Previously on Galarian Days...

After defeating the Dynamiasma at Turffield Stadium, Zander and Wufu catch Gym Leader Annie up on what they've been through so far, and she agrees to inform her circle of close friends (i.e. the other Galarian Gym Leaders for this year) and gives Zander her rare League Card as thanks. The two anthros then go to Hulbury, where, after a bit of difficulty, they take down another Dynamiasma for Selene...

-

"...And, full disclosure," Zander said, embarrased, "one of the splat marks isn't part of the pitch decor, and... I'm sorry."

"Oh, that's okay," Selene assured. "That's why the stadium also has a janitorial staff at the ready, for when these little mishaps happen." Just then, the doors opened, and another Poison-type Trainer entered the lobby. "Oh, speak of Giratina, here comes a member of it now!"

"Klara!?" both Zander and Wufu exclaimed in surprise.

"That's my name, don't wear it out!" the Poison-type Gym Leader in training said with a giggle, then frowned at the anthros and added, "And so, we meet again, fur-butts."

"Yes, we do," Zander said lowly.

"Yes, indeed," Wufu added. "So, what brings you here?"

"What, can't two Poison-type Gym Leaders say hi to each other every once in a while?" Klara asked, putting on her cutesy facade again.

"They can, but you don't," Selene called out, not easily fooled. "You're just here to get me guilted into giving you my position again, but no matter how many times you use those colors, the picture they paint will stay the same."

"Aw, come on!" Klara fussed. "I was training at the Master Dojo on the Isle of Armor to earn that title! You were just picked out of thin air like a Kebia Berry! It's not fair!"

"Sorry, but you being the Gym Leader isn't my decision to make," Selene said, unswayed. "Tell you what, though, show me how badly you want it by passing the initiation training again, and maybe I'll consider putting in a good word for you."

Klara winced at the mention of "initiation training," but then shook it off and said, "Challenge accepted!"

"Good," Selene said. "Your first task is to go clean up the aftermath of the monster that made a mess on the Battle Court... and then some."

"Right away!" Klara said happily, then told the anthros under her breath, "This is not over between you two and me. Okay, bye-ee!"

After Klara ran off to go through her initiation again, Zander thought to himself, Not her decision to make... why does that sound so familiar?

"Anyway," Selene said, snapping Zander out of his thoughts, "thanks for getting rid of the Dynamiasma... di-did I say that right? Dynamiasma? So, sorry if it's not much, but have this as a reward!" She then handed Zander a rare League Card of hers depicting her painting an Alolan Muk on a brick wall. On the other side of the card, it said, "Ever since Selene was introduced to the world of colors the day she witnessed an Alolan Muk, she developed a habit of doodling every chance she got. Because of that, she often found herself buried in papers with her work so much, that even her prior sanitation worker training couldn't keep up. So, she sometimes seeks the help of her fellow Gym Trainers to help clean up messes, which is rather fitting since they used to be janitors."

"Interesting to know," Zander said as he pocketed the card. "Good thing you got a Gym Trainer in there who's willing to walk the walk as much as she talks the talk!"

"Hopefully," Selene said as she also made her way to the back. "I better keep an eye on her so she doesn't end up screwing it up."

"You do that," Wufu said, and he and Zander exited the stadium to hop another Flying Taxi ride to the next stop of their trip.

While they were still in the cab, Zander asked Wufu, "So, Wufu, did you catch Selene's answer to Klara's griping?"

"No, what was it?" Wufu asked. "I kind of spaced out during their conversation."

"She said that Klara being the Gym Leader 'wasn't her decision to make,'" Zander explained. "Believe it or not, she's not the only person who said those exact words. While I was on my Gym Challenge, another Gym Leader said those words to Klara's-" He then stopped because he was at a loss for words. "Huh. I was gonna say boyfriend, but... Well, I was gonna say partner, but-"

"Avery was also shut down with those words?" Wufu guessed.

"Yeah, that."

"Well, we'll have time to dwell on that later," Wufu said as he and Zander exited the cab at Motostoke. "Right now, we still have some Dynamiasmas to vanquish!"

"Right!" Zander said, and he and Wufu hurried to Motostoke Stadium, where Wufu caught a glimpse of the banners that showed the participating Gym Leader types for this year.

