Chapter 0817: Battle Legends, Arcanine!（Three-in-One）

Darkness covered the earth. A black solar eclipse hung heavy in the sky. Vast Poni Canyon rang with the frantic cries of wild Pokémon.

Behind Natsume stood two majestic Pokémon, one a lion and one a tiger, both radiating the brilliant glow of the sun.

Solgaleo stared up at Necrozma looming overhead, rumbling a wary growl.

But beside it, Arcanine turned and shot back a confident look.

“Arrrooo!（ ￣ー￣）”

It’s just another day for us and our Trainer—we’ve seen worse. No big deal!

Solgaleo stood there, dumbfounded, mouth agape.

You call this “no big deal”?! What on earth have you two been through?

At Natsume’s feet, the darkness itself stretched and changed shape—forming the silhouette of Darkrai.

Fog rolled in. Darkrai rose out of the shadows, sapphire eyes scanning the sky.

Something strange flickered across its face.

Met every legendary Pokémon on earth… Now we’re dealing with legendary Pokémon from space?

Necrozma hovered below the blotting eclipse, made of black crystal, arms and head bristling with spikes, prism armor reflecting iridescent rainbows, gaze pure and cold as it surveyed the ground.

It didn’t attack right away.

After all, the instincts of a legendary Pokémon told it there was a real threat coming from this Trainer.

Necrozma was a cosmic legend, ruthless by nature.

Its core energy was “light”—that is, the Ultimate Aura.

Which meant Natsume’s Aura of Ripple and The Power of One had no effect.

In truth, Ultra Necrozma, Solgaleo, and Lunala had each brought light to the Alola region—known as The Radiant Lord, the Sun God, and the Moon God—revered by all.

The Radiant Lord wasn’t evil. In fact, it had blessed Alola. Only after losing its “light” did it become Necrozma—a tragedy, not a crime.

Restoring its reason was simple: infuse it with the “light” of Alola’s islands.

The immediate mission was to protect Nebby from being devoured by Necrozma, while also disabling Necrozma enough for it to accept the infusion of “light.”

“Rotom—”

Natsume stared Necrozma down and quietly commanded,

“Get ready!”

“Beep…ready for a commemorative photo, Rotom!”

Rotom Pokédex whirred its arms, spinning around and giving a wink.

“After all, Necrozma doesn’t always let its guard down, Rotom~“

Natsume was briefly nonplussed.

The truth is, Necrozma’s Base Stat of 600 is actually lower than Yveltal’s. Unless it showed up as Ultra Necrozma (with a Base Stat over 750!), Natsume-sensei’s current team could take it down.

But a head-on fight risked his Pokémon getting hurt. There was no time to activate Regigigas.

This wasn’t the old days—there was a safer option than a one-on-one.

The solar eclipse fully arrived. Necrozma screamed, releasing a torrent of black aura.

Natsume gazed skyward, holding the Rotom Pokédex, eyes sharp.

Just Necrozma…?

I’m Natsume, a living legend standing atop Alola, challenging Champions as equals—

Beep, beep...

He pressed the call button, dialing a Legendary Trainer far away at the Battle Tree.

Red, save me!

......

Poni Island, Battle Tree.

Two Legendary Trainers leaned on the cliffside, watching as the sun was eaten away, faces solemn.

“This isn’t a natural phenomenon,” said Blue Oak. “Feels more like the power of a Pokémon.”

Red nodded. “Yeah—and look at this.”

He showed his Z-Ring: the embedded Pikashunium Z had gone dark.

“We can’t use Z-Moves. The entire Ultimate Aura on Poni Island has vanished.”

“And the darkness is spreading,” Red continued, “This’ll cause panic if it keeps up.”

“Just like when Kyogre brought floods, or Groudon made volcanoes erupt…”

Red met Blue Oak’s eyes. “The key: we need to find the Pokémon causing the eclipse—wherever it is!”

Blue Oak’s eyes cut skyward. “The first anomaly was on Poni Island. I’ll get Charizard surveying the perimeter—”

Beep, beep...

Red grabbed Blue Oak’s arm, checking his Special Edition Pokédex.

“Hold on, it’s Natsume-sensei calling!”

Blue Oak was surprised.

When did Red give Natsume-sensei his Pokédex number? Why did no one tell me?

On screen, Natsume appeared, battle-journalist style.

Roars and booms rattled the background. Shards of rock flew. Sylveon’s bow was gathering white light, firing off a Moonblast.

Necrozma’s palms formed dazzling golden orbs—Photon Geyser charging to burst.

KA-BOOM!

