Elite Four Member Drake stood at this moment upon the steep slopes of the snowy mountain range, the white mist exhaled from his lips instantly condensing into frost.
Gazing out at the valley ahead—shrouded in a raging blizzard—his eyes were filled with vexation, and he could not help but mutter a low curse under his breath:
"Damn it! How can there be a Pokémon with such a bizarre and twisted type combination?"
Right before him, coiled majestically, lay an incredibly massive Ninetales.
Unlike the red, Fire-type Ninetales commonly found in regions such as Hoenn and Kanto, this particular Ninetales was entirely cloaked in snow-white fur.
Every single strand of its fur appeared as if woven from the finest ice and snow; shimmering with a faint blue luminescence amidst the storm, it exuded an aura of nobility and sanctity.
Even more astonishing was its sheer size—it was easily three times larger than an ordinary Ninetales.
Its nine fluffy tails swayed gracefully behind it, each sweeping motion stirring up a gust of bone-chilling wind.
This was an Alolan Ninetales—a species unique to the Alola region.
Moreover, judging by its immense size and commanding presence, it was evidently the undisputed master of this entire domain. The Ruler of the Mountain.
"Salamence, watch out—dodge!"
Drake shouted up toward the sky.
Mega Salamence let out a resounding draconic roar, and with a powerful beat of its wings, it narrowly evaded the shards of ice launched by the Alolan Ninetales.
The ice shards exploded in mid-air, shattering into countless tiny fragments that scattered in all directions like a blast of shrapnel.
Drake's other Pokémon—
Flygon, Altaria, and Kingdra—were currently holding their respective positions, locked in a fierce struggle against the Alolan Ninetales. The battle had reached a critical, grinding stalemate.
What gave Drake the biggest headache was that the Alolan Ninetales' dual typing—Ice and Fairy—completely countered his core lineup.
As a "true" Dragon-type Elite Four member, every single Pokémon on his team possessed the Dragon typing.
Not only did both Ice and Fairy types deal super-effective damage against Dragon types, but the Fairy typing also rendered Dragon-type moves completely ineffective—a combination that was absolutely devastating.
Facing this "Totem" Alolan Ninetales, Drake's Pokémon team was utterly unable to unleash its true potential.
"Altaria, Tailwind!"
"Kingdra..." "Flash Cannon!"
Altaria flapped its wings, whipping up gusts of gale-force winds and air currents to boost the students' speed.
Kingdra, meanwhile, gathered a dazzling surge of energy within its maw, transforming it into a concentrated beam of light that it fired at Ninetales—attempting to use a Steel-type move to disrupt the Ice-type Pokémon's attack rhythm.
At this moment, Flygon stepped into the role typically occupied by Salamence.
It ceaselessly beat its wings, hovering steadily in the air.
Simultaneously, it unleashed powerful moves to dispel the snowy weather conjured by Ninetales, striving to seize control of the battlefield's atmospheric conditions.
Furthermore, both Flygon and Altaria periodically spewed jets of flame to harass Ninetales, providing support for Mega Salamence.
Although Fire-type attacks were not these two Pokémon's primary forte, they represented the best available option when Dragon-type moves proved ineffective.
After all, Fire-type moves hold a type advantage over Ice-types—and having *something* is always better than having nothing.
As the team's primary powerhouse, Salamence—acting under Drake's command—underwent Mega Evolution almost immediately after the battle began.
The light of evolution blazed like an intense inferno, instantly engulfing its entire body; its already formidable physique swelled and transformed dramatically within the radiant glow.
It evolved into Mega Salamence—a Pokémon known by the ominous moniker, "The Blood-Stained Crescent"!
It temporarily set aside all its Dragon-type moves, switching instead to a repertoire of Fire-type attacks—such as Flamethrower, Fire Blast, and Heat Wave—to engage Ninetales in a fierce, head-to-head exchange of fire.
Mega Salamence beat its wings, stirring up gusts of scorching air that stood in stark contrast to the surrounding snow and wind.
