Chapter 79: Sibling Rivalry, the Sequal
"""Wow!""" All three of the girls exclaimed in awe, not that I could blame them as we faced the famous Cerulean city water park.
It was a massive park filled with numerous aquatic attractions, such as large pools and slides, as well as water type Pokemon from all over the world.
While most of the Pokemon were from the Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh regions, there were also a few from the more foreign regions, like Unova, Kalos, and even a couple from Paldea.
What interested me the most though, was the Gym at the center of the water park.
Today, I planned to conquer the Cerulean city Gym and earn my second badge. Finally.
The last week felt as if it had dragged on at times, but now we were here and ready to battle. In a few hours.
The time we were registered to challenge the Gym was a little later than now, but we arrived early to look around the water park for a bit.
"Having fun?" Asked a voice I hadn't heard for a few days.
"""MISTY!""" The girls exclaimed as we turned to see our final traveling companion standing there.
"Hey guys. How've you been?" She asked shyly, before the three girls swarmed her to ask what she'd been up to, and to tell her of our last week.
"She's gotten stronger..." Lucario stated beside me, to which I nodded in agreement.
Her outward appearance and demeanor hadn't changed in the slightest, but there was a noticeable difference in her aura and how she carried herself. She must've trained her ass off.
Figuratively of course, as I had already confirmed her amazing ass was still there, and it was still straining to break free of her skintight booty-shorts.
"Hey Ace..." She called out to me bashfully, acting much more demure than she would normally be.
"Hey Misty." I said while stepping up close to her, so that our bodies were almost brushing up against one another.
I then have her a quick peck on the lips, and whispered, "it's good to have you back."
"..."
Misty didn't say anything as we stood there for a moment, before she backed away with reddened cheeks.
"Ehem! ANYWAYS!" She declared while clearing her throat, making me smirk as she continued,
"I heard it'll be a little bit until your guy's battles, so I'll show you around the park until then!"
Misty then took the lead as she marched forward, leading us to the first attraction that she planned to show us.
Synchronized Golduck swimming, the Seaking and Lumineon aquariums, and the park's only Milotic, there were numerous awe inspiring attractions throughout the park that left the girls and I speechless. They even had a luvdisc breeding center, where couples could come and pick out a luvdisc.
But as we looked around, I also couldn't help but to note how much all of the Pokemon here adored Misty. It was to the point that they would go out of their way to greet her if they were able to.
After a few hours of wandering around and admiring the sights, finally that time arrived. We made our way to attraction at the very center of the park, the Cerulean city Gym. And of course, waiting outside for us was a couple of guys that were waving banners with my name on them.
"Master! We came to cheer you on!" Jackie declared.
"Kick that Gym Leader's ass!" Bruce roared out, drawing numerous gazes from the passerby's.
"Oh boy...." I groaned from seeing them, while Misty awkwardly asked me,
"Ace... Do you know them?"
"Unfortunately. They're my self-proclaimed disciples." I answered her, making Misty gape at me in disbelief.
Though I had to admit, the duo did have their useful moments. Like the other day when I sent them to make the nugget bridge challenge, which was actually a Team Rocket recruitment operation. And now the agents running the operation were in jail.
But back to the present.
"Anyways, you two just calm down. This Gym is different from a lot of them, and I don't want you causing any trouble." I told them sternly.
""Sir!""
With a salute, the two of them fell in line with their Pokemon, making me shake my head wryly as I went inside the Gym, and May explained to Misty about my two disciples.
Immediately after entering the Gym though, I was greeted by a spectacular sight that I had only witnessed on a screen until now.
Three beautiful women were performing a intricate swimming routine in time with their Pokemon, while hundreds of people in the stands watched with bated breath.
Elegant music filled the air as that bikini-clad babes moved with flowing elegant motions, accompanied by the occasional melodic trill or cry from one of their Pokemon.
