The day of preliminary screening

As everyone comes into the stadium they see a titantron posted with everyone's matches with scheduled times.

"So why are none of us facing the traitors?" Chloe asks as all the alolan elite trainers sit in a conference room. "Because it doesn't count as revenge in a screening round. If we're going to defeat them it's gotta be in the main competition." Ash explains as Greninja sits behind him with a midday lycanroc in his lap lovingly licking his face.

"So this round basically means nothing? Stanley asks. "Incorrect. We need this round to narrow down the competition to the top 256. I know we'll make it. The question is how many of the traitors will?" Ash says.

"What do we about the traitors who don't make it past screening round?" Marcus asks. "Depending on what island they choose to go to I'll dispatch one of you frontier brains to take care of it." Ash says.

"Why not one of us?" Gary asks. "I'm saving you guys for specific traitors." Ash says before a knock comes to the door.

"Who is it?" "Stadium security. I've got a man and a sylveon out here. The man is asking to speak with you and the Sylveon has a pokeball." A feminine voice says. "Enter." Ash says.

As the door opens Giovanni and a Sylveon enter.

"Giovanni." Cilan says with obvious disdain.

"Sylveon." Pikachu and Greninja says with just as much disdain.

"Close the door and speak." Ash says surprising everyone. Giovanni does as instructed and says, "It's been a while, Ash. I came to ask for clemency." "Granted." Ash says.

"That easy?" Giovanni asks surprised. "Consider it a favor from a dead man and woman." Ash says. "So Meowth made it to you. I'm glad he's safe." Giovanni says. "He refuses to battle." Ash says.

"May I ask a favor?" Giovanni asks. "Speak." Ash sighs. "I want to be put up against Delia. I owe it to your father." Giovanni says. "You knew my father?" Ash asks with a raised eyebrow. "How could I not. He's my brother." Giovanni says surprising most of the room.

"Was or is?" Ash asks remaining impassive. "Is. After Delia tried to kill him when you were three he came to me and asked for help. He's currently on Akala Island." Giovanni says. "Tell him to come to Mount Lanukila tomorrow morning and I'll grant your request." Ash says. Without hesitation Giovanni makes the call.

"Everyone prepare for your matches. Pikachu, Greninja, and I will speak with Sylveon alone." Ash orders. Without complaint everyone except Lillie, Lana, and Mallow leave the room.

"You've got five minutes to speak, Sylveon. Make it count." Ash says.

"Kazuki, I need help. Since Delphox saw Greninja she's been in a frenzy and Serena isn't much better. They've all turned on me. I need to get away. Please don't send me back." Sylveon says after setting her pokeball down.

"Candy, hold on a minute." Greninja says as the Lycanroc in his lap climbs down and runs to Sylveon. She sniffs the fairy type for a moment before licking her cheek.

"Fine. We'll take you in but you will have to face them in battle at some point in the master's league." Ash says. The girls barter no argument as he picks up the pokeball and stores it in his nanodex.

Candy lifts Sylveon by the scruff of her neck and carries her to Pikachu.

"No, Candy." Pikachu says almost immediately. Seeing this reaction the Lycanroc carries her to Greninja who takes her and sits quietly with her.

"Tell me what Serena, Delphox, and Pancham did." Greninja says. "Well for one Pancham is now a very aggressive Pangoro and instead of trying to bring him under control they went with it and became just like him. Sure they still have the same style and grace as before but when it comes to a battle they're all brutal." Sylveon says as she snuggles into his lap and tries to be comfortable.

"We'll deal with it when the time comes, Greninja. For now we follow the plan." Ash says though his anger is visible. As one the three alolan girls calm him.

"Can she be mommy?" Candy asks surprising Sylveon and getting everyone else to laugh. "No, Candy. Sylveon and I are only friends. She likes Clemont's Bunnelby." Greninja says with a chuckle. "Not anymore. I love Pikachu." Sylveon says. "Unfortunately he's mates with a blind Buneary." Greninja says.

"Come on, you all. The first battles will be starting soon." Ash says before returning all of his pokemon and heads out with his girlfriends to watch the matches with what looks like calculated disinterest.

As the four of them watch the matches Acerola approaches with a sad expression.

"What's wrong, Acerola?" Lillie asks. "I'm in a bit of a pickle." Acerola answers.

"What happened?" Ash asks. "I've fallen in love with one of the traitors." Acerola answers. "Which one?" Lana asks. "Sawyer. I'm sorry, Kazuki." Acerola says with tears in her eyes. "It's fine, Acerola. If you really feel that way then try and turn him to our side." Ash says as if he expected this to happen.

"You knew this would happen?" Acerola asks surprised. "I had a feeling it would be one of the traitors you fell for. I just wasn't sure which." Ash says.

"So you said it's okay?" Acerola asks. "Go ahead, Acerola." Ash says with a smirk. "Thanks, Kazuki. I'll go find him." Acerola says before running off.

"What happens if they turn her instead?" Lana asks. "Then we treat her as a traitor and follow the original plan." Ash says passively.

