Chapter 23
Back at the Wild Area, Serena finds a beautiful Milotic and the Milotic likes to dance, so she decide to show some dance moves to her and eventually captures her in the end.
Ash and Gloria decide to have a mock trade since she has a Gurdurr and Ash has a Boldore, they evolve their Pokemon into Gigalith and Conkeldurr in order to have more Pokemon to battle.
Gloria also trains a lot with her Woobat and it eventually evolves into Swoobat with the max friendship. As for Ash, he finds a Steelix roaming around and he uses Pignite to battle. Pignite evolves into Emboar and defeats the high leveled Steelix with the Fire Punch. And then Ash captures it.
Serena also wants Ash to help her with the Pumpkaboo, and she helps her by trading and then it evolves into a Gourgeist. And then during the training, they manage to evolve all the Eevee with the stones they find and the happiness they get.
When they arrive at Hammerlocke, they are stopped by the staff member. "Ah so you are Gym Challengers, right? Allow me to check your Gym Badges." He sees Ash's, Marnie's, and Gloria's. All of them have 5 badges, and then he says, "It is confirmed that you've defeated five Gym Leaders, including the leader of Motostoke and Dustill! I wish you the best of luck in your future battles."
Just then, Bede also shows up and he says, "Oh, it's you...I doubt Hop will be coming."
"What? What did you do to him?" Gloria asks.
"It's only natural. After such a humiliating defeat, there's no way he could look the Champion in the eye." Bede says. "And I am sure he'll withdraw from the challenge."
"So you beat him, huh?" Ash says. "I kinda thought that it would be happen."
Marnie says, "Aren't you worried?"
"Well, to be honest, he is strong, so he might not withdraw from the challenge." Ash says as the girls nod. Bede just shows the badges to the staff and enters the Hammerlocke.
"Anyway, I have a meeting with the chairman, so I must excuse myself." Bede leaves the group as Alice sighs, "I really don't like his all high and mighty attitude."
"Yeah, but we can't focus on him now." Ash says as they see Bede talking to Oleana and Rose.
"Mr. Chairman. I've been collecting both Wishing Stars and Gym Badges as fast as I can!" Bede says.
"Good work, Bede." Oleana says. "I am glad you haven't forget that it was the chairman who endorsed you."
"If I gather enough Wishing Stars, that'll help solve the problem that's been bothering you, right? Mr. Chairman?"
"Oh, it is not just about me. It's for the future of the whole Galar Region." Rose says. "And we'll need more than just Wishing Stars. We need a powerful Pokemon Trainer, too-someone like the Champion."
"With all due respect, sir, I was able to show Hop, one of the Champion-endorsed Trainers, just how outclassed he was. I am sure I'll be able to defeat the Champion. No, I WILL defeat the Champion!" Bede says.
Rose smiles at him and says, "That's the spirit! It takes healthy competition to really keep the Gym Challenge energized!"
"Challenger Bede, there is something I wish to discuss with you." Oleana says. "Do you have a moment?"
As Oleana takes Bede away, Rose notices Ash and his friends. "I hope you were listening, Ash. Gloria. Oh even Marnie has joined your group?"
They nod as Rose says, "As you know, Wishing Stars are those mysterious stones that are even attached to your Dynamax Bands. There's more to Wishing Stars than just making your Pokemon into giants, though! They hold far more energy than that! If you're curious, you should head to the stadium. In fact, we should head inside right away."
"The stadium? But isn't this the last gym?" Lillie asks.
"Don't worry about it, I'll even give you a little lesson on how the Galar Region gets its energy." Rose says as they follow him into the stadium.
When they get inside, Rose and Oleana are waiting for them. Rose says, "Hammerlocke's stadium doubles as an Energy Plant." He tells Oleana to show them through her tablet.
"Now have a look at the tablet, I've got all the information you need on it."
After watching the tablet, Rose continues, "Our lives and society require various types of energy sources, such as electricity, natural gas, and water. My associate groups aim to improve everyone's lives by harnessing the power stored in Wishing Stars."
