Another chapter, where we get more details about the tournament, specifically, who else is being invited! Remember to review!

KedharS: What do you mean "what the fuck" I wonder?

Rosealine gold: I wonder as well.

Pokemonking0924: Blake got invited because he's the main character, duh.

MikySP: No problem, and we'll be seeing the rest of the participants in this chapter, just wait!

Hellraiserphoenix: The participants of this tournament will certainly be very interesting, we're stepping a little out of the main cast for this one.

Aquahaze675: She'll probably be upset, if I had to guess.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 488

Just to be sure she wasn't mistaken, Maddi took the letter out of the mailbox and broke the seal, opening it. She scowled. It said exactly what she thought it would. Sighing, Maddi closed the box and turned towards the door, heading back to her dorm.

Well, when Cynthia hears that I got an invitation and she didn't, I imagine she'd get rather upset, Maddi mused. That thought almost brought a smile to her face. Still, though, she wasn't entirely certain WHY she had received an invitation to the tournament. Ostensibly, this was going to be a tournament where the 16 strongest trainers in the school would be fighting, right? Maddi wouldn't even crack the top 50. Hell, she wasn't even the strongest trainer in the Commander's organization! So why had she, of all people, gotten an invitation to such an exclusive tournament?

"Well now, someone seems to be in a bad mood. Didn't get the package you were expecting, perhaps?" Maddi stopped in her tracks, her scowl deepening. She turned to see Sylvia Driscoll leaning back against a tree a few feet away, her Shuppet hovering beside her. And in her fingers, was that… Maddi narrowed her eyes. It was!

Sylvia pinched a black envelope between her fingers and was currently fanning herself with it, smiling coyly at Maddi. Maddi turned her head and tried to walk away, but unfortunately nothing was ever that easy.

"Shuppet!"

Specter popped in front of her, cackling. Maddi flinched in surprise, trying to move past the ghost pokemon. But Sylvia came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her.

"What do you want?" Maddi demanded.

"I just thought it would be nice to talk for a little while," Sylvia purred. "I know you're not very social, but don't you think this is a pretty good opportunity to pump me for information? You must be curious, after all."

Maddi narrowed her eyes.

"The fact that you would say that means you have no intention of telling me anything of substance," Maddi replied. She wasn't fool enough to trust Sylvia's word on anything. "So no, I'm not interested in talking with you."

"Come now Maddi-"

"Don't call me that," Maddi snapped. "Only my friends can call me that!"

Sylvia smirked, and shrugged her shoulders. "As you wish, Madison. All I want is for the two of us to have a nice little chat about the upcoming tournament. You can't say you aren't curious about why you got this letter invitation, isn't that right?"

Maddi was curious, but she wasn't going to be roped in.

…Right?

Maddi sighed, knowing that this was probably not a good move to make. But the Commander would probably want her to get whatever information she could out of Sylvia about the Phantom's plans, even if that information would probably be twisted and unreliable.

"You're right, I'm curious," Maddi admitted. She put on a smile, nice and fake to let Sylvia know that she wasn't the most happy conversation partner in the world. "So tell me, Sylvia, what would you like to talk about?"

"…It's getting a little late," Sylvia mused, tapping her chin. "How about we get some lunch? I know the perfect place."

"Not hungry," Maddi replied. No way she was going anywhere alone with Sylvia Driscoll of all people. "Besides, I don't imagine we have much to talk about. Unless you're actually willing to discuss these so called 'Shadow Pokemon' I've been hearing so much about."

The air around them changed, Sylvia's smile taking on a tinge of menace to it as her blue eyes sparkled with a wicked gleam.

"…Shadow Pokemon, hmm?" Sylvia said. "I don't know what you could be talking about. What would I know about Shadow Pokemon? And why would you think I would? Did someone say something about me, Maddi? Someone spreading rumors and stories?"

Maddi bristled. She didn't even care that Sylvia was calling her by her nickname, she was more focused on the fact that she'd slipped up. She had meant to catch Sylvia off-guard by mentioning Shadow Pokemon, but in doing so she realized her mistake. What would Sylvia know about Shadow Pokemon? And how would Maddi know? Unless…

"You know, around," Maddi said. "Just rumors."

