Gallant Adventures

by zcritic88

At the Region of Galar, a young girl's adventure begins in earnest. To go as far into an event as she could. What kind of adventure is in store for Gloria and her misfit band?

4. The First Lap!

The next day, at the Stadium. Gloria, Hop and Marnie were making their stretches. Marnie perked to her fellow rivals. "So the Gym Challenge is finally startin'. I'd wish you luck." She folded her arms assertively. "I'd wish you luck, but I'm afraid I'm goin' to be the one to win this!" Hop smirked and mimic her pose. "Not if I make my legend first!" Gloria shook her head at the squabbling and went to the receptionist, setting her priority straight. The adult recognized her. "Challenger, Gloria was it?" The girl nodded. "If I remember right, I got to go get changed into my uniform for this event, right?" The grown up nodded. "You're correct, but we still must ask you to go do that for all official events! The official ceremony marks the beginning of the Gym Challenge. You'll find the changing room down the hall way past that door." He pointed to the door on the girls right.

Gloria appreciated the small talk, was given a pass and went to get changed. Eventually Marnie followed her while Hop went to the boys changing room. They stepped out together in a matching, white uniform with red, black and blue stripes at the side. Gloria checked Marnie's number, 960 and is imagining a whole lot of sports. She swallowed firmly, perked and gave a flex. Back in the lobby, the receptionist saw they were prepared. "You all look as sharp as pins. The Challenge hasn't begun and you already look ready to give it everything you got for this year." The three were glad and got lined up for a gathering in the stadium.

At the ceremony.

The audience were preparing themselves as Rose called for their attention, by him was a secretary, having long blonde hair, light green eyes, a red blouse, black pants that complimented a black skirt, hexogonal ear rings and a stoic, professional expression. Rose begun announcing. "Ladies and gentleman! I'm Rose, the chairman of the pokemon league! I know that everyone gathered here today and everyone watching from home have all been waiting for this big moment! It's my pleasure to announce that finally- the Galar Region Gym Challenge will now begin!"

The crowd's getting hyped up as Rose repeated, about as excited as they are. "Yes the Gym Challenge! Participants must defeat the eight Gym Leaders and gather the eight Gym Badges to prove their skills as a trainer! Only the most worthy will have the honor of challenging the greatest Champion in history!" He directed to an entrance. "Now, I would like to invite the Gym Leaders to show themselves!"

Stepping out of the entrance, was Raihan along with six more of his fellow gym leaders. A muscular farmer with green pants and a logo of a leaf, having light orange hair and a sun hat. "The fighting farmer! Here's the grass type expert Milo."

A dark skin woman with long hair of black with stripes of blue, looking to be in what seems to be a two piece swim suit with orange stripes and markings of aquatic blue. "The raging wave! It's the master of Water types, Nessa!"

A middle aged, athletic man in red colors. "The ever-burning man of fire! Here comes the Fire-type veteran, Kabu!"

A nervous boy with short black hair, a black and purple uniform and a strange mask of two giant eye holes and a blank gaping mouth hole. "The silent boy of mystery! Allister, friend to Ghost types!"

An elderly woman with a dress like uniform that was pink and blue, almost like a candy cane. "The master of a fantastic theater! It's the charming Fairy-type user, Opal!"

Complimented by a large purple tuff. Finally, a wide, young, blonde adult in a black and brown jacket, he was wearing sharp sunglasses. "The hard-rock crusher! Please welcome the Rock-type master, Gordie!"

Each of the gym leaders gave a wave to the audience in some way and Rose addressed the central gym leader people might be familiar. "And last but not least, the tamer of dragons... It's Raihan, the top Gym Leader!"

Raihan waved as Rose addressed the odd detail out. "Unfortunately, we're missing one, but these are the Gym Leaders that we in the Galar Region are proud to call our own!"

With that, Gloria and the other contestants stepped into the stadium, to get a closer look at the goes they're to face. The cheering was getting to the girl who's never been this far from home, participating in a coming of age moment. She breathed in to ease in her mind and imagined, what will happen if she simply tries.

It felt like time was going by fast and the ceremony reached the peak. Gloria and her friends were back in the lobby, back in their normal clothes. Hop let out his adrenaline. "Standing there on the pitch, in the stadium, in front of everyone! There's really no words for it, but I can barely contain myself! My heart's racing." Gloria was getting nervous again as Marnie pouted in disappointment. "It could have been better if that last gym leader bothered to show up. Are you about to white out Gloria?"

The girl gasped. "No, no, not this soon!"

The three noticed Leon and the Chairman approaching. The champion had a cheer to give. "You've made it at last, Hop. And you, too, Gloria!"

Marnie sighed and wandered off as Rose asked the remaining two. "So you're the Trainers our Champion endorsed himself!" He closed his eyes in glee. "Welcome, and it's a delight to meet you! I'm Rose, of course." He noticed the bands. "Oh, and what's this? I see you both already possess Dynamax bands!" Gloria nodded. "And gave it a good test 'roud at the Wild Area!" Rose found that more wonderful. "It seems you two have been led here by the guiding light of the Wishing Stars."

He passed along a little info. "By the way, it was my wonderful company that invented those Dynamax Bands, you know!" Gloria and Hop looked to Leon, who was in the know of that. Rose was looking forward to the new faces. "I daresay this year's Gym Challenge is looking to be an absolute blast! Very good- very good indeed! That means the whole Galar region is in for some excitement! The Gym Challenge is another good opportunity to show off your dynamax pokemon!"

He heard a cough from his secretary and apologized. "Now, I'm terribly sorry, but there is some urgent business I need to attend to, so I must be on my way." He waved. "Best of luck to the both of you!"

Gloria and Hop imagined a whole lot of adult business while the Chariman took off, Leon kept to the subject. "The chairman seems to be in high spirits!" He whispered. "Now, listen closely, you two" Hop and Gloria leaned close. "you've both just started on your path as trainers. If you want to win, you need to do more than just train your pokemon. You need to train yourselves, too."

Hop and Gloria looked to each other as a result of the advice. Hop suggested. "Let's do it, Gloria! You know the Gym Challenge has a set order that you've gotta visit the Gyms in, right?"

Gloria considered that. "I do need to visit that Milo as soon as possible, for Sweet Pie's evolution. A farmer like him ought to know a thing or two about the kind of apples an Applin ought to need." Hop gasped. "He's right in the first gym. Turffield! We got to make west and get through route 3 to get there!" Hop sprinted and took off while Leon's smiling wide at Gloria's luck. "Don't expect that to be easy, but you're going to find a way!"

The girl nodded in her adrenaline boost and took off after her rival. On exiting the building, a woman in a uniform, caught Gloria and asked. "Excuse me, challenger Gloria, the chairman asked me to deliver this gift to you!" The girl turned and approached. "What he got for me? The woman gave Gloria a pass. "It's access to the taxi system. All you need is to dial the number on the back and they'll come to help you fly across the region." Gloria ohed. "That will be handy later! Tell him I said thanks!" The woman was enamored and let the girl take off to the west bridge.

Hop was waiting for her. As she got close, Hop brought a ball out. "That didn't long, I've been waiting for another match all day!" Gloria took the challenge. "It's not even past morning yet! But a warm up for the road ought to be nice!" Hop clapped a ball in his hand, flexed a smirk and sent out Wooloo as Gloria readied a pitch and sent out Brainy. Hop know a strategy is coming. "Keep up, mate! This is our chance to see if we are up to the Gym Challenge!"

Gloria was on it. "Brainy, let's try that new move you got from evolving! Reflect!" Hop ordered fast. "Tackle him before he can use that!" The Wooloo rushed at Brainy and sent him back an inch. The Dottler conjured a barrier and relaxed while Hop ordered. "Now copy that move!" The Wooloo bahed and conjured the barrier while Gloria realize. "Nice try there! Brainy, keep using confusion!"

The Dottler let loose a psychic pulse that sent the sheep rolling. He went to tackle again and was blasted a second time, dazed and confused. He tried to attack and trip, exposing himself. "Finish him with struggle bug!" The Dottler gave a buzz that sent the Wooloo rolling side ways. Hop called him back and sent out his Rookidee! "We got to bring that Dottler out of here! Hone those talons!" The Rookidee chirped and sharpened them as Gloria realize what's being built up. "Oh no! It's now or never, keep using confusion!"

The Dottler agreed and let loose the psychic power to blas the bird, the Rookidee sharpened his talons again and took another. Hop saw the reflect barrier disappear and cheered. "Now throw him out of here with a power trip!" The Rookidee dived at the Dottler and smacked him so hard that he was sent rolling. Brainy was still conscious and let loose another blast that sent the bird on his back.

Brainy was feeling light in the head as Hop called the bird back. Gloria called Brainy back. "Nice work, I think we got a really special lunch once we get through Milo!" She tossed a ball fast. "Acer, let's finish this!" Pop! Out came the Scorbunny that saw the familiar foe and made a few hops. The rival sent out Grookey, who was tapping in a rhythm. Gloria found the fight to be over and ordered. "Let's start with a double kick combo and flip for an ember spit!" The Scorbunny was on it and kicked Grooky in the face, sending him in a back flip as Hop asked. "Growl and follow with a razor leaf!" The monkey growled and spun his stick to conjure leaves, he flung them at the Scorbunny that spat an ember. The leaves enlarged in an overgrowth as the monkey took the blast and sliced in a critical spot. Gloria cringed. "That smarts! Finish this with an ember and we got this!" The Scorbunny kicked the ember and knocked the monkey on his back. Swiftly ending the fight and perking. Hop asked. "Was that really good training? Got to keep having my guard up!"