With a sudden, fierce motion, it opened its maw... A thick column of flame, roaring forth like a fire dragon, shot straight toward the Alolan Ninetales.
After executing its Tailwind skill, the Altaria unleashed Sunny Day; this ability stacked with the Flygon's own Sunny Day, allowing the pair to vie with the Alolan Ninetales for control over the weather.
However, this particular Alolan Ninetales possessed the Snow Cloak Ability.
After all, neither the Altaria nor the Flygon were Fire-type Pokémon.
Consequently, even with both Pokémon simultaneously employing Sunny Day, they were unable to overpower the Alolan Ninetales' Snow Cloak Ability.
It was not until the Mega Salamence seized the opportunity to cast Sunny Day as well—creating a triple-stacked effect—that they finally began to suppress the Alolan Ninetales' snowy weather.
At that very moment, the Alolan Ninetales, relying heavily on its innate Ability, was fiercely resisting the combined onslaught of the Altaria, Flygon, and Mega Salamence's triple-stacked Sunny Day attacks.
A bizarre spectacle unfolded in the sky: a chaotic interplay of clear skies and swirling snow.
Finally, pushed to its absolute limit, the Alolan Ninetales' nine tails snapped upright as its entire body began to radiate an intense, brilliant light.
This radiance converged in the air to form a massive "Z" shape—the unmistakable energy signature of a Z-Move, unique to the Alola region!
Following a long, piercing cry from the Ninetales, the ground beneath it suddenly shattered; colossal pillars of ice—dozens of meters high—violently erupted from the earth, hoisting the Pokémon high into the air.
Immediately thereafter, the Alolan Ninetales opened its maw and unleashed a massive, swirling vortex of ice.
The blue tornado, laden with countless shards of ice and surging with a cataclysmic aura of destruction, bore down upon Drake's Pokémon!
"Mega Salamence! Giga Impact!"
Drake's eyes narrowed sharply as he issued the command.
A look of steely resolve flashed in the Mega Salamence's eyes; its entire body blazed with a dazzling white light as its Aerilate Ability activated at full power, pushing the destructive force of its Giga Impact to the absolute limit. [Ability: Aerilate (Normal-type moves are transformed into Flying-type moves, and their power is further boosted.)]
Like a shooting star, it hurtled fearlessly straight into the icy tornado unleashed by the Alolan Ninetales!
"BOOM—!!!"
A white shockwave and the blue icy tornado collided with a thunderous roar; two terrifying surges of energy exploded in mid-air, emitting a blinding flash of light that made it nearly impossible to keep one's eyes open.
The entire snow-capped mountain shook violently. The accumulated snow at the summit was dislodged, triggering an avalanche as massive cascades of snow poured down the slopes.
Desert Porygon-Z reacted instantly, carrying Drake high into the sky to evade the path of the avalanche. Altaria, too, managed to retreat in time alongside Kingdra to take cover.
When the blinding light from the energy collision finally faded and the icy tornado dissipated, Mega Salamence was revealed—its body coated in a thin layer of ice—as it wobbled unsteadily and began to descend from the sky.
Its body was surrounded by a multitude of ethereal feather-like phantoms, which continuously flowed into it, helping to replenish its stamina.
This was a Flying-type recovery move: Roost.
Had Mega Salamence not utilized this "Roost" ability to temporarily nullify its own Flying typing, it likely would have collapsed long ago while attempting to withstand the Alolan Ninetales' Ice-type Z-Move attack.
After all, Ice-type moves deal *quadruple damage*—a double weakness—against a Dragon/Flying-type Pokémon like Salamence!
Yet, while Mega Salamence had sustained such heavy damage, its opponent—the Alolan Ninetales—was certainly not unscathed either.
Were it not for the Ninetales' Fairy typing—which effectively neutralized Drake's Dragon-type team and prevented them from unleashing their true potential—the sheer, overwhelming power of the Mega-Evolved Salamence would have ensured that this battle was nowhere near this arduous.
