Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, or any other property in this work that I didn't make myself.

Bea and the autistic gym challenger

Chapter thirty: The big test

I had been able to get into the swing of things as a student over at Stow-on-Side magnet middle school. I've gotten used to how things go on over there, gotten used to the little eccentricities of the various personalities that I meet over there regularly. And my tackling of and dedicating myself to my academics had been paying off; I'm pulling in far better grades than I did before I had changed schools.

I'm thankful that no one recognized me as well; I feel like I did when I was going about in my old 'incognito' outfit during the gym challenge. And thankfully no one who was in the know would be leaking who I was; the staff here are very professional, and they respect my privacy and my want to keep to myself. After all, given what my mom had done during the gym challenge, along with what I all had given them about the matter as well as how else she had treated me and had acted overall, they were more than glad to help keep my identity concealed.

They were also interested in helping to keep mom away from me. I love my new school.

One Friday after school, I was at home having finished up what homework I had. I had gotten it done, leaving me completely free until I had to return to school on Monday. After putting away my school stuff, my phone had gone off. Curious, I picked my phone up and checked the caller ID, and to my surprise it was Nina calling me. This was the first time that Nina had called me since I had given her my number; but then again she's the champion of Galar now, so it should be a given that she's busy.

I answered the call, held the phone to the right side of my head. "...Hello, Nina?"

"Did the call work?" Nina's voice coming from the other end asked.

I chuckled a bit. "Yes, Nina. The called worked."

"Okay good," Nina replied, sounding relieved, "Sorry if I hadn't talked to you in a while, Bea. It's just I wanted to catch up on my school work that I missed while I was taking the gym challenge, and now people working with the Galar Pokemon League are having me work with them to make merchandise of me and my Pokemon."

"Well you are the champion," I pointed out, "At least half of Leon's time while he was champion was caught up in using his likeness and the likenesses of his Pokemon to make merchandise, as well as do special appearances to entertain fans. You'll probably have to do the same. After all, you are pretty famous now."

Nina gave an embarrassed moan at her end of the call. "Uhhn, I still can't believe how much folks want to see me now. Before the gym challenge it was only my mom, Marnie, Piers and a few teachers at my school who liked seeing me."

I remembered that I had to be careful in how I explained things to her. "Well you are something of an inspiration to the people of Galar now. Keep in mind that you're the first special needs citizen to ever become the champion of the region. Most folks while you were taking the gym challenge didn't even think you could take on the various gym leaders, and yet look at you now."

"Oh! That reminds me," Nina said, "Me and a few people working for the Galar Pokemon League will be in Stow-on-Side tomorrow, running a test over at your old gym."

That got my attention. "...What kind of test?"

"You know how you stopped being a gym leader, right?" Nina began, "Well, there are only seven active gym leaders in the major divisions right now because of that. The tests that we're going to be running will see if a gym leader in the minor divisions that I have my eyes on can go from the minor divisions to the major divisions."

Ah yes, that reminds me that there are actually more than eight gyms in Galar, but only the eight that take part in the yearly gym challenge matter since they're in the major divisions. A gym in the minor divisions can move up (and one in the majors can move down) if a group from that is representing the Galar Pokemon League judges it so. What Nina is talking about is how that is going on right now.

I was curious, so I asked. "Who are you testing?"

"It's a girl I met while I was helping Hop and Professor Sonya with their work on the Isle of Armor," Nina explained, "Her name is Klara. She was training to become a gym leader when I saw her for the first time. She's kind of on the silly side if you ask me, but I still think that she's a nice person. Anyway, she was able to successfully become a gym leader sometime shortly before the recent gym challenge had taken place, but only in the minor divisions."

I suddenly remembered what Nina was talking about; I did hear sometime before the recent gym challenge that two people, Klara and Avery, had successfully tested into the minor divisions as gym leaders there. If I recall correctly, Klara uses poison Pokemon, same as my former classmate back at Stow-on-Side middle school, Darnell. Now Nina and a few others would be testing Klara to see if she can move on up from the minors to the majors.

"So how will you test her?" I asked.

