Vito's Empoleon

**Vito's Empoleon** (Japanese: **ビトのエンペルト** *Bito's Emperte*) is the first Pokémon that Vito was known to possess, and well as his main battling Pokémon.

## **New Era**

### **Sinnoh**

Empoleon was first seen when Vito chose him as his last Pokémon during his battle against Dwayne, going up against Dwayne's Eevee. Eevee charges with Swift as Empoleon uses Hydro Cannon to block. Eevee dodges the blast as Empoleon rushes with Steel Wing, and Eevee counters with Double-Edge. Empoleon uses Steel Wing again as Eevee repeats Double-Edge. Eevee lands a few hits before getting knocked back. Empoleon fires Hyper Beam as Eevee gets hit, flying up in the air, seemingly defeated. Dwayne's plea for courage snaps Eevee back to action, ready to continue. Knowing that Empoleon is vulnerable after firing Hyper Beam, Eevee uses Copycat, allowing her to fire off a Hyper Beam of her own, knocking out Empoleon and giving Dwayne the win.

Empoleon was seen training with Vito and Heracross on Iron Island. Their training was cut short when Team Galactic's machine caused it to go reckless, due to it being part Steel-type. It later appeared with its Trainer, where it was freed from Team Galactic's control. Empoleon and Vito then bid Dwayne farewell and continued on their way.

Empoleon was used in the Festival Battle Challenge, a tournament marking the end of the Twinleaf Festival whose winner gets a chance to battle Palmer. Vito was hoping to have a battle with his father. However, he and Empoleon were defeated by Dwayne in the final round. Later, Empoleon and Vito battled Dwayne again, with Empoleon facing off against Dwayne's newly-obtained Gible. Empoleon launches Drill Peck, and Gible tries to counter with Rock Smash, but Empoleon easily pushes Gible back. Both Pokémon repeat their attacks, this time getting a more even match. Gible jumps to dodge a Steel Wing, but it gets hit anyway. When Empoleon uses another Steel Wing, Gible Digs to dodge it before following Empoleon and jumping up to hit with Rock Smash, but a Steel Wing tosses Gible back. Empoleon launches Hydro Cannon, which Gible digs to dodge. However, another Hydro Cannon is launched into the hole, flushing Gible out.

Gible then attempts a Draco Meteor without Dwayne's order. The meteor fails and descends towards Empoleon, which it knocks aside. Empoleon prepares a Hyper Beam, but Gible fires Dragon Pulse, forcing Empoleon to jump and cancel the Hyper Beam. Gible is exhausted and slumps as Empoleon knocks out Gible with Hyper Beam, giving Vito his first win against Dwayne.

Soon afterwards, Vito and Dwayne met each other again as Dwayne was traveling to Sunyshore City, and Vito finally met Lazuli for the first time, and excitedly challenges her to a battle, which Lazuli declines, as she wanted to prepare her Pokémon for the Sinnoh League and was refusing all challenges, and Vito decided to battle Dwayne instead. It is decided the match will be composed of three one-on-one battles. Vito and Dwayne decide to bring out their Pokémon at the same time. Throwing the Poké Balls, Vito sends out Empoleon first while Dwayne starts with Monferno. Vito is happy, knowing that as Empoleon is a Water-type, it will have the advantage over the Fire-type Monferno. However, Dwayne and Monferno are ready to show Vito a Pokémon battle is about a lot more than just type and with that, the battle begins.

Vito starts off by having Empoleon use Hydro Cannon, and Dwayne responds by having Monferno dodge it and use Mach Punch. Monferno quickly evades the Hydro Cannon and lands a direct hit on Empoleon, leaving Vito astonished at Monferno's high speed. Meanwhile, Lazuli is walking past the battle area and, unnoticed, decides to stop and watch when she sees Dwayne is using Monferno. Dwayne boasts that with the high speed of Mach Punch, Monferno can easily overcome the type-disadvantage it has over Empoleon. Vito decides to try Drill Peck, but Dwayne tells Monferno to use Dig, and the Playful Pokémon is able to dodge the Flying-type move. This leaves Vito even more frustrated, especially when Monferno emerges from the ground and lands another hard hit on Empoleon. Dwayne comments on how this kind of fluid battling is just what is expected of Monferno as it goes in for another Mach Punch. Vito has Empoleon use Hydro Cannon, and while this time it hits, it lands at such close range that Monferno is sent flying into some nearby trees. Dwayne gets worried, while Vito curses himself, knowing he used far too much power against Monferno. Dwayne starts calling for Monferno, but there is no response.

