Joe raised an eyebrow, intrigued. David stepped aside, revealing Drake, who stepped forward with his usual confident grin.
"Hello, Mr. Lindenberg. I see you're testing trainers against your old team," Drake said. "Mind if I give it a go?"
As Drake confidently stepped forward, Joe sized him up with a calm, curious gaze. "You're the trainer with the Dragonite who knocked out David's Ambipom, right?" Joe asked with a raised eyebrow.
Drake grinned, crossing his arms. "That's right. That little fella give me a hell of a fight. But unfortunately, it was only a double knock-out."
Joe chuckled, nodding. "Impressive. Marcel is not one to go down easily. But let's focus on here and now. Do you have anything in your arsenal that could stand up to my Crabominable?"
"Perhaps," Drake replied, his grin widening. He reached for his Pokéball as David, now alert to the intense battle that's about to unfold, gestured to Jake and Monika.
"Come on, kids. Let's sit over there. I don't want you too close," David said, ushering the children to a safe distance while keeping a firm hold on Charmander.
As soon as they settled down, Drake tossed his Pokéball high into the air, and in a flash of light, a massive Onix materialized on the battlefield, towering over everything around it. The crowd gasped, murmurs of awe rippling through the audience. The ground vibrated slightly under Onix's weight, the whole length of its rocky body standing over eight meters tall.
"Wow, Dad! Look how huge it is!" Jake exclaimed, eyes wide in amazement.
"Char! Char!" Charmander was also totally impressed by the massive giant snake.
Even Monika, though trying to act unimpressed, couldn't hide her fascination. "That thing's like a rock mountain."
David gave a quiet smile, but his eyes were fixed on the battlefield, where things were about to get intense.
Drake wasted no time. "Onix, let's power up! Use Harden, then Curse!"
Onix's body gleamed as it hardened its rock surface, and then a heavy astral aura surrounded it, lowering its speed but significantly increasing its attack and defense.
"Now, Iron Head!" Drake commanded.
Onix roared, lowering its head as its body coiled and sprang forward. The air shook with the sheer force of the giant rock snake's momentum, and the battlefield trembled as Onix slammed its iron-tough head into Crabominable. The impact was so strong that dust and rocks scattered from the battlefield, and the ground shook violently beneath the crowd.
"Nice one. Let's enjoy this, Crabominable!" Joe chuckled with amusement as Crabominable absorbed the blow, only sliding back a few meters.
"Follow up with Heavy Slam!" Drake yelled, his eyes gleaming.
Onix reared up high, casting a massive shadow over Crabominable before crashing down with the full weight of its massive body. The ground erupted in a cloud of dust as Onix landed, sending a rumble that could be felt even by the onlookers.
"Crabominable, Crab Hammer!" Joe instructed, and Crabominable's oversized pincer glowed with water-type energy as it swung upwards toward Onix, aiming to knock the serpent back.
But Drake was quick. "Dodge it, Onix! Help yourself with Rock Polish!"
Onix slithered aside, narrowly avoiding the powerful blow, and its entire rocky body shimmered as it used the status move to increase its speed. The enormous Pokémon, despite its size, began to glide around Crabominable at increased speed, circling it like a predator about to pounce on its prey. The loud, grinding sound of Onix's rocky body slithering across the battlefield was almost deafening, the earth trembling under the immense pressure of its movement.
"Again, Rock Polish and follow up with Iron Head!" Drake ordered.
Onix struck Crabominable repeatedly, its movements faster and more precise now, hammering the crab with a series of well-placed blows. Crabominable stumbled but remained upright, enduring the attacks without flinching. As Crabominable prepared to counterattack with a blast of Bubble Beam, Drake shouted, "Onix, Dig!"
With a thunderous roar, Onix plunged into the ground, leaving a massive hole in the battlefield as it burrowed underground. Crabominable's Bubble Beam shot into the air, missing its target.
