A/N: My fanfic has an illustrated cover for each chapter, but since FFN doesn't allow inserting images nor does it accept links within the fanfic itself, please head over to my tumblr (carefreejules) if you'd like to see the covers!

Chapter 17 - Protect

"You what?! Leon shouted, his face twisting one into absolute horror at her recklessness. He grabbed her wrist and squeezed it tight enough to make her wince in pain. "Why would you go and do that?! You told me you didn't know anything more!"

"Leon, stop! It's not just her fault! I...I was in on it. I was the one who convinced her to do it." Raihan protested.

Leon couldn't believe his ears and whipped his head at the TV screen. "You too, Raihan?! How could you do that behind my back?!"

"Look, we wouldn't even be here right now if we didn't do anything! We would have gone about our days, blissfully ignorant to Chairman Rose's bullshit!" Raihan spat back.

"..." Leon seethed through his teeth and turned back to Juliet. "Does Chairman Rose know what you did?"

Juliet averted his gaze, which told him everything without her needing to answer at all. Leon wasn't just mad that Juliet and Raihan risked their lives to find out the truth, but for as long as they've known about the truth, they've been a target of Rose so their lives had constantly been in danger. And he hadn't been there to protect them when it happened and after.

"Why...Why didn't you tell me sooner? Why did you lie to me?! Do you think it makes me happy knowing that Rose could have hurt you or worse? If something did happen to you, how do you think it would make me feel knowing that I wasn't there to protect you? Do you...Do you think I'm that weak?" Leon asked, his voice cracking and choking back tears.

"Of course I don't! But, that's why I don't want Rose to hurt you either! If he knew you found out, and you had gone to confront him, who knows what he could do to you-"

"Chairman Rose can't hurt me!"

"You're not invincible, Leon! We're up against the Pokemon that was responsible for the Darkest Day for Arceus sake!"

"Enough!" Anabel's shout rang through the lab, and silenced everyone including those in the call. "Look, there were mistakes made on all fronts but what's done is done. We're in the middle of preventing a crisis and the last thing we need is to be at each other's throats because of misunderstandings. We all need to be on the same page now more than ever so, no more keeping information from each other."

"..." Leon reluctantly let go of Juliet's wrist but his pained expression never went away.
"I thought you trusted me…"

Juliet bit back her tears. "I'm sorry…"

Anabel sighed and shook her head. There was no way to continue the meeting with how heavy the tension was in the air. There was no room for rational thought when someone was too emotionally high-strung. Even though there was still more to discuss, the information she presented about Chairman Rose was a lot to take in so perhaps it would do everyone good to sleep on it and continue another day.

"I think we should call it a day for now. I'm sure all of us are on edge right now and could use some time to process everything. Thank you for coming, everyone, and I trust that Juliet will arrange another call at everyone's earliest convenience so we can continue."

"Umm…" Milo seemed to be the only one who broke through the heavy atmosphere and bowed politely in front of his webcam. "Thank you for letting us know what's been going on, Miss Anabel." He was the only one who offered parting words before everyone disconnected one by one after the farmer.

Except for Dave.

"Juliet. I would like to speak with you."

No 'kiddo' . She was in for it now.

"...I know, uncle." Juliet replied quietly before disconnecting her laptop from the TV and taking it upstairs to the small library by the terrarium. She spared no glance at Leon, and he didn't either. With a heavy heart, the Champion pried his Charizard away from Tiki before returning him into his Pokeball. Despite snuggling up to his Charizard while the meeting was going on, Tiki knew something happened between him and her trainer, and she couldn't help but look at him with sorrowful eyes - as if to silently apologize on her trainer's behalf.

Leon heaved a sigh and cradled her head. "Thank you for looking after Charizard, Tiki."

The Flygon whimpered and watched him leave without saying another word.

"I-I guess we should get going too. Gloria and I have to head out to Wyndon tomorrow for the opening of the Champion Cup." Hop nudged Gloria with his elbow to get her to follow after him.

"R-Right. Thank you for telling us everything! Please let us know if we can help with anything else!" Gloria stammered out before leaving after Hop.

"...I suppose we should take our leave for now as well. We haven't checked into our hotel room in Motostoke yet. Shall we get going, Looker?" Anabel asked.

"Y-Yes, Chief." Looker bowed his head to both Sonia and Professor Magnolia. "Thank you for letting us conduct the meeting in your lab. We shall keep in touch for any new developments."

