Today, Sarah and the others were near Wela Volcano, where they saw a large festival being held.
Our heroine's adventures in Akala Island with her friends now take the group to the area around Wela Volcano but what's in store for them today?
Everyone looked on in awe at the festival being held around Wela Volcano. The townsfolk seemed pretty excited about something but what that something is, the others don't know. Except for Kiawe, who was happily smiling at the people as if he knew what was going on.
"I can't believe how many people and Pokemon are around here!" gushed Ash.
"It looks lively, alright!" agreed Rotom-Dex.
"Seems like you fit well in here now that you're a Fire-Type, Silvally," Sarah told Silvally, who's now a Fire Type. "Now, you won't have to worry about fitting in thanks to the Fire-Type memory disc."
"That would've been the least of my worries."
"This is the Wela Fire Festival," Professor Kukui briefed. "This wonderful festival has been held for over 100 years. Lots of history, having fun while learning about Akala Island's traditions. That's the subject of today's class."
Sarah's shiny Mareep which she decided to nickname, Candy, due to her pink fur looked around happily at all the people and pokemon. "Mareep..!"
"Hehe, looks like Candy likes the festival already." Mallow smiled.
"Yep." Ash agreed.
Everyone watched as Candy was joined by Wooloo and Ponyta along with Lolita, who decided to keep an eye on them to make sure they don't go too far.
"Candy sure is having fun," said Lana, smiling at the Shiny Mareep.
"Yeah, she's having the time of her life since she joined us and Sarah," Sophocles agreed.
"Let's go, everyone," Kiawe said as he and Turtonator went on before Ash follows.
"Kiawe's really into this," Mallow noticed.
"He said he comes here every year," Sophocles pointed out as everyone else followed.
As they walked, Kiawe turned to Sarah and Ash with a proposition for them. "Hey, Sarah, now that Silvally's a Fire-Type for today thanks to his Fire-Type memory disc, how would you and Ash like to help him and Litten get stronger?"
"Sure thing, Kiawe. How about it, Silvally?"
"Whatever floats your Poke-boat," Silvally joked with a smile.
"Huh? Yeah, course I would, it'll be great!" Ash replies.
"That's what I thought," Kiawe smirked.
The group followed Kiawe and they saw Olivia standing on some steps in front of a large crowd of people. Seeing Olivia address everyone at the festival, she called to her four wandering Pokemon, "Lolita, Candy, Ponyta, Wooloo, come on!"
"Meowth!" Lolita replied and she quickly gathered the three younger Pokemon to rejoin their family as soon as Olivia began.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Boys & Girls and Pokemon of all ages! Today, the excitement of the Wela Fire Festival is about to begin!" she called out to the cheers of everyone gathered.
"Is that the Akala Kahuna?" Silvally asked.
"Yeah, she must've helped with the festival, too!" Sarah realized.
"Let's give thanks to Wela Volcano for nurturing Akala Island by having a fiery good time!" Olivia continued as the cheers roared on.
"Sounds good to me!" Ash cheered. "Pika!"
But, the excitement of the Wela Fire Festival was about to become premature. For no one had any idea that while they were celebrating, a lone male Pyroar was eyeing everyone as if it wanted something they have for some reason.
At the same time, three people underneath black trench coats were walking through the cheering crowd until the leader stops and halts its accomplices. The leader pointed to Silvally and Sarah before the person took out a camera pen and snuck a photo of them before slipping in its coat pocket out of sight. The leader nodded to its accomplices to head out, making them nod in agreement before leaving the festival, a plan brewing in their minds about Sarah.
But, their actions didn't go unnoticed as a familiar cloaked Pokemon was watching them out of sight as it narrowed its eyes in suspicion and anger.
It then looked to Sarah and Silvally and the rest of her Pokemon as they joined the cheering crowd. "Zera, Zera..." it said quietly, hoping it could stop those three unknown people who are interested in her.
It zipped away before it can be spotted, setting up what could be a fated meeting between it and the young trainer.
(Opening 2 - Power Rangers Beast Morphers)
(The Ruins of Conflict are shown before Sarah and her Pokémon appear, jumping from a cliff to fight their enemies)
Pokemon!
(Sarah, Blitz, Silvally, and Mudsdale are shown first. Then, the Puppy Pair and Ponyta and Wooloo are featured. Finally, Lolita, Aqua, Milotic appear, all of them being shown in the order detailed)
Go, Go, Pokemon!
(Sarah, Blitz, and Silvally attack enemy Pokémon while Lolita uses her Scratch attack to protect her young Galar charges from Team Skull. Aqua and Milotic dive in the water to battle while the Puppy Pair does a Twin Rock Throw)
Go! Go!
(Sarah and the Puppy Pair are introduced first before Silvally, Blitz, and Mudsdale shown together. Then, Ponyta and Wooloo are featured before the introductions round off with Lolita, Aqua, and Milotic)
It's Battle Time!
(Sarah summons a Pokémon from a Cherish Ball she was given before transitioning to Silvally's evolution to his true form. Lolita unsheathes her claws before shifting to a darkened silhouette of a Pokémon that looked like a bipedal tiger with glowing light blue eyes in a battle stance)
For justice, we fight! With Pokemon Light! Together, we rise!
