When they arrived at the hilltop, the battlefield came into full view. A large, rocky plateau, perfect for rugged battles, stretched before them. On one side, wooden benches were filled with young trainers, their eyes fixed on the battle unfolding before them.
On the field, three trainers stood side by side, each commanding a Pokémon:
A young boy with an orange vest had a Rhydon, its armor-like hide gleaming under the fading sunlight. A teenage girl with short blonde hair commanded a Crustle, its massive stone shell dug into the dirt. A burly older teen, his arms crossed with confidence, had a Tyrunt, the small but fierce fossil Pokémon, snarling at their opponent.
And facing all three of them alone…
Joe Lindenberg stood at the opposite end of the battlefield, hands on his hips, his expression unreadable.
In front of him was Exploud—a towering, purple, bipedal Pokémon with a bulky build, muscular limbs, and gaping tube-like structures protruding from its head and body. Its yellow eyes gleamed with intensity, and its massive jaws were slightly open, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
===
Exploud
Level: 103
Name: Keith
Gender: Male
Type: Normal
Affinity: Normal (Full), Ice (Expert), Rock (Advanced)
Moves: Pound (97), Echoed Voice (98), Astonish (60), Ice Fang (73), Rest (66), Stomp (78), Supersonic (99), Uproar (85), Screech (88), Hyper Voice (101), Boomburst (71), Hyper Beam (61), Rock Slide (66), Snore (55), Icy Wind (69), Brick Break (53), Rock Tomb (62), Blizzard (58), Fire Blast (46), Crunch (71), Work Up (70), Taunt (50),
Abilities:
Soundproof – Exploud has full immunity against all sound-based moves
Scrappy – Exploud can hit ghost-types with normal and fighting moves. Also Exploud is unaffected by Intimidate
Technician – Powers Up weak moves, so Exploud can deal more damage with them
Weak to: (Fighting)
Immune to: Ghost
Weakness removed: Fighting
Resistance added: Ground
===
The three trainers barked out commands at once.
"Rhydon, Stone Edge!"
"Crustle, X-Scissor!"
"Tyrunt, Dragon Claw!"
All three Pokémon charged forward, attacking simultaneously—sharp stones burst from the ground, Crustle's claws glowed green, and Tyrunt's claws crackled with draconic energy.
But Exploud didn't even flinch.
Joe smirked. "Keith, Hyper Voice."
A deafening roar exploded from Exploud's mouth, shaking the entire battlefield. A shockwave of pure sound ripped through the air, colliding with all three opponents at once.
Rhydon staggered backward, trying to cover its ears with its thick arms. Crustle skidded across the dirt, its giant rock shell cracking under the force. Tyrunt yelped and tumbled back, its short legs unable to withstand the raw power.
The young trainers looked stunned.
Exploud stood tall, barely looking like it had exerted any effort at all.
Joe crossed his arms. "Come on now. There are three of you. Try to cooperate more."
David, Eva, and Blaine exchanged looks.
"This should be interesting," Blaine muttered with a grin.
Joe stood still, his arms crossed as he watched the battlefield with a patient, evaluating gaze. His Exploud, Keith, didn't press the attack. It didn't need to. Every time Rhydon, Crustle, or Tyrunt struck, Keith countered effortlessly—dodging, deflecting, or simply absorbing the hits with its sheer bulk.
The three young trainers, realizing their attacks weren't landing effectively, exchanged frustrated glances.
"This isn't working," the Tyrunt trainer muttered.
The girl with Crustle frowned. "We need a new plan. If we just keep attacking, we're gonna tire out before it does."
The boy with Rhydon nodded. "Then let's set something up."
Suddenly, the Tyrunt trainer's eyes lit up. "I got it! I'll distract Exploud while you two charge a big move!"
Without waiting for approval, Tyrunt lunged forward, its small but powerful legs kicking up dust as it sprinted toward Keith.
"Dragon Breath!"
