Pokémon Crossing: Fly Me to the Moon

Starry Nights and Early Mornings

Cornimer Park was always peaceful at night, thanks to its unofficial closing after dark. The boys were seated at a park table, sitting down on one end as Tank set up his Rotom Phone for a call. He tapped his hoof against the screen, crossing his arms as he waited for the other party to pick up.

Professor Nook yawned as he scratched at his chin, picking up a green and white mug and sipping from it. Ahhh, warm camomile after a long day hit the spot. "Oh, good evening boys!" He greeted them. "How's Rustboro been treating you, hmm?"

"It's alright," Kidd sighed, carelessly shrugging his shoulders as he placed his chin on his hooves. "Not the worst place I've been to."

"It's been great!" Tank waved to the camera, flashing a cheeky grin with a gleam in his eyes. "We got the best tonkotsu ramen, visited some of the city's districts-"

Benedict whipped out his badge case as he pulled out his Stone Badge. "An' I got my first badge!"

"Wonderful to hear, boys," Tom Nook said as he set down his mug. "Say, Tank, I have a favor to ask of you if it's not too much trouble."

"Sure, what is it?" Tank asked as he slightly adjusted the camera, bouncing one of his legs under the table.

"It's quite simple," Nook explained, talking with his hands as he did so. "A colleague of mine was curious about the Rusturf Tunnel and wanted to compare notes with their studies on Mt. Coronet. Could you go in here and report to me what kind of Pokémon live there? You don't need to catch one, but it would be quite nice, yes yes."

"You can count on me, Professor Nook!" Tank said as he pointed to himself, beaming in pure confidence.

"Isn't it getting late though?" Kidd pointed out, looking up at the vast dark sky with uncertainty.

"Well you don't have to rush yourselves, boys," Tom Nook warmly chuckled. "And I'm sure you won't have any trouble tonight, hmm? Take good care."

Nook hung up, the screen turning black after he did so.

Tank picked up his Rotom Phone and lowered the brightness, immediately feeling determined after the short conversation. "What do you guys say we go to Route 116?" he asked.

Benedict and Kidd frowned at each other. While the idea of running around this late at night sounded fun on paper, there was always a possibility of dangerous wild Pokémon roaming this late.

"I dunno," Benedict shrugged his shoulders. "If we get y'all's research done fast enough, can we find a place to crash?"

Tank snorted in laughter, "Of course we can, dude!"

The boys got up from the table, throwing on their bags before setting out for the evening.

With each step, cedar trees and lush green grass replaced skyscrapers and cobblestone paths. Brief flickers of white stars dotted the vast dark skies, several stars seemingly changing colors yet staying in their spot. An eclipse of wild Dustox fluttered in the air, gathering near a patch of wildflowers and sipping sweet nectar. A plague of Nincada clung to the trees, silent as they slumbered away.

Tank led the way across Route 116, looking ahead in determination. Benedict and Kidd trailed behind him, stepping into a field of thick teal greenery. The only thing anyone could hear was the sound of their own rustling footsteps.

Minutes passed as the group wandered through the grass, the bristling of thick foliage scratching against their clothing with each step. Thick grey clouds drifted away to reveal the comforting golden glow of the moon. Kidd stopped to look up, lulled to peace by its aura. Maybe being in Hoenn wasn't so bad after all! Unfortunately, the clouds drifted yet again, concealing their final glimpse of the moon.

After finally escaping the grass, the boys stepped out into the open, shivering from a strong blast of cool wind. All they could see for miles were countless trees covered in thick green leaves, the faint silhouettes of wild bug Pokémon sleeping between the branches, and a terracotta brown hill in the faint distance.

Tank stopped to whip out his phone, sticking out his tongue as he scrolled through the map. "Rusturf Tunnel should be close, guys!" He turned around and hollered, waving as he still held onto his phone. The jingle of his phone charm rang through the air with each shake.

Kidd frowned as he wiped some dust off his boots. "It better be," he sighed, shaking his head clear before following him down the trail.

Benedict chased after the two of them, occasionally stopping to look to his left. A strange glowing gold light caught his attention, a break from the monotonous darkness. Something inside told him that it was a sign of something good to come, but could also be a sign of more ominous matters. Or maybe it was just a wild Pokémon!

The boys stopped in front of a tunnel, nodding at each other before going inside.