But then Oleana whispers to Rose about something and then Rose says, "Oh! It's time for me to get to work. I should get a move on before Oleana decides to give me another earful."
"Okay..." Ash says.
"Ash, I suggest you guys to head over to the vault next." Rose says. "Just head towrad Route 6 from the stadium, and you should find the vault without any issues!"
Then after bidding farewell, Dawn says, "So we are going to the vault, next?"
"Yeah." Ash says, "We might as well go there so that we can see what it has to offer."
They go left and then they see Leon on the way. Gloria asks, "Leon? What are you doing here?"
"Ah, Ash, Gloria, Dawn, Serena, Lillie and Alice. And it seems like even Marnie has joined your group, huh? Seems you three are doing well collecting Gym Badges." He folds his arms and says, "But Hop...Did something happen with him? He was acting really odd when I ran into him."
"How odd?" Serena asks.
"He took one look at me and immediately was like, "I am so sorry, Lee!" It might be the first time I've heard him apologize for anything, and I've no idea what it was for!" Leon sighs.
"Maybe he's feeling down because he's had some hard losses in battle?" Marnie asks.
"What do you mean?" Leon asks.
"Well, you know Bede, right? The trainer that endorsed by Chairman Rose." Ash says. "We managed to defeat him, so Hop thinks that he can as well, but he lost to him."
"I see. At least I've got you to keep an eye on him. You will look out for Hop, won't you? As his rivals." Leon asks as they nod. Leon looks at the watch and says, "Blast, look at the time. Nearly forgot my meeting with the chairman. That Oleana really lets me hear it when I'm late! Now if only I could remember which way to go..."
Leon turns to Gloria, "Anyway, I'd say that you should go and say hello to Raihan while you're here, Gloria."
"Him? Why should I meet that guy?" Gloria asks.
"He's the greatest rival I've got and the final hurdle you'll have to face in the Gym Challenge." Leon says. "He should still be around the vault, if you hurry. It's down that way-on the way to Route 6."
After Leon leaves, Gloria says, "Great rival, huh? More like great annoyance..."
"You know Raihan?" Ash asks.
"He is also one of the reason I want to take part in the Gym Challenge." Gloria says. "Ever since he goes out on a journey, he hasn't return home ever since, what kind of brother is he that does that?"
"So you are related?" Marnie asks as she nods. "And he is the worst brother I have. Even Leon has come back to his home." Gloria says.
On the way, they find a cafe and they decide to have some drink. But when they find the sweets, there are Strawberry, Berry, Love, Star, Clover, Flower and Ribbon. Alice says, "Ash, these sweets are the ones that can help evolving the Milcery. Why don't we take them?"
"Sure, since we all have one, it is better that we get some." Ash says as the others nod.
Once they get the sweets, they go outside and go to the vault. And then Raihan is there waiting for them.
"Oh! If it isn't little Gloria, huh?" Raihan says, "You got endorsed by Leon, it sure is a good feet." Then he starts to rub her hair.
"Stop embarrassing me, Raihan!" Gloria yells at him and then she says, "Geez, what are you doing, you haven't called Mom ever since you leave our house and start the journey."
"And that I should apologize. I wanted to call after I defeat Leon, but I lost, and I was to sad to call." Raihan frowns. "But if Leon himself recognized your potential...then I guess you'll grow into quite the Trainer."
He then notices the others, who is frozen like a stone after seeing the sibling scene. Raihan says, "And you must be Prince Ash and Marnie. You two are quite famous as well."
"Um thanks." Ash says.
"And who might you ladies be?" Raihan asks.
After introducing themselves, Raihan nods and says, "All the same, though, anyone wanting to challenge the mighty Raihan has to prove they're up to it by earning 17 badges first."
"Yeah, we know that already." Gloria rolls her eyes. "We just want to see the vault."
