Sometimes, when words fail, it's time for a battle!
Ash sent out his own Fire-type Pokémon, Quilava, to face off against the Houndour pack leader!
Up close, this Houndour exuded an awe-inspiring presence. Its face and the bony armor on its forehead bore scars of countless battles—marks of both a warrior and a king!
"Let's go, Quilava! Burn bright!" Ash shouted.
The moment the words left his mouth, flames erupted from both Quilava's back and tail, blazing fiercely.
"Raaah!"
The Houndour didn't waste a second—it struck first! A stream of fire burst from its mouth, rushing straight toward Quilava. The scorching heat was enough to make one instinctively flinch!
"Quilava, Flame Charge!"
Quilava raised its slender body high before slamming down hard. As it hit the ground, it transformed into a blazing fireball, surging forward with intense momentum.
This move gradually increased Quilava's speed—and with its naturally agile frame, it easily dodged the incoming Flamethrower and rushed in from the side!
But the Houndour wasn't just powerful—it was experienced. As a battle-hardened veteran, it had already locked onto Quilava's scent. Just before the Flame Charge could hit, the Houndour vanished!
"Hm?" Ash narrowed his eyes. Facing a Dark-type Pokémon, he had to be wary of all sorts of tricky techniques.
Sure enough, the vanished Houndour reappeared out of nowhere—right next to Quilava—and slammed it with brutal force, sending it flying!
"What just happened?!" Misty gasped. She couldn't understand how the Houndour had moved like that.
Ash, however, let out a cold laugh. "A Dark-type trick, huh? That's the move—Foul Play!"
It was an eerie and powerful attack that used the opponent's strength against them. The stronger the opponent's attack power, the more damage it dealt.
"Quilava, are you okay?" Ash called out.
Thankfully, since Flame Charge wasn't an especially powerful move, the damage Quilava had taken was limited. It shakily got back up.
"This Houndour is incredibly sharp in battle!" Ash thought to himself. Only after directly clashing with it did he realize just how formidable this Houndour pack leader really was!
Just as the battle was heating up, a sharp, desperate cry echoed from deeper within the forest.
The Houndour leader suddenly unleashed a plume of black smoke, masking everyone's vision. Then, with its three companions, it turned and bolted.
"After them!" Ash shouted.
Without hesitation, he took off with Quilava and Pikachu. Thanks to his enhanced physical condition, Brock and Misty were quickly left behind.
Following the trail, Ash reached a cave and discovered his backpack lying open, surrounded by torn food wrappers.
The earlier cry had come from here—from another Houndour.
This one was just as large and imposing as the pack leader—but it was badly weakened. Facing a Graveler, a Rock-type that had a major advantage over Fire-types, it was clearly struggling.
The injured Houndour gave it everything it had, unleashing a desperate Flamethrower—but the Graveler rolled forward with ease, breaking through the attack like it was nothing.
Just as Graveler prepared to strike again, another Flamethrower shot down from above, cutting it off mid-attack.
The Houndour pack leader had arrived!
Without hesitation, it and its companions rushed in.
The four Houndour surrounded their injured comrade, shielding it, while the leader stood its ground in front of the Graveler.
Seeing its allies arrive, the injured Houndour finally collapsed to the ground, completely spent.
"Ash! What's going on?" Brock and Misty caught up just in time to witness the scene.
"So that's why they were gathering food," Brock realized. "They were trying to help their wounded friend recover."
"They might look scary," Misty added softly, "but they're actually really kindhearted Pokémon..."
Just then, the Houndour pack leader let out a furious roar and launched another Flamethrower.
But Fire-type moves had little effect on a Rock-type like Graveler. It simply rolled through the flames and slammed straight into the pack leader, sending it flying!
Ash clenched his jaw and jumped down to stand beside the Houndour leader.
"Houndour—we need to end this fast. Your friend needs medical help, now! Use Beat Up!"
Upon hearing Ash's command, the leader let out a sharp bark toward the others. All five Houndour's eyes began to glow an eerie crimson!
BOOM!
Dark, violet-black energy exploded from their bodies. The first Houndour charged straight into the oncoming Graveler and was flung aside—followed immediately by the second, then the third, then the fourth!
And finally, the leader Houndour came crashing in with unstoppable force—slamming the Graveler and sending it hurtling away!
Beat Up—a group attack move. The more Pokémon participating, the more powerful it became!
"Brock, I need your help!"
After a quick examination, Brock frowned. "Its hind leg is injured—and the wound's infected. Its body temperature's dangerously high. We need to get it to a Pokémon Center. Fast!"
Ash didn't hesitate. He scooped the injured Houndour onto his back.
"Ash, the nearest Pokémon Center is five kilometers away! You can't possibly carry it that far!" Brock tried to stop him.
Though Ash had a strong physique, carrying a full-grown Houndour while running five kilometers wasn't something to take lightly.
"We don't have a choice. Brock, Misty—please pack up my things and catch up when you can!" Ash called out, then broke into a sprint.
"Raaaah!"
The other Houndour, led by their leader, ran closely behind him.
About a kilometer in, Ash began to slow from exhaustion. The Houndour leader ran up beside him.
"Ruff!"
"You want to carry it?"
Taking turns with Ash, the five Houndour alternated carrying their injured friend. Together, they reached the Pokémon Center in record time.
And true to her legendary lineage, Nurse Joy lived up to the name—her family's medical expertise, passed down through generations, was second to none.
By the time Brock and Misty arrived, the Houndour had already been treated.
Since they were at the Center anyway, the group decided to stay the night to let the Houndour recover.
The next morning, when Ash walked out of the Pokémon Center with the healed Houndour, he found the pack leader and its companions waiting quietly at the edge of the forest.
It seemed they'd stayed there all night.
The leader walked up and gently licked its recovered companion.
"Wuu..."
Suddenly, the five Houndour began to whimper. Ash and the others were stunned. What was going on?
The healed Houndour walked slowly to its four companions, cast one last reluctant glance at the leader, then turned and disappeared into the forest.
The pack leader walked up to Ash.
"Ruff!"
It looked happy—its red eyes full of excitement and hope.
Ash understood.
He pulled out a Poké Ball with a smile. "Then let's team up. I'm counting on you... Houndour!"
Houndour: 135 / 185