Shiva opened his eyes slowly. He was laying in the grass; Athena and Pikachu were staring down at him. Athena was crying.
"Thank Arceus you're all right!" she exclaimed, grabbing his arms and hugging him.
"Ow, Athena, hold on," Shiva said, sitting up and shaking his head. "What happened?"
"K captured Athena, but we rescued her," Gary said. "Thanks to Auron."
"I'm glad you're all right," Shiva said. "Thank you guys so much."
"Hey, you have to help your friends out, right?" Ash said.
"How are you feeling?" Brock asked Shiva. "It looked like you got hit pretty hard."
"I'm fine," Shiva said. "My head hurts, but that's about it."
"We should go back to settle down for the rest of the day to make sure you're all right," Brock said.
"No, I'm fine," Shiva said, standing up shakily. He took a step and stumbled; Gary caught him under the arms as he fell.
"You definitely need to take a break," he said. "You're in no shape to travel right now."
"Are you going to stick around, Gary?" Ash asked.
"I can't," Gary said. "I'm worried about this Hunter K guy. He said he was hired to capture Athena. I need to do some research and figure out what's going on."
"Wow, thanks Gary," Athena said.
"No problem. Scumbags like that need to be taken care of."
"It was great to meet you," Shiva said from the ground.
"You too. Take it easy," he said. "I'll be in touch."
"See ya!" Ash called out as Gary walked away.
"We'll set up camp," Brock said to Shiva. "You just rest."
"No problem," Shiva said as he lay in the grass. Auron went to help Brock and Ash as Athena sat down next to Shiva.
"I was really worried about you," Athena said.
"Forget about me, what about you? How'd you get captured?"
"I tried to rescue you after that Galvantuala used Electroweb," Athena said. "And I wasn't paying attention."
"Well, it doesn't matter now," Shiva said. "Everyone's fine."
"Who would have paid to capture me?" Athena asked uncomfortably.
"No idea. But Gary said he'll find out." He sighed. "Kanto is a strange place."
The next day, the group found themselves in front of Mt. Moon.
"It's enormous," Shiva said in awe. "How long is it going to take us to get through?"
"Hopefully not more than a day," Brock said. "Shall we?"
They descended into the cave and were quickly plunged into darkness. There was a leathery flapping of wings, and Athena shrieked.
"Relax, it's probably just a Zubat," Brock said.
There was a flash of red light, and Hanuman appeared, lighting the tunnel. A Sandshrew quickly burrowed underground.
This… is a long tunnel, Auron said.
"Well, we'd better get moving then," Shiva replied.
As they walked, they heard a soft, repetitive plink, which gradually grew into a much louder THUNK as they grew closer.
"What the heck is that?" Ash said. The tunnel curved and opened into a large cavern. A silver-haired man swung with a pickaxe at the far wall. An Excadrill stood next to him, digging into the rock with its claws.
Brock stared in shock. "Is that…"
"Steven Stone?" Ash called out. The man and his Excadrill turned, and the man's face lit up in recognition.
"Ash Ketchum? And Brock?"
"Steven, how's it going?" Ash said, running up to him.
"Pretty good!" Steven said, laying down his pickaxe. "You look well!"
"I've been awesome!"
"I don't believe we've met," Steven said, extending a hand to Shiva.
"I'm Shiva," he said, taking it. "Nice to meet you. These are my friends Auron, Athena, and Hanuman." Greetings were exchanged.
"Your Pokémon can talk? That's impressive."
"What are you doing here in Kanto?" Ash asked him.
"Looking for rocks," he said. "Moon Stones, specifically. I've heard that the ones from here are more potent than the ones in Hoenn and Sinnoh."
"That makes sense," Shiva said.
"So, what brings the three of you here?"
"We're taking on the Indigo League," Athena said. "We're heading to Cerulean to get our third badge."
"That's great," Steven said. "Is this your first league challenge?"
"We ran through the Ever Grande Conference and Lily of the Valley Conference already, actually," Shiva said. "This'll be our third league challenge."
"That's impressive," Steven said. "I'm actually from Hoenn. Believe it or not, I used to be the Champion!"
"Hey Steven, can we have a battle?" Ash asked. "I remember how powerful you were with your Aggron back in Granite Cave. I want to see how much better I've gotten."
"Sure, we could use a break, couldn't we, Excadrill?" Excadrill nodded. "How does three-on-three sound?"
