The group walked through the forest towards Mt Moon talking about their plans in Cerulean city. Misty and Jessilina would challenge the gym on two separate days on the week they reached the city. Ash on the other hand would participate in the contest first before going to challenge the gym. Brock was planning on meeting up with a few breeder friends at Cerulean city as well, it had been a while since he saw them. They walked towards the tall Mt Moon that stood in the horizon till evening set in and they settled down for camp.
Jameson, "I never thought I would follow a Pokemon's lead in travelling before."
Misty snickered, "It's something else, isn't it?"
Jessilina, "Well as long as we are not unnecessarily lost, I'm not complaining. Plus, it usually takes two weeks to get to Cerulean, one week from Pewter to Mt Moon and another from Mt Moon to Cerulean. If we can get to the city in a lesser amount of time, I'm game."
Ash nodded, "Yeah, as much as I enjoy the outdoors, it's not the same as sleeping on a bed or a hot bath."
Brock smiled at Ash, "Don't worry Ash, your Fearrow looks familiar with the path, I'm sure we'll be there in no time."
Brock couldn't help but notice how different Ash was compared to other trainers, Misty seemed to follow his lead and strangely enough the two adults as well. He wondered if Ash was a natural leader but never noticed it and even when he scolded, he noticed it felt like he was being scolded by someone older for some reason. He kept the observations to himself of course even the one where he thought Ash acted like a grown woman and would look like one if he kept his shoulder length hair open instead of a pony tail. He wouldn't have noticed it, if Cindy had not mentioned it the night before he left.
Ash, "Lucario says we can camp here for the night."
James, "It's a good place and I think I hear a stream nearby."
Misty, "He always finds the best place to camp out."
Jessilina, "I think I'll consider keeping my Pokemon out more often, not only do they get to exercise, it's much more fun with them around."
Meowth yawned, 'He's different alright, and gives really good scratches too.'
They had been travelling for four days now and had come up with a routine or rather Brock concluded started following Ash's routine. They would wake up to Ash and his Pokemon training side by side, Misty would start her own training after waking up from snuggling with her Pokemon. A habit she admitted she picked up from Ash, Jessilina and Jameson were not surprised as they slept hugging their own Pokemon as a source of comfort. He wondered what the two might have gone through to have a haunted lonely look on their faces but did not ask.
What really surprised him was when Ash would learn hand to hand combat from Lucario, when he asked Ash simply said, it makes it easier to learn how much strength and affort is actually needed by Pokemon to learn and master moves. Brock concluded it made sense in many ways, plus learning how to defend themselves was a bonus. They had planned on visiting Mt Moon from the start to get their hands on some evolution stones, especially the moon stone. Misty was hoping to get a water stone for one of her Poliwags while Ash wanted a moon stone, he was hoping to catch a Skitty one day or either a Jigglypuff or Clefairy for the contest.
Ash, "Alright according to Fearrow we'll be at the mountain in by tomorrow evening."
Jameson, "Are you saying we'll be there in five days instead of the usual seven?"
Ash nodded, "Yes, yes we will!"
Jessilina, "That's amazing."
Misty grinned, "That's what I said before."
Brock smiled at their cheery atmosphere, "You truly are different from the other trainers, Ash. Most trainers prefer following the map instead."
Ash shrugged, "Meh, that's just boring, besides why would I need a map when my Pokemon know shorter and safer routes? Well a bit safer than other routes at least, if not hundred percent safe."
Jameson, "Hear! Hear!"
Meowth groomed himself as they set up camp, 'No wonder ta boss wants us to wtch o'er him. He's spcial.'
Jessie whispered to James, "Hey James I feel like I'm forgetting something."
James raised his eyebrows, "Like what? We got our gear, food and clothes right here."
Jessie, "Hmmmm..... Yeah, it's probably nothing important."
The group sat together and had dinner, with Brock trying out some of the food the others made and the group trying out Brock's camp food. Ash had to say this, the anime did not specify how good Brock was in cooking both at home and outside. Ash comments, of Brock wants a girl he should woo them with his cooking rather than weird flirting. Brock blushed a bit at that, when Jessilina commented she loves a man who could cook making Misty snicker.
Ash, "Well, we are getting some shut eye."
Pikachu climbed his shoulder, "Pika pi pika pikachu!"
Ash, "Ah, are you asking if I'll make you evolve then no. I told you before didn't I? If you don't want to evolve it's fine. We will make you the strongest Pikachu in the world. Besides you want to defeat big brother's Pikachu as a Pikachu right?"
Pikachu was pleased and rubbed their cheeks in relief together, "Chaaaaaaaa! Pi pika pikachu pikapi."
Ash giggled, "Love you too buddy! Let's get some shut eye, tomorrow we are training your iron tail. You got the move down, now you just need to master it. Good night everyone!"
Brock, "Well now that's surprising."
Misty, "What is?"
Brock, "I kinda expected Ash to want to evolve all his Pokemon considering well."
Misty, "His other Pokemon evolved?"
Jameson, "Oh come on now! Do people always forget that the Champion of Kanto has a Pikachu that took down Team Rocket like a boss?"
Brock shudders remembering what happened a few years back at the museum, "I have not forgotten, but most trainers want a Shiny Charmander so they can have a Shiny Charizard. Not a Pikachu!"
Jessilina, "That may be so but the appeal is still strong. Well I'm done and getting some shut eye."
Misty, "Me too! I have more training planned for tomorrow morning before breakfast."
