The next morning, at a train station. Gloria and her friends gathered for a quick break from the Challengers Cup. With Bede in a boot camp and most of the competitors weeded out, there wasn't a reason to rush this adventure. "These two are my guests for the Isle of Armor express. May they?"

The train master allowed it and the three got on a long trip from Hammerlocke to a station in the middle of nowhere. They set off for the Corviknight taxi and flew off to the nearby isle, Hop and Marnie were seeing the island ever closer. The boy of the group was having that growing smile as Marnie had a burning question to give. "Why didn't you tell me you went on an adventure here? Could have solved a lot of mysteries back there!"

Gloria laughed to that. "You were so ahead of us that I couldn't tell ya." Flap! Flap! The Taxi made it to the station and the trio stepped off, Marnie sent out her Morpeko and looked around at the beach. Basking at the tranquil beauty, Morpeko sniffed around and picked up the scent of spices, drooling and chipping. (There's a ton of new food, here!) Marnie was feeling her stomach rumbling, Hop was having a different gut feeling altogether, one that is making him more relaxed on the matter.

Gloria sent out Fubear, who was eager to be back home and took the breath of salty air with her. "Ha! Even a little work around here would lead to something filling. Once I proved myself worthy of the Armor, I was given the trial of raising Fubear until she and I are close enough together."

Marnie turned to the girl and guessed. "Enough to beat Ms. Opal's ace pokemon? Those quiz's make it tricky." Hop had another example. "Or when you beaten Snorlax like he's an old pillow." Gloria nodded to both. "This was the place where I learned a little more about wits. Acer, Brainy, Sweet Pie and even Shelly all gained something from training 'ere. It got me the nerve to keep going too. So maybe the two of you will find something to learn about 'ere too?"

Marnie looked to her Morpeko and thought out loud. "It be nice to have some alone time with my Pokemon. Maybe I'll get as good as how the Townsfolk see me as."

Gloria's hoping. "If you'd gotten that far yesterday, then I'd say you're up to stuff already. But a bit of finesse will make you someone who could keep up with a Champ!" She turned to the Dojo's path. "Everything we could need is on this island, so let's let the Dojo know before we get some breakfast. Race ya!" She and Kubfu jogged, surprising Hop and Marnie, they and Morpeko made a dash behind the girl, going across the bridge and up the hill. On reaching the Dojo, Gloria opened the doors swiftly and yelled. "I'm back everyone, how's the training been!" The sharp noise caused a chain reaction with in.

CRACK!

Avery was clearly practicing a meditation exercise, using plates as something to levitate. The students got that cleaned as the psychic closed his left eye. "If that extrasensory..." He turned, saw Gloria with new visitors and cringed. "Did you have to go and barge in?" Gloria saw the mess and went to get a broom for some cleaning. "Sorry about that. We just came back after beating three gyms in one day."

Honey approached from the right room, impressed by the feat. "So that's where that confidence came from. And you've only been gone a day." The Kubfu blushed while Gloria stepped aside and allowed her rivals entry. "Well, the routes weren't really that long. Once Sweet Pie, Shelly and Brainy evolved, everything just came." The girl finished sweeping and sheepishly announced. "I've also brought some friends that are partaking in the Gym Challenge as well. These are our guests, if you don't mind."

Honey certainly doesn't as Hop, Marnie and Morpeko entered the humble dojo. Avery sighed. "Great, the more the merrier, I suppose." Marnie and Morpeko gave the psychic a stare as Hop heard cheering from the right, the aspiring boy asked. "This is the place my brother started his carrier as a trainer! Is Master Mustard around?"

At the mention of the name, Mustard arrived, having just finished a video game. He had one look at Hop and was intrigued. "What's this? You look familiar." Hop took a deep breath and asked fast. "You've trained someone named Leon, right? I'm trying to do the Challenge in order to finally beat him." He looked around. "I'll bet he was the top of it all right here, too."

Mustard raised an eyebrow and closed his eyes before giving a light frown. "Until he failed the Trial of Armor." He opened his eyes, as a stern mentor. "If you're hoping to step out of the shadow of that, then you have much to learn."

Hop huhed in a cringe as Marnie closed her eyes fast. "What a bummer!" She opened her eyes and looked around. "I guess we got a lot to do before we earn any respect around here, I'm far from town and all." Mustard guessed and lighten his mood. "You're from Spikemuth, eh? Now that is rare to hear around here." Click! A door opened, letting out a red headed, dojo girl who has quite the smooth hair do and Klara, who smelled like a barber. The poison specialist asked with building excitement. "Spikemuth!" She fanned herself. "Oh my, oh my! Do you know of a singer that lives there? He's like totally the best and it's been forever since I've been to that place."

Marnie blushed at the fangirl. "Maybe, someones got to get that town back on the map one of these days and I'm competing to show what we got." Mustard folded his arms to get it behind his back and smirked. "Well, you and Hop have definitely came to the right place, if you wanted to learn something!"

Gloria started by introducing her rivals to each other. "Hop, Marnie. Klara and Avery were a bunch of trouble makers when I got here, but once they got knocked down a peg, they gotten their act together." "Klara, Avery, you've already met Hop. He and Marnie are my competitors for the Gym Challenge."

Klara waved casually as Gloria asked. "So how's it been?" The lady breathed in and out. "It was only a day since we headed back, so we're trying to learn a thing about patience. I decided to try that by showing one of the things I'm good at." Gloria looked to the dojo girl's hair due. "I'd say you have a gift around 'ere." Avery smirked. "While I try to learn about expanding the force I have. If you're here, then that would mean that you and Kubfu have worked fast during the rest of the day?"

Gloria winked. "Spot on!"