(Team Skull and Team Rocket appear with their Pokémon. Sarah and Silvally use Devastating Drake while Ash and the others are seen with their Partner Pokémon unleashing their attacks)
Go, Go, Pokemon! Go, Go, Pokemon!
(Sarah and her fully-assembled team appear in front of the Tapu Guardians)
Pokémon: Sun & Moon!
(Sarah and her entire team look out towards the horizon over a cliff on Alaka Island as the titles appear)
Pokémon Alola Journey - The Trials of Sarah
Sarah and the others saw Olivia placing some kind of crown on fire type pokemons' heads. As Olivia prayed to Tapu Lele for its blessings to every Fire Pokemon she puts the crown on, the Fire Types wearing the crown could feel their power grow and give a proud call in return. "Vul?" "It looks like Olivia's performing her duties as the Akala Island Kahuna today," Lillie and Snowy noticed.
"She's so amazing!" Mallow gushed.
"For sure, what's she putting that thing on their heads for?"
Rotom-Dex zoomed in on his camera and showed everyone, "It looks like some elegant piece of volcanic rock."
"I've heard of it from the Akala Island guide. It's a treasure that is sacred to all of Akala and its Fire Type Pokemon, right, Kiawe?" Sarah noted, turning to her fellow student.
"Right, I'm amazed you did your research," Kiawe complemented before he carried on. "It's called the Wela Crown. It's made of cooled lava. When Pokemon put it on, it's said they'll become grand and strong as Wela Volcano itself." Ash and Pikachu gasped at the thought of it.
"Hmm... sounds interesting..." Silvally stated.
Professor Kukui took notice, "And, apparently, it's especially good with Fire Types."
"I'm sure I read a lot about that but the reason that lots of trainers are bound for here now is that they heard of that solely by word of mouth," Lillie added.
"I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for Litten, and especially Silvally, thanks to his Fire-Type memory disc," explained Kiawe.
"Awesome! You hear that, Litten? We're gonna get you crowned and you'll become a lot stronger!" Ash told Litten. "Of course, that means you too, buddy," he told Pikachu but then, Mallow noticed someone missing.
"Hey, where's Sarah?" she said as they looked until they found her and her Pokemon at the back of the line.
"There she is!" Lillie cried.
"Sarah!" Ash whined as they raced to meet her. "Aww, I thought I was supposed to go first and have Litten and Pikachu crowned!"
But, Sarah ignored him as she spoke with Kiawe. "Hey, Kiawe, when did Turtonator get crowned?"
"Last year, I was thrilled and so was he," smiled Kiawe. Kiawe flashed back to when Turtonator was crowned. "It was the best moment of our lives after we proved ourselves worthy to Olivia after we completed my Grand Trial," he thought back happily. "I've never seen him felt so empowered until the crown was on his head."
"You told us one time that your grandfather was the Island Kahuna before Olivia took over," Sarah noted as the memory flashed back to Kiawe's childhood when he saw his grandfather performing the Wela Crowning Ceremony. "Did he perform the ceremony as well?"
"Yeah, when I was little, it was my dream to have my Pokemon become crowned someday by my grandfather," he answered proudly before a sad frown took over. "That was, until he died a little while ago..."
"Oh, I'm so sorry..." Sarah said sadly. Even the others couldn't help but feel sorry for Kiawe's loss but Professor Kukui smiled kindly.
"There's no doubt in my mind that you made the right decision to come to the festival with your Pokemon, too."
"Right!" Kiawe exclaimed, knowing that it was what his late grandfather wanted. The group entered the line it wasn't long before they saw a Flareon being crowned and unleashing a powerful Flamethrower attack. "Cool..!" Ash exclaimed. "We're next!"
Olivia chuckled, seeing the group come up, "Hey everyone."
"I'm glad to see you could join us," she told everyone.
Silvally was the first one to be crowned as he stepped forward with Sarah. "It's an honor, Olivia," Sarah spoke on behalf of everyone. "Olivia, I was wondering, may Silvally be crowned since he's now a Fire-Type-AH!"
"Olivia, crown us!" Ash replied as he shoved Sarah out of the way. "Would you please?"
"Ash!" Sarah huffed as she pushed him out of the way, making him fall flat on his face. "Silvally and I were up first when we got to the back of the line, you know!"
She turned back to Olivia, who giggled at her and Ash's antics. "As I was saying, Olivia, may Silvally be crowned first now that he's a Fire-Type? I want us to be ready for whatever mysteries lie ahead of us and our Pokemon family."
Olivia giggled again, knowing what she wanted. "Of course, come on up."
2 hours ago
Quang Quang26943
Silvally bowed down as he prepared to wear the Wela Crown. "May you receive the gift of Wela Volcano's power and may your heart be your guiding key," Olivia recited as she carefully placed the crown on his head.
Once the Wela Crown was safely on him, Silvally felt a fire brewing within his heart thanks to his Fire-Type memory disc and unleashed a sparkling flamethrower into the air.
