Here's the next chapter. If you like to recommend any Pokemon to join Charles' team please leave a review. All of Charles' Pokemon and their names can be found on my profile.

Before the story begins I would like to say something about a review I received from the last update. It was originally posted on my profile, but thought it was important to put it here as well.

(The comment can be seen on the review section)

Guest - Thank you for your review and I'm sorry that you have lost interest after reading only one chapter. Usually I would ignore a review like yours, but I do have a problem about you calling my 'OC' a self-insert of myself. It's not that your wrong, of course, it's just that aren't all OCs a reflection of the author. The purpose of Fanfiction is to escape the dull, uninteresting thing that we call reality and to enjoy the life of fantasy. To travel the world, to solve great mysteries, to become heroes. I think it would be hard for you to find and OC Fanfiction that didn't, in some way, reflect the author and their need for adventure.

I don't mean to call you out (well actually I do, I'm spectacularly petty), but I feel like I needed persuade you to change your attitude when reviewing Fanfiction. It is, after all, fiction.

I'm sorry again about how this story was, in your words, "atrocious". I'm also sorry that you probably won't be able to read this message. Since you reviewed as a Guest I am unable to message you directly.

Brave enough to comment, but not enough for me to reply, my guy.

Yours sincerely,

Victor Soul.

Alright, I've had my moan and groan. Onto the story.

("Pokespeech")

Chapter 8: Trouble In The Mountain

The group were making their way to the foot of Mt. Moon, a site famous I throughout Kanto. They planned to venture its deep caverns before heading to Cerulean City for Charles' second gym battle.

Charles and Flo had heard stories of a large boulder or comet that fell from the sky hundreds of years ago is now hidden in the heart of the mountain. It was known as the Moon Stone. They thought it would be cool to see it for themselves.

Plus it wouldn't hurt to find any rock or ground Pokemon to join their team.

Meanwhile, Charles had large scratches all over his face and his clothing was slightly ripped. The cause of Charles' injuries was the meowth sitting comfortably in his arms.

Flo and Benny looked on with concern.

"Charles are you sure your okay?" Flo asked.

("Yeah, you look like you'd fought an onix...and then a herd of tauros...blindfolded,") Benny commented glaring at the meowth.

("I said I was sorry,") the meowth apologised in slight irritation.

"Don't worry I'm fine," Charles assured, "and it was my fault anyway. Besides we're friends now."

"I'm still very confused how that happened though," Flo said with a perplexed face, "becuase, next thing I remember was Cleo here joining our team."

-Flashback 30 minutes-

Once they had looked after the Harrison children and managed to wake up Flint, who was still snoozing on the battle field floor, the group had left Pewter City.

Charles was walking ahead of Benny and Flo thinking about his gym battle.

'Boa was much stronger than I first thought, but than again Flint did mention he hadn't battled in a while so his Pokemon were out of practice. I think luck was on our side in the battle. I need to keep training my team and find more Pokemon to join,' Charles thought, 'Let's see, I've got: Benny, an electric type; Pyro, a fire type; Mystic, a water type; Boa, a poison type and Hurricane, a bug/flying type. Since Benny doesn't have a pokeball, I've got two pokeballs left. Perhaps we can find a Pokemon who wants to join on our way to-'

"Charles, watch out!" Flo's cries broke Charles out of his thoughts.

However, he didn't react fast enough to stop himself from stepping on a meowth's tail.

The meowth was having her usual midday nap under the warm sun when pain came shooting from her tail.

("Oooooowwwwww!") the meowth screeched trying to soothe her aching tail.

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking," Charles tried to apologise, but the meowth was not having it.

("You idiot!") the meowth shouted before retracting her claws and attacking Charles.

"Ow! No please! Ow ow!" Charles screamed in pain as the scratch cat Pokemon clawed his face.

-Flashback End -

"Yeah, I'm still hazy with the details," Charles admitted petting the newly named Cleo making her purr, "I guess I just saw potential in her," Charles cheerfully declared.

("Indeed, it was like we just clicked,") Cleo agreed, enjoying the pampering she was getting from Charles.

Flo and Benny sighed.

("It's best not ask. Charles just has a way with Pokemon,") Benny said with a shrug, ("why were you in the middle of the road in the first place?") Benny asked Cleo.

("The sun was in the right angle for a perfect catnap,") Cleo replied lazily.

Benny decided that questioning further was not worth the headache.

The group had stopped for lunch at the foot of Mt Moon.

Charles brought out all his Pokemon, while placing Mystic in a plastic tank they bought in Pewter City so they didn't have to find a river.

He had introduced Cleo to the rest of the team and they greeted her warmly. Although, Charles may have to keep an eye on Cleo judging by the hungry she gets when she looks at Mystic.

