Wednesday morning, 12 hours since Sarah and her family's misadventure in her mother's Great Big Book of Disney and Race's eighteenth birthday celebration at Disney's Aulani Resort & Spa; the fun they and their friends were having along with Race and the Frontier Brains was still in full swing and they were continuing to have the time of their lives.
Of course, Sarah did mention what she and her Pokemon with her went through in the 101 Dalmatians story and book's magic to her real and adoptive parents, much to the amusement of her godfather as Tsukumaro revealed that he had a part in its unique way of storytelling. Nikki and James were also thrown for a loop when they were told about it, having no idea that because of the old advisor, Delilah's book could transport anybody from their world and into any story it holds to aid in telling them as they were told but with a few twists along the way.
To Mai, after she and the rest of her family were informed of this development, she was called back to the times she and her brothers and sisters were watching the Disney Junior show that touched upon the same concept: Sofia the First.
The (now completely peaceful) Alolan/Hawaiian tropical climate and beauty that Aulani surrounds itself with was a huge change of scenery and pace for the Eight Dragon Queens, Marena, the Cyberchase Pokemon, the Jungle Guard, the Mysticals, and the baby Jungle Pokemon for none of them had experienced anything like it. It all allowed them to obtain some much-needed peace of mind that they couldn't get from their old homes prior to joining Sarah and the rest of her family and friends, the experience they're having made all the more satisfying as they saw people and Pokemon alike happily enjoying everything the resort had to offer (and having fun while on their vacations/staycations).
As was the case with Tsukumaro, Marena, also being a newbie to modern human society, had to adjust to the prospect of "relaxing" given that her duty to her land was all she had known during her lifetime and she shared his busy-bee behavior. Upon discovering this, Bambi, Deerling, Axew, Swablu, and Buneary were only too glad to help the Dragonstone Clan leader learn the ropes of finding The Bare Necessities.
In fact, she and the Eight Queens did have the chance to meet Hala, Olivia, Hapu, and Nanu, all of which were humbled to be in the presence of additional yet foreign royalty...Apart from Nanu being his usual indifferent and unengaging self as he just shrugged in greeting.
The older Pokemon took time to relax in the resort's hot springs and found it to their liking. Even Eternatus (who was once again dogged and guilt-tripped by Nebby and Nebula via their sad puppy dog eyes) had to give in and take some time to wind down in the hot springs after everything they went through with their family's spring break in the Galar Region, the play they all took part in back at the Pokemon School, and Race's birthday bash (just as he did at the hot springs in Akala Island's Pokemon Resort).
Marena slowly started to warm up to the idea of relaxing as she began to mingle with the older women in her group as they helped themselves to some Chocolate Haupia Cream Pie and Acai Bowls (the latter food comprised of flavored yogurt and a variety of toppings of a person's choice, mostly fruit including grapes, sliced pineapples, and strawberries).
Shopping sprees were first and foremost in the minds of Delilah, Nikki, and Donna (former queen) as they gushed over the exclusive Aulani merchandise the resort had to offer in its shops along with trips to the resort spa, dragging the unfortunate Doug, James, David, and Tsukumaro with them along the way. Poor Zipp was also stuck in that same trap as Pipp dragged her along relentlessly to her spa trips despite her constant protesting.
Deciding to further introduce them to modern human society works and how they have fun, Sarah and Race booked a zip-line tour for the Vikings, taking into account their daring behavior and the need for excitement and action after having some breakfast.
Fishlegs was obviously not too keen on the prospect of zip-lining compared to his friends but he was reassured that they would be properly harnessed with the safety equipment provided so he took it all with a grain of salt; a whole new experience that promises potential excitement of a different kind compared to flying with their dragons but providing them with the same adrenaline rush they get from their extreme flights. To his surprise, when they did end up going on the tour (properly harnessed and all), he ended up having a blast along with his friends while their dragon friends flew alongside them from a safe distance so they don't accidentally clip the ziplines (Snotlout enjoying it most of all despite clipping a few branches along the way).
It was good fortune that as was the case with everything involving Disney resorts, there was always something for everyone because Edge Blade, Rango, Simo, and Lana's mother all took the Three Fillies, the Five Dragonets, Mimo, Little Sarah, and Harper to a playhouse called Aunty's Beachhouse where they could have fun with arts and crafts and play games under supervised care along with the other kids from other attending families.
Despite being more of a tomboy, Izzy (Green Dino Fury Ranger) does have a taste for her own style of fashion as she joined Rarity, Camille, Amelia, Zoey, and Lily at Aulani's Kalepa's Store where they shopped for tons of accessories to take home with them (even as they got past the irony of Rarity being a Patronus Charm). Amazingly, to the others, Jarrod didn't mind being dragged along by Camille because ever since they confirmed their love for each other following the battle against Dai Shi, what he wanted most of all was for her to be happy.
As for the core Jungle Fury team, Lily, Theo, Casey, Dom, and RJ decided to spend some time with Race and his Battle Frontier family in the pool area and would occasionally join a dance party that comes up when Mickey, Minnie, or Goofy would come out to play. Master Phant, Master Swoop, and Master Finn left following Race's birthday bash to continue living out their own lives through their training and quest for contemplation.
Discord, Fluttershy, the rest of the Mane 6, Hitch, Celestia, Luna, and Cadence took part in the nature and wildlife guided tour, Māka'ika'i l, with Lusamine, Kukui and Burnet, Sophocles' parents, and Mallow, where they were taught about the true beauty of Hawaiian culture, landscaping, nature, and wildlife in Alola.
And, given their pension for wild creatures, Hitch and Fluttershy made friends with the docile birds they came across including some wild Pikipek.
With Ryder and the PAW Patrol, not only did they reunite with Liberty but they also hooked up with Harmony and the Dragonstone Patrol, who were delighted to meet their predecessor hero puppies. They immediately clicked with Cadence and Chase upon hearing about their plights in Adventure City but they found a kindred spirit in Trooper when he gave them comfort after telling them about and showing them his battle scars.
Amusingly, Aiyon dragged Zayto and Solon with him to carry out an "investigation" of the local restaurants and the food they had to offer, taste-testing anything and everything they had to offer.
Of course, the Garcia siblings did warn him about his overeating so they don't have a repeat of what he went through after buying the sweets he once had via Ollie's money the day they and the rest of the team met Pacha Zord's baby. But, Aiyon couldn't help himself given his snacking habits involving doughnuts and sweets and brushed off their warning.
Solon was also curious about the different kinds of food humans would eat including pizza that had some slices of pineapple on them that drew her fancy. Zayto chuckled from his old friend's observation and got her a slice of Pineapple Pizza as a result.
Meanwhile, Ollie and Amelia shared some shaved ice together for they have a budding relationship between them throughout their team's escapades against Void Knight and Void Queen and their forces and the Sporix. But, as was the case with Sarah and Race, they didn't publicly announce it, not even to their own team.
As for Javi, he was approached by a local band that was playing at the resort and asked if he could help them give a music class to some guests to help them learn about and get interested in music and to give a jam session for the guests on Friday. Javi was delighted with the opportunity before him and agreed, having recently decided to pursue a music career and help him further his musical talent after his stepfather realized how much music truly meant to him and after he won a contest against a rival musician who wanted things in a band done his way and only cared about winning.
Even Devon, Nate, Steel, Zoey, Ravi, Cruise, Smash, and Jax were enjoying themselves as they hit the beach with Steel and his fellow Beast Bots playing in the sand with beach balls and making sandcastles while their humans partners and brother splashed about in the water by either swimming or surfing along with Sunny and Izzy (unicorn).
So far, things were going well for everybody during their vacation/staycation and they thought the week would be as peaceful as it gets for them. But, adventures in the Alola Region can be nothing but wild and crazy at the best of times and this day will be no different, pertaining to what would be a rather...unique Battle Royale featuring the Masked Royal.
It all started when Sarah and her friends and family were gathered in the resort lobby watching TV, the program of choice being a Battle Royale at the Battle Royale Dome on Akala Island. The Eight Queens were intrigued with the program after they were told of its cultural background but they noticed that the only one who was not with the group was Kukui who told everyone he was going out for a morning walk.
The Five Dragonets and the Three Fillies cooed at the screen as the Battle Royale showed the Masked Royal and Incineroar squaring off against Mad Magmorter (one of Viren's Ravengers) in a grudge match rematch.
"It looks like the King of Battle Royales is still going strong after all these months," smiled Nikki.
"He sure did," agreed James.
"Is this what you guys call a 'Battle Royale'?" Hiccup inquired curiously.
"Yep, a free-for-all battle between four Pokemon in one battle; the last Pokemon still standing after beating the other three will be the winner," Kiawe explained with a smirk.
"So, this is how you choose to spend your free time," Queen Sequoia observed.
"Sure, Your Majesty, there's nothing better than watching the Masked Royal and Incineroar squaring off against everybody in a good ol' Battle Royale," Skiddo nodded before turning his attention back to the Battle Royale.
"And Aqua and Goodra along with the others are the biggest Masked Royal fans of us all," chuckled Aku, the Primarina and Dragon Type in question shushing him before they glued their eyes back to the Battle Royale.
"So, remind me again why that man there with the Incineroar is known to everyone as the Masked Royal, Princess?" Tsukumaro questioned, pointing at the Masked Royal as he showed up on the screen.
"Only that he's known as the undefeated Battle Royal Dome champion and nobody knows who he really is under the mask," Sarah simply replied.
"Well, he sure would make a good heavyweight champion if he's more buffed-up on his pecs like his Incineroar is," quipped Solon, getting a chuckle out of everyone before she looked at Aqua and Goodra. "And, if I'm not mistaken, Sarah, is it true Aqua and Goodra went against them one time in a previous Battle Royale?"
Sarah looked at the solonosaurus and simply nodded as she said, "It was back when they were only a little Popplio and a Goomy. They both lost to them when they were the last ones standing after Ash and Kiawe were knocked out of the match. But, they sprung back up as a Brionne and a Sliggo after we met Raine and her Primarina."
"And, there it is, ladies and gentlemen! With one final Darkest Lariat, the Masked Royal and Incineroar take it home! Looks like it's all she wrote for the Mad Magmorter and his Magmar yet again!" declared the announcer as the Masked Royal and Incineroar won another Battle Royale much to the aggravation of the Mad Magmorter and his Fire Type.
"GYAH! You slimy, little sneak! You and Incineroar may have won that one but the next time we meet, it'll be your doom! YOUR DOOM, I SAY!" the defeated Ravenger screamed angrily after returning his partner to his Pokeball and leaving in a huff.
