After the incident on the base floor of the hospital, it took a while for the staff to assure everyone that the building wasn't under attack, and that incident that had shattered all of the windows in that floor would not repeat again. And while the nurses made sure no one had been hurt and the janitors cleaned everything up, Lucian and everyone else began their meeting. Delayed by said incident as it was.

The de-facto Champion and Executive Chief of the Association called everyone to the on-call room on the base floor, one of the only rooms big enough to house so many people. He stood on the back of the room, accompanied by his fellow Elite Four members: Flint, Bertha and Aaron. Fantina and Maylene stood near, being the only Gym leaders in any position to attend. And spread all throughout the room were the allies that had been instrumental in stopping the Moonless Night: Reiko and Percy, Lucas and Saturn, Professor Rowan, and Metchi. It was the latter who looked most out of place, yet she didn't seem to care, leaning against the wall with her arms folded, staring daggers at the Elite Four members.

During the following minutes, Lucian addressed them openly and unabashedly, the usual pleasure he took in hearing his own voice absent, as dark lines of worry and exhaustion crossed his face. Heavy bags could be seen under the rim of his colored glasses.

Once he finished speaking, he took a quick breath and stepped back, waiting for their reactions. There were none at first, silence reigning in the room. Then, Maylene shook her head and let out a reproachful sigh.

"So that's your big plan to deal with this whole mess?" she asked. "I get something has to be done, but this is a bit too manipulative for my tastes."

A small laugh left Fantina's lips. "You're simply too young to remember. To me, this sounds like exactly what my dear brother would come up with."

The others stayed silent, exchanging small glances between themselves. It was only Metchi who voiced her thoughts, barely-contained anger interlaced with every word she spoke.

"So you'd turn me into your little pawn… the Association's officially sponsored hero chosen by Azelf, to show everyone that the two sides of this conflict worked together to save the world. And all for what? So you can turn back the clock? To what, the time right before it all went to shit? You really think you can put out this fire with such a piss-poor excuse of a plan?"

Reiko folded her arms and nodded. "I agree. Turning a blind eye and trying to appease people with empty tales of heroism will do little to help."

Their words reached Lucian like the sound of nails against a chalkboard, his face tightening up ever so slightly. Not with anger, but shame. He stopped himself from glancing toward his fellow Elite Members, and replied.

"Of course, I don't expect you to go alongside us each step of the way," he said. "We simply want to avoid an all-out conflict between the Association and the people of Sinnoh. Even if this is a spark that can no longer be extinguished, I believe our best course of action is to reassure everyone, to put out the fires all across the region, before we can embark on any sort of governmental revolution."

Next to him, Bertha nodded. "Can't focus much on politics when your whole house is on fire. Much of Mt. Coronet's surface remains uninhabitable to the powerful Pokemon that once lived there, and that is a problem the rangers don't have enough resources to deal with. Not to mention the protests all across the region, and the schisms... no, more like the vast cracks between the trainer and non-trainer population." She let her shoulders drop, and sighed. "We're well aware that the Association as an institution might not live to see the end of the year. The people have voiced their complaints loud and clear. What once worked as a form of government in times of war, is now nothing more than a burden for those not seen as 'useful' enough. But pulling the plug early could lead to a mass panic that could very well engender another catastrophe."

Frowns and looks of anger and consternation met her words, though no one spoke up to challenge them. It was the young man next to her who spoke next, Aaron, the bug-type specialist.

"Hah… really, I was never much for politics. I'm a bug-catcher at heart. But because of that, I at least know full-well how much damage control we need to do," he said. "I was always against the downsizing of rangers all across the region. Same with Flint. But with Cynthia in charge and the other two on her side, we were always outnumbered. Sure could use more of those rangers now, huh?" He raised his shoulders and shook his head. "Honestly, I'm open to hearing you all out, 'cause Lucian's plan ain't sitting right with me either. That's why we gathered you all here. To know what you think."

