The sun over the Battle Ranch was strong enough to make the gravel crunch louder under Jake's sneakers. His tiny backpack bounced with each step, and behind him, a young shiny Charmander trotted in rhythm, his tail swaying like a torch dancing in slow motion.
Jake's brow was furrowed in deep thought, which for a seven-year-old looked a lot like trying not to squint at the sun.
"Do you think babies can inherit screaming?" he asked aloud, not really to Charmander, but more like the wind.
"Char! Char!" his friend replied, not really clearing it up.
"Because if they do, then the twins definitely got it from Dad. Mom never yells like that, even when I forgot to brush my teeth for three days."
Charmander chirped again, maybe in agreement, or maybe just because it stepped on something weird.
Jake nodded, feeling smart for figuring it out. "Yeah. It's like... a special move. Hyper Voice – Lindenberg Version."
As they reached the familiar gravel path that curved toward his grandparents' villa, Jake stopped mid-step.
There, in the wide open field that usually hosted Tauros runs and Mareep napping contests, stood something very un-Mareep-like.
A small airplane.
Sleek, white, and gleaming like a Skarmory feather in the sun, it rested on narrow wheels with its wings stretched proudly. Its nose pointed slightly skyward, like it was already halfway to flying. A few ranch Pokémon stood at a cautious distance, heads tilted, watching it like it might flap and take off at any second.
Jake's mouth fell open.
"What's that doing here? Nobody on the Ranch has a plane," he frowned. "...Right?"
Charmander tilted its head.
"Char... Char.." the Pokémon was similarly confused.
Then voices—grown-up voices—floated from the direction of the villa.
Jake walked more carefully now, curiosity replacing his earlier questions about babies. The front porch of his grandparents' villa came into view. The double doors stood open, and seated at the outdoor table under the grapevine awning was a stranger.
Jake froze.
The man was laughing loudly. His voice was rich, warm, a bit gravelly—like someone who told stories with his chest rather than his mouth. He leaned back in his chair, long legs stretched out, boots dusted from travel. A well-worn jacket, deep forest green with stitched wing patterns, hung over the back of the seat.
He had deep dark hair swept back like it had been pushed by strong winds and forgotten to return. A sharp nose, hawk-like eyes hidden behind narrow sunglasses, and a scar along his left jaw made him look like he'd stepped out of an action movie. But it was the way he moved that caught Jake's attention — calm, grounded, but somehow… ready to take off at any second.
"He looks like the actor in that movie we watched few days ago. You know about that guy and his impossible mission..."
"Char.. Char!" the small Pokémon commented.
"Exactly, and then mom told us to turn off the TV and go to sleep," Jake added.
"Char!"
"Yeah, I was also curious how it turned out..."
But his focus quickly shifted from memories of the film to the unknown stranger in front of him. Jake noticed that clipped to his belt was a Pokéball that shimmered faintly with shifting light, not like the standard red-and-white kind.
"Jake!" Grandma Anna Lindenberg spotted him from the porch with a cheerful wave.
"Come here, hon! Someone's visiting, so be nice!"
Jake took a hesitant step forward. Charmander followed close at his heels now, tail flame flickering a bit smaller than usual.
Grandpa Joe stood up from the table.
"Jakey, come here," he said, smiling.
"This is our grandson, Jake. And this here is an old friend. The name is Tony Wright."
The man stood and gave a small bow, not stiff, more like how a Pidgeot might nod before battle.
"Hello," the boy squeaked, "my name is Jakub Lindenberg. Nice to meet you."
"How do you do, young man," Tony replied, removing his sunglasses with a flick and revealing keen, tired eyes the color of storm clouds.
"I've heard a thing or two about you. And this fella here must be the famous Charmander."
Charmander blinked, gulped and gave a shy, nervous wave.
Jake opened his mouth, searching for the right reaction, when his elegant as ever grandmother stepped in with explanation.
"Tony's a trainer. And very special one."
"Really?" Jake's face lit up.
"Well, he's been flying around a lot lately," Anna added, "but you might say his job involves battling trainers like—"
That was all Jake needed to jump in and interrupt his grandmother.
