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 18 - The Time Has Come

"Hey...why are so many people gathered in front of the Rose Tower?" Vanquil noticed, squinting his eyes as they slowly descended from the skies.

"Wait...is that an ambulance?!" Tessu exclaimed with shock.

The moment their feet touched the ground, Charizard whipped his head to them and pushed himself through the crowd and started to grunt and groan frantically in an effort to communicate something urgent to them. If Leon wasn't by his ace's immediate side, then that could only mean one thing.

"Charizard! Is Leon OK?!" If an ambulance was here, of course he wasn't OK, but it was the easiest question to ask to get a yes or no answer. Tiki nudged Juliet insistently, confirming her suspicions as Charizard shook his head rapidly and pointed at the open ambulance where Leon was being loaded into the ambulance on a stretcher.

"Is there anyone here who can accompany the Champion?!" An EMS responder yelled over the crowd.

"What about Chairman Rose? Maybe he should go with him…" A Macro Cosmos employee muttered.

"Ohhhh! Pick me! Please pick me!" A female fan squealed.

Juliet grit her teeth in disgust. Now wasn't the time to swoon and sigh over someone who was unconscious for Arceus sake! And frankly, she didn't trust Rose or Oleana to go with him. So, she squeezed herself through the crowd and raised her hand up high in front of the EMS responder. "I'll go! I'm a friend and co-worker of Leon."

"Right! Please hurry!"

Juliet returned Charizard back into his Pokeball before jumping into the back of the ambulance after the stretcher had been loaded up and turned to her friends. "Tell the other Gym Leaders before coming to the hospital!"

"G-Got it! Be careful!" Mary called after before the back of the ambulance closed and sped off.

In the ambulance, the responders were diligently doing their thing of applying an IV, checking his temperature, and keeping a close eye on his heart rate. Now that Juliet was by his side up close, she noticed how red his cheeks were and how his skin glistened with sweat. One of the responders even had to put an oxygen mask over his mouth by how hard he was gasping for air.

He looked terrible, and she felt so helpless. Did he finally crumble under all the stress? Was their fight what broke the camel's back? She felt so overwhelmed with guilt, but she wanted to do something - anything that would give him the least bit of comfort during his time of need. His hand was balled up tight into a fist, enduring the pain he must have been feeling. She gingerly held his fist in both of her hands and she squeezed it comfortingly, silently uttering a prayer for him to be OK. Her eyes shot open when she felt his fist open up to lace his fingers with her own and she looked to see Leon with an eye cracked open, looking at her pleadingly.

She choked out a sob. "I-I'm here, Lee. You're going to be alright."

He squeezed her hand tight enough to make her wince, but she didn't care. She squeezed right back because she wanted him to know that he wasn't alone.

Letting go of his hand was the hardest thing to do when they finally arrived at the hospital. A nurse had to hold her back from running after him as they took him away to the emergency room. Her body shook and quaked in worry that she had no strength left in her legs that she sank to her knees. The same nurse crouched down beside her and patted her shoulder soothingly.

"He's going to be OK. He's running a high fever, but it's not life-threatening."

Juliet sniffled and nodded slowly. The nurse helped her back to her feet and escorted her to the waiting area and promised to let her know when she'd be allowed to see him when he was moved to a proper room. But, she hated sitting for too long in a hospital. Being surrounded by other sick patients made the atmosphere of hospitals so dreary and depressing, and seeing patients hooked up to IVs didn't help with the uneasiness in Juliet's stomach.

She needed some fresh air so she told the nurse that she would be right back before stepping outside to call Hop.

Hop had never run so fast in his life that he would have smacked his face right in the automatic doors if they didn't open quick enough for him. He whipped his head around the waiting room, looking for Juliet or anyone who would know where his brother was. When he didn't spot her, he started a nurse when he slammed both of his hands on the counter she was sitting behind. "Where's my brother?!"

Sonia pulled back the hysterical trainer and bowed her head apologetically to the nurse. "We're sorry for barging in like this. He's Leon's younger brother and the rest of us are friends of his. Can you tell us where his room is?"

"Y-Yes, of course! Please follow me." The nurse led them through a series of the same, sterile looking hallways before turning a corner to a special private room for well-known figures and celebrities that needed the privacy away from curious onlookers and journalists. Some of the Gym Leaders were sitting outside of Leon's room and perked their heads up as Hop, Gloria, Sonia, Anabel, and Looker arrived.

"I-It's you guys…" Allister mumbled.

"Is...Is my brother OK?" Hop asked, his voice cracking and on the verge of tears.

Kabu patted the young trainer's head. "Your brother is doing much better now. He still has a high fever, but they're keeping it under control."

