Sun looked up as the frightening monster slowly approached.
"No…"
"Guzzlord! Wipe these brats off the face of the earth!"
As the Ultra Beast stormed towards Sun he withdrew his defeated Salamance and grabbed Lillie.
Guzzlord brought its fist down towards the two.
Lillie screamed as she saw the end approach.
Just then Rio burst from his Pokeball and blocked the attack with both his hands.
"Rio!"
The Lucario winced as it strained against the powerful UBs might.
"Impressive." Proton smirked. "Quite amazing that you can fend off my Guzzlord while injured from Gyaradose. But how long do you think you can hold out?"
Cracks on the floor appeared under Rio's feet. He was fighting a loosing battle. He eventually jumped back as the fist slammed into the ground.
Rio fired an Aura Sphere towards the Guzzlord. But it simply batted it away with it's arm.
"No way! That thing's stronger then the Guzzlord we fought in Resolution Cave!"
"Of course, it is boy. Ipersonally trained it into a weapon of mass destruction!"
Sun glared at Proton.
"Pokemon are not weapons or tools! They're leaving beings just like the rest of us!"
"Ha! Keep telling yourself boy!"
Guzzlord threw its fist downward again. Rio jumped just in time to evade. But it's other arm slammed into him while in mid-air. Both Rio and Guzzlords fist were buried into a wall.
"Rio!"
Guzzlord brought its first out with Rio trapped in its claw.
"Wring Out!"
Guzzlord took Rio in both its hands and started twisting. The Lucario cried out in pain as the massive pinchers squeezed him harder and harder.
"That's right! Crush the life out of it!"
"Rio!"
Sun started to run towards his Pokemon.
"Sun, no!"
Lillie could only watch as he approached.
The Guzzlord saw him approach and knocked him aside him it's foot. The boy was sent hurling back and landed painfully, next to Lillie.
"Sun!"
"Ugh…"
The trainer slowly got up wincing in pain. Looking up he saw Rio continue to suffer.
The Lucario struggled to keep his eyes open.
"R…Rose…"
His eyes slowly started to shut.
"Rio!"
BOOM
Suddenly a burst of flame hit Guzzlord's arm making it drop Rio.
Flare swopped in and caught him on it's back before flying back to Sun and Lillie.
The girl's face lite up as she saw him.
"Flare!"
As the Charizard placed the Lucario on the ground Rose ran up to him.
"Rio! Rio, are you alright?!"
"The kid took a beating." Flare replied. "I'm amazed he's still conscious."
Rio weakly turned his head to the sound of Rose's voice.
"R…ose…"
Rose took one of Rio's hands in both of hers.
"Rio…hold on…"
"Well, isn't that sweet." Proton laughed. "To bad it's too late for your friends to help you now. Guzzlord! Finish them!"
Flare turned to Rose.
"Any ideas? I don't think the two of us can beat that thing."
Rose tightened her grip on Rio's hand.
"I…I think I know what to do…"
"Then tell me quick! That monster's coming this way!"
"Try to distract it. Buy me as much time as you can."
"That's your plan?! Buy time for what?!"
Flare then noticed a small light emanate from Rose's hands.
"Rose…you're…"
"I believe in him…"
"…Alright. I just hope you're right on this."
Lillie turned to Sun.
"What do we do?!"
Sun slowly go up and took out his last Pokeball.
"Blaze!"
His last Pokemon came out.
"It's all up to you now. Somehow, we've got to-
"Flare, what are you doing?!"
Lillie's shout made Sun aware that her Pokemon was flying straight for Guzzlord.
The Ultra Beast swung it's arm at the Charizard but it flew around the attack.
"I'm over here, you overgrown dump truck!"
The beast continued it's attempts to swat Flare as Lillie watched from the floor.
"No…Flare is extremely aggressive…He doesn't know what he's getting himself into!"
"Blaze, go help him!"
The Incineroar nodded and rushed towards Guzzlord.
Flare flew above another punch then ducked under another. Then the UBs managed to land a punch on it.
Flare had it's back against the wall as he pressed against the attack.
"Blaze, Cross Chop!"
Blaze dove into the Guzzlord's arm and smacked it aside to free Flare.
"Ya, know I can handle this freak easily on my own!"
"Then it will be even easier with my help!"
Meanwhile Rio opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Rose holding his hand.
