"Beep—Monferno. Fire/Fighting-type. Playful Pokémon.
Ability: Blaze.
Moves: Mach Punch, Scratch, Leer, Ember, Taunt, Fury Swipes, Flame Wheel, Feint, Torment, Fire Spin.
Egg Moves: Focus Energy, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch.
Dex Entry: It extends the flame on its tail to appear larger and intimidate foes."
A young fighter in the stands looked from the Pokédex to the battlefield, then at the Monferno beside him.
"...Are you two seriously the same species?"
He glanced at his partner with squinted eyes. "Look at him—he unlocked Stage Two Blaze. You haven't even triggered regular Blaze."
Monferno: Excuse me? You ever tanked a firestorm like Ash did?
His Monferno picked its nose in defiance.
On the field, Ash's Monferno was still engulfed in flames, the heat around it now enveloping the entire stage.
"Why is Monferno constantly losing stamina?" Dawn asked, watching anxiously. Piplup beside her looked equally worried.
"The lower its HP, the stronger its Blaze gets," Brock explained. "But it's a race against time. If it doesn't win fast, it'll burn out."
Dawn's face tensed. "So... if Caleb just uses Protect or Substitute to stall it out, Monferno could collapse on its own?"
Ash smiled slightly, watching Monferno burn brighter and hotter.
"Monferno, Flame Wheel!"
"RAAAAAH!!"
A blazing vortex erupted around Monferno, searing the air. Haunter winced, unable to keep its eyes open.
"Gwaaahh (/w＼)—!"
Too hot! Stop it! I'm gonna get exorcised out here!
"Don't panic! Remember what I taught you last night!" Caleb's voice rang from behind.
Haunter blinked. Right!
In case Ash suddenly "activated protagonist mode," Caleb had prepared a backup plan.
His lips curved into a smirk. "Haunter—Skill Swap!"
Skill Swap — a Psychic-type move that exchanges the user's ability with the opponent's.
In an instant—
"Gwaa~"
Haunter grinned as an invisible thread of energy linked him and Monferno.
Monferno's rampaging Blaze flickered.
Then extinguished.
Monferno, now with Levitate, floated an inch off the ground.
Monferno: ???
Meanwhile, Haunter felt the searing heat course through its ectoplasmic body. He smirked.
Interesting.
"What are you waiting for?! Attack! Shadow Punch!" Caleb barked.
Quit standing there grinning like a cartoon villain! This is the part where we finish him!
"Gwaaah!!"
Haunter nodded, fists glowing with ghostly power.
WHOOSH—
A sharp uppercut smashed into the now-levitating Monferno.
"RAAAHH—!" Monferno cried as it crashed to the ground.
Silence. Deafening silence.
The blazing Monferno... just went down?
The audience stared, unable to process what had just happened.
Like... you'd pulled down your pants only to find the show's already over.
Somewhere in the crowd, a fan jumped up and screamed:
"Monferno! You have to win!!"
The chant caught on—
"You're not done yet, Monferno!"
"Shake it off! You're stronger than this!"
"You've got more fight in you—GET UP!"
"Come on! Get up!"
"STAND! UP!"
Amid the wave of voices, Korrina quietly muttered, "So uh... is Caleb the kind of villain you'd find on kids' TV right before he gets wrecked by the power of friendship?"
Maylene nodded solemnly. Bea remained silent—but even she couldn't deny the uncanny resemblance.
As Caleb's apprentice, Bea chose her silence carefully.
Still, she agreed.
...He kinda does look like one.
On the ground, Monferno lay trembling.
Is this it...? Am I done...?
So tired...
He'd been abandoned. Then saved. Lost. Won. Laughed. Cried.
Was it okay to stop here?
He asked himself.
No.
He still hadn't proven anything to Paul. Still hadn't fulfilled his promise to Ash.
He hadn't lived the life he wanted yet. He still carried everyone's hopes.
I can't go down. I won't go down. I'm NOT DONE!
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.
The fire that had died out reignited—flaring even brighter than before.
Shakily, Monferno rose to his feet.
If Stage Two Blaze isn't enough...
Then I'll unleash Stage Three.
On the other side, Haunter was still grinning... until Monferno moved.
"Gwaaaa?! (#｀Д´)"
WHAT?! I KO'D YOU!! Stay DOWN, you flaming primate!!
Panicking, Haunter hurled everything at him—Confuse Ray, Will-O-Wisp, Thunder Wave, Toxic—all at once.
Monferno barely stood when a kaleidoscope of status effects slammed into him—dazzling rays, ghostly flames, electric pulses, toxic mists...
His world spun.
His body tingled.
His vision dimmed.
Purple poison patches crept across his fur, leeching what little energy remained.
"Rhh... aaa…"
No... not... yet...
"Gwaa (#｀Д´)—! WHY WON'T YOU STAY DOWN?!"
With a scream of frustration, Haunter flung Hex at full power—
The more afflicted the target, the more devastating the strike.