Moon Stone and Evolution

Prepare for trouble and make it quick, for we're Team Rocket, and we don't stick! We aim to infect the world with devastation and blight all peoples in every nation. Denouncing the goodness of truth and love, we extend our wrath to the stars above. Cassidy and Butch, circling Earth all day and night, demand you surrender now, or you'll surely lose the fight, with Botch declaring, "That's right!"

Ash straightened his body in the net, looking at the two people standing in front of him. "Damn, who are these guys? I thought they were James and Jessie."

Ash began to examine them. Cassidy had golden hair in pigtails, a standard oval face, porcelain skin, and cherry-red lips. Most importantly, Cassidy was wearing a Team Rocket short-sleeved shirt that hugged her proud breasts. 'Not bad, at least a B cup,' Ash thought to himself. As for Butch, he looked too disgusting to bother with.

"Haha, Dr. Steel, long time no see. Sorry, but this path is off-limits," Cassidy said with a smile after seeing the people in the net.

"Damn you, Team Rocket! Let me go, you bastards! You're interfering with my research," Steel shouted angrily.

"Haha, don't worry, Dr. Steel. Someone else will continue your research," a voice came from behind Cassidy and Butch.

Cassidy and Butch respectfully stepped aside, bowing as someone walked out from behind them.

"It's you, Leaf," Steel exclaimed in surprise, and Liora also looked shocked.

"Haha, old friend, it's been a few years. You still remember me? I'm truly honored," the man called Leaf said with a smile.

"So you've joined the evil Team Rocket, Leaf. I'm so disappointed in you," Steel said angrily.

"Haha, old friend, you're still so stubborn. It's a different era now. There's no such thing as good or evil. I'll tell you, old friend, now strength is justice, and weakness is evil. Haha, all that talk about justice prevailing is just bullshit," Leaf laughed loudly.

"You've fallen, Leaf," Liora sighed, looking at Leaf.

"Hmph, Liora, don't talk to me like that. I'm starting an experiment now. This might be the last time we see each other, friends. Cassidy, Butch, see them off," Leaf said, waving his hand and walking deeper into the Moon Stone cave.

"Yes, boss," Cassidy and Butch replied respectfully.

"Hmph, don't blame us. It's the boss's orders," Cassidy said coldly, taking out a Poké Ball.

"Go, Drowzee. Go, Raticate," Cassidy and Butch threw out their Pokémon.

"Damn," Steel gritted his teeth, looking at Cassidy and Butch.

"Go, Pokémon, kill them," Cassidy sneered.

Seeing the approaching Pokémon, Liora grabbed Steel's arm in fear. Since their Pokémon were also caught in the net, Clefairy and Jigglypuff were unable to move, leaving Steel and Liora defenseless.

"You're dreaming," Ash said coldly. He had already taken out a Poké Ball while Steel and Leaf were talking.

"Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip," Ash called out, releasing Bulbasaur.

Bulbasaur used Vine Whip, lashing out at Raticate and Drowzee.

"Raticate, use Quick Attack. Drowzee, use Teleport," Cassidy commanded.

The two Pokémon followed orders. Raticate used Quick Attack to dodge Bulbasaur's Vine Whip and rushed toward Bulbasaur, while Drowzee used Teleport to appear behind Bulbasaur.

"Hmph, Bulbasaur, use Stun Spore," Ash ordered.

"Seed, seed" Bulbasaur crouched down, and a yellow powder sprayed from its back, hitting Raticate and Drowzee before they could react.

"Damn," Cassidy muttered, annoyed.

"Drowzee, use Psychic," Cassidy called out.

"Is there a chance?" Ash raised an eyebrow. "Leech Seed."

Drowzee was paralyzed, and Bulbasaur used Leech Seed, draining Drowzee's energy.

"Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip on Raticate," Ash commanded.

"Seed, seed" Bulbasaur lashed out with Vine Whip, hitting Raticate and sending it flying.

"Bulbasaur, use Razor Leaf to cut the rope," Ash said, seeing that Raticate and Drowzee were unable to fight back.

"Seed" Two razor-sharp leaves shot out from Bulbasaur's back, cutting the rope.

"Now, let's have some more fun," Ash stood up, rubbing his sore wrists, and looked coldly at Cassidy and Butch.

"Um..." Cassidy and Butch took a step back.

"Don't want to play anymore?" Ash smirked.

"You... you remember this," Cassidy and Butch glared at Ash, recalling their Pokémon and running away.

"Damn," Ash muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Let's go inside and take a look," he said to Steel and Liora.

"Okay," Steel nodded.

Ash led Steel and his wife into the Moon Stone cave. Inside, they saw Leaf scanning a large Moon Stone with a computer.

"What a huge Moon Stone!" Liora exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh? You're still alive," Leaf turned around and saw Steel, Liora, and Ash behind him.

"You'll outlive me," Ash said, looking at Leaf with a cold smile. Ash couldn't understand how Leaf, who looked like he was in his 80s, could be friends with Steel and Liora, who were in their 30s. It was a strange friendship.

"Damn, Cassidy and Butch are useless," Leaf grumbled, squeezing the scanner tightly.

