In the first match of the Alola Pokémon League Quarterfinals second half, Gladion and his Silvally emerged victorious against Race and Tou-Tou! And, after a special last-minute training session with Raine and Primarina, Sarah and Aqua are now locked in battle with Hau and Decidueye in the second match. With Hau having used Sinister Arrow Raid, the heated battle between the best of rivals continues! Will Aqua be successful and sing a battle duet that'll lead her and Sarah to the Semifinals or will Decidueye finally score a bullseye that'll end her and Sarah's tenure in the Pokémon League?

(Theme Song: Pokémon League Arc - Moon Pride (Sailor Moon Crystal ft. Momorio Clover Z))

MOON PRIDE! Anata no chikara na naritai (I want to be your strength)

The opening begins with an overview of Sarah, her friends, Asha, and Race standing together with their Partner Pokémon in the midst of a floral field and the full moon before the camera pans forward and passes Sarah upward before the main titles appear in a flurry of light, electricity, and snow.

POKEMON SUN & MOON: Pokémon League Blues!

Nine lights (red, gold, yellow, green, blue, white, crimson, cyan, and an orange/yellow/violet mix) flew around the main titles before passing by and the final light showed Asha, Race, Ash, Kiawe, Lillie, Lana, Mallow, and Sophocles standing in a circle with their backs to each other and looking out on the horizon (with the Alola girls having a tear fall from their eyes, the boys looking determined as they glared hard, Race looks contempt yet determined as a flash of lightning streaks by him, and Asha looks out to her right worriedly and with heartache)

Namida wa hono wo tsutai (Tears roll down my face)

Hitomo wa akaku moeru (My eyes are burning red hot)

Inazuma no yo ni hageshiku (Being just as violent as lightning)

Dareka ga ai wo sakeru (Someone cries out for love)

We then quickly pan over to Sarah as she holds her hands in a prayer position with her eyes closed as if she's in some sort of slumber before she eventually wakes up and the camera pans to the moon in a blissful space of wonder.

Tatoe Don'na (No matter what) Kurayami Demo (Dark it is)

Hitori janai yo ne? (You're not alone, you know?) Watashitachi Wo (We're together)

Terasa Moonlight (Shining in moonlight) (AH)

Sarah is then shown in Ula'Ula's Malie City on a rainy day (while in a hand-painted/CGI background and holding an umbrella over her head) where she turns and suddenly sees a person that looks like Dia with a Shiny Zeraora at a tree while holding an umbrella over his head and reading a book before they took notice of her. The little princess gave a brief yet nostalgic sigh before she was joined by Blitz and Curly and then her boyfriend, sister, and friends as they got together and cheered, throwing their umbrellas up in the air.

On'nankoko ni mo yuzurenu kyoji ga aru (Girls, don't give away your self-respect)

Sore wa ouji-sama ni unmei nagazu (Don't throw away your destiny for a prince)

Mizukara Tatakau Ishi (Fight for yourself)

Soon, Sarah's friends and Asha along with their Partner Pokémon start to fight against other trainers in the Alola League's elimination and quarter rounds as they climb their way to the Top 16 spots for the official tournament. Sarah and Race stand together as their Pokémon fight before they face each other and they order Blitz and Robbie to go at each other and see who's the better trainer and Pokémon between them.

Shiny Make-Up! Kagayaku yo hoshizora wo atsumete (Keep shining as you collect the starry sky)

Tada mamorareru dake no kayowai sonzai ja nai wa (We aren't weak girls who need man's protection)

In the midst of the competition, Team Skull appears to crush the competition and win in their own right with the most prominent of its members showing themselves as follows: Tupp, Zipp, Rapp, Plumeria, and Guzma (the main head of Team Skull preparing to compete himself). Kukui, Lusamine, Wicke, Faba, Burnet, Doug, Delilah, David, and Doug are shown together as they nod to wish everybody participating in the Alola League good luck and we even get a glimpse at an unknown Pokemon appearing from an Ultra Wormhole. Sarah reappears and draws Cosmic Grace before she holds it out and its light shines for all of Alola to see.

Shiny Make-Up! Tatakau yo hoshizora wo matotte (I will fight in the starry sky)

Atarashii densetsu ga ima koko kara hajimaru (A new legend begins from here)

La la, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

The opening ends with quick shots of the main group of nine as they and their Pokémon reappear together and do poses, ready to face the Alola League head-on and have fun no matter who wins or loses the entire tournament.