Klara could tell by the Kubfu's attitude. "You don't need a psychic to know that." Avery had a blood vessel pulsing as Mustard coughed. "Alright, that's enough." He looked down at the rugrat and aimed a hand, prompting Fubear to take a step back and rush a few fist punches, each one more precise than last time. The wide smile spoke of a story that Mustard was pleased by. "You and Gloria, look like the best of friends now. I see that confidence you lacked." He looked over to the girl that reported. "We've had some doozies at Ballonlea, but we found a way."

Mustard agreed with a nod. "Then I daresay that the two of you are ready." He was ready to take off. "Follow me once you and your friends settle down." He went out of the Dojo and Honey sighed in bliss. Gloria made her way to the changing room. "This shouldn't take long at all once we get some breakfast. The miss ought to help ya get started while I'm off."

With her gone, Honey took into consideration, what Hop had to hear. "Sorry about what my husband has said. Quite the contrary, Leon was one of his best students in sheer abilities. But when it came to do the trials, he just kept getting lost." Hop closed a left eye in regret. "That hasn't really gotten better since." Honey was disappointed to hear that. "So, what seems to be the problem? If you've made it this far, then you're doing something right."

Hop raised his fists in frustration. "Until I get beaten so badly that you'd kick me out of here." That brought a gasp from the dojo, even Avery and Klara found that to be way too harsh, Hop put his hands in his pockets. "I've tried changing my strategy and partners, that didn't work and when I met Gloria again, she beaten me even faster than before. I got to get back in my game or I'm going to make my brother look bad." Honey eeked to that. "But, your brother's not here. So how about you bring out the pokemon you're comfortable with. Those that you'd made the best of friends with."

Hop searched his box for the two and sent out Rillaboom, a horned sheep with his head out of the wool and wool resembling a soccer ball, and a Corviknight. The Rillaboom gasped and made a cheer with his band mates before readying his drums." Honey's charmed by how well they got along. "Cute!" She looked to Klara and Avery. "Since you two look like you've gotten things straighten out, how about you help Marnie find a trial of her own?"

The rivals were on it as they heard the door open, letting out a Gloria in her dojo uniform. "We'll start on that after we eat! I've heard about omelettes and that could go well in a nice curry bowl!" The girl made here way to the kitchen as Honey rested a hand on her chin and let Marnie go with the senior students. "Hop, before you go join them, tell me about the kind of Pokemon you've worked with?" Hop remembered. "I've started by catching a Cramorant, Toxel and Silicobra. Because I heard some of them are not too common and got something special, but-"

Thirty minutes later.

Marnie and the rivals were alone in the kitchen, after a rather hearty meal. Morpeko was munching on the last of a curry covered chansey egg as the girl spoke. "As soon as I told my folks that I'm competing, they've been really wanting me to win. So they've tried to help me get ahead of the game and everything. My bro let's them do what ever they think would work." Avery connected the puzzle. "Your brother is the Gym Leader of that town?" Marnie nodded and Klara aha'd. "No wonder they've been giving you the Princess express. So why's that a problem?"

The girl started into space and looked to a corner with regret. "It's just... they keep harassing the other trainers and stop them from competing with me. They mean well, but I won't be coming home with anything if I win that way." Avery agreed heartily. "It never works that way. Goodness, we've tried that." Klara nodded in shame. "And it blew up in our faces spectacularly. We would have gotten expelled if the two running this place weren't so nice." Avery had a bit of fear. "But will we get lucky if we try cheating our way again?"

Marnie wowed at the trouble Gloria must have gone through. "Well, a bit of honesty gets ya butts in gear. If I just tell them to knock it off, it's gonna hurt their feelings for a second before they try something else. I got to figure out how to get the nerve so they'd hear me more clearly."

Avery aha'd and pointed at her. "If you had the healing wish to talk like that, it would work. There's some pokemon around here that can help you make your voice more pronounced and elegant... for you." Marnie blushed on the thought of being called elegant. "Never thought of myself like that." She brought out a Rotom Phone that Klara used to pin point some interesting pokemon. "Around here, here, here and especially here."

Marnie was given the phone back and checked. "My brother gave me Morpeko when it was my time to start out. The rest of the trouble makers I captured are normally pretty chilled with me." Her pig tails twitched; there were Sandiles and it's evolutions at a desert across a cave, Venipedes in a forest that would make a nasty sting, a lycanroc in the mountains. One that would love picking fights with anything and anyone it sees if someone goes there at night. Two in particular, one in the ocean and one in the marshlands, caught her eye. "A bunch of Carvanah's that like bullying the lowlands?"

Klara nodded. "And the Sharpedo's you'd find out in the ocean. Never go out there without a motor boat or a bike and always be at top speed." Avery agreed. "They will catch you, unless you can teleport out of there as soon as you hear the water rip apart." Marnie figured out a plan. "Maybe if I go teach one of those Carvanahs to behave before it evolves, I'll be able to tell Team Yell to lighten up a little. I happen to specialize in dark types, you know." She thought about how she's going to have to deal with that later. "Maybe if I give Gloria a bit of a hand, she won't be too angry when she sees the mess." That preparation could work, it's not like the seniors have anything to do right at the moment.

They headed back to the main chamber, as Hop finished telling his story. "But having an evolved pokemon didn't work either." Honey reached for her whistle as she found a point to make. "Because you caught them without training them that much. I know you're trying to learn, but maybe it would be better to start over a little."

She blew into her whistle, bringing about two darlings from the living room quarter. A Squirtle that's spinning in and a hoping Bulbasaur. The three pokemon are worried that they're all going into the box and kept together in a shiver, Honey waved a hand as a way to clear a misunderstanding. "Sometimes we give a new trainer a partner to start out with. If you tried finding the bond you have with these three, you'll learn of the potential you have to reach." She offered. "How about, if you decided to explore the islands, we'll look after these three darlings while you go out there. We've offered Gloria to bring one of these with her, but Sweet Pie needed the help to get to where she is."

