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Then, Lake of Outrage

Wishing Star: an object of unknown origin and unknown material composition. Nigh-indestructible. First appeared in Galar after the events of the Battle of the Forest of Elmoth. Highly receptive to Galar Tachyonic Particles, allowing Dynamaxing anywhere in Galar with a specialized band equipped.

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By the time Theon faced his rival across the sands, the challenge had already divided the Galarian people between the two camps.

On the day of the Sandaconda combat, Ishmael trudged along the lines of hewn rocks with his tribe, watching Theon carry his armament as the sun grew brighter. The Haven Lord's conservative followers allied to the memory of the two Princes hurried about him, offering encouragement, volunteering to carry parts of his burden, but the young man ignored them. He would do this unaided, for the future of the Galarian people and the preservation of their hallowed past.

Penlod's camp was the greater, with many numerous lords and "civilized" folk from other villages that had begun to dread the twin Princes and wish to forget them. They were willing to sacrifice their true identity, and become as godless as the heathen Galarians of old and as wicked as the Logarians who traded in human flesh.

From the far side of the dust basin by the glittering lake, Ishmael watched Theon. "Wait for my return if I win," Theon had said. "And remember me if I die." He did not hear the mutters of encouragement and denial. He focused his thoughts and stepped out onto the softer sands climbing the long, gentle slope to the nearest dune. He selected the best position and waited to watch for the treads of sand that showed where a roaming Sandaconda was. He and Penlod beat rhythmically on the ground, hoping to attract one of the beasts.

Far away, on the opposite sides of the basin, Theon saw a commotion of dust rising, and then saw a Sandaconda nearing him. A second plume of dust appeared, nearing Penlod. Theon beat the ground seven more times-a holy number-and then gathered his fair ropes and grapples. The Sandaconda beached the sand and shot toward him, hoping for a small meal.

The sands parted with a plume of disturbed dust and the sinuous body rose up as Theon bounded forward. In his life, he had seen many Sandaconda that were larger than this one, but such a monster was sufficient. If Arceus has sent him a titanic beast, all would have been interpreted as a clear sign from the Orignal One; he would have to fight for what he knew was right now that the battle would not be decided so easily. Theon was prepared for that.

He threw his hooked blades and grasped the ropes, climbing up the gritty ring segments before the creature noticed its unexpected rider. He used prybars, to crack open the gaps, exposing the sensitive sand-flesh beneath that would prevent the Sandaconda from diving back beneath the sands. These techniques had been developed more than five centuries ago, and all the lords of Galar were trained to do such things at a young age.

When he had secured himself, Theon spotted the second Sandaconda approaching him from across the great dust flat, a larger beast ridden by Penlod. Both creatures were great in length, but the size of the creatures was a petty fraction of what they would soon become. Theon and his foe yelled sacred words of power taught to them by the two Princes, and hot fires from the air descended into the Sandaconda's bodies as the magic began to take effect.

The rapidly expanding bodies of the Pokemon generated heat as they surged upward. A maelstrom of abrasive sand swirled around the heads of the two beasts as they roared and let out sandy-smelling exhaust from their cavernous throats. They had been Gigantimaxed, and were now about two hundred meters in length, a size that their lesser descendants in far future days would never reach. Theon covered his face to protect himself from the vortex of sand grains and watched as Penlod's Sandaconda coiled like a vermiform spring, before plunging into combat. Such creatures were fiercely territorial and combative, and the mites atop their head urged them ever onward into the battle.

Gravel-filled sand sprayed from the Sandaconda's bodies as they collided. The impact nearly threw Theon off the great beast as the fanged mouths struck and pounded each other. A shockwave of pain and anger sent a convulsive tremor down the length of Theon's mount. On the other Pokemon, he could see a terrified Penlod clawing at his ropes, lashing himself down again and again with his ropes. Foolish. He would be helpless if the Sandaconda should roll over.