Muggy air clogged the entire cave, followed by the heavy smell of rust and lingering mildew. Towering copper stalactites hung from the ceiling, quiet as individual drops of water fell from the shafts. Broken planks of wood littered the ground, joined by Poké Balls shards and long-dead lanterns with glass bulbs shattered into pieces.

Tank frowned as he looked around the area. All this stuff left behind, and yet no wild Pokémon?! Surely they were asleep right now, but wouldn't there be at least one nocturnal species wandering around?!

A strange sound echoed from the other end of the cave. Was that...shuffling papers? He ran through the cave, the shuffling papers growing louder with each step. A glimpse of purple caught his attention; not just any purple, but a certain shade worn by no other than...

"Oh this is just my luck!" Diana tensed up as she saw the boys step closer, her fur bristling from both anxiety and the temperature. "If you think I'm going to cough up the suitcase to any of you!" She barked out, blocking herself with her left arm before pointing ahead with her right arm. "Oh, you've got another thing coming!"

"Huh? What suitcase?" Tank asked, before looking back down. "Oh! Have you seen any wild Pokémon around here?"

"N-no?!" Diana squinted as she scrambled to hastily hide the suitcase behind a boulder. "You're not here to track me down?!"

"Track you down? For what?!" Tank asked before looking back at her uniform. Oh!

Diana's ears burned red as she shouted, "Don't play dumb with me! You're one of those Hawkwind interns, aren't you! Tell your friends that I'm not giving this back!"

Kidd leaned over and whispered, "Since when did we work for the Hawkwinds?"

"Since apparently now," Benedict snarked back, resisting the urge to burst into laughter.

"I heard that, you two! You wouldn't last twelve hours with Pastel!" Diana yelled at the top of her lungs, unintentionally dropping the suitcase next to her. "You, with the white horns. Let's duel!" She held out her Poké Ball in front of her, placing her other hoof on her hip.

A white light flashed out of the ball, forming into an elegant Goldeen with a pretty billowing tail. She fluttered in her spot, swaying left and right like a windsock during Golden Week.

Benedict jumped up as he dug into his backpack, frowning as Tank blocked him off. "Aw come on, can't I join y'all?"

"Sorry," Tank whispered to him. "She only said to battle me. But next time you can join me!"

"Hey!" Diana hollered as she stamped one of her feet against the ground. "Are you gonna send out a Pokémon, or are you gonna pull a Wimpod on me?!"

"Of course I will! Come on out, Treecko!" Tank grinned as he pulled out a Poké Ball, tossing it in the air before effortlessly catching it in one hoof.

Treecko popped out of the ball, front flipping in the air before nimbly landing on both feet. His eyes gleamed as he stared down his opponent, pointing at her like a cowboy aiming his pistols.

Diana clapped her hooves together before pointing upwards, yelling as she flipped up her bangs. "Goldeen, Horn Attack!"

Goldeen chirped as she zigzagged across the air, her horn glowing porcelain white. She ducked her head and flung Treecko into the air, hurling him against the ceiling.

Treecko grabbed onto the cragged surface, his claws pressing against the surface like suction cups as his tail swayed in its spot.
Tank glanced around at the battlefield; hey wait, there was an idea for an ambush! "Treecko, use Pound!"

"Kimo-ri!" Treecko cried out as he let go of the ceiling, flipping through the air before smacking Goldeen with his tail. He nimbly landed on his feet, carefully breaking his balance with his arms spread out. A cloud of dust formed behind him, blowing across the soil like tumbleweeds.

"Goldeen!" Diana shouted as she stepped backwards. "Bubble Beam!"

With another chirp, Goldeen threw herself into the air, pursing her lips as a thin stream of blue water swirled around her horn. She opened her mouth and fired a ray of multicolored bubbles.

Treecko bent backwards as he narrowly dodged the bubble barrage, his tail brushing against the ground. Each bubble popped against the ground, dampening the soil with every splash.

Tank shouted as he pointed ahead, "Treecko! Absorb!"

"Kimoriiiii!" Treecko hissed as he hopped up in his spot, jumping up in the air before latching his claws into Goldeen's back. His hands glowed fire red, occasionally flashing leaf green, as he drained Goldeen's energy.

Goldeen pursed her lips and closed her eyes as she attempted to shake Treecko off of her, flailing her tail like a whip.

