Chapter Nine
Ash paused as they made their way through Mount Moon.
"What?" Misty asked as they made their way through the dark tunnels of Mt. Moon. Hovering between them was her Staryu, whose gem was glowing to light up the way as they made their way through.
Misty had commented it was strange that the main lights were out– there was usually a collection of them through the main tunnels to guide trainers, but honestly Ash really didn't care. He was closer to his goal than ever– he had a contest pass in his backpack, a Pokemon that was willing to compete, and once he got through this cave he would be in the city that would be holding his first Pokemon Contest– and he couldn't wait.
"Something feels... different," Ash said uncertainly, the strange sensation in his heart. It wasn't a bad feeling, just different, but he didn't know what to make of it.
"Caves throw your senses off," Misty said with a shrug. "Noises echo, no natural light, smells are more confined, you'll get used to it."
Houndour was currently in her Pokeball, as she hadn't seemed too excited by the cave, so he saw no reason to have her out until he and Misty officially parted ways. He had offered Pichu to go back into his Pokeball as well– but the small mouse seemed to have panicked– racing and scurrying into jacket pocket. He was glad that the electric type wanted to stay out though, because that meant more opportunities to earn the Pokemon's trust.
"No, it's not that," Ash said, feeling urgent, though he didn't know how to describe it. "I... I don't know. It's just different."
"You'll feel better once we get you some fresh air, I promise," Misty said, carrying on. Ash hesitantly followed after her. "Trust me, it's just–"
Whatever she was about to say was cut off but the clicking echo of claws coming from up ahead. Both humans paused, sharing a nervous glance. Misty gave a quick glance to Stayru, who started to form a Swift, while Ash reached for Houndour's Pokeball.
"How are you holding up back there?" Jill asked as they worked their way up an incline, looking back at Serena.
The girl gave a small smile, panting slightly as she climbed. When Jill and Jack had said 'detour' she had assumed just a longer path– not a more difficult one. But the way they were now going was very different from the level and smooth tunnels they had been in earlier. Now they were making their way across a rocky tunnel, needing to climb over rough boulders, ducking when the ceiling was low.
"Um, good," she said uncertainly, not wanting slow them down at all. They were the ones guiding her, and she was the one that said they could go this way. It would be rude to complain now, and she was sure that turning around and going down the main path would just take more effort at this point anyways.
Though now she could see why the first tunnel was the main path.
"Kin..." Flambé with a low yip. She was no longer carrying the fox, instead the Pokemon walking at her side. He was able to navigate the tunnel a lot easier with his small and nimble figure, but he wasn't leaving Serena's side.
"We're almost there," Jack said encouragingly. "Just up this path and through the fork."
"...Meow." The Meowth said, perched up on a higher boulder, his Flash lighting up the tunnel still.
"Oh, good," Serena said, digging through her backpack for her water bottle. "Er, could we take a moment to catch our breath?"
Jill looked at her in pity, and her stomach twisted. "Oh, I am so sorry dear! How about you go ahead of us, then that way you can set the pace? Me and my dear Jamie are just used to going faster."
"I– I don't want to slow us down," Serena said swiftly. "If we could just rest for one minute–"
Jill cut her off with a wave. "It would do us some good anyways to slow down. You go first now, then that way there's no risk for leaving you behind."
"Uh..." Serena looked up at the incline ahead of them as she put her water bottle away. "Okay..."
The Meowth was glaring at her as she moved by him– jumping up the ridge of boulders to keep his light shining ahead. Serena carefully started to climb up, hands feeling raw from being pressed against so many rocks. Flambé stayed by her side, hopping from rock to rock. She wasn't sure why the Fennekin was so on edge– despite the exhaustion from hiking Serena couldn't help but feel light, like all was well despite her worries.
Jill and Jack weren't far behind, but she felt self conscious knowing that she was going a lot slower than they had before. She tried to keep her movements swift, but every muscle was hurting from the exhaustion so far. Serena made sure to remind herself that they were almost there, and soon she could just rest.
As they reached the top of the incline Serena let out a long sigh, grateful to find that the path was on even ground once more. However it split off into two directions, and she wasn't sure which way was the right way to go. Meowth zipped past her, heading to the tunnel on the right, looking back at her with a glare.
"Um, which way do I go?" Serena called back.
"Just follow Meowth," Jack replied. "He knows these caves as well as we do!"
The couple were almost at the top of the incline themselves, and so Serena followed after Meowth into the right tunnel. The light of the Flash cast shadows on the wall. The tunnel was fairly short, soon opening up into a small cavern. Serena looked about, but was relieved to find that there was no wild Pokemon camping out inside.
