"Victor and Gloria's journey to Circhester brings them through a snow-covered area, where they make some new friends and have a snowball fight before coming to a Snom's rescue. Now, they are finally arriving at Circhester…"

"Family Feud"

Victor, Gloria, and Melony are at the entrance to Circhester, with the two young Trainers looking around, amazed.

"Wow, Circhester is so different from every other place we've been to," Gloria says.

Victor looks over to his friend, "Are you okay?" He gives a small smile. "I mean, the cold was bothering you earlier."

"Yeah, I was mostly taken by surprise earlier," Gloria says, with a sweatdrop, before crossing her arms. "Although we should get some warmer clothes before long."

"There is a boutique not too far from here," Melony takes a step forward, with a hand to her chin, before smiling over to the two Trainers. "And it has some nice, warm outfits."

"That's nice, but I would like to sign up for a Gym Battle before doing any shopping," Victor says.

"Oh!" Melony says, surprising Victor. "You a Gym Challenger?"

Inside the Circhester Stadium, Victor is standing in front of the front counter, with Gloria and Melony behind him.

Wendy, the Gym Trainer behind the counter, looks over to Victor, "Okay, you all sign up for a Gym Challenge. But it won't be until tomorrow."

"Okay, thanks," Victor says.

Wendy looks up and notices Melony, "Oh! You're back."

"Nice to see you, Wendy," Melony smiles.

"You two know each other?" Gloria asks.

"Yes, you see, I was the former Circhester Gym Leader," Melony explains.

"You were the Gym Leader?" Gloria asks.

"The former Gym Leader…" Victor repeats.

"That's right, I decided it was time for me to retire and I passed the title of Gym Leader to my son," Melony continues.

"Your…" Victor says.

"Son…" Gloria says.

"Your Gordie's mother?!" Victor and Gloria say, together.

"She is."

Victor, Gloria, and Melony turn to see Gordie standing several feet away.

"Oh my dear, Gordie, it's so good to see you," Melony says, smiling. "Although, you don't seem too happy."

"Of course," Gordie says. "Since the way you just put it, you handed me the title of Gym Leader. But I earned it through years of training and improving myself and my Pokémon."

"Oh, Gordie, you are taking it too seriously," Melony waves a hand through the air.

"It is very serious," Gordie says. "Talk like that just undermines my accomplishments."

"That's not what I'm doing," Melony says. "I'm really proud of my little man."

"I'm not a little man!" Gordie shouts.

Victor and Gloria continue to watch them.

"Did they forget we were here?" Gloria asks.

Wendy sighs, with Victor and Gloria turning to her, "They are normally like this."

At the Boutique, Melony is looking at a rack of clothes, when Gloria comes out of a changing room, wearing a fuzzy pastel parka and fur-lined boots.

Melony looks over to her with a smile, "Now that is much better winter wear."

Gloria smiles, before looking slightly serious, "If you don't mind me asking, but why were you and Gordie arguing so much?"

Melony sighs and looks down, slightly, "We used to not argue so much. But things seemed to have changed after Gordie became a Gym Leader and I started traveling, then whenever I came home for a visit, we did nothing but argue."

"Almost like when I was once mad with mom, when I was young. I don't remember why I was mad, but after we talked, everything seemed better…" Gloria thinks to herself, before walking up to Melony. "Perhaps you should talk it over with Gordie."

"Talk it over?" Melony asks.

"Yeah, whatever the problem could be, it could get settled just by talking about it," Gloria says. "Victor and I will even go with you for moral support.

"I appreciate it," Melony smiles, before looking up slightly. "And perhaps you're right." Melony looks back to Gloria. "Okay, I'll do it."

Gloria smiles.

Then Victor comes out of his changing room, wearing a knit sweater, "Hum, how do I look… I've never been very good at picking out clothes at stores."

"You look good, Victor," Gloria says.

"I agree, dear," Melony adds.

Victor blushes

Victor, Gloria, and Melony are entering Circhester Stadium's lobby to find Gordie talking with Wendy.

"Gordie, dear, we should talk," Melony says, as she approaches.

"I'm listening," Gordie turns to her.

"I just want to say how proud I am of the Gym Leader you had become," Melony says, before smiling. "Just like how I knew you would be."

Gordie crosses his arms, "You knew I will be a great Gym Leader?"

"Of course, that's exactly why I chose you as my successor," Melony says.

Gordie uncrosses his arms, "I didn't need you to choose me. I made my own way!"

"I never said you couldn't," Melony holds up her hands, before lowering them. "But everyone needs help at the beginning."

