POKEMON : THE WAY OF PERCEPTION

"It's really delicious!" Ash exclaimed as he devoured Brock's cooking. Other than his mother's cooking, Ash believed Brock's culinary skills were the best.

"Way better than anything Ash could make!" Misty teased while enjoying her meal, but Ash didn't mind. He knew it was true.

"Pika-Pika!" Pikachu and the other Pokémon were also happily munching on their food. The Pokémon food Brock prepared was not only delicious but also packed with nutrients.

Brock watched the scene with satisfaction. Seeing everyone eat so heartily brought him great joy. Naturally, he hadn't forgotten to feed his own Pokémon, Geodude and Onix.

Geodude's appetite was manageable, but Onix was a different story. With its massive body, Onix needed more food than an average Pokémon. Although it didn't need to eat three times a day, its single meal required large portions.

"It's just a shame I haven't been able to develop high-compression nutrition recipes yet…" Brock lamented. He knew about energy cubes—small, compressed cubes made from berries and other ingredients. These cubes were highly nutritious and could sustain even large Pokémon like Onix. However, the recipe for these cubes was a well-guarded secret, known only to top Pokémon breeders.

Despite his efforts, Brock had yet to create a similar formula. Still, he resolved to continue researching.

After lunch, the group decided to set up camp and focus on training instead of traveling further. They planned to enter Mt. Moon the next day. During the training session, Brock provided advice to Ash and Misty, ensuring they didn't push their Pokémon too hard. Overtraining, he warned, could be counterproductive.

With Brock's suggestions, Ash and Misty adjusted their plans. Ash also started strategizing ways to teach his Pokémon new moves.

Beedrill, for example, needed to learn Agility to close the distance with opponents quickly. Pidgeotto, on the other hand, required a more powerful long-range move like Twister to be effective against various Pokémon types, especially Rock-types.

As for Pikachu, its current moveset was limited to Electric and Normal types. This left it vulnerable against Rock and Ground types. To counter this, Ash decided to teach Pikachu Iron Tail.

However, teaching Pikachu Iron Tail posed a challenge. Unlike Beedrill and Pidgeotto, who could naturally learn their moves with enough training, Pikachu required specialized teaching since Iron Tail wasn't innate to its genes.

The afternoon passed quickly as the group trained hard. By evening, Brock prepared another delicious meal, which everyone enjoyed together.

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Arrival at Mt. Moon

Mt. Moon, located between Route 3 and Route 4, serves as a key passage connecting Pewter City and Cerulean City. The Pokémon League developed the area as a training ground for trainers, ensuring the wild Pokémon here weren't too strong.

The mountain's name comes from the wild Clefairy that inhabit it and the frequent meteor showers that bring Moon Stones to the area.

Crossing Mt. Moon isn't easy. Except for mountaineers, most trainers navigate the cave network built by the Pokémon League.

The Pokémon living here are primarily mountain dwellers, such as Geodude, Onix, and Sandshrew. Due to the cave's dark, damp environment, Zubat and Paras are also common.

Clefairy, naturally, are a highlight. They use Moon Stones from the area to evolve into Clefable.

Rumors also suggest that Absol, the "disaster Pokémon," has been spotted here. However, no photographic evidence exists, and the story remains a legend.

By mid-afternoon the next day, Ash and his friends reached the base of Mt. Moon. The area was bustling with activity—at least 20 trainers were battling near the Pokémon Center, and even more were inside.

"This seems to be a popular training spot," Ash remarked as they walked through the crowd.

"It is," Brock explained. "The Pokémon here are strong enough to provide a challenge, and having a Pokémon Center nearby makes it convenient for trainers."

Because Brock was traveling with them, the group booked two dormitories this time—one for Ash and Brock to share and another for Misty. Thankfully, the rooms were next to each other.

"Tomorrow, we'll enter Mt. Moon's cave system," Brock said during dinner. "If we're lucky, we can cross it in a day. But if not, it might take two or three days."

"Unlucky? Why?" Ash and Misty asked in unison.

"Getting lost," Brock replied with a chuckle.

Ash frowned, recalling how often he and his friends got lost in the anime. "Well, that's not going to happen to us. I don't have the 'lost' trait!" he declared confidently.

After dinner, the group didn't return to their rooms immediately. Instead, they chatted in the main hall about Pokémon training. Brock and Ash, in particular, were deep in discussion, exchanging ideas and tips. Misty watched them with mild annoyance, feeling a little left out.

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The Feather of Ho-Oh

"By the way, Brock," Ash said suddenly, remembering something. "We saw a legendary Pokémon before—Ho-Oh!"

"Ho-Oh? The legendary Pokémon?" Brock's eyes widened in disbelief. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice to avoid drawing attention.

Ash nodded excitedly and reached into his backpack, pulling out a gleaming feather. "We even have one of its feathers!"

Brock stared at the feather in awe, his disbelief turning into amazement. "That's incredible, Ash. Do you realize how rare this is?"

Unbeknownst to them, a group nearby overheard their conversation.

"If we get that feather and offer it to the boss, we'll definitely get promoted!" a voice whispered.

"Ho-Oh's feather… If we can steal it, we'll become executives for sure!" a woman's voice added slyly.

"But… it's not going to be easy," a male voice cautioned.

The figures in the shadows exchanged determined looks.

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Preparing for the Journey

As night fell, the group returned to their rooms to rest. The next day would bring new challenges in Mt. Moon, and everyone wanted to be prepared.

Ash lay awake in his bunk, clutching the feather of Ho-Oh. He couldn't shake the feeling that their journey through Mt. Moon was going to be more eventful than they expected.

Brock, meanwhile, was already thinking about how to help Ash and Misty improve their Pokémon's training during their time in the cave. Misty, in her room, resolved to work harder to catch up with Ash's progress.

Unknown to them, the shadows were already planning their next move.

Would Ash and his friends manage to cross Mt. Moon unscathed? And what challenges awaited them within its dark, winding tunnels?

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