Chapter 20: Pikachu, do a dance; it's good with rice

“This is the proof of defeating the Cerulean Gym: the Cascade Badge.”

Ash took the teardrop-shaped badge, looking high-spirited and brimming with morale.

Even Pikachu, who had been slacking off the whole time, gave a "V" sign in congratulation, acting as if it were the MVP.

A true general stays in the rear without needing to strike a blow.

A spiritual leader.

His older sister, Sakura, suddenly leaned in and asked

"By the way, Misty, are you going out again after you return this time?"

"Yeah, you're quite skilled; you can handle gym challenges with ease~"

"Why not just stay and look after the place for us~"

Misty, however, shook her head decisively.

"If I don't travel, it's impossible to achieve my dream."

Hearing this, Ash and Brock exchanged a glance, feeling slightly puzzled.

Their dreams were certain: one to become the greatest Pokémon Master, the other to become a great Breeder.

But they realized they had never actually heard Misty speak of her dream.

"Please, tell us your dream," Ash asked expectingly.

Misty clenched her fists and said word by word: "To become the strongest Water-type Pokémon Trainer! In your words, a Water-type Pokémon Master!"

Upon hearing this, Ash’s brow relaxed, and his expression turned somewhat bewildered.

"So your dream is to become my subordinate?"

Everyone: "?"

"You want to be a Water-type Master, and I want to be a Master of all types. Rounding it off, aren't you just trying to become my subordinate? What's so hard about that? Just call me 'Boss' right now, and I'll accept you as my junior. Your dream will be realized instantly."

"I will definitely become a Pokémon Master in the future."

"Either way, you don't lose," he explained, point by point.

His logic was sound and convincing.

Everyone: "..."

Logically speaking, there didn't seem to be a major flaw?

Misty suppressed the urge to punch him and shouted at her three sisters

"In any case, the Cerulean Gym is our ancestors' glory, and it is your responsibility. While I am away from the Cerulean Gym, you must not give away badges so easily!"

Despite being the youngest, her aura was like that of a mother.

Hearing this, Ash nudged the "tough guy" next to him and whispered

"Are you blushing? You don't even know where you dropped the glory of the Pewter Gym."

Brock’s face darkened, and his eyes narrowed into slits.

He truly couldn't think of a verbal retort, so he could only force out a single sentence in rebuttal.

"My face is just dark."

Ash: "..."

On the other side.

"But we still have to prepare for the water ballet..."

"It's not just a hobby..."

"We also need to eat..."

The three sisters explained pitifully.

Now, even Misty fell into a dilemma.

After all, everyone has their own ambitions, and her three sisters weren't cut out for battling. She couldn't force them to abandon their dreams of slacking off to become Gym Trainers.

"Ahem..."

At that moment, a cough interrupted everyone's attention. Brock had slowly walked into the center of the four Cerulean sisters.

"I have a suggestion, though I'm not sure if I should say it..."

"If you have something to say, say it. Don't get so close," Misty said, pulling him behind her.

Although they hadn't known him for long, this man—who looked honest, steadfast, reliable, and frequently boasted of his "rock-solid will"—was actually somewhat problematic.

He might be able to fool a naive kid, but she saw right through Brock's true nature.

He was a total pervert.

"Actually, my suggestion is this: since there are three sisters here, pick the strongest one to serve as the Gym Trainer to guard the Cerulean Gym, and the others can focus on their water ballet in peace."

Hearing this, the eyes of all four lit up simultaneously. It was a great idea.

As for who was the strongest...?

"Sister Botan, we'll leave the Cerulean Gym to you."

"Sister Botan, the Blue Will of our ancestors is entrusted to you as well. If you do a poor job, our grandfather might come to chat with you in your dreams at night."

Sakura and Chiyo placed their hands on Botan at the same time.

They really couldn't tell who was the strongest.

But who was the youngest was obvious.

You always pick the softest fruit to squeeze.

Botan: "..."

Just then, Brock jumped out again, saying in a refined and easygoing manner

"Ahem, I have one more suggestion..."

"Since the Gym and the Aquarium have already split up, that empty plot of land in the center of Pewter City would be a good choice. In the future, the water ballet... Aaaaah!"

Before he could finish, Misty was already dragging him away by his ear.

*What ambition! He actually wants to become my brother-in-law. I can't let my guard down for even a second.*

Seeing this, Ash hurried to follow.

"Wait, is it going too smoothly? I feel like someone is missing," he scratched his head and muttered softly.

Elsewhere, in the middle of the road between Viridian Forest and Pewter City.

