With the sun hovering above the forestry with its rays blessing the area in an orange hue which signaled the end of the storm that befell, adventurers excitedly filled the route, ready to start training or journeying for lost time. One of those enthusiastic people is Leaf who is skipping along with Buneary around the mountain range with Red following behind, adjusting his gloves.

"Woo! Freedom! Man, I thought that storm will never end." She said, straightening her shorts.

"Tell me about it." Misty said while stretching, wearing blue hiking gloves, a brown hoodie with a rocky pattern and black tights.

She then turned to see Leaf blowing whistles at Red's outfit which consists of a brown open jacket, his black undershirt along with black pants and red hiking boots. Along with this, he also had his cap on backwards and his hair parted, showing his face, courtesy of the brunette's nagging. Seeing the boy's full face is a new experience to Misty, if the gym leader did not know any better, she would have never thought that such a cute and innocent looking face could look so terrifying by turning around a cap. 'I can sort of understand why she likes him. He's slightly above average in the handsome factor but still plain. Maybe that girl's just built different or something.'

Meanwhile Leaf was smirking while she trotted over to her raven haired companion, twirling and admiring her clothes which is a black blouse, blue shorts along with brown hiking sneakers. "How do I look, Red?"

Looking up and checking her out, he gave the brunette a thumbs up before typing a response which made her smile upon seeing his expressions and the text. "You look nice! It fits you perfectly."

Her smile grew bigger while she sauntered over to him, making sure to show her best assets but she was interrupted by a cough, glaring at Misty and Lorelei who both have smirks on their faces, much to Leaf's embarrassment and frustration. The red haired woman walked up to the teens while fiddling with a doll like bottle in her hands. "Are the shorts and tights that necessary?"

Both girls looked at Lorelei who is wearing baggy beige clothing along with huge hiking boots and a one strapped bag, similar to the outfit that Red has which made the guys around her disappointed, Leaf scratching her head. 'Wow…I can't tell if she's dense or just oblivious.'

"It helps to lure in the guys." Misty said with a wink and then pointed at Leaf. "However, with brunette the barbarian over there, it's to get nasty with No Face. Which reminds me…"

She turned to Red, slightly taken aback by him playing with Vulpix while fiddling with his equipment, a sight that would make anyone who isn't prepared gush. "I don't usually like putting responsibility to the youngest member but we're counting on you today alright, No Face."
Red nodded before Leaf became confused, turning to Misty while they all continued on the rocky path. "Uhhh, Misty. I know you're older than us by three years but Red's the same age as me. Fifteen-"

"Actually I'm fourteen." Red corrected her in a matter of fact tone.

"Yeah, that's what I said. We're both fift-wha?" She paused, both she and Lorelei looking at Red with a surprised face, the red head muttered something. "So it's true."

"What's true? More importantly…" She walked slowly to him, wondering if he is lying or joking with her before she slowly asks a question. "How?"

"I'm...fourteen. Well, I turned fourteen last week." Red said, feeling a bit nervous at being the center of attention. Hearing this, the brunette's gaze went to the floor at the new revelation. "I can't believe it...he's younger than Yellow...and you guys knew…"

"It honestly makes sense." Lorelei interjected, everyone looking at her, vowing for her to continue. "Most children learn about us at the last year of school but it seems he graduated early which made him miss that information. It was odd that he was the only one that seems very confused about my presence. He might know Lance which is the only Elite Four member to go public because he's the substitute Champion."

Thinking about the explanation, she then remembered hearing eye witnesses around a couple months ago about Bruno being in Mt. Moon but Red said he did not see him however he saw a person that was in a tattered gi and has blackish blue hair and piercing blacks which fits the Fighting type Elite Four's description. She was about to make an argument before Misty cut her off. "And Professor Oak's grandbrat is taller than him."

"What's that got to do with anything?" Red asked through a message, getting a grin from the gym leader. Meanwhile, Leaf was still taken aback by the new information, she always thought that Yellow was the youngest but the blonde made it up with her smarts and the fact that she had flawless grades in school. It now made sense, Red is very smart and his battling skills are extraordinary. Apart from Blue, Eric and Zane, if he decided to join the league, he would no doubt become Champion. Her eyes widened when something he said popped up in her mind. "Wait! Why didn't you tell me about your birthday?!"

