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 Twenty-Eight: You Having a Laugh? Underground Path!

"I'm sorry. I don't have one."

"Aw, are you sure? Because Machoke will evolve if traded."

"Really? Man, don't make me feel worse. Having a Machamp would be awesome! Especially since it's a Fighting-type."

Red sighed a heavy sigh; the girl he was speaking to did the same. "Looks like we're not going to be trading," she said. "Guess I'll have to hope for a Cubone from someone else."

"Sorry," Red said again. "I hope you find someone to trade with."

"Thanks," the girl said. "And I hope you succeed at whatever you want too. Unless it's bad. Then, I'm taking my good wishes back."

With their farewells said, Red left behind someone else he would more than likely never see again and headed down the stairs with Pikachu taking the lead.

But what stairs? one may ask. Why, the stairs that lead to the Underground Path, of course! This was a path that winded underground (oh my, really?), connecting Route Five and Route Six, covering the entire length of a certain city Red was eager to go to.

Oh, Red. After a quick, uneventful visit at a Pokémon Day Care which was more a waste of time than anything, a tiny brick building caught his eye, which is where he met the Machoke Trainer. Now, he could have easily headed back out and strolled into Saffron, but where was the fun in that? How often would one get to explore an underground path, lost in a dark world, just miles and miles of potential emptiness with only the paranoid thoughts of lurking creatures in the shadows to keep them company?

Although, the Underground Path was not as dark as Red thought, lit up by ceiling beams every ten metres or so, but it was still creepy.

"Hey, Pikachu," Red said. "Do you think they'll be any wild Pokémon down here?"

Instead of answering, Pikachu sniffed something, his tail wagging. He eyed Red and pitter-pattered away when the boy neared. "Huh? Did you find something?"

There was something there. He picked up a blue cannister, identifying it as an Awakening.

Did someone drop it? Well, obviously. But could he take it? Awakenings were cheap, so maybe the one who dropped it would probably buy another one at the next PokéMart they arrived at. Yes, whomever dropped it would want it to be used, that was understandable; they would be happy Red would be able to stave off the Sleep status in a clutch moment. Buoyed by his reasoning, Red plopped the Awakening into his rucksack.

But would there be more hidden items down here? It would not hurt to check, would it? There was no point in all these items going to waste if there were.

So, Red and Pikachu headed further down the Underground Path.

And Red was not wrong.

He and Pikachu treaded down the path, the electric rodent stopping and sniffing every so often, not to warn Red of where each item was but out of his own curiosity. His Trainer picking up the items he discovered was merely a side-effect of having his scratch itched.

The pink Ice Heal, the green Burn Heal, the yellow Paralyze Heal, the orange Antidote, basically the standard status curing items were all found along the way, their names perfectly implying which Statuses they cured without further explanation.

That was not all.

They came across a Repel and its polar opposite, a Lure. A rather pretty feather also came into their possession, funnily enough given the classy name of a Pretty Feather. Red had no clue was its function was and ultimately decided it would make for great selling fodder in Saffron.

"There are a lot of items here, aren't there, Pikachu?" Red said, puffing out his cheeks and fanning himself with his cap. "Then again, this path is super long, so odds are people have dropped loads of stuff everywhere. I wasn't planning on us going all the way to the end, but it looks like that's what's happening."

Pikachu dignified his answer with a curt nod and the duo trudged on, miles of the Underground Path behind them, but miles ahead of them too. Still, not that they knew it, but they had gone two-thirds of the way. So… yay?

o~o~o~o~o

"Bulbasaur! Razor Leaf!"

Bulbasaur scowled at the Goldeen who was diving in and out of the water, almost mockingly, as though saying 'ha-ha, you can't get me!'. However, a flurry of sharp leaves ensured Bulbasaur had the last laugh, tearing through Goldeen and knocking it out, the fish floating motionless on the still water, a sitting Psyduck.

Leaf tossed a Poké Ball at Goldeen, and the ballerina fish thing was absorbed into it. Three shakes followed. Leaf's Pokédex dinged.