"Fine with me!" Ash said. "This is going to be my first real match since leaving Pallet Town!"
They squared off in the center of the large cavern. Brock stood between them, ready to referee.
"This will be a three-on-three match! Both sides may substitute Pokémon! And… begin!"
"Sceptile, I choose you!" Sceptile appeared, a twig hanging from the corner of its mouth.
"Go, Aggron!" Aggron appeared, roaring.
"All right Sceptile, use Leaf Blade!"
Green light glowed around the leaves on Sceptile's wrists, forming twin blades. Sceptile ran at Aggron, arms crossed, and sliced at him. Aggron stumbled back, but quickly recovered.
"All right Aggron, use Dragon Claw!" Aggron's claws glowed white, and it slashed at Sceptile.
"Use Agility to dodge it!" Ash called out. Sceptile jumped out of the way just in time.
"Thunder!" Steven called out. Aggron pointed its arms at Sceptile, and a wicked bolt of lightning hit him in midair. Sceptile crashed to the ground and struggled back to his feet.
"You can do it, Sceptile! Use Leaf Blade again!"
Sceptile ran at Aggron, arms crossed.
"Hyper Beam!"
As Sceptile ran at Aggron, an orange ball of energy began to form in its mouth.
"You can do it, Sceptile!"
He's not thinking very stragetically, Auron said to Shiva and Athena.
Sceptile leapt at Aggron, just as Aggron loosed the cannon of energy from its mouth. Sceptile took the full force of the attack and hit the ground.
"Sceptile is no longer able to battle!" Brock declared.
"Get some rest, Sceptile," Ash said, recalling him into his Pokéball.
"Come back, Aggron," Steven said.
"Get in there, Pikachu!" Pikachu bounded to the center of the room, cheeks sparking with anticipation.
"Heatran, let's go!" Steven tossed a Pokéball into the makeshift arena and a Heatran appeared.
"Woah, where'd you get that?" Ash asked in amazement.
"Stark Mountain," Steven said. "I have a house nearby. But enough talking, get on with the battle!"
"Right! Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
A jolt of electricity shot from Pikachu's body into Heatran. Heatran slid back slightly, but shook off the attack easily.
"Use Earth Power!"
Heatran roared and stomped its feet. Glowing cracks formed in the ground and shot toward Pikachu, knocking him into the air.
"Looks like he hasn't forgotten much," Shiva said. Pikachu landed with a thud, and did not get back up.
"Pikachu is no longer able to battle!" Brock declared.
"Are you okay, buddy?" Ash picked Pikachu up into his arms, and Pikachu smiled weakly back up at him.
"It's all up to you, Floatzel!" Ash threw the ball and Floatzel appeared, arms crossed.
"Good choice," Steven said. "Heatran, use Sunny Day!"
A ball of light formed in Heatran's mouth and shot to the ceiling of the cavern, casting a bright light.
"I think I know what's going to happen," Shiva said to Auron and Athena.
"Aqua Jet, now!"
Floatzel cloaked itself in water and shot toward Heatran like a bullet, knocking it off balance.
"Nice one, Ash!" Brock called.
"Heatran, Earth Power!"
"Floatzel, dodge it!"
Floatzel leapt gracefully into the air, avoiding Heatran's attack.
"Great! Now use Water Pulse!"
Floatzel landed and began forming an orb of water in its hands.
"Heatran, Solar Beam!"
A ball of intense white light formed in front of Heatran's mouth, drawing energy from the Sunny Day. Floatzel loosed its orb of water, as Heatran's Solar Beam erupted from its mouth, blowing apart the Water Pulse into tiny droplets and engulfing Floatzel. Floatzel flew across the cavern and fell to the ground, defeated.
"Called it," Shiva said.
"Floatzel is no longer able to battle! The winner is Steven!"
"Good job, Floatzel," Ash said as he recalled him.
"That was not too bad, Ash," Steven said to him, walking up to the group.
"What are you talking about? I didn't beat a single one of your Pokémon!"
"You just have to keep practicing, that's all."
"I've been practicing for four years now. I should be better than this."
"You're being too hard on yourself," Shiva said, putting hand on his shoulder. "Sure, you have a lot to learn. But who doesn't?"
"Just keep at it, and you'll keep getting better," Steven said. "Can you honestly say that you haven't improved since you started your journey?"
Ash looked at Pikachu, who smiled at him.
"I guess you're right," he said.
