With Mount Lanakila in our sight, we headed up there, where Gladion came down the lift and wanted to offer us his thanks in battle! As that disco dance theme was fired up one last time, I led with Elsa against his Crobat, who used Acrobatics for unfortunately more than half, but Ice Beam with the Never-Melt Ice was thankfully an OHKO. Then Lucario finished her with Aura Sphere. Cargo had to 3HKO it thanks to a miss with Hydro Pump, then Zoroark came and wasted his Z-Move. Amanzi easily finished that and got in a Baby-Doll Eyes against Silvally, but even then Multi-Attack finished me. Ripple was able to survive a Multi-Attack with 1/5, and use Crunch for 1/3 or so. I sacked off Finn, Antennae took less than half, and finished him with the Z-Move. He then said that Lillie was out on Mahalo Trail, and gave me a PP Max for my troubles and declared that we aren't enemies anymore, hoping to see me again.
Then it was time for Mount Lanakila proper! The first trainer had a Malamar that dealt quite a bit of damage thanks to Contrary Superpower, but it did help that Finn got the Quick Claw against him. Soon after, we dealt with a Goodra that had some strong Attack and was bested by Finn's Counter after it was locked into Outrage. And there was a Relicanth that Finn OHKO'd with a critical hit. We also dealt with two Black Belts in a double battle, one used a Bewear that Finn barely lived Thrash from and was able to KO with Counter. The second one was a little more annoying, considering Finn missed with Aqua Tail against his Pangoro, but we managed. Later on there was a Veteran who was not hard at all for Amanzi, especially considering her Milotic used Blizzard against it instead of Hydro Pump, and missed twice. Things were going pretty good until the Veteran + Ace Trainer duo at the very end, who led with a Glalie with Freeze-Dry and a Vikavolt, and once the Vikavolt used Agility, they demolished me. But the second time, I led with Elsa and Antennae, and had the former use Perish Song to send the Vikavolt off, and the latter use Mirror Coat against Glalie's Freeze-Dry. The Veteran's Tyranitar was content on using Earthquake and not Rock-type attacks, and they did deal a decent round of damage but overall I managed. They stepped aside, allowing me to progress to the top of Mount Lanakila, and by extension, the Pokemon League.
After using the Move Relearner to get Hurricane on Cargo, I headed up the mountain to see Kukui, and watch a really cool scene with Amanzi coming out of his Poke Ball and looking happy and determined. But we weren't ready JUST yet - I trained Amanzi, Cargo and Antennae all to Level 55, and Finn, Elsa and Ripple to Level 54. Then I transferred my living Pokedex from my main copy to this game, allowing me to get the Shiny Charm, which I'll save for a specific purpose later. I also went to catch Solgaleo and Necrozma at Mahalo Trail and Mount Lanakila respectively, and then after some adjustments, it was time for the final fights! I began with Olivia, because Rock-type.
I began with Amanzi against Armaldo, and she used Crush Claw, which dealt a little less than half but lowered my Defense, while Sparkling Aria was an OHKO. Cradily was next, and hoping she would Stealth Rock, I chose to stay in and use Moonblast for around 1/3. But that was not the case, as she used Rock Tomb, which got me to 1/8. After over a minute of thinking of what to do, I brought in Antennae, who took an Energy Ball for a little over 1/4. Unfortunately, THEN was when she used Stealth Rock, while I used Lunge to get her to 1/4 or so. She didn't heal, and Energy Ball did 1/4 my health on the dot before Liquidation finished her. Gigalith was next, and she set up Sand Stream. I chose to stay in, and Liquidation did a little over half before she finished me with Stone Edge. I brought in Cargo next, who took some Stealth Rock damage, but Drizzle got rid of the sandstorm. Thankfully, Hydro Pump hit, allowing me to turn her into a bust. Lycanroc was next, and I decided to just sack off Cargo hoping she would use the Z-Move - and I was right, that is exactly what she did, which finished me. I then brought in Ripple, and after a bit of Stealth Rock damage, Stone Edge got me low, and Razor Shell…didn't finish her, even with the rain. Thankfully, she wasted her Full Restore, allowing me to use Crabhammer, which did OHKO this time. Probopass was last, and she was faster than me, and finished me with Power Gem, unfortunately. Finn was able to handle her from there, though.
I decided that I would take on Molayne next, because I felt that I had enough type advantages for him.
As he began with Klefki, I started with Antennae. He opened with a Reflect, as I started with an Infestation that barely scratched him, but started to take its toll. Then he set up Spikes, and I went for Liquidation, which dealt an okay hit, and even got the Defense drop. He then used a shameful Flash Cannon before another Liquidation got him…to 1 HP!!! I thought he would heal, but alas, he used Thunder Wave, paralyzing me before another Liquidation finished him. Magnezone was next, and Thunderbolt scored a critical hit that finished me before Reflect wore off. Come on, dude! I brought in Elsa, who took a bit of Spikes damage, then Thunderbolt KO'd. I brought in Cargo, and got off the Drizzle. I used Hurricane in the hopes of getting the confusion, but that was not the case, and Thunderbolt was an OHKO. I brought in Finn, and Tri Attack did less than half before Earthquake finished him. Metagross was next, and I had no choice but to stay in, and Zen Headbutt got me to 4 HP, but I used my Z-Move, Tectonic Rage, to OHKO him. Dugtrio was next and finished me with Earthquake. I brought in Ripple, took a bit of Spikes damage, and Earthquake did over half, but Razor Shell OHKO'd. Bisharp was last and finished me with X-Scissor, and I had just Amanzi left. Iron Head got me below 1/4, but no flinch, allowing me to OHKO him with Sparkling Aria and win.