The Pokemon withdrew to gather momentum, then slashed and pummeled again. Thick, sand-encased scale segments tore loose in long strips. The duel was joined, and the Gigantimaxed Pokemon would fight their own way. Theon or Penlod could no longer guide their mounts, and it was all they could do to hold on.

Hissing and wary, the two Sandaconda backed off and circled, churning the sand into a cloud that joined the spinning vortex of debris that surrounded them. Then they engaged again, slamming behemoth bodies into each other, tangling themselves into a scaly knot as if trying to strangle and squeeze the other. Two crystal teeth sliced armored hide, spilling out more gouts of stored sand. A multitude of scales were ripped away and cast aside. Gelatinous ichor welled up from their gaping wounds.

After colliding repeatedly, the Sandaconda exhausted themselves, but not their will to battle. Theon's mount thrashed and rolled, and he clung to its back, fearing the Pokemon would roll over and crush him, despite its exposed ring segments. At the last moment, it righted itself and bent back, swinging forward again like a hammer-stroke against an anvil. Penlod was nearly unconscious on his own Pokemon, but had lashed himself down so many times that he could not escape even if he wished to. His larger Sandaconda spurted jets of shrapnel-sand as it crashed into Theon's with such force that the smaller creature buckled backward.

One of Theon's ropes broke.

As the Pokemon continued to batter each other, Theon fell like a dust grain in a storm, unable to catch himself. Tumbling, clawing for a handhold, he struck one ring, then another. The Pokemon paid no attention to the insignificant human. Their mouths collided and the two crystal fangs of both shattered. Theon continued to fall and finally struck the soft, churned sands. He sank in, swimming, trying to climb into the air. He coughed, then thrashed with his hands as he struggled to gain his footing.

Each time the Sandaconda rolled, grappled, and moved onward, they devastated everything around them. The beasts tangled again and Theon ran back to Ishmael and his tribe as fast as he could. The thick tails of the Sandaconda, hot with friction, passed over the sweeping sands, scattering grains to the dry grass that bordered the basin. Theon reached the rocks, as the Sandaconda's continuing battle took them farther away. He limped toward Ishmael, straining from the effort to remain conscious. He started as Penlod's triumphant Pokemon drove Theon's farther away.

He hung his head. The battle was over...

...

Victorious, Penlod rode his exhausted Sandaconda into the sand, finished with it. Both Pokemon left their Gigantimazed state, utterly played out. Theon hadn't seen whether his own beast had been forced unconscious, or if it has simply slunk away, burying itself deep to heal. Though he had survived, Theon was not glad at all.

He had lost the challenge, and the future for the Free Peoples of Galar.

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Now, Turfield Stadium

Although the results of political division and the hatred that emerges from it are amusing to see, the best sort of "operative" evil is politically pragmatic. It is absolutely essential to keep a fierce and strong Left and a fierce and strong Right, both on their toes and terrified of each other. That is how the Mbelekoro accomplishes things. Any opposition to him and his servants is presented as a Right racket in the Left newspapers and a Left racket in the Right newspapers. If it's done properly, you can get each side outbidding the other in support of us to refute the Enemy's [Arceus] slander. Of course the Eclipse Alliance is non-political! The real power always is.

-Emrett Dialogues, compiled works

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After a swift registration and assembly of the five challengers, the first Gym Battle began at the wide stadium of Turfield.

A horde of spectators and Pokemon had come from the four corners of Galar, from great Wyndon to the smallest hamlet. Foreigners by the thousands disembarked swift spacefolder shuttlecraft to see the games, heralding from afar. Lights flashed over the pristine arena, crafted by a brilliant Macro Cosmos engineer many long years ago. Crackling billboards displayed the names and faces of previous challengers that had both succeeded and been defeated, along with the circulating titles of their backers and corporate supporters.