"Stop this, Leaf," Liora said.

"Shut up, you have no right to interfere," Leaf shouted.

"Since those two idiots can't kill you, I'll do it myself," Leaf sneered.

"Go, Rhydon," Leaf threw out his Pokémon.

"Hmph, you'll have to get through me first, old man," Ash shouted.

"Go, Bulbasaur," Ash called out.

"Rhydon, use Horn Drill," Leaf commanded.

"Bulbasaur, use Sleep Powder," Ash said calmly.

Rhydon's heavy body charged toward Bulbasaur. Just as it was about to reach Bulbasaur, a blue smoke enveloped Rhydon, making its eyelids heavy. Rhydon collapsed to the ground, asleep, just a meter away from Bulbasaur.

"Easy," Ash chuckled.

"Damn, it's not that simple," Leaf growled, rushing to Rhydon. He took out a syringe filled with purple liquid and injected it into Rhydon.

"Roar!!" Rhydon roared, standing up. Its body glowed white, and it began to evolve.

"Roar!!" Rhydon evolved into Rhyperior.

"Leaf, you!!!" Steel shouted, seeing the clearly enraged Rhyperior.

"Haha, Steel, surprised? Your old idea, realized perfectly. You know, to complete this experiment, I sacrificed so many precious test subjects. But it was all worth it because I finally completed the experiment," Leaf laughed maniacally.

"You... you're insane, Leaf," Steel shouted, realizing the countless Pokémon Leaf must have sacrificed for his experiment.

"Say what you want, but now I've done what you couldn't. I'm better than you, Steel. Haha," Leaf laughed.

"Talking too much?" Ash interrupted Leaf's laughter.

"Humph, you can talk now, but wait until I turn you into mincemeat, then see if you can still stay calm, haha," Leaf laughed.

"That's what I want to see," Ash said coldly. He hated people who didn't value life.

"Good, go, Rhyperior, crush him," Leaf commanded.

"Bulbasaur, dodge and use Leech Seed," Ash commanded.

Rhyperior charged toward Bulbasaur, trying to stomp on it, but Bulbasaur was quick, dodging Rhyperior's foot and using Leech Seed, which spread over Rhyperior's body.

"Damn, Rhyperior, break free," Leaf shouted.

"Don't give it a chance, use Sleep Powder," Ash ordered.

Rhyperior struggled to break free, but Bulbasaur's Sleep Powder took effect, making Rhyperior's eyelids heavy. Rhyperior swung its fist at Bulbasaur, hitting it and sending it flying onto the large Moon Stone.

"Bulbasaur!!" Ash felt a pang of pain.

"Haha, Rhyperior, kill Bulbasaur," Leaf laughed.

"Roar!!" Rhyperior rushed toward Bulbasaur.

"Run, Bulbasaur," Ash shouted, no longer able to stay calm.

"Seed" Bulbasaur struggled to stand, but Rhyperior was already upon it, ready to deliver a Mega Punch.

"Bulbasaur!!" Ash shouted.

"Seed" Bulbasaur closed its eyes.

Just as Rhyperior's fist was about to land, Bulbasaur glowed with a white light.

"Is this...?" Ash was surprised, but then he realized what the white light meant...

"Ivysaur" Bulbasaur called out as it evolved.

"Ivysaur, use Razor Leaf," Ash commanded.

"Ivysaur" Ivysaur's back released several razor-sharp leaves, cutting Rhyperior.

"Roar!!" Rhyperior was knocked back.

"Solar Beam," Ash shouted.

"Ivysaur, Ivysaur" Ivysaur began to gather sunlight. With the Moon Stone's blue light, Ivysaur quickly collected enough energy and shot a blue Solar Beam at Rhyperior.

"Roar!!" Rhyperior lost the ability to fight...

"Damn... you'll pay for this," Leaf growled, seeing Rhyperior defeated, and began to retreat.

Ash wanted to pursue, but Liora grabbed him, shaking his head. Ash knew when to give up.

"Wow, such a huge Moon Stone," Steel said, walking up to the Moon Stone and touching it.

"Indeed, it's impressive," Ash agreed.

Liora released Clefairy, and Steel released Jigglypuff. Feeling the Moon Stone's light, Clefairy and Jigglypuff began to glow.

Clefairy evolved into Clefable, and Jigglypuff evolved into Wigglytuff.

"Indeed, they evolved," Steel exclaimed.

"Mm," Liora nodded.

Steel took out a device and began scanning, while Ash and Liora chatted nearby.

They talked about everything under the sun, and Ash learned something shocking: Liora was Mirror's mother, and Steel was Mirror's father. The world is small, Ash thought. He also learned that Mirror liked Meowth. Ash wondered if he should catch a Meowth and give it to Mirror.

After an hour, Steel put away his device and walked over to Ash and Liora. "All done, we have enough data. Let's go," he said.

"Okay," Ash and Liora replied.

"I'll take you to Cerulean City," Steel said to Ash.

"Thanks," Ash said.

"Haha, don't mention it. If it weren't for you, my wife and I would be dead here. We should be thanking you," Steel laughed.

"Hmm," Ash scratched his head.

"Let's go," Steel said, leading the way out.