"We got it," Leaf said to Bulbasaur and Eevee. "Another Pokémon down. We've been making some awesome progress."

She knelt by her Pokémon and gave them a quick squeeze, the long grass tickling her bare legs. "You guys are doing so much. You all are. Thank you."

Eevee responded with a lick; Bulbasaur gave her a sheepish smile. But then the Grass-type froze. He shuddered. He groaned. The bulb on his back pulsated.

Leaf's eyes widened with enlightenment. "Looks like you're catching up with Blue's Wartortle."

Bulbasaur whined as its insides contorted, twisting and throbbing, its bulb opening, bit by bit. He let out a scream and was gone in a white light. When the light faded, Bulbasaur, as he was formerly known, no longer existed.

He had evolved.

He was now Ivysaur.

"Ivysaur!" Leaf squealed, giving her newly evolved Pokémon a hug. "I knew this was just around the corner. Did Spearow finally evolving into Fearow inspire you? I suppose all those battles against wild Pokémon helped too. Anyway, how are you feeling, Ivysaur?"

A disorientated Ivysaur shook his head, ridding it of the cobwebs that had formed there, and blinked up at Leaf. His eyes focused, recognising her. He smiled and trotted over to the water's surface, where he gazed at himself. Was that really him? He still sort of looked like himself, but there were differences, like how his old friend Wartortle had changed upon evolution. He was larger now, slightly it should be said but still larger. His bulb had sprouted and was now a lovely pink bud bordered by big fern leaves, but it was also heavier; Ivysaur felt its weight from even just walking over to the water.

It was strange. One second he was himself but the next second he was someone else. Except… he was still himself. He had simply grown up. He had grown up and would continue to grow for his Trainer's sake as well as his own.

He was Ivysaur.

Leaf ran her hands lightly across the silky-smooth bud. Amazing. One day it would bloom, and that day was one she was already eagerly awaiting.

Ivysaur, a dual Grass and Poison-type Pokémon and the evolved form of Bulbasaur. When the bulb on its back grows large, it appears to lose the ability to stand on its hind legs.

"This is brilliant," Leaf gushed. "Come on, let's go show Bill. And call Professor Oak too. He'll want to see how much you've grown. Eevee, this is so cool, right?"

Eevee sniffed her friend and nuzzled him, accepting his new scent. But her tail dropped marginally too, noticed only by Ivysaur. He looked at her questioningly.

But Leaf was lost in her thoughts, daydreaming of where to go next and what to do and all sorts of future contemplations that are meant to be exciting for a young person to think about (before the crushing weight of the world obliterates them and they become mere zombies like other adults, patiently waiting for the end to come, but we'll disregard that here.). She had learned quite a bit from her short time at Sea Cottage, captured a number of new Pokémon, and even had a couple evolutions, one of which she needed to make the rest of her journey easier.

Yes, it was time to move on.

Next stop: Cinnabar Island.

o~o~o~o~o

Daylight. Sweet, glorious, enchanting daylight.

Red and Pikachu finally reached the end of the Underground Path (although 'end' is a funny word here, for if someone was to make the trek from the other side then that would be the 'beginning' for them and Red's 'beginning' would be their 'end'. Perspectives.) and had clambered up the stairs and breathed in the coolest air they had ever experienced in their lives, had their eyes scorched and kissed by the sun who welcomed them back into the world with open arms.

"You know what, Pikachu?" Red said. "The Underground Path wasn't as fun as I thought it would be. I hope we don't have to ever go through another one."

The duo gazed out at Route Six, a fairly short route that seemed to be mostly grassland and a curving path that led to a city Red could see over the horizon. There was also the glistening surface of a pond if his eyes were not fooling him.

Now, heading to that city over yonder was tempting enough, but Red had already decided that Saffron was his next stop. After all, it was just behind him, hidden from view by a high wall, a structure only there as a piece of history as opposed to any real modern functionality. The cacophony of city noises gave Red a perfect picture of what lay hidden behind the walls; speeding vehicles, countless people impatiently going about their respective businesses, sky high structures that stood proud like kings. Yes, Saffron City, the home of his next Gym Badge.

