The long awaited Gym rematch with Kabu is here! How will our spitfire fare? Let's find out in Chapter 20!

Chapter 20

A Spitfire

The sound of footsteps was dull, deafening thuds on the pavement. The voices were little but a roar that could have belonged to the seaside. The walls of Motostoke Stadium were towering, a massive edifice that represented the man waiting inside for the challenge to be brought. If one looked up further, the taller those walls became.

That was how Gloria stood outside of Motostoke Gym, attempting to control the raging tempest of emotions inside.

It was the site of her third Gym battle, but more importantly, it served as the site of her great failure. Now she had the chance to fix it, but she found she couldn't take even a single step forward. Her breath was caught in her throat and her hands had become clammy. She tried to rub them on the lower part of her dress, but found it did little to stop the sweat.

"You okay?" Marnie's nearby voice made her jump, and her friend jumped with her. "Ya look like you're about to throw up."

"Maybe I am…" Gloria's mutter instilled a little bit of courage in her, and she tried to take a step forward, only to catch sight of the television screens and banners outside the Gym. The local newscaster was showing off the upcoming Gym battles, hers included, and the banner featuring Kabu loomed over her.

"Rabu." The soft pat of Raboot's paw reminded Gloria of the Pokémon at her feet, and all of those that would be in the battle with her. She wasn't alone, and with them united, they would be able to defeat even Kabu.

"Right, I can do this. I can do this!" Gloria pumped her fists and slapped her cheeks a few times. Raboot nodded, pleased with her decision to move forward, and the pair stepped through the doors together.

As expected, they were met by the murmurs and whispers of the crowd from the day before, only this time it was amplified. All of these people were here to see her Gym match and no one else, and she was certain they all recognized her as the girl who'd flown too close to the sun. She still hoped to reverse those fortunes.

To cut them out, Gloria reverted to a tunnel vision, aiming right for the desk to check in. Leon, himself, could have been there and she wouldn't have noticed, though she did believe herself imagining him at some point, like a taunt of the mountain peak she wished to reach. It was secondary to the goal, and Gloria made sure to check herself in before striding right for the changing room.

The only big difference this time was that she wasn't alone. Her entire entourage was with her.

"You don't need to follow me, you know?"

"You look freaked out," Ash said. Pikachu jumped from his shoulder and onto one of the benches in the changing room, Morpeko giving chase. Gloria shook her head, feeling just a little bit babied as she shoved her bag in the locker and took out her uniform. "Just relax. Go with the flow of the battle and you'll come out on top."

"Go with the flow…That's not very helpful advice," Gloria said, stripping herself of her hat and cardigan, but pausing as she saw herself in the mirror. Her eyes looked tired, and her entire body was tense from head to toe. For someone who always pushed on, she was feeling remarkably hesitant when she saw the nervous wreck in the mirror. She wanted to smash it, but instead she turned to Ash, who was looking away to give her privacy. "How would you handle Kabu?"

"I'd just…hmm…" Ash entered the realm of his own thoughts for a moment, as if he'd never find an answer, but when Pikachu returned to his side, he seemed to come up with one. "Trust your Pokémon. Even if things seem rough, be flexible, but don't rely on one thing. Just believe in each other and you'll find your own way."

"Excellent words from a most excellent Pokémon Master." If Gloria had felt tense before, she had ratcheted up upon hearing Kabu's voice in the room. It was a surprise, and not a pleasant one. She didn't want to face him, or look at him, or hear him, and she found her hand trembling on the latch of the locker.

"Hey, calm down, Gloria," Marnie said, putting a hand on her back. She wasn't the only one, a pat on her head indicating that Astrid was there, too. "Ya stress out too hard, and yer gonna crack."

"Marnie's right. Relax, or else you will find yourself unable to think. Besides, it's not like your boyfriend's going to be watching you from the crowd."

"Hop is not my boyfriend!"

"The fact you jumped immediately to him says a lot," Astrid said with a smirk, flicking Gloria on the forehead once again. She realized what the blonde was going for, the flash of indignant anger and subsequent chuckle helping to release the tightness of her muscles.

"Who's Hop?" Marnie asked.

"A friend, and rival. We've been competing ever since we were kids."