"Rose?"
The Lopunny smiled as her friend awakened.
"Rio…"
Suddenly she collapsed on top of Rio. The Lucario caught her and sat up.
"Rose? Rose!"
Meanwhile at the computer room Nebby rammed into a Zubat with Zen Headbutt and Aqua used, Hydro Pump on a Gollom.
"At this rate, we'll never get to that computer!" the Sogaleo growled.
Two Geodudes rushed towards Sans.
Its eyes snapped open.
"You're gonna have a bad time."
He then unleashed Night Shade on them knocking them out.
But then the group realized that they were surrounded.
"We got em now!" one of the grunts smirked. "Crush them!"
"Fire Blast!"
A star shaped flame erupted in the room, clearing out a good chunk of the Pokemon near the door.
Everyone's attention went to Red as he, along with his Charizard entered the room.
"Well, well. What do he have here?"
Rotom flew upwards to get a good look.
"Hey red!"
"Where's Sun?"
"He's buZZZZZZy else where! Can ya give us a hand here?"
The trainer tilted his cap.
"Gladly."
Guzzlord threw both it's fists towards Flare and Blaze. Both of them blocked the blows with their hands.
"Urk! I'm starting to see what the fuss is about with these things!" Flare grunted.
"What's wrong? Starting to wear down?" Blaze smirked.
"Oh, please! This is nothing!"
Both Sun and Lillie watched as their Pokemon struggled against the beast.
"Flare!"
"Blaze, you can do it!"
With a mighty roar, both of them pushed back Guzzlords arms.
Proton stared in disbelief as it stumbled back.
"What?! Impossible!"
The Guzzlord took a few steps back while trying to recover its balance.
"HYPER BEAM!"
Suddenly two rays of light flew into Guzzlords face knocking it over. It hit the ground with a loud thud and a rumble.
Sun and Lillie then noticed the masked heroes with their Espion and Glaceon.
"Ha, ha! Just in time!" the masked man said.
"What are you two doing here?" Sun asked.
"Looking for you." the masked woman replied. "Blue told us you went this way."
"Unbelievable." Proton growled. "You lot pop up like ants! Guzzlord, get up!"
The Ultra Beast slowly got to its feet and roared in rage.
"Espion, attack!"
"Tame that beast, Glaceon!"
Both of the masked trainer's Pokemon Ran up to Guzzlord and jumped into the air, flying towards it.
"Guzzlod, Brutal Swing!"
As they were in mid-air, the beast drew it's arm back and brought the mightiest swing yet. Both Pokemon were flung violently against a wall.
"Espion!"
"Glaceon!"
"Now squash those brats!"
Blaze turned to Guzzlord.
"Flare, here it comes!"
The fire Pokemon stood tall as the beast marched towards them.
POW
A ball of blue light hit it in the face making it stumble back.
Everyone looked behind them to see Rio with an outstretched palm, holding Rose's unconscious body with his other arm.
"Rio? How'd you recover so fast?" Sun asked.
Proton gritted his teeth.
"This is impossible! That thing should at least be seriously injured!"
Rio brought Rose over to Lillie and set her down next to her.
Lillie weakly turned her head to her Pokemon.
"Rose? Did you…use Healing Wish?"
Sun turned to Lillie.
"Healing wish?"
"It's a move that can fully heal another Pokemon." The masked man explained.
"But it costs all the energy from the user, causing it to faint." The masked woman added.
Lillie took Rose's hand.
"Oh, Rose…you're just like Nebby…using your power recklessly…And always trying…to protect others…I…I'm sorry…"
Sun's heart sunk when he heard her voice crack.
"I…*sniff* I'm such a unworthy trainer…I try to protect you and Nebby but you *sob* you always suffer because of me…"
"Lillie…"
Sun clenched his fist as she cried. He turned to Proton in rage.
"That dose it Proton! First you threaten my friends…then you try to take the UBs to use as weapons…and then…you made Lillie cry…YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!"
"HA! And I'm supposed to care for the feelings of a spoiled brat?! Enough of this insolence! Guzzlord, crush them!"
The beast took heavy steeps towards them.
"Here it come's." Flare said as he and Blaze got into battle stances.
Then they noticed Rio walk past them. Blaze perked his head up.
"Rio?"
"Rose believes in me…Sun believes in me…So I'll believe in me too!"
