Let's get straight to it and continue that Raihan battle, huh? Chapter 11, let's go!
Chapter 11
A Clearing
Rain stormed around the battlefield, dripping off Flapple and Toxtricity. The thunder faded away, and Flapple emerged, slightly smoking, but otherwise fine, her quadruple resistance serving her well. Gloria reached up, tucking her hair behind her ears and breathing. No sound but that of the pouring rain over the battlefield could be heard, all of the audience's cheers falling away until it was just her, Raihan, and their Pokémon.
She wasn't going to let him control the flow this time.
"Toxtricity, Overdrive! Make it wide!" Gloria shouted, spreading her arms out with the order. Toxtricity planted his foot, and with a broad stroke, strummed upon the protrusions of his chest. With a loud, screeching twang, the conical shaped wave of electricity blasted through the rain, electrifying it for a second, to collide with Raihan's pair. Seismitoad grinned, but Goodra flinched, feeling the full effect. Gloria was already moving on. "Grav Apple on Seismitoad!"
"Flap!" Flapple blitzed forward, flying through the air at high speed. She was just above the toad's head when her limbs slapped in and fell towards the hulking Pokémon.
Raihan, as should have been expected, was ready. "Drain Punch!"
"Toad!" Seismitoad looked up, taking a step back as its curled fist began to glow with a swirling green. It punched forward, catching Flapple mid-fall and heaving her through the air. It sent enough energy around that Gloria felt a wave of the rain wash over her. Toxtricity's Overdrive ended, only for the hurtling Flapple to strike against his chest.
"Muddy Water! Drown 'em under it!"
"Dra!" Goodra hunkered down on all fours, its tail striking the ground. An orb of brown liquid formed, and it sent the attack flying. The orb crashed against the ground, becoming a wave that moved with speed.
"Get out of the way!" Gloria called, but even she knew how useless it was. The wave was too tall, and too wide to be overcome, and it crashed upon the defenseless pair. They were swept backwards, slipping along the ground with heavy groans.
"Life Dew. Aqua Ring. Recover it."
Gloria's eyes widened, watching in horror as Seismitoad's arms snapped out, creating thin rings of water around its body. Goodra acted, too, sending up a spout of green water that rained on the pair, restoring whatever energy had been lost. Flapple and Toxtricity were back to fighting action. "Get in there with Poison Jab and Acrobatics!"
"Earth Power!" Raihan's swift call was met with yet swifter action. For all his girth, Seismitoad was fast, dashing across the field and punching down. The earth cracked and shattered, glowing a golden color that was starting overpower the sound of the rain.
"Fly up and keep at it! Toxtricity, hold tight!" Gloria knew the orders didn't sound the most confident, but with how fast the Earth Power was moving, there was little choice. Flapple flitted upwards, out of range before zipping down towards Seismitoad with a turquoise glow. Toxtricity was less lucky, the power of the ground erupting around him and consuming his body.
"Drain Punch!"
"Toad!" Seismitoad's attack finished, it aimed back for Flapple. The green swirls wrapped around its arm and it met Flapple's zipping Acrobatics head on. They collided, a wind buffeting the rain and clearing away the smoke to reveal Toxtricity's state. Goodra was on the move, too.
"Blast 'em with Thunder!"
"Counter with Overdrive!"
As the pair of lizard and dragon prepared their Electric attack, Flapple continued to strain against the Drain Punch. Soon, her wing snapped out, upending the fist and allowing her to break through the other side. She zipped, and with a blistering blow, nailed Seismitoad on the head, pushing him back. His body glowed green from the healing effects.
"Toxisss!" Toxtricity strummed, and his Overdrive blasted out, sharp and pinpointed. His whole body was thrown backwards, but the power behind it matched the electrical energy pouring from Goodra and its storm clouds. They met midair, crashing with bolts around the entire battlefield. Flapple dodged one of them, keeping eyes on Seismitoad.
"Draco Meteor!" Raihan called, his grin wider.
"Gooooodraaaa!" The lightning stopped, though the storm clouds remained. Instead, the Dragon Pokémon glowed orange, starting in its chest and then moving to its mouth, where it fired. The orb traveled up and with a flash of light, broke into many pieces that rained around the battlefield.
"Not losing the momentum! Dodge 'em and move in!" Gloria called, stomping her foot on the slick floor beneath her. Toxtricity began to run while Flapple flipped through the air, avoiding one of the projectiles that exploded on the field. The rain was becoming almost white now, obscuring the audience from view, but not the target. "Poison Jab on Goodra! Dragon Rush on Seismitoad!"