A stream of blue flames burst from Tyrunt's mouth as it ran, bombarding Exploud with a barrage of draconic energy. Exploud braced itself, its thick hide absorbing the impact, but Keith's attention was now fixed on Tyrunt.
Meanwhile, behind Tyrunt—
Crustle and Rhydon planted themselves firmly on the ground.
"Start charging Rock Wrecker!"
Both Pokémon began gathering raw Rock-type energy, their bodies glowing with a golden aura as the power built up. Boulders around them began cracking, drawn into the swirling mass of energy that formed into a massive stone sphere above them.
Keith remained focused on Tyrunt, who had now reached its target.
"Now, Bite! Hold onto it!"
Tyrunt leaped and clamped its powerful jaws onto Exploud's leg, locking its teeth in place and digging deep into the Normal-type's thick skin. Keith grunted in mild irritation but didn't even stumble.
The Rhydon and Crustle trainers roared in unison:
"Rock Wrecker, FIRE!"
The massive boulder of compressed energy was hurled across the battlefield like a meteor, aimed straight at Exploud.
Joe's eyes narrowed slightly.
BOOM!
The attack struck Exploud full force, sending shockwaves through the field. A massive dust cloud exploded outward, obscuring everything.
Tyrunt, still latched onto Keith's leg, was violently thrown back, hitting the ground with a hard thud. It didn't get up.
"Nooo!" its trainer cried seeing Tyrunt fall.
For a moment, the field was silent.
Then, as the dust settled—
Exploud still stood.
It had been blasted backward, skidding across the rocky ground, but it was far from defeated.
With a low growl, Exploud slowly rose to its feet. Its muscular arms flexed, its arm glowing with white energy as it prepared a Pound attack.
The trainers gasped—
But before the Pokémon could leap forward, Joe's calm voice rang out:
"That's enough, Keith."
Instantly, Exploud stopped in its tracks, the glow in its hands fading.
Across the battlefield, Rhydon and Crustle stood panting heavily, both barely able to stay upright after using such a massive move.
The three young trainers looked at each other, then at Joe. The one with Rhydon sighed. "We… give up."
Joe simply nodded. "You all did well. But you're still relying too much on raw power."
Blaine, who had been watching intently, adjusted his glasses and chuckled. "Not really a fair fight, is it? That Exploud's miles ahead of them."
David smirked. "That's kind of the point. My father's been testing different ways to use his old Pokémon against potential challengers. You know, for Frontier battles."
Eva crossed her arms. "The League still hasn't approved of this approach, though."
Blaine glanced at her. "Why not?"
She shrugged. "It's… unconventional. The League prefers standardized challenges, but my father-in-law would like to use high-level Pokémon to evaluate the trainers. The argument is whether that's too much for newer challengers."
Blaine hummed in thought, then grinned. "Why not just train lower-level Pokémon to make things more balanced?"
David nodded. "He is. But they're still too weak to give real challenges."
As the battle ended and the crowd began dispersing, the trio of David, Eva, and Blaine stepped forward toward Joe.
The small Magby, which had followed them all the way from the Fire Cave, trotted up beside Blaine making excited chirping sounds.
"Hi, my name is Blaine and I am from Kanto!" the bald guy reached out his hand towards Joe to greet him.
"Hello, nice to meet you. Joe Lindenberg."
Blaine then grinned down at Magby, before looked up at Joe again.
"I'd like to catch this little guy. I met it in your fire cave, and it's been following me ever since."
Joe observed Magby for a long moment, then nodded.
"No problem. But I would like to know first how good a trainer you are."
"He defeated me," David commented.
"That doesn't mean anything," Joe grinned and added towards Blaine, "How about a quick battle to see what you're made of?"
Blaine smirked. "That's a good idea."
"At least Incineroar won't get too cocky," he added muttering to himself.
David and Eva took a few steps back, giving them space.
Joe and Blaine each moved to opposite sides of the battlefield.
David raised his hand.
"Are you both ready?"
Both men nodded.
"Then let the battle… begin!"
In front of Joe stood his Exploud, while Blaine toss up a Pokéball and his Incineroar re-appeared.
