At the foot of Mt. Moon.
The original trio was traveling at a leisurely pace. Brock, being the local expert, was busy with his trivia:
"Mt. Moon is a peaceful, secluded paradise. Every year, travelers flock here for the scenery and to find the mysterious Moon Stones. It's a literal goldmine for treasure hunters."
"Cross this mountain path, and we'll hit Cerulean City. Ash, you wanted a Gym match, right? The Cerulean Gym is waiting for you there."
Ash nodded, wishing he could sprout wings and fly straight to the arena. But as they walked, a chill wind began to bite at his back, and the atmosphere grew unnervingly gloomy. They had reached the cavern entrance without spotting a single soul. Is this a tourist spot for the afterlife? Can we get some 'living world' vibes here, please?
Then, a wooden warning sign caught their eyes: "WARNING: Large swarms of Zubat spotted recently. Proceed with caution."
"Zubats?" The trio blinked. For Brock and Misty, seeing Zubats in a cave was like seeing pigeons in a park, but a formal warning sign? That was rare.
Entering the cavern, they found massive high-intensity lamps lining the walls every few meters—a tourist-friendly addition that saved them from needing a "Flash" Technical Machine. However, this artificial brilliance had clearly wrecked the local ecosystem, especially for the light-sensitive inhabitants.
Flap-flap-flap!
Suddenly, frantic cries and the chaotic sound of beating wings echoed through the silence. Ash, triggered by his "Heroic Justice" instinct, charged ahead. In a dark corner, a young man in a white lab coat was being swarmed by a mob of angry Zubats.
"O righteous passerby, save me!"
The word righteous hit Ash like a physical high. "If you're asking that sincerely, then I shall show mercy and deliver you! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt—ten-thousand-volt version!"
Zzzzt-pop!
Pikachu's low-output shock fried the Zubats and gave the lab-coat guy a free session of electro-therapy. As the singed bats tried to flee, a sharp glint appeared in Brock's narrowed eyes. With professional precision, he snatched a Pokéball and snagged the largest one of the bunch.
Ash scrambled to catch one too, but his hand accidentally brushed against his Pokédex.
Pokédex: "Beep... Zubat, the Bat Pokémon. Inedible. DANGER WARNING!! DANGER WARNING!!"
The device began flashing a crimson warning light as if a nuclear meltdown was imminent. By the time Ash got his Pokéball out, the Zubats were long gone.
"Damn it!" Ash growled, glaring at Brock, who was flashing a row of pearly white teeth. "Is this your 'Stone Will' at work? Stealing a catch while I'm distracted? How pathetic!"
Brock chuckled. "The stone will is a family tradition; I've got enough brothers to inherit that. Being a Pokémon Breeder is my true calling!"
The lab-coat guy, Hikawa Okamoto, turned out to be a fossil enthusiast. To thank them, he offered Ash a choice between two ancient finds: a Dome Fossil and a Helix Fossil.
Ash pointed at the spiral-shaped Helix Fossil. "This one looks like a fossilized turd."
Hikawa nearly had a stroke. "It is NOT! This is a pure Helix Fossil! At a major museum, you could use special tech to resurrect this into an ancient Pokémon!"
Ash ultimately picked the Dome Fossil, figuring it would make a great blunt-force projectile for Team Rocket. Continuing their journey, they stumbled upon a sign: "Official Mt. Moon Clefairy Shop, 50m to the left. Welcome!"
They emerged into a hidden plateau, an oasis in the middle of the mountain, featuring a single shop with a sign depicting a cute pink devil.
"Welcome~~ everything is free here~~"
A soft, sweet, yet utterly exhausted voice drifted from the counter. A girl in a sun hat was slumped over the desk, half-asleep. Next to her lay a Bulbasaur that looked like a wilted clove of garlic in desperate need of fertilizer.