Mitch's Johto Journey

Back to the Pack

    Mitch and Typhlosion stand at a fork in the path in the middle of a large forest. Mitch, unaware that one of the Poké Balls in his pocket has been anxiously shaking since they arrived at the fork, takes a look at the forest they are in on his map. " Okay, both of these paths will lead us out of the forest, but the one on the left is shorter and there's even a town located at the end of it that we can rest up at, so let's take that one," he says as Typhlosion nods its head and the shaking Poké Ball in his pocket starts anxiously shaking even faster.

   As the two of them make their way down the path, both of them get an uneasy feeling of being watched before the bushes begins to shake around them. The Pokémon inside the shaking Poké Ball finally looses its nerve and lets itself out of the ball. " Dou, Dou, Houn," Houndour cries in a terrified tone as it cowers in fear behind Mitch. " Houndour what's going on!? You're normally never like this. I though your whole personality was permanent agitation?" As if to answer MItch's question, a large pack of Houndour stampede out of the bushes and surround them on all sides. " Dour, Dour, Dour," they all bark as Typhlosion ignites its neck flame and Mitch grabs Donphan's Poké Ball from his pocket and prepares to throw it. Suddenly, a much deeper growl from the bushes, that causes Houndour to cover its face in fear, catches both Mitch and Typhlosion off guard, " Dooooooooooomm." Out of the bushes steps a Pokémon that looks like a larger and skinnier Houndour with a long tail and a pair of curved horns on the top of its head. " Houndoom, the Dark Pokémon, a Dark and Fire-type, the evolved form of Houndour, if you are burned by the flames it shoots from its mouth, it is said that the pain will never go away."

   " Doooooommmm," the Houndoom growls as it walks towards Mitch with an angry look on its face. However, once it reaches him, it simply gestures for him to move aside, he does so with a confused look on his face,allowing Houndoom to see Houndour. " Dooom, Doooom, Houundd, Dooooom, Houndoom," it shouts in a challenging tone. " Douuuuuuuuu," Houndour whines as it continues to cower. " Do you think Houndour knows this Houndoom," Mitch whispers to Typhlosion as it shrugs. Mitch looks at the Houndour pack surrounding them before glancing back at Houndoom and his still cowering Houndour as a realization hits him. 

 **Flashback**

      " Houndour, the Dark Pokémon, a Dark and Fire-type, Houndour hunt as a coordinated pack. They communicate with each other using a variety of cries to corner their prey. This Pokémon's remarkable teamwork is unparalleled," the Pokédex explains as the hungry looking Houndour jumps to its feet and aggressively growls at Phanpy, " Hoooooounnnnn." " A pack hunter? You better watch out Phanpy, the rest of the pack is probably about to pounce," Mitch says while looking around in a desperate attempt to locate the rest of Houndour's pack. Phanpy uses its trunk to sniff the air a few times, gets a confused look on its face, and turns to face Mitch. " Py, Py, Phanpy," it says whilst shaking its head. " So, you're saying we're the only ones here and this Houndour is alone. Weird," Mitch says as Houndour coats its teeth in fire and leaps towards Phanpy. 

**Flashback Ends**

     " Houndour, did you use to be apart of this Houndoom's pack" Mitch asks as Houndour glances up at him and nods. " Doooommmm," Houndoom growls towards Houndour, forcing it to hide its face again. Upon looking at Houndoom's enraged expression, Mitch finally realizes the reason behind Houndour's cowardice and Houndoom's anger. " Houndour, did you challenge this Houndoom to a dominance fight and lose, which meant Houndoom had to exile you," he exclaims as Houndour once again looks up and nods. Houndoom growls down towards Houndour again, but it would appear that Houndour has had enough of the bullying as it growls back and uses its head to knock Houndoom away from it. " Dour, Hound, Hound, Dour, Hound, Houndour," it aggressively shouts as it jumps to its feet and gets in a fighting stance. Houndoom confidently smirks at Houndour before getting into a fighting stance of its own. " Well, if you want to, we'll fight," Mitch says, but is stopped by Typhlosion putting its paw up to him. " Ty, Ty, Losion, Typhlosion," it says to a slightly confused MItch. " So, you're saying we should let Houndour fight Houndoom on its own terms without me commanding it," he says as Typhlosion nods. Mitch looks over at Houndour, it glances back at him and nods in agreement with Typhlosion. 

