A few months ago, many people from around the world gathered together in the city of Wyndon, located in the northern part of the Galar region. This was the location of the Masters Tournament, a tournament that saw the top 8 competitors of the Pokémon World Championship, the strongest Pokémon Trainers in the world, face off against one another. All to see who would be crowned as the World Champion. An imposing, powerful title that many have dreamed about having. History was bound to be made at this legendary tournament.
Amongst the participants of the Masters Eight was a young boy from Kanto's Pallet Town, who is none other than Ash Ketchum. Even well after the tournament had ended, the thrilling memories are still fresh in his mind, as well as the Pokémon that guided him through the many battles. Since then, he has spent time with his mother at home, occasionally going to visit the rest of his Pokémon at the laboratory of Professor Oak, Kanto's highly-regarded Pokémon Professor, as well as his friends that are scattered throughout Kanto.
Ash was really starting to feel the urge to go on another adventure, even after traveling the world for both the Pokémon World Championship and research for Professor Cerise with his best friend Goh. This time around though, Ash wanted to travel with one of his friends. To a place that he considers his second home: The tropical region of Alola. And Ash knew who to invite to go to Alola with him.
Over in the vast land of Sinnoh, there was a blue-haired girl located in the humble town of Twinleaf with a penguin Pokémon who are very close friends of Ash. She and her Pokémon were spending some time together at a nearby lake when she heard her phone ringing. When picked up the phone, she was excited to see who was calling, and answered almost immediately. "Hi, Ash!" She said. "How are you doing?!"
"I'm doing great, Dawn!" Ash responded. "How about you?"
"I'm doing well, myself. Piplup and I are relaxing today at Lake Verity after we got home from a Contest. What's up?"
"I decided that I wanted to go spend some time in the Alola region, and I was wondering if you wanted to come along?"
"Alola?! The Alola region?!"
"Yep!"
"Pika!" Ash's Pikachu shouted from his shoulder into his phone.
"Oh my gosh, I would love to, Ash!" Dawn said excitingly. "Ever since you told me about Alola, and the fact that you're the region's Champion, I've been hoping to go there someday for myself! So, yes, I do wanna come!"
"That's great!" Ash said. "You'll finally get the chance to meet my friends and Pokémon that I met in Alola, too!"
"Sweet! I'm so excited! See you soon then!"
"Sounds great!" Ash said before hanging up. "Ready to go back to Alola, buddy?!"
"Pikachu!" Pikachu shouted with excitement.
With plans set, both Ash and Dawn immediately go back home to start packing for their next adventure together. In the back of his head, Ash didn't know what he wanted to do in Alola, outside of just visiting the region. He just wanted to go visit what he considers his second home.
As for Dawn, the thought of going to Alola was only a dream to her given how far the region was from Sinnoh. Dawn did mention to Ash that she had just come home from a Pokémon Contest, which was held in the nearby city of Jubilife. She had only been home for 24 hours, and was leaving the house once again to travel somewhere else. This time though, it was somewhere brand new, and that got her adrenaline pumping. Dawn hasn't been this excited about traveling to a new place since she started her journey many years ago.
Dawn boarded the soonest flight to Kanto, and Ash waited for her at the Saffron City airport, where their flight to Alola was waiting. The two of them couldn't be more excited to see each other once again, but this time it was for a relaxing trip as opposed to research or saving the world. No worries to think about. It was like they were going on vacation.
Soon, their flight took off, and away to Alola they went. Ash and Dawn were getting excited about arriving, but for very different reasons. The flight ahead of them was going to be a long one, though, so both of them made sure to get as much rest on the flight as possible so that they have enough energy for when they eventually land. Many hours later, the plane that left Kanto has finally landed in Alola.
Ash and Dawn were quick to exit the plane, and when they exited the airport, Ash immediately recognized someone that was waiting for him outside in a truck. "Professor Kukui!" He yelled as he was running to the truck.
"Alola, Ash!" Professor Kukui yelled back. "Welcome home."
"Happy to be back!"
"And is this another one of your friends?" Kukui asked after he noticed Dawn standing next to Ash.
"Yep!" Ash answered.
"Well, hello then! I'm Professor Kukui! Welcome to Alola!"
"Thank you!" Dawn said. "I'm Dawn, and this here is my partner, Piplup!"
"Lup!" Piplup said.
"Ah, one of the partner Pokémon from the Sinnoh region!" Kukui said. "Very nice! Ready to head out then, you two?"
"Ready!" Ash and Dawn both answered in unison.
Everyone got into Kukui's truck, and hit the road back to Kukui's house. No matter how many times Ash visits Alola, the drive back to Kukui's house always makes him feel very nostalgic. It makes him quite giddy, actually!
"So, where are we even going?" Dawn asked.
"We're going back to my house," Kukui answered. "It's also my research lab, too. And where Ash's Pokémon live as well."
"Huh? I thought all of your Pokémon were left with Professor Oak in Kanto, Ash?"
"Usually," Ash explains. "But Alola is their home. I feel like it would be better to just leave them with Professor Kukui instead."
"Oh, I see. So we're gonna be seeing them by the time we get to the house?"
"You bet!" Kukui answered. "And we're almost there!"
"All right!" Ash shouted. "We're almost home everyone!"
A short while later, everyone had arrived at Kukui's house, and Ash couldn't be more excited about reuniting with his Alola team once again.
"Oh, we're so close to the beach!" Dawn said as she was about to step onto the front porch.
"It's a pretty sweet view, isn't it?" Kukui said. "This is a great spot to get away from the city, and do all sorts of research and training! Couldn't have asked for anything better, to be honest."
"Awesome!"
"Everyone, I'm back!" Ash shouted after he opened the front door, only to see that there was no one inside. "Huh? Professor Burnet? Rotom? Rowlet? Incineroar? Anybody home?"
"Huh, that's odd," Kukui said after he and Dawn stepped inside. "I told Burnet you were coming. I'll call her to see where she is."
"Great, thanks."