Beams and globes smashed together, blasting the cliffs to rubble.

Natsume ducked the shockwave. He spoke quickly:

“Necrozma’s at the Altar of the Sunne. It’s after Solgaleo—the eclipse and loss of Z aura are all its doing.”

“Necrozma…” Red murmured—he’d never heard of it.

“That thing behind you?!” Blue Oak demanded.

Natsume nodded, glancing over his shoulder.

“Requesting backup. I can’t hold out much longer!”

He added an urgent reminder:

“Solgaleo—don’t rush in. It’ll just absorb you!”

“Solgaleo!”

Solgaleo leapt, flowing mane white against the rocks, dodging a Flash Cannon from Necrozma. The beam scorched across the cliff, filling the canyon with black smoke.

Necrozma’s attention was piqued—Natsume called out:

“Arcanine, Fiery Wrath!”

“ARROOO!!”

Arcanine’s eyes nearly whited out. Blue static flashed through its mane. Flames welled up in its jaws. The DNA Splicers on its chest blinked hard as the fire burst forth, hammering Necrozma’s Prism Armor.

CRACK!

Prism Armor warped, twisted with rainbows, but quickly regenerated. Necrozma re-emerged from the smoke, eyes murderous.

Looking at Natsume-sensei—effortlessly commanding multiple Pokémon, showing off unique moves—Red and Blue Oak shared a glance.

We’ve got to go now...

Or we’ll miss Necrozma entirely.

......

Eclipse fell.

High particle interference knocked out most electronics. Communications went wild.

Melemele Island. Ula'ula Island. Akala Island. Poni Island—every island and even Aether Paradise sank into blackness.

People looked up at the sunless sky, clinging to loved ones and Pokémon—fear and comfort mingling together.

With friends and Pokémon nearby… Even a never-ending eclipse would eventually give way to dawn.

UB Countermeasures Division. Ultra Defense Team.

Anabel, crisp in a black suit, frowned at the requests.

“Poni Island is extremely dangerous. Are you sure you want to fly there?”

“Absolutely!” Ash shouted, “Nebby is our friend. So is our teacher. We can’t just sit here!”

Kiawe, Lillie, Lana, Mallow, and Sophocles nodded, eyes bright.

“A good attitude.” Anabel’s lips twitched into a rare smile.

She sensed something familiar in Ash—but the two “Ash” weren’t from the same world.

“I approve your mission. But your destination isn’t Poni Island itself…”

She turned. “Mr. Handsome, explain the situation.”

A middle-aged man in a brown trench coat, hair wild, gaze sharp, spoke:

“Colress decoded the data. Necrozma is The Radiant Lord—the one that lost its ‘light.’”

“Only the ‘light’ of Alola’s islands and Pokémon can restore it to Ultra Necrozma.”

“Right now, Captain Natsume is fighting Necrozma, trying to stabilize it and make it accept the light from Alola.”

“After all,” Anabel added, “The Radiant Lord once blessed Alola with its light.”

“Handsome” pressed a button. “See here.”

The students watched as part of the wall slid aside, revealing a massive screen.

Rotom's POV flickered on—showing Natsume fighting Necrozma.

Above the altar, the black crystal monster gathered photon orbs in its hands.

Necrozma’s signature move: Photon Geyser!

“Arcanine, Flare Blitz!”

Natsume threw his arm forward. Arcanine blazed with orange fire, body wreathed in flames as it charged. It smashed through the Photon Geyser with raw power.

BOOM!

Rebelled by the explosion, Arcanine rolled midair, landing with claws dug into earth before giving its head a stylish shake.

“Arcanine!凸(｀0′)凸”

Solgaleo watched in awe. Star-like eyes wide in wonder.

Wow...Natsume's Pokémon are incredible!

“That’s Nebby?!”

“It evolved!!”

But there was no time for nostalgia—everyone turned to Anabel.

“Your mission is to inform each Island Kahuna about UB: Black. Have them gather every Trainer and Pokémon with a Z-Ring…”

Anabel’s tone grew firm. “When Mr. Natsume gives the signal, you will join all of Alola’s light to restore Necrozma. Awaken The Radiant Lord’s true form!”

“But,” Lillie hesitated, “in the eclipse, we can’t see anything. How will Natsume-sensei give the signal?”

Anabel turned to the screen, eyes on the black-haired young man and his proud Arcanine.

Like the legendary Arcanine in Tauran mythology, banisher of the long night, bringer of the dawn.

“We’ve lost the sun and the moon. We’re trapped in endless night, grief and despair chasing us.”

“But somewhere, someone lights a path for Alola.”