"Ah, our young Champion's brother." Kabu had spoken again, but this time, Gloria wasn't letting it get to her. He was just another Gym Leader, and she would have to start treating him as such. "Yes, I believe he registered for a Gym match in the next week just this morning. Said he was heading to train his team in the Wild Area, if you'd believe, but I'm more interested in our match. How are you, girl?"

"Ready." She said it with confidence, but the ball in her throat threatened to tell otherwise. Kabu wasn't so convinced.

"Are you sure?" he asked with his stern eyes. Her convictions wavered, and she hesitated to give a response. "You cannot just have the destructive force of fire if you wish to beat me. You must also have its nourishment. Nurturing, warmth, illumination. Are you ready to show me these things?"

"We'll find out when we battle, won't we?"

To that, Kabu allowed himself a chuckle. "That we will. Forgive me. I like to meet with my challengers before battle, walk on to the field with them. A symbol of respect and equality that we are both trainers on the battlefield."

"I like your style, Kabu," Ash said, his voice louder than the others. Gloria felt she was done talking, and worked to rapidly change into her uniform. "You're a pretty cool guy."

"Thank you," Kabu said with a light bow. "Though I must confess to having an ulterior motive. Mrs. Ketchum-"

"Serena, please. We've been married over a year but I'm still not used to being called by my married name."

"Very well, Serena. I hope you will be pleased with today's events. I have a small surprise planned."

"Surprise?" Kabu held a twinkle in his eye that told Serena he intended to keep it a surprise until that moment, but Gloria was too distracted by the chimes that were mere minutes away to appreciate that. She barely even heard Kabu speaking to Marnie, as Gloria grabbed to her locker and nearly drove her nails into the metal. "Miss Marnie, you're looking so grown. How is your brother these days?"

"He's good…"

The sounds tapered off into a haze, one that sent Gloria's head spinning. The moment was almost here, and she couldn't afford a mistake. Her hand worked on autopilot, closing the locker without a sound, even though she had slammed it, and everything faded to a white ringing, until…

"Kapika." Pikachu's voice brought her back, and the electric mouse was at her feet, grinning. "Pikachu pika. Chu chu pika!"

"What he said. We're all rooting for you," Ash said. He didn't offer any further platitudes, but nor did anyone else. Their smiling eyes told the story that they would be supporting her in the battle ahead, and as the chime sounded, asking for spectators to take their seats, Gloria watched them go, feeling a little more encouraged. Kabu, meanwhile, waited for the final chime with his eyes closed.

When it rang, his eyes flashed open, and both stepped into the tunnel, Gloria trying to leave her worries behind.

The path through it felt long, almost arduous, were it not a flat, straight line. Enhancing that feeling was the rising cheer of the crowd at the end of the path, the light growing brighter and signaling the start of her imminent Gym match. The closer they got, the more the commentator's voice could be heard, and Gloria knew it was time.

"And here they are, ladies and gents, the challenger who has fought on this very pitch before, and the Gym Leader whose flames burn hotter than any other," he cried to the already frenzied crowd, "it's our Challenger Gloria, and Gym Leader Kabu!"

Perhaps it was her imagination, but Gloria imagined that the crowd was split in their response: one half cheering for Kabu with all their might, while the other was full of snide derision for the trainer who thought herself once even close to his level. On the other hand, she considered it just a bit of the distortion from her ringing ears as she tried to get her head on straight. Raboot tried to help, but his presence did little to soothe her nerves until she looked up, seeing Ash, Serena, Astrid and Marnie squeezing themselves into some seats (a number of people freeing them up for the pregnant woman). That helped.

Even if the whole crowd was against her, she still had those four.

"I'm your commentator and host today, Gerry, ready to bring you all the thrilling highlights from this side of Motostoke. But before we can get to today's highlight match, I'm told our Gym Leader has an announcement."

The referee for the field, wearing the same kind of uniform as Kabu, ran forward with a cordless microphone in hand, while the Rotom Drone circled the air above, projecting images on the screens. Kabu took the microphone graciously, and Gloria stepped aside, not wanting to get in his way as he turned in a circle, presenting himself to the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen of Motostoke, and all of Galar for those who are watching this match online, I am grateful that you have come to watch this match, with a trainer who has no doubt grown since our eventful Entrance Ceremony."

