So, a quick clarification before we dive back in. Clobbopus's want for attention is a symptom, not the issue. You'll sort of see a bit how this chapter. Speaking of, Chapter 9!
Chapter 9
A Duality
Stow-on-Side took a further two days to reach, by Gloria's calculations. Not helping any of it was the rocky terrain, full of cliffs and diverting paths. Combining that with Clobbopus's want to fight anything that moved (including some Dugtrio that sent him flying), and some other trainers trying to find their way to the city, the group ended up more turned around than not.
Gloria's Pokémon were exhausted, too, having fought some of the challengers on the road, all of whom proved nowhere even close to Bede (though Toxel had received quite the workout in movement). In either case, it made the sight of Stow-on-Side, with its rustic clay buildings and beautiful artwork that lined the city and its stands, a welcome one.
"Finally! Civilization again!" Astrid cried out, dropping to her knees just on the outskirts. Gloria was right there with her, slumping down and putting her back against the blonde. Raboot collapsed between her legs. "How are you not exhausted?"
"I dunno. Guess I'm just pumped to see new places," Ash said, striding a little ahead of them. Pikachu looked just as hale and hearty as his trainer, munching on an apple and sparking his cheeks. Gloria watched his high spirits, and drew upon them to bring herself to a standing position. "You all set for your Gym match?"
"Sure am," Gloria answered when she joined Ash at his side. From their position, Gloria could see down into Stow-on-Side, the beautiful rays of the late afternoon sun coloring the clay and stone with peach and orange. Far off, Gloria could see a painted mural, but none of the details of it.
What she could see, however, was the most unique sight: two stadiums on opposite ends of the city, and closer to where they stood, as if forming a triangle, was a large edifice, etched with the image of Diglett. Gloria tried to get a closer look, wondering what such a building would be there for, but her speculating was interrupted by Astrid at last joining up with them.
"Two stadiums…does that mean there are two Gym Leaders?"
"I guess," Gloria said, shrugging her shoulders. Astrid's doubtful expression made Gloria clear her throat, turning away in embarrassment. "I mean, sure, I've looked into Gym Leaders and all, but most recent seasons have only had one name from Stow-on-Side in the Major Division."
"Rose did mention there being ten Gyms in that this year, right?" Ash said, scratching his head in an attempt to reason it out.
"Sure, but I didn't know there could be two in one city. Most are built on Power Spots, after all…" It presented a conundrum to Gloria, but one she was excited to try and figure out. She huffed, adjusting the straps on her bag and running forward. "Well, it's not an adventure unless we find out along the way!"
"You say that every time," Astrid said with a sigh. She was still following, though, the trio descending the path towards the city. There were no cheers rising from the stadiums, and Gloria had to wonder if Gym matches had concluded for the day, or if too many challengers had dropped off in the first place. She didn't get an answer, though she did hear some whispers, some in exasperation, others shaking their heads.
"They're at it again…"
"Well, it's what happens when you have slow attendance. Most only watch these Gyms on the net. No one wants to come all the way out here." Gloria's interest was piqued, and she continued to try and listen, feeling as though it confirmed her theory.
"Wonder if something's going on," Ash said, shoving his hands in his pockets. Pikachu looked back and forth before tapping his partner, pointing towards a narrower path that looked to lead to the heart of the Diglett Temple. Officer Jenny looked to be stationed there, though from the way she and her Boltund were relaxing, Gloria doubted Ash's observation held any merit.
At least until the ground started to shake, sending the three falling over.
"Not again!" Gloria shouted, grabbing Ash to help stabilize herself. Astrid pushed up first, spinning around to locate the source of the problem until they could all see it: the clouds forming over the temple, a red glow shining from within. "More Dynamax!"
"Officer Jenny!" Ash shouted. He resisted being toppled, dragging Gloria along against the shaking to approach the policewoman who looked like she wasn't even flustered. In fact, the more Gloria stared around, the less people she saw that were freaking out. No one was. Not like Motostoke. It didn't stop Ash, though, who finally managed to get the officer's attention. "Officer, what's going on?"
"Oh, that? Don't worry," the blue-haired woman said in a drawl. She was looking at her watch, patting Boltund's head when it yawned a little. "Just another sparring match between Bea and Allister."
