Gloria stepped outside of Spikemuth and had a second look at the scarlet sky, as well as the sound of distinct roars from a tunnel way across. The girl didn't hesitate to make a sprint that isn't different from Hop's pace, hurrying as fast as possible. She pushed through the civilians that were standing in the way and rushed out to find a dreadful sight. A giant Perrserker and a giant Stonejouner standing before the Hammerlocke bridge and going on a rampage as a Charizard and a ghostly black newt that is teal from the waist down. It resembles a fighter jet. On it's back was Leon, carrying out an order while trying to handle a Perrserker that was more than willing for battle.

Gloria cringed and looked to the struggling Stonejourner before taking a ball and tossing close. "Come on Sweet Pie, we got to finish that rock type!" Pop! The Appletun was let out and was confused by the urgent tone, before seeing the Stonejourner was paralyzed by something and crumbled for a rock move. She yelped, swelled her cheeks and leaped, she spat out her apple acid and caused the Stonejourner to wail in an explosion before shrinking back down.

The Perrserker huhed and turned to see the Appletun that took away a power point. He dropped his eye lids half way and called to the stars to bombard the Appletun and shove her firmly into the ground. Leon half turned to see Gloria and Appletun getting into a fight as Charizard noticed the cat was focusing on someone else and unleashed a flamethrower to knock the viking to his back in an explosive shrink. Sweet Pie huffed and got up, she oozed her nectar as a way to replenish herself as Gloria looked around to see if there was more giant pokemon. She phewed as the newt flew down and let Leon off. The Champion didn't want to yell at the girl for going off into danger and admitted. "You came over fast!"

Gloria knew what happened was beyond dangerous and started with the more urgent detail. "Leon, do you have any idea what just happened? What are those Dynamaxed pokemon doing so far away from the wild area dens?" The Charizard saw a camera crew coming out of the city, landed by Leon and growled. (Lee, they're coming!)

The Champion half turned to find the paparazzi abound and cringed. "I don't know and I've been meaning to figure that out. If you've beaten the gyms over there, then you need to get back to Hammerlocke and finish the last Gym. Take Dragapault and fly over, these fellas won't ever let you get through if they known that you've helped me out." Gloria saw the crowd getting closer and rambling, she eeked, called her Appletun back and got on the ghost dragons back. "No, no! I'm not dealing with that again!"

The Dragapault shivered in a mutual fear, used his spectral power to turn Gloria and himself invisible, and zipped around the paparazzi. Bringing Gloria all the way to the Pokemon Center in front of the Gym. Dragapault uncloaked and slowed down as a way to let the girl get off. Gloria was shaking over the incident and leaned to the door to relax herself. "They were so close to the towns and that Stonejouner was a rock fall away to flating Lee and Charizard like that."

The Dragapault wasn't too worried as a duo of dreepy's crawled out from holes on the wing like horns on his head. Cawing about something while the pseudo legendary blurped. (We would have been smart enough to find a way. But that rush you did made it easier.) He readied to fly off. (Just go finish the thing, leave the bigger worrying to us.) Gloria nodded and waved. "Tell Lee I said thanks!" The Dragapault waved back and flew back to the east.

Gloria took a rest stop at the pokemon center and thought to herself. "That happened right after the latest quake. What the heck is going on down bellow to make that burst out?"

She took the time to close her eyes, relax at the cafe and wait for the nurse to finish her business. With that woah out of her mind, she got her pokemon back and stepped outside, finding Sonia, who was ever concerned. "Gloria!" The girl huhed. "Did you see that chaos in the news?"

Sonia nodded. "And they've said about a girl and an Appletun that helped Leon and his partners out with that one." She fondled her hair in stress. "You're a lot braver than most of us." Swoop!

Suddenly, Charizard and Dragapault dived down a landing. Leon got off his starter and folded his arms, like that of a worried mentor. "Gloria! A Dynamax pokemon- out here- isn't something you ought to jump after, ya know?"

Gloria eeked at the tone. "I know that Stonejouner hits pretty hard and because it's a rock type, any fire or flying type would rather fly off than let themselves get hit like that. I'd thought we try to get him out of your hair. Do any of us know how that happened?"

Leon thought into it. "It has something to do with the power plant under us, but we don't know much of else. Gloria, this isn't something you should put yourself in danger over. If you see that kind of thing pop up again, let a grown up deal with it, okay?" Sonia sighed. "Leon, I get what you're trying to do. But sometimes danger will come for you, whether or not you're big or small."

Gloria sighed in defense of the Champion. "But Leon's been at this kind of thing for years, I remember my journey like it started a few days ago. We could be running into something a lot worse than a pokemon going on a rampage and they might think to shoot for the kid who's in the way."

Leon cringed at that thought as Sonia showed great concern. "That's a good point." Suddenly, Hop came sprinting with a bunch of questions that were already answered, Gloria put a hand on his shoulder and whispered. "Just don't worry about it unless it becomes our problem." Sonia nodded. "That red light could suddenly appear again at any time and we have no real way of knowing when."