Everyone was amazed until it was time for Ash's Litten to be crowned.
Silvally returned the crown to Olivia and she proceeded to crown Litten, until...
"May you receive the gift of Wela Volcano's power-AH!" she gasped.
...She was cut off by a large shadow grabbing the crown, much to everyone's shock as they saw what it was as it came to a stop in front of them as they moved back.
There stood a brown and light brown lion with piercing turquoise eyes and a large, fluffy red and yellow mane. It was a male Pyroar as it held the Wela Crown in its mouth before tossing it onto its head.
"A Pyroar!" Ash exclaimed.
"Pika!" Pikachu gasped.
"Woah... that's one big lion." Silvally stated. Sarah looked to Rotom-Dex, amazed by the lion, "Uh, Rotom-Dex, what's a Pyroar?"
Rotom-Dex looked through his databanks and found the Pyroar entry, "Glad you asked! Pyroar, the Royal Pokemon; a Fire and Normal Type of both male and female genders. The mane on a Pyroar of any gender, which is made of fire, becomes larger when it gets excited."
"Wow, a male and female Pyroar?" Mallow gasped. Lillie agreed, "I never knew that from my books!"
"Whoa, look, come on," Ash tried to ask the Pyroar. "We just want the crown back, please?"
The male Pyroar scoffed and glared at Ash, making him flinch. Kiawe, however, was furious knowing how much the crown and the crowning ceremony meant to him and his people. "That does not belong to you! Give it back! Stop!" he demanded as the Pyroar dodged when he tried to grab him.
"Come on, enough, already!" Ash demanded as he tried to grab the crown but Pyroar stepped to the side and swatted him away with an unimpressed stare and a back left paw making him crash into the alter. The male Royal Pokemon growled at him and Kiawe again, as Silvally understood what he was saying.
"He's saying that he needs the crown for something important he needs to do and he won't let anyone stop him from doing so!" Silvally told Sarah.
Sarah was shocked, "Really, what does it want with the crown?"
"That doesn't matter right now!" Lillie reminded. "We got to get the crown back!"
The Pyroar glared at the rest of the group before it descended the stairs.
"Cut it out, Pyroar!" "That's not yours!" two trainers snapped, but they only made the Pyroar madder as it unleashed a Flamethrower at them. They dodged which allowed the Pyroar to escape and it jumped off of the path. "Come back!" Kiawe said as he chased after it.
"Silvally, everyone, come on." Sarah called as she and her pokemon joined in the chase.
"Kiawe, Sarah! Come back! WAIT!" Ash called but it was too late. Sarah and Kiawe, joined by their Pokemon, were already after the Royal Pokemon.
"COME BACK, YOU BIG PUSSYCAT! You're a thief-!" Olivia bellowed furiously at the descending Pyroar. But, Professor Kukui stopped her before she could help Kiawe and Sarah, "Olivia! First, we need to calm everyone down!"
He then turned to the others, "Kids, I need you and your Pokemon to help us! We have to calm everybody down and make sure they don't try anything stupid!"
"But, what about Kiawe and Sarah?" Ash cried.
"We got to help them!" Sophocles agreed.
"I'm afraid it's too late for that, we got bigger problems to worry about!" Kukui shot down their concerns. "But, don't worry, I know they'll come back to us and with the Wela Crown safely in their hands! Now, let's go!"
Ash and the others sighed as they went with Professor Kukui and Olivia. As much as they hate to admit it, he was right; they do have bigger problems to worry about.
Kiawe and Sarah along with the Pokémon ran down the path which came to a split. "Which way?" Kiawe asked. The second Puppy Pair brother sniffed the ground and barked before heading down the right path. "That way, I'm guessing."
"Let's go." Kiawe said. Sarah nodded.
"Hey, Sarah, what were you and Silvally talking about earlier?" Kiawe asked as they ran.
"I don't know but Silvally told me that when he heard Pyroar speak, he said that he wanted the crown for something important! Something only the Pyroar knew," she answered.
"What do you suppose it could mean?"
"I'm sure we'll find out once we find the Male Pyroar and get some answers!" And, with that, they continued down the trail to the male Pyroar with Turtonator, Silvally, and Sarah's other Pokemon following behind.
Meanwhile, the male Pyroar, still wearing the Wela Crown, stopped in the middle of his escape on a rocky outcrop overshadowing a small valley as he looked to the sky in thought.
It was as though he was thinking about what would happen now that he had the Wela Crown.
Down below, Kiawe and Sarah finally caught up to it but decided to wait until the perfect moment to retrieve it. "There it is, we got to get it," said Kiawe before he was pulled down by Sarah.
"We need to find a way to jump or sneak up on Pyroar and swipe the crown back before we do anything rash," she reminded. "Otherwise, he'll just give us the slip again."
"...Okay," Kiawe agreed before they watched the Pyroar again. But then, they noticed him howling, as if it was calling to something he knew.
"What's he doing?" asked Sarah.
"It looks like he's calling to someone or something, but what?" Kiawe pondered.
