Misty had obviously chosen her favorite Pokémon.
Standing before me was a larger purple star with twice as many points as the previous Staryu. This one was stockier, taller, and overall much bigger. Right in the center of its body sat a large, blood-red gem encased in a golden frame, pulsing gently.
Based on League rules, I suspected her Starmie was hovering right on the edge of the maximum allowed auric level for a second badge.
Misty spoke to it calmly while the starfish stood motionless, listening to her instructions.
I knew Houndoom stood almost no chance against it. The previous Staryu had exhausted him and left visible injuries. Streams of fresh blood were still trickling down his black fur from his wounds, dripping onto the stone platform, yet he remained standing with the exact same determination as before. The only thing I could give him was a proud fight to the end. Before Misty could command her to attack, I was already considering my next options.
I had three battle-ready Pokémon left. Haunter, as a Ghost-type Pokémon, could probably hunt it down in the water without much trouble. Machoke would be a serious threat to it on land, but underwater he wouldn't be able to utilize his strength to the fullest. The water resistance would slow down every movement, dampen his strikes, and gradually put him at an increasing disadvantage. Maybe he could wear it down a bit, but it wouldn't be enough for a victory.
And then there was Wartortle. For him, this environment was the ideal battlefield.
When Misty finally nodded, I brought my attention back to the battle. Starmie vanished beneath the surface immediately, and the fight began.
Just like Staryu before it, Starmie attacked from the flank with Water Gun. It was fast and precise, but the force of the move was significantly weaker than I would have expected from it.
Houndoom didn't have time to react. The stream of water struck him directly in his bleeding flank, and my hellhound gave only a painful whimper before his legs buckled and he collapsed onto the platform.
Starmie remained patiently under the surface.
After a moment, my Houndoom resolutely forced himself back onto his feet. Trembling all over from exhaustion, he still stood ready to keep fighting.
Another Water Gun followed from the opposite side. This one was a bit stronger and caught him straight in the head.
Houndoom collapsed limply onto the stone platform. This time I didn't hesitate for a single second and immediately recalled him into his Poké Ball. I didn't want him suffering for even a moment longer.
I gave Misty a grateful smile and nod, which she returned. I was one hundred percent sure she had told Starmie to hold back and avoid using the full power of her attacks against my Houndoom.
"Two-one to the challenger!" shouted the referee. "Challenger, prepare your second Pokémon."
In the end, I decided to play it safe. Machoke was strong, but in this environment, he was at too big of a disadvantage. He had no ranged attacks, and the water resistance would drastically slow his movements and weaken his physical blows.
For a moment, I deliberated whether to reach for the Poké Ball on my necklace or the one on my belt. Either option guaranteed me the badge. Eventually, I went with the belt. There was no need to rush that much.
In a flash of red light, my Pokémon appeared before me on the damp, blood-stained stone platform.
Wartortle immediately took up a battle stance—sharp claws extended forward, a confident smirk revealing two sharp fangs underneath.
He glanced curiously around the arena, taking in the stands, Misty, and the referee. Then he sniffed the air twice.
The smile froze on his blue face, and his gaze slowly dropped to his feet.
Even though the waves in the pool had washed away some of the blood, plenty of it remained. That's why I spoke up before Starmie could strike.
"That blood is Houndoom's," I told him with a small smile.
They might have been rivals, but they were still one pack. One crew. My family.
Wartortle scowled, a deep, angry growl rumbling from his throat.
I had a strategy mapped out with Wartortle as well. Though I hadn't expected to face a Starmie, while preparing for Staryu we had accounted for the possibility of psychic techniques.
From the flank, straight out of the water, another Water move shot toward Wartortle like lightning. This time, however, it wasn't a weak, restrained Water Gun. It was a rapid barrage of large bubbles. Not a simple Bubble, but a concentrated, swift, narrow, and above all powerful Bubble Beam.
My turtle didn't hesitate for a split second. He immediately withdrew into his shell, planting his feet firmly against the platform. The stream of water bubbles slammed against the hard surface of his shell with loud pops.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
After a moment, once the final bubbles burst and the attack subsided, Wartortle emerged from his shell. He stood proudly, head held high, scowling at the spot the attack had come from.
The scene repeated itself from the opposite side. Starmie unleashed an even faster Bubble Beam, and the very first bubble exploded right on Wartortle's ear. Even that failed to throw him off balance, and he immediately withdrew into his shell again.
When the stream of bubbles ceased once more, Wartortle emerged. He calmly scanned the surface of the pool, but after a moment, he turned to face me.
"War?" he growled questioningly.
"War," I agreed with a nod.
While he had used part of his name as a question, I used it as an order.
A fierce grin spread across Wartortle's face. The moment another stream of bubbles surged toward him, he dove straight into the water.
The overhead spotlights reflected off the surface, refracting in the water and forming a perfect screen alongside the dense foam. Although most of the pool was crystal clear, the movement around both Pokémon created a murky, impenetrable gloom.
Furthermore, the pool was so deep that by the time a visual screen even formed, it was already too late to intervene. All I could do was watch and trust that I had trained Wartortle well enough to show this Starmie what he was made of.