"I'm sure you'd all like to talk things over amongst yourselves," said Flint. "But unfortunately, that's time we just don't have."

Lucian nodded. "Gym leaders, trainers, professors, and our ex-Galactic members, all those who fought tooth and nail to drive back the Moonless Night… we need your answers, here and now. How do you respond?"

The silence that followed felt heavy on everyone's shoulders, lasting for what felt like an entire minute. All present looked amongst themselves, exchanging small but meaningful glances that, little by little, eased the lines of worry that had plagued their faces. Maylene and Reiko's eyes met, and both women smiled knowingly at each other. The latter then turned to look at Metchi, who gave her a side-glance and chuckled to herself. Lucas and Saturn looked at each other and nodded, determined looks on their faces.

And the two oldest, Rowan and Fantina, simply stood in place, eyes closed, pensive. Waiting for someone else to speak.

Finally, it was Maylene who did. She looked straight at Lucian, and inhaled deeply before talking.

"At the end of the day, we Gym leaders are little more than brute force at the Association's command. We are Sinnoh's swords, sheathed and ready for combat at all times, and it stands to reason that swords can't defy their owners. We have no authority when it comes to governmental issues. All we can do is teach the young trainers of this region, and hope they grow to accomplish what we can't." She took a moment to breathe. "What's more, with most of us absent, I can't say I speak for everyone. But I can at least tell you this: you can count me out of this deal. Because starting now, I'm no longer Veilstone's Gym leader."

All but Reiko and Percy flinched at those words, and Rowan felt his mouth fell slightly open.

"W-what?"

"You serious, Maylene?" Flint asked, concerned. "What would quitting now get y–"

"I'm not quitting my position so I can take it easy and pretend none of this has anything to do with me," she interrupted. "You wanted my opinion, but I'm not much for politics, so I'd rather just do what I can to help. Everyone here agreed that downsizing rangers so much across the region was a mistake, right? Well, you got a new one right here."

It was fair to say no one in that room had ever seen Rowan look so shocked. Even his mustache seemed more frazzled than usual.

"M-Maylene…"

"What's with this all of a sudden?" asked Fantina, curious.

Maylene just shrugged. "You were right, pops. Took me a while to realize maybe mom didn't have such pure intentions for training me as her successor. She really just wanted to live through me. To get me to do what she couldn't. But I'm done with that." She raised a hand slightly and looked down at it, balling it into a fist. "Not to say I don't like being a Gym leader, but it's time I stop trying to revive the past and look toward the future. The region needs all the help it can't get. It'd be shitty of me not to step forward."

There was a moment of stunned silence, and then Reiko stepped forward, folding her arms as she added: "Maylene and I discussed this before coming. I'm also willing to lend my aid," she said. "Fun though it was to play the role of trainer and challenge the League, at my core I am but a wandering leaf, and duty is the wind that carries me. If I can help ease the burdens of Sinnoh's people and Pokemon, then I must. That's all there is to it."

Lucian blinked a few times in surprise. It took him a moment to find his words. "I… expected you to return to Kanto after all of this. I thought…"

"I love Kanto with all my heart," Reiko cut him off. "Enough to spend the majority of my life trying to avenge those who would dare destroy it. But because of that endless pursuit of vengeance… there's nothing, and no one left for me back there. Kanto is my heart. It is the blood that pulses through my veins… but it is not my home. Not anymore." A saddened look crossed her face as she said that. "I have a new family now. A new home." Her eyes quickly darted toward Percy, who had a subtle smile on his face. "And flawed though this home may be, it would be irresponsible of me to let it get any worse, especially at the hands of people like you, members of the Elite Four."

Unlike with Metchi, there was no malice or venom in her voice, just pure, knife-sharp honesty. And it was terribly effective, judging by the looks of guilt that crossed Lucian and the others' faces. Before any of them could comment on Reiko's plan, however, Percy spoke up to clarify.