The male Pyroar stopped howling as it waited. What seemed like minutes felt more like hours until finally, a female Pyroar came and nuzzled the male Pyroar, looking like she was relieved to see her supposed 'mate' again after some time.
"A female Pyroar!" Kiawe and Sarah whispered in shock to each other.
Their Pokemon gasped in wonder at the sight of the two Royal Pokemon.
"That must be his mate." Sarah said. But suddenly, another Male Pyroar came onto the scene, "Pyroar!" This one had a scar over the left eye and it was flanked by three other males! They all watched as the two Pyroar growled at each other, with the male Pyroar looking like it was taunting the crowned male Pyroar as he shielded his mate.
"A second male Pyroar!" Sarah gasped.
"But, that one has a scar over its left eye and its flaked by three other males from its pride!" Kiawe added in awe.
The scarred Pyroar continued to taunt the crowned Pyroar while it tried to coax the female Pyroar to leave her mate and return with it and its followers. The female Pyroar scoffed before it launched a Flamethrower at them before snapping at the scarred Pyroar as she leaned on her mate.
"Gosh, I wonder what they're saying..." Sarah wondered.
"I'm not sure," Silvally answered. "But, it looks to me like the scarred Pyroar is trying to convince the crowned Pyroar's mate to leave him since he's no longer the leader of his pride. She didn't want to and would rather leave with her mate than spend another moment under its tyranny."
"Hey, Kiawe, did you hear about a pride of Pyroar around here?" Sarah asked her friend, as her curiosity took hold of her.
"Hmm... Now that you mention it, I have been hearing rumors about a pride of Pyroar living around the forest around Wela Volcano," Kiawe replied thoughtfully. "But, they were usually docile Pokemon unless somebody threatens them and their Cubs. I also heard that at some point, a male Pyroar will challenge the pride's Alpha Male, the leader, for leadership of that same pride. Any Pyroar who wins or loses a battle for leadership becomes a nomad and it's forced to live alone until it wins a new leadership battle."
"To stay a leader, right?" she asked to which Kiawe nodded in a grim confirmation.
"Once either one loses a leadership battle, it can't stay with the pride. Unless he wins a new leadership, that Pyroar would have to stay alone as a Nomad."
"So.. the crowned Pyroar is a Nomad. It must have lost into the scarred male." Sarah realized. "It must have took the crown so it had hope of beating him and regain leadership of the pride."
"Sometimes, even youth and energy can trump age and experience and I think that's what happened with the two male Pyroar we're looking at right now," finished Kiawe in agreement, realizing where she's going. "He must've felt robbed and needed some way to help and inspire him take back his leadership which is why he took the Wela Crown from us and came all the way out here!"
"Do you think we should do something?" Sarah quipped.
"No, let's wait and see first," Kiawe decided. "If the Nomad needs help, we'll step in. For now, it's his fight, not ours."
Agreeing to a new battle of leadership, the scarred Pyroar and the crowned Nomad jumped down to the valley to begin their fight while the Nomad's mate and the scarred leader's followers watched on.
The crowed Pyroar started with a Flamethrower attack. The scarred Pyroar leaped over it and charged forth with a Wild Charge! "Woah, Wild Charge!"
The Crowned Pyroar countered with Flame Charge and the two attacks collided with each other and the two were in a power struggle.
The Crowned Nomad and the scarred Pyroar pushed each other back in their deadlock, trying to overpower one another until the Crowned Nomad managed to force the scarred leader back and try to attack it with his next attacks in a combo, Leer and Headbutt.
"Now, the Nomad's using Leer and Headbutt in a two-attack combo!" observed Kiawe.
The scarred Pyroar snarled and met the Crowned Nomad head-on with Quick Attack, forcing the two to skid back before they powered themselves up with Work Up and circled each other for a opportunity for either to attack again.
"Was that Work Up?" Kiawe asked as he and Sarah looked on with their Pokemon.
"Yeah, they used that attack to boost the power of their regular and special attacks," Sarah said. "This battle could go either way even with the Nomad's Leer attack."
The two Pyroar kept circling each other until the scarred Pyroar howled loudly.
"That's the scarred Pyroar's Hyper Voice attack!" Kiawe screamed as everyone winced from the noise. The Crowned Pyroar fought through the Hyper Voice and unleashed Thunder Fang on the Scarred Pyroar! "Alright, Thunder Fang!" Silvally cheered but the scarred Pyroar wasn't done yet as it used Fire Fang back at the Crowned Nomad. They tussled at each other back and forth as they rolled on the ground, trying to see who would let go from Thunder Fang or Fire Fang.
"Pyroar, be careful!" Sarah whispered frantically.
"Hang in there..." Kiawe prayed quietly to the Crowned Nomad.
The other Pokemon couldn't help but worry and looked determined for the Crowned Nomad. They wanted to help him but like their trainers, they knew it was not their battle to fight and if they did interfere, he would lose the leadership battle. Up above, the scarred Pyroar's followers watched with gleeful smiles as their leader but the female Pyroar looked on worriedly, hoping that her mate will win.
