Title: Princess of Kanto
Posted: 10/06/12
Main Pairing: Ash & Misty / Satoshi & Kasumi
Rating: K+

Disclaimer: I own what I own, nothing more, nothing less.

Summary: It's rather obvious that Dawn could call May the "Princess of Hoenn" due to her amazing skill at not only showing her beauty, but her Pokémon's beauty as well when it came to contests. So why is it that Dawn calls Misty the "Princess of Kanto" when they first meet? Is it due to the fact that she saw Misty in a Water Ballet when they first arrive? Or is it because she considers Misty to be the girlfriend of the person she considers the "Prince of Kanto".

AN: I was watching the episode when Dawn called May the "Princess of Hoenn", so a little plot idea came into my mind then. Ignore the fact that Dawn was only calling May that because she was initially dubbed that apparently, seeing as Dawn said "They call you the Princess of Hoenn". If you could overlook that, then I guess you could have fun with this little story of mine! Hope you all enjoy! Part 1 of 4!

Venturing back from Sinnoh, the party of three were rather excited as they journeyed back towards Ash's hometown. Pallet Town was absolutely stunning, and Ash could not wait to finally arrive home and be embraced by his mother. How he missed her so, but still he denies having an Oedipal Complex. Truly, he may not be your typical 'Momma's Boy', but that didn't mean he wasn't. Then again, his mother could be slightly overbearing at times. One does not just always tell one's son to change their tidy-whities every time one is able to after all.

'This is so exciting!" The bluenette exclaimed, looking around like an excited child in the store for the first time. Everything was fascinating and interesting rather than dull and boring. Being in a different region does that to you, but Ash and Brock didn't really mind. Pikachu was slightly amused as he knew that his own trainer was rather excited himself.

Not for the same reasons as Dawn though.

You see, before Pallet Town, the trio actually decided to take a few pit stops. One of them would be to the breeder-in-training's hometown named Pewter City. Brock would want to check on his brothers and sisters, and he would probably just want to say hi to the people he knew. The playboy (or at least he thought he was one) would also probably check how many Boulder Badges were given away as well. It used to be his job after all, and it probably still was whenever he decided to actually stay in town.

Pewter City would be the stop just before they got to Pallet, so it was obvious that Ash's excitement was not due to that either. He wasn't all that close to Brock's family, and he didn't really know anyone in Pewter to find going there worth his excitement and jittery feelings. No, the reason for his restlessness, and Pikachu's amusement, was the stop they were making before the home of the Boulder Badge.

For the past years the city has been getting more and more popular, not only due to the fact of their three famous celebrities, but because trainers from far away would visit and challenge their amazing gym leader. She was no ordinary leader, and it was very obvious by how she trained with her Pokemon. She was a strong challenge, and was known for her winning streaks when it came to challengers. Many famous rumors would spread (most of them actually not being rumors) like: "I hear that she's so powerful she managed to tame a Gyarados!" and "They say that she placed fourth in the Whirl Cup when she was thirteen!"

Cerulean City has been causing quite the uproar for tourists as well. The fact that their gym did not only entertain battles, but also held spectacular water ballets was the reason for that. Most of the time, it was up to the amazing Gym Leader's sisters to arrange those, but many still noticed the participation of the Leader as well. The Waterflowers of Cerulean City were quite the talents.

Yes, Ash's excitement was due to the fact that they were visiting this particular city before heading their way to Pewter. He would finally get to see the person who traveled with him throughout the Indigo League, the Orange Islands, and the Johnto League. He would be able to gaze upon the girl who became his first ever traveling companion, and the person who he practically considered his best friend.

The, now, sixteen-year-old boy was getting his knickers in a twist due to the fact he would get to see Misty again.

"This is the same friend who gave you that special lure, right?" Dawn asked, turning to Ash as walked beside him. Turning red at the memory of his fight with the bluenette over the little item, Ash nodded. It wasn't that he didn't trust Dawn with keeping it safe or not losing it, but just because it was a special gift from Misty. A comfort that she was still with him on his journeys, still cheering him on even if she wasn't physically there to support him.

"So she's the Cerulean City Gym Leader, huh?" Dawn continued, more of thinking allowed than actually asking questions. "Trainers from Twinleaf used to talk about that town too, saying that it would be an obstacle to beat her to get a Cascade Badge." Ash smirked as the memory of how he obtained his badge came to mind. A fond memory of an unfinished battle that could have gone either way. Would Staryu have stayed down? Would Staryu have stood? Though he always told Misty it was his win, he knew, deep down, he knew that she had as much a chance.

