As we exit the Laterally Stadium, a Yamper approaches us, wagging its tail enthusiastically. Sonia quickly catches up, her face lighting up. "Looks like my Yamper really likes you, huh? Anyway, we've run into each other at a good time," Sonia exclaims. "You know the mural here in Stow-on-Side? It's said to tell the story of the hero of Galar as well. Though what's there today is actually a replica of the ancient art that used to be here..."

"Really?" Alice interjects, clearly intrigued.

"You tend to have surprisingly sharp insight, so I was wondering what you might think when you see the ruins," Sonia adds.

"Let's head over there and take a look," I suggest, and we all make our way towards the site.

As we stride toward the mural, positioned between Laterally and Stow-on-Side, a sudden tremor ripples through the ground, causing us to grasp the fence for stability. Sonia's alarmed voice cuts through the commotion, "Wha...? What in the world was that? Sounds like it came from the direction of the ruins, too..."

"Let's go see!" I exclaim, and we hasten up the stairs. To our astonishment, Bede stands before us, commanding his Copperajah to ram into the wall. "Destroy it! Destroy it all! We're going to find those Wishing Stars! We've got to bring the chairman more Wishing Stars if we want to please him! Copperajah! If you are truly the chairman's Pokémon, then you should feel grateful for this chance to help him find Wishing Stars!"

Elena, noticing the scene, steps forward fiercely, demanding, "What are you doing with my Papa's Copperajah?" Her voice rings out as we approach, ready to intervene.

"Oh my. You again... So you think that you can start collecting Wishing Stars now and get in the chairman's favor?" Bede inquires, his tone accusatory.

"We didn't—" We're taken aback by Bede's assumption, as we hadn't engaged in any such actions.

"That's the way of things, is it? I see. So you do have some cunning in you. But I won't have it! I won't allow anyone to stand in my way!" Bede declares firmly.

Alice and I opt for a double battle against Bede, deploying Sirfetch'd and Galarian Corsola into the fray. Bede responds by sending out Gothorita and Duosion. "Hmph. I've already seen more than enough to judge you and your team's abilities."

Corsola initiates the assault with Shadow Ball aimed at Duosion, but the Psychic Pokémon swiftly evades and redirects the attack toward Sirfetch'd. Sirfetch'd retaliates fiercely with Meteor Assault, inflicting substantial damage upon Gothorita.

As the battle intensifies, our Pokémon face off with determination. With coordinated efforts, Corsola and Sirfetch'd combine their powers. Using Brutal Swing and Sucker Punch, they unleash a final onslaught, culminating in the defeat of Gothorita and Duosion.

"I have to win this for the chairman! Do you really think I'd let you keep me from everything I want?" As Bede sends out Ponyta and Hattrem for the next round, Hattrem takes the initiative, unleashing a powerful Dazzling Gleam that swiftly overwhelms both Pokémon on our side. In response, we switch to Gengar and Machamp to continue the battle.

Gengar strikes first, aiming a Sludge Bomb at Ponyta, poisoning it and causing gradual damage over time. Meanwhile, Machamp charges forward, executing a formidable Heavy Slam against Hattrem, dealing significant damage.

As the battle progresses, Gengar and Machamp synchronize their attacks. Gengar employs Dark Pulse, delivering a decisive blow to Ponyta, while Machamp follows up with Hex, combining their efforts to bring an end to Hattrem's resistance. The combination of moves results in the defeat of both opposing Pokémon, securing our victory in the heated battle.

Bede's voice resonates with frustration, "This has to be some kind of mistake. I demand a do-over."

"No, the battle's over, and you lost fair and square. That's how it goes," I assert firmly.

Bede drops to his knees, bewildered, and utters, "But why...? How can this be? How could someone like you get in my way? I was the one chosen by the chairman... I was the one who was to defeat the Champion... I am one of the elite—someone who can shoulder the future of the Galar region!"

Suddenly, Chairman Rose and Oleana arrive, accompanied by two members of their company. Elena shoots me a knowing glance, indicating that she was the one who summoned them during our battle.

Oleana's words cut through the tension like a blade, "Challenger Bede! I wondered what you were up to when you asked to borrow Chairman Rose's Copperajah... I can't believe you'd try to use the chairman's Pokémon to destroy a historical site!"

Bede's indifferent response sparks shock and anger among everyone present. "Who cares for some ancient ruin when the next thousand years are at stake?!" His callous disregard for history and heritage astounds the onlookers. "Did you stand in the path of a Pokémon's Simple Beam or something? How do you expect to support the chairman with that sort of thinking?"