That last comment stung, and Gloria refused to look anywhere but at her shoes or Raboot. Kabu continued on, heedless of her own rocky emotions.

"However, while I would ask you to give her the respect due her as a challenger, I have something of far more importance to address with you all." Kabu raised his free hand, bringing even further attention upon himself, showcasing what a pull on Galar and its audience he had. "I have recently had the pleasure of meeting with one Heather, owner and operator of Motostoke's, perhaps Galar's, one and only Pokémon Performing School. Now, I know, for all you battle-starved spectators, this may seem a strange thing to mention, but as a Gym Leader, I say it is a thing all should pay attention to. A profession such as Performing, Coordinating, all of those activities which exist outside of Galar, deserve to have a right to thrive inside our great region. To give people other paths, as a great Performer of the Kalos region, here in Galar, is trying to do.

"I shall keep my message short: citizens of Galar, if you are lost or wish to try a new path, I urge you to check out or attend Motostoke's Performing School. The light of a new future for Galar!"

To Gloria's surprise, the announcement earned quite the applause, and where once there were whispers about herself, now there was talk of this school. People wanted to check it out, simply on the basis of Kabu's word alone. That word resonated, all the way to the furthest reaches of the audience, and to Serena, who was so shocked, Gloria could see how wide her eyes were from her position. It didn't stop the smile from blooming on her face.

For Gloria, it was a reminder, one that was magnified when Kabu turned to face her. He was the Gym Leader, whose very word was a certification, and she…well, she was truly some nobody from Postwick.

"Thank you, Kabu, for your wicked announcement. Be sure to check out that school, chaps. I'm sure you won't regret it," Gerry said, picking up the thread where Kabu had left off. "Now, without further ado, let us get this battle underway!"

Kabu seemed to have spent all his words, his crushing fist showing his intention of beginning the battle with all of his strength. Gloria tried to return it in their handshake, but found herself wringing her hand out on the way to her trainer's box, just in time for the referee to step forward. The Drone swooped over, but Gloria blocked it out as the man spoke.

"This is a three-on-three match between the challenger, Gloria, and the Gym Leader, Kabu," he spoke, his voice monotone and droning, but driving up the anticipation of crowd and trainers alike. "The match will be over when all three of one side's Pokémon have been defeated, and only the Challenger is allowed to make substitutions.

"Begin!"

"Chewtle, let's go!"

"Arcanine!" Both Poké Balls burst at once, depositing both the fiery canine and the tiny turtle onto the battlefield.

Gloria wasn't astonished at Chewtle hunkering down, her frown becoming more pronounced. She was doing the same. Across the way, Arcanine licked its lips, recognizing them and beginning to prowl. It knew full well that they were prey, the same ones that had fallen to it before. Gloria tightened her fist.

She wasn't going to let it end the same. With a swallow, she rose her hand to issue a command.

She was too late.

"Extreme Speed." Kabu's harsh call caused Gloria to give an involuntary flinch. Arcanine vanished, blitzing with such velocity that it was invisible to everyone. Chewtle tried looking around, but Gloria already knew what was coming.

"Steady on, Chewtle! Look straight ahead!"

"Chew!"

Arcanine appeared, its furred form slamming into Chewtle. She was pushed back, but held as steady as she could. The dirt from the battlefield spat itself into clots around Chewtle's feet. Gloria clenched her fist. "Retaliate with Water Gun!"

"Will-O-Wisp." Kabu's call was brutal, his fist pounding into his hand as he made the call. Chewtle reared back, filling her jaws with the liquid, and she fired at Arcanine, whose body began to ignite. The only, chilling, difference was that the fire was not red-orange, but a sickly purple. The Water Gun doused Arcanine, but the flames were far from extinguished. With a mighty cry, the ghostly flames gathered in front of Arcanine's maw, and it breathed out the sick fire.

Chewtle was struck, and though she weathered against the fire, Arcanine still stood tall.

"Cha…" Chewtle dropped to one knee, and suddenly her body erupted with flames. Gloria's heart began to pound.

Not again…she found herself thinking, her mind trying to strategize the way for Chewtle to combat the burn her body was experiencing.

Kabu didn't give her that moment. "Roar."

"What?"