"Well, I didn't need any help," Gordie turns slightly. "And I made sure to refuse any advantage I might've been given simply by being your son."

"What would be the point of that?" Melony asks, placing her hands on her hips.

Wendy walks over to Victor and Gloria, "They're at it again."

"I wanted them to talk it out, not to fight it out," Gloria says.

"At least they are talking," Victor says, with a sweatdrop.

Gloria looks over to her friend, "But this is no different if they just have a battle."

"A battle?" Gordie looks over to the two Trainers. "Mmhm, that's a great idea."

"Agreed," Melony adds.

Gloria sighs, "I'm not so sure…"

In the Circhester Stadium, Victor and Gloria take their seats.

Gloria turns to see Victor holding out a Poké Ball, as Raboot, Pikachu, Corviknight, Silicobra, and Toxitricity complete appearing.

"You're letting out your Pokémon?" Gloria asks.

Victor looks over to her, "Since Gordie's gonna be our opponent tomorrow, I thought we might learn something about his and his Pokémon's fighting style."

Gloria smiles, "Good thinking."

"Ra-boot, "Raboot takes a step forward, looking under the railing, with the Trainers looking ahead.

"Wait, is that…" Gloria notices the referee in the field. "Dan? This isn't a Gym or Tournament Battle, so why is Dan refereeing?"

On the field, Dan rubs the back of his head, "I'm not sure what's going on here…" Dan then clears his throat. "This will be a one on one match between Gym Leader Gordie and former Gym Leader Melony!"

Gordie and Melony both nod their heads at their names.

"Now, please, send out your Pokémon," Dan instructs.

"C'mon on out, my dear," Melony throws a Poké Ball. "Lapras!"

"Lap!"

Gloria's Rotom Phone flies up, "Lapras, the Transport Pokémon, A smart and kindhearted Pokémon, it glides across the surface of the sea while its beautiful song echoes around it."

"Let's do this," Gordie throws a Poké Ball. "Barbaracle!"

"Barba!"

Victor's Rotom Phone flies up, "Barbaracle, the Collective Pokémon, Having an eye on each palm allows it to keep watch in all directions. In a pinch, its limbs start to act on their own to ensure the enemy's defeat."

Victor lowers his Rotom Phone, "So, one of his Pokémon… is Barbaracle…"

"Let the battle begin!" Dan announces.

"Let's start off strong, use Razor Shell!" Gordie holds out a hand.

"Barba!" Barbaracle's hands glow with razor sharp energy, before charges ahead.

"My poor Gordie, you have always been impatient," Melony says. "Lapras, dear, use Sing."

"Lap, Lap!" Lapras starts to sing.

"And you're predictable," Gordie says. "Barbaracle, Shell Smash!"

"Barba!" energy breaks off from Barbaracle, before it continues to charge ahead. "Barba!"

Barbaracle strikes Lapras with its razor shark hand, knocking it back, "Lap!"

"Barbaracle used Shell Smash to raise its Attack and Speed to stop Lapras, before it's Sing could take effect," Victor realizes, with Gloria looking over to him.

"So it was a good move," Gloria adds.

"But it's also a double edged sword," Victor says.

"Pika?" Pikachu says, as it and Silicobra look up at Victor.

"Shell Smash also decreases Barbaracle's Defense and Special Defense," Victor finishes.

"Little Barbaracle had always been pretty fast," Melony says, closing her eyes, before opening them. "But we can do something about that. Right, Lapras dear? Use Icy Wind!"

"Wait, Icy Wind can lower the opponent's Speed, right?" Gloria realizes.

"Barbaracle, block with Rock Tomb!" Gordie instructs.

"Barb!" Barbaracle raises its arms, as large boulders rise up behind it, before holding its arms out, with the boulders flying past it.

"Lap!" Lapras calls out, as a cold wind starts to shoot past it.

The boulders blow through the cold wind and surround Lapras on all sides, before the boulders freeze completely.

"Ah, we stopped your attack and trapped Lapras," Gordie says.

"Except that you didn't, my dear," Melony says. "Lapras, use Surf!"

Suddenly, the frozen boulders shatter apart, as Lapras rides a massive wave through them.

"Barbaracle, dodge and counter with Razor Shell!" Gordie instructs.

"Barba!"

Barbaracle jumps back, before jumping off the side of the Max Barrier and over Lapras as it surfs past it, before slamming a razor sharp hand against Lapras' back!

"Lap!" Lapras calls out, as the massive wave breaks apart.

"I don't believe the level of battle between a former and current Gym Leader," Victor says. "But what could we do against Barbaracle…?"