"Flaplap!" Flapple pulled back, just for a second, and then charged forward. The blue glow of her Dragon Rush surrounded her body and she streaked forward, faster than before. One of the meteors got in her way, but she broke right through it, slamming straight into Seismitoad and throwing it further back. The toad flinched, unable to strike back.
It provided Toxtricity with the relief needed. He leapt up, sailing down on Goodra with his arm coated in pure poison. Then he made a downward strike upon the dragon's head. Soon as his feet were on the ground, his other fist came in an uppercut that rippled across Goodra's body and sent it skidding back. It coughed.
"Yes! Healing negated!"
"Is it?" Raihan asked. Gloria looked up, watching as Goodra straightened itself, and the thin purple complexion upon its face lessened until, by and by, there was nothing there at all. "Hydration at its finest. You still haven't cracked the weather! Muddy Water!"
"Goodra!" Goodra's tail slammed with the dark water. It struck the ground, expanding into the familiar, if horrific, brown wave. Toxtricity had no chance before he was swept up in it, tossed into Flapple. The both of them were sent back across the battlefield, while Seismitoad grinned, weathering the waters with a step forward.
Raihan was back to controlling the momentum.
"Drain Punch!"
"Stop 'em with Tearful Look!" Seismitoad dove into the water, the green setting a sickly glow against the dirty water around them. Toxtricity struggled to stand, but managed to anchor himself against the tides long enough for his eyes to water. The glow around Seismitoad's body followed, but Gloria didn't stop there. "Sucker Punch!"
"App!" The shadow burst out from the water. With it came a dark fist that struck Seismitoad across the face and sent it off course. The waters finally subsided, causing the Vibration Pokémon to spin uselessly on the Gym floor.
If only the green rain of Life Dew coming from Goodra hadn't indicated an erasure of some of their progress.
This isn't working, Gloria thought bitterly in her head. I can't keep whittling away…I need a powerhouse move.
"Tox!" Toxtricity called out, and Gloria looked up. She had one.
"Let's push them back. Overdrive!" The water still staining the floor, Toxtricity fired with his electrified soundwave. The attack consumed the ground until it was aimed upwards. Just like before, Goodra was forced to hunker down, sparking all over, while Seismitoad showed little effect…at least where the electricity was concerned. Its body, on the other hand, was pushed back, separated from Goodra. "Time for a repeat! Dragon Rush on Seismitoad! Poison Jab on Goodra!"
"You're not great at learning lessons, are you? Muddy Water!"
"Flapple, max speed!" Gloria trusted in her, the fastest of all her partners. Flapple put a burst behind herself, the blue streaking like a comet that ripped through Seismitoad. Her body changed directions with the smallest of movements, already facing Goodra as the tail extended outwards. "Grav Apple! Toxtricity, keep going!"
"Toxa!" Toxtricity punched, the muddy orb nearly at the ground.
Flapple made it in time, her body snapping in and falling atop Goodra's head with such force that its entire body bent and quivered. Toxtricity's punch made contact. The poison spread from the first hit, but Toxtricity kept going, his arms pummeling over every part of Goodra's body. It left him open.
"Earth Power! Got ya both now!" Raihan said, snapping a picture of Seismitoad glowing through the falling rain. It punched, sending the cracks racing through. The ground glowed golden beneath Toxtricity's body, and while Flapple had taken to the sky, the lizard had nowhere to run.
"No, we got you! Flail!" The earth exploded around Toxtricity's body, damaging her youngest heavily, but through the smoke and dust, he was moving.
"Toxiss!" His whole body was flung forward with a red glow, smashing itself against Goodra. The dragon was thrown back, wincing from the damage caused to its entire body. Its tail flapped about, the bruises indicating how hurt it was. Toxtricity looked no better, grunting as he dropped to a knee from all the abuse he had taken from Earth Power.
"Heal it up! Life Dew!"
"Take it down! Dragon Rush!" Flapple cried out, spiraling through the air and then shooting for Goodra's prone form before it could land. She was the clear faster of the two, zipping with the blue streak. Her body was like that of a dragon's opening its maw wide, and when she rushed through Goodra, those jaws snapped down. Blue fire exploded around Goodra's body, the dragon falling to the ground as Flapple twisted in midair. For a moment, Goodra's tail remained up, but then it fell, along with the rest of the Pokémon it belonged to.
Raihan was cutting them no slack. "Drain Punch!"
