It was the day after Sarah passed her Grand Trial and everyone was asleep in the Pokemon Center... except for two Rockruff.
When Sarah had finished her Grand Trial in the form of a Master Triangle Battle with the second brother Rockruff, Mudsdale, and Wooloo, Ash had his turn after Olivia healed her Pokemon but in a similar predicament to the second brother, his own Rockruff had been acting more aggressive throughout the Kanto Trainer's Grand Trail but he was more out of hand than the second brother was which resulted in the Puppy Pokemon finishing the Grand Trail alone after he took out Rowlet by mistake.
Ash managed to motivate his Rock Type Pokemon to continue on but he still felt guilty about striking down Rowlet unintentionally.
Things didn't go so smoothly with Sarah's Master Triangle Battle either because at several points, the second brother was going crazy for battling Olivia's Lycanroc which nearly ended Sarah's Grand Trial in disaster when he attacked his own older brother when he tried to calm him down.
Now, both Rockruff felt the guilt of their actions deeply, the second brother more so than Ash's Rockruff.
Unable to sleep with their unintentional actions still playing on their minds, the two Rockruff decided to take a walk outside to clear their heads.
While Ash's Rockruff immediately left out the door from the boys' room, the second brother hesitated as he reached the door from his stepmother's suite.
He looked to his birth family who were sleeping beside Sarah's bed. He wasn't sure if he should tell them about his troubles since he first had a nightmare about being dumped and abandoned for his actions after drifting off to sleep.
But, ultimately, he decided to find and speak with Akala Island's Tapu Guardian, Tapu Lele to help him. With a sigh, he quietly left to seek the Alolan Guardian Deity. As he left, he met with Ash's Rockruff and they left together, having mutual feelings. But, his silent departure didn't go unnoticed minutes later.
Red Eyes woke up a few minutes later and gasped as he didn't see his brother with them and the others.
"Lycan?" Red Eye went over to Sarah, her parents and his own parents, "Lycanroc roc.."
Sarah stirred along with her parents, "Red Eyes, what is it?" Sarah asked groggily. Red Eyes pointed to the spot that was missing his brother, "Rockruff?!"
Red Eyes pointed to the door, "Rockruff..."
"Sarah, what's wrong?" Nikki asked.
"It's Rockruff, he went outside!" Sarah stated.
"What?!" "Lycan?!" they all cried.
A few miles away from the Pokemon Center, the two Rockruff continued on their walk to try and clear their minds of the previous events regarding their aggressive behavior towards their family and friends. Along the way, they decided to separate as Ash's Rockruff takes on more training to learn the self-control he needed so he wouldn't unintentionally lash out at his friends again.
The second brother wasn't in the mood as he remained downcast and parted ways to find Tapu Lele as he originally intended. "Rockruff, Ruff, Ruff!" he called to the Tapu Guardian but he didn't hear anything as he strained his ears for the Guardian of Life's calls.
He didn't mean to be so demanding as he kept on calling it but he didn't have a choice, he wanted Akala's Tapu Guardian to help him put his demons to rest and to help him find his way.
Suddenly, he heard a series of pained howls coming from another direction along with a familiar shrill cry which sounded like a laugh.
He heard an explosion and the same laugh again, joined by more pained howls.
And then, the second brother understood, it was the Tapu Guardian, Tapu Lele, and it found Ash's Rockruff first.
The second brother ran back the way it came to the spot where Rockruff was training and they parted ways until he saw, to his shock, Rockruff getting beaten to a pulp by Tapu Lele.
He called to Tapu Lele and prepared to attack it, drawing the Guardian of Life's attention to him but remembered why he came to it for and approached it with great caution before explaining his problem to it.
Tapu Lele was surprised and curious over the second brother's predicament when he explained his story to it and started to explain what he should do until they were interrupted by Ash's Rockruff, still wanting to fight the Tapu Guardian. But, Tapu Lele laughed again, as if the Puppy Pokemon still wanted to play with it.
Tapu Lele then constantly rammed Ash's Rockruff until it skidded across the ground and didn't get up! "Rooo!" The second brother gasped. Tapu Lele examined the Puppy Pokémon, not knowing it was badly hurt.
"Rockruff, Ruff, Ruff, Rock!" the second brother shouted as he cut off Tapu Lele, wanting it to stop hurting Rockruff still wanting the answers he needed to his growing aggressive nature and his next evolution. "Ruff, Rockruff, Ruff, Rock, Rock, Ruff, Ruff, Rockruff!"
Tapu Lele was surprised but before it could speak with him again, the three Pokemon heard voices calling out to the second brother and Rockruff, four of which the second brother knew.
