"Alright, alright, a toast to those who made it to the next round, and for those who have yet to go." Mallow's father said, raising a glass of Pinap Juice.

"And to those who made it so far despite everything." Professor Burnett said, hugging Cass and Lillie.

"Professor, how are you feeling, you weren't looking too good yesterday." Ark said bluntly getting more than a few angry glares at him.

"No, it's fine, I went to the doctor after that and they ran some tests and the initial results are that it was likely just a small bit of food poisoning." Professor Burnett said.

"Can you believe her, a great Professor, wife, and a battler, could I have asked for more?" Professor Kukui said.

"Professor, where have you been, we thought you would have been seated with us." Lana said.

"Sorry I got held up working on a few things and by the time I made it I wasn't sure where you were." Professor Kukui admitted.

"Well don't worry, our families will make sure you have a great view of the battle today!" Mallow exclaimed.

"Exactly, now take a seat, both of you." Ulu said, grabbing some food for them.

"Ark, are you nervous?" Cass asked.

"About my match, a little, I've never beaten Gladion in a battle before." Ark admitted.

"You should go with Passimian, he's your strongest fighter by far." Sophocles said.

"No way, he knows about Passimian, throw him for a loop with Incineroar." Kiawe said.

"I think he'd struggle with how fast Golisopod is for his size." Lana said.

"No way, use Dhelmise, they get a bonus to grass, ghost, and steel type moves, plus his Whirlpool attack will keep any of Gladion's Pokemon in one spot." Mallow said.

"No, I know who Ark will go with." Professor Kukui said. "He's going to use the one card he can always count on. Pikachu."

"Gladion will predict you'll do that." Lillie pointed out.

"I know, and I also know who he'll use." Ark said.

"You think he'll lead with Silvally?" Cass asked.

"Nope, just like me with Pikachu, Gladion has a Pokemon he can always count on as well." Ark said, knowing just who he'd be fighting when it came time for their match.

Battle 5

"Alright, Primarina let's show him just how strong we are!" Lana exclaimed.

"Yeah, good luck with that." Guzma said. "Come on out Pinsir!"

"What's his plan with a Pinsir?" Kiawe wondered, knowing there were better bug types in this situation.

"Primarina use Hyper Voice!"

"Pinsir use Throat Chop!"

Pinsir rushed forward, striking Primarina just below her head and stopping the attack.

"Rotom, what caused that?" Ark asked from the waiting room.

"Throat Chop is a move that makes sound based moves unable to be used." Rotomdex said.

"Wait, if that's the case, then what does Primarina and Lana still have?" Ark asked.

"Not much." Rotomdex admitted.

"Pinsir use Stone Edge!"

"Primarina use Ice Beam!"

Pinsir slammed it's horns into the ground sending stones at Primarina, some of the stones were stopped by the Ice Beam, but the others landed multiple hits on her.

"Primarina use Aqua Jet!"

"Pinsir use Storm Throw!"

Primarina rocketed forward, only to be grabbed by Pinsirs horns, launching her backwards and knocking her out.

"That was rough." Ark admitted, seeing just how brutal Guzma was fighting in this tournament.

"Primarina is unable to battle, the winners are Guzma and his Pinsir." Hala declared.

Battle 6

Mallow steps into the arena with Decidueye's Pokeball, but where is Professor Burnett.

In Burnett's locker room

"Yes, yes, I understand." Professor Burnett said. "No, I just wasn't expecting this so soon. Thank you, I'm sure he'll be happy to know."

Professor Burnett hung up and called another number.

Up with the class and their families

"YOU'RE WHAT?!" Professor Kukui exclaimed.

"Professor is everything alright? Where is Professor Burnett?" Lillie asked worriedly.

"She-she's fine, better than fine even, she's better than ever!" Professor Kukui cheered.

"Do you care to tell us what's going on then?" Kiawe asked.

"I need to go, I'm going to be a dad!" Professor Kukui exclaimed, causing Sophocles to spit out his drink in shock.

"Wait what?!" Molayne said in shock. "I didn't know… and he's gone."