Hop would have fallen on his back if Looker wasn't there to catch him. "Thank Arceus…"

Anabel approached the two security guards guarding the door and flashed her ID to them. Their eyes widened and they saluted out of respect before opening the door for her. "Hop, let's go check on your brother."

Hop wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket and followed after the agent, but not before bumping into Juliet out of eagerness. "J-Juliet…"

Her eyes were all puffy and swollen from crying so much, but even so, she managed to crack a small smile for him. "He's going to be OK, Hop…"

He sniffled. "Thank you for being there for my brother…"

She ruffled his hair playfully before letting him inside Leon's room and walking back out into the hall where Sonia looked at her expectantly.

"What happened to Leon?"

Juliet looked down at her feet. "I...I don't know the details but, when we were on our way to Wyndon Stadium to check in, we noticed a lot of people crowded around Rose Tower and when we landed to see what was wrong, Charizard came out of the crowd and over to us. He was making a fuss and we knew if Leon wasn't nearby to calm him down, then something was wrong. The doctors said that he likely fainted from developing a high fever."

"Oh my god...but, doesn't he go to see Rose every day? He must have been fine enough if he could make his way there - how could he get a fever so quickly?" Sonia pondered.

"Who knows...maybe he knew he wasn't feeling well but thought he could just power through it…"

"Seems like the only logical solution now is to postpone the Champion Cup until Leon recovers." Melony chimed in. "He's always so excited and fired up during this time of year…"

"Indeed, but not when he can't even think straight. I can contact Chairman Rose to let him know that-" Kabu started, until being interrupted by the tell-tale sound of high heels clicking closer and closer. They turned their heads to see the poker-faced secretary, Oleana.

"M-Miss Oleana…"

"Good day to you all. I'm here to let you know that the Champion Cup will still go on as scheduled."

They gasped in disbelief and shock, Kabu stepping in to protest. Despite his age, the Fire-type Gym Leader was one of the wisest of them all and he was no stranger to what happens when one overexerts themselves. He was a man with pride and he wanted things to be fair for everyone. "With all due respect, Leon is in no condition to participate when he's incapacitated! All of us have trained hard for this event and it would be in bad sportsmanship if one of us is unable to fight their hardest-"

"I understand your concern, but it's vital that the Champion Cup stays on its current schedule and we've already made adjustments so Leon doesn't have to appear for this evening's Opening Ceremonies. Therefore, he has all of today and tomorrow to rest before the finals." Oleana countered.

Bea shot up from her seat. "But, that's not enough time! If this was a regular cold then maybe, but he has a fever! His body needs all the rest it can-"

"Please, calm down everyone. I'm merely speaking on behalf of the Chairman. These were his orders and if you have any complaints, you can direct them to him instead."

"Aren't you his secretary? Isn't it your job to let him know that we don't agree with this?" Sonia retorted.

"I'm afraid there's only so much that I can do. Even if I tell him, his mind is already set. I must be taking my leave now. I suggest you all do the same, seeing as there are preparations and rehearsals we need to go through now that there's a change in the script." Oleana bowed her head politely before walking away with the click of her heels that echoed just as loudly as her orders.

Juliet bit her lip anxiously. That exchange basically confirmed her suspicions. Chairman Rose was definitely planning on unleashing the Darkest Day during the finals. He wasn't willing to negotiate or wait any longer. He had a goal and he was going to see it through as soon as possible. Even if Leon was out of the picture, they weren't going to give up now. She leaned close to Sonia's ear. "Did you guys find anything useful about Zacien and Zamazenta?"

Sonia nodded. "We did. In fact, we managed to find the place where they're probably resting and we even recovered two artifacts that are definitely linked to their awakening."

"Good work. In that case, my team will head over to Wyndon Stadium now since we can't stick around much longer because we're MCs. For now, do what you need to do and let the others know about the emergency meeting tonight."

Leon had never been in so much pain before. Despite his fever going down enough where he could breathe more easily and he had enough strength to open both of his eyes, the pain he felt up to this point was something that he couldn't shake off of him. It felt like his brain was pulsating to the point of exploding, the thoughts in his head amplified that he swore he could actually hear them outloud, and it felt like someone had shackled iron balls to every limb on his body. He had never experienced such a painful fever before - one that felt like he wasn't even in control of his own body anymore. He knew his body well and understood the power and strength it was capable of, but as he lay there in the hospital bed, it didn't feel like this was his body at all.

The moments leading up to blacking out went by in a blur.

Charizard.

Elevator.

So many voices crowded around him.

Sirens.

A warm hand and a weak prayer.

