The gang had finally arrived in Viridian City where Ashlyn will get her eighth and final gym badge and enter the Indigo League. They were currently at the Pokémon Center. The same center Ashlyn had saved from Team Rocket the first time she was here.
Everyone was outside the center right now and Ashlyn was training her Pokémon for the last gym she'll challenge. Ashlyn watched as her Pokémon were sparing with each other, finding it much more effective as simply just going over moves.
"Nervous?" Volkner came up beside her.
"Yeah, a little bit." Ashlyn admitted.
"Don't worry, I know you'll do great." Volkner assured her.
"Definitely, Ashlyn. We've seen your gym battle with Blaine and we know that you're going to win this one." Flint added.
Ashlyn smiled, "Thanks you guys."
Then she looked over to where Brock and Misty were. She looked over at Horsea who doesn't look so good, as he was floating in a fountain outside the Pokémon Center.
"Hey Misty, Horsea doesn't look so good." Ashlyn informed the girl.
Misty looked over and sure enough, Horsea didn't look all that great and was just floating around in the water.
"You're right, Horsea's never acted like this before," she went over to the fountain and picked him up, "What's wrong, Horsea?"
Horsea looked up at the red head before looking back down, not saying a word. Ashlyn and the others came over.
"Maybe Horsea would feel better in a bigger pool." Brock suggested.
"But where would we find-wait, that's it!" She said.
"What's it?" Flint asked.
"The Cerulean Gym has a large pool!" Misty told him.
Brock remembered, "That's right they do, we should stop by your hometown for a visit. Its been awhile anyway."
Misty smiled as Horsea, "Would you like to swim in a larger pool, Horsea?"
"Sea (Yes)!" Horsea said, nodding his head happily.
"Hey guys, we're heading to Cerulean City!" Misty announced Ashlyn and the others.
Ashlyn nodded, "Okay!"
So the gang decided to make a detour to Cerulean gym. It seemed like fun anyway, and Misty probably missed home even if she denied it.
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"Well here we are guys, the Cerulean Gym." Misty said as they stood in front of the said gym.
"Interesting looking gym." Flint commented when he spotted the Dewgong on the front of the gym.
"Rai rai (Hey Ashlyn, look.)" Tesla pointed at the billboard in front of them.
The gang turned to where Tesla was pointing at and saw a poster; there was a young girl that look a bit like Ashlyn but her eyes couldn't be shown, dressed as a mermaid and her hair was long and black. And a boy dressed as a prince in the background, with many water Pokémon around them.
"Looks like there's some kind of show. Exciting, Fantastic Underwater Ballet." Brock read out loud.
"It's an underwater ballet and a Pokémon show? That's sounds like fun." Flint said.
"I thought you were more into Fire-type shows, Flint." Ashlyn commented.
"Just because I'm a Fire-type trainer doesn't mean I can't like water shows!" Flint snapped with a vein pop on his forehead.
Brock blushed in a daze, almost drooling, "She's beautiful."
Volkner squinted at the picture of the mermaid, "You know that girl almost looks like you Ashlyn."
"I would swim the deepest ocean if I get to meet a mermaid like her." Brock drooled.
The others sweat-dropped at his behavior.
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"Everybody, I'm home!" Misty called out when they entered the lobby of the gym.
Misty's sisters came up to them.
"Hey Misty, glad you're here." Lily said.
"Hey who are these guys with you and Ashlyn?" Daisy asked.
"Oh, I'm Brock."
"I'm Volkner."
"And I'm Flint."
"Pleasure to meet you." Violet greeted.
"Anyways, we like totally need your help, Ashlyn." Daisy said.
"With what?" Ashlyn asked.
"What are you three up to?" Misty demanded.
"You see, the truth is we need help attracting crowds to our performances lately." Violet confessed.
"Not that many have been coming as much as they used to." Lily added.
"So, we like decided to advertise Ashlyn to be in one of our live shows to attract more people." Daisy smiled.