Gloria was about to answer as Scorbunny cheered and glowed. Much like Brainy, he's growing a is growing more hair on his head. His ears grew longer and dropped to the side of his head while his fur fluffed at the stomach. Pew! With that, the evolution finished, showing a rabbit with red fur around the neck, connecting to a belly coat of soot black fur and legs that resemble a jacket. His feet was a fiery red and above his eyes is a yellow band. Acer put his paws in his coat, like one a jacket and turned to Gloria to show those red eyes. (That's a warm up!)

Gloria squeed. "Acer, you just evolved!" She checked the dex entry and read it out loud. "Raboot: The Rabbit Pokemon: Fire type. Its thick and fluffy fur protects it from the cold and enables it to use hotter fire moves. It kicks berries right off the branches of trees and then juggles them with its feet, practicing its footwork." The girl woahed. "Looks like you and me are going to have to take this more seriously? Eh?"

The rabbit nodded and watched Hop call the Grookey back. (So we don't get surprised like that again!) The rival phewed. "Out challenge stars from right here in Motostoke. Although the first Gym Leader we have to challenge is still a way off from here." He vowed. "Still, you better believe I'm going to keep on winning my way to that Champion match!"

He rushed out regardless and yelled out his confidence to Galar. Gloria and the Raboot had a sweat and went back to the gym to heal up before going to the road. The girl thought to try a new balancing challenge, as a way to keep herself level headed. Taking her hat off and Sweet Pie the Applin on her head. The Applin huhed as the girl advised. "Find a way to keep yourself balanced up there while I make a sprint to that route! That will be our first goal for the day!" The Applin cringed and wiggled out a tail as a way to grip on the girls hair. The girl ran at a steady pace, being careful to not let the Applin fall. It was rather straight forward to where the Applin didn't have to hold on too hard. Before they know it, they were at the western route, going up a series of hills. Gloria felt it was a tad easy and saw trainers waiting. She looked up to advise. "I'm going to keep it steady now, but that was too easy. You don't got to hold on that tight, but let Acer and Brainy fight and watch what they do. Kay?"

The Applin groaned and held on. Watching the more battle worthy team members deal with a Lass with a Vulpix, a school girl with a rowdy pancham and a school boy with a Budew. Along the way, Gloria set her sights on a spinning flowery, Gossifleur to catch, a rude Stunky and a hearty Mudbray that would help out at work. Before she knows it, she's up at a road, with power plant on the horizon, standing on the string blocked road way was Sonia. Observing and studying. "Oi, Sonia, taking your studies out here?"

The researcher turned to find the girl with the Applin on her head and giggled before looking to the power plant. "Once I figured out you'd make it as a Gym Challenger! You looked real ace during the opening ceremony!" She thought. "Did I miss Hop coming by?" Gloria nodded. "He took off on the road after I beaten him again. So I'm keeping to the pace and working to my next goal. Finding Milo, so Sweet Pie will start putting in more work!" Sonia found that admirable. "That's a tasty name!" She remembered and shook her head to get onto her topic. "But right now, I got something interesting to tell you." She directed to the power plant. "You see that building over there? It's a company owned by Chairman Rose."

Gloria's thinking about it. "I've heard he's got a hand in just about every big business in Galar." Sonia nodded. "Just past route 3, there's a mine where they dig up ore. That building over there processes it into energy."

Gloria ohed. "So in other words, the Chairman's also responsible for all the energy in Galar!" Sonia turned to her and fondled her hair. "Can't say I really get him, but the chairman seems like a pretty brilliant guy, right?" Gloria agreed on that. "Got to be to make it that far as an adult." Sonia went for her pocket. "Here's a little something for having a chin-wag with me! It's an escape rope!" She gave the girl an emergency tool, the girl phewed. "In case we fall somewhere in that mine, we can get ourselves out of a pinch." Sonia nodded and asked. "Do you mind if I hold onto that Applin for a spell? Or is it part of your training?"

Gloria took a few steps ahead. "It's a way to make a sync until Sweet Pie evolves! If I can keep balance, he can keep balance! I learned this with Brainy and it works fine for his mind powers." Sweet Pie popped her head out in agreement. (It's more work, but that's better in the long run.) Sonia accepted that and turned. "The way to Turffield is pretty long, but that's a kind of challenge in it's own right. Good luck, Gym Challenger!"

She walked off ahead and gave Gloria time to readjust. If she tagged along too much, she might become too dependent for her own good. Once it was clear Sonia's far away, the girl and her balance act. There wasn't much in the way, beyond a tempting camp tent, a coal piece with a rolling wheel bellow, blinking an orange eye. Gloria identified that as a Rolycoly and had it quickly captured through some add from Brainy. One annoying challenger was a youth with a Dottler, who used struggle bug as a way to soften Acer's embers and left the rabbit more determined to try a new gig. They saw a rather stable tunnel way into the mine and entered to have a look into a rather stunning cave way, filled mine carts and the walls glimmering with gem stones.

Gloria, Acer and Sweet Pie woahed and looked around, unbeknownst of something catching a smell of something fruity and flying over head. Sweet Pie had a look up, finding a grey fluffy woobat sniffing and drooling. The apple wyrm eeped and jumped off of Gloria in shock, startling the woobat at the same time. Gloria and Acer turned sharp, found the bat and were startled.

The girl took a pokeball and tossed it at the bat for a fast capture. Ending that ordeal as she picked the Applin up. "Alright, that's enough for now!" The Applin pouted in shame as the girl petted her. "That's going to be a lot of danger if another one gets the idea to take a bite out of you. So," She brought out the ball. "Come back in here until we're out of these mines!"

Pew!

The Applin was called back and the girl put the Woobat ball into the box for later. Gloria huffed and looked to her nervous Raboot. "We need to find a move or something for her, just in case. Because it's going to take a real jerk face to make Sweet Pie want to give up."

Acer agreed to that and has a bit of anger at the thought. He and the girl took their time, exploring the mines. Getting into a quarrel with timburrs, drillburs, diglets and roggenrolas. Pokemon that the local workers have on them too and proved to be a fitting challenge for Acer and Brainy to over come. Gloria even found a pair of heavy duty boots, fitting size for a pokemon. It didn't take long before they were at the other end of the mine, where an exit awaits. Standing by it though, was that same boy that she saw at the lobby, the rude one in purple and with the curly hair.

The boy had his hand in his pocket and looked bored. "Coming this way? I'd advised against that." Gloria growled and brought out a ball. "We got a gym leader to meet, so are ya gonna fight me over this?"

The boy smirked and brought out a great ball. "Hmph! Any trainer with a wishing star is in for a beating from me and pokemon!" He had a closer look at Gloria and realized. "You! You're one of the two gym challengers, endorsed by the Champion?" He scoffed. "What a joke! You are aware that the chairman is more important than the Champion, right?"

Gloria had a question mark on top of her head. "What in blazes are you talking about?" The boy's confused by the reaction and took it as an insult. "Come on now, I've been chosen by the Chairman. That makes me more amazing than you!" He squinted his eyes. "I suppose I should prove, beyond a doubt, just how pathetic you are and how strong I am!"

The stranger tossed a ball and let out a green cell life form, Solisis. Gloria recognize a psychic type and tossed her ball. "This ought to be quick, come on Brainy, show this jerk that we're smarter!" Pop! Brainy landed on the ground while Solosis bubbled smugly. Gloria started with the first move. "Light screen! Then he's all ours!" The Dottler shined the barrier as the rude one looked to his watch. "This is going to go on forever! Start with a little confusion!" The Solosis blurped and let loose a blast that didn't do a whole lot. Gloria ordered fast. "Now struggle bug!" Brainy buzzed loud and had the cell roll back before the boy ordered. "Show that endeavor and get past that defense!" The Solosis rolled right at the Dottler for a hefty amount of damage. Brainy wasn't going to give up and buzzed sharp again. Knocking the Solosis firmly.

The rival sighed, called the defeated back and sent out a small, pink face gothic creature. A Gothita. It sang a round that annoyed Brainy and was given a fierce buzz all the same. In two rounds, the creature was felled. Bringing the youngster to his final pokemon. "Barely adequate." He sent out a pokemon resembling a girls head under a pink hat. Having blue hair and stubby legs. "Hatenna, that light screen should be gone any minute now!" The hat pokemon agreed with that and readied her voice as Gloria corrected him. "But, struggle bug's still going to make the damage too little! Brainy, end this!"

The Dottler nodded and struggled a sound wave before getting hit with a disarming voice, he followed with one more use of the bug move and sent the Hatenna on her rear. The fight was over and the boy called her back, looked very crossed, looked away and raised a clenched fist. "Well, that's fine. I wasn't really trying anyways."

Gloria shook her head, looked to the Dottler that had a rough one and called him back. "Well it's no wonder you lost to the brains of my buddies! What's your name anyways?" The boy was denying it. "Why are you more able and more dim then I'd thought you were? But I suppose I'll pass this along, call me Bede if you will."

Gloria had half a mind to simply call him a Jerk Face, but wanted to be the bigger girl. "Gloria's mine." Bede hmphf. "I'll remember you and your battle strategy for later. I'm sure it will be a lot easier to beat you, if and when we face each other in an official match." He was ready to leave. "But now that we've established that, I won't waste anymore time on you. I've already gathered every wishing star in this area, after all."

He walked out of the mine and left Gloria especially crossed, she turned to Raboot and was relieved. "See what I mean?"

The rabbit agreed. (The way I see it right now, we need to get that apple as soon as possible!)

He sprinted out of the mine, ahead of the trainer that started running a lab and catching up. Finding a nurse who saw hearty workers and thought to remedy some wounds from the earlier fights before they had a view of a acre of drying hay and trees across fences. Ahead is a town build around a stadium at the lowest point of a hill that had miles of trees as far as the eye can see. There was a green logo of a leaf and a sign that the gym's in sight. The girl and her partners had to handle trainers with the local pokemon, elektrikes, pikachus, brown fur bearded meowths, eevees and pumpkaboos. Gloria spent some time in the fields and found a bag of silver powder that Brainy could use. Once the girl reached to the outskirts, she head a baa from somewhere.

