He’s a monster! (Vs. Inferno Pt.1)

“Melt ‘em down, Houndoom.” The lackadaisical man calls as he sends out his partner. In a flash of red light, a large and lean black dog takes to the field. White horns curve back over its head, and bands of a similar bone-like material line its back. Its underbelly and snout are red, and a long black tail that ends in a triangular point whips around behind it. The fire and dark type snarls, lips curling up to revealing fangs dripping with saliva that seems to sizzle as it hits the ground, and its red eyes glow like burning coals. This Pokémon may be even more intimidating than its master…

The beast stares you and your friend’s Pokémon down, a guttural growl rumbling in its throat. The three of you gulp, but know that you have **** but to take this thing on. You wrack your brain, trying to think of what you all have that would be the best for taking this opponent down. Your Aerodactyl doesn’t actually know any rock type moves yet, and the same can be said about Kayla’s Gyarados and water type moves… Your only super effective options are from your fighting type, Mankey, and two of Daniel’s Pokémon; his Ekans with Dig and his tired Electabuzz with Low Kick, specifically.

You’re sure that the same thoughts are running through each of the Vermillion trainer’s minds as you stand there, paralyzed by indecision. “I get the first move then? Okay, go with Thunder Fang on that Gyarados.” Inferno says lazily, apparently tired of waiting on you all to make a decision. His Houndoom’s salivating jaws open, and sparks of yellow electricity begin to course through each of its pointy teeth. In an instant, it breaks out into a sprint, turning into a black blur as it races towards the sea serpent.

Your blonde friend is the first to react. “Ekans, wrap it up! Don’t let it get close to Gyarados!”

Kayla gives her command a second later. “Back up Gyarados! Stay away from those fangs!”

At once, both serpentine Pokémon obey their trainers’ orders, the purple snake swiftly slithering forward to intercept while the blue and white sea serpent pulls back in an attempt to dodge. If they had started moving even a second later, it wouldn’t have worked, but thankfully their efforts are not in vain. The hound’s electrified jaws snap shut on empty air after it closes in, being held back by Daniel’s partner coiling around it, Wrapping it tightly. Gyarados floats backwards, eyeing the fire type carefully as it awaits the brunette’s next command.

You can’t just sit here, and now you have an opportunity to strike thanks to the Vermillion boy’s Ekans. “Charmeleon, run up and Scratch it!” That’s about the best option you have, Ember and Metal Claw would both be resisted. Your starter complies, rushing forward to close the distance between himself and his foe.

As this happens however, you learn something rather concerning. Inferno doesn’t have to worry about type effectiveness. “Show that lizard what a real fire type can do, Houndoom.” At the Agent’s command, the lean dog-like Pokémon whips its head around to stare at your partner. It may be held in place by Daniel’s snake, but it doesn’t need to move to make its next attack. The fire and dark type’s chest swells, and a massive blast of orange and yellow flames exits its throat and wash over Charmeleon as he approaches. Despite his natural resistance to fire, your starter staggers under the intense heat of the opposing fire type’s Flamethrower, slowing the pace of his dash before eventually crumbling to the ground. Charmeleon is now a Charred-meleon, lying blackened and fainted on the cave floor.

“Ekans, let go and Dig!” “Gyarados, Tackle!”

As the dark type is distracted with your partner, your friends give their next orders. The poison type releases its grip on the dog, then burrows into the earth, while the water and flying type rams its head into the opponent. The Houndoom is knocked off of its feet from the sheer weight of the sea serpent slamming into it, and goes tumbling across the cave floor as you recall Charmeleon. As the disgruntled mutt stands, not looking particularly injured, Ekans emerges from the earth below it, crashing into its stomach. The beast winces from the super-effective attack, but still seems quite healthy.

“Wrap it back up!” Daniel shouts out to his partner.

As the snake attempts to obey though, Inferno’s voice cuts in. “Nah. Crunch.” In an incredible display of speed and reflexes, the Houndoom rounds on the snake, clamping its teeth down onto the poison type’s body hard. A piercing, scream-like hiss from Ekans is cut short, as the pain catches up with it and knocks it ****. One blow was all it took. The dog shakes its head about viciously with the fainted Pokémon in its mouth, then slams its chew-toy onto the ground. Looking back up, the dark type roars at you all, sending a shiver down your spines. “Now Thunder Fang the overgrown fish.” The Rocket Agent says, and his partner instantly dashes forward again, lightning crackling as it runs. You and Daniel are still deciding which Pokémon to use next, so you don't have any chance of helping in time. Likewise, Gyarados doesn’t have any chance of dodging without assistance like before, so it falls victim to the electric type attack. This deals devastating damage, and the sea serpent collapses, also in a single blow.

As Kayla recalls her wounded partner, the languid speaks again. “Well, you guys have managed to land what equates to about one solid hit on my Houndoom so far. Which, coincidentally, is how many hits each of your Pokémon took to knock out. One. Please tell me you have some more challenging stuff to throw at me… This is boring.” The pink-haired man ends this sentence with another yawn, then leans backwards and cracks his back.

