"Victor and Gloria had arrived in Ballonlea, where they delivered a decades old letter and were able to reunite old friends, in spirit. And now, it's time for Victor's Gym Challenge."
"Ballonlea Pop Quiz"
Victor waves an arm to the side, "Raboot, Flame Wheel!"
"Ra-boot!" Raboot runs ahead, as its body becomes covered in flames and speeds ahead.
"Alright, keep it going…" Victor starts. "Now, turn left!"
"Ra-boot!" Raboot continues running, when it tries to turn but slides into the side of a tree, as the flames dissipate.
"Still have trouble with your speed," Victor sighs, as Gloria walks over.
"Ra-boot…" Raboot falls down.
"Victor, we should get going, if you're gonna be on time for your Gym Challenge," Gloria says.
Victor looks over his shoulder, "Right."
At the Ballonlea Stadium, the crowd is full of cheering people and Pokémon.
At the center of the arena is Dan, who holds up an arm, "The next Gym Challenge will be done by Victor! First is the Gym Mission, a quiz conducted by Gym Leader Opal, herself!"
In the stands are Gloria, Drizzile, Orbeetle, Sirfetch'd, and Impidimp.
"The Gym Mission is a quiz?" Gloria asks.
Victor is on a stage, with a spotlight shines on him, before he notices Opal in a chair in front of the stage.
"Now, Victor, before we begin, do you have any questions?" Opal asks.
"Hum, wh-why the Gym Mission's a quiz?" Victor asks.
"I am retiring," Opal says, surprising Victor. "So I'm searching for a replacement who possesses the right pink. This quiz is one of the ways I will determine my successor."
"P-Pink?" Victor's confused.
"The Gym Mission will now begin!" Dan's voice is heard from a loudspeaker.
Opal clears her voice, "First question. What's my nickname? 'The magic-user' or 'the wizard'?"
"Y-Your nickname…?" Victor repeats.
Victor and Gloria are walking down the route, with Gloria looking at her Rotom Phone.
"It looks like Opal is a Fairy-type Gym Leader, you won't have to battle her for some time, but it could help thinking about some kind of strategy," Gloria says, before looking over to her friend.
"Opal uses Fairy-types, maybe her nickname is related to Fairy-types…" Victor wonders, before realizing. "Wait, they both mean the same thing. I better just guess something."
"Hum… 'the magic-user'?" Victor asks, before a large "X" appears behind him.
"Wrong," Opal says, with Victor looking down, disappointed.
"How Victor supposed to know something like that?" Gloria asks.
Gloria then notices, further down the stands, two guys, one holding up Opal's Gym card.
"How can anyone not know Opal's nickname?" one of the guys asks, before they start laughing.
Drizzile watches as Gloria shrinks down in her seat, "Drizz?"
"Next question," Opal starts. "What is my favorite color? 'Pink' or 'purple'?"
"Her favorite color?" Victor wonders, before noticing Opal's clothes are both pink and purple. "What is…? Wait!"
"I am retiring," Opal says, surprising Victor. "So I'm searching for a replacement who possesses the right pink. This quiz is one of the ways I will determine my successor."
Victor smiles, "Your favorite color is 'Pink'."
A large "X" appears behind Victor.
"Wrong," Opal says, as Victor falls down. "While I am looking for pink in others, it's not something that interests me personally."
"Wow, this quiz is really hard," Gloria says, with a sweat drop.
"Final question," Opal says. "How old am I? '16' or '88'?"
"How… How old is she?!" Victor starts to sweat.
"Hum, yes, ma'am," Victor blushes.
Opal immediately stands in front of Victor, who looks scared. "Don't call me ma'am!" She then stands back and smiles. "I'm far too young to be called something so old."
"Six… sixteen…" Victor nervously says.
After a few seconds, Opal starts laughing, "I like your answer. You passed the quiz."
A large "O" appears behind Victor.
"Wait?! He passed?!" Dan's voice says over the loudspeaker.
Opal angrily looks up at a camera, "Yes, he passed."