   Well in that case, give it all you got," Mitch cheers as Houndour smiles and spits some fire in the air. Houndour and Houndoom begin to circle around each other whilst snapping and growling at the other until eventually, Houndour makes the first move. " Douuuuur," it cries as it coats its teeth in fire and runs towards Houndoom. " Dooomm," Houndoom whispers as it releases a cloud of purplish-black smoke from its mouth. Houndour runs into the smoke, stops its Fire Fang, and tries to hold its breath in order to stop the Smog from doing any damage, this allows Houndoom to quickly run forward and slam its head against Houndour's face. " Douuuuuur," it cries as the force of the Headbutt knocks it out of the Smog cloud. The assault doesn't end there as Houndoom charges out of the Smog and bites down on Houndour's back with its electricity coated teeth. " Houuuuuuuuuund," it cries as it tries to free itself from Houndoom's Thunder Fang, only for Houndoom to continuously tighten its grip. 

  Realizing that there's really only one thing for it to do, Houndour disappears in a flash of black energy. " Dooooom," Houndoom cries in shock as it stops its Thunder Fang and begins to look and smell around for Houndour. " Dooooooour," it howls as it reappears on Houndoom's right side and slams into it with its whole body. Since Houndoom was unprepared, the Feint Attack knocks it to the ground, allowing Houndour to bite down on one of its horns with Fire Fang. " Doooooooooom," it screams before it bites down on one of Houndour's legs with Thunder Fang, locking the two of them together. As the minutes pass, both Pokémon begin to feel the effects of the attacks and eventually, both of them are forced to let go " Doooourr," Houndour pants in exhaustion as it stumbles across the ground. An equally tired looking Houndoom manages to get to its feet and fire a medium sized stream of fire from its mouth. The Flamethrower hits Houndour, but, instead of doing damage, the attack is absorbed by Houndour. " Doooooourrr," it grins before before using a Flamethrower of its own. " Doooooooooooooooom," Houndoom ( its ability is Early Bird) howls in a pained tone as the attack knocks it into the nearby bushes. 

 " What just happened,"a shocked Mitch shouts as he grabs his Pokédex from his pocket. " Flash Fire. This ability is activated when the Pokémon is hit by a Fire-type move. Instead of taking damage, the Pokémon gets a boost to its Fire-type moves."  Houndoom slowly makes its way out of the bushes before collapsing. " Doommm," it whimpers before spirals form in its eyes. " Doooooooooourrrrr," Houndour victoriously howls before its body begins to glow in a blinding white light. Houndoom regains consciousness in time for the glowing to finish: revealing Mitch's newly evolved Houndoom. " Doommmmm," Mitch's Houndoom grunts as it walk over to the other Houndoom and helps it to its feet. The two of them then make their way over to the Houndour, who have stopped surrounding everyone, whilst communicating in barks and growls. 

     " Did our Houndoom just become the new leader of the pack," Mitch says as he and Typhlosion look on. Houndoom finishes up communicating with the pack before walking over to Mitch. " Guess you're the leader now. So, it looks like we're saying goodbye," Mitch says as he takes Houndoom's ball out of his pocket and prepares to hit the release button on it. However, Houndoom quickly returns itself to the ball before Mitch has time to hit the button. " WHAT!? Does this mean that you chose a life with me over being the Alpha of a pack?" To answer Mitch's question, Houndoom lets itself back out of the ball, tackles him to the ground, and begins to repeatably lick his face. " Okay, okay, I get it, you want to stay with me," Mitch groans as Houndoom continues its affectionate assault.