(Pokémon League Arc Opening Ends)

"Okay, Aqua, this is it! Show everybody how it's done; use your Psychic attack to fly sky-high!" Sarah continued as Aqua nodded and coated herself with her new psychic energy to fly up into the air.

"Stop her, Decidueye! Don't let Aqua get away!" Hau directed, allowing his partner to catch up to and overtake Aqua in the air. "Get her back down on solid ground with Leaf Blade!"

"Right! You're grounded!" Decidueye hooted knowingly, divebombing Aqua as he used Leaf Blade.

"Use Liquidation!" Sarah bellowed, allowing Aqua to form two blades on her flippers and meet Decidueye in melee combat, locking both physical attacks with each other before they pushed back.

"Look at that! Aqua and Decidueye have taken their battle to the air but who will reign supreme in the skies above?"

"Use Razor Leaf!"

"Block him with Aqua Jet!"

Heeding to the words of their human friends/partners (or mother in Aqua's case), the Soloist Pokémon and Arrow Quill Pokémon gave each other no quarter nor edge as the latter shot Razor Leaf several times while the former fought back with Aqua Jet. Before long, she canceled his Razor Leaf attack one last time before she stopped using Aqua Jet and kept up her Psychic attack to maintain her position in the air.

"Now, use Shadow Ball!"

"Use Leaf Blade to counter!" Sarah and Hau boomed to their partners again.

Taking aim and firing her new Shadow Ball attack from Raine and Primarina, Aqua watched as Decidueye knocked it back at her with Leaf Blade. Undaunted by the rebound shot, she smirked as she used her tail to bounce it right back at him, forcing the Arrow Quill Pokémon to hit it back at her again. Soon, it became an airborne game of Pokémon Ping Pong between the two evolved Alola Starters as they bounced the Shadow Ball attack back and forth between them, waiting to see who would slip up and be hit by it.

The crowd went wild as they watched the excitement going on while Caster grinned in fascination and commentated, "Wow! Look at that! Ladies and gentlemen, what you are witnessing is a makeshift game of Pokémon Ping Pong between Aqua and Decidueye! But, it looks like Aqua has her honorary rival at her complete command with her Shadow Ball attack!"

The heroes gasped in surprise and awe at the sight with Lana crying in amazement, "That's what I call a bomb lit!"

"Go get him, Aqua!"

"Yeah! Go, Aqua!"

"Give it to him, darling!" Mallow, her Shaymin, and Tsareena grinned excitedly with the other Pokémon, the dragons, and the Mythicals joining in on the excitement.

"Psyche!" Aqua snarked cheekily as she finally hit her Shadow Ball attack with such force that it managed to hit Decidueye on the lower left side of his body without warning (making him unable to hit it back in time).

"DACK!" he hooted in pain.

"No way!" gasped Hau, startled.

"Ooh! Shadow Ball finally connects and Decidueye's starting to falter! It won't be long until we have a winner!"

"Don't stop, Aqua! Follow up with Weather Ball!" Sarah grinned, shocking Hau again.

"Weather Ball?! Watch out, Decidueye!"

"Hey, Decidueye, what's round, red, orange, yellow, and burns with the beauty of fire? A Fire Type Weather Ball!" Aqua snarked once more as she shot Weather Ball and the attack turned into a Fire Type move, immediately directing her latest attack at her honorary rival.

"Use Leaf Blade to slice it in half and go at her again!"

"Holy Arceus!" the Arrow Quill Pokémon screamed in surprise before he managed to slice Weather Ball in half with Leaf Blade and charge at her once more.

"Use Triple Axel and don't let up, Aqua!"

As before with their little game of Pokémon Ping Pong with Shadow Ball and Leaf Blade, Aqua and Decidueye clashed once again, using Triple Axel and Leaf Blade in melee combat as neither Pokémon continued to give one or the other any quarter nor edge.

Even Nanu couldn't help but feel impressed by what he was seeing as the Ulu'Ulu Kahuna smiled and remarked, "I never expected this kind of battle, the kiddo really knows how to mix it up! Hmm..."

"Doug, Look! Our baby and Aqua, they're doing wonderfully!" Delilah smiled, seeing how well her daughter and her Soloist Pokemon were fighting against Hau and Decidueye.

"That's our girl," Doug concurred happily.

"That Aqua of hers, she sure knows how to put on a show," Donna (former queen) chuckled.

"If she and Pumpkin start a musical roadshow, I wonder if they'll start to sing," David joked.

Hapu, Olivia, and Hala were also enjoying the battle before them as they were enraptured by Decidueye and Aqua continuing to take to the skies with their Triple Axel and Leaf Blade attacks while Hau and Sarah watched in anticipation, seeing who would make the next move that'll decide everything. Then, Hala turned to his grandson as he watched him change things up a bit.

