Chapter 4: Mt moon and trouble

With the Boulder Badge in his possession, Ash was thrilled at the prospect of earning his second badge. As he studied the map he had brought along, his excitement only grew. "The map says we have to pass through Mt. Moon to reach the next city," he noted aloud.

"Mt. Moon?" Misty repeated, a hint of fascination in her voice. "That sounds kind of romantic."

"I've heard of it," Brock chimed in. "People say a meteor crashed into that mountain a long time ago."

"Really?" Misty asked, intrigued. "Is that true?"

"I'm not sure," Brock replied, "but they call the meteor the Moonstone."

"Ah, I've heard of the Moonstone," Ash added. "It makes Clefairy evolve into Clefable and Jigglypuff into Wigglytuff."

"So, the Moonstone is an evolutionary stone?" Misty inquired.

"If it makes some Pokémon evolve, it must be," Ash concluded.

Suddenly, a distant scream echoed through the air. "What was that?" Ash gasped.

"Sounds like someone's in trouble," Brock said, his voice urgent. "We'd better check it out."

The trio sprinted towards the source of the scream, where they found a man being swarmed by what appeared to be a flock of bats. Ash quickly pulled out his Pokédex

Zubat: the Bat Pokémon. It checks its surroundings and location using reflections of the ultrasonic waves from its mouth.

"That guy's in trouble," Ash said. "Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu's Thunderbolt sent the Zubat scattering in all directions. The man sighed in relief as the last of the Zubat disappeared into the shadows. "Thank you so much," he said gratefully. "Those Zubat were out of control. I'm Seymour, a scientist and researcher."

"I'm Ash," Ash replied.

"And I'm Brock."

"I'm Misty," she added. "What happened? Why did those Zubat attack you?"

"It's because of this," Seymour explained, gesturing towards the cave entrance. Inside, the walls were lined with bright, artificial lights. "These lights are causing all sorts of problems."

"It makes sense," Brock said, examining the setup. "Zubat don't like light much."

"And it's not just the Zubat," Seymour continued. "These lights are disrupting the entire ecosystem. Paras are planting their mushrooms everywhere, and the Sandshrew are drying out."

Ash noticed one Sandshrew in particular, panting heavily from thirst. His heart went out to the Pokémon. "Here, little guy," Ash said gently, offering his water canteen. The Sandshrew hesitated for a moment before accepting the drink, its parched throat soothed by the cool water. Misty and Brock smiled at Ash's kindness.

"You're a good person," Seymour said with a warm smile. "I'm here to protect Mt. Moon from troublemakers."

"Troublemakers?" Misty asked, frowning. "What are they doing here?"

"They're after the Moonstone," Seymour explained. "Since it's millions of years old and said to possess special powers, they want to steal it for themselves."

"That's awful!" Ash exclaimed, his expression hardening.

"I couldn't agree more," Misty added.

Just then, Brock's eyes caught sight of a small, pink Pokémon hopping nearby. "Hey, look! It's a Clefairy!" he said excitedly.

"Oh, it's so cute!" Misty cooed.

Ash noticed that the Clefairy was holding something. "Hey, that's a Moonstone!" he exclaimed.

"You're right," Seymour confirmed. "If we follow that Clefairy, it might lead us to the meteorite."

Ash, Misty, and Brock eagerly agreed, and they all set off after the Clefairy. The Sandshrew, having taken a liking to Ash, decided to tag along.

As they followed Clefairy, they noticed even more lights scattered throughout the cave. "These lights must be everywhere in Mt. Moon," Ash said, frowning. "Whoever's doing this is causing a lot of trouble."

"Did I hear the word 'trouble'?" a woman's voice echoed.

"If you want trouble, we'll give it to you," a man's voice added.

"Prepare for trouble," the woman declared.

"Make it double," the man responded.

"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, blasting off at the speed of light!"

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

"Meowth, that's right!" chimed in the catlike Pokémon.

Clefairy hid behind Ash, trembling with fear. "I remember you three," Ash said, glaring at them. "We met back in Viridian City."

"We haven't forgotten about you, twerp," Jessie sneered, "but we don't have time for you."

"That's right," Meowth said. "We're here for the Moonstone."

"So you're the ones who put up all these lights?" Brock asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Of course," James replied with a smirk. "We need the lights to find the Moonstone."

"You crooks!" Seymour shouted. "These lights are confusing all the Pokémon!"

"What a shame," Jessie said mockingly. "That's too bad."

"You won't get away with this!" Brock shouted. "If it's a rock you want, just take one and get lost!"

"Get lost? How rude!" Jessie snapped. "You twerps need to be taught some manners."

With that, Jessie and James released Ekans and Koffing from their Poké Balls.

Ash, remembering that he hadn't scanned these Pokémon the last time they encountered Team Rocket, quickly used his Pokédex:

Ekans: the Snake Pokémon. It sneaks through grass without making a sound and strikes unsuspecting prey from behind.

