Previously on Galarian Days...

Zander is informed by Zacian and Zamazenta that people can know of his status as the Wolfen Knight of Galar, which he is relieved to hear. He then makes an amends to Sophia for his previous behavior, and requests her company on the way to Spikemuth. She accepts, but since they don't have a Rotom Bike to cross Circhester Bay, they have no choice but to go the long way back around...

-

As Zander and Sophia made it back to Route 7, Zander wrapped up the little chat they had with, "So, a place filled with black skyscrapers AND white trees at the same time. Sounds crazy, doesn't it?"

"Not as crazy as a city next to it that embraces both the past AND the future," Sophia said with a laugh. "Ah, can you imagine, though?"

"Not really," Zander admitted. "Well, here we are, back the way I came."

"And the tunnel to Route 9 is right over there," Sophia said. "Fair warning, though, it's pretty cold on the other side."

"Actually, before we go in, there's something I need to tell you," Zander said. "I was told it'd be okay to confess this, but I'm still worried you might think I'm out of my gourd."

"Try me," Sophia said.

"Okay, but before I do, let me ask you this," Zander started. "What do you remember from our meeting on the Isle of Armor?"

Sophia thought and said, "Well, I remember the both of us meeting at the Armor Station, we were approached by two creeps-"

"Skip ahead to after you gave Honey her coffee maker," Zander cut in.

"Okay, after that, you were asking for Mustard's attention, he came in, you went on a tirade-"

"Keep skipping," Zander said. "What came after I said, uh, 'we were out here 30 minutes ago, it was not this hot?'"

"I said, 'I was there, too, I can vouch for him," then my phone vibrated, saying I was called to make another delivery, I heard something along the lines of, 'What makes him think he could manage?' but I didn't understand the question, so I said, 'I think you'd be surprised.' Then I left the dojo because I was still on-duty, and got back to the station and left the Isle."

"You didn't see me doing something about why it was so hot?" Zander asked incredulously.

"Well, what was I supposed to see then?" Sophia said, getting defensive. "I was being called to keep doing my job!"

"So was I!"

"And what job was that?"

But Zander threw his paws up in exasperation and said, "You know what, forget it. This is the Mulch I was talking about, you think I'm crazy because you didn't see what happened."

"Well, what did happen?" Sophia asked.

"No, no, you're obviously in no mood to believe me, so let's just keep going to Spikemuth," Zander dismissed as they kept going. "Maybe after I get my seventh Badge, things will have calmed down and we can continue this conversation maturely." He then muttered under his breath as they went through the tunnel, "Besides, I'm not worried about the cold. I've got a warm, built-in fur coat that you haven't."

"I can hear you," Sophia called out. "And I believe you on that!"

But Zander was in no mood to argue as he once again battled Trainers and strengthened his Pokemon along the way, until at last he and Sophia made it to the oversized storage unit that was Spikemuth, fortunately, with the garage door-like gate open this time. "Well, let's get inside. It'll be warmer in there for you. Badge #7, here I co-"

But when Zander and Sophia got inside the giant metal box, they saw the town itself had completely changed! The buildings were given a fresh coat of paint, the boxes were cleared from the alleyway, the sidewalks were washed to a clean sparkle, even the neon was fully functional again! And on top of all that, the stores were actually open... with customers, no less! "Whoa! This town is a lot less run-down than I remember it being!"

"I guess a lot can change in a year, huh?" Sophia said, just as amazed as Zander was.

"Okay, wave of amazement has passed," Zander said. "Sophia, you better wait in the Pokemon Center. I'll go ahead and challenge the 7th Gym."

"Why do I have to wait in the Pokemon Center?" Sophia griped.

"Do you have one or more Pokemon with you and six Badges to qualify for here?" Zander challenged.

"Okay, I see your point," Sophia said as she made her way inside the center. "But I better not be left in there for too long!"

"Don't worry," Zander said. "By the time you'll be gearing up to go, I'll have gotten the Badge in two swishes of my tail!" He even shook his hips to emphasize his point, causing his tail to wave. "Swish, swish." He then walked up to the clean booth next to the center and said to the Flying-type Gym Trainer inside, "Hello, I'm here to challenge the 7th Gym for the Gym Challenge, so where do I change into my uniform here?"

"Right over there, sir," the Trainer said, pointing to the door right next to the booth.

"Much obliged."

-

After Zander was properly dressed, he started making his way down the alley, taking in the sights the cleaned-up town had to offer. But once he passed the sweets shop, a gust of wind blew him back to the door. Zander took it as a sign that he should go inside, so he did. Once he got in, he was greeted by the first Gym Trainer, Mariposa. "Welcome to Spikemuth Sweets, where sweet victories are always assured for either party!" She then sent out a Noctowl while Zander sent out Lycanroc. One Rock Slide later, though, and Noctowl was quicly knocked out, giving Zander his first victory! "Ow! I think I got a cavity!"