Chairman Rose gazes at Bede with a mixture of regret and disappointment. "Young Bede... It pains me to have to say this, but... I am truly disappointed. It's true that I am the one who found you, back when you were all alone... I saw talent in you. You reminded me a little bit of myself, back when I was young. That's why I sent you to a Trainers' school, to give you a chance at success."

Amidst the tension, Chairman Rose's sudden outburst shocks everyone. His typically genial and cheerful demeanor is replaced by a rare display of anger. "But trying to destroy the mural—part of Galar's history! You show no love toward Galar! You are clearly not a worthy challenger for the Gym Challenge."

The intensity of the chairman's anger unsettles us, prompting Gloria to inquire of Elena, "Does the Chairman often get this angry?"

Elena responds with a shake of her head, a tinge of concern in her voice, "No, he's usually kind-hearted. This... this is rare. Bede is really in a precarious situation."

Chairman Rose's stern voice reverberates, "We will decide what to do with you later. For now, you will return to Hammerlocke."

Bede recoils in horror, disbelief etched across his face, "You...you must be joking, right? You're disqualifying me from the Gym Challenge? But you're the one who endorsed me! There are a hundred different ways we could sort this out... Why are you choosing the worst possible option?!"

Oleana interjects firmly, "Challenger Bede. I will be taking those Wishing Stars that you have gathered." Her words are followed by the two company workers restraining Bede, who struggles in vain against their hold.

As they escort Bede away, Chairman Rose remains silent, his expression betraying a mix of disappointment and regret, watching the scene unfold before him. Eventually, he sinks down to the floor, weighed down by the weight of the situation.

Elena rushes to her father's side, concern evident in her voice, "Papa, are you alright?"

"Terrible shame, all this. An absolute disaster. I never wish to see us lose challengers for this sort of reason. Yet we do what we must do to keep things fair and sportsmanlike." Chairman Rose expresses with a hint of regret in his tone.

"We completely understand," we affirm, nodding in acknowledgment.

Chairman Rose and Oleana depart to address Bede's fate, leaving behind an air of solemnity and a sense of responsibility for ensuring the integrity of the Gym Challenge.

Sonia interjects with a revelation, "You know, during one of Bede's matches, I heard the announcer say that Bede has no family. Apparently, it was Rose who took Bede under his wing, and so Bede was battling for the chairman's sake."

Turning our attention to the mural, Sonia reflects, "What an awful turn of events... I hope the mural survived all that."

Suddenly, a hairline crack appears in the mural, prompting me to shout, "Everyone, step back!"

As we hurriedly retreat, the mural begins to crumble and collapse. However, what emerges from behind it leaves us astonished—an image of a prince and two wolf-like Pokémon, one wielding a sword and the other bearing a shield.

Flora utters in awe, "What on earth..."

Sonia, undeterred by the unfortunate event, remarks thoughtfully, "Not a brilliant turn of events, but the ruins were brought into the light for us to see..." She strides closer to examine the newfound revelation. "What does this tell us about Galar's legends?"

Alice recalls, "Ash, those Pokémon... we encountered them in the Slumbering Weald, didn't we?"

"Yeah," I respond to her. "They appeared there... I was starting to doubt what I'd seen."

Sonia observes keenly, "More than any hero, there are those things that appear to be Pokemon that stand out! Not just that, those Pokemon are seemingly holding a sword and shield as if they were using them!"

Helen ponders, "So the hero we've heard about... was actually two individuals?"

"Oh, good observation." Sonia acknowledges. "There really were two heroes. But if that's the case, then why only the one statue at the Budew Drop Inn?" She sighs, contemplating the inconsistency. "More than any statue of a hero or old tapestry, these ruins made in truly ancient times must show us the real truth. Which means..."

I inquire, "So, both the Sword and the Shield are actually Pokémon?"

"Yup! I was thinking the same thing! Seems like at some point in history the sword and shield were combined with the two actual Pokémon and treated as the same thing... But then what? They just faded from history?" Sonia wonders aloud.

As we examine the statues closely, Sonia continues, "Two young heroes... The sword and shield were actually Pokémon... But why would the truth of these ruins be hidden when their stories were depicted in artwork?" She turns towards us with gratitude, "With your help, I really feel like we made a big discovery here. Thanks! I'll give you a couple of these, so you keep giving it your best in the Gym Challenge, too, OK? Guess you'll be headed to Ballonlea next, right?"