"Lycan!" "Ly!" two of them cried as the second brother perked his ears while Rockruff also heard them and tried to get up to fight Tapu Lele again but passed out.
"Lycanroc?" "Rockruff!" cried the third voice and the fourth. Recognizing the fourth voice with the first three, Tapu Lele quickly dispelled its field and floated away until it was out of sight.
The second brother was shocked that Tapu Lele was leaving and tried to stop it, "Rockruff, Ruff, Ruff! Ruff!" But, it was too late, Tapu Lele had already left and he didn't get the answers he needed.
"Rockruff, where are you?" the fourth voice cried again until the owner revealed herself to be Sarah, joined by her parents and the second brother's family.
"Ruff, Ruff!" the second brother barked in surprise as he saw Sarah.
Sarah looked ahead and gasped, finally seeing her Puppy Pokemon but also seeing a familiar face with him.
"Rockruff!" she cried as she ran to him with the their families following her. They were greatly relieved as they smoothered him with hugs, kisses, and nuzzles for him.
"Rockruff, my little baby!" Nikki cried as she held and kissed him. "Thank heavens you're alright!"
"Lycan Ly Lycanroc, Ly, Roc, Roc?" the Midnight Lycanroc spoke with an angry snarl as he crossed his arms. The second brother whimpered.
"Did you have any idea how worried we were when you outright left without telling us?" Sarah scolded. "You're lucky Red Eyes found out you were missing and told us!"
"Rockruff..." apologized the second brother as he got a happy and relieved nuzzle from his mother and brother.
"Uh Sarah, isn't that Ash's Rockruff?" Silvally asked seeing the passed out Puppy Pokemon. Sarah looked and gasped, "That is Ash's Rockruff!"
"It is! But, what happened to him?" Nikki gasped as she looked him over.
"What were you two doing out here, anyway?" James asked the second brother curiously.
"Rockruff! Where are you?" "Pika, Pika!" cried a familiar kid's voice and a Pikachu. A few seconds later, Ash and Pikachu appeared and to their shock, they found Rockruff wounded and the second brother joined by his entire family.
"Rockruff! Sarah!" he cried as he and his partner raced to them. "Rockruff, are you okay? Sarah, what happened to him? Is Red Eyes' brother alright?"
"He's fine, Ash, take it easy," soothed James. "But, your Rockruff is a different story. How did he get so badly hurt, anyway?"
"Oh man..." Ash gasped as he looked over his Puppy Pokemon, who finally came to and started growing at him and Pikachu like he was not happy for them to find him.
"Rockruff, you're hurt! You got to get back to the Pokemon Center, you need help from Nurse Joy!" he tried to tell him. But, his Rock Type ignored him as he called out to Tapu Lele.
Nobody could understand what Ash's Rockruff was doing until they all felt a shower of glowing pedals drop down on them, making them feel happy.
The second brother knew who it was that made them as he called out to Tapu Lele to speak with him again. Sarah realized this, too, "Are these Tapu Lele's petals?"
The second brother continued to call Tapu Lele as his parents, Red Eyes, and step-family heard him and gasped in shock while Rockruff got into a tussle with Ash and bit him before he realized his mistake and left to find the Tapu Guardian.
Silvally came to Sarah and spoke quietly, still in shock. "Sarah, I think your Pokemon and I know why he left."
"What's that?" she asked him. "Rockruff was calling out to Tapu Lele about what happened during your Master Triangle Battle."
"Tapu Lele?!" choked Sarah, realizing why the second brother left as he did.
"Tapu Lele?!" "Are you serious?!" James and Nikki gasped, having a similar feeling when she spoke the name of the Guardian of Life.
"Why would he do that?" Sarah asked.
The second brother looked sad again, "Rockruff Rooo.. Rockruff..."
"He still feels horrible about hurting his brother and he wanted some help from Tapu Lele and try to help him." Silvally said.
Sarah thought back to the Master Triangle Battle yesterday and the second brother's unintentional attack on his brother combined with his growing aggression. Then, she remembered Olivia and Professor Kukui's words about how close he was to his upcoming evolution into a Lycanroc like the rest of his family. "Do you think it has anything to do with him evolving, too? Would that be why he went to Tapu Lele for help?"
"Well, if that's so, I guess we have a limited amount of time to figure out and he might've turned to the right Pokemon," James replied.
"If anyone can help him since he's at a crossroads, it's a Pokemon that is older and wiser than him," agreed Nikki. "And, that Pokemon is Tapu Lele."
