"I'm sorry Ash." Professor Kukui sat with Ash, whom was laying on his side in a fetal position on a cushioned bench in the Pokemon Center, his Pokemon being healed up. Ash was dejected that he couldn't defend the kind Professor's dream.

"It'll be okay." Misty told him as she rubbed her hand back and forth along his arm. Nobody wins all the time."

"That's not the problem." The trainer sighed, pulling into himself more.

"Then what is it?" Hau questioned.

"I failed the professor. He believed in me and I let him down."

"Aw shucks, you didn't fail me. The loss was unexpected, but win or lose, I was proud in the fact you stood your ground to him and gave him all you could. That's all I could ever ask."

"Yeah, we don't think any less of you!" Hau smiled while placing his arms behind his back. "You're still our friend, and Lillie's! Guzma's the loser! He may have won but he's not being a good sport. Everyone should have fun in a battle!"

"Ash?" Misty spoke, gaining his attention. "If Guzma tries picking on you again, then I'll help. And we'll train harder then ever. I've been keeping track of your progress, and it looks like nearly all your Pokemon are getting ready to evolve."

"Really?"

"Yep. You'll be stronger, and together, we'll show him you're not just some dumb kid, but a strong trainer that's better than he'll ever be." Sniffing, Ash wiped his nose and eyes before nodding with a weak smile and teary eyes.

"Thanks guys." He and Misty then hugged.

"Woo, that's the spirit!" Kukui cheered. "You've experienced a crushing defeat and you bounce back in no time! That's certainly more then I can say about Guzma. I think just for that, I'll help you out too." Going to the store, it took a few moments before the professor came back with a case load of TMs. "I may not be the most wealthiest of the professors but I still have decent pay. Which is why I bought all this and will be giving you every TM you could need."

"All of this?!" Ash asked, shocked by this generosity.

"Yep. While I'm normally for one just to let Pokemon learn moves and experiment naturally, you're all pretty much Alola's Team Skull repellent, which means they'll be times they fight back hard like with Guzma. So consider this an upgrading opportunity for your Pokemon. Also, take this." Professor Kukui handed Ash another blue crystal with a unique shape in the center, while giving Hau a red one. "Those are crystals specifically for your starters when they fully evolve into Primarina and Incineroar respectively. They'll come of use to you soon if Misty is correct. And Misty, when we meet again, I'll be able to give you a water stone for your Staryu."

"Oh, thank you." Misty smiled. Eevee soon popped her head out.

"Eevee?"

"Oh, would you like a water stone too Eevee? That way you can become a Vaporeon?"

"Eevee!" The normal type agreed.

"Hey wait, I also have a Staryu!" Hau told the professor. "And my Pikachu is going to need a thunder stone as well."

"Done."

"Oh, Professor, I also have this." Ash (discretely) gave Kukui his mask back.

"Molayne gave that to you, yeah?"

"Yep."

"Well, I'll make sure it gets back to where it belongs. Anyway, just train hard, keep believing in yourselves, and maybe Guzma will find out what it is you kids learn on the island trial. Oh, Hau mentioned Lillie. Where is she? Did you lose her somewhere?"

"I'm right here, thank you very much!" Lillie responded as they saw her and the ragged girl from earlier in the library. "And I don't appreciate the insinuation that I'm like a broken compass. I can find places! I just don't know where they are some of the time."

"Whoa, sorry Lillie. Hello Acerola."

"Hi!"

"I've heard you and the professor fought these horrible Team Skull thugs and their boss."

"Yeah, and I lost for once." Ash nodded. Lillie gasped, shock evident on her face.

"You lost?! Are you okay?!"

"I'm fine. Misty helped me stay safe and Professor Kukui helped defeat them in one go. It was-" Ash stopped when Lillie hugged him.

"I'm... so glad you're safe." She said. Ash was unsure how to respond. Misty had a blank expression while Hau was in disbelief. The professor was the only one who was amused.

"Haha, oh my Lillie, I didn't know you cared about Ash that much!" Realizing the situation she was in, Lillie backed away all shy and blushing, stammering,

"I-I'm sorry! I-I-I didn't ask if you-you wanted a hug or-or not!"