"Alastair?!" Ash and Astrid shouted. Gloria didn't feel the same. Something about the name sounded familiar, overriding her vibrating body as the temple shook again. "We have to see."
"Hey, wait. You don't want to-" Both Gloria and Jenny could only watch as Ash and Astrid raced up the narrow path. Gloria couldn't shake the thought from her mind, slowly taking steps after them, and she pulled out her phone, searching for articles until one came up, her eyes widening. "Hey, tell your friends they're running right into the middle of something they shouldn't!"
"Yeah…" Gloria breathed out, reading the headlines in her search options. She nodded. "I'll take care of it. Ash! Astrid!"
They didn't stop, and Gloria lowered her head to charge after them. Raboot tried to jump ahead, but the shaking made their feet unsteady until they neared the temple entrance. Pikachu was sparking, ready to strike, and Astrid held her own Poké Ball, which once released called Butterfree into the field.
"All right, Alastair tell us what-"
"Cut it out!" Gloria screamed, jumping the rest of the distance between them. Raboot tackled Pikachu while Gloria pulled on their collars, yanking them back. Their movement arrested, she sucked in her breaths to march in front of them and held her phone up. "I know you guys have a beef with that guy, but it's not the same. Officer Jenny is talking about Allister, the Stow-on-Side Gym Leader. A once very popular Minor Division Leader, now part of the Major. Look!"
The two managed to halt their attempted assault, right in plain view of the people inside the temple. They didn't notice them, but Ash noticed the headline atop Gloria's screen. He froze.
"Oh…"
"Oh!" Astrid said, far more intrigued by the sight beyond Gloria than that of her phone.
"Guess we made a mistake…"
"Pikapi…" Pikachu said, chastising his trainer.
"Hey, Pikachu, don't you pull that. You thought the same thing."
"Stop bickering. Look," Astrid said. She grabbed Gloria by the shoulders and spun her around to face the interior. Her eyes widened.
Sparring inside the great open space of the temple were two Gigantamax Pokémon. They loomed large, one a Machamp, and the other a Gengar with a giant mouth. Next to the pair, their trainers seemed small and insignificant, but with a step inside the temple, Gloria could see them both wearing the telltale jerseys that signified them as part of the Gym Challenge.
More particularly, ones that signified them as Gym Leaders.
"Machamp. Max Darkness."
"G-Gengar, G-Max T-terror!"
The cries of the two trainers brought with them a swift execution of their Pokémon's moves. Machamp's many arms came back and then split the air with its punch. Dark tendrils shot out from there, snaking through the air for Gengar. At the same time, household objects manifested around the Machamp, whirling with speed. The Max Darkness sliced through one of them in its path, but it wasn't enough to stop them from converging on Machamp's form. Nor was the Dark type attack halted, each tendril slamming into Gengar and sending a tower of inky blackness straight towards the sky.
The resultant force of the moves each impacting their opponent was almost enough to lift Gloria off her feet, but Ash kept her steady. One of her Poké Balls lit up, Clobbopus emerging to watch the powerful blows come to an end. The smoke soon cleared, and with it, the sky brightened, explosions shuddering out from the Gigantamaxed forms.
Machamp and Gengar were both down.
"A tie again. Shame." The one who had spoken this was Machamp's trainer, a girl a little older than herself with her hair tied up with a ribbon. She pounded a fist with a sigh. "We still have much ways to go."
"S-sorry for that result, B-Bea…" the younger member, Gengar's trainer, said to her. It caused her face to twitch while he rubbed his gloved hands together with nervousness. A mask covered his face, but Bea didn't mind that so much as what he had just said.
"Take more pride, Allister. You managed to fell Machamp today. You're a credit to your title."
Allister continued wringing his hands, looking not so sure of that honor, but reacted when Gengar began to sit up, Machamp doing the same opposite him. "Y-you're all right, Gengar?"
"Gar…"
"Yes, there is much disappointment for us to go around."
"Disappointment? You guys were great!" Gloria shouted. Her yell echoed around the temple, attracting Bea and Allister's eyes to her. "That was a real Gigantamax battle! Like Leon's!"
"Uh…um…who…?"