Sarah looked to the second brother, who was nuzzled by his birth family commending him for taking the initiative as he did despite the trouble he caused. Even she had to agree that Tapu Lele may have the answers he needed.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Tapu Lele was watching them and at the second brother with intrigue.
(Opening 3 – Rurouni Kenshin Opening 1 – Freckles (English Dub))
(The opening begins with a silhouette of a young girl with a Chinese straight sword sheathed in a gold scabbard sitting within images of Team Rocket, Team Skull, Guzma and Plumeria, the three mysterious grunts, and the grunts' leader before the image brightens and the girl is left alone)(The girl gets up and awakens to reveal herself as Sarah as she and her Pokémon are on a large boat as it sailed across the ocean to one of the other Islands of Alola. While some of her Pokémon are relaxing on the boat ride, Silvally, Lolita, Blitz, and Red Eyes look out into the ocean with determined looks on their faces with their trainer)
I brush against the freckles that I hated so and life goes on but I heave a little sigh for you. It's heavy, the love that I would share with you. Then it dissolves like it was just a sugar cube!
(Ash and Pikachu were shown at the Pokémon School trying to practice the steps to a new Z-Attack until they missed or exaggerated a few steps and fell down on the ground. Lana, Mallow, and Sophocles, who were with them along with their Pokémon Partners, either laughed at or groaned at them. Ash and Pikachu smiled sheepishly as the scene pans from the school to the beach near the school)
Now, the little pain sitting in my heart has shrunken a bit but it really does hurt me now. Those silly horoscopes, I guess I can't trust them after all~!
(Kiawe was there with Pyroar and Turtonator as he commanded a Double Flamethrower and gave a satisfied smirk as his partners landed on either side of him as he then looked to his right)
If we could get further away~! I wonder what it would be li-i-i-i-i-ke, yeah~!
(The scene pans to Lillie looking out her backyard from her mansion with Snowy as she had a happy look on her face before they turned to their left in surprise)
I'd be so happy inside my hea-a-a-a-a-a-art!
(Sarah and her Pokémon are surrounded by mysterious grunts and a small team of people in white uniforms as she held a strange cosmic-like Pokémon in her left arm and the Sword of the Sun Lion on her right hand as she was then attacked by a mystery grunt's Houndoom and its Flamethrower attack)
All the memories I have are beautiful in my mind!
(A Thunderbolt appears and blocks the Flamethrower to reveal Zeraora as the Thunderclap Pokémon shielded her)
But, they don't feed the hunger deep inside my soul!
(Silvally, Lolita, and the Puppy Pair use Tri Attack, Dark Pulse, and Double Rock Slide to beat their foes getting to Sarah)
And, tonight, I thought I'd be just sitting in my sorrow!
(Ponyta and Wooloo attack together with Electro Ball and Moonblast while Aqua and Milotic use Bubblebeam and Dragon Pulse before Candy and Blitz joined forces to use Thundershock and Signal Beam at their own enemies)
And now, I must wonder why, what did it really mean to you?
(Sarah appears and opens her eyes as she saw her family and friends, humans and Pokémon alike, waiting happily for her to join them as she walks to them. The Season 2 titles appear just as the song ends)
I just can't see it anymore~! I just can't see it anymore~! O-o-o-o-o-oh~!
Pokémon Alola Journey – The Trials of Sarah
Morning on Akala Island, and everyone back in Paniola Town was up bright and early. But, all was not well for everyone.
When the others woke up and saw that Sarah and her family along with Ash and Pikachu as well as Rockruff and the second brother were gone, they frantically looked all over town for them.
"Find anything?" Mallow pondered to Lana. "Uh-uh."
"None of them?" Lillie fretted as Rotom-Dex joined them. "Gone without a trace!"
"I've looked all over Paniola Town but they weren't anywhere in sight," added Kiawe, worried.
Sophocles nodded in agreement as Professor Kukui and Olivia and her Lycanroc came to them, "So, where could they have gone? Professor?"
Even the Professor and Olivia had no luck as they were the most worried for all of them.
"Litten!" Ash's Litten called and the group saw Ash and Pikachu coming back but no sign of Sarah, Rockruff, Red Eyes or her parents.
"Ash!" gasped Olivia as they all noticed Ash and Pikachu looking so tired and worn out.
"But, where's Sarah and about Red Eyes and their parents?" Lana noticed.
"Something's wrong. Even Silvally was gone," Mallow realized. Professor Kukui was relieved but he was also mad that Ash and Pikachu had left without a trace last night, not to mention he didn't find Sarah, nor her parents, and the Puppy Pair and their Parents.