"All that she needs to do is have a few battles with opponents that were selected ahead of time," Nina said, "I figure three different opponents will give me and the others that will be examining Klara a good idea of her current skill. Umm..." Nina sounded a bit nervous about what she was going to say to me. "...Would you be interested in being one of Klara's opponents in her test for seeing if she can be promoted to the majors?"

That caught my attention. "You want me to help with testing Klara?"

"Well assuming she passes, Klara will be the new gym leader of the Stow-on-Side gym," Nina said, "Meaning she'll be your successor in a way. I was figuring that you'd like to have a hand in seeing if she would be worthy to be your successor."

The idea that Nina proposed actually amused me a little bit. Chuckling, I replied, "Well tomorrow is one of my days off of school, so I will be free."

I actually heard Nina giggle a little bit on the other end, clearly sounding happy to hear that I would be available to help her. I was also a bit interested in seeing Klara, my supposed successor to the position of the leader of the Stow-on-Side gym. Nina told me that things will be started at around nine-thirty in the morning, then said that she wouldn't be able to wait to see me until then before hanging up.

Setting my phone down, I let out a sigh. Tomorrow sounded like it was going to be interesting, what with testing Klara. Also, I just realized that Nina hasn't seen how I look now, so she'll be in for a surprise when I meet up with her tomorrow. Oh well, if it comes down to it I bet that I can prove to her who I really am. I just hope that it won't be too difficult if for some odd reason she doesn't believe that I'm not really me.

The following morning, I was at my old gym, looking very much out of place in a setting that I had once essentially been the queen in. I was still in good shape, but my physique was hidden under a baggy long-sleeved shirt worn under a baggy t-shirt, a pair of baggy cargo pants held up with a belt, clunky looking sneakers, the fact I had switched from using contact lenses back to using glasses, and the fact I now comb and brush my hair out to be long and straight. I also had a messager bag, its strap going from my left shoulder to my right hip where the bag part was.

Long story short, I looked like a total dork.

Eventually, a few people that I recognized started filing in. First and foremost was Nina, who was accompanied by Hop. Following along behind them was Marnie. Seeing them enter my old gym, I got up from where I was sitting in the lobby to greet them. "Excuse me, miss," Hop began, "But who are you and why are you here?"

I sighed in an exasperated tone. "Yeah, I figured that people wouldn't recognize me since I had done a lot to change my appearance. But given what my m-"

"Oh, hi Bea," Nina greeted cutting me off and drawing surprised looks out of Hop and Marnie. Turning to look at her friends, Nina explained to them while gesturing to me, "Guys, this is Bea. She changed her look after stepping down as the Stow-on-Side gym leader because she doesn't want people recognizing her and being mean to her because of what her mom did."

"Holy geez!" Hop exclaimed, turning to regard me, "You've certainly changed the way that you look! It's almost as much of a surprise as that weird coat thing Lee wanted to wear on his first day at work as the newest member of the Galar Pokemon League commissionery board!"

Marnie nodded in agreement. "Yes, Hop showed me, Nina and Piers a photo of Leon wearing that frock coat thing of his, plus a pair of riding boots. I thought it looked ridiculous, Nina thought it looked a bit on the silly side, and Piers burst out laughing and didn't calm down for at least five minutes."

Hop nodded in confirmation to what Marnie had said. "Luckily, me and Lee's mum, along with myself, were both able to convince Lee to use a normal suit instead, like what Commissioners Hakurou, Tobias and Kankuro all wear when they work."

I nodded along, glad to hear that the former champion had been convinced to wear a normal outfit for his new job as the newest member of the commissionery board for the Galar Pokemon League. I did not see Commissioner Leon's initial outfit, but if it involved a frock coat of all things and a pair of riding boots, then I should be glad that I didn't see it, especially if it had caused Piers to laugh uncontrollably for at least five minutes straight.

Within short order, more persons showed up at my old gym; the three oldest members of the commission, Hakurou, Tobias, and Anahthyne, plus a girl who I was able to identify as Kaoru. She had made a name for herself during the multi-city terrorist attack when she single-handedly took out all of the terrorists at Kabu's gym over in Motostoke. I had a gut feeling that Kaoru was going to be one of the three trainers who would be battling Klara so that those examining her could get an idea of her current level of skill.