"Sunny Day, and follow up with Fire Blast!" Blaine commanded.
Incineroar's eyes started to glow and the weather was suddenly too hot. Meanwhile Joe was just standing and not issuing any order.
Even when Incineroar prepared and shot a Fire Blast, Joe did not react. However, his Exploud was not idle. Just when the huge fiery missile was about to reach it, the violet Pokémon used Echoed Voice. The soundwaves emitted from Explouds pipes immediately destroyed the Fire Blast leaving only few embers flicking through the air.
Blaine gulped and Incineroar made a few terrified steps back.
"Come on, don't stop now!" David called towards them.
"Quick, Darket Lariat!" Blaine instructed his Incineroar with a frown.
Incineroar's fist turned fiery red and the Pokémon started spinning. Then like a spindle, it charged against Exploud in amazing speed.
"Finish it!" Joe said quietly.
Keith the Exploud drew in air and released another Echoed Voice. The soundwaves hit the incoming Incineroar and sent it flying back towards its trainer. When it fell down on the ground, it was knocked out.
"The battle is over, Exploud wins!" David announced.
"Wow, that was quick," Blaine commented before recalling his fallen Incineroar back to its Pokéball.
"Excuse me, Mr. Lindenberg, I don't feel you can assess my trainer abilities by having me fight monsters like this Exploud of yours. David and Eva told me that you have some younger gang. Care to try some of those against me?"
Joe's expression was unreadable for a moment, but then—
"You're right," he said simply and recalled his Exploud. "Let's see what you've got."
"Perfect," Blaine rubbed his hands together in preparation for the next fight.
Joe stood silent for a moment, weighing his options. His experienced gaze flickered toward Blaine, then to the battlefield, calculating the best way to test this so-called future Gym Leader.
Then, without a word, he reached to his belt and pulled out a Pokéball.
A second later—
A burst of light erupted onto the field, materializing into a hulking quadrupedal Pokémon with a deep, volcanic presence.
===
Camerupt
Level: 30 to 38
Name: N/A
Gender: Female
Type: Fire / Ground
Affinity: Fire (Full), Ground (Full)
Moves: Ember (25), Rock Smash (29 to 34), Earthquake (29 to 35), Solar Beam (21 to 29), Overheat (20 to 23), Earth Power (30 to 35), Fissure (18 to 25), Eruption (23 to 26), Bulldoze (30 to 32), Take Down (19), Charm (23), Flame Charge (24), Sunny Day (26 to 27), Flash Cannon (16 to 18), Heavy Slam (11 to 15), Double-edge (13), Scorching Sands (9 to 17)
Abilities:
Magma Armor – Prevents Camerupt from being frozen
Anger Point – Camerupt is angered when it takes a critical hit, and sharply boosts its attack
Weak to: Ground, Water (2x)
Immune to: Electric
Resistant to: Poison, Bug, Steel, Fire, Fairy
===
The massive Fire/Ground type let out a low, rumbling snort, thick smoke billowing from the two craggy volcanoes protruding from its back. Its fur was a dull, rugged orange, its legs sturdy like tree trunks, each movement sending small tremors through the rocky ground.
Joe patted its side. "This girl is only level 38. Got anything around that range?"
Blaine's eyes lit up with excitement. "I have just the thing!"
With a sharp flick of his wrist, he flung a Pokéball into the air.
The Pokéball burst open, and in its place—
A sleek, elegant Ninetales on 42nd level landed gracefully on the battlefield.
Its luminous golden fur shimmered, reflecting the afternoon light, while its nine flowing tails fanned out in a mesmerizing display. The Pokémon's ruby-red eyes gleamed with intelligence, its expression poised yet playful, as if already calculating its strategy.
"Okay, second round. Let the battle begin!" David called.
Joe was the first to command.
"Camerupt, use Flame Charge!"
The massive volcano Pokémon stomped forward, its body igniting in a fierce inferno, then charged toward Ninetales with surprising speed for its size.
"Dodge and counter with Flamethrower!" Blaine called.
