Nessa the Raging Wave

"Oh my, what on earth happened to your outfit?" Nessa questioned upon Zach's arrival, her eyes looking over every inch of his body. The two were completely alone in the Hulbury Stadium locker rooms, allowing them to have a private discussion. "You look like you took a Charizard head on by yourself!"

"Uh, not exactly." Zach sweated. "I stopped a Moltres from killing Obstagoon."

"Well that was brave, stupid but brave." Nessa commented with a light smirk. "I'll have a new outfit for you before you and your friends leave town, thankfully your gym uniform and suit are untouched."

"Yeah, I'm not sure how I'd even ask my sponsor for a replacement. I still have no idea who they are."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out sooner or later," Nessa placed her hand on his shoulder. "Are you ready for our Gym battle?"

"Just about, I'm just waiting on Dawn."

"That cheerleader you had while you fought Milo?" Nessa asked while offering him a sincere smile. "You should ask her out, I can tell you like each other and from what Sonia told me it looks like Dawn likes you too."

"I do." Zach confirmed, rubbing his arm as a nerved expression formed. "I just don't know how to go about it."

"Just be upfront, she'll definitely say yes." Nessa giggled out. "And if you need an idea for a date, there's always The Captain's Table." Nessa winked while turning to head out. "I've got to go get ready, good luck with your Gym Challenge!"

Dawn showed up shortly after Nessa left, her gaze instantly brightened upon making eye contact with Zach.

"Hey!" She didn't look the least bit shocked about his torn clothing.

"Hey." Zach blushed heavily upon recollecting what Nessa told him. He opened his mouth but found himself unable to speak. Dawn noticed and smirked lightly while forming a blush of her own.

"Are you ready to head out?" She asked.

"Y-Yeah." Zach hastily nodded while retaining his deep blush. Lucario and Piplup smirked while Scorbunny tapped her foot as she looked between the two.

"Scor!" She cried out, telling them to kiss already.

"Give me a minute to get changed and I'll be out."

Zach nodded and headed towards the entrance to the field where he waited until Dawn showed up dressed in her cheerleader attire. "Okay, I'm ready!"

His cheeks burned bright red as he looked her over before turning to head on out.

"Hello everyone and welcome to yet another Galar League Gym Battle! Challenger sixty four has finally arrived at Hulbury and is ready to take on its queen Nessa but first he must pass the Hulbury Gym Trial." The announcer spoke as the battlefield disappeared into the ground, a large pool emerged and took center field. "Inside that pool are several objects of note. A water stone, mystic water and a Dive Ball, the challenger is to retrieve all these items from the pool without going in himself. Should he gather the items up before the time limit then he'll pass and proceed to fight Nessa! But first I'd like to talk about current events and pol-" A loud slap could be heard over the microphone. "Ugh. You may commence..."

"Sobble and Corvisquire, I need your assistance!"

"Sob."

"Corvisquire!" A gleam flashed in Corvisquire's eye as he noticed sparkling objects within the pool, the raven quickly took flight and dove into the water without having to be told to do so. "Corvi!" He dove in and quickly emerged with the water stone and several other shiny objects in his talons, all gathered up in a cup.

"Nice one, Corvisquire!" Zach praised.

"Corvi." Corvisquire flew up and dropped all the shiny objects before gathering up a bunch of twigs, forming up a nest. "Corvisquire!"

"Uh." Zach sweated. "Can I have the water stone?"

"Corvi." Corvisquire plucked it out and threw it down towards him.

"Thanks! Okay Sobble, can you find the mystic water and dive ball?"

Sobble nodded while shifting anxious looks to the crowd before activating his camouflage, vanishing from view but a small splash could be seen as he leaped into the water. Sobble moved beneath the surface and looked around before locating the two objects, with Corvisquire taking away a lot of shiny clutter it made the job fairly easy for Sobble.

"Sob!" Sobble cried out, emerging with the objects in his hands.

"Good job, Sobble!" Zach shouted out.

"Yay, Zach!" Dawn leaped up and cheered from the sideline while a small portion of the crowd roared out.

"Well it looks like challenger sixty four-er Zach progressed past the Gym Trial and is now able to fight against Nessa!" The announcer exclaimed as the pool began to vanish beneath the ground as it got replaced with the proper battlefield which was primarily land but had a stream of water flowing around it for Water types to utilize should they desire it.

The crowd then erupted into cheers and shouts as Nessa stepped out onto the field, her eyes set on Zach the entire way out. Zach waved at her before flicking his gaze back towards Dawn upon remembering what she said earlier. Dawn beamed brightly at him and waved, Zach blushed and quickly looked back to Nessa.

"This will be a four on four Pokémon battle with each side being allowed one substitution, the battle will come to an end as soon as neither side is able to continue battling. You two may begin on my mark, get set and GO!"