"It's okay Lillie, really." Ash assured the embarrassed blonde girl. I appreciate it." Misty rolled her eyes as she went to go and feed Eevee and her Pokemon.

"O-okay. To think you'd lose to Team Skull. It still worries me. They sound so scary."

"You think? I don't know. Exchanging a few moves in battle is the quickest way to know someone in my book. Well, I'm going on up to Mount Lanakila. I've gotta make sure the Pokemon League gets finished and everybody has the chance to find their own perfect move! Keep training hard on your island challenge you two. Even if you lose, that doesn't mean the end of your journey, but rather an opportunity to get stronger from it. One day the two of you-sorry, the three of you, will make it up there too! Good luck." With that, the professor left.

"Three?" Lillie asked.

"Misty now wants to join in the Pokemon League because of the League."

"Oh. Well, don't you three push yourselves too hard."

"Don't worry Lillie, we won't." The redhead replied back while watching her Pokemon eat.

"Ash, you made it through Sophocles's trial, huh?" Acerola asked the Kantonian trainer.

"Yes?"

"That's great! You can take on the next trial up past Route 11 through Tapu Village." If you get lost, just ask someone. Island natives tend to know where places are since the islands have so few cities and towns each. Now Lillie, you're coming with me to do some shopping!" Acerola went off, and with a nod of farewell, so did Lillie.

"I think I'm ready to do Sophocles's trial now, so just go on ahead and I'll catch up." Hau then took off too.

"Well, once my Pokemon are healed up, it's training time. Right Misty?"

"Sure." She agreed. Once Ash's Pokemon was healed up, the two continued on their journey after equipping what they believe the best TMs to their respective Pokemon, saving some for Hau when they see him again. Along the way, they were stopped by a martial artist and a big black and pink bear Bewear.

"Hiyah! I challenge you to a battle!"

"Alright, I accept your challenge!"

"Bagon, I choose you!" Sending out his Rock Head Pokemon, the martial artist went first.

"Use Take Down!"

"Dodge while using Dragon Dance!" As the Strong Arm Pokemon charge with a low roar, the dragon type jumped over the incoming normal/fighting type while doing some fancy moves, and thus glowing red with power as it roared.

"Take Down, again!"

"Counter with Dragon Claw!" With much faster speed and greater power, Bagon attacked with a green glowing claw of aura. Bewear groaned as it fell defeated in one swoop. Bagon gave a triumphant roar just as he began to glow, to the surprise or glee of everyone. Bagon grew much bigger and rounder, and when color could be seen, it was was mostly a white ball with a hidden face, even though its eyes shined through.

"Yes, way to go Baggon! Rotom, could you tell me about this Pokemon?"

"Sure! Scanning... scan complete! Shelgon, the Endurance Pokemon: Shelgon lives in deep caves. It stays shut up in its bone hard shell, dreaming of the day it will be able to fly."

"Master, I am sorry. I have failed you." The martial artist cried. However, it groaned with a shake of its head. "As you wish master. You have proven your strength to my master, to whom I have become his apprentice, and whom is the master of a mysterious, wild form of martial art, known only as the Pokemon style!"

"Interesting." Misty remarked.

"Master was generous enough to act as my Pokemon, but beware! Should Master wish it, he could break even the most brawny of men in twain! Oh, I see you own possession of a Fightium-Z Crystal! Proof that you have completed Kahuna Hala's Grand Trial! Kahuna Hala and my master of rivals of old. Back in the day, they fought for one week straight with no pause, before calling a draw!"

"That sounds awesome!" Ash was impressed.

"That sounds... unlikely." Misty wasn't as convinced.

"Believe it or not, it did happen. Right Master!" The normal/fighting type nodded with a grumble. After riding on Ash's Mudsdale over some rough rocks, the two were training on a beach that they've found at around sunset.

"Brionne, use Shadow Ball!"

"Counter with Psychic!" Misty retaliated. With a glow of its gem, the Star Shape Pokemon kept the incoming attack from reaching it, and redirected it towards the water where it exploded. "Now use Scald!"

