Chapter 18 Rival Battle

As the group walk further into the mines, they hear strange sounds and then a lot of Woobats fly out of the cave they are in and the girls are screaming.

"What are those?" Lillie asks as they are trying to get rid of the Pokemon.

"Girls, calm down. They are just Woobats, I think we just get into their territory and we just need to leave as fast as we can." Ash says.

Serena says, "If I remember correctly, Swoobat evolves from Woobat, right? I think I might want a Swoobat for my performances."

Serena throws the Pokeball into the air, and one of them gets hit and it is captured successfully. "Well, that sure is quite easy to capture."

"Well, luck is important in this kind of capturing after all." Alice says with a little giggle.

After the healing is done, they try to find the exit as they encounter a white-haired boy who they had seen in the opening ceremony, he seems to be blocking their path as he says, "Coming this way? I'd advise against it. Any Trainer with a Wishing Star is in for a beating from me and my Pokemon. Even it is the princes or you pretty girls."

"Who are you and why are you doing this?" Gloria demands, not liking the attitude of this boy in front of them.

"You, you're the Gym Challenger endorsed by the Champion, aren't you? What a joke. You are aware that the chairman is more important than the Champion, right? I was chosen by the chairman himself, so that makes me more amazing than you." The person says, and it causes Gloria to lose her temper.

"Oh yeah? Then you must know that the Chairman is successful if it wasn't for my mother's help." Ash says, almost losing his cool.

"I suppose I should prove beyond doubt just how pathetic you are and how strong I am." Then he says. "And if you don't know, the name is Bede."

He sends out a Solosis. Ash says, "Then I'll use Grookey!" Ash sends out the Pokemon, with the hard work, Grookey uses Knock Off on the Pokemon, causing it to faint.

Then he sends out Gothita, so Ash uses Vulpix to battle. Vulpix bites on the Gothita, causing it to be in pain. Gothita tries to tickle the Pokemon, but then Vulpix uses Confuse Ray to make it stop and let it get confused. In the end, Vulpix's Ember is able to defeat Gothita.

"Oh dear, what have I been doing? Well, whatever." Bede says as he looks at the watch. "Let's just get this over with."

He sends out his final Pokemon, and the Pokemon that they have never seen before. Ash asks, "Rotom, what is that Pokemon?"

"It's a Hatenna." Rotom says. "Another Psychic Type."

Ash uses Combee to battle, hoping for type advantage. Combee goes for Silver Wind, which is super effective, but Hatenna also deals some damage to Combee with the Disarming Voice. In the end, Combee uses Air Slash to defeat Hatenna.

"I see...Well, that's fine. I wasn't really trying all that hard anyway." Bede says. "That was unexpected. I suppose you're more able than I thought."

"Oh yeah?" Gloria asks.

"Naturally, I'll remember your battle style and strategies now. I am sure to easily defeat you if and when we face each other in an official match. Now that we've established that, I won't waste any more time on you. I have already gathered every Wishing Star in this area." Bede says as he leaves the area, clearing the path for them to go.

Dawn says, "Geez...what a rude guy."

"Yeah. I am glad that you beat him, Brother." Mark says.

Ash just keeps silent and he says, "So Bede, huh... I'll make sure to look out for you...Right now we have to find the exit."

Mark says, "Hey, where is Nickit?"

Lillie says, "Purrloin is also missing as well..."

Then, they see both Dark Type Pokemon are stealing the coals inside the mine, the others sigh as they start to chase the fox Pokemon and the cat Pokemon, bringing the coals back to the workers.

"Geez...now I know why Dark Type Pokemon are hard to train..." Lillie says in a tired tone.

"I agree..." Mark nods.

Back in the Kanto Region, Professor Oak and Gary are sitting at the lab watching the news from the television. The news of the annual Galar League is something that they are interested in and now that Ash has returned to the Galar Region, they want to check it out themselves. "So it seems like the league is going to start."

"Indeed, the Galar League is very different since the Macro Cosmos Company buys the league from the PLA and it manages to make it a big event in the whole Galar Region."

Just then, they hear the door knock and then they open it, only to see the traitors standing at the doorway. All of them are having evil smirks and Gary just groans in anger. "Great, you guys again, what do you want?"

"Where is that weakling?" Iris asks. "You will tell us or you are going to be in a world of hell."

"Then I am glad to tell you that there are no weaklings in the lab." Professor Oak says as he also approaches them. He says, "Only weaklings will try to act all high and mighty. Surely you don't want to be one, right?"

The traitors drop their smirks as they growl, but they know that if they attack the Professor, then it will be trouble for them. Brock says, "Then where is Ash and his Pokemon? Surely he hasn't left, right?"

"I am sorry that he already left with his mother to somewhere else. And he brings along all his Pokemon, so you are not going to steal them for your own greed." Professor Oak says.

"Man, now that they didn't travel with Ash, they start to act like Team Rocket?" Gary mutters, and Misty yells, "Don't compare us to them!"

"Sure, they know how to give up while you don't, that makes you even worse than them." Gary taunts back.

Before a fight can happen, they hear Chairman Rose asking Ash to give out a speech, and the traitors notice it. "So Ash is now in Galar Region..." Misty says.

"Not only that, he is a prince..." May says as they all have greed in their eyes. "Then we must go there."

"Oh no, you don't!" Gary takes out the Venomoth and he tries to stop them, but it is too late as they manage to run away.

"Just how fast they are? Especially I know that one of them doesn't even like running." Gary groans.

Professor Oak says, "We can think about them later, right now what we should do is that we warn Delia and the others about their coming to the Galar Region."

