Poke-Odyssey 2001 chapter 15 Captain's Hooked Today, we find Cameron and friends sailing on a ferry to the Sweet N' Sour Islands, where the fifth Ryooku gym is located. Ash and Misty were sitting on deckchairs, Tracey was sketching the ocean scenery, while Cameron and Reiko were hanging around the captain's control room. "This sure is a nice ferry you have here Marron", said Cameron. "I agree", said Reiko. "Like the Dratini that sails gracefully through strong currents of water. Your vessel is quite seaworthy." "Thank you", said the young lady who was at the helm. "My trusty ferry has gotten me through terrible tropical storms in the Orange Isles. That's why I decided to move my business to Ryooku. The seas are much calmer here." "So you must sail Pokemon trainers to the Sweet N' Sour Islands a lot, huh?" asked Cameron. "You bet I do!" smiled Marron. "I get to meet very interesting trainers and their cute little Pokemon. Like your Sandshrew over there. And why is he hugging my deskleg?" Cameron looked down and found Sandy who was shaking nervously while holding onto the leg of Marron's desk. "Sandy just gets really nervous when he's around or over water", said Cameron as he tried to pick up Sandy but wouldn't let go of the desk. "Please let go Sandy", pleaded Cameron. "I'll make sure nothing happens to you on this ride. Just don't scratch up Marron's desk." "Shrew! Shrew!" moaned Sandy remembering the last time they were on a ferry. Team Rocket caused it to sink and he and his friends ended up on an island of unfriendly Machokes. "That's okay", smiled Marron. "Let Sandy hold on until we get to the islands. He's just so cute!" "That's because he has a cute trainer", said Reiko slyly while winking at Cameron. "Say Marron", said Cameron while blushing. "You wouldn't happen to know anything about the gym leader I'm about to meet?" "Not much", said Marron. "He hardly ever leaves his gym. I hear he's a retired sea captain who can be a little cranky. But I do know is that he has some secret way of training Pokemon. Nobody knows how, but very few trainers have ever beaten him." "Well my Came-chan will be another one of those very few", said Reiko. "Mark my ninja's word on it!" "I don't think that would be a good idea to mark my radiant Reiko", said Cameron as he felt the back of his head. "Hey! I did it!" he smiled. "I created my first anime sweatdrop!" Marron just looked at him funny. "Uh, he's not from around here", explained Reiko. * * * * * * "So how are you enjoying this ferry ride my little water sprite?" asked Ash as he started rubbing Misty's shoulders while she was fishing. "It's good", said Misty quickly. "Now pipe down or you'll scare the fish away!" "Okay", sighed Ash. "Gee", he thought. "Ever since her Togetic flew away, she's become quite irritable. Then again, she usually is. That's why I love her." "EEEEEE!" squealed Misty as she started leaning back in her deckchair while reeling in her fishing line. "I got a bite! Quick Ashy-poo! Hold this line while I get out my Lure Ball!" "You got it", said Ash as he took the rod and almost got pulled into the water. But luckily, his crotch had caught the rail. "You call that lucky?!" grumbled Ash in a squeaky voice while he kept holding onto the rod. "Hey, what's up?" asked Tracey as he, Cameron, and Reiko had approached the scene. "I'm about to catch a new water Pokemon", smiled Misty as she took out her Lure Ball and threw it into the water. Ash then felt the rod stopped moving and Misty's Lure Ball was floating in the water. "I did it!" squealed Misty happily. "I caught a new Pokemon!" "But with my help", smiled Ash. "Oh yeah, thanks", said Misty as she kissed him. Then she sent out her Poliwhirl to dive into the water, retrieve the ball, and jump back onto the ferry. "This is so wonderful!" said Misty excitedly. "Maybe it's a cute little Shellder or maybe a beautiful Tentacruel like yours Reiko!" "It would be pleasant to give my Tentacruel a soulmate", said Reiko. "Well then lets open it up and see what you've got", said Ash. "Oh yes", said Misty. "Please let it be a Tentacruel! Please! Please! PLEASE!" But when she opened up her ball, out popped a small chunk of pink coral covered with spikes. "Whaaa?!" gasped Misty. This doesn't look like a Pokemon!" "Maybe you've snagged a piece from a coral reef", said Tracey. "I wanted a Pokemon!" wailed Misty. "Not a chunk of lifeless rock!" "But