"But being able to predict things is part of a scientist's work."

The four turned and found Magnolia approaching. Sonia gasped. "Gran?!" The Professor nodded to her grand daughter. "The chairman called for me. He wanted to know about the red light's relationship with the Dynamax phenomenon."

Leon asked. "We think the Chairman knows something about this, there's only one place in the whole city that could cause these earthquakes."

Magnolia shook her head in disappointment. "He's so wrapped up in fretting over the foreseeable future of our energy, apparently. He left all the details to that executive lady. We just don't have enough data."

She directed to her grand daughter, who caught ear on a certain duo of words. "That's why I wanted to ask you to start looking into things, too, Sonia." The grand daughter felt strange as she said. "Now that you said it, the chairman was telling us things a bit differently. About a problem that would happen a thousand or so years from now."

Magnolia raised an eyebrow. "Of course, if we had a thousand years worth of time, then everyone wouldn't be so concerned about it. You've learned more about the Darkest Day than any of us, after all."

Sonia recalled the red clouds in the tapestry and gasped. "Those red clouds! Are those really the red lights?!" Hop realize. "This is going to get really bad if we don't figure out the rest of the legend. Gloria, do you think there's something we can do to help?" The girl pondered. "We've done a lot to uncover it, but we still don't have every last clue." Leon turned to the children and advised. "I appreciate the thought. But all I'm going to ask from you two, is that you join me in one of the greatest Champion Cups ever. I'll do my part to make that happen by keeping everybody's future safe. So you keep doing your part by winning your way through the Gym Challenge!"

Gloria looked to the gym ahead. "And I happen to be on my last one. So Hop, is Marnie done at Spikemuth yet?" The rival shook his head. "Not from when I got there and was distracted by all that noise. I'd reckon I should get that done before coming back 'ere."

Sonia thought about something and asked her elder. "Gran, there's something I want to look into. You'll help me, right?" The Professor smirked in maternal pride. "Naturally."

The two walked off to the east as Leon smiled at his endorsed challengers. "Looks like we all know what we need to do. So you two, get the Gym Challenge finished so we can meet again at Wyndon!"

He rushed off to the west, going off direction while Charizard and Dragapault took off to guide the adult towards the train station. Gloria thought into the idea. "Hop, the two of us and Marnie can finish this soon, we'll be able to head over to that city and be able to really end the day. Piers is a tougher one than every one of Team Yell combined, so don't let your guard down!"

The rival smiled wide. "I think I got an idea on what to do. Be careful at Hammerlocke Stadium, Raihan's been Leon's rival for years now!" He jogged back to Spikemuth and left Gloria to go off to the Stadium, in the castle hall with a camera crew gathering for something. The girl squeaked, hid under her jacket and hurried to the receptionist, a young man with dark hair and glasses. The receptionist waved. "The long Gym Challenge is nearing it's end, I see."

Gloria popped her head out and nodded. "Yup, yup. So if you can point the way, I'll get in uniform." Bystanders noticed her and called. "Hey it's Gloria!" "Show us what you can do!" "This is going to be the best match we've seen all year!"

A camera crew turned to Gloria and saw their targeted celebrity about to make the challenge. The woman squeed and readied her microphone, freezing the girl solid. The receptionist took out a mega phone and had Gloria stay by him. "She'll talk to you after she's done with the Gym!" He pointed to a hall way on the left. "Go find the Locker Room and come back here! Your Mission's going to be at the Vault!"

Gloria had a few question marks, went to get changed, presented her self to the receptionist and used the shock from the mega phone to escape the paparazzi. At the Vault, Gloria found Raihan, counting something on his Rotom Phone and a trio of Gym Trainers. "Not even ten are remaining?!"

He looked to to see Gloria, envisioning quite the challenge. "Alright then. Time to explain the great Raihan's Gym Mission! The rules are simple! All you got to do is defeat three Gym Trainers that I personally trained- in double battles!"

Gloria ohed. "That is pretty simple. But since they're not common on the road, that doesn't make it less of a challenge." Raihan agreed with that. "The Gym Challenge is meant to be well... challenging, wouldn't you say? As you over heard, there aren't too many Gym Challengers who can make it this far. That's why I provide a format where you can really show off the brilliant combinations you and your pokemon should be capable of." Gloria nodded and pointed. "This is also going to be on the big test when we get to battle at the Stadium. Somethings are meant to work better when your pokemon has a buddy." She brain stormed as Raihan stepped aside. "That's probably more than enough out of me. Time for someone else to take the spotlight and learn something new!" He called to the left trainer. "Come on Sabastian, you'll be first."

A teenage boy with short blonde hair approached eagerly. "Yeah, that's me. Leader Raihan has taught me two things. First, that dragon types are ferociously powerful! I need to create an advantage on the battlefield to fully utilize that power!" He drew out two balls and sent out a Pellipper and a Sliggo. Gloria readied two balls and sent out Brainy and Franken. The Pelipper caused the room to dampen and pour in rain. The girl thought. "First things first, Brainy, use a light screen while Franken takes out that Pelipper!"