Joe narrowed his eyes. "Hmm... impressive speed. But let's get serious, Crabominable. Be ready for when it comes back up."
Onix burst from the ground moments later, its massive head aimed directly at Crabominable with another Iron Head. Joe remained calm and called out, "Now, Rock Smash!"
With a quick and powerful motion, Crabominable swung its mighty claw, meeting Onix head-on with a devastating Fighting-type move. The force of the impact sent Onix reeling backward, its body shaking from the power of the blow. The crowd gasped at the sheer strength of Crabominable's attack, but Onix wasn't out yet.
"Let's fight from a distance! Dragon Breath!" Drake commanded, determination flashing in his eyes.
Onix reared up again, its mouth glowing with an eerie green light before unleashing a massive blast of draconic energy. The Dragon Breath shot across the battlefield with a powerful roar, heading straight for Crabominable.
"Crabominable, Focus Blast!" Joe called.
The two attacks collided in midair, creating a massive explosion of light and dust that rattled the battlefield. Both Pokémon were pushed back slightly from the force of the impact, but neither backed down.
"Onix, Dig again!" Drake yelled, hoping to evade the next attack. Onix burrowed underground once more, disappearing from sight. But Joe had seen this tactic before.
"Crabominable, hit that hole with Chilling Water!"
Crabominable's claw glowed a bright blue as it launched a freezing torrent of water into the hole Onix had just created. The crowd gasped as steam rose from the battlefield, and Drake's eyes widened in panic.
"Onix, get out of there, quick!" Drake shouted desperately.
Onix burst from the ground, shaking off the freezing water, but Joe was ready. "Now, Crab Hammer!"
Before Onix could react, Crabominable charged forward, its claw glowing with blue watery energy as it delivered a crushing blow with its pincer, landing directly on Onix's rocky body. The massive rock snake let out a low groan before collapsing to the ground with a thunderous crash, defeated.
The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps of amazement. Drake, though disappointed, smiled proudly as he recalled his Onix. He looked across the field at Joe, who gave him a respectful nod.
"That was an impressive match, Drake," Joe said. "Your Onix is strong, and you've got a solid strategy. And if I may give you an advice, you should try to use something more than just a raw power. You already have pretty strong foundation, so you can build anything upon it. Don't be afraid to try some unusual tactics, you can totally pull them off. Your fighting method was very effective, so keep refining that technique of yours as well."
Drake grinned, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Thanks. That was one heck of a fight."
Drake asked: "Can I give it one more try? I have more Pokémon than just Onix."
"Go ahead," Joe nodded.
As soon as Drake tossed his Pokéball into the air, a pink, blob-like Pokémon appeared with a gleam in its eyes—Ditto. The audience murmured, curious to see what strategy Drake had in mind, especially against the towering Crabominable.
Joe raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Ditto, huh? Well, this should be interesting."
Drake grinned. "Ditto, Transform!"
In a flash, Ditto's body morphed, shifting and elongating until it became a mirror image of Joe's Crabominable, complete with massive claws and the same icy fur. But everyone knew this wasn't going to be an even fight—Ditto lacked the sheer power and experience of Joe's seasoned Pokémon. Still, Drake had a plan.
"Alright, Ditto, we're going to play smart! Use Double Team!" Drake commanded, his voice sharp with focus.
Ditto-Crabominable's body shimmered, and suddenly, several copies of it appeared all around the battlefield, each one an identical clone of the original. The real Ditto-Crabominable disappeared into the crowd of duplicates. It was the same tactics that Drake saw during battle with David.
Joe remained calm. "Crabominable, Ice Punch through them."
Joe's Crabominable lunged forward, its claw glowing with a chilling aura as it began smashing through the copies one by one, icy fists swinging with brutal force. Shards of ice and snow sprayed across the field as each duplicate vanished into thin air.
Drake stayed focused. "Now, Frost Breath!"
