"Were there always so many Pokémon guarding the ranch?" Monika asked her parents, tilting her head.
Frank chuckled, stretching his arms behind his head. "Not always. Security has improved over the years, but let me tell you about something that happened about fifteen years ago. Back then, I was taking a break between tournaments, and your grandpa Petr was already working here on the ranch. I spent a lot of time training, trying to get better. One evening, my dad and I were having a mock battle, just the two of us."
Monika, who had been quietly listening, leaned forward. "You were a Pokémon trainer back then?"
"Yep," Frank said with a grin. "I was traveling with your aunt Eva all over the world, taking on gyms and tournaments whenever we could. But even when I was home, I kept training. That evening, I was working with my partner—Quaxwell."
"Quaxwell?" Monika interrupted, scrunching up her nose. "What's that? You don't have any Pokémon named like that!"
Frank let out a hearty laugh. "Right, you can't remember it! Quaxwell is what Donald used to be before he evolved into a Quaquaval."
Monika's eyes widened. "Donald? You had him fifteen years ago?"
Frank grinned. "Yes, I have. He was my very first Pokémon. So as I was saying. He was a Quaxwell back then—kind of like a tall, blue duck with a big attitude. Always wanted to look stylish, even during battles."
Rachel chuckled. "Yeah, I bet that you know that duck much better than even your beloved wife."
"Rachel..." Frank rolled his eyes with a chuckle.
"Well, you definitely know him longer!" Rachel stuck out her tongue in cheeky gesture.
"Mom!" Monika bursted out with giggling and Frank rolled his eyes once more.
"Sorry, you were training with Donald..."
"That's right. And let me tell you, it wasn't easy. I was up against my dad's Mudsdale. That thing was a tank even back then. No matter how many Water Pulses Donald threw at it, Mudsdale just shook it off like it was nothing. And when it hit back? Oh man, you did not want to be on the receiving end of a High Horsepower."
Monika giggled, trying to imagine a stubborn duck fighting a giant mud horse. "So what happened?"
Frank leaned forward, his tone becoming more serious. "Well, we were mid-battle when someone ran toward us, completely out of breath. It was one of the trainers staying at the ranch. She had just come from the outskirts and said there was a serious problem. A group of aggressive Houndour had been spotted, and their leader—a Houndoom—was attacking anything that got too close."
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Wild Houndoom causing trouble? That's not common, is it?"
Frank shook his head. "Not really, not now. But back then, it was a little different time. And something must have stirred this pack up. Anyway, Dad took one look at me and said, 'Come on, we need to find Joe.' So we ran straight to Joe— by the way, he still had hair back then. But you must understand, it wasn't like today, where we could just call him. No cell phones. If something urgent happened, you had to go find people in person."
Monika's eyes widened. "That must've taken forever!"
"It felt like it," Frank admitted. "By the time we found Joe, he was already in the middle of training with his own Pokémon. He didn't even hesitate. He just grabbed his Pokéballs and said, 'Let's go.' He knew we couldn't wait."
Rachel crossed her arms. "So it was you, Petr, and Joe heading to the outskirts?"
Frank nodded. "That's right. And Joe didn't come alone. He brought Braviary, Oranguru, and Hitmonchan with him. We had no idea how bad things were going to get."
Monika shifted in her chair, fully absorbed in the story. "And then what happened?"
Frank exhaled slowly. "Then? Then we ran straight into a nightmare."
Frank leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly against the wooden table. The warm glow of the fire from the hearth flickered across his face, but as he continued the story, his voice took on a darker tone.
"We made it to the outskirts just as the sun had set," he said, glancing at Monika.
"And let me tell you, there was something different about the ranch at night. It's not the same place you know during the day. The trees look taller, the wind sounds different, and every little rustle makes you think something's watching you. Or someone."
Monika swallowed, her fingers gripping the edge of the table. "Were there... Pokémon watching you?"
Frank gave her a small, knowing smile. "Oh, absolutely. And not all of them were friendly. We didn't even make it to the edge of the forest before we smelled something in the air. A mix of burning wood and something... fouler, like scorched fur and rotten meat."
