The long awaited match with Kabu is here. Let's get into it. Chapter 3!
Chapter 3
A Wall
It was deafening, and dull.
It was far away, yet still trembling inside her bones.
Gloria could hear nothing, see nothing, and presently, she wanted to feel nothing. Every pore in her body was on edge, tingling with anxiety as she waited for the call that would begin deciding her road forward. Forcing down the lump in her throat, she clutched Applin tighter, the little Pokémon's leaves bending backwards to look up at her.
She wasn't alone. Raboot was calming himself over by the set of lockers, while Corvisquire watched the entrance, waiting for who would likely come through the doors. Chewtle just rested on the bench, keeping Gloria company as she tried to tamp down on her nerves.
"We can do this, right?"
"App!" Applin's squeak was one of encouragement, the little apple bouncing in her hands. She was smiling, Gloria could tell that much, and she hugged her companion tighter.
The door creaked open, all five of those present in the room turning in its direction to see the familiar salt-and-pepper head of hair come jogging in, the towel still wrapped around his neck. He came to a stop, the door closing and leaving the cheers of anticipation behind. His eyes lowered towards Gloria, who chose to stand in that moment, facing across from the leader who has schooled her not once, but twice.
His look of appraisal finished, he gave a noncommittal grunt. "Would seem we have a full house. You've garnered quite the legion of followers."
Gloria squeezed her eyes shut, trying to not be unsettled by that piece of information. She cleared her throat a bit, sharing a brief look with her team before returning all but Raboot. That done, she faced back towards Kabu. "Somehow, I doubt they're here to cheer me on."
"One can never know," Kabu responded in kind, walking towards the hall to the pitch. "The crowd can change on a whim. Your tenacity in facing me a third time, however, has piqued the interest of the people. It's a rare event, and one I hope does not disappoint."
Gloria didn't know how to respond to that. It didn't stop her and Raboot from taking their place at his side, waiting for the crowd to settle down and for the announcer to call for them. Her brow furrowed and knitted itself, trying to come up with some sort of retort, but managing nothing. She settled for breathing out, taking her one impulsive moment to turn towards Kabu and look up at him.
"I can't promise anything," she said, instilling herself with as much confidence as she possibly could. "But I won't back down. You're a wall I have to climb over, but I can't just think climbing is the only way. Battles are unpredictable, and if it means I have to find a way to make the wall topple, I'll do what I can to make it so. Win or lose, I'm going to give you a battle you won't forget."
"Hah." Kabu cracked a small smile at her words, nodding. "I had hoped to hear as much. Your time with the Ketchums seems to have served you well. They're well known for the same kind of attitude. It's what makes me happy to promote the Performing School.
"However, today is a day for battle, not ballet. So let us burn with the fires of conflict and passion."
No sooner had he said so, than the chime sounded, and the voice echoed, calling for them to approach the field at once. Each combatant clenched, and in lockstep, strode down the hallway for the all too familiar field that was the pitch of Motostoke Stadium.
The lights instantly blinded Gloria, harsher than they had been before, but the girl tempered them in her vision. Doing so brought the crowd into full focus, each cheering for the battle, though she suspected they were more for Kabu, than herself. Not that no one was there to cheer for her, Ash and the others having created their own small section, complete with Seamus and his class, all of them looking forward to seeing how Galar did its Gym battles.
Of course, the one thing Kabu hadn't been lying about was how full the stands were. Every seat was taken in Motostoke, something that Gloria hadn't thought possible. Striding to the middle of the field, the answer became obvious.
"Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen! It's another fine day in Motostoke, and an even finer day for a Gym battle!" the announcer cried, driving up the anticipation of the crowd to its peak. At the center of the pitch, Kabu stopped and turned, offering his hand to Gloria, which she took. With a breath, she turned around, heading for her trainer's box. Only the sound of the Rotom Drone, swooping in above them, broke that of the crowd. "As usual, I'm your esteemed commentator, Gerry, bringing you every blow from right here in Motostoke. We're packed to the rafters today, but if you couldn't get a ticket, feel free to watch via livestream because we've got a real doozy of a matchup today!
"Our great Gym Leader Kabu will be facing off against the plucky and determined Challenger Gloria. As I'm sure many know, this will be her third attempt to face off against Kabu, a number rare at best. Will she be successful? Only the time and tides of battle will tell! On your marks!"
The crowd cried out, some cheering her name, but many more waiting to see if this would be the time for her to pull out the battle they wanted. If she could topple that wall. The referee stepped forward.
"This Gym match will be between the Challenger, Gloria, and the Gym Leader, Kabu," he said, indicating each side as he spoke. The crowd grew quiet, waiting with bated breath for the battle to start. "Each side will use three Pokémon, with the battle over when one side has no more usable Pokémon. Only the challenger is allowed substitutions."
Gloria breathed in, looking up. The crowd was set, banners flying, and she looked across to Ash and the others. This time, she'd win. She clutched her first Poké Ball.
"Battle start!"
"Arcanine."
"Chewtle, let's go!" Gloria pitched her ball forward, and from within it emerged the tiny turtle, roaring loudly, but dwarfed by the far larger Fire type. Its bellow overpowered hers, but neither Gloria nor Chewtle backed down. Kabu raised an eyebrow, but his muscles tightened. He wasn't planning on underestimating her in spite of her previous performances.
"To no surprise, Kabu leads with Arcanine, and it seems Gloria is bringing her best mates back into battle! Chewtle took down Arcanine before, but will she manage it this time? Or are we fated to see a repeat performance?"
"Let's find out. Run at it!" Chewtle gave a shout, and with her head angled forward, she charged for Arcanine. To the audience, it seemed reckless, many giving groans of frustration, which only doubled as Kabu called his own first command.
