"Unable to schedule a Gym Challenge, Victor and Gloria return to Budew Drop Inn, where they come across the mystery of stolen Pokémon. Aided by a famous detective, our heroes catch the thief. Now, is Victor ready for his battle with Kabu?"

"Playing with Fire-Types"

At the Motostoke Stadium, Victor and Gloria are entering, as an exhausted Hop slumping away from the counter.

"Hey, is that Hop?" Gloria notices.

Hop sees his friends and immediately stands up straight and walks over to them, "Hey, Victor, Gloria. I just won my third Gym Battle, which was easy peasy."

Victor and Gloria look at each other.

"That's great, Hop," Gloria sweat drops.

"Good job," Victor sweat drops.

"Well, I am the future League Champion," Hop says with a small laugh.

"Marnie! Marnie!"

Hop turns, as the three see a large group of Team Yell members, with Jean and Paul among them, before they see Marnie coming out of a door.

"Hey, it's Marnie," Victor says.

Suddenly, Jean and Paul stop moving, before hurrying over to the three friends.

"Look who here, Jean!"

"I see, Paul!"

"I don't even know why you're trying!" Jean yells.

"Yeah, you're no match for Marnie!" Paul adds.

"Have you two ever heard of an indoor voice?" Gloria asks, with a hand to one ear.

Victor looks over to the approaching Marnie, "Did you just have your Gym Battle too?"

"I needed to catch my breath in the locker room," Marnie explains.

"Because Kabu was no match for Marnie!" Paul shouts.

"Of course he wasn't!" Jean adds.

Marnie starts to walk past Victor, whispering, "Be very careful."

Marnie finishes walking past Victor, who turns as Team Yell walks with her.

Victor watches as Marnie leaves.

"Be very careful."

Shortly later, in the center of the arena, "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…"

Victor stands out at the front of a large field.

"In this Gym Mission," Dan's voice continues to be heard over a loudspeaker. "The Gym Challenger, Victor, must defeat five wild Pokémon trained by the Gym Trainers, earn himself five points, and move on to the Gym Battle with Kabu."

Gloria sits in the stands, with Sobble on her lap and Dottler and Sirfetch'd sharing a seat next to her.

"I hope Victor will be okay, I still remember our battle with Kabu," Gloria says.

"Sir, Fetch! Sir, Fetch!" Sirfetch'd waves its leek, with Dottler sweat dropping.

"Right…" Gloria responds.

"Let the Gym Mission begins!"

Victor sighs, "Okay, here goes nothing."

Victor takes a couple steps out, when a Vulpix jumps out, "Vul!"

"A Vulpix first, huh," Victor holds out a Poké Ball and then throws it. "Go, Scorbunny! Use Ember!"

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

"None of Victor's Pokémon has a type advantage against Fire-Types, perhaps I should offer to lend him Sobble," Gloria looks down at Sobble in her lap.

"Sobbl?" Sobble looks up at its Trainer.

Gloria smiles, with Sobble returning the smile.

Gloria looks back ahead, "No, Victor wouldn't want to battle with anyone but his own Pokémon."

A Litwick jumps at Victor and Scorbunny, as fireballs shoot from the purple flame on Litwick's head.

"Scorbunny, use Tackle!"

"Scor!" Scorbunny charges against Litwick.

A Sizzlipede lunges at Victor and Scorbunny.

"Scorbunny, rapid fire Ember!"

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

Gloria watches as the large screen shows Victor and Scorbunny facing off against a Growlithe.

"Wait, is Victor only using Scorbunny…" Gloria realizes. "Could it be he's not planning on using Scorbunny against Kabu, or is he trying to win with all out strength…"

"If I may," Herlock approaches Victor and Gloria. "I was watching Scorbunny earlier, and if you want to teach it Double Kick, you must first strengthen its leg muscles."

"Could Victor be trying to train Scorbunny here…" Gloria wonders.

