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"There you are, my blue buddy." Sub said in his usual jovial tone. "How you holding up? I see you're still healing after all of what happened in Black City. You look like the one Meowth that escaped a pack of hungry Houndoom." He chuckled slightly, pulling up a chair and taking a seat near Blizzard. "Seriously though, all jokes aside, how you holding up, Cold One?" He asked the man, fumbling a bit with the folder he was holding before deciding to finally rest it on his lap. Once Blizzard got a word in he would get onto why he came to him.

"I know you're trying to relax and enjoy your much deserved down time but I got word of things going on in Kalos that you might find interesting." He informed him before taking out a piece of paper and handing it to him. It was a flyer, obviously one of many produced and it was advertising for an upcoming Pokemon League Tournament in Kalos, the date for which coming up very quickly, in fact by the looks of it the notice was given out abruptly, the advertisement even stating it would occur in just a few weeks from the time the flyer was put up. "One of Lysandre's last gambits before everything went wrong in Black City. Apparently he had plans to replace Diantha, for whatever reason."

"Lysandre was planning it safe then but in Kalos. Keep tabs on your enemies but them they linger in the shadows and do their thing while keeping tabs on them. Sounds just like Lysandre. Now though, without the distractions in Unova..." Sub said, beginning to ponder some things. "Oh! Yes, I have the information right here as well." The man said, taking out another piece of paper and heading it to the hybrids. "At least half of their total forces were captured, defected, or determined deceased in Unova alone. Those others managed to escape, most went back to Kalos to salvage their control there. It's an estimated amount of forty percent or under left still pulling for the Flare brand. One particular person of interest managed to escape as well; Xerosic. Not all of their leadership disappeared it seems. The alliance was able to confirm that Xerosic has made it back to Kalos and immediately has begun to seize leadership of Flare while keeping the downfall of Lysandre a secret in the region, a complete blackout on all information on the war."

"Monarchism, to put it simply." Sub said with a wave of his hand. "Flare, or rather Xerosic, is gambling Flare's entire existence on the monarchy. Ironically while Lysandre moved to lessen the power of the monarchy Xerosic appears to be going in the opposite direction and seeks to empower it, with himself, and Flare, as the puppeteers controlling the strings, of course. Immediately after Black City Flare undertook a campaign, supported by the monarchists of Kalos, to restore the right and proper Kingdom of Kalos to its former glory, that is giving absolute power back to the king. Using such excuses as the failures in the war and how soon foreigners will come to claim Kalos and they need a strong king to protect them. You know, the typical rabble." He explained.

"While their numbers aren't enough to maintain control Flare has been able to supplement their losses with those still loyal to the king and the old ways before Lysandre's rise and the creation of the title of Prime Minister. But no longer with the required force to subjugate the region they have turned to more covert means. Fortunately Lysandre set them up beautifully for their next scheme. Not only did he set in motion the upcoming Pokemon League Tournament to replace Diantha but he, every so humbly, granted amnesty to all political opponents and those deemed a threat to the state, the La Résistance included. All in the 'benevolent' spirit of the upcoming tournament. So everyone will be there. Common folk, members of La Résistance, members of the nobility and the Monarchists that support them. Even the king himself shall be there as his heir, the Crown Prince, will be competing as well. Heck, even Alexa was given a press pass." The man further explained.

"Do you see the problem with all this? Where it's going?" He asked the Cold One.

"It gets worse." Sub said with a solemn tone. "Lysandre only planned on getting all his enemies in one place in order to publicly humiliate them and have his own lackey declared Champion. An attempt to turn public opinion in his favor as a bonus. Remember that was when he was certain victory was on the horizon so there was no need to go more extreme than that if he was able to return home victories to greet his new Champion."

"Xerosic however is not oblivious to the procarious situation Flare is in. Riots are frequent, some towns and cities outside of Lumiose have already begun to self-govern. They are losing control and fast. If Flare is to survive they need to do something big, and that is exactly what he plans on doing." Taking out yet another piece of paper and handing it to Blizz, Sub would continue to talk. "More cables intercepted by the Indigo Alliance from Flare transmissions. Xerosic is largely following through with Lysandre's plot with a few additions. First off, the stadium is rigged with a few of his creations to ensure that both the Crown Prince, and whatever trainer La Résistance can get to represent them, meet in the finals. With further rigging they ensure the Crown Prince wins and thus be declared Champion at a frivolous battle with Diantha which will surely be rigged as well. No doubt he'll have given the prince's Pokemon some cybernetics." Sub said, showing off pictures of the creatures Aile and the others faced in Black City when fighting Xerosic, one in particularly, a cybernetic Tyrantrum might stand out.

"However, there is more. They also need a new enemy, to show their people that they are the victims. So what does Xerosic plan for that? To kill off the nobility, Monarchists, and even the king, all in attendance. Thanks to his ties with Aqua he has gotten his hands on an Infinity Engine designed by Devon Corp. I'll save you the long form details but it was inspired by Cipher's Chi Conversion technology and their research on Deoxys, a device that allows them to store the energy given off by Pokemon when they evolve and battle and store it for later us. Xerosic however has weaponized it. Through out the tournament it will amass power, slumbering underneath the sections where the king, nobility, and their supporters sit. And right when the Crown Prince wins the bomb will go off killing them all. Promptly after the new king will blame La Résistance for the bombing, accusing them of doing it in retaliation for the defeat of their trainer. They use it to sway public opinion, accuse Hoenn of supporting La Résistance and show this as proof that the world is out to get them and bam! Back to monarchy supported by Flare who now knows all the dirty things done to get the king back in full power." Sub explained.

"It's going to take a lot, considering the quality of our forces here but fortunately Flare's are no better off. I considered asking the alliance for back up but that would just play into Xerosic's plan to make Kalos the victim. I know you're down for the count. Odd is spiritually stretched. RC is still recovering from Mega Evolution. Most of our legends are exhausted, and Zac can't go back there. Our only choice is if anything a stealth operation and avoid any conflict. That's all I can think of. Sure, we can earn Alexa and Diantha but then we out Xerosic in a corner and who knows what he'll do in desperation. We have to strike fast and decisively, taking out that lab being top priority. So in conclusion for this preferably those inclined to such tactics.

"Those two could work. If I could find Darts anywhere he might be of help. Aile knows the inner workings of Flare so should could be a tremendous assistance. And since we aren't exactly concerning ourselves with casualties and Xerosic can't just blow up his bomb outside the proper timing I dare say Reno might be of use." He had to admit. "I'll go pair Freth a visit I suppose and go from there. You take it easy, Cold One. Something tells me your role in this is far from over so rest up." He cryptically told the hybrid before setting off to find his female counterpart.