"Oh, and by the way, there are some bunk beds on the upper floor that you two can use."
"Thanks!" Ash and Dawn said as Kukui was walking to a corner to call Professor Burnet.
Ash and Dawn were about to go upstairs to unpack their things before they heard something barking. Ash immediately knew what that barking was. "Lycanroc!" He said.
Ash's Lycanroc ran to the front door, and tackled him to the floor to nuzzle him and lick him on the face. His Rock-Type dog Pokémon couldn't be more excited to see his Trainer again after so long. The nuzzling was painful to Ash, but he didn't care as he knew Lycanroc doesn't mean any harm.
"Ok, ok, I'm glad to see you, too," Ash said, still giggling as he was pulling himself up. "At least someone was home."
Lycanroc noticed Dawn after it had finally calmed down from the huge burst of excitement it got from reuniting with Ash, and wanted to introduce itself to her. "So, you're Lycanroc?" She asked as she was pulling a device, her Rotom Phone out of her pocket, and pointed it at Ash's Pokémon.
"Lycanroc - Dusk Form: The Wolf Pokémon," Dawn's Rotom Phone explained. "A Rock Type. Normally calm and quiet, this form of Lycanroc can display a ferocious fighting spirit in the heat of battle. The rocks around its neck from its mane are also incredibly sharp."
"Yeah, it's spot on about the sharp rocks," Ash said as he was giggling. "It's ok though."
"You're pretty cute, Lycanroc!" Dawn complimented as she was rubbing Lycanroc's head.
Lycanroc was already really enjoying being petted by Dawn, and wanted to try and nuzzle her like how it nuzzled Ash. Its actions took Dawn off guard given how she screamed after being pushed down to the floor.
"Ow, ow, ow!" Dawn shouted. "That really hurts!"
"Lycanroc doesn't mean to hurt you, though," Kukui said as he was walking back. "That's just his way of saying that he likes you. You'll get used to it in no time!"
"Yay," Dawn sarcastically said. "But I like you a lot, too, Lycanroc! I'm Dawn! Nice to meet you!"
"Piplup!" Piplup said, introducing himself to Lycanroc.
"Oh, what did Professor Burnet say, Professor Kukui?" Ash asked.
"She and Lei were running some errands, and she also said that the rest of your Pokémon are at the Pokémon School," Kukui answered.
"Oh, I wanted to go there anyway! That's perfect then!"
"'Pokémon School?'" Dawn asked in confusion. "Why there of all places?"
"Uh-huh!" Ash said. "That's where I met my friends here in Alola! I wonder if any of them are there."
"Well, how about you two head over there anyway so that you can see the rest of Ash's Pokémon?" Kukui suggested.
"Sure!" Dawn said.
"All right, let's go then!" Ash said, running toward the front door. "Come on, Lycanroc!"
Lycanroc happily barks and starts to follow Ash, with Dawn quickly following behind. Kukui stays back, though, with his phone still in his hand, and dials someone else. "Ash and one of his friends are on their way," He said to the phone.
"Jeez Ash, can you slow down a bit?!" Dawn said while she, Ash, and Lycanroc are all running to the Pokémon School. "Where even is the Pokémon School? Shouldn't we have waited for Professor Kukui?!"
"No need to worry, we're almost there!" Ash answered.
"That's when I worry the most!"
"Professor Kukui can catch up with us later! He is actually one of the teachers at the Pokémon School!"
"Oh, you were in his class while in Alola?"
"Yeah! Kukui's class was so much fun, too!"
A short while later, Ash and Dawn finally arrive at the main entrance of the Pokémon School. The two of them and Lycanroc stop at the gate, with Ash taking in the view he used to see every day, and Dawn finally being able to catch her breath after the sudden jog. But there was something odd that Ash noticed: The Pokémon School was very quiet. No one was outside, even though no classes are in session at the moment.
"Wait, did we come at a bad time?" Ash said with a worried look on his face. "I sure hope not, but it's too quiet here right now."
"Maybe everyone is just elsewhere?" Dawn asked curiously.
Before Ash and Dawn could walk any further, Lycanroc suddenly started howling! Ash and Dawn didn't even have time to think and ask why Lycanroc was howling before many more loud noises were heard. Party poppers went off, streamers were shot from the left and right, balloons rained down, and many party blowers were heard. The barrage of loud noises caught Ash and Dawn way off guard, and a group of people started to approach them before they could even process what they just witnessed.
"ALOLA SURPRISE!" The group of people shouted as they were approaching Ash and Dawn.
Ash and Dawn just saw their lives flash before their eyes from the sequence of events! All it was in the end were the many people and Pokémon that Ash got to know and befriend in Alola throwing a huge surprise party to welcome him back. Safe to say, the "surprise" factor was super effective.
"Oh, it was all of you!" Ash said, finally getting a chance to catch his breath.
At the front of the pack was none other than Professor Burnet herself with a child in her arms. That very child happened to be her son, Lei! Even at such a young age, Lei recognized Ash, and got excited to see who was pretty much his big brother, even if the two of them aren't biological brothers.
"Welcome home, Champion," Burnet said.
"Professor Burnet!" Ash said. "Lei!"
"Oh, so you're Burnet?" Dawn asked. "And who's this little cutie?"
"Yes, and this is my son Lei," Burnet answered. "Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you, too! I'm Dawn! Hi there, Lei!" Dawn said as she was gently shaking Lei's hand.
Lei was giggling as Dawn was shaking his hand while Ash's friends from school and Pokémon started to gather around. Everyone he knew in Alola was present to welcome him back. From the chef-in-the-making Mallow, to the battler with a fiery passion Kiawe, to the technological expert Sophocles, to the fishing lover Lana, and the warm-hearted Lillie. All of them gathered around to give him one last "Welcome home, Champion!"
"Jeez, you're quite a celebrity here, Ash!" Dawn pointed out.
"He's Alola's first Champion after all!" Kiawe explained. "Not to mention our best friend."
"And what better way to welcome him back than with an Alola Surprise party!" Mallow added.
