"Victor and Gloria return to Motostoke to take part in the Galarian Star Tournament, but first they battle with Hop to determine which two Trainers will partner together, with Victor and Gloria becoming a team. And now, the beginning of the Galarian Star Tournament…!"
"Double Battles, Double Trouble"
The Motostoke Stadium is full, as the crowd is cheering, with Leon in the center of the arena.
Leon holds up his hands, trying to calm the crowd, "For years, the Galarian Star Tournament was a proud tradition, and it's my honor to bring it back and show the strength of unity between Trainers and Pokémon."
The crowd continues to cheer.
In the stadium's locker room, Gloria is standing near the entrance, looking in the direction of the cheering.
"Wow, I can't believe I can hear everyone from here, I have to admit, it kinda makes me nervous," Gloria starts, before she starts to turn. "How have you been able to handle it…?"
Gloria sees Victor is covered in sweat while breathing heavily.
Gloria sweat drops, "Nevermind…"
"Hey, Victor, Gloria," Hop walks over to the two, waving a hand.
"Oh, Hop," Gloria says, as she and Victor, a bit more calmer, look over to their friend. "Did you manage to find a partner?"
"Yeah, definitively," Hop says, before he scratches the side of his face and speaks quietly. "The last person I asked…"
Hop turns to see a person, a little bit older than them, with brown hair, walks over, "Here he is. Victor, Gloria, meet my partner, Han."
"Hi," Victor smiles.
"Nice to meet you," Gloria adds.
Han just looks at them, without saying anything.
"He might not say much, but we are gonna win this whole thing," Hop proudly says, before looking to Han. "Right, partner?"
"Just stay out of my way," Han says, before turning and walking away.
Hop watches Han, as he rubs the back of his head.
Gloria places a hand on her hip, "He's a real charmer."
Back on the arena, Leon holds a hand to his side, "And now, I'll give over to our referee, Dan."
Dan walks to the center of the arena, as Leon starts to walk away, "Thank you, Champion. Now, without any interruption. The first teams of the Galarian Star Tournament."
Dan holds out a hand to the side, "On this side is Hop and Han!"
Hop and Han are walking onto the arena, with Hop waving at the cheering crowd with both hands.
Dan holds out a hand to the other side, "And on this side is Cory and Eric!"
Cory and Eric are walking onto the arena, waving one hand each at the cheering crowd, before Eric slightly elbows Cory, who blushes in response.
"Wow, Cory and Eric entered the tournament," Victor says, watching the arena on a large screen in the locker room.
"Remember the tournament is open to anyone, not just Gym Challengers," Gloria says to her friend, before looking at the screen. "I just wonder if they have become better teammates since we last saw them in the Wild Area."
"Go, Gloom!" Cory throws a Poké Ball.
"Gloo."
"Go, Pelipper!" Eric throws a Poké Ball.
"Peli, Peli!"
"Wow, it's a Gloom and a Pelipper," Hop says.
Hop's Rotom Phone flies up, "Gloom, the Weed Pokémon, What appears to be drool is actually sweet honey. It is very sticky and clings stubbornly if touched."
The Rotom Phone turns slightly, "Pelipper, the Water Bird Pokémon, Skimming the water's surface, it dips its large bill in the sea, scoops up food and water, and carries it."
Han looks over to Hop, "This isn't the time for it."
Hop takes his Rotom Phone, "Oh, right…"
Han throws a Poké Ball, "Go, Beartic!"
"Bea, tic."
Hop's Rotom Phone flies out of his hand, "Beartic, the Freezing Pokémon, It swims through frigid seas, searching for prey. From its frozen breath, it forms icy fangs that are harder than steel."
"Wow," Hop takes a look at his Rotom Phone, before seeing Han glancing at him. Hop clears his throat, then throws a Poké Ball, "Go, Thwackey!"
"Thwa!"
"Now, let the battle begin!" Dan raises a hand.
"Go, Beartic!" Han holds out a hand. "Slash!"
"Bea, tic!" Beartic charges ahead with his claws at the side.
"Pelipper, dodge!" Eric calls out.
"Gloom, Giga Drain!" Cory instructs.
"Peli!" Pelipper flies out of the way of the charging Beartic.
"Bea, tic!" Beartic strikes at Gloom with its claw, sending it flying.
"Gloo…" Gloom, while in midair, glows green, as green energy flies from Beartic and into Gloom. "Gloo."
"Nice dodge," Cory says to Eric.
"Nice defense," Eric responds.
"Beartic's power is something else," Hop says, before looking at Han. "But should we be working together?"