The Lucario's Aura glowed brighter then ever before.
Sun then noticed his Z-Ring glow.
"Huh?"
The masked heroes stared at it in shock.
"The Key Stone! Can it be…?!"
"Sun, what's that in your bag?" the masked woman asked.
Sun looked to see one of the pouches of his bag glow with the same light. He put it down and fished the object out.
"It's…It's the stone Lillie gave me for my birthday…"
The masked heroes stared at it.
"Sun…that's a Lucarioite!" the masked man said.
"Okaaaaaaay…What's a Lucarioite?"
"It's a Mega Stone."
"Wait, Mega Stone? Like that thing, you-I mean Dexio used?"
"Yes…if you give that stone to your Lucario…it can Mega Evolve!"
"Mega…Evolve?" Lillie asked.
Sun looked at the stone and clutched it in his fist.
"Rio! Catch!"
He threw the Lucarioite as hard as he could.
As Rio caught it, his body started to glow just like the stone.
"Now! Activate the Key Stone!" the masked woman said.
Sun looked at the Z-Ring on his wrist and held it up. With his other hand he pressed the stone inside the ring.
The purple light from it and Rio grew.
"Rio! Mega Evolve!"
He held the ring in the air and both lights formed a X shape. A bright shell surrounded Rio.
"What's that?!" Proton yelled. "Where is that power coming from?!"
Blaze and Flare shielded their eyes.
"What's going on?!"
"No idea!"
Just then the shell exploded and a bright light filed the room.
When it died down everyone looked up.
Lillie didn't know what to say.
"What? How did-When did he-
"Rio…" Sun gaped.
The Shiny Lucario's blue fur flowed past his back like a tail. It's hands and feet were red. Its hair grew longer with red tips. The Blue aura around it's body glowed like a blue flame.
Blaze stared in awe.
"Is that…really Rio?"
The Lucario opened his red eyes. He calmly looked at it's transformed body.
"Amazing…I had no idea this kind of power existed…"
From the ground, Rose weakly opened her eyes. She looked at the glowing Mega Form and smiled.
"Rio…I know you can…do…it…"
She closed her eyes and went unconscious again.
Rio, meanwhile turned his attention to the Ultra Beast in front of him.
Proton was shaking. But he tried to sty composed.
"Hmph! It's to late for anything to save you now! Guzzlord! Go!"
The dragon let out a loud roar as it stormed towards Rio.
The Pokemon turned to Sun and they both nodded.
"Brutal Swing!"
The UB brought its fist towards Rio.
"Bone Rush!"
Just before the hit Rio held out a bone shaped staff stopping the blow in place.
He flung the hand upward making Guzzlord lose balance. The UB swung its fists wildly at Rio but the Lucario deflected the hits with the Bone Rush attack.
After it deflected the fifth blow it threw the Bone at the beast, hitting it in the face and making it stumble backwards.
"What?!"
"Now, Bullet Punch!"
Rio rushed up to Guzzlord in a flash and jumped before hitting it in the face while recovering and making it fall over.
"That can't be…" Proton growled as Rio approached. "The UBs are supposed to be unbeatable…"
"You may have a powerful Pokemon." The masked man said. "But you lack the qualities to bring out it's full power."
"What did you say?!"
"Mega Evolution is a power born from a trainer's connection to their Pokemon." The masked woman replied. "You, who enslaves Pokemon and abuses them could never hope to hold such power."
"Enough! I have more power than you could imagine! Guzzlord!"
The Ultra Beast stood up and looked down at it's attacker.
"Dragon Rush!"
Guzzlord Swung its arm at Rio who jumped over the attack.
"Gotchya!"
The other arm tried to hit him in mid-air again, but this time he was ready. He blocked the blow with his hands and climbed onto it's arm.
Guzzlord tried to punch him off but Rio jumped again and was now overhead. Thea beast roared as it charged a Hyper Beam in it's mouth.
"Rio, Aura Sphere!"
He shot the biggest Aura Sphere he ever fired from his hands and into Guzzlord's open mouth. After a bright explosion, it roared in pain and fell over. Rio descended toward the downed beast's body.
"It's time to end this! Close Combat!"
"RRRRRRAAAAAAAAGH!"
Rio landed on Guzzlord and bombarded it with a flurry of furious punches.
The UB did nothing until it was knocked out.