"Can't forget about the insane battling that he did at the Masters Tournament, and how high he ranked!" Sophocles said.
"You guys have been planning this for that long?!" Ash asked.
"Of course!" Lana said.
"There's no way we couldn't!" Lillie said.
"All right kids, let's settle in for now," Someone said as they were approaching the group. It was none other than the school's principal Samson Oak. "We're all really proud of you, Ash. Congratulations on getting to the finals at the tournament!"
"Everyone…" Ash said as he had a few tears in his eyes. "Thank you all so much. Really. You guys didn't even need to throw a party of any kind."
"We were going to do so regardless of how the finals resulted," Burnet said. "Win or lose, you're still our Champion. And you represented Alola beautifully."
"Come on, Ash, why don't you tell us about your experience in the Championship?!" Mallow asked. "And we can't forget about your friend here either!"
"Yeah, let's all spread out, and just enjoy ourselves!" Burnet said.
Much like what Mallow and Burnet suggested, everyone finally spread out around the school grounds, and there were plenty of activities to do at the party. But Ash and his friends didn't bother with any of those as Ash's friends wanted to hear the stories of when he was participating in the Pokémon World Championship and the Masters Tournament. During all of this, Dawn was finally introduced to Ash's classmates and the rest of the Pokémon that Ash raised in Alola, as well as the partner Pokémon of each of Ash's friends. Also present at the party was Ash's Rotom Dex.
Many hours passed, and it was getting close to sunset. The party was starting to die down. That was okay with everybody as it was clear that they all had a great time together, and they were all feeling really tired as a result. While most of the people that attended went back home, Ash's classmates wanted to have a sleepover at Kukui's house, and Kukui and Burnet were more than okay with the idea. So, after cleaning up after the party, Kukui, Burnet, Ash, Dawn, and everyone else went back to Kukui's house. Just in time for the sunset as well. They all stopped on the beach to get a nice view of the sun setting over the ocean.
The view of the ocean sunset didn't get old to Ash, even while he was living in Alola. Same goes for the rest of his friends. But it was even more special since they all got to share the moment together, including Dawn. Dawn had already gotten a taste of the fun that Ash and his classmates went through while he was training to eventually become Alola's Champion. And Ash's classmates made sure that Dawn felt just as included with the group even though they only just met her today.
As the group continued to take in the gorgeous view of the sunset, Ash's Pikachu noticed something flying in the sky, and it appeared that the mysterious object was heading right towards the group! But as the mysterious object got closer, Pikachu knew what it was. It was a giant, white lion Pokémon running through the sky. One of Alola's Legendary Pokémon: Solgaleo.
"Nebby!" Lillie shouted.
"'Nebby?'" Dawn asked, taken by surprise to see such a powerful Pokémon just randomly show up and land on the beach.
"It's been so long!" Ash said, petting Nebby. "How have you been?"
Nebby subtly purrs and licks Ash on the face, then nuzzles Pikachu. Everyone else was excited to see Nebby again, but Dawn was confused about this latest situation. "Wait, is 'Nebby' this Pokémon's actual name?" She asked.
"No, it's real name is Solgaleo," Sophocles answered.
"And it's one of the Legendary Pokémon of Alola," Lana added.
"Whoa," Dawn said in surprise. "Did any of you catch Nebby?"
"Nah," Ash explains. "I found Nebby when it was a little Cosmog one morning when I was on my way to school. I just couldn't leave it there, so I took it to school with me to see what we could do about it. But we all decided to just raise it together."
"Wait, 'Cosmog?' You mean that Nebby evolved into a Legendary Pokémon?! I didn't even know about that!"
"Isn't it so cool?!" Mallow said.
Nebby then turned towards Dawn, and Dawn was feeling a little nervous, even though she fully trusts it since Ash and his classmates raised Nebby together. Despite that, Dawn slowly approached Nebby, and held her hand out to pet Nebby.
"Nebby, this is one of my best friends, Dawn," Ash explained to Nebby. "She and I traveled around the Sinnoh region together. And we had some awesome adventures together. Some of which involved many other Legendary Pokémon, too!"
Dawn walked to Nebby, and Nebby placed its head in Dawn's hand, letting her pet it, and started purring just like before. Dawn was quite surprised to see that Nebby trusts her that quickly, but she didn't mind it at all. Nebby's mane felt really soft to the touch, even despite the fact that Solgaleo is a Steel-Type Pokémon.
Everyone else shared a hug with Nebby, and Nebby eventually left. Nebby didn't stay for long, but it was a sweet reunion for everyone, and a great first encounter for Dawn. There was one question that was still on Dawn's mind. "So, who and why did you guys name it Nebby?" She asked.
"It was me that suggested the name," Lillie explained. "When we first met Nebby as a Cosmog, it had a nebulous color scheme, and I thought that Nebby was just a cute nickname to give it. Everyone liked it a lot, so we all agreed to give it that name!"
"Oh, I see. It is a really cute name. I'd love to learn more about Nebby at some point! It looked really cool!"
"Yeah, Nebby is so cool," Sophocles said. "Solgaleo and Lunala are capable of traveling through Ultra Wormholes, and visit different dimensions in Ultra Space! We got to travel to some of them before, and it was really weird, but awesome!"
"'Ultra Space' and 'Ultra Wormhole?'" Dawn asked, confused. "'Lunala?' That's a lot to memorize."
"We can teach you more about all of that stuff if you're interested, Dawn!" Professor Burnet as she walked out of the house, walking to the beach.
"I'd love to at some point!" Dawn said. "Sounds really interesting for sure!"
Everyone eventually decided to call it a night once Nebby was no longer in sight. Saying today was eventful for Ash and Dawn is an understatement, and it was only the first day. Even when he's technically taking a vacation in Alola, Ash does not slow down at all. As for Dawn, one surprise came after another, to the point where it was almost overwhelming. If this is a glimpse of what the rest of the trip is going to be like, then it's safe to say that Dawn is in for quite a treat here in Alola.
