Chapter 27:

The Mural of Stow-on-Side

Location: Stow-on-Side

Whilst I sat on a bench with Hop discussing our match, we heard a loud crash. "What was that?" I yelled. I saw a group of people running towards a large-stone mural with graffiti on it.

"It's Bede!" shouted a young man. "The Chairman's son!"

I looked at the stone wall to see Bede with a large-dark green Pokémon with huge tusks.

Copperajah (ダイオウドウ)

#303 (Mainland)

Steel Type

Copperderm Pokémon

9'10" (3 m)

1433 lbs (650 kg)

They came over from another region long ago and worked together with humans. Their green skin is resistant to water.

Cufant -Lv 34- Copperajah

I pushed my way through the crowd. "Iron Head!" We saw Copperajah ramming its body into the stone wall. It was starting to crack.

"Isn't that Rose's Copperajah?"

"What does that kid think he's doing?"

"Bede!" Hop shouted. "What's this all about?"

"Well," Bede said. "If it isn't Gloria."

"You have no idea what you're doing!" I shouted. "Actually, what are you doing?"

"That is none of your business!" Bede said. "Copperajah, keep up the good work. I'm just going to deal with this lesser Trainer myself."

Gloria Vs. Bede

"I choose Ludicolo!" I shouted.

"And I'll use Duosion!" Bede sent out a Pokémon in a green plasm. It was round and had two small hands.

Duosion (ダブラン)

#271 (Mainland)

Psychic Type

Mitosis Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

17.6 lbs (8 kg)

Its brain has split into two, and the two halves rarely think alike. Its actions are utterly unpredictable.

Solosis -Lv 32- Duosion

"Hydro Pump!" Ludicolo blasted water at Duosion.

"Pain Split!" Duosion rammed its body into Ludicolo. Duosion then healed itself. "I'll have you know that Pain Split is a move that takes the average HP of both Pokémon and equals them out."

"Giga Drain!" Ludicolo sapped some HP from Duosion.

"And now Psyshock!" Duosion fired Psychic balls at Ludicolo.

"Finish with another Giga Drain!" Ludicolo defeated Duosion.

"So that's how you want to play it? Go Gothorita!" Gothita's evolved form was bigger with balls for hair.

Gothorita (ゴチミル)

#268 (Mainland)

Psychic Type

Manipulate Pokémon

2'04" (0.7 m)

39.7 lbs (18 kg)

It's said that when stars shine in the night sky, this Pokémon will spirit away sleeping children. Some call it the Witch of Punishment.

Gothita -Lv 32- Gothorita

"Thanks," I told Ludicolo. "Okay Liepard, go!" Liepard started with Assurance, doing lots of damage to Gothorita.

"Use Energy Ball Gothorita!" Gothorita fired a green ball at Liepard.

"Assurance once more!" Liepard did so, and Gothorita was finished.

"Urgh. No. I'M supposed to be stronger! Go Ponyta!"

I kept Liepard out. "Assurance!" Liepard hit Ponyta for another strong attack.

"Now use Fairy Wind!" Ponyta shot some sparkly wind at Liepard. It barely held on.

"Assurance once more!" Liepard attack Ponyta for a Critical Hit! It was down.

"No! I'll just have to sweep you with Hattrem!" Bede's Hatenna had evolved! It now looked like it was wearing a large-blue and pink hat that it was too big for.

Hattrem (テブリム)

#242 (Mainland)

Psychic Type

Serene Pokémon

2'00" (0.6 m)

10.6 lbs (4.8 kg)

No matter who you are, if you bring strong emotions near this Pokémon, it will silence you violently.

Hatenna -Lv 32- Hattrem

Seeing that Liepard was getting weak, I switched into Raboot. "Headbutt!" Raboot hit Hattrem with its head; it flinched. "Now Flame Charge!" Covered in fire, Raboot charged into Hattrem.

"Use Psybeam!" Hattrem fired a pink beam at Raboot.

"One more Flame Charge!" Raboot hit Hattrem once again, defeating it.

"What?!" Bede shouted. "That's not fair! I didn't even knock out any of your Pokémon?"