it's a really pretty rock", said Cameron. "And you do like pretty things." "Well, you're right Cameron", said Misty. "It is pretty. But I wanted to catch a playful water Pokemon with my only Lure Ball. I'm throwing this rock back into the water and trying again!" Just as she was about to toss the rock, she heard a cute little squeak. "Who said that?" asked Misty as she looked around. "It sounded like your rock Misty-chan", said Reiko. Misty turned the rock around and saw two little dots for eyes and a cute little mouth that squeaked, "Corsola!" "Corsola?" asked Misty while Cameron aimed his Dex at the rock. "CORSOLA: the coral Pokemon", replied Dextra. "Corsola continuously sheds and grows. The tip of its head is prized as treasure for its great beauty." "Just look at that face", smiled Misty. "It looks like my cute little Togepi. Aren't you the sweetest looking thing?!" And she started tickling Corsola's spikes while Corsola giggled happily. "Does this mean you've changed your mind about tossing it back?" smiled Ash. "What do you think Ashy?" whispered Misty as she hugged her new Pokemon like the way she used to do with her old Togepi. * * * * * * Little did our heroes know was that a strange looking Gyarados was following them under the water. Actually it was a Gyarados shaped sub being pedaled by 3 familiar villains. "Faster!" shouted Jessie as she was operating the front pedals while looking through a periscope. "We can't afford to lose those twerps!" "It was amazing how we found our old Gyarados sub in that salvage yard by the beach", said James. "I even found some rare bottlecaps I thought I lost years ago. My life is complete." "I made out better", smiled Meowth. "I found the tuna fish sandwich on rye I thought I lost all those years ago!" And he took a bite out of the green-looking sandwich. "Meowth! What do you think you're doing?!" cried James in shock. "Hey, I need my brain food!" said Meowth as he continued to eat the aged sandwich. "Well your brain will become as fuzzy as that sandwich if you keep eating it!" protested James. "Will you two simpletons concentrate?!" shouted Jessie as she pushed a button on her handlebars and two hammers popped out and conked James and Meowth. "We've got some twerps to tail!" "Now I remember why I was happy we lost this thing!" said Meowth as he rubbed his sore head. "Wait a minute", said Jessie. "Something's coming up on my periscope! It looks like a Gyarados's face!" "You mean like the one in front of our sub?" asked James. "Maybe we've sailed into a cave of mirrors", said Meowth. "Though a cave of mirrors may sound heavenly", said Jessie nervously. "I don't think that's our reflection!" Sure enough, it was a real Gyarados. And it wrapped its long scaly coils around the sub almost squeezing it to death. "We're dead!" cried James in a panic as he saw the bolts popping from the sides. "Why's that Gyarados's attacking us?!" cried Meowth. "Is it hungry or is it just being a jerk?!" "Hold on, I'll check", said Jessie as she reached for the periscope and studied the Gyarados's face. "Uh guys?" said Jessie. "What does it mean when you see huge hearts appear in a Gyarados's eyes?" "You mean this serpent's in love with our sub?!" gasped James. The Gyarados just roared happily, then grabbed the sub with its tail and swam down further into the ocean taking Team Rocket to who knows where. "Wherever it is, I hope they got a hospital", moaned Meowth as the effects of the old sandwich started its dark magic. * * * * * * Marron had pulled her ferry up to the harbor of a really huge island. "Well here we are", she said to our heroes. "The largest of the Sweet N' Sour Isles. And you can see the Pokemon gym over there." "But it's a boat!" said Cameron. Sure enough, the gym looked like a huge ocean liner sitting on the sand. "Why would the gym leader drag a really huge boat like this on land?" asked Ash. "I think he likes to use it as a theme for the kind of Pokemon he uses", said Tracey. "You mean this gym leader could be a water Pokemon gym leader?!" said Misty while stars appeared in her eyes. "Ooooh! I can't wait to meet him!" "What's that supposed to mean?!" said a green-faced Ash. "Aw, don't be jealous Ashy-poo", said Misty. "I wasn't ooohing for the gym leader, just all the wonderful water Pokemon we might get to meet!" "Shrew!" groaned Sandy while nervously hiding behind Cameron's legs. "Don't