"Alright, Leaf Blade again!"

"Use Pound, Aqua!" the battling trainers bellowed as Kukui, Raine, and Primarina proudly watched Sarah match Hau throughout their match.

The two Alola Starters clashed yet again but at this point, Decidueye and Aqua were both evenly matched as Caster noticed, "It's been nothing but airborne physical attacks between Sarah and Hau's fully evolved Starter Pokémon as they're evenly matched in terms of grace, agility, energy, and strength so it's impossible to tell who will win!"

"Okay, Aqua! I think we dragged this on for long enough, time to turn up the heat!" Sarah shouted to her Water Type daughter.

"Got it, Mom!" Aqua nodded.

"It looks like Sarah's about to change things up again," Kiawe realized.

"What do you mean, Kiawe?" Fishlegs pondered.

"It all comes down to this; a move that can turn the entire battle around for either her or Hau. It could be either Ice Beam or Acrobatics."

"Wouldn't they be super effective attacks against Decidueye since he's a Grass/Ghost Dual Type?" Mallow inquired.

"Yes! Decidueye is weak to Flying and Ice Type attacks as long as either one hits at just the right spot just as Shadow Ball had," Lillie nodded in realization.

"But, Hau managed to help him counter Aqua's moves so far. Maybe he's also got something planned for her. A Plan B, maybe," Sophocles reminded.

Kiawe couldn't help but agree, "You're right. And, Aqua's done the same with him given how far they're already in this battle so for the most part, it could be a draw."

But, the gang, the VIkings, their Pokémon, the dragons, and Sarah's entire family are in for a big surprise as Aqua and Sarah shared a wink and the little princess grinned cheekily as she shouted, "You're good, Hau, but it's too bad we'll have to finish this battle soon and have Aqua and I got the perfect present for you and Decidueye. Alright, Aqua! Use Charm and let's see if we can make your favorite rival fall head over heels for you!"

"Charm?!"

"Wha-?!" Hau and Decidueye balked as Aqua twirled like a ballerina before she stood on her tail fin, spread her flippers out, cooed cutely, and gave a cheeky but loving wink to the Arrow Quill Pokémon.

Suddenly, Decidueye found himself growing weak and feeling a little hot in his cheeks as he began to blush, his Physical Attack Stats dropping at a harsh rate as he cooed lovingly and his legs and knees beginning to shake. The crowd couldn't help but either gasp in bewilderment at the scene or fall about laughing at him.

Caster was having trouble controlling his laughter as he informed everyone (while the heroes, the Pokémon, the dragons, and the Mysticals gawked in bewildered shock at what they just saw), "Uh-oh! Looks like that well-timed Charm's gotten Decidueye falling for Aqua, that's gonna cost him and Hau a lot of his Physical Attack power!"

"Calm mind!" Sarah continued, quickly having Aqua increase her Special Attack and Special Defense stats.

"And, while that's happening, Aqua's using Calm Mind to boost up her Special Defense and Special Attack stats! That previous combination could be it for Decidueye if he doesn't snap out of his stupor and fast!"

"Decidueye, snap out of it, man! Use Leaf Blade!" Hau screamed frantically, allowing Decidueye to snap back into reality and get back at his rival with Leaf Blade.

"Aqua, look out!" Sarah cried, seeing Aqua fail to dodge in time before she was hit and her Psychic attack was broken as she landed on the ground.

"And, that's that! Aqua's hit terra-firma, proving that between them, Decidueye's the master of the skies!"

"Hang in there, Aqua!"

"Your Charm attack's great but we'll get ya for that! Decidueye, use Spirit Shackle again!" Hau continued as Aqua got back on her flippers and Decidueye used Spirit Shackle to trap her again, wanting payback for making a lovestruck fool out of him. "This is it, Decidueye! Let's wrap it up with one final Leaf Blade!"

Decidueye smirked as he came at Aqua with a Leaf Blade attack (despite his Physical Attack power taking a nasty hit from Charm prior) but not before Sarah once again pulled the rug out from under him and Hau as she boomed, "Not so fast! Aqua, use the power of ninja with Double Team!"

"What the-!?" Hau cried, flustered yet again as Aqua made copies of herself that surrounded his partner.

Decidueye was also taken aback before he was struck by one of the copies while the real Aqua was away from them and her rival a few feet away from them before he eventually smirked.

"Hmph... I see, so you've learned Double Team as well."

"Sure did, surprised?"

