"Victor and Gloria continue onward to Spikemuth, when they come across the Arctovish that was created from their fossils and joins Victor's team. Although a run in with a wild Wailord almost derails our heroes' fun, everyone comes out of it okay, and ready for what's next."
"The Challenge of Grapploct"
Victor and Gloria are riding the Rotom Bike Water Mode through the route, with Drizzile swimming next to them.
"Drizz, Drizz," Drizzile jumps slightly out of the water and dives back down.
"Drizzile seems to be enjoying itself," Victor says.
"Yeah, it rarely has a chance to just swim around," Gloria says, with her hands on his shoulders. "And I'm happy that it's having so much fun."
Drizzile pops out of the water surface, looking at its Trainer and smiles, "Drizz."
A little while away, Jean and Paul peek over a rock on a landmass, seeing Victor, Gloria, and Drizzile approaching from a distance.
"That wannabe and neverbe is getting closer and closer," Paul loudly whispers.
"We must stop them from reaching Spikemuth, but how," Jean loudly whispers.
A loud crash suddenly made Paul and Jean straighten up, before looking at each other.
"What could that noise be?" Paul loudly whispers.
"I was gonna ask you," Jean loudly whispers.
They quickly turn and crawl across the ground, before looking over a steep hill to see a black belt on a beach with his Clobbopus as they stare off with a Toxapex.
"Alright, Clobbopus, use Taunt," the black belt instruces.
"Clobbo, Clobbo!" Clobbopus waves one of its arms at itself.
"Toxa! Toxa! Pex!" Toxapex gets angry, before lowering its front tentacles and launches a series of pins from its tentacles.
"Clobbopus, dodge and use Brick Break!" the black belt calls out.
"Clobbo, Clobbo!" Clobbopus charges ahead, bobbing and weaving around the flying pins, before reaching Toxapex and slams one of its arms down on it.
"Toxa!" Toxapex calls out, as its front tentacles flop open.
"Now Rock Smash!"
"Clobbo!" Clobbopus punches, hitting Toxapex and sends it flying backward.
"Toxa…" Toxapex weakly says, before turning and running off.
"Clobbo!" Clobbopus victorious punches into the air, before it starts to glow and grows in size, with its arms split into two, then stops glowing. "Grapp! Loc!"
"Alright, you evolved, Grapploct!" The black belt punches into the air.
"Grapp! Loc!"
"Another neverbe and he's very strong," Paul loudly whispers.
"And so is his never gonna be Pokémon," Jean loudly whispers.
"This gives me a perfect idea," Paul loudly whispers, grinning.
"I'm right with you there," Jean loudly whispers, grinning.
Within a few minutes, the black belt and Grapploct are continuing their celebrations.
"How about we find some more opponents to test your new power against," the black belt suggests.
"Grapp, Loc!" Grapploct agrees, when they notice a pair of shadows standing over them on the top of the hill.
They look up, with the black belt starts, "Perfect timing, now let's see what you can do against Carter and his newly evolved Grapploct…"
"Grapp?"
They then realize on the hill are Jean and Paul, both looking exhausted and worn out.
"Are… you okay?" Carter asks, before Jean and Paul slide down the hill, weakly.
"Loc?"
"No… we're not…" Jean loudly whispers.
"Why are you talking so weird?" Carter asks.
After a few seconds, Paul suddenly yells, "Because we were attacked by two Trainers and their Pokémon!"
"You don't have to yell either," Carter rubs his ear, before lowering his hand. "Now, what happened?"
"These two Trainers, on a Rotom Bike, attacked us," Jean loudly whispers, as she stands next to Carter.
"Why would they attack you?" Carter asks.
"They're bullies who used their strength to overwhelm everyone they come across," Jean loudly whispers.
"We never stood a chance, not even had time to send out any Pokémon," Paul loudly whispers, while standing next to Carter.
Jean and Paul watch as Carter walks away from them, shaking.
"How dare they!" Carter suddenly shouts, while balling his fists. "Such a thing just can't go without punishment!"
"Grapp! Loc!" Grapploct yells, while balling its tentacle fists.
Behind Carter and Grapploct, Jean and Paul turn away and start grinning.
Now on shore, Victor is collapsing the Rotom Bike, with Gloria next to him, before she looks over to see Drizzile swimming around in a circle.
"Drizzile, we are getting ready to go," Gloria says.
"Drizz," Drizzile says, before starts to float and looks ahead. "Drizz?"
"You aren't going anywhere," Carter steps out several feet away from them, with Grapploct next to him. "Not until you battle us. That is if you can have a proper battle."
"Grapp, Loc!"
"Of course we can," Victor says.
Victor's Rotom Phone flies up, "Grapploct, the Jujitsu Pokémon, A body made up of nothing but muscle makes the grappling moves this Pokémon performs with its tentacles tremendously powerful."
