Previously on Galarian Days...

Zander and Wufu impart what they know of their current progress to Basil, (after destroying another Dynamiasma, of course) and Basil shares his belief that Dan was coerced somehow to act the way he did. That gives Zander an idea, and after recieving another rare League Card, he and Wufu cut through Glimwood Tangle to recruit Monty for a plan by fixing his own Dynamiasma situation...

-

Zander and Wufu returned to the lobby, where they found Monty sitting in one of the couches. "Oh, good, you didn't leave yet," Wufu said.

"You did tell me not to," Monty said as he got up. "So, Zander, what's this plan you need my teleportation powers for?"

"Well, simply put," Zander explained, "we believe Dan is putting these Dynamiasmas- that's what the giant monster on the pitch was called, by the way- in the stadiums around Galar. So, we need you to track Dan down and bring him to us for questioning. Can, and will, you do that?"

"Of course, Zander," Monty said with a smile. "Word around Galar is that your episode of 'What Could You Possibly Know' still resides in DVRs around the region to this day. So, any help I get from star performers deserves help from me!"

"Great," Zander said. "Once you have Dan with you, bring him to Circhester because that's where our next stop is."

"Sure thing, but before I go," Monty said with a wink before snapping his fingers, "check your pocket." And in another flash of light, the Prodigy of the Mind was gone to perform the task he was given. Zander then checked his pocket as he was told, and found a new rare League Card added to his collection! 

"Whoa! Cool!" Zander exclaimed in amazement before he saw what was on the card: a picture of Monty with his hand on Avery's shoulder, the former with a smile on his face while the latter wore an indifferent expression. Zander then flipped the card over to read, "Even though Monty was a member of the Galarian Psychic-type Gym Leader bloodline, he preferred to persue a career as a television personality, a character trait his brother Avery saw as an opportunity to be the next Gym Leader first. But after Avery's disqualification for being a sore loser, Monty was chosen to take his place until he could behave himself, though that's not to say Monty doesn't miss his brother every so often."

"Aw, even though they have their differences, they're still family," Zander cooed as he re-pocketed the card. "Shame Avery cut off all ties with him when he didn't get his way..."

"Considering this is Avery we're talking about, I'm not surprised," Wufu said.

Zander's ear twitched at that. "Okay, I've had it with your tone. Why are you such a grumpy crank when it comes to Klara and Avery? Granted, they had their moments, but that was before!"

"You want to know why I'm this way with them!?" Wufu griped. "Because the two of them are the absolute worst! They both hate others AND each other, and when they're trying to help other people, it's only to help themselves! I should know, because I was one of the saps they used!"

"Is this about what happened after you got your gi?" Zander asked, trying to keep his distance since he was clearly outmatched.

"It is," Wufu said. "I may not remember how I got my new clothes, but I do remember what happened afterwards, and I'll tell you on the way to our next stop." Wufu then cleared his throat and restarted the story while Zander called up another Flying Taxi ride...

-

(Flashback)

Wufu had just come out of the Master Dojo's dressing room in his new Dojo Uniform, the yellow clothes contrasting with his cinnamon fur. "Ooh, comfy... and it brings out my face!" he remarked.

"Glad you like the new duds," Mustard said. "And congrats on clearing the first trial! Everyone else, you also pass for at least getting close to the Slowpoke."

"Master Mustard! Master Mustard!" 

Everyone looked at the entrance to see who called out, and there was Klara and Avery standing in the doorway... with a hand behind each of their backs. "And where have you two been?" Mustard questioned.

"Oh, we were just, um..." Klara said, trying to come up with an excuse. "Just, uh, doing some sparring with each other outside, is all!"

"Yes, that was indeed the case," Avery piled on, "but then we saw the Slowpoke outside with everyone chasing after them and thought, 'Oh, the trials are starting again! We should get in on that!'"

"So we did!" they both said together.

"I see," Mustard said. "Well, I suppose you also pass for participating... but just barely."

"Thank you, Master Mustard."

