Skipping Sonia, because she has no useful information here.
The path to Turffield was filled with wild Pokémon, but other than the occasional Meowth or Electrike that found their way out, the patches were entirely skippable. Victor and Gloria decided to wander and battle anyway, triggering Rookidee's evolution and Dishwasher's love of food.
They approached the town after an hour or two of training, where they found Gym Leader Milo. Or, rather, Milo's Wooloo ran Victor over, only to stop when he grabbed a handful of its wool.
"Gloria," he said as the Pokémon looked around to try to see who was holding it. "I'm thinking we should have lamb chops instead of dirt curry for our next meal."
Gloria didn't get to answer, as they heard the shout of "There he is!" and the man they recognized as the Gym Leader approached.
"Thanks," Milo said as he caught up with Wooloo, taking it from Victor. But when he got a better look, he almost let go of his captive. "Aren't you one of the Gym Challengers endorsed by the Champion?"
"Aren't you a Grass-type user?" Victor asked in return.
Milo nodded. "Gym mission," he explained, and they both nodded in understanding.
"So how do you get in to watch the matches?" Gloria asked, looking up at the Gym Leader hopefully. "Is it a 'get in while you can,' or do you pay for your seat?"
"There is a small admission fee," Milo admitted. "Only costs as much as a Pokeball per person -"
"I can't afford that," Gloria complained, even though she had her share of prize money. She probably wanted to save it for buying actual Pokeballs to get even more prize money. With a dramatic sigh, she turned to Victor. "Good luck, then. I'll be watching at the Pokémon Center."
When Milo left, Victor came closer to his friend. "You're sneaking in, aren't you?" he asked in a whisper.
"Of course I am," Gloria answered immediately. "And you should start heading to the stadium."
Hop was waiting there by the Pokémon Center, looking out at the stadium. "The Gym Leader just returned," he explained, "but the place was so packed with challengers I couldn't even get in. It'll be ages before our turn comes up."
"So that gives us time to prepare," Victor decided, heading into the building. "I have Dash, but I'd prefer it if I just didn't have anything weak to Grass on my team. Gloria, would you let me borrow Dishwasher and Rogue?"
"If you make your Pokémon promise to listen to me," was the instant answer.
So that was how Victor and Gloria were sitting all of their Pokémon down, explaining the situation and telling them all that Gloria was to be obeyed no matter how many badges she didn't have, and the same with Victor. Drilbur alone was doubting it, but Victor reassured his friend that it was just because she hadn't tasted dirt curry yet.
"My cooking is not magical," Gloria told him, but Victor refused to hear it.
"No one can hate you after tasting your dirt curry. That is magic, Gloria. You're a witch, and the curry is your potion."
"Then what's my money spell?" she challenged.
"Figure it out."
Drilbur, for her part, didn't seem to understand the conversation, and spoke to Dishwasher about Gloria herself.
Hop got the first try at the badge. It was only natural, as he'd gotten to Turffield first. He won it in one try, and gave Victor a warning about the Gym Mission.
"It's a challenge," he admitted, "but I'm a natural at wrangling Wooloo. Have one myself, and all."
"So I'm going to wrangle Wooloo?"
"Like living footballs," Hop confirmed, "though try not to kick them, Milo hates that."
"I do what I want," Victor said instantly.
"Don't ask how I know."
There was a moment of awkward silence as the three friends sat on that thought for a bit. Then Hop recovered.
"Well, be seeing you," Hop said, ducking past them and waving as he started to walk off. "I can't explain more than I already have. And Gloria, about your seat..."
"I'll break in," she promised. "Thanks for the warning."
With that, the three headed in different directions, ready for the next step on the journey.
Victor found himself led to a secret area, where the referee explained that the rules were more complicated than Victor had assumed from watching TV. The Gym Mission was kept a secret, known only to those who took the challenges or paid for their seats (apparently, a TV in the stadium played it) while the challenger was trying to fight his or her way through. Milo's Gym. The mission itself, thanks to Hop's advance warning, was exactly how Victor thought it would be. Fields of green, with Wooloo scattered around and waiting for him to come and chase them.
He wondered if Gloria had fought her way to a seat.
If not, he wasn't going to spoil the challenge for her. He ran forward, and the nearest Wooloo curled up and started rolling forward. It was easier than it sounded, apparently.
The next field gave him some actual challenges. A Yamper was running around to scare the Wooloo, and there was a trainer at the end, ready to ambush the challenger as soon as he got the Wooloo to the destination.
Victor won, of course. It was Dash against a Gossifleur. Even the final round didn't give him any problems in the battle department, but he certainly had to restrain himself from punting a Yamper across the field when it cornered one of the Wooloo.
Still, he reached the end of the challenge, and climbed the last set of stairs. He was immediately greeted by the cheering of fans.
The referee made his announcement. "Welcome, everyone! Today, we celebrate another start to a journey. The challenger – Number 123, Victor Bradley!"
The fans cheered again. Victor took a moment to appreciate the applause, and then stepped out onto the field. He waved, getting the audience more excited, and the referee spoke again.
"And of course, we all know his opponent. Our hometown's Gym Leader, the great Milo!"
The cheering was even louder now, as Milo stepped out onto the main field. Like Victor, Milo waved to the audience, and then the battle began.
Once Milo Dynamaxed his Eldegoss, Victor knew he'd all but won.
The Gossifleur had been taken out by Dash, like all of the previous trainers. When Eldegoss had first been sent out, he'd switched to Corvisquire, and that led to the current situation.
Corvisquire had been Dynamaxed, too. Eldegoss had the evolution to help its power, but Corvisquire had the type advantage. Hopefully, typing was all that was needed.
"Max Airstream!" Victor commanded, and Corvisquire jumped into action as if he'd been using Dynamax his whole life.
It wasn't enough to down Eldegoss in one hit, but luckily, Max Strike didn't do nearly as much damage as Victor had thought, so a second hit was all he needed.
Victor was stunned speechless, and doubted he would have been getting much out over the cheering. He barely even processed meeting Milo halfway across the field, or shaking his hand, or even taking the Grass Badge.
He finally came back to his senses when he saw Gloria, glasses on so she could actually see the battle, approach him and give him a playful punch.
"Brilliant, Victor," she said, which was all the proof he needed to tell him that she had managed to sneak in, after all.
Or she bought a ticket, in which case he was even more impressed.
Victor: Dash (Raboot) Corvisquire, Chewtle, Drilbur
Gloria: Ace (Drizzile) Dishwasher (Galarian Zigzagoon) Rogue (Thievul)