Adamo Amet
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Chapter no.46 Wipe That Grin Off Your Face
🕑 Added 2025-01-26 18:53:36 +0000 UTCMisty stirred awake to the sound of loud voices coming from downstairs. Groggy and with her hair unkempt, she shuffled out of bed, rubbing her eyes as she descended the stairs. The sight that greeted her was unexpected: Daisy, Violet, and Lily huddled together, their hands trembling as tears of joy streamed down their faces.
“We got it. We finally got it!” Lily cried, hugging Violet tightly.
“What’s going on?”
Daisy, clutching a piece of official-looking paper in her hands, turned toward her, her face glowing with disbelief and excitement. “Misty, we got it! The Pokémon League approved our sponsorship request!”
“What? Seriously?”
Daisy cleared her throat, still shaking as she read aloud from the letter.
“Dear Waterflowers,
We are pleased to inform you that your sponsorship request has been approved upon recommendation. Please contact the League office for further details regarding this partnership. We look forward to working with you to grow the future of Pokémon competitions in Kanto.”
For a moment, the sisters were silent as the reality sank in. Then all three erupted into cheers, laughing and hugging each other.
“This changes everything!” Daisy said. “With League backing, we can finally hire professionals to help with the shows. No more doing everything ourselves. We can expand—bigger stages, better effects…”
“And more Pokémon!” Violet added. “Imagine the contests we can create now!”
“It’s all finally happening,” Lily said, almost whispering as she wiped tears from her cheeks. “After everything we’ve worked for…”
Misty watched her sisters, a small smile forming on her face. Then a thought crossed her mind.
“Do you know who recommended the sponsorship?”
The question made the older girls pause. Daisy glanced down at the letter, reading it again. “It doesn’t say,” she murmured. “Just says it was approved with a recommendation.”
Misty’s eyes flicked to the cluttered table, where more letters sat in a messy pile. “Maybe there’s something in the rest of the mail.”
Without waiting for a response, she began sorting through the envelopes, pausing when her fingers brushed against another official-looking document.
“Did you three apply for something else?,” Misty said, holding up the second letter.
Daisy, Violet, and Lily leaned in, reading over her shoulder. Their jaws practically dropped.
It was a tournament permit. Not only was their event sanctioned by the League, but it also included glowing recommendations from Professor Samuel Oak and Bill Montgomery.
The realization hit Misty like a thunderbolt. Without another word, she bolted upstairs, her sisters scrambling to follow. Reaching the guest room, she pounded on the door. “Austin! Open up!”
“Wait a second, I’m coming,” his voice called from inside.
A soft click came from the lock before the door creaked open. Austin stood there, looking slightly disheveled but calm as ever. Behind him, an Umbreon lounged on the windowsill, its golden rings glowing in the morning light.
“Oh my gosh, why didn’t you tell us you had this cutie?” Violet squealed, rushing forward to pet the Umbreon, followed quickly by Lily. “You’ve been hiding this from us?”
Umbreon huffed in annoyance but tolerated the attention, his red eyes narrowing slightly as the sisters showered him with compliments. The smug look on his face was unmistakable as he glanced at Pikachu, who had been basking in his morning massage from their trainer.
“What’s up?” Austin asked casually, glancing at Misty, who was holding the letter out like it was a treasure map.
“You did this?!”
“Well, that was quicker than I expected.”
“How?”
“Yeah. Professor Oak’s my sponsor, and Bill’s a friend. I called in a favor to get things moving faster. I didn’t think it’d go through this quickly, but I’m not exactly patient when it comes to this experiment.”
Misty’s eyes narrowed slightly at the word “experiment,” but she held her tongue, reminding herself that the boy had his reasons for everything he did.
Her sisters, however, were far less reserved.
“You… you believe in us that much?”
Austin smiled softly. “I think you three have what it takes to succeed. Your passion, your creativity—it’s all there. Sometimes people just need a little help getting the momentum going. Consider this a push from a friend.”
Before he could say another word, Daisy lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you so much!”
Not one to be outdone, Violet joined in next, practically tackling Austin from the side. “You’re the best, kid! Seriously!”
“Wait—what—hold on—“ Austin stammered, his face already beginning to turn red as Lily jumped in too, completing the pile.
“Group hug!”
As if that wasn’t enough, the kisses started. Daisy planted a quick one on his cheek, followed by Violet and Lily, each peppering his face as they giggled.
“Guys, really—this is not necessary!”
Misty said with a blush. “Say that after you wipe that ridiculous grin off your face.”