"Did she ever beat you Ash?" Entering the City and walking the memorized streets towards the Gym, Ash nodded his head at Dawn's question.

"I lost to her Psyduck during the Whirl Cup." The black haired trainer answered, the smile on his face growing. "Guess it was my stupidity for making Kingler give it a headache. I should have had it lick it like with Bulbasaur." Brock laughed at the memory as Dawn seemed confused.

"Misty's Psyduck is a special case." The breeder-to-be explained. "It needs to get a headache to use psychic attacks, and it had a habit of going out of its Pokeball even without getting called. Caused Misty a lot of problems." Ash agreed with this statement as Dawn imagined how the battle could have gone. Ash was known to get cocky when he was about to win, so maybe that was the cause of his downfall.

"I'm pretty sure that she could beat me at a Water Pokemon Battle easily now though." Ash stated, causing Dawn to smile. This one she knew from a story that May told her from before. "I consider myself pretty lucky to have battled her before she became the Gym Leader." He continued, scratching Pikachu behind the ear as the little yellow mouse remained silent and just listened. Dawn on the other hand, could not help but tease.

"Afraid of her Gyarados, I see." Ash's eyes widened as he turned to Dawn, Pikachu falling from his place atop his trainer's head. Obviously the eleven-year-old was spot on with her guess. "May did tell me that it was menacing, knowing Flame Thrower and all that." Pikachu, himself, released a little chuckle at that.

"Pikachupi Pika Pichu Pi Pikapi!" The all of electricity stated, Ash turning red as his first ever Pokemon teased him.

"She does not scare me!" He exclaimed, Brock merely rolling his eyes. Even just talking about her causes Ash to fight with somebody. Then again, maybe just the thought of her sent tons of waves of denial through Ash's system. How many years has he been avoiding the subject of his feelings about her? Six years? Thank Arceus for Tracey's stories from the Orange Islands!

"Yeah, but her Gyarados does!" Dawn argued back, causing a whole new world of denying words to emerge from Ash's big mouth. The argument practically continued on as they passed through Lapras Lane and turned at the corner towards Seel Street. The street that lead directly towards the pink and yellow gym of Cerulean City.

"I am not afraid of her!" Ash shouted for the umpteenth time. "I'm just saying that it was easier to battle her then rather than now and—"

"Hey, Ash look!" Brock suddenly exclaimed, breaking into a run as he spotted the familiar roof of the Cerulean Gym (then again, who could miss it). He was excited to see Misty too, but it seemed more fun in his brain to end up seeing her sisters again. The Sensational Sisters that were all so beautiful that only Nurse Joy could compare. A blur of blue and red suddenly rushed past Brock though, followed by a blue and pink one.

It was obvious that Ash and Dawn were more excited than him.

Not bothering to check any of the signs or posters outside of the facility, the trio just ran into the gym. They made their way towards the pool arena, that they presumed Misty would be training in, without a second thought. Had they stopped, they might have noticed the dates of performances that the Gym was putting on. Had they read it, they could have most probably realized that one was going on today. Sadly, they did not stop to read, so it shocked them that when they reached the bleachers so much people were seated and clapping their hands.

"What's going on?" Dawn asked, following as Ash and Brock made their way to the front and stood behind the bar that blocked the arena from the viewers. Being new to the spectacle that the Waterflowers caused, Dawn was quite unsure what was going on. She thought that maybe a battle was going on, but when did battles get this much publicity?

"It's a Water Ballet." Brock explained, the three of them taking a seat in the front row (shockingly there were free ones) as Ash watched attentively at the still pool. "Misty's sisters put these on to gain publicity for the Gym." He continued to explain, his eyes going dreamy as he mentioned the Sensation Sisters. "They sometimes make Misty star in them." Brock concluded.

"So this is normal?" Dawn asked.

"Sort of—"

"There was once an angry Gyarados that lived at the bottom of the sea." The narration had cut Brock off as everyone turned to the giant Aquarium. Turning towards Ash, Dawn noticed that his eyes were sparkling and his excitement was radiating off of his every movement. It reminded her of how protective of Misty's lure Ash was, and without asking much questions, Dawn smiled as she came up with the most simple conclusion.

The spot light within the Aquarium suddenly turned on, revealing a menacing Gyarados. It looked like any other, with its long, blue, sea-dragon like body that could send many running. Dawn found herself leaning back into her seat, much like many, due to the small fear of the Pokemon. "Many Water Pokemon tried to approach it, but it accepted none of them as its friends." Dawn watched as a Goldeen, a Golduck, a Dewgong, and a Staryu emerged, the entire Aquarium now lighting up to reveal the coral reef like set-up. "Wow…" The bluenette whispered.

