Chapter 13 Route 3 and Galar Mine
When they walk towards the Pokemon Center, they can see a lot of people cheering for them as they are trying the new gym challenge. Hop says, "Now we're here, let's have a battle."
"You're on." Ash says.
"Wooloo, you are first." "Blipbug, you're up."
As the two Pokemon appear, Hop says, "Keep up, mate! This is our chance to see if we are up to the Gym Challenge! Use Tackle!"
Wooloo strikes Blipbug with the attack, and Blipbug goes for Struggle Bug. dealing some damage and also lowers the Special Attack. Wooloo uses Rollout, but Blipbug barely dodges. It starts to glow as it evolves. Ash says, "That early?"
And in front of them is a yellow bug with blue spots. Rotom says, "That is a Dottler...and it has learned 3 new moves!"
Dottler: The Radome Pokemon: Bug and Psychic type. Evolved from Blipbug at LV:10. It barely moves, but it's still alive. Hiding in its shell without food or water seems to have awakened its psychic powers.
Ash looks into the phone and says, "Wow, it has become a Psychic-type. Now let's try using Confusion!"
Dottler uses the move, which causes Wooloo to take a lot of damage. "Headbutt!" Hop yells, but Ash has Dottler uses Reflect to deal less damage, and then finishes Wooloo with another Confusion.
The second Pokemon is Rookidee, and Ash recalls it for Pikachu. Pikachu uses Thunderbolt on Rookidee, but it is dodged by using the Agiliy. And it uses Peck on Pikachu, causing it to cover its head. But in the end, Pikachu survives the attack and then uses Iron Tail, defeating it.
"Backed into a corner? You got it all wrong, mate! This'll just make my victory all the better!" Hop says.
The final Pokemon is Grookey, and Ash goes with Rookidee. With the Peck and Power Trip, Grookey is defeated in the end.
"Was that really good training? Looks like I'd better keep my guard up!" Hop frowns as he recalls his Pokemon. "Just what I'd expect from my rival! You know what? I'll even give you one of my League Cards! That's how good I think you did in that battle."
Hop gives them the League Cards, Mark looks at the plain photo and asks, "Thank you?"
"Our Gym Challenge starts right now—from here in Motostoke! Although the first Gym Leader we'll have to challenge is in a town way far off from here... Still, you'd better believe I'm going to keep on winning my way to that Championship Match!"
He rushes away while yelling, "Hello, Galar! Meet your next Champion! From the sleepy town of Postwick—it's me, Hop!
Everyone is sweat-dropping as Dawn says, "You know, he kinda reminds me of you when you are back at the Sinnoh League."
Serena says, "You would do the same thing in Kalos as well."
"Alola too." Lillie adds.
"If you're just going to tease me then I'll go ahead and leave you alone." Ash says, causing the girls to apologize and begs Ash not to leave them alone.
"But you have to admit, Ash has matured a lot since our last encounter." Alice says.
"Well, his maturity is what makes him attractive, don't you think?" Gloria asks.
The five of them blush red like a tomato as they nod. Ash turns around and says, "Girls, we have to take a rest now, it is really late."
"Yeah." The girls say as they follow Ash back into the Hotel.
The next day, the group arrives at Route 3, as they are on the road, they see some flowers flying around. Lillie sees the flowers in awe and she asks, "Wow, what are those Pokemon? I have never seen them before..."
"They are Gossifleurs." Rotom replies as he says the entry.
Gossifleur: The Flowering Pokemon: Grass Type. It anchors itself in the ground with its single leg, then basks in the sun. After absorbing enough sunlight, its petals spread as it blooms brilliantly.
One of the Gossifleur flies on Alice's head, and then it lands on her hair and gives a content sigh. Alice giggles at the Pokemon and then she asks, "Gossifleur, you like it?"
The Pokemon nods in agreement and the others smile at them. Ash says, "It seems like the Pokemon has attached to you."
"Yeah, and I really like this Pokemon as well." Alice says, "How about you join my team? We can travel together." The Gossifleur nods and then Alice captures the Pokemon, then she sends it out so that it can continue to attach to her. Ash also wants a Gossifleur as he looks around, and he has Rookidee help him capture one.
While they are walking around, the mud just flies onto Dawn's face, causing her to fall to the ground. "Dawn, are you alright?"
