"So it really is that Drapion… Dylan's taking Yellow seriously."
Leaf chuckled softly when Drapion entered the field.
"Huh? Why do you say that?" Selene asked in surprise.
"Drapion was one of my brother's earliest core partners," Lillie replied after a brief hesitation.
"As his strength grew, he stopped using them in regular battles."
After coming to Kanto, Lillie had barely seen Dylan use Drapion at all.
Back then, Drapion and the others were already far too strong for ordinary challengers—using them would've been outright bullying.
And for stronger challengers, Dylan's growing roster of type-specialized teams made appearances more randomized, further reducing Drapion's chances to come out.
"But wasn't Dylan's first rise into the public eye because of that video?" Leaf added with a grin.
"And the opponent in that battle was—"
She glanced teasingly at Red.
Red: "..."
"Yes, that battle video was spectacular. I've seen it too," Giovanni said with a faint smile.
Selene thought for a moment and quickly recalled it—the Vermilion City challenge, right?
"Red, you must want a rematch with Drapion and the others, don't you?" Leaf teased.
For a monster-level trainer like Red, that defeat had surely left a deep impression.
Leaf had only meant it as casual teasing. She hadn't expected Red to respond at all.
But this time—he did.
"…Yes. Very much."
The boy lowered his cap slightly and spoke in a low voice.
Beneath the brim's shadow, his red eyes burned as they fixed on the man in black—and the Drapion before him.
He remembered this Drapion all too clearly.
The one that defeated his Pikachu and Snorlax.
Leaf blinked in surprise.
"Hah~ Then you should tell Dylan. If you two get matched later, have him use that old lineup and fight you again."
Red fell silent.
Drapion
Poison / Dark
The Ogre Scorpion Pokémon
Ability: Sniper
Moves: Crunch, Acupressure, Toxic, Cross Poison, Earthquake, Toxic Spikes…
Description:
Extremely resilient. Even without using poison, it can overwhelm opponents with its raw physical power alone.
"Drapion…"
Yellow gazed at the fierce Pokémon before her.
One of Gym Leader brother's earliest core partners.
That meant he truly valued this battle.
Her heart pounded uncontrollably.
So excited—so excited she could barely breathe.
Her body trembled slightly, not from fear, but from an excitement she couldn't suppress.
She was standing on the battlefield… facing the man she had always admired most.
This was—amazing.
"Arcanine! I'm counting on you!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Yellow sent out her lead Pokémon.
The majestic Arcanine leapt onto the field, mane blazing, eyes sharp as it locked onto Drapion.
"Arcanine!"
Yellow called out.
Arcanine let out a powerful roar, an invisible pressure spreading outward.
Intimidate!
A white shimmer washed over Drapion—its physical attack dropped by one stage.
"That level of weakening won't affect Drapion much, Yellow," Dylan said with a light chuckle.
"Now then—let me see the results of your training."
"Drapion. Earthquake."
Drapion growled, its long tail rising high before slamming down.
The Ground-type attack erupted.
The entire battlefield shook violently as seismic waves rippled outward.
"Arcanine! Extreme Speed!"
Yellow responded instantly.
Arcanine crouched, white light flashing as it burst forward.
Extreme Speed!
Boosted to incredible velocity, Arcanine shot past the seismic waves and slammed headfirst into Drapion's face.
Drapion grunted—but endured the blow.
"Cross Poison!"
Its claws crossed, deep-purple energy blades tearing through the air toward Arcanine as it landed.
Yellow's pupils shrank—that counter was way too fast!
"And Extreme Speed landed, but that's all the reaction there was?!"
"Arcanine, dodge!"
The moment its paws hit the ground, Arcanine sprang backward, narrowly avoiding the slashing blades.
Cross Poison struck the ground and exploded, dust billowing.
But before Yellow could even exhale—
A dark blur shot out of the smoke like lightning.
"Arcanine!"
Yellow's face changed.
The blur resolved into Drapion's tail—clamping tightly around Arcanine's throat and slamming it to the ground.
The iron-like grip locked in place.
Arcanine struggled desperately, limbs kicking—but it couldn't break free.
The crowd erupted.
"Wait—its tail can do that?!"
"That's like Hitmonlee using its legs—this is wild!"
"I grew up in Sinnoh and I know Drapion well, but I never knew this!"