"Thank you, Rotom Phone," Victor holds down his Rotom Phone.
"Go on, Victor, it would be good training before your next gym battle," Gloria says.
"Right," Victor says, before he throws a Poké Ball, "I choose Arctovish!"
The Poké Ball opens, shoots out red energy, which forms Arctovish, "Tovis!"
"Arctovish?" Gloria asks. "Why not use Pikachu, it would have an advantage over a Water-type like Grapploct."
"I want to give Arctovish some battle experience," Victor explains.
"Let's begin, Grapploct, use Taunt," Carter instruces, with his arms crossed.
"Grapp! Loc!" Grapploct waves one of its tentacles toward itself.
"Tovis! Tovis!" Arctovish starts to get angry.
"Arctovish, remain focused," Victor instruces. "Use Ancient Power!"
"Tovis!" Arctovish calls out, as fossil-like stones pop out of the ground and fly ahead.
"Grapploct, counter with Brick Break!" Carter holds out a hand.
"Grapp! Loc!" Grapploct charges ahead and slams its tentacles against the approaching fossil-like stones while continuing to charge. "Grapp! Loc!"
"Wow, it's so powerful," Victor realizes. "Arctovish, watch out!"
"Tovis!" Arctovish jumps up, dodging one of Grapploct's tentacle swipes.
"Now, use Freeze-Dry!" Victor calls out.
"Tovis!" Arctovish lowers its head and shoots a blast of ice from its mouth. "Tovis!"
"Grapp!" Grapploct is hitted by the blast of ice and becomes covered in ice.
"Alright, Grapploct's frozen!" Gloria realizes.
"Don't count my Grapploct out so easily," Carter says. "It won't be beaten like this!"
The ice starts to crack, before shattering completely with Grapploct stretching out its tentacles, "Loc!"
"It broke free of the ice on its own!" Victor realizes.
"Now, Grapploct, Octolock!" Carter calls out.
"Grapp! Loc!" Grapploct jumps up and wraps its tentacles around Arctovish.
"Tovis! Tovis!" Arctovish tries to pull free but it is unable.
"Arctovish!" Victor calls out.
"Grapploct, give it your Rock Smash!" Carter instruces.
"Grapp!" Grapploct throws Arctovish down, freeing it of its tentacles, before punching it with its tentacles, launching Arctovish down into the ground. "Loc!"
"Tovis!"
Grapploct lands several feet away.
"Arctovish!" Victor calls out.
"Tovis…" Arctovish is lying on the ground, with its eyes whirling.
"You did well, Arctovish, rest," Victor holds out a Poké Ball, which shoots a red beam, turns Arctovish into red energy and flies back into the Poké Ball.
"Now, send out another Pokémon," Carter crosses his arms. "If you have any courage."
"Grapp, Loc," Grapploct crosses its tentacle arms.
"This guy is a little intense," Gloria says, with a sweatdrop.
"Okay, then," Victor throws a Poké Ball. "Let's go, Pikachu!"
The Poké Ball opens, shoots out red energy, which forms Pikachu, "Pika Pi!"
"Let's get going, Grapploct, use Taunt!" Carter holds out a hand.
"Ignore it, Pikachu, and use Discharge!" Victor holds out a hand.
"Pika! Pika! Chu!" Pikachu calls out, as a blast of electricity shoots from its body.
"Grapp!" Grapploct is hit by the blast of electricity, as it crosses its arms, before spreading them out, with a surge of electricity flying off. "Loc!"
"Wow, this Grapploct is really tough," Gloria says.
"It's more than tough, it's unbeatable!" Carter calls out, as Grapploct charges ahead.
"We see about that," Victor starts. "Pikachu, dodge and counter with Electro Ball!"
"Pika Pika Pika!" Pikachu starts to dodge each of Grapploct's attempted tentacle punches, as a ball of electricity starts to form on its tail. "Pika Pika Pika Chu!"
After dodging another tentacle punch, Pikachu whips its tail, launching the ball of electricity at Grapploct, which explodes on contact.
"Grapp!" Grapploct rushes through the resulting smoke from the explosion.
"Grapploct, Brick Break!" Carter calls out.
"Loc!" Grapploct slams its tentacle arm down on Pikachu.
"Pika!"
"Pikachu!" Victor calls out.
"Pika…" Pikachu is lying on the ground, with its eyes whirling.
"Grapp…" Grapploct is breathing heavily.
"Grapploct seems to have taken a lot of damage," Gloria says, as Victor holds out a Poké Ball, which shoots out a red beam with a red energy flying back into it.
"But it isn't slowing down," Victor says, before lowering his Poké Ball.
"Loc!" Grapploct calls out, before angrily charges at Victor and Gloria.
Victor and Gloria look on, surprised and frightened, when suddenly red beams shoot out from each of their Poké Balls, before Sirfetch'd and Raboot appearing, each blocking Grapploct's tentacle punches using their leaf shield or foot respectively.
