Behind them, carried by two additional operatives who'd just emerged from the tunnel, were portable cages. And inside those cages, pressed against the bars with terrified eyes: Clefairy.
Four of them, maybe the same ones they'd seen at the pool. Small bodies trembling, making distressed sounds that echoed through the temple chamber like accusation.
"Children shouldn't be in restricted areas," the leader said. Male, thirties, voice flat with the kind of cold that came from practice rather than nature. "This site is under Aether Foundation research authority. Leave immediately."
Sasuke stepped forward, putting himself between the operatives and his companions. Victini's flames blazed brighter on his shoulder, sensing his anger. "This cave isn't restricted. We checked with League Rangers an hour ago. Release those Pokemon."
The leader's expression didn't change. "We have proper authorization." He pulled out a tablet, showed official-looking documents with League seals. "Research permit, issued three weeks ago. Clefairy species behavioral study, approved by-"
"You're lying," Kiyomi interrupted, her camera still recording everything. "Those permits take months to process and require academic review. I've filed for similar access. The bureaucracy doesn't move that fast."
"And even with permits," Miyuki added, voice tight with controlled fury, "capturing wild Pokemon requires individual assessment and minimal distress protocols. Those Clefairy are terrified."
The leader's cold mask slipped slightly, irritation breaking through. "This doesn't concern you. The Aether Foundation is conducting legitimate research into, "
"Into Pokemon trafficking," Sasuke said. Recognition had clicked into place, the operative's stance, the way the others positioned themselves, the clinical efficiency of their equipment. "You're the same group from the SS Dragonair. Shipping stolen Pokemon in cargo holds, claiming they were research specimens."
The leader's eyes narrowed. "You're the Uchiha boy. The one who interfered with our operation." His hand moved toward his belt. "The Foundation has been tracking you. Sasuke Uchiha, traveling with Miyuki Senju, Kasumi Uzumaki, and Kiyomi Kurama. Four rookies with valuable Pokemon and unfortunate habit of being where you don't belong."
"We're exactly where we belong," Sasuke replied. "This is a public cave. You're the trespassers."
"The Foundation will remember this interference." The leader pulled a Pokeball. "Restrain them. Non-lethal force, but make it clear they shouldn't have gotten involved."
Five Aether operatives deployed Pokemon simultaneously. Three Golbat emerged, Poison/Flying types with wide wingspans, perfect for cave combat. Two Graveler materialized beside them, Rock/Ground types, heavily armored. And one Machoke, Fighting-type muscle that looked extensively trained.
The temple chamber filled with hostile Pokemon, surrounded by ancient murals of peaceful Clefairy worship. The contrast was obscene.
"Victini, V-Create!" Sasuke commanded.
His Fire/Psychic type launched forward, flames condensing into concentrated star shape. The attack struck the lead Golbat before it could dodge, super-effective Fire damage sending it crashing into the wall. One down in seconds.
"Shaymin, Seed Flare!" Miyuki's Grass-type generated massive energy sphere, launched it at the Graveler. The explosion of grass-type energy overwhelmed both Rock Pokemon simultaneously, forcing them back.
"Gardevoir, Moonblast on the remaining Golbat!" Kasumi's Psychic/Fairy type materialized spheres of lunar energy, fired them with precision. The Golbat tried to dodge using superior mobility, but Gardevoir's psychic awareness tracked its movements. Direct hit, another flying-type eliminated.
"Ninetales, Aurora Veil!" Kiyomi's Alolan variant created shimmering barrier around their group, protective field that would absorb incoming attacks. Then, following up: "Blizzard!"
The Ice/Fairy type generated localized blizzard, ice and wind filling the chamber. The remaining Pokemon struggled against the environmental attack, Graveler slowed by cold, Machoke's movements hampered by reduced visibility.
The Aether operatives watched in shock as their Pokemon were systematically dismantled. These weren't random rookie trainers. This was coordinated tactical assault from people who'd trained together, who understood each other's strategies, who could function as single unit.
"Victini, Fusion Flare, support Miyuki!"
"Gardevoir, Psychic, control the Machoke's movement!"
"Shaymin, Air Slash on the last Golbat!"
"Ninetales, Freeze-Dry on both Graveler!"
Orders overlapped, creating symphony of coordinated attacks. Each person knew their role, supported others' strategies, exploited openings their companions created. Within two minutes, all six Aether Pokemon were down, knocked unconscious or too injured to continue fighting.
The operatives stood stunned. Their leader recovered first, reaching for additional Pokeballs. But Sasuke's Latios materialized behind them, blocking the tunnel exit. The Dragon/Psychic type radiated power that made the tactical assessment obvious: they were outmatched.
"The Foundation will remember this," the leader repeated, voice no longer cold but carrying genuine threat. "You're making enemies of a very powerful organization."
"Then tell your Foundation to stop stealing Pokemon," Sasuke shrugged. "We'll keep interfering every time we find you."
The leader made a gesture. Two operatives released the cage locks, freeing the captured Clefairy. The Fairy-types scrambled out, rushing toward the far wall, toward freedom, toward safety, anywhere away from their captors.
"You've been warned," the leader said. Then he pulled something from his pocket, flashbang device, military grade. He threw it down, light and sound exploding through the chamber.
When Sasuke's vision cleared, the Aether operatives had vanished. A hidden tunnel behind one of the murals stood open, darkness beyond suggesting extensive unmapped passages. They'd escaped, taking their unconscious Pokemon with them.
"Should we pursue?" Miyuki asked, already knowing the answer.
"No. We don't know what's down there, and they have home territory advantage." Sasuke recalled Latios, checked that everyone was unharmed. "We got what mattered, the Clefairy are free."
