Previously on Galarian Days...

Zander shelves a conversation with Sophia about what happened on the Isle of Armor as they enter a sparkling-clean Spikemuth. While Sophia hangs back, Zander challenges the Gym Mission of Spikemuth, ultimately facing Parcel and earning the Flying Badge from him by a hair...

-

Back at the Pokemon Center, Sophia was watching Zander's battle with Parcel being wrapped up, and the handshake scene played back.

"I have to admit, though," Zander said, "this whole place has been a real breath of fresh air for me. Clean streets, open shops, and all the neon is actually lit! I may have to pop in here again sometime this year!"

"Please do!" Parcel said happily.

The screen cut to the Flying-type transition, and Zander came into the Center in his regular clothes, ready to pick Sophia up.

"Oh, good, you kept your word," Sophia said.

"Like I said I would," Zander replied, flashing his collection of badges to her. "So, are you ready to hear what I have to tell you now?"

"Is it what you were doing on the Isle of Armor while I was on-duty? I'm all ears."

"Okay, ten seconds of courage," Zander said to himself, then he told Sophia everything. He told her about how he was marked with the royal colors when he faced the illusions of Zacian and Zamazenta in the Slumbering Weald. He told her about how he can make swords and shields and use them to fight giant monsters called Dynamiasmas. But most importantly, he told her about his mission to stop a crisis opposite of the Darkest Day, most likely caused by a man in black and a woman in white.

Sophia absorbed the knowledge as best as she could. "So, back at Bob's Your Uncle when I said 'that was that,' it really wasn't?"

"Sorry," Zander said. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I'll be fine," Sophia assured. "Don't let me stop you from getting that last badge and completing the medal they form together."

"Okay, if you say so," Zander said, still a little unsure. "Tell you what, how about this time, you get to watch my battle against Lady Cona live in the stands?"

Sophia thought about it, then said with a smile, "I'd like that."

"Good, then let's go," Zander said, and the two friends left the Pokemon Center in Spikemuth and made their way back to Hammerlocke.

Eventually, they returned to the castle town, and Zander looked up at the entrance to the castle. He and Sophia crossed the drawbridge inside Hammerlocke Stadium, where Sophia approached the desk to purchase a ticket. (which Zander also chipped in for) Zander then approached the Steel-type Gym Trainer guarding the entrance to the Stadium and said, "I have collected the seven badges required to face Lady Cona, and have returned to do so. If you could be so kind as to point me to the changing room so I may be properly dressed, I would appreciate it."

"Right back there, sir," the Trainer said, "and once you have your uniform on, the Gym Mission will be located in the vault."

Zander nodded, then passed by Sophia to the changing room while she was escorted to the bleachers. "Wish me luck, Sophia," he said. "If I can't find you in the audience, at least you'll find me on the pitch!"

"Will do!" Sophia said, and the two went their seperate ways...

-

Zander was now in uniform and inside the vault, where Cona and her Gym Trainers were waiting. "Ah, young Zander. I have been expecting you for quite some time," Cona said as she was approached. "So, you have come to face my Gym Mission, have you not?"

"I have, Lady Cona," Zander replied simply.

"Then prepare thyself, as the Steel-type can be a force to be reckoned with," Cona said as she stepped back. "Now, my fellow knights, approach this Gym Challenger and test his resolve!"

"Yes, Lady Cona!" the first Gym Trainer, Percy said as he stepped towards Zander. "Behold the power that I am able to draw from the Steel-type, Challenger!" Zander then sent out Talonflame, and Percy sent out Ferrothorn. Talonflame used Flame Charge, but Ferrothorn's Iron Barbs Ability made up for the huge damage it took. As it also managed to survive, Ferrothorn used Gyro Ball, and its lower Speed made it strong enough to almost knock Talonflame out! But Talonflame followed up with another Flame Charge, and both Pokemon were knocked out at the same time, but Zander still had Pokemon, so he won! "I got cocky... Please forgive me, Lady Cona!"

Percy then stepped back, and the second Gym Trainer, Lance took his place. "Challenger, you must continue to fight, not just for yourself, but for others' sake, as well!" He then sent out a Togedemaru, and Zander sent out his trusty Sandygast. Togedemaru started things off with Electric Terrain, but Sandygast put a stop to whatever its plan was by quickly knocking it out with Earth Power! "Your resolve is rather strong, but do not falter!" Suddenly, Sandygast was starting to glow white as it changed shape; it started growing in size, its small mounds and head seemed to be picked up by pillars of sand, and the shovel on its head quickly popped off and reset itself handle-first in its spot. Once the light faded, Sandygast was gone, and in its place was the proud and regal Palossand!

Zander quickly used a Max Revive he was saving on Talonflame, and Lance was replaced by the last Gym Trainer, Wayne. "Best not to rest just yet! I am all that is left, and I shall not go down easily!" Zander went with Palossand again, and Wayne sent out Lucario. Palossand used Earth Power, and Lucario retaliated with Meteor Mash, punching the sand castle Pokemon with a fisted paw surrounded by silver light. But Palossand was still standing, and used Earth Power again, knocking Lucario out and giving Zander his last victory against the Gym Trainers! "Sorry, I misspoke. Lady Cona is all that remains now."