"You did it Rio!"
"No! Guzzlord get up!"
The beast laid there on the ground as Rio jumped off.
Proton stared in disbelief.
"It can't be…my Guzzlord…Defeated…? That was my…trump card…"
Lillie smiled in relief.
"…He did it…Did you hear that Rose? Rio and Sun did it…"
The girl could have sworn she saw a faint smile from her Pokemon.
Proton returned the UB and glared.
"No…I'm not beaten yet! Go Crobat!"
His last Pokemon came out.
"You won't stop us! Let's go Rio!"
The Lucario then stumbled. It had one hand on the ground to keep him from falling.
"Rio? What happened?"
"Using so much power during it's first Mega Evolution must have worn it down." The masked man said. "I think it's best you let him sit this one out."
Blaze walked up to Rio.
"Ya heard him, Rio. Leave this one to me."
The Mega Lucario brought itself to it's feet.
"No…I can still fight!"
Blaze put a hand on Rio's shoulder.
"I know you can Rio. You did a great job. But don't you think it's time you gave me a turn?"
"Rgh…fine…just win."
Blaze smirked as he stepped forward.
"Just leave it to me. You go keep an eye on your girlfriend."
Rio turned to Rose.
"Right. Wait, Blaze! She's not my…ugh."
Rio rushed back to Rose and slipped a hand under her back to lift her up.
"Rose…"
"She'll be okay Rio." Lillie smiled. "Don't worry."
She then turned to her other Pokemon.
"Flare! Please help Blaze!"
The Charizard nodded as it approached.
Sun turned to Lillie in surprise. She slowly propped her into a siting position with her back against his arm.
"Lillie…? You should rest."
"No…You're always helping me when I'm in trouble…This time I want to help you!"
"Lillie…"
Sun smiled.
"Okay! Let's do this!"
"Right!"
"Crobat, Poison Fang!"
Proton's Pokemon charged towards Blaze and Flare.
"Flare, use Flamethrower!"
The Charizard spewed out a burst of flames, pushing it back.
"Blaze, Darkest Lariat!"
The Incineroar growled and formed flames in its hands. It spun towards Crobat at a rapid rate. It rammed into Crobat knocking it down.
"Grrrr…Air slash!"
Crobat rushed towards Blaze.
"Show em what a real Air Slash looks like, Flare!"
The Charizard intercepted the attack with it's claws. The two of them traded blows at intense speed.
Flare then batted it's wing upward sending it into the air. Then it turned to Blaze and nodded.
The Incineroar jumped on top of Flare's head and it was flung into the air.
"Use Flare Blitz!"
Blaze cloaked itself in flames and rammed into Crobat. It bounced off the ceiling and fell to the ground.
"Get up! Destroy those pests!" Proton yelled.
Crobat rushed to Flare and bit it's wing with Poison Fang. It roared in pain.
"Flare!"
The Charizard's eyes snapped open as it preyed it of and threw it across the room.
"Blast Burn!"
Flare rammed its fist into the ground. A Burning pillar of flames rose from the ground engulfing Crobat.
Sun pointed two fingers into the air.
"This ends now!"
Proton looked above his Crobat to see Blaze.
"MALICIOUS MOONSAULT!"
Surging with flames, Blaze came down on the Crobat, creating a massive explosion.
Everyone covered their eyes as the burst of light filled the room.
When it faded, Blaze got off of Crobat who was knocked out.
"We did it!" Lillie cheered.
"Yeah! We make a great team, huh?" Sun smirked.
Proton dropped to his knees.
Flare and Blaze smirked with a high five.
"No…Impossible…"
Red's Charizard rammed into a Machoke.
Bright then used Thunderbolt on a Butterfree, knocking it out.
"Nebby, Rotom, now!"
The Sogaleo took Rotom in it's mouth and jumped over a few grunts, landing in front of the computer.
"Rotom!"
It released the Pokedex from it's mouth so it could fly in front of it.
"Leave it to me!"
Rotom fired a blast of electricity at the computer.
Everyone turned their attention to it.
"Hey, what are you doing?!" One of the grunts asked.
The computer was fired and automatically shut down.
"ZZZZT! Mission accomplished!"
"…Oh, no."
Suddenly alarms started blaring in the room. Red lights flashed as Team Rocket was panicking.
"Oh, crud!"
