On the winding trail of Mt. Moon, Mark had been walking all day and was now resting by the roadside. The mountain was much larger than he had imagined, and with dusk approaching, it seemed likely he'd have to camp out for the night.
Just then, a soft, distressed sound reached his ears.
"Pi…pi…"
It was faint, almost like a Clefairy's cry, but much more innocent and fragile. Mark followed the sound and discovered, wedged tightly between two rocks, a round, chubby pink body. It was much smaller than a Cleffa—a baby! Clearly, it had gotten stuck while exploring.
"Don't worry, little one! I'll get you out right away!" Mark said gently, reaching in to try and pull it free. But the baby was stuck too tightly, and a rough tug could hurt it.
"In that case, Grovyle, Scyther—once I reach the baby, help me pry open the rocks on each side so I can pull it out safely," Mark instructed.
Moments later, the tear-streaked baby snuggled into Mark's arms, grateful beyond words. Mark, a Pokémon master who loved all kinds of Pokémon—from fierce Banette to elegant Milotic and cool Greninja—was powerless in front of such an adorable, helpless creature.
"Alright, being trapped in there must've hurt terribly. Don't cry anymore—I'll apply some medicine to help you feel better," Mark said softly. The baby's skin was scraped on both sides from being stuck between the rocks, so Mark applied a soothing healing balm. As the cool liquid spread over the wounds, the baby seemed to sigh in relief, calling softly in its cute voice.
Cleffa, Female, Fairy-type, Star Pokémon, Ability: Magic Guard, Modest nature (raises Special Attack, lowers Attack), 0.3 m, 3.0 kg, Epic aptitude, Elite Four-level potential, currently a Novice Pokémon.
"This little one's pretty amazing!" Mark thought. A Pokémon with Elite Four potential at such a young age? He almost wanted to catch it on the spot. But Mt. Moon was a known haven for Clefairy families, and this one looked freshly hatched. Its parents were surely nearby.
"Cleffa, where's your home? I'll take you back—I'm sure your parents are worried!" Mark asked. The baby seemed to understand instantly. It hopped from his arms, tugged at his pants, and called out excitedly.
"Are you asking me to come with you?" Mark grinned, and the baby nodded eagerly.
Following the baby deeper into Mt. Moon, they soon came across a group of Clefairy searching anxiously for something. Mark guessed correctly—they were looking for this very baby. Upon spotting it, they happily gathered around and bounced toward it. The leader of the group, a tall Clefable, scooped up the baby with delight.
This Clefable was no ordinary Pokémon. Mark could tell at a glance—it was a veteran, the head of this Clefairy clan.
Clefable, Male, Fairy-type Pokémon, Ability: Magic Guard, Bold nature (raises Defense, lowers Physical Attack), 1.6 m, 43 kg, Epic aptitude, Quasi-Elite Four-level potential, currently at Quasi-Elite Four strength.
A Quasi-Elite Four Pokémon—no wonder it exuded such power! However, Clefable's eyes now burned with anger as it glared at Mark. Disaster—Clefable must've misunderstood Mark's intentions, thinking he'd hurt its child.
Clefable formed a pink orb of energy between its hands and hurled it directly at Mark. It was Clefable's Moonblast attack! Mark immediately sent out Grovyle and Scyther to intercept it. Grovyle's Razor Leaf and Scyther's Slash barely managed to block the attack, but the sheer force still knocked them aside.
Both Pokémon recovered quickly, steadying their stance before counterattacking. Grovyle used Absorb with all its might, and Scyther followed with a Double-Edge Slash. But Clefable's right hand swirled mysteriously, and a powerful force radiated outward, blocking both attacks at once. Mark knew it was Cosmic Power, a move that boosts both physical and special defenses. This was truly Quasi-Elite Four strength—Grovyle and Scyther simply couldn't stand against it.
The baby Cleffa was beside itself, hopping anxiously. Torn between its father and the kind older brother who helped it, it didn't want either to be hurt.
Just then, a melodic voice rang out. A nearby Clefairy had used Charm, not to attack, but to stop the fight. The battlefield stilled as Clefairy approached and seemed to speak to Clefable. After a moment, Clefable's angry face softened, and it bowed apologetically before Mark—clearly explaining everything.
"No need to worry!" Mark chuckled heartily. "I should be thanking you! Thanks to this battle, my Pokémon have truly experienced a higher level of strength. I'm sure they'll train even harder now!"
Soon, the mother Clefairy carried the baby over to Mark, grateful and smiling. Seeing the family reunited, Mark felt at peace and prepared to leave.
But Clefable suddenly blocked his path, repeatedly pointing in one direction and nudging Mark's body insistently.
"So, you want me to come with you somewhere?" Mark asked. Clefable nodded without hesitation. Trusting its intention, Mark followed them into a mysterious cave.
Inside, a massive meteorite lay at the center. Around it, dozens of Clefairy danced in circles, clearly worshipping it as a divine relic. Clefable carefully took two stones from beneath the meteorite and handed them to Mark.
"Is this… a Moon Stone, Clefable? Are you giving this to me?" Mark asked.
Clefable nodded solemnly. The gesture was both gratitude and apology.
"Well then, I'll accept it! Thank you!" Mark took the stones eagerly, immediately captivated by their beauty. Their color, texture, and flawless clarity surpassed even the rare Moon Stone he had seen at the museum before. This was the finest Moon Stone—a priceless gift.
The next morning, Mark woke up in the Clefairy's cave. In the distance, Grovyle and Scyther were tirelessly training. Yesterday's battle had clearly left an impression—they were determined to grow stronger!
"Clefable, Clefairy, and little Cleffa! I'm leaving now—goodbye! And Cleffa, you need to be careful! Don't go wandering into danger on your own!" Mark called warmly.
Tears welled up in the baby's eyes. It clung to Mark's pants, pleading silently for him not to leave. It even hopped along, trying to follow him.
Mark sighed. "No, Cleffa—you're still too young, and your parents are here. I can't take you with me. But how about this? After the tournament, I'll come back to visit. By then, you'll have grown a lot. If you still want to travel with me, we can go on an adventure together. How does that sound?"
The baby nodded through tears, understanding.
Mark bid farewell to the family and left Mt. Moon, certain they would meet again one day.
His next destination—Cerulean City—was just around the corner.
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