Anabel turned back.

“When we have no sun, we rely on a torch.”

......

Above the Altar of the Sunne, fire and light exploded.

Because Necrozma could potentially absorb Solgaleo—evolving it into “Dusk Mane”—Natsume kept Solgaleo out of direct combat, instead commanding Arcanine, Gengar, Sylveon, and Blastoise.

Gengar and Blastoise guarded the Crystal (Solgaleo), while Arcanine and Sylveon brought the main offense.

Multiple Pokémon at once? That’s simple: Necrozma can’t feel pain. Whether it’s one-on-one or being pummeled by several Battle Legends, it wouldn’t flinch or make a tactical error.

So they had to Give it their all!

At Natsume’s sides, Sylveon and Arcanine stood ready. He called out,

“Moonblast! Flamethrower!”

“Sylveon!” Sylveon’s bow shimmered silver moonlight, beams rising through the stormy sky and slamming down on Necrozma.

At the same time, Arcanine roared, flames pouring from its throat to scorch Necrozma’s prism armor.

Prism Armor warped and returned to calm. Necrozma’s cold stare didn’t waver as moonlight enveloped it. From its chest, the prism gathered a swirling rainbow—even brighter than Photon Geyser—energy at the brink of overload!

Necrozma’s other signature: Prismatic Laser!

For a moment, a thousand lasers burst from Necrozma’s chest, raining down like Arceus’ Judgment, shooting through the canyon and then slamming down.

CRACK!

Beams blasted through rock walls. Boulders crashed into the stream. The altar shook with an earthquake as a massive slab tumbled down, kicking up dust.

“Fall back to Solgaleo!” Natsume called.

Group up. Protect the Crystal!

Arcanine and Sylveon pulled back instantly.

“Latias”(Let me help too)

Latias, shimmering, dropped her camouflage and snapped up a dome of Light Screen.

Lasers crashed against it, burning pits in the barrier!

“Sylveon!” Sylveon joined in with another Light Screen.

“Victini~”

Victini pressed its tiny fangs together, lending Infinity Energy to reinforce the barrier.

Under the relentless Prismatic Laser, Sylveon and Latias took turns raising Light Screen. Scorched air wafted high.

Natsume glanced down: a stone had been struck, now warped and glowing orange-hot like molten crystal.

“Guess I underestimated Necrozma’” he grimaced.

“Solgaleo!” Solgaleo growled anxiously, eager to help.

“Gengar~” Gengar blocked Solgaleo’s path.

Not yet—let’s play a while first!

After what happened with N, Natsume wasn’t letting another legendary fusion disaster happen.

He’d never let Nebby merge with Necrozma.

“ Natsume-sensei!”

A cry echoed from the canyon—Natsume looked back to see Charizard’s blazing tailfire in the dark.

Blue Oak rode on Charizard’s back. Red, glove-clad, gripped Aerodactyl’s talon, calling out.

“Watch for lasers!” Natsume replied.

Necrozma recognized their threat immediately. Rainbow-sheened gaze swept over them before Prismatic Laser blazed again!

“Charizard—land, now!” Blue Oak shouted.

Red and Blue Oak dropped together as the beams roared, cliff exploding behind them.

Red cupped his palms,

“Snorlax, use Protect!”

A flash of red as enormous Snorlax blocked the two, arms folded, green shield glowing.

“Snorlax!!”

Prismatic Laser failed to penetrate.

Beep beep beep—

All three Pokédexes chimed at once in the tense darkness.

“What’s that?” Red looked down in surprise.

“Grandpa built that feature in,” Blue Oak explained, holding his green Pokédex, “All three Pokédex Holders in one place—it chimes as a signal.”

“Gengar!” Gengar, deadly serious, gripped his purple Pokédex and nodded vigorously.

That’s right!

Red, Blue Oak: “….”

“We’ll explain later.”

Natsume rubbed his temples. “Now, it’s time to team up!”

Blue Oak glared at the shadowed Pokémon. “Remember what I said?”

Red stared Nebrozma down, determination in his eyes.

“Of course! I’ve been looking forward to this!”

“Go—Charizard! / Venusaur!” they yelled together.

“Blastoise, it’s on you!” Natsume called.

“Blastoise,” Blastoise nodded, standing beside Venusaur.

Then Blastoise glanced up at Necrozma, brow knitting. This wouldn't be simple.

“Blastoise…ヾ(■_■)”

Blastoise adjusted its sunglasses, then backed up half a step.

If I’m standing in front, and both of them teamed up on me, I’d be toast…

Natsume: “….”

That’s just pure paranoia!