"Look, wandering off in the middle of the night is inexcusable!" he scolded profusely.
"Oh, yeah... I understand, sorry, Professor," Ash apologized as he was greeted by a relieved Rowlet and Litten. "But, the thing is, Rockruff disappeared and I was really worried. So, I followed him."
This got everyone's attention as they gasped in surprise.
"What's more, I found Sarah and her family with the second brother and he ran out, too. I tried to go after my Rockruff after I found him but he ran away... I don't know what happened to Sarah and the others..."
The others gasped again, "Keep searching but this time over a wider area." Lillie said.
"Come on Popplio." Lana said as she and Popplio went off.
"I'll fly on Charizard and see if I can spot them from the air." Kiawe said.
"Right." Sophocles said as he got out his little portable device, "I'll run a simulation and see where they might have gone."
"You guys... thanks so much." Ash said.
"Pikachu." Pikachu and Blitz said together. Sarah's other pokemon, Rowlet and Litten agreed.
Now, Professor Kukui was more worried than mad about Sarah's disappearance while the others dispersed and Sarah's other Pokemon stayed with them, Ash and his team, "This is strange. What could've possibly happened to Sarah?"
"Professor," Olivia began. "The kids did mention that along with Ash's Rockruff, Red Eyes' little brother was also gone. You saw him, too, right Ash?"
"Yeah... Do you think it has anything to do with Rockruff and Red Eyes' brother evolving?" Ash asked thoughtfully, realizing this.
"You know, maybe," Olivia answered as she and Kukui smiled, knowing this. "Lycanroc suddenly disappeared on me just before he evolved."
She petted her Midday Lycanroc, who growled with pleasure, "He finally came back, but only after his evolution."
"But, my Rockruff was badly hurt and lying down when I found him with Sarah, her parents, the second brother, and his family. The second brother was alright but Rockruff was scratched up, beaten to pieces!"
Professor Kukui and Olivia gasped in surprise.
Meanwhile, Ash's Rockruff was walking over a mountain path, still trying to find Tapu Lele. His wounds were still getting to him and he felt bad about what he did to Ash but he knew this was too important for him to pass up. He soon let out another loud howl, trying to call for Tapu Lele again.
At another part of Akala Island, a young boy, joined by the Midnight Pokemon, Umbreon, and a Midnight Lycanroc were resting at a cave dwelling when the Lycanroc heard Rockruff's howl. Sarah had never met him but the boy was none other than Lillie's older brother, Gladion.
"What's up, Lycanroc?" he asked his Wolf Pokemon.
"Roc..." Lycanroc growled as he walked away to find the source of the howl.
"Be back by nightfall," Gladion told him. Then, he and Umbreon went in the cave until they came to a lagoon in it to soothe what looked to be a Type: Null from his Premier Ball, who started to thrash around after being released.
Everyone looked all over for Rockruff, Sarah, and the others but they had no luck still.
"Rockruff! Sarah!" Ash called out.
"Rockruff! Nikki! James!" Professor Kukui added. Sarah's pokemon called out to their friend too, but they didn't hear a response back.
Meanwhile, Sarah, her parents, the Lycanroc Couple, Red Eyes and Rockruff were walking through the forest.
The second brother was still looking for Tapu Lele but this time with his family, Sarah, James, Silvally, and Nikki's help. Having understood why he went out last night, they all agreed to help him find Tapu Lele and get the answers he needed to control his aggression and for his evolution.
Of course, this was easier said than done as they looked all over. "Man, this is like finding a needle in a haystack! There's no way we'll find Tapu Lele if it doesn't show up," Sarah groaned.
"It sure can appear and disappear when it wants to," James agreed. "When do you suppose it'll show up so we can get the answers we need to the second brother's questions?"
"I'm sure it'll show up sooner or later," Nikki replied.
Red Eyes and his family sniffed around for Tapu Lele but they didn't have any luck, either.
"I'm sick of this game," Silvally griped. "When is it going to show up?"
"Take it easy, Silvally. We'll find it, we just gotta keep looking." Silvally sighed and agreed as they decided to split into two groups.
While Silvally, Sarah, Nikki, and James went one way to search for Tapu Lele, the second brother and his family went another way and would make sure to tell shout if they found Tapu Lele.
Back to Ash's Rockruff, after falling down to a river after being scared by a wild Fearow, he managed to drag himself out but he was exhausted and he passed out shortly after.
Then, a familiar Midday Lycanroc appeared and found Rockruff, sadly looking at his second challenger. Then, he heard several footsteps coming towards them.
