Too many battles are with important characters, which means long battle scenes. Oh well.

They stopped to have one last meal of dirt curry together. Hop was formally introduced to Stabitha, who looked slightly disappointed that she hadn't evolved yet. By the end, the trio of friends were having a great time, almost forgetting that two of them would face each other soon for the final showdown.

And when they arrived in Wyndon, they were ready for it.

"This is it," Hop said, his voice vibrating with excitement. "Wyndon! The city where I'll become a legend at last! The one who defeated the undefeatable!"

"You'll have to get through me first," Victor taunted.

Hop threw a snowball at him, but Victor ducked in time, and it hit Gloria directly in the face. "Sorry!" Hop called, and Gloria wiped the snow off her nose before glaring in his direction.

"This is why I don't wear my glasses," she hissed. "Your shenanigans will break them."

"So if you weren't traveling with us, you might actually be able to see?" Victor laughed. "I'd sooner buy that you'd get a chain."

Gloria lightly shoved him as they continued their way through the city. They were taken in by the tall buildings, large signs, beautiful Corviknight statues, and flocks of people heading toward the stadium. Even the skies were full as Corviknight carried people to the stadium in large baskets. "It's beautiful," Gloria exclaimed as she took in the sights.

Victor turned his head to face a sign on his left that showed a Grookey advertising for an optometrist. "Even the billboards are telling you to wear your glasses." Gloria pushed him again, and they made their way to Wyndon Stadium to officially register for the event.

The red rose-shaped building was huge, and crowded with people trying to get a seat for the Championship Cup. Victor and Hop cut through the people to get to the registration desk and officially sign up for the upcoming match. They hoped that it would be a while before they would have to face each other, but Victor also had to hope that he wouldn't be facing-

"Hello," Victor said as he came face-to-face with the girl he had been crushing on since this journey began. "How are you?"

Marnie gave a smile that warmed Victor's heart, but her eyes still flashed determination. "I'm great," she answered. "But you won't be for long. I'm going to win this tournament, and I have a feeling that it won't be long before I have to take you down in order to do it."

"We don't need a third ring in our dream following guilt trip," Hop huffed.

Gloria looked around the room, but couldn't see a familiar tuft of curly hair. "Where's Bede?" she asked, drawing the attention of the others to her. "I'm surprised that he didn't find a way to make it here through sheer stubbornness."

Victor shrugged. "Well, we did almost kill him, kidnap him, and sold him into slavery for pocket change."

"True," Gloria sighed.

"Nice," said Hop with a huge grin once he heard this news for the first time, leading to the boys high-fiving each other.

Marnie, on the other hand, had a more appropriate response - she was so shocked that she started sputtering. "Almost killed? Kidnapped?! Slavery?! POCKET CHANGE?!"

It was Gloria's turn to shrug. "Long story."

"Attention please," said an announcer on the intercom. "All challengers must make their way to their waiting rooms and all spectators should start making their way to their seats. The semifinals will begin in one hour!"

The three trainers shot up as all previous conversation was forgotten, and the color drained from their faces. "One hour!" they all shouted in unison, and ran to the changing rooms, leaving Gloria alone to plot her craziest way to get into a stadium ever.

Gloria took her seat in the fifth row after showing the usher the ticket she purchased. It was good for the whole tournament including the final match with Leon, so it would be stupid not to buy it.

Meanwhile, Victor stirred by the door to the field. His Pokémon were ready, but he wasn't sure he was. The brackets were only decided for the finals, so he had no idea who he was facing. There were only three possible choices in that department, but with his luck, he would be facing both of the people he didn't want to face. But when a man came in to tell him that his match was up first, he made his way to the field.

When he made his way across the field, he found that it was Marnie that was making her way to meet him at the center. I guess this is the best of the two outcomes, Victor thought. I actually have motive to beat her, since I want her to notice and respect me. And shut Team Yell up. Besides, she deserves a good battle.

"I was hoping it would be you," Marnie said with a smirk. "You deserve a good battle."

Victor matched her smile. "I beat you before, and I'll beat you again."

Marnie drew her first Pokeball. "You got lucky before, but there's no room for luck here."

And with that, she threw the ball, and sent out her Liepard.

"That's my girl!" Gloria heard a voice behind her shout. She turned to see that the woman got up from her seat, and was wearing a t-shirt that said 'My son's insane, and I'm losing hope for the girl'. Piers was sitting right beside her without an ounce of shame, but with pride for his sister. Gloria returned her attention back to the battle as she decided not to ask any questions.

Victor responded to the Liepard by sending out Clobbopus, hoping that he could rely on him for most of the battle if she relied on dark types. It attacked with a Submission, which took out the cat immediately. Liepard was switched with Scrafty, so Victor was quick to replace Clobbopus with his strong Corviknight.

But Marnie wasn't going to let him get the first hit this time, and had Scrafty attack her opponent with a Brick Break. It was a critical hit on the half-Steel type, but being a veteran member of Victor's team he was easily staying up. One Drill Peck attack was enough to send the weaker Scrafty to its knees.

Morpeko was the next Pokémon sent out on Marnie's side of the field. Victor, seeing the clear disadvantage and feeling that his bird had enough for one round, replaced him with Excadrill. The small mouse used Torment as an opening move, but it didn't last through the large mole's Earthquake.

Excadrill stayed on the field as Marnie sent out Toxicroak. Victor immediately ordered a Rapid Spin attack, but Marnie was anticipating that, and ordered a Sucker Punch. Excadrill was knocked back, but followed through on the attack that almost beat the Toxicroak. Marnie then ordered a Swagger, and Excadrill fell into a state of confusion. Victor ordered an Earthquake, but Marnie commanded another Sucker Punch, and the confused Excadrill ended up taking herself out in her final move.

Victor sent out his Fraxure next, and she was immediately hit with a Toxic. The dragon then used Dragon Claw on her opponent which retaliated with a Venoshock. Fraxure was badly poisoned, but it was able to finish Toxicroak with another Dragon Claw.

For Marnie's last Pokémon, she sent out a Gigantamaxed Grimmsnarl. Victor took the opportunity to heal Corviknight back to his full health, but that didn't save Fraxure from the G-Max Finale. Victor sent out a Dynamax Corviknight to take out his foe with a Max Steel Spike, finally winning Victor the match.

"All of that hard work," Marnie began with a sad look on her face, "and I still couldn't stand a chance." Then her ears perked up as she heard people cheering her name, not just from one corner, but from all around her. "But I did get this far, so I guess this means something."

Victor went to shake her hand. "Don't worry. I'll take the championship myself to make you look even better," he said, even though he didn't personally think that she could look better.

Marnie took his hand, but she still scoffed and smirked. "I haven't decided If I would cheer for you yet, though. But I suppose I can have Team Yell give you their support."

Victor groaned as the last sentence sank in. Marnie, hearing it clearly, hid her mouth behind her hand as her eyes squeezed shut, clearly laughing at him.

Victor: Dash (Cinderace) Corviknight, Drednaw, Excadrill, Fraxure, Clobbopus

Gloria: Ace (Inteleon) Dishwasher (Obstagoon) Rogue (Thievul) Hattie (Hatterene) Harry (Grimmsnarl) Stabitha (Pawniard)