"After a few mishaps along the way, Victor finally has his Gym Challenge against Opal, who proved to be a difficult opponent. Now with his fifth Gym Badge, our heroes return to Hammerlocke…"

"Will Battle for Meal"

Victor and Gloria are exiting the Corviknight Taxi, with Opal standing next to it.

"Thank very much for the ride," Opal says to the taxi driver, who smiles and nods his head.

Victor's stomach growls, with him blushing as he rubs the back of his head, "So sorry about that."

Gloria smiles, before her stomach growls, with she blushes and lowers her shoulders, "And now I'm embarrassed."

Opal sighs, "They might be Pokémon Trainers, but they are still children."

Opal's stomach then growls, with Victor and Gloria looking over to her, with small smiles.

Opal clears her throat.

Victor, Gloria, and Opal stand in front of a restaurant.

"Welcome to the Battle Café," Opal says.

"Battle Café?" Gloria repeats. "Is it supposed to be a restaurant?"

"Not only that, this is the best restaurant in all of Hammerlocke," Opal responds.

"Then what with the name…" Victor says, under his breath, before they enter the restaurant.

Inside, they see a large dinning hall, with tables spread throughout, and people at several of the tables, eating, some are with their Pokémon.

A male waiter walks over to the three, slightly bows his head, "Good day, sir, ma'ams, how may I help you today?"

Gloria bumps her shoulder against Victor, "Hum, Victor, look."

They then notice a large chart on the wall at the back of the dinning hall, which lists all the dishes and their prices.

"That, hum, that's pricey…" Victor whispers, with a sweatdrop.

Victor and Gloria look over to Opal, who sweatdrop, "I forgot my money purse at Ballonlea."

At that moment, a young Trainer, William, enters the restaurant, with Victor, Gloria, and Opal look over to him.

"I am William and I want to do the Battle Café Challenge!"

Suddenly, waiters and waitresses move the tables to the sides of the dining hall, with the customers moving over with them, before large glasses rise up, separating the tables and people from the center of the dining hall, with another large glass rises up, separating William from Victor, Gloria, and Opal.

Then coming out from the backroom is Café Master Bernard.

"What's going on?" Gloria asks.

"The Hammerlocke Battle Café is doing a special Battle Café Challenge," the waiter starts to explain. "Any Trainers that beat the Café Master will get a free meal."

"That's why it's called the Battle Café," Victor realizes.

"Alright, go, Mudbray!" William throws a Poké Ball, which opens and shoots out red energy which forms Mudbray.

"Bray!"

Gloria's Rotom Phone flies up, "Mudbray, the Donkey Pokémon, It eats dirt to create mud and smears this mud all over its feet, giving them the grip needed to walk on rough terrain without slipping."

"A Mudbray, very good," Bernard starts, before throwing a Poké Ball. "Then, I'll go with Applin!"

The Poké Ball opens and shoots out red energy, forming Applin.

"App!"

Victor's Rotom Phone flies up, "Applin, the Apple Core Pokémon, As soon as it's born, it burrows into an apple. Not only does the apple serve as its food source, but the flavor of the fruit determines its evolution."

"Since you're the challenger, young William, you get the first move," Bernard says.

William grins, "It will also be the last move!" He holds out a hand. "Mudbray, use Superpower!"

"That's odd," Victor places a hand to his chin, with Gloria looking over to him.

"Bray!" Mudbray calls out, as it gallops toward Applin, with its hooves glowing.

"Applin, counter with Withdraw!" Bernard instructs.

"App!" Applin's eyes and tail retract into its apple-like body.

"Bray!" Mudbray brings its front hooves down on Applin. "Bray!"

Mudbray backs off, as Applin brings its eyes and tail back out, "App?"

"It would seem with Withdraw increasing Applin's Defense, Mudbray's Superpower did little damage," Opal comments.

"Then let's try High Horsepower!" William calls out.

"Bray!" Mudbray gallops ahead, with its entire body glowing.

"Applin, keep up with Withdraw!" Bernard instructs.

"App!" Applin retracts its eyes and tail.

"Bray! Bray! Bray!" Mudbray reaches Applin and starts to slam its front hooves down on it.

"Can Applin hold out against such an assault?" Gloria asks.

"It doesn't have to," Opal says.

"Okay, Applin, on my mark…" Bernard raises an arm, before, after a couple seconds, snaps his fingers. "Astonish!"

With Mudbray's front hooves high in the air, Applin suddenly brings its eyes and tail out and tackles Mudbray, forcing it back, "App!"

