The hotheaded Houndoom was completely bewildered.
It stared at its predecessor Houndoom, who silently avoided its gaze, with a look full of disbelief and reproach.
Meanwhile, Lucas was already leading the Eevee sisters over.
Gritting its teeth, Houndoom turned around, its orange snout trembling, revealing densely packed, sharp fangs. Its devilish tail hung low, swaying slightly.
It glared at Lucas and the Eevee sisters, eyes flashing with cold ruthlessness and resolve.
Even without your help, I can still teach this arrogant human and those two runts a lesson!
Compared to the determined Houndoom, Lucas was a bit confused.
He glanced at the other Houndoom and Houndours, who showed no intention of coming over, just circling around the crooked-neck tree, scaring the little Tinkatink to climb even higher. Then he looked at the Houndoom before him.
What's going on here? Are wild Pokémon nowadays so particular, insisting on one-on-one duels?
Or is this Houndoom their boss, planning to fight alone to reinforce its authority?
But it doesn't seem like it. This Houndoom looks younger, its horns aren't as big or curved—doesn't look like a boss at all.
Lucas was puzzled.
But at that moment, Houndoom could no longer restrain itself and launched an attack.
"AWOO—!"
With a loud howl, Houndoom sprang forward, pouncing ferociously.
Its first target was the shiny younger Eevee, clearly the weakest.
As for Lucas?
Just a human—after dealing with the Pokémon, he can wait his turn!
"Vee!"
The older Eevee cried out, angrily glaring at Houndoom, stepping in front of her sister and preparing to fight back.
As an experienced trainer, Lucas instantly saw through Houndoom's intentions.
He moved even faster than the older Eevee, pulling a pre-prepared ball from his bag and, using his impeccable Poké Ball throwing technique, struck Houndoom square on the face!
"Hey! Take this—Mud In The Eyes!"
Houndoom only noticed a muddy object flying at high speed, but before it could react, it was struck hard, staggering, its mind reeling.
Its eyes took the brunt of the impact, some of the mud splattering and blocking its vision!
At this moment, only one thought filled Houndoom's mind:
This human's throwing arm… If he'd thrown a rock, my head would be swelling up right now!
If only I'd sourced more Apricorns and Tumblestones, I could throw sticky balls instead of just this little bit that Perrin gifted me.
With the mud balls he'd just hand-crafted using Perrin's method, Lucas calmly issued an order.
"Charge in with Double Kick!"
The older Eevee gave Lucas a surprised glance, but didn't pause. She quickly switched to a running stance and dashed in front of Houndoom.
Even with limited vision, Houndoom relied on its sense of smell and lingering sight to lock onto Eevee, raising its claws for a sharp swipe.
"Vee!"
But the older Eevee suddenly changed direction, ran into Houndoom's blind spot, targeted its waist, leaped up, spun lightly, and kicked twice with her pink-padded hind legs in one fluid motion!
Bang! Bang!
Houndoom's attack missed, and its fragile waist took two highly effective blows, making it both hurt and furious.
After all, Houndoom was a fully evolved Pokémon. Relying on its solid build, it resisted the urge to fall. The orange skin on its snout wrinkled, flames seeped from its teeth, and it twisted sideways, opening its mouth to bite at the older Eevee!
Flame Fang!
"Protect."
Lucas's voice echoed like an ever-present ghost.
The younger Eevee, who had already been positioned nearby by Lucas, rushed forward and stood in front of her sister, forming a semi-transparent, honeycombed shield.
Boom!
Flame Fang crashed into the shield, sparks flying instantly.
Though the barrier looked paper-thin, it was tough to break, turning into a chalky wall blocking Houndoom.
Houndoom grew even angrier, growling incoherently, biting harder, flames flying everywhere, but still couldn't break through.
"Dig, then Help."
Lucas issued two consecutive commands without pause.
The older Eevee instantly vanished, leaving only a small hole matching her body size, leading underground.
