The First Alolan Pokemon League: Tournament Rules
1) This is a single elimination tournament. Once a Trainer or all of a Trainer's Pokemon are declared unable to continue battling, that Trainer is eliminated from the tournament.
2) With an overseer present, before battle the two competing Trainers must agree on an equal number of Pokemon to use, with a minimum of three and maximum of six. In the case of battle against a Tapu of Alola, a Trainer may use up to a maximum of six Pokemon.
3) In battle, should a Pokemon be declared unable to continue battling by judge, it is considered defeated.
4) After a Pokemon is defeated, there is a maximum of thirty seconds before another Pokemon must be sent out, or the battle is considered forfeit.
5) After switching a Pokemon for another, there is a minimum of sixty seconds that must pass before switching the new Pokemon for another. Should a Trainer call a Pokemon back in less time than that, that Pokemon is considered no longer able to battle.
6) Only a Pokemon manifested from a League Standard Pokeball Variant is allowed within the League Battlefield. Minor items and decorations the Pokemon carries are allowed, but are subject to removal upon judge request. Likewise major items carried by Trainers may be requested to be removed from the Trainer rings when in battle.
7) There are no restrictions upon the usage of any specific Pokemon, Z-Move, or Mega Evolution, by request of League Founder Kukui.
"Well then, Moon, here we are."
Despite the softness and seeming calm of his voice, inside of Ilima surged a storm of excitement without measure. His was a battling heart, and this he had awaited for so long. Both of these things. Alola's first Pokemon League. And the chance to battle against Moon. It had become something of a running joke amongst the Captains – of how Ilima had never managed to face off against the young girl, to push her to give everything she had and see just what she could do. Well, now the moment was here and his. At long last he and Moon would battle, and he would see everything she could do.
And the best part of it all? At this point it wasn't even a guarantee he would win.
In contrast to Ilima's excitement, Moon was a mixture of nerves and calmness, her youth and understanding of Ilima's strength pushing against the experiences and teaching she had received over the past year. She was trying to remain calm, and focused, so that she might give it her all, but this was... the energy in the air was incredible. Even inside of the League staging room, a scattering of competitors still around, others gone to their seats already – a special block set apart for the competitors alone to watch from – Moon could still hear the roar of the crowd. The first battle of the first Alolan League was close now, and the hunger of the world's eyes upon this stage was peaking. They longed to see what would come next.
For that to begin with her...
"To start with," Anna was with the two, the Alolan reporter standing at about Ilima's height, "the two of you will need to agree upon an equal number of Pokemon to use in this battle. Do either of you have a number in mind?"
"Honestly," Ilima smiled, slight motes of his battle-hungry nature sneaking through his mostly calm expression, "it's a rather aggressive opening to the League, but I simply cannot resist. Moon," the Captain focused his eyes on Moon alone, "would you do me the honour of an all-out battle without restraint, six against six, giving everything we both have?"
Six... Anna slowly considered the two before her. As a reporter of Alola she knew a thing or two about its notable names, and was more than aware of Captain Ilima's reputation as a battle-fiend. He and Captain Acerola were the only two of Alola's Captains known to have six Pokemon. Most of the others with six competing were master Trainers with decades of experience behind them. Most.
Moon, Anna's eyes slid to the young girl, shorter than she, who was slowly nodding and agreeing to Ilima's request. A child who'd rocketed into the spotlight of Alola and the world just nine months ago. Anna remembered receiving directive from on high to investigate Moon, and the subsequent strong words Moon's mother had for the asking reporter. Honestly, words fairly given, Anna had accepted in retrospect. The number of people desperate to chase Moon down and hound her with questions she no doubt couldn't answer was... rather obscene.
But now here Moon was. In nine months she had climbed to the peak where the greatest of Alolan Trainers were to do battle. She and one other. A pair of youths beyond imagination. But here they were. Now to do what was right.
"Very well," Anna nodded her head, "I'll report to the judges and head up to the announcer's box. The two of you head to the stage upon being called." Nods from both Ilima and Moon accompanied Anna as she took her leave. Among those still in the staging ground, not yet having left for the stands, Kahili kept watch over Moon while Kiawe and Mallow pulled Ilima aside, both with words for their fellow Captain for setting the precedent of the League being showing everyone's full hands from the very beginning. Ilima just smiled.
How could he not?
But soon there were no more words to be said, as the names of Ilima and Moon were called. Through the path to the stage of the Pokemon League they walked.
And into the embrace of the roaring voice of the crowd they emerged.
"With the first battle of the first Alolan Pokemon League just moments away, excitement is at its peak here in the Alola Pokemon League dome. Before we begin, let's take a moment to review the competitors taking part." The voice of Anna, practised and smooth, narrated easily every intense second of Alola's first Pokemon League. Projected across the stadium, and to viewers across the world, she outlined just what everyone needed to know of those competing.
Of the first pair to battle: Ilima and Moon.
"On the right side of the stage is Captain Ilima of Melemele Island. Captain is a position of community leadership and environmental responsibility, given to youths who have completed their Island Challenges to carry until their twentieth birthday. In that time a Captain will oversee a Trial of the Island Challenge, and guide Trainers to those Trials while assisting them in growing to face them. Many of Alola's greatest Trainers have history as Captains of the region, and Ilima, current oldest of the seven Alolan Captains, is no different! An expert Trainer with a strong presence in both the Battle Royal and Battle Tree of Alola, Ilima has established his name and abilities with aplomb. Part of the team that created the Ride Pager, he is an intelligent and thoughtful Trainer who even those older than him would be tested to face. Someone to keep an eye on for sure!"
Finishing her half, Anna made a wave to Alexa, who – seated on the other side of Samuel Oak, who was between the two women in the announcer's box – made her own report.
"Facing Ilima, on the left side of the stage, is Trainer Moon." A spike of noise. Awareness honed, despite the names of the Trainers taking part being projected on boards around the League. Alexa focused on the best way to say this. "Moon gained global attention around the middle of last year due to a recording of a Pokemon Battle in which she displayed six Pokemon and two Z-Moves. Since that time, Moon has completed her Island Challenge at a near-record pace, second only to one other. Today she will once again be displaying six Pokemon, and we will see just how far she and her Pokemon have come. This battle will be a match of experience against unknown power where anything might happen, so make sure not to blink! Professor, do you have any thoughts?"
Amongst the crowd below, Jewellery focused on the stage, on the sight of her daughter entering the Trainer's circle she would stand within, as the voice of Samuel Oak crossed over the speakers next.
"To begin with, I should establish that although Moon's unknown abilities are an intriguing subject, that does not give anyone the right to disregard respect for her as an individual. As a youth of Alola, no different to any other, Moon deserves the full freedom to live her life as a Pokemon Trainer. It is a horrid thing to deny that to any child."
Kukui, in the stand for League Competitors, wore a wide grin hearing the Professor Oak giving a speech similar to one he had before. A tiny bit more eloquent though. Kahili, seated nearby, smiled as well.
"For this Pokemon Battle, I am excited to see a demonstration of Z-Moves, which both Ilima and Moon are able to perform. As an Alolan speciality, seeing such wielded by Alolan Trainers will be a true delight. I wish both young Trainers the best. Have a good fight!"
Opposite one another, the League battlefield between them, Ilima and Moon each raised an arm – Ilima's right and Moon's left – to note the white Z-Ring (for Ilima) and black Z-Power Ring (for Moon) they wore. The first time Moon had ever seen a Z-Move it had been performed by Ilima. And the first she had ever used, Ilima had seen that too.
It felt like destiny.
"Trainers at the ready!"
One of the League judges, a number more on standby, stood on one side of the battlefield, halfway between Ilima and Moon. With a hand raised to point at each, the man waited as Ilima and Moon each chose a Pokeball and the seconds, soaked in tension growing deeper and deeper, passed slower and slower.
And then...
"Begin!"
Even beyond the voices of the crowd the boom of noise that came with this moment was extreme. From the stands ringing the stadium, from those here to watch over family, from those who'd be competing as well. From the four Tapu, each resting atop a pillar mounted at the four corners of the dome. And from every last person watching from around the world. This excitement was everything.
Yet Moon and Ilima, yet Decidueye and Gumshoos, felt nothing of it. Only stared one another down, as the opening battle of the first Alolan Pokemon League began.
Ilima versus Moon, 6v6
Quick to close distance and attack, the Gumshoos partner of Ilima lashed out at Decidueye with clashing jaws, the Arrow Quill Pokemon evading and leaping back from the Dark-infused attacks. Compared to the Totem Gumshoos the partner of Ilima was quite short – not even half the size of Decidueye – yet intensely Moon felt, as the Stakeout Pokemon pursued and harassed Decidueye, that it must possess incredible power. Anything less from Captain Ilima would be a surprise.
She focused.
"And we have the first match of our first battle!" With excitement Anna's voice stoked the crowd's own. "From Ilima the Normal-type Pokemon Gumshoos, from Moon the Grass and Ghost-type Decidueye! This typing clash prevents each Pokemon from using a number of their strongest abilities, but that hasn't stopped Ilima from leading with an aggressive assault! Decidueye is completely on the defensive right now, unable to counter while evading! With the precise movements of this Gumshoos, it will be difficult for Decidueye to break away! Moon and her partner will need to work hard to be able to change this pace!"
Pokemon with age and experience found abilities wholly their own. Things shaped in response to the lives they lived, honed to a shape no other – not even another of their own species – could replicate. For Decidueye, first in its days as a Dartrix, targeted by powers far above it again and again, it had sought a means to escape and evade the most dangerous of attacks. And, together with Moon, honed that ability well.
