"Well? What will it be, little boy?" Jesse asked with a triumphant smirk.

I stared in disbelief before growling "What's your problem?"

"What?" Jesse snarled back.

"You call us here, make my face bleed, then you have the audacity to threaten my best friend if I don't hand over my pokemon? And you expect me to just lie down and take it? You've got some nerve, you freaks!"

"Don't you realize what position you're in here?" Jesse said getting more agitated. "She'd have to hold her breath for five minutes to not breathe any of that toxic gas in! Do you want that to happen?"

I sent out all three of my pokemon at once. "Do I?"

James began to look uncomfortable. "Jesse, he called our bluff." he hissed.

"Shut. Up. James." she hissed back.

"I knew it! You're just wasting my time!"

"Why you-" Jesse seemed about to explode.

"Clefairy, use Mega Punch!" Yellow yelled from behind me.

The next thing I knew, Clefairy had socked Koffing square in the face, knocking it into the cave wall.

"Why don't you two stop arguing and get to the point of why we're here!" Yellow exclaimed, irritably. "Give me back my Pikachu!"

Whoa, I had no idea Yellow was holding in such a big voice.

"Hey!" James protested. "Be nice to Koffing! He's been through enough."

Jesse huffed. "Fine, you want to get rough? That's fine with me! James! Meowth! Let's take their pokemon! The boss can add them to his collection!"

Suddenly Jesse, James and Meowth, along with their Ekans and Koffing, stood ready to fight.

"Fine," I said, helping Green up off the cave floor. "If you won't give up her Pikachu, we'll just take it back. You guys ready?"

Green smiled. "Anything to repay them for jumping me and taking my pokedex. Right, Yellow?"

Yellow looked a bit surprised at how casual she was talking, but smiled all the same and said, "Time to get Pikachu back!"

After taking out Ekans and Koffing with a few of Kitty's Confusions, Team Rocket looked a bit panicked. "Meowth, do something!" Jesse said.

"What do ya want me to do?" Meowth complained, irritably.

"You're a pokemon! You can fight, too!"

James sighed. "Jesse, it may be time to throw in the towel. We're outclassed."

Jesse let out an audible groan, before throwing a pokeball at Yellow's feet. "If you want it so badly, take it! You're not worth the trouble!"

She turned and stomped away, James and Meowth slowly following in her wake. "The boss is going to dock our pay again…" I heard James mumble.

But suddenly, Yellow did something unexpected.

"I'm sorry we had to beat you so hard," she began, "But stealing other people's pokemon is wrong. What could you possibly have to gain?"

Jesse turned around, red in the face. "You don't know anything, do you? Team Rocket's goals are far beyond your understanding!"

James sighed. "It's nothing personal, kid. It's just our jobs."

"Well you might need to consider a change in career." Yellow said.

Jesse laughed, almost like she'd heard it before. "You think it's that simple?" And they were gone.

"Good riddance." I said, "Now we just need to get out of this cave."

Yellow looked like something was on her mind, but all she said was "I think it's through here. Come on."

The sunlight hitting my face was blinding, but the warmth felt good. It was nice to be out of the cold, dark cave.

We were just getting to the bottom of the rocks outside the exit when I heard someone.

"Excuse me, young man!" a guy called from a bit to the side, "Have I got a deal for you!"

"Great." I huffed, "Just want I need right now."

Over next to the man was a large tank filled with water with something swimming around, though I couldn't make out what. He motioned towards it, beckoning us to look.

"I've got quite the pokemon here, Magikarp! This fine pokemon can be yours for a measly-"

"Not interested." I said flatly, starting to walk away. I didn't have time for this.

"Oh, well…would either of the lovely ladies be?"

Green blinked. "I don't know if I have the patience to raise that thing."

Yellow stared for a good thirty seconds then said, "How much?"

"Yellow, you can't be serious." I said in disbelief.

"Well…I'd hate to leave it stuck in that tank. Maybe it just needs a good trainer."

I sighed. "Fine, do what you want."

We had finally made it to Cerulean City. Though I was still in disbelief over Yellow's sudden purchase, I was excited to see what the town had to offer. Though what I was mostly looking forward to was the gym.

While Green went north to check out the cape and Yellow went south to catch more pokemon, I headed straight there.

When I arrived, there was a crowd huddled around the building.

"What's going on?" I asked someone close by.

"Lorelei's come to visit! She's the former gym leader of Cerulean, you know!"

I couldn't believe it. The Elite Four's Lorelei was here?

"Lorelei! Can I have your autograph?" I heard someone yell from the crowd.

"Please," she said as she waded through the crowd, "I'm just here to visit. I don't want to cause a fuss."

"Hey! Don't you people have anything better to do?" a voice called.

I could see a flustered Misty trying to disperse the crowd, yelling "Don't make me use Hydro Pump on you!"

At this everyone began to leave, though their voices sounded annoyed and irritable. Lorelei turn to the red haired girl.

"Thank you, Misty. You'd be surprised how often that happens."

Misty said nothing for a moment, then gave a stiff "Right. Well, thank you for stopping by."

"It's always a pleasure to see you, Misty." Lorelei said.

"Mm hmm." was all Misty said.

Lorelei gave an awkward smile. "Well…see you." And then she walked off. I walked up to Misty and raised an eyebrow.

"Hey there," I said. Misty jumped as she spun around to face me.

"Oh, you're the kid from Pewter! I take it you beat Brock?"

"Yeah," I said, reaching for my bag. "He told me to give this to you."

I gave her the candy bar Brock entrusted me and she seemed to blush in embarrassment. She gave an awkward chuckle.

"He didn't have to do that. Well, thanks for bringing it here. I'll eat it later."

"By the way," I began, "What's with you and Lorelei? You didn't seem too happy to see her."

Misty frowned. "She's the queen of luring you into a friendship then stabbing you in the back."

"Really? But she seems so nice."

"Yeah well, if you would of heard some of the things she's said to me in the past you wouldn't be saying that."

I didn't know what to say, so I just left it at that.

"Uh, anyway. You said you back in Pewter knew the gym leader? I'd kinda like to battle them."

Misty's smile returned. "Come inside, I'll introduce you."

Stepping inside the gym, there was a large pool behind an arena where we were to battle. However, no one was inside when we came in.

"Hey Misty, what gives? Where's the gym leader?" I asked, confused.

Misty turned to me with a triumphant smile. "You're lookin' at her, kid!"

"Oh." I wasn't expecting that.

"I'm Misty, the water specialist! All my pokemon are free flowing water types! Can you beat my tidal wave? Come on!"