A King Who Cares

No! Why is he so strong?! What is this power?

Omigosh, Lear! You toootally crushed it!

Well done, young master!

So this is the power of sync stones...

Or rather...the bond between me and Hoopa!

Th-this isn't over yet! We have more who can fight! We'll crush you to...

Unfortunately, you're the only one left.

We've gone ahead and taken care of the other members of Team Break that were here at this hideout.

Wha, ?! That's impossible! There were so many of us!

No matter how strong a Pokémon may be, if the bond between it and its Trainer is weak, it won't be able to reach its full potential.

It's time for you to surrender.

Urgh...

I...give up...

A champion came to help us?

Cheren, was this your doing?

I asked for some help so we could save Hoopa...

You were counting on me. There's no way I could let us fail.

Hmph...

I have something important to tell you all. Follow me.

Y-yes, sir!

Young master, what is it?

I...used to think that the only one who could save me was myself.

I believed that ever since I was a child, and that's why I trained myself to be strong.

Friendship...trust...bonds... Those were just shackles that would make me weaker.

But...I don't think that anymore, thanks to all this.

I'm not invincible. There's only so much I can do all by myself.

I knew it deep down...but I was scared of change, so I stubbornly held on to my beliefs.

When things got worse, the ones who saved me were...

You, Hoopa.

And the two of you.

Young master...

Master Lear...

There are people by my side who are willing to risk their lives for me...scold me...cry for me... guide me...

When I realized that, I felt...that I want to return that feeling.

I wonder if this is what they call...

a bond.

Lear...

Maybe putting your trust in someone other than yourself...isn't so bad after all.

Hoopa!

Sawyer!

Rachel!

Our chances at winning the PML are gone, but I assure you, I will be king one day!

Please lend me your strength!

In return, I shall protect you...and everyone under my rule!

I'll become a king who treasures the power of bonds more than anyone else!

Master Lear... Waaaghhhhh!

Of course! I'll follow you foreverrrr!

Young master! Look at how you've grown!

I, Sawyer, have no regrets! I can live happy!

D-don't embarrass me!

*chuckle*

You all look like you're having fun.

You...

I didn't say this earlier, but you saved us... Thank you.

Oh? I never thought I'd hear that from you!

D-don't mock me!

*chuckle* Sorry. Actually, I had a small surprise for you.

Lear! I am so moved by your words!

You...you were my teammates for the tournament...

They helped me battle Team Break back at their hideout. And that's not all they did.

These two made their way to the PML semifinals! They won, even though you couldn't show up!

Lear! Your PML challenge isn't over yet!

I'm...still in the tournament?

M-my apologies, young master! We knew, but...

We...didn't get a chance to tell you...

Heh. How interesting.

Well, then. That means my next opponent is Scottie.

Cheren, when you go back, tell them this:

This time, for sure, I will crush them all!

With my power! Or...no...

With the power of my team!

Yeah, OK.

Young master, we must hurry and prepare!

No, we have to finish up what we started here. Team Break still has more hideouts.

I want to enter the semifinals without any interruptions.

Just you wait, Scottie! We'll be there to put you in your place!

Bwahahahaha!

That personality of his sure is twisted, but I think he just might have what it takes to become a great Trainer... Even a king!

I'll do my best to help you all out so you can have the best match possible!

Thank you, Cynthia.

(Lear, I'm looking forward to our battle.)

(We'll see you at our showdown in the semifinals!)