On the stage it was an elegant dance, each leap, swipe, and gnash of Gumshoos evaded by short and precise movements of its Arrow Quill opponent, Decidueye never able to break away, but never showing pressure in being locked in close all the same. Moon's eyes flicked, for a moment, to Ilima, but saw only calm focus on his face. Returned her own to her partner. This was just the beginning: each of them could give far more at any moment. Right now they were testing one another, and seeing who would reveal something more first. But it was true, the pace was Ilima's.
Moon and Decidueye needed to change that.
"Oh!" Anna's noise of surprise came with the crowd's interest, as Gumshoos leaped into Decidueye only for the Arrow Quill Pokemon to appear to explode in a burst of leaves. This was the technique they had honed: the release of leaves as an opponent drew close and, in the moment of confusion from that, moving with utmost stealth and silence into a more advantageous position. A dangerous green glow emanating from one of the arrow quills Decidueye held, it struck forth against the Gumshoos's back to land an intense first blow.
Staggered, lashing around and out at its attacker, the Stakeout Pokemon now fell into the pace of its opponent, Decidueye once more evading and counter-attacking as Samuel Oak outlined his observations of Decidueye's evasive technique from the announcer's box above.
Never searching for distance, as intent as its opponent was upon preventing it, Decidueye focused on short-range dodges and counters, the heartier Gumshoos proving unable to respond to this form of speed and precision. Ilima, watching, grinned wide. Look at that! Look at what Moon was doing! Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!
It really felt like he could go all out without holding back.
Cracks splintered and spread quickly across the League stage, a heavy stomp of Gumshoos's foot sending a wave of force radiating outwards, the earth buckling and shifting in response to this single act. Decidueye, keeping light on its feet and moving through short and silent bursts of flight, pulled back from the action, distance for the first time gained. But that was fine now, Ilima smiled, as around the Gumshoos, pulsing with the strength he was sending it, a spiral of sand unleashed from the earth arose, hiding the Stakeout Pokemon from sight. Moon's choice of Decidueye had limited the offence Gumshoos could bring.
So it was time to change that.
Quickly the sandstorm raged, becoming an obscuring force around Gumshoos specifically, but pelting Decidueye with fast-whipped particles of sand as well. Moon focused, searching for what Ilima was trying to do, remembering what she could of the various Gumshoos she had seen and battled in her time. They were good at keeping close to targets, not letting them get away. Good at ambushing through patience. So Ilima's was going to come from the sands where it was hidden and be harder to see within it. That made sense. Sending her focus to Decidueye, Moon and her partner both honed their senses for their opponent's next move.
Inside the tornado of sand, not yet having moved, Gumshoos closed its eyes and focused another sense. Whipping sands wasn't nearly enough to blot out the keen sense of smell its kind possessed and, with a Trainer's will strengthening it, that sense was enough to hunt down even ghosts.
To let it harm even ghosts.
Moon's eyes widened as the crowd's voice surged, the partner Gumshoos of Ilima bursting out of the sands with an arcing fist aglow with power. Dodging around it Decidueye cried out as the Stakeout Pokemon leaped with it, slamming its body hard into the Arrow Quill Pokemon before, nostrils flaring and focus honed, heavy jaws seized around Decidueye's midsection and Gumshoos lifted and slammed its opponent against the ground time after time after time, the bursts of leaves Decidueye released not enough to loosen the Gumshoos' heavy bite.
"The use of Sandstorm to create the room to focus Odor Sleuth, allowing for the use of Normal-type techniques upon the Ghost-type Decidueye! Ilima has gained an intense lead through this combination, giving him an advantage by allowing his partner to now hit with its most powerful techniques!"
"Gumshoos took some hits early on, but has just easily evened the score and doesn't appear about to let Decidueye go free! Is this the end of the first match already?"
No. It was not.
With practise and experience Pokemon could be taught techniques they do not innately develop. Moon had been able to teach her Pokemon some, from tutors she'd been guided to over the past months of training, but compared to far more experienced Trainers with years of refining themselves, there was still little her partners could do beyond what they were known for.
But because of that, with so many less abilities to choose from, Moon's choices remained decisive. With only a few options available, those she chose she believed in fully. And such belief lent a strength all of its own.
Decidueye glowed.
There were a collection of these techniques, that burned the body to unleash greater strength, that pushed out energy to a painful degree and in return struck with power unmatched. Pinned by the jaws of Gumshoos as it was, Decidueye lacked any of the requirements to strike with the Brave Bird technique, developed only in the latest stages of Moon's training with Mina, but it could still manifest the power, and that power still burned bright. Burned Decidueye, yes, but surged against the jaws of Gumshoos as well. Pushed open and back the vicious Stakeout Pokemon's attack, Decidueye dropping free before diving into the swirling sands around them. A desperate technique that harmed the user too, but little more could have broken free.
And because of Moon's absolute belief that this was necessary, Decidueye's focus remained. This wasn't over yet.
The Grassium-Z Moon set into her Z-Power Ring said as much.
Ilima expected it. Even with the sandstorm obscuring his vision of Moon – high-powered cameras around the battlefield showing better details on screens for those watching in the stands and across the world – he knew she'd be looking for this. Moon's uniqueness, her ability to perform Z-Moves without limit, Ilima not only expected but wanted her to lean into it. To use every last scrap of power and ability she had. Anything less would be a disappointment. And he would not be disappointed here upon the stage of the Pokemon League.
It wasn't time for his own Z-Move, of course not. But just because Moon and Decidueye threatened with one, it didn't make for an advantage without compare. Focusing its senses, as Decidueye raced through the sands around it, Gumshoos tightened its body. Built up power within itself, and maintained its awareness of the position its opponent held. An arrow, infused with Grass-type energy, fired from a direction expected and was handled, Gumshoos's own strength letting it attack and destroy the incoming shot. More followed after, but strengthened by its focus the Stakeout Pokemon evaded by dived forward, chasing down Decidueye with perfect aim. To start with, if Moon couldn't even make the opportunity to unleash a Z-Move, her advantage didn't matter in the least.
The sandstorm was waning, only whipped up for a brief time. With its thick coat of fur and intense sense of smell the partner Pokemon of Ilima had shown little concern at the effects of the storm, while Moon's own partner proved less able to make use of it – not hidden by the sands from Gumshoos's sense of smell, and its own vision obscured. And the exchange of blows, the injuries taken, Decidueye had fared far worse. Was slower now, and less able to escape or evade Gumshoos's incoming charge. An easy conclusion should Moon fail to release the power of a Z-Move.
Ilima watched with razor focus for any sign she might.
Capturing the last swirls of sand a surge of wind summoned by Decidueye wrapped up the loose particulate, the darker Ghost-aligned energy that was shaping the wind proving useless but the blast of sand it compacted surprisingly effective. Loose sand, even at high speed, hadn't properly blotted out the senses of the focusing Gumshoos, but a concentrated ball of sand smashing into its face as it charged forward did the job. Good and clever thinking, another arrow from Decidueye fired as Gumshoos shook its head to dislodge some of the sand that had been lodged within its flared nostrils. The arrow hit, and it was a fine shot, but the strengthened body of Gumshoos, Ilima's focus never faltering, and the Pokemon focusing its own power in each spare moment it found, meant the shot splintered and did far less than Moon no doubt wished. Harming Gumshoos in any real way wouldn't be easy now. Little that could stop it beyond a Z-Move.
Having pushed Moon into this situation, Ilima made sure he was ready to counter such the moment it should appear.
The Grassium-Z, the Z-Move Bloom Doom, had two powers. Firstly, naturally, it released a wave of intense energy, Z-Power flavoured to the Grass-type, which spread outward in a wave from the user and washed over everything around it. Those caught within suffered heavy damage, as all Z-Moves would do.
Secondly and uniquely, it caused plants to grow.
Time and time again, in battle and in training, Moon had seen this. The way plants immediately grew under this Z-Power – disappearing almost as fast as they formed. But more importantly existing plants, even things not rooted or growing, would still respond. And those changes, those did not disappear.
That was the second aspect of this Z-Move she had begun to learn to wield.
Against Acerola it had done as well as could be. Caused leaves stuck into an opposing Pokemon to burst into thick vines, trapping the foe and catching it within the Z-Move's force. When considering this Z-Move, Moon looked always for both ways to use it. As power, and as growth.
Both aspects she and Decidueye had prepared for in the moment the sandstorm had obscured Decidueye from sight.
Before Gumshoos even closed in Moon began the Z-Pose, Ilima directing his Pokemon back, unsure as to Moon's intent. At this distance that Z-Move would never hit his partner Gumshoos. What was her plan? Casting his eyes across the field, looking for anything that stood out, Ilima recognised the issue far too late. It wasn't a tactic he'd ever consider, using a Z-Move in such a way, and that was Moon's greatest and most dangerous skill. The things she'd do, they'd be things no-one else had ever conceived of.
In spite of himself Ilima's grin widened, a fierce thing, as scattered across the League battlefield, caught in the radiating light of the Z-Move Bloom Doom, the sharp leaves Decidueye had thrown out when hidden by the sandstorm burst alive into twisting and intertwining vines.
In her experiences, Moon had come to rely on two great strengths in battle to close the distance between herself and greater Trainers: disguise and terrain. The first allowed her partners to perform actions without sight upon them, and from those actions allowed them, with Moon's will joined, to perform techniques no others expected. In any situation where a Pokemon of Moon's was hidden from view, even if the opponent was hiding too, the advantage was actually hers. For the things she did that no-one was prepared for, without seeing the moments preparing for each, they'd come as a surprise every single time.
