"Focus Energy?"
Pokémon Hunter J swallowed hard, cold sweat dripping.
No—this isn't Focus Energy!
This is straight-up Overwhelming Aura !
A crimson glow wreathed Sirfetch'd's leek blade like molten steel.
Then—it lunged.
Sirfetch'd's eyes burned as it brought the leek down in a devastating overhead slash.
Behind it, a golden phoenix silhouette—Ho-Oh's very image—exploded into view. Wings of light unfurled, as if Sirfetch'd had grown radiant pinions, shrieking through the air in a teoric dive!
BRAVE BIRD!!
Big flashy wings. 100% crit. Damage numbers off the charts.
"SIRFETCH'D!!" No fear. No hesitation. Only the cutting edge.
CLANG—!!!
Sparks flew.
"DRAPION—!!" The scorpion's pincers shattered, its body hurled backward, green ichor splattering the ground.
Natsu, arriving late, blinked at the carnage.
"…Yikes." He winced. "Can Pokémon Center even fix that?"
His gaze shifted to J, her face ashen.
…Wait, it's over?
Sirfetch'd solo'd her ace without ?
"Sirfetch'd!" The white knight stood tall, leek resting on its shoulder—flawless victory.
Natsu nodded. "Good work. Leek pancakes tonight."
"SIRFETCH'D!? (╰_╯)" You're bullying !!
But seriously—was J always this weak?
Natsu frowned, ego slightly bruised.
Or… did my team just get that much stronger?
"Tch."
Defeated, J shot a glance at Salance's crater.
Then—SMOKE BOMB!
She bolted for the trees.
"Gengar." Natsu snapped his fingers. "Shadow Punch."
WHOOSH—!
Gengar materialized in front of J, grinning like a nightmare.
"Gengar! " (Where ya goin', dumbass?)
THWACK!
J's eyes bulged as the ghost's fist buried itself in her gut. She crumpled, wheezing.
Rustle…
"Rotom, Thunder Wave."
Natsu stepped through the grass, icy. "Gengar, Hypnosis."
Poachers deserved poacher treatnt.
"Y-you…" J gasped, glaring. "How long… have you been planning this?!"
"Planning?" Natsu echoed, amused.
J's face twisted.
This man—Team Rocket's ntor—hid in plain sight.
The League, the police… none realized the true monster among them.
Sunlight cut across Natsu's sharp features, Gengar hovering beside him like a specter.
Natsu gazed skyward, murmuring:
"Do you rember… how many slices of bread you've eaten?"
J's blood ran cold.
This guy… might be pure evil.
Then—ZZAP!
Thunder Wave's paralysis locked her muscles. Hypnosis dragged her under.
I'm done for—!
"Sirfetch'd, tie her up with Grass Knot."
Natsu glanced at Rotom. "Gift-wrap her for Officer Jenny. If Lance can't handle this, he should quit being Champion."
"Sirfetch'd!" Sirfetch'd saluted, then trussed J up like a holiday turkey.
One less problem.
Natsu studied Salance's unconscious form in the crater.
…Am I really this strong now?
Sure, it was a gang-up, but 1v1… I might be Elite Four-tier?
He turned to Blastoise.
"You do know Heal Pulse, right?"
"Blastoiseヾ(■_■)" Shades glinting, it gave a thumbs-up.
Of course it knew Heal Pulse!
Ergency Heal Pulse Aqua Ring Max Revive Potion spam = immortality.
"Patch Salance up."
Natsu rolled up his sleeves.
"Once it's awake, you all get 1v1s against it. Win or lose—extra snacks."
As J's ace, Salance was near-Elite Four level.
Perfect benchmark for the team's growth.
Also… critical for household ranking.
The team erupted in cheers.
Sylveon's squeals nearly shattered eardrums.
"Blastoise…ヾ(■_■)" It adjusted its shades, smug, before scalding Salance with a jet of—
Wait.
Natsu froze.
"That's not Heal Pulse—that's Hot Water !?
Upon closer inspection—
Blastoise wasn't healing.
It was brewing Energy Root tea inside its cannons.
Red packed hot spring water into his Charizard's tail.
You packed herbal tea into your shell?!
…Peak Blastoise behavior.
"Salance…" The dragon groaned as warm, sweet liquid splashed its face.
Energy flooded back. With a roar, it surged upright, wings flaring!
"SALANCE!" It glared down at the tiny foes, claw curling in a bring it motion.
Gang up on again, I dare you.