With that done and dusted, the Masked Royal then declared to the audience, "Attention, please! Your attention, please! In order to continue the worldwide exposure of the Battle Royale and its sterling reputation, Yours Truly and Incineroar here...Are coming to your town for a once in a lifetime meet-n-greet, our first stop: Melemele Island! Come to the Melemele Island Shopping Mall and once there, you and I will meet and shake hands! Are you ready?"
"En...JOY/En...JOY!" the Masked Royal and Incineroar finished, posing.
"En...JOY"! the crowd repeated, gleefully.
Backstage, after managing to get away from the crowds that wanted to meet them, the Masked Royal and Incineroar breathed a sigh of relief as they smiled at each other for the Battle Royale they just gave.
"Great job, Incineroar, another Battle Royale for us in the record books," the Masked Royal praised warmly.
Incineroar smiled with a soft roar while giving a thumbs-up and a wink as he was returned to his Pokeball, the Masked Royal taking off his mask to reveal Professor Kukui as he gave a satisfying sigh.
Later, once he had packed his gear and got a boat ride back to Ka Olina, he quickly made his way back to Aulani. He could only hope that none of the others or the guests there would recognize him as the Masked Royal from earlier, especially after he made his excuse to his students and his friends about his morning walk.
"I'm back!" called Kukui as he entered the suite he, Ash, and Burnet were staying at.
"Kukui/Professor!" gasped Ash and Burnet, looking ecstatic as they met up with him.
"Have you heard the news?!"
"Yeah, Professor, listen to this!"
"THE MASKED ROYAL'S GOING TO APPEAR AT THE MELEMELE SHOPPING MALL!"
Kukui blinked before he sheepishly smiled and gave a small sweat drop, "Oh, really? U-well, I see, he-he, that's... It's rather nice!"
"Nice? Professor, that's awesome! We'll get to see him again after so long, hey, maybe we can ask him to give me and Torracat another Battle Royale! I want to show him how much we've improved and how good we are now!" Ash vowed excitedly.
"Oh, that Masked Royal is such a dreamboat. So, what do you say? Are we going to see him at the Melemele Shopping Mall tomorrow?" Burnet asked, still eager to meet the Masked Royal.
At that moment, just when Kukui is starting to lose his cool as he was sweating profusely over his alter ego being exposed, Sarah came in to check up on her teacher, his wife, and her best friend from Kanto and saw what was going on.
"Come on, you two, it's not the end of the world if you miss out on meeting him again. I had to deal with Aqua and Goodra begging me to return to the Battle Royal Dome with them to challenge him and Incineroar again and besides, we're all going to the shopping mall later," she informed.
"Uh, y-yeah, of course... He-he, I'm sure h-he'll be there if w-w-we all go together, r-right?" Kukui replied, still sheepish yet thankful for Sarah's intervention, prompting the little princess to raise an eyebrow at him after hearing his nervous stuttering.
"ALRIGHT!" Burnet hollered excitedly.
"This is great! We're going to see the Masked Royal again, I'm gonna go to the others in their rooms and see if they want to come with us! Don't wait up!" Ash declared before he and Pikachu left to get the rest of the gang with Burnet following behind.
Kukui sighed with relief as he barely got away with his secret intact from Ash and Burnet by the skin of his teeth but Sarah closed the suite door soon after and knowing that they got the room to themselves, she narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms while giving off an expectant glare.
"So, Professor, anything you want to share now?" she quizzed, getting Kukui nervous again now that her attention was on him.
"Um, uh... W-What do you mean, Sarah? I-I don't have anything to share with you, we're supposed to be on our staycation," the Alolan Professor replied sheepishly, trying to keep his secret locked away which only annoyed Sarah.
"Don't play dumb with me; I caught onto you with your stuttering earlier. It sounds to me like you know the Masked Royal well and not only that but every time he and Incineroar showed up for their matches and we all saw them via the TV after they made their rounds, I noticed that you always came back late when you should've returned minutes or hours earlier. Ash and Burnet were really excited to see him but it looks as though you don't want them to see him face-to-face when they wanted to meet the guy."
Kukui continued to look for a way out so he wouldn't tell his best student his secret but he was trapped like a rat and he knew he had no chance of getting away or playing dumb since Sarah was much brighter than she looks for her current age.
With great reluctance, he finally sighed and gave up the ghost so as to have her help him keep his greatest secret from his wife and the others, "Yes... You got me there. You see, there's just one problem with us going to see the Masked Royal later."
"...And, what is it?"
Kukui looked from both sides to see if anybody was eavesdropping and when he was sure nobody was listening in, he said, "...I'm the Masked Royal."
Sarah was stunned into silence, her eyes widening in total shock and disbelief over what she had just heard. All this time, the Masked Royal she and her family and friends met nearly two years ago, the person Aqua and Goodra along with Kiawe, Torracat, Pyroar, and Ash challenged and lost to when they were a Popplio and a Goomy, the undefeated Battle Royal Dome champion, was none other than her own teacher from the Pokemon School and the Alola Region's top Pokemon Professor himself.
[New Theme Song - Drunken Lives (Young Hero Fong Sai Yuk - ft. Johnny Ip) {Roughly Translated Ver.}]
(The new opening begins when we see legions of Pokemon trainers and their Pokemon training in a giant stadium and amongst them, Sarah, Ash, and the Pokemon School gang are training with their own Pokemon, preparing for the most important chapter of their lives before the trainers and their Pokemon stood at attention and the gang got into a group fighting pose as the song begins. They will eventually take part in the finalized Alola League to determine who is the top Pokemon trainer in the entire Alola region)
When life is rough and too dark to see, my regrets wash over all of me~
Pain is immense but don't you cry or pout, you'll very soon find your way out~
(In small snippets and previews of what's to come or will be happening now, Sarah and her friends are living out their normal lives again after the demise of Lothor and Team Eclipse including Sophocles and Vikavolt taking part in a Vikavolt Race, training for the upcoming Alola League, the arrival of a little Pokemon looking like it's made from metal, and Mallow, Lana, and Lillie along with Sandy, the female Shaymin, and Snowy taking part in a TV program)
Live a life worth living, make it beautiful, and work hard to be strong and happy~
In the mortal world, your life is so meaningful, so go and prove your own mettle~
(All the while, at specific points in the last volume of the story, Race and Sarah reaffirm their love for each other while Gladion continues his family's mission to uncover more about their father, Mohn, and to determine his current whereabouts, hoping to reunite with him once again as the Alola League was finally completed and approved)
So, who would you connect with to meet up with me as friendly voices cut through the peaceful sunny crest~
Your heart is now mine forevermore, your sincerity shines at its best~
(The opening ceremonies kick off before Race and Sarah stand together in the midst of a fireworks celebration during a festival as their love continued to blossom and the gang takes up a bit of a sport called Pokemon Golf while helping a famous golfer and her Toucannon out of a slump they're in)
So, who would you connect with to meet up with me as friendly voices cut through the peaceful sunny crest~
Your heart is now mine forevermore, your sincerity shows me your love I can't detest~
(Guzzlord somehow enters Sarah's world along with other Guzzlords to join him after the Alola League reaches its climax, forcing everybody in the region to try and stop them from destroying Alola and repeating the tragic history of Dia's world. In the short instrumental, the gang takes part in battling at the Kantonian Gym in Malie City on Ula'Ula Island as short snippets of the gang getting themselves into scrapes throughout their misadventures are shown)
So, who would you connect with to meet up with me as friendly voices cut through the peaceful sunny crest~
Your heart is now mine forevermore, your sincerity shines at its best~
(Lana is then shown facing the toughest challenge of her life as she and Brionne come across a Kyogre and she has to do her utmost to tame it as she reels it in when its life is in danger. Sandy, Mallow's Shaymin, Sarah's Shaymin, the metal-like Pokemon, Breezeon, Sho, and Donka explore Malie City unsupervised after trying to recover a hair ornament before coming across Team Rocket again. Pikachu (and his entire team) and Blitz (with some of his brothers and sisters) go on an adventure to find Ash, Torracat, Sarah, and Silvally disappeared on them when the quartet traveled back in time and meet a younger Kukui as he starts out on his Pokemon journey that leads him to become a Pokemon Professor in studying Pokemon moves)
So, who would you connect with to meet up with me as friendly voices cut through the peaceful sunny crest~
Your heart is now mine forevermore, your sincerity shows me your love I can't detest~
(Finally, snippets of the Ultra Rescue Rangers' final missions involving Evox with their and the Beast Morphers Rangers' final clashes with him and his followers, the return of Necrozma and their efforts to restore him as the Bright One, the gang all taking part in the Alola League including Sarah or Ash facing off against Guzma and learning how he became the trainer and punk he is now and why he was running away, and a final battle with either one facing off against Kukui and Tapu-Koko in a final full 6-on-6 Pokemon battle and a match for the ages in Alola are shown. The intro then ends with Sarah reviving Necrozma in his true form and standing with him along with Cresselia, Zygarde (10% Forme), Zacian, Zamazenta, Xerneas, Giratina, and Rayquaza while she turned into her Lion Form and roared proudly as the titles appeared above the group on the ground)
Pokemon Sun & Moon - The Warrior Princess
Still reeling from the revelation that the Masked Royal was Burnet's own husband and her and her friends' own teacher, Sarah and Kukui decided to have lunch at Ka Wa'a so that she can get what she had been told around her head. It became clear that even she had no idea that the Masked Royal was in everyone's presence the whole time and nobody else knew about him being his alter ego beside her.
"So, let me get this straight, Professor; you're the Masked Royal that's been challenging and beating all of the trainers that came to see you and your Incineroar with your last 20+ victories, challenged me, Aqua, and Goodra, Kiawe and Pyroar, and Ash and Torracat and beat us in a Battle Royale, took on the Ravengers when they came and tried to cheat their way to victory one time, and you didn't say anything?!"
"Yep, and to be honest, I've had some close calls with Burnet when she would need me for anything or if she was passing by," Kukui sighed, remembering a couple of times when she nearly blew his cover or he nearly did whenever she was around.
One time, he was cleaning his mask amongst their clothes in the laundry room until Burnet came in, forcing him to hide it before she suspects anything. Next, he was rehearsing his poses with his shirt off for a Battle Royale he was preparing to take part in with Incineroar with his Masked Royal voice but when Burnet called him over for lunch, he covered up his rehearsal with odd gestures before finally joining her and Ash. Then, there was the time when Burnet was drawing the Masked Royal's mask over a picture of Kukui on her tablet, much to his chagrin of not recognizing him and his alter ego as one and the same as she told him, "You look just like him!"