"Will-O-Wisp." Arcanine growled, its fur bristling on end. His maw glowed purple, a familiar sight to Gloria, and as Chewtle kept charging through, the ghostly flames shot out, consuming Chewtle. Gloria's fists tightened, but she continued trusting in Chewtle, just as Ash had told her. The belief in her turtle held fast, and was rewarded moments later when she continued her charge, the flames licking at her body, but her staunch refusal to give in was made real. Kabu scoffed. "Roar."
"Not this time! Jaw Lock it, now!"
"Chew!" Chewtle jumped, her barreling speed carrying herself into the air. Kabu's eyebrows flew up across the field.
"We're not falling for the same trick again!" Gloria punched forward, the air of battle coming to rest inside her bones. Arcanine's jaw opened wide, but Chewtle was faster, her stubby legs springing her towards the mouth of the Fire type, and clamping shut. A clanking sound echoed around the stadium, like a padlock being shut, chains wrapping around the pair. Chewtle let go, dropping to the floor, and as the bellow of Roar echoed, she remained, burning but present. "Gotta thank Nessa for that trick. I'm not gonna be part of your strategy!"
"Hah, so you won't," Kabu said, shaking his head. His arms found their way behind his back, still not full of passion, just like before. Gloria refused to be intimidated, even as the smirk appeared. "Then we can truly battle. Extreme Speed."
"Arcah!" Arcanine's short bark was followed by its body vanishing, the all too familiar speed presenting itself. It reappeared in front of Chewtle, ramming into her and driving her back. Her tiny frame belied her will, and she held on, shaking the attack off. Arcanine disappeared again, this time appearing at the side. Chewtle turned to face it, but just as soon, Arcanine was at her back, slamming into her and causing her to roll forward, splayed on all fours. The Fire type reappeared in the front.
"Water Gun!"
"Back, and Flamethrower!" It was the first shout Kabu had given, but Gloria didn't dare to believe he had found this battle a worthy one yet. Arcanine leapt back. Chewtle's mouth opened, scrambling back to her feet, the liquid forming within as Arcanine did the same with a series of flames.
They fired at the same time, the pressurized jet of water pushing Chewtle just a little back. It struck against the Flamethrower, steam billowing in the air and around the battlefield. Gloria winced, covering her eyes while the crowd cheered, only for the red-hot embers of Arcanine's attack to begin overpowering Water Gun, blazing across Chewtle as she cried out, her body smoking from the burn besetting her. Gloria's eyes narrowed. She'd been defeated there, but Water Gun wasn't completely useless.
It was a shame Arcanine was too fast to utilize that discovery. Already, Kabu had called for another Extreme Speed, battering Chewtle with increased frequency. First her head, then her back, then her side which sent her rolling along. She righted herself swiftly, tuning her bulbous head every way she could, unable to get a lock.
"Calm down, Chewtle! Remember our training! Don't move!" Gloria ground her foot into the ground, Arcanine speeding into Chewtle once more and leaping back. Chewtle hunkered down, taking the hit without flinching, despite the fire around her, and as Arcanine jumped back, it was as if the world had turned to slow motion. Kabu's strategy became plain. "Now, Water Gun right there!"
"Too slow. Flamethrower," Kabu said, waving his hand aside. Arcanine got the message, its paws lightly touching the ground before leaping to the side. Gloria grinned.
"Body Slam!" The Water Gun hadn't even impacted with the spot where Arcanine had been planning to land before Chewtle was taking off. Her speed hardly matched Gloria's other companions, but they had the element of surprise on their side. Arcanine landed, its mouth already open in action of Kabu's command, unable to stop.
The torrent of flame rushed out, but Chewtle continued forward, her body weight becoming like a steam train. The conflagration flew around her, the turtle's tiny body splitting the rush of flames and ramming her horn into Arcanine as soon as the jet of fire ended. This was Arcanine's turn to stumble back, slipping to its knee for a second and convulsing.
"What a turn of events! Arcanine is paralyzed!" Gerry yelled with enthusiasm. Overhead, Rotom zipped across the battlefield and roaring crowd. Gloria's fist tightened.
"And we won't stop there."
"Don't think it an advantage yet. Extreme Speed!" Kabu's call was confident, but not one that Arcanine could match. It ran forward, trying to gather speed, but trembling. The paralysis was taking its toll, no longer making the Fire type appear to be a blur.
Gloria and Chewtle could see it.
"Jaw Lock! Just like Mareanie!" Arcanine was nearly on Chewtle, this time having no room to dodge. Chewtle opened wide, but this time sunk her teeth into the Pokémon's leg. Arcanine cried out, and Chewtle began to lift, holding Arcanine high above her.
"Chewwwwtle!" Chewtle whipped Arcanine around, holding steady to the far larger weight, before bringing it slamming into the stadium ground, cracking small pieces of it. Without delay, Chewtle lifted Arcanine up once more, the tremendous effort causing her body to strain, before she slammed it again.
That was the last opportunity Kabu was willing to give them. "Flamethrower."
"Let go and Water Gun!"
Chewtle immediately disengaged as the orange flames coalesced in Arcanine's mouth and blasted out. She matched him, her own made of cold liquid that made a short burst against the flames. The steam plumed out, preventing the pair from being seen to the crowd and combatants.
But not to Gloria. She gripped tight on her gloved fingers. "Now let's finish it! Water Gun!"
"ChewTLE!" Like a spring, Chewtle shot up, just above Arcanine's prone form, revealed by the dissipating steam. The Fire type attempted to retaliate, but Chewtle was too close, and with a singular stream, fired straight down like a hammering waterfall. She kept the pressurized water cascading down until she no longer could, battering upon Arcanine's body. The water burst out like a wave, stretching to the ceiling, and then Chewtle landed, burning but conscious. Arcanine was not so lucky, its matted fur soaked, and its form unmoving with a whimper.
The steam vanished, and the referee stepped forward.