"Of course. Please be careful on your way!" Sonia responded as they walked out. But before exiting, Anabel looked at Sonia expectantly.

"Remind Juliet not to beat herself up too much. It wasn't right for her to keep things from him specifically. But, I'm sure she had her reasons for doing so and even though the way Leon reacted wasn't how she wanted him too, it was better to tell him now than later. They'll both understand and come around."

"Alright. I'll try to check in on Leon as well."

"Good. We'll come by again tomorrow to discuss our plan of action."

"Thank you, Anabel." Once the door had closed, the lab was mostly empty, save for Juliet, Sonia, and Professor Magnolia. Professor Magnolia quietly mentioned to her grand-daughter that she had a few things to check up on in the basement, leaving Sonia on the upper floor with Juliet. Sonia wandered to the bottom of the staircase and tried to peek to see if she was still on a call with her uncle, but noticed that her laptop was placed next to her.

"Juliet? You alive up there?"

"...Mostly." Juliet mumbed.

"I suppose that's better than nothing." Sonia climbed up the staircase before sitting across from Juliet and leaning back against the bookshelf. Juliet had her face buried into her knees.

"...It's good that you told him. I wasn't expecting him to react in the way that he did but, I get where it came from. The Champion Cup starts tomorrow which means everyone's eyes will be on him more than ever and he wants to meet everyone's expectations of being this heroic trainer who can conquer anything that gets in his way." Sonia said gently. "But, I think because of that, he probably thinks that if he can't protect the people who are important to him, who can he protect?"

Juliet lifted her head up from her knees, eyes all red and puffy from crying. "I-I get what you're saying but, at the same time, I can take care of myself. I don't need a bodyguard or some knight in shining armor to protect me."

Sonia smiled sadly. "But, isn't that what you've been doing for Leon? You kept it from him because you wanted to protect him from Chairman Rose, even knowing the constant risk you're in. He wants to protect you as much as you want to protect him so, why aren't you letting him?"

"I don't know, I just…" Juliet balled up her fists in her lap. "I want to be able to stand on my own two feet. Growing up, I just wanted to be someone that people can rely on, but more often than not, I end up disappointing people and I end up being looked after because I can't get my act together. I just want to do something right for once."

"Juliet…"

"I know how messed up my standards are but, it never feels like I'm doing enough . My parents made me believe that the only times where I deserved praise, is if I've done something grand or accomplishing. Anything else is just lip service. I'm trying hard to not believe that anymore, but it's hard shaking off the things you've learned when you were a kid because you trusted that that was how things were supposed to be." She suddenly felt something slither behind her and noticed that Tiki had finally decided to join them and curl herself around her dear trainer. Yamper also rose from his bed and scampered up the stairs to lie on Sonia's lap.

"So...That's why you don't take compliments easily and why you're willing to put yourself through reckless situations." Sonia lamented. She reached out and placed her hand on top of Juliet's hand that was propped up on her knee. "I kind of wish I was like you."

"W-What do you mean? I don't think you'd want to be someone who's so self-deprecating…" Juliet grumbled.

"Geez, that's not what I meant! I meant that I admire how hard you work in trying to prove yourself. Me? I tend to give up too easily. Whenever I'm stumped during my research, I get frustrated too quickly that I end up not being able to think about a way around it. But, like Anabel said earlier, you're always thinking and looking at situations from all possible angles."

"You're still so hardworking, Sonia. I don't really have the patience to study and do research like you do. You were able to draw your own conclusions from how hard you worked. Even if you give up easily, in the end, you still persevered. Don't sell yourself short."

Sonia raised an eyebrow. "Look who's talking. I know you're trying to be the leader of all of this, but you can't bite more than you can chew."

Juliet laughed dryly. "You sound like my uncle right now."

"Sorry. You've probably already been lectured enough for today as it is, but believe me when I say that we're worried about you. I mean, you saw with your own eyes of what Rose is planning and I can only imagine how scared you were. I would be. So, trust us. You're not alone. You were never alone." Sonia pulled her up to her feet and grinned widely. "Come on. It's starting to get dark so let's get out of this stuffy lab."

"Uh... and go where?"

"My house, duh. I think you could use a bit of a spa night to relax."

Juliet's face twisted into a grimace. "Spa night? I have to get up early tomorrow to make it to the opening-"

"And you will! It'll be fun! I don't remember the last time I've invited someone over for a sleepover..."

