The morning dawned gray and quiet as Alex and Drake made their way toward the industrial district on the outskirts of Saffron City. The usual city noises faded as they approached rows of abandoned warehouses, old factories, and silent smokestacks casting long shadows over cracked, empty streets. The area had an eerie stillness, the kind of silence that felt unnatural, almost as if the area itself was holding its breath.
They moved cautiously, keeping to the shadows, eyes scanning every corner for signs of movement. According to rumors they had picked up from locals and information they'd pieced together from Professor Willow's notes, Team Rocket had been using old industrial buildings as hideouts, blending into the abandoned infrastructure where they wouldn't attract much attention.
"Keep your eyes peeled," Alex said quietly, glancing around the silent street. "If Team Rocket's operating here, they'll have guards or lookouts posted. They won't let us just walk in."
Drake nodded, his face serious. "Got it. Let's stick to the back alleys. We'll have the element of surprise on our side if we're careful."
They moved through a narrow alley between two derelict warehouses, Sparkyx padding quietly beside Alex and Pidgeotto perched on Drake's shoulder, its sharp eyes watching for any movement. The air was heavy with dust and the faint smell of metal and oil. It didn't take long before Alex spotted something—a faint flicker of light coming from the broken windows of a building a few blocks ahead.
"That's got to be it," Alex whispered, pointing. "They're probably hiding out in there."
The building looked like it had once been a factory, with rusted pipes running along the exterior and faded signs warning of hazardous materials. But now, it was in complete disrepair, its windows cracked or shattered, and sections of the wall crumbling. The perfect place for Team Rocket to operate undisturbed.
They crept closer, pressing themselves against the building's outer wall. Alex peered through a broken window, spotting two Rocket grunts inside, chatting lazily by the entrance with their backs turned.
"This is our chance," Alex whispered to Drake. "We'll take them by surprise. If we can get past these guards, we might be able to make it through without raising the alarm."
Drake grinned, his excitement barely contained. "Let's do it."
Alex nodded, signaling Sparkyx. "Sparkyx, Quick Attack on the grunt on the left. Quietly."
Sparkyx moved with blinding speed, dashing through the broken window in a flash of yellow. Before the Rocket grunt even knew what hit him, Sparkyx struck, knocking him off balance and sending him crashing to the ground. The other grunt turned, alarmed, but Drake's Pidgeotto was already swooping in, a burst of wind from its wings disorienting the second grunt before he could sound the alarm.
Alex and Drake slipped through the window, recalling Sparkyx and Pidgeotto as they moved further into the building. The two grunts lay unconscious, their Poké Balls untouched, their attempts to resist ending almost before they began. Alex felt a surge of confidence. They were in.
They moved deeper into the factory, following a narrow hallway lit by flickering overhead lights. The further they went, the more signs of Team Rocket's presence they noticed—empty crates marked with the Rocket insignia, maps of the Kanto region pinned to the walls, and various pieces of equipment that had clearly been stolen from other facilities.
They reached a large room, filled with metal crates stacked against the walls. Several grunts moved around, checking equipment, sorting supplies, and talking amongst themselves. At the center of the room, a desk was set up with a series of maps, documents, and a small monitor displaying security camera feeds of the building.
"We need to get to that desk," Alex whispered, eyeing the papers spread out on the surface. "If there's any information about Darkrai or where they're taking the stolen Pokémon, it'll be there."
Drake nodded, sizing up the room. "There's at least four grunts in there. We'll have to take them out quickly or else they'll call for reinforcements."
Alex considered their options. "We'll split up. You go right, I'll go left. Once we're close enough, we strike. We can't let them raise the alarm."
Drake gave a quick nod, slipping into the shadows on the right side of the room while Alex moved to the left. They stayed low, creeping behind stacks of crates, carefully choosing their path until they were within striking distance.
With a quick signal, Alex launched his attack.
"Sparkyx, use Spark on that grunt!" he commanded in a whisper.