"Arcanine is unable to battle. Chewtle is the winner."
"Yes!" Gloria cried, pumping her fist while Chewtle roared with confidence. She wasn't the only one, the crowd giving an enormous cry, soon joined by Gerry's voice among them.
"And she's done it! Challenger Gloria has defeated Kabu's Arcanine! No Dynamax! No Pokémon lost! Is this it? Is this her run?!" Gerry's call was matched with further enthusiasm, but Gloria was no longer sharing in it. Her euphoria was short-lived, reality rocketing back to her when Kabu called his Pokémon back and grabbed for his next.
"Thank you, friend," he whispered, before looking up. "And yourself. Ingenuity over Dynamax. You've passed your first test. But can you continue? Torkoal, time to burn!"
"Torkoooooooal!" The flash of light was met only by a different turtle hitting the field, still far larger than Chewtle, and healthier, too. Gloria swallowed. Arcanine had been the preliminary. Now the real battle was set to begin. Chewtle hunkered down.
"Kabu's called his second favorite to the field. A Pokémon from his homeland, the staunch Torkoal suffers no victories from its opponents. Round two begins now!"
"Water Gun!"
"Smokescreen."
The call was efficient, and Torkoal moved faster than Gloria had expected of one similar in build to her own turtle. Torkoal's squinted eyes bent low, and from the pores on its shell, smoke belched forth, covering the entire battlefield in a thick layer that obscured both turtles from view. Chewtle still fired, but the echoed sound of it striking the stadium floor indicated that it had missed its mark. Torkoal was already moving, and unlike the steam of the battle before, Gloria had no idea where it was.
"You may have won the first battle, but how will you deal with the marathon. Torkoal is more than speed and firepower. Stealth Rock. Then Iron Defense."
Gloria's brow knitted, ticking down on her fingers. Three moves, none of which were attacks, but mere setup for later in a fight. It could only mean the last move was a devastating one, and she needed to end the battle before the need for a replacement could arise. "Chewtle, feel around. Try to find Torkoal."
"Koal!" Torkoal's sharp cry was matched by a bright light coming from somewhere within the smoke. Chewtle struck out for it, but hit nothing but billowing ash and soot. The light reached its zenith in the air, another red light rising upwards within the smoke. The midair orb broke apart, becoming streaking stones that embedded themselves in the ground. Kabu's setup was complete, and one of his hands pointed forward.
"Heat Wave." Gloria snapped up, desperately trying to find Torkoal before the attack could be let loose. Torkoal, however, was far too fast. She had but thought it before the rolling heat and flames spread out in a radius across the smoke and battlefield. They buffeted Chewtle, combining with the already debilitating effect of the burns in her body. She cried out, teeth gritted as the expulsion of fire radiated outwards. "Again."
"Water Gun, up high!" Gloria's arm fanned out, Chewtle getting the message, and she aimed her neck up. From within the smoke, its location hidden by the radius of fire, the Heat Wave washed out again. Chewtle was a little faster, firing her water up, where it turned to rain for all of a second, striking on Torkoal within the smoke.
It did little good. The flames of the Heat Wave rolled into Chewtle, pushing her back with a scream, and just when it subsided, and the tiny turtle held on…
…fire consumed her. The burn had, at long last, taken its toll.
"Cheeeew…" The delirious cry was enough to tell Gloria that Chewtle had at last fallen in battle, and sure enough, the referee stepped forward to make the call.
"One-to-one! A tied match! Has our challenger lost her momentum?"
Gloria breathed out, ignoring the sounds of the crowd beginning to doubt her. She held Chewtle's Poké Ball out, returning her. "You were great. You held on long enough to give us the advantage. We'll share victory."
The Poké Ball shook in her hold. Sucking in yet another breath, Gloria hooked the Poké Ball and looked across to Kabu. His hands were behind his back again, but his gaze was beckoning her. He wanted her to prove she had grown. "Come."
"Corvisquire!" Gloria reared back and tossed her next ball on the field, bursting with light and calling Corvisquire out. Unlike before, he was full health, his sharp eyes and sharper claws gleaming in the crowd's enthusiasm.
The enthusiasm was short-lived. "Corva?!"
From the ground, stones shot out, slamming into Corvisquire and causing him to become unsettled in the air. It was a disadvantage she certainly didn't need, and one Kabu had been counting on.
"Corvisquire, you all right?" The bird shook his head, but soon gave a squawk and a flap of his wings. He was ready to bring the fight to them, and this time, he wanted to be the one to win. "Then let's get to it. Clear away the smoke with Air Slash!"
"Cor!" Corvisquire's wings beat at the air, carrying him to a higher altitude. Within his feathers, the orb of compressed air was formed. With a single slash of his wings, Corvisquire sent the attack hurtling towards the smoke. It ruptured upon meeting it, sending wind across the battlefield that blew the smoke away and revealed Torkoal below.
"Drill Peck!" Gloria punched forward, but kept her eyes on Kabu, waiting for the retaliation. Corvisquire dove straight for the revealed Torkoal, the Coal Pokémon watching him. He began to spin, his beak shining with the sheer force. In seconds, he was upon Torkoal, ramming into his shell with the spinning move.
It didn't take long for Corvisquire to spin out, Torkoal only looking mildly discomfited while the bird glanced off.
"That won't be enough. Not against my peerless defense. Heat Wave!"
Corvisquire had no room to dodge, not at such a close range. The holes on Torkoal's shell burned red-hot, and they soon belched fire and heat. The wave rolled across Corvisquire, sending him tumbling through the air, his feathers briefly catching fire before he managed to put them out and right himself. Kabu was right. No amount of reckless attacking head-on was going to penetrate that shell, or pierce the new layer of Smokescreen that Torkoal applied.
