Whoo! Time for that midway Gym battle! Let's do this! Chapter 10!
Chapter 10
A Curse
The central plaza of Stow-on-Side was still empty by the middle of the next day, only a few people relaxing or passing through. Gloria, however, preferred that, allowing her enough space for some last-minute training.
As her entourage stood by, Gloria observed with pride the efforts of her team. Clobbopus was still as belligerent as ever, but Raboot managed to turn that to his advantage as his sparring partner, forcing the ornery mollusk into a quick, no-holds barred fight. At the same time, Drednaw was racing against Applin and Rookidee, the bird and the apple proving much faster than their bulkier teammate, spurring her to try and break through her newfound slowness. They were all training in different ways, sharing a desire to break past their limits and be in their best shape for the day's battle, one Allister had slated for the afternoon. Seamus's class observed with rapt interest, while the teacher (returned from his earlier interests late the prior evening) took the chance to expound about battle theory and other stuff Gloria didn't care about, her attention fully on her team.
"You're all doing great, guys!" Gloria flashed a thumbs up, with Applin in particular smiling as she rolled along, basking in the appreciation. She gladly petted the apple in response.
"Tox..." the weak, curious noise brought Gloria to look at her side. Toxel was looking over his teammates with awe, his eyes big and filled with curiosity. He flailed his arms around, and Gloria got the message.
"Feeling ready to fight? I know we did a little trial and error on the road, but that was more about footwork and dodges. We gotta see what you're made of for a real fight!" She kneeled to Toxel's height, giving the Baby Pokémon a grin and getting a beaming smile in return. She could hear Clobbopus shout back at her for the shift in attention, but a swift "Rabah!" and a slamming sound reassured the trainer that he wouldn't cause problems.
"Tox...Tox! Toxel!" Feeling much bolder, Toxel tried to stand up and flail further, driven to actually battle. He fell flat on his face not even a second later. The young Pokémon heaved himself back up, his face bruised as tears welled.
"Tooooox!" Toxel cried. The high-pitched scream forced everyone in the general vicinity to block their ears, putting a sudden end to the training. Grimacing at the shrill cry, Gloria went and grabbed the baby in her hands, cradling him awkwardly as best as she could.
"Shhhh, it's okay! You're not gonna be battle-ready right off the bat! You did nothing wrong!" Gloria blurted out quickly, trying to drown out the tantrum and waving her newborn left and right. The rhythmic movement seemed to have the desired effect, bringing Toxel's whining down until he fell silent again, to the relief of everyone around them. Gloria felt a bit more at ease, looking at the sad Pokémon in her arms.
"Toxel..." the baby pouted, trying to flail his hands again. Gloria frowned, as well. He had already taken to training better than she expected, but compared to the others, she felt less than confident.
"App app! Lin app!" Feeling a nudge on her leg, Gloria looked down to Applin, the little Pokémon hopping and rolling all the way over Gloria's shoulder, sending her trainer a driven look. Gloria smiled.
"You wanna help?"
"Lin!" Her eager apple seemed just a bit bigger, brimming with a confidence that Gloria had seldom seen before. Gloria looked at Toxel again, her eyes meeting his own, curious look.
"What do you say, little guy? Wanna let your big sis help you out?"
Toxel didn't need much deliberation, nodding with a happy "Tox!". Gloria grinned back, ruffling the lightning bolt protrusion on his head before placing him on the ground, with Applin hopping right next to him.
"All right! Do your best, you two!" Applin nodded, the Apple Core Pokémon leading Toxel further away, rolling around him to act as a moving target. The trainer smiled over the training, seeing Toxel attempt to harness his first elemental attacks, all while Applin tried to slowly guide him. Her observations were interrupted by some steps, noticing Seamus and the rest coming closer.
"Your team is pretty lively. Makes for good study material," the teacher commented. His students circled around the rest of the team to get a better look at their training, with Bonnie and Dedenne leading the gaggle.
"They're a rowdy bunch, but they have their good points," Gloria replied with a sheepish grin, once more observing as Toxel tried to hit Applin with a sparkling cheek. "Applin must see a bit of herself in Toxel. She used to be the weakest of the team, so..."
Her smile grew wider. Applin looked much bolder and assured than before, a far cry from the frustrated and weak Pokémon she had been. They worked hard to get there, and Gloria knew she had nothing to envy from Raboot and the others. By her side Ash agreed, nodding along as he stroked his chin.
"It's nice to see your Pokémon growing alongside you."
"Of course! We're ready to give everyone another good show!" Gloria gave her mentor a playful wink. She caught sight of Astrid in her peripheral vision, the woman giving her an amused chuckle.
"As excitable as ever."
"Hey, it is the halfway point of the Gym Challenge. Winning here is an important step for the Wyndon Conference."
"You got any plan to counter Allister's Ghost types yet?" Bonnie's question brought Gloria to a pause, the eyes of the Kalosian trainer and eager students making her stiff. She tried to loosen up with a sheepish smile and scratch of her cheek.
"I'm workshopping it."
"Seriously? Did you not do your research?"
"He only recently entered the Major Division! There's not all that much information on him...And besides, I had other things to think about…" Gloria muttered with an eyeroll, Astrid's comment feeling more than unneeded. The kids didn't help, whispering to themselves in confusion as Bonnie took Gloria's side.
Ash gave a nonchalant shrug that Gloria was very grateful for. "Don't give her too hard a time. Plans aren't everything for victory."
"Yeah! You said it, Ash! We'll make it through, plan or not!"
"Of course, you'd think that. She's becoming like you in all the worst ways..."
"It's not like I'm charging in without any options. I have a full team. I'll figure something out once we get there." With confidence, she turned to her whole team, checking them all out, and noticing the one that had gotten very conspicuously close to her in the meantime.
"Clobpopo! Clobbo! Clob!" The mollusk held both of his gloved tentacles high, his voice growing louder with each interjection, more eager than any of the others combined. He started punching the air, staring fiercely at his trainer.
"Looks like someone is still fuming from that Machamp," Astrid commented, and Gloria found herself agreeing. Even if Clobbopus was hardly on his best behavior, the Postwick trainer could get what he was going through; she had spent a large part of her journey wanting to make up for her initial performance with Kabu, after all. She could sympathize with his desire to show off, but she still ended up shaking her head.
"I appreciate your drive, but well...You are a Fighting type, and Allister knows for sure how to deal with them. He'd make short work of you, and I don't want your Gym battle debut to go poorly, you know?" She measured each word as well as she could, hoping for the Fighting type to understand her choice.
From the way he stared in utter disbelief and flailed around in upset furor, Gloria realized she had failed.
"Clobpo! Po! Po!" Clobbopus shouted each syllable with increased anger, still holding his fists up to convince Gloria to reconsider. His complaints became loud enough to attract everyone's attention, and the rest of his teammates' in particular.
"Rabuh..." Raboot slapped his forehead, and Gloria agreed with the sentiment. With a sigh, she bent to Clobbopus's height and forcibly put his gloved tentacles down, the action enough to get him to listen.
"I'll be sure to include you next time. Just bear it for now, alright?" She was assertive, just like the day before. Clobbopus seemed to get the message, his protests slowing down to silence. Then, he grumbled and looked the other way.
"Po..." He looked hardly pleased, but Gloria could tell he accepted her reasoning. She almost felt bad about it, but shrugged.
"Well...he listened, at least..."
Perhaps noticing the awkward air of the moment, Ash pitched in again, his eyes focused on the purple-walled stadium in the distance. "Maybe it's better to head for the Gym now. Your match is pretty soon, yeah?"
"Oh, right. Better get going." Gloria was quick to recall her whole team, taking charge as they headed as one for the Gym. Slapping her cheeks, the Postwick trainer put herself in the right mindset.
As they passed through the main roads of Stow-on-Side, Gloria distracted herself by glancing at her surroundings. The paths were bustling with more activity than the main plaza, but as a small town out of the way, the amount of people around was a far cry from other cities they had visited. It almost reminded her of Postwick, even if the town was still much bigger than her home. She caught several people noticing her, whispering to each other. She couldn't hear clearly, but she tried to ignore it.
It wasn't the first time people talked behind her back, after all, even if Bea claimed she was one of the favorites now.
It didn't take long for the large and merry group to reach the Stow-on-Side Ghost type Gym, the Challenger taking a moment to observe the building. It looked much more recent than the prior Stadiums she had fought in, with barely any particular reflection of Allister's type beyond a few ghost-warding seals hanging all over the building's exterior. Perhaps it was a result of Allister's shy nature leading him to have low key Gym decorations, or a reflection of his recent promotion.
Gloria didn't have time to ruminate on the whys of the Stadium's aesthetics, however, for her upcoming match was waiting inside. She took a deep breath, steeled herself, and took her first step inside the Gym's lobby.
