Morning light spilled through the wide glass of the Pewter City Pokémon Center, painting the lobby in golden warmth. Tharion stood quietly at the videophone, shoulders squared, eyes steady as the connection linked. The static flickered into the gentle yet sharp gaze of Professor Oak.
"Ah! Tharion," Oak said with delight, the wrinkles around his eyes deepening with pride. "I heard you bested Brock. Congratulations! The Boulder Badge is no small feat."
The image of Brock's final handshake and the weight of the badge in his palm flashed briefly in Tharion's mind. But even as Oak praised him, Tharion's face remained calm, thoughtful. "Thank you, Professor. My team pushed themselves beyond their limits. Charmeleon and Larvitar stood firm against overwhelming odds. Ferrothorn… he surprised even me."
Behind him, the soft sound of laughter drifted. Nina, sitting cross-legged on a chair, hugged Rogenrola against her chest. Luxio lay stretched across her lap, tail flicking lazily, while Butterfree circled gently overhead with a serene flutter. The little girl's eyes shone like stars, pride overflowing for her brother.
Oak leaned forward, his voice shifting from praise to curiosity. "But I can see it in your eyes—you're already thinking ahead. Aren't you?"
Tharion's jaw tightened slightly. "Yes. My next challenge… Cerulean City. A Water-type Gym."
The professor's brows lifted. "And?"
"My entire team is weak to water." The words came out like steel scraping stone, hard and unforgiving. "Charmeleon, Larvitar, even Ferrothorn—they'll all be targeted. One well-aimed Water Gun could cripple them before the battle even begins. I can't afford to step into that Gym unprepared. Not with Nina beside me. Not with what's at stake."
The line fell silent for a heartbeat. Oak's eyes softened, but there was no pity—only recognition. "You think like a soldier," Oak said quietly. "Always assessing, always planning for the worst. That mindset is rare in Trainers. But you're right. The path from Pewter to Cerulean runs through Mount Moon—and that mountain is filled with possibilities."
He tapped the desk, his tone turning sharp and deliberate."Listen carefully. Common Pokémon there are Zubat, Paras, Geodude. Nothing unusual. A bit rarer are Clefairy—gentle, but deceptively powerful with their strange energy—and Sandshrew, strong survivors. But if you're truly fortunate, you may encounter fossils buried deep within the stone. Those fossils can be restored into ancient Pokémon, creatures older than human memory."
Tharion's eyes narrowed, his mind turning. "Fossils… ancient strength."
Oak nodded gravely. "But remember—power alone won't save you. Paras and Parasect have Grass-typing, useful against water, but they are fragile. Clefairy, on the other hand, is resilient, versatile, and supportive in ways most Trainers underestimate. The choice is yours, Tharion. What matters most is shaping a team that can endure—not collapse when the tide turns."
Tharion exhaled slowly. The weight of Oak's words sank into him like anchors. He could almost feel the echo of the battles to come—the spray of water across the arena, the crushing disadvantage his team would face. A flicker of memory passed across his mind: the cold emptiness of failure in his past life, the ruins of a broken world, the sight of those he couldn't save.
Not this time.
"I'll prepare them," Tharion said at last, his voice carrying the edge of absolute resolve. "They will learn to resist, to adapt, to strike back. No Gym Leader will ever see them as prey."
Oak's lips curved into a rare, approving smile. "That's the resolve of a true Trainer. You've already surpassed many who walk this path. Remember this, Tharion—Pokémon are not tools. They are your allies. Train them as such, and they will rise with you against every storm."
The screen blinked dark, leaving the room quiet.
Nina tugged gently at Tharion's cloak. Her small face tilted up, curious and bright. "Big brother, are we going to catch all the Pokémon in Mount Moon? You always said… pairs are important."
Tharion turned to her, the corner of his mouth softening into something rare—a faint smile. "Yes. Every one I can find. Male and female. Each territory back home will grow stronger with their presence. But… this time, we'll keep one or two with us. Ones we'll train directly. Not every battle can be delegated."
Nina's giggle was soft as chimes, her excitement impossible to contain. "Then I want to help! Butterfree and Luxio will show them all how strong we are! And Rogenrola too!" She clutched the Pokéball of her new partner tightly, her little hands trembling with happiness.
Tharion looked down at her—at the girl who anchored him to this new life, who gave meaning to his struggle.' For her… I'll carve a path of victory. No weakness will be allowed to take her future away. '
They left the Pewter Pokémon Center together, the air crisp and fresh, carrying the scents of pine and stone. In the distance, the looming silhouette of Mount Moon rose like a sleeping giant, its cavernous entrance yawning like a black maw. From within, faint echoes carried—the wings of Zubat, the hiss of unseen life stirring in the depths.
Tharion adjusted the strap of his bag, the Boulder Badge catching the sunlight for a fleeting moment. His expression hardened. "Let's move. The road to Cerulean starts here. And before we arrive… we'll make sure no wave, no water, no Gym Leader can break us."
