The Chairman stepped up to the podium, cameras flashing and reporters jockeying for position.

"As of this bill's passing," He began, "the organization known as Team Eclipse had been classified as a terrorist organization. Membership is henceforth illegal, with steep fines and punishment for attending rallies. If you have any information about Team Eclipse's movements for whereabouts, please contact your local police station. I will not be taking any more questions today about the former Rorian Professor of Pokémon, besides that Yanase Berlitz has been declared the temporary Rorian Professor of Pokémon until a more democratic process can be undergone. Good day."

Walking away from the yelling mob, the Chairman walked through the automatic blast doors to the company of the various Pokémon Professors. Sitting down, the Chairman lay in silence for several minutes.

Everything had changed.

There was no going back.

The Chairman finally broke the silence. "Well, I suppose that we all know that Cypress is not going to be coming back. In fact, judging from what the others reported, I don't even think Cypress exists anymore. He is something else, something dangerous. In the attack, over eighty-four citizens were killed and one thousand-eight hundred and seven were injured or reported missing. Team Eclipse has risen, and we are dealing with the fallout."

Elm spoke next. "I hardly think anyone who lived in Anthien City is going to be returning for a while. The risk of another attack is too likely to them, and understandably so. I think Anthien should be put on essential functions only, however, we would need to speak to Stephan about that..."

Suddenly, one of the Chairman's aids came rushing in, holding a small, orange and black pamphlet.

"Sir, its a message. From Team Eclipse. A messenger came up to us, yelling that you were supposed to see it."

Oak yelled back. "You arrested him, right? Or did that slip your mind?" The aid trembled. "Yes, sir, the messenger is in custody. But everyone thinks you should read this."

Oak snatched the pamphlet, checked it throughty for a booby trap, and began to read.

"I, Commander Emrett of the Eclipse Alliance, on the behalf of the Creator Himself, declare the formation of a sovereign nation-state of the former Team Eclipse. In doing so, several demands are required of the leadership of the Pokémon Association, and International Police. One, the Pokémon Tournament is not to be held. The practice must be forever banned, and failure to comply will result in even greater devastation then you have already seen. Our lord's wrath will be swift and terrible, and he shall harvest the flesh of the unselected with a sharp sickle, and blood shall flow to the height of a horses'' bridle for three hundred yards around the Pokémon Tournament stadium. For the harvest of the old earth is ripe, and the new earth is coming in its wake.

-Lord Emrett."

Kukei laughed. "Ha! Now there not just ideologues, they're religious fanatics! They actually believe that Cypress is some sort of God!"

Rowan looked very stern. "What if he is? He seems to have been indwelt by some powerful entity, and has received terrible power. He could be acting as a vessel for some god-like force. And how in the world will we answer to these demands?"

Oak addressed the table. "Whatever we do, I think we lose. For example, if we say that the Pokémon League is still on, whether there is or is not an attack, the people will become more angry against us then they already are for risking their safety. But if we call it off, then they'll be angry at us for not hosting it, and reducing their happiness! Team Eclipse, oh, I'm sorry, the Eclipse Alliance has us in a cage. No matter what step we take, we will face the consequences."

Sycamore proposed a solution. "Perhaps we can tell the people that Team Eclipse has threatened the tournament. It will still be held since we aren't scared of them, but it will take place in Johto, a region with low Eclipse activity and with much more security then normal. I think this will balance out our cage, and make it more brittle, figuratively. Are we in agreement?"

Birch spoke up. "This should work, but my concern is about the gunship. We simply cannot combat that thing as of now, unless we launch a missile at it, but atomics are illegal in Rorian airspace under the Terramist Treatise, and solid-fuel missiles as well. And also, it seems to have some sort of invisibility field. We can't even see it coming, much less track it down. If we host the tournament with that gunship still under the control of Team Eclipse, many lives could be lost."

"I think that can be avoided, actually." Elm said. "I have been doing some research with Yanese, and we believe we have figured out the invisibility field. You see, the power of Cresselia and it's opposite, Darkrai, can both affect human perception as well as dreams. If Team Eclipse had captured both Darkrai as well, then if they could harness both Pokémon's full power, then they could use some sort of stygium-crystal energy lattice in the hull to prevent humans from perceiving the ship."

