"Victor and Gloria had arrived at the Galar Mine, where they ran into a rowdy Carkol. After managing to help in keeping the peace, Victor clashes with Bede, one of his fellow Gym Challengers. But Bede's Hatenna manages to beat Scorbunny. Now with a defeat on his record, is Victor prepared to take on his first Gym Leader?"

"Mission: Wooloo"

Two tents are sent up several feet away from the entrance to Galar Mine, with Victor, Gloria, and their Pokémon seating at a small table.

Gloria drops a spoon on a plate, emptied except for some residue on it, before she stretches her arms upward, "I think this is the best curry we had made yet."

"Sobbl!"

"Dot-er!"

"Scor!"

"Dee!"

Gloria looks over to her friend, "Don't you think so, Victor?" She sees Victor is looking down, as he slightly glides his spoon over the top of his emptied plate.

"Scor?" Scorbunny tilts its head at its Trainer.

"Victor?" Gloria asks.

Victor looks up to see his friend, "Oh, hum, yeah, very good."

"He seems very deep in thought, not too surprised, considering what's today," Gloria thinks, before she smiles. "So, ready to go?"

Victor drops his spoon on his plate, exhales, and then looks at her with a smile, "Yeah, I am."

Shortly later, Victor and Gloria are walking past yellow grasses, as Gloria holds up her Rotom Phone.

"Okay, we just stick to this path on Route 4, and it will take us straight to Turffield," Gloria says, before she looks to her friend. "So, are you nervous?"

Victor turns to her, completely stiff, "Nervous? Why would I be nervous?"

"Oh… no reason…" Gloria says, with a sweatdrop.

At the Motostoke Stadium, Victor slowly walked onto the field, completely stiff and constantly shaking.

"I'm sure you'll be fine," Gloria says.

Victor relaxes, "I surely hope so…"

"Wooooo!"

Victor and Gloria look ahead to see a Wooloo running toward them.

"A Wooloo?" Victor asks.

"Why is it charging?" Gloria asks.

The two friends look at each other and nod their heads. They then each toss a Poké Ball.

"Go, Scorbunny, use Ember!"

"Sobble, Water Gun!"

Both Pokémon appear from red energies.

"Scor!" Scorbunny shoots a series of fireballs from its mouth.

"Sobbl!" Sobble shoots a stream of water from its mouth.

Both attacks meet on the ground, creating a small explosion, a couple feet in front of the running Wooloo.

"Wooo….!" Wooloo comes to a sudden stop, as the smoke from the explosion dissipates.

Victor and Gloria stand behind their Pokémon, in front of Wooloo, as it exhales.

"So, has it calmed down?" Gloria asks, with a hand on her hip.

"Thank you, thank you, very much," a man wearing a green jacket runs toward the group, patting heavily.

"It's nothing…" Victor starts, as the man stops next to Wooloo, bends over and tries to catch his breath. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just need a minute," the man waves a hand.

"So, are you this Wooloo's Trainer?" Gloria asks.

"Oh no, technically it belongs to the Stadium," the man straightens up, revealing that beneath his jacket is a Gym Uniform.

"That uniform?" Victor realizes. "Are you a Gym Trainer?"

"That's right," the man smiles. "My name is Mark, and I only recently started my training."

"What's a Gym Trainer?" Gloria asks.

"Gym Trainers work and train under a Gym Leader," Victor explains. "I heard they are often responsible for upkeep of the Gyms, or I guess in Galar, that would be Stadiums."

"That's right on all accounts," Mark starts, rubbing the back of his head. "Although, like I said, I'm just a rookie, so I was given the job of taking the flock of Wooloo out for grazing. But then this one got spooked and ran away."

"So that's what happened."

Victor, looking ahead, becomes stiff again, as Mark turns and responds, "Oh, yeah, sorry, sir."

Milo approaches the group, "It's happened, and no one was hurt, that's what matters." Milo then notices the two young Trainers. "And what do we have here? Oh, I remember you."

"Y-You do, sir…?" Victor nervously responds.

"Please, just call me Milo. And yes, I remember you, you were one of the Gym Challengers at the opening ceremony. Am I right to guess that you're planning on challenging me today?"