"Scorbunny, Ember, one more time!" Victor calls out.

"Scor!" Scorbunny jumps and shoots a series of fireballs from its mouth, knocking back a Salandit.

Scorbunny lands and breathes heavily.

"The Gym Mission ends!" Dan heard over the loudspeakers.

"Victor made it," Gloria says. "But now I'm worried about what Pokémon he will use, since Scorbunny must be so tired."

"Sobbl…"

"Now, it is time for the Gym Battle to commence!" Dan announces, over a round of applause. "First, is the Motostoke Gym Leader, Kabu!"

Kabu enters the arena, jogging, as the crowd cheers.

"And now, the Gym Challenger, Victor!"

Victor enters the arena from the other side, looking straight ahead and inhales, as he walks toward his spot on the arena.

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.

"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," Kabu throws a Poké Ball. "Go, Ninetales!"

"Nin! Tales!" Ninetales appears from red energy.

Victor's Rotom Phone flies up and floats in front of him, "Ninetales, the Fox Pokémon, It is said to live 1,000 years, and each of its tails is loaded with supernatural powers."

Victor grabs his Rotom Phone, "This won't be easy." He exhales and holds up a Poké Ball. "Here go nothing." He throws the Poké Ball. "Go, Scorbunny."

The Poké Ball opens and shoots out red energy, turning into Scorbunny, who breathes heavily.

"Scor… Scor…"

"He's still using Scorbunny?" Gloria reacts.

"Okay, Scorbunny, I know you're tired, so let's end this quickly," Victor says.

"Scor…" Scorbunny nods its head.

"Alright, get in close and use Ember!" Victor instructs.

"Scor," Scorbunny jumps ahead

"Ninetales, dodge," Kabu instructs.

"Nin," Ninetales jumps back, as a series of fireballs hit the ground.

"Scor…" Scorbunny lands on the same spot.

"Scorbunny, Growl!"

"Scor… Scor…" Scorbunny exhales before leaning back.

"Quick Attack," Kabu instructs.

"Nin," Ninetales runs ahead and slams into Scorbunny.

"Scor!" Scorbunny is knocked back.

"Disappointing…" Kabu starts. "Ninetales, Ember."

"Nin, Tales," Ninetales shoots a series of fireballs from its mouth, hitting Scorbunny, still in midair.

"Scor!" Scorbunny lands hard on the ground.

"Scorbunny!" Victor runs to his Pokémon, seeing its eyes are whirling.

"Scorbunny is unable to battle!" Kabu announces.

Victor holds Scorbunny in his arms, "I'm so sorry, Scorbunny. I know you are tired, get a lot of rest."

"Scor…"

Victor holds up a Poké Ball, which shoots a red beam at Scorbunny, turning it into red energy and flies back into the Poké Ball. Victor then holds up another Poké Ball, looking at it.

Earlier, Victor is seated in the locker room, with Scorbunny, Rookidee, Pikachu, and Toxel standing in front of him.

"Okay, Kabu is a Fire-Type Gym Leader, so I'll start with Scorbunny," Victor says.

"Scor!" Scorbunny happily waves its hands.

"Dee," Rookidee happily holds up a wing toward Scorbunny.

"Pika, pika," Pikachu smiles.

"Now, Hop said Kabu's Gym Battles are two vs. two, so who else should I use…" Victor wonders.

"Toxe! Toxe!" Toxel happily waves its hands.

"Toxel…" Victor looks at his Pokémon, as he thinks back to Toxel battling Gastrodon.

"Toxe! Toxe!"

Victor looks at the Poké Ball in his hand, exhales and then throws it, "Go, Toxel!'

The Poké Ball opens and shoots out red energy, forming Toxel, "Toxe!"

"So he's going with Toxel…" Kabu says to himself.

"Okay, let's end this fast, Toxel, use Nuzzle!" Victor calls out.

"Toxe!" Toxel rubs its cheeks, before shooting out electricity.