"Somehow, she hasn't figured it out that the Masked Royal and I are one and the same and it baffles me to see that it didn't click in her mind after so long. I'm afraid the opportunity I had to tell her the truth was long gone," he admitted sadly.
"She always said to me whenever the Masked Royal is mentioned, 'The Masked Royal is so strong, so kind, so cool,... He's almost too good to be true. So that's why you've got to meet him in person, you've just got to! My hero and my husband; it's like I have two charming princes in my life!' I couldn't bear to look her in the eye again if I told her now or if she founds out by accident whenever I'm not around..."
Sarah blinked in surprise, "Man, I heard people saying 'love is blind' but you're having it rough with Burnet's crush now that you're married."
Kukui sighed solemnly and just nodded, "That's the trouble I'm now facing, you can't keep everything in your life hidden from a loved one. If I let her know I'm really the Masked Royal, I feel like I might ruin everything for her and I'll never hear the end of it..."
"...Hey, I got an idea, Professor; once we're at the shopping mall, once Burnet has her turn to meet the Masked Royal, you come up with a good-enough excuse to rush backstage and I'll have Zorua tag along so she can shapeshift and take your place while you're with her. Once she's done, you go backstage, switch places again, and boom, she won't even know the difference!" Sarah suggested, getting an idea to help Kukui with his little predicament.
"Sarah, that's a great idea! Sometimes, even I have to remind myself that you're the brightest student I've ever had in my class and for your age as well, I might add," smiled Kukui, grateful for the idea.
The little princess could only smile back, "I'm just glad I'll be able to help. Just so we're both on the same page, you fill Incineroar in on everything and I'll tell Zorua our plan before we leave."
Later, once everything was ready, Kukui, Ash, Rotom, Pikachu, Torracat, and Burnet were on their way to Melemele Island being joined by Wolf Raven, Starla, the Five Dragonets, the Three Fillies, Race, Sarah, her human family, Magearna, the Eight Queens and Marena. Aqua and Goodra immediately tagged along, hoping to challenge the Masked Royal again for a future Battle Royale with Skitty joining the fray, Zorua (after she was briefed on the plan to help Kukui), Star, Draco, and Zacian and Zamazenta (both continuing their acclimation of Alola).
The others were excited about the Masked Royal as well but they decided to stay at the resort and spend more time with their families. The Five Dragonets and the Three Fillies were eager to get to the Melemele Island Shopping Mall as they fluttered beside their adoptive human parents before they all arrived and they cooed at the sight before them.
There was the Melemele Shopping Mall and right next to it was a blow-up version of the Battle Royal Dome, the latter having left the last royal family and their advisor in total shock as they looked the blow-up building all over.
To start off, once they made themselves known, the Masked Royal and Incineroar demonstrated their skill and battle tactics by attacking a Poke-Doll (which is a stuffed Poliwrath figure). "Incineroar, Bulk Up!" the Masked Royal commanded, allowing his partner to strengthen his attack and defense while increasing the bulk on his upper body.
"Darkest Lariat!" With that command, Incineroar roared as he used his signature attack to knock the Poliwrath figure onto the ropes, making the crowd cheer like crazy.
"YEAH! GO, INCINEROAR, MASKED ROYAL!" Goodra shrieked, already fangirling over the Masked Royal and Incineroar.
"Wow, the Masked Royal and Incineroar are still the best of the best!" Ash smiled brightly as his partner cheered.
However, instead of cheering with his friends, Torracat smirked; he realized his only rival had gotten stronger since the last time they saw and battle each other and that only fueled his wish to battle him again and beat him, their rivalry still as strong as ever. He tried to get onto the meet-n-greet stage so he could challenge the Heel Pokemon to a rematch but Aqua spotted him and she immediately stopped the battle-ready Fire Cat Pokemon as he gasped and pouted at her.
"And, where do you think, you are going?" she inquired with a smirk.
"I was only going to challenge Incineroar to a rematch!" Torracat pouted with angry, disappointed eyes.
"He and the Masked Royal are doing an exhibition before their meet-n-greet right now, you can't just barge in there again like you did last time," Aqua reprimanded.
"Didn't you and Goodra do the same thing last time when you challenged him after he beat Raine and her Primarina last time?" the young Fire Type retorted, unimpressed.
"That was before I realized that it's not whether they or the Masked Royal and Incineroar win or lose and winning isn't everything. You're still bent on beating Incineroar and you don't even have a foolproof plan for your rematch against them."
"I was going to improvise while I think it through as we battle, really! I would've had an idea or two in mind minutes into the Battle Royale."
"Even if a Battle Royale's still a free-for-all and somebody else besides you and Goodra and I would want to take a crack at and beat him and the Masked Royal themselves while knocking you out to get to Incineroar first?"
"...Okay, you got me, I'll wait," Torracat gave up with an annoyed sigh as he crossed his arms.
While Torracat and Aqua bickered, they watched Incineroar continuing to demonstrate his power, strength, technique, and the bond he shared with the Masked Royal at his full strength, this time against a stuffed pair of Alolan Golem and Muk Pokedolls, the crowd continuing to go bonkers for him and his partner as he continued his attack demo.
"Geez, Zash, have you ever seen anything like it? I had no idea the best trainer in all of Alola compared to Gloria and her friends was that guy and his partner was a finely-tuned and tightly-knit Incineroar that knows exactly every move he wants him to make against those stuffed Pokemon," Zamazenta said to Zacian, the Heroes of Many Battles awestruck by the display of power, strength, flight, and dependence being exhibited by the Heel Pokemon.
"Never had, Zam, they've got every move they had on them down pat. I can understand why Aqua, Goodra, and Torracat wanted to battle him so badly if they were able to go against so many trainers and their Pokemon and be the best at what they do," Zacian admitted, wide-eyed as the two brothers watched Incineroar wrap up his demo and he and the Masked Royal posed to a chorus of the loudest cheers they ever heard given to any Pokemon trainer.
"That's a wrap, everybody! Our demonstration is complete and now, the moment you've all been waiting for, it's time to come face to face with yours truly! Don't be shy and come on up, I'll be happy to meet you all!" the Masked Royal announced amidst the continued applause.
"Alright, the meet-n-greet is finally starting!" Ash hollered excitedly only to turn and notice Burnet shaking like a leaf. "Professor?"
"Ms. Burnet, are you okay?" Magearna asked worriedly.
"I believe her nerves are beginning to get the better of her," Queen Jewel quipped to their entire party.
"Oh, guys... I don't know, what am I going to do? I've never been so nervous in my life..." Burnet fretted as Rotom-Dex checked her heart rate and was baffled by what he had found.
"Heart rate's jumping to 90, she's getting nervous over meeting the Masked Royal every second!" he gasped.
"Calm down, Burnet, this is what you've been waiting for. You finally get to meet your all-time hero after so much time admiring him on the TV," Nikki reassured, gently grabbing her by the shoulders while Pastry rests on her right shoulder.
"You got nothing to worry about; everybody gets scared over meeting a famous celebrity, we all feel that at one point in our lives with people like the Masked Royal. Just go up to him and you'll have your wish fulfilled," James nodded in agreement.
"Or, maybe she needs a friend to get her out of this sticky mess. Skitty," Sarah called to her Kitten Pokemon, the Normal Type hearing her and toddling over cutely to the princess.
"Yes, Auntie-nya?"
"I'll need you to keep Burnet company so she can have her nerves calm down while she's meeting the Masked Royal," she informed Skitty as she gently picked her up and handed her over to Burnet. "Here, Burnet, you can hold Skitty for me while you meet with the Masked Royal when it's your turn. That way, as long as you have someone like her keeping you calm, you won't be as nervous."
"That's right! You can borrow Skitty and have her be your support Pokemon like Munchlax," Ash grinned.
"Sounds good to me!" Rotom-Dex concurred.
"Yeah-nya!" Skitty meowed brightly as Burnet smiled and nodded, "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Sarah, you're the best. Okay, Skitty, you ready?"
"Ready-nya!"
With that, the group proceeded to head for the stage and join the line for the meet-n-greet session with the Masked Royal. The line was tediously long, however, as there were tons of fans that had come from all over the region, and possibly, even the entire world since other trainers and fans had heard of him and Incineroar when started to become household names, to meet him. Eventually, it was finally Burnet's turn but before she could go up towards him, following the fan after her, the Masked Royal announced he was going to take a 5-minute break before returning Incineroar (the Heel Pokemon knowing of Kukui and Sarah's switcharoo plot with his trainer and Zorua) and headed backstage where the Tricky Fox Pokemon was waiting for him.
"Okay, Zorua, Burnet's up next. You're up," he signaled as they then went into the changing room.
"One Masked Royal, coming up!" Zorua giggled, changing into an exact copy of the Masked Royal while making sure to hide her tail.
"Here's Incineroar's Pokeball. Now, are you and Sarah sure you got his moves and my voice right before coming here?" the Alolan Professor briefed, hoping to do a final check before they would begin.
Zorua nodded and they went through a quick rundown of what she needed to do while donning the professor's alter ego. And so, ready for the meet-n-greet, she then went on stage to meet with Burnet and the rest of their party while Kukui went to another spot to rendezvous with his wife and Ash. Just as he and Sarah planned, it was finally Burnet's turn as the "Masked Royal" reappeared and he came by her side again, giving her a reassuring smile before she took a deep breath, Skitty happily meowing at her as she looked to her.
Finally, she came to the stage and came face to face with her hero (having no clue that it was Zorua this time as Kukui and Sarah hoped), the Tricky Fox Pokemon greeting and speaking with her as she spoke to her with his voice perfectly and did the poses with Incineroar as planned.
The meet-n-greet went perfectly well for Burnet and everyone else and Sarah and Kukui breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the latter was in the clear again and Burnet didn't suspect anything off. Zorua winked at the princess and she was just about to announce to everybody that the Masked Royal is going to take another break so she can switch places with Kukui again when...
"Masked Royal!"
Everyone turned and, to their eternal dismay, shock, and anger, they saw Viren and his Ravengers along with Mad Magmar coming from out of the curtains and onto the field. Once again, they've come back to settle the score with their greatest rival and opponent, hoping to break the Masked Royal's winning streak (and, consequently, claiming the Battle Royal Dome for themselves).
"Not them again!"
"The Ravengers!" Pikachu and Ash snarled in disgust.
"Who are those hooligans?" gawked Coral in shock.
"Viren and his Ravengers; they're bad news, Your Highness. You and everyone else who just came to Alola are lucky you didn't tangle with them early on," Sarah replied, seeing how scared the crowd was becoming as they eyed the Revengers.
