Although none of our Pokémon know Flash, fortunately Charmeleon has a flame burning at the end of its tail, which can illuminate the cave," Eddie said, glancing at his trusted Fire-type partner.
For safety reasons, Eddie released all four of his Pokémon at once. Charmeleon positioned itself in the middle of the group, its tail flame casting dancing shadows along the rocky walls. Riolu, with its Aura abilities, took the lead to scout the path ahead. Grovyle guarded the rear, sharp leaves at the ready to counter any surprise attacks from behind.
Frogadier and Misty's Staryu flanked them on either side, ensuring their protection and prepared to respond to any emergencies that might arise.
"Misty, remember our agreement," Eddie said firmly. "When we encounter Executive Koga, we can test his strength for a few rounds, but after gauging his approximate power level, we're retreating immediately."
He continued with urgency in his voice, "You need to understand that regardless of Koga's individual strength, Team Rocket will have numerous members throughout this cave. If we fail to withdraw before they surround us, we'll be in serious danger."
Eddie kept explaining these points to Misty, concerned she might impulsively challenge Koga to an extended battle. If he remembered correctly, Koga had concealed his true strength during previous encounters by not using his main Pokémon team.
Even so, his capabilities were undeniable. Eddie clearly recalled how Misty, in a previous encounter, had rushed into battle in a fury. The result was predictable—defeated after just one round, a humbling experience.
Eddie couldn't guarantee that he and Misty would escape smoothly this time, so he was determined to convince her not to engage unnecessarily. If they found themselves surrounded by Team Rocket members, it would spell disaster.
"I understand, Morning Sun," Misty assured him. "Don't worry, I would never gamble with my life."
She recognized the wisdom in Eddie's words and, being a reasonable person who had specifically asked Eddie to accompany her into the cave, had no intention of dismissing his concerns. His obvious concern for her safety didn't annoy her—quite the opposite, it made her appreciate him even more.
Seeing that Misty seemed receptive to his advice, Eddie felt more confident about their mission's prospects.
"Just to be safe, all of you should be prepared to run at a moment's notice, understood?" Eddie communicated silently with his Pokémon using his Viridian powers, ensuring they comprehended the gravity of the situation.
His four Pokémon, recognizing the importance of his words, nodded in unison.
"Morning Sun, you and your Pokémon seem to have an exceptional understanding," Misty observed. "Are you really a rookie trainer? The bond between many trainers and their Pokémon isn't nearly as strong as what you've developed."
She had been watching the interaction between Eddie and his team, noticing their remarkable synchronicity. It prompted her curiosity.
Morning Sun's abilities clearly surpassed those of a typical novice. Not only did he possess three evolved Pokémon, but each one displayed impressive power and tremendous potential. Misty vividly remembered witnessing Grovyle execute a Thunder Punch earlier—a clear indication that Eddie's strength far exceeded that of an ordinary rookie.
This level of skill was simply unattainable for beginning trainers. Naturally, Misty's curiosity about Eddie grew. She'd been preoccupied before, but now, with a moment of relative calm, she seized the opportunity to learn more about him.
"I only started my journey yesterday, actually," Eddie replied truthfully. "Professor Oak can verify that. I just traveled quickly. It took me a full day to reach Nibi City, and then I came to Mt. Moon today for training."
While Eddie typically avoided boasting, he saw no harm in sharing his accomplishments when directly asked.
"What?!" Misty exclaimed, genuinely shocked. "You just began your journey yesterday? Did you train with Pokémon at home before setting out?"
The revelation stunned her. To develop four such capable Pokémon in merely a day and a half seemed impossible unless he had prior experience.
"No, I received Charmander from Professor Oak at the beginning—the same Charmeleon you see now. As for my other partners, I caught them all within the past day and a half."
"That's impossible," Misty responded, completely dumbfounded. "You're not joking? You trained four primary Pokémon in just thirty-six hours?"
Her face displayed utter disbelief.
Eddie observed Misty's expression, which clearly said, "Are you kidding me?" He simply smiled without offering further explanation. His situation was indeed extraordinary, and few would believe the truth anyway, so elaboration seemed pointless.
Little did he know that his calm, matter-of-fact demeanor actually convinced Misty of his sincerity. After all, Eddie appeared entirely natural—neither joking nor anxious about his claim.
Liars typically betrayed themselves through nervousness, but Eddie showed none, which led Misty to accept his incredible story.
"In just thirty-six hours, he's trained three Pokémon to evolution and built a team of four strong partners," Misty thought to herself. "Am I witnessing the birth of a future legend?"
She couldn't help but believe that, provided Eddie survived his adventures, he was destined to join the elite ranks—perhaps even reaching Champion level someday.
Now she regretted involving him in this dangerous mission. Eddie had kindly agreed to help her, but her decision today might make him a target for Team Rocket, creating countless problems for his future.
The more Misty contemplated this, the deeper her regret grew. After an internal struggle, she made a decision. She would abandon her plan to investigate Team Rocket. She couldn't bear the thought of someone with unlimited potential and genuine kindness having their future jeopardized because of her.
"Eddie, I've been thinking, and I've decided to give up this—"
"Shh! Don't speak. Something's wrong," Eddie interrupted abruptly, his expression suddenly grave.
Eddie had no knowledge of Misty's internal deliberations. Had he known, he might have regretted his earlier conversation with her. But he couldn't be faulted for the interruption—he had just received an urgent alert from Riolu, who was scouting ahead.
Using its Aura abilities, Riolu had communicated to Eddie that it had detected Team Rocket members ahead, moving rapidly toward their position.
"Misty, prepare for battle," Eddie warned. "Riolu has detected a large group approaching us at high speed. We'll make contact any moment now."
Misty felt a wave of helplessness wash over her. She had just resolved to leave this place, only to encounter the enemy before she could act on her decision. The timing was absurdly unfortunate, but the situation allowed no time for regrets. She simply adopted a serious expression and prepared for the impending battle.