The Orbeetle conjured a light screen as Sabastian pointed proudly. "Tail wind!" The Pelipper flapped a tail wind that caused the Sliggoo to slink faster and fire a water pulse at the Arctozolt. The light screen soaked some of the enhanced damage. The fossil crackled his beak and rushed at the Pelipper for a fast electrical chomp. The Sliggoo fired another water pulse that bounced around the Arctozolt, Brainy held the foe in a psychic hold as Gloria pointed. "Freeze dry!" The Arctozolt blasted out freezing air that in conjunction with the Sliggoo, brought about a knock out. Sabastian's pretty astonished by how swift that was. "Double. There's a lot to think about with them. It makes them difficult, but fun, too!" He called his two back. "I see why you've managed to make it this far!"

He went back as Raihan called. "Now for the second trainer! Come on, Camilla!" A young woman with dark skin and red hair approached. Gloria took the moment to switch to her Slowbro and Appletun as the trainer advised. "In Double Battles, it's important to figure out what role each of your opponent's pokemon plays." She sent out a Turtonator and a Ninetales that unleashed a scorching drought. Gloria had a realization to something and sent out her duo. "Come on Shelly, we need some icy wind to slow them down!" The Slowbro quickly agreed and used her shellder to fire an icy wind upon the two, causing a shiver as the Ninetales blasted the Appletun with fire. Sweet Pie shook off the flames as Gloria ordered. "Now dragon pulse the Turtonator!"

The Appletun grunted and fired a blast that knocked the Turtonator out cold. Shelly kept to a momentum with her quick claw and rushed at the Ninetales for a zen head butt that made her flinch. Giving the Appletun the chance to finish off the foe. Camilla's quite impressed. "The weather is fickle! Victory and defeat are even more fickle!" She bobbed her head as Gloria called her partners back. "Those seven badges you have were well-earned!"

She went back to her position as Raihan called the girl with black hair. "You've made it to the third and last trainer! Your moment to shine, Aria!" The last of the trainers had a cold stare at the girl and approached. "You seem to be combining the strength of two pokemon to push through, have them supporting one another will make the odds more in your favor." She sent out an Abomasnow and a Hakamo-o. The ice type called upon a hair storm that didn't bother the girl in the slightest. "I think I know where this is going." The challenger sent out a chipper Acer and a confident Fubear. "Acer, take that Abomasnow out before he does something with the hail! Fubear, ram that Hakamo-o!"

The Cinderace kicked a pyro ball that sent the Abomasnow flying in ease as Fubear bashed an iron head that sent the dragon type rolling. Aria's growing impressed. "Brick break that dark type!" Chop!

Fubear took the super effective blow and pushed the fighting type away as Gloria cheered. "Now scorching sands!" The Cinderace dashed for a kick as Gloria punched. "And show them the wicked fist!" Fubear glowed a dark aura and rushed at the the Hakamo-o stepped back form the burning sand and was punched all the way to a wall. She slid off and passed out. Aria called her fallen back and nodded in pride. "That cooperation makes you all that much stronger. Such a talented bunch!"

She returned to her position as Raihan was pleased by the aftermath. "Nice one, Gloria! You've completed my Gym Mission with flying colors!" He went to open the door and let his band out. "Come on then. Time to head to the Gym Stadium. You've earned the right to face me yourself!" Gloria was guided back to the Stadium and took the time to prepare her pokemon, she set up a T.M containing rain dance and looked to her Slowbro. "Shelly, I think I figured out what Raihan's biggest advantage is! Those trainers of his, they've been using the weather to get an edge that would help the dragon mess us up. Pokemon that would set up that weather, the moment they show up."

The Slowbro turned and nodded. (I've been seeing that.) She had a ding. (So if someone hurries up to replace the weather after... after... after) She stared into space as Gloria explained. "There's one more weather I've seen that isn't used there. That's the one Raihan is using for himself. Surf isn't going to be too much of a help out there, because it hurt your partner too. But the rain alone will make the sandstorm bugger off." Acer whined. (Rain, seriously?)

Gloria nodded. "We are fighting dragon pokemon after all, so pyro ball won't be of a help. We also know about that Duraludon that Raihan uses for last. It looks like a steel type, so what move do you have that will help?" Acer ahed. (Good point.) Gloria let the Slowbro learn Rain Dance, called her partners back and selected her four. "We got this!"

She entered a stadium with an purple scale like tiles and an anxious audience. She approached the center as Raihan went to his end of the ring. The Gym Leader admitted. "Finally time, that a challenger made it! I've been waiting for someone to battle. Though, I didn't think it'd be you until I got a good look at what you do." He smirked and closed his eyes. "But I guess I should've expected no less from a Pokemon Trainer that Leon saw promise in." He opened his eyes and tensed. "and you aim to defeat him. Do you have any idea how high a hurdle that is?" Gloria feels she has a glimpse. "It isn't just that one Charizard, he's told me about a pokemon that take a while to get stronger and I'm thinking it have been that Dragapault too. Who knows how many others are like that!"