Koffing: the Poison Gas Pokémon. It hovers in the air thanks to the poisonous gases it contains, which have a foul odor and can explode.

"If it's a battle you want, we'll give you one!" Ash declared. "Butterfree, I choose you!"

"Go, Zubat!" Brock called out, surprising Ash.

"When did you catch a Zubat?" Ash asked, eyes wide.

"Before we entered the cave," Brock explained.

Ash quickly instructed Seymour and Misty to protect Clefairy and Sandshrew. They nodded and hurried off, with Sandshrew following closely behind.

"Alright, Koffing, use Smog!" James ordered. Koffing began spewing noxious gas from its mouth.

"Zubat, use Double Team and Wing Attack to clear the smog!" Brock commanded.

Zubat's swift movements and powerful wings dispersed the gas, sending it back towards Team Rocket.

"Ekans, use Bite!" Jessie shouted.

"Butterfree, counter with Psybeam!" Ash ordered.

Butterfree's Psybeam struck Ekans hard, the psychic attack overwhelming the poison-type Pokémon.

"Zubat, use Supersonic!" Brock called out.

The high-pitched sound waves confused both Ekans and Koffing, causing them to turn on each other in their daze. Team Rocket watched in disbelief as their own Pokémon began fighting one another.

"Now, Butterfree, use Gust to blow them away!" Ash commanded.

Butterfree's Gust attack sent Team Rocket and their Pokémon flying through the air. "Team Rocket's blasting off again!" they cried out in unison.

Just as Ash and Brock were about to celebrate their victory, something nagged at Ash's mind. "Wait, I didn't see Meowth with them," he said.

"Neither did I," Brock replied, frowning. "We'd better find Misty and Seymour right away."

Meanwhile, Misty and Seymour were chasing after the energetic Clefairy, who was hopping around like a Pokémon possessed. "Please slow down!" Misty called out, struggling to keep up.

Suddenly, Meowth leaped out in front of Clefairy. "There you are!" it snarled. "Now be a nice Clefairy and hand over the Moonstone."

Clefairy quivered in fear, clutching the stone tightly.

"Leave that Clefairy alone!" Seymour shouted, stepping forward.

"No chance!" Meowth retorted, extending its claws. "Face my Scratch attack!"

"Not so fast, Meowth!" Misty shouted, quickly sending out her Staryu. "Staryu, use Swift!"

The barrage of stars hit Meowth, stopping it in its tracks. "Now, use Water Gun!"

The powerful stream of water sent Meowth flying. "Looks like I'm blasting off alone this time!" it yowled.

Ash and Brock arrived just in time to see Meowth disappear over the horizon. "Is everyone okay?" Ash asked, panting slightly.

"Yep, we're fine," Misty replied with a smile.

Sandshrew ran up to Ash, nuzzling his leg affectionately. "I'm glad you're alright," Ash said, kneeling down to pat its head.

Clefairy watched the interaction with interest, its eyes shining with curiosity.

As the sun set, the group gathered around a campfire, enjoying a meal together. Ash noticed Brock feeding Zubat something special. "Hey Brock, what are you giving Zubat?" he asked.

"This is Pokémon food I made from my own recipe," Brock explained.

Intrigued, Ash offered some of Brock's food to Butterfree and Pikachu. "Do you mind teaching me how to make Pokémon food?" Ash asked.

Sunset came, and the warm glow of the fire cast flickering shadows on the surrounding trees. Ash, Misty, and Brock sat around the campfire, enjoying a well-earned meal after their adventure at Mt. Moon. The air was filled with the aroma of Brock's cooking, which seemed to draw in even the nearby wild Pokémon.Ash noticed Brock feeding his Zubat something from a small container. Curious, he leaned over and asked, "Hey Brock, what are you feeding Zubat?"Brock smiled, offering a piece to Ash. "This is Pokémon food I made from my own recipe. It's specially formulated to meet the needs of each Pokémon's type and preferences. Zubat loves this particular blend."

Ash looked impressed as he gave some of the food to Pikachu and Butterfree, who both chirped happily as they tasted it. "This is great, Brock! Do you think you could teach me how to make Pokémon food too?"Brock nodded. "Of course, Ash. I'll start teaching you when we reach the next city. It'll be good for you to know how to take care of your Pokémon's dietary needs."

As they continued to eat, Sandshrew and Clefairy sat a little apart from the group, communicating in their Pokémon language. Sandshrew spoke to Clefairy, expressing its decision to join Ash on his journey. Clefairy, who had been fondly watching Ash, thought for a moment before deciding it wanted to go with Ash too.

They had seen how Ash cared for his Pokémon and knew he would be a good Trainer.Ash, noticing the interaction, pulled out his Pokédex, curious to learn more about them.

Sandshrew: The Mouse Pokémon. Disliking water, it lives in deep burrows in arid areas. It can roll itself instantly into a ball.

Clefairy: The Fairy Pokémon. On nights with a full moon, Clefairy gather from all over and dance. Bathing in moonlight makes them float.