"Arrokuda, I need you!"

"Let's do this, Yamper!"

"Yamp!" Yamper excitedly barked as he burst from the ball.

"Cramorant." Cramorant burst from Ash's ball and eyed the tan fish Pokémon that Nessa sent out. "Cramorant..." He licked his beak.

"No Cramorant!" Ash shouted out from alarm as the bird quickly took flight but he was quick to return him before he could reach the battlefield. "Who's that Pokémon?"

"Arrokuda the Rush Pokémon, after it's eaten its fill, its movements become extremely sluggish. That's when Cramorant swallows it up."

"Aqua Jet!" Nessa swiftly ordered out.

An aquatic veil surrounded Arrokuda as he blasted across the field before slamming into his opponent.

"Yamp." Yamper grunted out while shaking water off his fur.

"Spark!"

"Yamp yamp!" Electricity sparked around Yamper's body before flowing outwards as it shot towards his opponent, giving Arrokuda an electrical shock.

"A-Arro!" Arrokuda grunted.

"Whirlpool!" Nessa shouted out.

"Arro!" Arrokuda whipped up a whirlpool with his tail, his tail twitched as he lashed it outwards sending the whirlpool across the battlefield and Yamper.

"Yamp!" Yamper yelped out, desperately dogpaddling within the whirlpool as he attempted to escape before yelping as he was sent flying out. Yamper landed in front of Zach with a light thud before slowly raising back to his paws. "Yamp yamp!" Yamper barked.

"Spark!" Zach shouted out.

"Yamp yamp!" Electricity sparked around Yamper's body before flowing out.

"Arro!" Arrokuda screeched out as electricity flowed through him, the fish uttered out a groan before collapsing as swirls formed within his eyes.

"Arrokuda is unable to continue battling! The challenger quickly gained the lead, but can he hold it for long?"

Nessa returned Arrokuda while giving Zach a respectful nod.

"Barraskewda!" Nessa shouted while throwing up a Dive Ball.

"Barra!" What appeared to be a bigger and fiercer looking Arrokuda burst onto the battlefield.

"Barraskewda the Skewer Pokémon, this Pokémon has a jaw that's as sharp as a spear and as strong as steel. Apparently Barraskewda's flesh is surprisingly tasty, too." Ash's Rotom Phone read out.

"Crunch!"

"Barra!" Barraskewda lunged across the field before sinking his fangs into Yamper's back.

"Yamp!" Yamper uttered out a final yelp before collapsing against the field as swirls formed within his eyes.

"Come back, Yamper." Zach swiftly recalled Yamper. "You were amazing out there, I couldn't have asked for a better job. Okay Sobble, you're up!"

"Sobble!" Sobble cried out, his eyes anxiously flickered about as he emerged from the ball.

"Tearful Look!"

"Sobble..." Sobble began to cry while looking at his opponent causing Barraskewda to form a look of discomfort.

"Aqua Jet!" An aquatic veil surrounded Barraskewda as he blasted across the field.

"Sob!" Sobble cried out, falling onto his back after Barraskewda slammed into him.

"Pound!"

"Sobb." Sobble slammed his tail up against Barraskewda's face.

"Crunch!" Nessa ordered out.

"Sucker Punch!" Zach swiftly shouted a counter attack.

"Sob." Sobble swiftly evaded the attack before delivering an upper cut from beneath Barraskewda.

"Barra..." Barraskewda flinched before groaning outwards as he dropped to the ground as swirls formed within his eyes.

"Barraskewda is unable to-wait something's happening!"

"Sobble!" Sobble uttered out a loud screech as a bright white glow enveloped his body, the water lizard doubled in height while his anxious expression turned to that of laziness while green coloring formed at his hands and feet. His head fin changed shape and looked like three strands of hair which drooped towards his right eye. "Drizzile."

Zach's eyes lit up upon seeing Drizzile's evolved form. "You evolved!"

"Drizz." Drizzile nodded while retaining his lazy expression.

"Zach's Sobble evolved into a Drizzile!"

"Way to go, Zach!" Dawn cheered.

"Drizzile the Water Lizard Pokémon, highly intelligent but also very lazy, it keeps enemies out of its territory by laying traps everywhere." Zach's Rotom Phone read out as Drizzile was registered into the database.

"Car!"

"Scor!" Scorbunny's eyes lit up, hopeful that she too would evolve someday soon.

"Pelipper!" Nessa shouted while throwing another Dive Ball into the air. "Congrats on the evolution but let's see how far that gets you, Pelipper use Air Slash!"

"Dive into the water." Drizzile looked over towards the water before looking back at Zach as he waved his hand dismissively, the water was much too far for his lazy self.

