Previously on Galarian Days...
Zander and Wufu return to Wyndon Stadium to enact the next phase of their plan, but on the sidelines as the Champion's Cup finals open with a few starting comments from the Gym Leaders before the lineup is displayed.
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While Annie and Parcel were in the locker rooms preparing for the first round of the finals, Zander and Wufu were still in the seats waiting for any sign of the coming of the opposite crisis when Wufu got up and said, "I'm gonna go grab a quick bite from the consession stands. You want anything, Zander?"
"Alright, but hurry back, and just get me something small," Zander said. "I don't want to have to suddenly go when the last Dynamiasma shows up."
"Alright, I'll be right back." As Wufu left Zander behind, though, the first round of the finals was about to begin when Annie and Parcel returned to the pitch.
"Okay, everyone," the announcer said, "we're about to witness the first round of the Champion's Cup finals, kicking off with the Insect Princess, Annie, taking on the Heaven's Watchman, Parcel! Fair warning though, folks, just because there's a clear type advantage here doesn't mean it can't be anyone's game! We're talking about Gym Leaders here, so expect the unexpected!"
"You heard the announcer, Parcel," Annie said to her opponent. "Now you'll get to witness the power of the Incect Princess... unfettered!"
"With all due respect, Annie," Parcel shot back as he took out his first ball, "what's a princess to an angel of heaven?"
"And what is an angel of heaven," Annie said while taking out her first ball, "to a breaker of the mold!?" And with that, both Gym Leaders sent out their first Pokemon: Annie led with her Durant while Parcel chose Delibird.
Obviously, Delibird started the battle off with Present, but it ended up a weak hit, and combined with Durant's Steel-typing, it didn't even leave a scratch. After brushing off the pathetic attack, the iron ant Pokemon retaliated with Iron Head, impacting the delivery Pokemon with super effective damage and knocking it out.
But Parcel sent out his Ninjask and said, "And now both of us are facing equal ground with Bug-types! How do you like them Leppa Berries?"
Durant quickly tried to use Sand Attack, and it managed to make a clean impact into Ninjask's compound eyes! With no way to see where it was going or aiming, the ninja Pokemon was helpless against Durant's following volley of Fury Cutters while unable to get any retaliation to hit. And on the third hit, the damage had finally taken its toll and knocked Ninjask out, to which Annie replied, "Eh, I've had worse."
But Parcel refused to let up as he said, "Well, have this!" and sent out Hawlucha. Durant then did an unusual looking dance by marching in place, and a blue light surrounded Hawlucha... but didn't seem to do anything. Taking advantage of Durant's lapse in strategy, the wrestling Pokemon leaped up into the air and plummeted down with Flying Press, finally striking Durant down.
"That actually lasted longer than I expected," Annie remarked before sending out a new addition to her roster: Vikavolt. It then used Zap Cannon on Hawlucha, firing a massive beam of electrical energy from between its pincers. While it did super effective damage, Hawlucha still held strong... but it was down on one knee and sparking, rendering it unable to move!
"Impossible!" Parcel exclaimed in shock! "Hawlucha's supposed to be unable to paralyze because of its Limber Ability! Unless...!" But Parcel remembered Durant's earlier move, and realized that it had changed Hawlucha's Ability using Entrainment!
But Annie didn't give Parcel a chance to spit out the rest of his sentence before Vikavolt finished Hawlucha off with another Zap Cannon.
With no other options left, Parcel shadowed his face and said, "...Fine. You've left me with no choice." then sent out his ace Pokemon: Corviknight. "Time to spread my seraphim wings to their apex!" He then called his Pokemon back into its ball and grew it to basketball size. After raising it over his head wih both hands, he catapulted the ball behind him and held his arms out to his sides as it opened up and Corviknight swelled three times. After it completed its transformation into its Gigantamax form, it and its eight blade birds called out in triumph.
Back in the stands, Zander felt blasted with awe at the sight he didn't get to witness during his Gym Challenge just as Wufu came back with two plates of cheese pizza slices and two large styrofoam cups of soda. "I know you said you wanted something small, but this was the only size they had. What'd I miss?"
"Annie's got Parcel backed into a corner, now just watch!" Zander said before taking a plate and a cup from Wufu.
"Now, Corviknight," Parcel said, "show my opponent the true meaning of divine justice!" With that, Corviknight and its blade birds arranged themselves to combine their powers into a gigantic tornado streaked with red, blasting it directly at Vikavolt before it had a chance to do anything to defend itself! Annie then sent out a Volcarona and a Golisopod, but even they were shut down by G-Max Wind Rage before Corviknight returned to normal size and shape.
"Looks like I need to reeducate you on manners and ettiquete!" Annie said before calling out her last Pokemon: Butterfree. "Let the words of the Insect Princess be known throughout the land!" She the called her Pokemon back into its ball and grew it to basketball size. After a small bow to consecrate it, she threw the ball behind her, and it opened up before Butterfree swelled three times. On the third swell, it revealed its beautiful, brilliant-winged Gigantamax form before calling out in triumph.
Corviknight then attempted a Drill Peck on Butterfree, but it still soared before dark thunderclouds gathered above the raven Pokemon. Recognizing the Max Lightning too late, the blast of lightning bolts struck down Parcel's last Pokemon, giving Annie the first win of the Champion's Cup finals!
Parcel couldn't believe his eyes as he said, "18 years old and still learning every day.." then as Butterfree was called back, both Gym Leaders walked back up to the center line as Annie said, "Yes! I knew teaching Butterfree Electroweb would come in handy!"
"Ah, so that explains the Max Lightning," Parcel reasoned. "Either way, that was an awesome battle, and thanks for letting me be a part of it!"
"My pleasure, Parcel," Annie responded, "and glad to know there's no hard feelings!"
But just as they were about to perform the Galarian Gym Leader handshake of good sportsmanship... "No, no, NO!"
Annie and Parcel then turned their heads towards the griping, and saw Chairperson Elle and Turner in front-row seats!
"The level 1 boss isn't supposed to overpower the level 7 boss! She was supposed to go down so he could advance to the next set!" Elle then took out her Dyress-Up Key and Dyna Perfume and said, "Now I have to jump the gun! Look what you made me do!"
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"O, my key! Accept the power of these wishes and bend it to my will!"
As Elle called out those words, wisps of cerise energy rose from the ground and were absorbed into the tip of the key, draining the Power Spot of Dynamax energy until it was snuffed out. She then inserted the key into the Dyna Perfume and shouted, "Come forth, Dynamiasma!" before spraying three massive clouds of cerise energy from it.
The clouds then coalesced together until they became a giant, sky-blue bird with wind for feathers in its massive wings and cawed!
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"So! I was right all along!" Zander said as his powers kicked in and his sword and shield was made fom his straw and plate. "Come on, Wufu, it's showtime!"
"Right behind you, Zander!" Wufu said, and both wolf and bear made a dash down the stairs to fight the last Dynamiasma, social stigma be damned...
