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Poképhilia Story

Love has No Bounds

The Cat that Loves to Fight - Chapter 1

Halloween Special 2021

By J.C. Solis

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The arena was full of the cheers of the crowds, the lights from the ceiling strobing as the match was soon to get underway. It would be the fight to end all fights, and the whole of Ritz Regal City was there to enjoy the show. It would be such a memorable bout, as the entire arena was packed to the brim with fans of the two fighters who would be partaking in the match. The air was already electric with excitement, the anticipation too much, and the show now about to begin.

"Ladies and gentlemen," said the announcer as he appeared on stage. "Today is the day you've all been waiting for. Today is the day that will decide whether we get ourselves a new champion, or if the current champ continues to keep the belt!"

The crowd couldn't contain its excitement anymore. With this in mind, the announcer got to the point and declared who'd be the ones to battle.

"In the red corner, we have the one who's been clawing his way to the top. He's beaten all other to a pulp to get to this point. But can he take down the champ?" The announcer pointed to the corner. "Folks, let's give a round of applause for the big-time bruisers, Master Sergeant Brutus and his pokémon... Goliath the Rhyperior!"

The crowd began booing and jeering as the light shone on the other entrance of the stage. A large, stony pokémon walked forwards, the massive stone monster looking as though he was as mean as they came. This was Goliath, a brute of a Rhyperior who was a tough as pokémon could get. The large pokémon had a mean look on his face, a scowl that looked around at the booing crowd with scorn. He didn't care that the crowd hated his guts, or that he viciously defeated all others to get to this point. He would become the next champion, whether they liked it or not.

Goliath and his trainer, an equally large man with a brick like face and large looking muscles, walked towards the center of the stage, with everyone getting a good look at him. He looked as mean and tough as his pokémon and had on a military and camouflage outfit that made him straight from the army. It was now time to welcome the pokémon that he would be facing.

"And now, the moment you all have been waiting for. Ladies and Gentlemen let's give a round of applause for your current champion. He is the fiery inferno, the killer cat from hell, the wrestler with bravado. Give it up for the Russian Rebels, Natasha and her pokémon... Ivan the Incineroar!!!"

Pyrotechnics began to go off as a large smoke cloud appeared, with the crowd roaring with cheers as the announcer called for the champion to enter. The smoke cleared, and in the midst of it all was the pokémon that all had been waiting to see. A powerful looking Incineroar was posing in the middle of the walkway, his face cheery as he looked on at the crowd with joy and happiness. He walked down the path, giving high-fives to the folks who were next to the barricade. There was one child who had his hand extended to reach him, and the Incineroar slapped his hand. He gave the young boy a high five and a thumbs up, for sure making the young lad's day. He loved his fans, and it was for them that he fought.

This pokémon was Ivan, and He was the champion of the Pokémon Fighting Federation, or PFF, an organization that held tournaments for pokémon to duke it out in battle. It was an organization that was separate from the Pokémon League, since it was mostly done for show. But though the Pokémon that battled were encouraged to be flashy and give acrobatic displays, the fights were all too real, with pokémon often times getting seriously hurt from just how intense they were.

And Ivan the Incineroar was the champion and had been champion for the past few months.

Just like the league, though, the pokémon had trainers with them, and just like Goliath with his trainer, Ivan walked with his own. But strangely, the person who walked with Ivan was not a big, strong looking man with large muscles and a hairy face. It wasn't even a man, but a thin, fit looking woman. She looked very attractive, her blond hair flowing in locks behind her. Her clothes were a tight-fitting wrestler's outfit which comprised of a red top, red and black shorts, and a red tie mask that wrapped around her head. She honestly looked like a sexy crime fighter if anything else.

This was Natasha, and she was as fierce a fighter as she was beautiful. Ivan and the masked woman walked towards the center of the stage, where the other fighter Brutus and Goliath were.

"Get ready for a beat down, Natasha!" called out Brutus. "You and Ivan are going down, and we're gonna be the next champions!"

"Don't count on it, honey," said the masked woman. "Ivan and I are here to win." She then turned to her partner, asking: "Ready to go buddy?"

Ivan nodded with a smirked. Just like his trainer, he wasn't too worried.

Goliath and Ivan walked towards each other, waiting for the bell to ring to start fighting.

"You're going down, punk," taunted Goliath.

"Hah, that is what you think, comrade," replied Ivan in a thick, Russian accent. "Let us fight to see who is top cat here, no?"

The bell rang twice, marking the start of the battle. It was now time to see who would come out on top in this fight.

Without missing a beat, the Rhyperior used Stone Edge, sending beams of stone rising up from the floor. The jagged beams of rock shot up from the ground, the spikes coming right for Ivan. But the Incineroar was quick to dodge the move, jumping high into the air with such agility that seemed amazing to watch. He landed on one of the jagged spikes with just one of his legs, balancing himself on it as a means of mocking Goliath as the cat then stuck out his tongue and made a funny face at the rock monster. This, of course, enraged the Rhyperior as He thought of some other way to teach the fire cat a lesson.

It was then that Ivan opened his mouth to release a move of his own, sending out a blast of Flare Blitz blazing towards the rock type. When it connected, the inferno of fire was enough to severely burn him, though of course the recoil damage would also affect Ivan. But, though Goliath wasn't too damaged by the move, he still felt the intensity of the flames, his chest feeling burned and hot. Amazingly, the pokémon was burned from the move, and so his attack strength would be hampered by the burn.

"Ouch, you son of a bitch!" roared Goliath. "How the hell did you burn me?"

"I am fire type, so I give you fire," snickered Ivan. "It is getting cold these days, so I make you warm. Now you nice and toasty, no?"

Goliath wasn't going to take this lying down. He decided to go all or nothing.

His horn drill began to spin, and with the pokémon charged right for Ivan in an attempt to use Horn Drill, a devastating move that would no doubt KO Ivan in one hit if it connected. But the Rhyperior was moving slow, and so Ivan got out of the way before he could be hit. And while Goliath went by, Ivan went for Goliath's turned back and used Darkest Lariat. He spun around with his arms stretched out, hitting the other pokémon with several good smack and great strength.

Goliath was knocked to the side, his back sore as he felt every one of the smacks on his back. Turning around, he faced Ivan with even more indignation.

"Fucking bastard!" yelled out Goliath.

"Huh! You are pathetic!" said the Incineroar as he jeered at the large rock type.

But after seeing that Ivan had taken little damage despite the recoil from Flare Blitz, Brutus was having enough of the Incineroar and his trainer.

"That's it! No more messing around for us!" roared out Brutus. "Goliath, use Earthquake!"

"Will do, boss!" At this, Goliath, put his two arms to the ground to carry the order out.

The ground started shaking terribly, the intensity of the quake shaking the very arena itself. Though the arena was well more than capable of withstanding the shaking, Ivan knew that he had to react and soon before he'd start taking serious damage. Natasha knew she had to come up with something fast. Ivan was losing his balance and was close to falling over. Something had to be done, and now.