"Hey Steven, how'd you like to fight me?" Shiva said. "I defeated Wallace in Hoenn. I want to see how you compare."
"You beat Wallace?" Steven asked in surprise. "The Hoenn Champion?"
"There weren't enough people entered in the conference, so all I had to do was face the Elite Four and the Champion in order," Shiva said. "We pulled through."
"I'd be happy to face you," Steven said. "But I don't think my Pokémon are up to it yet. They haven't recovered from the last battle."
"Blissey and I can take care of them," Brock offered, calling out his Blissey.
An hour later, Shiva and Steven were facing off in the center of the cavern. Steven's face was intense; Shiva looked calm and assured.
"This will be a three-on-three match! Substitutions are allowed! And… begin!"
"Metagross, let's go!" Steven said, throwing his Pokéball into the ring.
"Let's do this, Seraphim," Shiva said as he casually tossed a Pokéball into the arena. Seraphim appeared, hovering in midair.
"Metagross, use Meteor Mash!"
Metagross' metal fist began glowing gold, and it punched at Seraphim, who effortlessly guarded against it with Protect, before retaliating with a swift and powerful Fire Blast. Metagross skidded backward before recovering. Steven's eyes widened in surprise.
"Use Psychic!"
Seraphim was surrounded by a faint purple light and was suddenly slammed into the ground. The light faded, and Seraphim rose up out of the ground, shaking its head. It scowled at Metagross, and released a searing Flamethrower. Metagross collapsed to the ground.
"Metagross is no longer able to battle!"
"That was impressive," Steven said as he called back his Pokémon. "Your Pokémon is well trained." He grabbed another Pokéball from his belt.
"Let's go Claydol!" Claydol appeared, levitating in front of Seraphim.
"Use Light Screen!" A golden prism appeared around Claydol before fading.
"Clever," Shiva said. "But that won't save you."
A sphere of purple energy formed in front of Seraphim's mouth, and it fired the Shadow Ball straight at Claydol. It passed through the Light Screen and its power decreased before it hit Claydol.
"All right Claydol, use AncientPower!"
A silver ball of energy formed between Claydol's hands and shot at Seraphim. Seraphim avoided it and collided into Claydol with Extremespeed.
"Your Light Screen won't stop that," Shiva taunted as Claydol flew backward, before slowly righting itself.
"AncientPower, once more!"
Again, the silver ball of energy formed. A white ball of energy formed in Seraphim's mouth. As Claydol launched its AncientPower, Seraphim let loose a devastating Hyper Beam, obliterating Claydol.
"And Claydol is no longer able to battle!"
"You're a formidable opponent, I'll give you that," Steven said. "But let's see you stop Aggron!"
Shiva recalled Seraphim. "Let's give someone else a turn," he said. "How about you, Athena?"
"Okay," she said, floating gracefully to the center of the arena. Aggron appeared, towering over her menacingly. She shifted her eyes uncomfortably.
"Aggon, use Earthquake!" Shockwaves emanated from Aggron's feet as it stomped. Athena blocked with a quick Protect. She gathered a large orb of blue energy between her palms, then fired off the Focus Blast at Aggron, who took the full force of the attack, stumbling backward. He righted himself, shoulders sagging, barely able to stand.
"He's almost out," Shiva said. "His Sturdy saved him."
"Aggron, return," Steven said. "I concede this match. We don't need to go any further."
"Nice job, Athena," Shiva said as he high-fived her.
"Your Pokémon are excellently trained," Steven said.
"Thanks," Shiva said. "Yours were great too."
"You don't need to do that," Steven laughed. "We didn't stand a chance against you."
"Well, he did beat two league champions," Ash said, grinning. "I guess you can add another one to the list!"
"I'd love to battle you again someday," Steven said. "I'm sure you'll have no problems on your league challenge, with your level of skill."
"Even if we do, it's all part of the fun, isn't it?" Shiva said. Auron and Athena nodded.
"We have to get back to digging," Steven said. "You guys can stick around and chat if you're not in a hurry."
"Actually, we were hoping to get out of the caves by nightfall," Brock said.
"I understand," Steven said. "I need to find these stones as soon as possible anyway. I have to attend a conference in Oreburgh next week."
Shiva pulled a sleek phone out of his pocket. "Why don't we exchange numbers? That way we can keep in touch."
"Sure," Steven said, pulling out his rugged phone. They exchanged numbers and said their goodbyes, and Shiva, Ash and Brock continued on their way.