"Wait, I'm sleeping over too?!"

"I look stupid."

"No one looks not stupid while wearing a facial mask."

"Do these cucumbers even do anything?" Juliet asked lamely, plucking a slice of cucumber off of her eyelids to peek at Sonia, who was lying down on her bed undisturbed. Juliet, on the other hand, was lying down in the sleeping bag that Sonia used to use for when she took on the Gym Challenge with Leon all those years ago. It was a little surprising that she didn't get rid of it. Sentimental value maybe?

"They're good for fighting against acne. I'm kind of surprised you don't really have any to begin with when you seem pretty stressed on the inside."

"I have my ways of dealing with it."

"Like playing video games?"

"That and baking."

Sonia shot up from her bed and removed the cucumber slices from her eyes. "You bake? That's so cute!"

"Is it?" She didn't think it was anything remarkable. Then again, that was par for the course in her line of thinking. Baking had a meditative quality to it of doing the same tasks and motions over and over until you get something that you can eat afterwards. It was a win-win really.

"Well, I just never imagined you covered in flour and decorating cakes. You always seemed to try to do things that were, I don't know, cool?"

Juliet resisted the urge to scratch her face at that. "Nah, I don't think I'm cool. I just...like making sweets for myself and other people. Nothing makes me happier than seeing other people happy from doing those little things for them."

"I don't think they're little at all. Now that I think about it, Bea told me about the time that you gave her some of your brownies because you wanted to cheer her up." Sonia mentioned.

"She did?" That was...a bit surprising.

"Yup! The fact that Bea openly talked about it, that gesture made a greater lasting impression on her than you think it did. Even the smallest gestures can mean the world to someone. Life isn't just about making grand accomplishments because it's the small things you do for people that can make all the difference."

"I don't need anything special."

"J-Juliet?! Are you crying? I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

Huh? Oh.

Juliet thought it was just the moisture from the facial mask, but when she brought her hand up to her eyes, the wetness felt warm. Why was she crying? She thought her tear ducts had dried up from earlier but here she was. With gentle tears streaming down her facial mask, which she opted to peel off.

Why?

"I...I don't know why I'm crying again. It's not because of what you said...but...it reminded me of something someone once said to me…" But just like TV static, she couldn't piece together the face of the person who said those words to her. However, in her heart, she knew those words were important to her. For a moment, they made her feel like she was enough. Her actions were enough.

But, who said those things to her?

"I see...We should probably call it a night then. You must be exhausted." Sonia peeled off her own facial mask and handed Juliet a towel to dry off her face. Even when Sonia turned off the lights and the room was basked in a comforting darkness, Juliet couldn't bring herself to drift off. Her mind was still as active as ever.

"Woof!" Yamper jumped off of Sonia's bed and crawled over to Juliet's side on the floor. She turned her head to the electric pup and was then assaulted by his affectional licks. She couldn't contain her giggles, and they eventually escalated into full, carefree laughter which unfortunately woke up the assistant.

"Yamper!"

"It's OK, Sonia. I think...I think he could sense that I couldn't sleep so he wanted to keep me company." Juliet scratched Yamper's ears, making him pant and growl with content. "Thanks, boy. You're a good dog. I'll be OK now so, give your trainer some love too-"

"Hee hee, I don't mind sharing for the night. You need the cuddles more than me right now."

"But, you definitely deserve some love today too. You've worked hard today. I can cuddle with Pistachio." The moment Juliet tossed out her Pistachio's Pokeball, he immediately crawled into the sleeping bag and snuggled up to her chest. She smiled warmly at her beloved baby Pokemon and pulled him a little closer.

"See, Juliet?" Sonia chimed softly.

"Hm? See what?"

"You give so much love and care towards your Pokemon and all of us that we instinctively want to do the same for you. So, relax, and accept our love."

Juliet looked down at her Trapinch, who looked up at her with sleepy eyes, as if to tell her that he wouldn't be able to sleep until she could. Mutual trust and mutual love...She didn't want to keep wallowing herself in self-deprecation. She needed to make it clear that she was going to change, and that the encouragement everyone had given her wouldn't go to waste. She kept reminding herself of such things, but they always stayed as nothing more than just thoughts. But, not anymore. She was going to swear to herself that she will turn that conviction into something real . It was going to be hard, but sometimes you have to crawl before you can walk, and then walk before you can run. She turned around in the sleeping bag so she was facing Sonia's bed and nodded suringly.