Ditto-Crabominable, hidden among the duplicates, suddenly unleashed a frigid blast of icy breath from a different direction, catching Joe's Crabominable off-guard. The icy wind swept across the battlefield, creating a chilling frost that coated Crabominable's fur. The attack wasn't strong enough to freeze it, but it slowed Crabominable down, giving Ditto-Crabominable an opening.
"Good! Keep moving! Hit and run! Ice Punch and back off!" Drake ordered.
Ditto-Crabominable darted forward from the side, landing a swift Ice Punch against Joe's Crabominable's torso before retreating. Joe's Pokémon staggered slightly, the cold seeping into its thick fur. Ditto-Crabominable quickly vanished back into the crowd of duplicates, leaving Joe's Crabominable swinging wildly at illusions.
Joe watched, his eyes narrowing. "Impressive strategy, Drake. But Crabominable, let's clear the field. Avalanche!"
Joe's Crabominable roared, and with a tremendous motion, it slammed its claws into the ground. A massive wave of snow and ice crashed down from above, obliterating the remaining Double Team copies. The field was now clear, with only Ditto-Crabominable standing across from the real Crabominable, both locking eyes.
Drake smirked. "Let's turn the tables. Ditto, Hail! Then freeze it up with Blizzard!"
Ditto-Crabominable raised its arms, and soon, dark clouds formed above the battlefield, releasing a torrent of ice and hailstones. The storm swirled around, making visibility difficult as the temperature dropped even further. Crabominable's movements slowed under the intense cold.
Drake wasted no time. "Now, another Blizzard!"
Ditto-Crabominable unleashed second massive, swirling storm of ice and snow, aiming to freeze Joe's Pokémon solid. The powerful attack swept across the field, and for a brief moment, Joe's Crabominable was engulfed in the freezing wind, ice clinging to its fur and limbs.
"Go, Ditto! Dynamic Punch!" Drake called out.
Ditto-Crabominable rushed forward, its fist glowing with raw power. It lunged at the real Crabominable, aiming a devastating punch right at its frozen torso.
But just before the punch landed, Joe's eyes flickered with amusement. "Crabominable, use that Blizzard of his!"
"What?"
With a mighty roar, Joe's Crabominable shattered the thin layer of ice encasing it, and the ice storm which was engulfing it started to quickly move towards Ditto-Crabominable.
"But how?" Drake gasped as he saw Joe turn his attack against him.
The force of Blizzard overwhelmed Ditto-Crabominable Dynamic Punch, sending it skidding back across the battlefield, its form wavering under the pressure.
"Hang in there, Ditto!" Drake urged, eyes sharp with determination. "One last shot! Ice Punch!"
Ditto-Crabominable, battered but not beaten, charged forward once more, its icy claw raised high. It landed another hit on Joe's Crabominable, hoping to freeze it in place again.
"AGAIN!" Drake shouted.
But Joe wasn't letting up. "Crabominable, finish it!"
Joe's Crabominable's muscles rippled as it swung forward with immense force. It gripped Ditto-Crabominable's arm and made it punch itself in the face with its own Ice Punch over and over again.
"Ha ha, stop punching yourself!" Monika giggled.
The move connected, and Ditto-Crabominable was knocked down, ice sparking along its body as it reverted back to its pink blob form.
The battle was over.
Drake smiled, recalling his Ditto. "You did great, Ditto. Thanks, buddy."
Joe approached Drake with a nod of approval. "That was clever, Drake. You used Ditto's versatility well, and your hit-and-run tactics were smart. I guess it works like magic against other Pokémon."
Drake nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Yeah, it does. Thanks for the battle. Your Crabominable's a beast!"
Joe chuckled, "You've got a lot of potential. Keep refining those strategies, keep making your Pokémon stronger and you'll get there."
David sprang to his feet and dashed over to Drake, excitement clear on his face.
"Go on, use your Dragonite! I want to see it in action again!" David encouraged, his grin widening.