What was going to happen now? Was the Champion Cup going to be postponed? What about Rose's plan of-

A jolt of pain shot through his head every time his mind began to worry and stress over the things that had been weighing him down for the past few days. It was like...his anxiety was manifesting into actual, physical pain, and the only way he could find some peace of mind, was to just think of nothing.

More voices, but not the same voices from earlier.

Was that...Raihan?

Maybe...Milo and Nessa too?

He couldn't tell exactly. Their voices were warped and muffled, like he was underwater.

When Leon mustered enough energy to open his eyes, he was certainly not expecting his mother to be sitting by his bedside, wringing out a wet cloth over a basin. She nearly dropped the cloth in surprise when she turned to see that he was awake. After she placed the cool, damp cloth over his forehead, she comfortingly squeezed her son's hand.

"Hey there, sleepy head. How are you feeling?"

"Mum…" Leon croaked out. "Better than I did before..."

Holly sighed in relief. "That's good. You gave me quite a scare after getting a call from your brother while I was on the train, on my way to Wyndon for the Champion Cup."

"Sorry for causing you trouble…"

"Oh, don't be sorry, sweetheart, but I am concerned about how you caught such a bad fever. You tend to overwork yourself, but you're smart enough to know when you need rest before letting it get to this point."

"I know, mum, but believe me when I say-" Leon coughed, his breath getting caught in his throat from trying to speak too quickly. He paused, taking a generous gulp of air before continuing. "It happened immediately after seeing Chairman Rose."

His mom raised her eyebrow at that. "He didn't do anything to you, did he?"

"No. As far as I remember. Maybe I'm overthinking things but...the longer I spent around him, the more...sick I felt. I don't know how else to describe it but...just how quickly it happened felt like it wasn't just a coincidence…" Leon burst into a fit of coughs, spurring Holly to pour him a cup of water from the pitcher that sat on the hospital stand. She coaxed him to sit up enough so she could hold the cup for him as he slowly drank the water offered to him.

"Alright...That's enough talking for now. Get some rest OK?"

"What about the-"

"The Gym Leaders told me that the Champion Cup will still go on and they revised the Opening Ceremonies so you don't have to appear tonight." Holly stroked her son's hair. "Try not to stress yourself over it and focus on getting your energy back first."

"OK...but before that...can you go into my shorts to bring me my lucky charm?" He asked weakly.

Holly noticed that his Champion jersey, cape, shorts, leggings, and shoes were folded on a stool on the other side of his bed and walked over to fetch what he requested. She fished through both pockets of his shorts until she pulled out a Heart Scale. Was this his lucky charm? She couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia looking at it, until she realized where it likely came from.

Holly smiled knowingly. "This is the Heart Scale you and Juliet got back in Hoenn when you helped out that baby Luvdisc, isn't it? I had no idea you kept it with you all this time-"

Leon's fever was already attributing to the deep flush across his face, but in that moment, his mom swore she saw his cheeks blush deeper at her comment. It was nothing to be ashamed of, seeing as she knew how much that time meant to him and the fondness he carried when they returned home. Sometimes when Leon wasn't looking, she would catch him holding up the Heart Scale to let the sun reflect a rainbow across his bedroom walls with a gentle smile on his face.

As much as she wanted to tease him, now wasn't really the time for it. So, she placed the smooth scale into his hand, which he clutched onto before drifting off to sleep once more.

The moment he drifted off, the door to his room quietly opened with Juliet sticking her head into the room, checking to see if he was awake or not. Her eyes met Holly's and she immediately entered the room properly and straightened her back. Thinking about it now, this was the first time seeing Leon and Hop's mom in the last 8 years that she wasn't sure of how to greet the woman.

"L-Long time no see, Miss Holly," Juliet greeted politely.

Holly giggled. "Miss? Just Holly is fine. Look at how much you've grown!"

"Aha...Not really. I didn't grow much since the last time you saw me. The genetic lottery wasn't very kind to me." Juliet joked with a nervous laugh. "How have you been?"

"Oh, you know, same old, same old. Taking care of my sons and watching them grow up to be strong and fine Pokemon Trainers. How about you, Juliet? I heard you've been helping out with the Gym Challenge with your friends from Hop."

"That's right! My friends and I moved to Galar over a year ago and made a name for ourselves from doing Max Raids. We've also been working for Professor Magnolia to help her with Dynamax research along with Sonia. Sorry I didn't take the time to reach out to you sooner since you and my aunt were on good terms."

"Oh, please don't apologize for that! I know all too well by how busy life can get. Better late than never, right?" Holly reassured.

"Right. And…" Juliet pulled up a chair next to Holly. "There's something else I actually need to apologize for…"

"Oh? What for?"