An upside to having such a busy day is that everyone was so physically and mentally tired, so they all were able to fall asleep pretty much instantly. Ash's classmates had to go home in the morning after breakfast, and Ash thought of a fun idea that he and Dawn should do: Mantine Surfing.
"Wait, what is Mantine Surfing?" Dawn asked.
"It's pretty much what it sounds like," Kukui explains. "You travel from one island to the next while surfing on the back of a Mantine. Along the way, you'll get the chance to do some cool tricks while avoiding obstacles. It's quite a thrilling way to go to another island in Alola!"
"Oh, that sounds cool! Can't wait to try it then!"
"If you two want to go, then you'll want to go to Big Wave Beach," Burnet said.
"We can bring you two there if you want," Kukui offered.
"That'd be great, thanks!" Ash said.
"Let's get going then!"
Big Wave Beach was quite a distance away from Kukui's house, so it was faster for Ash and Dawn to travel in Kukui's truck. When everyone got to Big Wave Beach, there was barely anybody there, which was perfect. Kukui wished Ash and Dawn to have a great time with Mantine Surfing, and drove back to the house.
Before Ash and Dawn started their surf to the next island, Akala Island, Dawn underwent some surfing lessons, then it was time to hop on Mantine and catch some waves! The wind from the speed at which they were traveling felt great given the hot climate of Alola, which will make any potential wipeouts quite refreshing.
Even after doing the surfing lessons, it still took Dawn a minute to get used to surfing on a Mantine. Ash was already used to the experience since he did some Mantine Surfing with his classmates when his friends from Kanto, Misty and Brock, visited Alola.
"Wait, Ash, how are you already so good at this?!" Dawn asked, trying to keep her balance.
"I've done this before with my friends!" Ash answered. "Isn't this great?!"
"I'll be able to enjoy it once I get used to this!"
"You need some help back there?"
"No need to worry! I'm just fine!"
Not even five seconds later, Dawn tried to do a trick off of a big wave, and missed the landing, causing her to wipe out. Ash saw the whole thing happen, and he just simply facepalmed himself. "Every time you tell me not to worry, that's when I worry the most," He said after letting out a big sigh.
Dawn was able to get back onto her Mantine with no problem, and this time she kept on telling herself what she was told during her lessons. By doing so, she was able to maintain her balance much better, and started to catch back up to Ash. Once she found the perfect balance, that was when she started to attempt to do tricks once again, and things went much smoother this time around.
"There you go, Dawn!" Ash shouted while watching Dawn do some tricks.
"Once you get the hang of it, it's awesome!" Dawn said. "I wanna do this again later!"
"Sure, we can do that!"
Ash and Dawn kept going back and forth on doing tricks. Pikachu and Piplup, meanwhile, were hanging on for dear life as their Trainers did all of these dizzying tricks. To them, they felt like they were on a crazy amusement park ride that won't stop spinning and going upside down. Piplup was enjoying the ride more thanks to the fact that he's a Water-Type Pokémon, so he can easily swim back in the event of another wipeout. Pikachu isn't as fortunate, but he doesn't need to worry as much as he could thanks to the fact that he was wearing a life jacket, along with Ash and Dawn.
Ash and Dawn make it to the end of their surfing trip, and arrive on Heahea Beach on Akala Island. The two of them decided to take a quick break before going back to Melemele Island since that was where all of their belongings were left. With the fresh experience fresh in their minds, the return run to Melemele went even smoother than the trip from Melemele to Akala.
Dawn was interested in exploring Akala Island after they arrived back at the Big Wave Beach on Melemele Island, so Ash suggested that they'll make one last surfing trip to Akala Island, then they'll go explore afterwards. Dawn was very much on board with that idea, and the two of them grabbed their belongings before hopping on their Mantine one last time to Heahea Beach.
While they were drying off on Heahea Beach, Ash and Dawn were approached by Lana, who had really exciting news to tell them. "Hey, guys!" Lana shouted as she was approaching Ash and Dawn.
"Hey, Lana!" Ash said.
"What's up?" Dawn asked.
"There's going to be a Battle Royal at the Battle Royal Dome later today!" Lana said with excitement. "And I wanted to let Ash know since he is invited to participate!"
"A Battle Royal?!" Ash said with just as much excitement. "I haven't done one of those since before the Masters Tournament! Count me in then!"
"Wait, what's a Battle Royal?" Dawn asked.
"It's a special type of battle where four people are battling each other at the same exact time, all hoping to be the last one standing," Lana explains.
"All at once?! That sounds insane!"
"They're so cool though!" Ash said. "And also really intense since you have three other people to go up against."
"So, in other words, it's a free-for-all?"
"Yep!"
"Wow. That does sound cool, honestly."
"We should get going so that we don't miss it," Lana suggested.
"You're right," Ash said as he was finishing up drying off.
"Where is the Battle Royal Dome?" Dawn asked.
"On Royal Avenue," Lana answered. "Just outside of Paniola Town. Not too far away from here."
"Oh, I see. Then, yeah, let's get going then!"
With Ash and Dawn all dried off, they go to the changing rooms to put their clothes back on, and start making their way to Royal Avenue. Along the way, Dawn got to see a bunch of Pokémon that she had never seen before, and the trio made a quick pit stop at Paniola Ranch since it was right on the road to Royal Avenue. Paniola Ranch proved to be a fun little detour before Ash, Dawn, and Lana finally arrived at Royal Avenue, with the Battle Royal Dome in plain sight. Guests were already entering the dome to watch tonight's Battle Royal, and Ash's classmates saw that he, Dawn, and Lana had finally arrived as well. Ash's Pokémon were also waiting outside for them as well.
"There you guys are!" Mallow shouted as she was waving to Ash, Dawn, and Lana.
"Where'd you find them, Lana?" Kiawe asked.
"At Heahea Beach," Lana answered. "I figured they'd be there since they were Mantine Surfing today, so I made my way there first thing."
"You gonna enter the Battle Royal, Ash?" Sophocles asked.