The sandstorm Ilima had called for, allowing his Gumshoos the freedom to strengthen itself, Moon had made use of it too. And this was the result. The second aspect.
Terrain.
This was a lesson from the Tapu. The nature of infusing the environment with a Pokemon's power, and drawing greater power from that environment in turn. It was a far less elegant method than those Pokemon that could naturally create a Grass-infused terrain, using a Z-Move to overgrow scattered plantlife, filling them with Z-Power so they might give more power in turn, but it worked. For a brief moment, as Decidueye landed upon one of the bloated vines and immediately drew a surge of energy from it, the plant withering away as the power infused transferred back into the Pokemon atop it, they had a terrain that was theirs to wield.
The Gumshoos, not yet having moved as Ilima parsed just what had happened, the voices of the announcers going wild over this ridiculous use of a Z-Move, found itself unable to dodge the next arrow shot by Decidueye, lingering Z-Power trailing from the shot. Nowhere near the strength of a Z-Move, but the scattered power equally restoring and empowering Decidueye still meant so much.
The arrow that hit, through the Gumshoos' own boosted bulk it pierced.
How much was propping Decidueye up? How much was keeping it standing? Was it barely staying on its feet, or still ready to continue on? Ilima studied the foe but found himself unable to tell, this situation not something he had ever seen or even imagined. This Z-Power created terrain, it was a far more costly to create variant yes, but even still... it was brilliant. How much had Mina seen, how much had she guided Moon to, over their months of training? Or was this, as with whatever Z-Moves she might show after, simply the nature of Moon embracing an ability no other in the world had. Ilima had to know. He simply had to know.
His fingers twitching Ilima raised a hand, focusing first on those fingers, and then on the sight of Gumshoos beyond. The Stakeout Pokemon dove forward once more.
Of course it was hurt. So was Decidueye. The two had met and clashed and fought and hit and struggled, with intensity and techniques all of their own, the kind of fight a real Pokemon League battle should be. The kind that Ilima had watched since a child, with wide eyes at the showing of each region's best. To have joined that same pantheon, the joy in his heart was only equally matched by the feral intensity lurking within him. More more more.
There was still so much more to enjoy!
Decidueye dodged. Wove from vine to vine, each footstep drawing power from the Z-Power infused plantlife. But that power wasn't loyal, and as Gumshoos passed over vines it drew energy too. The battlefield was littered with those little pockets of strength to be taken, and as much as Decidueye shot its arrows, and Gumshoos harried the Arrow Quill Pokemon with its own strength, the two focused more on snapping up whatever they could. What a wild and risky technique Moon and her partner had unleashed! Ilima loved it. And that passionate appreciation for this battle he and his partner had joined, it kept Gumshoos's own strength and focus even despite the blows it had taken. These two, dancing to the song of Alola amplified by the pounding heartbeats of all those around them, they were truly showing what it meant to stand here at Mount Lanakila's peak.
Pride. Delight. Happiness. Joy. Ferocity. Battlelust. Ilima's body pulsed with all of those emotions, while his mind wrangled them into a razor's edge he could balance calm upon. Even in this first match Moon had pushed him beyond so many of the battles he had experienced thus far. It was everything to him.
He truly couldn't be happier.
At this edge, pushed this far, both Pokemon exhausted, all the Z-Power scattered into energy to be made use of absorbed, there was little more either could do. They'd both worn one another down, and their movements had slowed to nothing. But for Ilima, with experience and learning beyond Moon's own, there was one more thing he could do. For his Pokemon though exhausted, having given almost everything it could, still had one ability left to call upon. Something that could only be unleashed in this exhausted state.
A true Last Resort.
Decidueye could not evade. The focused senses of Gumshoos, underlined by Ilima's own, allowed the Stakeout Pokemon to strike with Normal-aligned attacks even against a Ghost-type foe. Commentary by Professor Oak, which Ilima would hear when watching a recording of this battle after the fact, would cause the Captain to blush at the distinguished Professor's praise for Ilima, stating that the ability for a Pokemon Trainer to have their Pokemon maintain that honed state of mind for so long indicated an incredible focus of Ilima's own.
By that ability, and experience, and teaching and growth of his partner, the attack that could only be formed by a Pokemon driven to the edge landed and there was no way for Decidueye to withstand it. Blown back by the attack the Arrow Quill Pokemon fell, and raising an arm the judge of this match declared it unable to battle. The first of Moon's Pokemon defeated. Although, given Ilima was calling back his own, it was a battle just barely shy of equal. Should that Gumshoos be called on again, there would be very little it could do with the damage and exhaustion it had suffered.
An incredible first showing for these two Alolan Trainers.
As the seconds passed by Moon thought, going over the Pokemon she should next bring to the field. Not yet Salamence, or Bisharp, her two strongest. Of those remaining – Milotic, Volcarona, and Sylveon – each had weaknesses Ilima would no doubt hone in upon with his choice. As the victor he was free to make one in response to her own, after all.
In the end, as a call from the judge indicated Moon needed to choose a partner soon, she unleashed Milotic and narrowed her eyes upon the Smeargle Ilima chose in return. She knew about that Pokemon. Knew how it could copy any move it saw and make it its own. No doubt this partner of Ilima could respond to any number of Pokemon. Who knew just what it could do.
But that didn't change what she needed to.
She needed to win.
The requirements for a League standard arena are as follows: a rectangular field of fixed dimensions; a marked zone for Pokemon Trainers at either end of the field; and a flat, smooth surface of densely packed earth making up the battlefield. This environment allowed easiest for most Pokemon to unleash their strength – whether those that stand upon the earth, dig beneath it, or fly up into the sky – while providing no specific benefits certain types might make use of.
Yet this standard brought difficulty to one certain type of Pokemon: those who not only excel at movement within the water, but were hampered once outside of it. Many solutions have been debated and discussed over the years, from an alternate arena competitors may agree to use that contains filled channels of water, to requirements that Trainers taking part in Leagues must acknowledge the disadvantage they hold going in. A full redesign of the standard arena to include water for swimming Pokemon has yet to be agreed upon, with arguments heavy that such a change would provide advantages and disadvantages for Pokemon that skewed their abilities further. The Alolan League Stadium, built quickly to host this first tournament, had not yet faced a discussion on an approach to this situation. The most notable Water-specialist Trainer taking part, Captain Lana of Brooklet Hill, has acknowledged the disadvantage this arena presents her and prepared for it.
Even without a native source of water, most Water-type Pokemon possessed the ability to create their own, allowing for those types to battle even in dry environments. But still, the requirement to devote power simply to match an opponent, it was an unfortunate disadvantage the world had acknowledged. A truth that all were not truly equal in this field. But was such a thing even possible with the wide variety of Pokemon in the world? Debates continued.
The Tender Pokemon Milotic was not one such Pokemon bound solely to the water, was perfectly capable of moving with serpentine grace even upon the land. But the truth was that on the land its movements were still less than in the water. There was still a gap between here and its full power. Moon had faced that, over the months of her training, realising this would be the case, but in the end still chosen to go forward with this partner of hers.
Milotic wished to fight alongside her and Moon had no desire to deny that wish.
The opening seconds of the second match between Ilima and Moon were immediately intense, the Smeargle partner of Ilima – a cream-coloured bipedal canine, sporting a long tail ending in a paint-secreting brush – crossing the distance between it and the Milotic partner of Moon in an instant. That speed, as those in the announcer's box reported, was unnatural for the Painter Pokemon, a clear technique it had claimed. Smeargle were unable to maintain more than four uniquely learned moves: the sole restriction upon their incredible versatility. If one of the specialised techniques it had learned was this extreme speed, that was one of the four Moon knew to expect.
The remaining three mysteries still.
The power of the charge from Smeargle was intense, crashing into Milotic and sending the Tender Pokemon flying, despite the far smaller size of the Smeargle that had attacked it. Hitting the barrier surrounded the battlefield, just before Moon, Milotic raised its head as Moon called her encouragements to the partner before her. Water was already cascading along Milotic's cream scales, the Pokemon manifesting the liquid to surround it. Many Water-type Pokemon used this ability: forming a coating of water to aid their movement, although the time and energy spent to do so in battles such as this made for a painful cost. Nevertheless Moon did not feel bad for this choice, and her focus and confidence kept Milotic's spirits high as the Smeargle before them vanished in a blitz of speed again.
Beyond the natural abilities it used: both lashing out with water as well as internalising it for offence and recovery, Moon's partner Milotic had two specialisations. Firstly the water it channelled, surrounding it like a shell that enabled it to move even faster over dry land. Secondly, ice.
To manifest and control the frozen water had been a journey across Alola, Mina's guidance leading Moon to Captain Lana, who knew much about drawing the similar type from her Water-type Pokemon. Milotic was all Moon trained with Lana – Moon aware Lana would be an opponent in the Pokemon League, Lana believing Moon would be in turn – but together with the Captain it was trained well. In the Final Trial with Kahuna Hala, Milotic had quickly changed water to ice to seal the Kahuna's Hariyama in place. One aspect of how it might wield that power.
Another, as Smeargle closed the distance between it and Milotic again, as act of counter.
Spikes of ice erupted from the water coating Milotic, the Tender Pokemon rapidly chilling a portion of the liquid that wrapped around it, Moon's focus spotting Smeargle's angle of attack just enough for her partner to respond. The sudden mass of ice rebounded Smeargle, the Painter Pokemon diving back in surprise from the painful impact, as the lump of ice – no longer under Milotic's control as the water was – dropped heavy to the ground. A dangerous tactic that sacrificed the liquid Milotic needed to keep its speed and power high, but a necessary one to counter the strength that opposed it. Ilima nodded. That wasn't bad at all.
