Chapter 36 Dustill Gym Battle
The next morning, Ash and his companions are in the lobby of the Pokemon Center as Nora is waiting for them. "Now that you are here, how about I show you my gym?"
"Sure." Ash says as they follow Nora.
After a while, they arrive at a door and they see that there is also a giant glass on their feet. "Wow...I can see the whole stadium down there." Gloria says.
"Yeah, my gym is a Ground Type, so I make it like that." Nora says. "Now I will wait for you at the battlefield, I am sure that you will need to carry on the Gym Mission first."
"We will." Gloria says. "So Ash, Alice, can I go first?"
"Sure." Alice says as then they bid farewell to Nora, and Gloria goes to the counter to find the staff.
"Here is your uniform." Gloria takes the uniform and then goes to change, then she is shown wearing just like Nora without the adventurer's hat and the sword by the side, and then the number is her 890.
She walks towards the Mission field as she sees that there are 3 Rhyhorn and three trainers in front of the Rhyhorn. Dan is there waiting for Gloria and he says, "The Dustill Gym Challenge is this. There are rocky paths that need Rhyhorn to pass through. And you can choose one of the three Rhyhorn here, but there will be a Gym Trainer that also wants the same Rhyhorn. Then you have to battle it."
"I see." Gloria says.
"Now let the Gym Challenge begin!" Dan yells as Gloria starts to pick a Rhyhorn.
In the audience seats, Serena says, "I think I am glad that I am not the one who is challenging..."
"I can tell." Ash says.
Gloria then battles three trainers for the best Rhyhorn and passes through the area three times, then Dan yells, "Gym Mission Cleared!"
Gloria pets the Rhyhorn and says, "You did a good job." Rhyhorn just nods at her as Gloria walks towards the stadium.
As she arrives, Nora says, "Welcome Challenger, I am Nora, the Gym Leader of Dustill. Since you beat my sister Namie in the Wedgehurst Gym. I have been looking forward to your battle."
"The feeling is mutual." Gloria says.
"But now, let's begin our battle. I will give you a battle that quakes your mind." Nora says as she throws her hat to the ground and takes out a Great Ball. She sends out Piloswine as her first Pokemon. Gloria says, "Let's try this one out. Gurdurr!"
As the Fighting-type Pokemon appears on the field, the match starts. "Let's show your move, Ice Shard!"
"Detect!" Gloria yells as the Fighting Pokemon protects itself from the upcoming ice. "Now use Vital Throw!"
"Use Ancient Power." Nora says as Piloswine slams the attack at Gurdurr, knocking him down to the ground.
"Are you okay?" Gloria asks Gurdurr, who nods back. "Good, Close Combat now!"
"Earthquake!" Nora says. But it is too late, as the attack deals a lot of damage to the Ice Type Pokemon, as it faints.
"Return." Nora says, "It seems like I underestimated you. But it is time to get serious. Vibrava!"
As the dragon Pokemon appears, Gloria says, "A Dragon-Type..."
"Hyper Voice." Nora says and the Pokemon screeches really hard, causing Gurdurr to faint immediately.
"Return." Gloria says as she returns the Pokemon. "Go, Kirlia!"
As the cream Pokemon appears, Nora says, "I see, you are aiming for the Type Advantage, huh..."
"You bet." Gloria says, "Use Dazzling Gleam!"
"Dodge the light and then use Earth Power!"
But Flygon is still hurt by the light from the Pokemon, but it manages to hit Kirlia as well. But much to their surprise, Kirlia starts to evolve and now it has become a Gardevoir.
"Awesome!" Gloria says, "Now let's try out our new attack! Attract!" Nora widens her eyes as Vibrava falls in love with the Pokemon.
"Vibrava! Get yourself together!" Nora says in a panic.
"Use Draining Kiss." Gloria smirks as the Pokemon gives a kiss to the Vibrava, causing it to faint.
Serena says, "Hey, that move is like the first time Froakie was defeated."
"Yeah." Ash says. "Greninja is still bitter to it, to be honest."
Nora recalls her Pokemon and says, "Stunfisk. You have the honors to battle beside me."
As she sends out the Galarian Stunfisk, she says, "Now show your hardness with your body, and then gets bigger! It's Dynamax time!"
As she recalls her Pokemon and then the Pokeball goes bigger. Stunfisk comes out of it and it roars.
"This is going to be tough..." Gloria sweat drops, "And Gardevoir is Fairy Type..."
"Max Steelspike." Then Gardevoir is defeated by the spikes that hit her like hell. Gloria recalls her Pokemon and says, "I'll play the Ground with Rock! Go! Dwebble!"