Lastly, Klara herself showed up, and looked excited to be tested to see if she can move up from the minors to the majors. Soon enough, Nina announced that Klara would be tested, and that Klara could challenge us in any order she wanted. Nina took everyone aside from the three older commissioners, Kaoru and Klara. "...Umm, guys," Nina said, talking quietly so as to keep things private, "Bea doesn't want a whole lot of people knowing who she is, so please don't give away her identity, please."

"Well she'll need a name to use," Marnie pointed out.

"...Oh, I got it!" Nina declared. Turning to face me, Nina asked, "Are you okay with being identified as Shuna? Just for the purposes of Klara's test."

I actually kind of liked the sound of that name. I nodded in agreement. "Yes, Shuna sounds like a fine name for me to use." Eventually, Nina and the others introduced me to the commissioners, Klara and Kaoru as Shuna. After that exchange, we went out into the pitch; the gym was empty for today except for the lot of us, as things were set up ahead of time. Now all that remains to see is how Klara's testing would go.

Personally, I'd like to see her go far.

When all of us were out in the pitch, the commissioners and Nina got Klara's attention. "Gym Leader Klara," Tobias began, "As I'm sure you know, you are here for a test to determine if you can move on up from the minors to the majors in Galar's Pokemon League."

Klara nodded once respectfully to the older commissioner. "Yes, sir."

Gesturing to Nina, Hakurou said, "Nina, the league's newest and current champion, can best describe the test to you." Nina nodded once in thanks for the introduction before she stepped on up to speak to Klara.

"Congrats on beating Leon, by the way," Klara said to Nina, "I knew there was something cool about you when I first saw you back on the Isle of Armor, sort of hiding behind Professor Sonya and Hop when they were explaining to Master Mustard about why they had come. My instincts are never wrong."

Nina giggled a bit in an appreciative tone. "Thanks, Klara. Anyway, for your test, you'll be having a series of three battles. All of them will see both you and your opponents use your respective full parties but one Pokemon each at a time, and the battles will end when all of one trainer's Pokemon are unable to battle. Oh, your Pokemon will be restored between battle, by the way."

Klara nodded in understanding. "So I just have to win all three battles, right?"

"Actually, winning isn't important," Nina replied, drawing a surprised look out of Klara, "The battles are for me and the super nice adults from the commission here to see your level of skill and competence as a trainer. Even if you lose all three battles, if we still think you've shown a lot of skill and competence as a trainer, then you'll still pass."

Klara seemed to be getting it. "So I just need to impress."

"Sort of, Klara," Anahthyne remarked, "Anyway, on to your opponents for the battles."

Nodding once, Nina said as she gestured to Marnie, myself and Kaoru in that order, "You will be facing Marnie, Shuna and Kaoru. You will be allowed to pick the order in which you face them."

"Ah, alright then," Klara replied. She looked at the three of us, looking like she was making her decision. After a while, Klara pointed to Marnie and said, "I'd like to face her first. Marnie, right?"

"Yeah, the name's Marnie," replied the younger sister of the Spikemuth gym leader. The two girls got into position, and as they did so I saw Nina take out her special headphones, in case things got a bit loud for her.

As soon as Tobias gave the cue, the battle between Klara and Marnie begin, with Klara sending out a Skorupi and Marnie sending out her Scrafty. The battle kicked off with Klara calling out, "Skorupi, use Poison Fang!"

"Scrafty, use Crunch!" Marnie ordered.

The two Pokemon rushed one another to get in close. Scrafty got in first, dealing a devastating bite that pained Skorupi, but it pulled through and bit down on Scrafty with poisoned teeth. The bad poisoning effect didn't happen, to Marnie's luck. Calling out again, Marnie said, "Scrafty, use Crunch again!"

"Skorupi, use Poison Fang again!" Klara commanded.

The two Pokemon tried biting one another a second time, but Scrafty's went through first, and did enough damage to knock Skorupi out before it could attack again. Holding up a hand, Tobias called out, "Skorupi is unable to battle! The winner is Scrafty!"

