Chapter 33

When they arrive at the Hammerlocke, Opal says, "Hammerlocke-always such a dusty town. Though I suppose some Pokemon prefer it that way."

"You're right, Grandaunt." Ash says. But then they notice Bede standing in front of the stadium, Ash decides to ask him. "Bede?"

Bede turns around and shows his hatred towards him. "Come to gawk at me now that I've had my Challenge Band taken away and my Gym Challenger status revoked?"

"Well, I-"

"Can you really afford to waste time like this?" Bede asks.

"Not really..." Ash says.

"I commend your humility. It is appropriate for a Trainer of your...limited talents." Bede then yells at him. "I'll have you know, though, that I haven't given up! I must become the Champion in order to help out the chairman! I will go and ask him to let me rejoin the Gym Challenge!"

Dawn sighs, "Didn't he realize that the reason he was dropped out of it is because of his doing to destroy the ruins?"

Alice says, "I guess some people don't learn that easily..."

"Hm...that boy..." Everyone then turns to Opal, "Now that's what I would call pink!"

"What? Him?" Gloria asks.

"So sincere and straightforward and yet so twisted and misguided...I like it! That's the kind of thing that gives people some depth!"

Then much to their shock, she throws the umbrella to the ground and she yells, "Time for my Gym mission, child!"

"Huh? Wha-?" Bede is shocked that Opal will rush towards him, Ash is the same, "Grandaunt?"

Opal then checks around his body and keeps says Pink all the time, much to everyone's surprise. "Congratulations, child!"

After calming Opal down, Bede says, "M-Ms. Opal? What in the world has gotten into you?!"

"You were used by Oleana-am I right? You worked so hard to gather Wishing Stars for her, only to have her throw you away like rubbish once she was done with you... Come with me, child. I might be able to help you out."

"So Grandaunt, you found your successor?" Ash asks as she nods.

"Of course, it all depends on how much hard work he's willing to put in, too." Opal says.

Bede looks at her straight and asks, "Are you...Are you testing me?"

Then he smiles, "Very well, I accept! In fact, I plan on making sure you see my full talents and tell me everything you know about the Wishing Stars!"

Serena says, "Well, that is really surprising turn of events."

"Yeah, but at least Ms. Opal is going to change him for the better." Lillie remarks.

Opal says, "Farewell for now. You should head to Generant." Then they leave back to the Ballonlea. Ash says, "Well, that's that I suppose."

Marnie says, "Ash, I want to say thank you for everything back then. Maybe it is time that I give you these." She takes out some League Cards and then gives them to each one. Ash says, "Thank you so much."

"Don't worry." Marnie says. "And I also have these as well."

They are shocked to see that the League Cards are for Bolt and Boltera. "Where did you get these?" Gloria asks.

"Well, they are close friends with my brother, since they have a band together and my brother is the main vocalist." Marnie says.

"Ah, no wonder where I heard the name Piers before." Dawn says. "He is famous along with the guitarists Bolt and Boltera."

"I see." Alice says. But before they are leaving, Alice notices Ash looking at the White Ketchum Gem, she asks, "What's wrong?"

"You see, I only have one gem left, but I am not sure who to give." Ash says. "I love all of you six, but I still think that something is missing."

Alice nods and says, "Don't worry, I am sure that you can find her soon."

Ash nods and thanks her. Then they go to the Wild Area for some Pokemon capturing.

Back in the Wild Area, they decide to go for some Max Raid Battles, and Dawn evolves her Duskull into a Dusclops. She also asks Ash to trade so that she can get a Dusknoir. Then with the Exp. Candies, she also evolves her Croagunk into Toxicroak.

Besides evolving, the group also goes for Pokemon capturing. In the Motostoke Riverbank, Lillie manages to capture a Clefairy, which is the Pokemon that she likes and she refuses to let it evolve like what her mother did, much to everyone's amusement.

Then Gloria goes to capture a Whimsicott in the Stony Wilderness, Ash says, "Strange, only Whimsicott? I thought they usually play with Lilligant, but there are no Lilligant in the Galar Region."

"That sure is strange." Alice says.

Then together with Alice, they capture a Gothirita and a Duosion in the Giant's Cap. And since they are both Psychic Types, they enjoy each other's company as well.

Gloria goes to the Bridge Field and she notices an Alien like appearance. She asks, "Ash, what is that?"

Ash looks at it and he says, "It is an Elgyem. It is a really cool Psychic Pokemon that comes from space."

Marnie asks, "Why do you think so?"