Raihan liked that spirit. "Exactly! As his greatest rival, I guess that I-Raihan- will have to show you what he's been dealing with regularly!" The two stepped back to their sides. The Gym Leader pressed a button on his Rotom Phone and had it leave his hand to serve as a camera. He roared and tossed out a Gigalith and a Flygon. Gloria sent out Shelly and Brainy for the ensuing trouble. The Gigalith took a stomp and shook out a sand stream that blew in a sand storm. Raihan bellowed out. "Let the winds blow! Stream forward, sandstorm!"

Shelly yelped in a focus and Gloria saw her chance. "Shelly, like we talked about. Quick draw that rain!" The Slowbro danced and chanted to bring about a rain cloud that made the sand die down. Raihan showed a fang. "Pulling out a quick draw Rain Dance! Hah! That's not a bad countermeasure! Flygon, crunch that Slowbro!" The ant lion nodded, showed his fang and rushed at Slowbro to get a chomp on the shoulder. Gloria asked. "Brainy, use reflect to keep that from happening again!"

The Orbeetle set up a reflect as Raihan pointed. "Gigalith, make sure the others have a rocky entrance!" The compressed pokemon tossed a stealth rock across the field and made the girl ahk. "Brainy, blast that Flygon with psychic! Shelly, blow in an icy wind!"

The Slowbro flipped with her quick claw and unleashed frigid air that blew the Flygon and Gigalith back. Giving Brainy the chance to fire psychic energy and fling the dragon across the stadium. Flygon tried getting up and passed out. Leaving the Gym Leader to identify the other problem. "Gigalith, rock blast that Orbeetle!" The Gigalith opened his mouth and fired a barrage of three stones, each one pushing the Orbeetle to the back and making him go dizzy. Raihan switched to his Sandaconda, who gave a unconcerned stare at the challengers. Gloria pointed at the Gigalith. "Brainy, Shelly, go focus that Gigalith down!" The Orbeetle let loose a buzz that left the Gigalith with his head ringing as Raihan and Sandaconda give the Slowbro a glare. Slowing her in her tracks and giving the Gigalith time to fire another rock blast barrage. Brainy was pelted by two rocks and landed on his back in a daze. One pokemon was down. Gloria called Brainy back and decided on a gamble as Shelly managed to rush the Gigalith in a zen. "Come on Franken!" Pop! Out came an Arctozolt that felt a sharp prick of the rocks.

She aimed her ball at the frantic Arctozolt. "We got to keep the ice and weather under control! Let's Dynamax and turn this summer into a winter!" She brought the Arctozolt into his ball, charged it up and tossed it to the back. Unleashing a growing abomination that let loose a loud shriek across the field. Shelly focused quickly and mustered the nerve to give the Gigalith one more zen head butt as Gloria ordered. "Smash that Gigalith with the hail stone and make way for the Ludon!"

Raihan laughed. "Not if we have something to say! Chomp 'em with fire fang!" The Sandaconda rushed at the Arctozolt that lifted his flipper up and breathed to the sky, turning the rain into hail and smashing the Gigalith for a k.o.

Raihan called his rock type back and set his sights on a plan. "This combo still isn't through! It's still possible for me to win!" Fling! Roar! Thud! The crowd went into a chant. "Duraludon! Duraludon!"

Raihan and Duraludon roared out. "Bring the storm! My partner will send everyone in the stadium flying!" He called the Duraludon back, charged it up and gave the camera a wide smile for the audience at home before tossing the ball far. POP! Growing out of the ball was a Duraludon in the shape and size of a sky scrapper. Gloria took a deep breath and pointed. "Franken, blast that Sandaconda next! This is the last surprise we're dealing with!"

She pointed to her Slowbro, who toughen out her paralysis. "If you can, give it one more icy wind. Then we definitely got this!" The Slowbro had a focus with her quick claw and blasted out a chilling wind that slowed the two opponents down. The Sandaconda let loose a spit of sand that blew into a sandstorm as the Arctozolt called upon a hail stone to knock the snake out and bring about the chill. Not that Raihan minded.

He ordered proudly. "Let's do it! Time for our G-Max Depletion! The dragon's roar will cut right through you!" The Duraludon let loose a purple wind across the Slowbro and blasted her into a vortex that brighten to red, sending her flying to her back and to firmly pass out. Gloria switched to her Cinderace and smiled. "This is it! With a hot kick of the sands, this is going be a quick chill!"

The Cinderace rushed at the Duraludon to kick sand that left a burn as Franken let loose a final hail stone. The Duraludon stomped up a rock fall upon the Cinderace that used the reflect to protect himself. Sand blew in as the starter gave one more kick and caused a reaction of an explosion. The Duraludon shrank down and fall over. Franken gave a chipper dance as Acer cheered and gave the Arctozolt an embrace as Raihan had his hands behind his head, accepting defeat. "I might have lost, but that fight still looked good!"