"To put it all into less… idealistic terms, and into more practical ones, this is our proposal." He cleared his throat and raised a hand as he explained. "We want to open back up all the ranger bases that were closed twelve years ago, and to bring back the ranger guild network as a whole. This would involve gathering the current ranger force in Sinnoh and spreading them across the region, putting a handful each in charge of these new bases, and having them teach and instruct new recruits, much like how it's done in Kanto and Hoenn."

Reiko nodded. "Their expertise would be invaluable in keeping things afloat while they train new rangers to take up the mantle. And of course, Maylene and I would do all we can to help too," she said, glancing at the girl with a smile. "And on top of that, we have Metchi too. She can boast having led a ranger base in Hoenn in the past, and she's agreed to help us for a while."

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"Yeah… though only for a while." Metchi grabbed the side of her neck and clicked it nonchalantly, an irritated look on her face. "Unlike Reiko, I got no intention of staying in this region for long. I'm only here until I take care of some business, and then I'm heading back to Hoenn. But I guess I can lend a hand 'til then."

Across from her, Flint placed his hands on his hips and laughed, a warm smile on his lips. "Metchi… gotta admit, that ain't a bad idea."

Aaron crossed his arms and nodded. "Honestly, it's something that should've been done years ago."

"Still… things like this are easier said than done," Bertha commented. "The idea certainly sounds good, but how do you expect we gather the funds for such an operation? We're stretched thin enough as it is."

Judging by the smug curl of the lips on Percy's part, he fully expected that question, and had an answer ready for it.

"That should be obvious; I will take care of it."

Bertha stammered for a moment. "Excuse me?"

"The Morow family is prepared to lend its aid to this cause, to the effect of all the funding necessary to bring those ranger bases back up to working condition, as well as providing whatever missing personnel may be needed through outsourcing," he explained. "The rangers' salary will still come from the government's pocket, but this should be sufficient enough to ease your burdens a bit."

"That's…" Lucian raised a finger to adjust his glasses, a shocked look on his face. "Even so, an act of charity like that–"

"Charity?" Percy frowned. "Don't misunderstand, this is an investment, nothing more, nothing less. It would also make for good publicity. Cross-region collaboration on this scale is something that looks good on the news, and it's the type of endeavor we should stop being too prideful to embark on."

Lucian was stunned into silence for a moment, not having expected such a concise and well thought-out plan. To think they'd been discussing this beforehand, that they'd been thinking about this even with everything else going on…

"I… think it can work." Flint let out an incredulous laugh, eyes wide. "I mean, this type of collaboration is already pretty common in Sunyshore, right? The SIT has worked on a bunch of different projects with Silph. Co and Devon in the past, so what's to say this can't work?"

"It's… a more substantial answer than I expected, I admit," Bertha muttered, pensive.

The Elite Four members glanced at each other, considering the proposition, although from their expressions it was clear Flint and Aaron were already fully convinced. Though before the other two could give their response, Lucas stepped forward and spoke, his voice tinted with nervousness.

"Er… it's not just the lack of rangers, I think." He swallowed. "T-this is something I noticed, while working under the professor and while traveling across the region, but I think the trainer system as a w-whole is… deeply flawed, and probably needs to be changed too."

Beside him, Saturn crossed his arms and scoffed. "That shouldn't even be said. What do you people think Team Galactic was fighting against for so long?" He glared at the four trainers before him. "What's wrong with just letting kids be trainers if they want to? Why does it need to be this… faux meritocracy where challenging the League is the highest calling in all of Sinnoh? Why all the sponsorships and expensive training and licensing? None of it is needed. It doesn't mean quality over quantity, it just prevents those without means from becoming trainers. Regardless of what decision you make, I hope you don't intend to keep this system in place for another day."

Behind him, Rowan closed his eyes and nodded. "I must agree with Saturn and Lucas. What once might have been a way to engender a smaller but more talented trainer population has, over time, twisted into what could only be called a small army of prideful, obstinate young adults at the government's behest. I will not mince words; it is a disgrace on our part that we've allowed this to happen."