Dan clears his throat, before raising an arm, "Victor had passed the Gym Mission."
A round of applause explodes in the stands.
Gloria sighs, as her Pokémon cheer on, "That's relieved." She looks ahead. "But how is Victor gonna handle her Fairy-Type Pokémon?"
Dan holds out a hand to the side, as Victor walks onto the arena, "Our Gym Challenger, Victor!" Dan then holds out a hand to the other side, as Opal walks onto the arena. "And our Gym Leader, Opal!"
Victor and Opal stop at their spots in the arena.
"Ready to show me your pink?" Opal asks.
"I-I guess so…" Victor says.
"Then let's get started," Opal says, before throwing a Poké Ball. "Go, Mawile!"
"Maw!"
"Right," Victor throws a Poké Ball. "Go, Raboot!"
"Ra-boot!"
Victor's Rotom Phone flies up, "Mawile, the Deceiver Pokémon, It chomps with its gaping mouth. Its huge jaws are actually steel horns that have been transformed."
"Surprising. Fire-types are not too effective against Fairy-types, but it does have an advantage against Steel-types…" Opal thinks. "I better watch out. Victor might have a plan."
"So, let's go on the offensive," Opal stabs her umbrella down, "Mawile, use Crunch!"
"Maw!" Mawile jumps ahead, as it swings its huge jaws ahead.
"Raboot, doge with Flame Wheel!" Victor instructs.
"Ra-boot!" Raboot runs ahead, as flames surround it, dodging Mawile's jaws.
"Maw! Maw!" Mawile jumps after the running Raboot. "Maw!"
"Ra-boot!"
Mawile tries to bit at Raboot with its jaws, but Raboot, surrounded by flames, runs past it.
"An interesting strategy," Opal realizes. "Victor is focused on boosting Raboot's speed with Flame Wheel to make up for its typing against Fairy-types."
Opal stabs her umbrella down, "Victor, I have another question for you."
"An-Another question?" Victor's surprised.
"What is the best way to attack a target that's moving too fast to hit?" Opal asks.
"The best way?" Victor repeats, before looking down for a moment, then looks ahead. "It probably would be best to stop the moving target."
Opal smiles, "You're right. Mawile, use Astonish!"
"Maw! Maw! Maw!" Mawile suddenly shouts, as it waves its jaws around.
"Ra-boot!" Raboot, surrounded by flames, continues to run, before wobbling a little, when Mawile's jaws hit it. "Ra-boot!"
Raboot's flames dissipate, as it suddenly stops and shakes its head.
"Raboot flinched!" Victor realizes.
"Now, Mawile, use Crunch!" Opal calls out.
"Ra-boot," Raboot continues to shake its head, when a shadow comes toward it and it turns to see Mawile's jaws coming toward it. "Ra-boot!"
"Maw!" Mawile snares Raboot in its large jaws.
"Ra-boot! Ra-boot!" Raboot tries to force itself free from its jaws, but is unable.
"Raboot, use Ember!" Victor calls out.
"Ra-boot!" Raboot fires a series of fireballs from its mouth into Mawile's jaws.
"Maw!" Mawile's jaws let go of Raboot.
"Quick, Mawile, Astonish!" Opal says.
"Maw! Maw!" Mawile spins around and slams Raboot with its jaws, knocking it back.
"Raboot!" Victor watches as Raboot forces itself back onto its feet.
"Ra-boot," Raboot nods its head.
"Alright, use Flame Wheel again, heads on!" Victor instructs.
"Ra-boot!" Raboot is surrounded with flames before running ahead.
"Mawile, block with Iron Defense!" Opal instructs.
"Maw!" Mawile holds its jaws in front of itself, as its body turns silver.
"Ra-boot!" Raboot, surrounded by flames, collides with the silver Mawile, and after a few seconds, Mawile is pushed back.
"Maw!" Mawile is sent flying back and lands hard, with its eyes whirling. "Maw…"
"Mawile is unable to battle!" Dan announces.