The next second, Protect shattered.
Unable to keep its stance midair, Houndoom retreated a few steps, its sight recovering a bit.
It glared menacingly at the helpless younger Eevee, like a big bad wolf about to break into Little Red Riding Hood's house, jaws wide open.
A strange-colored flame, tinged with shadowy energy, began to gather.
The move "Flamethrower"—with the Houndoom clan's traits, anyone burned by their fire would also suffer a neurotoxin, making wounds sting until fully healed.
Facing the gathering flames, the younger Eevee's face, illuminated by firelight, showed no fear.
She trusted her sister. She trusted Lucas.
It all happened in seconds.
Just as the hotheaded Houndoom's flamethrower was at its peak, and the elder Houndoom under the crooked tree hesitated about intervening—
Suddenly, the ground beneath hotheaded Houndoom bulged, but its focus was on the younger Eevee, ignoring the tremors and the older Eevee underground.
In the next instant, the older Eevee, wrapped in earthy energy, shot out of the hole. The younger Eevee seized the moment, gathered her energy, and cheered crisply!
"Eevee Veee!" (Go, Sis!)
Normal-type energy formed phantom hands, slapping twice in succession.
The older Eevee felt a surge of unprecedented power and, with determination, slammed into Houndoom's softest belly—
Bang!
"Ow—"
This time, Houndoom couldn't hold back a wail, knocked flat to the ground, staring in terror at the perfectly balanced older Eevee and her sister, as well as the human who'd outsmarted it at every turn.
This isn't right.
Shouldn't I, with my strength and size, be toying with them in my paws?
How did I become the one being toyed with?
Atop the crooked-neck tree.
"Kanou…"
The little Tinkatink watched the battle, both wary of the black dogs below and amazed.
Even I would be at a disadvantage against a Houndoom that size.
How did these two Eevee do it?
No—it's Lucas's command that's perfect.
He anticipated Houndoom's every move, even setting up traps in advance.
Such cunning—hotheaded Houndoom can't compare.
For some reason, the little Tinkatink shivered.
Moments later.
Houndoom: shocked dog head.jpg
The older Eevee's perfectly executed Dig + Help + critical hit instantly took out more than half of Houndoom's stamina.
Now, Houndoom gazed fearfully at Lucas and the Eevee sisters surrounding it, unable to hide its panic. For once, it started thinking hard.
What should I do—
In Houndoom's worldview, defeat in battle means submission, exile, or death—pick one.
Do I really have to submit to this human and those two brats in front of my underlings and the elder?
No way!
I'll never live it down in the clan!
But at that moment—
A series of synchronized footsteps came from behind.
Hotheaded Houndoom suddenly noticed a shadow falling over it.
Its nose told it—this was the elder.
Houndoom paused, looking at the figure standing before it, feeling a wave of emotion.
As expected, the elder is going to stand up for me!
Thud—
The elder Houndoom bent its forepaws, lowered its head, and, through its actions, signaled submission to Lucas.
Immediately after, under the elder's lead, over a dozen Houndours did the same.
Hotheaded Houndoom was dumbfounded, as were its three underlings.
Why did the elder surrender first!?
Have you really betrayed us!?
Even the little Tinkatink, about to slip away from the tree, was stunned.
They surrendered just like that?
The little Tinkatink suddenly realized—its dream of becoming the mountain king was gently crushed.
Lucas, too, was surprised. After carefully studying the elder Houndoom, he suddenly realized, "Could it be you were subdued by Serperior—"
"Oooh~"
The elder Houndoom's eyes lit up, its tail wagging.
Seeing its reaction, Lucas could only smile wryly.
So it really was tamed by that Serperior.
That one always loved doing these things.
In a neglected corner, hotheaded Houndoom, watching its elder who used to bravely fight the neighboring Salazzle clan, now wagging its tail at Lucas and casting an apologetic "Sorry, I defected long ago" look, felt its spirit shatter.