"No need to worry, but who in the right mind will do such a thing?" Dawn says with annoyance, and they find a Mudbray standing in front of them eating the grass.
"He is going to pay for ruining my face and my hair." Dawn says as she has Piplup splash it with a Hydro Pump, the Ground-type Pokemon doesn't like the water as it jumps into the air, then it charges at Piplup with a Double Kick.
"Dodge it and use Ice Beam!" Dawn says as Piplup manages to freeze Mudbray, giving her the chance to capture the Pokemon.
Ash turns to Alice, "So Alice, still haven't found any Pokemon that catches your eye?"
"Well, I already had a Gossefleur, but I feel like I want to find something that can help me with the Grass-type gym..." Alice says.
Just then, a bug crosses by as it looks at them with confusion. Ash says, "Do you know what is that Pokemon?" But before Alice can say something, Rotom has to beat her up to it.
Sizzlipede: The Radiator Pokemon: Bug and Fire Type. It stores flammable gas in its body and uses it to generate heat. The yellow sections on its belly get particularly hot.
"Geez...thanks, Rotom." Alice says annoyed. "But Sizzlipede is a Fire Type..."
"Huh? You don't like Fire-Types?" Ash asks.
"No, it is not like it. But you know about my father, his Pokemon are Ice Types and they are my friends. I was afraid that a Fire Type might hurt them."
"I see, that is very nice of you." Ash says. "But that won't be a problem since we are now traveling together."
Alice looks at Ash, and then she nods. She sends out Sobble and then she says, "Sobble, Water Pulse." Sobble nods and fires a ball of water at the Pokemon, but then the Sizzlipede spins around, and then it uses Flame Wheel, causing Sobble to take damage.
"Sobble. Don't give up and then use Bind." Sobble wraps around the bug, but then the bug starts to use Bite, causing Sobble to wince in pain. "Don't worry. Sobble. Please hold on." She takes out the Pokeball and tosses it at the Sizzlipede, and then it is captured.
"Good, I capture a new friend." Alice cheers.
"I know you can do it, Alice. After all, we are both similar in a way." This causes her to blush again.
"But Sizzlipede must have been a rare find...because I can't find another one around here..." Ash frowns.
"Well, maybe you'll be able to find one in the upcoming routes? Don't give up until it is over." Alice says.
"You're right." Ash says.
Once the eight of them are gathered again, they find Sonia on the way, Sonia says, "Hey guys. I saw the opening ceremony. You looked real ace out there. Ash, Alice, Gloria. Oh, but where's Hop?"
"He went on ahead." Gloria says, "He wants to get this challenge done as soon as possible."
"He can't sit still at all, can he? Guess he really wants to catch up to his brother." Sonia chuckles.
"But Sonia, what are you doing here?" Trenor asks.
"Well, let me tell you about something a bit interesting." She then shows a building from a distance away from where they are.
"You see that building over there? It's a company owned by Chairman Rose. Just past Route 3, there's a mine where they dig up ore. That building over there processes it into energy."
Lillie says, "So in other words, the chairman is responsible for providing the Galar Region with its energy, too?"
"Can't say I really get him, but the chairman seems like a pretty brilliant guy, right?" Sonia says.
"You're right, so you are just showing us that place?" Gloria asks.
"You have to pass through the Galar Mine in order to get to Turffield. But I am sure that you can pass it." Sonia says.
"Thanks for the advice, see you." Ash says as they bid farewell to Sonia.
"So this is the Galar Mine..." Gloria says as they marvel around the place. They also see some workers working inside the mine with a Pokemon they have never seen before. Those Pokemon look like coals and they have a small wheel and an eye on it. "What are those?" Lillie asks.
Rotom says, "That is my job, let me show you what this Pokemon is."
Rolycoly: The Coal Pokemon: Rock Type. Most of its body has the same composition as coal. Fittingly, this Pokémon was first discovered in coal mines about 400 years ago.
"So they are the Pokemon that gives out the energy to the Galar?" Serena asks as they keep looking at the Pokemon rolling around.
"Yes." Mark says. "And they are rare as well."
But as they walk further into the mine, they hear strange sounds and then a lot of Woobats fly out of the cave they are in and the girls are screaming.
"What are those?" Lillie asks as they are trying to get rid of the Pokemon.
"Girls, calm down. They are just Woobats, I think we just get into their territory and we just need to leave as fast as we can." Ash says.