Barbaracle lands on the ground, but is having trouble keeping its footing, "Barba? Barba?"

"The floor!" Gordie realizes, as parts of the ground are either drenched with water or frozen solid. "It had gotten slippery from Lapras' attacks!"

"You must always think ahead in a battle," Melony says, with a smile.

"I know that!" Gordie says, before holding out a hand. "Barbaracle, use Shell Smash, again!"

"Barba!" Barbaracle calls out, as energy breaks away from it.

"Now launch Rock Tomb around the arena!" Gordie instructs.

"Barba!" Barbaracle raises its arms, as large boulders rise up behind it, before holding its arms out, with the boulders flying past it.

Each of the boulders slam into the ground, around the field.

"Now, jump across the stones and use Razor Shell!" Gordie calls out.

"Barba!" Barbaracle starts jumping from boulders to boulders, like stepping stones, as its hand glows with razor sharp energy. "Barba!"

Barbaracle strikes at Lapras with its razor sharp hand, "Lap!"

Melony smiles, "I'm really impressed by how much my little boy has grown."

"I'm not a little boy…" Gordie says, clenching his teeth.

"But I will still freeze you solid," Melony says, as she holds out a Poké Ball, which shoots out a red beam.

Lapras turns into red energy and flies back into the Poké Ball, before Melony holds it out, with a large, glowing Poké Ball surrounding it. She turns around and throws it, "Lapras, my dear, Gigantamax!"

The large Poké Ball opens and shoots out Lapras, who grows in size, with its neck continuing to grow, as its shell grows and becomes massive, "Lap!"

Melony turns back, with a smile, "So, Gordie, are you gonna Dynamaxes, as well?"

"No, I won't," Gordie holds up a fist. "I will prove myself without it."

Melony sighs, "You are being reckless."

"Can a non-Dynamaxed Pokémon really defeat a Dynamaxed or Gigantamaxed Pokémon on its own," Victor wonders.

"Let's start this off, Lapras, dear, with G-Max Resonance!" Melony instructs.

"Lap!" Lapras calls out, as massive chunks of ice appear above it and falls down.

"Barbaracle, counter with Rock Tomb!" Gordie instructs.

"Barba!" Barbaracle raises its arms, as large boulders rise up behind it, before holding its arms out, with the boulders flying past it.

The boulders collide the chunks of ice, shattering the ice and breaking some of the boulders, with Barbaracle crossing its arms, while pieces of ice hit it.

"Barbaracle was able to minimize the damage…" Victor says, before he notices an aurora veil is surrounding the entire field. "What's that?"

Gloria holds up her Rotom Phone, "It looks like G-Max Resonance has created an Aurora Veil that will reduce damage for a time."

"Melony did say a Trainer must think ahead," Victor says to Gloria, before looking ahead. "She must be doing just that."

"Now, it's our turn," Gordie starts. "Barbaracle, throw one of the stones!"

"Barba!" Barbaracle runs up, picks up one of the boulders lying on the ground, before throwing it and then jumping at it.

"Lapras, my dear, Max Geyser!" Melony instructs.

"Lap!" Lapras calls out, as giant geysers shoot out of the ground, blowing apart the boulder and blasting Barbaracle.

"Barba!" Barbaracle calls out, as it falls onto the ground.

"Barbaracle had already lowered its Defense twice with Shell Smash," Victor starts. "Not to mention that as part Rock-type, it's weakened against Water-type moves, despite also being part Water-type."

Gloria looks over to her friend, "Victor's really focused and determined in using this battle as a chance to learn how to battle Gordie." She then looks back ahead. "But I'm just worried about Melony and Gordie's relationship. I don't know how this could help it."

Barbaracle returns to its feet, "Barba…"

"Good, Barbaracle," Gordie says. "Now, use Shell Smash, then Razor Shell!"

"Barba!" Barbaracle calls out, as energy breaks off from it, before its hand is surrounded with razor sharp energy and jumps up, striking Lapras with its hand. "Barba!"

"Lap!" Lapras turns its neck slightly, throwing Barbaracle off it.

"Max Geyser, my dear!" Melony calls out.

"Lap!" Lapras calls out, as massive geysers shoot up from the ground.

"Barba!" Barbaracle spins in midair, barely dodging one of the geysers as it touches the side of it, then lands and breathes heavily. "Barba…"

"You are being impatient again," Melony says, placing her hands on her hips. "Just like when you were a child, so impatience to grow up and become strong."

"Toxt, Icit," Toxtricity says to itself.

"I was just tired of you looking down on me, and thinking that I could never do anything on my own," Gordie says.

"I never thought any of that, I just want to protect you," Melony says.