worry Sandy", said Cameron. "I won't let you battle any water Pokemon if there are any in there." "You all go ahead", said Marron. "I'll be waiting by my ferry until you come back." "Arigato, Marron-san", said Reiko as she bowed to Marron while everyone else did the same. Then they all went over to the huge ocean liner. Once they got there, they saw a huge gangplank that led to a door with a sign on the side. It said, "Welcome to the S. S. Ruminthetum. Once the finest ocean liner in all the Ryooku seas. But a bad shipwreck ended its sailing days and now it rests in peace as a Pokemon gym." "You mean this great looking ship's a shipwreck?" asked Misty. "But it looks so strong and sturdy." "But like the Raticate that can nibble holes through layers of century old cheese", said Reiko. "That hole on the side of the boat says otherwise." They all looked under the gangplank and found a huge hole in the ship. "I guess it's sailing days are definitely over", said Tracey eyeing the size of the hole wondering what might've caused it. As they all walked up the gangplank, two pretty blue eyes looked through a porthole. "Oh no!" cried a girl's voice. "Not more trainers?!" On the porthole next to it were two more eyes, only these were bloodshot. "Oh good!" said a drunk sounding old man. "Fresh meat! ARRRGH!" Our heroes walked through the hallways of the ship hopping they'd find the gym leader or at least someone. "Where is everybody?" asked Cameron. "Up on the deck playing shuffleboard?" "Maybe they were like the rodents that always leave a ship once humans set foot on it", said Reiko. "Shrew!" grumbled Sandy while shaking a fist at Reiko. "Oops! Gomen, Sandy-chan", said Reiko blushing. "Hey look Mist, water Pokemon", said Ash pointing to the left side of the wall. "Where?!" squealed Misty with delight. They found themselves looking at a huge aquarium built into the wall with all sorts of water-type Pokemon. Misty just looked at them not smiling and concerned. "What's wrong Mist?" asked Ash. "You usually act all spacey and happy whenever you see water Pokemon." "Normally I would", said Misty. "But there's something wrong with all these water Pokemon. They don't look too well." Sure enough, all the Pokemon in the aquarium looked pretty miserable. There were Goldeens floating on their backs above, a Squirtle had red bloodshot eyes and was breathing very heavily, a Shellder had its tongue sticking out longer than usual, and there was even a Staryu lying in the sand with a bloodshot jewel in its center. "You're right Misty", said Ash concerned. "I wonder what's wrong with them?" "They look like they all have hangovers", said Tracey studying each of the miserable looking Pokemon. "Hangovers?!!" cried everyone. "The only way I know you can get a hangover is by drinking lots of alcohol", said Cameron. "How dare someone do this to innocent water Pokemon!" growled Misty as she appeared in Captain Ahab's clothes while holding a spear. "I'll skewer the filthy sea urchin who did this!" "No, please don't!" called out a girl's voice. Everyone looked toward the end of the hallway and saw a teenage girl with short black hair and wearing a sailor suit with a matching hat. "Are you the person in charge of this gym?" asked Misty with fiery eyes. "No, but my father is", said the girl. "He's the gym leader." "Well I've come here to challenge him for a badge", said Cameron. "Oh no!" said the girl nervously. "Now's not a good time today. Could you please come back another day or possibly a week or hopefully a year or two?" "But I thought it was gym leader policy to accept any challengers that enter their gyms no matter what time or day", said Tracey. "Or maybe your dad has something he's hiding?" scowled Misty. "Like a tank full of sick looking Pokemon?!" "All right, all right!" said the girl nervously. "I'll take you to him. Please follow me." And they all followed the girl to a door that she knocked on. "ARRGH!" called out an old man's voice. "Who be disturbing old Captain Cranston?" "It's me, Christine", said the girl. "Now why do you be bothering your old man when he's attending to his duties?" asked the voice. "It better be a jolly good reason!" "I have a challenger out here who wants to battle you for a badge", said Christine. "Well, why didn't you say so?" said the voice. The door was kicked open and they were all looking at a crusty old man wearing a captain's