Ash sighs, "Well, because when I was traveling one day, it manages to control all people in the island with its psychic powers."

"That sounds like a scene from a horror movie. But if you say that, does that mean you're not affected?" Gloria asks.

"Well, they say that I am an idiot, which is why I won't be controlled."

"How dare they say that to you?" Serena says as the other girls agree. Ash sighs, "Believe me, I don't know."

Then Gloria captures the Pokemon by using Liepard to battle it. As for Ash, he finds a Skroupi on the way as he captures it, hoping to have a Drapion in the end.

Serena then takes Ash to the Dusty Bowl, since she wants to have a Mawile. So Ash helps her with the capturing, and in the end, he also captures a Sableye. Gloria also captures a Sigilyph in the same area.

"We're almost there." Ash says as they can see the town upahead.

"Yeah, we can finally go to challenge the gym." Gloria says. But then they sense something as they turn around, they see a Lucario standing in front of Ash. "I finally found you."

"Who are you?" Ash asks the Lucario. But as Lucario puts his palm on Ash's, Ash reads the aura and finds that it is the same Riolu he met at the Sinnoh Region.

"Wait, you were the Riolu that was from the Sinnoh? I thought that you were with your carer." Ash says.

"I missed you, so he let me find you." Lucario says. "Our aura is similar, which is why I know you are here."

"Okay..." Ash says as he lets the Pokemon join his team. Dawn asks, "So he was the Lucario?"

"Yeah." Ash nods. "I think I have a strong ally to help me out." Then they walk towards the town to end the capturing for today.

Here is a new chapter, and Bede is taken by Opal for training to be her successor. I hope you like it.

Ash's Pokemon with him: The ones you know, Corvisquire, Thievul, Rillaboom, Barraskewda, Gyarados, Ninetales, Hitmonlee, Carkoal, Perrserker, Espeon, Leafeon, Alcremie (Vanilla Cream, Strawberry Sweet), Alcremie (Rainbow Swirl, Star Sweet), Aromatisse, Flapple, Sirfetch'd, Basculin, Vileplume, Ninjask, Hattrem, Sawk, Centiskorch, Combee, Gallade, Steelix, Heatmor, Yamask, Dracozolt, Cinderace, Phantump, Passimian, Indeedee, Duosion, Skorupi, Sableye, Lucario

Alice's Pokemon with her: Inteleon, Greedent, Dubwool, Wooloo x29, Boltund, Eldegoss, Centiskorch, Dugtrio, Pikachu, Glaceon, Alcremie (Ruby Cream, Love Sweet), Alcremie (Ruby Swirl, Love Sweet), Araquanid, Toxtricity (Low Key Form), Basculin, Salazzle, Morgrem, Vespiquen, Axew, Arctovish, Corsola, Ponyta, Gothirita

Gloria's Pokemon with her: Cinderace, Orbeetle, Drednaw, Liepard, Unfezant, Garbodor, Klink, Conkeldurr, Excadrill, Swoobat, Galvantula, Ferroseed, Jolteon, Alcremie (Salted Cream, Flower Sweet), Appletun, Cinccino, Musharna, Stunfisk, Throh, Litwick, Durant, Maractus, Dracovish, Sinistea, Indeedee, Whimsicott, Elgyem, Sigilyph

Dawn's Pokemon with her: The ones you know, Noctowl, Skuntank, Hitmontop, Cherrim, Roserade, Flareon, Alcremie (Matcha Cream, Berry Sweet), Wobbuffet, Drifblim, Lanturn, Bellossom, Xatu, Gastrodon, Shuckle, Toxicroak, Sudowoodo, Quagsire, Dusknoir, Hippowdon,

Serena's Pokemon with her: The ones you know, Linoone, Ludicolo, Shiftry, Diggersby, Gourgeist, Manectric, Vaporeon, Alcremie (Lemon Cream, Ribbon Sweet), Alcremie (Caramel Swirl, Ribbon Sweet) Slurpuff, Meowstic, Shedinja, Claydol, Binacle, Whiscash, Gardevoir, Milotic, Helioptile, Vibrava, Mawile

Lillie's Pokemon with her: The ones you know, Butterfree, Vikavolt, Hitmonchan, Machamp, Mudsdale, Ribombee, Seaking, Umbreon, Alcremie (Mint Cream, Clover Sweet), Bewear, Wishiwashi, Tsareena, Arcanine, Golisopod, Weezing, Cloyster, Arctozolt, Shiinotic, Oranguru, Clefairy