She turned sharply and saw a Wooloo rolling straight at her, she yelped in shock and was shoved to the ground. Behind the sheep was the gym leader Milo, who quickly pulled it away and tried to help Gloria up. "Are you okay? You took that tackle head on!"

Gloria groaned. "This is not the first, or last time a Wooloo comes rolling me into trouble!" She recognized him, gasped and asked. "What are you doing out here?" Milo recognized her back. "You're on the Gym Challengers? Right?" Gloria nodded. "Indeed I am!" Milo recalled. "I thought I'd saw you at the opening ceremony!" He explained. "I just had some challengers come by this morning and I'd thought to take a break through some work. I ought to get back in that gym if Champion Endorsed Gym Challengers are already here!"

Gloria pleaded. "Wait, there's something I want to ask!" She took out a ball and let out her Applin. "I've been hearing that Applin can evolve if you give one a special apple. I tried a fancy one and it didn't work, do you know where I can find the two that Sweet Pie can use?" Milo cringed. "Urk. Alright, let me start with where I can help you. You need to find a really tart apple or a sweet apple at it's level. A tart one would be mostly green at the bottom and red at the top. A sweet one would be redder than most and smells as sweet as candy. They don't grow often at the fields and I shipped a bunch a week ago."

Applin huhed and groaned as Gloria guessed. "And it will take a while for new ones to grow. Darn it!" She gasped. "Then they got to be out there somewhere. If I go looking at some markets!" Milo nodded. "Or in the wild area if you know where to look. But be careful, once you evolve that Applin, you won't be able to change your mind later."

He was shy about a particular detail and Gloria knew what it was. "I'll bet we'll see what we're in for really soon!" Milo was ready to head back. "You might." He nudged to the naughty Wooloo. "Come on now, back to the stadium with you! We can't keep the challengers waiting."

The wooloo blew out steam form his nostrils and gave a menacing baa before rolling to the town. The gym leader kept behind and Gloria thought out loud. "So, I'll bet neither of those apples are in this town. So maybe if we look at another spot." She looked to Sweet Pie. "Yeah?" The Applin grunted a yeah and hopped onto Gloria's shoulder, the girl helped her get on her head and jogged to the town. Reaching there and taking in the sight before Sweet Pie noticed a Yamper approaching from the left. He barked to get their attention.

Gloria knew who's Yamper that is and followed up a hill. Getting a view of the stonehedges and using the gravity to force Sweet Pie to tilt forward. They saw Sonia leaning against a fence, overlooking a hill with a specific crop circle. One of a giant, destruction breathing beast with an antenna like tail. Smaller creatures were running for their lives. Sonia heard Yamper barking and turned, finding him and Gloria close. "Thanks Yamper!" She waved to Gloria. "You came right in the nik of time. How was the journey?"

The girl admitted. "Good so far, but there's that issue with finding that apple. It's a lot more work than I thought it's going to be. But we got an idea on where we can find either of the two. I'm thinking Milo's raised an Applin himself. So what you brought me 'ere for?"

Sonia was glad the girl asked. "I had you come 'cause I wanted to hear what you thought about this." She turned to the strange marking and lead the girl to a closer look. "See that geoglyph? What do you think of it?"

Gloria guessed right out of the blue. "It's a dynamaxed pokemon during that Darkest Day?" Sonia nodded. "Seems likely, it certainly looks like a gigantic pokemon. I suppose people from three thousand years ago, could have just imagined this, but it looks too similar to what we see from Dynamaxing. It can't just be coincidence."

The two looked on. "A long time ago, a great black storm covered the Galar region. Giant pokemon ran rampant. But what was the black storm they called, the Darkest Day? What connection does it have to Dynamax?" She fondled her hair. "Guess I'm the lucky lady who'll be looking into that. Gran sure gives me a lot to do." She turned to Gloria. "Thanks for your thoughts on the matter! Now, I think some of the challengers have cleared out by now, so go on to Turffield Stadium and battle yourself silly!"

The girl nodded with her curious Applin and sprinted back to the pokemon center for a check up and head to the stadium. Finding Hop stepping out with pride. He noticed the girl and showed an oddly shaped badge with a leaf mark. "Take a look at this, Gloria! The Grass Gym Badge! I got it in one try!"

The girl imagined. "Rookidee muscled through in the end, did he?" Hop nodded. "Yup! I reckon I got through that course, because I'm the greatest when it comes to wrangling Wooloo." Gloria whimpered at the thought of more sheep as Hop admitted. "I had plenty of practice after all." The girl sighed. "I'm going to win this easily too! If I could get by a mine of rock types, then this ought to be a piece of pie!"

The Applin laughed to that and was given a petting as Hop made his sprint up the hill. Gloria went in to the gym to find a lobby with a green carpet awaiting and a logo above the main door. She had a chat with the ball guy and got a friend ball before checking out the two shops. One having alternate uniform colors she could look into. She went to the receptionist and asked. "Here I am for my challenge!" The young lady with orange hair recognized her from what Milo said. "Ah, welcome Gym Challenge! Allow me to help you with your registration. First things first, how about a quick refresher about the Gym Challenge?"

Gloria tilted her head. "I know I got to get in uniform first. Do a course and fight the gym leader." The woman nodded. "The course, the Gym Mission, is going to be different in each one. So, would you like to attempt this one?" Gloria nodded and the woman asked. "While you change into your uniform, would you allow us to look after your Applin? She might want to see the match with her own eyes."

That, Gloria figured would help. She let the Applin jump into the woman's hands and went to change into her uniform. She came back to find the Applin tensing and promised. "This way, we'll see that evolution together!" The woman stepped out of the way. "Give it your best shot!"

Gloria went through the door, found a green pipe with a stair way down and entered a long, indoor farm field. Across a bridge was something the girl's been dreading for days, a flock of wooloo. A blonde, mustached, red eyed referee approached her to explain. "Greetings. The mission given by Turffield's pokemon gym is this!" He pointed. "To chase our unruly Wooloo!"

Gloria saw a mat themed around the sheep, a wall of hay bales and right by it, a billboard with a number. "To that blockade we've made from bales of straw over there!" He thought to chit chat. "Oh, by the way, you can call me Dan. I serve as a referee, and it's also my job to report results of the battles to the League HQ." He brought out a whistle. "Now, let the gym mission begin." He blew the whistle to initiate the beginning. Gloria braced herself and made a menacing jog at the wooloo, spooking the first cluster into rolling, she found a small flock at her right and lead her bunch into rolling them into the flock, then guided to a left bunch.

They reached the mat and the billboard number went to twenty. The wooloo rolled to smash the bays away. On the next course, a Yamper waited for the Wooloo to roll by before charging them and bark. Gloria jogged fast to herd them away from the dog and to the next mat, finding a gym assistant in uniform, waiting for her. Gloria brought out her ball and saw the brown haired boy with glasses, stepping in the way. "Welcome, gym challenger! Sorry, but I'll have to send you packing. It's my job!" The boy sent out a glossifluer as Gloria sent out Brainy. "Use struggle bug two times and it'll be over!"

The Dottler got to work as the glossifluer feeble sang a round, only to be knocked out effectively. Gloria picked Brainy up, put him on her head and jogged to find a three path hedge. The right had a trainer waiting, the middle had a Yamper making a sprint for the Wooloo and the left had nothing of note. Gloria herded the Wooloo to the left and made it through that course. Then came the final one, the middle hedge had a gap Gloria can only cross horizontally and the side hedges had Yampers making laps around one side and go to the other towards the middle. Gloria considered it a kin to soccer and waited until the left Yamper was around and heading upward before having the herd follow. The Yamper turned to the other side and missed the wooloo going by. A gym assistant noticed Gloria having that run and extended her arms. "Not bad kid. The Gym Leader lies just ahead of you! But that won't mean you'll reach him!" She sent out a Bounsweet, Gloria sent out her Raboot. "Come on Acer, kick an ember to that goal!"

Acer landed and looked to the Bounsweet bored and kicked an ember. Knocking the fruit out in one blow and having a stance, sparking his feet up. Gloria advised. "If you got a fire move that will help your sprint, then we won't need ember anymore! Take we're almost there!"

Acer nodded in a blink as the woman switched to a walking weed with a dark blue body, stubby feed and red eyes. "We'll see that, Oddish use poison powder!" Gloria pointed. "Charge!"

The Raboot sprinted into an inferno and his feet shot of like jets. He tackled the Oddish and knocked it out all the more. Earning that victory and stretching. Gloria called him and Brainy back before chasing the Wooloo through the final mat. Clearing the way to a stair way up the exit pipe. The Wooloo rolled out of the way to open fence gates and they closed. They turned to watch Gloria jog over the bridge and up the stairs, wishing her luck. The girl reached the exit and turned to see smoke jets shooting up. Signaling that she accomplished her mission.

Gloria waved the Wooloo good by, turned to see the door slide open and went through. She saw she was at an entry into the stadium and kept on, entering the wide field and finding Milo approaching. The girl looked around to find a various amount of people and even the receptionist with an anxious Applin. Gloria waved to Sweet Pie and kept on forward. She and Milo reached the crossing of the arena and looked to each other eye to eye. Milo admitted. "My gym's the first one people face, so we get a lot of challengers. That's why I try to keep the gym mission challenging, but that didn't stop you from completing it at a steady pace, Gloria! Proper job!" He tensed. "Seems like you understand pokemon real well. This is going to be a doozy of a battle."

