Chapter - 29 Mt. Moon Part - 1

When Brock was saying some things, Ash suddenly interrupted with a smirk.

"Hey, stone uncle! Don't you have anything to say?"

Brock blinked. "Huh?"

Behind the spectator stand, a certain bearded man froze like a stantler caught in headlights. Misty and Yellow turned around, startled to see an old man standing awkwardly behind them.

"Wha—who's that?" Misty asked, raising an eyebrow.

Ash pointed casually. "Come on out already. Drop the disguise, Uncle."

The man sighed deeply, reached up, and removed his scruffy fake beard and floppy hat, revealing an older, grizzled version of Brock — same eyes, same hair, just with guilty expression.

Brock's eyes widened in disbelief. "D-Dad?! What are you doing here?!"

Flint chuckled weakly, scratching the back of his head. "You always were sharp, Ash…"

Ash shrugged, looking smug. "What can I say? I'm just special."

Brock narrowed his eyes. "Why now? After all this time?"

Flint sighed again. "I… I always dreamed of becoming the ultimate Pokémon trainer. But I failed. I couldn't make it happen… and I was too ashamed to come back home after abandoning all of you."

Ash folded his arms. "That's not a good excuse for leaving your family to struggle. Brock had to grow up way too fast."

"Yeah, I know," Flint said quietly, looking away. "I'm not proud of it. I'm a scoundrel, no doubt. But I came to watch the match today and… I realized. It's time I stop running."

Brock took a deep breath and stepped forward. "So now what?"

"I'll take care of the family," Flint said firmly. "You've done more than enough. It's your turn to live your life."

There was a pause. Brock looked down… then reached into his vest, pulling out a needle and thread.

Flint blinked. "What's that for?"

Brock's voice was calm, but intense. "I'm going to tell you everything. You need to know what the kids like, what allergies they have, their favorite foods, clothes, pajamas, bedtime routines—"

"Wait, wait, let me get a notebook!" Flint panicked, fumbling in his coat.

Misty snorted. Yellow giggled behind her hand.

Brock listed things off like a machine. "Suzy hates mushrooms, Tommy won't sleep without his Snorlax plushie, Lala needs her hair braided every morning—"

"Please slow down!" Flint begged, scribbling frantically.

After several minutes of parental crash course and emotional damage reparations later…

Brock turned to Ash. "Looks like it's finally time for me to start my own journey."

Ash held out a hand, grinning wide. "Then we'll both chase our dreams."

Their hands clasped in a firm shake.

"Let's meet again, Brock. As fellow trainers… and friends."

Brock nodded, the fire of adventure back in his eyes. "You bet."

With goodbyes exchanged and a heartfelt moment behind them, Ash, Misty, and Yellow made their way back to the Pokémon Center.

Nurse Joy greeted them warmly. "Welcome back! How did your Gym battle go, Ash?"

Ash placed two Poké Balls on the counter. "Yeah, won it."

"Pika!" Pikachu chirped proudly, chest puffed out.

Nurse Joy smiled brightly. "Congratulations! That's wonderful to hear. I'll take care of your Pokémon right away."

As the team waited, they each settled into chairs, The adrenaline of the battle began to wear off, replaced by the comforting quiet of the Pokémon Center.

Ash leaned back with a satisfied grin. "One badge down..."

Misty smirked. "Only seven more to go."

Yellow tucked her hat gently. " Where are we going next ?"

Ash smiled up at the ceiling, hand resting on the badge case in his pocket. The Boulder Badge gleamed faintly in his mind's eye — a small, shining piece of proof that he won.

"We will continue our journey tomorrow towards Mt. Moon."

Tomorrow… Mt. Moon awaited.

---

The next morning, the group set off toward Cerulean City, taking the shortest route—right through Mt. Moon.

As they walked along the rocky path, Yellow looked up at the looming mountain. "Mt. Moon has such an elegant name, don't you think?"

"Elegance is elegance," Misty said, "but do you know about the meteorite that fell here?"

Yellow blinked. "A meteorite?"

"They call it the Moon Stone," Ash added. "It's used for evolution—like the Water, Fire, or Thunder Stones. I have a few, actually."

Misty looked surprised. "Really? That's pretty rare. You sure?"

Ash smirked. "I'm pretty rich, you know?"

"Hmph." Misty rolled her eyes.

They laughed and kept walking—until a loud scream echoed ahead.

"Help! Somebody help!"

They rushed over to find a man on the ground, being swarmed by Zubat.

"That's weird," Misty frowned. "Zubat don't usually attack in daylight."

"Let's help first," Yellow said quickly.

"Pikachu, Thundershock! Not too hard!"

Pikachu nodded and jumped down from his shoulder.

"Pika-chuu!" A soft jolt scattered the Zubat, who screeched and flapped back into the cave quickly.