"I...I may be one of the reasons why Leon exerted himself to the point of developing a fever. Some...stressful things have been happening lately, not just with the Champion Cup, that we had an argument the other day that clearly upset him. But, it was my fault because I didn't trust him…"

"Juliet…" Holly placed a hand on top of hers. "Don't blame yourself for what happened to Leon. Arguments and fights are stressful to deal with for sure, but I think in this case, it wasn't the tipping point."

"...You think so?"

"I know so. In fact, if he didn't forgive you, I don't think he would be calling out for you in his sleep." She added with a playful grin.

Juliet flushed right to her ears, completely caught off guard by the sudden shift in mood. "He what?!"

Holly winked. "Just kidding~!"

"Geez, don't tease me like that…"

"I had to or else you would have kept frowning. Your aunt used to talk about how happy it made her to see you smile and I could tell it was contagious because I noticed that Leon was always smiling when he was around you. Not that he didn't smile before but, it was a different kind of unbridled happiness that I've never really seen from him." Holly closed her eyes and let her mind wander back to fond memories. "Truth be told, he wasn't home very often because the Chairman was raising him to be the picture perfect Champion so, seeing him so happy during those times I had with him, I treasured those moments."

Juliet's eyes softened. "It must have been hard not being able to see your child very often."

"It was and it's something every parent braces for, but I just didn't expect it to happen the way it did. I have many photos of him around our house because they give me comfort whenever he wasn't physically around. Some of my friends who come to visit ask me if I favor Leon more than Hop as a result, but that's absolutely not the case!" Holly placed a hand over her chest, as if trying to endure and hold back the rush of emotions that rose within. "After my husband left, I made a vow to give twice as much love and care to them to compensate for the loss of their father. I can hug and talk to Hop more often than I can for Leon, so I don't necessarily need the comfort of photos because Hop was always there to receive my love in person."

"Holly…"

"I worry about whether Leon is truly happy with where he is because most of the smiles I've seen from him are through a TV screen. That's why…" Holly turned to Juliet with a warm smile, her eyes glistening with gratitude. "I want to thank you for being able to make him smile. Truly smile."

Juliet smiled sheepishly. It sort of felt like his mom was giving her a bit too much credit for her son's happiness, but at the same time, it came from a place of fondness for the child that she didn't get to see as often. Constantly worrying and thinking about whether they were OK and the kind of person they were becoming, the one thing that gives them that relief is knowing that they were happy. She and many others played their own roles in Leon's life, and each of them have made him happy for different reasons.

Holly no doubt worried about the thought of anyone taking advantage of her son's happiness and popularity, which is why she was forever grateful for the genuine support that he did have from the people he can call his friends.

"You're welcome, Holly. Leon's happiness means a lot to me, which is why I want him to get better soon so I can apologize to him properly. He deserves that at least."

"I'm sure he'll have no trouble forgiving you. After all this time, he's still holding on to something from that time, as his lucky charm." Holly mentioned, pointing at his curled fist where Juliet could see bits of the Heart Scale peeking out from his palm.

Juliet didn't think Leon was superstitious, but then again, everyone had that object that never failed to give them comfort when it was needed. Whether it was a stuffed animal, family heirloom - there was always something to hang on to for some sort of luck. "Is that...a Heart Scale?"

"Yes. It's one of the Heart Scales that you and Leon got as a gift from a family of Luvdiscs after finding their baby. Do you still have yours?"

"I…" Did she…? She couldn't remember ever having a Heart Scale. It seemed like something she would have owned when she was younger, back when she would collect shells and beach glass every time she went to the beach. But, she couldn't recall encountering a family of Luvdiscs before. Wasn't there a legend surrounding the fish Pokemon, where any couple who caught sight of them would be blessed with eternal love?

She didn't want to think too hard on that if she did encounter them with Leon.

"I still have mine! I keep it in my night stand since looking at it reminds me of Hoenn." She didn't want to disappoint Leon's mom by admitting that she didn't remember, but it was something she would do if she did have it on hand. If she had time, it probably couldn't hurt to double check her flat to make sure…

"Oh, that's good. I'm sure Leon would be happy to hear that!" Holly replied with relief. "By the way, I noticed you have a bag of apples there. Are you planning on making an apple pie or apple curry or something?"

"Oh, right! I actually bought these for Leon. You know what they say - an apple a day keeps the doctor away." Juliet joked before pulling out an apple and a small knife. Whenever she got sick, her aunt would always cut her apples and peaches, but in the shape of rabbits to cheer her up. It brought a smile to her face every time and she hoped it had the same effect on Leon.

Anything to make him happy again.

"Is it alright for us to go on without Champion Leon here? I feel like we should postpone the Champion Cup all together."

