Pokémon : An Unexpected Odyssey

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Misty tugged at the hem of her shorts as she sat in the center of the audience, her nerves as taut as a freshly-strung fishing line. She didn't want to be here—not really. The Cerulean City Gym-turned-theater stretched before her, every detail dredging up memories she'd rather not dwell on.

The pool that once held fierce battles against challengers was now a glittering stage, decked out with shimmering lights and decorations designed to dazzle tourists. Banners hung from the rafters, proclaiming in bold letters: "The Sensational Sisters' Water Extravaganza!" The boldness of it grated at her, but she couldn't argue with its effectiveness. The place was packed. The murmur of excited spectators echoed around her, punctuated by the occasional splash of water as one of her sisters' Pokémon warmed up behind the curtain.

Her stomach churned as she glanced around the room. She didn't belong here. She never had. This had always been their domain. Daisy, Violet, and Lily. The golden triplets of Cerulean City. The stars. The Sensational Sisters. Misty's gaze lingered on the giant posters of their faces plastered along the walls, their bright smiles and flowing hair lit up by spotlights. The sight twisted something deep in her chest, an ache she couldn't quite smother.

It wasn't just their fame or their beauty. It was the way they always seemed so… together. Inseparable. As if they lived in a world Misty could never enter, no matter how hard she tried. Even their dyed hair—golden-orange for Daisy, deep blue for Violet, and bright pink for Lily—felt like a statement, a unified declaration that they were one unit. A trio. And then there was Misty, the youngest, left in the shadows of their vibrant glow.

She shook the thought away and turned her eyes to the stage. She wasn't here to sulk. She wasn't here to brood over old wounds. She was here for one reason: to demand the gym back.

If she was going to go through with Austin's tournament plan—and she'd decided she would, on her terms—then they needed a venue. A proper venue. There was no way she'd let him sink 20,000 Pokédollars into renting some overpriced arena. The Cerulean Gym was hers by right, even if her sisters refused to see it that way. And if she had to swallow her pride and endure one of their shows to make her case, so be it.

The lights dimmed, and the crowd hushed as soft, ethereal music filled the room. Misty shifted in her seat, her hands clenching into fists on her lap. She wasn't ready to face them—not yet. She wasn't sure she ever would be.

The curtains parted with a dramatic flourish, revealing Daisy at the edge of the pool. Her long, wavy golden-orange hair glinted under the stage lights, cascading over the shoulders of her sleeveless red dress. The petal-like design of the hem swayed as she raised her arms, her voice ringing out clear and bright.

"Welcome, everyone, to the Sensational Sisters' Water Extravaganza!" she announced, her tone dripping with confidence and charisma. The crowd erupted into applause, and Daisy's smile widened, her eyes sweeping over the audience. If she noticed Misty sitting there, she gave no indication.

"Tonight, we'll take you on a journey through the wonders of the ocean, with the help of some of our closest friends," Daisy continued. "So sit back, relax, and let the magic of water Pokémon sweep you away!"

The music swelled, and the first act began. Lily stepped onto the stage, her bright pink curls bouncing with each step. She wore an orange dress with flared hems adorned with tiny red bows, her bubbly personality shining as she waved enthusiastically to the crowd.

"Get ready to fall in love!" Lily sang out, holding up a Poké Ball. She tossed it high, and in a burst of light, a Luvdisc emerged, its heart-shaped body glistening under the stage lights. The audience cooed in delight as the little pink Pokémon darted through the water, leaving rippling trails of light in its wake.

Lily clapped her hands, and Luvdisc performed a graceful backflip, scattering shimmering bubbles across the pool. The bubbles refracted the light, creating a kaleidoscope of colors that danced across the walls. Misty couldn't deny the beauty of it, even as her jaw tightened. It was… impressive. She hated that it was impressive.

Next up was Violet, her deep blue hair cascading over her green dress like a waterfall. She carried herself with an elegance that seemed effortless, her every move calculated to draw attention. With a flick of her wrist, she released her Shellder into the pool. The spiky blue shell Pokémon wasted no time, propelling itself forward with its red tongue and spinning like a top.

"Shellder, Ice Beam!" Violet commanded, her voice smooth and controlled. A beam of icy light shot from Shellder's shell, freezing the surface of the water in intricate patterns. The crowd gasped as the ice spread, forming a delicate lattice of snowflakes across the pool. Shellder's tongue poked out playfully, as if it knew it was stealing the show.

And then came Daisy's turn. She strode forward with the poise of someone who knew she belonged in the spotlight. Her red dress shimmered as she released her Seel into the water, its sleek white body cutting through the pool like an arrow.