"Alright! Good work, Victor! Raboot!" Gloria yells, as she and her Pokémon cheer.
"Ra-boot," Raboot is trying to catch its breath.
Gloria notices Raboot, "Raboot already took a lot of damage from Mawile. Will they be okay?"
"Now, let's get this going," Opal holds up a Poké Ball, before throwing it. "Go, Alcremie."
"An Alcremie, huh?" Victor realizes, before holding up a hand. "Alright, let's start off with Flame Wheel!"
"Ra-boot!" Raboot runs ahead, as its body becomes surrounded in flames.
"Alcremie, defend with Acid Armor!" Opal instructs.
"Al-crem!" Alcremie holds up its arms, as it turns purple.
"Ra-boot!" Raboot, surrounded by flames, slams into Alcremie, before bouncing off.
"Acid Armor raises its user's Defense," Opal says. "Your attack ended up doing little damage."
"But it still did damage," Victor whispers. "Raboot, keep Flame Wheel up. Hammer down its Defense!"
"Ra-boot!" Raboot, surrounded by flames, runs around.
"Trying to overcome Defense with speed and power, interesting strategy," Opal says. "But it won't do. Alcremie, wait…"
"Al-crem," Alcremie's body returns to normal. "Al-crem."
"Ra-boot!" Raboot, surrounded by flames, runs closer.
"Now, dodge!" Opal calls out.
"Al-crem!" Alcremie jumps out of the way, as Raboot, surrounded by flames, runs past it.
Raboot slams into the Max Barrier, with its flames dissipating, "Ra-boot…" Raboot falls down.
"Raboot!" Victor calls out.
"Alcremie, Draining Kiss," Opal stabs her umbrella down.
"Al-crem!" Alcremie, in midair, blows a kiss, with a lip print flies down to Raboot, with it glowing slightly.
Alcremie lands, as its body also glows, with Raboot's eyes whirling, "Ra-boot."
"Raboot!" Victor calls out.
"Raboot is unable to battle!" Dan announces.
"Drizz," Drizzile sadly says.
"I'm sure Raboot gonna be fine," Gloria says to her Pokémon, before looking back down at the arena. "But because Alcremie absorbs Raboot's energy with Draining Kiss, what little damage that had been dealt will now be healed." She watches as Victor holds out a Poké Ball, with a red beam flying into it. "So what Victor's next move will be?"
Victor looks at his Poké Ball, "You did great, Raboot. Rest now." He then looks ahead, "Opal's Alcremie could be tricky. I should try to end this quickly."
Victor throws a Poké Ball, "Go, Corviknight!"
"Knigh!" Corviknight calls out.
"A Corviknight, huh?" Opal starts. "Steel-types do have an advantage over Fairy-types, but I have trained against such disadvantages."
"We'll see," Victor holds out a hand. "Corviknight, get in close with Drill Peck!"
"Knigh!" Corviknight flies ahead, before starting to spin around.
"Alcremie, dodge," Opal instructs.
"Al-crem!" Alcremie jumps to the side, as Corviknight spins past it.
"Corviknight, Steel Wing!" Victor calls out.
"Knigh!" Corviknight stops its spin, before waving a glowing wing.
"Al-crem!" Alcremie spins around and backs away, dodging the glowing wing.
"Knigh! Knigh!" Corviknight continues to wave glowing wings, with Alcremie moving left to right, dodging each attack.
"Al-crem! Al-crem!"
"Alcremie, that's enough, use Sweet Kiss!" Opal instructs.
"Al-crem!" Alcreme jumps back and blows a kiss, with a lip print flies at Corviknight, with it glowing slightly.
"Knigh?" Small birds fly around Corviknight's head, before it flies around randomly.
"Corviknight!" Victor calls out.
"Knigh? Knigh?" Corviknight continues to fly around, before slamming into the Max Barrier.
"Corviknight, calm down!" Victor calls out. "Corviknight, hear me?! Take a breath. Corviknight!"