Gloria nodded. "I think I know what you're ace in the pie's going to be. Types aren't going the only think I'll need if I want to win." Milo shook his head. "And I'll have to dynamax my pokemon too, if I want to win here!" The two went to their respected sides and readied for the match. Milo had a hearty smile as the music began to play, took out an ultra ball and sent out a Gossifluer. Gloria tossed out hers. "Come on Brainy!"

Pop!

The Dottler entered the field and buzzed, Milo gave the first order. "Come on, sooth that Dottler into a sleep!" The Gossifleur giggled and twirled a melody that Brainy stepped back from and countered with a buzz. Gloria pointed. "Now use struggle bug and bring up a light screen!" The Dottler did as commanded, sent the Gossifleur spinning back and took a rounding voice before using light screen. Gossifleur sang once more, failed to connect and watched Brainy set out a reflective barrier. Milo sighed and tried one more time to connect a sign, only for Brainy to finish off the flower with a confusion blast. Milo called his partner back and flexed. "We're not going to go down that easily, we're tough like weeds!"

Gloria hoped so and called Brainy back. "Neither will we!" Fling! "Come on Acer, let's show the crowd what we got!" Pop!

Out came a stern Raboot that looked on at what is to come, Milo tossed a ball and sent out what looked to be a spinning mid air apple that quickly opened up to show a wyrm with in. Having his tail and arms attacked to the sides and bottom of the apple. It flapped the sides like they're wings and used his tail to shield himself with the bottom half of the apple. The yellow eye stalks look different, but Gloria recognizes an evolution to Applin. "And who is this?"

Milo answered proudly and aimed his ball. "That there, be a Flapple! It's my pride and joy around here! Come on then!" Flapple give a hearty hiss and soared to the air before curling back into the apple. "It's dynamax time!" The ball called the Flapple into and Milo used his band to power up the ball. Gloria called Acer in for her own. "This big wyrm isn't going to bonk us today! Acer, let's dynamax too!"

She brought the rabbit in and powered up the ball. Milo's ball enlarged first and he gave it a pat before tossing it back. Bringing out a Flapple that grew to the size of a giant. It gave a deep, if high pitch roar before flapping his wings and breezing in the air. Gloria tossed her ball and let out the giant Raboot that flexed and give off a battle cry.

Gloria ordered. "Let's power ourselves up and scorch through! Max knuckle!" The Raboot leaped, clenched a fist orange and punched the Flapple in the face, pushing it an inch as Milo ordered. "Nice one, but this'll really leave you in shock and awe! It's our dynamax move!" He yelled out to the crowd. "Max air stream!"

The Flapple fluttered back and got the crowd in a complete uproar, he unleashed a side ways twister and shoved Acer to the back of the stadium. A pretty impressive force. Gloria phewed. "Okay, enough warming up! Bring out the max flare!" The Raboot dashed to the Flapple. The dragon blasted another air stream to keep the rabbit back as his foe sparked his feet in fire and spun a kick of an inferno. The wyrm was for significant damage and causing the heat to blow to the sky, bringing about an intense sun. Milo phewed. "Come on, one more time!"

The Flapple used the wind blowing at his back to attack even faster, Acer used his ears with the reflective barrier to protect himself from the blunt and kicked once more, letting loose a fire ball that is even hotter than the last one. BOOM!

Flapple was flipped upward and burst in dynamax power before shrinking back down and falling on his head, curling up into the apple knocked out. The crowd gasped as Acer shrank back down and smirked before turning to his trainer and raising a fist. (Got it!) Gloria raised a fist back. "And that's a goal!"

Despite the loss, Milo was hearing a particular Applin give a woohoo and blushed in pride. "The power of grass has wilted from all that heat! That was incredible!" Gloria and Acer perked together in a dance and agreed while the gym leader approached with an badge, what looked like an right upward curved piece of metal with an image of a green leaf. "That must have been a fulfilling Pokémon battle for you!" He presented it to her. "As proof that you have defeated a Gym Leader for the Gym Challenge, allow me to present you with your very own Grass Badge!"

Gloria took the badge, put it on a ring she was given and gave Milo a handshake. "Alright! So, the next gym is at the east now?" Milo nodded. "Across a bridge to Hulbury, where Nessa's going to be waiting for ya!" Gloria and Acer gasped. "Nessa?! The water specialist!" They looked to each other in worry as Milo let go and gave them a thumbs up. "It's a set order you got to follow. Try looking in every corner of the towns and talk to as many people as possible. If you can find what you're looking for, you'll be fine. If not, then you can always improvise at the moment!"

Gloria knows that translates into, raising a pokemon that would do until she's past Nessa. But that wouldn't really be fair. She kept to that thought and was guided back to the Lobby, where she got her rather perked up Applin back and was given congratulations. "Challenger Gloria! Congratulations on defeating Milo! And in a way that's a bit beyond the box." She brought out a t.m disk. "Please accept this T.M to commemorate your victory!" Gloria obtained the T.M for magical leaf, put it away and checked the log for the pokemon she fought.

Blip! Blip!

"Flapple: The Apple Wing Pokemon: Grass and Dragon: It ate a sour apple, and that induced its evolution. In its cheeks, it stores an acid capable of causing chemical burns." Gloria woahed. "So if this happens when Sweet Pie eats a tart apple, then we still got a mystery for what will happen when she eats a sweet apple?" The receptionist is seeing more people coming and nodded. "They're both a mascot for the apples that are grown in this town. They're a crowd favorite around here. Now remember what Milo said, there is nothing wrong with getting by until Sweet Pie's more able for battling. The experience she's getting from watching is going to help her a lot until then."

Gloria knows she's hogging a line. "I know, but would it be fair for me to use another pokemon like that? If I can get through Nessa by using that same brain work, then it could be even better!" The receptionist huhed and gave the girl a uniform to match the gym. "I'd pay to watch that." Gloria took the wears and step back. "Well, I've taken a lot of your time, see ya!"

She ran out of the gym, took a quick stop at a pokemon center and took the eastern exit out of town. Over the bridge to route 5, where an blonde anchor woman and a camera man with an urchin t shirt spotted her.

"There she is! Time for a special interview with the Gym Challenger!" She talked to the camera. "The best way to get to know someone is through battling her! Come on Cam, let's gets a scope!"

The Camera man agreed. "Good pokemon and trainers, really shy on camera." They sent out a Klink and a Helioptile, causing Gloria to step back and send out Acer and Brainy. "Acer, double kick that lizard! Brainy, reflect!" The Raboot rushed to the Helioptile and kicked it away as the Klink let loose a horrid metal sound. Acer rushed at the other with a flame charge and ended the rather spooky match.

The anchor woman was enamored. "It's hard to describe it in just a few words- what incredible potential!" Cam nodded. "Wait, does this mean the interview is ruined?"

The anchor woman wondered as Gloria called her partners back and made a run for it. Finding a building with logos of eggs and hiding in it. She took a moment to get a breath and found a few workers a bit astonished. One of them had a foul tempered looking, electrical purple lizard that looked like a baby. Tempting her to go ask until she decided. "I got through my first gym and the press is already after me! Ha!" She cringed. "Is this a daycare center?" The woman across the counter nodded. "Yep, go talk with my sister outside and if you have two pokemon with you, let us know if you want us to look after them."

Gloria waved her hand. "Not today!" She felt her heart beating normal and went for the door. "Alright, if I'm in a real run, I'll be back." The lizard crossed it's arms in a tantrum as the woman looking after it promised. "I might interest you in a Toxel if you're about to fight who I think you're about to fight. I just hatched her this morning!"

Gloria considered it and took her step out, finding a bridge going to a city ahead and a doctor being harassed by a duo of Team Yell grunts. Two teenage boys, one with a blue mohawk, moles on his chin and cheek, the other having dark skin, a red mohawk and a growing beard. The bluehawk demanded from the doctor. "Oi! Just hand over the bike already! We need to cross this long bridge!" The redhawk crossed his arms. "We're gonna use that bike to chase around Gym Challengers. It'll be a scream!"

The doctor was not amused. "How barbaric!" He scoffed. "It wouldn't work anyway. You don't even have a Rotom with you!" Gloria had a ding for an exercise plan and waved. "Hey, I got a Rotom in my phone!"

The doctor found it as his chance. "Hey, young gym challenger! They're trying to steel my bike! Please, if you would give them a good thrashing, I would be in your debt!"

Gloria figured, since the Yell grunts were a bit astonished and readied balls, she had to fight them anyways. The blue hawk as a bit offended. "Oi, we're not tryin' to steal that bike! Only borrow it!" The red hawk nodded. "We're just gonna use it to chase after you gym challengers and make you all tired! But since you're here, how about we give ya a shout out!" The blue hawk prepared a ball. "Time to get crushed!" He and the red hawk sent out a Zigzagoon and a Sableye.

Gloria sighed and sent out Acer and Brainy. "Alright one more time! Acer, take out that Zigzagoon! Brainy, try reflect!" The Raboot made short work of kicking the Zigzagoon back to his trainer while the Sableye rushed to Brainy and yelled at his face. Startling the Dottler to where he crawled back and let loose the reflect. The blue hawk growled and sent out a full grown Thievul. "Uh, use tail whip to make it easier for my buddy!"

The Thievul wagged a tail at the duo as Gloria ordered. "That's fast, use flame charge and take him out with a double kick! Brainy, just start using struggle bug!" The red hawk shook a finger. "Like I let that hap'n! Confuse ray that bug!" Acer rushed at the Thievul and gave him a quick double kick k.o as the Sableye dazed and confused Brainy, who landed to his side and struggled. Acer flame charged the Sableye and left it exposed for Brainy to struggle bug it off.