Gyarados then scared them all away, causing the other Water Pokemon to cower back and swim away. The dragon like Pokemon then settled back down onto the mock sea floor as the narration continued. "It liked to be alone, hated the company of others, and went as often as to attack people that sailed over its head." Dawn noticed how Ash was looking around, Brock doing the same thing. She assumed that Ash was looking for Misty and Brock was looking for Misty's sisters. She decided to just focus on the performance.

"So it shocked Gyarados when Mermaid suddenly entered its line of vision." The spotlight focused on the diving board that seemed to be twenty feet high. On it was a girl with flaming auburn hair and sparkling green eyes. The crowd went wild as Ash clapped and screamed louder than anyone. "Pikachupi!" Pikachu called out, and Dawn figured that the girl must have been Misty.

Dawn was amazed as Misty dived from the board and landed in the water with barely a splash. She had on a mermaid tail and a seashell bra. Her hair was practically reaching her waist as other Water Pokemon began to surround her. The bluenette had to admit that Ash was lucky to have very pretty traveling partners. May was pretty, and to be a coordinator like her, it was obvious that she was a beauty to many. Misty, on the other hand, was this Gym Leader who many probably wanted to go out with. She was a powerful trainer, and so Dawn felt her conclusion solidify all the more. She was sure to tease Ash about it later, after first getting mad at him for not telling her.

A Corsola, a Starmi, a Politoed, and a Sea King suddenly joined the previous group of Water Pokemon as they all began to dance with Misty in the water. Dawn observed as Misty smiled and played with them, and the Pokemon all seemed to adore her. The Gyarados was just watching from the sidelines though, a look of annoyance on his face. "She's as great as ever." Dawn heard Ash whisper, and she smirked as she noticed Brock heard as well. He had a smirk of his own as Pikachu shook his head.

"Gyarados just watched as the Mermaid played and swam with all the other Pokemon, wondering to itself what the intruder was doing on his turf." Dawn was amazed as Misty waved her way through the water, danced with her water Pokemon, and also flipped along with other stunts. She was graceful, making it obvious that the water was her home.

"She sure can hold her breath long." Dawn stated, watching Misty swim behind a rock. She must have been taking a well deserved gulp of air. "I would have died already if I was doing that!" She continued on, Ash turning to her with this light in his eye. It was like he was so happy yet so calm. Dawn wished that someday a look would be directed at her like that. A look of love and adoration.

"Misty's like a mermaid with feet." Ash explained. "Everyone knows that she belongs in the water, but she was born with lungs instead of gills." Dawn nodded her head in understanding as she turned back and found Misty suddenly looking at the Gyarados with her head turned to the side. It was a look that was obviously showing curiosity, and Dawn applauded her acting skills.

"Hello there!" Brock and Ash jumped as they heard Misty's voice come over the speaker. She didn't speak in the tank though. She merely waved her hand at Gyarados with a smile on her mouth. Brock explained to Dawn how it was a new feature and that it must have been pre-recorded. An interesting touch to the typical Water Ballet. Misty's sisters overdid it this time, and it was obvious as the crowd went wild. "Do you want to play with me too?" Misty's voice echoed through the arena, Misty, herself, swimming forward and floating in front of the angry looking Gyarados. The other water Pokemon were cowering to the side. Even the Pokemon were good in acting.

"The Mermaid wanted so much to befriend the Gyarados," The narrator was back now. "For she loved all Water Pokemon and treated them as if they were her real family. Sadly, Gyarados had other plans in mind." To Dawn, Ash, and Brock's horror, Gyarados opened his mouth and suddenly 'ate' Misty whole. Ash almost stood from his seat, but Brock extended his arm over Dawn and pulled him down. They needed to remind themselves that it was all part of an act, that Misty really wasn't in danger.

"Maybe she's taking a breath inside." Dawn suggested, and Ash calmed down a bit. Pikachu looked as worried as his trainer as he watched the whole thing unfold.

"Help! Help!" Misty's voice cried over the speakers, the Water Pokemon all reacting and swimming towards Gyarados. The dragon like Pokemon glared at them all as he suddenly spit the Mermaid out, while a Kingdra suddenly came out from a coral and caught her. "Is that Misty's Horsea?!" Brock exclaimed, eyes widening as he realized that the once cute Pokemon was now a menacingly dangerous fully evolved form now.