"Gloria. Gym Challenger," Bea said, placing her fists together and bowing in greeting. Gloria felt her face flush, not aware that her reputation had preceded her face in this case. Or rather, she hoped it was a more positive reputation than her previously known state as the "Kabu Girl". "Currently one of the sixteen favorites for the Challenge since her battle with Kabu. I suspect she's here for a Gym battle. I am Bea, Leader of the Stow-on-Side Gym."
"I-I'm Allister…" Allister squeaked out, waving just a little bit in their direction. He was clutching tight to Gengar, who patted him on the back, encouraging and emboldening him. "I'm a-also Gym Leader of the Stow-on-Side G-Gym…"
"So, there are two Gyms," Ash remarked. He looked more than a bit mollified now, rubbing the back of his head. Gloria figured it was his way of apologizing for mishearing the name, but she didn't tease him for it. Not when he asked a question that was on her mind as well. "How does that work?"
"Clobba!" Gloria groaned, knowing what that call meant. Sure enough, a simple glance down showed that Clobbopus had dashed forward, right to Machamp, his fist raised in challenge. "Clob-po-po-po!"
"Well, you're quite the curious one," Bea said, looking down. Machamp did the same, though Gloria felt that his was far closer to leering instead. Clobbopus was a small fry to the giants that had just duked it out, but it didn't stop him from attempting to initiate a fight.
"Cut it out, Clobbopus," Gloria snapped, striding the distance and striking her unruly Pokémon on the head. "Stop challenging everything that moves. Sorry about him."
"Rabuh…" Raboot looked, if anything, even more exhausted by the antics than Gloria, but Clobbopus refused to relent. He kept glaring at Machamp, matching him for every blink.
"It's no concern," Bea assured her. Gloria swore she could see an upturn of her lips, but the image was fleeting, soon returning to the grim, stoic line she seemed to have been wearing since the battle began. "He's a Fighting type. They love to test their strength, and we are no stranger to challenge. If your Pokémon is so inclined, Machamp will be glad to show him true strength. That which lies within."
In emphasis to her claim, Bea kicked at the air before planting both feet and punching. Machamp matched her, and soon, one of his hands beckoned for Clobbopus to fight. An all-out brawl with no rules. Gloria wasn't sure what to do, torn between letting her Pokémon get it out of his system, and preventing him from doing something stupid. She looked to Raboot for advice, but he was walking away, ignoring his own comrade.
"Go."
Machamp was off like a shot, and Bea gave no order. Her intention was clear, and Gloria stepped back. This was not a battle between trainers, but between Pokémon. Clobbopus punched up to match the descending Karate Chop. They collided, appearing matched, but soon Clobbopus gave way and the opposing attack struck him on the head. He spun around, glowing orange with the power of his Revenge.
Machamp matched it, his arms burning with a dark flame. Clobbopus's eyes widened, his Revenge missing before he was struck by the Darkest Lariat, flying upwards only to come falling back down. His opponent was waiting with a Cross Chop, and in that swift blow, Clobbopus was punted into one of the walls of the temple, sliding down in defeat. Gloria grimaced and ran for him.
"Clobbopus!" She slid towards him, propping him up. He seemed okay, if ashamed from the manner in which he turned away. It was a relief, though certainly not a solution.
"Your strength is volatile," Bea said, both her and Machamp bowing to the pair. "It can serve you well, but if you let it run amok, you will find it doing nothing but breaking you."
"Should we test that?" This was Astrid's voice, and Gloria lifted her head up just in time to see Butterfree send a Gust rippling out. Machamp crossed his arms, while Bea took it head on, letting the wind ripple her clothes. She offered no expression but a tilt of the head when she locked eyes with Astrid, the blonde smirking. Both Ash and Allister backed off, not wanting to get in her warpath. "You wanted another challenge, right? An ace trainer can always tell."
"Astute." Bea straightened, turning away from Clobbopus, who deflated further at no longer being worthy of his better's attention. "But you could have asked for a battle."
"Maybe it's not our style. Definitely not his."
"Freeeee!" Butterfree chirped out. He looked prideful at that, as if Astrid had finally gotten something right about him. His wings beat at a faster pace, something that caused Bea to watch him with curious eyes.
"Gigantamax. Your Butterfree has Gigantamax potential," she said, before pointing straight to Astrid's wrist. "Yet you don't have a Dynamax Band. Are you challenging me to seek it?"
"Maybe we just want to get more powerful. Maybe, we need to get stronger with it."