"We decided that Ashlyn will be the Mermaid." Lily announced.
"And Volkner will be the Merman." Violet added.
Ashlyn and Volkner blinked for a moment, letting the information sink in, before they stared at them in horror, "What?!"
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Having no other choice, Ashlyn and Volkner agreed to be in the show, reluctantly.
It was opening night for the Underwater Ballet and the gym was filled with people who were eager to see the show. Brock, Misty, Flint, Togepi, Tesla, Levina, and Raichu were sitting in the audience.
"This should be interesting." Brock said.
"I wonder why Volkner agreed to be the show. He doesn't look like the type to be in one willingly." Misty stated.
"You're right about that. I bet he's extremely angry to be in this kind of show." Flint agreed, "But I believe that he's somewhat happy to be in this show."
Brock blinked in confusion, "Happy? He looked uncomfortable when Misty's sisters wanted him to be the Merman Prince."
"Surely you guys can tell that Volkner is feeling something for Ashlyn, right?" Flint asked.
Misty blinked and then smiled, "Oh I see."
The talking amongst the audience soon stop as Daisy appeared on stage. The lights go out with the spotlight being only on Daisy as she spoke into the microphone, "Welcome everyone to our first showing of our Underwater Ballet! We will now tell the story of Princess Ashlyn and how she met Prince Volkner!" The audience clapped as they eagerly waited for the characters to appear.
Daisy cleared her throat as she began to tell the story, "Once upon a time, there was a princess who lived at the bottom of the sea. Her name was Princess Ashlyn."
Behind her in the large aquarium, there was Ashlyn with her hair down that reached her back. There was a seashell in her hair, and two seashells covering her chest, she was swimming around in a fake light blue tail fin. Ashlyn was playing around with Horsea, three Goldeen, Seaking, Shelder, Staryu, Tentacool, Seel, and Misty's other water Pokémon. Ashlyn had also brought out her Dragonair and Wartortle for the show.
"Princess Ashlyn was loved amongst the water Pokémon and she loved them. They would spend their days playing without a care in the world. Princess Ashlyn was the most beloved girl in the sea, and while she loved the Pokémon...there was someone else she loved as well." Daisy continued as the audience turned their attention to another individual within the water.
Volkner was there, swimming around in a dark blue tail fin. There were squeals from the female audience as they watched Volkner swim around. Apparently the females in the audience liked watching a handsome guy swim around with no shirt on.
Brock was crying a river of tears, "I'll go shirtless all the time for you ladies!"
Misty rolled her eyes, "Idiot."
"Raichu (Big idiot)." Tesla agreed.
Flint and Raichu sighed.
"Prince Volkner was the most appealing male in the sea and every girl wanted him, but there was only one that got his attention." Daisy smiled as she kept narrating.
Volkner suddenly stopped swimming around in the tank and finally noticed Ashlyn, who in turn noticed him. He smiled as she noticed him staring at her, which made her blush. Volkner swam over to her and the other water Pokémon and started playing with them, making Ashlyn smile as she twirled Seel around laughing happily. Then Volkner took Ashlyn's hand and pulled her close to him. The two began to do a waltz as the water Pokémon swam around them.
"Prince Volkner and Princess Ashlyn decided to play together with the water Pokémon, symbolizing just how much the two care about each other."
"Volkner looks like he's having fun." Brock observed.
"Yeah he is, which rare since this is his first water show. Even though he's an Electric-type trainer, he's getting along quite well with Water-type Pokémon." Flint stated.
Tesla then noticed something and pointed at the tank, "Rai Raichu! (Guys look!)"
They turned to where Tesla was pointing at and looked back to the tank and saw none other than Jessie and James from Team Rocket were in the water along with Ashlyn and Volkner.
"What are they doing here?! I thought Violet and Lily were supposed to play the villains?!" Misty yelled.
"Something's wrong." Brock frowned.
"Flint, watch Togepi for me!" Misty gently handed the Spike ball Pokémon to Flint.
"Got it!" Flint said.