By now, the pillar of ice beneath the Alolan Ninetales' feet had shattered, leaving it standing directly on the snowy ground. Its fur was disheveled, and its breathing had become noticeably labored.
Just as the two Pokémon stood locked in this tense standoff... From a cave not far behind the Alolan Ninetales, over a dozen small, pristine-white Alolan Vulpix suddenly scurried out.
These little ones were pure white from head to toe, each trailing six small tails; they anxiously converged around the Alolan Ninetales, encircling her with deep concern for her well-being.
Drake's gaze lingered on the Alolan Ninetales before shifting toward the cave behind her, where yet another Vulpix—one distinct from the others—could be seen.
Its fur was a vibrant red—identical in appearance to the Fire-type Vulpix found in the Kanto region.
This little red Vulpix hovered at the cave entrance, peeking out with only half its head as it watched its mother with deep anxiety.
Yet, it dared not step out; it was struggling to suppress its "Drought" Ability, terrified that the heat it emitted might inadvertently cause trouble—or worse, play right into the hands of its mother's enemy.
Under normal circumstances, helping it suppress its Drought Ability was a simple task for its mother—one that required very little effort or energy.
But at this critical moment—right in the midst of a fierce battle—it could not risk causing its mother even the slightest distraction, nor could it allow the enemy to exploit its Ability to inflict harm upon her.
Thus, it could only remain hidden within the cave entrance, straining every fiber of its being to keep its Ability in check, so as not to become a burden to its mother.
Its mother—the Alolan Ninetales—was currently letting out a series of low growls at the Vulpix surrounding her, signaling the danger and urging them to retreat back into the cave.
However, not a single one of the little ones was willing to leave.
One particular Alolan Vulpix—roughly the same size as the little one hiding inside the cave—strained to squeeze its way to the very front, positioning itself directly before the Alolan Ninetales.
She and the little Vulpix inside the cave were fraternal twins; she was the older sister, while the one inside was the younger sister.
However, aside from their differences in color and elemental type, her Ability also differed from her younger sister's;
It was not "Drought," but rather an Ability inherited directly from her mother, the Alolan Ninetales: the "Snow Warning" Ability.
At this very moment, she was actively utilizing her Snow Warning Ability, channeling all her energy to release freezing cold air, thereby helping her mother amplify the power of the snowy environment surrounding them. The Ninetales (Alolan Form) gazed with boundless affection at her little babies, gently curling her tails around the small Alolan Vulpix to shield it—along with its older Alolan Vulpix siblings—safely behind her.
Only after ensuring her children were secure did the Ninetales turn to face Drake, her eyes glowing with a dazzling blue light.
This was *Psychic*, a supernatural ability of the Psychic type.
It is a power that Ninetales can master only after possessing exceptional innate psychic talent or after having lived for a significant number of years.
It allows them to communicate with humans directly through telepathy, much like a Pokémon of the Psychic type.
The Ninetales' voice—clear and crisp—was transmitted directly into Drake's mind via her psychic powers:
"Human, what exactly is it that you want?"
Drake signaled his Sandslash to descend, landing about a hundred meters away from the Ninetales. He gave a wry smile and said:
"I told you before: I truly harbor no ill will toward you. I merely wish to talk."
The Ninetales' voice was laced with sarcasm:
"Attempting to snatch away my two youngest children the very moment we meet—you call *that* having no ill will?"
At these words from the Ninetales, a flush of embarrassment immediately rose to Drake's weathered face, quickly followed by a look of sheepishness.
Drake muttered inwardly to himself:
*How was I supposed to know those two Vulpix were your children? They certainly didn't have "Son of Ninetales" stamped on their foreheads!*
Earlier, from a distance, he had spotted a peculiar anomaly within the valley:
One half of the area was drifting with snowflakes, while the other half glowed with a warm light. Only upon approaching did he discover that the cause was two little Vulpix—each of a vastly different color—playing there together.
One was pure white, wreathed in an aura of biting cold;
The other was fiery red, radiating a faint warmth from its body.