"Hold it off with Overdrive, and use Grav Apple!" Toxtricity turned, strumming with all the energy he could muster. The soundwave ripped at the ground, churning up parts of the field as it barreled into Seismitoad's hulking form. The toad was still mid-punch, struggling to fight through the rippling wave around it, before Flapple came falling down, gravity taking hold and smashing into its back.
"Get it out of the sky!" Raihan ordered. He wasn't grinning as much as usual, and nor was Seismitoad. The arm not summoning the energy around it smashed into Flapple and brought her crashing into the ground. "Earth Power!"
"Seismaaa!" Seismitoad lifted Flapple and then once more brought her straight into the ground. It cracked the floor around them, and then the golden energy poured out, pluming upwards in a powerful burst. Gloria felt her own feet pushed back from under her, and when the attack finished, Flapple was left unconscious.
She wasn't letting it end there. "Poison Jab!"
"Tox!" Seismitoad had barely lifted its head when it was met with the acidic fist, jabbing upwards and then down. Seismitoad coughed, the poison now negating the Aqua Ring. It shook its head, glaring at Toxtricity and raising its still green fist. The light grew more intense, gathering strength in that webbed fist.
"Finish it with Flail!"
"End it! Drain Punch!" Raihan's call wasn't quite desperate, but lacked the certainty of before as both lizard and toad leapt at each other, one red and one green. They soared through the rain, and their limbs struck against each other, blasting the rain away.
Then, Seismitoad's other fist came soaring out with the same green, striking on Toxtricity's head and sending him straight to the ground. His body hit it with force, cracking some of the ground, and all went still. Overhead, the rain reduced to a trickle before the clouds disappeared entirely. The voices of the crowd and commentators returned, flaring with Gloria's disappointment.
"All tied up!" Perry shouted, his excitement whipping the crowd into a fervor as the referee returned to the field to make the call. "Toxtricity and Flapple are down!"
"This means that Gloria has one more shot to get the badge! Will her final duo manage to achieve what this pair could not? We can't wait to find out, gents!"
Gloria sighed, the disappointment eking in. She raised both Poké Balls, returning Flapple and Toxtricity. They had tried their best, that was for sure, proving her faith in them. It had, at the very least, been a battle very well fought. "Thanks, guys. I'll make sure we win."
"You almost did," Raihan admitted, calling back his own pair. He was back to sporting the cocksure grin, feeling much better now that it was down to the last match, no doubt the one he had been waiting for the entire time. "This was a battle where it all came down to ability, and Swift Swim won out. But that's okay…I love it when a Challenger gives me a run. Will make beating you in a final round even sweeter!"
"Can't agree more," Gloria said, stowing her two away to take out the last. She breathed in; had it been just a couple weeks ago, she would have worried about the two to call out. There was no way they could have won. Now, though, she was certain they'd do it. "So, let's get right to it and settle this tie! Cinderace, Grapploct, let's get 'em!"
"Aw, yeah, I like that!" Raihan cried as both of Gloria's Pokémon emerged on the field, stoic and fierce in the face of the upcoming battle. They looked to each other, nodding; there was no more conflict. "I've watched those two. Real gutsy ones. True leaders of your team it seems!"
"Yeah, they are. It's why I know they can beat you."
"Maybe, but I couldn't call myself a Gym Leader if I didn't do my research." Raihan lifted both of his own remaining Poké Balls, manifesting a wide and unsettling grin. "That's why I know these two don't deserve anything less than my best! Flygon! Duraludon! Let's stir up the sands and storms! Sandstorm!"
Gloria barely had time to notice Raihan's final pair, the green, crooning Flygon and the towering hunk of metal that was his undeniable ace, Duraludon. Nor did she register Gerry and Perry's calls for the indestructible combination that was the pair. She did hear the crowd, but they were soon covered up in visibility by the whipping sandstorm that emerged around the arena as Flygon beat its wings. Some of the sand got in Gloria's hair, and burned at her eyes, but she wasn't deterred. They would win their final badge. "Stay sharp, you guys."
"Cin."
"Grap."
"Oh, we'll see how long that lasts! You're on a timer, Gloria! This sand's streaming forth until we fall…or you do! Stone Edge!" Flygon howled, its wings snapping out and its tail slapping the ground. From there, the stones raced for the pair that winced against the raging sandstorm around them.
"We've dealt with timers before…Dodge!" At Gloria's call, Cinderace and Grapploct dove in different directions, but kept themselves on their feet. The stones split down the center between them, missing the pair and leaving them to surge forward as a single unit, acting in concert with her own desires. "Aim for Duraludon! Headbutt! Mega Punch!"