Oak was impressed. "Good work, but if we still can't see it, then knowing why isn't much help." Elm smiled. "Exactly. We can't see it, but there are many Pokémon with unorthodox sensory systems that can detect the ship, or are not even affected by the energy field. If we have these Pokémon standing guard at the Tournament in a few months, then we could detect the ship. Team Eclipse has lost their informant. We can finally stay on equal ground in this war."

The Chairman considered this, and spoke to the table. "Very well. Are we in favor of moving the Pokémon Tournament to Johto?" Everyone except Birch raised their hands.

"Very well. The motion passes..."

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Bronze and Tess flew to Aredia City in a emergency transport, the pilot conscripted from the Ranger Relief Effort, inbound from the nearby Fiore. Several other refugees were on route to their loved ones, or simply to flee from the wrecked city. Bronze was still too preoccupied with his own thoughts to talk to anyone.

Why had he been chosen? They had succeeded, but it could easily have been argued that any other Pokedex Holder was better equipped and skilled to disable the explosives. Was it only because he had been holding the plasma chute key? And how did his Bronze Brick play a part in this, if any? Why had Dialga talked to him, and Palkia had talked to Tess? Why had he been so compelled to buy the Absolite? Was Cypress really a god?

The other Pokedex Holders had gone off to continue the fight, but had they already lost? Bronze though back to his own desire to throw Cypress of the island, and he had seen Emeralds fury as he tried to crush Cypress. Y had also attempted to kill Cypress as well, at least in defense of others. This monster was making everyone compromise their principles, both to degrade his foes, and make and example of their hypocrisy in front of his slaves. He was toying with everyone's minds, terrifying his own troops with his demonic powers.

Was everyone becoming more like Cypress? Was he right in the end?

In his head, Bronze felt grasping claws, shades of doubts and despair, leeching his hope and morals, dulling his knowledge and logic.

No! We are nothing like him. He will kill, lie, cheat, steal, hurt, and do whatever he wants just to get his own way. If we start thinking what he wants us to think, then we might as well give up. Perhaps some already have...but I will not!

Bronze though about when Cypress had given him the chute key. In those glowing eyes, Bronze though he had seen something other then evil. It was more like pain, and regret. Maybe the old Cypress was still in the new one, regretting his choice at allowing such a entity to take control of him. Maybe, deep in Cypress heart, he truly believed he was doing good.

Thinking back to what Dialga and Palkia had said, the entity controlling Cypress was a cosmic being, like them, but it had rebelled against Arceus and was imprisoned. Now that it was free, it apparently had taken control of the dark side of Cypress's personality, and totally removed his inhibitions. What it intended to do now, Bronze could only hazard a guess at. "A new world is coming, and the elements of the old one will disappear in fire, and the heavens will roll up like a scroll!"

Tess was fast asleep, recovering from the emotional exhaustion of the past few days. Jake being gone, captured by Team Eclipse, was also taking its toll on her. Bronze worried that she would do something even more rash out of attachment to Jake, against her grandfather's advice. She had already endangered herself far more times than Bronze could count, and forget about staying in a hotel every night.

Bronze thought back to what Cypress had said when he had received his Pokedex. "Throughout history, Pokedex Holders have undergone great adventures, combated evil organizations, and met legendary Pokémon that one would never even see. It seems that they are destined for great things!"

Bronze was already on a great adventure. He had combated a evil organization, even saving a city, with divine help. He had seen the great Lords of Space and Time. Perhaps the self-fulfilling prophecy of a Pokedex was taking fruition in ways no one would ever expect. In that, Cypress's folly, believing himself to be unassailable, might be the end of him.

The pilot started the landing countdown, ending the long flight. Bronze decided he would have to have Electivire carry Tess to a nice room for the night. He himself had other things he needed to investigate in the lone and level deserts of Old Nuria. A small hint of a scheme, one that he may be able to prevent.

As the cold moon shone down upon the wastes, Bronze put on his black cloak, and left to the desert all about.