Halfway through the Vast Poni Canyon, we went through more trainers. Along the way, we met with Mina and received the Fairium Z from her. None of the trainers in the second half proved much of a threat. I met with Lillie at the very end before the trial, and then it was time for, well, the trial. And honestly, do I really need to say anything about it? A team of Fairy-types against a Dragon/Fighting-type should be pretty self-explanatory. It used Flash Cannon on Undercover, but I had the Disguise, so I proceeded to slam it with the Z-Move.
Then we were at the altar, and after climbing up all those stairs, we used the flutes to allow Nebby to evolve into Solgaleo. Then we entered Ultra Space. And after Guzma's famous "Y'all are stupid" line, we approached Lusamine, who used the power of the Ultra Beasts to transform into her all-powered form!
This took multiple tries for me to have a round I was pleased with, as more than once I was sweeping her with Undercover alone thanks to her being really stupid, and I didn't want that. The second time, two of her team members just decided to leave me with 31 HP. There's zero excuse for that. But then, Lilligant was able to OHKO my entire team with Petal Dance, except Puffball, who would survive in the red and couldn't do anything against it.
I started with Madison against Clefable, and got off an Intimidate. As she opened with Metronome, she used Roost, which had no effect because her HP was full. I used Rock Tomb for around 1/6 and a Speed drop. Then I used Bulk Up to buff my stats, but she had the same clever idea as she used Cosmic Power. I decided to then go full-force with the Z-Move, Twinkle Tackle, which got her into the red. Then she used Metronome and got Night Daze, which did 1/6 my health. Not wanting to miss, I used Headbutt, which finished her.
Then we came to Lilligant. She used Stun Spore, but that didn't stop me from using Rock Tomb and scoring a critical hit for slightly over half and a Speed drop. Then she used Leech Seed, and I was fully paralyzed before that sapped away at me. And Leech Seed healed her a bit. Then she used Petal Dance and finished me. I brought in McFlurry and finished her with an Ice Beam.
After that was Mismagius. I opted to stay in, and she used Pain Split, which did 1 HP to me, but my Ice Beam did a little over 1/3… And it froze her!!! She remained frozen solid as Ice Beam got her to 1/5. She failed to thaw out, and one more Ice Beam finished her.
Milotic came next, and this I couldn't stick around for. I switched out for Puffball, and she used Safeguard. But that doesn't stop Leech Seed, which worked on her. Hydro Pump, however, did half my health on the dot, but that was before Leftovers and Leech Seed propped that up to me right near 3/4. Then I used Cotton Spore to toy with it a bit more, and she used Hydro Pump again to get me to 1/4 before recovery. I was able to get in a Giga Drain for what looked like a little less than half her remaining health before she used Hydro Pump again to get me to 1/4 yet again. Another Giga Drain did her in and then Safeguard wore off.
Lastly was Bewear. I opted to stay in and use Charm, but she used Hammer Arm for whatever reason for a pretty weak hit and a Speed drop. I switched for Symphonic, who took a Pain Split to rob her of 1/10 her health. Moonblast finished her.
So that was okay enough. Not quite as epic as I was prepared for, but definitely enjoyable. Anyway, Lusamine wasn't finished yet, but Solgaleo woke her up from her insanity. After she realized that Lillie was becoming beautiful again, we escaped from Ultra Space, leaving us all together. They took Lusamine off, and left me and Lillie with Solgaleo, who I caught. Next was our time to take to Mount Lanakila!
There, we met with Gladion, who challenged us to one final fight. I began with Madison against Crobat, and got off an Intimidate. I got the Quick Claw, which was certainly welcomed as I used Rock Tomb for a little less than half, and a Speed drop. Then Cross Poison…did barely over 1/3? Huh. I switched Revolver into a Cross Poison for slightly less than half, as he then used it once more to get me to 10 HP, then Moonblast did alright for a resisted hit. I then used Baby-Doll Eyes to cripple him further before he missed with Cross Poison (wow). Then he was down to -3, and then he finished me with Acrobatics. I brought in Symphonic, and he used Cross Poison, which did a little over 1/4 before I finished him with Sparkling Aria.