"Hey, Sawyer. Can we talk?" Acerola asks as she finds all the traitors except Lyra and Barry who are in battles. "Oh hey, Acerola. Good to see you. Sure but I'd like to stay here. I'm studying the competition." Sawyer says though he seems to bew focused on the battlefield. "That's fine I guess. It was about the battle we had the other day." Acerola says going back to her dazed personality.

"What about it?" Sawyer asks. "Well remember how I had that look I had after the battle?" Acerola asks. "Yeah. You didn't really say anything. Just gave me the symbol and walked away." Sawyer says. "Sorry about that. It's just that I kinda got embarrassed because I have a crush on you." Acerola says. "A crush on me? Wow. This is unusual. I've never had a girl have a crush on me." Sawyer says surprised as he gives her his full attention while both Serena and Misty look on with evil smirks.

"I guess there's a first for everything because I've never admitted to having a crush on anyone.  To be honest I've never had a crush on anyone." Acerola says. "Well I would love to get to know you." Sawyer says. "Great. Why don't we have lunch a little later." Acerola says with a wide smile. "Great idea.

"Where should we meet up." Sawyer asks. "Well how about in front of the dorms and we can head into Malie city."  Acerola suggests. "Sounds good." Sawyer says.

"Sawyer, weren't we going to go over strategies during lunch." Misty cock blocks. "Oh yeah. We were. Sorry, Acerola." Sawyer says. "It's okay. Here's my number. Just call me whenever you're free." Acerola says writing her number on his hand and leaves.

"Wait, Acerola. Could we talk?" Serena says chasing after her. "Sure. I guess." Acerola says warily.

"Could you tell me about Kazuki?" Serena asks. "It's not my place. I only know him as the leader of this region and an acquaintance." Acerola says looking for an escape route.

"You too seem close. I find it hard to believe that you two are only acquaintances. I mean he gave you a position as a frontier brain." Serena says. "Actually it wasn't Kazuki. The head of all battle frontiers, Scott, asked me to be one after Kazuki sent a group of us to take on Brandon's set. Really out of a group of fifty only the sixteen current Alola frontier brains managed to win before the deadline." Acerola corrects.

"But you still know him right?" Serena asks passive-aggressively. "I mean we've talked a few times since the Alola battle frontiers founding during meetings but I don't know him beyond a few details he's shared with me." Acerola says.

"Acerola, Kazuki wants to speak with you. He says it's important. On top of that your match is coming up soon." Lana says jogging over. "Right. Let's go." Acerola says glad for the save. Without another word the two women rush off leaving an angry Serena standing on her own.

"Kazuki will be mine." She says to herself.

"Stay away from Serena. She is dangerous." Ash says as Lana and Acerola come back to him. "I got that much from my short interaction with her." Acerola says.

"What should we do if she approaches us?" Lana asks. "I'm having everyone travel in pairs at the least." Ash says after some thought. "Understood." Lana says.

"What about my dates with Sawyer?" Acerola asks. "Specifying that you want him to come alone and have someone good at sneaking around shadow you with orders to incapacitate any of the traitors and or threats they come across." Lily answers before Ash can. "Got it." Acerola says without hesitation.

"For now take Mallow with you and get ready for your upcoming match." Ash says with a chuckle. Without complaint the two named girls walk off.

"So who will you assign me to?" Lana asks. "You'll stay with us for the moment but later you'll be paired with Dawn." Ash says before his match is called up.

As he arrives he sees he's facing a trainer named Sai.

"This battle will be will be between champion Kazuki and trainer Sai. The battle will be one on one and will be over when one side's pokemon is unable to battle." The ref says.

"Chad, I choose you." Ash says sending out his midnight Lycanroc. "Samurott, let's go." Sai says. "Battle begin. Sai has the first move." The ref says.

"Samurott, use razor shell." Sai says. "Chad, use counter followed by thunder punch." Ash says to his opponents surprise. Chad easily counters the razor shell blasting his opponent away before quickly getting back into close quarters with it and lands a thunder punch. "Samurott, use water gun followed by aqua jet." Sai says quickly regaining his composure. "Chad, use rock climb to dodge then use focus punch." Ash says. Despite Samurott's superior speed it is unable to land the water gun. As it goes for aqua jet it's met with a focus punch that overpowers it.

"Samurott is unable to battle. The winner is champion Kazuki." The ref says.

"Here's some friendly advice. When battling even when you don't know what pokemon you're facing always prepare for both physical and special attacks. Never just call one attack unless you're sure it can finish the job." Ash says as he and his opponent head over to a juice bar. "Thanks for the advice. It's no wonder you're a champion." Sai says with a chuckle. "I started out as just a normal trainer like you. Work hard and one day you may reach the title of champion yourself." Ash encourages before going to watch Lillie's match.

Hey, Nightfuries. So I know updates have been slow but I promise to work hard. Just been having some difficulties recently. Till next time. Stay classy, Nightfuries.