"I understand the pursuit of power all too well. I accept your-"
"Macham…" Before Bea could complete the beginning of the challenge, Machamp dropped, his earlier battle with Gengar taking its toll. With his knee hitting the floor, both Bea and Astrid knew what would happen, but it was Allister who timidly stepped from his spot in order to verbalize it.
"W-we should get Machamp to the P-Pokémon Center. R-rest up."
Though she said no words, Bea agreed with the notion, and called her Pokémon back. Astrid looked up to Butterfree, seeing his disappointment, and the antsy expressions that came with his constant need to battle. It wasn't like the Clobbopus in Gloria's arms, though, whose insistence on battle felt born from a different place. She clutched to her Fighting type.
What am I going to do with you…? There was no enlightening answer to be had, and knowing that, Gloria sighed.
Bea was swift, exiting the temple with all speed, eager to get to the Pokémon Center so they could resume their challenge. Or so Gloria assumed. She was the slowest to stand, bringing up the rear with Ash as they made their way out and back into the afternoon sun of Stow-on-Side, this time for the town proper. The further they went along, the more Gloria was finally able to take in the sights, from the locales and buildings, to the people in a plaza at the center of town, just a little ways off from the temple.
The Center sat just near that plaza, a place lined with stands on the furthest edges. Many people were gathered there, shopping the stalls or examining the relics and antiques. That felt odd to Gloria, especially with how much off-time the two Gym Leaders appeared to have, but the city still seemed lively, even a band set near the square with violins and flutes. Gloria watched for a moment, swearing to see a familiar blonde head of hair before she was directed inside by Ash to the virtually empty Center.
"Nurse Joy, Machamp needs a checkup."
"Pushed him too far again, did you?" Joy said, herself and her pair of Indeedee coming to greet the pair of Gym Leaders. "You need to be more aware of your limits, Bea."
"I need to break them."
"I like this one," Astrid said, continuing to grin at Butterfree. He watched her, but said nothing, and eventually turned away. He wasn't the only one, Clobbopus refusing to look at Gloria, and Raboot refusing to acknowledge Clobbopus.
"While we wait, who would like some cake?"
"In the afternoon?" Gloria asked, but her voice was quickly overruled by Ash and Pikachu springing forward with gusto. There was no surprise there, and Bea took the enthusiasm as confirmation. With nothing left for it, Gloria decided to call all of her Pokémon out to partake in the early dessert, the travelers and Gym Leaders finding a nice place to sit and enjoy. The cake arrived soon after, Bea eating the sugary food without any mark of shame.
The same could not be said for Clobbopus, sitting in a corner with a slice of his own, glaring at the rest of her team or at Bea. Gloria frowned, her piece halfway to her mouth, but couldn't think of how to handle it.
Ash changed that line of thought in one swift sentence. "Sho, tell me how you have two Gyms."
He swallowed, smiling at the pair of Leaders that sat next to each other. Allister shrunk in on himself, his face darting between Bea and Ash in the hopes one of them would continue the conversation, but his fellow Leader took the time to gently clean some crumbs off her face. Once she had, she looked up, the smile that had accompanied the sweets returning to stoicism.
"There are two Power Spots in Stow-on-Side."
"Two?" Astrid remarked, her own visible shock conveying the rest of their internal reactions. She managed to rein it in with a cough, taking a large chunk of cake off with a fork and biting into it. Appearing impressed, the blonde soon found her voice again. "How does that work exactly?"
"I-it's just like what she s-said," Allister piped up. His hands were trembling on his fork, at least until Bea calmed him with a swift touch to his shoulder. "There are t-two spots where Dynamaxed energy is. They built the st-stadiums there."
"Then what about where you two were fighting?" Gloria asked in continuation of the conversation. She reached to grab another piece of food, only to find that Bea had practically pulled the whole cake over to herself.
"It's on the verge of where they meet," the Gym Leader answered, funneling down cake faster than Ash and Pikachu, whose forks dropped to their plates. "We like to use it for our sparring matches to avoid damage to the town, though fights in the plaza or by the mural are also popular. They also draw energy from the intersection of the Power Spots."
"Isn't that dangerous, though? I mean, what if they erupt?" Ash asked. He clearly considered the cake a lost cause.
"Ah, Bea what if-?"