However, there was something else missing as well– an exit.
"Guys, this is a dead end!" Serena called, looking about one more time just to be sure she didn't miss it. She turned to head back, but found Jill and Jack were surely making their way towards her, side by side. They didn't slow down, and she couldn't help but back up as they made their way into the small cavern as well, both of them standing in front of the only entrance.
Flambé let out a snarl.
"Oh, what do you know," Jill said in a surprised tone, but Serena only felt her guts shifting at how fake it sounded. "This is a dead end, did you know this was going to happen, Jack?"
"I didn't," Jack said in the same fake tone. "Meowth, did you bring us here on purpose?"
"Meh, that's what happens you trust a bunch of strangers," a third voice said– and Serena nearly jumped out of her skin. She whipped around to see who had spoken– but there only stood the Meowth, who was examining his claws.
"Wh-wha?" Serena whispered, not sure what was happening– but there was only danger in the air. Even the strange feeling of content felt off, her panic rising.
"Tourists and out of region trainers are the easiest," Jill said with a laugh, and as Serena whipped around again she found that she was tossing a Pokeball up into the air. "Anything to avoid the prices of taking a taxi!"
"There's a reason why the prices are so high," Jack replied, a luxury ball in his hand. "It doesn't all go towards the drivers– it goes to maintaining Mt. Moon and the roads. Keeping the main tunnels clear, lighting them all up, conservation for the Pokemon that live here..."
"Lights?" Serena squeaked– the whole tunnel system had been dark, both on the main trail and this side trail.
Jill grinned, opening up her Pokeball with a flash of red light, letting a giant serpent appear. "Well, they might have gotten shut off when Arbok accidently chewed through a few wires. Silly snake."
Serena's mouth was dry as the giant cobra that was forming in front of her. A large purple hood flared open, the snake rearing up as it let out a frightening hiss. She stumbled back, heart hammering.
"Might have been able to convince a few people with a costume and Growlie that I was an officer and had everything under control," Jack said, letting out his own Pokemon– the Growlithe instantly advancing forward.
"Fenna!" Flambé snarled– the fox leaping in front Serena. A burst of Embers was forming in his mouth as his trainer stumbled back, Serena bumping against a wall. "Kin!"
"If ya don't want your trainer to be hurt, fox," the third voice said, the Meowth working his way closer. "Then you stand down nice and easily. We ain't going to hurt the human, we just want all of her belongings, that's all."
The announcement that she was about to be robbed seemed to be overshadowed in the moment by the fact that it was the Meowth talking.
"Did you just talk?!" Serena shrieked, pointing at the feline, who rolled his eyes.
"What's it to you?" Meowth snarled, claws glowing with a Slash. "Don't make this hard, kid– just hand over your Pokeball and backpack, then we'll be on our way."
Flambé fired the Ember from his mouth– but the Growlithe simply bolted forward, absorbing the flames with a glow. The canine retaliated by firing a Flame Burst right at Fennekin, who let out a yelp as he was hit with the powerful flames. Sparks were sent flying in every direction, and Serena had to lunge to the side to avoid being hit by them.
"Looks like we got a fighter, Jessie," Jack said. "Not only a rare Pokemon, but it will battle. I'm sure we can sell him for quite a pretty penny."
"You're not taking my Pokemon!" Serena snarled.
Jill– Jessie?– let out a laugh. "Maybe you didn't hear James or Meowth clearly, but at least take a look at your situation. You're surrounded, outnumbered, and out powered. Don't make this hard on yourself, dear. Just calmly hand everything over to Meowth, and we'll be out of your hair."
Serena's eyes flickered across the three Pokemon. They had said they had Pokemon good for facing Pokemon that lived in caves, but that didn't seem to be the case. The lie didn't surprise her now with her current situation– but it was something she could use to her advantage. She slowly reached for a Pokeball, and Flambé looked back at her, a recognition in his eyes.
"That's a good girl," Jessie cooed mockingly. "Roll the Pokeball over to Meowth, and he'll recall your little fox. Don't worry, as a rare Pokemon he'll probably end up in a nice good home, spoiled."
"Kin!" Flambé snarled– firing an Ember straight at Meowth. He slashed it away with his Slash– but the Fennekin was already charging forward. He didn't pause to attack the Arbok or Growlithe– slipping right between them and towards Jessie and James. Both of them tensed up, only for the fire type to slip by their legs and into the tunnel.