"Well, that's true, but we'd like to explore other gyms first," Alice replies as we receive 2 Revives from Sonia.

Going back to the Wild Area, it is pretty sandy around here. "Looks like a Sandstorm's kicked in..." I remark, observing the sandy surroundings.

"Fantastic... Ground Type Pokémon might be our best bet in this weather," Gloria comments with a hint of resignation, considering the circumstances.

1. Mach Motors: Solid, steady Ground-type Pokémon provide the ideal foundation to build cars upon! Let's build cars together! (4 Pokemon)

2. Macro Cosmos Rail: We need some help setting up power lines. It'd be great if we could get Pokémon that are immune to electricity. (5 Pokemon)

3. Rondo Floral: The dirt dictates how well plants do. We ask Ground-type Pokémon to come and help us create fertilizer. (5 Pokemon)

4. Steelix Railcars: We are building teams that will assemble our railcars. We're looking for Ground-type Pokémon to help us out. (7 Pokemon)

5. Timburr Builders: We need to level the ground where we're planning to do construction. We really need Ground-type Pokémon to help us out! (8 Pokemon)

6. MCR Freight: We'd really appreciate getting solid Pokémon that are really well-grounded to help us lug some big luggage. (9 Pokemon)

7. Galar Minerals: We need Pokémon that know a lot about the ground, since we're trying to mine the ore here in the Galar region. Please send Ground types! (10 Pokemon)

8. Macro Cosmos Construction: I'd like to do a proper survey of the land condition before we begin construction. Are there Pokémon that could help me out? (30 Pokemon)

"Well, it makes sense. Ground-related tasks or dealing with Electric Pokémon are pretty common around here," Elena observes.

"And Helen, please, no more unusual curry experiments this time," Alice requests, sounding a bit exasperated.

Helen responds, displaying a bag of mushrooms, "Well, do you consider mushrooms weird?" We sigh in relief as it seems like a conventional ingredient. "The umami from these various mushrooms infuses into the sauce, resulting in a dish that's a cut above the rest."

As we gather in our Dragon Manor to enjoy our curry meal, Gloria shares her culinary insight, "To truly enhance the umami flavors of these mushrooms, it's essential to make the spicy curry roux as vibrant as possible."

Flora chimes in, "The medley of various mushrooms not only contributes to toning down the inherent dryness of the curry roux but also creates a harmonious blend of flavors."

Elena adds her perspective, "The crunchy texture of the mushrooms paired with the sweet notes of the curry roux offers a delightful contrast."

Alice interjects, "Incorporating these mushrooms intensifies the distinct bitterness of this exclusive curry, elevating its taste profile."

I contribute, "The interplay between the robust mushrooms and the tangy undertones of the curry roux yields a layered and intricate taste, leaving behind an irresistible umami aftertaste."

Helen concludes with a smile, "It's wonderful to see how this dish turned out exceptionally well with everyone's unique inputs." Then we continue to help Gloria with her Pokemon capturing.

Here is a new chapter, and Bede has caused a bit of trouble for the chairman. I hope you like it and the next chapter will be the ninth gym for Victor.

Ash and Alice's Pokemon:

Venusaur, Charizard x2, Blastoise, Butterfree x2 (One Pink), Pikachu, Meowth, Machamp, Gengar, Kingler, Koffing, Lapras, Eevee, Snorlax, Meganium, Typhlosion (Hisuian), Espeon, Corsola (Galarian), Mantine, Sceptile, Linoone (Galarian), Gardevoir (Shiny), Milotic, Absol, Infernape, Lucario, Abomasnow, Gallade, Samurott, Audino, Yamask (Galarian), Garbodor, Zoroark, Stunfisk (Galarian), Greninja, Meowstic x2, Aegislash, Hawlucha, Decidueye, Lycanroc (Dusk), Mimikyu (Shiny), Melmetal, Grookey, Raboot, Drizzile, Greedent, Corvisquire, Orbeetle, Thievul, Eldegoss, Dubwool, Drednaw, Boltund, Carkol (Shiny), Flapple, Appletun, Silicobra, Barraskewda, Toxtricity x2 (Amped, Low-Key), Centiskorch, Hattrem, Morgrem, Perrserker, Sirfetch'd, Alcremie x9 (Each Flavor), Dracozolt, Arctozolt, Dracovish, Arctovish, Dreepy, Kleavor