Nina fell into step beside him, Butterfree trailing in the sky, Luxio padding loyally at her side, Rogenrola's Pokéball held tight in her hand.
And together, they began the ascent toward Mount Moon—a place of hidden treasures, forgotten legends, and trials that would forge the strength they needed for the storm ahead.
The mouth of Mount Moon loomed before them like the yawning jaws of some ancient beast, jagged stone teeth jutting from the entrance. The moment Tharion and Nina stepped inside, the forest's distant hum gave way to an oppressive silence, broken only by the flapping of wings in the unseen darkness.
A screech pierced the stillness.Dozens of Zubat erupted from the ceiling, wings beating furiously as they swarmed deeper into the tunnels. The air grew thick with dust and the smell of damp earth. The glow of the lantern Nina carried flickered uneasily, casting long shadows across the cavern walls.
Tharion inhaled, steadying himself. This isn't Viridian anymore. Every step forward will test them—not just their strength, but their will.
He unclipped Charmeleon's Poké Ball."Charmeleon—light the way."
With a growl, Charmeleon's tail-flame blazed brighter, illuminating the narrow passage in a halo of orange light. Larvitar stomped forward behind him, eyes gleaming as though daring the mountain to challenge them. Ferrothorn hovered silently at the rear, its metallic body scraping faintly against the stone, always ready.
Nina released her partners too. Butterfree fluttered gracefully into the cavern air, its compound eyes glowing faint blue as it pushed back the shadows. Roggenrola clacked its rocky body in steady rhythm as if it relished the cave's familiar terrain, while Luxio prowled close to Nina, its eyes glowing an electric yellow, sparks occasionally flickering from its fur.
The deeper they went, the harsher the terrain became. Zubat dived and screeched at random, testing their patience. From cracks in the stone, small Paras scuttled away, their mushroom caps twitching as if sensing danger.
Tharion suddenly stopped."This isn't just travel," he murmured. "This mountain is alive—and if we don't adapt, it'll break us."
He turned to the group, voice firm."We'll train here. Every weakness is a liability. Charmeleon, Larvitar, Ferrothorn—you'll fight until your bodies understand what your minds refuse to."
Charmeleon let out a roar, the flame on his tail flaring, while Larvitar pounded his chest and stomped, causing the loose gravel to scatter. Ferrothorn simply spun its spiked body, the metallic clang echoing like a war drum.
Nina nodded, determination flashing in her eyes."Then we'll train too. Roggenrola needs the stamina, Butterfree the focus, and Luxio… he needs to sharpen his strikes."
They carved out a space in one of the wider caverns. The stalactites above dripped water in slow rhythm, like a ticking clock marking their effort.
Charmeleon launched a stream of fire against clusters of rock, only for Tharion to bark:"Control it! Flames aren't enough—you need precision. If you can't strike true, a Water-type will douse you before you ever land a blow!"Charmeleon narrowed his eyes, channeling his breath into smaller, more concentrated bursts, each impact blasting through stone with sharper accuracy.
Larvitar battled against falling boulders Tharion deliberately dislodged."Don't just take the hit—redirect it!"Larvitar braced, pushing back against the weight of stone with raw defiance, his growl echoing in the chamber as the rocks shattered around him.
Ferrothorn trained in silence, his vines whipping forward like steel whips to intercept thrown stones. Sparks danced whenever his metallic hide scraped the cavern walls."Endurance, Ferrothorn. Your body will be the shield. But your timing will be the sword."
On the other side, Nina's Pokémon fought just as fiercely:
Butterfree focused on scattering Sleep Powder and Confusion in perfect timing, weaving through Charmeleon's flames without faltering.
Roggenrola rammed stone pillars again and again, cracks spiderwebbing across the rock face.
Luxio prowled through the darkness, sparks snapping in his fur as he leapt at phantom enemies Nina called out from the shadows.
Their training clashed, overlapped, and harmonized, the cavern ringing with fire, steel, rock, and lightning.
But amid the noise of their relentless drills, Tharion suddenly felt it—A presence.
Something watching.
He turned sharply, lantern-light stretching across the cavern walls. For a moment, nothing. Just the hollow echo of dripping water. Then, deeper within the tunnels, a shape shifted.
A silhouette—not Zubat, not Paras, not any ordinary cave-dweller. Something larger. Its form was jagged, heavy, almost unnatural against the cavern's curve.
It lingered, unmoving, watching.
Charmeleon hissed, flame flaring brighter, while Larvitar growled low, fists clenching as if ready to strike. Even Ferrothorn angled his body forward, spikes glinting with menace.
Nina's Luxio bared its fangs, sparks flickering dangerously in the air, while Butterfree fluttered uneasily toward Nina's shoulder.
But before Tharion could command a response, the silhouette melted back into the darkness, vanishing as though it had never been there.
Tharion's jaw tightened."…Something's here. And it's stronger than anything we've faced yet."
The training continued, but now every shadow seemed sharper, every echo heavier. The mountain wasn't just their training ground anymore—It had become a hunting ground.
And something in the dark had already chosen them.