Klara recalled her defeated Pokemon, keeping herself calm despite how the first loss in the battle was hers. She tossed up a second pokeball while saying, "Weezing, I choose you!"

Upon seeing Klara's second Pokemon, a Galarian Weezing, Marnie immediately recalled her Scrafty and sent her Liepard out. "Liepard, use Fake Out!" Marnie ordered.

"Weezing, use Clear Smog!" Klara ordered.

Liepard rushed right in and smacked Weezing across the face, making it flinch and causing its turn to be wasted. "Now use Snarl!" Marnie called out.

"Weezing, use Clear Smog!" Klara said.

The two Pokemon fired their attacks, with Liepard being the quicker and not only hitting Weezing despite how the attack wasn't very effective, but also lowered Weezing's special attack, and as such its Clear Smog didn't do too much damage to Liepard. The next turn saw Liepard use Torment, leaving Weezing unable to use consecutive Clear Smogs and forcing Klara to order the use of Assurance.

After a few exchanges of attacks, Marnie was able to take out Klara's Weezing. "Weezing is unable to battle!" Tobias announced, "The winner is Liepard!"

Klara recalled her fainted Weezing and sent out her third Pokemon, a Whirlipede of all things. Marnie recalled her Liepard then tossed up another ball while saying, "Toxicroak, I choose you!" A wise choice on her part, as Toxicroak's typing will let it not only resist both of Whirlipede's types, but also protect it from being poisoned.

"Toxicroak, use Earthquake!' Marnie called out.

"Whirlipede, use Poison Tail!" Klara ordered.

Toxicroak triggered a massive quake that shook the pitch, tripping Whirlipede up as it tried making its way over. As a matter of fact, Whirlipede ended up going down to the Earthquake, as it was a critical hit. "Whirlipede is unable to battle!" Tobias announced, "The winner is Toxicroak!"

"I have got to get me one of those," Klara said as she recalled her fainted Pokemon. She tossed up the ball that held her next Pokemon. "Slowbro, I choose you!" Klara's next Pokemon was, to my surprise as I've never seen one in real life before until now, a Galarian Slowbro.

Marnie looked like she was considering something. Suddenly, she recalled her Toxicroak and sent out her Grimmsnarl. After that, she proceeded to use her Dynamax Band with it, recalling it to its ball before tossing up the enlarged ball to bring out gigantimax Grimmsnarl.

Klara looked similar as entertained. "Ah, but you aren't the only one!" Then to my surprise, Klara proceeded to use her Dynamax Band with her Galarian Slowbro, and eventually it had dynamaxed. Pointing right on ahead, Klara called out with enthusiasm, "Slowbro, use Max Geyser!"

"Grimmsnarl, use G-Max Snooze!" Marnie called out, sounding like she wanted to end things early for some reason.

The two Pokemon fired off their respective attacks, but Grimmsnarl's hit first, striking Slowbro and making it tired. The Max Geyser also hit, so it started raining in the battle. Both Pokemon were still in the battle, so their trainers were looking to keep on going. The two girls had called for their respective Pokemon to use the same attacks again, but only this time when Slowbro took the G-Max Snooze from Grimmsnarl, it ended up getting defeated.

After Slowbro's gigantimax was undone and it laid on the pitch in its normal size, Tobias raised a hand as he called out, "Slowbro is unable to battle! The winner is Grimmsnarl! Victory of this battle goes to Marnie!" The others examining Klara took notes as the girls down in the pitch had recalled their respective Pokemon. There would be a short break, during which the Pokemon will be restored, before Klara battles her next opponent.

After the break, Klara was asked if she wanted to battle me or that Kaoru girl next. Klara ended up picking Kaoru, meaning I would be the last to battle Klara. From what I had been able to get on her, Kaoru had singlehandedly resolved the issues at Kabu's gym during the terrorist act that my mom and her fellows tried carrying out during the Champion Cup. Furthermore, Kaoru used just an Inteleon to defeat all of the terrorists at Motostoke.

