Disclaimer: I do not own nor am I affiliated with Pokémon or any of its parent companies. I am merely a humble storyteller. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy this journey with me.
Note: I am English, so some of the wording, spellings, and expressions will be those commonly used in England.
Chapter Nineteen: An Evolution Solution?
Red returned Charmander to his Poké Ball, whispering words of gratitude to him. He had played his part, and he had played it well. He had defeated Proton's Pokémon. Now, hopefully Team Rocket would be dumbfounded, at a loss of what to do. The Grunts will have lost confidence in the Junior Executive and Proton would not gather as much support now. It would all work out. They were going to –
"Let's go, Zubat," Proton said, calling out another Pokémon.
The synapses in Red's brain seem to fizzle and die out before rebooting again like a computer. Proton had another Pokémon. He had another darn Pokémon! Of course, Trainers could carry a maximum of six! Just because he was a Rocket did not mean he did not have more than Koffing. He was an Executive. Of course, he would have more. Red could have punched himself, but his and Leaf's worsening situation did it enough for him.
Proton seemed to read his mind. "Yes, as you see I'm not limited to just my Koffing. You've got this bad boy to take on now. Bigger than your average Zubat, isn't he?"
It was indeed larger than the average Zubat, its wingspan a few inches wider as well as it being a few inches longer from the tip of its ears to the end of its legs.
"Are you going to choose your next Pokémon, then?" Proton asked, his eyes dancing maliciously in the light of the Mt. Moon walls. "You've got your Pikachu there. Type advantage and all that. Or have you got someone else? Or would the girl prefer to battle me instead? Your choice, but remember we really need to wrap this up."
Pikachu jumped forward, cheeks sparking, evidently ready to battle. And it made sense to use him as his Thunder Shock would indeed clip Zubat's wings. But was that really the right choice?
No, he would save Pikachu. He pulled out another Poké Ball.
It was Kakuna's time to shine.
"Kakuna, I choose you!"
From the Poké Ball came the yellow cocoon Pokémon. She was a motionless being, balancing on her tip, making low, slow breathing sounds. Truth be told, she was not a rather impressive sight.
The Team Rocket Grunts burst out laughing and Proton rolled his eyes. Leaf swallowed and asked Red, "Is Kakuna honestly the only other Pokémon you've got? You definitely haven't got anyone else?"
"Kakuna can handle it," Red said, bypassing the questions. "Isn't that right, Kakuna?"
Kakuna rocked on the spot.
The Rocket's laughter died down with a motion from Proton. He gazed at Red for the longest time, as though he was staring into the boy's soul, before finally speaking, "A Kakuna? If that's your choice, so be it." He sighed dramatically. "Looks like we're not getting another dazzling finish. I'll end this quickly."
With a flourish, he gestured towards Kakuna. "Zubat, Wing Attack!"
Screeching, Zubat flew across the cavern, wings outstretched.
"Kakuna, use Harden!" Red countered.
Before Zubat's wings managed to connect with Kakuna, the cocoon stiffened and took the strike, but still got pushed back quite harshly.
"Wing Attack again!" Proton ordered.
Zubat swooped around for round two, but another Harden took the hit once more, even better than the first one.
Red gritted his teeth. Kakuna was hanging in there and her Defence stat was growing, but a critical hit from that super-effective Wing Attack would spell the end of her.
It was time to go on the offensive: "String Shot!"
From a hidden space in the centre of her body that was the closest thing Kakuna had to a mouth, she released a white, sticky thread. It splattered on one of Zubat's wings, making its flight pattern lopsided, slower.
Proton scoffed. "Do you honestly think that's going to be enough?" he asked incredulously. "That means nothing, you stupid child! Wing Attack!"
Zubat bared down on Kakuna with its wide wings, one of them not flapping as quickly as the other.
"Harden," Red said, and Kakuna's durability went up another level, withstanding the Flying-type technique yet again. "Now, String Shot."
