Chapter 8 – Onward to Mt. Moon! The Legend of the Stones
I have one thing to say before I start this chapter: Ephraim-kun, I really hope you are right. : )
"Go, Spearow!" cries Zac.
"Go, Metapod!" yells Chris.
"Go do some stuff, Pikachu!" Andrew cheers.
This is how the majority of the day goes. It seems that Brock wasn't kidding when he said the road to Mt. Moon is a popular place for Trainers to hang around and battle, and many of those Trainers are eager to challenge everyone they see. Zac, Chris, and Andrew often split up to battle challengers. They win every time, but their Pokémon are often needing Potions, especially Andrew's Pokémon since he only has two...
Nothing extraordinary happens, unless you consider Metapod and Kakuna both evolving "extraordinary." Zac's Kakuna evolves first. He is battling some young boy and his Ekans.
"Kakuna, use String Shot!" Ekans dodges and uses Wrap. Kakuna repeatedly uses Poison Sting until Ekans finally lets go. Ekans uses Leer to weaken Kakuna and then uses Wrap again. It squeezes tight. It seems that Kakuna is about to "faint", but then it starts glowing...
Andrew suddenly appears at Zac's side. "Hi."
Zac nearly jumps out of his skin. "Wha-! I thought you were in the middle of a battle!" "I was, but I won," Andrew replies simply. "I came to see the pretty light. Oooh, pretty liiiight!" Zac looks, too.
Kakuna's body is now a bright white light. The light grows bigger and changes shape. The light fades to reveal a Beedrill. "Coooool!" Andrew says.
Beedrill easily shakes the Ekans off. It spreads its wings and buzzes into the air. "Yay!" Zac cheers. "Now, use Fury Attack!" Beedrill flies at Ekans and repeatedly stabs it with its long, needle-like arms. Ekans has been finished off. The young Trainer returns it. "Awesome Beedrill you got there!" the kid congratulates Zac. Zac grins and returns Beedrill. "Thanks."
Soon after, Chris's Metapod evolves. He is battling a young girl's Jigglypuff. Metapod uses Tackle, but Jigglypuff dodges and responds with a Double Slap. Metapod quickly uses Harden to reduce the damage. Metapod then hits its opponent with a strong Tackle. Jigglypuff almost falls, regains its balance, and then starts to use Sing. "Gah, no!" Chris yells. "Uuh... I got it! Use String Shot to cover its mouth!" "Her!" the girl Trainer says indignantly. "Her mouth! Jeez..." It works, and just in time, too; Metapod was starting to get sleepy. Metapod then uses Tackle. Jigglypuff can't respond quickly enough because of the String Shot, so Metapod finishes her with another Tackle. Jigglypuff doesn't get up.
"All right, I win!" Chris cheers. The girl pours and returns her Jigglypuff. Chris is about to do the same with Metapod, but the Bug Pokémon starts glowing. Like Kakuna, it becomes a bright light, changes shape, and fades away to reveal its evolved form, Butterfree. "Freeeee!" it calls in its distinctly shrill voice. It flutters into the air and glitter falls from its wings.
"Oooh, what a cute Butterfree!" the girl squeals. "Th-thanks," Chris replies, somewhat dumbstruck. (Zac – "No, he's just dumb.") Chris returns his new Butterfree. He walks up to Zac and smiles. "Come on, let's go."
Zac and Chris start to walk away, but then they realize that Andrew and Pikachu are nowhere in sight. They walk by a tree while trying to find their missing companions.
Andrew and Pikachu jump out of the tree. Pikachu lands on Squirtle, knocking him down, and Andrew lands on Zac, knocking him down.
"OOWWW!" Zac yells in pain. He throws the laughing Andrew off his back and gets up. "What the fuck is your problem?" he yells angrily. "Hey, watch your mouth!" Chris cautions angrily. "He's just a little kid."
"Holy shit, Zac," Andrew says. "Why the fuck are you so goddamn pissed off? Jesus Christ..." He and Pikachu continue walking down the road... or actually happily skipping down the road.
Zac and Chris exchange very confused- and very scared- looks.
It is nearly dark when they reach the large Pokémon Center in front of Mt. Moon. After they give their Pokémon a much-needed rest, Zac asks Nurse Joy about a room for them to sleep in.
Nurse Joy laughs. "I'm sorry, but go behind the Center and see how many other Trainers wanted rooms. We only have so many rooms! Once again, I apologize." The group leaves to see how many people are behind the Center.
There are at least twenty tents and little campfires.