"ARRRRUFFFF!" The bellowing cry sent a burst of wind over the stadium, that attack alone rippling at the shield that protected the audience. Chewtle tried to hold on, but her feet slipped, and with a flash of red light, Gloria could do nothing but watch as she was pulled back into her Poké Ball, another flash calling Rookidee out.

"Rooko?" His confusion was evident, but Gloria knew Kabu wouldn't let up. She needed to start taking command of the battle.

"Rookidee, move!"

"Will-O-Wisp." Rookidee heard the call, and with the flap of his tiny wings, he took to the air as Arcanine's sick fire surrounded its body. The dog's eyes tracked Rookidee as he floated through the air, Gloria waiting for the chance to strike. It happened as soon as the fire coalesced, and Arcanine sent it out in the same beam as before.

"Dive, and use Peck!" Rookidee shot under the fire, opening his wings before he hit the ground and gliding as far as his little wings would carry him. His beak drove into Arcanine's chest, making just a little headway in pushing the Pokémon back.

"Down." Kabu's brutally efficient command was enough to point where Gloria's had screwed up. Arcanine's fire hadn't been put out, and with predatorial eyes, its head craned downward, and sent the searing Will-O-Wisp across Rookidee's body.

"Rookoooooo!" Rookidee was flung back, the burn searing his body. Two down.

"If that's the game you want to play, Rookidee, return!" Gloria was quick to whip her Poké Ball out, calling back the bird to prevent any further damage. The crowd's noise was fading, and Gloria could feel her chest rising and falling, her breath shortening. She only had one option against Kabu's tactic. She looked down. "Raboot, I'm counting on you. Get in there and use Bounce!"

"Rab!" Raboot jumped forward, hitting the field to a smattering of applause. Kabu raised his eyebrow, as if discerning whether or not Gloria had figured out the way to stop his strategy. She decided to prove she had, Raboot launching upwards with his feet. He soared high above Arcanine, the other Fire type watching him.

"Fire against fire," Kabu said, closing his eyes. "But you cannot escape. Extreme Speed."

"Arc!" Arcanine leapt upwards to meet Raboot, its body shining with light as it vanished. Raboot sailed downward, his foot extended, and a second later, Arcanine was there, the two crashing in each other. Sparks flew off from the clash of the two Fire types, their midair collision not yielding an inch. Raboot pushed further, the force of gravity giving him some extra weight.

"Maybe we can't escape," Gloria said, "but we have other limbs. Double Kick!"

"Raboo!" Raboot's free leg swung around, striking Arcanine on the face and sending it flying for the ground. It landed, less graceful than before, but remained on all fours when Raboot touched the ground before it. It was a strong hit, and Gloria decided to capitalize on the momentum her partner had gained.

If Kabu would have let it.

"Roar."

"Oh, not again!" Gloria shouted, her raising volume betraying her frustrations as Raboot was blown back towards her side, and with a flash, Rookidee was back on the field. He winced, fire igniting on his body.

"It looks like our challenger is in a tight spot," Gerry called to the ground, many of whom seemed to be losing interest in the mundane back and forth of the match. The depictions on the screen did it no favors. "Will she be able to break Kabu's tried-and-true strategy?"

Shut up…Gloria said in her mind, manifesting as a scowl on her face. She didn't need to be told. Looking up, her eyes found Ash, and his words came back to her. Go with the flow…we just need a momentum…

"So, let's get it. Hone Claws!" Rookidee's vision got sharper, his claws clashing together and his body glowing red with the raised attack power. Kabu remained still, no different from Arcanine, each waiting to see. "Now, Peck!"

"Rokoo!" Rookidee dove as fast as he could, his beak glowing a luminescent white. Arcanine didn't move, not at first, even as the strengthened Peck was heading his way. Fire clung to Rookidee, but he didn't let it stop him.

"Dodge. Extreme Speed." Arcanine vanished as instantly as the order was given, and Rookidee missed his mark. The Fire type reappeared behind Rookidee, tackling him and sending him spinning through the air.

"Air Slash!" A short flap of his wings later, and Rookidee had righted himself, forming the translucent sphere between his wings. He fired, and this time, Arcanine was unable to dodge in time. The attack struck its torso, the Fire type grunting in pain. Gloria knew what would happen next; Kabu wouldn't let the hit stand as it was. "Get in there quick with another Peck! Hit the jaw!"