hat and coat. He had a fuzzy white beard, a squinting eye, and a corncob pipe. (THINK OF THAT SEA CAPTAIN ON THE SIMPSONS). "Yo ho ho! And what do we have here?" asked the captain with an algae covered smile. "Do you five landlovers be stowaways on me loving ship?" "No sir", said Cameron nervously. "I just came here to challenge you for a badge." "HA HA HA HA!" laughed the captain almost falling out of his chair. "So you've come here to challenge old Captain Cranston for an Ocean Badge? No wait, I don't like the world old. Make it cute Captain Cranston! HA HA!" "Oh Daddy!" sighed Christine as she shook her head. "I don't know if your Pokemon should be battling today", said an annoyed Misty. "They all looked pretty drunk. Have you been giving them liquor?!" "Now how could accuse an innocent old salt like me of boozing up Pokemon?" said Cranston while trying to sprout out a halo. "I was just throwing me little shipmates an all night party because I love them so much and some of them are just sleepy from too much fun. Isn't that right Christine?" "Oh, uh, yes it is", stuttered Christine nervously. "Are you sure?" asked Misty. "They looked pretty drunk to me!" "I don't have a bit of booze on my ship", said Cranston. "If you'd like, you can have your Pokemon sniff around for any if it'll make you feel secure." "What do you say Sandy?" asked Cameron. "Can you see if you can find any alcohol on this ship?" "Shrew!" smiled Sandy as he started sniffing around the captain's quarters. Growlithe did the same since he was trained by Jenny to sniff out illegal stuff like drugs and alcohol. "And if you do find any", said Cameron. "Be sure not to drink it by accident." Sandy and Growlithe had sniffed around the entire ship and found nothing. "You see kiddies", smiled Cranston. "I'm as sober as squeaky Shellder." "Okay, I guess maybe you're Pokemon are just tired from partying too much", said Ash. "Hmmmm", said Misty still a little suspicious. "But don't be worrying", smiled Cranston. "I just got back some Pokemon from the Pokemon center today and they're willing and able to battle you boy. To the beach everyone!" * * * * * * A few minutes later, everyone was gathered around the beach. "All right lad", said Cranston. "If you can win two out of three matches, you'll be earning a badge from the captain. The first event will be a race over to that buoy out there and back. And you can use either a water or a flying Pokemon. Personally, I like to use a combination of both." And he took out a Pokeball and released a huge manta ray on the beach. "What is that thing?" asked Cameron as he aimed his Dex at the manta. "MANTINE: the kite Pokemom", replied Dextra. "Swimming freely in open seas, Mantine may fly out of the water and over the waves if it builds enough speed. "Are you going to use Slowie?" asked Reiko. "After all, he is an excellent swimmer." "No, I want to hold Slowie in case we get another match that has to do with water", said Cameron. "Since the Captain said we can also use flying types. I choose Batty!" and he released his Crobat that he officially named Batty. "BAT!" said Crobat while stretching out all four of her wings then approached the edge of the shore where Mantine was itching to race. "On your mark, get set, GO!" called out Christine as she waved a flag. Batty took an early lead flying steadily across the sea while Mantine was swimming trying to catch up with the winged wonder known as Crobat. "That's it Batty!" called out Cameron. "Flying's a lot faster than swimming!" "I couldn't agree more", said Cranston with a crooked smile as he waited for Mantine to get up enough speed. Suddenly Mantine had left the water and was flying too. In fact, when they reached the buoy to turn, they found Mantine and Batty both neck and neck. "Mantine, swat away that pest with a wing attack!" called out Cranston. Mantine complied by whacking Batty away with its huge wing, but Batty still managed to keep up with the fast flying manta ray. "Quick Batty!" cried Cameron. "Strike back with a confuse ray!" "BAT!" squeaked Batty as she released a flashing ray at Mantine but nothing happened. It just kept gliding gracefully without being confused at all. "What happened?!" gasped Cameron. "I thought confuse ray always hits an opponent!" "You landlovers wouldn't understand", laughed Cranston. "Now Mantine, give that airborne rodent your bubble attack!" Mantine then