Monika wrinkled her nose. "Ew!"
Rachel shot Frank a look. "Maybe not so much detail before bed?"
Frank smirked but continued. "The smell hit us first, but then we heard them. Low, growling noises coming from the darkness between the trees. And then—"
A sudden loud snap! echoed in the quiet kitchen as he clapped his hands together, making Monika jump.
"—a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the brush. Then another. And another."
Monika grabbed onto Rachel's arm, her imagination painting the scene in vivid colors. "How many?"
Frank's expression turned serious. "At least a dozen. And they weren't small. The Houndour were creeping closer, their black fur almost invisible against the night, except for the eerie silver bones lining their backs and legs. Their fangs gleamed whenever they snarled, and their orange eyes burned like embers in the dark. They started circling around us, watching us and salivating."
Rachel exhaled. "That doesn't sound like normal Houndour behavior."
"It isn't," Frank confirmed. "But back then, this pack was a big trouble. They were hunting in a way you'd never seen before—stalking us like we were their prey."
Monika's breath hitched. "But... but you had strong Pokémon, right?"
"We did," Frank said, nodding. "And we weren't afraid of a bunch of Houndour. But then... their leader stepped out from the shadows."
Rachel frowned. "The Houndoom?"
Frank's face darkened. "Yeah. And this wasn't just any Houndoom. It was massive, even bigger than normal. Its sleek black body looked like it was carved from obsidian, and the curved white horns on its head were thick and twisted, like they'd been sharpened against stone. The bone ridges along its back flared as it snarled, and when it opened its mouth..." He paused, looking at Monika.
"What?" she whispered.
"It breathed fire, but not the usual kind. Not bright red and orange flames. This was blue fire, cold and hungry, like it could burn right through your soul."
Monika's grip on Rachel's arm tightened. "W-what did you do?"
Frank smirked. "What do you think? We fought."
Rachel folded her arms. She was also curious about Frank's story. "So how did that go?"
Frank chuckled dryly. "Well, at first? Not great."
Monika's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Frank sighed. "We thought we could scare them off. My dad sent out Mudsdale to use Earthquake, and Joe's Braviary took to the sky, ready to strike with dozens of Air Cutters. I had Donald—my Quaxwell—ready with Water Pulse. I figured fire types wouldn't want to mess with water. But the moment we got into formation..." He snapped his fingers. "The Houndoom howled."
Monika flinched. "Like an attack signal?"
"Exactly," Frank said. "And then they rushed us."
Rachel tilted her head. "But you had the type advantage, didn't you?"
"You'd think so," Frank admitted. "But the problem wasn't just the Houndoom. It was the way the pack moved. They didn't fight like wild Pokémon. They fought like a unit, like they'd trained together for this exact moment. They circled us, moving so fast it was hard to tell where the next attack was coming from. One second Braviary was in the air, the next, a Houndour used Smack Down and managed to drag it down. Mudsdale kicked one away, but another latched onto its leg and bit down, flames erupting from its fangs."
Monika gasped. "Ouch!"
Frank nodded. "It was chaos. Joe tried to keep control, calling out attacks, but even Hitmonchan's super-effective Mach Punches couldn't stop all of them at once. My Quaxwell was kicking left and right with Aqua Step, but for every Houndour that fell back, another took its place. And then... the Houndoom made its move."
Rachel narrowed her eyes. "What did it do?"
Frank exhaled. "It went straight for Joe."
Monika's mouth fell open. "The leader attacked him?!"
Frank nodded gravely. "It was fast—faster than anything I'd seen. One second it was behind the pack, the next it lunged at him, its jaws glowing with blue fire. Joe barely had time to react. His Hitmonchan jumped in to block it, but the moment the flames touched its gloves, they burned straight through them. Hitmonchan staggered back, and Joe was left wide open."
Rachel's expression hardened. "So what happened?"
Frank's eyes glinted. "Joe did the only thing he could—he ordered Oranguru to use Teleport."
Monika let out a breath of relief. "So Oranguru got him out of there?"