Red's face darkened for a second before he looked at her and shrugged, saying he forgot but Leaf knew that he is hiding but not prying any further now. Continuing their hike to Rock Tunnel, Misty grumbled along the way while she struggled with climbing, resorting to using Starmie's Psychic to get to the destination, earning giggles from Leaf and Lorelei who the latter was quite adept at, saying that there was a cave near where she lived that she frequently climbed. This got a jealous stare from Red because there are not much rocky areas near Pallet Town but decided to teach Leaf how to properly hike, realizing that she's a quick learner. After a while, the brunette is started improving, now being above him, not aware that he is holding back for her safety.

"Too bad I don't have a skirt, you'd be able to see eeeverything." She teased, wiggling her hips to his direction, happy at the blush showing on his face. After a while, they were able to reach the entrance to the cave, the first thing that they noticed when they step foot in the cave is the place being very pitch black. Realizing this problem, Red released Vulpix to burn a stick and entered the cave first, Leaf holding onto him to take advantage of the situation.

"I hate caves." The brunette muttered, her eyes darting around the area while Buneary is napping in her bag. Misty chuckled at the sight which earned a glare from Leaf, Red being the only one seeing the gym leader's legs shaking. "A-aren't you afraid of bugs, Carrot?"

"Shut it, Lulu!"

'Did you guys hear that?' Buneary woke up and asked in an alerted voice, looking around the cave which did not go unnoticed by Leaf. "Buneary, what's wrong? Have a stomach ache?"

'No! Ther-' Before she could finish, tremors occurred throughout the cave until an ear splitting sound echoed through the walls, making the habitants of the cave, including the Zubat and Golbat that were riled up which made the group to duck against the colony. Thinking quickly, Red made Vulpix use Confuse Ray to disorientating the startled Pokemon before Leaf released Swablu to use Hyper Voice to repel them into other parts of the cave.

"Ok. Question of the day: The hell?" Misty asked, immediately getting her answer in the form of an earthquake that caused the ceiling fall onto the group, much to their surprise.

"Take cover now!" Red yelled as he released Clef. Leaf thought quickly, taking out Wartortle and using Protect to shield her along with Lorelei from the falling rocks while Red and Misty dash towards her. As soon as the boulders get close, Clef started punching and breaking them, giving Red ample time to voice his next move when he realized it was too late. "Copycat."

He then grabbed Misty before the Fairy type surrounds them in a veil, protecting them from the onslaught of falling rocks. Leaf then clicked her teeth as she and Lorelei both stayed in the shield while the tremors continue, Buneary snuggling to her trainer in fear. After several minutes, the rumbling stopped which made the duo look around them, noticing that they are trapped within the rubble.

"Damn it! Add this to the list of reasons I hate caves." Leaf mumbled in frustration before sending out Nida, making her and Wartortle create a pathway through the rubble by using Chip Away and Water Pulse repeatedluy. Able to create an opening, realizing that the cave is much darker than before, much to her annoyance. "Great…it's pitch black in here...what a time to have a flashlight."

Taking out a flashlight and now travelling through the cave, they then heard the loud noise again, stealthily following the direction it came from. After several minutes of walking, they came across a light, peering at the source which the sight of the place made their eyes widened. There was Team Rocket grunts everywhere, catching Pokemon and forcing them into cages, some of the creatures being tortured for retaliating and bloodied up.

"What the hell?" Leaf whisper shouted, horrified by what she saw before her eyes caught some of the grunts who were far away from the group with devices in their hands. 'What the-'

Before she could finish her thought, a Linoone belonging to one of the grunts sensed them before alerting the others, a curse shared between the two females as the whole group approached them, Buneary hopping out of her bag to intercept them.

"Tch. Why is Team Rocket here?" Lorelei mumbled as she opened a Pokeball, a white mist appearing from the capsule which caused Leaf to shiver when it passed. Hail then started coming out, materializing into several wispy tails before an enormous blizzard was released which threw their attackers into the wall, knocking out some of them. After the wind dispersed, it revealed a nine tailed blue fox whose majestic fur is swaying along with the slight cold wind. Leaf could only watch in awe when it slowly walks in front of them beside Buneary, rearing to fight their enemies. 'So that's how the other Ninetales look like…it's…beautiful…'

"Take out those bitches now!" One of the grunts exclaimed, sending out a group consisting of Alakazam, Golem, Gliscor and Machamp towards the two females. Lorelei scoffed at the insult, a hand on her hip. "That's rude. At least call us pretty."