"Really?" Drake hesitated for a moment, then saw David's eager expression and nodded.
"Really!" David affirmed with a determined nod.
Drake turned back towards Joe, who was watching with a calm but curious expression. "I've got one more Pokémon for you," Drake called out. He reached for the Pokéball hanging around his neck, clicked it to enlarge, and with a flick of his wrist, threw it high into the air.
A bright flash erupted as Dragonite emerged, hovering powerfully above the battlefield. The crowd gasped in awe at the sight of the majestic Dragon-type, its wings beating steadily as it surveyed the arena from above.
"Wow!" Jake and Monika exclaimed, eyes wide in admiration. Even Charmander's tail flame flared up, reflecting its excitement at the sight of the imposing Dragonite.
Joe nodded approvingly. "Dragonite, huh? Impressive. But Dragonite's weak to Ice-type moves, so let's even the playing field." With a swift motion, Joe recalled Crabominable and reached for another Pokéball at his belt. "Alright, I choose you!"
===
Tropius
Level: 89
Name: N/A
Gender: Male
Type: Grass / Flying
Affinity: Grass (Full), Flying (Full)
Moves: Leaf Storm (86), Gust (49 to 52), Hurricane (86 to 88), Stomp (65), Air Slash (70), Body Slam (82), Outrage (83), Synthesis (79), Solar Beam (85), Protect (73), Aerial Ace (84), Dragon Tail (65), Sunny Day (82 to 86), Seed Bomb (84), Grass Knot (82 to 85), Body Press (69), Fly (84), Tailwind (79), Giga Impact (87), Hyper Beam (87)
Abilities:
Chlorophyll – Doubles Tropius' Speed stat in sunny weather
Harvest – Tropius has a 50% chance of restoring a held Berry after it is used
Weak to: Poison, Rock, Ice, (Ice, Flying, Fire)
Immune to: Ground
Resistant to: Fighting, Water, Grass (2x)
Weakness Removed: Ice (1x), Flying, Fire
===
With a toss, a gigantic Tropius appeared on the battlefield, its leafy wings spreading wide, casting a long shadow over the ground as it let out a rumbling growl. Its massive body swayed slightly, but its gaze was locked on the Dragonite overhead.
Drake wasted no time. "Let's go, Dragonite! Dragon Dance!"
In mid-air, Dragonite began to spin gracefully, its movements deceptively fluid for a creature of its size. With each twirl, a faint glow surrounded its body, its attack and speed increasing with every loop. The dragon's muscles tensed, power building up for the oncoming strike.
"Again, Dragon Dance!" Drake shouted. The crowd watched in amazement as Dragonite's stat-boosting dance made it faster and stronger with each passing second.
Joe remained calm. "Tropius, stay ready. Watch it carefully."
Drake smirked. "Now, Dragonite, Extreme Speed!"
In an instant, Dragonite became a blur, rocketing down from the sky toward Tropius, aiming for a direct hit with incredible velocity.
"Leaf Storm, now!" Joe commanded.
Just before Dragonite could collide, Tropius flapped its massive wings, sending a swirling barrage of razor-sharp leaves into the air. The leaves formed a green vortex, intercepting Dragonite's charge just inches before its strike could land. The impact forced Dragonite back, halting its momentum mid-flight.
"Dragon Pulse!" Drake ordered.
A brilliant beam of dragon energy shot from Dragonite's mouth, aimed straight at Tropius.
"Solar Beam!" Joe quickly ordered.
Tropius, already gathering sunlight, unleashed a beam of pure solar energy. The two attacks met in mid-air, colliding with a thunderous explosion that sent shockwaves across the battlefield. Dust and debris flew everywhere as the crowd shielded their eyes from the blast.
"Dragonite, take to the sky!" Drake shouted, not wasting any time.
"Follow it!" Joe responded. Tropius flapped its wings, lifting itself off the ground, but it was clear that Dragonite's speed was far superior. The dragon soared effortlessly through the air, weaving through the clouds as Tropius struggled to keep up.
