Chapter 19: Mt. Moon (1)
~Azure S. POV~
[Kanto Region, Route 4 – Pokémon Center]
Finally, after entering the Pokémon Center and letting Nurse Joy take care of Misty and our Pokémon, we took the time to chill. Red and I exchanged our journey of what had happened thus far and who we had encountered.
While waiting for Misty to heal up, I told Red I was in search of a Moon Stone that resides in Mt. Moon. He was intrigued by the idea and asked curiously, "Really? What kind of Pokémon can evolve with a Moon Stone?"
Smiling a bit, I went into details about what kinds of Pokémon could evolve using Moon Stone as he listened. Out of the Pokémon that can evolve using a Moon Stone were Nidorina, Nidorino, Clefairy, Jigglypuff, Skitty, and Munna.
His eyes widened, knowing the first four but the others not so much. He quickly went to check his PC, as I figured he would probably get his Nidorino or talk to Prof. Oak.
While I was at the Pokémon Center, someone caught my eye. He was a shady character, as I used [Observe] on him.
[Target: Magikarp Salesman
Description: A Magikarp salesman appears in Route 4's Pokémon Center and sells the player a Magikarp for 500 Poke Dollars.]
Genuinely interested, I checked with the Shady Man as I asked, gazing at him calmly, "Hey, are you selling something here?"
His eyes darted to me as he grinned, rubbing his hands together as he said happily, "Hmm? Oh, yes, dear boy. Look at this Pokémon."
The shady man said, pointing down. In the tank, there was a red-scaled Pokémon with a yellow crown. I asked calmly, "A Magikarp?"
The man asked with a wide grin, trying to catch me by surprise with his scam. He said confidently, "Do you know the legends of this Pokémon? Legends tell that one Magikarp lays a thousand eggs at once, and if you can sell them, you would be rich."
I just looked at the Magikarp, and the man was giving it a deadpan expression. I knew a scam where I saw one, especially since Magikarp was said to be the weakest currently, but that didn't mean they were useless.
Then again, the evolution isn't half-bad. That's a major powerhouse there. Not only that, but it can also Mega Evolve if I can find it – wait, doesn't Team Flare Leader have it?
Welp! I'm sold, but I can do better. Time for an age-old classic of bartering.
Not only that, Gyarados has a Water/Flying typing. Only weak to Rock and Electric if grown to their full potential.
I could be a force to be reckoned with if I could just evolve it as I asked curiously, "How much?"
The man tried to scam me as he said smugly, thinking he could trick me, "3000 Poke Dollars. Not much, considering the payment you would get in return- "
Yeah, I cut the bullcrap on this one. I bluntly say the truth, surprising the man who was sweating a bit, "You're not fooling me. I already know about Magikarp. How about selling me one for 500 Poke Dollars you have in stock?"
The man muttered but ultimately agreed, allowing me to look at what he had in stock. He had a few in their Poke Balls, as I can see them staring dead-eyed at me.
While looking at them, I was reminded that I could save them in my Boxes for later. But then recalled my financial situation, as even if I raised one, the cost of paying for its food would become an issue.
Not only that adding my new Pokémon into the mix, but I also can't afford to pay more. Ultimately, I declined the offer as I turned to leave the shady man.
But I was then brought out of my thoughts as Nurse Joy came returning my Pokémon in a kind tone, "Hello, your Pokémon is fully healed. This little one certainly missed you."
Climbing onto my shoulder, Pikachu cried out happily, "Pika!"
Smiling, I rub his head. I responded to her emotions kindly, "Missed ya too, partner."
But before I could reunite with the rest of my team, someone called out to me, "Hey, you two!"
That was when our attention was caught by Misty as we went over to see that she had fully recovered. Nurse Joy brought her Pokémon, and she took them back and placed them on her belts, which were made to be carriers.
Afterward, Red made the call to Professor Oak, and somehow, the conversation led us to an introduction to the Pokémon Game from when I was a kid, just ignoring it like static at that point. But I got my attention again when Red finally asked the question, as Prof. Oak looked annoyed at us ignoring his Pokémon introduction, to which I didn't want to listen to that phrase over again.
Finally, asking the question, Prof. Oak began to think before giving us an answer with a clear frown on his face, remembering my act as I sweat a bit, "Mm… hm… so the Pokémon refuses to listen to its trainer after just a few days? Sounds like the doings of Team Rocket!!"
That was when Professor Oak gave us the low-down information regarding the infamous Team Rocket, "Team Rocket is a secret society that uses Pokémon for evil! Recently, they're rumored to be conducting lab experiments on Pokémon. Distressing, I know. But there is something you can do to help. On Mt. Moon, just to your east, there is reputed to be a Moon Stone. A Stone, they say, can boost the power of a Pokémon enormously! Team Rocket is likely after this stone!"
With that, we were left alone after talking to Prof. Oak for a few more minutes, but the thought of facing Team Rocket was something scary to face, honestly, considering my Pokémon concern.
But with Red and hopefully not getting Misty knocked out right away, this fight might be doable, and maybe get a new Pokémon in Mt. Moon.
For now, we all left outside the Pokémon Center as Red stomps ahead, declaring what to do with this new info in a confident tone, "That does it! I can't wait to complete the Pokedex, but… first I'm gonna find these Team Rocket guys… and I'm gonna kick their butts!"
