Shade nodded at Aaron before walking up to the first grunt. A big screen on a big building turned on, showing Shade's battles as a floating camera followed her around, allowing Aaron a view.
He sent out a Galarian Linoone. Shade sent out her Galarian Rapidash, who whinnied a little. The Galarian Linoone rushed in with Night Slash, only for it to get dazed as the Galarian Rapidash shone bright with fairy light (Dazzling Gleam), only for his horn to glow light green as he charged at the Galarian Linoone with Megahorn. The direct hit sent the Galarian Linoone flying, knocking it out.
Shade returned her Galarian Rapidash and walked on to the next grunt. She saw a Kantonian Mr. Mime blocking the path, so she guessed she had to battle the grunts. Not like she wasn't going to do it anyway.
She sent out one of her Galarian Slowpoke when the Gym Trainer sent out a Thievul. The female Galarian Slowpoke Yawned, causing the Thievul to yawn and get drowsy. The Thievul used Thief, only for the female Galarian Slowpoke to use Earthquake, tripping it up and sending shattered earth towards it and damaging it. The Thievul then fell asleep, while the female Galarian Slowpoke walked up to it, her tail shining a metallic color, and spun around quickly to smash it away with Iron Tail. All the while, the grunt was yelling at his Thievul to wake up, to no avail, leading to the grunt's loss.
The next male grunt sent out a Scrafty, while Shade swapped out her female Galarian Slowpoke for a male one. As the male version got ready, the Scrafty used High Jump Kick. He jumped in the air and came falling down, his leg extended. The male Galarian Slowpoke simply moved to the side to allow the Scrafty to crash into the road, damaging it horribly. With that, the male Galarian Slowpoke used Hydro Pump, spewing out a stream of harsh water at the Scrafty, knocking it out.
Shade returned her male Galarian Slowpoke and went to the next grunt. She had a Weavile. Shade sent out her Orbeetle, who hovered in the air stared at the Weavile, remembering its weaknesses. Fire, Fighting, Rock, Steel, Fairy, and Bug were types he could use. Body Press and Bug Buzz. After calculating what the Orbeetle should use, the Weavile rushed forward with Night Slash, only to be struggling to move forward due to the shockwave emitted from the Bug Buzz. The Weavile covered its ears, only for the Orbeetle to immediately tighten its body as it brightly shone a metallic glow. A couple more uses of Iron Defense, and he immediately smashed his body against the Weavile, knocking it out with Body Press.
The next grunts were challenging Shade to a Double Battle. They sent forth their Liepard and Drapion, while Shade sent forth her Thievul and Phony Polteageist. The Liepard used Night Slash while the Drapion used Leech Life, the Liepard's claws glowing in a dark aura and Drapion's mandibles glowing a lime green aura as they charged at Shade's Pokemon. Suddenly, her Pokemon dodged both attacks, with Thievul using Play Rough on Liepard before digging into the ground, and Phony Polteageist using Curse on Liepard. As the Polteageist damaged itself, a ghostly aura was emitted and floated around the Liepard, damaging it constantly. The Drapion tried to attack the Polteageist with another Night Slash, but Thievul dug right underneath the Drapion and smashed into its underside, knocking it out. After a moment, the Liepard was knocked out from the Curse.
Shade returned her Pokemon and was granted access to some kind of stage, with Marnie on the stage and Piers watching from the back. Team Yell Grunts were on all sides, cheering on Marnie and booing Shade. Shade couldn't help but smirk.
She sent forth her Antique Polteageist while Marnie sent out her Liepard. A Snarl was used, sending out a dark shockwave at the Polteageist, but it dodged the attack and used Curse, hurting itself but a ghostly aura circled around the Liepard as it began to sap its energy. On top of that, the Polteageist began using Giga Drain and Strength Sap, sending out two orbs of life-stealing energy as they made contact, sucking the strength and life force from the Liepard and increasing the strength and vitality of the Polteageist. The Liepard was now in a frenzy, attacking with Brutal Swing, but the Polteageist summoned a barrier to protect itself (Protect), the attack hitting it and the Liepard bouncing back. It could feel the life drain from it from the Curse. In one final attempt, it tried to use Dark Pulse, but the Polteageist dodged about again, avoiding the pulse and the Liepard was knocked out.