"Ha. That's one way to put it," Metchi spat, throwing one of her arms up in irritation. "When they're not being obedient little pets to the Association, they're risking their lives for that fake sense of pride this region insisted on them since birth. And we all know how that usually ends up." She stared straight at Lucian, her gaze scolding. "With teenagers having to pick up your slack, and almost dying in the process, like Barry and Inyssa."

Out of everyone's comments, out of all the things that had so far been thrown against them, it was Metchi's words that cut deeper into Lucian and his three companions. The man visibly flinched, like he'd been punched. The other three couldn't meet Metchi's eyes, guilt clear as day on their faces.

Metchi took no joy in seeing that. If anything, it made the barely-contained anger inside her chest flare all the hotter, twisting and spiraling behind her eyes like fire swimming in a pool of gold.

"I hope you know I'm going and telling everyone the truth about what happened, no matter what you decide in this meeting. And good fucking luck trying to stopping me," she declared. "So I'd recommend you come clean to the people of Sinnoh and own up to your mistakes. Then maybe, just maybe, you can stop everyone from marching to your office with torches and pitchforks, which you honestly deserve."

Realizing her voice was starting to heat up and raise in volume, Metchi forcefully stopped herself and breathed in quick, swallowing that anger down, at least somewhat.

"…Honestly, you wouldn't see me crying if the entire Association was overthrown, if all of you lost your jobs like you so clearly deserve," she said. "But hey, this isn't my region. And the ideas from Reiko and the others aren't bad alternatives, so I'm willing to help on that front, even if I hate all of you for what your fucked-up system did to Barry and Inyssa. It wouldn't be the first time I work with someone I hate, after all." She glanced toward a familiar face. "How many times did you try to kill me, Saturn? Two? Three?"

A flush of pure guilt and embarrassment rose to the man's face, and he instantly looked away, hugging himself.

"I… s-sorry."

"Water under the bridge," she shrugged, then turned toward the Elite Four again. "So yeah, my answer basically boils down to 'Get your shit together'. It's simple enough that even you lot should understand."

As usually composed and unreadable as he was, even Lucian couldn't help but show flinch at those words. He raised a hand to adjust his glasses, hanging his head ever so slightly so that the light reflecting off them would cover his eyes, an unconscious gesture of meekness, very rare for him. The other Elite Four members noticed, and kept their silence, waiting.

"Honorable… and right though your proposal may be, you'll understand if I remain hesitant. Ripping the band-aid off this wound so prematurely…"

But he was more talking to himself than to anyone else, almost muttering the words, his eyes still hidden. Fantina rolled her eyes at the sight, speaking up.

"Isn't this exactly the situation you found yourself in twelve years ago, after the end of the war?" she asked. "The only difference is that now you're the one in charge, not Cynthia. I believe I remember you being terribly cross that she didn't make use of her unique opportunity to change things for the better."

"That's… different," Lucian protested. "Back then, Cynthia had the support of practically the entirety of Sinnoh."

"Hmph. Regardless… I must side with Metchi on this matter," said Rowan, reproachful. "If you intend to use deceit and manipulation to beguile the flame of conflict, you will soon find yourself burnt to ash. I refuse to cooperate with such a foolish endeavor."

"I agree. You know that if any, this is the time for such boldness," Fantina added. "You know it, but you're afraid. But what are you more afraid for? The people of Sinnoh, or your own position?"

Lucian's lips pursed into thin white line. A bead of sweat formed on his forehead. "That's…"

Reiko, appropriately enough, was the one to deal the last blow to his resolve. From the same spot she'd been standing on all this time, arms folded, posture rigid like that of a statue and a burning determination gleaming behind her eyes, she stared at the man before her and spoke.

