Rock Smash

The moment the girls and I stepped inside Mt. Moon I was stunned at how it appeared completely different in the daytime.

Normally a cave would be dark no matter what once you went past a certain point. MT. Moon however apparently had numerous cracks and crevices that allowed trickles of sunlight to filter through the rock and illuminate the caverns.

Though some areas were dark enough, we mostly didn't even need our Pokemon to use the move Flash to illuminate our surroundings.

And then there were the Pokemon themselves.

While I had already sensed thousands of Zubat within the mountain last night, there was easily tens times that much inside it now as they all sought refuge from the sun. Thankfully though they were all resting until nightfall, while only a 'few' of them tried to attack us as we made our way through the caverns.

The Zubat weren't the only ones though, as we were also attacked quite a bit by Geodude and Paras. There were even a few instances of a Gravler attacking us, and even an Onix at one point.

Thankfully almost none of the attacking Pokemon even meant us any harm, they just merely want to battle against trainer Pokemon. Several of the Zubat that attacked us were even jealous of my own for belonging to a trainer, which made her puff herself up with pride as she rode atop my head.

Then there was the Paras, who were actively moving around now that it was day instead of simply staying still as they slept. With their spores hanging in the air, Combee, Chatot and Swablu got plenty of exercise clearing the area for us, before dealing with the Paras that blocked our path. I even sent Charmander out every now and then to get some experience fighting, which he greatly enjoyed.

Zubat mostly rested to recover her wings the rest of the way, but she did go out to help the others every now and then so she wasn't just doing nothing. And after just a few hours watching Chatot and Swablu, she even managed to learn how to use Wing Attack and Gust.

As the hours went on walking through the passages and caverns, we did not see a single Clefairy to Dawn's dismay.

Even as I spread my aura out I couldn't actually detect a Clefairy anywhere. It was as if they'd all disappeared somewhere.

Weird.

Even when the light coming through the cracks of the mountain started to diminish, indicating that the sun was going down, I still hadn't sensed any. Instead we had to shift our focus to locating a large enough cavern where we could spent the night.

Thankfully we didn't have far to look as Zubat directed me forward, until we found a large empty cavern with a nice sandy floor, and even a pool of water being fed from an underground river.

"Wow! This is amazing!"

"Mazing!"

"Mazing!"

"Mazing!"

May exclaimed as she looked around in awe, while her echo bounced around before coming back at us.

"This water is so clear and clean!" Misty declared happily as she readily let her Pokemon loose in it. Soon there was a happy little Horsea splashing around the water with Seaking, Carvanha, and even Piplup.

"And the ground is so soft!" Dawn cooed as she laid down on the sand to test it.

"I get you guys are excited, but let's hurry and set up camp. The light is dwindling fast, and it's only to get darker faster down here than topside." I reminded them while pulling out several lanterns and our other camping things.

Soon we had our tent up and a campfire going as the smoke flowed out of the cave through the cracks. The tent was to keep the Zubat and any spores from Paras out, and the campfire was burning with some wood pellets I'd bought, as well as pressed sawdust logs.

Soon we had a large pot hanging over the fire as the smell of Kingler legs spread across the cavern.

"While we're waiting on the food, let's have a little meet and greet." I said while pulling out all of my Pokeballs.

Soon everyone was out and at attention, except for Pidgeot since he was NOT going to be going underground with us under any circumstances.

I looked them all over for a second, Riolu, Charmander, Wartortle, Grovyle, Miltank, Exeggutor, Combee, Happiny, Cranidos, Nidorina, Zubat and Tauros, and nodded.

"Everyone, let's welcome Nidorina, Zubat, and that horny bull over there." I stated while messing with Tauros a bit, making him snort while looking away pointedly. The rest of my Pokemon though all greeted the newest members of our team, with Riolu sizing them up for training partners and potential.