There was a building hidden in the middle of what was Saffron's southern wall. The gate. Just like its northern brother that Red had inadvertently eschewed when he wandered down the Underground Path.

"Okay, let's go, Pikachu," Red said. "That Badge is calling our name."

Pikachu's cheeks crackled, sharing his Trainer's determination.

But before they could even take one step towards the gate, a voice rang out: "Hey! Hey! Cap kid! Over here! Wait!"

Red paused. Cap kid?

Running up to him was a boy around his age dressed in shorts and a light shirt with a cap to complete the look, all clothing coloured green.

"Oh, hey," Red said once the boy had reached him. "What's up?"

"Hi," the boy said after he caught his breath. "My name is Jeff, and I'm a Camper."

"A Camper?" Red said. "Is that a Trainer class?"

Jeff nodded. "Everything's pretty much a Trainer class nowadays. If I was to class you, then you'd probably be a Junior Trainer."

"'Junior'?" Red repeated, slightly put out.

"But none of that matters," Jeff said. "Trainer classes are pretty much nothing. Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about." He pulled out a Poké Ball from his pocket. "I want to have a battle."

A battle? Oh, Red would like that very much.

"You're on," Red said, and in the next second Charmander was standing in front of him, claws bared and fire flaring. Now would be his time to shine.

The Pokémon Jeff tossed out was a Bellsprout, a creature whose body was a brown stem which split off into root-like feet. Two green leaves were attached to either side of its body, almost as if they were arms, and its yellow head was bell-shaped with a circular mouth bordered by pink lips. Two small black eyes completed its simple appearance.

Bellsprout, a dual Grass and Poison-type Pokémon. Its bud looks like a human face. Because of that bud, it is rumoured to be a species of a certain legendary plant.

Grass-type, huh? This would be the perfect pick-me-up for Charmander, most definitely.

The battle started off well with Charmander deflecting away Bellsprout's Vine Whip with Metal Claw, the Grass-type baulking as it retracted its vine.

"Stun Spore!" Jeff yelled.

From Bellsprout's mouth floated golden particles, carried by the wind towards Charmander.

Now, Red could easily have had Charmander take that attack – he had a Paralyze heal after all – but where was the fun in that? Especially as he had a new technique he wanted to test out…

"Dig."

Charmander ripped into the ground, throwing up clumps of dirt and dust, disappearing into the subterranean world he had given himself access to. The Stun Spore drifted harmlessly onto the upturned earth.

"Wait? What?" Jeff said, appearing as equally confused as his Pokémon.

This is where we learn a morale. It is always great to help people because that is the right thing to do, which is what Red did by retrieving the Dig TM (even if it was not his intention). When one helps another, they should never expect compensation or a reward or anything of the sort. However, if the person(s) you help does offer you something in thanks, it's only polite to take it. Which is why Charmander was suddenly capable of using Dig. TMs are multi-use items, so when the Dig Man offered Red the chance to teach it to one of his Pokémon, he took the opportunity with both hands. Pikachu was a tempting notion, but Red felt Charmander was the better option. Besides, it was easier to clean Charmander's scales than to brush dirt out of Pikachu's fur.

The ground shook under Bellsprout, and Charmander delivered an uppercut to the walking plant, flinging it so high into the air it somersaulted. It landed on its head. It was done.

"Aw man," Jeff said when paying Red his winnings. "You didn't even use any Fire-type attacks and you still took us out so easily."

"Charmander's just that awesome," Red said with a hand of Charmander's head. "Helped win my first Badge."

"Badge? Oh, you're headed for the Pokémon League?" Jeff asked.

"Yep."

"In that case, why don't you battle my friends? They're everywhere on this route. Just keep travelling south and you should find them all. They like a good Pokémon scrap."

More battles? That was an enticing thought. He could do that and backtrack to Saffron. More experience. More money. What were the downsides?