started shooting bubbles at Batty causing her to drop into the ocean. "BATTY!" cried Cameron as he saw Mantine land back on shore winning the race. "The winner of this round is Daddy and his Mantine", said Christine pretending to be happy for her father's victory. Cameron then found his Crobat washed ashore with a really dazed look. "Don't worry Batty", said Cameron as he patted his bat and pulled her back in her ball. "You did your best and I couldn't be prouder of you." "Wait a minute", said Tracey as he approached the exhausted Mantine. It was breathing very hard and had bloodshot eyes just like the Pokemon in the aquarium. "Are you sure this Mantine is..." But before he could finish his question, Cranston pulled Mantine back into its ball. "Uh, that was a fine match Mr. Fusterman", said Cranston with a sweaty face. "But don't be feeling so glum. You might still win the last two matches. Christine, get the tank." "Yes Daddy", sighed Christine as she went back into the ship, then rolled in a huge glass tank filled with water with two microphones attached. "The next match will be an underwater Pokemon battle", said Cranston. "We'll use these microphones to call out our commands to our Pokemon." And he gave a mike to Cameron and took one himself. "This is the Pokemon I'll be using." And he released a puffer fish with sharp spikes into the tank. "What is that?" asked Cameron as he took out his Dex again. "QWILFISH: the balloon Pokemon", replied Dextra, "The small spikes covering Qwilfish's body developed from scales. They inject a toxin that causes fainting." "So it's a poison type, huh?" said Cameron. "I'm glad I saved you for this match Slowie." And he released his Slowking into the tank giving the Qwilfish a goofy look, while the Qwilfish had a goofy look too for some reason. "Qwilfish, use your poison sting attack!" said Cranston through his mike. "Slowie, stop that attack with a whirlpool!" said Cameron through his mike. Qwilfish had released its poison quills, but Slowie managed to create a whirlpool catching all the quills and trapping Qwilfish in it as well. "Quick Qwilfish!" shouted Cranston. "Swim free and take out that so called king of the sea with your pin missile attack!" Qwilfish managed to escape the whirlpool and started shooting out glowing pins from its spikes hitting Slowie. "SLOW!" cried poor Slowie for those pin missiles were quite painful if you're a psychic type. "Try defeating that fish once and for all with a psychic attack!" cried Cameron. Slowie complied by releasing a psychic blast at Qwilfish, but the fish wasn't affected by it at all. It just swam there smiling with wide bloodshot eyes. "Could it be?" wondered Tracey as he studied the strange looking expression on Qwilfish's face. "Now use your bubblebeam attack!" commanded Cranston. Qwilfish complied by firing a horde of bubbles at Slowie causing him to go blind and disoriented. "Now finish it off with a take down!" commanded Cranston. Qwilfish swam at high speed and slammed its spiky body into Slowie's stomach knocking him out. "SLOWIE!" cried Cameron as he saw his poor Slowking floating at the top defeated. "Cameron has lost two rounds", said Christine. "Daddy is the winner!" "YO HO HO!" laughed Cranston in a loud gloating voice. "I told you, you landlovers are no match for us mighty warriors of the sea!" Cameron just hung his head down in defeat while Reiko patted him on the shoulder. * * * * * * Later, our heroes were back on the ferry that was still docked for Marron was busy filling it up with fuel. Cameron had Batty and Slowking out of their balls to see if they were all right. "Don't feel bad guys", said Cameron. "I know you tried your hardest for me. Who would've thought that captain's Pokemon would be immune to such attacks like confuse ray and psychic?" "BAT!" "SLOW!" said both Pokemon in weak, dazed voices. Cameron then noticed that both Batty and Slowie had red bloodshot eyes. "Your eyes!" gasped Cameron. "They look just like Cranston's Pokemon!" "Maybe they went to that all night party while we were asleep", said Ash. "SHREW!" shouted Sandy as he sniffed both Slowie and Batty and smelled something on their breaths. Cameron got closer and sniffed to. "It smells like alcohol!" gasped Cameron. "Why would your Pokemon want to drink that stuff?" asked Ash. "Maybe you should've raised them better." "Think about it knucklehead!" said Misty with