"You bet I am!" Ash asked with a firm response.
"Pika!" Pikachu shouted with just as much energy.
"Dawn, you wanna join, too?"
"Uh, no, thanks," Dawn answered. "I wanna see what these battles have in store first."
"Besides, we can cheer for Ash together!" Lillie said.
"Pix!" Lillie's Vulpix, Snowy, shouted.
"That's true!" Dawn said. "I might have just the thing actually, now you mention it."
"Well, let's hurry and grab our seats!" Mallow said.
"Right!" Dawn, Lillie, Lana, and Sophocles all said together in unison, then they went inside the dome to get their seats.
"So, Ash, looks like it's rematch time for you and I," Kiawe said.
"And I'm not gonna hold back at all!" Ash said.
"Good, 'cause I'm not either! May the best Trainer win!"
"Back at ya!"
Kiawe goes inside the dome to get himself ready for the Battle Royal while Ash stays behind, thinking about which Pokémon he is going to use. As Ash was thinking, he was approached by two other people that were going to be participating in the Battle Royal, both of which he actually had battles with in the Alola Pokémon League. After a bit of chatting with both of them, Ash finally made up his mind for which Pokémon he wanted to use, and the rest went inside to join his friends after Kukui and Burnet had arrived to watch.
The lights go out, and the crowd starts going wild as the introductions for the Battle Royal are beginning. "Welcome everyone to yet another exciting Battle Royal here at the Battle Royal Dome on Royal Avenue!" One of the announcers shouted. "We're Faba and Wicke, and we will be your commentators for tonight! Just like any other Battle Royal, we have an amazing group with us tonight! So let's meet our competitors right now!"
The first to be introduced walks out of the green corner. "Our first challenger is the grandson of none other than the kahuna of Melemele Island, Hala, put your hands together for Hau!" Wicke shouted. "Next, from the red corner, is a Trainer with a fiery passion, and is bound to bring the heat! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Kiawe! Following that, from the blue corner, is one of the finalists from the first ever Alola Pokémon League! Let's give a warm welcome to Gladion!"
The crowd just couldn't stop screaming, even though the battle hadn't even started yet. But that was only the tip of the iceberg, as the last challenger hadn't been introduced yet, which was of course Ash. And it was only going to get louder from here.
"And for our last challenger, he has made a name for himself ever since he arrived in Alola from the quiet town of Pallet," Faba started. Just as expected, the crowd starts roaring because they instantly knew who that was. "And now he has gone to become one of the world's strongest Pokémon Trainers, making it to the finals of the Pokémon World Championship's Masters Tournament! You know the name! You know the face! Everyone, make some noise as we welcome to the yellow corner, our Champion, Ash Ketchum!"
Ash could not help but wave to the crowd once he walked on stage. The energy from the crowd is hyping him up, but he was also a bit surprised to see that Professor Kukui was not participating in this Battle Royal. He didn't think much about it though, as he knows that the opponents that he is facing tonight will still provide him a fun challenge.
"Are we ready?!" Faba and Wicke shouted together. The crowd roared in response with similar energy. "Then challengers, bring out your Pokémon, and let tonight's Battle Royal begin!" Wicke added.
"Decidueye, come on out!" Hau shouted as he tossed his Poké Ball.
"Marowak, come out and let's show them our fiery passion!" Kiawe said as he tossed his Poké Ball.
"Lycanroc, show your crimson glare!" Gladion said as he threw his Poké Ball.
Ash was the last to send out his Pokémon, and he got a quick examination of the Pokémon he was going to be facing, giving him more confidence in which Pokémon that he was going to be using for this Battle Royal. "Just as I thought," He said to himself.
Pikachu looked up at Ash, thinking about how his Trainer is feeling about the matchup. Ash looked down at Pikachu with a firm look on his face, nodding at his partner. Pikachu nodded back, causing the audience to think that Ash was going to be using Pikachu. But Ash had another surprise up his sleeve.
"'Kay, Lycanroc, I choose you!" Ash said as he threw his Poké Ball.
The entire audience let out a big gasp, but that quickly transitioned into another huge applause. Ash using Lycanroc even took some of the challengers off guard, as most if not all of them were expecting Pikachu as well. Gladion and Kiawe grinned at the sight of Ash's Lycanroc.
Meanwhile in the audience, Dawn and Ash's classmates were cheering for him at the top of their lungs. Most of them at least. Dawn was getting in on the action as well, but she was doing so in a different way, one that she hasn't done for Ash in a long time. She was dressed up in her cheerleading uniform, complete with her pom-poms. "Do it! Do it! Fight fight fight! Go on, Ash! That's our Champ! Yeah!" She cheered from the audience. Dawn even had a few of her own Pokémon like Piplup, Pachirisu, and Buneary joining in as well.
Ash quickly looked up to see where Dawn's voice was coming from, and couldn't resist putting a warm smile on his face once he did see her. But that didn't last for long, as he quickly turned his eyes back to the ring. A bell was heard, and the battle was officially allowed to begin. Anticipation started to rise as to who was going to make the first move. The waiting didn't last long, however.
The Battle Royal has been really intense so far. Early on, it was difficult to know who was going to go down first, and who was eventually going to come out on top and win it all. There was no room to let up at any point during this battle. During the battle, Hau was eliminated first followed by Kiawe. Now, only two challengers remain: Ash and Gladion. One more person to be eliminated, and the last Pokémon standing is going to be declared the winner. A lot is riding on the line with these last few moves.
"Gladion, remember the last time this happened?" Ash asked. "Both of our Lycanroc being our last Pokémon? Just like the Alola League finals!"
"Heh," Gladion scoffed. "That's a memory I simply can't forget. The battle for the Champion title. I still remember it like it was yesterday."
"Same here."
Before Ash or Gladion could say anything else, both of them paused because of what the crowd was chanting. "CHAMPION! CHAMPION! CHAMPION!" They heard. This loud crowd was cheering for their own Champion. This exact event happened to Ash the last time he was in a Battle Royal here in Alola. And it's just as powerful the second time around compared to the first.