Another long white thread struck Zubat's other wing, weighing it down, bringing it several feet nearer the ground.
Proton grinded his teeth and stamped his foot, his face taking on a shade of scarlet. How annoying! How positively irksome! He was being done in by a cocoon! That thing should barely be counted as a Pokémon.
It got worse for him. Red ordered the annoying, positively irksome cocoon that could barely be counted as a Pokémon to fire a String Shot at one of Zubat's leg, which was successful, and Zubat and Kakuna were thus connected by their white thread of not quite fate.
And it got better from there, not as much for Proton as it did for Red. "Take it for a spin!" the latter shouted.
And much to the disbelief of everyone there, Kakuna rotated on her tip, gathering speed, swinging Zubat, who was powerless to fight back against it, screeching in panic the sole act it could accomplish in such an unorthodox situation.
Faster and faster they went, Zubat's shrieking becoming more and more desperate as it craved to get off this hellish merry-go-round.
And then it got its wish.
With such furious speed, with such incredible momentum, the string could not handle the strain anymore and snapped. The blue bat crashed into the cavern ceiling and fell to the ground, accompanied by some rubble that was forced to immigrate to their new home alongside it. Kakuna spun slower and slower until she came to a complete stop. She wobbled a bit.
"Good job, Kakuna," Red said. "I'm so proud of you."
A Trainer who was not as proud of their Pokémon was Proton. "Get up!" he bellowed at his Zubat. "You will not be beaten by such a gimmicky move! I said get up!"
Whether it was determination, adrenaline, or the prospect of a potential punishment from Proton, Red could not say, but Zubat pushed itself up on its sticky wings and managed to flap them and gain air. Soon, it was glaring (as much as something without eyes can glare) at its Bug and Poison-type foe, ready to once more lay the hurt on her.
"You think you're pretty tough, don't you?" Proton hissed to Red, his eyes fiercer than a Glare, Leer, and Scary Face combined. "But you're just a stupid child. A stupid, STUPID child! I'm going to send you the same way as that prying officer who thought it best to stick his nose where it doesn't belong. And I am going to enjoy it."
Leaf nearly dropped Eevee. Officer? He could not be talking about Officer Jones, could he? Admittedly, she had forgotten about him, but if it was Officer Jones, it would explain why there were no whispers of him running about as she and Red were, why two children were Team Rocket's main targets as opposed to an officer of the law. Proton must have been speaking the truth. Oh, poor Officer Jones.
Leaf clenched her teeth, stopping herself was shouting at the Rockets, from lashing them with her fiery tongue. She instead squatted and placed Eevee next to Cleffa, her legs suddenly flesh without bones, unable to hold her up anymore.
"String Shot!" Red called, eager to take advantage of his situation, to continue his and Kakuna's ascendency.
More sticky thread headed towards Zubat, to completely freeze its movements.
"Descend!" Proton snarled, and Zubat lowered itself a few feet, allowing the String Shot to pass overhead and splat on a wall. "Now, use Confuse Ray."
From Zubat's ears came two red, ethereal orbs, and they drifted towards Kakuna like spirits searching for a final resting place. Red could only watch as the orbs were, in a way, absorbed by Kakuna. She collapsed and started rolling amongst the dust and stones, her slow breathing suddenly quickening. If Red did not know any better, he would say she was confused.
"Kakuna!" Red shouted. "Please, Kakuna, snap out of it! Try… try Harden! Use Poison Sting! Come on, you can do it!"
However, all Kakuna did was roll into a rock repeatedly, slamming her hard outer body into it, hurting herself.
Proton licked his lips. Now it would begin. "Zubat," he said, his voice even but dangerous. "Destroy that Kakuna. Use a barrage of Wing Attacks."
In a display of brutal Pokémon battling tactics, Zubat took advantage of its disorientated foe and crashed its wings into her over and over again, barely giving Kakuna time to breathe, let alone get over her status effect.