"Why wouldn't I be? You've trained with the best to learn that one as well as Charm, Shadow Ball, and Weather Ball. You never ceased to amaze me, Aqua. That's what makes our Pokémon League battle all the more interesting...…"

"You can thank Raine and my teacher for that. But, just before we end this fight, let me remind you that their training's gonna help me and Mom win and move us onto the Semifinals," the Alola Starter rivals bantered.

"Charm?"

"Double Team, too? But, how?" Lana and Lillie gasped in bewilderment, not expecting Aqua to use such moves instead of Acrobatics or Ice Beam.

"Awesome!" Ash added, his jaw dropping in shock.

"Oh, are your record players in your brains rusty, cool cats? Don't you recall Sarah and Aqua training with Raine and Primarina beforehand?" Rotoscope reminded.

"Oh, yeah!" the gang blinked in remembrance.

"Did she really learn all those attacks and Charm from them in such a short time?"

"How can that be if her and Hau's match was the second one in the battle roster as it was announced last night?" Snotlout and Astrid pondered in surprise.

"Oh, Aqua managed to learn Double Team before the battle started but Raine gave Sarah TMs for Shadow Ball and Weather Ball and a TR for Charm."

"TMs/TR?" the Vikings puzzled.

"Technical Machines and a Technical Record; they're Pokémon moves in discs that allow Pokémon to learn moves they want in an instant. Raine must've given the TMs for Shadow Ball and Weather Ball and the TR for Charm to Sarah so Aqua can learn them immediately without overshooting the match," Rotom-Dex clarified.

"Wow! That's amazing; with those discs, Sarah and Aqua managed to cut the time they needed to learn those moves and they were able to learn Double Team beforehand. That's why Aqua was able to use them on the field without our knowledge," Sophocles grinned.

"Yeah, Mom, Aqua! Go get 'em!" Blitz cheered.

"Take 'em to the mat!" Goodra added as Sylveon gave Aqua an encouraging victory whistle.

"This is our chance, partner! Use Razor Leaf!" Hau cried, having Decidueye shoot Razor Leaf at Aqua again.

"Fly again with Psychic!" Sarah shouted, having Aqua use Psychic to dodge Decidueye's Razor Leaf, thus leaving the Arrow Quill Pokémon shocked as he saw his rival back in the air.

"Aqua, Reflect!"

"Shield!" Aqua peeped as she used Reflect.

"Now, Acrobatics plus Aqua Jet! Don't give Decidueye an inch!"

"YEAH! Whoo, ride the wave!" grinned the Soloist Pokémon as she went for a power dive at her rival starter.

"I'll knock you back to terra-firma! Hau?" Decidueye vowed before he turned to Hau, nodding at him.

"I thought so. Let's go! Decidueye, let's take her down hard and fast with Sky Attack!" Hau smirked in agreement, pointing at Aqua as Decidueye opened his wings and readied himself with Sky Attack while she drew closer and closer.

"You can do it, Aqua!"

"Wait for it...…!"

Deciding to use one of Sarah and Aqua's tactics against them, Decidueye decided to use Sky Attack on Hau's command, the two of them bracing for the younger Soloist Pokémon's combo attack as she picked up more speed.

"...NOW!" Hau signaled.

"TAKE THIS! HAAAAAAAAH!" roared Decidueye as he flew up and activated Sky Attack and met Aqua in mid-air as they clashed yet again with a loud and violent BOOM.

"A combo attack vs. Sky Attack as Decidueye and Aqua clash once again in mid-air but where are they?" Caster commentated with a gasp as the smoke cleared and a battered and bruised Aqua and Decidueye were seen on the ground, both of them looking completely worn out. "Whoa, it's a draw! Both are down and out but who's gonna be the only one standing?"

"Aqua!"

"Decidueye!" gasped Hau and Sarah, shocked.

The heroes gritted their teeth nervously as Ash, Rotom, and Kiawe vouched heavily for Aqua, "No, Aqua!"

"Aqua! Get up! Come on! STAND UP!"

"Come on, Aqua..."

"No! No! No, no-no-no-no-no-no-no! Come on, Aqua! Get up! UP!" Milotic freaked out.

"Come on! Get up! You can't quit!"

"You can still win it!"

"You have to win it!"

"He's almost down!"

"You can still beat Decidueye!"

"If you don't, you and the princess are gonna be kicked out of the contest!" "You and Mama have to win it for us!" "GET UP, BIG SIS AQUA!" Oshawott, Tepig, Dracovish, Scorch, Beautifly, Magearna, Donphan, and Nebby screamed frantically.

