DPA: Rivals

Chapter 24: In The Shadow Of Mt. Moon

"Thank you, we hope to see you again!" Dr. Joy waved goodbye as Daryon and company left the Pokémon Center, Pokémon healed to full capacity.

Everyone felt refreshed, having taken time to eat and rest from the walk to this point. Pikachu, Dratini, and Poliwag had run up ahead a few feet, playing. Mudkip continued to sleep, as always, in the top section of Cameron's bag. The recently caught Pidgey had perched on Cameron's arm while being fed seeds, having already warmed up to its new trainer.

The Route 3 Pokémon Center stood at the base of Mt. Moon, an enormous hunk of rock five thousand feet tall. This absolute wonder of nature was given its name because, unlike all the rocks of the surrounding area, Mt. Moon was pure white, as though a piece of the moon had broken off and crash landed here. Cameron remembered the museum curator hypothesizing this to actually be the case. It truly was an amazing sight.

Rather than climb up, over, and back down the mountain, the group would travel through one of the many winding tunnels that had been established by countless travelers before them, saving them a lot of time and risk.

After a few minutes of walking, the group discovered the main tunnel opening, and, flashlights out, step into the darkness, nothing more than a few beams of light to illuminate their path.

The first thing that Cameron noticed was the sheer abundance of wildlife that called these dark tunnels of stone home. Geodude, Sandshrew, Paras, Onix, Clefairy and Clefable, and many, many Zubat. So many Zubat that Cameron had to take a moment and breathe, memories of the horde still fresh.

The second thing Cameron noticed was a small pinpoint of light in the background, still. Curious, he took a step closer. The light moved a step away. He took another step closer. The light took another step away. On the third step, the light started moving away, faster, as though it were somehow running.

Unsure why, Cameron began to chase the light through the cave, hopping over stones, dodging the occasional Zubat that zipped by, or a Paras scurrying on the ground. Faster and faster he ran, unwilling to stop until he had an answer as to the identity of the mysterious light. Pidgey gripped tightly to Cameron's arm so as not to fall off. He could hear footsteps beating against the cave floor, probably those of Daryon, Max and Skye, but didn't turn around to check.

This light was faster than him, and he could see that he was beginning to lose sight of it. Improvising, he reached behind his back, opening the top pouch of his backpack, a slightly drowsy Mudkip poking its head out. With one smooth motion, Cameron plucked Mudkip out of the bag and yeeted it through the air. He then pointed to Mudkip with the arm that Pidgey had still been attached to.

Even though they hadn't taken time to practice or try this before, it was as if Pidgey knew instinctively what to do, blasting towards the airborne Mudkip faster than a speeding Bullet Punch, catching the Mud Fish Pokémon on its back.

"Wow!" Daryon cheered from a ways behind, seeing the image of a Mudkip riding a Pidgey through the air, going faster and faster, until eventually right above the quickly moving light. "Slow it down, Mudkip!" Cameron shouted, his order echoing throughout the tunnels.

Mudkip did as told, blasting a Water Gun directly at the unidentified light, a maneuver which seems to have worked, because the light stopped moving, and even dimmed a bit, allowing a now winded Cameron to catch up with it.

He was surprised to see that the source of the light was a Charmander, who, being a Fire type, hadn't been able to put up any resistance to the blast of water that had knocked it over. The flame on its tail had begun to dim, probably from being soaked.

"Oh no!" Daryon yelled, kneeling down beside the dropped Charmander. "Isn't it dangerous if a Charmander's tail fire goes out?"

"Not at all," Vince said, floating beside Skye as she and Max caught up with the others. "The idea that a Charmander's tail fire is linked to its life force is a myth that formulated during the first days when it was the responsibilities of children to collect Pokédex information. While a Charmander's tail fire will burn brighter when it is healthy, extinguishing the light has no ill effects, and a new light will be produced as soon as the tail is dry enough."

"Great!" Daryon sighed, relieved, hands to his knees, tired from all the running. "Anyways, Cameron, are you going to catch it?"

Cameron looked down at the accidentally defeated Charmander. He looked back at Pidgey, who had landed and dropped off a very irritated Mudkip, a Mudkip that was not happy to be woken up only to be thrown like a Pokéball. He opened up his backpack, managing to take out an empty Pokéball before a cranky Mudkip wiggled its way back in. With this Pokéball, he caught Charmander.