Dawn arrived cold and gray, mountain air carrying the promise of deeper chill ahead. Sasuke drove the Mobile Home northeast on Route 3, following GPS coordinates toward Mt. Moon's official entrance. The road had narrowed from highway to two-lane passage, then to barely-paved trail winding through increasingly rocky terrain.
Mt. Moon revealed itself gradually, first as distant shadow, then as looming presence that dominated the horizon. The mountain wasn't a single peak but a range, multiple summits creating jagged silhouette against pale sky. Somewhere within that massive geological formation lay the cave system they'd have to traverse.
"It's bigger than I expected," Kasumi said from the living room, pressed against the window. "The map made it look manageable."
"Maps compress distance," Kiyomi replied, equally focused on the view. "Mt. Moon spans approximately sixty kilometers north to south, thirty east to west. The cave system runs through the entire range, thousands of chambers, most unmapped."
"And we're going through the middle of that," Miyuki said, checking equipment one final time. Ryu sat in her lap, unusually quiet as if sensing the tension.
"We're taking the main route," Sasuke reminded them. "League-maintained tunnel with lighting, safety stations every five kilometers, emergency communication systems. Thousands of trainers traverse it annually without incident."
"But incidents do happen," Kiyomi said. "Hence the emergency beacons."
The entrance appeared around the final curve, massive tunnel mouth carved into the mountainside, easily twenty meters tall and thirty wide. Large enough for cargo trucks to pass through, though current traffic consisted of trainers on foot and occasional ranger vehicles. Orange cones funneled travelers toward a checkpoint station where League Rangers monitored entry and exit.
Sasuke parked in the designated lot, killed the engine. Through the windshield, the cave entrance looked like a mouth ready to swallow them, darkness beyond the threshold, unknowable depths waiting.
"Everyone has their beacon?" he asked.
They checked. Four personal locator devices, tested that morning, all showing green status lights. Sasuke clipped his to his belt beside his Pokeballs. Victini chirped from his shoulder, flames already brightening in anticipation of darkness ahead.
They approached the checkpoint on foot, the Mobile Home secured in the lot. A ranger, woman in her forties with the weathered look of someone who spent career outdoors, greeted them with professional courtesy.
"Morning. Traversing to Cerulean?"
"Yes," Sasuke said, presenting their Trainer Licenses for scanning.
The ranger examined each license, cross-referenced with her tablet. "Sasuke Uchiha, Miyuki Senju, Kasumi Uzumaki, Kiyomi Kurama. You're the group that beat Gaara last week."
News traveled fast. "That's us."
"Then you're competent trainers. Good, makes my safety briefing shorter." She pulled up a map on her tablet, showed them the main route. "Straight path to Cerulean takes approximately ten hours of walking. Most trainers camp overnight at the midpoint station. Stay on marked paths, they're lit with bioluminescent markers and painted safety lines. Don't wander into side tunnels unless you're experienced spelunkers."
"What about wild Pokemon?" Miyuki asked.
"Zubat are everywhere but non-aggressive if unprovoked. Geodude and Graveler common in rocky sections. Paras in the deeper chambers where moisture levels are high. Clefairy occasionally seen near underground pools." The ranger's expression turned serious. "And we've had reports of Team Rocket activity. Splinter cell operating in the unmapped sections, targeting lone travelers. You're a group of four with powerful Pokemon, so you're low-priority targets. But stay alert."
"We will," Sasuke confirmed.
"Emergency protocol: if separated, activate your beacon and stay put. Moving while lost makes rescue harder. If injured, same procedure. Rangers patrol the main route every four hours, help will arrive." She handed them each a printed map. "Coordinates of safety stations marked. Each has communication equipment, first aid supplies, and emergency rations. Any questions?"
"Ancient ruins," Kiyomi said. "I've read about pre-modern structures in Mt. Moon. Are those accessible?"
The ranger's expression shifted to something between amusement and exasperation. "Archaeologist?"
"Researcher. Field study focus."
"Then you know the answer, officially, all ruins are restricted pending proper excavation and safety assessment. Unofficially, people explore them constantly and we can't monitor every side tunnel." She sighed. "If you go investigating, take precautions. Document responsibly, don't remove artifacts, and for the love of Arceus, don't get lost in there."