"No kidding. I heard that he collapsed at the Rose Tower! The Champion always powered through everything so I wonder what happened to him…"

"Seems like Rose is keeping the media under wraps about it, but word has already spread around so quickly-"

Hop couldn't block out the murmurings and passing conversations about his brother and the more he listened, the more worried he felt. He couldn't in good conscience keep battling his best knowing that his brother wasn't in good shape. It was like Kabu said - it wasn't fair to give it their all when Leon couldn't. What made his anxieties more apparent, was thinking about how his brother probably wouldn't be allowed to see him battle in person. Obviously he couldn't blame him for getting sick, but it still felt like getting punched in the gut knowing how hard he trained to get here. Hop so badly wanted to show Leon how much he had grown as a trainer and see how proud he would be.

But, he wasn't the only one who was in low spirits by the turn of events. Even Gloria, who was sitting beside him in the tournament waiting room, didn't seem to be in the mood for conversation. She was just as distracted as he was.

Hop bumped his shoulder against hers. "You OK, mate?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah. For the most part."

"Glo."

Gloria sighed. "Alright, you got me. This just doesn't feel right. Is it alright for the Champion Cup to keep going on like nothing's wrong?"

"No, it's not. But, we have to play along in order for things to go smoothly. Trust me, I don't like it either but we have to trust that everything is going to be OK. We've...We've been chosen by Zacien and Zamazenta after all-"

"Zacien and Zamazenta?"

Hop and Gloria jumped in surprise from seeing Marnie right behind them and leaning close. "Relax. My brother told me what's been going on."

"H-He did?" Hop squeaked.

"Yeah. He was actin' weird lately so I asked him about it. He figured it was OK since if I knew, it'd be easier to protect me."

"...You haven't told anyone, have you?"

"'Course not. I don't have many friends besides you two and I doubt anyone would believe me. But, I think I know how you feel Hop. If I knew my brother wasn't feelin' well, I'd be too busy worryin' to do anything. But, at the same time, I think your brother would want you to keep fightin' and trust that he's going to be OK. If anything, it'll probably make him feel better knowin' that you're capable of movin' forward." Marnie reassured gently, taking a seat on the other side of him.

"You think so? I guess a part of me also feels bad because he's always so hyped and excited for this time of year. It's not fair to have fun without him." Hop mumbled.

"That's nice of ya, Hop, but there's not much else we can do so it's best to make the most of it. I don't want to battle either of you if your hearts aren't in it." Marnie wasn't the talkative type, but just like her brother, she surprisingly had a lot of good wisdom to spare. Perhaps it was par for the course with having a brother who had a knack for writing songs from the heart and understanding the struggle that came from living in a town that had lived past its glory days.

"...Thanks for the encouragement, Marnie. We both appreciate it." Gloria thanked with a small smile. Marnie struggled to smile back, but her lips definitely quirked up so they could both tell she was trying.

"By the way, what did you mean when you said you were chosen by-"

"Can I have everyone's attention please? The Opening Ceremonies will be starting shortly so we need to do a roll call to make sure all the finalists are here!" One of the staff members announced.

Marnie pouted. "Guess it'll have to wait."

"Actually Marnie, why don't you come with Hop and I after the Opening Ceremonies? Juliet is going to be holding an emergency meeting." Gloria suggested.

"If it's alright, then sure. I'll tag along."

"You went to visit Leon, right? How was he?" Phil asked.

"He was sleeping when I went to visit but I got to talk to his mom for a little bit. He seemed to be doing better than earlier today." Juliet replied.

Phil leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms before letting out a sigh of relief. "Phew that's a relief. He must have over-hyped himself a bit too much this year. It's a bummer that he won't be able to make it tonight. Word is going around and I can tell from just looking at everyone's faces in the stands that they're worried."

"Yeah...I don't blame them. You would think that Rose would be a bit more...caring considering how important Leon is."

"You can say that again. I mean, people paid a lot for their tickets, especially those who paid extra for the good seats, to see Leon at his best! It would be a shame not to give the people what they paid for." Phil, realizing how insensitive that sounded, sputtered in defense. "I-I mean, I'm not saying people shouldn't prioritize their money over Leon's well-being-"

Juliet chuckled. "Don't worry, I know what you meant. And, I'm sure Leon feels that way too. Every time he steps out onto the field and sees how many people have come to see him, he knows that they made the conscious choice to spend their money and time to see him and it's only right to make it worth their while."

"Exactly. And just between you and me, I noticed Rose acting a bit...strange lately." Phil whispered. He rolled his chair closer to hers and gestured to her to speak quietly.

"Oh? How so?"