Han barely looks over to Hop, "I'm planning on winning."
"Oookay," Hop says, before he notices Pelipper circling overhead. "Then, we'll just take care of Pelipper." He looks at his Pokémon. "Thwackey, bring Pelipper down with Razor Leaf!"
"Thwa!" Thwackey removes its two sticks and slams them on the ground, before holding them ahead as razor sharp leaves fly from its head. "Thwa!"
"Pelipper, dodge and counter with Wing Attack!" Eric instructs.
"Peli! Peli!" Pelipper flies left to right, dodging the flying leaves, before its wings glow and it flies past Thwackey, slamming its wing against Thwackey and sending it flying. "Peli!"
"Thwa!" Thwackey flies through the air and against Beartic's head.
"Bea, tic!" Beartic angrily says to Thwackey.
"Thwa…" Thwackey nervously says, with a sweatdrop.
"Oh, sorry," Hop holds up a hand.
"Stay out of my way," Han says to him.
"We are supposed to be working together," Hop turns to Han.
"I'm not interested in teamwork," Han closes his eyes. "I only joined this tournament to show my full strength."
"It's a team tournament!" Hop yells at him.
"Gloom, quick, use Stun Spore!" Cory calls out.
"Gloo," Gloom says, as a yellowish powder spreads from the top of its head.
"Bea, tic," Beartic says to a nervous Thwackey, as the yellowish powder falls over them. "Bea, tic…"
"Thwa…"
Both Pokémon hold completely still, with a small crackle of electricity.
"Beartic," Han says.
"They're paralyze," Hop realizes.
"Now, Pelipper, use Water Pulse!" Eric adds.
"And Gloom, use Acid!" Cory adds.
"Peli!" Pelipper shoots a pulsing blast of water from its mouth.
"Gloo!" Gloom shoots a glob of acid from its mouth.
Both attacks hit Beartic and Thwackey, knocking them back.
"Bea, tic…" Beartic falls down, with whirling eyes.
"Thwa…" Thwackey falls down, with whirling eyes.
"Beartic and Thwackey are unable to battle!" Dan raises a hand. "The winners are Cory and Eric!"
"Aw man," Hop slumps over his shoulders, as Han looks away.
"Alright!" Cory and Eric yell, as they high five.
"Peli!"
"Gloo!"
"That's some battle," Victor says to Gloria.
"Yeah, it's just too bad Hop lost," Gloria says. "I just hope he's gonna be okay."
"Right."
Outside the stadium, Silicobra slithers by, looking left to right, "Sili…" It then continues slithering.
Hop returns to the locker room, with Victor and Gloria approaching him.
"Hop, you're okay?" Victor asks.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Hop rubs the back of his head, before noticing Victor and Gloria looking at each other. "Oh, no, really, I am." Hop smiles. "I'll admit, I'm disappointed that I've lost, especially in the first round, but my losses against Bede taught me how to learn from defeats and grow stronger."
"I'm glad to hear that," Victor says.
"You definitely had grown, Hop," Gloria adds.
"Thanks, and this entire experience is just another step to becoming the League Champion," Hop gladly says.
Gloria smiles, "And somethings don't change."
"Now, for our next opponents!" Dan holds out a hand to one side of the arena. "Victor and Gloria!"
Victor and Gloria walk onto the arena, with them smiling at the cheering crowd, before smiling and nod their heads at each other.
Dan holds out a hand to the other side of the arena, "And Ashley and Mary!"
A pair of sisters walk onto the arena, with nearly the same appearance, except Ashley has blonde hair and black clothes, and Mary has dark hair and white clothes.
"Ready to go?" Gloria asks Victor.
"You bet," Victor responds, before he throws a Poké Ball. "Go, Toxel!"
"Toxe!"
Gloria throws a Poké Ball, "Go, Orbeetle!"
"Or, beet!"
Ashley throws a Poké Ball, "Go, Unfezant!"
"Un, feza!" a male Unfezant calls out.
Gloria's Rotom Phone flies up, "Unfezant, the Proud Pokémon, Unfezant are exceptional fliers. The females are known for their stamina, while the males outclass them in terms of speed."
Mary throws a Poké Ball, "Go, Rapidash!"
"Rapi!" a Galarian Rapidash calls out.
Victor's Rotom Phone flies up, "Rapidash, the Unique Horn Pokémon, Brave and prideful, this Pokémon dashes airily through the forest, its steps aided by the psychic power stored in the fur on its fetlocks."
"Now, let the battle begin!" Dan holds up an arm.
"Let's start out first," Victor suggests.
"Sound good to me," Gloria agrees.
