And speaking of Frontier Brain…
If we shift our eyes across the Battle Ranch, past the vast fields and the forest ridgelines to the many buildings at the entrance to the Ranch, we would find David Lindenberg, gearing up for a battle of his own. A test not of raw power, but of endurance, prediction, and adaptation. A true battle between rising legacies.
After his mother told him to get back to his work, David took a moment beside the Ranch's central communication terminal. With one hand on his belt with PokéBalls, he opened an app and sent a message.
The response came quickly—a clear voice, polite but firm, with the slight twang of Hoenn's coastal accent.
"This is Norman, from Petalburg City."
Norman. Still young, but seasoned in tone and posture. No children yet, no gym responsibilities, but his eyes already held a stern glint of discipline. He was midway through an ambitious journey—traveling the world, seeking the toughest challenges, from formal Gyms to wild frontier posts. His path wasn't fame, but mastery, and he'd already turned heads in Paldea and Johto with his heavy-hitting, stamina-based team.
"Hi, David Lindenberg speaking. You registered for a Frontier match. I see in the record that you fought Jerry Hunter in a preliminary fight and won. Meaning you're qualified for the final step. I know it is on a short notice, but I wonder.. Are you free today?"
"Actually, I am. I've been exploring your Ranch, so I have nothing important to do right now. If you want, we can have the fight now."
David grinned faintly through the screen.
"Perfect. Let me check if we can get a referee and I'll message you the coordinates."
With a few swift taps, David cycled through the Battle Ranch's officiating staff.
Jerry? In town.
Angie? Occupied down south, where a reckless trainer had stirred up a Tentacool swarm along the riverside routes.
His father-in-law? Missing in the deep woods, searching for a Leavanny from a trainer who was very insistent on wanting his Pokémon today.
Finally, he tapped into the channel for Lenka, the Ranch's veteran Fairy-type caretaker and part-time judge. The connection crackled softly as her calm, melodic voice answered.
"Oh, hello, David. How can I help?"
"I'm looking for someone to referee. If you're not busy…"
"I'm always busy," Lenka chuckled, "but I suppose these Carbink won't mind a break. I'm just north of the rock-type hills. There's the field beside the slope, you know which one... You can bring your challenger here—I'll have the Carbinks as your audience."
David laughed. "Thanks, Lenka. That's perfect."
He pinged Norman immediately after.
"We've got a field ready for you. Head to the northeast hill, just past the boulder ridge. There's an old carved path—follow the flags marked with pink tape. A referee will be there to officiate. I'm on my way over there right now."
David called out his Mandibuzz to fly over to the place, because his Swoobat's Teleport was still not so advanced. And he arrived first.
The slope was steep, dotted with thick rocks and patches of glowing moss, warmed by the sun. The battle arena carved into the earth was worn but regal, a natural amphitheater overlooked by wind-swept ledges. On one of those ledges, a plump, smaller and older woman stood in a cream-colored jacket accompanied by Primarina and Whimsicott. Those two Pokémon looked peaceful, but David knew that they were exceptionally powerful creatures and experienced battlers.
Below her, a cluster of Carbink glittered like living gemstones, resting on a silk-covered mat as if in meditation.
"Hope you didn't rush for us," David said, striding up the hill.
"Don't worry, I never rush," Lenka waved him off. "But this bunch of Carbinks could."
"Rush where?"
"Have you heard of their evolution?"
"What? Carbink's? They don't have one..." David frowned.
"Well, there's this old tale that, under certain conditions, they may evolve into a Diancie. I've been keeping them close—trying subtle light, music, various terrain shifts."
"Diancie? You're kidding?"
"No, dead serious."
"Well, okay, I believe you... So anything interesting yet?"
"No transformation… but I think one of them is becoming... different. Clearer. Sharper. More aware. If it happens, you'll hear me scream from here to the moon."
They laughed lightly until Lenka tilted her head toward the narrow stone path winding toward the field.
"He's here." Lenka pointed to a man walking towards them.
"It's quick," David turned and waved at him.
"So, who did he fought to qualify for Frontier Match?" Lenka wondered.
"Jerry. His Sentret, Corsola and Manetric, they all ended up in Pokémon centre," David explained with a shrug.
