After over 1500 unsuccessful encounters trying to get a shiny Blacephalon, I decided I'd come back to it later, and after hearing of Team Rainbow Rocket taking over the Aether Foundation, we made our way there and took on an extremely difficult fight against Faba and his cohort. We entered the castle, where it had been infiltrated, but Guzma wasn't about to have any mischief in his way! Two more grunts got bested, and then we waded our way through some warp panels until we got to Archie. But after failing twice, I decided to go back for some levels, so I went back to Poni Island and started taking on some post-game trainers, and got the two "HMs" from the Hidden Maidens. There were some strong trainers at Poni Plains, but aside from the Veteran, none of them really put it down on me too hard. As far as Poni Coast and Gauntlet went, one Black Belt with a Bulk Up Machamp was very scary, but he missed with Cross Chop against Elsa. And we had the double battle at the very end, who also proved strong, especially with Flame Body from Volcarona being a thing, but I managed to turn it into a 2-on-1 fight after getting rid of all the male's Fire-types, which made the rest a little easier, and I had no idea why the female didn't just demolish Finn who was almost dead. I tried to take on Red or Blue, but neither of them were going in my favor, so I left. But once I was all done with that, my team was all Level 59-61, so I returned to the Rainbow Rocket building. I beat some grunts, and then made my way to Maxie.
Mightyena led off with a Thunder Fang against Amanzi and did over half, but I OHKO'd with Moonblast.
Crobat was next, and I switched out for Elsa to fight that, and she took a Sludge Bomb for less than 1/3. Then he used Toxic, but Ice Beam was a clean-cut OHKO.
Camerupt came next. For that I chose to stay in and use Hydro Pump, which missed - because of course it did - but he missed with Stone Edge in return, so give and take. I then hit this time and OHKO'd.
I had 1/3 left when Weezing came out, and he used Pain Split, which took some out of him but got me over half, while Ice Beam did pretty decent. Unfortunately, he finished me with Thunderbolt. I brought in Antennae, and he used Pain Split again to get him around 60% and me to 5/8, while my Scald got him low. He used Pain Split again, and I was at around 40% or so before I finished him.
Groudon was last, and got in the Drought, but I decided to sack off Ripple, who was left with 1 HP (!!!) from Earthquake, but he finished me with Solar Beam. I then brought in Cargo to get rid of the sunlight with Drizzle, and then used Tailwind for good measures after taking an Ancient Power for narrowly over half. Hydro Pump got the OHKO for the win.
Then we returned to Archie.
Amanzi took over half from Mightyena's Thunder Fang but Moonblast got the OHKO.
Muk came next and I used Baby-Doll Eyes before he finished me, and I don't remember exactly what happened, but I know that it involved Ripple getting him low, and then Elsa coming in and finishing him with Ice Beam.
Crobat came after, and I chose to stay in, and he used Toxic, but Ice Beam with the Never-Melt Ice was an OHKO.
Sharpedo was next up, and I switched in Finn, who took a critical hit Night Slash for less than 3/4, so he would have taken less than half had it not been for the crit, sadly, and was 2HKO'd. I brought in Cargo then, and Night Slash did narrowly over half but I used Tailwind, then Hurricane got him low and confused him… And he hit himself and was finished off.
Last was Kyogre. I stayed in and used Hurricane for a light hit before he finished me with Thunder. Antennae taking barely over half from Thunder thanks to the Wacan Berry, and Mirror Coat didn't finish him, but then I had just Lapras left, and Ice Shard managed to get the job done.
Guzma then caused two grunts to turn into idiots, and after Lillie healed me, I decided to return to the Battle Tree to have another shot against Blue. There was a lot of luck on my end, but unfortunately he still won. The next morning, I gave it another try, and managed to actually win. Long story short, he was weird and got unlucky against Cargo, who was able to OHKO Exeggutor and Arcanine with the respective STAB super-effective moves. It came down to Gyarados as his last one, and Amanzi was able to lower his Attack before being finished off, then I kept using Lunge with Antennae to counteract his Dragon Dances, and then once he finally finished off Antennae, Finn was able to finish the job.
With that done and over with, I looked at the Move Tutors, and decided to teach Liquidation to Ripple, as surely it was better than Razor Shell, which I had like never used. But I returned to Team Rocket's Castle. I skipped all the grunts I could on the way to Cyrus, and then it was time for…well, Cyrus.
I led with Antennae against Houndoom, and Dark Pulse did over 1/3 but Liquidation got the OHKO.
Then we had Honchkrow. I had to stay in, and he used Sky Attack, but Liquidation got him low. Then he finished me. I brought in Ripple, and he didn't heal, and for some reason readied Sky Attack again, but Liquidation finished him.
And then we came to Crobat. I stayed in, and X-Scissor did less than 2/3, but Crabhammer did over half. After two minutes contemplating my choices, I brought in Elsa, and X-Scissor did 1/3. Cross Poison scored a critical hit and got me to 1/4, but Ice Beam finished him and got Ripple to Level 61.
Weavile came next in line, and I chose to sack off Ripple to a Brick Break. Then I brought in Amanzi and took less than 1/3 from Ice Punch before Moonblast OHKO'd.
Dialga was last. Once again, I spent at least two minutes contemplating my choices and their outcomes, and brought in Finn. Sure enough, he used Thunderbolt, which failed. I decided to sack off Elsa as he used Roar of Time. Despite my initial plan to try to use Swampert with the Ground Z-Move right away, I instead brought in Amanzi, with a more interesting strategy. As he recharged, I brought in Amanzi and used Encore, locking him into Roar of Time. He was forced to use it, which failed, and Moonblast did okay. I used it again, and he was below half. Unfortunately, I timed it badly, as in not bothering to check how long it would last, because the Encore ended. Banking on Thunderbolt again, I brought in Finn once more, and I was correct. With that, I switched to Cargo, who was OHKO'd with Roar of Time. But that allowed me to bring in Finn and use the Z-Move, Tectonic Rage, which finished him.