The man sobbed dramatically. "You saved me!"

He lunged at Ash for a hug.

"Whoa!" Ash dodged, catching him before he faceplanted. "Don't hug me, weirdo."

The man sniffed. " Wow! you have shown me the great bond between human and Pokemons . The way Pikachu is sitting on your shoulder shows your bond.I have to thank you for giving me the chance to witness it bluh bluh bluh ~~"

The guy just continued talking to himself like a weirdo.

"Looks like, this guy has some mental problems."Yellow whispered to Misty who nodded.

Ash just shook his head and asked who he (the weird guy) was.

" By the way why were the zubats attacking you mister?" Yellow also asked.

" Ugh Mister ? I'm Seymour from the

Pewter City Museum Of Science.

Something's wrong in Mt. Moon… the Pokémon are acting strange!"

"Well let's enter the cave first then we will know what is wrong" Ash said then entered the cave followed by Misty, Yellow, Seymour.

-----

Seymour: " Look around the cave there's so many lights . Just like broad daylight right?"

"A strange group did this — Thanks to their efforts the lives of Pokemons here have been disrupted."

"Oh, I see. No wonder the zubats were acting like that it's cause of this " Misty said.

"Yes because of the lights there are so many problems, the parasects are sprinkling around their mushrooms and planting them, the body's of sandshrew, sandslash are harshly drying up. "

"I investigated and want to protect this Mt. From those bad guys."

"But why are they even doing this? Wrecking things up ? " Yellow asked feeling sad for the Pokemons here.

"Well its cause the Mt. Moon is famous for moonstones. It's been said to be here but only fragments have been found . A gift from the universe itself bluh bluh bluh ~~ " He continued saying his theorys dramatically and his fantasy that Pokemons came from space and whatnot. The group became bored cause of his constant talking.

"You think so too, right? " Seymour asked expectantly. With shining eyes.

"Ugh yeah sure if you think so" Ash just said casually. He wasn't even focusing what Seymour was saying he was searching for the clefairys it would be a good gift for his harem members in the future hehe.

Suddenly—" Clefairy" " Clefairy" a Clefairy just jumped infront of them holding a moonstone. Then went away.

"Wow a Clefairy." Seymour said amazed.

"So cute. " Yellow said.

"It's really adorable." Misty also said.

Ash didn't say anything just nodded he won't try to catch them now , the idiot beside him would surely interrupt him.

They heard a scream " cle fairy "

"Hey let's follow it. I think it's in trouble! "Ash said and then followed the path Clefairy went through.

----

After following Clefairy's cries, Ash and the others finally caught up — and saw the small Pokémon cornered against a rocky wall. It was trembling, clutching its moonstone tightly. In front of it stood Meowth, laughing menacingly, claws slightly extended.

"Heheh… found you," Meowth sneered.

Misty blinked in surprise. "Meowth?!"

Meowth turned around, a bit startled, then tried to act casual. "Wha—what are you doing here, nya?"

Ash stepped forward, folding his arms with a smirk. "Well, should I say… I expected you guys to show up?"

Pikachu immediately hopped down and ran over to Clefairy, gently placing a paw on its arm. The little fairy Pokémon looked up at him, sniffling softly, but seemed to relax a little.

"Well, it's our business after all," came Jessie's voice from the shadows.

She stepped out, holding a shovel over one shoulder, with James right behind her, wearing his usual smug grin.

And then, without warning, the three of them struck a pose.

"Prepare for trouble!" Jessie declared.

"And make it double!" James followed.

They launched into their usual motto with full energy and dramatic flair, ending as always with Meowth striking a pose beside them.

Meowth finished, "Meowth, that's right!"

"Did they say team Rocket ?" Seymour asked trembling.

Misty groaned. "Of course it's you guys."

Jessie smirked. "This mountain's full of moonstones. Rare, shiny, valuable… perfect for selling."

James added with a grin, "And the Clefairy seem to know where to find the best ones."

"You're using lights to mess up the whole mountain just for that?" Misty said angrily. "That's low, even for you."

Yellow frowned, gently touching Clefairy's back. "You're hurting the wild Pokémon here. Can't you just stop?"

Team Rocket didn't respond. Instead, Jessie raised her shovel with a glint in her eye.

"Do you think we care ?" she asked. "We just want the moon stones . Hand over the Clefairy… or get blasted?"

Ash stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "We're not letting you take anything."

"Pikachu," he said firmly, "get ready."

"Pika!" Pikachu growled, cheeks already sparking with electricity.

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[A/N :- Here's a new chapter 😁 we crossed 200+ power stones this week too.

How was the chapter?

By the way he is going to capture 2 or 3 Pokemons from here but they won't be for battle just for the sake of it (maybe)doesn't matter.

Thanks for your support 🙏 💕 😆 😉

Bye]