"Ah, so you're here to see our treasures, are you? Gaining a better understanding of Pokemon by studying history certainly isn't a bad idea." Raihan says. "I like your spirits. Follow me, why don't you?"
As they follow him into the vault, they see a lot of trophies in the room with some postcards. Raihan stops and says, "By the way, let me spare you one of my League Cards."
He gives them the League cards, and then Gloria says, "The most skilled Gym Leader, huh? So much like you."
Ash says, "But adopting a battle style where you utilizes weather effects to the fullest, that is cool." Lillie says.
"Not to mention that you are also a selfie taker?" Ash asks as he nods.
"Now on you go! If it's the vault you want, it's up those stairs there." Raihan leads them to the stairs as they climb up. When they get to the highest floor, they see four paintings and Sonia, who is standing there looking at them.
"Hey, Sonia." Ash greets her.
"Oh, you're here." Sonia says. "Brilliant, aren't they? It's great that there are still treasured tapestries that can tell us of Galar history."
"Yeah, but what does those pictures mean?" Marnie asks.
Sonia leads them to the first picture, and she says, "The two youths watching a Wishing Star." Then she moves to the second one. "A disaster occurs...The two bewildered youths." The third one she says, "The youths looking on at the sword and shield that stop the disaster." The fourth one says, "The youths being crowned."
Sonia says, "These tapestries tell the story of the creation of a kingdom in Galar. Say, what sticks out to you most about them?"
"There are two heroes?" Ash asks.
"Bang on! The statue at that hotel in Motostoke only had one hero, no matter how you slice it. But here, we clearly have two youths."
"What about the Darkest Day?" Gloria asks.
"Right? That's got to be it. The story of the black storm that bolted out the skies was passed on through the years as a tale of disaster...that's what the Darkest Day is."
Sonia wonders, "Was there really only one hero, or were there two? And what even caused the Darkest Day?" She turns to the group. "Thanks for letting me bounce some ideas off you. I think I've got some theories now. I'm going to research the tapestries a tad more, but you have your Gym Challenge, right? I am cheering for you, so I hope to see more of your wins!"
After bidding farewell to Sonia, Alice asks, "So are those two heroes your family ancestors? Since this royalty here is Ketchum."
"I don't know. In fact, I didn't know about my history when I arrived here." Ash says.
Then Raihan comes and says, "The tapestries in the vault depict the heroes of the Galar region's past. I suppose if we've got any modern hero, it'd have to be our Champion, Leon. Listen up. Your goal is to defeat that superstar Leon. So go conquer Route 6 and train yourself up along the way to Stow-on-Side."
"Sure." Ash says as he bid farewell to him.
They decide to have a rest in the city for now, so they start their training. And since Milcery evolves from the sweets they have, so they decide to try it out, and they have 9 kinds of different evolutions.
Alcremie: The Cream Pokemon: Fairy Type. Evolved from from Milcery while holding a sweet item when the Trainer strikes a Victory Pose after spinning. The moment that it evolved, it took on different flavors through the sweet it is holding. This is because of the way its cells spontaneously shifted during evolution.
They check out the Pokemon and Ash says, "So we tried last night and yesterday's day time, there seems to be 9 different bodies and seven different decorations."
"Yeah. It has to be the Pokemon who has the most forms." Gloria says.
Yesterday when they check out the Alcremie evolutions, they also find a boy who asked toborrow the Applin when he and Gloria are walking together. Ash lends him his and then he tries to give it to his girlfriend, who is going to overseas. But the girl asks if the Applin is caught by himself, and he honestly replied that it isn't. But the girl decides to wait for him to capture his own, as the boy is excited. After the girl leaves, the boy returns the Applin and also gives them a Tart Apple and a Sweet Apple as thanks.
Gloria says, "That was so romantic, right? Ash?"
Ash nods and says, "Gloria, what are you thinking?"
Gloria sighs and says, "To be honest, I was really jealous of how you and Alice were close and even those other girls we have traveled with it seems like they know you really well, but I didn't."