Silvally was next, as I figured. I switched over to Puffball as he used Multi-Attack for a crit that did around 40%. Sheesh, dude! I then used Charm, so his X-Scissor did barely anything (1/6 my total health) before Leftovers propped me up. Then I brought in McFlurry, so his X-Scissor dealt a pathetic 12 damage. Multi-Attack did better though, getting me to 2/3, while Ice Beam even with the Never-Melt Ice did slightly under 2/3.
But then he switched out to Weavile! Ice Beam didn't do much to that, around 1/5. I switched for Undercover as he used Metal Claw, but missed. Ha! Night Slash busted my disguise, but I used my Z-Move, Twinkle Tackle, to slam him.
Then we had Lucario. I decided to get in a quick Shadow Sneak for around 1/5 before he used his Z-Move, Corkscrew Crash, which OHKO'd me. I brought in Madison, got off an Intimidate, and the Quick Claw, so Play Rough did well over half his remaining health. Unfortunately, Metal Claw did barely over half of mine. I switched in Symphonic as he used it again for less than 1/3 my remaining health, then once more and getting me into Torrent range, as Sparkling Aria finished him, taunting me with the critical hit when it obviously wasn't required.
Last was Silvally again. I switched over to Madison and got off an Intimidate before his Multi-Attack finished me. I brought in McFlurry, and he did slightly over half my remaining health with Multi-Attack before I finished him with Ice Beam, once again scoring the critical hit on the unneeded turn.
With that, Gladion was finally happy, and said that Lillie considered me the best Pokemon trainer in the world. And that we aren't enemies anymore. We went through Mount Lanakila, getting the TM for Ice Beam and the Icium Z, and killing some annoying wild Pokemon along the way to get most of my team up to Level 50. After we arrived at the PMC, we met with Hau, who had completed all his trials and was ready for battle!
I began with Undercover against Raichu, who busted my disguise with Psychic only to be OHKO'd with a Spell Tag boosted Shadow Claw.
Komala was next. I opted to stay in and use Charm before he used Shadow Claw himself for slightly under half even with -2. I brought in Puffball as he used it again for 1/5 before Leftovers. Then I used Leech Seed before he hit with it again, and then he was at 7/8 while all my recovery got me to 7/8. My Giga Drain was pretty weak, but so was his Shadow Claw, and then he was brought to half. I switched out for Symphonic as he used Shadow Claw, which did less than 1/5 before I left him at 1 HP with Moonblast. Then he used Wood Hammer and hit big.
Leafeon was next. I brought Puffball into a Leaf Blade for over 1/4, then used Charm and he proceeded to do the same thing. I then switched McFlurry into a Leaf Blade for over 1/4, but he was faster and finished me with a critical hit. I brought in Revolver, and he used a pointless Baby-Doll Eyes before I used Moonblast for slightly over half. He did over 1/4 with Leaf Blade before another Moonblast finished him.
Lastly was Incineroar. I opted to stay in and use Baby-Doll Eyes before he used Flare Blitz and got me to 10% while also taking some recoil. Another usage of the move got him to -2, then he used the Z-Move (…) and finished me. I then brought in Madison, got off an Intimidate, and he used Flare Blitz for a little bit less than 1/3, and I used Rock Tomb for a decent hit and a Speed drop. Another hit didn't quite finish him, and he used Flare Blitz again, which got the Blaze boost and got me below 1/4, but recoil got him in finishing range from Headbutt.
With that, he had been bested and gave me some Max Revives. That left me with one thing before the league: training my team up. It was actually, once again, the first time I've actually had to grind the entire game. There wasn't a whole lot for me to do, I trained everyone near Level 52, which was easy enough since everyone was already Level 50 except Puffball. After that, I got some Heart Scales and used them all to teach my team some odd moveset selections, and then it was time for the league!
It should go without saying that I started with Hala, because mono-Fairy and all.