While Misty remained completely composed, watching the match with a relaxed smile, tension gnawed at me. I believed my Pokémon had an edge in the water, but there was no telling how their duel would end.
As they battled beneath the surface, I pictured what was likely unfolding down there.
Water techniques faced resistance underwater as well, making them less effective. However, that wasn't much of an issue for either Pokémon; both were Water-types, and water auric energy presented no real threat to them.
I was certain that a purely physical brawl was taking place underwater. My Wartortle might have been taller, but he was also significantly lighter. Starmie was stocky and heavy—from what I recalled from school, it could weigh up to three times as much as him.
Still, Wartortle was tough and possessed sharp, dangerous claws, whereas Starmie had to rely on its mass and heavy, blunt impacts.
And judging by how the murky cloud was spreading through the middle of the entire pool, they were fighting viciously.
After a few minutes, the situation finally shifted. Starmie shot into the air in a violent eruption of water. Its red gem was cracked and scarred by three deep gouges. Right behind it burst a battered Wartortle, paw outstretched, claws fully unsheathed.
That wasn't the end, though. At Misty's command, its heavily cracked gem began flushing pink, pulsing with psychic energy.
Even with one eye caked in blood, my Wartortle noticed. Still airborne, he immediately tucked into his shell, falling back toward the water while Starmie remained levitating.
Before he hit the water, a pink beam hit him dead center on his shell. I wasn't sure if psychic energy could penetrate his shell.
Right after, Starmie's gem glowed red. It was trying to use Recover. At that exact instant, Wartortle breached the surface, and a precisely aimed Water Gun struck it smack in the center of its body.
The impact sent it flying toward the left side of the pool, landing just a few meters from the referee.
Water auric energy might not have been able to hurt it seriously, but the force of the blast certainly could. Unlike Misty, I had no intention of showing mercy. I couldn't afford to anyway, not if her Recover succeeded.
"Keep going, Wartortle!" I commanded.
Wartortle submerged instantly, shooting forward like a torpedo. Only a turbulent trail remained on the surface marking his path.
As soon as Starmie touched the water, my Pokémon slammed into it again at full speed with both sets of claws unsheathed. The impact launched it like a cannonball straight toward the referee, whose legs tangled in surprise as he began falling backward.
The moment Starmie cleared the edge of the pool, a pink barrier flashed to life. Starmie slammed hard against it with a wet splat, then slid back down into the water.
This time I knew it was over, so I just waited for the referee's verdict.
When Wartortle looked over at me, I simply waved him over. He obeyed without hesitation, shooting out of the water like a small missile. A moment later, he landed right in front of me, splashing me completely.
I didn't mind. While the referee scrambled to pull himself together, I began scratching Wartortle behind his ear.
"Great job, Wartortle. You avenged Houndoom."
"Waaaaar," he growled gruffly, closing his eyes in bliss and letting out a satisfied sigh.
From this close, I could finally see the details of where Starmie's hard body had struck him. He had blunt scrapes on his arms from its points, contusions across his body, and visible impact marks on the left side of his face that were already turning color. His left eye was bloodshot, which I'd noticed earlier.
Misty recalled the fainted Starmie with a smile. It was obvious this hadn't been a serious fight with her main team, but merely a test for the second badge. This Starmie wasn't a Pokémon she'd use in a real battle as a high-caliber trainer.
I found myself frowning slightly. I hated seeing my Pokémon walk away from battles this battered, even if it was part of the game. And I knew it would only get worse. We simply weren't strong enough yet. We needed to be substantially powerful—far more than we were right now.
After a moment, the referee on the left—still looking a bit flushed—finally composed himself and raised his flag toward me.
"Three-one to the challenger!" the referee yelled. "Challenger Patrik from Pallet Town wins!"
Loud applause erupted from the stands. Unlike Houndoom, Wartortle ignored it completely. I, on the other hand, gave the crowd a polite wave to thank them for their support before heading down the left side toward Misty.
We met near the center of the stadium, right by the referee. She offered a smile and extended her hand, which I shook without hesitation.
"Good match," she noted, reaching into her back shorts pocket with her other hand to pull out a badge. She placed it into my open palm and turned around. "Follow me."
I followed her, taking a moment to inspect the badge I had just won. The Cascade Badge was shaped like a droplet of water, featuring three shades of blue—light blue, blue, and dark blue. After a moment, I slipped it into my pocket and kept walking.
Misty truly had an exceptional figure. Her denim shorts fitted perfectly, accentuating an athletic body—toned legs, firm muscles, and the build of someone who trained regularly. Watching her walk, it was clear this wasn't just conventional attractiveness. Every movement betrayed strength, discipline, and years of physical conditioning.
She was attractive, but it was equally obvious her body hadn't come about by chance. It was the physique of a true trainer.
I allowed myself a moment to appreciate the view until we reached the far end of the pool.
Up close, I noticed it wasn't a solid wall as it had appeared from a distance, but glass doors. I followed Misty through them.
The doors clicked quietly shut behind me, and I looked around the room she had brought me into with curiosity.
