Chapter 44 The Mural

As the group is walking toward the Mural, which is located at the stairway between Laterally and Stow-on-Side, they suddenly feel the ground shaking as they hold on to the fence for a while. Sonia asks, "Wha...? What in the world was that?"

"It sounds like it came from the direction of the ruins, too..." Allister says.

"Let's have a look." Ash says as they rush there, as they are rushing towards the mural. Delia and Opal are standing behind them, and Delia turns to her aunt and asks, "Auntie, what about you?"

Opal says, "I'm going back to my gym, since Ash has defeated quite some gyms, I better get prepared." Delia nods as she rushes to chase the kids.

When they arrive, they see Bede using the elephant Pokemon known as Copperajah to Tackle the mural. The power is what causes the ground to shake. "Destroy it! Destroy it! We're going to find those Wishing Stars! We've got to bring the chairman more Wishing Stars if we want to please him! Cooperajah! If you're truly the chairman's Pokemon, then you should feel grateful for this chance to help him find Wishing Stars!"

Gloria notices him and she yells, "What are you doing, Bede?"

"Oh my, you again..." Bede says with a groan, but he also notices the gym leaders Allister and Bea. "And you brought two gym leaders here as well."

"What do you think you are doing?" Ash says. "Why are you attacking that mural?"

Bede just stares at him and says, "So you think that you can start collecting Wishing Stars now and get in the chairman's favor?"

"We didn't-" Ash is surprised that Bede is accusing him of something he didn't do.

"That's the way of things, is it? I see. So you do have some cunning in you." Bede says. "But I won't allow it, I won't let anyone stand in my way."

"So you are going to destroy that mural for the Wishing stars? How dare you?" Bea says.

Allister says, "We must stop him, Bea, can you lend me a hand?"

Bea nods as the two of them send out Polteageist and Sirfetch'd. Bede sends out Gothirita and Duosion to battle. Polteageist uses Shadow Ball to attack Duosion, which is dodged by the Psychic and lands it on Sirfetch'd. Sirfetch'd use Meteor Assault, causing a lot of damage to the Gothirita. Then, in the end, they use Brutal Swing and Sucker Punch to end the two Pokemon.

Bede sends out Ponyta and Hattrem next, Hattrem uses Dazzling Gleam to defeat both Pokemon, so they send out Gengar and Machamp instead. Gengar uses Sludge Bomb on Ponyta, causing it to be poisoned. While Machamp uses Heavy Slam on Hattrem, causing them a lot of damage. In the end, they are finished with Dark Pulse and Hex.

"But why...? How can this be? I just defeated you a few days ago! How could I lose to you so easily right now?" Bede yells in anger. Then he turns to Ash and grits his teeth, "And how could someone like you get in my way? I was chosen by the chairman...I was the one who was to defeat the Champion...I'm one of the elite- someone who can shoulder the future of the Galar Region!"

Just then, Chairman Rose, Oleana, and Elena come to the mural and Chairman Rose asks, "What's going on?"

Elena notices Ash and she smiles at him, she says, "Ash, it is nice to see you again."

"Same here, but why are you and your father here?" Ash asks in confusion.

"Bede asked Papa to lend him his Copperajah, and we were just wondering why he wants to do that." Elena says as she looks at the mural and then Bede with disgust. "But I can't believe he would try to use Papa's Pokemon to destroy the mural..."

Oleana says, "Challenger Bede, I can't believe you'd try to use Chairman's Pokemon to destroy a historical site!"

"Who cares for some ancient ruin when the next thousand years are at stake?!" Bede asks, much to everyone's shock and anger because he really doesn't care. "Did you stand in the path of a Pokemon's Simple Beam or something? How do you expect to support the Chairman with that sort of thinking?"

Rose stares at Bede for a while, and then he shakes his head and says, "Young Bede...It pains me to have to say this, but...I am truly disappointed. I am indeed the one who found you, back when you were all alone...I saw talent in you. You reminded me a little bit of myself, back when I was young. That's why I sent you to a Trainer's school, to give you a chance at success. But trying to destroy the mural-"

Suddenly, Rose yells at him, causing everyone to be surprised because the usually kind and happy chairman has never shown his angry face before. "-part of Galar's history! You show no love toward Galar!"

Trenor is a little terrified and asks Elena, "Does Chairman usually get angry like this?"

Elena shakes her head and says, "No, he was kind, it is rare to see him like this...Bede is really in trouble."

Rose turns to Delia, he asks, "As the queen of this region, what do think we should do to give him punishment?"

Delia says, "According to the law, destroying a historical site means that he is trampling the history of Galar. But revoking the trainer's license is too much. I suggest that he is stripped off the Gym Challenge."

Bede widens his eyes and says, "You can't be serious, right?"

Rose says, "I agree. You're not worthy of being a Gym Challenger, we will decide what to do with you later. For now, you will return to Hammerlocke."

Bede takes a step back with horror on his face, "You...you must be joking, right? You're disqualifying me from the Gym Challenge? But you're the one who endorsed me! There are a hundred different ways we could sort this out...Why are you choosing the worst possible option?"

Oleana says, "Challenger Bede. I will be taking those Wishing Stars that you have gathered." Then the two workers take him away, Bede is struggling, but in vain. Rose watches them leave as he slumps to the floor.