Frank smirked. "Oh no, Joe told him to bring back his father... but Oranguru messed it up a little."
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Frank crossed his arms. "Instead of bringing back Tomas Lindenberg for backup... Oranguru teleported David into the fight."
Monika's jaw dropped. "Wait—Uncle David?! But he must have been just seventeen back then, like you!"
Frank laughed. "Oh yeah, and you should've seen his face when he appeared right in the middle of a pack of angry Houndour."
Rachel shook her head with a smirk. "That must've been a shock."
"Oh, it was," Frank said. "And things were about to get even more interesting..."
Frank paused, letting the silence linger for a moment as Monika and Rachel both leaned in, their eyes wide, waiting for the next part of the story.
"So there we were," Frank began again, his voice growing more serious, "fighting for our lives in the middle of the woods with Houndooms snapping at our heels and Houndours coming at us from all directions."
He glanced at Monika, whose mouth was slightly open, and then at Rachel, who was listening intently.
"David looked scared at first. Imagine you are chilling at home and then suddenly out of nowhere, you find yourself in the middle of such mess. But even then... I could see he had that spark. He immediately called out his Dewott and Aipom."
Monika blinked. "Aipom? Don't you mean Ambipom?"
Frank chuckled. "No, no. Marcel was just a Aipom back then. Just as mischievous a Pokémon as today, only with one tail instead of two. And even back then it was good at distracting, dodging, and fighting back. Always full of energy."
Monika nodded. "Yeah, I remember how it took down a Gyarados. It's so fast."
Rachel leant towards her daughter. "Too bad, you were in school the other day. Marcel has finally lost. A Dragonite has beaten him."
"What?" both Monika and Frank exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yep, you heard me right. But to be honest, it was a double knock-out. So it wasn't total lost. Only a draw."
"Wow!" Monika exhaled.
"But don't let me interrupt you, dear!" Rachel chuckled at her husband.
Frank grinned at her and his eyes drifted back to the past. "So, Marcel was exactly what we needed. David's Dewott was strong as well, but its water attacks weren't enough to push the Houndour back. Just like my Quaxwell's. But Aipom kept darting in and out, throwing confusion into the pack's movements. And the Houndoom leader was howling, encouraging the pack to attack more ferociously."
Monika's voice was barely a whisper. "But what did you do, Dad?"
Frank leaned in closer. "I turned to look at Joe, and that's when I realize it." He sighed, re-living the memory in his mind.
"Realize what?" Monika asked.
"That he was one of the best trainers I've ever seen."
"How did you know?"
"Despite the battle around us, he was calm. But I could see the tension in his eyes. The pack wasn't backing down, and his Braviary was still in the air, circling around the fight, looking for an opening."
Rachel frowned. "But there was no time. What happened next?"
Frank let out a low breath. "Joe sent Oranguru off again, just like before. But this time, he called out to Braviary and Hitmonchan. Together, they were going to take on the Houndoom leader."
Monika leaned forward, her hands tight on her lap. "How did that work? Two against one?"
Frank grinned. "Let me tell you, that Hitmonchan of his isn't just good with punches. When it gets going, it's a powerhouse. Braviary might have been faster, but Hitmonchan was tough, and together, they took on that Houndoom."
The battle around them raged on, but the moment Joe's Pokémon engaged the leader Houndoom, the fight seemed to shift.
The massive Houndoom roared, its blue flames licking the air, as it faced down Hitmonchan and Braviary, who immediately stopped circling around them and went on the offensive.
Hitmonchan moved in first, its fists glowing with the energy of a powerful Mach Punch. The Houndoom twisted in a blur, dodging the attack with unnatural speed. Its sharp claws slashed through the air, narrowly missing Hitmonchan, but the punch had connected with a deep thud against the Houndoom's side.
In the sky above, Braviary dove down with terrifying speed, its wings beating hard enough to stir the very air. With a mighty Brave Bird attack, Braviary smashed into the Houndoom, its talons slashing across its opponent's body. But the Houndoom was relentless. It staggered but quickly regained its posture, launching a powerful Fire Blast from its open mouth, forcing Braviary to veer away, its feathers singeing in the process.