I began with Madison against Hariyama, and got off an Intimidate. He used Close Combat for 1/4, then I used Play Rough AND MISSED. But I had Leftovers propping me up. He used it again, and I was near half, but I hit with Play Rough and OHKO'd him.
Crabominable was next. I switched in Symphonic, and despite resistance, Ice Hammer did over half. Dang! I used Moonblast, which did get the OHKO this time thanks to the Expert Belt. (This was my second try - first try I came short and he finished me).
Primeape was next. I brought in Revolver as he used Cross Chop, doing well over 1/3 even with resistance. He hit again and left me with less than 1/4, but Moonblast slammed him.
Poliwrath was afterwards. I brought in Puffball and took a Waterfall for over 1/4. I got in a Leech Seed, and he missed with Submission before Leech Seed sapped him and healed some for me. I then got in a Charm before he used another Submission… And it scored a critical hit to get me to half. REALLY?!?! Giga Drain did okay, and he used Submission and scored ANOTHER CRITICAL HIT!!!!! REALLY?!?!?!?! After Leech Seed got him into the red, he healed, and Giga Drain did okay. I used another Charm to make sure he wasn't doing shit, then he was below half. Another Giga Drain got him to the red, and after another weak Waterfall which Leech Seed healed up, he was finished.
Bewear was last. I opted to stay in and use Leech Seed before he used Hammer Arm for slightly under half. I then used Charm, and he used Hammer Arm to get me back right near half. I brought in Revolver, and with -2, Hammer Arm left me with 4 HP, but Leech Seed healed that up a bit. Draining Kiss did around half his remaining health, and he had a well deserved miss with Hammer Arm before taking some Leech Seed damage. He healed, and Draining Kiss didn't do a whole lot, but he was basically on the run. I used Baby-Doll Eyes before he hit with Hammer Arm for a pretty weak hit, and Leech Seed got me 2 HP short of full. I used another Baby-Doll Eyes, and after Hammer Arm and Leech Seed I was 1 HP short. After another Baby-Doll Eyes, and another weak Hammer Arm, Leech Seed healed me to full, allowing me to slam him with Moonblast for the win and get Revolver to Level 53.
I then decided that Acerola would be next up, even though I had two team members with type advantages for Olivia.
I began with Madison once again against Sableye, and she used Fake Out for like 1/12 my HP, then she used Confuse Ray, but I hit through it and Play Rough was an OHKO.
Frosslass was next. She used Blizzard and got me into the red, then I hit myself and was left with 5 HP. I switched in Undercover, and she used Ice Shard, which busted my disguise. I went for Shadow Sneak, which did less than half, and she used Confuse Ray. I brought in Revolver, who took a Shadow Ball for less than 1/3, then she used Confuse Ray again. But I hit through it with Moonblast and finished her, and Madison grew to Level 53.
Dhelmise was next. I then hit myself in confusion for a weak hit as she used Slam for half my remaining health on the dot, then I hit with Moonblast for around 1/3 her health before she used Slam and finished me. I had to bring in McFlurry, and knowing that her last three were all weak to Ice, I went for a Nasty Plot before she used Slam for not even 1/3 my health. I got in another as she then used another Slam and left me with a little over 1/3 my total health. She was then slammed with an Ice Beam.
Palossand was next. I stayed in and use Ice Beam, which OHKO'd. Drifblim was OHKO'd also.
Afterwards I decided it was time for Olivia. I felt I was well prepared enough here.
I began with Puffball against Relicanth, and used Giga Drain and OHKO'd, which I was surprised by. I'm not complaining, but I was surprised that it got the OHKO.
Then we had Lycanroc. I opted to stay in and use Charm, perfect timing before she used the Z-Move, Continental Crush, which even with that did slightly over half. Then I used Leech Seed, as she used Stone Edge and got me into the red, but Leech Seed was propping that up. I switched in Symphonic as she hit with Stone Edge for 1/3, but that was once again being propped up by Leech Seed. She used Stone Edge for less than half my remaining health as I got in Sparlking Aria, which finished her. And Puffball grew to Level 53.
