Chapter 17 Galar Mine
As they continue on the road, they find Sonia, who is looking beyond the fence. So the eight of them greet her.
"Heya, Ash, Alice, Gloria! You looked real ace out there during the opening ceremony!" Sonia says. "Oh, but where's Hop?"
"He went on ahead." Ash says, "We did have a battle with each other before splitting up."
"He can't sit still at all, can he? Guess he really wants to catch up to his brother." Sonia sighs.
"But Sonia, why are you here?" Alice asks.
"Well, let me tell you about something a bit interesting." She then shows a building from a distance away from where they are.
"You see that building over there? It's a company owned by Chairman Rose. Just past Route 3, there's a mine where they dig up ore. That building over there processes it into energy." Sonia says.
Lillie says, "So in other words, the chairman is responsible for providing the Galar Region with its energy, too?"
"Can't say I really get him, but the chairman seems like a pretty brilliant guy, right?" Sonia says.
"You're right, so you are just showing us that place?" Gloria asks.
"You have to pass through the Galar Mine to get to Turffield. But I am sure that you can pass it." Sonia says.
"Thanks for the advice, see you." Ash says as they bid farewell to Sonia, and they continue to capture some Pokemon on the road.
Gloria is walking around and she mutters, "Since the first Gym Leader uses Grass Type, so I think that maybe a Poison Type will be nice." Then she sees a Trubbish sleeping on the road. Gloria says, "A Trubbish...if I remembered correctly...Garbodor has a Gigantamax. And it will be cool to have another one as well. Alright, I am going to capture it."
Gloria sends out Blipbug, and with the constant Struggle Bug against the Poison Type, it evolves into a new Pokemon and uses Confusion, the move defeats the Pokemon and Gloria captures it.
"All right, I caught a Trubbish." Gloria cheers. Then she also scans the new Pokemon.
Dottler: The Radome Pokemon. Bug Type. Evolved from Blipbug at LV:10. It barely moves, but it's still alive. Hiding in its shell without food or water seems to have awakened its psychic powers.
"Nice one, Gloria." Trenor says. "But its smell sure is nasty even though you have captured it."
"Um, Trenor, I think that the one who causes the smell is that Pokemon." Serena points at the Stunky. Stunky heard how the trainers said that he smells nasty and then he frowns. Trenor notices it and then he feels guilty, then he says, "I am sorry that I hurt your feelings, I really don't mind your smell. How about I capture you?"
"Huh? Do you want to capture the Stunky? Why?" Lillie asks.
"Even though it is smelly, it is still a Pokemon. Besides, a Gloom can evolve into a Bellossom, so I will make it a shining star." Trenor says as he tosses a Pokeball, but the ball misses as it lands in front of Stunky. The Stunky looks at Trenor and then the ball, then it uses its paws to press it, causing it to get captured in the end.
"Well done, Trenor." Ash says, "Your words are truly spectacular."
"Thank you, brother." Trenor says as they continue forward.
Just then, a bug crosses by as it looks at them with confusion. Ash says, "Do you know what is that Pokemon?" But before Alice can say something, Rotom has to beat her up to it.
Sizzlipede: The Radiator Pokemon: Bug and Fire Type. It stores flammable gas in its body and uses it to generate heat. The yellow sections on its belly get particularly hot.
"Geez...thanks, Rotom." Alice says annoyed. "But Sizzlipede is a Fire Type..."
"Huh? You don't like Fire-Types?" Ash asks.
"No, it is not like it. But you know about my father, his Pokemon are Ice Types and they are my friends. I was afraid that a Fire Type might hurt them."
"I see, that is very nice of you." Ash says. "But that won't be a problem since we are now traveling together."
Alice looks at Ash, and then she nods. She sends out Sobble and then she says, "Sobble, Water Pulse." Sobble nods and fires a ball of water at the Pokemon, but then the Sizzlipede spins around and then it uses Flame Wheel, causing Sobble to take damage.