Frank could feel the tension in the air.
"Joe! It's not enough." Petr called out.
Houndoom was strong, but what scared them was how calm it seemed, how methodical it was. It wasn't just a mere wild Pokémon; it was a leader, guiding its pack on a mission.
While the battle raged above, Frank wasn't idle.He turned back to face the growing mass of Houndour closing in on him. They were relentless, their growls rising as they pushed forward, backed by their pack leader's commands.
"Dwayne," Frank muttered, reaching for his Pokéball to increase their numbers. "Let's go."
The small Roggenrola materialized in a flash of a white light, rolling out in front of Frank. Its tiny round body was almost the same color as the rocks around them, making it hard to see in the dim light.
The Houndour were pressing in, but Dwayne quickly set to work. With a loud and super-effective Rock Blast, chunks of stone shot out, catching two Houndour square in the chest and sending them tumbling back. But the pack didn't stop. They just kept coming.
David was still calling out commands to his Dewott and Aipom, but it was clear they were outnumbered. His Dewott slashed at any Houndour that got close with Razor Shell, water cutting through the air in sharp waves. Aipom leaped from place to place, its tail hand smacking at the Houndour that tried to follow it with a super-effective Brick Break. But despite their efforts, they couldn't hold back the pack for long.
Several Houndours got too closer to Frank and started to circle around him, their teeth barred and dripping with saliva. Frank could see the wild emotions, mostly hunger in their eyes and gulped down with fear.
"Help me out!" Frank shouted to his dad in panic.
Petr was nearby, guiding his Mudsdale through the chaos. "Mudsdale, use High Horsepower!" he commanded with nervous voice. The massive Pokémon charged, its hooves sending the ground shaking beneath them. Mudsdale crashed into the line of Houndour in front of Frank, sending them scattering, but the pack was vast and relentless.
"Silver, you too!" Petr shouted. His Unfezant swooped low, its wings cutting through the air like a blade, picking off straggling Houndour that tried to flank them.
But still, it wasn't enough. The howling of pack never stopped. They kept pushing forward, even more furious now.
Frank turned back to Joe. He had been calling out more commands, but it was clear that even with all their strength, they were struggling. Hitmonchan was using Close Combat and whenever it needed to take a break, Braviary swooped down and engage with the pack leader with Trash.
Then a loud boom and explosion of white light interrupted the fight and blinded everyone.
Monika's eyes were wide. "Wait... was it Oranguru again?"
Frank nodded grimly. "Yes. When Oranguru returned, everything changed."
Monika and Rachel were already leaning in, their eyes locked onto him.
"Was it Jake's great-grandpa?" Monika asked, a mixture of curiosity and awe in her voice.
Frank nodded.
"Yeah. It was old Tomas Lindenberg. The former master of the ranch. But listen, Monika... you have to understand something." He glanced at Rachel, who was just as captivated.
"Back then, I thought I knew what a strong trainer looked like. My dad was strong. Joe was even stronger. David was already a tough fighter at our age. But when Tomas arrived... he wasn't like any trainer I'd ever seen."
Rachel frowned slightly. "Because he was old?"
Frank chuckled. "Oh, he was old, alright. He must've been at least eighty, his back a little bent, his white hair combed back like he didn't have time to care about it. His face was full of wrinkles, but his eyes—"
He paused, shaking his head as if the memory still amazed him.
"His eyes burned like a wildfire. There was no hesitation, no doubt. Just pure focus. And the moment he arrived, the entire battlefield changed."
Monika gasped. "Did he say anything?"
Frank nodded. "He looked at the pack—at that giant Houndoom with its blue flames licking at the night air—and he muttered something like, 'I thought I taught these devils a lesson last time...'"
Rachel's brows lifted. "Last time? He fought them before?"
Frank shrugged. "I don't know. I never asked. But the way he said it, like this was just another night for him... in a way that scared me more than the Houndoom."
Monika shivered. "What did he do?"
Frank's voice dropped into a near whisper. "He reached into his coat, pulled out three Pokéballs... and threw them into the air."
