Chapter 34

Once they arrive at the town, they see a lot of people gathering at a small place with some guitar music. Dawn says, "Wow, what is going on here?"

"It is simple. They are having the performance. Bolt and Boltera." Marnie says.

"Ash! Guys! Over here!" Then they see Hop waving to them. Hop says, "Thank goodness you are here."

"Hey, Hop, did you have the badge?" Ash asks.

"Well...no. This Gym is special, it needs two people to challenge together. I didn't have a partner because I am only one person." Hop says as he rubs his head.

"A Gym Battle that requires two people to challenge...that is really new." Serena says.

"Yeah, but I think that I'll help you." Gloria says.

"You do? Thank you. Gloria." Hop says.

After the music ends and the crowd disperse, Bolt and Boltera also notice the group. "Ah, you are finally here. Gym Challengers." Boltera says. "Marnie, you also come."

"Good to see you again, Boltera, Bolt." Marnie says.

Bolt says, "Hey." He waves his hand and Boltera says, "Sorry for my brother, he seldom talks. But you must be the Gym Challengers endorsed by Leon, right? Hop and Gloria. And you are the prince Ash."

"They nod as Boltera says, "Since there are four of you, it should be better, we will wait for you at the Gym." Then they walk away as Alice says, "So Bolt doesn't speak much?"

Marnie nods and says, "He was traumatized by something else that makes him like that. I don't know what is it, though. And the League Card also says the same thing."

Ash nods and then they go to the Gym Stadium. When they go there, Gloria and Hop are the first ones to enter. The staff says, "Gym Challengers, I see there are two of you, are you ready to challenge the Gym?"

"I am ready, what about you, Gloria?" Hop asks.

"Of course." Gloria replies.

"Good, please change your clothes in the changing room." As the two change their clothes, they wear yellow and purple suit. Then the staff says, "Take these and you will need them." The staff gives them each a headphone.

"I wonder why we need this." Hop says.

Once they go to the mission field, they can see that the place is a stepping keyboard, Dan and the six Gym trainers are standing on top of the stage and Dan says, "Your Gym Mission is this. Teamwork and memorization. In your headphones, we will give you a tune and you have to step on the keyboard with the same notes on top of it. But before you do it, these Gym trainers will try to disturb you so that you will forget. And if you get it wrong, you can listen it again until it is correct. Now let the mission start."

Gloria and Hop hear the same notes in the first round, Hop and Gloria step on the first one together and then they step on the other notes until two gym trainers send out their Pokemon and they fight back. Once they finish it, Hop says, "If we are the same tune, then it should be easy."

"Good, then we just have to memorize some of the notes." Gloria says.

But much to their surprise, in the second round, some of the notes change in the tune as Gloria and Hop has to step on different panels. And for the last one, the two of them have different tune.

Serena says, "It sure is getting harder and harder."

Ash nods and says, "Indeed."

Once Gloria and Hop sit down on the floor after the tiring memorizing challenge, Dan says, "The mission has cleared, now you can face the Gym Leaders."

As they go to the battlefield, they see that Bolt and Boltera are standing at the other side while strumming the guitar, sending cheers to everyone. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I, Boltera and my brother Bolt have been ready for the challenge up ahead."

Then the two of them face Gloria and Hop. "Music is a way to communicate through the souls, and it is why we choose to be Gym leaders together." Boltera says. "And the Pokemon Battle is the same as well, we battle to communicate each other. And let's do it."

Then they send out two Pokemon, Dracozolt and Arctozolt. Hop says, "The two of them are Fossil Pokemon, Gloria, let's give it all we got."

"Yeah." Then they send out Trevenant and Stunfisk. Boltera and Bolt suddenly plays a tune, and then the both of them use Bolt Beak together, giving damage to the two Pokemon.

"Wait, you communicate through Pokemon through a tune?" Hop asks.

Boltera says, "Of course, this is our battling style. Since my brother can't speak, so we use the tune as a command, different tune for different moves."

Gloria says, "I see, Hop, tell your Pokemon to use Phantom Force."

"Okay." As Trevenant goes into the shadows, Stunfisk uses Earthquake to deal some damage to the two Pokemon. "Nice teamwork." Lillie cheers in the stands.