Brock and Misty left backstage to go find out what happened to Violet and Lily.
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Back in the tank, Ashlyn and Volkner were confronted with Jessie and James.
"I should have known that they would show up." Ashlyn said.
Volkner nodded, "Yeah."
"Prepare for trouble!" Jessie announced, wearing a prince like costume.
"Make it double!" James added, wearing a pink swan lake ballerina type costume.
"To protect the world from devastation."
"To unite all people's within our nation."
"To denounce the evils of truth and love."
"To extend our reaches to the stars above."
"Jessie."
"James."
"Team Rocket blast off at the speed of light."
"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"
Meowth was sitting on the diving board with a device, "Meowth! That's wet!"
The crowd cheered, not knowing that Team Rocket really were villains. Volkner, Ashlyn, and her Pokémon, along with Misty's Pokémon looked at them before back at Jessie and James as they waved.
"Aw, they love us! We're killing them!" Jessie said.
"I always knew I was meant for greatness, a Starmie is born!" James said.
"Yeah right." Ashlyn muttered.
Everyone watched as the ceiling exploded and made a hole. The Team Rocket's air balloon appeared in the hole, and Meowth jumped in.
Daisy was about to freak out but a look from Ashlyn urged her to continue on with the show.
Clearing her throat she continued, "But their peaceful playing didn't last long as three villains appeared to try and ruin everything. The Ugly Sea Hag was always jealous of Ashlyn and her beauty, so she decided to confront the Princess so she could steal her beauty."
Jessie bristled as the title, "Who are you calling an Ugly Sea Hag?!" she yelled.
"Well, it does fit your personality." James commented.
"ZIP IT!" Jessie's face blew up as she yelled at him.
"Yes ma'am!" He squeaked.
"And now it's time for the great finale." the cat Pokémon said and looked down at Jessie and James, "Get the Pokémon and let's get out of here!"
Jessie and James nodded and threw a net towards the water Pokémon.
"Quick Wartortle use Iron Tail and Rapid Spin! Dragonair, use Iron Tail as well!" Ashlyn ordered.
Dragonair's and Wartortle's tail glowed a metallic color. Wartortle withdrew his arms, legs, and head into his shell and spun his shell towards the net. The net was torn into pieces. Jessie and James freaked out by the Dragon and Turtle's speed.
Then Jessie had sent out Arbok to fight against Wartortle, Dragonair and the rest of the water Pokémon in the tank.
"Arbok, use Poison Sting!" Jessie ordered.
Arbok sent white needles at them.
"Send those needles back with a Rapid Spin!" Ashlyn commanded.
Wartortle retreated into his shell again and spun in place as the needles hit his shell and were sent back at Arbok, hitting the poison type Pokémon.
"Horsea, use Bubble!" Volkner ordered.
Horsea fired clear bubbles at Arbok, making it another direct hit.
"Not wanting the Sea Hag to have her way, both the Prince and Princess fought her and her evil minions together with the Pokémon of the sea," Daisy then heard a splash and saw it was Brock and Misty who came to help Ashlyn and Volkner out, "Seeing the Prince and Princess were in danger and needed help, the two Knights Brock and Misty join in the battle to assist them to defeat the Ugly Sea Hag."
"Starmie, use Swift!" Volkner commanded.
"Wartortle, use Water Pulse! Dragonair, use Dragon Pulse!" Ashlyn commanded.
Both attacks combined with the stars combining with the water spheres and the energy ball and sent towards Arbok.
"Dodge it Arbok!" Jessie commanded.
Arbok narrowly got out of the way of both attacks, making them hit James instead who cried out in pain.
"Lucky shot." Ashlyn muttered.
"Yeah." Just as Volkner was about to order one of the water Pokémon to attack, Dewgong charged at Arbok with a Take Down and successfully slammed into it.
"That was great, Dewgong!" Ashlyn complimented.
Daisy used that time to narrate again, "Wanting to help the Princess, Prince, and the Knights, Dewgong arrived so it can teach the Ugly Sea Hag and her minions a lesson."