"On your flippers, girl! You're not throwing in the towel now! You're so close! Get up and fight!" Liberty ranted.

"Please, Aqua!"

"Don't quit!"

"Yeah!" the Poms cried in frantic agreement.

The silence was tense; Kukui and Sarah watched anxiously along with Oliva, Hapu, and Hala as they and Nanu anticipated who was going to stand on their feet or flippers first. But, neither Decidueye nor Aqua continued to move for several moments when prompted the crowd to chant their names in encouragement, seeing who was going to win or if both were going to keep the match going until they dropped.

After a short while, Decidueye groaned as he shakily got back on his legs and breathed heavily which got Hau excited as he screamed, "Decidueye! You're amazing, bud! I knew you had it in you!"

"And, Hau's Decidueye is back on his feet but what about Sarah's Primarina? Can she stand the pain if she has the will to win?"

"Aqua! You okay?" Sarah called to her Water Type who eventually woke up and staggered to her original upright position, breathing heavily as she pushed herself to continue fighting. "Yes, I knew you could do it, girl!"

"Now, both Decidueye and Aqua are back on their feet and flippers but who has the stronger will to win between them?"

The heroes breathed a heavy sigh of relief as Sophocles breathed, "Phew! Now, that was close..."

"Too close!"

"I thought for sure it was over!"

"Aqua and Sarah were cutting it close there," Lana, Mallow, and Lillie agreed, exasperated.

"Yeah, Decidueye didn't have much time to build up the full power of his Sky Attack and Charm was still in effect so the damage wasn't much. Even so, despite Reflect having cut the damage done by Sky Attack in half, they must be at their limits by now. It's only a matter of time before either he or Aqua kicks the bucket," Kiawe deducted, seeing where the match was going now.

"I'm so nervous, neither one's going to give up but they're not making it easy!" Rotom-Dex fretted, covering his screen in frantic anticipation.

"This Battle of the Starters has got to be the most passionate by far. The next attacks from either Aqua or Decidueye will decide it all; whoever hits first and whoever falls will mean either Hau or Sarah will move on to the Semifinals," Kukui mused in awe and fascination as he glared in anxious determination, getting an agreeing nod from an equally determined Raine and Primarina.

Aqua and Decidueye continued to glare at each other with determination as they breathed heavily, knowing that their last moves would decide who would win the match and who would move on to the Semifinals of the Alola League with Gladion.

"…So, you...Still have some fight, in you..."

"True that, but so do you..."

"You don't know when to give up when you're on your last legs, do you, Aqua, dear?"

"I could say the same about you..." the Alola Starters bantered, smirking at each other with respect.

Hau and Sarah knew what their Pokemon were saying as they looked at each other, shared their smirks, and nodded; they knew that they would have to end the match now but their respect for each other had grown and they'd learned a lot from each other throughout the entire thing. They decided to go out with a bang and no matter who wins or loses between them, they and their partners put up a valiant fight and they had a lot of fun doing it.

"…..Ready?" Decidueye asked, ready to end the match.

"...Let's go," Aqua agreed as she used Bubblebeam.

"Aqua strikes first with Bubblebeam! But, she and Decidueye are both at their wits' end so who's going to crack first this time?"

"Use Razor Leaf!" Hau shouted, having his partner use Razor Leaf to combat Bubblebeam as the two attacks made contact with one another.

"Aqua Jet again!"

"Leaf Blade, once more!"

Using Aqua Jet and Leaf Blade, the two Pokémon clashed for the umpteenth time and Decidueye finally knocked Aqua back. But, the young Soloist Pokémon stood her ground as she was determined not to give up, especially with her family and friends (including her big sister figure) cheering her on like mad.

"Now, Spirit Shackle again and make sure she's trapped for real!" Hau said, his partner firing yet another Spirit shackle that stuck her to the ground which allowed him a chance to use Sky Attack at full power. "Yes! Now, build up your strength for a fully-powered Sky Attack! We got her this time, buddy!"

Sarah narrowed her eyes as she saw her and Aqua's chance for a final assault but with a Z-Move of all things, activating her Z-Power Ring and switching her Dragonium Z for her Ghostium Z (on account of her Primarina's newly learned Shadow Ball attack) while she shouted, "This is it, Aqua! Let's end this with a spooky bang!"

"I gotcha!" Aqua smirked as they charged themselves up with Z-Power and performed the Ghost Type Z-Move poses required to perform Never-Ending Nightmare.

"And, now, it's the princess' turn to use a Z-Move herself!"