"Now, hit it with another Dragon Pulse!" Drake commanded, pushing the offensive.
Joe's response was quick. "Hurricane!"
As Dragonite's Dragon Pulse shot forward, Tropius flapped its wings furiously, summoning a massive tornado that swept across the battlefield. The swirling vortex of wind intercepted the pulse of energy, absorbing it into the storm. Tropius manipulated the hurricane with experienced precision, adding more force to it as it sent the dragon-infused whirlwind hurtling toward Dragonite.
"Dodge it!" Drake yelled, but the swirling vortex followed Dragonite relentlessly.
"Extreme Speed and Dragon Rush! Let's go all out!" Drake called, attempting a high-risk maneuver.
Dragonite's body shimmered with dragon energy as it accelerated even faster, becoming a blur in the sky. The dragon's outline crackled with raw power as it aimed itself like a missile, charging directly toward Tropius, intending to overpower it with brute force.
Tropius braced itself as Dragonite bore down on it at blinding speed, but at the last moment, Joe made his move. "Dragon Tail!"
Just as Dragonite closed in, Tropius swung its massive tail in a wide arc. The moment Dragonite made contact, the green tail connected with a resounding thud, knocking Dragonite back. In an instant, the powerful Dragon Tail activated its secondary effect, sending Dragonite back into its Pokéball in a flash of red light.
"What the—?!" Drake's eyes widened in shock. Dragonite was forcibly recalled, and in its place, Haunter appeared on the field, looking just as confused as its trainer.
But the Hurricane infused with Dragon Pulse was still raging across the battlefield. The swirling winds caught Haunter completely off-guard, slamming into the ghostly Pokémon and knocking it out before it could even react.
Drake's jaw dropped as Haunter crumpled to the ground, out cold. He quickly recalled his fallen Pokémon, shaking his head in disbelief.
Joe chuckled, clearly impressed. "That was a gutsy play, Drake. You've got a real knack for thinking on your feet. But you've gotta watch out for unexpected counters. Tropius' Dragon Tail can really change the tempo of the battle."
The crowd erupted in applause, awed by the fast-paced and unpredictable battle. David, grinning from ear to ear, gave Drake a thumbs-up from the sidelines, clearly enjoying the show. Even Jake and Monika were buzzing with excitement.
Drake scratched the back of his head, still processing the wild turn of events. "Well, that didn't go as planned… but man, that was a fun fight!"
Drake joined David and the kids on the benches, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Guess I got a bit carried away," he chuckled.
David gave him a friendly nudge. "No worries. That Dragon Rush into Dragon Tail was pretty wild, though."
Jake, wide-eyed, looked up at Drake. "Your Dragonite is so cool! It flies so fast!"
Monika, sitting next to her little cousin, nodded with a smile but added, "But it still lost, right? Maybe next time it should, like, do more twirls."
David grinned at his niece's logic. "Yeah, twirls are definitely the secret to winning."
While they bantered, Joe returned to the center of the battlefield. He recalled his Tropius, replacing it with another Pokéball. "Alright, let's mix it up," he said, throwing it into the air.
In a flash of light, a Clodsire appeared on the battlefield, its wide, mud-colored body standing firm on the ground. It had a goofy smile, but its large spikes and thick, grounded shape hinted at its power.