Rookidee hurtled forth like a bullet as the command for Roar was given. Unlike before, Rookidee got there first, his beak striking the top of Arcanine's maw, snapping it shut before the Roar could swap the Tiny Bird Pokémon out. His body burst with flames again, and at it, Kabu decided on a very different strategy.

"Dodge around with Extreme Speed."

"Arc!" Arcanine's bark indicated receipt of the command, and it vanished into a blur, reappearing at another part of the battlefield. Then it vanished again, appearing closer to Rookidee, who flapped higher to get out of range. Gloria swallowed, trying to track Arcanine as quickly as she could until her eyes found the footprints left in the dirt.

"Pattern…it has a pattern…" The chink in the armor, Gloria had found a way to gain her momentum. She watched a little longer, waiting for the exact moment Arcanine would get close, first farther away, then to the left, then behind, and finally… "Use Peck, full force!"

"Rook!" Rookidee aimed straight down, right as Arcanine appeared beneath him. They were fast, but not fast enough. Gravity took care of the rest, Rookidee's hurtling body impaling straight into Arcanine's body. It cried out in pain, allowing Gloria to cheer a little, though the crowd was less forgiving. Rookidee spun back into the air, grinning with his beak despite the damage the burn was doing.

"Flamethrower!" Kabu was sounding more invested, a smirk rising on his face, as though surprised that Rookidee had lasted that long. Arcanine's neck twisted, orange flames being summoned in his mouth before he let them loose. Rookidee flapped backwards, avoiding the fires. Arcanine swept them along, forcing the bird to move further and further back until he could get well out of range from the fire.

It proved the fatal mistake.

"Roar."

"Rookidee, shut Arcanine's mouth!" Gloria's shout was desperate and, ultimately, in vain. Rookidee was too far, Kabu's intentions made plain. With another thunderous cry that shook the stadium, Rookidee was sucked back inside, and in his place was Chewtle, still burning just the same as her comrade.

"You've been doing better," Kabu called from across the field, but to Gloria it sounded distorted, murky. The cheers of the crowd were jeers at her expense, and she couldn't take it. "But I told you I would go all out. How can you stop me, challenger?"

Challenger…that's right, I am a challenger. One that'll beat you. One that'll take Arcanine out in one shot and put an end to it. Gloria snapped her eyes upwards, staring across as Kabu as she raised her Poké Ball and called Chewtle back inside it. "I'll get my momentum by breaking your strategy in half. Chewtle, Dynamax!"

"In a bold move, our challenger is Dynamaxing this early in the game! Will Kabu respond in kind, or will she flood our Leader's strategy with her own?!" Gerry shouted, making the crowd both cheer and whisper in surprise. It was a gutsy move, and risky at that, which she knew, but there was no other option left to put an end to Arcanine's blitzing feats. Chewtle's ball grew bigger, the air around the stadium growing dense and dark. Storm clouds raged overhead until Gloria tossed the ball, and what was once a tiny turtle had become massive.

"Max Geyser!"

"CHEEEEWTLE!" Water formed into a giant sphere, but unlike Nessa's, Chewtle didn't send the spout downwards. Instead, with a jab of Gloria's finger, she blasted it straight forward, the force of the attack pushing her giant body back a little. The geyser covered the entire field, nowhere for Arcanine to run, and washed straight over it, blasting against the shield opposite them. Kabu gave no reaction, but for a sigh and small shake of his head.

Clouds further covered the sky, beginning to rain down on the battlefield as Chewtle's attack ended, showing Arcanine collapsed against the wall. The referee ran forward. "Arcanine is unable to battle. Chewtle is the winner!"

Much of the crowd cheered, excited over a Pokémon finally being downed in the match, and Gloria huffed to herself, holding on to that scratch of victory. The rest of the crowd was not so kind, and though she couldn't hear their words, the sentiment was obvious: she had resorted to Dynamax just for victory.

Even Kabu looked disappointed at the result, now that he had recalled his Pokémon.

"A pity," he said, the frown on his face increasing the depth of his wrinkles. "You had all the tools, and yet resorted for power. Is that what being a Gym Challenger is to you?"