Hop scratched the back of his head. "So maybe they'd be a help to me?" He's hesitate to pick, Bulbasaur sat calmly while Squirtle was playing around. The boy looked to his three, Rillaboom gave a grunt and pointed at the two pokemon while Dubwool gave a firm stomp. Rooki, had a rather mellow, if somber stare at what's been missing from the journey. Hop took a deep breath and looked back to the two, approaching the Squirtle and asking. "So, I'm really starting over, huh?"

The Squirtle stood up in a smile while the Bulbasaur slumped forward in disappointment and tried sitting up. Honey picked the grass type up and showed Hop the Squirtles ball. "There's plenty of wild pokemon out there and there's a hiker that's talking about some odd pokemon. Try asking him for directions and know that running is always an option when you find a really mean pokemon!" Hop took the ball and saw Marnie and the rivals right there. Klara and Avery had uniforms on and it gave the boy an idea to try to look presentable for the day.

Outside and going into the Lowlands.

Mustard was whistling in his own little world as he lead to a split of two paths. "Dum dum dee dee... La la de daaa... Whew! I guess this is as good a spot as any!" Gloria and Fubear awaited the lesson, as the eager students they are as Mustard gave that smile. "Now then, Gloria and Fubear. If you want to become stronger... there are special training grounds just for Kubfus!" There was a dramatic air. "Prepare yourselves for the Towers of Two Fists!"

Fubears ever curious as Gloria recalled. "You mean the tower at the beach over there-" She pointed west. "and the tower up on the mountain." and the east. "They have a secret that Fubear's going to like, much like the apples of an Applin if it wants to evolve." Mustard nodded. "You got the idea kiddo! The Blue Tower is the Tower of Water and the Red Tower is the Tower of Darkness!" He raised a finger. "But choose wisely. For, like the two apples, you can only ascend one of these towers. Kubfu's fighting style will change depend on your choice and the type it gets will change as well. Think carefully."

The two crossed their arms and closed their eyes, contemplating the split second decision. Gloria opened her eyes to ask. "One of the towers, will give a Kubfu the typing of Water, to go along with the fighting type if it evolves there. The other will instead grant the typing of Dark. Master, what's going to be the catch when we go up one of these?"

Mustard answered with diligence. "The catch is that the tower is five stories tall and will have a tough opponent waiting for you. Make sure that Fubear is really ready before you begin the climb." The Kubfu crossed her arms and flexed them downwards while giving a determined frown, Gloria advised against that behavior. "I wouldn't get so cocky. That's a sure way for a fairy or psychic type to come around and blast that smile out of our faces!"

Mustard respects one who uses caution. "You just need to go through the Forest of Focus and pick the path. If you could swim, you might find a short cut." Gloria eeked. "With those Sharpedos around?! I think a small jog won't kill us."

She and Fubear stood proud, furthering the good impression they have on the mentor. "I'm really looking forward to when you two make it to the top of one of those towers! It's going to be so exciting!" The master walked back to the dojo and left the two to jog to the forest, where a path, left and right, awaited. Gloria thought deeply and asked. "I'm willing to try either the way of the ocean or the way of the mountain. So what do you think?" The Kubfu thought about it, having flash backs on the way she actually battles. Willing to try anything, in order to get an edge over the fairy type and prevailing as that feat of strength. She looked to her eviolite, knowing that stone was used as a scrounged attempt to win a fight that Shelly would have been far better off in.

It was still a well earned victory, a trial of merit. Fubear took a deep breath and jogged to the right patch, the path of the Mountain. Gloria followed behind and admitted. "It's not a normal way to win, but there was nothing saying that you couldn't bring an item with you. As long as it's still fair and square, it's still a well earned victory!"

The Kubfu agreed as the river flowed towards the ever distant west. Gloria looked back at the chance to change her mind, left behind and left with no regrets. They faced the mountain, jogged through in a personal record and reached the top, where a wooden tower with red tapestry, awaited. A blonde dojo girl waved. "Hello Gloria! Master has already sent word." She gave a stern face. "This Tower is a special training ground that only Kubfu can use. If you want to climb up the tower, please put the rest of your pokemon into a box for now."

Gloria considered it fair and had a distinct spot in her box for her team mates. "I normally don't like having to do that, but if a Kubfu is to really grow, they need to face this with only their trainer to guide them." As another self test, Fubear wasn't regretting keeping the eviolite anymore. The dojo girl stepped aside and opened the door, letting the two through. The inside of the tower is of the logged wood outside, with three windows and a stair way up. The floor was of a foreboding red. Before them, is a dojo trainee, a dark skin man with dread locks.

Gloria and Fubear approached with readied fists, the trainer smiled and brought out a ball. "Walking only a path of light will not help broaden your perspective. You must learn to use both the light and the dark. Let me show you how." The kung fu trainee sent out a Zorua, Fubear stepped forward and readied to deal the first blow. She charged with a brick breaking kick as the Zorua vanished in illusions and sucker punched the bear, Fubear had a bit of a shake and knocked the Zorua out. The kungfu student pressed a fist against his hand. "Light and dark aside, you broaden my perspective."

Gloria mimic the pose as the Kubfu was a bit embarrassed to have taken a hit, the duo were allowed to the next floor and Gloria thought of a handy lesson. "That is the art of the sucker punch, once you know your foe let their guard down for something, you hit them when they're not looking and hope it brings them down. If they don't, then you found that opening you need. Is that what it means to be a dark type?"

Fubear gasped. (I think it does!) They were on the next floor and found a rough looking woman with blue hair in a short undercut, scars across her nose and a set of striking green eyes. She took a deep breath in her zen. "Those strong in darkness are also strong in the light. I have traveled the path of darkness and perfected my strength in the light. Behold!"

She sent out a lax looking Scraggy. Gloria ordered. "Bulk yourself up and brick break em down!" The Kubfu took a deep breath and flexed as the Scraggy dashed for a low kick. Fubear let herself lean and gave a fast brick break chop k.o. The rough looking girl called Scraggy back, smirked and gave a dojo salute. "Yes, even my strength perfected in the light can be overshadowed at times."

