Traveling with Brock was great! The teenager was a wealth of knowledge on rock type Pokemon, and Pokemon in general for that matter. He was also willing to join Ash and his team on their early morning runs, doing pretty well for himself in that regard. Without a doubt though, the best part of traveling with Brock, was the cooking. Dear Arceus, what Brock could do with a pan, campfire, and a few ingredients, was truly a gift from heaven. On that, Ash and his Pokemon agreed wholeheartedly, thanks to the custom Pokemon food Brock had made and continued to experiment with. Ash did his best to pick up as much as he could on that front as well.
The two moved along Route 3, with Ash battling and defeating a few trainers along the way. Approaching Mt. Moon, Ash and Brock caught sight of a group of Zubat attacking a man in a white coat. Two two sprinted to his aid, as Ash had Pikachu call out a quick Thundershock, knocking out the blue vampire-bat like Pokemon.
"Are you ok?" asked Ash while helping the man up. The man looked to be a young adult with brown hair and glasses.
The man drew Ash into a deep hug, nearly squeezing the life out of him. "YES! YOUR RESCUE WAS SUPER! THE BEST RESCUE I HAVE EVER HAD!"
"Uh yeah... No problem mister. Can't breath. Can you please let me go now?" struggled Ash as Brock laughed while adding a now full Pokeball to his belt.
This offended the strange man, and he immediately dropped Ash, who collapsed to the ground. "NEVER CALL ME MISTER! My name is Seymour. SEYMOUR THE SCIENTIST!" said the man as he posed and looked off into the distance, causing Ash, Brock, and Pikachu to sweat drop.
"I see... I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet town."
"And I'm Brock," said the teenager.
"Why were those Zubat attacking you Seymour?" asked Ash.
"A true tragedy that," said Seymour, who was now more serious. " I have been doing some research in Mt. Moon and the Pokemon within for some time now. When I resupplied and came back out into the field, I noticed that somebody had started to hang some strange lights in the cave."
"Oh, I see now," called out Brock.
"What do you mean Brock?" asked Ash in confusion.
"Zubat are naturally attracted to dark caves and spaces, making those locations a natural habitat for the Pokemon. If somebody is lighting up the cave, no wonder the Pokemon are agitated. Their home has been radically altered," explained Brock.
"YES THAT'S IT EXACTLY!" exclaimed the eccentric scientist. "That is why I must go back and find the cause of this travesty. I must protect the Pokemon!"
Ash couldn't help but get a little fired up himself at this. Protecting Pokemon was always something he would be interested in. "Do you mind if Brock and I tag along? We have to pass through Mt. Moon anyway and would love to help you out."
This of course led Ash into another one of Seymour's super hugs...
Some time later, the groups was slowly making their way through the cave. As Seymour had indicated, lights were hung all throughout Mt. Moon. The local Pokemon were clearly suffering the effects. Paris were sporadically planting mushrooms, while some Sandshrew laid out in exhaustion from the heat caused by the lighting.
"Who could do such a thing?" Ash muttered out loud.
"I'm afraid it might be criminals interested in stealing the Moon Stone," replied Seymour as he turned to the boy.
"Moonstone? Like what causes the evolution of certain Pokemon?" questioned Ash
"Yes! The moonstone is said to be a meteor that crashed into Mt. Moon over 1,000 year ago. Nobody has seen the whole thing, but we have found fragments, like this one," Seymour said pulling out a Moonstone.
"Cool!" Ash said.
"Ver cool indeed, but we must soldier on, for if we do not hurry, the Moon Stone shall soon be gone!" cried out Seymour with passion.
At that very moment, a small pink Pokemon with a Moon Stone in its had began trotting past the group, singing its name in a cheerful tone.
"Clefairy. Clefairy. Clefairy. Clefairy."
"Never thought I would see a Clefairy! I gotta catch it!" Ash said as he turned a corner and chased after it.
"Wait up Ash!" called out Brock, sprinting after the boy.
"YOU MUSN'T DISTURB THE CLEFAIRY ASH. WAIT!" wailed Seymour, trailing the two.