Leaf cringed as Kakuna took a hit right between the eyes; Pikachu's tail was erect as he glared at Proton; the Team Rocket Grunts cheered even louder; and Red was frozen, struck dumb by how quickly the battle had turned.
"Return Kakuna now!" Leaf screamed at him. "It'll cancel out the confusion!"
"What?" Leaf's shouts pulled Red forcefully out of his stupor. "Oh, right." He held out Kakuna's Poké Ball. "Kakuna, re –"
"Mean Look!" Proton roared, glee written all over his face.
Zubat swooped towards Kakuna, stopping a foot from her. Two illusionary eyes projected themselves in front of Zubat and glowered at Kakuna, who shuddered and was engulfed by a black aura for a moment.
Red furrowed his brows. What kind of attack was that? It did not appear to have done anything. Still, he needed to rid Kakuna of its confusion. He held out her Poké Ball again:
"Kakuna, return."
However, Kakuna did not return. It was still out there, at the mercy of Zubat, lying on the Mt. Moon floor.
Red pressed the button on the Poké Ball again, trying to activate the return function, the cold dread running through his veins growing colder by the second. Then it hit him: Mean Look meant he could not call back Kakuna.
"How do you like that?" Proton screeched jubilantly. "Now you get to suffer some more! Wing Attack!"
And the onslaught continued, Kakuna's enduring an almighty volley of Wing Attacks, her previous Hardens not as effective as before, the String Shot on Zubat dripping off it, causing it to move even faster.
What could Red do? Should he just let Kakuna faint and then he could return her? But… what if Kakuna did not faint? What if the damage was too much? What if she… what if she…
Red rushed forward.
"Red!" Leaf screamed.
Red put himself between Kakuna and Zubat and tried batting the bat away. "Call back your Zubat!" Red shouted. "Let me return Kakuna. She can't keep this up."
"Oh!" Proton exclaimed, slapping his hands to his cheeks in mock shock. "No, no, no, kid. That's not how Pokémon battling works at all. A Trainer mustn't interfere until one of the Pokémon is soundly defeated."
"What are you talking about?" Red shouted. "I'm throwing in the towel here! You win this round. Let me use Pikachu." Honestly, Red would have used Pikachu to knock out Zubat, but there was no telling how the Rockets would react to that. They would probably all get their Pokémon to attack them at once, citing 'unfairness' of two Pokémon attacking Proton's one.
Proton's hands fell to his sides and he delivered to Red a leer more potent than anything Charmander could ever muster. "Too be bad for you. You made this bed and now you must lie in it. Zubat, use Wing Attack. Get them both."
A hushed silence fell over the Rocket Grunts and a couple averted their gaze. Zubat looked from his foes back to his master and back to his foe. Red then got a taste of what Kakuna was having at this restaurant of pain. Zubat's wings were light and soft, but they cut through his jacket and shirt and he shielded Kakuna. The pain was so great he could not scream, only gasp.
"Red!" Leaf screamed again, starting to run forward.
"Stay back!" Red roared at her. "I've got this."
It was Pikachu time. He should have used Pikachu from the start. Pikachu would sort this out. A couple Thunder Shocks ought to the trick, maybe one if they were lucky. But… next…
As Red ruminated, a stream of glowing green leaves blasted into Zubat, pushing it away, not too far but far enough that it could not strike with another Wing Attack.
Looking up, Red saw Cleffa, it's face contorted with frustration, its stubby hands glowing the same green as the leaves.
"So," Proton said, sneering at the baby Pokémon, "you want to play too?" He beckoned for one of the Grunts to step forth. "You take care of that pink thing."
The Grunt nodded and called out his Pokémon, an Oddish.
"No!" Leaf yelled, leaping forward, her still exhausted Eevee growling at the new threat. "I'll take you on instead."
"Leaf," Red said, wincing. "Cleffa." He hissed in pain as Zubat restarted its assault on him, watching through half-closed eyes as Eevee had some of her little amounts of remaining health sapped by Oddish's Absorb.