The two were allowed to the next floor, where a young man with brown, tied into a pony tail, light blue eyes and a confident demeanor awaited. He gave the dojo greeting and gave a bow. "We are all but lost travelers, feeling our way through the darkness. The results of battles are hidden in darkness until the battle is complete!" He sent out an Inkay and finished his chant. "This is the beauty of battle!"

Gloria and Fubear gasped to the psychic/dark type. The girl ordered. "Fubear, use bulk up and watch for this ones move!" The Kubfu bulked her muscles as the Inkay glowed his tentacles in psychic power and slashed a cut of energy. Fubear shrugged it off and rushed for an iron head flinch before using a brick break k.o.

Fubear breathed in and out in her zen as the trainer laughed. "Now darkness surrounds me, I'm about to black out." Gloria eeked and helped the guy sit down. "No blacking out! My Mum will give me an ear lash if I end up hurting people."

The trainer snickered and let Gloria and Fubear take off to the fourth floor. A dark skin woman, with her silver hair, tied into head buns with pig tails had the most serious scowl of them all. "Wind that carries a ship out to sea is wind that stalls a ship returning to port. What shines light on one path can also be what keeps the other in darkness. Let us see if you can keep your own path forward."

She sent out a fierce looking Krokorok, Gloria expected something and pressed her fists to her chest. The Krokorok protected herself as Fubear went with the que and bulked up, she fell the foe in one brick break and earned the respect of the opponent. "It seems you've found your own path and sailed right on course!"

Gloria gave that salute. "Certain enough that we don't regret it!" She jogged. "Now let's face that final trainer and find that secret!" Fubear nodded and followed, at the top of the tower, where a small arena was before a giant scroll. Two red lanterns gave a distinct glow and Gloria looked around at the scenery that she might only see once in her life time. Standing at the back of the room, is Mustard himself. Gloria ohed at the trickery and stood on the other end of the arena, the mentor stroke his beard. "There you are. I'd figured you were going to pick the Tower of Darkness, so I decided to wait for you here. Gloria, Fubear, you've done well to make it this far."

The Kubfu grunted as the mentor warned them. "But now, your opponent is little old me. It's been a while since the last time I battled like this...but I think you can handle it!" He closed his eyes in tranquility. "A stream too clear is avoided by fish Pokémon. We all need some darkness in ourselves." He performed the pose he made when Gloria first met him. "Let me be the one, to teach you the final lesson on the essence of darkness!"

Gloria and Fubear mimic the pose to near perfection, Mustard smiled at that and squinted his eyes before tossing his hat and flipping out of his attire. Showing a muscular body with a sleeveless yellow t-shirt, having a logo of a shield with a sword, complimented by white pants. His showed a long, dynamax band covering his left arm and a smaller band on his right. The top of his head was mostly grey hair, tried into a knot and having red at the end, resembling the clouds of a Dynamaxed pokemon. Gloria's mouth was wide opened. "You've hidden this from all but the most worthy of eyes, haven't you?" Mustard smirked and brought out an ultra ball. "Oh, I've had this on a League Card or two. You'll never find all the secrets in time if you don't take on that adventure. Now, let's see where that has brought the both of you!" He spun fast and sent out a foe most expected, a Kubfu that is tranquil and calm.

Mustard saw that neither Gloria nor Fubear were intimidated by the sudden reveal. "I'll need to get serious if I am to take you on!" Gloria agreed. "So should we! Fubear, bulk up!" The Kubfu tensed her muscles as Mustard ordered. "It takes but one strike to decide this match! Focus your energy on that strike! Watch closely, Gloria, for this is what Kubfu's fists are truly capable of." The opponent pumped himself up and back flipped before disappearing. Gloria ordered. "Fight that aerial ace head on!" Fubear shined her skull and rushed forward, bashing the Kubfu away, he disappeared and struck a critical blow from the aerial ace. Fubear spun a roll, felt the sting and synced a punch with the girl. "Hi-" Fubear readied her hands and charged for a brick break "ya!" Chop!

The brick break strike the Kubfu on the shoulders and knocked to his knees. K.O. Fubear and Gloria stood firmly and gave a salute of respect, Mustard waited for his Kubfu to stand up before giving that matching bow. The Master laughed heartily and called his companion back. "You young folk grow so fast! It never ceases to amaze me." He closed his eyes in gratitude. "What a team!" He opened his eyes and cheered. "Impressive, most impressive!"

Gloria and Fubear looked to each other with a bond of friendship, the little one jumped up and tapped wrists together in celebration. Fubear gave firm air punches in celebration, charming the two humans who witnessed it. As she hopped around, Gloria lowered herself humbly and had some tears, such a silly misadventure has brought her to a one of a kind companion that few would have witnessed had she not searched so heartily. Mustard laughed. "Fuahaha! I knew you were worthy of my trust, Gloria! You have done well, very well indeed, in raising Fubear to this level of strength! You find the means to defeat any foe, no matter how strange they might be." Gloria admitted. "Well, that eviolite worked in a pinch, but it was only one part of the strategy."

The mentor approved of such planning and agreed. "And together, even foes that would prove daunting for a Kubfu, would find that beating it won't be so easy." He looked back at what he said earlier. "Between you and me. Leon was once my best student... along time ago. He, too, attempted this trial. But he never made it to either tower, he got lost along the way."

Gloria sighed. "I've seen him get lost all the time and he's told me that was how he didn't earn the right of the Kubfu." She realized. "So that was why you were hard on Hop. The Champion isn't exactly perfect, is he?"

Mustard shook his head. "No one is. If that brother is to overcome the Champion, he needs to learn how he can do it as himself. But for now." He stepped aside of the way to the scroll. "It is time for Fubear to evolve! Go, go and show her the Scroll of Darkness. She is ready now!" Gloria let Fubear approach the strange written roll, for a Kubfu it was easy to read and she mimic the instruction of a firm, swift, punch.