She was welcomed by a roaring shower of applause and supportive cheering.
Before Gloria could realize it, she was surrounded in every direction by people of all kinds, men and women, elders and children, all focused on her.
"It's her! Challenger Gloria!"
"Finally! She looks so awesome in person!"
"She's really here! This is amazing!"
"We love you and your Pokémon!"
One, two, twenty different voices all merged together as all the people and even a few Pokémon tried to get closer to her, with a level of adoration and awe that Gloria had only seen for high level trainers. She could only stare blankly back at the overflowing support. It was hardly the biggest crowd she had ever seen in a stadium, but their sheer positivity and desire for Gloria's attention made them seem far larger.
She stood in place, mouth agape, words failing to come in the face of the barrage of questions. As the crowd kept trying to get closer to her, however, she could feel a harsh tug to her arm, the familiar visage of Astrid popping by as she made her way through with everyone else.
"Sorry, but the Challenger needs to prepare for her match," the woman bluntly stated, drowning out the complaints and disappointment. Capitalizing on the moment, Ash, Seamus and the class made their way through the opened passage in the sea of people.
"She'll be all yours once she comes back victorious! Until then, keep up your support!" Bonnie exclaimed, deliberately staying behind to wink and wave at the crowd with enviable confidence.
"Denenene!" Dedenne agreed, emulating his trainer to the letter.
The duo's words seemed to be enough to quell the people, allowing them to make their way to the other side of the lobby and the changing room. All the while, the Postwick girl couldn't help but look back, the occurrence finally sinking in. All the whispers and people looking at her along the way to the stadium weren't dismissing her in the slightest.
"Looks like you've finally got positive buzz, firecracker," Astrid pointed out with a brief chuckle. Gloria's cheeks turned a bashful pink.
"Even with how Galarian Gym battles are like, I never had that kind of attention before my Gym battles..." Ash grumbled, almost making the Galarian girl wonder if her mentor was actually jealous.
She didn't linger much on it, her attention back to her newfound fans. Even after her victory against Kabu, it felt strange and unusual to see so much support, so used to being 'the Kabu girl'. Not that she disliked the change, of course. Out of gratitude, she laughed to herself and looked over her followers, hands on her waist and standing proudly.
"Thanks for all your support, everyone! You're going to see a victory like none before! That's Challenger Gloria's promise!" She threw her fist to the sky, a gesture that was met in kind by the people in front of her, with Bonnie flashing a thumbs up alongside Seamus's students. Gloria couldn't hide a proud snicker as she turned back, one that not even Astrid's eyeroll could dampen. Ash and Seamus looked more amused than anything, moving aside so Gloria could enter the changing room.
She gave her entourage one last acknowledgement and headed inside, quickly changing into her uniform. Her smile widened. She had finally done it, received the admiration she had been looking forward to from the day she had left Postwick. It energized her more than ever, her journey finally past insurmountable hurdles. Gloria breathed, hoping to live up to those expectations and give back to the audience that had started to embrace her.
The best way to do so was to be true to the promise she just made to them. With such resolution, she left for the main arena.
As she entered the battlefield and walked over the deep purple pavement, Gloria was welcomed by the same raucous enthusiasm, the swarm of her new fans joining her close friends and acquaintances in cheering for her. She could even see people waving what looked to be posters of her, and Seamus's students were also holding up a banner cheering her and her team on. It was no doubt Bonnie's idea, given she and Dedenne led the cheer from the younger kids. Less enthusiastic were Astrid and Bea, the Gym Leader watching the field stoically from next to the blonde. Still, Gloria held her head high for the crowd, moreso as the Rotom Drone flew all around her to get the best angles for the large screen in the middle of the field.
"And here we are, lads and lasses, with another match from the Stow-on-Side Ghost type Gym!" Perry's familiar voice rocked over the whole stadium, the man sounding even more excited than he already was. "In spite of being a new entry in the Major Division for this season, we all know that our fierce battlers will give us a battle you'll never forget! On the Challenger's side, we have one of the hottest this season! The fearless rising star that fears nothing and throws herself against any trial in her way! The girl that made a name for herself with her matches against the Motostoke triangle! The trainer that triumphed over Kabu when all odds were against her! You've come to know and love her...it's Challenger number two-two-seven! GLORIA FROM POSTWICK!"
The enthusiasm of the crowd reached a fever pitch, everyone crying out and whistling in support of the scrappy Gym Challenger, far louder than any match she had fought until then. She would have been embarrassed, but instead waved back to the crowd as she headed for the middle of the field. Once in the center, she turned to the opposite side of the stadium, from which another, smaller figure was slowly emerging.
Allister came into clear view, the boy taking methodic, dragged-out steps that resembled a fairly zombie-like gait. The crowd flared up once more, perhaps not as loudly as the prior Gym Leaders she fought, but still making quite clear which of them was the favorite to win.
"And on the Gym Leader's side, we have the newest addition to the Major Division! A favorite of the crowd that rose from his humble start in the Minor Division to be an equal for our beloved senior Gym Leader, Bea! An expert of all things spooky, and a scarily methodical fighter! It's the silent boy of mystery! GYM LEADER ALLISTER!"
Gloria could see the boy shiver a bit as the support from the stadium increased tenfold, yet never interrupted his slow drag to the center, holding his head down and his hands tucked inside his large sleeves. She wondered if he, too, was feeling the pressure to succeed, not helped by Perry building the both of them up as rising stars. The girl couldn't see a trace of the boy's purple eyes, only catching a glimpse of the void behind his mask. He stood silent, almost as if looking for the right words to say, wobbling in place all the while.
"...I-it's time." He paused, holding his head up again, the blackness of the mask's eye sockets boring into Gloria. "All will be settled here. Who will make it through this...?"
The sharp, cutting whispers of the Gym Leader sent a shiver crawling on Gloria's back, the boy looking so different from the polite kid she had met the day before. It doubled when he adjusted his mask, turned around and paced for his trainer's box. Swallowing down, Gloria decided to do the same, keeping her focus on the upcoming match.
As both trainers took their respective positions, the referee stepped in the middle, ready to begin. "This Gym match will be a three-on-three battle between the Challenger, Gloria, and the Gym Leader, Allister. The battle will be over when one side has no more usable Pokémon, and only the challenger is allowed substitutions."
He lowered both hands. "Begin!"
"...Cursola, go." Allister's voice was barely audible as he grabbed a Poké Ball from the holster of his uniform and heaved it with both hands. It opened on impact, revealing his first choice.
Gloria paled as Allister's Pokémon materialized, revealing a ghastly sight. Its lower body appeared shattered in half, nothing more than a broken remnant, an ectoplasm in the shape of a coral structure extending upwards from what used to be its topmost half. In the middle of the ghostly energy stood a sphere, a sad, unhappy face at the center of it all. Between that and its bleached-out colors, the Gym Challenger just felt like the whole thing was wrong to even look at.
"What in the bloo-" Gloria stopped herself short of cursing in front of the large crowd, instead taking a deep breath and pulling out her Rotom Phone, trying to figure out what exactly it was.
"Cursola, the Coral Pokémon, and the evolved form of Galarian Corsola. A Ghost type. The otherworldly energies overflowing from its shell surround the Pokémon's soul, protecting its core spirit. Caution is advised when touching its ectoplasmic body."
Allister tilted his head to the side, observing his own Pokémon, almost as if to expand on the Pokédex's description. "Cursola...a Pokémon with a soul that transcended her body...a lonely, dead soul, ready to ferry others with it to the underground...I wonder, can you overcome this...?"
Gloria's body twitched, dread filling her and keeping her in place. She didn't consider herself afraid of ghosts, but the way Allister was acting still creeped her out something fierce. She really regretted not having done her research on the boy beforehand.
Still, she remained defiant, grabbing her own Poké Ball.
"If you're trying to scare me, it's not gonna work! Drednaw, let's teach 'em a lesson!" With a throw, her loyal turtle appeared, staring down the eerie Cursola.
"Would you look at that! It looks like Gloria's little Chewtle has evolved since her previous Gym battle! What surprises could Drednaw hold for us? Only one way to find out, lads!"
"Naw..." Drednaw's sheepish expression was evident, as well as the insecurity beneath. She was still internalizing her loss of speed, and Gloria knew very well how it felt to be judged by the masses. Gloria smiled, nonetheless.
"Try to relax, Drednaw. The public is on our side today, and we'll show 'em what you truly can do! You'll shine brighter than ever!" Gloria said, flashing a grin towards her titubant Bite Pokémon. It didn't erase her doubts, but she mustered a grin, foot down and ready to charge.
