We are still at the plaza as we are trying to decide what to do. Lillie says, "I wonder... if we get a badge for each conquest on the map, then does that mean you will be having 18 badges in the end?"

"That will also be quite shocking. We usually get 8 badges only." Drandon says. "But I'm also curious to see how it will go as well."

"Anyway, let's do the closest gym here. I promise Nemona that I'm going to challenge the gym this week, I guess Arven's Titan Battle can wait for the next week."

"I see..." Drandon says. "Then let's head west first. Cortondo Gym is the closest one and it is a Bug Type Gym."

Lillie and I nod as we get onto our Koraidon and Miraidon, Drandon is sitting with me as we set off. We go through the West Gate and head to Southern Province Area 2. Although Nemona call us for advice that I already knew from Drandon, we still continue forward.

There is barely any tall grass around the area, and there are also some olive trees on the way. We do notice some new Pokemon, there is actually a Pokemon called Smoliv that looks just like an Olive, and there is also a Dark Type dog called Maschiff.

"So Ash, what do you think of the Bug Type Pokemon? Since you're going to battle them after all." Drandon asks.

"Well, Bug Type Pokemon are really unique in their own way. My first capture is actually a Caterpie that evolves into a Butterfree in the end." I say.

"It is really common for having a Bug Type as the first Pokemon to capture." Lillie says. "But I think that some Pokemon like Golisopod are really strong, especially its First Impression."

"Vespiquen is also strong with its Order moves, and there is Vivillon that has a lot of different forms as well."

"So have you tried the Bug Type Gyms in the past?" Drandon asks.

"I remember that I actually lost the first time in Santalune Gym in Kalos. Their Sleep Powder and Sticky Webs are really annoying." I sigh.

"That might be true." Lillie says, "Sleep Powder makes opponents fall asleep, and Sticky Web lowers the speed when sending out a Pokemon, and sometimes Pokemon are trapped there and even can't move."

"Though my buddy here manage to come up with a way to get rid of the sleep powder." I say with a smile as I rub Pikachu's head.

"And what about the Bug Type Z Move?" Drandon asks. "Since you're the Alola Champion, it will be nice to know about it."

"It's called Savage Spinout." I say. "I used it with my Vikavolt and it surrounds the silk around the opponent and then slashes through it to deal a lot of damage."

We continue to talk about what we know about Bug Type Pokemon, and eventually, we finally arrive at the town of Cortondo, surrounded by olive fields. Lillie says, "Look at all the olive trees here..."

"They are also a great place for some Pokemon to live, like Smoliv, Combee, Starly, and so on." Drandon says.

"And that building over there is the Gym Building." I say while looking at the giant white building. "I bet that Nemona is already there waiting for us."

"Then let's go there first, and then we explore the town." I say.

When we get into the gym, we already find Nemona there. "Oh hey, Ash, Lillie, and I see that Drandon is here as well! Came to see this Gym, huh? That can only mean one thing...You're out to earn some Gym Badges and take on the Pokemon League, aren't you?"

"Yeah, Lillie and I are doing this." I say. "And I'll be doing it first."

"Before you can battle the Gym Leader, you've gotta pass a certain challenge set by them - their Gym test." Nemona says.

"Well, we do have the gym tests in other regions after all." I say. "Every Gym Test is different, right?"

"You seem to know about this a lot, Ash." Drandon says.

"Of course, there is one time in Galar I have to sit in some sort of spinning cup until I reach from the top of the obstacle course to the bottom, and there is also one in Unova that I have to find the right book to get to the battlefield."

"But look around this place..." Lillie says, "There doesn't seem to have a battlefield around here... where are we supposed to battle the gym leader, then?"

"The Gym Leaders are not in the gym after all." Nemona says. "They will be at their working places, once you pass the gym test, you'll be given a permit. Show her the permit and you can battle her."

"I see... this really is different from the other regions." I nod.

"Ahh, I'm so glad that both of you're aiming to be a Champion, too! This is the best news ever! Man, I'm so excited, I can barely stand still... Guess I'll just go battle every Trainer I run into!"

After she runs off, Lillie says, "Ash, why don't you go first? I mean, it will be great if you do it first."

"Sure." I say as I walk towards the Counter. The staff says, "Welcome to the Cortondo Gym! Let me register you as a challenger. Your name is Ash Ketchum, yes?"

"Of course." I let the Rotom Phone register my ID and the applications, and then the staff says, "Great! Now, in order to face Gym Leader Katy, you'll first need to pass the Gym Test. Here at the Cortondo Gym, that means taking on the Olive Roll!"

"Olive Roll?" We exclaim in confusion.

