The Alola elites and frontier brains sit in a private box with Ash while the other elites and brains have their own.

Diantha spends the time catching Cilan up on Clemont's battle style and choice in Pokémon.

"Kazuki, what is your take on the situation?" Mallow asks. "What do you mean?" Ash asks. "Cilan versus Clemont?" Mallow elaborates. "Not much to it. Cilan is a grass type user for all intents and purposes. Based on our intel the traitors have only seen him use Leafeon, Whimsicott, Cradily, Trevenant, Simisage, and Exeegutor. In addition Iris will be telling Clemont that Cilan also has Crustle and Stunfisk. That works in our favor because Cilan has more than just grass types and those two. The traitors don't know any of our full teams.

"By Diantha's analysis Clemont has Luxray, two Magnezones, Heliolisk, Diggersby, Chesnaught, Raichu, Jolteon, Ampharos, Dedenne, Manectric, and Emolga. Although we don't know for sure what six he has we know for sure Emolga and Jolteon are two. Emolga has the flying type making it strong against grass types and Jolteon having access to pin missile, signal beam, and double kick takes care of most of Cilan's known Pokémon, however Cilan has more than enough to deal with anything they can throw at him.

"Everyone, legendaries and mythicals are not to be used until six on six battles. When battles come up before then those Pokémon are to be left with either an elite or, if you have one, a significant other." Ash says.

"What about the ultra beasts we all have?" Chloe asks. "They all count in the same category as I mentioned." Ash says. 

"Oh come on. Why can't we use the ultra beasts?" Chloe complains. "It's because of how strong they are. With the training we put them through over the past five years even Bonnie's Poipole could take out an opponent in one hit. We can't be told we cheated if we don't use them. To be quite honest I designated certain legendaries or mythicals to certain traitor and to only be used in the final 64 to allow us the opportunity to use five other Pokémon first. That is the rule. We only use them after we've used five other Pokémon first." Ash says. Chloe grumbles about too many rules and not being allowed to just mop the floor with all of her opponents. Kiawe comforts her but when she's got her face buried in his bare chest he rolls his eyes in annoyance.

After a sound strategy session with Cilan the battles fly by with many epic clashes that wow both audience and competitor alike.

"Up next we have the Lumiose gym leader Clemont up against Alola's very own meadow lord brain Cilan from Melemele island." The announcer says.

As the two competitors meet on the battlefield Clemont says, "My victory is assured. I've not only analyzed your battle style but also the Pokémon you have. You have absolutely no chance of winning this. It's just bad luck that you got matched up with me in the opening round." Cilan merely rolls his eyes and smirks.

"This battle will be three on three. Substitutions are allowed and the battle will be decided when all of one side's Pokémon are unable to battle. Trainers, send out your Pokémon." the ref, who is a team skull grunt, says. "Trevenant, let's bring a bit of spice to this battle." Cilan says knowing his opponent will wait on him to pick his first Pokémon. "Just as I predicted. Emolga, let's go." Clemont says.

"Battle begin. Gym leader Clemont has the first move." The ref says.

"Emolga, use acrobatics followed by agility then double team." Clemont says. "Trevenant, use rock slide followed by foul play then will-o-wisp and leech seed." Cilan says. Although Emolga has a clear speed advantage the rock slide proves to be a difficult obstacle. The flying squirrel Pokémon agilely avoids the wave of falling rocks but the attack proves to ruse that puts the electric/flying type in line for a powerful foul play and follow up will-o-wisp. Unexpectedly Trevenant is held immobile by the paralysis from Emolga's static ability. Emolga uses that chance to set up with agility and double team. "Emolga, use air slash followed by light screen and U-turn." Clemont says. "Trevenant, try leech seed again then use facade followed by calm mind and poison jab." Cilan says as calm as a breeze. Despite having the speed advantage Emolga falls victim to a leech seed and facade combo that throws it to the ground where it takes burn damage and leaves it wide open to a poison jab after its opponent's calm mind. Refusing to give up Emolga gets into the air and lands a strong air slash that pushes its opponent back a few inches. As it goes for light screen its concentration is interrupted by the burn and leech seed delaying the barrier for a few seconds. "Trevenant, use shadow claw followed by X-scissor then swagger and wood hammer." Cilan says. Emolga fights through the constant damage and comes in fast with a U-turn ready. It dodges the shadow claw and X-scissor with relative ease but falls for the swagger when it's just inches away and fails its attack. Capitalizing on the opening Trevenant strikes with a devastating wood hammer.