It was a fairly large office. Dominating the space in front of me was a massive desk with a computer. On the left side stood a display case filled with trophies, medals, and photographs. On the right were closed storage shelves, while the wall I had just passed through was entirely transparent, offering a clear view of the stadium where we had been fighting just moments ago, as well as part of the stands.
A soothing trickling of water echoed softly in the office, though I had no idea where it was coming from. The noise from the stadium and the departing crowd was heavily muffled behind the thick glass.
"If you're done admiring the view, you can take a seat," said Misty, already seated behind her desk.
Without a word, I sat in the chair opposite her. I really had no idea what she wanted from me, but who would turn down following an ass like that into a private room? So, I waited.
"Your prize money will be transferred to your account as usual," she announced after a moment of silence, then continued, "Seriously good battle, by the way. Houndoom is a real fighter, and together with Wartortle, they definitely exceed second-badge standards."
"Thanks," I nodded. "You could've told me that right after giving me the badge, though. So... why am I here?"
I asked directly. While time passed slower inside Poké Balls, my Pokémon were still injured, and I didn't want to waste time needlessly.
"Brock let me know to expect you... and asked me to fill you in on the social aspects of being a trainer," she sighed. "He forgot to explain what to expect once you reach a higher level..."
"What do you mean?"
"As I'm sure you've noticed, the atmosphere here is completely different from Pewter." She paused briefly. "Pokémon battles are the most popular sport in the world, and the higher the badge, the more interest it generates. Pewter is the entry gate that almost anyone can pass. The second badge is already a step up, mainly because of the specific environment and battle conditions."
I went to ask a question, but she held up a hand to stop me and went on.
"While Pewter ignores the social side of things, Cerulean records every battle and posts it online. That means more people will start recognizing you wherever you go. And with a Houndoom like yours, it'll likely happen sooner rather than later." She paused briefly. "The more Gyms you beat, the more attention you'll attract. And with that come sponsorship offers... You and your team actually make a pretty good package from a marketing standpoint."
She paused again, lowered her hand, and added, "Any questions?"
"There are plenty of high-level trainers and rangers out there, though. Why would anyone be interested in a weak trainer like me?" I asked, curious.
"Because people love watching an underdog grow. And that growth is most visible with rookies." She shook her head. "Of course, top trainers get followed too, and top-tier matches are regularly broadcast live from stadiums. You can watch them on TV every day."
She shook her head with a faintly baffled expression. "Don't tell me you're anti-technology?" she scoffed.
"No. I just don't care much for watching other people's matches. I enjoy the actual fight alongside my team way more," I answered honestly.
She scrutinized me for a moment with her large blue eyes, then gave a nod.
"Be careful about which sponsorship offers you accept. Think every single one through, and for Arceus' sake, make sure you read every single word and comma twice," she warned sternly.
"That goes without saying... I'm not stupid," I replied with a smile.
"You're a guy," she winked at me with a provocative smirk.
"Great observation, Misty..." I shook my head. "If that's everything, there are two more things I'm curious about."
"Yes?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Was that Starmie really second-badge level?"
Misty smirked and shrugged. Great answer.
"And the second question?" she asked after a moment, while I waited to see if she would answer after all.
"How about a drink tonight?" I suggested with a smile.
Misty raised an eyebrow, her mouth parting slightly as her cheeks instantly flushed red. A second later, however, she burst out laughing.
Smiling, I waited for her answer. It took her a moment, but she eventually shook her head and wiped a tear from her eye.
"I'm taken, Patrik from Pallet Town," she answered with a smirk, motioning toward the door. "You can go."
"A true shame," I said, placing my right hand over my heart with a mournful shake of my head. But then I gave her a genuine smile. "See ya, Misty."
It was a shame she declined, but it didn't bother me at all. I took my shot and at least had an answer. If I hadn't asked, I'd have wasted time wondering whether she might have said yes. With a genuine and, above all, satisfied smile, I took my leave.
***
Author's note:
And that's a wrap on the Cerulean Gym battle!
Houndoom fought like a champion—and it turns out he's also a natural-born showman. Wartortle came through, revenge was served, and our MC learned that winning a Cascade Badge still won't get you a date with Misty!
Oh well, that's life... the important thing is taking your shot. If you never try, the answer is always no, right?
What do you guys think? Do you think any sponsors will actually be interested in them? Drop a comment and let me know!
***
Step into the Restricted Section
The shadows are shifting, and the story goes much deeper... If you can't wait for the next update, Advanced Chapters are already waiting for you.
Enter the Restricted Section here: you-know-what/PatrikWriter
Upcoming Chapters – Already Written(15):
50. Gearing Up
51. Borelli's Forge
52. Two Badges and a Persian
53. Steel, Silence, and Whispers
54. Steel and Blood
55. The Spoils of War
56. The Price of Survival
57. A Heavy Debt
58. Into the Dark
59. Where Dragons Feed
60. Heart of a Dragon
61. Time for a Training Arc
62. Shadows in the Thunder
63. Forging Champions
64. Avenge Me
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