Victor holds out a hand, "Toxel, Acid!"
Gloria holds out a hand, "Orbeetle, Psybeam!"
"Toxe!" Toxel shoots out a spray of acid from its mouth.
"Or, beet!" Orbeetle shoots a ray from its head.
Ashley and Mary smirk at each other.
"Un, feza!" Unfezant flies side to side, dodging the acid. "Un, feza!'
"Rapi!" Rapidash gallops to the side, dodging the ray. "Rapi!"
"Unfezant, Air Slash!" Ashley instructs. "Target Toxel."
"Un, feza!" Unfezant flaps its wings, sending out a blade of air.
"Rapidash, Psycho Cut!" Mary instructs. "Go for Toxel, too."
"Rapi!" Rapidash holds up its head, with its horn glowing, before throwing its head forward, sending a spinning blade made out of psychic energy.
Both attacks hit Toxel, knocking it back, "Toxe!"
"Toxel!" Victor calls out.
"They're too fast for it," Gloria realizes. "Orbeetle, picks up Toxel."
"Or, beet!" Orbeetle flies to Toxel.
"That's sweet, but it leaves you open," Mary says.
"Case in point," Ashley starts. "Unfezant, Air Cutter!"
"Toxe," Toxel is holding onto Orbeetle's legs, as it flies up.
"Un, feza!" Unfezant starts to flap its wings, launching razor-like wind, which hit both Pokémon, knocking them through the air.
"Toxe!"
"Or, beet!"
"Now, Rapidash, Psybeam!" Mary calls out.
"Rapi!" Rapidash holds up its head, as its horn glows, before throwing its head forward, shooting a ray from its horn, hitting Toxel and Orbeetle.
"Toxe!"
"Or, beet!"
"Toxel!" Victor calls out.
"Orbeetle!" Gloria yells.
"Toxe…" Toxel tries to get up.
"Or, beet…" Orbeetle slowly levitates itself.
Ashley smiles, "You never stood a chance against us."
Mary smiles, "You see, we only ever battle as a team."
Ashley and Mary then stand side by side, "And as a team, no one could ever beat us."
Toxel and Orbeetle look ahead.
"Unfezant, Air Cutter!"
"Un, feza!" Unfezant flaps its wings, sending razor-like wind, blasting Toxel and Orbeetle.
"Now, Rapidash, finish this with Stomp!"
"Rapi!" Rapidash gallops toward the two Pokémon.
"We're gonna lose at this rate," Victor realizes. "Toxel, spray Acid around you both!"
"Toxe… Toxe!" Toxel returns to its feet, and starts to spray acid from its mouth, as it turns around, creating a ring of acid around it and Orbeetle.
"Rapi!" Rapidash quickly stops just before it reaches the acid.
"What are they up to?" Mary asks.
"It doesn't matter, they can't win," Ashley adds.
"Gloria, we need to move fast," Victor says to his friend.
"Yeah, but I honestly don't know what to do, they are so good as a team…" Gloria says, before the two look at each other.
"That's it!" Victor and Gloria say in unison.
"Orbeetle, can you fly?" Gloria asks.
"Or, beet," Orbeetle levitates off the ground, looking at its Trainer and nodding its head. "Or, beet."
"Then, go after Unfezant," Gloria instructs.
"Or, beet," Orbeetle flies up into the sky.
"No you don't," Mary says.
"Toxel, use Acid to block Rapidash!" Victor instructs.
"Toxe!" Toxel shoots a spray of acid in front of Rapidash.
"Rapi!" Rapidash pulls itself back away from the acid.
"Orbeetle, Struggle Bug!" Gloria instructs.
"Or, beet!" Orbeetle, its body glowing green, collides with Unfezant.
"Un, feza!" Unfezant calls out, before it launches a blade of air, but Orbeetle dodges it and collides with it again. "Un, feza!"
"They're trying to keep us apart!" Mary realizes.
"Then we won't let them," Ashley says. "Unfezant!"
"Rapidash!"
"Un, feza!" Unfezant flies pass Orbeetle.
"No you don't, Orbeetle, Psybeam!" Gloria calls out.
"Or, beet!" Orbeetle shoots a ray from its head, hitting Unfezant in its back.
"Un, feza!"
"Rapi!" Rapidash gallops toward Unfezant as it gets lower.
"You're not going either, Toxel, Acid!" Victor instructs.
"Toxe!" Acid sprays acid, hitting Rapidash in the side.
"Rapidash, no!" Mary calls out.
"Orbeetle, Psybeam, one more time!" Gloria calls out.
"Or, beet!" Orbeetle flies a ray from its head.