"Look what you did!"
"What's going on?!" Red yelled.
"The whole tower is designed to collapse if the computer goes offline, abruptly! This whole place will come apart any minute now!"
"What?!"
"Evacuate!" To the emergency exits!"
All the grunts ran out of the room.
Red turned to the Pokemon with him.
"Come on, let's get out of here!"
As they exited the room Bright noticed something.
"Wait…where's Nebby? And Rotom!"
"Probably went on ahead!" Bloom said. "Come on! We've got to go!"
Sun stared at Proton.
"It's over."
The man growled.
"Curse you! You ruined everything!"
The masked heroes stepped forward.
"You have nothing left. Just surrender." The masked man said.
"It's time you answered for your crimes." The masked woman added.
Proton growled as he hit a button behind his desk.
A doorway opened up behind him.
"We'll see about that."
He ran inside as fast as he could.
"Hey!"
Sun went after him but as he passed the masked heroes, the masked man grabbed his shoulder.
"We will peruse. Get Lillie out of here."
"…Alright."
With that the duo went in the doorway in a flash, chasing after Proton.
Sun turned to his dear friend.
"Can you move?"
Lillie strained her muscles, but her body was still unresponsive.
"Rgh…Sorry…I can't…"
"Hold on."
As the Champion started to run towards her, the whole room started shaking.
"Wh-Wha…Whoooaaa!"
Sun fell backwards as the room crumbled.
Suddenly the floor under Lillie gave in, making her fall.
"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
"LILLIE!"
Sun hurried to his feet and rushed to the hole. Blaze and Flare hurried over along with, Rio, who was carrying Rose.
"Rio, is she okay?!"
The Mega Lucario closed his eyes. After a brief pause he nodded.
"Flare, can you get her?!"
The Charizard flapped its wings and lifted itself into the air.
But it winced in pain and dropped.
"Flare?"
Sun looked to see that one of it's wings were slightly purple at the edge.
"Oh, no…That Crobat got your wing…"
Sun panicked. The area wasn't going to last much longer.
He quickly grabbed his belt. All the Pokemon that Proton knocked out were still there.
"Blaze here."
The Pokemon took the belt then looked questionably at Sun.
"You guys, get out of here! Make sure all the others escape too! I'll catch up, I promise!"
"What?!"
Rio looked at him in shock.
"Sun, you'll never make it! I can go instead!"
"Can I count on you?"
Blaze stared for a bit…but it held the belt tightly and nodded.
"Always, partner."
"Thank you."
Sun jumped into the hole.
"Sun! Flare, take Rose, I'm going after him!"
Before Rio could pass the Lopunny, Blaze put a hand on his shoulder.
"You heard him. We've got a job to do."
"But we can't just leave him!"
Blaze grabbed his other shoulder and looked into his eyes.
"I've know Sun longer than you. He promised he'll make it back, didn't he? If Sun makes a promise he will keep it. Period. Nothing will stop him."
Rio paused, trying to think of a further argument.
"…Alright…"
Blaze then turned to Flare.
"He'll find Lillie. Trust him."
The Charizard growled.
"You'd better be right about that."
The Pokemon hurried out the way they came in.
"Bug Buzz!"
Ariana's Pheromosa made a loud buzzing noise bringing Necrozma to it's knees.
"That's right! Kneel to my mighty UB!"
Gladion growled.
"Come on Necrozma! You can do it!"
The black Pokemon opened its eyes.
"No…WE can do it! My strength is yours!"
Necrozma slowly got up.
In a flash, it rushed to Pheromosa and grabbed it in it's giant hands.
Ariana stared in shock.
"What?!"
"Wring out!"
It twisted the UB's body making it shriek in pain. Then it threw it into a wall.
Ariana stared at Gladion who had his eyes closed.
Then they snapped open.
"Let's finish this!"
And he clutched his wrist Necrozma gathered energy into it's forehead.
"Prismatic Laser!"
It fired the light into the air, and burst into flares, bombarding the beast until it fainted.
Ariana fell to her knees.
"Im…Impossible…My UB…My strongest Pokemon…"
Gladion let out a sigh and turned to Necrozma.
"Thank you..heh…you know…Sun said you gave him trouble…but you seem to have no problems with me."
The Pokemon turned to Gladion and nodded.
The trainer returned it and but it away.