She'd taken it from Lusamine. The partner Milotic of that woman, it had released ice freely both times Moon had battled her, each to great effect. Seeing Trainers using the same species of Pokemon as she, Moon had from each she'd witnessed – whether in person or studying famous battles available – taken what she could. But none of those lessons learned felt as strange to her as this, to bring the battling style of her partner to mirror that woman's own. Gladion and Lillie would both be watching this battle. Would seeing Moon and Milotic fight like this feel off to them?
She still struggled with it.
For a moment faltered.
An explosion of fire focused Moon's attention, steam hissing in the air as the Smeargle, keeping its distance from Milotic now, unleashed a blast of flame into the water that wrapped it. Quick to point out that Ilima was moving to deny Milotic the water it used, Anna's point was agreed to by Alexa, quoting past battles she had observed where the wreathing liquid of a Pokemon would become the core of a battle between it and another. Ilima called another blast of flame and Milotic, under Moon's command, burst into movement alongside the barrier walls of the arena. The flames it dodged slammed into the barrier just before where Moon stood and she flinched back, even knowing she was safe. Few could blame her.
The Smeargle of Ilima was battling for attrition. Using its great speed to take position, then a blast of fire to strip away the water Milotic kept. The more Milotic lost, the more it created to maintain, the more strength it would give away. This was the core of this battle now, as Alexa had said. The strength Smeargle spent, would it be more or less than what Milotic lost? That came down now to what the Tender Pokemon did next.
Moon set the Waterium-Z into her Z-Ring and kept her focus tight.
She didn't have an Icium-Z. On the ascent of Mount Lanakila Kukui had discussed it with her, how those Z-Crystals tended to appear in the frozen caves, but despite looking Moon hadn't found one. Milotic was the only one of her partners to wield ice in any form, so it didn't specifically weigh on her, but one day she did intend to go back and search one out, simply to hold the variety.
There were Z-Crystals she rarely used, her partners not the types to bring out their full power, but even still with only two – Psychic and Ice – she did not possess, Moon couldn't help wanting to find them all the same.
Expanding the options she could wield in any battle she would face.
The next blast of fire a jet of pressurised water shot through, striking Smeargle hard, the flame not dispersed hitting Milotic in the same moment. It was hard to say which Pokemon fared worse, both stumbling back, but with the potential of another Z-Move in hand, awareness remained that the advantage would be Moon's should she unleash it.
Professor Oak observed.
"The nature of multiple Z-Moves has left Moon with a battling style uniquely her own. That she can use them even in non-offensive ways, as the use of the Grass-type Z-Move with her partner Decidueye has shown, indicates an extremely wide variety of high-power abilities she can unleash depending on the situation that faces her. Many Trainers across the world have battling styles that are their own, but Moon's is something that has never existed before, and because of that makes her very hard to predict. She has clearly trained incredibly hard prior to this Pokemon League, to be able to make use of that."
"Moon's most notable appearances have all been centred around the Pokemon with her, more than her own battling ability." Anna, well aware of all that happened of note across Alola, continued the topic. "But here we're specifically seeing not just incredible Pokemon to have been raised in such a short span of time, but also incredible talent as a battler from Moon herself. Despite the battle being in Ilima's favour so far, it is very much Moon making an impact within it."
A second Z-Move was near. Aware of that, Ilima's focus was so tightened he couldn't hear a word of the announcers' voices, or the crowd around him. The pair of techniques his partner Smeargle was using had been enough to push Moon's Milotic into a bad position, but it had fought back hard all the same. The next major attack taken could easily open him up to a Z-Move reprisal.
To outplay that, Ilima moved as such.
Travelling once again at its extreme speed Smeargle closed in on Milotic, who had remained at the battlefield's edge to narrow the directions the Painter Pokemon could attack from. A lash of water whipped from Milotic's tail crystallised into ice, Moon's own focus and angle of view giving her the opportunity to track the Smeargle better than Milotic could. Moving at this speed was tiring too, but by pulling back from the ice each time, Ilima had made sure Moon felt confident in using it to stop these attacks.
Smeargle appeared overhead Milotic and swung down its tail into a chunk of ice that froze in response.
Then through it.
Milotic, being a Water-type Pokemon, was most at threat from the third of Smeargle's learned techniques – the Grass-type move Power Whip. But Ilima had held that move back, seeking to lull a sense of security from Moon in only showing two moves against her Pokemon, so that when he did command this attack it would hit with unexpected power. The ice formed to resist it cracked and shattered, this attack at this close range – especially coming out of an Extreme Speed dash – having more than enough strength to pass through any defense and land cleanly upon the Milotic's head.
A rushed "oooh" from the crowd echoed as Smeargle fell back from this hit and Milotic hit the ground, defeated by an overpowering and direct blow. Maybe Moon had still been on guard for Smeargle's remaining moves, and searching for an opportunity to unleash the Waterium-Z, but Ilima had denied her that. So what would be third, Moon? Calling back Milotic, she spent a moment considering. But with a Fire and Grass-type technique shown so far, Moon felt confident in assuming the type of the fourth Ilima's Smeargle had learned. Not Volcarona then, no.
Sylveon, Intertwining Pokemon, stretched as it manifested and set its eyes forward on its foe.
The next match began.
Of all of Moon's partners Sylveon's range of abilities was the widest at her command. The Fairy-type evolution of Eevee was well able to build barriers that weakened attacks, or distorted light, or even acted as lenses for focusing the Moonblasts it formed. Beyond that it was an agile mover; the curling feelers stretching from its head and neck could drain energy from whatever they wrapped around; and the Pokemon could release a pink mist that obscured it from sight. A range of techniques that allowed it to achieve results of any form – a reliable Pokemon that Moon trusted fully. The training with Mina, it had sharpened all of Moon's Pokemon, but perhaps Sylveon the most.
Now to respond.
For Ilima it was simple logic. To call back Smeargle, weakened but not nearly yet beaten, and send out another fresh, would be to have that Pokemon and Moon's likely lose energy in similar amounts. At this pace, even with each victory he claimed, the Pokemon left behind would all be left weakened. A turn of the tide could overwhelm him all too easily. Cautious and logical, even despite the wide grin on his face, Ilima made this decision easily. Smeargle had more than enough power left to tease out just how that partner of Moon would fight, as well as leave it easy prey for a Pokemon to follow. There was no doubt at all in the Captain's mind that Moon's Sylveon would best his Smeargle here, but that didn't matter.
All that really did was how much he was able to do before that moment came.
In moments the pink mist Sylveon formed as part of its misty terrain spread out around it and the Intertwining Pokemon disappeared from sight; Alexa in the announcer's box pointing out this was a more traditional form of terrain in Pokemon battles compared to Moon's stunt with the Grass-type Z-Move, Anna theorising that Moon had a preference for terrain moves. Were she focusing on the battle any less, enough to hear them talking, Moon would agree.
A blast of fire from Smeargle tested the mist, disappearing into it and then passing through, Sylveon within able to dodge by the sight of Moon without. Recognising that, Ilima called for another use of Extreme Speed, Smeargle racing into the mist in a flash. But seeing it coming Moon countered that too, Sylveon's own fast-moving attack not quite the same in speed, but still quick enough to dodge away with the advantage the mist gave.
With both Pokemon now inside the mist, vision of their trainers cut away, it was up to them alone to find their way. All too quickly Ilima realised charging in had been overconfident – a slip of tactics in his excitement to clash with Moon again. Calling out he drew Smeargle to dash back at that same high speed, out of the field of mist before the Sylveon within it – used to that environment – could take the advantage.
Happily, just as she had with Gladion and his partner Umbreon at the base of Mount Lanakila, Moon called for a Moonblast and Sylveon gave answer. A beam of pink light burst out of the mist chasing Smeargle down.
"Hydro Pump!"
By Ilima's call the fourth technique his partner Smeargle had learned was released, a tremendous torrent of water surging from the Pokemon's mouth, crashing into and bursting against the powerful beam of Fairy-type energy Sylveon had unleashed. Against one another the two beams of power struggled, Sylveon's pushing hard against the faltering Smeargle – feeling the exertion of the battle with Milotic taking its toll – but not overpowering it before both attacks faded away. Moon frowned, the technique she had used so effectively against Gladion failing to strike here. But she had been right, in her guess, and was pleased to have not sent Volcarona out to face this danger.
It would have to be Sylveon that put this match to rest.
Racing forward Sylveon accelerated in speed, not at the same level as Smeargle's own but enough to make it obvious none of the Painter Pokemon's other attacks would hit it. Aware this had to be Moon's intent, that she must be prepared for Ilima to use such in counter, Ilima called for more caution, more evasion using that speed. When each accelerated to their maximum it would be Smeargle that was never caught, though the cost of energy involved was significantly greater too. Was Moon's intent exhaustion then? To trick Ilima into wasting his partner's strength? Or was it both, a preparation to counter, and acceptance he might not? Was he overthinking this? Or was Moon just that dangerous a Trainer? He didn't know. For all those who knew Ilima, the expression of feral joy on his face said it all.
He was having the time of his life.
"Power Whip!"
Bursting out of its speed Smeargle lashed its tail around again, that powerful blow that had beaten one of Moon's Pokemon already. But this time, Moon prepared for an incoming attack, it bounced off of a strong barrier formed, before the ribbon-like feelers of Sylveon wrapped around the Smeargle's tail.
Oak took point on covering this topic.