Finally, the scarred Pyroar couldn't take the pain of the Nomad's Thunder Fang any more as it angrily threw the Nomad off with a hard right-paw hook and they got up and glared at each other again. The Crowned Pyroar glared intensely at the Scarred Pyroar with Leer while the Scarred Pyroar did the same thing. "Pyroar! Pyroar, Py!" The crowned Pyroar said.
"Pyroar!" the scarred Pyroar roared furiously. It was then that the two male Pyroar decided to end their leadership battle through a final showdown, using whatever attacks they deemed necessary to beat each other and clinch the match.
"What are they doing?" asked Sarah, worried.
"A final showdown," Kiawe answered knowingly. "This last faceoff will be the deciding factor and tell us if the Crowned Nomad will win back his position as leader."
"This is it, Sarah! Your friend's right," Silvally agreed. "This final showdown will decide it all for the Crowned Nomad, the return of a leader or eternal exile..."
Sarah gulped, she didn't like the sound of that since it meant he would lose his mate, forever.
The scarred Pyroar charged up what looked to be Hyper Beam in its mouth while the Crowned Nomad glowed orange all over. It was using a Fire attack that is strong on the first try but weaker if used in succession.
"The Crowned Nomad's using Overheat," Kiawe said. "He'll need to make his first his best shot!"
"Pyroar..." the female Pyroar cooed in worry for her mate. She wanted him to win more than anything.
"Pyroar, Roar, Py, Roar..." replied the Crowned Nomad as he closed his eyes as if he heard his mate. He knew it came down to this final attack and he had to win it for his former pride and his mate. As he did, the Wela Crown began to glow and sparkle as if it responded to his wish and his love for his mate. Kiawe and Sarah gasped in surprise but they didn't say anything.
"Pyroar!" shouted the Crowned Nomad to the scarred Pyroar, ready to begin.
"Py, Pyroar!" sneered the scarred leader before it unleashed Hyper Beam. The Crowned Nomad released a sparkling Overheat and the two attacks met in a final deadlock.
Everyone watched anxiously as they waited to see who would fall first, the scarred Pyroar or the Crowned Nomad.
The seconds ticked by until... The Overheat attack from the Crowned Nomad pushed back against the Hyper Beam until it broke through.
"Sarah?" Kiawe asked in amazement to a shocked Sarah. "Yeah, Kiawe?"
"I think the Crowned Nomad just won it!"
"Roar-!?" the scarred Pyroar gasped.
BOOM!
An large explosion happened and when the dust cleared... the Scarred Pyroar was fainted on the ground. "He won!" Kiawe cheered.
"Alright!" Sarah added. The female Pyroar roared happily and dashed towards her mate and rubbed him lovingly.
"PYROAR!" the scarred Pyroar's followers cried as they ran to their fallen leader. Of course, it was no longer a leader as it lost the leadership battle to the Crowned Nomad, who regained his rightful position.
The Crowned Leader and his mate glared at the three followers and their pride's fallen leader as they quivered in fear. "Roar, Py, Pyroar, Roar," growled the Crowned Pyroar. "Pyroar, Roar, Py, Roar, Pyroar, Pyroar Roar!"
The three followers nodded as they shivered and picked up their fallen scarred Nomad and scrambled out of sight, screaming all the way.
Kiawe, Sarah, and their Pokemon laughed at the three Royal Pokemon running away, they thought it was hilarious.
The Crowned Pyroar and his mate smiled as they looked to the two humans and beckoned them to come over as if the leader knew about them, much to their surprise until they smiled back.
"Looks like you won your leadership battle, Pyroar," smiled Kiawe.
"Congratulations, you earned it," agreed Sarah.
"Pyroar..." the Crowned Pyroar said.
"Now Pyroar... can we please have the crown back?" Sarah asked.
"Pyroar, Pyroar," growled the Crowned Pyroar softly as he smiled.
He lowered his head in a bow and Kiawe tried to take the crown, only for everyone to be ambushed by a sudden flurry of attacks as they were all blasted off their feet and paws. "Hey, who did that?!" cried Kiawe.
"I wasn't expecting that." Sarah gasped. It was then that the attackers made themselves known to the group. They were the three trench-coated beings from before that spied on Sarah before they removed their coats to reveal three sophisticated male grunts in blue and gold business outfits staring down at them smugly. "Who are you three?" Sarah asked. But, the three intruders didn't respond.
"Hello! Anybody in there?" grumbled Kiawe, irritated by their new foes not speaking, until...
"Guess you didn't get the memo," the middle grunt snarled.
"Old trainers out," began the left grunt.
"New trainers in," finished the right grunt.
"What do you want?" Sarah growled.
"We're impressed you and your friend didn't help the male Pyroar reclaim his title as leader of his pride, Sarah," the middle grunt continued.
"Wait, how do you know me?" Sarah inquired, confused by how the grunt knows her.
"We're part of a group destined to bring justice to Alola and abolish any remaining traces of the old Alolan Monarchy that is left in this world," the right grunt explained.
"But, who we are, you won't have to know once we're through with you," the left grunt told her with a smirk.
"What are you talking about?" asked Sarah again.