an angry sigh. "That crooked captain lied to us! He must've given his poor Pokemon some booze before Cameron's match. And those bubble attacks those drunken Pokemon launched were obviously full of liquor affecting poor Batty and Slowie as well!" "No wonder why confuse ray and psychic attacks didn't work", said Tracey. "Cranston's Pokemon were too doped up to even be confused!" "How could he do this to innocent Pokemon?!" cried Cameron as he hugged his hungover Pokemon. "Not only is he hurting his own Pokemon, he hurt mine as well!" "Please forgive my father", said a voice. Everyone looked up and saw that Christine had boarded the ferry. Reiko looked at this girl with anger in her red eyes, took out her katana, and pointed it to Christine's neck. "Like the filthy minded Muk that spawns a mess of messy little Grimers, how can you let your father do such dastardly deeds?!" "Please Reiko", said Misty as she made Reiko put down her katana. "Let me handle this in a more civilized manor." She smiled at the nervous Christine, dusted her off, and then grabbed her by the shirt. "Your father is a lowlife, uncaring, sea- scum of a man!" screamed Misty. "Giving Pokemon liquor is not only immoral and cruel, it's against the law! I should have Officer Jenny arrest him and you for being his accomplice!" Christine started breaking out in tears at what Misty had to say. "Misty, take it easy", said Cameron. "I think we should hear her side of the story first." "Okay Daddy's little girl", grumbled Misty. "Start spilling the beans!" "I admit it!" cried Christine. "My father is an alcoholic! For many years I've begged him to give up liquor, but he just growls and kicks me out of his quarters whenever I bring it up! Pretty soon, his Pokemon started battling in new and strange ways, but always get serious hangovers once the battles were over. I just know Daddy's giving his Pokemon liquor, but I have no proof of it. He needs help really bad!" "Gee, I'm sorry to hear about what you and your father are going through", said Ash. "And I'm sorry that I accused you of being his accomplice", said Misty patting poor Christine's shoulder. "My apologies too Christine-san", said Reiko bowing to her. "Can't you report your father and have him sent to a rehab center?" asked Cameron. "I would love to get Daddy the love and care he needs", sobbed Christine. "But I need evidence to show that he really is getting his Pokemon drunk and bloodshot Pokemon just aren't enough! The reason your Sandshrew and Growlithe couldn't find any booze on our ship is because Daddy has it hidden in a secret place. Nobody knows where it is, not even me! If only there was a way!" Before anyone else could speak, Misty's Corsola started wiggling around in her mistress's arms. "What is it Corsola?" asked Misty as she lifted it up. Suddenly, an image appeared on Corsola's body like a crystal ball. Everyone gathered around and saw something surprising. They saw a man in a diving suit swim into an underwater cave filled with all sorts of liquor bottles. The man took off his scuba gear revealing himself to be Captain Cranston. "Daddy?!" gapsed Christine as she saw her father take out a Pokeball and release a Cloyster. Then Cranston took a bottle of Arbok Gin, drank some of it himself and was about to give some to Cloyster. "CLOY!" cried Cloyster as it closed up its shell not wanting to drink that horrible stuff. "ARGGH!" scowled Cranston as he put a small funnel up to an open slit on Cloyster's shell and started pouring the gin into it. "Why must you do this all the time you spineless mollusk? The only way you all can be winners is if you drink your daily Vitamin B. B for booze that is!" Once he was done, Cloyster had opened up its shell and you could see the drunken expression on its poor cute face. Then the image on Corsola's body stopped. "Corsola, what did you just do?!" gasped Misty. "I think Corsola just used its mirror coat like a crystal ball", said Tracey amazed. "Wow!" smiled Misty. "With Corsola, I could become some kind of swami!" And she imagined herself dressed in a sari and turban while waving her fingers around Corsola sitting on a mystic table. "This is wonderful!" cried Christine with joy. "It is?" asked Cameron. "Yes!" smiled Christine. "That Corsola just showed proof that my father really is doping up Pokemon. If we can take it to the police, they'll have to give him the help he