Pokémon: The Strongest Trainer (Ash SI)

"Is this Mt. Moon?" Ash asked as he and Brock made their way along a winding mountain path. They were heading toward Cerulean City, and this route was the only shortcut.

"Yeah," Brock nodded. "Legend has it that a meteorite once crashed here, and the people nearby eventually discovered it was actually a Moon Stone. That's how Mt. Moon got its name."

Brock, who was quite knowledgeable about the region, explained with confidence. Given his dream of becoming the world's top Pokémon Breeder, it was no surprise that he was so familiar with Pokémon habitats and history.

Suddenly, a cry for help echoed from nearby.

Without hesitation, Ash and Brock rushed toward the sound—and quickly spotted a young man being swarmed by a group of Zubat. He looked a few years older than them, clearly in his twenties, and much taller.

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Ash shouted without thinking. He didn't have time to assess the situation—the man needed help!

"Pika~CHU!" Pikachu's cheeks sparked, and a bolt of yellow lightning arced through the air, scattering the Zubat instantly. Pikachu had held back just enough power to avoid hurting them too badly.

"Hey! Are you okay?" Ash and Brock ran over as the last of the Zubat fled into the sky.

"Thanks! You saved me," the man said, brushing himself off. "My name is Rick. I'm a researcher from the Pewter City Museum."

"I'm Ash."

"Brock."

Ash glanced around. "Why were those Zubat attacking you? Wild Pokémon usually don't go after people unless they're defending territory or provoked. And Zubat aren't exactly known for being aggressive."

"It's a bit of a long story, but follow me—you'll understand when you see it," Rick said. He led them toward a cave entrance nearby. Inside, artificial lights illuminated a wide tunnel that stretched deep into the mountain.

"What is this place?" Ash asked, puzzled by the lighting. It wasn't unusual to see caves, but lights like these weren't natural. And considering Zubat typically prefer dark environments, it was obvious this place had been disturbed.

"This used to be a natural habitat for Zubat and a few other cave Pokémon," Rick explained. "But recently, a group of outsiders began mining here. The lights they installed disoriented the Zubat and disrupted their ecosystem—that's why they attacked me."

Zubat are nocturnal Pokémon. Bright lights during the day can confuse and agitate them. Ash had learned that Zubat shared a lot in common with real-world bats in terms of behavior and habits.

"In this world, most meat is synthetically grown from microorganisms—beef, pork, you name it. It tastes great and is eco-friendly," Ash mused aloud. "Technically, Pokémon meat can be eaten too, but with synthetic options available, no one really does that anymore. In ancient times, though, Pokémon did prey on each other in the wild…"

Brock spoke up. "But why would those people mine here in the first place? There aren't supposed to be any valuable minerals around Mt. Moon."

"They're after the Moon Stones," Rick explained. "Ever since that meteorite hit, Moon Stones have been found in abundance here. Collectors and researchers from all over the world are drawn here. Some believe they have effects on Pokémon that go beyond evolution."

"I see," Brock nodded. "Moon Stones are really rare in other regions."

Rick agreed. "They're similar to Evolution Stones. For instance, a Nidorina can evolve into a Nidoqueen using a Moon Stone. Same for Nidorino into Nidoking. These Pokémon can evolve naturally over time, but the Moon Stone accelerates the process and channels more of their potential power into their evolved forms."

Hearing that, Ash nodded in recognition. He'd read about this in his studies and was beginning to understand why Moon Stones had become such hot commodities.

"Pipipi~!" Suddenly, a Clefairy dashed past them, holding a small glowing stone. Its soft pink figure was adorable as it scampered by.

"That's a Clefairy!" Brock said excitedly.

Clefairy were Fairy-type Pokémon known for their peaceful and gentle nature. Though they were native to Mt. Moon, sightings had become increasingly rare. According to Ash, they were now considered an endangered species.

Ding~!

Name: Clefairy

Level: Advanced Intermediate

Ability: Friend Guard

Type: Fairy

Potential: 100% (22% Developed)

"Its strength isn't bad," Ash muttered as he looked over the data, frowning slightly. "But Clefairy really isn't suited for battle. It doesn't have many usable moves, and its timid personality just doesn't match a competitive environment."

Just then, a voice echoed from a tunnel further ahead.

"Aha! I found it!"

Ash and the others turned toward the sound and quickly followed it. When they reached the source, they were stunned—because the speaker wasn't a person. It was a Meowth.

And not just any Meowth—it was standing upright, speaking fluent human language, and cornering the same Clefairy they had just seen dash past earlier.

"A talking Meowth?!" Ash blinked in disbelief. Images surged in his mind—hazy memories from dreams or another life. Though much of his past felt like a blur, the sight of this talking Meowth triggered something familiar deep inside him.

"It's Team Rocket..." Ash murmured, narrowing his eyes as the realization clicked into place.

The Meowth in front of him was unmistakably the same one from that troublesome trio. Though Ash couldn't recall every detail, he instinctively remembered that voice, that attitude, and that face.

Despite being able to speak human language—an incredible feat—this Meowth's strength was... lacking. Just barely at the early stages of advanced level.

Meowth was a unique Pokémon, and its ability to talk was undoubtedly rare and impressive. If Ash wanted to, he could use Cell Activation to help it grow stronger—but it would take a lot of time and effort, something he didn't have to spare right now.

After all, a talking Meowth was already shocking enough. Power didn't always matter.

...

TN:

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