Treecko latched on tighter, internally bracing himself to be bucked off like a Breloom on a Tauros on the Paldean plains. He swayed with the rhythm of Goldeen's erratic thrashing, squinting his eyes before Goldeen flung him off with her tail fin. "KiMO!" Treecko landed on all fours, turning around and sharply glaring down his opponent.

Goldeen panted slowly as her dorsal and tail fins fluttered to the beat of her heart, weary in her eyes by the second. She fell to the ground with a light thud, eyes shut as she let herself take the defeat in stride.

Diana grimaced as she returned Goldeen to her ball, shivering in defeat before stuffing the Love Ball in her pants pocket. "Judy's gonna be real happy when she hears about this," she muttered to herself, before looking back at the boys. "Do you really want this suitcase back?"

Tank picked up Treecko in his arms before walking closer to Diana. "I wasn't here for it in the first place, but it'd be nice if you gave it to us," he asked. "After all, I do deserve something for beating you!"

"Fine," Diana huffed as she closet it and dropped it at his feet. "But if I were you, I'd quit Hawkwind and join Pastel instead. Great pay, free Pokémon for every member," she leaned in to whisper. "And Miss Judy is quite charismatic." She flipped her sailor collar before turning around. "Seriously, consider it." She waved goodbye before sprinting out of the tunnel, leaving the boys to themselves.

Tank returned Treecko to his Poké Ball before picking up the briefcase. Huh, much lighter than expected. Maybe she took off with what was inside it.. 

Kidd yawned as he pulled out his Rotom Phone, frowning to himself. Sacre bleu, how was it already ten-thirty? "Tank, are we going to be in this tunnel any longer?" he asked. "It's cutting into my sleep."

"Aw come on, Kidd, y'all can tough it out," Benedict shrugged his shoulders before nudging him with his elbow. "And 'sides, I like the idea of explorin' this tunnel all night!"

"No way, you two," Tank shook his head, showing them the suitcase. "We'll get out of here, find a place to stay for the night, then we can return this somehow!"

"Yea, but didn't y'all need to catch a 'mon for Professor Nook?" Benedict pointed out.

Tank tensed up in his spot. "Oh, right," he gulped before rubbing the back of his neck. "No, wait, he told me to report about the Pokémon here, not catch one! But I don't see any around here..." he shook his head clear. "No need to worry!" He cheered before leading the way out of the tunnel, following the same tracks with a pep in his step.

Benedict and Kidd trailed behind him, silent with each passing step. Twenty minutes passed before the group stopped before the same field from earlier. Thick patches of grass rustled in their spot, cool breeze running through everyone's hair. The wind blew some luck in their direction, gently parting the grass to reveal a brief glimpse of goldenrod yellow light.

"Could that be...?" Kidd asked as he watched the light flash in its spot. Finally, a chance to rest was nearing him!

The boys chased after the flickering orb, panting with each tree they passed. Heavy rustling sounds echoed behind them, quieting down the further they went ahead. The light glowed brighter with each step, joined by the steady buzz of consistent electricity.

Several minutes passed before the boys stumbled in their tracks. The light in question came from black lantern hanging from a wooden pole. Behind the lantern was a lone wood cabin, its cream and brown exterior worn down from years of harsh weather. Thick black smoke billowed from the singular chimney, faintly smelling of wood and kerosene. Several lights were on inside, while the doorknob rattled in its spot.

The door creaked open, revealing one of its inhabitants. An orange frog stood in the doorway, yawning as he scratched the ends of his mustache. His attire was usual for a blue-collar Hoennian; a grey flannel shirt, baggy blue tobi pants, and black tabi socks.

"Can't a guy get some damned sleep without something running around outside," he muttered to himself before shaking his head clear. A voice inside yelled, "Croque! Close the damn door or I'll lock you out!"

"Give me a sec, alright, Rocco?!" Croque hollered back. He muttered under his breath, "What a smartass."

The boys slowly backed away, occasionally looking behind them for any stray rocks or roots. Something about his scowling demeanor aired an intimidating aura, expected for someone tucked away in the woods.

Croque sighed as he stuffed his hands into his pockets, rummaging for a pack of Golden Golbat. "You kids are looking for a place to stay, aren't you?"

"How'd you know, sir?" Tank asked as he held up his hooves. Benedict and Kidd looked at each other in silence, uncertain on what to say. Best to let Tank do the talking, after all.