He has the ground completely covered…if we get close, there's no way we can avoid that kind of move…Gloria's head started to thrum, the rancor of the crowd like a pulsing drumbeat she didn't want to hear. The enormity of the fight was catching up to her, just like before, all of the cheering and cajoling hammering away.
All except for Raboot, cheering Corvisquire on at her feet, and the bird turning back.
"Corva!" he shouted, bringing Gloria back, the crowd's once muted shouts returning in full.
He was right; she wasn't in this alone.
"I could Dynamax, but then we still have Centiskorch to deal with," Gloria said under her breath, pounding a fist into her palm. "So, we'll have to play smart instead of tough, and if Kabu wants the ground…he can have it. Straight up, Corvisquire, and use Hone Claws!"
"Iron Defense!"
Kabu's call mattered little to Gloria and her trusty bird. Corvisquire shot up, rubbing his claws together as his body glowed red in ascension. Torkoal's body also glowed red somewhere in the smoke, but Gloria didn't care. She closed her eyes. Defense wouldn't matter.
"Air Slash!"
"Heat Wave!"
The rippling heat on the skin could already be felt, but Corvisquire had gained his height, enough to see it coming. His wings snapped out, feeling the air and riding it while he created his familiar orb of air. He sent it flying with a flick of his wings as the pulse of flame traveled out. The attacks collided, Torkoal's just barely missing. The air rippled, wavering as a small funnel shimmered in the haze.
Gloria's eyes narrowed.
"Rapid fire!"
"Torkoal, upwards!" Something was different in the way Kabu had ordered it, but the situation remained no different.
"Tor!" The heat wasn't widespread anymore, but the orange glow within the smoke gave indication to where it was in the mess. That orange glow soon turned to a plume, and then an eruption point that became a wave less wide, and more tall, threatening to crash into Corvisquire's airborne form.
He wasn't staying still, however, creating Air Slash after Air Slash and flinging them at the coalescing wave. Each strike pushed his body further and further back, higher into the air. The wave rippled, and Gloria moved her eyes to the ground, where the smoke was churning and swirling.
The funnel was becoming real.
The column of the Heat Wave, now visible in a concentrated attack from Torkoal's shell, finally descended upon Corvisquire as he created one last Air Slash, large as he could. Whipping his wings out, it collided with the Heat Wave, causing a vortex of air to wash over the stadium, nearly ripping the breath right out of Gloria and Kabu's lungs.
She recovered first. "Just what we were waiting for! Feel the wind, and don't let up! Drill Peck!"
"Torkoal, use-ah!" His surprise was dull, but no less felt.
The collision of cold and warm air had been fully wrought, and where once there was smoke, there now stood a cyclone, whipping around the battlefield. The crowd roared at the strategy, one Corvisquire made use of in riding the currents of wind. Torkoal was not so lucky, trying to remain rooted to the ground, but soon losing traction, forced into the bird's domain.
"Science classes and shows have some good after all!" Gloria said, grinning at her partner in the sky. "Iron Defense won't protect your underbelly in the air!"
"Squy!" Corvisquire dove, drilling forth into Torkoal's underside, driving it further into the air. Torkoal cried out, the damage greater than either it or Kabu had anticipated.
"Keep it up! Push it into the cyclone!" Gloria shouted over the whipping winds. She knew the advantage wouldn't last, and Corvisquire sensed that urgency, breaking off to fly around and slam into Torkoal with another Drill Peck, forcing the turtle into the cyclone. Its winds carried it up to the top and Corvisquire followed in, ramming the turtle again, both flagging in exhaustion.
"Heat Wave. Full burst!"
"Torkoal!" Torkoal's cry saw its legs retract towards its shell, body glowing orange like a bomb about to go off. Corvisquire came close in the attack, striking with another Drill Peck on the head.
That was the signal, and with a guttural cry, Torkoal's body exploded with the full force of the Heat Wave. The melting intensity washed over the stadium, rippling the force fields and causing Gloria's skin to sweat from every pore. The cyclone spun itself out, reduced to still air, while Corvisquire was hit with the brunt of the attack, flung back and smoking. Over the speakers, Gerry could be heard asking if this was the end of this round.
Both Pokémon began to plummet towards the ground.
Corvisquire opened his eyes.
"Not done yet! Air Slash it straight down!"
"Corvisqua!" The great caw of her loyal, gutsy Pokémon resounded through the stadium, his burning wings flapping out as he regained position above the falling Torkoal. With a spin, he sent the orb of compressed air flying down for Torkoal's exposed form.
"Now, Drill Peck, right into it!"
"CorvAAAAA!" He dove, wings like ashen embers as he spun. His glowing beak hit the air of his own making, trailing in streams around his body as he collided with Torkoal, bringing them both careening downwards to a stop with but one ending.
"TORKAA!" They landed, the winds rising in an explosion of dust. Gloria covered her eyes, while Kabu stood across, unfettered and waiting.
Soon, it cleared, showing Torkoal, splayed out and unconscious, Corvisquire above it in victory. He looked over to Gloria, a triumphant gleam in his eyes.
Then, the last of his strength gave out, and Corvisquire tumbled.
"Both Torkoal and Corvisquire are unable to battle!"
The cry caused the volume in the stadium to reach deafening levels. Voices calling for Kabu's victory. Voices calling for her victory. Gerry shouting at the turning point of the match.
To Gloria, however, there was numbness as she recalled her faithful friend.
Two down.
Just one to go.
She was on the precipice of climbing the wall, and now she needed to push. It felt even more daunting than it had before she started. She looked up, watching Ash and Bonnie cheer with gusto, while Serena sat on the edge of her seat, gripping armrests. Astrid, of course, surveyed the field with pursed lips. Gloria's eyes traveled back down to Kabu, calm and collected. He raised his head.
No preamble was needed. "Centiskorch, time to blaze!"
