On a bright and sunny day, Lance arrives at the entrance of Pewter City with his pokemon. He steps into the peaceful city and rests on a stretch of grass.
Lance: Ahh, this is nice.
He lies on the grass and stares lazily at the clouds. Before he knows, the young man dozes off under the afternoon sun. As Lance sleeps, a little boy with tan skin and spiky hair walks up to him curiously. The little boy slaps Lance on the face and wakes him abruptly.
Lance: Ow! What the heck's going?!
The little boy that attacked him runs away to his father's side after Lance starts screaming.
Little Boy: Daddy! He scared me!
The tall, muscular man picks up his son and walks over to Lance.
Man: I'm sorry about that. My son hasn't learned his manners properly. You'll have to excuse him.
Lance rubs his face where he got slapped. Oh, well. Boys will be boys.
Lance: It's okay. I was young once, too.
The man laughs suddenly.
Man: Oh, the pleasures of youth. Anyways, my name is Flint and this is my son, Brock. What's your name, kid?
Lance: I'm Lance. I'm from Blackthorn City in Johto.
Flint: Johto? Are you on a pokemon journey?
Lance: Yeah, but I thought I'd just relax today. I'm tired from all my travels.
Flint: Tired, huh? So I take it that you won't challenge that gym leader in this town?
The knowledge of a gym gets Lance excited.
Lance: In that case, I can rest another day.
Flint starts laughing again.
Flint: Sorry, but even if you wanted to, you probably won't get a gym match any time soon.
Lance: What? Why not?
Flint: Here in Pewter City, I'm the gym leader.
Lance: What? You're the leader? Then why won't you battle me?
Flint: I'm sorry, but I have other priorities than being a gym leader. My wife is away, so I have to take care of Brock.
Lance looks at the little boy again. He looks like he's about four years old, so it's best that he isn't left alone.
Lance: I understand. Family comes first.
Flint: Yeah, but don't let your visit to Pewter City go to waste. If you wanna see something interesting, stop by the museum. They have lots of exhibits on ancient pokemon. I was actually on my way over there with Brock. You should join us.
Lance: Okay! That sounds like fun!
And so, the group of three heads to the northern part of town and enters the museum. It is afternoon when Flint, his son Brock and Lance walk into the Pewter Museum of Science.
Flint: I'll pay for your ticket, Lance. You're a guest.
Lance: Really? Thanks a lot!
He happily walks into the interior of the building. It's huge! Many exhibits line the floor and walls. A smile comes to the young man's face as he looks around.
Flint: Is this your first visit to a museum?
Lance: Yeah. We didn't have one back home.
Flint: Then I'll be your tour guide. Follow me.
The tall man sets his son down and the three walk together.
Flint: The first floor is mainly dedicated to the ancient world.
Flint walks over to a fossil display of an ancient pokemon. It stands tall with two long sickles as arms and has a large, crescent shaped head.
Flint: This pokemon is called Kabutops. It went extinct long ago, but we know that it was a powerful swimmer and hunted for food in the water.
Lance: Wow…
Next, they all walk over to a display that Lance knows very well. It is the fossil skeleton of an ancient, flying pokemon.
Flint: And this one is…
Lance:…Aerodactyl.
Flint: Very good. Yes, this pokemon is an Aerodactyl. Before it went extinct, it was considered to be the top predator, hunting prey with its razor-sharp teeth.
Extinct? Lance has a little surprise for Flint.
Brock: Daddy, I'm scared.
The little boy clings to his father's leg after being frightened by the ancient pokemon's threatening appearance.
Flint: Don't worry, Brock. It can't hurt you. Come on. Let's go see what's on the second floor.
Flint leads the way to a flight of stairs that takes them to the upper floor. They get there and see that they are the only ones there. They have the entire second floor to themselves.
Flint: Up here is the space and exploration exhibit.
Lance goes up to a wall to examine a picture. It has an astronaut standing on the surface of the moon. Behind him are tiny silhouettes that can't be identified.
Lance: What are those things behind the astronaut?
Flint: Nobody knows, but they are hypothesized to be the pokemon, Clefairy.
Lance: Clefairy?
Flint: Yes. I've never seen one, so I don't know what they look like, but they are rumored to have come from the moon.
Lance: How did they get here?
Flint: Scientists say that the Clefairy came on a meteorite called the Moon Stone. The Moon Stone crashed into a valley east of here and carved out Mt. Moon. That's where Clefairy now live.
The name Mt. Moon makes Lance's heart pound with excitement.
Lance: Mt Moon is nearby?!
The young man's enthusiasm catches Flint off-guard.
Flint: Yeah. Just head east of Route 4 and you'll eventually reach it.
The thought of it gets Lance even more excited.
Flint: Is there something you're supposed to do there?