The group silently walks back into the Center and they give Nurse Joy blank looks. "I told you," she laughs. "Are-are all of those people planning to go into Mt. Moon?" Zac asks, dumbstruck. "Heavens, no!" Joy replies. "As I am sure you have seen, the Route to Mt. Moon is a very popular place for greenhorn Trainers to battle. It is a great way for people to train before they go on the 2nd Badge." "So... don't they need to go through Mt. Moon to get to Cerulean City?" Chris asks confusedly. "No," Joy replies slowly. "Didn't you guys get HMs for Fly when you started?" "Um, no," Zac replies. "Why? Were we supposed to have?" "Well, most new Trainers these days get an HM of their choice when they start their journey. It's kind of like a traditional parting gift." "Well... we're a different case," says Chris. "I see," says Joy. "Well, anyway, most choose Fly since it's so convenient, and as a result, most just Fly over Mt. Moon. Mt. Moon has always been a notoriously difficult place for greenhorn Trainers to have to get through."
Chris looks crestfallen, but Zac just grins. "Thanks for the info," he says, and he leads the group out of the Center.
They set up camp and cook dinner. As they eat their rice and beef, Chris speaks up. "It kinda sucks we have to go through Mt. Moon when nearly no one else has to." "Yeah, whatever," Zac replies, obviously not caring. "Well..." Chris presses on, "don't you think it's just a tad bit unfair we didn't get to start with an HM like everyone else?" "Yeah, I guess." Zac remains nonchalant. "I LOVE KENTUCKY-FRIED FROG LEG OF RABBIT!" Andrew suddenly cries out. Zac and Chris, trying to learn to ignore him, do just that.
A kind Trainer walks up to them tentatively. "I'm sorry," he says, "but I couldn't help overhearing what you were saying. Would you... like to borrow one of my HMs? I have Fly and Cut..."
Zac's face immediately lights up. "Can we use both?" he asks. "You forgot 'please'," Chris grumbles, more to himself than Zac. He is trying to give up on teaching Zac manners.
The Trainer smiles. "Sure." He hands the disk-shaped machines to Zac. Zac releases Spearow. "Chris, take out your Pidgey."
They use HM Fly on the two Bird Pokémon and HM Cut on Bulbasaur. "Thanks a lot," Zac says and he returns the HMs. "No problem," the Trainer replies with a smile. He walks away.
"Wow, Zac," Chris says sarcastically. "You said thanks. What's with the sudden manners?" Zac throws a rock at Chris. "Don't test me." "Okay, okay, I'm sorry," says Chris somewhat angrily. "Anyway... are we gonna Fly over Mt. Moon or what?" "How can we, dumbass?" Zac replies as if the answer is extremely obvious... which it is. "How the hell are two small Bird Pokémon supposed to carry three people over a mountain? Never mind Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Pikachu." "Good point," Chris mumbles. Zac grins. "Besides, we're not pussies. Even if we could Fly over, I wouldn't allow it. We're gonna be much better Trainers if we go through there! All these wimps want the easy way out... HA! Let's see how far they get in the Pokémon League!" "Whatever," Chris sighs, rolling his eyes.
(He doesn't get it, does he?) Chris thinks to himself. (All these Trainers stick around here and battle each other for a few days to get the same training benefit as going through Mt. Moon without having to go through the difficulty of navigating the huge cave. Whatever... Our Birds can't get us over the mountain, anyway...)
(Chris is so stupid,) Zac thinks to himself. (Battling here for a few days will train the Pokémon enough to replace the experience gained in Mt. Moon, but it does nothing to help the Trainers. We'll come out stronger than all these pussy Trainers!)
(I wonder...) Andrew thinks to himself, (has anyone made chicken-flavored Jell-O yet? They should!)
(A/N – I do not own Jell-O ™.)
Zac, Chris, Andrew, and their Pokémon stare into the mouth of the cave known as Mt. Moon.
Chris swallows hard. "We're going? In there?" "Yep," Zac nods. Chris takes a deep breath. "Okay, I'm ready." "For the bacon, the sweet bacon!" Andrew cheers as they run in.
After about a minute, they stop running in the cave. It's not because it's dark; it's not very dark in the cave for some reason. It's because of all the wild Pokémon around. They continue walking at a more leisurely pace, trying not to disturb the Pokémon.
"Now, in case you guys haven't noticed yet," Zac breaks the silence, "we've been following a path. It's hard to see, but there is a path, and I bet it leads us to the exit. We can catch wild Pokémon or whatever, but do not leave this path." Zac and Chris look at Andrew. "Got it?" they say in unison. Andrew sweatdrops. "Yeah, I gots it."
They do end up catching Pokémon. Zac catches a Geodude and Chris catches a Paras. They turn to see Andrew and Pikachu chasing a Zubat. They follow it deep into the cave... very far away from the path.