"Well we should go after him right?" Lillie asked.

"No, there will be time for that later, do now let them share this moment." Lana's mother said.

"Due to unforeseen complications, Professor Burnett has dropped out of the competition, making Mallow the winner of this match!" Olivia exclaimed.

"Poor Mallow, she didn't even get a match." Cass said with a sigh.

Battle 7

"Alright, I'm all pumped up!" Hau said.

"Let's see how long that lasts." Kahili said with a smile. "You're Hala's Grandson, he doesn't do well against my flying types."

"Then it's a good thing I'm not him! Noivern come on out!" Hau called out.

"Oricorio let's go!" Kahili said.

"Hey does that Oricorio look weird to anyone else?" Cass asked.

"Oricorio has multiple forms, depending on what their diet is." Lillie said.

"That kind is usually found on UlaUla Island, called the Baile Style." Sophocles added.

"When like this, it's a Fire and Flying type." Kiawe pointed out.

"Oh, I guess that explains why Hobbes's is different." Cass said, watching the battle.

"Noivern use Super Fang!"

"Oricorio use Revelation Dance!"

Hau's Noivern zoomed across the arena, easily evading Oricorio's attack before clamping his teeth down on the small bird.

"Oricorio use Teeter Dance!"

"Noivern use Dragon Pulse!"

Oricorio began dancing back and fourth as a pulse of energy shot out from Noivern's ears, knocking the fire type back once more.

"Now Oricorio use Feather Dance!"

"Noivern use Dark Pulse!"

A black burst of energy shot out from Noivern's ears, knocking him around a bit but also striking Oricorio, sending it flying up into the air in defeat.

"Oricorio is unable to battle, the winner is Hau and his Noivern!" Nanu declared.

"Alright Noivern!" Hau cheered.

Battle 8

"Come on Ash!" Cass cheered.

"You've got this Gladion!" Lillie cheered.

"I think this is the first time they aren't agreeing on something." Kiawe admitted in shock as both girls cheered for their respective brothers.

"Pikachu I choose you!"

"Umbreon Let's go!"

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Umbreon use Shadow Ball!"

The two attacks launched at each other before Umbreon's Shadow Ball broke through, launching Pikachu into the air.

"Pikachu use Nasty Plot!"

Pikachu spun around in mid air and with a laugh began rubbing his cheeks to build up static electricity.

"Umbreon use Dark Pulse!"

"Pikachu push through it with Volt Tackle!"

Pikachu surrounded himself with electricity as he fell and was on the ground for a mere moment before launching forward, piercing the Dark Pulse and slamming into Umbreon.

"Umbreon use Iron Tail!"

"Pikachu dodge and use another Nasty Plot!"

Pikachu leapt out of the way of the attack, building up more static electricity as both trainers got ready.

"Alright Pikachu lets do this. FULL POWER! Use Catastropika!"

"Umbreon use Black Hole Eclipse!"

Umbreon leapt up into the air as a vacuum formed behind her pulling in the attacks. Pikachu ran across the ground as long as he could, then kept his momentum going, leaping from rock to rock until slamming into Umbreon, the force of their two Z Moves colliding as both fell back down.

"Pikachu use Thunderbolt!"

"Umbreon use Shadow Ball!"

Both Pokémon struggled to regain their footing before Pikachu managed to fire off a Thunderbolt that struck Umbreon and dropped her back down to the ground.

"Ark won." Cass said.

"He finally did it!" Sophocles cheered.

"Umbreon is unable to battle, the winners are Ark and Pikachu." Hapu declared.

"Ark." Gladion said, after recalling Umbreon.

"Yeah?" Ark asked.

"You're the last of us Aether Kids, if you lose next round, I'll come back and kick you across this whole battlefield." Gladion said with a smirk.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Ark said, offering Gladion his hand.

"AND THERE WE HAVE IT! AN AMAZING SET OF EVENTS HAVE TRANSPIRED HERE TODAY FOLKS, AND THIS IS ONLY ROUND ONE! JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THE NEXT ROUNDS MATCHES!" Wicke screamed into the microphone.