We stopped in at the Pokémon Center to get my team healed and then made plans for venturing into Mount Moon. "It's a pretty rough place, but this time my map should be accurate." Daisy squinted at the map in her hand, trying to find any inaccuracies. "The real issue will be how dark it is in there."

I didn't love not being able to see. It made it difficult for me to communicate with others. I reminded Daisy that Charmander could provide us with some light, and hopefully, there would be other trainers who could point us in the right direction.

Daisy and I walked out of the Pokémon Center and departed from Pewter City. Then, we set off for Mount Moon. The route in between the city and the mountain was loaded with trainers and ledges as the terrain grew rocky.

We weaved between the paths after getting through a few battles, seeing the large mountain get closer and closer. Stones towered over us on both sides, and I felt a bit trapped.

Eventually, we arrived at the entrance to Mount Moon.

"Alright Red, are ya ready for Mount Moon?" Daisy asked me and I nodded. We had gotten our Pokémon healed, and now all that was left was to enter the dungeon. As we walked towards the entrance of the mountain, I saw a group of police officers standing in front of the exit.

"Stay together, and try not to get caught in the darkness. They could be dangerous, and we need to be on guard." One of the officers said to the others.

"Alright, Growlithe let's go!" All four officers sent out red canines and prepared to head inside.

Daisy and I shared a confused look. "Uhhh, what's going on here?" Daisy asked them.

One of the officers glanced at us. "Oh, hello there. We've received reports of Team Rocket members attacking trainers and stealing their Pokémon. There are even rumors that the boss was in the area." One of the officers explained.

Team Rocket. The criminal organization that had been terrorizing Kanto for the last three years. Despite the best efforts of trainers and police, they couldn't effectively fight back against the crime syndicate. They stole Pokémon, harassed people, committed crimes, and seemed to always be moving in the shadows to sow destruction in Kanto.

"Oh, maybe we can help?" Daisy suggested. I jumped a bit. My mother had explicitly asked me not to get into trouble, and Team Rocket wasn't supposed to be messed with by kids like us.

"No, you're just children." One of the officers immediately replied. I felt a bit of relief at the shutdown. "These are dangerous criminals. Nobody is being allowed into Mount Moon until we clear out the area."

"Oh ok..." Daisy sighed and we walked away. "Guess we'll have to wait." The officers and their Pokémon ran into the cave, being consumed by the darkness.

Daisy then glanced at me and a smile started to form on her face. "Now that they're gone, we can sneak right in!" My eyes widened and I shook my head. "Come on! Don't you want to help out?"

I signed to her how this was really dangerous, and that we should stay out of it. Daisy's eyes rolled and she glanced at the cave. "Listen, you can do whatever you want. But... I'm not going to let Team Rocket have their way with this place."

Daisy seemed determined, and I didn't want her to go in alone. I begrudgingly nodded and Daisy grinned, we walked into the entrance of the mountain. The darkness was sudden and unsettling. Sounds were echoing through the cavern, and the air felt cold and moist.

I sent out Charmander and his flame made things within a close range visible. The lizard stumbled around at my feet, seemingly irritated by having to walk into the darkness.

The ground was uneven and jagged, though we tried to keep to one of the cave's walls so we could avoid getting lost. "Man, it's so dark in here. No wonder criminals are lurking around here." Daisy commented. Her face was buried in the map, doing her best to read it in the darkness.

I noticed she was about to step off of a ledge, and held out my hand to stop her. My arm wrapped around her nearest arm and I pulled her back. The girl looked at the drop in front of us and then back at me. "Oh shoot, thanks Red!"

After that, we slowed down our pace so Daisy could watch where she was going while we navigated the cavern. After a little while, we started to hear a lot of noise in the distance. It was probably the police officers fighting off Team Rocket, but they were far away from where we were going.

Daisy decided against chasing after them. "If the officers have found them, there's no sense in getting ourselves lost to throw ourselves into things."

I was glad she agreed. Though, it was difficult for me to sign anything to her due to the darkness. We were almost to the end when we heard a bunch of talking up ahead, we ducked behind some rocks and tried to listen in.

"So is that all the fossils?" One of the voices asked. He was talking in a hushed tone and had a low voice.

A second voice replied to the first. "Yep. All we can carry, at least. Let's get back to the base. The cops are here and we need to get these back for the boss." We then heard two sets of footsteps.

"We can't let those guys get away," Daisy whispered and she got up, running over to them. "Hey! Over here!"

I had tried to sign to her that I had a plan, but I had to hurry after the girl as she charged onto the scene. Charmander tailed behind us, looking bored.