needs!" "And the next island has a Pokemon center and a police station", said Marron. "I can zip you all over there in just a minute before Cranston even comes back to his ship!" "What do you say Corsola?" asked Misty. "Can you show that same image to the police like you did for us?" "Sola!" squeaked Corsola as it showed them the image again. "Then let's get going!" said Ash. "We've got innocent water Pokemon to save!" "Don't worry guys", said Cameron as he put Batty and Slowie back into their balls, "I'm gonna get you all the help you need!" "Thank you!" said Slowie the minute he got sucked back in. "What the..?" gasped Cameron as he looked at Slowie's ball wondering if his Slowking really did speak to him like he did in Garlic Acres. * * * * * * Cranston had gotten out of his scuba gear and was about to open the door to his cabin. However, he was too drunk to find the doorknob. "This is a fine kettle of Goldeen!" scowled Cranston. "There be a whole mess of spinning doorknobs and I can't be grabbing any of them!" Just then, the door opened by itself so Cranston could come in. There he found our heroes looking at him with angry faces. "What are you doing back here?!" scowled Cranston. "Be gone, all of you! You can battle me again tomorrow!" "I'm afraid the only thing you'll be battling with is the fight against drunken behavior!" said a voice. Cranston turned around and saw an Officer Jenny and a Nurse Joy looking very ticked off! "Captain Cranston S. Cranston!" said Jenny as she handcuffed Cranston. "You're under arrest for contributing alcohol to innocent Pokemon!" "But you don't have any proof!" grumbled Cranston demanding to be set free. "This girl's Corsola showed us exactly what you were doing in that cave!" said Joy. Misty ordered her Corsola to show Cranston the image on more time. And there he saw it. His very self mercilessly pouring booze into a poor Cloyster's shell. "AARGH!" gasped Cranston who quickly snapped out of his drunken spell. "Is that how I look to me dear Pokemon?!" Then Joy reached into Cranston's pocket and pulled out a Pokeball releasing the drunk Cloyster. "For years I wondered why your daughter kept bringing in Pokemon with serious hangovers!" "Shiver me timbers!" sighed Cranston in a shameful voice. "I'm a no good sea cucumber!" "Don't worry Daddy", said Christine. "They're going to be sending you to a rehab center where they'll give you all the help and care you need. Then we can be a happy family once again like in the old days!" and tears flooded her eyes. "Well I'll be", said Cranston as he saw the sad look on his only daughter's face. He reached out his cuffed hands and wiped the tears away from her eyes. "What have I done to you my little angelfish?! Please forgive me!" and he started crying into his daughter's arms. "Oh father!" cried Christine hugging him back too. "Everything will be okay! You'll see!" "And I apologize to all of you fine kids too", said Cranston. "I suppose alcohol not only messed up my life, but my Pokemon's and my precious daughter's as well!" "I just hope you'll treat these fine water Pokemon better in the future", said Misty. "They seemed like fine fighters if you wouldn't make them drink." "AYE!" said Cranston. "I'll treat them better in the future once I'm released. Captain's honor!" "I guess I won't be winning a badge in this gym", said Cameron. "Or probably anyone else for a while either." "That's right", said Joy. "The Sweet N' Sour gym will need a new leader. Now who can we get to fill that role? How about you?" smiled Joy as she pointed to someone. "Me?" gasped Christine. "But of course Christine", smiled Joy. "You're loving, kind hearted, and you've cared for all of these Pokemon when your father couldn't. I'd say you'd make the perfect gym leader for this place." "Do you really think so?" asked Christine. "AYE!" smiled Cranston. "Someone's gonna need to take care of all these scurvy Pokemon while the captain's away. And you've taken a lot better care of them than I ever did. So I'm turning the title of captain of this ship over to you!" And he handed Christine his captain's hat. "Thank you father", smiled Christine with a tear in her eye. "I won't let you or the Pokemon down." Then she approached Cameron. "Cameron", she said. "Can you please challenge me for a badge? I want to see how I do for my first day as a gym leader." "You got it!" smiled Cameron. * * * * * * Everyone