Pokemon: Radical Redux-Chapter 366: Brock: “What did you put in those pancakes…”

The next morning, after the talk, Misty woke up feeling happier than she had been in days. She got up early not to go train, but to make breakfast instead. After all, Ash and Brock cooked all the time. How hard could it be?

{30 minutes later}

Misty stood proudly in front of everyone, hands on her hips, as Ash, Brock, and Yellow sat at the table. On their plates sat a stack of what could only be described as purple pancakes, despite nothing purple going into them.

"Uhh... you made breakfast..." Brock mumbled, eyeing a pancake that was torn in places and almost looked like a skull.

"Yeah! You're always cooking for us, so I wanted to do it this time, as an apology for how I've been acting," Misty said.

Yellow gently poked her pancake with a fork. It jiggled ominously. "That's, uh... really sweet, Misty," she said with a cautious smile. "Um... what's in it?"

"I followed a recipe!" Misty said quickly, crossing her arms. "Well, sort of. I read a recipe. And then I improvised a little."

"A little?" Brock muttered under his breath. He gently cut into the center of his pancake and watched the interior steam with an unsettling green tint.

Ash poked his with a fork, and somehow the steam seemed to form a skull, something Misty didn't notice, but the other three definitely did.

"So this is my final meal..." Yellow mumbled under her breath. The three of them gulped, and at the same time, they each took a bite.

The moment the forkful of pancake hit Ash's tongue, his eyes widened.

"...Huh." He chewed. Once. Twice.

Then he coughed violently. "W-what is that flavor?!"

Brock grabbed his glass of water and gulped it down instantly, then reached for Yellow's without hesitation. Yellow made a face like she was trying not to cry, as she ran over and took the gallon of milk and started chugging it

"It tastes like... like if a battery fell into a blender with a banana and some... seaweed?" she sputtered, with milk falling to her shirt

Misty blinked, arms still crossed, trying to hold her proud stance. "Well, it should have had cinnamon and blueberries, but I couldn't find any, so I used mint leaves and, uh, some Gogoat milk that was left open in the fridge."

"Misty, that milk wasn't ours. Whoever used this room last left it there!" Brock groaned, clutching his stomach. He grabbed the bottle and checked the label. "This expired two weeks ago!"

"I thought the bubbles meant it was fresh!" Misty cried defensively.

Ash was turning slightly green. "M-Misty, we love you, and this was super sweet, but I think I'm going to go punch my stomach to make myself throw up. Medical emergency."

Just then, Pikachu cautiously sniffed Ash's plate. With a horrified squeak, he collapsed, the smell alone knocking him out, and Vee had to walk up and drag him away by the tail as Chuchu started doing chest compressions

There was a moment of stunned silence... and then Misty burst out laughing. "I'm sorry!" she gasped between giggles. "I really did try! I guess... battling's more my thing, haha!"

Brock chuckled, shaking his head. "It's okay, Misty. You were trying to take care of us. That means a lot, even if the pancakes might be legally classified as a Poison-type move."

Ash smiled and nudged Misty's arm with his elbow. "Next time, just help with chopping or something, okay? We don't ask you to cook for a reason, and... I guess this is why."

Misty wiped a tear from her eye. "Deal. And thanks, guys... for putting up with me."

Brock pushed back his chair and stood up. "Alright, I'll cook a real breakfast before we all faint. But Misty... thanks. Really."

"Alright, I'll deal with this biohazard. Nidoking will probably like it," Ash said, since Poison-types are known to love more toxic things.

Misty was about to offer help when her phone rang. She blinked, glanced at the screen, and her eyes widened.

"It's my sisters..."

Yellow gave a knowing smile. "Well, answer them."

Misty looked down and took a breath before tapping the screen. Instantly, Daisy, Violet, and Lily appeared, staring back at her.

"MISTY!" they said in unison.

"Like, why didn't you tell us you were going to the Whirl Cup? We would've gotten tickets to come see!" Daisy exclaimed, waving her hands dramatically from the screen.

"Totally!" Violet added. "We had to hear about it from a commercial like everyone else. You're our baby sister, remember?"