Rotom clarified for Cyrus that I'm kind to all Pokemon, and he decided to return to his world, but not without giving me the Galactic Key. Then I returned to Mount Lanakila to reteach Perish Song to Elsa, because I felt like that would be necessary for Lysandre. I then returned and made my way through some Persian statues - along the way, a grunt missed with two 95 accuracy fangs in a row, haha, served him right - and reached Lysandre, who manipulated his ultimate weapon so both of the buttons would power it up. Can I beat him to the clock?!
I started with Cargo against Mienshao, and Drizzle activated. I used Protect to block his Fake Out, then he used U-Turn for a weak hit and went to…Pyroar, for whatever reason, and Hurricane did narrowly over half. He used Will-o-Wisp and burned me, but that was fine as Hurricane finished him, and got me to Level 62.
Honchkrow came next, and unfortunately Dark Pulse almost KO'd me and caused me to flinch, then the next one finished me. So I used Ripple, and Dark Pulse did over 1/3, but I missed with Crabhammer. Another Dark Pulse got me below 1/4, but I hit with Crabhammer this time and OHKO'd without a crit thanks to the rain.
Mienshao came next and immediately finished me with High Jump Kick. After over a minute juggling between my two starters, I went with Amanzi, and High Jump Kick did over half despite being not very effective, which is telling of this game's strength. Moonblast OHKO'd, though.
Gyarados was next, and Mega Evolved, and used Stone Edge… But that missed!!! Moonblast did well over half, but he hit the next turn. I brought in Finn and Waterfall did a little less than 2/3, allowing me to use Counter and finish him.
Xerneas was last and immediately finished me with Moonblast. I brought in Elsa, and he used Moonblast, which did 2/3, but I was able to get in the Perish Song. I used Protect to block another Moonblast and drop the perish count to 2, then let in Antennae to take 3/4 from Moonblast, then he finished me, but it didn't matter, because the perish count fell to zero, ending him.
So I pressed the blue button, ending the ultimate weapon, and Lysandre stepped aside. I made it back to Lillie, who healed me up, and then it was time for Ghetsis. This one I was mildly worried about, though, because Zekrom, but I did have an idea.
I began with Ripple against Co***rigus, and Night Slash did over half with a critical hit, and he used Will-o-Wisp, but mercifully, it missed. Crunch finished him, with another crit no less.
Bouffalant came next and OHKO'd me with Megahorn, but Mummy triggered and turned his Reckless ability into such. I brought in Cargo, and got off Drizzle, then he used Head Charge, which got me in the red with one hit before I used Tailwind. Hydro Pump hit, and got him short of healing range before Head Charge finished me. I brought in Antennae, and used Liquidation to finish him off, but Mummy got rid of my Water Bubble. Bisharp was next, and even with rain, Liquidation did less than half before Stone Edge OHKO'd, and the Tailwind petered out. I brought in Amanzi, and Iron Head did almost 2/3, then Sparkling Aria finished him and got me to Level 63.
Then we had Hydreigon, for whatever reason… I had no choice but to stay in, and Hyper Voice did 1/3, leaving me with 6 HP and triggering my Iapapa Berry, which didn't matter, as Moonblast slammed him.
Last was, of course, Zekrom, who immediately finished me with Bolt Strike. I then brought in Finn, and Dragon Claw did just short of 3/4, allowing me to OHKO him with Counter for the win, and Finn grew to Level 63.
So Ghetsis went all berserk and was about to end Lillie for good, but Colress came in all white and fancy and was all, yo dawg, I ain't having any of your silly games, yo! He sent Ghetsis into the ether. Colress then encouraged us to proceed. There were a few adjustments I had to make to be prepared for this battle, however, so I did just them before returning to the castle, where Giovanni had the president in a deep slumber. I wasn't about to have any of that, though, so I challenged him to battle!
As he began with Dugtrio, I started with Ripple. He opened with Sandstorm, but I hit through the Sand Veil with Liquidation and OHKO'd him.
Rhyperior was next, which was unfortunate because I was hoping that would be after the Nidos. Nevertheless, I stayed in, avoided a Megahorn, and used Crabhammer, getting him to healing range. He healed, and Liquidation did over half, but then he hit with Megahorn. I brought in Cargo to get rid of the sandstorm with Drizzle, and KO'd him with Hydro Pump.
Then we had Nidoqueen. I decided to stay in, and took over half from Sludge Wave, but I was able to get in a Tailwind and use Hydro Pump, which OHKO'd. Nidoking came next and followed suit.
Lastly was Mega Mewtwo X, who even with the Tailwind was still faster and finished me with Stone Edge. I brought in Elsa, but unfortunately he saw through my Chople Berry and used Stone Edge again, which OHKO'd me. I then used Finn, who survived a Zen Headbutt in the red, and used Counter, which OHKO'd him for the win.
So Giovanni saw that I raise my Pokemon with utmost care, and the castle returned to normal. Lillie and Lusamine thanked me for saving the day once again, and Faba accidentally slipped out his plan and got busted. Wicke gave me a whole ton of Big Nuggets, and Giovanni wondered where to take his evil scheme from there. Rotom commented on how you don't see villainous team invasions like that every day, and with that, the challenge was complete.
Also, I didn't take on Dexio's Psychic-type team, because before beating Team Rainbow Rocket I wasn't feeling good enough to do so without items, I'm sure I could if I wanted but I don't think it'll matter either way.