Ash ran ahead and stopped when he saw the Clefairy had also stopped moving, and was looking up at a rocky outcrop. "On it stood a cat-like Pokemon standing on two legs, with its claws out, and a gold coin on its head. "Don't be scared of Meowth little Clefairy. Just hand over that Moonstone and nobody will get hurt," said the Pokemon with an evil smirk.
A talking Meowth, thought Ash as he began to remember what Officer Jenny had told him. That must mean... "You! You're part of the group of Team Rocket members that stole Pokemon from the Viridian City Pokemon Center!" yelled Ash with a finger pointed at Meowth accusingly.
"So what if I am kid? What are you gonna do about it?" leered Meowth.
Ash was about to respond when his Brock and Seymour caught up, also spying the mouth.
"What's going on Ash?" asked Brock.
"That Meowth is part of team Rocket Brock! I heard they were behind the Viridian City Pokemon Center robbery, and it looks like they are here causing even more trouble!" said Ash as he glared at Meowth.
"Trouble?" said a feminine voice with a sharp edge.
"If it's trouble you want, best make it double." another voice retorted; This one being male.
Two figures came up from behind Meowth holding a Pickaxe. Both were dressed in matching white uniforms with a giant red R on the shirts. One was a woman with long red hair and gaudy green earrings. The other was a man with short blue hair.
What happened next... well it was the single most weirdest thing Ash had ever experienced in his life. Music started to flare from nowhere, and the two villains began a rehearsed theme song...
Prepare for trouble!
And make it double!
To protect the world from devastation!
To unite all people within our nation!
To denounce the evils of truth and love!
To extend our reach to the stars above!
Jessie! James!
Team Rocket blasts off at the speed of light!
Surrender now, or prepare to fight!
Meowth! That's right!
Ash was momentarily dumbfounded from the anthem, but swiftly snapped out of it and back to reality. "YOU! GIVE BACK THE POKEMON YOU STOLE FROM VIRIDIAN CITY YOU THIEVES!" yelled Ash.
"Wish we could kid, but we don't exactly have them on us anymore," sad James in a mock apologetic tone.
"And now you are going to hand over your Pokemon as well twerp, or we will get nasty!" threatened Jessy.
"Never!" countered Ash.
"Well said Ash!" added Brock.
"Not polite to yell at your elders. Let's teach him same manners Jessie," said James.
"Koffing! Ekans! Go!" said the Rocket duo as a floating purple sphere with holes and a face appeared. Next to that came out a purple snake with a yellow strip neck and yellow tail.
"Protect Clefairy Pikachu. Butterfree! I choose you!" said Ash
"Come on out Zubat!" added Brock
"I thought I saw you put a new Pokeball on your belt Brock," smirked Ash.
"That's right. Caught it just outside the cave," replied Brock.
"Smog Koffing," called James with confidence.
A greenish smog oozed out of Koffing's body, heading towards Butterfree and Zubat.
Too easy, thought Ash. "Show them the results of your training and blow it back with a powerful Gust Butterfree!"
Butterfree easily pushed the smog back towards the poison Pokemon with a great flap of its wings. Ekans took advantage of the smoke and dove through it for an attempted Bite towards Butterfree. Luckily, Brock was there to save the day with a quick Supersonic from Zubat confused the snake, causing Ekans to turn around and hit Koffing instead.
"Nice save Brock! Now let's finish things up. Whirlwind Butterfree!" Ash's Pokemon created a great wind with its wings sending Jessie, James, Meowth, Koffing and Ekans, flying down the cave and out of sight.
"Great Job Butterfree! Return buddy," Ash said, calling back his Pokemon to the Pokeball.
"Pikachu?" the yellow mouse said to Clefairy, making sure it was ok.
"Clefairy!" the Pokemon responded with a small blush on its cheeks, but affirming that it was in fact ok.
After a short rest, the group continued through Mt. Moon in search of the Moonstone with Clefairy now leading the way. They passed through a beautiful clearing with trees, a small lake, and the moonlight shining down on the group. Soon they came upon another cave entrance.