"He should have brought his Hariyama," Lenka snorted.
"That would be no fair fight!" David replied with a laugh.
As they talked, Norman approached with the purposeful walk of someone trained by miles of hard travel. His jacket was dusted with road, his boots sturdy, and around his belt were five Poké Balls—carefully placed, polished.
He greeted them with quiet humility.
"Thank you for making time. I appreciate the honor."
"Just don't take it personally when I win," David said with a teasing smirk, which Norman chose to ignore.
The two men moved to opposite ends of the weathered battlefield as the wind stirred gently between them. The Carbinks clustered at the sidelines, blinking in their gemlike stillness.
Lenka raised her hand with quiet command.
"This is an official match under Frontier rules. Three-on-three. The challenger is allowed one switch. The defending Brain—David Lindenberg—may not switch once a Pokémon is sent in.
Victory is achieved when one trainer's team is completely knocked out.
On my mark…
Ready!
Set!
Begin!"
"Athena, let's fly."
David's Poké Ball erupted with shadowy plumage and a deep, fluting screech as Mandibuzz emerged. Her massive wings beat downward once, lifting dust and small pebbles, her eyes cold and calculating behind her bone-carved cowl.
===
Mandibuzz
Level: 43 to 47
Name: Athena
Gender: Female
Type: Dark / Flying
Affinity: Dark (Full), Flying (Full)
Moves: Gust (40 to 45), Leer (33 to 35), Sky Attack (39 to 42), Toxic (33 to 37), Air Slash (34 to 35), Dark Pulse (39 to 42), Nasty Plot (32 to 34), Defog (27 to 30), Attract (25 to 29), Take Down (29 to 39), Fake Tear (33), Scary Face (27 to 28), Snarl (34 to 40), Rock Tomb (25 to 35), U-Turn (26 to 29), Roost (28 to 32), Shadow Ball (23 to 30), Mean Look (20 to 22), Heat Wave (22 to 23)
Abilities:
Overcoat – Mandibuzz cannot take damage from the weather (sand, hail, powders)
Big Pecks – Mandibuzz's defense cannot be lowered
Weak to: Rock, Electric, Ice, Fairy
Immune to: Ground, Psychic
Resistant to: Ghost, Grass, Dark
===
Norman raised a red-and-white Poké Ball and declared, "Spinda, go!"
The panda-like Pokémon spun in midair from the ball, landing on tiptoe with a dizzy sway. Its spiral eyes danced across the field as if it were always teetering between balance and collapse.
David did not scan it, but he could feel that the Pokémon was 4-star strong, just like his Mandibuzz. But before he could wonder about Spinda's level, Norman already started giving commands.
"Spinda, start dancing—Teeter Dance!"
The quirky bear twirled erratically, kicking its legs and flailing its arms, the rhythm bizarre and hypnotic aiming to confuse every Pokémon around it. Mandibuzz stumbled mid-flight for a moment, thrown by the sudden tempo.
"Don't look at it. Fly high and use Nasty Plot!"
Mandibuzz soared upward, eyes narrowing with dark focus. Around her, a swirl of ominous energy formed like black ink in water boosting Mandibuzz's special attack.
"Now, Psych Up!" Norman called.
Spinda mirrored the Mandibuzz's rising aura—mimicking its stat changes perfectly. Then it waved its arms like a magician preparing a finale.
"Baton Pass!"
Spinda bounced several times in the air before it vanished into its Pokéball.
The field shuddered as a 4-star Vigoroth emerged in Spinda's place taking over its boost. Muscular and wild-eyed, the sloth-beast landed on all fours before springing to its feet and beating its chest.
"Use Slash!"
"Fly and dodge!"
Vigoroth lunged—but Mandibuzz launched upward, wings beating powerfully. The attack missed by inches as David pointed.
"Now hit back—Dark Pulse!"
A ripple of black force burst from Mandibuzz's opened beak, hammering into Vigoroth's chest. It snarled, barely phased.
"Now, use Attract!" David ordered.
"Encore!" Norman commanded.
"Abort!" David immediately shouted.
A burst of white light shot from Vigoroth, and luckily for David, forcing Mandibuzz to repeat Dark Pulse again—twice more, each hit slightly less effective as the Normal-type endured.