"Oh, rumors, yes, I've been hearing rumors myself," Sylvia nodded. "You know, things about Shadow Pokemon. Whispers and speculation, but nothing concrete. Is that what you meant, Maddi? You wanted to hear my thoughts on these rumors going around about Shadow Pokemon?"

Maddi relaxed a little, nodding. "Yeah, I-"

But Sylvia wasn't ready to give back the ball, not when she was having so much fun playing with it. She continued, "well, I'm afraid I don't know much more than you. They're just rumors, nothing substantive. And I'm sure I don't know anything more than that, Maddi. You don't think I know more, do you? How could I? You aren't the type to jump to conclusions, I know that much about you."

Maddi glared. She could see Sylvia staring her down like a Persian playing with a Ratatta.

"Unless… oh, I see. Cynthia must have blabbed, isn't that so?" Sylvia asked, finally arriving at the point she had been building to. "Well? Am I right? Tell me I'm right."

Maddi's expression told Sylvia all she needed to know, but she wanted to hear it come from the girl's own mouth.

Maddi shook her head, turning away from Sylvia. "Never mind, this was a mistake."

"It had to be Cynthia, Maddi!" Sylvia called, walking after her. "Cynthia was the only one who saw me give that pokeball to Caelia and would have been able to make the connection! That's why I let her walk in on me making the little bargain!"

Wait, WHAT?

"Wait, WHAT?" Maddi gasped, turning around to stare at Sylvia, shocked.

"Oh, you weren't aware?" Sylvia laughed, clapping her hands together. "Yes, I let Cynthia see me give Caelia that pokeball. I didn't know what it was at the time, but I knew it was something important, a secret weapon of sorts. And it looks like you were able to connect the dots properly!"

"So the Shadow Pokemon are connected to the Phantom?" Maddi asked.

"Yep!" Sylvia chirped.

"…And you wanted the Commander to learn about that connection?" Maddi clarified.

"Also yes."

Maddi was dumbfounded.

"Why, I don't… why would you do that?"

Sylvia smirked.

"Because, isn't it much more interesting this way? Now that you have all the cards on the table?" Sylvia tapped her chin thoughtfully, her blue eyes gleaming. "You can go into this with a well-thought out plan, now, instead of waiting for the next shot to fire!"

"…Well, 'well-thought out' in terms of being the Commander, anyway," Sylvia added. "This way, everything will be a lot less boring and predictable, don't you think?"

Maddi had no idea what to think. She had no clue why Sylvia would plan out something like that, no reason to bother giving them the information when she was working with the Phantom. Was this a double-cross? Or some sort of ploy? She couldn't rule either possibility out where Sylvia Driscoll was involved.

But the most troubling thought of all was one Maddi felt to be most likely, the thought that Sylvia didn't have anything planned at all, that all she wanted was to plunge things into chaos for the sake of chaos. And if that was what it was, well…

Maddi shivered at the thought.

"I'm going," Maddi said, turning away from Sylvia. Sylvia's motives were completely inscrutable, there was nothing to be gained with further conversation. "We're done here."

"…As you wish," Sylvia shrugged, smiling after Maddi as she left.

Meanwhile, across campus, Gabrielle Breaux was also walking with purpose, her stoic face letting on no traces of discomfort, but her eyes brimming with determination. The cold climate of winter agreed with her, but at the moment she was too occupied with her own concerns to hold any thoughts about the weather. She entered the building where the Gardening Clubroom was located, and knocked on the door, waiting patiently.

"Yes?" Kate yawned, opening the door, her fatigue from the night before starting to get the better of her. "Need something?"

"Alcea." Gabrielle said coldly. Kate nodded, rubbing her baggy eyes, and stepping back to let Gabrielle in.

"Welcome," Alcea said, not rising to greet the girl. She was sipping tea while sitting under a nice, warm kotatsu. She glanced up at the black-haired girl. "Would you care for some tea?"

"…Yes, please," Gabrielle decided. "We have much to discuss."