It was then that Natasha came up with something. It was risky, but while Goliath had his arms occupied, now would be a good time to take advantage of it with a move.

"Alright, Ivan, run up to Goliath and use Cross Chop!"

"What?!" gasped a shocked Brutus, not expecting something so foolhardy.

"Will do, Wee One!" said Ivan.

Ivan stood steady, his resolve overcoming the intense shaking as he charged straight for Goliath. His arms were outreached as he prepared the move, at last colliding with the large behemoth as his arms swung in an X-like fashion, striking Goliath with such force as to cause an intense shockwave that blew dust all over the place. The Earthquake stopped immediately and when the dust settled, the end result was clear. Ivan stood in front of the Rhyperior after delivering the heavy move, with the rock monster clutching his abdomen and his face in sheer pain. Goliath toppled over, now done and down for the count.

The crowd cheered for the victory of the Incineroar as the referee came forward to confirm the KO. Goliath's eyes were indeed spinning in swirls, and the match was conclusive.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the results are clear. Now, once again still your champions... Ivan and Natasha are the winners!!!"

The crowd roared into cheers and joy, with Natasha running forward with the Champion's belt in her arms towards Ivan. She hugged him while handing him the belt, to which Ivan raised up to the air in his arms. The crowd was elated to still have the Russian duo as their champs, and it was such a thrilling and entertaining battle to behold. The pair remained undefeated once more. Their might was once more proved in battle, and their relationship was shown as Natasha continued to hugged Ivan's chest in joy as Ivan wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close to him.

He did all of this for her, after all. He was happy to have made her happy. And with that, the announcer walked up to them to get their take on the battle. It was time to get insight from the champs

"Well, it seems like you two get to keep being champions, Miss Ivanovna," said the announcer, calling Natasha by her last name. "What do you have to say about this battle? Did you have any doubts in your mind that you would come out on top against such fierce opponents? After all, Brutus and Goliath rose up the ranks so quickly and defeated all in their paths."

Natasha smiled with her face cheery as she gave her two cents on the matter.

"I had no doubts that we'd win," she recounted. "Still, that was a hairy battle. I can see why Goliath and Brutus sailed through the competition. But in the end, they were no match for me and my buddy here. I hope to battle Goliath and Brutus again next time. They were really good in the fight, and I they put up a really good battle."

The announcer was stunned by how good of a sport Natasha was in the aftermath. Then again, the young lass wasn't known for gloating or for rubbing it into her opponents' faces. She was just glad to have been able to do something like this.

The announcer carried on.

"Well then, Miss Natasha, what do you and Ivan have as plans for Halloween? The PFF will be out on recess for the entirety of Halloween and won't start again until after Day of the Dead. What plans do you and your pokémon have for the holidays?"

Natasha smiled.

"Well, Ivan and I will be going home and spending time with family and friends, maybe go Trick-or-treating and just enjoy the ambience. We hope to have a good time. Of course, we'll signs autographs for our fans if they come to us to ask. There's not really nothing else we'll be doing."

Ivan looked at Natasha. He was happy to spend Halloween with his trainer, as the grand day would be later next week on a Friday. He was even more excited to get to return to their hometown to enjoy the spooky season and all the candy that the two could enjoy. It was always so fun to go home, away from the glamour of Ritz Regal City and just take in the quiet life for a little while. Soon, they'll be back and ready to defend their champion belt from another challenger. And as the two left the ring with their entourage of fans cheering their names, they began to look forwards to the fun that Halloween would bring. It would be nice to return to Lakeshire Town for a little retreat.

This would be a nice respite for all the hard work they put into their battle. And with that came the hope that their friends from town would be happy to greet them home...

Natasha Anastasia Ivanovna was a great fighter and quite the peppy young woman, her face always with a perpetual smile wherever she went. Being that she came from a family of Russians, she spoke English without a hint of an accent, even though she was fluent in Russian and could speak with a clear dialect. Her family came from the far away Russo Region, but she herself was born in Daegar from a family of immigrants. She lived in the Russo Region for quite some time, however, and it was over there that she learned her native language fluently and got to know the land of her heritage. She never shied away from her heritage and was proud to being from the far north.

Ivan would always be in tow throughout her life. He was a gift from Natasha's grandmother Svetlana and was given to her when he was still a newborn Litten. Babushka Svetlana was near and dear to Natasha's heart, and she would always be sure to visit her whenever she returned to Lakeshire town for a visit. The elderly woman was always happy to see her granddaughter, and she was even happier to see how big Ivan has grown from being such a cute little pokémon with a feisty nature.

Natasha was driving down the winding roads just outside of Lakeshire Town in a swanky Jaguar F-Type, the 575-horsepower supercharged V8 of the car rumbling along the highway as the two were approaching the town. Ivan was riding shotgun through the whole trip, and it was a long road trip form the deserts of the Daegar Region, where the Las Vegas of Daegar lay. Though they were happy to be greeted by fans, the two tried keeping a low profile throughout the trip, otherwise the road trip would become much longer as they'd be hampered by having to sign autographs.

As they came up to the first few houses, Natasha began feeling nostalgic, as she was returning to a place so dear to her heart.

"Wow, everything still looks the same as we left it, Ivan," noted Natasha. "I wonder how Babushka and all the others have been doing. Do you think our cousins are still doing the same old same old? I heard Cousin Sergei is coming over to visit as well. I hope he's been doing good."

Ivan smiled, thinking of Natasha's family and those close to him as well.

"Do not worry, Wee One. We will soon know if cousins have good time or if Ivan need make them happy. Babushka is always nice to go see. Hope old granny is doing well."

Curiously enough, Natasha completely understood Ivan's words, though it was not for the reasons one might think. She wasn't quite yet a Pokephile, but at the same time she wasn't against the idea. Incredibly, Natasha has the gift of understanding pokémon from a very young age. Ever since she was a little girl she could understand pokémon speech. It was something that she had tried to keep hidden from others, as one time she spoke of it when she was little, she was bullied and mocked for it by other school children. Only Babushka and Her Mother knew of Natasha's gift, and the two women had always been very accepting of it.

Nobody knew exactly why Natasha had this gift, but whatever the case was, she was glad that she was able to understand what pokémon were telling her.

"Aren't you excited for Halloween, Ivan?"

The Incineroar only shrugged.

"Eh. Not really Ivan's favorite holiday. All Ivan wants to do is drink vodka and enjoy warm bowl of borscht made by Babushka. Old granny very good in kitchen."

"Ivan, you drink vodka even when it's not a holiday," griped Natasha. "Oh, whatever. I just hope that our friends are doing good, too. I haven't spoken with Jason in a long time."

"Huh! That big mouth Unovan chuvak always get on Ivan's nerves. Ivan would rather spend time with Camilla than her nosey trainer."

"Come on, Ivan, Jason's a good friend. We grew up together, after all."

"And that is only reason why Ivan does not give Jason a punch to the face."

"Careful, Ivan. Camilla will be sure to give you a punch in the face back if you mess with her man," teased Natasha.