"Well, you and your team knows how I've been the main MC for the Gym Challenge and Champion Cup for the past few years, right? I wouldn't say I'm close to Rose, but I'm pretty familiar with who he is. Since there's been a change in tonight's script, I wanted to go over it with him one more time so I can get you guys up to speed, but when I looked into his eyes, I swore I saw something...I don't know, lurking? It was almost like...I wasn't talking to Rose."

Juliet raised her eyebrow. "Are you implying that he's being possessed by something?"

Phil grimaced. "Possessed feels a bit exaggerated but maybe something like that? Maybe not possessed but...hmm. You know how sometimes when you think about making a decision, you think about the benefits and drawbacks before acting on it right?"

All too well, Phil, Juliet thought to herself.

"Rose has always been thoughtful and careful about the decisions he makes, but continuing with the Champion Cup even though Leon is in bad shape, and all the experiments he's been doing? It's almost like he's not really...thinking about the consequences for his actions."

"Wait...How do you know he's been doing experiments?" Juliet interjected with suspicion.

"You think that only his close employees would know? It doesn't matter how much money he spends to shut the media up, people will find out about it one way or another. Besides, it's kind of hard to ignore the black outs and explosions that have been happening in Hammerlocke." Phil defended.

Right...She completely forgot that Phil lived in Hammerlocke. "Sorry, I didn't mean to suspect that you knew what's actually going on."

"Muwahaha, I was the whistleblower all along!" Phil joked. "But, joking aside, I wish I knew and I'm sure everyone else wishes too. But, I'm sure whatever Rose has been doing, it wouldn't be related to the Champion Cup, right?"

Juliet swallowed the big lump in her throat. "I agree. Though, if Rose has been acting as weird as you've said, we should probably keep an eye on him just in case."

Phil shrugged. "I guess that's an option but can't Oleana do that?"

"A few extra pair of eyes don't hurt-"

"We're back! Sorry for the wait! The lines at all the food stalls were so loooooooooong." Tessu complained, setting down Phil and Juliet's share of food that consisted of corn dogs, fries, and popcorn. "We were this close to just going downtown to get something but we would be cutting it pretty close."

"Thanks for getting food for us! At least food tastes better the more hungry you are." Phil chuckled.

"That's true. It was a little sad seeing how excited people are even though they don't know that Leon isn't going to be here tonight." Vanquil added, plopping himself down on his chair. "I wonder if he'll be OK by the finals."

"He had all day today and all of tomorrow to rest, and I bet he's being treated by the best doctors so here's hoping." Mary hummed.

They spent the remainder of their break finishing their food before getting into their positions before the start of the Opening Ceremonies. They waited with bated breath as each seat in the stadium filled up more with fans until there was no empty seat in sight. Then, the main lights in the stadium shut off all at once, with only the sparkles of light coming from everyone's glow sticks offering any illumination before two spotlights shone down on Chairman Rose, who was standing directly in the middle of the field.

"Welcome one and all to the long awaited Champion Cup! Our Gym Challengers have travelled far and wide through each Gym, taking on challenge after challenge, but not everyone who has entered, have made it this far. The trainers who are here today are the trainers who have what it takes to stand against any obstacle that's in their way, believing in themselves and their Pokemon to stand on top. However, there will only be one finalist who will battle through the finals gauntlet against the other Gym Leaders, to fight for the opportunity to face off against Galar's greatest Champion - Leon!" Rose announced. "Now, I'm sure some of you may have heard about Leon's well-being but I assure you, he is doing just fine and will be present to battle the trainer who will be standing on the other side of the field! Our beloved Champion was so excited about this year's Champion Cup that he accidentally trained himself a little too hard yesterday, but has prepared a special message for you all!"

Raid Prism and Phil all looked at each other confusingly. That...That wasn't in the script. Their eyes followed Rose's arms to the various jumbo screens that displayed throughout the stadium and what looked to be a pre-recorded message began to play. Juliet bit her lip anxiously. Of course Rose would have something prepared in the event something like this would happen. He always had to be prepared for everything.

"Good evening, Galar! I sincerely apologize for not being present tonight for the Opening Ceremonies! The Champion Cup means everything to me and my absence just means I'm working thrice as hard to give the finalist a battle to remember! But, for all the Gym Challengers who have made it this far, and even those who didn't, I want you all to know that I'm proud of you. It takes courage and confidence to take that step towards your goals and dreams, and everything you've learned and encountered over your journey has made you into a better trainer and person than when you first started. Keep challenging yourself, keep believing in yourself and your Pokemon, because I believe in you. I know each of you will keep pushing yourselves to the limit and I will be watching to see who burns the brightest! Good luck, everyone, and I eagerly look forward to who I will be facing off against in the Champion Cup finals!" The recording ended with Leon doing his iconic pose, which sent the audience into an excited frenzy. All things considered, it was a very genuine and encouraging speech and surely it would have been more impactful to hear it in person, but knowing that it was pre-recorded way in advance as fail-proof to hide Leon's condition, it left a bad taste in their mouths.