Allister rose his hand, pointing ahead weakly.
"...Cursola, let us start with a Hex..." The Ghost type's eyes glowed crimson as an eye of darkness manifested above her, and multiple circles of blue energy fired towards Drednaw.
"Liquidation, now!" As the watery blade formed around Drednaw's limb, the turtle sliced upward, shattering any of the Hex's bullets. She rushed forward, only managing a modest jog. Not that it meant much as Cursola barely moved out of the way, emboldening Gloria to capitalize on her seeming slowness. Drednaw closed the distance, just as the Ghost type conjured another Hex.
"While you're close, Jaw Lock!" Drednaw's maw snapped in place immediately, covering the short distance with a lunge as her fangs sunk into the ectoplasmic body. Cursola whined loudly, the super-effective damage hurting her.
And then dark red static held Drednaw in place, freezing her Pokémon as a low, haunting aria resounded across the battlefield. The atmosphere turned heavier, and Gloria noticed how uncomfortable her attacking Pokémon was, letting go of Cursola's body as if it were rotten food.
"What was that...?"
At the question, Allister tilted his head the other way, pushing his mask up. "...Perish Body. An ability that activates whenever a move makes contact with Cursola...In a few minutes, both of our Pokémon will faint if they stay on the field...no matter what..."
"Curss..." The pitiable expression on Cursola's face never changed, yet Gloria could still hear a hint of superiority in her voice.
Gloria tried to palm Drednaw's Poké Ball, only for a realization to dawn on her: thanks to Jaw Lock, her own Pokémon was locked on the field until one of them fainted. It was a worrisome situation, at least until she realized a silver lining to it, a grin on her face.
"We're both locked in this battle. Even if Drednaw falls, Cursola will, as well!"
"...We are ready for such outcome. Cursola will still ensure your loss first."
"Not on my watch! Drednaw, go for another Jaw Lock!" Shaking off the dread of the countdown, Drednaw sunk her teeth into the ectoplasm again, still disgusted, yet holding tight as Cursola cried out again, growing weaker by the second.
Allister, however, did not look worried in the slightest. "...Leech Life."
Cursola's own teeth sunk into Drednaw, piercing into her carapace enough to draw out a whine and forcing the latter to stop biting down. She looked increasingly fatigued with each second, her stamina slowly sapped away.
"Liquidation, point blank!" Drednaw blasted the water attack straight to Cursola's ghostly face, the ensuing impact blowing both fighters away from each other. Gloria perused both of their states; Drednaw still looked able to fight, if a bit under the weather, while Cursola appeared healthier than ever, having recovered from the damage sustained.
And Allister was still far from done, holding his palm skyward. "Now...Curse."
"Cuuurs..." Eerie energies gathered all around Cursola, her body glowing a deep purple as she stared over to Drednaw, eyes squinted in effort. Gloria's Pokémon doubled down immediately, a pain of unknown origin flaring up over her body.
"Drednaw! What's wrong?" Gloria asked, fists clenched in worry. Had the timer come to pass?
"Naw..." With effort, Drednaw managed to stand again, her puzzled expression making clear she had no idea what had just happened either. Trainer and Pokémon turned to the Gym Leader, the pitch-black sockets of the mask once again staring back.
"...Curse...a move that in exchange for Cursola's energy, will keep inflicting damage over time to Drednaw...an endless pain, with no cure..."
"And here it is, one of Allister's signature strategies that gave more than a few challengers a hard time! Will Gloria manage to overcome this tricky situation?"
Both Gloria and Drednaw tried to ignore the chills Allister was giving them, and Perry's pressure, more concerned with the boy's words; with no way to switch out and Perish Body already in place, they now had two countdowns to worry about, and no way to circumvent them. They didn't have much time to settle the score if they wanted to survive the round.
"...How does it feel? To have doom come at you from every direction...?"
Gloria swallowed down, unwilling to share her actual answer to the creepy boy. She stared down at the Gym Leader. "It's just making us want to kick your arse more! Drednaw, go! Use Rock Tomb, and let's finish this quickly!"
"Dreeednaw!" With a mighty stomp, the turtle fired the row of stones towards Cursola, the Coral Pokémon manifesting a Hex to try and ward them off. The eerie energy and the row of stones clashed against each other, only for Drednaw's attack to overpower it and blast through, pelting over Allister's Pokémon at a furious pace, sending the ghostly coral plummeting to the ground, her spiritual body wobbling formlessly around her soul.
"Cursssahh...!" Cursola pulled herself back up, her spiritual shape back in place as she charged another Hex in retaliation, only for the evil eye to take much more time to form in its shape. Gloria grinned, and seized the moment.
"Alright! Now, go for a Liquidation!"
"Naw!" Drednaw lunged as fast as her form could allow with the liquid blade, her opponent still busy with her own attack. Her neck extended, closing the distance, and the watery slice sent Cursola tumbling all over the floor like a ghostly ragdoll, her coralline shape twisting and stretching in impossible ways. After a moment she got back to an upright position, hurt but still standing. Gloria took a sigh of relief, even as Drednaw flinched for the curse's effect. They could do it; they could overcome Allister's strategy.
Or at least, that was what they believed.
"So...this is how it is..." Allister rubbed his sleeve over his chin, curiosity in his voice. "Then...Cursola, Strength Sap..."
"Curs..." Cursola's expression turned into a brief, wicked grin as her body morphed again, the coralline shape giving way to twisty tentacles that flew all the way for the nearby Drednaw, ensnaring her in place. The turtle struggled, but the ghost's hold stayed firm, the tentacles glowing.
"Drednaw! No!" Gloria looked on in concern as her Pokémon kept trying to break free. And then, she noticed. "Wait, what the...?"
All around the Bite Pokémon's binds, Gloria saw the glowing spots traveling all the way through the ectoplasm and into Cursola's soul, sapping away something like some kind of eldritch version of Giga Drain. Drednaw mustered all her energy to create another Liquidation to strike at point-blank range, the blast hurting Cursola enough for the turtle to break free. And yet, even with the danger passed, Gloria could tell: the impact was much weaker than before, barely getting Drednaw out of Cursola's range while Allister's Pokémon looked quite energized.
"Did she...just steal Drednaw's power to heal up?"
"Indeed...quite frightening, don't you think...?"
Allister's whispers remained low, and yet Gloria could feel a hint of pride for his strategy beneath it. Gloria refused to answer, yet couldn't deny how solid it was: trapping her on not one, but two timers while simultaneously losing means of offense and keeping themselves healed up. With Allister's only concern being to outlast her, it was the best path they could go for.
Which meant they had no time to waste. They had to inflict more damage than Cursola could heal, and fast. She glared at the Coral Pokémon. "Drednaw, head forward with a Jaw Lock!"
The turtle launched herself forward, fangs ready to clench onto the ectoplasm. Neither Cursola nor her trainer showed much sign of worry, however.
"Leech Life, now..." As Allister waved his arm down, Cursola shot her tentacles forward, right for the speeding Bite Pokémon.
"Stop! Switch to-" Gloria's order came too late, a grimace on her face as the ghostly tendrils trapped Drednaw again, sapping away her health instantly.
"NAAAAW!" Her Pokémon thrashed about, trying to fight off the vampiric appendages, her slow movements barely a threat for Cursola's nourishment. Gloria balled her fists.
"Rock Tomb! Pelt repeatedly!"
The ring of stones formed all around Drednaw's glowing body before each fragment rocketed against the ghostly coral, the stones slamming hard and fast over the ectoplasmic shape, making her wobble all over, her hold loosening up.
"Use...Strength Sap on the rocks...!" Allister's command carried uncertainty, a desire to recover momentum as the rocky assault continued. As a new salvo of stones was fired, Cursola's free prongs morphed into swirly tendrils, the Grass type move swatting powerfully at the projectiles and pulverizing each on impact. Drednaw continued to be relentless, however, her attacks never faltering even as Cursola kept stealing her vitality.
"Cuuurssss!" The Coral Pokémon strained, dividing her focus between offense and defense. The unending amount of stones ultimately took precedence, the Leech Life fading away slowly as the ghostly binds unraveled without Cursola meaning to, enough for Drednaw's limbs to move free.
"Now, Liquidation!" With a sweeping slice, the watery blade struck Cursola, blowing the ghost back enough for Drednaw to free herself once more and making the Coral Pokémon vulnerable to the final salvo of Rock Tomb, forcing the Ghost type back down on the floor.
"Use Rock Tomb, again! Keep the rhythm!"
"Dreeeed-NA!" The attack faltered before it even started, the curse-born flinch halting Drednaw in place. She powered through and formed the ring of rocks around herself, only for the twisty tendril to travel through the ground and drag the turtle down, Cursola bearing over her. Concern froze Gloria in place once more.
