Daisy and I went back to the Pokémon Center and got some much-needed rest. I was relieved to once again not have any strange dreams while sleeping. Daisy and I met up in the morning and we made our way to the Cerulean City Gym.

I pushed open the doors to the building and was hit by the smell of chlorine. Misty was doing laps in the pool, while the referee was holding up a stopwatch. The referee glanced at me. "Oh, you're back! Misty just has to wrap up this set, and then we'll get to your battle!" I gave them a thumbs up and waited for Misty to conclude her rep.

The woman pulled herself out of the water and threw on a towel. "You want a rematch already?" Misty confirmed. "I like the ambition!" Misty strode over to the other end of the pool while the referee prepped the battlefield.

"Red and I were training yesterday, so he's got plenty of new strategies!" Daisy proclaimed.

Misty smiled. "I'm looking forward to it, then!"

The referee held up their flags. "The following battle will be a two-on-three between Misty and the challenger, Red. Only the challenger may substitute Pokémon, and the match will be over when all Pokémon on either side can no longer battle! Let the match... begin!"

Misty sent out her Staryu and I sent out Bulbasaur. The seed Pokémon landed on one of the platforms while Staryu submerged himself.

Misty threw her hand into the air. "Use Psybeam!" Staryu erupted from the water and launched down a pink beam. Get out of the way! Like we practiced! Bulbasaur threw himself off of the platform using his vines.

The green Pokémon ascended into the air above Staryu. Smack Staryu with Vine Whip! Bulbasaur's vines lashed out and slammed into Staryu, sending it flying down into the water.

Bulbasaur started to descend and then crashed down into the water. My Pokémon started to thrash in the pool, unsure how to keep himself afloat. Bulbasaur, calm down! I had to get through to him before a repeat of the previous battle happened.

"Use Rapid Spin!" Staryu spun through the water and rammed into Bulbasaur. "Then use Psybeam!" Bulbasaur winced as Staryu struck him, and then I noticed something. Bulbasaur was floating.

Staryu erupted from the water and fired a pink beam into my Pokémon. Bulbasaur! Hang in there! You can float! Bulbasaur endured the onslaught from Staryu. The Pokémon then stopped thrashing, realizing he floated in the water. Poison Powder! Bulbasaur unleashed a wave of purple powder from his bulb.

The powder surrounded Staryu, infesting its body. Pull yourself out of the water! Bulbasaur used his vines to grab one of the nearby islands and pull himself onto it.

Now use Vine Whip! Grab hold of Staryu! Bulbasaur extended his vines and they raced towards Staryu. The star Pokémon landed back in the pool and tried to swim away. The green vines sped through the water and wrapped around the opposing Pokémon. Staryu shuddered as the poison began to chip away at it.

"Staryu, use Rapid Spin!" Misty's Pokémon tried to rotate its body, but Bulbasaur held it in place. "Use Psybeam!"

Alter his aim! Staryu fired the pink beam as Bulbasaur turned the Pokémon to be facing the pool. The beam slammed into the water, sending pool water flying into the air. Finish this! Slam Staryu into the wall!

Bulbasaur jumped into the air and swung his body around. His vines followed close behind, carrying Staryu with them. My Pokémon let go of Staryu and sent it rocketing into the gym's south wall.

Bulbasaur landed in the water while Staryu seemed to have been defeated. "Staryu is unable to battle! The winner is Bulbasaur!"

"That was a really nice strategy. But, I'm not convinced that you can handle Starmie." Misty pitched a Poké Ball into the air and sent out Starmie. Misty's ace landed on a platform and faced down Bulbasaur. "Psychic!" Shoot! Get out of the way!

Starmie sent a wave of psychic energy out while Bulbasaur attempted to paddle out of the way. He was grabbed in Starmie's hold and hoisted into the air.

"Now use Bubble Beam!" Starmie unleashed a deluge of bubbles into my Pokémon. I winced as Bulbasaur was sent flying, crashing down at my feet. Bulbasaur had been knocked unconscious.

I called him back. Nice work, Bulbasaur. Now we have to see what the rest of us can do. I sent out Pikachu onto the field.

"Starmie, use Bubble Beam!" Starmie fired another swathe of bubbles out.

Pikachu, use Quick Attack to dodge it! Then get in close and use Thunder Shock! Pikachu ran off of the platform and across the water, evading the incoming attack. Pikachu slammed into Starmie's body and unleashed a blast of electricity.

Misty narrowed her eyes. "Use Swift!" Stars exploded around Starmie and slammed into Pikachu, knocking him into the water. Pikachu got himself up and faced down the opposing Pokémon. "Use Psychic!"

Pikachu, get out of the water and use Thunder Shock! Pikachu jumped out of the water but was grabbed in Starmie's telekinetic hold. Misty's Pokémon threw Pikachu into the ceiling of the gym and then jumped into the water.