The two were at last in the main part of town. Being that it was now Autumn the weather was much colder, the air full of the smell of spruce and spice. Natasha always loved her hometown in the cold season. She'd make sure to come home for the holidays whenever she got the chance. Ivan was also keen on this place, and he'd often go out to play with the children whenever he got the chance. Being that he was a pro wrestler, he would sometimes give pointers to the kids on how to safely play fight, and he was always glad to see his fans.

But though Natasha and Ivan were famous, the people of Lakeshire Town were honestly very relaxed around them. Hardly anyone came to bother them, as everyone knew who they and their family were and were happy to see them. The two had a long history around Lake Shire, and the people respected their privacy. The people who would come bother them were often tourists or people outside of town, anyways. Such was the beauty of living in a tight knit community, for even if a person grew to be famous the rest of town wouldn't so much as bat an eye and would treat them like the same old same old.

Natasha drove up to a large house with a large and floral front garden. The house was two stories tall and had a roof with red clay tiles. The house looked a bit drab and dusty, but not completely in disrepair. It honestly seemed like the home of a quiet family, with a beat-up old car in the driveway and the front porch having a few chairs for people to gather on, one of which being a creaky rocking chair. A man was using a weed-whacker in the front of the house, dressed in work clothes, and wearing safety goggles as he trimmed the edges of the yard. Natasha knew immediately who this man was, and for sure he would recognize her car. She parked on the street right next to the house, and with that she and Ivan went over to great her dear uncle.

"Uncle Igor! Privet (Hello)!" said Natasha in fluent Russian.

The man stopped what was doing as he set the buzzing machine down. He was a rather tall and well-built man, a notable person with obvious blue-collar roots. He walked up to her and the Incineroar with a cheery look, his face gaunt and thin with a slightly hooked nose.

"Ah, Natasha! Dobro pozhalovat (welcome), my niece!" replied the man with a cheery face. He spoke with somewhat of an accent, though not as profound as other members of the family. "You've come at a good time. Babushka Svetlana hasn't stopped bugging about if you already arrived or not. Maybe now she'll get off my back."

"Hehe, well I guess I've kept her waiting long enough, then," Natasha replied.

It was then that the door swung open a small entourage of children came running out, the children of different sizes, heights, and ages.

"Natasha! You came!" said a small boy with brown, curly hair.

"What did you bring us, Natasha?" asked a little girl with long blonde hair.

"Hey Ivan, can you teach me a new wrestling move while you're here?" asked a much taller boy with straight black hair.

Ivan grinned at the request of the last boy, perhaps considering what he'd want to teach him.

"Cousins! Cousins! How are you all doing? Yeah, I got you all candy from Ritz Regal City. I hope you'll enjoy it for Halloween."

"Yay!!!" cried out the kids.

It was then that an elderly voice was heard coming from the house.

"Deti (children)! Uspokoites (Calm Down)!"

An old woman started to walk out the door, one who looked well in age and was carrying a walking cane and was wearing older styled clothes from Russo, as well as a red scarf around her head. The old woman had a wrinkly though kindly looking face, and her gait was that of an elder with many long years of experience.

This was the Matriarch of the family: Svetlana Petra Yurchenko.

"Babushka!" cried out Natasha as she ran up to the old lady. Natasha hugged her, much to the old woman's elation, with Ivan also happy to see her.

"Dear Natasha, how long have I waited for you to come home," said the old lady in a thick Russian accent. "I've been waiting a good while for you, Vnuchka (granddaughter). I even had your tetushek (aunties) make you and Ivan so much food for when you'd come over."

"Oh, Babushka, you shouldn't have," sighed Natasha. "But I guess we did travel a lot, and I know Ivan here wants to fill up with some food after the long drive. How has everyone been?"

"Very well, Vnuchka. The days have been good to us. Your uncles Igor, Boris, and Dimitri have been keeping steady in work, and I've just been at home with the children and your aunts."

"Good to hear." But soon, Natasha grimaced a bit, the next thing that she was going to ask would being hurtful. "And... Mama? How has she been doing?"

Babushka Svetlana lowered her face, wishing that she had better news to give her granddaughter.

"Better, Natasha. She has recovered in body, but she is still a shadow of her former self. Her mind is still fractured, and she has yet to pick up all the pieces."

"I am here, Mother," said a voice coming from the door frame.

A tall, thin, and gaunt woman, with a pale complexion and glassy eyes, was at the door. She looked to be sickly and ill, so much so that it didn't even look as though she'd be well enough to stand, let alone walk. And when Svetlana saw her, she grew frantic.

"Lyudmila! What are you doing out of bed? Go lay down and rest, my daughter. You are not yet well enough to- "

"I am fine, Mother. After all, I want to see my daughter."

Natasha was honestly glad to see her mother. It had been so long since she saw her, but she knew that she couldn't get close to her. It pained her to know that she had been suffering all these years, and that her illness had robbed her of her mental acuity and her strength. It hurt not being able to hug her mother, the person who took such great care of her and her siblings.

Lyudmila Sabina Ivanovna was usually a strong woman, so much so that she could literally beat up men much larger than herself up--and was even the one who inspired her daughter to be a fighter. But a few years back the family received devastating news that she had contracted a rare and severe variant of Tuberculosis. She moved from the Russo Region to live in Lakeshire Town, where there is better treatment and healthcare. But though she has been receiving strong medication, the illness spread to her brain and drove her mad. She would often rave and be violent, her mind incapable of even recognizing family and being unable to think for herself. Yet miraculously she has been making a steady recovery and her prognosis has been positive, with her finally being able to move around and her coughing fits not being as severe or as bloody. Her mind, though, remained blunted despite her body healing well, a sure sign that she has been brain damaged.

"Mama," said Natasha, still hurt at not being able to hug her mother. "How are you doing. Are you eating well? I can see you're walking better."

Lyudmila smiled. It was good to see her own daughter again, and hopefully she would she her other children as well as they came for Halloween and Day of the Dead.

"I am fine, Natasha. I can walk better now, and your Babushka and aunts keep me fed. I'm so glad you came over from your matches in Ritz Regal City. Now, if only your father was here to see you so strong. He'd have been so proud of you."

Natasha frowned. It hurt to have her father brought up. It has been so many years since the military mission that her father, Aleksander, undertook that came to take his life. He was a member of the Russo Special Forces, or Spetsnaz, and was considered to be an exemplary soldier with many accolades and achievements under his belt. She still remembered the grief she felt as a ten-year-old when it was announced that her father had perished. She didn't like remembering that moment.

Yet what hurt her even more was simply the state that her mother was in. The woman looked frail and weak, even though she was once such a strong woman. Even Aleksander, a strong and hard man in his own right, was no match for Lyudmila's iron will, fierceness and temerity. It was clear that Lyudmila was now a specter of the person she used to be. And though her younger siblings and even her own mother tried their best help her out, even they were at a loss to helping her heal at times. The illness had ravaged the woman's body over the years, leaving her weak.

It was at this moment that second figure appeared behind Lyudmila, a tall, well-built man with a dapper face wearing semi-formal clothes. The man had on white shirt, brown vest, and slacks, and was wearing a long brim fedora of the same color.