No, Leaf would not last. Even if it was just an Oddish, Eevee had taken too much damage already, had already exerted too much of its energy. And Cleffa was just a baby, how much could it possibly do if Eevee fell? And what about Kakuna? He could still not return her to her Poké Ball. It appeared he would actually need to use Pikachu, despite the fact all the other Rockets would contribute their Pokémon to the fight.
"I'm sorry, Kakuna," Red whispered to her. "I should've been more careful with you. I shouldn't have put you in this situation to begin with. But I promise, even if I can't get out of here, you and the rest will."
Red lifted himself away from Kakuna, whose eyes were now aware, no longer confused. Another blow to the back sent new waves of agony through him.
"Pi…" he muttered, his eyes blurry. "Pika… Pika…"
Pikachu was by his side in seconds, not looking all that concerned for his Trainer, in truth more enraged at Team Rocket, his cheeks and tail brimming with electricity.
Red swallowed, allowing himself to regain control of his voice. "Get ready. We're going to –"
Red broke off. On the ground, where Kakuna was, was a lustrous white light.
"No," Proton growled, his Zubat now fluttering beside him, as befuddled as Kakuna was.
"Yes," Leaf breathed, Eevee taking deep, haggard breaths at her feet.
"Evolution?" Red said.
The shimmering form of Kakuna grew, her cocoon shape extending and segmenting, growing wings and legs, antennae and stingers. Then the light faded, and the new creature rose slowly, awkwardly, as though its body was a vehicle it did not have a handle of. It beat its wings and a buzzing noise emanated from them, echoing around the cavern. It turned to Red, who stood as still as a statue.
A Beedrill. Kakuna had evolved into a Beedrill. Red had known it would happen – it had been expected – but it had also been half a dream, something further off than it should have been.
He was transported back to Viridian Forest, surrounded by the darkness, the claustrophobic trees, the furious, venomous Pokémon. No, he told himself, as Beedrill's red eyes bored into his own. No, I'm not there anymore. Brock saved me. I got out of there. There are bigger things to worry about now. We need to escape from Team Rocket.
But he was still in the forest, alone with Beedrill. His wrist throbbed, the bandage filthy and loose.
But I got over it. I said this wouldn't matter anymore. I said I wouldn't be scared.
Beedrill raised one of her stingers. Red flinched. Beedrill lowered it, a confusion more devastating on her face than the one Proton's Zubat plagued her with.
No! Red screamed at himself. I will NOT be scared!
Viridian Forest vanished, as though it was a drawing erased by the artist's eraser. It was just Red and Beedrill, in a world of white, no Leaf or Pikachu or Proton or the Rockets.
Just. Them.
He could do it. He would do it.
He held out a hand, his left one, the one attached to his damaged wrist. Beedrill, uncertain at first, placed her head forward and nuzzled his hand.
There was nothing to be frightened of. She was his friend, his family. She was still his little girl. It was embarrassing to forget that, even if only for a moment. This was a Pokémon who cared for him, someone who wanted compassion and affection. Red could discern a pink aura around her, but whether that was his imagination or not wasn't something he could say for certain. He took his hand away and unwound what remained of his bandage from his wrist, letting the tattered thing fall and disappear into the void. A long, pink scar ran down his wrist, a memory of the time he captured his first ever Pokémon and truly began his journey.
"Beedrill," Red said, smiling. "Are you ready?"
Beedrill buzzed in the affirmative.
"Then, let's show them what for."
The white world disappeared, and Red and Beedrill were once more in Mt. Moon, surrounded by Team Rocket.
"Red," Leaf said apparently unaffected by Red's little foray into the strange world. "I can't believe it. What a time for Kakuna to evolve."
"So, your Kakuna evolved, huh?" Proton said. "As if that's going to help."
Red ignored him and took out his Pokédex.
"I'm talking to you, boy!" Proton snapped.