"Bray…" Mudbray backs away, shaking its head.

"Mudbray!" William calls out.

"The Café Master used Astonish to cancel out High Horsepower," Victor realizes.

"Let's see it try that again," William says. "Mudbray, High Horsepower!"

"Bray!" Mudbray gallops forward, with its entire body glowing.

"If you insist," Bernard grins. "Applin, Astonish!"

"App!" Applin jumps up, moving past Mudbray and slams its tail against Mudbray's side.

"Bray!" Mudbray slides to the side, with its body stops glowing.

"Mudbray flinched again!" William realizes.

"And we're not done, are we, Applin?" Bernard crosses his arms.

"App!" Applin jumps ahead, and slams its head against Mudbray.

"Bray… Bray," Mudbray falls onto its side, with its eyes whirling.

"Mudbray!" William runs over to his Pokémon, kneeling next to it. "Are you okay, Mudbray?"

"Bray, Bray," Mudbray says, as it starts to get itself up.

"I'm sorry about this, but you did well," Bernard walks over to the pair. "If you keep on training, you could win during the next promotion."

"We will get stronger," William says.

"Bray!" Mudbray adds.

"I'm sure," Bernard smiles.

The glasses lower back into the ground, as the waiters and waitresses are returning the tables. Opal then approaches Bernard, with Victor and Gloria quickly following after her.

"Well, well, well, you surely have grown from being a young apprentice," Opal says, as Bernard turns to face her.

"Opal?" Bernard happily says, as his Applin hops onto the counter at the back of the dining hall. "It's surely a long time, no see." Bernard then notices Victor and Gloria. "And who do we have here?"

"These are two young Trainers, Victor and Gloria," Opal turns to introduce them. "And this is the Café Master, Bernard. An old friend of mine."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Bernard," Victor says.

"Please, just Bernard."

Opal looks over to Applin, sniffing in its different, "Mmhm." She looks at Bernard. "Tell me, Bernard, how is your other Applin doing?"

"Other Applin?" Gloria asks, before she and Victor look at each other, surprised.

Bernard smiles, before throwing a Poké Ball, which shoots out a red energy, forming a second Applin, who lands next to the first, "App."

Gloria sniffs the air, "Wait… there's a sweet smell from the second Applin."

"Very good," Opal says, before looking at Victor. "Now, Victor, what do you think of the battle you just saw?"

"Oh, it was great," Victor suddenly says, slightly blushing. "It's just too bad about Mudbray's Trainer's mistake."

"What mistake?" Gloria asks.

"Well, its first move, Superpower, while powerful, does decrease the user's Attack and Defense," Victor explains. "I just think it's kinda reckless to use such a move first off."

"That's very impressive, considering you were just a witness to the battle," Bernard says.

"Well, Victor is a Trainer in the Galar Gym Challenge," Gloria says, with Victor blushing.

"Oh, really," Bernard says, before looking at Opal. "Does that mean he already beat you, Opal."

Opal clears her throat, "It was a very close match."

At that moment, Victor and Gloria's stomachs growl, with them blushing.

"Oh, I see, you're all hungry, are you?" Bernard realizes. "Unfortunately, I can't offer free food, even to an old friend like Opal."

Opal puffs up her cheeks, "Sure you can't make an exception."

"Don't tell me she came here hoping to get a free meal," Gloria whispers to Victor.

"However," Bernard starts, with Victor and Gloria looking over to him. "I would be happy to take both of you on in a double battle for the Battle Café Challenge."

"What do you think?" Victor asks Gloria.

"Well, we did win the Galarian Star Tournament, so let's take this one on too," Gloria says, with Victor nodding his head.

Bernard smiles, "Now that's the spirit."

Victor, Gloria, Bernard, and both Applin are standing ready in the Battle Café's arena.

"So will you be battling with both Applin?" Gloria asks.

Bernard smiles, "Actually, I believed time had come for my Applin to evolve."

"Evolve?" Victor and Gloria say together.

Bernard knees down to the two Applin, handing one an apple, "Here, have this Tart Apple."

The Applin happily starts to eat the apple, "App!"

Bernard hands another apple to the other Applin, "And you can have this Sweet Apple."

The Applin happily starts eating the apple, "App! App!"

The two Applin start to glow, with the first Applin grows larger as two sides spread out and its head raises, finishing evolving into Flapple, as the other Applin continues to grow larger, with a head pokes out from the front, finishing evolving into Appletun.

"They both evolved?!" Gloria responds.

"Into different Pokémon?!" Victor adds.