Gabrielle reached into the pocket of her fluffy parka and withdrew a black envelope, holding it up for Alcea's scrutiny. Alcea narrowed her eyes.

"…An invitation, is it?" Alcea reached below the kotatsu and withdrew her hand, placing an identical envelope on the table.

"…You, too, huh?" Gabrielle murmured. She walked around the kotatsu and sat down across from Alcea. Kate sighed, going to brew more tea for their guest.

"So what do you think this means?" Gabrielle asked quietly, unfolding the letter, reading over it again silently. "This tournament?"

"The Phantom is going to war, is it?" Alcea murmured.

"And we're in the middle of it," Gabrielle said, nodding in agreement. The thought put a sour feeling into her stomach. "So what do we do? Should I accept? Are you?"

"Oui," Alcea nodded. "I will join. One of the only routes left to continue maintaining control over the situation, is it? To join in the skirmish, with the Daevas…"

She took a long sip of tea, draining the rest of the cup.

"Besides, if we both got invitations… Gerard as well, is it?"

"I imagine so," Gabrielle nodded, her expression grim.

"Do you think any of the others got letters as well?" Alcea wondered.

Gabrielle didn't answer her, but she assumed the answer was yes.

And the girls were correct in that assumption. Raizer Volt and Dokukage both checked their mailboxes that day, and found letters issued from the Phantom, inviting each of them to the tournament. The only members of the Eight Leaders who had not gotten invitations were the Crawford siblings, for whatever reason. Gerard held his own letter in his hand as he walked up the stairs of the private Pikachu Dorms, heading to Elaina's room.

"Elaina, it's me," Gerard said, knocking on the door. "Can you let me in?"

A few moments later, Elaina, mask on, opened the door to greet him.

"Gerard. I didn't expect you here, is there something you needed?" Elaina asked, her voice hopeful. It was good to have a visitor. "Would you like to come in?"

Gerard shook her head, Elaina frowning behind her mask in disappointment. She was starting to run out of dating sims to play.

"I'm sorry, I can't stay. I just came here to tell you that there's a tournament coming up," Gerard said, showing her the black envelope. Elaina winced, though it went unseen. She sighed, and trudged back into the room, sitting down on the bed, feeling the energy drain out of her.

"Another tournament…" Elaina shook her head numbly. She had just gotten back, and already she was being asked to continue fighting.

"You don't need to worry," Gerard assured her. "I'm not going to make you compete."

That was what he always said before he made her fight.

His statement about not needing to come inside was promptly forgotten as he followed her into the room so they could continue with their conversation. He held up the black envelope, and she turned her head to look at it.

"I'm going to be fighting this time," Gerard said. Intrigued, Elaina propped herself up on her elbows and leaned forward, sitting upright.

"What do you mean?" Elaina asked.

"The invitation isn't for you. It's for me."

"So I… won't have to fight?" She asked, her voice hopeful. He really… he really wasn't going to make her fight? For real? Could she dare to dream?

"You won't have to fight," Gerard assured her. "I just wanted to let you know. It might be good for you not to watch."

"Wasn't planning on it," Elaina said, shaking her head. "…Wait, why?"

"Do you remember that pokemon you fought against during the Winter Tag Team Tournament? The Chandelure?" Gerard asked.

Elaina shivered, her memory of that battle still making her feel nauseous. "You… you don't mean…"

"I do," Gerard said, nodding. "They're called Shadow Pokemon. I have reason to believe that they will be showing up again in this tournament. So not even the television. Any chance of another one of those attacks, for your own sake, don't risk it."

"…Yes," Elaina said, nodding her head. "I won't. Thank you, Gerard."

"Take care of yourself," Gerard said, wishing her goodbye and turning back to head out into the hallway, to prepare his strategy for the tournament.

Meanwhile, Sylvia skipped into Gerard's office in the Sandbox, a big smile on her face. "Hello there, Phantom!"

"Sylvia, I take it you got your kicks with those letters?" Valon asked. "You got them out to everyone, right?"

"Well, all the people on the list, of course. Quite an interesting 16 students," Sylvia purred, sidling over to the desk and sitting on top of it, staring down at him. I'm glad you agreed with some of my… personal recommendations, although I think it would be a lot more interesting if you had let me pick everyone."