"I will. It may not seem like it right away but-"

Sonia smiled. "I know. Take it at your own pace, Juliet. I believe that you won't give up on making that happen."

Yamper offered one last lick to Juliet's face before climbing back up Sonia's bed and making himself comfortable at the feet of her bed. Juliet gently kissed Pistachio's head, encouraging him to get some sleep and that she'll be there right after him. As his eyes fluttered closed, she looked up at Sonia with newfound conviction.

"Thank you for taking care of me, Sonia."

"Oh? You're leaving already? Shouldn't you have breakfast first?" Professor Magnolia offered, holding a cup of tea that was meant for Juliet.

"Today's the big day so we're expected to be there to help with the final preparations and rehearsals." Juliet replied, slipping on her shoes and double checking to make sure she didn't forget anything. "I didn't want to wake up Sonia, so please thank her for letting me stay and talking with me."

"Of course, dear. Please take care of yourself, Juliet. And remember, we will find a way to stop Rose's plan." Professor Magnolia reminded sternly.

Juliet grinned. "I know. I'm counting on everyone. For real, this time. No more secrets."

"Good. At least take some scones for your commute." Professor Magnolia wrapped a few scones in a handkerchief and offered it to Juliet. She accepted it graciously and quietly left the residence on top of her Flygon.

It was a beautiful morning - not too hot, not too cold; it was one of those days where the sun was warm and the breeze was cool. The perfect kind of day for day 1 of the Champion Cup. Carefully balancing herself on Tiki's back and opening the handkerchief of scones with one hand, Juliet munched through the delicate pastries with a clear head for once. There were no voices that would beat up her self-esteem - just the sound of the wind blowing through her hair and the Eldegoss that would float past her.

"Hmm...I should have brought water to wash down these scones…"

"Jules! Catch!"

Juliet turned her head and clumsily caught the bottle of water that was thrown in her direction. A second too late and it would have smacked her right in the face. Mary, Tessu, and Vanquil caught up to her on their respective mounts, with Tessu giving her an OK sign for the quick reflex. "Thanks, Tessu!"

"No problem! Skipped breakfast again?"

"Sort of. I didn't want to be late or cause Professor Magnolia any trouble."

"Ahh, so that's where you were! We stopped by your flat yesterday to check up on your since...you know…" Mary trailed off.

"I know. I made mistakes and I ended up hurting the person that I was trying to protect. I was too presumptuous and in over my own head that it was for the best. It was wrong of me to underestimate Leon's feelings." Juliet admitted, looking ahead to watch the Rose Tower slowly come closer into view. "I spent enough time crying about it yesterday to Sonia, but now it's time to look forward and make things right for real. Speaking of which, I never got to properly apologize to you guys for lashing out that one time. There was a lot of anxiety that ended up boiling over, but that still doesn't excuse what I did. I'm sorry for that, Mary, Tessu, Vanquil."

The three aforementioned trainers all looked to each other with bewildered expressions before bursting out laughing, startling both Juliet and Tiki.

"W-What's so funny? Here I am, pouring my heart out-"

"S-Sorry, it's just...we honestly kind of forgot about you being mad at us that one time after all that's happened. Seemed kind of low on the list of priorities from all that's happened afterwards." Vanquil chuckled.

"...Even so, I had to say it so you guys knew."

"We knew even before you said it, but don't worry - we do appreciate hearing it out loud." Tessu agreed.

"What's that saying again? Water under the bridge?" Mary giggled. "We're sorry too. We should have let you understand your own feelings on your own terms instead of trying to pry it out of you."

Juliet closed her eyes and smiled. "...Thanks. I know you guys didn't mean any real harm by it."

"...So, you do love him?" Tessu asked cheekily. Vanquil and Mary squawked at that and immediately pinched her cheeks as punishment.

"Tessu!"

"...I do."

"...Huh?" Did...Did they hear that right? They turned their head to Juliet, who kept looking forward, but now with her cheeks dusted pink.

"You heard me. I love Leon." Juliet admitted so matter-of-factly.

"Y-You're just going to admit it nonchalantly?!" Tessu gawked.

Juliet rolled her eyes and turned to them with a bored look on her face. "Were you expecting me to blush like a high school girl who is about to profess her love to her senpai?"

"...Kind of yeah."

She scoffed. "Gross."

"W-Well, I think what matters is that you've come to terms with it! I'm happy for you, Jules!" Mary beamed.