"I'll call you that if you can take of these nuts, you four eyed skank!" One of the grunts said, some of the others laughing with him while others shake their head which made the woman giggle before her face hardened, her glasses no longer showing her eyes.

"Be a dear and use Icy Wind." Her Ninetales exhaled, letting a blast of cold wind which pelted all of the grunts and their Pokemon. Before the men could voice a counterattack, Buneary lunge towards the group, launching a flurry of strikes, knocking its opponents into each other and into walls. Jumping off one of its enemies, the brown bunny was stopped when it was grabbed by a Golem. "Damn it! Buneary! Shake him off!"

"Ice Shard!" The redhead shouted, Ninetales' eyes glowing before shards of ice formed around it.

In the blink of an eye, their assailants were hit by the projectiles, making the Golem release Leaf's Pokemon before it was met with a Jump Kick which sent it tumbling towards a bunch of grunts, knocking them out. The rest of them could only hide behind rocks and machinery to protect themselves from the attacks before the brunette notices one of the female grunts running towards Lorelei with a shovel with a manic smile on her face.

"Lorelei, look o-"

"Icicle Spear." Huge spears of ice came out of the ground beside the woman, surprising the grunt who tried to retreat only to be trapped when both of her hands were stuck in the icy stalagmites. The redhead then turned to the grunt, a smile on her face that frightened the trapped woman. "My, my. You will have to try better than that if you want to knock me out."

Another grunt who was on his Gliscor flew behind the woman, swooping in to attack her only to be slammed into the wall by an Ice Ball. She then snapped her fingers, her Ninetales tails all point at its mouth as it charges a ball of concentrated energy which slowly got bigger in size.

"Seeing it up close, now I understand why people call her the Snow Witch. She has almost every Ice type in existence. So that's where Misty gets her annoying battle style from." Leaf said in awe while commanding Buneary to use Double Hit to knock out a Nidorino and Nidorina until a grunt came from the shadows and held her in a chokehold, aiming a knife at her throat. "D-d-d-don't move."

All eyes fell on the brunette as she struggled against the grunt who squeezed harder, causing her to choke. "Don't move or her head rolls on the floor!"

Lorelei clicked her tongue but she and everyone were hit with surprise when Leaf head-butted the man in his face before elbowing him in the stomach and throwing him on the ground. Before he could recover, she kicks him in the face, securing the knockout. "Wrong mistake."

She then slowly walks towards them while Buneary and Swablu fight against the other Pokemon before lifting her hand, taunting the rest of the grunts. "Come if you want to know how Dig is learnt."

"Oh please! It's just one little tramp against all of us!" One of the male grunts said, the other grunts yelling in agreement before they all ran towards her, the girl getting into a battle stance. Leaf then punched the man in his stomach, surprising everyone when he starts wheezing. "Funny. That's the same thing the last guy said after I did that."

She then proceeded to release a beatdown on the grunts, her Pokemon following and taking out any Pokemon trying to catch her off guard. As she bulldozes through the group, she noticed the ones with the devices activating them before seeing multiple wild Pokemon running towards them with a dazed expression on their faces.

'They're like the Linoone and Buizel on Route 9…' She thought, knocking out a man before getting hit by a crowbar, looking at the person who had a smirk on his face until she lunged forward, unleashing several jabs then landing an uppercut, securing a knockout. She then picked him up and flung him to an incoming group, sending all of them to the ground. She turned to Lorelei to witness a scene ripped out of a fantasy book. The woman was walking through what was now an icy section of the cavern adorned with frozen Rocket grunts before she outstretched her hand towards her direction, Ninetales turned and then freezing all the grunts that Leaf knocked out in an instant.

"Never knew why the grunts tend to underestimate people." Lorelei wondered as she walks over to the remaining grunts who were shivering from her attack, the device staying afloat due to his hands glued to them with ice. The redhead looked at it with a curious expression while Leaf pressed her head against one of the icy protrusions to soothe the wound she received from the crowbar.