The Pokemon were relaxing under the sun. All except for Hurricane who was attempting to fly to the sun, but kept getting dizzy. Meanwhile, Charles and Flo prepared lunch for them all.

However, Flo noticed Charles' concerned expression.

"Charles, what's wrong?" Flo asked her usually laid back friend.

"Hmm, oh nothing really. I'm just wondering how Ash, Gary and Leaf are doing," Charles answered honestly.

Flo kneeled beside him, "Well, Gary has his car full of cheerleaders. I'm sure his having the time of his life," she rolled her eyes, "while Leaf can look after herself so you shouldn't worry about her," she answered with a strained smile.

"And Ash?" Charles asked with a raised eyebrow.

Flo took a minute to answer.

"I mean Ash is...he's actually very...I don't think...ummm...it's not like he's going to..." Flo tried to come up with something.

She snapped her fingers, "Misty is with him," she declared with a smile.

"You mean the girl that threatened him with a mallet," Charles dryly said.

"I mean it's better than nothing," Flo retorted, "anyway stop worrying about them. They can take care of themselves. This is our journey and we enjoying a picnic on a lovely bright day at Mt Moon," Flo assured him.

She then started to play with one of her hair loops nervously, "It's also quite romantic, don't you think."

Charles was about to reply when he heard something.

"What was that?" he asked looking around.

Flo, believing he was talking about her, began to wave her hands in front of her frantically.

"I mean it doesn't have to be romantic. It's just a lot of coupl -I mean- people have picnics like this and it reminded me of it. Not like I don't want a romantic picnic with you; in fact I like yo- to have one with you," she mumbled defensively.

However, Charles didn't hear what she was saying. He was trying to see where the voice came from.

It almost sounded like somebody was calling out for help.

He stood up abruptly catching the other Pokemon's attention and stopping Flo's ramblings.

"Sorry everybody back in your pokeballs," Charles ordered recalling everyone back apart from Benny and Cleo.

"This way!" Charles called out running towards the mountain.

Flo, Benny and Cleo followed after him.

"Thank goodness, he didn't hear me," Flo sighed with relief.

She heard a meow beside her and saw Cleo running beside her.

Cleo gave her a fanged smirk as if to say she heard everything.

Flo hanged her head in embarrassment.

Inside Mt Moon

The caverns in Mt Moon were dark and damp.

Charles was able to spot a few paras hanging around and spotted one sandshrew.

Charles stopped the others as they got deeper; trying to listen for the voice again. Charles had no idea how he was able to hear it all the way from the picnic site.

Cleo didn't like how damp and dingy it was and insisted she'd be put back into her pokeball.

("Charles what did you hear?") Benny asked as he leapt onto his shoulder.

"I don't know it just sounded like..."

("Please help!") pleaded a quite voice from deep within the mountain.

"What was that?" Charles asked turning to Flo.

Even though Charles was able to communicate with Pokemon he can't tell which Pokemon it belongs too. Charles has been informed that, regularly, Pokemon only call out the names. Which really comes into question of whether Pokemon were named after the noise they made or do Pokemon imitate the names they were given.

A question for another time perhaps.

"It sounded like a clefairy," Flo answered in concern.

"Clefairy huh," Charles said opening his pokedex.

Clefairy: Its magical and cute appeal has many admirers. It is rare and found only in certain areas.

"What did it say?" Flo asked.

"It was calling for help," he took out Pyro's pokeball and released the charmander, "Pyro were going to need some light hunk you can help us?"

("No problem,") Pyro agreed joyfully brightening up his tail a little bit.

With Pyro leading, the group tried their best to track where the voice was coming from.

However, the tunnels twist and turn and very soon the group had become lost.

"Damn it, it's like a maze in here," Flo said tiredly, stopping for a moment to catch her breath.

("Charles we're going around in circles,") Benny commented with concern.

("Help me please!") the voice echoed again. It was no closer than when they entered the mountain.

Charles looked at the tired Pyro breathing heavily. The flame on his tail was not as strong as had been.

Charles had no idea what to do.

("Excuse me. Can I help?") someone politely asked from above.

Charles looked up to see a Pokemon hanging upside down from the ceiling of the tunnel. From what Charles could see in the dark, the Pokemon was a small blue bat-like Pokemon with purple wings. It had small pointed teeth and no eyes.

"A zubat," Charles said taking out his pokedex.

Zubat: Forms colonies in perpetually dark places. Uses ultrasonic waves to identify and approach targets.

"Zubat use echo location to navigate through the dark," Flo explained enthusiastically, looking up at Pokemon "we can use its help."

"Perfect," he turned to the zubat, "Yes we need some help. We think there's a clefairy in trouble. Can you lead through the tunnels, please," Charles asked.