"Sk-k-k-ka!" The chittering and clicking of Kabu's partner filled the stadium, drawing a huge uproar from the crowd around them. Gloria shut them out.
It was just them. Nothing else to distract. Just her and Kabu.
"Raboot, you ready?" Raboot looked up, one eye closed, and he nodded. "This is it, then. No more chances. We're gonna take down Kabu together, you and me. Just like it's always been."
"Rab."
"Then let's go, I ch…Time for battle!" Gloria pointed forward, her lips set in a grim line, and Raboot hopped forward. The second his feet touched the field, the rocks from before rose up, making a beeline for him. This time, Gloria and her partner were prepared. "Kick 'em!"
"Bah!" Raboot swiped his leg out, connecting with the stones and sending them flying into the forcefield. Rabbit and trainer faced down Kabu, who could no longer help the smirk coming to his face. They meant business.
Kabu wasn't going to be one to turn down the invitation. "Fire Lash!"
"Flame Charge!"
"And they're right into it, gents! The final battle of this mighty showdown! Who will come out on top?!"
I will. Her thoughts were borne by Raboot, rushing forward with the flames around his body. From Centiskorch, tongues of fire whipped out, snapping for the rabbit. He dodged to the side with his increased speed, never stopping his forward progression. The closer Raboot got, the swifter the snapping Fire Lash got, one of them striking him on the cheek just as he was within range, charging straight into the bug and flipping off.
"Headbutt!"
"Raboot!" No sooner had Raboot landed on his feet than his head replaced the rest of his body in striking Centiskorch.
Kabu was just as swift on the uptake. Soon as the attack was hitting, he and Centiskorch were ready. "Coil."
"Skaaaa!" Centiskorch's hissing and clicking indicated the centipede rolling itself into a tight ball. Raboot crashed his head down, sending it flying like a ball as the red glow of his opponent's increased defenses shined around the stadium.
"No time to rest! Double Kick!" Raboot flipped forward, righting the position of his head before his feet kicked him up, carrying himself high. He was above Centiskorch, whipping his feet around to smash into Centiskorch and send it hurtling towards the ground. The crowd roared with approval, Gerry commenting on how Gloria appeared to have the upper hand.
She knew it was anything but. Centiskorch wasn't flagging in the slightest, and was ready to enact Kabu's following order the second it hit the ground. "Fire Spin!"
There was a small grin as he said it, one that Centiskorch didn't quite share. The bug hit the floor, its usual whips of fire transforming into racing flames. Raboot landed, nowhere else to go but down, and once he had, the lines of fire wrapped themselves around him in a rotating turret of flame. Gloria could see him grimace within the flames. She clenched a moment.
"No giving up. Bounce!" Raboot's body coiled, itself, and like a spring, shot himself into the air, high above the flames. He twisted, angling for Centiskorch, who was waiting.
"Lunge!" Centiskorch reared back at Kabu's command, and when Raboot came hurtling towards it, it struck. The bug's body extended right for the descending Raboot, meeting his Bounce head-on in a collision that resounded around the stadium, pushing both combatants away from one another, back towards their respective trainers.
"Buh…" Raboot puffed out, grimacing at the wound on his cheek, but looking just as fresh to continue the battle. Centiskorch was the same, only a slight flickering of its flames indicating the damage done in the initial clash. "Raboot!"
"Yeah, I can feel it, too," Gloria assured her partner, breathing in deep. She looked across to Kabu, and finally, for the first time that match, his hands removed themselves from behind him.
"At last. I do believe you've earned the right."
The crowd began to raise a cheer, echoing around the stadium. It caused some confusion for Seamus and his class in the stands, but Gloria knew what it really meant. Every call from the audience meant she had arrived. Win or lose, she had made it to being worthy of Kabu's best. He didn't need to say it for her to know, because the crowd was saying it all for her with one single word. "DY-NA-MAX! DY-NA-MAX! DY-NA-MAX!"
"Let us close the curtain on our fiery battle, Challenger Gloria!"
Challenger.
Gloria grinned, grabbing Raboot's Poké Ball and holding it high. Kabu did the same, both returning their respective partners. The sky grew dark, and the capsules grew larger in their hands. Gloria grinned, and on Kabu's end, she could see his eyes alighting with flame. The final phase was here, and they called their Pokémon forth once again. Storm clouds erupted overhead, and the emerged Pokémon grew larger, towering over their trainers. Centiskorch's entire body changed, revealing its Gigantamax Form to great applause.
But the audience didn't matter anymore. Not to Gloria, and not to Kabu.
"G-Max Centiferno!" Kabu's hand plunged down, almost kneeling. Centiskorch reared back, screeching, and formed an orb of whirling flame, comprised of every single bit of fire along its body. Without delay, it flung the fire for the giant Raboot.
"Max Airstream!" Raboot was silent, but steady, planting one foot on the ground and lifting his other into a kick that created a rupturing wind. The wind ripped through the air and into the orb of flames, the two attacks connecting and holding before they burst into an explosion that rattled the force field. Kabu's attack was thwarted, but far from over.
"Max Rockfall!"
"Max Flare!" Gloria looked up, watching as Centiskorch's tendrils burrowed into the ground, creating a mighty slab of earth. They had no time to waste, already on the ticking time clock that was Dynamax, and Raboot knew it. He reared back, summoning all of the fire inside him. "Make it a concentrated stream!"
"Rabooooo!" Raboot snapped forward, bellowing flames forward in a line like a laser. The rock slab threatened to crush him, but the fire soon pierced it, melting the stone away and creating a hole right through the center. The stony edifice broke to pieces as the fire continued on its course for Centiskorch, only to collide with a blue shield around the giant bug, splitting off at numerous angles.
The crowd groaned, disappointed that the hit hadn't landed.
"Max Flutterby!"