"Yeah, because a person who's sick would be clear-headed enough to say all that." Phil mumbled sarcastically to himself before leaning into his mic to say his piece. "And without further ado, please give a big round of applause to all the Gym Challengers who have received all eight Gym badges!"

Leon watched the Opening Ceremonies on the TV in his room with tears of frustration welling up in his eyes. He never wanted it to get to a point where Rose had to use that recording at all because it would never be the same. Not being there at all, it wasn't the same! He should be standing on that field with everyone else so they could see the honesty and pride burning in his eyes for each of them - not hear the manufactured words that he read from a script a few years ago through a recording.

He felt pathetic just watching everything happen without him.

When a nurse walked in to check on him, he looked at him seriously and asked. "May I attend the Champion Cup tomorrow?"

The nurse nearly dropped his clipboard in surprise. "I don't think that's a good idea. Your condition has definitely improved from this morning but-"

"Please. At least let me watch my brother battle. I want to see how much he's grown as a trainer and I promised I'd be there to support him." Leon pleaded. He would pray and pray that he would be well enough to at least be the supportive brother he always strived to be.

"Annnnnd, that's a wrap on the recording! I think it turned out great!" Vanquil cheered.

"It's definitely different than what we usually post but I'm sure it'll reach someone, right Jules? Jules?" Mary repeated, poking her friend's shoulder. What they recorded was certainly enough, but...there was more that Juliet wanted to say - needed to say, in order to keep her promise of changing into someone that people can believe in and rely on.

She stepped in front of her group and gently pried Vanquil's new Rotom phone from his hands. "There's actually one more thing I have to do."

"Jules? What are you-"

"I'm going to do this in one take and I don't want you to edit a single thing, OK, Van?"

Vanquil blinked but nodded. "OK."

Juliet turned the Rotom into drone mode and the moment she heard the recording click go off, she took a deep breath.

Rely on others, so that they can rely on you.

And…

Believe that anyone has the power to change the world.

"To everyone from all the other regions who are watching what's happening to the Galar region, I have a big favour to ask of you,"

On the following morning, alarm bells rang through the Power Plant, but Rose and Oleana calmly walked through the hangar as Macros Cosmos and scientists scrambled to get the situation under control. But Eternatus wasn't having any of it. It thrashed and roared about in its confinements, slamming its body against the accursed glass to get out. Rose approached the round, glass cage with an eerily calm smile, looking admiringly at the fruits of his labour over the course of 10 years. Eternatus roared wickedly at the man, but Rose was hardly fazed.

"What's with these alarms? Aren't you supposed to be monitoring its energy levels?" Oleana barked.

"W-We're trying, Miss Oleana! But, the subject is getting out of control-" A scientist stammered.

"Then, get it under control!"

"Y-Yes ma'am! Hey, you two! Go check on the control panels in the other rooms!"

"Right away, sir!" The Macros Cosmos employee saluted before running out of the hangar with another fellow employee following close behind him. He walked through the winding halls, passing by various rooms until he settled on one that seemed vacant for the time being. When he was certain that there was no one else besides him and the other employee, he removed his bright visors and sighed heavily.

"I've been doing this for decades now and it always feels hair raising every time." Looker heaved. "You doing OK, Kazz? You put up a good act for a Zoroark."

Kazz usually wasn't the cooperative type to anyone other than his beloved trainer, Mary, but knowing that she personally vouched for his abilities and reliability, he had to uphold his pride that he wouldn't let his trainer down with this mission. Kazz nodded silently and stood by the door to guard it with his sharp senses as Looker typed away at the control panel in hopes of extracting any sort of solid evidence against Rose. Though, he wasn't expecting there to be anything substantial since the facility did operate as a genuine Power Plant, but Looker wouldn't be a part of the International Police if he wasn't thorough. Who knows what else Rose was keeping behind closed doors, because to him, even though the Chairman was going to be charged for the Darkest Day without a doubt, he needed to be held accountable for everything else he had done.

"Keep an eye and ear out for anyone who might be nearby, Kazz. Hopefully this won't take long-"

"Looker, report in."

Looker pressed his hand behind his ear, where a tiny earpiece was stuck on. "Looker, reporting in, Chief. I've successfully infiltrated the Power Plant and I'm going through the control panel now. Kazz is guarding the door, but I haven't found anything yet."