===
Clodsire
Level: 96
Name: N/A
Gender: Female
Type: Poison / Ground
Affinity: Poison (Full), Ground (Full), Water (Expert)
Moves: Poison Sting (90), Toxic Spikes (85), Mud Shot (93), Poison Tail (93), Slam (92), Yawn (84), Sludge Wave (79), Megahorn (70), Earthquake (88), Protect (80), Water Pulse (79), Trailblaze (77), Facade (75), Rock Tomb (72), Endure (81), Rain Dance (75), Dig (86), Sandstorm (69), Zen Headbutt (73), Waterfall (83), Iron Head (79), Haze (64), Muddy Water (59), Stockpile (63), Swallow (64), Spit Up (64)
Abilities:
Poison Point – Clodsire poisons foe on contact
Water Absorb – Clodsire restores HP if hit by water move instead of taking damage
Unaware – When attacking, Clodsire ignores target's stat change
Weak to: (Ground, Water, Psychic,) Ice
Immune to: Electric, Water (Water Absorb ability)
Resistant to: Fighting, Poison (double), Rock, Bug, Fairy
Weakness removed: Ground, Psychic
===
"What's that?" Jake asked, blinking at the odd Pokémon.
David smiled and patted his son's head. "That's a Clodsire, buddy. It's a Ground and Poison-type Pokémon."
Monika tilted her head, squinting at Clodsire's round form. "It looks like... a giant squishy pancake."
Jake giggled. "Yeah! But with spikes! Cool!"
Joe then invited two of the young trainers to battle him. They stepped forward eagerly, each with a determined look. One of them, a young man with a cap pulled low over his eyes, tossed his Pokéball up. "Go, Toxicroak!"
A sleek, frog-like Pokémon appeared, its knuckles glowing with poison energy. The other trainer, a girl with a messy ponytail, called out a Golduck. The blue, duck-like Pokémon stretched its arms, ready for battle.
"Let's see what you've got," Joe called across the field, his eyes glinting with excitement as Clodsire stared down both opponents, looking oddly unfazed by the challenge ahead.
David sat back on the bench, a wide grin spreading across his face as he watched the trainers prepare for the battle.
Jake and Monika exchanged puzzled looks. "Why are you smiling like that, Dad?" Jake asked, tugging at David's sleeve.
"Yeah, Uncle David, what's so funny?" Monika added, her curiosity piqued.
David leaned closer to the kids, keeping his eyes on the battlefield. "Well, I think those two trainers don't know what Clodsire can do."
Monika wrinkled her nose. "But... it just looks like a squishy pancake with spikes. How can it be tough?"
Jake nodded, still confused. "Yeah, it doesn't look scary at all. What can it do?"
David chuckled. "Well, Clodsire has some tricky abilities. First, it has Poison Point, which means if any Pokémon hits it with a physical move, they might get poisoned just for touching it."
Monika's eyes widened. "So, it poisons Pokémon just for getting too close? That's sneaky!"
"Exactly," David nodded. "And that Golduck? It's a Water-type. If Golduck tries to hit Clodsire with a Water move, it won't work. Clodsire has an ability called Water Absorb, which means it can just soak up the Water move and heal itself instead."
Jake's jaw dropped. "Wait, so it gets better if Golduck uses Water moves? That's... so cool!"
"Yup," David smiled. "But there's more. Clodsire also has an ability called Unaware. That means if the Toxicroak or Golduck try to power themselves up with fancy moves, Clodsire won't even care. It'll just ignore the boosts like nothing happened."
Monika blinked, thinking for a moment. "So, it's like... it doesn't care if they get stronger? That's not fair!" she protested, though clearly impressed.
Jake nodded vigorously. "Yeah, no fair! It's like a superpower!"
David chuckled at their reactions. "It is kind of a superpower. So let's see if those trainers figure it out before it's too late." He settled back, still grinning, knowing that Clodsire was about to give them a tough lesson.
As the battle began, both trainers wasted no time in boosting their Pokémon. The first trainer, a tall girl in her teens, commanded her Golduck.
"Golduck, start with Calm Mind!"
Golduck closed its eyes, focusing its energy as a soft, calming aura surrounded it. Its Special Attack and Special Defense were on the rise.
The second trainer, a boy with a determined expression, pointed at his own Pokémon. "Toxicroak, Swords Dance!"
Toxicroak spun around, its claws glowing as it dramatically increased its Attack power. The battlefield began to buzz with tension as both Pokémon powered up, preparing for the fight ahead.