Hence, Red travelled south, battling all of Jeff's friends along the way, giving his team plenty of time to show their power:

Pikachu ran riot against a girl's three Pidgey, taking them out with a single Zippy Zap each.

Beedrill knocked out a girl's Rattata with a Fury Attack and finished off her Pikachu with a critical hit from her Twineedle. Red's Pikachu hung his head in embarrassment for his kin.

Cleffa had the time of her life battling a boy's Sandshrew, blinding it with Flash and striking it with repeated Magical Leaves until the victory was hers.

Then another friend of Jeff's came along, a Bug Catcher. Charmander put his Butterfree to the sword, a Flame Charge and an Ember more than enough to deal with the giant insect. The flame on the end of Charmander's tail burned ever more brightly.

It was battle after battle, Red and his team emerging victorious every time. Was this it? Were they showing their true skill and power? Was this a precursor to how they would perform on the rest of their journey, in their remaining Gym battles, in the Pokémon League?

"Phew," Red said after another Trainer paid up and wandered off, disappointed. "More Trainers than I thought there would be. Honestly, Pikachu, you and the others did so well. Well, looks like we could head to Saffron now and…"

Red trailed off. He looked ahead of him. He looked back at the route he had battled his way through. He looked ahead of him again.

"Oh."

Oh, indeed. What was Red's intention again? Was it to backtrack to Saffron? Yes, it was. But he seemed to have rambled too far down Route Six for he now found himself on the outskirts of the city he spied in the distance earlier. A sign proudly proclaimed: 'Vermilion City, the Port of Exquisite Sunsets'.

"Vermilion City?" Red muttered, pulling out his Town Map. Yep, there it was.

He gazed back at Route Six.

He craned his neck towards the sky; the sun was setting.

He sighed. "Well, buddy," he said to Pikachu. "How do you feel about staying in Vermilion for the night? Who knows? Maybe there's a Gym here. This place seems big enough to have one."

o~o~o~o~o

Giovanni glared at the report on his desk. Really? Really? Were these incompetent fools truly part of Team Rocket? She could not even relieve a person of one lousy TM. Not that it was something Team Rocket needed, but it was the principle that counted! And she was stopped by a child no less. It was Mt. Moon all over again, just on a lesser scale.

A knock at the door.

"Enter."

A woman came into his office, red-headed and voluptuous, dressed in a white suit with a purple Rocket logo upon her breast.

"Giovanni," she said, inclining her head.

"Ariana," Giovanni said. "To what do I owe the pleasure."

"I trust you read the report," Ariana said. "I'm here to simply discover how a child could get one over a member of Team Rocket. It's so ludicrous."

"It is," Giovanni agreed. "I can barely understand it myself."

"We must increase their training," Ariana said. "Or decrease their pay. Maybe do what was done to Proton. Anything to ensure that the standards of Team Rocket do not fall."

Giovanni nodded. "Yes. We must continue to strive for greatness. I don't want us failing again, especially against a child, even if it is for something as mundane as a TM."

"Sorry?" Ariana frowned. "TM? What are you talking about?"

"I am talking about the boy who defeated one of our own and prevented her from running off with a TM. In Cerulean City according to the report." Giovanni suddenly glanced up sharply. "Wait! What are you talking about? This doesn't seem to be the same incident you're thinking of." He narrowed his eyes. "Don't tell me…"

"I'm afraid so, Giovanni," Ariana said with a sorrowful shake of her head. "It seems children are causing us problems. There was another incident with one of our recruiters. He was defeated soundly by a girl who refused to join a few days ago on Nugget Bridge. He only informed us of it in the early afternoon. Embarrassment might be the cause of his tardiness."

Giovanni resisted the urge to slam his fists into his desk. "Gym Leaders. The Elite Four. The police. Anyone of them could cause problems for us at any time if we're sloppy. But children? I don't understand it. Three times this has happened. Ariana, are we not Team Rocket?"

"We are."

"Are we not the greatest organisation Kanto has ever seen?"

"We are."