"Ninetales, keep your distance," Kabu instructs.

"Nin," Ninetales jumps back, as the electricity hits the ground.

"Toxel, keep it up," Victor instructs.

"Toxe!"

"Nin," Ninetales continues to dodge the electricity.

"This is getting us nowhere," Victor says. "I know, Toxel, spray Acid around Ninetales!"

"Toxe! Toxe!" Toxel yells, before it starts shooting globs of acid from its mouth.

"Nin," Ninetales dodges the globs of acid as they fly past it, before a glob of acid manages to hit one of its tails. "Nin!"

"It manages to hit Ninetales," Kabu realizes. "Not bad, Toxel's stamina for someone so small is impressive. But since Acid lowers its opponent's special defense, we can't allow another hit. Ninetales, Will-O-Wisp."

"Nin…" Ninetales' tails straightened up, before blue flames formed on each tails' tips and then flew off. "Tales!"

"Toxel, dodge!" Victor instructs.

"Toxe! Toxe!"

Toxel jumps to the side, dodging the first flame, before falling into a roll, missing the second flame. It continues rolling back and forth, dodging each remaining flame.

"Alright, Toxel, now use Nuzzle!" Victor calls out.

Toxel stops rolling in front of Ninetales, who stares down at it.

"Nin?"

"Toxe!" Toxel rubs its cheeks, with electricity shooting off and blasting Ninetales.

"Tales!"

"Before it could recover, use Acid again!"

Toxel, having gotten back up, shoots a glob of acid, hitting Ninetales, who stumbles back.

"Nin…" Ninetales then falls down, with its eyes whirling. "Tales…"

"Ninetales is unable to battle!" Dan announces.

"Alright, one down," Gloria holds up one arm.

"Sobbl!" Sobble smiles.

Ninetales turns into red energy and flies into the Poké Ball held by Kabu, "Well done, Ninetales."

Kabu then looks ahead as Victor cheers on Toxel, who happily waves its arms.

Kabu smiles, "I know Toxel has a lot of potential, but how will it do against my best?"

Kabu throws a Poké Ball, "Go, Centiskorch!"

The Poké Ball opens and shoots out red energy, which forms Centiskorch, "Centi! Skorc!"

"Sir! Fetch!" Sirfetch'd angrily says, before it looks to the side and crosses its arms, as Dottler sweat drops.

"At least you're not losing your temper at wanting a rematch…" Gloria says, with a sweat drop. "So it's a start."

"Okay, Toxel, let's start off with Acid!" Victor instructs.

"Toxe!" Toxel shoots out a glob of acid.

"Centi!" Centiskorch dodges the glob of acid.

"Centiskorch, Bug Bite," Kabu instructs.

"Skorc!" Centiskorch lunges forward.

"Toxe!" Toxel is knocked back.

"Toxel, another Acid!"

"Toxe!" Toxel shoots out a glob of acid.

"Centiskorch, Flame Wheel," Kabu instructs.

"Centi! Skorc!" Centiskorch starts rolling head over tail, as its body becomes engulfed in flames, dodging the glob of acid.

"Toxe!" Toxel is knocked to the side by the rolling Centiskorch.

Centiskorch, still rolling, turns around and rolls back, knocking Toxel back again.

"Not good…" Victor realizes.

Centiskorch rolls back toward Toxel, as it returns to its feet.

"Toxel, quick, use Growl!"

"Toxe!" Toxel screams at the approaching Centiskorch, as soundwaves cause the rolling Pokémon to wobble slightly.

"Now, Flail!"

"Toxe!" Toxel jumps slightly, slamming its hand against the side of the rolling Centiskorch, knocking it to the side.

The flames around Centiskorch dissipates, as it uncoils itself, "Centi. Skorc."

"Not bad at all," Kabu says, before he notices that Toxel, standing upright, is breathing heavily with small scratch marks on its body. "Toxel had taken a lot of damage… but its power had definitely earned our full strength."

