The pressure was on as we arrived at the Gym to Stow-on-Side, and from the setting of the town and the temperature it may as well have been located in a desert canyon! "Whoo! Hop told me it was hot in Stow-on-Side, but this is TOO hot." I complained, limping sluggishly from the heat. "You could always take off the sweat shirt." Gloria sighed, shaking her head. I kept my yap buttoned as we twisted our way through a market, with odd looking Pokémon resembling that of a cactus to advertise wares of all sizes, shapes, and origins. "Say, Gloria? What are these Pokémon?" I asked, stopping to get a closer look at the bouncing, dancing, shimmying creatures behind the little tables, and Gloria responded, "Those are called "Maractus". They can handle heat quite well due to how their bodies are made!" As if on cue, one of the cacti like Pokémon leapt with glee as it cried "Mara! Act-Actus!" "Aww, it's a pleasure to meet you as well! I wish I could greet you properly, but I fear I'll crush your lovely flowers if I did." I giggled, running my toe through the loosened sand. "Act-Maractus-Tus." it replied, then bounced itself away from the table to dissappear down an alleyway. "I wonder where it's going." I said beneath my breath, Gloria taking my hand as we continued up a flight of stairs to greet Nessa, Hop, and the others as we approached the doors. "Inside those doors, Lele," Leon began, taking me by the shoulders lightly, "is the Fighting Type Protégé: Bea. Do you remember what we went over at the Hotel in Motostoke?" I remembered Leon's lecture from the Inn, engraved like words etched to stone tablets as I recited, "Fighting Type Pokémon are weak to Fairy, Flying, and Psychic Types. So if I play my cards correctly, then I figure that I could use Primarina's form again given how it's Water AND Fairy Type. I could also use Alolan Ninetails to help out as well, but I feel that's taking too big a risk considering the only weakness I know Ice Types to have is Fire! I could be brave and take on the forms of Solgaleo, or even Necrozma's one of four forms, but using Ghost Type would leave Bea at an impasse for certain! Hmmm, then I could be any form of Oricorio excluding Ghost of course." "Mate you're talking Pokémon that we have no knowledge of, and it's sure getting me hyped! I can't wait to see what it is you choose to be Lele." Hop said, grinning his usual, Gengar like smile, and I felt a tad bit comforted by his encouraging spirit. "Go show Bea a champion time, Lele! We'll be in the stands cheering you on." Leon said, standing proudly as he smiled the same kind of smile Hop gave, and I couldn't help but notice the uncanny similarities the two shared from their face, to their personalities. "And the other Leaders shall be observing you from behind the press box. Blow them away girl!" Nessa said, patting my back as they all stepped inside of the Gym. I took a deep breath, and with an assuring nod, I went in behind my friends to greet the first of my opponents in the second leg of my Journey. All was quiet as I crept my way down the darkened hall to the stadium floor, and I couldn't help but wonder how it is Bea acted, and how it reflected on her Pokémon that she's chosen. "I'd best be ready. Fighting Types don't quite go down as easy as one might think! One wrong step, and I'd end up losing a limb or two." I murmured under my breath as I took a turn toward the light of the Gym pitch. "Welcome trainer." A serene voice echoed from the center of the floor, making me stop in my tracks as a gasp became caught in my throat. "Wh-Who said that?" I asked, poking my head out from the darkness. Out of nowhere, a woman dressed in skin-tight clothing and short shorts came onto the field with agility like a Flying Type, with the grace of a Water Type. She adjusted her crop top as her piercing gray eyes stayed affixed to my sheepish, pathetic figure, and I straightened out my back as best I could as she continued, "You must be that Ditto Halfling that I've heard about! Needless to say you've definitely piqued the interests of the other two remaining Gym Leaders; myself included." "B-But I thought there was four..." I replied, my blood turning cold by her confirmation of Raihan's previous claim in Hammerlocke. "Unfortunately, the Fairy Gym Leader has himself in a sort of, how could you say, a