"Strength Sap...!" The power-stealing drain began from the lone tentacle, not as powerful as before, yet still powerful enough to make Drednaw squirm, Cursola's firm grip holding Gloria's Pokémon in place.
"Slice that tentacle! Use Liquidation and head back!" Even if pained and weakened, Drednaw heeded Gloria's words, forcing her free foot to materialize the liquid blade again. It was shorter and more formless than before, yet Drednaw clenched her jaw, ignoring the pain as she aimed for the tentacle. With a strong push and a cry of "DRED!" the blade swung down, straight through the ectoplasm.
"CURSSS!" Cursola drew her amputated tentacle back, allowing Drednaw to hop all the way back, the sliced bind vanishing into air while the cut piece slowly regrew on the Ghost type's form. She looked angry, taking heavy breaths as she steadied herself, glaring at Drednaw.
"Keep your distance! Try with Rock Tomb!"
The ring of stones manifested around Drednaw, each of her projectiles traveling for Cursola as fast as she could throw them. Yet, Cursola proved faster than they expected, her tentacles of Leech Life and Strength Sap making short work of Drednaw's long range attack. She lunged for the turtle, the tendrils ready to ensnare Gloria's Pokémon again, only held back by another round of Rock Tomb that allowed Drednaw to put further distance between them.
And so, the battle continued, with Drednaw trying and failing to launch Rock Tombs from the distance, unable to get close without risking to have her health or strength sapped away further. They were forced on the defensive, putting Drednaw's lowered speed to the test even with Cursola's own slowed pace, knowing that any hit could be their undoing. And all the while, the little flinches and whines from Drednaw reminded her of the ticking clock she could notice.
Through it all, the air felt heavier with each passing second, Gloria wondering if that was a sign of the Perish counter getting closer to zero.
She clenched her fists, looking over at Drednaw trying her best to avoid being hit, in spite of fatigue and pain. They were just delaying the inevitable, and they all knew it.
"It...hurts, right? Knowing there's...nothing you can do to save yourself..." Allister continued to stare at Gloria, his large sleeve caressing his chin with clear curiosity.
Gloria felt her feet heavier on the ground, her eyes fixated on Cursola's hunt for the cornered Drednaw. Allister was right; no matter what she could come up with, nothing came without risk, and each second spent wondering what to do was less time they had left on their twin countdown. Their doom was more likely than not.
And yet, in spite of how the deck was stacked against them, Drednaw continued to dodge. She kept firing row after row of Rock Tomb, not even needing orders to attempt another assault, trying to triumph against Cursola's own offensive. She was tired, but still fighting to the bitter end. She had nothing to lose, and was doing everything to win. It felt inspiring, motivating even, and just like that, Gloria remembered what she told her days ago.
So, you're not super-fast. You don't need to be.
And just like that, she smiled, everything falling in place again.
"We can still save ourselves! You got a cool tactic, Allister, but you still haven't seen Drednaw's true talent in action!"
"Wh-what?"
Gloria locked gazes with Drednaw, trainer and Pokémon united in their drive. "I believe in you. Let's show everyone what you can do! Charge onward, and fire Rock Tombs!"
Her Pokémon nodded, and with a mighty call of "DRED!", the large turtle trotted forward, head hunkered down and ready to strike as several rows of rocks formed around her. Their sudden and renewed determination took Allister and Cursola by surprise, enough for Drednaw to cover half of the distance and for the Rock Tomb shards to fly through for the Ghost type.
"D-Defend yourself!" Allister's call was uncertain, and so was Cursola throwing her tendrils to swat away the barrage of rocks coming her way. She pulverized the long-range attack just as easily as ever, even as it kept going relentlessly, but her brief hesitation gave Drednaw the opening she needed.
"While Cursola is busy, use Jaw Lock! And keep striking with all you have!"
"Dred! Drednaw DRED!" With a lunge and a snapping of her jaws, Drednaw tackled Cursola on the ground, jaws tightly gripping around one of her horns. She held the bite down, sinking into the ectoplasm against her growing disgust and the flinching of the curse. Cursola attempted to get back up as her form wobbled, whining in pain. And all the while, the pelting barrage of rocks never ended.
"S-Strength Sap!" Drednaw wasn't able to escape the tendrils wrapping all the way around her, trying to sap away her strength and heal Cursola's injuries. Yet Drednaw powered through, continuing her combined attack of Jaw Lock and Rock Tomb.
"C-Curs! Curs! Currrrrssssolaaaah!"
"NAAAAAAAAW!" Drednaw's roar overpowered Cursola's cries, asserting the turtle's dominance as she kept going under pressure.
Gloria and Drednaw both knew it was a risky gamble. Drednaw had sustained a large amount of damage, and the countdowns could both reach zero before they could push through. Any second could turn that whole full-frontal assault moot, but Gloria wanted to put her trust in Drednaw.
It had taken a while to realize it, but in spite of Drednaw's wishes, her speed was never her true point of strength. Instead, she was a fighter that never gave up, weathering every hit coming her way, striving to come out on top, even in the face of endless damage.
It was that incredible sturdiness that truly made Drednaw her special wild card, and as Cursola's healing struggled to keep up with the damage inflicted, everyone would know it now.
"Yes! That's it! This is the real you, the most resilient Pokémon out there!" She raised a fist to the sky, a proud grin over her face. "No matter what you'll toss against us, we'll weather it all! And now, Drednaw, let's finish this with one final Jaw Lock!"
"DREEEEEDNAAAAAW!" With one final, powerful heave, Drednaw managed to grab Cursola off the ground through her bitten horn, slamming her all the way to the opposite end of the ground, letting go of the attack at the zenith of the throw.
"CURSOLAAAAAAAAAH!" Allister's Pokémon shouted uselessly, flying through the air as the toss ripped her tendrils away from the main body, reaching all the way to the opposite end of the battlefield as the last round of Rock Tomb struck her down in full. She cracked the purple battlefield severely on impact, major bruises all over her ghostly shape.
Drednaw continued to stare the Coral Pokémon down, her own injuries obvious and severe, yet wearing a proud smile beneath her labored breaths, waiting for Cursola's next move.
Allister's Pokémon wobbled back into a standing shape, clearly attempting to shoot another set of tendrils, only for it to visibly destabilize. Cursola's body suddenly turned into ghostly goo as she fell flat on the ground, seemingly unresponsive. The damage incurred had finally caught up to her in full.
"Cursola is unable to battle. Drednaw is the winner!"
"Yes!" Gloria shouted, pumping her fists further as Drednaw cried happily. Their dare had paid off!
All around them, the stadium roared in cheers at their triumph, showering the victors in applauses worthy of a finished battle. It felt so weird still, but she wasn't going to complain for genuine enthusiasm as her tension released.
"That's incredible, lads! Through sheer tenacity and guts, Drednaw has triumphed over her grim fate! A turnaround of fortune worthy of the Stow-on-Side Gym!"
Perry's words only galvanized the excited crowd further, and Gloria could swear she heard Bonnie leading the cheers alongside Seamus' class, the girl looking ready to jump out of her seat with Dedenne hopping on her head. All the while, Drednaw turned around, a proud smile on her face. There was none of her worries about her lacking speed anymore: she knew what her strong point was, and she was happy about it, shining through her talents.
Gloria would've allowed her Pokémon to enjoy the well-earned attention more, but with a mutual look they both understood it was time for recall, putting an ending to Perish Body's countdown as Drednaw safely returned to her Poké Ball. It had been a more than tricky round, and Drednaw deserved her rest.
Gloria's gaze turned to Allister, the Gym Leader recalling Cursola at the same time. She couldn't discern his emotions behind his mask, but the girl assumed the boy wasn't the happiest at seeing his friend defeated.
"...Thank you, Cursola." He caressed the Ball before placing it back into his holster, his attention back to Gloria. He seemed to be smiling. "Prevailing over misfortune...the mark of a good trainer."
"Your strategy was well-tuned. If Drednaw had been any less sturdy, we wouldn't have made it." Gloria placed her hands behind her neck, allowing herself to smirk. "But my trust in her is what brought us here. And it'll keep us going all the way to the Wyndon Conference!"
"You are...quite proud of it." He leaned his head to the side with renewed interest, his hands hovering and grabbing another Poké Ball. "I wonder...will your trust help you overcome my next challenge...?"
And with a heave, Allister made his next choice. "Go, Yamask."
His new Pokémon was a diminutive, purple-eyed little ghost, its lower tail-like protrusion slightly stuck into some sort of clay tablet. "Yama!" it shouted, pumping both of its tiny hands in preparation of the fight.