"Cindah!" Cinderace was the first to get ahead, providing the vanguard for Grapploct. They broke on the other side of the stones, appearing right in front of the towering Duraludon. Cinderace's head glowed and he slammed it against the mighty Steel type dragon. His feet kicked off, providing room for Grapploct's many tentacles to punch forth at once, shuddering through Duraludon's entire figure.
"Metal Burst!"
"Durah!" Duraludon opened its mouth, forming a pure-white orb near it. Then it fired twice in a row. The first nailed Cinderace in the chest, and then Grapploct, sending both tumbling on to the floor and through the leftover stones.
"Laser Focus! Let's show 'em where you're really strong! Rock Tomb!" Raihan's grin was audible, unable to be seen through the raging sandstorm. Cinderace and Grapploct stood, flinching at the sands that beat against their bodies. Through the dust and dirt, yellow, glowing eyes could be seen. Duraludon stomped through, raising its metal arms and then firing the Rock Tomb with as quick a succession as the Metal Burst had come. Gloria called for a dodge. "Breaking Swipe!"
"Flygoooon!" The rocks rained, and while both rabbit and octopus tried to leap away, Flygon emerged from the sand with a sickly purple claw that slashed against both. The blow sent them flying back through the last of the rocks and deposited them on the field. They stood, shaking and backing up against each other.
"That teamwork! That precision!"
"Our challenger has her work cut out for her, that's for sure!" Perry shouted. Gloria refused to let it get in her head, especially not with the next wave about to come. "Will she break this master of weather?!"
"Oh, you haven't seen our mastery yet. The other two rounds were just child's play!" Raihan said, the sand parting long enough to showcase his toothy grin. Cinderace and Grapploct formed further ranks. "Let's show 'em, Flygon! Air Slash! Stir up the cyclone!"
"Fly!" Flygon flitted about, creating the familiar orb of air. That very wind streamed forth as Flygon whirled itself around the pair of Gloria's fighters. The sand was absorbed in its direction, and Gloria soon noticed that each orb of Air Slash was being dropped, creating a ring that stirred up so much sand, it soon became a twister. The attack quickly trapped Cinderace and Grapploct inside, unable to do anything but wait for the next attack.
"Laser Focus Draco Meteor!" Raihan's confidence was high, and there was little doubt of that, especially with the yellow eyes shining through the sandstorm again.
Gloria, however, said nothing. She closed her eyes, stilling her breathing. Every pulse of sand and wind on the battlefield could be felt, her presence extending to her Pokémon. They were calm, awaiting orders, listening and trusting. An orange glow pervaded the battlefield, the Draco Meteor firing and raining down on them. Many fell towards the cyclone where the pair would remain trapped. The crowd gasped, and Gerry screamed that this might already be the end.
Her eyes snapped open. "Grapploct, grab on backwards to Cinderace! Cinderace, Bounce on those meteors!"
"Cindah!" The cry was met with a visible shadow through the sandy cyclone. Parts of it were broken up, allowing Gloria to get a glimpse of the white and blue that were her partners. A meteor cascaded downwards, and with the mighty force of his legs, Cinderace bounced up, landing atop the meteor and beginning to climb, straight for the top of the twister.
"Spray it with Brine!"
"Grappah!" Cinderace could be seen twisting in his next leap, and from his back, Grapploct became visible. His tentacles were wrapped around his partner's shoulders as he faced outward, and at his mouth was a sphere of Brine. It sprayed forth as they spun in midair, dissipating the cyclone around them, and clearing some of the air of the sandstorm that was wounding them. A meteor sailed for the pair, too close to dodge.
"Mega Punch!" Gloria shouted, making an uppercut. Grapploct disengaged from his partner, bounding from his head and spearing the meteor with his glowing tentacles. It broke to pieces, some larger than others, and Grapploct landed on one of those. "Head straight for Duraludon!"
"Stone Edge! Intercept!" Raihan was playing for keeps, no longer waiting for the sandstorm to do its job. Flygon snapped at the ground, and the stone plinths began to emerge, each larger than the last. Gloria grinned.
"Thanks for the support! Cinderace, Bounce! Send Grapploct forward!" Cinderace nodded. As Grapploct shot down for Duraludon from its meteor, Cinderace was quick to follow. He grabbed hold of his partner, and the Stone Edge soon arrived, intending to strike right for them. Cinderace's foot found it first, and with a kick, he sent Grapploct flying for Duraludon, while he sprang in the perpendicular direction for Flygon. The fists of her trusty mollusk aimed for Duraludon, the large dragon unable to move out of the way. Cinderace's legs glowed, himself, targeting Flygon.