With a clap of my hands I had all of their attention again, as I stated, "now then, we only have a few days until we get to Cerulean city. From now until then I want everyone working to get ready to face the Gym leader there, who specializes in water type Pokemon!"

As I said that I noticed Misty flinch slightly, but pretended not to as I turned to her and asked, "can you help us with that Misty?"

"H-huh!?" Misty exclaimed confusedly at my question, making me repeat,

"Can you help us prepare to face the Celadon city Gym?"

Immediately Misty appeared crestfallen as she nervously asked, "why do you want MY help?"

"Well, you ARE a water type specialist, just like the Celadon Gym Leader." I pointed out so that May and Dawn heard me.

"So then Gym is a water type Gym? Then I should focus on training Tropius and Pichu... Hmm and maybe Delcatty...?" May mused to herself as she thought about the lineup to use at the next Gym.

"Well I got Rosalia and Luxio... I should probably focus on training Glameow as well." Dawn added as she looked over her own Pokemon.

I had to hide my smirk as Misty's expression became increasingly agitated, with it becoming increasingly difficult for her to keep her secret.

I then turned my attention back to my team. "Well anyways, let's try and get Nidorina, Zubat and Tauros up to speed with everyone else in the meantime. Miltank, spar with Tauros for a bit."

"Taur!" Tauros immediately tried to protest, not wanting to risk 'hurting' Miltank.

I didn't even need to say anything before Miltank leapt up and spun to plant her hoof into Tauros' face to use Stomp, which sent him reeling from the sudden impact.

"Ros!" Tauros asked her with a hurt expression.

"Tank?" Miltank asked while fluttering her eyes innocently.

She then took a stance, and immediately leapt into fighting Tauros as the poor bull realized she would be a LOT harder to mate than he'd thought.

As the sound of their fighting filled the cavern, I then turned to Zubat as I told her, "you'll take it easy for today Zubat so we don't strain you wings. Tomorrow you'll start training with the rest of us though."

"Zu."

With Zubat retiring to her perch atop my head, I looked at Nidorina and Cranidos. "You two are with me."

The duo then followed me away from everyone else as the rest of my team split up to start training and sparring with each other. I could literally feel Nidorina's nervousness as she worried what I was going to make her do. Cranidos was just excited, as usual.

"Over there Cranidos." I told him once were far enough away from everyone else.

My little chrome dome ran over to the spot I pointed at as I looked down to Nidorina.

"Now then, the biggest asset a Nidorina and Nidoqueen has is their defense, while the Nidorino and Nidoking is their strength. In the mornings we do strength training, so you can get stronger then, but in the evenings like now I want you to train your defense when you're not sparring or training some new move. For tonight, Cranidos will help with that. Understood?"

"Nii!" Nidorina cried saying that she'll try her best.

Nodding, I stepped back and motioned for Cranidos to go ahead.

"Dos!" Cranidos cried out as he charged Nidorina with his head down low, using the move Headbutt.

Nidorina braced herself against the incoming attack, before Cranidos rammed into her at full speed and sent her sprawling to the ground.

"Nii!" Nidorina cried out from both pain and the shock of the impact.

For a moment she just laid there on the cave floor without moving, until she looked up at me questioningly.

"Well?" I asked her. "Are you gonna try again, or give up just like that?"

Nidorina grit her teeth as she pushed herself back up and onto her feet, before turning towards Cranidos and telling to go again.

I nodded in approval before going to look over the rest of my Pokemon as they trained.

All of them were doing well, as both Exeggutor and Grovyle trained to fight in the next Gym, and Wartortle worked to master his new strength and moves after evolving. Charmander was leaving numerous gouges in the rocks around him as he trained Metal Claw, before working on his fire control since there was no need to worry about causing a forest fire here. Combee meanwhile was resting since she worked quite a bit today with the Paras.

Seeing my Pokemon working so hard filed me with a sense of pride, but also something bitter.

I looked down at my hands as I recalled my fight with Tauros this morning.

My current strength would not cut it.