Gloria says, "I thought that if I won, I could at least gain your attention. But in the end, I start to ask myself if this is the right thing to do..."
Ash looks at Gloria and says, "Gloria. It is true that some of the girls know me well, and they also even loved me. But...I am sure that they will like to share with you as well."
"What?" Gloria asks. "You mean...you already have your own harem?"
"Yeah, but I want to know, do you agree to join my harem?" Ash asks with smile.
Gloria nods and says, "You don't know how happy I can have your love. Sure I want to." Gloria says as she hugs him. Then Ash decides to give out the Orange Ketchum Gem to her, making her the fourth girl in the harem.
After that, Ash decides to give Gloria the Sweet Apple while Gloria gives Ash the Tart Apple they have gotten from the boy, they evolve their Pokemon in the end.
Flapple: The Apple Wing Pokemon: Grass and Dragon Type. Evolved from Applin when exposed to a Tart Apple. It ate a sour apple, and that induced its evolution. In its cheeks, it stores an acid capable of causing chemical burns.
Appletun: The Apple Nectar Pokemon: Grass and Dragon Type. Evolved from Applin when exposed to a Sweet Apple. Eating a sweet apple caused its evolution. A nectarous scent wafts from its body, luring in the bug Pokémon it preys on.
"Thank you Ash. This is the best day." Gloria says.
"No problem. Now we should go back or everyone is waiting for us." Ash says as they walk towards the hotel.
Here is the new chapter, and this one is for the vault and also Gloria adding into the Harem. I know some of the people are asking the harem, but I have decided that Ash will only have seven, and I won't add more to it. So I am sorry about this.
Ash's Pokemon with him: The ones you know, Corvisquire, Thievul, Thwackey, Barraskewda, Gyarados, Ninetales, Hitmonlee, Carkoal, Meowth, Espeon, Leafeon, Alcremie (Vanilla Cream, Strawberry Sweet), Alcremie (Rainbow Swirl, Star Sweet), Spritzee, Applin, Farfetch'd, Basculin, Vileplume, Ninjask, Hateena, Sawk, Sizzlipede, Combee, Gallade, Steelix
Alice's Pokemon with her: Drizzile, Greedent, Dubwool, Wooloo x29, Boltund, Eldegoss, Sizzlipede, Diglett, Pikachu, Glaceon, Alcremie (Ruby Cream, Love Sweet), Alcremie (Ruby Swirl, Love Sweet), Toxel, Basculin, Salandit, Impidimp. Combee
Gloria's Pokemon with her: Raboot, Dottler, Drednaw, Liepard, Unfezant, Trubbish, Klink, Conkeldurr, Drillbur, Swoobat, Joltik, Ferroseed, Jolteon, Alcremie (Salted Cream, Flower Sweet), Applin, Cinccino, Musharna, Stunfisk, Throh, Litwick
Dawn's Pokemon with her: The ones you know, Noctowl, Stunky, Hitmontop, Cherrim, Roserade, Flareon, Alcremie (Matcha Cream, Berry Sweet), Wobbuffet, Drifloon, Chinchou, Bellossom, Xatu, Gastrodon, Shuckle, Croagunk, Sudowoodo, Quagsire
Serena's Pokemon with her: The ones you know, Linoone, Ludicolo, Shiftry, Diggersby, Gourgeist, Electrike, Vaporeon, Alcremie (Lemon Cream, Ribbon Sweet), Alcremie (Caramel Swirl, Ribbon Sweet)Swirlix, Meowstic, Shedinja, Claydol, Binacle, Barboach, Gardevoir, Milotic
Lillie's Pokemon with her: The ones you know, Butterfree, Vikavolt, Hitmonchan, Machop, Mudbray, Ribombee, Goldeen, Umbreon, Alcremie (Mint Cream, Clover Sweet), Stufful, Wishiwashi, Tsareena, Arcanine, Wimpod, Koffing, Cloyster