Previously on Galarian Days...

Zander has returned from his adventure through time, but even after taking a Flying Taxi ride back to Wyndon, he's too late to register for the Champion's Cup and has to wait for the open invitationals afterwards. It only takes some comforting words from Sophia to put him back in good spirits, but the story is still not over yet...

-

After Zander and Sophia exited Wyndon Stadium, Zander did some calculating. "Okay, so that was the semifinals I missed, and tomorrow is the finals, so... that means we have time until I can try again for the open invitationals."

"Correction," Sophia reminded, "you have time. I still have a job."

"Yeah, I've always wondered about that. Don't you have any Pokemon of your own, too?"

"Nope, not a one."

"Aren't you old enough to have a Trainer's license, though?"

"What can I say? Some kids wanted to be Pokemon trainers and some didn't, and I was one of the ones that didn't."

"Right, right, the pastry chef dream," Zander supposed. "But back to the subject at hand. I do have an idea on how to pass the time until the open invitationals are... well, open. Spoiler alert, it involves riding a train, then a Flying Taxi."

"Going back to the Isle of Armor?" Sophia guessed.

"And now you know why I said 'spoiler alert,'" Zander said. "Full disclosure, you are welcome to join me, but if you don't want to, I won't hold it against you."

"Okay!" Sophia said happily. "I'm going back home to Circhester, then. See you whenever!"

"Oh. Well, sure, no problem," Zander said as Sophia left Wyndon altogether to take the train at Route 10. Zander, however, took the monorail to Wyndon Station to take the ride there as he thought, Though I suppose there could be ways Pokemon can be involved in patissiere work. None come to mind...

-

After the taxi landed at the station, Zander got out and stretched his legs before exiting the station to the Fields of Honor. "Isle of Armor, the Wolfen Knight of Galar has returned! Boy, I can't wait to see everyone again; Master Mustard, Honey, Hyde-" Zander started, but then he remembered someone else... or rather, two someones and lowered his head and folded his ears back in disappointment. "...well, almost everyone. Can't believe I forgot all about those two..."

Zander made his way back to the Master Dojo and knocked on the door, and looked through the crack before he opened up and announced, "I'm back!"

"Oh? Well, hello there, love!" Honey said as she approached Zander to pet him behind the ears. "Good to see you again!"

"Good to see you again as well, Ms. Honey," Zander said, wagging his tail from the petting. "Is Master Mustard here?"

"Oh, you just missed him," Honey said. "He was on his way to train a new student to master the secret armor of the Master Dojo." Suddenly, the door opened up behind Zander again. "Ah, that must be him now! Mustard, dear! Guess who just came back!"

Zander turned around to greet Mustard, but standing right next to the owner of the Master Dojo was a surprising sight: he was not the only anthro in the Galar region like he believed! Coming in after Mustard was a large, stocky bear in a yellow gi with black trim, black leggings and a black belt. On the belt was a small, rectangular inro with grayscale images on each side: waves in a blue border on one side and shadows in a red border on the other. But what made Zander's eyes pop was the bear's fur (save for his white muzzle) was a bright, sunny yellow!

"What was going on after I left the Isle?" Zander managed to spit out when he could form sentences again.

"Ah, Zander! Good to see you again!" Mustard said. "How's that Endorsement I gave you treating you in the Gym Challenge?"

"I managed to collect all eight Badges, but I was too late to apply for the Champion's Cup because I got sidetracked, sad to say," Zander said after he got ahold of his faculties again. "But have no fear, I'm going to participate in the open invitationals after the Cup."

"Well, good to hear," Mustard said.

"Now, if I may ask you of something, Master Mustard," Zander said, then gestured to the yellow bear next to him and asked, "who is this?"

"Oh, where are my manners?" Mustard said. "Zander, this is my new student, Wufu. He came the next day after you left. Wufu, this is Zander, the Wolfen Knight of Galar and one of my endorsees."

"Nice to meet you, Wufu," Zander said as he held out his paw.

"Likewise, I'm sure," the yellow bear said as he shook Zander's paw firmly.

"Ooh, strong grip."

"So, what brings you back here to the Isle of Armor, Zander?" Mustard asked as both wolf and bear broke the pawshake.

"I came here to train for the open invitationals," Zander explained, "and who better to prepare for the clamoring of Trainers grabbing at straws than under the Master Dojo... 's master?"

"Little old me?" Mustard asked. "Why, I'm flattered!"

"Forgive my intrusion, Master," Wufu said, "but weren't you going to challenge me to a battle after I completed my training?"

"Oh, right! Must've slipped my mind," Mustard said. "Oopsie-whoopsie!"

"Well, why not make it a Double Battle, dear?" Honey offered. "Wufu and Zander against you and me!"