"Do you have a flying gym? No—wait—are you a pilot and a trainer? That would be sooo cool! How many badges do you have? Would you beat Grandpa? Or would he beat you? Do you have a Charizard? What's in that shiny Pokéball? Is that your strongest—"
"Whoa, whoa!" Joe laughed, kneeling to Jake's level.
"Easy there, young man. Mr. Wright doesn't have much time today. He's just here for a quick visit. I will answer all your question later, okay?"
Jake's shoulders dropped just slightly, but he nodded, understanding… mostly. Nevertheless, the excitement from meeting another trainer was still there.
Anna ruffled his hair.
"Come on, let's get you and our little friend something sweet in the kitchen. The grown-ups will still be here in ten minutes."
"You got cookies, grandma?" Jake immediately asked, his mind turning from the Pokémon battles towards food.
"Char, Charmander?" the Pokémon mimicked his human friend with the same curiosity.
"Just follow me!"
Jake and Charmander eagerly went after her with hunger in their eyes.
The smell of fresh-baked cookies filled the kitchen like a hug. Jake munched on one still warm from the oven, and Charmander practically inhaled a burnt one while making excited little purring sounds.
"Grandma," Jake asked through a crumb-filled mouth, "who's the guy?"
Anna sipped her lemonade and chuckled.
"Tony's something like an old friend of your grandfather. Or rather old rival. He's just passing through and stopped by for a chat. Has an hour or two free."
Jake blinked. "But that Pokéball… and that plane... and that jacket—"
Anna gave him a stern look. "Jake, if you didn't interrupt me all the time, you would already know that he's a Frontier Brain. Just like your Grandpa."
Jake and Charmander both froze mid-bite.
"Frontier Brain?? No! Way!!"
"Way," his grandmother said with a wink.
"He runs the Battle Spire. You know that two tall wooden towers you once saw in the pictures and asked about them? That's his base."
Jake stood up so quickly he nearly dropped his cookie. "We have to go back. I need to see him again before he flies off!"
"Of course you do!" Anna chuckled and followed them back into the living room, where the two men were already laughing about something.
Tony wiped his eyes. "At first I didn't get it. I saw on the records that David Lindenberg was the name of the Frontier Brain. For a minute, I thought something happened to you, man."
Joe sighed. "You know, the League and their stupid rules. So Dave came home and took over the business for a while. And even that was a stroke of luck, because I wrote only our surname on the application."
"Tell me 'bout it." Tony rolled his eyes. "Those guys are always after me to go easy on the challengers. But I am no bloody gym leader. I can do whatever the hell I want!"
"But at least you don't have any relatives with... how should I put it... peculiar financial situation," Joe said, a bit of frustration in his voice.
"That's one major reason why I couldn't do it myself."
"Idiots…" Tony shook his head in disbelief.
"Luckily, the royals stepped in, and now I can do whatever I want," Joe grinned.
"How did you persuade those guys to stand with you? I remember reading about some incident while you were knighted. But what really happened there?" Tony frowned.
Joe chuckled, because he noticed his grandson standing in the opened door.
"Our little boy happened," Joe continued and motioned for Jake to come closer.
"I don't ..." Tony shook his head in misunderstanding, but Joe was already talking.
"Jake has talent for communicating with Pokémon. And that managed to wake the royal Regidrago."
"Wow, that is something!" Tony commented, with respect in his voice.
"Yeah, that was something," Joe agreed, "and even though they did not approve our requests earlier, after Regidrago woke up, it was granted without any conditions."
"Phew... Good for you. But hey, I followed some of David's battles and he was not bad at all. But to be honest, it was sometimes a little boring. The challengers had to beat him to win the symbol. I remember he used Pokémon like Kleavor, Lickitung or Skuntank, which were not that strong."
"Wow, you have good memory," Anna commented.
"That's me. And also remember that when David called out his Ambipom, he almost always won," Tony continued.
"That's Marcel. He's awesome!" Jake grinned.
"And Joe, I also read that you sometimes gave the symbols out just because the challengers gave you a fun fight. And they didn't even win over you! Are you getting too old? Or too lazy?"
Anna sneered at the question, but Joe only frowned and rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Tony. I don't want to be like you. Remember how many times I came to challenge you? It was like four or five goes."
"Six times, actually," Tony said, very smugly.
Joe chuckled. "See? I don't want the promising trainers to be discouraged. That's why I almost always do the collector's challenge instead of the legacy one."