"Well, Hop and Gloria have the rivalry back when they are little." Alice says. "Their admiration for Ash and Leon really sparks their fire between them."

"I see." Ash says.

Trevenant gets hit by the Dragon Pulse, but thanks to Horn Leech on Arctozolt, it gets some health back. And Stunfisk uses Snap Trap on Dracozolt, sending some damage towards the Pokemon in the end. Bolt and Boltera then starts playing a strange tune that has a verb, and then Dracozolt uses Dragon Rush while Arctozolt uses Blizzard to freeze the move. Marnie gasps, "The Ice Dragon charge..."

"Ice Dragon Charge?" Dawn says. "It is like my Ice Chandelier and my Ice Flare..."

Serena says, "Amazing." Then they see that both Stunfisk and Trevenant get serious damage. But thanks to Trevenant's Confuse Ray, they manage to confuse the two Pokemon and then Gloria delivers the final blow with the Flash Cannon.

Boltera says, "Not bad, it seems like we are going to get serious, right? Bro?"

Bolt nods as he sends out a Togedemaru. "Oh? You want me to use it?" He nods and then Boltera sends out a Pikachu.

"A Pikachu?"Hop is confused. But Gloria says, "This isn't going to get well."

And Pikachu uses Dig to defeat Stunfisk, while Togedemaru uses Pin Missile to defeat Trevenant. So Gloria and Hop send out their next Pokemon, Cinderace and Rillaboom.

Just then, the two of them start to get wild as the music goes really hyped. And the fans are seen to jump up and down. Lillie says, "Oh, what is going on?"

Marnie says, "There is only one thing that goes with this tune...Dynamaxing...or Gigantamaxing!"

Then after a jump, Bolt continues to play while Boltera recalls her Pikachu as the ball becomes bigger, she tosses it to reveal a Gigantamax Pikachu.

"A Gigantamax Pikachu..." Hop says. Gloria says, "Hop, you go use Dynamax. I'll take care of Togedemaru."

Hop nods and then he also Dynamax his Rillaboom. Cinderace uses Blaze Kick first, but the Spiky Shield blocks the attack and gives damage. Just then, Boltera swings around the guitar and then spins, then Pikachu starts to charge up electricity and then it crashes into Rillaboom and Cinderace the same time.

"That was G-Max Volt Crash! This is bad..." Gloria says as both of their Pokemon are paralyzed. Then Rillaboom uses Max Overgrowth, but Pikachu's Max Guard blocks it.

"Hop, we need a plan now." Gloria says. "Use your Max Guard to protect me."

"Okay." Hop says and then Gloria asks Cinderace to use Pyro Ball, and it defeats the Togedemaru. "Now we focus the Pikachu."

Then they work together as a team to use Flamethrower and Max Overgrowth at the same time, and then Pikachu finally faints.

"And that is the end of the song..." Bolt and Boltera then puts down their guitar. "I like the way you two work together, right? Bro?" "Mm-hm." He says. "Well, now that you win against us, I think both of you deserve this Electric Badge." Then they shake hands together and then they leave the stadium.

Lillie says, "And that is a good battle." Ash says, "Now it is our turn, Marnie." Marnie nods as they go to the reception desk.

Ash is amazed at Marnie's listening skills, since she says that she learns a lot from her brother and the two gym leaders, they are fast enough to go to the battlefield. Bolt and Boltera are there and Boltera says, "A very unique combination, Marnie, the sister of the Dark Type Gym Leader, and Ash Ketchum, the prince who is also related to a lot of Gym Leaders in Galar. I am looking forward to your combination in this match."

"Same here." Ash says. "Marnie, let's do it, okay?"

"Sure." Marnie says.

Then the Boltund and Manectric appear on the field and Ash and Marnie use Donphan and Scrafty. This time it doesn't go well as not only the High Jump Kick from the Scrafty miss, but it also hits the rolling Donphan, causing the two to get down on the ground.

"What are they doing?" Gloria gasps. "It seems like they aren't working together..."

Ash looks at Marnie, who is sweating, Ash says, "Marnie, it's fine, we both made mistakes, but we have to overcome it if we want to win."

"But...I was holding you back..." Marnie says. "You're not, Marnie. And we should work together. Tell your Scrafty to use Focus Blast."

