c8: Defeating Team Fire Rock, Clefable's Ritual
After Alex finished speaking, he simultaneously released his Charizard and Metagross, the Poké Balls flashing brightly with a sharp FWUMP sound as they hit the battlefield.
"Garchomp, use Dragon Breath! Charizard, Flare Blitz! Metagross, Flash Cannon! Don't hold back!"
The combined force of the three attacks collided with Team Fire Rock's formation, triggering a thunderous explosion that shook the surrounding forest canopy and sent a ring of smoke into the sky.
Team Fire Rock's grunts and their Pokémon were thrown to the ground incapacitated and surrounded by scorch marks and cracked terrain.
Ash, Misty, and Brock could hardly believe their eyes. The power Alex displayed was more than impressive—it was overwhelming. Ash's Pikachu even flinched, sensing the residual energy in the air.
"Wait… Is this really the power of a rookie Trainer?" Ash muttered, astonished.
Seeing their stunned expressions, Alex grinned and gave a dismissive wave. "Haha, don't just stand there starstruck. Call Officer Jenny. I'll let her handle the cleanup." He recalled his Pokémon in synchronized beams of red light.
"What do you mean by 'don't be six'? What does that even mean?" Ash asked, tilting his head in genuine confusion.
Minutes later, a fleet of police motorcycles and drones descended upon the scene. The local authorities had finally caught up with Team Fire Rock one of the splinter groups of Team Rocket that had recently resurfaced in Kanto.
Officer Jenny, the same one from the Pewter City Pokémon Center, stepped off her bike and approached. "You again? I should've known. You've been doing a great job taking out these thugs. The League will hear about this."
Alex rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "It's nothing. Just doing what any Trainer with a conscience would do."
Jenny chuckled, her voice light and sincere. "Still, I appreciate it. Without your help, these criminals might have slipped away again. I'll make sure the Pokémon League sends out an official commendation."
"Beautiful lady, would you do me the honor of going on a romantic evening stroll through Cerulean's Moonlight Garden?" Brock suddenly burst forward, down on one knee, holding Jenny's hand like a scene out of a historical Kantonian drama.
Jenny blinked in surprise, clearly unsure how to respond—until Misty stepped in with a sigh.
"Okay, Romeo, I think that's enough," Misty grumbled, grabbing Brock's ear and dragging him off.
"Nooo, Officer Jenny! My heart belongs to you and only you!" Brock's cries echoed dramatically as he was pulled into the background.
Alex glanced at him, unimpressed. "Yeah… he might need some psychological evaluation."
Jenny and her team secured Team Fire Rock's agents and began herding them into their transport units. "If there's nothing else, we'll take it from here. Great work, everyone," she called out as the officers departed.
Moments after they left, Clefairy suddenly leapt out from behind Ash, landing softly with a twirl. "Pii, Clefairy!" it squeaked, frantically motioning with its stubby arms in a specific direction.
"You want us to follow you?" Alex asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Clefairy!" it replied with a sharp nod, its eyes shining with urgency.
Several people followed Clefairy to a hidden rock wall near Mt. Moon's inner chamber. Clefairy raised its stubby arms, and a shimmering pink circle likely a Minimize-charged psychic glyph suddenly pulsed into view on the stone surface. Without hesitation, Clefairy jumped through it like passing into a dimensional veil. One by one, everyone followed.
They emerged onto a massive, moonlit stone dais deep inside the mountain. At the center stood an enormous mineral formation the legendary Mega Moon Stone, pulsing with silvery energy. Alex immediately recognized it as a naturally enhanced evolutionary Moon Stone. It must have been the true target of Team Fire Rock's heist.
Below the dais stood dozens of Clefairy arranged in orderly lines, and at the forefront, an aged Clefable with deep markings of time on its fur and a wise glint in its eye.
"They're adorable…" Misty breathed in awe, eyes sparkling. "So many Clefairy. I absolutely love them."