Ending in another quick double fight and the grunts distraught. The redhawk in particular wasn't pleased. "You're way too strong! If you keep this up, you're gonna cause problems for our lady!" He called his Sableye back and made a run for it while the blue hawk vowed. "You 'aven't seen the last of us! We're gonna make sure you stay out of our lady's way!"

He called his partner back and made a run for his buddy. The doctor sighed and looked to Gloria. "You're quite the trainer! You mentioned that you have a Rotom with you?" The girl showed her Rotom Phone. "Who has access to my pokedex and videos." The doctor went to bring out a folding bike from his bag. "Fantastic! I think I'll give this bike to you! Better that you have it than Team Yell!"

Gloria obtained the bike, unfolded it and was given a helmet for safety. The doctor asked. "Now, you know that Rotom loves motors very much, right?" Gloria saw a socket for a phone to fit in. "And I think I know where this is goin'" The doctor nodded. "I was thinking, if I attached a motor to a bicycle, then maybe I could get a Rotom to pop into that as well. The Rotom Phone already flew into the socket and caused the bike to spark, turning orange as a result.

Gloria called her partners back and started cycling, she heard a buzz that had her thinking if she could peddle fast, she'll go even faster. It was an adrenaline boosting thought that lasted until she found Hop. The boy saw by the look in her eyes. "There you are, Gloria! I'm warning you though, any closer than that and we're going to have a battle. You and me!"

Gloria smirked, got off her bike, folded it and had the Rotom get off. She took a bold step and readied Brainy's ball. "Alright then!" Her voice turned deep and menacing. "I could go for one more!" Hop found that audacious. "Well, I've warned you. We're both gym challengers that earned ourselves the Grass Badge!"

He brought out a ball and through the ball in sync to Gloria sending out Brainy. Hop hyped himself. "Let's have a taste of what a Gym Badge holder's team can do! Wooloo, guard split with that Dottler!"

The sheep was on it and average out his defenses. Brainy was more annoyed than anything else and Gloria asked. "Blast him with confusion and set up reflect!" The confusion didn't do too much and the Wooloo rushed in for a tackle. Brainy set up reflect and used a silver powder Gloria gave to let loose a struggle bug. The Wooloo traded blows over and over, until once again, he fell exhausted. Gloria called Brainy back as Hop called his sheep back. "Alright, time to show my big winner for that match! Go, Rooki!" Pop! Out of the ball came a bigger, blue raven with those red eyes and a tuff resembling a squires mask. Gloria was tired enough that she would use the dex just to get the name, Corvisquire and sent out Acer. "Hone those claws and get ready for a pluck!"

The Corvisquire sharpened his claws as the girl pointed. "Flame charge away and build up that speed!" The Raboot sprinted for a full tackle and back flipped as the squire pecked into his jacket fur. He flame charged once more to take the pluck and Gloria whistled for a quick attack. Acer panted in exhaustion and blazed up as Hop readied to send out his last pokemon. "Every one of my Pokémon is an ace! This should be no problem at all!"

He sent out a taller green monkey with a tied knot on his head and two sticks of wood that are poking side ways. The monkey pulled them out and showed three leaves of hair. "Come on Thwackey, give Acer a double hit!" Gloria flexed and give a fierce yell, Acer mimicked the bellow and rushed for one more flash charge as the Thwackey tried to step aside for a side smack. The rabbit sprinted to that side and tackled him across the bridge for a firm k.o. Ending the match very suddenly.

Gloria admitted. "Evolving really does give ya boost, doesn't it?" Hop called Thwackey back and was puzzled. "Then how come you're still that much stronger?"

Gloria and Acer answered as one, though the human's words were more understandable. "Hard exercise." Hop brought some potions and asked. "How's about I give your buddies a pick me up!" Gloria took it kindly and let out Brainy for the medicine before returning the favor and getting Hop's pokemon back in shape. The boy called his pokemon back and made a sprint ahead, Gloria took that chance to follow to the land beyond the bridge, fight through some annoying trainers for the rush she had to get through and made it to the gates of a city. A rather simple one that's right by a fishing port into the sea. Completed with a calming light house.

Gloria spotted a familiar secretary, Bede and a duo of civilians with a familiar man that is in a coaches, white sweater and a pair of blue and white polkadotted sport shorts. He's wearing a baseball cap and brought about the last of Gloria's attention. The secretary advised to the civilians. "Our sincerest apologies! The chairman is quite busy at the moment." She shooed them away. "Everyone, please disperse! Leave, now!"

The civilian woman waved to the strange man. "Okay! See you later, Chairman!" They took off as Rose is a bit desperate for the commoners attention. "No need to rush off! I can still do more autographs!" Gloria was so tired from her sprint that she approached without thinking and laughed. "Chairman, what are you doing out like that?"

The secretary gave a sharp turn to the girl and has a twitch of her eyes as Rose put a hand on her shoulders. "Come now, we need the support of our fans to keep doing what we're doing. Aren't you behaving a little harsh, Oleana." The woman sighed. "But sir."

Gloria sighed in apology. "My bad, I've been visited by a camera crew for the first time, then I had to fight through some fans of a friend of mine and then meet with my rival. It can get someone pretty winded." She exhaled as Bede approached and asked. "Tired out already?"

Gloria groaned as Rose felt it a bit mutual and asked the assistant. "Maybe... uh. Who are you again?" Bede sighed at someone who's had a long day himself. "Bede, sir." Rose remembered more. "That's right! Bede! I daresay, I'm impressed how far you've come since I gave you that pokemon all those years ago."

He looked over to Gloria. "Now who's going to be the one to make it through this challenge today? Will it be you and the trainers endorsed by the Champion?"

Bede tried not to squint his eyes at Gloria. "I'll prove that your faith in me was well placed, Chairman. I'm not going to lose to anyone on this venture!" He breathed. "Anyways, I'll be on my way now." He turned around to the north of the town, where the Gym ought to be, Gloria guessed. "You must have been talking about the big fire works at the last town?"

Rose nodded. "It's gotten me curious about Leon's reasons for endorsing you! I just got a good idea, as I tend to." He asked. "You're going to face Gym Leader Nessa soon, yes?"

Gloria looked to the pokemon center. "As soon as I recharge my batteries, I'm going to try something to get me through this hurdle. If I can find something in this city or try a little of what I did back there."

Rose raised an eyebrow. "If you're able to get a gym badge from her, regardless, I'll hold a celebration. I'd like to get to know you a little better, after all!"

Gloria's thinking and looked to a sea food restaurant as Oleana whispered. "Chairman, we really should be going." Rose remembered something pretty urgent and advised. "Please do your best, for the sake of Galar's future!" The man took off and Oleana was over Gloria's outburst, she could tell by that curiosity. "The Chairman will be heading to this towns seafood restaurant later today. Win that badge and join him there before sundown. Do not keep him waiting." She went off after Rose and left Gloria to rest at the Pokemon center for a couple hours. Enough for the initial crowd of challengers to be long gone.

She took it as the chance to explore the town, finding nothing in particular in the upper lands. Though the docks had a shell bell that Brainy could use to keep himself healthy during the more heartier challenges at the gym. That and some timing could give Acer time to bring down the next foe that comes their way. She counted the leppa berries she has and felt there was more than enough. She took a deep breath and went to a stadium that was build over the water, only to find someone further at the port, by the light house. She recognize the back of Nessa and decided to approach her. "Excuse me,"

Nessa turned to see who was approaching, showing a stunning ocean blue gaze of eyes. "You must be a gym challenger, right?" Gloria asked. "You heard of me already?" Nessa rested a hand at her hip and smirked. "Because you're one of the ones endorsed by Leon, right? That alone, has made you a hot topic amongst the Gym Leaders. So, Ms. Famous. I already heard about you, so you should learn a little about me, too."

She gave Gloria a card for her to read. "So let's head to the stadium. I love the ocean, but I love pokemon battles even more and I'm itching for a battle with you, to get over this break." The two reached the stadium and Gloria took a moment to read about her, she need to ask more about the cards, because it's interesting gossip. It's mostly that someone like Nessa, came from a family quite humble and is friends with Sonia of all people.

She gasped to an idea on how she can end her day, if Sonia comes visiting after she finishes the gym. She found Nessa talking with the receptionist and be allowed through, deciding it's now or never to give that try. She chatted with the ball guy and got a Lure ball for her collection, used some candies for Acer, Brainy and even Sweet Pie.

Gave the Dottler the shell and talked with the receptionist. A tan woman in a two piece, swim suit uniform, short brown hair and grey eyes. "I got told about you, Gym Challenger. Shall we start the process in getting you ready for the gym mission?" Gloria nodded. "I'm ready to get a little wet after today!" The receptionist squeed. "Excellent, then you know where the changing room is."

Gloria does, went right to the door and made her way to change into her uniform. She went back and was allowed through the main door. Making a few turns before going through a blue pipe going into a dome with a pool bellow. Ahead is a rail way maze with pipes above, some pouring down a torrent of water while others are not. Dan noticed her and waved. "Hey Challenger! Hulbery Gym's mission is this! A Challenging Maze! You must reach your goal to complete the Mission! However, some paths in the maze are blocked by water. What you should do then?"

Gloria guessed. "Find a way to turn them off?" Dan nodded. "Correct!"

Gloria spotted a few pokeball shaped, devices of various colors in certain parts of the maze. "Try pressing the buttons and I think you'll figure the rest out, future champ!" Gloria phewed as Dan stepped away and blew the whistle. Gloria found a blue grate at her left, leading to a red switch. A gym assistant was blocking the way though. The girl took a step and turned to the assistant, with Brainy's ball in hand. The foe, a teenage woman, welcomed her rather hostilely. "Ready to bask in the beauty of water pokemon?"

