"Victor and Gloria's short time on the Isle of Armor had been quite eventful, as they finally made their way to the Master Dojo, where Mustard, former trainer to Leon, decided to take Victor and Cinderace on as students."

"Gloria VS Klara"

Inside the Master Dojo, Gloria is waiting in a hall, outside a door, when the door opens and comes out is Victor, wearing the Dojo Uniform.

"I-I understand why I had to wear this… but it still feels kinda ridiculous," Victor says, blushing.

"C'mon, I think you look good," Gloria says, as Klara turns a corner and sees them.

Klara smiles and approaches the pair, "Victor, you look good."

"Y-You think so?" Victor asks.

"Yeah, I mean, there's no way I could pull off such drab colors," Klara waves a hand, before turning to Gloria, as Mustard approaches. "So, Gloria dear, where are you staying?"

"What do you mean?" Gloria asks.

"You do know that, with the exception of Mustard's family, only his students are allowed to stay at the Master Dojo," Klara explains.

"What? Leon never told us that," Gloria says, as Victor looks over at her.

"Leon's a good Trainer, but he can be pretty forgetful," Mustard says, as everyone looks at him.

"Oh dear, this is just too bad," Klara brings her hands together, then has a small grin.

Mustard places a hand to his chin, "Mmhm, it wouldn't be fair to the students to make an exception here…" Mustard says, before looking at Victor and Gloria, then removing his hand. "Ah! This entire matter could be settled in a one on one Pokémon battle."

"What?!" Klara calls out, as she, Victor, and Gloria look on, surprised.

"Yes, a Pokémon battle could settle all of this, while still being fair to the hard work of all the students," Mustard says, holding his hands behind his back. "And Gloria will battle Klara."

"M-Me, Master Mustard?" Klara asks.

Mustard nods his head, "If Klara wins, Gloria can't stay, but if Gloria wins, then she can stay during the duration of Victor's training." He turns away. "I'll get the battle arena ready. Let's do this in… ten minutes. Okay?"

Klara watches as Mustard walks away, before her expression becomes angry, "Great, now I have to battle this kid again. And if she gets lucky…" She suddenly looks ahead, surprised. "Wait!"

"Your Slowpoke seems very well trained," Honey pats the top of Slowpoke's head. "It reminds me of the Slowpoke around the dojo."

"I actually hadn't done much training with Slowpoke," Gloria rubs the back of her head, with a sweatdrop.

Klara grins.

"I wonder what Pokémon I should use?" Gloria asks Victor.

"Any of your Pokémon would be a good choice," Klara says, as she hurries next to Gloria. "Except for Slowpoke, that is."

"Except for Slowpoke?" Gloria asks.

"Yeah, your Slowpoke looked so doopy and slow moving, even for a Slowpoke," Klara starts, before waving a hand. "It probably doesn't even know any moves."

"None of that is true," Gloria says, annoyed. "And I'll prove it."

"You will?" Klara asks, with a half-grin.

"Yeah, I'll use Slowpoke in our battle," Gloria says, with Victor almost reaching out to her.

"Suit yourself," Klara says, before walking away, grinning.

"Gloria, are you sure about this?" Victor asks. "You hadn't even used Slowpoke in a battle yet."

Gloria sighs, "I know… but I don't have any choice now." She then holds up a Poké Ball. "Besides, I need to prove Klara's wrong about my Slowpoke."

Behind the Master Dojo, everyone, including Victor and Gloria's Pokémon and some of the students, had gathered, with Kubfu watching on the roof, as Gloria and Klara stood across from each other.

"This match will be more than a simple exhibition," Honey says, before glancing at her son. "Hyde, would you mind?"

Hyde starts typing on his laptop.

At that moment, flipping out of the ground are several large transmitters, before a large barrier starts to form around the area surrounding Gloria and Klara, with Gloria watching it form.

"Is that a Max Barrier?" Victor realizes.

"Of course," Honey says with a smile, as Victor looks at her. "The back of the Master Dojo was built on a Power Spot, which allows Pokémon to Dynamax."

"Right…" Victor says, before looking back ahead.

"Okay, Gloria, Klara, send out your Pokémon," Mustard instructs.

"I choose Slowpoke!" Gloria throws a Poké Ball.

"...Slow… Poke…"

"Or, beet," Orbeetle watches Slowpoke.

Klara kisses her Poké Ball, before throwing it, "Go, Whirlipede!"

"Whir, pede!"

Gloria's Rotom Phone flies up, "Whirlipede, the Curlipede Pokémon, This Pokémon spins itself rapidly and charges into its opponents. Its top speed is just over 60 mph."