Walking into the cave, the group was in awe at the stunning site before them. Like the clearing before, the ceiling was non-existent and the moon shined down on the room. The moonlight illuminated a giant stone at the center of the room, while dozens of Clefairy stood in the shadows.
"The Moonstone!" exclaimed Seymour with excitement.
"Looks like there are some Moon Stone shards surrounding it too," observed Ash.
"What do you think they are waiting for," Brock asked Seymour. Their traveling Clefairy companion answered the question before Seymour could. She approached the Moon Stone and placed her own shard in a single empty slot. The moment she did, the shards and moonstones began to shine and sparkle, lighting up the shadows in the room. The other Clefairy in the room began what could best be described as some sort of ritual, as they danced and pranced around the Moonstone in joy. It was a dance that was truly beautiful to behold.
Like all good things, it would have to come to an end. "How cute," said a familiar snarky cat-like voice.
Turning around at the sound, the group came face to face with the Team Rocket trio once again.
"Not you guys again!" Ash sad with exasperation. "Don't you know when to quit?"
"Quit? I don't know the meaning of the word," laughed James.
"That's right twerp. Now we are feeling generous. Stay out of our way and you we'll even let you keep your Pokemon," offered Jessie.
"And let you steal the Moonstone? No chance you thugs!"
"I guess I'll get to use it after all," said Jessie with a dark grin as she pulled a black Pokeball with lines running down it out of her sleeve. "It might just be a prototype, but it should be good enough for the likes of you. GO DARK BALL!" The Pokeball opened and purple energy poured out to form a purple star-shaped Pokemon with a red jewel encrusted in the center.
"A Starmie... but it looks like something's wrong with it, and what kind of Pokeball is that anyway?" asked Ash with trepidation.
"Glad you asked kid," Jessie said with malice. "This here is a Dark Ball, albeit a prototype. It allows me to capture any Pokemon and bend them to my will, while increasing their power. It also gives them a nasty streak. This Starmie came from some orange-haired brat who was at the Viridian Pokemon Center when we pulled off our heist. Obviously it wouldn't listen to a thing I said at first. Thanks to the Dark ball, that has changed."
"But you said you didn't have any of those Pokemon with you," pointed out Brock
"We lied," deadpanned James.
"You monsters!" yelled Ash
"Sticks and stone kid," replied Jessie. "Enough talk! Starmie, use your water gun on the twerps!" The Pokemon obeyed without question as a large torrent of water shout out at the group, forcing them to scatter.
"Pikachu, counter with Thundershock!"
"PIKACHUUUU!" A torrent of lightning hit Starmie and seemed to do the job. "Direct hit!" cheered Ash.
"Not so fast. Use Recover Starmie, followed by rapid spin." Instantly, Starmie's wounds were healed and it spun at a high speed, striking Pikachu and sending it back. The attack did way more damage than it should have. If Pikachu was hit again, he might not make it.
Time slowed down for Ash as he took in his current situation. Hitting the Starmie with another Thundershock would do no good. It would just recover. Besides, Ash didn't want to keep hurting this poor Pokemon that was fighting against its will. Its will... now there was an idea, thought Ash.
Time returned to normal as Ash strengthened his resolve. "Stand tough Pikachu. Give it an Agility followed by an Iron Tail!" yelled Ash.
"Your wasting your time," smirked Jessie as she was prepared to allow the charging Pikachu to hit Starmie.
"NOW JUMP OVER STARMIE AND AIM FOR THE DARK BALL!" Pikachu jumped over the star Pokemon and in a flash it used its steel type move to cleanly slice the Dark Ball in two. Starmie collapsed in relief as it escaped the mind control caused by the Dark Ball and Jessie, James, and Meowth were shocked.
Shock turned to anger quick. "YOU LITTLE PEST," screamed the irate Jessie as she immediately tried to kick the yellow rat!
"I don't think so. Jump into the air and and send them flying with one more Thundershock!
Pikachu easily dodged the slow human kick and took to the air, giving an evil grin towards Team Rocket, who gained a look of terror on their faces.