As the Pokemon is out, Gloria also uses Dynamax. And then both Pokemon exchange their Max Quake and Max Rockfall, causing the stadium to shake as well as the crowd.
Serena, Alice, and Lillie are holding Ash in order not to fall, causing Dawn to feel a little jealous. Mark and Trenor noticed the scene and they decided not to say anything. And in the end, Stunfisk is the first one to get back to normal with the quakes.
"Defeat is also a kind of adventure." Nora says. "You win sometimes, you lose sometimes. And that is also where the fun is from. You deserve this badge."
Then Nora gives Gloria the Ground Badge, and she accepts the badge happily.
Alice is the second one that manages to go through the mission, as she is facing Nora on the battlefield as Nora says, "Welcome, Alice. I know that my Mother is the one that endorses you. I am looking forward to seeing what you have."
"The feeling is mutual." Alice says as the battle starts, unlike Gloria, it is a two-on-two battle for her. As usual, she does the same thing while sending out her first Pokemon, this time it is a Nidoking. Alice sends out Lunatone to battle.
"Ah, I see you found yourself a Lunatone. Those are pretty rare to find." Nora says.
"Yeah, but I found it at Giant's Cap. And I am going to use it to win. Use Psychic!"
"Dodge it and use Earth Power!" Nidoking dodges the attack and it slams on the ground, causing the ground below Lunatone to break. Alice says, "My Lunatone has Levitate, so it won't work."
"Are you sure about that?" Nora asks. "Earth Power is just a decoy."
Then Alice is horrified to see that Nidoking uses Smack Down to make Lunatone fall to the ground, causing Levitate to be useless. Alice says, "Then we use Ancient Power."
Lunatone shoots out some fossils at the Pokemon and then Nidoking winces.
"Don't let it scare you. Poison Jab!" Lunatone is poisoned after getting hit by the attack, but with the move Psyshock, it finally defeats Nidoking.
"You did a good job, Nidoking." Once Nora recalls her Pokemon, she gets serious and says, "Now let me show you the terror of the Dusty Bowl. Go, Runerigus!"
As the Pokemon appears, it is a giant mural that suddenly shows its body. Lillie stiffens and says, "That's the mural we saw yesterday in the restaurant. It is a ghost after all!"
"I didn't say it wasn't a ghost." Ash says.
After Runerigus uses Shadow Claw to knock out Lunatone, Alice recalls the Pokemon and says, "Then I'll use my Drizzile!"
As she sends out the Pokemon, Nora says, "Now let the Dynamax swallow everything in the mural!" Then she Dynamax her Runerigus and it causes them to be surprised. Alice also Dynamax her Drizzile as they battle.
With the Max Phantasm, Drizzile has been lowering its Defense and the Max Quake does the opposite. This causes Alice to be in a corner as it can only summons the rain. But with Drizzile learning U-turn, uses Max Flutterfly to defeat the Runerigus.
"That is wow..." Nora says. "I can't believe I lost, but then again, I know my Mom knows a good trainer to endorse. Here is your Ground Badge." They shake hands and then Alice leaves the place.
Ash is the last one to battle Nora. His outfit is like Alice and Gloria's, but he has to wear brown pants beneath the brown shorts.
"Well, Brother. As the royalty of the Galar, people here are eager to see how we battle. So, shall we have our memorable battle?" Nora says.
"You bet." Ash says. "And I am not going to hold back because you are my sister."
"Likewise. Now Marowak is my first Pokemon." As the Pokemon is out, Ash says, "Barraskewda will be my first choice."
As the Pokemon is out, Marowak starts with the Sand Tomb, which deals some damage to Barraskewda. Barraskewda uses Scald, not only does it hurt Marowak, but it also leaves a Burn.
"Burned, huh? Static effects are not something to be taken lightly of. Use Gyro Ball." Nora says.
Barraskewda is sent flying into the air, and Ash tells him to use Double Edge, knocking out Marowak but also faint after recoil damage.
"A tie, it seems interesting, huh? Rhyhorn, you're next." Nora says.
As the Pokemon appears, Ash says, "Meganium, I choose you."
The crowd is amazed at the sight that a Pokemon from another region appearing on the field. But what Meganium is doing is body slam on Ash. Nora sweatdrops at the sight as Ash tells Meganium to stop and battle.
After the commotion is done, Meganium uses Vine Whip to stop the Rhyhorn's Take Down. But then it uses Horn Drill, dealing a lot of damage to the Pokemon.
"Meganium, are you alright?" Ash asks the Pokemon, and as it is fine, it is hit by the Stomp and also Take Down again. In the end, Meganium uses Leaf Storm to finish it off.
