The chapter opens two days ago. Rose, having just taught one of her Pokémon the TM for either Mega Punch or Mega Kick, strides confidently into Cerulean City's Gym, a sly smirk playing on her lips. Her eyes lock onto Misty, who glides gracefully through the water beside her Golduck. Without a word, Misty leaps onto a distant battle platform, droplets flying from her poised stance—she knows exactly what Rose came for: a battle.
Misty releases her Starmie, and Rose sends out her Rookidee. Starmie wastes no time, spinning fiercely and slamming into Rookidee with a punishing Rapid Spin that sends him soaring high into the air. Starmie follows with a stream of shimmering bubbles—Bubble Beam—but Rookidee steadies himself mid-flight, weaving nimbly past the attack.
Rose: "Rookidee, dive down, Pluck!"
Misty: "Not going to work, Starmie, Rapid Spin then Power Gem!"
Rookidee dives in to strike, but Starmie swoops down from above, spinning wildly again and crashing into Rookidee's back. The impact sends him crashing onto the platform below. Before he can recover, Starmie's core flashes, crystalline energy swirling around it. With a blinding spin, a barrage of radiant stones erupts—Power Gem—striking Rookidee and hurling him tumbling into the pool below.
Rookidee crashes into the water, and Misty assumes he's fainted. But Rose smirks, sensing her moment. She shouts, Hone Claws. Beneath the surface, Rookidee floats injured but alert. At her command, his eyes narrowed with fierce resolve. Despite the crushing pressure and pain, he cries out sharply—his talons gleaming darkly as he uses Hone Claws. Bubbles whirl around him as he sharpens his claws with unyielding determination. Then, bursting from the water, Rookidee locks eyes with Starmie.
Misty: "Shit, Bubble Beam, quickly!"
Rose: "Now use Power Trip!"
Starmie unleashes a torrent of Bubble Beams, but Rookidee powers through each hit, wounds deepening but spirit unbroken. With claws still glowing from Hone Claws, Rookidee speeds forward, water streaming behind him like streaks of light. Injured but burning with determination, his body pulses dark as he channels his built-up strength into a spiralling strike. With a sharp cry, Rookidee dives at Starmie, releasing a devastating Power Trip fueled by every ounce of his remaining power.
Both Pokémon crash into the water, their trainers watching tensely and waiting. Rookidee bursts out panting, while Starmie lies fainted beneath the surface. Misty recalls her Pokémon, and Rose watches as Rookidee finally succumbs to his injuries, collapsing. Rose returns her Rookidee, praising him.
Misty flings out her second Pokémon, a Dewott, and Rose counters with her Grovyle. The two Pokémon size each other up, tension crackling in the air. Grovyle lets out a fierce cry, launching a rapid barrage of Bullet Seeds. Dewott reacts quickly, drawing his water-cloaked shells and slicing through the seeds with clean, gleaming Razor Shells.
Dewott lunges forward, slashing at Grovyle, but Grovyle dodges, biding his time to strike back with his own blade move—Leaf Blade. The two clash—Grovyle lands three sharp hits, knocking Dewott backwards. He goes for another, but Dewott blasts forward with Aqua Jet, crashing into Grovyle and making him stumble. Without pause, Dewott chains into a Fury Cutter, slashing Grovyle across the chest.
Grovyle falls to one knee, breath ragged, and Misty acknowledges his improvement—but notes it still won't be enough. She calls for the finishing blow. Dewott charges with another Fury Cutter, but Grovyle suddenly moves on Rose's command, using Detect and stopping the strike cold. Catching Misty off guard, Grovyle's leaves begin to glow a brilliant green. He lets out a cry and vanishes in a burst of speed, Agility sending him streaking across the field.
Dewott tries to follow but can't react in time. A Leaf Blade hits him hard, dropping him fast, and Grovyle stands right behind him. Dewott stumbles forward, trying to retaliate, but collapses—the damage from the attack is too much for the Water-type to handle.
Rose smirks while Misty nods in respect, praising her tactics without a trace of worry. She muses that maybe, just maybe, Rose could finally defeat her this time. Rose chuckles softly, agreeing aloud—but inside, doubt creeps in. Her final Pokémon is her ace, the true challenge: Golduck.
Misty: "Golduck."
With a powerful burst, Golduck emerges from beneath the surface, water splashing all around as he lands beside Grovyle, wearing a cocky, confident smirk. Grovyle stiffens, the weight of this formidable opponent pressing down. On the sidelines, Rose narrows her eyes, flashes of past defeats flickering through her mind—she knows Golduck is Misty's real ace, the true danger lurking in her team.
But Grovyle shakes off his fear, steadying himself. He darts forward, slashing with Leaf Blade, but Golduck's eyes flash sharp and cold—he fires a focused Psybeam, the psychic energy spiralling out to blast Grovyle back, sliding him harshly toward the pool's edge.
