"So, you should really consider doing the Kanto contest circuit next," May said as Serena listened intently. She struggled to hear the conversation over the background noise of the stadium.
"If you do decide to do the Kanto circuit," Dawn added, "Make sure you do the Wallace Cup. It will be in Kanto this year."
"What's the Wallace Cup?" Serena asked. "I've never heard of that."
"It's a Pokémon Contest," Dawn said. "But it's not part of any regional circuit. It travels to a different region each year, and the ribbon that is awarded can be used to qualify for any Grand Festival. Coordinators from all over the world go to compete. This year, it's going to be held at the Indigo Plateau in Kanto.
"That's also where the Kanto Grand Festival is held," May added. "That's one of my favorite Contest Halls." She turned her head to scan the crowd, trying to locate someone, before turning back towards Serena and Dawn. "I need to go find Max. I think he was hanging out with Bonnie, and if I don't check in on them, I'll probably end up engaged by the end of the match."
"So she proposed to you too?" Serena asked with a laugh.
"Yeah," May replied. "On our first day here. Max won't let me live it down either. So if you'll excuse me…". She turned and walked away from the group, leaving Dawn and Serena to talk.
"I wanted to say thank you," Serena said to Dawn after May left. "Contests are much different than the Kalos Pokémon Showcases, and your advice really helped."
"It was no problem," Dawn replied. "I really hope you'll enter the Wallace Cup this year. I think it would be fun to compete against you."
"The time has finally come," the PA announcer blared, interrupting the conversation. "Today we decide the first ever Alola League Champion."
"Looks like the battle is about to start," Dawn said. "Let's go cheer Ash on."
"Ten seconds until you're up, Mr. Ketchum," a headset wearing production assistant said. Ash had a hard time hearing him over the biting cords of the stadium rock music and cheering fans that echoed down the tunnel connecting the locker rooms to the field.
"You ready, Pikachu?" he asked as he turned to the electric yellow Pokémon that was perched on his shoulder. "We are not going to lose this time. We can do this!"
"PIKA!" Pikachu replied affirmatively.
He could feel his nerves building as the timer counted down to his introduction, leaving a heavy pit in his stomach.
I've been this far before, and on bigger stages, Ash thought. I know I can do this.
"Good luck, Mr. Ketchum," the production assistant said, giving Ash his cue.
Ash took off, jogging down the concrete tunnel. He emerged onto the field just as the announcer called out his name, and the crowd erupted into cheers. The sun was bright, and harsh, compared to the tunnel he had just exited. The announcer was recounting his accomplishments and tournament record, but Ash barely noticed it in the excitement of the moment.
He did a quick 360 after he stepped into his trainer box, taking in the sight. The stadium was packed for the championship match. People and their Pokémon were everywhere. His eyes settled on Gladion, his opponent for the Manalo Conference championship, but more importantly his rival and friend, as he completed his scan of the stadium. He smiled, and Gladion smiled back.
Gladion turned and looked up at the upper bowl of the stadium. Ash followed his gaze and was able to find Lusamine's private box. Ash could see many of his classmates, and friends, standing on outside deck, eagerly waiting for the contest to begin. He could spot a few of them – Kiawe's imposing figure, Korrina's giant blonde ponytails, and May's Blaziken were easy to pick out amongst the crowd. And for a split second, he thought he saw a familiar pink hat, but when he blinked, it was gone.
Thank you, Gladion, he thought as he brought his attention back to the field. He acknowledged his friend with a curt nod, which was returned.
"And now to announce the referee for this match," the PA announcer blared, causing his attention to snap back to moment. "Alola's own Pokémon Professor – Professor Kukui." The professor confidently walked onto the field wearing his trademark white lab coat, hat, and black board shorts and took his position in the referee's box at midfield.
"The final match is three-on-three," Professor Kukui said over the stadium loudspeakers. "I want you to give it your all and make it a fair battle. Now bring out your first Pokémon."
Ash watched as Gladion grabbed a white Premier Ball from his belt. So you're going with Silvally, he thought as he grabbed the first red and white Poké Ball from his belt. Wait until you see this.
