Grant entered the next gym after getting through the forest with realative ease, Rook evolving to his final form along the way. Grant looked at Rook's feather, and while the outer layer of metal feather, almost like a suit of knight's armor, but the under layer was oddly red. Glowing with some sort of energy. Grant looked at his partner, his first Pokémon, his best friend, with concern as he prepared to take on the gym.

He entered only to be greeted by...

"Bede!" Grant exclaimed rushing to greet his friend, "My dude! It's so good to see you!"

Bede turned around, shocked to hear a familiar voice as he asked, "Grant? You're here! Well I guess it makes sense but, didn't expect to cross paths. Where have you been?"

Grant took out the suitcase and explained, "Oh so you know how Oleana totally screwed you over with those Wishing Stars?"

"Yeah but I'm actually-" Bede began to explain.

"Well I was worried about you, you know, not having the money to support yourself so I... requested compensation for the goods you provided and there's this..."

Grant handed the suitcase to Bede, "This is yours. Also he told me not to tell you so you didn't hear it from me but... I can't fully betray his trust but Rose doesn't like, hate you. He still cares about your well being so... yeah."

Bede fell silent for a moment and sighed, "Grant... after this... You're not my friend."

"I'm sorry did I mess up?" Grant asked, "If you want me to leave you alone then like-"

"No listen," Bede explained, "You're more like a brother to me. You're not my friend because you're my family. You have no idea just... knowing Rose doesn't hate me means to me Grant. Also... I've been in a real rough patch to say the least. I've been training under Opal to becomes gym leader. So... I'm still gonna show everyone that I'm the best but... remember our goal? To do away with the endorsement system so that anyone can battle? How Pokémon are meant for all?"

Grant nodded.

Bede elaborated, "Well since I can't become champion anymore I... I need you to that for me but first..."

Bede gripped his Pokéball and requested, "I need to know. I need to know you're strong enough to make that dream, our dream, a reality. Allow me one last battle bro. Prove to me you're strong enough."

Grant nodded, "Ready when you are."

The battle was about to begin, but it was not against Pokémon Trainer Bede or Gym Leader Bede no...

Brother Bede wants to battle!

Bede grinned, "I may be the fairy type gym leader but since I'm fighting you not as a challenger but as my brother, my family, I'm going all out! Not restricting myself to just fairy types this time!"

Bede sent out his first Pokémon, Gothitelle.

Grant exclaimed, "Opening with an old friend are we? Well I've got friends old and new by my side!"

Grant sent out Kiss, ready. He knew Gothitelle was a powerful but slow Pokémon that could be taken out with realative ease if he went in for the kill out of the gate.

Kiss struck first, dashing forward as her claws began to glow with a dark energy as she charged forward, using Night Slash across her foe's chest, the dark energy filling and widening the open wound as Gothitelle fainted.

Bede smirked, "Ah, there's the feral dude I always knew! Still have that wild side when you battle. Well it's time to bring out something a little stronger then!"

Bede sent out a Mawille as Grant ordered Kiss, "He's gonna attack! Get ready!"

Kiss used Obstruct, crossing her arms as Mawile used Play Rough, rushing forward only to be grabbed and crushed by the prepared Kiss who, with her immense strength, shattered the metal outer skin of her foe, drastically dropping her defense.

Mawile struck once more, again with Play Rough, this time Kiss was prepared for the onslaught. First, Mawile poked a a ticklish pressure point, making Kiss laugh and freeze up, and when she was open, Mawile, glowing with pink power, decked Kiss in the face, fainting her.

"I must confess," Bede chuckled, "I expected more from one I call family."

"Oh I'm not done!" Grant exclaimed sending out Wick who countered by blasting the metallic Pokémon with Flamethrower which fainted it. Bede chuckled and sent out his other old psychic Pokémon, Reuniclus.

"This one's faster than Gothitelle!" Bede exclaimed.

"I knock Litwick is slow!" Grant retorted, "But she's prepared!"

Wick's Quick Claw glowed with an odd power, and in the blink of an eye it appeared behind Reuniclus, ready with a powerful Shadow Ball that ripped its jello-like body to shreds and fainted it.

Bede smiled, "See this is what I expect from someone I call brother! Let's kick it up a notch! I'm having fun!"

Bede sent out a Galarian Rapidash. Grant ordered Wick to strike, but as Wick prepared the flames for her attack, Rapidash charged forward and stabbed a pressure point, using Play Rough to faint it instantly.

"Zappy see what you can do!" Grant ordered.

Zappy however was to slow, and Rapidash struck, shooting psyonic pink blades from its horn that shredded apart Zappy with a critical. Zappy was no match for Psycho Cut.

"Oh dear down to your last?" Bede taunted, but not with malice, but in the way one teases a sibling, a joking and genuine smile on his face.

"Yeah but he's gonna win!" Grant exclaimed, "We can do this Rook!"

Rook cried out as Grant ordered, "You know the drill!"

Rook began to sharpen his claws as Rapidash tried to aim for a pressure point to use Play Rough, but Rook was ready and narrowly avoided the horn, leaving Rapidash open.

"Now!" Grant ordered, "Sweep him!"

Rook obeyed, extending his wings in such a way that his sharp metal layer of outer feathers were like knives. With Hone Claws the strike was precise and true as he used Steel Wing to faint Rapidash, leaving a massive gash across its torso.

Bede sent out his second to last, a Gardevoir that wasn't prepared for when Rook stabbed it by shooting its feathers like throwing knives. Sadly, despite Bede's best efforts, at a type disadvantage, Hatterene faced much the same results, fainting in an to a single slash to the neck.

Bede smiled, "Good match man. Good match."

Bede approached Grant and explained, "You can do this. You're strong enough. Win the championship. For your family that you're making along the way."

Grant nodded, "I will bro. I promise. I'll always love you as my brother. Now, any advice for the gym?"

"Don't forget the names of the trainers," Bede smiled, "And Opal does omelets for breakfast. Remember that and you'll win."

"Thanks man!" Grant replied, "I'll see you when I win!"

Grant rushed into the gym as Opal smiled, having seen the fight, "So that's how be battles... This will be fun..."

Opal went to face off against Grant in a rigged quiz...