"Hello, Sergei," smiled Natasha. "I hope you've been doing well."

Lyudmila stepped to the side, hoping to not breathe on or touch the young man. He walked towards Natasha with a face that looked grizzled, and battle hardened despite the warm smile.

"I've been doing good, Natty," He said in a clear voice, without a hint of an accent. "I've been waiting here with the others. You sure got here in good time. Babushka Svetlana was driving all of us crazy, asking whether you were coming or not."

"Grr, I told you not to call me by that name!" Natasha fumed.

She had been called by the nickname "Natty" ever since childhood, and she never took to it. Sergei was just happy to make his younger cousin gripe from the name calling.

"So, I heard you're finally starting school, Sergei. The army finally let you study?"

"Yeah, they finally did, Natasha," confirmed the Daegar Region soldier. "They gave me leave to go to University, but who knows when they're gonna recall me back into service. But if you ask me, I'm kind of done being shot at in other regions if you ask me."

The wrestler turned solemn. Her cousin had been fighting for a while now. She imagined what a toll it must be on him. She hoped that he would be alright. She didn't want him to end up like her father. Father, she started thinking. It had been so long since those moments. The news that returned of his fate was devasting, and even as young girl she just couldn't-

Natasha shook her head. Not wanting to reflect any more on this, Natasha and Ivan brought in their suitcases along with the help of Sergei while Babushka went to heat up the food she had made for them. What awaited the two travelers was a piping hot bowl of borscht, a rich beet soup with succulent chunks of meat and a hint of spice, as well as some Pelmeni dumplings and a desert of Pirozhki pastries filled with even more meat along with potatoes and minced veggies. It was all a hearty dinner with tons of flavor, with the borscht being delicious all by itself, the perfect meal after such a long day of traveling.

Of course, the men would be sure to drink shots of Vodka, as any Russian would be inclined to do. Uncles Igor, Boris and Dimitri were sharing a large one-liter bottle of Vodka, with Ivan sure to join in and drink to his fill as well. Natasha wasn't much of an alcohol drinker, preferring a fizzy soda instead with her aunts Tatiana and Masha. Even Sergei didn't take much to drinking, though he did have a shot or two of vodka with the other men. But while the family was eating and drinking at the dinner table, Lyudmila was at her very own table off to the side, hoping to isolate herself to prevent spreading her sickness. But even so, she sometimes partook in the conversations in the room and spoke so everyone could hear her from where she was.

The whole family was enjoying themselves, with the little cousins running about as the adults talked about life and happenings. Natasha recounted the things that have happened to her and Ivan over at Ritz Regal City while the Incineroar went to play around with the children--something he always enjoyed doing whenever he got the chance. But soon the conversation started getting serious as a certain topic was discussed, one that had been tearing apart society and caused distress within Lakeshire Town.

"Those Pokephiles are having a rough time," said Uncle Igor. "I hear that group Team Shroud attacked a Pokephile gathering in Luminance Town near Dusk Forest, once again with firebombs. It is like they don't care who they hurt anymore."

"Hmph, I say they got what they deserved," said Aunt Tatiana. "I never even liked Pokephiles."

"Come now, my darling, is what they're doing worthy of being beaten up?" Uncle Boris tried to sway his wife. "I don't think that deserves a beating, or even a burning for that matter."

"Chush sobachya (Bullshit)!" called out Aunt Masha rather cruelly. "They offend Arceus, so they need a beating. Would you rather these people keep doing what they do?"

"Come now, wife, I don't think even Pokephiles deserve to have Molotov cocktails thrown at them like what happened in Spring," said Uncle Dimitri to sway his wife. "Does Arceus like it for us to punish people by lighting them on fire?"

"No, but what they are doing is not good either way," noted Babushka Svetlana.

The six people began bickering, with the men and woman on opposite sides of the argument. The men wanted to give Pokephile a chance while the women though that Poképhilia was wrong, and neither side was going to back down. Natasha started feeling uncomfortable seeing her family bicker. It was something that she didn't like to see--despite this happening all the time back at the Russo Region. Even Sergei was getting uneasy with how severe the argument was getting, much more severe than the arguing he was used to seeing. His father Igor would really go at it like this with the others.

Yet Natasha didn't know with whom to side with. She harbored sympathies for Pokephiles, since she felt like she was on that route herself. But she didn't dare mention her support nor her curiosity towards trying it out for herself.

In all honesty, she did find certain pokémon to be attractive. She was fond of Ivan and other pokémon who she found handsome. But she felt that other people might not understand, and her coming out as a Pokephile could upset some of her and Ivan's fans. She hoped to one day enact on her fantasies, though. Maybe one day she could have her way with Ivan and make him a happy cat as a reward for all the hard work he's been putting into battling. She has kissed Ivan before, and thankfully the fans who saw it happen viewed it as a trainer giving her pokémon an affectionate gesture for his efforts. But she didn't dare tell her family the truth of her thoughts, and the argument that was taking place made it clear that she'd have to keep this to herself.

There just had to be some way of stopping all of this pointless arguing. She didn't want to see her family divided. It was then that someone stood up and walked towards the group of adults, someone who has remained quiet throughout the whole argument.

"What are you all arguing about whether this Poképhilia is good or bad or what?" said Lyudmila in a serious tone.

The group fell silent as they all looked at her. A certain sternness about her was apparent, a side of her that she hadn't shown much ever since she grew ill. It was as though they all were looking at someone very familiar--someone they hadn't seen for so long.

"What are you all yelling like big loud Primeape about this? If Pokephiles do good or bad, that is none of our concern."

"Daughter, you do not know what you are talking about," said Babushka.

"I certainly do, Mother!" interrupted Lyudmila, raising her voice and frightening the other adults. "If the Pokephiles want to have kiss and sex with pokémon, then let them do it. Aleksander would always tell me that no matter what one wants to do and think, that we are people all the same. 'If Arceus gets mad with what some people do, then that is His anger, not our own.' He'd tell me that so many times when I'd get mad at others, and now I see he had a good point. Leave these people be and do not throw stones at them, let alone Molotov cocktails. It was that firebomb attempt that made me see that Aleksander was right all along."

The adults all fell silent after hearing the wise words that Lyudmila spoke. Her words rang true to them all. No matter what it was that Pokephiles did, they were still people, and the firebombing attacks that occurred in Lakeshire Town and all over the Daegar Region at the hands of Team Shroud made it clear that her late husband was right all this time. Though her mind was still damaged, Lyudmila's conviction rang true, and nobody could respond back to her in defiance, her words being that strong.

Natasha looked at her mother, seeing someone whom she had missed for so long. She saw how understanding her mother was, and her stance in this serious matter. She knew that perhaps the person she could confide with her deep secret was with her all along. Perhaps one of these days she could tell her the truth of what she's been feeling. At least there was someone whom she could confide in; though her uncles also seemed supportive of the cause, and Sergei perhaps harbored sympathies, she just didn't know for certain. Her mother was the one most likely to respect her secret and keep her privacy.

