Grant walked through the snowstorm as he approached the end of the gym, ready to face off against someone he loved. The ice Pokémon in the gym were of little issue to Grant's team thanks to Wick and he had an easy time melting the frosty foes in his way until he finally reached the end of the gym. He was ready to Calm Mind sweep Melony's team only to be met with someone new. Someone he didn't know.

Gordie grinned as he entered the arena to face the confused Grant who asked, "Um... who are you?"

"Gordie," he grinned, "Rock type gym leader. I run this gym every other season."

"Isn't Melony in charge right now?" Grant inquired, "There must be some mistake. I-"

Gordie gripped his Pokéball and exclaimed, "No mistake Grant! I'll be fighting you today. Hope you're ready to lose!"

Gordie sent out his first Pokémon, a Barbaracle, performing a back flip as he threw the Pokéball and looked over his shoulder at the shocked Grant who in turn sent out Zappy. Barbaracle shattered its own body with its arms, spreading sharp rocks near Grant.

"That's..." Grant realized.

"Stealth Rocks," Gordie smirked, "A move used at the highest level of battle quite often. I came to win Grant!"

"Well it won't be easy!" Grant retorted, "Zappy! Thunderpunch! Aim for the head!"

Zappy complied as she leapt forward, pushing herself off the ground with enough force to make a shockwave as she charged right for Barbaracle, hitting the opponent right in its hand shaped face from which electricity courses through its whole body which would have otherwise been protected by its hard, rocky exterior as it fell over, Fainted.

Gordie reached for a Luxury Ball on his belt, death in his eyes, but stopped himself, "No... not yet..."

Gordie then flashed a cocky smile at Grant as he exclaimed, "Hm. Now this is the battle the crowd wants to see right? Let's hear you guys make some noiiiiissseee!"

Gordie then sent out Rhyperior, who was amped up by the crowds cheering for it, which greatly boosted its speed.

"Oh come on!" Grant exclaimed.

"You gotta use what's around in a battle," Gordie explained, "All's fair in love and war!"

"Look out Zappy!" Grant cried out, but he was to late as Rhyperior shook the earth with a massive stomp before Zappy could react. The shattered soil opened in a deep pit that swallowed Zappy whole before closing to crush her, causing her to faint from Earthquake.

"You're tough," Grant admitted, "But I'm not slouch! Kiss! Let's go!"

The Obstagoon stuck her tounge out and roared, ready for combat against her titan of a foe. Rhyperior rushed forward without warning, its drill spinning at high speeds, but Kiss was ready, and blocked the Horn Drill with the thick hide of her arms, using Obstruct before she pushed Rhyperior back, shattering the outer layer of protective orange stone on Rhyperior's body with the force of the blow before she avoided Rhyperior's second Horn Drill, the Horn grazing her neck as her claws glowed with dark power and she used Night Slash. Rhyperior fainted with an X shaped gash across its chest.

It was only then that Kiss felt the shooting pain of the rocks in her leg. Stealth Rocks had taken its tole on her, stabbing her legs, hidden on the ground amongst the soil.

Gordie sent out his next Pokémon, Shuckle, as Grant weighed his options.

Wait...

Shuckle...

That's a...

A...

Bug Pokémon.

Grant began to hyperventilate as his mind raced.

"Get that thing away," he growled.

Gordie inquired, "Is there a probl-"

"Get it away!" Grant screamed, "Get it away from me!"

Grant was shaking in fear and began to hyperventilate, having a panic attack. He screamed as his mind raced, "Get it away!"

Kiss became concerned for her trainer as Gordie taunted, "Are you really that scared of a little old bug?"

Kiss fell for the Taunt!

But also Kiss's concern for her trainer steadied her resolve which boosted her attack power as she growled and charged forward. Shuckle's shell was shattered in a single, enraged strike from Kiss, a Night Slash that was a critical hit which dropped Shuckle in an instant. The bug fainted as Grant began to collect himself and glared at Gordie, "What are you rigging the battle? There's no way I reveal my fear of bugs to Opal then you suddenly send out a Shuckle!"

Gordie grinned, "If you think that's bad I have an even worse surprise for you if you can even reach it."

Gordie sent out his Coalossal which Grant ordered Kiss to attack. Kiss once more struck with intense ferocity, a dual slash from her long, sharp talons enhanced with dark power, but it wasn't enough to faint Coalossal who countered...

"Let's put on a good show!" Gordie grinned, "We need a big more bang!"

Coalossal used explosion, self destructing in a storm of fire and energy that blasted Kiss and slammed her into the back wall. Kiss fainted on impact, the force to much for her to bare.

Grant tried to send out Wick, who, due to being injured from prior foes, was finished off by a barrage or pointed stones that dug into her flesh and fainted her. She fell to the ground, her flame dim.

"Everyone always underestimates the Stealth Rocks!" Gordie exclaims.

Grant took a deep breath as he gripped his final Pokéball. He could not fail here. Would not fail here. He grinned as he sent out his old reliable. His partner. His closest friend.