Meanwhile, Joe's Clodsire stood completely still, staring at its opponents with a vacant expression. Without any command from Joe, it suddenly began to use Stockpile, its body seeming to swell as it absorbed energy from the battlefield, building its defenses.
"Alright, let's go!" the girl shouted, confident in her Golduck. "Use Zen Headbutt!"
The boy nodded in agreement. "Toxicroak, Poison Jab!"
Golduck's head glowed with a psychic aura as it charged at Clodsire, aiming a powerful physical blow. At the same time, Toxicroak dashed forward, its fist glowing a sickly purple as it aimed a Poison Jab right at the stationary Clodsire.
As soon as Toxicroak's punch connected with Clodsire's rubbery body, it recoiled in shock. A shimmer of purple light surrounded Toxicroak, signaling it had been poisoned by Poison Point. Golduck's Zen Headbutt landed, but despite the psychic energy, it was clear that Clodsire wasn't affected as much as the trainers had hoped. Instead of retaliating, it simply activated Stockpile again, continuing to boost its own defense and special defense.
"Keep going, don't let up!" both trainers urged, but Clodsire seemed unfazed.
Toxicroak lunged in again, this time with a stronger Brick Break, but the physical contact activated Poison Point once more, worsening its condition. The poison began to sap its health with every round, its movements growing sluggish as its energy waned.
The trainers weren't giving up, though. "Golduck, hit it with Hydro Pump!" the girl called out.
Golduck released a massive stream of water that hit Clodsire directly. But instead of being damaged, Clodsire absorbed the water, its body glowing briefly as it regained health thanks to its Water Absorb ability.
Jake gasped from the sidelines. "No way! It's really healing from water moves!"
"That's not fair!" Monika groaned, shaking her head in disbelief.
David chuckled. "Told you Clodsire was tricky."
Meanwhile, the trainers were getting desperate. Their Pokémon were being poisoned with every hit, and Golduck's best move had just healed the enemy.
Joe watched quietly, arms crossed, until finally, he spoke. "If you want to make a dent in Clodsire, try using Ice-type attacks. They're your best shot."
The girl nodded, looking determined. "Alright, Golduck, use Ice Beam!"
The boy followed her lead. "Toxicroak, use Ice Punch!"
Golduck's beak glowed icy blue before it unleashed a freezing beam that struck Clodsire head-on. At the same time, Toxicroak charged in with its glowing icy fist, punching Clodsire in the side. The two Ice-type moves landed cleanly, but Clodsire, who had used Stockpile multiple times by now, barely flinched. Its thick defensive layer absorbed most of the damage, leaving it standing strong.
"Keep going, don't let up!" the girl cried, but the trainers were clearly panicking. Both Toxicroak's and Golduck's movements were slowing from its poisoned state, and they were beginning to wobble from the combined effects of the poison and the energy needed to attack the pancake... ehm Clodsire.
But Clodsire, still calm and collected, didn't bother healing itself with Swallow. Instead, it used the energy from all the Stockpile boosts to release a massive Spit Up attack. A giant wave of energy exploded from Clodsire's body, surging across the battlefield.
The blast knocked both Golduck and Toxicroak off their feet. Golduck let out a weak groan before fainting, while Toxicroak, already drained from the poison, collapsed next to it, utterly defeated.
The trainers were speechless, watching their Pokémon lie there, completely knocked out.
Jake's eyes were wide. "That was awesome!" he shouted, jumping up and down with excitement.
"Yeah! But that poor Golduck!" Monika added, a little more sympathetically.
David grinned down at the kids. "Told you Clodsire was tough. Those trainers never stood a chance. They should have started with the ice attacks and maybe they could have damaged Clodsire a little."
"Yeah, but they didn't know that until grandpa told them what to do," Jake frowned.