"Ghosts of ancient sirens old, singing ghastly songs of mystic tales told, bring Aqua and I fortune to the battlefield at hand!"

Hau and Decidueye gritted their teeth in realization as they found out that unless they could break through Never-Ending Nightmare in the Arrow Quill Pokémon's current state, they had no chance of beating Sarah and Aqua even if they could.

"Sky Attack now, Decidueye! Let's go!" Hau barked finally, Decidueye charging at Aqua with all of the power he could muster to finally put her down.

As she finished transferring her Z-Power to Aqua, Sarah finished proudly, "Now, Aqua, blast him with Never-Ending Nightmare!"

"You don't stand a ghost of a chance!" Aqua roared as she engulfed the battlefield with an illusion of a darkened sky amidst a spooky forest and a large shadow appeared below Decidueye with multiple shadowy hands reaching out to capture him despite his best efforts to escape.

"Finish him with Liquidation!" the princess screamed, seeing Aqua's chance as her Soloist Pokémon re-summoned her blades and the two Pokémon clashed with Never-Ending Nightmare consuming them both (with the shadowy hands finally capturing Decidueye before he could break free).

There was a final violent BOOM and a smoke cloud that filled the area as the entire audience braced themselves so they wouldn't be knocked off their seats or blown away from the sheer force of Never-Ending Eclipse making its mark. When the smoke cleared and the darkened sky and spooky forest illusion ended after the Ghost Type Z-Move was complete, Decidueye and Aqua were both on the ground again.

The audience and the heroes all gasped in shock; it looked as though the two starters ended up in another draw but this time, none of them would be getting up. Despite this, Nanu (being the ever-observant Ulu'Ulu Kahuna that he is despite his carefree nature) watched Aqua and Decidueye closely until Aqua woke up and he saw her slowly staggering to her normal position, watching and hearing her grunt as she pushed herself upright with every ounce of strength she can muster after coming to and breathed heavily.

Then, he glanced at Decidueye, and to his surprise, it was Hau's partner that ended up losing the latest final gambit between them as he groaned, having swirls over his eyes (the sight of his defeat leaving Hau speechless as he gasped in shock).

"Decidueye is unable to battle! Aqua wins the match! That means the winner is Princess Sarah," Nanu declared as the crowd cheered.

"There you have it, folks! You can breathe again! Phew, what a wild ride to overshadow our previous match featuring Race and Gladion! In an all-out battle between the Soloist Pokémon and the Arrow Quill Pokémon, a duel fit for a musical siren of the seas and a master archer of the heavens, Aqua and Sarah have crushed the competition and they came out on top of their greatest rivals to date! Our two oceanic royals have beaten Hau and Decidueye and will go on to the Semifinals with Gladion!" Caster announced as the crowd cheered louder for the little princess and Aqua.

"YES, SHE DID IT!"

"THEY DID IT!" Goodra and Vaporeon screamed happily.

"SHE DID IT, SHE DID IT! SHE WON THE MATCH!" Milotic shrieked as she coiled herself around Noctowl and Sylveon and gave them a massive bear hug, feeling ecstatic for her little sister figure.

"HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA! That's our little mermaid right there!" laughed Terrakion heartily.

"Go, Aqua! Go, Aqua! It's your birthday, it's your birthday!" the young/baby Jungle Pokémon chanted as they sported massive grins on their faces and danced.

Aqua looked out at the crowd and raised her right flipper proudly in the air, garnering a giant rousing applause for her and Sarah. Then, she noticed Decidueye starting to come to and waddled over to him, gentling helping him back on his feet as he woke up while Hau and her mother came over to them.

"…..Well, you did it. You've won, you've beaten me," Decidueye grinned sadly at his rival.

"…Mom and I wouldn't have won today if it weren't for you and Hau," Aqua replied modestly, shaking her head at the Arrow Quill Pokémon. "You fought well, Decidueye. Thanks, that was the best battle I had with you in a long time."

Decideye thought for a moment before he shared Aqua's warm smile, "…You, too. Thanks."

"Hey, Sarah, you and Aqua were amazing."

"Thanks, Hau, you and Decidueye were fantastic. Hala would be proud," Hau and Sarah beamed, sharing a handshake.

"Well, I know one Pokémon who will be happy to go into a battle frenzy with that in mind. Good luck with making your dad proud, Hau. Next time we meet, when you come back someday, we'll battle again should I be the eventual champion, agreed?"

"Promise. If you finally battle Guzma, do it for all of Alola, Kukui, and Gramps," Hau smiled.