Ninetales easily leaped to the side, its movements fluid like flowing silk, narrowly avoiding Camerupt's fiery charge. As it landed, it opened its maw, releasing a concentrated stream of flames that engulfed Camerupt in a swirl of fire.
Camerupt barely flinched.
Joe smirked.
"Earthquake."
Blaine's eyes widened—
With a mighty stomp, Camerupt reared back and slammed its massive feet into the ground. The battlefield shook violently, large cracks splitting the earth as the tremor rippled outward.
The attack was unavoidable.
Ninetales yelped as the shockwave rattled its stance, causing it to stagger back.
Blaine gritted his teeth. "Not bad. But let's see how you handle this! Ninetales, Will-O-Wisp!"
Ghostly blue flames flickered to life, dancing around Ninetales before launching toward Camerupt.
Camerupt braced itself, but the embers latched onto its thick fur, burning into its hide, spreading a slow but steady burn effect.
Joe nodded approvingly.
"Alright, let's raise the stakes. Camerupt, Eruption!"
A deep rumble echoed from within Camerupt's body—
Then BOOM!
A column of molten lava and fire erupted from the volcanoes on its back, raining hellfire down upon the battlefield.
Blaine barely flinched.
"Ninetales, Confuse Ray!"
The golden fox's eyes glowed an eerie purple, and a shimmering ball of ghostly light spiraled toward Camerupt, sinking into its vision.
Camerupt suddenly froze, its movements becoming sluggish.
Joe frowned.
"Camerupt, use Earthquake again!"
The Fire-Ground type stomped down, attempting to summon another shockwave—
But then—
Its entire body stiffened, its head shaking.
It was confused.
Before it could recover, Blaine took advantage.
"Disable!"
Ninetales' eyes flashed, and a dark aura encased Camerupt—
The Earthquake attack was completely locked away.
Joe narrowed his eyes.
"Then let's go for Bulldoze."
But Blaine was one step ahead.
"Confuse Ray again!"
Another flickering orb of ghostly light swirled into Camerupt, further disorienting the Pokémon.
Joe realized he had no quick way to snap Camerupt out of confusion. He had to weaken Ninetales instead.
"Use Charm!"
Camerupt lowered its head, letting out a soft, almost pitiful cry.
For a moment, Ninetales hesitated, its attack power subtly dropping.
But Blaine wasn't about to let up.
"We're not done yet. Now, use Hex!"
A dark, swirling energy engulfed Ninetales, and in a flash—
A massive burst of spectral force slammed into Camerupt, causing the already burned and confused Pokémon to wince in agony.
It collapsed onto its knees, panting heavily, but it still wasn't out.
Joe exhaled sharply.
"One last try. Camerupt, Earth Power!"
With a deep growl, Camerupt rose to its feet and slammed the ground—
The battlefield cracked apart, a geyser of raw, golden earth energy surging upward.
Ninetales had no time to dodge.
The attack struck clean, sending the white fox tumbling back.
But as the dust settled, Ninetales stood back up, shaking itself off.
Blaine adjusted his glasses.
"Ninetales, finish this. Extrasensory!"
Ninetales' eyes flared with a brilliant, violet glow, and an invisible wave of psychic force crashed into Camerupt, lifting it off its feet before slamming it into the ground.
The battlefield went silent.
A few heartbeats passed—
Then, Camerupt groaned and stopped moving.
Joe exhaled.
"Camerupt is unable to battle!" David announced.
The match was over.
Blaine smirked, brushing off his coat. "Well, that was fun."
Joe smiled slightly. "Not bad. You used your moves well."
Just as Blaine was about to respond, a brilliant burst of white light suddenly erupted from the side of the battlefield.
All heads turned—
Magby was glowing.
The small, fire-spitting Pokémon trembled as its body became engulfed in radiant energy, its shape shifting, expanding, growing taller and stronger.
Blaine took a step forward, eyes wide with fascination.
"It's evolving…" Eva whispered, barely above a breath, "too bad Jakey's not here..."
