Next to the Fog Badge was a note. Duncan picked it up and read, "Thank you for helping Eusine find Suicune. For this, I give you the Fog Badge."

"Hey, that was nice of him," said Duncan. That was the second badge that they got without battling. And they were halfway through the Gym Challenge!

Crystal climbed up into bed, and told the boys, "Good night, guys! Good night, Spikey. I'll wake you up in the morning."

"Good night, Crystal," said Kamon. "Axel, good night." This has been a most unusual day, he thought.

"Ah! A new day for Pokémon Adventuring!" exclaimed Kamon, as he awakened. Axel jumped off the bed. They all had the events from last night relating to Burned Tower purged from their minds. All they remembered was that Crystal got the Surf HM, and Morty gave Duncan the Fog Badge as a momento.

A half-hour later, they were driving down Route 38, with no Pokémon as stand-ins for roadblocks this time around. As they entered Route 39, however, they noticed that the toll road was closed. "What? The road's closed? Now, Team Rocket's gonna get us for sure," stressed Crystal, shakily. Spike cried out in confusion. "Okay, so Team Rocket's..." she continued on to Spike. Kamon, Duncan, and Axel exit the car.

"Why's the toll road closed?" Duncan asked the proprietor of the farm.

"My Miltank ain't givin' me milk n'more. We 'ere got famous milk."

"And that's why the road's closed?" Kamon asked, in disbelief.

"'Fraid so. Musta been that criminal gang or somethin'... Team Pocket, er, Socket..."

"Team Rocket," Duncan corrected.

"Dat's it! Dey musta infected my Pokémon or something. I reckon Berries will cure that Miltank."

Axel meowed in agreement. The Pokédex translated his meows to, "I can go and get those Berries."

"Great, Axel," said Duncan in relief. "I'll stay in the car with Crystal, while you and Kamon collect the Berries around!"

Axel and Kamon came into the barn. Kamon had his arms full of Berries while Axel had a Berry Bag filled with more on his back. Kamon looked at the sick Miltank. Its cry was weak, and Kamon gave three Berries to the cow. It became a bit healthier, and its moos were stronger. Kamon then gave six more Berries. It became completely healthy!

The owner's wife came into the barn and praised Kamon for his actions. "You saved us, hon. Now the road's open again, and you can just drive over to Olivine City!"

"See ya later, kids!"

The car drove through the road, and off to Olivine City.

"Here we are, Olivine City," said Duncan. "The closest port to foreign lands."

"Maybe we can get a ride to Cianwood City," said Kamon.

"First, let's go to the Gym!" exclaimed Crystal.

The Gym was steel-plated inside. The entire building was made of steel. But there was no one inside, except for the ever-appearing Ben. "Hey Kris! Jasmine's at the Lighthouse, tending to a sick Pokémon."

"A strong trainer needs to be compassionate," said Crystal. "So it's only a good thing to take care of a sick friend."

"How'd it go?" asked Duncan. They were at the Pokémon Center.

"She wasn't there. Jasmine's off at the Lighthouse, taking care of the sick Pokémon."

"Let it go. We can't waste time with your Gym Challenge, we've got more important problems," said Kamon.

"But, Kamon," pleaded Duncan. "With that Pokémon being sick, it can't act as the beacon for the Lighthouse, making it dangerous to travel the sea at night. And we might not get to Cianwood by then."

"Well, fine. But Crystal and I are staying here."

"Whatever you say."

Duncan used his PokéGear to find his way through the small town. Then he made his way to the Lighthouse. It was bigger than he expected. As he entered, he saw that it was a shrinking spiral ascending to the top. "It's going to be a long trip," he said to himself.

Bill was still being held captive by Team Rocket. It had been a day and there was still no word from the Leader. Where is that person? Suddenly, he was worried about his friends, and hoped for the best that they're safe. Suddenly, the door opened. "Come with me, Bill." The person was a female redhead, not the Elite who kidnapped him, but an older woman, presumably 43. She wore a dark purple business-suit type uniform with a small red "R" on the left corner of the shirt.

"Hello, William Microbyte. How's prison?" The male Admin, Conner Drayan, asked him. The room was a typical business office.