Kabu's statement silenced the crowd, and the ringing returned to Gloria's ears. She shook her head, her eyes finding her supporters in the crowd. They were watching intently, none turning away, and it helped Gloria find her way back in her head. She raised a fist. "It means being the best."

"Yes, I thought so." Kabu took his next Poké Ball out, looking at it with an air of solemnity. "To be the best, however, one must look inwards, and not seek power. For there will always be a greater power. Allow me to show you. Centiskorch, Gigantamax!"

Gigantamax?! Gloria found her heartbeat run into overdrive. Kabu's Poké Ball grew larger, and the air grew darker. The ground beneath their feet glowed a deep red, almost purple, until Kabu sent his Pokémon, his ace, screaming forth on to the battlefield. It emerged, slithering along, giant as every Dynamax before it.

Something, however, was different now. Centiskorch didn't look the same. Closer to Leon's Charizard, or Astrid's Mega Absol, in its gigantification it had changed appearance. More segments had been added, more legs that clacked upon the ground. The flaming X around its head had grown longer, and its whole entire body glowed with the kind of power Gloria couldn't imagine.

Against herself, she whimpered, but pulled herself together in Centiskorch's cry.

"That's your answer to it? To throw out another Dynamax?" she shouted, feeling more bravado in her words than in her brain. "You really wanna try that at a type disadvantage?"

"Except this is not Dynamax. It is Gigantamax. The true challenge of the Motostoke Gym! G-Max Centiferno!" Centiskorch reared back, giving off a deafening screech that caused even the audience to cover their ears. It remained coiled in that position for a moment, and then sprang out, its burning X glowing. From there and all the pores on its body, fire spewed out. Unable to move, Chewtle did nothing but stand there as the fire whirled about on the ground. Like a whirlwind of flame, Chewtle was trapped inside the vortex, slipping to one giant knee. The fires burned hotter, Gloria feeling like her own skin was going to melt.

It was worsened with the compound impact of the burn set inside Chewtle's body.

"Max Geyser!" Gloria cried, but even she could hear the crack in her own voice. Chewtle called the raging waters to her jaw, but even the rain pouring overhead did nothing to dispel the fire circling her. More of her feet began to slip, and Kabu and Centiskorch just watched. "Down!"

"Cheeew!" Chewtle fired the watery Max move downwards, the resultant force lifting her high, towards the top of the fire. Its effusive effect created a steam on the ground, dispelling the inferno.

"Max Flutterby."

Another screech, but instead of flames, this one produced glittering insects all about the field. They flew out, an all-consuming storm that sought out the prone Chewtle and mercilessly battered her body, unable to do anything so high in the air. When the last, deadly butterfly sliced right through her, Chewtle fell, and upon hitting the ground, burst into a mighty conflagration, leaving the turtle defeated in the center.

"Chewtle is unable to battle. Centiskorch is the winner!"

Gloria swallowed again. The crowd erupted in cheers. The score was tied up again.

"And there it is, Kabu's mighty Gigantamax!" Gerry yelled, whipping the crowd into further frenzy. As if showing it off, the Rotom Drone swooped, presenting Centiskorch on the screen. "More power. More time. A testament to the strength of this Galar Gym Leader's burning passion!"

Centiskorch towered high, its clicking legs and mandibles calling for a challenge she would have to surpass. Gloria firmed up her resolve. If I can beat Centiskorch…

"Raboot, you're up." Raboot showed no hesitation in jumping back on the field.

"You're thinking we're evenly matched, aren't you?" Kabu asked, his hands still held behind his back. He wasn't taking the battle seriously; Gloria would make sure that he did. "I'd like to show where you're wrong."

"I won't give you the chance. Bounce!"

"Bu!" Raboot hopped forth, and with one good lunge, sent himself flying up into the air. Centiskorch watched, and Kabu nodded. The Bug and Fire type struck, its body moving with insane speed despite its size.

"Use it's body to get higher and slam right down!" Gloria shouted, pounding her fist down to simulate the desired action. Raboot did as asked, rocketing down for one of the moving body segments and using it as a trampoline to get higher. Once high enough, he fell, spinning his body like a drill until it collided with Centiskorch's head. The centipede cried out with its horrific screech until its tail whapped Raboot and drove him off.

