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"I'm finally back! I missed this place so much!" The train pulled into Cerulean City Station with a gentle hiss. The three travelers gathered their luggage and stepped off onto the platform.
Misty's face lit up with joy the moment she set foot in Cerulean City. This was her hometown, after all. She clutched Togepi close to her chest and ran excitedly toward the station exit.
"By the way, did you let your family know you were coming back?" Ash asked as he and Brock followed behind her, their footsteps echoing on the station floor.
"I called them while you were sleeping," Misty replied with a bright smile, turning back to face them.
She had made the call back when Ash had fallen asleep during their stay in Celadon City. Her sisters had been expecting her return ever since.
"Oh, that reminds me! I need to contact Professor Oak too," Ash said suddenly, snapping his fingers as he remembered something important.
After catching Electivire, he realized he hadn't spoken with Professor Oak in quite some time. He had spent that evening talking with Professor Sycamore until very late, leaving no time to make the call.
"There's a phone at the gym. You can use it when we get there," Misty offered helpfully.
Ash and Brock nodded in agreement, and the three of them headed toward the Cerulean Gym together.
Soon, they arrived outside the familiar building. The Cerulean Gym looked exactly as it had before - like a massive aquarium from the outside, with its blue walls and water-themed decorations sparkling in the afternoon sun.
"I'm finally home! Togepi, this is where I live!" Misty announced proudly, standing before the entrance while showing Togepi around.
"Togi togi!" Togepi chirped happily in response.
"What's this?" Brock noticed a colorful sign posted near the entrance.
"Let me see," Ash stepped closer to read it aloud. "The Mermaid Princess returns soon! Underwater ballet performance theater featuring Pokemon!"
"Water ballet performance... wow! I'd really love to see that!" Brock stared at the promotional poster with hearts practically floating around his head.
Ash rolled his eyes at Brock's typical reaction. Looking at the poster more carefully, he could see that even though the mermaid princess's face was partially hidden, she bore a strong resemblance to Misty.
"Last time it was a water show, and now it's water ballet. They really don't change much, do they?" Ash commented with a slight grin.
"Uh... haha, yeah..." Misty laughed awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed.
It was true that her three sisters ran the gym more like an entertainment venue than a proper Pokemon Gym. Making money from performances seemed to be their main focus, while Pokemon battles came second.
"Well... let's go inside now!" She quickly changed the subject, carrying Togepi as she led the way through the entrance. Ash and Brock followed close behind.
"I'm back!" Misty called out loudly as they entered the main hall of the gym.
She looked around curiously as they walked in. Usually, the gym was bustling with activity, but today it seemed strangely quiet and empty.
"It's really quiet in here. Kind of eerie," Brock observed, glancing around the deserted space.
"Misty! You're finally back!"
"Where have you been having fun without us?" Violet and Lily, Misty's second and third sisters, rushed up to them immediately. Their faces showed a mix of relief and mild scolding.
"Oh! We ran into some things along the way. What's going on here?" Misty felt overwhelmed by their unusually enthusiastic greeting. Though they sounded like they were upset with her, her sisters seemed more excited to see her than usual.
"After I got your phone call, I thought you'd be back much sooner!" Daisy, the eldest sister, walked up and joined the conversation.
"But you made it just in time!" Violet added, sounding genuinely relieved.
"Oh, Ash! You came back with them too!" Daisy suddenly noticed Ash and Brock standing behind Misty.
Since Ash had helped them solve a crisis during his last visit, the three sisters warmly welcomed him back. They immediately began asking both him and Brock about their travels with Misty.
Misty watched this scene with mixed feelings. For a moment, she had thought her sisters had actually started caring about her as a person. "But no, they're still the same as always," she thought with a sigh.
"Forget it. I'm too tired to deal with this right now," she muttered to herself.
Without saying much more to her sisters, Misty carried Togepi out of the main hall and headed toward the swimming pool area. The pool was connected to the gym's main aquarium system, creating a large aquatic space perfect for Water-type Pokemon to swim and play.
"Come on out, Horsea! You can swim freely here," she said, releasing her Pokemon into the clear blue water.
Horsea immediately perked up as it felt the familiar sensation of cool water surrounding its body. The little seahorse Pokemon swam happily in circles, clearly enjoying the spacious pool.
Ash and Brock soon joined Misty by the poolside, accompanied by the three Cerulean sisters. Violet and Lily quickly approached Misty with urgent expressions.
"Misty, we don't have much time left! We need to start practicing right away!" the two sisters said earnestly.
"Practice for what?" Misty asked, confused.
"For this! The Mermaid Princess Water Ballet Performance!" Lily pointed excitedly at a poster displayed next to the swimming pool.
"A performance? Do you want me to help set up the stage or clean the equipment?" Misty asked with a tired expression. She had just returned home and was already being asked to do work.
"No, no! You're going to be the star of this water ballet performance, Misty!"
"What? Me?!" Both Ash and Brock looked shocked at this announcement, while Misty stared at her sisters in complete bewilderment.
"What! I can't do something like that!" Misty protested immediately.
Even though she had watched her sisters perform in front of audiences many times before, and had even imagined joining them someday, her recent travels had changed her perspective. She wasn't as interested in performing as she used to be.
Besides, even though she had thought about it before, she had never actually tried performing. Being asked to play the lead role felt overwhelming.
"Don't say that, Misty! Our recent performances have been so boring that customers aren't coming to watch anymore. Please help us!" Daisy pleaded with genuine desperation in her voice.
Finally, Misty understood why her sisters suddenly wanted her to star in their show. Their regular performances weren't drawing crowds anymore.
"It's true that even the most beautiful faces become ordinary when people see them too often," Ash commented thoughtfully, stroking his chin.
CRASH!
All three sisters immediately collapsed dramatically and began drawing circles in the corner, looking completely defeated.
"Even Ash is saying we're boring..." they moaned together.
"Uh... I'm sorry! That's not what I meant at all! Haha..." Ash scratched his head sheepishly, realizing his comment had made things worse.