Molayne

Molayne
Species	Human
Affiliation	Pokémon League (Alola)
Hair color	Blonde
Eye color	Grey
Height	6'0"
Base	Hokulani Observatory
Relatives	Sophocles (cousin)
Voiced by	Ezra Weisz (2020)
Debut	Pokémon Sun/Moon

Molayne is a Pokémon trainer who appears in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. He is a former trial captain who frequently works with his chosen successor, his younger cousin Sophocles. He also runs the PC system for the Alola region. In Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, he also acts as one of the inaugural members of Alola's Elite Four instead of Hala. He specializes in Steel-type Pokémon.

Background

Molayne was an intellectual young man who could be laidback and reserved, but he could also be mischievous with people he's close to. He was around the same age as Professor Kukui, as the two of them took the island challenge at the same time and adventured together. The two remained close friends afterwards. Molayne was one of the few people who were aware of Kuku's secret identity of the Masked Royal, and he would often tease him about it and hint at the identity to others. Molayne acted as an island captain for Ula'ula Island for some time, and he eventually passed the title on to his younger cousin Sophocles. This was a rare example of a succeeding captain being chosen by someone other than the local kahuna, which was apparently possible due to "unusual circumstances" on Ula'ula (possibly referring to Nanu's hands-off style as a kahuna). Molayne and Sophocles lived together at the Hokulani Observatory, which was run by Molayne. They collaborated together on scientific projects and inventions, as well as playing video games together. The two of them were close enough that they nicknamed each other "Big Mo" and "Soffy". Molayne also ended up running the PC system for Alola at some point.

Within the seventh generation games, Molayne first met Elio/Selene when Kukui brought them to the observatory to take on Sophocles's trial. Molayne teased Kukui by addressing him as "Royal". In Sun/Moon only, Molayne challenged Elio/Slene to a battle first to determine if they were ready for that trial, and he was defeated. He proceeded to help Sophocles to run his trial in all versions, which consisted of trying to shut down the malfunctioning security system in Sun/Moon or preparing some Charjabug to power Sophocoles's machine in Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon. Molayne also gave Steelium Z to the trainer and showed them the accompanying pose. He did this prior to Sophocles's trial in Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon or after the trial was completed in Sun/Moon. In the aftermath of Sophocles's trial, Molayne gave the trainer something that Kukui had dropped to give back to him - a Masked Royal mask.

In all versions, Molayne attended the festivities that were held at Iki Town on Melemele Island to celebrate Elio/Selene becoming Alola's first Pokémon League champion. In Sun/Moon, Molayne could appear as a challenger to the Elite Four who Elio/Selene could battle in a Title Defense match. In Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon, Molayne instead became one of the inaugural members of the Elite Four and so had to be defeated by Elio/Selene when they took on the Pokémon League. He was invited to join the Elite Four by Professor Kukui and was seen leaving Hokulani Observatory during Mina's trial. At that time, he left the observatory in the care of Sophocles, and he also suggested that Sophocles have a battle with Elio/Selene in Ultra Sun. In all versions, it was also mentioned that he and Nanu convinced Plumeria to start over as a Pokémon Trainer and take on Alola's Pokémon League challenge.

Pokémon Roster

• Skarmory (Sun/Moon)
• Alolan Sandslash (Sun/Moon, Title Defense only)
• Klefki (Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon)
• Bisharp (Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon)
• Magnezone (Title Defense/Elite Four roster)
• Metang/Metagross: In Sun/Moon, it is a Metang in the first battle and a Metagross in Title Defense battles. In the Ultra games, he only uses Metagross.
• Alolan Dugtrio

He also helped to take care of the nine Charjabug living at Hokulani Observatory, who had names based on their numbers (Onejabug to Ninejabug).

In Other Pokémon Games

In Pokémon Masters EX, Molayne and his Alolan Dugtrio appeared together as a playable sync pair that could be recruited in Chapter 26 of the Main Story's PML Arc. When fought as an opponent, he would sometimes sync up with Bisharp or Metagross. In Chapter 26 of the PML Arc, he was working with Sophocles and Clemont on a Sync Pair Pinger, which was supposed to attract powerful sync pairs. It was unclear if it was working correctly, and Molayne ultimately chose to join Scottie/Bettie's team to collect data for the invention and as an excuse to battle again. Molayne also made appearances in other events, including the "Give and Take" Legendary Event, where he helped Sophocles, Clemont and Volkner to deactivate Lysandre's weapon. During bonus scenes for the "Trials on the Isle" Story Event, he suggested that Sophocles seek Volkner's help for some repairs and teased Kukui about the Masked Royal's identity. In the "Search for the Ball Pokémon!" Expedition Event, Molayne and Sophocles enlisted the help of Ball Guy in finding Sophocles's runaway Voltorb. Molayne also participated in star-gazing with Liza and Tate while helping them to prepare for their star festival performance in the "Twin Stars Far Apart". During the Galar chapter of the Villain Arc, Molayne was among the technologically-inclined trainers who Rose asked to support him in exchange for getting to work on sync-stone based inventions, but the group ultimately turned him down due to the restrictions Rose was imposing. Molayne could also appear as an opponent for the Alola Challenge of the Champion Stadium mode reflecting his role in the Elite Four, with him and Hala being switched between each week to acknowledge the differences between the version' line-ups.

Other Appearances

Other Media

• Molayne appeared in several episodes of the Pokémon anime during the Sun/Moon-based series. In one episode, he gave Ash and his classmates a tour of the Hokulani Observatory and taight them about the life cycle of Minior. In another episode, he helped Kukui out with a ploy to protect his secret identity as the Masked Royal, although it was almost ruined by a misunderstanding by James and Faba. At the end of that series, Molayne was seen leaving Alola with Sophocles to visit the Mossdeep Space Center. He was briefly seen in a flashback in the Pokémon Journeys series, where he was shown to lend Sophocles the Ampharos that he used in that episode.
• In the Pokémon Adventures manga, Molayne appeared during the Sun/Moon arc. He ended up using the Hokulani Observatory as a shelter during Ultra Beast attacks and lent his aid to efforts against them by the trial captains and kahunas.

Trivia

• His Japanese name is Mullein, after a name for a type of flowering plant. His English name is also based on that name.
• Molayne is the only PC system coordinator to be battled in the games.
• He keeps his Pokémon in Ultra Balls.