With them all distracted Serena let out Isla, a bright burst of red light filling the cavern as the Pokeball snapped open.
The entire cave seemed to shake as the monstrous Pokemon was released, a wall of muscle and rocks landing right between Serena and her attackers. The Rhyhorn tossed her head up, small narrowed eyes trying to get a better look at her surroundings.
No longer was Isla a little Rhyhorn calf– but a beast of a Pokemon. Rigid rocky plates covered her entire form, ivory claws digging into the cave floor. Two fangs peered out from her mouth, but they were dwarfed by the long horn that jutted up from her nose. Through the cave floor she could feel the fearful trembles of Serena, and that was all the Rhyhorn needed to know as she let out a loud bellow.
"Rhhhhahhh!"
"She had another Pokemon?" James cried. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know she had another– she said she was a new trainer!"
"Horn Attack!" Serena cried– because the only thing on her side was Isla's size and type advantage. The Pokemon had stamina, but was not a battler, rather a racer– and she had no idea how she would hold up against these thief's Pokemon who clearly knew how to fight.
Isla lowered her head, a white glow surrounding her horn– and with the speed she had gained from racing she charged forward. With caves surrounding them on all four sides the cavern shook, the earth reacting to the presence of the powerful ground type. The Rhyhorn slammed into the Arbok, plowing the snake into the ground.
Dark energy glowed about the Arbok, latching its fangs around Isla's leg with a Bite. Her rocky hide took the brunt of the damage, but still she let out a roar of pain. The Growlithe came at her side with a Flame Wheel, scorching her gray hide. Still the Rhyhorn turned, jerking her head about to ram the Horn Attack into the canine.
"Gah," the Meowth sneered. "Do I have to do everything myself, you lugs?"
The feline then sped forward, droplets of water forming about his front paw. Serena's eyes widened as the sphere of water was brought down onto Isla's back, the Water Pulse making her let out a painful roar, the Pokemon staggering back. The Meowth did a flip from off of the Pokemon's side, a Slash forming around his claws as he landed.
"You wanna battle?" He sneered. "Then let's battle."
"Is that an Eevee?" Misty said, staring at the strange Pokemon running through the cave, the click of its claws echoing through the tunnel. It did vaguely resemble an Eevee in shape– though it lacked the fluffy scruff of fur the breed was known for.
"Fenna!" The strange Pokemon called, coming to a halt in front of them, barking at them earnestly. Ash fished through his pocket for a Pokedex, pulling it out to scan the Pokemon.
"Fennekin, the fox Pokemon– fire type." the Pokedex reported. "This Pokemon is not native to Kanto, nor the continent of Kodai. Please download the Kalosian expansion for more data regarding this Pokemon."
"Fennekin, fenna!" The Fennekin whimpered desperately, headbutting Ash's legs, seeming to feel the same panic as him. Staryu's gem flickered in response, and the fox began scratching at the ground, urgently looking over his shoulder.
"Something's wrong," Ash muttered, knowing that there was no way this was a wild Pokemon. "Is it your trainer?"
"Kin!" Fennekin cried, bobbing his head up and down urgently. He then turned and started running down the tunnel. He and Misty shared a glance, before following. The possibilities were running through his mind– someone attacked by a wild Pokemon, or twisting their ankle so they could no longer walk, maybe stuck in a rock slide–
The Fennekin darted off into a side tunnel, which was not helping his reassurances. Going off of the main trail was dangerous no matter what, and he pulled out Houndour's Pokeball, ready to release her if they ran into trouble.
It was getting harder to keep up with Fennekin, the tunnel much narrower and uneven compared to the main path. The fox would dart up ahead, before coming back to make sure they were following, before hurrying forward again. His panic was becoming more so by the moment, and both he and Misty increased their pace.
"Help!" A shrill voice echoed through the cave, and Ash felt his heart leap in his chest.
"Fenna!" Fennekin cried, abandoning them in the tunnel as he sped ahead, too desperate to leave his trainer behind. Misty and Ash ran faster, following the echoes of the girl and the brief glimpses of Fennekin's tail they saw up ahead.
They paused as they reached a fork– one leading towards a rocky decline, the other path being fairly narrow compared to the one that they just came from. The flashes of light and echoes coming from it were all they needed to see, the two of them hurrying forward, Misty pulling another Pokeball from her pocket.
"Stop! Stay away from me!"
"If you would just hand over the Pokeballs we wouldn't be having a problem."
"Isla! Flambé!"
"Meh, at least the fox came back– ow! Keep your claws to yourself, pest!"
