Chapter 22
With Nora's help, they successfully arrive at the Dustill Gym Stadium. Nora says, "Now I will wait for you at the battlefield, I am sure that you will need to carry on the Gym Mission first."
"We will." Gloria says. "So Ash, Marnie, can I go first?"
"Sure." Marnie says as then they bid farewell to Nora, and Gloria goes to the counter to find the staff.
"Here is your uniform." Gloria takes the uniform and then go change, then she is shown wearing just like Nora without the adventurer's hat and the sword by the side, and then number is her 890.
She walks towards the Mission field as she sees that there are 3 Rhyhorn and three trainers in front of the Rhyhorn. Dan is there waiting for Gloria and he says, "The Dustill Gym Challenge is this. There are rocky paths that need Rhyhorn to pass through. And you can choose one of the three Rhyhorn here, but there will be a Gym Trainer that also wants the same Rhyhorn. Then you have to battle it."
"I see." Gloria says.
"Now let the Gym Challenge begin!" Dan yells as Gloria starts to pick a Rhyhorn.
In the audience seats, Serena says, "I think I am glad that I am not the one who is challenging..."
"I can tell." Ash says.
Gloria then battles three trainers for the best Rhyhorn and pass through the area three times, then Dan yells, "Gym Mission Cleared!"
Gloria pets the Rhyhorn and says, "You did a good job." Rhyhorn just nods at her as Gloria walks towards the stadium.
As she arrives, Nora says, "Welcome Challenger, I am Nora, the Gym Leader of Dustill. Since you beat my sister Namie in the Wedgehurst Gym. I have been looking forward to your battle."
"The feeling is mutual." Gloria says.
"But now, let's begin our battle. I will give you a battle that quakes your mind." Nora says as she throws her hat to the ground and takes out a Great Ball.
She sends out Onix as her first Pokemon. Gloria says, "Let's try this one out. Throh!"
As the fighting type Pokemon appears on the field, the match starts. "Let's show your move, Rock Tomb!"
"Detect!" Gloria yells as the Fighting Pokemon protects itself from the upcoming rocks. "Now use Vital Throw!"
"Dig to the ground." Nora says as Onix dodges the attack. Throh jumps down and turns around to see where the Pokemon is, and then it charges the Throh into the air and knocking him down to the ground.
"Are you okay?" Gloria asks Throh, who nods back. "Good, Close Combat now!"
"Rock Polish!" Nora says. But it is too late, as the attack deals a lot of damage to the Rock Snake Pokemon, as it faints.
"Return." Nora says, "It seems like I underestimated you. But it is time to get serious. Vibrava!"
As the dragon Pokemon appears, Gloria says, "A Dragon Type..."
"Hyper Voice." Nora says and the Pokemon screeches really hard, causing the Throh to faint immediately.
"Return." Gloria says as she returns the Pokemon. "Go, Milcery!"
As the cream Pokemon appears, Nora says, "I see, you are aiming for the Type Advantage, huh..."
"You bet." Gloria says, "Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Dodge the light and then use Earth Power!"
But Flygon is still hurt by the light from the Pokemon, but it manages to hit Milcery as well.
"Milcery, Attract!" Gloria says, causing Nora to widen her eyes. Vibrava falls in love with the Pokemon.
"Vibrava! Get yourself together!" Nora says in panic.
"Use Draining Kiss." Gloria smirks as the Pokemon gives a kiss to the Vibrava, causing it to faint.
Serena says, "Hey, that move is like the first time Froakie was defeated."
"Yeah." Ash says. "Greninja is still bitter to it, to be honest."
Nora recalls her Pokemon and says, "Stunfisk. You have the honors to battle besides me."
As she sends out the Galarian Stunfisk, she says, "Now show your hardness with your body, and then gets bigger! It's Dynamax time!"
As she recalls her Pokemon and then the Pokeball goes bigger. Stunfisk comes out of it and it roars.
"This is going to be tough..." Gloria sweat drops, "And Milcery is Fairy Type..."
"Max Steelspike." Then Milcery is defeated by the spikes that hits her like hell. Gloria recalls her Pokemon and says, "I'll play in your play ground. Drillbur!"
As the Pokemon is out, Gloria also uses Dynamax. And then both Pokemon exchange their Max Quake, causing the stadium to shake as well as the crowd.
Serena, Alice and Lillie are holding Ash in order not to fall, causing Dawn and Marnie to feel a little jealous. And in the end, Stunfisk is the first one to get back to normal with the quakes.
"Defeat is also a kind of adventure." Nora says. "You win sometimes, you lose sometimes. And that is also where the fun is from. You deserve this badge."
Then Nora gives Gloria the Ground Badge, and she accepts the badge happily.
Marnie is the second one to battle, and she also swift through the gym even though all her Pokemon are Dark Types. Ash is the last one to battle Nora. His outfit is like Marnie and Gloria's, but he has to wear a brown pants beneath the brown shorts.
"Well, Brother. As the royalty of the Galar, people here are eager to see how we battle. So, shall we have our memorable battle?"
"You bet." Ash says. "And I am not going to hold back because you are my sister."
"Likewise. Now Mudsdale is my first Pokemon." As the Pokemon is out, Ash says, "Basculin will be my first choice."
As the Pokemon is out, Mudsdale starts with the High Horse Power, which deals some damage towards Basculin. Basculin uses Scald, not only it hurts the Horse Pokemon, it also leaves a Burn.
"Burned, huh? Static effects are not something to be taken lightly of. Use Double Kick."
