focused daily on water ballet performances, had long neglected the routine training of a Pokémon trainer. Rumors quietly spread across the Kanto region that Cerulean Gym was the weakest gym—a rumor that was more than just hearsay; it was the truth.

Ash was the one left dumbfounded this time. Should he even battle?

“Oh well, performances are more important after all. Gym battles are just for show,” the sisters concluded unanimously.

This casual dismissal infuriated Ash. This was the Gym Challenge he had always admired. How could anyone treat it so lightly?

He grabbed Brock, hoping the strong man could teach these three naive women a lesson.

“He’s the Pewter City Gym leader, a man with the Will of Stone. Brock, show them your resolve!” Ash urged.

Brock furrowed his brow, looking at the three beautiful women before him. Leaning back slightly, his tone softened a bit.

“Well, I think—”

“Speak up! Haven’t you eaten?” Ash shouted.

Brock hesitated, then turned his neck sharply and opened his eyes wide, speaking gravely:

“This is wrong! You can’t do things half-heartedly!”

Ash nodded in approval. This was the man he respected.

“We still have a large undeveloped area in Pewter City. Sisters, if you don’t mind, you could move your gym there and focus on water ballet performances instead. Giving up the gym battles might be for the best...” Brock suggested.

Ash was puzzled.

“Besides, I’m a registered citizen of Pewter City. If you want to be Pewter residents, just add your names to my household registry. I don’t mind,” Brock added.

The three sisters were speechless.

After some discussion, the Cerulean sisters reluctantly released a Pokémon, signaling it was their last remaining strength.

“Splash, splash...”

It was a pink-and-white Goldeen with a pointed horn on its head and thick lips that looked as though they were made up, performing splashes on the shore.

“Pokedex entry: Goldeen, a common fish Pokémon. Steaming it is a top choice,” the Pokédex chimed, never missing a chance to make its presence known.

“So this is it...” Ash frowned deeply.

Under these circumstances, if Pikachu didn’t step in, Goldeen would exhaust itself with continuous splashes and lose the battle.

This rare Gym Challenge was Ash’s chance to put his freshly memorized type advantage strategy into practice, sending out his Electric-type Pikachu for a proper, honorable match.

But fate seemed against him.

Damn it!

Even Sakura, the eldest sister, looked resigned and clapped her hands.

Suddenly, from the pool, an adorable Seel emerged. It was the gym mascot and didn’t battle.

Opening its mouth, it held a delicate, water-drop-shaped badge on its tongue.

“I see your Pikachu has an unusual bone structure. We’re no match for you. Here, accept this proof of your victory—the Blue Badge,” it said.

Ash hesitated. Receiving the badge so easily felt unsatisfying.

Honestly, if that’s the case, he might as well not take the Blue Badge at all.

After all, Kanto was an old region with many gyms. If one didn’t work out, there were always others.

Just as Ash was about to refuse, a sharp voice came from the far side of the pool.

“Sakura, let me replace you in the gym battle!”

Everyone turned toward the voice to see Misty standing there, seemingly unnoticed until now.

“Haven’t you eaten? Speak louder! We can’t hear you here!” Ash shouted.

Indeed, her voice was faint.

Misty quickly dashed over, snatched the Blue Badge from Sakura’s hand, and held it high before Ash.

“Cerulean Gym has never handed over a badge without a fight. Let me complete the challenge for them,” she declared.

“That’s not right. I gave one away for free yesterday,” Sakura interrupted.

Misty was speechless. Who exactly was she?

After some explanation, Ash learned Misty was actually the fourth Cerulean sister, often forgotten because she hadn’t matured yet.

“Misty, didn’t you say you wouldn’t return to the gym until you became a strong trainer? It hasn’t even been two weeks,” Sakura asked.

“Even so, we won’t force you into water ballet!” the sisters teased.

“You’re too inexperienced,” they laughed.

“I don’t want to do water ballet. I’m not interested!” Misty blushed and shot a fierce look at her three older sisters.

I, Misty, would rather starve than be forced into water ballet here!

“My chest may not be big, but my temper sure is,” Peony added with a jab.

Misty was stunned.

Just as a classic plastic sisters’ quarrel was about to erupt, Ash and Brock hastily intervened.

“It doesn’t matter, as long as someone fights me!” Ash said firmly.

Everyone came to their senses.

Soon, Ash and Misty stood at opposite ends of the arena.

Brock lingered nearby, continuing his persuasion.

“Sisters, haven’t you considered it? Pewter City has great development potential. Last year, it was one of the top ten cities in Kanto...”

“Wait, Kanto has an eleventh city now?” Misty asked.

Brock was puzzled.

At opposite ends of the pool, Ash shouted:

“Pikachu, you’re up!”

Having studied type advantages all day, Ash was confident today he’d secure a victory.

“Pika...” Pikachu’s expression was weaker this time, as if hesitating.

Finally, it darted behind Ash’s pant leg, signaling it was just here to watch.

It never shocks its own people—except Ash. That’s the love of electrical therapy.

“True to form, Pikachu hasn’t forgotten the rare candies I feed you!” Misty laughed proudly, hands on hips.

She knew all of Ash’s Pokémon well, but without Pikachu, Ash’s main battler, today’s challenge was hers to win!

“Damn it!” Ash ruffled his hair. Pikachu always let him down at critical moments.

Used to Pikachu’s unreliability, Ash sent out another Pokémon.

A flash of red light revealed a shiny green creature standing motionless on a floating platform, as steady as a mountain: a Metapod nicknamed Rayquaza, undefeated and often rescuing Ash from danger—not weak by any means.

“I’ll send you in!” Misty said quietly.

Her Poké Ball flew out, flashing red light, and a strange Pokémon appeared on the raft: a brown starfish with a red gem embedded in its center.

“Pokedex entry: Staryu, a decent Pokémon. Hermaphroditic, it can reproduce on its own, creating its own little population,” the Pokédex announced.

Misty was speechless.

Damn that annoying Pokédex with its disgusting antics!

— End of page 3 —