"James, come help me!"
The largest thing in the room was easily the Rhydon– collapsed in the middle of the room, scorch marks on its sides, water dripping from down the rocky plates, and the telltale sign of poison from the purple hue under its eyes. An Arbok was curled up on top of it, huffing as poison dripped from glowing fangs. Laying nearby was a fainted Growlithe, where a lavender haired man was by its side, stroking the canine.
Off on the other side of the small cavern there was a Meowth holding the Fennekin by the scruff. He was sneering at the fox– who spat an Ember right at his face. The Meowth let out a snarl, dropping the Fennekin in the process– only to bring a Water Pulse right down onto his face, picking up the small Pokemon once more, claws out.
Then there was the two females, a young blonde girl struggling against a woman with magenta hair, who held the younger by the shoulder, arm twisted painfully behind her back. That didn't stop the girl though, who was kicking and screaming, free arm lashing out as the woman tried to reach for her backpack, eyes narrowed in frustration.
"What is going on here?" Misty trumpeted as they entered the cavern, causing everyone to freeze up.
"Help!" The blonde girl cried out the moment she saw them. "They're– they're trying to steal my Pokemon!"
"Tsk," the magenta haired woman girl sneered. "Arbok, Poison Fang now!"
The Arbok slithered from off of the fallen Rhyhorn. Staryu drifted so they were hovering in front of Misty, gem gleaming, and Ash expanded Houndour's Pokeball. "Psybeam!"
Staryu fired the Psybeam straight at the poison type, who slithered to the side to avoid the psychic energy. She flared open her hood, though Staryu seemed unfazed by the intimidation.
"Fire Spin!" Ash called as he released Houndour, who was spitting flames as the order was given. The ribbons of fire danced from her fangs, twisting up into a vortex as it rushed towards Arbok, trapping it where it stood. The Arbok whipped its head back and forth, hissing as embers flew off onto its scales.
"Psybeam again!" Misty snapped, and this time the Arbok wasn't able to avoid the super effective move. It let out a screech, and Staryu drifted forward as their gem prepared yet another Psybeam.
"Stay back!" The Meowth cried, leaping forward, launching a Water Pulse at the incoming move, sending the psychic rays scattering. The feline charged forward, slashing at the water type.
"Arf!" Houndour barked, her fangs glowing with a Bite as she pounced on the Meowth– who retaliated with a Water Pulse.
"You little pest!" The Meowth shrieked, and Houndour retreated, steam curling up from her dark fur.
"Did– did that Pokemon just talk?" Ash cried, but Misty didn't seem to be listening, releasing her Goldeen, who immediately began using Aqua Ring.
"As a gym leader of the Cerulean City Gym, I order you to release that girl now!" Misty thundered, walking past the Arbok trapped within the Fire Spin, her two Pokemon floating at her side. They may have been unevolved, but there was a presence in the room as she drew closer.
Jessie paused, and the blonde used the moment to land a kick right to the woman's knee. Jessie let out a shriek, and the girl scrambled away, shaking slightly as she leaned against the wall. Jessie's eyes flickered between Misty and the blonde, before reaching back and grabbing a Pokeball.
Both of Misty's Pokemon prepared an attack– but the Pokeball was merely used to recall Arbok from within the Fire Spin. James was doing the same with his Growlithe, and Jessie looked over at him.
"Weezing!" He exclaimed, and Misty wheeled around to face the new Pokemon as it was released. "Smokescreen, make it thick!"
The Weezing began releasing a thick smog from the pores covering its body. And within the small cavern there was nowhere for the air to filter, the Smokescreen quickly cloaking the entire area in the smoke. Ash raised his shirt over his mouth as he coughed, trying to breathe. He cracked an eye open, though the smoke stung– but all he could see was a faint red light– someone recalling a Pokemon.
"Come on you lugs!" A faint voice– the Mewoth?– echoed from over by the entrance along with footsteps.
"We can't let them get away!" Misty called from somewhere over to his left, but Ash turned to head deeper into the cavern. He had to keep his eyes closed to keep the smoke from stinging his eyes, listening to the coughing from the back of the cavern. He staggered forward towards the sound, coughes of his own coming from him.
The girl tensed as his arm found her shoulder– and he felt tingles race through him. "It's– o-okay–" he coughed. "Here– to help!"
She relaxed slightly as he pulled her to her feet. She didn't seem to be injured, walking forward with him, but she was clearly shaken up by the way she was trembling. He led them back to where he knew the exit to be, and the air just seemed to be a bit clearer. There was a light, and as the two of them came closer he could see Staryu using Rapid Spin, trying to get the air moving. The Smokescreen wasn't quite as thick now, and he started gasping in some air once more.