Lance starts blushing after being asked.
Flint: Are you blushing?
The question embarrasses the boy even more, reddening his face further.
Lance: Well, I'm actually on my way over there to meet someone.
The tall man puts two and two together and realizes why Lance is blushing.
Flint: Oh, I get it. You've got a date, am I right?
Lance: Well, it's not really a date. We're just meeting there.
Flint: Uh-huh. So when are you meeting this mystery girl? Oh, wait let me guess! You're meeting on the night of the full moon.
Lance never thought about it, but Flint's right. He's going to reunite with Luna on the night of the full moon.
Lance: How'd you know that?
Flint: It's pretty obvious. Once a month, the Clefairy gather in a sacred place within Mt. Moon and perform a ritual. I've heard that it's pretty romantic. But that's just me talking. I've never seen it for myself.
Lance thinks about it. Is that why Luna planned it? Or was it all a coincidence? Flint then starts laughing again.
Flint: Well enjoy yourself, kid. Come on, let's keep looking around.
While Flint continues to show Lance and Brock around, a strange group of people gathers outside the museum. They are all dressed in black uniforms that carry the letter R on their chests. A big man with a deep voice leads the group.
Man: This is the place that the boss told us about. Remember, take as many fossils as you can and get out fast. If anyone stands in your way, take them out.
Back inside the museum, Brock tugs on his father's leg.
Brock: Daddy, I need to go the bathroom.
Flint: Okay.
He picks up his son and turns to Lance.
Flint: The restrooms are on the first floor. I'll be right back after I take Brock.
Lance: Okay. I'm gonna keep looking around.
Flint and Brock return downstairs, but suddenly, the doors of the museum are broken down and a cloud of black smoke fills the area.
Flint: What the…?
Man: Everybody get down on the floor and we won't have to hurt you.
The smoke clears and all the bystanders see that they are surrounded by the thugs in black uniforms. Each one holds a pokeball in their hand, ready to punish anyone who opposes them.
Man: I said get down!
Out of fear and confusion, all the people in the museum lie on their stomachs, wondering what's going on.
Man: We are Team Rocket and we are here to steal all the fossils in this place!
Flint: Team Rocket? I've heard of them before, but I never thought that they would attack such a public place. And why they want to steal fossils? I can't think about that right now. As the Pewter City gym leader, it is my responsibility to protect everyone in here. But I can't risk Brock being hurt. I have to hide him.
He whispers something to his son.
Flint: I want you to be a big boy, okay Brock? When I send out my pokemon, I want you to run into the bathroom and hide until I come and get you.
Brock can't understand what is happening, but obeys his father.
Brock: Yes, daddy.
In order to get his son to safety, Flint needs to create a diversion. He suddenly runs to the center of the museum and faces the leader of Team Rocket.
Flint: Hey! What do you think you're doing here?
Man: I thought I made myself very clear for you to get down and let us do what we came to do.
Flint: As the gym leader of this city, I can't let you do that.
Man: Oh, so you're the gym leader, huh? Fine, I'll play with you. I'll make an example of you so the rest of the world sees what happens when you mess with Team Rocket. Grunts!
His team snaps to attention.
Man: Leave this guy to me. You steal the fossils.
Flint: Weren't you listening? I won't let you do that!
The gym leader throws his pokeball, releasing his trusted pokemon, Graveler. It is a round boulder pokemon with a flat face and four short arms. This gives Brock the signal to run into the bathroom and hide.
Man: I'll make you regret facing me in battle! Go, Magmar!
A tall pokemon emerges from its ball. It appears to be completely lit on fire from its head down to its tail. Its mouth stretches out into a duck-like bill.
Upstairs, Lance gets worried when he sees smoke rising from the first floor.
Lance: What's going on down there?
He starts heading for the stairs when the windows shatter and more Team Rocket thugs climb inside. The young trainer turns and sees that he is surrounded.
Lance: What's this? Who are you?
A woman walks over to Lance.
Woman: What's a little boy doing here? The top floor was supposed to be empty. I have to do everything around here.
Lance: I asked you a question. Who are you? What are you doing here?
Woman: If you must know, I'm from Team Rocket. My name isn't important.
Lance: It looks to me like you're up to no good. I can't let you get away with it.
Lance reaches for a pokeball to defend himself.
Woman: Oh, so you're a trainer. A battle will be fun. Everyone else, pay attention!
Her group of Rockets goes to attention.
Woman: This boy is mine. You all do your jobs while I dispose of this kid.
The two of them get ready to battle upstairs while Flint and the man leading the Rockets will fight downstairs. Will they be able to prevail in this situation? And just what is Team Rocket really after? A dark cloud gathers over the city of Pewter as the peace is threatened by this evil menace.