"Thanks, but realizing it is the easy part and I think I'm the last person he wants to see right now. These feelings can wait. There's actually something important that I have to tell you guys. Or rather, a strong hunch that I have since I don't want to keep anything to myself in regards to our plan of action."

"And that is?" Vanquil beckoned.

"...I think Chairman Rose is going to unleash the Darkest Day on the day of finals." Juliet explained, her voice turning grim.

"That soon?! That's like, two days from now! How do you know?"

"I didn't get to mention it yesterday but something had been bothering me in terms of what I saw and heard back at the Power Plant. It felt like I was missing a key piece of information that was right there in front of me and it has to do with Darkrai's powers. From what I remember, Darkrai implied that the full extent of his powers aren't at their full potential unless there's a new moon. And I vividly remember one of the scientists in the Power Plant saying that Eternatus and Darkrai can bring about a Darkest Day that Galar can never wake up from."

"So, that means-!" Mary gasped.

Juliet nodded. "Yeah. And the finals just so happen to fall on the night of a new moon. Rose is meticulous about everything he does, so you have to assume that there's purpose behind every action. He wants to leave a lasting impact and impression, so what better way to get his point across than to unleash his plans during the most anticipated event in all of Galar?"

"Holy shit…" Vanquil muttered under his breath, shocked by how little time they had left to put their preventative measures into motion.

"I plan on telling Anabel, Looker, and Sonia about it so they can spread the word to the others. If we can manage, we should organize an emergency meeting tonight so everyone's clear on what our plans are so far."

"And what about Leon? You were pretty adamant that he still has a role in Rose's plan?" Mary asked worryingly.

Juliet bit her lip. Yeah, that was a problem. She made a fervent promise to herself to never doubt his feelings ever again, but at the same time, she always prioritized reading the room. She was able to bounce back from what happened for the most part, but his reaction was notably stronger than hers so who knows if he was even ready to hear their next course of action from just one night of letting heated emotions settle. She wasn't sure if she would be able to look him in the eye right now, but even if he couldn't bring himself to listen right away, as long as it was out there, it would at least give him something to mull over.

"...He might still be upset, but someone has to keep him up to speed. Not telling him is just an admission that we don't trust him. We all play a role in expressing our trust towards each other so even if there's one person who doesn't understand or listens, one of us will be able to get through to them." Juliet reached into her bag and pulled out the special phone that her uncle gave her, while promptly ignoring the others' surprise by how huge it was. Vanquil was especially put off.

"What the hell is that? A brick?"

"It's one of my uncle's inventions. It can make calls just about anywhere, even in places that would normally have no signal. Best part? Nothing can listen in so I'm going to call Anabel now so she, Looker, and Sonia have something to work with behind the scenes."

"So...Rose is planning on making his grand entrance during the Champion Cup finals, is he?" Looker pondered. "That doesn't give us a lot of time to investigate where we think Zacien and Zamazenta are hiding."

"Not necessarily. As Legendary Pokemon, who were heroes and protectors of Galar, there's meaning behind where they could be sleeping." Sonia interjected.

"Perhaps a shrine, or even a temple, maybe?"

"Something like that, but there isn't anything like that as far as I know. But, I have a strong feeling that they would be somewhere with as little human contact as possible, like the Wild Area for example."

"Shall we start our search in the Wild Area, then?" Anabel suggested.

Sonia sighed and pulled out some of her research. "I suppose that'd be the best place to look, but it's such a big place that we won't cover enough ground with just the three of us."

The Wild Area was expansive and untouched for the most part, serving as a conservation for Pokemon to live freely. It had been explored by trainers of multiple generations, so the map for it underwent constant updates for points of interest and any undiscovered Power Spots. No one was really allowed to explore beyond the rocky walls that towered over parts of the Wild Area due to safety concerns, but exploring those areas didn't feel right either. Sonia looked long and hard at her sketch of the tombstone and the area surrounding it that was depicted in the fifth tapestry of Galar's history.

A crumbling stone arch way…

Surrounded by a thick forest….

That was the biggest clue, but where could it be?

"Whoa! You're wearing a white lab coat, Sonia! Does that mean-" Hop bounded over to them excitedly on the moving train. Sonia looked up at the young trainer and flushed with pride.

"Yup! Gran endorsed me as a new Pokemon Professor this morning! How do I look? I look pretty professional, huh?"