"Are we not going to rule the world with an iron fist, legions of the most powerful Pokémon at our command?"

"We will, Giovanni."

"Then how have mere rugrats been ruining our plans? Mt. Moon, Cerulean City, Nugget Bridge. What's next? Are they going to storm through you and the other Executives, Ariana? Are they going to attempt to face me? This is ridiculous."

Ariana glided over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. Her eyes were blazing, fiery, passionate.

"You have nothing to worry about, Giovanni," she crooned. "Those children merely defeated weaklings. If they were to face any higher-ranked Rockets, then they would languish in defeat and we would claim their Pokémon. Those children are just nobodies."

Giovanni gazed back into Ariana's eyes. He chuckled. "You're right, Ariana. Mere children can do nothing against our might. If they were a force to be reckoned with, I'd probably have to summon the Rocket Siblings." He shook his head distastefully. "I still don't understand why they insisted upon that name."

"Neither do I," Ariana said. She took her hands off Giovanni's shoulders and straightened up. "Now, Giovanni, what are your next orders? Are we to fully go ahead with the mission in Lavender Town? We've made baby steps there, but we can increase the output."

"Yes," Giovanni said. "We need to make up for the financial losses suffered at Mt. Moon. The skulls should more than make up for that."

"Very well," Ariana said. "And would you like Petrel to be involved in that? Obviously, Archer and I have our own projects to work on, but I'm sure Petrel would do well. Or Biruritchi? No, no, I forget; he and his squad are in the Sevii Islands. I'm going to meet up with them anyway." Her jaw twitched.

"Just let Petrel take charge," Giovanni said. "Honestly, I do feel that an Executive is not needed for this mission, but it doesn't hurt to have him there. Let him know."

"I will. And what about… it?"

Giovanni stiffened. "The search is still afoot. However, by the time we find it, I hope to have a plan to ensure its complete subjugation."

The Team Rocket leader indicated wordlessly that their time was up and she was to go about her business, but Ariana stalled.

"Yes?" Giovanni said.

"Are you sure you want me to head to the Sevii Islands as well?" she asked. "You could send Archer instead. Or leave Biruritchi to his own devices. He'll get it done."

"I would very much like for you to watch over the projects here in Kanto," Giovanni said. "But the project in the Sevii Islands is one that intrigues me, and I trust you to sort it out."

"Is it wise to have two Executives there instead of here with you?"

"Archer is still here, and I trust him as an operative just as much as I trust you. I also have Petrel, don't I? And Proton on standby, although I doubt I'll be calling on him any time soon."

Ariana bowed her head. "If that's what you wish. I shall finish everything I have here and be on my way in a few days."

"Thank you, Ariana." Giovanni have her a half smile. "I know you'll have things up and running in no time."

Ariana bowed again, her eyes shining, her lips threatening to break apart and reveal a toothy beam. Yes, she would not fail Giovanni. The saying goes 'there's a first time for everything' but failing him would be the exception to the rule.

The atmosphere was light and bubbly when Ariana left Giovanni's office, but immediately darkened when the door slid shut behind her. Giovanni's thoughts returned to the children. There was something he said that was settling badly with him, but he could not pinpoint it. What was it? What was unsettling him so much?

He dug into his memories of a few minutes ago, scouring his brain for the words spoken between him and Ariana.

He found it.

Three names: Mt. Moon, Cerulean City, Nugget Bridge.

Areas all near each other.

Locations where Team Rocket suffered defeat to children.

Giovanni's already hard eyes hardened more so, enough to give a Golem's defences a run for their money.

No, it could not be. It was simply a coincidence.

Or was it? Children opposing the ideals and goals of Team Rocket had never occurred before, let alone defeating them in a Pokémon battle.

Did this mean…

Could it be possible…

Was it the same children ruining Team Rocket's plan?

He read the TM report again, carefully this time.

His eyes widened.

How did he miss this? He must have skimmed over it: the boy who got one over them in Cerulean was indeed the same one from Mt. Moon.

What was happening?