[Third Person Pov]
"Eevee, use Swift!" Tony called out, thrusting his arms forward with authority as if physically directing the attack himself.
"Eevee!" his Pokémon cried out energetically from the grass in front of him. Its tail began to shimmer with a pale, radiant glow before it snapped sharply through the air. In an instant, dozens of star-shaped bursts of light shot forward, streaking across the backyard like miniature comets, all homing in on the opposing Eevee.
"Eevee, dodge it with Quick Attack!" Melissa shouted back without hesitation, her voice filled with urgency and confidence.
Her Eevee let out a sharp cry as white energy wrapped around its small body. In a sudden burst of speed, it vanished from where it stood, reappearing in rapid flashes as it zigzagged across the field. The stars exploded one after another behind it, kicking up dust and small shockwaves as the Pokémon skillfully weaved between the impacts.
"Use Double Team!" Tony countered almost instantly, refusing to give her a moment to breathe.
Tony's Eevee cried out as its body blurred, then split apart. In the blink of an eye, multiple identical Eevee surrounded the battlefield, each one moving independently. The afterimages darted and shifted, making it impossible to tell which one was real.
"Quick Attack!" Tony followed up sharply.
All of the Eevee lunged at once. Melissa's Eevee spun in place, ears flattening as it tried to track the real target. One Eevee struck first—only to dissolve into nothing the moment it made contact. Another vanished just as quickly. Then, without warning, the real Eevee slammed into her from the side.
"Eevee!" Melissa cried out as her Pokémon was sent flying, tumbling end over end before skidding across the dirt and grass.
"Eevee! Are you okay? Can you get up?" Melissa called anxiously, gripping her fists tight.
Her Eevee groaned softly before pushing herself back onto her paws. She shook her body briskly, dust and dirt flying off in all directions, then lifted her head and let out a reassuring cry.
"Perfect," Melissa said with a confident grin.
"Eevee, use Double Team again!" Tony commanded, not letting up.
Once more, Tony's Eevee split into multiple copies, filling the field with moving decoys.
"Destroy the decoys with Swift!" Melissa ordered.
Her Eevee leapt high into the air, tail glowing brilliantly as she flicked it downward. A wide array of stars rained down, tearing through the illusions one by one until only the real Eevee remained.
Just as the attack was about to connect, Tony shouted, "Block it with your own Swift!"
Both Pokémon unleashed their attacks simultaneously. The stars collided midair, erupting into a blinding explosion that rippled outward, sending dust, smoke, and disturbed air rolling across the yard.
"Woah…" Momo muttered from a distance, clutching Gible tightly in her arms while Beldum floated beside her, silently observing the intense clash.
"Use the smoke as cover and Dig!" Melissa ordered, clearly enjoying herself far more than she probably should.
When the smoke finally began to settle, Tony's eyes narrowed. All that remained was a fresh hole in the ground—Melissa's Eevee had completely vanished.
"Don't rush," Tony said calmly. "Wait for it. Listen carefully."
His Eevee's ears twitched, rotating slightly as it focused, blocking out everything except the faint vibrations beneath the ground.
"Now!" Tony shouted. "Jump into the air and use Swift straight down!"
Eevee sprang upward, stars forming beneath it and firing downward toward the ground.
"That's exactly what I was waiting for!" Melissa laughed. "Eevee, use Quick Attack and climb those stars!"
"Eevee!" her Pokémon cried determinedly as she burst from the ground at full speed. As Tony's Eevee released Swift, Melissa's Eevee dashed forward, using Quick Attack to run straight up the glowing stars as if they were solid steps.
"Wha—?!" Tony exclaimed, eyes widening in shock.
"Now that it's airborne, it has no way to dodge!" Melissa shouted triumphantly.
Her Eevee slammed into Tony's midair, sending it hurtling back. It crashed hard into the ground, bouncing once before skidding to a stop.
"Swift!" Melissa called out again.
From above, her Eevee unleashed another barrage. The stars struck one after another, not giving Tony's Eevee a chance to rise.
"Eevee, no!" Tony cried out dramatically. "Come on, buddy—talk to me! Can you still get up?!"
"E–Eevee…" his Pokémon groaned as smoke curled around its body. Muscles trembling, battered and bruised, it slowly forced itself upright. It planted all four paws firmly into the ground and let out a sharp, defiant cry.
Then it glanced back over its shoulder at Tony and gave a small, determined nod.
"That's my boy!" Tony shouted, emotion thick in his voice. "Love that fighting spirit! Let's push past our limits—go Plus Ultra!"
Eevee cried out in agreement, a confident, almost cocky smirk crossing its face as it turned back toward its opponent.
