1. Ash's Story (Part 10: Galar)

Chapter 74

In the midst of the Galarian Star Tournament battle, Milo comments, "Your water's got my Pokémon all energized and happy, Nessa!"

Nessa responds determinedly, "I'll extinguish any flame that so much as casts a spark at your greenery!"

Milo's Shiftry opens the attack by using Fake Out on Ash's Scizor and follows up with Throat Chop, dealing some damage. However, Shiftry is swiftly defeated by a combination of Morpeko's Aura Wheel and Scizor's X-Scissor. Milo then sends out his second Pokémon, Cherrim.

Nessa's Golisopod strikes Morpeko with First Impression, inflicting substantial damage. Following Shiftry's defeat, Morpeko valiantly fights on, using Aura Wheel to deal a significant blow to the Water-type Pokémon with Liquidation.

Marnie takes her turn and sends out Scrafty. Scizor initiates with Air Slash before Golisopod can utilize Emergency Exit, causing Golisopod to faint. In return, Scizor is knocked out by Cherrim's Weather Ball after Sunny Day is activated. Nessa sends out her second Pokémon, Toxapex, while Ash switches to Alakazam. Together, Alakazam uses Psychic on Cherrim, aided by Marnie's Ice Punch, ultimately defeating Cherrim.

Milo exclaims with determination, "Time to dig my heels in for my friends! Just need to grow until we can reach victory!" He then sends out his final Pokémon, Appletun. Toxapex utilizes Baneful Bunker, poisoning Scrafty after striking it with Thunder Punch. Unfortunately, Scrafty succumbs to Liquidation from Toxapex.

Marnie's last Pokémon is Grimmsnarl, and both she and Milo opt for Gigantamax transformations. I express my confidence, saying, "I'm counting on you, Marnie."

Toxapex is eventually defeated by the Future Sight conjured by Alakazam, prompting Nessa to send out Drednaw. She says, "Even my last drop is enough to submerge you!"

As Milo is the one Gigantamaxing, Nessa cannot do the same. Drednaw uses Jaw Lock to defeat Alakazam, so I send out my final Pokémon, Pikachu. In the Gigantamax battle, Appletun succumbs to the Yawn effect from G-Max Snooze and is ultimately defeated by Marnie's Max Starfall. Meanwhile, Pikachu and Grimmsnarl combine their powers, using Thunderbolt and Spirit Break simultaneously to take down Drednaw.

Milo appreciates our teamwork, saying, "That was such a fine showing of teamwork that I'm ready to take you both on as farmhands!"

Nessa adds, "The pair of us got washed clean away! You've cut off our flow before it even got going. No wonder you're the Champion..."

"The second match we're facing is Bea and Gordie," I say after looking at the matchup.

"Not bad, Ash. I can already tell we're gonna make a smashing combo after just one battle as teammates!" Marnie says.

"I know. Let's give it all we've got," I say.

As we head to the battlefield, the announcer declares, "The tournament just keeps rolling on! Let's see who's going to battle on Route 2! It's Ash and Marnie facing off against Gordie and Bea!"

Facing each other on the battlefield, Gordie states, "What an ideal matchup for letting both of us show our strength."

"Agreed. We couldn't have asked for better opponents," Bea says. "I will press onward toward victory with every ounce of strength in my body and soul!"

Gordie adds, "Between us, we make a monolith that won't easily be crushed!"

Marnie expresses her concern, saying, "Fighting-types make for a pretty rough match-up for me..."

"Don't worry, I'll help you out with that one," I say.

Marnie is determined, saying, "All my mates from Spikemuth are cheering us on!"