"That's OK, you don't need to rush with this unless your cover is blown-"

"Ouch. No faith for your reliable subordinate?"

"Oh, you know what I meant. Anyway, be careful and report anything you find."

"Roger that, Chief."

Hop hung his head low, listening to the distant cheers and the muffled sounding announcement that Gloria had successfully won against Marnie in her match, his heart thundering in his chest as a result. Of course she won. He expected nothing less from his best friend who never lost a match as far as he knew. Ironic, wasn't it? It was like she was following Leon's footsteps for his flawless streak more than Hop ever hoped to be. He reminded himself over and over that he shouldn't give up - he wouldn't give up. He had a dream and he was going to see it through. The next match would decide whether that dream was going to be a reality. A battle that was going to change his life for better or for worse, against his best friend no less.

The only thing that could possibly make the pounding of his heart more bearable is if his brother was here to watch him.

But he wasn't

"Take it easy, Champion! We can't have you fainting again-"

"I'm fine - really."

Hop's head shot up at the sound of his brother's hoarse voice and he whipped his head around to see his brother, in all of his glory, despite his hunched appearance. Leon met his younger brother's eyes and smiled at him weakly.

"Hey, Hopscotch...I'm not late am I?"

Ignoring his brother's bad joke, Hop bit back his tears and would have launched himself into his brother's chest if he wasn't currently debilitated. He opted to run up to him and carefully wrapped his arms around Leon's neck and sobbed gently. Leon chuckled lightly and wound his own arms around his younger brother's torso, patting his back gently.

"I can't believe you right now…" Hop choked out.

"I know but, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I wasn't there to support my brother as he faced toughest battle. What kind of brother would I be otherwise?" Leon croaked.

"Mum's gonna flip out…"

"Not if you don't tell her."

Hop snorted. "No promises. But seriously, thank you for coming, Lee-"

"Challenger Hop! The finals for the preliminaries are about to begin." A staff member announced, eyes widening upon seeing the Champion in a sickly state. "C-Champion?! What are you doing here? You should be-"

"I'm fine. This isn't about me right now. This is about Hop and Gloria." Leon countered. The Champion took one last look at Hop, his gaze lingering on the Challenger uniform he wore and being filled with pleasant nostalgia. The way Hop was standing now in front of him, both of his fists balled up, shoulders tense, and lips drawn into a tight line - it was no different from how he looked all those years ago. He knew Hop was trying his best to keep his nerves in check by how uptight his posture was. Which is why Hop stumbled and grunted in surprise when his older brother gave him a rough pat on his shoulder, which effectively loosened his shoulders and released the stiffness in his hands.

"Ouch! Lee! Not so hard!"

"Sorry. I had to or else you'd be walking out onto the pitch with your head sunken into your shoulders." Leon chuckled. "Good luck out there, Hop."

Hop nodded confidently, slapping his cheeks as he always did to psych himself up for every battle, just like his brother did. With every breath he took as he took those steps down the dimly lit hall leading out to the field, his heart raced faster and faster to the point where all he could hear was his pounding heartbeat over the chorus of cheers. It was almost dizzying, being pumped up with adrenaline and determination and for once, Hop didn't falter or hesitate when his eyes met Gloria's as they crossed to the middle of the field. From his first loss during his first battle, and to all the losses in between - the victories that came after each of those losses are what led him now, standing in front of his best friend, and greatest rival, for a battle that would seal both of their fates.

"I just had this sort of flashback, you know. Remember? Back when we were still in Postwick. When we got our Pokemon from Lee that day, I never would've dreamed that I'd end up standing here...facing you, of all people." Hop took a steady breath and flashed his fiery, determined eyes at Gloria. "But, it's time to finish what was started that day...Got it? The one who'll become Champion is me!"

Gloria smirked, answering her best friend and rival's challenge with fire of her own. "We'll see about that."

Chairman Rose watched the start of the preliminary finals from the comfort of his office at the top of Rose Tower. There was no need for him to be there, he thought. After all, he needed to make sure that Leon kept his promise to meet with him that night to discuss Galar's future. The Chairman already had employees on stand-by the moment that match ended, so they could escort the Champion to their meeting. Everything was falling into place, piece by piece, which made Rose's smile twist into something more wicked, more hungry, knowing that his years of work and research was finally going to bear fruit for all to see.

He swiveled around in his executive chair, tearing his calculating, cloudy eyes away from the TV, to the suit of armor, plated in the finest gold, displayed in a glass shelf on the far end of his office. It gleamed and shimmered, perfectly untouched and preserved from age and prying hands. Only one who was worthy would have the honor of donning the suit of armor, to lead the region of Galar towards a prosperous future.

That honor was not going to befall on Chairman Rose.

But, someone else.