Natsu: "Gengar, you're up. Tir starts now."
"Gengar! (`▽′)"
Shadow Ball Sludge Bomb barrage—
Five minutes later, Salance faceplanted into the crater, swirl-eyed.
"Huh. Not bad."
Natsu nodded.
"Blastoise, Heal Pulse. Next—Sylveon."
"ONE SHOT?! Fairy types cheat!"
Natsu paled.
"H-heal Pulse again! Blastoise, you're next—"
"BLASTOISE." It tossed its shades aside, cracking its knuckles.
The team whooped as the beatdown escalated into outright war cris…
...
Sunset dusk.
Lucian closed his book, puzzled. "Why hasn't Natsu-sensei returned yet? It's been so long."
"Should I go check?" Ash scratched his head.
Lucian adjusted his glasses, hesitated for a mont, then finally nodded. "Let's go. Just in case."
The two headed toward the spot where Natsu-sensei had been staking out.
Explosions echoed in the distance. Lucian's heart sank as he quickened his pace, Ash following closely.
When they finally saw the scene, their jaws dropped in unison.
"Togepi… is soloing Salance?!" Ash shouted.
"Isn't it gonna get swallowed whole?!" Lucian felt his mind go numb.
Yet, the Salance in front of Togepi looked utterly exhausted, its spirit broken, as if questioning its very existence as a Dragon-type.
"Salance!" Salance wept bitterly.
Fighting seven Pokémon in a row… Even a Champion wouldn't last this long!
"Togepi doo-ee~! ヽ(￣▽￣)ノ"
Togepi wagged its tiny finger, and a blinding Dazzling Gleam seared toward Salance.
"Salance—" Salance closed its eyes in resignation.
The next mont, Salance plumted from the sky, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
Lucian, witnessing this scene, stood frozen in disbelief.
When I fought it, this Salance was a total beast!
Could it be… that even Pokémon abide by the rule of "Moe is Justice"?
Ash tilted his head, deep in thought.
"Gold's Togepi once defeated a Tyranitar when it was just a baby."
"So for Natsu-sensei's Togepi, this is totally reasonable, right?"
"Mm…" Lucian adjusted his glasses, his expression conflicted.
Reasonable my foot!
I bet Natsu-sensei made Togepi hold an Everstone just so it could enter the Baby Cup!
anwhile, Pokémon Hunter J, tightly bound by Grass Knots, slowly regained consciousness—only to witness a horrifying sight.
Her strongest Ace, Salance, was being utterly crushed by Natsu-sensei's Togepi.
He's clearly Champion-level! Why is he out here bullying low-tier Pokémon?!
"Ugh… Just kill !" Pokémon Hunter J's eyes rolled back as she fainted again.
"That's enough for today."
Natsu gave a satisfied nod.
Taking on seven Pokémon one after another still counts as a solo battle… Totally fair!
Lucian and Ash swallowed hard before cautiously approaching.
"Pokémon Hunter J… is dealt with?" Lucian asked.
Natsu glanced toward the unconscious hunter. "The rest is Officer Jenny's job."
Lucian exhaled in relief, pushing up his blue-tinted glasses.
At least… I can finally take a break.
Thanks to Natsu-sensei, this ss got resolved properly.
Taking down a Sinnoh poaching ring? That's a huge accomplishnt.
Lucian stroked his chin, deep in thought.
If I report this to the Sinnoh League…
An official League reward should satisfy Natsu-sensei, right?
anwhile, Natsu turned to Ash.
"You good?"
"Never better!" Ash flexed, grinning.
Natsu's eyelid twitched.
My bad. Forgot you're built like a Machamp.
"Next stop—Snowpoint Gym!" Ash pumped his fists. "Co with , Natsu-sensei!"
"I'm heading to Snowpoint City next to challenge the Gym there!"
Ash bead. "Natsu-sensei, you should co with !"
Natsu nodded.
After this wild battle, he was exhausted.
Snowpoint City would be a good place to rest.
Plus, they had famous ice cream there… Maybe he could even sneak in so recipe research.
After contacting Officer Jenny and delegating the cleanup, Natsu declared with renewed vigor:
"First, let's get dinner in Snowpoint City!"
"Aweso, Pikachu!" Ash cheered.
"Pikachu~!" Pikachu swayed cutely.
"Ash, don't forget to thank Senior Lucian for treating us!" Natsu said seriously.
"Thanks for the al, Senior Lucian!"
"Wait, why ?"
This grudge... I'LL REMBER IT, NATSU!
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