"While the most powerful techniques of Sylveon are formed of the energy it releases – whether as beams, waves, or other forms – when draining energy from foes it takes far more by making physical contact with its feelers – a dangerous gamble by bringing the Pokemon closer to opponents, but one that has significant reward. Each of Moon's decisions with the three Pokemon she has used so far have been based around taking the more risky choice, a tactic no-doubt born of understanding the difficulty she faces. Ilima has shown caution often of the techniques Moon and her partners might unleash, but she has still a number of times narrowed him into situations where she can attack all the same. Both Trainers are showing an incredibly impressive amount of ability, for a battle that is still only in its first half!"
The grip Sylveon had was far too tight. That Pokemon far too healthy and Ilima's far too tired. The speed at which the remaining energy of the Painter Pokemon was being drained, it was significant. So much for wearing Sylveon down before sending out his next Pokemon, Ilima had only succeeded in letting Moon and her partner get warmed up.
Honestly.
He couldn't remember a time he was last as happily lost in battle as this.
Third from Ilima was a Pokemon Moon did not know, Rotom-dex not with her to provide analysis – Pokedexes considered unfair advantage in officially sanctioned League battles, the living device left with her mother instead. It was a small Pokemon, blue furred, a large head mounted atop a smaller body. Clutching a block of wood, the Pokemon breathed in and out, eyes closed, clearly deep asleep.
"Third from Ilima comes Komala, the Drowsing Pokemon!" Attempting to listen to Anna's announcement, Moon was forced to put her attention back to the field as the Drowsing Pokemon in particular suddenly launched itself forward, rocketing towards Sylveon through the air at frankly unreasonable speed. Sylveon, charged from draining the remaining energy of Smeargle moments before, dodged neatly, only for the Komala to hit the ground, then suddenly rocket in a rebound to where Sylveon was next. Was that Pokemon even really asleep?
It didn't make any sense.
"Komala is a curious Pokemon," Professor Oak's explanation to those watching, Moon could only half-listen to, focused on the battle as she was. "Due to its specialised diet of sedative plantlife, it remains in a sleeping state for the entirety of its life. However this does not prevent the Pokemon from being able to move, and even respond, to its surroundings. Wild Komala rarely battle, choosing to avoid others, but those partnered to a Pokemon Trainer can prove quite aggressive, as can be seen on the battlefield below!"
It didn't stop. Without any change in pace the Komala of Ilima seemed happy to surge across the League stage, hitting the ground and redirecting each time Sylveon dodged. Yet when Sylveon counter-attacked, firing a beam of Fairy-type energy at the incoming foe, it simply slipped past it, spinning around the wooden log it clutched to change its direction and pull out of the way of attacks. It was ridiculous.
Moon considered the Fairium-Z in her Z-Power Ring, swapped in when she had called Sylveon out before. Right now she and Ilima were roughly even, one of the Captain's Pokemon defeated, another almost completely exhausted. In return two of Moon's were declared unable to battle. And each of their third completely healthy in this moment.
If she could use a Z-Move, and steal the pace, it would help. No doubt Ilima still had incredible Pokemon, and would defeat her if he was able to continue matching her one for one. No, Moon needed to pull ahead here with a decisive blow. But Ilima definitely knew that and was watching out. Using Z-Moves wasn't an easy thing at this level.
She'd need to use everything she and her partner had.
Another glow of Sylveon's body as another of the Komala's charging attacks – all it seemed willing to do right now – was evaded. Another release of a field of pink mist, surrounding and obscuring the Intertwining Pokemon. If that Komala really was asleep, then it was Ilima's sight allowing his partner to hunt their foe. So Moon would need Sylveon out of sight. So they could perform their next step.
Spinning rapidly as it launched this time, the Komala blew apart the mist obscuring Sylveon as it passed through, able to generate intense force with each of its surprisingly powerful leaps. But something was different. Off. Ilima's eyes locked onto the smaller loose clouds of pink now drifting across the field, searching for their foe.
For Sylveon was not where it should be.
So almost all thought.
Mina and Acerola knew. Mina had helped Moon design this technique, and Acerola had been victim to it. The barriers Sylveon could form, to shape them to bend light away took time, and was obvious. But once hidden in the mist Sylveon had the freedom to disappear. Locked in one place, unable to move from where it was obscured, but for that moment completely . Ilima, watching the smaller clouds for any sign of Sylveon, felt his eyes widen seeing Moon begin the Fairy-type Z-Pose. Acerola and Mina, in the competitor's box, both knew from where this attack would come.
No-one else did.
There should be light. There should be the light of a Z-Move. Sylveon should be glowing and that glow should be in one of the clouds but Ilima could not see it. Which direction should Komala dodge? Where was the light? Where was Sylveon? Why couldn't he see it?
... he couldn't see it.
He did realise, before the attack launched. Parse that the only way the light could be hidden would be if something was hiding the light. And if the light was hidden, so was Sylveon. And if Sylveon was hidden, something had to hide it.
And where better to be hidden than the one place Ilima expected the Pokemon to no longer be?
So yes, as the roar of the crowd broke, Sylveon blasting out of the light-twisting barriers it had formed, wreathed in Z-Power, Ilima did respond. Give direction to Komala to move, to leap as only the Drowsing Pokemon could. And it was a good leap, away from Sylveon's path.
But the difference between that movement and a Z-Move was still too extreme, and Ilima's response – while excellent – still too slow for the Z-Move Twinkle Tackle. An impact of incredible force struck and sent Komala flying across the field, the Pokemon slamming into the barrier surrounding it. Not quite defeated, still able to move but... the amount of damage taken was extreme. And that Sylveon, despite using a Z-Move, despite only being Moon's partner for less than a year, it was still standing steady. All of her partners so used to Z-Moves now they could continue after using one without showing concern.
Oh even he could feel how far up his face his smile was curling.
Compared to most Komala that adopted defensive strategies – lulling opponents into sleep, building up their defenses to be beyond harm – Ilima had trained his specifically for offence: a rarity that made his Komala an unexpected force for those used to them. For someone who didn't know anything of a Komala though, like Moon in this case, that had actually backfired. Compared to most Komala, Ilima's wasn't prepared to attempt to last out a fight on a disadvantage.
Moon had really got him good with that one.
Delightful.
Alright, enough enjoying the moment.
Calling Komala back, Ilima picked his fourth Pokemon. Both Gumshoos and Komala would still be able to do something – the first recuperating, the second not as badly hurt but still injured – but the pace of this battle Moon had definitely seized. On the other hand Sylveon had just performed a Z-Move: even if it was able to continue battling, that drain still mattered. Just as his Smeargle had failed to do anything to Sylveon, Ilima would ensure Moon's Sylveon could do no more. It was only fair.
The Wild Bull Pokemon Tauros, manifested before Ilima, stomped the ground and snorted loudly in agreement with his will. They'd win.
There was still so much more left to experience upon this stage.
A Tauros... Moon's expectations for what this Pokemon would do began to form. It could charge at great speed, held significant stamina, and would hit incredibly hard. Sylveon, though standing tall, would still be laid low were it to take a direct hit from that Pokemon's charge. Switching out now wouldn't be a bad idea – Volcarona would do well against this specific opponent – but... the pressure Moon felt from Ilima was strong. One single mistake could easily return the pace to his hands. Sylveon's will, its intent to fight, remained strong. Moon focused on that and set her eyes forward as the Tauros of Ilima began its charge and Sylveon moved to dodge. The only way was to do everything they could.
Any less was a loss well deserved.
Tauros accelerated.
Embracing an even stronger surge of power at the last moments the Wild Bull Pokemon countered Sylveon's dodge, catching and scooping up the Intertwining Pokemon between its horns before slamming it into the barrier lining the arena. Moon and her partner, they had taken into account the speed at which the Tauros was charging, but Ilima had pushed for the strongest technique his partner could unleash. A dangerous gamble to bring out at any time, the Tauros now remaining still, panting heavily to recover from the immediate exertion, but the result was... as he'd wanted. The judge of this match, checking as Tauros stepped back and Sylveon dropped to the ground, pronounced the Pokemon of Moon unable to battle. The third of her partners defeated.
The crowd roaring loudly at this intense and amazing display.
"Despite Moon's varied team and unique use of Z-Moves, the battle remains firmly in Ilima's favour." Observing, Anna gave her opinion. "With three Pokemon of Moon's declared unable to battle to only one of Ilima's, the advantage is squarely his."
"The other two of Ilima's Pokemon have both taken significant hits though," Alexa weighed in. "Whether they're enough to call the battle more than just barely shy of even we can't tell."
"The Trainers in this Pokemon Battle are both very impressive," Samuel Oak chose his own words as Moon chose her fourth Pokemon. "I would firmly say this battle could still go in either direction! Nothing is decided yet, and... oh! Well that just goes to show."
The voices of the crowd, the voices of all watching, reacted to this. This was the first public announcement of Moon's partner Volcarona, evolved form of Larvesta, one of the strongest of all Bug-type Pokemon. Rare enough to find, difficult enough to raise, that having such made anyone notable, Moon's legend – steadily building second by second in this battle – grew rapidly into a greater form. Those who remembered the Pokemon she had shown before began to wonder if just maybe that one Dragon had evolved too.
Wouldn't that be something.
Wouldn't it.
Every time Moon called upon Volcarona the battle began the same. The Sun Pokemon appeared, floating above the battlefield, and then that field lit ablaze. The scales that fell naturally from its body, a dust of incendiary powder, ignited in an instant, turning wherever the Pokemon went into a storm of fire. A large part of Moon's training with it had, at first, been to curb this natural property so the Pokemon could exist without setting everything around it aflame. That said, in battle, this was an aspect well treasured by those who raised the Pokemon.