"PIKACHUUUU!" Lightning shout out at Team Rocket, as they began to glow like Christmas trees, before an explosion blasted them into the air and into the night.
"Great job Buddy" Ash said as he walked up to Pikachu and patted him on the head.
"You didn't do too bad yourself Ash," praised Brock clapping the boy on the back.
Then came Seymour pulling Ash into yet another bone crushing hug, crying tears of joy and praising the boy for saving the Clefairy. Pikachu would have laughed at the sight, but a certain Clefairy did the same to him, causing the yellow rodent to actually blush.
Brock had taken charge of the disoriented and injured Starmie, carrying it in his arms. They planned to take it to the Pokemon Center in Cerulean City, and then reporting it as stolen at the local police station.
Time passed as the Clefairy escorted the group out to the other side of Mt. Moon. When they reached the entrance, Seymour stood back with the Clefairy.
"I can't thank you both enough for all that you have done, but I have decided to stay here and live with the Clefairy. Best of luck on your journey you two," smiled the odd Professor.
"You take care Seymour you too Clefairy! Ash replied.
Ash, Brock, and Pikachu began to leave, but a tugging sensation on Ash's jeans stopped him from moving. Looking down, Ash saw the same Clefairy as before looking up at the boy with a Moonstone share in its hand presented to Ash.
"Is that for me Clefairy?" asked the boy.
"Clefairy!" cheered the Pokemon as it nodded.
"Thanks. I promise not to waste it," said the boy, grabbed the stone and putting it into his backpack.
"Clefairy! Clefairy!" yelled the now somewhat irate Pokemon when Ash started to turn away agin.
"Wait a minute... Do you want to come along with us on our journey," Ash asked with anticipation.
"Clefairy!" smiled the small pink Pokemon.
"Really? That's awesome Clefairy!" Ash pulled out a small Pokeball and held it out to the Clefairy. Giving Pikachu a quick wink and blowing it a kiss, it touched the Pokeball and was immediately sucked inside. This was followed by a quick ding as Ash officially caught his 6th Pokemon.
"We got Clefairy!" Posed Ash and Pikachu, though the latter was still blushing from the pink Pokemon's antics.
Giving one final round of goodbyes, Ash, Pikachu, and Brock went on their way heading on their way. Only a short time later, the group came to a fork in the road. One way had a sign pointing to Cerulean City. Looking closer, Ash made out some writing on the sign.
Gary was here! Ash is a loser!
"Gary was here... DID HE CALL ME A LOSER? I'LL SHOW YOU GARY!" screamed Ash, sprinting towards Cerulean City with Pikachu and Brock on his heels.
Elsewhere in a Hidden Base
"You mean to tell me our plans to acquire the Moonstone were derailed by children?" asked a low and furious voice from a screen. The voice belonged to a man with his face hidden. He was wearing an orange suit, sitting in an ornate chair, and slowly petting a Persian
The trio of Rockets looking at the screen and groveled, trying to think of something to get them out of this mess. "Well Boss... You see... Um.." The voice cut them off.
"I don't want to hear your pathetic excuses. This was only a minor setback anyway. Report to Vermillion City at once and prepare for the S.S. ANNE operation," ordered the man in a no nonsense voice.
"YES SIR!" answered the trio.
"This time, failure is not an option," said the man with a cruel grin as he cut the transmission.
END CHAPTER
The longest chapter yet is in the books. We went through the normal events of Mt. Moon with a few key changes. Ash catches a Clefairy for one. I also utilized the concept of the Dark Ball from the 4th Pokemon Movie. I figured it would be a nice way to ensure Team Rocket was able to use a Pokemon against its will. Speaking of that Pokemon, looks like a certain somebody was robbed a few chapters back.
Next time - The group arrives in Cerulean City, the gang enjoys a nice water show, and somebody gets their Pokemon back as she is finally introduced.
DragonEmperor999 - Thanks for the review once again! Hope you enjoyed seeing your requested Pokemon get caught :). Stay tuned for more next time!