("Since you asked so nicely, of course i'll help,") the zubat agreed.

The Pokemon dropped down from the ceiling and shrieked. It's cries echoed down the tunnel and they waited patiently for the zubat to tell them which way to go.

The zubat's ears twitched rapidly.

("This way,") the zubat told the group before flying down the tunnel.

The others followed the bat Pokemon.

The voice was getting closer and Charles could tell it was becoming more desperate by the minute,

The zubat stopped next to a tunnel leading off from the tunnel they were in.

("It's coming from down there,") the zubat informed, ("but be careful, there looks like there's a sudden drop a couple meters in.")

"Thanks for your help," Charles gratefully said, picking up Pyro and heading down the tunnel.

"Charles be careful, okay," Flo warned him.

Charles nodded in understanding.

Like the zubat said there was a sudden drop about 2 meters in length and width. It looked to have collapsed some time ago. Peering down the hole saw, clutching on to a rock poking out of the side seven meters down, was a clefairy hanging on to dear life.

It had a short, round pink body a curly tail and a small pair of wings. The tips of its longs ears were a dark brown.

As soon as she saw Charles looking down, the clefairy started to cry a little.

("Oh, thank goodness somebody heard me,") she cried.

Flo came over and looked down and gasp at the situation.

"Okay, don't worry we're going to you up," Charles assured the clefairy trying to come with a plan.

He turned to Benny on his shoulder, "Do you think you can climb down," he asked.

Benny jumped down from his shoulder and felt the side of the hole.

("No use, it's too soft for me to hang on,") Benny replied sadly.

Charles turned to the zubat, "What about you, do you think you can carry her up."

The zubat shook his head, ("Sorry, I don't think I'm strong enough to carry her weight.")

("I heard that!") the clefairy shouted in anger, making the zubat flinch.

"Well Hurricane is out of the question as he'll do more damage than necessary and Boa is not long enough," Flo said with a sigh.

However, she brightened up as if she remembered something.

She turned to her bag pack and searched through it. The others sweat dropped with the amount of items she pulled out of har pack which included a sextant, a cutlery set and a candelabra.

"Yes, found it!" Flo declared pulling a large rope out of her pack.

She tied one end of the rope to a convenient stalagmite and tied the other end around herself.

"Okay get the other Pokemon to lower me-"

"Wait, hold on, Flo," Charles interrupted, "your going down there," he said in a worried tone.

"Charles, this clefairy is in trouble and it is my duty as a future Nurse Joy to help any Pokemon who are in need," Flo told Charles seriously.

She knew he was worried about her, but she had to do this. Ever since she first came to her mother's work she had loved healing Pokemon. Her mother said it was in her blood as a Joy before telling her all about their family from across the regions. She was a proud Pokemon healer who will some day set up her own Pokemon Centre.

It also didn't hurt that she could show off to him how brave and capable she was to Charles. She briefly pictured herself on a date with him while Leaf cried from afar.

Charles looked at her determined face and smiled in agreement. He took out all his Pokemon (apart from Mystic), glared at Cleo for complaining about being in the tunnel, and they all held onto the rope. The zubat also lent a claw in pulling the rope.

Flo nodded at the edge of the hole and nodded to say she was ready.

She steadily stepped back into the hole while the other kept the rope tight; releasing it a little bit every time Flo took a step down. This continued until she was in reaching distance of the clefairy when she shouted at them to stop.

"It's okay, it's okay," Flo assured the clefairy. She tried to reach out for the Pokemon, but she gave a frightened squeal making Flo pull back.

("Please don't touch me, I'll slip,") the clefairy pleaded in desperation.

Charles was about to translate what she said to Flo, but he didn't need to.

"It's fine. I won't make you slip. I just need to hold on to you. Okay," Flo told the Pokemon calmly.

The clefairy stared at her before nodding.

Flo reached out again, but this time the clafairy didn't squeal. Flo wrapped her right arm around the Pokemon and gently lifted the clefairy off the wall and hugged firmly. The clefairy hung on her tightly.

"Charles, you can pull us up now," Flo ordered.

"Okay everyone slowly pull," Charles instructed his team and the zubat.

They pulled Flo and the clefairy up, carefully making sure they don't shake the rope too much.

After a tense couple of minutes, Flo placed the clefairy on the edge of the hole and, with Charles help, pulled herself onto the ledge.

Everybody sighed in relief.

Mission accomplished.

Centre of Mt Moon

Two hours later

The group were sat admiring the giant Moon Stone sat apron a raised platform. Around them were clefairy and clefables, who looked like larger versions of clefairy, danced around the boulder. The rest of the Pokemon (minus Mystic who did small flips in her tank) danced with the clefairy having fun.