"Calm, Allister. It hasn't happened yet. And if it does…" Bea smashed her fist on the table, illustrating the point quite vividly. Allister jumped, more timid than ever before, but still managed to find a way for his voice to squeak out.
"B-Bea is a practitioner of Galarian karate. I'm sure she could fight alongside Machamp to beat anyone back."
"Except for yourself. You don't give yourself enough credit." Bea appeared tired of Allister's constant refusals to praise himself, but more importantly, she looked around to try and find more sweets, only to end up disappointed. Resigned to it, Bea opted for continuing the conversation to the best of her blunt conversational skills. "You train with me every day"
"That's because I don't want to disappoint you…"
"Your Gym reaching the Major Division is enough, Allister. Now, stop it." She slapped him on the back, straightening him quite a bit. Her task complete, she turned back to the three travelers. "Allister may act timid, but on the battlefield, he is a force of nature. Fitting, for one who can talk with his Ghost Pokémon."
"I still feel like you can do the same…"
"In any case, our two Gyms have been competing for many years to see who can get the most," Bea continued on, like Allister hadn't contradicted her in the first place. "Given our distance, many trainers do not always make it here, so we see who can battle and defeat the most Challengers. We're currently tied."
"Tied in victories or just challenges?" Ash asked, leaning back in his chair. Something caught his eye outside the window, but Gloria wasn't sure what, keeping her gaze on the pair of Leaders.
"Victories. Both Allister and I have turned away twenty Gym Challengers this year since they approached our doors. We're looking for one to even the score."
"We sometimes trade off," Allister admitted, his voice rising in confidence. Bea boasting of his numbers apparently did some good for him, and though his face was covered, Gloria could tell that he was smiling beneath the mask. "But we always leave the choice up to the challenger for which Gym they want to face."
"So, we have a choice…" Gloria folded her arms, musing. In her thoughts, she trailed over to Clobbopus, still looking surly. He wasn't in the best of moods, that was for sure, and from the furtive looks of fury, Gloria knew she couldn't quite trust him to have a clear head on his shoulders for a battle the next day. It left her with a choice and conundrum she didn't know how to solve. "Who was challenged last?"
"I was." Bea said with confidence. She closed her eyes a moment, steeling her body. "I was soundly defeated. Challenger Hop proved his strength, and with a Farfetch'd, my own type specialty, no less."
"Hop was already here?!" Gloria shouted, her voice startling every person and Pokémon in the Center. She had stood, slamming her hands on the table and feeling frustration beginning to eke back in. "How did he get here so fast?! We were ahead of him! Does he just never stay still?"
"Don't think you should be the one to talk." Astrid's drawl was followed by her pulling Gloria down into her seat. "Besides, we got lost, and punchy over there tries to hit anything that moves. He makes Butterfree look like an angel."
Astrid wasn't wrong. Clobbopus knew it, too. It made the decision a tricky one, at least until a new thought came to her head. "One question, then: which one of you did the challenger named Bede fight again?"
Ash turned to her, but Gloria didn't relent. She needed to know (or remember, at the very least). It was Allister who rose his hand. "M-me. I remember him…he was quite mean…"
"Yeah, he does that," Gloria said in a huff. She blew at some loose strands of hair and began to tap her foot. Her Pokémon had gone silent, waiting for the decision of who they would have to battle. In her ruminations, the door to the Center opened, many voices filling the once-empty building. None of them deterred her decision. "Right, well, I'll show him. Allister, I challenge you to a Gym battle!"
"Ooh, another Gym battle! Count me in to watch!"
Gloria stood again, turning on her heel at the known voice. Her face lit up, finally recognizing why the once empty Center now felt packed and full of people. The lemon-blonde grinning at them with a Dedenne on the shoulder was merely the hint they needed. "Bonnie!"
"Gloria!" As if they were old friends, the two embraced each other, Raboot greeting Dedenne on the floor. The Gym Leaders looked stunned, with Allister's finger in the air, wanting to confirm the appointment for the Gym battle, but left hanging. Their greetings exchanged, Gloria pulled back with a grin, and Ash interceded on the space, patting Bonnie on the head. "You're looking more seasoned. Are those new Pokémon?"
"Toxel!" Toxel cried out in greeting, sharing a spark of electricity with Dedenne. Clobbopus didn't bother introducing himself, still sulking in a corner.
