𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓙𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓼 𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂 *EDITING*

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 4: 𝙷𝚞𝚕𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚢'𝚜 𝙶𝚢𝚖

Ash's POV:

I headed towards a Pokémon Center with my Pokémon to rest. Nurse Joy lead me to my room. After thanking her, I began thinking about what Pokémon I should catch. I wasn't keen on catching Wooloo after the Gym mission Milo decided on. Checking my Pokédex, I saw that the next Gym was Hulbury's Gym. It was a Water Type gym.

"Looks like it'll be up to you, Grookey," I said and petted Grookey on his head.

"Yippee! Let's crush 'em!" Grookey exclaimed in excitement and waved his stick in the air, causing Scorbunny and Sobble to scramble back.

It was indeed fun to be on a Pokémon Journey again. Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind. What if I meet my friends from my previous journey? Like Goh. The last I heard from him was two years ago. Now, I looked like I was ten and was wearing a ridiculous outfit. Milo might have been too grass-obsessed to notice but Goh surely would. He should be in Kanto searching for Mew like he said he would. Well I just saw Mew two days ago and that was in Galar, so I'd say Goh probably had no luck. Clearing my mind, I climbed into the blankets and fell fast asleep.

The next morning, I did some training for Grookey, whom I was going to use in the next Gym challenge. Just then, I saw a certain floating pink mythical fly towards me.

"Hi Mew! I beat Milo at Turffield Stadium!" I updated her. She nodded. "Did you know that you have a Dynamax Band in your backpack?" she asked, pointing to the pink backpack.

I looked into the backpack curiously. Mew was right! Putting the Band on excitedly, I thanked Mew for the helpful information. Mew flew off and I headed towards Hulbury's Gym.

###

The moment I saw Hulbury's Gym in sight, I rushed towards it.

"You must be a Gym Challenger, right? If you're looking for the Gym Leader, Nessa, she's off at the lighthouse."

A voice called out. I spun around and saw a person standing beside me. Groaning, I looked up and saw a lighthouse near the sea. I gave the person a word of thanks before hopping on a nearby bike and cycling to the lighthouse. Why couldn't Gym Leaders stay at their gyms? Upon reaching the lighthouse, I hopped off the bike. I spied Nessa staring at the ocean and walked behind her.

"You must be a Gym challenger, right?" Nessa asked without even turning around. "How did you know?" I asked incredulously. Nessa spun around to face me.

"I've heard of you from another gym leader. Here, have this," she said and handed her League Card to me, "I love fishing, but I like Pokémon battles more. Let's go to the Gym, I'm itching for a battle with you."

I nodded. "Yay!" Grookey exclaimed, waving his stick again. With that, Nessa smiled and ran back to her Gym. I put Scorbunny and Sobble in their Poké Balls for the time being as they had already walked a lot and might be tired. I picked up Grookey and put him in the bicycle basket. I hopped onto the bike and cycled towards the Gym once again. I wondered what Gym mission Nessa prepared. As I entered the stadium, I saw the Ball Guy again and ran over to him.

"Hey! Thanks for stopping by to have a chat. Good to see you again!" he greeted enthusiastically.

"You have a fishing rod, don't you?" he asked. I opened my backpack and indeed saw a fishing rod in there. My, Mew really prepared everything. After I nodded, the Ball Guy handed me another Poké Ball happily.

"Then this is just perfect for you, my friend!"

I looked at the blue Poké Ball. My Pokédex beeped and I read the description of the Ball.

Lure Ball
A Poké Ball that is good for catching Pokémon that you reel in with a rod while out fishing.

Oh, that explained why he wanted to know if I had a fishing rod. I already had Sobble, so I doubted that I wanted another Water Type. But another Poké Ball couldn't hurt, could it?

"It's the best Poké Ball for Water Type lovers!" the Ball Guy exclaimed and started swinging his arms back and forth.

"Oh, thank you!" I said before heading for the door to the Gym mission. The receptionist wished me good luck before letting me in.

I walked down the stairs and heard the sound of water. Water was everywhere. A guy walked up to me and informed me that the mission is a challenging maze. He also gave me a piece of advice regarding the red button. I headed towards it and a trainer stopped me.

"Hi, I'm Julia! And I challenge you to a Pokémon Battle!" the trainer declared and held up a Poké Ball.

"Sure, bring it on!" I accepted her challenge.

She sent out a Tympole and I sent out Grookey. "Woodhammer!" I instructed. Grookey listened and knocked Tympole out in one hit. Julia gasped as she returned Tympole to his Poké Ball.

"I'm the one who got soaked? Fine then, be on your way," she sighed and walked away. I shrugged.

I pressed the red button and saw a yellow button ahead. I pressed that. I pressed the red button again and continued on the right-hand path that was opened up. Spotting another yellow button, I pressed it. I went back the way I came and pressed the nearby red button. Then, I went all the way along the back level to the far left and south towards the entrance. I pressed the yellow button there. I went back and pressed another red button, which revealed a blue button that I pressed too.

I saw the exit! Excitedly, I climbed up and down the stairs and ran towards the door. Time to battle Nessa! Walking into the battlefield, I saw Nessa walking towards me. We met at the middle of the battlefield.

"Welcome, honored Gym Challenger!" she greeted, "You already know it, but I'm Nessa. Sorry for making you look for me. I don't doubt my humble mission's difficulty... Yet you cleared it."

She went on to praise me about having a refined plan and told me that she would sink it. "Bring it on!" I smirked and we took our positions on the battlefield.

Nessa sent out Goldeen. That was a Pokémon from the Kanto region, so I knew her well. Naturally, I sent out Grookey.

"Branch Poke!" I ordered. Just like that, Goldeen fainted. Nessa scowled. "Arrokuda, go!"

A brown Remoraid-like Pokémon came out. Another Galar Pokémon. This was gonna be interesting! I told Grookey to use Razor Leaf, which knocked out Arrokuda immediately. I grinned. I seemed like a pro!

"Don't get arrogant. I've been saving my best for last. Drednaw, come out!" Nessa yelled.

I gulped. Once, I had an encounter with a Drednaw that almost destroyed a stadium. Looking at the Dynamax Band on my hand, I decided to try it out.

"Grookey, return!"

The Dynamax Band flashed and the Ball grew gigantic. I threw it and Grookey came out, Dynamaxing.

"Flood the stadium and make it our ocean! Drednaw, time to Dynamax!"

"So Drednaw couldn't Gigantamax," I muttered to myself. Then it wouldn't be so scary!

Anyway, in short, Grookey won. I got the Water Badge and was congradulated by Nessa. Also, Grookey evolved into Thwackey. I was so happy!

As the journey continues!