A creature so powerful the environment turned in its favour by its passage alone.
A rock, broken from the ground by a powerful stomp, flipped into the air by the Tauros's horns then sent flying with a quick back-kick, rocketed up towards the floating Sun Pokemon. But a powerful wind, mixing a surge of the scales that when concentrated burst into a forceful blast, pushed it aside, the rock deflected from the target it would so severely harm.
Training a Volcarona, developing with it techniques to use in battle, was no easy task. It was a Pokemon that took years of experience alongside to hone, and so with it Moon could only do so little. Unleash storms of fire with ease, but beyond that... there was not much her partner did besides float there. An easy target, which had led to its punishment multiple times before, and so Moon had focused on defense. That was as much as her partner was able to do for the moment. Exist and defend.
But in reward a field of raging fire without pause followed the Pokemon's mere existence, and the Tauros of Ilima amongst it remained at great risk from those flames. A Pokemon who exuded great danger by merely existing. Even if this was only as far as Moon and her partner could go thus far, it was still significant.
What a troublesome foe.
Ilima had counters for Pokemon that flew, obviously – for if he did not he could never consider himself an even remotely able Trainer. But his Tauros wasn't specifically one of them, and Moon had done well in draining his team to this point. An exchange then. One Pokemon for another.
If amongst the flames Tauros would not be able to bring Volcarona down, without question the Parent Pokemon Kangaskhan could.
"As a measure of a Pokemon Trainer's character, little could be more clear than this!" As the appreciative voice of Samuel Oak continued to narrate, Moon debated changing Volcarona for Bisharp, concerned that the strength of this opponent, the bipedal and heavy scaled Pokemon, was no doubt a counter Ilima had specifically chosen for Volcarona. But the flames spread about would be a danger for Bisharp: until they waned Moon couldn't send that Pokemon out. Volcarona made the battlefield unsuitable for half of Moon's Pokemon, which drove her to use it more often in the later stages of a fight.
That was simply how it was.
"As can be seen," Oak continued his explanation, "the Kangaskhan partner of Ilima is without child. As a Pokemon, Kangaskhan exhibits the greatest strength when in defense of its child, however of course the use of such in battle is immeasurably immoral. Yet without the combative instincts a Kangaskhan holds to protect its child, it is nowhere near as interested in battle. That is why a Pokemon Trainer with a partner Kangaskhan has clearly forged a powerful Bond to allow their partner to fight. That Ilima has done so is as clear a sign of both his deep love for Pokemon and ability as a Pokemon Trainer as can be!"
Those who knew Ilima nodded and agreed.
Those who knew him best found themselves wondering whether his battle maniac nature had simply caught the interest of a similarly wild Kangaskhan itself.
On the League battlefield fire continued to rage, the Kangaskhan manifested within it already feeling the flames licking at its thick hide. Above floated the Sun Pokemon Volcarona, Moon keeping her focus and intent. If the Kangaskhan threw something, or shot something, Volcarona would move to dodge. If it leaped, or had some ability to close the distance, Volcarona would dodge that too. They'd avoid every attack that targeted them and wear down this Pokemon by the flames Volcarona spread, no matter how lacking in elegance the method was. Moon's determination to fight with everything she had demanded she do such.
Ilima, sending his command, had no complaints about her choices in the least.
The technique was one with similarities to Quick Attack, or Extreme Speed, in that the user would rapidly accelerate in a direction. But the time required to initiate made it slower, and easier to read. With the right teaching many Pokemon could embrace it, and Ilima had made the choice to add it to his partner's repertoire. To close the distance and strike deeply a flying foe, the Flying-type move Aerial Ace was a powerful tool indeed.
The hit itself hurt. The Volcarona of Moon had a great natural speed, but had not yet grown to embrace it – the full power of the Sun Pokemon requiring far more time and growth to unleash. So even forewarned as Moon and her partner were, when the Kangaskhan launched with an aura of Flying-type energy around it there was little Moon's partner could do. The blow was struck, an arcing claw, but the second half of it was by far the more dangerous. This technique was not to defeat Flying-type foes, it was to catch them. And with Kangaskhan's claw holding tight, and its great weight pulling Volcarona down, the Sun Pokemon's descent to the earth was without question.
In the brief moment the two Pokemon were falling, Moon quickly – and with practised ease – swapped the Firium-Z into her Z-Power Ring and performed its Z-Pose.
The instants of this moment went as followed:
Ilima, seeing Moon begin the motion, directed his partner to drop. Gravity pulled it faster to the ground, where even before its feet landed the Kangaskhan was digging its claws into the earth, hauling out a large chunk to throw.
Moon, completing her Z-Pose, was now sending power, Volcarona glowing brighter and brighter as it prepared to unleash the Fire-type Z-Move Inferno Overdrive.
Kangaskhan, with all the strength it could manage, threw the heavy mass of earth compressed by its power upwards. Volcarona, forming the blast, shot it down.
All over so fast Moon and Ilima had each only had time for a singular idea. Moon to perform the Z-Move. Ilima to interrupt it.
Caught on the rock, not the target below, it was between Volcarona and Kangaskhan that the Z-Move detonated.
And engulfed them both in the edges of its burning sphere.
This battle was one decided by experience. Even amongst the burning flames the Kangaskhan partner of Ilima still lifted and threw another block of earth. Volcarona, resistant to its own flames but not to those infused with Z-Power, remained too stunned to avoid the direct hit that successfully knocked it from the sky. And Moon's commands, her calls for response, weren't successful in helping her partner recover before Ilima's pinned it down. For its incredible innate strength, the Volcarona of Moon still had a long way to go before being able to truly compete as a member of its species.
That was how the fourth of Moon's partners was defeated.
Five of Ilima's partners had been seen. Of those five, one was declared unable to battle: Smeargle. Of those remaining, Komala, Gumshoos, and Kangaskhan had each taken significant damage. Some more able to battle than others, but each still notably hurt. The pace was Ilima's, but on a razor's edge. His remaining two partners, one a Tauros, the sixth unknown, were the healthiest of his Pokemon and would be acting as the counter to the remaining two of Moon. The rough evenness of this battle so far favoured Ilima, but as those commentating pointed out, it was still completely possible for a reversal of fortune. It came down to what came next.
From Moon came Bisharp.
Few knew just what this Bisharp was. The Kahuna of Alola had each experienced it. Kahili in the Final Trials had too. Mina and Tristan, in the training of Moon, knew. Gladion and Hau had observed it. But besides that... the Bisharp seen in the battle with Kahuna Nanu, it had already been worn down that day. Was not fresh, or able to display the true power it held.
Not like it was now, here finally, at the true peak of Alola Moon had promised to bring it to. The surrounding crowd, the eyes of the world, battles against the greatest of powers, it breathed out a low breath as the commentators remarked on the Pokemon's abnormally smooth head, only a small fraction of the blade that had once curved over its metal skull remaining. That sundered pride, shattered in a battle it had confidently taken on, it was a wound the Sword Blade Pokemon held no shame in carrying or showing.
It had led to this meeting and this result, after all.
Professor Oak, in the announcer's box, made observation.
"That Bisharp is significantly aged: the lustre of its metal blades tells that clearly. Combined with the damaged head blade, it is clearly a Bisharp that was ousted from its position as a pack boss. I would confidently say that particular Pokemon is well older than Moon herself."
"Old wild Pokemon will partner with humans that catch their interest," Alexa took charge of this one, "but to do that so young, Moon..." there wasn't too much she could say to express it properly. That partner of Moon, it meant something that couldn't be truly explained. She'd touched the heart of a powerful Pokemon in a way few possibly could. As the Kangaskhan was a symbol for Ilima, that Bisharp was for Moon. That each was something more in the way they drew Pokemon to them.
Ilima, aware of the Bisharp's age by its lustre the same way Professor Oak was, felt a deep caution in his heart. That Pokemon was dangerous. Sensing that in turn, his partner Kangaskhan drew back. Should he switch for Tauros again? Or this time gamble on weakening this Pokemon with his own? In his heart of hearts Ilima was positive Moon had a Salamence as her sixth Pokemon. He couldn't match anything against that besides his own sixth at full power. Any less was far too risky.
This was the only choice to guarantee his win.
Even then, even with the caution, even with the awareness of the strength that opponent must hold, it was still a surprise. In two steps and a leap the Bisharp sailed through the air, crossed arms releasing a powerful slash as it closed in upon its Kangaskhan foe. The counter, as Ilima knew, to the Dark and Steel-type Bisharp was a Fighting-type move, which his partner knew, but even knowing that, even lashing out with a powerful strike at the incoming Pokemon, still the Bisharp went beyond.
Using its own attack to glance off of the straight punch of the Kangaskhan, Bisharp dropped back to the earth and stepped in, quick strikes of bladed hands scraping against the hard scales of the taller Pokemon before it. Dancing back out of the reach of the Kangaskhan's hands for just a moment after, quickly Bisharp dived back in, hauling itself up onto the Parent Pokemon's shoulder as the Kangaskhan stomped down hard, sending powerful tremors racing through the earth. Up close a knee from the Sword Blade Pokemon collided with the Kangaskhan's head before extending into a kick, Bisharp swinging its raised body in the air while gripping the thick bodied foe, circling around to the Pokemon's back.