They entered the cave as morning sun climbed toward noon. The transition was immediate and jarring, warm daylight to cool shadow, open air to enclosed space. The temperature dropped ten degrees within the first fifty meters, enough that Sasuke saw his breath misting.
The main tunnel stretched ahead, width remaining consistent but natural rock walls replacing the carved entrance. Lighting came from bioluminescent moss growing in patches along the ceiling, blue-green glow that provided enough illumination to navigate but created deep shadows in alcoves and side passages.
Sasuke activated his flashlight anyway. The beam cut through gloom, revealing details the ambient light obscured, mineral deposits glittering in the rock face, small pools of water collecting in depressions, the occasional glimpse of Pokemon eyes reflecting back before disappearing.
"It's beautiful," Miyuki said quietly. Her voice echoed, carried by the acoustics peculiar to enclosed spaces.
She was right. The cave possessed alien beauty, crystals growing from ceiling and walls, formations that took millennia to create, underground streams producing constant white noise that somehow soothed rather than disturbed. The air smelled of stone and water and something else, some mineral scent that didn't exist in surface environments.
Victini's flames provided additional light, warm orange complementing the cool blue-green moss. Kiyomi had released her Alolan Ninetales, whose natural luminescence added elegant glow to their group. Between the three light sources plus flashlights, they moved through the tunnel in a bubble of visibility.
Wild Pokemon appeared as they progressed. A Zubat fluttered past, disturbed by their presence but not attacking. A Geodude rolled across their path, paused to examine them, then continued its journey. Two Paras huddled near a moisture seep, mushrooms on their backs glowing faintly.
"Don't engage unless necessary," Sasuke reminded them. "We're guests in their territory."
They walked for two hours, progress steady but not rushed. The main tunnel occasionally branched, but painted arrows and safety lines clearly marked the correct route. Every kilometer, a marker indicated distance remaining, helpful for tracking progress and estimating arrival at the midpoint station.
Kiyomi stopped frequently, photographing interesting geological formations and documenting mineral compositions. Her researcher instincts were in full force, seeing Mt. Moon as massive natural laboratory rather than just obstacle to traverse.
"Look at this crystal formation," she said, camera clicking rapidly. "The growth pattern suggests it's been developing for at least ten thousand years. The mineral concentration in this section must be exceptional."
"We can't take samples," Sasuke reminded her.
"I know. But I can document." She took several more photos from different angles. "These formations are unique to Mt. Moon, nowhere else in Kanto has quite the same geological composition."
They rounded a curve and found themselves in a larger chamber. The ceiling soared fifteen meters overhead, natural skylight, actually a shaft connecting to the surface, allowing weak daylight to filter down. The effect created dreamlike atmosphere, light shafts cutting through gloom like divine intervention.
At the chamber's center, a pool of perfectly clear water. And surrounding it, watching the travelers with curious black eyes: Clefairy.
Six of them, the Fairy-type Pokemon known for their rarity and mystical associations. They stood perfectly still, assessing whether these humans represented threat or simply more travelers passing through their domain.
"Don't move," Miyuki whispered. "Clefairy are notoriously shy."
But these Clefairy didn't seem frightened. One stepped forward, larger than the others, perhaps the leader, and tilted its head. Studying them with intelligence that transcended simple animal awareness.
Victini chirped from Sasuke's shoulder, a greeting. The Clefairy responded with its own sound, melodic, almost song-like. Some communication passed between them, Pokemon to Pokemon, understanding that didn't require human translation.
The lead Clefairy turned to its companions, made several gestures. The group relaxed, apparently deciding these travelers were acceptable. One even waved, actual conscious gesture, not random movement.
"They're welcoming us," Kiyomi breathed. "Acknowledging our passage through their territory."
"How can you tell?" Kasumi asked.
"Body language. Pokemon communication is ninety percent nonverbal. That wave was deliberate invitation to proceed peacefully."
They walked around the pool carefully, giving the Clefairy space. The Fairy-types watched but didn't interfere, simply observing with that same intelligent curiosity.
As they exited the chamber, Sasuke glanced back. The Clefairy had returned to what appeared to be their routine, several drinking from the pool, others grooming, one dancing in the shaft of sunlight with movements that might have been ritual or simply joy.
His mother's message echoed: The Clefairy helped us when we got lost. Be respectful to the mountain's residents, and they'll guide you through.
Good advice, proving accurate.