"The Ravengers have returned from the shadows and with one goal in mind as always: to defeat you in battle and finally claim the Battle Royal Dome for ourselves! We're setting the score, right here, right now! You've got nowhere to run now so why don't you stop hiding behind your admiring fans and show yourself?!"
"Aw, man! And, just when things were about to get fun!"
"Those hotheads really know how to ruin the moment let alone crash a party like this one!" snapped Goodra and Aqua in total disgust.
The crowd screamed, gasped in a panic, and began protesting angrily against the Ravengers only for Mad Magmar to roar, "HOLD IT! Nobody move or else Magmorter will blow the roof off of this place and take all of you with it!"
"Oh, no! Mag Magmar's taken the crowd hostage so he can duel the Masked Royal!" Rotom-Dex gasped, horrified.
"You're nothing but a coward holding those people hostage, Mad Magmar!" Kukui snapped, enraged.
"What he said!" Ash agreed, his Pokemon also snarling at Mad Magmar in fury as they shared his and Kukui's sentiments.
"You've got some nerve barging in the mall just to pick a fight with the Masked Royal like this!" Burnet bellowed furiously.
"Quiet! We've no time for you weaklings, our main order of business is with the Masked Royal over there!" Viren barked as he stepped forward, pointing straight at Zorua still in her Masked Royal disguise.
"So, Masked Royal, you thought you could get away with beating us yet again and flouting on the winner's pedestal, did ya? Well, not this time; we're ready for ya so what do ya say, you wanna fight or flight? Won't blame you if you decide to hightail it with your tail between your legs like the loser you are!"
"The only sore losers around here are you and Mad Magmar, Viren," Sarah retorted.
"What'd you say, girly?!" Mad Magmar seethed.
"Stay out of this, you weasel! Don't forget, I haven't forgotten how you humiliated me one too many times after you stole my Riolu and my trophies! That Carmen Sandiego was useless when she was beaten by you but now with her out of the way after she bailed on us, we'll settle the score with the Masked Royal, here and now, to make up for all that!" Viren snapped.
Sarah narrowed her eyes as she then retorted, "Funny, I don't remember you having legal custody over the Shiny Pokemon and Star; I distinctly recall you boy having them in cages after their original owner and caretaker died which enabled you to steal them before you made them your punching bags and you have no respect or love for a Pokemon like Star since you thought of them as cash cows for your own profit."
All the Pokemon Sarah and her family rescued and Star all glared at their previous "owners", the previous treatment they got from the Ravengers stuck firmly in their minds as they had no intention of ever going back to them.
"Which makes it all the more sweeter knowing we're gonna pound ya and Masked Royal after all the times you've humiliated us more times than we can count. Believe me, it'll be worth it to see the looks on your faces when you finally lose."
This crossed a line with Doug and Delilah as the latter threatened darkly as they came next to Sarah, "If you dare touch our daughter and move even one hair on her, my husband and I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth and destroy all that you've ever loved!"
"Oh yeah, and who are you dorks supposed to me? Hmph, you don't look like much," scoffed Mad Magmar, smirking at the unamused Doug and Delilah.
"I can't believe there would be people like you causing trouble for everyone in Alola today. And, as if the hooligans calling themselves Team Skull weren't bad enough, our daughter and her friends had to put up with the likes of bastards such as you, Viren, correct?" Doug snarled.
"That's my name, who the hell do you think you are?"
"I am Doug Tomoe, son of David and Donna Tomoe and King of Alola with my wife and Queen of Alola, Delilah Tomoe! We and our daughter are the last royal family of the Alola Royal Monarchy!"
The Ravengers were shocked as they gawked at Sarah's real parents, "Did you say "Alola Royal Monarchy?!"
"King and Queen?!"
Delilah nodded as she continued, "Yes, to think you bullies of all people would dare to trespass in this modern shopping mall and hold our people hostage just to satisfy your pointless lust for revenge against this Masked Royal figure and our beloved daughter! You make me and my husband sick!"
"You may not be our former brother but you're just as cruel and ruthless as he is with everyone he crosses paths with and with the Pokemon in our region," Doug went on, still furious at the Ravengers. "How many times, as far as our daughter told us, are you going to be a disgrace to humans and Pokemon living in cooperation and harmony? It's time you were taught a much-needed lesson in humility!
"Guess again, my friends, your Little Miss Pretty Pants and the Masked Royal will be the first ones in a while to know what happens when you mess with the Ravengers!" Viren snapped back.
"Well, your bully streak and your greed met their match, Viren! And, I think it's time we put an end to this stupid grudge match, once and for all!" Sarah barked defiantly.
"Oh, please, you know it'll be no contest if we go at each other again in another battle and trust me, we've grown stronger since then!" Viren laughed cockily. "Besides, what makes you think you can end us for good if you're willing to do yourselves in to beat us?"
Sarah looked at Zorua (who maintained her Masked Royal disguise and was quietly mocking Viren and making funny faces and gestures to calm down the scared fans while he was speaking, making them snigger) as they shared a knowing look. They both nodded on what they had to do to end his nonsense and put him and the Ravengers down, for good, and save the fans being held hostage.
"Why not put a wager on this: a Double Battle Royale between two of your men including Mad Magmar and the Masked Royal with either me or Ash? Win the Battle Royale with either of your men and you win the Battle Royal Dome. Lose against us and you clear out and my family and I will take control of your company and completely rebuild and reform it from the ground up into something new and better."
Everybody gasped in shock and disbelief at what Sarah was proposing to Viren and even her own family was baffled by what they saw out of her. Only Tsukumaro wasn't surprised since he was amongst those that had clashed with Viren and the Ravengers through his goddaughter and he nodded grimly, knowing what she planned to do.
"Honey!"
"Baby, no!" cried Delilah and Donna (former queen).
"No, sweetie, don't do-!" Doug began only for Tsukumaro to gently clasp his left shoulder and shake his head at him.
"You dare wage my own company against me?!" Viren seethed, glaring daggers at Sarah.
"You and the Ravengers forced my hand when you took all those people hostage and insulted my parents in front of me! My friends and I also heard reports about those complaints being thrown at you from your clients and everyone else that did business with you and your company, a resort organization that is obsessed with only money and yourself and not the well-being and safety of your customers. Once I have your entire company, I'll have it reworked and commission all of your resorts to be turned into Pokemon sanctuaries where abandoned and abused Pokemon and other creatures across the globe and region can play and live happily for the rest of their lives or until they can be let go to new owners who'll give them the tender love and care they so badly needed!"
"You mean that company that fiend before us owns that's infamous for resorts made by illegal means and escaping justice via blackmail and forcing landowners to sell their land through bullying and harassing you told us about, Princess?" Queen Glory inquired to Sarah in shock.
"The very same," Sarah replied simply, further shocking Viren as his eyes widened.
"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" he screamed in shocked outrage.
"Well, if you can't handle your company being liquidated and put under my and my family's control, too bad! It's time you finally face justice for every last one of your crimes, once and for all! Especially since you have a huge debt to pay to everyone you've smuggled and swindled for your own nefarious needs!"
"Why, you little-!? The Ravengers and I oughta destroy you!" Viren snapped, he and the equally-shocked Ravengers preparing to attack Sarah before she pointed a warning finger at them.
"Hold it!" she bellowed, stopping them before continuing.
"I'm being as lenient as I can, boys. And, as you all know, this will be for our upcoming Battle Royale to decide and my wager still stands. Whether it'd be the Masked Royal and me or Ash or any of your two men, Viren, you'll never make it."
"...Alright. But, I warn you, Princess, it'll be your finish when we're finally through with you! I've never backed out of a challenge and crushing you or your friend and Masked Royal will be the sweetest victory my Ravengers and I will taste!"
"We're prepared to deal with the likes of you and the Ravengers, Viren! Ash, Masked Royal, and I will defeat you and we'll see what the fans and my family and friends and I have to say to that!"
And so, it was arranged; agreeing to a plan they've worked out in preparation for the Battle Royale before them, Ash and Sarah decided to do a tag team play on their end so they would be ready for what Viren and the Ravengers would do to cheat their way to victory (Zorua agreeing to the plan after she was informed). The princess' family watched anxiously as the two made their final preparations before they nodded and shook hands and Sarah and the "Masked Royal" stood on one side of the makeshift arena and the Ravengers' Mad Magmar and Mr. Electric on the other end.
"Ash, this is madness. What the devil is Sarah thinking with a foolish wager? Does she have any idea what she's getting herself into?" Delilah fretted, deeply worried for her daughter.
"Even after everything she's gone through to be the trainer she is now, she'll never have a chance if those monsters try anything to hurt her. And, what's more, we can't risk putting you in danger, too," agreed Doug.
"Let's face it, Your Majesties. The Ravengers left us no choice in all this and we have to do something to save those fans who want to see the Masked Royal," he replied reassuringly.
"But, it's okay; we talked it over and we got something ready for them should they do anything crazy. If we don't act on it when they do have something up their sleeve, they'll do whatever they please with the fans and us so what have we got to lose? At least, we have a chance."
"A 100 to 1, if you put it like that," Doug implied bluntly.
"Doug, Delilah, listen to me. I understand your feelings, I really do, but your daughter has grown into a fine woman and she's followed in your footsteps since the day I first saw her again after all this time," Tsukumaro added, getting his old friends' attention and with a soft smile.
"She's turned into the spitting image of you, Delilah, she has your compassion and your eyes, and she's got your knack for getting into and out of trouble, Doug. She has been nothing but a blessing to all of Alola ever since we all found out about her royal lineage from you and your mother and father and she's doing the world and others beyond a great deal of help with her goals for the future of everyone involved. Our Sarah's turned into a fine princess and a true hero who always does what she believes is right with the help of her friends and the family she grew up with, she'll make it out... Let's not give up hope while there's still a chance."
"We don't like it but our pumpkin has never let us all down before..."
"Just be careful, dearie..." David and Donna (former queen) prayed, hoping Sarah wouldn't get into more trouble than she already has.
"Tell us, Ash, this Viren you and the princess and your other friends mentioned... Has he always been so obnoxious to cause you and all of Alola grief whenever he pops up?" Queen Coral quizzed.
Ash nodded grimly as he confirmed, "Unfortunately, yes. We had the displeasure to come across him a few times in the past, especially whenever he decides to do something that is against everything Alola stands for."
"What happened?"
"As you know, by now, he runs his own travel resort company called Rainbow Happy Resort through illegal means like blackmail and targeted harassment to force landowners to sell him their land. He even resorts to kidnapping Pokemon and abusing them by force, whatever he wants that isn't his own and he feels like he wants so badly, he'll do anything to get it to promote himself and the Ravengers."
"You mean if the princess and the Masked Royal lose against those fiends battling them now, then he'll have this place you call the Battle Royal Dome?"