Hang in there Pikachu! Use Thunder Shock! Pikachu fell through the air, fading in and out of consciousness. Come on Pikachu... Pikachu's eyes snapped open and he fired electricity down into the pool.

The electric mouse crashed into the water after finishing his attack. I scanned the water, trying to find where Starmie had gone.

"Create a whirlpool!" The water underneath Pikachu began churning and rotating. I looked at the bottom of the pool to see Starmie spinning to create a vortex of water. Pikachu was trapped in the tide, being thrashed by the currents repeatedly.

Thunder Shock! Again! Pikachu attempted to release another blast of electricity, but the water continued to disrupt his efforts.

I tried to return Pikachu, but the water prevented me from getting him out. There didn't seem to be any escape from the storm of water.

"Now create a geyser!" Misty thrust her hand upwards and her Starmie sent out a wave of psychic energy. Water surged upward and into Pikachu, carrying him into the air and exploding.

Pikachu crashed into the water and floated to the surface, having been defeated. I quickly returned him and looked down at his Poké Ball. "Pikachu is unable to battle! The winner is Starmie!" The referee announced.

Misty shook her head. "Looks like things are going to go the same way at this rate. Sorry to say, but your Pokémon just aren't up to snuff."

I clenched my jaw and then sent out Squirtle. Squirtle jumped into the water and glared at the opposing Pokémon. Did you hear that, Squirtle? I asked. The turtle looked back at me and nodded. Let's prove her wrong! Use Bite!

Squirtle swam through the water at Starmie, trying to get in close. "Throw him back with a current! Then use Swift!" Starmie used a wave of psychic to send a current of water into Squirtle. My Pokémon was forced into the wall of the pool. Starmie then unleashed a spray of stars that slammed into the tiny turtle.

We needed some way to deal with Starmie's psychic powers. Swim in and use Water Gun! Squirtle raced from the wall and over to Starmie. He fired out a projectile of water.

"Counter with Bubble Beam!" Misty's Pokémon unleashed another wave of bubbles that blocked the water projectile. Use Tackle! Squirtle swam around the collision and then slammed directly into Starmie.

Surely, it had to have been getting worn down at this point. It was impossible to tell, as the Pokémon didn't have any expressions. I had been keeping track of the damage we were doing. We just needed a few more good hits.

Starmie swam away from Squirtle. Its trainer narrowed her eyes. "Use Rapid Spin!" Starmie started to spin through the water, moving with an incredible amount of speed. The starfish slammed into Squirtle and then came around for another strike.

The barrage concluded with Starmie positioning itself above Squirtle. "Bubble Beam!" Starmie fired another swathe of bubbles down at my Pokémon. We weren't moving fast enough, we were continually being outrun.

I frantically tried to think of something that we could do. Then, I had an idea. Squirtle! Get into your shell and then spin out of the way! Squirtle pulled his body into his orange shell and started to spin. He propelled himself out of the path of the bubbles.

My Pokémon swung around and slammed into Starmie. Finally, we had a way to get through. Misty seemed to be caught off guard. "Oh I see, you've learned how to use Rapid Spin? Let's see how you do! Starmie, create a whirlpool and trap Squirtle!"

Starmie's body began to spin and the water around Squirtle started to whip into a vortex. Use Rapid Spin and cut through it! I had to hope that Squirtle would be able to resist the pull of the whirlpool.

My Pokémon tucked into his shell and charged towards the opposing Pokémon. Come on Squirtle! You can do it! I held my breath as Squirtle forced himself against the current, and then slammed into Starmie's red gem. The assault was halted by the collision. Bite! Finish this! Squirtle then lunged out and chomped onto Starmie.

The opposing Pokémon paused, and then its gem faded to grey. "Starmie is unable to battle! The winner is Squirtle! Meaning, the victor of this battle is Red!" I felt a huge wave of relief wash over me as Misty returned her Pokémon.

Squirtle swam over to me and climbed out of the water. Squirtle, that was amazing! Great job! I grinned at him and he gave me a thumbs up, then we high-fived.

"Well done, Red!" Misty commended, striding over to me. "You and your Pokémon are capable of some quick thinking, and I underestimated you. You've earned the Cascade Badge, and the accompanying TM for Water Pulse." Misty handed me a blue disc and a small, blue badge shaped like a teardrop. I gratefully took both objects and added them to my bag.

Daisy ran up to me and we high-fived. "That was amazing, Red! You guys have such great synergy!" I felt a bit embarrassed by the high praise. We walked out of the gym and Daisy continued. "Seriously, you took what we trained on and used it for the perfect strategy to stop her Pokémon. I think it's really awesome."

Daisy chattered to me as we stopped at the Pokémon Center. After getting our Pokémon restored, we set our sights on the south exit of Cerulean City. I asked Daisy if she was ready to go, and the girl nodded. "Next stop, Saffron City!" And we walked off towards our next challenge.