Gloria couldn't help but quirk her eyebrow at that. Going from Cursola to such a small Pokémon felt strange, even if she was glad not to be facing a Runerigus from her small knowledge of the species from horror movies. She didn't go as far as lowering her guard, but she still wondered what prompted his choice.
Her confusion must've been evident, considering Allister pitched in right after. "Yamask is a valiant soldier of the underworld...an opponent not to underestimate..."
Gloria tried to ignore the shivers down her spine from the boy's creepy crooning, keeping his words in mind. He was definitely planning something, but she already knew who could help her out as she palmed her own Ball. "If you put it like that, then we'll do our best to defeat it! Come on, Corvisquire!"
"Corvah!" The Raven Pokémon materialized right in front of Yamask, his crimson eyes considering his new opponent. And once again, it was Allister that took the first move.
"Mean Look."
"Yama!" The Spirit Pokémon's eyes flashed a deeper purple, concentric rings traveling all the way for Corvisquire, wrapping themselves around his form before disappearing. Corvisquire only displayed mild confusion, while Gloria frowned.
"Uh-oh, looks like things are starting poorly for our Challenger in this round! With Mean Look, her Pokémon won't be able to be recalled!" Perry explained anyway, sending the surrounding crowd into a mess of murmurs and curiosity. Gloria smiled for the public, punching her palm with glee.
"Not a problem for us! Corvisquire, Hone Claws and then Drill Peck!"
Corvisquire boosted his power, segueing right after into the twisting assault as he flew for Yamask. Allister's Pokémon didn't even attempt to dodge, being struck all the way to the floor and dragged along the way.
For all but a second, Gloria could see Allister's purple eyes flicker to life. "Destiny Bond."
"Yam-AH!" The tiny ghost's tone changed immediately, suddenly sounding a lot bolder as his eyes lit up in a different purple hue, another series of concentric rings traveling all the way to Corvisquire's eyes, their gazes connected. The attack seemed to hold no damage, but it still surprised the bird enough to let go of his attack, allowing Yamask to float away to safety.
"Corvisquire, are you okay?" Gloria looked over her friend in concern as he swatted his wings back up, keeping a close eye on his opponent.
"Squah..." He nodded, seemingly okay, prompting the girl to check him out. There really seemed to be no issues, neither damage nor any sort of status condition, which only made Gloria more worried about what Allister had just done.
"What was that move for...?"
"Destiny Bond...a move to bind two souls to share the same demise...allowing Yamask to drag his enemies to the afterlife with him..."
"Y-You mean knock out, right?" Gloria tried to hide her grimace, while Allister threw his head down, not replying to that. She really hoped that was some implicit yes and he was just trying to be dramatic. The boy did, however, offer one important clarification.
"I-it only works if Yamask is defeated right after using it, however..."
Hearing that allowed Gloria to release her breath. She expected something akin to Perish Body, but that seemed much easier to deal with.
Her happiness was short-lived, however, as she realized what Allister had done.
It didn't matter whether Destiny Bond went off or not; now that she knew what it did, she could be easily put on the spot by having Yamask use the move without warning, bringing Corvisquire down with it. For all his shyness and weird mannerisms, Allister really knew what he was doing.
But she wouldn't let that bring them down. And in defiance, she grinned again.
"Then we know exactly what to do! Corvisquire, take to the distance and use Air Slash!" Her loyal raven flew back, putting ample distance between himself and the Ghost and Ground type, firing the slice of compressed wind straight for Yamask.
"Destiny Bond..."
Gloria waited for the purple rings to travel towards Corvisquire, just as the Air Slash inched ever closer to Yamask. She gulped, eyes peered in wait, until Yamask and Corvisquire's gazes were linked again. And then, she shouted.
"Swerve it to the side!" With a powerful flick of his left wing, Corvisquire sent a gust of wind in the Air Slash's direction, powerful enough to make the attack tilt on its trajectory, moving further to the left and missing Yamask completely, catching both the Pokémon and its trainer off-guard. "And now, another!"
With the same speed he displayed before, Corvisquire formed another razor-sharp bullet of wind and fired it with a beat of his wings, sending it straight for Yamask before it could react.
"Yama!" Yamask cried out, blasted away and tumbling over the floor uselessly, all while Corvisquire circled above him. Allister jumped on his feet.
"That was amazing control on Gloria's part! Corvisquire is showing all signs of being well-trained!"
"Corvahvah!" Corvisquire laughed out, enjoying the compliments and twirling in the air to give the audience a show. Gloria passed over her comrade's vanity, keeping the focus on Allister's Pokémon instead.
"Keep going! Air Slash once more!"
Corvisquire crafted another sharp projectile, firing it at the downed opponent.
"Destiny Bond-"
"To the side again!"
As the Destiny Bond connected their fates again and a flick of Corvisquire's right wing later, the attack's trajectory shifted to the left, just enough for it to target the ground instead.
"...Go into it." Allister's order came softly and quickly, taking Gloria by surprise.
"Yama!" The Spirit Pokémon threw itself forward fearlessly, the attack striking him down hard enough to crater the battlefield. Gloria and Corvisquire panicked, a cloud of dust rising from the impact point and hiding the result of the match.
And as Gloria checked out her partner in concern for Destiny Bond, Allister took his chance.
"...Will-o-Wisp."
The dust parted as azure flames shot from the cloud, revealing the damaged but still battle-ready Yamask as it floated back up. Neither Gloria nor Corvisquire had time or reason to celebrate, however, as the will-o-wisps consumed Corvisquire's body, raging with ghostly fire. The Pokémon squeaked in a panic, trying to extinguish the fire by beating his wings, the pungent smell of singed feathers filling the air.
"What the-you burned us!" Gloria said, grinding her teeth together. How could they fall for the exact trick they employed before?
"Indeed...this was the only moment I could use it in." Allister held his hand up, slowly and deliberately. "... Hex."
As Yamask's glare flashed crimson, the same eye Cursola employed manifested above it, the concentric blue rings traveling all the way to the flaming bird. The impact felt more much more powerful than Cursola's, however, a powerful explosion striking Corvisquire as the raven was blown all the way to the floor. Gloria paled with concern.
"And here we see another one of Allister's patented strategies on display! The burn and Hex combination, to cut off attack power and dish heavy damage at once!"
Perry's comment gave Gloria pause. Much like Cursola's offensive, each of Yamask's moves were carefully chosen to give her the hardest time possible, and the way their opponent wasn't afraid to get hurt to cause them problems only made things worse. Yamask looked ready to capitulate at any hit, but between the possibility of Destiny Bond bringing both down at once and the burn whittling down at Corvisquire's health every second, Gloria knew that Allister put her on a different, but just as strict, timer as before to win.
"You really enjoy giving your opponents a hard time, huh...?" she muttered to herself, a bit louder than she would've liked, enough for Allister to listen.
The Gym Leader held his head down to the floor again, and for a moment Gloria worried to have offended him. Before long, however, the boy pushed his mask back up, gaze locked into Gloria's as his mask's eye sockets looked more empty than usual.
"...When I was younger, I had an accident...one that almost turned fatal." His voice was low, a hint of sadness at a painful memory coming back to the boy. "It...gave me an understanding of the thin veil between life and death, and I have been able to understand Ghost Pokémon ever since then. I wish to impart that same dread to whoever faces me...
"How does it feel, to face the inevitable over and over...?"
Gloria didn't reply, letting the question sink in as her skin crawled all over. If Allister's ultimate goal was to creep her out beyond belief, the Gym Leader was passing with flying colors. She took a deep breath, defying the boy and his story with a grin, her head back in the game.
"It feels like spurring us to win! Corvisquire, Drill Peck!" Corvisquire threw himself forward in a corkscrew spin, accumulating velocity in spite of the pain as he darted for Yamask.
"Destiny Bond..."
Gloria waited until the Pokémon's gazes were linked in purple once more, to then throw her hand skyward.
"Upward!" she shouted, and Corvisquire sharply turned forward, rendering Allister's strategy moot and placing Corvisquire in the perfect spot for a new maneuver.
"Hex." The evil eye formed right above Yamask as the waves of spectral energy rippled over the defenseless raven.
"Corvaaah!" he squawked, the strengthened attack flaring up the burn and sending him astray, falling groundward erratically.
"Air Slash!" Corvisquire spread his wings wide, readjusting himself as he threw the sharp wind bullet Yamask's way, recovering inches away from falling to the ground.
Allister only had one order to give. "Destiny Bond."
"Swerve it around!"
With a swift, controlled flick of his left wing, the gust of air threw the Air Slash astray. Corvisquire continued to beat his wings, and the attack completely circumvented Yamask to a result of no damage done. "And now, swerve ba-"
"Float into it." Gloria became concerned as Yamask threw itself straight for the attack, her eyes going over its damaged form. They were going to make Destiny Bond come true on their own.