Gary says, "You're right. And I know that people in the Galar Region have high respect for the Ketchum family, so I am not going to worry about them trying to make Ash a weakling in front of the crowd."

Then they decide to sit back into their seats and see how Ash gives out the speech to the crowd.

After Delia got the call from Professor Oak, she can't believe what she is hearing. She uses her status as the Kanto Champion to gather all the Champions in the meeting. Goodshow asks, "Delia, what's the matter? Why holding a meeting this instant?"

Delia says, "It is about my son, the new champion of Alola, Ash. I suppose you all know about him, right?"

"Of course we know." Lance says, "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be able to stop Team Rocket, Team Magma, and Team Aqua."

Cynthia says, "Team Galactic as well."

Diantha says, "Not to mention Team Flare. But what's wrong with him?"

Leon says, "Let me explain." As he explains the betrayal to the Champions, they are surprised, and then Wallace asks, "How could they say and do such a thing? No wonder you didn't let Ash come here."

"You're right. Now he was in trauma as he now doubts his abilities. Right now we are trying to see if the harem will cure him." Delia says.

"So he is having a harem? That is new." Alder says. "Never know he is that kind of person."

"Excuse me, Alder, he is not a pervert like you." Cynthia glares at him, and then she turns back to Delia, "But her actions sure captured a lot of girls' hearts, I know Dawn is one of them."

"If you ask me, Serena is quite obvious as well." Diantha says, "But we shouldn't go off the topic, so Delia, what should we do to help you?"

Delia says, "Right now Ash is challenging the Galar League, I decided to let them come into the Galar Region."

This causes the other Champions to be surprised, "Why? Aren't you worried that they might be trying to interrupt Ash? Or maybe worse, hurt him and steal his Pokemon?" Lance asks.

"Of course I am, but that is when I want your help, I want you to all help me by sending some staff members to the stadiums so that those traitors won't try to get near him."

Goodshow says, "Normally it is exaggerating to use full force to protect a person, but then again it is Ash Ketchum, who has been famous all over the region. Have you contacted Rose and Leon about this thing?"

"You bet, I just hope that everything goes well." Delia says with a sigh as they continue the meeting.

Gladion and Lusamine arrive at Wedgehurst as they are still searching for their father, they come across the lab and they see Professor Magnolia there. Lusamine says, "Professor Magnolia. It is nice to see you again."

The old Professor notices the president of the Aether Foundation and she smiles, "Hello, Lusamine dear. And I see you bring young Gladion here as well."

"Mom, you know the Professor of this region?" Gladion asks in surprise. "And how did she know me?"

"Of course. We had worked together for one time." Lusamine says, then she turns to Magnolia as she says her reasons for this region. "I see. So you think that Mohn is alive and you are searching for him. That is good news."

"Indeed. But the problem is that we don't know where he is. So I want to see if we can borrow some books to find some answers?"

"Sure thing." Magnolia says as she shows the bookshelves with a lot of books. Lusamine and Gladion are now reading one after one, but as Gladion is finding the book, he accidentally bumps into a girl, who says, "Oww..."

"I am sorry." Gladion says to the girl in front of him and holds her up, the girl blushes a little and she says, "My answer: It's fine. I should be the one apologizing. Reason: I didn't look at my surroundings."

Gladion looks at the girl, he asks, "Why are you talking like a robot?"

The girl just doesn't reply as she gives him a League Card, then Gladion reads it and he knows, "I am sorry to hear that. I should introduce myself, I am Gladion Aether."

"Introduction: My name is Namie Ketchum." The girl says back, and Gladion asks, "Ketchum...are you perhaps related to Ash Ketchum?"

The girl nods and says, "Correct: He is my brother. Question: You know him?"

"Yeah, he is a rival of mine and my sister has a crush on him." Gladion replies. Namie nods and she asks, "Question: What are you doing here?"

"I want to find any clues about my father, which is why we are here." Gladion says as Namie nods. "Question: Do you want me to help you?"

Gladion is surprised and he stutters, "Well..." Then he notices a book and asks, "What is this?"

Namie looks at the cover and says, "Answer: This is the history about the royalties in the world."

Gladion reads the book as it shows a lot of royalties, and he is also surprised that his family is also one of the royalties in the world, but before he can continue reading, he hears his mother calling to him.

"Gladion, what are you reading? I thought you were trying to help me find the books that may help us find Mohn?" Lusamine asks.

"I am sorry, mother. But this book of royalties caught my attention. Lillie and I knew that we are royals from the Alola Region, but how come we never knew about the other kingdoms?" Gladion asks.

Lusamine says, "Oh, about that I do owe you some apologies since I forgot to tell you about it." Lusamine says, causing Gladion to anime fall and his Lycanroc is just tilting his head.

"Mother..." Gladion whines.

Then she also notices Namie, who is giggling at Gladion's antics, she says, "And who might you be?"

After the introduction, Lusamine is surprised to know that the girl is Delia's daughter. And she says, "That reminds me, I did forget that Delia is the queen of this kingdom, no wonder she looked familiar back when we met at Alola's school..." Lusamine says. "Maybe I should call her for help as well."

"I guess so." Gladion gets back up and nods, then they continue to search for the books, and Namie offers to help out as well, much to Lusamine's joy.

Here is a new chapter, and I have given Gladion a love interest in this story, Namie is a Gym Leader and also one of the siblings of Ash. I hope you like this chapter.

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, Woobat, Braixen, Bunnelby, Pancham, Sylveon

Lillie's Pokemon: Diglett (Alolan), Machop, Purrloin, Vulpix (Alolan), Grubbin, Mudbray, Bounsweet, Magearna