Just then the floor started shaking.
"What?!"
Ariana looked up.
"Oh, no…"
"What's happening?!"
"Someone disconnected the Mother Computer! This whole tower is about to sink!"
"Sink?!"
Ariana leaned against a wall and pressed a hidden button. Part of the floor she was standing on went down.
"Wait!"
Gladion was about to chase her when he heard a rumble from above.
"Huh?"
He looked up just in time to see the ceiling come down.
"AAAHHHHH!"
As Red and the others ran down the halls they came across Blaze, Flare and Rio on the way at the branch.
"Hey, guys!" Aqua yelled. "Huh? What happened to Sun?"
Red watched them communicate.
"He'll catch up!" Flare replied.
"Huh? He'll catch up? What dose that mean?'
"What's he doing?!" Bright asked.
"And what happened to Rio?" Sans asked.
"And why's Rose sleeping at a time like this?!" Bloom asked.
"Is Sun going to catch up?" Red asked.
Blaze nodded.
Sun slowly scaled down the rocky pit. The area caved in pretty deep. And he was pretty deep in now…
"Please be okay…please be okay…"
His prayers were answered when he saw Lillie lying on a small cliff.
"Lillie!"
The girl weakly looked up.
"Sun?"
The boy jumped down next to her and held her up into a sitting position.
"Lillie, are you hurt?"
"N…no I'm fine."
"We need to get out of here. Can you grab my shoulders?"
"Nghhh…I'm sorry…I still feel numb…"
Sun lifted her over his shoulder making her yelp.
"S-Sun!"
"Hold on, we're getting out of here!"
Lillie blushed as he started climbing.
"Sun…why go so far…just for me…?"
The Champion hesitated to answer.
"Once we get out of here…I'll tell you."
Red and the others got back into Proton's office to see Blue's Alakazam pick up the tied-up Petrel with its psychic powers.
"Get him out of here!"
The Pokemon nodded and teleported away, taking Petrel with him.
"Blue."
The trainer then noticed his friend.
"Red! What happened?! Where's Sun?!"
"Just move, he'll follow us out!"
Sun grabbed onto a rock sticking out when another tremor hit.
"Hrrrgh!"
He lifted himself and Lillie up and set her down as he caught his breath.
He looked up. The hole they fell in was in sight.
"*Huff* Almost there…*pant* I-I need a minute…"
He set Lillie against the wall and sat next to her.
Lillie was scared. More now then ever before.
"S-Sun…we're not going to make it, are we?"
The Champion turned to her.
"Sun…before it's all over…I need to tell you what I was going to say at the Temple of Sunne…"
The girl's cheeks flushed red. She managed to turn her head enough to look at him.
"Sun…I…I lo-MMMMPHHHH!"
Sun put his hand over Lillie's mouth, gagging her.
"MMMRRMMPH!"
The girl mumbled into his hand as she gave him an upset look.
"Lillie…if it really is that important to you…say it when we get out. Not just because you think it's the end. Because it's not. We'll get out of here alive. Then you can tell me what you need to say."
Lillie's expression slowly softened. She gave a small nod.
"Good."
Sun removed his hand.
Then there was another rumble. The cliffside under them crumbled away.
"AAAAAAHHHHH!"
Sun grabbed Lillie by the arm and remains of the cliff with his other hand.
"RGH!"
He felt like his arms were about to come off. Slowly it started to slide.
"My…my hand's slipping…"
"Sun, just let me go before we both fall!"
Sun tightened his grip on Lillie's hand.
"No! Forget it! If you fall then I'm falling with you!"
"Sun…"
Then the part of the rock Sun has holding broke off.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The two trainers fell deeper into the pit.
Lillie squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself.
Sun looked up and saw a bright light.
Red and Blue stepped out of the elevator and into the stadium they met Ariana in.
"Wait…where's that Gladion guy?" Blue asked.
"Ugh…"
Red looked to his left.
"There!"
They rushed to a chunk of rubble. Gladion's head was sticking out from under it.
Red turned to Sun Lillie's Pokemon.
"Blue and I will lift this up. Pull him out."
"Alright Red…One, two, three! Heave!"
The trainers slowly lifted the chunk of the ceiling up. Blaze and Flare grabbed Gladion's shoulders and pulled him out.
Once they dropped the ruble, Blue shook his shoulders.
