Well, here it is, the thirtieth part of the fifth and final installment in my 'Heart' series. The challenge has been issued and now the battle between the Alola and Kalos Champions is at hand. So rather than say anything more, let's go to Manalo Stadium and get ready for Ash's latest battle. That is all the administrative stuff I have for this Part but there are two reviews to respond so I will do so now. Do please keep your reviews coming as I love hearing from y'all.
To Guest (guest), thank you for explaining your reasoning for a Beheeyem for Dawn. I will consider it and see but even if she doesn't get one, there is someone else who a Beheeyem would work well for that could get it. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To Reader946, thank you for your suggestion but I am not sure if that while happen. While a Scorbunny is fair game due to both the starter exception and the fact that Goh will not be in this series at all so no major Scorbunny and its evolutions that would negate the starter exception, there are other factors to consider. The first one is the simple canon factor which means that Farfetch'd and Dracovish take ultimate priority over any other Pokémon when Ash is in Galar. After that, when it comes to non-canon Pokémon, my policy for Galar is that the priority falls to what I see as the traditional catches that Journeys didn't do. In this there are two that Journeys missed which isn't bad just something I was used to and felt off about and yes one of those two is the fact that Ash didn't get a Galar starter making it the only region he never got one from. However, when it comes to selecting which one Ash gets (and this will apply to Paldea as well should he end up there), the main factor I consider is which type does he have the least of and if the one that that fits is the best one for Ash. As for gender, that is one of the few areas in this story where the anime canon is inconclusive on so I use game canon and as such there is only a 12.5% chance it will be female and as with anything I will factor in how that plays to Ash's current starters who have known/heavily implied genders. As of right now Ash has 14 starters from 7 regions with 2 confirmed female, 6 confirmed male in the canon and I'm pretty sure I've made (based off how they're portrayed in the anime) at least two others male but that could apply to all of them. That means that Ash's current starter ratio is, presuming that it's 12 males to 2 females, is almost perfect at 14% female to 86% male. That does mean that he could be due a female one so I will bear that in mind though I am a fan of consistency and as the 2 females are grass starters I may make Ash's next grass starter female. I know this is a long response but I hope this answers your question/suggestion. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
That is it for this pre-Part note which means that it is once again time to sit back which and enjoy the latest installment in Heart of Champions. Part CCXIX: Prematch.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.
Part CCXIX: Prematch
"Ash! Over here! Can you answer some questions for us?"
"Are you ready for the coming battle?"
"Nervous? You are facing another Champion after all."
"Do you think that our Champion is as good as Diantha is?"
"Are you as ready for Gladion as you were for here?"
"How would you rank the standard of Pokémon trainers in Alola compared to Kalos?"
"Are you feeling confident? The bookmakers have you as the favorite after all."
"Is Kalos really better than Alola on a competitive level?"
"Ready to defend Kalos's honor abroad for the first time?"
"How does being a native of Kanto play into all this for you? Does it even factor?"
"What's your strategy for Gladion?"
"Who are you going to use in the battle?"
"That's enough!" A loud voice cut through the room as Ash, Dawn, and Iris blinked at the overwhelming bombardment from a horde of reporters that had been waiting for Ash in the designated press area as they entered the special entrance to Manalo Stadium that was reserved for competitors and their guests. "We agreed that there would be no questions or interviews before the match to allow both Champions time to focus on the coming battle. Show some restraint, Ash and Gladion will answer any questions that they want to answer once this is over."
The voice belonged to Professor Kukui as he strode out of the entrance that led to the trainer's waiting rooms just as the doors closed behind Ash and the girls now that they were in the stadium proper. The Professor wasn't alone, however, as he was accompanied by a tanned woman who Ash and Dawn hadn't met yet.
She was taller than Ash, though not taller than Kukui, with pure white hair held back by a reverse green head band and tied in a messy pony tail but for a set of bangs framing her face and a cowlick over her forehead. She wore a simple gray tank top, black leggings and pumps, and a black sweatshirt with orange edging that was tied around her midriff. However, all that was kinda missed due to the fact that woman was clear pregnant and noticeably along, 5-6 months if the girls had to guess.
Ash didn't really notice or register this though as he was just relieved that Kukui and the woman had come to save them from the reporters that were hounding him about the upcoming battle. Thankfully, they were staying behind the barrier that was set up to allow competitors an unimpeded route to the bowels of the stadium while also providing space for their guests to go to the special entrance that would take them to their reserved seats or box if they had one. If they weren't then things would have been a lot worse for Ash as they would have fully mobbed him the moment he set foot in the stadium.