Whew, that was brutal. That Magnezone was not a help. I decided that Acerola would be next, as I felt very prepared for her and it would hopefully be a good chance for Ripple to do something.
And she was who I led with against Banette, as she used Screech to half my Defense. Meanwhile, I OHKO'd her with Night Slash, which scored a critical hit. BOOM! Dhelmise was next, though, and I decided that Finn had done enough in the last two fights, so I sacrificed him to an Energy Ball, which OHKO'd. I brought in Elsa, and my Ice Beam did over half, but so did her Energy Ball. She didn't switch out, though, and the next shot was a 2HKO. Ripple grew to Level 55 along the way. Palossand was next, and I chose to stay in and use the Z-Move, Subzero Slammer, which got the OHKO. Froslass was next, and for that I switched out to Ripple again, as she used Shadow Ball for a little over 1/4, then she used Confuse Ray because that's what Froslass do, but I hit through it and OHKO'd her with Night Slash, without a critical hit. Drifblim was last, and for that I opted to stay in, as she used Amnesia. But I hit myself in confusion for around 1/6 my health. Then she used Ominous Wind, which scored a critical hit and got me JUST in the range where Aftermath would have finished me… Except even with a critical hit, Night Slash left her with a sliver. I switched back to Elsa, and she healed. Then she used Amnesia and was at +4, so my Ice Beam didn't do much at all. Then another Amnesia had her at +6. Ice Beam then left her at 2/3. She then used Focus Energy, joy. But I hit with Sing and put her to sleep, then I switched out for Antennae… But she used a Full Heal. Ominous Wind then scored a critical hit for a little over 1/4… And she got the boost. I used Infestation to start chipping away at her, and then she used Ominous Wind, which scored another critical hit for over half my remaining health, but I used Mirror Coat, which got her to the point where Infestation finished her off for the win.
That left just Kahili, and I knew she led with a dangerous threat, but most of the rest of her team shouldn't be as tough for mine. I then went in for it!
As she led off with Braviary, I began with Finn. Her Brave Bird did over 3/4 my health, and she took recoil damage, but Counter did her in. Mandibuzz was next, and she used Brave Bird to finish me. Knowing that Antennae would be dead weight here, I brought him in as she used Brave Bird again, which I actually survived with 20 HP. That allowed me to use Lunge, which lowered her Attack, yet I didn't even think that I had Liquidation which would've been much better. She had a little over half left, and used…Flatter? I hit through confusion and used Liquidation, which got her into the red. She healed, and I hit myself in confusion and was left with 4 HP. Then she finished me with Brave Bird. I then tried Ripple, and she used Flatter to confuse me, and I hit myself. Brave Bird did 1/3 my remaining health, and I hit myself again. Brave Bird left me with 21 HP, and I hit with Razor Shell, but for a light hit. She finished with Brave Bird and was right near half. I had to bring in Elsa, and she used Flatter, and I hit myself in confusion for a light hit, then her Brave Bird did less than 1/4 my remaining health before I hit and Ice Beam finished her. Hawlucha was next, though, so I switched in for Cargo, who took a Flying Press for a little over 1/4, then Poison Jab got me below half and poisoned me. At least Hurricane OHKO'd. Toucannon was next, and she used Beak Blast and finished me, but not without Hydro Pump doing 3/4 her health. I brought in Elsa again, and banking on her healing, I went for the Z-Move… She didn't heal, but used Screech, which missed. Subzero Slammer destroyed her. Oricorio was last, and I switched into Amanzi for that just because. She used Teeter Dance, then she used it again and I hit myself for 1/8. Air Slash caused me to flinch, and then got me into the red, but I hit through it and slammed her with Sparkling Aria, which also dealt a well-deserved critical hit that didn't matter, but served her right nonetheless.
With that, I had just one battle left, and I adjusted my team to prepare for it. A throne was sitting there, waiting for my arrival. It was Kukui… Or not! It was Hau! He was ready to give his everything for one last showdown!
This took a third try. First try, things started off promising, but then it came to Incineroar and Noivern left, and after Elsa missed with Hydro Pump which would have OHKO'd, Cargo got him to 1 HP and Amanzi was about to faint, so I reset. The battle sucked. It was just a terrible fight all-around. Second try, Antennae was about to OHKO his Raichu with Mirror Coat, but Thunderbolt got the paralysis and I got fully paralyzed. But I got it this time!
I began with Antennae against Raichu, who used Thunderbolt and got me into the red, but that allowed me to use Mirror Coat and get the OHKO. Crabominable was next, and used Power-Up Punch to finish me and get +1 Attack. Oh dear. I had to bring in Amanzi, who was brought into the red with Stone Edge, but Moonblast was an OHKO and got me to Level 56. Leafeon came after, and I had to sack off Ripple, who was 2HKO'd by Quick Attack followed by Leaf Blade (first try, Leaf Blade was an OHKO without a crit). I had to use Cargo, who triggered Drizzle, and Leaf Blade did 2/3 my health, but I used Tailwind to double my team's Speed before OHKO'ing him with Hurricane. Tauros came next, and after a pointless Intimidate, Hydro Pump got him into the red before Double-Edge finished me, and recoil got him even lower. I brought in Amanzi, banking on him healing, but he didn't, and the Tailwind petered out. I brought in Finn, THEN he healed, and Aqua Tail did over half. Double-Edge came short of activating my Iapapa Berry, and then Aqua Tail finished him. Incineroar was next, and Darkest Lariat finished me. I had just Elsa left, and Darkest Lariat did JUST under half, and Hydro Pump hit this time, and got a well-deserved OHKO just before the rain stopped. Noivern was last, and Dragon Pulse got me into the red, but Ice Beam got the OHKO and finished him for the win. Whew!
And with that, I had become the Champion. The credits passed, and with that, we had beaten the game!