"We get a lot of trainers around here," Croque explained as he watched the boys head towards the porch. NOW how am I supposed to light one up?! "Of course, it's been slowing down since my boss shut down the tunnel's construction."

He opened the door, quiet as the boys entered the cabin and took off their shoes for the night. The living room, despite its minimal furniture, was rather cozy. A brown and white incense burner sat atop the kotatsu, emitting a thin wisp of delicate grey smoke. Cinnamon and sandalwood filled the air, masking the scent of pine and dust.

A teal hippopotamus walked away from the kitchen, smoothing down his navy blue jinbei. "Croque, what did I tell you about inviting random animals to the cabin?"

"It's fine, Rocco, they're just trainers," Croque assured him. "And besides, do you see any uniforms on them?"

Rocco squinted for a minute before he whispered, "You're right. Besides, they don't look like the types of animals that Pastel or Cottage punks recruit." He headed to one of the rooms, closing the door before digging into the closet and setting up the guest room.

Croque nodded before asking the boys, "So what were you kids even doing out on Route 116 so late? Was there something that important in Verdanturf Town that couldn't wait 'til the next morning?"

Tank shook his head no as he sat down at the kotatsu, "Professor Nook just sent me to research Pokémon in the tunnel." He slumped down and sighed, "But I couldn't find any."

"Well it's honestly for the better," Croque shook his head before folding his hands on the kotatsu. "Let me tell ya, kid, you do not want to screw around in the Rusturf Tunnel. You could break an ankle, get lost for hours without any way to reach for help" his face darkened from somber. "Or worse, end up in the pit like some of our friends."

Benedict and Kidd leaned closer to the kotatsu out of curiosity, sharing a brief glance before watching Croque get up and pick up a framed photograph.

Croque sat back and set the photograph on the table's surface, turning it around so the boys could get a better look. The backdrop looked to be Rusturf Tunnel, albeit with construction signs and yellow tape and marching Machop atop the tunnel. Right in the middle were Croque and Rocco, dressed in tobi shokunin uniforms, standing amongst four uniformed animals; a blue bird wearing a straw hat, a green chicken with a red comb, a purple bear with a large unibrow, and a brown cat with thick lips and wide orange eyebrows.

"That there's Flash Chiru, Hank Partridge, Tono Dozer, and Tosa Noraneko," Croque explained as he pointed at each animal. "Some of the best men Rocco and I worked with. Day in and day out we'd work away, clearing out the tunnel like clockwork. But one day, four years ago, we heard an explosion below us, and knew we had to get out of there." He sighed in bitterness, his heart heavy from just thinking about that dreaded day. "Even though we tried to pull them up.. The rope broke anyways, and all we could do was watch them fall to their doom."

"That's just terrible," Tank sunk in his spot as his heartbeat slowed down. Come to think of it, wouldn't a mining accident like this be all over the region's news? How come this was the first time he had heard of this disaster? Sure, this was someone he had just met, but something doesn't sound right...

"Yeah, I was one of the lucky ones," Croque scoffed. "And it gets better. The higher-ups at Hawkwind didn't even close the tunnel until last year. You'd think you'd do more with workers and Pokémon blood on your hands, close things off, pay for the funerals, compensate their families, even commemorate a damn plaque in their honor." He stopped to pull out a cigarette, lighting up before taking a long drag. "But no, that would mean they have to be responsible for something that damages their reputation. And the Hoenn region can't have-"

The bedroom door creaked open, stopping as Rocco poked his head out of the frame. "Guest room's ready!" He hollered before heading to the next room.

"Thanks," Croque yelled back, finishing his cigarette before smashing its end against the ashtray. "I know it's a lot to take in, boys, but you'll be thankful you heard it from a guy like me. Night," He got up from the kotatsu, scurrying over to a third room before folding the door shut.

The boys got up from the kotatsu, carrying their bags over to the guest room. Tank carefully opened the door, setting his backpack down on the floor. For what it's worth, the guest room was perfectly comfortable. Red and brown autumnal leaves covered the walls, accompanied by dark green tatami and simple lanterns hanging from the ceiling. A trio of futon laid on the ground, their duvets soft to the touch and faintly smelling of cedarwood and cardamom. The boys each crawled into a futon, throwing the covers over themselves as they looked away from each other. Without another word, they drifted off to sleep, peacefully awaiting a new day to come.