"Hum, yes, sir, I mean, Milo," Victor answers.

"Marvelous," Milo says, before turning slightly. "Mark and I must return all the Wooloo to the Stadium, and there are other preparations, so how about I go ahead and schedule our match for an hour from now?"

"Yes, that would be good, s-Milo," Victor says.

"Great," Milo smiles, then turns. "Until then. Bye."

Milo waves, as he starts to walk away, with Wooloo and Mark walking with him.

Mark turns slightly to wave at the two Trainers, "See ya' later."

Gloria smiles as she returns the wave, "Wow, I wasn't sure what to expect when meeting a Gym Leader, but Milo seems really nice." Gloria starts to turn to her friend. "Right?"

Gloria then sees Victor is hunched over, with a sweat drop, before she adds, "So… nervous?"

Scorbunny and Sobble both look up at him, with their heads tilt.

Shortly later, Victor and Gloria are walking through Turffield's marketplace, passing by fruit and berry stands.

"There's something I wonder about, Victor," Gloria starts. "You seem very nervous, not just meeting Milo, but being in front of everyone at the opening ceremony. I understand Gym Battles in Kanto don't have large stadiums, but still…"

"I guess I never thought about it…" Victor starts, looking down slightly. "But I remember, years ago, watching the Kanto Champion on TV, and I don't know, just seeing him battling…" He looks up. "I feel like… I want to be like him… Being the best… that I could have ever been…"

Victor looks over to Gloria, who is staring at him, before he adds, "I'm sorry, it might sound kinda weird."

Gloria smiles, "No, it's not weird. You want to follow your dream, no matter the obstacle."

"Yeah, I guess that's it," Victor says.

Gloria then hurry in front of Victor, standing in front of him, "Then we better hurry before you miss your match."

"Right," Victor nods, before the two friends start running ahead.

An hour later, Gloria sits down in the stands at the Turffield Stadium, surrounded by other spectators, with Sobble in her arms and Dottler on her shoulder.

"Okay, are you guys ready for Victor's first Gym Battle?" Gloria asks.

"Sobbl," Sobble smiles.

"Dot-er," Dottler happily adds.

"Then let's make sure to cheer him on," Gloria says to her Pokémon, before looking down at the battle arena. "I just hope he's up for this."

Down in the arena, a man dressed like a referee walks to the center of the arena, holding out his arms, "To everyone who doesn't know me, I am Dan the referee of the Galar League, and it is my proud duty to referee this match. Now…"

Dan holds out a hand, as a large screen at the top of the stadium comes to life to show a large narrow field, with multiple Wooloo spread around the field, before he continues, "As you may know, in the Galar League, to combat a Gym Leader, a Gym Challenger must first complete a Gym Mission. The nature of each Gym Mission varies from Gym to Gym…"

Victor stands out at the front of the large field, wearing a uniform with the number on his back is shown to be 019.

"In this Gym Mission," Dan's voice continues to be heard over a loudspeaker. "A Trainer must herd all twenty Wooloo through the gate at the end of the field." Victor notices a large gate at the other side of the field, which is opened, and has a small screen over it. "There is no time limit, and the Trainer is allowed the use of any Pokémon they bought, but aren't allowed to directly attack or harm the Wooloo."

"This time, the Gym Challenger is Victor from Postwick," Dan continues, as the large screen shows Victor.

"Sobbl," Sobble happily says.

"Well, at least he doesn't appear nervous…" Gloria says, before she sweat dropped. "Although, if he knows how many people are watching him…"

"Alright, let the Gym Mission," Dan's voice continues. "Begins!"

Victor immediately runs off, onto the field, looking around, "Okay, since I have to herd all of the Wooloo to the other side, then perhaps I use the same idea Gloria and I used to stop that one."

Victor holds up two Poké Balls before throwing them, "Go, Scorbunny, Rookidee!"

"Scor!"

"Dee!"

"Scorbunny, use Ember on the ground to force the Wooloo back, Rookidee, fly around them so they won't get away," Victor instructs.

"Scor!" Scorbunny jumps up and starts shooting a stream of fireballs from its mouth, blasting the ground next to couple Wooloo.