Jake noticed the strange words 'collector's challenge' and 'legacy challenge' and decided to ask about those later.
"Meaning you don't want them to get better!" Tony grinned.
"This is where we agree to disagree!" Joe said, raising his mug.
Tony grinned. "Still a stubborn old goat, I see."
But Joe didn't reply to Tony's teasing, he instead tilted his head with a flicker of curiosity. "Alright, enough about us... tell me—what've you been up to lately? The League bulletin says you've been off the radar since spring."
Tony didn't answer immediately. His smile stretched wider, but this time, it wasn't smug — it was playful. Dangerous, even. The kind of smile that meant something big was coming.
"I could tell you," he said slowly, "but it's better if I show you."
He glanced toward Jake and raised a brow. "You coming, little fella?"
Jake, who had been quietly nibbling a cookie while clinging to every word, blinked. "Me?"
Tony leaned forward like he was sharing a secret. "This one's something you'll want to see."
Joe stood, already groaning a little from his knees. "See what?"
"Patience, my old friend," Tony laughed, and clapped Joe on his shoulder. "but let's go outside, I don't want to destroy this beautiful house."
"Well, then you would have to face me. And believe me, I wouldn't need six attemps to kick your ass!" Anna joked, which made Jake giggle like crazy.
"Char?"
"She said the a-word!" Jake whispered towards Charmander, who was just gawking at him, not understanding why was his human friend laughing.
The group moved outside, crossing the worn stone patio and descending the wooden steps toward the field that stretched behind the villa — the very same field where Jake had earlier spotted the small aircraft parked near the tree line. Now it all made sense.
As they walk, Jake asked out loud.
"Grandpa, what did you mean by those words. I mean... collector's battle? And legacy battle?"
"Oh, I've never told you that. Generally, the challengers just want to prove themselves and beat the Frontier Brain. And to collect the symbol, they choose the collector's battle. But if they aspire to become a Frontier Brain themselves..."
"... like your grandfather," Tony jumped in.
"... like me, then you have to go for legacy challenge. And it would mean..."
"... no holding back!" Tony again interrupted.
"So you would use more than just one Pokémon against the challengers for this legacy battle?" Jake asked.
"Yes, that's the point." Joe nodded, "by the way, Tony, are we far enough?"
"Let's hope so," Tony stepped ahead of them, unclipping a strange, darkly polished Poké Ball from his belt. It shimmered slightly in the fading light, almost oily in texture — not like those standard ones. Something older was in it. Or newer? Or... maybe totally different.
"Careful," Joe muttered under his breath to Anna and Jake.
Tony didn't say another word. With a casual flick, he tossed the monster ball skyward.
For a heartbeat, there was nothing.
Then—
A snap of green lightning tore through the air as the Poké Ball burst open in a halo of ultraviolet flame.
A pressure wave rolled over the field like thunder made of silk. The air shimmered. The wind died. The light dimmed, as if the sun itself had blinked.
And from the epicenter... something vast began to unfold.
The creature did not crash or land — it descended, graceful yet immense, like a falling star slowed to a crawl. Long metallic arms — like spears of platinum bamboo — hung at its sides not attached to the core but hovering in the air on their own. Its body was a silver monolith almost 10 meters high, smooth and seamless, adorned with faint glowing lines that pulsed in rhythm with the air itself. Its "face," if it could be called that, was masked beneath a veil of plates that hinted at unfamiliar intelligence without expression.
Jake clutched Charmander without realizing it. Even the little Fire-type had gone quiet, flame on its tail dimming ever so slightly.
The giant's presence was wrong. Not malevolent — just alien. Like the laws of nature had bent to allow it to exist.
Joe took a step back instinctively. "What in Arceus's name…?"
Tony looked up proudly. "Its name is Celesteela."
"It's not natural," Joe muttered. "Its aura feels... hollow. Cold. Like it's here, but it doesn't belong at the same time."
"You're right," Tony said simply. "It's from another world."
Jake's mouth hung open, words forgotten. Only when Celesteela shifted slightly — with a sound like bending steel — did he remember how to speak.
"Where... where did you get it?" he exhaled.
"Yes, Tony, tell us," Joe repeated his grandson's question in louder voice.
Tony cracked his neck. "Alola."