As Ash pondered the new information, Clefairy suddenly got up, hopping toward the entrance of a cave. It turned back to the group and called out, beckoning them to follow."I think Clefairy wants us to see something," Seymour said, his curiosity piqued. Without hesitation, Ash, Misty, Brock, and Seymour followed Clefairy deep into the cave.

After a short walk, they reached a large, open crater inside the cave. The sky above had darkened, and the full moon now shone brightly, casting an ethereal glow over everything. In the centre of the crater stood a massive rock surrounded by dozens of Clefairy."It's the Moon Stone," Seymour whispered in awe. "All the Clefairy have gathered around it."

As they watched, the Clefairy placed smaller Moon Stones they had gathered around the larger one. The stones began to glow, and the Clefairy started dancing in a circle around the Moon Stone. The sight was magical, the light from the stones creating a shimmering aura around the dancing Pokémon."Wow, what a sight," Misty said softly. "I wonder what they're doing."Ash, understanding from Sandshrew's earlier conversation, explained, "Sandshrew told me that the Clefairy are praying to the Moon Stone. Some of them hope to evolve into Clefable."

"So the Moon Stone is a giant evolutionary stone," Seymour said, his voice filled with wonder. "I've always wanted to witness this."Suddenly, an explosion erupted from the ground beneath them, sending dust and debris flying. "What just happened?" Seymour shouted, alarmed.The answer came in the form of sinister laughter echoing through the crater. Ash's heart sank as he recognised the voices."Oh no, not them again," Ash groaned.

Jessie, James, and Meowth appeared, their smirks as infuriating as ever. "Thank you for leading us to the Moon Stone," Jessie sneered. "Now we'll take it for ourselves!""You can't do that!" Seymour protested, but James just laughed."We can, and we will," James replied smugly.More explosions rocked the crater, and when the smoke cleared, the Moon Stone was gone. "Oh no," Seymour said, panicking. "We have to get the Moon Stone back!""Maybe that big hole will lead us to them," Brock suggested, calling out his Onix.

"Onix, follow that tunnel Team Rocket left behind!"Onix burrowed into the ground, leading the way as Ash, Misty, Brock, Seymour, and the Clefairy and Sandshrew followed closely behind.Outside, Team Rocket was sliding down the mountain on a sled, the stolen Moon Stone in tow. They laughed, thinking they had finally succeeded in their latest scheme. But just as they were about to celebrate, Onix erupted from the ground in front of them, blocking their path."Hold it right there, Team Rocket!" Ash shouted. "You're not taking the Moon Stone anywhere!"

Furious, Jessie and James prepared to send out their Pokémon, but before they could act, the Clefairy from the crater arrived, their anger evident. One Clefairy stepped forward, waving its arms rhythmically."That's Metronome!" Seymour exclaimed. "It's an unpredictable move. You never know what kind of attack it will unleash!"Clefairy's Metronome attack built up energy before unleashing a devastating Hyper Beam, sending Team Rocket flying. "Looks like Team Rocket's blasting off again!" they cried as they disappeared into the night sky.

With Team Rocket defeated, the Moon Stone was safe once more. As everyone celebrated, small chips of the giant Moon Stone, which had broken off during the commotion, began to fall from the sky, landing on several Clefairy. The Clefairy that were touched by the Moon Stone began to glow, their forms shifting as they evolved into Clefable."See?" Ash said, beaming with pride. "I told you the Moon Stone helps Clefairy evolve into Clefable."Misty, Brock, and Seymour nodded in agreement, their expressions filled with awe as they watched the newly evolved Clefable adjust to their new forms.

Ash, ever curious, checked his Pokédex again

Clefable: The Fairy Pokémon. The evolved form of Clefairy. These unique creatures are among the rarest Pokémon in the world.

The next morning, Ash, Brock, and Misty prepared to leave Mt. Moon. Seymour decided to stay behind to study the Moon Stone further. "After last night, I feel like there's so much more I need to understand," he said.Ash, Brock, and Misty understood and bid farewell to Seymour and the Clefairy and Clefable. Just as they were about to depart, Sandshrew and a newly evolved Clefable approached Ash, nuzzling his legs affectionately."What's wrong, you two?" Ash asked, kneeling down to their level.Brock smiled. "I think they want to go with you, Ash.""Really?" Ash asked, surprised. "You two want to join us?"Sandshrew and Clefable nodded eagerly.

Ash smiled, pulling out two Poké Balls. He gently tapped the balls on Sandshrew and Clefable, capturing them both. "Wow, I've got two new Pokémon!" Ash exclaimed, filled with excitement.As the trio continued their journey, they soon came across a sign that read 'Cerulean City'.

"I can get my second badge there," Ash said, his eyes filled with determination. But then he noticed something else scrawled on the sign: 'Gary was here, Ash is a loser'. Ash frowned, his resolve hardening. "Oh really? Well, we'll see who the loser is at the Indigo League."With renewed determination, Ash continued walking toward Cerulean City, Misty and Brock by his side, ready for the challenges ahead.