To his surprise, it was his and Olivia first challenger and his family as they found them!
They quickly ran over to them as they nuzzled Olivia's partner I'm acknowledgement before looking at Ash's Rock Type.
The Midday Lycanroc gently grabbed Ash's Rockruff by the scruff on its neck. "Lycanroc..."
Pokemon POV
"What happened to him?" the second brother cried.
"Your friend must've fallen in the river while he was wandering about," the Midday Lycanroc explained. "I found him like this but he looks exhausted. He must've used up all his energy dragging himself out."
"Oh, the poor darling," the Dusk Lycanroc frowned as she nuzzled Ash's Rock Type. "He must've had such a bad day..."
"We're lucky he survived if he managed to stay alive," her mate said. "But, he's badly wounded. We'll need to get him to-!"
"To Tapu Lele, correct?" another voice replied, forcing the Midday Lycanroc to drop Rockruff as they jumped in surprise and turned to the owner of the voice. The owner was actually Gladion's Lycanroc, who heard them and came to see what the fuss is about.
"So, we meet again," Gladion's Lycanroc told Olivia's Lycanroc.
"What do you want?" the Midday Lycanroc growled at his counterpart.
"Hey! Who are you, anyway?" Red Eyes demanded as he pointed to the third Midnight Lycanroc.
"A friend, I belong to a boy named Gladion," the Midnight Lycanroc told him.
He then turned to Rockruff and then to the second brother. He didn't know, for sure, but he also felt something of a burning desire from the little Rockruff under his mother's protection.
"You, you want to see Tapu Lele as well. Is that it?" he asked the second brother.
"Y-y-Yeah...?" the younger brother replied. Gladion's Lycanroc nodded as he went over to them, picked up Ash's Rockruff and started to leave before he turned to the group behind him. "Come with me."
Unsure of what's happened and surprised that Gladion's Lycanroc was helping them, the Midday Lycanroc, joined by Red Eyes, his brother, and their parents joined him as he led them to Tapu Lele's location.
At the Ruins of Life, Tapu Lele was singing happily as it sprinkled its petals across the arena where Ash and Sarah once had their Grand Trial battles with Olivia.
A wounded Yungoos came to be healed and sure enough, the petals cured it of any bruises it has.
The group appeared and the Gladion's Lycanroc places Ash's Rockruff in the ground.
"Tapu Lele!" Gladion's Lycanroc called.
Tapu Lele stopped singing and turned to the Wolf Pokemon and his accomplices, surprised to see Ash's Rockruff and the second brother again but this time, alone and with some personal company, "Oh, what's this then?"
"Tapu Lele, please heal this Rockruff before you," Gladion's Lycanroc told it. The Guardian of Life, however, forced him back towards a bush to the surprise of the Wolf Pokemon gathered and the second brother.
"What?!" Olivia's Lycanroc gasped. Gladion's Lycanroc groaned as Tapu Lele ignored them and continued to sing, "Damn, that hurt..."
The Midday Lycanroc decided to try again and spoke up, "Tapu Lele, please! If you really are the Guardian of Life, please heal this Rockruff and answer the couple's second son's questions!"
The Lycanroc Couple knew this was their second son's chance and nudged him forward, "Go ahead, son." "We'll be right here if you need us." The second brother gulped and quietly joined Olivia's Lycanroc and his fallen friend. Then, he plucked up courage as Olivia's partner nodded, encouraging him to speak up. "Tapu Lele, I am the second son of my mother and father!" he began. "I come before you to seek the answers I need to my evolution!"
Tapu Lele heard the second brother and looked towards him and Rockruff. To her surprise, it recognized the Rockruff it was playing with the night before and the Puppy Pokemon that wanted answers to his questions.
"You two...!" it gasped before it laughed. "Oh, my, yes! How silly of me, why didn't you say so? I'll have him fixed up and your questions will be answered, shall we?
It sprinkled its petals onto Ash's Rockruff but surprisingly, they had no effect.
"What? Ugh, how preposterous!" Tapu Lele snapped before it threw back the Midday Lycanroc as he shielded the two Puppy Pokemon.
"No!" the mother cried as the father growled and they joined their fellow Lycanroc. "Tapu Lele, stop this!"
"Oh... Oh, of course! Why didn't I see it?" Tapu Lele giggled, seeing them together.
The Lycanrocs sweat dropped at her sudden change in behavior.
End Pokemon POV
Back to Ash and the others, they were still continuing their search. But, it was getting late as the dusk was starting to settle around them.
"Rockruff, Sarah! Red Eyes?" Ash called.
