William Walker stood at the heart of the cavern, his breath slow but steady. His jacket was torn at the sleeve, and his gloves were darkened from grit and smoke. Beside him, his team gathered one by one, each bearing signs of effort but not defeat.
Shocker the Electabuzz crouched low, fists still sparking faintly with residual voltage, his chest heaving. Even though electric moves were useless against the Rock- and Ground-types that had swarmed them earlier, he had fought with pure muscle and grit with every strike, every block charged with fighting instinct rather than power.
"Electa…" he grunted, flexing his bruised arm with a faint, satisfied grin.
Ralts hovered just behind William, its psychic aura flickering weakly but intact. Despite her small size, she had acted as the team's eyes during the chaos, warning them of ambushes and projecting barriers whenever sharp stones flew from the shadows.
Eevee trotted forward, fur scorched in patches but tail wagging, eyes bright with pride. The little fox had darted through falling rubble and confusion, striking from unexpected angles with a blur of agility and courage.
Then there was Jaw, William's Sharpedo who's floating in a pool of subterranean water, body still steaming from the earlier skirmish. Deep claw marks lined his dorsal fin, but his golden eyes gleamed fiercely in the dim light. The ocean predator out of water but still dominating even in the ground area.
"Not bad," William murmured, scanning his team. "You all held together."
Shocker smirked, pounding his chest with a heavy thud.
"Electa-buzz!"
Ralts nodded silently, and Eevee chirped in reply. Sharpedo's snout broke the surface with a splash, sending ripples that danced across the cavern walls.
The quiet that followed was strange and peaceful but heavy.
Because something was watching them.
William turned his head slightly. His senses, sharpened from days of travel and training, caught movement from deeper in the cave.
Dozens of small, glowing figures emerged from behind the rocks.
The captured Clefairy and its kin.
They stepped out cautiously, their round eyes reflecting the torchlight. Their pink fur shimmered faintly under the moonlight filtering through the hole in the cave ceiling. A natural skylight that revealed a view of the night sky above.
They had been rescued by Ralts who opened the cage. And now, they were watching.
But they weren't the only ones.
From the far side of the chamber, the ground trembled with slow, deliberate footsteps that shook loose bits of gravel from the ceiling. A massive silhouette loomed from the darkness. William didn't reach for his Poké Balls. He already knew who it was.
Nidoqueen. And with her came her kin. Several Nidorina and Nidorino, along with smaller ones peeking out from the tunnels. They gathered near the Clefairy group, standing as silent witnesses.
The ruler of this section of Mt. Moon, Nidoking is sitting down and taking a break from the battle.
William met Nidoking's eyes.
For a long moment, neither moved.
He was huge which is towering over him, muscles like carved stone, eyes glowing with intelligence and pride. The same queen who had nearly crushed him and his Pokémon hours ago when they first entered the lower chambers, defending her nest from intruders.
But now, his posture wasn't hostile.
He nodded once, a slow, regal gesture of acknowledgment.
William exhaled quietly, lowering his stance. "You've got my respect too," he said softly. "You really fought well. You protect this mountain."
Nidoking grunted in reply with a low rumble that echoed through the cave. Then he turned his gaze toward Sharpedo, who floated still, jaw tensed.
Sharpedo let out a restrained growl but lowered his fins.
Nidoqueen seemed satisfied and stepped back, letting her kin relax.
Ralts, sensing the tension ease, floated forward and released a soft psychic pulse that shimmered through the cavern. It was calm, almost melodic. A wordless gesture of peace. The smaller Nidoran blinked curiously and inched closer, sniffing her hand.
William watched in silence as the Pokémon of Mt. Moon, who moments ago had been fighting for territory are now stood together.
Then something stirred among the Clefairy.
A smaller one with its fur paler, stepped out from the group. The very same Clefairy William had saved earlier, when the collapsing tunnel nearly crushed it beneath falling rocks.