"Knigh…?" Corviknight hears Victor's voice, before shaking its head, with the small birds fading away, then looks down at its Trainer. "Knigh!"
"Good, you okay," Victor sighs.
"Impressed," Opal says. "Corviknight was able to recover from its confusion so quickly. So, we might as well go all out."
"All out?" Victor looks over to Opal.
Opal holds out a Poké Ball, with Alcremie turns into energy and flies back into it, before a large glowing, red Poké Ball surrounds it. Opal struggles a little with the large Poké Ball in both hands, before turning and throwing it, "Alcremie, Gigantamaxes!"
The large Poké Ball opens and shoots out a massive red energy, which continues to grow taller and taller, before Alcremie pops out on the top, as the rest of the body takes form, resembling a giant wedding cake, "Al-crem!"
"If they can Gigantamax, then so can us," Victor says.
"Knigh!" Corviknight calls out.
Victor holds out a Poké Ball, which shoots out a red beam, turning Corviknight into red energy, which flies back into the Poké Ball. "Go, Corviknightl!" Victor then holds out his hands, with the large, glowing Poké Ball surrounding it, before Victor starts to turn around, "Gigantamaxes!"
Victor throws the large Poké Ball which opens and shoots out a massive red energy, which continues to grow, before spreading out one wing, as a feather-like blade flies off. Another wing spreads out, as another feather-like blade flies off. Corviknight stops glowing, as the giant Pokémon spreads out its wings and calls out, "Knigh!"
"With a body like that, Alcremie can't move too well like before," Victor says to himself. "This could be our chance. Corviknight, get in close."
"Knigh!" Corviknight starts to fly ahead.
"Don't judge Alcremie by its appearance," Opal starts, before stabbing her umbrella down. "Alcremie, use G-Max Finale!"
"Al-crem!" Alcremie calls out, as three beams shoot down from the sky.
"Corviknight, dodge!" Victor calls out.
"Knigh!" Corviknight flies side to side, dodging the beams, before they hit the ground and causes a large explosion, throwing Corviknight back. "Knigh!"
"Corviknigh!" Victor calls out, before noticing Alcremie is glowing slightly. "Don't tell me…"
"Correct," Opal says, with Victor looking over to her. "G-Max Finale heals Alcremie each time it is used."
"So, if Corviknight can damage Alcremie, it could heal with each of its own attacks," Victor realizes.
"Victor's in a lot of trouble," Gloria realizes. "Can he find a way out here."
"Max Steelspike!" Victor calls out.
"Knigh!" Corviknight shouts, as large spikes shoot out of the ground toward Alcremie, hitting it.
"Al-crem!" Alcremie yells, before three beams shoot down.
"Knigh!" Corviknight flaps its wings back, dodging the beams, which blows apart the spikes, causing a large explosion, which Corviknight flies around the edge of the Max Barrier to barely dodge it.
"Al-crem," Alcremie says, as it glows slightly.
"It's healing again," Victor thinks. "If only I could deliver a powerful enough attack. We could beat Alcremie before it could heal… But G-Max Finale is healing Alcremie more than Draining Kiss did…" Victor's eyes widened. "Wait, that's it!"
"Corviknight, attack Alcremie with all you got!" Victor instructs, with Corviknight looking over to him. "Don't back down!"
"Knigh!" Corviknight nods its head, before looking ahead. "Knigh!"
Large spikes shoot out across the ground and toward Alcremie, bashing it, "Al-crem!"
Three beams shoot down, as Corviknight flies around them, before barely able to fly ahead of the ensuring explosion, "Knigh!" Corviknight starts flapping its wings, blowing a massive cyclone at Alcremie.
"Al-crem!" Alcremie, in midst of the cyclone, calls out, as beams shoot down.
"Knigh!" Corviknight flies back, dodging the beams, but is caught by the explosion.
"Al-crem… Al-crem…" Alcremie is catching its breath.
As the explosion dissipates, Corviknight, back to its normal size and appearance, flies back out of the explosion.
"Corviknight's back to normal!" Gloria realizes.