Necrozma darted around the canyon with Agility, blasting Photon Geysers, dodging the trio’s attacks.

BOOM!

Explosions lit up the canyon. Natsume’s eyes narrowed.

“Gengar, get in close—use Mean Look!”

“Gengar!” Gengar zipped in, red eyes flashing, locking Necrozma with a hypnotic glare.

Necrozma countered with a thick Charge Beam. Purple Fatty dodged easily.

“Venusaur, trap it with your Vines!” Red commanded.

Venusaur, heavy-set and brimming with powerful aura, growled as two massive vines shot out, binding Necrozma in midair as fast as lightning!

Necrozma wriggled, snarling.

Blue Oak snapped his fingers: “Fire Spin!”

Charizard unleashed a spiral of fire along the vines, wrapping Necrozma in flames. When the vines released, they lashed Necrozma like whips wreathed in hellfire.

“Try catching it again, Red—”

“I’m on it!” Red nodded.

Natsume’s Blastoise always sacrificed accuracy for sheer power!

Natsume’s eyes gleamed. “Blastoise, Dragon Pulse!”

“Blastoise!”

Twin cannons glowed—Blastoise fired twin beams that merged into a roaring purple dragon, straight at Necrozma in the sky!

Even Red was stunned by the sheer power.

Venusaur let go, watching the vines’ scorched ends.

Lucky I retracted in time… Or they would’ve snapped clean off.

“No Z-Moves,” Blue Oak said, hands in his pocket, looking at Prism Armor’s billowing smoke.

“So let’s use our Ultimate Moves. Red, Natsume-sensei.”

Red nodded.

Combined, the Pokédex Holders’ Ultimate Moves acted like the infamous Pledge combos—Fire, Water, and Grass—boosting each other’s strength.

Even Ultra Necrozma would have to withstand all that. For regular forms… That’s like hitting a Sturdy Geodude with Surf—if it could survive at all.

“Look, Hydro Cannon might miss,” Natsume warned.

“Blastoise!”

Blastoise turned and flashed a thumbs up.

Don’t worry, this time it’s a sure shot!

At that moment, Natsume realized something he’d never noticed.

Blastoise’s habitual thumbs-up wasn’t a compliment.

He was measuring the firing distance!

“Venusaur, Frenzy Plant!”

Venusaur slammed the ground. Bursts of root and verdant energy shot from the earth, shooting up as massive trunks.

“Charizard, Blast Burn!”

Charizard’s flaming tail flared blue, jaws churning with azure fire. Burning blue, it let loose a column of flames.

“Blastoise, Hydro Cannon!”

At the rear, Blastoise yanked off its shades, eyes sharp. Twin cannons roared, merging into a single, thunderous surge.

Three Ultimate Moves streaked together, reflecting Necrozma’s panicked face.

Necrozma: ???

Did I really come all the way to Alola just to get wiped out like this?

Damn!

BOOM!!!

Above the Altar of the Sunne, a spectacular explosion filled the sky with fireworks.

A giant, shadowy form dropped from the blast, crashing down onto the canyon floor, Prism Armor billowing overloaded smoke.

Necrozma’s ability, Prism Armor, cut damage—but it needed time to recover.

Slammed with overload-level hits, and not even in its Ultimate Form... Necrozma was brought down instantly.

"Gengar, hit it with a Hypnosis!"

"Gengar~"

Gengar’s eyes glowed, beams of Hypnosis flashing toward Necrozma’s rainbow-hued eyes.

Necrozma looked as though it wanted to say something, but drowsiness crashed down on it. It managed to glare at Red, Blue Oak, and Natsume—then collapsed, fast asleep.

Despicable earthlings...

"Is Hypnosis really that accurate?" Red wondered aloud, eyes sharp. "I’ll have to watch for that if I ever battle Natsume-sensei…"

"Whew... is it done?" Blue Oak glanced over.

"Not yet," Natsume replied. "To help Necrozma regain its sanity—and make sure it doesn’t go on a rampage in some other world—we need Trainers and Pokémon to restore it to its ‘Radiant Lord’ form."

"I heard about that," Red nodded. "The Z-Ring is supposed to provide aura, energy… but right now?"

"Yeah."

Natsume gazed out toward the other three islands, as though seeing the crowd of people waiting in the dark for a sign of hope.

"I already put Aether Foundation and the UB Countermeasures Division on alert."

And the Rocket Delivery team, Natsume thought to himself.

"By gathering ‘light’ from across Alola and infusing it into Necrozma—that’s our next step," Natsume said.