Gloria lowers her Rotom Phone, "Wow, your Venipede has evolved."

"That's right," Klara smiles. "No way I will ever allow her to know that it evolved after battling her little Inteleon."

"Now, let the battle begin!" Mustard announces.

"Right, Slowpoke, use Confusion!" Gloria holds out hand.

"Slow…"

"Slowpoke…" Gloria says, with a sweatdrop.

Klara grins, "Then we'll take the first attack. Whirlipede, Rollout!"

"Whir, pede!" Whirlipede starts to roll ahead, at a quick pace, before slamming against Slowpoke, knocking it back.

"Or, beet!" Orbeetle calls out.

Slowpoke lands on the ground, lifting its head, "Poke…"

A pink aura surrounds Whirlipede, "Whir…" Suddenly Whirlipede is knocked back and hits the ground, bringing up sand. "Pede!"

As the sand dissipates, Whirlipede opens its eyes, seemingly unharmed.

"Slow…"

"I hope Slowpoke's okay," Honey holds up a hand.

"Slow reaction times are typical for the species," Mustard says. "However, a skilled Trainer could still bring out its potential."

"Heh, your Slowpoke just got lucky," Klara says, with a hand on her waist. "Whirlipede, use Rollout again!"

"Whir, Pede!" Whirlipede starts to roll ahead, at a quick pace.

"Slowpoke, use Psychic, quick!" Gloria instructs.

"Whir!" Whirlipede, while rolling, slams against Slowpoke. "Pede!" Whirlipede, while rolling, slams against Slowpoke, again.

"Slow…" Slowpoke slowly lifts its head.

"Whirlipede, Iron Defense!" Klara calls out.

"Whir, pede!" Whirlipede turns silver, as it is surrounded with energy, lifts up and slams down. Whirlipede returns to normal, "Whir, pede!"

"Psychic barely did any damage?" Gloria realizes.

Klara smirks, "Now, Rollout!"

"Whir, pede!" Whirlipede rolls ahead, slamming against Slowpoke, knocking it back.

"Slow…"

"Victory in the bag…" Klara whispers to herself, before noticing Mustard as he's watching. "I'm gonna prove him wrong."

Sometime ago, Mustard and Klara were inside the Master Dojo.

"Master Mustard, I've been here for months now…" Klara says.

"True, but you need to battle with your Pokémon to progress in your training," Mustard tells her.

"What? My Pokémon and I battle all the time," Klara says.

Mustard shakes his head, before starting to turn away, "There's a big difference between participating in a battle, and battling with your Pokémon." He starts to walk away, as Klara watches. "Until you learn that, you will never be able to complete your training."

"This is how I battle with my Pokémon, and I'm gonna win," Klara thinks, as Whirlipede comes to a stop and Slowpoke is slowly pushing itself up onto its feet.

Gloria is watching her Slowpoke, "C'mon Gloria, you gotta do something… I want to stay at the Master Dojo with Victor… I want to be able to battle with Slowpoke… I want to win, so we can grow stronger together, like I did with the rest of my Pokémon and friends…" Gloria closes her eyes, with tears at the edge. "Please…"

"Slow, poke."

Gloria opens her eyes, "Was that… in my head?!"

"Let's end this, Whirlipede, Rollout!" Klara instructs.

"Whir, pede!" Whirlipede starts to roll ahead, getting closer to Slowpoke.

"Slowpoke, Zen Headbutt!" Gloria calls out.

"Slow," Slowpoke's head glows, before it slams its head against the rolling Whirlipede, deflecting it away.

Everyone looks ahead, surprised.

"There was no lag?" Victor realizes.

"Slowpoke?" Gloria looks at her Pokémon.

"Or, beet…" Orbeetle watching its Trainer and Slowpoke.

"That… That was just a fluke!" Klara calls out. "Whirlipede, Rollout!"

"Whir, Pede!" Whirlipede starts to roll ahead.

"Slowpoke, Psychic!" Gloria calls out.

"Slow!"

Whirlipede starts rolling, as its inches from Slowpoke, surrounded by energy, then get launched back, hitting the ground hard, "Whir, pede!"

"Mmhm," Mustard places a hand on his chin. "Gloria must've reached a psychic connection with her Slowpoke, cutting down on Slowpoke's reaction time."

"But she isn't a Psychic!" Avery calls out.

"You don't need to be a Psychic to form a bond with a Pokémon," Mustard removes his hand, with Avery getting annoyed.

"I don't care about any of that, Whirlipede, Venoshock!" Klara calls out.

"Whir, pede!" Whirlipede rolls in place, shooting a blast of acid from it.