As Henry's friends and the other contenders sat within an executive plazcrete booth while they waited, a higher box befitting those of wealthy and important status stood even above them. Bronze Tercano watched Henry as he walked onto the arena with a troublingly intense expression, like a spider about to devour a dainty. Rose paid his estranged rival no mind and concentrated mostly upon Bede, watching him shift in his seat, bored with waiting and pointless posturing and opening formalities. This one was a fine choice. He and Tercano's two pickings are already divided.

Gym Leader Milo emerged amid much fanfare, and then commanded the battle to begin without further delay. The bulky farmer sent out an Eldegloss, while Henry rappelled Steeler forward onto the painted plazcrete floor. The two Pokemon collided, and the fight began.

...

Curious, Bronze thought. Why does he not go with Sirfetch'd? Our calculations have determined that one particular Pokemon is an abnormally strong physical specimen. Is he keeping it in reserve, or has he trained his Gurdurr to an acceptable degree to win? Does he think that Gym Battles are mere pushovers? Perish the thought! Back in my day, I had to wait in line for hours just to be put through a grueling challenge course before I even had a single opportunity to fight! Soft! The youth have gone soft!

Marvin looked at the other four that still remained seated, although voicing their encouragement for Henry, with Bede being a notable exception to this general trend. These five will all challenge Milo today...they can't possibly all win, right?

Steeler threw its all into the swings of the tempered metal beam, ramming into Eldegloss again and again in an impeccable display of Close Combat. Hand-sized chunks of cotton flew in all directions as the Pokemon was beaten into submission. "I see that the Champion didn't endorse you for nothing," Milo said. "You were even quick enough to break through my original defenses. That stops here and now! Dynamax!"

Eldegloss swelled, Galar Particles flowing into its cellular structure as they were drawn by the now-activated Dynamax Band on Milo's wrist. A veritable bath of nutrients fueled the accelerated growth, and a red glow that accompanied the flying tachyon's energy trails illuminated the arena. The Eldegloss became a towering giant, casting a shadow split by the rotating spotlights onto Steeler. "Milo has immediately Dynamaxed his chosen fighter, Eldegloss! Henry Sword's next move is unknown! Whatever he does, folks, will require a pretty ambitious strategy to pull off!"

Henry's eyes flashed with a dangerous glare, showing a bit of hidden ferocity seldom revealed. I have hidden tricks as well, you brute. He switched out his fighters for Sirfetch'd, seeing that Steeler had injured itself in the initial scuffle. "Lancelot! Run as fast as you can!"

"Max Overgrowth!" Milo yelled, his voice amplified hundreds of times through the speakerpatches that hung around the arena. Knots of anomalous fungi sprouted, their growth enhanced by the geriatric properties of the Galar Particles. Lancelot charged through the maelstrom of organic projectiles, and then Henry made his move. The Dynamax Band activated, and Lancelot grew to a size equal to the opposing Pokemon. "Have you run out of clever plays, Milo?"

"Not in the slightest, boy."

...

Bede spoke through a hidden speakerpatch to Oleana, taking precautions so that none of Bronze's radio snoopers intercepted the transmission. "The gathering is going well, I found another three in the mines today. Have you found them at the drop?"

"Yes," Oleana said, slipping away to the lavatory. "Our other agents have collected dozens of Wishing Stars, and Rose is buying up all available stock that he can. The plan is going well, Bede. You should have seen the master only a few hours ago...he is growing stronger by the day. Soon the crisis will be averted forever, with your aid and of our own troops on the ground. Although your success in the League is not an essential part of the Grand Plan, I and the Chairman wish you luck regardless."

"Of course. Send Chairman Rose my regards..."

...

Lancelot hurled its spear into the Eldegloss's tanker-sized collection of cotton fluff, and the blade went deep. Cushioned from the strike, the Eldegloss shot out a behemoth spurt of cotton from the wound, which soon rested over the entire arena like a brooding cloud. Static energy shields activated, preventing the irritating material from moving into the bleachers. Visibility reached only a few meters, and Eldegloss vanished into the downy obstruction.

