Chapter 55: Mother-Daughter Battle
On the private island in Alola...
Steven nudged Asher with his elbow.
"Brother Asher."
"Hmm?"
"Who are you supporting?"
Asher reached up and adjusted his sunglasses.
"That’s an excellent question."
"Then answer it."
"I support Blastoise."
The corner of Steven’s mouth twitched.
"...I’m asking which side you’re on."
Asher picked up his cocktail and took a sip, his voice utterly calm.
"I’m standing on the sidelines."
"Brother Asher, that’s cheating."
"It’s called wisdom."
Asher lowered his sunglasses slightly, revealing his golden eyes.
"Someone like you, who doesn’t even have a girlfriend, wouldn’t understand."
"But I have you~"
"..."
Asher realized that he had still underestimated the depths of Steven’s shamelessness.
The video continued playing.
Cerulean Gym’s battlefield.
Daisy stood on the referee’s platform and raised one arm.
"Let the battle—begin!"
Misty issued the first command.
"Blastoise, use Hydro Pump!"
Both of Misty’s Blastoise’s cannons fired simultaneously, launching two massive columns of water directly toward Raina’s Blastoise.
There was no attempt to test the waters. Misty opened the battle with an all-out frontal assault.
Raina immediately responded.
"We’ll use Hydro Pump too!"
Both of Raina’s Blastoise’s cannons fired as well. Four columns of water collided head-on between the floating platforms at the center of the battlefield before exploding into a vast curtain of spray.
Daisy wiped the water from her face.
"...I shouldn’t be standing here. I should be in the audience."
In the stands, Violet enthusiastically waved her inflatable cheering stick.
"Hang in there, Daisy!"
Lily continued recording with the camera on her shoulder.
"Should we include this scene in the documentary too?"
Daisy shouted angrily:
"Easy for you to say! Why don’t one of you come down here and replace me?!"
"No!"
Violet and Lily answered in perfect unison.
[VIP Chat Group]
[Ash]: Misty opened with a direct assault? Is she copying Raina’s fighting style?
[Gary]: She isn’t copying her. Misty is using the kind of move Raina is most familiar with because she wants to see how far Raina can go within her strongest area.
[Brock]: Judging from that exchange, the power and accuracy of their attacks are almost identical.
The video continued playing.
"Not bad."
Misty folded her arms.
"That Hydro Pump was more powerful than I expected."
"Of course!"
Raina clenched both fists.
"My Blastoise won’t lose to anyone!"
The corners of Misty’s mouth curved upward.
"Then let me see how well the two of you work together. Blastoise, use Rapid Spin!"
Misty’s Blastoise instantly withdrew into its shell. Its shell spun rapidly across the water’s surface as it charged toward Raina’s Blastoise.
"We’ll use Rapid Spin too!"
Raina swept one hand forward.
Her Blastoise likewise withdrew into its shell and began spinning. The two Pokémon collided head-on at the center of the battlefield.
The impact of their shells sounded like two enormous bronze bells being struck simultaneously. The resulting shock wave sent water spraying over the edges of the pool.
Misty’s Blastoise was knocked out of its spin and landed once more on a floating platform.
Raina’s Blastoise likewise landed on another platform.
However, it had rarely battled on aquatic battlefields since leaving Cerulean Gym and clearly wasn’t as familiar with the terrain as Misty’s Blastoise. The platform rocked beneath it with the waves, preventing it from immediately stabilizing its posture.
"Don’t give it time to recover!"
Misty raised one hand.
"Ice Beam!"
"Blastoise, dodge it!" Raina shouted.
An icy-blue beam shot from one of Misty’s Blastoise’s cannons and struck Raina’s Blastoise directly in the right shoulder.
Frost spread instantly, freezing its right cannon against half of its shell.
Raina’s Blastoise turned its head to examine its frozen shoulder but couldn’t immediately shatter the ice.
"Don’t panic!"