"Bad. What am I doing here in the first place?" asked Bill. He wanted to be released, and inform all of Kanto and Johto about Team Rocket's return.

"You know Kamon Stelldox, right?" asked the redhead, named Sandy Drayan.

"Who? I don't know what you're talking about," Bill sarcastically remarked.

"Sarcasm is not allowed here," said Conner sternly.

"Tell us the truth," said Sandy. "We're just curious."

"Yes... I know him. He's a neighbor of me."

"Tell us this... where is he off to?" asked Conner.

"He said not to tell anyone."

"Where is he off to?" asked Conner again, getting slightly impatient.

"Bite me."

"Where is he off to?" asked Sandy angrily, losing her patience.

Bill sighed, whining out, "Cianwood City! There! I told you!"

"See, Conner? Friends of Kamon can be helpful," said Sandy, tone returning to normal.

"Thank you, Bill! Now, would you like to join Team Rocket?"

"What? Are you crazy?" Bill thought that the Leader would be someone named Giovanni, but what was his last name? He wasn't at all expecting some Team Rocket Admin named Conner Drayan.

"This Pokémon always kept the sea lit at night. But, it got sick somehow, and it's gasping for air!" Jasmine said in dismay.

"Hey, Moomoo Farm suffered the same thing. I have a strange feeling it's linked to Team Rocket," said Duncan, somberly. "But I heard that Cianwood City has a great Pharmacy."

"But that's across the sea, and I can't leave Amphy here alone!"

"I'm already on my way there, but we're going there for refuge from Team Rocket. My friend is being stalked by them, and we want to stay at a safe place until those Rockets are defeated again."

"Well, then, if you'll go to Cianwood City, I'll give you the Mineral Badge." She handed Duncan a badge shaped like a steel-colored octagon. "Good luck!"

"Hey, there, kids! Welcome to Olivine Cafe!" said a sailor. "May I take your order? Our menu's full of food for you beefy kids!"

"Uh, did he say, 'beefy'?" asked Crystal.

"Never mind that," said Kamon. "Sure. I'd like the Magikarp Supreme."

Ew, who'd want to eat a Pokémon? Then again, Magikarps aren't exactly endangered, so it didn't matter. "And I'll have the, uh... " she was trying to find something without any meat in it. "...Tofu Soup."

Crystal sure likes the tofu. After a few minutes, their food arrived. "Here you go, Spike," Crystal gave Spike a piece of tofu. The spike ball then munched down on the chunk of tofu.

"Here you go, Axel, a piece of fish," Kamon handed a chunk of Magikarp meat to Axel, who then politely ate up the piece of meat. "Better than the food at the Pokémon Center."

Duncan then entered the cafe. "Hey, guys! Jasmine gave me the Mineral Badge as a momento for traveling to Cianwood. We should start now." Duncan checked his PokéGear. "It's 12:30 PM."

Kamon asked, "Can we take a ship there?"

"Sure, Kamon,":said Crystal."Let's go to the seaport!"

At the Seaport, they saw Chuck exiting a boat. "Uncle Chuck! It's us, Duncan and Crystal!" the two trainers yelled out to their uncle.

"Hey kids! You look flabby! You haven't worked out much, lately." Chuck then said aside, "I can't believe Roger is all about computers and machines." It's surprising to see how he and Lisa raised these kids. Dunc's the nerd, but he looks more like a trainer now with his red windbreaker, black and orange shorts, and yellow-and-black hat. Crystal dyed her hair green. They must really be dedicated to their adventure.

"Look, Mr. Caliduct..."

"Call me Chuck."

"Okay, Chuck, look, we need to take refuge in Cianwood City."

"But I just got here to head to Olivine Cafe..."

"We've got take-out," said Duncan. "Magikarp Supreme."

"Those fish may be the weakest in the world, but they taste great! Sure, I'll take all you three on a little trip..."

A few hours later...

"That was pretty intense," said Kamon. At least Team Rocket wouldn't get to him now.

"No wonder it's called 'A Port Surrounded By Rough Seas'." said Crystal, who was a bit more used to roughness.

Crystal checked her PokéGear. It was 5:52 PM. "Just in time, too. It's getting dark."