Compared to humans I was already basically a force of nature, not to be taken lightly. But against Pokemon, I still had a long way to go.

I was still training and wearing my weighted clothes whenever I was able, but it felt as if my progress had stagnated or something. I needed to kick it up a notch.

My Pokemon and I will be able to do just that when Happiny managed to master the move Gravity, or evolved so she'd be even stronger, but until then I was stuck.

Or was I?

I glanced over at Riolu suddenly as a certain thought entered my head. He was currently meditating to practice control over his aura, but when he sensed my gaze he opened his eyes and looked at me quizzically.

"Hey Riolu, come here real quick." I said while pointing to an area where no one else was training.

Tilting his head curiously, Riolu followed me until we were alone.

"Ri lu?" He asked me once we were alone.

"I want you to use Rock Smash on this wall here." I told him while pointing to a blank stretch of cave wall, making him more curious even as he got into position.

I knelt down to Riolu's level as I watched his body carefully, scrutinizing every movement along with the energy within him as it flowed through his body. I then watched as Riolu thrust his fist forward, making the energy travel down his arm and into his fist, before he punch the stone wall.

*BOOM!*

A small explosion rang out as stone fragments shot outward in every direction, though I didn't even blink as several of them pelted my face.

"Again." I told Riolu as I tried to recall what had happened when his fist hit the wall, but was unable to figure out how exactly the energy in his body reacted.

Resuming his stance, Riolu used Rock Smash once more on a new path of stone wall, before doing so a third and fourth time at my insistence until I was satisfied.

"Interesting..." I muttered to myself as I took my own stance, a mirror to Riolu's since he had learned how to fight from me.

I focused on the patch of stone before me along with the energy in my body, as I tried to make it flow in he same way Riolu's had. As I did that my partner watched me intently as he realized what I was trying to do.

His eagerness bled into me through our bond before I smothered it, not wanting to be distracted right now as I channeled my aura through my body.

"Ha!" I shouted as I punched the rock wall as hard as I could without reinforcing my fist with aura like usual.

*thud*

"..."

My face twitched as my fist thudded against the Rock wall dully, doing nothing but splitting open my knuckles and smearing my blood.

"Ow..." I growled out while looking at my busted up hand.

"Ri."

"What do you mean I used too much strength?" I asked Riolu testily.

"Ri o ri lu."

"I see... Thanks for mentioning that before." I said with a dry tone before returning to my previous stance.

This time I focused on what Riolu told me regarding using the move Rock Smash, not to put your whole strength into it, but to inject your aura into whatever it was you wanted to smash.

"Ha!" I cried out yet again, hitting my fist against the wall, but not with all my strength like before as I injected my aura into it.

*crack*

Small cracks spread out from the point where my fist hit the wall, and my face cracked into a wide smile at the minor success.

"Ri...." Riolu uttered in amazement.

"What? You can do what I can do. Doesn't it make sense if it works the other way around?"

"Ri."

"Yes it does."

"Ri."

"Yes it does."

"Ri."

"Yes it DOES."

...

*crack*

*crunch*

*slurp*

The sound of everyone eating filled the cavern as we all scarfed down the delicious Kingler legs smothered in delicious garlic butter.

"Should I feel bad eating these?" Misty asked as she threw a glance at her own Krabby.

"I wouldn't." I said while licking some of the butter off of my fingers. "I mean, I have a Tauros and I'll still eat Tauros steaks."

"TAUR!?!"

"What do you mean 'WHAT'? The only reason I let you join me was in case we needed emergency food." I told him jokingly.

"TAUR!!!"

"Milk."

Miltank said to him soothingly, though Tauros still grumbled in dissatisfaction.

"Piny piny!" Happiny suddenly cried as she appeared before me, a smooth egg shaped stone in her hands.

"For me?" I asked her.

"Piny!" Happiny declared, carefully handing me the stone, but as I took it she noticed the bandages around my hand.