"Shake it off!" David called. "Scary Face to slow it down! Then Nasty Plot once more!"
Mandibuzz swept low, her mask glaring into Vigoroth's eyes. The energy coiled again—darker, stronger.
The dance became brutal.
Vigoroth launched a flurry of Fury Swipes, a Retaliate, even tried a desperate Focus Blast, but Athena's dodge timing and aerial control made her nearly untouchable.
Finally, as Vigoroth panted, knees buckling—
"Trap it! Rock Tomb!"
Stones appeared around the large sloth-beast as Mandibuzz looped and twisted in the sky. Vigoroth was pinned.
David's voice dropped.
"Sky Attack. Finish it."
Mandibuzz rose like a stormbird and came crashing down in a blazing comet of feathers and energy.
Vigoroth collapsed.
Norman recalled his Vigoroth and silently re-released Spinda. It twirled again, unfazed, and immediately began setting up with Calm Mind.
"He's trying again that Baton Pass," David muttered. "Not this time."
"Athena—Gust! Quickly!"
Spinda danced one more spiral, just as a whirling energy struck it dead-on.
It was flung backwards, arms spinning wildly, until it tumbled across the grass and went still.
"All those Nasty Plots really paid off..." David thought.
Lenka raised her arm.
"Spinda is unable to battle. Victory to Frontier Brain David Lindenberg."
The group of Carbink hummed softly in unison, a shimmer of light glinting across the field.
Norman looked down at his Poké Ball, nodded solemnly, and smiled. "That was masterfully done. I didn't expect Mandibuzz to counter so quickly."
David exhaled slowly. "She's sharp, but you had me sweating with that setup. So do you want to continue this fight?"
Norman chuckled softly. "Oh, this battle's only just beginning."
And with calm assurance, he reached for his last Pokéball.
A heavy click. A flash of white.
Snorlax.
The battlefield seemed to tilt under its weight. Towering, with a blue-grey body and cream-colored belly, Snorlax yawned, then settled its immense bulk onto the field with a thoom. Eyes shut. Arms slack. Pokémon on at least six-stars stage. Maybe even higher.
Lenka raised her arm. "Continue!"
David narrowed his gaze. "Let's keep pressure, Athena, while you're still boosted! Sky Attack—now!"
But Norman was already speaking.
"Rest."
Snorlax yawned again—and immediately fell to the ground and into a deep sleep. Its chest rose and fell with peace. A faint glow surrounded its body as it activated its healing powers.
Athena's wings flared and she dove. A powerful Sky Attack cracked against the sleeper's belly—no response. The massive Pokémon didn't flinch. Not even the second and third attempt drew a twitch.
David's brow furrowed. "This thing… it's a wall. Again!"
Then Norman's next move: "Sleep Talk."
And in a terrifying instant, without waking, Snorlax reared upright and fired a massive Hyper Beam straight at the airborne Athena.
The beam smashed into her mid-air.
She completed the Sky Attack, crashing into Snorlax's shoulder—but her wings had faltered, and she dropped like a stone.
David stood there with eyes wide and mouth open.
Lenka raised her arm.
"Mandibuzz is unable to battle!"
David shook his head to get some air and recalled his Pokémon, nodding slowly.
"Smart gameplay," he muttered. "Let's see how you deal with this one."
He flung his next Pokéball. "Ryan, go!"
A flash of crimson—then Kleavor, his axe-limbed predator, hit the ground with a metallic snarl. Black carapace glinting, amber eyes focused.
===
Kleavor
Level: 48 to 49
Name: Ryan
Gender: Male
Type: Bug / Rock
Affinity: Bug (Full), Rock (Full), Flying (Expert)
Moves: Quick Attack (44 to 48), Heavy Slam (43 to 45), Rock Slide (46), Air Slash (40 to 42), X-Scissor (47 to 48), Stone Axe (40 to 47), Fury Cutter (41 to 42), Smack Down (31 to 36), Double Team (40 to 41), Slash (40), Focus Energy (39), Swords Dance (42), Brick Break (39 to 44), Trailblaze (38 to 40), Stealth Rock (30), Aerial Ace (38), Counter (31 to 37), Night Slash (41), Wing Attack (30 to 39)
Abilities:
Swarm – With low health, Kleavor's Bug-type moves are powered up
Sheer Force – Removes additional effets of Kleavor's moves, but increases their power
Weak to: Rock, Steel, Water
Resistant to: Normal, Poison
Resistance added: Grass
===
Norman's expression didn't change.