Melissa scoffed lightly, crossing her arms. "We're not letting ourselves be outdone, right Eevee?"
Her Eevee lifted her head and nodded, lowering into a ready stance.
"Let's go, Eevee!!" Tony and Melissa shouted at the same time. "Use Quick Attack!"
"Eevee!!"
Both Pokémon cried out simultaneously as they launched forward, blurring into motion as they charged straight at one another, neither willing to back down.
Momo watched the clash between the two Eevee completely mesmerized. Her eyes followed every movement as the Pokémon darted, leapt, and collided across the backyard with fierce determination, each one refusing to yield an inch. Their paws struck the ground in rapid bursts, bodies blurring as Quick Attacks overlapped, while bursts of light erupted whenever their moves collided head-on.
Flashes of brilliant energy lit up the yard again and again as Swift attacks detonated midair. Dust clouds rose, grass was torn free, and chunks of earth were flung aside. What had once been a clean, open backyard now looked more like a miniature battlefield—cratered ground, scorched patches of grass, and lingering smoke hanging in the air as proof of just how intense the fight had become.
Both Eevee were clearly worn down. Their fur was scuffed and dirty, small marks visible across their bodies as they panted heavily, chests rising and falling with every labored breath. Sweat and exhaustion weighed on them, yet the fire in their eyes burned just as brightly as before. Neither of them showed even the slightest intention of backing down.
Before Tony or Melissa could shout their next command, the back door suddenly opened.
"Uh… you guys," Howard said as he stepped outside, his voice hesitant, "we have guests…"
"Huh?" Tony and Melissa both turned toward him at the same time, confusion written plainly across their faces.
"Is it for us?" Tony asked, brow furrowing. "Who is it?"
"No," Howard replied quickly, rubbing the back of his neck, "it's for your mother and me."
"Huh?!" Tony exclaimed. "Then why are you telling us? You could've just sent a servant to get us. Why come all the way out here yourself?" He looked at Howard like he'd just grown a second head.
Howard hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Because I don't want to be alone with your mother right now," he admitted honestly. "She's… pissed. And she's honestly starting to scare me."
Melissa blinked. "That bad?"
"I need emotional support," Howard finished flatly.
All three of them stared at him in silence.
Without waiting for a response, Howard turned and began ushering them toward the house, practically herding them inside.
"Honestly, she scares me too," Tony said casually as he followed, nodding in agreement. "That's completely understandable."
He clapped his hands together sharply and raised his voice. "Alright! That's enough, you two—great work. We're done for today!"
At the sound of the command, both Eevee finally gave in. Their legs buckled and they dropped to the ground almost simultaneously, clearly having been pushing themselves forward through sheer willpower alone.
Tony and Melissa rushed forward immediately, each scooping up their respective Eevee with clear concern and affection.
"You were amazing out there," Tony said warmly as he cradled his Eevee like a baby. He rubbed his cheek against its fur without hesitation. "You should be proud of yourself."
"Eevee…" his Pokémon murmured softly, purring as it snuggled closer and began licking Tony's cheek in return.
Melissa was no different. She gently scratched her Eevee's stomach while murmuring praise and encouragement, earning proud cries and a deep, content purr from her partner.
Baymax appeared beside them moments later, his large frame casting a soft shadow as he scanned the injured Pokémon.
Tony and Melissa carefully handed their Eevee over to him.
"Here you go, Nurse Joy," Tony teased with a grin. "Make sure they get proper treatment."
"I will provide optimal care," Baymax replied calmly.
"I'm still not sure how I feel about real-life Pokémon battles," Melissa muttered as she watched Baymax walking away. "I don't like seeing them get hurt like that."
Tony scoffed lightly. "Could've fooled me. You looked like you were having the time of your life."
"Oh, I absolutely was," Melissa admitted instantly, eyes lighting up. "It was the most fun I've had in a while. My blood was pumping."
That earned a few chuckles from the group.
"Just remember," Momo said eagerly, hugging Gible close to her chest, "I'm next."
Tony smirked at her enthusiasm. "It'll be me and Beldum against you and Gible."
The group continued laughing and bantering as they made their way inside, the mood light and relaxed—until they stepped into the room.
The sight before them brought all three to an abrupt halt.
Howard had already taken a seat beside Maria, who sat with her arms crossed, posture stiff and clearly displeased. Sitting across from them was a familiar figure wrapped in a capture scarf.
Shoto Aizawa.
"Aizawa-sensei?!" Tony, Melissa, and Momo exclaimed in unison.
"Hello," Aizawa greeted calmly, giving a polite nod. "I'm glad to see the three of you are doing well."
Maria leaned back in her seat, arms still crossed, her expression making it painfully clear that this unexpected meeting was not one she had been thrilled to host.
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