Gloria let her pokemon celebrate and approached as Raihan had the Rotom Phone focus on her and her pals. Letting her point her thumb at the duo before getting a picture taken. Raihan admitted as he went for his pocket. "In the aftermath of a furious battle, I feel pure and refreshed as when the sky clears after a storm. What can I possibly say now? Calling myself Leon's rival? Seems I'd grown quite conceited for someone who can't even claim the title of Champion!"

Gloria blew out air. "With a strategy like that, I'd think a lot of trainers who even got this far couldn't take the pressure." Raihan nodded. "But you, you blasted your way through. I'll give you what you want, then. The proof of your victory- the Dragon Badge!" Gloria was given a medal piece meant for the upper left of the medal, it had the image of a purple dragon. The girl placed it in the completed amulet and shook hands with Raihan. The gym leader announced. "Now that you've gotten all the Gym Badges from the Galar Region, there's only one more place you got to go to. Now, win your way through the semifinals and finals for your chance to challenge Leon! You owe us that much at least, for beating us in battle here today!"

The girl promised. "Don't you worry, I'll be heading to Wyndon as soon as I take care of some business. Don't go easy on my friends. They'll have to earn the right to travel along!"

At that, Gloria called her partners back and was given an escort to the locker room, as a way to avoid the paparazzi. She was back in her usual clothes and was told about the Champion cup, Raihan stepped out with a uniform and a tm, nearly forgetting to give her these as a prize. In a sudden, Marnie arrived. "Finished, already, Gloria?" The girl turned proudly. "Mhm! You don't know how much went on when I came back here. Hey, before I take off for some exploring, I need a favor for when Hop get's 'ere. When we all beaten this, can we head to the next city together?" Marnie don't see why not. "Sure, travelin' with you has been pretty fun." With that, the girl took off to a pokemon center before taking a Corviknight Taxi to a few towns.

Half an hour later in the Wild Area.

Gloria was at Hammerlocke Hill, double checking something she got at a bargain from Stow-on-Side. A chunk of ice that never melts, something that Franken would be really handy with. She set up a tent and set out her Pokemon for a group meeting. Shelly found a place to sit at and stare blankly; Acer, Fubear and Brainy realized there was a reason for the sent out and turned to listen. Sweet Pie tilt her head cutely and Franken looked to the girl with no idea on what's to come. Gloria raised up the completed Medal of Badges and announced. "We finally did it guys. We gotten all the badges!" She gave a woot that the others followed on, even the Slowbro who delayed her reaction. "It's been a long and hard one, that's for sure. But we've got through it!"

She looked to her first two pokemon and asked. "Acer, Brainy. You remember a few days ago, when we went to this area for the first time? Pretty big world." Acer nodded as the Orbeetle gave a relaxing buzz. (Yeah.) The girl looked to a late afternoon sun. "Pretty soon we'll be heading to the place a Champion would call home. Mum's going to be proud we gotten this far."

She called to Fubear. "And the chaps at the Dojo are going to love it when you all show them we're there." She pointed to Franken. "And even if some of us had messy meetings" then to Sweet Pie and Shelly. "or had a mile to jump across to get anywhere." She directed her hands to the band of six. "I want you all to know, that we're in the big league now. So once we take that train ride with the others. We're going to keep giving it our all until we can't do it anymore!"

The pokemon cheered as Gloria decided. "We'll be finding a real good restaurant to celebrate. So I hope you can hold up that appetite!" The pokemon felt a little peckish, the journey would make a feast all the more glorious.

After the announcement.

Marnie stepped out of the Stadium, with a completed Medal to show her progress. Right as Hop arrived with a medal of seven. The boy waved to the girl and admitted. "Thanks for the warning, Marnie. Your brother's definitely a rough one! We had to think a bit over the box to get through that Scraggy of his and make sure his Stuntank didn't stink up our plan."

Marnie giggled. "Pretty impressive for someone who doesn't dynamax, huh?" She stepped aside. "Raihan isn't a push over either, but you got what it takes to beat him! So hurry on up and get that done, so we can finally get to Wyndon!"

That was enough of a confidence booster for Hop to go charging in. The girl head to the Pokemon Center to rest up her partners and found Gloria returning to the city with pride. The two head on in and sat at a table. The Spikemuth Princess reported. "Got my final badge and Hop's just signed in. Had to use a bit of force on that Gigalith while pickin' off that Flygon with Sharpedo." She blushed. "Least until she got body pressed. I experimented a little with a move Toxicroak can learn and all." Gloria's curious about the strategy. "Worked in a pinch, huh?" Marnie nodded. "Least when I dynamax, that move stops missing. Hop told me a little about what happened out of town. You think there's somethin' fishy about that?"