"Drizz." He grunted as he fell onto his back.

"Sucker Punch!" Drizzile uttered out a sigh as he got to his feet, leaping up into the air before delivering an uppercut to Pelipper.

"Water Pulse!" Nessa swiftly called out as Pelipper collected himself after Drizzile's attack.

"Pelipper!" Pelipper cried out while blasting Drizzile with a water geyser.

"D-Drizzile..." Drizzile groaned out as the water blasted against his face, his eyes rolled up as he fell to his back with a faint groan.

"Drizzile is unable to continue battling, both are down to two Pokémon but Pelipper's already taken a hit. It's still too early to tell but Nessa could potentially take him out!"

"Return," Zach recalled Drizzile to his ball. "I don't blame you, I know you can't help your lazy nature. We'll work through it together. Okay Scorbunny, let's do this!"

"Scorbunny?!" Marnie gasped out.

"Why's he using her?" Chloe scratched at her head. "I thought he'd use Corvisquire."

Ash was silent and smirked lightly as Scorbunny leaped onto the field.

"Flame Charge!" Zach shouted while pointing towards Pelipper.

"And he's not using Libero." Chloe sweated.

"Surely the new twerp's not throwing the match." James commented.

"I'm not sure." Jessie spoke.

"Maybe he's finally lost it." Meowth shrugged.

"Wobbuffet."

"Scor!" Scorbunny's flame covered body slammed into Pelipper, knocking him out of the sky.

"Water Pulse!"

"Dodge!"

"Scor!" Scorbunny swiftly avoided the water geyser as it flew towards her.

"Now use Flame Charge again!"

"Scor scor!" Scorbunny flashed her opponent a smirk as she charged towards him, slamming her flame covered body into the pelican.

"Air Slash!" Pelipper stretched out his wings as he took flight, soaring towards his opponent while preparing to strike with his wings.

"Electro Ball!" Zach shouted out.

"What?!" Chloe and Marnie suddenly shouted out while Ash smirked. While scanning Scorbunny's potential move set, Zach had noticed Scorbunny could learn Electro Ball and knew that it could be a strategic way to deal with Electric types with Scorbunny's hidden ability. Pikachu may no longer know the attack but he still remembered enough to help with the basics and after a bit of training, Scorbunny was able to master the technique. Neither Marnie nor Chloe knew as they were coincidentally looking for Dark types or training Contest techniques whenever Ash and Zach did those training sessions.

"Scor!" Nessa flashed Zach an impressed smirk as a ball of electricity formed around Scorbunny's hands. The rabbit dropped the energy ball and gave it a swift kick, sending the ball flying towards Pelipper.

"P-Pelipper!" Pelipper screeched out as electricity flowed through him. The pelican groaned before dropping from the air, falling into the water with a splash as swirls formed within his eyes.

"Incredible, Zach utilized Scorbunny's Flame Charge to increase Scorbunny's speed allowing Electro Ball to get a damage increase!"

"Yay Zach, with a strategy like that you got this in the bag!" Dawn cheered.

Zach looked over at Dawn and smiled, blushing brightly as their eyes locked. Dawn blushed and retained eye contact with him until he broke it upon hearing Nessa call out her final Pokémon. "Drednaw!"

The Dive Ball burst to reveal a large snapping turtle Pokémon.

"Drednaw!"

"Nessa just released her Drednaw, the strongest Pokémon she owns and her first partner! Zach and Scorbunny had a sound strategy but will that be enough to take down Drednaw?!"

"Drednaw the Bite Pokémon, this Pokémon rapidly extends its retractable neck to sink its sharp fangs into distant enemies and take them down." Ash's Rotom Phone read out as he scanned the species.

"What a cutie!" Jessie gushed out.

James and Meowth looked at Drednaw before sweating as they looked back at Jessie. "You are talking about Drednaw, right?" James asked.

"Of course, what else?!"

"Nevermind." Meowth groaned out.

"Crunch!"

"Naw!" Drednaw's neck quickly extended outwards as she reached for her opponent before chomping down on her.

"Scor." Scorbunny grunted out.

"Electro Ball!"

"Scor." Scorbunny formed another electrical sphere and dropped it before delivering a swift kick against it, sending it flying towards Drednaw.

"Rock Tomb!" Several rocks burst from the ground and swiftly moved towards Scorbunny, surrounding her before closing in on her.

"S-Scor..." Scorbunny groaned out from between the rocks before they faded away as the attack wore off.

"Scorbunny come back," Scorbunny pouted slightly as she rushed back to her trainer. "Lucario, let's finish this with Aura Sphere!"

"Lucarrrr!" Lucario leaped before his trainer as a large aura sphere formed between his paws. Lucario made eye contact with Drednaw as he fired off the sphere.