"Let's book into a Pokémon Center," said Duncan.

Chuck yelled, "Wait! Just where do think you're going! You're staying with me as payment for me sailing you all the way here!" He then pulled out his cellphone and called his brother Roger. "Hey, Roger geek!"

"Uh, well, hello, Chuck."

"Hey, Duncan and Crystal are here with their friend."

"They reached Cianwood? That's great. I should go there soon."

"See ya later, Roger."

"Aunt Louise?"

"Yes, Crystal?"

"I'm worried about Amphy at the Lighthouse. With it being sick, we don't have any source of protection from danger in the sea."

"The Lighthouse Pokémon is ill?"

"Yeah, I think Team Rocket poisoned it."

"That's too bad." Louise then searched through the cupboards of various herbs and medicine.

Duncan slouched on the couch, and turned on the TV. "This just in! Bill Microbyte, known for his huge Pokémon collection and known as the inventor of the Pokémon Storage System, has been kidnapped by three people who broke into the house of Norman Stelldox."

Kamon screamed in fright. "Bill's been kidnapped by Team Rocket!"

"No wonder they're more dangerous than before," said Duncan worriedly.

"Hey, kids, you gotta face your fears someday," said Chuck. "No running away from them."

"But, they're much more powerful than us. And smarter," said Crystal hesitantly. Spike shook in horror.

Chuck's wife, Louise, said, "And I don't want you three to end up involved with Team Rocket."

"Hey, Chuck!"

"Yeah, Duncan?"

"I want to battle you for the Storm Badge!"

"All right, wimp. You beat me, I give you the Storm Badge."

"Deal!"

"Okay, Crystal, here it is, the Secret Potion. I only use it in an emergency. I'll mail it to Jasmine right away."

"All right, boys, you prepared to meet your doom?" asked Chuck menacingly.

"Yes... sir." said Duncan.

"My Pokémon will crush rocks and break bones! Watch this!" Chuck then lifted up a giant boulder, straining as he tossed it to the wall, denting it, as well as the floor. Duncan and Kamon shivered in fear. "Scared now, are you?"
"That's got nothing to do with Pokémon," bluntly said Kamon.

"That's right, kiddo! We shall battle! Go, Primeape and Poliwrath!"

"Go, Ember!" The Quilava materialized from the PokéBall.

"Go, Croc!" The Croconaw appeared. It had somehow evolved. Kamon wondered how this happened. "Wait! You're not a Totodile anymore! What happened?"

"Count yourself lucky, Kamon!" exclaimed Chuck.

"Ember, Flamethrower!"

"Croc, Surf!"

Back in Olivine City, the three Rockets searched Kamon's car. They had also searched the whole city. But no Kamon. "It's no use," admitted Courtney. "We're failures." She embraced Tabitha, who was shocked to see her upset.

"Look, Courtney," said Becky. "They might have gotten to Cianwood City. And luckily, we've got our Hypno to teleport us there." She called out the hypnosis Pokémon, which dangled a small pendant. "All right, Hypno, Teleport us to Cianwood City."

The psychic Pokémon followed orders, and shot beams of psychic at the three Rockets, causing them to vanish. It then faded away, as well.

"All right, ladies. We're that close to finding Kamon," remarked Tabitha. They were next to Chuck's house, and hid in the bushes so as not to be seen. "Say, Becky, how'd you know he'd be here?"

"I tracked his friends' PokéGears. And so, I thought, if we follow those Caliducts, we find Kamon, because they very well may be guarding him."

"It's just a matter of time," assured Courtney.

"Wha? Huh? I lost? Well, you're worthy of the Storm Badge after all, Duncan! Here you go!" He handed his nephew a badge shaped like a fist. "Well, I enjoyed battling you. You're not a weakling after all! You know a lot about Pokémon. Karl - no – Red, must be your inspiration!"

Duncan sighed. He couldn't continue on with the challenge. Team Rocket was still out there. "Look, Uncle Chuck, I think we're gonna stay with you for a while," said Duncan.

"Fine with me," said Chuck. "And from now on, I'm going to train for twenty-four hours a day!" he lamented.

"Hey, Chuck, that's not even possible," said Kamon. "You're going to need sleep."

"You just wait!"