"Sir, Fetch!"
"Ra-boot!"
"Grapp, Loc," Grapploct backs off, as the other two Pokémon land.
"Nice save, Raboot," Victor says.
"Ra-boot!" Raboot smiles.
"Thanks a lot, Sirfetch'd," Gloria says.
"Sir, Fetch," Sirfetch'd bows to Gloria.
Gloria smiles, before looking ahead, "What is wrong with your Grapploct?!"
"Grapploct doesn't like you type of people," Carter says.
"'You type of people'?" Gloria repeats, confused.
"Sir, Fetch! Sir, Fetch!" Sirfetch'd takes a step in front of Gloria, holding up its leek.
"You want to battle Grapploct, Sirfetch'd?" Gloria asks.
"Sir, Fetch," Sirfetch'd nods its head.
"Then we will show you true power," Carter clenches a fist. "Grapploct, Rock Smash!"
"Sirfetch'd, counter Rock Smash with Rock Smash!" Gloria holds out a hand.
"Grapp! Loc!"
"Sir! Fetch!"
Grapploct and Sirfetch'd start to collide, tentacle punch against leek, repeatedly.
"Are they evenly matched?" Victor wonders.
"Grapploct would never be even with the likes of you," Carter starts. "Grapploct, Octolock!"
"Grapp!" Grapploct's tentacle punch collides with Sirfetch'd's leek, before wrapping a couple of its tentacles around Sirfetch'd. "Loc!"
"Sir! Fetch!" Sirfetch'd tries to pull itself free, but its leek and leaf shield are pinned by Grapploct's tentacles.
"Now, Brick Break!" Carter instruces.
"Grapp!" Grapploct spins and slams Sirfetch'd onto the ground, before slamming its tentacle down onto it. "Loc!"
Grapploct jumps away from Sirfetch'd and watches, as Sirfetch'd tries to push itself back up.
"Sir… Fetch…"
"So it still has some strength in it?" Carter crosses his arms. "Grapploct, finish this."
"Grapp!"
"Sirfetch'd, watch out!" Gloria calls out.
"Sir… Fetch…" Sirfetch'd manages to push itself up, when Grapploct appears in front of it.
"Loc!" Grapploct punches Sirfetch'd, knocking it far back.
Sirfetch'd lands on the ground, with its eyes whirling, "Sir… Fetch…"
"Sirfetch'd, you try your best, now rest," Gloria holds out a Poké Ball, which shoots out a red beam.
"Grapp!" Grapploct turns and charges at Raboot. "Loc!"
"Ra-boot!" Raboot jumps back, barely dodging Grapploct as it punches into the ground.
"Hey, Raboot wasn't ready!" Victor complains.
"You one to talk, hypocrite," Carter says.
"What are you talking about…?" Victor wonders, before noticing Raboot.
"Ra-boot! Ra-boot!" Raboot jumps side to side and back, dodging each of Grapploct's punches.
"Raboot, try Double Kick!" Victor calls out.
"Ra-boot!" Raboot jumps back, before starting to spin.
"Grapploct, grab it with Octolock!" Carter instructs.
"Grapp!" Grapploct's tentacle wraps around Raboot's leg.
"Ra-boot?!"
"Use Flame Charge to break free!" Victor instructs.
"Ra-boot!" Raboot is surrounded by flames.
"It's gonna take more than that to get Grapploct to let go," Carter says. "Grapploct, Brick Break!"
"Loc!" Grapploct slams Raboot onto the ground, with the flames dissipating.
"Now, Rock Smash!"
"Grap! Loc!" Grapploct punches down hard, breaking a part of the ground.
After Grapploct backs away, Raboot is lying on the ground, with its eyes whirling, "Ra-boot…"
Victor picks up Raboot in his arms, "Raboot, are you okay?"
"Ra-boot," Raboot weakingly looks up at its Trainer.
"Go ahead, send out your next Pokémon!" Carter calls out.
Victor and Gloria look ahead, concerned, when suddenly, Drizzile jumps out of the water behind them and lands in front of the two.
"Drizz, Drizz," Drizzile says.
"Drizzile, are you sure about this?" Gloria asks.
"Drizz," Drizzile glances at its Trainer and nods its head.
"Let's beat it like the others, Grapploct!" Carter calls out. "Brick Break!"
"Grapp! Loc!" Grapploct charges ahead.
"Drizzile, dodge!" Gloria instructs.
"Drizz, Drizz," Drizzile dodges left to right, avoiding Grapploct's tentacle swipes.
"Grapp! Loc!"
"Drizzile, Pound!" Gloria calls out.
"Drizz!" Drizzile takes a step back and brings down its arms.
"Grapp!" Grapploct uses its tentacle arms to block the attack.