Raina’s voice remained steady.
"Counterattack with the left cannon! Hydro Pump!"
Despite being fired from only one cannon, the column of water didn’t lose any speed.
Misty’s Blastoise twisted aside and avoided it. The water struck the floating platform behind it with enough force to flip it upside down.
"Ice Beam! Seal its left cannon too!"
"It won’t be that easy!"
Raina clenched her fist.
"Blastoise, jump into the water!"
Without hesitation, Raina’s Blastoise plunged into the pool.
"We’ll follow it!"
Misty’s Blastoise jumped into the water after it.
[VIP Chat Group]
[Ash]: Why did Raina tell Blastoise to jump into the water? Won’t that make it harder to aim?
[Gary]: Look at those last two Ice Beams from Misty’s Blastoise. She was deliberately targeting the cannons. If Raina’s Blastoise remained on the platform, it definitely wouldn’t be able to win.
[Brock]: Gary is right. Raina’s Blastoise had its right shoulder frozen and couldn’t gain the advantage on the platform. It will actually be more agile underwater.
[Gary]: Even underwater, however, Misty’s Blastoise is still more familiar with the battlefield.
The video continued playing.
Blastoise was far more agile underwater. At the same time, after entering the pool, the ice covering Raina’s Blastoise’s right shoulder gradually began to melt.
However, Misty’s Blastoise had trained in this pool for many years and was clearly more familiar and comfortable with the environment.
Because of that, Misty once again decided to seize the initiative.
"Blastoise, use Rapid Spin!"
Misty’s Blastoise instantly withdrew into its shell. It spun rapidly beneath the water, dragging the surrounding current into a vortex as it charged straight toward Raina’s Blastoise.
"We’ll use Rapid Spin too!"
Raina’s Blastoise also withdrew into its shell and began spinning. The two spiraling trails collided head-on.
The muffled impact echoed through the surface of the water.
The shock wave spread throughout the pool, and even Daisy could feel the referee’s platform trembling beneath her feet.
Both Blastoise were knocked out of their spins simultaneously. They tumbled twice through the water before regaining their balance.
At that exact moment, the ice around Raina’s Blastoise’s right shoulder finally broke away completely.
Raina’s pupils suddenly contracted.
The opportunity had arrived.
"Blastoise, Aqua Jet!"
High-speed currents surged around Raina’s Blastoise. Its entire body transformed into a column of rushing water as it charged directly toward Misty’s Blastoise.
"Blastoise, Protect!"
A pale green barrier rapidly formed around Misty’s Blastoise.
"Keep pushing and knock it out of the water!" Raina shouted.
Misty’s eyes widened slightly.
"What?!"
Aqua Jet struck Protect head-on. Raina’s Blastoise continued driving forward, forcefully pushing Misty’s Blastoise through the water until both Pokémon burst above the surface.
Misty’s Blastoise tumbled uncontrollably through the air.
Raina’s Blastoise leaped from the water close behind it, icy-blue energy already gathering inside both of its cannons.
"Ice Beam!"
Twin icy-blue beams shot from its cannons and struck Misty’s Blastoise while it was still tumbling through the air.
Frost spread wildly outward from the points of impact. Layer after layer of ice formed around Misty’s Blastoise until it was completely trapped inside an enormous block of ice.
The frozen block plunged straight down into Cerulean Gym’s pool, sending a massive wave of water into the air.
Daisy remained stunned for several seconds before finally reacting and thrusting one arm upward.
"Misty’s Blastoise is unable to battle! Raina’s Blastoise wins!"
Raina unclenched her fists and slowly released a long breath.
Misty recalled Blastoise and lowered her gaze toward the Poké Ball in her hand before smiling.
"That was a good battle, but don’t get too pleased with yourself yet!"
Raina nodded.
"I know. Mom, I’m definitely going to defeat you!"
Misty smiled and took another Poké Ball from her waist.
"All right, then prove it to me."