He understood why though, this was the day of his battle with Gladion and for the last week Alola had been hyping it up and getting ready to watch their Champion face off against another Champion for the first time. This was going to be Gladion's first test as a Champion and his first chance to show the world what Alola can do by battling the Champion of a region with a long established and rich Pokémon League tradition, and who'd earned his rank the normal, hard, way.
Even if Gladion lost, just holding his own against someone like Ash who'd earned his status the normal way, and in many eyes the only true way, would show that Alola has potential and talent to offer the world. There was a lot of pride on the line and clearly Gladion was carrying the weight of his region on his shoulders as the battle approached but such was his duty as the Alola Champion.
The rumors were out there regarding the standard of the qualifications that were needed to be the Alola Champion, not that someone like Ash noticed or cared, and the way the PWC handled it only fueled them so Gladion had to prove that it was a worthy title and what better way then to challenge the first Champion from another region that showed up in Alola. The moment Ash had been confirmed to be in Alola this had been in motion, the people had just been waiting for the issuance of the challenge and then when it finally came they really got into the excitement for the coming battle.
Of course none of this really registered with Ash as he got ready for what he saw as a fun challenge and a good way to stay in battle shape for the coming Pokémon World Championship. Ash wasn't one for the politics or intrigues surrounding status, he just wanted to become a Pokémon Master and grow as a trainer while bonding and having fun with his Pokémon. Naturally, he was now closing in on that now seeing as he was a regional Champion. The best way to do reach his goal was by battling and Ash loved a good battle so he was looking forward to this one.
Still, Ash wasn't entirely ignorant of what his position as Kalos Champion meant. He may have not fully comprehended it even when he beat Diantha and became the Kalos Champion.
Of course he was going for the title of Champion as he'd accepted his right to challenge the Kalos Elite Four and he was going to do all he could to win those battles so when he shocked all of Kalos and swept the Elite Four he knew that he had a shot at it but even then he wasn't fully aware of what the position entailed. After securing it, though, he got a crash course in the duties and obligations of being a regional Champion.
Those duties included representing the region when he was out of Kalos and defending its honor from challenge while also doing his best to show that he was deserving of his rank. That meant accepting and winning challenges from recognized Champions or other strong trainers like this and comporting himself with grace and dignity, both of which he could do either because Ash wouldn't turn down a challenge or because he was just naturally that. As such it was a foregone conclusion that he'd accept Gladion's challenge and give it his all.
That's exactly what Ash had done the moment that he could after Gladion's challenge and after Ash had formally accepted it the ball got rolling for the battle. In order to focus and avoid the media that would no doubt hound him in the lead up to it, especially because it was confirmed that he was in Konikoni City at the time of the challenge's issuance, he'd opted to leave the city and train elsewhere to solely focus on the battle. Unfortunately, that also meant that it would be hard for him to return to Melemele Island and the Pokémon School there as he was known to be staying there while in Alola.
Thankfully, a solution came that evening when Kiawe and Sophocles returned to Konikoni and learned of Ash's plans; Kiawe's family's farm. It was less than a day away by car or ride Pokémon and secluded enough with plenty of space that Ash would be able to go there and prepare for the coming battle without any distractions or the media knowing where he was.
Naturally, Kiawe and Sophocles would accompany him, as would Dawn and Iris though that wasn't in doubt. While the boys wouldn't aid beyond a few general tips about Gladion as Kiawe had lost to him in the semifinal of the Manalo Conference, they would be there for support.
Meanwhile, Lana and Mallow would go to the artificial island that was Manalo Stadium and help arrange things there with Kukui so that Ash and the others could come in the night before the battle and avoid any issues. Lillie would go with them but she was going to meet up with her mother and brother and help him prepare for the battle which was more than fair and as Ash had Iris aiding him he had no issues with Lillie aiding Gladion with what she'd learned of and from him since he got to Alola. Gladion was clearly making sure that he was fully ready for this and so too would Ash.
To do so, Ash spent his time on Kiawe's farm researching Gladion's past battles, going over the footage of them from the Manalo Conference, and learning of the Pokémon that he'd shown, which was only 3 so far to see how Gladion battled. That said, Ash wasn't naïve enough to think that they were Gladion's only Pokémon. After all, in a battle like this information and preparation were key, it was what had helped get him through his Elite Four Challenge and it would see him through this challenge as well.