"Now, with all that settled, it's time to start the next trial!" Mustard called out, and everyone turned to face him at attention. "Trial number 2 is... a Max Mushroom hunt in the Forest of Focus! Whoever can bring back 3 of them shall pass the trial and move on to the last one!"

Alright, I've got this one in the bag, Wufu thought. Mushrooms are basically food, and my bear muzzle will be able to sniff them out easily.

Everyone then cleared out except for Klara and Avery, who were sneaking over to the entertainment room before Mustard caught them. "And where are you two going?" he asked.

"Just throwing away some tissues, Master Mustard!" Klara said as she and Avery took their hands out from behind their backs. Their alibi was indeed true, as they dropped some wadded-up tissues into the waste basket next to Hyde's computer.

"And now we are going to join the trial presently!" Avery said before the two Gym Leaders in training exited the Dojo.

-

(Flashback paused)

-

"Wait, how did you know that's what they were doing? You left the room," Zander said during the Flying Taxi ride.

"They could've used them to wipe away their nosebleeds and didn't want to gross anyone out?" Wufu supposed.

"Hmm, good point. Please continue."

-

(Flashback resumes)

Meanwhile in the Forest of Focus, everyone was searching for Max Mushrooms, but only succeeded in burning their Pokemon out with battles against Foongus and Amoongus. (among other Pokemon)

Wufu was sure that he could ace the second trial because of his animal abilities, but unfortunately, he overlooked one small, but crucially important detail: he had no idea what Max Mushrooms smelled like. "I... did not think this through," he said with realization.

Just then, who else came up to him but... Klara and Avery, again. "Didn't think what through?"

Wufu turned around, but said with exasperation when he saw who spoke, "You two again? What did I tell you was going to happen?"

"Now, now, can't we resolve this peacefully?" Avery said, feigning innocence. "All we want to do is offer you our help... and an amends."

"That's right," Klara said. "So, now that we have the chance to, first things first. I'm sorry for calling you teddy-boy."

"Okay, apology accepted," Wufu said, lowering his guard a little.

"So, I guess I'l just have to give you a different nickname," Klara added. "Oh, how about honey-bea-"

"NO!" Wufu blasted, but backtracked and said, "I mean, I have an actual name. It's Wufu."

"Aw," Klara said, disappointed that she wouldn't get to play a little.

"Anyways," Avery interjected, "now that we have the formalities out of the way, let's get down to business. You want to find some Max Mushrooms, do you not?"

"That is the conditions of the second trial, yes."

"Well, last year, Klara and I faced a similar obstacle of not finding any in the forest," Avery explained, "but we found a simple solution to that. Follow us, and you'll see what I mean."

Both Gym Leaders in training then turned around, and Wufu, supposing they knew something he didn't, followed them. But then the pair led the bear out of the forest, and he asked, "Wait, why are we leaving the forest?"

"Trust us, we know what we're doing," Klara said with a wink.

Wufu was about to object in protest, but then his nose caught a peculiar smell wafting through the air as they made their way to Warm-Up Tunnel and he decided against it. Sure enough, halfway through the tunnel, smack-dab in the center of it was three, glowing red mushrooms with spiral patterns on their caps!

"Behold!" Avery said with a flourish.

"Three Max Mushrooms, growing in a bunch!" Klara punctuated.

"Wow! How lucky are- wait..." Wufu said, getting suspicious about everything that's happening. "How can all this not have a catch?"

"Well, there is one thing," Klara said. "There's three Max Mushrooms, and three of us, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"So, as you remember," Avery explained, "Master Mustard said that whoever brings 3 Max Mushrooms back to the Master Dojo shall pass the second trial... however, he never did say that one person has to bring them alone, did he?"

"Well, no," Wufu said as he pondered Avery's words over, but finding no flaw, he concluded, "I guess he didn't!"

"Right!" Klara said with a smile. "So, if we each take one mushroom and bring it to the dojo, all 3 of us will clear the second trial together!"