The two girls entered their tents with their Pokemon just like Ash did leaving the older guys together. James and Brock talked about their interest and Brock learned Jameson was taking a break from work and was traveling with Jessilina to support her travels. James gave him an understanding look when Brock told him about his problem parents, Brock was grateful for the understanding look instead of the pity he usually received before both of them turned in for the night as well.
Meowth woke up in the middle of the night, "Oh no! I c'mpletely f'rget Team Rocket's still activ 'round this area! I better be c'reful tomorrow."
James woke up, "What's wrong Meowth?"
Meowth, "James we hav a problem! Mt Moon still has activ Rocket members in ta deeper mines were ta evolution stones ar available."
James was startled, "What do we do? We are going there tomorrow?"
Meowth, "I'll be in ma ball. You two better be in yo'r disguises. I fear we may hav ta battle."
James sighed, "Good thing we are in disguise."
The next day Ash woke up and worked with Pikachu on mastering his iron tail before working with Lucario on his power up punch and shadow ball. Fearrow was training with Primeape while Kakuna and Metapod were practicing their agility and string shot while increasing their harden ability. Misty was down by the stream training with her Pokemon, by the time they reached Cerulean she hoped she would have both Poliwrath and Poliwhirl. Her Caterpie had in the meantime evolved into a Metapod and was practicing agility and hardening by tackling the rocks.
Jessie joined James in their own training, "What's wrong? You seem distracted."
James, "Oh, it's just what Meowth said last night."
Jessie frowned, "Do we have new orders?"
Meowth shook his head, "Worse, Jess, we ar going to ta mine part of ta mountain. Guess who's dere?"
Jessie looked at Meowth confused before she paled, "Oh no! What are we going to do?"
James, "Disguises! Our job is to protect and keep an eye on the kid, nothing else."
Jessie breath in and out, "Okay! Okay! I'll think up of something disguises for everyone. I won't risk this mission falling apart, I have become too fond of them."
Meowth, "Misty's ta frst d'cent h'man female friend you had fr a wile. Same for James here wit Brock and Ash. Of course you would get attached."
James, "Alright we have a plan then, problem is how to get them to agree to wearing the disguises."
Jessie, "I'm sure we'll think of something. Anyway time for breakfast, let's go. I rather not have Ash go Mama Ursaring on us a second time."
Meowth looked at them dubiously, "Wat da ya mean?"
Jessie, "Nothing nothing!"
Meowth looked at them with squinty eyes but did not push the topic and joined the others at the camp for breakfast. They moved towards the mountain after cleaning up only to be shocked by screaming. They looked at where it was coming from and saw a man being Atta by a bunch of Zubat. Fearrow came down and screeched to get their attention, Lucario approached them and asked them what was wrong and why they were attacking the weird human.
Ash, "Are you okay?"
The man got up, "I'm great, thank you for saving me!"
Ash deadpanned, "I was not asking you!"
Misty snorted when the man facefaulted, "Pffffffffffft."
He got up again, "Ah! Such care of Pokemon moves me. Anyway I'm Seymour and I'm a researcher. I'm here to study the legend of the moonstone."
Brock, "The legendary one?"
Seymour, "Yes!"
Ash turned to Lucario while the others talked to Seymour, he was not a bad guy just too enthusiastic, "Well?"
Lucario nodded before taking Ash aside to speak, -Someone has put up lights inside the cave making life difficult for the wild Pokemon who live here. Also some of the Pokemon are missing in packs.-
Ash frowned and looked at his group, 'Either it's the Team Rocket or poachers.'
Ash, "I think we have a poaching problem."
Misty, "Are you sure?"
Ash nodded, "Lucario says the Pokemon goes missing not like they got caught by trainer missing but groups at the same time."
James frowned, "That doesn't sound good."
Jessie, "Not at all."
Seymour, "It's true though, here come I'll show you, what they have done!"
Seymour led them inside the cave and showed them how the cave was lit artificially by hot lights making the Pokemon dehydrate faster than normal. Ash took out Milotic and asked her to fill some bowls with water, Misty did the same with her water Pokemon getting a thankful look from Seymour. The Zubats, Sandshrew, Paras and a few Jigglypuff who lived there drank the water before thanking them and leaving.
Ash, "Let's split up, Brock, Misty, go with Seymour and help as much Pokemon as you can. Jessilina, Jameson and I will try to find the generator that's powering these lights and shut it down. If you run into poachers do not fight with them, follow them quitely, it'll hopefully lead you to the base or turn back if there are too many of them. We will do the same as well."
Brock nodded, "Alright be careful."
Seymour, "Wait a sec! Take my Magnemite with you, he can make it look like the generator short circuited."
Ash looked at Seymour giving a grin, "You did this before, didn't you?"
Seymour looked away blushing, "It was for the Pokemon and their generator is on the lower level of the mountain, the second level."
Jessilina spoke up, "Hold on! If we are doing this we'll be doing it in disguise. I don't know about you but I rather not be tagged by those hooligans."
Jameson nodded, "She's right you know. Let's get to work."
Misty, "Welllllllllll, they have a point."
After a while they stood in their new disguises.
Ash, "I understand why we may need to hide ourselves but why do I have to dress like a blonde girl?"
Misty chuckled, "You look great as a girl, and Lucario looks great dressed up like a man."
Lucario nodded in thanks, while Brock was adjusting his dress and Seymour actually looked like a normal geek guy. They split up into two groups and wished each other best of luck in their mission. Ash hoped it was only poachers they had to deal with, not Team Rocket like in the anime. At least Jessie and James are not part of the group although by looking at their tense haunted look he could somehow tell they ran into something they shouldn't have.