Natasha turned around to look at Ivan. The cat was looking back at her as her little cousins were hopping around. He was also glad to hear these from Lyudmila. She had a hunch that he felt the same way, and that perhaps one of these days the two of them would be able to consummate their time together. But for now, they just had to be patient. The family returned to conversing with each other, this time talking about family and friends from all the way up north. They once again returned to bickering, though Lyudmila did not intervene this time to stop the squabbling. She let her brothers, sisters-in-law, and mother have their fun--they were always going to find something to gripe about.

When the late evening finally came, Boris and Dimitri left with their wives and children, saying goodbye to Babushka and being content to have met Natasha on her return home for the autumn holidays. Babushka, Igor, and Lyudmila were the only one left behind besides Natasha, Ivan, and Sergei. The wrestlers, their stomachs full and having had their fun with family arguing, returned to their room on the second floor of the house. They were tired from their long drive, and they were happy to have eaten such delicious and filling food--and Ivan for having drunk a good deal of Vodka for the night.

It was now time to rest. Natasha planned on meeting some friends tomorrow. Halloween was almost here, and she wanted to have some fun.

The night was cold, with stars twinkling in the skies above, with one star shining brighter than all the others. What tidings that star would bring, who knew...?

"Alright, Ivan, use Flare Blitz!" called out Natasha.

Ivan ran up to the Blaziken, charging with his body engulfed in flames as he prepared to ram into it. But the other trainer and his pokémon wasn't going to stay put.

"Two can play it at that, Natasha!" replied the other trainer, a young man in a red outfit, pompadour black hair, and with a thick New York accent. "Alright, Camilla, charge that sucker and also use Flare Blitz!"

"Sure thing, Dumb-dumb," replied the Blaziken as she also engulfed herself in flames and charged right for the Incineroar.

The two pokémon connected, with a gust of dust being blown by just how powerful the moves were. When the dust cleared, Camilla and Ivan were taking a kneel, their bodies taking a heavy hit from both the move's recoil and from connecting against each other. All the while, a small crowd was cheering from all around the battle court, with a good portion of them cheering for Natasha and Ivan to win. But Natasha noted that Ivan and Camilla were exhausted and hurt. Neither one of them would last much longer if they kept at it.

"Alright, Jason, I think it's time to call it a day," suggested Natasha. "Both of our pokémon are beat, and I don't want to push them to the point where we gotta schlep em to the Pokémon Center if one or both of them pass out."

"Aw man, but we were just getting started!" complained Jason, a little disappointed that his training partner wanted to call it quits. But one look a Camilla and he knew that she had a point. "Alright, then, let's give out buddies here some time off. Camilla here ain't gonna last much longer if we keep at it. But damn, that was some fine battling you did there, Natasha, Hehe," replied Jason with a joyful. "I gotta say, it feels good to be battling the Champion of the PFF and giving it our all. It's been too long since we had a nice little battle."

"Tell me about it," sighed Natasha. "It felt good to battle with you again, Jason. I missed you and Camilla a lot, as well as Kiara."

"So tell me, Natasha, if we managed to beat you, would that make Camilla and I the next champions? I just wanna know, is all."

"Hehe, I think you'd need to be a wrestler enrolled in the PFF in order to earn yourself the belt, not to mention manage to beat Ivan here. And even then, we sure as hell aren't going to make it easy for you either, buddy."

"Eh, just as well. I'm too busy at work over at the Pokéball plant anyways. They need me more than the PFF needs another champ."

Jason and Natasha walked up and shook each other's hand, their battle quite the spectacle for their fans to see. With that done, the two of them tended to their pokémon, thankful that they weren't hurt too bad from the fighting. A few sprays of stinging Potion and their partners were as good as new. The two and their pokémon left the battle court for the rest of the part, with their fans dispersing after seeing such an awesome battle between two powerful trainers.

It was currently Halloween Day, and the whole of Lakeshire Town was in a festive mood. Decorations for the holiday were all over the place, with people having put fake webbing around their shrubbery, jack-o-lanterns on their porches, fake skeletons sitting on front patio furniture, and all sort of other decorations such as inflatables and a whole menagerie of other spooky and festive stuff. It was such a fun and active time, with young boys and girls already dressed in costumes, ready to take to the streets in the hopes of getting candy and treats from neighbors. Even the pokémon were in a jolly mood, with the ever-secretive ghost-type pokémon out and having a fun time. The ghosts were welcomed by all that they came across as Ghastly, Shuppet, Misdreavus, and many more floated or walked around to have so much fun. All of the ghosts seemed to be enjoying their time together with the townsfolk, and what was curious was that it was still the afternoon--much too early for ghosts to be out and about.

Jason walked over to an ice cream stand, where he treated Camilla, Natasha, and Ivan to an ice cream cone. Natasha tried to decline, or at least pay for her own ice cream, but Jason insisted. The four picked their favorite flavors from the vendor and sat down to enjoy their frosty treat. Since it was the last day of October, Winter was soon to come. Already the daytime was getting milder, and the nights were getting balmier. Soon, the first snows would start to fall, and the whole of Lake Shire would start to freeze, as would parts of the Parfum River.

Natasha missed this part about Lakeshire Town. She didn't get the four seasons over in the desert surrounding Ritz Regal City. The night would get freezing cold and the days would get much milder, but nowhere close to snowing. Just a few intermittent showers would come, and even then they weren't very spectacular. In some ways, the town reminded her of her time over in the Russo Region. The region was much colder than Daegar, and she had fond moments of her time playing in the snow and helping around the house. Even when they were snowed in, there was always something interesting happening.

No matter where she lived, Life always seemed to carry on.

"I'm having a barbeque tonight if you wanna come, Natasha," offered Jason. "Kiara will be sure to go, and so will my other friends. I think you'll be glad to meet them."

"That'd be awesome, Jason," agreed Natasha. "I hope to go there with Ivan and meet your other friends. I can't wait to meet Kiara again."

Ivan and Camilla started talking a bit on their own as well.

"Dumb-dumb here is a good cook, Ivan. I don't think you've ever eaten some of the food he's grilled up, now have you?" she asked curiously.

"I will be surprised if he not burn food," grumbled Ivan. "But I'd have to taste for myself. Ivan not have barbeque made by Unovan chuvak. Maybe it will be good food? I do not know."

Camilla chuckled. She loved hearing Ivan's thick Russian accent and the way he spoke.

"Just give My Dummy's food a chance, Ivan. He's a goofball in many things, but he knows his way with the grill. Even Kiara admits that Jason is pretty good at grilling, and she's a sous chef at the finest restaurant here in Lakeshire Town! And you can wash it down with all of the beer that you want."

"Ivan does not drink beer. However, give me Vodka and I am your kitty," he joked with a guffaw. "I will have to have taste of food if it is that good, then. Wee One has told me many times of how good Jason's food is. I must judge for myself."