"Air Slash!" Raihan called.
"Flygah!" Flygon darted in, racing above the stones and forming the sphere of air. It fired, right on an intercept course for Cinderace, churning up the stone tips that it broke through.
"Bounce to dodge it!" Just before the Air Slash was to hit Cinderace, his feet touched to the nearest stone and sprung up from it. To the side of them, Grapploct brought his fists raining down into Duraludon's sturdy body. The Air Slash missed, burrowing into the stone and leaving Flygon exposed. "Double Kick, into Headbutt!"
"Cindace!" Cinderace whipped around, striking Flygon's head and body with its dual kicks. The attack stunned the Pokémon long enough for Cinderace's head to snap forward, beating upon Flygon and sending it on to the ground. The crowd roared with approval, but Gloria didn't take her attention away from the next mounting attack.
"Laser Focus! Let's make this critical!"
"Taunt!" Gloria screamed, punching at the air. Grapploct flipped off from his attack, and his tentacles lifted, beckoning for Duraludon to make a move. The yellow glow suddenly vanished, the attempt at creating a dire situation gone. It did little to stop Raihan.
"Metal Burst!"
"Duraaaaah!" Duraludon's cry was matched only by the blinding orb it created and fired. Gloria didn't order anything, narrowing her eyes. The orb crashed into Grapploct's body, and he took it, his tentacles grabbing hold of the attack. It smoked against his figure, burning and damaging him until it disappeared.
"Our turn! Revenge!" Gloria and her Pokémon made an uppercut at the same time, the red-orange glow of Grapploct's tentacles manifesting his strength. He struck upwards, rocking Duraludon's entire body, enough to make small cracks appear on the Alloy Pokémon. It stumbled back, winded, while Grapploct backed up, going back-to-back with Cinderace. Flygon managed to pull itself up from the ground.
"Well…that is impressive. Really thought I had you…" Raihan said with a chuckle. The air began to clear, the sandstorm at last subsiding and revealing the fuller picture of the battlefield around them. Pockets of sand littered the battlefield, and all four of the Pokémon had taken damage, but none was quite ready to fall. Gloria fingered a Poké Ball on her belt. Raihan was doing the same. "Not many can outlast the storm… Well, that kind of storm at least. So, maybe it's time for a different one. No more kid gloves."
"Just the way I like it! Let's go!"
"Is this what I think it is?" Gerry yelled. The crowd began to chant, already anticipating what they always did. The combatants below pulled their Poké Balls out, confirming the chants.
"Yes, it is, Gerry! Time for the moment we've all been waitin' for! The one…the only…"
"DYNAMAX TIME!"
The trainers returned their Pokémon, Duraludon for Raihan and Cinderace for Gloria, and they touched to their Dynamax Bands. Gloria felt her breath still, and the storm clouds, dark and menacing, began to gather overhead. Raihan already had his plan, no doubt, and she knew she had to act faster. There was no time to waste. With a single exhale, she tossed the giant Poké Ball forward and screamed.
"Max Knuckle, Cinderace!" The crowd went berserk.
Before the transformation fully finished, Gloria could see Cinderace's giant leg sweeping out, sending an amber fist screaming through the air. On the opposite side, Duraludon emerged, now the size of a skyscraper, and looking like one to boot. It barely had time to blink before the Knuckle broke upon its body, sending dust around the battlefield. The air swirled with it, and the heat of the stadium increased, creating perspiration upon Gloria's neck. It took a moment, but soon, the glow of the Dynamax receded, the dust with it, and Gloria turned around, her eyes widening.
"Cinderace…" she breathed, a smile brightening her entire face. From up high, Cinderace grinned, his ears grown long and waving in the storm clouds above them. Most noticeable, however, was the giant ball of flame that he rode upon, unlike anything that Gloria had ever seen. More than that, it felt as though it was a moment of their bond made real. All their struggles. Their hopes. Their dreams. All of it manifested in that burning passion. "You can Gigantamax…"
"CINDAH!" His bellowing cry shuddered over the whole stadium, drawing out screams and cries and cheers with no end. Across the way, Duraludon recovered.
So did the surprised Raihan. "Breaking Swipe!"
"Stop it with Brine!" Gloria shouted, bringing her attention straight back to the battle. She was emboldened, and seeing the nervous grin on Grapploct's lips, she knew he was too. Flygon moved in, making to strike the pair, giant and tiny alike, but Grapploct moved first. He created his sphere of water and fired, forcing the Mystic Pokémon to break off.
"Air Slash! Duraludon, Max Steelspike!"