"Rest."
Snorlax exhaled and slumped deeper into its dream.
"Swords Dance! Then follow with Brick Break!" David snapped.
Ryan spun one axe in a wild arc, and a swirl of energy wrapped around his body—his strength doubling, muscles coiled.
The next moment, his axes glowed orange with fighting-type energy. He bolted forward. The first Brick Break slammed into Snorlax's flank. Then another. And another.
Norman let several super-effective moves hit his Snorlax, before he spoke.
"Sleep Talk."
Snorlax stirred, stood upright—and its paws gleamed with Hard Press energy, a steel-heavy impact move.
David shouted. "Double Team! Now!"
Illusions of Kleavor blurred into existence, circling the giant.
But Snorlax—sleepwalking, relentless—swung a shining paw and after dissolving four fake ones, it smashed into the real Kleavor, sending Ryan skidding across the rock-strewn ground.
"All right," David called, teeth clenched. "Rock Slide! Don't let it move!"
Ryan's eyes glowed—stones erupted above Snorlax and crashed down as the giant yawned again.
"Rest," Norman reacted with an amused tone.
David grimaced. "This is getting old. Focus Energy. And prepare for another Brick Break. Go!"
Ryan's focus surged, drawing energy from the enviroment towards itself. Then the Pokémon raised one axe-limbed arm and the rocks covering Snorlax disappeared. Kleavor's next strike was sharp and direct—a critical hit.
"Sleep Talk."
Snorlax surged forward again—Hard Press cracking against the earth.
"Quick Attack to dodge! Then Counter!"
Ryan blurred, dodged one strike, second strike—but the third strike hit him head-on.
As instructed, the Pokémon spun, dug his feet in—and countered with Counter, axes flaring with fighting-type energy. Snorlax was thrown backward like a toppled monolith.
"Sleep Talk," Norman murmured again.
"Man, this is getting old..." David breathed out with annoyance.
Snorlax hit the ground, and the moment it stirred—
Earthquake.
The ground trembled. Kleavor stumbled, dazed.
"Get airborne! Aerial Ace!"
Ryan dashed forward in a precise arc—
"Sleep Talk!"
But just as he neared…
Hyper Beam.
Again. Straight from a dream.
The impact flung Kleavor back. He struck the rock and did not rise.
Lenka raised her arm again. "Kleavor is unable to battle!"
David, stunned, returned Ryan to his Pokéball. Snorlax snored peacefully, unbothered and moreover, it kept healing itself.
He took a breath. His next Pokémon would be his last.
"…This is crazy," he muttered. "All right. Which one now?"
His mind raced, looping through every possible countermeasure, but each option he ran through brought only frustration.
"Lickitung and Skuntank are too weak against this monstrosity. Coalossal is too slow. I cannot use Meganium or Samurott, their levels are over the limit."
The tension in the air was a storm. Even the grass beside the battlefield seemed to still in anticipation.
Lenka's voice sliced through the silence.
"David, if you don't call out your final Pokémon, the match is forfeited!"
He blinked, shook his head, grounding himself.
"Sorry," he muttered, and with a flick of his wrist, tossed the final Pokéball into the air.
It burst open in a shimmer of white light.
A towering pink-and-black figure emerged with a thud, dust kicking up around its thick, pawed feet. Wide-eyed, soft-looking, with a body like a plush toy and the forearms of a pro-wrestler, the beastly teddy bear flexed slightly as it glanced toward its trainer, then at its opponent.
"Ted," David breathed out. "Let's do this."