Camilla smiled, happy to hear that her dear friend would try her trainer's food. She knew that Ivan didn't like her "Dumb-dumb" all that much, so this could be a chance for the two to become friendlier, so she hoped. But as they continued eating their ice cream, Jason soon started talking about something that wasn't too pleasing to hear: the topic of Poképhilia.

"You've been hearing about those Team Shroud assholes running amok, haven't you, Natasha?" Jason asked.

"Yeah..." Natasha wasn't too fond of hearing that group's name. "They were causing a lot of trouble in Ritz Regal, and so have Team Rocket. Those two combined have really made people nervous. One's trying to take over the world, and the other is brutally attacking people for supporting something harmless. It's like they don't care who they hurt."

Jason sighed, hoping that the news was better. He had a lot to think about, seeing as it was people like him who were being hurt.

"You that I'm one of those Pokephiles, right?" Natasha nodded. "Well, it's my kind of folks who're being attacked. We're the ones you hear on the news suffering from all this shit. Pokephiles rallies being attacked by the Anti-Poképhilia Crusaders, Pokephiles being attacked by Team Shroud, vulnerable Pokephiles being run out of a small town. It's like there are all sorts of pals out there who mean us harm or want us gone."

Natasha frowned. Jason had a right to worry.

"But in the end, we don't want any trouble. We just want to be happy and enjoy our time on this big blue ball we call Earth. My best-bro Justin was attacked by Team Shroud a few months back, and he hasn't stopped being so friggin paranoid ever since. The dude has Schizophrenia. He already suffers enough without these Teams ganging up on him. But these bastards don't care about none a' that. People who mean no harm are gonna keep getting hurt, and any who get in the way are also enemies. Whoever's not with 'em is against em,' and this whole mess is gonna continue to get worse."

Natasha hadn't heard of this before. She asked more about what happened to Justin, to which Jason was glad to explain in full detail. She was shocked to hear of how Team Shroud attacked Justin Solis in retaliation to him intervening between an attack and saving some people who were burned by a Molotov cocktail bombing. She was horrified by all of the details he recounted, and it got so visceral that she didn't want to hear anymore. Jason noted this and stopped retelling the story, but it still left a mark on the champion.

Natasha decided it was time to go home, where she'd prepare for the Halloween party over at Jason's house. She and Ivan gave their good-byes to Jason and Camilla and headed on their way back home. But Halloween was a special time. It was one of the few holidays where people got together to have fun, no matter who they were, what they believed, or with whom they were involved. It provided respite between all of the protests and fighting.

Natasha arrived home and walked in while Uncle Igor was tending to the front yard's plants. After saying hi and entering, she encountered Cousin Sergei in front of his laptop, working on some homework and class projects for his studies. He would be tagging along with Natasha to the party, which was why he tried to finish his work quickly so to have time to prepare. Meanwhile, the smell of cooking was already in the air, with Aunts Tatiana and Masha cooking in the kitchen under the watchful eye of Babushka. Lyudmila was nowhere to be seen, but the sound of someone coughing could be heard coming from the second floor. Natasha, after telling everyone "hello," went up to her room and got ready. Being that it would be a costume party, she wondered what she could wear to it.

Unfortunately, she didn't have a proper costume, nor the time to go buy one, so she would just go to the party in her Wrestling Outfit. It had a mask and sexy look to it anyway, so it would be perfect to wear. She wondered what Sergei would wear, and already she heard him enter his room to get ready. The sun was starting to set below the horizon, the time for the party getting close. Though Babushka and the aunts were cooking, she wouldn't eat at home--hoping instead to try Jason's food.

"Ready to head on out, Ivan?" she asked her pokémon.

"I guess Ivan is as ready as can be," sighed Ivan. He wasn't terribly excited, in all honesty. "I hope food is good. Otherwise, Ivan will have chat with feathered one over why she lie to me."

"She didn't lie, Ivan. Jason's food is really good. Just give it a chance. You'll like it."

"I hope so. Otherwise, Ivan will have chat with Wee One as well."

Natasha snickered at her Pokémon's threat.

All the while, the sound of Sergei coming out of his room alerted her to come out as well. When she opened the door, she saw Sergei dressed in full military fatigues and with a beret on his head--a sure sign of his enrollment in the special forces. He looked like he was ready to go to war, the ribbons and medals on his shirt a sure indicator of his battle hardness and prowess.

"Aw, come on, Sergei, are you seriously going dressed like that?" groaned Natasha.

"And what if I am, Natty? If anything, this'll help keep guys away from groping your ass after seeing you dressed the way you are," retorted Sergei.

"No one's gonna grope me, Sergei. And even if anyone tries anything, I have Ivan here to teach them a lesson on keeping their hands to themselves."

The two cousins, now ready to head out, went down the stairs and towards the exit. They gave Babushka and Aunt Tatiana their goodbyes, headed out the door, bade Uncle Igor goodbye as well, and began walking down the street to the party. The streets were already filling with people on the way to go trick-or-treating and to the parties all over the place. The air was full of the smell of burning charcoal and grilled food, something that the cousins would be sure to enjoy. The sun was just barely above the horizon, and the activity around town was getting even more active. Already, the wild pokémon were coming out to have fun with the people of town, with the ever-secretive Ghost-type pokémon once more out to enjoy the time in which they'd be welcomed by everyone.

After a while of walking, the two arrived at a medium sized, two-story house a few blocks away. The sounds of a party could already be heard, and balloons and other decorations were already on the gate entrance to the back yard. EDM was already being blasted, the place sounding more like a rave than just a party with friends. The cousins walked over to the entrance, the sound of music getting even louder. It was when they opened the door to the gate that they saw just how packed the whole place was. There were people and pokémon all over, with folks either eating, drinking, dancing, or chatting. It was all a fun looking party, with many people dressed up in costumes that were either fun looking, creepy, realistic, sexy, or all of the above. From vampires, zombies, sexy nurses, and even pokémon costumes, there was no end to the amount of variety.

Natasha saw Jason manning the grill. The tall Unovan was wearing an apron that said "Kiss the Cook" while grilling everything from flap steak, burgers, sausages, and even vegetables. Next to him was the ever-short Kiara, who was wearing a blue Lucario costume. Next to her were two more people: a taller woman with ruby red hair in a Greninja outfit, and a broad yet overweight, large looking man who wasn't in a costume but wearing a dapper looking suit. Natasha had seen these people around talk and greeted them as she passed by, but she didn't know them personally.

But then again, she knew these were Jason and Kiara's friends, and she'd love to have a good chat with them. Natasha and company approached the grill, hoping to have a good meal and a cold brewski to get started. And when Kiara turned around and saw them, she couldn't hold back her joy.

"Natasha! You made it!" called out Kiara as she ran to greet her friend. "Oh Arceus, it's been too long since we've last seen each other."

"I missed you totally, Kiara," agreed Natasha. "But we talk to each other all the time via Poké-Communicator. It's not like I don't see your face from time to time."

"Yeah, but in person, Natasha. It's not the same seeing you on a screen compared actually meeting you." Kiara then turned to introduce Natasha to the others. "Natty, these my other friends, Saria and Justin. I think you've seen em' around town, no?"