She tossed a dive ball to let out a tympole as Gloria sent Brainy out. The tympole let loose an echoing voice. Brainy set up a light screen, took a stronger omph and buzzed a struggle bug, making the echo'd voice do around the same level of damage until the tympole passes out.

Gloria felt a plan was working, gave Brainy a heal and went to press the button on a red switch by the water fall to her upper left. The pipe above closed and opened water at the grate to the right. Blocking her off from travel, the girl saw a yellow switch to press and saw a water fall past the red pipe to cease. She turned around to press the red switch and clear a path to the upper reaches of the puzzle. Finding that the left is blocked off and she might have to turn around eventually to press the red button. She went forward to make that right turn, over a yellow and red grate and faced the next trainer.

Who advised her about an order of pressing the buttons. She sent out a Krabby as Gloria sent Brainy out, taking a whirl pool and using struggle bug to knock it out. The Corphish after had about the same luck out damaging such a durable foe. Gloria took time to heal Brainy, called him back and pressed the yellow switch. Finding the way she came closed off but not the way to the red switch. A path through a set of stairs, going left, is open. Gloria kept steady and found herself at the stair way going to the exit, if the exit wasn't blocked by a triple water fall from a blue pipe above. She kept going, made a turn down and found if she goes to her right, she be a full turn to the next switch. There was an assistant at the stairs and Gloria waved. "Hey, I need some practice, stat!" The assistant turned dramatically and gasped. "You actually want to battle me?" She cheered and drew out a ball. "Flowing!"

She sent out a Remoraid as Gloria brought about Brainy. The Remoraid shot a fast bubble beam as Gloria gave the order for a light screen, followed by a dosage of struggle bug. The assistant pointed. "It won't keep standing in the whirlpool! Let's show Nessa what we got!" The remoraid swam in a circle and let loose a twister, Brainy simply jumped aside and let loose the sound. He took two more bubble beams and used two pulses of confusion to end that ordeal. Gloria breathed in. "Alright, we're looking good!" The assistant was ready to send out a Chewtle and Gloria decided to switch to Acer. The Chewtle had a weak water gun that didn't do much against the light screen, while the Rabbot opened with a flame charge and double kick combo. PEW! A water gun splashed at his face and he was given the order for a swift quick attack finisher. Gloria breathed out. "Easy and steady!" The assistant agreed. "Especially with that kind of strength, I wonder if you might..." She stopped and stepped out of the way.

Acer was seeing too much water than he liked and asked if he could be let in the ball, Gloria obliged, saw a yellow switch by a matching grate, turned around to calculate her move, saw a blue switch by the red pipe falls and noticed the blue pipes at the way she came. She realize there's a turn to the right that could take her to the exit.

She pressed the switch, used the red grate to turn around, pressed the red button at the corner and made her way to the blue switch. She took a steady pace through the stair way at the right, turned upward and made her move to the stair way towards the unoccupied blue grates. It was a star way to the blue door and she accomplished her gym mission. She whistled. "Whoot!" Turned to see the smoke pipes declare a finished mission and made her way to the door.

She went through the opening door and was at the entrance to a blue colored stadium. She took a moment to let Brainy out and use two leppa berries to recharge his moves. She perked. "Alright, since we're technically two usable pokemon, I'm going to want you to pull through against what ever Nessa has in store. Once you have the screens ready, I think Acer can muscle through."

The Dottler buzzed an affirmative and munched the berries before getting called back. Gloria jogged to an arena with slick, blue tiles and yellow lines on the side. Approaching her was Nessa, who walked quite elegantly. Gloria had another look at the gorgeous woman and saw her heels had small flotation tubes. The two reached the crossing and Nessa put her hands at her hips, seeing the intriguing girl that did quite well in the mission. "Welcome, honored Gym Challenger! Sorry to have you worry so much. I don't doubt my humble mission's difficulty. Yet you cleared it. Your mind as a pokemon trainer must be quite refined." She tensed. "But, no matter what kind of plan your refined mind may be plotting, my partner and I will be sure to sink it!"

Gloria snickered. "We'll see about that." The two went to their sides and readied their balls, Nessa aimed hers forward as a way to establish her position, readied the throw like one a baseball, raised her left leg up and tossed it, letting out a Goldeen.

Gloria pressed her hands together and tossed her ball humbly. Letting Brainy out, Nessa and the rather prideful Goldeen looked upon the smart bug, finding him and Gloria to be a matching set. "Let's whittle down this Dottler with a whirlpool!"

The Goldeen enveloped herself with water, swam at the Dottler and kept a lab, trapping him in the vortex. Gloria ordered. "Soften that up with a struggle bug and keep blasting!" Dottler struggled and let out a noise that pulsed the Goldeen away, Nessa poked forward. "Peck him!"

The Goldeen gave a quick jab and gave Gloria a reason to order. "Change of plans, just keep using confusion!" The Dottler let loose the blast and sent the Golden in a long flop. Clearly, it's left confused. The Goldeen rushed at the Dottler and tripped a peck, bringing her in such a state that Gloria planned. "Okay, now use reflect and then finish her off!"

The Dottler grunted a reflect as the Goldeen shook and saw the whirl pool disappearing. Nessa pointed. "Easy and steady, throw him back in the whirlpool!" The Goldeen repeated what was done and the Dottler looked around, he jumped right before the whirlpool formed and gave off a confusion blast to flip the Goldeen to Nessa and left her knocked out. She sighed and switched to an arrow like barracuda. "Show him the sting of the sea, Arrokuda!"

The barracuda gave a dim witted smile and hissed fiercely as Gloria kept calm. "One down. While we have reflect up, let's keep at confusion!" Nessa smirked and ordered. "Bite him!" The Arrokuda lunged like an arrow, clamped down with his fangs and caused a flinch before bitting again. Brainy shot the Arrokuda off and saw it rush at him again. Gloria cringed. "Come on, roll out of there!"

The Dottler glowed and did exactly that will the well timed shout before using confusion once more, leaving the Arrokuda dazed as the reflect wore off. Gloria cringed. "Oh no! Brainy, reflect again!"

Nessa saw that chance, even though Arrokuda is very confused. "Don't let him set that up again! Bite one more time!" The Arrokuda lunged at Brainy, missed and skid her chin onto the ground, giving the Dottler the chance to finish the fish off with a confusion blast. Through each attack, Nessa noticed a shell bell giving off a soothing melody. The combined attacks from the other two were enough to have Dottler in a range, she called the Arrokuda back, gave it a kiss through the ball and readied her final pokemon. "Looks like I'm down to one last Pokémon. I've been saving the best for last!"

She tossed it. "Let's sink them, Drednaw!" Pop! Out of the ball came something that's clearly evolved from all the Chewtles Gloria has encountered. A big, blue snapping turtle with a brown shell and a mighty set of jaws.

Nessa aimed her ball, making it very clear she's serious about winning. "Flood the stadium and make it our ocean! Drednaw, time to Dynamax!" She called the Drednaw back, fed the dynamax power into the ball, enlarged it and hurled it back with both hands.

Pop!

The ball unleashed the growing Drednaw that made the Dottler question things. Gloria squeaked at a realization as Nessa ordered. "Now chomp that Dottler into the max darkness!" The Drednaw roared and blasted out two streams of darkness that smashed into the bug like a set of jaws and let loose an explosive pulse that sent the girl back an inch. The power cleared and Brainy was laying on the ground, dazed and out. Gloria called the bug back and was in a panic. "If I try using Acer to control that damage, she's just going to try something to gain that control back."

She felt a ding in her mind. "Unless... that's it! This isn't going to last forever!" Nessa herd that as Gloria tossed a ball. "Come on Sweet Pie, we just need to slow them down!" Pop! Out of the ball comes an Applin that was realizing she was brought out for a fight and looked up to the giant. It was shaking stiff as Gloria asked. "Just hold out as long as you can! We got the sea queen right where we want her!"

Nessa raised an eyebrow slyly. "You'd think that, but you know how it gets cold in the sea?" She pointed. "This is the drifting ice burg!" The Drednaw grunted, roared to the sky and caused it to freeze into a cloud that dropped giant hailstones. Smashing the Applin into the ground and leaving her knocked out.

Gloria's smile froze stiff and she looked to the Applin. "...Well, that kind of worked." She called the Applin back, watched a hail stone bonk the Drednaw and whispered. "That ought to give us one turn and that's more than what Acer needs!" She went to her final pokemon. "Acer, it's now or never!"

Pop! Out of the ball comes the Raboot, Nessa's stare was mostly annoyed. Gloria called the unafraid Raboot into his ball and charged it with dynamax power. "Let's get this chill out of here with a bright sunshine we'd fine at a beach!"

The ball enlarged and Gloria tossed the ball, letting out a Raboot that grew to a matching size and braced for battle. "Start with a max flare!" The Raboot nodded and kicked an inferno that blasted the Drednaw, evaporated the hail cloud and brought about a scorching sun.

Nessa's half impressed by the strategy and words. "Let's see about that. This is a little gift from us, hope you can take it!" The Drednaw growled, opened his mouth and fired a half evaporated max geyser that pushed the Raboot away and brought about rain that drenched the stadium. The Drednaw shrank down as Gloria thought. "You know, we're not going to leave that to chance, max flare again and the rain won't come back!"

Nessa laughed to that. "Got you in the hook now! Drednaw, slash that Raboot with a razor shell!" The Drednaw leaped through the rain and caused a splashing that rippled around him, he went into his shell and spun sharp to slice into the Raboot's protected stomach. Acer felt that and ompf before kicking a max flare at him and bringing the sun back. Gloria groaned. "Was that a swift swim?!"