But apparently we caught the end of the performance. A couple moments after I entered the Gym, a massive seashell rose up out of the water with numerous Corsola and Clamperl on it, which became their platform as it rose up under the girls for them to stand on.
And all three posed once the seashell stopped moving, along with their Pokemon as they all sprayed streams of water in the air similar to a fountain.
Immediately the Gym erupted into applause as everyone cheered the great performance, while I also showed my appreciation for the little bit I managed to catch.
"That was amazing!" Dawn exclaimed beside me with stars in her eyes. I suppose she'd love the show more than the rest of us, since she wanted to become a contest star.
"Eh. I guess if you're into that kind of thing..." Misty replied dismissively, probably from how much she's had to watch it herself.
"And now for a SPECIAL event!" The eldest of the Water Flower sisters declared into a mic, silencing the crowd once more as they waited for the next show.
However, all three sisters looked directly at us suddenly as the eldest, Daisy, declared, "up next we'll have an exciting Gym battle between us three sensation sisters, and our two challengers, May and Dawn!"
As Daisy announced the battle, the seashell began to sink beneath the water once more before a series of small platforms surrounding a large platform took its place. At the same time a spotlight shined down onto us, illuminating all of us for everyone to see.
"Don't be shy! Come on down girls!" Daisy declared while approaching us, as the other two sisters, Lily and Violet, prepared to do battle on the other side.
"W-wait! There's three of you? Are we going to have to battle one at a time?!" May asked confusedly, though Daisy just tutted at her as she stated into her mic,
"No no silly! Instead of having several rounds of fighting, we'll have one round of you two sending a Pokemon against us three at the same time! It'll be fun!"
"Wh about me? Shouldn't we make it three on three?" I asked curiously as Daisy pushed the two girls forward.
She then however looked me up and down with a scrutinizing eye, before apparently liking what she saw as she purred, "well, how about you and I have our own 'private' match later, honey?"
"HOLD IT!" Misty roared angrily as she pushed her way between Daisy and I, before standing in front of me defensively.
"Not this time Daisy!" Misty declared angrily.
"Whatever are you talking about Misty?" Daisy asked confusedly.
"Ever since we were little you would always take anything that was 'mine'! Well not this time!" Misty stated firmly.
"Oh?" Daisy uttered with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"You do know he's not a 'thing' that you can 'claim', right Misty?" She asked testily, before darting around Misty and hugging my arm to her body, sandwiching it between her breasts that were just barely being contained by her bikini.
"And besides..." She began while pressing closer to my body, and I had to resist the urge to slip my hand into her bikini bottom. I mean, it was right freakin THERE!
"I doubt that a man like THIS would want a weak and worthless little tomboy like you anyways~! I mean, do you even know the first thing about satisfying a man to begin with?"
With every word Daisy spoke, Misty got progressively angrier, even more so than when Daisy started clinging to me.
"Fine then! We'll battle, and once I win you'll stay away from Ace!" Misty declared as she pulled a Pokeball from her belt, to which Daisy smirked victoriously.
Yeah. I'm pretty sure Misty just got played like a Pokeflute.
"Ok~! But WHEN I win, I'll be taking him from you~!" Daisy stated before planting a kiss on my cheek, never once asking if I'd even want her to begin with.
Don't get me wrong, I'd LOVE to rail all four of the sisters if possible. But I'd already decided, Misty was going to be one of my wives. She couldn't back out of it now if she wanted.
And apparently she didn't want to, as Misty responded to her sister's advances by pulling me forward by my Ranger jacket, and planting her mouth against mine in a much more passionate kiss than the one we'd traded earlier.
With Daisy still smirking as she released my arm, winking at me as she did so, she then declared to the audience who had been watching the entire time, "guess what folks! We have an exciting three vs three match coming up for you all! Are you excited? Because I sure am!"
An enthusiastic cheer met her question as everyone got fired up for the upcoming battle, but all of my attention was on Misty as she slowly broke off our kiss.
"I'm sorry... I just-"
"Don't say a thing." I said while placing my finger against her lips to silence her.