“I—I’m not grinning!” Austin protested, but his twitching lips betrayed him.
Misty’s cheeks flushed, and she scowled. “As if!” she shot back, though her voice cracked ever so slightly.
Austin straightened, clearing his throat in an attempt to regain composure. “Jokes aside, you should know that this sponsorship isn’t guaranteed,” he said, quickly shifting to a more serious tone. “The League isn’t just handing out money. They’re going to send people to evaluate what you’re doing. If they see potential and value, you’re in for a deal. But if they don’t…” He trailed off, letting the weight of his words sink in.
The sisters’ laughter quieted as they exchanged nervous glances, the reality of the situation settling in.
“Oh my Mew! Oh my Mew!” Daisy exclaimed. “How long do we have? How do we prepare for this? What do we—“
Austin reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder, making her jump. “Calm down, Daisy. You’ve got time, but only if you plan this out. Want a recommendation?”
“Of course!” Daisy said immediately, almost pleading. It was natural—Austin had done more for their careers in a single day than anyone else had in years.
“So, here’s the thing: I originally tried to add some creative rules to the tournament to make it stand out. But that’s not happening.” The boy gestured toward Misty. “The League is a sports organization. They’re strict about rules, especially since the wins and losses in this tournament will go on official trainer records. Changing the rules just for this event? Not happening.”
Misty nodded in agreement, her expression serious. She’d already come to terms with it.
“So,” Austin continued, “I came up with a different plan. We structure the tournament as a 1-v-1 format. Trainers can use each Pokémon for up to two battles, and we’ll host 24 matches per day for the next two weeks.”
“That’s a tight schedule. Won’t that clash with our shows?”
“Good question,” Austin said. “But I’ve thought about that too. Here’s the idea: between each battle, there’ll be a rest period. During those breaks, the Sensational Sisters can put on a show for the audience. That way, you’re keeping people entertained, showcasing your talents, and taking advantage of the media attention the tournament will bring.”
Austin’s tone was confident. “Think about it. This isn’t just a tournament—it’s a way to show the League representatives something groundbreaking: how Pokémon battles and showcases can coexist in the same venue. You’ll get the attention of trainers, coordinators, and media outlets all at once. And,” he added, glancing at Misty, “it gives you time to rest between matches, so your team doesn’t burn out.”
The room fell silent as everyone absorbed his words. The weight of what he was suggesting was immense, but so was the opportunity.
“This could work,” Daisy murmured. “If we pull it off, it’d be a game changer—not just for the gym, but for us.”
“What do you think, Misty?” Austin asked. “Approach this like a family. You don’t have to do it alone.”
All eyes turned to Misty. She felt the pressure of their gazes, but it wasn’t the usual weight of expectation. This felt… different. It felt like support.
Normally, she would have dismissed the plan outright, insisting she didn’t need rest or that the tournament and their shows should be kept separate. But Austin’s words from the previous day echoed in her mind:
Look in your heart, Misty. Ask yourself if you want your sisters to be a part of your life or not. No one can make that choice for you. It’s your life.
Misty took a deep breath, looking at her sisters—at Daisy, who had always carried the weight of their family; at Violet, who masked her care behind sarcasm; and at Lily, who dreamed big even when the odds were stacked against her. She finally saw them not as obstacles, but as partners.
“Daisy, Violet, Lily… I can’t do this alone, can I?”
Daisy reached out and pinched Misty’s cheek playfully. “Now that’s the Misty I’ve been waiting to see. I think you’re more than ready to take the path of a Gym Leader."
Violet grinned. “We’ve got your back, sis.”
“Always,” Lily chimed in, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.
Misty felt a warmth spread through her chest.
Austin raised his fist toward her. “You ready for this, Mist?”
Misty felt her heart thud in her chest, not with fear, but with determination. She raised her own fist, bumping it against his.
“Yeah,” she said. “Let’s win this.”
Comments
Epwydadlan
Waterflowers: HOW DID YOU DO THIS? Austin:I had a cup of coffee with someone? By the way, what's our coffee situation here? Might have a friend pop in unannounced.
Aiden Steinman
This story has become my all-time favorite Pokémon fanfic, beating out Traveler, and I can't wait to see it improve more. Though I am curious, will Austin be participating in any of the battles, or is it purely going to be Misty? I'm asking this because while Austin seems like a really nice person, he's still a pretty manipulative kid, and I don't see him as the kind of person to put all his Exeggcute "pun intended" in one basket, especially if by chance a powerful ace trainer-level competitor joins the tournament.