"Let's just hope this Electric-type Gym Leader's seen something before a Dynamiasma popped up in their stadium," Wufu said as he and Zander entered- no surprise here, another empty lobby.

"Probably," Zander supposed. "Raphael's the kind of person who's up pretty early, so maybe he could've noticed something."

As luck would have it, the Lightning Retainer came in himself to see two others in the same lobby. "Good, you got here! What kept you?"

"Patience isn't really his strong suit, is it?" Wufu asked.

"Not during these times, I'm guessing," Zander answered, then said to Raphael, "So, Raphael, you got the call from Annie, right? Maybe you could tell us if you've seen anything unusual here before any loud, dangerous noises happened."

"Starting how far back?" Raphael asked.

"Try this morning."

"Okay, let's see," Raphael explained. "I woke up early to train for the upcoming Champion's Cup finals with my Gym Trainers, and after a few practice rounds, I let them clock out early and went to get my morning coffee can, but it turns out I had already run out! So, I told Dan to hold down the fort while I went on a run to go get some more, but after I came back fueled by a couple sips I snagged from one of my purchased cans-" Suddenly, a shrill squeaking rang out before he finished with, "...that happened."

"Let me guess, there was a giant monster on the pitch, and you couldn't Dynamax your Pokemon to fight it, so it cleaned your clock?" Wufu asked.

"Right."

"Well, have no fear, the Wolfen Knight of Galar and... Wufu will have something to say about that!"

"Then go right ahead, I'm not stopping you!" Raphael said as he pointed to the door towards the Gym Mission chamber, and both anthros made their way inside...

-

Inside the chamber, Zander was looking for something to convert to his weapons, but Wufu was looking a little distracted. "Wufu, what's going on? We have a Dynamiasma to vanquish, remember?" Zander told the bear.

"Sorry, Zander," Wufu told the wolf, "it's just, the Wolfen Knight of Galar?"

"That's the title Zacian and Zamazenta gave me when they marked me with the royal colors," Zander explained. "What, didn't Urshifu and Urshifu give you a title when they marked you with their master colors?"

"They did," Wufu said.

"Then tell me what it is or help me find something for my weapons," Zander said, and Wufu snagged two of the safety cones around the carpeting, then twisted one into a stick and crushed the other flat.

"The Ursine Retainer of Galar," Wufu said bluntly as he tossed Zander the deformed pylons that were changed into the sword and shield. "Let's go."

-

Finally, the two anthros made it onto the pitch of Motostoke Stadium, where they saw a giant, yellow rat with spiky fur conjuring up black thunderclouds that blasted lightning bolts to make the pitch's lighting go haywire with electric sparks!

But before Zander could even raise his force field to defend himself from the lightning, Wufu summoned the shadowy aura and shot towards the Dynamiasma. Deciding to follow suit, Zander shot himself to ram his shield into the rat, until both shield and punch connected with extreme impact, making the Dynamiasma squeal in agony until it exploded in a cloud of yellow dust!

"Well," Zander started after the clouds and sparks dissipated, "that was wrapped up quicker than usual."

"Cathartic as that was," Wufu said, "this still isn't over. We still have more Stadiums to clean up, and now new information has come to light. This man in black and woman in white may have a third member of their little team."

"You're saying Dan could be in cahoots with the opposite crisis-causers?"

"Perhaps, given current evidence. Now let's regroup with Raphael... Wolfen Knight."

"Right away... Ursine Retainer," Zander said as he followed Wufu out of the Battle Court...

-

Closed captioning sponsored in part by...

(Commercial: Huo Guo Hot Pot)

Hello! I am Kabu, former Gym Leader of Motostoke Stadium!

As you all know, I always experiment with everything my Pokemon have at their disposal- moves, items, Abilities, whatever ensures a path forward to victory!

But whenever hunger becomes an obstacle, that's when said path shifts towards Galar's best restaurant for oriental cuisine: Huo Guo Hot Pot!

All of their dishes are cooked to perfection, and their restaurant is always kept impeccably clean!

Hustle, hustle, hustle, hot food! You can do it, you can do it, clean lobby!

Huo Guo Hot Pot!