Previously on Galarian Days...

After earning his 6th badge, Zander is escorted by Sophia back to Hotel Ionia, where after he discovers he has a new dream power that helps him somewhat, he is woken up in time to take care of a few things...

-

Zander found himself back in familiar dream territory, in the gray void and in his fur. The two balls of light came back, and formed the two legendary wolves.

"Oh, thank the Hall of Origins you're back," Zander said. "For a second there, I thought I was about to get jumped by those dress monsters again!"

"What are you talking about?" Zacian questioned.

"Dreamt earlier, was in a loop pocket, found I could become twins, got out of the loop pocket, got into a plain with some dress monsters, got jumped, woke up before things got worse," Zander quickly summarized.

"Sounds hectic," Zamazenta said.

"Oh, it was," Zander agreed. "But more importantly, another reason I'm glad you're here is because I have a big question to ask."

"Go ahead," both wolves said.

"Is it okay for anyone to know that I'm the Wolfen Knight of Galar?" Zander asked.

"Of course it is!" Zacian said.

"Why do you ask?" Zamazenta asked.

"Because I remember spilling the beans about it to Mustard and his students back at the Isle of Armor... and later to Oleana in Galar Mine No. 1," Zander confessed.

"That was part of the reason we made you the Wolfen Knight of Galar, silly!" Zacian said with a laugh. "So you can tell other people the messages we have to spread!"

"Exactly!" Zamazenta added with a jolly chuckle. "If there were any negative repercussions, they would have happened when you told those people. What did you think was going to happen?"

"I would lose the royal colors you marked me with and had my memories of my quest wiped, I would disappear from all of existance in a flash of light, I would turn into a grain of popcorn and be eaten by a snotty brat, just to name a few," Zander listed.

"Well, let us assure you that none of those things will happen!" Zacian said.

"Especially that last one," Zamazenta added. "It sounds stupid."

"Well, that's a relief to hear," Zander said. "Now, then, if there are no more concerns?"

"None other than the usual," both siblings replied.

"Right, still working on that," Zander said, then suddenly the gray void grew lighter. "Oh, and now I have a chance to continue, because it looks like the sun is rising!"

-

The rising sunlight poured through the window blinds, rousing Zander from his sleep. After opening his eyes, he sat up and stretched, then got up to get his pants from the bathroom. Once again, he found them neatly folded by the sink, along with his pocket contents organized in a little pile. Zander got redressed and re-pocketed his things, but when he got to his League Card collection, he found the note he got from Elle and Turner back in Hulbury sitting on top of the stack.

Following the note, Zander went back to the bed and opened up the bedside drawer. Finding a Bible, he flipped to Isaiah 1:18 and read the verse. "Come now, let us settle the matter, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." After closing the book and putting it back, he pondered, "Huh. Wonder why they wanted me to read that?"

But Zander had little time to dwell on the matter, because he still had a Gym Challenge to complete.... but not just yet.

"I just hope there's still time to make things right with Sophia," he wondered as he put some money on the pillow for housekeeping. "This goes against everything I stand for, but I'll have to ask around town for her address. Hopefully someone can help me."

Zander returned the key, left the hotel and went around town asking where Sophia Zuker lived. But the closest thing he had to a clear answer was, "You can try that place, but I think she already left for work."

"At least I have an idea," Zander said to himself. With new knowledge in mind, Zander went up to the first apartment building on the left side of town and knocked on the door. Surprisingly, the knock was answered with "Coming!" and the door was opened by Sophia herself. "Zander? What are you doing here?"

"Mostly glad I wasn't bamboozled by an overprotective bystander," Zander answered, "but the real reason I came was to apologize for the way I acted last night, and I hope it doesn't tarnish our friendship in any way."

"Oh, right, about Leon and all that. Well, you're forgiven, and we're still friends," Sophia assured.

"And on that note, I shall be out of your way so you can leave for work."

"What are you talking about?" Sophia asked. "I have weekends off, and it's Saturday."

"So I was bamboozled after all... Anyway, if it's not too much to ask, would you... like to come with me to the next town on my Gym Challenge, wherever that is?"

"Sure, I don't mind," Sophia answered. "The next town is in Spikemuth, and that's where the Flying-type Gym Leader, Parcel, is stationed." She then handed Zander another League Card, which Zander accepted.

"Okay, I'll bite. Where do you keep getting these League Cards from?" Zander asked.

"They sell them at roadside stands near Wyndon Stadium, and I stop there sometimes when I'm off-duty. There's always duplicates, though, so I look for ways to get rid of them."

Feeling a bit hurt at that, Zander looked at his most recent gain. The card had a picture of Parcel in a battle pose, blazoned with the Flying-type Gym Logo. On the bottom of the image was his Gym Uniform number, 569, on a background of cerulean with broken streaks. He then flipped the card over, and the back said, "Parcel was a Flying Taxi driver in training, meant to carry on the Galarian tradition of flying Trainers from one point to another. But sometime during his training, he realized that there was more to Corviknight than carrying a wheelless cab through the sky for people to ride on. So, he decided to change his ambition to becoming a Gym Leader, which he managed to do so with clear management and hard work."

"Well, thank you for letting me be someone to pawn your copies off on," Zander said as he pocketed his eighth Gym Leader card, completing his colection of common cards. "And with that, let us be off! Next stop: Spikemuth!"

"Do you have a Rotom Bike?" Sophia asked.

Caught off-guard by the sudden question, Zander folded his ears back and said, "Err, I, uh, don't... really... have one of those."

"There wasn't a Doctor on Route 5 to give you one, was there?"

"Uh, there was not."

"Well, that puts a crux in our plans," Sophia said. "Because we can't get through Circhester Bay without a Rotom Bike to carry us through the freezing-cold waters there."

"Aw, man," Zander lamented. "I guess we'll just have to take the long way back around, then."

So that's exactly what they did. 

-

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