"Skreeeeee!" The screeching intensified as the army of insects appeared from Centiskorch's body. Raboot readied himself, and the bugs flew forward and rammed themselves into his body. He crossed his arms, hoping to reduce the damage, but Gloria had different ideas.
"Max Strike! Plant yourself in the ground, then use Max Airstream and blow 'em away!"
"Buh!" The sound of Raboot's voice resonated around the stadium. One of his feet lifted up and crashed into the ground, cracking the field around him. It provided enough leverage for his other leg to swing around in a wide arc, creating a powerful cyclone that dispersed the bugs and buffeted Centiskorch, snapping its body back. Gloria's hair and uniform rippled around her body, tightening further.
"No time to rest! Get out and use Max Knuckle!" Raboot nodded, keeping one eye on Centiskorch while it recovered, and with a great wrenching noise, pulled his leg free. The remains of his Max Airstream carried him to the air, where even with his large size, he managed to flip around and bring his foot careening down. From it came a glowing fist, sailing through the air for Kabu's ace.
She expected him to guard it like he had the Flare, but he did no such thing, a grin stretching his face. The fist pummeled itself into Centiskorch, who held on, beginning to grin through its flaming X. "Yes, now this is a battle! G-Max Centiferno!"
"Skreeeaaa!" Rattled, but not beaten, Centiskorch's fires blazed high, becoming the orb of flame that brought heat to the entire stadium. The crowd was fired up, screaming for all they were worth when Centiskorch fired. This time, Raboot couldn't stop it before the orb crashed into his body.
"Rabuuuuh!" The cry was pained, his fur set aflame as the towering Centiferno stretched towards the sky. It whirled around Raboot, keeping him locked in place for yet another Max Rockfall. He twitched inside the inferno, dropping to one knee as the great stone slab rose up high. Gloria knew, her fist tightening.
Think, Gloria. This won't be the end. The monolith began to fall, even as the flames refused to let up around Raboot. Yet he wasn't burning, and Gloria blinked. Fire…That's right…All that work learning Flame Charge…
"Raboot, we are fire! Use Max Flare! Make it your own with Max Airstream!"
"Two Max moves?!" Kabu cried, surprised by the order. Gerry and the crowd were just as shocked by it.
"If we can use two moves at once in a normal battle, who said we can't with a Dynamax one! Raboot, let's goooo!"
"RABUHHHHH!" Raboot's body burned, fire igniting and spluttering around his body. The Centiferno continued to whirl, but it no longer burned, allowing Raboot to stand, his Max Flare manifesting as a great flame that consumed his entire body. One leg planted, he spun around with alacrity that surprised even Kabu. The Max Airstream caught to the rotating fires, picking them up and owning them. They continued to wrap around Raboot's body, becoming an armor of blazing passion before Raboot charged forward, his speed greater than that of the falling stone. "BOOT!"
His foot smashed through, arriving near Centiskorch. Gloria's body tingled.
"MAX FLARE CHARGE!" She punched forward.
"MAX GUARD!"
"Not today!" Gloria screamed, tears flying from her eyes in a haze of heat and passion. The crowd roared their approval. From Ash's place in the stands, he and Bonnie were standing, screaming their lungs out for all they were worth.
The blue shield formed around Centiskorch's giant body as Raboot charged him head on, ready to intercept the brunt of the forward-charging blow. Gloria and her partner, on the other hand, had other plans. With but one look back, she nodded. Putting all the strength into his legs, Raboot sprang up, high above the shield.
Sun blazed overhead, illuminating Raboot's giant, flaming form, like a meteor descending towards earth. The crowd cried out, and Kabu's eyed widened. Then, Raboot fell, one leg outstretched, all of his fire becoming a singular, concentrated ball. He whipped around, his giant leg striking his own enormous orb of flame and sending it rocketing down.
It plummeted, a harbinger of fire that streaked red and orange until it crashed atop Centiskorch, burning through the air. Centiskorch screeched, its elongated body flapping about from the force of the attack which soon cracked the ground, sending fire and smoke everywhere. The shield cracked, shattering, and Raboot landed back on the field, his body glowing as he began to shrink and revert form, their time up.
Gloria, however, waited for the dust to clear.
Her heart beat in her head, every second more agonizing than the last. The crowd had fallen to silence.
"Sk-k-ka…"
Gloria's breath hitched, and at long last the smoke cleared.
Centiskorch was down.
Kabu began to clap, and he wasn't alone. One by one, the sound of applause echoed the stadium over. Gloria stared across to Centiskorch's unconscious, and smaller, form. Disbelief flooded her veins, every part of her body starting to shake as the referee walked forward.
"Centiskorch is unable to battle. The winner is Raboot," he called, throwing his hand in Gloria's direction. "The victor of the match is the challenger, Gloria!"
"SHE'S DONE IT!" Gerry yelled, leading the great and sudden roaring cheers that filled the stadium. Gloria trembled, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her. She looked up to Raboot, exhausted, but smiling beneath his fur. Refusing to let her knees fall, Gloria spun her limbs, running for her partner. "Challenger Gloria has defeated Kabu at last! From the spitfire girl who challenged him on day one to now! Look how she's grown! I'll tell you, I can't wait to see what battles she brings us next!"
"Raboot, we did it!" Ignoring the protests of pain, Gloria scooped her Pokémon up, taking him into a tight hug. He blushed a bit, turning away, but she could see the smile underneath. "We beat Kabu! We did it!"
"Buh…" he said, nodding in her hold and soon returning the hug. It was interrupted by a softer clapping, and the approach of Kabu to their side.
"Congratulations," he said, a smile on his face. The referee was coming forth, too, handing the all too desired object to Kabu. "After all our matches together, I was waiting for the day you would finally climb over this wall. At long last, you have, and I can feel proud to present to you the Fire Badge."