“Isn’t taking us seriously at all…” The blonde boy growls, fury evident in his blue eyes.

“He doesn’t need to… This is bad.” The Vermillion girl says, stating the obvious.

“Are we even going to be able to beat one of his Pokémon…?” You say, unable to keep a tremble of fear from your voice. Even if you do manage to beat the Houndoom, you can see five more balls on Inferno’s belt… Is this even possible!? Well, it’s not like giving up is an option, those scientists need you!

Speaking of the scientists, they and everyone else in the room are just watching the spectacle unfold. The Grunts have stopped turning the camp upside down and are just watching Inferno’s Houndoom tear your Pokémon apart in awe. The paleontologists are watching more anxiously, and Captain Richard has an irritated look of begrudging respect on his face. Even if he doesn’t like the Agent, he can’t deny his skill.

You and your friends each spend a moment thinking about which Pokémon to use next, with the Vermillion pair coming to their conclusions far faster than you.

“C’mon Electabuzz!” Daniel shouts, electing to field his tired starter rather than his freshly-caught Golbat. The bat is probably barely conscious at this point, and his Drowzee and Ekans are both down for the count, so this is his best option.

“Pikachu, I believe in you!” Kayla says, sending out her own starter. With Sandshrew and Gyarados ****, her only other option would have been Weepinbell. A tired electric type is almost certainly a better option than a grass type, given the opponent.

You’re still running through your options though. Mankey is the obvious choice, given her type advantage over dark. Your own Pikachu is exhausted as well, so you should save him for last, and Pidgey honestly doesn’t seem strong enough as he is to make much of a difference. Aerodactyl’s rock typing and aerial mobility would make her a great choice, but without rock moves…

Rock moves? Like… Rock Tomb? The TM you had won from Brooke? ‘… Why am I so damn stupid!?’ “I choose you, Aerodactyl!” The stony pterosaur shrieks as she takes flight, soaring up onto the air of the large cavern and staring down at her foe. Before you can say anything else however, a squeal rings out through the chamber.

“Omigosh!? An Aerodacty!? That’s amazing! Where did you get it!? How long have you had it!? What-“ The female researcher begins babbling as she takes in the sight of your fossil Pokémon, until one of her male companions cuts her off.

“This, uh, probably isn't the, uh, best time for all that, Ellie.”

The other man among their trio stares up at your partner in wonder as well. “Incredible… What kind of wingspan does it have? How much does it eat? Oh, does it-“

“Grant, please. Do not let me be the only sensible one here… Oh who am I kidding? I’m always the only sensible one…” The less excited scientist says, eyeing the Rockets surrounding him and his friends nervously.

Deciding to ignore the ecstatic paleontologists, you turn to your Fossil Pokémon and tell her to “Come down here!” She turns her head quizzically, but obeys you all the same, flying down and landing on the ground beside you. Quickly rooting through your bag, you look for the TM while Daniel and Kayla continue the fight against Inferno.

“Pikachu, Thunder Wave!” The green-eyed girl cries. Her starter then starts to emit small waves of electrical energy towards its foe, but the speedy mutt dodges out of the way with ease. Before it can retaliate, the buff blonde shouts out his own command.

“Quick Attack, then Low Kick!” The black and yellow Pokémon dashes forward at high speed, slamming into the Houndoom’s flank. The dark type barely reacts, its eyes just narrow in annoyance. Swiftly, the electric type sweeps the dog’s front legs out from under it, causing it to lose balance. The opposing Pokémon yelps as it hits the ground, and yet still seems to barely even be hurt. Low Kick may have been super-effective, but Houndoom doesn’t weigh all that much, so it wasn’t all that strong of a move.

“Use Dark Pulse.” The bespectacled man calls as his partner is assaulted. The lithe fire type’s eyes glow with a shadow-like light, and a wave of black energy shoots off of its body and slams into Electabuzz. In an instant, the electric type goes from confidently staring down its opponent to staring up at the ceiling as its blown backwards and off its feet. It struggles to get back up for a moment, but does eventually rise to its feet. The first Pokémon to take a hit from that beast and stand back up, though you suspect it’s by willpower alone. The black and yellow Pokémon looks completely worn down.

Its at this time that you finally manage to fish the TM for Rock Tomb out of your bag and use it on Aerodactyl. Luckily TMs were recently improved to be infinite-use, so you don’t lose the TM or anything. Not that that is really a major concern at this exact moment.

New knowledge gained, your rock and flying type soars back into the air, ready to join the fight. Daniel’s Electabuzz and Kayla’s Pikachu are both still standing, tired as they may be. Both of your friends have one extra Pokémon on their belts, and you still have three more. Granted, those extra options haven’t been saved for last because they’re your aces in the hole or anything. Aside from Mankey, none of them are particularly good options here. Still, this is what you have to work with, in order to take down all six of this powerful Rocket’s Pokémon… Better to just focus on the Houndoom for now. Though, you’re starting to think that this fire and dark type hound will be your doom…