"I've got my whole team figured out!"
"And looks like you're in charge of a whole class," Ash said, looking over the crowd of younger students. The tittering girls Gloria had noticed before still had their eyes on Astrid, but her pursed lips drove them away. "Where's Seamus?"
"Who knows? He's more interested in that mural. Been there with some other students since yesterday, talking with some professor and her assistant or something. Ugh, it's like being with Clemont." Bonnie was blanching at the thought, and though Gloria didn't have any firsthand experience with the girl's brother, she could admit the thought sounded displeasing. "I'm more interested in that Dynamaxing stuff."
"Of course, you are," Astrid said, rolling her eyes at Bonnie. Behind the older teen, many of the students filed off, holding to their assortment of Pokémon as they took a seat for dinner or retreated to their rooms for rest and relaxation. "I'd imagine that Seamus is taking after his father a bit, but I'd say if you want to know about Dynamaxing, there's nothing like the present. You ready to spar, Bea?"
As if she had predicted it, the bell rang through the Center, signaling the finished treatment of the girl's Machamp. Indeedee waddled out, handing over the Poké Ball and Bea accepted it gratefully. She stood. "Selling times are over. Let us battle in the plaza."
"Miss Bonnie, can we watch?"
"You bet!" Bonnie said, her cavalier tone fooling nobody. She was willing to let them do whatever they want, even without the permission of anyone else in the room.
"Just go with it," Ash mumbled, used to the girl's headstrong attitude. It didn't beat out Bea and Astrid's, however, the pair of them already leaving the Center. Gloria wasn't surprised by that so much as Butterfree following willingly, if with more twitching than necessary. Not wanting to miss a moment of the battle, Gloria followed them, walking out to the plaza where people were packing away their things, an action made hastier when they saw Bea walking for the center.
Knowing what was about to come, Gloria remained on the fringes, right next to Allister. Meanwhile, Ash pulled Bonnie and the students back, preventing them from getting in harm's way, and they weren't alone. Some of the citizens peeked their heads out of their houses, while others, such as vendors and the like, produced their own Pokémon that erected shields ringing the plaza.
"I-it's a common occurrence," Allister admitted, once more flustered and wringing his hands. "Sometimes even the people like to challenge her. Bea never t-turns them down."
"I hope you don't turn down my challenge," Gloria said. Her Pokémon were arriving, even Clobbopus, keeping his distance and watching as Astrid and Bea took their places.
"Not at all! As a Gym Leader, I accept," Allister said. For his extreme timidity, he sounded resolute. "We'll battle tomorrow."
"But for right now, it is a Dynamax battle. Allister, can she borrow yours?" Without delay, Allister capitulated himself to his friend's request. He slipped his Band off, the object glittering in the setting sun, and then tossed it through the air until Astrid caught it. "Let us go all out from the beginning."
"I was about to ask for the same." The blonde slid it on, glancing up at Butterfree as it reflected the light. "Just a question. If we're on a Power Spot, do we really need these?"
"We don't need them," Bea said, punching her fists into her open palms. "However, the control of Dynamax with them is greater. Safer. We can control the flow. That, however, is no guarantee of success. Gigantamax take in a far greater amount of what they call Galar Particles. It can cause any number of effects."
"So, quite a bit like Mega Evolution, then. Shouldn't be a problem." Astrid glanced up to Butterfree, his big eyes staring back at her, taking her in. "Butterfree, we've gotten off to a wrong foot, but you and me, let's prove we have what it takes to get stronger with this. Help me out?"
Butterfree considered her, but Gloria was certain that the Bug type would refuse. Bonnie looked puzzled at the statement, but none of it mattered when Butterfree nodded.
"Very well, then. We shall let you take the first move."
"Don't mind if we do. Butterfree, Gigantamax!" At her call, Astrid called her Pokémon back, touching to the band on her wrist. Bea was doing the same, their capsules growing larger and larger. Astrid spun the ball on her fingers, and then sent it flying forward. The shields tightened, and the students gasped in awe, like they had never seen it before (even though they very much had). Butterfree emerged, its wings massive and sea-green in color, crying out with a booming shout that echoed across all of Stow-on-Side.