"Yeah, and now you're in the finals! With that supermodel Nessa!" Lily chimed in, eyes sparkling. "You're, like, a celebrity now, Mist!"

Misty flinched slightly. "I... uh... how did you hear..."

"Well, isn't it obvious?" Lily said, holding up her phone. On the screen was Ash's number, alongside a string of her shamelessly flirty texts, "Your cute friend told us."

Misty's eyes widened as she looked over at Ash. He stuck his tongue out playfully and walked off to go feed the toxic pancakes to Nidoking. She sighed. "How much did he tell you..."

"Well... besides the finals," Violet said, glancing down, "he told us about... well... how much what we did hurt you."

Daisy nodded, her expression soft. "Yeah... Misty, we're sorry. About everything. We didn't see how much it was hurting you."

Misty felt her throat tighten. She waved her hand, flustered. "N-no, I mean it's fine. I'm over it anyway."

"No, Misty, it's not alright," Daisy said gently. "You should've told us. You shouldn't have had to bottle it all up. We said those things because we thought they were funny, but you never told us how much it hurt."

Violet spoke next, her voice softer than Misty had ever heard it. "We teased you for years about not being 'ladylike' or 'pretty' enough... and we thought it was harmless sibling stuff. But it wasn't."

Daisy's eyes glistened as she blinked quickly. "We were so wrapped up in our own bubble, we didn't stop to think how it made you feel. We never meant to make you think you had to prove you were worth something."

Misty swallowed, a hot tightness building in her chest. Her grip on the phone trembled.

Lily leaned closer. "Misty... we did all that, but we never meant to hurt you. You're our sister. We love you. You should've told us, screamed at us, made us listen."

There was a long, heavy pause.

Then Misty let out a shaky breath and sank into a nearby chair, "Yeah...." she admitted quietly. "I know..."

"I never said anything because I thought... if I told you how much it hurt, it would just sound like whining," she said, "You always had the beauty, and I had the skills to be a good trainer. I thought I should just be satisfied with that..."

"Misty, we're sorry. Really," Daisy said, her usual dramatic flair gone. "We shouldn't have treated you like that. I'm ashamed. I'm the oldest, I should've seen it. I should've helped you."

Violet nodded. "Yeah. But don't think like that. Misty, you are pretty. You're just as pretty as us. You're our sister, and we love you, and that's never going to change. We promise, from now on, we'll treat you like sisters should. We're your biggest fans from now on!"

That finally cracked a weak smile out of Misty. "You guys are so weird when you're being nice."

"Shut up, you're crying," Lily teased, dabbing her own eyes with a tissue.

"I am not!" Misty sniffled, wiping her face quickly.

Daisy tilted her head. "So... can we come? To the final? We kinda want to scream your name from the front row like total fangirls."

Misty's face fell. "I—uh... I don't know... how. The final's today. Even if you booked a ship, I don't think you'd make it..."

Ash peeked into the room from the balcony, his cheeks puffed slightly like he was holding back a burp. "Hey, Misty, uh... Nidoking ate the whole plate. He looks fine, but he's glowing a little."

She shot him a glare, and he ducked back out with a wink. "Oh, and more importantly, I can get them here. Well, Abby can. She can teleport them real quick."

Misty blinked. "Wait... seriously?"

"Yeah," Ash replied. "Abby's napping right now, but I'll give her some berries. She'll be fine."

Misty stared at him. "But I thought you didn't have Abby back then. You caught her after, right?"

Ash shrugged, "You know I caught Abby at Nugget Bridge, that's right next to Cerulean. It's not a big deal. She can just go there and walk into town."

Misty blinked, speechless. But from the phone, her sisters squealed.

"Can you teleport us?" Daisy pumped her fists. "Like, instant VIP service? That's so chic!"

"I'm packing my sequined top!" Lily shouted, dashing out of frame.

"I'll start making a Misty banner!" Violet yelled. "Where's the glitter glue?!"

Misty let out a half-laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. "I... guess we're doing this, huh?"

Daisy leaned into the camera, her voice gentler again. "We want to be there for you, Mist. This time, for real."