"We understand this is a difficult decision. And moreso, that were you to ignore us, there is little we could do about it." Her voice was calm, but firm like steel. It filled the room in its entirety. "We need a solution for the crisis the Moonless Night has left us with. Obscuring and placating the truth can lead us to that solution, but I, like those who have stood at my side, and those who continue to do so, choose a different path. A thorny path, that will no doubt present its own complications, but it is the one we choose nonetheless. Because we know it is the right path, and we know that it is our duty to take it."

She unfolded her arms and raised a closed fist in front of her chest, a hint of sadness crossing her eyes. "Because we owe it to those whose sacrifices gave us a new tomorrow. We owe it to Palmer, to Argenta, to Darkrai and Cresselia. And most of all, we owe it to Barry and Inyssa. If we, through deception and inaction, allow what happened to them and this region to occur again, if we keep spinning the thread of greed and carelessness that spanned from the start of the war to the creation of Team Galactic, then not only will we have forsaken our duty, but we will have shattered it, and trampled it underfoot. And I'll sooner drive my own sword through my stomach than let that happen."

Heavy and uncertain as the atmosphere of the room was moments ago, Reiko's words washed it away like water down a drain, leaving behind a deep silence, and a number of wide eyes looking her way. Doubt and worry were still present amidst the Elite Four's faces, but something in Reiko's voice had lessened that. It had given Lucian something he'd lacked moments before.

A morsel of courage, smaller than a grain of rice, but it was enough to make him peer his exhausted eyes over the rim of his glasses. He looked surprised.

Behind her, Maylene smiled warmly. "Reiko…"

"You always get so dramatic when you're serious." Percy rolled his eyes, but there was nothing but love in the way he looked at her. "Though I can't say I disagree with anything you said."

Metchi chuckled. "Yeah, a bit cheesy, but miles better than Cynthia for sure."

She paid them all no mind, however, gaze still set on Lucian. Their eyes met, and for a short moment there was silence between them.

Then, Lucian closed his eyes, and hung his head in what almost looked like a nod, a miniscule smile forming on his lips.

"Your logic is… hard to dispute," he muttered, more to himself than to Reiko. Then, after a short pause, he said: "To think I'd find myself so consistently trapped under her shadow. Even if her actions caused more harm than mine, I can't deny her Will carried on to those who can better make use of it."

He let out a small laugh, amused. It really was so terribly funny.

"…Very well. I suppose it's about time we make up for our failings," he said. "For the good of Sinnoh, at the very least."

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Inyssa couldn't have guessed for how long she'd been asleep. Yet as her consciousness returned to the forefront and her eyes opened, half-lid, the small working part of her brain figured it'd been a while. There was very little pain anymore, only soreness. And… warmth.

She tried blinking away the haziness in her vision, but still only shapes met her sight. Yet they were familiar shapes, familiar colors. She would have recognized that messy blond head of hair anywhere. He sat next to her bed, eyes closed cheek resting on his shoulder, his breathing slow and steady. There were… others beside him. She could hear their breathing, feel the warmth they exuded onto the room, somehow.

That pale flame… that red carapace… those fluffy wings, those luster petals, that enormous black shape curled up at her right, and that blob of pale blue resting against the other, snoring loudly…

Inyssa blinked, still dazed, the inside of her brain like hot, pulsing fog. There were vases with… flowers? All throughout the room. She couldn't tell them apart, her vision was too blurry and her arms didn't listen when she told them to lift her up. Frustrated, she just turned her neck to look to her left, and saw a simple Pokeball, as well as a flowerpot she would've described as comically tiny if she'd been in the state of mind to put those words together. There was only a small flower inside, barely a bud, green and pink. A gracidea.

With what little effort she could muster, she squinted and focused her vision enough to read the words that were on the small paper attached to the pot. The handwriting was perfectly pristine.

'Get well soon, and come back full force, Niss. We'll have snacks and drinks ready for you and Johnny when you come visit (and you better).

From Simone, Zachary, Rory and Pyxis (she didn't want to be included, but I did it anyway.)'

In the state it was in, Inyssa's brain barely processed the words on the paper, and yet for some reason she found herself smiling weakly.