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The sun was barely up, and the early morning stillness wrapped around Cerulean City like a blanket. Austin adjusted the straps of the baby carrier on his chest, glancing down at Pikachu, who was snuggled inside, fast asleep.
Adorable, Austin thought, before turning his gaze back to the gym. It was just as he remembered from the anime: a massive Olympic-style pool, rows of seats for spectators, and a stage covered in plastic sheeting—likely left from one of the Sensational Sisters' performances. Even though it was all familiar, standing here in person felt surreal.
"You've been gawking for ten minutes," Misty said, standing a few steps behind him. Her orange hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail.
"I'm just waiting for you to say the words."
Misty raised an eyebrow. "What words?"
"That you've officially agreed to the plan."
Misty rolled her eyes. "I thought it was obvious. Why else would I drag you to the gym at this hour?"
"Maybe you're plotting my murder," Austin said with a smirk.
Misty's lips twitched, and for a moment, he thought she might smile. Instead, she replied flatly, "I'm considering it."
The banter lightened the mood, but Austin could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers fidgeted with the Poké Balls at her belt. Coming back here wasn't easy for her, not after two years away. But Misty wasn't one to dwell on her feelings. She shook off whatever was running through her head.
"So, what's the plan?" she asked. "I'm still not sure about the prize money thing. Feels risky."
"Don't worry," Austin said. "We'll charge 100 Pokédollars for entry. That way, we'll make back the prize money and have enough left over for whatever we need. Easy."
Misty nodded slowly, though doubt lingered in her expression. "It's not just the money," she admitted. "It's the battles. I've got twelve Pokémon total, and some of them aren't ready for high-stakes fights. How many matches can I even win before my team's wiped out?"
"I thought about that," Austin said. "We'll make the battles shorter—two-move limits and no items allowed. That'll throw most trainers off their game and conserve your Pokémon's stamina. You'll have a higher win rate and avoid overworking your team."
"Won't that make trainers think it's rigged or unfair?"
"Maybe. But the prize money will be enough to keep them interested. People care about the payout more than the rules."
"That's a bad idea."
Both of them turned to see Daisy standing in the doorway, her golden-orange hair slightly messy and her bright red pajamas rumpled.
"You're awake already?" Misty asked, though her tone wasn't exactly surprised. Austin immediately realized why they'd come so early: Misty had wanted to avoid her sisters.
"Yes, I'm awake," Daisy replied dryly. "Because someone decided to invade the gym before sunrise. And now we'll have to find another place to rehearse. Thanks for that."
"Rehearse somewhere else," Misty muttered under her breath.
"So, do you want to know why your plan is terrible, or should I let you figure it out when the League sends you a nice legal notice?"
"Alright, hit me. What's wrong with it?"
"For starters, this isn't just a friendly tournament if you're charging an entrance fee and offering a cash prize. It's classified as a public competition, which means you need to file a permit with the League Office and you can't charge an entrance fee. Without it, your tournament's illegal. That's the kind of thing that gets trainers banned from participating in official events."
Austin frowned. "Okay, so we need a permit. Noted. But why can't we charge an entrance fee?"
"Because," Daisy said, "charging an entry fee for the chance to win money makes it a lottery. And in Kanto, running a lottery without approval from the government is a crime. It's considered gambling. You'd be fined, and the whole thing would be shut down."
Austin opened his mouth to respond, but Daisy held up a hand. "Oh, and that two-move rule? That's considered a nonstandard battle format, which means the League might not recognize any of the wins toward Misty's official record. If you're trying to help her become Gym Leader, those wins have to count. Otherwise, this is all for nothing."
Austin and Misty stared at her, jaws slightly open.
"H-how do you know all this?" Misty asked.
Daisy smirked. "Because, sis, when we turned the gym into a performance venue, we had to jump through every legal hoop imaginable. We dealt with League regulations, safety codes, performance permits, insurance policies—you name it, we dealt with it. Do you think this all just happened overnight?"