"Look at this, two kids! Easy pickings, looks like. Bet we'll get some good cash for that Charmander!" One of the grunts snarled. Both men were dressed in black uniforms, concealing most of their features. Large red Rs were plastered onto their chests. These were Team Rocket members, alright.

"Let's take these kids down and put them in their place!" The other growled and they threw their Poké Balls in the air.

In two flashes of light, a Rattata and a Zubat appeared, in another flash of light Venonat appeared. Zubat was a dark blue bat Pokémon, the insides of his wings were purple. The bat seemed to be frantically flapping his wings to remain aloft.

Rattata was a rat-like Pokémon with purple fur and a white underside. He also had two large white fangs that the Pokémon snapped at us.

"Venonat use Confusion on Zubat!" Daisy yelled and Venonat's eyes began glowing. She sent out a wave of energy that grabbed hold of Zubat and tossed him into a wall.

Charmander, hit 'em with Ember! I told the Fire-Type. He sent a weak flame towards the Rattata, which began to shriek as the flames made contact.

The grunt on the right rolled his eyes. "Zubat use Supersonic!" The Zubat began to let out an ear-splitting shriek. Everyone covered their ears and when the sound stopped, Venonat was teetering dizzily.

"Rattata use Bite on Venonat!" The grunt on the left ordered the Normal-Type. The Pokémon ran forward and Venonat continued to teeter. The Rattata jumped up and sank its teeth into Venonat, who yelped as the rat bit down.

Charmander, use Scratch on the Rattata! I told my Pokémon  frantically. Charmander sighed but ran forward with his claw glowing and raked it across the Rattata's face.

The Rattata hissed in pain and let go of Venonat. Now, follow up with Leer. Charmander glared at Rattata, intimidating the Pokémon. I looked at Daisy, and she nodded.

"Venonat, use Tackle!" Daisy's voice seemed to reach Venonat, who charged into her assailant. The Rattata went tumbling back and fell unconscious.

The grunt's face turned red as he called back his Pokémon. "Damn it..."

The other one sighed. "Zubat, use Wing Attack on Venonat!" His Pokémon flew down and slammed a wing into Venonat's body, blowing Daisy's bug Pokémon back.

"Venonat! Use Confusion on Zubat again!" This time, Venonat seemed to be absorbed by the confusion and grabbed Charmander in a telepathic hold. Venonat flung Charmander directly into itself. The two Pokémon collided, taking out the weakened Venonat.

Daisy instantly seemed to be crestfallen. "Oh man, Venonat. Get some rest." She recalled her Pokémon with a sigh.

Charmander scrambled to get back up while Zubat swooped around.

"Zubat use Poison Sting on that Charmander!" The grunt on the right barked and his bat Pokémon sent dozens of poisonous darts towards Charmander.

Counter it with Ember! I told my Pokémon. Charmander fired weak flames at the darts to counter them. The darts exploded upon making contact with the flames.

"Dive in and use Wing Attack!" Zubat swooped down and slammed his wing into Charmander's body, forcing back the lizard. "Wing Attack once more!"

I decided it was time to move. Charmander, use Ember on the ground. Then finish this with Scratch! Charmander launched a blast of fire onto the ground. The wave of flames stopped Zubat in his tracks, leaving him wide open for Charmander to strike. Charmander's claw scraped across the opposing Pokémon's body, taking him out.

"I can't believe this! Let's get out of here!" The grunt on the left said as the other returned his Pokémon and nodded. The grunt tossed a purple ball onto the ground, and a cloud of smoke burst from it.

Daisy and I began to cough until the smoke cleared. The two grunts had vanished, seemingly fleeing into the exit. "Darn, they got away." Daisy sighed. Her eyes fell on where they had been, and she walked over. "Looks like they dropped something.

Daisy picked up the object. "It's a fossil..." The fossil was an orange sphere made of amber, there was something inside of it but it was hard to make out the details in the darkness.

I signed to her, asking what fossil it was. The girl shrugged. "I have no idea. I bet the people on Cinnabar Island would be able to restore it, though!" Daisy then looked to the exit. "For now, let's just get out of here."

I returned Charmander and then motioned to Daisy that I wanted to talk to her about something before we did. I asked that she please be careful about running off into things before consulting me because I had been trying to tell her I had a plan.

Daisy frowned. "Oh, I see. I'm sorry, Red. That was my bad. Team Rocket just get me worked up, I didn't mean to ignore you. It won't happen again." I smiled and gave her a thumbs-up, and then we turned and hurried out of the cave and into the sunlight.