Rook cried out, ready for Combat as he Gigantamaxed, a last desperation move by Grant, who knew he had to go all in here, or he would lose. This was his desperation move. His last ditch effort to prevail.

Grant, at this moment, realized he could've had Rook remove the Stealth Rocks far earlier if he had opened with Gigantamax, and face palmed hard. A massive mistake on his part, especially one of such magnitude, could spell the end of his journey.

But no.

Not yet.

It wasn't over until Rook fell.

It wasn't over yet.

Grant ordered Rook, "Max Steelspike! Finish this!"

Rook cried out and flapped its massive wings, firing feathers like massive throwing knives from its body. Gordie's next Pokémon, a Gigalith, was to slow to avoid the massive barrage of blade-like feathers and was slashed apart before it fainted.

Gordie began to lose his cool now as he exclaimed, "You think it's that easy don't you!?! To replace me!?!"

"Replace you?" Grant asked.

"Do you know how badly I've wished to make amends for three years?!?!" Gordie cried out, "And you come along and replace me in her life! I won't let you win!"

Gordie gripped his next Pokéball and screamed, "You don't get to replace me as her son!"

Gordie sent out his next Pokémon, Stonjourner, which too fell to the barrage.

The battle was seemingly over as Melony looked at her two sons with concern for both and got up to speak to the one with whom her relationship was so damaged...

Gordie cried out as he reached for his Luxury Ball, "You think this is over? It's not over until I've beaten you! I won't lose! You won't replace me for Melony!"

"Melony?" Grant asked, "She's your-"

Gordie grinned as he glared at Grant, the Luxury Ball began to glow with Dynamax energy as he explained, "This is the end of your journey Grant. Go! Terrakion!"

Terrakion was released, not being sent out but destroying the ball that contained it, leaving the two halves bouncing on the ground as it was unleashed into the arena and cried out, enraged.

"You fool!" Grant yelled, "Terrakion is a Pokémon of justice! If your cause isn't just-"

Terrakion turned on Gordie and began to charge only for Grant to block the way as the crowd began to panic.

"I'm the one you want!" Grant exclaimed, "Don't do this!"

Terrakion glared at Grant, as if desiring to test him.

Grant thought, "Terrakion wants to test me. It's now or never..."

Grant ordered Gordie, "Evacuate the stadium. Protect the citizens."

"What about you?" Gordie asked.

Grant smirked as he prepared to send out Rook, who was still injured by Stealth Rocks and his only Pokémon.

"My cause is just," Grant smirked, "This thing wishes to test me. It's the only way."

Gordie nodded and left with a final word, "Meet me when you're done. We need to talk."

Gordie left exclaiming, "Everyone head for the exits! Children first!..."

Grant turned towards Terrakion and grinned, "Well, this wasn't what I had in mind, but I'm going to win. My cause is just..."

Terrakion cried out as Grant took on Terrakion in a Max Raid Battle, alone.

Dynamax energy gathered around Grant as the titan of a Pokémon cried out. This was a battle Grant feared he could not win as he Gigantamaxed Rook, but he had to try. If he failed Terrakion would rampage through the city and...

Grant brushed this aside and prepared for combat. Focusing on the now to prevent his aniexty from welling up and breaking his concentration.

Terrakion made the first attack, striking with Max Rockfall. With a mighty stomp the titan called upon a gigantic wall of stone that fell on Rook whos wing was broken by the attack, forcing it to the ground. Terrakion kicked up the dust of the arena as it prepared to charge and finish the job. The shattered stone spread across the arena, kicking up a sandstorm from its debris.

"All or nothing!" Grant exclaimed, "Rook! You can do this!"

Rook used Max Steelspike once more, the massive feathers pierced the rocky flesh of Terrakion, who cried out in pain before its horns began to glow and it used Max Knuckle, slashing as Rook with intense ferocity. Rook was slammed into the back of the arena and fell to the ground...

"Rook!" Grant cried out, "No!"

Grant rushed over to the massive bird with concern. Worry for his partner and best friend...

Rook however was not down yet...

Rook endured the blow so Grant wouldn't be upset! Rook got back out and cawed and fired several of its red feathers at its foe, like knives they slashed Terrakion apart and it fell to one knee.

Terrakion was defeated...

But...

Was Grant worthy?

Grant approached the kneeling creature and extended his hand as he explained, "I know I have a long way to go. I know that. I need to work on myself but..."

Terrakion nodded as it gently pressed its face to Grant's hand.

Grant grabbed a Heavy Ball he had gotten from Ball Guy and grinned, "This'll be a nice aesthetic."

Grant threw the Pokéball in its now Dynamaxed state.

It shook once.

Twice.

Thrice.

...

Click.

Grant had done it.

He had captured a legendary Pokémon!

Grant collapsed to his knees from exhaustion as he lifted the ball.

"Grant!" A voice cried out.

Grant looked to see Melony as she rushed to his aid.

"I'm OK," Grant assured her, "I'm OK. Just... tired..."

Grant then collapsed and fell asleep on the spot...