Joe blinked. "You flew to Alola?"
"League sent me to check out some anomalies. Or maybe I should say alolalies?"
"Stop joking!"
"Sorry, Joe. Anyway, one turned out to be this one. It tried to level an entire reef chain off Akala."
"And you just happened to be flying by," Joe deadpanned.
"Lucky for them, I was," Tony shrugged his shoulders with a grin. "And unlucky for this Ultra Beast. Had to tag it down mid-flight."
"How the hell did you catch that?" Joe asked, eyes narrowing.
Tony rolled his shoulders. "I did not fight fair, to be honest. Sent out Hawlucha and Gliscor at the same time. Took this alien down before it realized what was going on. It's heavy, and slow. Not difficult to damage. But still it's fast enough to leave a crater when it lands."
There was a raw certainty in his voice that made even Joe's spine stiffen. He wasn't boasting — just stating facts. Deadly facts.
"Does it listen to you now?" Anna asked, her voice quiet, but filled with curiosity.
"Yeah, does it?" Jake immediately repeated his grandma's question.
Tony looked down at him and grinned like a rogue. "Right question."
"And what is the answer?" Joe frowned.
Tony turned toward him. "Feel like warming up the battlefield? You see for yourself!"
Jake's eyes widened. "Wait—you're wanna fight with that?!?"
Tony spread his arms. "I brought it all the way here. I think it feels cranky if I don't let it stretch."
Joe frowned. "I'm not sure how to even fight such thing."
"But that's the fun, isn't it?" Tony said, raising a single eyebrow. "And it's not invincible. Big, yes. Strong, yes. Heavy as hell. But slow, and weak to fire and electric." He shot Jake a wink. "Got that, kid?"
Jake nodded, a little too fast. "Hear that, Charmander? One day, maybe…"
Charmander just stared at giant Celesteela with wide eyes, its tail flame flickering uneasily.
Joe exhaled slowly. "Fire and electric you say... I have my Emboar but it's slow. And Magnezone. But it's gonna look like a toaster next to that thing."
Tony chuckled. "You'd be surprised. Sometimes the toasters win. And they make breakfast, unlike these Ultra Beasts."
"I'm still not sure..." Joe hesitated.
"Come on, man!" Tony slapped Joe on the back, a little harder than necessary.
"I came all this way for a real fight!"
Joe grinned despite himself.
"Real fight? Then you should fly over to the steamboat."
Tony laughed so hard he almost lost his balance.
"I don't want to repeat the Dondozo disaster. By Palkia, we all nearly drowned."
"What's a steamboat? And what is Dondozo?" Jake asked.
"Keep that question in mind," Joe muttered. "Gonna tell you later."
Tony stepped forward, voice dipping into something almost pleading.
"Don't make me beg."
Joe sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, alright. I give up."
"That's what you'll be saying in five minutes!" Tony grinned like a madman.
"Alright, alright," Joe murmured as he unclipped his own Pokéball. "Magnezone, let's give it a try."
"Oh shoot," Anna rolled her eyes and took her grandson's hand, "don't worry, Jakey. It's gonna be alright."
"I'm not afraid," the young boy replied with excited voice.
"Come on, out!" Joe barely spoke the command. A low bzzt and a spark of static preceded the appearance of his stalwart partner. Magnezone hovered in the air, its magnets humming, eye blinking slowly like a radar dish coming online.
===
Magnezone
Level: 98
Name: N/A
Gender: N/A
Type: Electric / Steel
Affinity: Electric (Full), Steel (Full)
Moves: Tri Attack (95), Electric Terrain (87), Mirror Coat (81), Thunder Shock (76), Supersonic (68), Thunder Wave (74), Zap Cannon (94), Gyro Ball (91), Supercell Slam (83), Magnet Rise (96), Flash Cannon (83), Metal Sound (63), Lock-On (51), Endure (61), Volt Switch (73), Rain Dance (55), Iron Defense (82), Heavy Slam (65), Charge (70), Explosion (58)
Abilities:
Magnet Pull – Prevents steel-type Pokémon from fleeing and can pull them to itself with magnetism
Sturdy – Cannot be knocked out by single hit with full HP, one-hit-knockout-moves also fail to knock Magnezone out
Analytic – Boost the power of move when Magnezone is the last to attack
Weak to: Fighting, Fire, Ground (when grounded)
Immune to: Poison, Ground (when using Magnet Rise)
Resistant to: Normal, Flying (double), Rock, Bug, Steel (double), Grass, Electric, Psychic, Ice, Dragon, Fairy
===
Jake's eyes bounced from one floating creature to the other. Celesteela was so massive it looked like it could crush a house. Magnezone, by contrast, looked like a silver saucer dwarfed in comparison — but it crackled with energy and quiet resolve.
