Ash received the Cascade Badge, and Misty's mood, which had been gloomy just moments before, lightened considerably, largely thanks to Ralts. The little Pokémon seemed to sense her sadness and, with surprising gentleness, hopped into her arms and wrapped her in a comforting hug.
Though still young, Ralts showed a remarkable emotional awareness. Misty thought to herself that when this little one grew up, she'd surely become a clever and strong Pokémon.
Holding Ralts close, Misty turned to look at her three older sisters. Not long ago, she had boldly declared to them that she would prove herself as a true Trainer. But now… she had been soundly defeated. Surely, they were waiting to tease her.
To her surprise, Daisy stepped forward, placed a hand on Misty's head, and smiled.
"Eh?" Misty blinked.
"What, did you think we'd make fun of you? You already did great, Misty. If it were us commanding Starmie, we'd probably have lost even worse," Daisy said warmly.
"Your looks can't compare to ours, but…" Violet grinned, then glanced at Ash. "We'll admit your battling skills are solid. Honestly, you can't be blamed for losing. We've seen a lot of matches, but we've never seen a Trainer as reckless as this guy."
Ash pointed at himself, twitching his mouth. 'Reckless? That was just standard tactics, wasn't it?!' He was getting slandered for no reason!
"We were wrong before," Lily added, her tone softening. "Being a Gym Leader really is tough. You don't just battle, you have to guide challengers, and shoulder the pressure of losing. That responsibility… it's not easy."
Misty's eyes brimmed with tears. How many years had it been since her sisters spoke to her so kindly?
Indeed, words alone weren't enough, her sisters finally understood the burden of being a Gym Leader after trying it themselves.
"No… you've all worked hard too," Misty said, her voice trembling. "If it weren't for the money you earned, I wouldn't have been able to train Starmie this far. I had my faults before as well."
For the first time in years, the sisters truly opened their hearts to one another, and the tension between them melted away.
Yet even in this moment of reconciliation, Misty hesitated. She glanced at Ash and Brock, then back at Daisy and the others, torn between choices.
Should she stay at the Gym now that her sisters had admitted their mistakes? If Daisy and the others were the ones managing the Gym, splitting their time between performances and battles, Cerulean Gym's reputation would surely decline.
Beyond Starmie, the Gym's lineup wasn't strong, most of the other Pokémon were only at mid-level strength.
Which meant, realistically, her Starmie was already the Gym's mainstay. If she stayed behind to guard Cerulean Gym, it would help both the Gym's reputation and its long-term survival.
But…
She didn't want to let go of this journey.
In just over ten days with Ash, she had experienced more thrills than in her entire past decade: glimpsing Ho-Oh, meeting a shiny Ralts, even seeing Ash do things no ordinary human could. These were adventures she'd never find staying in Cerulean Gym.
That's why Misty stood there, hugging Ralts tightly, her heart torn in two, caught between the duty of guarding her Gym and the irresistible pull of traveling with Ash.
"Misty, go on your journey." Daisy seemed to see right through her younger sister's hesitation. She smiled faintly and spoke the words Misty hadn't been able to say herself.
"Sister Daisy…" Misty's voice trembled.
"Only by seeing the outside world can you grow on your path as a Trainer. Didn't you always say that? If you stay here forever, maybe you'll end up like Mom and Dad, strong in your own way, but that's not enough. I want to see the day you truly become the strongest Gym Leader in Kanto."
Daisy's gentle encouragement struck right at the heart of Misty's conflict.
If she stayed, the Cerulean Gym would benefit. Once her Pokémon reached higher levels, she could finally cast off the Gym's reputation as the weakest in the League. But for her own growth? Staying here would only hold her back.
"Exactly," Violet chimed in, folding her arms. "Didn't you brag you'd surpass Mom and Dad one day? You haven't come close to proving that yet."
"Go on," Lily added with a smirk. "The Gym's the weakest with or without you, so you might as well become stronger and come back later."
Their words were sharp, but Misty could feel the warmth beneath the teasing.
Wiping away her tears, Misty's expression hardened with resolve. "I understand. I'll get stronger, strong enough to return and bring new life to Cerulean Gym! Until then, you all have to hold the line!"
"Good luck out there! And hey, drop by and visit when you can!" Daisy called after her.
"And don't forget to catch some strong Pokémon and send them back. We're tired of losing to every random challenger!" Violet added.
"Also," Lily grinned, holding up her camera, "I snapped a photo of you crying just now. I'll send it to you when you finally become a great Trainer~"
Misty froze mid-wave, her cheeks turning scarlet. She had almost been fooled by their kindness… her sisters hadn't changed at all! They were still the same relentless teasers.
This time, as she set out again, Misty left Goldeen behind at the Gym. With the sisters' care, it should evolve into Seaking soon, giving them at least one more reliable battler.
And so, Ash, Misty, and Brock departed once more, their next destination set: Vermilion City Gym!