Marnie yells at the Pokemon to use Focus Blast on Boltund, but the Boltund uses Agility to dodge. Only the see that Donphan uses Stomping Tantrum, sending it to the wall. And for Manectric tries to use Ice Fang on Donphan, thanks to Scrafty's skin, it doesn't hurt him. Their teamwork is finally back and then they use Earthquake to defeat the two Pokemon.

"But what shocks them the most is that Bolt is too nervous after the hit by Donphan, he accidentally breaks a string on his guitar. Boltera sees it and says, "The string...it breaks!"

This causes gasp to everyone in the stands, including Marnie and Ash. "Oh no...without the string, Bolt can't give commands..." Hop says.

"And it will be an unfair battle..." Alice says.

Bolt kneels down and looks at his guitar, he can't believe that this happens as they are having an excited battle against Ash and Marnie. "Should we forfeit the match..." Boltera is worried about her brother as Marnie says, "No, don't give up."

This causes the two of them to look at her. "The battle is still going on, and just because your guitar has broken a string doesn't mean that you lose the battle. You still have hope!"

"Marnie..." Ash smiles at his girlfriend. Boltera says, "Brother, what do you think?"

Bolt starts to get back up and gives her a nod, then he plays a little tune and Boltera nods. Boltera says, "Bolt wants to thank you for cheering us up. Now we can continue."

Bolt then starts to tune the other 5 strings so that he can play the special tune. And then the two of them send out their final Pokemon, two different kinds of Toxtricity.

"An amped form Toxtricity and a low key form...I see." Ash says as Marnie nods.

Then suddenly, Bolt starts to play the tune of Gigantamax and everyone gasps, since one of the strings is broken, he still manages to play it. And then the Toxtricity amped form Gigantamaxed.

Then Toxtricity uses G-Max Stun Shock, though it doesn't hurt Donphan, but it gets poisoned and both Pokemon faint after the end of the turn. So Ash and Marnie send out their Pokemon, Morpeko and Pikachu. Marnie lets Ash Gigantamax his Pikachu and the crowd goes wild. First, the Max Ooze deals a lot of damage, but Morpeko changes into Hangry Mode and gives a Aura Wheel to Low Key form, which deals a lot of damage. And a Max Quake from Pikachu also hits the two Pokemon effectively.

Then after all the Pokemon return to normal, Pikachu and Morpeko deliver the final Thunderbolt together and they defeat the two Pokemon.

"Wow...I am really touched at your efforts in the battle." Boltera says. "And I am glad that even though there is one string missing, you are still able to finish the song, bro."

Bolt smiles and then plays the tune. But Ash and Marnie can see his thoughts and he is saying that thanks to Ash and Marnie that he can overcome this problem.

"No problem." Ash and Marnie say. But this causes surprise to Bolt and Boltera, "I know that we taught Marnie some of the language of music, but you know the language as well? Ash?"

"Yeah. You know. I have to learn everything as a prince." Ash says.

"I see. Well, here is your badge." Then they get the badge and thanks them. "Now before you go, let us give you a tune to send you off." Then they play a small good luck tune as they get out of the stadium.

Back outside the gym stadium, Hop says, "That is really amazing. We all have our eleventh Gym Badge and we are almost there."

"Yeah." Gloria says. "So where is the next gym?"

Ash says, "It should be Chairman Rose's Daughter, Elena's gym. Which is located at Bermingsteel, a place near the Hammerlocke hills and the Lake of Outrage."

"I see. Then it should be a long walk." Hop sighs. "Well, I'm off, so I'll see you later."

After he leaves, Bolt and Boltera also come to them. Boltera says, "You like the lights here? They are special considering that Loch Miloch gives us the energy, including the electricity to our e-guitars."

"Yeah. And it is beautiful now that it is night time." Alice says.

"Well, don't forget that there is an amusement park here that is charged by electricity." Boltera says. "Besides Gym challenges, I hope you guys can relax a little by going there."

"We will consider it, thank you." Ash says as they go to the Pokemon Center for a day rest.

Now here is a new chapter, and sorry for the long wait since I have to think of the battles and I am playing Pokemon Shield Version as well. I hope you enjoy this chapter and the next chapter will be a short part about the events happening before the next gym.

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