Dewgong decided to finish this by forming a light blue ball forms in front of its mouth and sent it at Arbok freezing it in place, along with Jessie and James.
"Talk about a cold shoulder." James said from within the ice.
Ashlyn and Volkner nodded their heads towards Misty and Brock as they all got out of the water and Tesla, Levina, and Raichu's bodies started cackling with electricity.
"Tesla, Levina-"
"Raichu-"
"Use Thunderbolt!" They both said.
The three electric Pokémon sent a Thunderbolt at the frozen Team Rocket, sending them flying out of the water tank, into their balloon, and out of the gym.
"TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAIN!"
Back inside the gym the audience was cheering for Ashlyn, Volkner, Brock, Misty, and the Pokémon that performed in the show. Ashlyn was waving to the crowd along with Volkner and the others.
"And so, with the Ugly Sea Hag defeated by the Princess, Prince and their knights. Peace was once again restored to the sea." Daisy closed out with a smile.
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Later on, after the crowd had left, Ashlyn and Volkner were dressed in their normal clothes, and were about to head off with Misty, Brock, and Flint. Brock convinced Misty to leave her Horsea at the Gym since it still a little sick, but unfortunately for the redhead, she was asked to leave her Starmie and Dewgong, too.
They wanted to have Togepi, Tesla, and Levina as well. But Ashlyn and Misty refused, and Misty offered them Psyduck which they flat out refused because they said that they weren't that desperate.
"Well take care!" Lily said as the gang started to walk away, and they waved.
"And thanks for the help, Ashlyn and Volkner," Daisy thanked. "Hurry up and become a Pokémon Master, Ashlyn!"
"Visit us again soon." Violet said.
"Bye." Ashlyn said before they turned and started to leave the city.
"You were great, Ashlyn." Misty told Ashlyn.
"Thanks, Misty." Ashlyn thanked her.
"You as well, Volkner. You played a pretty good part as a prince." Misty complimented him.
Volkner's cheeks turned pink at that, and he rubbed the back of his head, "That was a one-time thing, Misty and please don't ask me to do that kind of thing ever again."
Misty chuckled, "Okay."
"You were really great as a mermaid, Ashlyn." Volkner complimented.
Ashlyn blinked in shock as she started blushing, "Thank you, Volkner."
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With the show at Cerulean city a big hit and making it a big success, Ashlyn and her friends are now off to Viridian City where Ashlyn will earn her final gym badge.
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Pokémon on hand: Raichu (Tesla)(F), Lucario (M), Pidgeot (F), Ivysaur (M), Shiny Charizard (Natsu)(M), Shiny Gyarados (Rory)(M), Wartortle (M), Pikachu (Levina)(F), Dragonair (F), Eevee (F), Tauros (M), Vulpix (F), Shiny Farfetch'd (F), Rockruff (M), Pokémon Egg
Prof. Oak's Lab:
Mienfoo (F), Jolteon (F), Flareon (M), Vaporeon (F), Sandslash (M), Butterfree (M), Pink Butterfree (Momo)(F), Gengar (M), Raboot (M), Braixen (F), Kingler (M), Magnemite (Genderless), Muk (M), Nidorina (M), Nidorino (F), Cubone (M), Kangaskhan (F), Tauros (8), Porygon (Genderless), Shiny Suicune (Azure)(F), Shiny Entei (Searius)(M), Primeape (M), Scyther (F), Clefable (F), Jigglypuff (F), Aerodactyl (F), Boltund (M), Shiny Rapidash (Comet)(M), Shiny Raikou (Thor)(M), Shiny Umbreon (Mani)(M), Espeon (F), Glaceon (F), Leafeon (F), Shiny Sylveon (Parisa)(F), Shiny Farfetch'd (F), Amaura (Aurelius)(M), Amaura (Istas)(F), Kadabra (M), Persian (F), Seadra (F), Dewgong (M), Marowak (F), Growlithe (F)