"Lancelot, blow this cotton away!" The noble creature fanned its sword and shield forwards and backwards, but the encroaching wall sealed over the smiling Eldegloss again. Inevitably, Eldegloss would attack, and Sirfetch'd would be unable to strike in retaliation. Milo would surely be able to recognize the subtle cues that an enemy Pokemon gave when wandering through the cotton cloud and give his own Pokemon orders to target them.

"There is no point in parting the fluff if he could not blow it out of this sealed stadium!" Bede criticized. "He has not done his research. If you challenge a Gym Leader without first learning of them and their Pokemon, combat is futile. Henry has already lost by the dark virtue of his own carelessness."

"Max Strike!"

The Eldegloss attacked. Sirfetch'd scrambled and raised its titanic shield, as shards of plazcrete and pale durasteel flew from the ruined arena floor. Repair nanites started mending the damage in the attack's wake. Knowing the location of the looming Eldegloss, Henry ordered Lancelot to return a blow. "Edlegloss is over by the Chairman's box! Use Brick Break-I mean, use Max Knuckle!"

A swarm of tachyons passed through Eldeglass at a superliminal speed, invisible. The energy dropoff from the faster-than-light Galar Particles formed a ruddy fist of pure energy, which struck the opposing Pokemon at the regenerating cotton sack atop its head. More fluff spurted out, reducing visibility even further. The fluttering watcheyes around the arena lost their footage in a white blanket.

If Eldegloss attacks, it will reveal its position and open itself to a counterstrike, Jake thought, standing ever a loyal guard to Bronze. But if the reactionary blow doesn't land in the central mass, more cotton will spurt outward. That Max Knuckle did do quite a lot of damage, and one more solid hit could indeed end the battle. But I have doubts that it will be so easy. Seldom are things as simple as that.

"From what I can tell so far," Bede scoffed. "I cannot see any exceptional traits in Henry. Yes, this is his first Gym Battle, but it is also the first time he has Dynamaxed in battle outside of small tournaments and their ilk. He reeks of amateurish behavior. Let him throw the match and save us all a pretty bit of time! He might watch me and see a true battle! Chairman Rose himself endorsed me, and he knows talent when he sees it."

"But Henry was recommended by Leon, and Chairman Bronze!" Hop said. "And anyways, the endorser's political status may have nothing to do with the skill of the trainer!"

"Oh, but it does. In my case at least..."

Milo attacked again. "Max Overgrowth!"

The fungal growths appeared again before withering away, luminescent spores showing Sirfetch'd being overwhelmed by the twisting growths and falling into the cloud of cotton. Eldegloos shuddered, its tachyonic charge expended. The Dynamax phase had been expended, as the band could only hold the charge for three energy-intensive moves. With a recharge time of an hour to a whole day, Dynamaxing twice in a battle would be unfeasible. "Henry has two moves left before his charge runs out!" Marvin said. "And his opponent is now far weaker!"

"There is a non-zero chance that Sirfetch'd has fainted," Tess calculated. "And a sixty-three percent chance that Eldegloss will attack Dynamaxed Sirfetch'd before Sword's Pokemon locates it. Visibility is minimal. Chance of success for Henry Sword in defeating Eldegloss with his single Pokemon: thirty-nine percent with error margin of one hundred percent. Recalculating, variables assembled for second prediction."

The storm of cotton has stopped moving quite as swiftly, Milo thought. The battle is over, the Sirfetch'd must have fainted. Is Henry still trying to find his way out of the cotton?

Bronze thrummed his finger once, twice, three times. "Now!"

A Max Knuckle soared from the vaunted rafters, parting the cotton storm like a passing wind through a vale. The Eldegloss looked upward for a pulsepoint moment, bathed in a titian glow, before being flattened, unconscious.

...

The din was incredible. Bede looked about to enter immediate cardiac arrest, while the cheers from the executive box were so loud that Milo's parting words to Henry on the speakerpatch network were drowned in the sea of noise. Bronze stood and gave a round of thunderous applause with his acolytes, while Rose and his staffers politely clapped for the victor.