Opposite him, Machamp had emerged, its once gray fists a molten orange. Dark clouds gathered overhead, a herald to the battle, and the land trembled beneath Gloria's feet. Something felt just a little different, and for a moment, she could hear a howl in the great distance, only to realize it must have been Butterfree's cries. Bea beckoned for them.
"Max Airstream!" Butterfree nodded, in control of the situation. His promise with Astrid remained, and his wings began to beat up a hurricane. The winds formed a cyclone that threatened to tear off roofs, but the shields held steady. The twister bored forward, straight into Machamp's body. He crossed his arms, hardly fazed, but Astrid and Butterfree were moving together. "Max Overgrowth!"
"Freee!" Butterfree's cry matched the spores falling from his body to the ground. Tendrils and plants sprouted up, surrounding Machamp and twisting up his body before exploding upwards.
"So cool!" Bonnie shouted, bouncing on her feet. Dedenne clung to her ponytail. "The power of those moves is awesome, don't you think, Squishy?"
"Yeah…" Gloria breathed, looking over to Ash. He hadn't taken a single eye off the battle. "It can't be that easy, can it? Just asking them to fight together. Butterfree doesn't listen to Astrid on the best of days, like…" She couldn't help but look to Clobbopus, his sight transfixed on the display of strength.
"Astrid said she wanted to understand Butterfree," Ash said. He kept forward, watching as Machamp ripped the vines from his figure. Bea shouted an attack, and the giant Superpower Pokémon punched forward. The amber colored fist fell, to which Astrid called for a Max Guard. They were in perfect sync, as though all their issues had been worked out. "That did get them on the same page. They both want to be strong, but…
"I think their desire for strength is both the same and different."
"What does that mean?" Gloria asked. She hoped for an inkling of how to solve her own situation, but Ash could give none. He only shook his head, forcing them to return their eyes to the battle.
It quickly began to provide an answer.
"Our turn. Max Hailstorm." Machamp's arms reared back, encrusted with ice, and when they were flung forward the ice-storm emerged. Winds howled and the temperature dropped significantly. The ice battered at Butterfree, a move that covered the entire battlefield, diminishing the bug's chance to move. "G-Max Chi Strike."
"Max Airstream!" Astrid shouted. Both of the Max moves were fired, but the Knuckle pushed further in, overcoming the intense winds to land a grievous blow upon Butterfree's body. He fell back, using his wings to buoy himself. Gloria watched him for any signs, but soon looked down to Astrid, her teeth gritting. "G-Max Flutterby."
"Free!"
"Machamp, Max Darkness." Bea was beyond calm, and in that tranquility came clarity. The dark tendrils that emerged from Machamp's many arms struck against the ethereal insects that attempted to swarm them. It was precise, and devastating to the building teamwork.
"Butterfree-"
"Free." It was blunt, and without Astrid asking, the spores flew out, more numerous and full of rage. They fell to the ground, ripping at the plaza with great force. The roots that formed attempted to impale Machamp, but he chopped through them, looking back to Bea. The girl's eyes were narrowed, and next to Gloria, Allister was shaking his head.
Butterfree attacked again, attempting to blow Machamp over, the green spores building up. Gloria took a step back, watching the angry insect army appear again, their shapes unfocused. Astrid looked yet more frustrated.
"Butterfree, stop and listen to me! We were doing just fine, so stop attacking without reason!"
"Machamp. End it." Bea's order carried with it an immediate execution. Machamp took a shuddering step forward, his arms striking down each insect until he reached Butterfree and held him by the wings. His mouth opened, and from it came the devastating beam of ice that ripped through Butterfree, and caused a sudden explosion of heat to rip outwards, rattling windows.
The battle was over.
"Butterfree!" Astrid called, running to her downed Pokémon. The shields dropped, allowing the murmurs of the citizens and students alike to reach them. Gloria and Ash just moved in to join Astrid. Machamp shrunk. "What happened, Butterfree? I thought you were going to trust me."
"F-free…" Butterfree looked away, but it was less of a spurn or a mark of shame so much as it was, well, something Gloria couldn't put her finger on.
"Your core is off," Bea said, approaching the pair and offering a hand to Astrid. "There is a disconnect in how you wish to handle Gigantamax. When that is out of alignment, the power will overwhelm you. Your focus will become lost."
"My focus…"
"Yes," Bea confirmed. Her hand never wavered or dropped, but still, Astrid didn't take it. "You became more focused on whatever was within you than on yourself and Butterfree. A difference in meaning, yet both running away."