As they continue to walk forward, they find themselves walking on the track. Without seeing any mine carts, they decide to walk on them until they find another opening. They notice some Diglett on the ground popping up, and then Drilbur.
Gloria spots a Pokemon popping out of the ground, she says, "I thought it is another Diglett, but it turns out to be a Drilbur."
"You're right." Serena says. "It could be a good addition since it also evolves into a Steel Type."
"But if I remember, I knew a person's Excadrill didn't listen to her in the end, but I know you won't be like her." Ash says as the group knows that he is referring to Iris.
"Seedot can help me out." Serena says as she sends out the Pokemon. It uses Absorb on Drilbur, who tries to use Metal Claw to knock it back. Then it glows as it starts to use Drill Run, but Seedot uses Harden to block the attack, and then it uses Absorb again. When the health is lowered, Serena throws a Poke Ball and captures it.
"Alright, another new member for my team." Serena smiles, and Seedot also evolves into Nuzleaf, much to her delight.
Gloria smiles at Serena before noticing a Timburr working on its timber, she says, "A Fighting-type Pokemon should be a great addition to the team, even though I already have six to go."
Trenor says, "Just by the look of it, I guess it is helping the construction of this place."
"I guess so, or maybe it is a wild Pokemon." Gloria says, "There is one way to find out." She throws the Pokeball, and then it is successfully captured, much to the others' shock.
"So it is a wild Pokemon." Lillie says. "But why does it hitting the wall to dig some coals?"
"I don't know. And that is why Pokemon are interesting." Ash says.
But as they continue forward, they hear a strange sound. "What is that?" Lillie asks.
"Well, we are standing on the track...don't tell me..." Ash doesn't finish his words as he is being hit by a cart with coal as he is sent to the wall.
"Ash!" As the two brothers and five girls go to Ash, Ash says, "Aww...what just happened?"
"Who did this?" Mark asks, but then the cart starts to move as the face appears on the Pokemon.
"This minecart is a Pokemon?" Dawn asks. "I never know that."
"Just leave it to me and I'll tell you, roto." Rotom says.
Carkoal: The Coal Pokemon: Rock and Fire Type. Evolved from Rolycoly at LV:18. It forms coal inside its body. Coal dropped by this Pokémon once helped fuel the lives of people in the Galar region.
"So that is the evolution of Rolycoly? It sure looks like a minecart with a face on it." Alice says.
Ash sees that the cart is laughing at his misery, he decides to be patient with him and says, "If you truly think it is funny, then I think you are pretty mistaken."
He then sends out Chewtle to give the Pokemon a lesson, but the Pokemon uses Flame Charge, causing Chewtle unable to dodge every time. But Chewtle uses Bite and Water Gun combo to defeat it and captures it.
"Ash, can you stand up?" Alice asks with worry.
"I am fine, Alice. I am an Aura User, this is nothing to me." He says as he stands up.
"Aura Guardian or not, what matters is that you are injured." Serena says as she takes out her medicine box to heal Ash's wounds, much to his delight.
I'll end this chapter right here, as you can see, the group also capture some more Pokemon during the journey. I hope you like this chapter and the next chapter will be another rival battle and some interesting news.
Ash's New Pokemon: Grookey, Skwovet, Rookidee, Dottler, Nickit, Gossifleur, Wooloo, Chewtle, Yamper, Carkol, Arrokuda, Zigzagoon (G)
Mark's Pokemon: Blaziken, Magikarp, Arrokuda
Trenor's Pokemon: Skwovet, Oddish, Swampert, Onix, Basculin, Noibat
Alice's Pokemon: Wooloo x30, Butterfree (Pink), Sizzlipede, Sobble, Gossifleur
Gloria's Pokemon: Minccino, Pidove, Purrloin, Scorbunny, Chewtle, Woobat
Dawn's Pokemon: Buneary, Hoothoot, Mudbray, Duskull, Piplup, Quilava, Wingull, Oddish, Pachirisu, Mamoswine, Togekiss
Serena's Pokemon: Bunnelby, Pancham, Drifloon, Budew, Combee, Drilbur, Braixen, Bounsweet, Nuzleaf, Sylveon
Lillie's Pokemon: Tyrogue, Magearna, Shellder, Yamper, Cherubi, Vulpix (A)