"She really has been busy." Ash commented, both he and Pikachu sighing in relief as Misty appeared to be unharmed.

"The Mermaid's friend, Kingdra, suddenly emerged and glared at the Gyarados with so much hatred for hurting his friend." The narrator spoke up, everyone staring attentively at the show being performed. Dawn was just as amazed as everyone else, and as a coordinator, she appreciated the show more than anyone. She understood the true hardship of trying to train your Pokemon to act and participate in such a task. She felt awe flood her, amazed by Misty just like she was amazed by May.

"She has two dragon type Pokemon?" Dawn found herself stating. "Ash, if you aren't afraid of her, then I'm gonna tell you now that I am." The bluenette continued on as Kingdra and Gyarados continued to glare at each other. Ash visibly let out a laugh at that, but Pikachu was now as enthralled as the other people in the audience. Seeing his friends all performing out there probably made him appreciate it a lot too.

"Without even thinking of the consequences, Kingdra used Yawn and created a whirlpool within the water." Dawn's eyes widened as a dangerous whirlpool began making its way towards Gyarados. Misty's panicked face was obvious to everyone, and through the speakers her voice bellowed: "No! Kingdra! Don't hurt Gyarados!" Sadly, her words were too late, for the whirlpool was already on its way. All Kingdra could do was look apologetically, as Gyarados roared in fury and was obvious that it was about to let out a dangerous attack.

"The Mermaid was faced with a decision," The narrator began to say. "She didn't want Gyarados to harm her friends, but she refused to let the whirlpool hurt Gyarados as well. Knowing that it was the only way, she could protect all of them." Gyarados was about to let out an electric attack, but suddenly Misty swam towards the whirlpool and got caught in it. Knowing that the attack would have gotten her caught and it would stay put as it spun her out, she vanished from the view of the crowd.

"She's probably putting on her breathing device now." Brock said. "I think that it wasn't Misty's sisters who planned this one out, but Misty herself." He continued, and Dawn just felt her admiration grow all the more. If Misty were a coordinator, she and May would have some serious competition.

"Pikachupi Pika Pikachu!" The little electric mouse exclaimed, Ash smiling as he nodded in agreement. All Dawn was able to understand was Misty's name, but when she heard Ash whisper a soft "Yeah, she is awesome." She guessed Pikachu's words had something to do with that.

When the whirlpool suddenly went away, Misty began to slowly float downwards. She seemed to be unconscious, and immediately all of the Pokemon, aside from Gyarados, rushed to her side. Polywhirl was holding her in his arms as the other Pokemon gathered around her. "Gyarados was so shocked that the Mermaid had saved him from the attack," Suddenly, Ash and Brock let out a laugh as the narrator explained Gyarados' change of heart.

"When Misty first met Gyarados," Brock began to explain to Dawn. "She saved it from a lot of Tentacruel Poison Stings. That's why Gyarados loves Misty so much, because she willingly risked her life for it." Warmth filled Dawn as she watched the scene unfold. Gyarados swam closer to the Mermaid and watched as she began to open her eyes as well. That was when the narrator closed the show as Misty smiled at all her Water Pokemon and hugged Gyarados.

The crowd went wild as everyone stood up and clapped. Gyarados placed Misty on the crest on its head and hoisted her up to give her bow. The Gyarados closed its eyes, making it look almost happy as Misty petted it and hugged its crest. "Pikachupi! Pikachupi!" Pikachu shouted and shouted, causing Misty to suddenly turn her attention towards the calling Pokemon. When her eyes landed on the group, they widened.

"Hey, Misty!" Ash called out, waving his hands as she waved back and told Gyarados to move closer towards the group. The crowd continued to clap as she turned her back and the narrator told them to exit the arena in an orderly manner. "That was a great show there, Misty." Ash complemented, Misty smiling wider.

"It's good to see you guys again!" Misty stated, noticing that Pikachu was doing all it can to not get near to her. Due to excitement, its cheeks were causing electricity, and since Misty was wet, it would be a bad idea to go near her. "Meet me down at the Aquarium in a few minutes, I'll get changed okay?" She said, and she jumped into the pool again to probably congratulate her other Pokemon.

"She's amazing!" Dawn said, smiling happily as she couldn't wait to meet her.

"That's Misty for you." Ash answered, smiling. The look in his eyes back once again. "She's always amazing!"

I apologise for any grammatical errors that you may find. I don't have a BETA and only proofread my own work. Feel free to point them out to me and I will edit it when I have the time. Thank You!

~*..*~*..*~Reignstein~*..*~*..*~