Previously on Galarian Days...
After Gym Leader Monty brings Gym Guide Dan to Gym Leader Winston for a vicious berating, Zander and Wufu get a little rattled, but are quickly smoothed over with a cuddle and a rare League Card. Following Winston's example, Zander goes back to Sophia's place to patch things up with her before he and Wufu leave Circhester to tend to Hammerlocke Stadium, where Lady Cona reunites with an old aquaintance (Zander) and meets a new one. (Wufu) During the Dynamiasma battle, they end up going through some difficulty, but it takes some involvement from Zander's Pokemon for them to get the drop on it.
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Back in the lobby, Zander, Wufu and Cona had gathered to share the good news. "Lady Cona," Zander started, "after finally clearing out the Dynamiasmas from the Gym Stadiums around Galar, I believe we have figured out why they have been appearing."
"Really?" Cona inquired. "Do tell."
"Yes, please do tell," Wufu piled on, "because I can't wait to hear all about it."
"Well, Wufu," Zander explained, "funny you should say that, because before we went in to fight the recent Dynamiasma, you pointed out a common factor that all of them shared: before they appeared, the Gym Leaders in their Stadiums were preparing for the Champion's Cup finals, but had a lapse in focus that Dan, under orders from upper management, took advantage of to put them there. And since Dan works for the Pokemon League, that could only lead us to one conclusion."
"And that conclusion would be?" Cona pressed.
"At the risk of assuming, which nothing good ever comes out of," Zander said, "it means that the man in black and woman in white is none other than Chairperson Elle and her assistant Turner, and if it took me this long to realize it, I must be slower than frozen molasses on a cold winter's night!"
"Elle and Turner are causing the opposite crisis!?" Cona gasped in astonishment. "But why?"
"That part I haven't been able to piece together yet," Zander admitted, "but I do know how we can find out. Wufu and I will have to attend the Champion's Cup ourselves; not as battle participants, but as spectators in the bleachers. First, consider this: what kind of Dynamiasmas have we been facing in the past?" He then held up both paws in clenched fists and started counting on his fingers. "I'll start off with the ones I fought before Wufu joined. First, there was the Grass and Water Dynamiasmas I faced in the Wild Area before I got my endorsement, then there was the Fire one on the Isle of Armor. After I earned my endorsement and 3 Badges, then came the Fighting, Ghost and Fairy Dynamiasmas, again in the Wild Area, and after I got the other 5 Badges and came back to the Wild Area (with Sophia, of course), I fought the Rock, Ice, Dark and Dragon Dynamiasmas, totaling up to 10 so far."
Since Zander had run out of fingers to count on, Wufu took over and held up his paws to continue with, "Then I came into the picture back on the Isle of Armor, and, per Zander's next plan of action, we took down the Bug Dynamiasma at Turffield Stadium, the Poison one at Hulbury, Electric at Motostoke, Normal at Stow-on-Side, Psychic at Ballonlea, Ground at Circhester, and more recently, the Steel one here."
"Bringing the grand total up to 17 Dynamiasmas altogether," Cona reduced. "That means only one type has yet to have its own Dynamiasma: Flying."
"Exactly," Zander said. "And since the Flying-type Gym Leader, Parcel was stationed in Spikemuth which has no Power Spot, he could continue to train unhindered while everyone else was halted. And since Parcel was unable to Dynamax his Pokemon there, that meant he would have to go to one of two places to do so: the topmost floor of Rose Tower (no idea why), or, more likely, Wyndon Stadium during the finals!"
"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait," Wufu stopped. "Are you saying that Elle and Turner made Dan put the Dynamiasmas in the Gym Stadiums because they're trying to rig the Cup finals for Parcel?"
"Why not?" Zander said. "It sounds plausible."
"Perhaps," Cona said. "Thank you for bringing all of this to my attention, Zander, Wolfen Knight of Galar... as well as thanks to you, Wufu, Ursine Retainer of Galar."
"Indeed, Lady Cona," both anthros said in unison.
"And now, for restarting my preparations for the Champion's Cup finals and disposing of the Dynamiasma," Cona said, "I would like to present you with this rare League Card as a token of my gratitude." She then gave Zander the card depicting herself at a younger age in more normal clothing, being offered the hand of a different knight off-camera. The back of the card read, "During her childhood days, Cona was taken in by a band of noble servants who taught her the ways of the medival. She was aprehensive at first, but over time she grew to embrace the teachings of her mentors. It wasn't until she was challenged to a Pokemon battle by a certain Dragon-type specialist that she was able to tap into her full ability, cementing her current status as an aspiring Gym Leader and later achieving those aspirations when she came to Galar."
"Thank you, Lady Cona," Zander said. "Just like the other League Cards before, I shall treasure this always."
"As you should," Cona said before Zander pocketed the card. "And now, you will have to excuse me, but if the Pokemon League wants to show favoritism with one Gym Leader by excluding the other seven, they will have to try a little bit harder than that."
After Cona returned to the Battle Court, Wufu commented, "She's spunky."
"Yes, she is," Zander agreed as he called up another Flying Taxi ride. "But, back to the matter at hand. Now that all the Gym Stadiums have been cleared of Dynamiasmas, our next step is to head over to Wyndon and wait for tomorrow so we can get access to the Stadium's stands and watch for the last Dynamiasma to be summoned."
"It's too bad we can't just go down to Spikemuth and warn this Parcel person about the trap he's being lured into," Wufu reasoned as the cab touched down.
"Trap? What trap?"
"Wha- Who said that?"
"I did," the cab driver that just dropped in said before he took off his hat and jacket to reveal... that he was the Heaven's Watchman himself, Gym Leader Parcel!
"Parcel!?" Zander and Wufu said together.
"That's my name, don't wear it out!"
"How much did you hear?" Zander asked.
"Enough to know that the Pokemon League is using me as a pawn for some sinister scheme," Parcel answered. "And that you already did most of the work to stop them!"
"Us?" Wufu asked. "But all we did was take down the giant monsters that were disrupting the Gym Leaders' training for the Cu- oh, now I see where you're getting at."
"Of course!" Zander reasoned. "After we defeated the Dynamiasmas in the Stadiums, the Leaders went back into their Battle Courts to keep training, because no Trainer worth their candy would dare pass up the Champion's Cup!"
"Right!" Parcel said, including himself in the conversation again. "And the only reason I'm here is because I already finished my training early, so I figured I'd spend some free time getting some side work in as a cab driver!"
"Wait, you actually fly the Flying Taxi?" Zander asked. "Because last time I checked, your League Card said you became a Gym Leader instead of a Flying Taxi driver to prove that Corviknight were more then carriers of, and I quote, 'lazy travelers and backtrackers.'"
"Doesn't mean I'm against the service," Parcel said.
Zander was about to protest, but Wufu cut in, "Fair point. Moving on, we need to get to Wyndon to watch the finals tomorrow."
"That's what I'm here for," Parcel said. "Hop in!"
Wasting no time, both anthros entered the cab for the ride to the city of Wyndon...
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