The following weekend Ashley and Chloe rode in Penny's bag to Cascarrafa Town before getting out when they rode the elevator up to the gym and approached it.
"Vaultin' Veluza! I'm late! I'm late!" a voice said as a man ran out of the gym and pass the three of them.
"I think that was the gym leader," Penny, noted as a gym staffer came out.
"Ah… Kofu! Wait! Ahhh, he got away. How am I supposed to return this to him now…?" she said, before noticing the three of them. "Oh hey! You're here as a Gym Challenger, right?"
"All three of us are trainers here for the gym challenge," Ashley said.
"Well there is no law against it," the staffer said before shrugging, "That big man that just left is Kofu, leader of the Cascarrafa Gym. He has a bit of a childlike side to him and today he's run off to the market without his wallet. Hell be in big trouble without it… that's where you three come in, kind gym challengers! Could you please take Kofu's wallet to him?"
"Sure," Penny agreed.
"Ohhh! You are too kind! I'd give you the a gym Badge right now if I could! Here's his Wallet! I'm counting on you!" she said giving Chloe the wallet. "This can be your gym test here. If you three do this for me, you pass! Kofu's headed to Porto Marinada. It's on the other side of the desert to the west. Be careful though, there are many dangerous Pokémon in the desert!"
With that she returned while Chloe, Ashley, and Penny used the Flying Taxi to get there fast. Where Gym Trainer Hugo tried to stop them from talking to Kofu, only for Ashley's Meowscarada to make short work of his Floatzel and Clauncher with Flower Trick before Chloe returned the wallet and Penny took part in the auction at Kofu's request, before they returned to the gym.
"Chloe! Ashley! Penny!" the staffer said when they returned, "I heard you reunited Kofu with his Wallet! I can't think you enough. Though this is a little irregular, please consider your Gym Tests passed! Are you ready to challenge Gym Leader Kofu, the Surging Chef?"
"Yes!" they agreed.
"Very well. Allow me to show you to the battle court!" the staffer said, leading the way, where they found Kofu getting past his fans as Ashley went first.
"Heya, step right up!" Kofu said, "I've been waitin' for the three of ya'. Thanks for the help over in Porto Marinada! You three did a mighty fine job! And now that I've got,that legendary seaweed, I kin make some real quality dishes with it! But don' expect me to go easy on ya in our battles here!
"Wouldn't dream of it!" Ashley smirked.
"At the auction we battle with buyin' and sellin'." Kofu said, "as my Gym, we battle in a more traditional sense! Moves and tactics ever changin' as the raging sea! I'mma serve you a full course o' Water-type pokemon! Don't try to eat 'em, though!"
With that Kofu sent out Veluza while Ashley used Meowscarada.
"Flower Trick!" Ashley called, as Meowscarada must have been paying attention to the contest classes, as she started dancing in a captivating way, using her movements to aid her Flower Trick's attack in a way contests would approve of. Then doing the same against Wugtrio and Terastallized Crabominable.
"Vaultin' Veluza! Yet a lively one aren't ya! A little TOO lively, if I do say so myself! Gahaha!" Kofu laughed. "A loss as refreshing as the air at the morning market! I'm just like a helpless Magikarp to you, he? Floppin around all willy-nilly! You got me good, I tell ya! What a great catch you are! Just like a Master Fisher, ya held on tight till the last second and reeled in victory! Now it's time to hand over a gym Badge to ya!"
With that Kofu handed Ashley a gym Badge before healing his Pokémon to face Chloe, who used Pawmot, who somehow managed to make his electric attacks play music and Penny, who used Leafeon, who used Leaf blade with the blade having different shapes, before they returned to the academy, never knowing that because of them not getting along with Nemona, they never had her mention them to the Elite Four and thus they never took an interest in them and thus they missed meeting one of the elite four at that point.