"ANDREW!" Zac bellows. "Get back here!" No response. He and Chris can still hear his giggling. However, it's fading fast as he and Pikachu keep on running. Zac growls angrily. "Chris... stay here. Me and Squirtle are gonna go chase a couple of idiots." And just like that, Chris and Bulbasaur are left alone on the path. Chris looks at his faithful Pokémon. "Man, why do we keep getting ditched like this?" "Bulba..." Bulbasaur agrees sullenly.
Zac and Squirtle run in the general direction they saw Andrew run in. Eventually, they start hearing his laughter again. The laughter guides them in the right direction. They catch up with Andrew. The boy and his Pikachu lose sight of the Zubat and stop to look at Zac and Squirtle. Zac is doubled over, trying to regain his breath. "You... my friend... are... an idiot..." "Thanks!" Andrew says with a big, cheerful smile. He turns around a spots a ladder leading down a dark hole. He and Pikachu run over to it, excited. "Oooh, cool ladder! Come on, Pikachu!" The two start climbing down the ladder. "Andrew!" Zac yells, but it's obviously no use. The kid is oblivious, completely oblivious.
Zac releases his Beedrill before descending the ladder. "When Andrew is in sight, use String Shot to wrap up his legs, okay?" Beedrill buzzes affirmatively and flies down the hole. Zac and Squirtle soon join it at the bottom of the ladder. It is quite a bit darker here.
"Andrew, I'm gonna kill you!" Zac calls into the darkness, frustrated. "Squirtle, stay close. I don't wanna have to look for even more friends down here..." "Squirtle, Squirtle!" he says affirmatively.
Suddenly, he hears someone... or something... moving very close to him. He and his two Pokémon turn in the direction they heard the noise. "A-Andrew?" Zac stutters in spite of himself. He doesn't want to show he's afraid. It doesn't matter that there is no one there to see him afraid; it's the principle of the thing.
The moving suddenly stops. "Who's there?" a gruff voice that definitely doesn't belong to Andrew inquires suspiciously.
"Well, hi, there!" Andrew says cheerfully. He shows up with a lit torch.
"Wha-! How-! How did you-?" Andrew giggles at Zac's stuttering. "I found it. I lit it using a lighter I didn't have a couple minutes ago. Plot holes rule!"
Andrew's light illuminates the man Zac heard a few moments ago. It's a full-grown man. He looks like he's in his thirties. He has messy, dirty blond hair and stubble all over his chin and along his jaw line. He looks very tall to Zac, about 6'3". He's wearing a white lab coat. Well, it would be white if the dirt on it wasn't thick enough to write your name in it with your fingertip. "Who are you?"
"I'm... a scientist," he says shortly as if trying to avoid the topic. "Listen, kid, have you seen a Moon Stone around here?"
"Oh, you mean the thing that makes certain Pokémon evolve, like Clefairy! Why are you looking for it, mister?" "None of your business!" the man snaps. "Well, if you see one, tell me. I need one." He starts to walk away, but Zac calls after him. "Hey, wait! Why do ya need it? Tell me!" The scientist stops and growls in annoyance. He whirls around to glare at Zac angrily. "Why should I tell you?" "Well..." Zac hints, "I don't really feel like helping you. Catch my drift?"
The stranger rolls his eyes. "Fine, whatever." (He's just a kid, anyway...) he thinks to himself. He's still not happy about it.
"Do you know anything about the evolutionary stones?" "Yeah," Zac answers eagerly. "The Moon Stone, Leaf Stone, Fire Stone, Water Stone, and Thunder Stone! They all make certain Pokémon evolve." "You forgot Sun Stone," the man points out. "Oh... uh... yeah, sorry." Zac doesn't want to have to explain where he comes from to this stranger. Besides, he seems untrustworthy...
"Well, the Stones have another point, see?" the man continues. "Not many people know this... If you put them all together, they summon the ultimate Pokémon. Legend has it that's why they were created in the first place. If I can summon the ultimate Pokémon... well, we scientists would understand a lot more about Pokémon." (That's the usual excuse... I'm sure the kid will fall for it.)
The man thought right. Zac's eyes widen in amazement. "Oh, that's so cool! Yeah, I'll help you. Me and Andrew will get right on it!" "Good," the man says. He points in the opposite direction of where the ladder they came down is located. "On the other side of this little cavern, there's a ladder that'll bring you to a different part of Mt. Moon. Look around there, okay? I'm gonna go down the ladder over there... even further down..."
And with that, the man walks away. Zac takes the torch out of Andrew's hand. He holds it out in front of him in the direction the man indicated. He takes a deep breath.
"Squirtle, Beedrill, Andrew, Pikachu... let's go find a Moon Stone!"
The plot thickens! What will happen to Zac and Andrew? If the stranger really is not a scientist, then who is he? And what will Chris and Bulbasaur end up doing? Find out all this and more in the next chapter... An Unexpected Hero!