Kabu took the small badge from the referee, and with it, placed the tiny object with significant meaning into Gloria's hand, shaking it. The cold metal pressed into it, Gloria couldn't help the smile. When their shaken hands retracted, she held it high, the grin remaining plastered to her face. "We did it! We got a Fire Badge!"
"Ruh ruh raboot!" Raboot shouted within her hold. The crowd reacted to that, their cheers now in support of her and the career moving forward. Kabu chuckled under his breath.
"It would seem they came to cheer you on after all," the man said, hands back behind him as he smiled softly. For a flash, however, the smile dropped. "But Gloria, do be careful. You have a fire that burns, but let it burn too fast and that hot-headedness will continue to burn you time and again, as it has with me."
"I know," she said, continuing to hold her hard-earned badge to the sky, reflecting the sun, "but don't worry. I've got it all figured out. We'll keep walking forward."
Her fist enclosed around her Fire Badge, and inside Gloria knew: the first leg of her journey to the Championship was over.
"Look, mum! Look!" Gloria's beaming face hid her trembling hands as she held to her newest badge with one hand, and her phone with another. Her mother's face was on the phone, looking at the shiny surface of the newest addition to her collection. "I finally got my Fire Badge!"
"Yes, dear, I can tell. Your match was quite impressive on the telly," her mother said, adjusting the glasses on her face. "My little Gloria, moving up to big places, enjoying her journey. Or you must be if you can't be bothered to call."
"Sorry, sorry," Gloria apologized, but she couldn't stop beaming. She hoped to have Raboot and her other Pokémon come over to share the moment with her mother, but with the trio still in the care of Nurse Joy, she opted for the solo moment.
"So, where are you heading next, Gloria?"
"Ah, Hammerlocke. Hop said he's going to challenge Raihan, and I'm going to do the same." Something about the way her mother's lips turned up at the mention of Hop's name unsettled her, but Gloria chose to ignore it. "Some other friends are heading there, too. Don't be surprised if I don't call again."
"Gloria, my day doesn't live and die on you giving me a ring." Her mother gave a sigh, but then a smile. "But don't be a stranger. I'll keep watching all your matches. Tell Mr. Ketchum thank you from-Ah, Munchlax, don't eat the compost!"
The call ended, causing Gloria to laugh, just as the dinging from the Center's speakers went off, indicating her Pokémon's finished treatment. She shoved her phone in her dress pocket and ambled over to where the cart with two Poké Balls and a rested Raboot were waiting. Upon seeing her, Raboot hopped down, giving a wave to Nurse Joy. "Your Pokémon are all rested and ready to go. Good luck, Gloria. I'm rooting for you."
"Th-thanks!" Gloria said, unable to stop the embarrassed flush from rising on her face. Her task at the Center done, she spun on her heel to make for the exit, where Ash and the others were just outside, visible through the windows.
She didn't expect the noise from them, however, when she opened the doors. Well, them and everyone else gathered around the Pokémon Center's front doors.
"Gloria! Gloria! Give me your autograph!"
"You were amazing in today's battle!" another yelled, this one an older man dressed in Gym Challenge regalia.
Pads of paper were shoved in her face, and the flashes of cameras popped all around, blinding her vision, making her unsure where to turn to next. It was all just a bit overwhelming, something Astrid noticed when placing a hand on her. "All right, people, she just came off of her Gym battle, give her some space."
"Just a small blurb for the Motostoke Times."
"When will her trading card be in circulation like other challengers," another reporter said. "This is a momentous victory for her to-"
"She said back off," Bonnie growled, the lemon blonde stepping in front of the crowd. Dedenne's cheeks sparked, giving the threat to anyone wise enough to listen, which seemed to be all of them, the crowd dispersing. Ash and Seamus laughed raucously, causing Serena to shake her head. "Well, at least no one can say you aren't popular anymore."
"Mr. Seamus, we want autographs, too?"
"That was an epic Gym battle!"
"I'm sure she can give you one in time, but we can't just wait around for her to sign them all," Seamus said, reducing his laughter to a mere chuckle and shaking his head. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a map. "We have another day to take in the sights before we get a taxi to Stow-on-Side. Besides, I'm sure Gloria wants to continue her own adventure soon as possible."
"Mm," Gloria agreed, giving a short nod of her head. She didn't admit that her pride at being the positive talk of the town was warring with her desire to move onward, but Seamus's words made it clear for the better course of action. "If you stick around long enough, I'm sure I can give even better battles."
"Well, I'll be rooting for you!" Bonnie said, pumping her fists and throwing an arm around Seamus. The man looked annoyed, narrowing his eyes at her. "I can't enter myself, so I'll support our new friend. Right?"
"Yeah!" the class cheered, excited at the prospect of yet more battles. Seamus rolled his eyes, removing Bonnie at last.
"Well, if you want to see more battles, you'd best be ready to learn something from them. For now, we're heading for the industrial sector of Motostoke, and don't think there won't be homework!" The class groaned at that suggestion while Bonnie couldn't help her onset of giggles. Nevertheless, the class began to be ushered away by a student in charge, Seamus lingering long enough to offer farewells. "Take care, Ash, Serena, Gloria. And Astrid, if you ever need to talk…just give a call."
"You don't have a phone."
"Uh…I'm sure I can get one?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. Now go, Bonnie's going to lead them into some hazardous waste site if you don't keep an eye on them…or make them jump in the river," Astrid remarked, the humored smirk on her face overriding that of whatever emotion she was actually feeling. Seamus whipped around at her words, only to find Bonnie was doing exactly that further along the riverbank.
"Damn it, Bonnie! That's it, you're fired!"
He ran after her, leaving the quartet alone on the midday streets of Motostoke. Serena was the first to move forward, talking lightly on the wind a thing that was difficult to admit.
"Time to go, then."