"Knock it away!" Her next order came in a hurry, not even knowing how Corvisquire could do that. Her Pokémon was quick to form a plan, however. Not worrying for the pain, he threw himself into it, slamming over Yamask with his full body and shoving it out of danger. The wayward Air Slash struck Corvisquire in full, sending him careening dangerously groundward until it recovered.
Gloria's attention didn't linger on her raven for long, instead checking if Yamask was still alright. Its thin body sported a few noticeable bruises, but it was still healthy enough for Destiny Bond to not trigger. She sighed in relief, a hand over her thumping heart, and only then did she finally notice Corvisquire's state, much more hurt than Yamask was and holding back whimpers from the burn.
She slapped her forehead with a groan. Why was she happy that Yamask wasn't hurt? That was all wrong! They were playing exactly into Allister's scheme!
"Looks like our Challenger is in quite the predicament! Allister's complex strategies have played a heavy hand in his promotion to the Major Division, but will they be enough to bring one of the rising stars of this season to her knees?"
Gloria wasn't sure how to answer that question, herself, shifting between the confident yet damaged Yamask and the singed, tired Corvisquire. The match looked ready to be decided any second, and she had no idea how to overcome that, stuck in front of a tall wall once more. She hated it, and yet could find no solution.
But as the doubts and uncertainty crowded her mind, Gloria heard the tune of the crowd shift. Calls of names starting as incoherent whispers before turning increasingly louder, shifting into a crescendo of support. Calls of "Gloria!" and "Corvisquire!", telling them to overcome the odds and make it through.
Gloria looked up, to the stadium that was showing her and Corvisquire their support, led in chief by all her companions. Reminding them of the respect they had earned. Of the journey they went through. Of the walls they smashed along the way. And in that moment, she cracked a smile and laughed to herself, much more radiant than before, to Allister's confusion.
"W-why...are you laughing...?"
"I figured it out! Cursola, and now Yamask. You just want us to think every option is wrong, that even if we won, I'd still lose, anyway! That's your trick, isn't it?"
"...So, you got it."
"It's a clever plan, and I was falling for it." She hovered her hand on one of her Poké Balls, her grin widening. "But Drednaw already showed us how to deal with these kinds of strategies. We just have to push through, risks be damned! You're up for it, right Corvisquire?"
"Corvah!" Her Pokémon's answer was loud and clear, shaking his head firmly and ignoring the searing pain as he stared down Yamask once more.
"Then let's show 'em your full power! Hone Claws, then Drill Peck!" Corvisquire sharpened his attack power post-haste, flying forward like a spinning arrow once more. He felt faster than before, enough to make Allister falter.
"D-Destiny Bo-!"
"SQUAH!" Corvisquire's corkscrewing form struck Yamask at full force before their fates could be connected. The ghost flew towards the ground until he landed in a heap on the floor, a large bump on its slim body that still proved not enough to knock it out for good. Allister's Pokémon flew back up again, an angry scowl directed at the bird as it breathed heavily.
"A-attacking while knowing it could lead to your demise…Th-that's...foolish..."
"The only foolish thing is you thinking I'd be scared enough not to do that! A true Pokémon Trainer would never waver like that! We're not scared of a little pain! That's our guts! Corvisquire, one final Air Slash!"
"CORVAH!" With a mighty cry and suppressing the burn, Corvisquire spread his wings as wide as he could, the sharp, larger than ever wind bullet racing out for Yamask, faster than anything Allister could say. The defenseless Yamask was too weakened to mount any offense, the Flying type move swallowing him whole.
"YAMAAAH!" The Spirit Pokémon cried out, the force of the blow sending him cratering groundward. Corvisquire and Gloria remained vigilant all the same, until they were finally sure that Yamask was laying there, motionless and unable to get back up.
"Yes! We did it!" Gloria shouted on the spur of the moment, pumping her fists with glee before the referee made any official call.
And then, Allister made one last, hushed call.
"...Destiny Bond."
"Y...Yama..." The cry was strained, but it still froze Gloria on her place, the downed Yamask's eyes flickering purple one last time, just as it fell unconscious.
The attack made it through to Corvisquire, his whole body glowing purple. He let out a sharp, pained cry.
"Corvaaaah!" Gloria's loyal bird lost all of his energy, crashing to the ground. Gloria could only watch as he weakly fell unconscious, as well.
"Both Corvisquire and Yamask are unable to battle. It's a tie!"
"What a twist of fate, lads! In spite of Gloria's bravery, everything went according to Allister's plan! This battle will truly be unpredictable to the end!"
The crowd around Gloria felt divided about the outcome, some of them shouting in cheer for Allister's success, others murmuring to themselves, and what she was quite sure were Bonnie's annoyed shouts. The Challenger's attention was solely on Allister however, the Gym Leader recalling Yamask and acknowledging the Ball with a nod before he stared back to her.
"I did warn you..." his tone was sharp, lapidarian and, most of all, correct. For all their attempt to make it through, they had still fallen for the same strategy they were trying to circumvent.
And yet Gloria still smiled as she palmed Corvisquire's Poké Ball.
"It doesn't matter. Corvisquire made sure we'd keep a lead on you." She looked over her exhausted companion, the proud grin over his beak the only reassurance she needed. "Rest well. You were amazing."
Gloria recalled her partner with pride, getting ready for the final leg of the battle. So did Allister, the boy grabbing his last Poké Ball.
"...One last Pokémon. How frightening..." He held the Ball with both hands, his eyes meeting Gloria's. And rather than emptiness, she could find a spark of determination in the boy's purple eyes as he threw his final choice. "Let's show them true terror, Gengar."
"Gengah!" declared Allister's main companion, emerging into the air and floating back down with the trademark cocky grin of its species, in stark contrast with its fairly silent and emotionless trainer.
The arrival of Allister's ace swung the talk in the audience in his favor. Gloria paid it little mind however, grabbing her own, already used Poké Ball.
"Let's go, Drednaw!" Her loyal turtle set foot on the battlefield once more, still quite fatigued, yet remaining stalwart and ready for action.
"Dredna!" the Bite Pokémon let out, glaring back at Gengar. The Ghost type snickered, and with a sweeping motion of his arm, Allister took the first move of the match again.
"Confuse Ray."
Gengar charged out an orange sphere of energy in his hands, tossing it towards Drednaw at high velocity.
"Use Rock Tomb around yourself!" With a decisive stomp, several pillars of stone formed all around Drednaw, the solid defense enough for Gengar's attack to shatter uselessly over it. She dispelled the rocks as the danger passed, only to find Gengar gone.
"Huh? Where did he go?" They both kept their guard up, several tense seconds passing without a trace of Gengar…until a dark, deep purple portal opened behind Drednaw.
"Phantom Force."
"Gar!" Gengar came out of his hiding place, delivering a powerful strike to Drednaw and blowing her back. The turtle pressed her feet down and pivoted harshly, finding Gengar ready to fire another Confuse Ray.
"Go for a Liquidation!" The watery blade formed, Drednaw slicing right for Gengar. The Ghost type floated above, gaining a vantage point over its opponent, yet Drednaw still leapt to strike.
"Dark Pulse..." An inky black nexus of energy formed in Gengar's hands, the attack exploding in a powerful beam. Unable to dodge, she was slammed back down, floor cracking on impact as the turtle remained wide open for Gengar's next move.
"Sludge Bomb." Outstretching both palms, Gengar fired several bursts of brown sludge, the poisonous bullets raining for Drednaw. Gloria clenched her fists, trying to stay calm.
"Fire Rock Tomb in a straight line!" Drednaw conjured her array of rocks, all manifesting in a line in front of her. The emergency defense proved effective, the sludge diverted away from Gloria's Pokémon.
The temporary reprieve gave Drednaw time to get back on her feet, only for Gengar to levitate above the rocks, bearing down on its opponent.
"Genga!" The ghost tackled her to the ground and forced the turtle to stare at it, another orange sphere ready in its free hand.
"Confuse Ray."
"Break free!" Gloria shouted, prompting Drednaw to try and toss Gengar off from her. Her valiant attempt ended just as it started, the orange ray making contact with the turtle and shining outwards.
Drednaw still tried to be defiant, her face scrunched in effort, only to make way to a dizzy, confused look after not much of a struggle. Gengar cackled deviously, leaving Drednaw's body. He winked at Allister with a thumbs up, and that appeared to be clue enough for Allister to grab the ghost's Poké Ball and recall it. Gloria frowned as the Poké Ball grew larger, the telltale sign of what was to come as he held it with both hands.