"If I was a betting girl, I'd say that device caused the Pokemon on Route 9 to go berserk." Leaf explained, sliding down the ice spear and watching while Lorelei took the device and inspected it. They then searched the area for any evidence, Leaf able to help after some rest. Unable to find anything, Lorelei sighed before turning to one of the trapped grunts and snapping her fingers, Ninetales appearing by her side from a white mist. "Nothing from the machine so let's be more direct."

The redhead then releases Jynx, walking up to the scientists before she gestured Jynx to them, its hair levitating before eyes starts glowing. "We need all the information that we can get from them."

The Ice type nodded, levitating off the ground, the next thing happening is some of the grunts straining which surprised Leaf who deduced is the backlash of their minds being forcibly read. While this is happening, she looked around the cave and picked up several items that dropped from the rocket members such as Potions, Repels and TMs. After checking several of the machinery and taking some pictures to send to her father, she heard Lorelei muttering to herself. "You're all inhumane. Trying to do experiments on the Pokemon in this cave."

Confused, the brunette asked the Elite Four member what she meant which the woman explained. "This is one of a series of missions given to them around this area. They're trying to build their ranks and gain money by collecting rare Pokemon while keeping some to themselves and testing out some of their tools. You're right. This machine is the same one that made the Dragonite went wild a couple days ago. I don't like this though."

"What?" Leaf asked, not liking the news. "Don't tell me there's more."

"Yep." Lorelei nodded, looking around and motioning Jynx to trap the grunts in ice while trying to phone the police to get them. "There's another team called Delta at the other side of this cave. If I remember here correctly, Red and Misty should be heading over there."

"Hold on." Lorelei stopped before turning to Leaf, seeing her eye twitching before she continued. "There a Delta team? Wow, so original. What? No love for Omega?"

"Leaf-" The redhead said in efforts to calm down the girl but was ignored.

"Plus, why do you have to say team just say the name and then stop. Don't need to add team at the end of everything when your name is literally Team Rocket."

"Leaf!" The brunette was startled, turning towards Lorelei who has a confused expression on her face. Seeing this, she calmed down before she looks away in embarrassment. "Sorry…it's just stupid…"

The redhead just sighed before returning Jynx and picking up some of the machines then walking towards one of the exits in the cave, looking to the younger girl who looks worried. "You worried about your friend?"

"Yes. I mean Misty can take care of herself but Red…every time these people are involved, it's never good for him." Leaf said before going to Buneary and Nida. "Alright, you guys. I'm going to need your help on this. Buneary, use Foresight and keep an ear out for any sounds and Nida I'm going to need you to mark our steps in case our friends cross our paths."

Lorelei raised an eyebrow at this, seeing Nida starting to dig its horn into the wall and carving a shape into the wall and floor. "Hmm…that's a good plan. Are you sure they will be able to catch on though?"

"It's a gamble honestly." Leaf bitecs her nail, looking at the icon and nodding at the work before she continued further down the cave. "Red's very aware of his surroundings but this can only do so much. Maybe your ice could help make it a bit more obvious…at least for him to see this marking."

Lorelei nodded before helping, both of them able to make an insignia before following the woman.

"Let's just hope that everything is ok." The brunette muttered as they treaded into the darkness.

A battlefield.

That was what it was as mountains of bodies laid on the ground, the sounds of collisions and combat echo in the background. Upon one of the mountains of body, a foot landed on a person's back, the owner of the foot cackling crazy, the noise causing everyone to hear it to shudder in fear.

"Who wants some more, huh? I can keep this up alllll day, motherfuckers!" Misty laughed heartily, stomping on the back of a grunt while commanding her Starmie and Gyarados to wreak havoc, taking extreme enjoyment with her enemies being flung around like ragdolls. A lone grunt tried to attack her but was stopped when a rock connected to his temple, knocking him unconscious.

'And this is the story of my life.' Red mentally deadpanned, running through the group, his Vulpix sending a group of Metang into the wall before jumping behind a bulldozer for protection against Team Rocket's attacks. Realizing a cease in their attacks and noticing them trying to find his location, he shot a rock to another machinery which confuses them before letting out a flurry of stones, almost knocking everyone out, his Milotic suddenly come out of its ball which surprised him.

'Stand back.' Milotic said in a serious tone, her trainer doing so before glowing, summoning a tidal wave that took out every grunt and scientist in the area.