"Go and win."
With that her eyes became focused as she nodded in affirmation, before storming up beside Dawn and May to battle her sisters.
"You looked like you were enjoying yourself." May said teasingly to her.
"Shut up..." Misty said back, though with much less venom than had been in her voice when she'd been talking to Daisy.
Now it was Misty, May and Dawn versus Daisy, Violet and Lily.
As all six women held up the Pokeball they planned to send out, one of the Gym employees stepped up to officiate the match as they declared,
"This will be a single round team match! One Pokemon from each participant! And if the Pokemon is knocked out, the participant will still win so long as her teammates win! Battlers ready? BEGIN!"
And with the OK from the officiator, the three sisters immediately sent out there Pokemon first, as all Gym leaders were supposed to do.
"""GO!!!"""
And with a cry, three Pokemon I was NOT expecting appeared.
"COLOOOOO!!!"
"QUACK!"
"MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"
Ludicolo, Quaquaval, and Milotic.
They were shocking choices from the sisters since none of them were Kanto or even Johto at all. Hell. If I recalled correctly, Quaquaval were only found in Paldea!
There wasn't an actual rule saying that Gym Leaders HAD to use Pokemon from their respective regions, but it was usually considered poor sportsmanship if they did otherwise without good reason.
The reason was because most kids that grow up to become trainers wouldn't be able to learn about Pokemon from other regions than the one they grew up in. Even I only had limited knowledge on Pokemon like Quaquaval, and I was taught by one of, if not THE greatest Pokemon researcher of our age.
All I knew about them was that they had the water/fighting typing, and they originated from the Paldea region.
But, I wasn't the one battling.
While I had no way of knowing how much May or Dawn knew about them, I knew Misty at least had to be quite knowledgable about her sister's own Pokemon.
That was probably why Daisy, Lily and Violet chose such Pokemon, to test their sister before she left with us.
And Misty didn't falter.
"Go, Krabby!"
"Gookee gookee!" Krabby growled while snapping its pincers threateningly.
"Go Pichu!"
"Go Chatot!" May and Dawn cried out after her, sending their own Pokemon to face off against the trio.
"Chu Chu!"
"Chu Chu!"
Pichu cried out as it appeared before being followed by Chatot, who mimicked it perfectly as both prepared for battle.
"Milotic, Rain Dance!" Daisy commanded once all the Pokemon were in the arena.
And with a trill the beautiful serpent complied as she summoned a torrential downpour, which was thicker and heavier than any of my Pokemon had summoned before.
"Ludicolo, use Razor Leaf!" Lily commanded.
"LudiCOLO!" It cried out while summoning a storm of leaves that honed in on Pichu, Krabby and Chatot.
"Chatot, use Air Cutter on those leaves!" Dawn quickly replied.
"Air Cutter!" It shouted with Dawn's voice, while creating a single blade of wind that intercepted all of the incoming leaves.
At the same time, May readily ordered, "Pichu, used Volt Tackle on that Quaquaval!"
I cocked a brow while wondering when May had taught her little Pichu THAT move, even as the electric mouse charge forward with determination as its entire body began to crackle with electricity.
"Pipipipipipi-CHUUUUU!"
With a great cry from its tiny body, it tried to tackle the much larger target. But, right before it hit, there was suddenly a clacking sound through the rain.
I watched in awe as the Quaquaval moved with a graceful fluidity that allowed it to just barely avoid Pichu's attack, before bringing its water covered leg around to deliver a powerful aquatic attack. Aqua Step.
"Pichu!" May cried urgently as her little Pokemon was sent skittering across the platform, and nearly into the water.
It wasn't the only one though, as both Chatot and Krabby were struggling to keep up with Ludicolo and Milotic respectively.
"Oh no... What are they going to do?" Joy uttered worriedly next to me.
"It'll be tough for them to win, that's for sure." I replied seriously.