Gloria thought into it. "I believe so, what gave it away for you?" Marnie remembered a few perilous adventures she has. "Isn't it weird that there are more earthquakes going about and the Den's acting up a lot more often than you'd like? Pokemon don't just leave those dens, ya know?" Gloria rubbed her fingers against the table. "I've heard that the Chairman told a lot of people one thing and told Magnolia something else entirely. About an energy issue that will come up." Marnie asked. "The one that wouldn't be our problem until a thousand years from now?"

Gloira added. "Or the foreseeable future. That would sound like a good reason to rush something if you'd think it works. But Hop and I aren't allowed to really look into that with the grown ups. If we have another disaster like earlier, we might not be able to stop it before somebody gets hurt." She pressed her hands together and looked Marnie in the eyes. "It isn't the reason why I wanted us all to go past the road of our victory. Since we're friends and all, we can see it all together."

The rival giggled in good will. "Before we get to kicking each other's butts." Gloria puffed in laughter when the Rotom Phones turned on to show a video. Hop had already made it to Raihan and is starting the match with the battle eager Lycanroc and the bubbly Blastoise.

The wolf started with a scattering of stealth rocks as the Blastoise took a thunder punch and tapped his shell for a shatter. The Gigalith tossed rocks of his own. Hop called the Blastoise into the ball, gave a cheer. "Release all the thoughts poured into my Wishing Star." He tossed it to the back. "Time for a Gigantamax!" Pop! The Blastoise grew into his Gigantamaxed form, made the ground shake and give a roar that could be heard from out of the pokemon center.

The Blastoise aimed a hail stone at the Flygon and knocked it out in one blow as the Lycanroc tossed a rock slide that made the Gigalith flinch. Raihan felt the chilling breeze and sent out Sandaconda, who's glare was stopped with a fast taunt, leaving the Gigalith to be blasted out of the battle with a cannonade and bringing about a vortex that ripped to the snake. Raihan was down to his last pokemon, the Duraludon that was revered by many in Hammerlocke. The Gym Leader brought his ace into a ball to power up and hurled it to his back of the stadium. Bringing about a Gigantamaxed pokemon, vs a Gigantamaxed pokemon.

The Blastoise launched a hail stone at the Duraludon to hurl it back as the Lycanroc rushed at the giant in a drill run. Making an explosion that shrank the giant foe back down. Gloria and Marnie wowed as the Blastoise took an earth power blast and shrank back down to flex. Hop saw both partners weren't going to last and called both of them back, bringing out Dubwool and Rillaboom.

The Sandaconda got over a taunt and glared at the grass starter as the Dubwool braced for a cotton guard and leaped for a body press. The sheep rolled from a glare, at a shout from the boy and let the Rillaboom make a drum beat that slowed the snake down. Another body press ended the match rather flawlessly.

Gloria had the Rotom turn off the video and gave Marnie a wink. "What can I say, we're all pros now!" The rival nodded and went to pick up her pokemon. "I'll meet ya at the Station, you go pick Hop up!"

The girl was on it and jogged out of the center and to the stadium. Finding Hop trying to escape the paparazzi to no avail and was given a plethora of questions he couldn't find an answer to. Gloria gasped, sent out Franken and ordered. "Charge and scream! Charge and scream!"

The Arctozolt looked at the crowd, like they're a pack of predators and dashed towards them in a frantic scream, like that of an feral animal. Hop stood confused. "Gloria, what are you doing?" The girl pointed to the locker room. "No time, get back into your travel clothes and run to the pokemon center!" She waved to a receptionist that was getting a mega phone. "I got this from here! Tell these leeches to go away!"

The receptionist blared out to the camera crowd. "They're teenagers, people! They don't have to answer your questions if they don't want to!" Franken nodded and let out a misty aura in an attempt to be threatening, scaring off the crowd and giving Hop the chance to get changed and step out with his goods. "Thanks for the save, Gloria!" The girl didn't mind it. "Alright Franken, let's go!"

The Arctozolt was on it and plopped eagerly, following with the trainers, out of the gym and to the draw bridge. Where Sonia and Magnolia looked to have dodged a stampede of people. Sonia waved. "Hey there, Hop! Hey there, Gloria! I've watched your fights on a video. You two gave Raihan a thrashing, and that means you've completed the Gym Challenge!"

She squeed. "Congratulations from the bottom of my heart!" The children went to take a celebratory embrace as Franken tried to join in and was given a petting from the elder. Sonia let go to explain. "Before you go celebrate, there are some things we should talk over."

Gloria guessed. "It's about that Dynamaxed attack? Me and Marnie had a chat over that." Sonia nodded. "It's a good thing you did. That attack was like the Darkest Day, where it's said that giant Pokemon went on a rampage and almost destroyed the entire Galar region. If you and Leon didn't jump in like that, those two could have done the same to a chunk of Hammerlocke."

Magnolia agreed with that. "If two heroes didn't stand together with their pokemon, there wouldn't be much of a chance. As you all know, we Dynamaxed our Pokemon today using the energy Wishing Stars that have fallen to us."