It looked up at him now, clutching something in its tiny hands.
A faint, glowing blue stone.
William's eyes widened slightly. He recognized it immediately.
A Moon Stone.
The little Clefairy approached, trembling but determined. The other Clefairy parted to let it pass. It stopped just a few feet from William and looked up with wide, grateful eyes.
"Clef… clefairy," it murmured, extending its hands.
The light from the stone shimmered like liquid moonlight, reflecting in William's eyes.
He didn't move right away. He just looked at the small creature and looks at its expression, at the faint scars on its wings, at the weight of what it was offering. He crouched slowly and extended his hand.
"…You're giving this to me?"
Clefairy nodded.
The moment he touched the stone, a pulse of cool light rippled across the cavern.
The Clefairy sang a soft, lilting tone that echoed up toward the ceiling, harmonizing with the moonlight above. The others joined in, forming a gentle chorus that resonated through the stones and the still water.
For a moment, it was as if the whole mountain was breathing with them.
Eevee's ears perked up, eyes shining in awe.
Ralts clutched William's sleeve, overwhelmed by the serene energy.
Shocker stood still for once, his fists unclenched, head bowed in quiet respect.
Even Jaw watched silently, his fierce golden eyes reflecting the light like twin moons.
William looked down at the Moon Stone in his hand.
Its glow pulsed faintly, steady and alive. A gift born from gratitude, trust, and the unspoken bond between Pokémon and Trainer.
He closed his hand around it and smiled.
"…Thank you."
The Clefairy beamed and twirled back toward its group. They lifted their arms together, releasing a final, echoing "Clef-faaiiry~!" that rippled through the cavern like a lullaby.
The light faded, leaving only the soft reflection of the moon above and the sound of quiet breathing.
William stood, pocketing the stone gently.
Ralts tugged his coat, her voice small. "Ralts… ralts?"
He smiled faintly, ruffling her head. "Yeah. I think we just witnessed something special."
Behind him, Nidoking gave a low rumble something like a farewell.
When William turned, the king and his kin were already retreating into the tunnels, the faint glow of their eyes fading into the dark.
The cave grew quiet once more. William exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, everyone… time to rest."
They didn't need to be told twice.
Eevee curled up near his coat. Ralts leaned against his shoulder. Shocker rested his head against a rock, arms still crossed but eyes closing. Jaw lowered himself into the pool, letting the cool water soothe his wounds.
William leaned back against the cavern wall, gazing up at where the moonlight had been.
For the first time in a long while, the silence didn't feel heavy. It felt right.
The next morning, light spilled into Mt. Moon like liquid gold.
The faint warmth of dawn touched the cave mouth, painting the stone with streaks of amber.
William stirred from sleep as Eevee yawned on his chest, paws stretching. Ralts was still asleep beside him, tiny breaths steady and calm. Shocker was already awake, stretching his shoulders with low grunts, and Jaw had surfaced quietly, eyes half open.
The mountain was peaceful.
William rose, brushing the dust from his coat. The faint gleam of the Moon Stone caught his eye again. He turned it in his hand, feeling its cool surface reflect the early light. He also got the ember fossil and other valuable stones from the team Rocket members.
He turned toward his team. "Let's move. Cerulean City's next. We've got a long way ahead."
Eevee barked happily, tail wagging. Ralts floated into the air, psychic field flickering with a soft morning glow. Shocker rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles, energy buzzing through him again.
Jaw gave a low, rumbling growl of approval, teeth flashing in a grin.
William stepped toward the exit of the cave, the path illuminated by soft daylight.
When they emerged, the view took his breath away with rolling hills, winding rivers, and the faint outline of Cerulean in the distance.
He paused, letting the wind brush past his hair, the smell of the outside world filling his lungs.
Behind him, Mt. Moon stood silent and proud.
William smiled, eyes closing for a moment. Then he turned back to the road.
"Let's go, team," he said quietly. "Next stop. Cerulean."