Shade swapped out her Antique Polteageist for her Hatterene, as Marnie sent out her Toxicroak. Hatterene calmed her mind and glowing blue swords of energy danced around her (Calm Mind and Swords Dance). The dancing of the swords danced around for awhile, while she sat there, clearing her mind, knowing what to do. The Toxicroak used Poison Jab, but the swords blocked it from getting close. Now, that the sword dancing was done, the Hatterene stayed absolutely still. The Toxicroak, now enraged, used Sludge Bomb, spitting out a corrosive, poisonous blob at the Hatterene. It hit, but she didn't seem phased. He did it again. Again, nothing happened. Suddenly, Hatterene's eyes opened up and unleashed a powerful blast of stored psychic energy at the Toxicroak. With her physical and mental strength and mental fortitude raised to such high extents, the attack Stored Power did an immense amount of damage, knocking the Toxicroak out immediately.
Next was Marnie's Scrafty against Shade's Obstagoon. The Scrafty used Drain Punch, its fist glowing with brick red, sapping energy. The Obstagoon's arms, which were currently crossed at his chest, immediately glowed with brick red energy as he used Cross Chop to stop the attack, and then he used Submission, taking a hold of Scrafty and pile driving it to the ground by flipping over backwards, sending his own head and the Scrafty's head into the concrete. This also damaged the Obstagoon, but the attack did more damage to the Scrafty, who was now dazed. The Obstagoon then unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, using Close Combat to knock it out.
Then it was Shade's Cursola against Marnie's Morpeko. The Morpeko created a wheel of electrical energy, and ran at the Cursola, spinning the wheel as he charged (Aura Wheel). The Cursola's body began glowing with light brown energy as she slammed into the earth, causing the earth to crack and rubble to shoot out towards Morpeko, causing it to fly towards her (Earth Power). The Cursola used this opportunity to use its ghostly branches to grab the Morpeko as it took the mouse Pokemon and chomped on it with Leech Life, sucking its life force. The Morpeko used Thunderbolt as it changed to its Hangry Mode, trying to get away. But the Cursola was relentless and, when she got hit by the Thunderbolt, she used Revenge and smashed the Morpeko into the ground, knocking it out.
Now its Shade's Grimmsnarl versus Marnie's Grimmsnarl. The two Pokemon looked at each other with some respect, but also animosity. The two Grimmsnarl then acted. With Shade's, being the taller one, use Dazzling Gleam, shining brightly to daze the opposing Grimmsnarl, hurt it, and move in quickly with Draining Kiss, sapping the opposing Grimmsnarl's energy with a kiss that floated to the opposing Grimmsnarl and stole its life force. As Marnie's Grimmsnarl tried to recover, he used False Surrender. Knowing this trick all too well, Shade's Grimmsnarl jumped on it and used Play Rough and Spirit Break, attacking relentlessly and mercilessly until Marnie's last Pokemon fainted.
With that, Marnie walked off the stage towards Shade and gave her the Dark Badge after they both returned their Pokemon. Shade, smiling, wished her a good day and gave her some Max Revives for her Pokemon and the grunts' Pokemon she practically maimed before walking back to Aaron.
"That was fun," she said with a wry smile. "Your turn. Their Pokemon should be fully healed, since I practically maimed them and felt bad. I gave them some Max Revives for their trouble. They seemed to really appreciate it. Anyway, good luck."
She patted him on the shoulder and leaned against the Pokemon Center, allowing him to go if he wanted to fight. She looked up at the big screen to see it changed its focus on Aaron.