"What do you want with her, anyway?" Kiawe growled as he, Turtonator, the Pyroar, and Sarah's Pokemon shielded her. "She's not your playtoy!"
"That's for us to know, Fire Boy," quipped the right grunt.
"And you simpletons to find out," the left grunt added.
"But, alas, we're on a tight schedule, so..." the middle grunt finished as he snapped his fingers. Suddenly, fifteen more grunts came into view and joined their grunt leaders. Sarah squeaked in fear, seeing that many grunts. Milotic curled around her to protect her, "Lotic..." she hissed. Then they all heard, "Sarah! Kiawe!" They looked and saw Ash, Olivia, Kukui and all the others. "Are you alright?" Professor Kukui asked.
"Yeah, we're fine!" Sarah replied. "And, guess what? The Pyroar who stole the crown needed it to win a leadership battle!"
"What?!" everyone gasped in shock, looking at the Crowned Pyroar and his mate.
"Is that a female Pyroar?" asked Olivia in amazement.
"We'll explain later but right now, we got bigger problems to worry about like these freaks who are after Sarah!" Kiawe told everyone as he pointed at the three grunt leaders.
"What?!" Ash and the others exclaimed.
"Ah, so little Sarah's band of merry men and women come to the rescue, huh?" the middle grunt sneered. "How disappointing."
"I'd expect her future guard to be full of seasoned and well-trained veterans," scoffed the right grunt in disappointment.
"But an Island Kahuna, a Kanto boonie, a Professor, and these meddling kids and their Pokemon?" laughed the left grunt. "I'm so scared, NOT!"
"Meaning what, Mr. Neck Tie?" Ash snarled, he and his Pokemon not appreciating the taunt. "Lit!" "Pika!"
"Do you want to see how tough we really are?" "Steenee!" Mallow and Steenee challenged, preparing to fight.
"Quiet," Professor Kukui hissed, not wanting them to put themselves or Sarah in more danger. Olivia decided to speak up, "You won't take Sarah as long as we're standing!"
"Touching, but we'll be taking her now," scoffed the middle grunt again before he directed his next order to the grunts. "ATTACK!"
The grunts yelled as they let out their own Pokemon and charged at the group.
The group gathered around in a circle as they shielded Sarah from view. Their Pokemon also braced themselves for a bloody battle against the grunts and grunt leaders to protect her and they're not going to go down without a fight.
...That was, until the two teams were cut off by a loud booming sound and a thunderbolt from the sky, dropping down in the middle and separating them from fighting each other.
When the dust cleared to reveal the stranger, Sarah, recognizing thunderbolt, gently pushed through her family and friends to find a familiar cloaked figure on its knees before glaring at the grunts in front of it.
"Hey, who invited you?!" the right grunt exclaimed.
"Out of the way, bastard!" the left grunt snarled.
But, the middle grunt growled as the guy somehow recognized the stranger, "I should've know you'd find out about the girl, Zeraora!"
Everyone gasped as they looked at the cloaked stranger, especially Sarah. Finally, she knows the name of the stranger that trained the Puppy Pair.
"Zeraora...?" Sarah gasped.
"Does not compute. Does not compute." Rotom Dex said. The cloaked figure stood up and took off its cloak to reveal itself as the same Mythical Pokemon that the Puppy Pair came face to face and trained with at Clawmark Hill.
Sarah's friends, Professor Kukui, and Olivia gasped in shock while everyone's Pokemon's jaws dropped.
"No way!" "Is that really Zeraora?!" "It is!" "Why is it here?!" "The Thunderclap Wanderer!" Mallow, Sophocles, Lana, Lillie, and Kiawe screamed in shock. They all seemed to know about the Mythical Pokemon, now known as Zeraora, too.
"Olivia! Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Professor Kukui breathed, goggle-eyed.
"Yes! It's actually here, it really does exist! The Legendary Thunderclap Pokemon, Zeraora!" Olivia gasped in amazement.
"Zeraora, that's it's name?" "Pika...?!" "Lit...!" faltered Ash, Litten, and Pikachu.
The Puppy Pair gazed in amazement; the Mythical Pokemon that trained them had come to help save Sarah. Even Silvally gawked at the Thunderclap Pokemon and felt the power radiating off of it, "What power...!"
"Out of the way, Zeraora, so we can take that girl." the first grunt growled.
Zeraora growled, "Zera, Zera." The middle grunt snarled again as he lashed his teeth, "So, that's it, you want to do this the hard way? Don't come crying to us if you lose and we take the girl from you."
"All hands!" the right grunt shouted.
"DESTROY IT!" the left grunt finished, pointing at Zeraora.
"YEAH!" The rest of the grunts shouted as they and their Pokemon prepare to vanquish the Legendary Electric Type.
"Zeraora!" Sarah cried as she pushed through everyone and came to it to help with Silvally following until Zeraora raised its right arm to stop them.
"Zera, Zer, Zeraora..." the Thunderclap Pokemon reassured as it gave the girl a kind-hearted smile before it turned back to the grunts and their Pokemon and took off, allowing Silvally to bring her back to the others while it fought off the grunts with ease despite being outnumbered. Zeraora sparked with electricity and it formed a large ball of electricity above it and it its fists were coated in it and it punched the ground sending the electricity towards the grunts.