"Counter it with Max Knuckle!" Flygon was the quickest to move, firing off the short burst of air that bowled Grapploct over. At the same time, Duraludon slammed on the ground. The steely, jagged jaws emerged, eating up the battlefield on their road for both Cinderace and Grapploct. The former surged forth on his orb of flame and kicked.
"Ace!" His shout boomed, and his kick sent the knuckle forth that smashed into the steel. They strained a moment, one fighting against the other, but this time, the knuckle broke through. It landed on Duraludon's body, rocking its entire form. It remained stable.
"Seems like we need some cover. Sandstorm!"
"Seems like you never learn! Taunt!" Gloria said, grinning. Grapploct recovered, his tentacles raising and beckoning Flygon to attack. The attempt to stir up the sands once again fell flat.
"Oh, we don't need to learn. We have backup! Max Rockfall!"
"DURAHHH!" Duraludon's body reared back, stirring the air up due to its massive size. Then it slammed down, crashing into the floor. A massive plinth of rock was erected upwards, traveling to the air, and then fell down, breaking upon Cinderace's body without the ability to avoid it. The fireball shrunk a bit, and the air around them once more stirred with sand. Both Pokémon winced.
"Stone Edge!"
"Block it with Brine!" At Gloria's command, all of Grapploct's tentacles created the spheres of water and he hurled them forth. They cut through the newly raging sandstorm, straight for the line of rocks that Flygon was sending for the both of them. They crashed, breaking apart like an ocean striking the shore. "Max Airstream!"
"Cin!" Cinderace whirled around, his fireball going with him, whipping up a heated air current that consumed the entire battlefield. The sands were distorted for a moment, revealing a clear path to Duraludon, but it was Flygon who took the blow. It was tossed about by the winds in a dizzying fashion that flung it towards the ceiling.
"Now it's ours. G-Max Depletion!" Raihan yelled, snapping a selfie of himself stroking his chin as he did so. Duraludon cried out, a nasty purple glow surrounding its body, coalescing to a single spot, and then firing right at Cinderace's exposed form.
"Grap-po!" Gloria blinked, surprised as her octopus ran in. The beam crashed on to his figure, barely held back by all of his tentacles in a Mega Punch. It wasn't very successful, the ground opening up with churning claws and blades, orange in color as they snapped up his body. When they faded, Grapploct slumped, still conscious, but exhausted. The secondary effect of the move was clear.
Yet it had provided Cinderace with the opportunity to act. "Max Knuckle!"
"Max Guard! Stone Edge!" Raihan's quick call drew most of the crowd's love and attention. Cinderace kicked out, sending the amber fist crashing into the shield where it broke apart. At the same time, Flygon swooped back into battle, flicking its tail and sending the line of stones to ram straight through the fireball to Cinderace's enlarged body. He winced, almost falling to a knee.
The sandstorm continued to rage.
Worse yet, Cinderace began to flicker. Their time in this form was coming to an end.
"Looks like our Challenger is out of time! Is this the end of her battle?"
"We'll have to make it so," Raihan said, twirling his phone on his hand and clasping it. "One more victory shot! G-Max Depletion!"
One more shot…yeah…Gloria found her fists tightening, her brain whirring as the purple energy began to charge around Duraludon. Grapploct stood tall, facing his partner, waiting for the next command, and Cinderace continued to shrink down. "One more shot! Cinderace, heat it up! G-Max Fireball!"
"CINDERACE!" With his massive cry, Cinderace vaulted off his giant fireball. The entire crowd screamed and stamped their feet, watching as the loyal rabbit swung around with one foot and brought the kick straight into the fireball. It, too, was shrinking, but it didn't stop the force with which the smaller Cinderace was kicking it.
The force traveled through, rippling all of the crackling and popping fire. It flew forth, ripping at the air, its heat burning away the sandstorm that cloaked the stadium, reaching higher and higher in an arc. The sun scorched with it, peeking through the storm of the Dynamax clouds to send a renewed swelter over the area. Duraludon prepared to fire, only for the smaller orb of flame to slam against its face, rocking its body and preventing the attack. Cinderace fell, landing next to Grapploct, now normal size.
"Looks like you wasted your big attack! G-Max Depletion! Breaking Swipe!"
"Did I?!" Gloria shouted, wearing a giddy grin on her face. Cinderace matched it, offering a hand to help Grapploct stand just a little higher. They stood together. "I don't care about the damage! I was heating up the entire arena! Our own kind of sunny day!"
"What?!" Raihan looked up towards the sun, covering his eyes from its sudden blinding rays. Duraludon continued with his orders, while Flygon flew in, its claw wreathed in purple. Gloria, however, stepped forward.