"M-my Pokemon–" The girl coughed, turning slightly. "Fainted– need help–"
"Recall them to their Pokeballs," he replied, eyes sweeping the room. The girl let go of him for a moment, and he felt his heart thump heavily. It felt wrong, after seeing her in danger, and he wanted to reach out for her again. Two flashes of red light later Rhyhorn and Fennekin were back safely within their Pokeballs, and he put an arm around her shoulder once more as they rushed out of the tunnel that was connected to the cavern.
They found themselves where the tunnel forked, where only a few wisps of smoke lingered. They all sank down to the cave floor, coughing and trying to breathe in fresh air– or as fresh as you could get within a cave. The girl was sitting right next to him, leaning against his shoulder despite being a stranger, but Ash didn't mind. After what she had gone through she probably just wanted some comfort, and it felt nice to have her lean up against his shoulder, and he found himself relaxing despite what had happened.
"Hound?" Houndour whimpered, approaching Ash. She seemed to have handled the Smokescreen the best out of all of them, but as a fire type her lungs were built to handle smoke better than most Pokemon. She sat down in front of him, eyes flickering towards the girl next to him, but didn't do anything as they coughed.
"You did great, girl," Ash said softly, petting the top of Houndour's head. "Stopped that Arbok right in its tracks– and it was probably way stronger than you too."
"Dour!" She yipped, looking quite proud of herself.
"Chu..."
The small voice reminded Ash that he had more than one Pokemon out, and he hurried to open his jacket– but found that Pichu had already climbed out, pulling himself up onto his shoulder. He was squeaking and coughing, having had some insulation within his pocket, but he needed the fresh air like the rest of them.
"Did they take any of your Pokemon?" A voice asked, and they all looked up at Misty, who was standing above them. This was the most serious Ash had ever seen her– which was saying something– and both of her water Pokemon were at her side.
"N-no," the girl coughed, still pressing close against Ash. "They would have, though... thank you, thank you so much..."
"She was able to get them both back into their Pokeballs," Ash reported.
Misty was now pacing the room. "This isn't this first attempted theft– I've heard other reports of these thieves in the mountain path before." She rubbed her head. "I can't believe the talking Meowth was actually true too, Jenny just excused that as hallucinations from a Weezing's gas..."
"You... you said you were a gym leader, right?" The girl asked meekly. "Thank you, for rescuing me."
Ash lifted his head at these words. "Wait– gym leader?"
"Doesn't matter," Misty growled. "We need to get this girl and her Pokemon to a Center now. Let's see, Pewter is probably the closest from here, so she can come back with me..."
"You didn't tell me you were a gym leader, Misty!"
"Junior Gym Leader!" She snapped back. "My sisters get the official title– but do they actually take their job seriously? No!" She tugged at her hair. "I told them we should hire Rangers to patrol the Cerulean side of the tunnel– but they wouldn't listen to me! And now people are getting attacked and their Pokemon stolen!"
Ash fell silent, those words reminding him of what was the most important right now– the girl who had been attacked and nearly had her Pokemon taken from her. He turned to face her, knowing he should provide better comfort than just integrating Misty on the fact that she was an apparent gym leader.
The blonde had her knees drawn up, forcing herself to take in deep breaths as she stared at the ground. There was a couple of scrapes on her arms, but nothing more serious than that. However her entire body language read fear, so he placed a gentle arm on her shoulder, speaking softly.
"Hey," Ash said. "It's okay, they didn't get your Pokemon," he told her. "We're going to get you back to the city, and we can file a report."
She nodded swiftly, head still low as tears fell.
"You're alright now," Ash said again. "Just let us know when you feel ready to stand up, and we'll get out of here, okay?"
"Okay..." The girl muttered, eyes flickering up– and the girl froze up as their eyes met.
Ash froze as well, staring at the pair of bright blue eyes that were looking right at him– eyes that he hadn't seen in years. The two didn't break eye contact, just staring at those gazes they had expected to be gray.
Her hair was longer than he had remembered, and her face wasn't quite as round. She wasn't the little girl he had memories of, but yet she was still so familiar as they watched at each other. He felt a warmth swell in his chest, and suddenly the cave didn't seem so dull. Everything just felt right, looking at those bright blue eyes, and a smile was crawling onto his face. He opened his mouth to speak, no doubt in his voice.
"Serena."