"I don't need protection anymore," Gordie says.

"You're right," Melony looks down, slightly.

Gordie looks at her, surprised.

"Wait, are they working out their issues…" Gloria realizes.

"I knew you were very self-sufficient, even as a child," Melony starts. "But I was worried that you would grow up so fast, that you won't need me anymore." She looks back up. "Which is very heartbreaking for a parent."

"I-I didn't realize…" Gordie starts. "The truth is, I would never have gotten this far, if it wasn't for your training. And for the example you had shown me."

Melony smiles, with small tears in her eyes.

Gloria smiles, "They did it. They worked out their issues."

"Hum, are you still battling…?" Dan asks, looking back and forth between Gordie and Melony.

"Well, what do you say, mom?" Gordie asks, with a hand on his hip.

Melony smiles, "I had taught you to always finish what you had started."

Gordie grins, before holding out a hand, "Barbaracle, use Rock Tomb!"

"Barba!" Barbaracle raises its arms, as large boulders rise up behind it, before holding its arms out, with the boulders flying past it.

The boulders surround the giant Lapras.

"Lapras, use the icy ground to spin yourself around!" Melony instructs.

"Lap!" Lapras pushes itself with its fins and spins around, knocking the boulders away.

"Barba!" Barbaracle grabs one of the flying boulders, before looking up as the veil is disappearing. "Barba?"

"Look like this is our chance," Gordie says. "Barbaracle, throw the stone and jump on it!"

"Barba!" Barbaracle throws the stone, before running ahead and jumps onto it.

"It's time we end this, my dear," Melony says. "Lapras, Max Geyser!"

"Lap!" Lapras calls out, as massive geysers shoot out of the ground.

"Barba!" Barbaracle braces itself, as one of the geysers hits the bottom of the stone and propels it up.

"Barbaracle was able to use the stone to shield itself!" Victor realizes.

"Back to back Shell Smash!" Gordie calls out.

"Barba!" Barbaracle calls out, as energy breaks off from its body three times. "Barba!"

"It is now or never, Razor Shell!" Gordie instructs.

"Barba!" Barbaracle jumps off the flying stone, as glowing razor sharp energy forms around its hand.

"G-Max Resonance!" Melony calls out.

"Lap!" Lapras yells, as large chunks of ice form above it.

"Barba!" Barbaracle flies at Lapras, before striking with its razor sharp hand, striking from top to bottom of Lapras. "Barba!"

After a few seconds of everyone completely still, the chunks of ice shatter high above them, and Lapras glows and shrinks.

"Lap…" finished glowing, Lapras had lowered its head, with its eyes whirling.

"Lapras is unable to battle!" Dan announces. "The winner is Gym Leader Gordie!"

"Gordie and Barbaracle are really powerful and skillful…" Victor says, before looking down slightly. "But how could we handle them…"

"Ra-boot," Raboot says, as Victor looks over to his Pokémon.

"Pika Pika!" Pikachu bumps its fists.

"Knigh," Corviknight nods its head.

"Sili," Silicobra smiles.

Victor smiles, "Right. We'll be fine. I'm sure of it too."

"Toxt… Icit…" Toxtricity watches Gordie, as he and Barbaracle approach Melony and Lapras.

Gloria brings her hands together, "I'm so glad Gordie and Melony had patched things up."

Back in the stadium's lobby, Victor, Gloria, and Wendy are watching Gordie and Melony talking.

"I don't believe they are actually talking so nicely with each other," Wendy says.

"I have doubts that a battle could help matters, but it looks like it really did," Gloria says.

"In a Pokémon Battle, people and Pokémon's hearts could really be revealed," Victor tells her.

"Guess you right," Gloria looks at Victor.

"You will always be my little boy," Melony says, suddenly grasping everyone's attention.

"I'm not a little boy anymore," Gordie says, annoyed.

"Oh, c'mon, how could you say that, when I have all of these adorable pictures when you were a kid," Melony says, as she holds up a couple pictures.

"Put those away immediately!" Gordie calls out.

"There's no reason to be embarrassed," Melony says.

"You're the one who waves around old pictures," Gordie says.

"Is that anyway to talk to your mother," Melony says.

As Gordie and Melony continue to argue, Victor, Gloria, and Wendy sigh, "Here we go again."

"The relationship between a parent and a child is precious, and it could easily fall apart without proper communication, a lesson our heroes learned today. But now, Victor must prepare himself, for tomorrow he'll take on Gordie's Gym Challenge. Can Victor and his Pokémon defeat such a difficult Gym Leader?"

"Find out, as the journey continues…"