It helped that one of Gladion's Pokémon was one Ash knew pretty well and which both Gary and Dawn's mother had so he had people to reach out to about how best to counter it. Another was one he'd encountered a few times and while he'd never battled he was certain he could handle it given its type. The third known Pokémon was one that Ash didn't know at all as it was an Alolan native Pokémon but he'd studied the species and watched its battle prowess to get a feel for how Gladion used it. It helped that it was a type that Ash was experienced dealing with, so he was confident about it as well.
Naturally, this was based on what Ash could learn and prepare for. Just as he had Pokémon that Gladion hadn't seen if he'd looked at any of Ash's footage, he presumed that Gladion was keeping one or two hidden and wouldn't break them out until he faced Ash.
That's how Ash would do it if he was in Gladion's shoes though he might have had to use it in the Manalo Conference so if Gladion did produce a surprise Pokémon then it was one he valued as necessary against Ash but not necessary in the Manalo Conference. If that was the case, and providing that it wasn't a new, strong, Pokémon that he'd caught like Ash had done in the past, then it showed that Gladion was stronger than many realized and that only made the battle more interesting.
As such Ash was prepared for anything and excited to get back to competitive battling, his first since he beat Diantha, and was ready to truly begin his own journey this year as he used this and the battles that were no doubt to come to get ready for the PWC. It had been good to get back into a focus for that for the last week, not that he minded helping Dawn with her own goal this year and seeing a new region, and now it was time for his latest battle.
They'd come to Manalo Stadium the night before and checked into the Pokémon Center here using a side entrance to avoid the media that might be camped out outside the building and get a good night's rest. The battle was in the afternoon so Ash had the morning with Dawn and Iris to make final plans for the battle with his chosen team and then have a good lunch before heading over to the stadium with an hour to spare to get fully into the necessary headspace for it.
Alas the media that had been waiting for them had thrown Ash a bit upon his arrival but thanks to Kukui's chastising they quieted down and as he approached Ash and the girls the woman with him. The media was still there for a few moments but they were being respectful now as they made notes and took pictures before they headed to their area in the stadium to cover the coming battle.
"Sorry about that." Kukui said as he and the woman reached Ash. "I hope it wasn't that bad in Kalos."
"It was present there but they were more focused on Diantha I think." Ash admitted though he too had been so focused on Diantha, and the battles before, that he'd not really paid attention to any media presence. "And this seems to be a really big deal here."
"Well it is our first true display of battling on a global scale." The woman said. "The Manalo Conference was televised to the world just like all Conferences are but it didn't garner much attention. This, by contrast, is expected to have higher viewership numbers because even though it's not a full battle, it is a battle between Champions. We're all looking forward to it."
"Oh I see, I figured that might be it." Ash said looking at the woman. "Um…"
"Right I'm so sorry, I have been rather busy with work and making sure everything is in place before I go on maternity leave so I haven't had a chance to meet you yet." The woman said as she held out her hand to Ash which he shook. "I'm Professor Burnet, Kukui's wife."
"Ah well a pleasure to meet you." Ash said as they shook before he let go of her hand. "I'm Ash Ketchum and this is my fiancée Dawn."
"Pleasure to meet you, we've heard a bit about you." Dawn said as she shook hands with Burnet as well. "We're still a ways off from our wedding but if you have any tips I'd like to hear them."
"Of course, I'd love to help." Burnet said with a smile. "Iris, a pleasure to see you again as well."
"Professor Burnet, you're looking great." Iris said with a nod. "And the baby is coming along well."
"5 months at this point so soon I'll have to stop working but I know that you at the school will help Kukui and I with everything be it our work or our baby." Burnet said before cutting to the chase. "Now, how about you girls come with me. We're in the main box and Lana, Mallow, Kiawe, and Sophocles are already there waiting for you. Lillie won't be with us for obvious reasons, she's with her mother in the Aether Foundation box, but we can all enjoy a little chat before watching Ash battle. I am sure there are a lot of things to discuss."
"Yeah like do you know the sex of the baby yet?" Iris asked. "If so what name are you going for? What…"
"Calm down Iris, all in good time." Burnet said as she turned to Kukui. "You don't mind if I take the girls, dear, do you? Ash should prepare on his own for the last bit."
"I was going to suggest it if you didn't." Kukui said with a smile at his wife before turning to Ash. "Are you ready Ash?"
"Yeah I'm psyched." Ash said pumping his fist into the air. "I can't wait to see what Gladion is going to be like in a battle."