Like the mother she was expecting to be, Serena offered a hand. Knowing it would be the last they saw of each other for a while, Gloria reached out and took it. Ash, meanwhile, clasped the other hand of his wife and they made their slow and uninterrupted procession towards the familiar exit to the Wild Area.
"You'll be sure to take care of yourselves, then?"
"I think that's something we should say to you," Ash said, squeezing her hand tighter. "You need to take it easy from time to time."
"I'll have enough help. I'm more worried about you surviving on the road without me." Serena's added wink told Gloria she was jesting with her husband, something he responded to with faux indignation.
"I can survive on berries alone if I need to, right, Pikachu?"
"Pikapi, pika…" He clearly was choosing to not take sides, and the electric mouse ran across Ash's shoulders to jump to Serena. "Pipika…"
"I'll miss you, too, Pikachu, but we'll see each other before you know it. Just give me a call when you can."
"I'll keep an eye on both of them," Astrid said, only piping up now that they had stopped outside their point of departure. Gloria let go of Serena, unsure what to say. "They're in good hands, just like your school."
"Thank you."
"Wampa!" The flash of light indicated Yamper's appearance, the dog quickly barking up at Pikachu while his tail wagged back and forth, his fur sparking. Ash and Pikachu both lowered, petting Serena's newest Pokémon with a smile.
"You take care of her, Yamper, and keep practicing what Pikachu's showed you."
"Pi." Pikachu patted his fellow Electric type's back, only for the dog to lick him in return, causing laughter to bubble out.
Gloria remained silent.
Saying farewell here, it felt…odd. She had spent more than enough time with Serena, but now that they were saying goodbye, Gloria began to think she had taken the woman for granted. All of that doubt, however, seemed to wash away when the woman tipped her chin up, offering a smile. "Gloria?"
"Ah, sorry, just thinking, I guess. Feels like I've been a while in Motostoke, and now that I've beaten Kabu and you're staying here…guess I feel a bit…empty? Lost?"
"And that's normal. That's why we always have new beginnings." Serena leaned back, placing a hand to support herself and her weight. "And the people we meet always stay with us. That's why, I want to leave a little piece of my adventure with yours."
"A piece?" Gloria asked, only to receive her answer in the form of Heather running down the street, clutching something tight in her hands.
"Serena! I'm so sorry! I got caught up in some paperwork. Not too late, am I?"
"Not at all. Sorry to make you run all this way," Serena said. Heather skidded to a stop, forcing Ash and Astrid to pull back, and Gloria could finally see what was being clutched tightly: an egg. And not just any egg, but the one with jagged purple lines. Serena smiled at her partner, and gingerly took the egg from the woman, turning and holding it out to Gloria. "For your new beginning."
"For…for me?" Gloria asked, surprised at the generous gift being offered. Serena nodded. The confirmation made Gloria swallow, and before she could stop, she found herself hugging Serena. "Thank you. I'll make sure to cherish it and the Pokémon inside, always."
"I know you will, Challenger Gloria." Serena reached up, stroking her hair for a moment until they pulled away, Gloria now holding tight to the egg. Raboot watched it, and she could already sense her partner's protective instincts flaring up, matched only by Pikachu, who showed his own brotherly bond by patting Yamper once more and leaping to Ash's shoulder. "Astrid, good luck with Butterfree. And Ash…"
"Yup. Love you, too." They leaned in, sharing a chaste peck on the lips that was enough for them. No more words had to be exchanged between the couple. Ash turned to face the Wild Area. "Well, ready to go, guys. The next adventure begins now."
Gloria held to her new egg tighter, nodding and lifting her foot into the air. Without words and with Ash and Astrid by her side, Gloria stepped forward, into the Wild Area and back on the road once again.
Author's Note: And Gloria's won! I don't think it was ever really in doubt, of course, but hopefully the battle was entertaining to say the least. This, finally, closes the arc begun in Traveling, and closes out the trip to Motostoke, which has lasted a whopping 8 chapters! Granted, between two books.
Anyway, Gloria's also walked away from this with an egg. I'm sure those astute might guess what's inside it, but there's something I wanted to note. Given we've had a reviewer (not naming names, of course) make a suggestion for Gloria's team, I wanted to make clear that any "suggestions" given are not heeded. If they happen to manifest in the story, it's because of coincidence. This was fully written before publication on Traveling began. I just wanted to say that now, since it feels like some don't know or don't remember how I, as an author, work. That said, please continue to enjoy the story regardless. We try our best!
Viroro: And here we are. After three attempts, Gloria has finally brought the victory home. This was a long time coming, and very much one of the most important chapters for her journey so far, and we hope to have conveyed that to you readers. But even with the wall that is Kabu past her, there's still several more encounters and opponents on our Gym Challenger's path.
And with this chapter, we're also saying goodbye to Serena in the main cast. We aren't going to forget her, however, and her little parting gift to Gloria will be a good reminder of her presence now. As for Bonnie and Seamus both, they're going to be away for a bit, but rest assured that this will hardly be their last appearence.
Next chapter will see me in the writing chair again, one that I think will be quite enjoyable. Until then, I hope you enjoyed and that you'll keep looking forward to what's to come!
Before we bounce, our usual thanks: FirewallDragon149, KnightDay19, lluviapz, QueenJalter1 and dag16b3 for favoriting; Pogchamp6 and NightTheWatcher for following; and the heartiest of thanks to Fury, MythGirl Writes, RRV55, StoutShako42Refined, FantasyLover88, Rajiv A. Rajaram, XDiamondX90, Tenzalucard123, ChE clarinetist, AmourshippingCanon, Ander Arias, aliensinnoh, Cottonmouth25, Captainsquid12 and oomoepoo for reviewing.
The next leg of the adventure begins next time with that Viroro chapter, so look forward to it! Until then, Review and,
Dare to Be Silly.