"Come on kid, up ant at em!"
"Ngh…"
Gladion slowly reached to rub his head and opened his eyes.
"You okay? Can you move?"
"I…think so…"
"Then come on! We need to get out of here!"
"Discharge!"
Tapu Koko released a surge of electrical energy. Celesteela finally collapsed.
"You…I won't forget this!"
The scientist withdrew the UB and ran out the front door.
"Ha, ha! We did it!"
The deity looked at Hau and nodded.
"Ya know…I feel like my grandpa fighting with you!"
He returned his Pokemon and turned to the elevator.
Just then Red and Blue rushed out, supporting Gladion from both sides.
"Guys? What happened?"
"Time to go! Run for it!" Blue yelled.
Outside everyone stared at the rumbling tower. The remaining deities were hovering above the defeated UB.
"What's happening over there?" Guzma asked.
"Look!"
Hapu pointed towards Red, Hau, Blue and Gladion along with Rio, Blaze and Lillie's Pokemon as they ran towards them.
They all watched as the tower finally crumbled away.
"Wow. And here I though I was the master of destruction." Guzma said.
"What happened to Team Rocket?" Hapu asked.
"One of there leaders is right here." Blue said as his Alakazam approached with Petrel. "As for Proton…I don't know."
The Team Rocket members looked in shock.
"C-comander? Defeated?!" One of the grunts gaped.
"You used a dirty trick, you brat!" Petrel growled.
"Look who's talking." Blue smirked.
"Hey, don't push!"
Everyone looked towards the gate. Proton and Ariana were handcuffed and forced on their knees.
The masked heroes came in behind him.
"Ah, there you all are." The masked man smiled.
"Oh, it's you." Blue grinned. "Caught the boss I see."
"Not just him." The masked woman replied. "We also caught all the remaining Team Rocket members as they tried to make their escape."
"You caught all of them on your own?" Hau asked.
"Well…we had a bit of help."
Just them three more people entered the gate.
Acerola and Gladion immediately recognized one of them.
"Uncle!"
"Officer Nanu?!"
"Oh, look. You guys already cleaned up here."
Next to him was a woman with purple hair and a man in a detective coat.
"Who are those two Uncle?" Acerola asked.
"My name…No…I shall give you my code name. You may call me…Looker." The man with the coat said. "And this is my boss, Anabel."
The woman smiled.
"It is a pleasure to meet all of you. I apologise for taking so long."
"These two here were sent to Alola to look into Team Rocket." Nanu said. "As soon as Hala told me they finally peaked their heads out I thought I might as well give them a heads up. Kind of a hassle to find them though."
"So that's why you didn't show up with the rest of us." Hala smiled. "I suppose we owe you more credit!"
"Are you the police or something?" Mallow asked.
"Indeed." Anabel replied. "Our fellow officers are rounding up what's left of Team Rocket."
"Chief!"
More Officers rushed into the gate.
"Now it's time for the rest of the scoundrels you defeated." Looker said, turning to the members of Team Rocket in the area. "Come quietly."
"Ha, ha…Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
Everyone turned to Proton.
"You fools…you have no right to arrest us!"
"What are you talking about?" Hau asked. "You guys are criminals!"
"In Kanto and Johto maybe…But this is Alola! A region where we committed nothing!"
"Nothing?" Lana asked. "You've committed more than a enough crimes to earn you a stay in jail."
"Oh? And what proof do you have?"
Everyone turned to each other.
Hau scratched his head.
"Uh…well…"
"Ha! See?! You have nothing against us!"
"Oh really?"
Everyone turned to Blue as he took a blue Pokeball out of his bag.
"Than what do you call this?"
"Is that what I think it is?!" Anabel asked.
"It appears to be a Beast Ball." Looker replied. "Young man, where did you get this?"
"Funny you should ask. I found it in Proton's desk. Say, Gladion, correct me if I'm wrong but these belong to the Aether Foundation, right?"
"They do…" the blond trainer replied. "And recently our remaining stock went missing."
"There ya go!" Blue said.
Proton looked nervously.
"I…Uh…That's…A-A friend of mine at the Aether Foundation gave me that! He said they didn't need them anymore! I-I'm a Pokeball collector you see…"
"And a top-secret document collector I assume?" Blue asked reaching into his bag again. This time he took out some papers. "I found these in there as well. Documents of the Ultra Wormholes. With the Aether Foundation Seal on them."
