The next week was Finals, and thus they were expecting it to be even harder than Midterms, but with Chloe's study habits, and Ashley and Penny's new computer brains, they aced the written tests for their subjects, especially the science questions, which were easy for them. Chloe and Ashley also had to give a double contest performance, as did Penny and another student for the contest course, luckily Ashley and Chloe had worked together enough that it was easy for them, while Penny had a bit more trouble but managed to pull it off as well.
Once the finals were over they relaxed with a spa day, then once the weekend came they headed to the final gym in Alfornada, and talked to the gym staffer.
"Welcome to the Alfornada Gym! Let me register you as a challenger. Your names are Chloe, Ashley, and Penny, yes?" she asked getting nods. "Great! Now in order to face Gym Leader Tulip, you'll first need to pass the Gym Test. Here at Alfonada, Gym, that means working up a sweat with a special kind of exercise! I'm talking about the Emotional Spectrum Practice, created by Tulip herself, of course. Complete it, and you pass the test! The woman wearing the black tracksuit in the practice area will explain the rules to you. Just turn left after leaving the gym, and you'll find the practice area right next door. Now get out there and have fun!"
With that they headed they found the battle studies teacher Dendra(who they've seen at the academy, but never talked too or had a class with) leading it after losing a battle where the loser has to do what the winner says and making her have to help out. The gym test itself involved showing the emotions Dendra called out. Eventually they passed and ended up facing Tulip herself.
"Hello there. I'm Tulip. The Gym Leader here." Tulip said. "Though I must tell you that being a makeup artist is my main line of work. Dendra had nothing but praisemfor you. She said you totally slayed out there. Hehehe. I must say you three are cute challengers. I'm sure my ESP exercise made you all the more beautiful. Doesn't that make you happy? You keep your pokemon beautiful and clean as well. I see you have quite the aesthetic sense. Appearance is equally important for both people and pokemon. Makeup is like magic. Anyone can use it to change their appearance. Allow me to put my skills to use to make your cute little pokemon even more beautiful!"
With that Tulip sent out Farigiraf, who lost to Meowscarada's Night Slash, then used Gardevoir who lost to Meowscarada's Shadow Claw. Then Esparatha also lost to Night Slash as did Terastalized Florges. Penny did the same with Umbreon's Dark Pulse and Shadow Ball, while Chloe used Skeledirge's Snarl and Shadow Ball.
"I lost the battle? And your beauty rivals even my own? I can't believe it. You are quite splendid. Yes, truly amazing! Perhaps I should take you under my wing. efore you make your big break elsewhere… but I suppose I need to work on myself a little more first before I run off and do such a thing. You three have earned my Gym Badge. Congratulations."
With that they headed to the academy for a good night's sleep, before heading to the pokemon league.