Sparkyx shot forward, electricity crackling around it as it collided with the nearest grunt, knocking him off his feet and sending a burst of sparks through the air. At the same time, Drake's Pidgeotto swooped down on another grunt, blinding him with a flurry of feathers and talons.
The remaining two grunts reacted quickly, reaching for their Poké Balls.
"You think you can mess with Team Rocket?" one of them sneered, releasing a Zubat. The other sent out a Koffing, its toxic gases filling the air.
Alex clenched his fists, ready to respond. "Sparkyx, Thunder Wave on Zubat! Ironux, take down Koffing with Iron Punch!"
Sparkyx let out a focused wave of electricity, paralyzing Zubat mid-flight. The bat Pokémon screeched as it struggled against the paralysis, its movements slowing. Ironux, with its powerful, armored frame, charged forward, its fist glowing as it delivered a crushing Iron Punch to Koffing, sending it flying backward.
Both grunts backed up, fear flashing in their eyes as they realized they were outmatched.
"Fall back!" one of them shouted, but it was too late. Alex and Drake moved forward, quickly subduing the remaining grunts and clearing the room. With the last of the grunts out cold, Alex turned his attention to the desk.
"We did it," Drake said, grinning as he recalled Pidgeotto. "Nice work."
Alex nodded, already scanning the documents scattered across the desk. Maps, diagrams, and several folders filled with notes and images of various Pokémon, all stamped with the Team Rocket insignia. But one document in particular caught his eye—a blueprint of what appeared to be a heavily fortified base somewhere north of Saffron City.
"This is it," Alex murmured, showing the blueprint to Drake. "Their main base. They've been operating out of here, using it as the center for their activities in this part of the region."
Drake frowned as he looked over the map. "But what about Darkrai? Is there any mention of it?"
Alex flipped through the papers quickly, his fingers skimming across lines of text. Then he found it—a small note scribbled in the margins of a report.
"Prepare for shipment. Darkrai's Rift located at…"
The rest of the note was cut off, torn at the edge of the paper. But it was enough.
"Darkrai's Rift," Alex whispered, his heart pounding. "It must be some sort of portal or dimension where Darkrai is keeping the stolen Pokémon. And they're transporting Pokémon there, probably the ones Team Rocket's been stealing."
Drake's face darkened. "If we can find that rift, we might be able to save the Pokémon that have been taken. But how do we find the rest of this location?"
Just then, a faint creak echoed from behind them. They turned to see a door at the back of the room swinging open, revealing a tall, imposing figure dressed in a black Team Rocket uniform. The man's face was partially hidden under a cap, but the insignia on his sleeve marked him as a higher-up—a Rocket admin.
"Well, well," he said, smirking as he took a step forward. "Looks like we've got some intruders."
Alex and Drake exchanged a glance, both realizing that this wouldn't be an easy fight. They had already expended energy battling the grunts, but if they could get information from this admin, it would be worth the risk.
"You're not going anywhere," Alex said, his voice firm. "You're going to tell us everything you know about Darkrai's Rift."
The admin laughed, pulling out a Poké Ball. "And why would I do that, kid? Team Rocket doesn't answer to nobodies like you. But if you're that eager to learn about Darkrai, I'd be happy to teach you a lesson."
With a flash, the admin released a Houndoom, its dark, flame-flecked fur glowing menacingly in the dim light. Drake summoned Vulpix, and Alex sent out Ironux.
"Houndoom, Flamethrower!" the admin shouted.
Houndoom roared, spewing a wave of fire toward Ironux. The flames licked at Ironux's steel body, causing it to flinch but holding its ground.
"Ironux, counter with Iron Punch!" Alex commanded.
Ironux powered through the flames, swinging its fist with a surge of strength. The punch connected, knocking Houndoom back. As the admin gritted his teeth in frustration, Alex knew they had the upper hand.
After an intense struggle, Houndoom collapsed, too weakened to continue. The admin, realizing he was defeated, staggered back, clutching his Poké Ball.
"You won't get anything out of me," he spat.