Valon smirked.

"I'm sure you think so, but then, this is about more than just your amusement." He narrowed his eyes. "You better have followed my instructions to the letter. I don't want to hear that you gave an invitation to someone who wasn't on the list just because you thought it would make things more interesting, understood?"

"Who do you think I am?" Sylvia asked in mock astonishment, the gleam in her eye and the smirk on her face stating that he was absolutely right to be so suspicious of her.

Valon continued to stare at her. She sighed, and rolled her eyes.

"Well, let's see," she said, counting off on her fingers. "There's you, and me, and Misato, of course, that makes three of us."

"K and Lana as well?" Valon confirmed.

"Naturally."

"Who else?" He demanded.

"Well, besides the five of us, there's also the letters for Darla Drake and Ayame Toujou from the Empress's organization, oh, and of course, sweet little Ayame's boyfriend, Blake," Sylvia added. "That should certainly make things interesting."

"I fail to understand your obsession with that boy," Valon sighed, shaking his head. "He offers nothing in furtherance to our goals, his skill-"

"True, he's not the most vital piece of the puzzle," Sylvia admitted. "But let's just say that when Blake's around, things tend to get a lot more… interesting. If you leave him out of this, you might not get the outcome you want, I'll tell you."

"So that makes 8. And the rest of the Eight Leaders?"

"Yes, yes, Gerard, Alcea, Raizer, Gabrielle, and Dokukage all got their letters," Sylvia assured him. "And from the Commander's side, we've got the man himself, and Madison Whitmore. And that's everyone, good enough for you?"

Valon frowned.

"Not quite everyone," he reminded her. "Did you make sure our special guest got his letter?"

"Oh, you mean that special guest?" Sylvia smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Well, I put it in his locker, but that's not the same as confirming he got it. I supposed it depends on how frequently he checks his mail. As for the rest, well, who knows? Although, I must say, I'm not sure why you didn't bother inviting the Empress."

"I have no use for a trainer who can't fight," Valon answered. "This is about demonstrating strength, after all, and beating Olivia Himeko on a field outside of her specialty will win me no praise. I'll deal with her another way."

"I still think it would have been interesting, especially considering her… relationship with Alcea Vermeil," Sylvia said, shrugging her shoulders. Just the thought of those two going at it brought a smile to her face. "And it's a pity that Marion Rivers isn't here to participate, either. Can't imagine what she's thinking, abandoning her group just when things are starting to really heat up."

"All the better," Valon said, his expression darkening. "That fool of a girl has no business getting anywhere near this. It sickens me that someone with her limited intelligence is considered equal to one such as myself. Even Alden Volt, whatever the fool he may be, has talent for battling. All that girl knows how to do is stare out at the water. And people call her 'the Mermaid'? Ridiculous."

Sylvia didn't respond, smiling amicably instead.

"Well, if my duties have been completed, I suppose I'll take my leave?"

"Yes, fine, but before you go, one more thing," Valon said, Sylvia stopping at the door and glancing back at him, intrigued.

"Oh? One more thing? What could it be?" She asked, curious.

"I heard from K that you declined to have any of your pokemon undergo the Shadow Awakening," Valon said. He narrowed his eyes and stared quizzically at her, trying to understand exactly why she would refuse to turn any of her pokemon into the much stronger Shadow Pokemon.

Sylvia's smile gave nothing away.

"I didn't feel like it was necessary," she answered ambiguously. "My pokemon should be strong enough, don't worry."

"…If you say so," Valon said, nodding. He still wasn't sure what exactly she was scheming, but their other guests would be using Shadow Pokemon enough to make up for her, so he didn't mind at all. Sylvia would perform her best when she was entertained, and if not turning her pokemon into Shadow Pokemon would make things more interesting for her, then he'd humor the girl.

"Well, I'll be off then!" Sylvia gave him one final wave and headed out, humming a little tune to herself as she thought of what to do next.

So, everyone's got their invitations! Who will receive the last of them? Who's this mysterious guest of the Phantom's? We'll have to find out!