"Exactly!" Avery said, and with a mere point of his finger, he picked the Max Mushrooms from the ground with his telekinetic powers and passed them around. "One for Klara, one for Wufu, and one for myself. Now, let us return to the Master Dojo with the utmost haste!"

"Right!" Klara said as the pair went back out the tunnel.

"Don't have to ask me twice!" Wufu chimed as he brought up the rear.

-

(Flashback paused)

-

"But, little did I know that I was already playing right into their hands," Wufu said before the cab touched down, "but we'll have to get into that later."

"Good call," Zander said while they left the cab and entered Circhester. "Far as we know, this is the last place where Dan works, so this is our last shot. Hopefully Monty will make good on the plan."

"And we'll be able to let this... Ground-type Gym Leader in on this, too?" Wufu guessed, even though they were nowhere near the Stadium.

"Maybe, but hopefully it won't have to come to that," Zander said. "Winston doesn't seem like the person who'd take kindly to anything messing his world up."

Suddenly, a familiar face came up to Zander and Wufu and said, "Oh, Zander! What brings you back to my neck of the region-"

"No time for catching up, Sophia!" Zander said. "Wufu and I have to get back to the Stadium to help Winston!"

"But what about-"

"I SAID THERE'S NO TIME!" Zander barked, and no more words were said when both anthros rushed to Circhester Stadium. Empty lobby, suddenly Winston joins them and says, "What are you two doing here?"

"Coming to shut down the Dynamiasma Dan plopped into your Stadium, that's what!"

"What? Dan put that thing that ruined my Pokemon in there!?" Winston ranted.

"Exactly!" Zander confirmed. "And we're here to get rid of it! Now we're going to do so before this prattle circles again!"

-

Inside the challenge chamber, Zander and Wufu navigated through the maze of pitfalls, still tripped from last time so they wouldn't be caught off-guard by a nasty fall. Zander was able to find quick and easy paths through the maze, but Wufu was struggling to keep up. "Zander! Wait for me!"

"Didn't I already say there's no time to wait!?" Zander said as he was scanning for something to make into his weapons. "The opposite crisis, reme- DOWK!" But then he was suddenly knocked over on a platform dangerously close to a pit! "Hey, what gives!?"

"Zander, you've gotta make time!" Wufu shouted. "Is this how you want to stop this 'opposite crisis' you're always gassing on about!? By verbally attacking anyone who talks!?"

"You don't understand!" Zander said before a raspy gurgle rang out. "I felt like I let down Zacian and Zamazenta once today already, and I don't want to do it again!"

"Well, you're also letting me down!" Wufu said.

Zander sighed. "Look, after we destroy this Dynamiasma, we only have one more left before all the Gym Stadiums with Power Spots are cleared out. If you can hold out until then, I will try to do the same."

"That's it?" Wufu asked.

"But we can't lash out at each other or anyone else. No derogatory comments, nothing."

"Deal," Wufu said, and they both shook on it.

"Wow. I just cannot get over how confident your hanshakes are!" Zander said.

"Thank you, it comes with the bear strength," Wufu said. "By the by, there's a tall rock over there, want me to get it for you?"

"Be my guest." 15 seconds later, another raspy gurgle rang out before Wufu came back with a tall stone spike... with a wide, flat base that he snapped off of it. Zander took the pieces, they became his weapons, and the two continued on.

-

Once they made it to the pitch, they encountered a brown tortoise with a mountain-shaped shell, patterned like a cross-section of the earth's crust and burrowing through the ground, creating trails of upturned earth. Zander tried shooting himself straight upwards, then plummeted downwards when the monster came up to Wufu, forcing it out of the ground on its back and flattening the tunnels out by slamming down his shield. He then swung his sword at the Dynamiasma and slashing it, making it groan in agony until it exploded in a cloud of brown dust!

"Whew! Thanks for saving my bacon, Zander!" Wufu said.

"Hey, you save my tail, I save yours. Now let's get back to the lobby so we don't miss Monty."

-

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