Basculin is sent flying into the air, and Ash tells him to use Final Gambit. Causing both Pokemon to faint in the end.
"What just happened?" Marnie asks.
"Final Gambit is a move that deals damage equal to the amount of the HP. But Basculin will fainted after using the move." Lillie says.
"I see." Gloria says.
"A tie, it seems interesting, huh? Rhyhorn, you're next."
As the Pokemon appears, Ash says, "Bayleef, I choose you."
The crowd is amazed at the sight that a Pokemon from other regions appear on the field. But what Bayleef is doing is body slam on Ash. Nora sweat drops at the sight as Ash tells Bayleef to stop and battle.
After the commotion is done, Bayleef uses Vine Whip to stop the Rhyhorn's Take Down. But then it uses Horn Drill, dealing a lot of damage to the Pokemon.
"Bayleef, are you alright?" Ash asks the Pokemon, and as it is fine, it is hit by the Stomp and also Take Down again. Bayleef's determine to win for Ash causes her to evolve into Meganium. Much to everyone's surprise. And then Meganium uses Leaf Storm to finish it off.
"You are awesome, Meganium." Ash hugs the Pokemon, who uses Vine Whip to hug back.
"I see that you have forced me with this. Let me show you the quake of the blade." She suddenly takes out the sword and then throws it into the air. "Sandaconda, you're my hope."
As the sword falls down, the Pokeball attached on it opens and the snake appears. Ash says, "Do you really need to do that?"
Nora picks the sword and says, "It is cool, as an adventurer. Now this hopeful blade will guide me to this victory, it's Gigantamax time!"
She takes the Pokeball from the sword and then recalls her Sandaconda, then it becomes bigger and then it turns into a cyclone.
"What the..." Ash and Meganium are shocked.
"Shake, and tremble." Nora says. "Bringing the sand into the air! G-Max Sandblast!"
Just then, the ground is shaking much fiercer and the rocks are hurting Meganium, causing it to faint in the end.
"I can't see anything..." Alice yells.
"The sandstorm is so strong..." Serena replies.
Ash recalls his Meganium and says, "Greninja, I choose you!"
As the Pokemon appears, Ash says, "We should Dynamax as well."
As Greninja is also as big as the Sandaconda, it uses Max Hailstream first, not only damaging the Pokemon, but also raise the speed. It uses the G-Max Sandblast again, but Greninja dodges it.
"I don't know if it is possible, but I will like to try." Ash says. "Let's go! Greninja, let's become stronger and stronger!"
The crowd are going nuts as the Greninja is now a Dynamax Ash-Greninja. Adam and Delia are watching the match through television, and Adam says, "So Greninja can also do this transformation within the Dynamax Form..."
"That is wonderful news..." Delia says.
And then with the Max Geyser, it causes Sandaconda to faint in the end. Nora can only stay in shock as her Pokemon is defeated. Then she sighs, "Well, you have made a great discovery in the history, a Dynamax form Bond Phenomenon. It has never happened before."
"Yeah..." Ash says. "I didn't try it out as well in the former matches."
"Well, here is your badge." Nora says as she gives him the badge. Ash takes the badge and thanks her.
Once they are back at the reception room, Nora says, "Since you have my badge, then you have finished the first constant Ketchum trio challenge."
"Constant Ketchum Trio Challenge?" Dawn asks. "What is that?"
"It means that the next two gyms are also Ketchum members." Nora says, much to their surprise.
"Are you serious?" Ash says. "You mean...those two are my siblings as well?"
"Yep." Nora says. "But first, you will have to go to Hammerlocke first if you want to face those two, since it is the only way to their gyms."
"I see. We will go there." Gloria says as they bid farewell to Nora.
Now the Ground Type Gym is done. And the next one will be Stow-on-Side Gym with Allister. I hope you like this chapter.
Ash's Pokemon with him: The ones you know, Corvisquire, Thievul, Thwackey, Barraskewda, Gyarados, Ninetales, Hitmonlee, Carkoal, Meowth, Eevee x2, Milcery x2, Spritzee, Applin, Farfetch'd, Basculin, Vileplume, Ninjask, Hateena, Sawk, Sizzlipede, Combee, Gallade
Alice's Pokemon with her: Drizzile, Greedent, Dubwool, Wooloo x29, Boltund, Eldegoss, Sizzlipede, Diglett, Pikachu, Eevee, Milcery x2, Toxel, Basculin, Salandit, Impidimp. Combee
Gloria's Pokemon with her: Raboot, Dottler, Drednaw, Liepard, Unfezant, Trubbish, Klink, Gurdurr, Drillbur, Woobat, Joltik, Ferroseed, Eevee, Milcery, Applin, Cinccino, Musharna, Stunfisk, Throh, Litwick
Dawn's Pokemon with her: The ones you know, Noctowl, Stunky, Hitmontop, Cherrim, Roserade, Eevee, Milcery, Wobbuffet, Drifloon, Chinchou, Bellossom, Xatu, Gastrodon, Shuckle, Croagunk, Sudowoodo, Quagsire
Serena's Pokemon with her: The ones you know, Linoone, Ludicolo, Shiftry, Diggersby, Pumpkaboo, Electrike, Eevee, Milcery x2, Swirlix, Meowstic, Shedinja, Claydol, Binacle, Barboach, Gardevoir
Lillie's Pokemon with her: The ones you know, Butterfree, Vikavolt, Hitmonchan, Machop, Mudbray, Ribombee, Goldeen, Eevee, Milcery, Stufful, Wishiwashi, Tsareena, Arcanine, Wimpod, Koffing, Cloyster