August 17, 13 AL

10:30 AM

Sidney, Pheobe, and Glacia stepped delicately into the Hall of Champions. They peered around the room they had always been near and yet never entered. Tradition dictated that they could not enter this room, but they had already broken enough rules that it did not matter.

"Get over here, you guys. We don't have all day!" yelled Drake.

"Why the hall of Champions, Drake? We don't need to be so obvious," returned Pheobe.

"Get over it. With that e-mail out from the last champion we sent to Birth Island, we won't have long to wait before trainers start claiming that we have no right to be here at all," answered Sidney.

Glacia added, "He is right. We have no way to prove Alexander's letter false. It came from his official website. How are you planning to keep up the charade, Drake? If people know what has happened, we have no chance here. We have no worthy reasons besides how controlling all those Champions were. Their lording over us will seem normal to most people. They haven't been forced to live through it for years."

"I don't feel like trying to disappear," said Pheobe, "but what choice do we have? Only suppression of evidence has kept it up so far."

"Fine," said Drake, "Hand yourself over to the trainers who are now on their way here. I, on the other hand, plan to defend Ever Grande City. We are strong enough to keep the trainers from having any power. I led us this far, did I not? I used the rumors of Birth Island to get rid of the Champions. You only wished to put the Champion in his place and show that he was not as strong as he claimed. I knew we could be greater. I knew we must be. Now, will you be?" He stared at each of them in turn.

As he looked at Sidney, he answered, "This isn't 'going according to plan,' Drake. We know we need to do something. You better have a plan. We will follow you if you have something we can do." The others nodded in agreement.

"I am glad that you understand. First, we need to stop the immediate threat. Glacia, I need you to go outside and have Walrein start Rain Dance. After you have brought enough clouds, Salamence will use Thunder to keep any flyers away."

"I will begin," answered Glacia, and she turned to leave.

"Wait!" Drake commanded, "After the clouds have been summoned, you need to finish off the last entrance. After the rain has started, the cave can be filled with water and frozen to shut off that entrance."

"I assume that will work. What will Sidney and Pheobe be doing, or am I not allowed to give input to your master plan?" she inquired.

"They shall take care of the more distant dissent. Now go. We need action, not discussion."

She strode away.

"Pheobe, you need to take care of the Champions and those with them. Finsh them off so that no one will know what we have done."

"What?" she exclaimed, "I worried about sending more Champions to Birth Island after the first one came back with his mind destroyed, but killing them? You are going too far. I could hide them better than in that stupid cave of yours. Not all hiding places are far away. No one will find them near here. They do not need to join the dead!"

Drake hesitated, then replied, "I am sorry. I thought too quickly. I have a better idea. You go to the leaders of Team Magma and Aqua. Convince them to come here and meet with me. Tell them I can give them power over all of Hoenn if they will become the Elite police. I do not mean to only be the best pokemon trainers. We need utter control. After that, find the people in the senate who can effect a new rule to give trainers only two pokemon each, not six. Use the same ones we used to enforce the rule about Birth Island. We do not need any more resistance than we already have. The Teams will help with … convincing them."

"Thank you. I'm glad you understand," Pheobe answered, and she left.

"Now for you, Sidney," Drake whispered as she disappeared, "You know we need to finish the Champions. Go and do the job she would not. You love the dark, so let them go into it and never return."

"A good battle," Sidney returned, "I'm tired of telling the people who beat me how great they are. It'll be refreshing to turn the tide and let my darkness destroy them. Would you mind if I gave them an Abra or something to defend themselves with?"

"We are short on time. You may have fun later."

Sidney turned away with a sigh.

"Now I must do my part," thought Drake as he left to begin Salamence's storm.