"Nice to meet you, Natasha," replied Saria.

"I gotta say, it's quite something to meet the Champion of the PFF Battle Arena," added Justin.

Natasha blushed. It seemed these two recognized who she was on TV.

Kiara then turned to see Sergei and Ivan, recognizing those two as well.

"Well how're you doing, Soldier?" Kiara teased Sergei. "It's been a while since you've shown yourself. Are you on leave?"

"Yep," confirmed Sergei. "The army's letting me go to school for the semester. I'm going to Luminance University, but I came over here to check up on my cousin."

"Well, bros, go grab something to eat!" called out Jason. "We got a crapload of meats, and it's not all going to eat itself."

The group chatted with each other while the cousins and the Incineroar got a plate of food and a can of beer from the cooler. Much to Ivan's surprise, the meat was juicy and succulent, with a hint of seasoning and a whole heaping of flavor. Natasha, of course, saw his eyes bulge out from the food, but was too kind to tell him "I told You So!."

The night went on, with the pokémon also trying to enjoy themselves. Ivan met with Camilla and Kiara's Lucario partner Lance, as well as Saria's Razor and Justin's Lillia. The five pokémon were making good conversation, with everyone not getting enough off Ivan's thick accent and boisterous sense of humor. The Incineroar was well like by the others, his jovial personality making it easy to approach the big cat. It made him seem like he wasn't a champion professional wrestler at all. But as the evening went on and Nighttime came, the party started to slow down a bit. It was as though the air started becoming more somber and tense. It was strange for something like this to happen, but after the recent events that took hold in Lakeshire Town, it was no surprise.

A Poképhilia protest was once more attacked by Team Shroud, and once again Firebombs were lobbed. This time, the bombs weren't fill with just regular old kerosine or gasoline, but sticky Napalm and heavy oils that would be sure to cling and burn. Several protesters were gravely burned, and one of them was near the point of death--though thankfully the person was stabilized. For one, Justin was not all too happy about what had happened, and he told his friends all about it. He witnessed an attack and was targeted for it just a week before his birthday, and he hasn't forgiven Team Shroud for it.

Natasha was getting upset, hearing directly from Justin what he witnessed. She hoped that something like that wouldn't happen again, and much less on a day that was supposed to be as happy and cheery as Halloween.

Suddenly, a loud boom was heard from the streets. The sound of people yelling and causing pandemonium could be heard over the EDM that the DJ was playing. The music soon stopped, and the sound of conflict could be heard even louder. Every person and their pokémon were on edge at this point. Natasha, not being one to leave alone, went over to see what was happening in the streets. To her shock, it was a violent riot. Large pokémon were out on the streets launching powerful moves at the protestors. Cars were being hit by moves like Stone Edge and Hyper Beam, all while a great big battle was taking hold. Four men wearing black robes seemed to be ordering these strong pokémon to attack, and their targets seemed to be peaceful protestors without weapons or even pokémon to defend themselves with.

Natasha was horrified by what she saw, but she couldn't look away. She was captivated by the violence, something that she never thought that she'd see in her own hometown. She remained frozen even as the partygoers were terrified and huddled away, hoping not to attract any of the rioters towards them. At last, Sergei pulled Natasha away. His face was dire and serious, his military training taking over.

"Get over here, Natty! What're you doing out in the open like that?!"

Natasha snapped out of her haze. Sergei and Ivan were right with her, their faces grave as they thought of what to do next. The other friends and their pokémon were also with them, hoping to step in if they needed to fight them off.

"Damn, and on a fucking Halloween, no less," quipped Jason.

"We have to do something! Those rioters are gonna hurt folks," added Saria.

"Can we really take those fuckers on? They look really strong," worried Kiara.

Justin was busy on the phone, calling the police and giving the operator the run-down as to what was happening. After a while of talking he hung up, with his face now looking incredibly angry, seeing even more violence just like the one that he saw long ago. He didn't want to stick around and see even more of this violence. With that, he got up from his hiding spot while his Gardevoir Lillia joined him.

"Justin! Where are you going?" called out Saria.

"Come back, Justin! It's dangerous!" begged Kiara.

"Don't be a hero, bro!" said Jason. But seeing his best friend jump into the fray, he knew that he needed to help out. "Fucking hell. Come on, guys. We gotta go out and help Justin. There's no way he and Lillia are going to win a battle against those sons of bitches."

Natasha, Sergei, and Ivan looked at each other, nodding their heads in agreement. They knew they had to help out however much they could. One of their friends was going to get seriously hurt the way he was just charging into the fray. And with that, the friends and cousins went in with their pokémon, hoping to put a stop to the madness. As they went for the streets, they saw Justin in the middle of the road, facing the Team Shroud goons with a determined looking face.

The members of Team Shroud stood in front of Justin, their faces hidden behind their black hood and face masks, but still looking at Justin with scorn.

"So, it seems you're meddling in our affairs again, wretch," said what appeared to be the leader of the group. "I hope you're ready to receive punishment. You'll pay for sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong, you Pokephile sympathizer."

"I don't care if I do get hurt in all this. I'm not about to let assholes like you just waltz on in, attacking folks for no good reason other than the despicable shit you're planning," stated Justin. "I got my friends here, and the Police are on their way. Unless you want to stick around and fight I'd say get the hell out of here while you still can."

The friends and their pokémon came up with Justin, their faces defiant in the eyes of Team Shroud. Natasha was glad to be there to stand with Justin, her face serious in her threat to the Team Shroud grunts. Ivan stood next to her, the Incineroar ready to get into a fight if need be. The two Russians were the strongest members of the group, and with this increased confidence, Natasha stepped forward to give the grunts a piece of her mind.

"Do you guys seriously think that attacking Pokephiles will result in anything? If you're going to attack these nice folks, then you're going to have to go through us."

"So, it seems even the Champion from Ritz Regal City is against us," sneered the group leader. "But no matter. We fight to demonstrate our cause. We will fight to show that Team Shroud means what it intends, no matter who gets in the way. And now that you've crossed Team Shroud, we will add you to the list we of people we plan to hunt down.

"Justin Solis is already on that list, and your name will be added as well, Champion."

It was then that Sergei stepped in front of his cousin.

"You'll have to deal with me before reaching my cousins, you fuckers," said Sergei defiantly. The Soldier pulled out a pokémon and brought out his own pokémon partner, a large Ursaring who looked ready to fight. "Ready for this, Pietro? It's been a while since we had a battle, right comrade?"

Pietro the Ursaring nodded at his trainer. He looked fierce and ready to fight and wasn't about to let people who picked the weak get away with their deeds.

The grunt leader just scoffed. "So be it then."

The grunts ordered their pokémon to attack. Their pokémon were a Dusclops, Tyranitar, Skuntank and an Armaldo. The pokémon looked powerful, and for sure would put up a severe fight. The Tyranitar prepared a Hyper Beam move while the Dusclops was readying a Shadow Ball, all while the Skuntank was getting ready to launch a Sludge Bomb and Armaldo using Stone Edge. When these four moves were launched, the team and their pokémon jumped out of the way to dodge them, with the moves completely missing the team.

