Cerulean Gym___
Kota looked at the golden fish, it was slapping its tail in the water.
"It's cute, " Said Kota while coming near the edge of the pool and touching Goldeen.
"But that's it, it's useless, " Said Kota while looking at Ash with a plain face.
"I already told you so, we only have this to fight but it can't, " Said Lily while smiling bitterly at Ash and Kota and looking apologetic.
"How about this! Why don't you take this badge directly!, " Clapping her hands, Daisy said while a seel came crawling towards them.
"But, " Said Ash as he looked at the badge on the hand of Daisy who took it out of Seel's mouth.
"Stop!, " With a shout, someone entered the stadium storming the way.
"Misty!, " Ash, Pikachu, and the three sisters called her name together.
"Hello, " Greeted Kota, Misty greeted back and turned to look at her sisters.
'Here it goes!, ' Thought Kota as he went to the side and sat on the floor together with the little Seel on his side.
As the argument went on, it heated at the beginning but later it came to an end.
Misty challenges Ash to an official Cerulean Gym battle, two Pokémon per side. Ash tries to send out Pikachu, but Pikachu refuses to go into battle because he considers Misty a friend.
Instead, Ash sends out Butterfree to battle Misty's Staryu. Ash hits Staryu with a Tackle, and Staryu replies with several Water Guns.
Butterfree's Stun Spore paralyzes Staryu temporarily, though it dives and washes the powder off.
Ash tries Sleep Powder, though Staryu dives once again. Staryu performs several Tackles and eventually knocks Butterfree into the pool, causing him to lose the battle.
After that, Misty sends out Starmie and Ash sends out Pidgeotto.
Pidgeotto uses Whirlwind on Starmie, but it jumps into the water and attacks Pidgeotto.
Pidgeotto used Gust, causing Starmie to hit the wall and its red core to flash.
Just as Ash is about to win the battle, Team Rocket interrupts and tries to steal all of the Water-type Pokémon and the water from the Gym using a giant vacuum machine – the one stolen the previous night.
While Team Rocket's vacuum is sucking up the Water Pokémon, Pikachu releases a Thunderbolt attack, which causes Team Rocket to fall into their machine and be blasted off.
Ash rushes over to the machine and reverses the vacuum, just as Pikachu is sucked in.
After Team Rocket is gone, Daisy gives Ash the Cascade Badge in recognition of Pikachu's efforts.
Misty tries to argue, but her sisters convince her that if Ash had used Pikachu he would have easily beaten her Water-type Pokémon.
Misty agrees with her sisters and claims that when she comes back from her journey with Ash, she will be a great Trainer.
"Did you all forget about me?, " A voice came from the side which surprised everybody.
"Kota!, " Exclaimed Misty, not just her but the others thought that he left.
"I was just watching from the side, " Said Kota as he stood up and walked towards the group.
"About the match, we don't think we can battle with you today, " Said Violet as she came forward and extended her palm.
On it was the Cascade Badge, Kota first looked at Misty to see her reaction.
"Even if our pokemons are healed, your Gyarados can defeat them easily, " Said Misty as she smiled at Kota and nodded her head in agreement to her sister.
"Okay then, " Replied Kota, he took the Cascade Badge from Violet's palm.
'It's not like I mind getting badges for free, ' Thought Kota as he walked out of the Gym with Ash and Misty.
Outside, they saw Brock coming towards them. He waved his hands at Ash and Misty.
"Who is he?, " Asked Brock looking at Kota, carrying a map in his hand.
"He is Kota, from Pallet Town like me! We call him Big Brother, " Introduced Ash while Brock and Kota greeted each other.
"So what happened to the Gym Battle?, " Asked Brock as he stared at Ash and Misty.
"Of course I won!, " Said Ash excitedly, as he showed Brock his new badge.
"Don't fly so much!, " Said Misty, annoyed by Ash, but the latter teased the former.
The four talked a bit before Kota realized that it was getting darker.
"I am going separate ways, bye!, " Waving his hands in farewell, Kota went towards his next destination.
* * *
Outside Cerulean City, Kota walked in a path created by the vehicles.
His next Gym was in Vermilion City.
But to do that, he had to cross a very big forest. He planned to spend some time here training his pokemon.
His top priority was to evolve Charmander and Spearow to their next stages.
Entering the forest, Kota finds a perfect place to camp for a few days.
It was on the side of a river that flowed extremely fast and the current was also strong.
Releasing his Gyarados in the river, Kota ordered him to start swimming opposite to the current.
Charmander was pushed in the river side, the water reached his neck level.
"From time to time, try to increase the fire in your tail, " Said Kota while staring at the scared Charmander.
His tail on the surface, and most of his body in the water. Charmander felt really weak being at disadvantage in the water.
Yet he listened to Kota's orders, after every 10 minutes he tried to increase the fire on the end of his tail.
Spearow and Scyther went with Kota to challenge different pokemon in the forest.
'I wish Charmander could overcome the difficulty and evolve into Charmeleon, ' Thought Kota, not much inside the forest he saw the first pokemon to challenge.