"Sobble. Don't give up and then use Bind." Sobble wraps around the bug, but then the bug starts to use Bite, causing Sobble to wince in pain. "Don't worry. Sobble. Please hold on." She takes out the Pokeball and tosses it at the Sizzlipede, and then it is captured.
"Good, I capture a new friend." Alice cheers.
"I know you can do it, Alice. After all, we are both similar in a way." This causes her to blush again.
As they almost reach Galar Mine, they also find some Pokemon that are rolling with wheels.
"So this is the Galar Mine..." Gloria says as they look at the cave, just from the distance, they can see some workers working inside the mine with a Pokemon they have never seen before. Those Pokemon look like coals and they have a small wheel and an eye on it. "What are those?" Lillie asks.
Rotom says, "That is my job, let me show you what this Pokemon is."
Rolycoly: The Coal Pokemon: Rock Type. Most of its body has the same composition as coal. Fittingly, this Pokémon was first discovered in coal mines about 400 years ago.
"So they are the Pokemon that gives out the energy to the Galar?" Serena asks as they keep looking at the Pokemon rolling around.
"Yes." Gloria says. "And they are rare as well."
But as they walk further into the mine, they hear a strange sound as they realize that they are standing on tracks.
"What is that?" Lillie asks.
"Well, we are standing on the track...don't tell me..." Ash doesn't finish his words as he is being hit by a cart with coal as he is sent to the wall.
"Ash!" As the five girls go to Ash, Ash says, "Aww...what just happened?"
"Who did this?" Alice asks, but then the car starts to move as the face appears on the Pokemon.
"This Car is a Pokemon?" Dawn asks. "I never know that."
"Just leave it to me and I'll tell you, roto." Rotom says.
Carkoal: The Coal Pokemon: Rock and Fire Type. Evolved from Rolycoly at LV:18. It forms coal inside its body. Coal dropped by this Pokémon once helped fuel the lives of people in the Galar region.
"So that is the evolution of Rolycoly? It sure looks like a mine cart with a face on it." Alice says.
Ash sees that the car is laughing at his misery, he decides to be patient with him and says, "If you truly think it is funny, then I think you are pretty mistaken."
He then sends out Oshawott to give the Pokemon a lesson, but the Pokemon uses Flame Charge, causing Oshawott unable to dodge every time, but Oshawott manages to defeat it using Hydro Pump, which is super effective. And Ash captures the Pokemon in the end.
"Ash, can you stand up?" Alice asks with worry.
"I am fine, Alice. I am an Aura User, this is nothing to me." He says as he stands up.
"Aura Guardian or not, what matters is that you are injured." Serena says as she heals him, much to his delight.
As they continue to walk on the tracks, they are relieved as they don't see any minecarts until they find another opening. Much to their surprise, they see two kinds of Diglett pops out of the ground at the opening. Gloria says, "Hey, what does that Diglett has hair?"
"I don't know, but I don't think it is for fashion..." Dawn says.
"That is an Alolan Diglett. Those hairs are made with high iron that causes it to become a Steel Type Pokemon. But the truth is, that Diglett can only be found in Alola and what is it doing in the Galar Region?" Lillie says.
Rotom says, "This may be a huge discovery! Region Variants living in the regions that aren't native on, I am going to record this."
Ash asks what the Alolan Diglett is doing here, it says that it was a normal Diglett, but he lived near the richest steel energy that he changed. Ash says, "I see...the reason we called you Alolan Forms is because that it was first discovered in Alola, but not meaning that it only natives to Alola."
Rotom says, "That explains everything, roto."
The Steel Type Diglett nods and then it asks if he can join in the group as well as the normal Diglett. Then Mark and Lillie capture the Pokemon each.
Gloria spots a Pokemon popping out of the ground, she says, "I thought it is another Diglett, but it turns out to be a Drilbur."
"You're right." Serena says. "It could be a good addition since it also evolves into a Steel Type."
"But if I remember, I knew a person's Excadrill didn't listen to her in the end, but I know you won't be like her." Ash says as the group knows that he is referring to one of the traitors.