had gathered around the beach waiting for Cameron and Christine's match. "This will just be a typical one on one Pokemon battle here in the sand", said Christine. "What do you say?" "Sure thing", said Cameron. "Let's see what you've got." "Chinchou! I choose you!" said Christine as she released a flat looking fish with two long feelers on its head. "CHINCHOU!" it squeaked. Cameron took out his Dex again. "CHINCHOU: the angler Pokemon", replied Dextra. "On the pitch dark ocean floor, Chinchou's only means of communications is its constantly flashing lights." "All right, I'll choose you VP!" said Cameron as he released his Vileplume onto the sand. "Chinchou, flash attack!" commanded Christine. Chinchou released a flashing light from the tips of its feelers blinding poor VP. "Vile!" it cried. "Quick VP, use sleep powder!" commanded Cameron. However, VP couldn't see and it sent the pollen into the ocean putting a few Tentacools and Krabbys to sleep. "Now use your spark attack!" said Christine. Chinchou then released an electric attack shocking VP causing it to become paralyzed. "A water Pokemon that knows electric attacks?" asked Ash. "What do you think of that Pikachu?" "Pika, pi!" said Pikachu amazed. "Use your cut attack VP!" commanded Cameron. "VILE!" cried VP for it was too paralyzed to use that awesome buzzsaw-like cut attack. "Now how about using a flail attack Chinchou?" smiled Christine. "CHOU!" smiled the flat fish as it stuck out its feelers snagging VP and slamming the poor plant around in the sand. "VP!" cried Cameron trying to figure out something. "Now try out your hydro-pump!" said Christine. Chinchou then squirted a powerful bolt of water in the air sending VP up into the sky almost touching the sun. "That's it!" smiled Cameron. "VP! Use that sun to absorb all the light you can so you can create a you know what!" "VILE!" smiled VP getting the idea. As it was still flying up in the air, it started absorbing tons of sunlight. Then VP started to fall back down, but turned itself upside down so it could release an extremely powerful solarbeam. "Chou?" cried Chinchou as it saw the beam heading towards it. "OH NO!" cried Christine as she saw the beam hit her Chinchou knocking it out while VP landed safely in Cameron's arms. Then Nurse Joy went over to examine Chinchou. "Chinchou, has been K.O.ed!" said Joy. "Cameron is the winner!" "We did it!" said Cameron happily as he hugged his Vileplume. "Vile!" cooed VP exhausted, but happy." "I'm sorry I lost Daddy", said Christine. "Aw, buck up girl!" smiled Cranston. "You gave it your best shot. I saw how that Chinchou of yours was thrashing that flower. You'll be making a fine gym leader!" And he handed Christine something. "Thank you father", smiled Christine as she kissed her dad then went over to Cameron. "Congratulations Cameron", smiled Christine, "Even though I had lost my first match as a gym leader, it was still a pretty exciting one. And I want to present you with this Ocean Badge", and she handed Cameron a badge that was a white porthole with blue wavy lines in the window. "Thank you Christine", smiled Cameron. "And I'm sure you'll win a lot more other battles in the future." Christine just silently smiled as Cameron showed his friends his fifth Ryooku badge. "Hey everyone!" he shouted. "I just won an Ocean Badge!" "Congratulations my Came-chan", smiled Reiko. "Was I always this enthusiastic whenever I won a badge?" Ash asked Misty. "Hmmm, probably", smiled Misty as she hugged Ash's arm with one arm while holding her new Corsola in her other. "You know", said Tracey. "I wonder why we haven't seen Team Rocket today? They usually keep coming around interrupting gym matches." * * * * * * Under another part of the sea, we see a Gyarados sleeping while holding a Gyarados sub in its coils. It then woke up and saw three figures swimming out of the sub in scuba gear. "ROAR!" said Gyarados in what sounded like a scary, but happy roar. "What's with that thing now?!" shouted Jessie. "I think it thinks were its babies coming out of our mother's womb", said James. "This cat ain't gonna be no kitten to a stinkin' fish!" scowled Meowth as he and the others swam for their lives while the Gyarados let go of the sub and swam after them. "I think Papa's about to ground us for swimming away from home!" shouted James as he and the others swam off into the deep blue sea. TO BE CONTINUED!