"Wow," Austin said. "Okay, that's… a lot. Can you look over my notes and tell me what I can and can't do legally?"
Daisy raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by how prepared Austin was as he handed her a notebook. She flipped through the pages, scanning his meticulous plans. "You actually took the time to map this out," she said, her tone softer now.
"Well, I'm not trying to get anyone sued or arrested."
Daisy handed the notebook back to him. "Why don't we talk about this over breakfast? It'll be easier to explain everything with some coffee."
"I think that's a great idea," Austin said, a faint smile tugging at his lips as Pikachu stirred in his carrier, yawning and rubbing his eyes. At the mention of food, Pikachu perked up, his ears twitching excitedly.
"Don't you think so, Misty?"
"I don't know," Misty muttered, but her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl.
Austin smirked. "I think that's a yes."
The dining table buzzed with energy, covered in plates of toast, scrambled eggs, and a basket of freshly baked croissants Daisy had insisted on picking up from a nearby bakery. A pot of steaming tea sat in the middle, flanked by cups, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the room. Austin sat comfortably at the table, Pikachu nestled in his lap, nibbling on a tiny piece of toast. Across from him were the Sensational Sisters—Daisy, Violet, and Lily—looking far more put together than anyone had a right to at this hour of the morning.
"So," Daisy began, her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee, "about your tournament… you're basically trying to set it up like a League-sanctioned event but without going through all the hoops?"
Austin shook his head. "No, that's the thing—I want it to be League-sanctioned. I just didn't realize how many hoops there were to jump through. Thanks to you, I'm starting to see the picture. What I need is a way to streamline the process without it taking weeks, which I don't have."
"Ha!" Violet leaned back in her chair, her long blue hair shimmering in the light. "Good luck with that. The League doesn't exactly rush for anyone. We're still waiting on their approval for a sponsorship request we sent last year."
"A whole year?" Austin asked, blinking in disbelief.
"Not kidding," Violet replied, sipping her tea. "The League is slow, bureaucratic, and honestly, if you don't know how to work their system, you're stuck in limbo."
"That's why you need contacts," Lily added, pointing her spoon at Austin. "When we started doing shows, we realized early on that getting things done quickly meant knowing the right people. Misty wouldn't know because she's been too busy running around trying to be a serious trainer."
Misty flinched at the jab but said nothing, her eyes fixed on the ripples in her tea.
Austin ignored the tension and asked, "So, what's the trick to getting contacts? How'd you all do it?"
Lily grinned, twirling a strand of her pink hair around her finger. "We got creative. Networking, charm, and being a little pushy. Investors and League reps don't just fall into your lap. You have to make them notice you. And we had an edge—our shows. People love entertainment."
"That makes sense," Austin said thoughtfully. "People are more likely to help if you're already bringing value. So, what's the goal? More shows, bigger audiences?"
"The goal isn't just more shows," Violet said. "We want to build something bigger. Right now, we're a novelty act—fun, flashy, but not taken seriously. If we get enough traction, we could attract investors who want to fund something long-term. Coordinators, for example. Imagine if Kanto became as well-known for Pokémon Contests as Hoenn or Sinnoh."
Austin tilted his head, intrigued. "So, you're saying you want to introduce Pokémon coordination to a region where it doesn't have a foothold yet? That's bold."
"Bold but doable," Violet said. "The Contests in Hoenn and Sinnoh weren't always huge, either. They started small and grew because people believed in them. We want to do the same thing here. Kanto's so focused on battles that it's forgotten how beautiful Pokémon can be outside of combat."
"That's a smart move," Austin said. "You're filling a gap in the market. But if you want investors, you need more than just a few successful shows. You'll need hard numbers—attendance, ticket sales, profit margins. Something they can sink their teeth into."
Lily's eyes lit up. "Finally, someone who gets it! We've been trying to figure out how to organize all that. Investors love their spreadsheets, and we're more… creative types."
"Do you track your audience demographics?" Austin asked.