"Use Moonblast!" Humming to create a pink ball she created and bounced on her nose a couple of times, the Pop Star Pokemon launched it to not only counter the incoming hot water, but even easily push through it as Staryu was subject to an explosion from the fairy type move pushing completely through.

"Staryu!" Misty cried out. Landing on the sand, the starfish's gem blinked to show it was defeated.

"Yeah, way to go Brionne!" Ash cheered for his Pokemon. She gave a cheer as well before beginning to glow. Ash and Misty watched in amazement as the water starter grew longer and taller while hair was sprouting from her head. By the time she was done evolving, Brionne was now a Primarina, a cross between a white sea lion and a blue tailed mermaid. She also had cyan hair in a ponytail with two pearl hair ties down it.

"Oh my gosh she's so beautiful!" Misty was taken aback by how pretty she was. Primarina simply blushed with an appreciative hum while moving a fin as if to say, 'oh stop.'

"Congratulations Ash!" Rotom came out. "Scanning... scan complete! Primarina, the Soloist Pokemon; To Primarina, every battle is a stage. Also known as a songstress, it has a fantastical look on moonlit nights when it leads its colony in song."

"Wow. This is wonderful Primarina." Ash hugged his starter, whom returned it. However, the good feeling ended abruptly when something began to glow underwater and grew to a large size. Roaring out of the water, a wild, ferocious Gyarados appeared! Everyone ran in terror for its wrath was legendary world wide.

"A Gyarados?!" Misty gasped. "Why did one evolve so close to the beach?!"

"It might've been because we threw a Shadow Ball into the water." Ash remembered. Seeing the two trainers it thinks attacked it for no reason, the Atrocious Pokemon formed a giant Twister, which was picking up water to become a water spout to hurt them.

"Primarina, use Moonblast!" Singing in a harmonious voice, the Soloist Pokemon formed a pink ball, and fired it at the incoming Twister. Due to its fairy typing, it blasted right through the dragon type attack and exploded quite powerfully against Gyarados, causing it to back up from how much power that had.

"Now use Psychic!" Both Misty and Ash told their Pokemon. Primarina and Staryu used their psychic powers to keep the water/flying type Pokemon from escaping.

"Go, Net Ball!" Misty threw a blue colored, black line crossing Pokeball at the Atrocious Pokemon, which then absorbed said creature. Nearly falling into the ocean before being caught with Psychic, Primarina brought the wriggling ball onto shore and placed it in Misty's hands, which by then clicked.

"Yes! I caught a Gyarados!"

"Congrats Misty." Ash and Primarina clapped. "Looks like you got a powerful new ally."

"Yeah. I can't wait to train it to be as strong as everyone else." Noticing something wash up on shore, Primarina pointed to something. The trainers saw a message in a green bottle.

"Oh cool. Never thought I'd see one of these." Ash chuckled as he picked up the bottle, uncorked the top and got the message, which he read, "'To whoever is reading this letter, I would be very grateful if you could deliver this to Nainoa, a trainer on Ula'ula Island of Alola. He should be at Malie City's cape.' Wow, what luck to wash up on the island that it was seeking for."

"I know right? We better not forget that." Misty nodded.

"Eevee!" The Evolution Pokemon agreed. Putting the letter in Ash's bag, the two continued on to get to the Pokemon Center. By dusk, Ash and Misty finally reached a rest stop on Route 13 when they were stopped by a friendly voice.

"Ash, Misty!" Hau called to them as he ran past them to stop in front of them. "Whew, that Togedemaru was tough, but luckily my Torracat evolved into Incineroar and used Inferno Overdrive to defeat it! I heard how you totally demolished Captain Sophocles's Totem Pokemon before Mudbray become Mudsdale. You're certainly something else!

"You only have one volume, don't you?" A familiar cynical voice scoffed towards Hau. The teens turned to see Gladion came out of one of the resting rooms. "Haven't you heard the expression that silence is golden?"

"How can I be silent when my journey is going so great! Live life to the full and loudest!" Hau laughed, though that only provided to annoy the emo even more.