In a flash of light, three Pokémon emerged onto the battlefield:
A massive Klawf, its rocky shell glistening under the moon, its pincers snapping with anticipation.
A formation of Falinks, their golden helmets shining as they marched in perfect unison, their movements disciplined and precise.
And then—an Armaldo, towering over the field, its armored claws ready to cut through anything in its path.
For the briefest moment, everything was still. The Houndooms snarled. The Houndours hesitated. Even the massive Houndoom leader flicked its ears in acknowledgment. Like it knew who had just entered the fight.
And then, chaos erupted again.
Klawf let out a deep, rumbling hiss before slamming the ground with its mighty claws, sending jagged rocks bursting upwards. A group of Houndour yelped as the stones knocked them aside, the ground trembling under the force of the impact. And if anything got close to him, Klawf just used Crab Hammer and sent the attackers flying.
Meanwhile, the Falinks formation surged forward like a single entity. They weaved between the enemy ranks, their bodies moving in flawless synchronization, striking with precision. Their Rock Smash attacks banged into the Houndour closest to them, sending them flying back in perfect sequence—one by one, no wasted movement.
Frank's eyes widened as he told this part. "But the most terrifying thing? Tomas didn't even say anything. He didn't command them like I or David had to do with our Pokémon. He just... looked."
Monika's jaw dropped. "They knew what to do?"
Frank nodded. "Like they could read his mind. Klawf and Falinks weren't just fighting—they were dismantling the pack, cutting through the most dangerous ones first, making sure they couldn't regroup."
Monika was clutching the couch, her little fingers curled into the fabric. "What about Armaldo?"
Frank grinned. "Oh, that one? That one was for us."
As Frank and David struggled to hold back their attackers, Armaldo suddenly burst through the chaos, landing between them and the advancing Houndour. It let out a deep, guttural screech before rearing back, its massive claws glowing with power.
With a single swipe of Liquidation in form of a long blue sword, it carved through the battlefield, sending groups of Houndour flying like ragdolls. The armored beast then positioned itself directly between the young trainers and the enemy pack, its presence alone enough to force the Houndour to hesitate.
David, breathing hard, looked up at the towering Pokémon and then back at Tomas. The old man gave the slightest flick of his eyes in the direction of his grandson.
Armaldo moved immediately.
David barely had time to react before Armaldo was attacking, covering them both. Its massive claws gleamed as it slashed through the pack, deflecting fire attacks with its thick, rock-hard armor.
Even Frank, caught up in the fight, had to pause for a second and just watch.
"It fought without hesitation, without fear. Every time I needed help, Tomas barely moved—he'd just flick his fingers, and Armaldo knew exactly where to go next."
Rachel let out a low whistle. "That's some serious Pokémon. By the way, is it still here? I don't recall ever seeing that."
Frank replied. "I've seen it at the lake. I think it stays underwater most of the time."
Monika, still wide-eyed, reminded them of the battle. "What about the Houndoom?!"
Frank grinned. "Oh, that fight was only beginning."
As Klawf and Falinks broke the pack's formation and Armaldo shielded the younger trainers, Tomas reached for his next Pokéball. He tossed it in the air with a simple flick of his wrist, like a man who had done this a thousand times before.
And from the light emerged a Nidoking.
But this was no ordinary Nidoking. Its massive form dwarfed even the Houndoom, its muscular arms flexing as it hit the ground with a heavy thud. A long scar ran across its thick hide, proof of battles fought long ago.
Tomas crossed his arms and finally spoke again. "Alex. Handle it."
The Houndoom let out a furious snarl, its blue flames growing stronger as it prepared to strike. But Nidoking did not flinch.
Then—the battlefield exploded into action.
The Houndoom struck first, leaping forward with a powerful Fire Fang, its jaws wreathed in ghostly blue flames. But Nidoking was ready. It sidestepped with shocking speed, its tail whipping around in a blur and slamming into the Houndoom's ribs with an earth-shaking THUD.
The Houndoom was knocked back, but it caught itself midair, twisting and landing on all fours. Its eyes blazed with fury.