I'm interested to see if Kaoru will use her supposed powerful Inteleon against Klara. The battle kicked off, with Klara sending out her Skorupi first. Kaoru tossed up the ball that held her first Pokemon for the battle as she called out, "Alright, Gandalf! Let's kick some butt!" Coming out of that ball was the very Pokemon I had heard about, Kaoru's Inteleon. Also, it would seem that she has a habit of naming her Pokemon, similar to Nina.

Klara pointed straight ahead into the battle. "Skorupi, use Poison Fang!"

"Gandalf, use Snipe Shot!" Kaoru called out. As Skuropi scuttled as quickly as it could towards Inteleon, the water Pokemon itself aimed its index finger at Skuropi before it fired a watery shot at it, striking it and sending it reeling back. When it had stopped rolling, we all could see that it had been knocked out.

Holding up a hand, Tobias called out, "Skuropi is unable to battle! The winner is Inteleon!"

Klara recalled her fainted Skuropi and sent her Whirlipede out next. "Whirlipede, use Poison Tail!" Klara ordered.

"Gandalf, use Ice Beam!" Kaoru commanded.

Whirlipede proceeded to roll towards Inteleon, who simply fired a beam of icy cold energy at it from the tip of its index finger again. Whirlipede was struck by the beam, thrown back with shards of ice clinging to its form. After Whirlipede had stopped skidding back on its side, it was clear that it had been taken down. "Whirlipede is unable to battle!" Tobias announced as he held a hand up again, "The winner is Inteleon!"

Klara recalled her fainted Whirlipede and sent out her next Pokemon, which was her Galarian Weezing. "Weezing, use Clear Smog!" Klara called out.

"Gandalf, use Air Slash!" Kaoru ordered. The named Inteleon simply slashed the air before him with his index and middle fingers held together, creating a slashing force of wind that shorn through what smog Weezing had been able to belch out before striking Weezing itself, knocking it down to the pitch where it laid defeated.

Holding a hand up, Tobias announced, "Weezing is unable to battle! The winner is Inteleon!"

Klara recalled her fainted Weezing, then sent out Slowbro which was her last Pokemon. Right away, Klara proceeded to dynamax her Slowbro, while at the same time Kaoru proceeded to do the same with her Inteleon. However, when both Pokemon were giant sized, I saw that Kaoru's Inteleon had actually gigantamaxed, as it was on a platform atop a very tall tower that was really just its tail, and it had a rifle of water.

Pointing right ahead, Klara called out, "Slowbro, use Max Mindstorm!"

"Gandalf, use G-Max Hydrosnipe!" Kaoru ordered.

Inteleon fired a rapid shot at Slowbro before it was even halfway through conjuring its attack, blasting it so hard that it went down, power and energy exploding around it before the dynamax was undone and it laid on the pitch, defeated. Inteleon's own gigantamax came undone as well, due to the battle ending. "Slowbro is unable to battle!" Tobias announced as he held a hand up, "The winner is Inteleon! Victory of this battle goes to Kaoru!"

The mysterious girl with the named Inteleon took a calm breath as she recalled her Pokemon while Klara recalled her Slowbro. The examiners took their notes as another short break was called for to permit treating the Pokemon who had fought with medicines to restore them, mostly Klara's Pokemon as she has one last battle to do. It would be against me, and I'm a bit on the nervous side about it.

I haven't had a real battle since the one against Nina and her Urshifu that saw me off from the path of Galar Karate. Sure, I've trained my Pokemon to keep them in top form, and I was able to get Pangoro up to the same level as the rest of my Pokemon. But a real battle against a trainer as my opponent, and one who uses poison Pokemon which resist fighting? I can't just muscle my way through a battle like that.

I take a calming breath as I ready myself for the battle to come once Klara's Pokemon have been properly restored and were ready to go after the break.

END, CHAPTER THIRTY

Author's notes;

I originally was going to end the story here, but if I did then this chapter would have gone on for too long. That being said, the next chapter will be the last. It'll finish up Klara's test to see if she can go from minors to majors, Bea's last battle in this story, a touching moment between Bea and Allister, and a bit of hope for things to come. The next chapter might also end up being a bit on the short side, but I'll try to avoid that.

Take care.