Red looked up Beedrill's attacks, as calm as a silent ocean:
Twineedle
String Shot
Poison Sting
Fury Attack
Fantastic.
"Listen to Proton!" the Oddish Grunt shouted. "Take an Acid!"
Spurting out from Oddish's leaves was an orange liquid, which splashed Beedrill in the face. The drops dripped onto the ground, melting a few stones, but Beedrill barely noticed.
"Twineedle," Red said coolly.
In the blink of an eye, Beedrill rocked Oddish with two stabs, one to the face and another to the top of its head, felling it instantly.
"Whoa," Red said. "That was cool!"
"Wing Attack!" Proton screamed.
Zubat soared towards Beedrill, its wings outstretched.
"Hit back with Fury Attack," Red said.
Beedrill's right stinger blocked the move and her left one jabbed Zubat below its mouth. Two more vicious strikes followed before the final one walloped the bat downwards, hitting it to the earth with a thump.
"No!" Proton roared. "No! Get up, Zubat! I said get up!"
Unfortunately for him, his Zubat would not be getting up for a very long time.
"That was incredible, Red," Leaf said, dashing to him, Cleffa in tow, Eevee in her arms, fading between consciousness and unconsciousness. Pikachu peered at her with what one may say was momentary concern.
"Yeah, Beedrill's totally awesome," Red said. "She got used to her new body straight away."
Leaf stroked Beedrill's furry thorax. "She's nice and fuzzy."
Red copied her. "She is, isn't she?"
"Excuse me!" Proton exploded. "Have you forgotten where you are? Have you stupid children forgotten your current predicament? You're at the mercy of Team Rocket! Just because your insect became a bigger insect doesn't mean you're safe! It doesn't mean you're going to win!" Proton tugged at his hair. "You won't get one over us. You won't get one over me." Without glancing back at his subordinates, Proton said, "Send out your Pokémon. I want these fools squashed."
The Team Rocket Grunts hesitated.
Proton's face reddened. "Did you not hear me? Send out your Pokémon! Just because the brat lucked out and defeated me doesn't mean he'll defeat you. Not if you send out all your Pokémon at once! Do it now or so help me…"
Well, Red's theory was kind of right. Proton had proven he was fallible, losing both of his Pokémon to a greenhorn Trainer. Why would they listen to the orders of someone like that? But the consequences of not obeying him would be terrible, especially if their boss came into it. Thus, all their Pokémon burst out of their Poké Balls, a mix of Rattata, Oddish, Sandshrew, and more Zubat.
"Nuts," Red and Leaf said together. Pikachu said a lot worse in its own Poké language.
Beedrill and Cleffa took their places in front of the Trainers, the former's stingers pointing at the enemy Pokémon, the latter's stubby arms shining green.
"It's over for you now," Proton said, having regained his composure. "Maybe it's a good thing my Pokémon were defeated. I now get to watch and fully enjoy you two get what's coming to you. If only I had popcorn."
He bared his teeth at them. "Now, Team Rocket, atta –"
What was that sound? It was singing, wasn't it? It was melodious, mellifluous, enough to distract Proton. And as the source of the music neared, the more recognisable it became to Red and Leaf.
"Is that…" Red said at the corner of his mouth.
"… the Clefairy?" Leaf finished.
As if to confirm that fact, Cleffa jumped up and down, giggling, its arms still green.
From the only path that led to the area came a group of Clefairy, bouncing as opposed to walking, their wings fluttering behind them.
"Are they the same ones from before?" Red asked.
"I think they are," Leaf replied.
Cleffa ran up to them, and the Clefairy at the front gave it a cuddle. The other Clefairy stopped singing and scowled at the Rockets.
"Clefairy?" Proton said. He smirked. "Clefairy. Well, team, how often is it that a group of rare Pokémon wanders into our midst? Giovanni would be quite pleased if he happened to find them on his desk, wouldn't he?"
"Don't even think about it!" Leaf snapped, her fatigue beginning to creep up on her again.