"Not just the tail—Drapion's head can rotate 180 degrees too. Its body is built for combat.
It's just unpopular because it's not pretty and its raw stats aren't flashy."
"Drapion's got Arcanine locked down—what can it even do now?"
Even Ash and the others stared in disbelief.
Ash's Pikachu instinctively rubbed its nearly nonexistent neck.
"Arcanine! Flamethrower!"
Yellow shouted urgently.
"Cross Poison!"
Arcanine strained, turning its head as flames gathered—
But a deep-purple cross-shaped blade slammed straight into its body.
BOOM!
Cross Poison exploded against Arcanine's side. It cried out in pain.
Even without type advantage, even with Drapion's attack lowered—
That hit still hurt.
Then Drapion lifted Arcanine by the tail—
and smashed it down.
THUD!
The ground shook again.
It wasn't even a move, but the sheer force sent pain coursing through Arcanine's body.
"Yellow," Dylan said calmly, glancing from Arcanine to the worried girl beyond it.
"If this is all the strength you have, then it's not what I hoped to see."
"Is this… the powerless, fragile version of yourself you want me to witness?"
Yellow's expression changed instantly.
Of course not.
She took a deep breath, eyes hardening.
"Arcanine!"
Her voice—filled with resolve—seemed to awaken something dormant.
A faint red glow flickered across Arcanine's body.
"Flamethrower!"
Arcanine snapped its head around.
A blazing torrent of fire exploded point-blank into Drapion's face.
BOOM!
The flames detonated. Drapion roared in pain.
In that instant, Arcanine burst free, ripping itself from the tail's grip and retreating rapidly to create distance.
Drapion glared, furious.
It couldn't understand—
Where had that sudden strength come from?
"Here it comes! That's it—that thing again!"
Rosa immediately grabbed Hilda and the others' attention.
She was sure of it—Yellow had activated again.
"Gym Leader brother, please watch closely!"
Yellow's face was solemn, her gaze unwavering.
She would not disappoint him.
She was already standing here—
So she would show him the strongest, best version of herself.
"Ah… then I suppose we'll have to get serious too," Dylan said, grinning.
"Arcanine! Close in with Extreme Speed!"
Yellow stuck to her plan.
This time, Arcanine was stronger.
She believed it wouldn't be caught so easily again.
White light flared as Arcanine dashed forward.
"Drapion—Toxic Spikes!"
Drapion growled, its claws drawing together as a deep-purple sphere condensed.
"Arcanine!"
Yellow's eyes sharpened.
Arcanine accelerated again.
BAM!
Extreme Speed slammed into Drapion's neck.
This time, Drapion let out a pained grunt—the impact was far heavier than before.
But even so, the Toxic Spikes weren't interrupted.
Drapion raised its claws, scattering the spikes into the air.
"Fire Blast!"
If that was the case, Yellow would press the attack.
Using the recoil from Extreme Speed, Arcanine flipped back midair, jaws wide—
A massive, blazing kanji-shaped inferno roared forth.
"Block it!"
Dodging was impossible—but blocking wasn't.
Drapion crossed its claws in front of itself.
Fire Blast crashed down, smashing into the crossed pincers.
Flames roared and scorched, forcing Drapion to grit its teeth under the heat.
"Drapion can't hold that!" Wallace said quickly.
"Right. Arcanine's power has skyrocketed—this Fire Blast is far beyond what Drapion can block without a move," Steven agreed.
But at that moment, Dylan spoke again.
"Throat Chop."
Fire Blast had come just after Toxic Spikes—there hadn't been time for a move at first.
But that brief block had bought Drapion enough time.
Its tail rose high, black light gathering—
And stabbed straight into the inferno.
Throat Chop!
BOOM!
Dark energy collided with raging flames.
Fire Blast detonated violently.
The resulting shockwave blasted both Pokémon backward.
Drapion, closer to the blast, took the heavier hit—but Arcanine wasn't spared either.
The moment Arcanine landed, pain flashed across its face—
Deep purple poison surged upward from its paws, spreading rapidly.
Toxic Spikes—poison damage!
"Yellow," Dylan said with a calm smile, adjusting his collar leisurely,
"Let your teacher give you a personal demonstration."
"This is how a battle is truly fought."
Consider it—
A graduation lesson.