"Max Rockfall." Centiskorch had no movement wasted. Soon as Raboot was flying back, skidding amidst the rainfall and soaking ground, its tail was burrowing beneath to create a giant slab of rock. It was just like Drednaw's, and Gloria and Raboot tightened up.

"We're not letting that stop us! Flame Charge!"

"Raboot!" Raboot's body burst into flames for attacking, and with a spring, he hurtled for the falling slab. The rain fell upon him, producing some steam but never extinguishing the flame. His eyes glowed orange with the fire, and once he reached the stone, his powerful legs kicked into it.

"Keep going! Drive through!" Gloria screamed. Her passions met Raboot's, and the fire began to melt at the stone, making it brittle until he finally came out the other side, looking worse for the wear, but still ready to battle. "Double Kick on the stones!"

"Rab rab!" Raboot spun in midair, his feet connecting with pieces of the broken stone and kicking them right at Centiskorch. They made contact, striking hard and causing the centipede to waver.

"Max Flutterby."

"Dodge it!" The quick succession of commands was acted upon. Raboot dropped, mindful of Centiskorch's undulating body. The same army of insects poured out, all converging on the spot that was Raboot. He landed and began to run, flipping over the various colored bugs. Soon, the final butterfly made its assault, and Raboot dropped, slipping along the muddy ground. He was left unscathed.

"G-Max Centiferno."

"Kabu does not give our challenger time to rest. This, ladies and gents, is the power of Gigantamax!"

"We can do it, Raboot! Kick it straight back!" Centiskorch formed the already familiar orb of the whirling flames and, with its screech, sent the inferno roaring for Raboot. The Rabbit Pokémon jumped in place, and then ran for the orb. At the moment it approached, his foot soared out, connecting with the Max move and holding it in place.

For a second, at least.

"Rah…rahboot…"

Gloria could see the attack was ineffective, Centiskorch's burning blows overcoming the rabbit, even with the rain weakening it. She stomped forward, acting on a new strategy. "Kick off and use Bounce!"

"Bah!" Using his other leg, Raboot pushed himself into a position of leverage and bounced high into the air, right for where Centiskorch's head was bobbing back and forth. Kabu lifted a fist, and clenched it.

"Max Rockfall."

He had pinned them right where he wanted, and without the force and speed of Flame Charge, there was no way to break it this time. The scorch marks around Raboot's body became evident in the glowing flames of the last Max attack, and provided an even more horrifying view to the great slab that was risen.

It teetered a second, and then, with the strike of the tail, the Max Rockfall tumbled over. The full brunt of it came upon Raboot's body, slamming him into the ground and breaking up into pieces. The winds stirred, and the crowd roared, sand flying all over with a dissipation of the rain, but all Gloria cared about was her partner, fainted at the edge of the field.

"Raboot is unable to battle. Centiskorch is the winner."

Again…Gloria walked forward, protecting her eyes from the new sandstorm while she grabbed Raboot. His little body twitched in her arms, and she could feel the burns that had had been inflicted despite his typing. Her mind flashed back to Scorbunny being taken out. And Chewtle. And Rookidee.

It was happening again.

I won't let it, though. Gloria looked up to the glowing Centiskorch, all the more menacing in the sandstorm around them. It flinched from the weather, and despite Kabu's strong showing, she could see that his Pokémon was flagging. It just needed one good hit, and she could even the score again.

Gloria suppressed the ball in her throat and looked up, spying Ash through the haze. He was watching, and next to him, Marnie and Serena were cheering loudly, but not enough to overcome the storm. Gloria breathed in, steadying herself and grabbing her final Poké Ball. "I know you can do it. There might be another Pokémon, but this is his ace. Take it out, and we'll managed the last. After all, he's bound to be running out of time…So, let's finish this round, Rookidee!"

She wound up and let the Poké Ball loose, Rookidee emerging with a bright light and a rush of flames. The burn was still going strong, and the Sandstorm was making things even worse. She could still see the glint in Rookidee's eyes. They still had a chance.

One that Kabu wanted to put a clean end to. "G-Max Centiferno."

Centiskorch's body uncoiled itself, the fire coming off its lengthy body until it formed the familiar orb. There was nowhere for Rookidee to fly, and before Gloria could give the command, the blazing sun was flying in his direction. It engulfed the tiny bird for a second before splitting away into its ribbons of fire in the shape of a twister. Rookidee was tossed to the side, slamming against one wall of fire, and then into the next.