===
Bewear
Level: 69
Name: Ted
Gender: Male
Type: Normal / Fighting
Affinity: Normal (Full), Fighting (Full)
Moves: Baby-Doll Eyes (40), Work Up (53), Payback (57), Focus Blast (67), Brutal Swing (52), Strength (69), Hammer Arm (66), Pain Split (50), Revenge (58), Drain Punch (63), Low Sweep (62), Body Slam (67), Reversal (56), Close Combat (61), Iron Head (54), High Horsepower (56), Stomp (46), Shadow Claw (43)
Abilities:
Fluffy – Halves the damage taken from moves that make direct contact, but double that of Fire-type moves
Unnerve – Unnerves opposing Pokémon and makes them unable to eat berries
Weak to: (Fighting, Flying), Psychic, Fairy
Immune to: Ghost
Resistant to: Rock, Bug, Dark
Weakness removed: Fighting, Flying
===
Snorlax continued to snore peacefully on the other side of the field, its massive belly slowly rising and falling. It looked like a creature that couldn't be moved even by an earthquake—and in fact, had shrugged off one just minutes ago.
David took the first move.
"Start with Baby-Doll Eyes, then Work Up!"
Ted blinked sweetly. His eyes sparkled with eerie innocence, momentarily disarming the sleeping titan across from him. Though Snorlax didn't react consciously, the move lowered its attack potential, subtly weakening the energy that had previously torn through David's team.
Then, Bewear growled low in its throat, rolling its massive shoulders. Muscles rippled beneath its thick fur as Work Up pulsed through its body—a surge of motivation and inner fire, raising both its Attack and Special Attack stats.
Norman smirked.
"Rest," he said calmly.
"Oh, come on! Don't you have any other moves?!?" David thought bitterly.
Snorlax seemed to sigh contentedly, then shifted deeper into sleep. Its body shimmered faintly as the effects of Rest took hold, accelerating its healing.
"Now, let's use our full power!" David roared as he wanted to attack Snorlax, before it healed itself back to full health.
"Close Combat!"
Ted bellowed—not a roar of rage, but of power. With explosive strength, it charged, limbs trailing streaks of red-orange energy. Its first punch landed square in Snorlax's belly with a crack of force. Then another. And another. Each strike came faster, more reckless, as Ted unleashed everything in a whirlwind of fury.
"Sleep Talk," Norman murmured.
Snorlax's body twitched. Still unconscious, its mouth opened wide.
And a beam of raw light—a deafening, scorching Hyper Beam—exploded outward.
Ted collided with Snorlax just as the Hyper Beam surged forward, and the blast hit him point-blank in mid-punch.
The battlefield shuddered. Dust flew.
Before the dust cleared, everyone held their breath. From direct Hyper Beam hit, Mandibuzz had been down. Kleavor had been, too.
But Ted…
The Bewear was still standing. Barely. Bloodied. Kneeling, one paw pressed into the earth to hold himself up.
David's eyes widened with relief.
"You crazy bastard…" he whispered towards himself and his Pokémon.
He clenched his fist knowing he could use this situation to his benefit.
"Now, Revenge!"
Ted's fur shimmered with dark, simmering energy. The Pokémon slowly rose to his feet, absorbing every bruise, every crack of pain—and turned it into power.
Then he struck.
The uppercut landed like thunder, Snorlax's body lifting slightly from the ground before it dropped back down, shaking the field.
It only groaned in its sleep. Long way from being knocked out.
"Rest," Norman said again.
David almost cursed aloud as Snorlax's breathing slowed, the wounds closing up before their eyes.
"Fine. Work Up and Close Combat, again!"
Ted quickly boosted his attack stats and charged again—more ragged now, his steps heavier—but he struck true. More blows. A flurry of jabs and throws.
"Sleep Talk." Norman grinned and David rolled his eyes growling with frustration.
This time, the slumbering titan snapped its eyes open mid-snore. And from those sleepy eyes unnaturally opened—two Hyper Beams charged into approaching Bewear.
"No!!" David cried.
Ted was caught in the blast, again. But he didn't fall.
He braced himself, sliding back across the ground on bent legs, arms crossed over his chest to dull the brunt of the beam. Blood was streaming down his massive body.
But still up.
Barely.
David had another trick up his sleeve for such situation.
"Reversal!"
Ted's fur flared orange. The lower his health, the more power this move held—and now, Bewear was at his absolute limit.
With a growl that cracked the air, Ted launched himself like a missile, one arm trailing flames of aura as he smashed into Snorlax's chest with everything he had left.
Snorlax's body bounced once off the dirt.
It groaned again—but it was still not out.