"Nikki, James!" Professor Kukui shouted.
"Shout if you can hear us!" said Rotom-Dex.
"Silvally! Are you guys out there?" Olivia replied, but there was no answer from either of them. Not even Sarah's other Pokemon nor Ash's team had any luck finding them all, not even Noctowl as he shook his head sadly after returning from his aerial search, feeling worried for his trainer and his lost family members.
"Now, Ash, do you have any idea where Rockruff, Sarah, and the others might be? Any idea at all?" Olivia asked Ash.
"I don't have a clue," Ash sighed. Then, the healed Yungoos appeared, as it was leaving a trail of Tapu Lele's petals behind, startling everybody. But then, Ash remembered seeing those petals from last night and remembered the Guardian of Life. "Tapu Lele, it's around here somewhere!"
"Tapu Lele, what makes you say that?" Professor Kukui asked.
"Professor, Ash, Olivia!" cried a familiar voice. They all looked and they were shocked to find Sarah, her parents, and Silvally finding and running towards them.
Her other Pokemon cheered as they all dogpiled her and smothered her with relieved nuzzles and licks.
"Sarah! You're okay," Ash cried as she got up. "Of course, I am. Why wouldn't I be okay if Silvally was here to protect us? Why are you all here, though?"
"We were all looking for you and your parents. We were really worried, you know!" scolded Kukui.
"Sorry, but we were following the second brother after we found him," she answered.
"And, where is he and his family now?" asked Olivia.
"We split up to find Tapu Lele and if somebody finds it, they would-! Hey, wait, why would you look for Tapu Lele? Olivia, do you know something about it? I think it has answers as to how the second brother can deal with his evolution."
"...That isn't good," Olivia said, looking pretty grim.
"Huh? Why not?" Ash asked.
"Tapu Lele loves to play during Pokémon battles, but it's strong. It thinks it's being playful when I first fact it's being cruel." Olivia explained.
Ash gasped, "And Tapu Lele has no idea? That data does not compute." Rotom Dex added.
"It's true. Tapu Lele is so strong that it doesn't realize it could leave its opponent badly injured from one of its playful battles." Olivia added.
"No..." Sarah gasped. "NO! I won't let Tapu Lele do that to the second brother and his family!"
Quickly, she ran off to where she thinks the Guardian of Life could be, taking the others by surprise as they began to follow her.
"Sarah!" Ash and Professor Kukui cried in shock.
"Ponchita!" "Honey, slow down!" James and Nikki shouted with Sarah's Pokemon coming from behind her while Ash, his Team, Professor Kukui, Rotom-Dex, and Olivia trailing from behind.
"Sarah, listen to me!" called Olivia as loudly as she could so Sarah could hear her. "I know where she is, Tapu Lele was last seen within the Ruins of Life!"
"Right!" called Sarah as she led the others to the gates leading to the Ruins of Life. She raced down the halls to the arena where her Master Triangle Grand Trial Battle was once held and there, to her shock, was the second brother, his family, Olivia's partner, and Rockruff with another Midnight Lycanroc facing Tapu Lele!
"Tapu Lele! DON'T!" she cried, standing with the Puppy and Wolf Pokemon.
"Rockruff!" "Lycan!" cried the second brother and his family in shock.
"Lycanroc!" Olivia's Lycanroc breathed in surprise while Gladion's Lycanroc kept his eyes on Tapu Lele.
Tapu Lele gasped as she saw the human girl with the Wolf Pokemon and whom the Puppy Pokemon she talked with belonged to.
"Don't do it, Tapu Lele!" Sarah pleaded. "I won't let you hurt my family!"
But then, Tapu Lele laughed as she breezed past the group as they dodged and shielded the Puppy Pokemon and Sarah.
She turned to face them again and used Draining Kiss on Gladion's Lycanroc and Olivia's Lycanroc before doing the same to Red Eyes, the Lycanroc Couple, and Sarah before she finally started to heal Ash's Rockruff and grant the second brother the answer to his questions about his evolution.
"Sarah!" Professor Kukui and Ash cried as they, Olivia, Ash's Team, James, Nikki, and Sarah's other Pokemon arrived and saw the scene.
"Ponchita!" "Honey!" cried James and Nikki as they started to run to her.
"Hold on!" shouted Olivia, seeing what's about to happen and surprising everyone as they saw what the Guardian of Life was finally doing. "Unbelievable! Tapu Lele's healing Rockruff and giving the second brother new strength!"
"Huh?" Ash asked but then Kukui realized the move Tapu Lele used. "Of course, that's Draining Kiss!"