Everyone watched in shock as Zeraora first unleashed its Iron Tail, Drain Punch, Close Combat, and Thunder Punch attacks at the grunts' Pokemon army despite their best efforts to dogpile and stop it. Whenever one of them tried to get to Sarah, its unparalleled speed allowed the Thunderclap Wanderer to cut them off and keep them away from her.
"Wow, look at it go!" Sophocles awed at its speed.
"It seems to know where and when its enemies are going to attack Sarah and then get in front of them," Mallow gasped in amazement.
"I knew the Wanderer was strong but seeing it in action up close is a totally new thing!" Kiawe cried, awestruck by Zeraora's strength.
Everyone else stayed silent; they didn't know what to say as they continued watching the Electric Pokemon widdle away the last of the grunts' Pokemon.
Now, it's just the grunts left as they tried to stand their ground but were shivering in terror at the Mythical Pokemon as it charged up its fists with electricity and its light blue eyes glowed brightly. "I'm recording every moment! This is amazing!" Rotom Dex said, recording the battle. Olivia recognized the attack that Zeraora is going to use and looked towards Sarah and Silvally in shock, "Silvally, get Sarah back here, away from Zeraora! It's about to use Plasma Fists!"
"Wha-EY?!" Sarah asked before she was immediately hoisted onto Silvally's back and the Synthetic Pokemon brought her to the group from harm's way.
Finally, Zeraora's fists were completely covered with electricity and it raised them above its head before slamming them down on the ground with a loud "ZERA!"
The electricity it released traveled towards the grunts at blinding speed before it touched the grunts and encased them all, shocking every last one them to the core. "AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" they screamed.
At last, they all fell back when their moment of pain was over. Zeraora stood tall as he glared at the fallen grunts before the shakily got up and gathered together but with much difficulty. They had failed to defeat Zeraora and take Sarah from it and the others.
"Woah..." Ash gasped. "So that was the move it used to help train the Puppy Pair..!"
"Incredible.." Kukui said.
"Damn, it's too much for us, we don't stand a chance!" the middle grunt snarled quietly as he looked at Zeraora.
"What'll we do now, leader?" the right grunt groaned.
"We can't win against a beast like that!" the left grunt panicked.
"It's too late to get the girl now, our mission's completely compromised," the middle grunt grumbled before he addressed the other panicking grunts. "Soldiers, retreat!"
"RIGHT!" the other grunts complied in fear of Zeraora unleashing its wrath again before the three grunt leaders took out three smoke bombs.
"We'll remember this, Zeraora!" threatened the middle grunt before he turned to Sarah, still under Silvally's protection. "You haven't seen the last of us, Sarah! We'll get you and Zeraora for this!"
And, they threw their smoke bombs, blinding everyone as they made their quick getaway, making Ash snarl.
"Urgh, they got away!" he groaned. "Calm down, Ash, they're gone for now," Kiawe reassured him before they turned to Sarah. "Are you alright, Sarah?"
"Y-Yeah. I'm okay, just a bit shaken." Sarah said.
"Who were those guys?" Ash asked.
"Don't know but they said they were part of a group destined to bring justice to Alola and abolish any remaining traces of the old Alolan Monarchy that is left in this world." Kiawe replied.
"What do you think it means?" Mallow asked, worried.
"I thought the Alolan Monarchy was already abolished years ago," Lillie said.
"I don't know but hopefully, we'll never find out," Kiawe hoped before he turned to the Crowned Pyroar with a smile, remembering the Wela Crown.
"As Sarah and I were saying," he began. "We're glad that you won your leadership battle but now that you won your position as leader of your pride again, may we have the crown back? It's really important to all of Akala."
The male Pyroar agreed with a proud nod and bowing to Kiawe, the Fire-Type trainer got the crown back. "Thank you, Pyroar."
"Roar," the male Pyroar nodded. But, he sensed that Kiawe wasn't done and he wanted to ask him something.
"Pyroar, I know it's not my place to ask you this but, during your leadership battle, I was inspired by the fire burning inside of you. You were determined to beat that scarred Pyroar for the sake of your old pride and your mate and you had to steal the Wela Crown for that reason. You've lit the fires in my heart that I've never felt before and... I want to ask you something, would you like to come with me?" he asked.
"Pyroar..?" The male Pyroar looked surprised but his mate smiled.
The male looked at her, "Pyroar?" The female nodded. But the male looked worried. "Pyroar?" Then the group heard, "Litleo...!"
Everyone, even Zeraora, who was watching everyone, turned to see a Litleo on the edge of the rocky outcrop smiling proudly at the male Pyroar.
"Kiawe, is that...?" Ash began. Kiawe smiled as he looked at the Litleo and the two Pyroar in front of the group, "Yes, I think that's the Pyroar's cub."
The Pyroar's child was later joined by a pride of five more Litleo cubs and thirteen Pyroars, 7 male and 6 female. One of the male Pyroar is an elderly Pokemon and joined the leader and his mate's cub with a proud smile.