"And, then he'll demolish it and make it into something for himself and the Ravengers unless they can be stopped right here, right now. I just hope our game plan we got at hand will be enough to give us an edge over them before it's too late and they try to get the jump on us."
"You can say that again," Pikachu agreed.
For the Battle Royale before everyone, Team Rocket (who had been stalking the group since they got to the shopping mall or had been busy with their masalada business there earlier) were in disguise as the announcers.
"Ladies and gentlemen of Melemele Island, you either cannot or must be ready for the match of the century!" Jessie began.
"Today, we have a special treat for you all: a 2-on-2 Pokemon Battle Royale featuring on one side, our very own Alolan Sun Princess and the legendary Masked Royal competing against the likes of the Greedy Creep Viren and the Ravengers!"
"Hey! Who are ya calling the Greedy Creep?!" Viren huffed indignantly via an enlarged head gag.
"It's all to play here as Mad Magmar and Mr. Electric are squaring off against Sarah Tomoe and the Masked Royal for the ultimate fate of the Ravengers and the Battle Royal Dome! So, hold on to your hats as our trainers bring out the Pokemon of their choice!" James (Team Rocket) declared.
"Ready, Incineroar?" the "Masked Royal" called to the Heel Pokemon, the fully-evolved Fire Type nodding as it jumped into the arena.
"Let's rocket, Star!" Sarah shouted, summoning Star for some much-needed payback on her end.
"Go get 'em, Magmorter!"
"Crush 'em, Electivire!" Mad Magmar and Mr. Electric called, summoning Magmorter and Viren's Electivire.
"This is it, Masked Royal. Stay sharp," Sarah warned her partner.
"You got it," the "Masked Royal nodded as Star and Incineroar exchanged knowing nods and braces themselves for the craziest battle they're taking part in.
"And, it's a match of opposing reds and yellows as Incineraor and Star the Shiny Lucario take on Magmorter and Electivire!"
"Our battle bounty will be off to a roaring start once the bell rings as the best of two teams clash in this Double Battle Royale of the ages!"
"Memories are made out of moments like this so savor them 'cause you'll only get to live them once!"
"In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!" Team Rocket announced as the bell rang and the Battle Royale began, the crowd cheering for Masked Royal and Sarah to beat the Ravengers and clean their clocks.
"Attack, Electivire!"
"Go, Star!" Upon Mr. Electric and Sarah's shouts, Star and Electivire went first in the first round of the Battle Royale.
"Up first, it's Electivire vs Star in the Clash of the Yellows!" James commented.
"Electivire, use Thunderbolt! Shut that fox down!" Mr. Electric sneered, his Electivire shooting Thunderbolt toward the Shiny Aura Pokemon.
"Look out, Star! Use Bone Rush to defend yourself!" Sarah countered, allowing Star to use Bone Rush as she summoned a glowing bone staff and spin it in front of her, the Ground Type attack nullifying the Electric Type attack thrown at her.
"And, with a last-second defense from Bone Rush, Star nullifies Thunderbolt! Rough luck for Mr. Electric and Electivire!" Meowth announced.
"Thunder Punch, now!" Mr. Electric shouted, getting quickly agitated as Electivire charged forward to use Thunder Punch at Star.
"Block Electivire's Thunder Punch with your aura, Star!"
"Got it!" Star nodded, bracing herself as she closed her eyes and used her aura to defend herself.
Then, just when the Thunderbolt Pokemon was about to make his mark, Star swung her right arm in response once he came in close range and his aura was as clear as day for her, blocking the Thunder Punch and knocking Electivire back. The surprise defense shocked the crowd and the Ravengers as they saw the Shiny Lucario standing her ground against her former tormenters with ease with her aura and her bond with the little princess being at their peak.
"What an upset! Star managed to block Electivire's devastating Thunder Punch using only her aura and knock him back to the Ravengers' side of the arena!" Jessie gasped in awe.
"Dat's for sure, they don't call Lucario the Aura Pokemon for nothin'!" commented Meowth in agreement.
Seeing that things were off to a rocky start for the Ravengers, Electivire snarled and looked towards Magmortar who nodded and shared a high-five, the Electric Type tagging out with the Blast Pokemon for the next round.
"Magmortar... Okay, Star, tag out!" Sarah called to her Lucario, Star nodding as she and Incineroar shared a high-five and the Heel Pokemon took her place for the next round.
"A quick time-out is at play as Electivire and Star tag out for Magmortar and Incineroar for the next battle in a Clash of the Reds!" James (Team Rocket) informed the audience as the tag-outs were made.
"Time for you and Incineroar to finally crash and burn, Masked Royal! Magmortar, use Flamethrower!" Mad Magmar bellowed, allowing his partner to fire a Flamethrower attack.
"Defend yourself, partner! Use Cross Chop!" Under that order from the "Masked Royal", Incineroar performed Cross Chop to counter Flamethrower and deflect it with ease.
"Now, Cross Chop deflects Flamethrower with little-to-no effort, those two Fire Types seemed to be equally matched!" James (Team Rocket) continued.
"Karate/Throat Chop!" Mad Magmar and the "Masked Royal" cried.
Next, Incineroar and Magmortar traded chops with Karate Chop and Throat Chop, both Pokemon knowing that one of their Fighting Type attacks would land a hit on them until they performed their chosen attacks again for a sudden death stand-off. But, as it turned out, both of them were still standing and equally matched as both attacks landed at the same time, neither of them flinching from their own blows delivered to each other.
"Amazing! Dat's sheer power as both attacks land at the same time, neither of them seemed to be hurt as they didn't flinch! What a show!" Meowth announced excitedly.
"That's it for you on this one, Incineroar! Tag out!" 'Masked Royal' informed, his partner nodding as the Heel Pokemon tagged out with Star to let her have a go at Magmortar and Mad Magmar.
"Heh, this should be fun, that Fox of Steel's got nothing against my giant fireball. Magmortar, Flamethrower again!" Mad Magmar sneered, his partner now unleashing Flamethrower a second time but in the hopes of taking out Star in one hit with her main weakness.
"Aura Sphere!" Sarah countered, the Shiny Lucario now performing her species' greatest attack and firing directly at Flamethrower before it broke through and blasted Magmortar on his chest.
"DAGH!" Magmortar cried as he was knocked back on his right side and he growled lowly, "Urgh... Lucky shot, you sneak."
"What?!" Mad Magmar shrieked.
Star just frowned as she braced herself for another attack. But, as she did so, two of the Ravengers' other Pokemon, Muk and Poliwrath, ambushed her and grabbed her by her legs to prevent her from moving just as they did with Torracat in a Battle Royale prior. And yet, Star wasn't deterred for while she eyed Magmortar, she sensed the two cheaters approaching and let them trap her to have them let down their guard once they got cocky.
"Star!"
"Honey!" Delilah and Doug cried before Ash and Tsukumaro stopped them.
"Wait, Your Majesties!" Ash quickly called. "They can handle it, watch!"
"The same trick won't work twice no matter how many times you try it! Now, Star!"
Star smirked slyly as she concentrated and focused on her aura, a bright blue flame glowing all over her as she eyed Poliwrath and Muk. The two cheaters gasped in shock and worry as they tried to pin her down while tackling from behind but Star just chuckled in response and with a proud grunt, she performed two back elbow strikes and they were knocked back into the stands with a crash. This shocked the Ravengers who they belonged to as their and Viren's little ploy to illegally tilt the odds in their favor backfired on them and even Viren himself couldn't believe it.
Mad Magmar was also shocked by this and he was now seething with rage that he couldn't cheat his way out of beating Star through an ambush.
"Your move, Mad Magmar, any more cheats up your sleeve?" taunted Sarah with a smirk.
"Grr... I'll show you!" Mad Magmar spat back before Mr. Electric stopped him. "You-!"
"Back off, Mad Magmar. You've had your chance to take down the boss' former trophy and you squandered it," Mr. Electric sneered with a glare. "If you can't react to her aura when she does that, you're nothing but a disgrace to the Ravengers. I'll take her on myself so why don't you be a good little boy and wait for the big finish?"
"Fine... Magmortar, get out, now!" Mad Magmar snarled, the equally-incensed Magmortar seething at Star before he tagged out and Mr. Electric and Electivire squared off against Star this time.
"Damn it, you two! Get your act straight and take down that Lucario, I want her back with us so pull yourselves together and make it snappy!" Viren snapped, starting to see the discord between Mad Magmar and Mr. Electric being sewn up.
"Mad Magmar and Magmortar may have flunked out last time through your Lucario's aura, Princess, but you won't be so lucky this time!" Mr. Electric shouted dangerously at Sarah. "Okay, Electivire, give that hound a Thunderbolt! Shut it down, for good!"
"You're MINE!" Electivire screamed, firing a fully-charged Thunderbolt at the Shiny Aura Pokemon, shocking the audience and everybody else gathered as they saw Star just standing there and bracing herself for the attack while closing her eyes again with Sarah also undeterred by the attack as it came at her Pokemon.
"STAR/STAR!" everybody barring a determined Ash and Tsukumaro cried in alarm and horror.
"WATCH OUT!" Goodra shrieked, horrified as he couldn't take his eyes off Star's potential final moments in the match.
The Thunderbolt landed as Star remained undaunted and took the blow as a cloud of smoke filled the arena and released a shockwave that nearly rocked everybody out of their seats and feet as they screamed in panic before the smoke revealed Star on her back but unresponsive and covered in bruises and scratches and dust spots she got from the previous attack. Mr. Electric and Electivire smirked as they saw an opportunity to clinch the match for their team and the Ravengers (the group cheering for themselves and laughing at everyone else's shock and misery).
"Grab her, now!" Mr. Electric smirked, Electivire now using his extended wires to trap Star's paws and ankles before he drew her closer to him. "...Finish her."
Electivire smirked as he reared his right hand and coated it in electricity as he prepared to use a Thunder Punch to win the battle, "Alright, Sweet Cheeks, our little bucket of disobedience, time to feast yourself with a first-class Thunder Punch."
"Dragon Pulse!"
Mr. Electric and Electivire suddenly reeled back in shock as Star opened her eyes and smirked, quickly opening her mouth and firing a Dragon Pulse at point-blank range, leaving the Thunderbolt Pokemon with no time or room to escape as he took the Dragon Type attack to his face. Everyone was baffled and surprised as an explosion commenced and Electivire staggered and then fell back with Star now free from his grasp as she landed in front of him.
"Holy smokes! By an unexpected fakeout and a surprise Dragon Pulse at point-blank range, Star takes it for the team and staggers Electivire back! That's gonna hurt tomorrow for him!" Meowth commented in surprise.