"Olive production is a big part of life in Cortondo. We've held the Olive Harvest Festival here each year for generations to usher in bumper crops! To pass our Gym Test, you'll need to roll an olive-shaped ball all the way to the goal. Your efforts should help ensure we get a great olive harvest next year, too! The staff over at the olive-rolling field will explain the rules to you in further detail."

Then he registers the location to my map, but it is not necessary because it is just to the north of the town. Lillie says, "Olive Roll... that sounds very interesting."

"I know." I say. "I can't wait to see what is that about."

"Okay... I think I spoke too soon..." When we arrive, Lillie and I can only gasp in shock at the giant Olive Ball in front of us, not only that, there is some sort of maze in it.

"Look at how big the Olive Ball is... it is probably 3 times the height of us." Drandon says. "But that's also interesting."

"Though I wonder if I can really push the ball..." Lillie mutters.

There is the staff member." I say as we all talk to her.

"Welcome to the olive-rolling field! This Gym Test is all about stamina - you'll need to push with all you've got to get a large olive ball rolling and make it all the way to the end. Get the ball over various obstacles, then push it into the goal to clear the course."

"So I guess that red basket there is the goal?" I ask. "It really is at the end of the maze..."

"Now that you're all filled in, are you ready to start the Gym Test?" She asks me, and I say, "Of course."

I give her the permit and she says, "Great! Put in a wish for a good olive harvest, and roll, roll, roll away!"

Then I was taken to the starting point, and after the countdown, I start to roll the giant olive. But just as I touch it, it just falls and rolls forward.

"This doesn't seem to be hard to roll." I say, "But the problem is the rolling direction..."

I have been very careful not to get it over the line, and eventually, I'm at a crossroads, one seems to be a long path, and the other one is a short path blocked by a trainer and several Smolivs, and the short-cut is the best way to do.

"I can give you a shortcut if you defeat me." She says as she sends out Kricketune to battle.

"Of course." I decide to send out Houndoom since I want this to be a fair fight instead of overpowering them. And Kricketune's Sing really makes Houndoom fall asleep in the mid-battle.

"Houndoom, just wake up and use Flamethrower!" I don't know how many times I yell, but Houndoom is so asleep that he has been attacked by Fury Cutter and Slash a lot of times. Eventually, Houndoom wakes up and does the Fire attack, defeating the Kricketune.

"Looks like you're headed right past my Smoliv wall!" The trainer says as she has the Smoliv clear the way. Now I have to be careful not to let the Olive Ball hit any one of the Smoliv, since they look so small, and the last thing I want is to see the Smoliv Oil splattered on the ground.

"This looks very easy for him, don't you think, Lillie?" Drandon asks.

"You're right." Lillie says with concern. Ash... please be careful...

Eventually, there is only one trainer left in this obstacle, and he is using Venonat to battle. But Venonat is still no match for my Houndoom and eventually I defeat it.

"Now how do I get the Olive Ball into the basket?" I ask in wonder. But then I decide to use all of my strength to push the giant Olive Ball, and just by touching the red basket, I jumped as party poppers are used as streams and confetti surrounding me.

"With that performance, I'm sure we can look forward to a great olive harvest next year!" The staff says. "I'm happy to declare your Gym Test officially cleared. Congratulations! Please report your result to the lobby staffer at the Gym. Good luck in your battle against Katy!"

"Thanks." I say, and I can see Lillie rushing to me and hugging me. "You did it, Ash! That is amazing!"

Pikachu also jumps into my shoulder and nuzzles me. I say, "It is not actually hard, I'm sure you can do this too, Lillie."

"Thank you for giving me that confidence, though." Lillie chuckles.

After getting to the gym building, we inform the staff and he says, "Welcome back, Ash! I hear you were on a roll out there! You've now earned the right to challenge the Gym Leader. Best of luck!"

He gives me the second permit, the one that is used for the Gym Leaders, and he says, "The Gym Leader is in the bakery known as Patisserie Soapberry, so head there if you're ready to challenge her.

"A bakery? I wonder how tasty the food there is..." I say.

"Same old Ash..." Lillie shakes her head and I can see Snowy doing the same thing.

"Well, Patisserie Soapberry is over there." Drandon says as he points outside the door, and once we go outside the building, we can see the giant bakery in front of us. "On top of the bakery is the battlefield where the gym battles are held."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's just go." I say as we all rush there.

And here is a new chapter, for gym battles, there will be a chapter for the gym test and a chapter for the actual battle, and I'm going to do different because Ash is already the World Monarch, so he will be having full 6 on 6 battles. I hope you like this chapter.