"Thanks, Hau," Sarah nodded as the pair shared a final handshake and their partners did the same while sharing a happy hug before Hau and Decidueye turned back the way they came and exited the stadium (but not without the pair giving Sarah and Aqua a grin and a thumbs-up which they promptly returned).

Meanwhile, back at their rainforest cavern abode, Bewear and Stufful decided to get out of the hot spring to look for something to eat and/or drink. But, an Oranguru robot that Team Rocket made before leaving for Manalo Stadium came over, poured a juice cup from out of its mouth, and served it to the pair. The older Flailing Pokémon kindly took their freshly made drink and she and her son shared it before they returned to their hot spring and continued to relax.

"In our third match of the Alola League Quarterfinals second half, it's Ash vs. Asha! As both are classmates at the Pokémon School where they study under the founder of our beloved Pokémon League, Prof. Kukui, these two know each other's Pokémon quite well including their moves and habits!"

Now, it was Ash and Asha's turn to battle as Hau and Sarah's match gave way to the second-to-last match of the Alola League's Tournament Round of 8. Halfway through the second half of the Quarterfinals, the heroes knew that only two battles remained between Asha and Ash and Lana and Guzma. Whoever wins either of those matches will determine who else will be joining Sarah and Gladion in the Semifinals.

After taking Aqua to the Pokemon Center to heal her up, the princess and her Soloist Pokémon returned to the stands just in time to see her sister preparing to duke it out with Ash.

"Hey, guys, missed anything?" Sarah called as they took their places.

"Nope, you're just in time."

"You're not gonna cut and run like you did which nearly got you and Hau the boot, did you?" Astrid and Snotlout joked.

"You and Hau were amazing!"

"I had no idea you two could fight so passionately!"

"You're both awesome!" Mallow, Lillie, and Lana praised, remembering how the previous match ended.

"Congrats on getting to the Semifinals, Island Girl," Race concurred as Petunia babbled happily, nuzzling her human mother in congratulations.

"Thanks, guys. You too, Petunia," Sarah grinned before she noticed that one of Ash's Pokémon was missing. "Hey, guys, where's Meltan? He should've been with Rowlet and the others, not run off to who-knows-where."

"He's up there. He's been doing that up there ever since Aqua's battle with Decidueye ended," Rotom-Dex replied, pointing Sarah towards the top of the stadium where Meltan was spinning his head around and making a soundwave call as he did so.

"That's weird."

"Yes, I wonder what the little guy could be doing," Zeraora and Tai Lung nodded, finding his behavior strange.

"It's time to kickstart Match 3 in our Tournament Round of 8 as Ash and Asha bring out Zircon and Lycanroc to begin the game!" Caster announced as Asha brought our Zircon and Ash brought out his Lycanroc for their match.

"Ready to fly, Ziracon?" Asha asked her Humming Pokémon.

"Yeah!" Ziracon nodded, eager to start.

"Let's go, Lycanroc!" "Ready!" Ash and Lycanroc grinned, ready to win as Hala regained his position as referee for the match.

"Lycanroc vs. Altaria! Trainers, are you ready?" Hala announced as he got confirming nods from Asha and Ash. "Battle, begin!"

"Lycanroc, Accelerock! Let's go!" Ash shouted, his Lycanroc making the first move.

"Zircon, Feather Dance!" Asha countered as Zircon used Feather Dance as Lycanroc made contact with him, weakening his Accelerock attack before he suddenly vanished. "Now, Play Rough!"

Without warning, Lycanroc found himself on the receiving end of Play Rough as Zircon pummeled him mercilessly, the smaller Dusk Form Lycanroc howling with pain as he was attacked from all sides by his Dragon Type opponent.

"Lycanroc!" gasped Ash, not expecting the plan he had in mind to fall apart instantly as the Humming Pokémon kicked his Rock Type back once he was done.

"Ooh! Major damage there, folks! Just when Lycanroc made contact with his Accelerock attack, Asha's Altaria, Zircon, faked him out with Feather Dance before he went all 'Beat-Up Mode' on him with Play Rough! That's gonna cost him and Ash!"

"Your wolf may be fast and have a Type advantage, Ash, but Type advantages are only part of the game as you should know! If I were you, I'd best not underestimate the true potential of a Dragon Type like my Zircon!" Asha smirked, making Ash grit his teeth in frustration at his own folly.

"Lycanroc, use Bite!" he grunted to his Wolf Pokémon.

"Right, partner! RAAAAAAGH!" Lycanroc nodded as he got back on his paws and charged at Zircon again with Bite.