"What is going on here?" The crowd made way for Chairman Rose, Oleana and Sonia.

"Chairman!" I shouted.

"Father?!" Bede replied.

"If I knew this is what you were borrowing Copperajah for, I would have never let you." He looked at the way. "Bede, this is a mural to the hero of the Galar region! Why would you damage it?"

"Because Wishing Stars are behind here!" Bede said, teary eyed. "I had to do it!"

"I would take more cues from her," Rose said, pointing at me. "She clearly has more common sense than you do."

"Father…" Bede said. "I-I-"

"An apology won't cut it," Rose said. "I'm afraid I will have to revoke your endorsement."

"WHAT?!" Bede shouted.

"It has to be done," Oleana said. "You know the rules. If you commit a crime, included damage, then you will be disqualified."

"But you're my father!" Bede shouted. "You can't just take my endorsement away! You're supposed to be supportive!"

"I can for that reason," Rose replied. "But also as the head of Macro Cosmos. Your ability to continue the Gym Challenge is withdrawn immediately."

"Oh Bede," I said, looking for a tissue.

"SHUT UP!" Bede said, his eyes full of tears. "I bet your secretly happy right now! I was suppose to rise to the ranks and beat Leon! Not you! Just, leave me alone!" Bede ran through the crowd of people.

"Wait!" Hop said, as Oleana put her hand on his shoulder. She shook her head.

"I did what I had to do," Rose said, just as we heard cracking and rocks falling from the mural.

"The wall!" Sonia said. "It's about to collapse!"

"Everyone!" Rose said. "Please leave this area immediately!"

"That means us to!" Sonia said, as we ran for it. The mural collapsed into a cloud of dust.

We looked up after the dust had cleared to find a small cave with four statues.

"What's this?" Oleana asked.

The four of us walked over to the two-large sculptures. Two of the status looked similar. Both were quadruped but one had a sword on its mouth and one a shield on front of it. The other two statues depicted kings.

"They're Pokémon?" Rose asked.

"Wait!" I said. It clicked; they looked like the Pokémon from Slumbering Weald! The secret needed to be out. Hold on." I turned to Hop.

"Do it," he said. "I knew the day would come where we had to tell someone."

"I have so much to say," I said to Rose, Oleana and Sonia. "On the day before my endorsement, me and Hop went into Slumbering Weald to look for a Wooloo."

"Leon told me," Rose said. "You know that place is forbidden. I'll let you off because I know why you went in."

"I think we saw those Pokémon!" I replied.

"What?!" Sonia said.

"Me and Hop have kept it secret since the start, but now I think it's the right time to tell you. You don't think… these could be the heroes of Galar?"

"Heroes?" Oleana asked. "But there are many legends about the Darkest Day, and not one says that it was a Pokémon. It was a human, or two humans."

"Legends get twisted over generations," Sonia said. "People have their own take on the story, and minor alterations are often made with each telling. Those stories are passed on from person to person. The Darkest Day happened 3000 years ago, so I can guarantee the story told today is different. No legend is 100% correct. This must be the true legend after all."

Chairman Rose looked up in awe. "This is a huge discovery. Oleana, call the GBC News Team."

"Yes Chairman," Oleana replied, going onto her Rotom Phone.

"And I need to add this into the book I'm writing!" Sonia replied. "If that's okay with you Chairman."

"I'd be more than happy for you to do that Sonia," Rose replied as the two walked off. "Gloria. I really hope Bede didn't cause you and Hop too much trouble."

"He just likes to walk over everyone," I said.

"That's the mentality you get when you have someone famous in the family," Chairman Rose. "Sometimes, you can just get hopelessly optimistic. So when something doesn't go to plan, it makes your whole world crumble around you."

"Do you think Bede will get his endorsement back after this?" Hop asked.

"I'm afraid I can't," Rose replied. "That boy needs to learn. You should just focus on your own campaign. Speaking of that, where are you going next?"

"Ballonlea," I replied. "That's through Glimwood Tangle, right?"

"Try not to get lost," Rose said.