Chris headed west out of Lavender town, since north lead to the dark Rock Tunnel. Since he had no lights, west was his only choice. His three Pokemon walked with him. Well, Cubone walked, anyways.

He decided to forgo Saffron City for the time being, and used the underground path to get to Celadon. Along the way, he fought with various trainers, gaining experience for his Pokemon, especially Cubone.

In Celadon, his first stop was the Pokemon Center. His Pokemon needed rest, and he wanted to find out a bit about the city. Erika could be a bit of a challenge, but he could figure out a way to beat her.

Later, he found himself in front of the gym. He was going to try for his second badge. He walked in, and found Erika right away. Getting her to battle, though, was another matter. He really didn't mind talking about the plants and Pokemon, though. He told her about various plants on his home island that really amazed her. After about half an hour, he finally managed to get things rolling on the battle.

"Oh, ok. Well, let's do it then. Gloom, go!"

"Yes, let's. Cubone, you're first." Chris noticed a change come over Erika. She was definitely more focused when she was actually battling than when she wasn't. She probably realized that both had elemental advantages here.

"Gloom, Vine Whip!"

"Cubone, dodge and use Bonemerang."

Cubone took a glancing blow, but Gloom couldn't move as fast, and got hit directly from the Bonemerang, in both directions.

"Gloom, get up and use Petal Dance!"

"Cubone, use Magnitude!"

Cubone attacked before Gloom regained her feet, dealing a heavy blow that knocked her out.

"Well done, Chris. Next up, Tangela!"

"Cubone, well done, come on back. Gastly, you're up now!"

Cubone looked good, but Chris knew that he didn't have the same advantage over the Tangela. Gastly did, though.

"Gastly, Poison Gas!"

"Tangela, Vine Whip!"

Both attacks connected, but Tangela took a lot more damage.

"Now, Night Shade!"

"Tangela, Synthesis!"

But Tangela didn't get a chance to use its healing move. Gastly took it down before it was able to even start.

"Wow, you're pretty strong, Chris. But I have one left. Victreebell, you're up!"

"Gastly, well done. Let's have Dratini wrap this up."

Dratini was eager to have her turn to fight. And she wouldn't have much problem.

"Victreebell, Leech Seed!"

"Dratini, Dragon Rage!"

Dratini's attack scorched the seeds, and hit Victreebell hard.

"Ok, now wrap!"

"Victreebell, Vine Whip!"

Dratini moved in fast, squeezing Victreebell so that it couldn't move.

"Finish with Outrage!"

Power flowed along Dratini's length, damaging the ensnared Victreebell. She then let go, and Victreebell fell to the ground.

"Well done, Chris. You win. Here, take this Rainbow Badge."

"Thank you, Erika."

"Come back sometime, if you don't mind. I enjoyed our conversation."

Chris headed up to Cerulean City, planning to take on Misty next. He also planned to get a bike, if he could. He cut through Saffron, but didn't stick around too long. Saffron made him uncomfortable. Too much metal, and not enough plants. Due to Erika, Celadon had a nice balance of both. This area, though, was too harsh for him, too rigid. He also didn't think that his Pokemon were strong enough to battle Sabrina, yet.

He got to Cerulean quickly, and headed straight to the gym. He knew that Misty used water Pokemon, so Cubone wouldn't be fighting this time, but Gastly and Dratini would do fine. He went in, and there was Misty. She was swimming in the pool with her Pokemon, so Chris walked over to them there.

"Hello. So, you're here for a gym battle? A little older than most trainers who come here."

"I just came in from Pokemon Island, where I grew up. Training is banned there, so I just got started."

"Wow, Pokemon Island? I went there a couple of years ago, for a vacation. I remember that rule. I thought that your odd clothes looked familiar."

"Eh, I like standing out like this. Mind if Dratini and I join you for a swim though?"

"Sure. I love Dratini, though I don't have one myself. We'll battle in a little while." Chris took off his hat, vest, and shoes, let out Dratini, and they dove into the water. Swimming had been one of his favorite activities back home, being with all of the Pokemon. They spent a couple of hours in the pool before finally getting out to dry off.

"So, how do we want to do this, Chris? Does a double battle sound good?"

"Double Battle? Never heard that term before."

"We both use two Pokemon at the same time. Whichever of us looses both Pokemon first looses the match."

"Sounds good to me. We ready to do this?"

"Staryu, Starmie, let's go!"

"Gastly, Dratini, it's time to play."

Those two were a little surprised to be on the field at the same time. This could be a challenge, Chris realized.

"Staryu, Rapid Spin! Starmie, swift!"

"Gastly, Night Shade! Dratini, thundershock!"

Both of Misty's attacks hit Dratini, and as a result the three Pokemon were close together. Gastly used Night Shade, and hit all three of them. Dratini didn't much like being hit, and used her thundershock as a chain, shocking both water Pokemon, and bouncing over to Gastly.

"No! Don't fight each other!"

"Looks like they don't have any experience with this, either. Staryu, Water Gun! Starmie, Water Pulse!"

"Gastly, Shadow Ball! Dratini, Dragon Breath!"

This time both Pokemon aimed at Gastly. His shadow Ball flew straight through Staryu's attack, and sent it flying back into the wall, unconscious. The water pulse hit hard, though, and Gastly couldn't take it, and was KO'ed as well. Dratini hit Starmie, but it wasn't enough to take it out.

"Starmie, finish this with Hydro Pump!"

"Dratini, Use Outrage!"

The Outrage attack deflected the Hydro pump, and nearly caused Starmie to make a hole in the roof by sending it flying. It landed face down in the pool, with a hard splash. It floated to the surface, unconscious.

"Well, Chris, it was nice to meet you, and to battle you. Here's your Cascade Badge. I hope to see you again sometime."

"Next time I'm in the area, I'll drop in. See you later, Misty."
Chris walked out of the gym, his third badge in hand.

Chris headed to the Cerulean bike shop after healing his Pokemon. He wasn't sure how much it would cost, but he had a solution for if he couldn't afford it.

They only had two types of bikes, city and mountain, both collapsible for easier carrying if you were inside. Chris could easily fit a collapsed one inside of his hat. They all cost quite a bit, too. Thus, his secret weapon would be used.

"Hey, you're not from around here, are you kid. From out in the southern islands, unless I'm way off base."

"Correct you are, sir. And though I lack currency, I do have something else from there that might be of value." Chris pulled from his pack an exotic fruit, a Conu fruit. He had quite a few of them stashed away, since they kept very well, and had a hard outer shell for protection.

"Wait, you're offering me one of those for a bike? They're worth at least twice that in this region, if you know who to sell it to."

"So it's a deal then?"

"Sure, kid, and I'll throw in a service warrantee, too. This thing's worth it." Chris handed over the fruit, and rode out on a yellow mountain bike. A mountain was also the first place he planned to use it. Mt. Moon was his next destination.