Nessa smiled, confirming that it was. The girl sighed. "Acer, if you're still okay, bring out a max knuckle and we'll be able to smash through him!" The Raboot jumped to the air, readied a fist and punched down at the Drednaw, feeding a power boost into his body before the turtle wiggled free and slashed another razor shell into the paw, causing a cut into his defenses as he shrank back down and watched the reflect power down. Acer panted and perked as Gloria saw the Drednaw beaten up badly. "Alright, now bring on your double kick and that badge will be ours!"

The Raboot nodded as the Drednaw jumped right, the rabbit rolled right and lunged a fast kick at the jaw before flipping up and kicking the back of the head. Slamming the Drednaw's head to the ground and leaving him knocked out.

With that, Nessa cringed, backed away and raised her her glove hand to her head. "How?! How can this be?!" She took a deep breath and calmed down. "I think I'm understanding." Gloria looked to her Raboot, down right tired. "That wasn't a clean win, but we got it figured out anyways!" Nessa nodded to that. "It's a fair victory, none the less. Continue to seize more in the Gym Challenge, with your pokemon. You have an incredible spirit that may even be strong enough to challenge the Champion." She brought out a badge, in a matching metal to the grass badge, having like a three glob swirl of water as the insignia. The two approached and the Gym Leader gave more where it's due. "You and your pokemon are indeed deserving of this Gym Badge." She gave Gloria the water badge and a hand shake. Nessa advised. "You'll want to challenge the Fire Gym Leader next. As you and your pokemon are heading to now, he'll definitely want to battle you."

Gloria guessed. "It's all the way into Motostoke, I'll bet I can get back there by night fall and be all rested by then." On exiting the stadium, the girl put the Water Badge on an upper right corner of the ring.

The receptionist was pretty impressed and gave the girl the T.M labeled whirlpool. After some encouraging words and a free uniform themed around the gym, the girl went back to the pokemon center while there is still light of the early evening and saw Oleana was right at the entrance. It was pretty clear she's impressed, despite the stern look. "Now that is done, do not keep the chairman waiting. Head to the seafood restaurant- the Captain's Table." Gloria nodded. "He ought to be easy to spot, one way or another."

Oleana wished the girl would forget that moment. "Chariman Rose is the kind of man who gets downhearted if he doesn't take of care of things he needs to do right away. Be there as soon as possible!" She turned to take her leave and let Gloria rest her pokemon at the center before heading to the building that's right next to the pokemon center. Finding Rose was still in his casual clothes and Oleana trying to protect him from an inquisitive Sonia. Despite the Chairman having no problems with answering the questions.

He noticed the girl and waved. "Gloria! Let's celebrate your recent victory!" Sonia ohed. "Looks like you got invited too!" Rose ahed. "You two know each other? That's great! Come now, please be seated!"

Gloria and Sonia sat side by side as Rose and Oleana sat at the other, the party had a pretty mouth watering plate of steamed, krabby claws with lemon and butter. Along side for the grown ups is some wine while Gloria had a particular beverage of sparkling apple juice. While Gloria was taking a bite out of a juicy claw, Rose asked Sonia. "By the way, how is Professor Magnolia getting on? I'm quite indebted to her you know. She was the one who figured out how to unleash the power of the Wishing Stars and use that power. We would have never have been able to create Dynamax Bands without her."

Sonia sighed in boredom. "She was saying that there's still so much we don't know about dynamaxing. It's causing her some worry. She even made me take a Power Spot Detector with me when I started traveling." Gloria swallowed and asked. "Power spots? Is that why we can't just dyanamx where ever we want?"

Rose nodded. "Precisely! The Power Spot Detector is the device that allowed me to discover the Power Spots. Locations that emit Galar particles and allow Pokemon to Dynamax!" Gloria nodded. "Like the dens in the wild area or-" She gasped. "the gyms!"

Rose liked how attentive the girl is. "Yep!" He frowned in concern. "Though, I don't like hearing that Professor Magnolia is so worried. If only there were something I could do. Sonia, it may be good for you to visit the vault in Hammerlocke. I believe the key to unlocking the secrets of the Dynamax phenomenon lies in the history preserved there."

Oleana sighed as she noticed the group finished their food. "Understood, Chairman. I will arrange a meeting with Ms. Sonia. However, I believe it is about time we get going, Chairman." Rose huhed. "But I've hardly even spoke with Gloria! It's not everyday that a trainer is able to overcome a disadvantage like that, this early in the challenge."

Oleana kept giving Rose that stare, the grown up sighed and stood up. "This is regrettable, but I suppose it can't be helped. If something needs to get done, there's no time like the present, after all!" He brushed himself. "In any case, I bid you all farewell!"

The two took off and Gloria's a bit disappointed. "I was about to ask if those particles had anything to do with the you know what." Sonia huffed in agreement. "Does he think he's doing me a favor? He's right that the vault would be a good place to look for info on the legends, but." She turned to the girl. "You got the Water Badge, yeah? Defeating Nessa like that is no small feat." She gave Gloria a T.M. Labeled Retaliate. "This might be handy if I had a fight like that again."

Sonia felt she was about to take a detour. "Nessa's a good friend of mine. Perhaps I should drop in on her. Until next time, Gloria!" She went to leave and Gloria imagined a lot she's going to miss out on hearing. She left the restaurant and saw Hop was seeing someone leave. He noticed. "All right, mate! You've got both the Grass Badge and the Water Badge by now, right? In that case, we're both headed for Motostoke and the Fire Type Gym Leader, Kabu! How about I share with you, a little tip about him? From what I heard, he's holed up now in Galar Mine No. 2, undergoing some special training! If he's in there, then we can't take him on in Motostroke even if we zip right over there- putting the brakes on our Gym Challenge. So I say we head to that mine ourselves! Let's go see what all the fuss is about!"

Gloria nodded and saw there was still daylight. "And if we're quick, we'll be one of the first challengers in the morning!" Hop sprinted to the mine in the south. The girl took a moment to breath and jogged into the cave that has a distinct smell of water. Finding shellos, a scraggy and a wimpod that tried to run away from her.

The girl used a net ball to catch that one and the other two while making her way south by a bond. Finding a particular boy at the end of a search, Bede. He noticed her and squinted his eyes. "You again?!" He approached menacingly and brushed his hair proper. "I'd feel sorry for my Pokemon if I made them take part in a battle against low-level opponents." Gloria tensed as Bede continued. "I'm not in the mood to deal with weaklings right now. Then again, I suppose it's a form of mercy to crush weak opponents early on. If you're under the misguided impression that you're stronger than me, then surely you would be up for a Pokemon battle."

That struck a nerve and Gloria pointed at him. "Oh I will, but I'd finally got a break from so much crud today and I'm wanting to catch the next challenge early as I can! So be ready to lose!" Bede scoffed. "Inconceivable that I, the challenger chosen by the chairman, will lose!"

He tossed a ball to send out that Solosis as Gloria simply sent out Brainy. "Let's get this over with! Use struggle bug!" The Dottler did as instructed as Bede snapped his finger, the boy hpmh. "Seems like you grown a bit, a little bit though!" He snapped his fingers and had the Solosis spark a thunder wave, the Dottler eeped and jumped away from the paralysis sting. Impressing Gloria a bit. "Well, I'm seeing how you were able to get past Nessa of all people! See ya!" Brainy finished Solosis off and prompted Bede to send out Gothita. "Let's deal with that annoyance, bury him in a rock tomb!"

The small thing nodded and kicked up a few rocks that pelted Brainy, Gloria had him use struggle bug, then a reflect when it was clear Gothita was using a type advantage to cover for a bug type, then a critical struggle bug to finish that off. Bringing Bede to bring out a rather chipper, pink horse with a single horn. Gloria's eyes glittered. "Why does it got to be him?! Come on, do it again and show you don't go down easily!"

Brainy partook in a trade of blows between fairy wind and struggle bug, overcoming the horse and bringing Bede to his last pokemon. Gloria wasn't taking any more chances and switched Brainy out for Acer. "Come on, it's just that Hatenne now!" The Raboot entered the battle as Bede sent out his final pokemon, Acer simply rushed in a flame charge to get a firm kick in as Bede. "You're already cornering me like this?! Hatenna, shoot him away with your power!"

The Hatenna nodded, gave a cute yip and blasted a rather intense psybeam, sending Acer into a back flip and in a daze of confusion. Gloria cringed. "Come on, use quick attack, we have her good as gone!" The Raboot made a fast dash and slammed to a wall by accident before getting shot by another psybeam. Gloria groaned, called him back and decided. "Well, Sweet Pie, this one ought to be easy to finish off." Out of the ball comes an Applin that is looking out of the apple and is annoying Bede, Hatenna let loose a psybeam and followed with a disarming voice. Sweet Pie huffed, rolled fast to the psychic type and gave an astonishing shriek that knocked the foe to her back. K.O.

Gloria cheered. "Alright, Sweet Pie, you and the others have been great." Bede scowled and called his partner back. He breathed out. "Pardon me. It seems I must take back my words." Gloria gasped as Bede rephrased what he said. "You're not weak- you just lack talent. Your chances of completing the Gym Challenge with sheer luck are pretty slim!"

Gloria and Sweet Pie felt something shatter, the Applin hid in her apple as the trainer barked. "Come on! I've been looking high and low for that apple Sweet Pie needs to evolve and put on more weight for the team! Do you have any idea how hard it is to find two stinking apples?!" Bede was surprised by the outburst and taken a step back before crossing his arms. "Excuse me, but do I look like the kind of Challenger who would bother with a dragon type like this one? That potential, doesn't suit me and even if it does, why are you screaming this out to me?"

Gloria growled and heard Sweet Pie whimpering before deciding on calling her back. "Right, doesn't really work once you see what you're opponent likes to be with. Are you going to leave and let me figure this out?" Bede sighed and stepped aside. "I've gathered what I needed here anyways." He walked off and left the girl to heal her pokemon. To no one's surprise, Sweet Pie was refusing to leave the ball even for that.