"I'm not running away," Astrid said, but her voice was so quiet it made the rest of the plaza hush with it. Bonnie, in particular, looked away, up towards the mural that served as a landmark of the city, panning along to the forest beyond. All eyes remained when the blonde Kalosian trainer began to speak again. "I'm running forward. Into danger if I have to. After everything, I can't…I can't afford to continue being so weak."
Gloria's brow furrowed, not understanding the full meaning of those words. Bea didn't, either, but it did not stop her from stepping closer. "I know all too well the pursuit of strength, but you will never master Dynamax unless you have clarity of mind. I cannot teach you that, but I can help in the ways of dealing with strength you cannot handle."
Astrid looked down to Butterfree, her partner looking up at her before he finally nodded. At least in one way, they were on the same page. Astrid accepted Bea's hand and pulled herself up. "I accept."
"Excellent. We begin training tomorrow at dusk. I'd presume you want to watch your friend battle Allister, and I'd like to see the match, myself."
"So do I! Better put on a show, Gloria!" Bonnie cheered, the oppressive atmosphere of what had just happened now gone. Ash laughed alongside Pikachu, but Gloria found herself scratching her hair.
"Way to put the pressure on…"
"Tell me about it…" Allister mumbled. Their statements made each other lock eyes, and soon, they began to laugh, both in the same place. "W-well, I'll make sure to give you a tough battle tomorrow."
"Well, don't expect me to go down easy. I'm not gonna be your tiebreaker."
"Yeah, Gloria. Clean up! Let's get some last-minute training in! Who's up for it?" Ash shouted, his fist pitched into the air. All of Gloria's Pokémon (or most of them) cheered at the suggestion, something even Dedenne and Squishy pitched in on.
Feeling their enthusiasm, Gloria gave her own cry, running back for the Pokémon Center, only to pause at its threshold. She looked back, Clobbopus still far behind and staring at where the battle had been. It brought the image of Astrid and Butterfree, talking with Bea, into sharp relief.
A core out of alignment…and a team on the precipice… she couldn't help but think, breathing out. None of it made any sense, especially not how to fix it. She wanted to do so all the same. With a smile, she approached her downtrodden Pokémon and picked him up.
"Come on, Clobbopus. No more sulking," she said, trying to get him to smile back. He barely managed one, but for Gloria it was enough. "Let's keep walking the road of the Gym Challenge together."
They headed back inside.
Author's Note: Enter Bea and Allister! A lot of people seemed to think we were only adapting one way or the other, but we always wanted to adapt all of the Gym Leaders. While this means we had to shaft a couple, at the very least, they get some small screentime. In this case, Allister will be Gloria's opponent (and I tried to make the reasoning for it make sense). There's a reason for this, but we'll discuss that at a later chapter. However, Astrid will do a small amount of training with Bea in the realm of Dynamaxing. You won't see too much of it, since this is Gloria's story, but it's still important in their growing development.
Viroro: And we're finally in Stow-on-Side, meeting up with our two local Gym Leaders! We like to think the idea of creating two competing Power Spots with different Gyms attached could be an interesting way to allow for both Gyms to exist and be active at once, and we hope you liked both that and the dynamic we choose to go for with Bea and Allister, especially with no real media to draw from and giving us ample room to craft something interesting.
While this was a fairly transitional chapter, it does very much bring forward the story, between Seamus's and Bonnie's return alongside Gloria's continued dealing with Clobbopus, and in particular Astrid's own tribulations growing clearer as well, all of which will reach greater relevance very soon. But first, there's the Gym battle with Allister, written in full by me!
Thanks for reading, and hope you'll keep looking forward to what's to come!
Now, time to thank people: to Invortex and NarutoJohn for favoriting; Arsenal18 for following; and the biggest of thanks to Fury, Tenzalucard123, FantasyLover88, UltimateCCC, ChE clarinetist, RRV55, XDiamondX90, Ander Arias, MythGirl Writes, Rajiv A. Rajaram, oomoepoo, AmourshippingCanon, aliensinnoh, Captainsquid12 and 1 guest for reviewing.
As said, next time, we have a Gym battle, courtesy of Viroro! Please look forward to it and, as always, Review and,
Dare to Be Silly.