The sisters blinked in unison. "Track our what?" Lily asked, frowning.
"Your audience," Austin explained. "Age groups, gender breakdowns, spending habits. Are you attracting mostly kids? Families? Teenagers? Knowing that will help you market your shows better—and investors love that kind of data. They want to know who they're putting their money in front of."
Daisy leaned back, clearly impressed. "How does a ten-year-old know all this?"
Austin shrugged, trying to play it off casually. "I read a lot. My mom used to manage events, so I picked up some things."
"You're like a tiny businessman," Violet said, smirking.
"Tiny and useful," Lily added, grinning. "Where'd you find this one, Misty?"
Misty's eyes snapped to them, but she didn't reply. She was grateful for the attention shifting to him, though a twinge of resentment bubbled under the surface. It wasn't like she'd brought Austin here to impress her sisters.
"Pikachu helps," Austin said, gesturing to the yellow Pokémon happily munching a piece of toast in his lap. Pikachu looked up and chirped, "Pika!" earning a round of laughter from the sisters.
"Okay, so we'll definitely look into tracking demographics," Daisy said, steering the conversation back. "But what about your tournament? What's your next move?"
Austin set down his fork. "Priority one is filing for a permit ASAP. Then I need to restructure the rules so the battles align with League standards—no two-move limits, no weird restrictions. I'll have to rely on Misty's actual skill to carry her through."
"Makes sense," Daisy said. "And the money?"
"Still working on that," Austin admitted. "If we can't charge an entry fee, I'll need to find another way to fund it. Maybe sponsorships."
"Good luck," Violet muttered. "Sponsorships are hard to get unless you've got something to offer in return."
"We'll figure it out."
Lily rested her chin in her hand, studying him. "You know, it's kind of crazy how much you've thought this through. You're, what, ten? How are you not just some kid with big dreams and no clue how to make them happen?"
Austin smiled faintly, but there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes. "Let's just say I've had to grow up fast."
Misty had been quiet for most of breakfast, her fork pushing a piece of toast around her plate as Austin effortlessly charmed her sisters. They laughed at his insights, clearly impressed. Misty couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong in this moment. When the opportunity arose, she blurted out:
"I want to put Mom's portrait up on the wall during the tournament."
The laughter at the table immediately died. Her sisters turned to her in near unison.
"No," Daisy said flatly, with Violet and Lily nodding in agreement.
"Why not?"
"That thing is massive," Daisy said, setting her coffee down. "Do you have any idea how much work it would take to put it up and take it down? Not to mention where we'd even store it after."
"I'll do it myself if I have to," Misty said, her voice rising. "This is important to me. It's Mom. She should be part of this."
"Misty, it's not about how important it is. It's about practicality. You're already balancing this tournament on a tight schedule. Adding something like this is just going to make things harder for everyone."
"I'll handle it then."
"Misty—" Daisy began, but Austin cut in.
"Misty, maybe let's agree with your sisters on this one."
Misty whipped her head toward him, frustration boiling over. "Of course you'd agree with them. You've been on their side all morning."
Austin gave her a pointed look, the unspoken message in his eyes clear: Really? You're doing this now? Misty's cheeks flushed with anger and embarrassment.
Feeling the weight of their gazes, Misty stood abruptly. "I need to go for a swim," she muttered, her voice cold. Without waiting for a response, she walked out of the room, the door shutting softly behind her.
The tension Misty left in her wake hung heavily over the table.
"She's still putting Mom on a pedestal," Lily said, shrugging as she reached for another croissant.
"Yeah," Violet added, swirling her tea. "It's like she thinks living up to Mom is the only way to matter."
"You know it's more complicated than that," Daisy interjected, her tone softer. "Misty was always closer to Mom than the rest of us. She idolized her, even when we were kids. And when Mom died… I think she felt like it was her responsibility to pick up where Mom left off."
Austin, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke. "If it's not too much to ask… can I know more about what this is about?"