Just then, a plastic capsule flies out of the air, heading towards Dwayne, and Vito calls for him to look out. However it is no use, and upon catching up to him, it seals itself around him, trapping him inside. Vito is about to go and help when suddenly another capsule appears, and Dwayne screams for him to run for it. Vito tries to escape, but the capsule is too fast and he gets trapped. Empoleon tries using Drill Peck to free Dwayne and Vito, but it is no use. Just then, Dwayne recognizes the figures behind the attack, being the Pokémon Pinchers, and Dwayne curses them for not giving up on their ridiculous plans, and the Pokémon Pinchers claim that because Dwayne ruined their chances with Team Galactic, guaranteeing their chances of moving up in the criminal underworld, they would take him out to prove their worth. Empoleon uses Hydro Cannon. However, the Pinchers's machine blocks the attack with a barrier and manage to grab ahold of Empoleon and places it inside a cage underneath their machine. Dwayne sends out Happiny and has her use Pound to try to break the capsule, but even Happiny's strength cannot break it and the capsule is sent spinning instead. The Pinchers boast that the capsules are unbreakable from the inside and prepare to make their getaway.

Suddenly, a pillar of fire emerges from the nearby trees, transforms itself into an extra-powerful Flame Wheel, and heads towards their mecha. It circles around, leaving Vito confused and Dwayne worried about what this might indicate. The Flame Wheel then goes towards Dwayne, and is able to smash open the capsule trapping him. The Flame Wheel then lands and Monferno emerges, but his eyes are colored pink, confirming that Monferno has accessed Blaze. Monferno then screams with fury as powerful flames emerge from its tail. Vito asks what is happening and Dwayne explains that Blaze is Monferno's Ability, which kicks in when Monferno's endurance is low and it is under stress. As a result, Monferno's Fire-type moves get a power-up, and Vito realizes that this happened because of the Hydro Cannon.

The pinchers are unable to believe their luck and decide to get Monferno too. As Monferno starts pounding its chest and screaming in pure fury, Dwayne runs to his Pokémon and tries holding it like he did before when it went into the same rage before. However, Monferno is a lot stronger than it was before and furiously sends Dwayne flying back. The pinchers take the chance to grab it, and one of the arms manages to catch Monferno, but this isn't enough and Monferno's sheer power easily destroys the hand that is holding it. It then powers up a Flame Wheel and heads towards the villains. Dwayne tries to block it and reminds the out-of-control Monferno that Empoleon is still trapped and could get hurt. However, Monferno is unable to listen and hits Dwayne before continuing on and hitting the machine, causing an explosion. Monferno then comes around and uses Mach Punch, completely destroying the machine's upper-level and sending the pinchers crashing through numerous trees, knocking them out and leaving them seriously injured. By now, Monferno is completely out of control, and while the controls of the mecha were destroyed, the main body survived and Empoleon is still trapped. Without anyone controlling it, the legs start to buckle, threatening to crush the Pokémon still in the cage. Dwayne prepares to send out a Pokémon to help, when Lazuli suddenly arrives and sends out her Electabuzz. She has it use Protect to support the cage, amazing Dwayne.

Unfortunately, Monferno decides to destroy the mecha completely, powers up a Flame Wheel, and damages one of the legs, putting the Pokémon in far more danger. Monferno circles around and prepares for another hit, but Dwayne is determined to save Monferno and Empoleon. He intercepts the Flame Wheel, grabbing Monferno when it emerges, and holds on tight. Dwayne begs Monferno to remember the promise he made back when it was a Chimchar and he took it under his wing after Lazuli released it: that they would become stronger together. As the flames emerging from Monferno surround both it and Dwayne, he begs it not to allow itself to be swallowed up by Blaze's power, but instead to try and control it, because if it can, then it can become even more powerful. Lazuli looks on in amazement at what Dwayne is willing to endure to calm his Pokémon down. Suddenly, Electabuzz's Protect fails, and the mecha starts to collapse, endangering Electabuzz as well as the other Pokémon. Monferno, now back in control, powers up a Flame Wheel, and races towards the cage getting underneath and supporting it. As it supports the cage, Monferno suddenly evolves into Infernape. Dwayne has Infernape throw the cage into the air, and then has it destroyed with Mach Punch. This proves to be no problem for the powerful Pokémon as it frees Empoleon. When Empoleon starts to fall, Infernape absorbs him into a Flame Wheel to allow him to land safely. Dwayne congratulates Infernape, and Empoleon thanks Infernape for saving him.

Empoleon's next appearance came where it got Vito through the preliminaries of the Lily of the Valley Conference after defeating another Trainer's Nosepass. Empoleon was Vito's final Pokémon in his battle against Lazuli. It battled against Lazuli's Magmortar, where it managed to serve some damage to Magmortar, only for Magmortar to survive the attack. Both sides then recalled their Pokémon. It was sent out again to fight against Lazuli's Ursaring, where it was able to hit a Focus Blast back to Ursaring before Lazuli recalled Ursaring for her newly evolved Electivire. Empoleon eventually activated Torrent after a long battle and then used Hydro Cannon. However, Electivire used Protect and was soon defeated by a powerful Thunder, making Vito lose the battle.

## **Personality and Characteristics**

Empoleon is considered to be Vito's most trusted Pokémon, as Empoleon managed to win many Gym matches that Vito participated in. Empoleon has even held its ground against stronger opponents, especially the ones with the type advantage. Empoleon, while completely loyal to Vito, sometimes shows embarrassment with his Trainer's spastic tendencies, shown when Vito lost his cool over not catching a Gible.

## **Moves used**

 A **†** shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.