So, the Gym Trainers are hidden in the buildings, Zander thought as he left the sweets shop. He then continued down the alley until he came to the burger restaurant, where he was greeted by the next Gym Trainer, Hawk. "Welcome to Spike Burger, home of the Spike Burger. May I take your order?" He then sent out a male Unfezant, but Lycanroc one-hit him with another Rock Slide. Hawk then sent out a female Unfezant, but she was met with the same fate. "Cancel Spike Burger!"

Zander exited the restaurant and kept going until the gust of wind blew him back to a clothing store. There, he was met with two Gym Trainers this time: Edgar and Rose. "Welcome to the Blue Feather Boutique, Challenger!" "That's right, you're in Team Feather territory now!" Starting his first Double Battle, Zander sent out Lycanroc and Sandygast while Edgar sent out Xatu and Rose sent out Swoobat. Lycanroc hit them both with Rock Slide, but the damage was spread out and weakened, giving Sandygast a chance to follow up with Shadow Ball, blasting Xatu with an orb of dark energy that finished it off. Swoobat was still standing, though, so it used Psychic on Sandygast and Lycanroc both. But Lycanroc quickly finished Swoobat off with Accelerock, and Zander won the Double Battle! "Okay, you caught us! There is no Team Feather!" "We don't mind a window-shoppper, though..."

Zander left the store and finally made it to the end of the alley, where the Spikemuth Gym was, decorated with stickers to fit its new Flying-type theme. The angry eyes were covered with angel wings, the spike circle was replaced with a cloud design, even a Flying Gym logo was placed over the neon Dark Gym logo! (though the blue filtered out the pink light) And right on the stage on the far end of the alley, a tall, skinny man with brown hair wearing a Flying-type Gym Uniform stepped down and approached Zander. "Ah, hello, Gym Challenger. I'm the Heaven's Watchman, Parcel, and I'll be the Gym Leader of Spikemuth for the year. Speaking of which, how do you like what we did with the place?"

"Well, it's very... tidy, I'll give it that much," Zander admitted, "but where are the original citizens? Or do I have to defeat you to get that answer?"

"The Pokemon League wouldn't have it any other way," Parcel said, then he took out a remote control and added, "so let's see how well you fare against the Flying type, whose potential has been squandered for too long by lazy travelers and backtrackers!" After pressing a button, the neon turned off, and the spotlights and inner lightings of the town were visible through the alley as Zander and Parcel took their places on the field. Zander sent out Lycanroc again, while Parcel started things off with Delibird. "Now, my generous courier, give my opponent all that you have to give!" But it didn't even get a chance to, because Lycanroc had struck it down with Accelerock, hitting it with super-duper effective damage and knocking it out quickly!

Undeterred, Parcel sent out Ninjask next. "Now that you've long since cast off your ghostly ruse, show them your mighty ninja form!" But Lycanroc hit Ninjask with another Accelerock, knocking it out with its super weakness to Rock-type attacks.

Parcel, however, was still not swayed as he sent out Hawlucha. "Let me assure you that this form of wrestling is real!" Seeing that Lycanroc was at a disadvantage, Zander switched to Klefki before the wrestling Pokemon used Aerial Ace, but it had little effect. Klefki retaliated with Play Rough, scuffling Hawlucha with cartoon fighting until it was knocked out as well.

"Time to throw in my final option!" Parcel said as he sent out Corviknight. "Gigantamax or no, my ace Pokemon won't be defeated so easily!" Zander quickly swapped out Klefki for Talonflame, but Corviknight was already preparing itself with Iron Defense, folding its wings in front of it like a mighty shield. Talonflame, however, surrounded its body in golden flames and charged full speed at Corviknight in its Flare Blitz attack. But while the resulting burst of fire did take out a massive chunk of Corviknight's health and inflict a burn, the recoil also damaged Talonflame quite a bit. Corviknight then struck Talonflame with Drill Peck to finish it off, but the burn knocked it out as well, making Zander the technical victor since he still had Pokemon while Parcel didn't!

Zander howled at his bittersweet victory, and Parcel couldn't believe his eyes as he dropped the remote! "Was I not able to draw out my fullest potential, or were you already using yours so much that I couldn't handle it?" The neon then came back on, and both Trainer and Gym Leader walked up to each other again. "So, you want to know what happened with Team Yell, do you? Well, just like all the other Gym Trainers and Leaders who didn't qualify this year, they were sent to temporarily live in Minor League conditions until the next Gym Challenge came up."

"And where exactly is that?" Zander asked. "Surely someone who's been there as long as you have must know where the Minor Leaguers get sent when they don't cut the mustard? No offence."

"None taken," Parcel said, "but unfortunately, the Pokemon League forbids us from disclosing that kind of information under penalty of... well, we just can't say."

"Understood," Zander conceded.

"Anyway, you did just beat me in a Pokemon battle," Parcel reminded, "and last time I checked, that means you earned this Flying Badge, did you not? So, put 'er there!"

As Zander and Parcel shook hands, a gold piece with a picture of a sky-blue dove set itself into the middle of Zander's Challenge Band: the Flying Badge.

"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.

-

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