After the rescue, the clefairy invited them to where the clefairy lived. The rest of the clefairy and clefable insisted they stay for the night to thank them for saving me of their own. Apparently the clefairy was known for wandering of on her own.

Charles and Benny ventured back to retrieved their stuff from earlier with the help of the zubat while Flo tended to the clefairy's injuries.

The clefairy has grown attached to Flo and sat by her throughout the whole evening. Flo talked to the Pokemon about how she wanted to become a nurse in the future while the clefairy listened with her full attention. Flo would often ask for Charles to translate what she said, but mostly they understood each other.

While they talked, Charles, with Benny on his lap, turned to the zubat who joined them for the evening hanging from a stalactite.

"You know we might need someone like you on our team," Charles said catching the Pokemon's attention.

("What really?) the Pokemon asked in disbelief, ("I don't know. I'm not really that strong.")

"You can always train and get stronger. Besides, we're more of a family that compete in battles than a team. If you don't want to fight you don't have to, but it would be nice for you to join," Charles insisted with a small smile.

("Yeah, you were really helpful today,") Benny chipped in, ("we wouldn't of found clefairy if it wasn't for you,") he admitted.

The zubat looked towards Flo and clefairy before nodding at Charles.

("Okay, I'll join,") the zubat agreed confidently.

"Excellent," Charles said, taking out a pokeball and tapping it on the zubat's head, catching a new Pokemon. Charles released him a couple of seconds later.

"We're going to need a name for," Charles pondered, looking at the Pokemon for inspiration.

("What about Echo,") Benny suggested, ("since his echo location was useful.")

The zubat, now known as Echo, liked it and became an official member of the team.

Charles and Benny looked over to Flo and the clefairy talking happily. The brothers looked at each other and then at Charles' last pokeball. The nodded in agreement.

Charles stood up and Benny leapt onto his shoulder. They walked towards Flo and clefairy and kneeled down catching their attention.

"You know clefairy we're going on a journey around Kanto. If you like to come, Flo can catch you and you come with with us," Charles suggested making the clefairy gasped.

("Really? Can I, can I,") the clefairy begged Flo, jumping up and down happily.

Flo seemed unsure.

"Are you sure. I'm not a trainer like Charles," Flo said.

"Then clefairy can help you on your journey to become a nurse," Charles told Flo, "I think clefairy can learn healing moves."

"But I don't have a pokeball," Flo retorted.

Charles tossed one of his pokeballs to Flo.

"I can get some more at Cerulean City," Charles told her.

Flo looked down at the pokeball in her hand and looked at the clefairy. She saw her pleading eyes and gave in.

"Alright you can come with me," Flo said happily, making the clefairy jump around in joy. Flo had to calm her down because of her injuries.

"It looks like it's your time to give a Pokemon a name," Charles said happily.

Flo thought for a moment.

"How about Alette," Flo suggested after a second.

"Alette that sounds be- HURRICANE STOP TRYING TO PICK UP THE BOULDER BEFORE YOU GET CRUSHED!" Charles shouted running towards the butterfree.

Flo and Alette giggled as Charles pulled Hurricane away.

"You'll get used to them," Flo told Alette who nodded in response.

Outside Mt Moon

The Next Day

"Thank you for letting us stay," Charles said waving at the group of clefairy and clefable.

("Come back anytime,") an elderly clefable called back.

After a peaceful night, Charles, Benny, Flo and Alette, who was riding on Flo's shoulder, were setting off for Cerulean City.

("Bye everyone. Bye, bye") Alette said her goodbyes to her fellow Pokemon.

"It should be a day's walk to Cerulean City down that path," Flo said pointing to the road away from Mt Moon.

Charles nodded his head and they began their trek.

"So was Mt Moon everything you were expecting?" Charles asked Flo.

Flo gave him a sad smile, "Well, I wish we could of spent a bit longer on our picnic," Flo admitted.

"I'm sorry, Flo," Charles said, but Flo waved it off.

"What about you. Was it everything you were expecting?" Flo inquired back curiously.

"Yep," Charles admittedly cheerily, "I wanted to see the Moon Stone with you. I thought it was very romantic," Charles said with a bright smile, making Flo blush bright red.

A couple of meters behind them, a Pokemon watched them leave the mountain.

("They seem interesting,") he admitted, ("I might follow them.")

As the mysterious Pokemon said, he started to follow them.

Phew! A lot happened in the chapter. Meeting Cleo, saving a clefairy and then the same clefairy joining Flo in her journey. Sorry about my complaint at the beginning. It just really annoyed me.

Next Time: The mysterious Pokemon reveals himself and a battle at Water gym.