"You look great! We're so happy for you!" Gloria cheered, until noticing the sketch that Sonia had been intently staring at earlier. Something rang a distant bell, and the longer she stared at it, the louder it rang. She didn't recognize the tombstone or the archway, but it made her feel...mystified. Intrigued.

Like she was walking through a thick veil of fog to discover something…

"T-That's it!" Gloria blurted out, making everyone jolt in surprise from the outburst and turning the heads of other passengers on the train. She muttered a quiet apology before lowering her voice into a whisper.

"That place...it looks like Slumbering Weald."

Sonia's eyes widened. "You think so?!"

"Yeah...I don't know why but, there's something mysterious about that sketch and it's the same feeling I got when Hop and I accidentally went into Slumbering Weald to rescue a Wooloo."

"Now that I think about it, didn't you say you saw something and tried to have a battle with it?!" Hop whispered harshly. "I think I saw something too but I was too scared to do anything."

"I did. It was so foggy so I couldn't make out what it looked like but...its silhouette definitely belonged to a canine and it looked like it had braids coming down from its ears…" Gloria added.

Sonia rapidly flipped through her research and pulled out the photos she took of the statues of Zacien and Zamazenta that were uncovered from the mural in Stow-on-Side. She raised an eyebrow. It didn't look like either of them had the braids that Gloria mentioned and she couldn't recall there being any Pokemon that had that specific characteristic. Maybe Zacien and Zamenzenta took on a different form to ward off intruders? There was only one way to find out-

Sonia slammed her folder shut and abruptly stood up. "We're getting off at the next stop and taking the train back to Wedgehurst." She then pointed at Hop and Gloria. "And you two are coming with us."

"We are?! But, we're on our way to Wyndon-" Hop stammered.

"The Opening Ceremony for the Champion Cup doesn't start until 5 pm! You'll have plenty of time to get there!"

"But, why us?" Gloria wondered with the tilt of her head.

"I'll explain when we get there but, please trust me on this!" Sonia pleaded while putting her hands together. Hop and Gloria looked to each other with hesitation, silently asking the other what they should do. Well...they still had a lot of time left before they had to be in Wyndon so, a quick detour couldn't hurt and they would be lying if they said that they weren't incredibly curious about exploring Slumbering Weald to its fullest.

Gloria shrugged to Hop, to which he excitedly pumped his fist. "Alright, count us in!"

"Is everything alright, Leon? You seem a bit...off today."

Leon tried not to wince from Chairman Rose's scrutiny but it was so hard considering all that he learned about his true nature. His experiments, his money - were they all just stepping stones for the Darkest Day? All his charitable acts, all the children he made smile during his hospital visits, the praises people would sing for him about how great of a man he was - how much of that was even real?

The Champion couldn't tell anymore.

The man he looked up to, the man who he regarded as a father figure and respected - Leon couldn't keep clinging on to his denial any longer. But, if he couldn't trust Rose, who could he trust? His best friend didn't tell him what was going on, and the woman he loved didn't trust him to protect her. It felt like his heart was being hammered by a stake, deeper and deeper, until he sunk to the ground and couldn't get back up again.

But, he had to get back up. He had a duty to fulfill as Galar's Unbeatable Champion. Even if he had to crawl to accomplish that.

"I'm sorry, Chairman. I'm just really excited for the Champion Cup that I didn't get much sleep last night!" That was partially the truth, but the real reason he didn't get much sleep was because he felt heart-broken.

Rose chuckled. "That's very like you. Ah, which reminds me. I have something important I need to discuss with you tomorrow night."

"The night before the finals? Isn't that cutting a bit close?"

Rose raised an eyebrow at that, prompting Leon to clear his throat to clarify.

"I mean, can't it wait until after the finals? I'll be able to focus more on what you need to talk about with the Champion Cup out of the way. You know how side-tracked I can get sometimes."

"Fair point, but this matter is rather urgent and needs to be addressed ASAP."

"...I see. I understand. Just let me know of the time and I'll be there." Leon didn't know why but, the longer he remained in Rose's presence, the more...sick he felt. He chalked it up to nerves and the anxiety, but he hadn't realized how...sluggish he felt all of a sudden. He had never experienced attacks like Leech Life, or Mega Drain, but if he did, it would probably feel like what he was feeling at the moment.

He wanted to get out, now .

"Chairman, may I excuse myself for a bit? I'd like to catch up on the sleep that I've missed and I feel a headache creeping up on me."

"Of course. I'll see you in a few hours for the Opening Ceremony."