"Im…Impos…"
"I think we have enough proof here." Nanu said.
Anabel turned to the officers behind her.
"Take them away."
Red smirked.
"I suppose I also owe you a bit more credit as well Blue."
The trainer turned to Red with a stern look.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Use your imagination."
"Phew! All's well that ends well!" Olivia smirked.
"We cannot thank you all enough." Anabel said as the last of the transports with Team Rocket locked inside drove away.
"Nothing to it! Just doing our job to defend our region!" Hala replied.
"I trust young Sun did a spectacular job as usual." Looker added. "Where is he anyway?"
Everyone fell into dead silence.
"Uh…Wasn't he with you guys?" one of the former team Skull members asked.
"Uh…Now that you mention it…I didn't see him come back with you." Hau said turning to Gladion. "And what about Lillie?"
Gladion's eyes widened.
"I though you said he would catch up!" Blue said turning to Red.
"That's what this guy told me." Red said turning to Blaze.
Everyone's attention was on Sun's starter.
Gladion slowly approached.
"What happened?"
The Incineroar looked down as Gladion grabbed him by the shoulders.
"What happened to my friend?! Where is My sister?! Say something!"
Rio looked away in shame.
"I should have gone after him…Sun…I'm sorry…"
Gladion took the deadly silence as an answer of it's own.
He dropped to his knees.
"No…"
Everyone stared in sadness or looked away.
Some of them looked like they were about to cry.
"Oh no…Sun…Lillie…" Mallow sniffed.
"It…can't be…" Kiawe said as he fell to his knees. "Not the Champion…"
Hau was on the verge of tears.
"Sun…Lillie…why…?"
Hapu looked at the ground sadly. Then something caught her eye. She looked up.
"Hey, what's that?"
Everyone looked up. A bright light was in the sky.
Suddenly there was a bright flash and a Pokemon came out of it. It landed in the center of the group.
Hau was the first to recognize it.
"What the…Nebby…?"
Rotom flew out of it's mouth and faced it.
They then noticed the flowing cloak from the man ridding it. He was carrying a unconscious girl in his arms.
Everyone smiled at the surprise.
"SUN! LILLIE!"
The Champion slid off Sogaleo's back. Lillie was asleep in his arms.
Gladion ran up to them with Lillie's Pokemon close behind.
"Lillie!"
"She'll be okay…" Sun smiled. "She's just tired."
Everyone swarmed them.
"Geez! You had us all worried ya know!"
"Heh. Sorry Hau."
"I don't know how you do it Sun." Anabel smirked." But you always pull off the impossible."
"Anabel? Looker? Nanu, too? When did you get here?"
"Just a while ago." The woman replied.
"We arrested all of Team Rocket." Nanu added. "Including Proton."
"That's good…hey, Gladion…can you do me a favor?"
"What?"
"Here."
Sun passed Lillie to her brother.
"Sorry…I just…need to sit down for…a few…minutes…"
Sun slowly started. To collapse. Blaze quickly caught him by his back.
"Sun?!"
Hala checked his pulse.
"He's fine. Just exhausted."
"Can you blame him?" Sophocles asked.
"Heh, heh…"
Everyone turned to Guzma strangely.
"BWA HA, HA, HA! Ya know what? I don't think I can call this guy a kid anymore! He's already become a man!"
Plumeria smiled.
"Yes, he sure makes for a fine prince for our princess."
Hau snickered as Gladion stared at Lillie's sleeping face.
"Yeah…"
Rio turned to look at Balze's knowing smirk.
"You knew this was going to happen, didn't you?"
Blaze laughed and pated Rio's back.
"Like I said kid, I've known him longer than you!"
"Mmmh…"
Rio averted his attention to Rose. The Lopunny in his arms slowly opened her eyes.
"Rose!"
"Rio…? Is it…over?"
The Mega Lucario smiled and held Rose close.
"Yes. It's finally…over."
I got news folks. Next time will be the final chapter in this story. I apologize if this was rather sudden but I feel that after one more chapter, this story will have gone long enough. With collage around the corner, I'll have to go back to one story at a time. But I will say this was a joy to write and I'm grateful for all the favorites, follows and reviews. Thank you all so much for your support and I hope you enjoy my conclusion next week. See ya then!