Misty has a problem: her Psyduck can't swim. It doesn't even like water! So when Tracey stops by the Cerulean Gym for a visit, the two Trainers give Psyduck some swimming lessons, with absolutely no success. Then Sakura, a familiar face from Ecruteak City, stops by the Gym to challenge her friend Misty and earn the Cascade Badge. That's when Misty gets a big surprise: the Gym ran out of badges, and her sisters forgot to tell her! The Cascade Badges are made by an artisan in Rifure Village, so Misty, Tracey, and Sakura head out to find him. Near the village, they rescue an injured man who turns out to be Kinzo, the very man they need.

Even with an injured ankle, Kinzo is a tough old man. He won't just hand over the badges; he wants everyone to work for them. That means waking up at 4 AM to run laps, split wood, and craft their own badges. If they don't do it right, they'll have to wake up the next morning and do it all over again!