Victor's Rotom Phone flies up, "Flapple, the Apple Wing Pokémon, It ates a sour apple, and that induced its evolution. In its cheeks, it stores an acid capable of causing chemical burns."

Gloria's Rotom Phone flies up, "Appletun, the Apple Nectar Pokémon, Eating a sweet apple caused its evolution. A nectarous scent wafts from its body, luring in the bug Pokémon it preys on."

"So, I presented my dish, it's now your turn," Bernard stands up and holds out a hand to his challengers.

"Right," Gloria says, before she and Victor reach for their Pokémon.

Victor throws a Poké Ball, "Go, Silicobra!"

"Sili!"

Gloria throws a Poké Ball, "Go, Orbeetle!"

"Or, beet!"

"Very good, and since you two are the challengers, I give you both the first attack," Bernard.

Victor and Gloria look at each other, nodding their heads, before holding out a hand each.

"Silicobra, Headbutt!"

"Orbeetle, Psybeam!"

Bernard smiles, "Appletun, takes on Headbutt with your own Headbutt! Flapple, dodges and counters with Wing Attack!"

"Sili!" Silicobra slithers ahead.

"App-tun!" Appletun charges ahead.

Silicobra and Appletun's heads collide with each other.

"Or, beet!" Orbeetle fires a beam.

"Flap, Flap!" Flapple flies around the beam, before slamming its wing against Orbeetle.

"Orbeetle!" Gloria calls out.

"Silicobra, knock Appletun back with Brutal Swing!" Victor calls out.

"Sili!" Silicobra swings around with its tail.

"Appletun, Withdraw!" Bernard instructs.

"App-tun," Appleton rolls into a ball, with Silicobra's tail deflects off it.

"Silicobra, keep it up!" Victor instructs.

"Not so fast," Bernard starts. "Appletun, Astonish!"

"App-tun!" Appleton unrolls and slams Silicobra with its head.

"Sili!" Silicobra is knocked back, as its tail shakes.

"Silicobra, flinched!" Victor realizes.

"Flap, Flap! Flapple continues to fly around, dodging Orbeetle's beam.

"Or, beet!" Orbeetle calls out.

"Orbeetle, calm down, and use Struggle Bug!" Gloria calls out.

"Or, Beet!" Orbeetle stops firing its beam and flies ahead, with its body glowing green.

"Flapple, you use Withdraw, too!" Bernard holds up a hand.

"Flap, Flap!" Flapple closes its wings and lowers its head, as Orbeelte slams into it, moving Flapple to the side slightly.

"And now, Astonish!" Bernard adds.

Flapple spins back, spreads its wings and raises its head, before slamming its wing against Orbeetle, knocking it back, "Flap, Flap!"

"Orbeetle!" Gloria calls out.

"Now, Appletun, Headbutt, Flapple, Wing Attack!" Bernard instructs.

"App-tun!" Appletun charges forward, slamming Silicobra with its head.

"Flap, Flap!" Flapple flies up to Orbeetle and slams its wing against it.

"Sili!"

"Or, beet!"

Silicobra and Orbeetle are slammed against each other.

"Silicobra!" Victor calls out.

"Orbeetle!" Gloria calls out.

"Sili…" Silicobra raises its head.

"Or, beet…" Orbeetle hovers slightly above the ground.

"They're okay…" Victor says, before looking at Appletun and Flapple. "I don't believe how tough they are, since they just evolved."

Gloria sighs, "It's getting hard to think straight, I'm just so hungry."

Victor looks at her, with a sweatdrop, "Yeah, our Pokémon are probably just as hungry, if not more so."

Gloria looks over to him, "You're right. Considering how hard they always battle." She smiles. "We really need to win, for our Pokémon's sake."

"Right," Victor agrees.

Bernard smiles, "Their hearts at the right place. Let's see if they are truly up for the task."

Bernard holds out a hand, "Alright, Appletun, Flapple, it's time we finish up this meal."

"App-tun!" Appletun charges ahead.

"Flap, Flap!" Flapple flies ahead.

"Silicobra, jump straight up and use Brutal Swing!" Victor raises an arm.

"Sili!" Silicobra jumps up, starting to flip and swings its tail forward.

"Flap, Flap?!" Flapple calls out, as Silicobra's tail slams down on it.

"App-tun?!" Appletun stops and looks up, surprised.

"Orbeetle, Psybeam, now!" Gloria calls out.

"Or, beet!" Orbeetle shoots a beam, blasting Appletun.

"App-tun!" Appletun is knocked back.