Smirking at that, Misty finally suggested joining Red's quest to beat down Team Rocket with a determined look on her face as she said, "I'm going with you! Mt. Moon is on the way to my hometown. If I go with you, I'm bound to run into a lot of trainers I know. I might be able to get more information on this Team Rocket!"
Smiling at that, I simply raised my hand volunteering to help the misfit duo out in a chill tone, "Might as well add me in. I'm going to Misty's hometown, so we happened to be on the same path. Can't exactly leave knowing you two are looking for trouble. Better make it double."
Red, for his part, nodded his head in understanding as Misty revealed her six Pokémon team of water types on her person. I couldn't help but admire their looks. [Observe].
[Gyarados (M) Lv.30 Atrocious Pokémon]
[Staryu Lv.20 Star Shape Pokémon]
[Starmie Lv.25 Mysterious Pokémon]
[Goldeen (F) Lv.23 Goldfish Pokémon]
[Omanyte (M) Lv.25 Spiral Pokémon]
[Blastoise (F) Lv.50 Shellfish Pokémon]
Damn. She's packing serious firepower with her lineup.
Misty smiled at this, seeing where this was going next, leading the way as I followed behind the two of them. She then says in a confident tone, "Okay then! We're off! Full speed ahead!"
Following behind, it seems like she's got a good lineup. But the question is how we would react against Team Rocket…
/////
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Mt. Moon]
Mt. Moon, also known as Mount, is a mountain located in northern Kanto, between Pewter City in the west and Cerulean City in the east. Climbing does not seem to be possible; to get past it, travelers always need to travel through the caves.
Mt. Moon is known for being one of the few places where wild Clefairy can be found and for its frequent meteor falls. The shards of meteorites that fall here become Moon Stones, which explains the mountain's name.
The mountain is also known for being home to Pokémon Fossils. Brock digs for Fossils here in his spare time. But in the current times near the caverns of Mt. Moon, groups of Team Rocket Grunts surround the place, menacingly guarding the entrance.
One of the Grunt members listens through a radio device from the other end to their captain's command, "Now entering the cave interior coordinates A-5. Still no sign of the Moon Stone."
The Grunt holding the radio communication device replied to the commander at the other end with a serious expression, "Understood. Continue your search, sir! And if any fools dare to interfere, meet with extreme force, sir!"
No sooner, the trio consisting of Azure, Red, and Misty arrived, listening. Quickly arriving at the other end of the hill near the entrance of Mt. Moon caverns, Misty dashed ahead with Azure and Red following behind as she spoke to them in a serious tone, "Right there… Right over this hill is the entrance to Mt. Moon!"
Before she could go any further, Azure saw Rocket Grunts right away and dropped down, followed by Misty slamming her hand on Red to avoid detection, much to his pain. Azure then warned the group, whispering, "Whoa! Quick, somebody's there…"
Listening to Red mumbling as he looks at the Grunts, his eyes widening, realizing he has met them before, as he says in a stunned tone, "Wait a minute, that uniform… is that, Team Rocket? Are those jerks everywhere? So, what now?"
After a bit of thinking, Azure whispered to the group in a calm tone in a silent voice, "Good. This gives us some peace to speak freely. Red, does your Bulbasaur know Sleeping Powder to knock them out?"
At that, Red's eyes widen as he smiles, taking out Saur right away. Misty immediately realized their plan and nodded as Red added with a sly smirk, "Heh! I like the way you think, Azure. Come out, Saur!"
Bringing Saur out in the open and nodding to Red, he began to release a powder substance into the air away from the Team Rocket Grunts, coming down as dust while all three of them moved away from them. As the Sleeping Powder dust hits them, they yawn as they begin to sleep with the Grunt in charge, asking in a tired tone, "Ahh… what the heck are you… you—u… zzz…"
*Thud*
*Thud*
They were knocked out, with the three of them coming out of their hiding place. Misty complimented the boys' quick thinking in an impressed tone, "Good idea to use Red's Bulbasaur to use Sleeping Powder. Now to deal with these jerks."
Taking out the Escape Rope from her person and tying it up, Azure could shake his head and shrug at the mechanics here, 'Here I thought Escape Rope was used for escaping here. Guess it works like any other rope, huh?'
Azure could only shake his head as he looked at the Team Rocket Grunt Poke Balls, seeing some of the Pokémon inside shaking as he spoke to the 3 of them, "Say… is it alright if we can release them? I mean, they were forcibly caught and are victims of Team Rocket?"
Hearing that, Misty thought for a second before responding with a nod in her agreement, in this case, in a calm tone, "Hmm… I suppose there is no issue then. These jerks were going to experiment on Pokémon. I say let these go free, I say."
Smiling at that, Red and Azure took the Team Rocket Poke Balls and released the Pokémon into the wild, with Red smirking at the scene. He then says in a happy tone, "No Pokémon should have to listen to these guys if they use them as tools. Pokémon are friends like any of us."
Azure, on the other hand, thought differently from Red's response, inwardly thinking to himself on that idea calmly, 'Yeah… It's not like we capture said friends into slavery for humans ' enjoyment of battle… oh, wait. I mean to help them grow stronger equally. Yeah, that sounds much better.'
Not even needing to finish that sentence, Azure shook his head as the Team Rocket Grunts' Pokémon were released into the wild and ran away from the Grunts. With that out of the way, Red announced to Misty and Azure, going into the cavern ahead of them, "Now with that dealt with, it's time to get into the caves!"
Following Red, the two soon entered Mt. Moon. Each was clenching their Poke Balls, prepared for any trouble their way…