"Eldegloss is unable to battle!" an announcement declared. "Gym Leader Milo's single registered Pokemon has been defeated! Challenger Henry Sword moves on in the Galarian League Tournament! After a thirty-minute intermission, our next challenger, Marnie Joy, will attempt to defeat Gym Leader Milo..."

"Looks like Henry wasn't endorsed by Leon for nothing, Bede!" Hop said. "Come on, everyone, let's get him from the locker room..."

...

Team Yell grunts started to worm out of the woodwork once Marnie began to fight, holding posters and decals while also trying to coerce anyone they could to cheer for their idol. Casey took initiative and joined forces with two grunts to root along for Marnie, despite the unhealthily obsessive nature of the Yell cult. Bronze was mildly amused at the raving grunts. Although he knew the true nature and origin of the grassroots collective of radical fans, they had not actually attempted anything illegal except in piecemeal amounts. Besides, they provided occasional comic relief.

A delegate entered the keycard-sealed executive booth, but two Yell grunts jostled her aside and entered the room from the hall. "Ladies and gentlemen, politicians and businessmen, the time has come for you to express your devotion to the one true savior of Galar: Marnie! What say you?"

Jake stood without urgency and unsheathed his pulsesword before any of the Macro Cosmos security personnel could dispel the threat themselves. He swung it once, twice, so quickly that no one saw anything more distinct than a glittering ripple in the air. The posters of Marnie that the two goons were carrying had been cleanly severed in half, an appropriate enough message. "Carry on, friends."

The Yell grunts turned and fled. Jake grinned a maniacal smile, and sat back down with Tess, having already removed the foam cushion. "Always a pleasure to defend you and the Chairman, m'lady."

...

Henry stood before the lift out of the waiting arena, ready to attend to his smithing duties. After explaining to Marvin that it was not necessary to waste valuable time watching repetitive Gym Battles and obtaining the data from the battle from Casey, the Pokedex Holder felt that it was necessary to repair Lancelot's and Steeler's armament. Magnolia had taken a midday nap while the Gym Battle had been ongoing, and now Henry would return to the freshly-repaired Magnolia RV to get some well-deserved rest.

...

Sonia took yet another picture of the geoglyphs left by the Clan of Theon on a standing stone. The art of interpreting the runes had now long been lost, but whoever had carved them into the rocks had done so again and again, even as another group chiseled away the symbols, trying the erase whatever message the ancient script told. The persistent Galarian exiles had placed their words everywhere, only to soon be erased by the descendants of the Clan of Penlod. Only recently had the sites been declared historic, and continued vandalism was strictly prohibited.

Beyond the circle of curious rocks was a bald hill, bearing the image of a massive kind of Pokemon of lines drawn from unearthed grass and salted soil. The geoglyphs had been too difficult to remove by the Clan of Penlod, and so they remained with all the rest of their kind. A swirl of lines was above the Pokemon's head, and strange figures littered the behemoth's feet.

The goal of these strange carvings was to preserve a memory, to show us something. Perhaps that spiral is not the sun? Is it the black vortex said to have appeared over Galar? If so, then that is a Dynamaxed Pokemon!

...

The Magnolia RV sped upon a safe and populous route to Hulbury, in order to take a part in the next Gym Challenge, only a little bit away from its beginning. In high spirits, the company attended to their various duties and pre-battle preparations during the night-long drive.

Casey had thoroughly drained her seemingly endless wellspring of hyperactive energy, and rested hoarse and tired, muttering dissociated ramblings about the battle. "All five of us made it through...Bede fought like Milo was nothing...it was hard for me, though. The next Gym Leader is Nessa, a Water-type expert..."

Henry ignored his companions and reforged anew his Pokemon's equipment. Wholly engrossed in his craft, he began to sink into a state of uber-concentration, complete dependence. The night continued on.