"Do you think that monster will listen to him?" Jake asked his grandmother, his voice full of fear and curiosity.
"Don't worry. He wouldn't bring it out, if he thought otherwise," Anna tried to calm him down. But inside she had the same doubts as her grandson.
The field behind the house was silent, save for the low mechanical hum of Magnezone and the unsettling hiss of Celesteela's pressurized limbs.
"Shall we begin?" Joe asked.
"Yeah, let's do this!" Tony nodded.
Both Pokémon floated above the grass like twin omens from different worlds — one a battle-hardened sentinel, the other a towering, alien weapon barely restrained by its new trainer.
Joe narrowed his eyes. "Magnezone… Electric Terrain."
Magnezone whirred in acknowledgment. With a CRACK of electricity, its magnetic field surged. The entire field shimmered as crackling blue arcs leapt across the grass. The air suddenly smelled of ozone. Grass blades lit like neon wires under the electrical pressure.
"Celesteela — Bulldoze!" Tony barked.
Celesteela's arm thrusters roared. With a booming thud, the Ultra Beast slammed its enormous frame down into the soil, releasing a shockwave. The earth erupted in concentric waves as it dragged its massive arms across the ground, sending a cascade of torn dirt and splintered roots toward Magnezone.
But Magnezone, acting without a word from Joe, lifted higher.
A golden field shimmered around its core as it activated Magnet Rise, levitating out of Bulldoze's range just in time.
Jake gasped aloud. "It's… flying?!"
"Yes," Anna chuckled and explained. "But better word is levitating."
Above the destruction, Magnezone zipped in a tight arc and fired a Zap Cannon — a glowing sphere of unstable energy that spiraled toward Celesteela's shoulder.
The impact was direct. Electricity crackled violently, and Celesteela staggered mid-hover, steam jetting from her elbow ports.
"It's slow — let's use that," Joe said calmly.
Tony scowled. "Steel Roller!"
Celesteela dipped downward and slammed into the ground with tremendous force. A shockwave ripped through the terrain — but more importantly, the artificial electric field snapped and shattered like breaking glass.
The Electric Terrain died. The blue shimmer faded. And Magnezone's boosted power with it.
"Not bad," Joe said, raising an eyebrow. "Not bad at all!"
"Trial by fire," Tony muttered. "Flamethrower, now!"
From Celesteela's arm vents, a searing column of fire erupted. It screamed through the air, white-hot at the core. Magnezone couldn't dodge in time — the flames struck its midsection, and for a moment, it vanished in the inferno.
Jake yelled and gripped Anna's hand hard. "No!"
Charmander just watched with wide eyes, mesmerized by the blue flames surrounding Magnezone.
But from inside the fireball… Magnezone pulsed.
Joe whispered, "Mirror Coat."
The flames condensed into its glossy metallic shell, which shimmered like a warped mirror, and with a sudden burst — flames were flung back at Celesteela, twice as intense and burning with unnatural ferocity.
The Ultra Beast shrieked in a warbling metallic tone, staggered backward, her plating scorched and smoking.
Jake clutched Charmander in wide-eyed awe. "It can bounce fire back?!"
"Not just fire. Mirror Coat can bounce almost anything back," Joe replied proudly.
But Magnezone wasn't done. Joe raised a single hand, and the floating saucer responded.
The clouds churned.
Raindrops began to fall.
It started as a light drizzle — the kind that dampens earth and cools nerves.
Then came the thunder.
Then came the storm.
Above them, the sky cracked open with a feral scream. Rain Dance had quickly transformed into something monstrous — an unnatural thunderstorm, conjured not by nature but by electromagnetic force.
Thunderbolts rained down like divine wrath on the massive Ultra Beast. But the thunderstorm was too chaotic — striking trees, carving black gouges into earth, even igniting a pine tree at the edge of the clearing.