Ivan hopped high into the air and spinning around to use Darkest Lariat. He smashed into the Tyranitar, dealing moderate amounts of damage while the other pokémon used their own moves on the others. Ivan focused entirely on Tyranitar, as it seemed to be the strongest adversary pokémon. Though Darkest Lariat affected the large kaiju pokémon, it was when he used Cross Chop that he dealt devastating amounts of damage despite the Pokémon's thick armor and high defense. The large pokémon was knocked back, and even when it retaliated with a Stone edge of its own, the ever-quick Incineroar managed to avoid it entirely.

"Damn it, you're strong, I'll tell you that," said the Tyranitar to its opponent, taking a kneel after receiving two heavy hits. "How in the hell can you hit so hard? Hardly anyone can make me flinch."

"Huh, that is because Ivan hit harder than most pokémon," snickered Ivan. "And speaking of hit, it is rather cold right now. How about Ivan make you warm, no?"

Ivan used Flare Blitz, surrounding his body in fire as he charged right at the larger pokémon. The Incineroar crashed into the Tyranitar, engulfing the pokémon in flames. Though his opponent was a fire-resistant rock type, the flames were so intense and burned so hot that the pokémon consumed in fire couldn't withstand them. When the flames died down, the large rock monster clutched its body as the burn left behind left it in pain.

"I'm not going down so easy," said the Tyranitar, standing defiantly even though it was injured.

It was then that a second, even thicker accented Russian voice came from the side.

"Then how about hit from big bear, then."

Pietro the Ursaring came out of nowhere, using the move Hammer Arm to finish off the large pokémon. The Ursaring swing his arm with such force that he when it connected with the large kaiju Pokémon's armor it blasted dust all around. When the dust settled, the Tyranitar stood standing for a few moments before collapsing to the ground, completely down for the count.

The Team Shroud squad leader, who owned the Tyranitar, looked at Ivan and Natasha in shock. He never expected his super strong pokémon to be taken out so easily. Pietro and Sergei were also a force to be reckoned with, and seeing how his partner was taken out, his confidence began to falter.

"H-h-how?" said the grunt as he recalled his pokémon to its Pokéball.

One look at the other grunts and he saw that their pokémon were also defeated, having been taken out by the Pokephile friends and their pokémon. It seemed their luck had just run out. And off in the distance, the sound of police sirens could be heard. Without wasting a moment, the grunts turned and ran.

"Y-y-you'll regret this!" cried out the leader as they all made a beeline for freedom.

In moments more, the police finally arrived in squad cars and in motorcycles, releasing pokémon like Arcanine, Stoutland, Luxray, and Boltund while also giving chase armed with clubs and batons. Some of the police officers stood around the area, tending to the Pokephile protestors who were injured from the attack and taking detailed notes from the friends.

One familiar face came up to take testimony, walking up to the friends to take notes.

Detective Jacob Lombardy walked up to the Pokephiles with notebook and pencil in hand. He was wearing a black trench coat, black button suit underneath with a red tie, and a black fedora hat with a brown band on the brim. The young detective was with his pokémon partner, Lucille the Lucario, and she too was also surveying the situation.

"We came as quickly as we could, folks. When I heard that Team Shroud was at it again, I rallied my men and came rushing," he said with a concerned smile. He then looked at the Pastor's son. "Justin, thanks for giving me a call. I've been hot on the tail of these scumbags, but they've always seemed to slip away. They're like Rattata, and just like rats they're complete vermin."

Natasha walked up to the Detective to give her part of the testimony, as did Sergei. Detective Lombardy was especially surprised to see Natasha, though he was thankful for her part in the battle.

"I'm glad you gave these bastards a beating, Miss Ivanovna," said the Detective. "I'm sure that these guys were a joke for you to take on."

Ivan, after finishing scanning the area for more trouble, walked over to Pietro to wish his old friend a good welcome.

"Dobro pozhalovat, my old comrade," said Ivan. "It is long while since we last fight together, no? You are still as strong as ever."

Pietro looked at his old friend with cheery eyes, speaking with an even thicker Russian accent than the already Russian Incineroar.

"Dobro pozhalovat, my friend," replied Pietro. "It is too long since we fight together. It feel good to give bad guys a piece of my mind and taste of my fist."

The other pokémon came up to Ivan and Pietro, with Camilla especially taken to the strength of the two Russian pokémon. Once more, she was entrance by their thick accents.

The day was done, and Halloween was coming to an end. The friends returned to what remained of the party, with most of the people who were brave enough to flee were already gone. The party was over, and the remaining food on the grill was starting to burn. With police swarming the surrounding area on the hunt for Team Shroud or taking testimony from witnesses, the holiday was officially ruined.

But Natasha honestly had an exciting time. It wasn't often that she and Sergei fought side by side, and Pietro proved to be just as strong a fighter as Ivan. The rest of the night would be spent cleaning up the party and drinking a few more beers and beverages before the night would end. Midnight soon came, and with it would come the 1st of November. Halloween was dead, both figuratively and literally, and there wouldn't be much more partying to do. Once 12:30 came around, the friends decided to go their separate ways. Justin and Kiara walked back to their home, leaving the next-door neighbors Saria and Jason with the Russians.

Soon even Natasha, Sergei, Pietro, and Ivan would return back home. After giving Saria and Jason their goodbyes the group went for home. Partway through the walk, Natasha started hugging Ivan, and the brawny cat returned the affection. It was hard for her not to feel proud of how hard he fought. It felt nice to fight for a cause and save people from being hurt.

But Natasha started thinking about the context of the recent fight, what it was all about, and why it happened. Did Team Shroud honestly think that they could get away with this? And why would they go attack defenseless people like this, people without a pokémon to defend themselves with? Was Poképhilia so bad that they'd resort to this low? If they would willingly do this, then what else would they be capable of? Who else would they aim to target? All of these questions made her ponder, and she couldn't come up with a good answer. She remembered the grunt leader say that now she was under their list of people to hunt down. Though she was worried, she knew Ivan would do his best to protect her. Still, being on a criminal organization's shit list wasn't very comforting. She knew that she'd have to be careful.

Natasha looked up at Ivan's face and saw how sincere he was. He was good pokémon, someone who cared for her deeply. He would never allow anyone to hurt her. He would always remain by her side. It was so comforting to have him with her. She hoped to one day reward Ivan for all of his hard work. He deserved a treat, though she didn't know what to give him. And as she kept hugging him, she felt just how warm and comforting his body was. If she ever decided to become a Pokephile, then she'd love to do it with him. She'd love to make him one very happy cat.

And with the night coming to an end, the four finally arrived back at home. There was still more celebrating to do in these coming days. The Day of the Dead was coming up, and so would Thanksgiving and many more celebrations.

For now, it was time to go to bed and rest. Today had been a tiring day. Right now, the Wrestling Champion and the Cat that Loves to Fight would sleep their worries and troubles away...