The entire battlefield fell silent as they watched the transformation unfold.
The glowing form grew taller, broader, the once small and round Magby stretching into a more muscular and powerful physique.
Then—
With a final flash, the light shattered away—
Revealing a Magmar.
The newly evolved Pokémon stood proudly on the battlefield, its vibrant red-and-yellow body radiating heat. Its duck-bill-like mouth puffed out smoke, while flickering flames danced across its shoulders, burning with newfound power.
Magmar turned its head slowly, taking in its own form, flexing its clawed hands experimentally.
"Magmar!" it exclaimed happily.
Joe crossed his arms, nodding with approval.
"Now that's a fine-looking Pokémon!"
Blaine adjusted his glasses, a huge grin spreading across his face.
Joe looked at him and smirked.
"Well? What are you waiting for, Blaine? Go ahead and catch it."
The Kantonian didn't need to be told twice.
Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a red and white ball.
"Alright, Magmar… Let's make it official. Go, Pokéball!"
Wiggle.
Wiggle.
Wiggle.
Ding!
Blaine picked up the Pokéball containing his newly captured Magmar, turning it over in his palm with a satisfied grin. The battle with Joe had been a good one, but in the end, it was this little guy's evolution that had made his visit truly memorable. However, before he could revel in his victory for too long, Eva cleared her throat, redirecting their attention.
"Now that you've settled things with Magby... ehm... Magmar, maybe we should finally get to the real reason you came here," she said. "Ah... I completely forget about that. Could I go and see your library?" Blaine asked, raising an eyebrow. Eva nodded. "Of course, let's just hope that we will be able to find something with your Carrie Smith."
Joe and David exchanged a glance.
"Carrie Smith?" David asked.
"I don't know who that is." Joe shook his head.
"And Carrie Lindenberg?" Eva suggested.
"Still don't know. Some long-forgotten aunt, maybe?" Joe shrugged before asking, "why? What's special about her?"
"She was one of the people who studied Mew. Maybe she left some journals with her notes in your house?" Blaine explained.
Neither of them had thought much about this name from the past, but if Blaine had come all the way to Bohemia in search of her writings, then maybe there was something to it. Without further delay, they started walking toward the headquarters.
The Lindenberg library was an old but well-kept room in the main ranch house, lined with wooden bookshelves filled with records, journals, and historical texts. Unlike a modern research facility, it had a more personal, lived-in feel—a collection that had been passed down through generations of Pokémon trainers and breeders.
Joe and David weren't sure exactly where Carrie Smith's diary was, but after just a few minutes of scanning the shelves, Blaine's sharp eyes caught something on the far side of the room. A weathered leather-bound book with a faded signature on the spine: Carrinna Lindenberg.
"Got it." Blaine pulled the book out carefully, his fingers tracing over the handwritten pages. The Lindenbergs gathered around as Blaine flipped through the yellowed pages, scanning the neat but hurried handwriting. As he read, his eyes widened slightly, and a satisfied smirk crossed his face. "Interesting…" he muttered.
David tilted his head. "Did you find something useful?"
"Several things, actually," Blaine replied, flipping another page. "Most of her notes are about Pokémon she encountered while traveling, but right here—" he pointed at a passage, "—she writes about hearing stories of an ancient, elusive Pokémon. The people she spoke to weren't sure what it was, but the way they described it… 'A pink, catlike figure seen in flashes near deep jungles and forgotten ruins'—that sounds exactly like Mew."
Eva leaned in to read over his shoulder. "And where was this?"
Blaine tapped the page. "The deep jungles of Faraway Island."
Joe raised an eyebrow. "That's pretty far from here."
Blaine nodded. "It is. But this is the first real lead I've had in months." He closed the diary, exhaling in satisfaction. "Would you mind if I copied some of this? I don't need the original, but this information could be crucial for my research."
Joe shrugged. "Go ahead. It's not like we've been studying it."
Blaine quickly took out a notebook and began jotting down details, carefully transcribing every useful mention of strange sightings and local myths that might be linked to Mew. Once he was done, he closed his book with a snap, looking more energized than before.
