Alola/Contemporary history

The worlds of Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon take place in different universes from one another, with the worlds of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon taking place in universes different from not only each other but to Sun and Moon as well, causing a set of parallel universes. Pokémon Moon and Ultra Moon have a 12 hour time difference from Sun and Ultra Sun. Alola's contemporary history is different inn Sun and Moon compared to Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.

Before the events of both sets of games, Professor Mohn of the Aether Foundation had conducted research on Ultra Beasts and discovering the existence of Ultra Wormholes, Cosmog, and Nihilego, he had ended up missing prior to the story of the games. Professor Mohn had named Cosmog's species.

Two years prior to the events of the games, Gladion steals a Type: Null species from the Aether Foundation and leaves Aether Paradise. While Three months prior, Lillie does a similar act and takes off with a Cosmog that she had also stolen from Aether Paradise. During the process, This Cosmog has transported her to a beach in Alola and is found by Professor Burnet. Lillie stays with both Professor Kukui and Burnet on Melemele Island leading up to the events of the main story. Sometime during this set of events the player character, who is either Selene or Elio leaves Kanto for their new home set on Route 1 .

* Pokémon Sun and Moon
* Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

The player begins their adventure after meeting Professor Kukui who takes them to receive their starter Pokémon from Hala, and meeting Lillie and Hau on their way to Iki Town. The player receives a Z-Ring at the festival inaugurating their island challenge, consisting of seven trials and four grand trials in order to become the island challenge champion. Along their journey, they encounter a group called Team Skull, whose members are misfits who failed the island challenge and aim to cause trouble, as well as the Aether Foundation, whose goal is to cure hurt Pokémon. Midway through their island challenge, the player is brought on a tour of Aether Paradise, where they find a Nihilego, an Ultra Beast and are tasked to defeat it. After defeating the leader of Team Skull, Guzma, at the Shady House, they learn that Lillie was taken away by Team Skull, and upon Gladion's request, him, the player and Hau travel to Aether Paradise to rescue Lillie, where they battle Lusamine, the president of the Aether Foundation who is also revealed to be Lillie and Gladion's mother. Lusamine opens Ultra Wormholes across Alola and enters one with Guzma. The player and Lillie evolve Nebby into Solgaleo**S**  /Lunala**M**  at the Altar of the Sunne**S**  /Altar of the Moone**M**  and travel into Ultra Space, where the player battles Lusamine once again and brings her and Guzma back to Alola. The player catches Nebby after Lillie tells it that she isn't a Trainer. The player then climbs to the summit of Mount Lanakila, where the newly opened Pokémon League stands. They defeat the Elite Four and Professor Kukui, becoming the first Champion of Alola. A festival is held in Iki Town, and Lillie brings them to the Ruins of Conflict to thank Tapu Koko.

The next day, Lillie leaves on boat for Kanto to help her sickly mother. The International Police contact the player to investigate and catch the Ultra Beasts unleashed across Alola.

Similar to the above, prior to the events of the games, Gladion and Lillie both steal Pokémon from the Aether Foundation. The player moves to Alola.

The player begins their adventure after meeting Professor Kukui who provides them with their starter Pokémon on Hala's behalf, and meets Lillie and Hau on their way to Iki Town. The player receives a Z-Power Ring at the festival inaugurating their island challenge, consisting of eight trials and four grand trials in order to become the island challenge champion. Once again the player comes across Team Skull and the Aether Foundation, battling a wild Nihilego found on Aether Paradise. However, the player is also met with a new group known as the Ultra Recon Squad, who are associated with Aether. Lillie and Nebby are kidnapped by Team Skull, and the group of three travel to Aether Paradise to rescue her. Lusamine opens a single Ultra Wormhole to enter with Guzma in a plot to stop Necrozma from stealing Alola's light. The player and Lillie evolve Nebby into Solgaleo**US**  /Lunala**UM**  at the Altar of the Sunne**US**  /Altar of the Moone**UM**  however, before they can go into Ultra Space, Lusamine and Guzma are immediately ejected from an Ultra Wormhole, being defeated by Necrozma. Necrozma soon follows and captures Nebby and takes control of its body, becoming Dusk Mane**US**  /Dawn Wings Necrozma**UM**  , and proceeds to not only summon Ultra Beasts into Alola, but steals all of Alola's light. With help from the Ultra Recon Squad, the player rides atop a Lunala**US**  /Solgaleo**UM**  and goes to Ultra Megalopolis to chase down Necrozma, who then uses the light it took from Nebby to become Ultra Necrozma, its original form. The player successfully defeats Necrozma and separates Nebby from it, returning the light to Alola. The player then finishes their island challenge and climbs Mount Lanakila where they defeat Hau, as their final obstacle and becoming the first Champion of Alola. A festival is held in Iki Town.

Gladion leaves for Kanto and Johto by boat. The player then returns home, where they are contacted by Hau and the Ultra Recon Squad to catch Blacephalon**US**  or Stakataka**UM**  . They then learn of Team Rainbow Rocket, who take over the Festival Plaza and Aether Paradise. Lillie reaches out to the player for help and they intervene, dealing with several Rainbow Rocket Grunts in the altered Aether Paradise, as well as several past villainous Team Leaders: Archie, Maxie, Cyrus, Lysandre, and Ghetsis; all coming from timelines where they were successful in their plans. Finally, they reach Lusamine's chamber and defeat Rainbow Rocket's Giovanni, who then leaves the Paradise and restores it to normal after his defeat. However, before he leaves, he subtly implies he has yet more plans in mind. Gladion returns a month later after Giovanni's defeat.
1. ↑ Pokémon Sun and Moon official website (archived): "*The Aether Foundation is researching this unusual Pokémon, and one of the professors at the foundation recently dubbed it Cosmog.*"