Twelve days later...two days before the championship...

Johto was warm this time of year.

The League was to take place right where the old Johto tournament would have taken place, if it had not been sabotaged by the Masked Man many years ago. The fact that the Rorian League would be decided in a location that was not, in fact, anywhere in Roria would mark the first time that any region would have its Champion decided in a region that was not the region itself.

Only twelve contestants had presented eight Badges that were required for admission to the tournament, Bronze among them. The Elite Four and the current Champion were still unknown, although the Champion was confirmed to be a native Rorian.

Almost every single Gym Leader, famous Trainer, and celebrity would be there. The fact that Team Eclipse had threatened the League only increased its appeal to some, causing a abnormal swell in in-person spectators, so much that new sections of seats would had to have been installed. It was truly a event to behold.

What the League would bring, nobody could say. Only fate knew.

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Oak looked through the observation deck of the arena security tower at the spacious stadium. It was finally time for the event to unfold.

The recent communication from the missing trio of Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald was a interesting development, although since the transmission had been cut off, the precise nature of their whereabouts were uncertain. The only news was that they were alive, and had found Rayquaza.

"Juniper, is everything in place? New updates on that gunship's whereabouts?" Juniper didn't have any new information. "Nothing on the gunship, thankfully. The Pokedex Holders and Gym Leader are on high alert in case anything happens. If it does, no Eclipse grunt will even get a word out before they are captured."

"Well, it's not the grunts that concern me. We need a plan the counter Cypress, although ever since the battle at Yveltal's cavern, I think we should be able to defeat him. Keep me updated." Juniper left the call, and Oak sighed.

Perhaps he was overreacting. The threat could have been averted already.

But Oak had learned never to doubt his instinct.

And that instinct was telling him something was wrong.

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Magnezone gave a final blow to Tess's Salamance, and the battle was over.

"Close one!" Tess smiled, as she began to heal her Pokémon. "I almost got you...if I had just been able to use Focus Swap one more time...anyway, you have to stay in shape for the League!"

Bronze gave a mock stern face. "I appreciate your enthusiasm about these little training sessions. But, we have to make sure my strategies don't get out to the completion, right?" Tess nodded, and then her face became quizzical.

"When you say competition, who exactly are you talking about? How much do we actually know about the other eleven?" Bronze, for once, couldn't answer. "Well, the identities of the others are kept secret, but you already know that. The only information I get is the ages for some reason, and I know that most of them are adults. We're in the dark otherwise."

Tess considered this and asked something else that Bronze was also not expecting. "Listen. I know you are planning to use your position of being Champion to continue to fight Team Eclipse. But, I also feel that something else is in your mind about winning. I felt it a few days back when you registered your badges, and it seemed as though you have two motives, get me?"

Bronze knew she was correct, and felt just confident enough to open up. "You know what? Your right. There is another reason. You see, being a Pokedex Holder is a lot to live up to. It feels like all the others are older, stronger, and have more experience or some special trick that makes them unique. Ruby once called me the 'new guy,' and I guess that's a good way of putting it. Becoming a Champion...that would actually be a sign of respect, right? Maybe I wouldn't be called the new guy anymore!"

Tess stayed silent for a over a minute, simply looking at Bronze.

"You know what? You are the new guy! It's fine. Everyone was a new guy at one time, and eventually you'll grow to become the senior to other new guy's and gals. You are extraordinary intelligent, full of justice, you are a hero. Everyone who knows you can see these qualities in you."

Bronze actually blushed for maybe the third time in his life. "Tess, I'm not a hero. Just wanting to defeat the people who kidnaped my parents and brainwashed my best friend doesn't make me noble or anything. It just leads to ashes."

"If that's what you think..." Tess paused, and then hit him on the neck, causing him to gasp. "Then you've got it all wrong!" Bronze rubbed his neck. "What are you talking about?" Tess gave a cheery smile. "All you need to do is beat the bad guys, become champion, and rescue Jake and your parents! You don't have to be the one to give Cypress what he deserves. That is up to Arceus. Just take what comes in stride, and you don't have to become a vengeful person. You should smile more then you already do, anyway!"

"Thanks..." Bronze wasn't sure how to react to this sudden pep talk. "No thanks needed! That's just my job, you know! We have to get back anyway. Come on!"

Bronze ran after Tess out of the private training arena back to the participants quarters.

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Cypress roared, and slammed Emrett into the ground. Emrett teleported away, and summoned a barrage of swords which launched at Cypress. The demon summoned a single stone wall, absorbing all the blades.

Cypress summoned a rain of razor-sharp gravel pieces above Emrett, all while dodging the sorcerer's angry barrage of roots on the ground. Emrett dissolved in the middle of a drizzle of rain, and levitated up to see where his opponent was.

Emrett felt a prick in the back of his neck, and saw Cypress grinning, with a blade to Emretts jugular. "You are dead."

Emrett relented, and dropped his staff. "Once again, my lord, you have proven yourself to be a superior fighter to me. That is the third time this week-"

"I do not need another reminder of my superiority! On other news, are the specimens ready?" Emrett stuttered and panted. "I do not know, my lord. Colress said that they would be synthesized at about this time..."

The door to the arena opened, and Colress stepped through, along with several other grunts pulling human-sized pods. Emrett grinned through his pants. "It appears they have arrived, my lord!"

"And in perfect condition, as well." Colress said. "The donor bodies should be ready for the procedure. Open the pods!" The grunts pressed a certain red button the side of all seven pods, opening to reveal a ghastly sight.

Seven completely lifeless clone bodies of Cypress lay, eyes totally blank. "Synthesized without a brain, as per your request. Ready for operation." Colress sent a black mass out from a Poke Ball, and Cypress towered over the shaking form.

"Marshadow...split your essence. Indwell these lifeless shells, and perform wonders and signs! Prophesy to the whole world of my authority as a final chance. Rally up the followers in exile, those who are loyal but did not fight or join. Do this, and you shall be spared from the approaching fire."

Marshadow nodded, and started sending out black wisps of energy from its body. With every emission, Marshadow grew fainter and fainter, before disappearing and leaving seven balls of smoke in the air. The smoke travelled through the lips and nostrils of the clones, and then all was quiet.

The clones opened their eyes at the exact same time, and sat up with robotic likeness. They stepped out of the pods, and lined up, unnaturally still.

"Very good. You are dismissed to the seven region. But do now go to Roria, for my power is strongest there." The clones saluted, and marched with perfect efficiency to a transport that would take them away to the various regions.

Cypress threw his head back and laughed. "Imagine the confusion my enemies will face when they learn that I am appearing in the flesh in eight different places!" Colress raised a eyebrow. "Eight? There are seven clones."

Cypress stopped laughing. "Are you forgetting myself, Colress? Yes, I too will make quite an appearance at the League. Is the Extruder charged?" Colress and Emrett answered at the same time. "Yes, my lord."

"Good...good...it is almost finished. Out of the dust of the old order, a new world shall arise! One, in which I am Lord of All Things! With you, my loyal, beloved followers, beside me. Our long-awaited victory is nearly at hand! It will be as glorious as the War of Wrath, but we will not be defeated! We shall crush the rebels underfoot, and Arceus with them! Glory to the Eclipse Alliance!"

Cypress and his commanders punched their hands in the air, and repeated the motto again and again.