Proton gave her a dirty look. "Silence," he said before referring to the Grunts. "I want all of this over. The Pokémon are ours, and the kids… well… just do it. Even with the Clefairy, they can't hope to overcome our numbers."
The Rocket Grunts saluted the Junior Executive and adjusted their mental states for the battle. Or massacre. Massacre is a good word to use here. It is a fancy word. It is a word one would find in poetry. Morbid poetry, but poetry all the same.
Yet, before they could commence their 'massacre', the Clefairy stood in a line and sang. However, its was not as soft and sweet as they were just singing, nowhere near as delightful as their performance back on the plateau.
This was a battle song.
This was a ballad of war.
This was a call to arms.
And who responded to it, one may wonder? Well, the denizens of Mt. Moon, that's who. A collection of Geodude popped up from the ground, a swarm of Zubat glided from the darkness, a group of Paras scuttled from the clefts in the walls, and they all crowded behind the Clefairy, Cleffa, and Beedrill, a hundred at least, Mt. Moon's army.
Team Rocket's Pokémon shuddered and looked to their Trainers, imploring them for further instructions. The humans did the same to Proton.
Proton's face went grey. What could he do? They were outnumbered, but were they outmatched? Possibly. Even if Team Rocket's own Pokémon were stronger, the overwhelming numbers of the wild ones might prove too difficult to overcome. And that was not taking into consideration the boy's Pikachu and Beedrill. He clenched his fists, his nails drawing blood from his palms. Was this it for Team Rocket at Mt. Moon? They could not possibly mine for Fossils, not when they had incurred the wrath of the Mt. Moon's residents. Ah, this just was not fair! Proton was not even meant to be there! He was only there because the Fossil Excavation Squad's progress was running at a Slugma's pace!
If only Proton had known what was coming, he would not have battled the boy. He would have still had his Pokémon conscious. The Grunts could have done the job instead. Even if the boy defeated them, there were many Rockets, and he would have soon been overrun. Why did Proton not think of that? Why did he not use his common sense? Well, he was going to have to use it now.
He held up his arm and brought it down again. "Fall back, Team Rocket," he said. "We're done here. Contact the others and tell them to collect all the Fossils we've managed to obtain so far."
"But Proton sir –"
"I want us out within the hour," Proton continued, miserably, imagining the reprimand he would get from Giovanni.
No more protests from the Rocket Grunts. They returned their Pokémon to their respective Poké Balls and set about fulfilling Proton's orders.
Proton turned to the two young Trainers, aware of the wild Pokémons' glares searing him like a Flamethrower.
"You got so, so lucky," he hissed. "You may have beaten us now, but Team Rocket is greater than you can ever imagine. Cross us again and you will not make it through a second time."
And so, Mt. Moon was finally freed of the scourge of Team Rocket. The moment the black-suited villains left, Red and Leaf collapsed to the ground, exhausted, laughing and crying simultaneously. How close had they been to being defeated? But they kept fighting and clawing and struggling until they emerged from their pit of despair. It was thanks to the Pokémon, theirs and the wild ones.
Cleffa bounded into Red's arms and snuggled into his chest, and Beedrill gave him a big hug too, careful to mind its new stingers. Leaf cuddled Eevee, dampening her fur with tears, the latter staring at Pikachu, who was deep in conversation with the head Clefairy, both gesturing to Red every now and again. Clefairy smiled approvingly at Pikachu's words. If you were to translate what they were saying into human language, then it would be confessing to Pikachu that they arrived to help because of Cleffa's faith in him and Leaf and its desire to assist them. And, when Clefairy thought about it, maybe it was not bad that their performance had an audience. Startling, yes, but they did not disrupt it, did not cause any harm.
Red and Leaf embraced each other and refused to let go, staying that way for a good ten minutes until they decided to have a kip for an hour or two.
They could do that now.
They were safe.
Their terrible ordeal in Mt. Moon had come to an end.