The leader looked at the elderly Pyroar in awe. "Pyroar!" he cried, recognizing the older Pyroar as his supposed mentor.
The elderly Pyroar looked to the leader and nodded his head towards Kiawe and his friends, asking the younger leader to join the Fire-Type user and that it was time for him to carve his own path.
The male was still worried about leaving the pride for their safety but the female licked his cheek in reassurance, promising to take care of them in his place as the new leader.
"Pyroar..." The male smiled at his mate, "Roar..."
"Don't worry, I'll take great care of him for you." Kiawe promised the female. The female smiled. "Pyroar..."
The male Pyroar and his mate nuzzled each other lovingly a final time, promising each other that they'll always have each other no matter how far apart they are.
Then, the new female leader jumped up the outcrop and joined her pride and her and her mate's cub. "PYROAR!" the male roared one last time in a fond farewell with his mate's pride returning it, telling him that he'll always be welcomed back to the pride whenever he's ready to return before they left.
"You won't have to worry, Pyroar," Kiawe smiled as the male Pyroar turned to him. "I promise I'll take good care of you."
Then, he opened an empty Pokeball he had on him and the Royal Pokemon smiled as he accepted Kiawe as his new trainer and his friends as his new pride and his ball clicked shut, confirming Kiawe's new capture. "Alright, I got the Royal Pokemon, Pyroar!" he cheered grandly.
Everyone smiled for Kiawe getting a new friend in the Royal Pokemon. Then, Sarah turned to Zeraora before she came to it and smiled at the Wanderer. "Thanks for protecting us, Zeraora." Sarah smiled.
"Zera..." smiled Zeraora, relieved that she was untouched by the grunts that wanted her so bad.
"Tell me, are you the one who trained the Puppy Pair on Clawmark Hill?" she asked, to which she got a confirming nod from the Thunderclap Pokemon.
"Will we see you again?" she pondered, worried if anybody else would be after her as the mysterious grunts were. The Mythical Pokemon just came to her and kindly gave her a soft kiss on her forehead before it grabbed its cloak and gave a prince's bow to her before it left everyone in a thunderbolt. Everyone watched in awe at the sight and they also wondered if they will meet the Thunderclap Pokemon again. But, Sarah knew that whatever happens to her, it's a guarantee that Zeraora will always be there to protect her.
Later...
When everyone was told about Pyroar's leadership battle and the crown was safely returned, the Wela Crowning Ceremony went on without a hitch as Litten was finally crowned.
"Mwar!" Litten smiled.
"Now, Pyroar, you're next," Olivia told Pyroar, who was surprised by the offer. "You wanted the Wela Crown for a noble reason which is a leadership battle against the scarred Pyroar to take back your rightful place as leader of your pride. Sarah and Kiawe put in a good word for you when they told us everything and I think it's only fair that you get to end things off here, to be crowned in honor of accepting Kiawe, Sarah, and their friends as your new pride."
"Roar!" Pyroar finally agreed, gayly. He stepped onto the platform and accepted the Wela Crown again as he felt empowered and unleashed a sparkling Flamethrower into the sky, proudly accepting his new pride marking the end of his new beginning. As a result, everyone cheered the loudest for him.
Kiawe and Turtonator watched their new friend happily, knowing that things are about to become better for them and the others with Pyroar around.
"Turtonator, from now on, we'll train hard with Pyroar!" Kiawe promised, to which Turtonator agreed. "Turton!"
Now that Kiawe's caught himself a Pyroar, a Pokemon whose fighting spirit and love for his mate and pride touched the fires burning deep within his heart, it may be able to pick up the pace with his new pride. But, with the reveal of the Mythical Pokemon, Zeraora, having saved her from a group of mysterious grunts who were after our heroine, Sarah's adventures in Akala Island with him and the others are about to get wild continues!
Sarah's Team:
1. Pikachu
Moves - Thundershock, Tackle, Thunderpunch
2. Rockruff
Moves - Rock Throw, Bite, Tackle, Rock Slide
3. Lycanroc (Midnight Form)
Moves - Rock Throw, Bite, Tackle, Protect, Rock Slide
4. Silvally
Moves - Crush Claw, Air Slash, Hyper Beam, Swords Dance, Dragon Claw, Multi Attack, Tri Attack
5. Mudsdale
Moves - High Horsepower, Double Kick, Mud Slap, Bulldoze
6. Wooloo
Moves - Wild Charge, Tackle, Electro Ball
7. Ponyta (Galar Form)
Moves - Dazzling Gleam, Moonblast, High Horsepower, Heal Pulse
8. Meowth (Alola Form)
Moves - Thunderbolt, Scratch, Iron Tail, Dark Pulse
9. Popplio
Moves - Pound, Water Gun, Icy Wind, Bubblebeam
10. Milotic
Moves - Dragon Pulse, Ice Beam, Twister, Mirror Coat
11. Mareep (Shiny)
Moves - Thunderbolt, Confuse Ray, Power Gem, Signal Beam