"I knew they could do it!" Ash cheered excitedly.
"Well played, princess!" Tsukumaro hollered proudly, the little princess' family all sighing in relief for Sarah and Star.
"I get it; Sarah and Star used a fakeout to let Electivire and Mr. Electric attack with all their power and get cocky by bringing themselves to the brink of defeat if they were to make a hit like that," Rotom-Dex buzzed, fascinated by what he saw. "They had to risk themselves and the one thing everybody here for the Masked Royal is afraid to lose in order to win and it payed off for them big time!"
"That's it, Sarah, sock it to them!" Kukui cheered.
"Well done!" added Burnet as she applauded.
The crowd cheered as Mr. Electric also staggered back, his confidence starting to shatter as he looked in shock at Electivire being dealt a hard blow and the two of them being played for fools by Sarah and Star, "Y-Y-Y-You, you mean you faked us out?!"
"You didn't think it was gonna be that easy, did you?" Sarah replied simply, smirking.
Electivire was beyond shocked as he got back up and looked at Star as she gave a taunting smirk before he seethed with rage as he then blurted out at her, "TRAITOR!"
"Sorry, Sparky, we'll settle this in the next round," Star smirked tauntingly again, tagging out with Incineroar as he chuckled at her and Sarah's ploy.
"Pretty crafty, kid," he commented beofre he glared at her. "But, don't you EVER scare us like that again!"
"Hey, no promises," Star quipped as Incineroar sighed but gave a small smile before he turned to Magmortar and prepared to fight him again.
"Tagging in again is Incineroar as the classic match-up of Fire vs Electricity takes off between him and Electivire!" Jessie announced as everyone cheered for the 'Masked Royal'.
"This time, you're mine, Masked Royal! Finish it with Thunder Punch, Electivire!" Mr. Electric barked.
"My pleasure!" Electivire sneered darkly, charging forward to finish the Battle Royale in one fell swoop with a fully-charged Thunder Punch.
"Darkest Lariat!" the 'Masked Royal' countered, allowing Incineroar to use his ultimate attack as he spun around like a top and his hands had bright yellow-orange flames burning on them in a ring shape before he spun into Electivire and knocked him back.
"Darkest Lariat takes the win and cancels Thunder Punch! Electivire would need more than that to eke out a victory here!" Jessie commentated.
"Follow through with Throat Chop!"
"Thunderbolt!" Mr. Electric cried back, seeing the Thunderbolt Pokemon use his Electric Type attack once more only for Incineroar to dodge it and charge at him with Throat Chop, conking him harder than ever as he was knocked back again.
"Surprise, surprise! Thunderbolt also didn't make its mark on Incineroar as he falls yet again through a well-placed Throat Chop!" James cheered in awe.
"Come on, Electivire! What are you waiting for?!" Mr. Electric seethed at his partner before an annoyed Mad Magmar butted in.
"Tag out and back off, you yellow clown! You and Electivire aren't doing any better after that Lucario and the princess crushed you earlier," he spat before he harshly shoved Mr. Electric to the side and Magmortar did the same as he forced Electivire off the stage and made him fall onto his human partner.
"If you think you're waltzing out of here with the Battle Royal Dome and yet another victory under your belt, Masked Royal, you're wrong! Come on, forget Mr. Electric and his bag of electric bolts! Magmortar and I are taking you all on ourselves! Get ready to finally lose to the Ravengers!"
"You're history!" Magmortar sneered.
"You still have no Pokemon pride or manners, perhaps Star should teach you again if you've already forgotten!" Incineroar spat as he tagged.
"I'LL DESTROY YOU ALL!" Magmortar screamed with an angered roar as Star jumped in to take on the Blast Pokemon again.
"Impossible, there's no way! What are those bolt heads thinking?! They should've crushed that Lucario of mine and stolen her back while taking care of the Masked Royal given they're an unbeatable force! But, now, they're stomping out each other instead of destroying those weaklings!" Viren thought frantically and in total anxious anger as he watched everything unfold.
"Yes, you haven't beaten us yet! Soon, you'll be destroyed and left as nothing but dust under our feet! Fire Punch!" Mad Magmar exclaimed, ordering the Blast Pokemon to charge forward as he used Fire Punch once more.
"Consecutive Thunder Punch!" Sarah called as Star acted upon her call and countered Fire Punch with Thunder Punch resulting in the two of them trading punches as they took or dodged each blow given to them like they were in a boxing match.
"Now, these two powerful Pokemon are trading blows of fire and electricity like they're in a boxing ring!" Meowth called, observing the boxing strife between Magmortar and Star before the two of them finally pushed each other back and stopped on their respective sides.
"Hmph, so you got my treasure to evolve and now she's stronger than ever. Big deal, that changes nothing! My boys and their Electivire and Magmortar are still the strongest between them and she could be a greater asset to me more than you, Princess! So, why not turn her over to me and we'll call it even?" Viren sneered at Sarah.
"Even if I would give you Star, what hope would you have with her in your ranks? You're no longer worthy of having her because you don't understand that raising a Pokemon with all the love and care you can give in the world is the best part of being a trainer compared to treating it like a trophy. And, I'm gonna show you that with that very love, anything for a Pokemon like Star is possible!" Sarah spat firmly, showing off her Keystone.
"A Keystone?!" Viren gasped before he noticed something glimmering in the light from Star's chest and neck which was her necklace holding her Lucarionite which shocked him greatly. "NO, IT CAN'T BE!"
"And, with my Keystone and her Lucarionite, I'll combine my spirit and Star's and draw from the strength of our friendship and our family love for each other as mother and daughter to unleash her true strength that only Mega Evolution trainers can fully understand!" Sarah continued, activating her Keystone as it glowed before it then tapped into Star's Lucarionite which glowed back in response.
"The time for talk and threats is over, Viren! That Fire Punch from Magmortar and Mad Magmar was your last turn and it's cost you the match, Star, AND the Battle Royal Dome! The end is nigh for it is time to show you all and everyone gathered the result of true friendship between a trainer and his or her Pokemon! Now, Star, Mega Evolve!"
Tapping into her bond with her human mother, Star channeled the energy coming from the Keystone and Lucarionite as they touched light beams and she changed forms once again, regaining her Mega Evolved form and roared while giving off her aura to demonstrate her true power and causing the crowd to go wild as they saw her as a Shiny Mega Lucario. The Ravengers were shocked and horrified by what they had seen and they realized that they had no plan to deal with a Mega-Evolved Pokemon like her, they knew they were screwed.
"Yeah, alright! Mega Lucario is back in action, awesome!"
"YEAH!"
"Rock on!"
"Go for it, Star!"
"WHOO-HOO!" Ash and his team cheered, ecstatic to see the power of Mega Evolution again.
"That's our Sarah!"
"I'll say, Mad Magmar's having a panic attack since he never went up against a Mega-Evolved Pokemon before!" smirked Kukui and Burnet while Tsukumaro smiled knowingly and the royal family was left in shocked awe and amazement over seeing what they just saw from Star and Sarah.
"Incredible! Sarah and her Shiny Lucario achieved what is truly the greatest phenomenon ever known in the history of Pokemon: Mega Evolution! As you can see here, folks, this kind of power cannot be obtained by anybody unless a trainer and his or her Pokemon's hearts truly become one!"
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime milestone for many trainers in their lives and in case you're wondering, Mega Evolutions are absolutely legal in Battle Royales and there is no rule against utilizing such a wonderous technique!" James (Team Rocket) and Jessie smiled brightly as the cheers continued.
"Tough luck for the Revengers as they don't have a play on them that will help them out of this jam but let's see what happens!" Meowth finished as the final moments of the Battle Royale played out.
"Mega Evolution, if I'd known about that, I wouldn't have been too late in reclaiming my prize and finding a Lucarionite and Keystone of my own and using that power as I see fit! You better surrender your Lucario to me and hand over those stones before you lose this one, Princess! You still don't have a chance and we've plenty of time before we make you and the Masked Royal crack like eggs and cry!" Viren barked.
"There is no more time for you, Viren. This battle is already over the moment Star Mega Evolved," Sarah informed, winking at the 'Masked Royal' as he nodded back with a knowing smirk.
"It's not over!" Mad Magmar shrieked in defiance.
"Doesn't it seem strange or foreboding to you that my friendship and love for Star at its peak allowed her to Mega Evolve at this very moment after Magmortar threw those Fire Punches? What if I allow Star to unleash her Mega Evolved might on you and you try to counter with one of his normal attacks again or if he tagged out and Electivire was back in the fray and did the same thing? Then, what will happen next?"
Mad Magmar's eyes widened in horrified realization as he breathed, "I-I-It, c-can't be!"
"Can it?" gasped an awestruck Incineroar.
"Right now, your Magmortar and Electivire are as strong as you Revengers can make them with or without cheating in your battles including this one. The only way you could beat us now was to use a Mega Evolved Pokemon on you which you didn't and Magmortar and Electivire don't have any Mega Stones that actually exist since there aren't any for them. And, when I allow Star to attack while she's in her true form, the Battle Royale will instantly go to me and the Masked Royal."
"B-B-But, but t-that means-!"
"It's over! And, with Star having learned a new technique we've picked up from a new friend and family member of ours recently, your world's about to come tumbling down and end with a bang by our hands! Star, give the Revengers a demonstration of your Mega Evolved form and your new techniques from Wang Lun!"
"I'm with you, Mom!" Star agreed, her eyes glowing as she concentrated her aura into her paws and brought them together to form what was a 10-inch sword blade instead of Bone Rush to the amazement of the crowd and Team Rocket (while also striking fear into the Revengers). "Aura Blade!"
"Magmortar, Flare Blitz and Fire Punch, NOW!" screamed Mad Magmar, forcing an equally-shocked Magmortar to fire his strongest attack and charge forward with a Fire Punch if it doesn't go well.
"Our round with you, Mad Magmar, is over," Sarah said, giving a thumbs-down towards Mad Magmar just as Star charged forward with her new Aura Blade as she met Magmortar and countered his Flare Blitz and Fire Punch attacks, both of them at full power.
Everybody shielded and tried to regain themselves again as the attacks clashed and created a massive explosion and a thick cloud of smoke billowed out, the shockwaves nearly rocking the audience, Team Rocket, Ash, his team, and the royal family off their feet and seats. When the smoke cleared, Star and Magmortar had their backs toward each other after their attacks landed, seconds passing as everybody looked on anxiously, until...