bind? He has had yet to reply to your request AND conditions, but I'm certain that he'd be impressed to meet such a wonder in a Jewled coat like yourself! For now, I wish to see what spirit you possess for myself, and test how worthwhile you truly are." She replied, and my eyes widened with awe as I said, "Then you must be Gym Leader Bea!" Bea lightly giggled as she responded in the same calm tone, "So you've heard of me then? I guess there's no need on filling in what's already known. Greetings and conversations aside, I'm ready for a battle with you Halfling!" "Please, just Lele will suffice." I corrected uncomfortably as I shuffled my way out to the pitch. Observing me, I could hear her muttered beneath her breath, "Nervous disposition, meek, should be easy to take on." And a little spark clicked inside as I clenched my fists. Once I was face to face with her, her Gym Trainer of choice came to Bea bearing her PokéBalls, and holding them out for her to select. "You'd be mistaken if I let you, a winning streak trainer, get off with fighting only TWO Pokémon each. Let's make this challenge more so a challenge by seeing how you fare against THREE Halfling!" She cried, plucking three random PokéBalls from the six, and placing two of them on a belt like holster on her waist before casually brushing her ivory bangs out of her eyes. "My name is Lele, and fine! Three it is!" I said, a little more agitated by her calling me a "Halfling" rather than my name. I thought long and hard about my choice, and quickly came to the decision to use Flying Types to ensure my swift victory. "For my first form, I choose the Psychic Flying Type: Oricorio!" I cried, and my form took on a pink, bird like Pokémon, and I waved my wings gracefully around as I swished the feathers that made up my skirt. "Hmmm, cornered before we even start. I'm impressed by your knowledge of Type Match-ups Halfling!" Bea mused, placing a finger to her lips in thought. "LELE!" I seethe, getting even more frustrated with her, and she threw her ball to reveal a blue and yellow Pokémon with eight, slimy looking tentacles. "Ewwww! Gross!" I groaned, to which it replied gruffly, "Gross? GROSS?! Don't you underestimate the awesome strength of my eight tentacles, or Grapploct will have to show you just how much strength these "Gross" tendrils are!" "Well then Grapploct," I began, taking a calming battle stance, "Let's see how your strength fares against discipline: of the MIND!" I took a deep breath, remembering my teachings of the wise old Ninetails, and the advice of the mysterious voice in my head as I preped myself for Bea's first move. "Grapploct," Bea began, athletically kicking her leg in the air powerfully as she roared, "bind this Halfling bird to the spot with your mighty grip!" Grapploct launched itself in the air above me, and I stood in wait to time when I should use my abilities. Once Grapploct spread all eight of it's slippery tendrils on it's body, I took my chance to land a naval blow as I cried "Aerial Ace!" To which I gracefully swept my wings on the ground to send a powerful attack that knocked Grapploct from it's position. "GRAHH! THAT'S NOT FAIR HALFLING, YOU WAITED!" It cried, giving a point of accusation with one of it's tendrils in my direction. I spun elegantly before repositioning myself to face the weakened creature, and I asked tauntingly, "Seems you thick headed Fighting Pokémon need to start listening to Fire Types, given that they are much wiser, careful, and clever than you brutes." I smiled it's direction as it fumed, looking back toward it's trainer for another command. "Close Combat! And keep the Halfling on her toes till you land a hit!" Bea screeched, and as she commanded, the Grapploct raced it's way toward me with horrifying speed straight from a horror movie! "ACK!" I yelped, quickly dancing my way around multiple attempts to land a punch. "Eep! Ah! Ack!" I continued, trying to keep my balance and avoid tripping as I looked for an opening. "To the right! It's hitting everywhere else but right!" I told myself, and with a spin and a duck, I found myself behind Grapploct much to it's confusion. I made a chopping motion with my wing, and the Grapploct was sent flying forwards from the force of the shining light. "AHHH!" It screamed in terror, and crashed to the ground at my feet as I