Jake's hair stood on end just watching.
"Zap Cannon," Joe said.
Another sphere — larger now, charged by the storm — surged toward Celesteela.
Tony's face was grim. "Flash Cannon. Shoot it out of the air!"
A white beam fired from Celesteela's chest. The two projectiles collided midair in an explosion of steam and sparks.
Then Magnezone went on the move — fast. Boosted by its Magnet Rise and decades of battle instinct, it zipped close and hit Celesteela head-on with Supercell Slam — a wild, spiraling tackle charged with volatile electrical buildup. The Ultra Beast reeled back, one of her arms twisting unnaturally as she tried to stabilize.
"Hold steady," Tony growled. "Meteor Beam."
Joe's eyes narrowed at the sight of charging energy. He knew this would be incredibly overpowered move. "Endure. Come on! You can do it!"
Celesteela began to charge. Stones floated upward, spinning in orbit around her like planets to a sun. A glowing sphere formed in the core of her body — white, searing, unstable.
Magnezone faced her, unmoving — its shell flickered with red light as Endure locked in. It braced.
Then — the beam fired.
A blinding comet of cosmic energy lanced across the field and slammed into Magnezone like a falling star. The impact rocked the ground, kicked up a mushroom cloud of dust, and left a smoking crater where the Electric-type had hovered.
Jake screamed again, fears in his eyes. "No! No—!"
The smoke parted.
Magnezone wobbled, barely upright, sparks shooting from cracked panels. But it was alive.
Endure had held.
But more stones were falling down from the sky.
And then… something else happened.
From Joe's shadow — now twisted strangely in the flashing light of the storm — something stirred.
Jake watched as black tendrils stretched upward… and from the darkness emerged a shape of bark, moss, and haunted grace.
Trevenant.
The Pokémon didn't wait.
The ghost-tree raised both arms and fired Magical Leaf skyward — razor-sharp green blades that curved and weaved through the air. The remaining meteor fragments, still raining down from Celesteela's missed shot, were intercepted in midair, shattered into harmless particles before they could touch the Lindenbergs or their home.
Even Tony flinched.
He turned toward Joe with raised eyebrow. "That your doing?"
"No. That was his call."
Tony held up a hand.
"Alright. It was actually a very good idea. Time out."
The rain continued to fall, but the thunder quickly faded.
Magnezone lowered. Celesteela dimmed.
Joe walked over, rubbing his neck. "In the end, it was a fun exhibition."
Tony smirked. "As promised. Destroyed terrain, fried fence, a burning forest, and possibly few blacked out houses."
He looked over at Jake, who stood frozen — somewhere between inspired and terrified.
"Still want to be a trainer, kid?"
Jake's cheeks were flushed, eyes blazing with determination. "More than ever!"
Joe chuckled softly beside him. "Careful what you wish for. The path ain't easy."
Tony recalled the towering Ultra Beast, then clipped the strange Poké Ball back onto his belt with a satisfying click.
"You know," he began, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeves, "it's not every day I get to clash with someone who's got a Magnezone that can turn the weather into a war zone."
Joe smirked. "It's not every day I get to face a ten-meter-high space furnace."
The two old battlers shared a laugh—bitter and knowing.
"You still remember that guy from Kanto I told you about?" Tony asked, stepping back toward the house.
"The one with the Tauros?" Joe replied. "The mad one who spammed Double-Edge like his life depended on it?"
"That's the one!" Tony barked a laugh. "High-level, pure muscle, no brain. Made for a weirdly fun match. He lost, of course."
Joe snorted. "Well, I had this lady from Sinnoh this spring. Showed up with a Hippowdon so stubborn it refused to faint. Every time I thought I had her cornered, it dug its way back under."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? I had one of those too—Blackthorn guy. Trained dragons. Came at me with an Aerodactyl and a Tyrantrum. The kind of battle that leaves scars."
Jake had wandered up behind them now, still glued to every word. "So cool…" he whispered to Charmander.
Then Tony turned, eyes narrowing slightly with curiosity. "And what about David? Had any exciting challengers when he was holding down the Frontier?"
Joe gave a small shrug. "Eh, nothing extraordinary. He handled himself well. Kept the place running clean."