"Let's show them how it's done, Seel!" Daisy called, her voice full of flair. Seel leapt high into the air, its horn catching the light like a beacon. With a sharp cry, it dove back into the water, creating a towering fountain that sparkled like liquid diamonds. The crowd erupted into cheers, and Daisy basked in the applause, her smile radiant.

Misty let out a slow breath, trying to steady the storm of emotions swirling inside her. If there was one thing she knew about her sisters, it was that battling had never been their passion. They weren't trainers, not really. They were performers, artists at heart, and they'd made it their mission to bring a new kind of culture to Kanto and Johto—one that didn't revolve around battles. Unlike regions like Hoenn and Sinnoh, where Pokémon Contests and Showcases were woven into the cultural fabric, Kanto had always been battle-centric. But her sisters dreamed of changing that. They wanted to create something beautiful, something that showed the bond between humans and Pokémon in a way that didn't require fighting.

And maybe, in some ways, Misty admired that.

As the finale began, all three sisters stepped onto the stage together, their Pokémon performing in perfect harmony. Luvdisc, Shellder, and Seel swirled through the water, creating patterns of light, ice, and spray that left the audience mesmerized. The triplets struck a final pose, their arms raised in unison as the crowd rose to its feet in thunderous applause.

The crowd finally thinned, leaving just a few stragglers—a father snapping pictures of his giggling children as they posed with Daisy, Violet, and Lily by the pool's edge.

Why did she feel like a stranger in her own gym? No, not hers—their gym. Misty clenched her jaw. No. It was hers too, wasn't it? Or had she given up that claim the moment she'd stormed out two years ago, vowing not to come back until she'd proven herself?

The father finally herded his kids out the door, leaving just the three sisters near the pool. They were talking amongst themselves, laughing quietly.

Misty took a deep breath and straightened. Time to stop watching from the sidelines. "Let's talk after you're done with your fans," she said, her voice cutting through the stillness.

Her sisters turned to her, startled.

"Misty?" Daisy said, blinking in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I'll be in the kitchen," Misty said, ignoring the question. She turned on her heel before any of them could respond, her boots echoing sharply on the tiled floor as she walked away.

The sound of splashing water filled the back room as Misty stepped through the door, greeted by the sight of the giant aquarium that dominated the space. It was as mesmerizing as she remembered—an underwater kingdom of vibrant, shimmering Pokémon. Schools of Goldeen swam lazily in formation, their tails flicking in unison like synchronized dancers. A group of Finneon flitted through the coral, their translucent fins catching the light in hues of pink and blue. Near the bottom, a Corsola rested on a rocky perch, its coral branches swaying gently in the current.

A familiar Magikarp caught her eye, swimming up to the glass with an excited wiggle, its wide mouth opening and closing as if calling to her. She tried not to look at it, pulling out her Pokétch and pretending to check something.

The Magikarp didn't seem to care. It bumped against the glass a few times before swimming in a happy circle, splashing water over the edges of the tank.

The door opened, and Misty stepped into the quiet hallway of her childhood home. Her parents had been something else, blending a gym and a house into one cohesive space. She wasn't sure who'd had the idea first, but her gut told her it was her mom. Her dad was practical, sure, but her mom? She always had a soft spot for sentimental touches.

The hallway opened into the living room, and Misty's eyes were immediately drawn to the family portrait hanging on the far wall. It was large, taking up most of the space above the old couch. Her mom stood in the center, smiling warmly, her reddish-orange hair tied back in a loose ponytail. Her dad stood beside her, one arm around her shoulders, the other holding a fishing rod as if they'd just come back from a day at the river. Then there were her sisters—Daisy, Violet, and Lily—all lined up neatly, their natural reddish-orange hair matching Misty's own before they'd decided to dye it. And at the end of the row, there she was, a toothless five-year-old grinning ear-to-ear as she clung to her dad's leg.

She moved through the house slowly, taking it all in. The old furniture, the faint scent of lavender, the tiny scuff marks on the floor that had been there since she was a kid. It felt like no time had passed at all, as if the house had been frozen in place, waiting for her to return.

When she reached her old room, she hesitated. The door was slightly ajar, and she pushed it open gently, her breath catching as she stepped inside. It was spotless. Cleaner than it had ever been when she'd lived there. Her bed was neatly made, the blue-and-orange comforter tucked perfectly at the corners. The shelves were still lined with her old books—training manuals, water-type encyclopedias, and a few novels she'd never finished. Her desk by the window held her sketchpad, the edges of the paper curling slightly with age. She traced a finger over the surface of the desk, her heart tightening.