"It's over! Pyro Ball!" Gloria shouted with gusto. Cinderace flipped back, creating the fire between his feet. It grew, bigger and bigger under the effects of the sun. He began to spin, launched up into the air. The crowd screamed at the sight of him, silhouetted in the sun, and then he launched downward, the oversized orb of flame screeching down. "Grapploct, MEGA PUNCH!"
"GRAPPOCT!" Grapploct sprung up, himself, his tentacles launching him further into the air. Each of them glowed brightly, and he swung his appendages around, striking the Pyro Ball with as much force as he could muster. It took a moment of straining against the weight, and then he sent it flying, right as Flygon moved in.
The dragon screeched, slashing down, but unable to break through the flame that crashed over him. It tore through his body, carrying him towards the towering Duraludon, too slow on the attack. The Pyro Ball crushed them both, ripping straight through, all the way to the walls of the stadium. They shuddered, their force field holding while Raihan teetered to the side, turning only to see the scorch marks along the floor as the fireball exploded against the wall, sending a gigantic tower of smoke into the air.
It didn't take long to clear, but once it did, the result was clear. Grapploct and Cinderace bumped fists, and across from them, slumped against the wall, were Flygon and Duraludon. The referee stepped forward.
"Flygon and Duraludon are unable to battle! The winner of the match and the Gym battle is the Challenger, Gloria!"
If there was anything that moved first, it was the crowd. They rose into a standing ovation, cheering the victory. The commentators were screaming the victory over the broadcast, sounding as though they were hugging each other. Across the field, Raihan was blinking, but eventually gave in to a shrug and a smile. On the battlefield, Cinderace and Grapploct had both landed, working to help one another up from their fatigue over a battle well won.
For Gloria's part, however, she stood stock-still. It seemed almost a dream.
After every bump in the road, every single struggle, she had stood firm and made it. She had announced to the world that Gloria was here, and wouldn't be stopping. No words could come to her. Nothing but actions as she ran to her Pokémon and threw her arms around both of them. Tears streamed down her face, the joy of completing the Challenge filling her with inexpressible joy. Up above her, the crowd rose into an even louder chant of her name, praising how the mighty Raihan had lost, unable to look away from one of the few trainers that had just cemented herself as a favorite in the Wyndon Conference.
"This is a day sure to be remembered, lads! You saw it here!"
"Challenger Gloria is headed for the Wyndon Conference, and we can't wait to see you there!" Gerry's voice boomed, creating further applause. The only ones not applauding or cheering or stamping their feet were Raihan and his referee, both approaching with a case held in the latter's hands.
"Now that was a victory worthy of a Gym Challenger. I can't even be mad about it," Raihan said, reaching his hand out to take hers and pull her up. "Though don't expect to win the next time we face off in the Champion Cup."
"I thought Gym Leaders weren't supposed to show favoritism," Gloria said, wiping away the tears with a cheeky grin. Raihan laughed at that, and soon grabbed the badge from his referee, holding it out to her.
"Not favoritism if it's true. Take it. The Dragon Badge is yours." He displayed it on his palm, his toothy grin giving a show of it. Gloria trembled, and then reached forward for it, marking the end of the Challenge, and all of the struggles it represented. Thus, it made her feel complete when she wrapped her fingers around it, and held it high to the sky, fist formed in her ultimate declaration.
"We won the Gym Challenge! And we're not stopping now! I'm going to win the Galar League!"
"Grappa!"
"Cin-Cinderace!" The two completed her set, raising their own fists. Inside her Poké Balls, she could feel the others doing the same. All around her, the crowd went wild, cheering her name, excited for the events to come and what the Wyndon Conference was shaping up as.
None of it stopped, even as Gloria left the field and changed, washing all of the dirt and grime that had gathered from her body. It made her relax, though she couldn't stop the swift beating of her heart inside, already facing forward to the future that was coming on. It made her relieved when she saw Bonnie and Astrid were already waiting just inside the room, placing themselves in front of her like a pair of bodyguards.
"It's nuts out there," Bonnie said, shaking her head. "We'll get you through it."
She wasn't lying. The second Gloria stepped out of the waiting room, she was met with clicks and flashes, and numerous reporters all trying to surround her. Some asked about the incident with the generator, but many more were focused on her victory over Raihan and what it would mean for her prospects in the Wyndon Conference. The reporters weren't alone, many fans trying to crush them in their own wave, from some former Challengers to a girl with an Orbeetle clapping in glee. They wanted autographs, and a reassurance of what the Conference would shape up to be, but Gloria wasn't there for any of it. She didn't need that validation.