"No, it's fine. It's not like it's some big family secret," Daisy said. She leaned back in her chair, studying him for a moment. "Do you know who Calla Waterflower is?"
Austin shook his head. Violet took over. "Calla Lily Waterflower was our mom."
"But most people knew her as the Cerulean General of the West," Lily chimed in.
Austin's eyebrows shot up. "Cerulean General?!"
"She was a naval general during World War II," Daisy explained. "People still talk about her as one of the greatest military minds Kanto ever had. She practically built the Navy into what it was during the war. Her strategies are still studied in academies around the world."
"She was a legend," Violet added. "She earned every major military medal you can think of—the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Croix de Guerre, and the King's Medal."
"And she did all of it before she turned thirty," Lily said, her voice tinged with pride and sadness.
"But all those medals, all the recognition—it never meant much to her," Daisy continued. "She used to say the only thing that mattered was protecting people, fighting for those who couldn't defend themselves. The fame, the titles, even the legacy—none of that was why she did it. After the war, she walked away from it all. She met our dad, moved to Cerulean, and chose a quiet, simple life. She never asked us to live up to her reputation or follow in her footsteps. She just wanted to be our mom."
Austin nodded slowly, piecing together the fragments of their story. "But Misty..."
"She took it differently," Daisy replied, her voice heavy. "She loved battling, loved the water—just like Mom. They were inseparable. And when Mom got sick, I think Misty felt helpless. Like she couldn't do anything to save her."
"So, after Mom passed, Misty decided to carry on her legacy," Violet added. "She left to get stronger, to become someone who could honor Mom's name. But she's been chasing a ghost, and she doesn't even realize it."
Austin pressed his lips into a thin line, absorbing their words. Misty's fiery determination suddenly made so much more sense. She wasn't just pushing herself to prove something to the world—she was trying to prove it to herself.
"I'll go talk to her," Austin said, standing up. "Calm her down, see if we can move forward."
Daisy looked up at him, her expression softening. "Thanks, kid."
"For what?"
"For being Misty's friend," Violet said. "She hasn't had many, and I'm glad she has someone like you. Someone who actually gets her."
Austin smirked faintly, trying to brush off the compliment. "Someone with a head on their shoulders, right?"
"Exactly," Lily said, smiling warmly.
Meanwhile, Pikachu had eaten his fill, his belly round and his eyelids drooping as he looked ready to drift back to sleep. Austin chuckled softly, reaching over to scratch his partner's tummy. Pikachu let out a contented "Pikaaa…" before settling into a nap.
----
The sun had risen higher, casting golden streaks across the clear blue surface of the pool as Austin approached. The faint sound of splashing water grew louder with each step. Misty was in the water, cutting through it with aggressive laps, her strokes sharp and relentless.
He stopped at the edge of the pool, watching her for a moment. She didn't notice him—or maybe she was ignoring him. Either way, Austin knew she wasn't in the mood for company, but that wasn't going to stop him.
"Misty."
She didn't stop. Didn't even glance his way.
"Misty!" he said again, louder this time.
She finally slowed, swimming to the edge near him. Water dripped from her hair as she pushed it back, her eyes narrowing. "What do you want, Austin?"
He crouched down, resting his arms on his knees. "Your sisters told me about your mom."
"Oh, great. Did they give you the whole sob story? How amazing she was? How I'll never live up to her?"
Austin shook his head. "They didn't say that. But they did say she was incredible. A general, a strategist, a hero. Sounds like she was someone worth looking up to."
Misty's expression softened, her posture relaxing slightly. "The Cerulean General of the West. That's a big title."
"She earned it. Your sisters said she was the reason Kanto had the strongest navy. People still talk about her like she's some kind of myth."
"They do," Misty said quietly. "She was everything."
"But they also said she didn't put that pressure on you. She just wanted to be your mom."
Misty's jaw tightened. "Yeah, well, I'm not like them. They can prance around and do their little shows, and that's fine for them. But someone has to carry on her legacy."