Frank clenched his fist as he relived the moment. "They fought like two titans. No wasted movement. No hesitation. Just pure power."
Monika let out a tiny gasp. "Did Nidoking win?!"
Frank smirked. "Oh, you'll see."
Frank took a slow breath before continuing, his voice dropping into a near whisper.
"I swear to you, Monika… it felt like a battle between two Legendaries."
Monika's eyes were wide as saucers, her little hands clutching the armrest of the couch. Even Rachel, who had seen her fair share of Pokémon battles, was leaning in.
Frank shook his head, lost in the memory. "That Houndoom—it wasn't just strong. It was furious as well. We had torn through its pack. We had backed it into a corner. And it knew. This was its last stand."
The massive Houndoom let out a deep, guttural snarl, lowering its head as it stared down Nidoking. The blue flames around its maw flickered wildly, its muscles tensed like coiled steel.
Nidoking Alex stood his ground, his tail twitching in anticipation. The scarred veteran of a hundred battles.
Then—they struck.
Nidoking launched forward with a Poison Tail, his massive, venomous appendage glowing a sickly purple as he whipped it toward Houndoom's side. But the pack leader was just as fast, twisting its body mid-dodge and clamping down with a brutal Crunch!
The sound of its fangs sinking into Nidoking's armored hide sent shivers down Frank's spine. The sheer force of the bite made Nidoking stagger, but Tomas' Pokémon refused to fall.
With a furious roar, Nidoking slammed his foot into the ground and retaliated with Mud-Slap, sending a spray of thick, wet dirt into Houndoom's burning eyes.
The Houndoom snarled in rage, momentarily blinded, and Nidoking seized the moment.
The ground trembled as jagged stones erupted from below—the Stone Edge attack striking true, slamming into Houndoom's chest. The blue-flamed beast yelped as it was thrown back, landing hard against the dirt.
For a split second, Frank thought they had won.
But then—the air burned.
The Houndoom let out a deep, feral growl and then opened its jaws wide—so wide that Frank could see the swirling inferno gathering in its throat.
"Hyper Beam," Frank murmured, as if reliving the horror all over again.
The golden-orange beam ripped through the battlefield.
Nidoking barely had time to react before the attack struck him head-on. The shockwave alone sent dust and embers flying, nearly knocking Frank off his feet.
When the dust settled, Nidoking was standing, but barely. His entire body trembled from the impact, his breathing ragged as he struggled to stay upright.
"He was hurt," Frank admitted. "I could see it. But he refused to go down."
Monika held her breath. "Did Houndoom attack again?"
Frank shook his head. "Not right away. It looked around first... and that's when it realized something."
The Houndoom took in the battlefield, its glowing red eyes scanning the area.
Its pack was in ruins.
Klawf and Falinks had torn through the Houndour and the weaker Houndooms, systematically taking down the most dangerous opponents first.
Armaldo had cleared a path, supporting David, Frank, and Joe's Pokémon with devastating precision.
Most of the Houndour had fainted. Those still standing had fled, disappearing into the shadows of the trees.
The Houndoom let out a piercing howl of rage, its body trembling with barely contained fury. Then, its blue flames roared to life, burning hotter and higher than before.
Rachel leaned forward. "It wasn't about to run away, was it?"
Frank shook his head. "No. It wanted revenge."
The Houndoom crouched low, its muscles tensing. Its flames turned pure white, a sign of the terrifying move it was preparing.
"Inferno," Joe murmured. "And it's going to be strong."
Nidoking was still struggling to stand, breathing heavily from the earlier Hyper Beam. Tomas knew he couldn't take another hit.
So, with a simple flick of his fingers—he motioned for Klawf to step forward.
The massive rock crab lurched forward, its jagged shell gleaming in the firelight. It raised one of its enormous claws, which glowed an ominous blue.
"Crab Hammer," David whispered.
Klawf swung its claw down with immense force, aiming straight for Houndoom's head.
But—
At the last second, Houndoom's eyes flickered with intelligence.
It canceled the Inferno and instead twisted its body, its fangs curling into a dark, malicious grin.
Foul Play.