"Piny?"

"I was training." I told her plainly, however that only seemed to make Happiny more concerned.

"Piny piny piny!" Happiny exclaimed as I felt a wave of energy being emitted from her body.

My knuckles began to itch under their bandages as the wave passed over me, making me start unwrapping them curiously to find the skin completely healed.

"Happiny..." I uttered in awe of the fact that she had apparently learned the move Heal Pulse.

"Piny piny!" Happiny happily chimed, before turning and trotting off to dig through the rest of the rocks in the cavern.

"What was that about?" May asked as she finished her current bite of food. I took one last look at my healed hand before telling her,

"Happiny can't lay eggs like Chansey and Blissey, so they look for rocks that look like eggs to imitate them. They'll also give these rocks to those they like." Even as I said that I tucked the Rock carefully inside my bag, before another thought occurred to me.

"There's also the chance of them picking up and oval stone and evolving into a Chansey, if they're lucky."

"Oval stone?" Misty asked curiously.

"Yeah, certain egg shaped stones that are like evolution stones for them. No ones really sure how they work though, to be honest. The professor has a theory that they're ancient petrified Blissey eggs, but if anyone actually knows it'd probably be the Nurses Joy."

I made a mental note to ask the Joys at the next Pokemon Center we went to more about Happiny and the Chansey line, as well as if they knew anything about the oval stones.

The rest of the meal passed uneventfully, followed by an uneventful night as the girls and I slept in our large tent.

The next day we worked towards locating the exit on the eastern face of the mountain, which was fairly easy since several of the trainers that had already passed through the mountain marked out the different routes. All we had to do was follow the arrows as we steadily moved eastward.

"There's another cavern up ahead, let's take a break there for a bit." I told the girls after Zubat chattered the information to me. It helped to have my own little sonar perched atop my head.

And sure enough, after another minute or two we entered a cavern that was nowhere near as large as the one we spent the night in, but was amazing in its own regards.

"Oh wow..." Dawn uttered as we beheld a sea of fungus that covered nearly every surface within the chamber. Mushrooms of all types and sizes were growing from the edges of the floor, the walls, and the rocks, while a small waterfall trickled on the other side of the cavern.

I immediately pulled out a travel guide I had to identify different plants and mushrooms, specifically which ones were edible and which ones weren't. Thankfully, it appeared as if just about all the mushrooms in the cavern were safe to eat, while several were even considered a delicacy.

"I'm going to collect some mushrooms while you guys rest." I told the girls as I pulled several bags and a curved knife out of my bag.

"Seriously?" May asked incredulously.

"Seriously. Not only are these mushrooms good if prepared right, but we can also sell a good portion of them to a restaurant when we get to town. Give me a hand Riolu."

"Ri!" Riolu exclaimed as he held the bag open for me to drop the mushrooms I was harvesting into. And as I did that, he pulled one out and gave it a quick sniff.

"Ri lu."

"If you put chocolate on that I'm banning you from it for a month."

"Ri!?!"

"Yes I will."

Riolu humphed at me moodily from the threat, but didn't say anything else as I collected the mushrooms.

"Well, you do that. I'm going to take a break." Misty said as she sat down on a rock by the waterfall, and reclined back against the Rock wall.

*...*

I paused my actions when I thought I heard something, making Riolu look at me curiously.

"Ri?"

"Sh." I quickly shushed him while turning to look to see what it was I was hearing. And when I saw a spiderweb of cracks expanding behind Misty, I paled.

"Misty! Leaned forward now!" I exclaimed while hurrying towards her.

"Huh?" Misty asked as she shifted her weight.

*crack!*

The wall behind Misty gave in suddenly, letting her fall backwards through the rapidly expanding hole. Even as Misty reached out to try and catch the edge, the Rock continued to crumble away, doing nothing to halt her momentum as she disappeared into the darkness.

"MISTY!" I cried out as I dove headfirst into the hole after her.