Misty smiled softly. "Okay. I'd like that."

Yellow beamed from the table, and Brock gave her a thumbs-up while flipping a much more edible-looking pancake. "See? Told you this was gonna be a good day."

Ash popped back in one more time. "Oh, uh... Misty?"

"Yeah?"

"Nidoking's glowing more now. And he's kind of... floating?"

There was a moment of absolute stillness. Then Brock dropped his spatula. "HE'S WHAT?!"

"I'll take care of it!" Ash yelled, sprinting offscreen, presumably to wrestle a now-radioactive Nidoking, with Pikachu and Vee darting after him to help

Brock muttered, "What did you put in those pancakes..."

—---

{Meanwhile}

Nessa sat alone in her room. A full-course breakfast, prepared by a personal chef, was laid out before her. Her Pokémon ate happily nearby, but she hadn't touched her plate.

She was still stuck on everything that had happened yesterday.

This whole thing had become a mess. And the worst part? She didn't have anyone to talk to about it. She was alone.

Nessa didn't want to be here. She'd said it before, and she'd say it again: she was only here because Rose forced her to be.

And of course... there was the incident with Misty.

Maybe it was her fault. Maybe it was both of their faults. It just felt like a chain of bad choices that led to all of this.

Right now, Nessa didn't even know how to feel. Sure, trauma isn't something to joke about or ignore ,but at the same time, Misty saying she didn't work for her Gym Leader position... that was a trigger. A deep one.

And let's not even mention how pissed she was at Rose, for trying to push her out of modeling. And the worst part? Her team was already preparing a photoshoot for her with the trophy, before the match even happened. It didn't help her case. It made everything feel fake.

She had to hand it to Rose, for how scummy he was, his methods worked. She was hesitating. She was doubting everything: her goals, her dreams, her career.

And worst of all?

No one was around to help her.

In the submarine beneath the ocean, Dr. Namba was watching the baby Lugia's activity. He smirked, after so long of just observing, the baby had finally led them to their real target: Lugia, the fully grown one.

The grunts stood in formation, awaiting Namba's orders. He was in charge, so they had no choice but to listen.

"Let's begin the operation," he said coldly. "This is the perfect time to strike, at the peak of Lugia's slumber, when it will be at its weakest."

"But sir... what about the Whirl Cup?" Butch asked. "Champion Wallace is there. If he finds out about us, we won't be able to beat him."

"It's quite simple," Namba replied with a wicked smirk. "We'll just have to make sure he's not a factor. And I have just the way to do it."

He turned to the broadcast screen, which showed Misty and Nessa getting ready for their battle.

"Let's begin."

—-

Later that day, the stadium was packed. Spectators filled every seat, buzzing with anticipation for the final match. Wallace and Maya stood on the high platform, overseeing the battlefield.

"Ladies and gentlemen, trainers and fans around the world," Wallace announced, his voice rich with excitement, "Today marks the final match of the prestigious Whirl Cup!"

Maya stepped up, holding her staff gracefully. "Yes, it is time to see who shall be chosen as a brave hero of the sea. No matter the outcome, this has been an incredible tournament. Now, let us welcome our champions!"

Wallace took the lead again, speaking into the mic with theatrical flair, his cape flowing mysteriously despite the absence of a strong breeze.

"Representing Cerulean City, Misty Waterflower!"

Misty emerged from the entrance tunnel. She spotted her sisters in the front row, waving glittery banners and blowing kisses. Yellow and Brock were cheering beside them, and Ash gave her a confident thumbs-up from the arena's edge.

Wallace turned and gestured to the opposite entrance. "And her opponent, representing Galar, superstar, and water-type icon, Nessa of Hulbury!"

Nessa strode onto the field. Her steps were calm, deliberate. Her long, dark teal hair flowed behind her as she reached her side of the battlefield.

The two girls locked eyes. The tension from last night was still there, unspoken, heavy. Part of Nessa still wanted to confront Misty, anger simmering just beneath the surface. And part of Misty wanted to apologize, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Not now.