She moved to the window and sat on the sill, staring out at the canal below. The water was calm, reflecting the fading light of the setting sun. She closed her eyes, letting the cool breeze wash over her face. What was she even going to say to them? How could she explain why she was really here without it turning into a fight?

The sound of footsteps broke her thoughts.

"Misty," Daisy said, her voice softer now. "You're back."

Misty hummed as she stood, her fingers brushing against the windowsill. The air between them was heavy, awkward, and charged with years of silence.

"What happened? Did you become a water-type master or something?" Lily asked, her voice light, but her bright pink curls betrayed a hint of nervousness.

"No," Misty said plainly, folding her arms. Her heart thudded in her chest as Violet arched a brow, glancing at Daisy. They were doing it again—communicating without words, leaving her on the outside.

"Then why are you back?" Violet asked. There was no malice in her tone, but the question still stung.

"What, can't I come back to my own house?"

Lily frowned. "Didn't you say you weren't coming back until you became a water-type Pokémon master?"

Misty's lips pressed into a thin line. "People change."

Violet scoffed quietly, crossing her arms. "Clearly you haven't."

Before Misty could respond, Daisy stepped forward, her voice calm and authoritative. "Misty, this is your house. You're always welcome here. No one's saying otherwise."

Misty hesitated, her shoulders relaxing slightly. Daisy always had a way of diffusing tension, even when it felt like the room was about to explode.

"Let's get something to eat," Daisy continued, her tone warmer now. "You've got to have some stories to tell us about where you've been."

"I don't have time for that," Misty said quickly, shaking her head. "I just came here for the gym."

The room fell silent. Lily and Violet exchanged another glance, this one more incredulous than anything.

"What?" Lily said, her voice rising. "No way! We have shows planned!"

"Yeah," Violet added, frowning. "Do you even know how long it takes to set everything up? You can't just waltz in and take over."

"I'm not asking," Misty said firmly, meeting Violet's gaze head-on. "I have a right to the gym, and I'm going to use it."

"Why?" Daisy asked, her voice calm but curious.

"I'm organizing a tournament," Misty explained. "I need to get more wins to register with the League. If I do that, I can become the Cerulean City Gym Leader."

The triplets stared at her as if she'd just announced she was challenging the Elite Four.

"How long?" Daisy asked after a pause.

"A week. Maybe two," Misty said, though she knew it might take longer.

"No," Lily said, shaking her head. "Come on, Misty. We've been planning these shows for months!"

"Yeah, think about what this'll do to us," Violet added, her voice sharp.

"I don't care," Misty snapped, her frustration boiling over. "This is my gym too, and I'm not asking for your permission."

All three sisters turned to Daisy, waiting for her decision.

"You're right," Daisy said finally, her voice even. "It is your gym, so you can use it."

"What?" Lily and Violet exclaimed in unison, their voices overlapping.

"But," Daisy continued, holding up a hand to stop their protests, "the gym can only be used during the day. At night, it's still ours for the shows."

Misty blinked, surprised by the compromise. "Fine," she said after a moment. "Thanks."

Daisy tilted her head, studying Misty with a softer expression. "Don't you want to stay and catch up? It's been two years, Misty. Don't you think we have some things to talk about?"

Misty hesitated, the words catching in her throat. Part of her did want to stay. But the other part—the part weighed down by her unfinished goals and the constant feeling of living in their shadow—kept her rooted in her mission. "I can't. I'm busy with the tournament," she said flatly.

Lily threw up her hands in exasperation. "Of course. Misty's too busy for her family. Big surprise."

"Lily," Daisy cut in sharply, casting her a warning glance. Lily huffed but said nothing more.

Violet's gaze fixed on Misty. "Let me guess—you're not even going to ask for help, are you? You're just going to bulldoze through this on your own."

"I don't need help," Misty said quickly. "I have someone who can handle it."

"A friend? Since when do you let anyone else 'handle' anything for you?"

Misty ignored the bite in her words. "Since now. They're… helping organize everything."

Daisy sighed and stepped between them, her voice calm and measured. "Alright. The gym's yours during the day. But if you change your mind, and you—or your friend—need anything, just ask."

"Thanks," Misty said shortly, turning toward the door. She paused, her hand resting on the knob as she glanced back at them. "I'll make this work. You'll see."

"We'll be watching."

Without another word, Misty pushed the door open and walked down the stairs. "Austin better not screw this up," she muttered, a faint smirk tugging at her lips as she headed toward the Pokémon Center.