Tony tilted his head. "And what's he up to now? You mentioned something about the royal guards?"
Joe hesitated—just for a second—but before he could answer, Jake piped up with the innocence only a child could wield: "Dad joined the royal guards because of the Sleepers!"
Tony stiffened. His posture changed subtly, as if the name itself carried weight.
He turned his head slowly toward Jake.
"How do you know that name, kid?"
Jake gulped while Joe sighed heavily and rubbed his temples. "They've… been after David since his League agent days. Some business he got tangled up in. After he came back home, they tried getting to him here. Ranch wasn't exactly a safe haven for a while."
"They kidnapped Monika. And then me with uncle Frank. And then dad with grandma," Jake added quickly, almost like he couldn't help it. His face fell a little after saying it. "It was really bad."
Tony's jaw clenched, and he looked away, spitting the name like it tasted rotten. "I've crossed paths with those freaks. The mutilations, the mantras… the way they talk about 'awakening'—it's all wrong." He paused, voice quieter. "I hate cults."
Charmander let out a small, uncertain chirp and moved closer to Jake.
"But did joining the guards help?" Tony asked, recovering.
Joe nodded. "We think so. They haven't attacked the Ranch since. Not once in almost a year. Whatever protection the royals are giving him, it's working."
"And what about David himself? Any close calls?"
Joe shrugged again. "If there were, he doesn't talk about it. But he shows up here once every month like clockwork, in one piece. That's enough for us."
Tony chuckled, a dry sound in the back of his throat. "Well, let me tell you something. I've got a few friends in the Guard. Real close ones. And they've been swapping stories lately—about some lunatics who tried to attack the Guard headquarters itself."
Jake's eyes exploded open. "No way! They did what?!"
Tony grinned, but it was a grin made of steel. "Yeah. Madness. I heard some wild details—something about multiple portals opening right inside the fortress. Shadowy figures pouring out like nightmares."
"And the guards?" Jake asked, voice high with tension.
"Overwhelmed them. Fast and easy. But they didn't stop there. Apparently, the ghost-types managed to keep the portals open just long enough for the guards to send a strike team through."
Jake gasped audibly remembering his time at the gym. "That's so cool!"
"You see, Tony, something similar happened here. Luckily the guards were more than a match for those cultists." Joe explained, "Just... There was a problem with their Pokémon. They did not want to enter the portal. And when they did, they were anxious to stay there and quickly get confused and angry."
Tony's expression darkened a little. "I heard the same. But the counter-attack was precise. Fast in, fast out. Surgical."
Joe added quietly, "And Jake's been through with the guards there as well. He was able to keep their Pokémon calm and steady. They've been inside for several hours. Crazy stuff. Unbelievable."
Tony turned slowly to face the boy again. This time, there was no trace of humor in his eyes. Just quiet respect. "Is that so?"
Jake nodded. "But I was scared the whole time."
"Good," Tony said. "Only fools don't get scared. Especially in Giratina's realm."
There was a pause—a heavy, thoughtful one that settled like fog over the hilltop.
Eventually, the old pilot clapped his hands together and gave a sigh. "Well. As much as I'd love to sit and swap war stories, I've got places to be."
"You could stay longer and then use teleport guild from Iglaustadt," Anna remarked.
"Are you crazy? I love flying. And to teleport instead? That's cheating. And missing the thrill of open air!" Tony shook his head laughing.
They all walked with him down to the grassy field. The plane stood there, elegant in its simplicity—light, agile, with sleek lines and narrow wings built more for quick jumps than long travel.
Tony swung up the ladder, waved at them, and turned the key. The engine roared to life with a growl that rolled through the valley.
"Take care of that kid, Joe!" he called over the noise. "And you, Jake—keep asking the right questions! And make sure that Charmander get his wings!"
"I will!" Jake shouted, waving with both arms.
Then, with a surge of wind and a scattering of birds, the small plane lifted off, skimming the treetops before angling into the sky. It vanished into the clouds like a memory.
Joe stood there a moment longer, watching the horizon.
"Think he'll be back?" Jake asked, still watching the sky.
Joe gave a tired smile. "Oh, with Tony? You can always count on a storm blowing back around."
Charmander squeaked in agreement, its flame tail flickering like it knew something, too.