Chapter no.48 Rain, Mud, and Strategy

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Misty sat at the back of the gym, surrounded by the quiet hum of equipment, but it did nothing to calm her. She could hear the crowd outside, their excitement bleeding through the walls and making her leg bounce even faster. Her fingers twisted a Poké Ball around and around in her hands, the repetitive motion doing little to stop the knot in her chest from tightening. Her heart was racing, and her breaths grew shorter and quicker.

Then, she heard it—soft, but enough to jolt her back to reality.

"Pika."

She looked up to see Pikachu trotting toward her, his ears twitching, with Austin not far behind him, sweat trickling down his forehead.

"Is something wrong?" Misty asked, noting the way he was trying to catch his breath.

"Misty, you should've seen it," he panted, bending over slightly as if he'd just run a marathon. "The shirts are selling like crazy. I had to run away from some family who wouldn't leave me alone—they wanted shirts for all their kids!"

Misty let out a small chuckle despite the tension still sitting heavy in her chest. Austin always had a way of making things feel a little lighter.

"I'm heading to the shop now to order a big batch before we run out," he said, straightening up.

"Can you stay?" Her voice came out softer than she intended, barely above a whisper.

Austin's expression shifted, and he sat down next to her without hesitation. "What's wrong, Misty?"

She shook her head quickly. "No, no, it's nothing. It's just that... out there is my stage, where I'll have to battle in front of so many people, and—" Her words caught in her throat, but Austin finished them for her.

"What if I fail? What if I'm not good enough? What if I embarrass myself?"

She blushed, warmth spreading to her ears. "Was I that obvious?"

"Not obvious," Austin said, smiling softly. "Just normal. It's normal to feel pressure when you're stepping onto a big stage. If you weren't nervous, you'd either be overconfident or an idiot."

Misty giggled at that, the sound easing some of the tension in her chest.

"So... what do I do then?"

Austin leaned back, pretending to think. "Well, you could always do the classic thing and imagine everyone in their underwear."

Misty gave him a look, and he grinned sheepishly.

"Okay, fine," he said, holding up his hands. "Just block everyone out. It's you and your Pokémon—that's it. And honestly, you don't need advice from some rookie like me. You're Misty Waterflower, the future Water Master."

She playfully punched his arm, feeling a little bit of her confidence return. "The battles are about to start. You should probably go and order those shirts."

"Nah," Austin said. "I think I'll stick around and watch you kick some ass first."

Misty smiled, the weight in her chest lifting just a bit. Without thinking, she leaned in and hugged him. "Thank you for everything, Austin. I'll make sure I win this."

"I know you will," he said, his voice steady. "Now go get 'em, girl."

She nodded and walked toward the door. Just as she reached for the handle, Daisy's voice echoed over the speakers, clear and confident.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Cerulean City Tournament! Today, you're in for a spectacular series of 1-v-1 battles featuring none other than our own Misty Waterflower! With strength, strategy, and grace, she's ready to prove herself in front of the world. Let's give her a warm welcome!"

Misty stepped through the door and onto the main floor, the noise hitting her like a wave. The gym was transformed. Crowds of people surrounded the massive poles holding up the tarp that covered the pool. Vendors shouted over the crowd, selling snacks and drinks, and the buzz of excitement was almost overwhelming.

She caught sight of the referee near the pool, flanked by four Alakazams stationed at each corner. The League had provided them as a safety measure, using their psychic abilities to shield the audience from stray attacks. The referee himself stood at attention, ready to ensure everything ran smoothly. His badge, marking him as a League-certified official, glinted under the lights.

The tarp that covered the pool was massive, hiding the battlefield underneath. Misty's first opponent was already waiting—a seasoned-looking trainer, older, with the kind of confident stance that told her he'd been through the gym circuit before. The cash prize must've caught his attention.

Not that it mattered.

She glanced toward the stands, where Austin and Pikachu were watching. Pikachu had somehow turned a pair of shirts into makeshift pom-poms and was shaking them enthusiastically while Austin cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "Remember the plan!"

Misty nodded to him. Yeah. Remember the plan.

The referee stepped forward and raised a hand. "Trainers, take your positions! Prepare your first Pokémon!"

The tarp began to lift, revealing the battlefield beneath. Gasps rippled through the crowd—and even the referee looked momentarily stunned. The pool wasn't filled with crystal-clear water like everyone had expected. Instead, it was a muddy, murky terrain that looked more like a swamp than a traditional water battlefield.

The crowd murmured, and Misty caught snippets of confusion.

"What's going on?"

"Where's the water?"

This was Austin's idea. The terrain was designed to throw off the confidence of trainers expecting a typical water battle. Muddy terrain slowed down land-based Pokémon and made movement unpredictable.

