Previously on Galarian Days...
After some minor holdups, Zander makes it to the ceremony, where Elle introduces the Gym Leaders for this year. She and Turner pay Zander a post-ceremony visit, but Turner helps Elle out of a potential mishap, retreating for now...
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Once again alone, Zander exits Motostoke Stadium, now with two new goals in mind: to complete the Gym Challenge, and gather these Apricorn Rangers for their mysterious boss. But he also had his initial mission in mind; he needed to find out who had been sending out these Dynamiasmas and why, and stop this new crisis opposite of the Darkest Day.
"Alright, first on the itinerary is to get to the first Gym Stadium in Galar, which is in..." Zander started as he checked his new phone, displaying the map of Galar where a blinking dot was showing: "The town of Turffield." He then expanded the map to show the route. "Okay, so first I'll have to get to Galar Mine, then it's just a Hoppip, Skiploom and a Jumpluff to the north. That seems simple enough."
After pocketing his phone, Zander walked back down the road, only passing the Budew Drop Inn and the Pokemon Center and making it down to Route 3, where he faced a few Trainers, one of which was just camping out. But he managed to increase his Pokemons' levels a little, until he reached the opening of Galar Mine where a Lass healed his Pokemon and told him her sister offered the same service at the other side of the mines. Zander thanked her and entered the mines.
Once he was inside, he was treated to a sight he wasn't expecting: lanterns were wired up on the cave ceilings, illuminating the inside and revealing railcarts and tracks here and there. But what really wowed him was that embedded in all the cave walls, small crystals were twinkling in the light of the lanterns, refracting it and decorating the mines with thousands of colored light dots, making the whole place look like a rainbow nighttime sky.
"So this is what these mines hold deposits of?" Zander asked himself, but then remembered that he had a mission to complete. "I mean, it does look pretty, but I don't see the big whoop." Once again, he battled against Trainers and strengthened his Pokemon, but his curious nose made him want to explore the mines as well. He found items and a ledge next to the entrance of the cave, until at last he saw a light at the end of the tunnel.
"Alright! Finally, the exit out of this sparkly dirt labyrinth!" Zander said in relief.
"Excuse me?" a woman's voice asked, causing Zander's ear to pivot.
"Huh? Who said that?"
"Down here," the voice said, and Zander followed it to the end of a tunnel... where he saw none other than the previous Chairman's secretary, Oleana!
"Wha- who are you and what do you want with me?" Zander asked.
"I am Oleana, and I want to tell you that there's more to this 'sparkly dirt labyrinth,' as you put it," Oleana said. "You see, to some, these mines are nothing more than interconnected holes in the side of a hill filled with shiny rocks that are good for nothing more than looking at. Others see it as an escape from the stresses of the outside world; a chance to be alone with their thoughts while they toil away digging up these precious gems. I, personally, see this place as a sort of nostalgic connection to my employer, Mr. Rose, who used to work in similar conditions before he rose to power as the chairman of Macro Cosmos."
"I see," Zander said. "So there's more to these mines than meets the eye?"
"Correct," Oleana said.
"And you used to work for the man who almost brought about the end of the Galar region last year!?"
"And I deeply regret my hand in those times," Oleana said, "but I can assure you, I have changed since then."
"Maybe so," Zander said, still miffed about finding out what he knew now, "but I haven't forgotten about the chaos and destruction that happened back then. And I should know, because I was there when it happened!"
(Flashback)
During last year's Champion Cup tournament, Raihan's Duraludon had just been defeated, and the future Champion had claimed their victory. The audience in the stands cheered for another thrilling display of the bond between Trainers and Pokemon being pushed to their limits, and among them... was a still-gray Zander.
"Whoo! Yeah, that's what happens, 'dragon tamer!' That's what happens!" he shouted with excitement. "You lost to that kid once, and it just happened again!"
After the competitors did their post-battle handshake, they both stepped off of the pitch to prepare for the final battle. Zander took it as an opportunity to get up and stretch his legs a little, as well as get a bathroom break. When he got back, both the current Champion, Leon and his opponent were about to throw down, but then an image of Chairman Rose appeared on the stadium's display screen.
"Hello there, Leon and-"
"What the- What's the holdup here!?" Zander said impatiently.
"Just letting you know," the image of Rose said, "I think it's time I brought about the Darkest Day. For the sake of Galar's future, of course! But I'm in a bit of a pickle. The energy released by the Darkest Day is too much for us to contain. I'm sorry it's come to this," he continued before pausing, then looked down at Leon accusingly. "But it's you who forced my hand, Leon. You refused to listen!"
The image flickered off of the screen, and a large pillar of light rocketed out of the middle of the pitch. While Leon and his opponent got out of there, the surge of energy blasted into the audience, causing any full Poke Balls to grow large.
"Ah!" Zander yelped, knowing just what that meant. "I'm getting out of here!" He ran down the stairs, through the halls and out the door before the Dynamax Pokemon went on their rampage. Outside the stadium, though, he saw that other Pokemon were affected by the surge as well, their eyes glew reddish-pink with anger, blasting attacks at anything at all, even some of them started growing to giant proportions as well!
Running on adrenaline, Zander started dashing on all fours, pushing his muscles as hard as he could to get away from the threat until he was out of Wyndon, but it wasn't over yet. As the sky started turning black, images were flickering in the air while the Pokemon in the grass also went berserk. Dodging attacks this way and that, Zander was still bounding away trying to get out of certain death. But eventually, he reached a dead end, forcing him to climb out of the snowdrift until he could get a running start again.
While his body was threatening to burn itself out escaping, his panic-stricken mind was thinking, "How am I going to get out of this mess! Every Pokemon in Galar is hunting for blood now, and some of them are even going 'fee-fi-fo-fum' on the land!" Suddenly, he got an idea! "Wait, I remember stories being told that this sort of thing happened thousands of years ago, and it was stopped before! I know, I'll just get the heroes who did it last time and get them to do it again!"
Filled with newfound resolve, Zander continued his feral rush, but with a destination this time. He managed to rush back to Hammerlocke until he saw a vortex over Hammerlocke Stadium, surprising him and forcing him to stop before he could trip down the stairs and get back on his feet. "Oh, no! I'm too late!"
With more rational thought, Zander quickly stepped down the staircase and continued his jogging, but eventually he finally burned out and collapsed in front of the Pokemon Nursery in the Wild Area...
(End of flashback)
"And since that day, I'm grateful that Rose was replaced," Zander concluded.
"I understand," Oleana said, having listened to every word. "And I apologize for holding you up, as well as make you relive that traumatic experience."
"You're forgiven," Zander said as he turned around to leave.
"I just have one question to ask, and then I'll leave you be," Oleana stopped.
"Ask away."
"What is your name, so I can inform Mr. Rose when he finishes his sentence in prison?"
Zander looked over his shoulder at Oleana, and answered, "My name is Zander... the Wolfen Knight of Galar."
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Closed captioning sponsored in part by...
(Commercial: Galar Minerals)
The mines. To some, it's a dark dungeon, but to us, it's another small price to pay... for progress.
Where it's dark as the midnight with a just-as-clear view
Where the workers are many and the elbow room's few
Where the rocks always tumble and the heat always shines
Oh, it's dark as the midnight in the Galarian mines
That's right, we at Galar Minerals are working hard to provide our home region with the following:
Metal for machines,
Gems for jewelry,
And precious metals for money printing.
So the next time you're putting together a project, making change, or buying your significant other something to show your love, think of Galar Minerals... and let them know they're appreciated.
Where it's dark as the midnight in the Galarian mines.
Gordie: I'm Gym Leader Gordie, and I approve this message.