"So you're switching targets, huh," Bernard says. "Then for now, Flapple, Appletun, use Withdraw."

Appletun rolls up and Flapple closes its wings and lowers its head.

Victor and Gloria nod at each other.

"Silicobra, use Bulldoze against Appletun!" Victor calls out.

"Orbeetle, Psybeam, go for Flapple!" Gloria calls out.

"Sili!" Silicobra slams its tail on the ground, shaking the ground around the withdrawn Appletun.

"App-tun!"

"Or, beet!" Orbeetle fires a beam at the withdrawn Flapple, knocking it back.

"Quick, both, use Astonish!" Bernard calls out.

Appletun raises its head as Flapple spreads out its wings and raises its head, before both Pokémon go forward.

"Silicobra…!" Victor starts.

"Orbeetle…!" Gloria starts.

"Dodge, now!" Victor and Gloria call out together.

"Sili!"

"Or, beet!"

Silicobra jumps to the side, as Orbeetle flies to the other side, with Appletun and Flapple slamming into each other.

"App-tun!"

"Flap, Flap!"

"Now they're the ones flinching!" Bernard realizes.

"Brutal Swing!" Victor instructs.

"Psybeam!" Gloria instructs.

"Sili!" Silicobra swings its tail.

"Or, beet!" Orbeetle fires a beam.

Silicobra's tail hits Appletun, "App-tun!"

The beam hits Flapple, "Flap, Flap!"

Appletun and Flapple slam against each other.

"Looks like this meal isn't finished, just yet," Bernard starts. "Okay, Appletun, counter with Headbutt! Flapple, get them with Wing Attack!"

"Not so fast," Gloria starts. "Orbeetle, Reflect!"

"Or, beet!" a large, yellow-colored barrier appears in front of Orbeetle, with Appletun's head and Flapple's wing colliding against it.

"Now, our chance, Silicobra," Victor holds a hand. "Brutal Swing!"

"Sili!" Silicobra spins around, swinging its tail, hitting both Appletun and Flapple and knocking them to the glass wall.

Both Pokémon slowly slide down the glass wall.

"App-tun…"

"Flap… Flap…"

"Look like I was wrong, this meal is done and done," Bernard says, as the rest of the restaurant starts cheering.

The glass walls are lowering, as Victor kneels next to Silicobra and Gloria looks up to Orbeetle.

"Great job, Silicobra," Victor says.

"Sili," Silicobra blushes.

"You were awesome too, Orbeetle," Gloria says.

"Or, beet."

Bernard walks over to the Trainers and their Pokémon, "Well done. I was really impressed. Not only by your determination to win for your Pokémon's sake, but also by your ability to work as such an effective team."

Gloria smiles, "It was due to us working together during the Galarian Star Tournament."

Opal walks over to the group.

"Well, I would be glad to cook for you and all of your Pokémon," Bernard says.

Victor and Gloria look at each other, before they toss up their Poké Balls.

"Everyone, come out!" Victor calls out.

"Let's eat!" Gloria adds.

Their Pokémon appears from bright, red lights.

"Ra-boot."

"Knigh."

"Pika, pi."

"Toxe!"

"Drizz."

"Sir, Fetch."

"Impi."

Bernard smiles.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what you prepare for us," Opal says.

"'Us'?" Bernard turns to look at Opal. "You didn't do anything."

"I did bring these Trainers here," Opal says.

"That doesn't entitle you to a free meal," Bernard says.

"You're acting like I'm some sort of cheapskate," Opal says.

"Well, I have never seen you pay for a meal," Bernard says.

As Bernard and Opal continue to argue, Victor, Gloria, their Pokémon, Appletun, and Flapple all start laughing.

Later on, Victor, Gloria, and Opal are walking through Hammerlocke.

"That is the best meal I ever have," Gloria says.

"Indeed, glad I had the idea to come here," Opal says, with Gloria sighs.

Opal stops walking, with Victor and Gloria turning to her.

"Well, I guess this is where we part," Opal says.

"Right, we need to set out for Circhester," Victor says, as he looks to Gloria, who nods her head.

"Then, farewell, and have safe travels," Opal says, before she turns away.

Victor and Gloria start to walk away.

"An unexpected opportunity to earn a free meal strengthens Victor and Gloria's bonds, not just with each other, but also with their Pokémon. What could be next for our heroes?"

Victor and Gloria continue to walk ahead.

"Victor!"

Victor and Gloria turn around, with Opal also looking to the side, with them seeing Bede.

"Bede?" Victor asks.

"I have been waiting for you," Bede says.

"Find out, as the journey continues…"