"Pika pi!" Pikachu said in agreement from his shoulder.
"Then I'll take the girls now while you escort Ash to the waiting room." Burnet said. "Come on Iris, Dawn, let's head to the box."
"Good luck Ash." Iris said. "Avenge me out there."
"Show why you're a Champion." Dawn said focusing on the more important thing as she leant up and kissed Ash on the lips in a chaste kiss. "Good luck my love, you've got this."
"I won't let you or anyone else down." Ash said as Dawn broke away. "I promise."
"I know you won't." Dawn said as she turned to Professor Burnet. "Lead the way Professor."
"Burnet is fine." Burnet said as she turned and began to head off with Iris and Dawn on either side. "This way. Is there anything you two need before we get there?"
"Yes, I need a place to change." Dawn said. "And Iris might as well. I would have asked the other girls but, well, I understand why they have to either remain neutral or can't support Ash."
"Sure I'm always game for this though there's no Cilan to force into it as well." Iris said with a laugh. "Though I wonder what Kiawe and Sophocles would look in those outfits. I think Cilan would still pull it off better. I take it you have them on you, Dawn."
"Always." Dawn said patting her drawstring bag.
"Change?" Burnet asked as the girls disappeared through the entrance to the seats and boxes. "Why would you need to change?"
Dawn's reply was cut off by the door closing though Kukui, who was fully aware why Dawn would change as he recalled it well from watching Ash's battles in the Lumiose Conference along with his Elite Four Challenge and battle with Diantha, just smiled at that before he turned to Ash. It was time to get Ash into position and then take his own spot in today's events.
"Come Ash, there's a waiting room this way." Kukui said as he turned and lead Ash out of the entrance area and through the door that he'd come in from. "As with other stadiums of this caliber there are two actually, one on either side of the battlefield so that each competitor has a private place to prepare for their battle. This side is going to be known as the challenger's side for when we have an established Elite Four so having you here will help solidify that as this is the first challenge of our Champion. Gladion is already on the other side waiting, he got here before lunch."
"Make sense." Ash said understanding the reasoning for why he was on this side of the stadium. "I'm more than happy to assist with something like this. I probably should have gotten here earlier though if Gladion was here before lunch even if it was easier for him seeing as he was staying on the island from what I heard."
"You're here well in time and besides Gladion has more at stake than you do in this." Kukui said. "This is his first real test as our Champion and many in the international community don't see his status as legitimate because there was no established Elite Four and he got the title by winning the inaugural Conference."
"But surely that has to happen to someone." Ash pointed out. "So the first will always be hindered by that."
"It does and in this case it fell to Gladion." Kukui said. "It's unfortunate but he understands that he has to work harder than the other Champions to prove himself and it's given him a chip on his shoulder that he uses to get stronger. It's why he spent an extra 2 weeks getting ready for this before challenging you so that he was as prepared as possible. The challenge had to come, he just wanted to wait until it was the right time and with your presence here mainly focused on Dawn and the Contest that she had to win he had it though that was running out."
"Yeah, Dawn and I will leave in two days." Ash said surprising Kukui a bit. "We've loved our time in Alola but she's accomplished what she needed to accomplish here very quickly and so it was just waiting for the challenge and enjoying a little time with friends in a new region before heading off. We do have a tight schedule after all."
"I understand that." Kukui said. "Just a bit surprised it's so soon after the battle."
"That's because we lost time in Kalos." Ash admitted. "The upset that Dawn and May experienced in their first Contest back slowed things down considerably as the plan had been to only need two not three Contests there. May heading off on her own after winning her Kalos Ribbon makes sense but we still lost time as Dawn was the one who needed three Contests and we have to budget for Unova where the Wallace Cup is and we expect May, Serena, and others to be so time is of the essence. We stayed as long as we could waiting for the challenge and it came just in time but we have to leave once it's done."
"A shame but with the Majestic Festival and its grueling requirements it has if you want to qualify for it within a year that makes sense." Kukui said. "At least return to the school tonight so we can have a full day tomorrow. I want to discuss the future of Alola with you and Dawn and get your input on it."
"Of course." Ash said with a nod. "I'm happy to help there."
"Excellent." Kukui said as they neared the door to the waiting room but there was enough time for one more question. "If I may ask, have you decided which region you're going to visit next? I presume it's not Unova what with the Wallace Cup still months away but there are 5 other potential regions to choose from."