She kept going across the mine, dealing with the local trainers, a surprise from a Galarian Stunfisk that she ended up capturing. Found some dusk balls laying around and saw a duo of Yell grunts. The same Blue hawk and Red Hawk from earlier. The Red Hawk saw she wasn't in a good move and coughed. "'Scuse me, mate, sorry to bother you. You're goin' about a whole lap back to the city?" The Blue Hawk was pretty impressed. "Crikey, that's really somethin'! Now I'm not feeling too bad about earlier."

Gloria's pretty charmed and heard someone coming from behind, a Hop that saw she was about to battle someone. "Well, look at you, Gloria! Surrounded by adoring fans, eh? You'll even be showing up Lee pretty soon!" The Red Hawk cringed, embarrassed that he might be betraying someone. "It ain't like that! Come on, jog on, mate! Can't you see we're in the middle of a decision here?"

Gloria asked. "You're wanting a do over against me, before I earn the right to lap around this part of the region. Right?" The Red Hawk nodded as the Blue Hawk patted him on the shoulder. Hop crossed his arms proudly. "Well isn't that an honor, to get into a round with the future Champion!"

That caused the Blue Hawk to gasp and go into a laughing fit. "Ha! We got a joker here, eh? Now that's funny." Hop had a scowl. "You think I'm joking? I'll prove it then!" He drew a ball. "I think a battle with you lot would definitely end with some laughs!" He asked. "Let's take them on together, Gloria. You ready, mate?" Gloria nodded. "Yeah." She braced herself. "I hope you're ready for another one!" Hop nodded. "The two of us are endorsed by the Champion himself. We'll show you just what that means!"

The Red Hawk groaned. "Well, if you insist. Team Yell's gonna teach you kids that the Gym Challenge's no joke! You better not be yell-ow!" The two sent out a Thievul and a black and white stripped Linoone, Gloria sent out Acer as Hop sent out Corvisquire. The girl ordered. "Alright, knock that Thievul out with double kick!" Hop ordered. "Rooki, sharpen up your claws and go for a rock smash!"

The Blue Hawk yelled. "Tail whip them like last time, we got this!" The Red Hawk pointed. "Throw sand at that bird!" The Thievul used tail whip to tickle the two as the Linoone tossed sand at the Corvisquire that honed his claws. Acer quickly knocked the Thievul out with a double kick and was ready for another. The Blue Hawk cringed. "Eh, fury swipe that Raboot! Go, go, go!"

The Liapard rushed with the claws as Gloria ordered. "Dodge that and double kick him out of ere!" The Raboot leaped above as the Red Hawk had his Linoone go at the Corvisquire with a critical night slash. The yell grunt ohed at his luck as Hop ordered. "Smash him good!"

The Corvisquire nodded and used a well timed rock smash. Gloria ordered fast. "Now quick attack!" The Raboot finished Linoone off and Hop took it as a chance to have Corvisquire use hone claws. Bringing the Red Hawk to a Pancham that is eager for a match. Raboot used another quick attack and let Rooki pluck a k.o. The Red Hawk is stumped. "Ah man, are we gonna get yelled at now?" The Blue Hawk wondered. "If I used the horn? Would we have had a better chance of winnin'?" The Red Hawk asked. "This little mug's the Champion's little brother?" The Blue Hawk nodded. "Guess that's what you get when your older brother's not useless." He declared. "I know we're Team Yell, but we'll leave now, we got beat soundly!"

They turned to leave and Hop admitted. "Nice moves Gloria, that's my rival for you!" He looked around. Now then, where would Kabu have gone off to?" Gloria shrugged. "Let's keep going, maybe he's further in."

Hop agreed and dashed ahead, Gloria got distracted by some sparkling gems and followed south. Catching up with her rival and finding Kabu and a living coal cart of coal before the Hawk Duo. The Red Hawk's Sableye was soundly beaten, to say the least and Kabu had a sweat. "Thank you for helping out with my training, Yeam Yell! But I must say, it's unforgivable for you to get in the way of a Carkol hard at work!" The Blue Hawk whined. "We weren't getting' in its way! We were tryin' to cheer it on before we leave!" The Red Hawk agreed. "Still, you two did win that battle, so it's time for Team Yell to really scamper and give a moral boost elsewhere!"

They turned to continue running and brighten more of Gloria's mood. Kabu sighed. "Cheering is one thing, but one shouldn't get in the way of honest work!" The Carkol grunted in agreement as Gloria asked. "It's a little bit annoying, but their heart is in the right place!" Hop's more impressed that the man was still working this late. "Man that's wicked! It's no wonder he's the Fire-type Gym Leader!"

The grown up turned to see Hop and Gloria, rather pleased that they're making it far. "Ah, you are the trainers endorsed by Leon! Hop and Gloria, am I right?" The children nodded as the man explained. "I'm just training until the last moment today so that I can guarantee the perfect match when I face you Gym Challengers tomorrow." He pressed a hand on his chest. "The water type pokemon in this mine are the perfect opponents to train against! Regardless, it is late. Just go straight once you get out of this mine, and you'll be back in Motostoke. Get a good rest at the hotel, and make sure you're both in your top condition!"

He turned to his partner. "Come on, Carkol. Time for you to head on home, too. I'll make sure you get there safely." The Carkol nodded as Kabu promised. "We're going to be on fire tomorrow!"

He turned to give a jog that Carkol followed behind on. Hop recalled. "I remember Lee talking about Kabu. He said a lot of Gym Challengers give up because they just can't beat this guy." Gloria felt a spark. "That's going to get us all fired up. I'll bet if we can get through him, we won't have to worry about a bunch of lines anymore." She laughed to that and jogged with Hop. Out of the mine and to the route back to the city. Through some annoying trainers and over a short bridge back to Motostoke. They kept at an even pace to the inn next to the gym. Arriving in and finding that Marnie and her Morpeko are already there ahead of them.

Marnie turned in surprise. "Gloria, Hop. Out givin' it your all, even this late, huh?" Gloria nodded. "We bested two gym leaders in one day! I'm about beat!" Marnie's quite impressed. "Before you go hit a sack, you mind helpin' us out for a sec? I want t'see if I'm ready for the next leg of the Gym Challenge."

Gloria groaned and blew out. "Alright! Alright! I got a little more steam in me!" She brought out a ball as Marnie is startled. "Whu! That's some fight ya got!" Unbeknownst to her, a band of Yell Grunts turned around to cheer for her. Marnie closed her eyes for a moment and brought out a dusk ball. She opened her eyes and locked with Gloria, she readied a throw and tossed out a Crogunk. Gloria sent out Brainy and cheered. "One more for the night!" Brainy groaned and was on it. (One more, then we seriously need some rest!)

Marnie had a gleam of mischief in her eyes and pointed. "There's no way I'm gonna lose now. Give that Dottler a poison sting first!" The Crogunk inflated her cheeks, giggled and punched the air to shoot out a poison barb, doing small amounts of damage and leaving the Dottler poisoned. Gloria smirked. "You saw through that one, Brainy, reflect and confusion!"

The Dottler did so and channeled out a confusing blast as Marnie gave a hup noise, quing the Crogunk to swing a fast sucker punch before getting blasted for a one hit knock out. Marnie and Gloria called back their pokemon and sent their next two. A Scraggy that's cheering to the crowd and a Raboot serious on getting the day finished. Gloria breathed in. "Before they try something, use flame charge to get the speed!"

The Raboot rushed in flames to get that speed boost as Marnie barked. "And low kick him to make him trip!" The Scraggy grunted eagerly and kicked Acer right as he landed, tripping him and turning off the flame. Gloria ordered. "Again! Then we can finish him off!" Acer and the Scraggy traded the blows, with the Raboot using a fast double kick to knock the foe out. Bringing Marnie to her last pokemon, she looked to her Morpeko and had her step forward. "It'd be no fun if things ended just yet... That's why we aren't givin' up!"

The Morpeko nodded and apologized nervously before Marnie ordered. "Bite him in that elbow there!" The hamster dashed at Acer for a quick chomp before getting flung away, Gloria saw a finished fight and ordered. "One more flame charge for the speed and then use double kick!"

The Raboot rushed at the Morpeko in a blazing rush and back flipped for a perk, the hamster felt a growl and changed her yellow fur color for a dark purple. Both sides of fur changed to an all black and her eyes were red with anger. She jumped and yelled. (Come on, I'll mess ya up right ere!)

Raboot looked her directly in the eyes and dashed at her for a double kick blow, knocking her on the back and causing her to calm down and return back to her more cheerful form. Marnie gasped, called her back and was a bit distraught. "Ah man, you beat me! Guess you're not too bad after all, huh?" Gloria shook her head. "That there was smarts too! It's no wonder you've made it this far." Marnie nodded. "Now the lot of us better get to bed and rest up for tomorrow!" She went to up the stairs and saw her fans despairing, while Gloria and Hop went up to reapply to their rooms and get some well needed bed rest.

Alone in a rather kept room, Gloria let out her pokemon and gave them a fast heal from the battle. She saw Sweet Pie was willing to come out and held her in her arms, she took a deep breath. "Forget what that jerk was saying earlier. We'll keep trying and finding that apple, even if we got to search the other side of the region for it! Once we get through this final gap, I think we'll be set to explore more of that wild area."

The Applin purred and felt a bit better as Gloria went to lay on her bed and keep the wyrm in her arms. "You've all done good, night all!" Before she closed her eyes, Acer leaped on the bed to rest by the pillow as Brainy made a jump to a night stand to rest. For that first day on the challenge, they've been quite incredible.