"The time is now. Gengar...swallow everything in darkness...!" Allister whispered, a pang of determination in his emotionless stare as he heaved the giant Poké Ball forward. To Gloria's surprise however Gengar didn't immediately appear. Instead, the gathering clouds heralded its arrival, remaining flat on the ground until it expanded all the way to the Stadium's ceiling. Its gigantic mouth was wide open like some gate to the afterlife, ready to devour her and Drednaw.
"And here we go, everyone! Gigantamax Gengar is here! Will our Challenger manage to overcome this titanic challenge?" Perry asked to the crowd, the sheer uncertainty sending ripples of excitement throughout the audience.
The gigantified Shadow Pokémon stared down at its prey, Allister looking even smaller next to it. Gloria tried not to worry, an act made more difficult as Drednaw wobbled her way back to standing. She fingered her Dynamax Band, but resisted the impulse.
"G-Max Terror..." A large amount of household objects suddenly manifested around Gengar, and the Gigantamax Pokémon threw all that it had against its tiny adversary. Gloria punched on.
"Defend yourself with Rock Tomb, again!"
"Dreeeh...dred!" Drednaw shook her head, one of her frontal feet raised to stomp her defense into being, only to be stopped by a sharp migraine. By the time she could focus again, the barrage of objects rained all upon her, blasting her back with a pained scream, a faint sound of shackles resonating throughout.
"Well, ain't that a pickle! With confusion on Allister's side, our Challenger is going to have her hands full fighting off Gengar!"
Perry's comment and the public's uproar only made Gloria's grimace grow wider. She held her eyes over Drednaw, the fatigued and dizzy turtle standing again in spite of visible injuries. Not taking any chances, she grabbed Drednaw's Poké Ball and aimed it, activating its recall.
"Drednaw, return-" Gloria stopped abruptly as the beam failed to connect to her Pokémon. "What?"
"G-Max Terror's effect...prevents you from swapping your Pokémon. Drednaw has no escape from her doom...!"
Gloria muttered under her breath, seeing her same strategy turned back on her. Taking a deep breath, she turned her grimace into an audacious grin: even in the face of that, they could still push through.
"Come on, Drednaw! We can't let them do this! Go for Rock Tomb, again!"
Shaking her head, Drednaw succeeded in overcoming her confusion, the row of stones spiking through the battlefield all the way for the Gigantamaxed Pokémon.
"Max Guard." The gigantic, encompassing translucent barrier formed in front of Gengar, stopping Drednaw's strike cold. Gloria wasn't perturbed however, and sensing her trainer's plan Drednaw marched onward.
"While it's still, Liquidation!" With every forward movement, Drednaw materialized the watery blade around her foreleg, sharper and bigger than ever before, aiming for the side where the Max Guard was starting to fade. Her opponent was too big to move fast, unable to do anything against the smaller opponent as she neared its blind spot.
"Dreeeeeed-NA-" The turtle swung, only to freeze halfway, missing the strike. She shook her head, trying to overpower the confusion, only for the barrier to fade and for Gengar's stare to bear down upon her.
"You did well, but your fate is sealed...Max Ooze."
Gloria grinded her teeth, the downpour of acid already pooling from Gengar's massive mouth to the ground below. The dizzy turtle was struck by a torrential pillar of poison at point-blank range, and her pained scream made clear it was the end of the line.
And it was time to go down swinging.
"Drednaw, go through with a Jaw Lock!" Even through the pain, Drednaw managed to hear Gloria, stomping through the barrage of poison on sheer adrenaline, uncaring of the damage she was receiving. The confusion was all but gone.
"Drrrreeeaaaad!" Through grit and effort, Drednaw broke free of the rain of sludge. She was hurt, barely standing, but her jaws were open and her eyes flared up in determination. She leapt for Gengar's flank, and sunk her teeth in its ghostly skin.
The Gigantamaxed Pokémon's cry resounded through the whole stadium, causing the audience to flinch. The cacophony only grew in intensity as Drednaw continued to bite down. The turtle smiled, continuing to hold down until all her forces left her. With a heave of its massive leg, Gengar threw her off, where she tumbled to the stadium floor. After a few seconds she slumped, all her energies spent.
"Drednaw is unable to battle. The winner is Gengar!"
The crowd erupted in Allister's favor, as predicted. Gloria didn't care, however, quickly recalling her Pokémon with a big smile.
"Thank you," Gloria told to the now filled Poké Ball. She wouldn't let their efforts be in vain.
Putting aside Drednaw's Poké Ball, Gloria looked over her colossal opponent, now leering back at her. This time there was no fancy countdown or tricky loop to break, her final obstacle being simply the raw, unmatched power Gengar held. She noticed Allister giving her a long look, as if trying to figure out how she intended to answer to his challenge. A single bad move would spell their doom for as long as the Shadow Pokémon could attack, and they both knew it.
Gloria grinned, an idea worming its way into her mind, grabbing exactly the Poké Ball she needed.
"Here goes nothing! Applin, it's your turn!"
"Appapp!" The little eager apple burst out of her Poké Ball with glee, rolling into position fearlessly.
"What a surprise! The Challenger sends out a Pokémon she has never used in her prior matches! But will such a tiny little thing have any chance against Allister's gigantic menace?" Perry's question was met with noticeable doubt from the audience, no one truly believing in Gloria's choice. She chuckled in response.
"Of course, she does! She's the strongest apple out there, and we're here to prove it! Applin, circle around Gengar!"
"App!" Applin curled up into a ball and rolled all the way forward, her speed increasing every second.
"G-Max Terror..." With a casual flick of its wrist, Gengar manifested the objects above the battlefield, sending them downward to smash the speeding Apple Core Pokémon.
"Keep going!" Gloria shouted, keeping an eye for all the falling items. The rolling Pokémon sharply veered to the left as a table fell, a burst of speed allowing her to surpass a row of raining pots as they slammed down, zoning in on Gengar.
"Gar! Gar! Gengar!" With each cry of its booming voice, it threw even more things falling groundward, forcing Applin on a tricky, snaking pace all around the battlefield. Fridges, fans, even more tables and quite a few plates all tried to put an end to her race as she closed the distance. The rain was relentless and any mistake could be the end, but Applin had trained hard to improve her Rollout, and Gloria trusted her to make it.
And so, as fast as a bullet and sprinting over a ghostly chair ahead of her to fly through the air, Applin slammed right into Gengar's flank, right where Drednaw had struck.
"Gaah!" the Shadow Pokémon shouted out of its lungs, wobbling dangerously close to the ground as Applin moved back, rolling in place to keep increasing her own velocity.
"Max D-Darkness..."
Allister's order felt uncertain, yet Gengar's response was anything but, charging two tendrils of shadow above its hands that slithered through the air. The streams of darkness mingled together, twisting around and primed for Applin.
"Get back! Find an opening!"
"App!" With an affirmative, Applin rolled backwards to safety, the household items disappearing as the Max Move moved dangerously faster, the twisting tongues of darkness ready to ensnare her. They circled all the way around Gengar's immobile position, the Pokémon simply looking over as Applin failed to outrun the inky-black tendrils in spite of her best efforts. And at that point, an idea hit Gloria.
"Aim straight ahead!"
Applin understood the plan, immediately redirecting herself to roll onward. The Max Darkness was still hot in pursuit, inches away from connecting. But both Gloria and Applin were counting on that, as Applin's target was Gengar, just as close to the Apple Core Pokémon.
Applin jumped as the tendrils came together again, seconds from impact. She flew high, above the move, smashing into the inside of Gengar's mouth. The Gigantamaxed Pokémon shut it down, trapping Applin inside. But not fast enough.
The tendrils struck straight to its own gullet, unable to avoid gulping down the Max Darkness, as well.
Gengar visibly grimaced as the Max Move exploded inside its gigantic mouth, immediately spitting out in pain. Applin flew all the way back to Gloria's side of the field, shaken and hurt but still eager to fight, speeding through for Gengar again with all her leftover stamina and acceleration.
"G-Max Terror, all around you...!" Allister's voice raised just a bit, the pained Gengar glaring down on the small pest. An entire storm of household items manifested above its head, much more numerous than before, and the Ghost type pressed its hands down.
"Gen! Gen! Gengah!" With each cry a different object meteored down, once again trying to put an end to Applin's race. But this time Applin was ready and much more confident, rolling through to avoid the items only to slam into them right after. She bounced back in the opposite direction, and struck Gengar with greater force. In seconds, she was ricocheting at speed, impacting all over Gengar's body in a constant back and forth.
"App! App! APPLIN!" The little apple continued to shout as she moved around like an out-of-control pinball, with all the pots, chairs, fans and other objects only offering another surface to ricochet off of, in a risky but aggressive assault that had no end in sight. Looking over to Gengar's ineffective counters, Gloria even believed that could be the end.