Three figures were sprawled at the entrance of a deep pit, covered in dust, looking quite pathetic.

"It's all your fault, James! Why did you dig the hole so deep!" Jessie complained.

"Wasn't it your Arbok that dug the hole?" James retorted.

"Stop nagging, Meowth!"

Meowth gave his body a sudden shake to brush off the dust and muttered

"Luckily we brought some biscuits to sustain us, otherwise we would have starved to death down there these past few days..."

Hearing this, James also felt a wave of lingering fear. He patted Meowth's head and said gratefully

"We almost had to use our emergency rations..."

*Emergency rations?*

A look of doubt flashed in Meowth's eyes. With James's brain, he actually knew to carry emergency rations?

"Pull yourself together, Meowth! You are our emergency ration Pokémon Translator! We've been lagging behind that brat for days. We must hurry and catch that freakish Pikachu!"

Jessie clenched her fists in encouragement, changing the subject.

The three of them regained their spirits, planning to rush to Pewter City in one go to eat a massive meal and recover their strength.

*Beep beep.*

At that moment, a metal device resembling a communicator fell out of James's pocket.

Because they had been in a deep pit, the signal couldn't get through until now, and the message finally popped up.

"Attention all Team Rocket members: On the 15th of this month, we will hold a large-scale corporate team-building event on the S.S. Anne at Vermilion Harbor. All members with free time, please follow organizational arrangements to participate together, enhance club relations, and contribute to the great cause of maintaining world peace."

"The location is Pier 3 in Vermilion City."

"Boarding password: Stinky fish, stinky fish, I am a rotten shrimp."

The three: "..."

It seemed Team Rocket was planning something big...

The three checked their watches and found they had about ten days left. They immediately hurried toward Vermilion City.

In this new era, as long as they seized the opportunity, they could set sail!

***

Cerulean City Pokémon Center.

Ash set out two half-human-sized buckets of Pokémon food, then released his Krabby and Pidgeotto.

"Eat up, eat up! Especially you, Pidgeotto. Eat more, you're skin and bones."

Before Pidgeotto could say anything, Ash stuffed a large mouthful of food directly into its beak.

He wasn't going to change its name.

After all, he had made a vow that once he became a Pokémon Master, he would fulfill his promise to Pidgeotto.

That was a man's vow!

Changing it now would make him look untrustworthy.

The nearby Pikachu also wanted to squeeze in for a meal, but Ash spoke up

"Pikachu, you stop eating. Look at you, you've gotten fat from slacking off all day. Why don't you do a dance to go with their food?"

Ash still remembered the incident where the latter had thrown a match.

Pikachu: "???"

Then, he pulled out the Pokédex.

"And you, Pokédex. You talk so much normally; why don't you sing a song to accompany Pikachu's dance?"

*Beep beep beep beep beep...*

The Pokédex began emitting a series of electronic tones.

Brock and Misty: "..."

Seeing his Pokémon in such a warm, harmonious atmosphere, Ash felt quite moved and stood up to walk aside.

He wanted to call his mother, Delia, to report his recent progress.

"Hello, hello, Mom! I already have two badges... Huh? Professor Oak, why are you at my house?"

As the phone screen lit up, Ash couldn't help but ask in confusion when he saw the white-haired elderly man behind Delia.

"Oh, I just happened to be passing by for a meal," Professor Oak replied with a smile.

Ash felt a bit overwhelmed. *Wait, is it even mealtime?*

Professor Oak continued in his refined and easygoing manner

"By the way, you already have two badges; you're moving quite fast. So, your next stop must be Vermilion City, right? There is a Electric-type Gym in Vermilion City."

Ash nodded, his fighting spirit reigniting.

"Then it's decided. The next stop is Vermilion City."

"Since you're going to Vermilion City, do me a favor while you're at it... Well, it's not really my favor, but for a junior of mine, Professor Sakuragi. He plans to open the Sakuragi Research Lab in Vermilion City."

"But there seem to be some strange incidents at the lab lately. Please go and take a look. I've been praising you highly in front of Professor Sakuragi!"

As expected, a bit of flattery made Ash agree instantly.

After some more small talk, before hanging up, Ash asked seemingly casually

"By the way, why isn't my best friend, Gary, going?"

"Ahem... That boy Gary isn't afraid of anything except ghosts. He wouldn't dare touch something like that," Professor Oak replied sheepishly.

Ash's eyes became brighter than ever before.

"Then I truly feel sorry for my dear friend, hee hee..."

***

(PiAo)

(Fun fact: In the Origins version, Green is afraid of ghosts!)

(End of Chapter)