"Go, mighty beast Silvally!" Gladion said as he threw the Premier Ball. The giant chimeric Pokémon was released in a blinding flash of light. It's large black body and white feathered head was topped with chrome-plated cybernetics, and it was poised to leap into battle.
"I choose you," Ash said as he threw his Poké Ball onto the field, and his Pokémon was revealed in a bright flash of white light.
"And Ash brings out," the announcer started to say, but paused. "We actually don't know what Pokémon that is."
At that moment, you could hear a pin drop in the stadium.
"No data!" Rotom Dex excitedly uttered. "No data! I have no idea what Pokémon that is!" He flew around the balcony of Lusamine's private box, trying to get pictures of the giant silver Pokémon with a gold hex nut for a head that Ash had just brought onto the battlefield.
"Relax, Rotom Dex," Professor Oak said. "I think that is a Melmetal. It is a mythical Pokémon. It must have evolved from Meltan."
Ash smiled as the look of terror and confusion faded from Gladion's face. I bet you weren't expecting that, he thought. And I'm sure you have plenty of surprises for me.
"What Pokémon are you using, Ash?" Professor Kukui asked.
"It's called Melmetal," Ash replied.
They both signaled that they were ready to begin, and with the wave of his arm, Professor Kukui shouted "Battle Begin!"
"Alright Melmetal," Ash shouted, "let's go! Get close to Silvally." Melmetal took off into a run, quickly closing the distance with his opponent. "Now you Double Iron Bash!"
Without breaking its stride, Melmetal began to swing its arms back and forth, building momentum. When he was within a few yards of Silvally, it let loose, swinging directly at Silvally.
"Dodge it," Gladion shouted.
Silvally instantly reacted, jumping up to narrowly avoid the rapidly approaching metal fists. Melmetal adjusted the trajectory of his fists, and he made contact with Silvally's left side as he spun around. Silvally was shot into the wall, hitting it hard. It quickly climbed back to it's feet.
Silvally won't be able to take too many hits like that, he thought. But Gladion also won't let me do that again. "Time to keep up the pressure, Melmetal. Use Double Iron Bash again."
Melmetal closed with Silvally again, and he started swinging his arms to build momentum for another Double Iron Bash. Silvally, without any command from Gladion, jumped back to try and get out of range of the approaching attack. It wasn't far enough, and Melmetal released his attack.
"Dodge by jumping up, Silvally," Gladion shouted. "And use Air Slash." Silvally jumped, barely avoiding the oncoming attack, and shot silver crescent-shaped blades at Melmetal. They hit, but they didn't seem to register.
Got him, Ash thought. "Use Flash Cannon!"
Melmetal quickly charged up its ranged attack and released it in a blinding beam of white light. The attack hit Silvally as it was landing, and it was sent flying again.
"Are you OK, Silvally?" Gladion called out to his Pokémon. Silvally nodded as it stood back up, and it resumed its battle stance. "Alright, then. Use your speed and agility to keep moving and get in close."
"Don't let him get in close, Melmetal," Ash called out. "Use Double Iron Bash again."
The raw power of Double Iron Bash could not keep up with Silvally's speed, and each attempted blow was dodged as Silvally danced around, working its way in close behind its opponent.
"Silvally, activate your fighting memories and use Multi-Attack!" Gladion shouted. The chimera Pokémon's mane and tail changed to a vibrant orange color as it changed into a fighting type Pokémon. It unleashed a devastating fighting-type move that hit Melmetal from behind. The giant steel-type Pokémon staggered and dropped down to a knee.
This isn't good, Ash thought. He can't take another hit like that. But Silvally can't take much more either.
"You can do it, Melmetal." Ash shouted. "I believe in you." Melmetal struggled back to his feet and turned to face Silvally. "Alright. Let's finish this. Use Flash Cannon."
"Use Multi-Attack," Gladion called out.
Melmetal launched his attack a split-second after Silvally. Silvally twisted slightly to the left, avoiding Flash Cannon, as he connected with his Multi-Attack. The large steel-type Pokémon collapsed, landing at center court on his back.