"Slowpoke, counter with Surf!" Gloria calls out.

"Slow!" Slowpoke rises up on a large wave of water, which collides with the blast of acid, with both attacks getting blown away.

"Alright, Slowpoke!" Gloria cheers.

"I'm not losing to this," Klara says, before holding out a Poké Ball, with Whirlipede turning into red energy and flying back into it. "Whirlipede!" A large red Poké Ball surrounds it, before she turns and throws, "Dynamax!"

The large Poké Ball opens, releases Whirlipede, who grows bigger and bigger, "Whir, pede!"

"Okay, we can do that too," Gloria says, before holding out a Poké Ball, with Slowpoke turning into red energy and flying back into it. "Go, Slowpoke!" A large red Poké Ball surrounds it, before she turns and throws, "Dynamax!"

The large Poké Ball opens, releasing Slowpoke, who grows bigger and bigger, "Slow…"

"Whirlipede, Max Rockfall!" Klara instructs.

"Whir! Pede!" Whirlipede calls out, as a giant stone slab rises up before it.

"Slowpoke, Max Geyser!" Gloria calls out.

"Slow," Slowpoke shoots a massive blast of water from its mouth, slamming against the giant slab.

"Whir, pede!" Whirlipede rolls around the slab, as it is pushed backward and slams against the ground.

"Max Ooze!" Klara calls out.

"Whir! Pede!" Whirlipede rolls in place, shooting a large geyser of acid, hitting Slowpoke.

"Slow…"

"Now, Max Flutterby!" Klara adds.

"Whir! Pede!" Whirlipede rolls in place, with glowing butterfree-like shapes flying from it.

"Slowpoke, stop it with Max Geyser!" Gloria calls out.

"Slow," Slowpoke shoots a large blast of water from its mouth, colliding with the butterfree-like shapes, blowing them away.

"Her psychic connection with Slowpoke is completely pointless," Klara thinks. "We are still gonna win this."

"If we really are connected, then you can hear my thoughts, right Slowpoke? Well, we can still win, together, I know it," Gloria thinks. "...Slowpoke?"

"Maybe it was a fluke," Gloria whispers.

"Slow, poke."

"Slowpoke?" Gloria realizes.

"Whirlipede, let's go with Max Ooze!" Klara calls out.

"Whir! Pede!" Whirlipede rolls in place, shooting a blast of acid.

"Slowpoke, Max Mindstorm!" Gloria calls out.

"Slow," pink energy waves emitted from Slowpoke.

The energy waves blow apart the blast of ooze, before hitting Whirlipede, knocking it back, "Whir!"

"No, Whirlipede…" Klara starts.

"Slowpoke, Max Geyser!" Gloria calls out, as Slowpoke shoots a blast of water from its mouth, at the same time.

The blast of water hits Whirlipede, "Pede!"

"There's a big difference between participating in a battle, and battling with your Pokémon."

"Is this what Mustard meant…?" Klara wonders.

Whirlipede is knocked against the Max Barrier, before it starts to shrink to normal size as it falls onto the ground, with its eyes whirling, "Whir…"

"Whirlipede is unable to battle," Mustard holds up a hand. "The winner is Gloria!"

"Alright!" Gloria runs over to her Slowpoke, as it finishes returning to normal, picks it up and hugs it.

Klara looks over at her Whirlipede.

Klara enters the dojo from the back entrance, looking at the Poké Ball in her hand, then notices Avery standing nearby.

"Congratulations, you lost to a child," Avery says, before walking away.

Klara then notices Victor and Gloria, who is carrying her Slowpoke, as they walk through the main room.

"I'm so relieved," Gloria says. "I was worried about losing…"

"Slow…"

"I wasn't worried, I'm certain you will be able to win," Victor says, with Gloria smiling.

"Poke…"

Klara looks back at her Poké Ball.

Outback, as the last of the students re-enter the dojo, Honey approaches Mustard, who is watching the sky.

"You always play the teacher, huh?" Honey asks.

"What do you mean?" Mustard looks at her.

"Well, you gave Gloria a chance to bond with her Slowpoke, I mean, you did tell me that you sensed a great power within it when it evolves," Honey says, with Mustard smiling. "Not to mention, the battle also allowed Klara to learn a lesson in battling with Pokémon."

"Heh, I guess old habits are hard to break," Mustard responds. "And I do see great things in these young Trainers."

Mustard and Honey look up at the sky.

"A fierce battle came to an end that ensured Gloria's stay at the Master Dojo, while also giving Klara a lot to think about. But soon Victor's training under Mustard begins in earnest. What could be next for our heroes?"

"Find out, as the journey continues…"