Her opponent quickly recovered, narrowing his eyes as he gripped his Poké Ball. He wasn't going to let the terrain shake him that easily. Fine by her.

The referee raised his flag. "Let the match begin!"

"Hajime!"

Both trainers stood still, the referee's flag dropping as the match officially began. Misty's opponent, a man named Kai who looked like he had plenty of gym experience under his belt, tossed his Poké Ball into the air.

"Go, Vileplume!"

The red light burst open, revealing the large flower Pokémon. Misty gripped her own Poké Ball, heart pounding, but her fingers were steady.

"Goldeen, let's do this!"

In a flash, the familiar shape of her beautiful Goldeen appeared, her white and orange body glimmering as she flicked her tail gracefully. The crowd murmured, and Misty caught a few chuckles. Goldeen wasn't exactly an intimidating pick. She could almost hear their thoughts: Why not Starmie? Why not Cloyster? But they didn't understand. Misty didn't need overwhelming strength—she needed strategy.

"Bold choice. Let's see how long she lasts."

Misty ignored him, her eyes locked on the field, where Vileplume was already sinking into the thick mud covering the pool.

"Rain Dance!" she commanded, her voice sharp.

Goldeen twirled her body in the water, summoning clouds above them. They swirled and darkened rapidly, casting shadows over the gym. Within seconds, fat droplets of rain began to fall, splattering against the tarp-covered poles and turning the muddy pool into a swirling mess of movement.

"Grassy Terrain!" Kai shot back, thrusting a hand forward.

Green energy pulsed from Vileplume, and long, twisting vines emerged, weaving together beneath the flower Pokémon and forming a stable platform above the muddy water. Smart. With that platform, Vileplume wouldn't be slowed down by the mud, and the terrain would slowly heal it over time. Misty bit her lip but quickly refocused. The mud was her ally now, and Goldeen had the advantage. She just had to use it.

"Sweet Scent!" Kai called out.

Vileplume released a glowing pink orb that burst in front of Goldeen, showering her with a cloying, sweet aroma. The move wasn't meant to hurt—it was meant to reduce evasion.

"Tail Whip!"

Goldeen snapped out of it and flipped her tail, slapping Vileplume right across the face. The crowd gasped, and Kai's smirk faded slightly.

"Giga Drain!" Kai barked, his eyes narrowing.

Vileplume's pistil glowed a sickly green, releasing a vine-like energy beam that shot toward Goldeen. Misty's pulse quickened—if that attack hit, it would drain Goldeen's energy in an instant.

"Swim, Goldeen!"

Goldeen shot forward like a torpedo, cutting through the muddy water with ease. The rain falling from above activated her Swift Swim ability, doubling her speed and making her impossible to catch. Misty saw the brief flicker of surprise on Kai's face as he realized what was happening.

He didn't see that coming.

"Down!" she commanded.

Without hesitation, Goldeen plunged beneath the muddy surface, vanishing into the murk below. The mud was thick, but the rain had softened it enough for her to glide effortlessly. Misty watched Kai closely, trying to predict his next move. His eyes scanned the pool, searching for any sign of Goldeen.

"Grass Knot!"

Misty tensed as vines from the Grassy Terrain slithered across the surface of the pool, creating a web-like trap. If Goldeen got caught, they were done for.

Not happening.

She cupped her hands around her mouth and whistled sharply—a signal Goldeen knew well.

Kai grinned. "It's over. Vileplume, another Giga Drain!"

Vileplume's pistil glowed once more as the vines tightened around what they thought was their target. But just as the energy beam shot forward, something shimmered. The vines collapsed around thin air, revealing nothing but a fading image of Goldeen.

"Double Team," Misty whispered, smiling.

From behind Vileplume, the real Goldeen launched herself out of the mud, her horn glowing fiercely.

"Mega Horn, now!"

Goldeen roared as she surged upward, her glowing horn striking Vileplume directly beneath its massive flower. The impact sent the grass-type flying through the air before it crashed outside the pool, landing right in the arms of one of the Alakazams stationed for safety.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the referee raised his flag. "Vileplume is unable to battle! The winner of this match is Misty Waterflower!"

A wave of relief washed over Misty as she saw Vileplume knocked out cold. She turned and spotted Austin in the stands, grinning from ear to ear. Pikachu was waving his makeshift shirt pom-poms in the air while Austin gave her a big thumbs-up.

"Go, you idiot! Get the shirts! I'll handle things here!"

Austin chuckled, jogging toward the exit. "Don't worry. I'm going to have you sign them and sell them for double the price."

Misty giggled as he disappeared from view, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye. One battle down. One step closer to becoming the official Cerulean City Gym Leader.