Ash froze for a second. Come on, Melmetal! Get up, he thought.
"Melmetal is unable to battle," Professor Kukui announced a few seconds later. "Silvally is the winner. Bring out your next Pokémon, Ash."
Ash reached for Melmetal's Poké Ball and held it out in front of him. "Return!" he shouted, and in a flash of red light, his first Pokémon had returned to its Poké Ball. "You did great, Melmetal."
He turned and looked at Pikachu. "Alright, Pikachu," he said. "It's up to you. Let's do it just like we practiced."
He turned back towards the center of the field and glared over at Gladion. "Pikachu! I choose you."
Pikachu ran out to the middle of the field and took up his position so the battle could resume. As soon as the yellow Pokémon was in position, Professor Kukui dropped his arm and yelled "Battle Resume!"
"Pikachu," Ash yelled. "Use Electroweb, but fire it in front of you. And then use Quick Attack."
Pikachu shot the Electroweb, which narrowly missed Silvally, and then launched into a Quick Attack, going airborne in an attempt to land the first blow.
"Dodge, Silvally," Gladion shouted.
Pikachu sailed by Silvally as it jumped to its left, and he allowed his momentum to carry him forward.
"It's not like Pikachu to miss," Gladion said.
"Are you sure he missed?" Ash retorted. "Now Pikachu! Use Quick Attack."
Pikachu used Quick Attack to build speed and then launched himself into the air again, doing a half somersault before hitting the Electroweb that he had used at the beginning of the battle. He used it like a trampoline, redirecting his momentum to propel himself at Silvally.
"Now use Iron Tail," Ash shouted. Pikachu's tail glowed white, and he did a somersault as he closed with his opponent, striking its right side with his tail. Silvally yelled out in pain, staggered, and collapsed.
"Silvally is unable to battle," Professor Kukui said. "Pikachu wins. Bring out your next Pokémon, Gladion."
"That's an interesting way to use Electroweb," Gladion said as he returned Silvally to its Poké Ball. "I wasn't expecting anything less from you." He reached for another Poké Ball to call out his next Pokémon. "Let's see how you handle this one!" Gladion shouted as he threw the Dusk Ball onto field, revealing his dark red Twilight Form Lycanroc.
"So that's how it's going to be," Ash replied, smiling. He's using Lycanroc now. So, who is his third Pokémon? This matchup doesn't make sense. "Be careful of his counter, Pikachu!"
The two Pokémon took their positions near the center of the battlefield, and Professor Kukui resumed the battle.
"Use Night Daze!" Gladion ordered, launching the first attack of the resumed battle. Gladion's Lycanroc made a two-handed fist above its head and slammed it towards the ground, sending out a large purple sphere of energy. The shockwaves hit Pikachu, sending him flying backwards in a cloud of dust.
That's…that's not possible, Ash thought. That's a dark type move, and Lycanroc can't learn those. He paused for a second trying to figure out what to do. I've seen that move somewhere before. But where?
The answer popped into his head. Crown City! We saw that move in Crown City when helping...where did Gladion get one of those?
"Keep your distance, Pikachu," Ash yelled. "Use Electroweb!"
"Stop it with Shadow Claw!" Gladion responded.
Pikachu fired an Electroweb, but Gladion's Lycanroc used Shadow Claw to slice it in half. Pikachu used the distraction to slip off to his left and set up for his next attack.
"That's pretty clever," Ash said, "but it's time to break the illusion. Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu charged up and released his Thunderbolt, which found its target and kicked up a cloud of dust. As the dust cleared, Gladion's Lycanroc was nowhere to be found. Standing in its place was the black fox Pokémon Zoroark.
"Don't let up, Zoroark," Gladion said. "Use Night Daze and follow it up with Shadow Claw."
"Use Thunderbolt, Pikachu," Ash countered. "And then block Shadow Claw with Iron Tail."
The two Pokémon traded blows with their signature moves up and down the battlefield for several minutes, with neither gaining the upper hand. A well-timed Night Daze finally managed sent Pikachu flying backwards, and left Gladion an opening.