"Emolga is unable to battle. Will gym leader Clemont please send out his next Pokémon." The ref says surprising the blond-haired man.

"But how. Emolga had both the type and speed advantage." Clemont complains. "Clemont, I'm a frontier brain and before that I was one of the Striaton city gym leader. Type disadvantage is something every gym leader has to overcome at the beginning of their career in order to be a challenge so the gym doesn't get shut down. As for speed advantage that speed can be used against you. Most people don't realize this but the faster a Pokémon is the quicker and more often a damaging status condition occurs. First tip of being an Alolan frontier brain is to utilize the effects of burn, poison, and confusion." Cilan explains. Clemont goes beet red as he looks ready to argue the fact but finds that it's backed by science.

"Luxray, let's go." the Lumiose gym leader says instead. "Battle resume." The ref says when Cilan doesn't switch.

"Luxray, use fire fang then ice fang and signal beam." Clemont says. "Trevenant, use bulldoze followed by earthquake then rock slide and swagger." Cilan says. Despite the paralysis Trevenant is able to move first and gets in a hefty bulldoze before taking both fire fang and ice fang. While the cat has its jaws locked on Trevenant's trunk the ghost/grass type hits a super effective earthquake and rock slide. Just as Luxray lets go it's hit with a swagger causing the electric type to hit itself in confusion. "Trevenant, use power-up punch then drain punch followed by spite and wood hammer." Cilan says. "Luxray, use swagger then throat chop and giga impact." Clemont says not showing his desperation of trying to gain control of the match. Trevenant gets fully paralyzed finally allowing Luxray to get the swagger off but this proves to work against it as the drain punch gets through as does the follow up spite. With both sides exhausted they decide to go for broke. Luxray skips the throat chop and goes in for the giga impact at the same moment Trevenant goes for the wood hammer causing an explosion.

"Double knock out. Will gym leader Clemont please send out his final Pokémon and will frontier brain Cilan please send out his second Pokémon?" The ref says. Seeing once again that Clemont will wait on him Cilan says, "Lycanroc, time to spice it up with some rugged flavor." Cilan says surprising all the traitors. The Lycanroc is a midnight form

"Since when do you use rock types?" Clemont asks. "Being a frontier brain doesn't limit me to a single type like being a gym leader normally does. I have a flavorful variety of Pokémon I use. Did you really think I wouldn't change my style knowing Iris would give you a synopsis of the Pokémon I have at my disposal? Since coming to Alola I've changed my team and style to decorate my exquisite menu of Pokémon." Cilan says. "Ugh these food references are so annoying. Iris was right. You are so infuriating.

"Jolteon, let's go." Clemont says before he can stop himself. "Battle resume." The ref says before the electric type gym leader can correct his mistake.

"Jolteon, use double kick followed by double team then toxic." Clemont says. "Lycanroc, use counter then sand attack followed by stone edge and stomping tantrum." Cilan says knowing he's got the match won. Through Jolteon's quickness it's able to land a super effective double kick but Lycanroc dishes out twice the damage with counter and blinds its opponent with sand attack so it doesn't see the oncoming stone edge and stomping tantrum. Jolteon tries a double team but because of the sand in its eyes it doesn't know which way to move so it runs blindly around in simple patterns. "Lycanroc, use howl followed by rock polish then swords dance and end this with a big crush claw." Cilan says. "Jolteon, go left to avoid the attacks." Clemont says when he sees the opposing Pokémon easily tracking his. Lycanroc powers up quickly and dashes forward. Unable to see how close its opponent is Jolteon is forced to take a massive crush claw head on.

"Jolteon is unable to battle. Meadow lord brain Cilan Advances to the next round." The ref says.

"Cilan obviously prepared for people to know his history as a grass type gym leader and diversified his team to compensate for it." Trip says. "Meaning any current knowledge we have on any of the brains and elites is basically useless." Iris groans.

"It just means we need to dig deeper into their teams and strategies. Sawyer, since you're dating that frontier brain girl get her to spill the beans on her friends' Pokémon and strategy." Misty says. "Right. I'll get as much as I can from her." Sawyer says hiding his distain at having to use his new girlfriend. "Pry if you have to. I want details on all of them." Misty orders. "Right." Sawyer says knowing this could ruin his relationship. He schedules a date with Acerola for the evening before watching the rest of the battles.

Stay classy, Nightfuries.