"Corviknight used up so much energy, its Gigantamax form was cancelled," Opal realizes. "But Victor doesn't appear discouraged. He's up to something." Opal smiles. "Alcremie, G-Max Finale!"
"Al-crem!" Alcremie calls out, as three beams fly down.
"Corviknight, dodge and get up close!" Victor calls out.
"Knigh!" Corviknight flies ahead, dodging each of the three beams, then manages to fly ahead of the ensuing explosion. "Knigh!"
"Now, Drill Peck!" Victor calls out.
"Knigh!" Corviknight spins around, slamming into Alcremie.
"Al-crem!" Alcremie calls out, as it glows slightly, before it is knocked back and shrinks down to its normal size and appearance.
"Keep it going, Corviknigh!" Victor instructs. "Drill Peck! Let go!"
"Knigh!" Corviknight continues to spin ahead, slamming into Alcremie, blowing it through the air and slams it hard onto the ground.
Victor and Opal watch as Corviknigh flies back, and Alcremie is lying on the ground, in a small crevice, with its eyes whirling, "Al-crem…"
"Alcremie is unable to battle!" Dan raises a hand into the air. "Gym Challenger Victor is the winner!"
"We did it!" Victor runs up to Corviknight, hugging it.
"Knigh!" Knigh!" Corviknight happily says.
"Alright!" Gloria cheers, along her Pokémon.
Opal watches Victor and Corviknight, "Victor had Corviknight outlast Alcremie's Gigantamax and then overwhelm it before it could heal any further. Such a strategy takes a lot of trust between Trainer and Pokémon. This is an impressive young man."
Opal approaches Victor and Corviknight, "Congratulations. To you both." She holds out a Gym Badge, with a design shaped like a stylized fairy. "You had earned the Fairy Badge."
The Fairy Badge is added to the metal ring.
Victor holds up the metal ring, "Alright! We got the Fairy Badge!" Victor then holds it down and looks at Opal, "Hum, Opal, I'm sorry, but I have to respectively deny the position of Gym Leader. My dream isn't to become a Gym Leader."
"Victor, I never offer you the role of my successor," Opal starts. "While you might have impressed me. You don't possess the pink that I seek in a successor."
Victor sighs.
Gloria smiles, "Victor seems very relieved." She gives a small laugh.
Victor and Gloria are standing outside the Ballonlea Stadium, with Victor looking at his metal ring.
Gloria smiles at him, before looking at her Rotom Phone in her hand, "It looks like the next Gym is at Circhester. But we gonna have to return to Hammerlocke to get there first."
"You're going to Hammerlocke?" Opal says, as she exits the stadium, with the two Trainers looking over to her. "If you're going, I'll be happy to share a Corviknight Taxi with you."
"Do you have more Gym Challenges?" Gloria asks, as Opal walks past her and Victor.
"I'm done for the day, and have nothing scheduled for tomorrow," Opal says, as she continues to walk ahead. "You two better hurry up."
Victor and Gloria look at each other, before they start to hurry after Opal.
At Rose Tower, Chairman Rose is seated at his desk, looking over some paperwork.
Rose sighs, "Now that the Galarian Star Tournament is over, I can focus on what really matters." He looks over to one piece of paper. "Good, there's a stash of Wishing Stars shipping…"
Oleana approaches Rose, "Bede had left Motostoke."
"His actions are no longer my concern," Rose says, without looking up.
"Very well, then I will see to the shipment," Oleana says, before turning and starts to walk away.
"Oleana," Rose, with her stop walking. "Out of curiosity, do you know where he's heading?"
Oleana turns back to him, "A Macro Cosmos employee reported he left on a Corviknight Taxi to Hammerlocke."
"Mhm, interesting…" Rose says, as he brings his hands together.
"Victor had won his fifth Gym Badge at last. And now our heroes are on their way back to Hammerlocke to continue the Gym Challenge. But what is Chairman Rose planning? And what of his former protégé Bede?"
"Find out, as the journey continues…"