The tunnel continued, narrowing slightly as they descended deeper into the mountain. The bioluminescent moss grew thicker here, creating almost daylight-level illumination. But the temperature kept dropping, they were well below the surface now, insulated from external weather but subject to the mountain's own climate.
Kiyomi stopped again, but this time her focus wasn't on geological formations. She'd noticed something else, markings on the wall, barely visible beneath mineral deposits and moss growth.
"These are carved," she said, tracing the patterns with her flashlight beam. "Human-made. Ancient."
Sasuke examined them. Definitely intentional, symbols and pictures, weathered by time but still discernible. "How old?"
"Hard to say without proper analysis. But the style matches pre-modern Kanto art. At least a thousand years, possibly more." Kiyomi followed the markings, found where they led. "There. Side tunnel."
A narrow passage branched from the main route, unmarked by safety lines or arrows. The darkness beyond looked absolute, untouched by bioluminescent moss. But the carvings continued into it, clear trail for those who knew to look.
"We should investigate," Kiyomi said.
"The ranger said..." Miyuki began.
"The ranger said to be careful, not to avoid them entirely. This is why I'm here, documenting pre-modern sites." Kiyomi was already pulling out her archaeological equipment. "Fifteen minutes. Just a quick survey to determine if it warrants deeper investigation."
Sasuke considered. The side tunnel made him uneasy, but Kiyomi's expertise was archaeological discovery. Preventing her from investigating seemed counterproductive to their journey's purpose, each person pursuing their passion while supporting the others.
"Fifteen minutes," he agreed. "Everyone stays together, emergency beacons active. If we encounter anything dangerous, we retreat immediately."
They entered the side tunnel, flashlight beams cutting through darkness that felt heavier than the main route. The passage was narrow, they had to walk single file, but tall enough to stand upright. The carved markings covered both walls now, becoming more elaborate as they progressed.
The tunnel opened into a small chamber, roughly circular, maybe ten meters in diameter. And covering every surface, walls, ceiling, even parts of the floor, murals.
Faded with age, damaged by water seepage and mineral deposits, but still remarkably intact. The images showed Clefairy in various poses, always beneath a carved moon that dominated the ceiling. Some danced, others appeared to be offering something to the moon, still others simply stood in worship.
"This is a temple," Kiyomi whispered, awe evident in her voice. "Clefairy Temple. Pre-modern humans built this as shrine to the Fairy-types and their connection to the moon."
She was already photographing everything, camera flash illuminating the chamber in strobing bursts. Each image captured details invisible to natural light, the intricacy of the carvings, the symbolic patterns that repeated throughout, the clear intentionality of every element.
"Look at this section," she pointed. "It shows Clefairy evolving. See, Cleffa to Clefairy to Clefable, all under moonlight. They understood evolution thousands of years before modern science confirmed it. And they connected it specifically to lunar phases."
Miyuki examined another section. "These offerings, they look like Moon Stones. The ancient humans were giving evolution stones to the Clefairy as gifts."
"Mutual benefit relationship," Kiyomi confirmed. "Humans provided stones, Clefairy provided... something. Protection, guidance, maybe medical care, Fairy-types are known for healing abilities."
Sasuke studied the central moon carving. Something about it felt significant beyond just artistic choice. The positioning, the size relative to the Clefairy below, the way light from their flashlights seemed to gather there,
Footsteps echoed from the tunnel entrance. Not the soft padding of Pokemon feet. Heavy boots on stone. Multiple people approaching.
Sasuke's hand went to his belt instinctively. "Everyone behind me."
They rearranged quickly, Sasuke taking point with Victini's flames blazing brighter. Miyuki and Kasumi flanked him, Pokemon ready. Kiyomi continued photographing but positioned herself for quick escape if needed.
Three figures emerged from the tunnel.
Aether Foundation.
"Well, well," the lead grunt said, voice carrying amused malice. "Look what we found. Trainers playing archaeologist in restricted areas."
Sasuke's assessment was immediate: three opponents, probably low-rank operatives, carrying Pokeballs but with the posture of people who relied more on intimidation than skill. Dangerous to lone travelers. Much less threatening to a group of four with his level of training.
"This cave is open to public travel," Sasuke said calmly. "We're not violating any regulations."
"Maybe not League regulations," the grunt replied. "But you're in Aether Foundation territory now. And we have our own rules about trespassers."
The three reached for their Pokeballs simultaneously.
The temple chamber was about to become a battlefield.