Then she glowed. She enlarged into a much larger size, firming up into muscle as her head grew upward standing, jagged bands. She grew something of a tabard, a set of toes and detailed fingers, while her head and muscle firmed into shape. The fur on her legs flapped as her head hair raised up. Pew! And like that, she became a large, humanoid, grey bear with black markings and white fur on her chest, shoulders and back. Her muzzle, fingers and feet were yellow and she gave a firm grunt before flexing a battle pose. Gloria brought out her Rotom Dex and checked what Fubear became.

"Blip! Blip! Urshifu: the Wushi Pokemon: Fighting-Dark and of the single strike form: This form of Urshifu is a strong believer in the one-hit KO. Its strategy is to leap in close to foes and land a devastating blow with a hardened fist. Inhabiting the mountains of a distant region, this Pokémon races across sheer cliffs, training its legs and refining its moves."

Gloria woahed. "Marvelous!" Fubear agreed and grunted permission for something, the girl allowed it. "If it's a new move, then we don't need aerial ace anymore." Fubear was on forgetting the old move and took off her eviolite. It isn't needed anymore and Gloria took it for the bag. "We might need it, if we ever train a pokemon like you again." At the peak of the calm, Mustard declared. "Behold! Before you stands, Urshifu! Sure to be unyielding armor that will shatter any blade turned against it." Fubear grunted as Mustard finished his speech. "And she has mastered the Style of Darkness."

Gloria flexed mightily and punched the air. "A firm blow so fast and blunt that you won't be getting back up. It's not the most spectacular way to win, but it will get the job done." Fubear nodded and smiled as Mustard wipped a tear of pride. "Ha! You've certainly grown, haven't you? And to think, just yesterday, you would've run and hid behind me the moment you got scared!" Fubear blushed as Mustard was satisfied. "Indeed, no matter how old I get, witnessing someone grow always brings joy into my heart. Gloria, Urshifu." He gave a bow once more. "Thank you both, from the bottom of my heart." He nearly forgot. "Oh and I give this to anyone who has faced me when I am taking a battle seriously." Gloria was given a league card that shows the Masters true look, the girl put that away and decided on keeping it a secret. "Now then, let's head back to the dojo!" Gloria and Fubear walked on ahead as Mustard took a moment to think. "Once Gloria does what she is meant to do, it will be time for the next step." The three left the tower in earnest, the guard gave Gloria a respected bow and gave her the rest of the team. The girl took a deep breath and asked. "Alright Fubear, show me the that leg work in another jog! Ready..." "Go!"

Simultaneously

Hop was contemplating how he got into this mess, having to form a bonding exercise with a Squirtle, while the rest of his pokemon were waiting at the dojo. They went over the bridge and Hop tripped on something, nearly falling over before catching himself and turning. There was a lump of brown with three yellow pieces of grass. It whispered. "Di-" Hop asked. "Di-glett?" Pop! Out of the ground came a diglett with three blond pieces of hair and a surrounding earth that looked darker than expected. "Digleeet!" "Oh! Diglett! You're here!" Out of nowhere, came a hiker that the Diglet half dropped his eyes towards. "You little rascal! I was worried about you!"

The Diglett sighed as the Hiker turned to Hop. "Thank you for finding my Diglett." The boy raised an eyebrow. "Looks a tad different from the Diglett's I've spotted." The Hiker ohed. "There's a good reason for that, this Diglett is from the Alola region. When I traveled in Alola, I fell in love with these adorable three hairs. I caught a lot of Diglett there and came back. But they went somewhere when I looked away for a second." The Diglett nodded as the Hiker asked. "You found one buried in the ground. You definitely have a talent for finding them! If it's okay, will you find all the other Diglett's too?"

Hop shrugged like he had nothing better to do as Squirtle bubbled innocently, the Hiker gave some thanks. "Oh, what a kind person you are! Word's can't express how grateful I am! You found one Diglett so far, so please find a hundred and fifty more of them."

That caused Hop to scream out. "Whaaaaaa-" As Squirtle gave that sound of shock. The Hiker insist. "If you find them, please tell them to come back to me." Hop considered that completely insane and made a fast escape with the Squirtle, settling for having a quick battle with some bunnery's and fletchlings while he made his way to the station. "Insane, that is! Why would someone catch that many of one pokemon?! The Squirtle wondered and shook at the mutual thought, he noticed three hairs under a tree and called. "Squirt!"

(Let's get them over so we don't trip again!) Hop noticed and yelled. "Oi, come up 'ere and listen!" Pop! Out comes a Diglett that whistled, Hop ordered. "Your trainer's worried sick about you, go head back to 'em!"

The Diglett ohed, whistled a tune and dug into the ground to make for the bridge way. The boy and Squirtle spotted a diglet in between boxes and the station, had that called up and found a third right by a tree going towards a secluded spot on the beach. That's three found relatively fast and the way to the spot had Jigglypuffs, a Chansey to capture and a Diglett to call up. They had more annoying encounters with the water types on the shore, Krabby's, Staryu's and Wingulls that resist a water gun like it was nothing. Hop thought of a plan of escape, by having Squirtle rapid spin out of danger and making a run with him. The final escape left the two enroute to another hidden Diglett, the Squirtle noticed and laughed in triumph before pointing at it.

Hop laughed with him and called another up, that bit of joy reminded him of the times he and Wooloo played around at the front yard. That smile stayed around and they played around while looking around the beach area for the moles, eventually bringing them back to the Dojo and having a race to the Wetlands, where they found the last of the nineteen digletts by a corner. Along the way, they did battle with a Klefki and captured it before making for the swamp. The sun was starting to heat and made the encounters with Chewtles more of a choir, even after Squirtle learned Water Pulse. The two lost track of time on this adventure and Squirtle became nimble enough to use water pulses at a sync. On finding the last of the twenty diglets in the area, they decided to practice with a Happiny that was quick to capture. At that, Squirtle glowed, grew bigger, his ears became like feathers and his tail split into multiple fluffy tails.