"Un, feza!" Unfezant is hitted by the ray and slams into the ground.
Unfezant is lying on the ground, with its eyes whirling.
"Unfezant is unable to battle!" Dan announces.
"Alright, one down!" Gloria bumps a fist, as Orbeetle lowers itself next to her.
"Or, beet."
"Let's keep it up," Victor says.
"Toxe," Toxel smiles.
"No way!" Mary calls out, before she holds up a Poké Ball, with a Dynamax Band on her wrist. "I won't let you win!"
"She's gonna Dynamax?!" Gloria realizes.
"Rapi!" Rapidash turns into energy and flies back into Mary's Poké Ball.
A large, glowing Poké Ball surrounds Mary's Poké Ball, before she turns around and throws it, "Rapidash, Dynamax!"
The Poké Ball opens and shoots out a massive red energy, which grows and takes form, forming a giant Rapidash, "Rapi!"
Victor holds up a Poké Ball, "Now, it's our turn."
Victor holds out a Poké Ball, which shoots out a red beam, turning Toxel into red energy, which flies back into the Poké Ball. "Go, Toxel!" Victor then holds out his hands, with the large, glowing Poké Ball surrounding it, before Victor starts to turn around, "Dynamax!"
Victor throws the large Poké Ball which opens and shoots out a massive red energy, as it starts to take shape and grows, until it forms a giant Toxel, "Toxe!"
"It might be bigger, but it's still slower than Rapidash," Mary starts. "Rapidash, run circles around Toxel!"
"Toxel, use Max Ooze!" Victor instructs.
"Toxe!" Toxel brings its hands down on the ground, before large geysers of ooze erupt from the ground.
"Rapi! Rapi!" Rapidash gallops left to right, dodging each geyser as they erupt, before finding itself behind Toxel.
"Toxe?!"
"Rapidash, Max Mindstorm!" Mary calls out.
"Rapi!" Rapidash calls out, as pink energy waves are emitted from it.
"Toxe!" Toxel is knocked across the arena.
"Now, Rapidash, Max Starfall!" Mary calls out.
"Rapi!" Rapidash yells, as three large stars fall from the sky.
"Toxel, block it with Max Lightning!" Victor calls out.
"Toxe!"
A large blast of electricity shoots from Toxel up and comes down, blowing apart the large stars, with the explosion forcing Toxel back.
"Just give it up," Mary places a hand on her hip. "Your Toxel is barely keeping up with Rapidash. We're gonna win."
"Even though you and your sister are an undefeated team, you forgot something very important," Victor tells her.
"What's that?" Mary asks, confused.
"Their partners!" Gloria calls out. "Orbeetle, Psybeam!"
"Or, beet!" Orbeetle flies ahead, shooting a ray from its head.
"Rapi!" Rapidash is forced back a couple steps, as Orbeetle continues to fly around it, shooting rays at it. "Rapi!"
"Okay, Toxel, Max Ooze, one more time!" Victor calls out.
"Toxe!" Toxel brings its hands down on the ground.
"Rapidash, quick, move!" Mary calls out.
"Rapi! Rapi!" Rapidash tries to take a step, but Orbeetle hits it without another ray, keeping it in place.
Suddenly, a large geyser of ooze erupts from the ground under Rapidash, blasting it.
"Rapidash!" Mary yells.
The geyser dissipates, with Rapidash glowing as it shrinks back to its normal size.
"Rapi…" Rapidash tries to stand up, before finally falling down, with its eyes whirling. "Rapi…"
"Rapidash is unable to battle!" Dan announces. "The winners are Victor and Gloria!"
"Alright!" Victor and Gloria high fiving.
"Toxe!"
"Or, beet!"
Toxel, returned to its normal size, and Orbeetle high fiving, mimicking their Trainers.
Ashley and Mary are hugging each other with Unfezant and Rapidash between them, "We are so sorry!"
"The Galarian Star Tournament is continuing at full swing…!" an announcer is heard coming from the stadium.
Victor, Gloria, and Hop are walking down a street.
"After all of that I need a break," Gloria says.
"I'm sure our Pokémon feel the same way," Victor says.
"I got to say, I'm excited that my friends had made it to the second round," Hop holds his hands behind his head. "And really, it feels like anything is possible now."
The three friends continue to walk down the street.
"While Hop may have lost in the first round, Victor and Gloria's teamwork and quick thinking allowed them to move on. But with stiff competition, how will our heroes do as the tournament continues?"
Silicobra peeks around a corner, watching the three Trainers walking away, "Sili…"
"Find out, as the journey continues…"