The four rescued Fairy-types huddled together near the moon carving, still terrified. Their distressed chirping filled the chamber, sounds of trauma that would take time to fade.
Miyuki approached them slowly, hands visible, posture non-threatening. "Hey. You're safe now. We're not going to hurt you."
Shaymin appeared beside her, offering its own reassurance. Pokemon to Pokemon, the Grass-type communicated safety, comfort, the absence of threat. The Clefairy responded to this better than human words, their trembling gradually subsiding.
One Clefairy, braver or more desperate than the others, approached Miyuki directly. It touched her hand, looked up with eyes that still held fear but also gratitude. A sound emerged, not the distressed chirping, but something melodic, thankful.
"You're welcome," Miyuki whispered. "Go home. Find your families. Be safe."
The Clefairy retreated to its companions. The four of them huddled together, communicating in those musical sounds. Then they moved toward the tunnel exit, not the hidden passage the Aether operatives had used, but the marked route leading back to the main chamber where they'd first been seen.
But before leaving, they paused. All four turned back, faced their rescuers, and began to move.
It wasn't random Pokemon behavior. It was dance.
The Clefairy moved in synchronized patterns, graceful despite their small size and recent trauma. They stepped and spun, creating formations that matched the murals on the walls, ancient worship dance, passed down through generations of their species. The moonlight carving seemed to glow brighter as they performed, reacting to their natural Fairy-type energy.
The effect was magical in the literal sense. The air shimmered, pressure changed, something ineffable filled the chamber. This was what the ancient humans had witnessed, what had inspired them to build temples and leave offerings. This was Clefairy in their element, expressing gratitude through the only language that truly mattered, art, movement, connection that transcended words.
When the dance concluded, the four Clefairy bowed. Actual conscious gesture, acknowledging debt and offering respect. Then they left through the tunnel, sounds fading as they returned to their home in Mt. Moon's depths.
The chamber felt emptier without them, but also lighter. The oppressive energy that had filled it during the Aether confrontation had dissipated, replaced by residual warmth from the Clefairy's dance.
"That was incredible," Kasumi breathed. "I've never seen anything like that."
"Few have," Kiyomi said, her camera still recording. "Documented Clefairy dances are extremely rare. Most researchers spend entire careers hoping to witness one. We just saw it because we saved them."
A sound from the tunnel entrance, different from Clefairy movements. Larger Pokemon, moving with deliberate steps. Sasuke's hand went to his belt again, but Miyuki held up a restraining hand.
"Wait. That's not a threat."
A Clefable emerged, larger than Clefairy, evolved form with more refined features. It carried something in its hands, moving with the dignity of age and authority. This was the elder, the leader of the Clefairy colony they'd seen at the pool.
The Clefable approached Kasumi specifically. It examined her with intelligent eyes, seemed to reach some internal decision, and extended its hands.
In them: a Moon Stone.
The evolution stone glowed with internal light, genuine article rather than synthetic replica. These were valuable, hundreds of thousands of dollars on the market, essential for certain Pokemon evolutions, incredibly rare in natural form.
"For me?" Kasumi asked, voice small with wonder.
The Clefable nodded, pressed the stone into her hands. A gift, given freely, acknowledging her role in the rescue. She'd been the one whose Gardevoir had eliminated the Golbat first, whose Moonblast had proven most effective. The Clefable recognized individual contribution, rewarded it accordingly.
"Thank you," Kasumi said, cradling the stone like precious treasure. "I'll use this well. I promise."
The Clefable smiled, actual expression that communicated satisfaction, then retreated back into the tunnel. Its footsteps faded, leaving them alone in the temple once more.
"A Moon Stone," Miyuki said quietly. "Given freely by wild Pokemon. That's... I don't have words."
"It's validation," Kiyomi said, still filming. "The ancient murals show humans receiving Moon Stones from Clefairy. We just participated in thousand-year-old tradition."
Sasuke checked his emergency beacon, signal was strong despite being underground. "We need to report this to the Rangers. Aether Foundation operating in Mt. Moon, capturing wild Pokemon, using forged permits. That's League jurisdiction."
"Will they believe us?" Kasumi asked, Moon Stone secured in her pack.
"We have footage," Kiyomi said, patting her camera. "Everything from the capture cages to the battle to the Aether insignias. Plus witness testimony from four trainers, three of whom are from ancient Pokemon-raising clans. That carries weight."
They made their way back through the side tunnel to the main route. The journey felt different now, they'd faced Aether Foundation directly, won decisively, and been acknowledged by wild Pokemon as allies. The mountain had tested them and found them worthy.
At the next safety station, they filed a formal report. The ranger on duty, different from the entrance checkpoint, took their testimony seriously, especially when Kiyomi showed him the footage. Aether Foundation's name made him visibly angry.
"They've been a problem for months," he admitted. "Always operating in gray areas, using legal loopholes, making accusations difficult to prove. But this, forged permits, captured Pokemon, direct confrontation, that's actionable. I'm forwarding this to League investigators immediately."
"Will it stop them?" Miyuki asked.
"It'll slow them down. Force them to be more careful, maybe abandon this particular operation." The ranger's expression turned grim. "But organizations like Aether don't stop easily. They have money, political connections, lawyers who can argue black is white. Your footage helps, but don't expect instant justice."
They continued through Mt. Moon with new awareness. Aether Foundation knew about them now, had been tracking them, knew their names, considered them threats to whatever schemes they were running. The confrontation would have consequences.
But looking at Kasumi's joy over the Moon Stone, at Kiyomi's satisfied documentation of the temple, at Miyuki's pride in helping rescue the Clefairy, Sasuke couldn't regret their interference.
Some things were worth making enemies over.
The journey continued deeper into the mountain, toward Cerulean City and whatever challenges awaited there.