She did not account for the new row of objects all floating above Applin. With another shout, they mercilessly rained down with no pause or rhythm before her next strike. She tried to outspeed it in a hurry, but failed to make it. They crashed down upon her.
In moments, Applin ended up at the bottom of a large pile of ghostly objects, pressing her down to the floor. She was at Gengar's mercy, and the ghost was ready to enjoy that.
"Now...Max Ooze." With a snap of its fingers, the torrent of poison erupted from underneath the pile, shattering all the ghostly constructs into nothingness.
"Aaaaaapp!" Applin's cry was sharp, the acid enveloping her completely with no escape. The Max Move ended as soon as it started, yet the super effective damage had left its mark on the apple, her whole cover dented on various points and close to fainting.
Gengar cackled out, enjoying the turnaround even more than Allister did. Gloria realized that it was time to change pace.
"It's okay. You did all you could." She grabbed Applin's Poké Ball and aimed it for her. "So, let's kick things up a notch!"
Gloria traded a fierce look with her Pokémon, as the capture device reclaimed her. Gloria's worries that G-Max Terror would prevent that were quickly put to rest as the Poké Ball grew as large as ever, letting the Postwick girl throw it on with gusto, bringing Applin to the full height of Dynamax, matching Gengar's own as the storm above their head raged greater.
"Aaaapplin!" The Apple Core's deeper voice boomed through the stadium, almost dwarfing the excitement of the crowd as the giant battle finally began in earnest, Dynamax and Gigantamax ready to rumble.
"Max Rockfall!" Gloria punched her open palm, and Applin summoned the massive slab of stone, sending it falling down for Gengar.
"Max Guard!" The translucent defensive barrier formed in front of the Shadow Pokémon once more, shielding it from the slab and raising a cloud of dust all over the stadium.
"Shatter your move!" Applin rushed onward again, far faster than a giant Pokémon should have been, her form meeting the Max Rockfall and shattering it in a million smaller pieces, all of them raining forward and beyond the reach of the Max Guard. All the resulting debris was ready to fall over the blocked Gengar.
"Max Darkness!" The tendrils of darkness danced all around Gengar as the Max Guard shattered instantly, destroying every piece of the Max Rockfall before snaking through for Applin again. The gigantified apple only had a split second to form another Max Rockfall as a would-be shield, the Dark type Max Move drilling through the defense in spite of Applin's efforts.
Both giant Pokémon remained at a standstill, with Gengar attempting to pierce at Applin's cover while the latter held the attack at bay, the winner of the battle yet undecided.
"There is no way you can defeat Gigantamax Gengar..." Allister whispered, yet holding much more confidence than before. Gloria had no less spunk, in spite of how the odds were looking.
"And that's okay. We don't need to."
"W-what do you..."
Allister went silent, his mask almost falling off from the shock as he realized what she meant. The crimson light of Dynamax faded away from Gengar's body, the ghost slowly shrinking back to its base form, the powerful waves of darkness shifting into nothing but an ineffectual Dark Pulse as the Max Rockfall crumbled away.
On short notice, the Dynamaxed Applin towered over the much tinier, regular Gengar underneath her, glaring down with glee. Allister was at a loss for words, while Gloria laughed.
"I need to thank you. Your little strategies reminded me that Dynamax only works for a limited time. Me and Applin only needed to outlast you."
"D-Dark Pulse!" Allister flailed his arms on short notice, the inky-black sphere of dark energy flying for Applin. It barely grazed her.
"That's all you can do now? Then let's show you what a real Dark type move feels like! Applin, use Max Darkness!"
"Aaaaapp-LIN!" It was Applin's turn to manifest the tendrils of darkness, twirling together from the start as they fell groundward at high speed, like a giant flurry of fists. Gengar attempted to float away in clear panic, but it was much slower than Applin had ever been.
The dark energies touched down on the ground, first to one side that Gengar dodged, and then another, each pluming with dust.
Then, the final struck, Gengar too close to dodge. The Max Move detonated on landing, trapping the Shadow Pokémon in a mighty, inescapable explosion of dark power.
The resulting dust blocked the view of everyone in the stadium, Gengar's scream the only sign that the attack had connected. Everyone waited for the outcome with bated breath, the view slowly clearing.
And finally, everyone could see the collapsed, motionless form of Gengar face first on the floor.
"Gengar is unable to battle. The winner of the match is Challenger Gloria and her team!" declared the referee, putting an end to the battle.
A grin split Gloria's face in two, rising a fist in victory as the crowd erupted with joy, just as Applin slowly shrunk back to her normal size.
"And they did it! By smashing everything on her path, they walked all the way to victory! My fellow lads and lasses, let's give a huge round of applause for Challenger Gloria and her team!" Perry shouted, leading the crowd in the shower of applauses and whistling that followed, with Bonnie helping to unite everyone in the Stadium. The battle had been hard, but seeing all the people chanting her name managed to wash away all of her fatigue.
But as satisfying as being cheered on was, that was far from the only thing in Gloria's mind. She ran through the battlefield, catching Applin as she finished shrinking and the little apple jumped for her, hugging her tightly for the job well done.
"Congrats, Applin! Your very first Gym win!"
"Linlin!"
Trainer and Pokémon continued to hug, enjoying their moment of glory. All the while the crowd never stopped chanting Gloria's name, but what caught both girls' attention was how Applin's name started to be called in roaring approval of her battle. The Dragon and Grass type twitched with interest, taking a good look of the adoring audience.
"App..." Even without clear expressions, the watery eyes and shaky frame of Applin couldn't hide how she was feeling. Gloria smiled, holding her up with pride. She had more than earned that attention.
"Enjoy it. They all know how strong you are now."
Applin smiled back to her trainer, hopping over her palm to send the crowd her regards. As Gloria let her Pokémon enjoy her five minutes of fame, the girl's attention finally returned to Allister, the Gym Leader having helped his Gengar stand and recalling it with pride. The young boy was still slumping and fairly silent, but as he got closer to Gloria, she noticed how his demeanor was much more timid than before, just like the prior day.
"You...battled well. I-it was very fun." Even beneath the mask, she could feel the boy's sincerity. Gloria felt more at ease, her smile widening.
"You weren't too shabby either. You really earned this promotion! Even if the creepy act was a bit too much at times."
"O-oh, t-that one. Sorry about it. I-it was an idea of the chairman's...t-to make me stand out, since I am new..."
"Tell the chairman it's working, for sure..."
Allister let out a very nervous chuckle in return, his own shyness grinding that whole conversation to a halt as he extended his hand towards Gloria. The Challenger shook it firmly, both newcomers sharing the same appreciation for the battle. The referee stepped forward, having brought in the tray holding Gloria's hard-earned prize, and allowing Allister to grab the jagged, purple-carved piece and present it to Gloria.
"I'm h-happy to give you the Ghost Badge," Allister said. Gloria grabbed the token of her victory with pleasure, holding it skyward for the whole crowd to see.
"We did it! The Ghost Badge is ours!"
"Appapplin lin!"
The crowd's excitement was still far from waning, and as Gloria stood there, observing the milestone of the halfway point of her journey, she loved every second of it. She was finally a true Challenger, and things were only bound to get better from then on out. For herself and for her whole team, as the future Galar Champion and her loyal companions.
Author's Note: A long Gym battle, I know. To be honest, this chapter was even longer originally until I had Viroro scale back on it by about 2,000 words. There was simply no good reason to split this chapter into two; not with a Gym battle. Though from the beginning, when splitting chapters up (or rather, assigning Viroro his) this was always an easy choice due to its very puzzly nature. It pretty much screamed quintessential Viroro. Hopefully it made for a very different but engaging experience.
Viroro: And that's a wrap for Gloria's fourth Gym badge! I apologize for how this chapter ended up on the longer end even for my mammoth-sized contributions, but the complexity of the battle and relatively slow pace kinda required it. This was probably one of the most elaborate battles of the whole Galar Trilogy on the whole, but I'm pretty proud of the execution, and especially to be able to give Drednaw and Applin some time to shine against an out of the norm strategy.
Of course, you'll be the judge on how I did, but I hope this battle managed to entertain you and that you'll keep looking forward to what's to come!
As usual, thanks to be given: to Jesse2092 for following; and hugest of thanks to Cottonmouth25, Fury, ChE clarinetist, FantasyLover88, Tenzalucard123, aliensinnoh, MythGirl Writes, RRV55, UltimateCCC, Ander Arias, oomoepoo, Rajiv A. Rajaram, XDiamondX90 and AmourshippingCanon for reviewing.
Gloria's halfway through the Challenge now, leaving Ballonlea next. How will it all go? Find out in the next chapter, and until then, please Review and,
Dare to Be Silly.