They readied themselves. Misty and Nessa held Poké Balls in hand as Wallace raised his arm, "Trainers, prepare to—"

A sharp, unnatural hum sliced through the air.

The giant screen above the arena flickered... once, then again... before glitching out entirely. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"What's going on?" Yellow asked, leaning forward in her seat.

Suddenly, from above, a trio of mechas descended on propellers, sleek, aquatic-themed machines that shimmered with strange energy. One resembled a massive Cloyster, another a sinister-looking Tentacruel, and the largest, plated in dull steel, was unmistakably modeled after Lugia.

Robotic tentacles shot out from the Lugia mecha, wrapping around both Misty and Nessa in a swift, snakelike motion. Before either of them could react, the tentacles jerked them high into the sky.

"Wha—HEY!" Misty shouted, thrashing in midair.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Nessa yelled, struggling in the mechanical grip. "Let go of me!"

From the hovering mecha, a voice crackled through speakers with signature flair and menace.

"Prepare for trouble, from the depths of the sea!"

"And make it double, with maximum efficiency!" a second voice chimed in.

"To protect the oceans from devastation!"

"To unite all Water Pokémon across every nation!"

"To sink the world in a greedy flood!"

"To fish for power and do no good!"

"Cassidy!"

"And Butch, it's pronounced BUH-tch!"

"We're Team Rocket, circling Earth day and night!"

"Surrender to us now, or you'll surely lose the fight!"

Chaos erupted. Most of the crowd panicked, scattering in fear, but the actual good trainers, like Wallace, stood firm. He frowned and reached toward his Poké Ball belt.

"Unhand them. Now." His voice was low but dangerous.

But before he could act, the stadium screen flickered, and Dr. Namba's smug face appeared, looming over them all.

"Not so fast, Champion," Namba sneered. "If you even touch your Poké Balls, I can't promise these girls will be safe in one piece."

Wallace's expression turned ice-cold as he glared at the screen. The crowd quieted, tension spiking like a dropped anchor.

"You coward," Wallace said. "You stoop to taking hostages? This is a Pokémon tournament, not a battlefield."

"Too bad you're too blind to even see that~" Namba mocked.

Wallace didn't see it, until it was too late. A second mechanical arm from the Lugia mecha shot out, snatching Maya, along with her staff, into the sky. The security and police were too distracted to stop it.

"Now I'm not unreasonable," Namba said, his voice dripping with false civility. "You're going to let us do what we want, and I'll let the girls go. They're no use to me, yet. And just to make sure you don't get any heroic ideas..."

With a hiss, the Tentacruel mecha spat out an object that clattered at Wallace's feet, a silver bracelet, blinking with red lights.

"Put it on," Namba instructed. "That little device will tell me the moment you so much as graze your Poké Balls. And if you do... don't blame me for being a bad host."

Namba snapped his fingers.

The Lugia robot reeled the three girls inside its metallic body, then shot toward the ocean, disappearing beneath the waves. All the while, Namba watched Wallace smugly from the screen.

"Now," he continued, almost playfully, "you can put it on, and I'll tuck the girls into a nice, cozy cell in my submarine. Maybe I'll even let them out eventually~" His grin widened. "Or... refuse, and I'll drop them to the bottom of the ocean. Your choice."

Silence. Every eye was on Wallace.

His hand hovered above the bracelet. His knuckles were bone-white. Officer Jenny was already barking into her radio, calling for aerial and sea support. But even with reinforcements, everyone knew it wouldn't be fast enough.

Wallace knelt. Slowly, deliberately, he picked up the bracelet. His eyes never left the screen, "You're a disgrace."

Namba gave a theatrical bow. "Flattery won't get you anywhere with me. Now, put it on."

With a breath of steely resolve, Wallace clipped the bracelet around his wrist. It activated with a cold beep, red sensors pulsing around its edges.

"There. Now, keep your promise," Wallace growled.

Namba chuckled darkly. "Of course. I'm a man of my word... for now." His grin stretched ear to ear. "The girls are quite safe... I'll bring them here. Maybe I'll even give you a little livestream~"

He laughed, long and loud. Because in his mind, he had already won.