Ash had landed ahead of Chloe and Marnie. One of the perks of Charizard not carrying a metal box. For now, he had to make a quick change, his binder was starting to hurt, and he didn't want to keep it on too long again.

In a private locker room, Ash looked down. While he had kept his body from mostly experiencing female puberty, by the time he had started it, the damage was already done. Readjusting his shirt, Ash heard a knock on the door before a woman in a gym uniform entered.

"Oh good, there you are." The woman said.

"You were looking for me?" Ash asked.

"Yes, we've been waiting for you, thanks again for helping us with this." The woman said.

"It's my pleasure, didn't realize I was taking that long, or that you were waiting." Ash said a bit dumbfounded.

"We're only a few minutes behind schedule, the stadiums packed, so put on a good show." The woman said, ushering Ash through the door.

"Wait, what?" Ash asked in confusion as his eyes adjusted to the stadium lights. The stadium was packed with cheering spectators, Ash felt like he had so many times before. He was back in an arena.

"Ash? What are you doing here?" Bea asked snapping him out of the trance.

"Eternatus is loose, we're tracking him and now I'm in the arena. What's going on?" Ash asked.

"Charity battle for the orphanage Alister and I grew up in." Bea said. "We were supposed to have a guest battler to fight us, but I guess they mistook you for them."

"Well if it's all the same, I'd be happy to step in. How long has it been since I last beat you?" Ash joked.

"I won our last match." Bea taunted.

"I still say that was a cheap tactic." Ash countered.

"It is not my fault you got distracted by an ice cream truck." Bea argued. "It's be nice to have someone I know can handle a double battle do this though."

"Then I'm in. Ready whenever you two are." Ash said walking to his spot.

Outside the arena

"Come on Ash! Pick up!" Chloe said, trying to call him.

"Chloe right?" Marnie asked.

"Yeah, is everything okay?" Chloe asked.

"I found Ash." Marnie said pointing at the jumbo tron above the arena.

"Pikachu! Marshtomp! I choose you!"

"Come on out Grapploct!"

"Polteageist, come forth."

"Not even going to try finding out who that is." Ash said. "Probably give me Pikachu knowing it's luck."

"Grapploct use Octolock!"

"Polteageist use Shadow Ball."

"Pikachu use Quick Attack! Marshtomp you use Hydro Pump!"

Pikachu sped right through the Polteageist as Marshtomp blasted back Grapploct.

"A ghost type, good to know. Pikachu use Discharge! Marshtomp use Rock Tomb!"

"Polteageist use Protect."

"Grapploct use Close Combat!"

Polteageist retreated into its teapot, missing both of Ash's attacks, as electricity zapped Grapploct, before locking into combat with Marshtomp.

"Marshtomp use Mud Bomb! Pikachu use Iron Tail!"

"Polteageist use Giga Drain."

"Grapploct use Octolock!"

Grapploct entangled itself around Marshtomp as Polteageist took aim at him.

"Pikachu stop the attack!" Ash called out.

Pikachu's Iron Tail sent Polteageist hurddling into a wall, knocked out before it even stopped moving.

"Polteageist return. Gengar, it's your turn."

"Marshtomp use Body Slam! Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Grapploct use Close Combat!"

"Gengar use Sludge Bomb."

Marshtomp struggled, finally able to get a bit of footing, enough to launch Grapploct and himself into the air, and slam them back onto the ground, while Pikachu and Gengar traded distanced blows.

"Grapploct return! Machamp you're up!"

"I believe it's time." Alister said.

"Let's see who gets the opportunity." Bea said happily, as a coin appeared on the big screen.

Ash watched as the coin spun, landing on Alister's face.

"Gengar, it's time to Gigantamax." Alister said.

"Pikachu let's join this battle!" Ash said, Dynamax energy surrounding them.

"Machamp use Cross Chop!"

"Gengar use GMax Terror!"

"Marshtomp use Body Slam! Pikachu use GMax Volt Crash!"

Marshtomp and Machamp charged at each other, as Pikachu's and Gengar's energy attacks flew around the field striking each other.

"Marshtomp use Hydro Pump! Pikachu use MaxSteelSpike!"

"Gengar use Max Ooze."

"Machamp use Bulk Up!"

Machamp tanked the blast of water, strengthening its muscles in the process, while metallic spikes shot up into Gengar before it was able to attack.

"Alright, Pikachu use GMax Volt Crash! Marshtomp use Rock Tomb!"

"Gengar use Max Darkness."

"Machamp use Brick Break!"

As the smaller Pokémon charged at each other, two different Max attacks blocked their paths.

"Oh no." Chloe said looking at the screen. A dynamaxed Dusknoir and Conkeldurr making their way into the field.

"We need to evacuate the stadium! Now!" Ash yelled to Bea.

"Alister, stay and help with these two, I'll get everyone out." Bea said.

"Are you going to stand there all day, or are we going to find the idiot in red or blue?" Marnie shouted, snapping Chloe out of her daze.

"Right, let's go." Chloe agreed following Marnie.

Ash and Alister were struggling, these new Pokémon had an advantage against them, having only recently dynamaxed.

"Don't fail me now." Ash said grabbing a Pokeball. "Kommo-o! I choose you!"

Kommo-o landed on the ground with a thud, looking straight ahead.

"Just like we practiced use Clangorous Soul! Pikachu use Thunderbolt! Marshtomp use Hydro Pump!"

"Gengar use Phantom Force."

The smaller attacks did little to distract the larger Pokémon from moving forward on their targets.

"Alright Kommo-o! Use Devastating Drake!" Ash called out, activating his Z Ring.

Kommo-o lept forward, tackling the Conkeldurr to the ground with the force behind its attack, as the Dynamax energy subsided on one of the Pokémon.

"Think you can do that again?" Marnie asked running up.

"No, that was big." Ash said panting.

"Then maybe I can help." Marnie said. "Hey Alister."

Alister simply waved back.

"Alright, Grimmsnarl come on out! Gigantamax!"

The incredibly large Pokémon popped out of its Pokeball, staring down the Dusknoir.

"Grimmsnarl use GMax Snooze!"

Ash watched as the Dusknoir was enveloped in a black bubble, dissipating soon after, the Pokémon inside now asleep.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt! Marshtomp use Hydro Pump! Kommo-o use Boomburst!"

"Gengar use Sludge Bomb."

"Grimmsnarl use Max Starfall!"

Elsewhere

"You!" Chloe said, cornering Shielbert.

"Ah the professors daughter." Shielbert said. "You are irrelevant to this."

"What's that mean, I'm plenty relevant!" Chloe argued.

"You weren't there last time, you have no Dynamax band, you serve no purpose to our plan." Shielbert said. "Even if you did, you are the smallest threat of the group. You can't even muster the courage to help your friends."

"I can, I'm just dealing with you!" Chloe said. "Eevee, let's go."

"Sirfetch'd use Meteor Strike!"

Eevee was blasted into the wall from the single attack.

"As I said, smallest threat. My work here is done." Shielbert said walking past her.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Grimmsnarl use GMax Snooze!"

Finally the energy dissipated from around Dusknoir as it shrunk back to size.

"Bea, listen I." Ahh began.

"Save it, be the hero, we'll take care of these two." Bea said. "See you in the arena sometime."

"Yeah, See you again." Ash said running back out of the gym. They still had plenty of stadiums to cover before Galar was safe from this new threat.