Alex advanced on him, his eyes cold. "Then I'll tell you this. Team Rocket's days are numbered. We're coming for you, and we will stop whatever you and Darkrai are planning."
The admin's smirk wavered, but he quickly hid his fear behind a sneer. "You think a couple of rookie trainers can stop Team Rocket? You have no idea what you're dealing with. Darkrai's power goes far beyond anything you could imagine."
Drake stepped forward, his eyes sharp. "We'll see about that. Now, tell us where the rest of Darkrai's Rift is located. You know where it is, don't you?"
The admin narrowed his eyes, glancing at the defeated Houndoom before muttering something under his breath. "Fine. I'll give you a little clue. Not that it'll do you any good."
He pointed at the torn map on the table. "Darkrai's Rift… is within a hidden cavern at the base of Mount Moon. Team Rocket has established a base there, guarding the entrance. But even if you make it that far, there's no way you'll get close to the Rift without facing Darkrai itself."
"Mount Moon…" Alex murmured, exchanging a look with Drake. The mountain was a known hotspot for strange occurrences and mysterious Pokémon. If Team Rocket had indeed set up a base there, it would be well-hidden and heavily fortified. But now they had a lead—a solid location to investigate.
Before Alex could press the admin further, the man's smirk returned. "You may think you've won this little skirmish, but remember: you're dealing with Darkrai. This is bigger than anything you can handle."
With that, the admin pulled a smoke bomb from his pocket, throwing it to the ground. Thick clouds of black smoke erupted around him, obscuring the room. Alex and Drake coughed, shielding their faces as the smoke filled the air.
"Quick, Sparkyx, use Thunder Wave to stop him!" Alex commanded, hoping to catch the admin before he escaped.
But it was too late. By the time the smoke cleared, the admin had disappeared, leaving only the aftermath of the battle. The grunts were still unconscious around them, but the information the admin had provided lingered in Alex's mind.
Drake coughed, waving away the last tendrils of smoke. "Mount Moon… Do you think he was telling the truth?"
Alex nodded slowly. "I think so. He didn't have any reason to lie once he knew we'd won. Mount Moon makes sense, too—it's remote, full of caves, and hard to navigate. Perfect place for them to hide something as dangerous as Darkrai's Rift."
Drake looked over the scattered documents, picking up the torn map. "Then that's where we go next. We'll head to Mount Moon, find the base, and get close enough to learn what Team Rocket's really up to with Darkrai."
Alex clenched his fists, determination surging within him. "Darkrai is growing stronger with every Pokémon it absorbs. If we don't stop it soon, it could become unstoppable. This might be our only chance to disrupt its plans."
They gathered the documents they could salvage, hoping they might offer additional clues about the layout of the base or the Rift's location. As they exited the factory, the faint glow of dawn began to light the horizon, casting a dim, hopeful light on the streets of Saffron.
"We'll need to prepare," Alex said as they headed back toward the city center. "Darkrai is no ordinary Pokémon. If we're going to face it, we'll need every advantage we can get. That means training hard and making sure Abra is ready."
Drake gave a nod of agreement. "I've got your back, Alex. This is bigger than both of us, but if there's a chance we can stop Darkrai and save those missing Pokémon, then we're doing it."
As they made their way to the Pokémon Center, Alex's thoughts drifted to his team. Sparkyx, Ironux, and Abra—all of them had been there through thick and thin. Each of them brought something unique to the table, and Alex knew he couldn't do this without them. With every step they took toward Mount Moon, they were stepping into unknown danger, but they were stepping together.
Back at the Pokémon Center, they spent the rest of the day recovering and strategizing. Alex ran through every possible scenario in his mind, knowing that facing Team Rocket's main base—and ultimately Darkrai itself—would be unlike any battle he'd ever fought. But he also knew that with careful planning and training, they had a real chance.
The next morning, they would set off for Mount Moon, prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The path was uncertain, and the danger was undeniable, but Alex's resolve was stronger than ever.
They would find Darkrai. They would save the Pokémon.
And together, they would end this nightmare.
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