"And that someone has to be you?" Austin asked.
"Who else?" she shot back, her voice rising. "Mom was strong, fearless, the best there ever was. I can't just sit around and let her memory fade."
Austin raised an eyebrow. "So, that means pushing everyone else away? Ignoring the people who are trying to help you?"
"They don't get it!" Misty snapped, pulling herself out of the pool and sitting on the edge. Water dripped onto the tiles around her as she glared at him. "They never did. They didn't care about battling or being strong. All they cared about was being pretty and popular. They don't understand what it's like to want to be more."
"More like your mom," Austin said gently.
Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't deny it.
"I don't think your sisters are the bad guys in your story," he continued. "From what I've seen, they just want to help you. Maybe they don't always know how, but they're trying."
"They don't care about what I care about," Misty said bitterly. "They just want me to fit into their world. But I'm not like them."
"Maybe not," Austin agreed. "But that doesn't mean they're against you."
Misty scoffed, wrapping her arms around herself. "You don't get it. You didn't know her. You didn't see how amazing she was. I have to match her image. I have to be worthy of being her daughter."
Austin frowned, his tone quiet but firm. "Would your mom want you to be like this?"
Misty froze, her breath catching in her throat.
"Someone who pushes her family away?" he pressed. "From what I've heard, she gave up fame and recognition to be with her family. Seems to me, you're doing the opposite."
Her head snapped up, her eyes blazing with unshed tears. "You don't know anything about her," she hissed, her voice trembling.
"I know she loved you," Austin said softly. "And I know she wouldn't want you to carry her legacy by cutting out the people who care about you."
Her lips quivered, and she turned away, her shoulders trembling. Her voice cracked as she whispered, "Please... just leave me alone."
Austin stayed quiet, giving her space. He watched as she wiped at her eyes furiously, trying to erase the evidence of her vulnerability.
Finally, she spoke, the words rushing out like a dam breaking. "I stayed with her the whole time. Through the chemo, through the pain. I watched her fade away, day by day, and I couldn't do anything to stop it. I sat by her bed and told her all my dreams—how I wanted to be a Gym Leader, how I wanted to make her proud. She smiled at me, even when she could barely breathe. She believed in me. So don't you dare stand there and lecture me on how I should live my life, Austin."
"I know what I want. I know what she wanted. So please, just... just leave me alone."
Austin's chest tightened at the raw pain in her voice. He didn't say anything for a long moment, watching as Misty stared into the pool, her tears silently falling into the water.
Before he turned to leave, he spoke quietly. "My brother," he began, his voice steady but tinged with emotion, "he died in my arms. He was everything to me. Someone I could always count on. And when he was gone, it felt like there was this hole inside me I couldn't fill, no matter what I did."
Misty looked up at him, her red and puffy eyes wide.
"I spent years trying to live in a way I thought would make him proud," Austin continued, "but none of it brought him back. And none of it made the pain go away."
He paused, his voice trembling slightly. "I'd give anything to have him back, Misty. Anything. And when I see you pushing your sisters away… it makes me think about what I wouldn't give to have my brother here. You've still got them. Don't throw that away."
"It's not the same," Misty whispered.
"No," Austin admitted. "It's not. But losing someone doesn't mean you have to lose everyone else, too."
For a moment, the only sound was the faint ripple of the water. Misty stared down at her reflection, the surface distorting her face as her tears continued to fall.
"I don't know what to do," she murmured.
"Look in your heart," Austin said. "Ask yourself if you want your sisters to be a part of your life or not. No one can make that choice for you. It's your life."
Misty didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the water.
"I'll handle the legal stuff for the tournament," Austin said as he turned to leave. "You focus on preparing yourself and your team."
He hesitated for a moment before adding, "You're not alone, Misty. You've got people who care about you. Don't forget that."
With that, he walked away, leaving Misty alone by the pool. She stared at her reflection for a long time, the rippling surface distorting her face as her tears fell silently into the water below.