Andrew sat at the video phone in the Pokémon Center's private booth at the base of Mount Moon, the Boulder Badge gleaming on his jacket. He'd decided to check in before heading up the mountain.
Jessie answered on the first ring, her face filling the screen with immediate warmth.
Jessie (beaming):
"Andrew! Sweetheart, how are you? Are you eating enough? Your hair looks a bit messy—"
James (pushing into frame, already teary):
"Son! We saw the announcement at the Trainer's Guild office. You beat Forrest Slate!"
Meowth (in the background):
"Kid, that was some battle! That Charmeleon's got some serious chops."
Andrew laughed, holding up his jacket to show off the badge.
Andrew:
"Yeah, it was intense. Charmander evolved mid-battle—our bond just reached that point, I guess. It felt… right, you know?"
Jessie (wiping her eyes):
"That's my boy. I knew you could do it."
James (sniffling):
"We're so proud of you, Andrew. You're really doing this."
Andrew:
"First badge down. But listen—I'm heading up Mount Moon right now to cross through to Cerulean City. I'll call you after, okay?"
Meowth:
"Stay safe out there, kid."
Andrew:
"Always. Love you guys."
The call ended with waves and blown kisses. Andrew pocketed the badge, his chest warm. But his expression grew serious as he looked at his team.
"Alright, everyone. Let's move out."
Scene: Mount Moon - Evening
The mountain loomed against the darkening sky, its rocky peaks casting long shadows. Andrew had been climbing for hours, his Pokémon at his side. Pikachu rode his shoulder, alert. Charmeleon walked beside him, flames flickering steadily. Ghastly hovered nearby, ever watchful.
Then Andrew stopped.
Voices. Multiple voices, echoing through the cavern ahead.
He crouched low, motioning his team to do the same. As he peered around the rocky outcropping, his suspicions were confirmed.
Six Team Rocket members stood in a clearing, working to set up some kind of device—large, mechanical, with cables running to various points around the cavern. Four wore standard grunt uniforms. But two stood apart: a woman with striking features and a stern man beside her, both wearing admin-level gear.
Cassidy and Butch—Andrew had studied Team Rocket's known operatives with Gary. These were the real threats.
Cassidy (barking orders):
"Make sure those anchor points are secure. We need this operational by midnight. Once we disable Mount Moon's mineral deposits, the entire regional economy takes a hit. Perfect leverage."
Butch (checking calculations):
"The disruption should cascade through the next three routes. Trainers won't have access to healing items, Poké Balls—it'll be chaos."
Andrew's jaw tightened. This wasn't just a theft. This was sabotage. Infrastructure damage. People would suffer.
He took a breath and stepped out from behind the rocks.
Andrew (calm, steady):
"Stand down. Dismantle that device and surrender to the authorities."
All six heads snapped toward him. For a moment, there was silence. Then Cassidy laughed—a sharp, mocking sound.
Cassidy:
"A kid? A kid is telling us to stand down? Butch, is this real?"
Butch (studying Andrew more carefully):
"Wait… I know that face. James and Jessie's brat?"
Andrew didn't flinch. "You know my parents. Then you know what I'm capable of."
Cassidy (grinning wickedly):
"Oh, this is rich. The traitors' son thinks he can take us on. Grunts—take him down. We'll handle the Pokémon."
The Battle
The four grunts advanced, throwing Pokéballs. A Koffing, a Zubat, two Rattatas emerged, hissing and screeching.
Andrew (commanding):
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt! Charmeleon, Dragon Rage!"
Lightning split the air, meeting Charmeleon's fiery blasts. The two grunts' Pokémon fell almost immediately—the Koffing and one Zubat went down hard. But the other Zubat and both Rattatas pressed forward, coordinated.
Andrew:
"Ghastly, Shadow Ball on the Zubat!"
The ghost-type's attack struck true, but the Rattatas were quick, darting in and out. One bit Pikachu's tail—Andrew saw his partner flinch but keep fighting.
Andrew (voice steady):
"It's okay, Pikachu. You've got this."