Pew!

He evolved into a Wartortle that twirled in laughter, Hop had that spark of fun and cheered. "Alright, that wasn't even an hour! We'll be super strong in double of that time!" They made a cautious journey through the forest, minding the grass types and finding Digletts that sounded stranger and stranger. On reaching the Lowlands, they found something large and dark jogging alongside a girl in uniform.

Gloria and what is presumed to be Fubear, tagging behind was Mustard, in his usual green clothes. The Urshifu stopped fast and Gloria nearly tripped, the big pokemon gave a light growl as Gloria was seeing Hop and the Wartortle startled in a way she hasn't seen in a long time. "Are ya finally having some fun yet? That Squirtle looks like he evolve pretty swiftly."

Hop crossed his arms in pride. "I didn't keep ahead of you from slacking off, Gloria. The fetch job that hiker gave was hardly a distraction from the real training out 'ere!" The Wartortle agreed as Gloria asked. "What kind of job did he give that brought you all the way out here? Even if the mountain might be a tad easier for your partner."

Hop cringed. "Apparently he caught around a hundred and fifty one digletts and got them all lost out 'ere." Mustard huhed. "So that explains some of the grass out here." Gloria nodded, appreciated that Hop is having a good time and looked over at him. "I've seen some bizarre things from people before, there's a good chance those Diglett's are on the islands off shore, where the Sharpedo's are waiting. I think you should show that man what you've gotten before searching for more of them."

Hop and Wartortle ahed, but the advise made sense. "But we're still not going to be done exploring until we try out the Dens and everything. Maybe my problem is that... my pokemon need moves that would fit them. Then I can get a real strategy going besides hitting with super effective moves." Gloria smiled at him. "That's precisely what you were lacking, all that talk about beating the Champion and it kind of clicked that he'd beaten tougher foes back in the day by thinking outside of that box." She looked to Mustard and thought of a sharper word. "To be honest, it was getting a little annoying when I had to fight the same pokemon over and over again, only for them to have pretty wild moves with no strategy put into them."

She imagined. "I'll bet if you find that move for Wooloo and Rooki, they'll be kicking our butts more." Hop dinged to an idea. "Ya know, I think I have one that Dubwool ought to know about, while I've been thinking of this one Rooki ought to try." He looked to the Wartortle and compared them to the more defensive of his pokemon. "I'm thinking if you got that move, we'd catch anyone by surprise. I've heard that a lot of the shell wearers got this one trick to really hit 'ard."

Mustard was pretending to have forgotten the name. "You're not wrong, it's a really special move that comes with a risk. But a trainer that is willing to take that risk might find that the opponent won't recover after you go loose." Gloria and Fubear's eyes widen a bit, the girl breathed in. "Now let's put that lesson into practice once we get back to the Dojo. They need to see who Fubear grown up into." The Urshifu flexed an arm as a way to show her strength boost. Hop and Wartortle agreed to a bit of a jog, while Mustard kept trailing in a mentors pride. Good students teach well to others after all.

At the Lowlands, earlier in the day.

Marnie looked down in the pond and found the Carvanah's shadow so deep that she had to fish. A dojo training was running for her life as something in the wetlands was causing something of a rampage. The girl and her escort caught the girl in the hair buns and asked. "What's gotten you scamperin'" The girl cringed. "It's one of the dens, it's spiking up bad and the pokemon are getting mean!"

Marnie had a ding of an idea and rushed on, making the others trial behind towards a nexus, right by a pond, making the Woopers and Quagsires more willing to spit mud at anything that comes their way. "This is a jolty power spot, I tell you that." She turned to the three. "I've seen this happen a lot in the Wild Area. A Power spot gets too many watts and the pokemon act like the big giants that are in there. Let's go teach that titan a lesson!" Avery's quite surprised as Klara blushed to Marnie's determination. "That's the attitude you find from Spikemuth!"

The dojo girl followed them into the den, hoping they don't end up in two much danger. The storm made way for a a green Carvanah with a teal under belly. It glared at the four and roared while giving a distinct shine. Marnie's eyes lit to the sparkle, her heart raced for miles. "Come on Morpeko, we got a shiny one 'ere!"

Pop! Out came the Morpeko that saw a foul tempered fish and put her seed away. Marnie knew what that meant as Klara and Avery sent out their Slowbro and Slowking. The dojo trainee sent out a Poliwhirl that is perking a hop. Marnie turned to the two who sent out the Slow duo and asked. "That isn't exactly a good idea." Klara insisted. "Don't worry, we got a bit of luck here and besides, you were looking for this pokemon!"

Avery smirked at a personal hobby of his. "And we just need to disable that move for the rest of us to win here." Marnie nodded and called her Morpeko into her ball, she charged her up in Dynamax Power and tossed it back. "Then let's give her a nasty shock!" Pop! The ball popped to let out an enlarging Morpeko that gave a mighty squeak, she charged up a max lightning bolt that shocked the Carvanah silly. It conjured a barrier to absorb the rest of the damage and looked the hamster firmly in the eyes before firing a max geyser.

Klara cringed at her luck. "Quick, use shell side arm!" Avery thought of something. "And let's keep as forseen, Slowking!" The Slowbro aimed her shell and fired as the Slowking chanted something in a flash, the Dojo girl ordered. "Body slam that Carvanah, we might get a lucky paralysis!" The Poliwhirl leaped at the sludge blased barrier and brought about nothing. The Carvanah made a rush for the Morpeko and bit down with icy fangs, that was clearly a boost in speed. The Morpeko darken into her Hangry mode as the Slowbro went into a focus and fired a side arm blast that broke the barrier, giving the two faced pokemon the chance for another bolt that sent the Carvanah flying in a burst of power. Marnie brought out a net ball and charge it up. "Now's my chance for a real power house!"