David laughed breathlessly.
"What are you made of? Adamantium? Vibranium?" he joked nervously.
His fingers trembled, but he had one more ace in the hole.
"Okay… Pain Split."
Ted closed his eyes, concentrating. His aura stretched across the battlefield—seeking equilibrium. Pain Split redistributed the remaining health between both battlers, evening their endurance.
But just as the connection formed—
"Sleep Talk," Norman shrugged for Mew-knows-how-many time.
Snorlax's eyes fluttered. Then, without warning, the sleeping giant charged forward.
Its skull glowed faint blue as it lunged into a devastating and super-effective Zen Headbutt, hitting Ted square in the chest, lifting the black and pink bear into the air.
It flew backwards like a ragdoll, crashing into the rocks at the edge of the field with a bone-rattling crunch.
"Ted!!" David shouted in fear.
Smoke hung over the battlefield.
Lenka stepped forward, lifting her hand.
"Bewear is unable to battle. Snorlax is the winner. Which means that Norman wins the match!"
David let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, wiping sweat from his brow. He walked to the center of the field.
"Phew... That was something..."
Ted's Pokéball returned the bear with a red flash.
He extended his hand toward Norman, who was already walking forward.
"That was a crazy strategy. But bulletproof," David said, a grin tugging at his face.
Norman accepted the handshake firmly.
"Thanks. It's a tricky setup, honestly. Sleep Talk is random— you never know what move will trigger. But today was my lucky day."
"Lucky day?? That was a slaughter!" David dryly commented before he pulled something from his jacket: the Battle Frontier symbol. It gleamed gold in the afternoon light.
"You definitely earned this."
"Thank you!" Norman accepted the emblem. Then turned toward his Pokémon, still lying on its back, snoring loudly.
"Wake up, you fatso. You won," Norman joked poking Snorlax into his belly. Snorlax's eyes opened slowly.
It blinked.
"Snor?"
Then it looked around with an expression of pure, dumb confusion, as if to ask: Wait, what did I miss?
David and Lenka both burst into laughter.
"You should probably get him something to eat," Lenka smirked.
Norman sighed, patting Snorlax on the belly.
"Yeah, yeah. I owe him a whole bakery."
And so, under the wide blue sky of the Bohemian Frontier, one of David's toughest matches had come to a close—with honor, with exhaustion, and with a bear that almost beat the odds.
While Joe and David were enjoying their respective battles, others members of the family had more relaxed afternoon.
The orchard was peaceful in the golden haze of the late afternoon, its fruit-laden branches casting long shadows across the grassy paths. The air buzzed gently with the hum of bugs and the distant call of bird Pokémon. Eva and Frank walked leisurely under the canopy, chatting softly, while their Pokémon moved with trained alertness.
Above them, Lenny the Venomoth circled in wide loops, wings shimmering with soft light as she kept watch from above. Down below, Eva's Cubchoo—Baloo—waddled forward with short, purposeful strides, occasionally pausing to sniff the air or glance around for any danger. Frank's Girafarig walked beside them, tail-head turning now and then with eerie independence, scanning in the opposite direction from its front-facing counterpart. Dwayne the Gigalith lumbered several paces behind—his movements slightly stiff, as though still adjusting to his recently evolved body. His rocky limbs occasionally scraped together with a grinding crunch, and now and then he glanced down at them in surprise, huffing with slight annoyance.
Jake and Monika were chasing after Lenny, their laughter rising like birdsong in the quiet grove. Charmander sprinted ahead of them, occasionally leaping to swat at the fluttering moth who playfully stayed just out of reach. Baloo tried to join in, but its waddling gait couldn't keep pace, and it flopped into the grass with a sneezy pout. Monika knelt beside it, patting its fuzzy head with a giggle.
Eva and Frank continued their chat, walking on slowly behind them.
The peace was suddenly interrupted by a ping—a sharp chirp from Frank's phone. He pulled it from his pocket with one brow raised.
"Message from Rachel," he said casually. Then he snorted.
"She says: 'Your precious brother-in-law just limped into the Center with three fainted Pokémon. The other guy had only two down. Someone should tell him to start taking the matches seriously :).'"
Jake, who was halfway listening, froze mid-chase, mouth open.