Wild were the voices of the crowd, incredulous those commentating, at the incredible and athletic display of the Bisharp of Moon. Even those watching who knew the Pokemon, had seen its implacable pace towards foes and ferocious attacks, found themselves shocked. The song of Alola, whipped into a frenzy by the eyes and voice of all upon this stage, was flowing faster and faster and the Bisharp danced along with sparks of joy igniting within its heart. In the wild, as pack leaders, as hunters, Bisharp were pitiless Pokemon, sharp and focused as their blades. As a partner of Moon, assisting her in her climb to the peak, this Pokemon had taken a role of protector, called upon to aid her when she needed it.
But here, here at this peak where it was against battle with the best, an emotion the Pokemon species rarely felt bloomed. Joy, and from joy, battlelust. A feeling to match that of Captain Ilima himself.
No day before in the length of its life had the Bisharp of Moon been stronger than this.
"Not yet!"
But that alone would not decide this battle. Ilima's will and intent, his desire for this battle and the strength of his Bond with his partner, those were not things to disregard. The advantage Bisharp held, moving with incredible agility to maintain an assault upon the Kangaskhan of Ilima, was evened as, with a stronger than ever before stomp down, the Parent Pokemon shattered the earth around it into flying shards of stone, the upward wave of force enough to blow the Bisharp up into the air. Curving its fall Bisharp wound around the upward punch of Kangaskhan's right arm, swinging its own bladed arm around to counter the quick follow-up of its left: the impact of the grounded Kangaskhan's fist strong enough to send the airborne Bisharp flying across the field and into the barrier wall.
Rebounding from legs pressed against the barrier the Sword Blade Pokemon set off at a run across the field to close the distance once more, another stomp of Kangaskhan's foot sending waves of force through the earth its opponent leaped over, changing position quickly to circle around the foe and close through gaps in its powerful Ground-type attacks. Moon's training with Hapu had taught her much about this form of attack, and Ground-type Pokemon proved far more able to create omnidirectional waves than any other. She knew what to do here.
An even fight.
Fists and blades clashed, the two Pokemon before one another exchanging a rapid series of blows, blocks, counterattacks, and feints. Every Pokemon the two Trainers had brought out fought differently, and the two had engaged in a wide variety of styles over the course of this battle. Anna and Alexa, leading the charge on announcing, could not help but insist upon how impressed they were with each. Though each Trainer was young, Ilima still considered that even with his twentieth approaching, the two were clearly incredible.
What an astounding battle to open the first Alolan Pokemon League.
It was Kangaskhan that was first to break. The damage from the Z-Move it had suffered the peripheral of, it made the difference, and slowly Bisharp wore it down. Struck a leg that buckled, rapidly boxed the Pokemon's face, then landed a direct kick of its own into the Kangaskhan's chest. The concentrated assault, not slipping or failing for a moment, ended with the partner of Ilima falling back and the judge overseeing declaring it unable to battle. That this was only the second of Ilima's Pokemon, compared to four of Moon's, to be announced such didn't matter one bit.
As far as every last person watching was concerned, this was a battle that was incredibly close.
Acknowledging that, Ilima brought his Tauros back to the field.
There was still the threat of a Z-Move, and Moon would no doubt be searching for the chance to use it. The advantage in health and stamina was with Ilima's Tauros now, and to counter that Moon would need to use a Z-Move from Bisharp. If she didn't land one, the pace would go too far in Ilima's favour.
Which meant Ilima had to do everything he could to prevent Moon from unleashing such.
The field was large enough, and that Tauros fast enough, Moon knew, that there was no way to use the Dark-type Z-Move Black Hole Eclipse here. She'd considered it, as an attack that could be performed at range, but it wouldn't work. To stand a chance of stopping that Tauros, Bisharp would need to hit a close-range Z-Move without anything holding it back. Easier said than done, as the Wild Bull Pokemon stomped at the ground, lowered its head to present its great horns, and charged at full speed again.
Much like Sylveon, Bisharp proved unable to outspeed the charging Tauros, instead focusing on responding to its charge. The leap, intending to go over the top of the charging Pokemon, Bisharp made confidently, turning to swing a blade into the sudden back-kick the Wild Bull unleashed. Moon's focus on the battle, connected to its own, gave the Bisharp more awareness of its surroundings, more understanding of how to respond. This opponent, it would read its every move and lay it low.
That was the reforged pride of the Bisharp that had climbed to the peak of the world alongside its new pack.
Ilima knew the match-up here, between the techniques of his Tauros and the typing of Moon's Bisharp, was not good. Much like his Kangaskhan Tauros could stomp the earth and unleash shockwaves, but Moon and her partner seemed specifically trained to handle that. But, and this was what was important, the advantage of stamina was his. Moon would be seeking the way to perform a Z-Move, and each time that was denied it would take more from her partner in this fight. So Ilima's directions, his commands for Tauros to wheel around and charge Bisharp again, were underlined by the knowledge his partner would need to react to every dodge the Sword Blade Pokemon made. Never give it distance or peace. Never give it the opportunity to unleash the most powerful of its attacks. It would make mistakes as it tired, and by those mistakes Ilima's partner would drive further the advantage they held. His confidence in the Wild Bull Pokemon's stamina not unfounded, Ilima remained focused.
With skill and technique unrelenting, victory was still theirs to seize.
It was a vicious dance, tense and draining, for both Pokemon and Trainer alike. Moon had set the Steelium-Z in her Z-Power Ring, and Ilima had responded as she'd expected him to. Commentary passed overhead that neither had the spare focus to listen to, descriptions from those commentating of how the two Trainers were locked in a search to unleash and prevent the unleashing of a Z-Move. As the battle continued on, Bisharp scoring light hits but being hit back hard in return – even despite its steel body – Moon came to her conclusion. The focus on preventing a Z-Move, it would give another option instead.
If Ilima thought Moon was going to use a Z-Move...
As Moon raised her hands and began a Z-Pose, Ilima's eyes widened, the situation not nearly right for its release. Was she trying to force it through? He wouldn't allow it! Rearing back its head in response to Ilima's command, focusing all the force it could, the Tauros brought down its full power upon the Bisharp before it.
Hala, amongst those watching, who had seen the Bisharp of Moon do the same to his Hariyama, nodded. Her and her partners' equal willingness to take the greatest of risks to stand up to those stronger, it wasn't something just any Trainer could do. They had to share their will equally to go that far.
A drive for victory forged of equal hearts striving together.
A thing few would ever expect to see from a twelve year old girl.
The technique, in name, was Metal Burst. A counter-attack of the Steel-type, it took the damage that fell upon a Pokemon then returned it even stronger upon a foe. A dangerous move, for it required taking a great blow to deal an even greater one, but the sharpened will of Moon and Bisharp allowed it.
Ilima's eyes, wider still at being led into this trap, stayed fixed upon the two Pokemon in the clash. Of the Tauros, staggering back from the surprising and forceful blow, legs shaky and buckling. And the Bisharp, on one knee, unable to rise again. Between the Kangaskhan and Tauros of Ilima it had been exhausted, and though proudly it had taken on the strategy Moon had thought of, pretending to perform a Z-Move in order to unleash a counter-attack upon a hasty foe, it had still been costly.
It...
A judge, observing, pronounced both Pokemon too hurt to continue the battle. Ilima and Moon were to call each back.
Ilima's third.
And Moon's fifth.
There was tittering amongst the crowd as Ilima chose Komala again, but he didn't care. This battle between him and Moon, he wouldn't have it end with one of the Pokemon pulled from an earlier battle just lamely remaining standing after it all. Before revealing his sixth, he would give everything the five before had to give. That was his own pride.
And it wasn't like either of these two, Komala or Gumshoos, were completely beaten yet.
Moon's sixth Pokemon was Salamence. Immediately the crowd's roar surged again, Anna, Alexa, and Samuel Oak all admiring the Dragon Pokemon. To have one at Moon's age, even more than the rest of her Pokemon, even the Volcarona, it stood out as seemingly impossible. Ilima, having suspected this from the very beginning, nodded.
Attention from the crowd focused upon the band around the Dragon Pokemon's tail. Wait, was that a Mega Stone attached to it? Ilima's call for attack went ignored as Moon and her partner tensed and shared the will of Mega Evolution. No holding back.
The roar of the crowd and shocked cries of the commentators meant nothing to Ilima. He'd known Moon had a Key Stone and Salamencite for the longest time. He'd known this was how her fight with him would end. Now all that mattered was what each of his partners could do. But he was confident. His Z-Move still unused, as Anna was quick to point out. Even against the power of Mega Salamence, manifested before him, Ilima kept his smile. No, especially because of the power manifested before him. All those times he'd wished to battle Moon, to test her and see how far she could push him, being denied them had led him to this. It had been worth it.
It had all been worth it.
He laughed and gave his next command.
Quick to attack and reposition itself Komala continued to rocket around the field. But with a mouth full of blue flame, lifting off of the ground to float overhead, the Mega Salamence of Moon quickly brought this match to an end. So this was the power of Moon's final partner, flying above the battlefield and unleashing such intensity. Mega Evolution could last some time, especially for the trained, and so Ilima chose to have no hope in outlasting it. He'd need to beat that form outright.
But he still chose Gumshoos next, if nothing more than as an announcement of his own intent. He wanted things to go this way. To feel the greatest of pressures and intensities here on this stage. Making these decisions, he wouldn't complain about how it came to an end.
The feelings he felt in this moment, they were too much to doubt.
This battle was over quickly too, the Gumshoos unable to stand against the overpowering force of the Mega Evolved Dragon above it. But that was fine, Ilima smiled as he called that partner back. Moon had earned that.