Hop guessed. "But we can't really control where it happens." Magnolia added. "Nor the energy itself or how the two heroes managed to do so. In fact, we're not even sure who- or what- those two heroes actually were anymore." Sonia asked. "The legendary sword and shield, two pokemon that could be slumbering in the Weald."

Magnolia tried taking off her lab coat, showing a rather simple, white dress. "Sonia, my dearest. That discovery is why my lab coat is yours now!" Sonia huhed. "What?! Are you sure, Gran? I still haven't finished the work you've assigned me." Magnolia smirked and balanced herself. "Think of this as something to help you finish that work. You're this close to unlocking the truth."

It didn't take long for Sonia to switch her jacket for a lab coat that made her look even more stunning. Hop gasped. "Wow! That looks good on you, Professor!" Gloria agreed with that. "You've deserved it!" Sonia blushed. "T-thanks." Magnolia giggled. "Be proud, my dearest. Now, the two heroes that protected the Galar region from the Darkest Day and the Legend of the Sword and Shield you've uncovered. That truth is what you need to find in order to save us all."

Sonia nodded. "I know Gran." Gloria had an idea. "We're thinking Leon might want to know about some of this too. When Hop and I head out to Wyndon and get this Champion cup done, we can all check the Weald together while getting to the bottom of it all."

Sonia smiled wide. "You or Hop could end up being the next Champion that will make a difference 'ere. I wouldn't want to miss seeing the chance you have to square up against Leon and take him down!"

Hop blushed. "Heh! That legend is really close to being finished! While we do that, would you check the Weald and see how that fog even works?"

Sonia gave the promise. "Don't worry about a thing- you can count on me to take care of that! You all just focus on getting to Wyndon. Go on! Head to the Station before you miss your the train!"

Gloria, Hop and Franken agreed and jogged off, they were given a cheer from their new fans over the accomplishment and even a couple of familiar, rough looking people were given the three a cheering. Blaring horns and posters matching them and their pokemon.

At reaching the Station, they found Marnie and Piers talking about something. The grown up was about to be in tears as his sister patted him on the shoulder. "We've been workin' hard to make this day happen." She turned to see her friends and waved as Morpeko gave a chipper hello. Franken waved a paw as the Spikemuth Princess reported. "We got a train waiting for us and everythin' I hope you didn't mind some of my folks paying back what was owed."

Gloria blushed and wiped a tear. "The posters you're folks made for us and our friends are amazing!" She asked Piers. "Tell them they did a real good job."

"You're getting the V.I.P treatment and everything."

The group looked on to find Raihan wanting to see the winners off. The Dark Type Gym Leader rubbed an eye. "Beautiful, ain't it? They've all given us what for with what they got." Raihan agreed with that. "That strength and wit is genuine, as proven by the badges they've won from us." He asked the challengers. "Listen up, you three! Battle your way through the Champion Cup to face Leon! One of you ought to!"

Hop perked in energy. "I'd reckon I'm still peaking, but I'm up against my true rival, Gloria." He admitted. "I wouldn't have found it if it wasn't for her or Marnie giving me that push." Marnie nudged to Gloria. "She did most of it. I just followed because it felt like a good idea." Hop nodded. "So we'll ring out every last thing we've learned during those battles, to finally beat her!" Gloria's charmed. "Well, that's going to be a front pager in a few days." She turned. "So let's get a move on! The train's awaiting!"

The grown ups gave a wave good bye as the trainers went to their cart and realize they had to call their partners back. They shared a seat together and used their rotom phones to check on where they're going. A glorious city with an amusement park nearby, a fountain of a Corviknight and may districts that showcase glory. "We're finally heading for Wyndon!"

Gloria asked. "There's a whole lot we have to explore, if we check in early. Some big tower and a monorail ought to get us to all the fun places." Marnie saw a picture of a pink, flower like building. "If we make it for Wyndon Stadium, we'll register for the roughest fightin' the whole of Galar is gonna see. The whole world's gonna be watchin' us fight there."

Hop raised up to ask. "You both get it, right? We're gonna make our match there the greatest match that ever was!" Gloria's over heating. "Oh, this is going to be amazing! We're about to make it to the very, very top!"

The train reached a stop at a station that had snow blowing. The trainers hurried to get off and Marnie put on a black set of thick winter pants as Hop went to heal his pokemon back to peak health. The Corviknight was feeling the chill as Gloria decided to let Brainy out. "Alright, I think this is our road to victory. It's going to be a chilly climb, but with Rooki and Brainy, we'll make it through."

Marnie nodded and sent out her Grimmsnarl. "And if anyone want's a go at us, they'll see how mean the lot of us can get!" The bulk up pokemon giggled with delight, should someone be foolish enough to try. Hop called most of his team back, save for Rooki and had him and Brainy take a lead out of the station and to a snowy mountain. The trainers took turns dealing with anyone foolish enough to pick a fight, the only thing of freight during the climb up the chilly mountain, was a Beartic that was dashing in a slush rush and was given an iron head bash from the Corviknight. No matter how darker it got, they and their partners kept to the trial, especially since Brainy used his power to resemble a great light. Nearing a hill, there was a very familiar camera crew.