"Let's finish this!" Gladion said. He placed a Z-Crystal into his Z-Power Ring and started his pose, surrounded by a purple glow. "You won't escape Zoroark's Never Ending Nightmare."
Boosted by the additional Z-Power, Zoroark's illusion powers separated Ash, Gladion, and Pikachu from the rest of the stadium, placing them in a dark nightmare world. Purple hands started to appear from the ground, flying towards Pikachu.
"Use Quick Attack to dodge," Ash called out. Pikachu began to run faster, using Quick Attack to build speed and evade the ghostly hands. Wherever he ran, more appeared and continued to follow him.
"You can't escape," Gladion said.
I can't win, Ash thought. But it's not over. He pulled out a clear Z-Crystal and placed it into the crystal holder on his Z-Power Ring. "You're right! We can't escape. But we can take you out with us. Pikachu, stop dodging."
Ash, surrounded by a silvery glow, began his Z-Move pose. "Use Breakneck Blitz!"
Pikachu accelerated towards Zoroark, surrounded by a silver glow of additional Z-Power. He ran through the ghostly hands that stood between him and his target, seemingly unaffected by the power of his opponent's Z-Move. He collided with Zoroark just as the full power of Never-Ending Nightmare hit him.
The illusion collapsed in a purple and silver flash, leaving a large cloud of dust where the two Pokémon and their Z-Moves had collided.
I hope you're both OK down there, Serena thought as she nervously waited for the dust to settle. She tried to listen to RotomDex's explanation of Z-Moves, but she couldn't take her eyes off of the dust cloud.
She took a deep breath and tried to force herself to relax. The battle between Pikachu and Zoroark had been intense – more intense than anything, with the possible exception of Ash's match with Sawyer, she saw at last year's Lumiose Conference. Those matches had been fairly short as Mega Evolution and Ash-Greninja made quick work of most of their opponents.
This match is two trainers who know each other so well putting their full skill on display, she thought as she stepped off of the balcony where she was watching the match. They're expecting unorthodox tactics and tricks, and they seem to enjoy it because it keeps them on their toes.
"Both Pikachu and Zoroark are unable to battle," she heard Professor Kukui say. "Ash, Gladion, please bring out your final Pokémon."
Ash reached down to pick up Pikachu, and gently cradled him in his arms. "You did great, buddy. Thank you!" He stepped back into his trainer's box, and he gently set Pikachu down on the ground. "You two were really in sync," he yelled out. "You're really keeping me on my toes. It's awesome!"
"I think you're the only person who could have dealt with Never-Ending Nightmare that way," Gladion replied.
They glared at each other, but that glare quickly turned to smiles and laughter. The tension that had built up in stadium quickly evaporated, leaving the spectators confused.
"This has been our best battle ever!" Ash shouted.
Gladion smiled. "It has been the best."
"You ready?" Ash asked as he raised his Poké Ball and held it out towards Gladion as if he was saluting his opponent.
"All set," Gladion replied, returning the gesture.
"Lycanroc, I choose you!" Ash said, calling forth his vibrantly orange Twilight form Lycanroc in a flash of white light.
"Alright," Gladion said. "Show your crimson glare, Lycanroc."
"Lycanroc," they both shouted simultaneously, "use Stone Edge!"
Serena watched as the two Stone Edge attacks collided with each other in the center of the field, and she tried to follow the two Lycanroc as they circled around looking for an opening to attack. At times, she had trouble following Ash's Lycanroc as it became an orange streak moving around the battlefield as it kept some distance from his opponent and used long-range Stone Edge attacks.
He's not getting in close to Gladion's Lycanroc, she thought. Why is he keeping his distance? She glanced over at Ash. He carried a look of confidence and surety on his face. You're planning something. I believe in you, and I know you can pull it off.
It wasn't hard to feel nervous in that moment. Serena had watched Ash get this close to achieving one of his goals before, and she didn't want to see that happen again.
The two Lycanroc unleashed another pair of Stone Edge attacks, which drew her attention back to the action. These attacks collided in the center of the battlefield again, but instead of circling around, Ash's orange Lycanroc jumped on top of Stone Edge and used a move like Quick Attack to rapidly close the distance with his opponent.