He was screaming the whole time.

"Rookidee! Rookidee!" Gloria's composure had flown out the window, watching as her bird's feathers burned. Through the flames, Gloria could see Kabu and Centiskorch surveying the carnage.

"How you let your Pokémon be hurt for a point of pride. Strength is not everything," Kabu said, and the audience grew silent. "If you wish to forge your path, then learn what you are. Because right now…

"You are not a Gym Challenger."

"Rookidee, don't give up! We can still win this!" Gloria shouted in futility. Anything to silence Kabu's taunts. She watched Rookidee tossed further, and her eyes lit up with the flames. The wind. Being one with it, and her Pokémon. She closed her eyes for a second, and snapped them back open. "Rookidee, find the wind. Feel it. Feel the flow and ride it!"

"Roo…rooko!" Rookidee smashed against the burning wall, but one of his injured wings snapped out, and then the other, grasping hold of the wind. The tornado tried to pull him away with the centrifugal force, but he remained steady.

Then, he began to glow.

"Is…are my eyes deceiving me?!" Gerry yelled, and the crowd began to get fired up. Kabu blinked across the way, while Gloria took a step forward.

Rookidee's body was growing, his wings becoming larger, his beak bigger, and his talons sharper. The wind around his body increased, and with a great cry, what was once Rookidee flapped his wings out, sending enough wind to create a gap in the whirling flames. Gloria clenched her fist by her chest and whispered, "Corvisquire…"

"Corvaa!" The great cry of the newly-evolved bird emboldened all in the stadium, cheering for the sudden turn. Gloria didn't even need to look up her new Pokémon, looking to him as he nodded. His wings took command of the wind, and he began to spin, his beak growing larger.

"Now we can take control of this battle! Drill Peck, Corvisquire!"

"Corvaaaaaa!" Corvisquire's spinning, glowing beak pulled all the air to him, and he rushed forward, piercing the G-Max Centiferno and emerging on the other side, its embers clinging to his feathers. He didn't stop there, drilling straight into Centiskorch's body. The bug fell back, crumpling and beginning to shrink, the storm of dark clouds ending.

They hadn't defeated it, but they had outlasted it.

"One last hit! Air Slash!"

"Is this it, ladies and gents? Has our challenger had her turnaround?!"

"You bet we have!" Gloria punched forward, and Corvisquire created the sphere of air, larger than ever before, ready to fling it straight for the recovering Centiskorch.

But in that second, fire blossomed on Corvisquire's body, consuming his whole figure.

The Air Slash dissipated.

The crowd grew quiet.

"Corvaa…" The cry had been a devastating one that rang across the stadium.

Corvisquire fell, his body smoking, and his energy spent. The referee stepped forward. "Corvisquire is unable to battle.

"The victor of the match is the Gym Leader, Kabu."

Author's Note: She lost. Yes. I'm sure you got the sense in the chapter as it reached near the end, though we wanted the evolution of Rookidee to feel like a hope spot. That moment where it really seemed like Gloria could turn it around for victory only to fail. It was one of our earliest decisions, to have Gloria lose to Kabu at least twice, right as we near the end of this book. I hope the battle was good, and please look forward to how this develops the plot from here.

Viroro: And that was it. Gloria thought she could do it right to the end, but ultimately her efforts weren't enough to triumph against Kabu this time as well. Even if she pulled off some impressive feats and scored significant victories along the way, it still wasn't enough to make it through her first significant block. This was a very significant and important choice to make in regards to Gloria's path, as much as her original loss, and you'll soon see how this is going to affect her now. We hope to have pulled off this important step as well as it should be, and hope you'll keep looking forward to the upcoming developments now.

As usual, we'll thank some people, all of whom left reviews: Tenzalucard123, ChE clarinetist, FantasyLover88, KnightDay19, oomoepoo, MythGirl Writes, Fury, ahmedpikamaster, Ander Arias, Captainsquid12, aliensinnoh, Rajiv A. Rajaram and 1 guest.

The story isn't done yet, so I hope to see you at the fallout from this match, and in the meantime, do Review and,

Dare to Be Silly.