"U-U-UGH...! Uh... Ah, ow! Ah... Ha-ha-ha-ha, ow...! Wow, I guess that means, you really are, the best, kid...!" Magmortar coughed and spluttered as he gave off painful laughs and threw a pained smirk at Star as he slowly turned, finally groaning before he broke the standstill and fell onto the ground, having swirls for eyes now that he was knocked out cold.
"Mad Magmar's Magmortar is down and out! This round goes to Star; one more win for the best 2-3 and the Battle Royale will go to Sarah and the Masked Royal!" James (Team Rocket) announced while the crowd cheered.
"Electivire, crush that Lucario with your Thunder Punch and Thunderbolt!" Mr. Electric bellowed as Electivire got back in and attacked.
"It's too late, Mr. Electric! Magmortar's normal attacks were useless and now, Electivire will have to learn the same painful lesson the hard way as well!" Sarah retorted as Star used Aura Blade again and knocked out the Thunderbolt Pokemon with a single strike as well.
"AAAAHHHHHHHH!" Mr. Electric screamed in horror as the Battle Royale went to the princess and the Masked Royal.
"RATS! We lost the Battle Royale but we're not beaten yet! Get in there and bust up this match!" Viren seethed, signaling his other three grunts: Heel Blue, Heel Green, and Heel Beard to join in and take down Star with Poliwrath, Muk, and Alolan Golem taking the field.
"Egads! This is not looking good, folks; the Revengers are not taking this defeat of theirs lightly as more baddies are gumming up the field!" James (Team Rocket) gasped in shock.
"Tag out, kid!" Incineroar called, jumping in and forcing Star to switch out, the Shiny Lucario remaining in her Mega Form as the battle wasn't finished.
Sharing his partner's sentiments, the 'Masked Royal' took his place again and activated a Z-Ring he had on him that had Incineroar's Z-Crystal, an Incineroar-Z, on it, performing the appropriate poses to use the Heel Pokemon's signature Z-Move.
"Incineroar, my partner, burn hot with determination! We'll absolutely fry this ring with the undying flames of victory!" he recited.
Viren was horrified as he realized what the 'Masked Royal' and Incineroar intended to do and then panicked, "W-W-Wait, now, j-just a moment! No, NO!"
"Incineroar! Unleash your Malicious Moonsault!"
His Z-Power at full max after it was transferred from his partner to him, Incineroar jumped onto one of the ring's stage pillars and jumped into the air before he was engulfed in flames before he spread his arms and legs out and body-slammed all three of the Revengers' remaining Pokemon. Poliwrath, Muk, and Alolan Golem (all of them terrified of Incineroar's Malicious Moonsault) had no response to this crushing blow to them and as a result, they were all out cold as well.
"One, two, three strikes! They're out!" announced Meowth.
"And, that's all she wrote for the Revengers and all their Pokemon!" Jessie commentated.
"It's all over and what a finish! The 'Masked Royal' and Sarah Tomoe with Incineroar and Star have scored a stunning victory in today's Battle Royale and all without having to cheat to win it all! Let our Double Royals hear it, yeah!" James (Team Rocket) cheered as the audience went wild for the pair.
"YAY, AUNTY-NYA!" Skitty cheered, jumping up and down excitedly.
"Oh, Kukui, what an amazing match Masked Royal and Sarah pulled off!" Burnet gushed with sparkles in her eyes.
"Yeah," Kukui nodded with a smile as he proudly thought, "Good job, Sarah, Zorua... Good job."
Ash and his Pokemon also cheered loudly for Sarah and the Masked Royal and while Aqua and Goodra cheered the loudest of all, Doug, Delilah, David, and Donna (former queen) all gave a sigh of relief.
"Grrr...! You may have won that one but this battle ain't finish until I say it is! I'm gonna get my revenge on you fools and your Pokemon and none of you are gonna stop me! Pangoro!" Viren snapped, sending out his Pangoro to fight now.
The crowd was shocked as they gasped and threw loud and angry boos at Viren. "Ah! But, that's cheating! You can't do that!" Ash gasped, he and his Pokemon looking outraged as they glared at Viren.
"Who asked you!? Pangoro, crush them!" Viren screamed back defiantly as his Pangoro charged at Incineroar and Star as she jumped back into the ring.
"The same thing will happen to you losers every time!" Sarah declared firmly before she looked at her Shiny Lucario. "Well, Star, care to help show our uninvited guests out?"
"My pleasure," Star replied, charging forward as Pangoro used Dynamic Punch and she countered with her own strength as they engaged in a power struggle.
"You won't get away with this, traitor! You belong only with us, you have no family with that brat who made you so soft on the edges!" Pangoro snapped while they were locked in their power struggle still. "You need a real teacher who can help you achieve your real power! I can show you the ways in which we fight!"
"My place has never been with Viren and the Revengers and it won't be with you because you have no idea what I've been through while under your torture!" Star spat furiously as her paws started to glow. "My mother is the only one who I want to be with because she loved me and I loved her back and you and the Revengers, who showed no love for me whatsoever, are no longer welcome here!"
With one final roar and drawing on the strength of her love for and friendship with Sarah and her family, Star unleashed a powerful blast of Steel Type energy that blasted Pangoro at point-blank range and shot the pained and screaming Fighting Type towards Viren before he crashed into him, knocking them both out completely as well.
"And, Viren and Pangoro are toast with a brand new attack by Star!" James commented.
"What was that?!" Ash gasped in surprise.
"That attack, it's Steel Beam!" the 'Masked Royal' gawked in shock over Star's brand new move.
"Steel Beam?" Burnet gasped in surprise.
"En-joy/En-joy!" the 'Masked Royale' and Incineroar posed to the crowd.
"EN-JOY! the crowd repeated as they cheered and applauded just as Viren was coming to after being knocked out.
"Ah, Leader!"
"Leader!" Mad Magmar, Mr. Electric, Heel Blue, Heel Beard, and Heel Green gasped as they rushed to Viren and tried to help him up.
"Get off me!" Viren snapped as he nearly pulled himself off of his partner before the Revengers were approached by Sarah and Star (who had returned to her original form when the Battle Royale ended. "My hopes and dreams after winning that stupid dome, ruined at the hands of a meddling brat!"
"I'd say your time's up, Viren. You and your Revengers lost the Battle Royale and the people and the Battle Royal Dome along with Star and the Pokemon from you under my care are out of your reach. It's all over so just give up while you still can," warned Sarah as she glared at Viren.
"And, as far as we're concerned, it's for the good of everyone, too! You and the Revengers are finished, Viren!" Kukui agreed, glaring at the Revengers.
"It's not over yet, not as long as we can still fight and take you down with us!" Viren blasted angrily as he and the Revengers and their Pokemon picked themselves up and prepared to beat up Sarah and Star.
"Ponchita!"
"Don't do it!" James and Nikki cried in alarm.
"No!" shouted a voice as something pinned Pangoro and Viren down while seven familiar Pokemon appeared and struck down the Revengers and their own Pokemon before they restrained them.
"Hey, let me go! I'm warning you!" Viren snarled as everyone saw the Rogues of the Law from Melemele Island holding the Revengers at bay and a SkyWing Dragon pinning him and Pangoro down. "Do you have any idea who I am?!"
The snarling male SkyWing was 12 years old and was 7'05" tall and 14 ft long with orange-red skin and wine red back scales running from the middle of his face all the way down his body before they ended at the top of his tail. His cream underbelly, claws, and horns provide a contrast to his skin and scales and he bore healed scars that coated his face, chest, right shoulder, right back leg, and the base of his tail. And, to top it all off, his black wing membranes bore healed beige scars evident of healed fire wounds he gained some time prior.
"No, but I do know you're in bit trouble for messing with my princess!" the SkyWing snarled just as Officer Jenny and a group of fifteen policemen and policewomen arrived along with three other dragons, more specifically, SandWings.
Thorn smirked playfully as she quipped to the dragons, "I had a feeling you'd be here with Cyrus, Smolder, Qibli, Blaze."
The first of the SandWings was Smolder, a 39-year-old male that was 10'00" tall and 40 ft long with a crooked smile along his narrow face paired with kind lidded and dark eyes, sharp claws, and pale yellow scales and wings that had a black diamond pattern on them. He even had a cluster of keys around his neck along with some pouches and bells via chains made of iron or plated in jewelry or gold.
The second was Blaze, a 32-year-old female standing at 9'00" and 15'00" in height and length making her much smaller than Smolder with polished white-gold scales, a long neck, and pitch-dark eyes, being easily depicted by three glittering rings on her talons.
The final SandWing was Qibli, the youngest at 5 years old and 6'00" and 12'00" in height and length. Similar to Hiccup, he was scruffy, scrawny, wiry, and narrow-shouldered but he was a pale light yellow with sand-yellow scales and yellow wings. His snout was speckled with a few tiny brown spots and it has a small rakish scar lined in a zigzag pattern along it while he wore a small shiny gold hoop earring in his left ear hung by an orange-amber teardrop.
"Freeze!" the policewomen and policemen shouted, ganging up at the Revengers as they frantically protested at them.
"Viren, you and the Revengers have violated our last blackmail bullying and Pokemon trafficking restriction laws to you!" Officer Jenny raged as she and her Oricorio glared at the evil Pokemon trainers.
"Good, book them all, Officer Jenny!" Sarah sniffed firmly as the trapped and cornered Revengers were left with no choice but to surrender with Viren snarling dangerously over the fact that justice was finally coming for him and his crew.
The crowd cheered as the Revengers were handcuffed and their trainers licenses were stripped away as they were hauled to a police van to be carted off (all of them continuing to protest in vain that they were innocent while some of them struggled to be turned loose).
"RAGH! I would've gotten away with it if it wasn't for the Masked Royal and his Incineroar, that stupid meddling princess, and her dumb dog!" Viren raged as he struggled in vain against his captors.
"I'll be back, you fools, this is just a bump on the road on my path to success! You may have beaten me and my men but the Revengers will never rest until we've made our mark on the world! I'll get even, somehow! Just wait, you'll be sorry! You fools, YOU IDIOTS!"
"Tell it to the judge when you're in court, Mr. Deja Vu," snorted Star as she gave him a hard kick on the plums, getting a Tom and Jerry scream of pain from him (Tom Scream - The Two Mouseketeers, Nibbles stabbing Tom while drunk).
This garnered a louder cheer from the audience as they hoped to never deal with the Revengers and their leader ever again; aiding in their end, Sarah secretly enchanted them through her mental powers to get rid of their desire for catching anymore Pokemon and wiping the memories of Pangoro and the other Pokemon once in their custody so they would have no clue about them, at all, to allow them to lead new and better lives.
"That felt good," Star smirked.
"I bet it did given what you've been through with them," Glory chimed in, smiling softly at Star and gently stroking her with a talon.