"You, Ms. Honey?" Wufu asked.

"Don't act so surprised, my dear boy," Mustard assured, then added sharply, "Master though I may be, my wife can also hold her own well in a Pokemon battle!"

"Well, I don't see why not," Zander said. "It would be an exciting change of pace to face a team bolstered by experience, talent, and most importantly," he added as he made a heart shape with his paws, "marital love."

"Very well, then," Wufu conceded with a bow. "I shall accept."

"Wonderful!" Mustard said. "Then let's head down to the field!"

As both teams were out the back door to the Battle Court, Wufu told Zander, "Although, if I were going to participate in a Double Battle here, I always thought Klara and Avery would be the ones to initiate it. They seemed like they were really gunning for it to me."

Zander reassured, "Oh, I'm sure they're probably off somewhere..."

-

"I SAID SIDE SHELL ARM YOU WORTHLESS BUNCH OF CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

-

"...dealing."

Finally, the group took their places on the pitch of the Battle Court, with Zander and Wufu on the left side and Honey and Mustard on the right. "So, we're all aware of the rules, right?" Honey said before the battle started. "Each of us can only use two Pokemon, for a total of four for each side."

"Understood," Wufu said.

"Also, for some reason, we're not able to Dynamax our Pokemon either," Mustard added, "but that doesn't mean we'll be holding back, either!"

"Then neither will we!" Zander boasted.

Taking that as confirmation, Mustard then took off his hat and jacket, which Honey caught in one hand each, and the Dojo Couple were ready to begin! Honey started off with Venusaur while Mustard sent out Single-Strike Urshifu, and Zander and Wufu responded respectfully in kind with Talonflame and Wigglytuff.

Talonflame made quick work of Venusaur with Aerial Ace, and Wigglytuff easily took down Urshifu with Play Rough. But Honey sent out Blastoise while Mustard sent out Rapid-Stike Urshifu, and while Talonflame managed to land another Aerial Ace on Urshifu, it responded by calling on the powers of the Scroll of Waters to knock Talonflame out with Surging Strikes while Blastoise struck down Wigglytuff with Flash Cannon!

Undeterred, Zander sent out Abomasnow while Wufu chose Luxray. Abomasnow struck down Blastoise with Wood Hammer while Luxray finished off Urshifu with Wild Charge, and even though the attackers suffered recoil, Zander and Wufu had claimed their victory against Honey and Mustard!

"Perhaps we should've looked into our Dynamax problem?" Honey supposed.

"Even without Dynamaxing, this was still an enjoyable battle! I'm glad!" Mustard said.

After the battle, both sides bowed respectfully to each other... and a smirk appeared on Zander's muzzle.

"Oh? Is something going on in your head there, Zander?" Mustard asked.

"Oh, I just thought of something interesting, and now that Wufu and I won, the opportunity to say it out loud is just too good to pass up," Zander said. "So, here it is... We just dunked on you both like fried tenders, and let me tell you, the resulting victory is delicious!" He even licked his chops for emphasis.

"Is that supposed to be funny wordplay or something?" Honey asked.

"Yes it is, considering that the both of you together are..."

"Don't say it!"

"You're..."

"Don't!"

"you're..."

"We said-!"

"Honey Mustard?" Wufu cut in, and a rimshot was heard somewhere. Everyone turned to see Hyde standing there with a device in his hand, walking up to the group.

"Yes, yes, they're Honey Mustard," the son of the Dojo Couple said. "Like that pun wasn't run into the ground enough as it is."

"Hyde? What are you doing out here?" Mustard asked.

"I came to tell you all that I found out why you can't Dynamax your Pokemon in the Battle Court anymore," Hyde said as he took out a notepad. "Apparently, the Power Spot here has no more Galar Particles to emit, so it's burnt out."

"Burnt out?" Honey asked. "What does that mean for us, sweetie?"

"I'll tell you what it means," Zander said in realization. "It means I'm already failing my mission to stop the opposite crisis of the Darkest Day! It already happened to the Isle of Armor!"

-

Closed captioning sponsored in part by...

(Commercial: Spikemuth Chamber of Commerce)

'Sup. I'm Gym Leader Piers, also leader of Team Yell.

And I'm Gym Leader Marnie, the object of Team Yell's support.

Both of us are currently at an undisclosed location until the Champion's Cup is over, but Spikemuth is still our hometown.

So all of us are eagerly waiting our return to Spikemuth, but rest assured, we are aware of the improvements that were made to the town and do not wish to ruin them in any way, shape or form whatsoever, even though the Dark-type theme has to come back.

Thanks for listening. And remember, don't do drugs!

(This ad paid for by the Spikemuth Chamber of Commerce's "I want to go home!" campaign.)