What she really needed was rest.
"Yeah, okay! Move along! You can ask her all the questions you want in Wyndon, so scram!" Astrid said. Butterfree floated in front of her while Absol padded at her side, parting the crowd to the very end of the hall where Gloria could see Serena waiting with someone who looked familiar, though she'd never met him. That spurred her steps forward, running the length of the hall and stopping before she could run into Serena.
The woman smiled, then reached out and took Gloria into a hug. "I never doubted it. You've become a fine trainer."
Gloria melted into it, clasping tighter and mumbling her thanks before she pulled away. Her eyes found the newest member of their group, who walked forward to shake her hand. "Better than fine. It's not easy to master double battles that way. Clemont."
"O-oh! Gloria!" The girl clasped the man's hand, Bonnie quick to introduce her brother in further detail. But the brunette didn't hear any of it, or even see any of it, because someone else had spoken, causing her to slowly turn her head in his direction.
"Gloria." Her whole body trembled, her vision wavering and her throat going dry when she saw him standing there, Pikachu on his shoulder and sporting a wide grin. "You were amazing."
"Ash…I…I…" Gloria took a step forward, tentative at first, and then bolder as Serena urged her along. She wasn't sure what to say, or what she wanted to hear from him. Maybe none of that mattered against the fact that he was here, saying she was amazing. Not because of him, but because of her own strength. The one she found. She wanted to cry, but settled for reaching out to him, eyes still on her while she did so. He caught her.
"You don't have to say anything," he said, smiling down to her. "You've become a great trainer. Taken a step towards your dream."
"I…I did…" she said, voice on the verge of tears. With a shake of her head, she swallowed those same tears and looked up into his eyes. "But I'm going to go further. Straight to the top. Not for you, or anyone else. For me. My own way. I don't know how I'd fit in to it, but I know I can try. For the future of my dream, my region and the world. I think I can do that."
Ash didn't say anything, processing the words that Gloria had spoken to him. He looked at Pikachu, the pair nodding, and then he held his hand out for her, the offer she'd always wanted to hear, one that put them side-by-side as their own people finally voicing itself. "Let's fight together."
She reached out and clasped his hand, reunited at last and looking towards the future.
They would fight the plans for Rose's tomorrow. Together.
Author's Note: Well, what did you all think? We certainly tried to create a spectacle. Of course, the funny part of the story was that we planned all this out before G-Max Cinderace was a thing, but about the time I got to writing we were like "should we use it, even though we'd have to fudge the strategy planned?" We ended up going for Rule of Cool and put it in. Hopefully you liked it.
More importantly, Gloria is now ready to enter the League and has reunited with Ash…more or less. But more on that next time. For now, let us all savor in Gloria's victory as we head for the Wyndon Conference!
Viroro: And so, Gloria's final Gym battle ended, earning herself the last badge. This battle may not have had the personal meaning of some others, but we still hope it worked well as a showcase of Gloria's skill ahead of the upcoming Wyndon Conference. This was very much a show of how far she's come in understanding everyone on her team and allowing them all to shine (even Flapple and Toxtricity, in spite of their defeat), all leading to Ash's return to meet our new, much more self-assured Gloria. It was always important for her to deal with her own issues away from her safety net, and we hope it made their reunion worth it.
We planned this whole story before the DLC came about and thus we couldn't acknowledge a lot of it without derailing most of our planned story. Giving Cinderace his Gigantamax form here was one of our only exceptions, given we felt as the leader and closest Pokémon to Gloria out of them all, he was the most fitting to be able to reach his strongest form. It required some mild finagling, but we like to think it gave this final Gym battle more oomph. Hopefully, it came through.
With all that said, this is hardly the end for Gloria, as the Wyndon Conference is fast approaching, and we hope you'll keep looking forward to what's to come!
Before we go, the typical round of thanks to give to everybody: to Spinsword7 for favoriting; and the biggest of thanks to MythGirl Writes, Fury, Purim Popoie, XDiamondX90, AmourshippingCanon, Tenzalucard123, FantasyLover88, ChE clarinetist, UltimateCCC, potat lasaro, aliensinnoh, RRV55, Ander Arias, Rajiv A. Rajaram, Tawny779, TheAuraLucarioGamer, StacheKing, Captainsquid12 and 1 guest for reviewing.
Next time we finally make it to Wyndon. It's been a long journey, but our second act begins. Please look forward to it, and until then, Review and,
Dare to Be Silly.