"Thank you for your intervention. You spared us from disaster," the old Clefable spoke suddenly, its voice telepathic and warm.
"This Clefable can talk!" Ash exclaimed, leaning forward excitedly.
In the manga, it was once rumored that Mt. Moon housed a Clefable capable of telepathic speech through the influence of cosmic radiation and the Moon Stone. This must be that same being.
"It's our duty as Trainers to protect Pokémon," Alex replied. "You don't have to thank us."
"Even so, you defended my clan when we were vulnerable. That makes you our honored guests." The Clefable chieftain raised a paw, and four pieces broke off from the massive Moon Stone, floating down gently into their hands.
The shard Alex received was the largest. The stone shimmered with runic markings ancient, almost celestial. "This is incredible… The power of natural evolution never ceases to amaze me," Alex murmured, studying it in awe.
"But how do you use a Moon Stone?" Ash asked, curious and holding his fragment aloft.
"Moon Stones trigger evolution in certain species," Alex explained, pointing at the Clefairy ahead. "For example, when a Clefairy makes contact with a Moon Stone, it can evolve into Clefable."
"Ohhh, I get it now!" Ash nodded. "Alex, you really know your stuff."
Alex thought to himself, Well, after over a decade of studying Pokémon across regions, this kind of thing becomes second nature.
"As a token of gratitude, we gift you these stones," the Clefable elder added.
Alex stepped forward, intrigued. "Leader Clefable, what was that technique Clefairy used earlier to open the hidden path?"
"It's a defensive psychic seal," Clefable explained. "I use Psychic and Moonlight together to create dimensional barriers around sacred grounds, shielding the Moon Stone from those with greedy hearts. Still, I do not know who leaked our location… More and more intruders have begun to appear."
"That explains why this sanctuary remained hidden for so long," Alex said, nodding. It answered many of his questions about the failed attempts of so many explorers before him.
"My clan's evolution ceremony is about to begin," the Clefable leader said. "Please, witness it."
"Evolution ceremony? What's that?" Ash asked, intrigued.
"It is a sacred ritual where Clefairy dance beneath the Moon Stone's light to evolve into Clefable," the elder said with pride.
The Clefairy formed a circle, joining hands and beginning an intricate, rhythmic dance. As they chanted and twirled, the Moon Stone above surged with brilliance. A tidal wave of white lunar energy flooded the cavern. Each Clefairy was enveloped in radiant cocoon-like light so bright it forced the spectators to shield their eyes.
When the light faded, every Clefairy had transformed into a graceful Clefable.
"Incredible…" Alex whispered. "Even though I've seen it depicted in anime before, nothing compares to witnessing such evolution in real life."
With the ritual complete, Alex and the group said their goodbyes to the Clefable clan and exited the hidden realm within Mt. Moon.
By the time they reached Route 2, Ash turned to Alex with resolve. "Alex, come travel with us. Let's get stronger together!" His voice was full of determination.
Alex smiled but gently refused. "Thanks, but I prefer solo journeys. I learn and grow most when I'm alone on the road."
Ash wasn't discouraged. He clenched his fist. "Then I'll keep training hard. One day I'll battle you again and win!"
Alex chuckled. "I'll be waiting. But tell me, how exactly did you manage to beat Pewter City Gym?"
Ash scratched his cheek sheepishly. "Uh, with skill, obviously! Ask Brock."
Brock scoffed. "Yeah, skill. More like I felt sorry for him. Using Pikachu against Rock-types? Really?"
Alex burst into laughter. Classic Ash the master of bad matchups.
Eventually, they reached the fork in the road where they would part ways.
"Goodbye, everyone," Alex said, turning toward his next destination and vanishing down the path.
"Farewell, Alex!" Ash called out, fire rekindled in his spirit.
"Pikachu, it's time for special training. We've got a rival to catch up to!"
"Pika, Pi!" Pikachu nodded, mirroring Ash's determination as the sun set behind them.
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