Drake was, of course, familiar with the Fire-type Vulpix. As for the Alolan Vulpix (Ice-type), he had encountered a few during his recent explorations of the highlands and mountains across the Alola region. Driven by curiosity, he had even conducted some basic observations on them.
He had a general understanding of their Abilities.
However, he had never observed an Alolan Vulpix possessing the ability to manipulate the very weather itself.
Yet now, looking at the two creatures right before his eyes, the truth was abundantly clear. One of them possessed the Fire-type Vulpix's Hidden Ability: Drought.
The other, presumably, possessed the corresponding Hidden Ability—one akin to Drought, but involving the manipulation of thunderstorms.
Pokémon with Hidden Abilities are rare enough as it is; to stumble upon two of them at once—and entities whose types and abilities were in complete opposition, no less—filled Drake with an overwhelming surge of excitement.
For days, he had been racking his brains trying to find a suitable partner Pokémon for Lionel.
After all, Cynthia was preparing a Deino from the Dragon Village in the Unova region; if he couldn't produce something equally special, he felt he would lose face.
After much deliberation, he decided to shift his approach: instead of focusing solely on combat prowess, he would look for little creatures with unique abilities and striking appearances—traits that would perfectly complement Lionel's style in Pokémon Contests.
These two Vulpix were perfect:
One snow-white, the other crimson; one capable of commanding ice and snow, the other capable of summoning the blazing sun.
Coupled with their incredibly adorable appearances—as if they were born specifically for the stage of a Pokémon Contest—Drake was so overcome with excitement that he immediately moved to capture them.
Little did he expect that the moment he drew near, a massive Ninetales—an Ice-type—would seemingly materialize out of thin air, immediately launching a fierce assault on his own Pokémon.
He had tried to snatch away their offspring, and now he was being confronted—and sternly interrogated—by the parents. Drake's old face flushed crimson; he truly couldn't offer a single valid excuse.
"I acted rashly back then; I failed to properly assess the situation."
Drake gave a sheepish cough, then reached into his backpack and pulled out a box of exquisitely packaged "Intermediate Pokémon Energy Cubes." He tossed the box in the direction of the Ice-type Vulpix.
"These are for the little ones—consider them my apology gift."
These Intermediate Energy Cubes were items that only human Pokémon Breeders could manufacture; they contained far more concentrated energy than any wild berries found in nature—something the Ninetales family, living deep within the remote mountains, had never encountered before.
The moment the Energy Cubes hit the ground, a rich, aromatic scent wafted through the air. The little Ice-type Vulpix widened their eyes in delight, their tiny noses twitching incessantly as they eagerly sniffed the air. They all turned in unison to look at the Ice Ninetales, their eyes brimming with anticipation.
The Ice Ninetales scanned the area with her psychic energy; upon confirming that there were no anomalies within the Energy Cubes, she gave a slight, gentle nod.
The little ones immediately cheered and swarmed around the cubes, pawing at the blocks as they playfully vied with one another.
The little Ice Vulpix leading the pack suddenly halted in her tracks. She turned her head to gaze back toward the cave entrance, letting out a soft, whimpering cry to her little sister still inside.
She then dashed back into the cave, nudging her head affectionately against the little red Vulpix to signal her sister: *Come out quickly and eat with us!*
The little red Vulpix hesitated for a moment, glancing at her mother. Only after seeing that the Ice Ninetales offered no objection did she bound forward with delight.
She hurriedly followed right behind her big sister, trotting out with her tail wagging excitedly.
Remarkably, the moment the two little ones drew close to one another, the heat radiating from one and the chill from the other seemed to cancel each other out.
The warmth generated by the "Drought" Ability neutralized the cold air from the "Snow Warning" Ability, while the refreshing coolness of the "Snow Warning" kept the dry heat of the "Drought" in check, creating a small zone of perfect, gentle balance.
The other Vulpix pups also displayed a remarkable sense of harmony; none of them took the first bite, choosing instead to simply bat at the Energy Cubes with their tails in playful amusement.
They waited patiently until their youngest sisters had joined them before finally beginning to share the Energy Cubes together.