"Brock, are you traveling alone?"
"Huh? No, I'm with companions."
Brock shook his head.
"It's just that we got separated accidentally. We agreed to meet up again in Cerulean City."
"I see." Ash nodded and didn't press further.
"Your Froakie is really well raised."
Brock looked down at Ash's Froakie again.
"Such a healthy sheen… strong, too. I don't think I've ever seen a Froakie in such good shape."
"Really?"
Ash glanced at Froakie, who happened to be looking up at him. Their eyes met, and Ash scratched his head.
"Well, he is pretty strong."
"Quack."
Froakie turned his attention back to the wild Pokémon hiding ahead. He didn't seem interested.
Nothing worth cutting here.
Seeing this, Ash gave a dry smile. That expression meant Froakie wasn't going to participate in the next battle.
Still, Ash wasn't discouraged. Compared to a month ago, he now had Mimikyu too. Even if Mimikyu still had its quirks… at the very least, Ash could manage against wild Pokémon.
"By the way, Ash, what kind of Pokémon are you looking to catch?"
Serena suddenly asked.
"Would you want a Chansey if you came across one?"
"If I run into one, I'd definitely try to catch it," Ash admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "But honestly, I haven't thought much about it. I'm just gonna go with the flow."
"There are a few common Pokémon around here," Brock said, slipping into guide mode. "Nidoran, Clefairy, Zubat, Machop, and Geodude. Occasionally, you'll see others, but those are the usuals. Any of those catch your eye?"
"I like them all," Ash said thoughtfully, then turned to Froakie. "What do you think?"
"Quack."
Doesn't matter. As long as it's strong.
"Well…"
Ash shrugged. That didn't narrow anything down.
"Let's just head into Mt. Moon and see what we find."
Under Brock's lead, the group arrived at the foot of Mt. Moon. But as they looked up at the looming cave, Brock's expression tightened.
"Something's not right…"
"Huh?" Ash looked over. "What's wrong?"
"This place is usually swarming with trainers, since it's such a hotspot for catching Pokémon." Brock gestured around them.
"But look—no one's here."
Ash glanced around. He was right. Besides the three of them, the area was deserted.
"What happened…?"
"I'm not sure," Brock said, eyes narrowing at the cave's mouth. "But something may have gone wrong inside. Stay alert—there could be danger ahead."
Ash and Serena instinctively gulped. Brock's serious tone was intimidating. Still, when Brock stepped into the cave, Ash and Serena exchanged glances.
"…Let's follow him."
"Mm."
The cave interior was pitch-black. Everyone immediately noticed the poor visibility.
"It's way too dark in here," Ash muttered.
He turned to Froakie.
"Can you help us out?"
"Quack."
Froakie gave him a look, then calmly pulled out his lightsaber. The blade ignited, illuminating the cave.
Froakie used Flash.
Light bloomed around them, revealing the rocky tunnel ahead.
"That's more like it." Ash breathed a sigh of relief.
"…Still, something feels off."
He bent down and scooped Froakie into his arms.
"Quack…?"
Froakie stiffened in surprise and turned his head to stare at Ash.
"This way, we can both see better," Ash grinned.
"Quack."
Froakie gave him a long look, then slowly turned back. He wasn't thrilled—but getting carried was more entertaining than hopping through a dull cave.
I'll just beat him up later.
Suddenly, Ash tensed. A shiver ran down his spine.
"Did… did anyone hear that?"
"I did," Brock said grimly. "It sounded like fighting."
"Huh? I didn't hear anything," Serena said, startled. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." Ash's expression grew serious.
"And it's getting closer."
"Let's check it out!" Brock broke into a run. As a local, he wasn't taking any chances with Mt. Moon.
"Wait up!" Ash and Serena followed quickly.
They soon came upon a man in a Team Rocket uniform slumped against the wall. Brock was already standing over him.
"Team Rocket?!"
Ash's eyes widened as he ran up.
"Are they behind all this? Are they up to something again? I swear, I'll stop them right—"
"Go, Froakie!"
"Quack."
Froakie didn't move. He glanced at Ash, then gave him a seriously? look.
"…Huh?"
"Relax." Brock turned toward him.
"This guy's already unconscious."
Ash stepped forward and saw that Brock was right. The man was out cold, and a fainted Rattata lay beside him—probably his partner.
"Someone fought Team Rocket before us."
Another loud sound echoed from deeper within the cave. This time, even Serena heard it.
"They're close!"
She looked around nervously.
"Let's move!"
The trio reached a wide cavern. There, a blue-haired Team Rocket officer stood with other grunts behind him. Opposite them was a boy in a red and white cap, his Fire-type Pokémon standing ready.
He turned at the sound of approaching footsteps—locking eyes with Ash.
Ash froze. They looked almost identical.
"…Red?" Brock's voice broke the silence, filled with surprise.
The boy looked over at Brock. For a moment, something flickered in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something—
"Good chance! Crobat, use Cross Poison!"
"Crooo!"
A purple-glowing Crobat shot through the air, aiming for Red's neck like a missile.
Red lowered his hat brim.
"…Smokescreen."
"Roar!"
The Charmeleon bellowed and unleashed thick black smoke. The Crobat plunged straight into it, blinded.
Red stared at the shifting shadows in the smoke, then said calmly:
"…Flamethrower."
"ROAR!!"
A blazing column of fire surged into the smoke, engulfing Crobat and blasting it back toward the Rocket officer.
"Croo…"
Even after the fire cleared, the Crobat looked ready to fight.
"Hmph," the Rocket sneered. "You're skilled, I'll give you that. But your Charmeleon is weak. You can't overcome the power gap between us."
"Surrender now—or die!"
Red didn't respond. After a moment of silence, he gave another order:
"…Screech."
"Roar!"
"Enough! Crobat, finish him—Brave Bird!"
"Croooo!"
Crobat dove, body glowing white.
Then—
"Mimikyu, use Copycat!"
"Mimikyu!"
A second streak of white collided with Crobat in midair. The two attacks exploded in a deafening crash, sending both Pokémon flying. At that moment, Ash reacted quickly:
"Mimikyu, return!"
He threw the Poké Ball and recalled Mimikyu just before its Disguise could fail.
Then, he immediately tossed Froakie forward.
"Let's go, Froakie!"
"Quack."
Froakie landed beside Charmeleon. He glanced at it, then shifted his gaze to the dazed Crobat.
Still you, huh? I'll finish what I started.
Red looked at Ash, surprised. Ash, now with his hat turned backward, gave a confident grin.
"We're here to help you!"
Red didn't speak, but he gave a slight nod.
The next moment, their voices rang out in perfect sync:
"…Thunder Punch."
"Froakie, use Power-Up Punch!"
"Quack!"
"Roar!"