"You got this, Ash!" Hau cheered.
"Show Alola the strength you proved in the Masters Tournament!" Kiawe said.
"Hau," Ash whispered. "Kiawe…"
"Give me everything you have, Champion!" Gladion said.
"And Gladion, too," Ash said. Ash stopped for a second, and took a deep breath. Even after all of this time, Ash still doesn't feel like he's truly a Champion. But he is, and the people of not just Alola, but the rest of the world see him and recognize him as one. And this is the first time that the people of Alola get to see Ash battle with the Pokémon he used to win the Alola League since that very day. "Everyone. Thank you all so much. But this battle is far from over! This moment reminds me of the day I became Champion, and it'll end with the same winner!"
"The result won't be the same as last time, though!" Gladion said. "Crunch, Lycanroc!"
Gladion's Lycanroc lunged at Ash's, attempting to bite his own. Ash's Lycanroc was watching Gladion's as it was approaching fast. Ash wasn't worried, though, even though Gladion's Lycanroc did land the Crunch before he could even say anything.
"Hang in there, Lycanroc!" Ash said. "Counter it!"
Ash's Lycanroc flung Gladion's Lycanroc into the air, and struck it with its mane even harder than when it was bitten all in one smooth motion. That sent Gladion's Lycanroc flying toward the other side of the ring, giving Ash plenty of space to plan his next move. And Ash had a perfect way to end this battle with a bang.
"Lycanroc, let's finish this with one last powerful move!" Ash said.
"We will, too!" Gladion said immediately afterward.
Ash and Gladion both crossed their arms, and a light started to glow from their wrists! Shortly after the light appeared, both of them performed a variety of poses. It can only mean one thing: Both were preparing to use a Z-Move! This very next move is going to end the battle, no matter who goes down first. Even the poses that Ash and Gladion did were identical, indicating that they could be using the same exact Z-Moves. However, even here, Ash has a trick up his sleeve.
"Use Continental Crush!" Gladion shouted.
"Use Splintered Stormshards!" Ash shouted.
Gladion's Lycanroc formed an eye-popping large boulder that looked like it would be too large to fit in the dome! While Ash's Lycanroc howled before leaping into the air, and very sharp shards of rock appeared in the air, all pointing to Gladion's Lycanroc. Both Pokémon launched their attacks at the exact same time, resulting in a clash of Z-Moves! The impact was something that the people of Alola hadn't witnessed since another thrilling battle that also involved Ash: His exhibition battle against Professor Kukui during the Alola Pokémon League.
The crowd was still roaring, even after witnessing two powerful Z-Moves end an otherwise thrilling Battle Royal. All of the challengers that participated in the Battle Royal met up to chat before splitting to go their separate ways. For Ash, he went back home with Dawn, Professor Kukui, and Burnet. And all that they talked about for the rest of the night was the thrilling Battle Royal that they witnessed, especially Dawn.
The next morning, Ash and Dawn wanted to take some time to go visit each of Ash's classmates. So, they started off by going to the restaurant that Mallow's family runs so they can eat there as well as visit Mallow herself. The food was absolutely delicious and filling. Mallow's partner, Tsareena, was also helping with serving guests at the restaurant, too. Before they left, Mallow decided to give Dawn a Gracidea Flower as a gift. During this visit, Mallow took as much time as she could to get to know Dawn better while serving guests.
Once Ash and Dawn were done at Mallow's restaurant, they headed over to Lana's house, who happened to be out fishing. There was a really nice and pleasant breeze where Lana was located, and she was seen with her partner, Primarina, relaxing by her side. Lana invited Ash and Dawn for a quick fishing session, and when they were done, Lana gave Dawn a special gift: A Primarina necklace. Dawn decided to wear the necklace throughout the rest of the trip since she was a big fan of it.
After a pleasant visit with Lana, Ash and Dawn make their way to Kiawe's house to visit his family's farm. Kiawe invited Ash and Dawn to a glass of his family's Moomoo Milk, which they of course accept. After enjoying their glass of milk, Kiawe offered Ash and Dawn a quick tour of the farm. After that, Kiawe took Dawn for a quick ride around Akala Island with his Charizard. Prior to leaving the farm, Kiawe gave Dawn two bottles of Moomoo Milk to take home with her.
Ash and Dawn wave goodbye to Kiawe, and make their way to their next stop: Sophocles's house. Since Sophocles was a big fan of technology, he got the idea of building his own virtual reality system, and wanted to show it to Ash and Dawn, then offered to let them check it out. Ash and Dawn were very pleased with what Sophocles has made so far, and when Dawn asked what he was going to use it for, Sophocles said that he was going to use it for simulating expeditions in space since he is hoping to become an astronaut. Before Ash and Dawn left Sophocles, Sophocles gave Dawn a new tablet. Sophocles's partner Togedemaru interrupted Dawn as it rolled into her leg, asking her for a quick hug before leaving.
The final stop for Ash and Dawn's round trip was none other than Lillie's mansion. Prior to arriving, Ash notified Lillie of his and Dawn's arrival, and Lillie did some preparation before they arrived. When Ash and Dawn did arrive, they were treated to snacks and tea offered by Lillie. While they were talking, Lillie and Ash were telling Dawn about how Lillie met Snowy, and how Snowy played a role in helping her overcome her intense childhood fear of touching Pokémon. During their conversation, Snowy hopped off of Lillie's lap to show Dawn the gift that Lillie got for her: An Alolan Vulpix plush! Shortly after, Ash and Dawn bid farewell to Lillie, and they went back to Kukui's house.
When Ash and Dawn finally arrived back at Kukui's house, Dawn took out all of the gifts that her new friends got for her. Saying that she wasn't expecting any of this was an understatement. Dawn found more than just new friends in Alola, she met a second family.