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Misty sat on the floor of the gym, her back resting against the wall as she stared at the mess around her. Empty popcorn bags, crushed cups, and crumpled flyers littered the floor—the aftermath of a day packed with battles. The lights above flickered faintly, casting long shadows across the empty stands. The cheering crowds were gone, but their echoes still lingered in her head. She stretched her legs out in front of her, barely able to lift them, and sighed.

She had done it—24 battles, all in one day. She couldn't believe she had made it this far.

Her arms felt like lead, her legs were jelly, and she was pretty sure Goldeen, Wooper, Kingler, Staryu, Lanturn, Qwilfish, Slowbro, Dewgong, and Poliwhirl were even more exhausted than she was. But she couldn't stop smiling.

"Okay, so you guys are gonna clean everything up," she heard Austin say from the other side of the gym. She turned her head slightly to see him talking to three weird-looking people wearing janitor uniforms—Jessica, Jamie, and Meowtholomew, or whatever they called themselves. They were the food vendors Austin had hired, but something about them felt... familiar. She couldn't quite place it, but it nagged at the back of her mind.

Austin, oblivious to her suspicions, handed them a broom and a mop. "Get to work," he said with a casual grin. The trio groaned but didn't argue.

Austin collected the large stack of cash they'd earned from selling overpriced popcorn and rice crispies—his "genius plan" to make a small fortune off the tournament. As he walked over to her, his smile widened. He plopped down on the floor next to her, setting the bag of money aside.

"So, how are you feeling?"

"Tired," she admitted. "But I think my Pokémon are more exhausted than I am."

He chuckled. "Yeah, you guys worked hard today. I lost count of how many water-type moves I saw."

"All of them pulled through for me. I'm proud of them."

Austin tilted his head curiously. "How long did it take you to catch all of those? You've got a pretty solid team."

She thought back to her travels. "It wasn't something I planned all at once," she said. "I was on the road for a long time. I spent years traveling through Johto before coming back to Kanto. I picked them up along the way—some from rivers, some from lakes, some from the sea."

He nodded, thinking it over. "I'm surprised you don't have a Magikarp on that list."

She raised an eyebrow. "Because of Gyarados, right?"

"Yeah," he said, leaning forward a bit. "Gyarados is one of the strongest water-types out there. You'd think it would be on your radar, especially for a future Water Master like you."

She smiled softly. "It's not that I don't want one," she explained. "It's just... Magikarp are tricky. They take a lot of time and resources to raise properly. Most trainers who focus on raising a Gyarados end up neglecting the rest of their team. And the worst part is, if they don't have patience, they're too harsh on the Magikarp. That's why a lot of Gyarados end up being angry or out of control."

Austin rubbed his chin, considering her words. "You think you could do it if you had the right help?"

She blinked, caught off guard. "Are you saying I should get a Magikarp and raise it into a Gyarados?"

"Yeah," he said, his eyes lighting up. "We've still got a lot of battles ahead of us, and when the news spreads about your winning streak, stronger trainers are going to start showing up. We're gonna need a powerhouse on your team. Gyarados could be that."

She thought about it for a moment. "I get what you're saying, but it's not easy to make a Magikarp powerful. It's a lot of work."

"Well," Austin said, leaning in slightly, "if you're willing to trust me, I'll help you. I can get you a Gyarados by the end of the week."

She studied him, weighing her options. Austin hadn't let her down so far. Every crazy idea of his had somehow worked. And honestly, if there was anyone she could trust to pull off something as wild as raising a Magikarp quickly, it was him.

"I've trusted you up until now," she said, giving him a small smile. "I don't see any reason to stop."

"Awesome!" His eyes sparkled with excitement. "Let's go catch a Magikarp!"

She couldn't help but laugh as he and Pikachu both cheered, shouting "Yay!" in unison.

From across the gym, the trio of janitors shouted, "What about us, boss?!"

"Oh yeah," Austin said, scratching the back of his head like he'd completely forgotten about them. "I promised to feed you guys once the cleanup was done."

He turned toward the house and yelled, "Daisy! Feed the three stooges! Misty and I are heading out!"

"Enjoy your date!"

Misty froze. Her cheeks burned as Daisy's words echoed in her head. Date? This isn't a date!

Flustered, she shot to her feet and bolted for the door. "Come on, Austin! Let's go!"

Austin followed her, grinning like an idiot. "I think Daisy's onto something," he teased.

"She's not," Misty muttered, still blushing as she power-walked toward the exit.

"You three, I'll leave the good work to you."

Behind them, James sighed. "He says that like he was actually doing any of the work."

"Seriously," Jessie added.

"Youse said it," Meowth agreed.

Misty shook her head, smiling despite herself. This wasn't how she'd imagined her first day of the tournament ending, but with Austin around, nothing ever went the way she expected.

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[ Author's Note: Should Austin catch a Magikarp and train it into a Gyarados, or would you rather see him catch a different Water Pokémon? Let me know your ideas in the comments! ]