"So annoying. Listen, Team Skull is looking for a Pokemon called Cosmog. Do you know anything?"

"W-what?! Not like we'd tell you!" The native boy gasped.

"So you do know something." Gladion pinpointed. Misty in response gave Hau a hard elbow to the ribs for saying the wrong thing, causing him to wince. "Look, Cosmog isn't even a strong Pokemon. But it has the potential of summoning Pokemon so terrifyingly strong, that you don't even know. If something like that happened, it would be a disaster for Alola."

"A disaster? Like a real disaster? What are we supposed to do?" Ash asked.

"Protect it. If you know where Cosmog is, or if you do find anything out... just keep it safe. I know I'm working for Team Skull right now, so you may not trust me or care but... I'm going to tell you this only once. You have to protect Cosmog. No matter what. I still don't understand how Team Skull found out about Cosmog in the first place..." Gladion left.

"What, you're just going to leave us hanging? Hey!" Hau tried calling for him, but Misty placed a hand on his shoulder.

"He's done talking. All that's important from this is that Nebby, along with Lillie, are in danger. It just wasn't from the Ultra Recon Squad. If they're looking for Nebby, then we'll have to keep them both safe."

"Well, the best way we can do that is get stronger." Ash nodded. "Let's complete each trial to become stronger, for their sake."

"Right." Misty and Hau agreed. Going further West, the trio finally reached Tapu village, and it was raining by then. Misty mostly closed her bag so that Eevee didn't get wet.

"Sheesh, if only we stayed at that rest stop." Ash complained, but their becoming wet was interrupted by more familiar voices.

"Alola!" Captain Phyco and Soliera approached them.

"And Alola to you; Ash, Misty and Hau." The female greeted them as the two gave their incorrect hand greeting.

"So this is Tapu Village. We must learn all that we can about this place. It seems there are many stories of its past, but once, long ago, the Blinding One battled against the tapu in this spot."

"It's thought the power that came pouring out of the Ultra Wormhole at the time may be the source of the power of Z-Moves. Yes... the light of Blinding One. The light that Necrozma can wield."

"Our ancestors were greedy though. They sought to control all of Necrozma's light. They hurt it, left it incomplete, and left it in such a state, it went mad with fury. And so our light was stolen by Necrozma."

"Our world is at peace now thanks to the Megalo Tower, which still keeps the Blinding One contained."

"Wait, you still have that thing restrained?" Misty questioned. "That's just asking for it to escape at some point and wreak havoc. What are you going to do then?"

"Don't worry your little red hair, child." Phyco chuckled. "In its current state, and the fact our world has no natural light, there's little chance it could become powerful enough to become a major threat.

"But sir, the tower is reaching its limit I believe. And it could come here for their light."

"True, but while it may be wild and furious, it did also give us light once. So we would like to restore the Blinding One to its true form. But we haven't even the slightest idea how we can do that. If you can find anything you think might help, will you share it with us? After all, you all are far familiar with the Z-Moves than we are."

"Sure!" Hau agreed before the rest could. "If it's for the better for everyone, we can help."

"Thank you. It's time we take our leave. Farewell." Soliera said as they made their sign then left.

"Why did you agree for us Hau?!" Misty complained to the native boy.

"I don't really get what that was all about... but it seems like this Ultra Recon Squad are in a pretty hopeless spot. I just wish everyone could be happy and find something to smile about. Even Necrozma." Hau smiled with pride to his response, to which Misty sighed as she slumped her shoulders.

"Hau, it's that kind of simple mindset that can make you both endearing and somewhat annoying at the same time." The boy looked confused about that. "But, I still like you. You're definitely a good person and friend."

"Aw, thanks!" Hau chuckled as he placed his hands behind his wet hair. A crack of thunder in the sky caused them to jump.

"Let's head to the Pokemon Center." Ash suggested, with the others agreeing. However, they soon found that occupancy was full and they couldn't sleep there.

"Aw man! Now where are we supposed to rest?!" Misty complained.

"Well, we could find shelter at the trail captain's place." Hau brought up. "It can't be that bad."