"You are awesome, Meganium." Ash hugs the Pokemon, who uses Vine Whip to hug back.
"I see that you have forced me into this. Let me show you the quake of the blade." She suddenly takes out the sword and then throws it into the air. "Sandaconda, you're my hope."
As the sword falls, the Pokeball attached to it opens and the snake appears. Ash says, "Do you really need to do that?"
Nora picks the sword and says, "It is cool, as an adventurer. Now this hopeful blade will guide me to this victory, it's Gigantamax time!"
She takes the Pokeball from the sword and then recalls her Sandaconda, then it becomes bigger, and then it turns into a cyclone.
"What the..." Ash and Meganium are shocked.
"Shake, and tremble." Nora says. "Bringing the sand into the air! G-Max Sandblast!"
Just then, the ground is shaking much fiercer and the rocks are hurting Meganium, causing it to faint in the end.
"I can't see anything..." Alice yells.
"The sandstorm is so strong..." Serena replies.
Ash recalls his Meganium and says, "Greninja, I choose you!"
As the Pokemon appears, Ash says, "We should Dynamax as well."
As Greninja is also as big as the Sandaconda, it uses Max Hailstream first, not only damaging the Pokemon but also raising the speed. It uses the G-Max Sandblast again, but Greninja dodges it.
"I don't know if it is possible, but I will like to try." Ash says. "Let's go! Greninja, let's become stronger and stronger!"
The crowd is going nuts as the Greninja is now a Dynamax Ash-Greninja. Adam and Delia are watching the match on television, and Adam says, "So Greninja can also do this transformation within the Dynamax Form..."
"That is wonderful news..." Delia says.
And then the Max Geyser causes Sandaconda to faint in the end. Nora can only stay in shock as her Pokemon is defeated. Then she sighs, "Well, you have made a great discovery in history, a Dynamax from Bond Phenomenon. It has never happened before."
"Yeah..." Ash says. "I didn't try it out as well in the former matches."
"Well, here is your badge." Nora says as she gives him the badge. Ash takes the badge and thanks her.
Once they are back in the reception room, Nora says, "Since you have my badge, the next in line are my two siblings Bea and Allister."
"What? The Ghost and the Fighting Type Gym Leaders are your siblings as well? Ash?" Serena asks.
"Well yeah." Ash says, "But I hadn't met them yet. And the first one is Allister in Stow-on-side, right?"
"Yep." Nora says. "But first, you will have to go to Hammerlocke first if you want to go there since it is the only way to their gyms."
"I see. We will go there." Gloria says as they bid farewell to Nora.
Now the Ground Type Gym is done. And the next one will be Stow-on-Side Gym with Allister. I hope you like this chapter.
Ash's New Pokemon: Thwackey, Greedent, Corvisquire, Orbeetle, Thiveul, Eldegoss, Dubwool, Drednaw, Boltund, Carkol, Applin x2, Barraskewda, Toxtricity (Amped/Low Key), Centiskorch, Hattena, Impidimp, Linoone (G), Perserker, Sirfetch'd, Alcremie x63, Cufant, Koffing, Stunfisk (G)
Mark's Pokemon: Blaziken, Gyarados, Skorupi, Ninjask, Shedinja, Pawniard, Barraskewda, Orbeetle, Delibird, Alcremie (Strawberry, Ruby Cream)
Trenor's Pokemon: Greedent, Vileplume, Swampert, Rhyhorn, Gourgeist, Steelix, Basculin, Noibat
Alice's Pokemon: Wooloo x29, Dubwool, Salandit, Lunatone, Butterfree (Pink), Litwick, Centiskorch, Drizzile, Eldegoss, Pikachu, Glaceon, Applin, Impidimp, Spritzee
Gloria's Pokemon: Cinccino, Gurdurr, Tranquill, Drednaw, Dwebble, Cufant, Raboot, Wimpod, Ferroseed, Jolteon, Woobat, Liepard, Gardevoir
Dawn's Pokemon: Lopunny, Noctowl, Mudbray, Binacle, Duskull, Piplup, Quilava, Pelipper, Bellossom, Pachirisu, Wobbuffet, Mamoswine, Vullaby, Togekiss
Serena's Pokemon: Diggersby, Pancham, Drifblim, Roserade, Solrock, Vespiquen, Drilbur, Braixen, Steenee, Chinchou, Nuzleaf, Sylveon
Lillie's Pokemon: Eevee, Hitmonchan, Rufflet, Shuckle, Ribombee, Gengar, Magearna, Cloyster, Boltund, Cherrim, Meowstic, Vulpix (A)