"Is it over now?" Skitty asked as she and the rest of her family joined her and Sarah.
"I sure hope so," Sarah replied hopefully.
"That's remarkable work, Princess, Ms. Star. Will we have a story to tell when we return to Aulani, I wonder if everybody will believe us?" Magearna said.
"If that Battle Royale was broadcast on TV when it was agreed upon, I think everybody back there would know by now," Zacian put in.
"That's what you freaks get for your crimes and for bullying everybody!" Ash barked at the Revengers and Viren as they were carted away.
"Maybe you should try training yourselves before you try running a resort company or training any more Pokemon!" agreed Kukui.
"Lady Thorn, those dragons that joined us, who are they? Tsukumaro quizzed Thorn.
Thorn chuckled as she introduced the dragons that came next to her, "My children: Cyrus, Smolder, Blaze, and Qibli, my youngest and overprotective son. And, why, pray tell, did you all follow us here on our little outing, little one?"
"We tried to stop him, Mom, but he wouldn't stop giving him the thumb to make him take us with him," Smolder replied.
"He had to beg me for about thirty times until I finally caved and brought him and his fellow hitchhikers along. But, he has a good point in wanting to make sure you're protected," Cyrus remarked.
"I'm not leaving you alone in this crazy world even if you're with the princess, Mom! Not if anybody wants to hurt you and make off with your scales!" Qibli replied, making Thorn smirk at him while shaking her head.
"All of us don't want you to get hurt, Mother. We were worried for you," Blaze added.
"I know," Thorn chuckled again before she turned to Sarah. "Now, since that hooligan and his men are out of your hair, Princess, you mentioned something about his company?"
"...I don't know, I did promise to turn it into a sanctuary for Pokemon and mythical creatures but I need someone or two to run it now that Viren and the Revengers are done for," Sarah admitted, realizing she had been a little hasty with her wager to Viren until she saw her adoptive parents and went over to them.
"Ponchita, why...?" James asked, stunned.
"Why choose us?" Nikki added.
"You two seemed to be the most capable of running a sanctuary in my eyes and you've done so much for me after you took me in when I was a baby," Sarah replied reassuringly. "You both love Pokemon as much as I do and you've been a big help to our family for the past few years since we started growing."
"I have no objections to that," Glory smiled in agreement.
"Yeah! You guys have your own Western Dragons and Mom told us how well you're helping to take care of them, right?" Qibli remarked.
Of course, James and Nikki were naturally hesitant about starting a Pokemon/Mythical Creature sanctuary and running such a company because at best, before they were married, the former once worked in retail in his old life with Dragonite and the latter was once a fashion designer with Lucario. None of them had any professional experience with caring for Pokemon or creatures beforehand so what Sarah was asking of them was a tall order.
"If it helps, we can bring in some of the NightWings to give you a hand. After all, one of their specialties is economics and I'm sure they'll want to learn more about the economic system you humans work on," Coral suggested.
"You really believe we can do this?" Nikki asked.
"Your daughter believes in you and if she has faith in you, so do we," Glory reassured warmly, getting sighs from the two before they eventually smiled.
"...Alright, we'll start as soon as we're ready," Nikki answered.
"Does that mean you'll do it?" Sarah hoped, an eager smile crossing her face.
"Well, we'll see," James chuckled, playfully ruffling his adopted daughter's hair.
And so, it was arranged; after immediate custody rights and signing new legal papers for Rainbow Happy Resort with the help of Hala, the Rogues of the Law, Officer Jenny, and their friends (all of whom were delighted to hear about the end of the Revengers, particularly Kiawe), Viren's former resort company now belonged to the royal family and Sarah and her entire human family set to work reforming it to a Pokemon/Mythical Creature sanctuary.
As the land where all of the evil trainer's resorts were built on was all acquired illegally, the buildings were immediately torn down and the land was swiftly returned to their original landowners, all of them grateful to the royal family for reclaiming what was once theirs at last.
With Celestia, Luna, Cadence, the Guardians of Harmony, the Mane 5, Discord, Lusamine, Wicke, Faba, Burnet, Kukui, and the Island Kahunas briefed on the new project the princess had in mind for Rainbow Happy Resort, they immediately worked on renovating all of the empty spaces with the entirety of Po Town on Ula'Ula Island where Team Skull used to reside at and even the Thrifty Megamart being the first sites of what was to become the chain of sanctuaries known as Sunny Ohana Sanctuaries for Pokemon and Mythical Creatures.
All of the genetically engineered Pokemon rescued from Dr. Zin and Team Eclipse months ago will be the first of many residents there and they would also be joined by some of the survivors of Opaline's first attack on Equestria including the Changelings, the Hippogriffs, Kirins, Yaks, and Griffins, those serving as Equestria's ambassadors now being official Alola Region citizens so they could rebuild their populations in peace and secret. This was ensured so that not only will their species be able to thrive once again but should they choose to eventually return to Equestria, they would be ready for Opaline with some help from the Prryhia and Pantala Dragons assisting in the conservation project Sarah still continues to front.
Everyone immediately agreed to the project and for the island with additional approval from the creatures that were told. Even Nanu was willing to give his full support on the idea (having once looked after Team Skull to ensure they didn't cause trouble there before they were booted out and moved to their own island) and with him giving the final word, Sarah and her family set to work on restoring Po Town completely to its former self before Team Skull made their residence there.
All of the islanders were eager to lend a hand in gratitude for finally getting Team Skull out of their hair as they repainted and repaired all of the dilapidated buildings. Solon also assisted in the restoration effort by helping to install solar panels on the roofs for the town to run on clean energy instead of wasting fuel such as diesel and coal (nor would Sarah and her friends and even Lusamine would ever consider using the Morph-X they have on them to power the town).
Using the Undetectable Extension Charm on the building interiors, Tsukumaro, Sarah, and Race create different environments for the Pokemon and mythical creatures including swamps, mountains, forests, jungles, deserts, arctic lands, and grasslands.
"Well, I guess that's about it," Tsukumaro sighed in satisfaction over a completed grassland section. "All we can do now is hope the creatures and the Pokemon we're bringing in will feel at ease in these new environments we made for them like they're at home."
"Mmm, but one thing we do know is that each and every creature and Pokemon has different tastes in different environments so whichever ones they choose, they'll stick with it," Race concurred.
Qibli, Smolder, Blaze, and Cyrus also took part by reworking a section in Hau'Oli City where the buildings connect via clear tunnels leading to different parts of the sanctuaries including feeding, grooming, and play stations along with a nursery for mating seasons and a medical wing for hospital and veterinarian treatments.
In addition, Sarah took the precaution of using the Doubling Charm to create additional feeding and grooming stations specifically for the Pokemon. With the use of Qibli's Animus Enchantment, they would be able to automatically refill once the stations are half empty and run themselves.
Lusamine also decided to install new security systems in the sanctuaries so that no unwanted visitors would enter them with malicious intentions for the Pokemon and creatures living in them.
Wanting to rework the Thrifty Megamart and give it better living accommodations for the Ghost Pokemon living in it including Mai's father and the Mimikyu Clan, the Ula'Ula residents completely cleaned out the entire place with their help and that of Gengar, Gastly, and Haunter with Tsukumaro, Sarah, and Race expanding the premise into a single combined grassland and jungle biome with the same feeding, grooming, and play stations installed for them. It also gave Mai a much-needed chance to pay a long-overdue visit to her father as the Ghost Pokemon thanked them for their services in helping to restore their home and for the new additions given to it.
In addition to the renovations it got on the dilapidated houses, Po Town was given a complete clean-up operation and the mansion where Guzma and his top team once lived was completely cleaned and restored with brand-new beige paint for the walls, brown paint for the roof, and the rooms were cleaned as well before being given new furniture.
As the renovations were planned and carried out, Discord and the ponies returned to Equestria via the power of the Unity Crystals and informed Novo, Thorax, Pharnyx, Rain Shine, Grandpa Gruff, and Prince Rutherford of Sarah's plans to restore their peoples and they all agreed to let some of their subjects move to and live in Alola. Skystar, Sandbar, Yona, Gallus, Ocellus, Smolder (Student/Young Six), and Silverstream obviously decided to stay as they felt Equestria needed them more than Alola ever would.
For the population of Ancient Equestria Dragons, as Sarah had learned Dragon Creation through the Dragon Heart Scepter, she wondered if she can create more of said dragons for Spike and Smolder (Student/Young Six) with the pair acting as guides to help her learn what they looked like, also taking time to speak to the Eight Queens on the subject of introducing their species to Equestria to act as added protection from Opaline since she had no knowledge about Animus Magic. The two last dragons were delighted over the idea as this gave them a glimmering ray of hope for the return of their own species.
By the time the restoration and renovation project was finished, it was early dusk and it was time to introduce the new inhabitants to their new homes with Sarah, Doug, and Delilah putting the final touch on them in the form of a decree that all the genetically-engineered Pokemon from Dr. Zin and Team Eclipse are strictly off-limits in terms of being captured by anyone and left alone to enjoy their new lives being wild and free after everything they went through.
The Pokemon in question had been staying with the Eight Queens and Marena on Dragonstone and brought them over to their new home while bringing in some of their subjects to assist in working in the new sanctuaries once they had been completed, all of them looking ecstatic to have a real place of their own to call home where they can live and play together happily under the watchful eye and protection of all of Alola. So much so that they and the sanctuaries have become a brand new source of pride for the citizens of Alola as they further exemplified their beliefs in sharing their home and everything on it with their Pokemon and the wild Pokemon around them.
They also became a beacon of hope for the citizens of Equestria thanks to the efforts of Sarah and her family and the Island Kahuna's spearheading the project and everything they did for them.
"Well, you've done it again, Island Girl," Race complimented.
Sarah just smiled, "At least, they all have a new home now and they'll be happier in the new sanctuaries. It's a win-win for us and Equestria as there will be more creatures living here in cooperation and harmony with us and the Pokemon, the queens even agreed to let twenty of their subjects from each tribe help work in them. Now, the RainWings and LeafWings can live together in the forest and the SeaWings can live in the sea while the others live in them; thank Arceus the Extention Charm gave them more than enough space for that."
"And, how's Burnet after meeting the Masked Royal given your ploy to save Kukui's ass?"
"Suspicious over everything, never."
She nodded to Burnet continuing to gush over the 'Masked Royal' while Kukui chuckled before he gave her a sneaky yet thankful wink and she nodded back with a smile.
Well, it looks like Kukui's secret is safe, for now, and he made it through with Sarah's help by the skin of his teeth. But, how long will it stay that way before the inevitable happens? We'll find out as the journey continues!