Cona walked back up to Zander and said, "Very well done, young Zander. Now that you have cleared the Gym Mission of Hammerlocke Stadium, I officially grant you permission to face me in the field of honor. Now, make haste to the pitch at once!"

-

Zander was now inside the Stadium again, and he made his way down the hallway to the last pitch before Wyndon; polished and silver-plated with a diamond pattern like the toolbox of a pickup truck. He looked into the audience, and there was Sophia in the stands, waving at him. Zander quickly waved back before he saw Cona approach, and the two walked towards the center line, their shoes making metallic taps with every step. "So, you wish to complete the Gym Challenge without Dynamaxing, I hear. If I may be so bold as to ask, what is it that you hope to gain from accomplishing this feat?"

"To be perfectly honest, Lady Cona, I never actually obtained a Dynamax Band like anyone else," Zander confessed. "But I simply went along with this delusion that I would be one of the rare Trainers to complete the Gym Challenge without Dynamaxing, because I was afraid of being a social outcast for not having a great power that everyone else in Galar shared. And if that disqualifies me from the Gym Challenge altogether, then I shall accept it without a fight."

But Cona shook her head and said, "No. You were endorsed by a Champion that created another Champion that created another Champion. If they saw potential in you, then no one has the right to snuff it out."

Encouraged by Cona's words, Zander felt newfound courage well up inside of him and said, "You know what, you're absolutely right, Lady Cona! I didn't need a Dynamax Band with the last seven Gyms, and I've come too far to doubt myself now! So, from one knight to another, I owe these people in the audience a memorable battle with you, therefore I will not hold back!"

"Then neither shall I!" Cona said with a grin of approval, and the two Trainers took their places. She started things off with Escavalier, and Zander chose Talonflame. Escavalier, with its higher Speed, started off with X-Scissor, but Talonflame struck with Flame Charge and quickly knocked it out due to double-type advantage.

Cona continued the battle with Steelix, and Talonflame used Flame Charge again, but Steelix's Sturdy Ability kept it from fainting long enough to knock Talonflame with Stone Edge! Zander then sent out Palossand, and it struck Steelix with Earth Power, knocking it out back!

Cona then sent out Bisharp, and it quickly used Night Slash, dealing heavy damage to Palossand. One Earth Power later, and Palossand was knocked out by Assurance, forcing Zander to switch to Klefki. It used Play Rough to finish Bisharp off, and Cona was down to her last Pokemon.

"Prepare thyself, Gym Challenger, for I shall try the last!" Cona sent out her last Pokemon, Copperajah. "Your hour has come, my faithful compatriot! Unleash thine full potential!" She then called Copperajah back into its Luxury Ball, which grew to basketball size. After holding it up in triumph, she threw the ball behind her, and it burst open as Copperajah swelled three times into its rectangular, bipedal Gigantamax form. It then trumpeted its pride throughout the stadium, and the wave of sound pushed Sophia back in her seat a few inches.

Realizing his lapse in focus, Zander quickly switched out Klefki for his Snorlax, Serta, and... "Now, Copperajah! Exact thine judgement upon mine opponent!" Copperajah then used G-Max Steelsurge, summoning a wave of metallic jade spikes towards Serta! After they did their damage, some of them stuck around the battlefield. But Serta had a secret weapon. His right arm started glowing orange and elongated until it passed the top of Copperajah, then slammed full-force onto it and dealt super-effective damage, knocking the copperderm Pokemon out and causing it to explode from the Hammer Arm!

With his victory against the final Gym Leader now claimed, Zander ran up to Serta and embraced him in a congratulatory hug, while Sophia cheered wildly for her friend. Meanwhile, Cona chuckled lightly, then burst into hearty laughter! "Magnificent! No one has trounced me like that for quite some time!" After Zander called Serta back, he and Cona walked back towards the center line. "Very well done, young Zander. Now, if I may be so bold once again, what exactly did you mean earlier by 'from one knight to another?'"

"Ah, yes," Zander replied. "My apologies for not telling you before, Lady Cona, but I am actually the Wolfen Knight of Galar, chosen by Zacian and Zamazenta themselves to stop a terrible crisis that is opposite to the Darkest Day. One part of that quest, however, was to gain access to Wyndon Stadium by completing the Gym Challenge."

"I see," Cona acknowledged. "Then, from one knight to another, allow me to present you with your well-earned, final mark of victory: the Steel Badge."

As Zander and Cona shook hands, a piece of gold with silver pictures of a sword and shield was set into the final gap in his Challenge Band and completed the Gym Challenge Medallion: the Steel Badge.

"And now that the medallion is complete, you are free to continue your quest," Cona said. "I wish you the best of luck on that, even if you may not need it."

"I appreciate it, Lady Cona," Zander said.

-

Closed captioning sponsored in part by...

(Commercial: Steelix Railcars)

Salutations, all. I am known by many names: The Ironclad Knight, the Steel-type Gym Leader, the new rising star of Galar...

but you may call me Lady Cona.

Presently, I bear a word from the company that sponsors my team and I: Steelix Railcars.

"We manufacture the best trains that the Galar region has to offer, because our proccess involves hiring the best team members for every job. Electrical power supply, steel supplying, and solid groundwork, all with our best hires. So, remember this name whenever you take the train: Steelix Railcars."

That is all.