Several more trainers stepped up to challenge Joe's Pokémon after the intense battles with Golduck and Toxicroak. Each brought a new variety of Pokémon, from sleek ghost-types to powerful fighting-types, but none were able to land the finishing blow on Joe's experienced team. Clodsire, Tropius, Emboar, Braviary and Crabominable continued to show their strength, dismantling the challengers' strategies one by one.
After each match, Joe took a moment to evaluate the trainers. He was growing more confident with every battle, starting to see clearly which trainers showed potential and who still had much to learn. In his mind, he began sorting them into two categories: those who might earn the coveted Frontier Symbol and those who would have to regroup and challenge him again another day.
Meanwhile, Jake watched each battle with wide-eyed excitement, while Monika had her own unique reactions.
"I think that Empoleon had a chance until it got angry and fired that water attack at Clodsire. Clodsire didn't have to do anything and it healed itself!" Jake commented after one particularly brutal match.
"Well, duh," Monika said with a smirk, crossing her arms. "That's because the trainers didn't know about the pancake's abilities. You heard your Dad explain it like three times!"
Jake made a face. "Still, I would've tried something else."
"Yeah? What would you do?" Monika teased.
Jake shrugged. "I'd figure something out. Maybe Charmander would set the ground on fire or something. And then Clodsire would have to attack!"
Charmander, hearing his name, gave an enthusiastic cry and stomped the ground, puffing out a small flame from his mouth as if proving Jake's point.
Monika raised an eyebrow. "That little flame's not gonna help much, is it?"
"Don't listen to her, buddy," Jake said, petting Charmander. "We'll show 'em when we're bigger!"
After a few more battles and evaluations from Joe, David's phone beeped. He looked at it, then stretched and turned to Drake. "Alright, we're heading to the Pokémon Center. Monika's mom wants to see her, and it's about time for a break anyway."
"Want to come with us, Drake?" Monika asked, flashing a bright smile. "You can get your Pokémon healed too."
Drake nodded. "Yeah, good idea. After that last match, Onix, Haunter and Dragonite could use a good rest."
"What's that? Are we being attacked?" Drake drew attention to a white light shining several meters from them indicating a teleportation.
"No, it's Patrick." Monika replied and waved at her mom's Starmie which materialized several meters off the battlefield.
With psychic starfish, the group was teleported to the ranch's Pokémon Center. Monika quickly ran over to her mother, Rachel, who was waiting for them.
"There's my girl!" Rachel smiled warmly, hugging Monika. Then, she turned her playful gaze on Jake. "So, when's it gonna be your turn, Jakey? Gonna take on your Grandpa and takeover being Frontier Brain soon?"
Jake turned red. "Me? Uh... not yet. I mean... maybe after a bit more training."
Rachel grinned. "Oh, don't be shy. You'll be out there in no time, beating him and beating your dad, too!"
Young Drake chuckled from nearby and joined Rachel 's teasing. "Hey, I'm looking forward to a different battle as well. I think Dragonite's ready for a rematch with Charmander here."
Charmander's eyes lit up, and he immediately puffed out his chest, trying to mimic the stance of a mighty Charizard. The tiny shiny lizard spread his arms wide as if they were wings and let out a fierce, tiny roar before leaping into the air… only to flop down onto his belly with a soft thud.
For a moment, the room was silent, then everyone burst into laughter.
"Guess he's preparing on having the wings," David said, wiping a tear from his eye.
Rachel was laughing the hardest, tears streaming down her face. "Charmander! You've got the spirit, little guy, but I don't think you're ready for takeoff just yet!"
Charmander picked himself up, shaking off the dust, and gave an embarrassed but determined growl, as if saying, "I'll get there!"
Jake knelt down, rubbing his partner's head. "Don't worry, buddy. We'll get you flying soon enough."
As the group continued laughing and chatting in the Pokémon Center, Monika nudged Jake. "Just make sure when you're out there battling your grandpa, you'll try not to get sucked into a tornado like that poor Dragonite!"
Jake's grinned. "We'll try our best!"