Fling!

The ball was charged and flung right after the fish, sucking it in and falling to the ground.

Marnie's heart raced as the ball made each shake. "Come on."

Shake. "Pretty please."

Shake. Thump!

Phew!

The ball shrank back into a net ball. Click! And locked the Carvanah in. The dojo student cheered. "Look at that, the Carvanah's caught!" Marnie shrank her Morpeko down and gave her a steamed potato before getting her prize and signalling they get out of there. Out of the Den, Marnie had the idea to settle and went to the pond as a way to let the Carvanah out. She was barking mad and spitting, the girl raised her voice clearly. "Knock it off already! You know that ruckus is uncalled for!" The fish is pretty surprised and sank deep as a way to whimper, Marnie thought about it. "Come to think of it, spikes like that have been happenin' in the main land too."

Avery's quite surprised. "I'd thought that was just the way of nature on this isle?"

Marnie shook her head. "It's been happenin' a lot lately and yesterday, there was a huge ugly quake in Hammerlocke that shook everythin' twice over and made the Pokemon Center flicker out a bit. If you've ever been given a tablet, there's a big ol' power plant bellow the city that runs off this stuff."

Klara had question marks over her head. "But why would that spike up to the dens?" Marnie's pretty concerned. "I have no idea. But that's somethin' I got to keep an eye out." She asked the humbled fish. "As for you, you mind if we give the word to your buddies, that they ought to stay away from those dens for a while?"

The Carvanah growled at a silly idea, even though she had little choice in the matter. The band ventured to the low lands and dropped the shiny Carvanah into the water with the others, where she gave loud barks that stirred the swarm and had them swim off to the sea. Plop! The Carvanah barked. (I got them to swim off, but they're all mad about leaving during the season!)

Marnie sighed. "We'll it's the thought that counts." She brought out a couple of medium leveled candies. "I guess, while there's still daylight, we can start adding you to the team. Go munch on these and see what happens." The Carvanah did so, had a spike and glowed, turning from a piranha into a tailless shark.

Pew!

The strange colored Carvanah evolved into a Sharpedo that is rather mellow, she snorted and splashed water on the girls face, letting her know she's handling a big fellow. Marnie and Morpeko giggled while the students heard laughter. A girl yelped. "That's one of the Sharpedos I've been hearing about?!" Marnie blushed and faced the party of Gloria, Urshifu, Hop and Wartortle. The Spikemuth Princess smirked with some mischief. "She's an odd color, but she's exactly what I've been looking for. You better watch yourselves, or Sharpedo will give ya good nippin'"

The Sharpedo looked upon the Urshifu a bit humbly and snipped the water with her teeth, Fubear folded her arms at the Sharpedo's attempt to make herself look intimidating. Marnie focused more on Hop and Wartortle, who look to be having fun. "I think you're takin' some of Honey's advise a little too literal, there."

Hop isn't ashamed to admit he went to the other extreme. "I've been taking it too seriously. But I think if we practice, with the pokemon I've known more, we get that sync back while keeping up." Marnie's quite pleased by the answer. "Good, because I'm not wantin' things to be easy when I beat you at the league!"

The children and witnesses had a laugh while the students noticed Mustard sneaking off to the dojo. Marnie had a look around. "I guess we should gather those mushrooms we've heard about, before headin' back to the Dojo." She asked the three who accompanied her. "I'll be good now, so you can wander off for some trainin' or what ever." The student found that a bit rude while Klara exhaled. "I think we could rough up a few chanseys while we're out here. So, Gloria-" She puckered her lips in thought. "We still got the rest of the day, do you have anything else to do besides show your partners off?"

Gloria thought about it and raised her fist proudly. "How about instead of just that, I'm going to make sure my pals are good and ready for the last bit of the Gym Challenge! It's time I help do more for this Dojo!" Fubear noticed Mustard is missing while the crowd were talking as Marnie asked. "If we've gotten the pokemon we need, then we could use some shade time before the night comes." Hop nodded. "We'll get to training back at the Dojo once I talk with that Diglett guy."

The crowd came to that agreement made for their task, while Hop and Wartortle paid a visit to the hiker with a vast collection of Digletts. The man noticed and waved. "Oh, hello! This is a big number of Digletts that you've founded for me. This hit around forty." Hop saw he was appreciated. "I've heard some of these could be at the islands around 'ere. So we're stopping for now, I think they'll be alright for a few days." The Hiker didn't mind. "If danger comes for them, they'll burrow real deep."

He went to his pocket and brought out five balls. "I'd like to give these pokemon to you! I met them on Alola, just like my Diglett." Hop was given a collection and is pretty astonished. He started letting them out to see what he got; a purple Meowth that's quickly noticing a fletchlin in the tall grass, a Slowpoke without the yellow markings that's lazing around, a white Vulpix that is blowing a dance of snow, a white igloo like Sandshrew that is dancing in the snow and the biggest of them all, a Raichu that is sitting on his tail, like it's a board and begun floating mid air with it. Hop woahed. "What a haul! I think we can work on something with these guys!"

He started calling them back one by one and use his Pokedex to get an analysis on the Alolan Raichu. "Raichu: The Mouse Pokemon: Electric-Psychic: This Pokémon rides on its tail while it uses its psychic powers to levitate. It attacks with star-shaped thunderbolts. It's believed that the weather, climate, and food of the Alola region all play a part in causing Pikachu to evolve into this form of Raichu." That kind of versatility is something Hop was looking for in a pokemon. "Yeah, this is the one. Let's go to the others first!" The two sprinted off to a nearby cave to go picking for Mushrooms.

At the noon of the Dojo.

