Chapter 8: Events in Cerulean City
"Brock, what are you doing here?" Misty asked in surprise as she walked over.
"Misty, I told Ash I'd come watch his Gym battle. Didn't Ash tell you?" Brock replied, puzzled.
Ash walked over happily and said, "Brock, I beat Misty! I can get the Cerulean Gym Badge now!"
_Congratulations then, Ash,_ Brock thought, happy for his friend.
"Ash, why didn't you tell me Brock was coming to watch the Gym battle?" Misty demanded.
"Misty, I was so focused on battling you, I forgot," Ash replied somewhat apologetically.
Misty just said, "Oh," then looked towards Daisy and her sisters. She walked over and yelled loudly, "Sisters! What are you doing?!"
Nearby, Ash and Brock covered their ears, looking uncomfortable. At that moment, both Ash and Brock had the exact same thought: _Good thing I covered my ears, otherwise I'd go deaf!_
Daisy, Violet, and Lily were startled and complained together, "Misty, why did you scare us like that?!"
Misty replied, "I saw you spacing out, so I called you! Who knew you'd get scared so easily?"
Hearing Misty's response, Daisy raised her hand towards Misty's face as if about to slap her, saying angrily, "Misty, didn't you see we were reflecting? You don't need to shout so loud! You'll scare us sick!"
Luckily, Violet and Lily held Daisy back, persuading her together, "Daisy, we all watched Misty grow up. You know what her voice and temper are like. Let it go this time!"
Seeing her oldest sister about to hit her, Misty burst into tears, frightened. She thought, _Sister Daisy has never hit me before! Now she actually wants to hit me? Did I make such a big mistake this time? But I only shouted loudly at them... Was I wrong?_
Misty retorted tearfully, "Sister Daisy, you're actually going to hit me over such a small thing?! I'm never coming back to see you again!" After saying this, she ran out of the Gym, crying.
Seeing Misty run out, Daisy stood there blankly, unmoving, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Ash suddenly piped up, "Gym Leader Daisy, you haven't given me the badge yet!"
Hearing Ash, Brock thought, _How can Ash be such an idiot?!_ .
Daisy wasn't roused by Ash's words. Violet, however, heard Ash and clapped her hands once. A Seel swam out from the pool, swam over to Ash's leg, and opened its mouth, revealing a blue badge. It was the Cascade Badge of the Cerulean Gym.
Lily looked at Ash and said, "Ash, the badge is there. Take it! Since you defeated Misty, you've earned the Cascade Badge. Please take care of my little sister Misty.".
Brock and Ash (holding the Cascade Badge) also left the Gym.
"Brock, I got the Cascade Badge!" Ash said, holding up the badge. Then he asked, "Brock, why did Lily say 'please take care of Misty' just now when I got the badge? What did she mean?"
Hearing Ash, Brock thought, _Ash, how can you be so dense?! They basically see you as their future brother-in-law, and you're still playing dumb here? Damn it!. Are you trying to torture a 'single dog' like me?! If you don't want her, you can give her to me! Although she's a bit young... I don't want to be lolicon... Nah, better not! I'm afraid I'd get my bones broken._ After finishing his internal rant, he looked at Ash and said, "Ash, I don't know either."
And so, Brock and Ash went off to find Misty.
---
Meanwhile, back at the Cerulean Gym. Daisy finally snapped out of her daze. She looked at Violet and Lily beside her and asked doubtfully, "Violet, Lily... Did Misty run off? And did she say she'd never see me again? Was I... wrong this time?"
Hearing Daisy, Violet and Lily both nodded silently without saying anything.
Seeing Violet and Lily nodding, Daisy affirmed, "Just now, I was thinking Brock was absolutely right. Our Cerulean Gym is weak. So I was thinking about how to protect Cerulean City and get stronger. Misty interrupted my train of thought, and I got angry and wanted to hit her. I shouldn't have wanted to hit her over that. So, I need to apologize to Misty. I'll leave the Gym to you two for now, Violet, Lily." After saying this, she also ran out of the Gym.
Lily watched Daisy run out of the Gym and asked Violet, "Sister Violet, Sister Daisy asked us to look after the Gym. Let's get stronger together, so our Gym won't be the weakest one anymore."
Violet replied, "Yes, Lily. Let's do our best!"
---
That evening, in the Cerulean City Pokémon Center, three young teenagers and a Pikachu were gathered. It was our protagonist Brock's group.
"Brock, Ash... Can I... travel with you guys?" Misty asked hesitantly.
Brock readily replied, "Misty, we're companions! Of course, you can!"
Ash chimed in beside him, "Yeah, Misty! Brock's right! We're friends!"
Brock looked at Misty, whose eyes were red from crying, and asked with concern, "Misty, are you really not going home?"
Misty replied angrily, "My sister wanted to hit me! I'm definitely not going back!"
Hearing Misty, Brock thought, _Now what? I inadvertently made things worse and caused the sisters to fight. Right! I should ask my 'cheap old man. I'll do that now._ Brock looked at Ash and said, "Ash, now that you're in Cerulean City, have you called your family yet?"
Hearing Brock, Ash replied gratefully, "Thanks for reminding me, Brock! Otherwise, my mom would nag me again later!" After speaking, Ash went off to use the telephone booths at the Pokémon Center.
Seeing Ash hurry off to make a call, Brock suddenly remembered he also needed to make a call and quickly ran off to find a phone booth too.
Misty watched Ash and Brock go make calls and thought, _Did I do something wrong too? Did I really scare my sisters? But Sister Daisy never tried to hit me like that before! Right! If Sister Daisy apologizes to me, I'll forgive her._
In a private telephone booth. (The Pokémon Center telephone booths were of two types: one was free, but everyone could overhear your conversation; the other cost money but protected your privacy.) Our Brock used the paid one. Ash used the free one.
Brock dialed Flint's number. After waiting a few minutes, Flint finally answered the call. Flint's image appeared on the phone screen.
"Dad, what took you so long to answer?!" Brock asked.
"I was just eating. Besides, you brat, why do you suddenly have time to call me today? Are you out of money?" Flint asked.
"No! Today, I lectured the Cerulean Gym Leaders, and they ended up fighting!" Brock explained.
"Those few little girls? If they fight, they fight. It's no big deal," Flint said dismissively.
"No, it's not like that!" Brock explained the cause and effect to Flint.
Hearing Brock's explanation, Flint pondered for a moment and said, "Son, don't worry about it. I'll just have a word with those girls' parents, and it'll be fine."
Hearing Flint, Brock asked curiously, "Dad, you know the original owners of the Cerulean Gym?!"
Flint replied, "What's so strange about that? Our few families often compete together. It's normal to know each other."
"Dad, we have a 'family' ?" Brock asked in surprise.
"Son, I originally planned to tell you about the family matters when you turned 16. But since you asked, I'll tell you now," Flint said. "Son, the information about our family and other ordinary family details is quite extensive. I won't tell you over the phone. I'll mail the documents with the information to you; they should arrive tomorrow. You can read them yourself tomorrow!"
After finishing the call with Flint, Brock went out and saw Ash and Misty sitting on a bench in the Pokémon Center. He thought, _Ash finished his call so quickly?_ He walked over and asked, "Ash, Misty. Have you two eaten dinner yet?"
Ash replied, "Not yet."
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