"There are and Dawn has put feelers out to her friends in the Contest world to see where is best with a focus on the people she knows who are not Top Coordinators so are focused on one region." Ash said. "And it looks like we've got a good sense of what Contests are coming up in each region and which are the most feasible coming from Alola. Dawn will confirm tonight and sort out the flights via the Contest Committee but we're pretty certain that we know where we're going next."
"Well I can't wait to hear that and see how it goes for both of you as we'll follow your progress from here." Kukui said as they reached the door to the waiting room. "But for now focus on Gladion and giving it your all, you are defending Kalos after all and this is a sold out match due to the importance of it. Wait in here and someone will collect you when the time is right. Good luck Ash."
"Thank you." Ash said with a smile before he turned to the door, opened it, and walked in while Kukui turned and left to head to his spot for the match. "Let's get in the zone Pikachu."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said excitedly as he leapt off Ash's shoulder and bounded into the room as Ash entered the waiting room.
Ash followed Pikachu and smiled as the room was air conditioned which would be nice and help him focus and stay alert. This was something that he was used to though; Ash had been in waiting rooms in 7 regions now and knew what to do as he got a bottle of water for himself and sorted out some for Pikachu before he took a seat on one of the couches in the room and mentally got into the zone.
For the next 45 minutes Ash focused solely on the battle to come as he, Pikachu and all 5 of the Pokémon he had on him prepared for it by going over the plans one last time. Ash had to register 6 Pokémon for it, though they wouldn't be shared with anyone, but he'd only use 3 of them so he had multiple plans and formations for what was to come and hopefully enough contingencies to handle any surprises that Gladion had for him. Plus, this format allowed him to have Pikachu with him without tipping off that Pikachu was a guaranteed Pokémon in the coming battle so it was all working well.
This was what Ash did best after all, this was his element and he was fully in it as the world fell away around him and he put all his energy and focus into the upcoming battle. He was excited for it and couldn't wait to see what Gladion had in store for him as the best in Alola faced the best in Kalos.
Ash wouldn't have to wait much longer as time flew by in the waiting room and in what felt like moments to him an attendant opened the door and told Ash that it was time to head to the entrance to the battlefield. Ash fully understood this and nodded as he rose from the sofa and Pikachu hopped onto his shoulder to follow the attendant out.
He did so in silence as he fully embraced his battle zone just like he had against Diantha and the many battles that came before her. This was just the latest battle in the long line of battles that Ash had had in his life and he was ready for it, even the pressure of it being his first as Kalos Champion was lost on him as he reached the entrance and stood in the shade as the attendant left. This was it, time for battle and in that moment Ash took stock of what he could see as he waited for the announcement to come out.
What he could see was pretty standard and, if he was honest, more familiar than the elaborate nature of Lumiose Stadium. That was because Manalo Stadium was a standard dirt stadium with the battlefield marked out in white in the center and dirt all around it rather than the drop with walkways to the battlefield that Lumiose had. That also meant that it would be a short walk out which Ash was fine with. However, even though this was standard, there was one notably different thing, the shape.
That was because the ground level was not rectangular, square, or even something fancy like a hexagon that Lumiose Stadium had but rather it was a pentagon. That was odd to say the least and it meant that the entrances weren't on straight sides but ones that were at an angle to the base before the final two went to a point. That was strange to Ash but it wouldn't affect him and there was no doubt a reason for the design that he'd notice when he walked out.
Other than that, it was a standard open air, two tiered stadium with the lower level above the wall and following the pentagon style while the upper lever was a hexagon of seating with boxes at the top of the lower level and shaded by the overhang of the upper level. It was admittedly slightly smaller than what Ash had battled in in the past but it was still what he'd expect so he was fully ready for this as a hush came over the packed crowd.
"Thank you all for coming out today to this special challenge, the first of its kind in Alola and the first time we've gotten to use this stadium for a battle of this caliber!" A voice range out as the crowd silenced and Ash was surprised to realize that it was Kukui's meaning that he was the announcer for the battle though as he had been the driving force behind the Manalo Conference it made sense. "That's right it's time for a battle of Champions! We've been waiting for this ever since the arrival of the Kalos Champion in Alola and more so since our own Champion formally challenged him last week and now the battle is finally at hand. I ask that the Champions now enter the battlefield."
That was the que and Ash took it as he walked out and the crowd erupted in cheers as he made his way to his starting box. He noticed that the jumbotron and that it had the expected images of himself and Gladion with three slots coming from them and a big VS showing the combatants but that, and Dawn and Iris in cheerleader outfits cheering for him, was all that Ash took in as his eyes fell on his opponent.