The very strength of Klawf's own Crab Hammer was turned against it.
The impact was brutal. The moment Klawf's own momentum was used against it, the giant rock crab stumbled, its rocky limbs trembling. It let out a low, pained gurgle before finally collapsing.
"Klawf was down," Frank muttered. "Just like that."
Frank clenched his fist. "That was when we really saw how bad this was. The pack was gone—but this Houndoom? This thing wasn't a normal Pokémon. It was a monster. By then, almost every other battle had ended. Only Houndoom remained standing."
"And what did you do?" Monika breathed out.
"That's when we all moved to help," Frank said. "Me, David, Joe—we weren't going to let Tomas fight alone."
"Our Pokémon surged forward. My Quaxwell and David's Dewott sent Water Pulses toward Houndoom. But it was too fast."
"Too fast?"
"Yes, it ducked. It weaved. And then, in a blur of motion, it opened its maw and struck both mine and David's Pokémon with super quick Dark Pulse."
"Were they down?" Rachel asked.
"Unfortunately," Frank sighed.
Joe turned towards the boys.
"Stay back and let my father handle this!"
The Houndoom snarled, licking its burning fangs, preparing another Inferno.
But this time, Tomas had had enough.
He narrowed his eyes, then tilted his head ever so slightly—toward Falinks.
The Fighting-type formation instantly responded. The lead soldier in the front let out a sharp cry, and together, the unit charged a massive Focus Blast.
At the same time—Nidoking had finally steadied himself. His muscles flexed, and with a deep roar, he summoned a roaring tidal wave—Surf.
The Houndoom fired its Inferno just as the Focus Blast and Surf were unleashed.
Fire and water collided.
The battlefield shook.
Embers and steam exploded in all directions as the three attacks clashed.
But unlike before—this time, Tomas' Pokémon had the advantage.
Slowly, step by step, they pressed forward, forcing Houndoom to retreat with each impact.
The end was near.
Monika was gripping her seat so tightly her knuckles were white.
"Did you win?" she whispered.
Frank grinned. "Oh, just wait and see."
Frank took a slow sip of his tea, savoring the moment before continuing. Monika was practically bouncing with anticipation, her hands gripping the armrest so tightly her knuckles turned white. Even Rachel, though more composed, had a curious smirk on her face.
"So," Frank said, dragging out the word just to tease Monika a little. "Where were we? Oh yeah—Houndoom was still standing."
Monika gasped. "Even after the Focus Blast and Surf?!"
Frank nodded. "Yep. It was staggering, sure, but it wasn't done yet. That thing… it had the spirit of a real fighter. Even with the battlefield practically melting around it, even with Tomas' Pokémon forcing it back, it refused to go down."
Rachel raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like Tomas really found a worthy opponent."
Frank chuckled. "Yeah… but even that Houndoom wasn't a match for Nidoking's last attack."
With Falinks pressing forward, their tiny armored bodies weaving and dodging, Houndoom was momentarily distracted. Falinks was using Close Combat and each of its units was fiercely attacking Houndoom from different side. Houndoom was confused and not sure which one of the charging balls to bite first.
And that moment was all Nidoking needed.
Frank took a breath, shaking his head in admiration. "I've never seen anything like it, even to this day."
Tomas' Nidoking—Alex—took a deep, rumbling breath.
The air around him shifted.
It was like the ground itself responded to him. His entire body began to glow faintly, energy coiling around him, making the very air around him hum with raw, terrifying power.
Monika gasped. "What was he doing?!"
"Charging up Head Smash," Frank answered.
And then—
Nidoking charged.
It wasn't just a run. It was a thunderous, earth-shaking sprint, every step pounding against the ground like a war drum.
His horn gleamed, his muscles flexed, and just before impact—
BOOM!
Nidoking slammed into Houndoom with the force of a falling meteorite.
The sound of the impact exploded through the battlefield, a deep, gut-wrenching crack that sent a shockwave through the dirt.
The massive Houndoom, the leader of the pack, the unstoppable beast with blue flames, was lifted off its feet and sent hurtling backward.