"Centi."

"Full strength…?" Victor wonders.

"Burn bright," Kabu holds out a Poké Ball, which shoots out a red beam, turns Centiskorch into red energy and flies back into the Poké Ball. He then holds out the Poké Ball, which becomes surrounded with a large, red Poké Ball. He then turns around and throws it, "Centiskorch, Gigantamax!"

The large Poké Ball opens and shoots out a massive red energy, which coils around, almost endlessly, before four flaming whiskers shoot out of the front, and it completely takes shape as Centiskorch, "Centi! Skorc!"

"Centiskorch can Gigantamax…" Victor realizes, before looking at his Dynamax Band and inhales. "Okay, here we go…"

Victor holds out a Poké Ball, which shoots out a red beam, turning Toxel into red energy, which flies back into the Poké Ball. "Go, Toxel!" Victor then holds out his hands, with the large, glowing Poké Ball surrounding it, before Victor starts to turn around, "Dynamax!"

Victor throws the large Poké Ball which opens and shoots out a massive red energy, as it starts to take shape and grows, until it forms a giant Toxel, "Toxe!"

"Sobbl…" Sobble looks up at the giant Toxel.

"Let's go, Centiskorch, Max Ooze!" Kabu instructs.

"Centi!" Centiskorch coils low to the ground. "Skorc!"

Large geysers of ooze suddenly erupt beneath Toxel, blasting it, "Toxe!"

"Now, Max Flutterby!"

"Centi!" Centiskorch raises its head high in the sky and lunges forward slightly, as glowing butterfree-like shapes fly away from it. "Skorc!"

The butterfree-like shapes fly into Toxel, blasting it repeatedly, "Toxe!"

"Toxel!" Victor calls out. "This must be Kabu's full strength. It's too much, maybe this was too soon for Toxel…"

"Toxe!" Toxel starts shooting a spray of acid at Gastrodon.

"Gastro!" Gastrodon is knocked backward onto its back.

"No… Toxel was ready a long time ago. I wasn't ready…" Victor starts to look down. "I was holding Toxel back…"

"Toxe…"

Victor looks ahead to see Toxel, with some scratch marks, and looks back at him, with a smile.

"Toxe."

"Toxel…" Victor says to himself, before nodding his head. "Right, I won't hold you back, Toxel. You might be young, but you're ready for this. And so am I. We will win together!"

"Toxe!"

"Victor is actually growing stronger right before me," Kabu crosses his arms. "But it's too late. Centiskorch, let's end this with G-Max Centiferno!"

"Centi!" Centiskorch brings together its body and fires a massive flaming vortex from it. "Skorc!"

"Toxel, quick, use Max Ooze!" Victor instructs.

"Toxe!"

Toxel brings its hands down on the ground, before large geysers of ooze erupt from the ground, blocking the flaming vortex, and blasting Centiskorch from beneath.

"He used Max Ooze as both defense and offense," Kabu realizes. "Centiskorch, get in close and attack again!"

"Centi! Skorc!" Centiskorch lunges forward.

"Toxel, use Max Lightning!" Victor calls out.

"Toxe!"

A large blast of electricity shoots from Toxel up and comes down, but Centiskorch quickly turns, dodging the attack, with the ground now glows slightly with a slight electric current.

"Max Lightning created an Electric Terrain, which boosts Electric-Type moves," Kabu realizes. "Centiskorch, watch out!"

"Toxel, another Max Lightning!"

"Toxe!"

Toxel shoots another blast of electricity which flies down, with Centiskorch turning quickly to dodge.

"This isn't good, Centiskorch just gonna dodge until Electric Terrain wears off and then attacks," Victor thinks to himself. "And Toxel might not be able to handle another attack…"

Victor watches as Centiskorch moves around the arena.

"Wait, could that…?" Victor realizes. "Toxel, keep on using Max Lightning!"

