"Can you tell me at least what this test is!" Ash yelped, being dragged through the town.
"Child, I am Eighty-Eight years old, I want to retire, but need to find a replacement for my gym leader position." Opal said.
"Hold on, who says I want to be a gym leader!" Ash argued.
"Nonsense, I've seen your skill, you'll be great, if you pass at least." Opal said.
"Fine, I'll take your test, but after that I want a battle, if I win, you let me choose my fate." Ash said.
"Who said the test wasn't a battle?" Opal asked.
"Goh! Hey over here!" Chloe shouted, running towards him. "Did you get a Ponyta?"
"No, didn't see a single one." Goh admitted.
"Then it's a good thing I stayed on track." Chloe said, holding up a pokeball. "I actually caught one."
"Hey, I caught things. Just not the thing we were here for." Goh admitted.
"Well, we should try and find Ash." Chloe said, looking around.
"Question One. What is a good offensive type against fairy pokemon?" Opal asked "To help say hello to my first Pokemon, Weezing!"
That Weezing was different than the ones Ash had previously seen, gray and green in color, with what looked like a top hat.
"I don't know about fairy types, but Weezing is weak to Psychic. Come on out Noctowl!" Ash called out his own Pokemon.
"Child. Poison and Steel are smart choices against fairy type Pokemon. Weezing use Sludge."
"Noctowl use Extrasensory!"
Noctowl deftly dodged the opposing attack, before striking back.
"Weezing use Tackle!"
"Noctowl use Tackle!"
The Pokémon collided, Noctowl pushing the larger one back with ease.
"Weezing use Fairy Wind!"
"Noctowl use Extrasensory one more time!"
Weezing was knocked out from the psychic attack.
"Very impressive, but let's see how you do against a more agile opponent. Come on out Togekiss!" Opal called, summoning her second pokemon. "Next question. What is my nickname?"
"How am I supposed to know that!" Ash yelled angrily. "Noctowl use Air Slash!"
"Togekiss use Air Slash as well!"
The two flying type Pokémon sent off their attacks.
"No response from his phone." Chloe said, after having left another message.
"No ones seen him either." Goh said. "Do you think he already made the quick exit?"
"I feel like he'd have said something. At the very least he'd have answered his phone." Chloe admitted.
"Maybe he's at the Pokémon center?" Goh offered. "I think it was this way."
"No, I just came from that direction I think it's this way." Chloe said pointing a different way.
"That way leads to Glimwood Tangle, why would it be that way." Goh said, groaning.
"Noctowl use Tackle!"
"Togekiss use Draining Kiss!"
As the Pokémon collided, Togekiss restored any health lost so far.
"Noctowl use Air Slash!"
"Togekiss use Ancient Power!"
Noctowl was too weak from the fight, and was unable to take the Ancient Power, as it fell to the ground defeated.
"Next question…". Opal began.
"Enough with the questions! You can't make me replace you!" Ash yelled. "Muk end this with a Sludge Bomb!"
Muk came out of its Pokeball firing a barrage of Sludge Bombs at Togekiss.
"Togekiss dodge out of the way! Then use Draining Kiss!"
"Muk once they're close, use Body Slam!"
Just before Togekiss landed it's attack, it was encompassed by Muk, pinning it to the ground.
"Keep them there Muk!" Ash cheered on.
At first there was a rough struggle. Than a slightly less struggle. Eventually Togekiss stopped moving.
"Okay Muk, let them go." Ash said, as Muk moved off the knocked out Togekiss.
"You're battle skills are great, if too rough and brash at times." Opal commented.
"I didn't even want to be here! You forced this battle and everything that happens as a result." Ash said, having calmed down. "No more questions. No more test. Let's just finish this battle, okay?"
"Very well, you're far to rough to be my replacement anyways. Mawile you're turn." Opal said, calling out her third Pokemon.
"Muk use Mud Bomb!"
"Mawile use Iron Defense!"
"If you're looking for a trainer, I'd check the gym." Nurse Joy said. "Opal is always looking for opponents to test."
"Thanks Nurse Joy, we'll go and check it out." Chloe said. "Come on Goh, that's out best lead."
"Hold on, Ash is on TV." Goh said, watching the battle live.
"Of course he is." Chloe sighed, taking a seat.
"Muk use Mud Bomb again!"
"Mawile use Crunch!"
Muk was making little ground against Opal's Mawile. Thankfully the Mawile hadn't done much either.
"Mawile Iron Defense!"
"Muk use Mud Bomb!"
Back and forth they went.
"Mawile use Draining Kiss!"
Mawile outsped Muk, as it slowly restored its own health, draining Muk's in the process.
"Muk you did great. Come on back." Ash said recalling his Pokémon. "Alright Gible you're up!"
"Mawile use Draining Kiss!"
"Gible use Dig!"
Gible easily outsped Mawile, going underground before it was attacked.
"Now Gible use Draco Meteor!" Ash called out.
A meteor flew out of the hole, heading straight at Mawile.
"Mawile is a fairy type, dragon type attacks won't work." Opal pointed out.
"Who said Gible could aim from down there?" Ash said as the attack veered off course crashing into the ground.
Gible popped up behind Mawile striking its back head piece.
"Now Mawile use Draining Kiss!" Opal commanded.
At the close range, Gible was unable to move out of the way, as it was taken out in a single shot.
"Two on one, seems you were a bit overconfident." Opal said.
"Nope, that's the kind of odds I like. Are you ready Pikachu!" Ash said.
Pikachu ran into the arena straight at Mawile.
"Mawile use Iron Defense!"
"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
Mawile was zapped hard, and fell to the ground trying to recover.
"Now Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
Pikachu sped forward, launching Mawile into the side of the arena with its tail.
"You're good, but not good enough. Alcremie, it's time to show them our full power." Opal said showing a Dynamax Band.
"Ready Pikachu!" Ash said readying his own.
"Alcremie use G Max Finale!"
"Pikachu use Max Steelspike!"
The attacks sprung across the battlefield, hitting both of their targets.
"Alcremie use Max Gaurd!"
"Pikachu use G Max Volt Crash!"
Electricity flew across the arena, being absorbed by the odd shield in front of the Alcremie.
"Pikachu Max Steel Spike!"
"Alcremie use G Max Finale!"
As the attacks cleared, Pikachu and Alcremie still stood, back to their normal height, but still ready to go.
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
"Alcremie use Draining Kiss!"
Pikachu launched off its opponent with his attack, as Ash issued another command.
"Now Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"
As the dust cleared, Alcremie was knocked out.
"I was wrong about you Ash." Opal said approaching.
"I'm not changing my mind on the whole gym leader replacement thing." Ash said backing up.
"Don't worry about that, but I was wrong that I thought you couldn't be a gym leader. You stuck to your choices until the end, and never gave up." Opal said somewhat apologetic. "Im sorry for dragging you all this way."
Outside the arena
"Ash that was amazing!" Goh exclaimed running up to him.
"Did you find the Pokémon you were looking for?" Chloe asked.
"Yep, right here. Did we find a Ponyta?" Ash responded.
"Yep, right here. Do we still have two days before we can even go home?" Chloe joked.
"I think so." Ash responded, looking for their tickets.
"Wait seriously!" Goh said shocked.