Chapter 123. Cerulean City

After completing his inspection of two years' progress, Alex deemed his team ready for greater challenges. However, before diving in, he wanted to test the waters with his new Pokémon.  A few months ago, he signed up for the Cerulean Water Gym, and now he had to leave tomorrow to fulfill his appointment. The next morning, Alex prepared for his match against the Water Gym with Tsareena, Espeon, Gyarados, and Milotic. He specifically chose them because Tsareena and Espeon could benefit from the experience of an official match, while Maushold and Weezing fought and trained exclusively as a team. As for Gyarados and Milotic, Alex believed he needed more experience battling with and against Water-type Pokémon if he ever intended to use them seriously in the future.  He might have prepared them for an eventual underwater excursion, but he clearly knew he was not ready for that yet. Not until he felt as comfortable fighting on water as he did on land. This was why he was determined to earn his fourth badge at the Water Gym. The reason he only used four Expert-ranked Pokémon in the coming battle was because that number met the minimum limit for gym battles at his badge level. The minimum number of Pokémon and minimum Rank required to register for each Gym Badge in Kanto is as follows: Gym Badge 1 requires a minimum of 2 Novice Pokémon, Gym Badge 2 requires 2 Adept Pokémon, Gym Badge 3 and 4 requires 3 Adept Pokémon, Gym Badge 5 requires 4 Adept Pokémon, Gym Badge 6 requires 4 Expert Pokémon, and Gym Badge 7 and 8 requires 5 Expert Pokémon. This system was designed to ensure that trainers actually grow stronger as they earn each badge.  Alex, however, went beyond the requirements because he wanted his team to gain more experience. This time, since he did not have a full team, he selected Pokémon based on the experience they needed. Escorting him were Raticate, Arcanine, Clawitzer, Rotom, and Aegislash. As long as Alex had these five Pokémon and his guns, he was confident he could escape any ambush in the city. In the worst case scenario, Rotom could contact Metagross at the farm to send backup through Gardevoir, who had recently traveled with Arcanine to share the same teleportation points. Once they were ready, Alex teleported over with Arcanine and Espeon before heading into the city. As Arcanine was too big to roam the streets with, he reluctantly went back in his Pokeball while Espeon enjoyed her alone time with Alex. Cerulean City is known for its vibrant arts scene, especially along its picturesque waterfront where galleries showcase paintings and sculptures inspired by the surrounding rivers and lush landscapes. Since Misty became the gym leader, her passion for Water-type Pokémon and the community has helped the city thrive, attracting artists and performers who draw inspiration from the dynamic water shows they perform. Modern skyscrapers rise alongside historic buildings, their sleek designs thoughtfully integrated so they enhance rather than detract from the city's creative atmosphere. The waterfront promenade often hosts open-air exhibits and live performances, creating a lively space where art, nature, and modernity come together. In addition to visual arts, Cerulean City offers a variety of music and dance events in its theaters and public spaces, featuring everything from classical concerts to contemporary performances. Misty's influence also encouraged local artisans to create water-themed crafts, blending tradition with innovation. These events draw both residents and tourists, making the city a cultural hub in the region. Visitors can participate in workshops for pottery, weaving, and other crafts that reflect Cerulean's rich creative heritage and close connection to the water that defines it. The city's unique blend of artistic tradition and modern progress creates an inspiring environment where creativity flourishes alongside development, making Cerulean City a truly dynamic destination for art lovers and curious travelers alike. As a side note, the city also features a slightly less popular Fairy Gym, whose Gym Leader was drawn to Cerulean City by its vibrant atmosphere. Similar to the Water Gym, they also had shows featuring Fairy type Pokemon Alex made his way through the city, traveling from the south gate all the way to the northeastern area where the Water Gym was located beside a freshwater river. Although it was called a river, it was actually more like a sea, given the significant distance between land masses further north. Unlike in the game, the waters of Cerulean City were much larger, making the Nugget Bridge that much more impressive. The city also featured a picturesque beach scene that reminded Alex he should take a vacation there with the girls sometime. Espeon, meanwhile, enjoyed the scenery, the people, and the lively atmosphere. Most of all, she enjoyed the happy emotions spreading throughout the city. It was clear that this was currently one of the best places to live. Once Alex arrived at the gym, he was greeted by what was essentially a full-fledged water park on the first floor. Unlike the previous gyms he had visited, the Water Gym was significantly larger. The building itself was dome-shaped, with each floor appearing smaller than the one below as it rose upward. It was likely funded by the revenue generated from their popular water shows. Espeon ran around, using her psychic energy to shield herself from the water as she greeted people playing in the pools. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and her tail swayed cheerfully as she basked in the warmth of their happiness. Further in, Alex could see the area where they held their water shows. It was a massive pool surrounded by spectator stands, allowing visitors to enjoy the performance from all angles. At the back stood a stage where Misty and her sisters could present and direct the show. Once Alex found the stairs, he made his way to the second floor, where a massive pool occupied the entire space. Each battlefield featured a pair of platforms, but it was clear that trainers had to swim or use Surf to reach them before the battle could begin. The pool was also remarkably deep, easily allowing a Gyarados to fully submerge and remain hidden beneath the surface.  On the third floor, Alex finally reached his battleground. A smaller pool with submerged walkways heading further into where Alex could see a red head waiting for him. Along the path were trainers who were either sunbathing on platforms or swimming leisurely.  'What is it with gyms and mazes? The Fighting Gym had the right idea, just set all the challenges in a line and fight it out.' Alex thought as the floor manager and referee approached. She was wearing a black and white bikini with a thin cover-up skirt. It was honestly distracting given her fit body and gorgeous appearance. Then again, that applied to almost everyone on the entire floor. "Make your way to the furthest platform, accepting any battle requests along the way. I will oversee any battles you take part in. You may begin," she said. Alex took a moment to think before asking for clarification. "What if I don't happen to hear someone challenging me?" "I'll get your attention and let you know," she replied. Alex had a brilliant idea to bypass the entire floor and reach Misty without being challenged. His plan was simple: dive with Gyarados while wearing a rebreather. No sane trainer would wait underwater all day hoping a challenger might try something that specific. Then again, given how popular this gym was, Alex could easily imagine that exact scenario happening. Regardless, he was here for water combat experience. So, he decided to battle every single trainer in the gym, even if it meant risking a loss against Misty. He was never after the badge to begin with. Since he was bound to get wet, Alex decided to remove his gear and get comfortable. He took off his guns, long coat, and armored gear, carefully packing them into his bag and revealing the bodysuit he wore underneath. It was waterproof and served well enough as a makeshift scuba suit. Then, unzipping the top half, he revealed his ripped upper body and tied the sleeves around his waist. In a way, this felt like the beach holiday he had been putting off. He stepped onto the submerged, floating walkway with Espeon walking effortlessly atop the water beside him and began making his way through the maze-like path at a steady pace. His first target was a man casually fishing beside the trail. The fisherman wore a white and orange hat, orange vest over a white shirt, and rolled-up cargo pants, his boots soaked as he sat with a line of Poké Balls clipped to his belt. "You don't happen to have Magikarps in all those Poké Balls, do you?" Alex asked with slight amusement. "Don't be ridiculous. This is a gym, not a wharf," the old man replied, releasing an early Expert rank, angry-looking Pokémon onto the water. "They're filled with Gyarados." Alex stood dumbfounded for a moment before giving up and sending out his own. It would be good practice for his Gyarados to face one properly trained by a water expert. Besides, going up against six Gyarados was not a disadvantage for him. Name: Gyarados, Expert Type: Water Flying, Male Ability: Moxie Moves:  Basic: Flail, Splash, Tackle, Leer, Twister, Bite, Whirlpool, Ice Fang, Brine, Scary Face, Waterfall, Crunch, Rain Dance, Dragon Dance, Hydro Pump, Hurricane, Thrash, Hyper Beam, Taunt, Dark Pulse, Dragon Tail, Dragon Pulse, Outrage, Scale Shot, Dragon Cheer, Thunder Wave, Thunderbolt, Thunder, Sunny Day, Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Temper Flare, Spite, Bulldoze, Earthquake, Icy Wind, Avalanche, Ice Beam, Blizzard, Take Down, Protect, Facade, Endure, Body Slam, Sleep Talk, Substitute, Helping Hand, Giga Impact, Tera Blast, Roar, Double-Edge, Endeavor, Rest, Sandstorm, Stone Edge, Iron Head, Water Pulse, Chilling Water, Scald, Muddy Water Advanced: Surf(+50% Range), Lash Out(Priority +1), Aqua Tail(+50% Damage) Description: Gyarados, the Atrocious Pokémon. Known for its fierce temper and immense power, it evolves from the weak and helpless Magikarp. When enraged, Gyarados can demolish entire cities with its rampages. Its intimidating presence and destructive capability make it one of the most feared Water and Flying-type Pokémon. Gyarados had only truly begun proficiency training two years ago, but both Surf and Lash Out had been taught and recommended by Alex long before that. It hadn't taken more than six months for him to master Surf once serious training began. Lash Out was specifically chosen for countering other Gyarados with Intimidate, while Aqua Tail stood out thanks to Gyarados' typing and excellent stats. For his build, Alex prioritized Defense and Speed to maximize Gyarados' effectiveness in close combat. Moxie was ideal for battles against multiple opponents, especially when Gyarados fought alone. However, if there were six of them on a team, Intimidate would become a real threat. That's why Alex pinned his hopes on Weezing's Neutralizing Gas to shut that advantage down entirely. As for this official battle? It was already in the bag. ----- Support me on Patreon patreon/babywrath