Golem was next up. Knowing I couldn't OHKO it because of Sturdy, I switched in Revolver, who took a Thunder Punch for over 1/3… And got paralyzed. She then got me to 1/5 with another hit, and thankfully I hit through paralysis and used Moonblast for a little less than half before she finished me. I then brought in Symphonic again and finished her. And Symphonic grew to Level 53.
Carbink was next. For that, I decided to stay in and use the Z-Move, Oceanic Operetta, which got the OHKO with a critical hit that I doubt mattered. Maybe it did, I don't fucking know.
Lastly was Probopass. I opted to stay in and use Sing, which sadly missed as she hit with Thunder Wave. Then she used Sandstorm, and Sparkling Aria did less than 1/3. Sheesh! I switched in Madison and got off a pointless Intimidate as she used Power Gem for slightly over 1/3. After some sandstorm damage, I used Bulldoze and got her into the red before she used Thunder Wave again. She healed, sure enough, while my Bulldoze scored a critical hit and got her into the red. She healed AGAIN, and Bulldoze looked to do narrowly over half before the sandstorm subsided. One more Bulldoze finished her.
Lastly was of course Kahili. This was a battle I was worried about for sure. In fact it took me a second try because of Crobat.
I began with Symphonic against Skarmory, and as she used Spikes, Sparkling Aria hit for over half. She used it again, and I proceeded to finish her with another hit.
Mandibuzz was next up. Needing to save Symphonic for Oricorio, I brought in Undercover as she used Brave Bird to bust my disguise. I hit with Play Rough for under half, which isn't good. She then used Flatter to give me a pointless Special Attack boost and confuse me. With an idea in mind, I brought in Revolver, took some Spikes damage, and then she used Brave Bird for a decent hit and some recoil. Then I switched back to Undercover as she used Brave Bird again and had me low on health. Thankfully, I hit with Play Rough and finished her thanks to that recoil, and Leftovers propped me up to half.
Next was Toucannon. I switched in Madison, took some Spikes damage and got off the Intimidate before she used the Z-Move, Supersonic Skystrike, which left me with 18 HP. She then heated up her beak, and I used Rock Tomb, which scored a critical hit for roughly 2/3 her health before she used Beak Blast and finished me. I brought in Revolver and took some Spikes damage, and she readied Beak Blast, but it was too little too late, as Moonblast finished her.
Then we came to Crobat. I had to stay in and use Baby-Doll Eyes, cutting her Attack before she finished me with Poison Fang. Then I brought in McFlurry and took some Spikes damage, and she missed with Supersonic, allowing me to use my Z-Move, Subzero Slammer, on base of Blizzard, and OHKO her. And McFlurry grew to Level 53.
Lastly was Oricorio. She used Revelation Dance, which finished me. I brought in Puffball, and after some Spikes damage, used Tailwind, then she used Air Slash and KO'd me. I brought in Symphonic and took some Spikes damage, and thanks to the Tailwind was faster, and managed to slam her with Sparkling Aria for the win, and grew to Level 54.
So that left us with but one opponent left. I adjusted my team to prepare for this fight… But then I realized that I never picked up Taunt. So there goes my "shut down Stealth Rock" strategy, but hopefully we could make do without it. I sat in the throne, and Kukui showed up, ready for battle!
This did in fact take three tries. Not gonna go into what happened, but it was time for another go!
I began with Symphonic against Lycanroc. As he used Stealth Rock, I responded with Sparkling Aria, which OHKO'd him.
Next was the thing I was most afraid of, Magnezone. I opted to stay in and use Moonblast, which didn't do much at all, and no Special Attack drop, before he used Thunderbolt and got me to my Focus Sash. I missed with Sing, only for him to use Mirror Coat and fail. I used Sing again, and hit the second time. I used Sparkling Aria for a pretty good hit as he continued to snooze. He didn't heal, so I finished him. Alright, this is looking very promising!