Meanwhile, Cassidy and Butch watched, assessing. They weren't moving yet. They were waiting to see if the grunts could wear Andrew down.
They couldn't.
Within minutes, all four grunt Pokémon were defeated. The grunts themselves looked frightened now, backing away slowly.
Cassidy (eyes narrowing):
"Fine. Butch, let's show the kid what real Team Rocket operatives can do."
Cassidy threw a Pokéball, releasing a Raticate—sleek, scarred, clearly well-trained. Butch's throw sent out a Weezing, toxic and menacing.
Andrew:
"Charmeleon, take the Raticate. Pikachu, Weezing is yours. Ghastly, support both."
The battle intensified. Charmeleon's Dragon Rage clashed with Raticate's Hyper Fang. Pikachu's Thunderbolt met Weezing's Sludge Bomb in midair, creating clouds of acrid smoke. Ghastly's Shadow Balls weaved through the chaos, adding pressure.
It was a brutal, intense dance. But Andrew had trained for this. He'd studied gym battles, yes—but he'd also prepared for real combat. And his Pokémon fought with a bond born from genuine care, not just command.
Weezing fell first, collapsing under a coordinated Thunderbolt and Shadow Ball combo.
Raticate, wounded and exhausted, made one last desperate charge at Charmeleon—
And Charmeleon sidestepped, striking cleanly with Dragon Rage.
Raticate dropped.
Cassidy's face twisted with rage.
Cassidy:
"You little—"
But she didn't finish. She and Butch exchanged a look—a wordless communication. They recalled their Pokémon, moving fast toward the cavern's far exit.
Andrew (not moving to chase):
"I won't kill you. But you're done here."
Cassidy paused at the tunnel's edge, her eyes locking with his.
Cassidy (voice cold, dangerous):
"This isn't over, kid. Team Rocket's reach is longer than you know. And we remember traitors."
Then she and Butch disappeared into the shadows.
Andrew turned to the four grunts, who stood trembling, their Pokémon defeated.
Andrew (quietly):
"Don't move. Officers from the local Pokémon League are on their way. I called ahead."
The grunts didn't resist. Some even looked relieved—as if being captured was easier than facing Team Rocket's wrath for failure.
Andrew sat on a nearby rock, breathing hard. His team gathered around him, battered but victorious.
Andrew (to Pikachu):
"You were incredible out there."
Pikachu (nuzzling his cheek):
"Pika… pika."
Within twenty minutes, officers arrived. They secured the device (neutralizing it carefully), took the four grunts into custody, and filed a full report with Andrew as witness.
But Cassidy and Butch were gone.
Andrew walked through the cavern system with an officer, and they discovered holding cells—Pokémon cages lined against the walls. Team Rocket had been capturing Pokémon, likely for experimentation or forced service.
Andrew immediately began opening the cages. Most fled into the wild, but one Pokémon hesitated—a young Bulbasaur, weak and malnourished. It looked at Andrew with wary, intelligent eyes.
Andrew (gently):
"It's okay. You're free now. You can go if you want."
The Bulbasaur tilted its head, studying him. Then it stepped forward and nuzzled against his leg.
Officer:
"Looks like that one's decided where it wants to be."
Andrew smiled, understanding. Another Pokémon who'd know what it meant to be abandoned by Team Rocket, now choosing its own path.
Andrew:
"Welcome to the team, Bulbasaur."
Scene: Pokémon Center - Mount Moon (Late Night - After the Battle)
Andrew sat in another video booth at the Mount Moon Pokémon Center, this time calling Gary Oak's private line. The professor answered almost immediately, as if he'd been expecting the call.
Gary (concerned):
"Andrew. What happened?"
Andrew relayed everything—the device, the sabotage plan, the four grunts captured, Cassidy and Butch's escape.
Gary (listening intently):
"Mount Moon's mineral deposits… if they'd succeeded, the economic ripple would've been significant. Regional supply chains, trainer support systems—all compromised."