"Use Outrage!" she heard Gladion call out as Ash's Lycanroc moved into attack range.
She finally understood what Ash's strategy was. He was holding back one move and wearing down his opponent.
"Use Counter!" Ash yelled.
Gladion's Lycanroc landed an uppercut on Ash's Lycanroc. It absorbed the blow, did a mid-air somersault, and redirected all of its momentum into its own attack as it connected right below his opponent's jaw. The red Lycanroc went flying upwards and backwards, only stopping when it collided with the wall behind Gladion.
Serena's knees began to shake in nervousness as she waited for the referee. Seconds felt like minutes. There is no way it can get back up after that.
"Gladion's Lycanroc is unable to battle," the referee finally said. "Ash's Lycanroc is the winner. The match goes to Ash."
The stadium erupted into a roar of cheering, and Serena could barely hear her own cheers. I knew you could do it, Ash!
"Gladion's Lycanroc is unable to battle," Professor Kukui said. "Ash's Lycanroc is the winner. The match goes to Ash."
Ash just stood there, dumbfounded, looking at Gladion's Lycanroc. The world faded away for a second, and he barely registered anything going on around him.
Did we just win? he asked himself.
He was shaken back to reality a second later as Pikachu and Lycanroc jumped on him, knocking him to the ground. Lycanroc affectionately licked his face, and he laughed. "Did we just win?" he asked.
"PIKA!" Pikachu replied.
He grabbed his two Pokémon and gave them a big hug. Any tension or anxiety he had melted away in that moment, and all he felt was relief. "We did it, Pikachu and Lycanroc! You all did such a great job. Let's go congratulate Gladion."
The two Pokémon backed away, giving Ash room to get up. As soon as he was standing, Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder. Gladion was standing at the center of the field, a giant smile on his face, and they started walking towards him.
"I'll be ready for that counter next time," Gladion said, sticking out his hand in congratulations.
Ash took his hand to shake it, and then pulled him in for a hug. "This really was our best yet," he said. "I look forward to our rematch."
"I'll be ready for you," Gladion replied.
Although he had wanted to leave the field after congratulating Gladion, there were reporters who wanted to interview him. He saw one familiar face amongst the collection of microphones and video cameras, and he made it a point to go talk to her as soon as he could.
"Alexa!" Ash called out to the reporter from the Kalos region who had come to cover the tournament.
"How does it feel, Ash?" she asked.
"It feels great!" he replied.
"I will want to get an exclusive with you later," she said. "This will be big news back in Kalos." She looked up and glanced to her left. "But I think someone is trying to get your attention."
He followed Alexa's gaze. Professor Kukui was over by the tunnel that led back to the locker rooms, trying to get his attention.
"We can catch up later," she said. "Congratulations again, Ash."
"Thank you, Alexa," he said. He turned and jogged away.
Ash was immediately greeted by cheers, hugs, and handshakes as soon as he opened the door to the locker room. Having most of his friends and family there had made this moment special.
He looked around the room, he felt a few absences. Iris was in the middle of her own championship run for the Unova League, and Cilan was there cheering her on. Sawyer hadn't been able to get away from his work with Steven Stone.
And Serena, he thought. I really wish she was here right now. This moment would mean a lot more with her.
Professor Kukui walked to the center of the room and raised his hands to quiet everyone down. "Ash, once I knew you were going to complete the Island Challenge and enter the Manalo Conference, I wanted to bring together all of your former traveling companions and friends to cheer you on. I wanted to give you that moment you had dreamed of."
He paused for a second and nodded to Burnett. "So I have one more surprise for you." Burnett slowly opened the door, revealing the honey-blonde haired girl standing behind it, a huge smile on her face.
Ash's jaw dropped to the floor. She's…she's here! he thought. He ran forward, wrapping her in a big hug, lifting her off the ground, and spinning around once before setting her down. He wanted to say something as he gazed into her eyes.
"Ta-da," she said as her cheeks turned slightly red.
Caught up in the moment, he leaned in close and kissed her.
The room was still as a stone.