advised in a cocky tone, "You shouldn't leave openings for your enemies to spot, or you'd have struck me for sure!" "I...... Don't need advice from....... A lowly Halfling....!" It seethed, getting back to it's feet, and it rushed me again, causing me to quickly step around it before sending it flying once more with Air Slash. Once the Grapploct fell back to the floor, it let out a low drone before going completely unconscious, and Bea quickly called it back to its ball in shock. "Not bad Halfling! You sure kept your composure, but you forget, you still have two left to prove yourself against before I decide you're worthy of my badge." "I'm telling you, my name is LELE! And I'm well aware of that, so let's get to it." I snapped, taking form of a different kind of Oricorio: the Baile form to be specific. My fethers went from pink, to a deep violet red color, and I could hear Hop and Leon going wild as Gloria and Victor chanted my name. My heart felt lighter than my Flying Fire Type body, making my frustration melt away as I smiled wryly. "Oooooh, sounds like you've got a fanbase going! I plan to switch that up by the end of this battle. Get ready for Sirfetch'd!" She announced, throwing her second partner Pokémon out onto the field. This Pokémon was quite odd, seemingly having the look of a Grass Type but clearly showing a difference as it wielded a Leek as a blade, and a leaf as a shield. "My lady trainer has requested your defeat, young Halfling. Tis my duty as her protector to ensure that her victory is sung throughout this stadium!" It stated proudly, standing as tall as it could possibly straighten itself out to be. "It's Lele, and you are noble Sirfetch'd. But I'm afraid that this song will be played in MY favor, despite your valiant efforts to please your trainer!" I replied, and with a quick batting of my tail feathers, and a swish of my wings, a bolt of fire ignited the floor beneath us. Sirfetch'd leapt to the side before being instructed to use a move called "Brick Break". It summoned up power to it's small frame, and lashed out with a force greater than I could imagine, knocking me off my balance as I fell backwards. "Oof!" I grunted, with Sirfetch'd looming over me as I attempted to sit myself up. It used Brick Break again, and I quickly rolled out of the way before shouting, "Air Cutter!" I sent a storm of slashes down on Sirfetch'd, making it dodge them with a serene grace that I never knew Fighting Types possessed. Staggering back to my feet, Sirfetch'd began to chuckle, and boomed heartily, "Not ALL Fighting Types are as unorganized as you may think, Ditto Halfling. You'd think that your mentors would expect you to know better than to assume your opponents are simple minded!" "Yeah, well you're the first one I've met that wasn't quick to throw down without being reckless in the process. But Ditto are just as cunning as you are! EMBER!" I screeched, sending another blast of fire it's way in hopes of getting a critical hit, only for Bea to counteract it with the move "Protect", much to my annoyance. "Use Brutal Swing!" Bea called, and with a powerful swing of it's Leek, I was sent backwards with a hit to the gut. "Oooh!" I heard my audience say, wincing in pain as I remembered recovery, and I flipped back onto my feet as I sent another flurry of slashes Sirfetch'd's way, this time scoring a super effective hit. My audience cheered, and even Sirfetch'd seemed shocked as he mused, "Fair Halfling, you are swift to action! It appears I have misjudged your battle prowess on the field. No matter, this a mistake that shan't be made twice!" And it went again to use Brutal Swing. Quickly, I bounced off of a nearby wall like a spring, and with a graceful flip, landed behind Sirfetch'd to finish it off with a critical hit. "GAYAAAAAAH!" it howled, sliding towards Bea in a pillar of smoke as it moaned quietly, "Well...... Done......." bringing it back toward her, another burst of cheers erupted from the stands again, and the fierceness in Bea's eyes became appearant as she said observantly, "Your recovery is flawless, and your strength proceeds what I expected, Halfling. Let's see if you can topple THIS Pokémon!" She threw out the final ball, and FORGET fighting Sirfetch'd and Grapploct! I gasped, air getting caught in my throat as a hulking Pokémon stood over