Leon practically stumbled out of the Chairman Rose's office and barely caught himself from falling by bracing against the wall. What was happening to him? He was perfectly fine up until his usual meeting with Rose but now, he could hardly stand. He grit his teeth and sent out his Charizard, who was alarmed by his trainer's fatigue and went to his side. He encouraged him to lean his weight on his as he pressed one of his claws on the down button of the elevator.

By the time they reached the bottom, all Leon saw was black.

After venturing through the thick fog that surrounded Slumbering Weald, they finally arrived at the sacred grounds where Zacien and Zamazenta were supposedly sleeping. Sonia was a little anxious that they were going to get stopped and confronted like how Gloria and Hop had been at the start, but the fact that they were able to get this far without much trouble, allowed her to relax. The tapestry was a far cry from what the area actually looked and felt like. The sound of the gentle flowing rivers, the sunlight peeking through the treetops in warm rays, and the small fireflies that danced through the air without a care in the world.

It really felt like they were walking through a place of legends.

"This...this is amazing! This definitely looks like a place where legends are born!" Hop exclaimed, running up to the altar, before skidding to a stop upon noticing the worn-out sword and shield that were laying in front of the stone plaque. The weapons clearly had seen their fair share of battles that Hop was too afraid to pick one up in case they crumbled to dust from the lightest touch. Hell, even half of the sword looked like it was missing.

"Here, let me handle them." Sonia put on a pair of gloves so she could handle them with care, until she felt a jolt go up her arm at the briefest touch of the sword's handle. She let out a yelp and looked at her arm for any injuries, but there were none. Strange. She was wearing rubber gloves so she shouldn't have felt any sort of electrical shock.

"Are you OK, Sonia?!" Gloria asked worryingly.

Sonia nodded. "Y-Yeah, it didn't really hurt but it was surprising."

Anabel cautiously reached out for the shield, slowly, until she noticed a thin barrier materialize in front of her finger tips. "It seems like there's some sort of barrier or seal covering them. Likely to prevent those unworthy from stealing."

"Unworthy? Then, it definitely sounds like these two artifacts are important to the legend." Sonia removed her hands and looked at Hop and Gloria expectantly. If they were able to see Zacien and Zamazenta, then there was no denying that they were chosen to be Galar's new heroes.

Which meant that only they could wield the sword and shield.

"Hop. Gloria. You two should be able to touch them."

The two trainer's looked at the new Professor with disbelief. "Us?!"

"I know it's a lot to take in, but if you two were able to see some form of Zacien and Zamazenta, then that means they chose you two to help protect Galar's future."

"Protect Galar's future…" Hop looked down at his hands. "Am I really fit to play such an important role?"

"Of course you are, Hop! You heard, Sonia! Zamazenta chose you!" Gloria encouraged brightly. "And, don't think you're doing this alone. I'm right here with you."

"Gloria...You're right! Let's do this! We'll protect Galar from the Darkest Day!" Hop declared with newfound confidence. He stood in front of the shield and looked to Gloria, who nodded back at him with burning conviction, before reaching out for their respective weapons.

Hop held up the rusted shield in front of him and Gloria raised the rusted sword high into the sky, letting the sunlight touch its rough, brittle edges.

…

...Was anything going to happen?

"...Maybe wielding the weapons isn't enough?" Looker suggested as he scratched the back of his neck.

"What if Zacien and Zamazenta can't hear us so they don't know they need to woken up?" Hop took a deep breath and shouted, "ZACIEN! ZAMAZENTA! ARE YOU THERE?!"

Gloria winced. "Hop! Do you want all of Galar to hear you?!"

Anabel crossed her arms and hummed thoughtfully. "Perhaps the only way for them to awaken is if they can see and feel the danger that Galar is in. If Rose is planning on unleashing the Darkest Day in two days, then that must be when they will appear."

Hop groaned. "Seriously?"

"Now, now, Hop. What kind of hero would you be if you weren't just a bit more patient?" Sonia chuckled.

Hop opened his mouth to retort when he felt his Rotom phone buzzing in his pocket before it flew out and hovered in front of him. "Btzzzz! Juliet is calling!"

"Juliet's calling? I wonder what for. Answer the call, Rotom-"

"Hop! Are you there?!"

Hop's heart dropped to his stomach. She sounded frantic.

"I'm here! What's wrong?!"

"Your brother collapsed and is in the hospital!"

"What?!"