"Draining Kiss?" NIkki and James asked in unison.
"That's an attack that's suppose to drain an opponents energy." Rotom Dex explained.
"Right. Tapu Lele adsorbed the energy it got from Sarah, and the Lycanroc and then giving it to Ash's Rockruff and the second Puppy Pair brother." Kukui explained.
"And, what's more, it's giving the second brother the love and happiness from Sarah, Red Eyes, and the Lycanroc Couple when it drained their energy. Their love for him could be the key that will allow him to control his aggression and his growing power coming from his evolution!"
All the Pokemon gasped in shock and amazement as they watched Ash's Rockruff getting healed and the second brother getting the power he needed to control his growing aggression and access his evolution just from Sarah and his family's love and happiness for him. When Rockruff was healed and the second brother felt himself being empowered, they saw Sarah, sleeping from the Draining Kiss attack Tapu Lele used on her as well as Olivia's partner, Gladion's Lycanroc, and the second brother's family.
The second brother woke his family while Rockruff ran happily back to Ash and his friends. "Rockruff! You're okay..." Ash said, feeling relieved, and his Pokemon feeling the same.
"...Rockruff?" groaned Sarah as she woke up, tired.
The second brother whined happily as he nuzzled her and his family. "Oh, Rockruff..." sighed Sarah happily. "Thank goodness..."
Pokemon POV
The Midday Lycanroc and Gladion's Lycanroc came to and they were surprised to see the second brother feeling happy as Ash's Rockruff came to see her, smiling brightly. They were taken aback to see Ash's Pokemon healed by their strength. "Oh, boys!" Tapu Lele called, drawing everyone's attention to the Akala Tapu Guardian as she was floating around the post where Olivia once stood during the Grand Trial battles. "Come on over, you two! Look at the sunset, isn't it beautiful? Come and see!"
The two Rockruff looked on, as Tapu Lele called for them. "Yes, I hear you..." the second brother said as he went first.
"We both do..." Rockruff muttered as he joined his friend. Sarah was surprised, "Guys, what are you...?"
"Brother..." gasped Red Eyes as he and their parents watched on in awe as their son went to Olivia's old spot with Rockruff and saw the sunset.
The two Rockruff gazed in amazement at the sunset's miraculous beauty as they kept their eyes focused on the sun, even after it went green.
But then, the second brother heard Tapu Lele speak only to him, giving him the answer he was looking for to his prior questions, "An act of true love will crack open and thaw a frozen stone heart..."
"Rockruff?" Ash gasped in shock while Sarah stayed quiet, not sure of what to make of the sight.
"What's happening?" Nikki gasped quietly. Olivia could only gape as well, "Could it really be?"
"But, it is! That glow," James breathed in shock. Professor Kukui agreed, "Is that the Green Flash?"
The two Rockruff stared at the sun as its Green Flash changed their original blue eyes to green but then the second brother heard another voice call out to him from within the sun, saying the same thing Tapu Lele told him, "An act of true love will crack open and thaw a frozen stone heart..."
"Love will crack open and thaw..." the second brother repeated.
End Pokemon POV
Then, without warning, he and Rockruff started to howl at the Green Flash as it radiated then with a new power.
The second brother's family, Olivia's Lycanroc, and Gladion's Lycanroc all joined as they two Puppy Pokemon started to a bright green until at last, they evolved into orange wolves with traces of Midday and Midnight Lycanroc on them as they let out proud howls. The major difference between them is that the second brother had gained sparkling four green bands around his lower hind legs that have the Kingdom Hearts heart symbol on them and he's at 3'2" in height.
"They evolved..." Sarah gasped as she awed the second brother's evolution.
The second brother's family were amazed before they cried happy tears as Tapu Lele left, he had become like his and his brother's mother.
"No data, no data! They're neither the Midday nor Midnight form of Lycanroc! They're both a completely different form of Lycanroc like the second brother's mother!" Rotom-Dex buzzed in shock.
Ash was ecstatic from the evolution, "Woah..." he ran over and hugged his new Lycanroc, "So cool Lycanroc." he said.
"Roc." Pikachu, Rowlet and Litten smiled and all came over happily, seeing their little Puppy friend now a full grown wolf pokemon.
"I can't believe it..." Sarah breathed as she walked over to her fully-evolved Rock Type as he walked over to her. "Is it really you, buddy?"
"Roc!" the second brother replied. Sarah suddenly started to cry as she hugged him with all her might as he howled happily and his birth family and stepfamily joined them in congratulating their friend and brother. "...You're incredible..."