Red let out a sigh of relief when the rest were taken down handily and swiftly by Misty, the girl taking having a crazy grin while sending her opponents flying into the air with Starmie's Psychic and Gyarados' Twister. He laughed at the gym leader's antics before a tail wrapped around him, turning him to Milotic's furious glare which made him gulp instinctively. 'Do I need a hammer to smash into that thick skull of yours that you're still recovering?! You should not be doing anything dangerous!'

"But-" Red was about to protest but the cream serpent cut him off. 'Yes, this was Team Rocket's fault but you had me here to take down everyone quicker. Look at you! Your body is trembling!'

"Sorry." Red looked down, rubbing the back of his head which made her angrier before she calmed herself down. Sighing, she then threw him on her back before floating over to Misty, Red feeling embarrassed. "I-I can walk on my own."

'Yes, you can. When your body stops shaking.' The Water type said, making him sigh before she continued. 'Should've thought about this before you went out and try to play first person shooter.'

"But I-"

'Do I hear any objections?'

Red gulped, giving up when Milotic made him lean down on her back. "N-no, ma'am."

'Good.' She smiled before they both watch Misty smack a grunt repeatedly in the face then dropping him, stretching herself. "Now THAT was a good way to let off some steam. Let's go, No face."

Red looked at her with a confused which did not go unnoticed by the gym leader. "Sickos been experimenting on Pokemon in here, apparently there are three teams in here."

The teen nodded before Misty put her hand on his back, him seeing a smirk on her face. "Actually, I have a better idea. I'm going to need you to do a little request for me."

"Uh oh." Red said as he could only see the girl's smirk grew wider.

"Alright! We should be reaching somewhere in here now." Lorelei said as she got to an open area in the cave, Leaf following behind, a disheveled look on her face. When they came to the area, they see various Rocket grunts knocked out unconscious on the floor or walls, the rest being stuck together by a silky substance which did not go unnoticed by the brunette. "Man, we just missed them. And if Misty's dam insults on the walls couldn't be any more annoying!"

"The good thing is that they're ok but this is a lot of grunts. Was their only goal here to capture and experiment on the Pokemon of this cave?" Lorelei speculated while looking at the unconscious grunts.

The cave then shook, surprising the girls until they then heard a roar, both of them sprinting towards the sound, readying themselves and their Pokemon. They then came across a group of grunts, easily taking them out with Lorelei's Ninetales and Leaf's Buneary and Swablu. They then came to a clearing, seeing Red and Misty surrounded by various Team Rocket grunts, some of them on the ground, unconscious. One of them walked forward, the difference between him and the others is his outfit being white and blazer having shorter sleeves along with black gloves, a smirk on his face as he gestured to the two females. "Ah! Much earlier than expected but either way, it's no problem. Now let's get the stage set."

Snapped his fingers, a huge armored dinosaur Pokemon appeared behind him marched up, each step shaking the ground before glaring at the two women with a feral look in its eyes. "Aggron, Heavy Slam!"

The Pokemon, now known as Aggron, started glowing in a silver sheen which Lorelei noticed before she quickly tried to attack. "Jynx, att-"

She was too late when it stomped the ground which created a huge tremor, knocking everyone off balance and fall on the floor. Before anyone could react, the Steel type did another stomp which split the ground which caused everyone to fall through the holes. During this, Red thinking quickly when he used Beedrill's String Shot to catch Lorelei and Misty, throwing them back up to the surface and making them land on the floor while he and Milotic descends further down the cracks in hopes of saving Leaf. "Red, get back!"

The two then readied themselves when a group of Rocket Grunts came up to them, seeing a woman in the far back dressed in a similar outfit as the man with the Aggron. She said nothing but outstretched her hand, a huge fireball going towards the two, the attack being stopped by a huge wall of hardened ice, causing steam to cover the area, Lorelei's Ninetales standing in front of the two of them in a battle stance.

"Beedrill, go and get No face and Lulu! We're ok from here." Misty said, readying herself as Starmie floats to her side. Beedrill nodded before flying down the cave, the grunts realizing this before the man with the Aggron said. "I'll deal with the kids. Deal with Lorelei and Misty."

The grunt took off her cap, showing her golden blonde hair and purple eyes, a smirk appearing on her face. "You're leaving me with the big guns?"