Nessa's eyes widened upon seeing how large the aura had gotten; her friend had an immense bond with the jackal and it showed with how big the aura was. "Naw!" Drednaw grunted as the explosion knocked her back.

"Alright, no more holding back." Nessa reached for her Dynamax Band and activated it.

Zach smirked and activated his own Dynamax Band as red-purple clouds began swirling around Lucario and Drednaw, while Lucario simply grew kaiju size Drednaw began to change form. Drednaw stood on his hindlegs while a protective layer formed around the base of his neck as the shell grew large enough to cover the majority of her upper body.

"Naw!"

"Max Knuckle!"

"Max Geyser!" Zach and Nessa shouted out their commands simutaneously.

"Carrr..." Lucario pulled back his fist while a massive stream of water erupted from Drednaw's mouth, Lucario's fist crashed against the water and grunted out as he held the water flow back. His feet slid on he was pushed back but he slowly started to overtake the water, pushing his fist through it was a loud shout before punching Drednaw in the face.

"Naw!" Drednaw fell onto his back with a pained groan as the red-purple clouds swirled around him, reverting him back to his standard form.

"Drednaw is unable to continue battling, Zach wins the Water Badge and is now allowed to advance to Motostoke Stadium where Kabu awaits his challenge!" The celebration of the crowd had a higher pitch than his previous victory as Nessa approached with a warm smile.

"Congratulations Zach, you've shown that you've grown a lot. Your bond with Lucario is stronger than before and you've gotten stronger as well, you definitely earned the Water Badge." Nessa held out a medallion piece that had water droplets pictured upon it.

"Thanks Nessa," Zach took the badge from her hand and tried to pull away but she quickly pulled him into a friendly hug.

"Don't forget about what I said," She whispered, shooting a glance towards Dawn whose fists clenched up as a jealous expression formed. "I've seen the way she looks at you, you've got nothing to worry about." She gave his shoulder a pat as she pulled away. "Good luck, with both her and the rest of your journey." Nessa waved as she headed towards the stadium exit.

Zach held the badge in his hand and took a deep breath before pocketing the badge as he turned to make his way towards Dawn.

"Dawn, I-" Dawn's eyes light up while a sly smirk crossed her face as she noticed his tone grew anxious and nervous. She silently grabbed his hand and led him towards the challenger's exit.

"This will be easier in here." She softly spoke while looking towards him with a deep blush.

Scorbunny eagerly rushed after them but Lucario scooped her up while holding back to give the pair some privacy.

"Dawn, I-I like you... I like you a lot... and I was wondering if... you wanted to go out sometime?" He nervously shifted his gaze to the side while rubbing his arm before feeling a hand around his head as Dawn helped bring his gaze back to her.

"I've been waiting for you to ask that for a while," She placed her hands around his while gazing into his eyes. "I like you too Zach, I like you a lot actually." She leaned forward to give him a kiss on the lips, Zach's eyes widened as he was temporarily frozen from shock before returning the kiss.

Lucario smirked and gave his trainer a thumbs up while Scorbunny enthusiastically clapped her hands.

"Scor scor!"

"Piplup." Piplup lowered his head while wondering if he'd ever find love.

"Come on," Dawn grabbed his hand while giving off an adoring smile. "Let's go on that date."

Ash and the others were waiting in the main lobby for them. "Where are they?" Chloe asked with a worried tone.

"Maybe he tripped." Marnie shrugged before uttering out a light gasp as Zach and Dawn rushed out of the locker room with excited looks.

"We'll be back later!" Dawn called out with a wave as they passed.

"S-See you guys." Zach nervously laughed.

"Congratulations, Zach!" Chloe called out, proud that he successfully got that date with Dawn after all.

"Blimey." Marnie muttered. "You think she's going to join us?"

Ash looked at them rushing off before looking towards Marnie. "If she wants, she can."

Marnie looked to him and rubbed her arm as she bit her lip. She liked Ash but it was hard making a move, she never had many friends as her fan club didn't exactly count and she was worried about screwing things up as Ash was a lot harder to read than Zach and Dawn were when it came to attraction. She wished there was some way of figuring out if he liked her before making a move.

"Challenger Ash Ketchum, your next match is against former Stow-on-Side Gym Leader Bea Saito. She awaits your challenge in Galar's Wild Area." Ash's Rotom Phone spoke out while showcasing the image of a tan skinned girl around the same age as Ash and the others. Her gray hair was cut rather short while her gray eyes seemed to be lit with determination.

"Well I guess I know what we're doing after Chloe's Contest now." Marnie smirked.

Ash clenched his fists as he looked at Bea's image. "Alright another Championship match, and this time I'll win! I can't afford to lose again."

"Pika!"