Decidueye was next, and that was fine with me. I had to stay in and use Baby-Doll Eyes to cut his Attack… And he wasted his Z-Move on my 1 HP Primarina. Haha! Suit yourself, buddy. I brought in McFlurry, and took some Stealth Rock damage, then he was somehow faster and used Leaf Blade for exactly half my total health even from -1. Then I proceeded to use MY Z-Move, Subzero Slammer, on base of Blizzard… Which, thankfully, got the OHKO. Whew!
After that was Snorlax. I had to stay in, and used Ice Beam, which dealt a pretty weak hit before Heavy Slam finished me. I brought in Puffball next, and after Stealth Rock, I used Charm, then he used Heavy Slam for a little over half my remaining health, but Leftovers looked to narrowly get me out of that range. I had to use Leech Seed after that, and he used Heavy Slam and scored a critical hit, which finished me. Geez, are you serious?! I brought in Madison and got off an Intimidate, then went for a Play Rough that dealt a decent hit. Then he used Heavy Slam for a weak hit (especially since I still had the Babiri Berry) which Leech Seed sapped off. Then I used Play Rough and got him into the red, lowering his Attack more along the way, then he used Heavy Slam. Unfortunately, Leech Seed didn't finish him, and he healed. Play Rough was looking like a 3HKO, and Leech Seed didn't get him to half, so I used Bulldoze to rough him up a little. Then he switched it up and used Body Slam, which thankfully didn't paralyze me. After Leech Seed, he didn't heal again, so Play Rough did him in.
After that was Braviary. I had to stay in, and as he used Tailwind, I went for Charm to half his Attack. I opted for another Charm, so he was crippled big time, and he used Whirlwind and brought me out to Undercover. I switched over to Revolver, only for him to use Whirlwind AGAIN and bring me out to Madison once again, getting off an Intimidate. I used Play Rough for around 40% or so as he used Whirlwind yet again and brought me out to Undercover once more. Then the Tailwind petered out. I switched back to Revolver as he used Tailwind once again. He then attacked with Brave Bird, and with -5… It still did almost a quarter of my health. Draining Kiss did decent and healed some health on my end. I used Moonblast, which…left him with 1 HP!!! He used Whirlwind and brought me out to Madison again, getting off an Intimidate and leaving him at -6. He healed. Play Rough did around 1/3 and the Tailwind petered out. He used Tailwind again, and I used my last Play Rough to get him to 1/3. I got in a Scary Face before he used Whirlwind and brought me out to Undercover yet again. I used Swords Dance, but he used Whirlwind and brought me back out to Madison. With no PP left that can hit him, I used Scary Face before he used Whirlwind and brought me over to Undercover again before the Tailwind petered out. Then I missed with Play Rough, which really stinks, as he used Tailwind. Then he used Brave Bird, which busted my disguise and didn't even finish him off. And HE FUCKING HEALED AGAIN. Play Rough did what looked like less than 1/3. I had to go for Swords Dance, but he used Whirlwind and brought me out to Revolver. I used Moonblast for over half his remaining health, and he used Tailwind. I used Moonblast again and FINALLY finished that Braviary off, and all three of my remaining members gained a level.
Lastly was Ninetales. I had to stay in, and got the Quick Claw, and Moonblast got the Special Attack drop and around 1/3, and he used Safeguard. Then he hit with Blizzard and scored a CRITICAL FUCKING HIT and finished me. I had to bring in Madison, and got off a pointless Intimidate, then Blizzard left me with 8 HP, allowing me to get in a Bulldoze and get him below half and a Speed drop. He finished me with Ice Shard, and it was just Undercover left. At the edge of my seat, I used Play Rough… And it finished him! YES!
So after I was crowned Champion, we went to the festival, and Lillie brought me to the Ruins of Conflict to face Tapu Koko. It OHKO'd Symphonic with Discharge, but I brought in McFlurry and took over half from it only to get paralyzed and miss with Blizzard, then it finished me with Electro Ball. I brought in Puffball and used Leech Seed before it used Nature's Madness for half, but that was propped up with multiple matters. It used Agility, while Giga Drain did okay, and I eventually took care of it.
And with that, the challenge was finally done. Whew!