As Ash, Sarah, and their Pokemon celebrated, Professor Kukui, Nikki, James, and Olivia joined by Dragonite and Lucario congratulating the Lycanroc Couple and their second son, told them about how they evolved to be like the second brother's mother.
"The fact that they were able to evolve like the second brother's mother may have been a result of the Green Flash!" Professor Kukui smiled proudly.
"The Green Flash?" Sarah questioned.
"Remember how the sun turned green at an instant? That's the Green Flash, it's a rare natural phenomenon that is only seen when during a sunset or sunrise," James told the two kids.
"The Green Flash is a phenomenal event that very few people have ever seen," Nikki added.
"Legend says that whoever witnessed the Green Flash is said to have been given extraordinary good luck," Olivia cried happily as tears streamed down her face before she trailed off. "And now, along with your two Lycanroc..."
"Gee, buddy, I never knew you could be such a lucky Pokemon, especially with those emerald green eyes of yours," Sarah told her new Lycanroc. The second brother blushed, "Roc, Lycan..."
"Since they both evolved at sunset and the second brother's mother evolved into such an extraordinary Pokemon in her time, we should call their transformation a Dusk Form, right," Professor Kukui said.
"Awesome, Dusk Form!" Ash cheered.
"Yeah, Dusk Form, I like that," smiled Sarah as the two newly evolved Wolf Pokemon howled one last time as everyone watched them proudly with the second brother's family being the proudest of all.
Unknown by them, they were being watched by Zeraora, who was smiling proudly at the group, "Zera..."
The Next day...
Everyone was back on Olivia's boat heading back to Akala Island, Noctowl and Dragonite were flying above the boat in the air while Milotic and Aqua were happily swimming in the water nearby. Sarah's parents were on the boat as well, sitting with the children.
Mudsdale was back in his Pokeball to prevent the boat from sinking. On the way home, all everyone could talk about was Ash's Lycanroc and the second brother, whom Sarah decided to call, Black Sun, in honor of his Dusk Form. She also decided to change her original name for the first brother to Luna in his little brother's honor.
"Lycanroc and Black Sun are so cool!" Lana awed at the two Wolf Pokemon looking out into the ocean with Luna.
"And, just yesterday and the day before, they were nothing but tiny, cute little Rockruffs!" Mallow agreed, cooing over them.
"That's an evolutionary form of Lycanroc I've never read about!" Lillie smiled. "And, it's amazing how Black Sun picked up from his mother!"
"A rare form or two that nobody could've predicted!" Kiawe agreed.
"And, it's called a Dusk Form and Black Sun's green bands and height change is awesome!" finished Sophocles.
"Whoever thought all Black Sun would've needed is our family love to help him control his powers?" asked James as Nikki nodded.
"You know, I'm a Pokemon professor but even I'm surprised at their mysteries," smiled Kukui.
"Your students are really surprising mysteries too," Olivia commented. "Especially when they show how much they mature they are."
"Aww, Akala Island is so wonderful and now it's getting farther and farther away!" whined Mallow as they left.
"Well, you don't have to be strangers. Let me know and I'll bring my boat along any time! Okay," Olivia replied.
"Okay!" everyone said.
"We'll definitely come back, Olivia!" Nikki called.
"Count on it!" agreed James.
"I still say his name should be Dusk cause he's a Dusk form Lycanroc." Silvally grumbled. "And Luna's a much better name for you Midnight Lycanorc than 'Red Eyes'." Silvally grumbled.
Sarah chuckled and she sighed, "Alright. You win; I'll change their names."
"Change whose names?" Nikki asked.
"Silvally doesn't like the names I chose do he wants me to change them to Dusk and Luna." Sarah chuckled.
"They're good names too." Rotom Dex agreed. Everyone laughed as Dusk and Luna nuzzled their mother-figure happily while their parents looked on proudly and nuzzled each other, feeling proud of having two grown-up sons, at last.
We've seen the Midday and Midnight forms of Lycanroc but Ash's Lycanroc and Sarah's newly-christened Dusk didn't evolve into any of them. Just how the Dusk Form of Lycanroc grows and learns is still a baffling and intriguing mystery! But, our heroine and her family and friends can't wait to find out as the journey continues!
Sarah's Team:
1. Pikachu
Moves - Thundershock, Tackle, Thunderpunch
2. Lycanroc (Dusk Form)
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
12. Eevee
Moves - Tackle, Tail Whip, Copycat, Shadow Ball
13. Goomy
Moves - Water Gun, Protect, Tackle, Dragon Breath
14. Noctowl
Moves - Wing Attack, Foresight, Air Slash, Confusion