Misty notes that Grovyle's Agility has worn off and seizes the moment to finish him. Undeterred, Grovyle unleashes a rapid Bullet Seed, sending glowing seeds flying. But Golduck moves with fluid grace, weaving effortlessly through the barrage. Before Grovyle can regain footing, Golduck rockets forward, cloaked in water, crashing into him with a devastating Aqua Jet that sends Grovyle crashing into the pool with a heavy splash.
Rose, hoping to regain speed advantage, calls for Grovyle to use Agility again. But before he can react, Golduck plunges in after him, a streak of blue beneath the water. His eyes glow fiercely as he charges a concentrated Ice Beam.
A sharp, freezing blast slices through the water—within moments, the entire Gym pool crystallises, ice rapidly spreading from the centre outwards. The temperature drops, and silence falls over the arena like a heavy veil. Then, with a sudden crack, the ice shatters. Golduck bursts through, standing tall and triumphant atop the frozen surface, cradling the limp, fainted Grovyle in his arms.
Rose returns her Grovyle, and Misty, arms crossed, assumes Rose never went to the men at Route 4 for either of the Mega TMs. But Rose denies it with a smug look, a glint in her eye. She boldly declares she'll beat Misty the same way her Uncle did years ago. Misty is taken aback, her eyes widening as she sees a flicker of a younger Blue in Rose's confident stance. Slowly, a smile spreads across her face as she shouts for Rose to send out her final Pokémon.
With a flick of her wrist, Rose throws her Poké Ball high into the air. Sparks crackle as it bursts open—Pikachu emerges in a flash of electricity, landing on the icy field with a fierce glare locked on his opponent. Without hesitation, Rose calls for Double Team, and Pikachu darts into motion, zipping across the frozen surface and leaving a trail of flickering afterimages.
Golduck squints, calculating, and strikes at one of the copies, only to realise too late it's not the real Pikachu. Above him, suspended midair, the true Pikachu charges electricity into a glowing Electro Ball. With a command from Rose, Pikachu hurls the orb down with force.
Misty yells for Golduck to dodge—he lunges aside just in time as the Electro Ball slams into the ice, exploding on contact. The shockwave sends a chill across the field. As Pikachu lands, Golduck shoots forward in a blur with Aqua Jet, slamming into Pikachu mid-descent and sending him tumbling hard across the icy floor.
Pikachu rises slowly, visibly shaken—then suddenly bursts forward with Quick Attack, darting in low and striking at Golduck's legs with sharp, calculated blows. Caught off guard, Golduck stumbles, slips, and slams face-first into the ice.
Without a moment's pause, Pikachu unleashes a fierce Discharge, crackling lightning flooding the arena toward the stunned Golduck. But just in time, Golduck raises a glowing Light Screen, the shimmering barrier deflecting much of the electric surge.
As the sparks die down, both Pokémon show signs of fatigue. Seeing his window, Golduck grits his teeth and fires a focused Psybeam. The psychic energy slams into Pikachu, launching him backwards through the frozen surface. Ice shards erupt skyward, the battle intensifying.
Then, Golduck fires again—an Ice Beam, the freezing blast locking Pikachu's arm mid-motion. Misty watches closely, thinking Rose must've chosen the Mega Punch TM for her Pikachu. Golduck doesn't hesitate, charging forward with Aqua Jet, gliding across the ice in one final push.
But then, against all odds, Pikachu surges forward, his foot glowing with raw energy. With a mighty leap, he delivers a crushing Mega Kick square into Golduck's face. The impact sends Golduck flying, crashing into the far gym wall, where he slumps—fainted. The battle is over. Rose has won.
Misty, still frozen in place, watches as Rose walks over to high-five her Pikachu, both trainer and partner beaming in victory. With pride in her steps, Rose approaches Misty, who, though stunned by the outcome, manages a small smile. Rose accepts the Cascade Badge and the TM for Aqua Jet, her confidence radiating as she turns to leave the Gym. She waves, and if there were ever any doubt about her connection to Blue, this next line says it all.
Rose: "Smell, you later."
Rose steps out of the Gym, the crisp air hitting her face as she heads for the Pokémon Centre to heal her team. Suddenly, her phone buzzes. She looks down and answers the video call. The screen flickers, revealing Billy—a brilliant Pokémon researcher known for inventing the Pokémon Storage System, the tech that automatically sends extra Pokémon to the PC when your party reaches six. Rose's heart skips a beat. It's her father.
Back to the present, Dango and Maylin exit Mt. Moon onto Route 4, strolling along the path. Ahead, two men argue heatedly over whether Mega Punch or Mega Kick is better. Spotting our heroes, they call out to them, bringing the chapter to a close.
To Be Continued!