Andrew:
"They escaped, Professor. I didn't have a choice—there were two of them, and I wasn't going to risk my team pushing further."
Gary (nodding):
"You made the right call. Cassidy and Butch are mid-level operatives, but they're dangerous. They have connections higher up. What matters is you stopped their operation and gathered intelligence."
Andrew:
"What do we do now?"
Gary (leaning back in his chair):
"Now you continue your journey. Collect badges, build your team, and stay alert. I'll relay this information to the League and my contacts. Team Rocket won't make their move lightly after this—you've proven yourself. But they will be watching."
Andrew:
"Should I… should I be worried about my parents?"
Gary (gently):
"Your parents left that life behind. Team Rocket knows it. But yes—mention this to them. They deserve to know. And Andrew?"
Andrew:
"Yeah?"
Gary:
"You did good work out there. That takes courage."
The call ended. Andrew sat for a moment, processing. Then he dialed home.
Scene: Video Call with James and Jessie
His parents' faces appeared, relaxed and comfortable. Then they saw his expression.
Jessie (immediately alert):
"Andrew? What's wrong?"
Andrew: he heisted before
"Nothing's wrong. But something happened at Mount Moon. I need to tell you."
He explained everything—the Team Rocket operation, Cassidy and Butch, the four grunts he'd turned over to authorities. As he spoke, he watched his parents' faces cycle through pride, worry, guilt, and finally resolve.
James (quietly):
"You showed them mercy. You didn't kill them."
Andrew:
"I won't. That's not who I am."
Jessie (voice thick with emotion):
"That's not who we are anymore either. And I'm… I'm so proud of you for that."
James:
"We knew Team Rocket was still active. We've stayed away, kept our heads down. But hearing you're actively stopping them…" He paused, collecting himself. "We're with you. Whatever you need."
Meowth (from the background):
"The kid's got guts. That's for sure."
Andrew:
"Gary says they'll be watching now. That Cassidy and Butch will report back."
Jessie:
"Let them. You're stronger than they know. And you're not alone."
James:
"Be careful out there, son. But also… keep doing what you're doing. The world needs trainers like you."
After the call ended, Andrew sat in the quiet booth, his resolve crystallizing. Team Rocket wanted to rebuild. Gary wanted him informed. His parents wanted him safe but effective.
And Andrew? He wanted to get stronger.
Scene: Pokémon Center - Training Room (Late Night)
He calls out his Pokemon
Andrew (kneeling down):
"You evolved during that battle. You chose to become Haunter. That power—that's your strength."
Haunter (swirling with pride):
"Haunter…"
Andrew smiled, placing his hand on Pikachu's head.
"Then that's what we'll do. We'll get stronger together—all of us. Charmeleon, you've got Dragon Rage mastered, but we need to work on your speed and precision. Haunter, your Shadow Ball is incredible, but let's train your accuracy in tight spaces. And Bulbasaur? You're still recovering, but soon enough we'll find out what you're really capable of."
He looked at all three of them, his expression hardening with determination.
Andrew:
"Team Rocket thinks they can operate unchecked. They think my parents' past means I'm an easy target. They're wrong. Every badge I earn, every Pokémon I catch and bond with, every battle I win—it all builds toward stopping them."
Charmeleon roared in agreement. Haunter's form swirled with renewed energy. Pikachu sparked with electricity, his resolve matching Andrew's own. Bulbasaur, still weak from captivity, rested against Andrew's leg but watched with determination in its eyes.
Andrew:
"So let's train. Let's get stronger. Because Cerulean Gym is next, and Misty's not going to go easy on me. And after that? After that, we keep going until Team Rocket knows the name Andrew and knows what it means to stand against them."
The training room filled with the sounds of battle and determination as Andrew and his team worked through the night, each movement purposeful, each technique refined.
Outside, the moon rose over Mount Moon, casting silver light over the cavern where Andrew had drawn his first real line in the sand against Team Rocket.
It was only the beginning.
Team
Char melon
Bulbasaur
Pikachu
Haunter