"Wooo!" the Wooloo, spooked by the attack, starts to run to the side.

"Dee! Dee!" Rookidee flies around the running Wooloo, but one of the Wooloo charges passes it, forcing Rookidee flying back.

"What?!" Victor stops running, as he sees the Wooloo that was running are running to different sides. "They're scattering… Not good, just scaring them is causing them to run in different directions, I will never be able to herd them at this rate…"

Victor appears on the large screen above the stadium, looking around, with Gloria watching, "C'mon, Victor, you can do this."

"Think, Victor," Victor thinks to himself. "How am I supposed to calm such easily spooked Pokémon…?" He then starts to look around at all the Wooloo. "Wait, they are easily spooked, but they're also kind and innocent. The Wooloo Hop caught only attacked us because it wants to battle Hop, but these Wooloo, they are just too peaceful…"

Victor then holds out two Poké Balls, "Scorbunny, Rookidee, return."

Scorbunny and Rookidee turns into red energy and flies back into the opened Poké Balls, which then close.

Victor then walks over to the nearest two Wooloo, who look up at him, "Wooo…"

"It's okay," Victor gently pats both Wooloo on their heads.

"Woooo," the Wooloo happily responds.

"Let's go," Victor says, before he starts to walk with the Wooloo.

Gloria watches the large screen, as it shows Victor walks with the two Wooloo over to three more Wooloo, with Victor starting to pat each of them on the heads.

"Sobbl."

"Well done," Gloria smiles.

Near one of the entrances to the arena, Milo stands, looking up at the large screen, as he smiles.

Victor continues to go from one group of Wooloo to the next, gently patting them and speaking softly to each Wooloo, as he slowly leads them through the field.

The small screen over the gate comes on, as the number "05" appears, before the number starts to increase to "07" then to "11" to "14" to "16" to "17" to "19" and then "20". It is at that moment a loud buzzer is heard, with Victor standing in front of the gate, as it automatically closes.

"Gym Mission is completed!" Dan is heard announces. "Victor passed!"

The crowd in the stadium starts to applause, as Gloria sighs.

"Dot-er?" Dottler looks to its Trainer.

"I guess I had nothing to worry about," Gloria looks to Dottler, then to Sobble. "Victor will be fine."

"Sobbl," Sobble smiles.

"Now, it is time for the moment everyone has been waiting for!" Dan announces, over the continuing applause. "First, is the Turffield Gym Leader, Milo!"

Milo enters the arena, waving a hand at the crowds, to a lot of applause.

"And now, the Gym Challenger, Victor!"

Victor enters the arena from the other side, completely stiff, as he walks toward his spot on the arena.

"Let's have a good Gym Battle," Milo says, with a large smile.

"Y-Yes…" Victor nervously nods his head, as his eyes keep on looking side to side at the crowd.

Gloria sighs, "Then again, my first instinct could be right…"

At that moment, transmitters start to emerge from the ground around the edge of the arena, before bright lights emerge from them, creating a large dome-shaped barrier around and above the arena.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot, that the Max Barrier used in Stadiums to protect the spectaculars when Trainers Dynamaxed their Pokémon," Gloria watches the forming barrier.

"Both Challenger and Gym Leader are allowed the use of two Pokémon, but only the Challenger is allowed to switch out," Dan says, before he raises a hand. "So, if everyone's ready? Begin!"

"I'll go first," Milo holds up a Poké Ball and then throws it. "Go, Gossifleur!"

The Poké Ball opens up and shoots out red energy, which forms Gossifleur, "Fleur."

Victor's Rotom Phone flies out of his pocket and floats in front of its stiff owner, "Gossifleur, the Flowering Pokémon, It whirls around in the wind while singing a joyous song. This delightful display has charmed many into raising this Pokémon."

"R-Right…" Victor, barely loosening up, holds up a Poké Ball and throws it. "I-I choose you."

The Poké Ball opens up and shoots out red energy, which forms Rookidee, "Dee!"

"Rookidee?" Milo thinks. "I would think he uses his Scorbunny. Maybe he got a battle strategy, or…?"

"He made a mistake," Gloria says, with a sweat drop.

"Anyway, as Challenger, I give you the first attack," Milo says.