He held a simple Pokeball now, a sign oft-considered that of a Pokemon from one's youth. His Z-Ring, without a Z-Crystal set within it to this point, Ilima placed a deep brown Z-Crystal within. Something he had earned himself independent of his Island Challenge. Trained under an old master for the right to wield. Now he and his oldest partner would unleash it for all to see. Activating the Pokeball, Ilima smiled as the partner it contained appeared before him.
Now he and Eevee would show the world just what their true power was.
Against the Mega Salamence of Moon, a fully evolved and Mega Evolved Dragon, stood an Eevee. Incredulity coursed amongst those watching, while those who did not doubt Ilima's skills questioned what secret he and his partner held. Those who knew, who understood the Z-Crystal set within Ilima's Z-Ring, waited with bated breath. The display of the full power of the Evolution Pokemon.
Ilima, with wide grin, raised his arms as Z-Aura surged around him.
A Z-Move? Now? At this distance from Mega Salamence? Moon's lack of understanding drew her partner to raise higher into the air, while those commentating discussed just what this power to be unleashed was. The Eevee partner of Ilima was shining brightly now, pulsing with intense Z-Aura. What attack was it to perform? With easy steps the brown-furred Pokemon strode forward, in no hurry at all to move.
The aura around it did not fade.
Wait, Moon's eyes widened further, was that Eevee-
"Quick Attack!"
Faster than any other Pokemon to have stood on this stage. With power that eclipsed every other foe to have clashed. The air split and howled as through it at speed none could react to the Eevee aglow with rainbow light surged, slamming into Mega Salamence and pushing it all the way into the barrier wall, the tiny Pokemon to have done so racing along the wall as Salamence's wings beat hard to push it back into the free air of the arena once more.
The crowd roared.
"Extreme Evoboost!" Ilima's raised voice crossed the battlefield, caught by Moon's ears and cameras at ground level both. "This is a move that only the Pokemon Eevee can use, that uses Z-Aura to energise its body into a supreme state that can battle even a Mega Evolved Pokemon! This is our all, Moon! I'm thankful you got to see it!"
The confidence in that, the belief from Ilima that this victory was his, manifested easily in the way his partner Eevee jumped from wall to wall of the barrier surrounding the battlefield, evading the flames breathed out by the flying Mega Salamence before slamming into it with great force over and over again. It was... horrifically uneven, the great dragon unable to do anything against the insanely quick and powerful tiny Pokemon that opposed it. Keeping his eyes high, Ilima smiled. The journey that had led him to take on the Eevium-Z and begin the path of mastering this power, it had been a rewarding one. He was proud, and thankful, to be able to finally show the distance he and his partner had walked.
This victory earned in the greatest of battles he had ever partook.
Moon's mind burned. Ilima's Z-Move, it hadn't been an attack, it had been to empower his partner Eevee in a way no Z-Move should be able to do. Moon had learned about it, about how to use Z-Moves to charge a Pokemon, but the power never lasted. It never stuck around, fading away in moments. This special move, that allowed Eevee to keep the power, she'd never expected it. A surprise and now her partner, her Mega Salamence, couldn't even begin to keep up with the tiny Pokemon hammering it again and again.
What if she used a Z-Move? If she drew out the Dragonium-Z and released the full power of Salamence against this foe? Doing such, every single time it left Salamence exhausted. Not as badly harmed as the first, after practise in being used to each power, but still doing so, it would end the battle. If it even hit Eevee, the best this could do now was end this with a tie. And Moon couldn't even believe it would hit. That Eevee was way too fast. She couldn't use a Z-Move to attack here.
It wouldn't work.
She couldn't... attack.
It wasn't something she'd ever done before. It wasn't something she'd ever considered before. The teaching in using Z-Moves, it had always been in expressing that power fully and immediately, for holding it caused it to fade quickly away. But, maybe...
There was no reason to believe this would work. It was an idea never-before tested, a moment's wonder whether such powers might react. But... Moon's mind focused upon the idea. She believed, from the bottom of her heart, that this battle was all but lost. The only way to win now, against the ridiculously powerful Eevee of Ilima, was to go beyond anything she or anyone else had ever imagined, just as Ilima had now.
In that case, not the Dragonium-Z but...
All eyes locked onto Moon as she set the Normalium-Z into her Z-Ring. Samuel Oak was narrating as fast as he could, discussing how a combination of Mega Evolution and Z-Move had never before been seen. How each took so much power from a Trainer that the two could never be used at once. Unless, of course, that Trainer held an unlimited reserve of power to give.
Pitaya, watching, frowned. Moon was doing something different from each time she had used this power before. What was her student thinking? She focused on Moon's expression, something wild and desperate. An idea beyond ideas forged in the last moments of a battle beyond intensity.
Would it bring success? Or failure?
She waited to see.
Moon raised her arms. Z-Aura flowed around her. Ilima, catching this motion, spent a moment acknowledging it before focusing upon his partner, circling the Mega Salamence flying in the centre of the ring. Whatever ultimate attack Moon was to unleash, he and Eevee would evade it. That would be the end of this fight. He knew that in his heart.
All those around the world tensed as Moon completed her Z-Pose, arms held to mimic the character 'Z' itself.
A sight the world had never before seen.
Salamence roared. It roared and the air shook, pressure so intense countless members of the crowd recoiled. The force exerted by the Mega Evolved Dragon, it went beyond belief. As precursor to its ultimate attack, a golden shine beginning to form around the Pokemon's body, it gave the exact impression of what such a combination of Mega Evolution and Z-Move should be.
Moon, feeling the intense demand upon her own mind, focused with everything she could. The power was there to give but to control and direct it, to hold it, that was something else entirely.
But... she... her partner... they would...
They'd unleash this power beyond anything to ever come before.
When Moon had first performed the combination of Mega Evolution and Z-Move, against Lusamine in the depths of Ultra Space, it had been using the Dragonium-Z. Salamence had been wreathed in light, taking on the larger draconic form of its attack, a form that soon expressed itself in a great surge of power. That form had been purple, flavoured by the Dragon-type attack at its base.
This time that form was gold.
Great wings larger than Salamence's before beat as a pair, different again from the curved and fused shape of its Mega Evolved form. A long tail lashed out from its body, tip almost trailing over the ground, as a neck lengthened too, jagged waves of scales along it stretching out as the head of the shape sharpened, wider jaws lined with teeth filling it up. Aglow in gold this shape, this form of energy, remained there in the skies, wings beating slowly, each flap sending out such a surge of wind that even the empowered Eevee was caught and pushed back.
Seconds passed by, silence the crowd's at this sight. Moon, eyes closed, focused, her heartbeat racing but her mind locked on. Hold it. Keep it. This power, Z-Aura caught by Mega Evolution, don't let it go.
Don't let this form fade.
...
It didn't.
"That-" even beyond all of the exclamations before, the voice of Samuel Oak was shocked. "That form, that is... something different. Something different from Mega Evolution or Z-Move!" With that the roar of the crowd came back more than ever before, Ilima on the ground staring up at the massive golden dragon overhead. What... what had Moon...
"By combining the power of a Z-Move with Mega Evolution, Moon's partner has taken all of that strength into its own body, much the same way as the Z-Move from Ilima we've just seen!" Oak was speaking at a rapid pace now, his own heart pounding at this new sight. "This form... something less concrete than a Mega Evolution," the golden body of the giant dragon flickered, outline constantly reshaping itself, "but holding onto the power of a Z-Move for strength," the dragon slowly lowered, tail coiling on the ground, Ilima's partner Eevee standing just before its Trainer, growling at the great foe before it, "this is something apart from Z-Move or Mega Evolution!"
He already had a name in mind.
"This form, this combination of powers," Samuel Oak smiled the deepest he could ever, for the sight he had been granted here on the stage of the first Alolan Pokemon League, "to name it, I will call it Ultra Evolution! And this Pokemon before us: Ultra Salamence!"
Ultra Evolution. Ultra Salamence. Immediately the name imprinted itself in the hearts of the world, a showing of a power and form never before seen. Beyond anything believed possible. Professor Sycamore, watching from Kalos, had neither lowered nor drunk from the glass he held for the past few minutes.
Ilima, blown away by the sight, found his smile unchanging. A power beyond powers. Something never imagined. What Moon had shown him, what he had pushed her to create, he... he...
"We're not done!"
The command flowed through the Bond between him and his oldest partner, Eevee still aglow with rainbow light racing forward, unwilling to bow before the great golden dragon it faced. Despite its ferocious roar before this form now, the being known as Ultra Salamence, was silent, resting on the ground as if struggling to hold onto its form. Maybe it was, with that much power. Ilima would still fight with everything he and his partner had. Any less would be an insult, to him, to Eevee, to Moon, to Alola, and to the very world itself.
Moon chose Dragon Breath.
Bright, brighter than any Dragon-type move should be, shining with a light that blinded, an intense orb of brilliant blue formed in the open mouth of the gold dragon Ultra Salamence. Eevee, racing forward, did not shy from its goal of striking the dragon with everything it had. But the flames released, howling with a galeforce of sound that roared even over the voice of the crowd, marked the end. Blue crawled up the walls of the barrier surrounding the arena, those measuring the readings of the protective coating making increasingly more nervous noises about the amount of damage it was sustaining.
But the barrier did not break, the flames burned away, and the bright golden form of Ultra Salamence dispersed, to reveal a single Dragon Pokemon standing tall, head still raised, roaring a victory cry.
The bested form of Ilima's partner Eevee lying before it.
The victory of the first battle of the first Alolan Pokemon League, between Captain Ilima of Melemele Island, and Moon, child from Kanto who had embraced and been embraced by the spirit of Alola – Moon's to claim.