"Is it tasty?"
Lucas crouched, holding what looked like some freeze-dried food, smiling at the Houndoom eating contentedly before him.
"Awoo!" (Delicious!)
Houndoom's tail whipped about as it called out, burying its face back in the food.
Munching on this rich-flavored treat, hotheaded Houndoom thought, So there's something this tasty in the world? Has the elder been secretly eating this all along?
Makes a dog jealous.
The elder Houndoom slowed down a bit, glancing at its junior, surprise flickering in its eyes.
Never thought this hothead would surrender so easily.
Is it because of the food… or something else?
He's never seen Serperior's overwhelming force—was he really just won over by food?
How useless.
Lucas tossed some more freeze-dried snacks to the eager Houndours. Seeing them eat happily, he brushed the crumbs from his hands and addressed the group, clearing his throat.
"Ahem. I don't know what orders Serperior gave you, and I won't interfere. Just keep following her instructions. I'll have her come by later to check up on you all."
"That's all I have to say. After you finish eating, head back to your clan as usual."
"Awoo!"
Both Houndooms and the Houndours barked in response.
"Very good!"
Lucas nodded in satisfaction, looking at the sparkling-eyed Eevee sisters and the little Tinkatink beside them.
"Well, let's head back."
Under the watchful eyes of the Houndooms and Houndours, their figures gradually faded into the distance.
Only when they were completely out of sight did the elder Houndoom curiously bark at the hotheaded one.
"Awoo?" (Why did you surrender so suddenly?)
Hotheaded Houndoom glanced at him, still munching, mumbling:
"Awoo awoo—" (Since even you surrendered so quickly, there must be even scarier guys with them. Knowing I can't win, why suffer for nothing?)
The elder Houndoom was stunned.
This thick-skulled junior could think that far? Was he knocked silly!?
But—
Houndoom suddenly thought, with these backers, maybe his own ambitions could really come true.
If he can be clan leader, why can't I?
Back in the cave on the other side of the hill—
The little Tinkatink gave Lucas a deep bow.
"Kanou." (Thank you for saving me.)
Then, it expressed thanks to the Eevee sisters.
The Eevee sisters responded shyly, especially the older one.
She felt all her hard work had been worthwhile; seeing even the evolved Houndoom fall before her and her sister, any shadow or pressure vanished.
Guided by Lucas, they defeated Houndoom without a scratch—it felt like a dream.
"It's nothing."
Lucas waved it off with magnanimity.
Meanwhile, he secretly thought, I'll have the Tinkatink sign up to my farm anyway, so why not rescue my Pokémon in advance?
The little Tinkatink, unaware of Lucas's scheming, warmly invited him and the Eevee sisters inside.
But Lucas shook his head, took out a thermal container, and smiled: "Did you forget? I'm inviting you to my place as a guest. Ogerpon is waiting at home! Let's have a snack, and then we'll set out. It's close by!"
The little Tinkatink's eyes brightened.
…
After a while—
Lucas, carrying the empty thermal container, led the Eevee sisters and the little Tinkatink—who had carefully packed up its cave and brought along its favorite hammer—down the mountain toward the farm.
The road wasn't far, nor did any wild Pokémon block their way.
Before long, they could see the farm's outline in the distance.
"Welcome to my home."
Lucas brought the little Tinkatink to the entrance, smiling.
At that moment, the little Tinkatink, already half-suspecting, finally confirmed it.
This vast, well-resourced, Pokémon-rich farm really was Lucas's home!!!
Just then, the ground began to shake violently.
Not far from the farm entrance was the pasture.
The rampaging Tauros in the pasture were as unsettled as the little Tinkatink's heart.
The hammer in its hand dropped onto the soft grass. The little Tinkatink clutched its stunned face and screamed.
"Kanou—!?"
This really is your home—!?
….