"R-Right…" Victor holds up a hand. "Rookidee, use Hone Claws."

"Dee!" Rookidee stretches out its claws, as they shine for a moment.

"Gossifleur, Rapid Spin!" Milo calls out.

"Fleur!" Gossifleur spins around, rapidly, flies toward Rookidee, hitting it hard.

"Rookidee… Power Trip," Victor instructs.

"Rooki… dee!" Rookidee flaps its wings, turns around and starts to stretch out its claws.

"Fleur!" Gossifleur continues to spin around, slamming into Rookidee, knocking it back.

"Rookidee!" Victor calls out.

"Let's push our advantage, Gossifleur," Milo starts. "Magical Leaf!"

"Fleur!" Gossifleur stops spinning, as glowing leaves start to appear and surround it. "Fleur!"

The leaves fly pass Gossifleur, which hits Rookidee, "Dee!"

Rookidee is slammed hard against the barrier, before falling to the ground.

"Rookidee!" Victor runs over to his Pokémon and picks it up in his arms, with Rookidee's eyes swirling.

"Rookidee is unable to battle!" Dan called out, as the crowd started cheering.

"Down to one already…" Gloria says to herself.

"Sobbl…"

"You did great, Rookidee," Victor holds up a Poké Ball, which shoots out a red beam, turning Rookidee into red energy and flies back into the Poké Ball, which Victor then looks at. "I'm sorry…"

Milo watches as Victor walks back over to his spot on the arena, "Ready to continue?"

Victor nods his head, then holds up another Poké Ball, before throwing it, "Go, Scorbunny."

"Scor!" Scorbunny appears from red energy.

"Okay, Gossifleur, let's play safe with this one," Milo tells his Pokémon.

"Fleur," Gossifleur nods its head.

"I once again offer you the first attack," Milo says.

"R-Right… okay… Scorbunny, jump up and use Ember," Victor instructs.

"Scor!" Scorbunny jumps up and starts to shoot a stream of fireballs from its mouth.

"Gossifleur, dodge!" Milo calls out.

"Fleur!" Gossifleur starts to glide across the arena, as the streams of fireballs miss it.

"It's too fast… maybe if we use Growl… but that lower Attack not Speed… but if we keep on using Ember, Scorbunny will tire out…" Victor says to himself.

"Scor! Scor!" Scorbunny calls out, as it is still in midair, but starting to fall.

"Oh, hum... use Ember, again," Victor says.

"Scor!" Scorbunny flips in the air.

"Not so fast, Gossifleur, let's give 'em a Round!" Milo instructs.

"Fleur!" Gossifluer spins around once and then starts to sing.

"Scor…" Scorbunny splits out a puff of fire, before its body starts to shiver.

"Scorbunny… cover your…" Victor starts, before stopping himself. "Wait, that didn't worked against Bede's Hatenna."

Victor starts to reach out, "Scorbunny."

"Let's go, Gossifleur, Rapid Spin!" Milo calls out.

"Fleur!" Gossifleur jumps up and starts to spin rapidly, slamming into Scorbunny.

"Scor!" Scorbunny is knocked back and starts to fall down.

"Gossifleur, Round!" Milo instructs.

"Fleur!" Gossifleur stops spinning and starts to sing downward, sending a shockwave that knocks Scorbunny harder through the air and slams hard onto the ground.

"Scorbunny!" Victor runs over to his Pokémon and picks it up in his arms, with Scorbunny's eyes swirling.

"Scorbunny is unable to battle!" Dan calls out. "With that, Gym Leader Milo wins!"

The crowd explodes into applause and cheers, as Gossifleur lands in Milo's arms, "Well done, Gossifleur."

"Fleur," Gossifleur smiles.

Milo then looks over to Victor, who is on his knees, holding onto Scorbunny.

"I… I'm so sorry, Scorbunny…" Victor softly says, as he hugs his Pokémon.

"Oh, Victor…" Gloria looks down at her friend, sadden.

"Facing defeat can be a difficult experience. But from defeat, one can become even stronger. If one can recover first. Will Victor be able to recover, and confront his fears of battling in front of a large audience at the same time?"

"Find out, as the journey continues…"