"If it evolves into ‘The Radiant Lord,’ will it attack again?" Blue Oak asked with a frown.

"The ‘Radiant Lord’ is Ultra Necrozma. That’s the true guardian of Alola in the region’s mythology—gentle and kind, the one who brought the first light."

Natsume paused. "Of course, your concern's not unfounded. I’ll get Hoopa ready, just in case."

Red and Blue Oak exchanged a glance, each giving a slight nod.

Palkia, Dialga—they both had gone berserk before, too.

If Ultra Necrozma could regain its senses, it deserved their help. If it spiraled again… Well, they could always fight one more battle. And ‘The Battler’ Red would enjoy every second.

Studying the unconscious Necrozma, then the exhausted new Solgaleo, Blue Oak checked his phone.

"No signal… Natsume-sensei, how are you going to get word to the Island Kahunas and the Ultra Defense Team?"

All around was darkness, the sky swallowed by the dead sun, the wilderness silent as if the world had returned to its origins.

Natsume rested his hand on Arcanine's warm mane. The dog's black eyes sparkled, and the Rainbow Wing hanging from its chest cast a soft glow.

Natsume turned, and replied,

"With a torch."

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

"Arcanine—"

Natsume said quietly, "Aim for the sky. Use Sacred Fire."

"Arcanine!!!"

Arcanine pressed its flaxen mane to its face, eyes shining with unusual fire.

It looked up, pupils shining, maw open wide. From its chest, the Rainbow Wing flared brilliantly.

FWOOM!!

A brilliant white fireball soared like a flare into the sky—bursting above the canyon.

Arcanine glanced meaningfully back at its Trainer.

Natsume said softly, "Again."

"Arcanine!!!"

Another howl rang through the canyon.

In the darkness, another fireball blazed into the sky!

One by one, Canyon’s wild Pokémon answered Arcanine, faint calls echoing in reply.

Natsume: "Keep going, use Sacred Fire!"

Red and Blue Oak both felt something shift inside, silent and awe-struck.

"Arcanine!!!"

In the black night, Arcanine was as if a messenger banishing darkness, its white fire turning the canyon to daylight.

Pokémon all through the canyon were swept up in a strange energy.

The great Kommo-o, herding her young from a cavern, looked toward the voice.

"Kommo-o!!"

Kommo-o bellowed back, and the whole canyon came alive.

Flashes of light—the glow of moves—sparked one after another. The Kommo-o shot a Flamethrower skyward.

Pokémon born with light inside—a Morelull glowing in the gloom, a Salandit trailing flames through the woods, Tentacool flickering along the coast.

As darkness covered the land, at that moment every Pokémon on Poni Island became part of the light—banishing night from the island and heralding the dawn!

The sun god, Solgaleo, gaped in wonder at the sight.

Red and Blue Oak were no different, stunned by nature’s—and Pokémon’s—power, standing on a beacon-bright island beneath the solar eclipse.

"Light isn’t a gift from the Radiant Lord," Natsume said. "It belongs to every Pokémon."

"This—this is my signal."

Standing atop the Altar of the Sunne, the glow of every move blazing behind him, his black eyes flashed.

"And now—it’s my turn to search for light for Alola."

Red and Blue Oak watched Natsume’s back.

"Arcanine!!"

Natsume shouted, "Let’s see your biggest—Sacred Fire!"

"Arcanine!!!"

Arcanine’s mane flew wild as it howled to the heavens—like the legendary Arcanine in Tauran mythology that chased away the eternal night.

POW!!

Above Poni Island, a pillar of white flame burst skyward—casting its glow to the other three islands!

First came Poni Island, then Melemele, then Akala and Ula’ula.

The four Island Guardians looked up at the white pillar, eyes shining.

And then, with the best of their abilities, each Guardian brought light to their own island.

At Wela Volcano, Marowak spun his bone club wreathed in green fire, performing the ancient dance.

On Mount Hokulani, Magnemite, Magneton, even Magnezone, all discharged light together.

By the ocean village, Finneon, Tentacool, and Lanturn sparkled at the water’s surface.

Across Alola, people stood in awe, enveloped by the light.

No sun, no moon—but Pokémon by our side, offering a glimmer that grows into brilliance.

People gazed up at the blazing pillar.

It kept burning—an unmistakable signal, a torch lifted high, just like the ancient legendary Pokémon of Tauran legend.

Ash was silent, lost in the moment. "Arcanine…"

"Arcanine!!!"

Arcanine kept the Sacred Fire burning, driving out the dark with bold eyes and a magnificent mane.

If there is no more torch to lead the way—

…I will be the only light.