"I thought you said that you wanted to get a challenge on the last mission, Cass." The male grunt said with his own grin, not awaiting an answer as he descends to the lower section of the cave with his Aggron. Misty was about to intercept him but was stopped when she was pulled back by Starmie, a bolt of lightning hit where she previously was before turning to the golden haired woman. "Sorry but can't let you do that. Grunts, attack Misty! I'll deal with the Snow Witch."

The grunts chased after the orange haired gym leader who immediately went on the offensive, holding her own against the lot while another fire ball came Lorelei's way, the woman outstretching her hand which created anotherg another shield of ice that stopped the attack. "My reputation precedes me, considering how self-absorbed you lot are."

"You're right about that. But the boss likes to make sure to have note and analyze any threat to his plans so we're prepared for you when you decide to bare your fangs against us." The woman said while a large duck like creature which is covered in fire and has arms that are shaped like cannons. "Enough talk. Let's begin, shall we? I wanted to know how I fare against an Elite Four member."

"We shall." Lorelei smiled before her glasses went white.

Red was able to find Leaf, seeing her barely held up in the air by her Swablu then noticing several bruises and cuts around her body from the fall, much to his discomfort. "You alright?"

"Yeah." The brunette smiled while he floated over to her, she then jumped on Milotic's back before they both went back up to where Misty and Lorelei were. During their ascent, they were suddenly hit with a blast, Leaf's Wartortle quickly popping out of its ball then using Protect which was immediately destroyed, sending them rocketing to the floor, the sound of the impact echoing through the cave.

"What…the hell…" The brunette groaned, struggling to get up only to get resistance in the form of her aching muscles. Finally able to get to her knees, she looked around, finding herself at a lower floor of the cave. She then noticed Red sprawled out on the floor near to her with his Milotic beside him, running towards him and checking his body then letting out a sigh of relief when she found no severe wounds on his body, using a Hyper Potion on Milotic before she goes back to him.

"Red, you ok?" Leaf asked worriedly while shaking his body. He then groggily opened his eyes and groaning in pain while holding his head. "Slightly…where are we?"

"Your graveyard." A voice said, startling the duo before something crashed in front of them, shaking the ground. They were able to see the owner of the voice which was the green haired man in the white Team Rocket outfit, his Aggron behind him sporting an insane glint in its eyes.

"Hope you like it here. I'm Butch, a high ranking agent of Team Rocket who's well on his way of being an officer but enough of that. It's playtime, kids." He said with a snap of his fingers, the Steel type rushed forwards without a warning, surprising the duo when Red went on the assault, commanding his Vulpix to use Flame Burst, the attack hitting Aggron but did nothing to stop its stride. Leaf commanded her Wartortle to use Water Pulse, the move showing the same result. "What the fuck?"

"My Aggron's a tank, twerps! Your attacks can't do shit!" He hollered, enjoying the looks on the teenagers' face before snapping his finger. Immediately, Aggron punches the ground, Red and Leaf barely able to notice several sharp rocks coming towards them, surviving thanks to Wartortle using Protect. About to make a plan, they were caught off guard when Aggron appeared between them, about to hit them but was hit in the head by a Brick Break from Watortle then sent back a couple feet by a blast of water from Milotic.

"Nicely done." Butch clapped his hands, a smile on his face while Aggron shrugged off the attacks and continued like nothing happened, much to the teenagers' horror. "H-how do we beat that thing?"

"I don't even know." Red said while they stood up against the man, their Pokeballs raised as they made a nod to each other, knowing in their minds that this is going to be one of the most difficult battles in their lives.

Finally, done. I'm not gonna lie. This could have been done sooner but things happen. Sorry about the huge hiatus, tests happened but now they're finished and I'm able to go all out. I'm happy with how it turned out and…yeah, it took me a bit longer due to Cassidy and Butch to be honest. Apart from that, did anyone enjoy Lorelei, I'm not gonna lie, it's a lot of fun writing her. She's so much fun along with the Leaf and Misty banter. Also, yes. Red is 14 and Leaf is 15. I dunno why but it makes sense to make them older from whatever dumb shit the games are saying. Apart from that, yeah. Team Rocket…they annoying. Always everywhere. Like sand. Hope y'all enjoy the chapter and tell me your thoughts on this so far. Thanks for reading this and hope all of you are safe. Enigma out!