Gloria says, "If that's the case, Chewtle, I choose you." She sends out the Pokemon and says, "Use Bite."
Chewtle bites on the Drilbur, who tries to use Metal Claw to knock it back. Then it glows as it starts to use Drill Run, but Chewtle dodges the attack, and then it uses Water Gun, causing it to be smacked into the wall.
"Go, Pokeball!" Gloria tosses the Pokeball and then it is successfully captured. "Alright, another new member for my team."
"You sure like to capture Unova Pokemon." Dawn says. "Well, it is my second favorite region after all." Gloria says.
"What's the first?" Ash asks.
"Galar, Ash." Gloria laughs. Then she also spots a Timburr working on its timber, she says, "And what do we have here? Another Unova Pokemon."
"And that Pokemon is a Timburr, it is a Fighting Type Pokemon." Trenor says as they see it hit the wall with its timber. "Just by the look of it, I guess it is helping the construction of this place."
"I guess so, or maybe it is a wild Pokemon." Trenor says, "There is one way to find out."
Trenor throws the Pokeball, and then it is successfully captured, much to the others' shock.
"So it is a Wild Pokemon." Lillie says. "But why does it hitting the wall to dig some coals?"
"I don't know. And that is why Pokemon are interesting." Ash says.
Mark has Lotad out, and then Lotad shares some water with them. "Thank you." Mark drinks the water and then says, "Now we are going to train, is that fine?"
Lotad nods as he goes to battle some Rock and Ground Type Pokemon. Trenor says, "I'm not going to lose to you, Mark."
Seedot also engages in battles with the other Pokemon. In the end, they manage to defeat some of them and gain a lot of experience. Eventually, they evolve into Lombre and Nuzleef.
"Those two are some nice evolutions." Ash says, "And right now you both need a Water Stone and a Leaf Stone to give them into the final stage."
"We know." Mark says as they continue forward.
Here is a new chapter, and Ash's group is now inside the Galar Mine as they are going to have some Pokemon capturing. The next chapter will be the battle against another rival, and also heading to Route 4
Ash's Pokemon (Old): Bulbasaur, Charizard, Squirtle, Butterfree, Pidgeot, Pikachu, Primeape, Muk, Gengar, Kingler, Tauros (30), Lapras (2), Snorlax, Bayleef, Quilava, Totodile, Noctowl (S), Heracross, Donphan, Larvitar, Tyranitar, Sceptile, Swellow, Torkoal, Corphish, Glalie, Torterra, Infernape, Staraptor, Buizel, Gible, Gliscor, Snivy, Pignite, Oshawott, Unfezant, Boldore, Palpitoad, Leavanny, Krookodile, Scraggy, Greninja, Talonflame, Hawlucha, Goodra, Noivern, Rowlet, Incineroar, Lycanroc (Dusk), Naganadel, Melmetal
Ash's Pokemon (New): Vulpix, Onix, Magikarp, Tyrogue, Ralts, Combee, Grookey, Rookidee, Carkol
Mark's Pokemon: Oddish, Diglett, Tyrogue, Lombre, Wingull, Chimchar, Nickit
Trenor's Pokemon: Shellder, Wooper, Tyrogue, Nuzleaf, Turtwig, Stunky, Timburr, Skwovet
Gloria's Pokemon: Ralts, Bronzor, Drilbur, Trubbish, Klink, Scorbunny, Blipbug, Chewtle
Alice's Pokemon: Butterfree (Pink), Growlithe, Combee, Sobble, Gossifleur, Wooloo (30), Yamper, Sizzlipede
Dawn's Pokemon: Oddish, Quilava, Zigzagoon, Piplup, Pachirisu, Buneary, Togekiss, Mamoswine
Serena's Pokemon: Zigzagoon (Galarian), Cherubi, Braixen, Bunnelby, Pancham, Sylveon
Lillie's Pokemon: Diglett (Alolan), Machop, Purrloin, Vulpix (Alolan), Grubbin, Mudbray, Bounsweet, Magearna