"Counter with Rock Smash!"
"Loc!" Grapploct pushes back Drizzile's arms, before punching it.
"Drizz!" Drizzile is sent flying into the water, with Grapploct going in after it.
"Grapp!"
"Drizzile!" Gloria calls out.
Under water, Drizzile screams, while Grapploct uses its tentacle arms to block the sound waves as it swims closer. Drizzile starts to raise its arms, when Grapploct wraps some of its tentacles around Drizzile's arms and starts to swipe at it with its tentacle arms.
"Drizzile! Drizzile!" Gloria continues to call out, before tears start to form. "Drizzile!"
Underwater, Drizzile's eyes shoot open, before managing to force its wrapped together arms down, then firing a pulsing blast of water from them, freeing itself and knocking Grapploct back.
Grapploct is knocked out of the water and lands hard on the ground.
"Grapploct?!" Carter calls out.
Drizzile jumps out of the water and lands on the ground, "Drizz!"
Drizzile starts to glow, as it grows taller and skinner, before stops glowing, "Intel!"
"Drizzile, you evolved…" Gloria says, still teary eyed.
Gloria's Rotom Phone flies up, "Inteleon, the Secret Agent Pokémon, Its nictitating membranes let it pick out foes' weak points so it can precisely blast them with water that shoots from its fingertips at Mach 3."
"Evolved or not, we are not gonna lose," Carter says.
"Grapp! Loc!" Grapploct charges ahead.
"Intel," Inteleon crosses its arms, before charging.
Grapploct keeps on trying to punch, as Inteleon keeps on dodging each attempt, as they move around each other.
"They seem to be evenly matched too," Victor suggests.
"No…" Gloria watches as the two Pokémon move around each other, Inteleon dodging each of Grapploct's punches. "Inteleon is faster!"
"Speed means nothing if your footing's uneven," Carter starts. "Grapploct, use Brick Break on the ground.
"Grapp! Loc!" Grapploct slams its tentacle arms onto the ground, breaking it apart.
"Intel!" As the ground breaks apart around it, Inteleon jumps straight up.
"Now, Grapploct, finish this with Rock Smash!" Carter calls out.
"Grapp! Loc!" Grapploct jumps up at the midair Inteleon, with a tentacle fist outstretched.
"Gloria, did Inteleon learn a new move when it evolved?" Victor looks to his friend.
"Right," Gloria says, before looking up. "Inteleon, use Snipe Shot!"
Inteleon's eye gleans, before it holds out a finger and fires a beam of water from it, "Intel!"
The beam of water collides with Grapploct's fist, but after a quick second, the beam of water blasts Grapploct down and slams it hard onto the ground. Then Inteleon lands several feet away.
"Grapp… loc…" Grapploct is lying on the ground, with its eyes whirling.
"Alright, Intelon, that was incredible," Gloria runs over to her Pokémon.
"Intel," Inteleon smiles.
Victor walks over with Raboot in his arms, "Congrats, Inteleon.
"Ra-boot," Raboot says, with smile.
"Intel," Inteleon responds.
"I don't believe we lost to bullies who prey on other people," Carter says, on his hands and knees, with his head down.
"Grapp, loc," Grapploct is on its tentacles, with its head down.
"What are you talking about?" Gloria asks, as she, Victor, who is still holding Raboot, and Inteleon walk over.
"We would never do something like that," Victor adds.
Carter looks up at them, "A couple of really loud people said you and your Pokémon beat them up."
"Really loud people?" Victor asks.
"Do you think he's talking about Team Yell?" Gloria asks her friend.
Victor looks over to Gloria, "Maybe. But why would they tell such a story?"
"Were we lied to?!"
Victor and Gloria look over to Carter and Grapploct, both looking angry with clenching fists or tentacles.
"How dare they…" Carter continues to tighten his fist.
"Grap! Loc!"
Jean and Paul are walking across the land.
"Do you think our stoogies were able to scare away the wannabe and neverbe?" Jean loudly whispers.
"They're so weak, they probably were scared right out of Galar," Paul loudly whispers.
"You!"
Jean and Paul turn and suddenly become scared, as Carter and Grapploct are running at them at breakneck pace.
"No one trick us!" Carter yells.
"Grapp! Loc!"
Jean and Paul start to run away, as Carter and Grapploct chase them.
Victor and Gloria are continuing across the water route on the Rotom Bike Water Mode.
Victor sighs, "I still don't believe what just happened."
"At least it wasn't entirely wasted," Gloria says.
She then looks to the side to see Inteleon swimming around them.
Smiling, Inteleon jumps out of the water next to them, "Intel!"
"A misadventure and a misunderstanding led to Drizzile growing in experience and strength. And now with the newly evolved Inteleon, our heroes continue onward. What else will they come across on their way to Spikemuth?"
"Find out, as the journey continues…"