After all, this was probably the first time Dawn, May and Misty battled alongside one another like this, whereas I was willing to bet that all three of her sisters were far more experienced at it.
This was going to be a very trying challenge for all three of them.
***
Meanwhile, in the farthest northern reaches of the Johto region, a congregation of well over a hundred people had gathered at the top of a majestic and intricately designed tower.
It's beauty was a testament to the care and adoration that went into its creation, as well as its maintenance ever since.
But none of those gathered there cared about that at the moment as midday approached, and the sun reached its peak. Instead, they all focused on the item sitting on the altar before them.
A single, Crystal-clear feather.
"Oh almighty Ho-Oh! We have gathered today under the sun as it reaches its zenith to give thee our thanks!" Cried out the man at the front of the crowd, who was adorned in radiant multicolored robes that shimmered in the sunlight.
"""We thank thee for the warmth that bathes our world!"""
"""We thank thee for the life that we breathe!"""
"""We thank thee for the blessings thou hast bestowed upon us!"""
Chanted the group of five identical women behind him, all dressed in multicolored kimonos similar to his robes, as they led the entire group in their prayer.
"Father Ariza!" Cried out a man that rushed towards the radiantly dressed man who had spoke before.
"Ahhh.... Samuel... How kind of you grace us with your presence..." Father Ariza sneered with venom in his voice, not that anyone could blame him. Midday was the holiest time of day.
"I beg your forgiveness Father, but I had a very good reason for my absence!" Samuel declared as he approached the Father, his hands shaking as he held out a slip of paper to him.
"What is this?" Father Ariza asked dismissively, even as he accepted the slip of paper and unfolded it.
The second he gazed upon the image on the paper though, his entire demeanor changed.
His hands turned cold and clammy as they began to shake slightly, he turned deathly pale, and his breath was released in gasps.
"Is this what I think it is?" He asked in a deathly serious tone, the sudden shift in his demeanor showing everyone that something was SERIOUSLY wrong.
"I studied all of the available footage last night after I discovered it, and all this morning... It's real." Samuel stated in an equally serious tone.
With each passing second the curiosity of the devotes of Ho-Oh grew, not the least of which were the five sisters standing very near to Father Ariza and Samuel, but still didn't know what they were talking about.
"BEHOLD, OUR MESSIAH!" Father Ariza suddenly declared, startling everyone as he held the paper up for them all to see.
And on it was the image of a pure white Charmeleon, whose scales shimmered more brilliantly than even Father Ariza's robes.
"""!!!"""
Shock filled everyone as they beheld the image of their messiah. It was long since known to them all that the Charizard line was descended from their lord, Ho-Oh, while the Eevee line was equally sacred for their relation to the mythic beasts that served him.
Father Ariza was even partnered with a powerful alpha Charizard himself, which he was able to perform mega evolution with.
But a pure white Charmeleon with a multicolored flame could only be blessed by their lord himself, a sign they had all been waiting for.
"Tell us Samuel, where is our messiah now?!" Father Ariza demanded.
"In Kanto..." He spat with disgust, a feeling shared by every one of those present. But their disgust turned to anger as he continued, "and he's with a trainer, by the name of Ace Ketchum."
"""!!!"""
Unbridled fury rose up within all of those present from realizing that a mere Kantonian DARED to try and take their messiah as one of his Pokemon. The fool obviously had no idea what he was doing!
"Followers of the almighty Ho-Oh!" Father Ariza declared as he spoke to all of them.
"Hear me now, and listen! Our lord has sent us the messiah, which means the prophesied time is nigh! Go now, and retrieve our messiah from this 'Ace Ketchum', so that he may lead us forth in the final battle to rid Kanto of their false idols once and for all!
"Now GO! Go and liberate him from this heretical Kantonian!"
With one final decree from Father Ariza, all of the followers of Ho-Oh took off to do as he bid. Soon the skies were filled with roars and flames as they called out their Charizard, riding them forth in order to seek out their messiah.
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