me, it's four muscular arms flexing; intimidating me. "So YOU'RE the sad sack that challenged our beloved Bea? How pathetic and painful that my talents should be wasted on a small thing like YOU!" It bellowed, making me gulp. It was a Machamp..... a MACHAMP! I took on the Pom Pom form of Oricorio, my feathers turning from a deep violet red to a brilliant, neon yellow, and I began to make up a strategy to see if I could, firstly, disable the massive tank, and secondly, so much as cripple the thing. How stupid I was! Before I could utter a word of response, Bea shouted, "Cross Chop! And make it heavy!" All the preparation I had was the time it took to brace myself, and the four armed creature wailed on me from my chest to my gut, sending me crashing into a wall. "Mmmnnnnnn." I groaned, staggering back up to my feet as Machamp stomped its way back up to me, and took me by the wings tightly, stretching them fully out before beginning to pull. "AHHHHHH! GRRRRAAAH!" I howled in pain, Machamp continuing to pull on my wings. "Look at you." It laughed nastily, "So weak and pathetic that you can't even break yourself free from my grasp! Go on, little birdie, what do you have that I can't do better?" I struggled, which was a big mistake on my part, and I continued to cry out as the grip on my wings grew tighter, my body beginning to feel like it's tearing. "S-Stop! It's Hurting her Bea, can't you see that?!" Leon shouted over the sounds of my groaning and crying, and my muscles spending whatever energy it could to stay together as I hovered in mid air. "Not until she either cannot fight any longer, or she taps! Since neither is happening, it will remain a standstill." Bea said harshly, and tears ran down my face as I continued to scream out. "Lele! You must find a disadvantage and USE it." "But HOW!? I'm stuck! I can't go on like this." I replied to the strange voice, when another chimed, "Yes, you can! You have one more play to make young Lele. Think!" Amidst my pain, I managed to remember what I said about Ghost Type Pokémon, and I stammered quickly, "N-No! I can't use Ghost Types or Bea would have an unfair advantage. I want to win honorably!" "You WILL, Lele. But right now, this trainer has you suspended until you give in. Use your resources, no matter how unfair it seems, but do NOT physically cheat! If they cannot hit you, it is only because your nature allowed it to be, not because it's a victory plan." The voice assured, and with a heavy heart, and a desire to triumph, I decided for the best to go against my word. My body, while in the hands of the Machamp, took on a pastel blue and purple hue, and my Pom Poms turned into fan like feathers. The pain was no longer there, and I no longer felt as vulnerable as I did when in my Pom Pom form! I dissolved myself from the grip of the Machamp, much to it's horror and to the shock of my fans, and reappeared behind the Machamp as Bea called, "Knock Off! QUICKLY!" The Machamp spun around to carry out it's attack, but I proved myself to be quicker as I sent a flurry of slashes out of fierceness. "To answer your question, brute," I began coldly, sending another flurry at the Machamp after the first staggered the creature, "Is that I have, strategy," another flurry, "hope," yet another flurry, "and FRIENDS!" I let out a loud battle cry, and with a final flurry of cuts, the Machamp screamed out of both fear and defeat before finally collapsing to the ground with a thundering shake..... Everyone was silent, even Bea who stood with her jaw agape. I heaved heavy breaths before turning back to my human form, and my body felt like a million pins pricking my skin. I doubled over, my aching arms clutching the wall as a hoard of footsteps ran my way. "Lele! Are you alright?" Gloria asked, trying to keep me from falling when I said, "AH! Owwwwww..." "My, that Machamp REALLY let you have it! H-Here. I may have something in my bag that can help you." Hop replied, putting his backpack on the floor to rummage through it. He pulled out a red and yellow spray bottle, and Victor asked in concern, "A-Are you POSITIVE that it will work?" "Well we can't particularly take her to a Poké Center can we? We HAVE to try a Potion on her to see if it will heal her!" "A "Potion?"" I asked, looking over at Hop as Leon and Bea approached. "It's medicine to help Pokémon who are heavily injured in battle. You may be human, but being half Pokémon should allow Potions to work!" He explained, and Gloria adjusted her hold on me, and removed my sweat shirt as Hop began to spray the mysterious medicine over my injured body. It seeped into my skin, and a numbing feeling took over before eliminating the pain altogether. I straightened myself up, stretching my arms, back, and legs in relief when Bea said, "Lele?" I looked up in shock, unsure if I heard her correctly as she continued, "You were unbelievable. Incredible, in fact! Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I'd have called the others Bonkers." She grabbed my hand lightly, slipping into my hand the Fighting badge as she finished, "Here, you're MORE than worthy of this badge! Your spirit was strong, and the dream in your heart stronger. Keep it up, Lele!" I was almost on the verge of tears as I said "Thank you! It was my friends that kept me going, and the ENDLESS support they gave me." The other three Gym Leaders emerged from the Spectators box, smiling proudly as they applauded my performance. "Exceptional work young Lele!" Kabu boomed, pumping his fist in the air. "When that Machamp had you, we thought for SURE it was over! I'm glad you showed us wrong." Milo added, still applauding. Nessa came up to me, and from her hand dropped a beautiful gemstone fashioned into a necklace, and she quickly explained, "You dropped this back at my gym, so I had it made into something you can always keep on you." I stood confused at first, then it dawned on me what she meant as I exclaimed, "M-My Whishing Star! Thank you SO much Nessa." She giggled as she placed the glowing jewel around my neck, and I fiddled around with the cage around it as I grinned. "It's a pretty colour! Suits you quite well." Gloria commented, taking the piece into her hand to observe it before setting it gently back down for it to rest on my chest. "Right then," Hop began, placing his hands together, "Shall we be off to Ballonlea?" "Well hold up a bit there, little brother. There's something here in Stow-on-Side that I think might capture her fancy!" Leon said with a wink. "First thing is first." Gloria added before simply handing me a shopping bag, and I knew what it was she wanted from me as I let out a sigh. Once changed into something much nicer, I followed Leon out of the Gym, up a few flights of long stairs, and stopped right beside him as we looked upon a carved statue of two odd, but valiant looking Pokémon. "Whoa! Who are THESE two?" I asked, becoming entranced by the way the light shone down on these statues like a gift from the heavens. "These two ancient Pokémon before you," Leon began as he took my shoulder, "are Galar's heroes of legend: Zacian and Zamazenta! Long ago, when Galar was still under the authority of the crown, these two came and saved our people from a catastrophe known as "The Darkest Day"." "Zacian and Zamazenta..... "The Darkest Day"?" I said to myself, looking up at Leon, who admired the ancient statue as he went on, "That wasn't the only time they stopped "The Darkest Day" from occurring, you know. My brother and Gloria awoke the two ancient heroes in the slumbering weald to end it when the chairman summoned the Pokémon Eternatus to supposedly use the great catastrophe as a means of keeping Galar supplied with the energy it produces. Can you imagine? Ending an entire region, and quite possibly the world for an event that comes hundreds of years from now! But just as legend told it, Zacian and Zamazenta battled alongside Hop and Gloria to once again end Eternatus's reign of terror over Galar, and are now peacefully residing with them both." "A-And Eternatus? What happened to it?" I asked, curious to know the end of the poor, hapless Pokémon. Leon laughed as he replied, "Everyone had a happy ending, including Eternatus! Gloria now has it tucked safely into a ball, and currently trains it as we speak." "Well that's a fine way to end a story, especially for a redemption of such a heartless sounding Pokémon." I interjected, leaving his grip to get a closer study of the statues of Zacian and Zamazenta, and I couldn't help but ask think to myself, "Could it be these two that I'm hearing? Zacian and Zamazenta..... Two legendary Pokémon helping a lowly Ditto! Now THAT'S an achievement."