"Toxe!"

Toxel starts shooting blasts of electricity, with Centiskorch moving around the arena, constantly dodging the attacks.

"Centi! Skroc! Centi! Skorc!"

"What is he doing?" Kabu wonders. "He's just wasting Toxel's energy and will just make its Dynamaxed form end sooner. Has he grown desperate…? No, he's acting like he has a plan, but what…?"

"Toxe! Toxe!"

Toxel continues to fire blasts of electricity, with Centiskorch continuing to dodge around the arena.

"Toxe!"

Toxel fires one more blast of electricity, with Centiskorch spins away to dodge, before it bumps against the Max Barrier.

"Centi?" Centiskorch realizes it is up against the Max Barrier. "Skorc?!"

"He backed Centiskorch up in a corner!" Kabu realizes.

"Toxel, Max Strike!"

"Toxe!" Toxel slams a hand on the ground, causing a part of the ground to crack, before a large explosion geyser shoots up, hitting Centiskorch.

"Centi! Skroc!"

Victor then notices the ground's glow is diminishing and Toxel is breathing heavily as its body gives a slight glow, "We're running out of time, hurry, Toxel, another Max Lightning!"

"Centiskorch, dodge!" Kabu calls out.

"Toxe!"

Toxel shoots up a large blast of electricity. Centiskorch starts to move to the side. The blast of electricity comes down, creating a massive explosion, with Victor and Kabu holding up their arms.

The smoke starts to clear and show Toxel, having returned to normal size, breathing heavily. The smoke continues to clear, revealing Centiskorch, returned to normal, lying down with its eyes whirling.

"Centiskorch is unable to battle!" Dan calls out. "The winner is Challenger Victor!"

The audience starts to applaud and cheer.

"Alright, they did it!" Gloria bumps an arm into the air.

"Sobbl!"

"Dot-er!"

"Sir, Fetch!"

Three red energies shoot out onto the arena, forming Scorbunny, Rookidee, and Pikachu.

"Alright, everyone, we did it!" Victor tells his Pokémon.

"Toxe!" Toxel happily hops up and down.

"Scor!"

"Pika!"

"Dee!"

Kabu walks over, "You did a remarkable job. You and your Pokémon, Victor. As such, it is my pleasure to give you this Fire Badge." Kabu hands Victor a badge that is designed to shape like a flame.

The Fire Badge is added to the metal ring.

"Alright, I got the Fire Badge!" Victor holds up the metal ring.

"Toxe!"

"Scor!"

"Dee!"

"Pika!"

Later, Victor and Gloria are leaving the Pokémon Center.

"Why I'm not surprised that Hop had already left," Gloria says, before realizing Victor is looking at his Gym Badge. She smiles, "Three down."

"And five to go," Victor clenches the badges in this hand.

"Well, look who it is."

Victor and Gloria look up to see Kabu is jogging up to them.

"Kabu, are you jogging after a day of Gym Battles?" Gloria asks.

"Of course, I must keep my strength up," Kabu answers.

"Of course…" Gloria responds.

"So, are you heading out now?" Kabu asks.

"Yes, and next would be…" Victor tries to think of the answer.

"I believe your next stop should be Stow-on-Side," Kabu responds.

"Stow-on-Side?" Gloria repeats. "I think that's pretty far away."

"Indeed, you're gonna have to go through the Wild Area," Kabu says.

"Wild Area, huh…?" Gloria, as she thinks about her, Victor, and Hop being chased by an Onix.

"Well, I'm ready," Victor says, surprising Gloria.

Gloria smiles, "Then, so am I."

In a few short moments, Victor and Gloria are walking away, waving at Kabu, who is jogging in the opposite direction.

"A difficult battle is rewarded with the Fire Badge. Now our heroes are set to return to the Wild Area. But what kind of adventure and excitement will they come across next?"

"Find out, as the journey continues…"