Chapter 7: The Cerulean Gym
On the way to Cerulean City, Misty ran up from behind Brock and Ash, calling out, "Hey, wait for me! Where are you guys heading?"
Ash replied, "We're going to Cerulean City!"
"Can we please not go to Cerulean City?" Misty pleaded upon hearing Ash.
Ash retorted, "No way! Cerulean City has a Gym, and I need to get the Gym Badge. I need eight badges to qualify for the Kanto League competition."
Misty made a scary face and said to Brock and Ash, "Let's not go to Cerulean City! It's a scary place! Because... Cerulean City is haunted!"
Hearing Misty, Ash remained firm, "I've decided! We're going to Cerulean City! Brock, Pikachu, let's go!" Hearing Ash, Brock and Pikachu followed him.
Brock, Ash, and Pikachu (standing on Ash's shoulder) arrived at the entrance to Cerulean City.
Brock noticed Pikachu looking behind them, though he wasn't sure what Pikachu was looking at. Brock turned around too and saw that Misty was no longer behind them. He said to Ash, "Ash, Misty's gone! I don't know where she went."
Hearing Brock, Ash also turned, looked, and said happily, "Really? Good! My ears can finally get some peace and quiet."
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Cerulean City was famous for its Water-type Pokémon and its underwater ballet performances. In a park in Cerulean City, two boys and one Pokémon were sitting on a bench chatting.
"Brock, do you know the Cerulean Gym Leader? What kind of Pokémon do they use?" Ash asked while sitting on the bench.
"Ash, I won't tell you. Because I've also been a Gym Leader," Brock explained while taking out his backpack and looking through it.
"Ash, I need to go to the shopping center to buy something. You head over to the Gym. I'll come find you after I'm done shopping," Brock said, standing up and heading towards the shopping center.
Ash and Pikachu remained sitting on the bench, lost in thought. Ash looked at Pikachu beside him and asked, "Pikachu, do you know what kind of Pokémon the Cerulean City Gym Leader uses?"
Hearing Ash, Pikachu just cried out, "Pika~ Pikachu!"
Ash looked at Pikachu calling out and muttered to himself, "Why am I so dumb? I forgot you can't talk. Whatever! It doesn't matter what Pokémon they use; I can win anyway!" After saying this, he also stood up. Pikachu leaped onto Ash's shoulder, and together they went off to find the Gym.
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Inside the Cerulean City shopping center. The mall was filled with a dazzling array of goods. And our protagonist, Brock, was there shopping. Brock was wandering around, looking here and there. You might think Brock was looking for things to buy. Actually, while shopping, Brock was also checking out the beautiful women. He even muttered, "That one's a B-cup, a bit small. That one's a D-cup, not bad!" As he said this, a lewd grin spread across Brock's face, as if he were fantasizing about something. (Brock was a 'nerd/weeb' loser/underachiever in his previous life. Did you think transmigration would change him? Impossible!).
After a while, Brock checked the time and went to pay. After paying and leaving the shopping center, he hurried towards the Cerulean Gym.
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The Cerulean Gym combined underwater ballet with Gym battling. Brock arrived at the Cerulean Gym. Just as he walked into the Gym, he heard Ash's voice shout, "Pidgeotto, use Gust! Blow him away!"
When Brock walked further in, he saw Ash and Misty battling with their Pokémon on the pool surface. Watching from the side were three young women!
So, Brock put on a gentlemanly act, walked over, and greeted them, "Hi there, beautiful young ladies. How do you do?"
The three young women were stunned for a moment by Brock's approach, then politely replied, "Hello."
"My humble name is Brock. May I ask for the names of such beautiful ladies?" Brock inquired.
A girl with blonde hair, wearing a red dress, answered, "We are the three beautiful sisters of Cerulean! I'm the eldest, Daisy.
Just as Daisy finished, a girl with blue hair, wearing a green dress, continued, "I'm the second sister, Violet!".
Then, the girl with pinkish hair, wearing a yellow dress, added, "And I'm the third sister of Cerulean beauty, Lily!".
After hearing them, Brock said, "Miss Daisy, Miss Violet, Miss Lily, it's a pleasure to meet you. Are you the Cerulean Gym Leaders?"
Daisy replied, "Yes, we are the Gym Leaders of Cerulean City!"
Brock looked at Daisy and her sisters and thought, _A pity they're a bit young. Give them a few years, and they'll mature nicely. Should I start a 'nurturing plan'?..._ (Translator's Note: Damn Brock get some self-control.). In reality, a lewd grin spread across Brock's face again. (Brock is currently 12 years old, while Daisy, Violet, and Lily are 14. These thoughts likely stem from his previous life's personality!)
"Mr. Brock, what's wrong?" Daisy, Violet, and Lily noticed Brock spacing out with a silly grin. Daisy grabbed Brock's arm and shook it gently.
Hearing them, Brock snapped out of his fantasy and replied, "Oh, it's nothing." After he spoke, they let go of his arm.
Brock looked at Misty, who was battling, and asked Daisy and the others, "Misty is your younger sister, right?"
Daisy asked, puzzled, "Yes! How did you know Misty is our sister?"
Brock explained, "Gym battles are usually conducted by the Gym Leader or their family members against challengers. I also heard there were four sisters in Cerulean. So, I guessed Misty must be your sister."
Daisy, Violet, and Lily looked like they completely believed Brock's explanation. Brock then continued, "Why did Misty leave home to travel and get stronger? Don't tell me it's because you three are so beautiful that she felt overshadowed living here and needed to leave to improve herself. And don't say she left just because she found life boring. You know the real reason in your hearts."
Hearing Brock, Daisy, Violet, and Lily thought, _How did he know what we were going to say? And he even considered why Misty really wanted to leave and get stronger!_
Brock adopted a lecturing tone, "You perform underwater ballet, I won't say anything about that. But as Gym Leaders, what is your duty? It's to teach trainers how to handle battles under special conditions, how to grow stronger and develop. The Gym Leaders should also be growing stronger alongside them. But what are you three doing?! Your Gym Pokémon are weaker than those of Novice Trainers!"
Brock continued, "I know your strength probably hasn't reached the level of a proper Gym Leader. I also know this Gym was likely handed to you by your family. But look what you've turned the Gym into! The weakest Gym in the Kanto region! Why did Misty leave to get stronger? It's because you older sisters only care about underwater ballet and don't train your Pokémon, letting the Gym become the weakest. Misty wants to get stronger to protect the Gym, so that Cerulean City doesn't have the weakest Gym. Do you understand now?!"
Brock took a bottle of water from his backpack, took a sip, and continued, "I'm not just sticking up for Misty. I just don't want people from other regions saying the Gyms in our Kanto League are no good." After speaking, he took another gulp of water, thinking, _Man, I'm thirsty! I knew I shouldn't have said so much nonsense_.
Hearing Brock's words, Daisy, Violet, and Lily began to reflect seriously.