With only two days left in their trip in Alola, Ash and Dawn were trying to determine what they wanted to do for their last full day in the region tomorrow. Dawn originally wanted to go do some shopping for souvenirs, but dropped that plan after she received all of the gifts from her friends. So she had to come up with a new idea, and might have found something perfect.
"Wait, I think I have an idea!" Dawn said with an excited tone in her voice.
"What?" Ash asked.
"I remember seeing a flier for something called the Alola Photo Club! It lets Trainers take pictures with their Pokémon, and I thought that would be a ton of fun! Why don't we do that together tomorrow?"
"Sounds good! And after we're done, we can do some sightseeing around Melemele Island afterward! Is that okay?"
"Sure! Sounds great!"
With their plans for tomorrow set, Ash and Dawn call it a night, and make their way to the Alola Photo Club in Hau'Oli City first thing the next morning. Upon signing up, both Ash and Dawn had to choose a Pokémon they wanted to take their pictures with, and were guided into the studio.
"Oh wow, look at all of this!" Dawn said, amazed by all of the props that they were allowed to use. "I can't wait to try these out! Oh, I don't know what I want to use first."
"Lup! Piplup!" Piplup said with similar excitement.
"So, which prop are you gonna use first?" The photographer asked.
Dawn had to think about her decision for a moment, but quickly found one that she really liked. Next was the background she wanted for her photo, and that was just as easy to choose. All that was left was for Dawn and Piplup to find the right pose for the shot, and get their pictures taken.
Now it was Ash's and Pikachu's turn for their photos. The process went just as smoothly as Dawn's, but was even quicker for Ash since he got to see most of the props and backgrounds available while waiting for Dawn. Dawn got one last quick idea before she and Ash were finished.
"Hey, is it possible if Ash and I took one last picture together?" Dawn asked.
"Of course, no problem!" The photographer answered.
Ash was taken by surprise a little bit by Dawn's sudden request, but he quickly dismissed it as he was actually planning to ask the question. Dawn only just beat him to the punch and asked first.
With everyone all posed up and ready for the shot, Ash and Dawn got their picture taken together, and had them printed as well as sent to their phones. With their time at the Alola Photo Club done, Ash wanted to grab a bite to eat at the malasada shop that was just down the street. Dawn was also feeling pretty hungry, so she didn't mind that she and Ash were stopping for some food next.
"I've heard great things about Alola's malasadas," Dawn mentioned while she and Ash were waiting in line. "Apparently they're the specialty in Alola?"
"Yep!" Ash answered. "They're made in a way that both people and Pokémon can enjoy them all the same!"
"Oh wow. Now I'm excited to try them. What about you, Piplup?"
"Lup!" Piplup responded with excitement, intrigued by the delicious-looking treats.
Ash and Dawn finally get their malasadas, and have a seat within the shop. Ash took a piece from his malasada to let Pikachu have a bite, and Pikachu's face warmed up with joy. Piplup grew even more curious upon watching Pikachu enjoying the malasada.
"You wanna try?" Dawn asked Piplup.
Piplup nodded at Dawn, asking for a piece of her malasada. He just couldn't wait to try out this new food that Ash was raving out. So Dawn took a piece of her malasada and gave it to Piplup.
"Here you go," Dawn said, handing Piplup the piece of malasada.
Piplup quickly grabbed the malasada and ate it, and it had a similar expression to Pikachu. Both Pikachu and Piplup were already asking for seconds, even though their Trainers haven't even started eating yet!
"They're really that good, huh?" Dawn said curiously. She finally took a bite of her malasada, and her face pretty much melted. The malasada was warm and soft, seemingly melting in the mouth with every bite while still rich in flavor, and left a satisfying aftertaste once swallowed. "That's awesome!"
"I knew you'd like it!" Ash said before he took a bite of his own malasada. He took out a spare malasada that he bought for Pikachu, and Dawn took out her spare for Piplup.
Ash, Dawn, Pikachu, and Piplup all enjoyed their malasadas together, and just before they left the malasada shop, they ran into Hau, who was coming in to grab his own. "Hey, you two grabbed some malasadas?" He asked.
"You bet!" Ash answered.
"They were unbelievably good!" Dawn said. "I wish I could go for more, but I'm so full that I can't eat anything else."
"Aww, wish I came sooner," Hau said. "We all would have been able to enjoy some together. So, where are you two heading now?"
"We're gonna go do some sightseeing. We're going home tomorrow, so we're gonna spend today checking out Hau'Oli City and the rest of Melemele Island."
"Oh, that sounds fun! Enjoy the sights! And safe travel home tomorrow!"
"Thanks, Hau!" Ash said. "We better get going then."
"Yeah, that's fair," Hau said. "See ya!"
Ash and Dawn leave Hau at the malasada shop, and spend a couple hours exploring around Hau'Oli City. Upon finishing their time in Hau'Oli, Ash and Dawn left the city and headed to the northeast part of Melemele Island. That was when Ash remembered about Melemele Meadow, and wanted to take Dawn there next.
The walk to Melemele Meadow may have been a long one, but it was well worth it for the stunning beauty of the meadow. Dawn was speechless upon her first sight of Melemele Meadow, and felt like she wanted to spend the rest of today here. Given how busy and hectic this trip has been for Ash and Dawn, this was the perfect time for them to finally relax while taking in a fantastic view.
"Ash, this is beautiful!" Dawn said. "And so peaceful, too! I already love this place!"
"I remember my first time here in this meadow," Ash said. "It was for one of my Ultra Guardians missions. But I never got the chance to come back here and appreciate it properly until now."
"And you get to do it with me. That's really sweet."
There was quite a long pause before someone started talking again. But Ash and Dawn just wanted to take some time to take in the sight and fresh air. It felt relaxing, soothing, and calm. A huge, but welcome contrast.
"You know, I've come back to Alola a few times after I became Champion, but I always had my hands full each and every visit," Ash said. "And I knew that the next time I came back to Alola, with someone like you, I wanted to show them Melemele Meadow."
"I see what you mean," Dawn said. "Alola has some truly beautiful places, this being one of them. Are there other meadows like this on the other islands?"