Eva tried to start a conversation about Kanto and his plans for Cinnabar Island, but it was clear that Blaine's mind was already elsewhere. His fingers drummed against the diary's cover, his foot tapping against the wooden floor.
"Cinnabar is still a work in progress," he explained absently. "I've got a few ideas, but first—this." He tapped the notes he had copied. "This takes priority."
David smirked. "You really don't waste time, do you?"
Blaine chuckled. "Not when I'm onto something big." He glanced back toward the window, where the fields of Battle Ranch stretched into the horizon, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun.
"You know, this place… it's one of the finest I've seen for Pokémon training. The way you raise your Pokémon—it's little different from how we do it back in Kanto, but I think you've got something special here."
Joe gave a small nod of approval. "We do our best. By the way, the position of breeder for fire-types is vacant right now. And as you are quite skillfull with those Pokémon, if you are ever interested in coming to this place and exploring it further, you will be most welcomed to stay."
"Thank you for the offer, but I must decline. I want to find the next clue for Mew, and then I have to return to Kanto to re-open the gym. But if I ever grow tired of it, I may turn up here. Who knows..."
A honk outside signaled that Blaine's car had arrived. With a deep breath, he adjusted the collar of his coat, then reached into his bag and pulled out his iconic wig. He placed it back on his bald head, giving himself a quick check in the reflection of a nearby glass case.
"Gotta keep up appearances," he said with a smirk.
As he stepped outside, he took one final glance at Battle Ranch, his sharp eyes taking in the rolling hills, the wild Pokémon in the fields, and the people training alongside their partners. For a moment, he just stood there, soaking in the peaceful atmosphere—a stark contrast to the dangerous, unpredictable quest that lay ahead of him.
Then, without another word, he climbed into the car, and it pulled away, leaving Battle Ranch behind.
Joe watched as the car carrying Blaine disappeared down the road, then turned to his son and daughter-in-law with a raised eyebrow.
"So… Blaine from Kanto. Interesting guy. How did he end up here, anyway?"
Eva smirked. "Well, he came to Iglaustadt, to our lab. He was asking about some lady named Carrie. Said she might've left clues about Mew."
Joe shook his head with amusement. "Mew, that's some dream... He must be one persistent guy—most people don't have the patience to look for something that elusive."
Eva chuckled. "Haha, and then there are some who just stumble upon it by pure chance."
"Pure chance? You mean like we had earlier today?" David elbowed her.
Before Eva could react, Joe asked.
"What do you mean?"
"In the fire cave, there was some huge bird-like creature raising up from the lava. It was in a form of Moltres. But the lava collapsed back into the pool and..."
"Wow. I know my father had met Entei in that place. But Moltres. Wow..." Joe shook his head in disbelief.
"And this guy came here just the day you saw it. That is no pure chance!"
David shook his head. "Blaine definitely isn't one of those people to believe in chance. He's too well-informed and too experienced."
"And also quite enthusiastic. Maybe he'll find Mew one day," Eva added.
"Well, you know what they say - Luck favors the prepared."
Eva nodded. "Oh, and you should have seen how absolutely thrilled he was when I firstly mentioned the Fire Cave. Like a small kid in a candy store."
Joe exhaled, rubbing his chin. "That makes kinda sense. His Incineroar was really something. And even that Ninetales was very experienced—I should've known it wouldn't be an easy fight. Too bad my Camerupt lost."
David rolled his eyes dramatically. "Phew, you should've seen how he wrecked me. That guy really knows his Fire-types. But at least you took care of that Incineroar of his. He made my Swoobat sweat and burn at the same time."
Eva smirked. "Let's just hope he treats that Magby well." She paused before correcting herself. "Uh... I mean, Magmar…"
David grinned. "Oh, I think Magmar's got nothing to worry about. Hopefully, it won't got tossed around much in Blaine's care."
Joe let out a hearty laugh. "Tossed around? The two of them would have to run into something really seismic!"