Ash was more than ready now and the thrill of battle filled him as he walked and he watched Gladion approaching him as Ash saw him face to face for the first time. Ash noted that Gladion was doing the same and matching Ash's pace as he too walked out so he too was taking this just as seriously as Ash was.
"These two need no introduction but they're going to get them anyway." Kukui said from wherever he was announcing as the crowd continued to cheer crowd as the boys walked. "And who better to start with than our own Champion who issued the challenge. He's a native of Alola and earned the title of Champion of Alola, our first, by winning the Manalo Conference a few months back that helped establish the beginning of the Alola Pokémon League that will become a fixture for years to come. It's Gladion!"
The crowd roared at that and why shouldn't they as it was almost all Alolans and Gladion was one of their own so they'd be backing him. Ash understood that and was more than fine with it, it wouldn't affect him at all, and he was pleased to see that Gladion kept his serious look on as Kukui announced him while they walked.
"This will be his first real challenge as the Alola Champion and what a challenge it will be!" Kukui said as Ash and Gladion reached their boxes and came to a halt with Pikachu leaping off Ash's shoulder to stand next to him just as serious as Ash was. "The man he's challenging is famous the world over for many notable Pokémon feats including the revelation of fairy types in the Indigo Conference the year before last but recently he's reached a whole new level when he won the latest Lumiose Conference in Kalos. That alone was impressive but he went further and swept the Kalos Elite Four and then defeated the then Champion Diantha in an epic full battle to claim her crown. From Pallet Town in the Kanto region, it's the Champion of Kalos, Ash Ketchum!"
At this there was a roar but Ash didn't let that affect him as he simply met Gladion's gaze across the battlefield. This was between them and nothing more, a test of skill and strength between two Champions, the two newest Champions at that, and the pride of their regions were at stake.
"I've heard a lot about you Ash." Gladion said as the crowd began to die down and to Ash's surprise Kukui himself waked out, microphone in hand, and made his way to the midpoint on the side facing the point of the stadium wall showing that he'd be the ref for the battle. "Iris spoke of you often last year and recently my sister and the others have as well. So much so that we watched you in the Lumiose Conference and your challenge afterwards. You're rather impressive so I'm looking forward to seeing how I compare but I won't be easy even if I didn't earn my rank the way you did."
"That's fine, I understand the circumstances and I know better than most to never underestimate an opponent just because of his path." Ash said. "I've been waiting for this myself. I may have beaten Diantha but if I want a shot at the PWC then I need to keep in shape and battles like this are just what I need so show me the best that Alola has to offer."
"I intend to." Gladion said as he reached into the pouch at his waist and pulled out a yellow and black ball that surprised Ash as it was an Ultra Ball and he wasn't expecting that though he'd not really looked at the balls that Gladion had used in his battles. "And I expect you to show me what it takes to earn the rank of Champion the traditional way. I need to know how I compare to someone like you."
"I will." Ash said as he pulled out a Poke Ball and tipped that he wouldn't start with Pikachu. "So let's do this and put on a good show."
"Well folks it looks like the Champions are ready so it's time to start this but first a quick reminder of the rules." Kukui said as the crowd quieted again in anticipation of the battle to come. "This will be a three on three match just like the final of the Manalo Conference with substitution only allowed after a Pokémon has been defeated and before the defeated Pokémon's trainer can send out a new Pokémon. Additionally, only one of Mega Evolution or Z-Moves may be used. Is that understood?"
"It is." Ash said with a nod.
"I accept these rules." Gladion said nodding as well.
"Very well then…" Kukui said as he took a breath and the crowd fell deathly silent. "Battle begin!"
Ah an old fashioned cliffhanger, it's been too long since I did one but this was too good to pass up and I was really feeling like one here. This does mean that the next chapter will solely be the battle so y'all know what is about to come and can look forward to it. There really isn't much more to say about this chapter, it's pretty straightforward and sets up the grand conclusion to the Alola arc though there will be one final wrap up chapter after it that will officially end this arc. As such that is all that I have for y'all so I will leave this Part off here. As always if you like my work then please favorite (both this story and me in general to be notified of any new content I post), if possible leave a review as I really like hearing what you think of my work and your suggestions that help complete this story (and respond as best I can) and just in general keep enjoying my work. Until next time.
Stringdog