"Wait—what?! Dad lost?"
Even Lenny looped lower overhead, sensing the mood shift.
Eva looked up, blinking.
"David lost? That doesn't happen often. And after this Saturday... I hope he's alright."
Frank was already tapping his screen.
"Hold on. I'll get more."
Jake jogged back toward them, face screwed up in disbelief.
"But… but how? Who was he fighting?"
"Let's see…" Frank scrolled, eyes squinting.
"Okay. Rachel says your dad used Mandibuzz—Athena, right? Then Kleavor—Brian, no Ryan. And, ooh—get this—Bewear. Ted."
Eva's eyes widened.
"He used Ted? That's rare. He doesn't usually bring him out, unless he's cornered."
The little boy crossed his arms, fuming.
"So who did the other guy have?!"
Frank was texting for a few seconds before he let out a low whistle.
"Vigoroth… Spinda… and—Snorlax."
"Looks like normal-type expert," Eva commented.
Jake blinked. Then frowned.
"Normal-type Pokémon? But that's the weakest type!"
His mom raised an eyebrow, smiling.
"Says who?"
"Well," Jake said, hesitating now under the adults' amused gaze.
"They don't have any cool powers like Fire or Ice or Steel. They're just… basic."
"Ah," Eva said, ruffling his hair gently.
"Did you already forget what we talked about on Friday in car? It's not all about types. Levels, strategies, timing… those matter more. Normal-types might seem simple, but they're versatile and often very tough."
Jake huffed, unconvinced.
"Still… they look boring."
"Someone could say the same about Charmander," Monika joined them and chimed in slyly.
Charmander stopped, eyes narrowing in mock indignation. The shiny little lizard folded his little arms and turned away, nose in the air.
Girafarig let out a short, chirping bray and turned its long neck toward Charmander, who had just sulked dramatically into the grass. The psychic giraffe leaned down and gave the little fire-lizard a wet lick across the face with its big tongue.
"Char! Charmander!" Charmander squeaked in mock disgust.
Frank burst into laughter. "I think he liked it!"
Charmander looked up at Girafarig, eyes wide—then giggled and leapt up again, nuzzling the psychic Pokémon affectionately before dashing off once more.
Frank continued.
"Besides, Jake, your dad losing to that team just proves how dangerous a well-played Normal-type can be."
He was still texting. Then he looked up again.
"Challenger's name was Norman. From Petalburg City."
Eva blinked.
"Petalburg? And he had a Vigoroth?"
Frank nodded slowly.
"You think it could be…?" she asked.
"Maybe," he replied.
"What are you guys talking about?"
Monika asked not understanding their conversation.
Frank grinned.
"You see. Years ago, me and your aunt were traveling across Hoenn. I challenged the Petalburg Gym when I was about sixteen. The gymleader was some old guy and he used a Slaking—I barely defeated it with my Ferroseed and Quaxwell."
"And I think he was holding back a lot," Eva grinned at her brother.
"And Vigoroth is younger Slaking, right?" Monika asked her father and aunt.
"Yes," Eva nodded, "Vigoroth evolves into Slaking."
"So this guy could be related to the gymleader?" Jake asked, eyes wide now.
Eva shrugged her shoulders.
"Perhaps. That Slaking was a nightmare, even with all the restrictions in place. If this guy trained with someone like that… he's probably been mastering the art of Normal-types for years."
Frank looked back at his phone.
"And judging by what Rachel says, Snorlax didn't just win. It dominated the fight. Used Rest and Sleep Talk to counter everything David threw at him."
Jake's jaw dropped.
"That's sounds like cheating!"
Eva smiled.
"It's not cheating, sweetheart. It's just… a way of battling."
Charmander made a tiny huffing sound and stomped his foot in agreement. Girafarig let out a soft whinny of laughter.
"Maybe we'll get to meet this Norman guy," Monika said.
"Maybe," Eva replied, watching the orchard trees sway in the wind.
Baloo waddled closer and tugged on Jake's pants gently. Jake looked at the small polar bear cub playful eyes and giggled.
"Okay, okay. Tag, you're it!"
The kids ran off laughing again, the Pokémon in tow, as Eva and Frank walked on in quiet atmosphere, recalling their time on the road.