Gloria was taking in the fact that she's a celebrity around the dojo, with the students marveling the legendary Urshifu and asking the girl questions upon questions. It's a little better than the last time she had an interview, if because the questions aren't anywhere personal. It also helped that four members of the team are present to see, Acer was awestruck, Brainy bobbed the front part of his head and crossed his arms in pride, Sweet Pie's eye stalks were raised high in a marvel and Shelly's clapping. A male student asked. "So now that you've unlocked the secret of the Isle's Armor, what now?"

Gloria was hearing her stomach rumbling. "I'd reckon some of us are going to try giving our pals some Max Soup at around lunch time. Until Hop gets back though, I need to focus on the last member of my team."

Mustard huhed. "One that's going to take longer than a day to evolve?" Gloria shook her head. "I wish!" She turned to her students. "If you're out on Galar and you find this weird lady near Stow-on-way, be careful about giving her fossils. Something isn't right with the fossils she's reviving." Honey's mouth was wide in shock as Gloria let out the Arctozolt, who looked around in a bit of joy. Hyde had his hands at his hips as he looked upon the mish mashed creature.

He looked up to the girl in disappointment. "Not this again." The Arctozolt turned to the boy as Gloria asked. "How many people had done that already?" Hyde wanted Gloria to follow him. "If I a nickle for every time a trainee comes here to look up what those Fossils could do, I'd have half a dollar. Did someone tell you about the others?"

The girl nodded. "That the parts could have been attached to those that don't go together. What do you got to show?" Hyde had Gloria and Franken follow him into the living room, to a computer that has a device, resembling a Cramorant, nearby. "Every single specimen we've heard about comes from someone using a single fossil to bring a pokemon back to life. Someone's been trying to mash these guys together and thinks that can make a new pokemon all together."

The Arctozolt huhd and looked at himself, knowing once and for all that he isn't suppose to look like this. Gloria imagined. "So it's no wonder every professional would tell us that these pokemon are miserable." Hyde nodded and sat on his chair to type away. He brought about the images of the four Galarian fossils. One is of Arctozolt. One is of a green, land bound dinosaur with the Arctozolt's upper half attached to a body much larger than it. Looking more joyous and showing off the red spikes on the tail. "Dracozolt's the only one without any major issues." Another picture is of a creature with the flipper body, having the head of a sharp jawed fish screwed upside down. "Arctovish can't even swim straight." Finally, Gloria is shown the most outlandish of the four. A creature with the fish head right side up, attached to the tail of the dinosaur body and hoisted upward like a neck. "And Dracovish's head isn't even on the right end! It can't really swim and it has trouble breathing!"

Hyde pressed something on each picture and explained. "At least, the students who come here, have a chance and making these pokemon adjust. I'll give these pokemon this, unlike the other fossilized pokemon, they're not stuck with having rock in their typing. You know that Arctozolt has the type if ice and electric. Dracozolt is a dragon type instead of ice. Arctovish is ice and water, while Dracovish is dragon and water." Gloria ohed. "So most of their types are pretty unique. I've heard that Circhester is the place to go for ice trainers, if there isn't much that can help Franken right now."

Hyde turned around confidently. "Giving an Arctozolt something warm every once in a while, helps him manage his cold. There's a few moves the tutor can teach him and I've invented this Cramomatic that can turn two or more items into something else that can do in a pinch. What do you say?" Gloria's taken to the offer. "I think I'll go searching after lunch. If I give rare items, then I'll get rare items too!"

Hyde nodded. "Find the right items to go with the right moves and Arctozolt will find a way to be your partner for life." Gloria agreed and petted Franken on the head. "We won't let that woman get away with this. We'll show you to the crowd and help make them aware of what's going on." She kissed him on the cheek and went back to the main room, Hyde followed and called. "We're good now! Gloria's got an idea!"

The girl announced as Hop entered. "Keep your eyes on the telly every once in a while. Everyone's going to be seeing this soon." Hop went to his trio in a hearty hello and asked. "See what?" Gloria uhed. "Some really important gym matches from the three of us! Say, before we get to lunch, you mind if we get some of our pokemon ready for the soup?" Hop didn't see why not and brought his misfits to the kitchen, Marnie was already preparing the Max Mushrooms for her pot and asked. "I've over heard. Once someone looks at Frankenstein, they'll know exactly what they're gonna be in for. So three mushrooms is enough to make a pot's worth?"

Gloria nodded. "Enough for one pokemon to get the power of Gigantamaxing. I got a good guess as to which one of mine is able to do that if given the chance." She smiled to Hop. "I didn't tell you this, but Wartortle already has the power to do that. So you can try it on a different pokemon altogether." The Wartortle put his hands at his hips and smirked while Fubear was brought in.

Marnie was the first to prepare her soup and had a bowel ready for a Morgrem that's having a mellow frown. "Once we're able to do this, we're going to kick so much butt." The Morgrem smirked and clapped. (Heh, heh, heh, heh!) Hop put his mushrooms in and had a pot for the eager Rillaboom. "And since someone's been leading the band with me, I'm reckoning that he ought to get that power too!"

The Rillaboom pointed at himself in question and gave a beat of a dance before making for the table. Gloria went to the pot last and stirred. "I'm also figuring that since Urshifu is a really special pokemon, that it wouldn't hurt for Fubear to get that sip too. Yeah?" The Urshifu had one whiff of the soup, covered her nose and stepped back comedically, Acer and the others had a sniff and didn't see what was off. Marnie huffed. "Well, that isn't going to work."

Gloria nodded. "Guess not. Sweet Pie, I'm thinking that if Milo and Nessa dynamaxed their pokemon instead, then Flapple and Drednaw could be capable of g maxing as well. You're related to the Flapples, so this brew could be big for you." Sweet Pie imagined it to be so and waddled front and center to get a bowel of the Max Soup. As she and her follows were drinking, Gloria put the pot to the side and started a pot for the curry. Using potatoes she has and some bitter berries to make a strong smelling, iron class meal.