"Papa, are you okay?" Elena asks.

"Terrible shame, all this. An absolute disaster..." Rose says with a frown. "I never wish to see us lose challengers for this sort of reason. Yet we do what we must do to keep things fair and sportsmanlike."

Delia says, "Chairman, I am sorry about that...you wanted to protect the Galar Region, but you never knew this is going to happen..."

"It is fine, I must be going." Rose and Oleana leave, Lillie asks, "Aren't you going with him?"

Elena says, "He was always busy, I am here to see how Ash is doing, and it seems like he has 8 badges already."

Gloria says, "We all have. Thanks to Allister and Bea here."

Elena says, "It has been a while, you two. And Allister, you look really good under that mask."

"Thanks..." Allister says.

Sonia says, "You know, during one of Bede's matches, I heard the announcer say that Bede has no family. Apparently, it was Rose who took Bede under his wing, and so Bede was battling for the chairman's sake."

"That is what the League Card said as well." Gloria says.

Alice sighs, "I just hope that the mural survived all that."

But then, they see a crack on the mural as it is going to collapse, Ash notices it and yells, "Everyone! Stay back!"

They rush back as the mural collapse, but what appears behind it are a prince and two dogs, one has a sword and one has a shield.

"What the..." Mark says in awe at what is happening in front of them.

"Not a brilliant turn of events, but the ruins were brought into the light for us to see..." Sonia says as she walks closer. "What does this tell us about Galar's legends?"

Alice says, "Ash, those Pokemon...we saw them in the Slumbering Wealds, right?"

"Yeah..." Ash says to her. "So they were real after all...I thought my eyes are deceiving me..."

"More than any hero, there are those things that appear to be Pokemon that stand out! Not just that, those Pokemon are seemingly holding a sword and shield as if they were using them!" Sonia says.

"So the hero we heard of...was actually two people?" Mark asks.

"Oh, good observation. There really were two heroes. But if that's the case, then why only the one statue at the Budew Drop Inn?" Sonia sighs, "More than any statue of a hero or old tapestry, these ruins made in truly ancient times must show us the real truth. Which means..."

Ash says, "Both the Sword and the Shield are Pokemon?"

"Yup! I was thinking the same thing! Seems like at some port in history the sword and shield were combined with the two actual Pokemon and treated as the same thing...But then what? They just faded from history?"

Delia says, "Two young heroes...The sword and shield were actually Pokemon...But why would the truth of these ruins be hidden when their stories were depicted in artwork?"

Sonia says, "That is to find out. With your help, I really feel like we made a big discovery here. Thanks!"

After Sonia leaves, Bea says, "So brother, you are going to Generant?"

"Yeah, I needed to get the 9th badge." Ash says.

"Generant is located in the Wild Area, close to South Lake Miloch." Elena says. "Maybe these will be some help for you."

Much to their surprise, Elena gives them two League Cards each, one for Bolt and the other one is for Boltera, the Electric-type gym leader duo. "Where did you get these?" Gloria asks.

"Oh, my gym's typing is Steel, and Electric and Steel are very similar in some way." Elena says. "But they are more familiar with Piers, one of our other gym leaders, because they have a band together."

"You mean the band the Maximizers? That band is famous around the Galar Region!" Gloria says.

"This will be a heck of an experience." Alice says. "I can't wait to go there."

"Same here." Ash says.

Then Elena, Bea, and Allister go back to their gyms while Delia goes to find Adam. As for the others, they are going to Generant Town which is located in the wild area.

And Bede has caused a bit of trouble for the chairman, I have made a little change to that. I hope you like it and the next chapter will be back to the wild area.

Ash's New Pokemon: Thwackey, Greedent, Corvisquire, Orbeetle, Thiveul, Eldegoss, Dubwool, Drednaw, Boltund, Carkol, Flapple, Appletun, Silicobra, Barraskewda, Toxtricity (Amped/Low Key), Centiskorch, Hattrem, Morgrem, Linoone (G), Perserker, Sirfetch'd, Yamask (G), Alcremie x63, Cufant, Dracozolt, Arctozolt, Dracovish, Arctovish, 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, Torkoal, Basculin, Heliolisk, Noibat

Alice's Pokemon: Wooloo x29, Dubwool, Salandit, Trapinch, Lunatone, Butterfree (Pink), Litwick, Centiskorch, Drizzile, Eldegoss, Pikachu, Glaceon, Appletun, Morgrem, Aromatisse

Gloria's Pokemon: Cinccino, Conkeldurr, Unfezant, Drednaw, Dwebble, Cufant, Raboot, Golisopod, Ferroseed, Jolteon, Swoobat, Axew, Liepard, Gardevoir

Dawn's Pokemon: Lopunny, Noctowl, Mudsdale, Binacle, Duskull, Piplup, Quilava, Pelipper, Bellossom, Pachirisu, Wobbuffet, Mamoswine, Vullaby, Togekiss

Serena's Pokemon: Diggersby, Pangoro, Drifblim, Roserade, Solrock, Vespiquen, Excadrill, Braixen, Tsareena, Lanturn, Shiftry, Sylveon

Lillie's Pokemon: Eevee, Hitmonchan, Rufflet, Hippopotas, Shuckle, Ribombee, Gengar, Magearna, Cloyster, Boltund, Cherrim, Meowstic, Vulpix (A)