Cerulean Arc Part 3: Dominion

**"Cerulean Arc Part 3: Dominion"** is the tenth chapter of *Pokémon Reset Bloodlines.* Ash continues his battle against the Cerulean Sisters, managing to force a victory by the hair. After the sisters are taken away, he finally learns what's going on between them and Misty, while Professor Oak has some things to give to him before he continues his journey.

## Plot

After losing Kingdra to Ash's Charmander, Daisy sends out a Cloyster. Ash's Pokédex is quick to point out how this Pokémon is out of shape much like the other one, and Ash substitutes Charmander for Aipom. Daisy tries to use Withdraw to take advantage of Cloyster's defensive capacities to wear Aipom down, until Ash orders Aipom to use Power Up Punch, which is not only super-effective against Cloyster's Ice-type, but also increases its attacking power the more it's used. Sure enough, Cloyster's shell eventually cracks down and falls defeated, giving Ash a second bout in a row and still having all Pokémon active.

Daisy calls a Poliwrath while Ash switches Aipom for Pidgeotto. Again, Ash takes advantage of a super-effective move, in this case Aerial Ace against Poliwrath's Fighting-type. Daisy tries to order a Bubble attack to try and hamper Pidgeotto's movement, but Aerial Ace also works for evasive maneuvers, allowing her to keep attacking while avoiding Poliwrath's attacks. Frustrated and angry, Daisy orders Poliwrath to go underwater and throw the platform at Pidgeotto, which the Water-type does by using Strength. Again, like it happened with Charmander, Ash's eyes glow again and power up Pidgeotto's attack, and she blows the platform back with Gust, splashing the water out of the pool and sending Poliwrath up into the air for her to finish the round with another Aerial Ace.

Enraged, Daisy asks how can a rookie like him be winning against them like that. Ash replies that he went to Professor Oak's Summer Camp before becoming a trainer, so that would count for some experience. Daisy begins stomping furiously and says that studying and reading doesn't make a good trainer, and Ash counters that he's also traveled and done practical experience aside from that. Daisy glares at him and suggests he might be doing something to cheat, like giving his Pokémon enhancing steroids before coming here, which the Pokédex quickly shoots down as they would quickly wear off and Ash had no time to do so before they forced him into battle. Daisy sends out a Tentacruel, while Ash switches Pidgeotto for Butterfree. Once more, and despite considering it a bit of a cheap move on his part, Ash decides to use a super-effective attack against Tentacruel's secondary type, in this case Confusion, over and over.

Back in the city, Misty, Professor Oak, Don George and Agent Joy are trying to get across the streets, which is no easy feat as they have to go through many construction sites. Misty wonders how Ash managed to get to the gym, to what Professor Oak replies he's always been a rather lucky kid since he can remember. When asked why they look worried, Agent Joy explains that Ash's current gym battle has him at risk of not being able to challenge gyms for an entire year should he lose, a rule that was imposed so rookie trainers wouldn't bother gym leaders taking battles they clearly weren't be prepared for, much to Misty's shock.

At the Cerulean Gym, Butterfree defeats Daisy's Tentacruel, which only aggravates the sisters' rage even more. Daisy sends out a Seaking, while Ash calls Bulbasaur. Daisy tries to use the same strategy as Ash with a super effective move, in this case Peck against Bulbasaur's Grass-type. Bulbasaur quickly catches it with Vine Whip, so Daisy tries to confuse him using Supersonic, but Bulbasaur throws it back before it works. Daisy then orders Whirlpool, creating a vortex that drags all platforms including Bulbasaur's, and then use Peck once more. Ash and Bulbasaur counter with Sleep Powder, stopping Seaking mid-attack and leaving it helpless to strike with Vine Whip and Razor Leaf, and finishing with Tackle.

With only one more Pokémon left, Daisy rants to Ash how he should be losing to them, and calling him selfish for it. She sends out a Dewgong, which Ash recalls doesn't look that much different from the one they had in the previous timeline. Ash switches Bulbasaur out and Pikachu takes over for the final round. When they try to electrify the water for a quick advantage, Daisy has Dewgong freeze it with an Ice Beam, stopping their attempt, then use Headbutt to try and hit Pikachu with the horn. Ash and Pikachu counter with Iron Tail, which Pikachu notices is still far from the power he used to have. Ash calls for an Electro Ball, which comes out incomplete, while Daisy counters ordering Encore from Dewgong. Pikachu dodges the attack by sliding across the ice field, but the disturbance it causes reacts with the incomplete Electro Ball, along with Pikachu's Static abiility causing it to change into a different move. Pikachu launches the resulting electric sphere, which hits Dewgong inflicting paralysis. The Pokédex quickly reveals that the move wasn't Electro Ball, but Zap Cannon. Capitalizing on it, Ash orders Pikachu to grab onto Dewgong and use Thundershock. Daisy desperately tries to order Dewgong to use Waterfall to shake Pikachu off, but it doesn't work, and the electric attacks at point-blank range do its job and win the bout and match for them.

Daisy finally breaks down, along with Violet and Lily, the latter even ranting that they should have slept with Ash instead of battling him, much to his shock. Before they can unleash the anger on him, though, Agent Joy appears and declares they're under arrest for violation of conduct and for losing the final of their last three chances.

As the sisters are taken away (still screaming and trying to resist), Misty comes up to Ash and yells at him for bringing her here, even though it was to save her life. While she is grateful to him for it, she hates what her sisters did to the gym her grandmother used to run and how she dreamed of one day taking it over herself, but now it's been shut down and her dream is ruined forever. Professor Oak however comes to tell her that, even if it's been shut down, someone can take it over later and re-open it, although it would take a long of time and paperwork to do so. For his part, while the Cascade Badge technically qualifies him for the Pokémon League on paper, Ash knows that he's not ready for it yet and decides to keep challenging the gyms to become stronger for the League. Oak then gives him his H.O.P.E. Glove, explaining how it works while also telling him of its capacities to study Bloodliners, having deduced that Misty is one herself. Before she freaks out, Oak explains that he's not planning on doing anything bad to her or Ash, or reveal it to the world. Instead, he wants to understand more about Bloodliners to aid with his research, and in exchange he also offers her to use his place so she can send her inactive Pokémon. She takes up the offer, and then asks about the package from Rota, which Oak immediately gives to Ash. Upon opening, both Ash and Misty recognize it as the one Ilene was carrying when they met her, and in Ash's case, that it also still has Lucario sealed inside.

## Continuity

* Ash's battle for the Cascade Badge continues and ends, with him earning the badge and instantly qualifying for the Indigo League, though he decides to earn the rest of the Kanto badges to be truly prepared.
* Misty reveals the reasons why she left home and why she didn't want to come back yet. More details are explained in the *Misty Gaiden* side story.
* It's revealed that Ash's H.O.P.E. Glove has the capacity to study Bloodliners in addition to its Pokémon rotation functions.
* Ash receives Sir Aaron's staff, which has Lucario sealed inside, but he won't be able to release him until much later.

## Characters

### Humans

* Daisy Waterflower
* Ash Ketchum
* Lily Waterflower
* Violet Waterflower
* Max Maple
* Misty Waterflower
* Don George
* Nurse Joy
* Professor Samuel Oak

### Pokémon

* Cloyster (Daisy's)
* Aipom (Ash's)
* Pikachu (Ash's)
* Poliwrath (Daisy's)
* Pidgeotto (Ash's)
* Tentacruel (Daisy's)
* Butterfree (Ash's)
* Seaking (Daisy's)
* Bulbasaur (Ash's)
* Dewgong (Daisy's)