It crashed into the scorched earth, rolling once—twice—before finally coming to a stop.
Silence.
Absolute.
Total.
Silence.
Tomas nodded at his Pokémon in satisfaction.
Frank exhaled, letting the memory settle before saying, "It was over."
Monika sat up straight, eyes wide. "That's it?"
Frank smiled. "Well… almost."
Rachel smirked. "I knew it. There's always one more thing with events around here."
Frank leaned back, stretching his arms. "See, while the main battle was over, there was one last sound."
Monika tilted her head. "What was it?"
Frank met her gaze. "A howl."
It was faint. A weak, wounded howl.
Two teenagers, Frank and David exchanged a glance, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
They moved cautiously, stepping over the battlefield, avoiding the fallen Pokémon as they followed the noise.
The further they went, the quieter everything became. The night air was thick with the scent of burnt earth and embers, the only sound their own breathing and the occasional rustle of the wind.
Then, just beyond a cluster of blackened trees, they saw it.
A lone Houndour.
It was small—probably younger than the others. Its left foreleg was injured, leaving it limping as it tried to move.
But it wasn't afraid.
Frank stopped in his tracks, placing a hand on David's shoulder as they watched.
"Dude, wait!"
The Houndour looked at them—not with hostility, not with rage—but with something else entirely.
"It was asking for help," Frank said with a strange expression on his face.
Monika's lips parted slightly. "Did it do anything?"
Frank chuckled. "Not really."
The moment stretched between them.
David took a slow step forward. Then another.
The Houndour didn't move away. It just watched him.
Frank didn't know how to describe it, even now. It was like something clicked between them—like the two just understood each other instantly.
David knelt, holding out a hand, palm open.
The Houndour hesitated. Then, with slow, deliberate movements, it stepped forward and pressed its nose against David's hand.
Monika gasped. "Just like that?!"
Frank nodded. "Just like that."
A quiet moment passed before Rachel finally spoke. "And that," she said, "I guess is how David met Fluffy, huh?"
Frank smiled. "Yep. That little Houndour—it became the three-headed beast that can wipe the floor with anything she sees."
Monika sat back, staring at him in awe. "That was really Fluffy?"
Frank nodded.
"That same little Houndour is now fully evolved and out there protecting the ranch from her former pack."
Silence filled the room for a moment.
Then—
"Whoa," Monika whispered.
Rachel stretched her arms behind her head and smirked. "So, let me get this straight," she said, her tone teasing. "David catches a Pokémon after an epic battle in the middle of the night, surrounded by fire and chaos, while what I got was Luna jumping on me and scratching my face?"
Frank chuckled. "Well, she's left her mark on you, Rach. Literally."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, a Purrloin really made me purr. With anger. Real dramatic." She turned to Monika and pointed toward the hallway. "Alright, kiddo, you know the drill. Time for bed."
Monika groaned, sinking into the couch like she was physically being weighed down by exhaustion all of a sudden. "But Moooooom…!"
"Nope."
"But I wanna hear more—!"
"Tomorrow," Rachel said firmly.
Monika turned to Frank, eyes big and pleading. "Can we at least plan the next story?"
Frank smirked. "Sure, kid. What do you wanna hear next?"
"I don't know, let me think."
"How I met your mother?" Frank suggested.
But Monika waved him off. "I know that. A young girl was lost in mountains and then a prince Charming came and saved her from the..."
Rachel spitted out her drink as she snorted with laugh hearing that.
"That's... cough... cough... really REALLY stretched from how it really happened."
"So what about how you met Girafarig!" Monika suggested after the trio stopped laughing.
Frank nodded. "Alright, we'll do that next time. But now—" He gave her a pointed look. "I'm with mom. Off to bed."
Monika pouted but reluctantly slid off the couch. "Fine," she huffed. "But the Girafarig story better be just as cool as this one!"
Frank ruffled her hair as she passed. "Trust me, kid. It's always cool."
Rachel followed Monika down the hallway to sleep with her in case she had a nightmare, throwing a final smirk over her shoulder. "Better start thinking of really legendary-level story, pal. You've got high expectations to meet."