"Zircon, Cotton Guard!" Asha countered again, having Zircon use Cotton Guard to boost his defense by three stages and tanking Lycanroc's Bite attack like it was nothing while leaving the Rock Type at point-blank range for another attack. "Use Moonblast!"

Lycanroc realized his mistake too late as he widened his eyes and saw Zircon ready to use Moonblast at point-blank range, all while the Humming Pokémon smirked as he fired while shouting, "Surprise! HAAAAAHHH!"

"GYAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

"NO, LYCANROC!" screamed Ash in dismay as Lycanroc was blasted hard and rolled on the ground back to him, battered and bruised by the unexpected attacks he was dealt with.

"Come on, Ash Ketchum! Keep up! I thought my sister said you were a worthy opponent no matter what Pokémon you used! Zircon, use Sunny Day and follow with Solar Beam!" Asha shouted, feeling a little disappointed in Ash.

"Solar Beam?!"

"No, it can't be!" Ash and Lycanroc freaked in shocked realization, seeing Zircon charge up his Solar Beam attack in seconds thanks to Sunny Day (as they and Asha are battling on a bright sunny day).

"Lycanroc, Stone Edge!"

"On it!"

Desperate to counter Solar Beam before it could hit, Lycanroc used his Stone Edge attack to block the Grass Type attack. Unfortunately, it was a futile defense for him to use as cover as Ziracon fired his Solar Beam and his attack cut through Stone Edge before it blasted the poor Dusk Form Wolf Pokémon once more, leaving him rolling on the ground again in sheer pain and agony.

"AAAAUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!"

"Ash and Lycanroc are now in a total bind as Asha and Ziracon are not letting up in their vicious assaults! Lycanroc has taken major damage from three attacks in succession but will he have the strength to keep going as well as the will to win?"

Ash was sweating nervously as he now realized he and Lycanroc had greatly underestimated Asha and Ziracon; the two of them and Proud may have been away at Dragonstone following her reincarnation but it's obvious that they had been training a lot during her time away from her family under Rajhu's wing. What's even crazier is that she had also been taught by her little sister in preparation for any matches such as out-of-the-box battles including the one they're having now. It was clear that Asha and Ziracon were fine-tuned to such a degree as a trainer and Pokémon team that they were able to outwit, outmatch, and outfox him and Lycanroc at every possible turn. He knew that if he didn't have a Plan B at hand, it'll be all over for him and he'll be right back to square one in his Pokémon League tenure AGAIN.

Asha couldn't help but sigh, frowning a little as she told Ash, "Earlier, I told you I wasn't going to go easy on you, Ash. What happened, man? You're usually a better trainer than this, I expected you to be more of a challenge as my sister said."

"Asha's good..."

"Yeah. And, despite his fluffy bird-like looks, Ziracon's not giving Ash and Lycanroc an inch," Sophocles and Kiawe admitted, feeling worried for Ash and Lycanroc.

"I get that he's of LGBTQ origins from what we've learned about him and Proud but I never thought he'd be this tough," Race blinked in surprise.

"Guess he's not much of a big baby as we thought he would be," gulped Fishlegs.

"Ash is getting his behind pummeled along with Lycanroc out there."

"I've never seen the kid so shaken before!" Tuffnut and Ruffnut stammered, both of them floored by how merciless Ziracon was in battle.

"...….This is bad for Ash; the match just started and he and Lycanroc are already being completely outclassed by Ziracon and Asha!" Zenna grunted, concerned for Ash and Lycanroc in their latest predicament.

"Well, my sister has had, what I can guess to be, 17 years of training or so under Rajhu's wing in Dragonstone since she knows everything there is to know about Pokémon battles. That's if you count the training she had with me after or not if you think about it," Sarah theorized, shrugging.

"Come on, Ash! You promised you'd go all out on me and Ziracon but if you and Lycanroc can't put up a good fight, why are we here, anyway? Now, Ziracon, blast Lycanroc with Dragon Breath!" Asha bellowed as Ziracon unleashed his Dragon Breath attack at the Wolf Pokemon as he struggled to get back on his paws and fight again.

"It's Dragon Breath Time as Ziracon fires his latest attack at Lycanroc but he's not back on his paws yet! Is it over already for him and Ash?"

"...…Grr! LYCANROC!" Ash screamed loudly as the weakened and defeated Lycanroc was forced to brace himself for the oncoming Dragon Breath attack.

And, so, it's Lycanroc vs. Ziracon in the third match of the Alola League Quarterfinals second half! Will Ash's wolf be scorched by Asha's dragon and leave Ash reeling in his latest Pokémon League defeat? Find out as the journey continues!