"Yeah, there are! If only we had time to go visit them, but it's getting close to sunset."
"Man, I would've loved to see them. I'm sure they're all just as pretty as this one."
"Me, too. How about we go back to Kukui's house then? I'm sure he's probably cooking dinner right now as we speak."
"Yeah, good idea."
Ash and Dawn may have spent only around an hour at the Melemele Meadow, but it was an hour well spent for both of them. With both of them feeling nice and relaxed, they make their way back to Kukui's house for dinner. Shortly after Kukui finished making dinner, he, Burnet, Ash, and Dawn all sat down to watch a movie once Burnet put Lei in bed for the night.
After the movie was done, Ash and Dawn walked outside to take in the nighttime view of the beach while Kukui and Burnet got ready for bed themselves. There was a nice, brisk breeze blowing by that felt a little chilly, but was welcome given the naturally hot climate of Alola. Pikachu and Piplup also came outside to take in the stunning view upon them. Ash and Dawn walked onto the beach to take a seat on the sand.
"That night breeze sure feels nice," Ash said.
"Sure does," Dawn said, and looked over to Ash with a very warm smile on her face. "Ash, thank you so much for taking me to Alola. This has truly been the trip of a lifetime for me, and I haven't seen all of Alola yet. I can only imagine what the rest of the region is like, but what I've seen and done here has been nothing short of incredible."
"Nah, I should be thanking you for coming to Alola with me. While I would've enjoyed coming back by myself, having you with me made it that much better. Having a friend come along will always make anything more exciting, and this was no exception. I wanna show all of my friends Alola at some point because I just love this region so much."
"I totally get why you feel that way. I could tell you were having a ball whenever we did anything fun here in Alola, and you just looked so happy being here in general. Alola really does feel like a second home to you."
"It sure does. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself here, too. Next time we come here, I will make sure to show you the rest of Alola!"
"Sounds like a deal!"
Ash and Dawn both stood back up to give each other a high five, and the two of them shared a warm and comforting hug. They stood there for a solid three to five seconds before finally letting go of each other. After that, Ash and Dawn went back inside the house, and finally went to bed. It was time to say goodnight to Alola for the last time on this trip.
The next morning, Kukui and Burnet were driving Ash and Dawn to the airport, and the sun was just starting to rise. No one was really talking during the drive to the airport, but it was understandable. A difficult goodbye is just a few minutes away.
"Thanks for everything, Professor Kukui, Burnet," Ash said.
"Yeah, thank you for letting us stay with you," Dawn said. "I had an absolute blast here."
"Of course, you two," Kukui said.
"You're always welcome to come back anytime you like," Burnet added. "And we're glad you enjoyed yourself, Dawn."
"Take care of yourselves going back home, ok?" Kukui asked.
"We will," Ash said.
"No need to worry," Dawn said.
Everyone paused for a moment before they all moved closer together for a group hug. Everything was quiet. No one said a word. Ash and Dawn were about to leave before they got stopped by something else.
"Ash! Dawn!" Mallow shouted as she and the rest of Ash's classmates and Rotom approached them.
"Wait, what are you guys doing here?!" Ash asked.
"Simple, we wanted to come see our Champion and our new friend off," Sophocles answered.
"You think we were just gonna let you leave without actually saying goodbye?!" Mallow added.
"So it's only fair if we came to see you guys before you left," Lillie said.
"You guys…" Dawn said as her eyes started to tear up.
"Next time you're in Alola Dawn, we should battle together!" Kiawe said.
"Oh, and please teach us about Pokémon Contests next time!" Lana said.
Dawn was having a hard time holding back the tears. She didn't spend a long time with her new friends, but she loved the time that she did have, and she wanted to spend even more time with them. Not to mention how quickly she was able to form a strong bond with all of them. Her friends noticed her crying, and Ash rested his hand on her shoulder, while Lillie was the first to approach Dawn and hug her. Everyone else followed after Lillie.
"Quick, before Ash and Dawn leave, let's all take a group photo!" Rotom suggested.
Everyone liked Rotom's idea, and they all gathered together to pose for a photo. After Rotom took the photo, Ash wanted Rotom to send the picture to his phone, and Dawn wanted the same. Rotom happily agreed, and sent the picture to their phones. Everyone shared some more high-fives and hugs, too.
"Well, we better head out before we miss our flight," Ash said.
"Right," Lillie said. "Please come back soon, Dawn!"
"Of course I will," Dawn said.
"When you do, come back to our restaurant!" Mallow said. "I'd love to cook some food with you!"
"Yes, we absolutely should!" Dawn said.
"We're gonna miss you, Dawn," Lana said.
"I'm gonna miss you guys, too," Dawn said. "But I'll be back for sure! And I'd be happy to show you guys what Pokémon Contests are about!"
"Take care of yourselves," Burnet said.
"We will!" Ash and Dawn said together.
"You ready?" Ash asked.
"Yep," Dawn answered. "Let's go home."
Ash and Dawn leave everyone else behind as they board their flight, and off they go back to Kanto. Ash and Dawn kept their eyes glued to their window, watching Alola get smaller and smaller as the plane flew further away from the region. Ash and Dawn were sad about leaving Alola, but they were so happy that they visited at the same time.
This trip made Dawn fully understand why Ash loved Alola so much. She already knows she's going to be coming back soon, and hoping that it won't be too long. There's still plenty of Alola that Dawn has yet to see, which gives her all the more reason to want to come back. Not to mention spend even more time with her friends when she does.
As for Ash, he felt much more refreshed after going on this trip. Even when Alola was no longer in sight, he still had a warm smile on his face. Anytime was a good time to go to Alola for Ash. And this time was even more special since Dawn went with him.
With many hours to go until their flight lands in Saffron City, Ash and Dawn try to get some rest for the time being. Now that this trip has come to a close, Ash and Dawn can soon get back to their respective training as both of them prepare for their next adventure. Where will both of them be going? Only time will tell.
-THE END-