Dylan understood Bruno's mindset well. Most Fighting-type specialists were like this—they loved straight-up, hard-hitting battles.
Bruno was no exception. He thrived on intense, sweat-drenched clashes.
He was never too keen on battling Psychic- or Ghost-types. In fact, after that first year he joined the Kanto League and challenged Agatha, he never battled her again. Ghost-type specialists played dirty—Bruno was certain of it.
"Hatterene, battle ready!"
Dylan threw out his second Poké Ball.
With a flash of white light, a humanoid Pokémon landed gracefully before him.
Her body was a mix of soft pink and white, resembling a noblewoman wearing a witch's hat and flowing dress. The hat's brim extended upward like a claw, and her whole aura was regal and mysterious.
This was the so-called Forest Witch, Hatterene.
'Beep~ Hatterene, Psychic/Fairy-type, the Silent PokémonAbility: Magic BounceMoves: Magic Powder, Wish, Psychic, Calm Mind, Psychic Cut, Expanding Force...Description: If someone steps into her forest, she stuns them with a beam of light, then uses her psychically charged claws to tear them apart.'
Hatterene...
Bruno stared at the eerie, elegant Pokémon, brows furrowed. He knew this species—Psychic and Fairy-type, both of which resisted Fighting. That meant she quadruple-resisted his main type.
This wasn't going to be easy. Her typing completely countered Hitmonchan.
"Hitmonchan! Move in close!"
Bruno acted quickly. With priority moves like Bullet Punch disabled under Psychic Terrain, he had no choice but to close the gap manually.
No way he could win a long-range fight with Hatterene.
Hitmonchan let out a cry and charged at her—but his speed… was sluggish.
In Trick Room, speed stats were inverted. While Hitmonchan's base Speed was a middling 76, Hatterene's was a pitiful 29.
That made Hatterene perfect for Trick Room as a special attacker. Her HP and Speed were low, but every other stat—especially Special Attack—was excellent.
So in Trick Room, she had a clear edge. Hitmonchan was like a tank crawling through molasses.
"Too slow."
Dylan chuckled, shaking his head.
"Hatterene, Expanding Force."
Hatterene let out a melodic hum and darted toward Hitmonchan at surprising speed.
She appeared behind him in an instant, claws glowing with light as waves of psychic energy rippled around her.
Psychic-type move: Expanding Force.
Under Psychic Terrain, its power increases and it hits a wider area. Combine that with Hatterene's natural affinity—and this hit was devastating.
"Hitmonchan! Detect!"
Bruno's face grew serious. He knew exactly how hard this would hit.
Hitmonchan's eyes gleamed as his body twisted unnaturally, just dodging the blast.
Boom!
The energy exploded behind him, but didn't connect.
"Can you dodge the next one?" Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Expanding Force—again."
Hatterene's eyes grew cold. Her hat-like claws lashed out once more, targeting Hitmonchan from behind.
A second Expanding Force charged up.
"Fire Punch!" Bruno didn't hesitate.
Hitmonchan's fist burst into flames, and he slammed it into the oncoming wave of psychic energy.
Boom!
Flames and psychic light clashed in a violent explosion. Hitmonchan gritted his teeth, pouring all his power into the strike.
But the blast was too strong.
Boom!
Expanding Force broke through, striking Hitmonchan hard and sending him flying.
He landed with a pained cry, skidding across the floor.
Even with a partial block, the boosted Expanding Force was brutal. Hitmonchan's special defense helped, but not enough against a move this powerful and super effective.
"Yikes, that must've hurt."
Up in the stands, a crowd had gathered. Among them—three familiar ladies.
"Hatterene is so beautiful!!" the psychic-type girl had stars in her eyes.
Yes! This was the kind of elegant, powerful Pokémon a psychic like her should use!
"Can't deny Bruno's training skills, though," murmured the birdkeeper. "That Hitmonchan is tough. Most would've dropped instantly from that hit."
"Moonblast," Dylan ordered calmly. No mercy when the enemy is down.
Pink energy pulsed from Hatterene, heading straight for the still-recovering Hitmonchan.
He wouldn't survive that hit.
"Return, Hitmonchan!" Bruno recalled him just in time.
Moonblast's area of effect was wide—and in Trick Room, dodging it wasn't happening.
"I need to stall out both Psychic Terrain and Trick Room," Bruno muttered.
He had enough battle experience to pinpoint the problem.
"Steelix!"
His choice was immediate.
A massive, serpentine Pokémon slammed down in front of him, towering over the battlefield.
It was Steelix—silver-gray, segmented like boulders, with massive jaws and a drill-like tail.
Strong, no doubt.
"But why does Bruno have a Steelix as a mainstay?" Yellow asked, puzzled. "Isn't he a Fighting-type specialist?"
"Maybe because it looks so strong and cool," Leaf suggested.
Indeed, Steelix's sheer size gave it massive presence—nearly 10 meters long, by her estimate.
Back on the field—
"Steelix, huh?" Dylan arched a brow.
Steelix resisted both Fairy and Psychic—and countered Hatterene's typing well.
More importantly...
"Steelix, Dig!" Bruno barked.
Steelix dove underground with a thunderous crash.
Yes—Steelix knew Dig, and Hatterene had little to counter that.
She'd learned Mystical Fire via mimicry, but charging blindly toward the burrow? Too risky.
Steelix might just be lurking near the surface, waiting.
Dig would buy time for Trick Room and Psychic Terrain to expire.
Bruno's experience was showing.
"Calm Mind," Dylan said calmly.
If you're hiding underground—then I'll just boost up.
Hatterene closed her eyes, soft waves of light rippling around her as her Special Attack and Defense rose.
"Steelix!" Bruno called, unwilling to let her keep boosting.
Steelix erupted from the ground, slamming into Hatterene.
She cried out, knocked back by the hit—but her Calm Mind boost had gone through.
She caught herself midair with psychic force, landing gracefully.
But her eerie eyes now held a darker glint.
The Forest Witch was getting angry.
"Iron Tail!"
No more digging. If he did, she'd just keep boosting.
"Giga Drain," Dylan smirked.
Steelix's massive tail gleamed and came crashing down.
Hatterene lit up with green energy—so did Steelix, though for different reasons.
Boom!
Iron Tail struck, but green sparks surged between them as Hatterene absorbed his energy.
Hatterene staggered, but the drain worked—Steelix recoiled, weakened, while she visibly healed.
"..." Bruno's brow tightened.
That hit had basically done nothing—whatever damage he dealt, Hatterene just sapped right back.
And with her Calm Mind up, her healing was even stronger.
Steelix had become nothing but a healing fountain.
The only good news—Psychic Terrain and Trick Room finally faded.
"Return, Steelix."
Bruno took a deep breath. Champion Dylan was truly terrifying—he felt so much pressure!
"Swapping again?" Dylan wasn't surprised.
Steelix had the typing advantage, but against Hatterene with Giga Drain, he didn't stand a chance.
Even standing still, he'd lose.
"Lucario! You're up!"
Bruno tossed out his third Poké Ball.
"Oh?" Dylan blinked, then remembered. Bruno did have a Lucario in HeartGold/SoulSilver.
The aura Pokémon landed silently, sharp eyes locked on Hatterene.
Standing on two legs, sleek yet muscular, it looked battle-ready—spikes on its paws and chest gleaming.
This was Lucario.
(End of Chapter)