The reporter, Gillain, squeed. "And our waiting has paid off. We've just caught out three aspiring Champions making their way through the last part of this Victory Road. Let's see what they have to say about this milestone." She and Cam waved to get the childrens attention. Gloria cringed and asked. "You've seriously followed us up 'ere?!" Gillain corrected her. "We've figured you'd be coming here from the videos and left our stations from Wyndon. Now, you three are about to make the final steps towards the end of your long travels. Where the captital of Galar is waiting to know about you three."

She asked. "What are you feeling right now?" Hop answered without hesitation. "I don't know about these two, but me and my pokemon are feeling pretty proud!" Rooki flew ahead to see something down a slope and cawed as Brainy gave Gloria a half turn and wave, letting her know it's fine to answer. The Postwick aspirant blushed. "About the same! The road got off pretty rough, I didn't really know if I was going to handle everything all at once until I decided to deal with it bit by bit. It's been one jog after another, making a climb like this feel like another moment."

Marnie had a frown for the camera. "I'd started pretty confident, wantin' to see how far I can get as the Trainer of Spikemuth." She looked to Gloria in particular. "I didn't really do this to make friends, 'cause we're all wantin' the same thing. But somethin's tellin' me that no matter what happens, we're still gonna be some of the best of pals."

Gloria teeheed as Gillain's impressed. "That journey's always something that will change who you were." She and Cam went up the hill and had the trainers make that climb. The snow cleared away and showed a brick gate with a giant tower looking ahead. Behind it, lies Wyndon. Gillain spoke to the camera. "Well, three of our post promising Challengers are about to cross over into a whole new world! One that challengers could only dream of reaching by this point in the challenge." She smiled to the band. "We'll be looking forward to seeing you battle at the Champion Cup!"

With that, the trainers and their guiding pokemon went down the hill to the road. Finding the gate wide open and showing the Corviknight fountain. In person, Wyndon was unlike any town or city the band has been in. Electronic billboards everywhere, buildings in the far distance that dwarfs the many stores the travelers are in. To the left is a path to a hotel with a clock tower. To the right is the Stadium the trainers ought to register for. The Corviknight statue had more décor, with 4 stone statues resembling it's pre evolutions. Two Corvisquires and Two Rookidees. Brainy hummed and nudged Rooki on the shoulder. (You're famous already, buddy!) Rooki blushed. (Come on, they're plenty of birds like me around 'ere.)

The trainers readied a call back as Hop called. "We'll do a bit of sight seeing later. Right now, we got to register up for the Tournament. So wait in here for a few while we get that taken cared of." The pokemon understood and let themselves be called back. The three made their jog to Wyndon Stadium, entering to find a double floor lobby that would be a wonder to hang out in. They found the receptionist, a man resembling the guard of Hammerlocke, reading something on a rotom phone and preparing for an arrival. He noticed the three and kept firm. "It's you three! Gloria, Hop and Marnie. Correct?"

The trainers let him know he was, the receptionist asked. "We've been watching over your performance, during your Gym Challenge. This is just a formality, of course, but I'll need to check your Gym Badges, if you don't mind."

The three didn't and showed completed medals. The man registered the three down. "And done!" He cheered. "Welcome to Wyndon! Due to you three being early, it will take until tomorrow afternoon before the Champion Cup begins. All Challengers, who've made it this far, are required to book a room at the Rose of Rondelands." He gave them a pass. "On us of course!"

Gloria ohed at the five stars. "Fancy!" Marnie guessed. "You've been waiting all week to do this, were ya?" The man scratched the side of his head. "Well, watching all those matches as part of the job, has it's benefits. You three are kind of celebrities right now."

Hop snickered. "We are, aren't we?" He asked. "Come on, let's check the place out before we waste the day." The ladies thought to give it a tour and followed Hop all the way to the hotel under the gaze of the clock tower. A rather luxurious looking hotel, decorated in golden galore and having the theme of an Aegislash. It dawned on the three, that this is the place they're going to be spending the next few days in, for free, until the event is over.

They hurried to book a room and check out what they're in for. Gloria's room was beyond gorgeous, in view of the wider city ahead. Having the tower on the horizon and a view that could be mesmerizing if looked at from the night. She had a vision of her and Marnie sharing in the view and shook it off when the fantasy turned romantic. She sat on a chair and let out her partners, who spaced out like Shelly is on seeing the kind of world they're in. Gloria agreed with the collective thought. "Weird, I know. We've spent so long in nature, that it all seems unreal." She used the Rotom Phone to see what particular tourist spots ought to good for both a human and a pokemon. "Now let's see what we can go looking for before it gets all dark and pretty." She looked at a few options as Acer, Brainy and oddly, Shelly read with her.